September 7, 2021
Next Issue September 23, 2021
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SUPERINTENDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
Welcome to the 2021-2022 Academic Year!
Watch Mrs. Murphy's Video message about the exciting Strategic Direction of Dubai American Academy by clicking here.
In case you missed the Opening Procedures Letter from Mrs. Murphy, please click here.
From the Head of teaching, learning & Innovation
We are thrilled to welcome Christopher Frost, our new Head of Teaching, Learning and Innovation.
Mr. Frost will be sharing information with our learning community about what happens behind the scenes with Teaching and Learning.
Wondering what our staff did when they returned in August? Click here to find out!
Opening Reminders
Grade Specific Entry
Traffic Update
This morning, a letter was sent to families with a video update on traffic from Superintendent / CEO, Tammy Murphy.
To view the video, please click here.
A Letter from our Manager of School Operations, Jemma Lewis
Thank you all for your patience and support over these past couple of weeks with school traffic. The first few weeks are always the most challenging with many families adjusting to their new routines. Now that our children have settled, more families are considering the buses. Using the buses not only helps ease congestion but our fleet of buses now uses biofuel which helps our school to reduce our school bus carbon emissions. This week with the continued support from our neighbors ASD we have also been able to trial an alternative exit route for the buses heading on to Sheikh Zayed Road. This new route allows buses to quickly leave the facility and avoiding the traffic on Al Na’ayat Street and the ASD/Saudi German Traffic lights.
We continue to work with both the RTA and Dubai Police on measures that may help improve traffic flow. The school’s support staff and security team are all deployed to the RTA roads and have participated in a traffic safety course – organized by the General Directorate of Traffic. The school was further visited by Captain Ahmed Amir. Talks about a police presence and adjusting traffic light timings during school pick up and drop off were discussed and subsequently a police car has been present at the school. With school activities starting imminently we hope to see a settling of the traffic conditions.
Whilst the presence of a police car certainly helps improves the situation, the police car may not be available every day. Captain Ahmed encouraged the school and members of our community to be upstanding and where dangerous or irresponsible driving happens, we should look to the use the Dubai Police App. The app or non-emergency hotline 901 can be used to take photos and video and report traffic offenses. Owners of these vehicles will be contacted by the authorities where appropriate action can be taken against those that choose to drive dangerous outside of the school. Overall whilst no one enjoys Dubai traffic our community has been incredible understanding and supportive of endeavors to ensure student safety. Only if we all work together can we ensure that this endures and that outside of the boundary walls our culture of kindness continues to shine.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend with those you love and we look forward to seeing you next week – Jemma Lewis Manager, School Operations.
Health and safety
Ensuring the Health and Safety of our learning community is everyone's responsibility. As a reminder, if your child is feeling unwell or experiencing any symptoms, please keep your child home.
For reminders on effective hand washing and mask wearing techniques, please watch the below videos from our Health Clinic.
Hand washing
Mask wearing
Activities Fair
We are pleased the announce that our Activities Fair will take place on Wednesday, September 8th on campus at the following times:
7:30 - 8:00 am
2:30 - 3:00 pm
The fair will take place on campus, in front of the Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
For more information about the Activities Fair, ESM and the Athletics and Activities Program at DAA, please see the Athletics and Activities page, or follow this short cut here.
Admissions
If you are leaving Dubai and withdrawing your child from DAA, please review the withdrawal process by clicking HERE.
Please contact our admissions office at registrar_daa@gemsedu.com immediately if your circumstances and intentions have changed for next year.
Community news
KEY CONTACTS
ADMINISTRATIONADMISSIONS - Registrar_daa@gemsedu.com 04 704 9707
DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONSGabrielle Keane g.keane_daa@gemsedu.com / 04 704 9706
FINANCEfinance_daa@gemsedu.com 04 704 9740 / 04 704 9744
HEALTHhealthoffice_daa@Gemsedu.com / 04 704 9761
PARENT RELATIONSVictoria Kiely pre_daa@gemsedu.com
GOVERNMENT RELATIONSSoheir Mohamed S.MOHAMED_DAA@gemsedu.com
SLICES CATERINGMs. Shevine daa@slices.ae / 054 792 7509https://pay.slices.ae/support/ticket/submit
STS BUS SERVICEKelvin Sicat sde-daa@sts-group.com / 04 704 9755