ENKA Schools is a private coeducational, PK-12 day school located in Istanbul, Turkey. Since its establishment in 1996, Enka Schools in
Istanbul
Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...
, Turkey, has grown to accommodate approximately 1250
[Students and teachers from ENKA] students from pre-k to grade 12. Located on 16 acres in the Sadi Gülçelik Spor Sitesi in the center of Istanbul's business district, the campus also houses the ENKA Foundation, the ENKA Culture and Arts Foundation, and the
ENKA Sport Club with its significant athletic facilities. ENKA Schools is fully authorized by the
IBO as an
IB World School and is authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Program, IB Middle Years Program, and IB Diploma Program. ENKA Schools is internationally accredited by CIS and NEASC.
General information
Since its beginnings in 1996 with just over 200 students, the first ENKA School in Istanbul has moved to the main campus within the Sadi Gülçelik Sports Complex and rapidly expanded. There are currently 1250 students from Pre-School to grade 12. The school has four divisions: Pre-School (ages 3–5), Primary School (grades 1-4), Middle School (grades 5-8), and High School (grades Prep-12).
While the ENKA Foundation makes a substantial contribution to support the school, the school exists as an independent non-profit corporation directed by an unsalaried Executive Committee, which is in turn reviewed by a voluntary Board of Directors.
The academic program implements both
Turkish and
English as the languages of instruction. In addition, all students study a third language from grades 5-12:
French,
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany, the country of the Germans and German things
**Germania (Roman era)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
, or
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas
**Spanish cuisine
**Spanish history
**Spanish culture
...
. The curriculum enables graduating students to meet all the requirements for the
International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), more commonly known as the International Baccalaureate (IB), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the I ...
. The ENKA Foundation provides scholarships to more than 20 students a year.
The school offers extracurricular activities such as chess, robotics, dance, performing arts, and outdoor pursuits such as orienteering and camping (part of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award).
Students of the school share the training grounds with ENKA Sports Club for use in their physical education classes. In addition, about 600 students participate in the after schools program five days a week. Exceptional students are coached to national and international competition level. Many students are members of the Turkish National Team for their sport or activity, including chess.
History
In 1994, with the support of Sinan Tara, Vice-Chairman of
Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş.
Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş. (stylized as ENKA) is a Turkish engineering and construction company based in Istanbul. Enka provides construction and engineering services through its subsidiaries in approximately 30 countries across the world. As o ...
, encouraged by activist and businessman Ibrahim Betil, the school was founded in 1996 in the cultural capital of the country as a private nonprofit center of educational excellence to provide an inspirational model for schools both within Turkey and throughout the international educational community. The first high school graduating class was the class of 2008.
Since opening in September 1996, with just over 200 students, ENKA Schools rapidly expanded its main campus on the Sadi Gülçelik Sports Site in Istinye. There are currently 1250 students from Pre-School to grade 12.
Immediately after the earthquake on August 17, 1999, ENKA Foundation joined the nation's collective effort to provide relief to victims by building schools as quickly as possible; the
Adapazarı ENKA School is one of them.
Governance
The Board of Directors of ENKA Schools includes the following members: Alparslan Tansuğ (Board Chair and Founder's Representative), Esra Tara and Onur Kaya of
Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş.
Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş. (stylized as ENKA) is a Turkish engineering and construction company based in Istanbul. Enka provides construction and engineering services through its subsidiaries in approximately 30 countries across the world. As o ...
Board Chair and Founder's Representative, Alparslan Tansuğ has a BS degree from the department of Business Administration of
Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University (commonly referred to as METU; in Turkish language, Turkish, ''Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi'', ODTÜ) is a prestigious public university, public Institute of technology, technical university located in Ankara, ...
. Doctor of Neuroscience,
Esra Tara is the granddaughter of the founder of
Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş.
Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş. (stylized as ENKA) is a Turkish engineering and construction company based in Istanbul. Enka provides construction and engineering services through its subsidiaries in approximately 30 countries across the world. As o ...
,
Şarık Tara
Şarık Tara (born Šarik Hadžihamzić; 22 April 1930 – 28 June 2018) was a Turkish billionaire who founded Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş., one of Turkey's largest construction company, with Sadi Gülçelik, in 1957. As well as being an interna ...
. Onur Kaya holds a BSc degree in
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...
from
Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University (commonly referred to as METU; in Turkish language, Turkish, ''Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi'', ODTÜ) is a prestigious public university, public Institute of technology, technical university located in Ankara, ...
and a MSc degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart () is a research university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized into 10 faculties. It is one of the oldest technical universities in Germany with programs in civil, mechanical, ind ...
.
Campus and Facilities
The campus is situated on Istanbul's European side on 16 acres within the ENKA Sports Complex. The range of facilities demonstrates the importance ENKA places on contemporary education, sports, and the arts. The school's campus includes three full science labs, 3 libraries totaling 40,000 volumes, computer labs, a multimedia room, and contemporary purpose-built classrooms. In addition to these, it has a theater/auditorium, an amphitheater, an art gallery, 2 indoor pools, an outdoor Olympic sized pool, 12 tennis courts, a full gymnasium, a fitness center, and a tartan track and field ring.
