History

Twenty years of history! 

First compiled: 2014

First revision: 2016 (10th Anniversary) 16 June 2016

Second revision: 2026 (10th Anniversary) 4 July 2026 - by Mrs Cindy Meyer, Founding Principal, GEMS

Today we celebrate 20 years of GEMS. So, who and what is Gem's school and how did it start?

The Start

GEMS is people. We are people together learning and growing to become better people, better students, better English speakers, better citizens, better at working together and making this world a better place.

In 2005 the Pastor of Golgotha Baptist Church, Reverend Maria Das, approached Mr Ross Meyer with the idea of starting an English Medium School, on behalf of Golgotha Baptist as part of their service to their local neighbourhood. Ross and Cindy Meyer prayed about the invitation. God gives everyone a talent, and for Cindy Meyer it was teaching, so she decided to use it and help start GEMS school. It was decided to do the school with the BBCF, the Bangladesh Baptist Church Fellowship, and also with the help of NZBMS/Arotahi with Golgotha Baptist Church. We are so very grateful for the help of BBCF who have served and helped GEMS with administration, wise advice, accountability and a community to belong to. In August 2006 we started with 13 children. Mrs Khushi Mitra and Mrs Mira Dores were the first teachers. Each day the teachers cleaned and set up the mats and board and put out the chairs and tables. There wasn't much equipment, there wasn't even a classroom! Prakash Sir joined us as well, and provided the support. After a couple of months we had 23 students and by January we had 61. We had to split into 3 classes and get another teacher, Mr Prabhu Das and then Mrs Momota Baroi. Prabhu Sir is probably one of the teachers who has taught the most levels of any teacher, he even taught KG!

The Building and Growing

We needed classrooms so with lots of work and help from Rev Maria Das and Mr Ross Meyer, the first classrooms were built. Those 2 men did so much work that they saved enough money to make 8 classrooms and 2 floors instead of only 4. Our students learnt to climb over bricks and wires and to put up with lots of banging and building noise. We are grateful to Golgotha Baptist for the invitation to start a school, and for being with us. In 2008 we were able to add another floor for our lovely library. Many NZers and some from Taiwan, gave money and books for our buildings and library. And then later for the high school; a laboratory and extra classrooms.

We were very lucky to have Miss Annikka Croft from Australia join us, and she gave us a wonderful 4 years of service. We added Rashida Madam, Sunita Madam, John Sir, Liana Sir, and Flora Madam. We needed a cleaner and a guard and added Kannayyamma and Prasanto Sir, then Teresa Madam and Lal Thang Sir. We added lots of lovely teachers, Liza Madam, Navy Madam. Tithi Madam, Tania Madam and from NZ Caro Madam and Carley Madam. Then Shiuly Madam, Jyoti Madam, Glory Madam and Kumari Madam, Peter Sir, Minoty Madam, Joseph Sir, and so many others. We are so happy to have teachers now from our student graduates. (Munna Sir, Vivian Sir, Khushi Mam, Diana Mam, Daniel Sir, Bawani Mam). We don't forget Mary, Moushumi and Jaswanth, then Joseph, Prakash and Dipto in the office - a school can't run without support staff. What a shock it was to lose our teacher Mr Joseph Sir in a tragic accident in2016, and our lovely Jaswanth in 2022.

And of course we have had so many lovely volunteers and helpers; Robert Gilmour, Ross Meyer, Kenny Roderigues, Middleton Grange School teams, Caleb and Toby Meyer- none of them paid by GEMS, they just gave their time and help. We have also had such wonderful help and blessing from some of our graduates, who gave such incredible help and service to GEMS; Shrabonti, Ali, Donna, K'chung, Shethi, Rakib, Maruf, Joseph, Udoy, Ravi, Kabbo, Dixita, Shihab, Tasnimul, Ashyorja, Zidan, Tahsina and Immanuel.

But, Gems has always been about our students. I have so many memories of our wonderful GEMS students. Such lovely and talented young people are going onto higher education and to serve Bangladesh and the world. Thank you GEMS students, and guardians for making GEMS a great place.

GEMS started small but we had a big vision. GEMS wants to provide excellent education, not just memorising and tutor-fed schooling. GEMS wants to build excellent citizens for Bangladesh, who can think and solve problems. GEMS wants to train and model good teaching and learning. GEMS school is a special school, a school where students learn English and Bengali and prepare not just for O levels, but for life. Each year we celebrate and watch our O level graduates go and grow and do so well. We are so proud of each and everyone of our GEMS graduates.

