Issue 4 December 2020
Learning goes on
We were very happy to welcome students who attended the hybrid classes and very pleased to continue working with those who chose to stay online. Much work went into the implementation of the hybrid model both from a safety and health perspective and a pedagogical one. Since last May, and all through the summer, the Leadership Team of the school has been meeting several times a week, in different groups, to tackle the teaching and learning aspects, including schedules, drop-off and dismissal times, and the structure of hybrid lessons. They also met regularly with the Superintendent of Facilities and one of the school doctors and his team of nurses to put together a sound plan, aligned with international and national guidelines, to minimize the risks of COVID transmission on campus. The technology team was instrumental to the implementation of our hybrid model and was busy
upgrading the technological infrastructure of the school during the entire summer. Finally, the Physical Plant staff prepared the classrooms, the offices, and all the common indoor and outdoor areas of our two campuses in order for us to be able to open the school under the safest possible conditions given the circumstances. The teachers have also worked a lot to hone their online teaching methods and develop their hybrid classes. As confirmed by the Parents’ Committee last week, thanks to the feedback we received from our various constituencies last year, as well as to the hard work of the faculty and the administration teams, IC was able to refine its online teaching plan and to bring it to an excellent level. We are now modifying our hybrid model to include more daily live contact sessions between the students at home and those in class in each school.
Issue 4 | December 2020
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Precautionary Measures
Back to School The key to our safe return to school is making sure that everyone in our community commits to abide by the health and safety guidelines outlined in the Back-toSchool Guide linked to this message. With everyone’s cooperation, we have a much better chance of maintaining a healthy environment for our students, faculty, staff and their families.
At IC, students, faculty and staff are responsible citizens and are strictly practicing precautionary behavior. #togetherwecan keep each other safe.
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Ain Aar Preschool
The learning never stops This year’s back-to-school looked very different than the previous years, or didn’t it? If physically we are not at school, does it mean learning stops? Regardless of the conditions, the uncertainties, the changes, learning is the only constant in life! And for our children and their learning, the impossible becomes possible! Lina Mouchantaf Ain Aar, Preschool and Lower Elementary Director
Our Famous Globe Toss Learning never stops in Grade 3, no matter the circumstances. Although this year has been like no other, we continue to persevere and face the challenges, one step at a time. Sharing the Planet is a unit that involves experimentation because we discover all there is to know about water! This year, when stating the hypothesis of whether there is more land or water on Earth, we had to test it out, of course, but with a twist. Since our class has both hybrid and non-hybrid groups, it became interesting. The famous Globe Toss! We tossed the ball to each student, starting with the hybrid group to see where their
pointer finger would touch, land, or water. But given the situation with COVID-19, the Globe Toss included extra safety measures! It was disinfected before going to the next student. On the other hand, the non-hybrid group also took part, but they had to close their eyes and point to the map shared on the screen. When all the results were collected, without fail, the class concluded that water makes up around 70% of Earth and land was the remaining 30%. Our Globe Toss experiment set the tone for inquiry and discovery into the unit.
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Ain Aar Preschool
La chasse aux récipients Apprendre les unités de mesure, de capacité ou de contenance n’est pas chose facile, surtout en distanciel ! Durant notre session d’enseignement en ligne de maths, les élèves du CE2 A ont fait la chasse aux récipients qui indiquent leur contenance en eau, jus, lait, liquide… « On n’avait jamais remarqué cela, on les trouve partout ! ». Après tout, relier les maths à la vie réelle donne du sens à notre apprentissage.
Rapport EPS et système circulatoire Durant les séances d’EPS en ligne, les élèves du CE1 B ont visionné un document en rapport avec le système circulatoire. Ils ont utilisé leurs compétences de pensée pour faire des observations attentives. Ils ont essayé de faire quelques exercices et ont compris la corrélation entre l’intensité de l’exercice et les battements du cœur. Ensuite, ils ont utilisé leurs compétences créatives pour générer de nouvelles idées. Chaque groupe a créé un enchaînement de quatre exercices et les a classés en ordre, selon l’intensité et le rythme cardiaque puis a présenté son enchaînement à toute la classe. Enfin, chaque élève a évalué ses compétences de pensée critique et créative.
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Ain Aar Preschool
Taking action is an enjoyable lifelong experience All parents care about how their child is progressing especially during non-hybrid sessions, and take a keen interest in things that expand beyond their homework and screen time. Encouraging a child to take action for their own learning can have endless benefits. This is what happened in KGII AA where two twin sisters decided to create a shadow box project and present it to their teacher and friends through a short story. This self-initiated action enhanced our Zoom session and raised the level of interest and curiosity amongst students. They felt that they have voice and play an active role in designing and supporting their learning and personal development.
