IC Newsletter Winter 23

IC NEWSLETTER IC Spirit

WINTER 2023

Billy Eidi, Pianist, Returns to his Roots

‘A Greener Tomorrow’

Getting back to nature in the Preschool Playground

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IC NEWSLETTER IC Spirit

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Contents 11

Dr Tarek Kudsi: Giving with Impact

Empathy Through Art

16

Letter from the Vice President

4

Young Alumni Focus: Sarah Akkawi, Artist

5

Career Change:

8

Samer Kobeissi, from Civil Engineer to Patisserie Chef

14

Cheers to 50 Years!

The IC Class of 1973 Reunion

19

Around the Campus

Billy Eidi, Pianist,

20

Returns to his Roots

EDITOR/WRITER: Mel Cartlidge | PHOTOGRAPHER: Mel Cartlidge, Mazen Sabbagh and other contributors | LAYOUT: Tala Tabbara Board of Trustees Donald J. Selinger, Chairman Imad Taher, Vice Chairman John Khabbaz - Treasurer William H.Turner, Assistant Treasurer Bayard Dodge, Secretary Gerrit Keator, Assistant Secretary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Adelman Selim Bassoul Wael O. Bayazid ‘70 Jonathan (Jon) A. Conner

Frederik O. Crawford Walid Daouk ‘76 T.M. (Mac) Deford Amal A. Ghandour Keith Gillespie Anthony Jones Yusuf A. Kan’an ‘71 Marwan A. Marshi ‘79 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 Rabih Shibli Ahmed Tayeb Maya Tohme (Nassar) Richard S. Ward

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Shabab Lab Collaboration with IC Andrew Cartlidge,

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New IB Diploma Coordinator

Empowering the Future

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A Greener Tomorrow:

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30

Events and Dinners

34

Letters to the Editor

36

In Memoriam

37

Alumni Updates

38

@internationalcollegelb

39

Getting Back to Nature in the Preschool Playground

Empowering the Future through Alumni Voices

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The IC Alumni Association (ICAA)

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Trustees Emeriti

Administration

Makram N. Alamuddin ‘61 Anwar Al Mulla ‘63 Mohammed S. H. Al-Soleiman ‘59 Khalid Al-Turki ‘61 B Mona Bawarshi ‘67 Said S. Darwazah ‘76 Peter H. Gerard Aida Reed (Luce)

Joel Peinado - President Nawal Haddad - Vice President for Academic Affairs Moufid Beydoun - Vice President for Alumni & Major Gifts

32 Zeina Abou Khalil - Director, Lower School, Ain Aar Maya Chebaro - Director, Middle School Tania Hayek - Director, Human Resources Dr Megan Khairallah - Director, Secondary School Kathy Khayatt - Director, Elementary School

Talal Jundi - Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Lara Kmeid - Director, Upper School, Ain Aar

Dr Mahmud Shihab - Vice President for Educational Development & Technology

Dr Ghada Madhoun - Director, Preschool

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LETTER

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Letter from the Vice President I am deeply moved by the warm welcome I received during my last travels in the US in November. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all our alumni in New York, Washington DC, Miami, Nashville, and Los Angeles.

I must confide that leaving Lebanon during these turbulent times and embarking on a journey across states was not an easy decision, but the incredibly warm reception and your steadfast commitment to IC have made the effort undeniably worthwhile.

Your support for IC’s mission has been invaluable, particularly in light of the current economic crisis and fears about the repercussions of war. You have consistently supported the school you loved, both then and now.

This love was particularly tangible during the 50thanniversary reunion of the class of 1973 on our beautiful campus in early October. The event drew 100 alumni from all over the world! It was an evening filled with fond memories and the revival of old friendships.

Seeing our alumni show the same sense of belonging and an even more passionate IC spirit was heartwarming and inspiring.

Amid these sad and aggressive times at our borders and in Palestine, your support gives us invaluable resilience and perseverance.

Thank you, dear alumni and friends, for your generous contributions and steadfast commitment.

IC has always kept going. IC will always keep going.

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

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Young Alumni Focus

Sarah Akkawi, Artist

It

is easy when talking to Sarah Akkawi ‘19, recent AUB graduate, fresh from her very first solo exhibition and a TV appearance at the age of 22, to

understand why she has had such early success in her career in the art world. Her appealing blend of ingenuousness, passion and quiet confidence has paved the way for opportunities to appear and allowed her to grab them when they have.

Much of this confidence she attributes to being an IC student, though she finds it difficult to define exactly why that is.

Photo by: Vartan Seraydarian Studio

How talent, passion and Instagram led to a solo exhibition and TV appearance for this young artist

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“I feel like the way that they taught us and the friends that we made, the connections we formed, the environment we were in, prepared us and gave us confidence. It’s like they

“ I feel like the way that they

taught us and the friends that we made, the connections we formed, the environment we were in, prepared us and gave us confidence. It’s like they teach you unconsciously how to deal with your life later on.

”

teach you unconsciously how to deal with your life later on.”

Turning down a Fine Art place at the prestigious University of the Arts London, Sarah opted instead to study

Graphic Design at AUB. Shortly after she started, the economic crisis hit, swiftly followed by the October 17 revolution, the Covid-19 pandemic and then the Beirut Port explosion. She talks emotionally about the time postexplosion.“The situation in Lebanon was very bad, very sad and very, very scary. So many people were leaving the country. My friends, my family.

There were barely any people left.”

When asked if she had considered leaving, she responded “I was already in my second year of university so I wasn’t just going to leave. Go where?

