3rd October 2024

The importance of social engagement for human flourishing is increasingly being recognised, with a number of studies highlighting the negative impacts of social isolation. Studies have shown that the number one predictor of happiness is the quality of an individual’s social relationships and that social isolation increases the risk of premature death by 23% (the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day).

It is therefore vital that schools do all they can to ensure that all their students have opportunities to develop deep and rewarding friendships. Evidence from the Human Flourishing Project highlights that mobile phone use limits real time social engagement and (somewhat counterintuitively) the younger children are when they get their first mobile phone, the more likely they are to be socially isolated. Since the introduction of our mobile phone pouches we are seeing far more social interactions between the children in our care during break and lunch time which is really positive. Another strategy that helps deepen social engagement is peer mentoring which we are also increasing over the course of this academic year.

David Tongue

Principal

Harvard Study of Adult Development
The UK Biobank Study (here)

KEY COMMUNICATION

Safeguarding Notice for Our School Community

At Doha College, the safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities. If you ever have any safeguarding concerns involving any child, we ask that you contact the school immediately. We have a dedicated safeguarding team ready to assist, and you can reach us via email at safeguarding@dohacollege.com or by calling our safeguarding phone number at 44076856. This ensures that any issues are addressed swiftly and appropriately.

Please remember, it is essential to contact the school before sharing concerns on social media platforms, such as WhatsApp. Involving the school directly allows us to respond quickly and effectively, minimising any potential delays and risks to members of our community.

We understand that many families rely on nannies for assistance, and we encourage you to conduct thorough checks when recruiting them. This includes verifying their sponsorship details and requesting proof. Whenever possible, insist on police checks as well. You are welcoming adults into your home and your children's lives, so it is vital to complete all necessary due diligence before allowing them in.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment for all our students.

Uzma Zaffar

Vice Principal – Compliance Safeguarding Staff

Driving and Moving Safely Around Campus

There have been concerns raised this week about parking and pedestrian safety opposite Vehicle Gate 2. Thanks go out to all those that continue to show patience and respect for all members of our community, but it is important for me to make clear that there are individuals that are not doing this and such behaviour directly impacts safety.

Whilst we appreciate many parents and drivers have busy days ahead of them it is essential that all adhere to the following requirements:

When approaching an area to park, speed is reduced.
When pulling away after being stationary for drop-off or collection, do so slowly until you are certain you are clear of any pedestrians.
No parking, drop-off, or pick-up is to be performed on or immediately by a pedestrian crossing.

Additionally, we ask all parents to make their child(ren) aware of the following requirements:

They should walk past the front of a car whenever possible (and not the rear) as visibility is much improved for the driver to see them.
They must not walk through an area used by cars, including off campus, whilst looking at their phones.

In summary, please ensure you and those in your family always act with respect and patience; this content applies to all areas and gates. We hope there will be no need to address unacceptable behaviours, however, safety of the community will always come first. Any issues of significance or repeated behaviours in conflict with this note will be reported on Metrash.

Many thanks,

David Lish

COO

CCA UPDATES

The CCA Team values your feedback and remains committed to enhancing our programme. Due to a data outage, unpaid CCAs will be reset, and Block B CCA sign-ups will open on Thursday, 10th October at 7.00 pm. To ensure the best experience, students are encouraged to select up to three CCAs per day. Additional information on sign-ups and join requests will be shared next week.

Please watch the video for more details.

Ondrea McSwiggan

Director of Co-Curricular Activities

Meet the Leadership Team

Starting Wednesday, 9th October there’ll be a chance to speak to members of the DC leadership team every week in the Sports Cafe. The Senior Leadership Team will be there every Wednesday from 7.30am until 8.00am.

Extended Primary and Secondary Leadership Groups, which includes Deputy Headteachers and Assistant Headteachers for both schools, will be there for the same time on the first Wednesday of each month during term-time; the first for them will therefore be Wednesday, 6th November.

There’s no need to book an appointment or send an email in advance, though of course you may. This is simply us making ourselves available to you to hear ideas, answer questions, and discuss anything that’s important to you.

Come straight to the cafe wearing your gold lanyard and when we’ve finished chatting please ensure you leave directly from the cafe. Should you have a meeting planned afterwards, or need to remain on campus for any reason, please go directly to the Reception.

We look forward to chatting to you at one of the sessions soon.

Doha College Senior Leadership Team

Digital Safeguarding at Doha College

At Doha College, we are committed to digitally safeguarding our students, recognising that digital safety is one of the biggest threats to children globally. As a progressive digital school, we embrace innovative technology in our teaching, but we always prioritise the physical and mental wellbeing of our students. For more information, please see the letter below.

Teresa Menton

Head of KS4 English & Head of Digital Learning (Secondary)

Digital Safeguarding at DC Letter

AI Booklet

PRIMARY NEWS

We’ve had an inspiring start to the month as we celebrate Black History Month here at Doha College. This year, the theme is "Reclaiming Narratives", and it was introduced to our students during our assembly on Tuesday. This was launched with the help of our wonderful secondary students who led sections of the assembly. The aim of this theme is to encourage our children to explore the rich histories, stories, and contributions of Black individuals and communities, with a focus on hearing and understanding these voices in their own words

During the assembly, we explored the theme through the story of Floella Benjamin’s "Coming to England", a powerful and moving account of her journey as a young girl moving from Trinidad to the UK. Her story beautifully illustrates the importance of sharing personal experiences and reclaiming narratives that have often been overlooked or misunderstood. Our students were captivated by her journey, and we had wonderful discussions about the importance of resilience, identity, and pride in one’s heritage.

