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The KAUST School is supported by a high-level, strategic Board of Education. Comprised of 9 members including 2 external members from other international schools, and the Director who serves as an ex-officio member. All members of the Board bring unique skill sets that greatly serve the growth and development of our School. The Board of Education met on October 3 for the first board meeting of this academic year. Caring Front L-R: Dr. Najah Y Ashry, VP Saudi Initiatives; Patricia Hughes, VP Community Life; Professor James Calvin, VP Academic Affairs (Board Chair); Leny de Ruijter, TKS Director (Ex-officio Member); Erica du Toit (Parent Board Member) Back L-R: Dr. Brian Matthews, Superintendent, American International School, Riyadh, External Board Member; Henk Kriek, Chief Financial and HR Officer; Dr. Samir Hamdan, Associate Dean, BESE; Iain Sterling, External Board Member; Professor Yves Gnanou, Dean & Professor of Chemistry, PSE; (not in photo) Fouad AlGabbani, Director Community Services KAUST, Board Secretary
October 29, 2017
From the Director Our 11th Partners for Learning (PFL) event took place on Wednesday, October 25th. One of the school’s strategic areas of focus is engagement and we are delighted that many of you (over 200) came to engage with us as partners in learning. We know that parent engagement is beneficial for schools. This has been well researched and documented showing when parents engage in the learning process: the children benefit, the parents benefit and the school educators benefit. Children whose parents are actively engaged tend to be more successful and perform better. They have both higher social and interpersonal skills. Parents benefit by learning about the culture and programming at the school. They become better informed partners in learning. Educators benefit when parents add their contributions and insights to make the school a more dynamic learning institution. I thank the parents who attended last week for this investment of time and effort. We are together working to further our school’s mission to empower our students to be responsible, resourceful global citizens and thereby encouraging our students to be successful both academically and in following their personal interests.
In a nutshell: this month’s PAC meetings Kindergarten PAC: • PAC was briefed on the KG Annual Plan 2017/18 • An update on the 2018/2019 school calendar process was provided • Discussion on PAC and parent information requirements re KG program • Criteria for identifying PAC agenda items were agreed
Secondary PAC: • PAC were briefed on 2016/17 DP, MYP and MAP results Caring • It was noted that the MAP mathematics’ results were lower than last year and plans are underway to analyze this further.
• It was agreed that the message about the importance of all types of assessment or examinations needs to be reinforced with students and across the school.
Elementary PAC: • PAC discussed the three key responsibilities identified for the group: listen, engage and support, and agreed meetings are a great vehicle for opening communication between parents and school leadership. • A plan for agenda items was identified • Agreed that sharing perspectives on the following areas would be a priority for 2017/18:
Minutes from the PAC meetings will be made available to parents in the Parent Portal
~ the implementation of a phased Arabic language curriculum, ~ mathematics at GES, ~ the cultivation of student culture, the documentation of student progress, continue developing understanding of the PYP in the community, ~ Making use of the resources in the community to support the curriculum.
