WelcomeAt Compass to Gharaffa our we Schoolwant all of our children to be ambitious. We will offer them an inspiring and engaging primary curriculum in a warm, welcoming and supportive environment tailored to meet the needs of every child. Our expert staff will blend opportunity, challenge and support to ensure that every child has a first class international education and a great start to school.

Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 1 Message from the Principal Welcome to Compass International School, Gharaffa. We hope that access to the Nord Anglia Global Campus, where they are able to you find this School Guide a useful source of information to help view and share work with students from around the world. you understand how we do things here and what makes us the right Competitions are also run through the Global Campus and last choice for your child. year two of our students were selected to have their short stories Compass Gharaffa along with its sister campus Compass Rayyan published in the annual Nord Anglia Anthology. Another of our are specialist British Primary Schools providing a first class English- students had their illustration published in the same book. based education for local students and the children of expat Our children excel in music and sport and take part in competitions families. and galas in and around the region. Across the two campuses Gharaffa and Rayyan educate around 1000 We run many visits and trips including two residential visits for our students from over 70 different nationalities. The schools along with older children. Compass International School, Madinat Khalifa and Nord Anglia International School Al Khor are part of the Nord Anglia family of Central to our work with the children is our relationship with parents. International Schools in . We want you to be involved and engaged in your child’s education. We will be holding family and community events throughout the At Compass Gharaffa, we offer the UK curriculum for Early Years in year and monthly coffee mornings. The activities will range from EY1 and EY2 and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) with film nights to discos, family picnics to the fantastic Arabic Night. I do British National Curriculum English and maths from Years 1 to 6. encourage you to join us at these events and welcome the support In addition to the International Curriculum we also offer an Arabic of those who would like to volunteer to help us run them. curriculum and a Dutch mother tongue program. Alongside these curricula we also offer a specialised curriculum for our Qatari If after reading this guide you have any suggestions for additional students that fully complies with the requirements of the Supreme information or if you have further questions about the life and Education Council of Qatar. work of Compass Gharaffa, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] As part of the Nord Anglia family of international schools, we are able to access some unique features through our links with our 42 Kind regards partner schools distributed across 15 countries worldwide. Most significant of these advantages is the support for students and teachers provided by our online community the Global Campus. Mr. Graham Horton B. Ed. (Hons) Students from Year 4 (aged 8) and above can benefit from direct

2 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook Across the two campuses Gharaffa and Rayyan educate around 1000 students from over 70 different nationalities.

Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 3 Who are we? Our Philosophy We are a private co-educational school set across three campuses Our 42 Nord Anglia International Schools worldwide are united by in Doha, Qatar. Our campuses are at Gharaffa, Rayyan and Madinat our common philosophy, ‘Be Ambitious’. Khalifa. Our sister school at Madinat Khalifa caters for children from We are committed to helping your child to achieve outstanding 5 to 18. Compass Gharaffa and Compass Rayyan specialise in the academic, social and personal excellence and we are committed to education of children from 3 – 11. Children from Compass Gharaffa recruiting and employing only the very best teachers from around and Compass Rayyan usually transfer for Year 7 to our Madinat the world. Khalifa campus, subject to meeting the entry criteria. The Principal of Compass Gharaffa and Compass Rayyan is Mr. Graham Horton. The Head of Gharaffa Campus is Mrs. Margaret Pilkington. There are approximately 600 children at Compass Gharaffa. We believe that Our school was founded in 2006 and became part of the Nord • There is no limit to what every child Anglia Education family in September 2013. Nord Anglia is one of can achieve the world’s leading international schools organisation with over 40 schools across 34 locations in 15 countries, educating around 32,000 students. We work closely with our family of schools across • Creativity, challenge and support the world to share best practice in all areas of education. Compass helps us get better every day Gharaffa is therefore able to offer the benefits and feel of a small school with all the benefits of being a ‘Global Campus’. • Learning should be personalised for You can find out more about Nord Anglia Education via their each individual child website: http://www.nordangliaeducation.com/ • Unique global experiences enhance every child’s learning experience

