Inspiration
Integrity
Achievement
From the Director It is an honor to be given the opportunity to lead The KAUST School into the next phase; that of working towards reaching beacon school status. What do we mean when we refer to a ‘beacon school’? Any dynamic organization has to decide what its vision is and how best to fulfill this through its mission. We want to become a “beacon school” with an exemplary IB education. We want our students to become global citizens who are responsible and resourceful human beings. In short: we want to be leaders in our profession through innovation. The Board of Education has put supports in place to allow us to solidify what we have and become a “beacon school”. Our beacon school vision includes: • • • •
personalized learning, optimizing the use of the incredible technology available, talent coaching and optimal use of all opportunities available at the university.
The work ahead of us has been identified. The foundations are in place: we have the structure, we have the strategies and we are engaged in taking our school to the next level together. My role as Director is to develop and facilitate our strategic plan. Implementation of our strategic plan needs to be thorough and sustainable. The stability and continuity in IB programming is a key priority. Each initiative from our strategic plan is linked to the TKS Mission, and falls within Four Areas of Focus:
Teaching and Learning
Professional Culture
Organizational Development
Engagement
Over the next six months in each Wave edition, I plan to share a key initiative from our strategic plan aimed at bringing us closer to the beacon school vision. This month I would like to mention Service Learning which falls under the Teaching and Learning area of focus. Service Learning is a teaching and learning approach in which students use academic knowledge and skills to address genuine community needs. We were privileged to have an expert in the field of Service Learning and IB Education, Ms. Catheryn Berger Kaye join us for TKS WEP. Ms. Kaye worked with teachers, students and school leaders, helping us to integrate rich service learning opportunities into our program of inquiry.
Leny de Ruijter January 26, 2017
from the KG Principal Dear Parents, Kindergarten staff are in the process of completing mid-year progress reports which will be distributed by email on Thursday February, 2. Mid-year reports provide a summary of the learning that has taken place in the first semester. The teacher will provide information on the development of your child’s knowledge, skills and understanding in the context of the units of inquiry which have been covered in each grade level. The report will also identify the next steps for you child with respect to their learning and development. The mid-year report is one aspect of our reporting process in the KG. We also facilitate initial parent / teacher conferences, Open Houses, student led conferences and student portfolios. The portfolio in particular includes wonderful documentation of your child’s learning journey. I encourage you to check it out the next time you have a chance to connect with your child and their teacher in the classroom. Justin Somerville
Wet and Wonderful K3 Field Day
Risk Taker Balanced
On December 14th just before the winter break, K3 held their Field Day. This year’s Field Day had 4 stations that involved water. The Slippery Slide was by far the most popular as you can see in the photographs. A happy day for all. By Trudy Vriend, K3 Physical Education Teacher
The Concept of Growth The recent unit in K3 about animals, focused on the concept of growth. Students developed their inquiry skills as well as the attitudes of curiosity, respect and independence. These skills enable us to better understand and appreciate the natural world in which we live. The energy and eagerness exhibited by the students prompted additional learning about how to be respectful of other living things. Students had opportunities to observe how caterpillars go through metamorphosis to become butterflies, watch chickens hatch from their eggs, and also observe many other animals visiting our classrooms. These first hand experiences help our young learners develop their research skills by observing, collecting and recording data, and above all, asking questions. Excursions around KAUST to different parks, the Monument and South Beach have provided additional first hand experiences for students in observing a wide variety of animals living here from the smallest ants to migrating birds. Melanie Augustina, Pedagogical Coordinator K3
Caring Thinkers
Inquirers Reflective
Shape and Space Openminded Thinkers
Reflective Inquirers
In K2, our “How We Organize Ourselves” unit investigates the systems and features of our community. Teachers harnessed this opportunity to authentically integrate “shape and space” and “pattern and algebra” learning into the unit. In one class, children assumed the role of detectives on a mission to find hidden shapes in the community. Teachers extended the learning by getting the children to create their own shapes for a community mural. In another class, children recreated their own KAUST community using objects from the classroom. Our Islamic studies teacher organized a class trip to the King Abdullah Mosque. Teachers captured images and used this as a provocation for recreating “patterns” in our community using transparent film and markers. A mathematical learning activity had the children tallying information about vehicles at KAUST. This simple exercise introduced the children to observing, recording, organizing and interpreting information. They found cars and buses were the most popular form of transport. by Naketa Ikhelele, K2 Pedagogical Coordinator.
