Frequently Asked Questions (MYP)

Frequently Asked Questions

Middle Years Programme (MYP)

What is the 8-Day scheduling Cycle?

  • The 8-Day scheduling Cycle runs over 8 school days (excluding weekends).
  • Instead of the weekdays (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc), our cycle days are referred to as Day One, Day Two until Day Eight.
  • At the end of the 8th day, Day 1 will restart for the next 8-day cycle.
  • The 8 Day cycle calendar is available in the student planner and on the portal.

Where can I find the homework assigned to my child?

  • A homework slip is issued to all students every cycle (Day 1) for the Grade 6 to Grade 10 classes.
  • Grade 6 students will be given a printed copy of the homework slip.
  • All students and parents can access the homework slip through the JKS Portal by following the below steps:
    • Login to JksPortal.net using your child’s login details provided in the letter which was issued on the first day of school
    • From the Menu, select Students and Parents
    • Select Homework Slips
  • You will also be able to access previous homework slips through the same page.
  • Students must complete the homework on the assigned day and submit it to the teacher as scheduled on the homework slip.

What is ManageBac? (Grades 6-12)

ManageBac is a Learning Management System adopted by the school which facilitates the following:

  • Enrolment of students into subject-specific classes
  • Student access to the resources (presentations, videos, worksheets, answer keys…) which are being used in class by the teacher
  • Additional resources to extend student learning
  • Announcements and reminders posted by the teacher
  • Submission of assignments in digital format when required

The site can be accessed by clicking on the ManageBac icon through JKSPortal.

When and how will my child be assessed?

  • Assessments take place continuously throughout the quarter for all grade levels.
  • A quiz schedule and lesson notification are released every quarter ahead of the scheduled dates for the quizzes. These are accessible through the JKS Portal under the Students and Parents Tab.
  • End-of-quarter assessments also take place four times a year for all grade levels. Schedules, Notifications and Revision Packs are released 2 weeks in advance through the JKSPortal, under the Students and Parents Tab.

How can I follow up on my child’s academic performance?

Parents can access the PlusPortals-Parent Tab through JKSPortal to view their child’s grades throughout the quarter. These grades are based on the submission of homework and assignments, completion of classwork, and assessments carried out. These grades are continuously revised and updated during the quarter and are considered final only upon the release of the report card.

When and how can I see my child’s report card?

Performance is reported on comprehensively at the end of every quarter for all grade levels. You will be notified via email and SMS when the report is available and can be accessed through the PlusPortals-Parent Tab through JKSPortal.

What programs does JKS offer?

JKS is accredited by the Council for International Schools (CIS), New England Association for Schools and Colleges (NEASC) as well as the International Baccalaureate (IB).

JKS is the first IB continuum school in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia authorized to offer the three IB programmes:

  • Primary Years Programme: offered for students aged 3 to 12, which at JKS corresponds to grades 1 to 5.
  • Middle Years Programme: offered for students aged 11 to 16, which at JKS corresponds to grades 6 to 10.
  • Diploma Programme: offered for students aged 16 to 19, which at JKS corresponds to grades 11 and 12.

What are the advantages of an IB education?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum is a globally recognized leader in the field of international education.

Aligned with JKS’s mission for academic excellence, the IB helps students develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to participate actively and responsibly in a changing and increasingly interrelated world. The IB encourages students to be active learners, well-rounded individuals and engaged world citizens. Its coherent and comprehensive curriculum framework is carefully designed to support the personal, social and emotional well-being of the students as they establish their identity and build their self-esteem.

The IB motivates students and helps them to achieve success both in school and in life beyond the classroom. The IB programmes allow students to build on their strengths and to embrace challenges in subjects in which they might not excel.

What is the IB learner profile and what role does it have in my child’s education?

The IB’s learner profile describes a broad range of capacities and responsibilities that shape the future active members of the world and which go beyond academic success. They imply a commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them. The profile aims to develop learners who are:

  • Inquirers
  • Knowledgeable
  • Thinkers
  • Communicators
  • Principled
  • Open-minded
  • Caring
  • Risk-takers
  • Balanced
  • Reflective

 

How is the MYP Curriculum designed?

The MYP curriculum framework comprises eight subject groups, providing a broad and balanced education for early adolescents. Students take the following courses:

  • Language and literature – offered in both English and Arabic
  • Individuals and societies
  • Mathematics
  • Sciences
  • Physical and health education
  • Arts – offered as Visual and Performing
  • Design – offered as Digital, Product and ICT
  • Language acquisition – French and Spanish offered in Grades 9 and 10

A unique feature of the programme is that it places the students at the centre of learning, extending the traditional curriculum to include a focus on conceptual learning, contextual learning, approaches to teaching and approaches to learning. They are drawing connections between all subject areas, completing a minimum of one Interdisciplinary unit in each year of the programme. In the MYP, students’ learning experiences are explicitly linked to the world around them, infusing global points of view wherever possible to promote an understanding of other cultures, an awareness of the human condition and an understanding that there is a commonality of human experience.

 

What is the Personal Project?

Students complete a personal project during the last year of the MYP (Grade 10), which is an independent piece of work completed over an extended duration with the guidance of a supervisor, the personal project leader and the MYP Coordinator. Students are encouraged to select a topic of personal interest and present their exploration in a creative format such as an original work of writing, an artistic production, an original scientific investigation, a business plan, the undertaking of a service project or another form of expression. The entire school community and the wider community are welcome to attend.

Where can I find more information?

Additional information can be found through the JKS Website, the JKS Portal, and the Parent-Student Handbook (under the School Information Tab). Should you require any further details, please send an email to jksinfo@jks.edu.sa.

  1. On the first day of school, your son received an envelope containing instructions on how to log in to his student portal. He should use the same password he had when he was in PYP. If he has forgotten his password, he can reset it through the portal or by contacting IThelpdesk@jks.edu.sa. Once his password has been reset, please ask him not to change it again as it will affect the Turnitin and IXL platforms. 
  2. On 9 September, all students received an email with their ManageBac passwords and login details from Ms Ayesha Shams. Your son can find this information in his jksmail. I have twice demonstrated to all grade 6 students where to find it and how to log into ManageBac. Please note that when he clicks on ManageBac from the portal, it will take him to a login page for ManageBac.
  3. When your son clicks on Turnitin, he will automatically be logged in. He does not need a password as Turnitin has been linked to his portal login. If Turnitin asks for a password, it means that your son has changed his portal password. Our IT department will then need to link the accounts again for it to work. Please note that this has also been demonstrated to all grade 6 classes individually by me as well as the English teachers. Every cycle, there will be one writing piece that must be submitted via Turnitin to check for similarities or plagiarism. This assignment is on the Homework slip.
  4. Please be aware that grade 6 students receive homework slips each day 1, which they are expected to place in their student planners.
  5. Every afternoon, I remind the students to pack their books to study for quizzes and complete their homework.
  6. It’s important to note that your son does not have one homeroom teacher who stays with him throughout the day. Instead, he has six different subject specialist teachers. This information was explained during our parent introductory meeting. It is expected that your son now takes responsibility for packing his books in the afternoons, just like the other students.
  7. Please remember that all the textbooks can be accessed from the Keith books tab on the portal.