Week Thirty Four - May 13th 2022
Kimberly Conlin
Dear Parents,
It has been so wonderful to have our students back to full days again following the holidays and the modified schedule. We are planning for some exciting learning during the next 7 weeks of school. Please keep checking the grade and class pages for learning specific to each grade.
Next Thursday (19th) we are so excited to be finally welcoming our parents into our classrooms! KHDA has approved for us to host student led conferences on campus. You will sign up for a time slot to come to school with your child and hear all about their learning this year. The day will be staggered so that all students will have personalized attention. It is not a full school day for the PYP students and they will come and leave with their parent(s) at the chosen time. There will be no after school activities on this day.
Link to select conference time slot: https://ptcfast.com/schools/GEMS_International_School_PYP
Support us in making improvements: We are currently taking part in a one year review of our school with the Council of International schools. We require 10 min of your time to give your feedback as a parent. We are aware that parents are also requested to complete 2 surveys a year from GEMS on an annual basis. Unfortunately we are not able to combine the surveys, as they collect different comparable data. We value our parents perspective and opinion and use the information from all surveys to make improvements. We appreciate you helping us out. Of course, individual questions and requests can be directed to us directly. pypoffice_gis@Gemsedu.com
In this edition you will find:
Announcements / Reminders / Upcoming dates
Peek Into Learning: Music
Parent ConnectEd : In case you missed it: Technology in the PYP
GIS Jaguars Update
Primary Pages - link to Grade and Class pages
PYP reminders and resources
May 19th - Student Led Conferences (no school for students this day- more details to be shared)
May 24th-26th- School Musical
May 26th-27th- Spirit Day (specific dates for each grade will be shared on grade page, closer to the date)
May 30th - June 3rd- MAP assessment week (Grades 1-5)
June 6th- 10th- Arts Week
June 13th-16th- Book Fair
June 24th- Grade 5 Completion Ceremony (*subject to KHDA approval) + Last Day of ECAs
July 1st- Last day of school
*Fridays- wear your house color shirt*
Students across pirmary are busy preparing for their upcoming musical concerts during Arts Week (June 6-10) to showcase all their hard work using a variety of skills (voice, dance, sign language, musical instruments). Students are practicing for their concert pieces in three languages, developing their Communication Skills in Arabic, English, and Sign Language. A few student leaders have shown an initiative to lead the rest of their class in front of the parent audience. You will also notice some students rehearsing their sign language skills to ensure that audience members with hearing difficulties can also access the message of our song’s lyrics! Other students are developing their musicianship skills by playing Beethoven’s “Ode To Joy” on a variety of percussion instruments, like the xylophones, pianos, tambourines and claves. Please ask your child what role they are playing in their concert and maybe give a little pre-concert sneak peak!
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
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 )
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.