4 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 5 6 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook We are truly international At Compass Gharaffa we have over 60 different nationalities and and will leave our schools with a greater understanding and respect we celebrate this through our curriculum, regular assemblies, for their ‘brothers and sisters’ around the world. They really are National Day activities and our annual International Day event. ‘Global Citizens’. Our children learn about other countries, cultures and customs

How to find us ShamalShamal FlyoverFlyover Compass Gharaffa enjoys an excellent location just off Al Gharaffa Street and between Al Lucqta Street and Thani bin Jassim Street. Al AL DUHAIL(South) SOUTH We are near the Qatar National Convention Centre and Ezdan Mall. Our Gharaffa campus is conveniently located for families living in the Al Gharaffa and Madinat Khalifa areas of the city and is also easily accessible from Al Markhiya. Compass Gharaffa is Landmark ALAl GHARRAFA Gharaffa Gulf Mall ShoppingLandmark Mall situated in a quiet residential area approximately 15 minutes Shopping Mall

Ezdan from its sister schools. Shopping Mall MadinatMADINAT KhalifaKHALIFA

AL SHAMAL ROAD (North) Al Shamal Rd (NORTH)

The campus includes sports pitches, a large fully air conditioned Thani bin Jassim St

t multi-purpose sports hall, a swimming pool and a brand new S eq re ba l A b A music centre. The classrooms are bright and welcoming and all Waa Al Gharaffa St Al Gharaffa Al are equipped with the latest technology including interactive AL ABAREEQ STREET whiteboards, laptops and iPads. ImmigrationImmigration Al MayalMayal InterchangeRoundabout (Slope) Roundabout Roundabout ALAl LUOTA Luqta STREET St For our specific location details visit our website at EducationEducation City www.cisdoha.com and select Gharaffa. City

Makkam St MAKKAM STREET

AL RAYYANAl Rayyan ALL DADEEM All Dadeem

AL GEDAY STREET

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Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 7 The Primary Curriculum We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach from into class to see what the children have been learning. Parents the United Kingdom. This is a play based provision, focusing on are encouraged to come along to these events and to share their developing independence and early language and mathematics children’s learning and excitement. skills. The children direct their own learning under the supervision Languages, Music and P.E. are taught by specialist teachers at of our skilled early years educators. The classrooms and outdoor Compass Gharaffa. areas interlink and children are allowed free flow through to activities of their choice. There are dedicated and separate outdoor At Compass Gharaffa, children have the opportunity to learn play areas for EY1 and EY2. Outdoor provision is a key part of the French, Spanish and Mandarin depending on which year group Early Years offer at Compass Gharaffa. The Early Years department is they are in. We also offer basic Arabic for non-native speakers and led by an experienced and highly skilled UK trained EY specialist. we run the NTC approved Dutch Language program for Dutch first language speakers. Our Primary Curriculum is based upon the highly respected National Curriculum for England 2014. We also offer Arabic Language, Islamic Studies and Qatari History taught in Arabic in line with the guidelines from the Supreme From Year 1 all of our children study mathematics for 5 hours each Education Council of Qatar. This curriculum has slightly reduced week and English for 6 hours each week. These lessons take place at amounts of IPC and specialist tuition but must be followed by our the start of each day when the children are at their most receptive. Qatari students. The programmes of study are taken directly from the National Curriculum for England. One of our key priorities is to ensure that all children have a really strong grasp of the English language as soon as possible and so You can find out more about this curriculum athttp://www. we have a very active English as an additional language (EAL) risingstars-uk.com/free-stuff/national-curriculum-parents-guide department including specialist staff who can assist children At the end of each academic year the children will be assessed starting at Compass Gharaffa with no English at all. We have very against the criteria set in this curriculum for English and maths. close links with the Hibernia Language Centre who can provide Other subjects are grouped into themes and studied together after school and holiday English classes for children of all ages. through our exciting International Primary Curriculum (IPC). A wide range of afterschool activities are offered each term including football, arts & crafts, music, fencing, chess, sailing, You can find out more about the IPC athttp://greatlearning.com/ipc golf, horse riding, cricket, tag rugby, funky fitness, taekwondo, We organise an ‘Entry Point’ at the start of each IPC theme and then swimming squads and splash time, lego, choir, dodgeball, maths an ‘Exit Point’ at the end of that theme. The Exit Point might take catch up, Islamic Studies, French Club, Spanish Club, Mandarin the form of an exhibition or an assembly or an invitation to come Club, Danish Club, story club, Mad Science and many more.

