Welcometo GardensCampus
YourRahajourneystartshere!
ThisHandbookisheretoensureyouhavetheinformation youneedtohelpyourchildthriveatschool.Pleasereadit carefullyandrefertoitwhenyouneedanyguidance.
HaveaSUPERyearahead!
WeGrowPeople
Relationships
Webuildstrongconnectionsbyworkingtogether,solvingproblems,and ensuringeveryonefeelstheybelong.
Excellence
Wesucceedthroughhands-onexperiencesandcollaborationwithothersand ourenvironment.
Aspiration
Wevalueourchildren’sneeds,interests,andvoicesandallowthemto participateactivelyintheirlearning
Welcomefromthe HeadofPrimary
It is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you, our Gardens families, to another exciting and engaging year in the primary school As the new Head of Primary, I already know what a special place Raha International School, Gardens Campus is, with happy students, parents and staff delighting in being a part of such a vibrant community.
We are proud of being an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme school The IB Learner profile and Approaches to Learning guide our vision to ensure thateveryonecanbetheverybestversionofthemselves,inandoutoftheclassroom AtRaha,“WeGrowPeople”withrelationships,excellenceandaspirationattheheartof our wonderful school. We want every member of our community to have their voice heard,experiencesuccess,showkindnessandmakeapositivedifferenceintheworld.
This handbook is designed to be a reference point for life at Gardens with a specific focus on the primary section. The information within it will support you to help your child thrive at school. Please read it carefully and refer to it whenever you need any guidance,rememberingthatwearealsoheretosupportyoueveryday.
SimonJames HeadofPrimary GardensCampus
TheInternational Baccalaureate
Establishedin1968,InternationalBaccalaureate(IB)programmesareofferedinmore than 4,000 schools worldwide The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through interculturalunderstandingandrespect.
The IB programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences,canalsoberight
At Raha we offer three IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle YearsProgramme(MYP)andDiplomaProgramme(DP).
HowdoestheIBdefine‘internationaleducation’?
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) chooses to define ‘international education’ accordingtothefollowingcriteria:
Developingcitizensoftheworldinrelationtoculture,languageandlearningtolive together
Buildingandreinforcingstudents'senseofidentityandculturalawareness
Fosteringstudents'recognitionanddevelopmentofuniversalhumanvalues
Stimulating curiosity and inquiry in order to foster a spirit of discovery and enjoymentoflearning
Equipping students with the skills to learn and acquire knowledge, individually or collaboratively, and to apply these skills and knowledge accordingly across a broadrangeofareas
Providing international content while responding to local requirements and interests
Encouragingdiversityandflexibilityinteachingmethods
Providingappropriateformsofassessmentandinternationalbenchmarking Readmoreatiboorg
TheIB LearnerProfile
TheIBlearnerprofilepromoteseducationofthewholepersonforalifeofactive, responsiblecitizenshipemphasizingintellectual,personal,emotionalandsocial growth Theattributesanddescriptionsofthelearnerprofiledefinethetypeoflearner Rahahopestodevelopthroughitsprogrammes AllmembersoftheRahaCommunity includingstudents,teachers,administration,supportstaffandparentsstriveto developthesequalities.
ThePrimaryYears Programme
The PYP at Gardens is designed for students from Early Years 1 through Grade 5, focusing on building a solid foundation of curiosity, independence, and global citizenship. Starting at age 3, our PYP curriculum encourages students to become active,compassionate,andlifelonglearners.
KeyElementsofthePYP:
Inquiry-BasedLearning:The PYP nurtures children’s natural curiosity, encouraging them to ask questions and explore both in the classroom and in the world around them.
UnitsofInquiry:Eachyear,studentsdiveintofourtosix‘UnitsofInquiry,’wherethey investigate big ideas through six organizing themes These themes help students make connections across subjects, including Language, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Technology, the Arts, and Personal, Social, and Physical Education.
Transdisciplinary Approach: Subjects are integrated within each Unit of Inquiry, promoting a broad understanding and encouraging students to think across disciplines
Early Years Learning: In our Early Years program, children learn through play and hands-on experiences in a safe, stimulating environment. Specialist teachers complement this approach, guiding young learners in exploring and discovering theworldaroundthem.
