Welcometo GardensCampus
YourRahajourneystartshere!
ThisHandbookisheretoensureyouhavetheinformation youneedtohelpyourchildthriveatschool Pleasereadit carefullyandrefertoitwhenyouneedanyguidance.
HaveaSUPERyearahead!
WeGrowPeople OurMission
Relationships
Webuildstrongconnectionsbyworkingtogether,solvingproblems,and ensuringeveryonefeelstheybelong
Excellence
Wesucceedthroughhands-onexperiencesandcollaborationwithothersand ourenvironment.
Aspiration
Wevalueourchildren’sneeds,interests,andvoicesandallowthemto participateactivelyintheirlearning.
Welcomefromthe HeadofPrimary
Itismypleasuretowelcomeyou,ourGardensFamilies,toanotherexcitingandvibrant year in the primary school. Raha International School, Gardens Campus is a special place, and we hear time and time again how happy our students and parents are to behere.WhetheryouarenewtoAbuDhabiandexperiencingthewondersoftheUAE forthefirsttime,orareturningfamilylookingforwardtocontinuingyourRahajourney, I thank you for adding to the richness of our school community and I share your excitementaboutallthat’sinstorethisyear.
WeareproudlyanInternationalBaccalaureatePrimaryYearsProgrammeschool.The LearnerProfileguidesthewholeschoolcommunitytobethebestversionofourselves We value the development of the whole child and see great merit in building competenciesacrossandbeyondthecurriculum.Inquiryisattheheartofalllearning and our Raha students are given many opportunities to question, research, experimentandreflectwithintheirlearning.
This handbook is designed to be a reference point for life at Gardens, with a specific lensontheprimarysection.Theinformationwithinitwillsupportyoutohelpyourchild thriveatschool.Pleasereadthehandbookcarefullyandrefertoitwhenyouneedany guidance.
MattO’Dowda HeadofPrimary GardensCampus
TheInternational Baccalaureate
Establishedin1968,InternationalBaccalaureate(IB)programmesareofferedinmore than 4,000 schools worldwide. The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through interculturalunderstandingandrespect.
The IB programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences,canalsoberight.
At Raha we offer three IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle YearsProgramme(MYP)andDiplomaProgramme(DP)
HowdoestheIBdefine‘internationaleducation’?
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) chooses to define ‘international education’ accordingtothefollowingcriteria:
Developingcitizensoftheworldinrelationtoculture,languageandlearningtolive together
Buildingandreinforcingstudents'senseofidentityandculturalawareness
Fosteringstudents'recognitionanddevelopmentofuniversalhumanvalues
Stimulating curiosity and inquiry in order to foster a spirit of discovery and enjoymentoflearning
Equipping students with the skills to learn and acquire knowledge, individually or collaboratively, and to apply these skills and knowledge accordingly across a broadrangeofareas
Providing international content while responding to local requirements and interests
Encouragingdiversityandflexibilityinteachingmethods
Providingappropriateformsofassessmentandinternationalbenchmarking
Readmoreatibo.org
TheIB
LearnerProfile
TheIBlearnerprofilepromoteseducationofthewholepersonforalifeofactive, responsiblecitizenshipemphasizingintellectual,personal,emotionalandsocial growth.Theattributesanddescriptionsofthelearnerprofiledefinethetypeoflearner Rahahopestodevelopthroughitsprogrammes.AllmembersoftheRahaCommunity includingstudents,teachers,administration,supportstaffandparentsstriveto developthesequalities
Attribute
Inquirers
Knowledgeable
Thinkers
Communicators
Principled
Open–minded
Caring
Risk–takers
Balanced
Reflective
Descriptor
Wenurtureourcuriosity,developingskillsforinquiryandresearch Weknow howtolearnindependentlyandwithothers Welearnwithenthusiasmand sustainourloveoflearningthroughoutlife
Wedevelopanduseconceptualunderstanding,exploringknowledge acrossarangeofdisciplines Weengagewithissuesandideasthathave localandglobalsignificance
Weusecriticalandcreativethinkingskillstoanalyseandtakeresponsible actiononcomplexproblems Weexerciseinitiativeinmakingreasoned, ethicaldecisions
Weexpressourselvesconfidentlyandcreativelyinmorethanone languageandinmanyways.Wecollaborateeffectively,listeningcarefully totheperspectivesofotherindividualsandgroups
Weactwithintegrityandhonesty,withastrongsenseoffairnessand justice,andwithrespectforthedignityandrightsofpeopleeverywhere.We takeresponsibilityforouractionsandtheirconsequences
Wecriticallyappreciateourownculturesandpersonalhistories,aswellas thevaluesandtraditionsofothers Weseekandevaluatearangeofpoints ofview,andwearewillingtogrowfromtheexperience
Weshowempathy,compassionandrespect.Wehaveacommitmentto service,andweacttomakeapositivedifferenceinthelivesofothersand intheworldaroundus
Weapproachuncertaintywithforethoughtanddetermination;wework independentlyandcooperativelytoexplorenewideasandinnovative strategies Weareresourcefulandresilientinthefaceofchallengesand change
Weunderstandtheimportanceofbalancingdifferentaspectsofourlives intellectual,physical,(spiritual)andemotional toachievewell-beingfor ourselvesandothers Werecognizeourinterdependencewithotherpeople andwiththeworldinwhichwelive
Wethoughtfullyconsidertheworldandourownideasandexperience We worktounderstandourstrengthsandweaknessesinordertosupportour learningandpersonaldevelopment.
