IC Newsletter Summer 2023

IC Newsletter SUMMER 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 ‘70

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

As we near the end of another year at IC, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and congratulations on completing another excellent school year. Congratulations class of 2023 on this significant milestone in your lives. You have worked hard, overcome obstacles, and are now on the verge of a new chapter as you begin your university journey. We are confident that your education and experiences at IC have well prepared you for the opportunities and challenges that await you.

This semester, our talented student body and dedicated teachers and staff have hosted a number of exceptional events, leaving everyone with fond memories. In addition, we had the pleasure of hearing about our alumni’s significant achievements in their lives. We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support we have received this quarter from our donors, parents, and alumni community, which allows us to maintain our vibrant school environment and foster the development of tomorrow’s leaders.

Enjoy your summer and take good care. We are looking forward to seeing you all again in the fall for another wonderful year at IC.

Best regards,

Moufid Beydoun ‘64

Vice President for Major Gifts and Interim Director of Alumni & Advancement

Navigating the Entrepreneurial Space with Toufic Kreidieh

In the world of entrepreneurship, one of our very own IC Alumnus, Toufic Kreidieh, has been making waves across the region. He is the Executive Chairman and Group CEO of Brands for Less (BFL) Group, one of the world’s leading offprice retailers of fashion and homeware. Based in the United Arab Emirates, they serve over seven markets across the GCC and Europe. Kreidieh has been at the helm since the inception in 1996 and has successfully grown and evolved BFL Group to meet the needs of modern technology, evolving consumer demands and a volatile business climate. Furthermore, in the midst of his success and keeping up with entrepreneurship, he is passionate about education and philanthropy. In this feature, we get to learn about Kreideih’s journey in entrepreneurship and his reflection on the path towards success.

Kreidieh graduated from IC in 1989 and then received a scholarship to attend the Lebanese American University (LAU) where he pursued his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Business Management. Upon graduation, he embarked on a job opportunity in Saudi Arabia, where he was later relocated to Dubai and shortly after back to Beirut. While Kreidieh managed his day job, he and his childhood friend, Yasser Beydoun, also an IC alumnus, always knew that their calling was not to be employees, but to be entrepreneurs.

In 1996, Kreidieh and Beydoun joined forces and scraped together $10,000 to set up their first store in an underground parking lot in Beirut. They saw the gap in the market and knew that the off-price model would thrive, due to the appeal and joy of a bargain. After operating two successful stores in Lebanon, the business duo decided to grow their business overseas.

“When we expanded to the UAE back in 2000, we knew we had to come up with something innovative. Everyone who had stepped foot into the UAE saw it as a land of vast opportunities! We knew that to enter the market and become a successful brand, we had to offer a unique experience that will appeal to its buyers.”

Thus, they came up with the unique ‘treasure hunt’ business model, which entices customers to purchase and enjoy coveted items from top labels, at up to 80 percent off their original retail price. Today, their off-price retail business is nothing short of a budget shopping empire, with a thriving online presence and more than 100 stores across the GCC and Europe.

BFL is the largest off-price retail concept in the Middle East. “We were inspired to build a business that was niche to the area”, Kreidieh says. “We wanted to bring something new to this part of the world.”

For Kreidieh, the journey into the business world involved

challenges. Despite any hurdles, Kreidieh overcame them with strategy and tenacity. “I overcame challenges with patience and perseverance”, he says.

One of Kreidieh’s successful business feats was how BFL maintained success in the COVID-19 years. Tailoring the brand to customer needs in all seasons is what kept BFL afloat. “This is what happened during covid”, Kreidieh adds. “It’s because we believe our business will flourish at all times.

The growing social media world has also proven to be an asset to Kreidieh’s business ventures. He started his TikTok account a year and four months ago, and now he amounts to about 900 thousand followers. This has reflected positively on his business and in the bigger picture, he believes social media and communications are key factors in the success of a business. “Tools of social media are important today too. We have departments of people experienced with social media. It’s the best way to communicate with your customers and promote your business”, he says.

His TikTok account has attracted the attention of younger people. He connected with the younger generation, and it became a success. Due to the advice and content he shares on his page, he was requested by several educational institutions to share his wisdom with students. He has given talks at several reputable universities such as the American University of Dubai, Balamand University, and UAE University. For Kreidieh, education is a cause he is passionate about and deeply resonates with. In fact, his philanthropic mission is tied to the education world.

The mission and vision at IC is to promote excellence and continue to deliver the best education possible, while also maintaining a community and space that will create leaders of tomorrow. Kreidieh is one of IC’s big sponsors and an active member of the alumni community. “I never felt that I left IC because my years and memories on campus are still alive within me. I am fortunate to see my best friend and classmate – Yasser at work every day.” Kreidieh looks fondly on a campus that he says embodies home, due to the warmth of its faculty that were tutors, educators, and life mentors. To him, IC represents his love and dear appreciation for Beirut and the endless memories and life lessons that ignited his

curiosity to explore beyond the typical desk job.

But beyond the top tier academic standards that we maintain at IC, it’s the feeling of home and community that Kreidieh reminisces and connects to. “I give back to IC because it has a very special place in my heart. I grew up here. Day in and day out. I learned the basic things in my life through school. The best friends that walked with me. The taste of food in the cafeteria, its memories. All the memories of my childhood at this school. It’s my family.”

Kreidieh also reflects on the spirit of friendship that he fondly remembers from his time here. “The relationships you acquire at IC are unmatched”, he says. “Even today my best friends are IC students. Friendships that resulted in this business. Best friends since we were 10 years old. All my close friends are IC students and shared the IC experience together, and it’s a very unique experience. International College is beyond a school. It’s an environment, and it’s something really special. The sense of belonging is always back to the school. My memories of Lebanon are of IC.”

To IC students today, Kreidieh emphasizes that they truly take advantage of the opportunity they have to be a part of this school.

“Enjoy every single day– where you are today. This is the best institution you are going to go through. The friendships and networking will carry with you through life. Take care of this institution remaining in Beirut. You will value it more when you graduate.”

Kreidieh emphasizes the importance of hard work and belief in yourself to achieve your goals. “Success is having a dream and working hard to achieve your dream”, he says. “With amounts of perseverance and making sure nothing will stop you–put an action plan for your dream to come true”, he adds. Furthermore, making an impact also means a lot to him, in terms of running a business but also giving back.

When asked what are the qualities that he thinks an entrepreneur should embody, Kreidieh stressed the importance of having a clear vision, building a strong team, being persistent and giving back to your community.

The importance of having a clear vision

“One of the most important things for an entrepreneur is to have a clear vision for their business,” says Kreidieh. “Without a clear vision, it’s easy to get lost and sidetracked. Your vision should be something that you are passionate about and that you believe in deeply.”

Building a strong team

“No entrepreneur can succeed on their own,” says Kreidieh. “You need to build a strong team of people who share your vision and who are committed to helping you achieve your goals. Your team should be made up of people who are talented, hardworking and who have complementary skills.”

Being persistent

“Entrepreneurship is not easy,” says Kreidieh. “There will be times when you want to give up. But if you are persistent and you never give up on your dreams, you will eventually succeed.”

Giving Back to your community

“Philanthropy is part of our business culture. Yasser and I had very humble beginnings, however, we have never forgotten those who offered a helping hand to us in times of dire need”. They both believe in giving back especially in the field of education. Kreidieh believes that education is the cornerstone of life. Both he and Beydoun are sponsoring children in Lebanon to have access to education across all schooling levels. He believes that an investment in education is an investment in society at large.

