Faith, Knowledge and Work
KFS Primary Newsletter
Inspire. Motivate. Achieve
King Faisal School
The goal of King Faisal School is to develop young people through a rigorous national and international program of study. KFS students are encouraged to attain academic excellence based on a foundation of faith, knowledge and work in order to help create a sustainable, peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. KFS fosters respect for Arab Islamic heritage while embracing an international perspective which is vital to meet the demands of the modern world. KFS inspires students to succeed as world citizens and to be the best that they can be. students must average a grade of 4 to progress to the next grade. Students failing to satisfy a minimum average grade of 4 will be placed on probation during the school year; • establishing a Learning Centre to support students who require additional assistance in English, mathematics and Arabic; • providing regular feedback to parents about their son’s learning through regular ‘Portfolio Days’ which will be open to fathers and mothers; • providing a more comprehensive student progress report that reflects all PYP elements; • changing the timetable to 60 minute lessons, instead of 40 minutes; • introducing Arabic as a second language for those students who are not native speakers; and • introducing student leadership opportunities for students in Grades 1-5; It’s almost time to start thinking summer vacation as the last day of the 2013 academic year for students will be Thursday, 29 May 2014. The 2013 academic year has been a busy year in the Primary School. I thank students, staff and parents for your efforts and cooperation. As you will see from the planned events for the 2014 academic year on the next page, it will also be another busy and exciting year ahead of us. Importantly, 2014 will be about seeking excellence in everything we do. To be successful and to maximise student achievement, specific changes will be introduced. However, we will only be successful if the school and home work in partnership and work towards the same goal: ensuring your son works to, or beyond, his potential and ability. Some of these important changes include: • ensuring the importance of attendance is reinforced with future student progression requiring consistent attendance; • implementing 1-7 grade scale (similar to MYP and DP) based on student performance, effort and attendance in which
KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
I take this opportunity to wish all our students, their families and our staff a safe and enjoyable vacation. I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday, 31 August, at 7.00am. We have an exciting and busy academic year ahead of us, so please don’t miss one moment of it. To help offset vacation brain drain, vacation activities have been prepared and suggested for each grade. These documents can be found on the Primary School website (Documents -> General) The Primary School Newsletter is published each fortnight. A Parents’ Bulletin will be sent some prior to publication to remind parents that the latest edition is available online. The full colour edition can be found on the Primary School (English) website: http://www.kfs.sch.sa/pyp-eng/tabid/815/ Default.aspx Skyward, or at http://issuu.com/kfsprimaryschool/docs/kfs_primary_newsletter_210514 As always, I appreciate your support. Dr Ken Darvall (Principal)
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2014-2015 Primary School Year Calendar AUGUST 2014 ! 10 Principals commence 17 New staff (+ coordinators & secretaries) commence 20 Returning staff commence Schools’ planning week 31 School starts / UNIT1 UNIT 1 (4 weeks: 31 Aug-25 Sep)
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7 Swimming carnival 21 PYP Exhibition 24 Summative assessment 27 Assembly of excellence 28 Three-way interviews 28 G5 Graduation 31 Students commence summer vacation 31 Professional development
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2 Tables competitions 12-15 Summative assessment 16 Portfolio Day Unit 6 (6 Weeks:19 April-21 May) 20-30 Art exhibition
! NOVEMBER 2014!
4-8 Summative assessment 7 Science Fair 8 Three-way interviews 8 S2 leadership elections 9 Student vacation commences 11-15 Professional Development 18-22 Semester 1 vacation (staff) 25 Semester 2 commences 25 Leadership assembly 29 Sports day (includes bike event) Unit 4 (6 weeks: 25 Jan-5 March)
1-5 Summative assessment 1 National Safety Week 5 Portfolio Day International Day Unit 5 (6 Weeks: 8 Mar- 16 April) 19 Quranic recitation competition 22 - 26 Mid semester vacation 29 Classes commence 29 Spelling bee competition!
! OCTOBER 2014!
3-4 Book character parade 18 Arabic International Day (UN) 31 Semester 1 reports completed
19 Young Authors’ Fair
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KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
2014 Notes Unit 1: 4 weeks Unit 2: 7 weeks Unit 3: 6 weeks Unit 4: 6 weeks Unit 5: 5 weeks Unit 6: 5 weeks 2015 Notes 23 August: New academic year begins
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There are no happier people on this planet than those who decide that they want something, define what they want, get hold of the feeling of it even before it is manifestation and then joyously watch the unfolding as, piece by piece by piece, it begins to unfold. That’s the feeling in the paint. Abraham !
KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
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A Café (a pottery café) is a venue for painting your own Pottery and Ceramic.