Do what? And I really love Lebanon. I adore my country.” So she stayed.

These events and the strength of her feelings about them galvanised her.

Both at university and in her spare time Sarah created art about Lebanon.

She portrayed its suffering and its beauty, hoping to inspire those who left to return. To share these feelings more widely, she opened an Instagram account for her art and gradually people began liking, posting and sharing her work. As her art gained exposure, so

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did her name and she gained recognition as a graphic designer. People began asking for her help with design jobs like branding and packaging which then opened the door to more work.

One of these freelance opportunities arrived in her final year at AUB when she was asked to create a logo for a new company. Her design was clearly well-received because a few months later the company owner, also the co-proprietor of an art gallery, approached her to ask whether she would like to do a solo exhibition. Being the brother of a fellow ‘19 IC alumnus he was familiar with her work and knew she was capable. It was a year away and an opportunity she didn’t want to miss, so despite her heavy workload she said yes.

Seeking inspiration, Sarah thought back to the work she’d produced for her IBDP Visual Arts final exhibition at IC. Her favourite piece, a huge, thought-provoking hourglass creation formed from hundreds of miniature toy soldiers representing feminism and gender equality, gave her an idea.

She started collecting items associated with things people do on a daily basis and discard without thought. Used coffee capsules, used IQOS boxes, receipts, clothing tags, coasters, empty cans, she gathered them all. “It’s something unusual, but I wanted to upcycle those materials and find the beauty in our mundane day-today routines.” One object, repeated, to represent a single daily routine.

Out of these used up, worthless objects, Sarah created the most fantastic works of art. The face of Kaldi, the Arab Ethiopian goat herder who supposedly discovered the coffee bean plant, assembled with 1,100 colourful coffee capsules. A huge, angry-looking pair of lungs composed of empty IQOS HEET boxes representing the dangers of smoking. A collection of used beer cans in a frame with “These are not just cans, they are conversation starters” painted across the glass covering them.

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Sarah’s solo exhibition, ‘Daily Routine’, held in August at Kalim Art Space in Hamra,was a huge success. “So many people came, it was so nice!” she enthused. Art-loving attendees, excited by the unique, modern look of her work, rushed to purchase some of her creations. “I didn’t expect them to actually buy because it was my first real exhibition, but I sold three pieces!” Sarah had found her style.

Opportunity came knocking again when someone from Al Jadeed happened to see the exhibition invitation on Instagram and invited Sarah to appear on TV to talk about it. Her pre-interview nerves were mostly, she admitted, because they wanted her to speak in Arabic, not her strongest language. “But,” she said, with remarkable composure, “I managed. I wasn’t stressed at all. It was really good and everything went well.”

So what’s next for the young woman who has come so far in such a short space of time? First, an internship as a graphic designer at Leo Burnett, an international advertising company in Beirut. Next, either a job or a Masters in Graphic Design or Art Direction, something that can help her with the solo exhibitions she’d like to hold once a year. As for her own art, she will definitely keep working on that, whatever else is going on.

Asked how she would describe herself, Sarah answered that she used to introduce herself as a graphic designer.

Then, when she started to create art about Lebanon she added “and an illustrator”. But when she went on TV, she was introduced as an artist, “so maybe I am all three?” I told her I had titled my interview notes “Sarah Akkawi, Artist” because she unquestionably is an artist. “Thank you so much, really,” she said. “I’m just trying to let that sink in.” @artbysasss,

1 https://be.net/sarahakkawiworks / artbysass.com

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CAREER CHANGE Samer Kobeissi:

from Civil Engineer to Patisserie Chef and Business Owner

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Y

ou wouldn’t necessarily expect a man with four years’ university training, a successful career in Civil Engineering and an MBA to give it all up, aged 32, to pursue his dream of starting his own patisserie shop. But that’s what Samer Kobeissi ‘95, pastry chef extraordinaire, did.

A dream it may have been, but when he makes up his mind to do something, Samer does it with 100% laser focus.

His thoroughly researched and carefully considered plan took him to France for six months’ training at the Harvard of gastronomy schools, Ferrandi Paris because, as he says, “in all of the world, nobody does pastry like French people do.” He followed that up with a year working at the Michelin starred Four Seasons Hotel Georges V, one of the most prestigious hotels in Paris. Then, top notch training and professional work experience under his belt, he returned to Beirut and opened his own pâtisserie, Des Choux et Des Idées (DCDI), in 2016.

My first two questions, ‘why the change?’ and ‘why baking?’ are echoes of those his concerned parents asked when he first told them about his decision. “One led to the other really,” he said. Achieving excellent grades at IC, there was little opportunity for him to explore options outside of what he terms the ‘preset trajectory’ that he was expected to follow; either Math or Science leading to either Engineering or Medicine. He was better at Math so Engineering it was and by the time he’d finished IC and four years at AUB, he felt he didn’t have any other choice but to follow that set path.

Samer started baking as a stressrelieving hobby, a way to disconnect from his taxing job as an engineering

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consultant. It wasn’t something he’d learned at his mother’s knee, it was just a way to have some ‘me time’. “I don’t really know why I started it,” he pondered. “Maybe I was attracted to it as an engineer because baking is like a science. You have to be extremely careful and precise with ingredients, how you mix them, how they work together, with temperatures etc. It’s technical and you have to get it right.”

Fast forward a couple of years and Samer found he loved creating the perfect dessert, a moment of pleasure, something you wouldn’t have every day. It felt incredibly rewarding.

