On the 26th of January, SEK Qatar celebrated the annual MYP Sports’ Day. The students competed in 8 different events, each one challenging the skills they developed in the Athletics unit. The stations included Shot put, Javelin, Vortex Throw, Broad Jump, Long Jump, Vertical Leap, 100m Sprint, and 1Km Run. The students demonstrated enthusiasm for the day, where they cheered for their classmates, and gave everything a go. Thanks to the excellent work of the Radio Stations, the students had music, and house point updates throughout the day. The celebration concluded with a Tug of War challenge, where the victorious Scorpions even managed to overthrow the teachers’ team. However, after calculating all the events’ points, the Oryx team were the overall winners, closely followed by Stingrays. Well done to all of those who participated on the day, and to the teachers’ collaboration, and parents who supported the event.

On Tuesday, 24th of January, the PYP Sports’ Day took place between 8h-12h. At the start of the day, for 1 hour, Pre-school 3 and Pre-school 4 pupils had their Sports’ Day hosted and organised by Grade 5’s pupils. The preparation and running of the event was of the full responsibility of Grade 5 pupils, who have been working on the Unit of Inquiry of Event Organisation. The activities were a combination of obstacle challenges, and throwing stations. Posterior to this event, between 9:50-12h, all 6 classes of Pre-school 5, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, and Grade 5 had their own Sports’ Day. The 8 stations involved javelin throwing, 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 the Overal Results of P5-G5:

1st Place with 319 points – Stingrays (Blue)

2nd Place with 279 points – Scorpions (Yellow)

3rd Place with 269 points – Falcons (Orange)

4th Place with 268 points – Oryx (Green)

SEK Qatar’s Overall Results of PYP Sports’ Day:

2013-2014 Stingrays

2014-2015 Stingrays

2015-2016 Falcons

2016-2017 Stingrays

Grade 5 have been working on the Unit of Inquiry of Games. Pupils learnt and practiced different invasion games: touch rugby, basketball, and football. During theory and inquiry, pupils reflected on the key aspects of concepts such as teamwork, individual roles, and communication. During practice, pupils had a chance to apply new rules, team strategies, and to practice sportsmanship.

Grade 4 have been inquiring into what it means to resolve conflict. In Physical Education this has taken the form of being a referee. Pupils have experienced a variety of activities, and worked together on to resolve arising conflicts in their teams.

Grade 4 explored the way that players and referees interact in different sports, and decided how they should behave when talking to officials and one another. The clip below was shown to the students, it demonstrates how players interact with a referee in a game of rugby. The grade fours thought the players showed respect, listened, and took on board what the referee was saying. They also discussed how effective Nigel Owens was as a referee, and why he was successful. After the discussion students agreed that he was successful because, he was “clear”, “calm”, “spoke with confidence”, and “knew the rules of his game”.

We discussed the title of the video “This is not Soccer”, we agreed that even though football is a fantastic sport, sometimes the players are not the best role models for interacting with respect with officials of their game.

Take 2 minutes of your time to watch this video: Referee Nigel Owens tells off Tobias Botes – ‘This in not Soccer’

Grade Threes have been working on the Unit of Inquiry of Our Place In The World. The Physical Education subject integrated this Unit under the strand of Adventure Challenge. During the lessons, pupils experienced activities, such as treasure hunt games, trust games, cross-country, and orienteering, that had a focus on working through the concepts of teamwork, trust, and communication skills.

As part of their final assessment, on Sunday the 30th of October, pupils and staff travelled to Aspire Park, where four groups completed a different Orienteering Course according to geographical location in the Park. The courses were defined as “North Course”, “East Course”, “South Course”, and “West Course”, and pupils answered geographic questions in relation to their location, “our place in the World”.

The Physical Education team would like to welcome all to the Academic Year 2016-2017. Ms. Dalila Rodrigues is now joined by Mr. Jack Hatch, and Ms. Jessie Anderson. We would like to wish all a wonderful academic year.