ThePrimaryYears Programme
The PYP at Gardens is designed for students from Early Years 1 through Grade 5, focusing on building a solid foundation of curiosity, independence, and global citizenship Starting at age 3, our PYP curriculum encourages students to become active,compassionate,andlifelonglearners.
KeyElementsofthePYP:
Inquiry-BasedLearning:The PYP nurtures children’s natural curiosity, encouraging themtoask questions andexplorebothintheclassroomandintheworldaround them.
UnitsofInquiry:Eachyear,studentsdiveintofourtosix‘UnitsofInquiry,’wherethey investigate big ideas through six organizing themes. These themes help students make connections across subjects, including Language, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Technology, the Arts, and Personal, Social, and Physical Education.
Transdisciplinary Approach: Subjects are integrated within each Unit of Inquiry, promoting a broad understanding and encouraging students to think across disciplines.
Early Years Learning: In our Early Years program, children learn through play and hands-on experiences in a safe, stimulating environment Specialist teachers complement this approach, guiding young learners in exploring and discovering theworldaroundthem.
ThePYPdevelopsthewholechildasanengagedandopen-mindedinquirer Tolearn more,pleasevisitwwwiboorg/pyporspeakwithourPYPCoordinatoratRaha
Who’sWhoat Gardens
PrimaryLeadership
MattO’Dowda HeadofPrimary
EmilyMerton Headof EarlyYears
KerryMesmer AssistantHeadof EarlyYears
MichaelBloy Principal
PennyThompson DeputyHeadof Primary
OsamaAbuJafar AssistantHeadof Primary-Pastoral
ExecutiveLeadership
ShawnKeddy DeputyHeadof Primary
PilarAstorga AssistantHeadof EY&Primary-PYP Coordinator
CarolPratt VicePrincipal
MattO’Dowda HeadofPrimary
TaraManson HeadofSecondary
ThePrimaryTeam
Weareahighlyexperiencedanddedicatedteamfromarangeofdifferentcountries andlifeexperiences.Rahabringsusalltogetherthroughourpassionforteachingand weareaproudPYPschool.
