HIGH SCHOOL

April 29, 2021

Dear Parents,

This week we honor our seniors and their parents who were able to join in on one of our most favorite traditions, the senior walk! Seniors walked through halls from Kindergarten and through each division passing former teachers, siblings and their learning spaces. Each class stood and clapped and waved congratulatory banners as the proud seniors walked by. The very last section of their journey was a walk down the red carpet which was lined by their parents. Each student was given a plant to symbolize good fortune and was generously provided by DAAPA.

We want to thank all of our parents and Rory Courlander, the grade 12 advisor in organizing such an important tradition this year while still keeping health and safety first.

Seniors and parents are rightfully curious about graduation now that we were able to keep the senior walk tradition intact! Our graduation team meets weekly and are planning a celebration for our seniors. We continue to aim to have a graduation and are planning for multiple scenarios. Once KHDA approval is given we will be able to share further details.

A thank you note must also be extended to all of our parents and HS Islamic team including Mrs. Marwa Yassin, Mr. Mohammed Aburedwan and Mrs. Mufida Al Digeil for transforming the 3rd floor to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. Thank you for all your efforts as we know you sacrificed your weekends.

Kind Regards,

Tammy Jochinke

High School Principal

Ramadan Highlights

“As we start with the second half of Ramadan, our students have successfully arisen to the challenge of fasting, and are working on creating a balance between Ramadan and their studies. Their resilience and perseverance are something that make us all proud of.

We continue to celebrate the amazing work of our different grade level students on their projects. These projects ranged between documentaries about the connection between the Quran and modern science, to creating solutions to contemporary issues through the Islamic teachings. Have a look!

Students Work April 28th.pdf

Our Grade 9 students Afiya Seyal and Zahra Unver-Gazi have put together practical tips for all muslims and non Muslims during Ramadan in this lovely video. Hope you enjoy it!

Watch Now!

HS Islamic Department

Ramadan video (1).mov

AI spotlight

Students from the Intro to Design Technology class recently designed and created scarf ring holders for the front of office staff at DAA.

Students connected the Design Cycle used as part of the Intro to Design Technology Course to investigate into a problem faced by the front of office staff, who in turn were the clients for the students. Their clients had been wanting an innovative and creative solution to holding their scarves in place, students interviewed and then designed ideas for their clients to approve using 3D Printing software.

Once the clients approved the designs, students developed the ring holders using the 3D Printers available in the Ai Center and then spray painted them to give them a creative look.

CAS - STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Pre-University Program

The Pre-University Program launched this past Sunday, April the 25th and will run to June the 2nd, prior to Grade 12 graduation. This very important program hopes to support students and parents as students transition from highschool to university and beyond.

So far, we have had excellent engagement in the program. Since launching the Pre-University Website there have been more than 70% of students visiting the site and more than a 100 students taking part in the webinars.

The website is the home for the program and contains the calendar of webinars which are hosted by teachers, In addition to the webinars hosted by teachers, we have some visits by Universities, the GEMS Alumni group, and counselors.

We have also collected a series of free courses that will assist students in upskilling them in various areas from understanding their personal finances to being more resilient. There are also resources on supporting their personal well being and how to deal with roommates and living in residence.

For parents, there are resources on how to deal with a child leaving the home.

There is also a cooking challenge where we ask students to share a recipe that they cook for their family on the Class of 2021 Cooking padlet.

FINE ARTS SPOTLIGHT

HS Choir

Listen to members of the DAA HS Choir perform "Say Something"! Our students show that wearing masks and keeping a physical distance doesn't take away any of the magic that music can bring us. On the contrary: Sophie Ellner and Jack Higgins' performance allows us to really hear their voices and get lost in the music.

"Say Something" was written by Ian Axel, Chad King and Mike Campbell.

IB Exhibition 2021

Watch this video showcasing all the wonderful artwork from the IB Visual Art course.

This has been a massive undertaking for all and we are so proud of how the students' work has developed over the last two years resolving a fantastic virtual exhibition.

The students adaptability and diligence over the last two years considering the pandemic has been impressive. They have truly encompassed the IB learner profile.

DAA Student Government recently presented the Genie Awards to our community, showcasing the best of high school talent at DAA. Watch now!

High School Counseling

Copy of SPOTS HS Counseling 4.28.21.pdf

GEMS Alumni APP

Seniors! Have you registered for the alumni APP? Remember to stay connected beyond DAA using the app. Here's a link to register for an upcoming session. Register for the alumni webinar HERE.