Newsletter Fall / Winter 2022

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

Board of Trustees

Don J. Selinger, Chairman

Imad Taher, Vice Chairman

William H. Turner, Treasurer

Anthony Jones, Assistant Treasurer

Richard S. Ward, Secretary

Gerritt Keator, Assistant Secretary

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Adelman

Mona Bawarshi ‘67

Selim Bassoul

Wael O. Bayazid

Jonathon (Jon) A. Conner

Frederick O. Crawford

Walid Daouk ‘76

T.M (Mac) Deford

Bayard Dodge

Amal A. Ghandour

Yusuf A. Kan’an ‘71

John Khabbaz

Marwan A. Marshi ‘79

Dr. Safwan Masri

Theodore May

John G. McCarthy Jr.

Maher Mikati ‘98

Karim Noueihed ‘98 (Ex Officio)

Mirna B. Noujaim

Ian Reed

Matthew A. Reynolds

Mu’taz Sawaf ‘69

Talal K. Shair ‘83

Issam Shammas ‘63

Dr. Rabih Shibli

Ahmad Tayeb

Maya Tohme (Nassar)

Trustees Emeriti

Makram N. Alamuddin ‘61

Anwar Al Mulla ‘63

Said S. Darwazah ‘76

Peter H. Gerard

Aida Reed (Luce)

Mohammed S. H. Soleiman ‘59

Khalid Al-Turki ‘61

Administration

Joel Peinado- President

Paula Mufarrij - Vice President for Academic Affairs

Moufid Beydoun- Vice President Major Gifts & Interim Director Alumni & Advancement

Talal Jundi - Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Zeina Abou Khalil - Director, Lower School Ain Aar

Tania Hayek - Director, Human Resources

Nawal Haddad - Director, Middle School

Kathy Khayatt - Director, Elementary School

Megan Khairallah, Ph.D - Director, Secondary School

Lara Kmeid - Director, Upper School Ain Aar

Ghada Madloun, Ph.D - Director, Preschool

Mahmoud Shihab, Ph.D- Director, Educational Resources Center & IT Editor/writer: Ambarina

Zenab

FEATURES

CAMPUS NEWS

Letter from the Vice President

Dear parents, alumni and friends,

One of my favorite days is the opening day of school. I like to walk around the campus, greet students warmly and listen to them talk about their summer adventures. You can see the happiness on their faces. They are happy to be back home. Yes, IC is their second home, and it always will be.

IC was once your second home too. Some among you knew it during the country’s golden years, some during the war years, and some during its quiet days. For many of you, IC was a sanctuary - a place to go where you felt secure. Today, it is a haven for our students as the ongoing economic crisis continues.

We want to keep our students in class and help our teachers face the country’s hardships. We have more responsibility now than ever to provide them with the best education in the region. Every member of the IC family is working hard to ensure that our students feel secure at IC and continue their education unabated. Mr. Don Selinger, our Chairman, spent ten days in Beirut assuring teachers, staff, families, and students that the Board of Trustees will continue to provide all necessary support for IC in fulfilling its mission. He carried that same message during the wonderful reunion dinner in Washington, DC, in November.

I have just returned from a one-month fundraising trip in the United States, and I would like to thank every IC alumna, alumnus, and friend for your heartwarming reception. After a lengthy gap from such fundraisers, it was wonderful to see your unwavering support for IC. Our Solidarity Fund is one way you can help us during these difficult times so that we can help our teachers and personnel.

No matter how IC grows and changes, it will always be home. Then and now, we remain true to our mission to create the leaders of tomorrow.

Our students are the future, and maintaining a safe school space while delivering the best education will remain our priority. With your support and efforts, IC will continue its journey as a leading regional school.

I wish you a very blessed holiday season and a Happy New Year..

Best regards, Moufid Beydoun ‘64 Vice President for Major Gifts and Interim Director of Alumni & Advancement

Women in Engineering

Tara Sabri’s Journey

With no doubt, engineering is a male dominated industry. From undergraduate coursework to even real world experience, the field is catered towards the success, preference, and recognition of men. Women with the same educational background and work experiences are qualified by merit, but are often overlooked and excluded from the spotlight. Initiatives for female representation and giving women the space to also inspire others with their successes are catalysts to igniting change within the industry.

Opportunities to represent and recognize women like 2011 IC graduate Tara Sabri are necessary towards creating changes in the workplace and opening the dialogue on the topic of women in the engineering field. On this year’s International Women in Engineering Day, Tara was recently recognized as one of the top inspirational women engineers at Wintech, a prestigious facade engineering firm in London.

Her journey through architecture to facade engineering delves into the discussion of what the process has been like through her lens. Furthermore, her story highlights the questions of what it means to be a woman in this field on a personal and professional level, and the long term impact she hopes to have.

The Intro into the Field of Facade Engineering

Tara has always had a passion for design. In fact, she had started out in interior design which had little to do with the engineering field. Coming across facades changed the entire outlook of her career early on. “Facade is the element of the building that you see first”, she tells me. “It’s actually the only element that you see of the building when you’re on the outside walking on the street.”

Tara had started out with a different goal in mind. “I wanted to specialize in lighting design”, she said. But coming across facades changed everything.

“I thought it’s a field that is infinite. Where I can grow. There’s a lot of diversity, colors, and materials.”

Through a conference hosted by the Rocha Gallery that she was invited to, Tara came across a facade engineering

company in Spain. With confidence, she pitched herself to the employer and he agreed. She was the first junior who joined the company in Spain, and she adds that within time, other juniors began to be hired as well. Tara sponsored herself for 3 years in Spain to pursue this opportunity, which was her first experience of entering into the engineering industry. It was during this experience she truly got to learn a lot about facades and consulting, which played a major role in developing a solid background in the field. This job was also her first exposure to the gender disparity within the industry, as she reflects back on some key moments.

“I felt that he [her employer] didn’t give me the same opportunities” Tara states. “To travel, for example. We had projects in Morocco, Paris, Brussels, etc. And I couldn’t travel there. He preferred to send the men.”

Tara mentions that perhaps some of the reasons she was excluded from this could have been because her employer may have preferred someone with more experience, or that maybe given that she was an expat in Spain, he may have not have wanted to invest long term in her role in the company. Regardless of these reasons, she still felt as if she should have had the opportunities to travel and be present on these worksites. After all, she had been doing significant behind the scenes work.

Tara had worked on these international projects locally in Barcelona without getting the chance to observe the results of her efforts. “I was working on huge towers, and I couldn’t go. Actually, we were actually working with a Lebanese company called Glassline. The team members kept asking me, ‘when are you coming to Morocco?’ And I would tell them, hmm I don’t know”. Among her company, Tara was the only person who spoke French, and she felt that it would have been relevant for her to be there. After all, she was on all the calls and would even translate all the reports for her boss from Spanish.

With an itch for change, Tara felt like it was time to keep growing and developing her career. In September of 2021, she applied for the job at Wintech in London. “London was something I always dreamed of”.

By January of 2022, she had settled into the UK and started an entirely new phase in her career as a woman engineer.

Hands On at Wintech

Tara’s experience at Wintech has been a positive transition in her career path. “Here, I feel that I am very challenged professionally. They treat me like a man”, she says enthusiastically. On the contrary to her experience in Spain, Tara has gotten a fair share of hands-on experience.

“I go on site visits, to construction sites. Very very often. Once every 2 weeks I go to construction sites, I wear the helmet, the yellow fluorescent t-shirt you wear when you’re outside so people can see you.”

A big part of facade engineering consists of analyzing the structure and making sure there are no defects. In the process of doing so, engineers have to mount themselves on the cradle machines. Tara explains that traditionally, it wasn’t common for women to be on these machines. She laughs as she recounts an interaction she had with a man she was working with on the cradle during one of her London site visits.

“I’m the only woman between the workers, the people that are actually working on the facades. There’s the contractors, clients. It’s all men in the world of architecture. Here in this specialization of facade, it’s really unique.”

The Dialogue on Women in the Workplace

When it comes to the gender dynamic, Wintech’s

workplace seems to be progressing in their firm. On International Women in Engineering Day, Wintech made it a point to acknowledge the disparity within the field as a whole. Alongside Tara, they also spotlighted some of the other hard working women on their team.

“My company has 100 employees almost, and maybe at least 40 are women. Half of my office are women. So it’s really really nice. My company is making it a point to treat women like men. In my old office, it was 3 women and 7 men.”

Tara even points out that she had the chance to travel to Scotland for a project during the time she has been at Wintech.

According to Tara, the presence of women at her current workplace is valued.

“Women tend to be more organized. I can see the men appreciating our touch; Our precision, organization, order. We are more rigorous, and men appreciate this in my company.”

I asked Tara the question of whether or not she feels that women are given the credit and acknowledgement because they are women, or because of their skillset. Her response: “Of course for the skills. We just bring another vision.”

Given that men are the ones primarily pursuing the engineering field, there’s an association that being an engineer isn’t necessarily suited towards women. Furthermore, for the women who are in the industry, there’s often the misconception that their work can strip them from their label of “femininity”, and this same stigma is what would limit them from being as successful as their male counterparts. Tara challenges that. “I can be an engineer and still be a woman and be feminine”, she tells me adamantly.

there. Obviously it’s a man’s world, and it will take time to break that barrier”.

I asked Tara how she personally feels about initiatives like that of Wintech to promote and recognize women engineers. Tara disagrees with the idea that such initiatives imply that women are less capable than their male counterparts. Having spaces and spotlighting successful women creates another necessary outlet for representation. Particularly in a field that fails to recognize women and their efforts collectively, this representation is rather pivotal towards making any changes in the industry.

Furthermore, seeing women on front pages and acknowledged in the media oriented world we are in today may even serve as inspiration to other girls to pursue this field as well. With more women in the field, there is bound to be more headway towards changing the current dynamic. “Women starting to work in this industry are going to encourage others to do it”, Tara states.

In Tara’s perspective, any level of change taking place in the industry begins at the academic level.

“Universities should accept equal amounts of men and women in a classroom. For example in architecture school, there are more men than women. This already gives the way for more men to have the opportunity.”

Another factor would be the previously mentioned spaces of female representation and opening up discussions regarding women as engineers in the early days of university years, all the way up to the actual work force.

“The confidence is needed to go in it. The more people talk about it, the more awareness. That’s why I’m happy to participate in those kinds of dialogues because I already did that with my office and I think it’s helpful for other younger generations.”

