As a mentor school, we got a request from Microsoft PIL to answer these four questions. Ghinwa Doughan, Dounia Badreddine, Rawaa Shehab, Rola Ayoubi and I met as the leadreship team of Makassed KSPS and agreed on the following:
Enjoy,
What quotes have inspired you as a professional educator?
-"Do you want a Collection of Brilliant Minds or a Brilliant Collection of Minds? " quoted by Meredith Belbin
- "Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid; humans are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant. Together they are powerful beyond imagination", quoted by Albert Einstein
- "We need to prepare students for Their future not Our past", quoted by Ian - Juckes.
What are the three most powerful ideas you have learned, developed, or heard of during your involvement in the program so far?
There were myriad of puissant ideas that were developed during the involvement in the program, the first of which is revisiting the school vision and involving all stakeholders in it. Before the program, there was a clear vision of the school but it was not generated by all stakeholder. Another thing that we developed was a Students' Council that represented the school's in international activities and was part of the decision making processes in the school. Working on the learning environment was also another thing learned during the program. Our final case study will show how learning was beyond classroom’s borders. We worked on the national and international levels. Our dexterous teachers worked on engendering global pupils who are inquisitive, creative and critical.
What is most important is that our teachers had a full understanding that pedagogy is the king and their focus should be on developing 21st century skills with the use of technology, that technology in itself is just a tool, but a tool that is much needed because we are working with digital natives, It can open great horizons and its benefits are limitless.
What has been catalyst in helping to make positive change in your school? What impact has this had?
Distributed Leadership played an important role because there was delegation of authority and not just responsibility. The impact was so positive because teachers felt empowered.
Another catalyst was the invisible usage and integration of ICT. Training of teachers and the infrastructure at school helped a lot. Teacher used blogs, wikis, Power Point presentations, Photo-Story, Movie-Maker, Learning Essentials, Producer, and Mouse-Mischief. Providing each classroom with an "Interactive White Board" was a good decision taken.
The good home/school connection was a third catalyst: Many school activities, occasions, and events were posted in the school’s blog and a Clovers Newsletter was produced by Microsoft Office-Publisher. This was an astounded way of communication between students, parents, and school.
What would you like to be quoted as saying if we were to quote you personally in any future publications or testimonials?
“It’s my belief that the essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another, and I also believe that the whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into window
Fortunately, the opportunities offered to educators by the opened windows in technology and its contagious influence on people made that dream come true. Actually man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” Dr Kamel Dallal, director of education affairs at Makassed.
Educators should combine a high level of technology for education and transmit them to a Global Horizon of advancement", Ms. Rola Ayoubi.
"The empowerment of technology is a striking need for transforming tutelage", Ms. Dounia Baderddine.
"International Collaboration transplanted innovation in the school's cultural system", Ms. Rawaa Shehab
"It's better to have a Qualitative Hi-Tech students than to have a Quantitative Addict-Tech pupils", Ms.Ghinwa Doughan
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Foreword to Una Mirada 2010/2011 (or better say farewell!)
16 years in one workplace is something! Everything becomes part of you, everything becomes a source of joy, not just a reminiscence!
It has been an honor to me, for six years, to serve as the principal of Makassed Khalil Shehab and no words can convey my true sentiments. It has been a journey that the team of KSPS and I have travelled together with the support of different Makassed directorates, a journey full of excitement and self-growth… From achieving national and international recognition, to rising in all directions, to developing every corner of the school, to starting a second family, a family of friends, there might not be one thing that has not become a part of me!
I will miss everyone and every detail -the sisterly look of Abir, the professionalism and love of Dounia, the dedication of Siham, the immediate support of Zainab, the kindness of Lina, the wide smiles of Sawsan and Randa, the punctuality of Mirvat, the diligence of Zeina, the choreography of Rola, the artistic flavor of Iman & Sherihan, the assistance of Ibrahim, the silent hard work of Jancet and Hoda, the creativity of Bassam and Yehya , and even the “walaw” of Rola. I need forever to tell you how special you are! Looking at you, I see dedicated people and great team culture that you can soldier on. Mrs Rana is lucky to have talents like yours! Jotting down few words of appreciation can never do you your rights. I want also to thank you for honoring me many instances during my last days as your principal. Your loving tribute means a lot to me!
My students, you were a source of joy to me and I already miss everything about you, your fun-loving nature, your hugs, your strive for first place in all competitions, even your nuances! Today I leave you with stronger wings, braver hearts, so fly, soar, and make me proud of your achievements! I’ll keep following you in the cyberspace!
