Elementary Updates
August 2021
Welcome Back or Welcome to Dunecrest!!!
Dear Parents,
I hope that you all had an amazing summer and you feel rested and rejuvenated and ready to tackle the 2021-2022 school year! I am so excited to be welcoming everyone back to campus soon for what I have no doubt will be a truly wonderful year. There is much to know about the new school year and so please read carefully and let me know if you have any questions at all.
Throughout the year if you do have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly. My number is 055 104 2718 and I am more than happy to answer any questions via whats app or through a call directly. At Dunecrest we value our parents immensely. You are our partners in learning and we want to work with you to ensure the success of your children.
Lisa Gibson
Elementary School Principal
Before School Starts To Do List.
You have previously heard from our new school Director, Mr. Jeff Smith, about the rules and regulations that you will need to follow. Here are some brief highlights and 'To Do's from that letter.
The first thing you must do is fill out the Travel Health and Declaration Form for your child.
This form must be filled out whether you have travelled or not.
On the form, when it says 'School Email', please use: nurse@dunecrest.ae
Please see the button below to access the form.
Additionally, every person who enters the school will need to show evidence of a PCR Test if they are over 12 years of age regardless of if you have travelled or not. This includes students, teachers, parents or nannies and drivers who will be entering the doors of Dunecrest on the first day of school.
On Sunday the 29th of August, we will be collecting records of the PCR test as you arrive on campus.
Students who are 12 and under and HAVE travelled, will need to quarantine for ten days from your return date before returning to campus, or present a negative PCR test to be allowed on campus immediately. If this applies to your family please can you let us know which you are choosing as soon as possible so that we may inform teachers and make the appropriate plans to support your children. Please email Sameena our Elementary Administrative Assistant at sremseen@dunecrest.ae
Covid-19 Vaccinations
On Monday, August 9th, educational authorities announced new policies on the expectations for vaccines in schools. The policies mean that all pupils aged 16 and above, as well as staff and all visitors, must be fully vaccinated with a UAE-approved vaccine to access the school premises, whether within or outside school hours. The vaccinations must be verified on the AlHosn app prior to returning to school at the start of the academic year.
School Supplies
Children will need their school supplies purchased as per the lists on the website, all students will again use their own individual materials this year which will be kept in a large plastic container under their desks.
IPad Requirements for Grades 2-5
Children in Grades 2 and above will need to have purchased their own individual iPads based on the school specifications. Dunecrest is using a new iPad management system this year to provide internet safety for students during the day.
The program is called Mosyle and will create two faces for students on their device. One they will access from 7:30am to 3:30pm with ONLY educational related apps and one during the rest of the day for them to access at home with the apps that you choose for them.
During the first days of school we will be working with students to format their devices and apply the management system to their devices.
(There was a complete letter about this that went home recently explaining it more thoroughly. If you need that letter please let me know).
Drop Off and Pick UP
Morning Routines:
Children in Grades 2-5 will need to be dropped off at the front of the school in the morning between 7:30 and 7:45 and will enter on their own to go their classes. There will be many teachers on duty at this time to help assist them to find their way and transition to their classrooms.
For the month of September, students in Grade 1 will be allowed to have one parent or carer accompany them to their classroom in the morning in order to assist with the transition from the Early years.
At 7:45 classes begin with a Morning Meeting. The Morning Meeting is extremely important for students as it sets up their day, helps them to build relationships with their peers and establishes the classroom as a safe environment. Please ensure your child is on time so that you may set them up for a successful day of learning.
Afternoon Routines:
Pick up will again be staggered to avoid a build up of people in the building.
Pick up for students in KG2 to Grade 5 will be at 3:00PM. Students in the Middle and High School will continue to be in school until 3:10PM.
Students in Grade 1 will be picked up from the classroom by one parent only please.
Students in Grades 2-4 will be picked up from the Cafeteria by one parent only please.
Students in Grade 5 can make their own arrangements with parents to meet at a convenient location.
School Start Schedule
In order to fulfill all the health and safety requirements from the Ministry of Education to ensure a safe school opening, the first day of school will look a little different this year.
On Sunday, the 29th of August, we will invite returning families into the school at two separate times to meet the new teachers, drop off school supplies, drop vaccine and PCR records and set up their devices on our new Mosyle system.
We will invite NEW to Dunecrest families on the same day at a different time to do all of the above but also have a school tour, and engage in a team building activities.
Please see the complete schedule below:
Please Welcome Our New Elementary Team Members:
Danielle Diehl
Betsy Austin
Carrie Zimmer
Alejandro Arrabal
Dalia El Garem
Asha Issa
Important Dates:
August 29th: New student and parent open house
August 29th: Returning students drop supplies, and provide proof of PCR
August 30th: First full day of classes for all students
September 5th: Language Extension Program begins
September 7th: Elementary Zoom Back to School Information Night
September 14th: 12:45 Early Dismissal for all Dunecrest students, Teachers have PD
September 16th: Dunecrest house kick off event
Contact Lisa Gibson
Email: lgibson@dunecrest.ae
Website: www.dunecrest.ae
Location: Dunecrest American School - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 55 104 2718
Contact Dunecrest
Email: info@dunecrest.ae
Website: https://www.dunecrest.ae/
Location: Dunecrest American School - Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971 4 508 7444
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DunecrestDubai/