Issue 4 | December 2020
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Ain Aar Preschool
« Connectons-nous tous ! », le moment préféré de notre journée ! Chaque matin, les élèves présents en classe et ceux qui suivent les sessions en ligne partagent un moment très agréable ensemble.
notre journée. Nous sommes très reconnaissants de la technologie qui permet cet échange riche malgré la distance qui nous sépare.
On en profite pour partager les connaissances, raconter les découvertes ou les nouvelles et planifier
Teaching in remote times Across the world, the coronavirus pandemic has rewritten the course of the school year. Teachers are faced with formidable challenges, whether educating students in masks, socially distant classrooms, or virtually. Teachers were confronted with the need to adapt to online teaching. Teachers were placed in a situation that was unexpected in the unknown. They faced many obstacles but were able to overcome them. They had to make sense of what was going on and go with the flow in order not to jeopardize the students’ learning. Teachers were forced to shift their teaching strategies and to handle new teaching tools. They have to rely on digital tools to communicate with their students, parents, and the rest of the learning community. With minimal exposure to platforms such as Google Classroom and Seesaw, the teachers created marvelous learning experiences. Technology plays a pivotal role in facilitating online classrooms. As the saying goes, “experience is the best teacher.” Strong decision-making skills and effective technology integration help teachers turn virtual classrooms into engaging adventures. The key is flexibility!
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Independence Day
Des promesses !!! Oui, mais des promesses personnelles qui sortent du cœur des élèves du CE1 B à Ain Aar pour le Liban. Des promesses qui montrent leurs caractéristiques individuelles qui les aideront à contribuer à leur communauté et plus particulièrement à notre pays le Liban : « Je promets de ne pas vendre ma maison au Liban même si je voyage en Australie pour pouvoir y revenir » « Je promets d’aider les personnes âgées et les enfants qui n’ont pas de maison pour soutenir mon pays le Liban. » « Je promets de bien apprendre l’arabe et l’arménien pour soutenir mes deux pays et être fière d’avoir la nationalité Libano-arménienne. » « Je vais planter beaucoup d’arbres au Liban pour qu’il restent verts et je vais créer des réserves naturelles pour protéger les animaux et les plantes. » Et d’autres promesses encore et encore qui montrent l’altruisme et l’attachement au pays de nos futurs citoyens.
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عيد االستقالل َمن؟ الصف األساسي الثاني -ب عين عار. متى؟ ٠٢تشرين الثاني ٠٢٠٢ ماذا؟ االحتفال بعيد استقالل لُبنان. أيْ َن؟ جلسات التعلّم -اللغة العرب ّية. كيْف؟ عبر تطبيق (زووم). الحس بالمواطن ّية الصالِحة! لِماذا؟ تنمية ّ قبل عيد االستقالل ،قرأنا النشيد الوطني ثم اختار ك ّل من ً ً المتعلمين مقطعا منه عزيزا على قلبه وشرح سبب اختياره .وختمنا حصة اللغة العربية بقراءة قصة «عظيم العظماء» من كتاب «أقــرأ من لبنان» للكاتب هنري زغيب وقد أظهر الجميع ً الذكي «بشير» الذي كان يلعب في ساحة الضيعة مع رفاقه وقد أصبح أميرا بعد أربعين سنة اهتماماً بارزاً بقصة الفتى ّ وسجل إنجازات مهمة في تاريخ لبنان .فأراد الجميع معرفة المزيد عن عائلة األمير بشير وعن وبنى قصر بيت الدين ّ تاريخ لبنان وانهالت األسئلة عن األمير «بشير» من كل حدب وصوب!
نشاط عيد االستقالل السادس إحياء لمناسبة عيد االستقالل ،شارك تالمذة ّ الص ّف ّ الس ّيدة منال مكداش أ ،مستوى LHفي ّ حصة اللّغة العربية ،مع ّ بنشاط تحت عنوان: « أعدك يا وطني في عيد االستقالل» وعد فيه أجيال المستقبل وطنهم لبنان بأن يحافظوا على استقالله وأمــنــه ،ونظافة أراضــيــه ،وأن يكونوا مواطنين صالحين ينهضون بوطنهم ويرفعون من شأنه.
