Dear Middle School Parents,

Thank you to all of the parents who were able to join us for Back-to-School Night last night. We had a fantastic turnout, and I sincerely hope you had the opportunity to meet all of your child’s teachers and learn more about the year ahead. Your presence and engagement make a meaningful difference in our school community.

Dear High School Parents,

This week, our high school truly settled into its rhythm, and it is wonderful to see significant learning already underway. During my class visits, I have been deeply impressed by the engaging, skill-focused lessons designed to support student growth from day one.

Academic Progress & Early Assessments
Many students have either completed or will soon take their initial assessments. These early check-ins provide vital reflection points for students to identify where to direct their time and energy for maximum success. Because teachers are still getting to know each student's unique learning profile, this early data helps establish a strong foundation for the rest of the school year.

To further assist our teachers in tailoring instruction, we will administer the MAP test during the week of September 13 to students enrolled in:

• English: English 9 and English 10

• Math: Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II

This data provides valuable insights that empower our teachers to meet the individual needs of every learner.

Empowering Students Through Service
Another major highlight this week was our annual Service Fair, where student organizations showcased their missions to recruit new members. With such a wide variety of service clubs, there is truly something for everyone. You can explore the full list of this year’s opportunities through [this link].

Service is deeply embedded in our culture at ASD. It reflects our core value of Responsibility and empowers students to live our Vision of positively impacting the world. As a reminder:

• Grades 9 & 10: Students must complete two Learning Service commitments as part of the ASD graduation requirements (detailed on page 4 of the HS Student Handbook).

• Grades 11 & 12: IB Diploma Programme candidates will complete additional requirements through Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).

Following up on this week’s fair, I encourage you to talk with your child about how they plan to get involved in service this year.

All my very best,

Ms. Jennifer Mendes
High School Principal

Important Updates and Announcements

High School MAP Testing Coming in September
ASD High School is eager to begin using MAP testing in Math and English this year. By joining our Middle and Upper Elementary schools in using this tool, we will use the results to better understand individual students' learning profiles and enhance classroom instruction across all subjects.

Important Information:

• Diagnostic Focus: The MAP test measures individual growth to support teaching strategies; it is not used for course placement.

• English 9 & 10: Testing on September 13 & 14

• Algebra I, Geometry, & Algebra II: Testing on September 16 & 17

Parenting for Student Wellness: Prevention Ed Visits High School
At ASD, we are committed to student health and well-being. As part of this commitment, we are pleased to partner with Prevention Ed [website link] during the week of September 13–17. Prevention Ed brings clinically trained specialists to share evidence-based information on the risks of alcohol, nicotine, and other substance use.

• Grades 9 & 10: Students will participate in an immersive, deep-dive curriculum delivered directly through their PE and Health classes.

• Grades 11 & 12: Students will engage in a targeted, age-appropriate assembly designed to reinforce healthy decision-making.

We will also host a Prevention Ed Parent Workshop to equip you with practical tools, current trends, and strategies for setting clear expectations at home. Please save the date to attend this session on September 15 at 8:15 a.m. in the High School Presentation Room.

AAPPL World Languages Assessment Update
We would like to share a brief update on the AAPPL (ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages) administered at the end of the last academic year and at the start of this school year.

This assessment has provided valuable diagnostic data that our teachers will use throughout the year to tailor instruction to each student's unique learning needs, helping them achieve their highest potential in language learning.

Students’ results and official certificates will soon be accessible through PowerSchool. To help families understand the assessment framework, interpret scores, and navigate next steps, Ms. Mary Kelly Bello from the Office of Teaching and Learning will issue a detailed communication in the coming days.

We appreciate your patience and ongoing partnership as we finalize this information for our school community.

High School Photo Days: September 6-10
High School Photo Days are right around the corner! All HS students—including seniors—are required to sit for a photo to ensure our PowerSchool records and campus security systems remain up to date.

• Dates: Sunday, Sept 6 – Thursday, Sept 10 (Note: No photos taken on Tuesday)

• Time: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. daily

• Location: HSPR

Students can drop by the HSPR during break, lunch, or a study block to take their photo.

Streamlining Student Schedules: PowerSchool and Google Calendar Sync
We are pleased to share that High School student schedules can now be seamlessly integrated from PowerSchool into their ASD Google Calendars. This synchronization ensures that students have easy, digital access to their daily academic rotations.

