Annie Jr. The Musical! Annie Jr. was a production put on by the students and teachers at TKS. Like last year’s production, Beauty and The Beast, we wanted it to be spectacular, except this time, more focused on just the talents of the students. The set designs were more simple, there were fewer effects such as fog machines, and the costumes, although fantastic, weren’t as bold... (Continued on page 21)
Photo Credit: Reece Lennon, Educational Technology Coach
December, 2019
From The Director, Organizations are like buildings; the strength is in the foundation and structure. In last month’s WAVE article, I discussed the school’s focus on “coherence” and how that was positively impacting our improvement agenda for student learning across the school. One feature of that work is our curriculum architecture that is being developed. The purpose of this work is to serve our three divisions, three IB programs, and whole-school model. TKS has been built on a strong foundation and this continued work will further grow the foundation and structure of our learning program, allowing us to build the bridges that help tie the different aspects of the programs together.
Coherence starts with a common Mission Statement and this impacts all areas of the school. This year we are primarily focused on improving the coherence of our curriculum. Last week we were happy to welcome Michelle Kuhns, a well-known international curriculum consultant to guide us in work related to gaining greater coherence in our learning program. We made a great deal of progress with a curriculum architecture and applying that structure to mathematics across the school K1-12. Another area where coherence can greatly impact learning is in the physical environment. In the month of December, we look forward to engaging with Fielding Nair International (FNI) a leader in education planning and architectural design. Teachers, students, and parents will all be involved in giving feedback during this discovery visit with FNI. They will be advising us on the new secondary building that we look to begin in the second semester as well as remodeling that can be done to create more 21st-century learning spaces for our students. Continuous school improvement work is challenging and energizing at the same time. We have been reaching out through surveys to gain feedback on our IB program and we will continue to reach out to gather feedback from our parent community. This information along with educational research, audits of our programs, the accreditation process, expert advice from consultants, and leveraging the capacity of our faculty and staff will lead to deep and positive change for our students. I look forward to the rest of the year as we take the necessary steps to continue to build on our strengths and address the opportunities for improvement.
We are an IB continuum school and with that comes comfort and challenge. The IBO provides a common direction and philosophy, learner profile and approaches to learning. These help the three IB programs speak to one another within the school. It also ensures that we are preparing students who know how to learn, not just regurgitate facts that a teacher has fed them. The IB programs are well known for their depth of coverage and ability to push students to thinking skills of the highest order. However, the three programs also have unique elements that at times can pose a challenge for schools. Our focus is on removing barriers and overcoming obstacles. The exercise of developing our curriculum architecture allows us to overcome some of these challenges. Through this process, we identified a need to adopt a research-based set of standards and benchmarks K1-12. Therefore, we have committed to adopting the AERO standards for mathematics K-12 as part of this process. What this means is that we have a set of content, skills, knowledge, and understandings that are internationally benchmarked and recognized, which span our three IB programs and allow for greater coherence across the programs. AERO (American Education Reaches Out) was developed as a framework for curriculum consistency across grades K-12 and and stability of curriculum in international schools. AERO provides resources, workshops, and professional consultation to help international schools implement and sustain standards-based curricula. This effort is in alignment with research-based trends in the development of curriculum worldwide. These standards align with our benchmark tests, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) and will support preparation for other national exams such as the GAT in Saudi Arabia and the SAT / ACT for North American universities. We believe this alignment will greatly support our students’ learning and will help to ensure that there are no gaps or redundancies in their mathematics learning. These standards will be embedded within the IB framework and instruction will still follow the inquiry-based approach which is a clear strength of the IB program. This first half of the school year has been filled with hard work and deep learning for students and teachers alike at TKS. I am wishing everyone a wonderful holiday break to rejuvenate, reflect and re-energize. Warmly, Dr. Michelle Remington Director, The KAUST School
Summaries of December’s PAC meeting Kindergarten PAC:
Elementary PAC:
• Provide feedback of the recent K2/K3 Student-Led Conferences and KG Book Week • Review lines of communication for KG events • Highlight upcoming parent information sessions and school events
• Recommendations and feedback regarding – Future facility design – Gym – Library – Classrooms – Cafeteria – Playground - Corridors - Reception
As a reminder: Parents are encouraged to contact the KG PAC if they have suggestions around topics for PAC meetings: - Ying Wu - Ying.Wu@kaust.edu.sa - Hind Aljohani - Hind.johani@kaust.edu.sa - Rebecca Buttigieg - rebeccabuttigieg@icloud.com - Anna Solarska-Combe - annascombe@gmail.com
As a reminder: Parents are encouraged to contact the GES PAC if they have suggestions around topics for PAC meetings: - Anna Rautek - anna.rautek@kaust.edu.sa - Ahmad Kadoura - ahmad.kadoura@kaust.edu.sa - Mani Sarathy - mani.sarathy@kaust.edu.sa - Andreia Farinha - andreia.farinha@kaust.edu.sa - Ana Margarida Costa -anmagaria.costa@kaust. edu.sa - Faisal Wali - faisal.wali@kaust.edu.sa - Meriem Laleg -taousmeriem.laleg@kaust.edu.sa