8 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook

We offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities from sailing to golf and horse riding to swimming, plus loads more including languages, dance and drama. Languages other than English Physical Education (LOTE) Program Our P.E. and Sport programme is an important part of our curriculum offer. We have our own specialist teachers and coaches Children at Compass Gharaffa have the opportunity to taste a range for sport and swimming and bring in specialist coaches from our of languages during their time at the school. We offer Mandarin, local partner organisations to lead lessons. Teachers will be in French, basic Arabic and Spanish during curriculum time to different touch with further details about which day children will need kit year groups with after-school clubs running in these languages too. / costumes for their P.E. and swim days so please make sure that We offer the fully accredited NTC Dutch language program to Dutch the relevant kit / costume is in school on the right day. We will be native speakers and Belgian students with Dutch as their mother entering squads into a lot of local and regional competitions this tongue. Dutch is also offered as an after-school activity through the year and have been invited to send a team of athletes to the Nord popular Globetrotter Program based at Compass Gharaffa and open Anglia Education Asian Games to be held in Hong Kong in March to all Dutch native speakers from across Qatar. 2016. Qatari nationals and some other native Arabic speakers study Arabic following a Supreme Education Council of Qatar syllabus. Moodle Moodle is our Virtual Learning Environment that exists to support our children beyond the classroom. Students from Year 3 can use Moodle to find homework tasks, challenges and pre learning for new topics and themes. The site also allows students to access presentations, videos, classroom activities, quizzes and online resources to support their learning. Parents and students will be given a log in at the start of the year. Moodle can be accessed at https://learning. doharayyangharaffa.nordanglia.com/login/index.php

Global Campus Our Global Campus will give your child access to explore the world through our safe, online, in school and international experiences. They will have the opportunity to learn through collaborating and studying alongside students from 42 schools in Music 15 countries on a daily basis. All children will have the opportunity to take part in musical They will be able to take part in activities as part of their IPC themes. In addition children following competitions and challenges and to the International Curriculum stream have specialist music tuition. share ideas with friends across the All children can choose to take up a musical instrument and have world. peripatetic music lessons in school time. Contact the school office You can find out more about our Global for more information. There are numerous after school musical Campus online at www.cisdoha.com activities, termly concerts and an annual school production. The and by watching this video clip at children will attend concerts and will have musicians visit them in https://youtu.be/5s88TINwEk8 school too.

Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 11 All You Need to Know

12 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook If your child forgets their lunch please don’t worry, just have it Drop off Arrangements delivered to main reception and our admin team will make sure it Please use either the rear entrance or the main front gate of the gets to your child in time for lunch. school. It is essential that a clean, refillable water bottle is in school with Please help us to keep your child safe by following the your child every day. We have lots of cold water dispensers around instructions of our security staff who do a wonderful job school so they can refill their bottle whenever they need to. organising the parking at the start and end of the day. During outdoor breaks it’s important to wear a cap.