Kreidieh also shared the following tips for entrepreneurs:

• “Be willing to learn and adapt. The business ecosystem is constantly evolving, and so should you. This

means being open to new ideas and being willing to change your course of action if necessary and in due time. When COVID-19 took the world by surprise, we implemented swift and decisive approaches to meet the new challenges. During the initial months, our main goal was to keep our employees safe and optimize our resources to enhance our online servers. We decided to invest into our business by pivoting funds into our e-commerce platform. We recognized that the shopping experience was on the verge of transforming forever. More than one year into the pandemic, we experienced first-hand how e-commerce revolutionized all sectors, especially retail. We saw the need to invest in automation and other strategies to prevent similar situations in the future from affecting our business. By making those key business decisions we were able to turn challenges into further growth opportunities.”

• “Be passionate about your business. Your passion will drive you through the tough times and help you achieve your goals. It will also be the catalyst and energy that your employees and stakeholders feed off. Your energy and passion set the roadmap on how your business will be perceived and operated both internally and externally.”

• “Have a strong work ethic. Entrepreneurship is a lot of hard work. You need to be willing to put in the long hours and the hard work to make your business successful. Kreidieh emphasized that there are no shortcuts to success. You must be willing to make comprises to achieve your goals!”

• “Do not be afraid to fail. Setbacks are part of almost every entrepreneur’s journey, including the most successful. Building on the lessons learned from those setbacks is what differentiates an entrepreneur from a dreamer.”

Overall, Toufic Kreidieh is a visionary leader who continues to develop his business acumen and persona. Aside from being a business figure, Kreidieh is commonly known amongst the Gen Zs for his relatable, and appealing content on TikTok. Kreidieh is a prime example of the importance of staying relevant and connected to your audience. He continues to inspire the younger generation and support his community by taking time out of his hectic schedule to invest in the education and development space. We are positive that this is only the beginning for Kreidieh, and we are proud to be a part of his journey!

A Feature with Hania Diab Ahmar: An Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient

even more so for her unwavering commitment to access to education for all. Ahmar’s journey is an inspiring and heartwarming one. Ahmar graduated from IC in 1992, and moved to the United States with her husband in 1994. With a longtime dream of becoming a teacher, she majored in Literature during her undergraduate studies. After her three children had reached or graduated high school, she decided to return to school herself, and obtained an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the same university she had gone to for college: Loyola Marymount University.

her undergraduate years. “I learned the practical way more than the traditional way”, she says. “I didn’t have a business background, but with the real estate license and the people around me helped me learn a lot of accounting skills”.

IC alumna Hania Diab Ahmar ‘92 received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor 2023 for her outstanding work in philanthropy and community service. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is given to those who “have shown an outstanding commitment to serving our nation either professionally, culturally or civically, among other criteria”. The Ellis Island Foundation has honored several presidents of the United States, CEOs of major corporations such as Apple and IBM, and other recognizable recipients with its medals of honor. In fact, Ahmar’s husband, IC Alumnus Mohamed Ahmar ’80, received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2013.

The Ahmars’ entrepreneurship and philanthropic pursuits were also recognized when they received the American Task Force for Lebanon’s Ray R. Irani Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. Ahmar is a lecturer at Chapman University, as well as the Vice President of Ahmar Investments Inc.

The IC community is proud of Ahmar for her achievements, yet

After her husband, Mohamed ‘Mike’ Ahmar, sold his electronics distribution business in 2006, the couple decided to start a new venture in real estate. “We founded a real estate company and built projects from the ground up,” Ahmar explains.

This new business project prompted Ahmar to get her real estate broker license. She started with property management, then took on the accounting and finance for the company. Originally, Ahmar did not have the business background from

Ahmar decided to go back to school in 2013, to hone her accounting, finance and business management skills to complement her growing role at the company. Her passion for education was reignited in an unexpected way: she rediscovered her dream of becoming a teacher . Years later, “I decided I was going to take off work 2 days a week to go teach at Chapman university and teach accounting and finance for non-business majors.” As an advocate for the power of education, Ahmar shares her values for learning, growing and pushing the limits of one’s comfort zone with her students.

“We give back through our foundation, time, and fostering and encouraging students. That’s my philosophy when I go to the classroom. I want my students to succeed. I want to support them”, she adds. For Ahmar and her family, education is the most important foundation one can have in their life. Being a teacher

and supporting educational causes is one of the ways Ahmar hopes to shape the world around her.

Ahmar’s own nonprofit organization, the Ahmar Family Foundation, supports philanthropic causes that often sound in education.

“Philanthropy is a mindset. For us we feel the responsibility to give back to our community. We’ve been given a chance and when you understand that, you want to give it to others. We support many charities but our main focus is education”, she emphasizes.

Education is the key to success in a world that is always moving and changing. It is education and knowledge that will always stay with an individual and benefit them for years to come. Ahmar wholeheartedly believes that education can help people, especially in difficult circumstances and environments, achieve upward mobility, and sustainable independence. “I grew up in Lebanon during the civil war, and education was embedded into my father’s mindset. He would say that ‘education– no one can take that away from you.’ It becomes embedded into the person you are. You can take education with you anywhere and start fresh with those skills.”

Ahmar fondly looks back at her time at IC as well. Her husband is also a proud alumnus.

“The IC experience is unique. It prepares you for more than what you

would expect. There are very high standards of education. I continue to support IC and its mission because I believe it instilled in me, from early on, a unique drive to succeed. This drive has been instrumental throughout all of my learning experiences,” Ahmar explains.

Ahmar also attributes her success to the mentors she’s had throughout the last few decades, many of which have been educators. “I’ve been lucky to have encouragement and support from the people in my life as educators. I wouldn’t be here today without them.”. For the same reason, Ahmar hopes to inspire and support her own students and make an impact similar to the ones her mentors had on her.

With respect to inevitable challenges, for Ahmar, navigating these takes a unique perspective, positive attitude, and focused mindset.

“Everyday we face a new challenge. But it’s the mindset. My children have learned that when someone tells us no, it’s the beginning of a whole new

chapter. I think of determination and resilience– which I credit to growing up in the civil war. The determination to make things work and happen. We channeled the negative experience of the civil war to a positive one; to be resilient people. We are people who are determined to make things happen. My husband always said that there’s always a solution. I think with that mindset, that there’s always going to be a solution, I have pushed everything on my own. That allowed me to always look for solutions and always make things work– not to quit.”

As for the future, Ahmar and her philanthropic and educational pursuits are just beginning. “I want to keep learning. It’s what I believe in and it’s what I instill in my children. My husband attends a one-week program at Harvard each year to learn, and my kids are all on a path to success. My daughter is an attorney, my sons are in finance and construction and both either already have or are currently enrolled in masters’ degrees. Education is a core value of our family.”

The IC community is proud of Ahmar and the story she represents. “It’s quite an honor to be receiving this medal of honor. It’s very inspiring”, she says. IC is looking forward to seeing what comes next in Ahmar’s inspiring journey, and hopes we can continue to keep learning from our wonderful alumni who are changing the world.

Q+A with Rebecca Zaatar

Tell us about your background in fashion!

After graduating, I studied fashion design and pattern making at Esmod Beirut. I then interned at Elie Saab where I then spent 7 years before I started THYM.