Making Headway and Room for Growth

Regardless of the great work Wintech is doing to change the gender disparity within its own spaces, there is a lot of room for progress to be made collectively within the industry. “We’re just starting, that’s for sure”, Tara tells me.

“Women in engineering is new. There’s not one woman. More and more, clients are accepting that women are

In terms of the workplace, bringing change comes with companies bringing power to women to prove themselves. But this is where it can get tricky. If an employer refuses to hire or see any value of women on their team, there is automatically no space to prove a point in such an environment. Women can’t be the only ones advocating for themselves; in Tara’s perspective, there has to be collaboration between the dominant figures in the workplace.

“It depends on how open minded people are. If they believe in it to start this. If the employer doesn’t have the vision, it will never happen. It’s a joint effort between employers and a woman wanting to prove and believe in herself”.

IC’s Impact

When Tara made her points regarding that changes that begin on an academic level are the most significant, she also reflected back on her time at IC. She started out at Ain Aar, and eventually transferred to Raas Beirut and graduated in the French program. She believes that her foundation at IC was foundational to her success and confidence in this field as a woman.

“So many women start in school and they grow up without diversity. You grow up and you don’t know that you’re powerful enough and you don’t know your worth. I think that the diversity at school really helps in giving you the power to be like ‘ok I can do that’. Even I’m a woman, I can do that.”

IC’s emphasis on building strong character remains in its graduates for years to come. Particularly for Tara, the skills of confidence she gained can be attributed to her time here. “I mean look at me, I studied interior design and I’m now working as a facade engineer. You can be anyone”, she says.

IC is not only recognized for the academic front, but also for the multitude of ethnic and religious backgrounds, and the monumental school values it instills into children from an early age.

“Personality wise, IC empowers the students to have their own character. Choose their friends. Also the fact that IC gives you extracurricular activities and sports. All kinds of sports! The school culture in general lets you be whoever you want to be and this is nice because you go out of it and you’re confident.”

Tara’s Plans for the Future

“I wanted to be part of creating the landscape of cities. I

want to shape cities”, Tara told me. But apart from that she also hopes to be able to bring her passion for facade engineering back to Lebanon someday.

“On a personal level, I’m learning a new field that is just starting in my home country. I feel that I can bring a lot with workshops and classes. Giving the experience of someone who worked in that field. It’s so rare, Lebanese people who are working in that field. No one I know is Lebanese in my field. Especially in facade consulting.”

In all of Lebanon, there is only one facade engineering firm, Glassline. But Tara’s field is facade consulting, and it doesn’t exist in the country. “Glassline, they build the facade. They actually have factories. To be a facade consultant is rare in our part of the world”, she tells me.

Tara is essentially a pioneer in her field in terms of Lebanon, and she’s also a woman who is making major headway in working towards change. She is firm in her stance that education is the key to successfully combating the gender disparity in the engineering industry. Like mentioned before, encouraging women to be in the field comes with the inspiration and recognition of successful women just like her.

“I would want to go towards the education part. I’m very excited to do that. It could bring a lot. Especially if they see a woman that has 1o years of experience in facade, maybe they can be like her.”

Tara’s ambitious energy stems from the fact that the playing field is entirely uneven for women on all fronts in engineering. She hopes to play a role in bettering the system from the earliest stages: the academic space.

Tara Sabri is inspirational on all fronts. From the dialogue of gender disparity and pioneering in an industry new to her home country, she is bound to make impactful change on her community. With women like Tara who are making waves and being recognized in the engineering field, there will be other women who can have the courage and confidence to pursue leaving their mark in the industry.

Sustainability in the Notebook World :

A feature with Mohamad Bekdache, a Forbes 30 Under 30 Nominee

friendly company. In this feature, Mohamad shares the story of his journey with the creation of Dingbats, and also reflects back on his heritage and roots.

Mohamad graduated from AUB with a degree in business administration, and went to the UK for his masters in supply chain and logistics management. He landed a job at Amazon UK, and then at Rolls Royce Airspace. It was during his time with Rolls Royce where the birth of Dingbats began in 2016. “I had some more free time. I spent my days in the afternoon until 2 am every day working to launch this business. For around a year”, Mohamad says.

In the beginning, Mohamad was working from his UK apartment.

“Basically we ordered some notebooks from my father’s factory and we got them to my apartment in the UK. We worked and tried to sell them. This is where we got feedback from customers about what they want from notebooks.”

In today’s world, moving digitally in all forms of communication and expression has become the norm. Furthermore, in such a fast paced global society, being eco-conscious has often been overlooked when it comes to production and businesses. A lot has changed on our planet, and saving the environment on the ground is becoming a challenge.

For IC Alumnus Mohamad Bekdache, the traditional paper notebook will always stay relevant and authentic, and putting sustainability first is one step towards making this earth a better place through a business effort. In fact, Mohamad believed in this so passionately, that he turned the two ideas into his very own online notebook company: Dingbats.

This year, Dingbats caught the eye of Forbes Middle East, and Mohamad had the honor of being listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Middle East list for his innovative work. In the midst of all of his success and recognition, Mohamad is still humble and down to earth, and he has never lost sight of maintaining his values as an eco-

It was also during this time where production shifted to become more sustainable and produce higher quality products. This has become one of the main components of the business altogether. Soon enough, Mohamad’s notebook business started picking up. “After the first Christmas season, the business really grew. We started to expand to other regions as well. Europe and even North America. This is where I decided to leave my job with Rolls Royce”, he explains.

“In the beginning all the notebooks were in my apartment. Then we started getting warehouses. After that, I came back to Lebanon and established offices here. Working from here is very good. It’s nice to be working from home, especially when most of the business is operating outside of the country. It’s good to stick to our roots as much as we can. And to hire Lebanese talent. I also get the advantage of working alongside the family offices as well.”

Mohamad’s idea for a notebook company started from home in Lebanon. “The business was basically an inspiration from the family business, which is the oldest company in Lebanon since the year 1800 working in

paper”, he explains. “I’ve always had a vision when I was small to really expand our family’s household. I’ve been living in a household where paper is everything. I really had a dream to try and bring that to the west as well, as much as possible.”

For Mohamad, the notebook is the most traditional thinking tool. Even today, journaling has become a big trend, particularly bullet journaling. The business was able to positively ride this wave, especially since the trend became increasingly popular. In recent years, Dingbats has expanded into other stationary supplies such as pens and backpacks, and Mohammad hopes to continue to create more products within the brand and expand to newer markets.

Another avenue Mohammad’s business went through was fully implementing the sustainable component. The goal of the brand in particular is to support and raise awareness on endangered animals and species, which is already an eco-friendly mission. On the business side of things, Mohammad tells us that sustainable production hasn’t necessarily been an industry standard. Businesses are often so caught up on profit, and the impact on the environment is overlooked. He explains that to be a sustainable business, you will be required to go out of your way or change a lot of processes, or procure a lot of materials that aren’t available to you or are not the norm. It is difficult to maintain and these raw materials are hard to get a hold of, and they are more costly. But the advantages of that are how you are sharing your message. There’s a way for companies to still focus on their profits and the impact that they have on people through their products and services and even do it in a green way.

“The benefits to the planet are really good to ensure that we leave the planet to our children and our children’s children in a better way than what we have preceded in. What happened to the world especially in the late 90s and early 2000s had one of the biggest impacts on the environment and on climate change. Fighting that from now will really help instead of trying to help it 20-30 years down the line, where it will be too late. The sooner you do it, the sooner you will be able to solve it.”

What makes Dingbats different from other notebook companies is being 100% fully sustainable and ecofriendly, without sacrificing product quality. All of the paper used is FSC certified, meaning the trees used to make the paper were for that purpose only. Natural forests aren’t cut down in the process, which means it’s better for the environment. Dingbats is also vegan certified. In the notebook business, animal-based adhesives or leather covers, but Dingbats took their own alternative route. Lastly, Dingbats has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the UK to support endangered animals and raise awareness. 2% of UK revenue is donated to the WWF, and customers are really able to see how much they are donating. All in all, Dingbats is 100% green.

“We did see a gap in the market for our product that is sustainable and that is of high quality. The entire market became extremely mass-produced where brands started to sacrifice quality and sustainability. So we thought, why don’t we step in and provide people with a greener alternative for their everyday notebook.”

The founding of Dingbats and its overall success is absolutely impressive. “We started with only $100”, Mohammad tells me. Since then, it’s grown so much more.

“We’ve been open for 6 years. The business really grew substantially in the first 3-4 years”, Mohammad says. The biggest year for Dingbats was 2020-2021. Covid 19 most definitely brought up some concerns, but being an online business put Dingbats in an advantageous position. “We were able to compensate for that by having a lot of stock available and getting new warehouses. We doubled down on marketing to get people to buy from us. To get new customers. The first month of covid was a disaster, but we were able to manage it successfully to make it the best year so far.”

Like any successful business, Dingbats did have to navigate through some challenges. “Some of the challenges we faced were how to expand into these new regions in other parts of the world in the most efficient way possible”, Mohammad tells me. A big part of having an online

world. We happen to do so by producing a product that is a notebook. But the main motive behind it is the message behind it.” In this sense, marketing and positive customer interactions are the biggest tools for sharing the meaning of the brand, and putting the product out there. “There’s a huge history behind the product, and it gives a lot of credibility to our brand. People naturally like what we stand for and switch over to us. They stayed with us along the years”, Mohamad explains.

Given the entrepreneurial success of Dingbats, along with its positive social and environmental impact, Mohammad was given the honor of being nominated for Forbes 30 Under 30. “When I got the news that I had won, it was a very very exciting moment”, Mohammad exclaims. He has worked so hard these last 6 years, and he points out that along the way, there haven’t been too many moments

business is the question of how to convince customers to buy the product compared to others, especially when they are only viewing them online. Mohammad tells us that a big part of addressing this was through the concept of building a community, and telling the story behind the product. Since the brand is rooted in being green and supporting endangered species, Mohammad believes that it has a responsibility to be educators in the space of journaling or going green, and by sharing that knowledge. Not focusing on just selling the product. “We would try as much as possible to convince people to have a greener alternative. And raise awareness on problems around the

to celebrate the little successes along the way. The nomination became one of those moments for him.