Primary School Day Finishing Times 6.45am Drop off for all age groups may begin from this School finishes at 1.20pm for Early Years and 1.30pm for Years 1 to time. All children will be supervised by the 6. It is very important that your child is collected on time. Children duty staff. should only be in school after 1.30pm if they are attending an ECA Year 1 to 6 children to be dropped off in the and then they need to be collected on time at 2.30pm Children playground or Sports Hall, depending upon cannot stay in school while their sibling is attending an ECA. weather. At 7.15am, the children are to line-up and Arrangements must be made for all children to be collected at the will be escorted to their classroom by their class correct time please. teacher. Early Years children to be dropped off in their End of Day classroom. Parents must stay with their child until All primary teachers will escort their class out of the classroom 7.15am. at the end of the day and stand in allocated areas. Sometimes 7.15am All children must be in class your child might finish the day with a specialist lesson; when this happens the specialist will bring your child out to you. You should 7.20am Registration collect your child from the responsible adult. No children will be 7.30am Registration closes (if children are late they need to allowed to leave on their own or with an older sibling. If someone sign in at the main reception desk) different from usual is collecting your child please let the office know as we won’t allow children to leave school with another 7.30am Lessons begin parent unless we have been informed of this arrangement. 9 - 9.30am Mid-morning break for Year 1 and 2 9.30-10am Mid-morning break for Year 3 and 6 Extra-curricular Activities (ECAs) Lessons Our on-site ECA clubs run from 1.30pm until 2.30pm 11.30am Lunch Break for Year 1 to 6 A letter and request form will be sent home during the first week of 12 noon Lessons each new full term and ECAs will run for a set number of weeks. The request form needs to be completed and returned to the school End of Early Years school day. Please collect your 1.20pm secretary. Places are offered on a first come first served basis and child direct from classroom we will operate a wait list for popular clubs. We cannot guarantee 1.30pm End of school day for Year 1 to 6, who will be your child a place on a particular ECA. However, we will try to ensure escorted outside to meet their parents that everyone gets the opportunity to experience every activity they wish to, at some point in the school year. 1.30pm Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) start Most of our clubs are free of charge but where a specialist coach 1.45pm Regular buses depart from the back school or teacher is employed for activities such as fencing, golf, judo, entrance taekwondo or musical instrument tuition an appropriate charge will 2.30pm ECAs end be made.

Break – Snack and lunch We have two breaks per day. They are supervised by our teaching and support staff. Please encourage your child to bring a healthy snack to school. We operate a strict NO NUT policy. Please don’t pack any glass containers or bottles as these could break and cause injury. Please ensure that your child’s lunch box is kept cool with an ice pack and that the box is clearly labelled with their name.

Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 13 Uniform Uniforms are available for purchase from Uniform Mart in Gharaffa. Email: [email protected] Tel: +974 (4) 4469 1459 or 4411 5925 All of our students are expected to wear the official school uniform. They help our students identify closely with the pride of being part

Opening hours: of Compass International School. Normally open Saturday to Thursday 10:00am to 7:00pm, but please call to check before visiting.

Uniform Mart Location Map

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Al Duhail St Duhail Al Al Markhiya St Markhiya Al

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EDZAN LAND MARK MALL DOHA EXPRESS MALL School Uniform • Yellow polo shirts (with school logo) • Navy blue trousers/shorts/skirts • Plain black closed sandals or shoes Trainers are not allowed to be worn to school, unless as part of the PE uniform

Physical Education Uniform • Compass polo shirt (dry fit) • Navy blue Compass shorts (dry fit) • Navy blue tracksuit bottoms for winter months • PE plimsolls/trainers Girls – One piece navy blue swimming suit, swimming cap, flip- flops or similar Boys – Navy blue swimming shorts/trunks, swimming cap, flip- flops or similar Note: Due to the rebranding of our school to Nord Anglia, it is our intention to change the school polo shirts and P.E kit to the Nord Anglia teal (turquoise) colour during the 2016/17 school year. Pupils will still be able to wear their current uniform for a 12 month transitional period.

Changing for Swimming and PE Pupils may wear their PE kit all day when they have PE lessons. Pupils may come to school with their swimming costume underneath their uniform if they wish, when they have morning swimming lessons. Changing rooms are located next to the swimming pool. On swimming days please provide your child with a long t-shirt cover-up to preserve modesty when walking between the changing room and the pool.

