GWA Drop-off, Pick-up and Parking Explained
Transcripción
GWA Drop-off, Pick-up and Parking Explained
Volume 7, Issue 1 September 4th, 2014 GEMS World Academy-Dubai develops inquiring, reflective and caring learners who, through the rigour of the IB programs, have the knowledge, skills and character to take action and create a better, more peaceful world. Supported by highly qualified staff in world-class facilities, our diverse international community is encouraged to develop intercultural understanding and respect. A Note from our Elementary Principal Dear Elementary Parents, The first week of school has truly been a great success thanks to you, our wonderful GWA team, and, most of all, our students. We want to thank you for your cooperation and for entrusting us with your children. It’s a commitment we all take very seriously, so thank you. On Wednesday, September 10 at 7:00PM, we wish to welcome you to our “Back to School Night”. We will offer three sessions. During these three sessions, please make sure to attend the presentation(s) of your child’s (children’s) classroom teacher (sessions 1 and 2 only) and be sure to visit the tables of our specialists (sessions 2 and 3 only). Sessions will run from 7:00-7:25 (session 1), 7:30-7:55 (session 2), and 8:00-8:25 (session 3). If you are unable to attend, please let your child’s teacher know and I’m sure they’d be happy to send home any information you might have missed. Our Elementary Family-Student Handbook is available for you at this time. It is very important for each family to read this document as it answers many of the questions you might have about life at the “big, blue school.” To review our handbook, please click on the following link: Family-Student Handbook Finally, the GEMS World Academy-Dubai Home-School Agreement is being sent home on Sunday. Please review this document, sign it, and return it with your child to school on Monday. If you’d like access to this document to print at home, sign and return, you can access it here. See you at Back to School Night on September 10th! It has been a great start to the year! Thank you for your support. Sincerely, Jason Smith A Quick Glimpse at the Week Ahead! Sunday, Sept 7 Day 5 KG1A (New Students)— Emirates ID Scan Gr5 Swimming Tryouts— After school Monday, Sept 8 Day 6 KG1C (New Students) Emirates ID Scan Tuesday, Sept 9 Day 1 KG1E (New Students) Emirates ID Scan Wednesday, Sept 10 Day 2 No Assembly KG1F (New Students) Emirates ID Scan Gr4 Swimming Tryouts— After school Back to School night 7pm GWA Drop-off, Pick-up and Parking Explained To view the GWA cafeteria menu, please visit the GWA website at www.gemsworldacademy-dubai.com Thursday, Sept 11 Day 3 Gr 2 - Gr5 Assembly 8.30am KG1D (New Students) Emirates ID Scan 1:30 Dismissal Get to Know Our ES Leadership Team! Name: Jason Smith Position: Elementary Principal Nationality: American Years in Education: 15 years Educational Qualifications: Master’s in Educational Leadership, School Superintendent Credential (in process) Graduated from: BA from Luther College (Iowa, USA) & MA from Seattle Pacific University (Washington, USA) Worked at GWA since: August 2014 Countries worked in: USA, UAE, Qatar Area(s) of passion in education: Early literacy, leadership, and assessment Interests/hobbies: Tennis, Singing, and playing with my children! How I model lifelong learning: I am an avid reader of professional development books. Books that focus on leadership and literacy development are my favorites! I love sharing newly learned information and new questions I have with others. Interesting fact about me: During my senior year in college, I almost switched career paths from education to opera performance. I think I made the right decision! Name: Jeffery Hart Position: Elementary Assistant Principal Nationality: Canadian Years in Education: This is my 17th year Educational Qualifications: B. Arts (English/Humanities), B.Ed (Primary/Junior), and M.Sc. (Edu. Leadership and Management) Graduated from: York University, University of Toronto, and Manchester Metropolitan University Worked at GWA since: 2007 Countries worked in: Canada, USA, England, Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE Area(s) of passion in education: Language Arts, Computers, and Assessment for Learning, to name only a few Interests/hobbies: Camping, travelling/exploring, digital graphic design, learning guitar, and walking my dog How I model lifelong learning: I’m often motivated by uncertainty and trying things because they are new or they might present a challenge to me. I happily look at failures as the stepping stones to success; making mistakes and reflecting on them means I’m always learning and trying to improve Interesting fact about me: I’m married to Melanie Hart, one of our Kg1 teachers, and we’ve now been together for almost 25 wonderful years! Name: Darlene Huson Position: Elementary Assistant Principal Nationality: American Years in Education: 15 years Educational Qualifications: Master’s of Education in Elementary Education; Post-Master’s in Educational Leadership Graduated from: BA from Bard College and MA from The College of New Jersey (USA) Worked at GWA since: 2011 Countries worked in: USA, UK, Iceland, Japan, Italy, UAE Area(s) of passion in education: Early Childhood and the Visual Arts Interests/hobbies: Spending time with my family Interesting fact about me: I come from a family of eight children and I am the only one who does not work in a bank. Get to Know Our ES Leadership Team Name: David Gerber Position: Primary Years Curriculum Coordinator Nationality: American Years in Education: 11 Educational Qualifications: Bachelors of Arts in Education and Curriculum, presently pursuing Masters in Education (Advanced Certificate in IB Education) Graduated from: University of Montana, Missoula Worked at GWA since: August, 2011 Countries worked in: 4 Area(s) of passion in education: Developing international mindedness and conceptual understandings Interests/hobbies: triathlon, rock climbing, sailing, kiteboarding…I want to learning how to fly an ultralight plane How I model lifelong learning: I try and learn something new every