GPS Newsletter
GPS Newsletter
30th May 2025
Dear Parents
First let me say thank you for your understanding about the event that was supposed to be today. I really did try to get all the paperwork done, but it just wasn't to be (red tape can be sooooo annoying!) We are now planning Friday 13th June to give plenty of time for all agencies to get the paperwork done. I am now planning to make it BIGGER and BETTER 😁
Mr Darragh and Mr Radhey joined the ceremony for Dubai Fitness Challenge at the Coca Cola Arena this week where they received medals for the school's participation in the November 2024 Challenge. We walked around the school every morning and clocked up the distance of a marathon!
And finally, as part of the process for planning to get your child ready for the future, the school participates in many different activities. We all know that AI is quickly becoming the next 'slice bread' in our lives, and we must, as a school, look forward to preparing your children. The KHDA is surveying all schools, teachers, senior students and parents and have asked me to provide a link for you to give feedback. Please be assured that all information provided via these surveys will be treated with confidentiality and will be used solely for the purpose of this research. No individual identities or responses will be shared with external parties. It doesn't take long to complete and I would appreciate you spending the time. Thank you.
Parents survey, click here.
Save the Date:
13th June -Red Crescent and Festival Plaza Mall event
20th June - FS Graduation and whole school End of Year concert - times will be sent soon
23rd June - Year 2-6 trip to BOUNCE!
25th June - FS & YR 1 trip to Pizza Express
1st July - End of School - CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??????
Have a lovely weekend
Ms Jan
Wellbeing
Dear Parents,
In today's fast-paced digital world, conversations around body image and self-esteem are more important than ever—especially for our children and teens. With increasing exposure to social media platforms, children are forming beliefs about themselves at earlier ages, often shaped by unrealistic ideals and filtered realities.
Understanding Body Image and Self-Esteem
Body image is how a person perceives their own body and how they think others view them. Self-esteem refers to a person’s overall sense of self-worth or personal value. Both are deeply intertwined and develop over time, influenced by family, peers, media, and life experiences.
Early Childhood (Ages 3–7)
At this stage, children begin noticing differences in appearance and may express preferences or dislikes about their own or others' looks. Their understanding is still forming, and adult language and modeling play a crucial role. Positive reinforcement and inclusive books, toys, and media help build a healthy foundation.
Middle Childhood (Ages 8–12)
Children become more aware of social comparisons, especially in school environments. Body image concerns may start to surface, often influenced by peers or media exposure. This is also the age where self-talk begins to shape internal beliefs. Encouraging open conversations and praising effort over appearance is key.
Teen Years (Ages 13–18)
Adolescents face intense pressure to fit in, often comparing themselves to curated images online. Social media can amplify insecurities, leading to issues such as disordered eating, anxiety, or low self-esteem. Teens may measure their worth by likes, comments, or followers. Encouraging media literacy, self-reflection, and realistic goal-setting helps them navigate these challenges.
The Role of social media
While social media can offer connection and creativity, it also poses risks. The constant stream of "ideal" bodies and lifestyles can distort a young person’s self-image. Features like filters and photo-editing apps contribute to unrealistic expectations. Helping children recognize that online content is often curated and not always real is essential.
How Can We Help as Adults?
· Model body positivity by speaking kindly about your own body.
· Limit screen time and co-view social media to prompt healthy discussion.
· Praise skills, effort, and character more than appearance.
· Encourage physical activity and healthy habits without linking them to weight or looks.
· Create safe spaces where children can express their feelings and insecurities without judgment.
Let’s work together to nurture confident, resilient children who value themselves for who they are not just how they look.
Have a great weekend
Ms Jikku
FS 1 & 2
This week’s learning adventure took us to space! The children were thrilled to explore rocket launches, learning what happens during a launch and the important safety precautions involved. They discovered the inspiring story of Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati astronaut, and had great fun launching their own rockets in science using balloons and string. In writing, we read Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy and discussed what Bear packed for his journey into space. The children worked in pairs to create their own packing lists and wrote fantastic sentences and paragraphs explaining their choices in their writing books. In maths, we focused on composing and decomposing shapes, using them to make new images and solve tangram puzzles — we especially enjoyed making animals of the UAE! In phonics, we practised reading CVCC words with digraphs and enjoyed the story of The Gingerbread Man. Meanwhile, in FS1 phonics, the focus was on learning the sounds h and b. What a fun and creative week of learning!
Year 1
This week in Year 1, we wrapped up our English unit on The Snail and the Whale with some fantastic persuasive writing! The children completed a guided write, using well-thought-out arguments to convince others to help save the whale. We also reflected on the journey the snail and the whale had been on, and the children had a go at writing their own adventure stories, creating new characters and exciting settings.
