Welcome to
KAUST Schools! We are excited to welcome your children to be
part of this exciting new venture. Here are some fast facts about KAUST
Schools:
Grade Levels: KAUST Schools provide education for students from age 3 through grade 12. Students must be 3, 4, or 5 years of age by August 31st in order to enter the K1, K2, or K3 program.
Curriculum: As an International Baccalaureate Candidate School, we are preparing to be authorized as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy - a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that we believe is important for our students. Only schools recognized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) as IB World Schools can offer any of its three academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme, (MYP), or the Diploma Programme. Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IBO and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org.
Class Size: Our goal is to maintain a ratio of one teacher for every fourteen students in early childhood and one teacher to every eighteen students in elementary and secondary. In the early years of the KAUST Schools, classes may be even smaller.
Extra-Curricular Activities: Students will have opportunities to participate in a variety of activities after school. Some possible activities include yoga, fine arts, enrichment classes, crafts, academic competitions and sports. Additionally the schools work closely with the recreation centers to provide leisure activities for our students. As we implement the IB programs prior to authorization, service will be an important part of the curriculum.
Teachers: Our highly qualified, child-centered professional teachers come from a variety of countries. Sixty-three per cent of our faculty have earned advanced degrees and the vast majority have taught in other international schools
Language of Instruction: English is the language of instruction. For those students for whom English is not their native language, we will offer classes for English support. Arabic will be offered to native speakers and as a second language to non-native speakers.
School Year: Students will have 180 days of school. The 2009-2010 school year will start on September 26, 2009 and conclude in mid-June of 2010.
Special Services: Language support as mentioned above will be provided for students whose mother tongue is not English. Special assistance will be provided to students with mild learning disabilities.
Facilities: The KAUST Schools have been purpose built with a design that is focused on supporting a balanced curriculum. The schools have large multi-purpose areas, music areas, gymnasiums, a shared swimming pool, media centers, and other specialty areas. The technology infrastructure of the schools is sophisticated and utilizes a broad spectrum of instructional technology including SmartBoards and video conferencing.
Schools: The Harbor Campus will be the location of the KAUST Schools beginning in September 2009. Our age three through five students will be housed in the Harbor Early Childhood Center. Harbor Elementary will house grades one through five and Harbor Secondary will house grades six through twelve. These three buildings are within easy walking distance of each other on the Harbor Campus.
