Newsletter 09.05.25

GPS Newsletter

16th May 2025

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents

Another great week at GPS which we finished with our annual "Splash Day" 💦 Needless to say everyone got very wet and had a great time.

FS & Year 1 went to the chocolate factory and learnt all about the process of chocolate making. If you haven't seen the video - look it up on our Instagram page.

An amendment to the Save the Date below for the 30th of May. This activity will be confirmed soon and will include all the students and their families.

Save the Date:

30th May ****TO BE ANNOUNCED****** Save the date!

1st June - External Reading Assessment week

20th June - FS Graduation and end of year concert (change of date)

25th June - FS & YR 1 trip to Pizza Express

1st July - End of School

Have a lovely weekend

Ms Jan

Wellbeing

Dear Parents,

As the summer season approaches, I would like to bring your attention to the fact that it can have a significant impact on both your mental health and that of your children. While summer is often associated with relaxation and fun, the lead-up to the break can be particularly stressful especially with ongoing assessments, project deadlines, and end-of-year responsibilities.

For students, the pressure to perform well in exams and wrap up the academic year can lead to anxiety and emotional fatigue. For parents, juggling support, schedules, and expectations can be equally draining.

During this time, it's important to take a step back and acknowledge the emotional load that comes with the season.

Stay Hydrated, Stay Grounded

As temperatures rise, so does the need for hydration—not just for physical health but also for mental clarity and energy. Dehydration can contribute to irritability, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Encourage your children (and yourselves) to drink water regularly, and enjoy hydrating fruits like watermelon, cucumbers, and oranges.

Acknowledging Assessment Stress

Assessments can be overwhelming for children, especially when pressure builds up. As parents, your emotional support and understanding go a long way.

Try to:

Create a calm and focused study environment
Encourage breaks and physical movement
Praise effort over outcomes
Keep communication open and reassuring

Embracing Summer with Purpose

Once the assessments are done, summer offers the perfect opportunity to reset emotionally and physically. Consider incorporating activities that promote relaxation and joy, such as:

Outdoor time in nature
Creative hobbies or hands-on play
Light physical activity like swimming, biking, or yoga
Family connection—without screens
Quiet, unstructured time to rest and reflect

Remember, mental health doesn’t take a vacation. By staying hydrated, maintaining realistic expectations, and making time for meaningful rest and reconnection, we can help our families move into summer with strength, energy, and peace of mind.

Enjoy your weekend

Ms Jikku

FS 1 & 2

What we've done

This week, the children had an exciting trip to the Mirzam Chocolate Factory! They discovered where chocolate comes from and learned all about the journey of the cacao bean—from harvesting to becoming the delicious treat we all enjoy. The children were fascinated by the machines used in the process, watching how the chocolate was mixed, heated, poured, and cooled at different stages.

They then had the opportunity to prepare their own chocolate moulds. They learned that shaking the mould helps spread the melted chocolate evenly, and tapping it removes any air bubbles. After that, the children chose their own toppings and even designed and created personalised wrappers for their chocolate bars, which they proudly took home. To top it all off, they were treated to a delicious hot chocolate!

In writing this week, we explored famous foods from the children’s home countries. They used a variety of adjectives to describe flavours, textures, and appearances, helping to build their descriptive language skills.

In maths, we have been learning about subtraction. The children practised taking away within 10 and 20 using hands-on resources such as counters, ten frames, and number lines to support their understanding of counting back.

During phonics, we focused on reading and spelling CVCC words. The children used phoneme frames to help segment and blend, and they’ve been working on forming their letters neatly on a line. In FS1, the children have been introduced to the sounds g, o, c, and k.

Finally, we ended the week with a fantastic Splash Day on Friday! The whole school came together to enjoy water play and celebrate the last of the warm weather—it was a refreshing and fun way to wrap up the week!

Year 1

What we've done

This week in Year 1, we focused on recount writing in English. The children wrote postcards and letters in the perspective of the Snail and the whale, recounting their journey detailing what they done, where they went, what they seen and how hey felt. I was so impressed with the vocabulary used and the use of extended sentences.

In Maths, we started our topic on Money. We started by looking at British coins and notes and looking at the values. We then looked at Dirham, looking at coins and notes and their values. We compared the currencies noting similarities and differences and completed a variety of different activities and games.

