STRIDES - BAHRAIN CALLING Esol Education successfully ventures into the island kingdom with the launch of American School of Bahrain and a new ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
STRIDES
BAHRAIN
CALLING
ISSUE 7 • Spring 2021
Esol Education successfully ventures into the island kingdom
with the launch of American School of Bahrain and a new
strategic partnership with the American University of Bahrain
STRIDES | 2
CONTENTS
SPOTLIGHT FEATURES
05• The Brief
From Hong Kong to Egypt, catch up
on news and happenings from Esol
Education schools.
17• High Fliers
Meet some of our students who
are making waves with their superb
achievements.
18• In Class
Get an in-depth look at the exciting
immersive learning happening within
and beyond our classroom walls.
25• World View
A tête-à-tête with Patrick Rich,
10 • Bahrain Calling Director at American International
School Abu Dhabi about his vision and
Esol Education’s growth journey continues with the 2020 opening of the
American School of Bahrain, followed closely by its acquisition of a strategic stake plans.
in American University of Bahrain and the development of new partnerships with
California State University, Northridge (CSUN). 26• Unexplored
Discover the secret treasures of
14 • One-to-One Byzantine art hidden within modest
village churches in the high mountains
On the heels of Esol Education’s latest educational partnership with AUBH and
California State University, Northridge (CUSN), we caught up with Dean Joyce of Cyprus.
Feucht-Haviar from CSUN for a closer look at the future of higher education.
29• Last Word
Unearthing the hidden opportunities
22 • Get Wired for transforming education that lie
Is gamification in learning here to stay? A deep dive into what it is and the pros and within the challenges of the COVID-19
cons for educators. pandemic.
STRIDES
The official newsletter of Esol Education – ISSUE 7 | Spring 2021
STRIDES is published twice a year by Esol Education for a wide internal and external
STRIDES
readership, including our students, parents and teachers. This publication covers
news and developments across the organization and its schools in the Middle
East and Mediterranean. Since 1976, Esol Education has specialized in providing
exceptional international K-12 education. With a strong focus on educational
excellence, Esol schools enjoy the benefits of experienced leadership and
management, superlative facilities, and caring and dedicated teachers.
Content Director
Tammam Abushakra
Editor
Jaya Java
BAHRAIN
Magazine Design, Layout and Sub-editing
Lourdes Lanote
CALLING
ISSUE 7 • Spring 2021
Photographs
The copyright for the images in STRIDES lies solely with the schools, students & teachers, Esol Education successfully ventures into the island kingdom
with the launch of American School of Bahrain and a new
unless stated otherwise. strategic partnership with the American University of Bahrain
© Esol Education FZ LLC, 2021
STRIDES | 3
EDITOR'S NOTE PANTA RHEI “Everything flows.” Heraclitus, Greek Philosopher Like every school across the world, Esol Education school communities have experienced a sea change over the past year, with both temporary and long-term disruptions to the ebb and flow of normal school life. While resilience in the classroom has long centered on learning from failure and persevering to learn new concepts, this historic year has been a true test of resilience as a critical life skill for our students, teachers, parents and leaders. Still, we are proud to say that the 2020-2021 school year has brought with it some wins, expected and unexpected, within and beyond classroom walls. We have proudly witnessed our schools’ impressive mobilization of home learning programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, swiftly adjusting to rapidly changing regulations in each of our host cities. Teachers have worked tirelessly to upskill themselves with new technologies and create engaging and relevant lessons. This has given rise to exciting innovations in teaching and learning, many excellent examples of which are shared in The Brief section of this issue, which covers news from our schools around the globe. Our cover story highlights the inaugural year of Esol Education’s American School of Bahrain, which opened the gates to its 17-acre state- of-the-art campus in Riffa on schedule, in September 2020. Staying in Bahrain, STRIDES’ One-to-One section features a discussion with Dean Joyce Feucht Haviar of California State University, Northridge (CSUN), on the heels of Esol’s recently announced role in the American University of Bahrain (AUBH) and in the university’s educational partnership with CSUN. Our In-Class features showcase some of the remarkable learning happening within classrooms at Fairgreen International School in Dubai and The American International School in Cyprus, while our High Flyers section spotlights our best and brightest students