from the GES Principal Open Houses at Gardens Elementary School Over the past two years GES has endeavored to further develop our program of open house events for parents. Traditionally, the open houses have been scheduled for the end of the unit to share the learning from the unit of inquiry. In our efforts to create more awareness of all the learning happening in the elementary school we have diversified our approach to provide more opportunities for parents to visit their child’s classroom while also offering a wider variety of open house opportunities. This year each grade will host several open house events celebrating different elements of learning at GES. Rather than solely focusing on an end-of-unit showcase, this year parents are being invited at different stages of the learning process so they can develop a better understanding of how students approach an inquiry. For example, in grade four, parents were invited in for a start-of-unit provocation where they worked alongside their child in a hands-on learning experience. Students and parents were tasked with building the tallest possible tower with a limited number of materials. Through the experience students learned about sharing resources, working with others towards a common goal and the importance of communication. Meanwhile, parents could experience how teachers create an emotional hook at the start of the unit to get them interested in the concepts. Other open houses have included visual arts and music showcases where students can perform and share their work while getting feedback on the learning from parents. This week grade five hosted an event that combined a live debate in each classroom with an art gallery displaying students’ latest creations. We see these open houses as a great way to increase awareness of the learning happening in classroom while strengthening partnerships between school and home. The best way to keep informed of your child’s open houses is by following their classroom blog. Jeff Woodcock
Visiting Author: Margriet Ruurs During Book Week in December students and teachers participated in workshops with Canadian author Margriet Ruurs. Margriet, an author of many award winning books including Emma’s Eggs, Families Around the World, and A Mountain Alphabet, shared the process of writing, editing, finding a publisher and the often lengthy time frame it takes to “publish” a book. Students from G1-G6 explored non-fiction, fiction and poetry writing, and G3 students were given a task to complete their own KAUST Alphabet book. Some of the reflections from Grade 3BM students include: “I liked that during the workshop Margriet Ruurs set us a challenge to teach our class. We had to get other students to write a poem and we accomplished that. Her books were so great: the word choices, illustrations and the stories themselves.” (Victoria Ketcheson) “I enjoyed listening to Margriet Ruur telling her story about Emma the chicken. I found it interesting how she gets her ideas, like for example she lives on a farm with chickens.” (Brett Hermanson)
“I enjoyed writing a poem titled ‘A Sense of Saudi Arabia’. Margriet Rurrs shared a lot of ideas with us and I know a bit about this country so I found it easy to do.” (Abdullah Alhilaly) By Vivien Sewell, Librarian and Ben Mullens
Reflective Inquirers
Communicatiors
Student Scientists Shine The young scientific minds of the Elementary School were on full display during the WEP Winter Enrichment Program. Students in G3-G5 participated in this self directed inquiry task. The Science Fair was held on January 11th in the cafeteria displaying projects completed by students outside of school time. All of the students are to be congratulated for their continued learning and hard work outside of the classroom. Their passion for science is a fine example for the entire school. The Science Fair is an opportunity for students to explore a question of their own choice using the scientific method. Meaningful hands-on learning and fun is the goal at all ability levels. Beyond providing exposure to the scientific method, the science fair encourages students to apply problem solving techniques, to integrate knowledge and skills from multiple subject areas, and to develop skills in cooperation and communication. Projects were undertaken by students individually or in small teams. All students are to be congratulated for their participation in this challenging endeavour.
These finalists competed at the KAUST WEP event: Beat the Heat: Metal Corrosion: Sustainable home:
Malshi Wijethunga - G5 Lucy Bodel, Anjum ElSabaa - G5, Arwa ElSabaa - G3 Ookla Wi-Fi: Haadiyah, Mohammed, Raameen Khan, Aisha Mohamed G5 Rumaysha Iffah - G3
Rumaysha Iffah was the overall G3-G5 winner and received a certificate at the WEP Closing Ceremony.
Thinkers
Knowledgeable Communicatiors
Inquirers
Special thanks to staff & faculty, WEP volunteers, and especially Ms. Sydney Turnbull. The school looks forward to next year’s Science Fair and encourages students to start thinking about questions they can investigate! By Deanna Mydland, Elementary Teacher
Open-minded
Sharing the Planet Grade 1 students would like to remind everyone at KAUST to use less plastic! As part of our Sharing the Planet unit students learned that plastic pollution is a major problem and effects sea life and humans.
Principled Caring
We need to take action now to protect our oceans. Photos are examples of the e-books and videos 1RB created using the iPad app, Book Creator.