It is a place where the kids can get their creative juices flowing and create a plate, a bowl, or maybe one of the nicest novelty shapes like Dolphins and Angels. Grade One ‘A’ students, went to that spectacular place on Thursday, April 24, 2014 to ‘Express Themselves’. They were much more than engaged in painting several shapes and decorating them. The café was really equipped to drive your imagination to special places outside the café itself. The students were confident enough to absorb the rules governing painting and techniques to make !
KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
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artwork a masterpiece from the first try. They were provided with a unique creative-fun-entertainment experience through painting their own pottery, combined with quality food and beverage that Empowered their minds, Boosted their energy, Unleashed their creativity, and Increased their productivity. Have a look at Grade One ‘A’ students painting and having fun. Thanks and Best Regards from Hanadi Fouda/ Grade One ‘A’ Homeroom teacher !
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! KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
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KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
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Dear KFS family… It’s never Goodbye! We grade 2 teachers are happy and proud of what you students have achieved this year. We are proud of your success… Together we have practised well, being good thinkers, risk takers, principled, inquirers and yet more… Thank you for teaching us how to be teachers. You told us over and over again that what matters most is that we connect with you and we did, and that made all the
difference. You told us that you deserve second chances to
KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
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prove yourself, and we gave you second chances. Many of you showed us that you could become wonderful students. We loved that you understood that we were inquiring and exploring together, that we were journeying into the wonder of it all. You all made us so proud and our hearts so full. Finally, always remember that we are always there to listen and advice…
Goodbyes are not forever, goodbyes are not the end…they simply mean we will miss you until we meet again… It’s never Goodbye! Grade 2 Team
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EDUCATION TRENDS
Why Teachers Matter MAY 5, 2014
When I was growing up, I didn't enjoy school very much. I liked English class, and shop. (Those were the days when we had shop . . .) But when it came to math and science, I didn't do that well. The truth is, I barely made it through high school. Today, our educational system looks much different than it did when I was a student. Especially in recent years, we’ve been undergoing a major transition in education. Kids today grow up immersed in a world of digital technology. Information is now freely available to everyone. It's powerful. Digital technology can get information, store information, do calculations and connect people in new ways. Digital technology can do so many amazing things for the learning process, but it can't be human.
The Human Touch in Education When you really think back about your best teachers, they were the ones who connected with you. They might have been classroom teachers, after-school coaches, parents or principals. They patted you on the back, knew your name and made jokes with you. They were human beings offering encouragement and building confidence, saying things like, "I know you can do this. Come on." And this is one way in which the world hasn't changed: teaching is still the most important job. To me, there is nothing more exciting, fulfilling and wonderful than watching a kid finally grasp a concept, then take the information and use it in the real world. Teachers make this happen. Teachers motivate. Teachers synthesize information to help students understand. Teachers listen, coach and mentor. Teachers matter. On behalf of the rest of the staff at The George Lucas Educational Foundation, thank you, teachers!
Source: www.edutopia.org/blog/why-teaching-matters-george-lucas Links
KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
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KFS$PRIMARY$SCHOOL AGE 11 10 9 8 7 10 & 11 8&9 10 & 11 7, 8 & 9 10 & 11 9 & 10 8 7 Open
2014$SWIMMING$CHAMPIONSHIPS
EVENT Freestyle Freestyle Freestyle Freestyle Freestyle Breaststroke Breaststroke Backstroke Backstroke Butterfly Kickboard Kickboard Kickboard Champion of Champions
RECORD HOLDER Sulaiman Al Hegelan Mohammed Alhajin Faisal Fahad Al Saud Abdulaziz Aldulkheil Salman Aldukheil Muhammad Al Hejih Saud Alzulfah Muhammad Al Hejih Faisal Fahad Al Saud Sulaiman Al Hegelan Sultan Al Rawdan Faisal Ali Mohammed Alrabiah Sulaiman Al Hegelan
KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
8$MAY$2014
TIME 17.94 18.35 20.97 19.29 29.25 22.97 30.78 24.63 32.26 20.65 28.07 1.10.15 33.06 18.75
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KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
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KFS Primary School
The Learner Profile Risk-Takers
Caring
Communicators Reflective
Thinkers
Inquirers
OpenMinded Knowledgeable
Principled
Balanced
The IB Learner Profile is the at attributes and descriptors th at IB define the type of student th hopes to develop through its programs. KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
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KFS Primary School Diplomatic Quarter PO Box 94558 Riyadh 11614 P: (+966) 11 4820802
Ext 1101
E: primary@kfs.sch.sa www.kfs.sch.sa @KFS_Primary
KFS Primary School Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 8
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