CAMBRIDGE ESOL EXAMS
Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) exams assess whether students in educational institutions or employees in international companies can use English skills at the correct level, certifying their proficiency. Established by the University of Cambridge, Cambridge ESOL certificates signify achievement and excellence, and are recognized worldwide by thousands of educational organizations and educators. Every May, 5th-grade students at İSTEK Foundation schools have the opportunity to take these exams for free, and students from all levels can participate voluntarily.
MUN (Model United Nations)
Model United Nations (MUN) is a simulation of the United Nations organized by educational institutions at national and international levels. During conferences, students represent countries in UN committees. Each student is assigned a delegation and a committee with its own agenda items. During MUN club sessions, students develop debating skills, learn MUN procedures and language, strengthen their arguments, improve persuasive abilities, and enhance English speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. Before major conferences, additional sessions and study hours are organized outside regular club hours.
HAPPY CHILDREN PROJECT
Each year, students of İSTEK Semiha Şakir Anatolian High School, led by mathematics teacher Zeynep Gedikli, support a chosen sister primary or middle school. Throughout the first term, students collect donations—coats, boots, books, and food items—from the entire campus. After collecting sufficient materials, students, along with their teachers, package the items, include a personal note for each child, and personally deliver them to students at the sister school.
The aim of this project is to reach children in need, provide assistance, and reinforce the values of solidarity and helping others among our students.
GLOBAL MATH PROJECT
Students from İSTEK Semiha Şakir Anatolian High School and İSTEK Barış Middle School participate in the annual online Global Math Project week. This project allows students to connect with peers worldwide using the universal language of mathematics. Through creative brainstorming and collaborative problem-solving, students learn mathematics beyond the classroom and engage in innovative ways to approach mathematical concepts. The project encourages creativity while connecting students globally in real-time.
HOUR OF CODE
The “Hour of Code” event, held annually from December 4–10, brings together teachers and students worldwide to explore coding, computational thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Students at İSTEK Semiha Şakir Schools engage in coding activities using different tools appropriate for each grade level. High school students also integrate coding into Physics lessons, participate in the Hour of Code, and receive certificates for their achievements.
FIRST LEGO LEAGUE (FLL)
Organized by the Science Heroes Association, the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) program fosters confident, inquisitive youth who can work in teams to solve societal problems. Conducted in over 80 countries worldwide, FLL is a thematic, science-driven, process- and teamwork-focused tournament.
FLL is a nonprofit international program developed by the FIRST Foundation and LEGO, where teams of 4–10 students research, develop solutions, present findings, and build confidence while applying universal presentation methods. Our high school FLL team, INNOVATORS, represented our school at the Lego tournament and won the Best Teamwork Award.
MATHEMATICS PROJECTS IN COLLABORATION WITH YEDİTEPE UNIVERSITY
Expressing mathematical problems algorithmically and translating them into programming languages.
Organizing smart city project competitions in partnership with Yeditepe University.
Conferences to develop analytical thinking and reasoning skills in quantitative subjects.
Teaching statistical methods and SPSS usage in scientific research.
Organizing interschool debates on "Artificial Intelligence: Opportunity or Threat?"
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
National Projects:
TÜBİTAK Research Projects
SEMEP
International Projects:
S.O.S (Save Our Species) Science and Environmental Education Project
E-Twinning
Green-Brain
StarT LUMA
Destination Imagination
