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