Dear ASD Community,

Thanks to all families who have taken part in our many back to school, curriculum, and other Zoom meetings in the past two weeks; as I said during last night’s community conversation, your willingness to invest in learning about the school’s programs and opportunities adds perspective and, hopefully, enriches your experience as families.

Again, we have had no reported cases of COVID-19 within the community for the past two weeks, in parallel with continued reports of low case incidence in Qatar. As repeated in last night’s Zoom call, our hope is that the continued markers of the country’s health lend credence to the likelihood that schools may in fact be next in line for fuller reopening!

Traffic around the school perimeter will become a renewed focus of our Operations team as the construction nears completion outside Gate 8. We will again review how the afternoon pickup may be expedited and may have more specific notice for next week’s Sahifa.

The following questions were registered at the close of last night’s Zoom call, and our answers are italicized below:

1. Other activities for children have opened up in Doha, such as birthday celebrations at theme parks. Why is MOPH/MOEHE not allowing ASD to open fully?

ASD is following Ministry directives for private Pre-K through Grade 12 schools in Qatar that are separate from the rules for out-of-school activities. These directives have prevented us from a complete reopening of the school. We have asked the MOEHE/MOPH for an exemption from current restrictions on multiple occasions without approval, however, we are hoping for an announcement of a wider reopening of schools in October.

2. Will ASD poll parents to see how Hybrid Learning is going?

ASD is committed to listening to feedback from parents and students. If there is no announcement of a fuller reopening of schools after October, we will again survey parents regarding the strengths and opportunities of our hybrid learning model.

3. In the case of MOPH/MOEHE allowing schools to reopen at 70%, what would be the system to determine who goes to school when?

70% total capacity would allow all currently enrolled students to attend every day ONLY if the 15 student per class maximum is removed.

4. Will ASD share their findings when examining MAPs and other standardized test scores now compared to Pre-Covid?

ASD always has and will communicate our standardized test results such as MAPS and IB with our community. The results are detailed in our Strategically Speaking Annual Report available HERE on the ASD website. The results show ASDs scores as compared to previous years at the school, as well as world averages. Since going virtual due to the pandemic, ASD has shown an overall increase in scores compared with world norms.

5. Many parents have expressed their concern that the off-campus days in ES do not provide enough work for children. Does ASD believe that there is an appropriate balance between home and school learning?

At ASD we are committed to further collaboration with parents regarding the balance between on-campus and off-campus day workloads. Should we learn that the hybrid learning model will need to be extended, we are committed to further collaboration.

Please view the slideshow and video from our parent Zoom meeting below.

Sincerely,

Steve Razidlo

Director of the American School of Doha

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.

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