Secondary PAC:
The PAC discussed the reasons for introducing a new schedule next year. • The need to have more flexibility in our schedule to accommodate the different needs of our students, e.g. learning support, students with needs in a specific subject, highly-able students, extra time for Gr11 and 12 students for college counseling, CAS and EE. • The possibility for students to drive their own learning and make choices related to their needs. • The advantage of avoiding disruptions in the schedule because of special events ( field trips, guest speakers, assemblies, MAP testing). These will now take place inside the flexblock. • Time for KG, GES and GSS to work collaboratively to improve vertical alignment of learning between the divisions The new schedule will start in the next academic year. It is a two-day rotating schedule. It will be easier to remember which subjects are taught on one day and it avoids that certain subjects are hit harder by special events or holidays. The start time in the morning will be 7:45 or 8:00 (but not 8:30). The school is considering to replace LAD by ERD since the consistent starting time for students will benefit student learning. Meetings with parents will be held to solicit input regarding the implementation of the new schedule. As a reminder: Parents are encouraged to contact the GSS PAC if they have suggestions around topics for PAC meetings: - Hadeel Alsulaimany - hadeel.sulaimany@kaust.edu.sa - Amr Atiah - amr.atiah@kaust.edu.sa - Brian Ross - brian.ross@kaust.edu.sa - Cherine Fayad - cherine.fayad@kaust.edu.sa - Hussein Hoteit - hussein.hoteit@kaust.edu.sa - Christine Rueping - christine.rueping@kaust.edu.sa - Abdulaziz Alfaraj - Abdulaziz.alfaraj@kaust.edu.sa
Counselors Corner
Welcome to the team - Melissa B. Fotea My name is Mel Fotea and I am the new GSS counselor for the current 2019/2020 year. I am a psychotherapist, naturopath and nutritionist. Prior to joining GSS, I ran my own practice in Sydney for 20 years. I found my passion for working with adolescents around 10 years ago when I took up a position at an NGO working with youth at risk. My job consisted mainly of crisis intervention, counselling, and wellbeing. During this time, I was exposed to restorative practices – which is very helpful in my current role here at KAUST. In a nutshell, Restorative Practice brings people together who have been involved in an altercation (i.e., those who have caused harm and those who have been harmed) to restore the relationship. It follows a specific process that helps to build awareness about how actions impact the lives of others. It means that students take ownership of their actions and have a better understanding of themselves and others. Information can be found on the International Institute of Restorative Practice (iirp.edu)
Hour of Code at TKS - EdTech. Department The Hour of Code is a global movement by the Computer Science Education Week and code.org to reach tens of millions of students in 180+ countries through a one-hour introduction to computer science and computer programming during the week commencing 8th December 2019. It is designed to demystify “code”, illustrating that anybody can learn the basics and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. GSS middle school students participated during their Life Skills classes and High School had the option to opt-in during the study hall blocks. The students engaged in a variety of coding activities, from ‘Dance Party 2019’ to ‘Code with Anna and Elsa’ from Frozen. When the students came across difficulties, perseverance and problem solving were hard at play. “The code doesn’t always work out the way we want the first time around,” said Daniel Porojan (Grade 6 student) and “learning to program is like learning a new language; you won’t be fluent right away.” expressed a Grade 11 student - Bjorn Holst. By: Azra Hanif and Reece Lennon, EdTech Specialists In the Kindergarten, the hour of code took on many shapes and forms that best suited our youngest learners. Some classes explored robotics and tried to learn how to communicate in the robot’s language. Others went completely unplugged and focused on specific instruction and directional language so they could work with grids and treasure maps, analyze sequence, or follow gestural language. By: Candace Taylor-Weber, KG EdTech Coach & Librarian Hour of Code took on many guises over the week at Gardens Elementary School (GES). From hands-on unplugged lessons to an exploration of what a robot is through Bee-Bots. Many activities provided students with the opportunity to explore coding concepts such as repeats, loops, algorithms, sequencing and order, debugging and patterns. A number of students across the elementary used block coding to: animate characters that dance to the latest hits save BB-8 and the Resistance from the First Order and Kylo Ren Overall, GES students had some great successes and thousands of lines of code were written over the week. Working through the variety of challenges allowed students to show their perseverance and desire to succeed. Many children expressed their wish to continue challenging themselves on more advanced activities on the code.org website. GES teachers and the Hour Of Code might have just inspired the next Grace Hopper or Ada Lovelace! By: Derek Halverson and Donovan Hall Students in 5RJ work diligently during their Hour of Code. Photo: Derek Halverson, EdTech Specialist
from Tiffany Hill, KG Principal December was filled with many opportunities for students to be included in adventurous explorations around the KAUST campus. We are lucky to live in an environment that supports student learning through authentic experiences. Field trips are learning adventures that build and strengthen connections between what is happening at school and in the ‘real world.’ This month students have visited CMOR, Red Sea Research Center, Masjid KAUST, South Beach, King Abdullah Monument, KAUST Health, and many more engaging locations. We are grateful to the KAUST community for inviting us in to learn with you. We look forward to welcoming you to our upcoming parent information session that will focus on building an understanding of the Primary Years Program in Early Childhood. There will be two sessions, both held on January 29. One session will be in the morning at the KG campus and a second session during lunch at the university campus.
