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Mohamed Abdelgalil Elsayed Refaei Gardener

Abdurazak Jama Teacher Yr. 2

Timings and format of a typical school day, including parent pick-up and drop-off. Timings and School Day The school operates from Sunday to Thursday during term time. There are three terms per year, with the long summer break typically from late June until late August. SCHOOL Why Choose AWIS Ethos, Vision and Mission Community Timings and School Day Uniform Policies Drop-off is 06:45 to 07:10. Drop-off and Pick-up The school gates open at 06:45 each morning. Please do not drop your children off before then, as they will be unable to enter the premises and we do not have staff available to supervise them. Students arriving after 07.10 are considered late, and will have missed registration. Please report to the School Office, where staff will add him/her to the class register for the day. Note that timings are staggered to reduce traffic congestion, so we appreciate parents doing their best to abide by the following guidelines: Foundation Stage: Arrive 06:45 to 07:10 Depart 13:00 to 13:15 Years 1 to 6: Arrive 06:45 to 07:10 Depart 13:45 to 14:00 For security, all children must be collected by an adult who has previously been registered with the school as authorised to collect. This information is part of our Application Form. If you need to authorise additional people to collect your child, or change this data in any way, please call the School Office so we can make suitable arrangements. Please make all reasonable efforts to collect your children on time at the end of the school day, as staff supervising them have to leave for other tasks. However, we fully understand that, on occassion, circumstances intervene! If you are running a bit late to collect, we would appreciate a phone call to the School Office , so we can make the necessary arrangements for supervision of your child beyond normal working hours. Collecting Your Child Mid-morning We recognise there is an occasional need to collect children during the school day - for example, for a doctor's appointment. In such a case, please visit the School Office where staff will document the reason for early collection and give you a permission slip. This slip should then be given to the class teacher when collecting your child from the classroom. After School Club We offer an After School Club to Foundation Stage students, as teaching finishes earlier for the youngest children. This keeps them safe, busy and entertained from 13.00 (when Foundation Stage finishes) until 14.00 (when Years 1 - 6 finish) so that parents can collect siblings at the same time. Note that there is a nominal charge for this service. Absences If your child is going to be absent for one or more days then, regardless of the reason, we would appreciate notification of the dates and a brief explanation. We use this to update registers and to ensure that the School Office and the Class Teachers are both aware of any children not expected in school. School Office Normal hours for the School Office are 06.45 until 14.30 during term time, for Sunday until Thursday. During school holidays, the office works reduced hours of 08.00 until 12.00, from Sunday until Thursday. It is completely closed during statutory holidays (for example, Eid) and at very quiet periods. The office is always closed every Friday and Saturday. Typical School Day Foundation Stage The school day for our Foundation Stage children begins with drop-off between 06:45 and 07:15. Parents are welcome to accompany their children into the Foundation Stage area to help them settle in. A staff member is on duty each morning to greet and receive students, while teachers use this time to prepare for the day ahead. We understand that some younger children may take time to adjust, and we encourage parents to work closely with our staff to ensure a happy and smooth start to the day. Developing independence is a key focus of the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) programme. From the outset, children are guided on how to organise themselves for class, fostering confidence and self-sufficiency. The daily schedule includes two half-hour breaks, with time allocated for eating during each break. As we do not have a cafeteria on site, children are required to bring a packed lunch from home. Foundation Stage finishes at 13:00. At the end of the school day, children are encouraged to tidy up their belongings and ensure they have everything they need for home. An After School Club is available from 13:00 to 14:00, offering supervised care and activities. This service requires additional payment. This allows parents with siblings in older year groups to collect children at the same time. Year 1 to Year 6 Children in Years 1-6 can be dropped off from 06:45, with pick-up from 13:45. The school day is structured to provide engaging learning opportunities, with registers taken promptly at 07:20 and lessons beginning at 07:30. The school day includes three breaks: A 5-minute snack break at 08:25. A 45-minute break at 10:05, where children have 30 minutes to eat and 15 minutes for outdoor play. A 20-minute break for eating at 12:30. As there is no cafeteria on-site, children need to bring a packed lunch each day. After School Club runs daily from 14:00 to 15:00 at an additional cost. We also offer a range of Extra Curricula Activities (ECA's) - see here . Term Dates 2024-25 .pdf Download PDF • 707KB

