Inspiration
Integrity
Achievement
TKS Wins Gold!
TKS was thrilled to host the 2017 U19 Boys and Girls SAIKAC Basketball Championship this past weekend. 18 teams from around the Kingdom competed in 50 games over three days before the culminating ďŹ nals on Friday. The girls fought hard and captured second place silver after an exciting game against the American International School of Riyadh. The boys dominated the Dhahran High School team and captured Gold with a convincing ďŹ nal score of 69-53. Congratulations to all the team member, coaches, parents, and the many volunteers that help make this great event happen.
March 23, 2017
Parade of Nations and Picnic
Photos by Aliya AlUriachi, G10 Student
On March 2nd our whole Community turned out to celebrate the unique International character of KAUST. The largest Parade of Nations so far was launched by the Drum Corps . The long parade of happy people and ags made their way from Discovery Square to the Circle of 100 Nations at the Harbour ďŹ eld. Eighty volunteer Country Captains and their teams made magic happen. They opened up their hearts and their kitchens to show us the colors, cuisine and culture of their amazing countries. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, we had it all! The afternoon featured a passport trivia hunt inviting the young (and young of heart) to visit country tables and learn interesting facts. The evening featured cultural dances and music on the main stage, closing with a hugely popular Saudi Arabian band and singing troupe. Enormous thanks go to the Country Captains, support teams and every KAUST citizen that made this Community Life event a grand success.
From the Director With school closing for Spring Break, I’d like to wish all those who are travelling a safe journey. These breaks are vital for students to recharge and be ready for the last few months of the school year. It will be a very busy time for all with many culminating events taking place across the school. Annual School Calendar: The construction of school calendars can lead to many conversations as people share preferences. The 2017-18 calendar has been published already (please see the TKS Website http://tks.kaust.edu.sa/Calendar) and we have now started the process of building the 2018-19 academic calendar. Many considerations go into creating a school calendar e.g. · Required number of instructional days · IB programming and examinations · Children’s need for regular breaks (target: every 9 to 10 weeks) · Eid holidays and National Day · University Academic Calendar · Saudi-wide interschool sport leagues and tournaments We greatly appreciate parent input and have asked our PAC members to reach out to parents throughout the community before we finalize the calendar. You can see who your PAC members are on our TKS website and there is also an option to contact your PAC via the site. http://tks.kaust.edu.sa/Parents-Advisory-Council-PAC I would like to thank our PAC members for their support and for the time they devote to school matters and reflect your view as a diverse group of parents.
Leny
For TKS events visit the Calendar page on our new website. http://tks.kaust.edu.sa/
from Justin Somerville, KG Principal Dear Parents, Thank you to everyone for engaging in the student led conferences which took place earlier this week. One of our guiding statements refers to children being competent, capable individuals who take responsibility for their own http://issuu.com/thekaustschool/docs/kindergarten_guiding_statements?e=23587344/44777420 learning. Student led conferences provide a wonderful opportunity for children to share their learning journey with you. I am sure you will agree, they all did a fantastic job facilitating this opportunity to share the progress they have made. This month has been a busy one for the Kindergarten, with highlights including the International week, K1 and K2 assemblies, a visiting author and of course student led conferences just to name a few. As a school we appreciate your ongoing support and willingness to partner with us in the best interests of your child’s learning and development. We hope you have an enjoyable Spring Break with your family and friends.