He began to question whether engineering was actually what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

He was good at it, but, unlike baking, it wasn’t his passion, it didn’t drive him. It wasn’t his choice. And so he decided to change his life.

Starting all over again in Paris as a trainee and then an intern at 32 was anything but easy. Emily in Paris it was not. “You’re used to certain dynamics in your senior professional life, and then suddenly you’re a student again and having to take instruction,” Samer recalls. “At Georges V, I had people even younger than me who were now my superiors.”

In the kitchen, the shouted command “allez, allez, plus vite!”,“go faster”

rang in his ears. Every detail had to be perfect and he was constantly surrounded by people watching him work and saying ‘you’re doing it wrong.’

It was an extremely pressurised environment. “But because it was something I really loved and I was absolutely determined that I was going to do it, I kept telling myself ‘OK this is only temporary and I need to accept the fact that it’s going to be challenging in order to learn.’”

Although the hotel extended his contract as he was doing well, after a year his work visa expired and Samer felt he was ready to return to Beirut and launch his project.

Inspired by the creative combinations, high quality seasonal ingredients, style and presentation of the products available in the trendy pastry shops in Paris, Samer devised the name and concept for his business while he was there. He wanted to introduce a similar style to Beirut where pastry shops tend to be more traditional.

It has been a steep learning curve for him but now, eight years on, Samer feels he’s hit his mark with DCDI. His pastries are incredibly creative; they are technical, visual and taste perfection, a treat for every sense as perhaps you would expect from a highly trained and experienced

engineer. His shop is beautiful, his staff welcoming and knowledgeable.

A couple of years ago, Samer was invited back to IC for Careers Week to talk to students about ‘following your passion when making career choices’. Sharing his experience and demonstrating that there are other, less-traditional choices available felt very important to him. “I think this should be done more at school,” he said. “Engineering, medicine etc, parents still think those are the only careers that bring you good money, which is not the case any more.

Social status is still very important.

Being an engineer, my mum can brag about it, but a chef, not so much.”

And what of the future? Plans are afoot to open another DCDI outlet in Lebanon. Of course, being Samer, these plans are being scrupulously researched and formulated as maintaining the quality of his sensational creations is of the utmost importance to him.

Visit Des Choux et Des Idees at Rue de l’Independance, Ashrafieh, Beirut DES CHOUX ET DES IDEES - LA BOUTIQUE @deschouxetdesidees Des Choux et Des Idees

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Dr Tarek Kudsi Giving with Impact

Dr

Tarek Kudsi is a consultant specialist in risk analysis with a PhD in civil engineering and is an IC graduate of 1987. He lived in Lebanon throughout the difficult war years before moving to the US and working on developments in New York, Dubai and Qatar. He returned to Lebanon with his family in 2017, his children are IC students, and he reflects upon his time at his alma mater with passion.

“I love IC. It was a place where we didn’t regard background or social status to be bonded. We felt that everyone was given a chance without social prejudice.

So many of us came from middle class families and we were able to excel because of the IC environment. That gave us the strength to move forward.” This equitable, non-judgemental, inclusive environment that teachers fostered and that he refers to as “IC spirit” had a huge impact on young Dr Kudsi. An impact that he wanted to pass on to the younger generation.

“There are two kinds of giving,” he asserts. “Giving to impress and giving to have an impact on society. I wanted to give in a way that has an impact on the person receiving it and on the people around them. For me, the point of these contributions is the message behind them.”

Dr Kudsi had three messages he wanted to deliver via his contributions.

The first was to his Math teacher at IC, Mrs Jeanette Frangieh, who had a huge impact on him as a student.

An impact she has no idea she had, as she’d forgotten him when he returned 30 years later. She had just quietly done her job, not realising the enormous difference she made to him just by being herself. “I needed emotional support when I was at school, the human connection,” Dr Kudsi recalls, and Mrs Frangieh provided that generously and unconditionally, standing next to him “gently and quietly with warmth and high attention.” He set up a scholarship in her honour as a way to thank her for her effort and her amazing support.

His indirect message was to encourage other teachers to follow in Mrs Frangieh’s footsteps and treat all students, whoever they are and wherever they’re from, academically strong or needing more support, with the same care and empathy that she did. “They are like silent soldiers, these teachers. They are the ones who will shape our minds and our emotions and the way we act

towards one another.”

His second message was to his beloved mother, Salwa, who brought him up alone.

To honour her, he set up the Single Mom’s Fund in 2021 to try and help other single moms during the economic crisis in Lebanon.

“My mother was everything to me, mother and father, technically, ethically. She went through a hard time to raise me and make me the person I am. I wanted to try and ease some of the pain of these amazing warriors, single moms.”

His third message was to students, calling upon them to consider their role in the growth of their country. He offered a full scholarship for the year 2023-2024 to the winner of an essay competition entitled ‘What does Lebanon mean to you and how would you see yourself contributing to its growth in the future?’

‫ماذا يعني لبنان لك وكيف ترى نفسك تساهم يف منوه يف املستقبل؟‬ Que signifie le Liban pour vous et comment vous verriezvous contribuer à sa croissance à l’avenir?

The competition was open to all students in all sections in the secondary school, except those graduating in 2023, and they had the choice to write the essay in English, French, or Arabic. Twenty-one 10th and 11th grade students submitted essays and in first place, winning a full scholarship, was Ms. Tala Karnib’s essay titled: Embracing Roots and Cultivating Growth: My Part in Lebanon’s Future. In her words, “Lebanon is to fight and overcome, to sacrifice and challenge, and to rise and rise again, over and over.” Her essay spoke about the challenges that Lebanese face but also highlights the deep love for nature, family and culture that they hold within their hearts.

