HIGH SCHOOL
DIVISIONAL NEWS
High School Update – May 3, 2024
Dear DAA Community,
I hope this message finds you well and safe at home after the recent bout of rain here in Dubai. It’s been quite a strange spring indeed. Following the recommendation from KHDA, we have transitioned to remote learning for Thursday and Friday. Our plan is to resume in-person learning come Monday.
Next week marks Teacher Appreciation Week at DAA, and I encourage everyone to take part in showing our gratitude to our dedicated teachers. On Monday, let's fill the Gratitude wall in the high school lobby with notes of appreciation from both students and parents. On Friday, I would urge you to consider gifting your teachers a small token of appreciation, perhaps a voucher, to express your gratitude. Our Student Government has also organized some fun activities to celebrate our teachers throughout the week.
A big thank you to all our IB students who braved the unique weather conditions on Thursday to come together and take their exams. With the guidance of our GEMS team, all GEMS schools proceeded with their external exams, and I'm pleased to report that our IB exams were well attended, and everyone did an outstanding job.
Please note that Mrs. Szar is away today due to a family celebration, so there won’t be a Smore Newsletter.
Thank you for your patience with my more traditional communication methods.
Looking forward to seeing everyone back on Monday!
Kind regards,
Dr. Cody Yocom
Course Selection Update
In light of the school closure yesterday and today due to the adverse weather we have been faced in Dubai, we have decided to extend the deadline for submission of Course Requests to 5:00 p.m. on MONDAY 6TH MAY 2024.
The extension has been chosen, in part, to ensure those students who have already started the process of Against Recommendation will be able to gain the necessary signatures, and have their course requests processed correctly by our Counseling and Wellbeing Team.
If students that have NOT begun the process of Against Recommendation up to today, opportunities to make changes to Course Selection may be available in the Add/Drop period in August.
Thank you to students and families who have already completed their selections. You may take the additional time to revisit choices and confirm submission choices.
The Course selection resources that have been available to parents and students from March are all still accessible to inform final decisions in the coming days. They can be accessed via the links below:
Please contact Mr. McHugh directly if you have any further questions on this process at i.mchugh_daa@gemsedu.com.
End of Year Review
Please find the End of Year Overview for your review.
Semester 2 Exam Schedule
Please find the Semester 2 Exam Schedule.
Grade 12 / IB / AP Exams
Congratulations to our IB Seniors who have completed 5 full days of examinations! We are now on a 10-day countdown.
Please find here the Schedule for the IB final examination for your reference. Students with inclusive access arrangements have received their schedule from Ms. Lee, our Head of Inclusion. While they will take their subjects on the same day as indicated in the Schedule for the IB final examination, there may be adjusted starting times approved by the IBO.
We invite students and parents to take the time to familiarize themselves with our last piece of recommendations and advice.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Verdoïa, the IB DP coordinator, at s.verdoia_daa@gemsedu.com.
Wishing all the best to our IB Seniors as they navigate the remaining exams with confidence and determination. Let’s keep shining bright!
Important Senior Updates
Graduation Rehearsal and Senior Walk: May 27th from 12:00pm -2:30pm. Attendance is mandatory for all Seniors. Seniors are asked to meet in the Gym at 12:00pm. Parents are welcome to gather in the lobby and outside the main entrance by the red carpet to greet Seniors as they make their way down the main stairs at 2:30pm.
Graduation: Reminder that our Graduation ceremony will take place on Monday, June 3rd at Dubai Opera. Doors open at 5:30pm and the ceremony will start at 6:30pm.
Please note: the school has arranged multiple professional photographers to document the ceremony. No other photographers will be allowed entry. Also, families are asked not to bring any noise makers as these will be confiscated.
We encourage cheering and clapping to celebrate our Senior’s achievements!