In Maths, we explored the concept of time — seconds, minutes, and hours — and had lots of fun completing timed challenges! Using stopwatches, we measured how long different tasks took and recorded our findings.
In Science, we revisited last week’s experiment by recording the equipment used and the steps we followed, helping us to understand how to carry out and document a scientific investigation.
In Humanities, we learned about different climates around the world and discussed what we would pack for trips to various countries. The children loved making connections to their own home countries and sharing their experiences with their classmates.
What a fun and busy week of learning!
Year 2
Year 2 have had a busy and exciting week of learning and creativity! In Maths, we completed our unit on position and direction, using words like ‘left’, ‘right’, ‘forwards’ and ‘backwards’ to describe movement and turns. In English, the children enjoyed exploring Jack and the Beanstalk and worked on writing thoughtful captions to match scenes from the story. In Science, we learned about the life cycle of a plant, discovering how a tiny seed grows into a flowering plant. In MSC, we explored the concept of money in the UAE and how it is used in everyday life.In Humanities, we explored the achievements of Neil Armstrong. As part of our Makers Market preparations, the children made beautiful handmade candles.
Year 3
This week in Year 3, the children have had a fantastic time diving into a variety of exciting topics across the curriculum.
In Maths, we began a new unit on money, focusing on recognising and understanding British pounds and pence. The children have been working hard to get to grips with different coins and notes. We started converting pence into pounds and started adding different amounts together to figure out the total using real life situations like shopping for groceries.
In English, we explored the difference between similes and metaphors. The class also began writing verses for their narrative poems, using rhyming words to bring their ideas to life. Their creativity has really shone through!
A huge well done to everyone on their spelling test—we're so impressed that the whole class scored 10 out of 10!
In Science, the children continued monitoring their plants, observing the differences in growth to understand how various conditions affect development.
For Humanities, our Geography focus was on the weather in rainforests, while in History, we delved into the fascinating world of hieroglyphs and how the Ancient Egyptians used them to write.
Well done to all the children for a brilliant week of learning!
Year 4
Another busy week of work in Year 4! We have been working hard across all subjects and showing great enthusiasm as we continue to revise and prepare for upcoming assessments.
We’ve focused on GL revision, brushing up on key areas of punctuation and grammar. The children have revisited the use of apostrophes, commas, direct speech, and sentence structure. We’ve used fun revision games and writing tasks to reinforce their skills and build confidence.
Our topic this week has been Statistics. The children have explored how to read, interpret, and create a variety of graphs, including bar charts, pictograms, and line graphs. We’ve practised answering reasoning questions and analysing data sets – fantastic preparation for real-world application and assessment tasks.
In Science, we continued with GL-style question practice, focusing on interpreting scientific vocabulary, applying knowledge to unfamiliar contexts, and improving our explanation skills. The children are becoming more confident in breaking down multiple-choice questions and justifying their answers.
A big highlight of our week was putting the finishing touches on our beautiful dream catchers! The children showed incredible creativity and patience while designing and assembling them. These were originally planned to be showcased at the Festival Plaza event, which has now been postponed until 13th June. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and truly appreciate your continued support and understanding.
Thank you for your ongoing encouragement as we approach the final weeks of the term.
We’re very proud of Year 4’s focus, teamwork, and effort!
Year 5
“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.” – Robert Frost
This week in Year 5 has been full of exciting learning and creativity across all subjects.
In English, the children performed poetry with great confidence, focusing on intonation, tone, and volume to help convey meaning and emotion to their audience.
In Maths, we worked on negative numbers, finding the difference between values like -5 and 10 using number lines. We also studied 3D shapes, identifying and describing them by their faces, vertices, and edges.
In Science, the children explored natural and artificial satellites, discovering how the Moon orbits Earth and how man-made satellites support communication and weather monitoring. We also looked at the phases of the Moon, learning how its appearance changes and why.
A big highlight of our week was creating beautiful sunset paintings. The children used warm tones and blending techniques to produce vibrant artwork. These were originally planned to be showcased at the Festival Plaza event, which has now been postponed until 13th June. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and truly appreciate your ongoing support and understanding.
Well done, Year 5, for another wonderful week!
Year 6
Year 6 has had a productive and exciting term, filled with learning, creativity, and reflection. In English, students completed their grammar and punctuation revision, covering parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections), sentence structure, verb tenses, and more. In Maths, they explored angles within triangles, quadrilaterals, and a range of polygons, developing their understanding of geometric reasoning. Our Science lessons focused on revision topics including electricity and evolution and inheritance, where students deepened their knowledge of circuits, adaptation, and natural selection. During Humanities, we concluded our unit on coasts and the threats they face, with students debating the pros and cons of tourism on coastal environments. Finally, in the creative arts, students proudly completed their clay pots and artistic creations for the Makers Market, which has unfortunately been postponed to the 13th of June.