This week in history, we finished up our history topic on 'The Great fire of London'. The children presented news reports live from Gulf news, informing the public about the tragedy that struck in London as if it was still the year 1666. We then started to learn about the weather and weather symbols in Science, so they had a go at broadcasting the weather forecast live on BBC news.

Finally, this week we went on a facisnating and exciting trip to the Mirzam Chocolate Factory! They learned how chocolate is made—from the cacao bean to the final treat. They watched machines mix, heat, and cool the chocolate, then made their own chocolate bars. The children chose toppings, designed wrappers, and enjoyed a yummy hot chocolate at the end!

And to end off the week with some fun, we had our Splash day that the children thoroughly enjoyed, especially when it came to soaking the teachers. We even had an ice lolly to enjoy and cool off.

Year 2

What we've done

This week in Year 2, we began an exciting new topic in Maths — Statistics! The children have been learning how to collect and organise data using tally charts, tables, and block diagrams, and they’ve enjoyed exploring numbers in a practical way. In English, we looked at the features of formal and informal letters, with the children having fun identifying the differences and writing their own letters for different purposes. Science was hands-on as we investigated what plants need to grow. We set up an experiment by planting seeds in pots with different conditions — we can’t wait to see what happens! In MSC, we explored traditional and modern foods in the UAE, learning how culture influences what we eat. We ended the week with a splash — quite literally — during our fun-filled Splash Day, which was a great way to cool off and celebrate the end of a busy week!

Year 3

What we've done

What a fantastic week we've had in Year 3!

In Maths, we began our new topic on mass and capacity. The children explored how to read scales and practiced measuring in grams—great hands-on learning!

In English, we focused on revision and preparation for the NGRT exam. We’re proud of the effort everyone put in, and well done to all for completing the assessment! The children also worked hard on their independent writing task, creating fantastic playscripts based on their storyboards from last week.

In Science, we launched a new experiment as part of our topic on plants. The children planted seeds in two pots to investigate how sunlight affects plant growth—one pot is placed outside in the sun, and the other is kept indoors. They'll be monitoring them closely over the next few weeks to observe any differences.

We wrapped up the week with a much-deserved treat—Splash Day! The whole school joined in for a fun-filled afternoon of water play with teachers and other year groups. It was a joyful end to a busy week.

As we approach the end of the academic year, we encourage all students to continue revising and showcasing the fantastic progress they've made.

Year 4

What we've done

Another successful week of learning in Year 4!

This week in English, we wrapped up our unit on fables, exploring key moral messages and storytelling techniques. We also revisited important SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar) concepts in preparation for our upcoming assessments.

In Maths, we focused on consolidating our understanding of money, including using decimal points accurately and calculating totals and change in a variety of ways. We also worked on boosting our mental maths skills through quick-fire challenges and practical problem-solving.

In Science, we launched our new topic on Living Things, where we began exploring the different types of animals and their habitats. Pupils showed great curiosity as we discussed how animals are grouped and adapted to their environments.

We ended the week on a high by celebrating Splash Day—a fun-filled event that brought lots of laughter, excitement, and smiles. I'm certain the children thoroughly enjoyed every moment!

Year 5

What we've done

What an exciting and busy week of learning we've had!

This week, we continued reading The Last Bear, focusing on answering both retrieval and inference questions while deepening our understanding of the story’s themes and characters. We also began revising key areas of spelling and grammar to help prepare the children for their upcoming assessments. In addition, the children completed the National Group Reading Test (NGRT), applying their reading skills in a formal test setting and persevering with focus and determination throughout.

In Maths, the children explored how to subtract decimals with the same number of decimal places. They also learned how to multiply decimal numbers by 10, 100, and 1,000, using their place value knowledge and recognising patterns to support their understanding.

As Scientists, the children investigated arguments for and against the idea that the Earth is flat. They examined evidence, discussed different viewpoints, and learned why scientific understanding supports the Earth being a sphere.

I was super impressed with the children’s World War II presentations this week! Each child demonstrated great enthusiasm and confidence in sharing what they had learned. They brought their knowledge to life in engaging and informative ways, showcasing both their understanding and creativity.

