Koç School

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The Koc School
Image:Logokoc.gif
Established 1988
School type Private, coeducational, bilingual, boarding
General Director Tony Paulus
Location Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey
Students 1140 (Elementary School), 880 (High School)
Colors Red and white
Website www.kocschool.k12.tr

The Koç School (Koç Özel Lisesi ve İlköğretim Okulu) is a private school in Istanbul, Turkey. It was founded by one of Turkey's wealthiest businessmen Vehbi Koç and is currently under the umbrella of Vehbi Koç Foundation. The high school opened in 1988 and the elementary school in 1998. Koç High School admits its students based on their achievements on the nationwide examination for high schools in Turkey. Since 1994 it applies the IB program and is one of the most selective[1] high schools in Turkey.

Contents

[edit] General information

The Koç School is a bilingual high and elementary school, fully accredited by the Turkish Ministry of Education, European Council of International Schools (ECIS), International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), Independent schools UK, England, Scotland, Wales & NI and international schools worldwide (ISBI) and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). It offers boarding for seven days a week for students of classes between 6-12 at its dorms on its campus.

[edit] History

Founded in 1988 by the Vehbi Koç Foundation, The Koç School has quickly become one of Turkey's most selective and competitive university preparatory schools. In the Private High Schools Entrance Exam in Turkey, Koç School generally ranks among the top in terms of its entrance score (ranked second in 2006[2]).

The Koç School is the first school in Turkey to offer the IB program; which it had started applying in 1994. With the introduction of the IB program, many students started applying for overseas educational institutes with high reputation [3]. Koç students have been accepted into universities such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton and many other prominent educational institutes[4] and the number of students seeking overseas education increased.

The school's Turkish university entrance success is also considerable[5]: general student achievement is among the top when compared with other similar high schools [6]. In fact in 2000, the top scorer of ÖSS was a Koç School graduate [7]. In the 2006 ÖSS, 19 Koc students were in the top 1000 of over 1.500.000 attendants[citation needed].

[edit] Mission and vision

The Koç School's official website defines the school's mission and vision as follows:

Mission:

Koç School is a Turkish school with a global perspective. Our multi-cultural academic community, innovative methodology, and coherent K-12 bilingual program engage all students in developing their intellectual and human qualities so that they will become confident, ethical leaders and responsible citizens of Turkey and of the world community.

Vision:

The goal of Koç School is to be respected nationally and internationally as a model K-12 school, offering an educational program of the highest academic and ethical standards.

[edit] Campus and facilities

The Koç School is located on a 750 acre campus on the eastern outskirts of Istanbul, near Tuzla.

Many of the school facilities were subject to renovations after the first ten years of the school due to increased demands and population of the school. The important facilities and buildings in the school campus are:

  • High School building: Includes classes, teacher offices, laboratories, an auditorium, sports center, library, music rooms with instruments, two student lounges, cafeteria, infirmary, canteen.
  • Suna Kıraç Library: is one of the biggest high school libraries in Turkey[citation needed]. It was moved to a separate and larger building adjacent to high school building in 2002,
  • Piramit/(Sevgi Gönül Student Center): is a student center/lounge. It was constructed in 2002 on the place of Courtyard of the main building.
  • Atakan Demirseren Hall: an auditorium with nearly 900 people capacity (will be renovated in 2007),
  • Open track and field area
  • Tennis Courts
  • Sports Center (will be renovated in 2007).
  • Dorms: used to be located in the main school building. They were built as separate buildings due to increased population of the school in 2005.
  • Houses for the teachers and staff of high and primary school.
  • Fitness Center
  • Art Studios including an oven for ceramics making.
  • Elementary school building: Classes, teacher offices, library, auditorium, sports center and cafeteria.

[edit] High school

[edit] Academics

Koç School gave its first 4-year high school program graduates in 2006; a year before most of the schools in Turkey. Students choose between IB or a non-IB tracks the last 3 years of high school. The IB program in the Koç School is rigorous[citation needed] and integrated with the national curriculum. The Koç School is also the IB coordinator in Istanbul.

Each year, approximately 40% of students[citation needed] in the Koç School prefer to continue their education in overseas universities. The school's Overseas College Guidance Office is strong with successful acceptance rates[citation needed] each year.

The Koç School is a bilingual school in Turkish and English but also offers the option of a second language; French or German. The school also provides a truly international faculty with teachers from Britain, Scotland, India, Australia, Russia, Brazil, U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Turkey teaching Science, languages, arts. Some of the current and former notable faculty include John Freely[8], writer and professor of Physics and Erol Köroğlu, writer and doctor of literature and cultural studies.

In the first two years of education a regular student usually takes the following courses: Turkish Literature, Philosophy, Psychology, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Arts, Military Science, Physical Education, Religion and Ethics, History, Health, Geography, Geometry, Mathematics, an elective second language course, an elective from a variety of courses like Movie Studies, Advanced Multimedia etc.

