Al Sedra Newsletter 2019/20 Issue 34

21st May 2020

YOUR WEEKLY UPDATE ON ALL THAT’S GOING ON AT THE GULF ENGLISH SCHOOL

21st May 2020

PRIMARY Dear GES family It’s amazing to see the end of the school year arrive so quickly and what a different year it has been. I want to start this final letter thanking you all for the support and patience that you have shown us over the last couple of months. We have had successes and some challenges, yet despite all, we continued to work together to deliver a rich, authentic learning experience for each GES pupil. Our online learning platform hit the ground running and grew from strength to strength; this too was down to the amazing teamwork between pupils, parents and staff.

The words CARING, SUPPORTIVE, RESPECTFUL and RESPONSIBLE are values we try and instill in our pupils during their time at GES; there has never been a time when I have seen these values displayed so obviously, as over the last year. From staff delivering bespoke online lessons, to pupils recording and uploading their performances, I have been amazed at the quality of work and dedication from all parties. Thank you!

I would like to thank our hard working and caring staff who have made a huge difference to our pupils. Their commitment is outstanding and our learners are the beneficiaries. Thank you for providing rich and engaging, well-rounded learning experiences, understanding that education is about wonder and fostering curiosity, along with the development of social skills so needed to succeed. For these, and a million other things, I am truly grateful.

There are so many people that I need to thank at this time, but I would particularly like to give a special mention to our leaving staff who have, during their time at GES, shown commitment, dedication and utter professionalism. As they start the next stage of their individual journeys, I trust that they will take a little bit of the GES magic with them and I wish them well.

There is an old proverb that says “It takes a village to raise a child”. I believe that there has never been a year in my time at GES that this proverb is more true. Once again, I want to thank everyone for their hard work and commitment to educate ‘our’ children.

I trust you all have a wonderful summer break, please stay safe and we look forward to welcoming you and your children back to school on the 1st of September 2020 to what I am sure, will be another fantastic year.

Yours sincerely Mrs. Carol de Jongh Head of Primary

21st May 2020

INFANTS As we find ourselves at the end of the school year, I am incredibly proud of all of our students and their families. This year has seen many challenges, but with each challenge, we have seen many successes, and that is down to our whole school community coming together.

As I reflect on our journey this year, I have seen both academic and personal achievements and most importantly I have seen how you all have demonstrated our core values; supportive, caring, respectful and responsible.

Today, we say goodbye to our Year 2 who will embark upon their new journey as they move to their new campus in Primary. These are often sad and emotional; however, they are also a time for joy and celebration as we reflect on our student’s journey while at infant school. They are a credit to themselves, their families and our school. I would like to wish them every success in the future.

I wish you good health and a summer filled with fun!

Mrs Pamela Abbas Infant Deputy Head

21st May 2020

JUNIORS As we approach the end of the academic year, we can look back on everything that we have learnt and experienced. Term 3 has proven to be unlike any other term ever witnessed at the Gulf English School and indeed worldwide. Nevertheless, it has been a busy time with events and has seen lots of great learning take place.

The move to online learning has seen students and teachers alike learn new skills and create creative, fun and interactive activities. We have been so impressed with the focus and commitment of everybody involved in the process, particularly over the last four weeks during the holy month of Ramadan. Everyone has proven to be caring, supportive, respectful and responsible over this time, showing what a fantastic school community we have here at the Gulf English School.

This week students enjoyed their End of Year assemblies where all of the wonderful achievements and happy times experienced throughout the year were shared. Year 6 also had an awards assembly for both academic and social achievements. Let us take this opportunity to wish all of our Year 6 students every success in Secondary School and hope they will continue to achieve great things while carrying on their learning journey.

Finally, we would like to wish all students, families and staff a great summer holiday where hopefully you will be able to relax with loved ones. We have arranged for optional tasks to be set in reading, maths and PE for all students in Juniors to keep them engaged while also enjoying their well-deserved break.

We hope that everyone stays safe and has an enjoyable break over the next few months.

Gary Shaw and Olivia Rumah

21st May 2020

JUNIORS Summer Maths Challenge Are you wishing you had something different to do? Do you have too much time on your hands? Would you like to earn some serious Dojo Points to get ahead of your classmates before school starts again in August?

Well... You’re in luck!

https://www.mymaths.co.uk/

To help keep your brain sharp over the summer we have provided you with some activities to complete on MyMaths. All you have to do is complete the personalised tasks that have been set for you. There will be 2 tasks set every week for the whole summer.

That’s 26 tasks in total! When you have completed the task each week, enter your percentage score in the reflection box at the bottom of this page.

How many tasks you complete, determines how many Dojo points you come back to school with:-

Complete all tasks - 50 Dojos Complete 20 tasks - 35 Dojos Complete 13 tasks - 20 Dojos Complete 7 tasks - 10 Dojos That isn't all the fun available though.

https://ttrockstars.com/

We also want to see you earning coins on TT Rockstars. Are you faster than your teachers? Can you join Mr. Gary on Rock Hero status?

Keep your recall of Times Tables fast and sharp by practising them for 10 minutes every day. Check weekly throughout the holidays for different Battles that will be taking place between Year Groups, Boys vs Girls and even Teachers vs Students.

Forgot your login? Remember they are all printed in your Junior Reading Log, but if you still cant find them, send a comment on the task or email gary.shaw@gulfenglishschool.com and we will email your details to your parents.

Have a great summer and happy numbering!!

21st May 2020

JUNIORS

21st May 2020

SECONDARY I am extremely proud to be the Head of the Secondary School at GES and witness the passion and dedication demonstrated by everyone involved in the school, during these very difficult times.

This year, more so than any other, we have displayed our core values even through the effects of COVID-19. During this pandemic we have been able to show, as a school community, that we will not allow it to affect the teaching and learning of our students and we have seen positive engagement by teachers, students and parents.

In the first two terms we had many events and many achievements both as a school, and as individuals. We have yet again had great success with our sports teams and performers, claiming medals in The School Olympic Program and The Sheikh Faisal Cup. We have also performed excellently in MUN conferences, with certain individuals receiving high praise and recognition for their efforts and conduct.

IB students have again run charity events, such as the GES Blood Drive at Katara and the GES sustainability project, in coordination with the Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation. Both of these projects finished in the top twenty of the Akhlaquna Awards. These awards were introduced in 2017

by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, to endorse the idea that knowledge and morality are intertwined; guiding together the prosperity of societies. It is an annual award that highlights universal and inclusive values (such as mercy, tolerance, honesty and generosity) in the minds of the younger generation, with specific recognition for those young people who exemplify great moral character through initiating projects that serve their community.

Many students, alongside the counseling team, organised the GES 14th Annual College Fair, which was attended by many universities, colleges, businesses and organisations. Pupils from other schools were invited and attended; building links with other schools and the wider community. It was also a great pleasure to have H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qaasim Al Thani come to open the event and speak, and guide the students in their career choices.

As we are almost at the end of the school year, I would like to wish all staff and students who are leaving our school community the very best of luck in whatever they do, at wherever they move on to.

For everyone who is reading this, right now is a difficult time, but stay strong, support each other and better times will come. I know I speak on behalf of all of the staff at GES when I say that we cannot wait to return to normal, get everyone back into school and start a new, action packed, year.

21st May 2020

CONTACT The Gulf English School PO Box 2440, Doha, Qatar Main School: Tel: +974 44578777 Main School: Fax: +974 44861256 Infant Unit: Tel: +974 44886791/90 +974 44886201/93 Infant Unit: Fax: +974 44876821

Email: info@gulfenglishschool.com

Website: www.gulfenglishschool.com