And my president, I’m grateful that I work in a place that allows me to work, to compete in business, to pursue my dreams, and to give back to those who make it all happen.You entrusted me with a big responsibility towards Makassed, which is also a better growth opportunity for me. I’ll follow your example of leadership and caring, so we have another Makassed Cloverland in Achrafieh!
And dear parents, when we started this magazine, we were hoping to offer your kids, KSPS students, a souvenir. Today I find its several issues a souvenir for me, a treasured record of six years of achievement and joy! Hopefully, you will enjoy reading this issue. It is loaded with success stories of this year- Microsoft, Bank Med, Promethean and others. It also shows how we were trying to establish the classroom of today and tomorrow, with focus on innovative teaching, higher order thinking skills, community involvement, and technology integration, so that your child who is also ours will benefit!
I wish all that continues in KSPS. The last I can say and with a smile:
KSPS is in safe hands,
GO MAKASSED CLOVERS, GO!
It has been an honor to me, for six years, to serve as the principal of Makassed Khalil Shehab and no words can convey my true sentiments. It has been a journey that the team of KSPS and I have travelled together with the support of different Makassed directorates, a journey full of excitement and self-growth… From achieving national and international recognition, to rising in all directions, to developing every corner of the school, to starting a second family, a family of friends, there might not be one thing that has not become a part of me!
I will miss everyone and every detail -the sisterly look of Abir, the professionalism and love of Dounia, the dedication of Siham, the immediate support of Zainab, the kindness of Lina, the wide smiles of Sawsan and Randa, the punctuality of Mirvat, the diligence of Zeina, the choreography of Rola, the artistic flavor of Iman & Sherihan, the assistance of Ibrahim, the silent hard work of Jancet and Hoda, the creativity of Bassam and Yehya , and even the “walaw” of Rola. I need forever to tell you how special you are! Looking at you, I see dedicated people and great team culture that you can soldier on. Mrs Rana is lucky to have talents like yours! Jotting down few words of appreciation can never do you your rights. I want also to thank you for honoring me many instances during my last days as your principal. Your loving tribute means a lot to me!
My students, you were a source of joy to me and I already miss everything about you, your fun-loving nature, your hugs, your strive for first place in all competitions, even your nuances! Today I leave you with stronger wings, braver hearts, so fly, soar, and make me proud of your achievements! I’ll keep following you in the cyberspace!
And my president, I’m grateful that I work in a place that allows me to work, to compete in business, to pursue my dreams, and to give back to those who make it all happen.You entrusted me with a big responsibility towards Makassed, which is also a better growth opportunity for me. I’ll follow your example of leadership and caring, so we have another Makassed Cloverland in Achrafieh!
And dear parents, when we started this magazine, we were hoping to offer your kids, KSPS students, a souvenir. Today I find its several issues a souvenir for me, a treasured record of six years of achievement and joy! Hopefully, you will enjoy reading this issue. It is loaded with success stories of this year- Microsoft, Bank Med, Promethean and others. It also shows how we were trying to establish the classroom of today and tomorrow, with focus on innovative teaching, higher order thinking skills, community involvement, and technology integration, so that your child who is also ours will benefit!
I wish all that continues in KSPS. The last I can say and with a smile:
KSPS is in safe hands,
GO MAKASSED CLOVERS, GO!
Microsoft PIL Scaling up Session
استقبل وزير التربية حسان دياب وفداً من الأساتذة والمدارس الذين شاركوا في المنتدى العربي <للأستاذ المبدع و المدرسة المبدعة> الذي أقامته شركة ميكروسوفت في مدينة العقبة الأردنية حيث تمكّن الأساتذة اللبنانيون من الحصول على المركزين الأول والثالث في المباراة.و مثل المدارس البداعية ثلاثة مدارس و هم المقاصد خليل شهاب و ثانوية اندريه نحاس و سيدة الرسل. وقامت السيدة غنى البدوي بعرض تجربة مدرستها المقاصدية، حيث انها فازت بمركز المدرسة المدربة.