In the last two years, Koç School provides a variety of IB and non-IB courses both to those that chose to pursue the program and also those that only want to take the classes , in addition to the curricula and courses determined by Ministry of Education. Among the mandatory and elective courses provided to junior and seniors are: Art History,Biology, Business & Management, Ceramics, Chemistry, Computer Science,Computer Programming, Economics, English, Environmental Systems, French, German, Information Technology in Global Society, Knowledge of Language and Literature, Linguistics, Mathematics, Music, Photography, Physics, Theory of Knowledge, Turkish Social Studies, Turkish, and Visual Arts.

There are usually three examinations (or projects and/or papers to be counted as an exam grade) for each course at each semester. Exams are usually held in Common Exam Week (or for the finals Final Examination Week). Examinations are scheduled by the Dean's office and regular class schedule continues to take place with shorter amount of time for each period. After the exam results are announced several awards (with different categories: Academic Success, Effort, Improvement) are given by the teachers to students.

At the end of each academic year, 1-2 students with a high academic achievement in each subject are awarded according to the feedbacks of teachers and departments.

Koc School is also successful in many national[citation needed] and international[9] high school competitions on Math and Sciences that it had participated.

[edit] Extracurriculars and Traditional Activities

[edit] Extracurricular Activities

It is compulsory for each student to join a student club or a sports activity offered at school. Every student has to pick one of the following activities at the beginning of each semester and has to regularly attend its meetings and activities.

The school has many facilities for sports, and the school's football, basketball and other teams win successes in tournaments[citation needed].

The school has over 50 clubs. Some of the available extra-curricular activities and clubs are:

  • SEMEP (South East Mediterranean Environmental Project)
  • MUN Club
  • Debate Club
  • Ceramics Club
  • Chess Club
  • Jewelery Design Club
  • Librarianship Club
  • Social Assistance and Solidarity Club
  • Literature
  • ISTA (International Schools Theatre Association)
  • Voluntary social work projects
  • Philosophy Club
  • Atatürk's Thinking and Principles Club
  • Athletics Club
  • American Football Club
  • Football Club
  • Baseball
  • German Language
  • The Global Friendship Project
  • Chorus
  • Tennis Club
  • Volleyball Club
  • Badminton
  • Basketball Club
  • Table Tennis Club
  • Science Club
  • Model Aircraft Making Club
  • Drama Club
  • Computer
  • Rugby Club
  • Fantasy Role Playing
  • School Radio Club /RadioRam
  • Journal Clubs (Mindscapes, Fanzin and Boyut)
  • Music Club
  • Visual Arts Club
  • Folk Dance Club
  • Modern Dance Club
  • Camping Club
  • Cooking
  • Environment
  • Skiing & Snowboard

The school has a growing number and an increasing quality of publications, among them are literary magazines like Boyut, Fanzin and Mindscapes, a two-week newspaper T.A.W.A, and Philosophy.

MUNDP.conference is the first Model United Nations Development Program conference in the world, whose establishment in 2001 was celebrated by the then UN General Secretary Kofi Annan. Each year MUN Delegates from many schools in Turkey and overseas participate in the conference.[10]. MUN Club has been among the most successful clubs in the school with many awards in the conferences participated [11].

Koc School Student Council is also a very popular and a strong entity in school culture. Even though it is criticized of its lack of ability to effect school politics (an example would be the abolishing of Courtyard and building a pyramid instead, which was disliked by many of the students during the time) concerning discipline code, student freedoms etc., it is an active student organization with especially its election campaigns being one of the major events each year.

Koc School is also the first Turkish school to apply International Youth Award Program [12].

Environmental Projects are of the major activities in the school, in fact recyling project of Koc School Students won the First Prize in the International Volvo Adventure 2006 competition[13][14].

At the end of each academic year, extra-curricular awards are given to students according to the feedbacks of the supervisors of clubs.

[edit] Traditions

Although Koc School is a newly established school, it is promising with its traditions adhered by its student body and alumni. Following are notable traditions and traditional activities in the school.