Issue 4 | December 2020
Independence Day
Issue 4 | December 2020
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Independence Day Projet de musique “Mon Liban” - CM2A A travers ce projet, au-delà des notions de rythme acquises, les élèves ont appris à effectuer un travail créatif en groupe, à sortir de leur zone de confort et se filmer dans une chanson de 5 min au mieux de leurs capacités, à mettre les autres en avant, à transformer une expérience affreuse en un chef d’oeuvre artistique. Je suis extrêmement fier d’eux et des qualités humaines qu’ils ont montrées et acquises à travers ce projet.
11. Dictées rythmiques autour de la chanson. Les
Projet de musique “Mon Liban”. - CM2A
13. Petit bémol, le professeur se rend compte que
1. Introduction de l’action Beyrouth avec la titulaire de classe Madame Nancy.
2. Partage des talents des élèves sur classroom pour apprendre à mieux les connaître.
3. Introduction des concepts musicaux en lien avec le rythme.
4. Introduction des styles de musique Rap et Slam en mettant en avant l’importance du rythme et de l’intonation dans ces styles.
5.
Proposition d’un projet de Noël autour du Liban pour mettre en avant le projet action Beyrouth: Les élèves doivent écrire une chanson autour du sujet.
6. Proposition par les élèves de thèmes à aborder dans la chanson sur stream.
7. Le professeur retient les idées des élèves et crée le squelette de la chanson: paragraphe 1: La situation difficile du Liban, 2: La beauté du Liban 3: L’esprit communautaire des libanais. - Refrain: libre
8. Répartition des élèves en break-out rooms,
chaque groupe ayant pour mission d’écrire ensemble un paragraphe.
9. Mise en commun au brouillon sur google chat puis au propre sur un shared google doc.
10. Mise en musique de la chanson prête par l’enseignant.
élèves doivent reconnaître à quelles phrases rythmiques correspondent les paragraphes de la chanson.
12. Les élèves doivent se filmer en train de chanter la
chanson avec la voix du professeur et la musique dans les oreilles ou à voix basse et l’envoyer sur classroom. la chanson est trop aiguë et demande aux élèves de refilmer le tout après avoir envoyé la chanson sur une tonalité plus grave.
14. Les élèves renvoient les vidéos et renvoient
encore jusqu’à se dépasser et envoyer leur meilleure version.
15. Dans les coulisses, le montage audio commence à se créer.
16. Envoie ensuite des photos et vidéos prises des
élèves lors d’actions communautaires pour la reconstruction du Liban et/ou représentations artistiques qui rendent hommage au Liban.
17. Préparation du montage audio/vidéo par le professeur.
18. Partage de cette vidéo avec les élèves. 19. Motivation des élèves pour poster davantage de contenu.
20. Récolte des dernières photos/vidéos et ajout au montage.
21. Valorisation des élèves à travers le visionnage de la vidéo ensemble et la célébration de chaque élève qui passe dans la vidéo.
22. Poste de la vidéo sur classroom en demandant
aux parents et aux élèves de se réunir autour d’un grand écran pour visionner ensemble et en famille la vidéo + invitation des parents et élèves à laisser des commentaires pour féliciter les élèves.
Issue 4 | December 2020
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Ras Beirut Preschool
A different kind of a school year No hugs or high fives-a school year like no other. The coronavirus pandemic has taken away one of our most cherished moments after a long summer break-the hustle and bustle of the first day of school. That meant missing out on our children’s anxious voices, excited giggles, warm hugs and casual high-fives. Realizing that, our teachers have strived to compensate for this time by mirroring those connections online and investing time in building relationships with the children and their families. We were thrilled to see how this effort has paid off in the adaptation period once our hybrid learning scenario was launched. Our little learners already felt a sense of belonging and security, and they fit in immediately in their new school environment. Zeina Abou Khalil Ras Beirut Preschool Director
Although remote learning has been particularly challenging for preschool students, IC teachers came up with exciting ways to keep students engaged in the curriculum.
As we were preparing to start, the health and safety of our students remained paramount for a successful reopening. Meanwhile, IC teachers had to prepare for a smooth transition to the hybrid model.
Hand stamping and construction activities to create a sense of belonging in the classroom. It is always fun to listen to Ms. Nayla’s stories.
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Ras Beirut Preschool
Since physical education develops motor skills and promotes health and fitness throughout life, PE sessions continued during Hybrid model.
During the first week of adaptation, numbers, shapes, and painting are always considered as preschool essentials for the little ones who love to play.
