By royal appointment, edible education, Saudi National Day celebrations and World Teachers' Day.
Students from The EFFECT [eco-friendly for every class time] Club shared their individual interest areas and projects they were working on with Princess Abeer, who is Head of Sustainability and Technology Projects for the Family Office. The purpose of the EFFECT Club is to promote environmental awareness and activism. Its branches include:
Community outreach
Education
Energy consumption
Food choices
Garden and compost
Global understanding
Vision and leadership
Princess Abeer was very impressed and looks forward to returning to see the development of our sustainability programs and the Kingdom’s first edible garden.
Perhaps you have seen the garden coordinator working with the operations team at TKS to finalize construction at the garden and chatting with students as they pass by, letting them know that soon they too will be a part of the edible school garden?
If so, let me introduce you to the Edible School Garden Project! This program works closely with the Center for Desert Agriculture at KAUST to cultivate connections to nature, creativity, healthy food, and sustainable education.
The beauty of the Edible School Garden Project (beyond the flowers that will fill the beds in the near future) is that it connects students from KG to Grade 12 to nature in a holistic manner. Students will learn through hands-on, authentic activities in the garden space such important topics as: the need for healthy soil and water conservation; concerns for biodiversity and the impact a well-managed garden space can have; how to plant, care for, and harvest a multitude of plant varieties; and how amazingly easy and important it is to compost.
Once the kitchen area is established, the program strives to encourage students to find connections to the food they harvest, prepare, and taste to topics such as culture, the environment, and personal wellbeing.
The Edible School Garden Project will bring environmental education beyond the walls of the classroom and serve as a source of inspiration for curricular connections across all grade levels. The program aims to cultivate connections between students and nature, their community, and the wider world through understanding the impact local food production has on the future of the planet.
Mary MaySustainability and Edible Education Coordinator
And finally, the garden space will serve the community as a gathering space where wellbeing, rest, and relaxation can be found. See you in the garden!
During this community event, exceptional teachers in the region were awarded and recognized by HRH Prince Saud Bin Abdullah Bin Jalawi. Teachers were recognized for their outstanding contributions to their teaching and learning communities within Jeddah.
Attendees viewed a beautiful video sharing our school and neighboring schools. Filmed at TKS and Thuwal schools, the video showed our students and teachers engaging in learning.
In the Kindergarten and Elementary school, students engaged with Jedda Massouda, a local weaver, as they heard stories about tradition and inquired into sustainable practices. All students also enjoyed a very hands-on dance lesson with the AlWafa folklore dance group as they learned how dance is a core piece of Saudi culture and how each dance uses poetry, music and movement to tell stories.
Festive energy was felt across divisions as students and staff learned more about this special country we all call home.
The striped hyena, Arabian oryx, spotted seahorse and Arabian leopard are all on the verge of extinction - but Saudi Arabia is doing its part to protect these precious animals.
Saudi Arabia plans to grow 10 billion trees across the country as part of its Green Initiative.
It takes four days to make one basket out of palm leaves.
Yasmeen GhunaimTKS Advancement Lead Photo credit: Naomi Nason (G12)
