Raha International School
Khalif City Camp
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We send our children to Raha because nothing is ever ordinary Parent
Welcome to KCC Welcome to Raha International School, Khalifa City Campus (KCC)! We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to all prospective families considering our school for their child’s educational journey. At Khalifa City Campus, a member of the Taaleem family of schools, we are dedicated to nurturing each student’s unique potential and preparing them for a future of Knowledge, Courage, and Connection. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum school, we align our values with the IB mission statement, emphasising curiosity, critical thinking, compassion and global citizenship. With state-ofthe-art facilities and a comprehensive curriculum, we empower our students to explore, discover, and excel. Our world-class international education programme is designed to prepare students for success in an ever-changing world, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to become confident, caring and responsible young people. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond the classroom, with a rich offering of extracurricular activities, sports, arts, and community service opportunities. We believe in cultivating well-rounded individuals who are not only academically accomplished but also socially aware and emotionally resilient. Khalifa City Campus is more than a school; it’s a community that values diversity, fosters creativity, and encourages a spirit of inquiry. We invite you to join us on a journey of discovery and growth, where every student can reach their potential and exceed expectations. Discover the possibilities, ignite your passion for learning, and embark on a remarkable educational journey at Raha International School, Khalifa City Campus. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!
About Taaleem Taaleem was founded in 2004 in Dubai and is one of the largest education providers in the United Arab Emirates. Taaleem’s main activity is the development and management of early childhood, primary and secondary schools. Taaleem, which means ‘education’ in Arabic, is committed to inspiring students and helping them to identify and develop their passions and talents. Taaleem recruits the best international teachers who are capable of delivering our international curricula in a creative and engaging manner. Taaleem seeks to raise the educational standards in the region. The combined experience of its core team of senior education leaders in international education policy, operations and global management best practices means Taaleem is well positioned to ensure the creation of truly exceptional schools that satisfy the most comprehensive and exacting education developmental requirements.
Khalifa City Campus Opening the doors in September 2020, Khalifa City Campus has been built to satisfy the exceptionally high demand for places at Raha International School and the ever-increasing popularity of the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Just a short 7 minutes’ drive from the Gardens Campus and situated in the heart of Khalifa City, the state-of-the-art campus will eventually house Minis to Grade 12. It features a purpose-built Early Years Centre with emphasis on safe, innovative and integrated collaborative learning spaces, and outstanding indoor and outdoor sporting facilities.
Our Forever To open doors.
Our Mission Cultivate knowledge, courage and connection to unlock the unique potential in all.
Our Vision A community of global learners and leaders, exceeding expectations.
Nicola Neethling Principal, Khalifa City Campus
Beyond 2023
When will your journey with Raha begin?
2023
The first 3 year old class, KCC Minis, opens
2021
Phase 2 of Raha International School’s Khalifa City Campus opens and welcomes students EY1 through Grade 8.
2019
Raha is awarded ‘Best IB School’ in the UAE at the Top School Awards Construction for Raha International School’s Khalifa City Campus begins
2022
Raha International School announces it will open ‘Minis’, a new grade offering for 3 years olds, at the Khalifa City Campus
2020
Phase 1 of Raha International School’s Khalifa City Campus opens for students in EY1 through Grade 3
2018
Raha International School is awarded ADEK’s highest rating of ‘Outstanding’ for a second time Raha student is accepted to Stanford University
2016
Raha Principal Iain Colledge is awarded the Bett MEA Leadership Award - K12, awarded to “an individual or institution that is transforming education across the Middle East & Africa in the K-12 sector”
Raha student is accepted to Oxford University
2014
Raha Grade 5 students are invited to exhibit their artwork at the Manarat Al Saadiyat art museum Raha International School is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS)
2012
Raha alumna becomes the first Emirati from NYUAD to be awarded the Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship
2010
Raha International School is authorised to offer the Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme. Raha is now an IB Continuum school
2006
The first students start school at the newly opened campus
2015
Raha International School, Gardens Campus is the first K-12 school in Abu Dhabi to be awarded the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge’s (ADEK) highest rating of ‘Outstanding’ Two Raha MYP students’ short films are shown at the 2015 Children’s International Film Festival
2013
Raha student receives the Abu Dhabi Award for his public service campaign that screened students for scoliosis
2011
First students graduate from Raha International School
2009
Raha International School is authorised to offer the Diploma Programme
A History of Raha
Quick Facts
The IB Curriculum Why is the IB ideal for students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners? In our dynamic and nurturing Early Years children are given opportunities to construct and expand their knowledge and understanding through shared experiences, play and discovery in an organised, safe and stimulating environment.