year. I share my reflections as I learn. Often times I share frustrations or challenges I was able to overcome using tools I learned from previous experiences. It’s funny how everything is connected! Interesting fact about me: I will get married in April of 2015. From our Admissions Team To register your child with the Ministry of Education (KHDA) all new students transferring from out of Dubai will need to provide the following to our KHDA representative, Eman Mahmoud. New Students, PK-G12: Parents must scan Emirates IDs (Student and 1 parent ID) with Eman. New Students, Grades 2-12: We must scan Transfer Certificate with Eman. Note: Internal Dubai Transfer Students do NOT need to do the above process Attached is a calendar so parents can go class-by-class to Eman’s office from 8:30am-12pm with transfer certificates and Emirates IDs to her secondary office - 007. FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2014 8:30AM TO 12:00PM SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1. School Start 2. Start EC 3. 4. 5. 6. Gr1 –12 PreK—Kg2 7. KG1 EN 8. KG1 JY 9. KG1 KM 10. KG1 MH 11. KG1 MS 12. 13. 14. KG1 NB 15. KG1 SS 16. PreK GO 17. PreK LW 18. PreK MB 19. 20. 21. KG2 AL 22. KG2 CM 23. KG2 HW 24. KG2 KA 25. KG2 NW/ KG2 SH 26. 27. 28. Gr1 AW/ Gr1 CV 29. Gr1 LP/ Gr1 KM 30. Gr1 FK/ Gr1 A Note from the School Counselors Greetings GWA Parents and Families! Welcome back! The beginning of a school year is an exciting time full of opportunities and possibilities. The students are learning the new routines and reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. There are many things that we can do to help the children have the best start possible. Here are some tips to help your child transition successfully back into school. 1. Scale back the bedtime hour to allow your child to have plenty of rest. Begin bedtime at least fifteen minutes earlier than you would normally to help them get used to the new bedtime. 2. Make sure your child eats a nutritious breakfast to have enough energy for this energetic time. 3. Create a homework basket or a place that both you and your child know where homework will be looked at and completed. 4. Develop your morning routines; practice them with your child so that your family can have a positive start to the day. 5. Communicate regularly with your child’s teacher and learn which school rules you can begin reinforcing right away to help them be successful at school. 6. Ask your child about who their friends are and encourage them to reach out to other kids that seem nice. Remind them that making friends sometimes takes more than one attempt. If the first attempt isn’t successful, then try again or try to make friends with someone else. GWA staff will be assisting with this process of helping each child feel connected to the school, the class, and to each other. The counselors are available to help the students to settle into this school year, especially the new students. If you have any questions about these tips or if you feel your child is not adjusting as well as you would like, please feel free to contact us. We are very excited about this school year and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks. Alicia (Cia) Ashenden (Pre-K through KG2) Kevin Nelson (Grades 1 through 3) Kim Leiske (Grades 4 and 5) Volunteer Sign Up Nomination for Treasurer Digital Citizenship Newsletter Bringing Back the Rules After Summer Did you find your summer months involve more free time, unstructured routines and a lot more screen time than normal? According to the Harris Interactive Poll, half of all parents witness their children watching more television, playing more video games, and surfing the web over the summer months. Bringing back the rules after summer is something every family starts to think about as students return back to school. Common Sense Media offers ideas and advice which can help make the back to school routine much simpler after the summer holidays. Involve all family members in establishing new back to school home routines Ensure there is a balance of exercise, reading, social and family time, school work and entertainment in each weekly routine Turn off all electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime. The stimulation to media makes it difficult to help kids settle down and impedes healthy sleep patterns Use the school library Be the media role model for your children by modeling healthy habits that you would like your kids to follow To keep up to date information and resources, visit the GWA Digital Citizenship Weebly and like us on our Digital Citizenship Facebook Page Kimberly Leiske, Elementary Counselor Important Upcoming Dates September 7 September 10 September 10 September 28 September 29 October 4 October 5 – 9 October 12 November 4 November 20 December 2– 3 December 18 Gr5 Swimming Tryouts—After School Gr4 Swimming Tryouts—After School Back to School Night—7pm GR4/GR5 Soccer tryouts (Signup Sheet in the Cafeteria) Gr4 Soccer Tryouts Arafah Day* School Holiday (Includes Eid Al Adha) Classes resume Islamic New Year* Faculty training Day—No school UAE National Day Start of Winter Break—12pm Dismissal *Islamic Holidays are subject to change You can always view our calendar at www.gemsworldacademy-dubai.com! Your Child’s Classroom Weebly The Class Weebly will be the classroom teacher’s primary means of communicating general information about the classroom with families. Please be sure to check it at least once weekly. Teachers will be updating weekly, at a minimum. The classroom websites will be ready for parent viewing by September 10th. Please visit http:// gwapyp.weebly.com/ to access your child’s Class Weebly. Dear Parents, GEMS Music Academy will begin on the week Sept. 14th (Sunday). For our returning students with individual music lessons, deadline for payments is on Sept. 7th . Payments are now accepted online and the accounts office. For new applications, please register online : www.gemsmusicacademy.com For more information click here These individual music lesson are offered during school time. Please be advised that this is not an AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY.