Dear Lower Elementary School Families,

There is a lovely rhythm settling across the LES; the temperature is ever so slightly cooling, friendships are growing, and each day brings new opportunities to learn, play, create, and discover. With after-school activities now underway, it is wonderful to see children beginning to experience the richness of all that ASD has to offer.

Dear Upper Elementary School Parents,

We were delighted to hold our first UES student assembly of the year last week.  The assembly provided an opportunity to come together as a community, celebrate our shared values, and highlight the importance of leadership and respect across our school. One of the highlights of the assembly was the presentation from the Ambassadors, who talked to UES students about consistently demonstrating the ASD values in their daily actions. These students serve as role models for their peers, showing kindness, responsibility, honesty, and a commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom.  It was inspiring to see the pride on our students’ faces and to celebrate their role within the community. We look forward to building on this momentum throughout the year with more opportunities to recognize and showcase student leadership and achievement.

School Photos
This week, it was wonderful to see our students dressed so sharply for their school photos! Please note that additional communication will be shared in the future with information on how to purchase your child’s school photos. Each student has received an individual access code, which will allow families to view and order photos online once they are ready. 

Dress Code Reminder

It is essential that students respect the learning environment and life in Qatar by being appropriately dressed for school. The purpose of the student dress code is not to inhibit any person's taste in attire, but rather to better facilitate the educational process through reasonable dress guidelines that instill dignity and pride. As a reminder, shorts worn at school should be knee-length or longer, in accordance with our school dress code policy. We appreciate families’ support in helping students adhere to our school expectations. 

Parent Coffee Series: Well-being and Safeguarding 

This week’s UES Parent Coffee focused on well-being, connection, and safeguarding our students, with parents coming together for an engaging and meaningful conversation. Parents explored developmentally appropriate ways to strengthen their connection with their children, support their well-being, and foster safe, open communication at home. The session also provided practical strategies for safeguarding children and helping them navigate everyday experiences with confidence and support.

It was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our home–school partnership and ensure we are working together to support the whole child. We look forward to continuing to offer meaningful opportunities for parents to connect, learn, and engage with our UES community. Stay tuned for upcoming parent events!

Parent Coffee - Safeguarding and Wellbeing | September 16, 2026

Dear High School Parents,

Collaboration and student well-being sit at the heart of everything we do at ASD. From engaging with parents during our recent Parent Advisory Forum to sitting down with 35 students at our first StuCo Town Hall on Sunday, this week highlighted the power of open dialogue across our community.

Alongside these discussions, our High School students participated in impactful learning sessions led by visiting PreventionEd experts this week. This powerful programming focused on empowering students with critical decision-making skills, self-awareness, and strategies for maintaining healthy personal boundaries.

Over the coming weeks, you will see several key academic and celebratory milestones on the horizon:

• Measuring Progress: AAPPL language results are now available for returning students (and will be released to new students shortly). Additionally, fall MAP testing reports will be shared soon to help us tailor instruction to your child’s needs.

• Preparing for the Future: We are gearing up for the PSAT and University Bootcamp to happen on October 20 to support post-secondary planning.

• Celebrating Excellence: On October 13 at 5:00 p.m., we look forward to gathering in the Theater for our first-ever unified Honor Society Induction Ceremony.

Whether we are analyzing assessment data, learning with guest experts, or listening to student voice, our goal remains the same: nurturing well-rounded, confident learners. Thank you for walking this journey with us.

Sincerely,

Ms. Jennifer Mendes
High School Principal

Important Updates and Announcements

Recap of the Parent Advisory Forum (PAF), September 16, 2026
We had a great discussion at our Parent Advisory Forum on Wednesday, September 16. For those who couldn't make it, or anyone who wants a quick refresher, we’ve published the video recording and presentation slides.

What we discussed:

• How we support students through Social-Emotional Learning in HS

• How technology enhances the learning experience at ASD

• How assessment data (MAP, AAPPL, and PSAT) drives our decision-making

Should you wish to follow up on any of the items covered, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Jennifer Mendes, HS Principal at jennifer.mendes@asd.edu.qa.  

Understanding Your Child's Growth: AAPPL & MAP Test Updates

Standardized assessments give us a valuable snapshot of student learning and help us personalize classroom instruction. Here is an update on two recently administered assessments and their results:

• AAPPL Results (Now Available): Scores for the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages assessment have been released. Check your email to see your child's progress in their world language skills.  The subject line of the email is, “AAPPL Test Results - Student’s Name.”

• MAP Results (Coming Soon): Students recently completed our fall MAP assessment. Individual progress reports will be shared with parents on [Date].

