RAK AAG Times Newsletter: January 2017

Principal’s Welcome Note

Dear Parents,

Welcome to another successful term at RAK AAG and to our RAK AAG Times Newsletter. We

celebrate success all year round and create for our students numerous opportunities to

articulate and achieve success. We believe that ‘‘success drives success’’. With this in mind we

are delighted and very excited to share with you our first issue of RAK AAG Times Newsletter

which gives an overview of Term 1 activities, learning, fun and achievements of all our students

including a hint of what to expect in Term 2.

I am confident that 2017 will prove to be an exciting new year full of dynamism and energy. You

will have noted or been informed by your children of the wonderful improvements to the school

facilities in the way of new classrooms for some of the Elementary Classes. It is our ongoing aim

to ensure that our students have the very best facilities as the school continues to expand.

We have a team of dedicated teachers with a rich mix of skills, knowledge and international

experiences. Our aim is to work collaboratively as ONE TEAM to provide your child with the

best educational experiences, learning opportunities and quality of care.

At RAK AAG we view education as the development of the whole child. Attention and emphasis

are placed not just on the intellectual development but also on the students’ physical, social,

moral and religious development. We treat each student as a unique individual with special gifts

and talents. We hope that with your support, motivation, encouragement and hard work that all

our students will discover their individual talents.

We hope that you will enjoy reading our newsletter as much as our students and teachers

enjoyed contributing to it. We are very proud of our students and no doubt each child will

continue to make a significant contribution to our newsletters at RAK AAG.

We thank you for your continued support of RAK AAG

Mrs. Agnes Shaw

Principal

Page 1

PTA Thanks

Our National Day

Celebrations were amazing! The children

really enjoyed their day of celebrating the

nation’s heritage.

We would like to thank

the PTA members and

volunteers who spent endless hours during

and after school to make the event such a

great success.

We are fortunate to have parents and

community members who provide their time

and expertise to support our school both

inside and outside the

classroom.

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the first issue of our Elementary Newsletter for Term 2

January 2017. At the end of Term 1 of the 2016 – 2017 Academic Year, it

was wonderful to see that the students had settled into a familiar and

rewarding routine. During the first term your children have been busy, in

their classes, in their clubs and a range of school-wide activities.

This newsletter will give you a glimpse of what your children have been doing

in Term 1 including a brief overview of what to expect in Term 2. In

providing you with this information we hope to further strengthen the

partnership between home and school and thus encourage excellence in

learning and community involvement.

As the Elementary School Team we are committed to providing all RAK AAG

students with the foundations for success at school. We believe it is

essential that parents and teachers work together to help our students

understand the importance and benefits of education. With your support,

we can achieve this as one team.

Every student, growing up in RAKAAG, sees teachers and administrators

working hard and long to give them the best. We strive to encourage our

students to become part of the community, allowing them to develop skills

which will be key to their future development. Throughout the year we will

offer your child a range of different learning opportunities, some in the

school and others in the community and you will be kept regularly updated.

Coupled with this is the constant emphasis on academic achievement. Our

expectations for your child’s learning are comparable with yours. See the

article on page 2 to learn more about how we can work together.

So much fun and learning has happened and more is in wait. We are eager

and inspired. We look forward to joining you and your family on the journey.

Mehnaz Chauhdry: Head of Elementary

Head of Elementary Section

Term 1 2016-2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Academics

Pick and Drop Policy

Working together

Dress code for winter

RAK AAG TIMES NEWSLETTER

ELEMENTARY

Page 2

Page 3

Working as one team, teachers and

parents can help the children to reach

their goals.

Student Planner

The Student Planner is a vital

communication tool between you and your

child’s teachers. By writing in the planner

each week, teachers can share your child’s

successes and raise any concerns they may

need to bring to your attention. We ask

that you check your child’s planner each

week, not only to ensure homework is

completed but also to maintain

communication with your child’s teachers.

You can also use the planner to flag any

concerns you may have. This allows for early

intervention if your child needs support in

academic or social areas.

News: RAKAAG students participated in

many extra-curricular activities and events.

ICT: This field has become an integral part of everyday life and importantly

in preparation as children become independent 21 Century Learners.

Developing confidence, creativity, the ability to communicate effectively and

critically evaluate, manage and use information are key skills we focus on in

our teaching. Skills acquired thus far in Term 1 and will continue developing in

Term 2 is as follows:

Grade 1 - Graphic skills, word processing skills, use of text tools,

MS. Paint to create pictures and to type letters, numbers and

symbols.

Grade 2 – Word processing skills, key board skills (function of

control keys on the key board).

Grade 3 – Spreadsheet processing skills, word processing skills,

paste a graph from excel into a document, and to resize an object.

Grade 4 – Multimedia skills. To create a title slide in Microsoft

power point, digitally edit a photo.

Grade 5 – Word processing skills, database skills, graphic skills &

telecommunication skills.

Math: Grade 1 /2/ 3 – Addition, subtraction, multiplication, mental math.

Grades 4 / 5 – Focus on fractions, place value, rounding of numbers

number line, mental addition of two digit numbers, time clock, angles

and triangles.