In 2012 we started our high school, and in 2015 our O levels class started. In 2019, I retired and our wonderful Prabhu Das took over as Principal. What a tough start for him, we were not expecting 2 years of Covid and closed schools. GEMS excelled at running an online school, and Prabhu Sir has brought great strength to the online learning and teaching, and the digital strength of GEMS.

The Future

We want to see GEMS get better and better. We want to continue to offer affordable, quality education for this area.

I hope that GEMS graduates will become leaders and model citizens of Bangladesh. I hope our graduates will be people who solve problems and make this world a better place. At our 30 years celebration we will thank God even more for all that He has done in all of our lives With much gratitude to Almighty God and to so many wonderful people.

Ten years of history!

First compiled: 2014

First revision: 2016 (10th Anniversary) 16 June 2016 - by Mrs Cindy Meyer, Principal, GEMS

Today we celebrate 10 years of GEMS. So who and what is Gem's school and how did it start?

The Start

GEMS is people. We are people together learning and growing to become better people, better students, better English speakers, better citizens, better at working together and making this world a better place.

In 2005 the Pastor of Golgotha Baptist Church, Reverend Maria Das, approached Mr Ross Meyer with the idea of an English Medium School. Right at that time Cindy Meyer was finishing schooling her own children and she was ready for a new task. Ross Meyer took the idea to Cindy and they prayed. God gives everyone a talent, and for Cindy Meyer it was teaching, so she decided to use it and start a school. It isn't a good idea to start a school without help, so it was decided to do the school with the Golgotha Baptist Church (who gave the idea) and the New Zealand NGO, Tranzsend (who helped with teachers and administration) and BBCF (who helped with administration).

In August 2006 we started with 13 children. Khushi Mitra and Mira Dores were the first teachers. Each day the teachers cleaned and set up the mats and board and put out the chairs and tables. There wasn't much equipment, there wasn't even a classroom! Mrs Joy Prior came from NZ for six weeks to help and the guardians were very happy to join in the work together. Prakash Sir joined us as well. By a couple of months we had 23 students and by January we had 61. We had to split into 3 classes and get another teacher, Jesu Das then Momota Baroi, and even a cleaner, Kaniama. Jesu Sir is probably one of the teachers who has taught the most levels of any teacher, he even taught KG!

The Building and Growing

We needed classrooms so with lots of work and help from Rev Maria Das and Mr Ross Meyer, the first classrooms were built. In fact the two men did so much work, that they saved enough money to make eight classrooms and two floors instead of only four. Our students learnt to climb over bricks and wires and to put up with lots of banging and building noise. It was also a very noisy, dirty time for the family living downstairs, and we are so grateful to the Das family for being so patient. We are grateful to Golgotha Baptist for the space and help to start.

In 2008 we were able to add another floor for our lovely library. Many New Zealanders gave money and books for our buildings and library

We were very lucky to have Miss Annikka Croft from Australia join us, and she gave us a wonderful 4 years of service. We added Rashida Madam, Sunita Madam, John Sir, Liana Sir, and Flora Madam. We needed a guard and added Prasanto Sir, then Teresa Madam and Lal Thang Sir. We added lots of lovely teachers, Liza, Navy. Tithi, Tania and Caro and Carley Madam. Then Shiuly, Jyoti, Glory and Kumari Mad-am, Peter Sir, Minoty Madam, Joseph Sir, and Nicely Madam. Don't forget Rebecca, Mary and Jaswanth - a school can't run without support staff. What a shock it was to lose our teacher Mr Joseph Sir in a tragic accident in 2016. Over the years we have had so many lovely volunteers and helpers, including Robert Gilmour, Ross Meyer, Kenny Roderigues, and Caleb Meyer- none of them paid by GEMS, they just gave their time and help.

GEMS started small but we had a big vision. GEMS wants to provide excellent education, not just mem orising and tutor-fed schooling. GEMS wants to build excellent citizens for Bangladesh, who can think and solve problems, GEMS wants to train and model good teaching and learning. Slowly, slowly we have added to our students, and now every year we have far too many people trying to get a place in our school. GEMS school is a special school, a school where students learn English and Bengali and prepare not just for O levels, but for life.