already making their mark upon the world around them. Elsewhere in this edition of STRIDES, Gamification of Learning takes center stage as Dr. Joseph Nettikaden, Esol Education CIO, shares insights on this rising phenomenon and its implications on teaching and learning in the years ahead. We also meet with Mr. Patrick Rich, Director at American International School in Abu Dhabi (AISA), who shares reflections on his journey thus far and his aspirations for the AISA community. Since travel is off the cards this year for most of us, join us in an armchair exploration off the beaten trail in Cyprus, as we uncover a treasure of Byzantine art nestled within humble village churches in the central mountains of the island. Lastly, Dr. Kapono Ciotti, Director at American International School in Egypt – Main Campus, analyzes ways in which we can use the disruption caused by the pandemic to accelerate innovation in education. Thank you for being part of the Esol Education community! We wish you all a successful year ahead! The Esol Education Team STRIDES | 4
THE BRIEF
DESIGN & INNOVATION
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL At AISA, Design & Innovation (D&I) provides
IN ABU DHABI (AISA) students with an open space to try new things
without fear of failure. Students combine their
CHANGING THE WORLD WITH classroom learning with their natural enthusiasm
for exploration. While the ongoing COVID-19
MUN pandemic made things especially challenging,
Students from AISA’s High School Model United with innovation at the heart of the program, one
Nations Club (AISA HSMUN) decided months can see opportunities where others may see
ago to dedicate their time, prepare and go on an obstacles! Students have risen to meet these
enlightening adventure. MUN conferences usually challenges head on and continue to amaze their
involve travel; however, during this pandemic, our teachers. Driving through simulated severe
students harnessed their energy in a risk-taking, blizzards, flying in a socially distanced hoop
intense 3-day international virtual conference, glider derby, and learning 3D design have all
GWAMUN Conference 2021, without leaving the contributed to the success of the D&I program.
comfort of their homes. The result? Students Whether designing soft landing lunar probes,
left feeling incredibly challenged and inspired as or improving animal adaptations, students are
changemakers under the ambassadorship of H.E. able to collaborate using the Internet and share
Ban Ki-Moon, eighth Secretary-General of the their learning on myriad platforms. While there is
United Nations. Through a mindset of change and much work to be done, the D&I team will continue
international cooperation, our AISA leaders took to improvise, adapt, and overcome in the “new
on the role of country ambassadors in the UN to normal!”
collaboratively develop solutions to some of our
planet’s most pressing issues, and many received
prestigious conference awards for their hard work
and efforts. From position papers and resolutions DUNECREST AMERICAN SCHOOL
to inter-governmental debates and dialogue, the
conference and the club was a paradigm-shifting 2021: A YEAR OF GROWTH
experience for all participants.
2020 was a year of reflection. It was a time for
prioritization and gratitude. 2021 is a time to
MENTAL WELLNESS IN A TECH harness this awareness and to be an agent of
growth, change and solidarity. For this reason,
WORLD Dunecrest American School has launched a series
The counseling team at the American of “growth” events focused on strengthening
International School of Abu Dhabi have made our community and supporting one another’s
student, staff, and parent wellness a priority this successes. In early January, IBDP Coordinator,
year. Some of these activities include parent Mr. Eric Barrett, and four IBDP candidate students
presentations throughout the year on wellbeing hosted a “How to Study Effectively” webinar
and mental health topics. For students, the for Middle and High School students and their
team organized activities around International parents. The over-subscribed, 90-minute
Kindness Week and Stress Awareness Week, event was also open to the public and aimed at
including videos made by students talking understanding how students learn and how this
about the strategies they use to manage stress. translates into actionable organization, note
Wellness days were organized for staff, with taking and study strategies. Attendees have
yoga, meditation, a scavenger hunt, funny videos been effusive in their enthusiasm for the session!
contests, and “Tea and Talk” sessions. During This has now inspired an upcoming series of live
Sunday PD time, staff are provided brief “wellness and pre-recorded executive function coaching
tips” at the start of meetings. The team also sessions for students at Dunecrest and in the
offered wellness presentations on how individuals broader community.
