Dear Parents and Guardians,

The American School of Doha's International Week is in December, and we're calling on YOU to become an integral part of this vibrant celebration of diversity!

International Week is a magical time when our school transforms into a global kaleidoscope, sharing the rich tapestry of cultures that make up our school community. We're thrilled to announce the return of an exciting opportunity for parents and community members to shine as cultural ambassadors by hosting their own country booth throughout the week.

Each booth will be dedicated to a country, providing an opportunity to share artifacts, traditions, and the diverse elements of a nation's heritage with our school community.

This year’s theme will be centered around “One ASD Family, Stronger Together.” 

Why Should You Get Involved?

Celebrate Your Heritage: 

Share the beauty and uniqueness of the country you and/or a group of people identify with, all while fostering a sense of pride and belonging within our community.

Educate and Inspire: 

An opportunity to educate our school community about the world's diverse cultures and traditions. Your booth will be a window to the world, where young minds can learn, ask questions, and grow.

Making Connections: 

Strengthen the bonds within our community by connecting with fellow parents who share your passion for a particular culture. It's a fantastic opportunity to make friends and expand your network.

Create Lasting Memories:

International Week is a memory-making extravaganza! Watch our community explore different cultures and make lifelong memories.

How to Get Involved:

Sign Up Today: Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity! 

Sign up by completing this form to secure your spot as a booth host.

Please note that Country Booth sign-ups will close on Wednesday, November 5th (or whenever all booths are reserved).

Decorate Your Booth: 

Let your creativity shine as you and your group transform the booth space into a mini cultural oasis. Share artifacts, clothing, music, and more to immerse visitors in your chosen culture. The dates run from Sunday, December 13th, to Wednesday, December 16th.

Plan Engaging Activities: 

Organize interactive activities and/or games that will captivate and educate our school community.

Once the form is complete, we will send further information so we can begin planning and coordinating your booth. For more information, please contact internationalweek@asd.edu.qa. 

Thank you for your support in making ASD’s International Week 2026 memorable.

Kind regards,

The ASD International Week Committee

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to share our approach to selecting student flag bearers for our annual International Week event. This change reflects our ongoing commitment to equity, inclusivity, and transparency in all aspects of our community.

What’s New? 

This year, we will continue to use a lottery-based system to select two student flag-bearers for each represented country: one student from the Lower Elementary School/Upper Elementary School (LES/UES) and one student from the Middle School/High School (MS/HS). This selection process ensures that students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 have an equal opportunity to represent their country with pride.

If a country is represented by a Grade 12 senior, that senior will automatically be selected as the MS/HS flag-bearer. If more than one Grade 12 senior represents the same country, those seniors will participate in a separate lottery to determine the MS/HS flag-bearer.

How Does It Work?

1. Student Demographics: We will gather student data, including grade level, nationality, and country of origin, using PowerSchool. 

2. Lottery Pool: Two separate pools are created, one for LES/UES (KG to Grade 5) and another for MS/HS (Grades 6 to 12). Students’ names are grouped by country of origin. If a country has no student representation in a division, that slot will remain unfilled for that year. If a HS Senior is eligible, they will automatically be entered into the lottery, and a senior will be selected to carry the flag for their country. 

3. Random Selection: We will use a randomization tool to select one student from each pool fairly and transparently. Backups are also selected in case of unavailability.

4. Notification: Selected students and their families will be informed and asked to confirm their acceptance of the role within 48 hours. If the primary student cannot participate, the backup student will be offered the role.

5. Participation: Students can only serve as flag bearers once unless they are the only available student for that country in their division. This ensures that more students have the opportunity to participate in this special role. Students will be eligible for another opportunity after a three-year period. 

6. Public Announcement: The final list of countries represented will be shared with the school community via our communication platform, SAHIFA.

Why This Approach? The heart of this shift lies in our belief in fairness and inclusivity. Every student will have an equal opportunity to represent their heritage. This process ensures that our selection is transparent, unbiased, and reflective of our school’s values of equity and diversity.

We understand that being a flag bearer is a point of pride for many students and families. By embracing a lottery system, we allow all students to engage in this special moment, fostering a greater sense of belonging across our community.

If you have any questions about this new approach, please do not hesitate to reach out. We look forward to seeing our students proudly represent their countries at our upcoming event.

internationalweek@asd.edu.qa