“The good thing is that it really does give credibility to the business. It is a reward that tells us that we are in the right direction. It was a sense of satisfaction because sometimes you get so caught up in working you even forget that there should be a moment even for you to celebrate what you have done so far, on a personal level too. It meant a lot.”

Though he is so proud of this award, Mohammad wants to continue aiming for more. “It’s just something that

keeps us moving forward and pushes us to work even harder. For us this is just the beginning. In my opinion, we’re just really starting. The success is really when we are able to benefit a lot of lives and provide them with a lot of products that will help them in their everyday life. It’s definitely good to be here, but hopefully we can reach so many new lengths later on that are greater than that.”

As Mohammad reflects on his overall journey, he is grateful for his time at IC. He feels that the international school environment gave him the foundation to work internationally today, as well as providing emotional intelligence. Even the coursework and extracurriculars have played a role in his life too.

“I would never forget the technology class that we had, the art classes, the music classes. All of that has an impact on you in some way or another to shape your future self. I would also congratulate IC a lot for the amount of dedication that it puts for the extracurricular activities. It can be culture based, art or music based, or sports based. For me, I chose football, this is something that really taught me dedication, working hard, and having a sense of family or a team to be with all the time.”

Overall, Mohammad has combined his passion for entrepreneurship, the environment, and his family business background into Dingbats. He has worked incredibly hard to be where he is today, and IC congratulates him on this moment of success on his journey to many more great things. In the midst of all of his success, he stays true to his values and mission to be eco-friendly and sustainable, and this is admirable and inspirational on so many fronts. We can’t wait to see what all comes next in his bright future.

From Beirut to the Big Apple: College life at NYU with Naya Karnaby

Every year, IC seniors have been accepted into top universities all around the world. From the well-rounded education and access to top resources, IC students are guaranteed to graduate with success and pursue a future full of opportunities. When going out into the real world, IC has prepared students to start this new chapter in their lives. Starting college is always an exciting time in a young adult’s life, and hearing it first hand from one of IC’s own recent seniors goes to show how great university life is, and how time at IC has a positive impact on the future outside of school.

Naya Karnaby is one of IC’s most recent graduates, and she entered a new season of her life when she started university this fall. She is currently completing her first semester at NYU Tandon, in the borough of Brooklyn, New York City. She has had quite an exciting last few months as she navigates through university life and living in a big city. In this feature, Naya shares moments of her life in New York as an NYU student, and positively reflects on her current first semester in university. In addition, she shares her thoughts on IC’s impact on her life, while giving some advice to current IC students when it comes to preparing for university.

Why NYU?

For Naya, NYU was the perfect choice all around. Her father is already here in New York, and she already had some familiarity with the city. Plus, she has always wanted a city life and why not New York, the city that never sleeps?

On a personal level, Naya wanted to expand outside of what was her familiar Lebanese community. “I chose NYU because like I said I wanted this city life experience. I really love New York and I come here often. I wanted to change. I wanted something new and different. Plus you’re in NYC so, why not?” Being at NYU is also a place to meet all kinds of different people from all over the world. “I love the diversity”, she tells me.

Not to mention, the school’s academics aligned with her career goals and interests.

“I love my major”, she states. “It combines everything I wanted to do, like engineering and business together. My major is BTM, Business Tech and Management

engineering.” Essentially, she is studying the business and technology side of the engineering field.

Naya loves being in New York, and being an NYU student is a big part of that. “There’s always something to do. You’re never bored.” she states. “ You feel like you belong in the city because you’re in NYU. You have privileges everywhere because you’re an NYU student”, Naya also adds, “I love Tandon, our campus. You feel like it’s more campus than the buildings in Washington Square.”

First Semester Thoughts

For every college student, their first semester is one of the most foundational times in their university journey. From learning about classes and navigating a social and personal life, there is a lot to learn. I asked Naya about how her current semester has been going, and she gave an honest answer. As happy as she is, being somewhere new does take an adjustment period.

“The first few weeks were a bit overwhelming. With a little bit of effort everything got better.”

When it comes to joining extracurricular activities, Naya tells me she’s looking forward to doing more of this next semester. Given how overwhelming the first semester has been on the academic front, finding time to do more takes a bit of effort.

Currently, Naya has wrapped up her midterms, and her final exams are around the corner.

Regardless of the workload and the change, Naya is content. “To be honest, it went by so fast. Like I really liked this semester.”

This first semester has taught Naya a lot of things. “It’s normal to get overwhelmed in the beginning but you shouldn’t give up. You should always put in effort in working on yourself and your relationships with other people. Study hard in order to succeed in life.”

A Day in the Life

Naya starts her days early with morning classes. She lives at home with her dad in Manhattan, and she makes the early morning traffic commute daily. She’s brave enough to bear the hectic city traffic of New York City– she drives

from Manhattan to Brooklyn since her courses are at the Tandon branch of NYU. “I love driving!” she exclaimed.

Naya has got a full schedule this semester.

“On Mondays, I have 2 classes in the morning and then I go back to Manhattan, and I have an online course. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, only one class. And on Friday only one class. I have classes every day basically.”

Naya spends her time being productive while still seeing her friends. “When I go back home, I like to study with my friends in Bobst, NYU’s library. It’s so nice because we get to hang out and study at the same time.”

Naya spends time with friends she’s made in class and through others in the NYC university community, like Columbia. She’s even maintained friendships with two other IC graduates who are also living near her. On weekends, she sees friends out in Brooklyn, where the night life is great, and sometimes they also come her way into Manhattan.

When there’s free time, Naya and her friends love to explore the city and eat out. Her favorite cafe is Spring Cafe, where she gets smoothies and also spends time studying. She loves shopping and walking around the Soho area too. “There’s this place in Soho called parm. We like to go there every Saturday. They have the best pasta and mozzarella sticks.”

Around NYU’s main campus is Washington Square Park with the iconic arch, and Naya tells me it’s another great place to hang out.

“There’s streets where there’s a lot of tiny shops and restaurants. They have the best boba, it’s a place next to Washington Square. We love to go there and get boba and sit. It’s like a tiny hidden place but they have really good boba.”

Naya recommends that anyone visiting the city checks out the Moma museum (Museum of Modern Art). She personally loves their gift shop.

Now that it’s Christmas season in New York, the city is adorned with decor and festivities and there’s a lot to do. “We go to Bryant Park and Rockefeller, and we look at Christmas decorations and walk around the city”, Naya tells me.

Naya started out at IC Ain Aar, and then transferred to Ras Beirut. She was in the French section throughout her years. Naya tells me that coming from Ain Aar to Ras Beirut gave her a glimpse into what college would look like.

“Going into a new community, meeting a lot of people, making new friends after being in Ain Aar for 10 years maybe.”

Aside from the passionate spirit and community that IC has fostered to its students and alumni today, the educational components have had long term positive effects in the lives of graduates. For Naya, her education at IC helped her successfully through exams and a heavy workload during this very first semester.

“One thing I realized when I was here is that IC prepared us really well to go to college. For example, They give us a lot of group work and presentations to do that strengthens our character. Which was really helpful.”

As all alumni tell me, IC is always going to be a part of them wherever they go in the world. And for Naya it’s the same. “We love IC, really”, she says enthusiastically. “ We love love love IC”.

Advice to IC Seniors

A year ago, Naya was in the same shoes as many of IC’s current seniors in terms of college applications and making a decision for their future.

She emphasized honesty as a key point. “Be honest with your application. Don’t lie about anything. Be yourself.”

She also tells me that seniors should look forward to this new chapter in their lives, while also enjoying these moments at IC. “They have to be excited because it’s a very nice experience. But don’t take school for granted. I look back at school days now, and these were the best days of my life.”

Naya also adds some advice from her own experience as a first year student. “You have to be organized”, she emphasized . “That’s the most important thing in uni. You

have to be able to manage everything at the same time. Your social life, your work, and everything.” She goes on and insists not to procrastinate, since work builds up and there won’t be time to finish everything. In her social life, being genuine has been important. “Be nice and kind to everyone, because that is how you’ll make friends”, she tells me.

Lastly, when it comes to change and readjusting to a new place, Naya offers a positive perspective while acknowledging the struggle. “It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you shouldn’t give up. Try, put in more effort to make more friends and go out.”

Naya’s Goals

While Naya is still young with many possibilities ahead of her, she does have some goals and thoughts for her future. In the upcoming year, she hopes to be taking some electives in the Washington Square campus since it’s closer to her home.

Long term, there are a lot of options. “I want to work in a really big company. Maybe as a manager. And be successful in life. Maybe even go to Columbia for my Masters”, she tells me.

Like many alumni who have left Lebanon, the country is still home for Naya. “I want to go back to Lebanon. I hope I can go back when I graduate.” Naya would also love to consider living in New York, because she loves the city.

Naya isn’t putting too much pressure on herself to figure it all out now. After all, she has time to see where things go. She’s open to letting things fall into place as she continues to work hard and create a life for herself. As she says beautifully, “what comes unexpectedly, is the nicest.”

Conclusion

As Naya’s first semester comes to a close, she has done well and has learned so much. She’s created a positive life in New York City, and manages well between her academic and social life. She still holds onto her roots at IC, and continues to aim for excellence as she continues her journey throughout university. We are so excited to see how she grows, and what she will end up doing in the future!

A REFLECTION ON HERITAGE : THE RENNOVATED PRESCHOOL BUILDING

At IC, maintaining heritage while moving forward has always been a major theme throughout the years. So many beloved alumni look back at the school and often tell us that there’s always something new, but it’s still the same IC they have fond memories of. The Ras Beirut campus has had all sorts of additions, developments, and changes with the addition of modern buildings and classroom resources in the last several years. But at the very same time, the oldest buildings of IC still remain intact, showcasing a blend between history and modernity all in one place. In particular, the remodel of the old kindergarten building into a new preschool facility has sparked an important discussion and reflection into the history and essence of IC.

This preschool building used to be the old elementary school. It was originally the refectory planned by the first principle of IC, William H. Hall, and its construction was completed in 1913, as a gift from Rockefeller. The top floor was a cafeteria for boarding students, up until the 1980s. Even day school students used to eat here if they didn’t eat at home. After the war and the end of the boarding program, the old elementary became the preschool building and stayed that way until this new renovation.

In 2019, IC proposed a structural remodel to the beloved preschool building at the same time the Sawwaf and Mikati buildings were being built. As the school grows bigger, alongside needs for improved spaces and resources, this project presented an important opportunity for the existing building to serve the needs for teachers and students.

