German International School Doha, Qatar

kindergarten, primary and secondary school

Exzellente Deutsche Auslandsschule (G)IB® im Diploma Programme® - DAS:Deutsche Auslandsschulen International - ZfA:Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen - KMK:Kultusministerkonferenz - Schulen:Partner der Zukunft - QNSA:Qatar National School Accreditation - WDA:Weltverband Deutscher Auslandsschulen

FAQ Primary school

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Process

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Welcome ceremony on 1st day of school (Einschulung)

A letter in German and English will be sent to the parents of the new 1st graders in August. If the first day welcome ceremony is to take place in person, it will take place separately; first Class 1a, then Class 1b.

This post is also available in: German

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What are “school cones” and what are they used for?

A school cone (also known as a sugar cone in some parts of Germany) is a bag, usually made of cardboard, that is traditionally given to schoolchildren when they start school. This custom has been practiced in Germany since the 19th century and has since spread to Austria. In our country, the school bags are made by the children and parents together at school shortly before the summer vacations. The bags are then filled at home by the parents with small gifts and useful items for school (e.g. pencil, eraser, apple, a sweet …) and presented to the child on the day of enrollment.

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Supplies

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Does my child need a fountain pen? Starting when?

Yes. The children write with a fountain pen starting in 2nd grade (around the 2nd semester).

This post is also available in: German

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What are so-called learn-to-write pens?

Learn-to-write pens can help your child with their first writing attempts and swing exercises. They come in different shapes and designs.

This post is also available in: German

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What is a loose-leaf binder?

There are folders in different colors for each subject. The color of each binder can be found on the elementary school’s materials list on the website (https://www.ds-doha.de/en/download/)

This post is also available in: German

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What is a mail folder?

Messages to parents go into a mail folder.
The mail folder is only used in 1st grade to send messages (in the form of a parent letter) to parents. From 2nd grade onwards, the elementary school students use white assignment booklet (sold at school) to write down important dates and details.

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When does the material need to be brought to school?

Parents have the option of buying the materials themselves in Germany or at the SNAGGIES shop at the school. There you will find the correct loose-leaf binders, fountain pens, white exercise book and the arithmetic exercise books and writing exercise books in the appropriate rulings, both in DIN A4 and DIN A5, according to availability.

This post is also available in: German

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Where can I get information about Snaggies?

The contact person for Snaggies is the current CAS teacher. You can also get information directly at the reception desk in the school or at office@ds-doha.de.
The opening hours of Snaggies are posted in the foyer.

This post is also available in: German

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Where can I get school supplies? What is Snaggies?

A large part of the school material can be bought in our school store Snaggies. It is open regularly. The opening hours are posted in the foyer. Snaggies is run by our GIB® students and the CAS teacher in charge. Info is also available at the reception desk in the school or at office@ds-doha.de. Further material can be purchased at the bookstores in Doha.

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Where can I get the homework booklet with Sunday as the starting day?

The white assignment booklet is available at the SNAGGIES shop in the school. It has the weekly division from Sunday to Thursday.

This post is also available in: German

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Which types of notebooks are available?

There are different writing rulings for each grade level in the elementary school. All the materials that students need for Grades 1 to 4 (notebooks, pens, binders…) are on the materials list and can be found on our school’s website under the download section (https://www.ds-doha.de/en/download/).

This post is also available in: German

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Books

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Are there lockers and can school materials be left at school?

When the lessons take place only in-person, there are lockers for the students. All textbooks and exercise books are then placed in these lockers and can remain in the school. When the school switches back to full-day classes, there is no homework in principle.
The subjects that are taught are: Mathematics, German, General Studies, Art, Qatar History, Arabic, Islam/Ethics, Physical Education, Music, English, as well as Natural Sciences, Learning how to Learn, Science Experiments, and open projects.

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Do the books need to be covered?

All textbooks should be protected with a cover.

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Should the students write their names in the books?

The student should write their name and the current school year in the inside cover, as well as the date the student received the book.

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What books do the children receive?

The school provides the students with all textbooks.

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Which books may be written in?

