GPS Newsletter

Dear Parents

Another great week at GPS with lots of learning and enjoying ourselves.  Year 3 and 4 went out to the Dog's Shelter to learn about their needs and how they can support them.  The class organised a Makers Market with all proceeds going to purchase blankets, food and loads of other well-needed resources for the shelter.  Thursday we were visited by children from an Inclusion Centre and our Yrs 3-6 worked with them to create Ramadan-related decorations.  Fun was had by all and barriers were broken down.  Ms Jikku held an informative session ahead of the visit to explain Autism and how to relate and make friends with these special people with challenges.

Just to remember we will be accepting donations to our Red Cresent "Sharing is Caring" campaign until Wednesday.  A great big thank you to those who have already contributed.  

Save the Date: 

Monday 3rd March - Ramadan Hours start - Monday - Thursday 7.50-12.45, Online for Fridays

Ramadan Kareem

Ms Jan

Subject: Heartfelt Thanks and Appreciation for Your Support and Encouragement

Dear Parents,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to you for encouraging your children to participate in the recent interactive session with the children who face various challenges. It was an incredible experience, and I am beyond grateful for the support and kindness that your children showed during this event.

I was absolutely amazed by the way our students went above and beyond my expectations in not only helping but truly understanding the needs of each child. Their patience, compassion, and willingness to adapt were remarkable, and it was clear that the values of kindness and empathy that you have instilled in them played a significant role in this. It is no small feat to show such understanding and care, and it’s a true reflection of the positive environment you foster at home.

Your encouragement and support in helping your children develop such an attitude of kindness are deeply appreciated. It is because of families like yours that we are able to create such a wonderful and caring community. The positive impact your children made on the children with different challenges will not be forgotten, and they’ve truly set a great example of what it means to lead with empathy and compassion.

Last but not least, I would like to give a special thank you to the parent who generously donated a large supply of paints and glue to support our school's inclusion team. This thoughtful contribution will go a long way in helping us continue to provide inclusive, creative, and engaging experiences for all of our students. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Thank you once again for all that you do to support your children in becoming thoughtful, kind, and understanding individuals. We are so fortunate to have such a supportive and inspiring group of parents and students.

With sincere appreciation,

Ms Jikku

Well, another amazing, fun-filled and wonderful week of activity-based learning in EAL! Throughout the week, students have participated in various interactive activities that encourage language learning in a fun and creative way. We did group activities in Year 5, where the students did a role-play that involved going to the grocery store. One student was the cashier, the other a customer. This role-play taught them vocabulary related to the grocery store, presentation skills and how to write a dialogue!

In Year 2, the students completed their work on making sentences out of the words provided to them. They revised the rules of constructing sentences, such as capitalisation, full stops and subject-verb-object order. After that, the students played a game of 4 corners, with a twist! After choosing a corner, the students would do an action according to a prompt called out by the teacher. This game not only helped students sharpen their listening and comprehension skills but also encouraged them to think quickly in English. 

In Year 6, the student practiced her listening skills by completing a listening comprehension. She also learned how to take notes quickly while an audio plays, and use the notes to write her answers. 

In Year 3, the students wrote expanded sentences using adverbs and adjectives based on a picture prompt. 

This week, we started an exciting new project all about superheroes! We received a special invitation to join the Superhero Academy and help catch villains who have been stealing the classroom rules and turning chairs upside down! We began by discussing what makes a superhero and a villain, building word banks together to expand our vocabulary. The children created their own superhero names and explored different types of superpowers they might have. In science, we investigated where some superheroes come from and compared these places to our own, looking at culture and traditions. We talked about similarities to the UAE and imagined what kind of superhero might exist here, designing costumes suited to the climate. Throughout the week, we have been creating different elements of these superhero costumes. In math, we focused on height and measurement, making comparisons and ordering superheroes by height. The children even took on the challenge of organizing the whole class by height independently! In phonics, we learned the digraph /or/, practicing it through fun and engaging activities. It has been a fantastic start to our superhero adventure!

This week has been full of exciting learning experiences and meaningful activities!