But a major challenge at the forefront of the construction project was figuring out a way to preserve the heritage of a historic campus building that generations of IC students and faculty had grown up in, and learned to love. As the years have passed at IC, there have been several additions to the campus at the cost of also cutting into older structures and segments of the beloved greenery. This preschool building was situated in a space composed of greenery, and its facade holds the shape of a beautiful, traditional Lebanese building.

Initially, the original plan considered demolishing the current building and replacing it entirely with a new structure. IC refused to do this, as the school didn’t want to touch the historical buildings. Eventually, a compromise was made.

“We agreed with the architects that they will keep the shell from outside, and demolish everything inside, and build it according to the latest specs” says Mufid Beydoun, Vice President of Alumni Affairs.

And with that, construction commenced. The old pre-school has maintained its structural integrity while having entirely remodeled the inside with the newest facilities and additions.

For Mrs. Ghada Madhoun, IC alumnus and the current Director of Preschool, the remodel of this building was necessary, but still serves the purpose of maintaining IC’s heritage. Mrs. Madhoun was in this very building when she was in preschool. She even became a preschool teacher, and taught in these very classrooms. Something significant that she pointed out to me was the trees in this current space.

“These are the same trees I used to see when I was a kid. They made sure they preserved them with all the machinery and construction.” she tells me.

Many alumni reminisce about the greenery they used to have on campus. And on that note, preservation of the trees around the preschool reconstruction became a priority.

“They renovated the playground. They made sure they would water the trees and make sure the trees have enough space during the renovation and the construction. IC is making an effort to keep the greenery. For example, this is one of the oldest trees in Beirut.”, she remarks. This tree in particular is fascinating, given that it has been preserved and taken care of for generations. “And this is why there’s a fence and there was a donor to make sure it was fenced during the construction of the spot”, Mrs. Madhoun adds.

When it comes to the internal remodel, Mrs. Madhoun emphasized that the changes implemented have improved the facilities altogether for teachers and students.

As a former preschool teacher and now director, she can vouch for the changes made. For example, the sizes of the classrooms and the new spaces for theatre, music, art, and dance have been significant shifts.

“There are well equipped art rooms. A psychomotor area; we have a sensory room, music and art rooms that used to be containers. We have spaces for the learning centers, we didn’t have that before. We have work areas for the teachers, maker space, and a huge library.”

Even the sizes of these rooms have expanded. Miss Madhoun recalls her days of teaching. She shares pictures of her old classroom, and compares them to the new ones.

“My classroom was considered one of the largest classes. Now when they remodeled the interior, it’s now two classes!”

Mrs. Madhoun tells me that it was always part of the plan to reconstruct the old preschool for an updated space. In conjunction with this, the new Sawwaf building also used for preschool next door holds wonderful classrooms and facilities that are vital for a young age group. The old building maintained the same facade on the outside; it’s just the inside that’s a whole lot different.

Maintaining excellence while constantly growing towards the vision of providing education for the children of our future has not changed. Acknowledging one’s roots and staying consistent to values is necessary, but also moving forward where there is room for progress and updated resources is essential to improvement and maintaining educational standards.

“This is what’s nice about IC,” Mrs. Madhoun states. “It is a leading school but it connects to the past. Whether it’s in the architecture, whether it’s in the way of how to keep up with the mission and vision of the school, the heritage, the traditions that we have, the type of expectations and the values that we have; this has not changed.”

This preschool building is a great example of this. While it maintains the historical architectural facade on the outside as a symbol of IC’s heritage, the inside has been reshaped to the highest quality of resources for students and teachers alike for education today. As in the words of Mrs. Madhoun, “The goal was to preserve anything that needed to be preserved and we needed to cater to the goal of being leaders of tomorrow.”

Additionally, talking to involved IC parents who were also alumni has also brought perspective on the dialogue of heritage and growth. Abir Bawarshi, current head of the parents committee, graduated from IC in 1998. Along with her is parent committee member Dalia Ghawi, who graduated from IC in 2004.

Old Music Room

New Music Room

Both parents tell me that for them, IC has always been such a prominent part of their life, and returning back to campus with kids of their own has allowed them to see all the new growth alongside comforting familiarity that is this community and school. Furthermore, being involved in parent leadership and watching the school grow and develop has made them feel like they’ve never left IC.

During their years as students, Abir and Dalia were also in the very same preschool building.

“They used to feed us manoushe and hot chocolate. They would spread mattresses and we would sleep. There was sleeping time at IC. that happened in nursery, KG 1 and KG 2. This is a fond memory”, Abir noted, when asked about what she remembered from her years in this building. She also fondly recalls the old preschool guard, Abu Ayman. “He was popular at the time, he knew every kid’s name”.

For returning alumni as parents, IC’s still feels like home with a bit of change. “It’s a melange of the old IC campus with a tinge of modernization”, Dalia remarks. Though many alumni miss the old spaces and greenery, changes to IC aren’t necessarily negative. When asking Dalia what she personally thought about the preschool remodel, her response was positive. “I actually like it”, Dalia states. “My daughter was in KG 2 last year. The classes were really spacious”. As Miss Madhoun mentioned before, the issue of space was a significant shift for teachers and students in the classroom, but even parents have picked up on the change as well with praise.

Throughout all of the moments of history and change in Lebanon, IC has had its own stories and moments to look back on. “That building has been home to several generations. And each unique timing. It survived a civil war. Each generation has a different story”, Dalia says. Given the changes in Lebanon the last few years, the current generation of IC students will also be looking back at their years here and having their own stories and memories to share. In the midst of crises before, and even today, IC has always managed to maintain itself and be both a safe space and home for its students, parents, and staff. “These times too shall pass”, Abir expresses, as she believes that the presence of IC in difficult times has always provided hope. Metaphorically speaking, this preschool building remodel symbolically represents the essence of IC; maintaining tradition and values, but moving forward and growing. Architecture always tells a story, and the mix of old structures and new buildings weaved amongst each other is a part of IC’s ongoing narrative. The architecture of the campus reflects the past and long standing history through a mix of heritage buildings, while also portraying growth for future generations by all of these new additions. As put perfectly by Abir, “old and new meet here. It’s the best of two worlds.”

At IC, the safety of students, parents, and staff has always been a top priority. From all of the change during these times in Lebanon, IC still maintains itself as a safe campus and space, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the security team. In this Q&A with Mr. Fouad Takieddine, the current head of IC Security, we go into depth about how IC will always maintain top quality standards for protection and safety of its beloved community.

Q&A with Fouad Takiedine Head of Security

How long have you been a part of the security team at IC, and what is your role and background?

I joined IC in February 2021. This upcoming year will be my second year. I used to be in the Lebanese Army Forces for 15 years. After that, I worked in hotels, banks, and shopping malls. Now I am in a school environment. Here, the safety of the students and the staff are the important things. But the team, especially the leadership team. When there is something happening, the leadership team asks everyone to cooperate with our team.

What are the different duties and tasks of the security team?

The main tasks are to provide safety and security for staff, parents, students, and visitors. Some of the main tasks are morning drop off, traffic guidance, and dismissal.

The supervisor conducts a briefing every day at 6:45 AM. This always happens in the morning. I forward emails to the supervisor, and inform every person relevant about this.

We implement our duties without jeopardizing any security measures, while also being cooperative and assistive towards parents. We arrange traffic and buses. We work with monitoring traffic in certain weather conditions. We start preparing daily for dismissal at 1 PM, as it begins at 2 PM.

During the day, there is also recess. When the supervisor needs support, the security team is on the ground. Sometimes we are also arranging in the cafeteria when it gets busy and hectic.

We have to do the fire drill 4 times a year so we coordinate this. If there are any celebrations, like graduation or when parent committees do anything here, the security are in charge of supporting and helping.

We have the CCTV cameras in each building and we monitor them.

Tell us about your team!

We are here at Ras Beirut and Ain Aar. In total, we have about 44-45 team members. At Ras Beirut in particular, we have 12 security guards and 4 gates. The team is divided into 3 categories based on years of experience. They all have loyalty to IC.

The people on our team are usually trained before. Once we start the year, I conduct a security awareness training. About the tasks, safety of the campus and children, arrival and dismissal. In the middle of the year, we conduct a refresher session. Every day we have on-job training. I brought this concept from my

old job. We essentially instruct our members as to what to do on his post.

The security guards work a lot of shifts. I brought this from my previous experience. Business continuity management, rotating shifts. From 7-4, from 3-11, and overnight. There’s a patroller at night or substitutes a guard for a break if he needs it.

How has the security team maintained a safe environment from all the instability that is occurring here in Lebanon?

From 2019, security helped a lot. From the events of the 2019 Revolution to the Port Blast. All of the many gates that exist on campus are supervised by security. We were more vigilant after the revolution and the port blast. Especially during night shift. We are encouraging and increasing the monitoring outside as well as patrol.

Why do you love what you do here at IC?

Because I love my work in security. Especially here, it’s a friendly environment. This is what I love, the implementation of the security and safety measure to the students because they will learn and carry them outside. They reflect their environment outside. I like to implement the law, given my background with the Lebanese Army.

How do you view the surrounding environment of the school in terms of safety?

In general, the area is more secure. The perimeter is secure because we have the police station and AUB. Here in the street, we have the Saudi embassy and the Lebanese Army. And a member of parliament in the area, which means there are extra security measures. Inside of the school, we are conducting good measures to control everything. The environment is pretty good for safety and security. At Ain Aar, the surrounding environment is different than at Ras Beirut. Yet the area around is safe and secure, and our security team is always on alert and attentive.

“I want everyone here at IC and abroad to know that this team”

What are some of your goals for the future of security at IC?

Technology is really important regarding security. Everything is more advanced. We need to add more and

more. Sometimes there are gaps that need to be checked. I want to implement an ID security system like AUB for registering people into the system. In addition, working on coordination with the IT team. They’re very important in installing the camera system. As well as working with the physical plant for cabling.

What changes have you brought to security at IC?

For six months before I joined IC, there was no head of security. There were just small teams. I gathered all of them and united them. We started enhancing the security training. We continued implementing measures. We changed our uniform a month ago. There are some gaps in the CCTVs and I worked on it and added some cameras here and in Ain Aar. There is now someone who follows up on these things, and the guards feel like there is someone listening to them and raising their concern to upper management.