The Primary Years Programme focuses on the development of the whole child by addressing social, physical, emotional, cultural and academic needs for learners. It is designed to build upon the natural curiosity of the child and to develop individuals who are both independent learners and international citizens.
The Middle Years Programme aims to help students develop their personal understanding, emerging sense of self and responsibility in their community. It provides a framework of learning which encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers.
The Diploma Programme is a two-year, academically challenging, rigorous and balanced programme that prepares students for success at university and life beyond. It has been designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of young adults. It also prepares students for effective participation in a rapidly evolving and increasingly global society.
Raha International School Khalifa City Campus is a Candidate School* for the Diploma Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that KCC believes is important for our students. *Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org
The Raha Community
The Raha community is diverse with staff, students and families joining from over 80 nations worldwide.
81
Student Nationalities
15
Teacher Nationalities
School Life Osrah Arabic for ‘family’, the aim of our ‘Osrah’ system is to provide our students with a sense of belonging, spirit and purpose at Raha International School. It encourages team motivation and ensures all our students aspire to become fully rounded young people, both inside and outside of school. Students will have a sense of ownership for their ‘Osrah’ through a range of sporting and cultural events and competitions.
Language Support At Raha we offer an ‘English as an Additional Language’ (EAL) support programme. The purpose of this programme is to assist students whose first language is not English. The EAL students’ progress is monitored, and they can enter and exit the programme as needed. Flexible support options are available depending on the needs of each student.
Inclusion The inclusion programme is offered to students who have learning difficulties. Our dedicated team of specialists support children with personalised intervention and support delivered through either in-class support, individual or small group teaching.
Extra-Curricular Programme Raha has always placed a huge emphasis on its Extra-curricular Programme (ECP). It is often said that shared activities outside regular scheduled school hours create the strongest memories, and with this in mind the activities offered by the school are many and varied. A sample of activities on offer include: Creative Writing, Choir, Robotics, Yoga, Golf, Arabic Calligraphy, Mad Science, and much more.
Our Extra-curricular Programme activities run term-to-term.
Competitive Sports Programme Raha’s competitive sports programme is run separately to the extra-curricular programme. Competitive sports team tryouts take place at the start of each term. Students on a sports team will train at least once per week either before or after school and will also attend a fixture once per week. Raha International School is a very active member of the Abu Dhabi International School Sports Association (ADISSA) through which our tournaments and competitions are organized.
Special Events
Raha and the Parent Team host several events throughout the Academic Year to celebrate our community, including: International Day, National Day, the Holiday Bazaar, Movie Night and much more.
Facilities Raha International School is spread across two campuses, Gardens Campus and Khalifa City Campus, both situated in the bustling suburb of Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi. Our campuses feature world-class facilities to help us provide an exceptional learning experience for our students and their families.
Black Box Theatre
Art Studios
Chemistry, Physics and Biology Labs
Early Years Centre
Well-Equipped Gymnasiums
Digital Design Hub
Swimming Pools and Beginners’ Pools
Performance Gym
Wellbeing Spaces
Dining Hall and Deli
Music Studios and Practice Rooms
Numerous Play Spaces
Libraries
Cobra Café for Parents and Visitors
Product Design Studios
School Information School Timings Monday to Thursday: Minis & EY1: 7:45am to 1:00pm EY2: 7:45am to 2:00pm G1-12: 7:45am to 3:00pm Friday: Minis-G12:
7:45am to 12:00pm
Crèche Facility / After School Care Raha does not offer a crèche facility. For health and safety reasons, all students must be collected promptly after school or after ECPs as there is no after-school supervision.
Fees & Finance School fees are subject to change and are published only once the school receives approval from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education & Knowledge (ADEK). Current fees can be found on our website at ris.ae/admissions/tuition-fees. Fees are payable in three instalments due one month prior to the start of term. Other Charges Uniforms and PE kits are compulsory and must be purchased from Zak’s and Magrudy’s. Books & Stationery are supplied by the school. Charges may apply for lost textbooks/library books. Diploma textbooks for Grade 11 and 12 should be purchased for each course from external providers. Bus transportation is optional and outsourced to an external provider. The charges of this service may vary from year to year. Field trips and excursion activities are optional and may involve charges from external providers. Extra-curricular activities (after school) are optional and offered directly by Raha as ExtraCurricular Programmes (ECPs). These are free of charge, unless otherwise specified. External providers offer a range of sports and other activities at an additional cost in the late afternoon, in the evening and on weekends. Special Educational Needs Support: If additional support is required then parents will be contacted and the next steps will be outlined, discussed and additional charges may then apply in accordance with ADEK regulations.