Accessories Available to Purchase at Uniform Mart • School cap • School Book Bag • Back packs which are suitable for school bags • Sport kit bag

Personal Appearance Simple stud earrings in the lobes of students’ ears may be worn. Pupils may wear a watch but necklaces and bracelets are not allowed for health and safety reasons. Helpful Hint Long hair must be tied back during P.E. lessons. Make sure all of your child’s uniform and Other equipment is clearly labelled with their name. This keeps lost items to a minimum and saves Trolley type bags are considered a health and safety hazard and confusion... not permitted for use within school. Mobile phones and other electronic devices are not appropriate for use during the school day.

Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 15 School Policy

Absences Please contact the school office on 4034 9666 as soon as you can if • Report to the school reception when you come to collect your your child is unexpectedly absent from school due to illness or other child and sign the necessary form, which will then be taken to the unplanned events. If your child is absent due to illness, please send class teacher for signature. a note or medical certificate once they return to school. • The signed form should be handed in to the security office at the Absences should be explained so that the correct follow up main gates on departure procedures can take place. Good attendance and time keeping is part of high achievement. If your child is absent for a planned event, please write in advance to Behaviour the Head of Campus, Margaret Pilkington, so that she is aware and Good behaviour and discipline are key foundations for good can follow the necessary procedures. We do not encourage you to education. Without a happy and orderly atmosphere effective take your child out of school during term-time. teaching and learning cannot take place. We expect the highest standards of behaviour throughout our school. Courtesy, good manners and consideration for others, together with Punctuality self-discipline and a proper respect for authority, are encouraged Children are expected and required to arrive on time for at all times and are important if we are to make our school a true, registration and lessons and we ask that you ensure they arrive caring community. We place great emphasis on praising children and are collected in good time. If your child arrives at school after for politeness and kindness to others. We find that our children are registration they will be required to go to the school reception desk naturally well behaved with praise, kindness and encouragement. before class to sign the ‘Late Book’. Parents are expected to do this As part of our class dojo system pupils who show exceptional or for the younger pupils. improved behaviour are rewarded with dojo house points. We respect every child and treat them with such and in return expect the same. Any serious behavioural concerns will always be Leaving Early for Medical or Other discussed with parents. Appointments All children are expected to make a full contribution to the school If your child is required to leave school early for essential and support the positive endeavours of all its members. Rules are appointments, we would ask that you follow the procedures essential for the benefit of all in any community and we try to keep outlined below: these as simple as possible. Please visit our website to view our full behavioural policy. • Please inform the class teacher in advance by letter or email.

16 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook Behaviour Expectations All of our children are encouraged to follow our SMART behaviour expectations.

Sensitive We are kind, gentle and helpful to others. We don’t hurt people or their feelings.

Motivated We will work hard and always try our very best. We don’t waste time or give up.

Attentive We are good listeners who concentrate hard. We always listen and never interupt.

Responsible We are careful with property and nature. We don’t damage or waste things.

Truthful We are always honest.

Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 17 Communicating with our School Community

18 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook Reports and Parent Teacher the ‘Essential Parent Information’ section in the top right hand corner of our website. Our website can be found at http://www. Consultations nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/doha/rayyan-gharaffa/ Parent meetings are held termly throughout the year. We also gharaffa-campus and we would encourage you to visit it regularly. provide two interim and one full end of year written report. Social Media Regular Class Emails Please like and follow us on our Social Media pages: We are aspiring to reduce the amount of paper we use in schools Facebook: Compass International School Gharaffa and Rayyan and so we will not be issuing communications books this year. Twitter: @CISDOHA Instead, we would like to use email as the preferred method of communication. Your child’s class teacher will be in touch regularly You will find all our latest photo albums, news, videos, events and via email. Whole-school communication will be sent by the school happenings secretary using out iSAMS (school database) email system. School Calendar Notice Boards We produce a termly school calendar of important dates including The school notice boards at Compass Gharaffa is situated outside activities and events, class assemblies and much more. The the main front gate. Important notices and photographs of class calendar will be emailed to you and will also appear on the school ‘Star of the Month’, will be placed on the board. Please check website under the ‘Essential Parent Information’ section. regularly. Annual School Year Book Newsletters In June we produce our annual School Year Book ‘Our Story’, this is We will be sending out two types of newsletter this year. The Head a wonderful colour A4 magazine-style publication that chronicles of Campus, Margaret Pilkington will be writing to you each week the full year of our schools news, events and activities. with a brief newsletter entitled Headlines. This will be a short catch It includes samples of outstanding work, details and photographs of up of the week and an opportunity to alert you to forthcoming our trips, artwork displays, IPC topics and lots more. events. In addition, we will be producing a monthly retrospective newsletter called ‘Gharaffa Buzz’ which will provide details of all of the exciting learning and events that have been happening at Compass Gharaffa. This newsletter will include whole school news, information on events, important reminders as well as highlighting our whole school or individual achievements. If your child has a particular success out of school, maybe in sport or music, it would be lovely to hear from you and to include their success in our monthly newsletter. We will also be recognizing our stars of the week here too.