وكانت شركة <ميكروسوفت> قد أقامت هذا المنتدى العربي السنوي وشارك فيه أكثر من مئتي أستاذ من البلدان العربية وأفريقياو العديد من المدارس الابداعية، بمشاركة شركة <بروميسيان> و شركاء اخرون
BC Training on Using Moodle to Develop e-learning Courses for Students
The British Council has organized a training course from 13 to 15 October at “Crowne Plaza Hotel”. The presenter is Dr. Baldev Singh from “Imagine Education”. More than 40 teachers from different schools were present in the training. Makassed KSPS and Makassed ABAT were presented by Mrs. Ghina Al Badawi, Mrs. Rana Sabbidine, Ms. Dounia Baderdine, and Mrs. Rawaa Shehab.
The objectives of the training were to:
• Develop a good understanding of steps and structure to develop an effective e-learning course.
• Develop e-learning courses using open source systems such as MoodIe to support collaboration, assessment and tracking of progress.
• Use additional applications to create E-Learning objects which can be embedded into the E-Learning environment.
Action plans will be prepared at the end of the training course so that e-courses will start both at Makassed ABAT and Makassed KSPS.
The objectives of the training were to:
• Develop a good understanding of steps and structure to develop an effective e-learning course.
• Develop e-learning courses using open source systems such as MoodIe to support collaboration, assessment and tracking of progress.
• Use additional applications to create E-Learning objects which can be embedded into the E-Learning environment.
Action plans will be prepared at the end of the training course so that e-courses will start both at Makassed ABAT and Makassed KSPS.
Makassed-Davidson ICT Dialogue
When Dr. Mohamed Naffi was visiting his daughter Nadia who is studying for an M.A. in Educational Technology at Concordia University in Canada, he met her thesis supervisor Dr. Ann-Louise Davidson. What was at first a personal familial visit turned out to be the kernel for a stimulating discussion for Dr. Naffi. Indeed, Dr. Naffi thought that Dr. Davidson’s expertise in the use of technology in education, especially special education, could be useful to Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association in Beirut because they have always been at the avant-garde of educational ideas and have always known how to seize a good opportunity. The acquaintance between the two academics culminated in an academic meeting wherein educationists from Makassed Philanthropic Islamic Association as well as other institutions interacted with Dr. Davidson to share knowlege and common concerns about ICT.
If you would like to read more about their interesting dialogue, please visit:
http://makassed-davidson-dialogue.blogspot.com/
If you would like to read more about their interesting dialogue, please visit:
http://makassed-davidson-dialogue.blogspot.com/
Promethean Interactive White Boards and Teachers’ Effectiveness
A year ago, “Makassed Khalil Shehab Primary School” had wielded the use of Promethean Interactive White Boards in its school. This highly technological invention had added multifarious amenities to its generic tutoring. Like any novel innovation; the “ Promethean Interactive White Board” wrenched teachers, students, and schools from discrepant conundrums regarding the plying of primordial methods of pedagogy. These interactive Boards have disparate merits. The most puissant theme that we would like to accentuate on in our study is ”Teacher’s Effectiveness”. Pedagogues are the imperative substrate of any educational process. However, a mason without the appropriate accoutrements fails to accomplish any errand! Hence, the secret behind our power and glory was the hodgepodge of the “ Promethean Interactive White Board” and the efficacy of our instructors.
As time passed, we have noticed that the students’ demands for “Technology” were surpassing our proffers. Pupils these days get more bored easily and hence become less productive. Their demands for enthusiasm in learning ramped up increasingly on the decreasing scale of ineffectiveness! Moreover, our children are daily exposed to broadly-based technologies like the web 2.0 tools such as blogs and wikis, in addition their Hi-tech PSP, Nintendo,Wii, and PS3Games, and even Hi-tech telecommunications through Iphones, Blackberries, ipads and others… Therefore, the life they were living outside school with all its offerings was incompatible with that of their school teaching. Something had to be done- and done quick… It was here were Makassed IT directorate worked on a strategic plan to integrate technology in its schools, both in administration and teaching. This plan started five years ago and changed the profiles of Makassed schools. Promethean boards were an integral part of this plan. Like in the case of any new innovative tool, the only shortcoming that we encountered and want to address is that tutors need some time of course to master all the broad skills of such a highly technological device, especially that they are technology immigrants, while their students are digital natives! It was surprising that our students were self-learners in using the board, since the first day it was in their classrooms
The resolution for his conflict was to empower teachers to use these boards. Thus, diverse adept development programs and trainings were held, orgainized again by the Makassed IT directorate. All teachers underwent an advanced training and prepared flipcharts to use on the interactive board. In antithesis, others were introduced to teachers as mandatory, particularly the reporting tools that would help the whole team to be more efficient in its communication and skills. In addition, other technologies and teaching practices were introduced through continuous applications. Hence, the class came to life by the addendum of the “Promethean Interactive White Boards”. All pupils of discrepant levels were keen to use it. They raced to write on it or perform a task using its features. Microsoft add ons were also used and we were the first school in Lebanon to use Mouse Mischief and train on it. Graphic slates and wands and other accessories were also used. Students started watching videos and listening to stories on promethean planet. They prepared lessons and became tutors, presenting their lessons on Promethean Board proudly to their peers. “Learing is Fun” many students would comment “and it is more interactive “, we would add. Teachers were enthusiastic and started uploading lessons on Promethean planet. The “Promethean Interactive White Board” introduced a grave unfledged novel way of teaching. It amalgamated learning with pleasure! It drew a yearning smile on the faces of our angelic youngsters, our four leaf clovers as we call them! The deployment of the “Promethean Interactive White Boards” added caliber to our school, teachers, and students. Students were lured into using modern technology and parents were satisfied. Moreover, it provided the means for keeping students actively involved and motivated in the imbibing progress. Hence, students’ engagement in the learning process was augmented while using the “Interactive Whiteboard”.
