ACS Doha Middle and High School students have been engaging with the community of Doha in support of Enrichment Week, an initiative launched by the school to provide students with an opportunity to give back to the community.
“It’s important for us at ACS Doha to have our students involved in the community. To create awareness about what is available to them, how they fit in and what they can do to help; it is essential that they step out and take an active part in their surroundings and to engage. We encourage our students to think about their community from their own perspective; enquiry is the root of who we are as people and we want to encourage them to think about what knowledge they want to acquire about their environments,” commented Diane Hren, Head of School, ACS Doha International School.
Each grade were given different topics and provided with different methods for researching their topics. Grade 6 students focused on ‘Getting to know their community’ — what resources are available, the benefits and how they can interact with them. They went on outings to the Desalination Plant to learn how Qatar provides water for its citizens and also the new Doha International Airport where they learnt how transportation and immigration work and why there is a need for a new airport. They also visited the Musheireb Centre where they learnt how Qatar evolved from a pearl diving community into a thriving economy and to the Science Park to gain an insight into scientific research taking place in Qatar.
Grade 7 and 8 students concentrated on team building and leadership. Local kayaking group, Entalek, teamed up with the school to take students out to Purple Island where they participated in leadership activities as well as environmentally conscious activities like a beach clean up.
Back at the school, drama specialist, Jane Williams, led a variety of interactive lessons where students were taught how to communicate and express themselves as well as engage in trust activities — essential to engendering a sense of team and unity.
Grades 9 and 10’s Enrichment Week focused on community service. 41 students went on a community service trip to Nepal to give back to those less fortunate as well as appreciate the schooling and resources they have access too, which not all children around the world receive. They also planted trees, cleared land, prepared meals and contributed to sustaining the environment.
For those who elected to remain in Doha, their activity included a visit to a senior citizens home where they recorded stories from elderly Qataris about their early memories of Qatar. Students from Grade 9 went to the dog shelters to help care for the animals as well as attend local hospitals where they spent quality time with some of the patients.
“They say history should be taught at the feet of our great grandparents. It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to be able to do that, to hear about their personal and historical stories and to share some time with those who would be otherwise lonely,” commented Middle and High School Principal, Dale Taylor.
The Peninsula