In-Service Day
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Ras Beirut Preschool
Activité pouce index « Qui dit retour à l’école dit activité ludique ! Et quoi de mieux que l’activité pouce index pour entraîner nos petits doigts à devenir plus forts ! Les élèves de la GSC présents en classe ont pris plaisir à renforcer leur motricité fine en collant des gommettes brillantes sur les lettres de leur prénom, en utilisant seulement les deux premiers doigts. Cette activité a pour but d’inciter l’enfant à renforcer les muscles de sa main et surtout le pouce et l’index, qui l’aideront à bien tenir l’outil scripteur. »
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La Sainte Barbe en CM1 - Ain Aar Les élèves du CM1 de Ain Aar se sont bien investis dans une activité pour célébrer la Sainte Barbe. Ils ont fait preuve de beaucoup de créativité et de bonne volonté. Et surtout, ils se sont bien amusés !! Ils ont même voté et choisi le plus beau costume.
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Hybrid Learning
Science Experiments
Ain Aar Grade 4 students at home and in class conducted an experiment to learn about the science.
21st century learners One more time, IC students prove to be, by far, 21st century learners! 1- In Grade 2B, we explored cities of the world as part of the inquiry in the unit “How We Organize Ourselves�. Students inquired into the natural and human-made features that make Beirut unique. Their task was to research a city of their choice and highlight the characteristics that make this city unique. 2- Students carried the morning class discussions back home and planned a zoom meeting to finalize the project. 3- Students can still be together despite the many barriers.
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Hybrid Learning Music Education
The music department at IC had underwent major changes to be able to deliver music classes that are adequate with the online and hybrid teaching. Using sophisticated new approaches to deliver music activities that are fun, challenging and engaging. From digital instruments to digital music writing to body percussion, dancing and body movement we try to make music perform as best as we can, following the curriculum and standards.
Issue 4 | December 2020
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Christmas Spirit at IC
Watch the video message from IC President, Joel Peinado
Issue 4 | December 2020
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Christmas Spirit at IC
Semaine thématique à Ain Aar
Des actions ludiques : La dernière semaine d’école a permis aux enfants de mettre en lumière leurs meilleures idées. Chaque jour a été abordée une thématique et ce fut l’occasion de montrer leurs créations: masque de Noël, chapeau de Noël, etc.
Christmas origami tree Students created Christmas trees using the Origami paper folding technique and boosted the Christmas spirit at IC.
Vous et nous, ensemble nous sommes solidaires Afin que Noël reste Noël et permette à chaque enfant et parent de partager les valeurs de notre communauté scolaire, deux actions ont été mises en place sur le campus de Ain Aar. Une action solidaire pour que les enfants soient les pères Noël de l’association « Enfants de lumière », et une action ludique pour qu’enfants et enseignants montrent leur positivité, leur enthousiasme et leur créativité. En cette période, il est plus que jamais important de montrer que la générosité, le sens du partage, la créativité et l’innovation restent des valeurs communes à tous les acteurs de l’IC ! L’action solidaire : Les enfants ont apporté d’ anciens jouets encore en bon état. Ils sont placés, au profit de l’association “Enfants de Lumière”, dans les boîtes mises à disposition, sous le sapin de Noël à l’entrée de la porte C. L’association se chargera de la distribution.
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Christmas Spirit at IC
Wear your Christmas themed mask
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Christmas Spirit at IC
Tribute to the Ain Aar Middle School faculty The Ain Aar Middle School students paid tribute to their teachers who inspire them, and give freely of their time to this great profession we call teaching.
Jingle all the way
The community service department and the Ain Aar teachers insist on keeping the IC spirit alive despite the turbulences and uncertainties of our times. They all gathered to tell students that they miss their energy, the secret Santa gifts’ exchange, the class decorations and their exhilaration around this time of the year. Parents and students joined the Christmas cheer and sang along all the way from their homes and created happy memories that will last a lifetime!
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Christmas Spirit at IC
HOHOHO at Ain Aar! As we continue to cruise through a very rough 2020, we cannot but be grateful for so many things during this season! And the most important one besides health is being with children every day and accessing their magical world! On Thursday and Friday December 19 and 20, our Ain Aar family was happily surprised to be welcomed in the morning, at the gate, by the Ain Aar team singing and dancing to popular Holiday songs! Parents, children, teachers, and whoever was passing joined the laughter with a big smile! During the day, Santa (with a mask;) passed by classes to continue to spread joy! May the coming year enlighten our children’ future with accomplished wishes and new dreams!
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Christmas Spirit at IC
Les belles surprises se cachent derrière vos beaux sapins. Une activité agréable durant cette fête magique.