Dr Kudsi was so impressed with two other essays, one in French and one in Arabic, that he immediately offered half scholarships to their authors, Mr. Elias Azar (writing in French) and Ms. Fatima Slim (writing in Arabic).

Their essays also dealt with a deep love for Lebanon while at the same time grappling with present and past difficulties.

“IC has given me a lot,” Dr Kudsi said. And he is giving a lot back in return.

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IC Class of 1973

CHEERS TO YEARS

By Lou Owayni

It

all started with a thought; wouldn’t it be nice to get our classmates from the IC graduating Class of 1973 together for a reunion? One call led to another, then to a conference call, then to a short survey of a sample audience, and BINGO, there was enough interest, enthusiasm and support to get a reunion together. Wow, nothing better than reconnecting with OLD friends and colleagues after 50 years since graduating from our beloved school, International College. Cheers to 50 Years!

The journey was not a walk in the park and had a few challenges. Fear not, we are IC graduates and well prepared to deal with challenges.

The Reunion Planning Committee, Lou Owayni, Imad Arrabi, Atef Idriss, Hani Mahmassani, Amer Hage and Amine Haoui, got together weekly starting in January 2023 to plan and implement the reunion program. We had plenty of support along the way from our IC friends and the IC Alumni Office, without whom the reunion would not have been as successful. Thank you all for attending, and your wonderful contributions, and dedication to making this reunion happen and the success it was. Way to go team.

The reunion dinner was a great hit thanks to all of you who attended in person, it would not have been a success without you. Thanks of course goes to IC which brought us together and the Alumni Development

Office staff who were invaluable in facilitating the on-site activities. As important, we thank all of you who supported us from afar in so many ways, your support was felt by all. In addition to the main reunion dinner event, which was so much fun, we were fortunate to have our classmate Billy Eidi share his time and talent with us for a wonderful Classical Concert at the AUB Assembly Hall.

Noteworthy, all the proceeds from his concert went towards the IC Scholarship Fund. Thank you, Billy. We were also lucky to have the backing of our classmate Atef Idriss and the MEFOSA team who sponsored the Concert and helped with logistical support to ensure its success. Thank you, MEFOSA Team.

Our field trip took us to the Chouf area, and we visited our old campus at Mechref, where we graduated in 1973. It was a nostalgic tour with many memories flowing back and especially for our friends who were boarding at IC at that time with so many stories being retold, some of which we cannot repeat here.

There is truth to what they say; ‫ إال‬،‫ما أزعر من الشوفريية‬

‫تالميذ الكلية‬

To top it all, one thing

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was for sure, the IC Spirit was still in all of us as evidenced by the number of attendees (over 100) representing

all

classes

both

from

our

graduating

English

and

French sections, as well as our dear teachers and administrators.

Everyone agrees that IC instilled in us the leadership traits, a strong character, an inquisitive personality, love of discovery and learning, as well as a sense of camaraderie and community that still draws us together and will continue to do so.

You all will be in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish you and yours a joyful holiday season and peace on earth.

Long live IC, and the Class of 1973; the best IC Class, bar none!

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EMPATHY THROUGH

‘People in our Community’, a tribute to the hidden task force at IC

ART

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C

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arine Arayssi, Head of Art, and her team designed ‘The People in our Community’ project as a tribute to the ‘hidden’ workers at IC. Their aim was to encourage interactions and relationship-building between students and staff, and to increase awareness of the important role they play at the school.

Grade 8 and 4ème students all took part.

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Students came up with simple, informal questions to ask members of staff from the cafeteria, the physical plant department, the security guards, the cleaners, seamstresses, gardeners and supervisors, and the art teachers accompanied them in small groups to carry out their ‘interviews’. Nervous at first, the conversations soon flowed as the children asked their questions and learned a little about their subjects’ lives.

In the weeks that followed, each student group worked hard to create mixed media portraits depicting the member of staff they’d spoken with and the role they play at IC. The ‘hidden workers’ portraits’ were displayed on campus during the Art Festival, visible to everyone.

“Both parties loved it,” Ms Arayssi enthused, “especially that the outcome, not just the process, was impressive. We have plans to hang the portraits somewhere special in the near future.”

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Around the Campus

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BILLY EIDI, Pianist, Returns to his Roots

T

he renowned classical concert pianist Billy Eidi returned to IC in October, joining his fellow alumni of the class of ‘73 at their 50th reunion event in Beirut. As part of the celebrations, he played a special concert, performing pieces by Bach and Chopin, the religious mathematician and the dreamy romantic, an unexpected combination that delighted both audience and critics alike. Refusing payment, he donated all concert proceeds to IC’s Scholarship Fund to help future students experience the same education that he had enjoyed. A masterclass for four IC student pianists was also on his busy ‘to do’ list that weekend.

With concerts and masterclasses all over the world, an extensive list of musical accolades for his work, over 20 CDs and a long and illustrious teaching career at top conservatories in France to his name, amazingly Billy Eidi nearly didn’t become a concert pianist. Or not a serious one anyway.

He graduated IC with the intention of starting Pre-Med at AUB. Perhaps ‘intention’ is putting it too strongly. He chose Pre-Med because his only other option at the time was Engineering and he knew he definitely didn’t want to do that. Pre-Med was attractive as it was the only way of continuing to learn ‘a bit of everything’ without having to commit. Luckily, he was gifted in Math and an excellent student in Physics and Chemistry, so he was accepted. He would worry about the fact that he was ‘lousy’ at Biology and couldn’t stand the sight of blood later.

