IC Newsletter Spring 2023

IC Newsletter SPRING 2023

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

EDITORIAL TEAM:

Editor/writer: Ambarina Zenab Layout: Tala Tabbara

Letter from the Vice President

Dear parents, alumni and friends,

We at IC take great pride in the success and progress of our students. This is a result of the hard work and dedication of our teachers and members of the IC community, who have worked diligently to establish a solid educational foundation over the years. Our students have access to exceptional facilities and resources that promote their well-being and foster their creative expression. We strive to provide a space where students can develop their sense of identity while pursuing their goals and ambitions.

Our IC foundation allows students to pursue their goals and create a positive impact worldwide.

The IC campus is a community, but more importantly, a family, where students, teachers, and parents share a bright and positive school environment. This semester has been full of wonderful memories and activities at school, and we are pleased to share some of them with you in our Spring Newsletter.

To support the school›s success, we rely on our donors, board members, alumni, and parents, who have stood by us through thick and thin and continue to show their support for IC. Despite difficult times, IC has always maintained high-quality buildings, libraries, technology labs, renowned programs, and faculty and staff who serve as the pillars of our school’s community.

Thank you for your priceless support, it was and will always be a sincere partnership!

Best regards,

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

Marc Harb: Biking Across Lebanon

In November of 2022, IC Alumnus Marc Harb made his way back to Lebanon with one goal in mind: to give back to his community through riding his bike across the entirety of Lebanon– from the North to the South. In a partnership with Live Love Beirut, an organization aimed at community building and reconstruction and social welfare projects in Lebanon, Harb raised money through his extensive journey across the Lebanese Mountain Trail.

Harb began his journey in the village of Aandit, and finished over a span of about a week in the village of Marjayoun. The journey was long, arduous and incredibly exhausting, but the experience was worth it. In this feature, Harb tells us the story behind his passion for cycling, his incredible journey, and heartwarmingly reminds us of the significance of exploring the world and building meaningful relationships to create our diverse communities.

Harb is Lebanese-American, and has worked and lived all over the world. He was born in the US, raised in Lebanon, and returned back to America during his university years. Currently, he has recently moved to Germany with his wife and is planning out his future with cycling.

Harb’s love for sports and adventure started early in his life. He played football when he was at IC, and fondly remembered the football field at IC Beirut. “I was really into team sports”, he states. “Everywhere I went, I did some competitive sport”. The list is expansive: soccer, running, triathlon, cycling, mountain biking, and skiing. In particular, the love of cycling came about during his time in graduate school in France.

Harb started cycling in 2013. “It was the first time in my life besides skiing where I found an individual sport that allows me to travel freely wherever I want with my own two legs. A bit faster than walking but slower than a car”, he laughs. “It allowed me to access mountains that weren’t accessible by car”, he adds on. The community of cyclists in France was also a big component for Harb’s love of the sport.

Shortly after starting cycling in France, Harb began to be motivated to get even better at biking. “I increased my fitness, went on bigger trips, more technical trips. Bigger uphills and more steeper downhills”, he clarifies. This period of time of growth and training gave him the base he needed to really take biking to the next level.

Harb returned to Lebanon for some time, and then went to Dubai– where cycling also was a pretty big deal.

“Rope biking at the time”, he mentions. He spent the years of 2015-2022 in the UAE. Once again, Harb found a small mountain biking community and together they started working on building bike trails across the region.

“We cleaned up camel trails, and we turned them into mountain bike trails”, Harb explains. It was an impressive feat that also gave way to having a space for the cycling community to go on rides, trails, and expand their group. “We started racing in Dubai. That’s when I really started investing in sports. Getting a coach, working on my diet. It’s not an easy sport. It takes a lot of endurance, a lot of effort”. The strength that comes with biking is something Harb firmly believes in. “Something happens, you get back up and you keep going”, he says adamantly.

The motivation that came with biking didn’t stop at Dubai. After creating a strong foundation in the sport, Harb began to travel all over the world to join races, discover new trails, and simply just bike. Harb has been to trails and races in Canada, Madeira, Portugal, Changhai, Thailand, Lebanon, Germany, and he plans to expand this list. Harb’s international cycling feats are the reason he believes so strongly in learning about the world around us, and building a community.

“Everywhere I go, I met people along the way who started inviting me over to go on their trails. You see how this community grows and grows and grows”, Harb explains. “And these people have become lifelong friends. I always invite them over in our home”, he adds on. “It just expands your community and you learn more about different cultures and different landscapes”, Harb also mentions. And he’s right– being around people of all different backgrounds and seeing different cities is significant to the growth of a person. In today’s growing world, being connected to different communities is a necessity for success and collaboration in business, education, politics, and all other major components on the day-to-day.

Even though Harb has traveled all over the world, Lebanon

holds a very special place in his heart. In terms of his sports background, Harb had done a lot of skiing, but cycling was still up in the works. “I wanted to do my training in Lebanon. When I got there, I had this idea”, he says. Harb came across a book about trails from his parents, and decided to go for a bike ride. He was looking online for rugged trails and single track trails in Lebanon, and came across the 471 km Lebanese Mountain Trail. The trail was built by hikers in Lebanon, and starts from the northern border of Syria, and ends at the south of Lebanon. After his research, Harb was determined to make something of it.

While he was planning out his bike ride, Harb got the idea to make a bigger campaign out of it to help out the community in Lebanon for a good cause. “My parents and old roommates suggested to me, why don’t you do this as a fundraiser?” Harb says. He loved the idea, and he got the opportunity to get in touch with Live Love Beirut who offered him a platform. They suggested a custom page for his fundraising. “Within a day, the site was set up, and I embarked on my journey”. Harb’s intention with the fundraiser was to give back to multiple outlets that Live Love Beirut would be donating to– some included schools, surgeries, rebuilding homes, and providing food and nutrition. His journey was supported wholeheartedly by people all over Lebanon, and all over the world, and he raised about 5,500– all of which was donated. “Ex colleagues, mountain bikers along the way, friends of friends– I was mind blown about how many people donated. I got very emotional and still do!”

Harb’s bike journey across the trail was an incredibly rewarding experience, but was also intense and difficult. “When you’re going on a self guided tour across any rugged land, you are depending on your own navigation skills and google earth to find your way across the trail” he tells me. Throughout the ride, he had to pay attention to signs and landmarks, and communicate with the Lebanese Mountain Trail guides to arrange guest housing for night stays during the weeklong trek.

The difficulty of the journey and the risks did give Harb a good story to share, and once again reaffirmed his belief for community and hospitality. During his bike ride, Harb

had missed a sign to the next village he was trying to get to. He found himself isolated in the middle of a valley by a town called Qemmamine. It was going to get dark, and he had no way to figure out where to go and where he would be staying for that day. “I started yelling! You end up following the sound until you get to the person shouting back and realize okay, now there’s human beings around. I kept shouting until I got closer to this voice, and a kid popped out of nowhere”.

The child told Harb that he would not be able to make it to his destination that evening as it was over an hour away, and insisted he wait for his uncle to come home so he could help him out with the situation. The child brought Harb back to his home, and they offered him such genuine hospitality. He walked into a small little room with a barbecue stove, and the family of this child offered him tea and water. Eventually, the uncle made it back home, and insisted that Harb would be spending the night there and sleep in his bed while he slept by the fire. After a long day of cycling and surviving just off of snack bars, Harb was starving as well and the family prepared a whole meal for him. He was so grateful and emotional in regards to such kindness he was being shown.

“This is the part that blew my mind and showed me how hospitable Lebanese people are”, Harb tells me.

Encounters like this on his bike journey warmed Harb’s heart. He recalls people like this particular family along the way– a population of people who would help him. It reinforces the need for community and making new connections through new experiences. “In the north of Lebanon, the poverty level is really high”, Harb noticed. With his observation and experience, he explains that learning about all types of people and new places within your own country is necessary. “Make an effort to see your country. In some places, we are more privileged and

comfortable. So it’s always good to see what’s out there and see what we can do to help.”

Harb’s journey took him 7 days, with barely any sleep, and a lot of time carrying both his bags and bike on his back. But he finished it, and is absolutely so grateful for the experience. He even recommends those who aren’t cyclists to go on foot on the trail. In his words, “That’s when you see everything in slow motion.”

