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Dear DAA Families,
The 2020-21 academic year has been one of the most extraordinary periods in our 61-year history at GEMS Education. The challenges and changes – but also opportunities – that our schools have faced have been truly unprecedented.
I take great pride in our preparedness for all eventualities, and in the agility of our schools to adapt to changing circumstances. As a result, we were able to offer all forms of education – in-school, blended classroom and home learning, as well as 100 per cent remote teaching. Our aim was and continues to be to ensure our parents have the fullest choice possible depending on their preference.
Throughout these changes, some things have remained constant. For one, we have always taken great pride in the close partnership between our students, their families, their school and our dedicated teachers. It is thanks to the strength of this collaboration that we were able to continue delivering an outstanding education for our children over the past 12 months despite the difficulties posed by the global pandemic – and it will enable us to continue to do so moving forward.
At the same time, our commitment to keeping our school communities safe remains unwavering. When the pandemic struck, we were swift to put in place every measure possible, using the very latest sanitization processes and safety equipment, to ensure the health and wellbeing of our pupils and their teachers. Again, these steps will continue for as long as they are required, without compromise.
One positive by-product of the pandemic has been the introduction of new technology to enable distance learning. We have long prioritized the use of the latest technology for the benefit of our pupils to ready them for a world which is increasingly driven by high-tech solutions. Additionally, we have been determined to equip our school staff with every possible aid in their teaching, while not detracting from the importance of the relationship between student and teacher.
At GEMS, we believe that despite the increasing importance of technology in our schools, the relationship between parent and school will always be paramount and it is vital to us that we understand fully all the concerns you may have and can react to them as quickly and effectively as possible. We firmly believe that happy students make good students.
As many of our long-standing parents will know, GEMS is anchored by our core values of kindness and respect, which we consider crucial attributes that will arm our students for the exciting – and challenging – future that is awaiting them. I have been delighted to witness our students’ wonderful acts of kindness via the GEMS Jewels of Kindness and Respect initiative, and to see how the human values taught in our schools are reflected in our caring students.
Thank you for your continued trust and support for your school and the two-way examples of respect between teacher and family that continue to take us to exciting new heights in a world that remains full of opportunities.
I wish you and your children a safe and fulfilling new academic year ahead.
Sunny Varkey
Founder and Chairman, GEMS Education
The 2020-21 academic year has been one of the most extraordinary periods in our 61-year history at GEMS Education. The challenges and changes – but also opportunities – that our schools have faced have been truly unprecedented.
I take great pride in our preparedness for all eventualities, and in the agility of our schools to adapt to changing circumstances. As a result, we were able to offer all forms of education – in-school, blended classroom and home learning, as well as 100 per cent remote teaching. Our aim was and continues to be to ensure our parents have the fullest choice possible depending on their preference.
Throughout these changes, some things have remained constant. For one, we have always taken great pride in the close partnership between our students, their families, their school and our dedicated teachers. It is thanks to the strength of this collaboration that we were able to continue delivering an outstanding education for our children over the past 12 months despite the difficulties posed by the global pandemic – and it will enable us to continue to do so moving forward.
At the same time, our commitment to keeping our school communities safe remains unwavering. When the pandemic struck, we were swift to put in place every measure possible, using the very latest sanitization processes and safety equipment, to ensure the health and wellbeing of our pupils and their teachers. Again, these steps will continue for as long as they are required, without compromise.
One positive by-product of the pandemic has been the introduction of new technology to enable distance learning. We have long prioritized the use of the latest technology for the benefit of our pupils to ready them for a world which is increasingly driven by high-tech solutions. Additionally, we have been determined to equip our school staff with every possible aid in their teaching, while not detracting from the importance of the relationship between student and teacher.
At GEMS, we believe that despite the increasing importance of technology in our schools, the relationship between parent and school will always be paramount and it is vital to us that we understand fully all the concerns you may have and can react to them as quickly and effectively as possible. We firmly believe that happy students make good students.
As many of our long-standing parents will know, GEMS is anchored by our core values of kindness and respect, which we consider crucial attributes that will arm our students for the exciting – and challenging – future that is awaiting them. I have been delighted to witness our students’ wonderful acts of kindness via the GEMS Jewels of Kindness and Respect initiative, and to see how the human values taught in our schools are reflected in our caring students.
Thank you for your continued trust and support for your school and the two-way examples of respect between teacher and family that continue to take us to exciting new heights in a world that remains full of opportunities.
I wish you and your children a safe and fulfilling new academic year ahead.
Sunny Varkey
Founder and Chairman, GEMS Education
I am always happy to be included in the Elementary School Yearbook. I was an elementary school principal for many years and loved that time in my career. The elementary school years are known as a time of wonder and discovery, and the 2020-21 school year, with all of its challenges and ground-breaking transformations to how you have learned has required us all to wonder and to discover how best to meet your needs as learners. I am so proud of how you have demonstrated flexibility and resilience, discovering how you can best learn both on your own and with your colleagues, while strengthening the academic and emotional intelligence so necessary for your future success.
As you look through the pages of this book and see your friend’s smiling faces, I am sure it will bring a warm smile to your own face. This year more than ever it is important to reach out to your friends and congratulate them on their awards and achievements depicted here. The Culture of Kindness embedded in the nature of DAA cannot be eliminated by physical distance. No barriers can block a kind word; no mask can muffle a message of praise. We are apart, but we are also at DAA very much aligned in our support of one another in everything we do.
I wanted to send a warm congratulations to the class of 2028 in particular. You have excellent role models for your younger peers during this challenging year. May the next year and all the years to come bring you success and happiness
My best,
Tammy Murphy
Superintendent/CEO
Vice President and Chair - Education Committee
As you look through the pages of this book and see your friend’s smiling faces, I am sure it will bring a warm smile to your own face. This year more than ever it is important to reach out to your friends and congratulate them on their awards and achievements depicted here. The Culture of Kindness embedded in the nature of DAA cannot be eliminated by physical distance. No barriers can block a kind word; no mask can muffle a message of praise. We are apart, but we are also at DAA very much aligned in our support of one another in everything we do.
I wanted to send a warm congratulations to the class of 2028 in particular. You have excellent role models for your younger peers during this challenging year. May the next year and all the years to come bring you success and happiness
My best,
Tammy Murphy
Superintendent/CEO
Vice President and Chair - Education Committee
A Message from Mr. Cantlie