What guarantee do you give parents, teachers, and students about their safety here at IC?

The job of the security officer means he has to always be alert. Because of our students. On campus, they can 100% rely on us. I can react with my team in an emergency situation and if something happens in an effective way. International schools have this standard. We cannot jeopardize security and safety with any circumstances or changes. Safety and security is everyone’s responsibility because risks never sleep.

Concluding Thoughts

In general, the security team is working a lot. There is a lot on them. The first people you see here first are the security from the outside. Here, all the parents feel safe and secure for their kids because the security guards are familiar with them. They are helping and supporting. All the guards have the good intention to help. During training, we stress on these points to support and assist without jeopardizing security measures. Only to facilitate and help. Thank you for giving attention to the security. I want that everyone here at IC from upper management and abroad to know, that this team is working for the benefit of the school to provide security and safe environment for the school for the students and parents and staff. It’s a big responsibility on them, and I hope they will appreciate their effort.

The Spirit of Community: A Story and Testimony from an IC Mother, Dana Obeji

In particular, single mother Dana Obeji has been touched by the generosity and love of the school community after she faced her own life tragedy with the loss of her husband. Mrs. Obeji shares her experience and immense gratitude towards IC during one of the most difficult times of her and her childrens’ lives. She also reflects on the importance of a community like IC in the world we are living in today and how lucky we are to have a place like IC to call home.

Eight years ago, Mrs. Obeji lost her husband in a plane crash in Cypress. “It was a tragedy”, she says. And indeed it was. She became a single mother of three young children, and began to bear the responsibilities that came with taking care of a household alone. But this is where IC stepped in, and changed the trajectory of her journey. Mr. Bergman, former president, reached out to Dana and told her that the school had voted on a policy, where if anyone has lost their spouse in such a way, IC is willing to support and cover the finances for the education of the children. “I was so touched. I was totally overwhelmed with the help and the support the school could provide”, Dana says. As kind of an offer as it was, Dana politely declined but wholeheartedly expressed her gratitude. She made it a point to show how IC knew how to show up, while also giving space. She felt that the team never pushed her in any way that wasn’t comfortable or infringing on her privacy. “IC was present without being intrusive. It’s open minded without being chaotic. It is supportive but not invading”, she states.

In times of uncertainty, IC has always been a supportive space for its community. From all the changes that have been taking place in the country these last few years, the school has ensured that its students and their families still have access to not just a good education, but also a reliable support system.

And it wasn’t just on the administrative side of things where Dana was given the reassurance and help she needed. The teachers of her children played an immense role in creating a caring and supportive environment at school for her and her children. “The teachers would leave the class to make sure that my children would be okay. They would take pictures

of my children to show me they were doing alright and participating and having fun with their friends”, Dana reflects gratefully. Though her children had lost their father, Dana feels as if the school in a way was their second parent. “Not one single teacher disappointed me. Everyone surprised me positively”, she states. She also was touched by how genuine and authentic the support offered was.

“There are people in our life who are just standing by our side. Like big trees. Like they are full support to us. We don’t see them until we fall down. When we fall down, suddenly they start supporting us. They are fully prepared to help us. They expect it. This is what I found at IC. IC was simply an entity in my life that was ready to accompany us in this difficult time.”

For Dana, when a tragedy like this takes place in the life of a person, they don’t trust life anymore. “I became a person who needed to be reassured all the time, and the school played a role”, she tells me. This is where the emphasis of community comes into play in the life of a person. “There’s a system here, it’s a community”, Dana states. And she’s right – IC is its own community of teachers, staff, and parents. And when it comes to tragedy or difficult circumstances in the lives of this community, the people within play a major role in helping one another move forward and get the reassurance they need. Since COVID 19, the port blast, and the current economic crisis, the school has managed to uphold its foundation while also looking out for those within its community. Dana positively reflects on the way COVID was handled at IC, and how the school checked in on families by the port following the blast. Even now with the increase in school fees, the school continues to reach out offering support for those who need it. IC is a space where Dana can send her children and feel that things will be okay. “I am not worried. I feel that they are as safe as home. As a single mom, this is huge. It’s important.”

Dana’s oldest son is going to graduate this year, and she has another son in Grade 10, and a daughter in Grade 5. As her son is graduating, she tells me how touched she is and how much of a personal impact IC had on him too. He told his mother, “we love our teachers so much, why would we hurt anyone? We are thankful. It’s the only school where students leave the school with love. Not with happiness

that they are leaving, but with regret”. This is the impact the support of this school has on its students as well; in all the years they’ve been here, they’re sad to leave a place that has been home for them.

Dana is a psychologist, and in the field of therapists, IC has been recommended as a school where regardless of challenges in life, children will still be in a good school. For Dana, this was the community she wanted to belong in. Enrolling her children at IC was a conscious choice she made with her husband which was so important to her. Her husband was a bit reluctant at first, but even up until he passed away, he saw the positive environment and high quality of education his children were getting. “I hope IC will give the chance for people who choose them. Not only the ones who inherit it. But to keep on taking people who choose the school is very important”, Dana tells me.

From the endless support that she has from IC, Dana wishes that the school will maintain its support for years to come. For her, that starts with supporting the backbone and foundation of this support system: IC’s teachers. “The hope I have is that IC stays able to support the teachers. Because it is thanks to them”, she says. “These people are very tired. They are teaching our children and they are spending time with them. It’s a job that is very difficult. I really think that the community should support every teacher. Teachers need to feel like they have a family behind them.” Dana wants parents to truly know and understand that IC will always be there for them and their children. “I want to tell them, trust the school. You can be sure the school will do their part of the job”, she insists.

From the bottom of her heart, Dana loves IC and truly believes that the school is a safe space. She is always thankful and grateful for everyone that has been there for her and her children when she was faced with such a big loss, and she advocates for the continuous support of the heroes we call our teachers. Though this tragedy significantly altered her faith in life, she gained the genuine love and support of the IC community, and this truly changed the game for her and her children. In her own words, “the smile that I found on the face of every teacher, every team member, was enough to help me believe in life again”.

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“IC was present without being intrusive. It’s open minded without being chaotic. It is supportive but not invading”

IC Ain Aar Middle School New Leadership

Up the hill at IC Ain Aar is a new set of talented leadership for the middle school team. Middle School Director Lara Kmeid, Assistant Dean of Students Rony Asmar, and Assistant Director Katia Aranji are proud to be a group of leaders bringing a positive campus climate for their students up at Ain Aar.

All three wonderful women have been a part of the IC family from their own early days. Lara Kmeid was a former IC science teacher. Not only now is she a director, she is also a proud mom at IC. Katia Aranji was an English teacher, and is also an IC alumnus and an IC mother! Rony Asmar is also a former IC student, and she returned back to teach at IC for 33 years. In fact she laughs and says that Katia was her student at one point. Given their own personal background and love for the school, these wonderful ladies are proud to be back at school in their roles as leadership, to have an opportunity to make a difference in the place they call home.

In particular, middle school students are at a pivotal time when it comes to learning about themselves and the world around them, as it’s during these years that these children develop foundational personality skills.

“Middle school is where they start shaping their personality. Where you should give them space to express themselves and to really guide them in a way where they can go and

develop skills. If we don’t give them a safe environment to express themselves and actually tell them to have their voice, they will not be able to go and be the leaders of tomorrow”, Lara Kmeid says. The restorative program is a collective part of the whole school in IC Ras Beirut and Ain Aar as a restorative initiative to be implemented.

This is why, having an approach that involves student participation in the process of discipline and accountability has been introduced by the new leadership team to Ain Aar. This is called the Restorative Program, and its effects have been dynamic in just the short period of time that the middle school has been implementing it.

What exactly is the Restorative Program? Rony Asmar explains that it’s an interactive and restorative approach to discipline that gives students the space to reflect on their behavior while working together with teachers to implement accountability.

Rony elaborates on this point. With an approach like this, it creates a chance for a child to reflect on his behavior. It also makes room to see what are the underlying reasons for misbehaving. “There’s always an underlying reason. Sometimes we have no clue of what’s causing the behavior. Once we know, we can help them out much more”.

When there is a disciplinary issue, Rony, Lara and Katia are the ones to handle it, hand in hand with the student.

“We sit and we have a plan of action. The child has to be in with us. It’s his idea. Usually I ask the child, how do we repair the damage we caused. They come up with ideas. When it comes from the child, they abide by it because they are convinced”, Rony states. While being in the space to share what the problem is and reflecting, children are not just feeling like they are getting in trouble and facing a consequence. Instead, they will find an effective solution to the problem with the leadership team, and in the long run they will be able to apply these ways of thinking and better choices on their own terms. “I love working with kids. I love giving second chances. I love hearing kids out. I always like to hear the students’ side when they face problems. I believe in repair, not just consequences’’, Rony Asmar states. When the approach to discipline isn’t just about the actual punishment, it allows for students to actually reflect on the issue at hand and take accountability without having to be evasive or fearful. Furthermore, on an administrative end, taking into consideration what may be causing the issue at hand, which can be a myriad of things. “When I understand the student’s reason, I can plan the consequence and repair”, Katia says.

An activity Rony shares is the treatment agreement, which is a fun way to present the rules and regulations They’re done in the beginning of the year. There is the Tree Activity, to find out the students’ expectations as well as the underlying causes. The activity was to write down 3 inappropriate behaviors that can take place at school. On the branches, write down the things that are currently done to deal with these behaviors. On the roots, students write down 3 reasons that drive these behaviors and what is the unmet need.

Creating a space within an administrative or leadership section where students feel respected and heard makes all the difference. This is why the restorative approach makes room for all sides of the story in a conflict to be heard. There’s also an establishment of trust and respect between one another. “They have their own space here. They’re always welcome here, they’re always heard. We listen to them a lot”, Lara Kmeid says.