The first half of this school has been full of growth, captivating learning, and pure joy for our students and staff. We wish you all a safe, healthy, and happy winter break. We look forward to seeing you all again on January 12, 2020.
Warmest wishes, Tiffany
KG Book Week & Author Visit From December 1-5, Kindergarten students at TKS had a week filled with excitement about books and reading. The week kicked off with an assembly where children sang songs about reading, students from Ms. Jess’s K3 class presented about activities for the week, and all children got a chance to be introduced to our visiting author and illustrator, Zachariah OHora. Mr. OHora offered mini workshops to all children in the Kindergarten. They learned about his influences, enjoyed stories, and saw a drawing demonstration of his characters. The children also had-a-go at drawing on their own, recreating the same characters or adding their own flare to create new ones. In addition, TKS students in the community along with their families were invited to attend a special family evening, where the family could learn a little about Mr. OHora’s art, purchase his books, and have books autographed. It was such an honor to have the opportunity to meet and get to know “Mr. Zach”. Book Week was filled with reading fun and excitement. There were volunteer storytellers, poetry shares, visits to libraries, buddy reading, and all around celebrations of our love for reading. Lazy reading in our pajamas and dressing up as book characters for the parade were an added spark to the week. “Book Week is the best week ever! So much fun!” -Paloma Ribeiro K1 Ms. Gitta’s class
By: Candace Taylor-Weber, Kindergarten Librarian & Educational Technology Coach
Robots in Kindergarten?
Throughout November and December, K3 students have been learning about teamwork and how it helps us to accomplish our goals. One of the most essential components of effective teamwork is clear communication. During this unit, the children tried to see if they could learn how to communicate in the language of two different types of robots--Cubelets and Bee-Bots--just in time for Computer Science Education Week! Classes read the books Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman, and Norman, Speak! by Caroline Adderson. Both of these books playfully address friendship and the need for common understanding and clear communication-and what happens when we don’t understand! Through mini-lessons combined with exciting exploration and challenges, the K3 students learned about algorithms, inputs, outputs, and problem solving. They began to understand that sometimes we can communicate in new or different ways, even with robots! It might be fun to ask your child-are there any robots in your home? By: Candace Taylor-Weber, Kindergarten Educational Technology Coach & Librarian
K1 Field Trip to the Coastal and Marine Resources Core Lab On November 26 and 27, the K1 students had the wonderful opportunity to see and learn about clown fish at CMRCL as part of our Sharing the Planet Unit of Inquiry. Postdoctoral Fellow John Majoris along with other members of the Reef Ecology Lab from the Red Sea Research Center, explained to our youngest learners in the KG about the symbiotic relationship between clownfish and different types of anemones. Through an engaging game of deciding which anemone to select as a home for their paper cutout of a clownfish, the children were able to understand more about Dr John’s research which, among other goals, aims to help discover the cues that clownfish utilize when choosing their anemone. They also, learned about the life cycle of the clownfish before stepping into the lab and seeing the fish for themselves in the tanks. What an incredible learning opportunity!
