TAISM: The Second Decade 2008-2018

THE

SECOND

DECADE

TAISM

The American International School of Muscat 2008 - 2018

We would like to thank His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said for graciously bestowing the generous gift of land for The American International School of Muscat Ghala Campus upon the Embassy of the United States of America.

THE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MUSCAT

THE SECOND DECADE 2008-2018 MUSCAT OF

THE AMERICA N

OL

TIONAL S RNA CH TE O IN

th iversary 1998-2018 20 Ann

Ris

e to

TAISM

t h e C h alle n

ge

Contents

6

Past to Present

44

Introduction Sponsorship & Support History & Growth 20th Anniversary Teaching and Learning Elementary School Middle School High School

4

Arts & Athletics Bosch Center Music Drama Fine Arts Sports

92 120 Timeless Traditions

Discover Oman Fall Festival International Day Terry Fox TAISM Ball Elementary School Middle School High School

5

People: Past, Present & Future Memorials Families Staff Graduates Legacies

Introduction

T

he second decade (2008 - 2018) has been a of U.S. Ambassador Frances D. Cook to become a time of growth, change, and successes, both reality. With the support of parents, corporate and collectively and individually, for The American government entities, an internationally recognized International School of Muscat (TAISM) community. board of directors, and an exemplary staff, TAISM The school, starting with 129 students in opened its doors to students from around the 1998, increased to 630 students by the end globe. of its first decade (2008), and grew to its This commemorative publication, capacity of 800 by 2016. This larger and “TAISM, the Second Decade” provides a more diverse student population, with over wonderful montage of the people and life of 60 nationalities, is now served by 140 faculty the school since 2008. Thanks go to Paige and support staff. Facilities and programs Spilles, High School Librarian, a member of have been added, including Phases IV and the TAISM Staff since 2005, for her “labor V of campus development, and highways, of love” in serving as editor of this book. literally and virtually, have surrounded us From designing to final editing, she has in a dynamic and connected world. Despite Kevin Schafer captured the true spirit of TAISM’s “Rise to the Director all of these changes and developments, what Challenge!” has remained constant at TAISM is our care for each For over 20 years, thousands of joyful students, individual student to develop as an ethical, responsible, and supportive parents and dedicated staff have and globally conscious lifelong learner. filled the beautiful hallways, classrooms, and activity

We are grateful for those who have supported venues on this spacious campus. Now entering our TAISM over the last two decades. The gift of land third decade, we look ahead with gratefulness and on which our school resides, generously given by optimism to serving our community, going forth as His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said to the U.S. lifelong learners: inquiring to know, aspiring to grow, Embassy Muscat in 1997, allowed for the vision and inspired to lead.

6

7

Sponsorship & Support TAISM is the only international school in Oman based upon American curriculum and methodologies and sponsored by the Embassy of the United States.

Ambassador Marc J. Sievers 2016-present

Ambassador Greta C. Holtz 2012-2016

Ambassador Richard J. Schmierer 2009-2012

Ambassador Gary A. Grappo 2006-2009

A word from

United States Ambassador Sievers

T

wo decades after its establishment, The American International School of Muscat has become a premier educational institution – not just in Oman, but regionally. TAISM’s reputation is built on 20 years of proven academic excellence, a tightly knit school community, and deep ties to Oman. Whenever I speak with members of my Embassy team, they remark how lucky we are to have such an incredible, internationally-minded American school in Oman.

As the parent of a TAISM student, I feel particularly proud of the U.S. Embassy’s partnership with the school, which remains as strong and resilient as the day the school was established in 1998.

TAISM’s continued success rests on the shoulders of the many people who give tirelessly, year after year, in service to the school. Chief among them is Director Kevin Schafer.

Working hand in hand with the school’s dedicated leadership team of administrators, faculty, and Board members expertly chaired by Fawzi Mushantaf, Kevin’s stewardship has propelled TAISM from its humble beginnings to become the premier institution it is today. Of course, the primary beneficiaries of their hard work and commitment are the students. Whether they have spent one year or twelve at TAISM, students leave the school as life-long learners; as better versions of themselves; as more responsible global citizens who are better prepared to meet the challenges of a dynamic world.

I would wish the school luck in the future, but I don’t believe it’s a matter of chance. Instead I will say I look forward to TAISM’s continued success for many, many years to come.

I am confident that the spirit and dedication of the entire TAISM family that has energized the school for 20 years will only grow.

His Excellency U.S. Ambassador to Oman, Marc J. Sievers February 2018 8

In 1998, the Embassy of the United States of America, the Ministry of Education of the Sultanate of Oman, the Office of Overseas Schools of the United States Department of State and a group of parents and business leaders worked together to establish The American International School of Muscat (TAISM).

On December 3, 1998, former President of the United States, George H.W. Bush attended the dedication of TAISM’s new Ghala Campus. Since then, TAISM has continued to have a supportive relationship with the United States government.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with TAISM students and families of U.S. Embassy staff on a visit to Oman in 2011.

Dr. Bea Cameron, Regional Education Office, U.S. Departments of State, has been instrumental in the sustained and systemic growth of TAISM from 1998-present.

Pictured with Director Kevin Schafer.

Ambassador Frances D. Cook, who founded TAISM in 1998, on a visit to TAISM in 2015 with Board Chairperson, Fawzi Mushantaf.

Ambassador Marc J. Sievers, Huda Raphael and son Sam Sievers enjoy a visit with Eloise Bosch (Donald and Eloise Bosch Center) and her sons and daughters-in-law: David Bosch, Leslie Bosch, Paul Bosch and Cecilia Bosch.

9

“

From Discover Oman, to history class, AP classes, the

performing arts, the yearly Terry Fox Run and International Day; TAISM will always have a special place in my heart. I felt like I was able to do everything! Looking back, it was the passionate, diverse and dedicated team of teachers and staff who made my experience great and encouraged me to do more.

Growing up with so many mentors, mutually committed to my education, whether it be related to math or life, prepared me to be a well-rounded, balanced individual, capable of taking on all

�

challenges that face me.

10

Jennifer Dixon

Class of 2014 Manufacturing Quality Engineering Intern at Synaptive Medical Inc. 4th year Materials Science and Engineering Undergraduate Student Toronto, ON, Canada

I

Journey of Pride

t is with pride that I have shared in TAISM’s support, dedication, professional input and success journey over the past 20 years, a journey that that had been provided to TAISM. However, I would started in 1997 when the school was still an idea like to recognize and sincerely thank the following on a pizza box. The vision of Ambassador Frances people and organizations on behalf of the TAISM D. Cook, US Ambassador to Oman, along with the family: assistance and determination of a group of five people, • His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said for allocating led this journey to the first milestone in August 1998. this exceptional piece of land on which TAISM In that year, TAISM started as a new school in a exists today temporary campus that was located in Madinat As • The U.S. Embassy in Muscat Sultan Qaboos. As a person who had been positively • All U.S. ambassadors since 1997, with Ambassador influenced by American education in my own life, I Marc J. Sievers being the current U.S. Ambassador was determined to assist the school with my to the Sultanate of Oman knowledge, abilities, and relationships in • All U.S. Deputy Chief of Missions taking its next steps.

(DCMs) since 1997, with Stephanie Hallett

Ambassador Cook appointed me to being the current DCM the TAISM Board in 1998. During the first two • All Embassy Staff who have never years, TAISM faced many critical challenges. hesitated to give support or assistance for the However, with the vision, dedication, well-being of TAISM commitment and assistance of the Oman • The Omani Government Authorities government authorities, U.S. Embassy, Fawzi Mushantaf who had and continue to facilitate the Chairperson dignitaries, Board members, administration, existence of TAISM. parents, staff and friends, the development Board of Directors • Dr. Beatrice Cameron, Regional of the school was a success. We are most Education Officer, Office of Overseas grateful for the gift of land from His Majesty Sultan Schools, U.S. State Department, who had embraced Qaboos Bin Said to the Embassy of the United States the concept of TAISM and always helped in her in Oman for the purpose of building the school. In the capacity to make TAISM survive and grow while year 2000, the school moved to its current campus and calling TAISM a “miracle school” grew steadily in population, facilities, and programs. • Current and previous TAISM Students and Parents

It has been a delight to have been one of • Current and previous TAISM Board Chairpersons, many elements of this success story, a story of noble Board Members, Administration Team and Staff existence as TAISM existed to serve students in Oman • The School Director, Mr. Kevin Schafer, leader as per its Mission Statement, Core Beliefs, and Aims. of TAISM for the last 18 years, a highly respected It is very hard to mention all the names who have been educator and scholar in Oman as well as in the instrumental in the idea, establishment, existence, Near East South Asia (NESA) region, who is admired by the TAISM Association.

As a family, my wife Christiane and I greatly appreciate and acknowledge the values, ethics, global consciousness and lifelong learning skills that TAISM has instilled in the characters of our three boys (Rafic, Class of 2009; Rami, Class of 2011; and Ralph, Class of 2014), in partnership with what we have provided our sons at home, leading to a good and fruitful life.

11

Honorable Service

Since its inception, TAISM has been fortunate to over the years who, above all other interests at the school, have strong leadership in governance which has allowed want each and every student to be welcomed with a safe everyone associated with our school to Rise to the Challenge. environment to learn, each staff member to feel appreciated This leadership is exemplified by the vision, dedication and each administrator to understand how valued their and selflessness of past and present Chairpersons and all advice and leadership is regarding the day to day running of members of TAISM’s Board of Directors. Serving on the the school.

Board of Directors is a completely voluntary position that While the Board has excelled in all of their basic fifity members of our community have willingly committed tasks related to the oversight of the school’s functions, it is to the betterment of TAISM over the past 20 years. really the visionary leadership of the Chairperson

The Board of Directors has three roles in and all members that I have served with that stands the school. Their first role is called fiduciary. In this out as exceptional. An example of this vision role the Board oversees the general running of the came during the 2013-2014 School Year when, school which may include overseeing the finances, with significant input from the Administrators, the the maintenance programs and ensuring policies Board approved a plan to completely remodel the of the school are being reviewed and enforces. The cafeteria and library spaces to make three separate, Board takes this role very seriously with important purpose-built learning centers for each division. input from administrators. Secondly, the board The fruits of these labors and smart decision is tasked with being “strategic” which may look Carey Johnson making can be seen in each division’s use of these Teacher like ensuring the future stability of the school both common spaces. economically and as an institution. Lastly, the Representaive TAISM would not be what it is today TAISM Board works in a generative capacity which means without the tremendous dedication of dozens of current that they are continuously evaluating the work the school and former community members who stepped up to make a does and lending members’ expertise to sustain the vision difference for our students. As a teacher representative who for the future. is also a parent I am able to look at the Board through three

I have been honored to serve as the Teacher’s lenses. As a Board Member for five years, I feel valued as a Representative to the Board of Directors for five years. While colleague with things to offer to the Board and its role in I love my primary job of teaching science in the Middle governance. As a staff member, I feel supported and trusted.

School, serving on the Board of Directors has given me the As a parent of two children who have only known TAISM opportunity to see and participate in the positive future for their entire lives, I feel extraordinarily grateful for this planning in which the Board engages. It has been a privilege community of learning the Board has built and supported to work with so many people from our TAISM community for 20 years.

Members of the

2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011

2011-2012

Chairperson

Chairperson

Michael Bos Chairperson

Michael Bos

Fawzi Mushantaf

Fawzi Mushantaf

Mohammed Salem

Mohammed Salem

Vice Chairperson Treasurer

Marcia Dorr Secretary

Fathi Alaaiddin Anwar Hamdani Terry Shelden Members

L. Victor Hurtado US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

Kevin Schafer Director

Greg Brink Teacher Rep

Vice Chairperson Treasurer

Marcia Dorr Secretary

Fathi Alaaiddin Norina Utot Jens Rasmussen Members

Fawzi Mushantaf Chairperson

Fawzi Mushantaf

Mohammed Salem

Jens Rasmussen

Marcia Dorr

Marcia Dorr

Marcia Dorr

Carol Moss Norina Utot Jens Rasmussen

Carol Moss Norina Utot Brett Robisch Members

Mohammed Abdulmajeed Norina Utot Robert Swain W. Johann Schmonsees

Vice Chairperson Treasurer Secretary

Members

Vice Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

Treasurer

Treasurer

Secretary

W. Johann Schmonsees

Kevin Schafer

Kevin Schafer

Kevin Schafer

Greg Brink Teacher Rep

Chairperson

Brett Robisch

Kris Raghavan

L. Victor Hurtado

Director

Fawzi Mushantaf

Kris Raghavan

L. Victor Hurtado US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

2012-2013

Peter Ford Secretary

Members

US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

Director

Director

Director

Greg Brink Teacher Rep

12

Carl Spilles Teacher Rep

Kevin Schafer

Miguel Herrera Teacher Rep

Top left: The 2002-2003 Board of Directors with Katherine O’Shaughnessy and U.S. Ambassador Richard Baltimore III on the Inauguration of Phase II on January 12, 2003. Above: Former Executive Director of NESA, David Chojnacki, leads the group in the Board Training Workshop.

Left: Ambassador Gary Grappo, then-Board Chairperson Michael Bos and current-Board Chairperson Fawzi Mushantaf.

THEN

NOW

2017-18

2008-09

Board 2008 to 2018 2013-2014

2014-2015

Chairperson

Chairperson

Fawzi Mushantaf Robert Swain

Fawzi Mushantaf Robert Swain

Vice Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

Treasurer

Treasurer

2015-2016 2016-2017 Fawzi Mushantaf

Fawzi Mushantaf

Robert Swain

Robert Swain

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

2017-2018 Fawzi Mushantaf Chairperson

Marla Valdez

Vice Chairperson

Waris Pasha

Hugh McLean

Hugh McLean

Andre Strobelt

Jennifer Macfadyen

Jennifer Macfadyen

Jennifer Macfadyen

Jennifer Macfadyen

Jennifer Macfadyen

Mohammed Abdulmajeed Marcia Dorr John Engstrom

Daniel Palmer Marla Valdez

Daniel Palmer Marla Valdez Kirby Lindsey II

Daniel Palmer Marla Valdez Kirby Lindsey II

Jesal Asher Rajda Jon Hamill

Paul Malik

Paul Malik

Assiya Ashraf-Miller

Assiya Ashraf-Miller

Stephanie Hallett

Kevin Schafer

Kevin Schafer

Waris Pasha Secretary

Secretary

Members

Treasurer Secretary

Members

Members

Treasurer Secretary

Treasurer Secretary

Members

Members

US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

US Embassy Ambassador’s Rep

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Kevin Schafer

Carey Johnson Teacher Rep

Kevin Schafer

Carey Johnson Teacher Rep

Kevin Schafer

Carey Johnson Teacher Rep

13

Carey Johnson Teacher Rep

Carey Johnson Teacher Rep

A Few Memories from Enrollment: 658 Nationalities: 56 Faculty Members: 76 TAISM students make 1000 paper cranes to raise money after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. They present their contributions to Japan’s Ambassador H.E. Seiji Morimoto.

Oman celebrates its 40th National Day. The Muscat Expressway officially opens on Nov. 18, 2010.

Enrollment: 620 Nationalities: 52 Faculty Members: 67 TAISM celebrates its 10th Anniversary The ES has an author visit by Marc Levitt.

Oman wins the Gulf Cup and TAISM gets a day off of school!

MSers attend Destination Imagination in Istanbul, Turkey.

TAISM track travels to Cairo, Egypt.

2008-2009

2009-2010

Enrollment: 630 Nationalities: 56 Faculty Members: 71 Authors Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer visit MS and ES. TAISM has the first annual ‘Terry Fox Head Shave’.

HS Kindred begins their RED NIGHT benefit concert series.

From February 16, 2010 to July 3, the Jewel of Muscat, a reconstruction of a 9th century Arab ship, sails from Oman bound for Singapore. TAISM HS Social Studies teacher, Robert Jackson, is one of the multinational crew aboard the Jewel on this extraordinary voyage. Jackson serves as crewman, photographer, web-log writer, and medic.

2010-2011

Enrollment: 743 Nationalities: 66 Faculty Members: 80 TAISM joins the SAISA (South Asia Inter-School Association) League for sports.

The girls basketball team becomes league champions.

Boys football take 2nd.

TAISM MS and ES students work with visiting authors Caroline Lawrence and John Coy. MUN travels to St. Petersburg.

The Harlem Globetrotters visit TAISM. Oman changes the weekend from Thursday-Friday to Friday-Saturday and TAISM’s school week changes with it.

2011-2012 2012-2013

Enrollment: 725 Nationalities: 59 Faculty Members: 78 TAISM ES enjoys a visit from authors The2Steves: Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore.

The PE Dept. hosts the “Splash and Dash” charity event.

The Donald and Eloise Bosch Center for the Performing Arts opens May 28, 2012.

The tradition of Choralation begins: a combined performance including all HS and MS choral groups.

“

What I miss about TAISM is:

Saffana Al Rahma

Class of 2009 National Bank of Oman Muscat, Oman

The unity and happiness of the whole TAISM community. I miss the little things that made our school year worthwhile: spirit week, pizza Sundays, Discover Oman, and the list goes on. I miss the small talk we made with our teachers and I miss learning about different cultures from all the students. TAISM has left a footprint in my heart which makes me miss every bit of it.

14

”

TAISM’s Second Decade

Enrollment: 757 Nationalities: 65 Faculty Members: 82 Gr. 6-10 go 1:1 with iPads.

TAISM dominates SAISA: 1st in Boys’ Volleyball; 2nd in Girls’ Volleyball and Boys’ Football, and 3rd in Boys’ Basketball and Girls’ Football.

Judith Fox, sister of Terry Fox, attends TAISM’s annual Terry Fox Run. Author Laurie Halse Anderson visits HS and MS classes.

Author Naomi Shihab Nye publishes the YA book The Turtle of Oman, inspired by her previous school visit, and dedicates it to TAISM.

Enrollment: 775 Nationalities: 63 Faculty Members: 80 Author Nicola Davies visits ES students.

TAISM hosts the SAISA Track and Field meet.

25 MS students attend the Middle School Arts Invitational in Abu Dhabi, UAE to participate in all fields of fine arts, choir, drama, and band.

