SPOTS
SPOTS
DIVISIONAL NEWS
SAVE THE DAA PARENT CALENDAR
LAST TWO WEEKS
DODGEBALL 7’s: The ultimate high school showdown!🔥
📣A high school tradition like no other - our grades go head-to-head in a fierce battle of speed, strategy and school spirit💪
Do you have a way with words? Show off your poetic talent in our GEMS Poetry Competition! This year’s theme combines the importance of Family First values with the power of Vision, inspired by the Labradorite Gemstone—a symbol of transformation and leadership.
Age Categories:
📌 Under 8 📌 Under 13 📌 13+
Maximum Word Count – 300
Submission Deadline - Friday, 25th April 2025, at 12:00 noon
Let your creativity shine and express what family values and vision mean to you through poetry! It can be in whichever poetic form you feel you can express family values and vision the best. Be as imaginative, creative, and reflective as you can be!
Please ensure that all entries are in Word Doc format and labelled:
* Name
* School
* Class
* DOB and Age Category
Please submit poems to communication_daa@gemsedu.com before the deadline!
We cannot wait to read your inspiring poems! 📝✨
Celebrating our student sustainability heroes!🐝🌿
Our Eco Committee, The Hive, were proudly presented with certificates commending their dedication and work - including graduating Seniors who have championed sustainability throughout their time at DAA!
The torch is passed on to the next generation of DAA changemakers, supported by our wonderful DAA team Ms. Angela and Mr. Ivan!⭐️
UPCOMING EVENTS
We invite you to an enlightening session on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)—a chance to learn, connect, and gain insights from those who are on this personal journey.
What to Expect:
Information Session: Understanding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and strategies to support children from DAA expert educators.
Student Spotlight: A brave DAA student shares their personal journey.
Parent Perspective: A DAA mother discusses her family’s experiences and triumphs.
This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions, find community and discover ways to empower your child.
Let’s come together to learn and grow. We hope to see you there!
We are thrilled to announce the Islamic Festival Competitions, organized by the K-12 Islamic Department at DAA in collaboration with other departments. This festival aims to showcase our students' talents and skills while fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Islamic culture and values.
We encourage all students to participate in at least one competition and take this opportunity to explore their interests and showcase their talents. The competitions will take place between April 28th and May 8th.
To register for the competition, please review the attached PDF for detailed information, including rules and regulations, and complete the registration form by April 22, 2025.
We look forward to seeing the amazing talents and creativity of our students at this festival. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Islamic Department.
IMPORTANT INFO
Dear DAA Community, we are pleased to share the 2025-26 Academic Calendar, revised March 2025.
After three years of exceptional leadership and achievement as Superintendent, Dr Ethan Hildreth is embarking on a new career phase. We thank him for his dedication and impact on our community.
We are delighted to announce that from August, the highly renowned North American educator, Ms Helen Pereira-Raso, will take over as Superintendent. With her wealth of experience and passion for excellence, she is set to lead DAA into an exciting new chapter.
Join us in celebrating Dr Hildreth’s contributions and welcoming Ms Pereira-Raso to the DAA family!
🌐 In today's digital world, online safety is more critical than ever. At GEMS Education, we believe in empowering our parents with the knowledge to protect themselves and their families from online threats. From recognizing phishing attempts to practicing safe browsing habits, here are essential tips for staying secure in the digital landscape. Let's work together to create safer online experiences for our community.
#OnlineSafety #CyberSecurity #GEMSEducation #ParentTips
Find out more: GEMS World Credit Card | FAB
Apply Now: Bankfab | Apply
Contact our representative Mr. Raju Selvaraj
Mobile: +971523196669 Email: raju.selvaraj@bankfab.com
Please take the time to read the “GEMS Home Learning Policy“.
Everyone is required to present and wear their ID and lanyard on campus.
Dark blue Student Lanyards are to be worn at all times on campus (GR 3 - 12).
Please ensure you have your family and student lanyards.
Lost ID Cards: If you have lost your ID card you must purchase a replacement via the GEMS Connect App or Accounts office.
Go to the GEMS Connect App
Select Activities
Select School Activities
You will see the option to pay for the Lost/Damaged ID Card *Please screenshot proof of purchase/receipt confirmation
Once the purchase is complete, visit the main reception to confirm which ID card you need printed.
Traffic surrounding the school in Al Barsha 1 during drop-off and pick up times can be intense and time-consuming. Utilizing the school bus can significantly reduce the congestion in the area and make your child's daily commute safe and convenient.
The School Bus Program is suitable for all ages, with classroom drop off and collection included for lower elementary.
REGISTER FOR THE BUS:
To submit a Request for Bus Service for your child, please click on the link below:
Request for Bus Service AY 2024 - 2025
Please log in to GEMS Connect and click on the Bus Transport icon, then select Transport Info and click the Register button to submit your request for bus transportation.
Alternatively, you can contact our STS Representative sde-daa@sts-group.com / 04 704 9755 to express your interest in registering your child for the school bus.
Morning drop off time:
During morning drop-off, to access our drop-off loop please continue to use Gate 2 entry and take the entry road nearest to Al Zahra hospital to access.
Afternoon Pick-Up time:
Gate 5 entry is now open at pick-up time. We have adjusted our traffic flow, now allowing entry to our loop via Gate 5 at pick-up time (only). This change has come to provide more convenient access to the loop for our community, with entry through both Gate 2 and Gate 5 at pick-up.
Gate 2 entry and waiting bays. We understand that pick-up time can be particularly busy due to the requirement to park. We strongly discourage our community to be double parking outside our gates, blocking the main road and entry to Gate 2. Gate 2 will remain as an entry point for our drop-off and pick-up loop. In addition, at dismissal time we will allow for single bay waiting zones that drivers can use to wait in their cars for student pick up. Those using our waiting zones should not leave their car.
Advised Route For Elementary. We encourage Elementary parents that require RTA parking take the entry road nearest to Al Zahra hospital.
Advised Route For Middle and High. We encourage Middle and High School parents to use the loop at pick-up times and we encourage you to use the entry road nearest to ASD at this time to access Gate 5.
The health and safety of our learning community is always our number one priority. Many of our students and families use the unpaved sand areas across the street to walk to their pick-up location or residence. These areas are not designated parking spaces or roadways, and therefore should remain clear. Driving through these areas creates a hazard for our community members and is subject to RTA regulations.
We encourage all of our community members to report any dangerous activity they see through the Dubai Police App. This reporting will help keep our entire learning community safe.
We are excited to share the academic calendar for the school year! 📅
From Grab&Go sandwiches and salads to hot meals and live stations, Slices offers healthy and tasty meals to our students.
We are operating a completely cashless system in our multiple dining spaces for Grades 3 to 12. For lower elementary classroom delivery is available, pre-ordered by parents.
For instructions on how to top-up the Student Card and sample menus, see HERE.
Safeguarding at DAA means that everyone is responsible for helping students keep safe.
See our poster around campus and digitally to know who to talk to if you need help or to share concerns with a member of DAA safeguarding team.
You can find the GEMS Safeguarding policy here.
At DAA we are committed to communicating effectively with our families. We believe that open communication between home and school is a vital component of our student’s success.
We are excited to continue our communication channel within our school community, DAA Listens. By scanning this QR code you will be able to share your compliments, comments or concerns directly with our Superintendent Dr Hildreth. There are 6 mailboxes located around the school, where students and parents can drop a postcard. Either method will ensure that Dr. Hildreth will receive the communication and that a member of staff will be back in touch with you quickly.
Your voice is highly valued and we look forward to listening to your feedback as we collectively seek to enhance every student’s experience at our school.
KEY CONTACTS