Ms Jan was amazed by the models of mountain ranges the children created. Their attention to detail, creativity, and effort were outstanding—each model clearly demonstrated an understanding of key geographical features such as peaks, valleys, and ridges. It was fantastic to see so much thought and care put into their work.

The highlight of the week was undoubtedly Splash Day! The children had an amazing time cooling off and enjoying a variety of water-based activities. It was a joyful and refreshing experience that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

Last week, the children also explored the eGames Festival, where they visited gaming stalls, interacted with exciting displays, and took part in a range of fun challenges. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate digital innovation, develop teamwork skills, and—most importantly—have fun!

Year 6

What we've done

This week in Year 6, students completed their NGRT reading assessments with great focus and continued their guided reading of The Boy at the Back of the Class, engaging in thoughtful discussions around its themes. In Maths, they explored area and perimeter, learning how to calculate the area of parallelograms and triangles with impressive accuracy and understanding. In Humanities, students researched the various uses of coasts, examining both natural and man-made attractions and considering their positive and negative impacts on the environment and local communities. On Friday, the children had a fantastic time celebrating Splash Day, cooling off in the heat and enjoying every moment of getting soaked with their friends. Looking ahead, next week the children will be designing and creating their own pots in preparation for our final Makers Market at Festival Plaza. With just a couple of weeks to go until the Eid holidays, we will also begin preparing for our final end-of-year assessments. Well done to all our students for their continued effort and enthusiasm!

Arabic and Islamic

What we'

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

يسرني أن أقدّم نفسي لكم الأستاذة أسماء عبدالظاهر الشربيني، رئيسة قسم اللغة العربية في مدرسة الغاف. يشرفني التعاون مع فريق المعلمين المتميزين في المدرسة لتقديم أعلى مستويات التعليم في مواد اللغة العربية والتربية الإسلامية، بما يساهم في تعزيز الهوية الثقافية والدينية لطلابنا. نسعى دائمًا إلى تنمية مهارات الطلاب في القراءة والكتابة والفهم، وتعزيز قيمهم الإسلامية بما يتماشى مع رؤيتنا التربوية.

I am pleased to introduce myself to you as Ms. Asmaa Abdel-Zaher El-Sherbiny, Head of theArabic Department at Al Ghaf School. I am honored to collaborate with the distinguished teaching team at the school to provide the highest levels of education in Arabic language and Islamic studies, contributing to the enhancement of our students' cultural and religious identity. We constantly strive to develop students' skills in reading, writing, and comprehension, while promoting their Islamic values in alignment with our educational vision.

What did we learn? / ماذا تعلمنا؟

Arabic A / اللغة العربية للعربية
:الروضة قد كان أسبوعًا حافلا بالتعلم، تعلم طلاب الروضة حرف “الجيم”، وقد استمتعوا بالتعرف عليه من خلال أنشطة ممتعة ومفيدة. كما قمنا بمراجعة الحروف السابقة: الألف، الباء، والتاء،الثاء لضمان ترسيخها في أذهانهم،

تنوعت الأنشطة بين القصص، والأغاني، والألعاب التعليمية، والرسم، ما ساعد الأطفال على التعلم بطريقة مرحة وتفاعلية كما قمنا بالتدرب على أنشودة الحفل السنوي وهي (فرحنا نجحنا تخرجنا)

:الصف الثاني :لقد كان أسبوعًا رائعًا، حافلا بالتعلم حيث قمنا بإكمال حروف الهجاء ، وقد استمتع الطلاب بالتعرف على باقي حروف الهجاء من خلال العديد من الأنشطة ، كما قمنا بمراجعة عامة على جميع حروف الهجاء من خلال الأنشطة والمسابقات الصفية الممتعة استعدادًا للاختبار الأسبوع القادم.

,
الصف الرابع : لقد كان أسبوعًا رائعًا في حصة اللغة العربية! قمنا بمراجعة القواعد النحوية ( حروف الجر - حروف العطف - أسلوب الإستفهام) وأنهينا درسنا الجديد : النَّص المعلوماتي( الخبز حول العالم) وسنستعد الأسبوع القادم لإختبار اللغة العربية الأسبوع

Islamic A / الإسلامية للعرب

:الصف الثاني

في هذا الأسبوع بدأنا درسنا كما تعودنا دائما بتحية الإسلام و تعليم الطلاب كيفية رد السلام, قمنا بمراجعة شاملة على السور التي تمت دراستها سابقا بدءًا بسورة الفاتحة , الإخلاص , الناس, الفلق , الشرح وسورة العصر ثم انطلقنا في درسنا الجديد و هو (احب مخلوقات ربي).