American astronaut Steve Swanson visits TAISM. MS moves from a once-a-week advisory model to an every day Home Base program.

Enrollment: 746 Nationalities: 62 Faculty Members: 83 Authors Candace Fleming and Eric Rohman visit ES and MS classes.

TAISM has its 10th Annual Terry Fox Run. The Girls’ Football team earns the SAISA Championship and remain undefeated throughout the season.

Swimming, Girls’ Volleyball (hosted at TAISM), and Track and Field take 2nd.

ES celebrates its first “Week of the Young Child”

2014-2015 2016-2017 2013-2014 2015-2016 2017-2018 Enrollment: 797 Nationalities: 67 Faculty Members: 85 The school year starts with two new libraries and two new cafeterias for HS and MS. The MS combines the library and cafeteria concepts to create the Middle School Learning Commons (MSLC), which becomes the hub of MS life.

TAISM Swim Team swims away with the SAISA Championship while the Girls’ Basketball and Football teams both take 2nd place, and Boys’ Football takes 3rd.

Enrollment: 722 Nationalities: 61 Faculty Members: 85 TAISM celebrates its 20th Anniversary!

Courage Buddies partners up ES, MS, and HS students for Terry Fox but the friendships extend throughout the year.

Girls’ Football wins the SAISA Championship again!

Swimming, Girls’ Volleyball, Boys’ Football, and Track and Field all take 2nd. TAISM hosts SAISA Boys’ Basketball for the first time. Author Naomi Shihab Nye returns to TAISM for an author visit 10 years after her first visit.

The new Muscat International Airport opens Mar. 20, 2018.

“

In TAISM, I learned that people are so different and yet so similar.

I learned that people carry their traditions and cultures that are different than mine, and I learned that integrity, respect, and love are common values no matter where we are.

In TAISM, I learned that humanity transcends any race, religion and gender.

”

In TAISM, I learned to be a better me.

15

Pelin Saglam

Class of 2010 Co-Founder K.O. Gym Muscat, Oman

Growth and Additions in

July 2008 marks the completion of additional high school and elementary school classrooms.

The Donald and Eloise Bosch Center for the Performing Arts is inaugurated in May 2012, ready for the 2012-13 school year.

(See pages 48-49 to learn more about The Bosch.)

A second sports field is completed in 2013.

Former classrooms are remodeled into the Early Childhood Center. The Fitness Room and athletic offices are also completed in July 2010.

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012 2012-2013

The most significant area of growth is the completion of a wing that includes all new Middle School classrooms and offices along with elementary classrooms for grades 3-5. A large atrium features a student-created mosaic entitled “The Tree of Knowledge”.

Ready for the 2010-11 school year!

“ Christopher Scott Jardine

Class of 2010 Certified Personal Fitness Trainer Naturopathic Medical Student Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I will always have a soft spot for TAISM, as TAISM taught me to work hard and to follow my heart, which definitely grew ten-fold with the amazing people I met and befriended. In the end, I thank TAISM for nourishing my mind, body, and spirit, and for giving me the energy to face the world and hopefully make a significant impact on it, which reflects the positive impact TAISM had on me.

”

16

TAISM’s Second Decade To kick off the 2015-16 school year, the former all-school cafeteria is remodeled into the elementary library and the former all-school library is remodeled into the Middle School Learning Commons (MSLC). New additions include the HS Commons and HS Library and elementary cafeteria and kitchen. Additional locker rooms are also added and the pool deck is expanded.

2014-2015 2016-2017 2013-2014 2015-2016 2017-2018

A visitor’s center (not pictured) is completed in July 2017.

TAISM Campus June 2017

“

I am incredibly grateful for the 9 years I spent at The American International School of Muscat as it continues to influence the way I see and interact with the world. Living in Oman and going to a school filled with a vibrant range of cultures is the best present my parents could have ever given me as a child.

”

17

Lindsey File Class of 2015 Left TAISM in 2012 Student Environmental Management University of Queensland

20thCelebration Anniversary T

AISM formally celebrated its 20th year of existence with a school-wide assembly on April 11, 2018. The ceremony began with speeches from honored guest, U.S. Ambassador (and TAISM parent) Marc Sievers, who emphasized the importance of the special relationship between TAISM and the American embassy that has existed since the school opened.

The embassy has played a large role in supporting the school, beginning all the way back in 1998 with Ambassador Frances Cook, who was a key figure in the development of TAISM. Ambassador Sievers also honored Director Kevin Schafer, who has guided TAISM through nearly two decades of achieving the school’s mission. TAISM Business Manager Mr. Hemant Dutia was the keynote speaker. Mr. Dutia, who has been with TAISM all twenty years, gave thanks to all those that had been involved in the process of TAISM’s growth, such as the students, staff, parents, and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, without whom TAISM would not exist. Next, Chairperson of the Board Mr. Fawzi Mushantaf, who has also been at TAISM since the beginning, and whose three sons are all alumni, spoke of the importance of developing students with a liberal arts education, teaching them to be independent thinkers and problem-solvers, not simply robots. Mr. Mushantaf then introduced Kevin Schafer, who has served as Director since 2000 when the new Ghala campus opened. Mr. Schafer asserted that the assembly was a celebration for the students, and indeed the school is for the students, because they are the ones who make it what it is.

One of the features of the assembly was “Like An Eagle”, a song that has been a graduation tradition since 2004. Mrs. Melanie Brink led the whole school through the song’s lyrics which emphasizes the school’s mission to have all students strive to reach their hopes and dreams and “rise to the challenge”. Next students from all grade levels participated in filling a time capsule with memorable objects, to be opened at the 30th anniversary of TAISM in 2028. The program also featured representatives of the high school’s Literary Magazine, who shared poems about their positive experiences coming to TAISM. However, one of the events that inspired the most reflection was the introduction of the first TAISM legacies.

Jimmy El Helou ‘01, Mihir Khimji ‘04 and Jeanette Friggle ‘04 each have children in EC1. Michael, Shaurya, and Alaa are all on track to graduate from TAISM in 2032! It was inspiring to hear how their fond memories of TAISM made the parents want to bring their own children to our school. Finally, the assembly closed with a balloon drop and free cake for all students.

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19

Learning at TAISM W hen I arrived at TAISM as includes bringing educational a Grade 3 teacher in 2002, experts to TAISM for training with TAISM was in its infancy; schoolwide improvement initiatives, the enrollment was 175 students. while simultaneously providing staff Certainly, the growth in the student with individual funding to pursue body has changed dramatically and professional goals and training. The naturally the campus had to grow to support and modeling of lifelong accommodate the steady increase learning by both the Board of in enrollment. Construction of the Directors and the Administration has facility was ongoing and important sustained this exemplary approach core values of our school culture were to professional learning, and being established: teachers building consequently TAISM’s professional strong relationships with students, the reputation has garnered international emergence of a warm and welcoming recognition. community, and the development The infusion of technology into of greater curriculum clarity and the curriculum has been another cohesion. huge change during TAISM’s There have been many first twenty years. We strive to changes in education over the effectively develop curriculum past twenty years; however, a for our 21st century learners as caring and inclusive learning we continually plan for a future environment at TAISM that is difficult to envision. We has always been a strong have benefited from having cornerstone. The implications low turnover in both faculty of brain research and the and administration, which science of learning has meant Kerry Harder has allowed for consistent educators now have a clear Curriculum curriculum development and Director understanding of how students continuous improvement. learn. This has impacted our We envision TAISM as a classrooms tremendously, as we strive Learning School - one in which all to implement the most up-to-date community members are learners educational practices. An example is - students, teachers, leaders, and our current initiative to implement parents. Our current work with the use of learning targets in order developing a Learner Profile attempts to communicate transparent learning to define our shared vision of a learner outcomes, empowering students to be at TAISM. These important attributes agents of their own learning. are intended to exemplify the lifelong Ongoing professional development character qualities developed through continues to be one of the most robust the experience of learning at TAISM, aspects of teaching and learning and to serve students throughout their at TAISM. Our dual approach adulthood.

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“

TAISM is a major factor in shaping who I am as a person today since I was a student there from a very young age. It taught me to be kind, open to new ideas and helpful to others instead of being competitive and ignorant.

Where I live today, London, consists of a completely different community as it is very diverse; however, what I acquired from my friends and teachers back at school has not faded away because I believe TAISM’s Asya Eminkahyagil key teachings will create Class of 2017 bridges between people and Neuroscience Major eradicate a lot of issues that University College London we are facing today.

21

”

“

TAISM gave me the opportunities to stand out.

TAISM was such a closeknit community that other people saw my potential before I did. It forced me to push outside of my comfort zone to get involved and try new things when I didn’t think I was good enough.

TAISM taught me to never underestimate yourself.

”

Kelsey Garrity Class of 2011 Engineer, Intel Scottsdale, Arizona USA

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Technology, Innovation and Learning

The Future Is Now

A

s we look back on the might we move to transformative last 10 and 20 years at learning with technology, learning TAISM, information and that is innovative, learner-driven and communications technology has amplified by technology? played a significant role in how we How might we educate our learn and teach. During our first students, ourselves and our parents decade, TAISM learners were learning to ensure we are meeting our mission how to use technology, typically in a for all learners in light of mind, brain computer lab with computers and a and education research, significant teacher who directed learning. We technology change, globalization and created the technical infrastructure to a rapidly changing, unknown future? support learning, what some futurists Today, as we celebrate call the first wave of educational our 20th anniversary, we stand on technology. the brink of a Fourth Industrial

During most of our second Revolution, said to be ushered in by decade, learners have been using advancements in robotics, virtual technology to learn with innovative reality, cloud technology, big data, teachers and more student-centered artificial intelligence, the internet, and learning. Technology tools have other technologies. It is characterised moved out of the computer lab and into by the fusion of technologies and every classroom with laptop the blurring of the lines carts (COWs - Computer on between the physical, digital Wheels), digital projectors, and biological aspects of interactive whiteboards, one life. Research by the World iPad for every student K-12, Economic Forum estimates and increased availability and that 65% of children entering use of tools in the cloud to primary school will find support learning and teaching. themselves in occupations that This decade is characterized by today do not exist. By 2020 the second wave of educational Charlotte Diller it’s estimated there will be technology—supportive and Technology 1.5 million new digitized jobs enabling applications—student Director across the globe. information systems and online As we embark on the Fourth learning, for example. These kinds Industrial Revolution, it’s clear that of applications are vital for making technology will play a central role in education more efficient and effective, nearly all aspects of our lives. To ensure and improving access to content, but that our learners have the ability to they do not fundamentally change continuously learn, adapt and apply traditional educational paradigms. rapidly changing technologies, we

Toward the latter part of our have adopted the 2016 International second decade, we began to ask, what’s Society for Technology in Education next? How might we embrace the Standards for Students. At their power of technology to reimagine the core, the standards are about learning environment, personalize teaching and learning and transcend learning pathways, and cultivate specific technologies. These crosscommunication, collaboration, curricular standards represent what innovation, and responsibility within it means to be a digital age learner: and beyond the walls of TAISM? empowered learner, digital citizen, What does learning look like in knowledge constructor, innovative an environment where access to designer, computational thinker, information and and communications creative communicator and global technology is ubiquitous? How collaborator.

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Teaching & Practicing

SERVICE &GRATITUDE

Strengthens our Community

Teaching students to be “ethical, responsible, and globally conscious life-long learners� happens throughout our TAISM lives. On a global scale, we have raised money and created paper cranes to support the victims of the 2011 tsunami in Japan; on a national level, we contribute time, books and even some jazz to the Dar Al Atta literacy campaign here in Oman. We have specific causes close to our hearts that we as individuals and as a community support, such as the Michelle and Julia Hoffman Home in Uganda and the school-wide Terry Fox events for the Oman Cancer Association. Each year, we learn to help our very own community members through showing hospitality and gratitude to the OIG workers who clean up after us each and every day. We spend an hour giving blood or a weekend in a fundraising soccer clinic. We volunteer for a SAISA event, the Festival of Choirs, or weekend visits to the Royal Hospital to play with cancer patients. We build a community garden, make pottery bowls or soups for the Empty Bowls program, contribute to Days for Girls, and open our hearts and gym to the Downs Syndrome community.

Then we model gratitude by giving thanks to those who help us each day by honoring and treating our staff through a Staff Appreciation Week full of wonderful thank you notes, gifts and amazing food. We give our Parent Volunteer Appreciation a lunch with laughs and hugs. It is through daily acts of service and gratitude that we build our TAISM community.

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“ Nabila Kusumaningsih Class of 2018 Left in 2014 London School of Public Relations Jakarta, Indonesia

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I miss the TAISM community and the friendly environment that welcomes accepts and respects diversity from beliefs, culture, language, personalities, and many more. I felt comfortable interacting with everyone there and expressing myself without hesitations. I think so far I haven’t felt like that after I left. TAISM stands out from other schools because TAISM builds all aspects in shaping a person with all the programs and facilities TAISM offers, educating us in a fun and effective way.

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Fostering Wellness in our T

Community

he term “wellness” is being used more and more in education each year as people of all ages continue to deal with physical, mental, and emotional health issues. Schools around the world are talking about mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, stress management, balance, and many other areas of social and emotional well-being. Some schools have wellness centers, wellness coordinators, and wellness days. Wellness programs are often collaborative efforts that combine school programming and community resources. Programs like Wellness Works in Schools are evidence-based health and wellness programs taught by teaching teams and designed to incorporate mindful awareness to educate and support students, teachers, and families. According to the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice, mindfulnessbased approaches and wellness activities can help with physical and psychological health problems and ongoing life challenges.

At TAISM the school counselors are collaborative leaders in wellness initiatives and programs in our school which help staff, students and families with mental, emotional and social health. The following wellness practices and activities have been implemented at TAISM by a variety of different stakeholders interested in wellness.

send out the resources regularly to remind staff to keep well themselves. Many of these same resources are also shared with students and families as they are transitioning to our school and need help.

Community Wellness for Staff, Students, and Families

Social connections support wellness for students, staff and families in many different ways. At our school we are fortunate to have a variety of programs that support meeting others with shared interests, trying new things, exercising and exploring, being creative, and developing new hobbies. Not only do all of these activities foster wellness and transition, but they can also help develop the teenage brain.

The Teachers Teaching Teachers or TTT program incorporates a variety of different ways for staff to learn, socialize, be active, and get involved. Different courses are offered by staff each semester of the year and participants meet regularly. Some of the different courses offered have been: Mindful Mondays, Plant Power (Essential Oils), Ladies Hiking Group, Road Runners, Rock Climbing, Cardio Pump, Game Night, Book Club, Adult Learn to Swim, Yoga Nidra, Dance Fusion, Indian Cooking, Ultimate Frisbee, Sewing Fun, Cricket, Badminton, and many, many more!

The After School Activities or ASA program Wellness Team for students is a K-12 program with a similar The TAISM Wellness Team includes the philosophy for students as the TTT program. elementary school counselor, middle school counselor, two high school counselors, our health Chrystal Kelly Some of the more focused wellness programs teacher, and our nurses. As a team, we work HS Counselor offered through ASA’s have been: Mindful together and meet to discuss staff and student wellness Mondays for middle school and high school students: concerns. Some of the programming we have done has Total Wellness for Girls with a focus on working out, included Wellness Wednesdays where our topics have mindfulness, and healthy sleeping and eating; Running covered staff and student mental health, happiness and Club; Board Game Club; Sewing Club; Prepared, gratitude, sun protection and hydration, and technology Organized People (POP) Club; Yoga; Photography Club; balance. During this programming, resources are provided Art Open Studio; Drama, and a variety of other sports and on staff and student bulletin boards, healthy snacks and activities. In our elementary school we have also added menu item planning for families has been incorporated pedal bikes and ball chairs in classrooms for both learning at lunch, and a variety of sessions have been offered by and mental health, and our middle school supports a teachers and counselors with expertise in meditation, yearly Fat Talk Free Week campaign.

As counselors and Wellness Team members, we are mindfulness, and stress management.

The Wellness Team encourages teachers to incorporate continuously offering families opportunities and resources wellness activities into their day with students. In addition, to talk about health and wellness. The K-12 Parent Coffee resources have been shared with our teachers about brain program at our school has provided parents with a variety breaks, which are simple one to two minute mind and of different ways to learn more about wellness. Some of body challenges. Brain breaks are great for regaining the most recent topics we have collaborated on include the focus in a meeting or a class. As a Wellness Team, we adolescent brain and substance abuse/social emotional also created a Google Doc called “Wellness Resources” for well-being, technology and wellness, mindfulness, and our staff. The resources include mental health assistance, stress management.

It is so important that we all work together and share fitness and medical contacts, relaxation services, and other community programs in our area. We encourage staff to our stories so that we can best help our staff, students and share other resources they have found valuable, and we families.

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“

I remember in fifth grade, if someone complimented the class for being well-behaved, or just generally good, then our teacher would write the compliment on a slip of paper and add it to a chain of other compliments. If, in one week, that chain reached a certain point, then we would get the last 30 minutes of Wednesday off to play. We used to go crazy for those last 30 minutes when the whole class would go outside to play kickball, or run around inside when it was too hot! We always started our Thursday/ Friday weekend with utmost spirit!

