Volume 5, Issue 15 Dec 20th 2012

The Academy promotes inquiring, knowledgeable, reflective, and caring learners who develop personal skills to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Reflected in a variety of defined outcomes and assessments, our divisional I.B. programs support students to become compassionate, lifelong, and actively involved learners who recognize the differences among people and will contribute to a better future global society.

A Note from the Elementary Principal

What A Great Week to be a Proud Principal! Every week is a busy week at GWA-Dubai. This week has been exceptionally busy for us as we head into the winter break at a screamingly high pace. Teachers, teaching assistants, students and parents have come together in many different ways to celebrate learning across the school. Our students have been showcasing, exhibiting, demonstrating, public speaking, listening, experimenting and, importantly, enjoying, a huge variety of culminating experiences this week. Celebrating Readers! Students in Grades 3, 4 and 5 this week participated in the GWA Reading Challenge our own competition in the lead up to the Emirates Literature Festival Readers Cup. Excitement was high and the library was a place of noisy cheering as teams of students competed against each other to answer questions about the two books that they have been reading over the past 3 weeks. Thank you to Miss LJ, Mrs Atkinson and all of the volunteer reading coaches for your enthusiastic support of this event. It was great fun for all involved, and more importantly, enthusiasm for reading has increased as a result of this competition. Congratulations to our winners who go through to the next round of the competition. Celebrating Artists! Creating their personal art exhibition was the focus for all students in Grade 2 this week as they wrapped up their unit of inquiry on how artists express themselves through visual arts. A dazzling display of visual arts has captivated visitors all week, with parents invited to view the artwork, meet with the artists and be guided through the various pieces of art on display. Visitors to the gallery were able to see pieces inspired by Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Picasso and other great artists, as well as read real stories that inspired the different works of art. Congratulations Grade 2 on an impressive exhibition. Celebrating Scientists! Parents and special guests were treated to science exhibits and demonstrations at the Grade 4 science fair this week. Students in fourth grade undertook their own scientific investigations into chemical changes and very confidently presented the results of their experiments and inquiries to their visitors. Their chemistry experiments included creating lava lamps, elephant toothpaste and exploding rockets while students were able to demonstrate their scientific skills observation, collection of data, creating and testing hypotheses, and drawing conclusions.
Continued on page 2.

Quick Glimpse at the Week Ahead!

Sunday, Jan 6 Day 6 Classes resume Monday, Jan 7 Day 1 Student Council
Meetings 3.45 pm

Tuesday, Jan 8 Day 2

Wednesday, Jan 9 Day 3 Pre-kGr 1 Assembly 8.45

am - 9.15 am

Thursday, Jan 10 Day 4 Gr2Gr5 Assembly 8.45

am9.15 am

To view the GWA cafeteria menu, please visit the GWA website at www.gemsworldacademy-dubai.com

A Note from the Elementary PrincipalContinued

Celebrating Athletes! It was a pleasure seeing our Grade 4 and 5 football teams being recognised with certificates of participation on assembly this morning. They have worked hard for the last couple of months, at football practices and giving their best during their matches. Their success has come with a lot of hard work and commitment, from all players and their coaches. Well done! Celebrating Winter through Music and Festivals! Our hearts were touched and spirits lifted with incredible music making both the EC-Grade 1 and Grades 2-5 assemblies this week. We were entertained by the PYP Orchestra, an MYP singing ensemble, PreKs accompaniment of Jingle Bells while the school sang along, and the sweet singing of our Swedish community with Santa Lucia. What a great way to celebrate and acknowledge winter festivals and celebrations from around the world. The Winter Festival hosted by GWAPA was a huge success, with cultural displays of Haj, Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year drawing the attention of students from across the school. Take some time to read the New Year wishes on our tree in reception. It was a truly international celebration of winter festivals. Thank you to our Music department for the wonderful assemblies, and to our energetic Parent Association for bringing the Winter Festival to life. With so many reasons to celebrate learning in every area of our school, you can see why I am feeling like a very proud principal this week! We have a truly incredible school. Wishing you all a wonderful, restful, fun-filled winter holiday, and for those of you celebrating, Merry Christmas! I look forward to seeing you when school reopens, on January 6 th, 2013. Sincerely Megan Brazil Elementary Principal

DID YOU KNOW?

GWA-Dubai has BOTH an all-school building evacuation plan and an all-school lockdown plan
The school evacuation plan and a practice drill to exit the buildings is conducted once a month. Those drills are unannounced at random times each month. A practice drill was conducted while the CIS Accreditation Team was on our campus and following the observation received a commendable mark of excellence on the written exit report. A school lockdown plan is also in place. This plan is included in the red emergency folder in every classroom. That drill has a script that teachers are required to read to students regarding the practice and why we do such drills. An announced all-school lockdown is conducted twice a year. All practice drills take no longer than 20 minutes and regular classwork resumes once an all clear is announced. Interested parents may preview a red emergency file and its contents at any time. Health, safety, and welfare of our entire school community remains an eminent priority. The 2011 KDHA/DSIB inspection results reflected an OUTSTANDING mark to GWA in this category.

Congratulations to Grade 3AH on winning the Green Dragon this week in assembly!

Thank you GWAPA! Click here to view more photos from the Winter Festival.

Grade 2 Art Gallery What a success!

Over the past week, the reception area and the Gallery Walk have been brightly decorated with examples of Grade 2 art! Grade 2 students presented a range of pieces, that reflected their learning around using different elements of art. Their final summative task was also shown through artwork on a canvas, and a written piece. Parents and teachers came to discuss the artwork with the Grade 2 artists. The artists explained topics such as which artist they were inspired by, how they used the elements of art to express their emotions and their personal reflections on their work. Grade 2 Teachers would like to thank everyone very much for supporting Grade 2 we know you are as proud as we are of our ARTISTS!

Grade 2 Art Gallery

The Shutter 13 contest IS ON!!!!

Over the break take pictures of everything you see that is EXCITING, COOL, OR JUST NEW. You never know what the winning picture will look like It could be yours.

GWA International Day Food Fiesta is coming February 22nd 2013!!

Our theme for International Day this is year is FOOD! Dont forget to bring back those special mementos from your home countries for your International Day stand we will be forwarding more info in the New Year.

If you would like to sign-up for International Day, click the link below for instructions on how to join in as either a participant or a country stand organizer!

Important Upcoming Dates

December 20 December 23January 3 January 6 January 15 January 21 January 31 February 10 February 22 Early dismissal 12pm Winter Break Classes Resume Gr2 Gr5 Sports Day Music Concert KG2Gr2 , 9am10am ECGr1 Sports Day Quarter 2 Reports Issued GWA International Day