Just in the past few months, the middle school leadership team tells me there has been quite a noticeable change from their students. “There’s honesty. They’re not hiding things”, Katia says. Essentially, students are feeling comfortable enough to own up to their mistakes. Rony feels that the root of this comes from having created a space of kindness and understanding for these students. “I believe that empathy,

caring, and compassion are reciprocated”, she says. The best way to cultivate a community is through honesty and compassion, and the restorative approach is just one of the ways for Ain Aar to keep building and creating a safe space for their students.“IC Ain Aar is really a family. We are all teachers from the community, we’ve been here a long time. There’s a lot of transparency”, Katia says. And this is what makes Ain Aar unique; it is its own community within the IC branch. This is why for Ain Aar leadership, maintaining IC spirit while also catering to the individual needs of the community dynamic here is important. Just this year, there have been 26 new teachers added to the Ain Aar team, and almost 45 new students. “The community is getting wider and more diverse”, Lara Kmeid states. For Lara, community development is one of the most important goals she has as director.

“It’s actually to build this community and build this trust. To build a culture of Ain Aar. We really care about preserving it”, she adds.

As a whole IC, Ain Aar’s middle school leadership team has an impressive feat going for itself, and takes into account the needs of the school as they go along. “We build our advisory program on the needs that we have in our school”, Rony tells us. Lara Kmeid elaborates on this as well, as she proudly tells us about the activities, hands-on approaches, field trips, and career oriented elective program that school has implemented. The school has become more technology oriented, and in the process of accommodating those needs, the leadership team is playing their part to show up wherever is relevant. “We work closely with the ed tech coordinator to make sure teachers are trying to implement technology into their classrooms”, Katia states. From the classroom level and observations, this new leadership team is doing their best to make sure that students and staff alike have all the skills and resources they need to keep growing and moving forward.

All in all, the Ain Aar middle school leadership team works hard in what they do for their students. “We care a lot about the well-being of our students. Their safety, well being, their happiness”, Rony says. The restorative method approach has brought more productivity and communicative and honest students, which is how progress is being measured at the moment. As the year goes on, we are so excited to see how Ain Aar’s community flourishes, and how the leadership team brings new ideas to the table to maintain this positive spirit and family dynamic.

Rosalind Wiseman: Feature with Renowned Author Speaking at IC

This October, IC was honored to have renowned author and educator Rosalind Wiseman come and share her expertise in education here at Ras Beirut and Ain Aar. Wiseman is a part of an organization called Cultures of Dignity, an educational team that collaborates with parents, educators, and students to navigate through the process of young adulthood. Here at IC, Rosalind Wiseman gave workshops to leadership and staff at all campuses, with an emphasis on creating an environment rooted in dignity and making room for students to take academic risks. She offered a lot of skills and insight during her talks, and sparked a conversation on the importance of acknowledging the emotional needs of students, and implementing effective communication between children and educators for classroom growth and personal development. We had the chance to speak to Rosalind Wiseman following the completion of her workshops. She shares ideas about her role in education, and reflects on her impression and thoughts for the future of education at IC.

Wiseman initially came to IC since she was keynoting the NESA conference, The Near East and South Asia Council of Overseas Schools. The director of NESA had reached out to schools in the area, and IC responded and invited her here. As IC is always finding a way to keep up with the best standards of education, working with Wiseman would be a way to contribute towards these efforts. “It’s a part of my understanding of what the school is doing to redesign and rethink– what are the best practices for a school, for this current generation of schools”, Wiseman tells me.

From just her three days at IC, Wiseman was able to pick up on the significance of community here on campus and on a regional level. In doing so, she also emphasized the point that major schools with a reputation like IC play a role in society as leaders and role models but also evaluating where there is need to grow. In her own words, “my impression of the school is that like all institutions that are recognized for its position in the community; institutions like that are only as good as their ability to be rigorous in examining the institution.” Essentially, as great as IC is, what truly gives it respect in its role as a leading school is its ability to expand from the norm and look beyond to other ways of thinking and perspectives. “I really respect that the school is going through a process of examining what it needs to do to bring itself like any institution into best practices of teaching. And what makes young people learn”, Wiseman shares. In terms of IC’s community nature, Wiseman reiterates that the idea of togetherness is beneficial when it comes to growth. “You all are a family”, she says. “You’re so connected to each other. It means you’re going to support it by going through a process of recognizing how to be better.”

Education in today’s world has changed so much, and it continues to do so. And even so, there is often a lot of resistance towards change, even if it’s for the better. “‘This is the way we’ve always done it’ is not the reason to continue to do something”, Wiseman tells us. One of the biggest difficulties in the field around the world has been creating an environment for students with a space to let them truly belong and also excel at taking risks. At the same time, it can be difficult to accept and implement necessary skills in the ways of teaching,

which is a concern that Wiseman was honest about. “The educational system has been reluctant overall to embrace the strategies we know, a sense of belonging in school, where young people will take academic risks”, she tells us. This is what her aim is with her work– to be able to give educators these skills that will create this sort of environment in school spaces. A big portion of the workshops for both leadership and teachers included a dialogue on how to interact with students and acknowledge feelings and emotions. In doing so, this creates a space where the individual feels dignified, which in turn influences how the overall learning environment is perceived. A safe space with communication between students and teachers is the key to progress and confidence for children to explore who they are, and be who they want to be. But it’s truly up to the institutions themselves to implement what they’ve learned. For Wiseman, the work that she’s doing with Cultures of Dignity is essential towards offering resources towards these learning approaches. “Joining a school that’s doing that is really important, and that’s what this school is doing”, she says in regards to IC’s choice to consider moving forward with the approaches she has shared.

When asking Wiseman what she wishes IC will get out of her workshops, she says: “I hope that what people got out of it were concrete strategies to reframe the way they may think about the classroom, and about how they interact with young people that fits with their teaching, and is respectful of the culture of the school”. Another component she emphasized was retrospection on the institutional level. In other words, for teachers and administrators to evaluate their own methods and approaches towards education and seeing how to make it better while still staying true to

the mission and values of the school. Wiseman tells us that having the thought of “I need to think about what I need to do to be more effective as a teacher” is a start towards growing as an educator and in turn also making the learning environment better. Ultimately as mentioned before, it’s up to the educators and leadership of the school to put these skills into practice for there to be measurable growth in the classroom and beyond. Wiseman tells us that the resources from Cultures of Dignity can be used to contribute to what the school has already been doing. “Keep with it”, she emphasizes.

“Teaching is hard. It pushes your buttons”, she tells us with honesty. Wiseman’s skillset is in education,

this?, I can use that and share it with teachers”.

Wiseman enjoyed her time in Lebanon. “The school has shown me how wonderful this country is. I’m so grateful. I have been really welcomed. It’s also that people trusted me to tell me what their experiences were and I really appreciated that”, she tells us enthusiastically. While she had a great experience visiting, Wiseman acknowledged the difficulties produced by the current economic and political circumstances. While reflecting on this, she made the point that to have an institution like IC running is pivotal during these times. “We have a choice to be angry and resentful”, she tells us. “This education you’re getting in this school I’m hoping is going to contribute to you being able to contribute to making this country better. But that you are part of a cohort leadership that holds itself accountable”, she adds.

and what inspires her to be involved in initiatives like Cultures of Dignity is from her own personal experience as an educator. What inspires her is being able to give support and help to fellow teachers too. She tells us an anecdote during one of her workshop sessions, where she started explaining how she handled a particular disciplinary issue with a student. In the midst of the discussion, the subject shifted, but the teachers in the crowd wanted to know how she solved the issue. She tells us, “to have a group of teachers who are exhausted at the end of the day say ‘wait a minute wait, a minute tell me how you did that!’, that is really rewarding for me. Because that makes me feel like all of the hard times I’ve gone through with kids, where I’m like oh my God, why do I do

Given how IC’s mission is to strive for excellence and bring about the leaders of tomorrow, the place the school has in terms of its quality of education and long term growth brings potential for positive change in the future of Lebanon. “One of the things that the school can do is to define leadership”, Wiseman advises. “This school with its position can really do something to contribute to changing the way the next generation of Lebanese leaders operate. This school is that school”.

Overall, IC was so honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with Rosalind Wiseman and benefit from the perspectives of growth she brings to the table. Wiseman herself seems to be excited to see where things go as well. “I hope to be in conversation and continue to support the school and its objective”, she tells us. “My expertise is learning. I hope to continue to be in relationship with the school, in whatever way suits it”, she concludes.

“

This school with its position can really do something to contribute to changing the way the next generation of Lebanese leaders operate.”

Fall Memories

New Parents Reception

As the first weeks of school have passed by, IC gave a warm welcome to new IC parents at the Martin House reception hosted by President Joel Peinado and the Alumni and Advancement Office.

We had the opportunity to meet and greet several enthusiastic parents, who were more than happy to share their thoughts and testimonials towards the choice they’ve made to enroll their children at IC.

Why did you choose IC?

I chose IC because their system of education is always updated. And it’s good reputation. The social work in it, the students are always happy. It has flexibility plus level of education.

-Rana Kassem

Obviously its one of the best schools in town. For the variety of the students and their backgrounds. The international concept that they adapt.

-Ghaida

I chose IC because I like the spirit IC gives. It’s different. Something that pushes the kid’s personalities. What it offers for them to build their personality as a whole, as a person. I think it’s very nice what they do. Plus I’ve never met an alumni from IC that’s not in love with his school. That’s why I love the school spirit actually.

-Samira Tahan

How are your kids liking IC?

My son is loving IC. He integrated very well. And his classmates are amazing. The orientation and the surroundings in the school are really good. I’m really happy as a mother that my son, when he’s going to school he is happy and is coming back happy.

-Suzie Nasser

My daughter is really so excited to be in IC. Every day she wakes up so excited, today we have school, oh yay! And when i say it’s Saturday or Sunday, she says oopsie! She’s really so excited. So I’m happy too.

-Eman

What are you hoping to gain from your time at IC?

So much. We are hoping for so much. We want him to be happy. We want him to be safe. We want him to make friends. We want him to learn. Get the best academics. Also to be social, to explore. To be well connected. For him to enjoy the many years to come.

-Karim and Nahma Karam

I am seeking to improve his personality here. I’m so concerned about this. I think that here at IC, they really work on the PYP system with up to date topics. This is very interesting for me. It gives them more awareness about everything, what’s happening around them. They are learning.

-Rouba Hammoud

Well for him, I hope that of course he gets a good education. He’s well surrounded by good people and he learns the important values. Kindness and honesty. The important things have nothing to do with the studying. That’s the main reason I enrolled him in IC. For me, I know that I will have my peace of mind with the right school and the right place.

-Samira Tahan

IC Clubs

Chalhoub Group Visit

On October 20th, 2022, the Chalhoub Group made a visit to IC.