As we end the third academic year, from the opening of SEK International School Qatar, the Physical Education Team would like to cheer for yet another successful year. There were some great accomplishments within the curriculum, in the interdisciplinary collaborations, and achievements in the extra-curricular sports participations. We would like to wish all pupils a great Summer break. Keep practicing sports, while you are not watching the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Best wishes!

On Tuesday 26th of April, coaches from Future International Football Academy (FIFA) led a P.E. lesson with Pre-schoolers 3. During the current Unit of Inquiry on “We Play Together”, pupils have been practicing exercises which, estimulate gross and fine motor skills development. FIFA coaches prepared several activities in line with the Unit. Pre-schoolers had lots of fun playing with FIFA equipment.

On Sunday, the 17th of April, Grade 2 classes travelled to Aspire Park. During the current Physical Education Unit of Inquiry of Adventure Challenge, taught by Ms. Dalila Rodrigues and Mr. Eduardo Cary, pupils have been learning about Orienteering. There are several methods of travel in Orienteering sports. During this Unit, the Physical Education lessons were taught with an interdisciplinary approach with the Unif of Inquiry of SOS Earth. Highlighting the need to be aware, and to look after, both human and natural resources, pupils learned about a sport that allows people to navegate in unfamiliar terrains whistle interacting with Nature. This activity was well timed, as it happened on the same week of the worldwide event of Earth Day, on the 22nd of April.

Pupils completed their Orienteering course, divided in five groups, accompanied by a teacher. Both pupils and staff had a chance to explore and play in the fantastic Aspire Park. We were also very pleased with the weather conditions on the day, as it was warm but, not hot. Throughout the course pupils were concious of some human disposals, such as water bottle caps left around the Park. Responsible pupils took action and collected those, either placing them in the several litter bins available in the Park or, by taking them back to SEK Qatar for recycling.

Pupils also had a chance to observe how the Park utilises one of the most important sources of renewable energy (i.e., the Sun), by having solar panels around its lake in order to produce electricity.

In their own words, pupils reported what they enjoyed doing and seeing in this field trip: “Water bridge and running down the hill.”, “We enjoyed exercising.”, “When we went under the water. And, when we saw a big TV.”, “The Nature and the water bridge! The view. The tree trunk litter bins.”, “We loved to explore the park. (…) see the baby ducks.”, “I enjoyed having the pic nic, going around Aspire Park. Also, going on top of the hills and seeing Aspire Park.”, “Enjoyed rolling down the hills.”, “It was very good fun to find the check points.”.

When asked “What choices can people make to keep this Park clean?”, pupils wrote: “By putting trash in the bin, and out of the water.”, “Do not put the garbage on the grass or, anywhere.”, “Stop throwing rubbish on the ground. And also, if they find rubbish on the floor they have to remove it.”, “Make posters that say not to throw garbage on the floor.”, “People plant more and more plants and trees so it gets really beautiful.”, “Throw the trash in the rubbish bins provided. If people see trash they can throw it in the rubbish bin.”.

Take 2 minutes of your time to watch this video by Conservation International with the title: “Nature Is Speaking – Julia Roberts is Mother Nature | Conservation International (CI)”

See below some photographs of the day.

On Wednesday, 16th of March, S.E.K. Qatar and Doha College West Bay (DCWB), organised their first friendly tournament of football between children attending extra-curricular clubs at both schools. The neighbouring schools in Al Farouq Street, Doha, nearly postponed the tournament due to the rain. However, the weather was favourable in the afternoon, and the fixtures went ahead. A group of 35 children accompanied by Ms. Dalila Rodrigues, Ms. Paula Rego, and Grade 5 pupil Beausoleil Douglas walked to DCWB to meet Mr. John Tapster and his squad. For an hour and twenty minutes, 7-a-side football matches were played, between mixed gender teams.

This was a great collaborative opportunity for both schools which, teach different curriculums. SEK Qatar teaches the International Baccalaureate Curriculum, and DCWB the National Curriculum (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). In collaboration with Mr. Tapster, SEK Qatar’s Physical Education Team will work to organise further friendly events.