TeachingTeams
Wehave7classesinGradeOneandTwo,andsixclassesinGradesThreetoFive.Each classinGradeOnehasateacherandLearningAssistant.ClassesinGradesTwoto FiveeachhaveahomeroomteacherwithmultipleLearningAssistantsworking amongstthegrade
WehaveanexperiencedSpecialistteachingteamwhichincludesteachersofArabic, Islamic,PE,Art,MusicandSTEM(Science,Technology,EngineeringandMathematics). Additionally,wehaveadedicatedStudentSupportTeamwithqualifiedandpassionate educatorstrainedtoguideinclusivepractice
GradeOne
SharonRegan(GradeLevelLeader)
DorothyDeFreitas
LouiseSybrandy
EmilyCoppell
AndreaWellington
AdamTierney
JillIsayama
LearningAssistants:EmCaliston,LindsayMujana,IwonaKalinowska,AsmaSaqib, AlanoudAlhajeri,SheryBasta,LiezylTabo
GradeTwo
KarleneO’Dowda(GradeLevelLeader)
CadineMiller
LucyWilliams
DavidBlighe
CagneyVanHeerden
FranciscaArlegui
AdrianDevane
LearningAssistants:JoanLubos,PortiaMarimo,MarijetaZdravkovic,RumaisaFarooq
GradeThree
KirstyAnderson(GradeLevelLeader)
LanuTavae
PeterGilbert
RonaldBrooks
AncaBadila
CaoimheMullen
LearningAssistants:CorrineMoustache,MariamAlbait
ThePrimaryTeam
GradeFour
DavidO’Neil(GradeLevelLeader)
SenanKilbride
KimHalavatau
MichelleBourdeau
DarcyRahn
MeredithRobinson
LearningAssistants:TanyaKapoorandMeiWang
GradeFive
DavidKinsella(GradeLevelLeader)
LucyMaher
DebbieAitken
DaneHenegan
MaxSerrano
AshleyBronson
LearningAssistants:JennalynBostonandJonalynLadines
Specialists
InnovationHub
AlisonWighton(SpecialistsLead)&AleciaKirby
Art
KateClohessy&AngieBarnes
Music
GeorgeMills&KateLineen
PE
LouiseO'Connor(PELead),AlenDzaferovic,AlexTrowbridge,BenSapwell-West&Rian
Humphries
LearningAssistants:MariamSacare(Art),TamaraVidal(InnovationHub),Hannah Aljenebi(Library)
Arabic
RubaAbuHijab(WholeSchoolHeadofMinistryofEducationSubjects)
MariamDawass(ArabicBLead)
SanaaHasayen
NemahAbdulAziz
ItemadSabri
RachidAitBouch
YahiaMobarak
AyatHamdan
LearningAssistants:HanaaElezaby,WafaaMoussa,EmanHegab,SaharEisa,Fatima Elmitwalli,ZaynabAlRemeithi
ThePrimaryTeam
IslamicandUAESocialStudies
AbdellatifChokri(WholeSchoolCoordinatorofIslamicandUAESocialStudies)
EntisarMirsal
LinaAidweick
WafaaMarwan
StudentSupportTeam
BenCrosby(StudentSupportLead)
SarahOmar
KateScully
TraceyDixon
SarahGillon
Counsellor:SaraEnnis
LearningAssistants:LucyWoods,SouadSelmania,EunjiKim
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
ADayAtGardens
StartoftheSchoolDay
Ourgatesopenat7:20amwithstaffsupervisiononschoolgrounds.
The National Anthem plays at 7:45ameachmorning. Prior to this, a bell will ring to alert students that it is time to enter their classroom. Parents should remain outsidethebuilding
Your child is late if they enter class after 7:50am Until 8am, late students should attend the Building L reception for a late slip. After 8am late students need to attend the Building A reception to receive a late slip. Late students will not bepermittedintoclasswithoutalateslip.
EY1toG1buschildrenwillbedroppedatclassbyaBusMonitorinthemorning
EndoftheSchoolDay
Dismissalis3pm(12pmFridays)
Muslim students may attend supervised prayer time before leaving school Monday-Thursday.
Students who take the bus home are dismissed first, then the homeroom teacher accompaniesremainingstudentstoadesignatedplaceoutsideforcollection.
Bus students from Grades One and Two are escorted to the buses by their LearningAssistants,olderstudentsmaketheirownway
Parents of students who go home independently should contact Front Desk in BuildingAtoarrangeatagfortheirchild’sschoolbag.Thisdesignatestosecurity personnelthattheyhavepermissiontoleavecampusalone.
Families should vacate the campus promptly after school. At 3:10pm MondayThursday/12:10pmFriday,anyuncollectedstudentswillbetakentotheAssistantto HeadofPrimary’sofficetohaveparentscalled
Students who take part in ECPs will be escorted to a meeting place after school, withpickuparrangementscommunicatedtoparentsinatimelymanner.Thereis no additional bus service after ECPs. Only students participating in ECPs are permittedtostayoncampusafterschool
Parents who wish to collect their child during the school day must email absent@ris.aeandgotothemainofficeinBuildingA.Parentsarenotpermittedto collecttheirchildrendirectlyfromtheclassroom.
