american academy

You are smart to follow your instincts. I never doubt my "mother's intuition".

thank you guys for all your comments i really, really appreciate it keep them coming! i decided to back out of american academy tomorrow my husband and i will check out other schools.

tweetybird, nice insights

diamond, i believe that too

Eldertree in Al Markhiya takes 4 yr olds. They have KG1, KG2 and Reception. It looks like a pretty decent place. I'm sending my 4 yr old there while she sits on the waiting lists at other "big" schools.

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Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Also, keep in mind that just because a school chooses to use the word American in their name does not mean that they have received accreditation through the US education system. The American School of Doha's curriculum is fully accredited. I would say the American Academy is not. You can always ask at the US Embassy as I believe they have interaction with any officialy accredited American school in the country.

There is a difference between performing due diligence before leaving your child in the care of strangers versus simply being a nervous mother leaving her child at school for the first time.

I don't care if a kid is 4 or 14, they are still children and as parents we have an obligation to ensure that who ever we entrust their care to (whether it is a teacher, nanny or driver) are competent not to mention not abusive. I would investigate (and have done so) to the best of my ability any institution or personal care giver before relinguishing my children to their care. If there was even a hint of a problem, I would not leave them there.

american academy ...

come down on the airport road ... pass family food centre. Pass small traffic light ... the next traffic light turn right (used to be parachute roundabout). You will see Al Hitmi compound on the left. Just before reaching the next big roundabout towards the mall, you will see American Academy on your right hand side.

I believe the road is call E ring road.

Thanks, but they are obvioulsy working on using the rep of the American school, cos thats automatically what I thought, until I started to read the comments.....

I've no idea noakal, I've searched it on QL, don't think many people have heard of it, which doesn't bode well for a school...it looks dreadful and its not American either..........

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Where is that? Is that the American school? I have never heard of it, so wud love some mroe details so as to avoid it!!

lol!

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No, leave them at the school gates, bag in hand and run!!

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

I am of a different opinion. I think that it is important to tell your child you are going now and will be back at such-and-such a time. I think that if your child realises you are not there with no explanation then that will cause them think they have been abandoned.

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Children under the age of 16 should be in bed by 7pm!

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

In my experience (including 5 years in a playgroup in the UK) there are some mothers who appear to like it when their children cry on separation. It makes the mother feel needed. Such a mother will bring her child to his new school, watch him settle into an activity and then when he's playing happily she will go over and give him a kiss and tell him she's leaving now and she'll collect him later. The child will then cling to her and cry. Don't be this mother. When your son is happily playing, just quietly leave. If he won't settle, let a member of staff take him. Don't drag it out, just go. Children can be very manipulative, they'll put on a performance to make mum feel bad but it's rare for the crying to last very long. The longer you hang around, the worse it will be for both of you.

I also know from experience that this can be difficult advice to take but surely it's better to be able to tell yourself that you've brought up a confident well-balanced child who can cope without you at school than to worry that your child is having a miserable time because you've made him too dependent on his mother.

And don't take him out with you to the mall at night, he needs 12 hours sleep if he's going to learn well at school.

i think you are the one who is attached to your son.. why worry?? let him explore and try to explore yourself also..

Yeah, I think DESS is good.....search the site, theres loads and loads of stuff on schools..

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

I absolutely hate WAITING LISTS! originally we were trying Doha english speaking school i guess it shows that it is absolutely good school huh?

mmmm yep, I think so...my daughter is on the list to start next year when she's 3!

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

supernurse, they have preschool? how about busybees any comments on that one? because i enrolled him also there for the summer you know to prepare him for the big school.

you bet I treat my patients that way...and they love it!!

Yeah, try Doha College boggled

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

hmmmm.....yeah you're right it says in their receipt " no refund for tuitions" sh*****t!!!! anyway, can anybody here tell me where i can enroll my son in a good english school?

i am glad u r not a teacher

But then do u treat ur patients that way? - LOL!

Just kidding

OMG.....the place sounds awful...Thank God my daughters not going there....why is it called American academy?