What inspired you to start THYM?

Honestly the lack in the market for occasion wear that goes with my style and that doesn’t exceed my budget. Something simple, yet edgy and elegant.

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion for me is a way of expressing yourself, it reflects your mood and personality.

How do you incorporate your heritage and culture into THYM?

Well to start THYM means zaatar. I also think it has a lot to do with my heritage and culture from the feel of it, to the intricate details.

What is the fashion scene like in Beirut?

IC Alumna Rebecca Zaatar

‘06 is a renowned fashion designer here in Beirut, who started her own brand and continues to share her love of design and flair with the community. Entrepreneurship and following goals and dreams is a trend amongst our alumni, and we are so excited to get to know a little bit about Zaatar in this Q+A!

I think fashion is taken very seriously in Beirut. We all like to express ourselves through our outfits, we are always out and about and we really care about how we look.

What have you learned?

Throughout the years? The list is extremely long and it does not end. I still learn something new almost every day. But I can say that when you do something with all your heart it shows – so enjoy every step and be patient.

What was your journey like to get to where you are?

It was a rollercoaster, there are so many ups and downs and challenges you face along the way that take you back in time but that only makes you stronger. So you overcome these challenges and some situations your country puts you in

and you get back on track. For the love you have for what you do and what you have achieved.

What were some challenges you faced?

The 2019 economy crash, covid and August 4th are on top of the list.

What influence did IC have in your life?

IC gave me the best support system I call my best friends, and made me who I am.

What advice would you give to students today?

To follow their dreams, it’s never easy but when there’s a will there’s a way. To take it one step at a time, to take baby steps, before thinking of the final goal as it gets overwhelming and discouraging.

What are your goals?

I want THYM to grow and to expand in day wear and accessories. But we have just officially launched our bridal in December so focusing on that for now.

Favorite moments/stories?

My best friend’s wedding, my sister’s wedding and my own wedding. Seeing everyone celebrating love and happiness in THYM, looking amazing.

What message does your line send?

Effortless, “thymless” and playful.

What does it mean to be a woman in fashion?

The majority of the audience in the fashion industry are women, so it’s a privilege to be able to set the trends and design for all women.

GROWING WITH IC: A Feature with Doha Berjawi

At IC, our teachers are the backbone of our institution, and many of them have been a part of our family for a myriad of years. They have grown alongside the journey of our school, and have also stepped into new roles of leadership and responsibility throughout the years.

Mrs. Doha Berjawi started her journey with IC 35 years ago as a teacher, and has grown into the roles of administration. This year, she is now in a new leadership role at the Elementary School, as the Assistant to the Director of Student Affairs. This role is a new addition to the Elementary School, with the purpose of creating a positive school climate and environment. In this Q&A, we dive into a conversation with Mrs. Berjawi on the growth that comes with leadership and the importance of expanding roles and responsibilities for a positive school environment.

Tell us about your journey with IC!

I entered here with my BA and continued my teaching diploma and masters. I moved from KG 1, KG 2, and grades 2 to 5. I taught from preschool to grade 5. After a while, I decided to step into an administrative role, and I was Assistant Director in preschool. I have been involved with the school in so many initiatives, and with the time I have spent over the years, I know the culture of the school. I’ve got to see how the school has developed and grown over the years. Now I am in a new leadership role in the elementary school.

What is the importance of wellness in a school climate?

A school is a place where the whole child develops. Wellness activities help the students be good with themselves. Understanding themselves, others, their environment. Creating rules and structure for a community is necessary. It’s very important. We need to have these kinds of laws. It’s like a small society.

What is your role and responsibilities?

This is a new role we brought into the elementary school. I work with disciplinary action, preventive measures, and maintaining an ongoing support system to create a healthy campus environment. This role was created to put

the behavior policy in place. We worked on finalizing it. We communicated the behavior policy in the classroom. We work with teachers on a planning level, and with students on an interactive one. One of the key components to this is the discussion of respect and consequences, and the way the two of them go hand in hand. We set clear expectations, and make sure that respect is found at school and in other places and give students the chance to brainstorm what this means to them. There was a need for the disciplinary role. I feel like teachers need that, and I hope that they continue to accept me as part of their support.

I have an advisory program I am working on. This includes weekly lessons that the students are getting. There is also recess duty behavior monitoring and teaching students conflict resolution strategy. We can step in with unit planning to merge and see what can be incorporated in the classroom. I organize events and occasions. For example, the student assemblies are based on different themes.

How do you intervene when it’s relevant to wellness and disciplinary action?

Whenever there’s something that comes up, I talk to the teachers to set the consequences and agreements in the classroom. We have reminders, student reflections, following up on these details. We also prepare the students ahead of time as mentioned as preventative measures. And we have training and preparation for teachers and classroom management for general guidelines. We

also communicate with parents and teachers for individual issues and communicate relevant skills, training, and strategies to be able to resolve conflict at home or in the school space.

What’s changed as a result of going to teaching and shifting to an administrative level?

When I was in leadership roles in Preschool, I was doing more behind the scenes work.

Right now my role is different and interactive with students and teachers and I love that.

Though I love being on this side of the role, I miss teaching and the interaction with teachers.

But now I can look at things from a different perspective, and particularly in this role, I’m always with the kids and the teachers and supporting them. Whenever there’s a chance, I still get to help and be a part of the teaching, which is what I love. Particularly, on the playground and

in the classroom. I like the interaction with the kids.

Where does your passion for education extend to beyond the sphere of IC?

I gave courses at uni for 10 years for class management, language development, etc. I’m also one of the NEASC visitors, and I’m on the board of all things related to accreditation. I go to schools, and visit schools. And these opportunities help you see what commendable school standards should be. You get to see the big picture.

What are your goals for the future?

I am trying to have a positive spirit, and so far I have had a lot of positive feedback from teachers. I want to solidify the foundations for teachers to deal with issues themselves on the classroom management level, and then have them come to me after for reassurance and assistance. I also want to include training and sessions for how to deal with certain situations and behavioral

issues. There’s always a need to refresh on skills and strategies and would like to incorporate a review yearly. Ideally we should explain to teachers how to manage conflict and deal with disciplinary components in the beginning of the year. So we all start at the same level. We will have new measures to put these rules in place from the beginning. Essentially, setting the foundation for classroom management early on.

I would also like to initiate a program that works on the student character, such as team building, positive thinking, etc. I want to work on parent sessions and keep them in the loop with a newsletter solely on student affairs and necessary information relevant to the elementary school.

Why do you love being part of IC?

I love what I do because of the interaction with students and watching the change happening.

The excitement of growth. It keeps you growing. Every year, I feel like it’s my first year. There are always ideas and new things to do. At IC, we involve teachers in so many programs and initiatives and professional development. There’s the opportunity to organize the curriculum. We worked together as teachers to grow and develop.

IC is a special place. You are part of a community where everyone respects everyone. I spend a lot of time here, IC is like home. They embrace you here. You feel you are valued. When I joined IC, I was engaged. My kids were raised here. It makes me feel at home here. I went through life through IC and my memories are here. We used to have sports nights every Friday, picnics together, and went out on trips. IC holds a special place in my heart.

Environmental Sustainability at IC: A CONVERSATION WITH RITA EL HAJJ

Being environmentally conscious in our changing world today is necessary. Here at IC, our Sustainability Program is one of the ways our students learn about the environment and engage in hands-on activities relevant to protecting our planet and sustainability. In a conversation with Rita El Hajj, the Head of the Environmental Sustainability Program at IC, we got to dive into learning about the significance of Sustainability on campus and the world around us.

