SEK International School Qatar

SEK Students participated in the First Lego League and Junior First Lego League last 17th and 18th of March, 2018.

During the weekend, the team was competing in 4 different categories: Robot Game, Core Values, Robot Project and

Robot Design.

It was a fantastic learning experience and they won a Strategy and Innovation Award for their work and they ranked 4th in the Robot Game. Congratulations!

The Junior students did an excellent job presenting their LEGO models which they created in their Robotics Club.

The team won an Inquiring Mind Award!

Let’s congratulate our teams for all the effort and time they will be investing to achieve this goal and for the enthusiasm they are showing! Keep it up!

The SEK Educational Institution starts, one more year, SEKMUN, an educational and cultural project which applies the “United Nations Model” at SEK Schools. It will take place on 13th, 14th and 15th of March 2018 at 12.30 pm (Qatar time) in the Spanish Senate House.

 SEKMUN opens an space for reflection and debate, where about 500 students from 15 to 18 years old, contribute with solutions through dialogue and negotiation as the best frame for conflict solving.

 The educational and cultural project has the authorization of United Nations, and it is an excellent opportunity to address the most relevant issues of the international agenda from an innovative orientation, essential for building a world of which young people will be protagonists.

 For three days, students from SEK and other international schools will assume the role of diplomats from different countries to deal with conflicts that affect the whole humanity. The assemblies and councils, related to human rights, safety, environment, health, crime and tourism among others, will be developed in Spanish and English.

Click into the below link to follow the session live.

http://www.senado.es/streaming/p5.html

On Monday, 22nd January, Preschool 3 and 4 students celebrated Sports Day with a 50 min circuit developed and organized by Grade 5 with Teachers and Parents cheering them on during this exciting day.

One day afterwards, the PYP Sports’ Day took place at SEK-Qatar, involving staff and students in different sporting pursuits. The activities were a combination of obstacle challenges, and throwing stations. Students from Preschool 5 to Grade 5 participated enthusiastically in the 8 stations including javelin, zig zag and relay races, obstacle course, tug of war, football and basketball challenges. The day was marked with a big presence of parents who attended to support their children, and witness a very friendly, and cheerful atmosphere.

On Thursday, 25th January, we celebrated MYP/DP Sports’ Day. Students represent their House team and move around 9 different athletic and sport stations, challenging the skills they developed in the Athletics unit. The stations included Shot put, Javelin, Throw to win, Hopper Race, Vortex Throw, Broad Jump, Vertical Jump, 100m Sprint, and 1Km Run. The day concluded at 1pm with a prize giving in the auditorium.

The students demonstrated excellent enthusiasm throughout the day, including cheering for their classmates, and giving every activity their best try! Thanks to the excellent work of the Radio Station media club, the students had music, and house point updates throughout the day. Well done to all of those who participated on the day, and to the teachers’ collaboration, and parents who supported the event.

Qatar National Day gives the students, parents and teachers of SEK Qatar a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the many aspects of Qatari culture. Every term, our students take time to study about Qatar, its culture and traditions. The Qatar National Day is a great opportunity to share their learning and own creations with the whole school community and celebrate Qatar’s rich heritage.

 On Thursday, 14th of December, Displays of PYP and MYP were around the Main Hall, as well as Photo Display with pictures showing life in Qatar. Face painting and henna stations were near the grade 1 and 2 entrance and food and drinks were served in the cafeteria.

 In the stage there was a variety of performances from the students, as the Arabic Dance from PYP Girls, a Poem from Grade 5 or the Sword dance from PYP boys. MYP students participated as well with a Poem Reading and a presentation on the development of Qatar over the years.

 A special thanks to all of the students, school staff and parents helping us to make this event happen! We are glad to have shared with all the visitors this special day and celebrate Qatar’s culture and heritage.