By: Olga Pacheco Oreamuno, KG1 Teacher
TDP Graduation Ceremony The Teacher Development Program graduation ceremony, class of 2018/2019, was held on Sunday, December 1, 2019 on campus. The KAUST school celebrated three of its teachers for their accomplishments, academic passion, and inspirational ambition. The event was attended by approximately 45 guests, including families and colleagues. During the two year program, the graduates have excelled in both academic and extra-curricular pursuits. They have earned the TTC certificate and have become international teachers. Dr. Michelle Remington, The KAUST School Director, gave an inspiring speech, saying: “Years ago I went to a digital learning conference and one of the speakers there was a man by the name of Ian Jukes. He spoke to us about change theory and how change comes to be. To illustrate his point, he used the example of the sardine fish. For those who don’t know, the sardines swim in a school that is more like a swarm. Thousands of fish swimming very close together all in the same direction. There are a few fish however that will swim against the current. Little by little that number grows until about 12-15% of the fish are swimming against the flow and suddenly and instantaneously the entire school of fish changes direction. Ian Jukes referred to these first bold fish as the committed sardines. This is how I see you, our TDP graduates. It is early days of the new vision in the Kingdom but you are at the edge of this change. You are like those committed sardines working towards change. You are courageous and bold and tonight we are here to celebrate your amazing work.” Congratulations to the graduates! By: Lama Khalofa, TDP Trainee, KG Photos taken by: Arnab Chakraborty, Grade 9 Student
Left to right: Reham AlDubayyan, GES Arabic Teacher - Alanud Alfagir, The Advancement Program Lead - Rawdhah Radwan, GES Islamic Teacher - Wed AlSulaimani, KG Arabic Teacher
from Chye de Ryckel, Elementary Associate Principal On December 11 and 12 our students participated in GES’s annual Field Day. As well as helping students develop a love for physical activity, field day promotes sportsmanship, teamwork and a growth mindset. Students engaged in a range of team activities ranging from scooter races to buddy walkers to racket sports. Their strength and mental endurance were tested as they raced through the challenges. These activities were familiar to the students because they are carefully woven into our Physical Education (PE) units throughout the year. PE in GES is not just about student participation in sports and games. The purpose is to develop a combination of transferable skills promoting physical, intellectual, emotional and social development; to encourage present and future choices that contribute to long-term healthy living; and to understand the significance of physical activities for individuals and groups within our community. We would like to thank Evan Bryceland, Steve Roberson, Wayne Bartelink and Adam Llevo from our PE department for their leadership in organizing this year’s Field Day. The event would not be possible without the additional support from all of our teachers and teaching assistants who ran the activities, cheered for and supported our students. Lastly, thank you to the parents who joined us throughout the event. You can find more photos on Page 11. Now that our holiday is here, there will be ample opportunities our children to engage in physical pursuits of their choice. We strongly encourage families to support activities that promote healthy family fun. This might include starting a game of football along the beach, skiing on snow covered slopes or perhaps playing tennis on one of the courts within our beautiful community. We wish you a restful, peaceful and enjoyable break.
Chye de Ryckel Associate Principal
Photo Credit: Michelle Remington, Reece Lennon and Ruby Davidson, Grade 7 Student
Grade 5 Islamic Studies Student-Led Conferences A few weeks ago, the Islamic Department welcomed Grade 5 students and their families during the Student-Led Conferences. It's a remarkable moment when you, as a teacher, witness how confident and proud the students were as they shared their work and progress with their parents. The Student-Led Conference is a chance to bring families a step closer to their children's academic achievement. I'm proud of all the emails and messages I received from the parents who enjoyed the event, and I'm proud of the students for their efforts to make the conference such a success for GES. By: Rawdhah Radwan, Islamic Studies Teacher
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GES Field Day 2019
GES Book Week and Author Visit During the first week of December, GES celebrated Book Week and the students had the chance to take part in a variety of reading-related activities. We began the week by gathering together for a lively assembly, hosted by students from G1-5. Each day the students participated in DEAR time - Drop Everything and Read - and had the chance to stop what they were doing and enjoy some time to read, either individually or as a class. Guest readers entertained students in the library, and in some classrooms, by sharing their favorite stories. We also enjoyed a day of ‘read the book, then watch the movie’, ‘pajama day’ and ‘bring your favourite book to school.’ At the end of the week, we joined together on the outdoor basketball courts for our Vocabulary Parade, where the students and staff showed off a variety of imaginative costumes. The highlight of the week was our fantastic visiting author and cartoonist, Matt Smith. His workshops were engaging and interactive, allowing every student the opportunity to learn from Matt and practice creating their own cartoons. Students and parents also enjoyed an informative and entertaining evening with Matt at the community hub. By: Susan Bryceland, GES Librarian Photo Credit: Philippa Arkley, Communications Coordinator and GES Teachers
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Artists Of The Month - November
G1
Artists take time and care to produce artwork they are proud of. They use creativity and imagination to create products that are unique and original. Isabella has done all of this and demonstrated her skills to produce stunning artwork.