“The most important thing are the people you meet along the way”. Harb’s reflection on his journey entails a combination of pursuing passions and sports, learning about the world, and really having great encounters with people and really expanding on the concept of community. “Once you find a community, it brings out so much joy. An escape from the real world. That’s the beauty of sports.” As a Lebanses who’s been around the world, Harb hopes to see the concept of community he’s been grateful to encounter could exist in more spaces in Lebanon. “It’s kind of missing in Lebanon. A sense of community outside your circle of friends driven by a certain passion. There are communities but they’re very closed. Kids don’t know about them”, he adds.

“Focus on the things that you love to do. Focus on sports–it makes you forget about the mess. It allows you to open up your eyes and mind to a world beyond social media beyond what you see on a daily basis. Try new things, be curious. Don’t limit yourself to the Lebanses culture only. It’s a beautiful culture, but also keep your eyes and ears open to other people and other cultures. Different ethnic groups and other levels in society. Even if it’s this small, it makes a big influence and change.”

For his future with cycling, Harb hopes to continue with races and biking all kinds of trails. He may want to collaborate with the Lebanese Mountain Trail for group

hikes. His trek in Lebanon has inspired him to pursue similar efforts in the long run. He also wants to continue working on supporting campaigns with Live Love Beirut and consider the community in his efforts. “My next project is to take this idea and implement it into every big project that I do in my life. Trip, race, whatever it is.” he says. Harb has some race ideas for this summer, and he wants to raise money with them. All of it will be donated–nothing goes to his pocket. He hopes to share his ideas with his followers and friends all over the world.

To this day, Harb is still friends with his IC friends of the last 30 years. He recalls the good education provided to him, and how he navigated his way through his years at IC. Harb suggests that for students today, an emphasis on community building, arts, and sports is necessary. “That’s where character is built in these communities, sports,

teamwork, individual challenges, races”, he explains. “Tell the kids to have goals. Have passions”, he continues. “Set them when you are young. Even in Lebanon you can set goals for yourself. Don’t limit yourself. And always maintain good health. Eat well, stay healthy. Move a lot. Put yourself in challenging situations that you need your brain and body to get out of”. Lastly he adds, “Learn multiple languages! Learn at least 4 languages. Maybe 5 even. English, Arabic, French, German, and Spanish.”

“I’m an adventurer at heart but also I’m a professional, I’m a business man so it’s not all fun and games. You have to work hard to play hard”, Harb emphasizes. Regardless of this, he is dedicated to his goals towards sports and cycling. He wants to go to Norway and do more cycling around Europe. He is considering biking all the way from Germany to Portugal. The US mountain biking scene also has his eye, and he wants to bike across the states. New Zealand, Asia, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal are all a must. He fell in love with Africa and there’s a Kenyan race he is anticipating. He wants to pursue Youtube challenges and documentaries with his passions, and it seems like he will be doing more amazing things for us to keep up with.

Harb is truly inspirational, and we are so proud to call him an IC alumnus. He’s already doing big things, but he is ready to keep going and we can’t wait to see what all he does next. He says it himself: “there’s a lot more to do and I have a whole life ahead!”

Q+A with Author Sara Ghannoum

What was your career before you became an author?

I studied chemistry in university and then I worked in research for nanotechnology.

It was so much fun with female colleagues and female empowerment. In fact, I have two papers with my name on it for the heart pacers. I also worked in a lab leading to groundbreaking changes. I worked in medical instruments, endoscopies, etc. We got to travel all over, being in the operating room with the doctor, surgeries, it was such an interesting job. A dream job, still in the sciences, and learned so much.Science teaches you how to use your brain in a different way. I feel like there’s a perspective that I may see or other people may see. I feel that with a scientific background it definitely changes perspective or some things. I love science. There’s an absolute truth about science that’s very beautiful. When I got married, my pregnancy landed me on bed rest, and I became interested in the field of children’s books as a part of family planning.

Where did your love of reading and writing come from?

IC alumna Sara Ghannoum ‘97 is a children’s book author who wrote the Tom Alien series– a cute little alien character with a small alien friend, who learns about the human world through feelings, emotions, and the environment. The four books she has written are Tom Alien, Tom Alien & Friends, Tom Alien & The Plastic Mess, and The Big Cosmic Boom; all of which explore a different topic of childhood development and learning about emotions, relationship dynamics, and real world issues. In fact, this spring, Ghannoum had a read aloud with IC Grade 1 on Tom Alien & The Plastic Mess, in conjunction with the unit of habitats and environments. This goes to show that her books also help this younger age group explore their own world, and learn about issues in a way that they can register more easily. In this Q+A, Ghannoum shares her journey of becoming an author and creating her stories, the messages and impact she hopes her books have on children, and the educational benefits storytelling has in the foundation of early childhood.

I grew up between Beirut and Australia, and that’s where I discovered books. They’re a tool to escape. As a child of trauma of war and relocating, books really were an escape for me. When we moved back to Beirut in 1990 after the war, books were limited. But I was lucky, and my father was a pilot and he would always travel and bring me back books from all over. Also, Roal Dahl and his books– I give him total credit for giving me the love of reading and everything that comes with reading.

What made you decide that you wanted to be an author?

When I moved to Dubai and I started building my life and I got pregnant I thought I’d get family planning out of the way. I had read so many children’s books and I love writing, especially rhyme and poetry. So when I had my daughter, I had never been around babies before. She really symbolized an alien from outer space that was discovering life around earth, and that’s where the idea for Tom Alien came from. I have a scientific background and this is very different from what I’m used to. It was really just an idea that popped in my head one day. I never expected to go down this route but I’m loving it. I’ve

never been around the industry before and so there was so much to learn. The challenge attracted me to the idea. I started writing my books when my daughter was 4, and now I am working on my fourth book.

Tell us about your books!

I love Tom Alien so much. He’s so related to my kids, so I feel like I’m raising him with them.

My books reflect my children growing up. My first book, Tom Alien, was about emotions. When my daughter was a baby, everything made her cry. I really just wanted to tell her that emotions are brave. They color our life and they make our life much richer. When she started nursery school, she started making friends and having a social life. My second book, Tom Alien & Friends, was about friendship, bullying, and respecting others. As my daughter grew, she was more aware of the environment and we would discover the environment a lot. Things like plastic in the ocean, pollution, etc. Also, my dad and brother are environmentalists, and I try to reflect those themes in my books, which inspired the third book, Tom Alien & The Plastic Mess. All of my books are in English, and they also have a translated Arabic copy available.

What was the journey and process like to become a selfpublished author?

I had no clue about publishing. I came up with the idea, I wrote it. I didn’t have Instagram as a tool at the time, and I knew only one person with a printing house. He was really helpful. At the same time I asked friends if they had any illustrators. My friend connected me to the illustrator of my current books, and the illustrator is so talented. When she designed the character of Tom Alien and when I saw him I could only think– oh my God! This is Tom Alien! It’s like she dug deep into my brain, and came out with what I wanted and brought it to life.

Questions really got me to the publishers, to know what papers and sizes to choose from and all the other logistics that come with making a book. With publishers, I had options in Lebanon, but since I’m new to this and there is so much for me to learn, I can afford to publish on my own. I am in more control of the outcome. So I chose

to self publish and so far it’s going great, and I see how much potential it has. For now it is limited to Lebanon and the UAE, but I hope to expand from there. It was very refreshing building a new career out of thin air, and it was fun and low risk as well.

Why does reading matter?

A book is just like a teacher, it’s there to help you navigate better. Books expand your vocabulary and brain. With more vocabulary, you can understand the world around you and your emotions. You can understand yourself better. You can see a character going through a problem and learn how to solve that problem through that character, and apply it to future issues you may face. It gears you up to navigate through life.

What messages do you hope that your books send to children?

Tom Alien & The Plastic Mess is most relevant to international affairs. When it comes to real world issues, I think we should all be obsessed with the issue with the environment. Plastics.There’s an urgency that should be addressed. Children can be great at policing adults and though some argue it’s not the responsibility of a child, at the end of the day, children can help educate other children with books.

Tom Alien is more about feelings, and Tom Alien & Friends crosses into social dynamics. I would hope to send the message that it’s okay to ask questions. Asking questions is what lead me to my life today. There’s a certain courage we have to use to ask a question. The sillier we think the question is, the better. You are gaining confidence through that. You really should ask questions all the time, and I feel like it’s not highlighted enough.