Visiting Author brings stories to life The students of TKS were treated to the tales and talents of author and storyteller Cat Weatherill during the week of March 12-16. Cat’s presentations incorporated songs, chants, sound effects, puppets, and interactive participation to bring stories to life. Some stories came from her books such as Jack’s Diamond or By Lantern Light. Others were oral stories such as the ones about Celestine the mouse or the Penguin who couldn’t swim. In addition to her time in the Kindergarten, Cat connected with students in GES and GSS, as well as with parents at the family event held midweek. Don’t worry if you didn’t get a chance to buy one of her books in person (though they are available online), because they can be borrowed from the TKS libraries! For more about Cat, you can also visit her website at www.catweatherill.co.uk. By Candace Taylor-Weber KG Ed Tech Coach and Librarian
Communicators
Risk Taker Reflective
Adventure Day for K2
Photos by Melanie Read, K2 Teacher
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Risk Taker Open-minded
Caring Inquirers Reective K2 had another Adventure Day in March. Both corridors and our outdoor spaces were open for all K2 students to explore as they wish. Adventure Day fosters independence, friendships and experiences for K2 students. It gives students freedom and choice. Above all it is a wonderful activity that is fueled by our belief in the power of play. Stephanie Fairall, K2 Teacher
Photo by Leanne McKay, K2 Teacher
Youngest Performers at KAUST
In February and March, the students in K1 and K2 have been learning about what it means to express themselves musically in front of an audience. An important part of this process included first-time experiences of performing for an audience of parents. On February 23, the K2 students performed in two Assemblies, each made up of six classes. They sang several animal songs and poems for their parents and their favorite song was “Tingalayo,” a song about a donkey. On March 6th and 7th, the K1 students performed in groups of three and four classes. They sang some songs, performed with rhythm sticks, chanted some finger plays, and their favorite song was “Down in the Jungle.” Ms. Wejdan and Ms. Marwah, the K1 and K2 Arabic teachers, also helped the children to learn and perform some Arabic songs. KAUST’s youngest performers have begun their musical learning journey by showing incredible enthusiasm and confidence. by Katie Riker
Communicators
Risk Taker Open-minded
International Week in KG The children in Kindergarten enjoyed an exciting International Week. In K2 and K3, it all began with an assembly where the children watched and took part in different performances. They also saw children and teachers enact the New Zealand Haka dance, and a local weaver visited from Thuwal to show the children how she makes baskets. Meanwhile, in K1 the children travelled ‘all around the world’ to representations of different countries within their school. Many classes across the Kindergarten shared a delicious selection of food originating from every continent, and several parents participated by cooking at school and reading books in class. The grand finale took place in the form of dress parades, where everyone, teachers included, were able to show off their traditional costumes. The children took pride in identifying flags and countries that they feel connected to.
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The Kiwi’s of the Red Sea Communicators Knowledgeable
“Nga Kiwi o te Moana Whero” Spectators were delighted by a student group from the Kindergarten, Elementary and Secondary Schools who performed the ‘Haka’ and another Samoan Song in the gymnasium. The predominantly New Zealand and Pacific Islander group was created to maintain a connection to the culture of their homelands. Phillip Silich, one of the facilitators of the group, remembers almost every school having these groups to expose all tangata whenua (people of the land) to the native cultures of New Zealand. After the performance volunteers were invited on stage to learn - as best they could - from the adroit young performers. The pukana was a crowd favorite, a facial expression where the tongue is poked out and the eyes opened as wide as possible. The event was a true celebration of diversity, one that matches and informs the idea of internationally minded people. By Dan Speed, Wave Reporter
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GES Diversity Quilt
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Thinkers Reflective
All the students, teachers and teacher assistants in the Elementary school were encouraged to draw a picture, symbols, flags, flowers, birds that represent their country. Each square is their contribution to the Elementary Diversity Quilt.
GES Soccer News On Thursday 2nd March at the GES soccer pitch, there was a soccer match for boys and girls. G5 students from World Academy KAEC came to KAUST and played against our own fifth graders. There were two teams of girls and two teams of boys. The big pitch was divided in half so the girls team and boys team could play on separate sides. Matches were 10 minutes long with the half time after five. Shortly after it started, my TKS girls team were leading. We ran for the ball and shot two goals. In the second half we weren't as lucky because we did not shoot a single goal! However, as the other team did not manage to score, we still won. This was a great way for the two different international schools to get together and do something we all love. It really brought us together as a team. It also was a great way for the spectators to bond over who they wanted to win. By Lucy Bodle, Student
Festival of Football
THE British International School of Jeddah had a Festival of Football on the same day as their Spring Fair. TKS sent 20 players to the event along with Coach Wright and Coach McQuaid, featuring girls and boys from Grades 3 to 5, united by the common ambition to play good football! This year the event was sponsored by Al-Alhi Football Club of Jeddah, and the welcoming speech was given by Christian Gross, current Al-Alhi manager and former manager of the English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. Players were sorted into teams featuring students from all over the Jeddah region and competing in either a Plate Tournament or a Cup Tournament depending on how well they did in their mini-league games. For TKS, Jad Sleiman played as goal-keeper for the Bayern Munich team that won the Cup, followed by Nathan Bowes (second with Al Ittihad), Yazeed Almeshatwi (third with Newcastle), and James Ross (fourth with Real Madrid). Winning the Plate was Melena Cruz playing in defence for AC Milan, followed by Yousef Alattas (second with Hamburg), Yazan Barakat (third with Chelsea), and Timo Sladakovic (fourth with Werder Bremen). By Andrew Wright, Photos by Timothy Bowes
The SAIK Middle School All Kingdom Band and Choir Festival is coming!