Books in 1st grade. Grade 1 German and Mathematics books and workbooks are one-time use and may be written on. They do not need to be returned at the end of the 1st grade year.

This post is also available in: German

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Which books must be returned?

All textbooks starting in 2nd grade are the property of the school and must be returned to the school at the end of the school year. They are to be treated with care (hence the protective cover and no writing allowed inside).
All workbooks in elementary school (in Mathematics and German) are one-time use and the students may write in them.

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Recess

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How often are there breaks?

There are breaks for the children several times a day. The current schedules and daily routines can be found in the download area under “School Organization”.
Link: https://www.ds-doha.de/en/download/

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Water?

Drinking is always allowed. There are water dispensers in the school, which are locked at the moment because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drinking bottles with water may and should even be sent with students to school.

This post is also available in: German

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What snacks is appropriate for breaks?

A healthy breakfast is always a good idea. Do not provide sweets like chocolate or popcorn, but also do not give hot food for breakfast, such as hamburgers or fries or pasta with tomato sauce.

> The healthy school snack

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Sports/Physical Education (P.E.)

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Do the students change clothes?

Yes, details are arranged by the P.E. teachers. Boys change in the boys’ locker room, girls in the girls’ locker room.

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What should be in the gym bag?

A gym bag is required and should contain sneakers, gym shirt, gym shorts and a towel.

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Homework

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How do I know what homework has been assigned?

The class teacher or the subject teacher will tell the students which assignments they will receive. Assignments are entered in the homework booklet, which should be consulted daily.

This post is also available in: German

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Where can I get the homework booklet with Sunday as the starting day?

The white assignment booklet is available at the SNAGGIES shop in the school. It has the weekly division from Sunday to Thursday.

This post is also available in: German

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Grades

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Are grades given in 1st grade?

In 1st grade, the children receive a report card. This report card contains a description of the skills that the children have learned in the individual subjects.

This post is also available in: German

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How often are there report cards?

There is a mid-year report card and an annual report card.

This post is also available in: German

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What does a 1st grade report card look like?

In 1st grade, the children receive a report card. This report card contains a description of the skills that the children have learned in the individual subjects.

This post is also available in: German

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When are grades given?

Grades are given from 2nd grade onwards in the annual report. After that, Mathematics and German are graded on the report card.

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Teachers

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Are there office hours?

Each teacher offers one office hour per week.

This post is also available in: German

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Do they have email addresses?

Yes, every teacher has a school e-mail address.

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Absenteeism

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What should I do if my child is sick?

If a child is ill and cannot attend school that day, parents should inform the school reception by calling or emailing Ms. Schlandt. Ms. Schlandt will then inform the appropriate teacher. Please provide a written excuse.

This post is also available in: German

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Where do I get information about the missed material

Usually, the classroom teacher will place the worksheets that the child must then complete in a drop box or give it to a child in the class who will then pass on the assignments to the sick child’s family. Otherwise, the parents can make other arrangements with the classroom teacher in this regard.

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Miscellaneous

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At what age can my child read or write?

This varies. As a rule, children should be able to read fluently by the end of 1st grade. The focus is then on cognitive reading from 2nd grade onwards.

This post is also available in: German

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What activities and events take place during the school year?

During the regular school year there are a variety of festivities, activities and events that are repeated and new every year. In addition to traditional German festivities, such as German spring festivities and German winter traditions, there are seasonally oriented and changing events and excursions, e.g.:

  • Newscomers’ Meeting at the beginning of the school year
  • German Lantern Parade
  • Spring and Winter Bazaar
  • Federal Youth Games (Bundesjugendspiele)
  • Project Week
  • Qatar National Day festivities
  • Festivities for German Unity Day
  • Theater and music events
  • Flea market
  • Lectures
  • Readings
  • Workshops with guests from Germany
  • Visits to museums in Doha
  • Art projects
  • Music projects (e.g. Jugend musiziert, spring and fall concert

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What can we do as a family to support the student?

Check what content was taught in class at school on a daily basis. Talk to your child. Parents should be “on the ball” and know what is happening at school.

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Which handwriting will my child learn?

At school, we learn the school output script (Schulausgangsschrift, SAS).

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