Embedded Files
Week Twenty One - January 21st 2022
From the Head of Primary
From the Head of Primary
Dear Primary School Parents,
It has been a great pleasure to welcome students back to campus this week. Thank-you to our entire community for their cooperation on early Friday dismissal. For a first time, the process went smoothly.
We are still under KHDA restrictions limiting events, gatherings, canteen lunches and PE. This is important to manage the health and safety of our students. Please encourage active activities for students outside of school (with covid safety is mind) as this has been limited at school this week. Maintaining adequate physical fitness is an important component to both mental and physical health. Activities by external providers are permitted, and you can sign up for these here https://www.esm.ae/active
We will still move ahead with planning extra curricular activities as we await an update for February. Expo trips in January have been postponed/rescheduled and details for each class will be shared once we have clarification from KHDA. Grades 3-5, please ensure to check grade level pages for any important information/updates on week without wall trips.
Please keep in mind that 31st of January and 1st of February are allocated to parent teacher conferences. 15 min with the homeroom teacher as well 10 min for all specialist teachers (optional). These conferences are a great way to have a two way conversation about semester 1 learning prior to the written report card.
Enjoy your weekend!
Newsletter at a Glance
Newsletter at a Glance
In this edition you will find:
Quarantine vs Remote Learning Access
Assessment Parent ConnectEd (recording)
Updated ECA's information
Coordinators Corner
Peek Into Learning: Professional Learning
Arabic Language Day
Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Dates
January 31 - February 1: PYP Parent Teacher Conferences (no school for PYP students)
February 7 - GIS International Day (tentative)
Feb 2-11 -MAP Assessment Window
*Fridays- wear your house color shirt
Upcoming Parent Sessions
Upcoming Parent Sessions
Reminders
Reminders
*Internal ECAs (Run by GIS are not permitted by KHDA yet)
*External ASAs (Run by outside provider - ESM)
Coordinator's Corner!
Coordinator's Corner!
More info about the curriculum
More info about the curriculum
A Peek into Learning
A Peek into Learning
Professional Learning
Professional Learning
As an IB school, we understand the importance of continuous professional development. We dedicate time to ensure our pedagogy reflects best practice and up to date research. At present, our staff are engaged in Research and Development, reviewing our practices in four key areas. Our committees involve all PYP teachers, researching the teaching of foundational skills, portfolios, report cards and writing in the PYP. Research by these groups explore research, and continue to develop our practices. Proposals from this committee will be considered for implementation next year. Outside of these committees, staff dedicate time each week to come together in collaborative teams to lead workshops, and research into current practices.
Arabic Language Day
Arabic Language Day
This Thursday, January 20th was celebration of Arabic language. The Arabic team provided a variety of outdoor activities that allowed students to interact and have fun with the language. A big thank you to all of them for all their hard work to make the day a success! Students and teachers were also given the choice to show their appreciation of the language through dress; highlighting a favorite Arabic word or phrase. Some students dressed in a shirt they already owned, while others made their own creative hat or badge. It was great to see the diversity and creativity of the community! Please ask your child about the day and how they showed their love for this beautiful language!
to check your child's class page
to check your child's class page
Primary Class Pages
Primary Class Pages
Check out for weekly class updates
Not your typical day?
Not your typical day?
My child will be absent
My child will be absent
Email your child's homeroom teacher before 8am so that he / she can mark their absence as excused.
Complete an absence form for more than 2 days and submit to homeroom teacher on the child's first day back at school after absence.
Absence for more than 3 days requires doctors clearance (in some cases a medical certificate is requested )
My child will leave during the school day (exceptional/unavoidable cases only)
My child will leave during the school day (exceptional/unavoidable cases only)
Email the gis_primaryleaverequest@gemsedu.com and your child's homeroom teacher 48 hours in advance to ensure your child and their leave slip are prepared in advance.
At the time of collection, please come to the Primary Reception at Gate 4.
Key Contacts
Key Contacts
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