Marissa Abaya Quetua Housekeeping Supervisor

Requirements for Joining an International School Published: 1 December 2022 Learn in advance all the paperwork required to join an international school in Qatar The information in this article is supplied for parents in good faith. It is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of publication. All rules are subject to change, and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education together with other relevant government departments remain the ultimate authority in these matters. AWIS cannot be held liable for the consequences of any error or omissions in this article. Admissions Process All schools administer their own application and admissions process, so requirements will differ from school-to-school. However, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar (MoEHE) require all international schools to upload details of students and their parents to a central system. They require us to collect some very specific documentation from parents, before a new student is allowed in to school. The purpose of this article is to ensure parents are aware in advance of these requirements. They are advised to gather all necessary documentation before leaving their home country (including having documents attested, where required). Parents should have realistic expectations of the timeline between arriving in Qatar and their children being able to attend school. Your future employer in Qatar should be able to assist you with this. The information below is provided as a simple list, for ease of reference: A: Before Leaving Home 1. Most Recent School Report: If a student has attended a school previously (in Year 1 or above), be sure to bring a copy of their latest school report with you. If this report is from outside Qatar, it must be attested in exactly the same process you will be required to follow for having your educational qualifications attested. For example, in the UK this would require that the report is: signed and stamped by the school attested by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office stamped by the Qatar Embassy in London This can be a slow (and expensive) process, so allow plenty of time before departure. There are various agents who can assist with the process, and your new employer in Qatar should be able to offer guidance. 2. Immunisation Record Schools will ask for a copy of your child's immunisation record. Make sure you bring this with you, although (unlike the school report) it does not currently have to be officially certified. 3. Birth Certificate As above, be sure to bring birth certificates of the children with you. B: On Arrival in Qatar 1. Complete the Attestation Process The process for having your own paperwork attested, for employment purposes, needs to be completed once you arrive in Qatar. Your employer in Qatar will have made clear to you before leaving your home country exactly what paperwork is required (it is typically the degree certificate and degree transcript of the employee, but may include other documents). Once in Qatar, these documents have to be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Doha to be stamped (qualifications also have to be translated in to Arabic). Some employers will ask you to do this yourself, while many will organise this on your behalf. If travelling with children aged 7+, it is important to include the attested copy of their most recent school report (see item A1 above) is included in the bundle of documents to go to MoFA. 2. Qatar ID On arrival in Qatar, your employer will apply for residence permits for the whole family. The end result is each family member being issued a Qatar ID. The normal process is to first apply for the employee. Then, only once the Qatar ID of the employee has been received, the company starts the process for the other family members. Ensure you understand from your employer in Qatar how long they expect this process to take. Timings do vary considerably, and any delays will prevent your children starting at school. 3. Letter of Employment Schools are required to hold a Letter of Employment on file for a parent of each student we register. This is a letter, written by your employer, stating that the child's sponsor (usually one of the parents), is in full time employment. This letter is required regardless of whether the school fees will be paid by the employer or the parents. It is a standard requirement for all students entering international schools in Qatar, so it is likely your employer will have a proforma template available. 4. Medical Report Students joining Foundation Stage or Year 1 are required to submit a "Fit to Join" Certificate (School Entry Health Assessment Certificate). This certificate can only be issued by Government Health Centres across Qatar that fall under the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC). This entails a brief physician's examination, dental checkup, and a blood test. Call 107 (from within Qatar) to book an appointment. Please note that you will be asked to provide the child's health card number. You will then be able to choose a convenient date and time from the available time slots. On the day of the appointment, and after the physician's assessment is completed, you may collect the "Fit to Join School" certificate and the student's health record from the main reception of the health centre. The whole process takes around two hours. C: Choosing and Applying to a School A search on Google will quickly confirm that Qatar has a wide range of international schools available, covering many different curricula and price points. Selecting the one that best fits your needs is deeply personal. However, do remember to consider: Travel time from your house (or work). Peak Doha traffic can be problematic! Reputation and word of mouth. There are multiple online forums for expat mums and new arrivals to Qatar, where the alternatives are endlessly discussed. School ethos and culture are important. Visit your shortlisted schools to form your own view, before committing. Not all "international schools" are really international, and not all "British curriculum schools" follow a curriculum people from the UK would recognise as British. Be sceptical! The application process varies from school-to-school, so you need to contact each of them or research their websites. It typically entails an interview and/or assessment test, carried out on the school site. Some schools will make special arrangements for children not yet in the country. The admissions process typically starts in January/February each year, with the majority completed by June, ready for the following academic (which typically starts in mid to late August). Most schools continue to accept new students after the close of the main admissions process, and in to the academic year. However, the better schools will typically have very limited places available (specific year groups). If you know your children will not be in Qatar, with all the required paperwork completed, until after the main school admissions process is completed, you should consider opening a dialogue with a few potential schools before you arrive in Doha. Finally, be aware that the MoEHE often locks their student database midway through the academic year. This makes it very difficult for any international schools to accept new students after this cut-off, as we have to apply to MoEHE for special dispensation on a case-by-case basis. Unfortunately, the cut-off date varies from year-to-year, but is typically around March. Document Checklist By way of example, the list of documents we require here at AWIS, for a student joining us from overseas, is shown below. Note that not all are required at the start of the application process: many can be deferred until after a firm offer of a place has been accepted. ◽ Completed AWIS Application Form ◽ Qatar ID of student ◽ Passport of student ◽ Qatar ID of both parents ◽ 2 x passport photos of student (or a digital image) ◽ Immunisation record of the student ◽ Attested copy of most recent school report (if joining from outside Qatar, in Year 2 or above) ◽ Medical report (School Entry Health Assessment Certificate) - if joining FS or Year 1 ◽ Letter of employment from parent's employer in Qatar

