October 2023

Dear SAIS Community,

The October newsletter is here!

September has been an exciting month with plenty of activities (Welcome Back activities, revisions, starting the new curricula, etc.). October has more activities in store, which you will read about below. However, I would like to begin with an important matter that was highlighted to us by the inspection team last year. We have been aware of this problem even before that, and we are still struggling with dealing with it. That is why your support in this matter is crucial.

In his valuable research on students' tardiness (lateness to school in the morning), the American researcher Dr. Michael A. Gottfried concluded that research evidence firmly confirms that the achievement of those students in the subjects of reading and mathematics falls significantly below the required level. What is worse, as the researcher found, is that the tardiness of those students also negatively affects the achievement of their classmates who are not tardy, especially in the kindergarten and primary school stages. There are many reasons why students who are not late are affected by the tardiness of their classmates. The American researcher Dr. Ashli Tyre pointed out an important reason. Because teachers realize that their students’ tardiness is due to the indifference of those who drive them to school, they sympathize with those students and repeat the explanation. This leads to boredom among the students who were present, so they lose interest and disengage from the lesson. Everyone loses.

Accordingly, we would like to thank parents for ensuring that their children arrive at the assigned time in the morning, 7:30 AM. We would also like to urge parents whose children are regularly late to school to instruct the persons responsible for driving them to school to do that by the assigned time.

To ensure this point is understood clearly by everyone, kindly find below an Arabic translation.

في بحثه القيّم حول تأخّر الطلبة الصباحيّ إلى المدرسة ، خَلُصَ الباحث الأمريكيّ الدكتور مايكل أ. جوتفريد إلى أن الأدلّة البحثيّة تؤكّد بصورة جازمة أنّ تحصيل الطلبة المعتادين على التأخّر صباحاً في الوصول إلى المدرسة في مادّتيّ القراءة والرياضيّات ينخفض بصورة ملحوظة عن المستوى المطلوب . والأسوأ من ذلك ، كما وجد هذا الباحث ، هو أنّ تأخير هؤلاء الطلّاب يؤثّر سلباً أيضاً على تحصيل زملائهم من غير المتأخّرين ، وخصوصاً في مرحلتيّ رياض الأطفال والمدرسة الابتدائيّة . وتتعدّد أسباب تأثّر الطلّاب غير المتأخّرين بتأخّر زملائهم . ولكنّ الباحثة الأمريكيّة الدكتورة آشلي تير أشارت إلى سبب مهمّ ، وهو أنّ المعلمين يدركون أنّ تأخّر طلّابهم هو بسبب تأخّر من يوصلونهم إلى المدرسة ، فيتعاطفون مع هؤلاء الطلّاب ، ويقومون بإعادة الشرح ، وهذا يؤدّي إلى ملل الطلّاب الذين كانوا حاضرين ، ويفقدهم التركيز ، فيخسر الجميع .

بناءً على ما سبق ، فإنّنا نتوجّه بالشكر إلى كلّ أولياء الأمور الحريصين على إيصال أبنائهم إلى المدرسة في الوقت المحدّد ، وهو الساعة 7:30 صباحاً . ونطلب من أولياء أمور الطلبة المعتادين على الوصول المتأخّر صباحاً أن يطلبوا من الشخص المسؤول عن توصيل أبنائهم إلى المدرسة أن يحرص على الوصول في الوقت المحدّد .

With regards,

Saleh Jadayel

School Principal

Parent Meeting Sunday, November 19th

National Day Celebration will be on Thursday, November 30th

Students should return to school after Winter Break on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

This year, the school year will be divided into two semesters. This will not affect the major school holidays, as they will remain aligned with those announced by SPEA. The important dates are as shown above.

A provisional school calendar will be shared later with you.

Please review the flyer below to know when your child will take school photos. Students should wear the regular school uniform on picture day. PE uniforms should not be worn.

Sharjah American International School is committed to improving school attendance rates. In order for students to realize the opportunities and benefits from school, students have to not only be in attendance, but they must also be meaningfully connected to the school and experiencing success. To achieve this, there must be a collaborative effort between the school, community, and our families to address the issues that result in absences and lateness from school.

There should be a common understanding among school stakeholders that the initial responsibility to

address attendance rests with principals, teachers, guidance counselors, and parents.

WHY IS GOOD ATTENDANCE IMPORTANT

Good attendance is a foundation for academic achievement, and it underpins all aspects of personal development. It establishes a responsible attitude towards the opportunities available in school and further education and it is the basis for the world of work. SAIS is committed to providing a full and effective educational opportunity for all students. It is the policy of the school to celebrate success. Attendance is a critical factor to a productive and successful school career.