:الصف الرابع

في هذا الأسبوع كانت بداية رائعة حيث استطاع الطلاب ان يراجعوا معي جزءًا كبيرًا مما درسوه في الفترة السابقة من سور القرءان الكريم بدءًا من سورة العلق, البينة , الطارق و سورة الغاشية إضافة الى بعضٍ من قصار السور كما قمنا بمراجعة الدرس السابق التعاون سر النجاح, بعدها انطلقنا كالعادة في درسنا الجديد الذي هو(الصدق).

Arabic B / اللغة العربية للناطقين بِغيرها
FS: what a great start we did this week. We had many classroom activities and competitions to recognize some of the Arabic letters. We completed the lesson on the letter (ج) and learned about its different shapes and sounds. We also started training to the song (nejehna frehna takharjna)

y1:It was a great start to the week. We completed the lesson on the letters (ل ) and learned about its different shapes and
sounds (لَ - لُ - لِ - لا - لو - لي). We learned new words and used words in the context of short sentences . We did a coloring activity for the letters and practiced writing sentences and using new grammar rules.
We also visited the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library this week, and the students enjoyed the recreational activities, watching the robot, and listening to stories in Arabic and English. We are preparing for the Arabic language test next week.
y2:It was a great start to the week. We completed the lesson on the letters (ط - ظ) and learned about its different shapes and
sounds We studied (the story of the letters). We learned new words and used words in the context of short sentences . We did a coloring activity for the letters and practiced writing sentences and using new grammar rules. We are preparing for the Arabic language test next week.
y3:This week was so funny and wonderful. So in grade 3 Arabic B we had a quick revision for the last topics they learnt .We started our new lesson which is “Aaz el asdiqaa ”. We learnt new form of the verb with he, she and you. It was so funny as we started studying recognizing the Arabic letters students learnt the short and long vowels and, they started to read comprehension skills through regular reading practice. We focus on enhancing their ability to understand texts and grasp the finer details of phonetic structures.

y4:It was a great start of the week. We conducted many classroom activities and competitions to improve our students' reading level. The students enjoyed competing with each other. We reviewed previous lessons and the most important rules we learned. We started the lesson on the (Rehla fy Algalied), compared the weather conditions in the four seasons, and completed the activities and exercises from the book.

y5: This week was different a lot we had a dictation. So in grade 5 Arabic B we had a quick revision for the last topics they learnt we followed studying the lesson which is “al-Matbakh al-Aalami”. We learnt new form of the verb with he, she and you. It was so funny as we started studying recognizing the Arabic letters students learnt the short and long vowels and, they started to read comprehension skills through regular reading practice. We focus on enhancing their ability to understand texts and grasp the finer details of phonetic structures. Building up on the fore rules students learnt we are completing our work. Students good at practicing and understanding and we can help them a lot. We also started this week learning the colors, numbers and everything about myself.
y6:It's been a great week in Arabic class! we reviewed the grammar (prepositions) and completed our lesson (The Seven Wonders of the World) and we will continue it next week with a review of the previous lessons in preparation for the Arabic test the following week.We are preparing for the Arabic language test next week.
Islamic B / الإسلامية للناطقين بِغيرها
y2:This week as we usually do we started greeting students and teaching them how to reply to this greeting in Islamic it was so fantastic to start our lesson with revision for what studied before to get ready for the new lesson which is (I love the creatures of Allah). Then we went back to our last lesson My prayer is the light of my life and the meanings of the key words therein. We are working diligently and actively on reviewing Surat Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas, An-Nas, and Al-Falaq, with a focus on practicing surat al-fil, as we encourage students to review and practice them at home to enhance their memorization and mastery. We are currently discussing the pillars of Islam.
y3:This week we, as usual, started with teaching students to greet others with Islamic greeting and to reply to it. It was so fantastic to start our lesson with revision for what studied in the week before to get ready for the new lesson which is (the etiquettes of eating). We have reviewed Surahs Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas, An-Nas, and Al-Falaq, and we are currently working on memorizing and contemplating surat ash-sharh and surat al-Qadr, as we encourage students to practice them at home to enhance their memorization and mastery of their recitation.
y4:In Islamic this week it was fantastic to start our lesson (truthfulness). We have reviewed Surahs Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas, An-Nas, and Al-Falaq, and we are currently working on memorizing and contemplating verses of surat al-Bayyinah and surat al-Ghashiyyah, as we encourage students to practice them at home to enhance their memorization and mastery of their recitation. We studied the story of the revelation, which added a deep understanding of the meanings of the verses and made the students live with the moments of the revelation of the Holy Quran to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. We use interactive activities and open-ended dialogues to simplify concepts and enhance students’ understanding of the values learned from the lessons, helping them to relate deeply to the teachings of their religion and apply them in their daily lives.
y5:It was so fantastic to start our lesson with revision for what studied in the week before, we started this week studying the lesson (the year of sorrow) .We also revised some important Islamic concepts like pillars of Islam and pillars of Iman and prayers. We have reviewed Surahs Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas, An-Nas, and Al-Falaq, and we are currently working on memorizing and contemplating verses of surat al-fajr, as we encourage students to practice them at home to enhance their memorization and mastery of their recitation.
y6:It was so fantastic to start our lesson with revision for what we learnt in the week before, then we went back to our lesson .we started this week studying the lesson (the way to paradise). We revised some important Islamic concepts like resources of Shari’ah, pillars of Islam and pillars of Iman and prayers. We have reviewed Surahs Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas, An-Nas, and Al-Falaq, and we are currently working on memorizing and contemplating verses of Surat An-Nazi’at, as we encourage students to practice them at home to enhance their memorization and mastery of their recitation.
Regards, Arabic and Islamic team
Mr. Desoky, Ms. Basma