Islamic: The focus in Term 1 was to ensure all students understood the

concept of responsibility and internalized that nothing happens in the

Universe without Allah’s permission. They learnt to memorize and understand

the hadeeth, memorize and understand the chapters of Quran. They

reflected on the lesson that can be learnt from Prophet Stories, appreciated

the value of obeying Allah; learn the names of Allah. We emphasized the

importance of good listening skills. Students learnt the steps of performing

ablutions and rehearsed with the teacher.

Art: In Term 1 Elementary students were introduced to the history and

principals of art elements. Color Wheel & Pointillism techniques inspired by

George Seurat were introduced. Other mediums used included sand, salt,

water & acrylic painting. Students were exposed to use mixed media in

creating art pieces of their own design.

Music: Elementary students learnt musical parameters and basic skills in

Term1. Students were taught how to sing the National Anthem focused on

the correct pronunciation. Talented students were chosen and a musical and

choir band was formed. The students learned how to play piano. While

participating in the National Day Celebrations, both the school choir and

musical band participants entertained the audience with their mesmerizing

performances. Besides this the musical accomplishments of the students at

RAKAAG enthralled everyone on Flag Day and the Martyr’s Day.

ACADEMICS

RAKAAG TIMES NEWSLETTER TERM 1 2016-2017

Working together

• RAK Ideal Girl;

• Charity Drive RAK Chess

Competition;

• Competition of Meaning;

Chamber of Commerce

competition

English:

Grade 1 – Short vowels (a, e, i, o, u), simple present, personal

pronouns (he, she, they), punctuation, capitalization in writing

(commas), simple sentences.

Grade 2 – Families, Vocabulary, and phonics, comprehension, growing

up, letter writing, capital letters, adjectives, nouns and sequencing

story board.

Grade 3 – Adjectives, adverbs, nouns, prepositions, blends.

Comprehension, Vocab: connected to comprehension reading, writing –

paragraph, descriptive writing, personal letter writing.

Grade 4 – Book reports, creative writing, diaries, animal stories,

academic words, phonics, long & short vowels, micro tech, show and

tell

Grade 5 – Tall tale, comprehension with full sentences, future tense,

invitation writing, subject and predicate. Four types of sentences

(interrogative, exclamatory, imperative and declarative).

STUDENT PICK AND

DROP

DRESSING FOR THE

WEATHER

Science:

Grade 1- Nature of Science. Living things and their environment.

Plants and animals.

Grade 2- Plants & animals, parts of plants and animals, habitats, prey

& predators, food chain & fossils.

Grade 3- Labeling- Parts of plants. Classifying plants. How plants make

food. Life cycle of plants. Classifying animals: Vertebrates and

Invertebrates. Inherited, Acquired and learnt characteristics &

behavior. Life cycle of a frog & butterfly.

Grade 4- Classification of plants and animals. Echo system.

Adaptations. Life cycle of plants and animals.

Grade 5- How to classify living things (animals & plants). Adaptations.

Life cycle of some animals. Circulatory System. Respiratory System.

Skeletal and Muscular System.

P.E: In Term 1 Elementary Students focused on the following activities:

development of agility, quickness & coordination of movements. Weekly lesson

plans focused on health promotion, formation and improvement of the main

types of movements, and to generate positive emotions and develop effective

communication with each other. The overall diagnostics of student’s physical

development levels showed that the goals and objectives have been fulfilled.

Arabic: الأول الدراسي الفصل يف عديدة بأنشطة العربية اللغة قسم قام

العربي القراءة تحدي) مسابقة في المشاركة ومنها ) .

والخامس الرابع الصف وقام ،( كدزانيا - إلى برحلة والثاني الأول الصف قام فقد) أماكن عدة إلى تعليمية ورحلات

الطفل مدينة) إلى برحلة )

الدلافين حديقة إلى برحلة الثالث الصف سيقوم كما .

الحج إذاعة منها ، عدة فعاليات في العربية اللغة قسم شارك كما الهجرية والسنة الوطني واليوم ، الشهيد ليوم إذاعي برنامج إعداد تم وقد

Page 4

RAKAAG TIMES NEWSLETTER TERM 1 2016-2017

In order to safely and effectively

accommodate our students, faculty

and staff in such a condensed time,

with your assistance and

cooperation we can aim to make

the process as smooth and hassle

free as possible.

It is important that the students

are dropped in the morning well

before the school starts and are

picked up promptly in the

afternoon.

Gentle Reminder: If you haven’t

already done so, please submit the

completed ‘dismissal form’ including

photos of your child so that we can

issue a ‘pass’ for end of day pick up.

Now that the weather is changing

and the variation in temperatures,

dressing your child appropriately for

the weather is important. Students

will be sent outdoors for breaks,

weather permitting, given the

importance of fresh air and

exercise. Parents are advised to

purchase a school jacket.

Reminder: School Jacket is required.

ACADEMICS

Page 5

RAKAAG TIMES NEWSLETTER

TERM 1 2016-2017