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Week Twenty Nine - March 18th 2022
Kim Conlin
Kim Conlin
Head of Primary
From the Head of Primary
From the Head of Primary
Dear Primary School Parents,
The focus this week has been on celebrating diversity. We often celebrate cultural diversity (evident by the wonderful international event last weekend), and this week the focus has turned to the differences in the way people learn. This was a whole school focus and we thank the Inclusion Team and GISPA for leading this initiative. All students have been involved and enjoyed exploring and celebrating the diverse learners that make up our GIS community.
We have also had a busy week of activity and sport. GIS hosted a successful PYP swim gala this past Tuesday involving three schools. U10 tennis players attended a DASSA event on the same day and our U11 girls football team had victory over DBS Jumeriah Park on Wednesday. Yesterday, 30 of our PYP students attended an Athletics event at GWA. Thank-you to all our hard working coaches this week. More detail of these events and outcomes is shared on our newsletter home page.
You will begin to notice a gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions as we receive permission to do so. Thermal camera's have been removed from school entrances. Social distancing, masks, vaccinations and limited access to school facilities remain in place. We will continue with the same protocols for entrance and dismissal gates for the time being. An important update last month is the discontinuation of remote learning by KHDA. Any student accessing remote learning school sessions must provide the necessary medical documentation and the school must submit a report on their behalf to avoid fines. Please understand that GIS does not have authority to permit remote learning without KHDA approval. Regular processes apply for students that will be absent from school (shared at the end of the newsletter). For more information on how to apply for exemption to on campus learning, contact our clinic at GIS_MedicalAlert@GEMSEdu.com
As we approach our third term for the 21/22 academic year, we have started to plan ahead to the 22/23 year. In order to allocate resources and teaching staff to each grade level, we need an accurate enrolment number. Please ensure you have confirmed that your child will continue with GIS next year, through the following ink
Have a wonderful weekend!
Newsletter at a Glance
Newsletter at a Glance
In this edition you will find:
Ramadan Updates
Announcements and Reminders for upcoming Events
Peek Into Learning: PE in the PYP
Upcoming Parent ConnectEd: Islamic Education in the PYP
Diversity Awareness Week - Celebration
Primary Pages - link to Grade and Class pages
Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Dates
March 21-25: PYP Exhibition (March 23rd - PYP G5 Parent Evening)
March 23rd: Coffee Morning for parents new to GIS this year
March 28-April 8: Spring Break
April 13th - Islamic Education ConnectEd
*Fridays- wear your house color shirt
The Holy Month of Ramadan
The Holy Month of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is projected to begin April 2nd 2022, while GIS is on Spring Break. When we return to school from on April 11th we will be following Ramadan School Hours, which mean that student timings are 8:30-1:30 (1:20 PK-G1) Monday - Thursdays, and 8:30-11:40 (11:30 PK-G1) on Fridays.
If your child is Muslim and will be fasting during the holy month of ramadan, please complete this form, already shared by Ms. Rasha, if you have not already.
During the holy month of Ramadan, out of respect for our fasting community members please be aware of some of the following tips:
Avoid eating and drinking in public during fasting hours
Please wear modest clothing in public, including drop off and pick up
Remember to be flexible. Students and staff may be fasting and could have lower energy.
Announcements and Reminders
Announcements and Reminders
A Peek into Learning: PE
A Peek into Learning: PE
This term has seen the welcome return of swimming to the PE curriculum at GIS! It has been fantastic to see both our Early Years and Grade 5 students back in the water and learning what is an incredibly important life skill. Our young Early Years students have been having lots of fun developing their confidence and appreciating the importance of safety in the water. For a number of our Grade 5 students, this is the first time being back in the water for an extended period of time, so again there has been a focus on water confidence and safety, as well as looking at stroke technique. Following the spring break, we are very excited to welcome Grade 1 and 4 back into the pool for their swimming unit, and from May 30th, Grade 2 and 3 will take to the water!
Parent ConnectEd (workshops)
Parent ConnectEd (workshops)
In Case you Missed it:
In Case you Missed it:
PYP Exhibition
PYP Exhibition
KG2 Home Learning
KG2 Home Learning
Diversity Awareness Week in the PYP
Diversity Awareness Week in the PYP
Teachers and students across the school spent time exploring neurodiversity by developing our understanding that:
- Everyone is different
- We Accept differences
- We Celebrate differences
Students explored why they are unique and how everyone has different strengths and challenges. They have learnt about different neurodivergences such as autism, dsylexia, dsypraxia and Tourette’s and how every neurodivergence has strengths as well as challenges.
The students have been looking at how they can support and include everyone in their learning and play. The week ended with a mulit-colour celebration of dress-up and wristbands to celebrate the many different ways we can learn.
"Students made superhero’s to show their personal strengths"
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
PYP Reminders and Resources
PYP Reminders and Resources
Information for new/starting families
Information for new/starting families
Check out Coordinator's Corner!
Check out Coordinator's Corner!
More info about the curriculum
More info about the curriculum
Keeping our community safe with Covid-19 Protocols: if your child is a close contact or receives a positive test result please inform: gis_medicalalert@gemsedu.com
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 an absence of more than 2 days and submit to PYP office or homeroom teacher on the child's first day back.
Absence for more than 3 days requires prior approval if planned or a doctors clearance for illness related leave (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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