The Big Cosmic Boom is a children’s book that’s a bit heavier in addressing the tragic events of the Beirut blast 2020. How did you navigate putting together the story?

I remember when the explosion happened, I was in Dubai. We kept getting these videos. It was like watching a really bad Hollywood movie. For that month, and I speak for most, if not all Lebanese people, all that we did was watch

videos and cry all day. I remember I was burning the kids’ food daily. My brain was not where it is normally. Being so far from a country that needs you so much really messes with your head. It was so traumatizing and we also felt like we didn’t have the right to be, because we didn’t live it. It was also the guilt aspect knowing that your parents lived something atrocious, while you’re far away and safe. I really believe in the healing power of books. I know a lot of people who lost a lot.

Writing the cosmic boom was very cathartic. I was crying while reading it to my husband when I was working on it. I felt like the relief came out when I saw people reacting really positively. It was so well received by people who needed it, and it was very therapeutic. The book is available for free download on my website. Additionally, therapists actually use that book to feel with their younger patients with trauma. It’s very rewarding in a way that I would never have expected. Books also heal the author.

Tell us about your read aloud experiences!

I’ve been doing read alouds with IC for 3 years in a row now. Twice online, and once in person. For example this semester, we read the plastic book for the environmental unit in Grade 1. Last year in the summer I was there for 2 days at IC, and I did several sessions for Grades 1-5, with the plastic and friendship book.

Also in October of 2021, The Bahrain Office for the International Peace Institute in New York City asked me to read the plastic book. They wanted to take part in the release of the book. We invited IC, the American School in Bahrain and Dubai and so we did a reading with over 10 ambassadors of Bahrain. We even had class from IC. It was a very nice session where we discussed the environment and raised awareness on the environment. It was one of the best events and I’m so glad IC was a part of it. How does it feel to be doing what you do, and do you hope to continue being an author?

I saw people with a 20 year period who saw a lot of potential in Tom Alien. Also, when the teachers at IC ask me for readings at their class and I know the standards at IC are really high, that also gives me more confidence in what I’m giving out. It’s really rewarding.

When I see children look at me, it’s also rewarding in a very sweet way. They look at me in awe, asking me, “are you really an author!?” I hope that it stays as rewarding and I hope kids like them as much as they do now. At the same time, I’ve always wondered if I have a novel inside of me. I’m okay with doing this, since I’m working on my own time and I’m very flexible.

How do you remember your time at IC, and how has it influenced your life?

I came back to Beirut after the war. There were still sandbags in front of the building.There was no proper garbage disposal. It was quite depressing for a 10 year old to be. IC was a gem in the middle of a nightmare of a city. The campus is so beautiful.There was that safety aspect.

I remember some teachers there, Miss Zena Zakaria, she was just phenomenal.

IC had amazing teachers– it really affected my character as well. I was so grateful to be at IC.

Everyone is different and yet they are able to see through that and are able to cater through that. It’s like a safe space for me.

Also, my best friends are some of the closest people in my life. They’re all from IC. The friends that I made at IC– if they hadn’t been there for me I don’t know where I’d be without them.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE:

Sophia Akoury’s visual story of heritage and archives

As our world is constantly changing and moving, so are urban landscapes, structures and environments around them. IC Alumna Sophia Akoury of the class of 2015 created a phenomenal thesis project comparing the LA River and Beirut River through a digital media video installation. The project was a combination of using architectural components, historical archiving, and personal touch through an artistic lens. She was recently awarded the Frank Gehry Award at the Southern California Institute of Architecture for this project, which is a high honor for the best thesis project at the school. Sophia tells us the story behind her project, and how connecting the dots in archives and heritage are so important.

Akoury graduated from IC in 2015 as an IB diploma student. After graduating from IC, Akoury studied at ALBA University and graduated in 2019. Afterwards in 2020, she pursued her postgraduate studies at the Southern California Institute of Architecture and graduated this fall

of 2022. Akoury has always been interested in architecture from a young age.” Ever since I was a kid, I’d build houses for my dolls. My dad is an architect and I loved seeing his design work”, she says. At the moment, she is working at an architectural firm in LA, and is hoping to become a licensed architect in the near future. Akoury’s plans are to stay in LA and pursue her architectural goals and though she misses home, she’s quite happy that LA reminds her of home. “It reminds me of Beirut! The chaos of it. LA is so Beirut!” she explains.

As a part of her masters graduation requirement, Akoury had the opportunity to pursue a thesis project of her choice. In the beginning, she wanted to create a building in the LA river for her assignment. But as she started the project, she became invested in the story and narrative of the river. “It used to be so many different things across the years. It was a movie location, as one example. I just really wanted to represent all the things it was covering”,

she explains. “I thought it was interesting to bring back all of these stories that are connected to the space. I think it’s important to the heritage of the place”, she says.

At the same time, her interest in the LA river peaked from her observation of the Beirut river. “The minute I saw it, it reminded me of the Beirut river. The connection I made is that they were both paved concrete rivers that are inside the city, and that they both look so identical even though they are cities that are so different. They’re both a national river that got paved over”.

With this being her starting point, Akoury made an installation with a moving animation component directing the viewer through the imagery and archives of historical components in the LA river, that eventually transitioned into a scene ending at the Beirut river. As you move through the site, the environment changes. The project was methodically put together, and combined non-traditional architectural drawings or models with an artistic element of mixed media. The project was 4 meters long, and a complete model with animation projections.

In the process of the design, she wanted to create a model that goes outside of the box. “It intersected with the architectural sites without a traditional architectural mode of representation. I didn’t use plans or sections or isometric views; it was more of a first person angle view.”

As the world is changing and technology is a part of all industries, modes of representation can also change too. “Nowadays you can use so many different tools to represent architecture it’s not limited .People are using videos, animations, vr. The scene is evolving a lot.”

For Akoury, the personal touch to her project was necessary. “Archive is also personal, adding my own experience to the site by comparing the LA river and the Beirut river”. She adds on to discuss how the scenes of her project shift into Beirut without the obvious hint. “It shifts

into the Beirut one. It’s not clear. It’s trying to be ambiguous about what city you’re in. Basically, personal correlation is being part of the archive.” Akoury wanted to prove the point that what’s considered as architectural design can also be subjective and considering elements of the space around you and nature have a big impact. “It doesn’t have to be the intuition of the architect of ‘I want to build’, it can also be about site and environment”, she says.

As a Lebanese architect making the LA river connection to the Beirut river, Akoury wanted to display this with a personal touch as well. “ I felt like I had to show this. It’s an interesting observation. This triggered my whole project. I had to pay homage to it– I had to explore the comparison. I wanted this to be part of the conversation.”

The project was a success and so unique, and Akoury admits that in the process, she still faced some challenges.

“I am the kind of person who wants to work on so many things at the same time. I was working on the animation, the site, taking pictures, 3d printing stuff, sometimes when doing all these things you forget your clear path; sometimes it was overwhelming.”

The personal part of the project and how she had a lot of creative freedom was also a bit of a challenge. “I think whenever you’re working on a personal thing, there’s always a self-doubt part. No one is really guiding you. It’s your work. It is 100% you.”

“I wanted to talk about so many different topics. I wanted to talk about history, and then the environmental part and the idea of concretizing the river that was natural, the idea of the architectural sites being in the foreground, the different narratives that were happening over the years. I had so many things in my head and the formats that would get overwhelming . Even when I wanted to present, I would ask myself, what lens should I present with?”

Akoury’s project also sparked a reflection on the importance and meaning of archiving and heritage. “I think it’s important especially because the site I was working on, the LA river, it’s such a forgotten place”. Archiving is a means of bringing back life to forgotten history and reconsidering the narratives that come along with it. From Akoury’s research, the LA river was a source of water and life in LA. In fact, the city would not exist if it wasn’t for this river. Through her project, she wanted to demonstrate the different eras of history with the river and let people see things in a different perspective.