ThePYPdevelopsthewholechildasanengagedandopen-mindedinquirer Tolearn more,pleasevisitwww.ibo.org/pyporspeakwithourPYPCoordinatoratRaha.
Who’sWhoat Gardens
PrimaryLeadership
EmilyMerton DeputyHead EY1toG1
KerryMesmer AssistantHead EarlyYears
OsamaAbuJafar AssistantHead Pastoral
ReneeDansey AssistantHead PYPCoordinator
ThePrimaryTeam
Weareahighlyexperiencedanddedicatedteamfromarangeofdifferentcountries andlifeexperiences Rahabringsusalltogetherthroughourpassionforteachingand weareaproudPYPschool.
TeachingTeams
Wehave7classesinGradeOneandTwo,andsixclassesinGradesThreetoFive.Each classinGradeOnehasateacherandLearningAssistant ClassesinGradesTwoto FiveeachhaveahomeroomteacherwithmultipleLearningAssistantsworking amongstthegrade.
WehaveanexperiencedSpecialistteachingteamwhichincludesteachersofArabic, Islamic,PE,Art,MusicandSTEM(Science,Technology,EngineeringandMathematics) Additionally,wehaveadedicatedStudentSupportTeamwithqualifiedandpassionate educatorstrainedtoguideinclusivepractice.
GradeOne
SharonReagan(GradeLevelLead)
LewisOffer
JillIsayama
AdamTierney
JillJames
EmilyCoppell
LindaMorrisroe
LearningAssistants:EmCaliston,AlyaziaAlmarzooqi,IwonaKalinowska,LiezylTabo, AsmaSaqib,ReemAlmemari,SheryBasta
GradeTwo
TammyReen(GradeLevelLead)
JamesRoss
LanuTavae
FranciscaArlegui
DavidBlighe
CadineMiller
AnnaParker
LearningAssistants:JoanLubos,AyeshaAlzaabi,MarijetaZdravkovic,RumaisaFarooq
GradeThree
AdrianDevane(GradeLevelLead)
PeterGilbert
DorothyDeFraitas
AncaBadila
DarcyRahn
RonaldBrooks
LearningAssistants:CorrinneMoustache,MariamAlbaiti,NajwaChrishty
ThePrimaryTeam
GradeFour
PatriciaVargas(GradeLevelLead)
MeredithRobinson
LiamBlyde
KimHalavatau
MichelleBordeaux
JasmineCotterill
LearningAssistants:MeiWang,MeeraYounes
GradeFive
DavidO'Neil(GradeLevelLead)
DaneHenegan
MaxSerrano
LucyMaher
AshBrosnan
DebbieAiken
LearningAssistants:JennalynBoston,JonalynLadines
Specialists
InnovationHub-AlisonWighton(TeamLead)
InnovationHub-ClaudiaParentini
InnovationHub&Art-AngieBarnes
PE-LouiseO’Connor
PE-RianHumphries
PE–AlexParker
PE-AdrienneRidley
PE/DirectorofSport-BenSapwellWest
Art-JenniferMarsh
Music-GeorgeMills
Music-AnnaVetrone
LearningAssistants:TamaraVidal,MariamSacare
Arabic
RubaAbuHijab(HeadofArabic)
AyatAzmiZakiMohammadHamdan
FatimaAbdelrahmanEltayebAbusabah HalaBatiaineh
MariamShafiqSharifDawass
MraadyAnanzeh
NemahAbdulazizAbdulqaderAhmed NohaElsaidMohamedFakhreldinGhazy
SanaAbdallahAbdelLatifHasayen
YahiaMobarkAbdelrahmanAdam
ThePrimaryTeam
IslamicandUAESocialStudies
AsmaaMohammedEzzeddinKanaan
MosabAbuDiab
RandAlQurani
WafaaOmarMarwanOmarKhatab
StudentSupportTeam
EllaWazny(TeamLead)
MelodyGutierrez
ErinRobinson
SarahOmar
TraceyDixon
SarahGillon
ReemAlbadi
LucyCurrie
LucyWoods
SouadSelmania
EunjiYe
SarahAlShamsi
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
ADayAtGardens
StartoftheSchoolDay
Ourgatesopenat7:20amwithstaffsupervisiononschoolgrounds.
