The United Nations comes to TKS for our oldest students, there’s a beach beast, 3D-printed cars, Albert gets a very special invitation, biology up close, and some of our young people get even wiser. Our incoming Middle School and High School Principals met our staff, students and parents.
Our students perform well on standardised tests and on the DP exams, but our school is not just about the academic curriculum. Our co-curricular program has expanded significantly in the last few years.
The last few weeks have been particularly busy with many RSAC and SAIKAC tournaments. Last season was the season of football, netball, badminton and swimming.
This season, our students participate in basketball, tennis, track and field and swimming. Later in the year, there will be field trips for artistic exchange with the RSAC and SAUKAC schools as well.
In addition, a group of students participated in the Duke of Edinburgh award, developing their outdoor skills by hiking, orienteering and camping in the desert. A group of Grade 6 students went to Al Ula, connecting their learning in the ancient civilizations unit with real-life experiences in Saudi Arabia.
Some of our Middle School students went on a day trip to the skydiving centre north of Madinah and the grand mosque in Madinah.
Meanwhile, more than 150 students participated in the Model United Nations event in February, which you can read more about in this e-zine.
The MUN conference is an excellent example of how students develop their communication, problem-solving, self-management and organization skills in a real context, while also developing an understanding of global relationships. We are planning to come up with a more comprehensive plan for local, national and international field trips next year.
Our student organizations are also a good example of learning outside the regular curriculum. These started this year with renewed energy, including dedicated groups for school spirit, communication, care for fellow students, service and global issues, and an advisory committee that discusses student issues with the administration. They develop their organization, communication, bookkeeping and planning skills, using the right tools for the right purpose.
Middle School student organizations ran a spirit week with house points, served at the Support Staff Lunch, created a PSA for Sports Day around sportsmanship, volunteered at a volleyball tournament and initiated conversations advocating for student concerns and organized the MS Movie Night.
High School student organizations have created new student leadership structures, positions, and processes, organized a pep rally, the spirit week and a Grade 11/12 Lock Down, helped with the sports days and the Tidal Wave and raised funds for school events through bake sales.
We are looking forward to more involvement of students in the co-curricular program for the rest of the year.
Our Middle School Robotics club was invited to attend a Winter Enrichment Program activity, Zach Jansen and the Beach Beast Building Workshop. This was an engineering and design workshop based on the work of world-renowned artist Theo Jansen.
Students helped to plan and build TKS’s own wind-powered beach beast or "strandbeast". They worked to organize and assemble the components and demonstrated perseverance and trouble-shooting skills throughout. Look out for the KAUST beach beast on display at the school soon.
Mathew McEwen Middle School Design Teacher
TKS offered students the opportunity to take part in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) last November. Six of our students sat for the 75-minute exam. The Mathematical Association of America (MAA)’s mission is to advance the understanding of mathematics and its impact on our world. They believe in offering these exams to support strengthening the mathematical capabilities of the next generation of problem-solvers. It’s taken by hundreds of thousands of students worldwide.
TKS is one of only two schools in the Kingdom to offer the American Math Competition (AMC). With the release of the TKS student’s scores, we’d like to recognize Albert Zhao in Grade 8, for his achievement on the AMC 10 exam.
Albert has qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). This is a challenging competition offered to those who excelled on the AMC 10. This exam is by invitation only, and students need to score in the top 2.5% globally to be invited. Approximately 3,000 students each year qualify, and one is a TKS Shark!Congratulations, Albert!
Albert Zhoo, Grade 8, below
Rodnella TurnerTalent and Enrichment Coordinator
In recent years, our Secondary School has grown significantly to the point where it is both feasible and advantageous to develop a Middle School (Grades 6-8) and High School (Grades 9-12).
Although we often think of secondary school as a single phase, there is a significant difference between the developmental needs of early and late adolescents.
Having a Middle School and High School enables us to provide even more developmentally-appropriate approaches to these age groups. This includes focusing on the most relevant support for social and emotional wellbeing, greater opportunities for leadership for Middle School students which do not exist in a secondary model, and the opportunity for High School to become a fresh and exciting chapter in students’ educational journey.
The progress towards a Middle and High School has been ongoing for the last two years. TKS has been able to schedule most secondary teachers into specialized Middle School or High School roles, and where possible, students have been located in divisional spaces.