“There’s no real connection to the past; it got paved in the 1930s and it stopped being a river or having the historical aspect to it. There used to be ostrich farms, vineyards, the Napa of california, orange trees, and water towers. I recreated all of these things in the animation. It helps you see things differently. Different time frames or histories at the same time”

The discussion on remembering the LA river and preserving it is called LA River Renew. It has also sparked conversations with city planners and architects in California. Some want to create a museum or park in the space, while others are debating whether to preserve the sight and not to touch it– to bring it back to its own self.

In a similar font, the Beirut river is also abandoned and the information on its function, history, and purpose is limited. Akoury wishes she had more time to pursue the Beirut side of the project because she is curious about the story behind this space here in Lebanon. “It’s also like this concrete channel in a city. It has solar panels and I’ve never seen it be used. It’s kind of abandoned, you just see it on your way by the highway. It would have been really important to reconnect to this urban entity we are so disconnected from; it’s just there but somehow so huge.”

Overall, Akoury’s project was one of a kind and welldeserving of this award. Sophia found a way to add a personal touch while also shedding light on the significance of heritage and archive work. “You could call it architecture or an art installation. It’s a little bit of both.”

A WHOLE NEW WORLD: THE MAGICAL WORLD OF THE ELEMENTARY LIBRARY

At an early age, the world of books and stories sets the foundation for children to learn about the world around them and also dive right into fiction and fun. At IC, our libraries serve the role as a multi-faceted resource that connects with our students through interactive activities, and teaches them about all kinds of literature and necessary research skills, all while having access to visual, literary, and audio components in the spaces provided.

This spring at the elementary school library, librarians Luna Freidy and Mona Soubra worked on putting together a phenomenal series of read-alouds and events connected to IB PYP program, Arabic, French, and English multilingual community fostered here at IC. From March 13 till March 23rd, the elementary library transformed into a fairytale wonderland for the yearly Reading Weeks and Francophone Literature Festival.

“The reason why we chose fairytales is because the students must discover all genres of literature”, Mona Soubra says. Some fairytales are stories passed along by word of mouth over hundreds of years and now authors are able to take these stories and compile them into their adaptations or retellings. The theme of fairy tales was chosen because of the diversity in stories and how it fits right in with the international language and culture found at IC. “Not everything is written, some of those stories are orally passed along”, she adds on. Along with the diversity in stories and sharing the conversation on different modes of storytelling, there is also a creative component relevant to our world today. “We also tried to add technology and advancements, stories that have changed with perspective with time. Like a twist.”, Luna Freidy says. For example, one of the stories read across the elementary school classes during the Arabic

Reading Week was a twist of the traditional Little Red Riding Hood fairytale– except this time Little Red has a cell phone and the wolf has access to a motorcycle!

Particularly, hosting Reading Week at the library and having such rich events is necessary for students at an early age. “Having these events especially for elementary students is very important because they like these things. “Having a library as a center will make it special and make them remember it more”, says Freidy. The set up of the library reflected the age group and the bright and inviting environment reflected the theme. Throughout the library, different centers of different books and fairytales were set up based on culture and language to show children the range of narratives that span different cultures around the world. In addition, the Francophone Festival was also incorporated into the theme with a creative twist, with it’s own station and books that are part of French culture and literature. Lined up by the reading carpet were interactive white board and chalkboard stations addressing the PYP character traits and intuitive questions to build conversations between the stories being told and the ideas of the students listening to them. The Reading Weeks consisted of a read aloud, interactive discussion within the story, and ended with students going around the set up stations to learn more about the genre and connect with books that stand out to them. “We work vertically with the students, by classes. That’s allowing us to see and make the learning of the students more visual, something that aids their skills in a way that’s not the same as being in the classroom”, Freidy explains.

Overall, Reading Week was a total success and sparked a significant conversation on the role international stories and reading play in making a well-rounded student. The elementary school library is looking forward to it’s upcoming events, and to always be a friendly space for knowledge and learning outside of the classroom.

IC Athletics: BADMINTON

This winter and spring, IC Sports have been on the move. Omar Shmaitilly, in charge of leading the athletic program has done a phenomenal job with keeping IC’s name in the books for a successful season.

IC Athletics is part of NESAC, the Near East Sports Activity Conference. For the very first time, IC hosted the NESAC Badminton tournament just this March with teams in JV and Varsity. It was a three day event with both singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. “We have created a double mixed bracket where students pick their teammate from another school to compete in a double elimination”, explains Shmaitilly. Following the event was a closing ceremony and a gala. IC is proud to announce that JV Girls, Varsity Boys, and Varsity Girls all won NESAC plaques.

There was also the Alton Reynold’s first edition hosting as well– in Badminton. Four schools came by for this, and IC also carried the win!

Choosing badminton for the competition this year was a chance to try something new. “Badminton is a core sport. We did basketball and football for the last 20 years, but I wanted to change something. So we played badminton”, says Shmaitilly. “It doesn’t have a lot of highlight and it’s part of the PE program. It gets a lot of interest in this program, so it’s on the right track.”

IC is known for its sports and dedicated program, and the long term skills it teaches students to have for the world outside of school.

“The platform that we cater in sports is good exposure and good experience for our students”, says Shmaitilly. “It builds character, and relationships with other schools and teammates. We practice all year long. It’s always nice to perform and organize meets”.

Likewise, students get the opportunity to healthily learn how to deal with people, traveling, and learning how to navigate situations in the sports world. “There is a positive impact with their competitive level and sportsmanship. It gives them the traits that are filling in the gaps, and gaining skills”, Shmaitilly adds.

While teams and competitions have become less frequent than before in other schools, IC stays strong for its love of athletics and maintains its reputation for quality and dedication. “We still have our standards in sports. We are still having teams and this makes us special”, Shmaitilly concludes.

Great job on a very successful semester Cougars! We’re so proud of you, and are so excited for our upcoming season of sports.

Recognizing Mindfulness and Our Feelings: A Dive Into Wellness Week at IC Ain Aar and Beirut

At IC, mental well-being and welfare is a priority. IC has dedicated the week of March 13-17th as Wellness Week across both Ras Beirut and Ain Aar campuses. With a range of interactive activities and important talks, IC made recognizing wellness and mental health a priority for students and faculty alike.

Words from the Head of Counseling: Dana Taher Mirza

“The counseling department is a vital resource for the school community providing academic, personal, and social guidance that can help students reach their full potential and develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed both in and outside of the classroom. It is an essential component of any school, providing crisis intervention and emotional support during difficult times. In addition, counselors have the ability to help students navigate the challenges of growing up, and to provide them with the tools and resources they need to thrive.

Planning a wellbeing week at school is crucial for the overall health and wellbeing of students, faculty and staff. By dedicating a week to wellbeing, schools can encourage students to prioritize their mental, physical and emotional health and help them develop lifelong habits that support a healthy lifestyle.

At IC, during the week of March 13th to March 17th, the counselors planned the following events to

improve academic performance, reduce stress and anxiety:

-Wellbeing activities for students.

-Presentations by professionals in the field tackling important subjects raising awareness about different aspects of health such as ‘the importance of sleep’, ‘eating habits’, ‘resilience’, ‘emotional regulation’, ‘concentration” and many more...

-Workshops for teachers including yoga and mindfulness.

-Physical wellbeing day with competitions.

Finally, planning a wellbeing week is an investment in the health and wellbeing of the school community that can yield lasting benefits and can foster a sense of community and support in the school, promoting a positive learning environment.”

The Dialogue on Counseling and Mental Health

Why do initiatives like Wellness Week matter? In a discussion with a few IC and Ain Aar counselors and deans of students, we got a chance to delve into the much needed discussion on mental health and the role school

resources play on overall wellbeing and student success in the long run.

Given the times that Lebanon has been in the last several years, mental health issues have risen, and younger people and adults alike are affected by this too. While the taboo of discussing mental health has always existed in many spaces, IC’s counseling department has worked on overcoming this stigma, and prides itself on being a safe space for students and teachers alike during these times. At both campuses, there are counselors for each school level; from preschool, elementary, middle school, and secondary. Some of our counselors share their words of wisdom and thoughts on what wellness means to them, and why their work matters in the overall climate of the campus.