• New Students & Grade 9: An invitation has been sent to students' inboxes from pscalendar@asd.edu.qa. To finalize the setup, students should open the message, select Join shared calendar, and click Add. The schedule will subsequently appear under the "Other Calendars" section.

• Returning Students (Grades 10–12): This process is automated for our returning community members. You will receive a notification of the update, but no further action is required as last year's calendar link will refresh with the current schedule.

This integration enables efficient viewing of daily classes on Google. For a step-by-step walkthrough of this process, we invite you to review this instructional tutorial.

AP Updates

Earning an AP Capstone Diploma requires students to pass at least 6 separate AP exams (including AP Seminar and AP research), showing consistent and sustained achievement across multiple college-level courses. This year, the number of AP Capstone Diplomas awarded jumped from 20 to an all-time high of 34—an increase of 70%! This reflects the overall and consistent growth of the Capstone program from 6 diplomas in 2019, the first year this was offered at ASD, and proves that our younger students are seeing their peers succeed and are self-selecting into our most rigorous academic track with absolute confidence.

This is mirrored by the number of students who achieve the status of AP Scholar by passing at least three AP courses. This year, an all-time high of 163 students achieved this status, which is almost double the 82 who achieved this in 2019. The average AP score of these students was 4.23, demonstrating that students who take multiple AP exams are not only passing, but demonstrating their learning at extremely high levels. 

We are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our AP students and the efforts of their teachers! 

IB Diploma Programme Update
As we begin the new academic year, our focus within the IB Diploma Program continues to be on reflecting on our results, identifying areas for growth, and ensuring our students receive the academic support they need to succeed. Meetings with IB teachers are currently taking place to review our most recent IB results from a subject-specific perspective. These conversations provide an important opportunity for teachers and programme leadership to consider student performance, identify trends and areas of strength, and determine how we can continue to strengthen teaching, learning, and support for our IB students.

Alongside this work, we are reviewing the current academic performance of our Grade 12 students to identify where additional support may be beneficial as they progress through this important final year of the programme. As part of this process, Contracts of Support are also being reviewed and will be shared with relevant students and families where appropriate.

Our intention is for these contracts to provide a clear and supportive framework that helps students understand expectations, identify areas requiring attention, and access the support available to them. The partnership and support of families will be an important part of this process, and we will reach out directly to families where their involvement is requested. We remain committed to working collaboratively with our students, teachers, and families to help each student make strong progress and approach the demands of the IB Diploma Programme with confidence and appropriate support.

Service Updates
Useful Service Links (all of these folders are also available in students’ Teneen Courses under “Service”).  Questions about Service in the High School should be sent to Mr. Shang at cshang@asd.edu.qa. 

What I need to know about Service (contains rollout information, Service Handbook, etc.)

Nuts and Bolts of Service (List of Approved NGOs for fundraising, Global Citizenship Grant Request, etc.)

Managebac Support Materials

List of Service Clubs and their Contacts

This week, we hosted our annual Service Job Fair and Assembly.  Students had a chance to learn more about the more than 50 ASD Service Clubs operating at ASD. It’s still not too late to sign up for one of our service clubs if students missed them at the fair.  They can still do so by reaching out to the student contacts with a copy to the teacher sponsor.  These details can be found on the List of Service Clubs and their Contacts linked above.

Our freshmen and juniors were also introduced to/reminded about the ASD service graduation requirements in an assembly led by our Changemaker Group, a student group that oversees Service in the High School.  These details can also be found in the links above.

Students entering 9th or 10th grade must demonstrate two service commitments before they graduate.  For most students, a service commitment takes the form of active participation in an ASD service club (or approved outside organization) over the course of one school year.  Participation in a second group (or the same group) over a second academic year counts as the second service commitment.  

Students entering the 11th or 12th grade only need to show one service commitment before graduation, or alternatively, they may transfer service hours from a previous school.  Twenty transfer hours are needed to satisfy the ASD graduation requirement for students entering in 11th or 12th grade.

Each year, ASD offers students the opportunity to travel abroad to work with one of our international partners over March Break.  Please see our video trailer and the poster below for signups and more information.  Once you submit a non-binding sign-up, we can share detailed information, after which you can make a final decision about whether to travel.  Once the non-binding signup is submitted, it also secures a spot on the deposit list until the deposit deadline.