The Hour of Code was created as an introduction to computer science, designed to demystify “code” and show that anybody can learn the basics of computer science, making the process fun and creative. It is accessible for all ages, for all students, regardless of previous coding experience.

 The hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week, held annually in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper. This is an initiative created by Stephen Curry and code.org.

 SEK International School Qatar is participating with one hour coding activities during this week, starting today, Monday 4th of December. Students have the opportunity to learn computer science, which helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity.

 Parents and school staff are encouraged to participate too. The school has enabled an area at the entrance foyer with laptops for people interested in joining the coding activities.

 Get involved in this amazing learning experience and discover how computer science can enrich your life!

Last Tuesday 28th of November, our family recycling day was a success! A big thank you to all the parents who got involved in this project. Members of the PYP student council were happy to be part of SEK initiative to protect the earth.

Our next recycling Tuesday will be on the 19th of December, 2017.

We look forward to having all our parents bring in their recyclable paper and plastic.

Grade 11 were off timetable on Tuesday 28^th November in order to immerse themselves in beginning their IBDP extended essay task.

 The task is not an easy one: write a 4,000 word university entrance level research paper on a chosen topic. The stakes are high too – failure to meet the minimum standard will result in a failing condition for the diploma!

 It’s fortunate, then, that help is at hand. During the day the students were assisted by librarian, Annick Lapalme, who was able to offer expertise on such topics as research and effective citation. Several of the school’s subject specialists guided the students too, focusing on the specific requirements of the essay in their subject discipline.

Pictured are the grade 12 students dropping by to offer their advice and the dos and don’ts of the process from their perspective – they should know, they’ve just finished theirs!

 All in all it was a very positive start to a long and rewarding journey – thanks to everyone involved.

Last week, SEK International School was honored to attend the World Innovation Summit for Education 2017 at the Qatar National Convention Center. Across 3 days, students, teachers and parents were involved in different activities, conferences and workshops under the theme Co-Exist, Co-Create: Learning to Liv and Work Together.

Tuesday, 14th November MYP Grade 8 Learning Lab – LittleBits, Cad design and 3D Printing

Grade 8 students participated in a maker workshop to empower their creativity. They created a remote control car using LittleBits, a droid inventor kit to create the next generation of droids.  After that, students created a model using an online CAD platform; the digital model was imported to a 3D printer and they could finally see their three-dimensional creations.

Wednesday, 15th November  DP Grade 12 – Opening Ceremony and Learning Lab C2 Workshops

The students got to experience the inspirational opening address by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and the thought provoking special address by CNN’s Fareed Zakaria attended by Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan and other notable panel members, all anchored by BBC World’s Yalda Hakim. It was a privilege to be part of the audience!

All of the speakers discussed the theme of education and its potential role in bringing harmony to an unstable world, and all offered insight and perspectives from which our students can both learn and use to deepen their own understanding of global issues and solutions. There was advice too, in the form of exhortation from several of the panelists for our young people to become adept at processing the world of the media and distinguishing between truth and manipulation.

We’re sure that for many of our students education has never felt so vibrant and vital.

Following on from the opening ceremony and panel discussion was a series of opportunities for the students to add their own voice to the proceedings. Working with both the Canadian based C2 workshop and global news network Al Jazeera allowed them to speculate on the nature of education in the future and the role the media has to play in any future conflict resolution.

Grade 2 Textile Craft Interactive Workshop at SEK Qatar International School for Doha Learning Week

As part of the Doha Learning Week initiative, SEK Qatar offered a fascinating workshop where Grade 2 students, who have been exploring the timeless textile craft of weaving, hosted an interactive workshop to share their learning with their parents. During the workshop, students guided their parents through the process of weaving on a loom and collaborated to create a large-scale rug. In promotion of sustainability, the rug was woven entirely from recycled textiles and yarn created from reused clothing.

The workshop was inspired by the impressive Imperial Threads exhibition currently being held at the Museum of Islamic Art. The MIA collection showcases elaborately designed carpets, a well-known feature of Islamic Art and was a reference point during the students’ inquiries into woven rugs.