Rickard Lundholm Class of 2012 Final Year Masters Student Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Leuven, Belgium

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The Elementary School F

Evolving while still full of spirit!

or twenty years, TAISM has been a place students, students were able to be a part of a celebration of growth parents and staff have aspired to be. Due to the and accomplishment as well as see models of learners and shared connection to community and commitment individuals for them to aspire to be like. For our staff and to learning, we have evolved to the exceptional school we for me, it reminded us of the great work we do and the great are today. One of the highlights and privileges of being part responsibility we have to meet the needs of our students. of TAISM for 13 years is the benefit of watching students That moment was one instance among many where we grow, mature and move over the years from elementary recognized that together we are a learning community. It school to middle school, high school and beyond. It’s been provided a bigger picture of what is possible, affirming for a part of my job that I never anticipated and one for which everyone what we are here at TAISM to do: learn and grow I am extremely grateful. I’m grateful because I’ve had the together, rising to the challenge. opportunity, firsthand, to see the result of our work

What I’ve seen and been glad to be a as a school community over time to help students part of in this learning journey for our students grow, learn and realize who they are meant to be. is that TAISM is a place that creates a passion for In a way, it’s been like a timelapse photography learning, educating the whole child while instilling session, capturing the evolution of hundreds of a sense of community and belonging, not only for individuals. Although it’s something we all see our students, but for our parents and staff as well. on a smaller scale, either in our own child or for a

One of the constants since the school began few classes over the span of a few years, seeing this is that TAISM is a place where students, staff and over the course of many students’ school careers is parents recognize that they have the opportunity a rewarding, enlightening and affirming gift. to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Many of this year’s high school seniors There is an ethos at TAISM that recognizes that were Kindergarteners when I started at TAISM. A Dan Hovland our ability to grow, learn and belong is most great percentage joined in elementary school and ES Principal possible by being a community that celebrates and we’ve watched them grow all the way to this point encourages our individuality, while valuing who we in their educational career. This fall, I had the opportunity are and what we can be together. I’m exceptionally proud to introduce the senior class to our elementary students so of the work that the TAISM community has done over the that we could celebrate their learning journey with them past 20 years to help our students become the productive, and also show our elementary students models of where ethical, responsible and globally conscious lifelong learners they were headed as learners and individuals themselves. we aspire for them to be. Together, TAISM will continue to It was a rewarding moment for us as a school community. grow and evolve, making it a great place for future TAISM For seniors, it enabled them to reflect upon the path they’ve members of our community. That is well worth celebrating. taken while recognizing the role they play as models Congratulations to everyone in our community for a great and mentors for the younger students. Our elementary first 20 years of TAISM.

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DOWN MEMORY LANE We asked current high schoolers to take a photo representing a memory they had of elementary school at TAISM:

“making I remember, during recess, sand henna near the swings.

Raj Hamlai

Class of 2019

​“linesI remember drawing crooked for a handball court before we had the designated handball court.

Carrie Ann Jilan Class of 2019

“favorite Fall Festival was one of my days out of the school year.

I got to dress up, play games, and eat all the candy I wanted. For me, the best part of the festival, and probably the most memorable to me today, was when we threw water sponges at Mr. Hovland. I would mostly miss, but it was spooktacular!

Hamda Qaiser Class of 2019

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I remember, when I came to TAISM for the first time, that I was shocked by the size of the school...I really liked that cool bridge that led to another parking spot. I thought that was pretty nice even though it’s been filled up and turned into a grassy area.

Ismael Hassan Class of 2019

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Jumping over the red lines imprinted on the floors of TAISM’s hallways and starting over when I stepped on one, annoying everyone in line behind me.

Natalie Baltimore Class of 2018 30

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Middle School DISTINCTLY COMPASSIONATE

In the fall of 2007, TAISM first created a distinct MS Parties, MS Sports, the annual MS Play or Musical, and middle school division. Under the leadership of Mr. even a last day of school talent show. You may remember Keith Boniface, and in collaboration with a talented MS Mr. Boniface saying, “And hey, let’s be careful out there” team of educators, the school sought to create a program at a Thursday assembly or remember serving as a student appropriate to the social/emotional and academic needs leader on Student Council. You explored Oman through our Discover Oman program and even clapped of middle-level students. How might we create for the sixth graders, as they entered their first a program that provides engaging, challenging MS assembly on the first day of school. You likely and developmentally responsive learning also may remember your teachers and classes and opportunities, as well as provide social/emotional memorable projects like your science fair project support, foster a sense of community and or roller coaster, or memorable music concerts or belonging, and provide opportunities for students performances. Maybe you were here in the fall to be involved and connected to the school? That of 2010, when the middle school moved in to its was the challenge in 2007 and it remains the current location in the school, at the new front of foundation of what we do in 2018, as we celebrate the building. You might remember how light and our 20th anniversary as a school.

Peter Lee bright the hallways were and the bigger classrooms.

If you were a middle school student in the early years of the TAISM middle school, you MS Principal Today’s TAISM middle school shares the same goals as that first year, in 2007-08. Many of the traditions likely remember fondly many of the activities that helped you feel connected. There was Unity Day, where continue or have changed to meet the needs of our school you wore your color and completed fun challenges with community in 2018. We still have parties, mini courses, your team, mini courses where you pursued other areas of sports and drama productions, and Discover Oman. Unity interest through alternative classes, advisory once a week, Day has morphed into Spirit Day, which is a part of Spirit

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“

TAISM has been part of both my middle school and one year of high school life, and I have been so lucky to have been a student at such an amazing school with spectacular teachers. I have enjoyed all the subjects and the topics studied and miss TAISM very much.

TAISM really prepares their students in an outstanding level, both educationally and mentally. The amazing team of who makes up TAISM really values their Valeriya Aristova students by believing in Class of 2016 Left in 2012 them and taking their time Sales and Marketing to teach and demonstrate Intern, Palazzo Versace things in class or after class.

Dubai, UAE

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Week, where we celebrate our school community, have fun together, and get to know students from other grade levels.

We have new ways for students to be leaders in addition to Student Council, with our MS Ambassadors program, and we have new traditions to honor the transitional times for our students, like our “goodbye t-shirts.” Weekly assemblies still have an important role in our program on Sundays and advisory has become an everyday “Home Base” program.

There are new traditions where we appreciate one another, such as gratitude week and “Thankful Thursdays.” We even have new spaces that have been designed to meet the needs of our MS students - “Ye Olde Commons,” outside of the MS office, and the Middle School Learning Commons (MSLC) which serves as our library, eating area, place where we meet for assemblies, and a unique environment for student learning.

Student learning opportunities have also evolved in the last ten years at TAISM. In the middle school, we focus on behaviors that support learning (Engagement, Perseverance, Collaboration, Preparation, and Organization), as we know that development in these areas can help lead to academic success. We have project fairs,

where in some grade levels cross-disciplinary projects are highlighted. We use technology to create different types of learning and collaborative opportunities, as each student has their own school-issued iPad, and we have a dedicated technology professional that has helped teachers and students create innovative learning opportunities. We have our own MS Librarian now and a dedicated MS collection of electronic and physical books. Throughout all of the changes and evolving needs of our school community, the constant continues to be a talented and dedicated staff of MS educators, some of whom are still here from the earliest years of our middle school, as well as talented and welcoming students. Whatever era you attended the TAISM middle school, I am sure you found a supportive community of adults and students who were dedicated to your success. I am sure that you had opportunities to explore new pathways, stretch yourself in many ways, and learn more about yourself and the world around you. You lived out our school motto, “Rise to the Challenge,” as we will continue to do at the TAISM middle school in 2018 and beyond.

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“ Sofia Gibson

Class of 2020 Left TAISM in 2015 HS Student North Carolina, USA

My TAISM experience has made me the person I am today. Even though I only attended 7th grade, the experience had a big impact on me. The extraordinary teachers, people, and atmosphere made my 7th grade year at TAISM one of the best years of my life. Attending TAISM has caused my mind and heart to open, and I cannot express how grateful I am for that. I wish I could describe in words how much I love TAISM and just how much it has done for me in that one year but since I cannot try and understand just how much the school and my time there has meant and continues to mean to me.

TAISM has prepared me so well for high school and even college. I’ve learned how to buckle down, and I’ve learned personal, efficient study methods which still help me to this day as a sophomore in high school. I loved the challenges I was given and I loved it even more when I got through them successfully. All my teachers knew exactly what they were doing and knew how much we could all handle, but still pushed us enough to help us in the long run.

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”

Our middle school teachers say our middle school students are...

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High SchoolTHROUGH THE YEARS

Several aspects of TAISM’s high school division And there has been considerable change. The have remained relatively constant over the past 10 years middle school and high school became unique divisions and the division has seen its share of change during this 10 years ago, so the high school has been in existence only time - no revolutions, but evolutionary change. Each year during the “second decade.” There have been four different there are several new families and many familiar names and principals in the high school during this time - Mr. Nelson faces. There have been shifts in the student demographics File, Mr. Keith Boniface, Mrs. Pam Spalla, and Mr. Richard and there has been consistent geographic diversity in our Petersen. Mr. Boniface is unique because he was the middle classrooms. There were 33 graduates in the class of 2008, school principal at TAISM before becoming the high school and we anticipate 45 graduates in the class of 2018. Our principal, and he served as high school principal twice! classrooms have moved from one end of the building to Students who last attended high school classes 10 years ago another and the quality of those spaces continues to be must come to a completely different part of our campus extremely high. and a new building to find the high school division. The

Globally minded and conscientious students current high school wing was built in 2008 and classes were have graduated from TAISM during the past 10 years. I’ve held in those classrooms for the first time in 2008-2009. read their graduation speeches and some of their English The current HS Commons and HS library were completed and Social Studies essays, viewed some of their in 2015 and used for the first time during the art work, and heard stories about their Discover 2015-2016 school year. TAISM joined the SAISA Oman adventures. Similarly, our students this league for inter-scholastic athletic competitions in year reflect our school’s mission and core beliefs. the 2010-2011 school year. The Festival of Choirs The Discover Oman program was an important is still an annual event hosted at TAISM during learning experience for TAISM’s high school the second semester. We now have two full-time students 10 years ago, and it remains a central high school counselors to support our students aspect of our program today. Mr. Montoya was social-emotional well-being and college / career teaching high school Art classes in 2007-08 and he planning. The Bosch Center was completed in still is in 2017-18. The same is true for Mr. Brink 2013 and the inaugural concert hosted in May in Mathematics, Mrs. Brink in Choir, Mr. Spilles Richard Petersen 2013. Our concerts, drama productions, formal HS Principal in Social Studies, Mrs. Hovland in Drama, Mrs. assemblies, and graduation ceremonies are now Ashkar in Arabic, Mrs. Khalil in French/Arabic, hosted in this state of the art facility rather than in Mrs. Lahiri in Learning Support, and Mrs. Spilles in the one of the two gyms. library. And Ms. Zarita was working in the high school While much has changed, the underlying sense office 10 years ago, though it was in a very different location of TAISM being a caring and compassionate school that at that time. If you really want to know about a place, talk celebrates diversity and learning in its many forms has not to the people that have been there! changed.

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HS StuCo

Presidents

2009-Present

Rega Jha

Class of 2009 StuCo president 2008-2009 Editor-in-chief, BuzzFeed India Mumbai, India

WO R D S F RO M

THE

WISE Although I spent only two years at TAISM, the impact on me was immense and has served me greatly in the years since. TAISM’s greatest strength as a school was preparing us for a world in which several cultures coexist, and do so in a celebratory and peaceful way. Both as a leader and, more importantly, as a member of a team and a student body, TAISM taught me to cherish differences between people and to find strength in diversity. We live in a world where the norm is increasingly to interpret difference as a hurdle to overcome or a problem to solve, and I’m grateful to TAISM for letting me experience and understand, at such a young age, that in fact difference of perspectives is a source of strength and joy in any team. I’m thrilled to be able to champion that message out in the world!

When I ran for TAISM Student Council President, I had only been in Oman a few short months. I was surrounded by new friends, new cultures, and new traditions.

One of the first things that I had to figure out as StuCo President was how to learn and understand the desires of an unfamiliar student body, followed closely by how to influence change in a system that wasn’t entirely familiar yet. I had to do these things while respecting the new cultures and traditions that I wasn’t sure I understood yet.

These circumstances taught me how to learn from a group of people who are still learning about me. I learned to find those who are passionate and help guide their passion towards the hot topic issues. I learned traditions help define a system, and they are usually quicker to change. And most importantly, I learned that every culture has something good for you to take away.

I learned a lot from being StuCo President and even more from my time at TAISM.

I in no way feel qualified to give you advice, but one thing I have learned at TAISM and after, that I will share with you is don’t ever feel forced to conform.

Especially at an international school where everyone is unique and different in their own way, it’s almost a crime to try and be someone you are not simply because society tells you must be. Decide who you want to be and what your goals are first, then let people you admire and hold dear help shape your ambitions.

Alexandra Vrampas Class of 2012 StuCo President 2011-12 Outdoor Guide Jackson, WY, USA

After college the world was telling me the only option was to start a career and build a resume. I wanted to explore the world and have fun. I’m currently a raft guide in the summer and a snowboard instructor in the winter. I know a steady income and a more permanent job are in my future but I’m perfectly happy discovering the outdoor recreation industry in a more flexible and unconventional way for now.

Best of luck finding your passions.

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Braedon McCoy

Class of 2011 StuCo President 2010-11 Staff Software Engineer at IBM Boston, MA, USA

Ashley Breckenridge Class of 2010 StuCo President 2009-10 Adviser in the Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Canberra, Australia

My time as Student Council President at TAISM taught me that effective leadership is actually largely about how you interact with your team.

I was fortunate to be part of an inspiring and talented group of students in the Student Council, and my experience with them showed me the value of recognising what we could learn from each other in addition to demonstrating our own strengths.

Fatima Jamal

Class of 2013 StuCo President 2012-13 Risk Analyst Washington, DC, USA

Looking back on my experience as Student Council President more than four years ago, I learned how to work in a dynamic team with people of different backgrounds and experiences in order to accomplish common goals.

Being a part of TAISM’s Student Council taught me how to lead in a variety of different ways, organize events, work on a variety of projects, manage time, and more.

Serving as Student Council President, most importantly, taught me how to listen to others, understand their point of view, and be an advocate. As a recent college graduate in the beginning of my professional career, the skills and experiences I gained from working with fellow student council members, advisers, teachers, and school experiences has proven to be invaluable.

If I could give a piece of advice to current TAISM students, it would be the following: 1. During the moment, it is easy to take things for granted. Make the most out of your time at TAISM - try out for sports and the play, join MUN, play an instrument.

2. Don’t stress if you don’t have it all figured out yet. I certainly didn’t my senior year, but I realized that that’s okay. We have our whole life to stress and worry about the future and sometimes, we forget that we only get these years once in our lives, so take advantage of it. At the end of the day, everyone will find their place in life and it’s okay if that doesn’t happen by the end of your four years of high school.

3. And finally, be thankful to your parents, to the teachers you don’t like, and to the classes you

Hanan Jarrar

don’t understand because they all help shape you. Every person you interact with, every activity you

Class of 2014 StuCo President 2013-14 Business Management & Marketing Cardiff University Cardiff, UK

take part in, every class, every Discover Oman trip eventually shapes you into the best version of yourself.

High school will be whatever you

My advice to current students would be to

make it. It could be the best years

take it all in and enjoy the community that

of your life and it could also be

makes TAISM something. I think it’s a rare

just because your friends are tak-

your worst. So don’t take courses ing them or your parents want you

blend of different people and cultures.

Vanessa Seymour

Class of 2015 StuCo President 2014-15 York University Toronto, Canada

to; take what you enjoy.

Try to be involved in something

It will be a unique part of you that

you, at least, have a slight interest

Ameen Jarrar

you take when you leave and

in. Looking back at my time at

Class of 2016 StuCo President 2015-16 Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, U.K.

go out into the rest of the world.

My advice, as a recent alumni of TAISM is to appre-

TAISM, I know that is easier said than done; but choosing what you truly enjoy over what you are told you should enjoy is definitely worth the risk.

ciate the community and environment the school has. The school has been expanding in many ways but the community remains tightly knit and loving.

This small community, where you see your friends

My advice to future high schoolers

and know all the staff and teachers personally, is not

would be to take advantage of

a common one. Don’t take it for granted, and stay

all the opportunities

in contact with them because you will always have a

TAISM has to offer.

home when you go back to Oman.

Nabaa Al Kooheji

It’s so easy to get caught up

Class of 2017 StuCo President 2016-17 Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts, USA

in the moment; take the time to slow down and notice the things happening around you.

Embrace the times spent with your friends, your teams, your classmates, your family, your teachers, and embrace the challenges that will come.

These moments are what high school is all about.

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Serena Lee

Class of 2018 StuCo President 2017-18 Graduating Senior attending Carleton College next fall Northfield, MN, USA

“

I’ve moved around a lot since childhood but my favorite school that

I always think back to and compare all the others to is TAISM! I made friendships there that will last a lifetime. Memories were made everywhere from Discover Oman trips to hangouts in the cafeteria after school. I still go to university with TAISM alumni and we never speak without bringing up all

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those great memories.

Hind Ababou

Class of 2015 Left in 2014 Currently studying mechanical engineering Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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ONE SCHOOL

TAISM continues to maintain a “one school” philosphophy as a school that serves kids from the age of three in Early Childhood to seniors in HS on a single campus, in a single building. Students of all ages interact with one another by performing in multi-age concerts, working as teacher assistants, volunteering at Fall Festival, or sharing learning opportunities through activities like reading buddies and classroom visits.

Whether you’re in the Learn-to-Swim program, where ES kids are learning from HS kids throughout the year, greeting your Courage Buddy in the hall, or in a weekend sports clinic to share skill or raise money for a great cause like the Hoffman Home, our TAISM kids are interacting with one another to learn personal responsibility and a sense positive community spirit.

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FINE

PERFORMING “

Yousef Redha Bhacker

Class of 2015 Left in 2013 Mechanical Engineering University of Leeds Leeds, UK

&

When I first arrived at TAISM in 2009 as a grade 7 student, the idea of learning and playing an instrument in an ensemble during school hours was alien to me. It was something that I had always been interested in doing, but had always been reserved for after-school activities. That was not the case at TAISM - in my first week I had to decide what instrument I wanted to play, which I would then commit to practising and playing in Concert Band at least every other day. My teacher saw a potential for me to be a brass player, and so I picked up the trombone, continuing it through middle school and into high school, where I joined also the Jazz Band. This class furthered my passion for music history and theory, championed by the curriculum I was taken through, as well as the numerous concerts and performances I was fortunate enough to be part of. These were some of the most enjoyable and rewarding moments of my entire education, which I carried through to my next school when I left TAISM, continuing to play trombone and be part of bands and orchestras.

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ARTS “

The dramatic arts program at TAISM made me find

my true hobby, acting. Working within marketing and communications I have also been able to apply many of the acting skills I learned to my work tasks. Instead of representing a character, I am now comfortable representing myself when

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presenting to important stakeholders at Scania.