G2
Artists try to be responsible. Abdulrahman is often found quietly tidying up at the end of Art lessons, all around the room. He never utters: “But I wasn’t using that!” as he understands that leaving the whole room ready for the next class to come in is one way we can be caring and principled in the Art room.
Isabella Mantovani Telles
Abdulrahman Attar 2PH
G3
Vlada Lopatina 3TO
G4
Diya, 4PL
G5
Batoul, 5BK
Artists rise to a challenge. Vlada impressed us by working on a collage for 3 lessons. Instead of taking the easier option of combining collage with drawing, each lesson she pushed herself to create the details she was wanting with cut paper instead. Her imagination and sense of humour helped her to consider new possibilities. Artists are always looking for unique ways to express their ideas. We have noticed that Diya is capable of coming up with great ideas for her artwork and follows through by focussing during lesson time. Her recent artwork about plastic waste is made up of plastic she gathered from her class’s snack time - a really cool way to show how much plastic we’re using in our lives! Artists are always looking to develop their craft by improving their skills. Throughout the past unit, we’ve noticed Batoul really trying to extend her learning by challenging herself again and again. She has managed to make some amazing jewellery and is always willing to share her skills with her classmates.
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2019 Festival of Football On Saturday the 7th of December, twelve boys and girls from grades 3, 4 and 5 went to the British International School of Jeddah to compete in their annual Festival of Football tournament. The players were split into different representing famous global club sides, and, with team-mates from all over the Jeddah area’s international school network, competed in both plate and cup football competitions. Benfica, with Abdullah Baessa from TKS playing as an attacking midfielder and scoring 2 goals, won the cup competition, defeating Hamburg, who featured TKS’ Malia Tran operating as a defensive sweeper. In the plate competition Dynamo Kiev, with Laiba Shah in midfield, won top prize, defeating Cork City, featuring Jack Mulqueen.
By: Laiba Shah (G5), Luis Salvador (G5), Harish Sadhasivam (G5), and Andrew Wright Photo Credit: Andrew Wright
Luis Salvador, who played for Newcastle United said: “I personally think this Festival was a very wonderful experience. We had awesome coaches, we had a team name and we had people watching us and also motivating us. One thing I learned is that you don’t only need a really good team to win, you need really good communication skills. Football is not about winning, football is about loving what you are doing.” Harish Sadhasivam, a defender with Barcelona, agreed: “The tournament was very exciting and full of activities. I'm sure most students enjoyed it. There were art competitions, a football quiz, and especially lots of football matches. ” The last word goes to Laiba Shah who said: “The Football Festival was astounding and well-organized. All in all, we think this tournament was one of the most enjoyable and entertaining of all.”
from David Tigchelaar, GSS Principal This month we engaged in the following events: • 1 - 5 December: Visit of the College Counseling Consultant David Shubair • 4, 5 and 7 December: The Annual GSS Musical • 9 December 3:30 - 4:30: TKS Sci-cafe • 16 December 3:15- 4:00: Viva Voce (public interviews with students about their Extended Essay) • 16 December 4:15 - 5:15: Variety Show We look forward to the following events in January: • WEP Week from 19- 23 January • Science Fair on 21 January • Gr 12 Mid Year Exams from 26 January to 4 February On Tuesday 28 January, GSS will not have a late arrival day but an early dismissal day. Classes will start at 8:00 and dismissal will be at 1:20 pm. We wish all students, parents, and teachers a good winter break.
David Tigchelaar Secondary School Principal
Grade 6 Celebration The grade six cohort has done a great job of transitioning into their new identities as middle school students. As we approach the end of semester one, their advisors decided that now was a good time to acknowledge the students for their hard work and to celebrate the success of this year's orientation. Students and advisors were treated to a pizza lunch that included live performances from peers and outdoor games like cornhole. A great time was had by all!