A landmark for GEMS was our registration from January this year.

Another landmark was 2012 when we started our high school, and in 2015 our O levels class started.

The Future

We need more room, and we hope that we can build some more classrooms for our high school. We need a science laboratory and more space for our teachers. We want to see our first O level graduates pass. We want to see GEMS get better and better

In only 2 years our school will be right up to O levels and have our first graduates. Where will our grad-uates go? I hope that GEMS graduates will become leaders and model citizens of Bangladesh. I hope our graduates will be people who solve problems and make this world a better place. At our 20 years cele bration we will thank God even more for all that He has done in all of our lives.

History (2014)

In 2005 the Pastor of Golgotha Baptist Church, Reverend Maria Das, approached Ross and Cindy Meyer with the idea of starting an English Medium School. Cindy was finishing schooling their own children and was ready for a new challenge.

After prayerful consideration, a partnership was formed between the Golgotha Baptist Church, Tranzsend (a New Zealand NGO) and BBCF, with the goal of opening a school.

In August 2006 GEMS opened its doors with a roll of 13 children. Khushi Mitra and Mira Dores were the first teachers. Each day the teachers cleaned and set up the mats and board and put out the chairs and tables. There wasn’t much equipment, there wasn’t even a classroom! Mrs Joy Prior came from NZ for six weeks to help and the guardians were very happy to join in the work together. Prakash Sir joined us as well. After a couple of months the roll had increased to 23 students and by January we had 61. We had to split into 3 classes and get another teacher, Jesu Das then MomotaBaroi, and even a cleaner, Kaniama. Jesu Sir is probably one of the teachers who has taught the most levels of any teacher, he even taught KG!

Building and Growing

We needed classrooms so with lots of work and help from Rev Maria Das and Mr Ross Meyer, the first classrooms were built. In fact the two men did so much work, that they saved enough money to make eight classrooms and two floors instead of only four. Our students learnt to climb over bricks and wires and to put up with lots of banging and building noise. It was also a very noisy, dirty time for the family living downstairs, and we are so grateful to the Das family for being so patient.  We are grateful to Golgotha Baptist for the space and help to start. 

In 2008 we were able to add another floor for our lovely library. Many New Zealanders gave money and books for our buildings and library.

Teachers

We were very lucky to have Miss Annikka Croft from Australia join us, and she gave us 4 wonderful years of service. We added Rashida Madam, Sunita Madam, John Sir, Liana Sir, and Flora Madam. We needed a guard and added Prasanto Sir, then Teresa Madam and Lal Thang Sir. We added lots of lovely teachers, Liza, Navy. Tithi, Tania and Caro and Carley Madam. Then Shiuly, Jyoti, Glory and Kumari Madam, Peter Sir, Minoty Madam, Joseph Sir, and Nicely Madam. Don’t forget Rebecca, Mary and Jaswanth – a school can’t run without support staff. What a shock it was to lose our teacher Mr Joseph Sir in a tragic accident in 2016. Over the years we have had so many lovely volunteers and helpers, including Robert Gilmour, Ross Meyer, Kenny Roderigues, and Caleb Meyer- none of them paid by GEMS, they just gave their time and help.

GEMS started small but had a big vision. GEMS wants to provide excellent education, not just memorising and tutor-fed schooling. GEMS wants to build excellent citizens for Bangladesh, who can think and solve problems. GEMS wants to train and model good teaching and learning. Slowly we have added to our students, and now every year requests for enrollements far exceed available space.

GEMS school is a special school, a school where students learn English and Bengali and prepare not just for O-Levels, but for life. A landmark for GEMS was our registration from January this year. Another landmark was 2012 when we started our high school, and in 2015 our O-Levels class started.

The Future

Room is always at a premium in Dhaka, and we are looking towards building more classrooms for our high school. We need a science laboratory and more space for our teachers. We want to see our first O-Level graduates pass. We want to see GEMS get better and better.

In only 2 years our school will be right up to O-Levels and have our first graduates. Where will our graduates go? We hope that GEMS graduates will become leaders and model citizens of Bangladesh. We hope our graduates will be people who solve problems and make this world a better place. At our 20 years celebration we will thank God even more for all that He has done in all of our lives.