Our school actively promotes and encourages 100% attendance for all students. Our aim is to ensure that students arrive at school and to each period on time. We strive for attendance that is consistently outstanding for all groups of students.

• Outstanding 98% and above

• Good 96% Acceptable 92%

• Unsatisfactory Below 92%

Lateness to School

One recurring problem we face every year is the number of students arriving late in the morning. When a student arrives late, they miss the first part of the first period. Therefore, they join their classes without knowing the objective of the lesson, i.e. what they will be learning and why. This creates a gap in the students’ learning. This gap grows every time the student arrives late to school. Research has shown that tardiness/lateness to school is a major reason for student academic problems and even academic failure.

Kindly, instruct your driver to ensure that your children arrive to school daily before 7:30 AM.

Absence from School

A related, albeit not as widely spread problem, is students’ absence. Research has shown that students’ recurrent absence is one of the top reasons for students’ academic problems and failure.

When students are repeatedly late to school, they miss the first part of the first period, which creates and ever-growing gap in their learning and knowledge. Imagine the impact of being absent for 9 whole periods every day! The gap will definitely be larger.

When we, as a school and parents, are forgiving with students’ recurring absence, then we help damage their chances of excelling and reaching their full academic potential.

That is why we would like to ask you to help us by being strict in this matter and not allow our students to be away from school unless there is a real emergency.

Please refer to the Student Contract for further details.

We look forward to full parental support in achieving outstanding attendance.

Morning Visits: Parents may enter with their children from 7:15 a.m. to 7:35 a.m. Parents should not be in any section after 7:45 a.m.

Afternoon Pick-up at 1:00 p.m. (KG) 3:15 p.m. Grades 1 - 12: KG and ES students who will travel by private car will be waiting in the classroom for the parent, nanny, or driver. Those entering for pickup must have an approved caregiver card in order to take the students.

Students are expected to wear the mandatory school uniform to school daily. The school uniform is a white shirt with the school logo, a beige pair of pants (or skirt for girls), and closed shoes. Crocs and sandals are not allowed without a medical condition that has been communicated in advance to the section coordinator. Parents must submit a medical note.

The students may also wear the school jacket or a plain jacket (with no logos or print on it) whose color is only beige, black, grey, navy blue, or white.

Football cleats and jerseys cannot be worn in the halls or in the classrooms. On PE days (based on the class schedule), students may pack football shoes without cleats or pins.

Clothing that is not allowed: leggings, tights, joggers, colored hoodies, hoodies or jackets with logos; boys in Grades 5 - 12 may not wear shorts as a part of the PE uniform.

Boys: Must have appropriate haircuts and be well-groomed.

Girls: Must have hair closed and without color. Nails should be unpolished and clipped. Makeup cannot be worn.

All of the uniform expectations are linked to the SAIS Behavior Policy and Conduct Mark System that will be implemented this year.

Students who arrive at school not wearing the full school uniform may be denied entrance to school.

Dear Parents of Grades 2-10

As part of the UAE National Agenda, students in all schools in the UAE are required to complete a set of international and external benchmarking assessments. One of the most important assessments

is MAP.

SAIS administers the MAP Growth tests to determine students’ instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year (and from year to year) in Math, Science, Reading, and Language. Each school year, students in grades 2 to 10 take the tests in the fall, winter, and spring.

MAP Growth tests are unique in that they adapt to each student’s level of learning. If a student answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. This results in a detailed picture of what our students know and are ready to learn—whether it is on, above, or below their grade level.

In order to achieve the best results and to place further emphasis on the importance of the MAP Growth tests, we incorporate the MAP results as part of students’ internal summative assessment, accounting for 5% of their overall grade for Grade 3-10. This will allow for more accurate and precise results for teachers to better assist students in the learning process.

MAP testing will start November 8 and end on November 23, 2023. Please make sure that students in Grades 4-10 bring their devices and the chargers according to the following schedule:

Wednesday, November 8, Thursday, November 9, Monday, November 13

Tuesday November 14, Wednesday November 15, and Thursday November 16

Thursday November 16 and Monday November 20

*Please note that Grades 2 and 3 will complete the test in the school lab.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• How do SAIS and its teachers use MAP scores?

NWEA provides many different reports to help schools and teachers use MAP information to drive instruction in the classroom. Schools, grade levels, and classes are monitored to see how students are growing. Teachers can see the progress of individual students and of their class as a whole. Students with similar MAP scores are generally grouped and ready for instruction in similar skills and topics. MAP also provides data around the typical growth for students who are in the same grade, subject, and have the same starting achievement level. This data is often used to help students set goals and understand what they need to learn to achieve their goals.