from Justin Somerville, KG Principal Dear parents, Thank you for attending your child’s Parent Teacher Conference earlier this month. Learning is most definitely a partnership between school and home. Staff enjoyed the opportunity to share messages about your child’s progress to date with respect to their social, communication, self-management, research and thinking skills development. It was also a wonderful opportunity to gain further insight into the way you as parents view your child as a learner. There are many opportunities for you to engage in your child's learning at the KAUST Kindergarten, through classroom blogs, learning portfolio, grade level open houses and student led conferences. We encourage you as parents to make the most of these opportunities. Justin Somerville Principal
Fire truck visits K3
The K3 children were excited to see their friend, Augustin, arrive on a fire truck to school! They put on their fireman hats and had a turn using a real fire hose to hit a target. Fortunately one of the fireman was there to show them how to hold the hose and press down on the handle as the force of the water was very strong. When they returned to class they shared their experiences in writing journals. By: Lisa Fitz-Hardy, K3 Teacher
How animals change over time Kindergarten buzzed with excitement as the K3 students researched firsthand how animals change over time. This unit of inquiry offers wonderful opportunities for students to see how animals grow and change and make connections to their own lives. The main skill in focus is that of research. Students counted the days it took for chicken eggs to hatch, observing changes in the chicks as they grew and recording their findings. They developed their fine motor skills through observational drawings and focusing on shape, size, details and labels. In addition to the chicks, students have been drawing real animals in the classrooms such as fish, crabs and butterflies. At the beginning of the unit, students developed their vocabulary in order to describe animal characteristics and classify using their own criteria. After observing animal models they defined living and nonliving and used this information to classify objects in their classes. To further understand classification they used Venn Diagrams to compare animals. The hamster in East had babies and we have seen how they change from tiny pink ‘jellybeans’ to small furry babies. Students are now predicting that they will soon open their eyes and begin exploring the cage. Students are using timelines, graphs, tally marks and measurement language to help record accurate information about the animals which also develops their math skills. As the unit is evolving, students are coming up with many questions that need answering. They have been looking at fiction and nonfiction texts to find information to help answer their questions. From using these books, they have discovered that nonfiction books have facts that will answer their questions while fiction books are stories that often are based on imagination. Students are beginning to look at the needs of these animals in order to ensure that they are happy and healthy. This will lead beautifully into our next unit of inquiry about how resources meet our needs and wants. By: Mel Agustina, K3 Pedagogical Coordinator
Global Read Aloud in KG In October and November, KG students are participating in the Global Read Aloud #GRA17, a global initiative to connect kids through literature. Children around the world are reading the same books at the same time, and sharing learning experiences. In the KG libraries, the children have been exploring the works of Mem Fox, a much adored Australian children’s book author. For some classes, there have been opportunities to connect via Skype for a virtual read aloud that is shared in real-time with another class somewhere in the world. So far we have shared stories with classes in Warsaw, Poland, and plans are underway to connect with children in South Africa and Switzerland. This has been a wonderful opportunity for the Kindergarten children to not only appreciate literature, but also to connect with kids around the world to learn more about how much we really do have in common. By: Candace Taylor-Weber, KG Librarian & Educational Technology Coach
For more info about GRA17: https://theglobalreadaloud.com/
Sam the Storyteller! This month Kindergarten students benefitted directly from the University’s Fall Enrichment Program by having visiting storyteller Sam Cannarozzi join us! Sam came to the Kindergarten library to show the children how they can create wild and adventurous stories from everyday items like origami, string, and even old fashioned hand gestures. The children had a wonderful time! By Candace Taylor-Weber - KG Librarian
Science Lab Field Trip - G1
G1 are currently learning about being scientists. They are to investigate solids, liquids, and gases, their properties, and what we can do to change the states of matter. This was an opportunity for G1’s to see a real science lab, and Mr. Jerrod Moore, a GSS science teacher, graciously opened up his lab giving us a chance to see what a science lab looks like and to observe some cool things that liquids can do. Not only did students hear about safety in a lab (like wearing goggles), but they also got to wear lab coats! We had to roll up a few sleeves, but they looked adorable! Mr. Moore demonstrated some things that liquids can do. We observed that water and oil don't mix, and that some liquids are flammable. We saw that there are some solids (toner) that don't mix into water no matter how hard you stir! We also discovered that some liquids burn different colors, and that sometimes, 2 liquids together turn into a solid! We created the solid that is used to coat solar panels. Then we observed gas in a tube! It created lots of rainbows when we looked through our special glasses! At the end of our visit, we took a class photo in our lab coats. As they took the picture, they all started shouting "SCIENCE!" I think the trip was a success! When we got back to the classroom, we started a chart to keep a list of different solids and liquids that we have seen in real life. We also created a chart for our wall to record some of the things we're learning about solids and liquids. We will add to this throughout the unit. Some of the things we've added to our chart so far: • Some liquids are thick and some are not. • Some liquids move fast when they are poured and some are slow. • Liquids can be mixed. • Sometimes liquids don't mix. • Liquids take the shape of the container. • Sometimes liquids burn different colors. • Solids don't take the shape of their container. They stay the same.