Merry Christmas from our 3ème students to our IC community
Have a holy jolly Christmas - Playing rhythms on glasses filled with water.
Merry Christmas from our 3ème students to our IC community
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Christmas Spirit at IC
Wrapping around Christmas A call to action... this Christmas and beyond Did you know that during the
Christmas holiday, we throw as much as 83km2 of
gift wrapping papers? These gift wraps can cover 4 times the Beirut area! Let us valorize the gift wrapping papers through upcycling.
Be a responsible citizen and make this Christmas season as sustainable as possible!
We encourage you to collect in a bag (and not throw away) the gift wraps you produce during this holiday season and send them to school with your kids when classes resume in January
A call to action this Christmas and beyond This year at IC, it’s Christmas with a sustainable twist! As part of our “IC Responsibility” program, the school is launching the “Wrapping around Christmas” initiative. Every year on Christmas, we produce as much as 83 Km2 of gift wrapping papers that are unfortunately not being correctly recycled. These gift wraps can cover four times the area of Beirut! The “Wrapping around Christmas” initiative aims at valorizing these gift wraps (waste) produced during Christmas through upcycling. As an IC community (students, teachers, administration, staff members, and families), we invite you all this year to make a difference! How?
We encourage you to collect in a bag (and not throw away) the gift wraps you produce during this holiday season and bring them back with your kids when classes resume in January. These wraps will be disinfected appropriately at school and then used to produce sustainable objects (tables, laptop/mousepads, Mache paper for arts, indoor decorations, etc.), in collaboration with the arts’ departments of Ras Beirut and Ain Aar. These products will be kept and used at school in different areas (administration’s offices, teachers’ lounges, libraries, etc.) or ultimately sold next Christmas to collect donations. This initiative is original and innovative, given its sustainability aspect. Let’s all take part in this responsible action and make this season as sustainable as possible!
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Council of Student Leaders (CSL) Meet the newly elected Secondary School’s Student Program Leaders and Class Leaders for the year 2020-2021. They will be working together to create lasting memories for all.
College Preparatory Program Lana Beydoun International Baccalaureate Program Lea Farhat Lebanese Baccalaureate Program
2nde Omar Bekdache Tala Younes Christopher Mouawad Shirin Khalaf Lamis Khodr Jeff Baroudi Adriana Abi Fares Celine Ghandour Hassan Hamadeh Nai Zina Rahme Kay Tohme Lynn Kambris
Mikael El Haddad
6th C
Lebanese Baccalaureate Program
Hadi Kanso Yara Bleik Joudy Zarwi Mohamad Ali Wehbe Linda Maalouf Yasmine Al Tinawi
Youmna Bissat
10CPP Eana Melki Yara Kharrat Nadim Hammoud Nala Bazzi Celine Abdallah Karen Samaha Yahya Hariri Chelsea Haddad Diala El-Fil Giorgio Chaccour
5th Judy Ismail Khalil Alameh Lana Madi Ziad Matar Hind Mourad Tamara Mahfouz
11CPP Daria Maktabi Emile Lahoud
1re Marc Ayoub Talia Choucair Lea Cortas Thalia Zorkot Yoram Abdo Aya Noueihid Talia Hariri Abdel Kader Majzoub Dounia Choucair Mark Hadife
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IB1 Bettina Hayeck Hadi Tinawi Assil Serhan Andrew Fayyad Kristine Kharrat Tony Yamin Ryan Mitri Sofia Hajj Ali Lana Al Ashkar Tareq Alayli
12CPP
IB2
Ahmad El Seoudi Lana Baydoun
Lea Farhat Sami Bayoud Mohamad Atef Oueidat Karl Tabourian Catherine Daher Emesa Melki Maria Hanna Yasmine Zeidan
ESE Aya Kodeih Ali Khalaf
GSE
Tle
Ghina Zarif Omar Kandil
Andrea Corban Jimmy Mehanna Thea Kassabian Youmna Bissat Marie Jeanne Baroudy Mohamad Al Mawla Emily Venise Nassar Riad Tahan Anna Maria Hayek Talal Salman Ahmad Achour Rima Baker
GSF/LSF Mohamad Khansa Wafic Alayli
LSE Jasmine Al Arab Mikael El Haddad
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Caring for the Community
Peer to Peer online tutoring Children from underprivileged families are encountering difficulties in coping with online learning. They need help in completing their homework or understanding certain concepts. With the help of Bassma NGO, we are linking those children to IC students who wish to volunteer and help. How does this work? • The NGO will provide us with names, contact, and educational challenges of the child in need. • We will be posting these needs regularly • Any IC student could choose from the list and get in touch with the child in need (some students have already expressed their wish to do peer-to-peer tutoring, and we will be teaming them up directly with the children). • The IC student should first directly message us with his/her name and choice. • The IC student will then get in touch with the child via WhatsApp. Once he/she understands the specific need, he/she can either record or make a video conference to explain and help. • The IC student is expected to record his/her assistance (record, document, etc.) to be used if needed with other children. • Share the experience with @SSCommunityService-Initiative on Instagram or in private. This initiative offers us all the opportunity to help and donate from the comfort of our home. This is not about grades, hours, or requirements. It is way beyond that! It is an opportunity to express our empathy and positively impact our community during these difficult times.