• How long is a MAP test and how often will it be given?

Tests are not timed, and students may take as much time as they need to complete them. SAIS gives the MAP assessments at the beginning, middle and end of the school year.

• Will MAP assessment results be shared with parents?

Yes, SAIS is committed to making our assessment results available to both parents and students after each testing session.

• What will be shared with parents?

SAIS will provide a Student Progress Report to each family. This report contains information and scores from a student’s most recent and past MAP tests.

• How can I help my child prepare for MAP tests?

Your child’s teacher will help with any pre-test instructions to explain the test to the students. You do not need to do any special preparations. Just like any school day, make sure your child is well-rested and fed with a well-rounded diet. Encourage them to do their best.

Please click the link above.

From August 29th all students who are picked up from school by car, must be signed out from the teacher.

Emirates IDs of the person picking up the child must be presented to the teacher in order for the child to be released. A photocopy of the EID attached to the signed memo that will be sent home on the first day will be due on a specified date.

Education is not only about acquiring knowledge and skills, but students also learn how to work together, respect others’opinions, choose fairly, be responsible and caring for the community and environment. This will help children live and flourish in the wider community.

At SAIS our values program focus for this year is responsibility on September and Respect on October. Our students work hard with their teachers to create posters about respect and responsibility.

The students have a bright future ahead. So today the students @ SAIS shone together and wore their favorite sunglasses and hats.

The Islamic department and students held a celebration in honor of Prophet Muhammad's birthday. Students recited the Holy Quaran and performed songs accompanied by musical instruments honoring this special day.

Dear parents,

Greetings from SAIS!

We would like to invite you to engage actively in our various events and enrichment efforts as it is a guaranteed way to support your children, enhance academic and social experiences at the school, and build strong relationships with other parents, teachers and staff.

Whether you have an hour to give, want to coordinate an event, or join a committee, we enthusiastically invite you to volunteer. We look forward to getting to know you and working together to support and celebrate the SAIS community.

To offer your efforts as a Volunteer, kindly follow this link and fill the form.

https://forms.office.com/r/LQihdZRLRZ

Parents who are looking for a longer commitment to the school community, we invite you to join our parent-teacher association (PTA).

Criteria to join the PTA:

- Parents of enrolled students who have at least one year in the school

- Knowledgeable about the school policies and procedures

- Passionate about education, involvement and school improvement

- Patience to listen to other parents’ concerns

- Having good communication skills

- Reserve the time to attend meetings when the need arises even at short notice

To nominate yourself to the PTA, kindly follow this link and fill the form.

https://forms.office.com/r/03TQLMiajm

On this special day, Class of 2024 promised to keep striving to achieve their dreams.

Every year on 21 September, the International Day of Peace is observed and celebrated across the world. Also known as World Peace Day, the occasion aims to strengthen peace across nations.

At SAIS, the Student Government Association celebrated by engaging students in an art activity to create the symbol of peace, the dove.

Well Done SGAs!

EmSAT

The EmSAT is a national system of standardized computer-based tests, based on United Arab Emirates national standards. To ensure that students are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively participate in the modern knowledge based global society.

The Emirates Standardized Test (EmSAT) is now optional for students applying to universities in the UAE, according to a decision by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for UAE-based higher education institutions (HEIs). The decision will apply to the academic year 2023– 2024.

This service allows the candidate to apply for a test retake, for candidates who desire to improve their test results or missed taking the test without a valid excuse.

This service is only permitted after 60 days of the previous test date.

We need EmSAT for:

1- Getting Equivalency letter by MOE

2- Meeting the admission requirements in UAE universities.

Is EmSAT the same of SAT?

In summary, the EMSAT Achieve Exam is a standardized test specifically tailored for students in the UAE, while SAT and ACT are internationally recognized tests used for college admissions globally.

Please note that students applying to universities outside the Emirates are not required to sit the Emsat test. “Universities in the UAE can now choose to use Emsat or other approved tests. The universities can now set their own minimum scores in Emsat for admission criteria.

Important points to be taken into consideration during booking for the EmSAT tests:

1- Avoid booking for morning sessions before 10:00 am, in case traffic or any incidents you will be on the safe side.

2- Try as much as you can to book your test in near test centers around your home.

3- Print out your exam registration ticket to be available with you.

4- Keep your real Emirates ID with you.

5- For Math test, make sure not to use a scientific calculator.

6- Please appear in your exam hall 15 minutes before.

Wish you all the best.