In Maths we continued our work on measurement, focusing on millimeters (mm), centimeters (cm), and meters (m). The children practiced converting between these units and used the correct symbols to compare different lengths. In English the children completed their hot write and worked on crafting persuasive pitches for their innovated Choco-Goo creations. They are now preparing for their presentations next week—exciting times ahead! Whereas in Science we conducted an investigation using a light source (torches) to discover which materials make the best reflective surfaces. The children enjoyed exploring how light interacts with different materials.

One of the biggest highlights of the week was our visit to the local K-9 dog shelter. A few weeks ago, the children raised an impressive amount of money at the Makers Market, and with those funds, we purchased treats, blankets, towels, medical kits, and lots of toys for the shelter animals. The trip was a huge success! The children learned about the value of pets, the importance of treating animals with kindness, and how donations and volunteering can make a big difference. They also had the chance to meet many adorable dogs and behaved wonderfully throughout the visit.

A huge well done to all the children for their hard work and kindness this week! We look forward to another fantastic week of learning ahead.

Another productive week of learning in Year 4!

This week in English, we finally started to compile our Big Write of a newspaper article, ready to publish! It is great to see how the students have learnt the features and implemented this in their write up.

In Maths we consolidated our learning of fractions and started a new topic of measurement, by looking at the area within a shape.

Year 3 and 4 went to the K9 shelter, donating items and looked at ways we can support them. They thoroughly enjoyed their trip! In the latter part of the week, we had students visit out school from a therapy centre and it was great to see how Year 4 interacted with them!

Have a great weekend.

It’s been another busy and exciting week in Year 5! This week, the school welcomed children from an inclusive learning and therapy centre. Year 5 students showed great kindness and care as they worked together with them.

In English, we explored informal letters and their features. As mathematicians, we continued our work on angles, with the children learning how to measure and draw them. In Science, we conducted a comparative test to investigate which surface creates the greatest amount of friction with the sole of a shoe. The children discovered that grass created the greatest amount of friction, whereas the floor in the hall created the least. In MSC, we explored different types of trade around the world.

Next week, the children will take part in their End of Term 2 assessments in all subjects. Please ensure your child completes their online work and homework, as this will help them prepare for the tests.

Another exciting week in Year 6, the children have been busy across all subjects. In English, they learned about the key features of newspaper reports and practiced writing their own articles. In Math, they began exploring algebra, focusing on single and double functions. In Science, they conducted an experiment on conductivity and insulators, testing various materials. The class also discussed what it means to be a good person in MSC, reflecting on values like kindness and respect. In Humanities, they studied how weathering affects mountains, learning about physical, chemical, and biological weathering. Additionally, we had a visit from the Inclusion Team, who worked with the children on promoting inclusivity and support in the classroom. It’s been a week filled with learning and growth!

One more week remains till our spring break, so please remember to revise for our end of term tests next week. Here's a little snippet of trips we had this half term.

    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:كانت بداية رائعة لهذا الأسبوع، تعرفنا على حروف اللغة العربية ، وحفظنا الأنشودة  وتدربنا على كتابة حرف الألف ( أ )وتلوينه وعمل بعض الأنشطة ، كما تدربنا  على أصوات حرف الألف القصيرة ( أَ - أُ - إِ ) ، مع كلمات متنوعة بها حرف الألف ( أسد - أرنب - أُذن )
  الصَّف الثاني:  درسنا حرف الطاء - الظاء ( ط - ظ ) وتعرفنا على أشكال الحروف المختلفة ، بالحركات الطويلة والقصيرة، وقمنا بدراسة قصتي ( طريف الطاورس ، اللطيف - قصة ظريفة وأخوها محظوظ ) ،  وشرحها بأسلوب مُبسط وحل أوراق العمل ، كما قمنا بعمل أنشطة مختلفة وحل أوراق العمل والأسئلة استعدادًا لإختبار الأسبوع القادم.
الصَّف الرابع: أنهينا قصة ( حلا تجعل حياتها أحلى ) وقمنا بتحليل عناصر القصة والدروس المستفادة  منها استعدادًا للاختبار الأسبوع القادم، وبدأنا في كتابة النَّص الوصفي ، وبعض القواعد النحوية   (أسلوب العطف وقمنا بحل أسئلة الكتاب) .  استعدادًا للاختبار الأسبوع القادم
 