Arts
Around April 16-20 at TKS
This year, TKS will host the annual festival. Over 70 students from KAUST and around the Kingdom will gather for a 3 day workshop that culminates in a ďŹ nal concert for the Community on Friday ,April 28th, in the University Auditorium.
More information will be displayed around campus in the weeks leading up to the Festival.
Click here
During this week we will be celebrating Arts Around at the GSS It will be an exciting week with plenty of art opportunities! There will be siblings concerts, visual art displays, drama presentations, various musical performances around the school, and more. (Rumor has it that a ash mob may happen any moment.) Stay tuned for more details. The Creative Arts Department
from David Tigchelaar, GSS Principal We are at the end of a busy term with many events. I would like to mention specifically the Personal Project Presentation to the community. This project involved a lot of time from students and teachers but the results are worth it. We also enjoyed the Gr 12 Visual Arts exhibition in the University Library on 19 March. The SAIKAC basketball last weekend was a fabulous event with exhilarating matches and tough battles, leading to gold for the U19 boys and silver for the U19 girls. This is also the time of the year with OOK trips. Some of our Gr 6- 8 students went to the International Schools Theatre Association festival in Oman earlier this month and we have two trips during the spring break. One trip to Bali and another to Vietnam. Both these trips include a mix of service, culture and adventure. It was good to see all students and parents at the Student Led Conferences on 22 March. We believe that these conferences have a very positive effect on student learning because students take responsibility for their learning and parents actively listen to their child’s perspective on their learning. We wish all students and teachers a restful break.
G11 University Library Visit
The trip to the university was very enriching for the students as it allowed them to realize the significant potential of research they can conduct for their Extended Essay. The students were introduced to several university databases and they were also shown how to search for specific topics. This great experience gave the students a glimpse of the wide scope of research fields. This successful field trip marks an important milestone to further develop their investigative skills to do research for their Extended Essays and beyond.
It’s All About The Journey After 11 months of dedication and hard work, 49 G10 students were pleased to exhibit the final outcomes of their Personal Projects on Wednesday, March 1 at the 3rd Annual Personal Project Community Showcase. Community members, mentors, parents, staff and fellow students came in looking for inspiration, passion and insight into new and developing ideas and were not disappointed. Over 250 people packed the GSS Flag Pavilion to hear the student’s diligently prepared presentations on their academic and personal progress through a journey that included setting goals, investigating, planning, taking action and reflecting. Congratulations students on your accomplishments.
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by Laney Rweyemamu, Personal Project Coordinator
A Story in Six Words On Wednesday March the 15th, G7 Language and Literature (class) were treated to a specially catered writing workshop with Cat Weatherill. Cat is a storyteller and author who travels regularly and works with students of all ages, encouraging their love of reading, writing and imparting her wisdom about the art of storytelling. G7 hung onto every word of Cat’s introductory story and enthusiastically jumped into telling their own tales when given such prompts as, “tell us a story about the last time you got into trouble!” Students were so engrossed in this activity and the momentum continued. Cat asked the class to share some of the stories they had recalled, maintaining that even the most ordinary story, expertly told, is exciting and entertaining! Then it was time to commit something to paper, through several processes designed to narrow our focus. The students edited and condensed, finally producing a six word story. We were thrilled to have Cat’s expertise in the classroom and her beautiful storytelling enriched our learning and enjoyment. Upon reflection, one student said, “she made me want to be a storyteller.” A big thank you to Ms. Candace Taylor-Weber and Ms. Catherine De Levay for arranging Ms. Weatherill’s visit to TKS. By Hannah Greenfield, English Teacher
Communicators
Thinkers Reflective
G12 Visual Arts Exhibition
Sunday March 19 saw the annual opening of the G12 Visual Arts Exhibition. This exhibition counts as the ďŹ nal exam for these Arts students. The four students exhibited between 9 and 11 ďŹ nal works as part of beautiful display in the University Library.