The National Anthem plays at 7:45ameachmorning Prior to this, a bell will ring to alert students that it is time to enter their classroom Parents should remain outsidethebuilding.
Your child is late if they enter class after 7:50am. Until 8am, late students should attend the Building L reception for a late slip. After 8am late students need to attend the Building A reception to receive a late slip Late students will not bepermittedintoclasswithoutalateslip
EY1toG1buschildrenwillbedroppedatclassbyaBusMonitorinthemorning.
EndoftheSchoolDay
Dismissalis3pm(12pmFridays)
Muslim students may attend supervised prayer time before leaving school Monday-Thursday.
Students who take the bus home are dismissed first, then the homeroom teacher accompaniesremainingstudentstoadesignatedplaceoutsideforcollection
Bus students from Grades One and Two are escorted to the buses by their LearningAssistants,olderstudentsmaketheirownway.
All students in Grades One to Five must be collected by a parent, guardian or siblingwhoisinGradeNineorabove
Families should vacate the campus promptly after school At 3:10pm MondayThursday/12:10pmFriday,anyuncollectedstudentswillbetakentotheAssistantto HeadofPrimary’sofficetohaveparentscalled.
Students who take part in ECPs will be escorted to a meeting place after school, withpickuparrangementscommunicatedtoparentsinatimelymanner.Thereis no additional bus service after ECPs. Only students participating in ECPs are permittedtostayoncampusafterschool
Parents who wish to collect their child during the school day must email absent@ris.aeandgotothemainofficeinBuildingA.Parentsarenotpermittedto collecttheirchildrendirectlyfromtheclassroom.
Parents of bus students who will be collected by parents during the school day (not taking the bus home) must send an email to transportation@risae, risprimaryreception@risae,absent@risae,andthehomeroomteacherby12pm Latepick-upsaremonitoredandifyourchildiscollectedlatethreetimeswithina half term, parents will be asked to attend a meeting with the Primary Leadership Team.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Attendance
Students who arrive after 8am are considered late and must visit the front desk in BuildingAtoreceivea‘lateslip’beforegoingtotheirhomeroom
If a student will miss school for any reason their parent must email their homeroom teacherandabsent@ris.ae.
Ifaparentwishestocollecttheirchildearly,theymustvisitfrontdeskinBuildingA to receiveanearlydismissalform;officestaffwillcollectthestudentfromclass.
BeingPreparedforSchool
HealthandWellbeing
Ahealthyamountofnighttimesleepforprimaryagedchildrenis9-12hours.Ahealthy breakfastisvitalforsuccessfullearningduringtheschoolday.
WhattoBring
Backpackortrolleybag. Lunchorpre-paidcardforcafeteria. Waterbottle Hat
iPad,fullycharged,andheadphones(Grades3-5only) Librarybagonborrowingdays
BehaviourandPastoralCare
Raha PYP follows the Responsive Classroom approach of engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. More informationabouttheapproachcanbefoundHERE
Acounsellorisonstafftosupportandguidestudentsasnecessary.
Each class creates an ‘Essential Agreement’ for the classroom community and behaviour codes. Moreover, school wide expectations for behaviour are regularly sharedwithallstudents Breachesoftheseexpectationsarefollowedupaccordingto theBehaviourPolicyfoundHERE(insertlinktowhereparentsfindthepolicy)
BicyclesandScooters
Studentswhoridebicyclesandscooterstoschoolmustwearahelmet Therearerackstostorebicyclesandscootersatvariouslocationsaroundcampus. Bicyclesandscootersmustbepushed,notridden,onceoncampus.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Birthdays
Birthdaysareimportanttorecogniseforourchildren Wearehappytocelebrateyour child'sspecialdayinasmallway Wewillnothostbirthdaypartiesinclassbutwewill ensureyourchildfeelsspecialbysinginghappybirthdaytothem.
To make our celebrations fair, consistent, safe and practical we have the following guidelines:
Youmaybringonesmallpieceoffruitperchild.Fruitkebabsareagreatideafora healthytreat.
As an alternative to food, we welcome parents to share a small toy as a gift with theclassorevenaboardgameorbookfortheclasstoenjoyforthewholeyear.