 

                                                   Islamic A  /     الإسلامية للعرب                                                
                                                                                                                                                                      الصَّف الثاني: كان من الرائع جدًا أن نبدأ درسنا الأول بمراجعة درس  (أركان الإيمان). والتمييز بينها وبين أركان الإسلام و ودرسنا الجديد ( سورة النَّاس) ، كما قمنا بمراجعة سورة الفاتحة والإخلاص والفلق، مع التركيز على التدريب على سورة النَّاس، كما نشجع الطلاب على مراجعتها وممارستها في المنزل لتعزيز مهارات الحفظ والإتقان. وبفضل الله اتقنا حفظ حفظ أنشودة الوضوء واتقنا الخطوات استعدادًا للتدريب العملي ،  استعدادًا للاختبار الأسبوع القادم

الصَّف الرابع: كان من الرائع جدًا أن ننهي درس (الصَّوم) هذا الأسبوع وتعلمنا مفهوم الصوم وفضائله آدابه ، كما تم التعرف على من يجب عليه الصوم، مع التركيز على التدريب على سورة الفجر مع حكم التجويد (القلقلة)، كما نشجع الطلاب على مراجعتها وممارستها في المنزل لتعزيز مهاراتهم الحفظ والإتقان،  استعدادًا للاختبار الأسبوع القادم.
                                            Arabic B /     اللغة العربية للناطقين بِغيرها               
 

FS:It was a great start to this week. We learned the Arabic letters, memorized the song, practiced writing the letter Alif (A), colored it, and did some activities. We also practiced the short Alif sounds (A - U - I), with various words that contain the letter Alif (lion  - rabbit - ear). ( 'asad - 'arnab - 'udhn )
Y1:It was a great start to the week! We did a thorough review of everything covered previously and completed the lesson on the letter (seen - س ) exploring its different shapes, long and short vowels, and various words associated with it. Additionally, we used the vocabulary to build a sentences.
Y2:It was a great start to the week! We did a thorough review of everything covered previously and We have completed the lesson letters (ر - ز  ). We learned their different shapes, long and short vowels, and various words associated with them. We used the vocabulary to build simple sentences with "this" (هذا) and "this" (هذه). Additionally, we used the conjunction "and" to construct, write, and read sentences correctly. We reviewed the previous lessons in preparation for next week's test.
Y3:It was a great start to the week! We completed the lesson (time and date ) by learning about the months. The student can also present today's date by mentioning the day of the week, the day's date, and the year.
Y4:It was a wonderful start to the week as we reviewed what we had studied before. We completed the lesson on "Weather Conditions" where we learned about different types of weather, such as sunny, rainy, windy, and cloudy. The students practiced describing the weather in simple sentences, such as "It is sunny today" or "It is raining." We also discussed how the weather changes in different seasons. The students worked on worksheets and participated in activities where they matched weather conditions with pictures.We also practiced writing long sentences to express the weather condition, and a simple paragraph about the weather condition today. We solved the book’s activities.
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 started our new lesson which is “fi almatar”. 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 was a great start to the week as we reviewed what we had studied previously. We completed the lesson on "Famous Cities" where we focused on Dubai and learned about its famous landmarks, such as the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Mall. The students practiced describing these landmarks using simple sentences, such as "The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world" and "Palm Jumeirah is an artificial island." We also discussed the culture and attractions of Dubai. We also practiced writing a descriptive text about Dubai and the most important information about the United Arab Emirates.

                                      Islamic B   /  الإسلامية للناطقين بِغيرها
Y2: In year 2 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 (surat anas ). Then we went back to our lesson  be beneficial 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-Ikhlas, 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:In the first week of January, year 3 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 first term to get ready for the new lesson which is (The virtue of reciting the Holy Qur’an). 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, 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, 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 first term, we started this week studying the lesson Praising Allah for His blessings. 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. 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.

 
Y6:It was so fantastic to start our lesson with revision for what we learnt in the first term, then we went back to our lesson .we started this week studying the lesson The merciful heart . 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 at-Takwir, 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