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Hanna Sjöstrand

Class of 2011 Marketing and Communications, Scania Sweden

“ ETHAN BRINK ‘18 ” Profile of a TAISM Musician

TAISM KINDRED AND JAZZ BAND MEMBER

Can you describe some of your earliest memories of music at TAISM? One of the earliest memories I have of my participation in music here at TAISM was Festival of Choirs in 2008 or so. When I was in second grade I remember Mrs. Willson—the elementary music teacher at the time—allowing a group of elementary school students to perform alongside the HS students during one of their rehearsals for Festival of Choirs. We performed The Lion Sleeps Tonight and I had a brief solo during the song which, understandably, was nerve-wracking considering the fact that there were over 100 intimidatingly tall HS singers watching me as I sang. Nevertheless, I got through the solo with just one small mistake and while it was relieving to have the support of the other elementary singers again after my solo it was an exciting experience that I remember now and then to this day.

You’ve been quite successful in choir, being chosen for Honor Choir all four years of HS. What did it take for you to achieve that success?

The greatest obstacle I had to overcome was making the conscious decision time and time again to push through difficulty when I felt like giving up on my love for music. Of course, I didn’t realize how much I loved music until I was in HS, but there have been times when I questioned whether going through with my desire to participate in music was worth it. I took piano lessons for 6 years as a kid and I distinctly remember this one time during a lesson when I couldn’t stop looking at my watch waiting for the lesson to end. My teacher (with whom I later worked in HS, coincidentally) caught on and asked if I was waiting for the lesson to end, which made me feel slightly guilty. At that point, I resolved to start focusing more during lessons and accepted that if I really did want to pursue music, I would have to put in the work, no matter how mundane it seemed. Much later, when I was a junior in HS I started taking bass guitar lessons. Having learned how to play piano and guitar already, I was somewhat disappointed at how long it took me to learn how to play the

bass, and I was convinced I wanted to quit until I joined Jazz Band in my senior year and realized the potential in my ability to play the instrument. Since then, I have improved my skills and knowledge as a musician in ways I couldn’t have predicted and I have not once regretted continuing to take lessons.

What have you learned from choir that has helped you in your life outside of that activity?

In Kindred, the HS chamber choir at TAISM, Mrs. Brink, our teacher and director, emphasizes the importance of teamwork in choir. One thing I have realized about teamwork through my time in choir is that it isn’t just about cooperation, it has just as much to do with having the patience to follow others and taking the initiative to lead when necessary. I joined Kindred as a freshman in high school and I remember being inspired by the talent of the older members through their direct coaching and by simply watching and listening to them. I’ve slowly built my confidence as a member of Kindred and am now comfortable leading the group when necessary as well as respecting others when they are leading the group. I apply what I’ve learned about the dynamics of teamwork every day in my classes, during after school activities, and during everyday situations with my family and friends.

Describe some of the other activities and opportunities that your participation in choir opened for you.

Last year I was cast as the lead role in the spring musical, All Shook Up. In all honesty the part was probably one of the most challenging things I have ever done. I had to step way out of my comfort zone by dancing in front of others when I was inwardly super self-conscious about my totally apparent inability to dance. I also had to act again, which I hadn’t done since freshman year, and was something I had to work hard to improve at in middle school. The one thing that really kept me going during the process of preparing for the musical was the opportunity I had to sing. I had to push my vocal range and learn new vocal techniques in order to play the part and I think the

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challenge of that—doing something familiar but at the same time entirely new—motivated me give my full effort to the musical. If it weren’t for my previous experiences with music, I would have never had the courage to do the musical.

Can you recount a specific event/highlight that you think everyone can relate to that you will look back upon fondly?

In sixth grade, my long-time friends Majd and Mazen performed alongside me in the end of year talent show. With Majd on the drumset, Mazen on the guitar, and myself on vocals, we did a cover of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” for the entire MS, as well as staff and parents. Sixth grade was a year of firsts for me—joining the musical, joining track & field, and becoming friends with people I hadn’t ever really talked to before—so it was a challenging new experience. Needless to say, going up in front of all my peers and all the older MS kids was something that took a great deal of courage. What’s strange about my memory of the talent show though is that I don’t remember feeling nervous walking up to the stage or even while I sang. The only thing I remember clearly from that day was feeling like I had truly accomplished something—like I had solidified my place in the new world of MS—when I walked down the steps from the stage and high-fived my classmates as I walked by.

Was there a teacher who had an impact on you? Can you tell us a bit about them?

Mrs. Brink, who—surprise—is also my aunt, has been an invariably formative influence on my learning as a musician. I’m sure anyone that knows Mrs. Brink from participating in choir knows how dedicated she is to helping her students develop as musicians and grow as compassionate people. Mrs. Brink has always pushed me to give my best effort in music, from the time she encouraged me to audition for Honor Choir as a freshman to the time she persuaded me to perform a solo in Coffee House as a sophomore.

Her love for music and teaching is inspirational and I think a lot of the passion that I have for performance and songwriting can be attributed to her influence.

Why do you think it’s important that TAISM includes music throughout the K-12 program?

In my opinion, one of the reasons music is so powerful as a way for people to connect with themselves and others is the fact

that it’s so versatile. It’s an art form that anyone can participate in through listening, performance, composition, and so many other ways. Music is its own entity to each and every person in that everyone has their musical preferences but even if you don’t listen to music much, there is always something out there that you can relate to. It’s something that’s deeply rooted in our existence as human beings, not something that only certain people have the capacity to be part of. In that sense, I think it’s extremely important to incorporate music into education. When it’s hard to relate to someone because they have different beliefs or opinions, all of that dissolves when you perform the same music alongside them. It’s like any sport or activity that requires teamwork in that you need to share a common goal and work together to create something beautiful. Music teaches character, compassion, and a sense of community that can sometimes be difficult to find in a world so chaotic.

Do you have any advice for young performers?

The best advice I could ever give to anyone—about choir or life in general—is to just be yourself. I know it sounds cliché but being true to myself was something I had to work on constantly as I grew older and developed as a student and really as a person in general. I think sometimes people forget that—at its core—music is self-expression.

It doesn’t matter if one is singing a song that has been sung millions of times in the past or writing a song using the same four chords that are used in every pop song—there is always something distinctly unique in the way someone expresses themselves through music. Just tonight I performed alongside my peers in Kindred and Jazz Band in Red Night and while I was performing I wasn’t making a concerted effort to sing and play all the right notes and rhythms as much as I was just trying to break down the barriers between myself and the audience (as well as my fellow performers) by performing the music in a way that was true to myself. In the spirit of staying true to oneself, I would also say that it’s important to realize that the process of developing as a musician is your own. No two people share the exact same experiences as they learn and grow, and that’s a central part of who we are as humans, and without that, music would not be the same dynamic, powerful force that it is in our world.

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DONALD AND ELOISE BOSCH CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The Donald and Eloise Bosch Center for the Performing Arts at The American International School of Muscat (TAISM) was inaugurated in a concert for parents, students, and honored guests on May 28, 2012.

In addition to Mrs. Eloise Bosch and family members, H.E. Richard Schmierer, US Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, was present for the opening event which included performances by the High School Bands and Choirs. During that week, a series of performing arts events took place, celebrating the grand opening of the new center.

The Bosch Center for the Performing Arts was completed on the TAISM campus in Ghala. It includes over 4000 square meters of performance and audience space and seating for 522. The development of the school’s campus was designed to accommodate this spacious enhancement to the academic and activity programs.

The architect for the building was Navjit S Matharu, A+D Canada.

Mr. Matharu has worked with the school since the implementation of its master plan in 2000. Major consultants included Schuler Shook Theater Planners and Lighting Designers and Threshold Acoustics, both located in the US. A major design component is the acoustical treatments and the center. Wenger Corporation from Minnesota, USA, was the designer of the acoustical shell and side panels.

Tim Willson, former TAISM Music Teacher, served as the school’s Project Manager.

This Center is dedicated to Donald and Eloise Bosch – both of whom devoted their lives to the service of humankind. Fifty-seven years ago this extraordinary couple and their three children set foot on the shores

of Oman. As they stepped off a small wooden boat and onto the beach, they entered a country little known to the outside world, and astonishingly different from the prosperous and dynamic nation that Oman has become. Neither compulsion nor the promise of financial reward inspired the Bosches’ journey. They came because they were obeying the essential moral challenge proclaimed by all the world’s great religions: to love one’s neighbor as oneself.

We at TAISM recognize that life is full of challenges, and as the faculty, staff and students endeavor every day to live out the meaning of our motto, “Rise to the Challenge,” the lives of Donald and Eloise Bosch provide inspiration and elicit our admiration. Indeed, they epitomize the fulfillment of our motto. As one of only two surgeons in Oman in the 1950s, Dr. Bosch treated every ailment imaginable, from trachoma to tuberculosis, from malaria to malnutrition, occasionally seeing as many as 200 patients a day. To care for the sick and needy beyond Muscat, he traversed mountains along rough trails and crossed the desert plains of the interior to serve remote villages.

And while Dr. Bosch was busy in his hospital, Eloise Bosch took upon herself the great challenge of teaching literacy, numeracy and health care to students of all ages. When the demands on her staff exceeded their capacity, she worked tirelessly to train teachers who could meet the growing needs of a people hungry for knowledge and skills to improve their lives in a rapidly changing world.

But the Bosches were more than a caring doctor and a committed educator. They demonstrated what it means to live a good life. In addition

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to their remarkable accomplishments in wardrooms and classrooms, we also celebrate their spirit of curiosity and passion for the arts. Throughout their lives, no subject – be it linguistics, anthropology, or natural science – was beyond their interest. Without formal academic training in conchology, they cataloged over a thousand types of seashells indigenous to Oman and South Arabia, including twenty species of shells new to science. True to form, they shared their impressive knowledge by authoring two books on the subject. The Bosches also loved music, story-telling, drama, and dancing. Every weekend, they opened their home to people of any culture or nationality interested in learning the lively art of squaredancing. Treasured memories of those joyful evenings spent dancing under the stars remain vivid in the minds of all who were fortunate enough to have experienced the Bosches’ special brand of hospitality.

The Bosches’ lives highlight the vital role that the arts play in human life and society. Art enhances our capacity to think, feel, and imagine.

It knows no borders and recognizes only our shared humanity. The Bosch Center for the Performing Arts, named in honor of this remarkable couple, will enrich the lives of our students by deepening their appreciation for all forms of artistic expression, and will offer students new opportunities to develop and share their artistic abilities. It is our hope that the Center will stand as a physical and spiritual celebration of all they achieved as human beings, and as an inspiration to students to meet life’s challenges, artistic and otherwise, as the Bosches did - with courage, compassion, enthusiasm and love.

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“

I had the pleasure of taking part in four years of Festival of Choir, and all four were once in a lifetime experiences. One moment that stands out for me. In my senior year was when we performed Sure on this shining night by Morten Lauridsen, a song that has followed me from choir to choir both in university and beyond. In the part of the song where the men sing on their own, I remember tearing up and looking to the girl next to me, who did the exact same thing. That girl was from Saudi Arabia, and Lærke Termøhlen Mikkelsen Class of 2012 came from a completely different culture than I - but we bonded over the Research Assistant and Student, genius of that song and our inability to hold back tears, even in front of MA History University of Copenhagen that many people.

”

Copenhagen, Denmark

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FESTIVAL OF CHOIRS

Little did Mr. Schafer and I know when we met The Festival carries with it the important ethos of over a coffee in the fall of 2002 that our conversation that lifelong learning in action. While TAISM Festival of Choirs morning would lead to what has become a long-lasting emphasizes quality music-making, it wholeheartedly builds tradition at TAISM and a collective experience of heart and friendships, trust, and compassion around the globe. music that has touched over 2500 people across the globe.

Known to many in the choral field as the TAISM Festival, In addition to the countless staff members, parents, the line-up of renowned guest conductors, commitment and volunteers, thank you to the group of colleagues who on dozens of schools, support of administration, and our have served coordinators of the event: Stephanie Leipzig, staff/parent community have made this festival a truly Tena Bos, Doug Irish, Jacqueline Mallais, Kelly Rauk, and unique endeavor. Not only has the performance space Andrew Elbin. evolved to the beauty of the Bosch Center (we no longer • When Tena Bos decorated the cafeteria with fish bowls have to cover basketball boards with banners and move the (and fish), and the singers named them during their grand piano downstairs), the experience has had a ripple breaks. Later, we had lucky draws for who got to adopt effect on the recruitment and development of home choral them. programs. One educator who brings her students • TAISM singers creating teaser publicity videos each year shared with me that she felt a major Joey Hoffman fixing the bed perfectly for his guests reason why her enrollment has increased by 40% or counting down the days until they arrive is due to her students participating at TAISM and • Bruce, the pet dinosaur who served as an assistant returning home with that energy and enthusiasm to Dr. Aspaas to carry on at their own school. Our friends in • Keith Boniface’s opening slide show (10 the region continue to join us along with choirs commandments) at the welcome assembly from Africa, Europe, far east Asia, and even North • Dressing up as an astronaut in a teacher skit to go America. On average, each festival involves about Melanie Brink over the rules and expectations 150 students representing 40 nationalities from Choral Music Teacher • Friend and past TAISM teacher Tommy 15 international schools.

Artistic/Educational Duncan, who carves time out of his schedule

And while it has changed through the Director for TAISM to still travel back to Oman each year to see the years, what remains steadfast is the intention to Festival of Choirs concert bring people together of all experience levels who • Grandma Kay Rauk making over 200 yarn truly have a desire to collaborate and make music with one necklaces for our warm fuzzies activity another. During the two days, participants are engaged • Jumping through huge inflatables on the soccer pitch in approximately 15 hours of rehearsals – polishing in a choir director’s race preparations in the weeks leading up to the time together. • The tents, artificial evergreen trees, camp-fire singing Singers learn about endurance, voice care, and choral and s’mores for Camp Sadugudu excellence. TAISM families host the visiting students in • Our first piece commissioned for the festival, their homes, and organizers design special ways for the Kooloona Wahed (Though Many, One) composed by students to connect with one another through communityKyle Pederson....and preparing it during class with builders, games, challenges, and social events. Promoting Juan Quintana. professional development for choral music educators, • The strategy to get our teenagers to rehearsal on time including the chance to collaborate, observe rehearsal by drawing random names to bring them up to stage methods and participate in workshops is a final key thread to participate in a goofy challenge led by Greg Brink or of the time spent together.

Luther Rauk.

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Dr. Nicole Lamartine University of Wyoming

2018 A Door Opens

Dr. Jeffery Redding West Orange High School

2017 Shine

Dr. Edith A. Copley Northern Arizona University

2016 Heart of the World

Dr. Christopher Aspaas St. Olaf College

2015 Though Many, One

Dr. Anton Armstrong St. Olaf College

2014 In Sweet Accord

Dr. Lynda R. Hasseler Capital University with Special Guests, Philomel Capital University

2013 In Every Corner

Dr. Sandra K. Peter Luther College

2012 Hearts All Whole

Dr. Lauren Fowler-Calisto Newport University

2011 World of My Devising

Mr. Phillip A. Swan Lawrence University

2010 From This House, To the World

Dr. Therees Hibbard University of Nebraska

2009 Let Your Heart Be Staid

THROUGH THE YEARS

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ELEMENTARY MUSIC

Looking back on TAISM’s Elementary music of middle school choir and band. program since the school’s inception, I am struck by how TAISM’s elementary music program has a much growth and progress I see. Twenty years ago, there heavy emphasis on building school community through was just one music teacher for all students K-12. Now there performance. With fall, winter, and spring concerts each are two teachers dedicated to only Elementary music, plus year, plus extra performances at assemblies, parent coffees, two more for Middle and High School students. Music and all-school events such as International Day, TAISM is a huge part of the Elementary school culture students have opportunities galore to share their and TAISM kids are lucky enough to have plenty talents. The bi-annual class concerts where students of musical opportunities from the moment they sing, play instruments, and dance are highlights that start Kindergarten all the way to their fifth grade students and teachers alike look forward to all year graduation and beyond. long.

In my five years teaching music at TAISM, For children who are looking for even more music Elementary children attend music classes every opportunities outside of the school day, there have other day for 40 minutes – that’s a lot of music! been a plethora of after-school activities to choose During classes, they focus on singing, playing from. A few of the past options include: World Rachel Elbin instruments, dancing, and creating their own music Drumming, Write your Own Opera, Musical Board ES Music through improvisation and composition. In the Games, Recorder Club, Ukulele Club, the annual younger grades, they use percussion instruments Elementary Musical, and Singing Eagles Elementary and the classroom Orff instruments like xylophones and Choir. Students in after-school activities experience even metallophones to create beautiful music to accompany their more opportunities for performance than in the regular singing. As the students progress to the upper elementary school day. Just last year, the Singing Eagles performed in grade four, they add recorder playing to their skill set. the Omani and American National Anthems at a special Anyone walking through the fourth grade hall in January dinner for the US Ambassador. can tell you one of the most exciting days of fourth grade As I look to the future, and TAISM’s next 20 years, is the day they receive their soprano recorder! In fifth my hope is that the music program remains strong, the grade, students continue with their recorder study and opportunities available to our students expand, and that also learn the ukulele. They croon popular tunes and camp TAISM continues to use music as a means to connect with songs while strumming along on their ukulele. By the end others. As jazz musician Roy Ayers said, “The true beauty of their time in elementary school, students have all the of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and singing and playing skills needed to tackle the challenges we, the musicians, are the messengers.”

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CHORAL MUSIC THE FAMILY OF #223 Melanie Brink Grades 6-12 Choral Music Teacher

Nothing touches the heart like music. At TAISM, we believe our voices are gifts we share with the world and being part of a choir is a lifelong collective endeavor.

Each singer is a vital part of the program, no matter where they are on their learning journey. We express in singing what sometimes cannot be expressed in spoken words, and while most people only get to witness our concerts - the polished work of many hours of preparation, it is the small, day to day moments in the choir room (room 223) that I hold in my heart as some of the best moments of my life.

Students come and they go. Some drop the class and later rework it into their schedule. And some get to grow up here and have choir every other day for 7 years. That’s the nature of it. The big lesson that I’ve learned is to be mindful of our moments together.

