First Day of School

on Sunday Max and Simon attended their first day at Qatar Academy.  This is the front door of the Senior School (we would call it the High School).  It is for Grades 6 through 12.  Tim's office is also in here.  The Senior School has 700 students and the Primary School (Grades K through 5) has 600 students. 

Qatar Academy is a private, chartered, non-profit school founded by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Emir of Qatar) and funded by the Qatar Foundation under the direction of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah.  Several children of the Royal Family have attended Qatar Academy. 

Max and Simon take the bus to school (a six minute ride).  Tim is also riding on the bus until we get a vehicle of our own.  The bus picks up at 6:30 a.m. and classes begin at 7:10.  The boys have five 65 minute classes each day.  They are taking Math, Technology, Art, Drama, English, French, Phys Ed, Cultural Studies, Humanities, Personal and Social Education, Science, Music.   The school day ends at 2:20 pm.

Simon's first-day-of-school-story is that he has a difficult time understanding his Math teacher from Australia -- his accent is strong! 

an empty hallway in the Senior School

Max's first-day-of-school-story is that he keeps getting lost -- the halls all look so similar that he forgets where he is and where he is going!

Her Highness requested that new uniforms be introduced this year.  Students at Virginia Commonwealth University (next door) designed the uniform but the manufacturer did not have them ready for the start of the school year.  The new school uniforms have maroon pants (like the colour on Qatar's flag), white shirts, and will arrive on Sept 15.  Until then, the students have Non-Uniform Days.  Many female students wear the abaya (black garment) and many male students wear the thobe (white garment) like you see here as the students gather for First Day Assembly.