Consequently, the Promethean Interactive White Boards was used to deliver tutelage in multifarious discrepant ways. Three of the most crucial categories of conveying the tutoring development were the: “Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic modalities”. Thus, in each of these maneuvers; our ravenous students found gratification, complacence, and contentment. Their hunger for knowledge was satiated … their craving thirst for technology was cloyed, and their use of 21st century skills in the classroom was secured! Their eyes couldn’t forget the sparkling light of demeanor nor could their ears come up empty with the sounds of delineations!
Regarding pedagogues; tutors were introduced to multitudinous disparate professional trainings in order to furnish them with a prodigious substrate for effective technological implementations. These drillings allowed our teachers to become “Highly- Qualitative Mentors” This month we were informed that our school was chosen as a mentor school as part of the Partners in Learning Program. Only three schools in the Middle East and Africa regions were chosen so. In our Mentoring endeavours we are keen on abetting schools to use the “Promethean Interactive White Board proficiently. In our point of view, our teachers; as well, were aspiring for the use of a Highly-Innovative mean in order to manifest the suppressed capabilities they had deep down inside and which they failed to evince by using the traditional “Chalk Board”. It is astounding when we hear ample tutors say: ’We can’t imagine ourselves ever going back to teaching on “Chalk Boards”, after we have experienced the lucent “ Promethean Interactive White Boards” glimmering the magnificent ethereal of technology!’
Mentor Schools are chosen for their notably creative and innovative ways of implementing technology in education, researching, and sharing of knowledge. To us, achieving the Mentor School level award is only the beginning. Our aim is to continue “to work with and share expertise with educators from all around the world in order to progress and elevate International wise. Hence, this way, our beloved students will have more opportunities to participate in global collaborative projects and expand their intellectual horizons and use 21st century skills! Furthermore, our school has established links with other schools abroad to increment its global purview. These links have allowed students of both schools to work collaboratively on projects sharing ideas and intermingling on cultural levels. For that reason our Makassed school was awarded the International School Award from the British Council.
Last but not least, we would whole heartedly like to thank “Promethean” and its entire diligent staff for giving us this precious trove and for choosing us for this noteworthy study. Thanks again for believing in our school, our teachers, and our integrity... We will always do our best to be up to expectation and credence!