Ms: Asmaa Elsherbiny Arabic & Islamic Head

islamic intervention

year 5 Arabic

Spanish

What we've done

Hola todos ,

We had an amazing week in our Spanish lessons students had diffrent board activities and worksheets based on different topic as per their classes . In year 1 student reviewed about Los numeros , colores , frutas , mi curepo y verduras by doing board activity and class quiz . In year 2 students discussed about las mascotas y los animales in which they decribe types of pets and animales . In year 3 students rsearched about diffrent types of emotions and sentiments in Spanish to describe their emotions for example Feliz, triste & aburrido etc. In year 4 students learnt about sustantivos y adjetivos which helps them to make short sentences by using it in Spanish . In year 5 students countinued their comida y bebida in Spanish by practising short sentences in writing in their books and understanding the correct containers for using each type of bebida by describing and arranging them into a particular contasiners like vaso , botella and taza . In year 6 students reviewed about pronombres y verbo ser by practising while doin their worksheets based and writing sentences into their books . Gracias for your support .

Tengas buen fin de semana

Señor Radhey

Verbo Ser

Frutas y Verduras

Numeros y Colores

Frutas Activity

Sentimientos

Sustantivos y Adjetivos

STREAM

What a vibrant and engaging week we've had in our STREAM classes! From hands-on science experiments to creative art projects and the exciting world of robotics, our students have truly been immersed in learning through exploration and fun.

FS & Year 1 – Science Meets Art!

This week, our youngest learners had a wonderful time combining art and science in a sensory-rich activity. Using shaving foam, food colouring, and paints, they created dazzling marbled patterns. By gently pressing paper plates onto their colourful mixtures, they revealed stunning swirled artwork. It was a delightful way to spark creativity while learning about colour mixing and texture!

Year 2 – Marble Run Challenge

Our Year 2 students became mini-engineers as they designed and built their very own marble runs using wooden blocks. They explored concepts like gravity, force, and motion, experimenting with different track designs to guide their marbles to the finish line. It was both educational and entertaining!

Years 3–6 – Diving Deeper into Robotics

The robotics journey continues! Using LEGO Spike Kits, students in Years 3 to 6 explored the fundamentals of engineering and programming. Working in pairs and groups, they constructed robots and brought them to life through code. It was inspiring to see their excitement as they watched their robots move and respond!

STREAM continues to be a space of creativity, innovation, and joyful discovery. Thank you for your continued support as we nurture curious minds and future problem-solvers!

Warm regards,

Ms. Janice

Have a great week ahead!

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