Dear Students and Parents,

This past week, we celebrated our first Middle School Community Day, and what an amazing day it was! Students and faculty got to work together in a variety of team building activities while reflecting on our ASD Values around the school. We also held our first assemblies in our theater (by grade level) where we got to play some fun games and earn points towards the coveted House Cup! It was amazing! My favorite moment happened first thing in the morning when one of our students came up to wish us a Happy Community Day! What awesome kids we get to work with! I’d also like to give a big shout-out to Mrs. BouHaidar (our Student Life Coordinator) who organized the activities for the day.

We also held our monthly Parent Advisory Forum this past Wednesday, where our Associate Principal Mr. Mitchell and our technology integrator, Mr. Garber, shared research on how to help students stay on task when using technology. This is a topic of particular interest to Mr. Mitchell (also his doctoral dissertation!), as digital distractions can greatly impact student performance. For those unable to attend, please find HERE a link to this intriguing presentation.

While COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease across the country, it is important that we continue to maintain our vigilance to ensure the safety of all at school. One way we are able to do so is by making sure that all students 12 years and older are either vaccinated against COVID-19, have documentation of previously having had COVID-19, or can provide a weekly negative test result from either a rapid antigen test or PCR test (approved by the MoPH). Please note that students without this documentation will unfortunately be denied access to campus.

Have a great week everyone!

Sincerely,

Rob Gohr

Middle School Principal

American School of Doha

Pumpkin Patch (October 26-28)

ASD’s Jr/Sr Committee will be holding their annual pumpkin patch in our MS/HS lobby area this year! For those unfamiliar, students can come by and purchase sweets, treats, and even fun Halloween items! Purchases can be made by using student DragonCards, so be sure to top them up online prior to making a purchase (we also have kiosks on campus to top up cards too!).

Booster Club Hotdog Lunch! (Nov 1) – PRE-ORDER on Oct 25-26

Would you like a nice, tasty hotdog for lunch? Well, you’re in luck; Booster Club Hotdog Lunches are back, starting Monday, November 1. To get one (or two, three, etc.) you will need to pre-order first. Bring your DragonCard with you on October 25 and 26 to the MS Courtyard when you get to school. You’ll see a table set up to take your order! Join in and support our Dragons!

Phone and Smart-Watches in the MS

Recently we spoke with students during an assembly about our dress code, which included references to both phones and Smart-watches. Both devices have the capacity to pull our attention, which puts them at odds with our educational goals. It’s why we ask students to keep their phones in their lockers at school. Here’s a link to a research article that talks about this. We know they can distract students, so ask that they NOT bring them into their classes. This also includes Smart-watches; they also receive notifications that can lead to distraction. Thanks for your support with this!

Fall Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences (November 3-4)

Coming up on November 3 and 4 we will host virtual parent-teacher-student conferences. These conferences are a time for parents who would like to schedule time with teachers to learn about the personal and academic progress of their child.

Note: Invitations to sign up for these conferences will be emailed out to parents, along with instructions on how to sign up for a virtual conference with your child’s teachers. You will receive a Zoom link for the conferences you signed up for.

Conferences will take place on Wednesday, November 3, from 4:00 pm-7:00 pm and Thursday, November 4, from 8:00 am-12:00 pm. We ask that parents and students prioritize the teachers they would like to meet with, as schedules will fill very quickly and it will not be possible for parents and students to meet with all of their teachers. Students are expected to join their parents online for scheduled conferences.

Because we are asking parents to sign up in advance for conferences, teachers will not be able to accommodate an unscheduled conference. Conferences will be limited to five minutes, in order to ensure that all parents have the opportunity to meet with their son/daughter’s teacher in a timely fashion. Should a parent require additional conference time, appointments can be scheduled through our MS Office. Follow-up conferences will be scheduled at a later time.

In summary:

• Parents will receive an email invitation to sign up electronically (with instructions) for teacher conferences. A Zoom link will be provided for conferences.

• Parents will be able to sign up for conferences with a limited number of teachers that parents feel warrant a conversation. It is not required that you meet with every one of your child’s teachers.

• Space is limited and parents should prioritize the teachers they would like to meet with.

• Parents are encouraged to schedule conferences any time they feel that need to speak with teachers. So, if you miss this opportunity, just contact the teacher and set a time with them in the future.

Middle School Musical (March 2022)

Are you ready to rock? This year’s Middle School Musical will be a Queen’s inspired theatrical production called, “We Will Rock You!” Auditions will begin this December (stay tuned!). In the meantime, here’s a short teaser Trailer.

Booster Club Online Store

Our ASD Booster Store Online Catalog includes the store's most popular items so be ready to show your dragon spirit. The Booster Club provides positive support and assistance to the American School of Doha Athletics and Activities Program for all school divisions.

Shop Online by clicking on the link below; pick up your purchased items at school! The orders will be delivered on a weekly basis to each student and ASD staff.

Please fill out THIS form to purchase your items after you have explored the Catalog below!

Click HERE for the Booster Club catalog.