Welcome Back Issue 2025-2026

From the Counseling Office: A Warm Welcome

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! As your High School Counseling Team, our purpose is to serve every student comprehensively—whether through academic guidance, university preparation, social-emotional support, or navigating life as global citizens. We’re excited to begin this year’s journey with you and your children. Together, we’ll ensure that our students not only succeed at ASD but thrive in the opportunities that lie ahead.

As we settle into the first semester, you can expect both new and returning students alike to be both excited and restless about their new classes, increased rigor, new people, and, for some, a lot of last times. Additionally, the counselors will initiate individual and group meetings with students on their caseloads, with a particular emphasis on twelfth- and ninth-grade students, as well as new enrollees. As always, we look forward to partnering with you to make this year the best yet.

Meet Our New Counselor

We are delighted to welcome Ms. Jaime LaDawn Roya to our team. Jaime steps into the role previously held by Mr. Michael Sarmiento, bringing a wealth of experience from both Qatar and Korea. She is also a trainer and lecturer with the International School Counselors Association (ISCA), where she has contributed to shaping the profession globally. Her background and dedication to students will be an invaluable addition to our community.

Please join us in giving Jaime a warm welcome—you’ll have the chance to meet her in person at our upcoming Counselor Coffee.

Mark Your Calendars

This month, we’re excited to host several important community events. We hope to see you there!

• Counselor Coffee (featuring Ms. Jaime Roya) - September 8 @ 1:30 pm in the HSPR. Join us for light refreshments, conversation, and community while we set some intentions and welcome Ms. Roya into the fold. Please RSVP here so we have enough refreshments

• University Application Kick-Off (primarily for seniors, but open to all families) - September 15 @ 6:00 pm in the HS Theatre Hallway. Come ready to listen and learn about the previous admission cycle, current trends, and this year's university application procedures. Please RSVP here to post a question to be answered during "Global Look," a university panel

3:30 pm - 5:45 pm University Fair

6:00 pm - 6:35 pm -A Peek @ Global University Trends - University Panel and Fireside Chat

6:45 pm - 7:30 pm: Counselor-Specific Breakout Rooms.

University Visits (Timely and Noteworthy)

Mini University Fair (18 Schools from the USA, Qatar, Hong Kong, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, France)

A running list of university visits can be found by pressing the university visit link to the left—universities sign up to visit almost daily. Please revisit this page regularly to stay current. Additionally, all university visits can be found on the MAIA Learning platform.

Counselors in Action: Professional Learning

Ask Mr. Sengel about his presentation at the International Association of College Admission Counselors Conference this past summer at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Your Voice Matters

We’d love to know what topics or resources you’d like to see featured in future newsletters. Please share your suggestions via email @ HSCounselors@asd.edu.qa with the subject line NEWSLETTER TOPIC.