Happy 8th Birthday Isabelle!

We love you.

Roman Day @ DESS

Isabelle has been learning about Romans and Celts, and today was the culmination of all the Year 3's efforts. They performed a stage show for parents, and it was brilliant!

Super Hero Day

Matilda is Catwoman! Or, rather, Kitten Girl. Cute!

Couldn't resist adding this one...

Thanks to Liliana for taking such lovely photos today.

Pool Party for Isabelle's 8th Birthday

It all starts with a relay race to fill up a couple of buckets. Brendan is judge.
Go go go!

The pool slide arrives and is an instant hit!

Woohoo!

OK, now for the donut-eating-with-no-hands competition.

It is not as easy as it looks...

So funny to watch. More relay races in the pool.

Nanna takes the prize for best bomby.

The cake. No blue jelly in Doha, so it is a lovely algae green...

Happy Birthday tooo yooooouuuu!

QPPSSA Athletics Competition

Isabelle with fellow Aussie Olivia.
Jump!

The Year 3 girls, Olivia, Isabelle, Sally & Rachel (l-r).

Go Team DESS!

GOLD!

√(-1) 2^3 ∑ π

Happy PI Day!

As a member of the Doha College Mathematics Department,

I did my bit and baked some pies to celebrate.

Yes, that's true. I am a nerd.

(The title of this post is "I ate some pie."

Email me if you want an explanation.)

IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics

Only in Doha can you get front row seats for next to nothing at world class events like this. We camped out at Aspire Dome all weekend and saw some awesome athelets battle it out.

Emma Green jumps for Sweden and gets a place in the final. Heja Sverige!

Man, these athletes are fit! 1500m semifinal.

Women's 3000m final.

The huge Ethiopean crowd goes wild! Drums, horns, cheering... it must have been so uplifting for the competitors.

Victory lap for Defar and teammate.

Jessica Ennis from GB takes gold in the women's penthalon.

Steve Hooker tries 6.01m in pole vaulting. Up he goes...

... woohoo! He did it! Gold for Australia. The girls get a chance to sing Advance Australia Fair.

QPSSA Cross Country Event

Mr Proudfoot takes the girls on a warm-up run at the Doha Golf Club. We've had thunder, lightning and even hail over the last two days, so everyone is relieved that today has turned out to be a super day for the kids.

That's an anxious smile before the race. Either that or the sun is in her eyes.

The teams gather at the start line. Isabelle is nervously placed at the front. She looks likes she's listening to Mr Proudfoot's instructions intently.

The DESS team has one last warm-up. Isabelle takes those size 36 feet for a jog.

Ready, set, GO! The girls from eight schools in Qatar start their race. Isabelle is on the extreme right in the background... smiling.

Isabelle powers up for the finish. Go Belle!

Very close friend Louise turns up to support Isabelle and give experienced athletics advice.
Thanks Lou!

A well-earned snack!

Well done Belle! We're very proud of you!