Communicators Knowledgeable
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Poetry Rocks! Throughout February and March, students in the G9 Language and Literature class have been exploring poetry. Not only have they been studying poets and their techniques, they have also emulated these styles to create their own pieces. Students drew inspiration from several poems including, “Where I Am From” by George Ella Lyon and “The Road Not Taken” a Robert Frost classic. “My favorite part was writing the poems because there were no restrictions,” said Hiranmayi Chedella. This unit allowed students to express themselves freely and was certainly a highlight of the year. G9 didn’t stop here, however. They combined their new found knowledge to create a poem for this article, entitled, “I Am From”. Enjoy the poem and make sure you look out for more of our creations, gracing the flag pavilion during Poetry Alive week, April 9 - 11.
I Am From I am from hijabs and abayas, and shorts and bikinis From security and strength I am from the Land of the Long White Cloud From cold winds and rain I am from the warmth of tea in the freezing winter From where olive trees grow and citizens are filled with hope I am from the gentiles where every soul is a handmade jewel. From the Adrenaline that we crave and fear I am from multiculturalism From the quiet cowards stuck in loud crowds I am from shores and pine trees From the sweetness of candy Nederlandse Bepaling, Ierse Vriendelikheid From the land of fjords filled with happiness and joy I am from democracy dying From responsibilities and insecurities I am from scattered thoughts From the scent of chlorine I am from lost souls From where the mountains kiss the heavens I am from none of your business From red mud and the smoke filled skies I am from morons and being dictated by relevance From mutabag and maasub I am from the home of football From the country of exotic I am from the emptiness of the desert From diversity and distinction I am from sharp tomatoes and avocados From the blazing sunheat all year around I am from the distorted past and an uncertain future From pyramids and pharaohs I am from hay al basateen From the land of the biggest cafe shop in the world I’m from the home of various famous faces From the pop culture that changed my life I am from the land of The Crescent From the home of the raptors
I am from the emptiness of dull eyes From the rich fields of rice, scattered along hundreds of tropical islands I come from constructing perplexing puzzles From the result of my grandfather’s teaching I am from Verna Dean and Delcena From the sea of imagination I’m from where the sun doesn’t stop shining in the summer I am from KAUST. By Ari Rivera, Abel Philip, & Raamiz Hashmi
Poem idea and collation; Esra’a Othman, Mariyah Abulnaja, & Brooke Ikihele. Poem written by Grade 9 Language and Literature.
Theatrical Adventures
In March, ten aspiring actors from TKS Middle school participated in the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) Festival in Muscat, Oman. Hosted by the American British Academy, it was a fantastic adventure for all involved! ISTA is an international arts organization committed to providing high quality cultural learning experiences that develop creativity and international understanding through theatre. ISTA values diversity and collaboration, celebration and play, friendship and collegiality. The students participated in a variety of activities and workshops with professional artists. They learned a diverse range of skills from clowning and comedy theatre, to Broadway singing and voice projection for radio presenting. The students shared their pieces, created around the theme of Water, in the closing ceremony with an audience of local parents and artists. The caliber of theatre pieces they created was astounding. The students all enjoyed the experience and came away with new skills and talents, new friendships and an understanding of how theatre can bring diverse groups of people together.
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By: Claudia Kennedy and Laura Howley, Drama Teachers
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SAIKAC U16 Boys Basketball On March 9 and 10, TKS's U16 boys team had the opportunity to compete in the annual SAIKAC Basketball Tournament. After 2 months of practice with our coach Clint Harris, our team, lead by captain, Raamiz Hashmi, set out to win gold at the tournament. The games were tight and exhilarating, full of amazing plays that had the team up on their feet in support. We played our first three games on Thursday and were undefeated, returning to KAUST with a feeling of pride. The second day went just as well, we defeated BISJ, a top contender, and AISJ, advancing to the finals. Still undefeated, we played the finals against BISJ again, leading at the end of the first half (12-10). However, the pressure got to us and we ended up losing, receiving second place. Although we didn't win the tournament, I still feel we were the best team there. Looking forward to more years of basketball. By Ari Rivera, Student
Another Season in the Record Books
After five months of practice, multiple individual games, three large tournaments and an overall 2016-2017 record of 15-2, the U19 Girl’s Basketball season is in the record books. With a heartbreaking, yet hard-fought, loss in the final of the 2017 SAIKAC Basketball tournament, in combination with a second place finish in an invitational in Qatar and a 1st place finish in RSAC, ten determined players have won the hearts of their coaches, classmates, parents and each other. By Laney Rweyemamu, U19 Girl’s Head Basketball Coach