can safeguard themselves, as well how to be a
mental health first aider during these times. The
STEAM BEES ARE BUZZING AT
counseling team’s motto states: “you can’t pour THE CLEAN TECH WAVE DUNECREST
from an empty cup,” so as a department, they Staying true to its core mission of helping At Dunecrest, students in Grade 2 are exploring
make sure they model their beliefs and take care students to realize their power to change their how human's choices impact the survival of plants
of each other through regular check ins! communities and the world around them, and animals. Children harnessed cross-curricular
Dunecrest American School has partnered with tools to explore this over-arching question. The
Million Solar Stars (MSS) Founder and our Middle topic took students from non-fiction to research,
School Science Teacher, Adam Hall to launch experimentation to procedural papers and
the Million Solar Stars Science course in Middle eventually to technology and its ability to help
School(MSS MS). MSS MS connects students solve man-made problems. Students began their
with tools to design and engineer hands-on solar unit by looking at the conditions plants need to
power models and engage multiple stakeholders survive. They tested their hypothesis by planting
to increase the number of schools powered by radish seeds in the sun and in the closet. Children
solar energy. Term 1 has been incredibly busy for then selected an animal and researched its food
our budding clean tech engineers and community supply, habitat and the impact the environment
leaders! Students began the term by analyzing the had on its survival. Using Evernote, children
feasibility of using solar power on our very own created books for Grade 1 exploring how positive
campus as well as using Minecraft and TinkerCAD choices could make a positive impact on the
to model different panel installation designs. environment. Following their foundational study,
Proposals were presented to school leaders students examined the role that technology
and to the local power authority. Students also can play in supporting the survival of plants and
attended a week-long workshop with Photovoltaic animals. Incorporating their Science standards,
Specialist from Namene Solar as part of Namene Grade 2 students studied bee colony collapse
Solar's new student outreach program. The disorder. Using design thinking they explored
4-day workshop included sessions on the history the possibility of using drones to pollinate
and physics of light, how solar power works, plants. This exciting unit leveraged the PARROT
building SM100 hand held solar lights for rural Mambo Drone, Apple’s SWIFT Playground coding
communities and improvement of the SM100 language and our students’ future-focused
model itself. problem solving techniques!
STRIDES | 5
THE BRIEF
from an IB visitation team, our consultation visit in
November and our authorization visit in March will
FAIRGREEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL be held virtually. This changes the dynamic and
requires the preparation of a series of videos and
ROOFTOP GARDEN GROWS live Zoom sessions that capture every aspect of
INQUIRY the school’s authorization process - from a tour
of the school, peek into classrooms, examination
This year, Fairgreen International School made a of facilities and resources, study of assessment
mindful addition to its campus with a new rooftop practices, etc.
garden. Due to COVID-19 precautions students
were restricted from leaving campus to use their Through the efforts of our leadership team,
community biodome and garden plot so this new dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, and
space is very exciting. Students were part of every supportive parents, the consultation and
step of the process, from planning, designing to
authorization process has been a dynamic,
building the new garden. They donated materials,
positive experience and an opportunity for
recycled useful items from home, and repurposed
growth. We consider ourselves fortunate to be
unique items to use as planters, such as used
part of such a close and caring community who
tires. Friends from Diamond Developers in The
embrace the new paradigm.
Sustainable City donated custom planter beds of Design Teacher, Mr. Samuel Landete, Fairgreen
they built from recycled wood. Students even is one of only a handful of schools in the region
came to school over the winter break to start
building a greenhouse, which they hope will
that holds this distinction. "We're honored to be ASHK EXPANSION PLANS
recognized as a Common Sense® School," said
extend the growing season. Graeme Scott, Fairgreen's Director. "By preparing The research is quite clear with respect to the
our students to use technology safely and characteristics of successful schools. Always
The rooftop garden allows students to responsibly, we are providing them an opportunity at or near the top of the list of factors are high
experiment with plant species, test hydroponics to build lifelong habits to help them succeed in a standards and expectations along with a clear
systems, solve water conservation challenges tech-driven world." and shared focus. In addition, there is a body of
and use the information they have learned in evidence which indicates that school climate,
class to solve real world problems. The addition Fairgreen has demonstrated its commitment to resources, and facilities aligned to best practice
of the greenhouse allows students to use taking a whole-community approach to preparing programs are critical factors for school success
design principles and engineering skills to build and that these have been associated with higher
its students to think critically and use technology
something that will be used by the rest of the academic achievement and healthy behavioral
responsibly to learn and create. Fairgreen
community. In the future, students can plan and outcomes for students.