Sustainability is the practice of maintaining and preserving natural resources, engaging responsibly with the planet, and protecting natural environments in order to keep the world healthy for generations after us. In the long term picture outside of the school curriculum, sustainability is key for our survival and maintenance of resources for the long run.

Rita El Hajj is the Head of IC’s Environmental Sustainability Program. She started mapping the whole curriculum, from K to 12, all 4 programs, to identify the areas (units of inquiries, disciplines, etc.) where environmental sustainability can be integrated in and further highlighted. She closely collaborates with pedagogical leaders and teachers to mainstream the program within the curriculum in each grade level.

Rita El Hajj started the Sustainability Program at IC in September 2019. Environmental conservation is her passion. She has a PhD degree in conservation ecology, and since she was an adolescent, nature has been her passion. Furthermore, she is convinced that raising awareness about environmental sustainability should start at an early age, since sustainably, as stated before, is a culture that needs to be instilled from childhood, to build responsible and caring citizens.

At IC, students are getting the opportunity to engage with the topic of sustainability and practices that are eco-friendly while also being a learning lesson.

“The environmental sustainability program is rooted in IC’s curricula

from K to 12. Its aim is to further highlight or give more weight to topics, themes or chapters that are related to the environment and to give meaning to the learnings. The curriculum was mapped in 2019, and areas where environmental sustainability can be further highlighted were identified. Links were even created between the different disciplines in order to address an environmental challenge and come up with actions to remediate it”, El Hajj explains.

To have sustainability be a part of the daily lives in our communities, starting on the curriculum level is the key to create long term change and a reframed mindset towards our environment.

“Sustainability is a “culture”. That’s why we started mainstreaming it in the curriculum from the preschool level. The goal is to establish this culture in our future leaders and global citizens, in order for them to become principled, caring and empathetic citizens”, El Hajj elaborates.

One of the best ways for students to resonate with real world topics outside the school space is the interactive, hands-on approach. At IC, students of various age levels have participated in projects promoting sustainability

A consistant and sustainable waste sorting system at IC Ain Aar

and environmental preservation on a community level by working alongside the Sustainability Program.

“Students are engaged in disciplinary, transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary projects related to environmental sustainability. These projects contribute in raising their awareness about the importance of preserving our environment and sustainably managing our resources. Students are giving meaning to their learning by implementing sustainable actions to preserve the environment. They are thinking globally and acting locally. Furthermore, they are mobilizing their knowledge and skills in order to make connections between their academic learnings and real-life problems”, according to El Hajj.

So many initiatives have been implemented since 2019 in the frame of the Environmental Sustainability Program, from a K-12 level. Most of these initiatives are directly linked to curriculum, whereas others are extracurricular.

Just a few examples include:

The Grade 9 CPP / 3ème interdisciplinary project and sustainable waste sorting and management

“To the rescue of Tabsoun” initiative

The creation of a group of sustainability advocates : “Écodélégués”

Lighting a dark street in Lebanon with solar PV lamps

This year alone, a commendable list of sustainable projects

have taken place by IC students. Some major highlights of the year are:

The 6ème/Grade 6 interdisciplinary project, “Save the Forest”, where students worked hard throughout the different disciplines to Save the Bentael Nature Reserve in Lebanon from forest fires.

The creation of the biggest turtle in the world out of recyclable waste by the CE1/Grade 2 students, in collaboration with the upcycling artist and environmental activist, Caroline Chaptini.

Lighting the Lebanese University with solar PV lamps by the CM2/Grade 5 students.

The 5ème/Grade 7 interdisciplinary project “Counteracting Deforestation”, where students implemented a reforestation campaign in Akkar-North Lebanon and produced seedbombs at school as a means for sustainable reforestation in Lebanon.

The implementation of a consistent and sustainable waste sorting system at IC Ain Aar.

The fact that a Sustainability Program exists at IC goes to show how committed the school is towards development and advancement for our students in areas that connect to the bigger picture and world around them. The introduction of the program into IC has brought a lot of change, and Rita El Hajj explains how things have shifted from when she stepped into her role as Head of program.

“The first change was the integration of environmental sustainability within the curriculum, which was new. The second change was implementing the program from K to 12, instead of privileging a few grade levels. Last, the number of projects and initiatives increased every year, which highlights the motivation of teachers and their awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability.”

Awareness session on the dangers of the Lionfish for Grade 9 CPP students

Seedbombs making by 5ème-Grade 7 students

But El Hajj doesn’t want to just stop there. She has some bigger goals that she hopes to achieve in the near future.

“I want to Further widen the scope of the interventions, from K to 12, to address as many disciplines as possible teaching content related to environmental topics, and giving more weight and meaning to the learnings by serving the environment”, she says.

In the big picture, learning about sustainable development through school curriculum ensures students to consider the world around them at all age levels. Furthermore, it allows them to make sure they continue to consider their environment outside of the lessons they are being taught in school. As younger generations enter the real world ahead of them, sustainability is going to be key towards surviving and maintaining the earth around them.

“Sustainable development is the one and only key for saving the planet and humankind from extinction. Humans are overexploiting and abusing natural resources in a pace that much exceeds the Earth’s pace to regenerate these resources. If we, human beings, do not refrain from adopting unsustainable environmental practices, our species is deemed to be extinct, as on one hand, the Earth’s resources won’t be sufficient to satisfy our needs, and on

the other hand, because of the high rates of pollution and environmental degradation”, El Hajj says.

Besides applying what’s being learned in school, there are so many things we can do as well on a personal level at home and in our communities to promote sustainability. Some of these things are so simple and easy to integrate into your own daily routine.

“We need to know that every small, unsustainable action we take can have a negative impact on our environment. We need to start thinking globally and acting locally, from the individual level; at home and at school. Let’s start sorting waste, saving water, saving energy, and spreading awareness around us. Let’s take walks and embrace the value and the beauty of the nature we have”, El Hajj suggests.

Overall, sustainability and being environmentally conscious are the key to living a better life, and preserving the world for future generations to come. At IC we want our students to be engaged with the world around them while they are in school, and the efforts of the Environmental Sustainability program will help them keep the environment in mind as they learn and grow. Together we can keep IC green, and the rest of the world–step by step!

Vinegar & tea exhibition by 6ème-Grade 6 students to Save the Bentael Forest

IC STEAM FAIR 2023

At IC, our dedication to pursuing the best educational standards has brought new modes of learning and advancement to our school. The STEAM program is just one of the multifaceted learning systems that allow our students to explore topics of the growing and advancing world we are in today.

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. It is an interdisciplinary hands-onfuture focused learning approach. IC Ain Aar students this year had the opportunity to participate in the STEAM Fair, which is an event where students present projects to their parents, friends, and jurors. Before, the Fair used to be called the Science, Technology and Math Fair. This

year, it was renamed to the first STEAM Fair. It was on Wednesday May 10, 2023 in the Mulla football court. The president and several teachers from IC RB assisted.

There were more than 100 students participating, and there were more than 40 projects. There were 3 prizes per category. Ultimately, the high-level end product reflected the hard work and creativity of the students.

The STEAM Fair projects are based on the 5 disciples of STEAM, and must include all of them:

• Science: Scientific method is demonstrated and/or explained. This includes the hypothesis, observation, and other modes of the scientific method.

