Hybrid learning
WELCOMIN
October 28, 2020
CONTENTS Sport news PAC Summaries Director's Message
From Secondary
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In a nutshell: Summaries of October's PAC Meetings Kindergarten PAC: The KG PAC discussed the following topics: • Implementation of AERO Benchmarks in K3 and the use of the Developmental Objectives from Creative Curriculum and the assessment tool from Teaching Strategies Gold in Kl and K2. • Hybrid Learning in October and from November 1st. • Home Learning in KG from November 1st. • Generative conversation around opportunities to increase hours in K3. Ahad Syed: ahad.syed@kaust.edu.sa Simerjit Kaur: simer.kaur@kaust.edu.sa Margherita Zocca:
Secondary PAC: The GSS PAC discussed the following topics: • GSS student achievement data were presented, illustrating recent results for the IB Diploma and MYP certificate as well as historical MAP data. • The IB Diploma results of last year's cohort are well above world average. • GSS continues its commitment towards improving student achievement in Mathematics. • The PAC asked questions about student voice in the school. It was concluded that while students have a significant voice in providing feedback to teachers on effective teaching strategies , the mechanisms in place to provide feedback on general issues and school structures, could improve. • The PAC made a request to see a curriculum overview of the subject Life Skills. As the course overview of all the other subjects are documented on the website, it would be good to see an overview of Life Skills as well. • The PAC asked the school to provide some more detail regarding the information on the Hybrid model.
margheritazocca88@gmail.com
Elementary PAC: The GES PAC discussed the following topics: • PAC provided feedback on GES's distance and hybrid Learning models. • Forecasted the launch of a full-time face-to-face model. • Discussed future agenda items. Faisal Wali: faisal.wali@kaust.edu.sa Dareen Monshi: mrs.dareen.monshi@gmail.com Andreia Farinha: andreia.farinha@kaust.edu.sa Adeel Ahmad: aahmad@fakeeh.care Ana Margarida Costa: anamargarida.costa@kaust.edu.sa Ahmad Kadoura: ahmad.kadoura@kaust.edu.sa Rebecca Buttigieg: rebecca.buttigieg@kaust.edu.sa
Somayah AlGashgari: somayah.algashgari@kaust.edu.sa Hind Aljohani: hind.johani@kaust.edu.sa Christine Rueping: christine.rueping@kaust.edu.sa Aamir Farooq: aamir.farooq@kaust.edu.sa Anna Rautek: anna.rautek@kaust.edu.sa Brian Ross: brian.ross@kaust.edu.sa Melissa Fotea: melfotea@hotmail.com
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The Newly Transformed GSS Library
It all began years back with conversations among GSS students, teachers, and librarians asking the question, "What should our library learning space look like in the 21st century?" Grade level focus groups brainstormed ideas for the direction this transformation should go in order for the library to support the GSS learning community in the best possible way. The need for adaptation was evident, not only for the reasons so well articulated by the American Library Association but also because our learning community felt it. Real transformation always starts from within. Those ALA rationals such a s " Because learning happens 24/7", "Because collaboration empowers", "Because eBooks let you f i t a World o f Literature in your packet" (ALA) were obviously behind our motivation and were moving us forward. Our mantra during this process was "Intensifying the learning experience." We believe that with this transformation, our library became a SMART library. Stimulating Mobile Attractive Revolving Technology-enhanced
However, the journey never ends, as libraries are constantly evolving around the needs o f the community they serve. As Kawasaki said in his TEDTalk, "The art o f Innovation;" Don't define yourself as what you do, but as what benefits you can deliver" (Kawasaki). This transformation's real test will be what benefits our GSS Library can deliver to its learning community. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the school's Ad min Team for their support and for bringing in the Dubai-based Design Company. This transformation would not have been possible without the Operation Team's tireless work in seeing through the process step by step in the ti me o f COVI D. The GSS Library Team
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Winners of the Logo Design Contest Announced
Congratulations to Sonya
Merchant in Gr 10, and Molly Mycroft-Edwards Gr8
whose ideas for logo designs were selected by a construction company in the USA to be part of their new Logo. They will each be awarded Apple Coupons from the Apple Store. Below is a representation of the final logo which is still under some revision, which incorporates many elements o f their ideas. Students in several design classes are in a visual communication unit and many of the graphic skills they have learned directly applied to this real-world project.
REMINGTON BUILT, INC GENERATIONS OF EXCELLENCE
CCB 157194
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Design Classes Start the Year with Designing a Paper Cell Phone Holder By Jesse Remington, GSS Design Department Teacher
The start o f this year presented a unique set o f challenges to teachers, parents, and students due to distance learning. There are students (and teachers) new to TKS who were (and still a rel) not at KAUST yet. For design teachers the normal faceto-face teaching methods, tools, machines are not accessible to all the students. Questions were raised about how to start the learning and get students immediately engaged during Distance Learning? How to teach new students about the Design Cycle and how design classes are structured for those students who may not be at TKS to ensure equity? So the solution that was devised to answer these questions for grades 7-10, was to assign a design challenge to students to design and build a paper cell phone holder. All students had access to paper, glue, tape and cell phones at their homes so the material access was equitable and the learning and fun could begin.
Developing ideas the solution
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