implements Common Sense® Education's
add items they think would improve the building. innovative and research-based digital citizenship
It’s not just a rooftop garden, it’s a science lab for At American School Hong Kong, the school has
resources, which were created in collaboration begun an exciting building project to coincide with
real world experiments! with researchers from Project Zero, led by the expansion of the secondary school program.
Howard Gardner at the Harvard Graduate School This will result in the full renovation of the top two
of Education, and are grounded in real issues
REALIZING DREAMS faced by students and teachers. The resources
floors of the 7-story building. Additional facilities
will include a library, music room, blackbox theatre,
In a continued effort to support the overall teach students, educators, and parents tangible rooftop garden, student lounge, 12 classrooms,
wellbeing of its students, Fairgreen officially skills related to internet safety, protecting online and a secondary school cafeteria.
launched the DREAMS Wellbeing Program. Led reputations and personal privacy, media balance,
by Head of Counselling Jackie Greenwood with managing online relationships, and media literacy.
the support from Inclusion Lead Alison Scott, as amazing energy from the sun! THIRD GRADE CONTENT
well as the school’s Wellbeing Team, DREAMS CREATORS
stands for Drive, Relationships, Emotions,
Accomplishment, Mindfulness, and Service. The
program encapsulates the culture of care and
AMERICAN SCHOOL HONG KONG Like most schools around the world, ASHK has
toggled back and forth between learning at home
many ongoing efforts the school initiated since its (ASHK) and learning in school during the COVID-19
pandemic. Because of this, the Grade 3
inception to prioritize student wellbeing.
A NEW PARADIGM FOR IB students have become incredibly proficient at
using EdTech! After learning about different
DREAMS fosters wellbeing through classroom AUTHORIZATION cultures, students worked on Apple Clips, a free
visits, one-to-one meetings, group activities
and special celebrations and programs, including and easy- to-use video creation app. Students
Many aspects of a school’s operations have been worked to combine pictures and videos with
Wellbeing Week, Anti-Bullying Week, and World
altered as a result of COVID-19. At ASHK, we captions and music. They showed incredible
Teacher Day. The team started a Wellbeing
have toggled between e-learning and face-to- engagement while explaining their understanding
Champions Club where students spread cheer
face learning over the past 12 months. With that, of cultures, then they enjoyed sharing their
across campus, and they designed and created
we have successfully learned to transition our original and informative creations with each other
the Fairgreen Wellbeing Hub, a special room
within the school that is used as a calm space for parent/teacher conferences, assemblies, awards even while at home. When asked for feedback on
DREAMS and other mindfulness activities. ceremonies, coffee mornings etc. from live creating their videos, their answers consistently
sessions to virtual. contained the words “fun,” “interesting,” and
Through this programme, Fairgreen’s Wellbeing that this allowed them the opportunity to be
Team provides a service that is both preventative One additional aspect has been our application “more creative.” Miles H wrote, “I like it and I get
and responsive to students’ needs, supporting for IB authorization. Whereas, in a world without sucked into the app.” Authentic use of EdTech
the aims of the school’s social and emotional the need to grapple with a pandemic, schools can help students develop their confidence to
curriculum. The team strives to know the would typically gear up for a live, multi-day visit share their voice in the world. And based on their
students’ strengths and challenges while helping recommendations, it’s undeniably fun!
them to develop their values, character and social
skills.