By: Ashley Rowell, G1 Teacher
We ‘can do’ Music When the International Baccalaureate Organization turned 50 they asked schools around the world to submit an original piece of music to help them celebrate. The winning competitor would have their music played during their celebratory show. Ever eager to rise to a challenge, Mr. Diglin threw down the gauntlet to our G5 students. Zeina AlOmar collaborated with Hala Amad and composed a song. Along with Jenna AbdelAal and Jumana Mahfouz, the girls preformed their music and recorded the piece for submission to the competition. As yet, we do not know the results and we are all aware that our team of talented musicians are in a competition with Diploma level students who are 18 years old. However, the result is really irrelevant. The most important thing is that we have confident, committed students who have a “can do” attitude. Here at GES we are also lucky to have teachers who guide, support and mentor our students, not just in class, but also during lunch breaks and after school. Good luck girls – we don’t know if you will win the competition, but you have already won our admiration.
Snack Survey - G4 . In G4, we’ve had a unit on healthy lifestyles. We were curious to know whether kids in our school are eating healthy snacks so we carried out a survey in Mrs. Johnson and Miss McQuaid’s classes. We surveyed 67 students and 1 assistant librarian. Here are our results in the graph that we made: Looking at our graph we found out that 20 out of 68 children said that they had fruit for snack at least once a week. Only 5 said they had veggies. 13 kids said they had carbohydrates. 13 kids said they had protein and the other 17 said they had unhealthy snacks. So overall, most kids had fruit and unhealthy goods as their snack. The least number of people had veggies as their snack. We would like all the kids at our school to have healthy snacks that consist of fruits and veggies because they are rich in minerals and vitamins which help to fight diseases. Minerals also help build strong bones and teeth. They also turn the food we eat into energy. By Victoria Ketcheson, Maire Hogan, and Maggie Ryan 4MN
Counselors Corner - Transitions: Building a R.A.F.T. KAUST is a highly mobile population and at TKS it is not uncommon for students to arrive or depart in the middle of the year. When preparing children for a big change, such as an international move or a change of schools, it is a good idea to prepare them to say goodbye in a healthy and wholehearted way. If you know your family may be moving on, it is helpful to start preparing children up to 6 months before the transition. Building a R.A.F.T. can be helpful in preparing children for a big move. Developed by David Pollock of Interaction International, the analogy of a R.A.F.T. gives us some helpful steps that can ease children’s fears and mark the positives of both their current environment and their future home.
R:
Reconciliation
Begin building your raft by asking if there are any situations or relationships that need mending. Children who move often may develop a tendency to just leave rather than facing into issues. Help them mend fences with friends, and leave on a good note with teachers.
A:
Affirmation
This is the time to acknowledge and thank the people who have been involved in your (and your children’s) life. Take time to affirm the relationships that have been important to you. Help your children make time with important friends, and say goodbye to teachers or other adults who have been important to them. Letting people know what you have learned from them can cement your growth, and pave the way for continued friendship (should you choose to continue to stay in touch). It can help your children make sense of the importance of this place to them in their personal story.
F:
Farewells
Say goodbye to people and places that have been meaningful. This could mean taking family photos at the Beacon, last meals at favorite restaurants, playdates with friends, and saying goodbye to possessions that might have to stay behind are all important in helping children to make memories and carry a small part of this place with them.
T:
Think Destination
Think and dream about where you are going. Provide as much detail to children as is developmentally appropriate for them. Help them think through what life will be like so they can begin to visualize themselves as being successful and welcome in that environment. This is the point where making essential preparations for practical matters takes precedence as well. If you have an upcoming move, please contact the TKS Registrar’s Office to find out about check-out procedures. If you would like help in planning for your children’s needs, don’t hesitate to contact the School Counselor in their division. by: Johanna Smith Bakken, School Counselor
from David Tigchelaar, GSS Principal Dear Parents, October, was a very busy month for the Secondary School. MAP tests were written in the first week of October and provide another important piece of information to inform our understanding of a student’s progress.
