Message from the Executive Principal - 15 November 2018

Dear Parents

Another eventful week has passed at OIS starting with the thunderstorms on Sunday. These caused us to cancel the first day of our After School Activities due to safety concerns. Hopefully we have seen the last of these downpours for a while!

On visiting the school, you might have noticed that our sports areas are now fully operational including the swimming pools. These facilities are exceptional for any school and we are looking forward to making maximum use of them in the future. After 4pm and at weekends, Sports facilities will be made available to families, Qatar Airways staff and the wider local community. We will be sending details of how and when you can use the facilities in due course. There will be a hire charge, but Qatar Airways staff will receive substantial discounts on these prices.

Please find dates and information regarding the Parent Information Workshops Programmes we are providing this year below. Like the school itself, this is still a ‘work in progress’ and we hope to add further workshops throughout the year. Parents will be asked to sign up for the workshops as there is limited seating and if you cannot attend, we will make the presentation available on line.

You will find Assessment and Reporting dates attached below for your diary. These have been carefully planned to coincide with the academic programme offered in Primary and Secondary and I hope that as many of you as possible will attend the parent & teacher meetings.

I am very pleased with the organisational work the PTSA are doing towards our Winter Fair which will be held on Saturday,15 December. We are receiving many offers of activities, exhibitions and stalls for this and already we have an exciting line up for you to enjoy with your family and friends. Class representatives and PTSA committee members will be sending around information on how each class as well as individuals can contribute. I hope that you will all be able to support this school community event and enjoy a fun family day celebrating Qatar National Day and our school community itself.

Recently, I attended a workshop by the MoE&HE at which they demonstrated a new on line information private schools gate, for events, services, early registration, complaints and inquiries, which they are operating on behalf of all Private Schools in Qatar. This system is not to replace the procedures already in place in schools, but to supplement them. The Ministry emphasised that parents should continue to communicate with the school through normal school channels in the first instance. The portal for parents will be available soon.

Regards,

Derek Laidlaw

Executive Principal