Our concerts have progressed from the green gym to the blue gym to the Bosch Center. The retreats, coffee houses, concerts, and assemblies have continued. Middle school students get to all participate in the performing arts and during this second decade we changed Encore to a mixed chamber choir setting called Kindred. In 2010 we began an annual RedNight concert for building compassion being a socially engaged musician. In 2013, my dear friend, Jason Drahos (former TAISM teacher) and

I began a spring showcase called Choralation. And 2018 is a record-breaking year, with 12 qualifying singers + 2 alternates for AMIS (international honor choir). One of my favorite moments each year is when alumni students join us for Like and Eagle at graduation.

To my past and present students, I hope you look back with fondness of the little things that were the big things in 223: the blue spinning chair, the sunflowers, the cozy red furniture that was always being moved, making puzzles, morning stretches, finding the school’s best acoustical corners during rehearsal, Ms. Alice, the bulletin boards that collected our images through the years, Do (the deer), our random acts of singing, who gets to unlock the practice rooms, measure your numbers, the sunshine artwork, position #1, strike the pose, many mumbling mice, stretches, Ms. Yumi, sirens, jazz hands, jive, jam, our choir mottos, and sparkle. I also hope you will remember the voices of your friends. If you hear a song we learned, make sure to sing along, and the mistakes loud and proud.

TAISM and 223 is definitely one of my happy places. Here is where I use my voice to feel more human, practice wellness, honor compassion, work alongside the best educators in the world, teach my nephews, raise my sons, and be home.

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TAISM BAND

High School & Middle School

A highlight for the band program was the commissioning of a new music composition by American composer Rob Grice, in honor of the opening of TAISM’s Bosch Center for the Performing Arts in 2012. Since its premiere, the “Mountain of the Sun” (inspired by the tallest mountain in Oman and Arabia, Jebel Shams) was published by C.L. Barnhouse, and has been performed by bands around the world. It has also been a traditional favorite as part of TAISM’s graduation ceremonies.

TAISM’s bands have played an important role for the school community since the school’s beginning. By 2008, the program had grown to include High School Concert and Jazz Bands, and three Middle School bands in grades 6 - 8, with performances being held in the Saud Bahwan Performance Hall (the first theater at TAISM) and Blue Sports Hall, and later shifted its performances to the school’s new Donald and Eloise Bosch Center for the Performing Arts.

Yearly, the band students have participated in the Association Music in International Schools (AMIS) Honor Band, the South Asia Inter School Association (SAISA) Band Festival, and most recently, hosted the citywide Big Brass Festival.

TAISM Band Directors 2008-2018

Tim Willson (2005 - 13) Denise Bell (2012 - 14) Paul Lindley (2013)

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Michael Buck (2014-16) Dylan Dwyer (2016-18)

SingaporeLuxembourgAbuDhabiBeijing TAISM high school and middle school musicians have made lifelong memories through events such as AMIS and SAISA choir and band festivals. These opportunities allow our students to learn musicianship from renowned professionals in the field and collaborate with student musicians from around the world.

Here are just a few of those memories...

“

A positive impact TAISM had on me is the fact that I had the

opportunity to sing in choir throughout each grade of my attendance, which eventually led me to study music in college. My first memorable solo was in the third grade out on the large field that expressed the following words:

You will when you believe.

�

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Maria Chalhoub

Class of 2015 BA Music Student University of Tampa Tampa, Florida, USA

gNewDelhiBerlinDubaiKathmanduDoha

“

What I thought would be another high school band concert turned out to be one of the most memorable nights in my TAISM experience. The jazz band played Soul Bossa Nova , the penultimate tune for that concert. I had a drum solo at the end of the tune. After completing the drum solo, the crowd gave me a standing ovation. What made the occasion more special was that my dad was in the audience. Seeing him see me being appreciated in a non-academic setting was great because I had also been doing well in the classroom. He had a big smile on his face that is very hard to forget.

Josh Awe

Class of 2015 Studying Mechanical Engineering Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

�

I slept well that night.

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High School Productions Middle School Productions Elementary School Productions Advanced Drama Productions Special Productions

2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Directed by Kris Hovland/Melanie Brink Directed by Kris Hovland/Melanie Brink Directed by Gwen Willson Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland/Melanie Brink Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Sammy Habib/ Omar Maan (HS Students) Directed by Gwen Willson Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Jason Drahos Directed by Kris Hovland/Melanie Brink Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland/Jason Drahos Directed by Gwen Willson Directed by Kris Hovland/Melanie Brink Written and Directed by Dee Dee Dvirna (HS Student) Directed by Kris Hovland Faculty production Directed by Kendra Kuti Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland/Melanie Brink Directed by Gwen Willson Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Rachel Kerr Directed by Kris Hovland/Jason Drahos Directed by Kris Hovland

Back to the 80’s Aladdin, Jr. Treasure Island A Midsummer Night’s Dream Cut Guys and Dolls, Jr.

30 Reasons Not to be in a Play The Princess and the Porcupine Dragon Tale In a Strange Land and Booby Trap Will and Whimsy A-Haunting We Will Go Goldilocks on Trial and Monster Hunters

The Jungle Book, Kids Once on This Island Rules of Comedy A Brief Unit on Interdimensional Heroism Dear Edwina, Jr. Pinocchio Mulan, Jr. DeeDeeby and Homework Eats Dog

The Frog Prince and Rapunzel Uncut Is There a Comic in the House?

Circus Olympus The Little Mermaid, Jr. A Dickens of a Christmas Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone Stardust How I Got That Part & Winning Whiners

Treasure Island The Music Man, Jr. The End of Civilization as We Know It and Wait, Wait...I Can Explain Directed by Kris Hovland Grade 8: Aesop’s (Oh, So Slightly Updated) Fables and School Daze

2008-18 DRAMA 2011-12

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2012-13

2013-14

Directed by Kris Hovland Student Production Directed by Hamda Qaiser Directed by Kendra Kuti ; Music Director Andrew Elbin Directed by Rachel Elbin ; Music Director Andrew Elbin Advanced Drama Class Directed by Kris Hovland Music Director Andrew Elbin Choreography Loralea Wood

Rules of Comedy Grade 8 15 Reasons Not to Be in a Play and 18 More Reasons Not to Be in a Play The Hope and Heartache Diner The Haunting of Chip Lake Lodge Seussical, Jr. Magic Tree House - Pirates Ten/Two High School Musical

2016-17

Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland

Directed by Rachel Elbin ; Music Director Andrew Elbin Directed by Kris Hovland/Andrew Elbin Choreography Loralea Wood

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Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kendra Kuti

Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland

Hoodie Honk Magic Tree House Facing-Up Selfie & Superheros Grade 8 Three Important Pieces of Pink Paper and A Nuther Thing The Outsiders Dorothy in Wonderland Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Jr. Freckleface Strawberry The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon Grade 8 The Odyssey and Cinderella and the Step Fairy Godmother The Bold, The Young, and The Murdered All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned from Being a Zombie and The Other Room Romeo To Go It’s a Wonderful Neverland and Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit Annie, Kids All Shook Up

2015-16

Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kendra Kuti Directed by Rachel Elbin/Wendi Buck Directed by Kris Hovland/Loralea Wood Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland

Xanadu

2014-15

Directed by Kris Hovland/Melanie Brink Choreography Loralea Wood Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kendra Kuti/Wendi Buck Directed by Rachel Kerr Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland Directed by Kris Hovland

PRODUCTIONS 2017 - 2018

2009 2011 2010

Elementary Productions 2012 2013

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2015

2014

2018 2016

2017

63

2010

2011 2009 2011

Middle School Productions

2013 2012 2013

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2010

2014 2015

2016 2017

65

2018

2009 2009 2008

High School Productions 2010 2013 2010

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2011 2012

2011 2018 2013 2012 2016

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2013 2014

2015

High School Productions 2014 2015

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2016 2016

2017 2017

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2018

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Varvara Smirnova Class of 2019

V A isual

rts

“Visual art teaches children to make good judgments about qualitative relationships, that problems can have more than one solution, and that communication is not limited to written and spoken language.”

Eisner, E. The Arts and the Creation of the Mind.

In 2004, four years after TAISM’s inception, and most importantly, to provide students with the Visual Arts Department, Elementary through opportunities for decision making, a valuable skill High School, made a dramatic shift by that is particularly relevant today with information formats continually shifting adopting the shared philosophy that and solutions seldom constant or clear the making of meaningful art and the understanding of art’s impact on society cut. Over the past decade, through three and culture is best approached through curriculum adoptions, and many staff and administration changes, the Art a shared knowledge and application of Department has held strongly to the the Elements and Principles of Art and belief that an art education based on these Design. Adopting this core construct shared principles and a commitment to set in motion a collaborative effort to empowering students with the ability to develop a common language and design a K-12 continuum in which students “make educated judgments” supersedes were provided a variety of opportunities mercurial circumstance, and provides Raymond Montoya our students the crucial life skills to within a variety of media, to make HS/MS Art Teacher qualitatively assess and effectively integrate meaning through meaningful making.

The emphasis of the making process was essentially new information.

“

The Fine Arts program brought me to where I am today as a fashion designer with all the facilities and access TAISM gave me because I had no exposure before I entered TAISM. I would like to thank all the teachers who pushed me to become someone.

”

Al’Ainaa Mohamad Zunaidi

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Al’Ainaa Mohamad Zunaidi

Class of 2011 Founder and Creative Designer of AZ Couture

ELEMENTARY

ART

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MIDDLE SCHO O L

ART 74

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HIGH SCHOOL

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ART 77

HIGH SCHOOL

MIDDLE SCHOOL

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&

ATHLETICS

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“

You can gain nothing less than a positive experience

while taking part in TAISM’s extracurricular activities.

I recall my senior year when I took part in several, student council to yearbook. Although some days would last near twelve hours, I’d not have continued unless I knew it were something I loved and would

”

appreciate in the future.

“ Naomie Geneau

Mark Chalhoub

Class of 2014 Masters in Architecture Class of 2021 University of South Florida

I will never forget the opportunities to travel and compete in athletics, namely, track & field in Cairo and volleyball and soccer in Doha. Traveling and competing with individuals of different nationalities has given me a deep cultural appreciation. This is something that I will consider in my practice as an occupational therapist when working with diverse populations. Overall, extracurricular experiences at TAISM have given me lifelong friendships and have shaped the way I operate in my day-to-day life in terms of fostering a healthy school-life/work-life balance.

Class of 2011 Student – Master of Occupational Therapy McGill University Montreal, Canada

”

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WINNING THE DAY TAISM HS Sports Program

I

events deemed appropriate by the member schools.

As educators committed to the ideal of realizing the full potential of each student, we believe the fundamental aim of SAISA is to promote the values of collaboration, creativity, sportsmanship, and fair and ethical competition.

While acknowledging the notion of ‘winning’ in sporting events and other competitions, a recognition more important is that students come 2009-2012

TAISM continued its participation in the together to participate in various activities in the International Schools Activities Conference (ISAC) truest spirit of cooperation and competition, and with schools such as AIS Riyadh, ABA Muscat, AIS develop physically, emotionally, creatively and Abu Dhabi, AIS Cairo, Universal American School intellectually through the sporting, academic and Dubai, Universal American School Kuwait, Al Nahda artistic experiences themselves.

In the SAISA league so far, we have hosted National School Abu Dhabi, ACS Amman, New boys soccer, track and field, swimming, and girls British School Cairo and ACS Damascus. volleyball. This has been a great community

Our school was proud to host ISAC builder for our school. It takes many people tournaments in volleyball, soccer, basketball to pull this off and TAISM’s volunteer-ism and swimming at the 50m pool at Sultan shines through during events like these. Each Qaboos Stadium. We attended tournaments at tournament consists of hosting 100-180 student ABA Muscat, AIS Abu Dhabi, AIS Cairo as well as numerous tournaments in Dubai and Abu Luther Rauk athletes in TAISM family homes, building Dhabi.

Athletics and relationships with local professional referees,

Expanding our opportunities outside Activities organizing catering and logistics for the threeDirector day tournament. Many people put in many our league, TAISM also participated in various hours to do this. TAISM teams also get a chance invitational tournaments. The list includes CEESA Swimming in Poland, EMAC Boys Basketball to travel and compete at other schools in our league. at ABA-Muscat and Track and Field in CAC Cairo These trips are often a highlight of the year for many students and coaches. and Addis Abba.

TAISM has continued its reputation for displaying Positive Sporting Behaviors both on and off 2012-Present

In 2012, TAISM moved into the SAISA the playing field. Our coaches are great role models (South Asia Inter-School Association) league which and they all DO TAISM PROUD. We have grown at the time included 10 teams. In 2017, the league in our program and have placed first in girls soccer, now has 11 schools. The countries represented are swimming, boys volleyball, girls basketball while Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Jordan finishing second place in boys soccer, girls volleyball, and Oman. This league is comprised of like-minded girls basketball, swimming, and track and field in our schools whose purpose is to promote and coordinate short time in the league. We have accomplished this regional professional development activities, academic by doing the little things correctly so we can win the and cultural festivals, athletic tournaments, and other day with heart! n the past 10 years, TAISM sports have gone through quite a transformation. The beginning years saw the student athletes competing in the same sports we have now: soccer, basketball, swimming, volleyball, and track & field. But the second half saw a change in leagues and programming that gets us to where we are now.

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“ SERENA LEE ’18 ” Profile of a TAISM Athlete TAISM Swim Team Co-Captain

Can you describe some of your earliest memories of swimming and football and as always, continued swimming. Because of the at TAISM? solid athletic foundation swimming has provided for me, I have I’ve been told that as a baby, my parents just flung me into the been lucky enough to travel and compete at SAISA 15 times, and water and hoped for the best. While that may or may not be true, continue to grow and expand my athleticism everyday.

I definitely have been swimming for as long as I can remember. Can you recount specific events/highlights from elementary, Most of my earliest memories of my time at TAISM are connected middle and/or high school that you think everyone can relate to the pool. I remember breathing in the smell of chlorine that to that you will look back upon fondly? lingered on my hands and in my hair while sitting down for read One of my favorite memories has been the All-Night Relay. aloud in elementary school. I remember the kickboard races Ms. The All-Night Relay was a swim event where the swim team Grace officiated in P.E., hearing the shrill whistle that signaled collected sponsors and had at least one swimmer in the pool the end of Learn To Swim and being so disappointed that class swimming laps all night long in order to raise money for cancer. was over already. When I was in first grade, I was enrolled in the Although we haven’t done it for several years, I still remember Learn to Swim Program, and I remember being so disappointed gathering in the green gym to lay out our sleeping bags and that I had to wait until I was old enough to join the swim team. being shaken out of sleep by our coaches at random hours in In third grade, I swam the first relay of my life with Natalie the night to get in the pool and swim our 1000 meters. As little Baltimore, Cassie Irish, and Sophie Redmond. We didn’t come elementary schoolers, we were both awestruck and nervous to first; in fact, I’m pretty sure we came last, but the excitement be having a “sleepover” with all the big kids, but by the time we and thrill of that moment is one that I’ll never had our pancake breakfast in the morning, all forget. our worries were forgotten and we always felt You’ve been quite successful in swimming, an acute sense of camaraderie with the whole breaking SAISA records and now going on team. to compete in college. What did it take for Was there a specific coach or teacher who you to achieve that success? had an impact on you? Tell us a bit about The ability to be successful in swimming them. is a combination of both the community In my TAISM swimming career, I have and individual aspects of the sport. Being been lucky enough to have three different head successful in swimming means making coaches: Ms. File, Ms. Walker, and Ms. Lee. yourself physically uncomfortable every day.

These coaches have each played their roles It means waking up early for practice and in shaping me into the swimmer I am today. going to bed early so you can get enough The person who has had the biggest impact rest. It means eating like a horse and having on me as a swimmer, however, has been Ms. your friends wonder where on earth all the Grace. Ms. Grace has been around since the food is going. But overall, swimming is not beginning, and I have come a long way under individual; it’s a team sport. Hands down, the her instruction. She is the person who first got biggest contributor to my personal success was me excited about competitive swimming, and my team. Practices are long and tiring, and encouraged me to join the team. I have been sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to swimming with Ms. Grace for 12 years now, come each day. Sharing laughs with someone and I can’t think of the TAISM swim program while planking, fitting entire stories into the “I have been swimming without thinking of her. span of your rest intervals, hearing the cheers Why do you think it’s important that of your teammates as you swim a race - these with Ms. Grace for 12 years TAISM has swimming in its PE curriculum are the things that make swimming worth it now and I can’t think of throughout the K-12 program? and what motivate me to be more successful. the TAISM swim program Swimming is an important life skill to I have had a lot of different teammates without thinking of her.” have. Oftentimes, if kids aren’t exposed to the throughout the years, but no matter who they water when they are younger, they never learn are, they have always inspired me to work harder and have made how to swim. Not only is that dangerous, but it also prevents me excited to come to practice each day. Every success I have had them from having opportunities, similar to the ones I have had, in the pool, I owe to my team and my coaches. in their lives.

What have you learned from swimming that has helped you in Describe how you’re going to use your experience in TAISM your life outside of that sport? swimming in your college life.

Being in swimming, as well as any other sport, is a huge My experiences in the TAISM swim program throughout the time commitment. It has taught me more than anything how years have cemented my love for competition and the water, and to balance my time. Juggling schoolwork, sports, and social have made me want to continue swimming in the years to come. commitments is a skill I have learned over time and one which They have provided the base for me to continue to grow from as I has become a norm in my life. Being able to focus in on what I swim for the Carleton Knights (Carleton University; Northfield, am doing in the moment has helped me be more successful both MN) in college next year. as an athlete and as a student.

Do you have any advice for young athletes?

Describe some of the other sports, activities, and opportunities My advice to young swimmers is to be prepared for challenges that your participation in swimming opened for you. and to embrace them when they come. Understand that every When I was in elementary school, swimming was the only trial you face is an opportunity to get better. Cherish the moments sport where you could compete. It was in the pool where I first with your teammates because they are the moments that you’re discovered my love for competition, and where I learned about going to remember. Listen to your coaches, and don’t be afraid to what it meant to be an athlete. In middle school I joined basketball try new things. Most importantly, keep going.

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ISAC and SAISA Tournaments

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“

Although I was only at TAISM for one year, the school really made me feel at home from the beginning. My time on the swim team was unforgettable, giving me the opportunity to compete internationally. I loved the long-lasting friendships I made and my exposure to all the diverse cultures. Discover Oman was one of my fondest memories, where I not only had the opportunity to get to know everyone better but it also showed me how beautiful the country really was. TAISM taught me how to appreciate change, which has helped me not only in university, but will also benefit me in my future career endeavors in pursuing physiotherapy.

