Community Service – Jeddah Knowledge International School – مدرسة المعرفة العالمية بجدة

The JKS Community Service Program aims to motivate students to build social awareness, giving special importance to taking action. Engaging in community service is a fundamental part of all educational programs at the school. Initially, students learn about their immediate school community, and then they broaden their knowledge to encompass the larger community. Primary school students are encouraged to embody qualities of good citizenship when interacting with their peers, teachers, and their own families. Every quarter, the school organizes a “Campaign” in which the entire school can address specific attributes together. At the Middle School level, students become more involved in the larger community by devoting their time and resources to multiple organizations. During the Upper School years, students must also fulfill community service hour requirements for both the American High School Diploma Program and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme through CAS (Creativity, Action, Service). These community service hours can be completed during school hours, after school, on weekends, or during the summer vacation months.

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

Jeddah Knowledge International School (JKS) is dedicated to offering a range of activities to fulfill the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requirements of the Diploma Programme, as per the standards and practices set by the International Baccalaureate (IB). These extracurricular activities involve students from Pre-primary to grade 10, allowing them to fully participate in the school’s philosophy. Our aim is to prepare our students for the CAS requirements of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) through the implementation of these activities. The following activities are already in place and will continue to be expanded as our needs evolve:

Creativity: Included are activities like the performing arts of drama, music and dance that take place during school hours and also during our co-curricular program. The performing arts curriculum has been enhanced by the expansion of the department which is able to cater for the growing needs of our students. Students have the opportunity to not only showcase their talents, but also be part of a production team during the school’s annual production program to parents and members of the community. Student generated websites also provide CAS opportunities. Additionally, they can be involved in modeling UN through the co-curricular program.

Visual arts also form an integral part of our IB continuum program and students have many opportunities to display their work throughout the school. Collaborative visual arts projects, which are linked to other various activities such as Earth Day, are also encouraged.

Activity: JKS is dedicated to developing the students’ athletic abilities through sports day and inter-house competitions in volleyball, kickball, swimming, basketball, and softball. The Physical Education department, alongside the CAS coordinator, will also collaborate with students to train basketball and volleyball teams at all grade levels for city-wide competitions with local schools. Senior students will be encouraged to mentor junior students in certain sports.

In addition, there are various forums for student involvement throughout the year, where students can participate in activities and campaigns. These campaigns, such as International Mindedness, Recycling, Manners and the IB Learner Profile, Human Rights, and Conservation, are designed to cultivate the students’ understanding of global issues and the responsibilities of active citizens in a rapidly changing world. Students begin by practicing responsible actions within their school community and then carry out initiatives as change agents in local and international communities. The goal is not only to raise awareness but also to impart knowledge and skills to others.

Service: At JKS, we are dedicated to providing opportunities for community service so that our students can develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We aim to cultivate empathy and respect for others, as well as a strong awareness of the needs of less fortunate community members. Currently, our students are engaged in community service activities in collaboration with various special needs institutions, including the “Mahd Al Nour” Organization for the Blind, “Rubat Al Wilaya” Homes for the Elderly and Widowed, “Nojoud Home” for the handicapped, and “Al Zahra” orphanage. Additionally, we offer opportunities for service within our local community by collaborating with other sectors, such as participating in global initiatives like Earth Hour and UNESCO’s World Book Day.

We are also establishing connections with communities outside of Saudi Arabia for our CAS activities. We encourage our students to join their parents on structured trips abroad that are connected to an activity they are already involved in.

Furthermore, we are exploring the possibility of our students participating in CAS activities in other countries through joint field trips with other IB schools worldwide.