There has been a differentiation in some programs and activities, such as student leadership organizations, PAC representation, and students are increasingly familiar with the naming conventions of ‘Middle’ and ‘High’. Curriculum continuity across Middle School and High School is built in as the Middle Years Programme, which runs from Grade 6 to Grade 10. Our curriculum architecture and standards ensure alignment, continuity and progression across grades.
The visit of our incoming Middle School and High School principals is the final stage of this exciting process. During their visit, they met with the current secondary principal, David Tichgelaar, the leadership teams and divisional heads of department, students and parents at a ‘meet and greet’. The delegation also visited the site of the school expansion.
The site will house:Fieldhouse (Sport Hall)Locker/changing roomsOfficesTwo gym floorsMultipurpose/studio room Five classroomsSeven learning spacesTwo common learning spacesFitness center with free weights and machinesHealth Office Teachers' officesStudent loungeLarge outdoor learning patioNew modern furniture
We hope to also house the High School English and I & S departments, High School PE department, some ES PE classes and our TKS Athletics & Activities leaders.
What a great professional encounter this week was! A real highlight was listening to MYP students share their personal projects at the University/the Spine. I was impressed with how confident and well-spoken our students are. These were true personal projects–diverse and meaningful. In these presentations I saw the budding writers, researchers, athletes, leaders and entrepreneurs fostered by TKS. I can´t wait to fully join the team in August!
Julian EdwardsDirector of Learning and Innovation
I'm excited to join such a vibrant school community. I've been really impressed with the people I've met this week. I've heard about the many initiatives that help TKS's students flourish inside and outside the classroom, not to mention the excellent university counselling which prepares students for their next steps. This is clearly an exciting time to join TKS, and I'm looking forward to joining this remarkable community in a few months!
Our Grade 11 Biology Diploma Programme students visited KAUST’s Imaging & Characterization Core Lab in November. The trip included viewing two types of electron microscopes in action (transmission and scanning), as well as a whole spectrum of light microscopes. This fits perfectly with the biology curriculum and allowed them to see real-life applications of their theoretical knowledge.
The Core Lab scientists demonstrated how these microscopes are used in various fields (material science, engineering) at KAUST and also how they can be used for biological materials.
Ashraf Alamoudi (Senior Staff Scientist - Electron Microscopy) taught them about the transmission electron microscope and how an image is generated.
Maya Ayach (Staff Scientist - Electron Microscopy) showed them the intricacies of the wings and eyes of a fly by scanning electron microscopy.
Ebtihaj Boukhari (Staff Scientist - Optical Lab) demonstrated confocal microscopy and how this tool can be used to label specific parts of a cell. The students asked great questions and came back invigorated and excited by their visit.
With many thanks to the Director of the Imaging and Characterization Core Lab, Rachid Sougrat, for coordinating the trip.
Emma NasonGrade 9 Science and Grade 11/12 Biology Teacher; CAS Coordinator
Our TKS Internship program (TKSIP) and the WISE Summer Program have now come together under the name WISER (Work Internship, Student Experience in Research).
The WISER program offers internship opportunities all year round – during Semester 1 and Semester 2, Grades 11 and 12 students can undertake internships in KAUST departments or in the academic/research areas of the university. This enables them to broaden their portfolio (for University and/or work applications), and to provide another opportunity to fulfill CAS (creativity, activity, and service) requirements.
In addition, students moving into Grade 11 and Grade 12, along with undergraduate university students, can take part in the four-week WISER Summer Program, which offers internships across the university and community too.
Both the term-time internships and the WISER Summer Program are extremely popular amongst our Diploma students. During the second semester, we have 15 students on the program. They’re working across a wide range of departments, including:
Marine sciencePetroleum engineeringPhotonicsSecurityCommunicationsFinanceCommunity LifeElementary School
Mohammad Alghaith - G11 Student
This is my second semester in the WISER program. I started the first semester with KAUST Security and am now with TKS Communications.
I have participated in many communications and marketing opportunities within the school, such as being the Executive Council Communications Officer, Publications and Promotions Prefect for the school musical, and leading the HS and MS communications committees. This semester, I applied for an internship with the school communications department as this would provide me with essential work experience and skill development.
Some of the job duties that I have been involved in so far include:
Photography - Principals Meet & Greet reception, SAIKAC home games
I am looking forward to compiling a case study video featuring this year’s group of interns.
