Swiss school or GEM DAA | ExpatWoman.com
 

Swiss school or GEM DAA

3
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 June 2016 - 12:31
Thank you all! Currently my daughter is attending an IB school and we think consistency to the curriculum might be a good thing during the transition to a new country. So it seems Swiss School might be a better fit for us at the moment. Unfortunately, being Swiss such a new school it seems very difficult to find anyone already having experience to share about it. @ LadyLavender: may I ask why did you decide to move to SiSD?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 June 2016 - 21:04
Well my son was in another new school before DAA. What I have noticed is most schools, they have TA in kindergarten or till grade 1. In Elementary school theTAs are not to assist students with moving around the school instead they assist the students who require additional help with studies in the class. DAA is an old school so will get plenty of feed back on how they stand academically or in sports etc. The minus being is that their method of teaching is a bit traditional and more academically inclined. I feel every parent have their own perspective towards education. And they should go for a school they feel fits them and their kid better. Here in Dubai all American schools start their 3rd language from middle sclool. While British schools start the 3rd language program much earlier.
154
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 June 2016 - 19:15
My son is in grade 4 in DAA. Very good school . Maximum 24 kids per class and have never had any complaints with the school. Till grade 5 they have 2 teachers per class which really helps academically. The downside is that the facilities and the campus looks a little old compared to the swanky new schools that are opening. One of the two in the classroom is a teaching assistant. Not a certified teacher. Just wanted to clarify for other readers. I do think most schools have a "TA" in the lower grades in addition to the classroom teacher. At least all the schools I know of.
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 June 2016 - 19:13
Both are good choices for different reasons. DAA is well established and SISD is a new school without a review on KHDA (that I could find). DAA is the American curriculum and SISD is a full-IB school. DAA/GEMS is run by a large corporation and SISD is the new kid on the block.I find the bi-lingual structure of SISD is very interesting as they switch the language of instruction back and forth in the main subjects. For those who do not want that track or their children are not already proficient in the second language (a requirement) SISD also has an all-English track where the main subjects are not taught bi-lingual but include instead an intensive daily foreign language classes. Our child went to DAA for 4 years and we were happy with them but we are going with SISD this year and are excited to see how it goes!
8
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 June 2016 - 02:52
My son is in grade 4 in DAA. Very good school . Maximum 24 kids per class and have never had any complaints with the school. Till grade 5 they have 2 teachers per class which really helps academically. The downside is that the facilities and the campus looks a little old compared to the swanky new schools that are opening.
3
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 June 2016 - 10:20
Thank you Tacktouk!
49
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 June 2016 - 09:58
Hi Francifra! we are finishing grade 1 with DAA and must say had very good experience the past 3 years. we considered SISSD at one point last year, and my main motive was the bilingual structure - in my mind DAA main disadvantage is the late introduction of the second language. After thorough thinking and discussion, decision was to stick to the well established and more experienced institution. good luck!
3
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 June 2016 - 14:27
Hi all! My family will relocate to Dubai during the summer and our daughter got an offer letter from Swiss International Scientific school (SISSD) and GEM Dubai American Academy (DAA). We were impressed with the Swiss school and really loved it, but DAA has a much more convenient location. Is there anyone that has experience with those schools and can share his/her view on them? Thank you very much!
 
 

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