The generosity of the Chalhoub Group has been foundational to the success and development of IC resources and programs. The very first major donation of Mr. Chalhoub was in 1993 with the purpose of improving the IC French program. In more recent years, $1 million dollars was donated towards the Elementary School Library, a beloved resource to parents and students alike. Additionally, a $250,000 pledge towards the University Admissions and Career Guidance Center has also been in the works.

During the visit, Miss Florence Bulte, Chief Sustainability Officer, followed up on the progress made by the University Admissions and Career Guidance center. IC college advisor Inaar Zein was proud to share the positive numbers and data regarding high school senior admissions to universities across the country and abroad. So much of the success of this department is thanks to the hardworking team and the generosity of the Chalhoub group’s donations and constant support. Mrs. Bulte was also given a tour of the school and had the opportunity to see the Career Guidance Center and the impressive STEAM Lab.

Donald Selinger Visit

IC is always happy to welcome Mr. Donald Selinger, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Throughout his visit this October, Mr. Selinger attended several meetings and dinners. Most importantly, he emphasized the importance of supporting IC through means of solidarity; particularly for the heroes holding up the backbone of the institution: our teachers. At IC, the Solidarity Fund has been an initiative to help compensate our hardworking staff and teachers during these times in Lebanon. While he was here, Mr. Selinger made it a point to praise IC on its ability to function as an institution, but also stressed the need for the community of parents with the ability to give back to the school, to consider doing so through the Solidarity Fund project.

Donald Selinger October 2022 Visit

Bay Area Reunion

On December 2, 2022, IC alumni met in San Mateo for a lovely reunion dinner with a wonderful turnout.

Mr. Moufid Beydoun, Vice President for Major Gifts and Interim Director of Alumni and Advancement gave a heartwarming speech to his fellow alumni. Mr. Beydoun spoke highly about the progress IC has been making, and thanked alumni for the support and involvement they have contributed towards the school. Furthermore, Mr. Beydoun emphasized the importance of those who have been making it possible for the school to run, given the circumstances here in Lebanon today. He spoke on the necessity of the solidarity fund, in order to provide support for the heroes of IC: our teachers and staff.

Also during the event, young alumnus Tiffany Saade gave an enlightening speech on the significance of youth involvement and education for a better future for Lebanon. Tiffany was featured last year in the newsletter for her passionate speech at Stanford on the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. At this reunion, she alludes to this moment. She additionally credits her many successes, alongside her self-confidence and her eloquence in speaking thanks to her time at IC and the foundation it provided for her. “IC taught me how to carry its motto in every position I fill”, she states.

From Left to Right: Mr. Hani Daou ’12. Mr. Wael Barakat ’03, Mr. Moufid Beydoun ’64 Mrs. Maya Bleik , Mr. Ahmad Bleik ’02, Mr. Nabil Saad ’85

From Left to Right: Mr. Wael Barakat ’03, Mr. Ahmed Bleik ’01 Mrs. Maya Bleik, Mr. Moufid Beydoun ’64, Mr. Khaled Nasr ’76

From Left to Right: Mr. Amr Salahieh ’84, Mr. Moufid Beydoun 64’ Mr. Khaled Nasr ’76, Mrs. Rania Fawaz, Mr. Mazen Haddad ’84, Mr. Ayman Fawaz ’78, Mrs. Christina Nasr , Mrs. Laila Salahieh

From Left to Right: Mr. Amr Salahieh ’84, Mr. Moufid Beydoun ’64, Mr. Khaled Nasr ’76

From Left to Right: Mr. John Bowers, Mr. Fadi Cotran ‘72, Mrs. Nawal Cotran, Ms.Tiffany Saade ‘20, Mr. Jibran Jahsan ‘82, Mrs. Shawn Jahshan, Mrs. Linda Bowers

From Left to Right: Mrs. Rima Yenikomshian, Mrs. Sonia Nader Sayigh, Mr. Moufid Beydoun ’64, Mr. Basim Sayigh ‘67, Mr. Agheg Yenikomshian ’64

Rafic Kazan fondly remembers Mr. Dumont Directeur, Mr Anavi Physique, Mr Doubine Philosophie; all wonderful educators from his time at IC.

Spiro Araman: After leaving IC Section Secondaire, in the fall of 1960, Spiro Araman went to AST Perth Scotland to study Aircraft Maintenance and returned in February 1963 to start his professional life at MEA where he stayed till 1976, working respectively in Aircraft Overhaul, Inspection, Systems and Performance and Technical Supplies. In May 1976, he emigrated to Brazil where he had to learn Portuguese. The knowledge of French helped him a lot. Then in early 1977, he started working with Embraer at their Customer Support Dept. He was supporting their aircrafts around the world. This went on till 1982, when he joined Pratt and Whitney Customer Support and later migrated to support their PW Canadian products. This involved a lot of traveling. From 1992 onwards as PWC Regional Manager based in Brazil, he managed their Support Network in South America, and Caribbean till retirement in 2000. Today at 81 years of age, he currently lives in S.J. dos Campos and remembers the good days spent at IC. He shared with us a picture of him and his wife, Tania, who has been his inséparable since 1971.

‘64

Antoine Sacy: After 50 years of professional career, Antoin Sacy has decided to devote his time to humanitarian activities. He has done so mainly through a sponsorship of the Lycee Saint Nicolas in Ain El Mir in South Lebanon which has received 250 students, and is now considered as the school of Excellence in the Saida/ Jezzine area. Also included is a social office for the help of people in need that was opened in the school. He has been working on these projects through the SACY Foundation, which he presides in. At the personal level, rehabilitation of Khan SACY in the old city of Saida, which goes back to the period of the Crusaders and the Mamaleek and is now open to the public seven days a week from 9.00 AM to 18H00, with guides available for the visit. Also a lot of time

is devoted to the restoration of Kasr SACY above the Khan which has been in the Family since 1796. A visit to the old city of Saida is a must.

‘74

Majd

This is his website: www.majdsculpture.com

Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is a Kuwaiti diplomat and was recently appointed as the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. He previously served as ambassador of Kuwait to the United States of America from June 2001 until May 2022. He is married to Lebaneseborn former journalist Sheikha Rima al-Sabah, whom he met in 1983 when both were students in Beirut. They married in 1988 and have four sons.

‘80

Hani Riman has left his work at Najjar for agriculture at the beginning of 2021. Now he is helping his son in his agriculture company, The Green Ranches. They have all kinds of plants plus all kinds of agricultural equipment, fertilizers and pesticides. A 10 percent discount is given to all AUB and IC graduates. As he stated earlier, his daughter has a wedding planner company, The Blue Roses. He says he is missing all our old friends and is ready for any advice on his number, 03706254.

‘84

Khalil Shalabi lives in Austin Texas, and is looking forward to a Christmas visit from his brother Hani, who lives and works in Hong Kong and is an IC class of ’90.

‘98

Hussein M Dejani: During his 21+ years career, Hussein has been able to demonstrate astute leadership, career

Patou Fathallah has been living and working in Italy as a sculptor for the past 14 years.

growth, corporate success, strategic thinking as well as building a personal brand (through thought leadership and conference presentations) – all of which were achieved by working for great companies and with great talents.

Over the past few years, Hussein has worked with the likes of WPP and Publicis overseeing some of their largest regional clients (such as STC, Vodafone, Nokia, Visa and HSBC) and was fortunate enough to be recognized as a high potential leader by WPP being awarded the renowned ‘WPP Young High Potential Leaders’ Award from Sir Martin Sorrell himself, as well as receiving regional awards from the likes of Gulf Marketing Review, which identified him as one of the 40 top marketing professionals in the region, being voted by the Huffington Post as among the 10 people changing the marcomm landscape in the MENA region, voted as being among the top 200 CX leaders globally to watch in 2021 & 2022, BTX Top Executive Award 2021, BIZZNXT AWARDS 2022, & lately CX Professional of the year 2022.

Hussein also sits on the Advisory Board of CMO Council Middle East, CXPA Middle East Regional Leadership Council, and was an Advisory Director with The Customer Institute for 3 years in a row.

Since working on the agency side, Hussein has transitioned to client side & worked with some fantastic brands, that are crossing the digital and experience divide, in senior leadership roles.

Hussein’s core expertise lies in the Digital Marketing and Tech space, evolving over the years from a pure player marketeer. Starting his career with some of the worlds’ greatest communication companies, prior to joining Deloitte Digital as a Partner for the Advertising, Marketing, CX, & Commerce market offering, Hussein was the GM for Digital & CX Transformation with Nissan Motor Co. for Africa, Middle East, India, Turkey, and Oceania overseeing some of the most dramatic customer transformations the company has had to go through in recent times. His contribution to the organization was recognized by senior leadership and lead him to winning the AMIEO Chairperson Nissan Way Award in July 2021.

Hussein currently resides with his lovely wife in Dubai and will be immigrating to Canada (Toronto) in 2023.

‘11

Lynn Khalife is so thrilled to share that she has finally launched her dream business “A Partir de Soie” which is an online clothing store. It is located in the UAE. However, she provides international shipping, online payments through the website, cash on delivery, return/exchange policy and more! She has been working on this for about 2 years and was finally able to launch in March 2022. The name of the business has a lot of meaning to her, as it actually holds a double meaning. She has attached the “About Us” to give you a little brief! She has already started dealing with many influencers and havehas other big plans ahead! Please feel to check herpage on Instagram : @apartirdesoie Website: www.apartirdesoieshop.com

She says “thank you for everything IC!”

‘20

Tiffany Saade was featured in last year’s newsletter for her passionate speech at Stanford University on the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. Since then, she has been doing outstanding work and becoming a young leader today. She has been confirmed as a Global Shaper under the World Economic Forum. In her Instagram post announcing the news, she shares that she is so honored to represent Lebanon in this incredible international community of young leaders.

Letters to

Samir I Toubassy ’58

BBA AUB, MBA, Senior Fellow 2009 & 2010 Harvard University.

Samir had a long career in business. Worked for The Ford Foundation, American University of Beirut( budget and planning director 1967-1976), The Olayan Group 1979- until retirement. Samir published his memoir in 2019. The book Received praise and good reviews.

He shares with us an excerpt from his book:

My Nakba, by Samir Toubassy. Olive Branch Press, 2019. Reviewed by Hannah Sterenberg on January 4, 2022

“On the morning of April 14, 1948, we became a family of refugees, and together as a family we fled to many places, but never back to Jaffa.”