AspertheADEKHealthyFoodpolicy,staffwillnotbeabletodistributeanykindof sweets,cake,donutsorfastfoodetc
Therearetobenonutsinthefoodandtheingredientsaretobeclearlywrittenso thatifchildrenhaveallergies,weareawareofwhatisinthefood.
Noknives,platesoraccessoriese.g.balloons.
If your child has an allergy then you may send an alternative, safe option so they canbeincludedinthecelebration-wewillinformyouofbirthdaysinadvance PleaseseeourHealthyFoodpolicyonourwebsiteforclarification.
Buses
A bus service is run by an external provider, who shares relevant information with parents.TheemailcontactfortheexternalprovideratRahaistransportation@ris.ae.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
BYOiPad
WestronglyencourageallstudentsinGrades3-5tobringtheirowndevicetotakefull advantageoftheopportunitiesthiscangivetotheteacherandstudents Thedevice is used to support independent inquiry, delve deeper into understanding concepts andskillsandtoshowtheirknowledgeandunderstanding.
In order to ensure that technology is assisting the teaching and learning in the classroom,wehavedecidedtouseasingleplatformandthereforerecommendonly Apple devices. In Grades 3-5 this means an Apple iPad (any model). Students in Grade 5 may choose to transition to a Macbook in preparation for MYP. Devices are used as a tool to enhance and document learning, used at the teacher’s direction. Theyarenotusedbeforeorafterschool,oratbreaktimes.
We have partnered with our Apple supplier to provide discounted prices on Apple productsthatyoucanpurchaseforyourfamilyuse.
Pleaseensurethefollowingappsareinstalledonyourchild’siPad:
AllGrades
AppleClassroom
BookCreator
GarageBand
iMovie
Keynote
NearPod
Padlet
Pages
ToddleStudent
RazKids
YouTube
SafariorGoogleChrome
MicrosoftPowerPoint
StopMotion
Capcut
SpikeLegoJr
Swiftplaygrounds
SpheroEdu
MinecraftEducation
ArabicBStudentsOnly
LanguageNut
ABT
GradesFour&Five
MicrosoftExcel
Epic!
Canva
FreeForm–drawingapp
GradeFiveArabicAStudentsOnly Alef
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Other apps may be requested by teachers throughout the year to support specific units.
Students are not allowed to use messaging apps during school hours, including to receive messages from family If you have a message for your child, please contact theirhomeroomteacherorrisprimaryreception@risae
Parents are reminded to check the age requirements of any app installed on their child’sdevice,thisparticularlyappliestosocialmedia.
ParentsarerequestedtoutilisetheAppLimitfeatureoniPads: Setlimitsonanynon-schoolrequiredappsduringschoolhours
TurnoffiMessageonyourchild’siPad.
Do not restrict overall screen time during school hours so that your child can accessrequiredappswhenrequestedbyateacher.
HOWTO:APPLESUPPORT
OtherDevices
As a school, we believe there is no need for primary students to have smart watches orphonesatschool Ifparentschoosetosendaphonewiththeirprimarychild,itmuststayintheirschool bag and only be used outside school hours If seen during school hours, phones and smart watches will be removed by the staff member. They can be collected by the student at the end of the school day (first event) or by the parent (subsequent events).
HowdoIbuy?
Navigatetowwwjtrsae
Clickon‘SignUp’
Choose‘RahaInternationalSchool’ Signin&completeyourpurchase
The device should be held in a protective case and needs to be fully charged at the beginning of the day Recommended accessories are headphones or earphones (all grades) and a keyboard case and stylus for students in Grades Four and Five Cyber safety and responsible use of technology are taken seriously and taught within each gradelevel.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
ClassParents
TheParentTeamrecruitsandco-ordinatesClassParentsforeachclassroombetween EY1 and Grade 5. Class parents have an essential role at Raha and provide much needed support to both teachers and parents. They are also the first point of contact whentheParentTeamneedstocommunicatemessagestotheparentcommunityor helpco-ordinategrade-wideevents IfyouareinterestedinbecomingaParentTeam volunteeroraClassParent,pleaseemailparent.team@ris.ae.
Pleaseensureyourcontactdetailsarekeptuptodatewiththeadmissionsteams. ThetablebelowhighlightsthetypicaluseofcommunicationplatformsusedatRaha.