Secondary School annual solidarity campaign The IC Secondary School Community Service Program is organizing its annual Solidarity campaign As each year, the Secondary School Community Service Program supports Lebanese families in need. It encourages Lebanese producers by donating food products MADE IN LEBANON, and collecting any unwanted toys, blankets, or clothes in good condition. Deadline: Wednesday December 16th, 2020 Drop-off Point: The Community Service Office Room 105 - Rockefeller hall - ground floor Collected items will be distributed to needy families through our network of partner NGOs.
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Caring for the Community Workshop with INJAZ NGO Within the context of the Community Service Program activities, an “Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program� with the NGO INJAZ- Lebanon, is offered to our grade 10 students. The program provides our students with an opportunity to learn how to turn an idea into a business. The program introduces students to the process of design thinking as a problem-solving process. It provides an authentic entrepreneurial experience for students, with each session building toward a product-pitch competition. Students will attend three-session workshops of 90 minutes each. Students will have the opportunity to : * Identify their entrepreneurial characteristics * Engage in the process of design thinking to empathize with a problem * Develop a business startup from its ideation, innovation, and market research through its design prototyping. * Pitch their new business idea to potential funders Students will acquire life skills in the following areas: *Entrepreneurship *Collaboration *Critical Thinking *Creativity *Communication *Team Building *Sustainability
To Beirut On August 4,2020, a massive blast ripped the heart of Beirut. This is how some students at the Ras- Beirut Elementary School gave back to their beloved city.
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مع ًا لمكافحة الفساد اإلداري طالبنا رواد اإلصــاح اإلداري وأملنا في الخروج من بؤرة الفساد. لما عايش طالبنا تدهور األوضــاع في لبنان خالل السنة األخيرة ،وفهموا أن الفساد اإلداري يهدم األوطان ،عملوا على تنظيم حملة توعية بإشراف مدرسات مادة التربية في الصف التاسع أساسي فدا ملك ومنيرة يموت .تهدف الحملة الى تفعيل فهم الطالب لخطورة تفشي الفساد اإلداري وتحويل فهمهم للموضوع الى فعل واقع من خالل تصميمهم لملصقات إعالنية توعوية باإلضافة الى فيديوهات توعية لمخاطر اإلنزالق في الفساد اإلداري على المجتمع وعلى اإلقتصا
Issue 4 | December 2020
Caring for the Community
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Emotional Wellbeing
Mindful of Wellbeing: Counseling at the Middle School It has been a very tough year so far: the Beirut explosion, the economic crisis, living amidst uncertainties, many people leaving the country, the COVID-19 crisis, school closures, and swinging between online school and hybrid attendance... And in such trying times, one cannot underestimate the importance of nurturing mental, social, emotional, and cognitive wellbeing! Middle School counselor, Ms. Diala Itani responded in an “all-inclusive” manner, making sure to address the needs of all components of the school community: students, parents, teachers, and staff. She facilitated several individual and group counseling sessions in which participants tackled different concerns, worries, problems, and feelings. In her morning and afternoon “Coffee with the Counselor” sessions with parents and “Let’s talk with our Counselor” student sessions, a wide range of topics was covered including but not limited to “ It is Ok not to be Ok “, “Dealing with Anxiety and Uncertainty”, and “Online and Hybrid Learning “. In these dire circumstances, and as has always been the case, Ms. Itani continues to reach out both online and face-to-face in order to help our IC community members with strategies and tools to foster healthier mental and emotional states, increase resilience, and cope with unpleasant experiences that may result from stress, anxiety, depression, and/or negative overthinking.