(This case study write-up is the collaborative work of Ghina Albadawi, Ghinwa Doughan,Dounia Badereddine, & Rawaa Shehab)
As time passed, we have noticed that the students’ demands for “Technology” were surpassing our proffers. Pupils these days get more bored easily and hence become less productive. Their demands for enthusiasm in learning ramped up increasingly on the decreasing scale of ineffectiveness! Moreover, our children are daily exposed to broadly-based technologies like the web 2.0 tools such as blogs and wikis, in addition their Hi-tech PSP, Nintendo,Wii, and PS3Games, and even Hi-tech telecommunications through Iphones, Blackberries, ipads and others… Therefore, the life they were living outside school with all its offerings was incompatible with that of their school teaching. Something had to be done- and done quick… It was here were Makassed IT directorate worked on a strategic plan to integrate technology in its schools, both in administration and teaching. This plan started five years ago and changed the profiles of Makassed schools. Promethean boards were an integral part of this plan. Like in the case of any new innovative tool, the only shortcoming that we encountered and want to address is that tutors need some time of course to master all the broad skills of such a highly technological device, especially that they are technology immigrants, while their students are digital natives! It was surprising that our students were self-learners in using the board, since the first day it was in their classrooms
The resolution for his conflict was to empower teachers to use these boards. Thus, diverse adept development programs and trainings were held, orgainized again by the Makassed IT directorate. All teachers underwent an advanced training and prepared flipcharts to use on the interactive board. In antithesis, others were introduced to teachers as mandatory, particularly the reporting tools that would help the whole team to be more efficient in its communication and skills. In addition, other technologies and teaching practices were introduced through continuous applications. Hence, the class came to life by the addendum of the “Promethean Interactive White Boards”. All pupils of discrepant levels were keen to use it. They raced to write on it or perform a task using its features. Microsoft add ons were also used and we were the first school in Lebanon to use Mouse Mischief and train on it. Graphic slates and wands and other accessories were also used. Students started watching videos and listening to stories on promethean planet. They prepared lessons and became tutors, presenting their lessons on Promethean Board proudly to their peers. “Learing is Fun” many students would comment “and it is more interactive “, we would add. Teachers were enthusiastic and started uploading lessons on Promethean planet. The “Promethean Interactive White Board” introduced a grave unfledged novel way of teaching. It amalgamated learning with pleasure! It drew a yearning smile on the faces of our angelic youngsters, our four leaf clovers as we call them! The deployment of the “Promethean Interactive White Boards” added caliber to our school, teachers, and students. Students were lured into using modern technology and parents were satisfied. Moreover, it provided the means for keeping students actively involved and motivated in the imbibing progress. Hence, students’ engagement in the learning process was augmented while using the “Interactive Whiteboard”.
Consequently, the Promethean Interactive White Boards was used to deliver tutelage in multifarious discrepant ways. Three of the most crucial categories of conveying the tutoring development were the: “Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic modalities”. Thus, in each of these maneuvers; our ravenous students found gratification, complacence, and contentment. Their hunger for knowledge was satiated … their craving thirst for technology was cloyed, and their use of 21st century skills in the classroom was secured! Their eyes couldn’t forget the sparkling light of demeanor nor could their ears come up empty with the sounds of delineations!
Regarding pedagogues; tutors were introduced to multitudinous disparate professional trainings in order to furnish them with a prodigious substrate for effective technological implementations. These drillings allowed our teachers to become “Highly- Qualitative Mentors” This month we were informed that our school was chosen as a mentor school as part of the Partners in Learning Program. Only three schools in the Middle East and Africa regions were chosen so. In our Mentoring endeavours we are keen on abetting schools to use the “Promethean Interactive White Board proficiently. In our point of view, our teachers; as well, were aspiring for the use of a Highly-Innovative mean in order to manifest the suppressed capabilities they had deep down inside and which they failed to evince by using the traditional “Chalk Board”. It is astounding when we hear ample tutors say: ’We can’t imagine ourselves ever going back to teaching on “Chalk Boards”, after we have experienced the lucent “ Promethean Interactive White Boards” glimmering the magnificent ethereal of technology!’
Mentor Schools are chosen for their notably creative and innovative ways of implementing technology in education, researching, and sharing of knowledge. To us, achieving the Mentor School level award is only the beginning. Our aim is to continue “to work with and share expertise with educators from all around the world in order to progress and elevate International wise. Hence, this way, our beloved students will have more opportunities to participate in global collaborative projects and expand their intellectual horizons and use 21st century skills! Furthermore, our school has established links with other schools abroad to increment its global purview. These links have allowed students of both schools to work collaboratively on projects sharing ideas and intermingling on cultural levels. For that reason our Makassed school was awarded the International School Award from the British Council.
Last but not least, we would whole heartedly like to thank “Promethean” and its entire diligent staff for giving us this precious trove and for choosing us for this noteworthy study. Thanks again for believing in our school, our teachers, and our integrity... We will always do our best to be up to expectation and credence!
(This case study write-up is the collaborative work of Ghina Albadawi, Ghinwa Doughan,Dounia Badereddine, & Rawaa Shehab)
Makassed KSPS Journey with the British Council
Makassed Khalil Shehab was a primary school in Ras Beirut, a local school, with local connections, with a local tint; a successful happy go lucky “ecole du quartier”.