WeeklyUpdates:“Raha Reminders”
UrgentUpdates
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
CommunicationandPlatforms
Pleaseensureyourcontactdetailsarekeptuptodatewiththeadmissionsteams ThetablebelowhighlightsthetypicaluseofcommunicationplatformsusedatRaha
TermlyNewsletters, FormalCommunication, Surveys
Principal,VicePrincipal andHeadofSchool,PYP Coordinator
WeeklyUpdates:“Raha Reminders” Communicationsteam Emailandschool websiteHERE
UrgentUpdates Communicationsteam SMS/Email
GradeLevel,Subjectand ClassUpdates
Individual correspondencetoand fromfamilies
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Email should be used to communicate with teachers, whose email addresses will be shared early in the school year Please allow up to 24 hours for a reply, exclusive of weekends and holidays. Kindly note that teachers do not check emails during teaching time and may not have the opportunity to check emails until after school; urgentmessagesshouldbesenttotheAssistanttotheHeadofPrimary, SehrabAlkilani:risprimaryreception@risae
Toddle
ItisimperativethatallfamiliesconnecttotheToddleappfromthestartoftheschool year Alongwithactingasyourchild’sportfoliooflearning,Toddleisthemainway teacherscommunicatewholeclassupdatesandreminders LinktoAppleAppHERE LinktoGooglePlayAppHERE
SchoolsBuddy
SchoolsBuddyisusedforECPandparentconferencesignupsaswellasfieldtrip consentcollection.AppdetailscanbefoundHERE.
ForallToddleandSchoolsBuddyenquiries,pleasecontactourDatabase Administrator,RochelleJaring:dbadmin@risae
ContactInformation
Absences:absent@risae
AssistanttoHeadofPrimary-SehrabAlkilani:risprimaryreception@risae DatabaseAdministrator:dbadmin@ris.ae(ToddleandSchoolsBuddyenquiries)
ECPCoordinator:ecp@ris.ae Nurse:clinic@ris.ae
ParentTeam:parentteam@risae Pool:pool@risae
BusTransportation:transportation@ris.ae
Magrudy’sForsanMall(FirstFloor) Tel:0503854799 Website:Magrudy’s
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Curriculum
The International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed to build upon the natural curiosity of the child The programme focuses on the developmentofthewholechildasaninquirer,bothintheclassroomandintheworld outside.Studentsparticipateinsix'UnitsofInquiry'peryear.
ThesubjectareasofLanguage,PersonalSocialandPhysicalEducation,Mathematics, Science and Technology, the Arts and Moral, Social and Cultural Studies are woven intotheUnitsofInquirytoprovideatransdisciplinaryapproachtolearning
Uponenrollment,studentsareallocatedasArabicAorBlearnersand,whererelevant, IslamicAorBstudents.ArabicAandIslamicAaretaughtthroughArabicwhileArabic BandIslamicBarefornon-nativespeakers.
Extra-CurricularProgram/ExternalProviders
Each term, a wide range of exciting ECPs are offered, covering arts, STEM, sports and academic pursuits. Information about ECPs is shared in the weekly Raha Reminders and on a noticeboard outside Building A Once signed up, parents should check for daily updates on Schools Buddy Parents and students can see which ECP is taking place at what time, location and day. Further enquiries should be sent to the ECP Coordinator:ecp@ris.ae
TeacherLedExtraCurricularProgram(ECPS),includingRahaRaptorsSports
These are held after school and are either free or have a minimal cash fee to cover costs. Raha Raptors are sports specific ECPS. Sign-ups will be advertised by the ECP CoordinatorandarethroughSchoolsBuddy.Studentswillbeescortedtotheirgroup’s meeting place after school and must be collected by parents at the activity’s end time.
ExternalProviderExtracurriculars
A number of external provider extracurricular activities are available throughout the year These are advertised in the weekly Raha Reminders with flyers that include detailedinformation,includingpaymentinstructions SignupsareonSchoolsBuddy
FieldTripsandSpecialEvents
Eachgradelevelwilltakepartinanumberoffieldtripsandspecialeventsduringthe schoolyear.Theseareplannedtoenhancelearningacrossvariouscurriculumareas and are invaluable ways of bringing inquiries to life. As per ADEK guidelines, off site tripsforstudentsunder12yearsoldwillbeheldwithintheemirateofAbuDhabionly. Communication about field trips and special events will include a link to the permission form on Schools Buddy, along with information regarding payment for participation.