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Emotional Wellbeing
Coffee with the counselor‌ “Coffee with the Counselorâ€? has become a popular weekly opportunity where the counselor and parents meet, in a relaxed setting, to discuss subjects of interest to them! Together, they share information, discuss, learn, and even share a good laugh. Our program typically involves a presentation that includes a variety of resources and handouts. It is designed to provide parents with relevant information about their wellbeing, including resilience, emotional intelligence, healing after trauma, helping children deal with significant life changes, creating a routine for our children, time management skills, mindfulness and breathing exercises for children.
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IC continues to rise
Preschool Building Project In line with its ambitious plan to develop its campuses, IC is currently in the final stages of completing the third phase of the Ras Beirut Campus Masterplan. While the campus is intermittently hustling and bustling with students who will serve as role models in a global society, IC’s Director of Facilities and his team are busy overseeing the major renovation project of the old Preschool building. This building dates back to 1913, hence it is 107 years old. Though a wonderful historic facility it has limitations. It lacks classrooms of appropriate size, common meeting spaces and specialized learning areas. From a usable area of 1600 square meters to a 2400 square meters space, the building will host four kindergarten classrooms, two music rooms, administrative offices a student kitchen, a common area and a faculty workroom. Of course, an elevator connecting all floors will be added to the building. These facilities complement the space program of the new Preschool building built in the second phase. In addition to renovating and enlarging the building to provide a better learning environment for our youngest children, safety remains our top priority thus emphasizing seismic reinforcement, fire safety and environmental issues. Equally important is upholding their handsome historic external facades. To do so, the limestone and red brick facades were braced using a specially designed steel truss system allowing the dismantling of the pitched roof and demolishing the interior of the building while keeping the facades in place. Excavation and construction of new concrete mat foundations that braced the old foundations under the facades natural stone walls were done and over these new foundations interior concrete
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IC continues to rise
jacket walls were constructed up along the natural stone walls and connected to the horizontal concrete floor slabs up to the new concrete pitched roof rendering the building to become structurally and seismically compliant to international standards of design exceeding the local building laws and regulations. Balconies and external stairs were also altered to ensure that all rooms at all building floors have the proper fire escape routes, fire retarding, fire resistant materials and firefighting systems and alarms.
The buildings constructed on the Ras Beirut campus are the first buildings in Lebanon to receive the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification. LEED Green Building Rating System certification is an indication to IC’s commitment to contribute positively to the environment and to the well-being of the building occupants. Similar to the first two phases this building will also be LEED for Schools-Gold certified.
 Some of the many features of this Green building are: The site was previously developed, being an existing building
Bike racks, changing areas and showers allocated in the parking of the new preschool building encourage biking
Light colored material reduce the heat island effect
External lighting is designed to minimize light pollution
Native/adaptable plants minimize irrigation needs
Dual flush water closets and low flow plumbing fixtures reduce water consumption by 40%
The energy performance of the building is 14% better than baseline. Sun shading and Low-E glass reduce solar gain, thereby reducing cooling loads.
The building shall be fully commissioned to ensure it is operating efficiently
Regional materials, particularly aggregate for concrete, are used to reduce environmental impacts due to transportation
Acoustically treated ceilings improve intelligibility in classrooms
Natural ventilation, CO2 sensors and monitoring systems ensure that ventilation systems maintain ventilation requirements
Low emitting materials minimize harm to the wellbeing of occupants
Daylight sensors dim lighting levels depending on how much daylight comes into classrooms
Occupancy sensors automatically shut off lights when occupants leave a room
Thermostats allow occupants to control the temperature of their room
All classrooms have access to daylight and views
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IC continues to rise Multi-faceted renovation and repair projects IC has used the past six months as a time to examine where improvements could be made to make the campus community a more inviting, safer and healthier place for the students to return to. While many students were learning remotely, the physical plant staff members were busy refurbishing and repairing in preparation for the return of students. Now, students have been welcomed back to campus to enjoy the completion of the multi-faceted renovation and repair projects.
Installation of air conditioning system and feeding decorative split units at the Ain Aar campus
neighborhood. The blast shook IC’s mortar and left its windows and doors torn and shattered.
This project encompasses the addition of 152 units in all the classrooms and faculty rooms and for the double volume preschool library. This creates a productive, safe, and comfortable environment for the teachers and students to work and play within a confined area.
Thomson Hall, Rockefeller Hall, Sage Hall, Mikati Building, Sawwaf Building, Jaroudi building and Shair building were all repaired and fixed on time before our students were back in the classrooms.
