Dear Upper Elementary School Parents,

You are sending your children to a very special place here at ASD. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the staff and the climate of this quality school. You can rest assured that each teacher and staff member is prepared to welcome back students and assist with reconnecting them with each other and the school community. As the new Upper Elementary School Principal, I’m proud to call ASD my new home.

Our staff are top notch, and I’m confident that our new staff will continue this quality reputation. Please check the list below to view our new staff and those changing roles:

• Caroline Hodgson: will now be teaching Grade 4

• Rebecca Madden: Grade 3

• Julie Venditti: Grade 3

• Anthony Hunter: Grade 4

• Wendy Zarter: Art

• Diane Sinclair: Grade 4 LS Instructional Assistant

• Reje Davis: Grade 5 LS Instructional Assistant

• Mariko Froning: Science Lab Assistant

By now, you would have heard that we are starting school in hybrid mode. This means that your children will attend school full days on an alternating A and B basis. At school, students will still have an opportunity to attend specialist classes, lunch, and a modified recess. Throughout the day, safety protocols, including mask wearing, social distancing, and cleaning will be used to promote safety.

In-Person Attendance Schedule, First 2 Weeks

Monday, Aug 23- A Students

Tuesday, Aug 24- B Students

Wednesday, Aug 25- A Students

Thursday, Aug 26- B Students

Sunday, Aug 29- A Students

Monday, Aug 30- B Students

Tuesday, Aug 31- A Students, PACT Tuesday

Wednesday, Sep 1- B Students

Thursday, Sep 2- A Students

When students aren’t at school, teachers will provide menus of daily learning activities, on Teneen, that will be supported with teacher and professional recorded videos and other support practice and independent tasks. In the next few days, teachers will be reaching out to welcome your child to their class. For those that are returning families, this hybrid model will be almost identical to what you experienced last year.

For those kids not able to begin with us because of quarantine requirements, we want to ensure that they can get connected. Each student in quarantine will have access to the classroom learning menu that is provided for kids in the hybrid program that are not in-person for that day. This menu will include instructional videos, resources, and independent activities that mirror the in-person classroom. Teachers will also reach out weekly on Zoom to connect with students and see where they’re at in their learning. Quarantine students will also have an opportunity to join in morning meetings in their classrooms beginning the first week in Grades 4 and 5, and in week 2 in Grade 3 (To give Grade 3 students time to discover know how to login to Zoom and various other applications for the first time).

If you need technology during at-home hybrid off days, quarantine at home, or for other reasons, it will be available to you. To show that you need a device, please click here. These devices will be delivered for new students during orientation, for in-person students at school on their first day, and for quarantine students by arrangement (possibly having siblings or parents pick up). In the next few days, you’ll receive an email from our Technology Integrator, Martin Reinsmoen. He will share steps for supporting your children in their first days of learning online.

On August 22nd, we’ll be inviting our new families on campus to visit the classrooms and get further orientated with our school. These visits will be happening throughout the day for each division, and our visits will occur between 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Staff will be ready to invite you into their rooms and see the learning environment. If you have multiple students at different divisions, feel free to bring all of them at the time for your youngest learner.

Flexibility will be key in getting your students to and from school for the first couple weeks. With road construction, there will be some limitations. Also, bus service will not begin until the week of August 29. Our students should be dropped off at Gates 6 or 8 in the morning (Gates open at 7:40 am). If they have older siblings, they can also enter campus with them at other gates. At dismissal time, each grade will be staged at different locations. Grade 3 will be in the ES Lunchroom and Grade 4/5 will be in the New Sports Hall. If you wish to park and come onto campus (must be vaccinated), you can pick your child up at those staging locations. If you want an older sibling to pick up, they will meet your younger child at the staging location. If you would rather drive up to Gate 8 and have your child enter the vehicle, let staff at the gate know your name, and we will connect you with your student. On the first day of school, a placard will be given to each student, so you can place this in your car, and expedite the process of being reunited with your child.

Additional tips for communication:

• Check your child’s Homeroom Teneen page weekly

• Check the UES Office Teneen page weekly

• Read the Sahifa each week for updates of both virtual and in-person activities around school

• Utilize our school website http://www.asd.sch.qa in order to:

  • Become informed about our curriculum – subject/grade level specific standards and benchmarks

  • Access our Student Handbook

  • Navigate to links that will connect you to the library page, etc.

Thank you for being a part of the ASD family. We are excited for the brand new year ahead, full of learning, laughing, and love.

Toby Tebo

Upper Elementary School

Upcoming Dates

August 22- New Student Orientation Visits, UES 10:30am - 12:30pm

August 23- First day of school for Hybrid A Students

August 24- First day of school for Hybrid B Students

August 26- UES Virtual Principal Coffee, 8:00 am - 9:00 am, Zoom Link

August 31- First PACT Day- Dismissal at 12:30 pm