Kindergarten Principal Message
Dear KBS families and students,
My name is Sinae VanHaastert and it is an honor for me to work with you as your Principal of Kindergarten. I am an American from Los Angeles, California. I've been working in Kuwait for almost ten years and been working in international schools for nearly 15 years. I have a Bachelor's degree in History and Medicine, a Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University. I am excited to work closely with you to ensure the success and well-being of all our students.
Kuwait Bilingual School is such a special place to learn and grow. I am proud of our beautiful school and have high expectations for every student. Our students are kind and compassionate inquirers. Together with our dedicated staff, we strive to make connections with students to help them feel valued, accepted, and safe. Our KBS motto of “Children of today, leaders of tomorrow” will continue to guide our mission to provide a rigorous and joyful school environment. Our goal is to encourage active student engagement to foster a lifetime love for learning.
I encourage families to stay connected and informed by following our school’s website, social media accounts, and Toddle for important updates and information. Our partnership is essential for student success.
Sinae VanHaastert
Kindergarten Principal
Primary Principal Message
Dear Kuwait Bilingual School 2 Students and Families,
I am honored to lead a Primary school with such persevering students, an extremely dedicated staff, and a supportive school community. I feel very fortunate to be part of this school and to support the students and families.
I have been dedicated to the field of education for more than twenty years. Prior to becoming the Principal here, I worked with students from Kindergarten through 11th grade in a variety of roles. I have been a K-2 teacher and team leader, and a K-5 Intervention Coach and Mentor as well as a Primary School Deputy Principal/ PYP Deputy Coordinator. I am thrilled to utilize my skills as an educational leader at Kuwait Bilingual School 2 and work with you as a partner in education to ensure your child's success.
On a personal note, my family and I have lived in Kuwait for nearly 18 years. I am proudly a mother of three daughters and a son. We are proud to be part of the Kuwait Bilingual School 2 Community, one that values high standards by providing rich learning experiences for all students.
I view education as a life-long process and continue to learn every year from our students, teachers, and parents at KBS2. Most importantly, I believe that students are at the center of all school-related decisions. Because the relationships between families and the school are vital to the success of our students, I encourage you to become involved in every way possible. I look forward to meeting you whenever possible!
Sincerely,
Shaimaa Mohamed
Primary Principal
Primary Years Program PYP
Introduction to the Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Kuwait Bilingual School became an authorized IB World School in June 2013 offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP). IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education—that we believe is important for our students.
The IB Primary Years Programme
Students in the 21st century are faced with the challenge of learning about an interconnected world where knowledge is constantly developing. The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Primary Years Programme prepares students to be active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), for students aged 3 to 12, focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside.
Primary Years Programme Curriculum framework
At the heart of the programme's philosophy is a commitment to structured, purposeful inquiry as the leading vehicle for learning.
Curriculum model
The curriculum is expressed in three interrelated ways:
- the written curriculum—what do we want to learn?
- the taught curriculum—how best will we learn?
- the assessed curriculum—how will we know what we have learned?
The written curriculum
The most significant and distinctive feature of the IB Primary Years Programme is the six transdisciplinary themes.
These themes are about issues that have meaning for, and are important to, all of us. The programme offers a balance between learning about or through the subject areas, and learning beyond them. The six themes of global significance create a transdisciplinary framework that allows students to "step up" beyond the confines of learning within subject areas.
- Who we are
- Where we are in place and time
- How we express ourselves
- How the world works
- How we organize ourselves
- Sharing the planet
Teachers are guided by these six transdisciplinary themes as they design units of inquiry that both transcend and articulate conventional subject boundaries.
The programme can be illustrated by a hexagon with the six transdisciplinary themes surrounding six subject areas:
- language
- social studies
- mathematics
- arts
- science
- personal, social and physical education.
The transdisciplinary themes and subject areas outlined above form the knowledge element of the programme.