• Technology: Design thinking process is demonstrated and/or explained via empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, testing, and more.

• Engineering: The results are communicated in a final report/product.

• Arts: The final product makes use of colors and design and it is neat and demonstrates creativity.

• Math: Incorporation of mathematical and computational thinking.

Due to the Turkey-Syria earthquake and its impact on the region, the theme of this year’s STEAM Fair is ‘Natural Disasters’. In this way, students would tackle problems related to real-life situations and stay connected to the world.

Students had the opportunity to work in groups of 4, or individually, and got to choose a topic between the following categories:

• Model and Demonstration

• Invention

• Research

• Balsa Bridge

• The Pinewood Derby Race

• The Robot-Sumo Competition

The projects were graded on a 100 point grading scale system that consisted of:

• Professionalism and Presentation Skills (20 points)

• STEAM (50 points)

• Content (30 points)

Some of the projects that were presented were:

• Model and demonstration, for example: Earthquake Madness

• Inventions, such as earthquake resistant buildings

• Research, such as Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes’ Role in Combating Diseases after Natural Disasters

• Balsa Bridge

STEAM is incorporated into the daily life of our students as it is an essential element to guide them in the development of personal qualities and skills leading to intellectual curiosity, creative expression, compassion, community building, an appreciation for cultural diversity and global citizenship leaders of tomorrow.

Scientific knowledge enables students to develop new technologies, solve practical problems, and make informed decisions both individually and collectively.

Projects of this year focus on addressing the natural disasters that various countries are currently grappling with. The spirit of Ain Aar is also unique, and it reinforces the community level goals the school has set for itself. Furthermore, such projects that meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that solve problems encountered in real situations.

All the participants received a certificate, and the winners were announced on the awards night on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The winners received a medal and certificate.

Congrats to our winners and all the bright students from Ain Aar who participated in this year’s STEAM Fair. We are so excited to see what more our students will do with STEAM as they grow and learn more about the world around them on our campus.

Students Speak Their Mind: IC’s 3rd TEDx Event

IC hosted our 3rd TEDx event, and we are so proud of our students and teachers who worked so hard to put it all together. The event was a culmination of wonderful organization by IC teacher Dala Sadek and Career Guidance and Admissions Counselor Fady Bader. They guided students to fully lead and run the show through their utmost support and dedication. This year’s TEDx was led and run by IC Secondary students, who shared important topics of where the world is going, and how their personal lives and stories inspire lessons to be learned by all audiences.

Planning TEDx and putting it into action was a long term process. Participating in TEDx is open to anyone who wants to get involved, with opportunities to be speakers, organizers, members, and just volunteers. As teacher mentors, Sadek and Bader helped along the way, but students themselves organized the social space, prepared activities and games, and edited each other’s talks. They were a great support to each other and learned to work as one group. Their role was essential in putting the event together.

Before the actual event, planning and auditions took place. For all speakers, auditions were held and judged based on a rubric in front of the TEDx committee formed of members of the parents committee, teachers, TEDx organizers , and student representatives. Afterwards, speakers were selected, and with long term planning and practice, students worked on their talks and mastered them in order to be ready for the actual event.

On the day of the event, student organizers alongside Sadek and Bader made sure everything went smoothly. student speakers, alumni speakers, and outside speakers from our community participated in TEDx and also shared their insights and perspectives.

Aya Abdel Wahab was one of the TEDx student organizers who helped organize the event and worked the day of TEDx to ensure that everything went smoothly. She was

particularly involved with the social space. In fact, Abdel Wahab was actually part of the very first TEDx as a speaker when she was in 5th grade, and it’s a full circle moment for her, getting to be a part of TEDx again in 11th grade.

“I wanted to join them when I found out that they were having TEDx again this year to help. I wanted to be behind the scenes, in the organization, and in the art committee”, Abdel Wahab says.

Sadek and Bader reiterated how dedicated and involved IC students were in the whole process. Abdel Wahab attests to this through some of the things she did.

“We made a team for the games outside, related to our theme: ‘What’s Next?’. I was putting the mics on the speakers. We brainstormed together for the logo. I learned how to manage a group”, Abdel Wahab adds.

The student involvement and participation in all facets of TEDx made room for developing long term leadership skills and organizational abilities. The students themselves felt they had gotten a very important hands-on experience that they would not have gotten otherwise. “I learned how to organize myself, and

I learned how to prioritize my time”, Abdel Wahab says. One of the hosts of TEDx this year was Ryan Tabet, an 11th grade French baccalaureate student. It was his first time getting involved with TEDx, and he also felt that the event gave him the opportunity to learn and grow as well.

“I noticed that my personality changed. The way I speak and the way I talk to people. I became more confident. Being involved in a TEDx event also shows universities that you have public speaking and organization skills”, Tabet says.

This year’s theme was “What’s Next?”, which invoked a myriad of topics that students brought to the platform. Talks ranged from ideas of technology, science, and moving forward after change and

difficult circumstances. “This is the first year students talked about mental health”, Sadek says. Students also made it a point to discuss the current circumstances here in Lebanon, where they spoke on the responsibility and pressure their generation has to face in order for things to get better– bringing the topics closer to home. “This connects the whole community”, Sadek adds.

“TEDx is a platform for students to express themselves through ideas and thoughts. And these ideas are valid and different”, says Sadek.

Alma Zgheib, an 11th grade student, was one of the speakers at the event.

“My speech was about generational trauma. Each generation is struggling with past generations’ problems and that we don’t realize it. At the time, therapy was a taboo. Our parents lived through wars and went through a lot. And subconsciously those things got projected onto their kids”, Zgheib states.

For Zgheib, TEDx gave her the opportunity to share what was on her mind, and to also convey important messages to the people of her community in a safe space. Furthermore, the TEDx experience taught her the necessary skills for confidence and public speaking that she hopes she will continue to engage in past her time at IC.

“We really speak out. I thought I was the only one talking about these issues, and then I saw everyone was talking about their issues, so I saw thisTEDx Event as an opportunity to be able to let others understand how we are struggling. Everything was connected in a way, and we didn’t intend to do that. I felt it was very brave to speak freely. I loved it enough that I am going to be applying as an administrator for TEDx for next year. I want to give that to others. So when I go to university, I want to also open TEDx events and talks”, Zgheib says.

Like Abdel Wahab, Zgheib was appreciative of the student-led dynamic that TEDx entailed. “Student run felt more natural”, she says. “It didn’t feel like anyone was controlling one another. It felt like we were all working together.” The interconnectedness of the student body and their ability to support and work together embodies the IC spirit as well. It’s a wonderful reflection of the school’s dedication to fostering a supportive learning environment and remembering community in the process. “During the actual day we helped out, and we all hyped each other up. We are all just cheering for each other!”, she says.

Opportunities like TEDx provide so much more to the students beyond the practical organizational and speaking skills that they develop in the process. Having a space to share who they are and put themselves out there is another major facet to keep in mind. “It is your opportunity to speak your mind without being judged. Understanding one another. Let’s change together”, Zgheib emphasizes.

“It gives the image that you can speak your mind, and you can. So many different subjects were talked about. Just the idea that the school is so committed to make an event like this, is huge. You feel drawn to it, and accepted”, says Zgheib.