As it turned out, he didn’t have to. The civil war erupted, AUB didn’t open and Billy had to find something else to do. Years earlier, his mum had enrolled him in the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Beirut and Billy, who’d done very well there, had recently come to the attention of a visiting French piano teacher.

This teacher told Billy to go and see him if he ever wanted to study piano in Paris.

Having been introduced to the French way of life in Beirut through the Jeunesse Musicales, French music and some of his friends, he was keen to experience it in real life and so, still without any intention of becoming a musician, and speaking very little French, off he went. He was a student of that teacher for the next two years and the rest, as they say, is history.

Billy did not chase success, however. He is happy with what he’s achieved but considers that luck played more of a part in his career than burning ambition. “My very first CD, somebody came and proposed it to me. He listened to my graduation exam at the school and he said ‘I’m a record producer and I want you to record a CD for my label.’” A while later, he proposed a second one. 25 years on, they were still recording together.

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Although there was very little money to be made in making CDs in the 80s, people bought them and listened and loved what they heard. So too did music critics, who wrote glowing reviews. High honours and awards for his CD recordings followed.

‘The Grand Prix de l’Académie Charles Cros’, the ‘Nouvelle Académie du Disque Français’, the BBC ‘Music Choice’. The Académie du Disque Lyrique awarded him the ‘Grand Prix Gerald Moore’ for his recording of Guy Sacre’s songs. His opus on the 13 Barcarolles by Fauré received the supreme distinction of ‘Choc de l’année’ in 2019 by the French magazine ‘Classica’ as did a further recording of piano works

by Guy Sacre in 2022. Billy was dubbed one of the “princes of the piano” by the late virtuoso Henri Goraïeb (1935-2021).

By luck, an arrangement with Nexus America and YouTube meant that most of Billy’s CDs eventually became available for free on YouTube. Most, but not all as a few were completely obsolete and not registered to be shared.

However, another bit of luck followed, in which Billy discovered ‘kadoguy’, a YouTube channel holding thousands of classical musical recordings, some very rare. One of these recordings was a CD of a relatively unknown singer at the time, Udo Reinemann (1942-2013), who Billy greatly admired and had met before his death. Billy contacted kadoguy’s owner anonymously to thank him for sharing Reinemann’s CD and allowing others to enjoy his music. Once the owner discovered that he was corresponding with the Billy Eidi, he gladly offered to add Billy’s obsolete, unavailable CD recordings to his channel. Billy duly sent him the CDs and now all of his work is available for free for everyone to enjoy. This makes him very happy.

“ I think if you

like teaching you cannot only want to teach those who are better or the same as you, that is not the point.

Beyond the accolades, the recordings and the worldwide concerts, Billy’s constant love is, and has been from very early on in his career, teaching. He was a Professor for many years at the École Normale de Paris and the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional in Paris and now teaches at the Schola Cantorum there as well as the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique in Lyon. He also travels extensively to teach. “I was in Korea in September, Japan in April, Korea the September before.

I’ve been going to these two countries every year since 2003.”

In his time, he has worked with many extremely talented students. The top 10% in France, who enter at eight or nine years old and want to pursue professional careers. The elite players in Korea, fascinating because their standard of playing is incredibly high. “They are so disciplined and they work so hard and they are gifted,” Billy explains, “and the top Korean players win all the competitions worldwide. A ‘very bad’ Korean student might be one who plays his Beethoven sonata without fault, but also without feeling. The equivalent level in France,” he said, “would be someone who could not read a single note.”

As much as he finds it exciting to work with these hugely talented students, Billy equally loves teaching amateurs. Seeing their progress and growth between October and June, regardless of where their starting point is, is very rewarding. “I think if you like teaching you cannot only want to teach those who are better or the same as you, that is not the point,” he said.

”

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“ There is

something in the air at IC. If you say it’s the teachers, maybe no. If you say it’s the place, maybe no. It’s the mixture. And I’m not the only one to tell you this, so you have to believe it.

”

Now that he’s retired, Billy is busier than ever. The Conservatoire National Supérieur in Lyon, where he taught from 1998-2015, begged him to return. Billy’s initial response of “are you crazy, I’m retired!” resulted in him teaching there for two full days a month. He has also managed to acquire 18 students at the Schola Cantorum in Paris. And he still jets off around the world to give performances and masterclasses, as well as returning to his beloved alma mater to meet up with his old school friends again.

He is glad to be back in the place that feels like home.

“There is something in the air at IC,” he said. “If you say it’s the teachers, maybe no. If you say it’s the place, maybe no. It’s the mixture. And I’m not the only one to tell you this, so you have to believe it.”

Billy’s recordings can be found on kadoguy

&

SOCIAL INNOVATION

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Shabab Lab Collaboration with IC

S

habab Lab, co-founded by IC alumnus Mona Itani ‘02, is a ‘virtual innovation lab’; an e-learning platform designed to help the Shabab (“Youth” in Arabic) become social innovators early on in their lives. Through the platform, young people learn the entrepreneurial and technological skills necessary to develop projects that aim to solve social and environmental problems aligned with their interests.

When the Ali Ghandour Center for Leadership, Diversity and Civic Engagement (AGC) was founded at IC in 2019 they were introduced to Shabab Lab, a meeting which resulted in a collaboration between the two and Shabab Lab modules being piloted with Grade 10 AGC students.