Parents of bus students who will be collected by parents during the school day (not taking the bus home) must send an email to transportation@risae, risprimaryreception@risae,absent@risae,andthehomeroomteacherby12pm Latepick-upsaremonitoredandifyourchildiscollectedlatethreetimeswithina half term, parents will be asked to attend a meeting with the Primary Leadership Team.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Attendance
Students who arrive after 8am are considered late and must visit the front desk in BuildingAtoreceivea‘lateslip’beforegoingtotheirhomeroom.
If a student will miss school for any reason their parent must email their homeroom teacherandabsent@ris.ae.
Ifaparentwishestocollecttheirchildearly,theymustvisitfrontdeskinBuildingA to receiveanearlydismissalform;officestaffwillcollectthestudentfromclass
BeingPreparedforSchool
HealthandWellbeing
Ahealthyamountofnighttimesleepforprimaryagedchildrenis9-12hours Ahealthy breakfastisvitalforsuccessfullearningduringtheschoolday.
WhattoBring
Backpackortrolleybag. Lunchorpre-paidcardforcafeteria. Waterbottle Hat
iPad,fullycharged,andheadphones Librarybagonborrowingdays
BehaviourandPastoralCare
Raha PYP follows the Responsive Classroom approach of engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. More informationabouttheapproachcanbefoundHERE.
Acounsellorisonstafftosupportandguidestudentsasnecessary
Each class creates an ‘Essential Agreement’ for the classroom community and behaviour codes. Moreover, school wide expectations for behaviour are regularly sharedwithallstudents.Breachesoftheseexpectationsarefollowedupaccordingto theBehaviourPolicyfoundHERE(insertlinktowhereparentsfindthepolicy)
BicyclesandScooters
Studentswhoridebicyclesandscooterstoschoolmustwearahelmet Therearerackstostorebicyclesandscootersatvariouslocationsaroundcampus Bicyclesandscootersmustbepushed,notridden,onceoncampus.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Birthdays
Birthdaysareimportanttorecogniseforourchildren.Wearehappytocelebrateyour child'sspecialdayinasmallway.Wewillnothostbirthdaypartiesinclassbutwewill ensureyourchildfeelsspecialbysinginghappybirthdaytothem
To make our celebrations fair, consistent, safe and practical we have the following guidelines:
Youmaybringonesmallpieceoffruitperchild Fruitkebabsareagreatideafora healthytreat
As an alternative to food, we welcome parents to share a small toy as a gift with theclassorevenaboardgameorbookfortheclasstoenjoyforthewholeyear. AspertheADEKHealthyFoodpolicy,staffwillnotbeabletodistributeanykindof sweets,cake,donutsorfastfoodetc.
Therearetobenonutsinthefoodandtheingredientsaretobeclearlywrittenso thatifchildrenhaveallergies,weareawareofwhatisinthefood Noknives,platesoraccessoriese.g.balloons.
If your child has an allergy then you may send an alternative, safe option so they canbeincludedinthecelebration-wewillinformyouofbirthdaysinadvance. PleaseseeourHealthyFoodpolicyonourwebsiteforclarification
Buses
A bus service is run by an external provider, who shares relevant information with parents TheemailcontactfortheexternalprovideratRahaistransportation@risae
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
BYOiPad
Westronglyencourageallstudentsingrades2-5tobringtheirowndevicetotakefull advantageoftheopportunitiesthiscangivetotheteacherandstudents.Thedevice is used to support independent inquiry, delve deeper into understanding concepts andskillsandtoshowtheirknowledgeandunderstanding
In order to ensure that technology is assisting the teaching and learning in the classroom,wehavedecidedtouseasingleplatformandthereforerecommendonly Apple devices In Grades 2-5 this means an Apple iPad (any model) Students in Grade 5 may choose to transition to a Macbook in preparation for MYP Devices are used as a tool to enhance and document learning, used at the teacher’s direction. Theyarenotusedbeforeorafterschool,oratbreaktimes.
We have partnered with our Apple supplier to provide discounted prices on Apple productsthatyoucanpurchaseforyourfamilyuse
HowdoIbuy?
