We are excited to announce the return of our Doha College Giving Tree this year. 

This year, we are collecting cash donations for our wonderful, behind-the-scenes staff members from the facilities, security and canteen teams. 

If you would like to contribute a cash donation, you can find our money boxes beside our Giving Tree in the main reception area, at Gate 4 and Gate 6. We know that all donations will be greatly received. 

A gentle reminder of our policy relating to fever, diarrhoea and vomiting. 

A student should not come to school if they have a fever of 38 degrees centigrade or higher. The student must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before they return to school. 

A student should not come to school if they have diarrhoea or vomiting. They should remain at home for 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea/ vomiting. 

This policy is based on NHS guidelines and aims to keep our school community safe by preventing the spread of infectious disease.

Megan Geldenhuys
Lead School Nurse

We are pleased to announce that the Sustainability Committee is embarking on an initiative to refresh the school's recycling system, aiming to enhance our commitment to the environment. 

We have already delivered new paper recycling boxes to all corridors and communal areas across the whole school, ensuring that each student and member of staff has convenient access to responsible recycling options. Furthermore, just last week, we successfully repurposed last year's unsuitable classroom bins, transforming them into dedicated plastic recycling bins for every classroom.

Moving forward, the committee is finalising an updated recycling 'Code of Conduct', which will outline best practices and guidelines for effective recycling. We will repurpose, reposition, and rebrand as many of the existing bins as possible while creating new areas to promote recycling, especially in EYFS and Key Stage 1. 

We are committed to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, and we believe this updated code will further enhance our collective efforts. We anticipate sharing this important document with the school community very soon. Together, we can make a significant impact on our environment.

Giorgos Georgiou
Primary Class Teacher, Sustainability Lead & ECO Coordinator

The upcoming Mockingbird production, Flying Car, will take place on Saturday,  23rd November at 11.00 am and again at 4.00 pm. Don't miss the chance to experience this captivating performance. Tickets will be available at the door before each show. 

Best of luck to our incredible Doha College pupils competing at the Aramco F1 in Schools 2024 World Finals! 

Taking place at the Dhahran Expo, this is the first time this prestigious STEM competition is being hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its 24-year history. The F1 in Schools challenge brings together hundreds of students from across the globe, celebrating innovation, teamwork, and STEM excellence.

Representing Qatar as the only school from the country to reach the finals, Ninth Gear Racing—featuring Prabhav, Aditya, Mahimaa, Eshan, and Tharuka—will wave the flag for Doha College. We are incredibly proud of their dedication and outstanding achievements to reach this global competition!

The event launches on Sunday, 24th November, with a grand opening ceremony, followed by three days of intense competition as teams of young innovators (aged 11–19) battle for the title of F1 in Schools World Champions.

A heartfelt thank you to Qatar Airways and our contributing sponsors for their support of this initiative. Their contributions enable us to provide exceptional opportunities for our pupils to excel and represent Doha College on the global stage.

Paul Dettman, Teacher and Mentor at Doha College:

Qatar Airways support has enabled our students to pursue this incredible opportunity. Their commitment to STEM education has inspired our students to strive for excellence at the Aramco F1 in Schools World Finals.”

On Monday, 18th November, our Auditorium transformed into a dynamic learning space where students engaged in a mock Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).

Year 13 students who have applied to medicine programs in the UK will be invited to participate in MMIs as part of the application process. Interviews are an important part of the application process, therefore, hosting mock interviews helps our students by building their confidence, enhancing their skills and giving them the opportunity of practising answering questions on the spot. 

With the generous participation of invited doctors and supportive school staff, this event offered students a unique opportunity to practise under realistic conditions. They received tailored feedback, guidance, and hands-on experience which effectively prepared them for the challenges of university admission interviews. This initiative underscores our commitment to ensuring students are well-equipped for the next stage of their academic journey.

Linva McIntosh

Head of Careers & University Guidance

As the gates of the College open each morning, the campus brims with our early risers, chatting with friends, sharing stories, and easing into the day ahead.