Bookmark Winners - Reading Rocks! The theme for the bookmark competition in elementary school was ‘Reading Rocks!’ The following student’s bookmarks were selected to be printed and shared in the library; G1AW G2DD G3BM G4JH G5PS G2BW
Balanced
Max Silich Cecilia Tannaci Brett Hermanson Zoha Ghauri Hamin Choi Kiara Kuwahara (not pictured)
Knowledgeable Communicatiors
Reflective
from the GSS Principal Dear Parents, I always like going on a holiday but I also like coming back. It is good to see all the students, colleagues and parents again and to work in a great school like TKS. Looking back We appreciate the opportunities that the University offers during WEP. The guest speakers, the scientists, the speakers, the artists were inspiring for students and teachers alike. Our visitor Cathryn Berger Kaye was with us during the WEP week and worked with students and teachers on developing an understanding of Service as Action and how we can integrate it in Interdisciplinary units. Looking Forward G6 – G11 Student Progress Reports will be published on PowerSchool on 2 February. The G12 reports will be published on 14 February. G12 mock exams will take place from 29 January to 9 February. David Tigchelaar
Tell us what you think! The TKS Community Survey opens on February 5, 2017 Check your email for details
G9 Interdisciplinary Unit at WEP This year during the KAUST WEP week, G9 students had an opportunity to experience a variety of diverse world sports that we all play and love . The G9 teachers dedicated two and a half days for a unit called The Interdisciplinary unit (IDU) with the theme of World Sports. This was combined with two of the school subjects which are Language B (Arabic/French) and P.H.E (Physical & Health education). We were split into pairs, and within our pairs we had to choose a sport that we would research. This is where the fun began. All the pairs came up with varieties of sports which are played around the world. Once the sport was finalized, the students had one day to explore and experience playing their and other’s sports. This was an incredible day, where we got to try out sports we’ve never even heard of! Subsequent to all this fun, came the hard work. A whole day was dedicated to digging deeper into our chosen sports. At the end of the day we had to complete a documentary about our chosen games either in Arabic or French. A creative poster was also to be designed in pairs about the chosen game. Finally we had to present the chosen sport in an exhibition which was the following day! Viewers varied from G12 all the way to G1. This provided us with an opportunity to present and explain all we learned on this journey. It also gave the members in the school a deeper understanding and unknown facts about certain sports they all love to play. This was a challenge for us G9 students but very thrilling . Overall, this unique and extraordinary experience helped us grow as students in TKS. Communicatiors Inquirers
by: Abel P. Philips and Raamiz Hashmi G9
Risk Taker Open-minded
Horse Riding during WEP
During WEP Week a group of forty Middle School students and their teachers took a trip to the Trio Ranch in Jeddah. The group had a range of past experience in riding and for some this was their first time riding a horse. For others, they were able to walk, trot and canter. Even the most nervous rider soon calmed once they realised how gentle the horses were. Everyone agreed horses are special animals who have a calming effect on people This trip was not just about riding horses. Students experienced a mini-crash course in horse care. We learned how to brush the horse's body, mane and tail, pick up and clean the hooves and even how to give the horses a shower. For some G6 students, pampering the ponies was their favourite part of the day. The horses and ponies particularly enjoyed being fed from a monster box of carrots bought at Tamimi. “Caramel” the horse in particular who was everyone's favourite. Originally, from Ireland many years ago, Caramel used to be part of a circus. She smiled at everyone and also lay on the ground to pose for a photo with our group. The horses were not the only animals who live at the ranch. We also met some baby goats who were described by the students as “awesome”. Thanks to Laura Howley for organising the trip and Isabelle Norwood, Joumana Norseth and Kris Ferig for being chaperones. Written by Lauren Molloy. Photographs by G6 Students
Caring Risk Taker Open-minded
Making Connections between Language and Science
As we move forward through the rapidly changing times, the education that accompanies those changes must progress as well. During an intensive two-week period, 49 G10 students developed their critical thinking skills by completing an Interdisciplinary Unit incorporating English Literature and the Integrated Sciences, in conjunction with the expertise of the Red Sea Ecology Center, to inquire into the science of light and how it can be used to craft an image that gives varied perspectives of the environment. Over this period, students learned about the properties of light, how to write a scientific rationale, and the finer points of underwater photography. They then fused and applied their knowledge while on a snorkeling trip on the Red Sea, which gave them the opportunity to capture photos that demonstrated light in an underwater environment. An exhibition of their underwater photography and accompanying rationales will be shown in conjunction with the Personal Project Community Showcase event on March 1st. Look out for their incredible photos and articulate rationales at this special TKS Event! By Laney Rweyemamu, MYP Language and Literature Teacher Photos by Roger Gribbins, Ed Tech Specialist Communicatiors