By: Reece Lennon, Educational Technology Coach
Visual Computing Center Field-trip By: Layan AlSuwailem, Haadiyah Mohammed and Elena Ketcheson (Grade 8 Students)
On the 8th of December, two Grade 8 classes received the fantastic opportunity of visiting the Visual Computing Center at the University. In this field trip, we were introduced to using visual programming and 3D animation as better ways to visualize many types of sciences. The science we focused on was biology, as it corresponded with our current and previous units. Professor Viola educated us about the Visualization Center’s studies, including collaborating with a team of people who specialize in biology to achieve their final design. The product they created was an extremely advanced representation of the appearance of cells and organelles (such as mitochondrion) from a microscopic view. We also learned about the perks of using 3D visualization, such as portraying a virus on a nanoscopic level and recognizing the potential weaknesses that could be used to find new ways to fight disease. He pointed out that visualizing such minuscule matter doesn’t require as much time to make on 3D visualizing programs using their strategies compared to traditional approaches. Using such programs and strategies helps scientists and researchers tremendously in their job; it is called nano-visualization. The classes were also allowed to try on VR sets, in which students could learn about the parts of a cell, like the protein matrix, in an engaging and entertaining approach. The Grade 8’s are also very grateful for receiving the surprise of a delicious treat on arrival. We thank Professor Ivan Viola, along with Research Scientist Ondrej Strnad and Secretary Mariam Syed, for this wonderful opportunity to extend our learning outside of the classroom setting. The engaging and informative presentation will be an invaluable resource for us in the weeks to come. Students that participated in the field trip: • Abdulilah Alyahya, Grade 8 • Fabian Finkbeiner Rivera, Grade 8 • Muhammed Mustafa, Grade 8 • Alexandro Rodriguez, Grade 8 • Jad Sleiman, Grade 8 • John Talinio, Grade 8 • Dana AlSabban, Grade 8 • James Ross, Grade 8 • Joanne Mani, Grade 8 • Tamara Joseph, Grade 8 • Tailin Sladakovic, Grade 8 • Davlat Mostamandi, Grade 8 • Rayan Alamri, Grade 8 • Mohammed Baig, Grade 8 18
G7 Geometrocity Project
By: Kristina Sharma and G7 Students
Our second unit in grade 7 mathematics was a project-based unit that integrated geometry, collaboration and creativity. Students had the ultimate goal of designing and building their own city. Working in groups, students worked through four phases throughout the unit, which required them to take on various perspectives such as an urban planner, architect, and designer. The project was launched with a visit from KAUST accommodations services, and students were grateful for this opportunity to learn more about the particulars of planning new residential areas and all the factors that are at play in the decision-making process when adding more buildings at KAUST. By exploring the concepts of relationships, generalization and measurement, students were able to make decisions about which type of 3-D solids to build, where to place specific buildings, and how to construct nets based on the given scales. We also learned a lot about how to work effectively with others, as the group project required each individual to be responsible and accountable for their district of the city, which was eventually connected to the other group members to complete the city. By the end of the project, students had a deeper understanding of the real-world applications of volume, area, and surface area. They also developed a deeper appreciation for the costs involved in building and designing a city from scratch, along with the immense amount of collaborative decision-making that takes place between all those involved in city planning.
Visiting artist and author - Zachariah OHora GSS Visual Arts students from grades 6 to 12 each had the privilege to have an illustrator and author, Zachariah OHora, visiting their lessons and working together on developing characters. His presentations to the students focused on his career as an artist, sources of inspiration, media and techniques. Zachariah led demonstrations on how to develop and draw characters inspired by the animal kingdom. The students then had a chance to create their characters inspired by the same as in the photos. By: Jecton Were, Secondary Teacher
Annie Jr
(Continued from front cover) The rehearsals started from the very beginning of the year, around the first week of school. From then on, students began to explore their characters and get closer to one another through the rehearsals they had. The dances were choreographed and directed by Jana Hubbard and Phumelele Ngcobo, the music was rehearsed with Emmalee Johnson and Isabel Norwood, and the set started coming together through lighting, sound effects and microphones, props, set pieces, and backgrounds with David Webb, Sondus Khoja, Jecton Were and the amazing production crew. Costumes were also made by Nahla Abouseada, the main costumes leader in the production. Soon enough, rehearsals started to be in Building 20, the auditorium where we performed. We started putting the scenes together, trying on costumes with Kristina Sharma, experimenting with makeup with Danielle Danaher, and working with the technical crew who handled the microphones, lights, and backdrops. Backstage, where the audience couldn’t see, Susan Rhodes was keeping everyone on task and professional. Run throughs started becoming more frequent, and the excitement started building when it came closer to the performances. The opening night flew by, along with the second and third night of performances! Through all three shows, the cast and crew brought this show to life. The dancing, singing, acting, set pieces, backdrops, props, and make up all transformed the stage into what felt like New York in the 1930s, where this musical was set. Overall, the production this year was like no other. There was so much hard work, dedication, and heart poured into this show, and what it lead to was a fantastic family-like cast and a Broadway-like show put on for the KAUST community. After this show, there will be more excitement about what next year’s production has in store!