Fabian Finkbeiner, G11 StudentOur modern living is well supported by clean water and air, safe housing and community, reliable electricity supply, and ever-faster connectivity. For years, we have been enjoying the fruits of innovation in science and technology. However, with industrialization and ever faster internet provided by the existing data centers, energy crises and greenhouse emissions may eventually prevent us from achieving sustainable living.
In his internship, Fabian is invited to investigate how semiconductors and photonics can make a difference in addressing some of these issues by exploring how innovation in ultrawide and wide-bandgap semiconductors could enhance energy transmission efficiency and potentially reduce greenhouse emissions.Fabian has stood out among his peers and will have his name, along with the other members of the lab, published in the research paper about their discoveries.
Azra HanifPamoja and Outreach Coordinator
Fabian Finkbeiner (pictured left, and overleaf), one of our Grade 11 students, has been undertaking an internship in the KAUST Photonics Laboratory under the mentorship of Professor Boon Ooi and Doctor Tien Khee Ng since August 2022 and is continuing until the end of the school year.
What great achievements for our young students! We are very thankful for all the KAUST mentors, co-mentors, and departments that allow young students like Mohammad and Fabian to dive into these experiences early in their lives!
Months of busy preparation resulted in what was a successful seventh annual TKS MUN (Model United Nations) conference. Held at the university, our TKS students, along with visiting students from four other schools based around the Kingdom, spent three days engaging in robust debate in response to real-life challenges.
The various committees passed a number of resolutions, tackled a crisis situation and also engaged with a number of KAUST experts working in fields related to their topics.
The Secretariat did their jobs well and the leadership team of Hannan Mohaddin (Secretary General), Sierra Remington (Deputy Secretary General), Jana AbdelMohsen (Deputy Secretary General), Mariam Hoteit (Deputy Secretary General) and Aeliya Syed (Deputy Secretary General), should be proud of the level of debate and general success of the conference.
Mirroring the university’s Winter Enrichment Program week theme, “Edge: Transform the world you know”, encouraged our MUN delegates to think outside of the box and develop solutions to global issues that were creative and future-focused.
There were so many involved in ensuring the success of this conference and we would like to extend a big ‘thank you’ to each and every one of you.
We are already looking forward to next year’s conference and to seeing these delegates one day leading on the global stage.
Danielle van RooyenMiddle School Humanities Teacher
Pictures by Evan Tzavaras G11 student
Our Grade 7 students were challenged to design a 3D-printed race car by designing, modeling and printing a design, then finishing and testing their racer.
Students researched into 3D modeling and used Fusion 360 software to create their racers. They then tested different factors like weight and wheels to improve their times on the track.
Students could also opt to create a unique design and aesthetic for a design competition. They built on and developed design skills and techniques throughout the project. The final 14 cars raced in a friendly competition in the flag pavilion.
Race winners
Haniyah ZaheerSean McEwenPablo Finkbeiner Rivera
Design winners
Jackson GallouziGabby EsselPriyanshi Nayak
The personal project is an independent nine-month project that all IB Middle Years Program Grade 10 students embark upon that marks the end of their MYP. It is first introduced to students at the end of Grade 9 to provide them with the opportunity to begin their project during their summer vacation.
The personal project consists of a product of their own initiative and a 15-page report. The report is the only component that is assessed, but it reflects both the process and the product and is evidenced-based. The personal project gives students the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired over the five-year IB MYP. They start with two goals: what they want to learn and what they want to create.
All students are assigned a supervisor who will help guide them along the way, but it is entirely self-managed, as it is not attached to any one classroom or subject. The personal project helps prepare students for the IB Diploma Programme, as it is based on self-directed inquiry. If they choose the right project for them, it provides the opportunity to share with others something that is of great interest to them as an individual.
This year we had 97 students who participated with a range of products. Grade 10 student, Karem Hamden, researched the idea of developing a diagnostic test to detect both COVID-19 and MERS simultaneously. Another student, Emils Ekers, set out to understand the aerodynamics behind how an aircraft flies, and the process behind building an aircraft. Other projects included learning new pottery glazing techniques, creative recipes depicting a student’s own culture, anxiety and depression booklets for teenagers, and health and fitness. There was such a wide variety of interesting topics covered and too many to list them all here
They will be graded initially by teachers, standardized in groups and marked externally by the International Baccalaureate. A certificate will be issued with an IB grade out of 7 that shows their completion of the Middle Years Program. Next for the students will be the IB Diploma.
Michele McLayMYP Coordinator