Parent Workshops We will be running a series of parent workshops on a range of topics including such things as Helping your child with Reading, Healthy Eating and Nutrition, Encouraging good behaviour, How we teach Maths and English at Compass Gharaffa and Successful Parenting.

Website Our website provides parents with regular news blogs, calendars, photographs and important dates. Please access

Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 19 School Events We hold many school events throughout the year, which quite used for marketing purposes. If you do NOT wish your child to be often require your children to dress- up in costume and bring in photographed please inform the Marketing and Admissions Manager food contributions. The events are enormous fun and bring the in the school Admissions office. whole school community together to learn and share. Please try to become involved and share your child’s enthusiasm. Events include International Day, Qatar National Day, Book Week and of course our Student Council annual Sports Day. We run a successful Student Council with class representatives We also produce one main school drama production throughout the chosen by their peers to represent class interests. It is a way for our year as well as offer many opportunities for your child to perform children to be heard and to take action in our school. It introduces and showcase their talent through talent contests, assembles and our students to the formal meeting process and encourages them to the like. develop responsibility and initiative.

School Trips House Teams Every class enjoys school trips throughout the year. On joining Compass, all children in school are allocated a house; North (red), South (blue), East (green) or West (yellow). Families All trips will be communicated well in advance to allow parents to are usually placed in the same house. During the year, the children plan for the year. These trips are eagerly anticipated and always attend house meetings, participate in house competitions and work enjoyed! Our Year 5 and 6 pupils attend residential trips. on a variety of foci to gain house points. Every week, the house totals are called out in assembly. School Photographs for Marketing Purposes Dojo Points The school takes photographs for use in classroom displays, All teachers are linked to the class Dojo app and can allocate promotional material, the school website and social media sites. house points to reinforce good behavour, excellent work, effort and All photographs are taken with respect and in line with cultural progress. Sports Day is a hard fought competition with the winning sensitivities. house boosting their dojo points considerably. Parents can access the class dojo system to view their own child’s dojo points Over In your school agreement form (contract) you will have been given the next few months we intend to increase our use of the class dojo the opportunity to opt out of having your child’s photograph

20 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook system and introduce the ‘Class Story’, this will allow parents to Lost Property view photos of their children’s class activities. These are awarded throughout the year for outstanding presentation of work and If a pupil finds something that someone has lost please hand it homework, making a positive contribution in lessons, exceptional into the school reception. If a pupil has lost something they should effort and showing leadership skills, achieving individual target inform their class teacher and check with reception. Items that grades, good behaviour and manners and being a good friend. have the owners name clearly labelled are easy to return. Please make sure you label all belongings. Assemblies Change of Contact Details Assemblies are a big part of our school life and are linked to class topics, events or activities. Throughout the year each class takes Please notify the school immediately of any changes to your a turn to organise and present an assembly to which parents are address, telephone number or email. It is essential that we have warmly invited. Our assemblies are also a means of celebrating updated emergency contacts for your child. As our main direct special cultural events. communication with you is via email, please ensure that you inform the school office of your preferred email contact details for all school communication. Parent Involvement We run a ‘Friends of Compass School Gharaffa’ (FCS) social Invoicing and Tuition Fees committee. The parent community is very strong at our schools and we would encourage you to become involved either as an FCS Any fee-related queries should be addressed directly to the Finance member, a class representative, a volunteer to help with listening Department. Amanda Lobo, Accounts Assistant deals with all to reading or joining us for school trips. It is very much a two- matters relating to school fees and can be contacted by email at way partnership at Compass and we welcome your suggestions, [email protected]. thoughts and help! Our Finance office is located at our Madinat Khalifa campus and can be contacted by calling the main school office at Madinat Khalifa on 4034 9888.

Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 21 Transferring or Withdrawing Health and Safety As soon as you are aware that you will be leaving Qatar and Our schools have ‘Nurses Rooms’ with full-time qualified nurses on Compass International School, please contact our Admissions hand, should your child require medical assistance. office. You are required to complete a withdrawal form, so that we The school nurses visit classes throughout the year to speak about can make the necessary arrangements and inform the Supreme health issues and we invite local nursing students to come in to run Education Council in Qatar. Contractual obligations will be overseen health day activities and promotions. by our Finance office. You will receive a Health Form as part of the admissions process. Children who wish to transfer to one of our other campuses are Please ensure that this is completed and returned to the school required to submit a Transfer Request form, available from our office before the start of the school year. Please also ensure that we Admissions Office. Please note whilst we will try to accommodate have a copy of your child’s health and vaccination records. your request, it may not always be possible due to available places and different admissions criteria in our sister schools. If your child visits the nurse during the school day and receives treatment, you will receive a call from the nurse to inform you. Your Please be advised that at the end of Year 6 transfer to secondary child’s visit and treatment will be recorded on our health and safety school at Madinat Khalifa is not guaranteed. Pupils will be required system. to meet certain academic levels in order for them to successfully access the senior curriculum. Whilst almost all of our students For students who are too unwell to stay at school, you will receive a will successfully meet these academic standards, those requiring phone call from either the nurse or the school secretary. Your child specialist support may not be suited to the high standards required will remain in bed in the nurses’ office until you are able to collect by Madinat Khalifa Secondary School. them. If for any reason your child meets with a medical emergency that requires treatment that the school nurse cannot provide, you will be contacted immediately and informed which hospital your child has been taken to. The school’s hospital link is Hamad Hospital. Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell.

22 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook Contact Details

Gharaffa Campus Secretary Helen Stevenson Telephone ...... 4034 9600 Email ...... [email protected]

Gharaffa Campus School Nurse Amy Lim Telephone ...... 4034 4617 Email ...... [email protected]

Gharaffa Campus Admissions Officer Arshia Anwar Telephone ...... 4034 9601 Email ...... [email protected]

Gharaffa Campus Admissions and Marketing Manager Kathryn McCulloch Telephone ...... 4034 9602 Email ...... [email protected]

Finance Assistant – Billing Amanda Lobo Telephone ...... 4034 9852 Email ...... [email protected]

Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook 23 Key Dates For School Year 2015 – 2016

Sunday 6 September 2015 Welcome Day All Students

Monday 7 September 2015 First Day of Academic Year

Wednesday 23 – Thursday 24 September 2015 (TBC*) Eid Al Adha

Sunday 25 – Thursday 29 October 2015 Half Term Break – School Closed

Thursday 17 December 2015 Last Day of Term

Friday 18 December 2015 – Saturday 2 January 2016 Winter Break – School Closed

Sunday 3 January 2016 Spring Term Begins

Sunday 31 January – Thursday 4 February 2016 Half Term Break – School Closed

Thursday 24 March 2016 Last Day of Term

Friday 25 March – Saturday 9 April 2016 Spring Break – School Closed

Sunday 10 April 2016 Summer Term Begins

Sunday 29 – Monday 30 May 2016 Half Term Break – School Closed

Thursday 30 June 2016 Last Day of Academic Year

24 Gharaffa Campus Parent Handbook