By: Elise Patterson, Cast Member, Grade 8 Student
Photo Credit: Reece Lennon, Educational Technology Coach & Helmy H. Alsagaff More photos on page 22.
YMGE 2019 “Yale Model Government Europe (YMGE) brings together experienced Yale University students and delegates from around the world to a European city to create an innovative, collaborative, and inspiring conference. YMGE simulates the deliberations of the European Union, rather than those of the United Nations. This means that YMGE committees focus on tackling issues particularly relevant to Europe, and encourage delegates to narrow their focus in developing meaningful solutions to the issues they engage” (ymge.org). This year, 22 students from Gr. 9-12 traveled to Lisbon, Portugal with Kimberly Halverson, Monica Hall and Aaron Thompson for this incredible international conference from November 26-Dec.1, 2019. This is what some delegates had to say: “YMGE was a wonderful experience for me, especially as a new student because I made many friends. I recommend it for anyone that wants a challenge with their debating skills and to meet people from around the world” (Sierra Remington Gr. 9). “The conference gave me a chance to develop my MUN skills in a fun way, and I really enjoyed touring Lisbon” (Abbie Ross Gr. 11). “For YMGE, I was given the amazing opportunity to work as a Crisis Assistant Director where I was able to work closely with the Yale Directors. Working behind the scenes of all the conferences, I have learned a lot about the MUN structure and preparation. With extra time to tour around Lisbon, we visited many beautiful parts of Portugal. The food was really good” Chelsea Lai Gr. 11). "I really enjoyed this trip and I learned a lot of valuable skills such as communication, social and team-work” Lourenco Gomes Gr. 10). "Going to such a multicultural conference gave me a lot of perspective and insight on shared issues. The trip wasn't overly formal or educational like I had initially expected it to be, in fact, the entire experience turned out to be the perfect mix of fun and educational" (Sonya Merchant Gr. 9). “YMGE 2019 was one of the best few days so far in my junior year. The chance to be far off at an international conference with friends, meet new people, and tour the city of Lisbon was a time to remember” (Marwan Mohammed Gr. 11). “The other delegates made us work hard in our committees, it was a great learning experience and prepares us better for our other conferences” (Tom Sealey Gr. 10). “Not only was Portugal beautiful and jaw dropping, the new friendships developed made the trip extra special” (Umairah Abu Samah Gr. 10). “YMGE was an intimidating prospect to join at first. I have had minimal exposure to large debates before coming into the conference, hearing about all the other schools and not having anyone from TKS in either my committee or council made it even more intimidating. I went in confident though, I brought up thought provoking points about issues that were and weren't being addressed and made sure to give my own perspective. The whole experience from the conference to touring the city of Lisbon was amazing and if I could do it next year, I would totally do it!” (Blake Remington Gr. 11).
U16 Girls Football On Saturday November 16, two teams of U16 Sharks finished first and fourth at their RSAC tournament at the British International School of Jeddah (BISJ). This is the first time in at least 5 years that the Sharks have won this event! Goal scorers for the girls were Emilia Salvador (with 3), Pearl Wright, Aella Tsorpatzidi, Yara Albatran and Daphne Pisig. Three weeks later, the U16 Sharks A Team finished fourth in a field of 8 teams at their SAIKAC tournament in the Dhahran Aramco compound. This is the first time the Sharks have played in the Eastern Region tournament, and captained by Pearl Wright, did very well against some strong teams, narrowly losing the 3rd place playoff 1-0 against Dhahran High School. The main goal scorer for the girls was Emilia Salvador (G7) with 7 goals in 7 games, while Rital AlAli (also G7) was outstanding as goalkeeper. Myself and Coach de Levay were very impressed with both the squad’s sportsmanship and leadership, and all the players were excellent ambassadors for TKS. Special thanks to Richard Davies and Ron Gatenby for helping to organize our participation in SAIKAC at short notice, and Silvia Salvador and Lamaa Ghyrani for travelling with us and supporting the team.
By: Andrew Wright, ELL Teacher and Mother Tongue Coordinator Photo Credit: Silvia Salvador, Catherine de Levay and Andrew Wright
U16 Boys Football During the past weekend, the U16 boys football team traveled down to KAEC for their SAIKAC tournament. The team worked hard throughout the season to adapt to a brand new fresh roster of players of varying ages. On the first day of SAIKAC, the boys received their first wake-up call as they conceded a late game-drawing agonizing goal against TWA after our team had gone up 1-0 in the first few minutes. We couldn’t finish our chances and thus, were punished. On the second day, we showed massive improvement. We made it to the semi-finals against BISJ after beating both TWA and JPGS. We lost to BISJ after a dramatic penalty shootout. We finished 3rd and took bronze medals home. We worked hard and it was a season to be proud of. Special thanks to our coaches Mr. Treacy and Mr. Hoffman for their support throughout the entirety of this season.
