Elementary Updates
August 26th 2021
Back To School Most Recent Updates
Dear Parents
We have received further clarification about what is necessary for the start of school from the KHDA.
Please note the following regulations for entrance to the Dunecrest building starting on Sunday, August 29th.
If you have travelled and have not been in the country for ten days, you will need to produce a PCR test that was taken on arrival in Dubai, or afterwards, to be allowed in the school building, whether you are vaccinated or not.
If you have travelled, but have been in the country for more than ten days and are vaccinated you do not need a PCR test to enter the school building.
If you have not travelled and are vaccinated then you do not need a PCR test to enter the school building.
If you are not vaccinated then you will need a PCR test that was taken within 48 hours every time you wish to access the school building.
Children do not need a PCR test to access the campus unless they have arrived in Dubai on or after the 20th of August. The PCR test needs to be from Dubai, since their return.
What to expect when you arrive at Dunecrest on Sunday the 29th of August:
You will need to bring either your vaccine records or your PCR results for entrance to the school building. These results can either be on a paper or on an app that you share with us. We will be recording all this information for future use. If you have already submitted vaccine records through the google form we sent, we will have that on file.
Please also bring your ID tags as we will be marking with a sticker on your ID if you are vaccinated for future use.
Pre KG to Grade 1 Families please use the Early Years Entrance and Grades 2-12 families please use the Main Entrance. There will be tables set up with people to meet you and check your records before you proceed to classrooms.
Students should be in their uniforms starting on Sunday the 29th of August.
Before School Starts To Do List.
Please inform the Elementary Administrative Assistant, Sameena, if you HAVE travelled within the last ten days to inform us if your children are choosing to quarantine or take the PCR test to be here on the first day.
Please don't forget to purchase school supplies and bring them with you on the 29th of August. 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.
Please don't forget that 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. (This process takes about 30 mins per iPad so it will take a little while to complete everyone).
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.
New parking area for Dunecrest parents.
There will be information released by the school shortly to inform you about the new parking procedures. Thank you in advance for your support with following these new guidelines.
Open House Sunday, August 29th
Program for Elementary School NEW families.
New family orientation is 10am-12pm.
Please arrive as close to 10am as possible as you will have a scheduled program.
10-10:45 Arrive, check in and find your classroom and meet your teacher. (Drop off supplies and complete an activity in class). Student ambassadors will be on site to help you find the individual classrooms.
10:45- 11:15 Address to parents in the Gymnasium and Q&A with Principal, Director and ES Counselor
11:15-11:45 Students in Gymnasium for team building activities.
11:45-12:00 Quick tour of key places to know on campus.
Orientation for returning families should take about 30-45 minutes. Please be mindful that we are trying to keep the number of people on campus to a minimum during this time.
See below for information for returning families:
Important Dates:
August 29th: New student and parent open house
August 29th: Returning students drop supplies
August 30th: First full day of classes for all students
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/