** Please note that the trip to Uganda is on standby.  We are accepting sign-ups from interested students, but we will not accept any deposits until we are sure the trip can run in accordance with the US State Department Advisory. All other trips are operating as planned.**

Counseling Updates
Throughout their four years at ASD, students participate in the Counselor Course, a series of grade-specific lessons designed to provide timely, practical information and skills they can use during high school and as they prepare for what comes next.

What is it?
The Counselor Course takes place over approximately 4–6 weeks each year, with the curriculum intentionally building as students progress through high school.

• Grade 9 | Fall: We focus on the transition to high school, helping students understand their new academic environment, develop habits for success, and begin creating their four-year academic plans.

• Grade 10 | Spring: Students turn their attention toward self-discovery and career exploration. Through personality, values, and interest inventories, they consider how their interests, strengths, and characteristics may connect to potential careers and future areas of study.

• Grade 11 | Spring: University exploration begins in earnest. Students learn how to conduct effective university research, consider the factors that contribute to individual "fit," and begin building the foundation for a thoughtful and balanced university search.

• Grade 12 | Fall: Exploration becomes action. The Counselor Course provides seniors with dedicated time and counselor support to work through the university application process, manage deadlines, and complete applications.

Each grade also participates in an annual safeguarding lesson. Over the course of four years, students engage with developmentally appropriate topics including safe and unsafe situations, healthy boundaries, different forms of abuse and maltreatment, grooming, digital safety, and when and how to seek help.

What is the expectation?
Participation in the Counselor Course is expected of all students. Sessions typically take place during a student's free/study block. When a student does not have a study block available, sessions may be scheduled during Morning Break.

Attendance is taken, and students may occasionally be asked to complete asynchronous activities or follow-up tasks between sessions. Because the curriculum builds from year to year, we encourage students to approach this time as an important part of their overall high school experience.

How will parents know what their children are learning?
We want the learning in the Counselor Course to extend beyond the Counseling Office and, when appropriate, become part of conversations at home.

Families can follow what is happening through Sahifa, our monthly High School Counseling Newsletter, grade-specific email communications, and MAIA Learning, all of which parents and guardians can access. At various points throughout the year, we will also send home conversation prompts so that families can continue some of the discussions students begin with us.

Ultimately, the Counselor Course is designed as a four-year journey. A Grade 9 student does not need to be thinking like a senior, and a Grade 10 student does not need to have a career figured out. Instead, each year introduces the right questions at the right time, helping students gradually develop greater self-awareness, independence, decision-making skills, and confidence about what comes next.

SAT

Important Information for SAT on Saturday, September 12, 2026, on the ASD Campus
Please be reminded that the Bluebook App should be downloaded on your device before arrival.  Instructions for installing the Bluebook App were sent via the College Board.

All students, ASD or non-ASD, must bring a photo identification (no digital copies allowed) in whcih the name of the ID matches the na,e on the SAT registration ticket.

• Click here for acceptable forms of identification

Check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. at Gate 8 and will close at 8:00 a.m.  You will be provided with your testing room number at check-in.

Upon entering the campus, security will direct you to the HS Office lobby and to your testing room.

Good luck with your SAT!

Upcoming SAT Dates

Registration must be done through the College Board website, available here.

Any questions regarding the SAT at ASD can be directed to the SAT Coordinator, Rachel Rust, at rrust@asd.edu.qa.

THE DRAGON HEART AWARD

Sign up now for Season 1 (Grades 8-12)

Tryouts for Season 1 Varsity/JV Sports and Activities (Academic Games, Dance, Golf, Swimming, and Volleyball) begin on Sunday, August 23rd. We sent out information about the season earlier this week to all students in grades 8-12 and their parents. Missed it? See below for more details.

Please click the links below for information about the season, including sign-up links for each team. If your child is interested in participating in a Season 1 Sport or Activity, it is their responsibility to complete the sign-up form; parents do not have access to it. If they have already completed the form, it does not need to be completed again.

• Academic Games

• Dance Team

• Golf

• Swimming. (Swim recruit video)

• Volleyball

We are looking forward to a great first season of athletics and activities! Please let us know if you have any questions.

GO DRAGONS!

For more information on all HS SPORTS & ACTIVITIES, please visit the Athletics and Activities group page on TENEEN.