By: Saif Alattar and Youssef Elhagrasy Photo credit: Natalie Ghandour, Grade 10 Student
A Stepping Stone for Next Year - U19 Boys Football The U19 Football season began with many obstacles and challenges. The team was composed of new players who had not played with each other before. However, since the beginning, this U19 team was determined to listen to feedback given by the coaches and improve. The first tournament the team faced was RSAC in Jeddah. We were a team of 14 people at this point, where the first game against JPGS ended in a draw. Although the games against BISJ and AISJ were not in our favor, it gave us the opportunity to look back on our mistakes and strengths, while simultaneously focusing on ways to improve for weeks, even months, to come. The next couple of weeks in the lead up to the SAIKAC tournament was crucial for the team. We had began to form relationships and develop our skills through the RSAC tournament, however, we had to ensure to keep on improving to be the best we can be for the next tournament. The SAIKAC tournament was to be held in Dhahran High School. The team was busy with other academic commitments, however, all eyes were on giving our best efforts in this tournament. We faced challenging teams on the first day, but our heads still remained high for the second day. We then gave our everything on the second day, listening to everything our coaches had told us. We ended up winning the Plate Bracket, winning 3 games and losing 2, a commendable accomplishment from where we started at the beginning of the season. After reflecting on this season, it has been a huge stepping stone for competing next year. It has given the perfect boost to motivate every player to continue playing football and strive to be better for next year. We have all learnt that we must never undermine our abilities as players. A huge thank you to our amazing coaches, Mr Rodrigo Telles and Mr Wayne Bartelink, who pushed us from day one. “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success”.
By: Benjamin Powell, MYP Coordinator and Matthew Westbrook
U19 Girls Football By: Andrew Wright, ELL Teacher and Mother Tongue Coordinator
https://issuu.com/thekaustschool/docs/demographics_2018-19_for_web?e=23587344/65292788
Football Project The CAS Project is a requirement of the IB Diploma that challenges students to show initiative and develop skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and decision-making. This year, two Grade 11 students decided to run basketball and football tournaments for younger students, “Hoop Dreams”: By Cyril Givero: My CAS project was a 3x3 basketball tournament during lunch, for grade 6-8 TKS students. The goal of this project was to make younger students active and encourage them to make friends while having fun. My partner and I also wanted to see younger students collaborate with other students and practice teamwork. Lastly, we wanted students to show their skills and be proud of what they could do. During the CAS project, I learned that being organized with your time leads to success and achieving your goals. Having clear communication with the students and teachers is also the key to creating an enjoyable CAS project. When facing problems, it is better to find a solution to the problem, instead of giving up. By failing, you learn how to make the project better and learn from the mistake that was made so it won’t happen again in the future. Overall, the CAS project was very enjoyable because seeing the younger players play the sport I love made me very proud and happy. Also, seeing them having fun when playing made me want to do a CAS project again. Lastly, the CAS project was an excellent opportunity to build relationships between older and younger students in TKS. “What a goal!” By Benjamin Powell, MYP Coordinator and Ali Kubaish: In order to satisfy the project requirement for CAS, myself and one of my peers, Ali Kubaish, organized a football tournament at TKS for students in Grades 6 to 8. Ali and I both have a strong passion for football and we know that students in the school share the same passion. Hence, we identified an opportunity to give back to the students and give them a chance to play the sport they love during school time to allow for a break from their academic commitments. The tournament was greatly enjoyed by the students because it was well organized and clear lines of communication were established. Every Tuesday and Thursday when the tournament was held, students were on time and eager to get started. This experience was also a learning opportunity for me and Ali. We learnt the importance of being proactive, collaborating effectively as a pair, being flexible and remaining committed to a task. Often unexpected events arose, in which we had to make adjustments to the tournament. Overall, the tournament was hugely successful and we hope to do something like it again in the future. Photo Credit: Amy Tulley & Ruba Gari (Grade 11)
Pink Ladies - Winners! Team “Pink Ladies” won the KAUST Community Volleyball on Wednesday, December 11. The team is comprised of employees and spouses of employees of The KAUST School. The season started in October and the Pink Ladies worked hard all season to hone their skills on the court. It paid off with a 3 set to 0 win over the Lady Fighters.
By: Michelle Remington, TKS Director
Pink Ladies Volleyball