Navigatetowwwjtrsae
Clickon‘SignUp’
Choose‘RahaInternationalSchool’ Signin&completeyourpurchase
The device should be held in a protective case and needs to be fully charged at the beginning of the day Recommended accessories are headphones or earphones (all grades) and a keyboard case and stylus for students in Grades Four and Five. Cyber safety and responsible use of technology are taken seriously and taught within each gradelevel.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
BYOiPad-Continued
Pleaseensurethefollowingappsareinstalledonyourchild’siPad:
AllGrades GradesFour&Five
BookCreator
GarageBand
iMovie
Keynote
NearPod
Padlet
Pages
ToddleStudent
RazKids
LanguageNut(ArabicBstudentsonly)
MicrosoftExcel
MicrosoftPowerPoint
MicrosoftTeams
MicrosoftWord Epic!
Alef(GradeFiveArabicAstudents only)
Other apps may be requested by teachers throughout the year to support specific units.
Students are not allowed to use messaging apps during school hours, including to receive messages from family If you have a message for your child, please contact theirhomeroomteacherorrisprimaryreception@risae
Parents are reminded to check the age requirements of any app installed on their child’sdevice,thisparticularlyappliestosocialmedia.
ClassParents
TheParentTeamrecruitsandco-ordinatesClassParentsforeachclassroombetween EY1 and Grade 5 Class parents have an essential role at Raha and provide much needed support to both teachers and parents They are also the first point of contact whentheParentTeamneedstocommunicatemessagestotheparentcommunityor helpco-ordinategrade-wideevents.IfyouareinterestedinbecomingaParentTeam volunteeroraClassParent,pleaseemailparent.team@ris.ae.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
CommunicationandPlatforms
Pleaseensureyourcontactdetailsarekeptuptodatewiththeadmissionsteams. ThetablebelowhighlightsthetypicaluseofcommunicationplatformsusedatRaha.
TermlyNewsletters, FormalCommunication, Surveys
Principal,VicePrincipal andHeadofSchool,PYP Coordinator
WeeklyUpdates:“Raha Reminders” Communicationsteam Emailandschool websiteHERE
UrgentUpdates Communicationsteam SMS/Email
GradeLevel,Subjectand ClassUpdates
Individual correspondencetoand fromfamilies
Email should be used to communicate with teachers, whose email addresses will be shared early in the school year Please allow up to 24 hours for a reply, exclusive of weekends and holidays Kindly note that teachers do not check emails during teaching time and may not have the opportunity to check emails until after school; urgentmessagesshouldbesenttotheAssistanttotheHeadofPrimary, SehrabAlkilani:risprimaryreception@ris.ae.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
CommunicationandPlatforms-Continued
Toddle
ItisimperativethatallfamiliesconnecttotheToddleappfromthestartoftheschool year.Alongwithactingasyourchild’sportfoliooflearning,Toddleisthemainway teacherscommunicatewholeclassupdatesandreminders.LinktoAppleAppHERE. LinktoGooglePlayAppHERE
SchoolsBuddy
SchoolsBuddyisusedforECPandparentconferencesignupsaswellasfieldtrip consentcollection AppdetailscanbefoundHERE
ForallToddleandSchoolsBuddyenquiries,pleasecontactourDatabase Administrator,RochelleJaring:dbadmin@ris.ae.
ContactInformation
Absences:absent@ris.ae
AssistanttoHeadofPrimary-SehrabAlkilani:risprimaryreception@risae DatabaseAdministrator:dbadmin@risae(ToddleandSchoolsBuddyenquiries) ECPCoordinator:ecp@ris.ae Nurse:clinic@ris.ae
ParentTeam:parent.team@ris.ae Pool:pool@risae
BusTransportation:transportation@ris.ae
Magrudy’sForsanMall(FirstFloor).Tel:0503854799 Website:Magrudy’s
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Curriculum
The International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed to build upon the natural curiosity of the child. The programme focuses on the developmentofthewholechildasaninquirer,bothintheclassroomandintheworld outside Studentsparticipateinsix'UnitsofInquiry'peryear
ThesubjectareasofLanguage,PersonalSocialandPhysicalEducation,Mathematics, Science and Technology, the Arts and Moral, Social and Cultural Studies are woven intotheUnitsofInquirytoprovideatransdisciplinaryapproachtolearning.
Uponenrollment,studentsareallocatedasArabicAorBlearnersand,whererelevant, IslamicAorBstudents ArabicAandIslamicAaretaughtthroughArabicwhileArabic BandIslamicBarefornon-nativespeakers.