Risk Taker Reflective
Open-minded
Model United Nations Budapest Traveling to Budapest to attend the Yale Model Government Europe Conference has been an amazing and unforgettable experience. I highly encourage students to join next year, as it is an excellent way to boost your confidence in social situations, increase your knowledge on current events, meet new people from international communities and tour around a welcoming, and traditional European city. Isha Khurram Student Knowledgeable Communicatiors
Inquirers
Thinkers Open-minded
The Parade of Nations is coming! On the first Thursday in March one of KAUST’s oldest traditions, the annual Parade of Nations and Picnic, will take to the streets from Discovery Square to the ‘Circle of Nations’ on Harbor Sports Club Field. This tradition celebrates the diverse multicultural attributes of our remarkable international community, a community envisioned by KAUST founder, the late King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as ‘a beacon for peace, hope, and reconciliation serving the people of the Kingdom and benefiting all the peoples of the world.’ All citizens of KAUST are invited to march and celebrate the start of the weekend with a family picnic. The Harbor Sports Club field is encircled by 100 Flags and Country Tables where citizens of all nations are invited to share samples of their cultural dress, food and traditions. The early evening features performances, again, featuring and organized by citizens of KAUST. Everyone is welcome from infants in strollers to visiting grandparents, whether you are wearing cultural dress or just coming from work.
Please join us Thursday March 2nd, 2017, at 5 PM.
PS: If interested in representing your country, performing or simply finding out more, please email maryann.caillan@kaust.edu.sa or cabby.tennis@kaust.edu.sa or call The KAUST School on 808-6867.
WEP Science Fair Congratulations to Louis Davidson and Rebecca Mahon in Grade 7 for winning the WEP Science Fair Project for their age group. Their research project about microplastics in the environment impressed the judges at the WEP event which was held outside the main library on Tuesday the 17th of January. Thank you to all of the TKS GSS representatives at the WEP Science Fair; Param Bagade, Adi Alevoor (G6), Vyoma Shah (G7), Hanifa Mohammed, Nabiha Khan, Lana Alsulaimani and Malavika Muralidhara (G10) Joumana Norseth and Euan Riddell
Balanced
Knowledgeable Communicatiors
WEP Circus The G7’s participated in a circus unit in PHE. In this unit, we had to create circus performances as a group. Our themes included clowns, acrobats, and juggling. We practiced during WEP week on Tuesday for three blocks and put our circus show together. On Thursday morning, we gave the performance to the Kindergarten students and teachers. They enjoyed watching all the grades 7s perform their skills and group work. While performing the excitement could be seen on their faces they were curious to know what the next performance would bring. The loud noise of the kids clapping and cheering made us feel more confident and excited to perform. “As I was performing, the kids started to clap along, and I heard them laugh which made me feel encouraged and energized to continue my performance with a huge smile on my face (because I knew the audience was loving it)” Abhisri Vijayakumar Pillai “The circus performance was a great experience for us students combining education with fun; we enjoyed it!” Nihal Gul Yapici Afreen Banu, G7 Student
Risk Taker Open-minded
U19 Basket Ball: Nobody said it would be easy One month of early trainings prior to the beginning of the season, skill development workouts to develop foundation skills, and enhancing knowledge that the players had learned during previous years led up to The KAUST School’s International Basketball debut at the American School of Doha’s U19 Invitational Tournament on January 13-14, 2017. With no previous experience playing the three other teams (the American School of Doha, Qatar Academy and US Department of Defense Bahrain School), the team was venturing into unchartered play. The tournament opened with a decided victory against Qatar Academy. While the final score of 57-10 showed dominance, the players walked away with a new-found confidence in their offense and a recognition that a cohesive front was the way to play as a team. Heading into the next game against Bahrain School, that confidence and focus would be needed. Hard fought, scrappy play in the opening quarter set the tone for an intense game. Post players Brooke Ikihele and Aliya Al Uariachi dominated the boards and forced the Bahrain School offense to adjust, to the benefit of the Lady Sharks. Playing from behind most of the game, the Lady Sharks mounted a fast style of play, led by Tayla Martin, that brought the score to a tie. A last minute push ignited the team, with pressure from Cielo Balagtas, Zoe Somerville and Matilde Gomes, and a 43-41 nail biter win was in the books. Heading into the final