News from GWA: Launching School Traditions

Creating New Traditions

One of the most exciting parts about a new school is seeing the “traditions” that make a community grow and develop. Some of these happen organically because an event or project is so meaningful that it grows into a tradition.

Our Middle School Fashion Show is one good example of this. Last year, the idea of an interdisciplinary fashion show was sparked by a student’s vision. The project that grew out of that vision was an amazing example of our interdisciplinary approach to learning and problem-solving. This year’s version involves the entire Middle School and promises to be a truly monumental event. The sixth grade’s fashion designs are inspired by their study of humanities; the seventh grade is taking inspiration from science topics; and the eighth-graders are using their technological prowess to create their fashion pieces. Just stop a Middle School student and ask him or her about the fashion show project, and you are sure to be engaged in a 10- or 15-minute conversation! The show will hit the runway on April 28 – so stay tuned for more information!

Another exciting tradition that has taken shape over the course of this year is our mascot. You may remember that we announced last fall that we would be the GEMS World Academy Dragons. Over the course of several months, each student produced her or his version of the “dragon” and we unveiled that mosaic of artwork with our “official” dragon at the Winter Concert. In recent weeks, we have engaged our community in the task of naming our dragon. We are thrilled to announce the winning entry, which was chosen by our community from many creative suggestions. Be sure to take another look at our dragon on display in the lobby now that you know that its name is SCORCH!

Finally, our eighth-graders will be engaged in the process of helping us design another GEMS tradition – the culmination ceremony of the Middle School experience. Our students will be working with faculty to create a meaningful ceremony to celebrate their transition to Upper School, and that will take place at 8:15 a.m. on June 13. We will share more about the details of this event as our plans develop.

Being a part of building traditions that will live beyond each of us as individuals is one of the privileges of being part of the GEMS community.

— Kim Wargo

LOWER SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

Exploring the different forms of storytelling
Our kindergartners in recent weeks have been working on a storytelling unit that has gotten them thinking about the different ways stories are told and the different roles that stories perform in society. Students have studied Greek myths and explored the importance of the myths as cultural stories. They have studied the use of code and stories in the Underground Railroad during the days of slavery. They have written their own stories from personal experiences, relying on feedback from teachers and their peers throughout the composing-and-revising process. The storytelling unit is a great example of the transdisciplinary approach to education at GEMS.

MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

Exploring the history of surgical techniques
GEMS Middle School students visited the International Museum of Surgical Science, a division of the International College of Surgeons (ICS). The museum maintains more than 10,000 square feet of public galleries documenting the history of surgery, along with an exquisite permanent collection of art and artifacts from the history of medicine. Sixth- and eighth-grade students are currently working on dissections in annelids (worms) and mollusks, while seventh-grade students are examining surgical design related to instruments. Students are continuing to design and research before these dissections, which provide the fundamentals of biostatistics, instill critical thinking and guide students through the scientific method as they collect their own data in the laboratory.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Invite a friend: Spring Open House on March 25
We will be holding our second open house of the year on Saturday, March 25. The event runs 10 a.m. to noon, and it gives prospective families a chance to see our building, meet teachers and administrators and generally get a vivid look at what we do every day. If you know of any families that are "school-hunting" right now, please encourage them to attend! The registration page can be found here.

Join the discussion at 'Conversations with Kim' event
The next "Conversations with Kim" event will take place at 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28. The talk will focus primarily on the future for our school, as GEMS moves through a period of transition at the leadership levels. GEMS Education Americas CEO Denise Gallucci will attend. Please reserve your spot here.

Reserve your spot for Kyle Hill talk
Kyle Hill, a noted science writer and television/Internet personality, will speak to the GEMS community at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, about how to make science accessible and fun for children. Hill is known for using pop culture to explore scientific concepts. Space is limited at this special event; reserve your spot by registering here.

Download the official calendar for the 2017-2018 school year
The calendar for the 2017-2018 school year has been finalized and is available for download here. The calendar shows each month of the school year, identifies holidays and calls out important events.

Reminder: GEMS camps
There are two more GEMS day camps coming up this year — a Field Study camp during spring break, April 10-13, and a six-week summer camp that will include sports, world language activities, science and Field Studies, June 19-July 28. For schedule and full pricing information, please go here.

LifeTouch yearbook - Last day to order is on April 10!
Pre-order your yearbook today at ybpay.lifetouch.com using our school's Yearbook ID code (12620917) and your student's name. Order your copy ASAP - last day to order is on April 10.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Please link your smartphones to our public GEMS calendar to stay informed about the most recent updates. Here are some important upcoming dates:

March 25: GEMS Open House for Prospective Families (RSVP)
March 30: Half Day for Spring Conferences (Lunch Time Dismissal - sign up here!)
March 31: No School for Spring Conferences (sign up here !)
April 10: Last Day to Purchase Lifetouch Yearbook (Buy with code 12620917)
April 10-14: Spring break (no classes) - Sign up for Spring Break Camp!
April 20: PTO Meeting from 6 - 7 p.m. (RSVP)
April 25: Speaker Series: Kyle Hill (RSVP)
April 28: Middle School Design Fashion Show from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
April 29: GEMS Parent Teacher Organization Gala (RSVP)
May 15: Grades 2-5 Dragons Concert from 2:30 - 3:15 p.m.
May 19: Lower School Art Show from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
May 25: Yellow Submarine Concert for Preschool-Jr. Kindergarten from 8:30 - 9 a.m.
May 26: Yellow Submarine Concert for Kindergarten - First Grade from 8:30 - 9 a.m.
June 1-2: Middle School One Act Nights from 4 - 5:30 p.m.
June 9: Grades 2-5 Optional Talent Show from 4 - 6 p.m.