�

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Jalisa den Hartog

Class of 2011 BSc. Kinesiology (Hons) Research Coordinator Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada

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ELEMENTARY ATHLETICS & AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

The ES ASA program is a popular aspect of our elementary students life. The chance to stay after school and be with their friends and teachers is one that most children jump to. Students have done a variety of activities that are academic, arts or athletic inspired. There have even been some just for fun. The students and teachers see this as a valuable part of the learning process and continue to grow the program.

There are three sessions each year and the activities change each time.

Since 2012, the ES Sports program has been part of the MPSL, Muscat Primary Sports League.

Our students get the opportunity to play games and competition against other schools in our host city.

They are able to build relationships and experiences outside our school walls. We have competed in soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country events during this time. ES swimmers have the opportunity to participate on the TAISM ES swim team throughout the school year. Swimmers compete in other meets against swimmers their age from other schools in Muscat.

One fun event held annually is the TAISM Relays.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL

SPORTS

Middle school sports have developed in a number of ways during this time period as well. With the addition to the SAISA league, our middle school swimmers and track athletes can join the SAISA team to compete. This has really increased the level of commitment and excitement for them. Our students have hosted swim and track meets here at TAISM as well as travelled to India and Sri Lanka. The MS sports program is seeing an increase in games played in the MSSL, Muscat Secondary Sports League. They are now able to divide the teams by age groups and get more games for each student.

“

During my four years in Oman, TAISM has shaped my personality positively in many ways. TAISM has taught me to never give up and inspired me to do my best at all times, no matter how hard it might have seemed at first. What I’m probably the most thankful for is that TAISM has changed my perspective of the world which I live in. I really enjoyed being on the swim team, both in elementary school and middle school. I loved going to swim meets in different schools or countries. The best memory of swimming was in the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex when I reached my goal by breaking a school record.

I really miss the friendly Omanis and the great climate of Oman. I also miss being part of a great community and learning something new about the diversity of the world from each other every single day of the school year due to the international atmosphere.

This school stands out from other schools with all of its inspiring teachers who are always ready to help and I also love how The American International School of Muscat allows each of us to be a unique individual and to follow our dreams.

Virag Fetter

Clas of 2020 Left in 2015 Fráter György Catholic High School Miskolc, Hungary

”

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“

I credit my immense love for sports to TAISM’s

fantastic sports teams. The values that are instilled in us as tiny athletes and continuously taught not only make us better sportsmen but better individuals. I can truthfully say that spending both my ES and part of my MS career swimming and playing several sports as an Eagle is an experience you never forget. TAISM’s way of making everyone feel welcome is something you miss once you leave. Having been a part of both the school’s arts and sports communities, the bonds created with both teachers, peers and upperclassmen are a significant contribution to that feeling; also something you don’t forget. TAISM’s way to make a new foreign place feel like home is incredible and

”

memorable.

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Olivia Ericsson

Class of 2018 Left in 2012 Senior at The International School of the Stockholm Region Stockholm, Sweden

TIMELESS

TRADITIONS

DISCOVER OMAN FA L L F E S T I VA L INTERNATIONAL DAY

TERRY FOX TAISM BALL RAINBOW DAY UNITY DAY SPIRIT DAY

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL

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Pedro Manuel Jimenez Antenucci Class of 2016 Left in 2012 Chemistry Major Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, Louisiana, US

“

What I miss most about Oman is the rich culture and the people I was able to meet throughout my six years in the country. I was able to meet and make memories with many people around the world in TAISM and learn about their different cultures. With the numerous events and activities from TAISM, such as Discover Oman or International Day, these are memories I would wish to relive again. My favorite memory of TAISM is probably all the International Days or Discover Oman 2012 when we went to Khaluf. Until this day, I still have my green Khaluf 2012 DO group sweatshirt and I wear it around when I have a chance. Ever since I moved to the United States, pictures and videos from friends and teachers from Oman make me reminisce immediately and make me want to visit Oman when possible.

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Renee Spiteri

“

Class of 2011 B. Sc. Dalhousie University Fund Development Coordinator at Laing House Halifax, NS, Canada

The TAISM community exposed me to so many foreign languages, traditions, and over 50 nationalities and cultures in one place. I loved seeing the beauty of the country, walking through the desert with camels, meeting locals crafting silver plates, and cooking goat in the ground during Discover Oman. Exploring new countries with teammates during sports tournaments was always a lot of fun too. I feel lucky to have called it home for four years. What a great place to become a young adult!

”

Solita Montoya

“

What TAISM brought me is four years where I met amazing students, friends and teachers.

We are still in touch with some of them. It brought me, as well, openness because being open to new cultures is one thing, but living with so many different cultures is another and it’s a privilege…

I wish anyone could experience that. Thank you TAISM and all its staff! Concerning Discover Oman, I think this a wonderful concept that was done by TAISM because it allows the students to discover the beautiful country they live in, to learn about it and even interact with some Omani people. It allows them as well to interact with each other because all students in high school are mixed together so you’re not necessarily with the ones that you talk to you usually. I think it’s a great opportunity.

”

Melody Forato

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Class of 2011 Auto Entrepreneur Lille, France

Maria Mamaclay

Kristen Wilson

Lucas Spelsberg

Nabaa Al Kooheji

Yujin Jin

Aida Rusyda Sajali

Dandy Isdiawan

“

Class of 2013 Student Masters of Architecture University of Strathclyde Glasgow, Scotland, UK

I still call Oman home even after moving to two different countries after I graduated. My parents still live in Oman and I recently did a summer internship for an architecture consultant firm there and it felt like I never left. I did as much as I possibly could when I was at TAISM: athletic teams, STUCO, dramatics arts, etc., and these opportunities helped me become the person I am today. It’s hard to pick one memory to talk about but I always manage to refer to my time in Oman every time I meet someone new. It is an interesting topic to talk about, a country that not many people know. It was the first country I moved to and I could not have been more grateful that Oman and TAISM was my first experience of living abroad. I always look forward to going back and hopefully one day will be able to take my (new) friends with me, so they can experience the beautiful country and culture I grew up in.

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”

THE DISCOVER OMAN PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS

UNIQUE CULTURAL, PERSONAL, INTERPERSONAL &

ENVIRONMENTAL E X P E R I E N C E S. FROM THESE EXPERIENCES, WE HOPE OUR STUDENTS WILL

L E A R N, REFLECT &

GROW AS INDIVIDUALS.

“ Marcell Fetter

Class of 2018 Left in 2015 Fráter György HS Miskolc, Hungary

During my freshman year I travelled to Wahiba Sands with my Discover Oman group.

After a full day of riding camels in the middle of nowhere, we finally reached our camp for the night where we played a special game with our Omani tour guides. Our group was on top of a sand dune, pick-up trucks and camels all around us. The temperature was dropping slowly as the sun was going down accompanied by all shades of yellows and oranges on the horizon. Meanwhile, we were playing long-jump with the locals for a two rial prize...

All kinds of different nationalities can work together and have fun in TAISM. This is one example of how TAISM taught me to accept and tolerate all kinds of different views, ideas and nationalities.

”

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DISCOVER OMAN

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ES DO FISH SOUK DHOW RIDES

MANGROVES BAKERY

ROYAL CAVALRY FARMS FORTS MUSEUMS OMANI TENT DAY 98

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MS DO CAMP FIRES SAND DUNES

CAMELS DOLPHINS ABSEILING SNORKELING

MOUNTAINS TURTLES 101

HS DO HIKES BIKES FERRY RIDES

STARGAZINGTREKS FJORDS KAYAKS PHOTOS FRANKINCENSE

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Karis Clark Cecilia Siracusa Earl John Pagdanganan

AWARD-WINNING STUDENT DO PHOTOS

Liney Bezuidenhout

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Jack Spilles

Katya Nadezhdina Naufal Pranata

Phoebe Weng

Ashley Gill Jennifer Dixon Meredith Macfadyen

Neive Cosker

“Beauty has an address.”

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FALL

FESTIVAL Fall Festival means parent volunteers working all week with the coordinator to create a festive atmosphere for elementary school kids with eye-popping decor and candy GALORE! It means seeing all your teachers dressed up in costumes holding HUGE tubs of candy from around the world (that you KNOW they wouldn’t want to eat too much of) and you trick-or-treating with them through the hallways of the school... right outside your classroom!

Remember how sometimes your crazy-costumed teacher made you laugh and sometimes they made you scared?

Fall Festival really wouldn’t be the same if Miss Lillie didn’t scare you with her creepy witch costume! Was that REALLY her?!

Fall Festival means playing games with “big kid” volunteers, walking through the 5th graders’ wax museum, and throwing a sponge at Mr. Hovland! But most of all, it means dressing up in your favorite costume and having fun together!

CLASSIC COSTUMES THROUGH THE YEARS PIRATES

HOGWARTS SUPERHEROES

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ROYALTY

MONSTER

RS CHARACTERS STAR WARS

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INTERNATIONAL DAY

In March 2018, TAISM celebrated its 20th International Day with more booths and more nationalities represented than ever! International Day continues to be the highlight of the year as the diverse community of TAISM comes together to celebrate our cultural backgrounds and our collective identity as a school community. Community members of all ages wear clothing to identify their home country, eat foods from around the world, and enjoy performances of dancing and singing from variety of cultures throughout the late afternoon and evening. There are activities for the whole family from henna painting to games and shopping.

“

TAISM was my home away from home for five years. When I look back on my time at TAISM, my heart becomes full with some of the best memories, amazing opportunities, and exposure to an exciting and different lifestyle that has ultimately shaped who I’ve become today. My exposure to TAISM’s tight knit and intercultural community played a huge role in my decision to continue living abroad and pursue a career in International Development.

Since graduating from TAISM, my case of the travel bug has only grown stronger and influenced my decision to move to Cuba for three months and hopefully to many other parts of the world in the coming years.

”

Laura Brissenden

Class of 2014 4th Year Student Dalhousie University Major in International Development Minors in Psychology and Spanish

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TERRY FOX LIVES at TAISM

T

erry Fox has become a special tradition in the TAISM community, promoting awareness about cancer research efforts and raising money for a very successful childhood leukemia project at Sultan Qaboos University. In 2018, we celebrated our 11th Terry Fox Assembly and Run.

Terry Fox was a young Canadian who lost his leg to cancer. In 1980, Terry Fox ran 3,339 miles from St. John’s Newfoundland to a place just east of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He had run a marathon equivalent of 26 miles a day for 143 consecutive days, and the Marathon of Hope raised $24 million (equal to one dollar for every Canadian at that time).

Terry was awarded the Companion of the Order of Canada, and he is an inspiration to Canadians and people across the globe. His heroic journey captured the hearts of Canadians. Even though Terry did not complete his Marathon of Hope, he inspired millions of people around the world to continue his legacy.

Throughout the years, each division of TAISM holds lead-up events to raise awareness and money about Terry’s dream of curing cancer. Events have included t-shirt sales, wrist band sales, coin drives, pep rallies, and countless high school students and staff have participated in the ever-popular ‘Terry Fox Head Shave’. The annual all-school assemblies have had students and staff perform in rock bands, lip syncs, air bands, games and contests. In 2018, to celebrate TAISM’s 20th year, older students were matched with younger students to become ‘Courage Buddies’, to form connections across grade levels through Terry’s story.

The culminating event is the all-school Terry Fox Run on and around the TAISM campus.

It is always a wonderful way to come together as a community to support families right here in Oman.

The money raised at TAISM is donated to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital’s leukemia research project which studies why leukemia treatments in Oman are less effective than elsewhere. The study funded by TAISM has played a central role in increasing the survival rates of the most common type of leukemia from 20-30% to 80%, which is comparable to the outcomes of the leading treatment centers around the world. Our community’s efforts are actually saving lives here in our wonderful host country!

In 2014, Judith Fox-Alder, International Director of the Terry Fox Foundation and sister of the legendary figure, visited TAISM for the annual event. “I was moved to see the kids donating their allowances to keep Terry’s dream alive, especially the little first graders donating their baizas. I’m so excited and honoured to be here. It’s awe-inspiring to see how far Terry’s legacy has come,” Fox-Alder commented on her visit to TAISM. “Terry Fox has been my personal hero since...I was four years old. It is such an amazing feeling to see the students here at TAISM be just as inspired by Terry’s story as I was at their age. He inspires us all to dream big, serve others, and to persevere. Terry lives on, here at TAISM!” Laura MacDonald, HS/MS teacher and Terry Fox Team leader.

36 ,696

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Amount of Omani rials raised by the TAISM community in honor of Terry Fox from 2008-2018.

X

“I’ve said to people before that I’m going to do my very best to make it. I’m not going to give up. But I might not make it… if I don’t, the Marathon of Hope better continue.” Terry Fox 111

While students get their Winter Formals and Proms, the TAISM Ball is a tradition saved exclusively for the parents and staff. Year to year, the Ball is an evening for adults in the community to dress up and have fun together. Creative themes over the last ten years, reflected in the evening’s decorations, food and music, have included jungles, Hollywood, jazz, tango, swing, circus, Motown, and the Mad Hatter, and to commemorate the 20th anniversary of TAISM: Fire and Ice. The evening is full of laughter, dancing, and fabulous prizes donated by generous benefactors. Funds raised by the TAISM Gala Ball have gone towards funding additional playgrounds, the three libraries, pool starting blocks, local charities, and many other initiatives that have greatly improved TAISM over the years.

TAISM GALA BALL 112

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Elementary School

TRADITIONS

5TH GRADE OVERNIGHT

Few ES traditions are anticipated more eagerly or remembered more fondly as the day when grade 5s head out for their overnight trip. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the desert or by the sea, it’s always a fantastic trip as the precursor to the MS DO trips.

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CULTURE SHARE

The elementary school provides opportunities for students to share their ethnic traditions and celebrations so that others might learn from the many different cultures represented among the student body. Each year, teachers and parents share their appreciation for Diwali, Christmas, Eid, and Oman National Day, among other holidays celebrated throughout the year, around the world.

RAINBOW DAY

On Rainbow Day, students are sorted into color teams and presented with games of physical, individual, and team challenges such as the classic parachute obstacle course. The day culminates with healthy snacks from parent volunteers!

ES has loads of traditions celebrated throughout the year. Zero the Hero makes visits to the KG classrooms to teach “0”. Gr. 5 does their wax museum project to present their biographical research.

Children’s Book Week and reading buddies celebrate books. Remember having your parents come in for sharing and reading aloud? Or the KG/EC costume parade leading up to Fall Festival?

Finally the Gr. 5 transition ceremony marks the end of each student’s elementary school career and the move on to middle school.

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SPIRIT WEEK

Spirit Week is a week of school spirit and fun that gets the students excited every year. It has been a part of middle school for many years now and it’s a great way to have fun while meeting new friends, since the grade levels are mixed up into color teams. A whole day is dedicated to playing games, cooperating with teammates, and building relationships to build MS pride!

Middle School

TRADITIONS 116

There are so many great middle school traditions: signing TAISM shirts for departing students, science presentations to family and friends, volunteering at Fall Festival, building a lander for the egg drop test, Battle of the Books and of course, the rollercoaster project.

And who can forget those crazy, fun middle school parties?

MINI COURSES

Mini courses are often remembered as one of the favorite highlights of one’s middle school years.

Remember trying to piece together a gingerbread house with homemade icing? What about tearing apart some of your favorite electronics and learning what they’re made of? What about swaying to the beat of salsa music while trying to avoid stepping on your partner’s feet? Launching self-built rockets, playing American football for the first time, and learning new card games from Mr. Campbell to use on DO are more great memories to look back upon fondly from the middle school years. Mini courses are a great MS tradition that kids still look forward to every year!

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SENIOR RETREAT TALENT SHOW BATTLE OF THE BANDS SENIOR T-SHIRTS THANKING

There are memories made every day in the new events at TAISM. The traditional events run deep here, especially for seniors, from the senior retreat to cap and gown portraits and attending one last ES assembly to yell the TAISM cheer. Then 2nd semester they’re climbing Mt. TAISM and sooner than they realize, they’re decorating the HS hallway for their last day parade and suddenly it’s graduation night!

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High School

TRADITIONS OIG PICTURE DAY HALLOWEEN MT. TAISM SOCIALS PROM SPIRIT WEEK GRADUATION

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THEMAKE PEOPLE THE PLACE “

The staff is beyond amazing. The heart they put into helping a student grow is something I will never take for granted. Not only do they set an example of how to be a functioning adult, they taught me how to be a contributing global citizen. Every day at school started with the arts giving me the tools to build my own personal “cowbell”; how to add a little extra heart into everything. I stocked up on common sense, critical thinking skills, and analytical reasoning skills while going through classes. This made a huge difference in my first year in college. I was miles ahead of everyone thanks to my higher-level classes in TAISM. Finally, I grabbed a pack of essential leadership skills from High School Student Council which really helped me through everything I applied for in college.

”

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Clarris Jilan

Class of 2011 Personal Trainer Malaysia

Martin Zupan

Class of 2011 Left in 2007 High School Math Teacher The American School of Quito Quito, Ecuador

“

What I miss most about TAISM? The small, yet everloving community between friends, teachers, and parents.

Also, my first track and field meet in Cairo was unforgettable.

”

“

TAISM is unique in the community it fosters, and the distances the support from that community will travel. Since graduating, I’ve met up with former teachers in China and Thailand, stumbled across another TAISM alum on a train to Tibet, and met up with classmates all across the U.S., including a reunion in the mountains of Colorado.

We share a bond built out of the unique, amazing, indescribable experience of our time in Oman. Through university, jobs, travels, tragedy, heartache, and massive amounts of change, these people have always supported me, and always will. TAISM prepared me for university because it was a place where you didn’t have to fear failure. It was a place to experiment, and try, and learn. It was the place I first tried Model U.N., which I continued through college and is part of the reason I’m applying to law school. It was the place I first tried being a leader. It was the place I first fell in love, the place I learned the value of friendship, the place I first rebelled, and the first place where I felt like I truly belonged.

