Dear GWA Community, Our DSIB inspection is done, our teachers are updating the Q2 reports (going home Feb 7), we are finishing our GWA Games against other GWA schools, we had a very successful pajama free-dress day today, we’re getting data in from our current MAP testing, and we’re preparing for David Schwartz, our author visit, next Wednesday! We are now embarking on something new around the school. For a long time our focus has been squarely on student learning and the curriculum, processes, and the resources that support that. This won’t change, but we’re in a healthy place of maintaining what we have in place rather than developing new initiatives. The experience in our classrooms is full of life, with displays of the learning that’s taking place in there. What’s missing is much of this visible learning alive throughout the school. Over the next few weeks, we are going to make a push to celebrating what we do and look for ways to spill the excitement of learning into all parts of the school. We have some rather empty and sterile areas of our school that need an injection of creative spirit. If any of you have thoughts or ideas for us, I would be more than happy to hear from you! I hope that you will be as excited as we are with the new efforts being put forth around the school. Take care, Jeff R. Jeffery Hart Elementary School Principal GEMS World Academy-Dubai |
Hello GWA community,
For the last elementary Usra Parent Coffee Morning, I presented about some of the changes all Primary Years Programme (PYP) schools will see in the next few years. The PYP has moved into a new phase of innovation and development called "The Enhancements in the PYP”. If you are curious about all of the possible changes in The Enhancements, feel free to go here for information directly from the International Baccalaureate. The purpose of my presentation was to focus on how GWA is evolving and innovating based on research about what is best for students. Ultimately, the research focused on how we can equip students so that they have the best chance for a successful future. I am very proud that GWA is one of the leading IB school in the region to begin implementing The Enhancements in a strategic and sustainable way. Allowing students greater ownership in the learning process, a greater focus on transferable skills (Approaches to Learning) and encouraging more student feedback on taught Units of Inquiry only touches the surface of what is possible within the new framework of the PYP. All aspects of The Enhancements focus on preparing students for an unknown future. As you can see from the presentation, GWA and the IB/PYP feel strongly that the knowledge, skills, and attitudes we develop will equip our students to have more choices and pathways throughout their life. If you would like to learn more about The Enhancements in the PYP and how GWA is implementing them, please schedule an appointment with me via email. Thank you for your continued support. David Gerber PYP Curriculum Coordinator Grade 4-6 students will enjoy a grade presentation by author and math enthusiast David M. Schwartz on:
Wednesday, 6 February from 14:30-15:30 Books will also be available for purchase and signing in the main lobby. David has always been fascinated by both the largest and the smallest things in the universe. As a child, he took many mental journeys into space, prompted by his imagination and the heavenly bodies he saw through his telescope. When he peered into his microscope, he was transported to the wonderful worlds of hidden life. David studied biology and became an elementary school teacher, but the wonder and excitement of his imaginary travel remained with him. Books available include: How Much is a Million, If You Made a Million, G is for Googol and Where in the Wild.
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