GWA PARENTS WEEKLY Week of April 7 13 Your Weekly Lower and Upper Schools Communication What parents need to know about this week @ GWA ALL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS Please note that the deadline to pay for 4th quarter is Friday, April 6th. This is also the deadline to pay the 2018-19 membership advance and turn in your signed reenrollment form to guarantee your student's place for the 2018-19 school year. The GWA cashier is open daily. SCHOOL NOTICES & EVENTS Save the date Apr 6-7 Varsity Volleyball Friday & Saturday at AST Apr 10 9th & 10th Parent Breakfast @ 8:30 in the MPR Apr 11 End 3rd Quarter The character trait for April is Honesty Please visit our Master Calendar or Facebook to see more events and updates! (ctrl, click on Master Calendar ) Admissions Page: 2 Lower School Announcements Page: 4 Upper School Announcements Page: 5 7 Library Page: 8-9 Menu Page: 11 1
ALL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS 2
ALL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS 3
Dear Parents/Guardians, LOWER SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS This week's character trait is HONESTY. Our Elementary students participated in a character assembly this morning where honesty was defined as "being truthful in what you say and do." Examples include consistently telling the truth, admitting when wrong, being reliable, and doing what is right even when nobody is watching. Thomas Jefferson stated, "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom." Please join us in emphasizing this important character trait at home this month and beyond! Bon weekend, Kevin Brenner Lower School Principal Announcements: The third quarter ends on 11 April. First through fifth grade student-led conferences are on Wednesday, 18 April 2018 (there is no school that day). Please note these are not parent/teacher conferences, rather, students lead their parents through a series of activities in the classroom to showcase their learning. Parents must check in at the reception desk and proceed to the Lower School office for any and all visits to campus between 8:00am and 3:00pm. The guard will not allow parents past the gate during this window of time. Early notice: No backpacks with wheels will be allowed next school year. This will be strictly enforced next school year as it is a safety hazard for our students and staff. Third quarter report cards for Kindergarten through fifth graders will be sent home on Friday, 20 April. Rallye de Lecture character dress up day is Wednesday, 11 April! See the flyer sent home by the French Department last week for more details. Reminder: Please do NOT send candy to school with your child(ren). Parents who come to have lunch with their children can only buy lunch for their child and should sit at a different table from the class. 4
US Teacher Profile: UPPER SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS This week I would like to highlight Laura Iseminger, a member of GWA's Student Support Services Team (SSST). Ms. Iseminger is an English as an additional language teacher (EAL) working with students in the 6th and 7th grades. Through admissions testing and language screenings administered to all students at GWA, the SSST identifies students that are categorized as English Language Learners because they have not reached proficiency in the language of instruction. Ms. Iseminger works with small groups of these students and attends some of their classes to ensure that the students are getting the support they need to acquire and master the English language. Without Ms. Iseminger and the other members of the SSST, many of the students attending GWA would have a significantly harder time successfully learning in the classroom. During the next two weeks at GWA students in 8th and 10th grades will be taking the WIDA Screener. The WIDA website states that, "The WIDA Screener is an English language proficiency assessment given to incoming students in Grades 1-12 to assist educators with the identification of students as English language learners (ELLs). The purpose of this assessment is to help educators make decisions about whether a student is a candidate for English language support services." Announcements: Quarter 3 Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences We hope you will make plans to attend on April 18th. At this meeting students and parents will have a chance to ask questions about, and register for classes for the 2018-2019 school year. Students will make their course requests using PowerSchool. Conferences are an excellent time for parents to ask questions about MAP testing, college admissions, set up a PowerSchool account, and to check on the progress of their child. Upcoming Upper School Events: April 6-7 - Varsity Volleyball Tournament in Tangier April 7 - Mock AP Chemistry Exam April 10-9th and 10th grade parent meeting April 11 - Last day of the 3rd quarter Badminton Tryouts Ages 10-12: Wednesday, April 11 (3:45-5:30 pm) Ages 13-14 & 15+: Saturday, April 14 (9:30 am-1:00 pm) Meet in the MPR! 5