Itisvitalthatonlinepaymentsaremadebythedeadlinestatedincommunication.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
FoodandCafeteria
TherearetwoopportunitiestoeateachdayMonday-Thursday,andoneeatingbreak time on Fridays Food brought from home should contain NO NUTS, be healthy and substantialforabusyschoolday.Weencourageeachstudenttohavealunchboxor insulatedbag.
PYP students may purchase food from the cafeteria, which is run by Food Nation Payment can be with cash or prepaid cards Menus are shared in the weekly Raha Reminders and more information, including how to purchase prepaid cards, can be foundintheFoodNationParentPackHERE.
EcoFriendly
We strive to be as eco-friendly as possible. This is a mindset we instill in the children from day one, but the impact will be far more powerful if we have all parents and carersonboardtoo.
You can help your child pack their waste-free lunch by using reusable containers, bagsorbottles,orsendinginloosefoodswithoutplasticwrapping.
Pleaserememberthefollowing:
Allfoodinreusablecontainers
Wholefruitswithoutpackaging
Drinksinreusablecontainers
Reusableicepacks
Pleasedonotinclude:
Individuallywrappedsnacks
Plasticbagsthatarenotreusable
Disposableforksandspoons
Plasticstraws
Allergies
If you have a child with an allergy, you will need to disclose this information on your enrollmentform.
All information and medications are stored by the school clinic and all teachers are informed of children's medical needs. Staff take allergies very seriously. Children are taughttheimportanceofthisinclassandarenotallowedtosharefood. Weurgeyoutochoosecarefullywhenselectingfoodforyourchild'slunchassomeof ourchildren'sallergiesarelife-threatening.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Health
Health and wellbeing is incorporated throughout the PYP curriculum, with healthy habits for the mind and body often discussed Students are encouraged to have a healthyandbalancedlifestyle.
If your child is unwell and needs to stay at home, please email their homeroom teacher and absent@risae Any sick leave notes from a doctor should be sent as soonastheyareavailable
Our team of nurses operates from Building I. Parents will receive an email or phone calliftheirchildattendsthenursethroughouttheschoolday.
Pleasenotetheclinicproceduresforcommonhealthissues: Vomiting:
AtSchoolorOntheBus:Ifachildvomitsatschooloronthewaytoschoolonthe bus,theymustbecollectedfromschoolimmediatelyandshouldstayathomefor 24hours.Thechildwillnotbeabletotravelhomebythebus.
At Home: If a child vomits at home, parents should keep the child at home for 24 hours
HeadLice:
If your child has live head lice, the clinic will contact you. The clinic will provide information on the necessary steps to treat the lice. We encourage parents to collecttheirchildandfollowtheadvicegivenbytheclinic.
InfectionsandContagiousConditions:
If your child has any infections or contagious conditions (eg, hand, foot, and mouth disease or conjunctivitis), please communicate with the clinic. It is important that the clinic receives a medical certificate, so the school can deep clean classrooms and inform other parents of the case (a general letter will be sent,andnochildrenorfamilieswillbenamed)
Ifthereareupdatestoyourchild’shealthrecordortreatmentplanpleaseemailtheir homeroom teacher, admissions and the school nurse with relevant details. The clinic should always be able to contact a parent, please update contact details when necessary Ifaparentistravelling,ensurethereisarelativeorresponsibleadultwhois contactableincaseofemergencies
Remember to keep the clinic and homeroom teachers well informed regarding allergies and current medical conditions. If your child has an Epipen or inhaler it is essentialtheclinicandteachingstaffknow,oneshouldbekeptinschoolincaseitis needed Itisalwaysusefultosharepasthealthconditionseg glueearorpriorcases ofasthmasoeveryonecanbeawareandvigilant
Please note that the school’s stance is that if a student is well enough to attend school,theyarewellenoughtoparticipateinPEandswimlessons.Thankyouforyour cooperationinkeepingourschoolcommunityhealthyandsafe
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
HomeLanguages
We are proud to have over 80 home languages amongst our student community Studentsandfamiliesarestronglyencouragedtoembraceandcelebratetheirhome languages through classroom learning, socialising and events. We welcome parents to partake in Language Clubs and encourage you to reach out to your child's homeroomteachertoseehowyoucanbepartoftheclassroomenvironment.