Extra-CurricularProgram/ExternalProviders
Each term, a wide range of exciting ECPs are offered, covering arts, STEM, sports and academic pursuits. Information about ECPs is shared in the weekly Raha Reminders and on a noticeboard outside Building A. Once signed up, parents should check for daily updates on Schools Buddy. Parents and students can see which ECP is taking place at what time, location and day Further enquiries should be sent to the ECP Coordinator:ecp@risae
TeacherLedExtraCurricularProgram(ECPS),includingRahaRaptorsSports.
These are held after school and are either free or have a minimal cash fee to cover costs Raha Raptors are sports specific ECPS Sign-ups will be advertised by the ECP CoordinatorandarethroughSchoolsBuddy Studentswillbeescortedtotheirgroup’s meeting place after school and must be collected by parents at the activity’s end time.
ExternalProviderExtracurriculars
A number of external provider extracurricular activities are available throughout the year. These are advertised in the weekly Raha Reminders with flyers that include detailedinformation,includingpaymentinstructions SignupsareonSchoolsBuddy
FieldTripsandSpecialEvents
Eachgradelevelwilltakepartinanumberoffieldtripsandspecialeventsduringthe schoolyear Theseareplannedtoenhancelearningacrossvariouscurriculumareas and are invaluable ways of bringing inquiries to life. As per ADEK guidelines, off site tripsforstudentsunder12yearsoldwillbeheldwithintheemirateofAbuDhabionly. Communication about field trips and special events will include a link to the permission form on Schools Buddy, along with information regarding payment for participation
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
FoodandCafeteria
TherearetwoopportunitiestoeateachdayMonday-Thursday,andoneeatingbreak time on Fridays. Food brought from home should contain NO NUTS, be healthy and substantialforabusyschoolday Weencourageeachstudenttohavealunchboxor insulatedbag
PYP students may purchase food from the cafeteria, which is run by Food Nation. Payment can be with cash or prepaid cards. Menus are shared in the weekly Raha Reminders and more information, including how to purchase prepaid cards, can be foundintheFoodNationParentPackHERE
EcoFriendly
We strive to be as eco-friendly as possible This is a mindset we instill in the children from day one, but the impact will be far more powerful if we have all parents and carersonboardtoo.
You can help your child pack their waste-free lunch by using reusable containers, bagsorbottles,orsendinginloosefoodswithoutplasticwrapping
Pleaserememberthefollowing:
Allfoodinreusablecontainers
Wholefruitswithoutpackaging
Drinksinreusablecontainers
Reusableicepacks
Pleasedonotinclude:
Individuallywrappedsnacks
Plasticbagsthatarenotreusable
Disposableforksandspoons
Plasticstraws
Allergies
If you have a child with an allergy, you will need to disclose this information on your enrollmentform.
All information and medications are stored by the school clinic and all teachers are informed of children's medical needs Staff take allergies very seriously Children are taughttheimportanceofthisinclassandarenotallowedtosharefood. Weurgeyoutochoosecarefullywhenselectingfoodforyourchild'slunchassomeof ourchildren'sallergiesarelife-threatening.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Health
Health and wellbeing is incorporated throughout the PYP curriculum, with healthy habits for the mind and body often discussed. Students are encouraged to have a healthyandbalancedlifestyle
If your child is unwell and needs to stay at home, please email their homeroom teacher and absent@ris.ae. Any sick leave notes from a doctor should be sent as soonastheyareavailable.
Our team of nurses operates from Building I Parents will receive an email or phone calliftheirchildattendsthenursethroughouttheschoolday.
Pleasenotetheclinicproceduresforcommonhealthissues: Vomiting:
AtSchoolorOntheBus:Ifachildvomitsatschooloronthewaytoschoolonthe bus,theymustbecollectedfromschoolimmediatelyandshouldstayathomefor 24hours.Thechildwillnotbeabletotravelhomebythebus.
At Home: If a child vomits at home, parents should keep the child at home for 24 hours.
HeadLice:
If your child has live head lice, the clinic will contact you The clinic will provide information on the necessary steps to treat the lice. We encourage parents to collecttheirchildandfollowtheadvicegivenbytheclinic.