Over a period of three months, the AGC students worked to gain skills in design thinking, marketing, website design, building a project and learning how to pitch through Shabab Lab’s online program combined with a number of face to face sessions. Their goal was to design projects that would solve real problems related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their community in an entrepreneurial and innovative way.

Based on this experience, Shabab Lab was offered on an optional basis for Grade 10 Lebanese Baccalaureate and CPP students. Encouraged by their IT teacher and coordinator Mr Rawad Bou Hamdan, many joined and, following this success, IC decided to share the opportunity with all Grade 10 students. And so, last year, the program was adopted and integrated within the Grade 10 ICT curriculum (for CPP and Lebanese Baccalaureate students) and the SNT (for French Baccalaureate students).

Over the last year, with the mentorship of their teachers, students designed entrepreneurial, innovative projects in small groups using the skills they learned from the Shabab Lab modules. The top three groups from IC,‘Dispose Smart’ (Dana Itani, Rand El Hajj Sleiman, Reem Kanaan, Ghida Bakri and Thalia Rayes El Mina), ‘Re-Play’ (Kaan Farsoun, Rayan Ibrahim, Karim Obegi and Theo Nassar) and ‘The Arts House’ (Caren Sawaya and Yasmina Ashkar) were invited to showcase and pitch their project ideas at the ‘Rising Arab Changemakers Award’ in Beirut Digital District on September 8th, alongside students from all over the Arab region. The annual event is a Shabab Lab initiative that aims to recognise and support young individuals from Arab countries who are making a positive impact in their communities.

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Andrew Cartlidge

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New IB Diploma Programme Coordinator Why did you come to Lebanon?

My wife and I lived in Senegal, West Africa previously and wanted to move closer to our son who is at university in England and to our parents. We also wanted to live in a beautiful, multicultural, interesting country and of course Lebanon is all of that and more. Although recent history has not been kind, the country and its people are incredibly resilient and just keep finding ways to overcome and move forward. That is something to admire. And strangely, considering we’ve only been here a month, Beirut already feels like home.

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What drew you to IC? I knew that IC was the top school in Lebanon and one of the oldest and largest international schools in the world. The four fantastic, mature programs in the high school offer a great range of choice for our very diverse student population. I have found the teachers to be hard-working, genuine, caring people who want the absolute best for their students. The students themselves are wonderful; mature, hard working and respectful. The vast majority know what they want to do after IC and are striving to achieve their goals. There’s a strong sense of pride in both being a student at the school and in working here which I find very affirming.

What was your previous experience?

I’ve been in education for almost 30 years, initially qualifying as a Science and Biology teacher. I taught in the UK for many years and then, 12 years ago, my wife and I decided we wanted to experience living and working in other countries and cultures. We moved to Penang, a beautiful tropical island off the west coast of Malaysia, with our then 9 year old son and I became Head of Science and then IB Coordinator at the International School of Penang (Uplands). Four years later we moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and a role as Head of Senior School and IB Coordinator at the Australian International School. Three years at the International School of Dakar in Senegal during Covid saw our son graduate from the Diploma Program. I’ve taught DP Biology and TOK and been an examiner in both subjects.

I’ve also taught MYP Science and been an EE Coordinator. I feel I have a 360 degree understanding of the Diploma Program and a good insight into how it runs in a range of school settings. I believe it’s an excellent holistic, academically rigorous education and arguably the best preparation for university study there is.

Where are you from and where did you study?

I grew up in the north east of England and studied Biological Sciences at Edinburgh University in Scotland. I did my PGCE at Newcastle University and my Masters in Education (International Leadership and Management) at the University of Bath.

Plans for the IBDP going forward?

It’s already a successful program thanks to the teachers and my predecessor Ms Rasha Daouk, and I’m still observing it in action, learning its context in Lebanon and at IC. My passion is teaching and learning so that is likely to be my focus, ensuring the very best of it is happening in every classroom. I want to ensure that our teachers and students feel supported and that the positive, collegiate atmosphere is sustained.

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‘A Greener Tomorrow’

Getting back to Nature in the Preschool Playground

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D

espite the small stature of its students, the faculty, staff and parents of the Ras Beirut Preschool dream big. They have huge ideas for remodeling the Preschool Playground and, thanks to knowledgable, experienced and qualified IC parents, they are now turning those ideas from dreams into reality.

“We want

more nature!”

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Dr Ghada Madhoun, Preschool Director, pondered her playgrounds as she made her way across them, greeting students and teachers as she went about her busy day.

With her background in Engineering, she was constantly mulling over ways to make outdoor play more engaging for her students. She wanted to cater to different aspects of their development, not only their gross motor skills, but also their creativity and their ability to appreciate nature. So she began to plan. Teaching walls, gears and mud kitchens were added, but she wanted more.

Dr Madhoun knew that input from parents would be invaluable, so she called a meeting and asked for parent volunteers, many of whom turned out to be IC alumni.

An IC alumnus herself, Dr Madhoun remembers two big sand playgrounds, one lower, one upper, where the Preschool building now stands, with a lot of equipment on the playground. “We used to enjoy it a lot. There was a hill, and as middle schoolers we used to climb up and down. It was dangerous, but fun! Back then, it was just trees and forest. You could see flowers, you could touch, so it really was outdoor play.”

At the parent meeting, a common theme became clear.

“We want more nature!” Their ultimate dream was to have a forest back on site, but that would take 60 years.

“No it won’t,” came a voice from the crowd. “A Myawkai forest will actually take three.” That voice belonged to Mr Adib Dada, IC parent and founder of The Other Dada, a regenerative consulting, architecture and innovation practice aiming to change how we inhabit the earth.