Thank you for partnering with us to support your student’s academic journey! If you need help accessing or understanding these reports, please contact Josh Giddens, HS Curriculum Coordinator, joshua.giddens@asd.edu.qa.

Preparing for the Future: PSAT & University Bootcamp on October 20

High school is a time of exciting transitions! On Tuesday, October 20, we are hosting our annual Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) testing and University Bootcamp to give our students a head start on their college applications.

What to expect:

• PSAT Testing for Students of Grades 9-11: Real-time test practice to help students gauge academic progress and familiarize themselves with official college entrance exams.

• University Bootcamp for Students of Grade 12: Practical workshops covering application deadlines, university research, essay writing, and counselor insights.

More details regarding schedules and student registration steps will continue to be shared by the counseling team.

New Event: ASD Combined Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 13! Moving forward, ASD will host a unified ceremony to celebrate students' induction into our various discipline-specific honor societies.

Event At-a-Glance:

• When: Tuesday, October 13 at 5:00 p.m.

• Where: ASD Theater

• Honors Recognized: Honor Society of the Cinematic Arts, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, Thespians, Tri-M, Science National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and Math National Honor Society

We welcome families, friends, and community members to join us in recognizing the hard work, talent, and commitment of these outstanding scholars and artists!

Amplifying Student Voice: Student Council Town Hall
Building on plans established last year, the High School Student Council hosted its inaugural Town Hall meeting during lunch on Sunday in the HSPR. Designed as an open forum to share updates and discuss campus life, the event drew an impressive turnout of 35 students.

Joining the session as a listening ear, HS Principal Jennifer Mendes noted how proudly and professionally the students presented their thoughts. StuCo leaders are now collaborating with the administration to address the topics raised and will follow up with the student body soon.

AP Updates

I am very pleased to share that students have been registering for their AP exams in May by signing into AP Classroom using the Join Codes from their teachers.  We have, for the fourth year in a row, reached an all-time high in student participation in the AP program here at ASD, with 411 students registered for 883 exams! As AP students begin to get their first summative grades in their classes, some may experience a level of challenge (and accompanying grades) that is new to them. Their focus should be on their teachers’ directive feedback, which identifies the next steps for improvement. I encourage all students to view this learning process as a lengthy one, culminating in the final AP exams in May, with many opportunities to demonstrate their learning (and achieve a commensurate grade). If they experience any struggles, students should be sure to avail themselves of help during teachers’ office hours, which should be visible on all AP teachers’ Teneen pages. Students should also be sure to complete all assigned practice opportunities in AP Classroom and, if applicable, on Albert.io. ASD has a strong record of supporting student learning, and teachers are ready to provide additional guidance when needed. Should it be required, I also create individualized academic support plans to provide structure and regular check-ins for students, with guidance from teachers.  Above all, students’ study habits, time management, and perseverance are key, and they can grow and learn even when there are early struggles. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the AP Coordinator at joshua.giddens@asd.edu.qa.

IB Diploma Programme Update
It has been a very positive and proactive start to the year for both our IB Year 1 and Year 2 students. It was also a pleasure to meet so many of you during our Back to School Night and to connect with our IB parent community.

Our Year 2 students have now completed their full Extended Essay drafts of approximately 4,000 words, an important milestone in the IB journey. They are also actively working through university applications and making effective use of the support systems available to them, with a focus on responding to feedback and strengthening both formative and summative work to support their continued success.

IB Alumni Speakers

Over the past two weeks, we have also welcomed IB alumni to work with our Year 1 students. They shared practical strategies for managing time, navigating stress, and approaching the university application process. These opportunities provide our students with valuable insights from those who have recently completed the IB journey.

We look forward to continuing to work closely with our students and families throughout the year to support both academic progress and student well-being. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the IBDP Coordinator at Katrina.Charles@asd.edu.qa.

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 year, we have a number of student-led organizations that work with children from the Doha community with a variety of disabilities in adaptive sports.  Tracksters offers inclusive opportunities for runners, Challengers for baseball, Hoopers for basketball, and Tappers for Dance.  Over three Fridays this month, in preparation for the kick-off of their various seasons, student participants in these organizations will receive training from experts in our Doha community on working with children with exceptional needs, in a series of workshops designed by ASD student Bilel B (G11).  These training modules are called IMPACT.  The first session was last Friday.  We would like to thank our community partners who were here with us last Friday and who will be with us over the next two weekends.