Centering around al-Nakba (the Disaster), as Palestinians call their 1948 displacement from their homeland, Toubassy’s engaging memoir explains how al-Nakba impacted his life. Filled with nostalgia for the Jaffa neighborhood of his childhood, My Nakba serves as a love letter to Middle Eastern culture, testifying to the strong bonds between family and the strength of connection forged by tragedy. The novel follows Toubassy’s life and his successful careers in nonprofit work and global business, intimately detailing his journey from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia, the UK and finally the US. Toubassy seeks faith and meaning after leaving his homeland. Heartfelt details and sincere love for family, friends and country fill the memoir and give glimpses into the life of a refugee trying to make sense of a world marked by suffering. Recommended for anyone interested in learning more about Palestinian history from individual experiences.

Tassabehji ’04, PE

When I think back of my time at IC, I can’t separate it from the environment that surrounded us and the campus including the restaurants and stores. I was chatting with Omar Kreideh (2005) during an evening dinner in Boston. He was telling me how excited he was when he stumbled upon a Hardees and how he ordered a Mushroom N’Swiss burger, but that it was not the same as back home. Our friends who were listening in to our conversation were very confused to hear us get excited about an obscure fast food chain. However for us Hardees was where we would go to grab burgers on Friday after school at IC.

I have fond memories of Bliss street on my walk to and from school. This one in particular when my mom asked me to grab some food for guests on my way home. Leaving school my first stop was Snack Faysal, my favorite anytime of the day. It’s started raining in Beirut so the clean crisp air carries the smell of dough, cheese and zaatar superbly. I always took Faysal for granted, I never stopped to look at how unusual their store is, the building they are in is very small, very old and looks like the rest of it is not occupied. The most peculiar thing is an old neon sign for a pizza or Chinese restaurant at the top of the building. But don’t let the outside looks fool you, their man2oushe is second to none in my books. The store is dominated by a counter where the food is garnished and wrapped. This work is obscured by a big glass window behind which are stacked veggies, meat pies, spinach pies and cheese pies. Behind the counter are two bakers busy with the oven. And through a small window you can see a back room where the dough is prepared. I ordered seven cheese pies and seven zaatar pies. I take my receipt from the cashier and hand it to the baker behind the counter. He sticks the receipt on a metal ruler stuck to one of the shelf on the counter. The receipt sits in a line behind a bunch of other orders before mine. As I wait I watch the baker

Mohammad

add cucumbers, olives and pickles to the orders before me, he then folds them in half and wraps them several times in parchment paper. While watching the baker he pulls out a pastry I have never seen before. It is a dome shaped pastry filled with cheese and coated in sesame seeds. My order is almost complete but before I leave I ask to taste this new pastry and the baker hands me one and says, “it’s called tarboush jebneh, a cheese fez, just like Abu Abeds fez.” Now I have a snack for the trip back home. It’s even sweeter cause he would not accept payment and it’s on the house.

I carry the bag of mne2esh and walk across the street to the sweet shop, Taj El Moulouk. The store smells of rose water and sugar syrup. The is a long L shaped marble counter with a glass screen that protects all the sweets from the nosy hands of kids and adults. Behind the counter there are around two dozen brass trays lined with all different kinds of sweets. Most of them are baklava variations with different nuts and filling. I ordered 10 kenefehs. Kenefeh is a sweet cheese pie that is topped with a chewy sugar infused crust. Each piece is served inside a crunchy round bread that is dusted with sesame seeds. I grab the sweets and make my way home.

And this is the best part of walking home along bliss street that is full of stores with their own unique histories. I go past the small mosque and the famous hardees. Then I cross the street or alley way that leads up to Jean D’Arc, which in my days hosted network cafes, for the guys to play computer games, they would spend hours at the network. I go past what was the old Socrates restaurant, who’s memory still makes me hungry. And speaking of food, while not on bliss, but the same block just one street up is Marouche, whose chicken, garlic and pickle sandwich was unparalleled. I keep walking and then I go past what was Ben and Jerry and then the Kahwa. The next stretch is all food or books. Malek Al Tawak, the old barber, Substation, then tal3et Uncle Sam’s that includes

Universal Snack. The next street is most famous because it sits right across the street from the MainGate. Many stores have come and gone in this street but for me it will always be Abu Naji’s (Epi’Dor) and Malik’s bookshop.

Abu Naji was the name of the store owner, his store had everything students needed. The store was packed with goods, piled way up into the ceiling, I always wondered how they would get to some of those things. I saw them once. They have ladders but also long sticks they use to snag that box of kleenex 4 meters at the top of the shelf. Abu Naji’s most famous item was their coffee, which was instant Nescafe coffee with sweetened condensed milk. If you have never had it, please try it next time you’re in Beirut.

Next there is another Malik’s, a Saj Place, then there is a Bank which is housed in the stretch of old sandstone buildings along bliss. I do recall that this was an old bookstores, one of those really cozy bookstores. You walk in and everything was stacked high, piled ontop of each other, and the store smelled of dust and old paper. They had blue doors and blue steel shutters.

Also with a blue store front and a blue Pepsi sign that houses their store name was National Bakeries, and their man2oushe is also superb. Next door was Bliss House, which was a landmark, not just because of their two stores that sold sweet and savory dishes, but for the parking operation right in front of the store. Always busy and always packed, swing by on a Friday or Saturday evening and you will see a semi valet parking arrangement with people ordering from their cars, double parking, and organized chaos. I always miss the fruit cocktails and the merry cream, soft serve ice cream they had.

I am not sure how many of these places are still around or not, but these shops and their quirks and stores will always be associated with my time at IC.

In Memoriam

In Loving Memory: Raymond Audi

We regret to inform you that the very successful and honorable co-founder of Bank Audi, and IC’s very own Trustee Emeritus, Mr. Raymond Audi passed away on July 15, 2022. Mr. Audi was not only a successful businessman, but he also served as Minister of the Displaced in the Lebanese government.

Alongside his father and brothers, Mr. Audi founded the Audi Bank in 1962. Two more branches opened in Europe in the 1970s. In 1993, Audi was elected as the president of the Association of Banks in Lebanon. He was awarded the Euromoney’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and an honorary doctorate degree from the Lebanese American University.

Mr. Audi had a drive for preservation of heritage and craftsmanship, and in turn, founded the Audi Foundation in 2000. The beautiful reconstructed

family Audi house and the Soap Museum in Saida are fruits of his efforts through the Audi Foundation. His strong passion for his roots and national culture played a big role in restoration projects across the country. He was also a very generous man, and founded several scholarships and also supported various reputable organizations for charity and helping the less fortunate.

Mr. Audi was married, and is survived by his three children: Paul, Pierre, and Shireen. We send our condolences to the Audi family. We will fondly remember him and the legacy he has left for culture and tradition in Lebanon.

Nicola Najib Khuri ‘49 (May 27, 1933 - August 4, 2022)

We regret to inform you that AUB Trustee Emeritus Nicola Najib Khuri passed away at the age of 89 in New York City, NY. Mr. Khuri was an IC graduate from the class of 1949, and an AUB graduate in the year of 1952. He completed his masters and PhD from Princeton University in 1957. He joined AUB as an assistant professor, then as an associate professor from the years of 1961-1964. In 1964, he became an associate professor at Rockefeller University, and in 1968, he became a professor. In 1969, he was elected as AUB trustee.

Mr. Khuri was recognized for his impactful contributions as a researcher and educator. He made headway in the studies of theoretical physics, and was made the head of Rockefeller University’s Laboratory of Theoretical Physics.

Mr. Khuri believed in AUB’s significance to the Middle East region, and he returned back as an educator, and eventually was elected as a trustee in 1969. In 2009, he was elected as a trustee emeritus, and in the same year he was awarded

the highest honor by AUB: the University Medal. He was also the longest serving trustee in all of AUB’s history. Mr. Khuri made countless contributions towards the success of AUB’s research by founding the AUB Center for Advanced Mathematical Sciences (CAMS). This center was pivotal towards preventing bankruptcy during the Civil War era for the university. In the years following the end of the war, Khuri was the chair of the BOT Academic Affairs Committee, and his work was a catalyst for turning AUB into a top, leading research institution.

Mr. Khuri is survived by his sister Selwa Najib, brother Antoine Najib, daughter Suzanne Odette Khuri, son Najib Nicola, and grandchildren Nicholas, Grace and Gloria. Current AUB president, Dr. Fadlo R. Khuri is his nephew. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Khuri family.

In Loving Memory of A Former Teacher: Allen L. Miller

We regret to inform you that former IC teacher, Allen L. Miller, passed away on November 25, 2022. Mr. Miller taught at IC in the early 1960s. He began his journey as a Teaching Fellow after graduating in 1960, and was here at IC for a year. He returned to the United States to get married and stayed until 1962. He came back to IC in 1966, and stayed almost till 1970. In the words of his daughter, Wendy Miller Skinner, his time at IC was truly life changing for him. Mr. Miller was quoted as saying: “I was there from 1960 63, living in Thompson Hall and teaching English along with a handful of activities. I returned in 1966 to succeed Hung Bliss as chairman of the English Department and after a couple of years, take over the Teaching Fellows Program. I left in 1972. I was back a couple of times in the 1990’s with Tom Weaver, a dear friend.”

On behalf of IC faculty and staff, we send our deepest condolences to the Miller family in Maine.

We regret to inform you that Ambassador Ahmad O. El-Hajj ‘48 passed away in September 2022. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the El-Hajj family.

We regret to inform you that Mr. Adnan D. Taher ‘67 passed away in September 2022. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Taher family.

We regret to inform you that Mr. Fawzi Omar Captan ‘78 passed away in October 2022. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Captan family.

We regret to inform you that Mr. Mazen Abdel Ghani Solh ‘87 passed away in October 2022. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Solh family.

We regret to inform you that Mr. Karim Jawad ‘92 passed away in June 2022. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Jawad family.

We regret to inform you that Mr. Ezzat Daouk ‘94 passed away in July 2022. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Daouk family.

International College

P.O. Box 113-5373, Beirut, Lebanon. Tel. 961 1 367420/33, Email: alumni@ic.edu.lb 305 East 47th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017 Tel. : 212 529 3005, Fax: 212 529 8525. Email: icny@intlcollegeny.com www.ic.edu.lb