PARENT UPDATES 6 December, 2020
FROM OUR DIRECTOR Dear Parents,
This newsletter contains many important messages so I will try to keep mine brief. 2020 is probably a year that most of us will be glad to see the back of, for obvious reasons. However, there are other ways to look back at the last twelve months that I think could be helpful in maintaining our positive mindset. 2020 was the year when we all, particularly our children, developed tremendous resilience and grew in a way none of us had previously considered. We know that grit and determination are markers for future success but it has never been clear how we developed those in young people, without deliberately causing them difficulty, which is not what we tend to do in places of care.
However, the restrictions imposed upon us by the pandemic have created a world where many have struggled, but we have also seen our children shine in so many different ways. True, their traditional progress as measured by common metrics, may not have been as strong as it would have been had children been in school from March until July. However, those elements of character such as gratitude, grit, resilience, care and so on, that are so important, (and I would argue, even more important), and will benefit our children so much in the future, have grown beyond our expectations.
So let's not write off 2020 as 'that horrible year,' let's look at it as the year our kids became stronger and more prepared for life's uncertainties.
All of that said, I'm sure we are all wishing for a calmer 2021! Thank you all for your support throughout this time; your understanding and your positivity. I wish you all a great holiday and some quality family time.
Best wishes,
Graeme
IMPORTANT DATES Monday, 7 December: Student Reports Emailed to Parents All student reports will be emailed to parents on Monday, 7 December, via our Managebac system. All parents will receive an email with a link to your child's student report. You will be asked to log into your Managebac account to view the report.
Please see the below message from our Curriculum Director Mr Gerber with a link to resources to help you understand student reports.
If you have need any support with this process, please email info@fairgreen.ae
Thursday, 10 December: Early Dismissal Day & Dress Down Day Please note, there will be an Early Dismissal and Dress Down Day on Thursday, 10 December, the last day before Winter Break. Students can come to school dressed in Festive Holiday Clothing or a favorite winter sweater.
In-School Festivities Students will be enjoying a fun day of festive activities in school on Thursday. PYP classrooms will have received emails from your child's homeroom teachers indicating the activities taking place. And for MYP, CLICK HERE to view the fun video shared with MYP students about the activities they have planned for grades 6-10.
UNDERSTANDING STUDENT REPORTS Dear Parents,
As members of the Fairgreen community, we always strive to keep you informed of your child's progress and goals for learning. We pride ourselves in our fluid and open culture of communication and we hope you "feel" the transparency of the school. Ultimately, we all have the same goal; to support and encourage our students in being happy, healthy life-long learners.
As the Curriculum Director, I am proud to present the first official term 1 reports of the 2020-21 school year to you on Monday, December 7th. These reports are a formal way for us to communicate your child's current level of achievement and our goals or next steps for the coming terms.
It is important you understand what is written on the reports for the purpose of being informed and purposeful in our combined support of your child. We have compiled a set of screencasts and resources to support you in understanding the reports better.
This Google Drive folder has a set of screencasts and additional resources that are often mentioned in student reports. Please use these resources to better understand the reports and discuss with your child their successes and area of focus for the future.
If you have any questions about your child's reports, please do not hesitate to first contact your child's classroom/homeroom teacher or email me (dgerber@fairgreen.ae).
Once again, thank you for your continued support and collaboration.
Kind regards,
David Gerber Curriculum Director
HOUSE UPDATE Dubai 30 x 30 Fitness Challenge Well done to all of our classes that were able to stay active during the school day even in the days they did not have PE. Our most active class at the end of the 30 days was Grade 5JS, Congratulations!
MYP Fitness Challenge - The individual and team winners of the MYP Fitness Challenge will be announced this week at their prize ceremony.
Staff STEPPI Challenge - Well done to all of our teachers that took part in the STEPPI Challenge. These are our winners:
Overall DFC 30 x 30 Standings: 1st Place - Terra 2nd Place - Caeli 3rd Place - Ignis 4th Place - Aqua
These are our current standings. After adding up all of our fitness challenge points the gap has closed and all of our houses are closer to catching Aqua!
WATER BOTTLE RECYCLING COMPETITION Fairgreen is participating alongside other Dubai schools in a competition to recycle plastic bottles. Let's help make a difference and raise awareness of the problem of plastic pollution. Encourage your children to recycle plastic bottles you may have at home by bringing them to school and placing them in our plastic bottle recycling bins, located at our main entrance and our back entrance by the bicycle racks. The first schools to reach 5,000 bottles win prizes, including free t-shirts made out of recycled plastic bottle material.
We are recycling only type 1 or PET plastic bottles, like the ones you get with single-use drinking water bottles (large and small).
The competition will run from now until 14 January, so please collect lots of bottles over the holiday breaks.
Thank you for your support of this great cause!
HIGHLIGHTS FAIRGREEN CELEBRATES A FESTIVE NATIONAL DAY Our campus was alive with National Day festivities before breaking for the holiday weekend. Students dressed in the UAE national colors and decorated their classrooms in honor of this special day. And, our Arabic and Islamic Studies teachers presented a beautiful assembly video featuring students sharing UAE songs, poetry and information to commemorate the 49th UAE National Day. CLICK HERE to view the assembly.
UNIFORM SALE SHOP TIMING FOR NOVEMBER & DECEMBER
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