Thursday, 16th November – MYP Grade 7 Generation Amazing Learning Lab and Closing Ceremony

Grade 7 students participated in the workshop “Generation Amazing Football Activity”, by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy

Generation Amazing is Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s flagship corporate social responsibility program. It uses the opportunity created by Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup to empower and educate people across Qatar, the region and the globe. Our students were invited to join Generation Amazing learning lab to participate in an energetic session that promoted:-

An Inclusive Generation: Teaching children the importance of accepting others regardless of their background, characteristics or situation –therefore reducing social exclusion in the society.

A Healthy Generation: Encouraging children to adopt healthy and active lifestyles.

A Green generation: Promoting sustainable behaviours to children –encouraging them to lead “reduced energy” lifestyles.

After the Workshop, SEK Qatar had the privilege to attend  the WISE closing ceremony and listen to the inspiring work of Dr. Patrick Awuah who is this year’s recipient of the WISE Prize for Education.

We are very grateful to the organisers and the sponsors for what was a great opportunity – thank you WISE and please have us back for the next summit!

Over the weekend of 9^th – 11^th November, 2017, five SEK Qatar students put their research and communication skills to use at the 10^th annual Doha College Model United Nations Conferences.  

The SEK students represented the country of Croatia in a number of General Assembly Committees, The Disarmament Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Students worked hard and collaborated with their peers to negotiate and discuss issues such as the prevention of terrorist organizations from acquiring mass weapons, the preservation of cultural diversity and the promotion of the use of nuclear weapons to combat climate change. Students truly enjoyed having the opportunity to discuss such intense issues as well as working closely with others their age to make a change.  

It was an enlightening experience for all attendees.

We are celebrating International Day at SEK Qatar. Today, 30th of October, we are representing many regions of the world with performances, exhibits and displays all around the school.

This is a great opportunity for our community to enjoy our cultural diversity and share our different backgrounds in a festival of learning.

The main hall is devoted to Europe. Parents are leading Spanish and Greek dances and Grade 5 students are enjoying an afternoon tea party while they look at the history behind afternoon tea, which originated in England, including the migration of tea around the world, the production of tea as well and how it ends up in our cup, and the customs associated with afternoon tea. Grade 1 made European Dishes using different materials and parents from Italy, Spain and Russia contributed with yummy food and interesting information.

In the cafeteria we can find the big continent of America and a station with food from different countries (Argentina, Colombia, USA, Chile, Brazil…etc.), as well as a station with different artifacts from these countries and information leaflets about them. There are several art displays around the cafeteria:

Preschool 3 have prepared “Brazilian Carnival” and Preschool 4 “La Boca houses from Argentina” & “Molas Artwork”. The Spanish team will display artwork from Colombia.

The library hosts Asia and Middle East, where there is an ongoing workshop from the MYP students. At the Japanese exhibition we are painting and constructing a cherry blossom tree. In the study room, we have a Tabbouleh video with the opportunity for students to make tabbouleh. There are Indian miniature paintings on display from Ms. Maire, the art teacher, and painted lanterns.

In the Gym we find Africa, the land of wildlife safari, untouched nature and breathtaking sunsets. Come and visit our continent to take part in some fun-filled activities, such as the Masai Mara high jump competition or the animal bone guessing game. Music lovers – come and create your own shekere instrument and learn some Tanzanian rhythm with the help of Grade 3 students. Feel free to pick up a paint brush and add to our Masai Mara backdrop too.

Sharing the Gym with Africa, we find Oceania. Grade 4 students are teaching the attendees how to play touch rugby and the basics of the game. Grade 5 students have made some rain sticks to put on display. The class is doing workshops where attendees can make their own Aboriginal rain-stick.

We invite you to come and enjoy this special day and celebrate our cultural diversity at SEK Qatar.