game on the following day spirits were high, but nervous energy about playing an established team could be felt. The American School of Doha had an equal win-loss record to the TKS team heading into the game, and were supported by a full house of dedicated fans, so the game was bound to be tough. Intense play by all, including some sharp shooting by Franchesca Cadiz, led to a to-the-wire final minute that ultimately resulted in a 42-38 loss. Positive comments from opposing coaches and fans about the solid style of play and positive sportsmanship were noted by both coaches and players. While the play was fierce and the competition tight, being able to experience basketball in a different environment allowed the team to gel in preparation for the upcoming SAIKAC season. Co-Captain Martin commented, “We were able to compete with other teams from the Middle East, and get a full taste as to what it's like to compete internationally at a high level,” while counterpart co-captain Al Uariachi said, “Traveling to Doha with the TKS U19 girls and boys basketball teams was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Not only did I get to spend time with amazing people, but also had the honour of playing against unfamiliar teams which lead to challenging basketball. I am so proud of all of my teammates and am unforgettably thankful for all the support from my parents and coaches!” By Laney Rweyemamu, U19 Girls Basketball Head Coach Photos: Arnaud Lery, G12 student
Football at TKS U16 RSAC Tournament On a Friday the U16 girls Sharks went to the RSAC tournament held in BISJ. We went into this tournament with great enthusiasm for our first tournament together as a team. We had hopes of winning some games after some great practices. Although we didn’t win any games it was a great experience to play with such diverse people. We got to meet and play with girls from schools all over Jeddah. By: Vidyasree Mande, G8
Larger Lessons in Life than Winning The TKS B Lady Sharks U16 Girls Football team played in the annual SAIKAC U16 football tournament on December 8 and 9, 2016. With tough play, a fighting spirit and developed skill, the team earned a silver medal. By Laney Rweyemamu, U16 TKS B Girls Football Head Coach
Fulfilling destiny! A lot of the U’16 boys football team have played together for a number of years and have developed into a fantastic team demonstrating all the spirit and desire that epitomises TKS students. After last year’s fantastic achievements, during which the team came within one game of the SAIKAC championship, the team were determined to take the next step in what, for many, would be their last U’16 season. With some tough teams in the tournament, it was going to be difficult but TKS believed in themselves. In the group stages, the team dominated their matches but struggled to take advantage of their superiority to score. This resulted in a quarter final match with AISJ who took the game to penalties. TKS had learnt their lesson of the previous day and converted some great penalties and, along with Andrew Jones’ goalkeeping talents, progressed to the semi-finals. The semi-finals pitched TKS against a strong BISJ team. By this time confidence in the team was high and again they dominated the game moving into their first ever SAIKAC final! The final saw TKS take on AISR and, after a tight opening period, TKS again took control and carried the game to their opponents. The final result of 2-0 could easily have been more as TKS were crowned SAIKAC U’16 boys football champions for the first time ever!!
A Note from the Health Office: Immunization News In February, The Health Office will begin sending out notifications to parents of students for the 2017/18 school year with details of which vaccines are required. Below are a few updates regarding the required vaccines: • •
Tdap (Boostrix) is now available at KAUST Health! Please make an appointment with the Family Medicine or Pediatric clinic to get the vaccine if your child requires it The Quadrivalent Meningococcal (Menactra) vaccine is now required per the new TKS Immunization requirements. All students who were not previously vaccinated will require one dose of quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine with a second dose highly recommended. This is different from the Meningitis C vaccine that many children received as an infant.
To make an appointment at KAUST Health, please call 940 from a KAUST Landline or 012-808-0940 from any KAUST phone. Alternatively, you can make an appointment online: http://beta-kmchconnect.drfakeehhospital.com:82/Login/Admin. Click here Please bring this notification along with ALL ORIGINAL VACCINE RECORDS to KAUST Health for your child’s vaccination appointment. KAUST Health will no longer give vaccinations to children unless they see all original records. We strongly encourage you to consider vaccinating your child as early as possible to avoid any delay. Please send a copy of your child’s updated immunization record to the school nurse once available, KAUST Health does not automatically update The Health Office when students are vaccinated. Please do not hesitate to contact us at the details below with any questions or concerns. Many thanks! The School Health Office
Swimming with the Whale Sharks
For up-to-date info on TKS events visit the Calendar page on our new website. http://tks.kaust.edu.sa