IC Ain Aar

From Ain Aar Middle School, Dean of Students Rony Asmar shares that the Wellness Week initiative was a positive success. All levels of schools at Ain Aar had guest speakers discussing relevant topics for the appropriate age levels. Alongside the talks, there were also a myriad of ongoing activities that were done with collaboration of many other teachers. Music teachers selected calming, relaxing playlists to be played in the morning. They also sang songs in the auditorium. Drama and art teachers got involved too with creating interactive activities related to mindfulness and relaxation. On Friday of the week was called “White Friday”, where students and faculty all dressed up in white outfits to show

support for wellness. “Everybody was on board”, Asmar says. At Ain Aar, Wellness Week also catered to particular activities relevant to their classrooms. In particular, Grade 6 students had a talk and activity on friendship. “We are addressing friendship because the students have had this issue arise more than once with another”, Asmar says. Her goal was to make sure while participating in activities for wellness, that social issues are also addressed with a viable solution and a restorative method. The students put together a friendship soup activity, where they listed the “recipe” on sticky notes for what makes a good and healthy friendship, and how to resolve conflict.

Middle school counselor Anne-Marie Moarbes comments on the need and importance for having wellness week and such initiatives at IC.

“It can help prevent stress, create a positive working environment where our students can thrive. Wellbeing can be a core enabler of student

engagement and high performance. And you matter, so wellbeing is important to each one. So that’s why self care is important. Well being is a part of that. We are supplying resources to help students to help them support their own mental health.”

At Ain Aar, the counseling space has always been a welcoming environment for students and teachers alike. Having this department as a part of the school is essential for working through difficult times as well, but also for the long term development and success of students. “it’s a positive space where they feel comfortable, safe and happy. If they don’t feel that, they can’t succeed in the long run”, Asmar says. It’s an office to address issues, patterns, and mental health and wellbeing, but it’s also a space for applying strategies to conquer difficulties and share what’s on your mind.

“Anne-Marie shows a lot of empathy. A listening ear with a person who empathizes with them, not judges

them. They have someone who shows them empathy and how to deal with certain problems. She gives them strategies and decisions”, Asmar states.

Moarbes also agrees that the space is doing its job, and the students are benefitting. “They come willingly to the office. My office has an open door. Everyone feels safe and secure”.

IC Beirut

From IC Beirut, many of the activities overlapped with the initiatives also done at Ain Aar, and it was a great success. Elementary school counselors Tatiana Mobarak and Josette Menhem share their experiences with planning Wellness Week and how from the lens of counselors, the importance of these activities and initiatives.

“Everything was to promote wellbeing with a purpose”, says Mobarak. “You break the pattern. At some point pattern and routine becomes draining. You need something to feel positive vibes”.

“We came up with new ideas. The pajamas, the brunch, the balloons. Everyone liked the activities”, Menhem states. Throughout the week, each day had a specific theme in order to get teachers and students excited and engaged with wellness and mental well being. “On Thursday they enjoyed the yoga laughter session. It was the best session. They had the chance to learn and laugh. Even we laughed!”, Menhem says.

Just like with Ain Aar, teachers got on board to make sure things went smoothly and also support the effort. “The impact was positive. I started to think we should do it more frequently! Teachers came and told me they were really happy!” Menhem adds.

In the process of organizing and working on activities for the Wellness Week initiative, the question of the reason behind the idea was brought up.

“Why wellness matters? Everything starts with mental health. If you’re not feeling good about your life, you won’t have good experiences. As long as you’re healthy inside, you can face any challenges and hardships”, Mobarak says.

In the last several years, Lebanon has gone through so much and in the process of loss and instability, mental health is also impacted. While circumstances are not in anyone’s control, the way of navigating through a long term crisis starts with addressing mindfulness.

“We will always be facing difficulties in this country. If you change the way

you think and the way you see things, and we take care of ourselves with self care, eating healthy, practicing sports, mindfulness, yoga, meditation, it will help us overcome the difficulties. We can’t control them, but we can control our thoughts”, says Menhem.

Additionally, the way our world is moving today, it can be so easy to get caught up in a busy schedule and many responsibilities. And it’s exactly for this reason that mindfulness and wellbeing initiatives exist: to remind us to slow down and take care of ourselves.

“Wellbeing is important nowadays because we are in a rush mindset. There is not enough time to breathe or relax. If we are not working we are on social media. It creates some kind of unhealthiness at some point. It’s the time where your health matters, where you are being seen as a priority and it’s time to have fun. Our activities were related to stressrelief”, says Mobarak.

When it comes to having the counseling department at IC, this space and professional system exists in conjunction with the high

standards and quality of student life and success that the school aims for in its mission and vision.

“I think it’s one of the very few schools in Lebanon where counselors are fully present and connected to the learning space; in and out of the classroom. Here we really support the whole learning process and wellbeing of the child at school. The fact that it’s a department means we have rules, limits and credibility. This makes the department a strong point at IC”, Mobarak says.

With everything going in Lebanon, such as the recent earthquakes, ongoing economic crisis, and instability, children have been exposed to a lot of difficulties at an earlier age. As they spend a lot of time in school, to know that there is a space for them to truly be safe and also have their emotional needs met is something that makes IC stand out.

“It’s a privilege to have counselors and educators who are all aware of the importance of wellbeing and mental health. It’s a privilege to have people tend to your emotional needs.

I would say it should be mandatory. Given everything going on, children are exposed to trauma. When they’re this young in elementary school, it’s more effective. You have to find creative ways”, Mobarak states.

At an earlier age, talking about mental wellbeing is something that will have a long term impact on children and their success and ability to navigate life better, and the professional counseling resources are key. Not all issues can be solved alone or at home– sometimes the professional counseling intermediary is necessary to ease a situation, assist parents, and create long terms solutions and skills.

“It’s important to have counselors in every school. Sometimes teachers and parents can’t give counsel to their children. We have studied for 5-7 years, and we have been prepared with seminars. We have scientific advice for how to deal with issues at hand. We have to accommodate teachers because each child is unique and has his own personality. Even for teachers. How can someone be focused on their work when they’re not feeling good?”, Menhem adds.

“We say love yourself first. Each individual has to be the most important person to themselves”, Mobarak adds. Initiatives for mental health aim to help people accept themselves and to love themselves, and in an effort to do so, focusing on taking oneself is necessary. Having this department to help do so will truly teach students to learn how to be comfortable with themselves and be confident, while also making sure they keep their mental health in check.

Conclusion

The space of counseling and having wellness initiatives is key for healthier and happier students and staff. Having counselors on campus with practical skills who are qualified and supportive truly makes a difference in the learning environment of all age groups. IC’s Wellbeing Week will keep on being a significant effort to continue the discussion on mental health and solutions, while reminding teachers, students, and staff that our school is always here, and supporting them.

IB Art Exhibition

IB Seniors showcased their art exhibitions for their IB Art II courses. With a range of creative ideas reflecting various themes of identity, nostalgia, home and more, the art exhibition was a collection of successful projects.

Here are our talented students with their IB Art Teacher, Carine Arayssi

Make sure to check out their beautiful and talented exhibition pieces!

Layal Richmani: Deep Within

Mahmud Salhani: Through my eyes

Mira Hussein Agha: Metamorphosis

Noora Soussi: Keep it in

Sarah Kalot: Fragments of my Life

Sasha Uthman: La Banque de Mémoires

Sky Maalouf: Inside out

Yasmine Mansour: Growing Down

Years Reunion 10

The class of 2012 celebrated their 10 years reunion here at IC on December 27, 2022!

Years Reunion 20

The class of 2002 celebrated their 20 years reunion here at IC on December 28, 2022!

Washington Trip

At Washington DC in December, a dinner was hosted to honor alumnus Dr. Amin Barakat ‘60. Dr. Barkat is a renowned physician, and is recognized for his research and work on nephrology and discovering a medical condition now named as the Barakat syndrome. Mr. Walid Chalhoub ‘96, Miss Rola Fakhoury, and Mr. Nizar Zakka ‘85 organized this dinner by the IC Alumni Washington Chapter. The event was a success, and enjoyed by over 80 guests. The event began with a welcome speech by Mr. Walid Chalhoub, followed by a speech by Dr. Amin Barakat. The event was also attended by Mr. Donald Selinger, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Mr. Joel Peinado, President of IC, and Mr. Moufid Beydoun, Vice President of Major Gifts and Alumni and Advancement who all gave wonderful speeches about IC and its successes throughout the year. Here are some moments from the dinner!