Playgrounds Before the fun starts and kids go out to play, the playground must be safe and it must be fun! This is why we replaced the existing rubber tiles for the three elementary playgrounds with approved rubber tiles specifically for children’s playgrounds supplied. The Ras Beirut damage The Ras Beirut campus had his share from the Beirut port blast which heavily damaged the Beirut
Precautionary Measures IC’s Physical Plant worked around the clock to put in place a number of virus mitigation measures and prepare the campus for a safe 2020-21 academic year. Along with regularly disinfecting all campus buildings and high-use surfaces, the Physical Plant team has spent months installing floor stickers, directional signs, sanitation stations and plexi-glass partitions in high-traffic areas across both campuses and the IT crew was instrumental in upgrading the technology infrastructure, installing fever detection cameras and infrared thermometers
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Interaction with the Community
Global citizen leader of today addresses global citizen leaders of tomorrow: “The role of unions in Lebanon� with the President of the Order of Nurses in Lebanon, Dr. Myrna Abi Abdallah Doumit - November 25, 2020 The Social Studies Department at Middle School Ras Beirut hosted the President of the Order of Nurses in Lebanon, Dr. Myrna Abi Abdallah Doumit. The webinar was organized by Mrs. Carla Antar via ZOOM, inviting Dr. Doumit to address students of grade 8/4eme and grade 9/3eme. Dr. Doumit talked about the history of unions (syndicates and orders) in the world, as well as the goals and significance of unions in Lebanon. She then highlighted the effective role played by the Order of Nurses in organizing the work of the nursing profession and in defending the rights of all its employees in Lebanon. In their Civics class, students learn about the importance of civil society institutions (associations, parties, unions, etc.). Students also see how these institutions support the rule of law and help in achieving the public interest through forming pressure groups. The importance of volunteering and group initiatives in society amelioration is also highlighted in class. Through this webinar, students were able to link the concepts discussed in class with real life situations.
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دور النقابات في لبنان” مع نقيبة المم ّرضات والمم ّرضين“ الدكتورة ميرنا أبي عبداهلل ضومط 25 -تشرين الثاني 2020 استضافت دائرة اإلجتماعيات في المدرسة المتوسطة -رأس بيروت نقيبة المم ّرضات والمم ّرضين الدكتورة ميرنا أبي عبداهلل ضومط .وقد ّ نظمت السيدة كارال عنتر ندوة توجهت فيها النقيبة افتراضية عبر ّ Zoom إلى تالميذ صفوف الثامن والتاسع وتح ّدثت عن تاريخ النقابات في العالم وعن أهمية وأهداف النقابات في لبنان .ث ّم تط ّرأت إلى ال ّدور الف ّعال الذي تلعبه نقابة المم ّرضات والمم ّرضين في تنظيم عمل مهنة التمريض والدفاع عن حقوق جميع العاملين فيها . ت ّم اإلعداد لهذه الندوة من سياق ما تتناوله مــا ّدة التربية والتنشئة المدنية حول أنواع المشاركة في مؤسسات المجتمع المدني (جمعية ،حزب ،نقابة) .يتعلّم التالميذ عن دور هذه المؤسسات في دعم مبدأ دولة القانون وتحقيق المصلحة العامة من خالل المساءلة وتشكيل مجموعات ضغط تتعلّق بالقضايا المه ّمة في المجتمع .هذا وقد ت ّم تسليط الضوء أيضاً على أهمية المبادرات الفرديةوالجماعيةوالتّط ّوعيةفيالمساهمة في تغيير المجتمع نحو األفضل .استطاع التالميذ ربط المعلومات التي ت ّم شرحها لهم في الصف بالواقع الذي نعيشه من خالل هذه الندوة.
Issue 4 | December 2020
Interaction with the Community
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Alumni News
Usama Hamdan ’71 visits IC
Otolaryngologist and Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Usama Hamdan ’71 brought his team (that included two IC alumni: Omar Abiad ’13 and Nour Beyham Annan ’09) to his home country and took them on a tour of his alma mater, where they met President Joel Peinado and Vice President for Advancement & Alumni, Moufid Beydoun ’64. Dr. Hamdan, who founded the Global Smile Foundation - MENA, was in Lebanon to provide pro bono comprehensive cleft care for underserved patients throughout the region. Hamdan’s journey began in 1984 when he moved to Massachusetts and specialized in Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery. In 1987, he joined a volunteer group headed to Latin America to operate on children and adults born with cleft lip and palate defects. In 1990, he set up a foundation, the Global Smile Foundation, made up of doctors, nurses and administrators. Every year, the teams – all volunteers - go to various countries and perform cleft repair operations. The Global Smile Foundation volunteers have operated in Central and South America, Asia, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Eastern Europe, and now Lebanon.
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Stay in Touch
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