Faculty and Student Body
Over 10% of students are dual citizens with 100% of students continuing on to higher education. Approximately 75% attend universities abroad. Nearly 25% of High School students are recipients of academic scholarships. All successful 2018 academic scholarship candidates scored in the top 1.3% for the nation in Turkey's High School Entrance Exam.
The teaching faculty are a mix of national and international educators. Foreign teachers from 13 nations account for 40% of the faculty.
Recent Academic Distinctions
2019- 1st place (Girls U17), and 3rd Place (Boys U17) European Chess Championship for Schools
2018- 3rd place in Turkey and Most Original Design Award-
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...
’s
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a Federally funded research and development centers, federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in La Cañada Flintridge, California, Crescenta Valley, United States. Founded in 1936 by Cali ...
’s Invention Challenge
2018- 6th place in the world- World Schools Individual Chess Championships
2018- 2nd place in Europe- European School Chess Championship
2018- Highest Rookie Seed Award, 2018 Finalist, and America Houston Finals Invitation Award-
FIRST Robotics Competition
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is an international high school robotics competition operated by ''FIRST''®. Each year, teams of high school students, coaches, and mentors work to build robots capable of competing in that year's game. Robots c ...
Regionals
2018- King Constantine Medal (Round Square)
2018- Kurt Hahn International Prize (Round Square)
2017- 1st Place in the TEAMS Competition (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics & Science)
2017- 2nd place in the world- Genius Olympiad, USA
Recent Athletic Distinctions
2019- 3rd Place Turkish High Schools Fencing Championship
2019- 1st Place National Biathlon (U17)
2019- 1st Place Turkish Nationals (U17) Swimming Championship 4x50M Mixed Relay
2019- 1st Place Turkish Nationals (U17) Swimming Championship 6x50M Medley Relay
2019- 1st Place Turkish Nationals (U17) Swimming Championship 200m Individual Medley
2019- 2nd Place International (U17) Swimming Championship 200m Individual Medley
2019- 2nd Place International (U17) Swimming Championship 200m 100m Butterfly
2019- 1st Place International (U17) Swimming Championship 200m 4 × 100 m Medley Relay (Butterfly)
2018- 2nd Place in Turkey Modern Pentathlon
2018- 2nd Place in Turkey overall in the National Track & Field Championships
2018- 1st Place in Turkey long jump in the National Track & Field Championships
2017- 1st Place in Turkey (U16) Slalom, Giant Slalom, and Parallel in the Turkish National Skiing Championship
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs and Afterschool Activities
Academic Activities:
•
Chess
Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...
• Cinema
• Creative Writing
•
FLL Robotics
•
FRC Robotics
• Jr. Entrepreneurs
•
Lego Robotics
•
Model United Nations
Model United Nations, also known as Model UN (MUN), is an educational simulation of the United Nations, which teaches students about diplomacy, international relations, global issues, and how the United Nations is run. During a model UN confe ...
Athletic Activities:
•
Aikido
Aikido ( , , , ) is a gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art which is split into many different styles including Iwama Ryu, Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai, Shodokan Aikido, Yoshinkan, Renshinkai, Aikikai, and Ki Aikido. Aikido is now practic ...
•
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
•
Ballet
Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
•
Dance
Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
•
Fencing
Fencing is a combat sport that features sword fighting. It consists of three primary disciplines: Foil (fencing), foil, épée, and Sabre (fencing), sabre (also spelled ''saber''), each with its own blade and set of rules. Most competitive fe ...
•
Football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
•
Table Tennis
Table tennis (also known as ping-pong) is a racket sport derived from tennis but distinguished by its playing surface being atop a stationary table, rather than the Tennis court, court on which players stand. Either individually or in teams of ...
•
Taekwondo
Taekwondo (; ; ) is a Korean martial art and combat sport involving primarily kicking techniques and punching. "Taekwondo" can be translated as ''tae'' ("strike with foot"), ''kwon'' ("strike with hand"), and ''do'' ("the art or way"). In ad ...
•
Tennis
Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...
•
Track & Field
Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and ...
•
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
•
Sailing
Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, Windsurfing, windsurfer, or Kitesurfing, kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (Land sa ...
•
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, such as saltwater or freshwater environments, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Swimmers achieve locomotion by coordinating limb and body movements to achieve hydrody ...
Arts Activities:
• Ceramics
• Chamber Orchestra
• Drama
• Flute
• Guitar
• Improv
• Piano
• Rock Band
• Theater
Creative Activities:
• Destination Imagination
• French Cooking
• Italian Cooking
•
Orienteering
Orienteering is a group of sports that involve using a map and compass to navigation, navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain whilst moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specia ...
• Student Magazine
• Minecraft
Sustainability Activities:
• İyILIK Bone Marrow Project
• Nature Club
•
Permaculture
Permaculture is an approach to land management and settlement design that adopts arrangements observed in flourishing natural ecosystems. It includes a set of design principles derived using Systems theory, whole-systems thinking. It applies t ...
•
World Wildlife Fund
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a Swiss-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Enka Schools
High schools in Istanbul
1996 establishments in Turkey
Educational institutions established in 1996
Sarıyer
Private schools in Turkey
International Baccalaureate schools in Turkey