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Maybe it would be better off if it was.. but No... it is run by a couple of greedy palestinians.... This couple is the first greedy, stupid palestinians that i ever met. I don't even this the wife was educated.. all she does is scream and shout like a woman from the streets...

Never say Never for fear of Forever!!

sheeeeeeesh do they allow cancellation and refunds? i think i changed my mind.....

Is the school run by South Africans then??Yikess, if it is that explains it all!!

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

When i was there she was teaching KG1.. but so much has changed since i was there.... speak to the receptionist.. also South African.. also a very nice lady.. and ask her.. tell her your concerns and what people have been saying... remember,.. teachers go back to school one week before students.. so visit if you have the chance!!! and see if you can meet the teacher!!

Never say Never for fear of Forever!!

ok, thanks i'll look out for her my son is in KG2 is there any chance you know what level she's teaching?

Unfortunately NO... all the school is one.. as I said.. the one or two that you may call teachers are luckily working in the pre school department. One of them is South African.. she is the best!!!

I really hope your son gets her.. she has a great heart.. and very calm with the children...

Hope that helps

Never say Never for fear of Forever!!

you are talking about their elementary department right? their preschool is separate can you tell me something about that? maybe their preschool is much more professional

I am ashamed to say that I used to work in that school, and i left because of the lack of professionalism there... they are so cruel in that school.. and you may find maybe one or two teachers who you could actually call teachers there... it all a sham... That school is all about Money, Money and more Money!!

Never say Never for fear of Forever!!

koko37, somehow it seems like someone is exagerating the truth here....3 hours? I don't believe it!

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

No i don't have children there... and what curelty is that to have 13yr olds to stand for 3 hours... if you were in the UK or States.. you could sue them for such punishment...

No child.. no matter how naughty.. deserves treatment like that... seriously.. what is this kind of punishment really going to teach them...

Punish children by getting them to work.. that is what they need... and no child is that naughty to get punishment like this...

Never say Never for fear of Forever!!

thats just cruel lol ;)

Boggled, please dont worry, my child was in England and yes just left her. She was no problem, children adapt a lot easier than adults :)

yeah, 3 hours is nothing..if I was a teacher they'd spend the whole day standing with their hands in the air!!

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

i guess... and they are 13 year olds

Having said that, I don't see anything wrong with kids standing for 3 hours with their hands in the air......they were probably being naughty enough to warrant that!!

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

still panicking!!!!!!$#&^%^&*%$*&^%

Koko37, do you have children there?

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Koko37, jeez..nothing like putting peoples minds at rest eh?...

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! sh*****T!!!!

wahhhhh!

Unfortunately that school is not one of the best for caring. They treat their school like a supermarket and all you are to them is just a customer. My friend had her 2 daughters there and one of them, their class was being punished, had to stand for 3 hours with their hands in the air... what kind of punishment is that for 13 year olds? Their disiplinary teacher is a witch... and doesn't deserve to be working with children. In military school it isn't even as strict as this! Also, the owner, who has nothing to do with academics, screams at the children, at the teachers, during the morning assembly.. without caring as to who is listening. The ministry of Education should go over there and find out what is really going on. Don't think your child will be cared for more there, as most of the time they have too much to handle and inexperienced staff.

But i wish your child a good and healthy school time!!

Never say Never for fear of Forever!!

Just leave him, he'll get over it...be ruthless!!!

"It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."

- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

thanks raindrops!

dont let your own worries get in the way, all mothers and children will have to experience this separation anxiety, spend times telling him stories about how fun it would be, check with the school if he can bring his favorite toy or any comfort objects that he can hang on to it throughout the day. good luck to you and your child.

whew! glad to hear i am still normal i ended up crying when i was signing him up for the school, your kid did not have trouble with bullies? where did you enrolled your kid? you left your daughter in the school the very first day? as in drop her off and into the car?

it is difficult when your child has been with you to let them go, even if your child is tearful, I can guarantee that within minutes of you leaving he will be ok and it is good for your child to be mixing with others.

when my daughter started school she cried every morning for about a week when I left her, but after going home I phoned the school to check and she had settled down and was playing happily with the other children.

dont give up, you will probably be more upset than the child, it's normal :)