TERM 1 CCA PROGRAMME

What an incredible first week it has been in the Primary school! The school has really come alive with the excited buzz of learning in the classrooms and it has been a pleasure to see the children smiling as they have skipped into school.

This week, our students have jumped straight into their exciting enquiry based learning challenges, with each year group focussing on a different theme to launch their learning for the year. We are delighted to be welcoming our families onto campus at the end of next week in order to share this learning with you. Our AHTs will be communicating directly with you regarding the times and days for the visits. 

In addition to this, we are also excited to be welcoming all of our parents to our upcoming curriculum meetings. Mr Cann (our new DHT academic) has further details regarding this in his letter below. These meetings are an important opportunity for you to hear from our teams about the exciting learning and opportunities that will be coming up across the year. It also provides an important platform for you to ask any questions you may have. Please save the date and join us!

In our assembly this week, we looked at our school motto, ‘Excellence for all, excellence from all’. We linked this to the Olympic motto of Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger). In particular, we focused on excellence being a journey and a mindset rather than a destination. Like the Olympic motto, our school motto is not about being better than anyone else, rather it is about our shared vision of continually working hard to be the best version of ourselves. This is the mindset we endeavour to foster in our young learners and we look forward to exploring this further as the year progresses. Please do ask your children about Olympic icebergs!

Lastly, I would like to give some important staffing updates that will come into effect from Sunday 8th September. Mrs Danielle Price will be starting her maternity leave and I am sure you will join me in sending our best wishes to her and her family. As a result of this, Mrs Shainaz Dalvi will be taking on the role of DHT Pastoral until Mrs Price returns. Mr Scott Martindale will subsequently assume the role of AHT for UKS2 (Year 5 and Year 6) with Mrs Hannah Shorrocks assuming the role of HOY4 and Ms Lauren Jenkins taking on the role of DHOY4. 

At the end of a busy week, I am very much looking forward to welcoming you to our showcase events next week. Please have a restful weekend.

Derek Watson

Senior Vice Principal - Head of Primary 

What a fantastic first week we’ve had following the summer holidays! 

The corridors and classrooms have been brought to life with such electricity, and it’s been wonderful to see so many smiling faces once again. We’ve truly missed the excitement our students bring to school every day. This week, we’ve held a series of engaging assemblies to remind everyone of our core values and the importance of being responsible, both in school and in the digital world. As we settle back in, we’re excited for the year ahead and look forward to seeing all our students continue to thrive! 

Jerome Scafe

Senior Vice Principal - Head of Secondary 

Phone Pouch Launch on 22nd September 

As we prepare for the new academic year together, we’re excited to share an important update regarding our ongoing commitment to enhancing the learning environment at Doha College Secondary School.

3-2-1 Countdown to Phone Pouches

Starting from the first day of school, we’ll begin a three-week countdown, leading up to the official launch of phone pouches on 22nd September. This countdown is designed to help all of us—students, staff, and families—smoothly transition to this new system. 

Launch Day, 22nd September 

On this special launch day, our students will attend a special year group assembly where they will receive their pouches. These pouches will securely lock their mobile phones and small smart devices such as watches during school hours, helping us ensure a focused and distraction-free learning environment. We kindly ask that you ensure the purchase of the pouch by this date or, alternatively, let us know if your child will not be bringing a mobile or smart device to school. The pouch costs 117 QAR and can be paid via SchoolsBuddy under "Outstanding Fees." 

Adjusting to the New Policy

In the lead-up to the implementation, any student found with a device on their person, including in their pockets, will be issued a consequence point on iSams. To help our students adjust to this new policy, from 22nd September, any student not following the guidelines will have the device confiscated, receive an after-school detention and a responsible adult must collect the device in person from reception. Starting from 2nd November, if students continue to struggle with meeting these expectations, an internal suspension will be issued.

As we’ve communicated before, the introduction of phone pouches is part of our shared commitment to providing a safe and distraction-free learning experience. This initiative is a significant step forward in ensuring that our students can fully focus on their studies, free from the distractions of mobile phones and smart devices.

If you need to communicate with your child urgently during school hours, please contact our Front Office, and we’ll make sure your message is relayed promptly.

For those who have chosen not to bring a mobile device to school, please complete the designated form HERE to confirm this choice.

Lastly, we’ve prepared a parent guide to the phone pouches, which you can access HERE.  These questions reflect feedback from our consultations with parents, students, and the Yondr team.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to create an optimal and safe learning environment for our students.

Sarah Kiernan Webb

Secondary Deputy Head - Pastoral 

Secondary Homework Policy

We are excited to share some important changes to our homework strategy that will enhance your child’s learning experience. 

Research shows that retrieval practice and quizzing are highly effective methods for reinforcing learning, allowing students to remember and apply knowledge more effectively. This approach, supported by cognitive science, ensures that homework is not just a task but a powerful tool for long-term retention. 

For more information, please see the letter below.

Meet the Tutor Events

FDC invites All parents to participate in the forthcoming FDC Elections  at our first General Meeting this year.

The General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 18th September, at Bentley Room, from 4.00 pm until 5.00 pm .

We are pleased to announce that the nominations are now open for the various roles within the FDC Committee. The deadline for nominations is Monday, 16th September at 12 noon. Please ensure you submit your nominations before this deadline, as no late nominations will be accepted. 

All FDC Committee Roles are available for Elections. To submit your nomination, please contact us at fdc@dohacollege.com/ fdcchair@dohacollege.com. 

We are seeking enthusiastic parents who are passionate about building community and organising events to further support education for Doha College students. Learn more about FDC, and the roles descriptions, visit the link here. 

FDC Uniform Sale

FDC would like to extend a heartfelt gratitude to all the parents who supported the recent second-hand uniform sale. 

Your unwavering commitment to recycling and sustainability has made a significant impact, both in fostering a more eco-friendly environment and in providing additional resources for the betterment of our children’s education  . We are thrilled to announce that the money raised from the sale amounted to QAR 5,860, which will be dedicated to enhancing the  educational experience journey of  our children.

Canteen Cards 

We have recently made some changes to our canteen card top-up service to enhance convenience and efficiency. 

Please note that detailed instructions on how to top up your card can be found in the document linked below. We encourage everyone to review the new process to ensure a smooth transition. Thank you for your cooperation!