How to Get Involved

• Parental permission to participate in the GSS Co-curricular program must be given BEFORE the student can sign-up and participate in any activities.

• This permission is given by completing an E-collect form on the students profile, accessed via the PowerSchool Parent Portal, as part of the (re)enrollment process to The KAUST School.

• The E-collect form contains information about the GSS Co-curricular Program that will ensure that parents/students understand and agree to conditions/expectations for participation.

• It will also ensure the school has accurate information for students/parents Eg. medical information and emergency contact information.

If the E-Collect Form is not completed the student will not be able to participate in the GSS Co-curricular Program.

• The E-collect form on each child's PowerSchool profile in the Parent Portal is titled: 'GSS Co-curricular Permission Form 2022-23'

TKS uses a program called SchoolsBuddy to manage the sign-up and allocation process for co-curricular activities. All students and parents will have their own access to SchoolsBuddy. Within their accounts, they will be able to sign-up for activities and, once allocated to activities, see calendars showing practices/events. Activity group communication will be done within SchoolsBuddy by staff sponsors of activities. Sign-ups will be opened approx. 2 weeks prior to a new activity cycle starting and close after 1 week.

Signing-up for an activity in SchoolsBuddy is a commitment by the student to participate in that activity (if allocated to that activity).

For activities that require travel and, therefore, have a cost associated with student participation, parents will receive a notification asking for a confirmation within SchoolsBuddy of a commitment to pay these costs if their child is selected to travel.

If a parent decides not to commit to the required costs the student will not be eligible to be selected to travel. However, they will still be eligible to participate in the activity (if selected) until either:

• after the RSAC event (for most sports teams)

and/or

• the selection for the traveling group is made

Access to SchoolsBuddy

Parents and students will receive a Welcome Message from SchoolsBuddy at the start of the year inviting them to activate their accounts. They can access SchoolsBuddy via the SchoolsBuddy website and/or their mobile app which is available to download for both iOS (App Store) and Android (Play Store). The QR code below will take you to the SchoolsBuddy page with the App downloads. We encourage both parents and students to download the App.

Guidance/information for using SchoolsBuddy

Guidance/information about how to use SchoolsBuddy can be found here.

​​Specific Guidance from SchoolsBuddy

• Please click the link for the SchoolsBuddy guide to signing up for activities.

• Other SchoolsBuddy support for parents can be found here.

We highly encourage students to take on leadership roles within co-curricular activities. There are 3 ways students can engage as a leader within co-curricular activities:

• Formal Leadership

Apply for a role in one of these programs Eg. SCA, MUN, DoE

• Leadership roles within activities

Liaise with staff activity sponsors to take on responsibility Eg. sports captain, MUN secretariat, mentoring/supporting other students, assisting staff sponsors to deliver the activity, score keeping, live streaming.

• Leading activities themselves

Students can offer to lead/deliver activities they are passionate about (under the mentorship/guidance of a staff sponsor). Eg. Kahoot club, Chess club, Creative writing, Origami, Debate club etc

*Please note that applying for a role is not a guarantee of a role being given to the student. These positions involve selection based on criteria (as detailed in the GSS Co-curricular Handbook)

Students interested in leading an activity are asked, in the first instance, to complete this form. The Activities Office will then work with them to establish the activity offering.