Mr Dada met with Dr Madhoun and the working group several times to go over their ideas and work out exactly what they wanted.

A rainwater garden and water quest to engage the senses so students can hear water and relax. A hill in the middle of the playground and an active climbing wall for physical activity and a little bit of risk. The fast-growing Miyawaki forest to teach kids about what happens to deciduous trees in different seasons. Sensory stepping gardens with plants that give different smells and textures so children can go barefoot if they choose.

The lunar garden, an outdoor classroom enclosed with plants and trees instead of walls. A rooftop farm where students will plant fruit and vegetables which will be used in the preschool kitchen. Chickens! And a work area where students can go and observe their behaviour and collect the eggs. A ‘messy area’ with a pond, fish and turtles. Fruit tree alley, a medicinal garden, hidden murals, hanging vines, picnic spots and more.

“It started so small. Add some mud kitchens, add some art areas,” Dr Madhoun shared. “But this is a major change in the environment itself, in the ecosystem, and it aligns perfectly with our sustainability goals as a whole school.” The hive mind and the enthusiasm of the staff and parents, combined with Mr Dada’s knowledge, grew the project, like a forest, into what it is now. By creating an interactive environment that fosters student wellbeing, self-driven learning, and helps students connect to nature in the city they aim to raise a generation ready to take better care of their environment and wellbeing than we’ve done so far.

“We never really thought it would happen, but Mr Peinado was very enthusiastic about it. He advocated the need for this kind of learning environment, and the Board was also enthusiastic and supportive.”

Plans have been finalised, planting has begun and whilst it just so happens to be on the Preschool playground, it’s going to be used by all the learning community at IC. “I am very excited!” said Dr Madhoun at the end of our meeting. Frankly, readers, so am I!

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Empowering the future

As

part of their PYP unit of inquiry on personal histories and exploring the concept of change past and present, Grade 1 students had the unique opportunity to learn from guest speakers— grandparents who are proud IC alumni. These alumni, Dr Kamal Aboul Hosn. ‘65, Mr Muhammad-Amin Deryan ‘69, and Mr Riad Mourtada ‘61, whose daughter Ms Rhagad Itani spoke on his behalf, not only shared captivating personal histories but also delved into the transformation of IC, highlighting its evolution over time.

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through alumni vo i ce s !

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Become an IC Alumni Country/City Ambassador!

T

he ICAA is recruiting Global Ambassadors.

As an IC Alumni Country/City Ambassador, your main goal is to foster a strong and engaged community of alumni within your assigned area. You will work to enhance the school’s reputation, recruit, and encourage alumni participation, and contribute to the overall success of alumni relations initiatives.

For more information and a job description, please contact the IC Alumni Association. https://icaalebanon.com

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ICAA Connect The ICAA app is your chance to: Stay connected with all your IC friends and Class Group (share your memories, pics, music etc)

Locate your friends around the world on the Fun Map Enlarge your network Promote your business Seek or post internship and job opportunities around the world Join reunions in your city/country Be the first to hear about IC & ICAA news and events

…and much more!

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EVENTS and DINNERS

IN LONDON AND THE US Highlights from Mr Moufid Beydoun’s trip to visit IC alumni in the US this November

LONDON MIAMI

Board of Trustees Meeting, London

Dr Walid Mneimneh, Dr Ziad Khatib ‘80, Mr Moufid Beydoun ‘64

Ms Maria and Mr Roman Benson ‘83, Mr Moufid Beydoun ‘64, Dr Labib Ghulmiyyah ‘93, Mr Ali Safadi ‘87 and Ms Riwa Safadi

NEW YORK

Mr Naeem Fayyaz ‘70, Mr Donald Selinger (Chairman of the Board), Mr Moufid Beydoun ‘64

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NASHVILLE TENNESSEE Dr Sari Acra ‘81, Ms Jihan Acra ‘83, Ms Ayla Acra, Mr Moufid Beydoun ‘64, Dr Naji Abumrad ‘63

WA S H I N G T O N D C

Mr Moufid Beydoun ‘64, Mr Donald Selinger (Chairman of the Dr Hala Chalhoub, Dr Safa Rifka ‘64 and Israa, his fiancee Board), Ms Yvonne Abdelbaki, Dr Walid Chalhoub ‘96

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e h t o rs t

e t et L r o it d E

About Roger Valla Roger Valla, Head of the French Section at IC, a tall and lean man with a piquant and typically French sense of humour, rarely invited students into his office. If he did, it was usually for a scolding session lasting several minutes as one stood at attention enduring a strong shower of words of rebuke owing to lack of discipline or ‘poor grades’.

Yet I was ‘summoned’ once in 1955, and was surprised when he stood up and asked me to sit down, while I was wondering what I had done wrong (once more).

He then said that his son Didier, who was +/- 10yo and a Cub Scout in my Pack (I was Akela Leader at the time in our French Section BI Scout Group), was to attend a three day camping trip and suffered from asthma. Would I ascertain that his boy would not sleep under a tent next to another boy who might have a ‘down-duvet’ in his sleeping bag as it would bring on coughing and sneezing owing to his strong allergies?

Reassured, I smiled, telling him that I would!

He then thanked me kindly by accompanying me to the door of his office. A respectful and thankful kindness I had not been used to as I was rather a ‘naughty boy and a rascal’ in those days!

Roger was feared by most yet respected, and loved by few. I certainly liked him very much.

