GCS Update - Thursday, 15^th Dec 2011

Please see below a summary of information reminders and notices from GCS:

Festive Fun

GCS would like to thank all our families and friends who came along to our Winter Picnic and helped to make it such a great event.  The atmosphere as fantastic, the students performed brilliantly and everyone had a really good time. A special thanks goes out to those parents who worked so hard to help us pull the event together. If any parents would like to help us plan and organise future events at GCS please contact marketing@gcschool.ae. Thank you.

MYP Parent Information Sessions

The MYP are offering Parent Information Sessions on Assessment and Reporting in January. The sessions are intended to take a closer look at MYP assessment and the individual subject criteria. Parents will have the opportunity to grade a piece of work using the criteria for Language A. There will also be information about the MYP reports, how the grades are arrived at and what the reports will look like. The session will run on both Monday 16 January, starting at 14.45; the second on Tuesday, 17 January starting at 19.30.

Lost Property

Please check the lost property area directly outside the clinic in the PYP building for any misplaced belongings. Items that are not claimed before Tuesday, 20^th Dec will be donated to charity.

Fees Due

Please remember, payment of the Term 2 Tuition Fee is now due. Invoices for academic year 2011-2012 have been issued to all parents prior to the start of this academic year.  If you have any queries or require further clarification, or a copy of your invoice, kindly contact Neeraj Massey, nmassey@gcschool.ae or Alexander Varghese, avarghese@gcschool.ae.

Extra Teaching Days

The KHDA have allowed us extra teaching days for this academic year to compensate for the teaching time lost during the school evacuation in October. There are 3 extra days; 12 Feb 2012, 5 April 2012 and 28 June 2012. With this new KHDA approval we are now able to publish our confirmed calendar, including the extra days, for academic year 2011/12. Please see our website for further details.

KHDA Registration

From 15 Dec each document still not yet submitted should now be brought into school with AED 20 attached. The KHDA impose a fine for all delays in registration as an extension paper must now be sought.  From 15 Nov documents sent by emails will not be considered because we are not able to begin the registration process without covering its associated cost.

Withdrawal

If a student is to be withdrawn from the school a full term's notice in writing is required. However, if you intend to leave GCS at the end of Term 1, please ensure you notify admissions@gcschool.ae as soon as possible in order for us to prepare the relevant transfer documents.

ECA's for Term 2

The last ECA for this term will be on Thursday 15 December 2011.  The list of available ECA's for Term 2 will be posted on the school website and on the PYP noticeboard on Tuesday, 20^th Dec.

The link allowing parents to make choices will be posted on the website on Monday 9 January 2012. Up to two activities per week can be selected on a first come first serve basis for children from KG2 - Year 5.  The link will close on Sunday 15 January 2012.  Parents will be able to check the ECA lists on the school website from Monday 23 January 2012.

Please note that the PE Department operate a separate programme for Sports Squads. These are by invitation only and not part of the ECA programme and will be advised by the PE Department. Please note that swim squad will be taking place on a Thursday for those on the team. There will be no Monday swim squad session in Term 2, there will just be a combined session on a Thursday.

Health Office Update

Head Lice: A Reminder for Parents. Head lice continue to be a problem for the whole community, not just among schoolchildren. Please continue to check the heads of ALL your family at least weekly, using a fine toothed comb. If you do find living, moving lice, appropriate treatment is essential. Treatments are available from pharmacies. Continue to check the family's hair at least once a week. If you have any concerns, questions or require assistance please do not hesitate to contact Nurse Mabelle at mramos@gcschool.ae.

Severe Nut Allergies: Please also be reminded that we have several children within the school who suffer from severe nut allergies in school. Contact with this substance can cause a serious risk to their health. We would like to remind you as parents to consider some simple precautions to ensure their safety:

• Please avoid the use of nuts or peanut products, such as chocolate spreads/peanut butter, in your child's lunch box .
• Discuss with your child the importance of not sharing food at school and the reason why.
• Check with the class teachers before providing any food for class events.

Special Offer to Parents

All parents of Taaleem students are eligible for a 10% discount on the normal AED1,325 price of a seat on a Seawings Silver flight. Alternatively, 2 parents of Taaleem students paying full fare can take a child under the age of 12 years along with them for free.  To avail of these offers, Taaleem parents will need to provide the name of their child along with the name of the Taaleem school and class which he/she attends. These offers expire on 31^st January 2012 and cannot be combined with other offers. Seawings:  T: 04 883 2999, E: sales@seawings.ae, W: www.seawings.ae