Arabic and Islamic
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
:الروضةلقد كان أسبوعًا حافلا بالتعلم فقد تعلم أطفالنا في الروضة هذا الأسبوع حرف “ ح ”، وقد استمتعوا بالتعرف عليه من خلال أنشطة ممتعة ومفيدة. كما قمنا بمراجعة الحروف السابقة: الألف، الباء، والتاء،والثاء والجيم لضمان ترسيخها في أذهانهم، كما قمنا بعمل أنشطة ممتعة لعيد الأضحى المبارك فكل عام وحضراتكم بخير .
:الصف الثاني. لقد كان أسبوعًا حافلا بالتعلم فقد أنهينا حروف الهجاء وقمنا بعمل مراجعة على الحروف ، كما بدأنا في التدرب على فقرات الاستماع استعدادًا للعام القادم كما أصبحت الفرصة متاحة للطلاب للتحدث حتى يستطيع إثراء لغته العربية وسنكمل من الآن لنهاية الفصل التدرب على الاستماع والتحدث حتى يصبح لدينا أبطال يتحدثون اللغة العربية بطلاقة.
:الصف الرابع
لقد كان أسبوعًا رائعًا في حصة اللغة العربية! وقمنا بمراجعة القواعد النحوية ( حروف الجر - حروف العطف - أسلوب الإستفهام) وبدأنا درسناالجديد : قصة ( مساومة الثعلب) وقمنا بتحليل القصة ( الزمان والمكان والشخصيات)وسنكمله الأسبوع القادم مع مراجعة ما سبق استعدادًا
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 (التسامح)
: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(النبي يحب جيرانه).
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 (ح) and learned about its different shapes and sounds We also did fun activities for Eid Al-Adha.
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y1:It was a great start to the week. We completed the lesson on the letters (ص) and learned about its different shapes and
sounds (َ صا-صو-صي- صْ-صُ-صِ-ص). 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.
y2:It was a great start to the week. We completed the lesson on the letters (ع -غ ) and learned about its different shapes and
sounds. 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.
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 continue our lesson which is “ Aaz Alasdeqaa ”. We learnt new form of the verb with he, she and you. It was so funny as We also did fun activities for Eid Al-Adha 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 completed the lesson on the ( mawlood gadeed), We also did fun activities for Eid Al-Adha. , 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 we startes our lesson (Animal and intelligence)We learned about the types of organisms such as amphibians, reptiles, fish, and mammals, and we will complete the rest of the lesson 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 (Tolerance). 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.
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 (some Islamic manners). 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 (the Prophet (s.a.w) loves work). 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.
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 (kindness) .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. 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.
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. 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.
Regards, Arabic and Islamic team
Mr. Desoky, Ms. Basma
Ms: Asmaa Elsherbiny Arabic & Islamic Head
y 5 Arabic B
y 5 Arabic B
y 4 Islamic A
y 5 Arabic B
Spanish
Hola todos ,
We had an amazing week in our Spanish lesson students had different worksheets and activities in all classes . In year 1 students started learning about los animales by listening music , doing colouring and matching worksheets. In year 2 students learnt about types of mascotas in Spanish by describing in writing types of mascotas (pets) in Spanish. In year 3 students discussed about la comida y bebidas in Spanish by doing research work based on it . In year 4 students students discussed about adjetivos y los animales by describing about their nature . In year 5 students dicussed about how to order food by reading sentneces in Spanish with their classmates . In year 6 students discussed more about Verbo Ser and prombres and wrote sentences in their notebooks along with spelling test which encourage them to learn more vocabularies in Spanish . Gracias for your support .
Tengas buen fin de Semana
Señor Radhey
STREAM
What a fantastic and high-energy week we’ve had in the STREAM classroom! From marble runs to mini cities and robotics in action—our learners across all year levels have been buzzing with creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Our little engineers took on a new challenge this week: building the tallest and longest marble run using wooden blocks with holes. It was all about teamwork, design thinking, and testing their creations to see how fast and far the marbles could go. The excitement was contagious, and their perseverance was impressive!
Year 2 students brought the skyline of Dubai to life in miniature! Using Lego blocks, they constructed famous landmarks and added their own Metro Railway Station, which ran through their city. Their attention to detail and urban design skills were truly remarkable.
Our budding tech wizards in Years 3 to 6 continued diving deep into robotics. This week, they programmed and tested their Lego Spike creations, making sure every movement and task ran smoothly. The highlight? A mini showcase, where each group demonstrated what their robot could do—walking, turning, grabbing, and more!
STREAM continues to be a space where students dream big, think critically, and bring their ideas to life. We can’t wait to see what next week holds!
Have a lovely weekend.
Ms. Janice
Have a great week ahead!