From Left to Right: Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64, Mr. Donald Selinger, Dr. Amin Barakat ‘60, Dr. Walid Chalhoub ‘94, Mr. Joel Peinado

From Left to Right: Dr. Amin Barakat ‘60, Mrs. Amal Barakat, Mr. Donald Selinger, Dr. Walid Alami ‘81, Dr. Walid Chalhoub ‘94, Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64, Mrs. Hala Chalhoub, and Mr. Joel Peinado

Mr. Nizar Zakka ‘85, Dr. Amin Barakat ‘60

Dr. Walid Chalhoub ‘94

Dubai Trip

This January, Mrs. Hiba Chamout and Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64 visited Dubai to meet with some IC alumni and major donors. During their visits, they discussed the financial crisis and the impact it has on tuition funds, scholarships, and the need for increased solidarity for staff and teachers. Likewise, they emphasized IC’s position as a leading educational institution in Lebanon and the region and had the chance to share the wonderful college acceptances of this year’s seniors to local and international admissions.

Here are some highlights from Dubai!

From Left to Right: Mr. Ali Ajouz ‘82, Mrs. Hiba Chamout, and Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64

From Left to Right: Hiba Chamout, Mr. Rabih Fakhreddine ‘04, and Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64

From Left to Right: Mrs. Hiba Chamout, Mr. Charbel Abou Jaoude ‘80, and Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64 Mr. Ramzy Abu Chakra ‘95 and Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64

From Left to Right: Mrs. Hiba Chamout, Dr. Michael Fakih an IC Parent, and Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64

From Left to Right: Mrs. Sara Alwan Beijani ‘97, Mr. Marwan Beijani ‘97, Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64, and Mrs. Hiba Chamout

Celebrating Love:

Rawia Kraytem and Karim Baalbaki, class of ‘94

Abir Bawarshi and Ramzi Oweini, class of ‘98 (Together since 1995)

Farah Ghannoum and Ahmad Ismail, class of ‘94 and ‘92

Pamela Abi Khalil and Fawzi Maalouf ‘02

Mayya Kabbani and Rami Hajjar, (Since Petit Section)

Dahlia Yamout and Karim Jaber, class of 2016

Dana Saadeh ‘99 and Maher Mikati ‘98 (Dated in 2nd/1ère and Married since 2004)

Raghda Mourtada ‘01 and Fouad Itani 00 (23 years and counting)

Dina Abu Ayash ‘87 and Kamal Khodr ‘85

Carla Antar and Tarek Najdi (Since 2005)

Hala Soubra ‘05 and Abdul Rahman Nahhal ‘01 (Sweethearts since 2007)

Nadine Safa ‘02 and Kamal Abou Zahr ‘96 (Celebrating 2 decades)

IC Couples in Collaboration with the IC Alumni Association

Rula Nasrallah ‘84 and Hani Asfour ‘83 (Since 1983)

Nour Dada ‘07 and Tarek Itani ‘06

Tala Naja ‘07, Rafic Farra ‘08

Dana Taher and Karim Mirza ‘99 (Together since graduation)

Leila Chebaro and Rabih Chaar, since 1999

Nada El Ghalayini and Riad Mawass, since 1997

Karma Khatib and Ezzat Kraytem ‘84, crowned ICAA Valentine’s King and Queen- “Hand an eye for her since 1st Middle School, finally started dating in Bacc 1 1983, and been together since.

Rawan Yasmin and Wael Tahtah, (Together since graduation in 2007)

Lara Aoui ‘98 and Abed Merhi ‘94

Rana Ghalayini, French Section ‘99, and Ali Ballouz, English Section ‘99

Singer Aya Assaf and IC Footbal Varsity Captain Wael Halawi, crowned ICAA Valentine’s Prince and Princess - Since 2011

IC Alumni Association Conference at AUB

The ICAA in collaboration with the OSB conducted a conference last Saturday the 18th of March titled “A Battle for Prosperity: Navigating the Crisis with Confidence”. This conference comes at a time of much economic and political turmoil in Lebanon.

The first speaker to take the podium was Mr. Walid Assaf who walked the attendees on the evolution of his company through the many crises that hit Lebanon since 1952 but continues to believe in the potential of the country. He calls for investment in the productive sectors in Lebanon like agriculture, industry, and tourism.

The second speaker was Dr. Yusuf Sidani, the Dean of OSB, who explained the challenges of the OSB in navigating the crisis and how they were able to get out of it with the least damage. He advises transparency and honesty with stakeholders, and to always listen to their perspectives.

After the break the first panel moderated by Dr. Bassem Bawwab began with three panelists: Mrs. May Makhzoumi, Mr. Bijan Azad, and Mr. Karim Baalbaki. All three panelists confirm that the changing environment and the ensuing financial crisis has taken a great toll on their operations and presented great challenges.

The OSB is particularly active in developing exportable businesses and is now reactivating the departments across AUB that enable companies in Lebanon to achieve exportability by issuing licenses and accredited certifications as to quality, content, and traceability.

The second panel included Yusr Sabra, Patrick Fitzgerald and Yasser Ackawi. Yusr walked the audience through her journey to develop her company “Wakilni” and explained the challenges it faced. Mr Fitzgerald took the stage to explain the programs and initiatives that the OSB are taking to accommodate the changing environment.

Dr. Samer Doughan had a brief intervention just after lunch and introduced the current recipients of the ICAA award for 2022. ICAA is now supporting 14 students with their university tuition and aims to support even more students especially in these turbulent times.

The last panel of the conference received Dr. Marwan Barakat, who was assisted by Saad Jamaleddine. Dr. Barakat illustrated the Lebanese financial crisis with data and figures, and explained the prospects for Lebanon in the near and medium term. The conference came to a close and certificates were distributed to the attendees. The ICAA is committed to having this series of lectures and conferences on a yearly basis and will begin a process early on to develop the programs to be in line with the times and needs of the community.

ICAA Class Representatives Annual Meeting

On February 3rd, the ICAA hosted the annual meeting for class representatives at Gefinor Rotana. The gathering included representatives from the classes of 1963-2022, in person and virtually. The representatives got together to culminate the IC alumni network. Representatives gathered their classes and communities via social media and directed to the ICAA app, to put together the entire alumni community on one platform. The ICAA Class

Reps aim to foster the sense of belonging for alumni and to make sure they know they are still a part of IC. In addition, representatives set up yearly reunions on a smaller level around the world and in Lebanon, create worldwide memorable levels, and give them the support they need professionally in terms of job opportunities, internships, and recruitment.

Updates

‘60

In the 1955 picture, some of the alumni identified and included are:

Arie, Raif Farhat, Rene Baz, Professor Durand, Gabi Abou Joude, Georges Aoun, Victor Nabhan, Edgard Gedeon, Dabaghi, Nouhad Baroudy, Andre Ayvaz , Serge Doubine, Georges Antakly, Toros Chaglassian, Hani Abdelnour, Paul Eicher, Edwin Beylerian

‘65

In the 1961 picture, identified alumni are

Arieh Khaski, Ishac Saad, Solly Tarrab, Zacca, Ashkenazi, Garbis Dantighian, Solly Srour, David Srour, Elie Zaytoune, Noha Karam, Maurice Dumat, Alexandra Parnos

Henry A. Nasrallah, MD received the prestigious Stanley Dean Award for Schizophrenia Research from the American College of psychiatrists at the Annual Meeting, February, 2023.

Photos of the Class of 1955 and the class of 1961 were submitted by Serge Doubine

Maroun Azar and Nicolas Khairallah submitted a photo together.

Nicolas Khairallah also submitted a second photo of IC class 4e a in 1955. He is the last one on the right, second row from the top .

Updates

‘81

Hala A. Madi-Shalhoub in 2020 founded AVS, Advanced Vascular solutions, in Sebastian, Florida, with two other partners, one provider, and six employees. This year, they acquired another practice in Melbourne, and she remained on as General Director with one partner and 36 employees. Her medical practice has one mission: To put Care and Health back into HealthCare. We serve our patients and community on an accessible campus for most of their needs. She is very proud to have been a woman founder to a company thriving with women leaders in the administrative sector part of healthcare.

Hani Riman is still working on his own nursery, the green ranches in Ain Zhalta. He is also supervising agriculture projects and doing feasibility studies for new ones.