InfectionsandContagiousConditions:
If your child has any infections or contagious conditions (eg, hand, foot, and mouth disease or conjunctivitis), please communicate with the clinic It is important that the clinic receives a medical certificate, so the school can deep clean classrooms and inform other parents of the case (a general letter will be sent,andnochildrenorfamilieswillbenamed).
Ifthereareupdatestoyourchild’shealthrecordortreatmentplanpleaseemailtheir homeroom teacher, admissions and the school nurse with relevant details. The clinic should always be able to contact a parent, please update contact details when necessary.Ifaparentistravelling,ensurethereisarelativeorresponsibleadultwhois contactableincaseofemergencies.
Remember to keep the clinic and homeroom teachers well informed regarding allergies and current medical conditions. If your child has an Epipen or inhaler it is essentialtheclinicandteachingstaffknow,oneshouldbekeptinschoolincaseitis needed.Itisalwaysusefultosharepasthealthconditionse.g.glueearorpriorcases ofasthmasoeveryonecanbeawareandvigilant
Please note that the school’s stance is that if a student is well enough to attend school,theyarewellenoughtoparticipateinPEandswimlessons.Thankyouforyour cooperationinkeepingourschoolcommunityhealthyandsafe.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
HomeLanguages
We are proud to have over 80 home languages amongst our student community. Studentsandfamiliesarestronglyencouragedtoembraceandcelebratetheirhome languages through classroom learning, socialising and events We welcome parents to partake in Language Clubs and encourage you to reach out to your child's homeroomteachertoseehowyoucanbepartoftheclassroomenvironment.
HomeLearning
At the beginning of each Unit of Inquiry, the PYP Coordinator will send a selection of suggested home learning tasks that will complement the knowledge, skills and understandings being explored at school. While most of these tasks are optional, we strongly recommend your child engages with them to reinforce and extend their learning At times, there may be need for students to prepare or complete one off tasksathomewithaduedateasnegotiatedwiththeteacher.
Dailyreadingathomeisvital.
Fostering a love of reading, and the skills to promote this love, is a key way families can assist their children’s learning All students should read daily at home, from both targeted books assigned by teachers and a range of self-selected literature and informative texts. Families are encouraged to read to their children, including in their homelanguages.
ArabicAandBHomeLearning
Weekly spelling words to practise plus suggested home learning tasks published on Toddle.
LostProperty
Please ensure all items brought to school are clearly labelled with your child’s name. TheParentTeamorganiseslostpropertyoncampusandhelpsreunitesstudentswith their lost belongings. Lost items are collected outside the entrance to L Block and in thecafeteria Periodically,alluncollecteditemsaredisplayedinaprominentplacefor aperiodoftimebeforebeingdonatedtoaworthycause
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Reporting
Our reporting schedule consists of invitations to visit school to participate in current learning,interviewsandwrittenreports:
When What Description
September
MeettheTeaching TeamsEvening
September SettlingInMeetings
AnintroductiontoPYPforparentsplusa chancetomeettheteachingteamforeach gradelevel
Discussionbetweentheparentandhomeroom teachersharinginformationaboutthestudent Heldonline
November
StudentLedConference
February
Parent-Teacher Interviews
February InterimReport
May ThreeWayConferences
Studentshowcasesandreflectsuponrecent learningwithparents Heldatschooloutsideof normalschoolhours
Aformaldiscussionbetweenparentsand teachersaboutthestudents’social,emotional andacademicprogress,tocomplementthe interimreportcard Thiswillbeanon-school dayforstudents.
Awrittenreportsummarisingstudents’current attainment Presentedinconjunctionwiththe formalParentTeacherInterview
Discussionbetweenstudent,parentandchild aboutsuccessesfromtheyear’slearning,and nextsteps Heldatschool,studentsonlyattend attheirfamily’sbookedtime
June EndofYearReport
FullwrittenreportoutliningLearnerProfileand ApproachestoLearningskills,subjectgrades, attitudestolearningvaluesanddescriptions aboutsuccessesandnextstepsforlearning Throughoutthe
Informal‘openmornings’whereparentsare invitedtovisitclassesandseecurrentlearning
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Reporting
Writtenreportsincludethefollowinggradevaluesandattitudes:
SubjectAssessmentScale
NotYetEvident
Beginning
Developing
Meeting
Applying
Exceeding
Excelling
Studentisunabletoaccessexpectedlearningoutcomesandrequires continuousadultsupport
Withadultsupport,thestudentshowssomeprogresstowardsexpected learningoutcomes
Withincreasingindependence,thestudentshowsprogresstowardsthe expectedlearningoutcomes
Studentismeetingexpectedlearningoutcomes
Studentismeetingandapplyingexpectedlearningoutcomes
Studentexceedsexpectedlearningoutcomes
Studentisextendingwellaboveexpectedlearningoutcomes
AttitudetoLearningAssessmentScale
Inconsistent
Consistent
Exemplary
Studentisnotconsistentlymotivatedorreflective Theyworkwithan inconsistentlevelofinterest,enthusiasm,effortandattitudetowardtheir learning.