MYP
The MYP Personal Project Exhibition took place in Discovery Square on October 5, and students shared their learning with many members of the community, including KAUST students. Personally, I find this event the most pleasurable community event of the year. We recognized the success of last year’s G10 students at the MYP certificate award night and are proud to have so many dedicated and talented students at the school. On October 17, we presented a Parent Information Session during lunchtime at the University. The MYP is a complex and multi-layered programme. Our MYP coordinator and two teachers did an excellent job in unpacking how the units are designed, taught and assessed.
University Presentations
Students, and G12s in particular, are thinking about the next step in their journey. To facilitate their decision making, we invited representatives from universities around the world to the school over several evening events. The evenings were well attended by students and parents and we hope these sessions are helping students to make informed choices.
Co-curricular
October was equally busy for co-curricular activities with 6 different volleyball teams participating in several tournaments on and off campus. For the Variety Show on October 10, students chose to present vocal performances with a slightly nostalgic theme. It was a wonderful evening with beautiful music. I admire our students for having the courage to perform on stage in front of an audience. On October 16, sponsors for many different OOK trips presented their trip to students and parents, assisting them to make a decision on whether they want to participate in one of these trips. We also hosted a Model United Nations conference in the University Auditorium on October 25-28.
Looking forward
the following events are scheduled over the coming month: • 3-way conferences for G11-G12 parents on October 30, after school, and G6-G10 parents on October 31. • 6 football teams will be participating in several tournaments • Mark Church, a former IB teacher and currently a well renowned author and researcher with Harvard’s Project Zero, will work with our teachers this month. • Some of our MUN students will participate in the YMGE conference in Budapest • Two parent information sessions on course selection o Grade 8 students and parents will be welcome on November 29 o Grade 10 students and parents will be welcome on November 30 We will send you an email soon for an additional Parent Information Session in which we will share the MYP / DP and Open-minded MAP results from last year. Communicatiors
MYP Certificates Evening On Sunday 15th October 2017, last year’s G10 class – current G11’s – and their families attended the MYP Certificates Evening in the GSS Auditorium. IB MYP Certificates and MYP Record of Achievement were presented to students by their Grade 10 Advisors. Mr. Powell, the MYP Coordinator, spoke about the importance of making the right choices and choosing the right path. Graduation nights are important events in one’s lifetime. They offer an opportunity to briefly catch a breath before the next chapter of learning begins. This class were curious and formed a strong unit over the course of the year. They exhibited a number of the IB Learner Profile attributes over the year and they all strived for that necessary balance. The G10 and Personal Project leader, Ms. Laney Rweyemamu, spoke about the number of challenges they had faced but that their ability to come together had helped each other through some tough times academically and in other realms of their lives.
Photos: Anjiao Wu, Library Assistant
This was the third year that TKS GSS students had taken e-assessment exams and the results overall were impressive. Six areas of the curriculum are obligatory (including the Personal Project and Interdisciplinary) and two other subjects are selected based on the higher results. TKS students performed particularly well in the Personal Project. Congratulations to all. It was an enjoyable evening of celebration. By Peter Powell, MYP Coordinator
G8 and the Desert Agriculture Initiative
G8 Science students had the opportunity to tour the KAUST Greenhouse and meet with members of the Desert Agriculture Initiative, as an extension to their current unit on Plants and Inheritance. Mariam Awlia, a PhD Candidate in Plant Science, led students on a tour of the greenhouse where University students and researchers are conducting experiments around plant biodiversity, adaptations, variation, photosynthesis, and DNA. Researchers at the university are working with plants to make them more salt and drought tolerant. In addition to the greenhouse tour, TKS students also had the opportunity to listen to an abridged Ted Talk by Professor Mark Tester about the work he is doing with the quinoa plant. Prof. Tester and his students are working towards creating crops that are more resilient to the growing environment in Saudi Arabia - with the long term goal of addressing big issues like world hunger, climate change, and drought. The trip provided a real world extension to the concepts and lab work students are currently completing in their science classes, and the chance to learn about some of the overlap between TKS and greater KAUST.
