Dear PreK Parents,

Welcome to Gems World Academy. My name is Jacqui Stransky and I am your

childs teacher this year. I am excited for our year ahead and for the
opportunity to get to know not only your child, but you as well. Although I am
relatively new to GWA, I am starting my second year in Prek, I am not new to
GEMS. I previously taught Prek for 5 years at Dubai American Academy
before getting the opportunity to join the amazing Early Childhood team at
GWA.
My family and I have called Dubai home for the last 9 years but moved here
from Scottsdale, Arizona. You could say I traded one desert for another! My
husband is an Air Traffic Controller at DWC (Dubai World Center) and my
children, Tulsi (22) and Kalkin (20) are attending university together in
Arizona. Knowing they are together helps me sleep at night! I spent this last
summer in Arizona with my kids, my mom and my two sisters. I wish I had
some exciting adventures to tell you about but it was mostly me doing all the
things my kids like me to do when weve been away from each other for too
longcooking and laundry!

I hope you are as excited as I am to begin this year! If you have any
questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at
j.stransky_gwa@gemsedu.com.
Let me also take this opportunity to introduce Ms. Sylvia Taleon, our classs
teaching assistant, who will be working on supporting the childrens
educational and social needs over the course of the year. Sylvia has a
Bachelor of Elementary Education from the Philippines and has been working
at GWA for 4 years. She has a real passion for working with young children

and is wonderful at modelling kindness, caring and patience not only with
the children but with me as well!

Beginning of the Year Information

During the first few weeks of school, the class will be working on becoming familiar
with the environment, routines, and each other. Children learn best when they feel
comfortable and understand expectations. We will also use these beginning weeks
to access individual skills and needs in order to plan activities accordingly.

Arrival and Dismissal

The school day begins at 8:00 am and ends at 1:15 pm. We are asking for
your cooperation in prompt arrivals and dismissals. I am sure that you can
appreciate that the time prior to 8:00am is for teachers and assistants to set up and
prepare for the day. Students may enter the early childhood corridor and come to
the classroom at 8:00am. However, arrivals earlier than this can wait with their
parents in reception until 8:00am. At 1:15pm, parents will be able to enter the early
childhood corridor to collect their children. Please wait outside of the classroom door
until we are ready to dismiss the students.
Communication
School information will be sent through the Weebly. Please check this webpage
regularly for important school communication. More information to follow shortly.
Daily Specialist Classes
Art
Art is on Days 3 and 8. Please send your child to school dressed in their
regular uniform.
ICT
ICT is on Day 2 and 7. Please send your child to school dressed in their
regular uniform.
Library
Library on Day 5 and 10. Please send your child to school dressed in their
regular uniform. Your child will be bringing home a library book each Day 3.
Please read this book with your child and teach them good book handling skills
(touching the book with clean hands; how to carefully turn the pages). The library
book may be returned to school any day of the week, but must be returned by
morning on Day 5 and 10 in time for our library class. If your child forgets to bring
the book back to school, they will not be allowed to take another book home until
the first one is returned.
Music
Music is on Day 4 & Day 9. Please send your child to school dressed in
their regular uniform.
P.E.

P.E. is on Day 1 and Day 6. Please send your child to school dressed in
their P.E. uniform.
Swimming
Our class has swimming on Day 1. Your child will need to bring the following
swimming items to school: swimsuit, flip-flops/crocs, towel, swimming cap, and
goggles. A smaller backpack in which to carry these items is encouraged. Please
send your child dressed in their P.E. uniform.
Folders
I will keep all work produced by your child at school until Thursday, when I will send
it home in their clear plastic folders. Please look at your childs work and discuss it
with him/her. Have your child return the empty plastic folder to school on
Sunday.
Labelling Items
Please label all of your childrens items; hat, all clothes (including undergarments
and socks), and water bottle. This will make it easier to locate should they be
misplaced.
Snack and Lunch
Children in Prek are required to bring a packed snack and lunch each day. We will
eat snack in the classroom at approximately 9:45 and lunch at approximately 12: 50
pm. Please pack and clearly label a healthy snack as well as lunch for your child.
Please refrain from including chips, chocolate, or soda drinks as promoting healthy
eating is part of our curriculum. It is also important we present children with healthy
choices as this provides them with the proper energy required for a productive day
of learning. Please ensure that all food items are nut free.
Spare Clothes
Please send 2 complete changes of clothes to school with your child (these do not
need to be school uniform). These will be kept here for the entire school year and
used in case your child has an accident-whether this happens to be a bathroom,
snack/lunch, or water table accident. Please ensure that your childs name is printed
on of all his/her clothing, and is enclosed in a clear plastic bag.
Sun Safety
As the weather is hot, please provide a hat for your child to wear outdoors. Please
make sure the hat is clearly labelled with your childs name as many hats look alike.
Toys
In an attempt to avoid the upset of having their toys broken, lost, or stolen; we ask
that students leave their own play-things at home. We are fortunate to have a
wonderful classroom that is very well resourced.
Water Bottles
Staying hydrated is very important and encouraged in the classroom.
Please send your child to school with a re-useable water bottle clearly

labelled with their name. Water bottles that have flip straw are preferred as
they are easy for students to access independently. We will refill water
bottles as necessary.