Studentisconsistentlymotivatedandreflective Theyworkwiththe expectedlevelofinterest,enthusiasm,effortandattitudetowardtheir learning
Studentishighlymotivatedandreflective Theyworkwithahighlevelof interest,enthusiasm,effortandattitudetowardtheirlearning.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
StudentSupport
At Raha, our Student Support Register is comprised of students requiring support in the areas of Special Educational Needs (SEN), English as Additional Language (EAL) andGiftedandTalented(GT)
Specialised teachers in the Student Support Team (SST) work across the primary school to support and closely monitor particular students as they work towards specific goals outlined in their individual educational plan which is called a Student Support Passport At least twice a year these students, their parents and teachers meet to review their goals If a child receives support from external services such as (but not limited to) occupational therapy, speech therapy, educational psychology, CAMHS,collaborationwithschoolisencouraged.
Depending on the need, students on the SST register may be supported through in class adaptations for learning, in class or pull out interventions, or with ongoing 1:1 adultassistance
Timetable
All homerooms start with registration and Morning Meeting and finish the day with Closing Circle. Specialist lessons (PE, Art, Music and Innovation Hub) are scheduled throughouttheweek.
Arabic A students attend 5 Arabic lessons (6 for Grades 1-3) and a Social Studies A lesson Arabic B students attend 4 Arabic lessons and take Social Studies with their homeroom teacher. Islamic A students attend 2 lessons per week (3 in Grades 1-3) andIslamicBstudentsattend2lessonsperweek.TherearetimeswhenArabicBand non-Muslim students remain in the homeroom while their peers attend extra lessons as listed above; no new content is introduced in these homeroom sessions and the timeisusedforrevision ForclarificationaboutwhetheryourchildisArabic/IslamicA orB,pleaseseethecurriculumsection.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Uniform
Allschooluniform,includingPEuniformandhoodies,canbepurchasedatMagrudy’s atAlForsanMallorthroughtheironlineplatform.
All uniform pieces must be clearly labelled with black permanent marker or embroiderywiththestudent’sfirstandlastname.
TheParentTeamrunsandoperatestheSecondhandUniformShopyear-roundto provide Raha families with affordable but gently used uniforms. Details about timesandlocationsaresharedintheweeklyRahaRemindersnewsletter
Students should wear PE uniform on the two days per week they have PE lessons AllstudentsarealsoencouragedtowearPEuniformsonFridaysfor‘FitnessFriday’. Throughout the year there are themed and casual dress down days. Please help yourchildselectoutfitsthatareappropriatetothecultureandclimateoftheUAE.
The primary school uniform consists of a white Raha polo shirt with red trim, grey Rahatrousers,greyRahashorts(boys)orskort(girls) Enclosedshoes(sneakersor similar)andappropriatesocksshouldbeworn
TheprimaryPEuniformconsistsofagreyRahapoloshirtandgreyRahashortsor trousers.Running/sportsshoesshouldbeworn(nocleats).
StudentsmaywearagreyRahauniformhoodieincoolerweather. Itisadvisedtokeepsomespareuniformitemsinyourchild’sschoolbag
Hair should be neat, of a natural colour and not of a distracting nature to the studentorothers.
Hairaccessoriesmustbewhite,darkgreyorblack. Jewelleryshouldbeminimalandplain(nodanglingearrings).
Items such as shaylas, belts and hair clips should be plain and compliment the uniformcolours(white,darkgreyorblack)
Headwearmustberemovedinsidethebuildings,excludingshaylas. Primarystudentsarenotpermittedtowearmakeup.