As a rule of ‘best practice’, GEMS World Academy-Dubai schedules several events and opportunities to engage with parents throughout the academic year. Therefore, we approached the Parent Engagement Week as an opportunity to do what we do best...only better! We set out with the goal of having a broad range of events intended to satisfy the diverse interests of our school community and engage a large number of families. GWA is proudly hosting 15 different parent engagement events across all grade levels, allowing parents to hone their current parenting practices, develop strategies for extending learning at home, share in the learning process with their children, and support their sons’ and daughters’ academic and sporting achievements.
Cultural Identity Workshop
This was an interactive workshop focused on the issues and challenges of raising “third culture kids”. Parents came away with practical tools and strategies for recognizing the unique needs that third culture kids exhibit, while being able to provide the necessary support and foundation they need to be academically and socially healthy during times of transition.
Early Childhood Family Math
Parents were invited to join the Early Childhood classes to engage in the learning process with their children. Facilitated by classroom teachers, students and parents participated in math activities together using simple, but alternative manipulatives, with the purpose of learning to extend math skill development at home.
First Aid/CPR Workshop
This workshop was specifically targeted to explore the most common childhood injuries that families may face, coupled with clear and concise methods to proactively prevent such injuries. The third pillar of the course focussed on appropriate first aid protocols for reacting to the inevitability of injuries under a variety of realistic scenarios.
Power of Positive Parenting Workshop
Positive parenting is an effective approach to raising young children that emphasizes the positive rather than negative aspects of a child’s behavior. The workshop explored the creation of a family environment that is loving, supportive, and predictable for the benefit of raising healthy, well-adjusted, successful children.
PYP Workshop
The Primary Years Program Workshop was designed to demystify inquiry-based learning, helping families to understand the philosophy and practice of the student-centred learning that is at the core of the International Baccalaureate program.
Elementary School Assembly
Parents were invited to attend all elementary assemblies throughout the year, but we successfully attracted more than our usual attendees during Parent Engagement Week.
Parent Back-to-Class Week
All Middle School and High School teachers opened their doors and invited parents to join in the learning process side-by-side with their children. Parents were encouraged to attend any class, any day, over the entire Parent Engagement Week!
The EC parents were welcome to join their sons and daughters during their Physical Education classes throughout the week, to appreciate the skill development, energy level, and fun that their children Exhibit.
Assessment in the MYP Workshop
Parents were invited to attend this workshop to better understand the assessment strategies employed throughout the Middle Years Program. Understanding the philosophical approach and practice better prepared parents for helping students with their academic homework.
Student Athletics
The week was jam-packed with sport fixtures focussing on all of our GWA Dragons basketball teams. The highlights were the opening season home-game of our under-14 squad, and the staff student basketball match the following day. It was a great chance for parents to support their children and the school outside of the academic day.
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