Photos and article by: Roger Gribbins, Ed Tech Coach
Power is Gained by Sharing Knowledge
Photo: Eshan Wells, G11
Our 4th annual Personal Project Exhibition took place in Discovery Square on Thursday, October 5. As part of fulfilling the requirements of their project, 38 students received valuable feedback to re-evaluate and adjust their goal, research, action, and reflections. “I really enjoyed being able to understand what kinds of ideas the community had, and what areas I could improve on to make my project the best possible.” Bethany Nason “The Discovery Square Exhibition allowed me to share the most crucial part of my project and get constructive feedback. I was able to expand the knowledge of the KAUST community and raise awareness about a Parsi Culture.” Diana Aibara “The ability to interact with university members was exceedingly beneficial to my project.” Jana Thistle "The Exhibition allowed me to communicate with people from around the world and develop my social skills." Mariyah Abualnaja
By Laney Rweyemamu, Personal Project Coordinator
Arts at GSS
VARIETY SHOW On Tuesday, October 10 TKS presented the Variety Show, an entertaining evening of music and song enjoyed by all. Students and teachers performed popular and classical pieces to an appreciative audience in the GSS Auditorium. The next Variety Show will be in March – start polishing your dancing shoes, sharpening your instrumental technique, warming up your vocal cords and practicing your act for an even bigger and better event!
MAKING HISTORY AT TKS! This year sees the first ever International Baccalaureate Diploma Theatre students at TKS! The course was introduced in August as part of the growing Arts programme at the school. Not just for “theatre buffs”, the course develops critical and creative thinking, collaboration, applied research, presentation, communication and project management - all the vital skills for life in the modern world and for many professions, whether law, marketing, journalism or international relations. Students take leadership roles in the class ensemble, exploring theatre traditions from around the world, creating collaborative pieces and presentations and, for Higher Level studies, developing a full solo piece based on research into the work of professional theatre practitioners. “We’re having too much fun learning for this to be hard work” is the verdict so far…. By Claudia Kennedy, Drama Teacher
Arts at GSS ANNOUNCEMENT December 2-4, 2017 TKS Presents the Annual Musical: Save the date
The story of Alice in Wonderland like you have never seen it before! Featuring over 90 Secondary school students in the cast and band.
Not to be missed!
Page by Page and Piece by Piece!
Since the kick off Assembly, students from G6-9 have been eagerly working on the big Book Bowl Puzzle, putting it together piece by piece after answering questions from the books they have ďŹ nished reading. Pop by the library to see how the Book Bowl puzzle is being constructed and witness the progress of your teams.
Physical and Health Education: Unit One G6 Cycling KAUST is a wonderful community for students riding bikes. In the spirit of embracing our local environment, the Physical and Health Education (PHE) department has incorporated biking into the G6 curriculum. Our cycling unit focused on road safety, exploring our community, and creating a plan to improve fitness.
G7 Invasion Games During the Invasion Games unit, the students played floor hockey and football to explore how the balance of a team requires the effective functioning of all members. The students enjoyed collaborating in teams to plan defensive and attack strategies to apply in gameplay.
G8 Martial Arts The G8 PHE students have been investigating through martial arts the statement of inquiry ‘different movements offer choice to express creativity’. They created and developed a movement routine and then showcased these to G1 students.
G9 Movement G9 PHE students have been investigating how ‘Adapting and refining techniques as a result of planning will improve performance’. They created and developed a movement routine using planning and reflection strategies.
G10 Movement The G10 PHE students have been investigating the statement of inquiry ‘Different cultures express themselves through movement to illustrate their identity’. Students have looked into their own and other's culture, identity and influences to then illustrate these through a movement routine.
Snapshots from FEP at GSS
TKS Vacancies: Elementary School Teacher – temporary position: Eligible spouses, with teaching qualiďŹ cations, who are interested in providing temporary cover (maternity leave) are invited to apply through: http://opportunities.kaust.edu.sa/apply/