Our Schools

The students at Advanced Learning Schools enjoy a variety of in and out-of-school activities throughout the year aimed at extending their experiences.

Activities include:

After School Activities:

Drama, Readers' Theatre, Boxing, Cold Cooking, Homework, Soccer, Board Games, Photography, Outdoor Sports & Games , Computer Games, Computer Lab Usage, Readers' Theatre, Scouts , Art, Homework Monitoring, Arabic Poetry, Scholastic Aptitude Test Preparation, Quran Memorizing, Model United Nations, Music, Singing, Student Council, Pony Bead, CPR Training, DELF preparation, Joy Luck, Arabic Theatre, Spanish Language, Spotlight.

Spirit Days

Crazy Hat Day, Jeans Day, Twin Day, Crazy Hair Day, Mismatch Day, International Dress Day, National Dress Day.

Interscholastic Competitions

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Fun Day

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International Schools Sports League of Riyadh Tournaments

Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Badminton, Swimming, Cricket, and Table Tennis.

College Preparation sessions

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College Visits

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Field Trips

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Model United Nations

An authentic simulation of the United Nations General Assembly and other multilateral bodies that aims to educate participants about civics, effective communication, globalization and multilateral diplomacy.

Science Exhibitions

ALS Science exhibitions accomplish different learning goals. The event allows students to reflect on the many skills they have learnt over the years such as gathering and presenting data. It gives them the chance to learn new skills such as citing their resources and considering the academic honesty. Science fair projects are normally intended to demonstrate scientific concepts on a small scale. These skills prepare them for high school and college. Science exhibitions start with MYP1 when students study the Scientific Method (SM). The steps of the SM are numerous, however, they can be narrowed to two main categories, which are: (1) inquiring and designing, and (2) processing and evaluating. Students are expected to explain a question to be tested scientifically, formulate a testable hypothesis, explain variables, design scientific investigation, present, interpret data, evaluate their hypothesis and explain improvements to the method. Eventually students present their projects to other students and staff. The outcome is so important that all the teachers are involved in the evaluation process. Teachers score projects based on a rubric that involves different criteria.

This year our Science Fair is scheduled on the 20^th February 2017. This is an important aspect of MYP science life. Science Fair Projects come in all shapes and sizes covering various topics from ecology to computer science. ALS science fairs have been very successful and play a vital role in spreading awareness about different issues. It requires effort and dedication, but it is encouraging and a great self-esteem boost.

Extra-Curricular Activities

The Advanced Learning Schools provide an environment in which the educational experience is complemented by a wide range of extracurricular activities.

ALS students benefit from being given the opportunity to participate in numerous school events that take place throughout the school year. These events include, among others, cultural days, sports days, annual Fun Days, art exhibitions, the Science/Technology Fair, sports tournaments, community service opportunities and attendance at Model United Nations* sessions (in and outside the Kingdom). The school also regularly invites speakers and hosts special workshops that bring prominent scholars, innovators, career advisors, experts and practitioners to the campus. These guests present their ideas and achievements at a variety of events, thus greatly extending our students’ knowledge and ensuring that ALS remain a lively intellectual centre.

*Model United Nations or MUN is an authentic simulation of the United Nations General Assembly and other multilateral bodies that aims to educate participants about civics, effective communication, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. Participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world problems

Examples of Extra-Curricular Activities:

+ After School Activities

The Activities Coordinators at ALS started first season of activities on Tuesday, September 29, 2013. The first round of after school activities has finished on Wednesday, January 23, 2014. Our students have shown amazing interest and enthusiasm for the different activities. Our thanks go to all the teachers who supervise these activities and to all the parents who encouraged their kids to be part of the activities. We wish all the fun to our participating students.

The following activities were opened for boys and girls:

SAT
MUN
Lego League
Soccer 4-7
Soccer K-3
Pottery
Media
Wing Chun Club
Speed Club Readers’ Theatre
Stories from the holy Quraan
Fun Experiments
Origami
Mad Science lab
Bubble Invasion and Math Club

More activities will be offered in the second semester. In addition to the activities, the ASA coordinators organized a National Day celebration for the whole school.

The second round of ASA has started on February 9, 2014 and it will end on May 15, 2014. This round contains a wide range of activities. We are offering sports activities like Soccer, and Basketball. Different clubs were opened for girls, like knitting and cross-stitch in addition to cooking classes. We are glad that we also opened two more activities in the boy’s side which are World Geography Club for grades 4-6 and Scratch programming club. In the k-3 students had the option to choose between Beadwork, Soccer, Aerobics and English Literacy.

+ Sports Day

Sports Days at ALS are designed for students to compete against our own students in Inter House Competitions. These days are both fun and exciting, where the students are able to demonstrate good sportsmanship and practise working together as a team.

