"Tell me and I forget
Teach me and I remember
Involve me, and I learn"
Benjamin Franklin
The SABIS® Student Life Organization (SLO) is the heart of the school and a pillar of the SABIS® Educational System. It is a student-led mini-society that empowers students to get involved in the day-to-day experience at their school and offers countless academic, social, and emotional benefits for everyone involved.
Through the organization’s eight departments, students have the power to make a real difference in their school and their community. SLO students have the ability to organize academic and social events, host games and challenges, plan athletic activities, participate in the Yearbook preparations, explore new skills, help academic standards, start clubs, raise awareness on important subjects, stand-up for important causes, and much more.
By taking on this active role, students learn to take responsibility for their emotional, social, and moral growth as individuals as well as members of a larger community. The real-life experiences students are exposed to help foster their personal development as well as provide them with a platform to acquire and refine skills, attitudes, and attributes that give them a huge advantage in university and beyond.
Some of these essential life skills include:
- Leadership
- Problem-Solving
- Sociability
- Critical Thinking
- Organization
- Grit & Resilience
- Independence
- Empathy & Tolerance
- Communication Skills
- Collaboration
- Teamwork
- Accountability
The SLO is not just an optional extracurricular activity, it is also integrated into students’ schedules as a weekly period, called the SLO period, that brings many of the activities into the classroom for the benefit of all students
A Look Inside the SLO:
Academic Support Programs
The Academic Department of the SLO implements engaging academic
activities – including peer tutoring, academic competitions,
study groups, and shadow teaching – that are designed to build
students’ confidence in learning and develop their academic skills.
Bullying Prevention Campaign
The anti-bullying Campaign is one of the most important campaigns
that is led by the Social Responsibility Department. SLO members go
the extra mile to raise awareness on this important topic, producing videos,
designing posters, handing out flyers, and involving the whole school to
ensure a respectful, safe, and inclusive environment for everyone.
Sports & Wellness Events
The Sports and Health Department promotes healthy lifestyles
among the ISF community. This department organizes events like staff
versus student sports matches, intramural sports for our
students, as well as sporting events such as Sports & Health
Day and our annual Run-a-thon, a major charity event organized by our
students and featuring members of the ISF community running laps
around the school track to raise money for a nominated charity. They
also host campaigns to promote a healthy lifestyle among students and staff.
Outreach Activities
The student-to-student Outreach Department ensures that both new
and returning students are fully integrated into ISF. This department
arranges ambassadors for all new students and plans monthly themed
spirit days. The department also runs special campaigns such
a "Random Acts of Kindness Month."
Giving Back Initiatives
The Social Responsibility Department is involved in a variety of
charitable events such as Earth Day and Environment Week, and organizes
fundraisers for local charities. The students have also responded to
international crises in the past, and continuously provide support to
charities like the Children Cancer Hospital, Baheya Foundation, and
Magdy Yacoub Global Heart Foundation, among others.
Primary School Activities
The Lower School Department dedicates time and effort into organizing
fun events, such as themed parties, ice skating trips, and visits to
the zoo for the students in the Primary School. The department also runs
daily academic and social activities for younger students during break time.
Role of the SLO:
As mentioned earlier, the SLO is run by students for students. It plays
a key role in involving students in day-to-day school operation activities
that are supervised and well-catered for. Through this, the SLO aims to
achieve the following goals:
-
Help every student achieve the highest levels of academic and
behavioral excellence
-
Reverse negative attitudes and promote a positive attitude towards life
-
Involve the students in their own education process
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Complement the academic portion of the student's education while
teaching them life skills
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Promote the highest standards of ethical and moral values
-
Allow students to experience real-life practice, responsibility,
and accountability
-
Create a positive school culture that positively impacts students,
educators, school administration, and parents/guardians
SLO Honor Code:
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Treat myself and others with respect
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Do my best
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Maintain a positive attitude
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Be generous with praise and encouragement
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Cooperate with and help others
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Face challenges and seek solutions
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Be a positive role model
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Abide by the school's rules and regulations
The Prefect
The SLO prefect is a student who is:
- A member of the SABIS® Student Life Organization (SLO)
- Appointed to any of various positions of responsibility
- Assigned duties within the SLO and contributes to the efficiency of the school
Being a prefect enriches student's experiences, increases their chances
of being accepted at their university of choice, and positions them
to be successful later in life.
To become a prefect, a student volunteers to do certain jobs to become
part of the SABIS® Student Life Organization.