HomeLearning
At the beginning of each Unit of Inquiry, the PYP Coordinator will send a selection of suggested home learning tasks that will complement the knowledge, skills and understandings being explored at school While most of these tasks are optional, we strongly recommend your child engages with them to reinforce and extend their learning. At times, there may be need for students to prepare or complete one off tasksathomewithaduedateasnegotiatedwiththeteacher.
Dailyreadingathomeisvital.
Fostering a love of reading, and the skills to promote this love, is a key way families can assist their children’s learning. All students should read daily at home, from both targeted books assigned by teachers and a range of self-selected literature and informative texts. Families are encouraged to read to their children, including in their homelanguages
ArabicAandBHomeLearning
Weekly spelling words to practise plus suggested home learning tasks published on Toddle.
LostProperty
Please ensure all items brought to school are clearly labelled with your child’s name. TheParentTeamorganiseslostpropertyoncampusandhelpsreunitesstudentswith their lost belongings Lost items are collected outside the entrance to L Block and in thecafeteria Periodically,alluncollecteditemsaredisplayedinaprominentplacefor aperiodoftimebeforebeingdonatedtoaworthycause.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Reporting
Our reporting schedule consists of invitations to visit school to participate in current learning,interviewsandwrittenreports:
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Reporting
Writtenreportsincludethefollowinggradevaluesandattitudes:
SubjectAssessmentScale
AttitudetoLearningAssessmentScale
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
StudentSupport
At Raha, our Student Support Register is comprised of students requiring support in the areas of Special Educational Needs (SEN), English as Additional Language (EAL) andGiftedandTalented(GT).
Specialised teachers in the Student Support Team (SST) work across the primary school to support and closely monitor particular students as they work towards specific goals outlined in their individual educational plan which is called a Student Support Passport. At least twice a year these students, their parents and teachers meet to review their goals. If a child receives support from external services such as (but not limited to) occupational therapy, speech therapy, educational psychology, CAMHS,collaborationwithschoolisencouraged.
Depending on the need, students on the SST register may be supported through in class adaptations for learning, in class or pull out interventions, or with ongoing 1:1 adultassistance.
Timetable
All homerooms start with registration and Morning Meeting and finish the day with Closing Circle. Specialist lessons (PE, Art, Music and Innovation Hub) are scheduled throughouttheweek
Arabic A students attend 5 Arabic lessons (6 for Grades 1-3) and a Social Studies A lesson. Arabic B students attend 4 Arabic lessons and take Social Studies with their homeroom teacher. Islamic A students attend 2 lessons per week (3 in Grades 1-3) andIslamicBstudentsattend2lessonsperweek.TherearetimeswhenArabicBand non-Muslim students remain in the homeroom while their peers attend extra lessons as listed above; no new content is introduced in these homeroom sessions and the timeisusedforrevision.ForclarificationaboutwhetheryourchildisArabic/IslamicA orB,pleaseseethecurriculumsection.
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
Uniform
Allschooluniform,includingPEuniformandhoodies,canbepurchasedatMagrudy’s atAlForsanMallorthroughtheironlineplatform
All uniform pieces must be clearly labelled with black permanent marker or embroiderywiththestudent’sfirstandlastname.
TheParentTeamrunsandoperatestheSecondhandUniformShopyear-roundto provide Raha families with affordable but gently used uniforms Details about timesandlocationsaresharedintheweeklyRahaRemindersnewsletter.
Students should wear PE uniform on the two days per week they have PE lessons. AllstudentsarealsoencouragedtowearPEuniformsonFridaysfor‘FitnessFriday’.
Throughout the year there are themed and casual dress down days. Please help yourchildselectoutfitsthatareappropriatetothecultureandclimateoftheUAE
The primary school uniform consists of a white Raha polo shirt with red trim, grey Raha trousers, grey Raha shorts (boys) or skort (girls). Enclosed black shoes (sneakersorsimilar)andappropriatesocksshouldbeworn.