General Information Devices At Raha, we use technology as one of our tools to enhance learning. These devices are used to support independent inquiry, delve deeper into understanding concepts and skills and to show their knowledge and understanding. Students joining Grades 1 to 12 will need to bring their own device to and from school each day. As we are an Apple school, we strongly recommend Apple devices as it helps with compatibility of the digital resources used by the teachers. In Primary (Grade 1-Grade 5) this means an iPad. Students in Grades 3-5 may also choose a keyboard case to assist with typing and a stylus to help with digital creativity. Students in Grade 5 may choose to transition to a Macbook in preparation for MYP. In Secondary we recommend the Macbook Air or Pro, and in Visual Art to create digital artwork, we recommend an iPad with an Apple pencil.
Transportation Raha International School and Taaleem have contracted Emirates Transport, an established bus transportation company. Emirates Transport is responsible for the entire transport operations such as new registrations, re-registrations, transport fee collections, route planning and customer services. While every effort will be made to accommodate all requests, the decision of whether the student is being allocated a seat rests with Emirates Transport. This is dependent on seat availability, and the student’s residency and established bus route. Note that some areas of Abu Dhabi are not serviced. Please contact kcctransportation@ris.ae to enquire about bus routes.
Arabic, Islamic, Social Studies, and Moral Education • •
• •
Islamic Education is a compulsory subject from Grade 1 to the end of the Secondary stage for all Muslim students and is an optional subject for non-Muslim students. The Arabic Language subject is a compulsory subject from Grade 1 to the end of the Secondary stage for all native Arabic speakers. The Arabic Language subject is compulsory for all students from Grade 1 to Grade 10 for non-native speakers and optional thereafter. The Arabic Language subject must be taken in Grades 11 and 12 in order to meet the equivalency requirements of the UAE’s general secondary education certificate (Al Thanawiya). Social Studies is a compulsory subject from Grade 1 to Grade 9 for all students. Moral Education is a compulsory subject from Grade 1 to Grade 12 for all students.
Teaching hours can be found on our website at ris.ae/about-raha/frequently-asked-questions
Join our Family The KCC Community prides itself on its unity in diversity. We represent a diversity of nationalities, cultures, languages, interests, learning styles and strengths. We also have many things in common that bring us together. KCC students are naturally curious, think deeply, take risks and reflect on their learning. They go beyond just academic excellence and take thoughtful action, locally and globally. KCC students have a passion for lifelong, inquiry-based learning.
How to Apply If you think Raha would be a good fit for your family, we advise that you begin the application process early. Applications to both our campuses are made centrally. Applications at Raha International School open 12 months before the start of the next academic year in September and do not carry over from previous years. Every year is a fresh start for applications. The earlier you apply, the better. It’s free and it won’t take long! Availability will be dependent on the timing and number of children leaving the school. Step 1: Submit an application online at www.ris.ae Step 2: If places are available, you will receive an invitation to submit further documentation and/or schedule an assessment Learn more about the full admissions procedure and document requirements on our website at www.ris.ae
Grade Equivalency Make sure you apply for the right grade. It can be confusing with changing between curricula or when schools have different academic calendars.
Condition of placement
Age Guide
Raha
UK
USA/Euro
3 years old on or before 31 August
3+
KCC Minis*
FS1
Pre-K
4 years old on or before 31 August
4+
EY1
FS2
KG1
5 years old on or before 31 August
5+
EY2
Year 1
KG2
6 years old on or before 31 August
6+
Grade 1
Year 2
Grade 1
Valid transfer certificate
7+
Grade 2
Year 3
Grade 2
Valid transfer certificate
8+
Grade 3
Year 4
Grade 3
Valid transfer certificate
9+
Grade 4
Year 5
Grade 4
Valid transfer certificate
10+
Grade 5
Year 6
Grade 5
Valid transfer certificate
11+
Grade 6
Year 7
Grade 6
Valid transfer certificate
12+
Grade 7
Year 8
Grade 7
Valid transfer certificate
13+
Grade 8
Year 9
Grade 8
Valid transfer certificate
14+
Grade 9
Year 10
Grade 9
Valid transfer certificate
15+
Grade 10
Year 11
Grade 10
Valid transfer certificate (opening 24/25)
16+
Grade 11
Year 12
Grade 11
Valid transfer certificate (opening 25/26)
17+
Grade 12
Year 13
Grade 12
*Note: KCC Minis is only offered at the Khalifa City Campus
Contact Us We invite you to apply to join us at Raha International School by visiting our website.
www.ris.ae Tour booking can be made on our website. Fees are available on our website.
Admissions KCC: +971 (0)2 550 5271
kccadmissionsadmin@ris.ae
Khalifa City Campus Cnr Al Mutafani & Al Tashreef St, Khalifa City Abu Dhabi, UAE
As a parent at Raha for many years, I have always loved the caring and supportive culture at Raha Parent