Kalli McCoy

Class of 2016 Elliott School of International Affairs George Washington University Washington, DC ,USA

”

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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Denell Hilgendorf TAISM Teacher

Michelle Hoffman TAISM Teacher

Julia Hoffman Class of 2022

Heidi Mekawi Class of 2005

Nikita Ramdutt Class of 2011

Valerie Pauw Class of 2016

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FRIENDS WE’VE LOST

Sammy Habib Class of 2010

Emily Stambaugh Class of 2014

Vishnu Mohan Class of 2014

The Memorial Fountain, in remembrance of Michelle and Julia Hoffman, located in the Reflection Garden.

Left TAISM in 2001

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Amanda Avery Class of 2007

The memorial plaque at the top of Mt. TAISM.

TAISM: What is in a Name?

Our family arrived in Oman in 2002, a few years after TAISM began and before the Muscat Expressway existed. At that time, reaching TAISM required negotiating a permanent snarl of trucks and cars fighting for the right of way at a nearby Ghala Road intersection. TAISM was much smaller then, a number initially augmented by three and eventually four of our daughters. Krisztina and Josie are now in college or graduate school in the US, Natalie graduates in 2018, and Vanessa, our youngest, is in elementary school.

Through our daughters, my wife Eszter and I have directly or vicariously experienced the full range of school activities including Festivals of Choirs, Discover Oman, senior retreats, climbing Mt. TAISM, Coffee Houses, Terry Fox runs, Spirit weeks, MUNs, proms, hosting visitors, bands, International Days, plays, community service, Rainbow Days, ISAC and SAISA athletics, concerts, and all-night Swimming for a Cause relays.

And then there were those who were part of the journey but are no longer with us: Katherine O’Shaughnessy was the founding Board Chair whose boundless dedication was fundamental to ensuring TAISM’s success. Don and Eloise Bosch were firm TAISM supporters and exemplary in their selfless devotion and service to the Sultanate. Vanessa had the wonderful Michelle Hoffman as her teacher before she was tragically taken from us. Their names are justifiably memorialized on campus but for me, I can still see their smiles, sense their infectious enthusiasm for life, and hear their gentle voices.

Working with Director Kevin Shafer, the Boards of Directors, support staff, teachers, and other parents, we have done our best to help over the years. Of course, nothing would have happened without His Majesty’s generous grant of the land.

Let us all celebrate what the name TAISM has become.

U. S. Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III (retired)

Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III (ret’d) and his family: Josphine (‘15), Natalie (‘18), Eszter, Krisztina (‘12), and Vanessa (‘26) Baltimore.

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The

TAISM Family TAISM is one big family; whether it’s having your grandparent bring you to school, coaching your son on the football pitch, dressing alike for International Day, running together for Terry Fox (after your daddy had his head shaved to raise money for cancer research), or boxing out for your brother’s drive to the SAISA basket. TAISM families rise to the challenge together!

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PARENT

VOLUNTEERS It takes a

VILLAGE

Our school relies heavily upon the countless volunteers who give their time and talents to make TAISM a better place: being an ES Room Parent, working on the Friends of the Library, decorating for the TAISM Ball, serving on the International Day committee, making signs for Festival of Choirs, livestreaming a sports event, making food for Empty Bowls, feeding our Terry Fox participants, donating candy for Fall Festival, hosting visiting athletes, putting together the Taste of TAISM community cookbook. The list goes on and on. TAISM would not be the same without the help of each and every volunteer.

Special thanks to Tena Bos, Jeanette Gill, Betina Rasmussen, Shana Robisch, Beata Jirkovszky, and Natasha Fernandes who have all served as Parent Volunteer Coordinators over the last ten years. These ladies each brought their special charm, organizational skills and creativity to make TAISM an extra special place.

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TAISM STAFF Maja Vejlgaard

Class of 2015 Left TAISM in 2013 Medical Student Copenhagen University

“

The enthusiasm and effort that the teachers put into teaching and students into learning is incomparable to any other school I have attended. The teachers sincerely care and believe in the students’ futures, which is truly a wonderful thing to experience.

”

Members of TAISM Staff 2008-18 staff in blue.

2017-18 staff in bold.

Nadia Abougoush Poonam Ahuja Rabab Al Abdullatiff Mohammed Al Amri Mohammed Al Balushi Nassar Al Balushi Tariq Al Balushi Mohammed Al Foori Nasser Al Ghabshi Habiba Al Harthy Khazina Al Harthy Sabra Al Harthy Muzna Al Hooti Bushra Al Jardani

Badar Al Mamari Fatma Al Marhoobi Muna Al Marhoobi Sabrina Al Maskary Ruqaiya Al Moosawi Eman Al Mujaini Wafa Al Saqri Mazen Al Sheikh Fatma Al Sinawi Sara Al Taei Nadia Al Taie Abubakar Al Zadjali Faisal Al Zadjali Mohammed Al Zadjali Qaisar Al Zadjali Yousuf Al Zadjali

Fatma Al Zadjali Zulfa Albusaidy Catarina Almeida Mary Almquist Christina Alwazeer Nancy Amaya Mary Pat Ankerson Hilda Ashkar Randa Awwad Sathish Babu Thomas Baby Ellen Bagnato Greg Bagnato Lloyd Baker Valerie Balboa

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Lauren Bastion Loveleena Bawa Carissa Becker Curtis Becker Nicolina Becx Denise Bell Sarah Bernhardt Timothy Bernhardt Ravneet Bhatia Lena Bjelland Melissa Boehman Ilse Boersma Martijn Boersma Keith Boniface Tena Bos

“

TAISM stands out and is so special because of the teachers that form such a significant part of our community. The commitment they have to their students’ personal and professional development is evident; conversations I’ve had with TAISM teachers have stuck with me until this day. They have directly influenced how I’ve lived my life and the education and career decisions I’ve made, especially in wanting to create positive change in the world.

”

Yoko Lohrer

Class of 2012 The Hackney Pirates London, England

from 2008-09 to 2017-18

Aaron Braszell DeLana Brink Greg Brink Melanie Brink Scott Brink Cheryl Brown Sarah Brown Michael Buck Wendi Buck Linda Buteyn Amy Cabaluna Thomas Cabaluna Clodagh Cahill Ricardo Calderon Andrea Callaway

Ryan Callaway Jeffrey Campbell Sandra Carden Shiju Chacko Christopher Charnitski Danielle Charnitski Shybu Chenthamarakshan Hendrita Colaco Breege Conneely Sara Cooper Kerry Craig Lucas Craig Mark Crowell Stacy Crowell Kaye Dales

Alison Dalton Abhipsha Das Paola Diaz Charlotte Diller Jason Drahos Tommy Duncan Hemant Dutia Preeti Dutia Dylan Dwyer Samantha Dwyer James Ebert Sara Edquist Andrew Elbin Rachel Elbin Lydia Elmore

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Lea Elzein Elisabeth Erni Mark Evans Deborah Evans Daniel Everett Natasha Fernandes Zulima Fernandez Lisa File Nelson File Elisabeth Fischer Robert Fix Melissa Foltz Brian Foudy Diane Foudy Gregeory Fredlund Continued...

“

Vilde Solberg TAISM became a home to me, where the staff made me feel safe and Class of 2016 Left in 2011 valued, while at the same time pushing me to perform my best in all Law Student situations, giving me the confidence needed to rise to the challenge at University of Bergen the time and in my further studies.

�

Bergen, Norway

Members of TAISM Staff Continued 2008-18 staff in blue.

2017-18 staff in bold.

Jeannette Friggle Sunita Furtado Karen Gates Catherine Gellatly Severine Gerard Jessica Gibney John Gibney Veronika Gibson Janette Gill Christopher Glenz Anupama Gokul Julie Gossett Victoria Green Julie Griep Carla Grove Joost Guttinger Shawna Hampton-Riddle Kerry Harder Eleanor Haynes Ryan Haynes Chris Hays

Darija Hays Rebecca Henderson Miguel Herrera Sarah Herrera Darcy Hindash Alexandra Hoepfner Michelle Hoffman Mike Hoffman Daniel Hovland Kristine Hovland Kevin Huseth Caitlin Hutchinson Maya Ibrahim Kenneth Ingram Douglas Irish Theresa Irish Robert Jackson Nirmala Jayaram Courtney Jensen Beata Jirkovszky Aju John Carey Johnson Chad Johnson

Kelsey Jones Chrystal Kelly Shawn Kelly Juliana Khairi Ghada Khalifa Carla Khalil Rizwan Khan Dimple Khanna Jacob Kriefall Katie Kriefall Gokul Krishnan Gita Kumar Brian Kuti Kendra Kuti Dora Kwarteng Jenny Kwok Keya Lahiri Steven Lake Daniele Lane Christopher Lang Kelly Lang Martha Langille

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Cori Lee Peter Lee Rachael Leibel Ryan Leibel Julie Lim Amy Lindley Paul Lindley Aloysious Lopez Amanda Lovett Jeffrey Lovett Grace Luna Madelene Lundholm Chris Lynch Laura MacDonald Carla Macleod Zakaria Makri Jacqueline Mallais Zach Manker Nissreen Mansour Tawnya McClurkin Sharon McGowan Ali McNulty

Oleg Tuzlukov

Class of 2013 Master of Management Candidate University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada

Stephanie Meyers Tatiana Modrisan Marcello Mongardi Samantha Mongardi Raymond Montoya Mary Moore Robert Moore Andreea Munteanu Lillie Najafali Joel Nelson Tina Nelson Abigail Newman Jeremy Newman Geoffrey Odell Erika O’Hearn Maria Elisa Olleros Sarah Osborne Lisa Pakish Deepali Pandya-Rao Nancy Patalinghug Kathryn Pattarini Mario Perdiguero

Richard Petersen Juliette Pieuchot Babu Poulose Colin Price Kelsey Price Ana Puarattana Betina Rasmussen Kelly Rauk Luther Rauk David Redmond Fiona Reekie-Evans Brady Riddle Bretta Ringo Stephen Ringo Carol Rizzardi Shana Robisch Kara Roland Travis Roland Bridget Rose Taline Sabbagh Zarita Saldanha Kevin Schafer Denise Serna

“

TAISM’s Drama department helped me gain confidence in public speaking and presenting. I was shy and barely spoke English when I entered 7th grade in 2007. Having been in nearly a dozen plays, I got used to the adrenaline rush from the stage fright and fell in love with talking in front of large crowds.

”

Urmila Seymour Kathy Shelden Sachin Shetty Manjeet Sidhu Kiran Singh Leta Slupik Alexis Smith Hillery Smith Steve Smith Melody Soderberg Jean Soonawalla Pamela Spalla Carl Spilles Paige Spilles Anne Stevens Michael Stevens Patricia Stimpson Effie Stone Brooke Stoneman Ritu Suri Joshua Takayoshi Tennielle Tripp Julie Turner

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Trisha Tynan Emily Uhar Joanne Verling Vandana Verma Kathy Walker Caroline Webster Jason Webster Emilia Weiss-Belinfante Michelle Werre Gwen Willson Tim Willson Julie Wilson Sandra Wilson Sophie Wilson Loralea Wood Nick Wood Rashondra Woods Elizabeth Wright Michelle Yarnell Thomas Yates Eva Yates Lindsay York Rachel Zammuto

“ Nedjma Ababou

Class of 2013 Soon-to-be Registered Nurse Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia

The people I met and the teachers I had at TAISM always pushed me to do my best and believed in my potential, which has profoundly shaped my drive and ambition today.

Being part of MUN taught me public speaking and voicing my thoughts, and Discover Oman sparked the adventurer in me that now I can never go too long without a hike. I miss the feeling of being a big family at TAISM and I am always proud to say I graduated from that high school!

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�

“

What I miss most about TAISM is the diversity of people who shaped my life in that school. I have yet to find an environment as culturally and intellectually diverse as TAISM. The school was an ideal launching pad for a global community, and I miss that “pre-launch” fellowship which naturally thins out after graduation.

”

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Shaon Lahiri

Class of 2008 PhD Candidate George Washington University Washington, DC, USA

Where Are They Now?

What a few of our former TAISM staff are up to since leaving TAISM:

Sandy Carden, Mazen Al Sheikh and daughter Maya live in Dubai, U.A.E and work at the American School of Dubai.

The Herrera family lives in Saudi Arabia while working at Aramco Schools.

Above: The Bernhardt family: Tim, Sarah, Henry, and Luke are enjoying living in Tokyo, Japan while working at the American School in Japan.

Right: Joel and Tina Nelson now have Amelia and Reid in their family. The Nelson family has been back in Vancouver, B.C., Canada ever since they left Oman. Far right: Lloyd Baker, Nancy Patalinghug, and daughter Amber live in Jeju, Korea.

Friendships endure! Mrs. and Mr. Jackson now live near Ms. Stimpson and Mr. Boniface in Vermont, USA. The Bagnato family is also in Vermont so they frequently enjoy bike rides together.

Jackson update: Daniel graduated from Dartmouth and moved to Washington, D.C. to work on environmentally efficient homes. Sarah is working at the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) that works to tackle climate change through cooperation and policy making with corporations and communities. Robert is doing research on possible book projects, and traveling to visit family and friends. Nora in finishing her first year at Bowdoin College.

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The Bos Family: Michael and Tena live between Lake Hopatcong in Mount Arlington, New Jersey, and NYC. Michael is currently the Senior Pastor at Marble Collegiate Church in Midtown Manhattan.

He also teaches Islam at the Collegiate School for Boys in NYC. Tena loves every minute of being a “stay at home dog mom.”

Austin is a student at New Mexico State University and is engaged to marry Aubrey this summer. Alicia lives in Manhattan and is the Personal Executive Assistant to the head of a financial firm in Midtown. She is engaged to be married to Tim.

The Crowell family keeps busy chasing their twins while still making time to travel with dear TAISM friends like the Kuti family. The Crowells are soon moving to Romania to teach.

The Price family is at home in Bend, Oregon, USA and enjoy frequent outdoor adventures with their daughters.

The Riddle family lives in Shanghai, China while working and attending Shanghai American School. They recently enjoyed a visit back to Oman and caught up with many TAISM friends and former students.

Chris Lynch and Carol Rizzardi are retired and living in Northeast Florida. They enjoy writing, gardening, playing softball, and babysitting two grandchildren. Mr. Lynch and Ms. Rizzardi are also politically active and are dedicated to fighting for justice, peace, and the environment.

Travel is still a big part of their lives.

Lisa and Nelson File live in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia where Mr. File is the Head of School of the Friends’ School. Amy and her partner, Charlie recently welcomed John into the world! Lindsey is in her third of college studying environmental management at the University of Queensland. Spencer is in his third year at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, USA. Spencer is majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Peace and Conflict Studies and Japanese.

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Class of 2009

Front row: Shaymaa Al-Riyami, Justina Olubunmi Awe, Saffana Al-Rahma, Inti Al-Hosni, Patricia Putriningsih Djami, Jaymie Anchum, Alexis Tabakow, Bernadine Moodley, Iqra Mumal, Samuel Santi Matthew. Second row: Kami Davis, Kathryn Anne Clark, Brittni Ballou, David Vakarcs, Mariana Martinez, Kathryn Walker, Catherine Romeo, Rega Jha, Kristen Hill, Valeria Diaz. Third row: Kritravin Wirasamba, Ian Cook, Dorit Erichsen, Amanda Boye, Aymen Jaffar, Carlos Eduardo Pirela, Megan Curtino, Michael Spiteri, Chaparro “Steven� Martinez, Zuhair Salem, Rachit Kumar. Back row: Mazin Al-Said, Majid Sultan, Mark Matheny, Farian Rahman, Gautham Jacob, Angad Sidhu, Samuel Kapoh, Rafic Mushantaf.

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Class of 2010

Front row: Michelle Cramer, Nadia Al-Taie, Fadi Jada, Rawiya Al-Hosni, Pelin Saglam, Daniel Azam Azmir, Sara Behairy, Eline Mikkelsen, Ashley Breckenridge, Sullivan Geneau, Jeremiah John Zafra. Second row: Atish Joshua Sarker, Rumaytha Al-Hosni, Aashti Bawa, Alexis Kiernan, Jacqueline Jagerman, Magdeline Mathew, Lauren Moss, Amy Shelden, Emily Molinari, Vanessa King, Solita Montoya, Haider Imtiaz. Third row: Charlotte Punter, Esther Dutt, Alexandra Bickerton, Christopher Scott Jardine, Fahad Qaiser, Austin Bos, Diana Lundholm, Hasan Friggle, Mohamed Ednizam Mohamed Zamri. Back row: Jameel Nabhan, Talal Said, Chalie Bhasavanich, Marianne Berglind, Nicholas Tabakow, Rowan Alexander Saint, Carl H. Hurtado, Sameer Habib, Matilda Louise Anderson, Salah El-Din Farid, Lorenzo Strolla, Omar Maan.

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Class of 2011

Front row: Andrea Rendon Salazar, Ahmed Al Bualy, Emilia Guzman, Daniel Mamaclay, Naomie Geneau, Yaseen Malik, Chabely Clarke, Marvin Mathew, Clarris Anak Jilan, Eric Pagdanganan, Al Ainaa M. Zunaidi, Caitriana Haynes. Second row: Jose Miguel Diaz, Khaled Behairy, Eskender Betrou, Hyeong Jun Kim, Clarissa Martinez, Henco Jansen, Hanna Sjostrand, Melody Forato, Christin Benjamin, Juhi Nair, Alicia Richins, Maria Elise Monsen, Renee Spiteri, Jalisa Den Hartog, Aswath Sridhar, Axsel Bogle. Third row: Saheel Khan, Arran Katz, Sari Alaaiddin, Kareem-Fahmi Jamal, Justin Coles, Nadia Najafali, Maigoro Yunana, Christiana Haynes, Kelsey Garrity, Natasha Leipzig. Back row: Joshua Zafra, Braedon McCoy, George Vrampas, Robbie Weavers, Rami Mushantaf, Michael L. Patten, Nicholas Mut-Tracy, Abdullah Al Asfoor, Faris Al Zaabi.

Not pictured: Nikita Ramdutt and Sofia Svantesson.