Anna Malatesta Intervention Specialist

Ellis Walton Key Stage 1 Lead & Staff Mentor

House System Over the course of each academic year, students will participate in a wide range of individual and team events as well as inter-house competitions. STUDENTS Awards and Incentives House System School Day Student Council All students are allocated to one of four Houses. When a student enrols at AWIS, they will be assigned to a certain house, in which they will remain throughout their entire enrolment. Over the course of each academic year, students will participate in a wide range of individual and team events as well as inter-house competitions. Every activity and competition presents an opportunity for students to earn points for their respective house. At the end of each year, the house that has accrued the most points will be declared the winner. Our houses are named after animals found in Qatar: Red Falcons Blue Dugongs Yellow Camels Green Oryx Each year two students from Year 5 and 6 are appointed as House Captains for each house team. Being a House Captain is a great stepping stone for developing leadership skills and public speaking abilities

Outstanding Score in TIMMS Published: 1 July 2021 AWIS recognised for outstanding Maths and Science results in international benchmarking tests. In April 2021 we were delighted to receive a letter from Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Naimi, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, congratulating AWIS on the outstanding scores achieved by our Year 5 students in the international TIMMS 2019 survey. TIMMS is short for "Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study", organised by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. It is a standardised test administered to students across the globe, once every 4 years, to facilitate data-driven decision-making about educational systems. It has been running since 1995 for students in Years 5 and 9 (grades 4 and 8 in the US system), with Qatar first participating in 2007. The most recent survey was run in 2019, gathering comparative data on Year 5 students from 58 countries. Main Highlights The full report can be downloaded below, together with the letter of commendation from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. However, to summarise the main outcomes: Average AWIS results comfortably exceeded the global averages: World average scores: 500 for Mathematics / 500 for Science AWIS average scores: 586 for Mathematics / 575 for Science 81% of AWIS students performed at a High or Advanced level in Maths. 75% of AWIS students performed at a High or Advanced level in Science. Average AWIS performance comfortably exceeded the average for international and community schools in Qatar: Community Schools in Qatar: 462 for Mathematics / 467 for Science International Schools in Qatar: 483 for Mathematics / 481 for Science AWIS average scores: 586 for Mathematics / 575 for Science Report for TIMMS 2019 .pdf Download PDF • 748KB

Our learning approach is child-centred and supportive. Our international curriculum emphasises the development of skills and understanding of concepts. Learning Approach We strive to develop a welcoming environment, catering to the needs and valuing the opinions of the school community. Perceptions of AWIS can be evidenced on the school’s Facebook page, where words like "friendly", "caring", "lovely environment", and "great teachers" frequently reoccur. LEARNING Year Groups Curriculum Learning Approach Student Assessment Extra-Curricula Activities Our child-centred approach and supportive environment encourage students to grow in aptitude and confidence Student welfare permeates all that we do. We strongly believe that children should feel cared for and care about each other. Students who feel happy, secure and respected learn more effectively. The IPC Personal Learning Goals help promote character traits such as morality, resilience and respect which enhance student well-being. A positive behaviour policy with a programme of rewards and clear steps for negative behaviour also supports all students. We are firm believers in a genuine “open door” policy, where students and parents can approach teachers and management to discuss freely any issues or concerns. Modern, International Curriculum The role of any school is to prepare its student body for living and working in the 21st century, a time of rapid change. Populations are becoming increasingly mobile and technology is developing at an unprecedented rate. We acknowledge that we need to ensure students are prepared for a competitive, international society that is subject to continuous, dynamic developments. It is essential our students develop diverse and transferable skills. We achieve this through a modern, international curriculum based upon the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). This is a thematic curriculum which suits the needs of our diverse student population. This cross-curricular approach uses inquiry based methods, enabling students to become independent learners. There is a focus on internationalism, vital for our more global world. Additionally, there is also the flexibility to acknowledge the importance of the host nation and celebrate Qatari traditions and culture. As a school we, therefore, offer a curriculum which is child-centred and learning focussed. This inquiry based focus allows students to take ownership of their learning and moves away from a knowledge based curriculum. The emphasis is on the development of skills and understanding of concepts rather than the acquisition of facts. Holistic, Child-centred Approach Schools should support students to develop not just academically but physically, socially and emotionally. As part of our holistic, child-centred approach we acknowledge the importance of extra-curricular activities. These are integrated into the school timetable and are driven by our educational goals. Teaching staff plan and deliver a series of activities on a rotational programme. This ensures all students from Years 1-6 experience a cycle of 5 different kinds of activity over a yearly programme. Examples include fitness, arts, music and drama, problem solving and games activities.

Sandra Testino Araneta Library Coordinator

Kim Puckeridge Teacher Yr. 5