Important Information

Attendance: Morning Tardiness

Please ensure your sons/daughters are arriving with plenty of time to prepare for the learning day. This will help them feel ready and be able to connect with teachers and friends in the morning.

Punctuality shows respect for their fellow classmates and their teachers. Tardiness affects not only the student who is late, but disrupts the entire classroom as well. If your child is late to school in the morning these are being recorded as an unexcused tardy. Students arriving after 8:30 a.m. are considered tardy and will be issued a tardy slip.

Tardiness is recorded and appears on the student's academic report card.

If students are habitually tardy for first period consequences in accordance with the Student Handbook will be followed.

College Counseling:

Congratulations to all of our seniors for working hard to complete their university applications! We have sent out over 200 applications to 10 countries so far. Well done!

The College Counseling department will be closed for processing until January 15th. Thank you for your continued support!

Upcoming University Visits:

The spring is a great time for Grade 10 and 11 to start preparing for university. There are usually not as many events as in the Fall, so be sure to take advantage of the universities that come to visit!

Sunday, Jan. 13th 10:20-10:45 U of La Verne

Tuesday, January 22nd 1:30-2:30 15 UK Universities

Social/Emotional:

Home for the Holidays

Research shows that families who spend quality time together and connect activities at home to what children are learning in school have a stronger emotional bond and better communication—and the kids do better academically. The holiday season also provides great opportunities to expose children to new ideas and information, reinforce skills and knowledge, and encourage creativity, which supports their success in school.

Here’s 7 family time and learning tips for the holidays

The Holiday Blues

Triggers for the “holiday blues” in kids aren’t that different from those that make many adults feel down this time of year, including grief, fatigue and ramped-up expectations. The general happiness of the season — music, decorations, lights, caroling — can intensify a sad or stressful event that a child has experienced during the past year, such as the death of a family member or the loss of a parent’s job. A recent Johns Hopkins study stated that nearly half of American children are exposed to at least one social or family experience that can lead to traumatic stress, whether it's divorced parents or extreme economic hardship.

Here’s how to help them cope…

Middle School Counseling

Celebrate Kindness this Winter Break

Kindness is something that students can give for free. Students tend to be happier and feel better about themselves when they show kindness towards others. During the winter break celebrate Kindness by doing the below activities.

Please contact us if you need anything.

Delisa Woods- MS Counselor d.woods_gus@gemsedu.com

Matthew Abbate- HS Counselor m.abbate_gus@gemsedu.com

The Year of Zayed: Women Empowerment initiative took the girls to the restaurant, The Artisan: by Enoteca Pinchiorri on November 19th.

The girls met with the head chef, Luca to learn about his personal journey to becoming a chef. They learned about the different types of chefs and their roles. Chef Luca explained to the girls the similarities and differences in culinary training and restaurant management in France, Italy, Dubai, and London. The restaurant manager, also known as the front of the house, Antonio explained what a typical day in a restaurant looks like. Specifically, how he makes sure that customers are happy with the service, ambiance and food. Also, how he works closely with the kitchen to ensure that the food matches the customers’ requests and needs. Luca and Antonio walked the girls through the kitchen. They explained to them the different equipment in the kitchen, the designated areas, and how all members in the kitchen have an individual role and how they work collaboratively. It was a wonderful experience with much insight into the fine dining experience. Our mentor chef, Jean, continues to expand our knowledge of the culinary world.

High School Exam Information

Over the break review items for each class. Use your notes, old quizzes, tests, review guides and the like to prepare for assessments happening January 13-17. Do not wait until the last minute to prepare yourself to demonstrate your mastery of the standards. Come back to your classes with questions or concerns to make a more meaningful review time with your teachers.

When we return from the break (January 6-10) students will be taking 2 class periods to review content and skills covered since the beginning of the school year. These are going to be purpose driven and helpful for students to understand what will be asked of them the following week. It goes without saying that an entire semester cannot be reviewed in two days. Teachers have prepared some guiding ideas or principles, however, the onus belongs to students.

Starting on January 13 both Middle School and High School will be following an altered schedule. Each day two exams will be given for a full two hours each. Students will take the exams with their teacher in the classroom. After lunch students will have two additional class periods to help them review for the following days exams. If students wish to go home and study they must complete the necessary paperwork to be dismissed early. Buses will depart at the usual times. All other students will follow the altered schedule.

January 17 classes will resume as usual and all students are expected to be on campus. Individuals that missed one of their assessments will be taking them during this time in F101. Please make sure to be in contact with your teachers. Students will be expected to show up at 8:30 to begin the exams that were missed.

Google Classroom support is available for parents every "A week" on Wednesday and Thursday from 3-4pm

Happy Holidays

Wishing you and your family a relaxing winter break and a

Happy New Year 2019!