COMMON SENSE®
RECOGNITION FOR
FAIRGREEN
In November 2020, Fairgreen International School
received recognition as a Common Sense®
school by the namesake nonprofit organization
dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a
world of media and technology. Led by the efforts
STRIDES | 6
OUR COVID STORY: SETTING
AMERICAN SCHOOL IN EGYPT-MAIN THE TONE
(AISE-M) Several months ago, the first staff member at
AIS Egypt – Main Campus tested positive for
COVID-19. The human impact reverberated
READY, SET, CODE! throughout the school as contact tracing began.
In Middle School Coding class at AISE, students In a profound act of courage and selflessness this
learn how to break down problems, organize their educator said to use her name, in communication
thinking, and construct solutions. The focus of to the community, as a way of mitigating the
the course is on drawing and animation, which stigma around contracting the virus. As hindsight
are the building blocks of video games! Students brings clarity to much of the human experience,
first outline their ideas using flowcharts. The this act set the tone of how AISE as a community
outcome of this process is finding out the basic would address future positive cases. By giving
requirements of each design. What shapes are permission to use her name others followed
being used in my drawing? How can I break down suit. Instead of suspicious glances, staff felt
complex shapes into simpler ones? Using these empowered by the support they knew they would ART'S POSSIBLE!
requirements, students create modular functions receive when bad news came. Sometimes a few
simple words bring a community together in AIS West Middle School defied all odds by
– pieces of code that perform a single action
support of each other. AISE – Main is proud to launching our first ever Arts Week during Hybrid
– that are used directly (e.g. to draw a square) Learning, safely in the middle of the pandemic.
or indirectly to build more complex functions have Ms. Mary as a part of the family, and is even
Creative Arts students impressed the student
(e.g. drawing a window using multiple squares). happier that she has fully recovered and rejoined
body by sharing their talents during the weeks
They then start constructing the program while the school. Ms. Mary has made the community
of December 6 and December 13. Visual Arts
continuously evaluating and redeveloping their happier, healthier and safer. students displayed art in an outdoor, socially
code following the design cycle. Students distanced gallery, which included a group doodle
learn how to think critically and algorithmically mural. Drama students performed one act plays,
while collaborating on challenging,
self-directed projects.
AMERICAN SCHOOL IN EGYPT-WEST including an original piece written and directed by
Grade 7 student, Hassan Kandil. Our dance team
(AISE-W) entertained classmates during lunch with live
performances throughout the weeks. The Lynx
THAT CHRISTMAS FEELING AISE - WEST GOES GREEN! Band wowed an outdoor audience with full band
performances of “Eye of the Tiger,” “Party Rock,”
This December, first graders at AISE-Main started The AISE - West PTO Community Building and “We Were Young.” We are all so proud of our
off their Social Studies unit, “Connections and Committee first announced their “Go Green” young artists and are excited for an even better
Conflict,” by exploring feelings. They focused campaign in January 2018. It was the first school COVID-free 2021 Arts Week next fall.
on how they feel, how others feel and how their in Egypt to install a hydroponic system on campus.
actions contribute to these feelings. As the unit Today this produces 120 crops that grow in 4-5
coincided with the holiday season, Grade 1D
further learnt about the importance of spreading
weeks. The “Go Green” campaign was a huge
success! Students were part of the entire process, CAIRO ENGLISH SCHOOL (CES)
kindness around this time. A Christmas tree in helping with with seeding, planting, harvesting,
class was decorated with a “light of kindness” and even selling the crops. They sold more than
ACADEMICS VS. REALITY
(paper bulb) whenever an act of kindness was 300 lettuce heads, and are planning to continue
To create well-rounded and well-educated
done or received in class. Additionally, a holiday planting and running their farm to raise more
graduates, CES has been making links with the
kindness challenge saw each family receiving a funds in order to expand their project. They are
Nestle company to help engage students in
Santa cutout, with his long beard divided into 12 excited to spread and share their enthusiasm
their business curriculum coverage. On a trip to
sections, each a challenge. The aim was to spread about Urban Agriculture. This year, the PTO team
the Nestle factory students had the chance to
kindness by cutting off the whole beard, section was able to install a new system in the school’s
experience firsthand how a real-world company
by section as the challenges were completed! desert garden. This system uses automatic
implements marketing, production, supply
One student, Ryan Ball, took the mission to irrigation with a water tank. Both systems are
chains, and to gain an insight into the operational
heart, firmly embracing that spreading kindness, water and energy efficient, thus reducing resource
management process.