UPPER SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS March 26, 2018 Dear Parents of Seniors, We are sure that you and your student are looking forward to the end of the school year with anticipation. Graduation is quickly approaching and there is information specific to graduating seniors of which you should be aware. Please read about the upcoming deadlines and events and discuss them with your child. To participate in the graduation ceremony and receive a diploma, the following is required. Students who have not met these requirements by May 25, 2018, will be excluded from the graduation ceremony, and will not receive a diploma until all requirements are met. At least 27 credits of coursework according to the published requirements. Overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher Completion of CASA and Capstone requirements Pay any outstanding fees Return all school material and equipment Senior Capstone Paper: All seniors are now in the process of developing their Capstone research projects. Each student should be meeting with his or her advisor regularly to review progress toward completion. The final paper is due Friday, April 20. Prom: The annual senior Prom will be held at four season, Anfa Place Saturday, May 5. from 19h00-23h45. Prom tickets will go on sale beginning March 20, 2018 and continue through April 4, 2018 for 200 dhs per ticket, including dinner. Students must adhere to all school GWA rules and expectations during this event. CASA Program: All high school students are required to have submitted a minimum of 35 CASA hours in their online portal; providing sufficient proof and having their CASA advisor (GWA staff member assigned in the fall) approve of all hours by May 11, 2018. Each student must document at least: 10 hours in the area of service (unpaid, voluntary work that benefits someone else) 5 hours in the area of creativity (arts or other creative project) 5 hours in the area of action (involving physical exercise or other health exertion) 5 hours in the area of leadership (modeling or developing leadership qualities) 10 additional hours in any one of these areas 6
UPPER SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS Senior/Parent Breakfast: All parents are invited to a student/parent breakfast on Tuesday, May 8 at 08h30 in the MPR. This event is for seniors and their parents only. Senior Capstone Presentations: All senior students will be assigned one night to give their presentation for Senior Capstone. Presentations will run from 18h00-20h00 each night. Parents are invited and strongly encouraged to view the presentations. Last day of classes: The last official day of classes for seniors is Wednesday, May 23. Seniors required to take final exams will take them May 24-26. Not all seniors will take final exams. Students should check with teachers to determine whether an exam is required. Rehearsal: All seniors must be at GWA Friday, May 25th at 12h00 and June 1 at 14h00 for graduation rehearsals. Rehearsal is required for all students. Graduation: Graduation is Saturday, June 2 at 21h30 on the GWA field. The ceremony will be held outdoors and uncovered. Please dress accordingly. Parking is limited. Arrive early to park inside the gate. All seniors must be at school no later than 20h00. Tickets and Seating: All seniors will receive 2 reserved tickets and 18 general admission tickets. No additional tickets will be available. All parents and guests (including children and students) must present a ticket for admission. Preferential seating will be reserved for parents until 21h00. After 21h00 all seating will be open. As always, we thank you for your continuous support of your graduating senior. Should you have any additional questions or concern, please contact via email dsmith@gwa.ac.ma or by office phone at 0522953036. If you need a meeting, please set up an appointment. Respectfully, Dr. Audrey Menard Upper School Principal Dusty Smith High School Vice Principal 7
LIBRARY Dear parents, Great News! We re running a Spring Scholastic International Book Club Ages ( 0 11 years), please use the Book Club leaflet sent out with students and choose from the latest exciting selection of Scholastic books. Ages (11 years and up), open the teen brochure from the link below: http://library.gwa.ac.ma/common/ servlet/presenthomeform.do?l2m=home&tm=home Then click on New! Teens International Book Club Please use the method below to find the dirham amount How to find out the amount to pay in Dirhams? Book price in dollars x 15= amount in dirhams to pay Book price in pounds x 21(teen s brochure) = amount in dirhams to pay Ex: The Magic School Bus Rides Again : Sink or Swim : $4.50 (leaflet price) Amount to pay: $4.50 x 15=DHS67.50 To place your order fill in the following information and send back to the library with cash or a check made payable to GWA no later than Thursday, April 12, 2018. We will be contacting you as soon as the books arrive. Parent name: Student name: Item number & book title: 8
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ASA @ GWA ASA's Google Expedition and Discovery VR will take you on field trips to virtually anywhere! From Machu Picchu to Antarctica to the International Space Station to the heights of Mount Everest for a swim with Great Whites sharks - Where would you like to go? Virtual Reality can take you to new worlds like never before, immersing you in time, space and story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=3mq9yg_qfda Our first session is FREE to the first 18 students in Grades 5-8 that email Mrs. Rachad (erachad@gwa.ac.ma). Come check it out Friday, April 13th at 3:30pm to 4:30 pm in the Library Blue Room. 10
LUNCH MENU GRADES NURSERY KINDER LUNCH MENU GRADES 1-12 11