‘84

Gabriel Katul has been named a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Katul is a Distinguished Professor of Hydrology and Micrometeorology at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering. Being a fellow of the NAE is a high honor, and Katul’s work in ecohydrology and research has significantly influenced studies on climate change and habitats.

‘86

Walid Houry is a professor at the University of Toronto. His group works on protein homeostasis and is also interested in developing novel compounds as new anticancers or antibiotics.

He was recently elected as Vice President of the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences: https://csmb-scbm.ca/ about-us/csmb-committees/executive-committee/

His team’s work on the development of novel anticancers was recently featured in text and video: https://www.

lightsource.ca/public/news/2022-23-q4-jan-march/ attacking-cancer-cells-from-the-inside-out.php

‘05

Mirna Hamady has been living in Dubai for around 8 years now. She is the co-founder and creative director of Kashida, a boutique design studio creating bespoke home accessories, furniture and gifts with contemporary Arabic calligraphy. Kashida has sold to notable platforms in the region such as Bloomingdale’s, Crate and Barrel, Ounass, Williams Sonoma among others. Her time in Lebanon influenced her appreciation for homegrown design, craft making and artisanal workshops. She spends her time between Dubai and Lebanon seeking balance between work and family life.

‘07

Tamara Ghassan Kaaki graduated in 2007 and left for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Structural Engineering and then a Master’s degree. She moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 2014 to work in the Oil and Gas Industry, where she also met her ex-husband and got married. She worked for the construction team of a design-build firm where she was part of a team designing and constructing part of a facility in the Canadian Oil Sands in Northern Alberta. With the oil recession in 2016, she got laid off from her job, so she was looking for other opportunities, In the meantime, she worked for a non-profit organization and pursued a certification in Construction Management. She was mainly facilitating the needs of Syrian refugees that had just come to Canada and she predominantly worked with kids and women. In 2019, she joined an engineering consulting firm and worked as a project coordinator and project controller on Infrastructure and Environmental Services Projects. She worked on projects that involved the public sector and managed scope, budget, and schedule. She loves bridge

Houry Team

Updates

structures and it had been something she was always mesmerized by when she was young. So, after a year, she joined the Bridge Group where she started to learn how to design bridges and started to provide construction oversight on infrastructure projects. She has designed the substructure of a highway bridge located in Calgary and managed the construction of several new bridges and the rehabilitation of existing bridges. Following a year after her (happy) divorce in 2022, she decided to transition again her life where she took an opportunity in Golden, BC, Canada, a town of 6,000 people, to coordinate the construction of the bridges on a 600-million-dollar project. The project was to improve the corridor of the most rugged parts of the TransCanada Highway. Mid-2022, her life shifted again and she

decided to take a sabbatical where she booked a one-way ticket to Europe. She solo traveled to England, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, and Lebanon until her travel plans were hindered when she slipped and fell and broke her wrist (Safety is everything!). She decided to come back to Canada, and move to Toronto, Ontario. She is currently working as a Bridge Structural Engineer and rehabilitating her wrist after surgery. The things she picked up over the years have been hiking, biking, snowboarding, skiing, climbing, kayaking, working on mosaics, and mostly traveling, like her mom! She has now traveled from the east to the west coast of Canada, seen eight out of the ten provinces, lived in four provinces in the past 15 years, and been to 19 countries in total.

Letters to the Editor

As an IC students once you leave the gates of the school and you’re out in the world, you will encounter people who have heard of IC and those who have not. I found that there is a special group of people that know IC very well and that’s students of the American University of Beirut. That makes sense since we’re their next door neighbor. A lot of them don’t know the whole reason IC relocated from turkey and was placed adjacent to AUB was to serve as a prep school for the university so our history has been linked for a while. Even among the AUBites some don’t know IC especially if they are not Beirut residents and relocated to AUB to study and spent most of their time on the other side of the campus. However the AUBites that most definitely know IC are the residents of Kerr and Penrose.

Kerr and Penrose are the two men’s dorms located adjacent to IC and over look the IC fields. I remember our days as students out on the field playing soccer or practicing the discus or shotput in our green and white athletic gear. Some days were miserably cold, other days the whole class of teenagers didn’t want to be out playing sports but

indoors sleeping or lounging on a bench snacking on a bag of chips. But we practiced on the field none the less.

The reason these dorm residents know about IC is because they would see us practice on the field. Sometimes it was fun. They would step out on their balcony and watch our soccer games, sometimes they would cheer or play music to set the mood or encourage us. The not so fun days were when the residents would decide to have some fun by tossing water or eggs from their balconies onto the field trying to get us. I was lucky enough to dodge the water and the eggs but not everyone was as lucky.

I am not sure if these shenanigans still go on. But I remember every time I played on that field that I kept an eye on the ball but I also kept checking behind my back to make sure an egg wasn’t flying towards me. We were all kids just having fun I guess, but if you’re out there walking or playing be careful you’ve been warned.

Mohamad Tassabehji, P.E (2004)

In Loving Memory: Mr. Marwan Najjar ‘65

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Mr. Marwan Najjar at the age of 76 years old. Mr. Najjar was a renowned director, scriptwriter, copywriter, and producer in Lebanon and has been a major part of famous productions across the nation.

Mr. Najjar graduated from AUB in 1969 with a major in Comparative Literature and Education. In his years as an undergraduate student, he pursued many creative and written projects such as writing, directing, and producing plays at the university. He even worked closely with Kifah Fakhoury, now a revered musicologist in the Arab world, on an outdoor musical show titled “AUB 1910”. The show was a hit, and was given positive reviews by the press.

In the midst of his doctoral studies, Mr. Najjar shifted his focus to a career in journalism. He became a part of the Al Usbu’ Al Arabi (Arab Week) magazine, and also had a role on the team of the weekly publication, Al Diyar. Particularly during the years of the Lebanese Civil War, Mr. Najjar reported on various socio-political affairs.

After establishing a career in writing and journalism, Mr. Najjar eventually transitioned into scriptwriting in 1977, after meeting star Hind Abillama and her husband, director Antoine S. Remi. He had the opportunity to work on drama episodes, and eventually produced and aired his first series, “Dyala”, in 1978. This was the start of Mr. Najjar’s bright career as a producer.

Mr. Najjar still maintained his passion for education during his filmmaking career. He obtained a teaching diploma from AUB, and found a way to create educational content through his series such as the quiz show, Al Moutafawikoun, and a literary documentarydrama based on literature and the biographies of historic figures. He also created a comedy series with an Arabic grammar teacher character named Ustad Mandour, who became a beloved figure for humorous and strict teaching admired by educators and students alike.

Mr. Najjar spent several years adapting popular plays, creating original plays, and producing and directing dramas, comedies, and cultural series. Particularly in the 90s, he was back to making dramas and series for the month of Ramadan. He continued working on acclaimed series throughout the following years, but by 2011, he stopped producing and instead continued with script writing instead.

Mr. Najjar’s work was foundational to the film and TV industry in Lebanon. He created renowned cultural hits, and brought quality and meaningful productions to the country. His work is cherished, and he will truly be missed. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Najjar family.

In Memoriam

In Memoriam

In Loving Memory: Dr. Edmond Tohme

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of IC’s former Deputy President, Dr. Edmond Tohme, on March 27, 2023. Tohme was a truly remarkable individual who played a pivotal role in keeping IC open during the civil war.

Tohme held many various posts at IC, including Director of Admissions, Dean of Students, Associate Director at the Middle school, Director of the Secondary School, Executive Vice President, and Deputy President. He was also the recipient of the National Order of the Cedar Award. Throughout the war years, he showed incredible courage and leadership. He became part of a core group of administrators making difficult decisions and taking bold actions to keep our school running during a time of great turmoil and uncertainty.

Edmond (Eddie) Tohme initially came to IC as a boarding student before traveling to the US to pursue his studies. After completing his master’s degree at Stanford University, he returned to Lebanon for a visit and was offered a position teaching philosophy and counseling at the school’s secondary level. Tohme accepted the offer and canceled his plans to return to the US.

UN Grand Homme: noble , juste, professionnel qu’on ne peut que respecter et se sentir honnorée de travailler sous sa direction.

Il a toujours su appriécier les gens à leur juste valeur.