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Class of 2012

Front row: Diego Alizo, Hye Jin Lee, Krisztina Baltimore, Rania El-Desoky, Amy File, Mohamad Rusydi Bin Sajali, Gabrielle Hodges, Ade Aprianosa Paath, Jong Wan Kim, Shady Younes. Second row: Rickard Lundholm, Max Kapoh, Kevin Enns, Lin Jacques, Nihara Sarker, Jason Anchum, Maria Rozo, Daryna Dvirna, Jason Pillai, James Tarik Al-Said Marriott. Third row: Sheena Cooper, Yoko Mershen, Stephanie Oppenhuizen, Nadia Al Wahaibi, Stefan Ross, Laerke Mikkelsen, Kalli McCoy, Mariah Curtino, Alexandra Hart Vrampas. Back row: Aimee Brisbin, Omari Richins, Robert Clark, Dany Chalhoub, Chevez Raju, Dino Herak, David Moss, Nicolas Seifert. Not pictured: Eric Elbeih

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Class of 2013

Front row: Jones Oluwatumi Awe, Madelene Habib, Sebastian Deschamps, Fatima Jamal, Deloris Renap Anak Jilan, Malik Al Wahaibi, Nedjma Ababou, Brenda Bomnuri Lee, Valentina Urdaneta Serrano, Claudio Barezani Gomes Jr., Ira Tuzlokova. Second row: Nur Ain Ibrahim, Aida Rusyda Sajali, Tica Brenes, Tara Mary Aziz, Rabia Qaiser, Rhea Kimaya Singh, Filipe Jovic Aleixo, Sharon Igali, Debbie Pristi, Moza Al Wahaibi, Sumaiya Al Balushi, Afnan Al Yafaey, Maria Mamaclay. Third row: Mohammed Behlim, Mathias Tjarko Cramer, Leon Adriaan Vissers, Malik Dayyani, August Boye, Mannan Bawa, Joe Punter, Kyle Kenney, Ann-Britt Vejlgaard, Teresa Oliviera, Alexander Hossaini, Daniel Jackson.

Back row: Caroline Nordstrom, Massimo Attina, Nicholas Gorman, Ash Abd El-Monsef, Oleg Tuzlokov, Tale Bjelland, Salim Al Farsi, Salman Al-Busaidi, Ahmed Dasan, Isabela Silva Avila, Husam Al Shuhaimi.

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Class of 2014

Front row: Amanda Jada, Sara Saleh, Elena Yepes Shutova, Lily Djami, Yoleen Govender, Amani Abubakar, Jessica Russell, Arwa Dayyani, Kaylynn Ashby, Jennifer Dixon, Karen-Anna Kolset, Lyndsay Madison, Hajir Al Ajmi. Second row: Daniel Daley, Wael Al Daghari, David Alizo, Benjamin Jacques, Layan Al Moosa, Jonathan Nicholson, Fady Barssoum, Imad Abdulkadir, Jacqueline Strohmeier, Shireen Alasfoor, Kyra Alexander Kenney, Mai Iskander, Laura Brissenden, Hamza Adil. Third row: Ayman Jamal, Lakshya Dutia, Wit Phoonsiri, Karl Obame-Ondo, Luka Bikovski, Dori Kenessey, Ralph Mushantaf, Makram Ashkar, Nora Vissers, Stephen Swain, Amy Ross, Brian Teo. Back row: Leo Serna, Vilhelm Andersson, Heriberto Olier Souza, Ghazi Al-Chammat, Mark Chalhoub, Alexander Stacofsky, Reenam Sami, Niya Abdulkadir, Fatimah McElhinney, Bryan Ford, Pierre Danu Kristanto, Erron Pagdanganan, Mohamed Saleh, Hanan Jarrar.

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Class of 2015

Front row: Nouman Aziz, Mutaz Al Yafaey, Arvind Manivannan, Assam Munir, Sami Habib, Lohith Marisetti, David Ayad, Oghenerouna Omonigho, John Awe, Jishnu Kidile, Vitaly Berdyshev. Second row: Sanad Amesh, Maher Al Balushi, Saif Al Hajri, Joshua Awe, Usama Al Mahrizi, Mark Andrew Jr. Turner, Majid Al Busaidi, Maria Maksimova, Gaelle Roubault, Vanessza Fentor, Brittany Greene, Virginia Attina, Tania Sofia Olier Souza, Catarina Aleixo, Ali Al Lawait. Third row: Maria Chalhoub, Abeer Al Mouquaimi, Patricia Fosberry, Mai Al Harthy, Vanessa Gillian Seymour, Lauren Hovland, Sarah Khogali, Kristin Wilson, Dinar Sukanto, Maria Al Jazmi, Maria Carasquilla, Maria Soares. Back row: Mohamed Hassan, Chiara Romano, Kareem Samaha, Omar Al Taee, Josephine Baltimore, Leonard Otzen, Joshua Lee, Madeleine Jean Wagner, Rama Charaf, Ashwin Girikumar.

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Class of 2016

Front row: Igat Matthew, Tariq Albusaidy, Sebastian Delgado, Donghyuck Kim, Tollef Bjelland, Mohamed Farag, Jacob Hoffman, Caleb Macfadyen, Ameen Jarrar, Sargon Goriel. Second row: Stephanie Wagner, Shaikha Al Wahaibi, Hajin Hyun, Aayan Ansari, Yunheng Zhao, Amani Ibrahim, Valerie Pauw, Chevontia Bianca Raju, Weqar Al Wahaibi, Salma Al Futaisi, Jihan S. Pristi, Mithaq Al Balushi, Shaima Berri. Third row: Mohamed Abdelhamid, Luis Camero, Fadel Elhsissen, Khalil Charaf, Sasha Bouguir, Patrick Ross, Haris Adil, Daniyal Ansari, Terence Teo, Cameron Sanderson. Back row: Adit Kristanto, Ali Al Farsi, Waldemar Andersson, Alejandro Yepes Shutova, Rehan Bhatty, Jacobus Andreas Intven, Zak Dasan, Jon Hirshfeld, Damian Anak Jilan, Tarun Pherwani. Not pictured: Ahmed Qaiser.

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Class of 2017

Front row: Maryam Al Wahaibi, Ashton William Dsouza, Khairi Shahril, Samar O.M. Khogali, Tanya De Silva, Shirin Al-Busaidi, Randhir Singh, Mohamed Ibrahim, Aaditya Sharma, Elisabeth Jilan. Second row: Zoravar Dhanju, Samar U. A. Amesh, Nabaa Al Kooheji, Ramin Kamran Sami, Earl John Pagdanganan, Salma Ahmed, Vivienne Seymour, Jasmin Yeganeh Garousi, Micah Tewa Wimmer, Asya Eminkahyagil, Dana Sultan, Paola Andrea Junca Urrea, Cameron Hovland. Third row: Mohamed Al Kooheji, Vansh Sood, Caio Rizzini, Jonathan Zaki, Alessio Barbalonga, Elliott Aaron Larson, Alexander Seifert, Sami Jada, Nora Jackson, Haytham Hussain M.H. Fadhil. Back row: Arielle Combrinck, Eman Nasser Said Al Bahantah, Sofia Nadezhdina, Alexander Cramer, David Effiong, Kyle Bradbury, Hamad AlHajri, Ji Hoon Kang. Not pictured: Izza Zulkifli.

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Class of 2018

Front row: Shihab Al Wahaibi, Ana Arosemena, Natalia Castano Palacio, Faith Grenier, Noor Al Zubair, Yasmine Tebib, Fatima F. D. Al-Zaabi, Monica Falla, Antonia Andersson, Maitham Al Hashmi, Layal Sultan, Georgia Griffin, Sami Alawam. Second row: Mary Ann Vacha, Natalie Baltimore, Claudine Paola Urdaneta, Frederik Ferdinand Schulz, Youssef Eldakhakhny, Serena Lee, Omar Ansari, Fien Hinoul, Johnny Yaacoub, Fatma Al Tai, Risa Yamamoto, Abbey Rockett McClurkin. Third row: Logan Mulrooney, Jared Christopher Rogerson, Alexander Sidhu, Majd El Ashkar, Mazen El Ashkar, Ahmed F. D. Al-Zaabi, Ethan Brink, Leo Daniels, Johannes Intven, Agustin Krupka Buendia. Back row: Akanksha Rao, Ammar Habib, Mohamed Al Dhahab, Dvita Kapadia, Hamiz Adil, Juan Quintana Lopera, Firas Charaf, Jack Spilles, Abdul Aziz AlChammat, Jaiffer Sultan.

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TAISM Reunions

August 8, 2015, a group of TAISM alumni held the first TAISM Reunion in New York City. Committee members (right) included John R. Wilson (‘05), Alicia Bos (‘07), Fiona Cook (‘05), Shaun Divecha (‘06), and Maya Harder-Montoya (‘07).

The event was a great success as seen by the crowd in attendance.

“We were all shaped by the same cross-cultural experiences, and coming together after all this time afforded everyone the opportunity to appreciate just how transformative our time at TAISM was! The event was a beautiful reminder that despite the differences in our adult lives, we will always be connected by our unique education,” commented Maya Harder-Montoya on The Eagle website.

TAISM sponsored reunions for alumni, former students, and some former teachers, administrators and board members in Boston and New York in February 2018.

Representation of alumni from the classes of 2004 through 2017 were in attendance.“The reunion in Boston was more of the TAISM warmth that doesn’t stop at the white walls in Ghala...it is genuine and tangible. The TAISM spirit is oblivious to the time gone by - we were instantly back to where we’d left off the last time we were together. The magic travels well,” reflected Keith Boniface. Former staff also in attendence were Pat Stimpson, Tena and Michael Bos (former Board Chairperson), and Robert and Sarah Jackson.

UNIVERSITY ENROLLMENTS 2008-2018 ASIA University of Indonesia, Indonesia Kobe University, Japan Curtin University of Technology, Malaysia HELP College of Arts & Technology, Malaysia Taylor’s Lakeside University, Malaysia University of Nottingham, Malaysia De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Philippines De La Salle College International, Philippines Enderun Colleges, Philippines La Salle College of Arts, Singapore Bangkok University, Thailand King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thailand AUSTRALIA Deakin University International College of Hotel Management, SA Monash University Swinburne University University of Adelaide University of Melbourne University of Queensland NEW ZEALAND Massey University CANADA Acadia University Bishops University Brock University Carleton University Concordia University Dalhousie University MC College McGill University McMaster University Mount Allison University Mount Royal University Ontario College of Arts and Design Queen’s University Ryerson University St. Francis Xavier University St. Thomas University

Trent University University of Alberta University of British Columbia University of British Columbia Okanagan University of Calgary University of Ottawa University of Regina University of Toronto University of Toronto Scarborough University of Victoria University of Winnipeg York University EUROPE TU Wien, Austria RIT: Rochester Institute of Technology-Croatia Technical University of Denmark, Denmark Ecole de Communications de Bordeaux, France Sciences Po, France Jacobs University, Germany Universitaet Heidelberg, Germany Management Studies, Greece University of Malta, Malta Avans Hoge School Tilburg, Netherlands Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands The Hague University, the Netherlands Maastricht University, Netherlands Royal Conservatory of The Hague, Netherlands Tilburg University, Netherlands University of Groningen, Netherlands Naval Science School, Norway Aerodromo de Cuatro Vientos, Spain St. Louis University, Spain IE University, Spain Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden Alpine Centre for Hotel & Tourism, Switzerland Franklin College, Switzerland Glion Institute of Higher Education, Switzerland International Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (IHTTI), Switzerland Webster University, Switzerland Brigham Young University, UK Cardiff University, UK

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Goldsmiths, University of London, UK Hult International Business School, UK Huron University, UK Manchester Metropolitan University, UK Nottingham Trent University, UK Oxford Brookes University, UK Royal Military Academy - Sandhurst, UK School of Oriental and African Studies, UK University of Aberdeen, UK University College London, UK University of Dundee, UK University of Edinburgh, UK University of Glasgow, UK University of Greenwich, UK University of Kent, UK University of Manchester, UK University of Salford, UK University of Surrey, UK SOUTH AFRICA University of Cape Town, South Africa The University of the Western Cape CENTRAL AMERICA Florida State University, Panama MIDDLE EAST American University of Cairo, Egypt American University of Beirut, Lebanon Lebanese American University, Lebanon Notre Dame University, Lebanon Caledonian College of Engineering, Oman German University of Technology in Oman Modern College of Business and Science, Oman Oman Medical College, Oman Sultan Qaboos University, Oman Georgetown University, Qatar Texas A&M University, Qatar Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar American University in Dubai, UAE American University of Sharjah, UAE Heriot-Watt University Dubai, UAE

USA American Academy of Dramatic Arts American University Arizona State University Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale Babson College Bard College Baylor University Beloit College Blinn College Boston College Boston University Bowdoin College Brigham Young University Brown University California State University, Long Beach Carleton College Carnegie Mellon University Chapman University Clark University Clemson University College of William and Mary Colorado State University Columbia College Chicago Columbia University Concordia College Concordia University Dartmouth College Deakin University Eckerd College Ellsworth Community College Emerson College Emory University Epic Flight Academy Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts

The New School Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY Florida Keys Community College Florida State College at Jacksonville George Mason University Georgetown University George Washington University Georgia Institute of Technology

Hampshire College Houston Community College Hult International Business School,

San Francisco James Madison University Keiser University Knox College Lafayette College Lamar University Lasell College Louisiana State University Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Loyola University Chicago Manhattanville College Marymount Manhattan University Michigan State University Minot State University MiraCosta College Mount Holyoke College New Jersey Institute of Technology New York Film Academy, Los Angeles New York University Northern Arizona University Northeastern University Northwestern College Northwestern University Oakland University Ohio Wesleyan University Pacific Northwest College of Art Parsons School of Design Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg Princeton University Purdue University Radford University Rochester Institute of Technology Savannah College of Art and Design School of the Museum of Fine Arts Southern Methodist University Stanford University St. Cloud University St. Olaf College St. John’s College St. John’s University

147

State University New York, Geneseo Suffolk University Swathmore University Sweet Briar College Tarrant County Junior College Texas A&M University Texas Christian University Texas Tech University Tufts University The State University of New York at Buffalo United States Naval Academy University of California, Berkeley University of Chicago University of Cincinnati University of Colorado Boulder University of Houston University of Illinois, Chicago University of Indiana - Bloomington University of Kansas University of La Verne University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Maryland, College Park University of Mary Washington University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Michigan, Ann Arbor University of Nebraska, Lincoln University of New Haven University of North Texas University of Rochester University of South Florida University of Tampa University of Texas, Austin University of Texas, San Antonio University of Texas at Dallas University of Virginia University of Washington Utah State University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Wentworth Institute of Technology Western Michigan University Wheaton College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Xavier University, Louisiana

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TAISM The “

Next Decade

TAISM presents a lot of warmth and community feel to its students and parents alike. I strongly believe that it is one of the core reasons the school has seen so much success and growth over the years.

”

Mihir Khimji

Class of 2004 with his son,

Shaurya Khimji

Class of 2032

“

I wanted my son to experience the same welcoming and nurturing atmosphere I had the pleasure of experiencing at TAISM. The school is so much more than an educational institution because it caters to the mind, the body, and the soul of its students. I feel comfortable sending my son to a place where his well-being remains paramount and where learning is fun, relevant, and personalized.

”

Jimmy El Helou

Class of 2001 with his son,

Michael El Helou

Class of 2032

“

I love how dedicated the teachers are to the students. I love the community feel of TAISM, and that Alaa has the opportunity to learn about different cultures and make friends with kids from different countries.

”

Jeannette Friggle

Class of 2004 and her daughters, Aya (not yet enrolled) and

Alaa Al Kharusi

Class of 2032

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“

TAISM GAVE ME SO MUCH during the nine years I spent roaming the halls : from countless hours of side-aching laughter to friends like no other, and memories to last a lifetime. I am proud to be part of such a special community. TAISM will forever be close to my heart; I am eternally grateful. Forever a TAISM Eagle!

Hanan Jarrar

”

Class of 2014

COME VISIT TAISM SOON, EAGLES

ALUMNI VISITS TO TAISM: Top row left: Martin and Nico Vela with Peter Lee. Center top: Scott Brink with Vilde Solberg and Josefine Bonnesen. Center middle: Virag Fetter and former teacher Kathy Walker on a recent visit with Grace Luna. Center bottom: Back for singing “Like an Eagle” with the choir at graduation: Danu Kristanto (‘14), Deloris Anak Jilan (‘13), Marvin Mathew (‘11), Melanie Brink, Virginia Attina (‘15), and Clarris Anak Jilan (‘11). Right top: Raymond Montoya, Kerry Harder and Youssef Hajjar (‘07). Right middle: Patricia Djami (‘09) and Lily Djami (‘14) visit the art room. Right bottom: Afnan Al-Yafaey (‘13) catches up with Raymond Montoya. Bottom row left to right: Former Board Chairperson Michael Bos and former Parent Volunteer Coordinator Tena Bos visit with Scott Brink at the 2017 TAISM Ball. Shoan Lahiri (‘08) and his wife Nupur visited by former HS Counselor Cathy Neal and former HS teacher Tom Neal for their 2018 wedding reception in Muscat.

Tariq Albusaidy (‘16), Sargon Goriel (‘16), and Dana Sultan (‘17) visit Zarita Saldanha in the HS office.

Editor’s Note: I’d like to thank those people who helped me in this endeavor, including Kevin Schafer for his patience, and colleagues like Sophie Wilson who offered help at every turn. Thanks to my family: Carl, Jack and Hayden, for missing many weekends and mornings with me and picking up the slack. I’d especially like to thank my son, Jack Spilles (‘18) who worked as my TA all year choosing photos, writing text, finding every missing Oxford comma, and keeping me sane. In creating this book I quickly realized it would take me ten years to record a decade worth of memories. It does not include every name, every face, every event that you may want to recall, but each photo is meant to be symbolic of your own experience. May you go to your old yearbooks to relive your personal happy memories. What I truly hope this book succeeds in doing is inspiring you to reconnect with one another by calling an old friend or emailing a former teacher. I hope it gives you a feeling of fondness for TAISM and drives you to come visit us soon and to bring your future families back to share Oman with them. This truly is a special place and I hope this book makes you love it a little bit more. Paige Spilles

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