These first moments, between 7.00 am and 7.15 am, are more than just a countdown to form time—they’re a valuable opportunity for students to connect, settle in, and feel part of our school community. These 15 minutes, though short, offer a relaxed, informal time to bond with peers and prepare for the day ahead. This simple practice of arriving just a little earlier can set students up for a productive and fulfilling day, helping them feel grounded and engaged from the moment they walk through the doors.

Tuesday form time also holds a special focus in our school week. During these sessions, students participate in a carousel of activities, including assemblies, house events, and PosED sessions that help build essential life skills. This week, for example, Year 10 students focused on oracy, learning to communicate effectively, confidently, and clearly—a vital skill that opens doors in every aspect of life.

This week, we’ve made form-time punctuality a focus in Secondary. Students who arrive on time received house points, with double points awarded if the entire form arrives on time. Conversely, students who were late to form received a ‘Late to Form’ point, and the reason for their lateness was logged—allowing us to inform you, as parents, directly via the ISAMs portal. This approach is an essential part of safeguarding our community, helping us to track patterns and trends in attendance and better support those students who may need additional encouragement to get to school on time and ready to learn.

In a world where there’s no such thing as “on time,” you’re either early or you’re late, let’s all choose early. Thank you for supporting us in preparing our students to be responsible, proactive, and ready for whatever the future holds.

Sarah Kiernan Webb

Secondary Deputy Head - Pastoral

The Music Department is excited to invite parents to join us in forming a parent and staff choir! 

This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with others who share a love of singing and to come together as a community in a more relaxed setting.

If you’re interested in participating, please complete the Google Form here. Additionally, if there are any musicians within our parent community who would like to support the Department with the initiative, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

William Morrow

Director of Music

Due to changes in her professional time commitments, Dalia has made the difficult decision to step down in her role as Chair of the FDC. 

I am sure you will all join me in thanking Dalia for her hard work and enthusiasm in the role. The school has undoubtedly benefited from her passion for helping the pupils and we will miss her infectious enthusiasm.

Nomination Process

In recognition of the comments made by a number of parents with respect to availability for in-person voting we have decided to adopt a different process for the appointment of the new Chair.  

Should anyone be interested in the position, we ask that they nominate themselves by completing this form by Monday, 2nd December at 3.00 pm.

We would encourage anyone to do this that has: some spare capacity, strong affiliation to our identity as a British International School with community status, and a passion for working with others to support the school.

Timeline

• Self Nominations Now Open 

• Deadline for Self Nominations - Monday, 2nd December at 3.00 pm - Self Nomination Form

• Publication of the biographies from nominees and voting opens - Thursday, 5th December

• We will provide the link to this information and the mechanism for voting in our 5th December Newsletter

• Voting Closes - Monday, 9th December at 3.00 pm

• New Chair announced - Thursday, 12th December via the newsletter

Thank you. 

Rashmi Arora

Development Alumni & Events Officer

We are delighted to announce we will pilot a free Evo netball and Evo touch rugby programme at United School International  every Saturday for children aged 8 - 16 years old.

Evo Touch Rugby (Boys and Girls)

Touch Rugby is an exciting and inclusive game played by teams of six players that promotes the fundamental skills of running, passing, catching, evasion, and support play. Played by participants of all ages and genders, Touch Rugby develops basic attack and defence skills in a minimal contact environment. 

Evo Netball (Girls)

Netball is an exciting, fast and skillful game of fair contest. It is a game in which two teams of seven players each strive to keep or gain possession of the ball. The team with the ball, through running, jumping, throwing and catching, attempts to move the ball into its goal circle from where a goal may be scored, while the opposing team uses defensive movements and strategies to prevent this and to gain possession. The rules are based on the core values of equal opportunity, fair  play and respect for an opponent’s skill and safety.

Please see the below schedule and  link to register:

Youth Netball and Touch Rugby - Registration

• Saturday, 23rd November until Saturday,  14th December 2024 (4 weeks)

• 15:00-16:00

• 8 - 16 years old 

• United International School, The Pearl

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via email at sadams@evosportsqatar.com.