Abdel Wahab feels similarly and reflects positively on how IC giving these spaces and opportunities motivate her. “It makes me feel heard”, she says. “Like IC is really trying for us to be the future of this community. It makes us feel confident in saying

what we want to say and making our community better.”

Even beyond sharing talks with the IC community, TEDx talks go out into the real world after approval. This means anyone can access and watch these talks on YouTube and also learn something new. Abdel Wahab loves this. “It’s such a nice concept that we have TEDx at IC so that all the students can be heard- not just in our community, but outside, like in the TEDx world”, she says.

Following the event, the audience reactions were overall positive. Sadek tells us that more people wished they had the opportunity to attend and be involved. “It was a very successful event”, Bader adds. He also mentions that AUB alumni were so impressed and felt a need to consider creating a TEDx hub in the academic communities in Beirut.

On the end of students, they felt that their event and talks also resonated with their audience. “I think for some of the audience, it was new content. We heard from our parents that they enjoyed and learned new things. They were new things for the generation before us”, Abdel Wahab says. Tabet also agrees. “I think the people who came to watch were satisfied”, he says.

For Zgheib, she felt that there was a bit of duality from the audience responses. “People either loved it, and that they felt like, finally people are talking about these problems”, she says. On the other hand, she also felt that the heavier topics addressed might not have been everyone’s cup of tea. But nonetheless, the audience learned something new, and regardless of anyone’s opinions, the students had the stage to themselves and got to speak with honesty about topics and themes important to them.

TEDx is an incredibly dynamic and interactive event that will stick with students in the long run. Apart from the public speaking and the teamwork management skills that come in handy for future college admissions, there are so many foundational character development skills that these students have benefitted from in the process of organizing and executing their TEDx event.

“If you go back to the philanthropy of IC, you see global citizenship being presented. Students are being outspoken, and learn how to express themselves and their ideas. Such events are empowering them and giving them skills on stage– as well as real life skills and a discussion on bigger topics relevant to the real world. It teaches them organization, communication, and social skills, alongside innovation, creativity, arts”, Sadek says.

For all the students involved, their successful event and confidence is a testament to such wonderful mentorship from Bader and Sadek. “I loved how everyone was supportive. Mr. Fady and Ms. Dala were amazing coaches. They were honest and amazing.”, Zgheib says. In fact, Bader’s public speaking coaching and passion was a source of motivation for several of these students to get involved with TEDx in the first place. Even on the organizational level, their utmost support didn’t go unnoticed. “Ms. Dala and Mr. Fady did a great job giving us responsibilities. They wanted this to be a student run event and they gave us a lot of tasks to do”, says Abdel Wahab. The dedication of IC teachers and staff to being a support system to their students outside of the classroom reflects a supportive academic community we are so lucky to have.

Overall, we are so proud of our IC students and their hard work and efforts to make TEDx a successful and dynamic event, while striking conversations and important discussions about making the world a better place while being authentic and real. We thank our wonderful TEDx mentors– Sadek and Bader, for being the backbone of the event and the support system these students will always be grateful for. We are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for TEDx at IC, and always encourage our students to keep putting themselves out there and speaking their mind for positive change.

College Admissions and Career Guidance: 2023 Highlights

As the year comes to a close, we are so proud of our graduating seniors and all that they have accomplished this year. Through a challenging set of high school years marked with the pandemic, August 4th, and the economic crisis, the graduating class of 2023 surpassed all expectations and have all been accepted to wonderful colleges locally, and abroad.

“They should be so proud of themselves that they were still able to undergo the rigorous application process and still be accepted to amazing universities locally and abroad. Every senior got accepted to college”, says Inar Zein, Career Guidance and University Admissions Counselor.

The seniors worked hard on their profiles, academics, and extracurricular activities. But all of those go in hand with the exceptional support of our Career Guidance and University Admissions office. Inar Zein and Fady Bader, both Career Guidance and University Admission Counselors, are the face of the office and have worked so hard to help students achieve their greatest potential. This department on campus does everything from hosting informational sessions, putting together career fairs, leading university rep visits, going over the application process, culminating resources for parents and students, and working one-on-one with students to put together their best selves forward on their university applications. The department is organized, and emphasizes the amount of meetings that are always taking place to keep parents and students in the loop. The platform used is Google Classroom, and the department is sharing opportunities there for students to follow up on and benefit from.

The department has grown and developed over the years. In the beginning, the offices were a place for students to

focus solely on their college applications. Now alongside the university admissions process, it has expanded into career guidance and opportunities. This year, Bader and Zein worked on the career fair, which was a total success and brought so many opportunities and options for students to look into for their future.

“We are a very good team. We did a lovely career fair this year. Very big, and hopefully next year it is going to be even bigger”, Bader emphasizes.

“Career guidance includes career fairs, personality tests, and our internship program. We have 50-60 students with internships for the summer. This is through the support of the Alumni and Development Office, and the ICAA, the parents committee. They are our main supporters. We hope this will be found to be beneficial. We aim to enrich student profiles, and these opportunities will help clarify things in the field and see if that’s something they as students will want to pursue in their future. That’s also what we are working on with the career fair– it has opened students’ eyes to lots of different options out there. It’s helped students look up to experts in the field, and some of them have also been offered internships”, Zein adds.

Zein also reflects back on the year and on the role of the department in culminating a wellrounded college application and career pathway for students. For Inar, this office brings everything full circle in the early academic career of these students.

“It all comes together in this office. Everything from 12-13 years. We take all of that and we turn it into a showcase for all of their achievements. In a lot of cases students are really impressed with

all that they’ve achieved , and in other instances they feel that they wish they did more, and they can take that with them. It truly is the culmination of all that.”

Furthermore, it’s a key goal of the Career Guidance and Admissions Office to promote authenticity and genuine growth of their students through their profiles and the oneon-one meeting space. “I help students follow who they are”, Zein says. She also makes sure to keep them in the loop of summer opportunities, courses, leadership, and academia.

“When I work with our students one on one, I shape their profile and guide them in a certain direction and things they can do that can impact their applications and make sure their profile flows naturally. It comes from a place of genuine interest and passion. I help them come up with ideas they can pursue outside the school as well. Ultimately, to help them with their passion projects”, Zein adds.

IC students have one of the highest acceptance rates to colleges locally and internationally. This year, so many students have been accepted to renowned international institutions and local ones as well. “Many of the Lebanese universities are starting to be a target for students,” Bader says.

“Netherlands is becoming an attraction too. Switzerland, and Spanish universities as well. Italy and Europe are becoming destinations too”, Bader adds.

IC is proud to say that our graduates have been accepted to the following universities and more, and we continue to hope they will strive for excellence and pursue their dreams and goals.

United States

University of Miami

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Washington

Virginia Tech

American University. Washington

Pennsylvania State University

New York University

Washington University, St. Louis

University of California, Los Angeles

Berkeley

Parsons University

Boston University

Case Western Reserve University

University of Southern California

University of Virginia

Georgia Tech

Middlebury College

Northeastern University

George Washington

Texas A&M

Colgate University

Harvey Mudd College

Purdue

University of Michigan

University of Texas

University of Maryland

Emerson College

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Local- Lebanon

AUB

LAU

UOB

USJ

BAU

UK

Imperial College

University of Bath

University of Warwick

UCL

King’s College London

University of Edinburgh

University of Manchester

Durham University

City University London

Bristol University

France

Toulouse

Aix Marseille

PSB

Polytech Paris

Claude Bernard

Montpellier

Sorbonne

Paris Saclay

EDHEC

Paris Cité

ENSIM Le Mans

ESIREM Dijon

Paris Dauphine

ASSAS

Polytech Grenoble

Polytech Sorbonne

Polytech Montpellier

Epita

Strasbourg

Europe

John Cabot

LUISS

IED

HAN

Groningen

Amsterdam School of Business

Glion

EHL

HIM

IE

Canada

University of Toronto

Mcgill University

University of Waterloo

Queen’s University

The University of British Columbia

HEC

UQAM

Zein and Bader congratulate seniors on their wonderful acceptances into colleges abroad and locally, and wish them the best on their new journeys.