Je n’oublierais jamais quand j’ai reçu la 1ère le prix qui porte son nom et que j’ai été pour lui parler après la cérémonie, il m’a dit : “Amal tu mérites hautement cette reconnaissance pour tous les services rendus à la section française de l’IC mais surtout aussi pour ton professionnalisme et ton intégrité.

C’est hélas le peu dont je me rappelle de notre conversation.

Que son âme repose en paix .

C’est comme tu l’as si bien dit Mona une perte sèche pour l’IC car après lui, personne n’a pu l’égaler.

Ta mémoire restera à jamais gravée dans nos coeurs et nos esprits.

Adieu Mr Tohmé!

Amal Charara

It would be a decision that would greatly impact the future of the school. Tohme and his colleagues were responsible for making critical decisions about whether to hold classes in the face of ongoing battles and conflicts. They frequently confronted and pushed out armed militia groups entering the campus grounds.

Still, IC opened its doors.

“We had always thought it couldn’t get worse, but the pit seems bottomless, and we sink lower as time goes on… No matter what happens, I cannot imagine a country without schools for very long; I cannot imagine a country without children going to school, and I cannot imagine the Lebanese, no matter the hardships, settling for less than quality education. For that, our efforts are still worthwhile,” he stated in Annual Report to the Board of Trustees 1988-89.

Je reçois comme un choc cette triste nouvelle, bien que tout le monde eût vent de sa longue et pénible maladie. Car, un homme ( au vrai sens du terme ) tel que Edmond Tohmé, il n’en existe plus dans notre pays meurtri. Son intégrité, sa classe, sa grande tolérance, il les a emportées avec lui. Je n’oublierai jamais nos discussions en matière de pédagogie ou de relations humaines. Il tenait à conserver à chacun sa place jusqu’à preuve du contraire. Profondément humain et respectueux, il ne tolérait aucune injustice et cela augmentait notre admiration. L’IC se doit d’être fier d’avoir été dirigé par Edmond Tohmé!

Jessy Kobeissa

With the untimely death of then-IC President Alton Reynolds, Tohme assumed the role of Deputy President and continued the search for a new campus location on the east side of the country. In 1987, he finally settled on a site with breathtaking views to build an ‘extension’ campus of IC in the picturesque village of Ain Aar. A year later, the Ain Aar campus opened its doors.

Tohme received several job offers throughout the war. He had always refused, firmly believing that IC needed him. Regarded as a sophisticated and refined man who spoke deliberately and thoughtfully, he earned the admiration of numerous educators over the years.

“I have been trying to and trying very hard to approach your ‘silent wisdom,’” said Mona Shbaklo as she accepted the Edmond Tohme Award in 2008. “Have I succeeded?”

A 1999 Torch tribute for his retirement described him as “a rare combination of powerful presence, sharp intellect, ethic professionalism, pleasant company, and great humility; his tendency to shy away from the limelight adds to his quiet strength.” (Sana Haydar).

Other remarks praised him as an exemplary leader. “Many things have been said about Eddie’s wisdom and vision in the way he guided IC during the worst days of the war. However, I saw during my long working experience with him the other face, that of the shy, discrete, humble, patient, and most of all helpful and humane person.” (Yussuf Korfali, Torch 1999)

Today, the Edmond Tohme Outstanding Educator Award recognizes an outstanding IC educator whose teaching and/ or administrative career has been marked by significant contributions to IC’s mission and objectives.

Thank you, “Eddie,” for your dedication and love to IC.

May you rest in peace.

Tout le monde connaît Mr Tohmé le philosophe, l’érudit qui a dirigé notre IC avec sagesse durant les années les plus difficiles de son histoire. Mais rares sont ceux qui connaissent le côté humain de ce grand homme et que j’admirais beaucoup chez lui.

Permettez moi à ce sujet de vous raconter une entrevue que j’ai eue avec lui et qui m’a permis de découvrir la noblesse de ses actes et son empathie avec le corps professoral.

En effet, dans les années 90, les enseignants à mi temps ne bénéficiaient pas d’aide financière pour la scolarité de leurs enfants qui équivalait parfois à tout leur salaire comme c’était le cas de l’un de mes collègues du département. Je décidai donc d’aller en discuter avec Mr Tohmé.

Le réglement de l’établissement ne le lui permettant pas, il n’hésita pas à lui accorder cette aide du budget qui lui était alloué en tant que président par intérim. Je ne pense pas que d’autres l’auraient fait. C’était en cela qu’il se distinguait de tous les autres.

Repose en paix.

Tous ceux qui ont eu la chance de te connaître ne t’oublieront jamais.

Jeanette Frangieh

In Memoriam

In Loving Memory: Daria Maktabi ‘2022

It is with great sadness to share the news of the passing of young alumna Daria Maktabi. Daria was a light to all, a lovely student, and trulyembodiedtheICspirit.Shewill bemissed,butalwaysinourhearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends, and IC staff and teachers send their most sincerecondolences.

On February 24, 2023, five students from the University of Balamand were driving back to their dorms on the Chekka-Batroun highway when three of the students: Mohamed Rahal, Mirella Ezzedine and Daria Maktabi ’22 were killed in a car accident. Daria’s death sent shockwaves through the IC community. In honor of Daria, her friends from the Class of 2022 have written a letter to her that they would like to share

“I was walking in Hamra once and I had to sit on a bench. I was tearing up. When I looked up, I saw her. She was so beautiful and glowing. I really felt like I saw an angel. She asked me if I’m alright, and without hesitation, I said that I wasn’t ok. She just sat down, and I let everything out to a complete stranger. We talked for 2-3 hours on that bench, and she said things that enlightened me. She even invited me for a piece of cake. We walked our separate ways, and I haven’t seen her since. I couldn’t remember her name, until I saw the news... It just fills me with joy that I once felt her presence.”

Message received by someone who had once met Daria Maktabi

Dear Daria, we never thought we would be writing this letter to you. We never thought you would leave us soon. Our lives have just begun. 18-years-old. Are we supposed to die at 18?

Dear Daria, the emptiness that you have left behind is huge. We miss you. We miss you. We miss you. We get together but you are not with us. But still, we pretend you are. We talk about you and our great times together. We giggle at your jokes. Can you hear us, Daria? Are you laughing with us? Oh, how we miss your laughter. Your witty and unique sense of humor. Your kindness. Your love and care for everyone. Your way of putting people at ease. Even when we made fun of each other, you were there to defend one and all. Your loving heart couldn’t bare the thought of anyone being mocked. To you, everyone was a best friend. Even those you barely met. You left a profound impact on everyone, Daria.

Dear Daria, you were the light in our lives, especially during some of our dark days. Always encouraging us to become the best version of ourselves. Your love for life was contagious. Remember our adventures? You insisted that every weekend was an opportunity to make memories. So, we visited Batroun and drank lemonade. We explored Faraya. We did so many things together. Did you know you were leaving us soon? Is that why you wanted us to make all these memories together?

Daria, your brilliance shone through. You had a way expressing your love. Your way with words made you an excellent writer and a deep thinker – well beyond your years. Your beautiful words in letters, birthday cards and messages were inspirational. Be grateful. Be resilient. Be true to yourselves. Isn’t that you always told us? That’s why we always called you first for advice. You always listened.

Even at university, you immediately grew a community of new friends. You brought them together to share your love for cooking and entertaining – fun days that would sometimes last all day and all night. And coffee! How you loved finding new ways to make your morning coffee! That was your favorite part of the day, wasn’t it?

Somehow you managed it all. Friends, entertaining, studying and even running your own fashion store online, that you started when you were only 16.

But we all knew that your best friend was your lovely mother, Irina. Your family saw you as their secret treasure. How you adored being around your three siblings, going on long drives with them and listening to music. You had so many inside jokes with Wassim. You would laugh so much with him. “All that was beautiful was Daria. She taught us how to love each other even more than we ever imagined as a family.” These are Sherif’s words, Daria. Your family loved you so very much.

Dear Daria, we don’t understand why you had to go. Why you, Daria? Why you? How could someone so dear and precious just disappear? Our parents tell us that time will heal. Maybe. Maybe our tears will dry up sometime. But you will always remain part of who we are and who we will become. We promise you that we will never take anything for granted. Thank you, Daria, for having been part of our lives. Thank you for your love, time, honesty, patience, and selflessness.

Rest in peace our sweet angel.

Your friends forever.