TheprimaryPEuniformconsistsofagreyRahapoloshirtandgreyRahashortsor trousers Running/sportsshoesshouldbeworn(nocleats)
StudentsmaywearagreyRahauniformhoodieincoolerweather Itisadvisedtokeepsomespareuniformitemsinyourchild’sschoolbag.
Hair should be neat, of a natural colour and not of a distracting nature to the studentorothers.
Hairaccessoriesmustbewhite,darkgreyorblack.
Jewelleryshouldbeminimalandplain(nodanglingearrings)
Items such as shaylas, belts and hair clips should be plain and compliment the uniformcolours(white,darkgreyorblack)
Headwearmustberemovedinsidethebuildings,excludingshaylas.
Primarystudentsarenotpermittedtowearmakeup.
VisitingCampus
We love welcoming parents on campus! Please remember to always wear your parentIDbadgeandfollowourcampusdresscode
GardensPrimaryAtoZ
VisitingCampus
We love welcoming parents on campus! Please remember to always wear your parentIDbadgeandfollowourcampusdresscode
The Raha Parent Team is a dedicated and enthusiastic group of volunteer parents on Gardens Campus who are elected to various roles that help support our mission. The principal mission of the Raha Parent Team is to help build a sense of community, and we do this in a number of ways:
- Welcoming New Families: One of the most important things that the Parent Team does is welcome new families to the community. Our Welcome Ambassador, Vanessa Palk, is your first point of contact on the Parent Team and a reliable source of information about Raha and the wider community She also organizes specific Coffee Mornings and visits to culturally important sites in Abu Dhabi to help families settle into their new school and city.
- Class Parents & Grade Parents: The Parent Team recruits and co-ordinates Class Parents for each classroom between EY1 and Grade 5 and Grade Parents from Grade 6 to Grade 12. Class Parents and Grade Parents play an important role at Raha, and provide much needed support to both PYP teachers/Secondary heads of grades and parents. They are also the first point of contact when the Parent Team needs to communicate messages to the parent community or help organize events.
- Volunteers: The Parent Team has an active group of parent volunteers that we can call on when needed. If you are interested in joining the WhatsApp group and helping out periodically on campus, please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Ekta Hinduja, via our email or Instagram. You can also use the QR code on the Parent Team board at the Raptors Nest to send us your contact details.
- SHUS: In addition, the Parent Team operates a Secondhand Uniform Shop (SHUS) in an effort to provide Raha families with affordable but gently used uniforms for students from EY to DP. We provide donation boxes on campus for those families that want to drop off uniforms they no longer need. These are washed and re sold to the community for AED50 per item. Please ensure you bring cash when you visit the SHUS. Our shop hours are posted on our Instagram page and on the Parent Team board near the Raptors Nest.
- Lost Property: There is always a large number of lost items that end up in the Canteen. The Parent Team has a team member that checks on the Lost Property area weekly to keep it clean and organized. She also organizes a Lost Property Clean Up each term in an effort to declutter the lost property area and help re-unite students with their lost items. You can help by ensuring that any items brought to school (hats, water bottles, hoodies, swim kits, uniforms, etc) are properly labelled with the first and last name of the student.
- Events: We organize a number of events to benefit the entire school community including the Holiday Bazaar, Global Village, Movie Night, Activ’ Events, Creativ’ Events, Coffee Mornings, International Women’s Day and Staff Appreciation Week. Each year, the Parent Team also raises funds for breast cancer awareness through a Pinktober Charity Sale. Last year, the Parent Team launched The Giving Campaign, which allowed students, staff, and parents to collect and distribute 110 donation boxes to our maintenance, cleaning, security, and transportation teams.
- School Activities: The Parent Team also provides the school with extra resources to support their activities on campus. These include providing parent volunteers for events like the Color Run, Sports Days, selling tickets for all of the musical productions organized by the Arts Department, or donating funds where needed (Graduations, Sports Awards Ceremony, Stem Week).
Contact Us: To get in touch with any member of the Parent Team, or to join our group of Class Parents, Grade Parents and parent volunteers, you can email us at parent.team@ris.ae or DM us on our Instagram page. Often you can find us on campus in our blue Parent Team shirts! We also encourage all parents to read our weekly newsletter by clicking on the Parent Team link in the Raha Reminders.