“We are proud they are off to places where they will be a good fit and thrive. We want them to know that this is just the start, the stepping stone to their long educational journey ahead. We hope they will always follow their passions. They’re starting off in really good places, the sky’s the limit!”

IC Art Festival

Just as the year comes around to a close, IC students showcased their creativity at the 26th IC Art Festival. With long term planning and preparation from IC art teachers, staff, and students, this year’s festival was an absolute blast. Students from preschool to secondary school at both our Ain Aar and Ras Beirut campus participated. The art festival takes place every other year, and was interrupted just during the covid period.The heritage of Lebanon through symbolism and imagery, a reflection of nature and life, and a myriad of colorful visual expressions lit up all corners of our beautiful campus. Particularly, this year’s theme was a tribute to artists, Lebanese culture, and to the people of our community at IC who deserve a spotlight such as security, cleaning team, and physical plant. At the opening of the festival, talented students shared their vocal and choreographic performances on the stage for parents and faculty to enjoy. Make sure to check out some of the highlights and lovely works of art from the festival!

A special thank you to the art team for their dedication and efforts. The art festival took 2 years of planning and preparation, and was put together in a span of just 3 days.

Mrs. Carine Arayssi Saad (Sec./Head of Art),

Mrs. Joumana BouKhaled (Sec.),

Ms. Maya Tabbara (Middle/Sec, R.B),

Ms. Ranwa Jeha (Middle. R.B),

Ms. Melissa Bou Chaaya (Middle R.B),

Mrs. Mona Nashawati (PreSch, R.B),

Mrs. Rola Abaza (PreSch, R.B),

Mrs. Layla Kateurji Hamasni (Elem. R.B.),

Mrs. Aida El Sheikh (Elem. R.B.),

Mrs. Tania Mouammar Rowel (Elem. R.B.),

Ms. Nathalie Hachem (Middle A.A, Sec.),

Ms. Rim Boulos (Middle A.A),

Serene Ghandour (Elem. A.A),

Raphaella Matta (PreSch, A.A).

ENCANTO: The RB Elementary School Drama Club’s Annual Production

La Familia Encanto! Over the course of the past year, students from our Elementary School worked tirelessly to put together a colorful, musical Latin American celebration. On April 26th, 27th and 28th, Irani auditorium was filled with the sounds of Latin music and transformed into a Columbian paradise complete with walls of Jacaranda flowers, majestic macaws and magical candlelight. Starting earlier this year, students rehearsed in person and on Zoom in order to prepare for this performance. After months of rehearsals along with two Bootcamps, they were ecstatic to finally share their hard work with their peers and parents.

“The RBES Drama Club gives us a chance to express ourselves creatively and become more confident in who we are. I will never forget my time in Drama!” says Zia Chehade, who played Ariel in last year’s production of The Little Mermaid.

“Drama lets me do two things I enjoy most: acting and singing. I have made lifelong friends in drama. I am excited for next year!” says Nael Oweini who played Bruno this year.

The last night of performances was complete with a surprise visit from the students of the Drama Club’s past. Students who are now in Secondary School and Middle School came together with their Elementary School friends to celebrate the joy and love that is the IC Elementary Drama Family. That night will always serve as a reminder of the way art, creativity, passion, and family can weave its way into our very beings.

Six years after its first production of The Sound of Music with 11 students, the Drama Club Family has grown to include more than 92 members. Kids who have demonstrated talent, passion and dedication beyond their years, others who have left their mark on the Art Culture and Community here at IC, and those who now have memories they can carry with them from their Elementary years onto the next part of their journey. If the drama club could leave them with one message, it

would be: Love who you are, who you’re going to become and the journey it takes to get there.

Onwards and upwards to next year’s production! The countdown begins!

Submission by Tony Asfour ‘16

In addition, a big thank you and appreciation for all the efforts of the Asfour family in continuing the legacy of drama and creativity here at IC. Elementary teacher Carla Asfour and her children, Johanna Asfour ‘18 and Daniella ‘22 also worked so hard in making this production as wonderful as it was.

A Multicultural Festival by Grade 1: Where We Are in Place and Time

To wrap up an eventful year, IC Grade 1 students put together a wonderful and dynamic presentation on celebrations around cultures all over the world. After several weeks of practicing, choreography, and dedicated research and design, it’s safe to say the performance was a total success!

Grade 1 teachers got creative, and came up with creative choreography in conjunction with each respective celebration of choice for class. The classes sang songs about Kwanzaa, the Chinese New Year, Diwali, Cinco De Mayo, and more. Teachers handmade crafts and decor from scratch, and brought the playground to life and set everything up themselves. Student research and art related to the celebrations were set up on tables on the playground,

open for parents to see after the performances ended. A big shout-out to the Grade 1 team, Sana Dabaghy, Diana Dabliz Kaaki, Jana Fakhreddine, Reine Mouzannar, and Zena Ghali for all their efforts and hard work to make sure the event was organized, colorful, and full of life.

From the earliest years, IC students are taught to explore the world around them and ask the bigger questions. Discovery and exploration are a key component of the IB Primary Years Program. For the celebrations unit, Grade 1 students dove into the theme of “where we are in place and time”. Presentations and projects like this are a testament to the top tier academic standards and programs that IC invests in. The IB program is a long term system that sets students up for long term success from the earliest of years, and the elementary students begin with PYP to do so. Furthermore, it opens up a discussion on learning about cultures different from our own, which is key to creating a global citizen and a well-rounded individual. As a part of IC’s mission and vision, acknowledging and accepting diversity is directly tied to IB’s goals as well. This unit on celebrations around the world is just one of the ways to engage with and learn about international communities, but so are the IB methods of learning various languages, diving into history, and an exploration of the arts.

Ultimately, through these topics and modes of learning, students grow and learn in their journey from PYP to IB. In the classroom, Units of Inquiry segments teach students how to interact on a hands-on level with topics in the real world. Particularly with this project, students learned how to explore research and how to look at resources beyond the classroom learning environment, which are long term skills that they will find themselves benefitting from in their later academic years.

Overall, we are so excited to see our students continue to engage and grow in all areas while learning, and look forward to more interactive events by our amazing teachers who make all of this possible. A big thank you and well-done to Grade 1 teachers and students for always striving for excellence and going above and beyond to make learning fun.

Boston Dinner

A delightful dinner was cohosted by Dr. Usama Hamdan ‘71 and his wife, Dr. Aida Hamdan, along with Dr. Moussa Mansour and his wife, Dania Mansour ‘87. It was a joyous gathering that brought together over 40 enthusiastic alumni and friends. The event was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Don Selinger, the Vice President of Alumni & Major Gifts, Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64, and the Senior Executive of Advancement and Alumni Relations, Mrs. Rania Turk ‘91. During the dinner, meaningful discussions about the school’s remarkable successes and the challenges it currently faces in these trying times took place. It was a candid and constructive exchange of ideas, where we all had the opportunity to share our thoughts and perspectives on how to overcome these difficulties and ensure a bright future for our beloved institution.