Each event is held on three separate days respectively, Kindergarten to grade 3, Boys’ Campus and Girls’ Campus. The Girls and Boys Campuses participate in two divisions, juniors -Grades 4-6 and Senior – Grades 7-12, while the K-3 Campus participates in various races by grade level and abilities.

Activity 1: Each House competes in Junior and Senior Division Soccer and Volleyball Competitions as well as FUN events.

Activity 2: Athletics and FUN Races: Examples of events are 50m, House Relay, Long Jump, Three-Legged Race, Spoon and Egg Race, Dizzy Bat Race, Water Bucket Race, and Shoe Race.

Activity 3: Watermelon Festival: Because it is HOT outside and watermelon are “in season”, we have an annual festival full of FUN – Water games and Watermelon for our students to enjoy!!

+ ISSLR

Our school has been part of the International Sports League of Riyadh (ISSLR) for the past 3 years. ISSLR was formed in 2002 to accommodate the shortage of inter-school sports competition in Riyadh. We offer in soccer, swimming, basketball, badminton, table tennis, athletics, volleyball, netball, and cricket.

Other schools that belong to this organization include the British School, the American School, The French School, and Multinational School. We play a very active part within the organization itself, hosting the girls’ soccer event annually.

Our schools successes in the past includes gold for the girls middle school soccer, silver for middle school boys soccer, to name a few.

The sports programme offered by ISSLR is a good opportunity for our students to mix and socialize with other students from same age, but from different schools.

+ Model United Nations

Model United Nations or MUN is an authentic simulation of the United Nations General Assembly and other multilateral bodies that aims to educate participants about civics, effective communication, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. Participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world problems.

+ Student Council

Curricular Activities

The Advanced Learning Schools strongly believes that school related trips which enhance learning and foster an appreciation for applied learning, are an essential part of the curriculum. Consequently, the schools organize appropriate field trips, both of an academic and social nature, designed to give extended meaning to instruction and to provide the opportunity for students to extend their individual scope and views of life and culture within and outside of Saudi Arabia. Additional student activities such as sports teams, academic contests, performing arts and clubs are organized by the after school activities (ASA) coordinators.

The ALS curriculum is organized within four divisions:

Upper Primary Years (grades 4 – 6),
Middle Years (grades 7 – 10), and
Diploma Years (grades 11– 12).

Performance expectations for each division are specified according to standards and benchmarks recommended by the International Baccalaureate, with adaptations for the particular needs and expectations of the Advanced Learning Schools. Each standard defines the essential knowledge and skills students are expected to have acquired by the end of grade 12. The benchmarks state, in more specific language, the skills and knowledge a student should gain by the end of each grade. These clear statements of standards and benchmarks help to clarify expectations for students and facilitate better communication among teachers, administrators, parents and the larger community

Examples of Extra-Curricular Activities:

Science Fair

The Science Air is an exciting time for the grades 7-12 students as they are able to share their science fair projects with the school community.

The students work on their projects with their teachers for about four weeks before the assigned date of the science fair. They set up their displays during the school day and they present their projects to other students, parents and guests after school.

Students also explain what they have learned to teachers who are assigned as judges who assess the students’ displays and presentations.

+ Assemblies

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+ Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)

The CAS requirement is a fundamental part of the programme and takes seriously the importance of life outside the world of scholarship, providing a refreshing counterbalance to academic studies.

Creativity is interpreted broadly to include a wide range of arts activities as well as the creativity students demonstrate in designing and implementing service projects. Action can include not only participation in individual and team sports but also taking part in expeditions and in local or international projects. Service encompasses a host of community and social service activities.Some examples include helping children with special needs, visiting hospitals and working with refugees or homeless people.

Students are expected to be involved in CAS activities for the equivalent of at least three hours
each week during the two years of the programme.

Each school appoints a CAS supervisor who is responsible for providing a varied choice of activities for students. Programmes are monitored by IB regional offices. A system of self-evaluation encourages students to reflect on the benefits of CAS participation to themselves and to others and to evaluate the understanding and insights acquired.

+ Field Trips

+ Unit of Inquiry (UOI) Events

A unit of inquiry is a conceptual unit built around specific key questions that are focused on what the students are expected to learn and the skills they are to acquire.

Each unit is transdisciplinary, therefore integrating Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts. Mathematics, ICT, PE, Art, Music, Arabic, Social Studies of Arab World, Islamic Studies and French are also integrated when relevant and needed to enhance the learning that takes place in the unit.

The curriculum has been divided into six units of inquiry from KG2 to Grade 6 lasting four to six weeks and four units of inquiry in KG1 of various lengths.

The units are organized into a matrix called the programme of inquiry, exploring six transdisciplinary themes that are globally relevant and conceptually based.