But Lo and Behold;
• Makassed Khalil Shehab is a school penetrating the universal cyber space with connections to fourteen schools around the world!
• Makassed Khalil Shehab is a bright outgoing school- full of colour and happy faces, young and older!
• Makassed Khalil Shehab is a BC international school award winner, Microsoft mentor school, a Promethean success story school, and the greenest school in Beirut.
When did all of that start?
British Council (BC) through the Innovative Approaches to Teaching Project linked Khalil Shehab with Cauldeen Primary School, the farthest town school in the north most town of the northest country in Great Britain in the British Isles, Inverness. That was six years ago, and that was the springboard for us! We wrote an international policy, appointed an international coordinator, decided on a five year strategic plan, and the journey with innovation started! I was then starting my first year as a school principal, and had taken the ICT TOT course offered by the British Council, and I was nominated to be an ICT trainer, which was an opportunity that I considered great. I worked both ways- to introduce innovations in my school and to other schools in Lebanon. Years passed, we implemented our plan with the support of different Makassed directorates, and at the same time continued working with BC on different projects, including the Connecting Classroom Project. The diligent work of teachers, along with the support of the mother association and the enthusiasm of students lead us to earn the BC international school award (ISA). As to myself, I became a SLICT trainer, i.e. I delivered training to school leaders on the strategic leadership in ICT. The journey did not end here! Every one at school had a share of the development. Children enjoyed connection with children in UK and around the world. They met our cluster representatives from Nottingham this year. Teachers developed through the varied BC professional development workshops, both in UK and in Lebanon. Two of the school teachers became project coordinator and one of them became a cluster coordinator. Another teacher became a BC ICT trainer. It is a success story to all of us, on the personal level and the school level. But the story does not end here. This year I got promoted to run another Makassed School. The first thing I did was asking Mayssa Dawi, the Connecting Classroom project coordinator, to enroll my new school in the Connecting Classroom Project. I knew it would open doors to international collaboration, global understanding, and innovation. I knew it would bring the students a world outside their own and provide us with countless professional development opportunities.
Will the story be repeated in the new school? All I can say, “Fingers crossed!
Thanks Mayssa,Thanks BC!”
Ghina Al Badawi,
Principal
AlMakassed
But Lo and Behold;
• Makassed Khalil Shehab is a school penetrating the universal cyber space with connections to fourteen schools around the world!
• Makassed Khalil Shehab is a bright outgoing school- full of colour and happy faces, young and older!
• Makassed Khalil Shehab is a BC international school award winner, Microsoft mentor school, a Promethean success story school, and the greenest school in Beirut.
When did all of that start?
British Council (BC) through the Innovative Approaches to Teaching Project linked Khalil Shehab with Cauldeen Primary School, the farthest town school in the north most town of the northest country in Great Britain in the British Isles, Inverness. That was six years ago, and that was the springboard for us! We wrote an international policy, appointed an international coordinator, decided on a five year strategic plan, and the journey with innovation started! I was then starting my first year as a school principal, and had taken the ICT TOT course offered by the British Council, and I was nominated to be an ICT trainer, which was an opportunity that I considered great. I worked both ways- to introduce innovations in my school and to other schools in Lebanon. Years passed, we implemented our plan with the support of different Makassed directorates, and at the same time continued working with BC on different projects, including the Connecting Classroom Project. The diligent work of teachers, along with the support of the mother association and the enthusiasm of students lead us to earn the BC international school award (ISA). As to myself, I became a SLICT trainer, i.e. I delivered training to school leaders on the strategic leadership in ICT. The journey did not end here! Every one at school had a share of the development. Children enjoyed connection with children in UK and around the world. They met our cluster representatives from Nottingham this year. Teachers developed through the varied BC professional development workshops, both in UK and in Lebanon. Two of the school teachers became project coordinator and one of them became a cluster coordinator. Another teacher became a BC ICT trainer. It is a success story to all of us, on the personal level and the school level. But the story does not end here. This year I got promoted to run another Makassed School. The first thing I did was asking Mayssa Dawi, the Connecting Classroom project coordinator, to enroll my new school in the Connecting Classroom Project. I knew it would open doors to international collaboration, global understanding, and innovation. I knew it would bring the students a world outside their own and provide us with countless professional development opportunities.
Will the story be repeated in the new school? All I can say, “Fingers crossed!
Thanks Mayssa,Thanks BC!”
Ghina Al Badawi,
Principal
AlMakassed
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