  • T.A.W.A. A frequently heard phrase in the school, which also inspired the establishment of the school newspaper T.A.W.A.[15]. Its extended version is: 'This announcement was about .....', a phrase repeated by students each week during the opening and closing ceremonies at the Atakan Demirseren Hall (more commonly AD or auditorium). On Monday after the ceremony and on Friday before the ceremony, announcements regarding school activities, teams, exams are given by the faculty and students. Since the school has international teachers and students, announcements are made in both English and Turkish. Over the years, T.A.W.A has become a cult, listened with smiling faces in the auditorium at each time a student repeats the phrase.
  • Field Day. It is usually held on a warm autumn day, is an indispensable part of school spirit. Students compete with each other in athletic sports, form their own teams and are awarded according to their performances at the end of the day.
  • Talent Show. Usually held in spring. Many students become contestants of Talent Show in their years at Koç School. Talent Show Awards, which are given to successful performers by a jury composed of teachers, students, alumni and usually a celebrity, are highly respected and celebrated by the student body and faculty.
  • Book Fair. Lasts one week. During the fair 5-6 Turkish writers give seminars(some of the guests in the previous years: Elif Şafak, Tim Bowler Aydın Boysan, Tuna Kiremitçi, Küçük İskender, Sunay Akın, Feyza Hepçilingirler, Cezmi Ersöz...)
  • School trips. To cities and historical places in Turkey, such as Ankara, Çanakkale, Capadoccia are organised each year. Seniors go to Bodrum after the ÖSS as a final to this tradition.
  • School parties. Each year there are about 3-4 school parties organized by the Student Council. During parties, students spend their time eating the food served at Koç School for the day by famous cafes in Istanbul, and dancing in the auditorium or Piramit. It is seen as a disappointment and a decline in school culture that the school parties are losing its popularity and rather parties in Istanbul are preferred by the students. There are also many concerts during the year by rock-bands or pop singers.
  • No uniform days. Usually party or festival days when students are permitted to wear clothes other then their uniforms. Students pay an amount about 1-2 YTL this day and the collected money is either used in helping poor, homeless people or used for the student council budget to organise student activities.
  • RamFest. A spring festival of arts and music with contributions from many schools in Istanbul. It usually lasts 1-2 days with several activities held in 3 different places of school: Auditorium is the usual place for classical dance and music; Front garden or Piramit usually reserved for rock and pop bands of high schools; and Halls for exhibition of paintings and other pieces of art created by participants. The Opening Ceremony of the Festival usually hosts professional and amateour performers of different genres like jazz, latin, classic music or dance such as Ritmiquaa Percussion Group in 2004.
  • Science Fair is organized with the contributions of Koc School students and other Istanbul high schools every year. The outcomes of student research projects, experiments and from time to time basic inventions are exhibited.
  • SpringFest. Takes place in school campus near the end of the academic year. Alumni, current students, friends, families, faculty come together and enjoy several activities in the festival.
  • Musicals. Until 2001, a musical was performed each year with the contributions of the student body and the Arts Department(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1999 being among the greatest performances). Actors and actresses were chosen among many applicants and the musical would be performed after months of preparations. In 2007 a similar project is prepared, named Leader of the Pack.

[edit] Alumni

Koc School's notable alumni include Cengiz Pehlevan,[16] who got the first place in 2000 University Entrance Exam (OSS); Mehmet Özge Özen, writer; Tansa Mermerci, socialite and fashion designer; and Berkun Oya, artist and playwright.

Koc School Alumni Association offers several activities for the alumni including homecomings, Summer Picnic[17] at campus, Winter Reunion in Istanbul, and Reunions in Boston, New York and London.

[edit] Elementary school

Koç Elementary School was founded in 1998. It gave its first graduates in 2002. Graduates of the elementary school have the right of continuing to Koç High School, and take an exam to skip the Preparation year. If they score over 55% in this exam, they are automatically enrolled in 9th grade of the high school. If they score below 55%, they have to study 1 year of extensive English preparation.

[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ İşte Özel Okul Puanları (Article in Turkish). Retrieved on April 2, 2007.
  2. ^ ibid. Retrieved on April 2, 2007.
  3. ^ Koc School Students success in 1997. Retrieved on April 2, 2007.
  4. ^ Interview with three Koc students accepted to U.S. institutions. Retrieved on February 13, 2007.
  5. ^ Okulların Başarı Oranları (in Turkish). Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  6. ^ Özel Liselerde Anadolu Kaplanları (Article in Turkish). Retrieved on April 2, 2007.
  7. ^ ÖSS Results Announced. Retrieved on February 13, 2007.
  8. ^ Interview with John Freely (Turkish). Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
  9. ^ American School of Dubai International Math Contest Results. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  10. ^ BM gibi Koç Lisesi. Retrieved on February 13, 2007.
  11. ^ Koc School Students win 3 awards in Harvard Model European Congress. Retrieved on April 2, 2007.
  12. ^ The International Award for Young People, Koc School (in Turkish). Retrieved on April 2, 2007.
  13. ^ Juice boxes turn into school desks – recycling project from Turkey wins this year’s Volvo Adventure. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  14. ^ Recycling Project from Turkey Wins This Year's Volvo Adventure. Retrieved on April 4, 2007.
  15. ^ An old version of TAWA from January 2004. Retrieved on April 5, 2007.
  16. ^ ÖSS'nin şampiyonları anlatıyor (Cengiz Pehlevan). Retrieved on February 13, 2007.
  17. ^ Koç Özel Lisesi Mezunları hasret giderdi (Article in Turkish). Retrieved on April 4, 2007.

[edit] External links

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