Throughout the month, we’ll build on this theme with a variety of classroom activities. From exploring significant figures in Black history to reflecting on what we’ve learned from stories like Floella Benjamin’s, our goal is to deepen our students' understanding of the diverse world we live in.

We encourage you to join us in celebrating Black History Month at home by exploring similar themes, reading together, and discussing the importance of listening to different voices and experiences.

We look forward to sharing more about our learning throughout the month.

Derek Watson

Senior Vice Principal - Head of Primary

Donations for DC Gardening CCA

We are thrilled with the enthusiasm our students have shown for our school garden, and our gardening CCA continues to be as popular as ever.

Our goal is to create an educational and inspiring space where our students can learn about nature, sustainability, and the environment. To help make our garden a success, we kindly request donations of garden equipment, which will be used for CCAs and other learning activities in our primary school. Your contributions will make a significant difference and create a lasting impact on our school community. Whether you have unused shovels, watering cans, flowerpots, seeds, or any other garden resources, every donation is highly appreciated.

Donations can be dropped off by the Adventure Playground (next to the Primary Dining Hall). A large box will be placed outside of the fence.

Thank you for your support in making our garden a fantastic space for our students to enjoy.

Please email me if you have any questions - mowen@dohacollege.com

Thank you for your support.

Matthew Owen

Head of IDL - Primary Class Teacher

SECONDARY NEWS

World Mental Health Day - 10th October 2024

World Mental Health Day is held annually on the 10th of October. It aims to open discussions about mental health and highlight what more needs to be done. This year, the theme is ‘It is time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace’ which we have adapted to ‘It is time to Prioritise Mental Health in Education’ - something students, parents and teachers can relate to.

Mental health is often perceived as unimportant or insignificant, yet nearly 15% of young people aged 10-19 experience a mental health disorder. Additionally, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety can significantly impact productivity and performance, leading to an estimated annual cost of 1 trillion dollars, according to the WHO.

At DC, our Wellbeing Committee is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues, recognising the vital role it plays in all our lives. Within our diverse and multicultural community, we remain mindful of current world events and are committed to supporting our students.

To promote World Mental Health Awareness, the year representatives are organising a Zoom assembly to discuss how mental health can affect students and share tools for improving their mental wellbeing.

In support of mental health awareness, students are encouraged to wear a yellow accessory with their uniform on Thursday, 10th October, World Mental Health Day. However, the regular uniform must still be worn. Examples of suitable accessories include:

Bracelet or wristband
Hairband
Yellow ribbon
Socks

Thank you for your support.

Max Saunders and Seri Barakat

Year 13 Wellbeing Prefects

World Mathematics Team Championship (WMTC)

We are happy to announce the upcoming World Mathematics Team Championship (WMTC), a prestigious event that brings together young mathematical talents from around the world to compete, collaborate, and learn.

For more information, including registration details, please see the letter below.

Joe Derrett

Chemistry Teacher – Science and Maths Enrichment Coordinator

World Mathematics Team Championship (WMTC) Letter

Year 13 Parents' Evening

This is a reminder that the Year 13 Parents’ Evening will take place on Monday, 7th of October. Please ensure you have read the letter sent earlier this week, which includes important details regarding the event.

Please note that we will not be using Zoom. Instead, the meetings will be conducted via the video function embedded within SchoolsBuddy. It is essential that all parents have an active SchoolsBuddy account. Instructions for setting this up were included in the letter below.

Year 13 Parents' Evening Letter

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Rayaan Habib's well has now been completed

We are incredibly proud to announce that the well, built in memory of our beloved student Rayaan Habib, has been completed!

Thanks to the generosity of the Doha College community and the incredible support from Qatar Charity, this well will provide essential clean water to families in rural Pakistan. As seen in these images, the well stands as a beacon of hope, ensuring access to life-changing resources for those in need.

This project is not only a tribute to Rayaan’s memory but also a testament to the power of compassion and collective action. Your support, alongside the partnership with Qatar Charity, has helped turn grief into an enduring legacy of kindness.

Thank you to everyone who contributed, allowing Rayaan’s memory to shine brightly through this meaningful cause.

Come and Join Our Little Ballers Programme

CALLING ALL FS1 AND FS2 PARENTS! COME AND JOIN OUR LITTLE BALLERS PROGRAMME!

Little Ballers is a pre-school sports programme for children aged 2 to 5. It’s a fun way for your children to discover sport, develop their social skills, find their confidence and make friends. Little Ballers is all about fun, football and friendship! It’s taught in a lively, yet pressure-free environment.

How to Sign Up:

To take advantage of this free trial session, please click (here) to sign up. Enter the Code LITTLEBALLERS2024. Our friendly customer support team will contact you to confirm the trial times that best fit your schedule

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