Kind regards, Elie Sehnaoui ‘52 (former IC Trustee 1971-2012)

It has been 54 years since I graduated from IC (Class of 1969), Math – Elem. I have fond memories from my days at IC as I started in Elementary school, probably in 1959 or 1960? I was an active member of the Ushering Committee and rose in the ranks to become the Head Usher in the 1967-1968 school year.

I hope my memory serves me right with these dates.

Life has taken me, as many other Lebanese, through spins and tosses, all over the world..

I graduated from AUB with an MSc degree in Structural Geology in 1975 and an MSc/DIC in Environmental Technology in Pollution and Contaminated Land from Imperial College, London, in 1988. My working life took me to 7 different countries but my family and I finally settled in Ontario, Canada in 1996. I retired in 2018 and am enjoying life through my only hobby: photography!!

Attached is the only photo that I have of my life at IC. Kind regards, Bishara Rashad Darghawth (aka Bashar or Beshara there are different spellings of my first name) Class of 1969

WINTER 2023

In 2017 the IC Class of ‘67 celebrated their 50th Reunion in Beirut. A beautiful event planned and executed to outstanding perfection by Fouad Bawarshi and his lovely wife Mona ‘67, an IC Emeritus Trustee, and Moufid Beydoun, for which all my classmates and I are forever grateful.

What is equally interesting is that we have held monthly Reunions by Zoom without fail as they have been set up for us by Ghassan Jawhar. We gather from Northwest Canada to California, Nevada, Texas, North Carolina, Washington DC, England, Finland and of course Lebanon, Jordan and the UAE. We have had as many as 20 people on the Zoom all with open mikes...but somehow we do get what we wish to say across and hearing the updates, as sad as some are currently, we count our blessings that we can connect and meet and continue to enjoy our memorable days at IC.

Nicolas Khairallah ‘60 10 years ago!

IC group promotion 1960, 1961

Nassim Afeich, Nicolas Khairallah and Dr Sami Nasr

Sending love and peace to all.

In Memoriam

Shadi Sanbar, Los Angeles (who left IC to go to the US in 1966)

With Nicolas Khairallah Reunion 60 and 61

We regret to inform you that HE. Baha’uddin A. Itani ’61 passed away in 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Itani family.

We regret to inform you that Mazin Farra ‘71 passed away in 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Farra family.

We regret to inform you that●Dr Nabil Adnan Salhab, ‘73 passed away in 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Salhab family.

We regret to inform you that Habib Mu’allim ’74 passed away in 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Mu’allim family.

We regret to inform you that Mohamad A. Abdul Karim ‘84 passed away in 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Abdul Karim family.

We regret to inform you that Hussam Awwad ‘87 passed away in 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Awwad family.

We regret to inform you that Yasser Karout ‘12 passed away in 2023. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Karout family.

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ALUMNI

UPDATES 82 06

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Jibran Jahshan is enjoying his 20th year at NVIDIA, a global leader in AI and advanced computing. As Vice President of Engineering, Jibran leads a global team of solutions engineers helping create products that are using computing and AI to solve the world’s hardest problems.

Marya Beydoun Turk, a mother of two children, has launched an exciting family-focused website based in Madrid. Along with her husband and two young explorers, they share tried-andtrue traveling experiences on their pages. They work with wellknown travel agencies to curate family-friendly trips with the best prices guaranteed.

For more info: https://travelwithjuniors.com/

Jibran finished his undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering at George Washington University, on a transfer from AUB, and then obtained his Masters of Electrical Engineering from Stanford University .

Jibran married Shaun Kelley after they met at Stanford and they raised two boys, Tariq 29, and Ramzi 26, who live nearby in the San Francisco Bay Area. Jibran stays in close touch with his alma mater, helping to organize the yearly Alumni Dinner and rally alumni to help IC, raising funds and supporting fellow graduates.

1988

Maya Bakhazi Noun graduated IC in 1988 and recently opened her new restaurant Bobo Fou Bistro Bar in the heart of Achrafieh. Featuring authentic Mediterranean cuisine, Bobo Fou has embraced solarpowered energy, the use of recyclable glass and operates plastic free. @bobo.bistrobar @maya_gourmet_lifestyle

1992 Ruba Moussa did a real estate license at AUB after her B.A. In 1995, she went to Canada and became a Canadian citizen. She worked in different jobs until she found her passion which is selling & renting properties. She has been a realtor for 15 years now.

2007

Andrea Madi, Co-active coach, CPC, After eight years in the corporate world, Andrea shifted careers with a drive to help people improve the quality of their lives and become more fulfilled across different aspects of their lives ranging from high performance anxiety to relationships dynamics.

Andreamadi14@gmail.com

2008

Nour Itani, M.Sc., BCBA: In March 2023, Nour founded The Learning Community, offering Educational and Behavioral services based in Dubai and offering services in GCC, Lebanon, and Europe. Drawing on her experiences at IC as a student, especially from the required volunteering hours, Nour became a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, specializing in crafting personalized programs for people of determination and learners facing academic challenges in mainstream schools. The Learning Community provides in-school consultation services to help schools customize programs and home programs, empowering families with the tools for active involvement. Committed to a holistic approach, Nour ensures learners are happy, engaged, and relaxed, cultivating a positive and effective learning environment. While cherishing professional growth, Nour fondly recalls the good times while playing for the Cougars varsity football team, a chapter that remains close to her heart.

2020

Dimitri Paul Gholam is currently working in Henkel Lebanon as an Assistant Brand Manager Marketing for the Levant & Qatar region.

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