We would like to give a big thank you to Dr. Lisa Thornton, Dr. El Taweel, Mrs. Jessica Axelson, Mr. George Axelson, Mrs. Jennifer King, Mrs. Farrah Raza, Ms. Olcay Connor, Ms. Renju Rehman, and Dr. Diala Harb.

This past week, we also hosted our first guest in our Service Speaker Series.  In this series, we introduce our students to people and organizations who work to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

We welcomed Mr. Arrie Van Deventer, founder of the Rhino Orphanage.  Arrie shared his experiences as the founder of Africa’s first Rhino Orphanage in South Africa in two keynotes to our high school.  Arrie also spent time visiting classrooms in all four divisions and with our Science National Honor Society.

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
It has been a big couple of weeks in Counseling, with two of our major grade-level programs officially underway and another important event on the horizon.

Grade 9 Counselor Course Begins
Our Grade 9 students have started the first of six Counselor Course sessions. We begin with something we believe matters tremendously: connection. Students are meeting individually with their counselors to establish expectations, ask questions, and continue building the counselor-student relationship that will support them throughout high school.

From there, our Grade 9 programming will move into creating four-year academic plans, exploring learning styles, and safeguarding lessons. At this stage, the goal is not to have four years perfectly mapped out. Instead, we want students to understand their options, learn more about themselves, and begin developing the skills to make thoughtful decisions about their high school experience.

Grade 12 University Night: Application Season Is Here
At the other end of the High School journey, we officially kicked off university application season with our Grade 12 University Night. Students and families joined us for an evening focused on the road ahead, including current admissions trends, insights from the Class of 2026, application strategy, ASD procedures, and important timelines.

There is a lot to navigate over the coming months, but seniors do not have to figure it out alone. Our counselors will continue working closely with students through individual meetings and the upcoming Senior Counselor Course as they move from university research to completed applications. Seniors should look forward to the application bootcamp on October 20, while Grades 9-11 sit for the PSAT.

ICYMI or want another look?

Coming Up: PSAT | October 20

On October 20, students in Grades 9–11 will take the PSAT.

The PSAT is part of the College Board's SAT Suite of Assessments and provides students with experience with the reading, writing, and mathematics skills assessed on the SAT. More importantly for our younger students, it provides a useful snapshot of current strengths and areas for continued growth.

For most students, the value of the PSAT is not about achieving a particular score. It is an opportunity to practice in a low-stakes environment, become familiar with the digital testing experience, and use the resulting information to inform future preparation. For Grade 11 students who meet applicable eligibility requirements, the PSAT/NMSQT also serves as the qualifying assessment for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

What can students do now? There is no need to spend the next month cramming. Instead, we recommend a few simple steps:

• Get familiar with Bluebook. Students should make sure they can access the College Board's digital testing application and become comfortable navigating the platform.

• Try a practice assessment. Completing even one practice test can help students understand the format, question types, and pacing before October 20.

• Use results strategically. Practice is most useful when students review what they missed and identify patterns rather than simply focusing on a score.

• Brush up, don't cram. A little targeted review of unfamiliar math concepts, grammar conventions, or reading strategies is more valuable than hours of unfocused preparation.

• Build good testing habits now. Reading regularly, getting adequate sleep, practicing without distractions, and becoming comfortable working within time limits all help.

• Keep it in perspective. Particularly for our younger students, the PSAT is an opportunity to learn what standardized testing feels like and establish a starting point. There will be plenty of time for more targeted preparation later.

We will share additional information with students and families as October 20 approaches, including test-day logistics and final preparation reminders.

Whether students are just beginning to map out their high school journey, preparing for their first standardized testing experience, or submitting university applications, our goal remains the same: to provide the right information, support, and opportunities at the right time.

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 Fall Semester 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

We’re pleased to feature two new books on our MHS Library shelves written by one of our ASD parents, Sami Hermez (Professor of Anthropology at Northwestern University in Qatar). The first book, My Brother, My Land: A Story from Palestine, is a collaboration with Sireen Sawalha to recount her family’s story. The book blends oral history, memoir, and creative nonfiction to tell the story of one Palestinian family’s connection to their land and experiences across decades of military occupation. Their story confronts readers with the complexities of armed resistance, dispossession, and what it means to remain connected to a place.

In War Is Coming: Between Past and Future Violence in Lebanon, Hermez examines how people in Lebanon live with memories of past violence while anticipating the possibility of future war. Through everyday conversations and experiences, the book explores how political uncertainty becomes part of ordinary life. We’re grateful to Dr. Hermez for sharing his work with the ASD community. Both books are now available in our MHS Library thanks to Sami’s generous donation.