From Left to Right: Dr. Aida Hamdan, Dr. Usama Hamdan ‘71, Dr. Dania Mansour ‘87, Dr. Mansour Mousa.

Mr. Don Selinger, Dr. Usama Hamdan ‘71

Dr. Mousa Mansour, Dr. Raif Geha ‘62

Montreal Dinner

IC ambassador Khaled Hajjar ‘84 cohosted a dinner at Zyara restaurant in Montreal. The event drew a vibrant crowd of over 55 alumni and friends, all who were eager to reconnect and share their experiences. The evening was made even more special by the presence of the Vice President of Alumni & Major Gifts, Mr. Moufid Beydoun ‘64, and the Senior Executive of Advancement and Alumni Relations, Mrs. Rania Turk ‘91. As we gathered around the table, the IC spirit united our conversations– fostering a sense of unity and nostalgia. It was a memorable night of laughter, storytelling, and cherished memories– reminding us of the enduring bonds we share as proud members of the IC community.

From Left to Right: Rania Turk ‘96, Toufic Majdalani, Ola Majdalani ‘82, Rima Husseini.

Dubai Dinner

A dinner was hosted in Dubai to honor the esteemed Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Don Selinger. Board member Mr. John Khabbaz and his wife Mrs. Karen Khabbaz graciously hosted the event, which brought together over 80 enthusiastic alumni and friends. Mr. Peinado, President of IC, was also attending. Key members of the IC administration were also present. As we celebrated Mr. Selinger’s remarkable contributions, we were reminded of the profound impact he has made on our institution. The event served as a testament to the lasting bonds within the IC community and the deep appreciation we have for those who dedicate themselves to the betterment of our beloved school.

From Left to Right: Maher Mikati ‘98, Dana Mikati ‘99, Karen Khabbaz, Johnny Khabbaz

From Left to Right: Rania Turk ‘96, Don Selinger, Moufid Beydoun ‘64, Hiba Chamout, Joel Peinado, Rabih Fakhreddine ‘04, Guy Manoukian

From Left to Right: Don Selinger, Maher Mikati ‘98, Dana Mikati ‘99, Karen Khabbaz, Johnny Khabbaz, Joel Peinado, Moufid Beydoun ‘64, Rania Turk ‘96

From Left to Right: Don Selinger, Hiba Chamout, Moufid Beydoun ‘64, Joel Peinado, Rania Turk ‘96

IC Annual Gala Dinner: We Bloom Together

On June 9th, 2023, IC hosted the annual fundraising gala evening on the Naeem Fayyaz Sports Field. All proceeds from the evening were donated to the Tuition Assistance Fund at IC.

The main entertainment of the event was by Guy Manoukian. In addition, singer Tiara Wahab presented a few songs as well. Finally, Mrs. Annabella Saab was the master of ceremony. The event was attended by some members of the IC Board of Trustees, alumni, IC parents and friends of IC.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mr. Donald Selinger began with a short speech, and was followed by speeches by IC President Mr. Joel Peinado. Mr. Moufid Beydoun, Vice President of Major Gifts and Alumni Affairs was the final speaker.

The event was enjoyed by all.

A Big Thank You to Alumnus Naeem Fayyaz: Renaming the Greenfield to The Naeem Fayyaz Sports Field

The efforts of IC maintaining it’s standards of excellence is credited to our long term support from our alumni. IC Alumnus Naeem Fayyaz ‘70 has so generously contributed 1 million dollars. In honor of this donation, we have renamed our beloved Greenfield to the Naeem Fayyaz Sports Field. We are so grateful that our alumni looked back upon our institution with fondness to give back to us, so that we can continue to aim for excellence and support the leaders of tomorrow. This September, IC will host

the official inauguration of the Naeem Fayyaz Sports Field!

Fayyaz says that he gives back to IC because of the foundation and impact the school had on his life. For Fayyaz, he owes it to the education and wonderful lifelong friendships that he made at IC.

Below are some pictures from the archives of Naeem Fayyaz, who attended IC and graduated in 1970.

Updates

‘60

Nicolas Khairallah submitted photos from the dinner of IC Promotions with members from the classes of ‘60 and ‘61. Featured in the picture are Nicolas Khairallah, Sami Nasr, Joe Afeich, Mohammad Hammad, Souheil Metni, Wassef Kassem, Nassim Afeich, Michel Malhameh. Nadim Afeich was in London, and Claude Jabr and Gaby Gharzouzi could not make it.

‘61

Serge Doubine submitted an archive photo that was taken in June 1960. In the photo, he is running the darts stand, just across where the Alumni office is now. This was a year end event. In the photo, Ghazi Abdel Nour. a science student, is about to throw a dart. He has a brother, Hani, who was a year behind.

‘81

Talal El Khalil has recently accepted the nomination to sit on the board of Al Safi - Danone (ASD), the regional joint venture of Danone - France and the owner and operator of the largest fully integrated dairy farm in the world, located in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia. ASD operates in the GCC and the Levant countries through various ventures, partners and distributors. Talal is based in Riyadh and can be reached at talalelkhalil@gmail.com.

‘06

Andrew Sarraf graduated in 2006 from the IB program. After graduating from university with a law degree and masters in Australia and working there for 10 years, he relocated to London 5 years ago. He now works at an international law firm as a Senior Associate. He fondly remembers his time at IC and am still close friends with many of my old classmates. working on his own nursery, the green ranches in Ain Zhalta. He is also supervising agriculture projects and doing feasibility studies for new ones.

Serge Doubine also submitted two more archive photos in 1972 at a farewell party for his father Ariel.

‘16

Khalid Nouh submitted a photo of himself and Salim Musleh ‘16 (on the right). This was the athletes’ dinner on June 5, 2015. IC is where he met his true friends.

Now, after 8 years, they find themselves working abroad in the same country. Salim Musleh is a sports consultant, while Khalid Nouh works as a business journalist. He is so grateful for these moments!

Left, Thos Schuller, center: Maurice Dumont, Director of the French Section, and Ariel

Left to right: Maurice Dumont, Antoine Massoud, Abdallah Traboulsi the secretary of the French section, and Ariel

In Memoriam

We regret to inform you that Dr. Saoud Shawwaf ’56 passed away in April 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Shawwaf family.

We regret to inform you that Mr. Ali Y. Assaf ‘69 passed away in April 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Assaf family.

We regret to inform you that Mr. Said Moubarak Baarma ‘70 passed away in April 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Baarma family.

We regret to inform you that Dr. Munah Hawila ‘67 passed away in April 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Hawila family.

We regret to inform you that young IC alumnus Mr. Karim Abu Najem tragically passed away in May 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Abu Najem family.

We regret to inform you that Ms. Karma Khatib Kraytem ‘84 passed away in June 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Kraytem family.

Amendment Note for the Obituary of Daria Maktabi ‘22

We would like to issue a clarification for the introduction of the obituary of our beloved Daria Maktabi ’22 that appeared in the Spring issue of the IC Newsletter:

“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, namely Mohamed Rahal, Mirella Ezzedine, and Daria Maktabi ’22, were tragically killed in a car accident.”

A big thank you to all of our sponsors and their generous contributions!