not presents, was the true spirit of the season. consumption, subsequently reducing pollution
Together with his family, he completed the entire and minimizing the environmental impact of
challenge earnestly, with a mini celebration The experience had a direct impact on the
excess water and energy use.
marking the end. His elder sister was inspired to subject understanding and led to several
create her own Santa’s Beard challenge as well! work placements. The impact of this visit also
HAPPY NEW BEGINNINGS motivated several senior students to enter the
World Economic Cup, WEC, making them the
AND BOOKS! first and only Egyptian competitors in a worldwide
2020 was a year of challenges and changes. competition, where a CES student proudly placed
The AIS Egypt-West Secondary School Library in the top 30 students among competitors across
has a new librarian, Maureen Johnson, and new 33 different countries.
ideas. Some of these changes have included
re-organizing and brightening up the Secondary
School Library. Housed under our fabulously
naturally-lit dome, eye-catching book displays
make the space more attractive and user friendly
for our students and faculty. Christmas came
early this year with 44 gorgeous new books
recently purchased from the American University
in Cairo Press. “Meet Someone New,” is a newly
created biography section which includes many
interesting and famous people. We invite visitors
to get reacquainted with or discover a new
personality. Lastly, if you liked the movie, you will
love the book! This January we are featuring over
100 amazing books in our collection which have
been turned into films and TV series. We can’t
wait to have our school community come by and
visit us soon!
STRIDES | 7
THE BRIEF
COMPANY OF THE YEAR STUDENT COUNCIL 2021
VOSS TECH, a company created by IB2 students AMERICAN SCHOOL BAHRAIN (ASB) As a new school, ASB’s Student Council has
at CES, participated in an inter-school Egyptian been very fortunate to be involved in many
entrepreneurship competition organized foundational activities and start new traditions!
by INJAZ, successfully obtaining the title of
It has been a year of firsts. These include the
“Company of the Year 2020.” VOSS TECH
school’s mascot (go Eagles!), special activities
introduced high-tech pet products that aim to
at the school, a selection of charities to support
facilitate an easier life for people globally. Students
and develop ASB’s brand new House System.
identified a niche market by noticing that Egyptian
consumers have become more aware of the joys The senior Grade 9 class held elections in early
of keeping pets along with responsible ownership. December in order to put together an executive
The students created a machine, “pet-time,” along with classroom representatives, in order
that not only dispenses food but also has a self- to lead school initiatives. Their first task was to
activated timer and facial recognition options. build a “House System.” Students decided on the
Pet-time allows users to feed, communicate with theme of mythical creatures to represent the
and watch their pets whilst outside their home to houses. The student body provided names and
make sure they were safe and well cared for when designs for these four different creatures. Over
owners were not at home. twenty students submitted their artwork for the
design of the creatures. The senior students on
each team decided the best name and design for
BREAKING NEWS! DINOSAURS their house. The names will be announced to the
student body very soon. The ninth graders will be
INVADE CES ASB’s senior-most class for the next four years,
One of the challenges of Early Years education an honor that gives them a special privilege as
is to provide opportunities for writing that are well as the unique opportunity to leave a lasting
both purposeful and meaningful to the child. By impression on the future of the school!
planning around students’ interests and providing
hooks that engage their imaginations, Early Years
practitioners can provide the stimulus for children
to do their best independent writing. Based
AMERICAN SCHOOL IN CYPRUS
around the fascination that CES’ current co-hort (AISC)
had with dinosaurs, the EYFS team planned a
Dinosaur Invasion in the Early Years. With an WATER SMART AISC SAFETY MEASURES
e-mail from the head that led to an investigation
of our outdoor environment, students uncovered
LAUDED BY MINISTRY
ASB recently announced a collaboration with
dinosaur footprints, bones and even dinosaur Royal Life Saving Bahrain (RLSB) to jointly facilitate At the beginning of the school year, the Minister
eggs! The excitement caused by these a robust swimming and water safety program of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, Mr.
discoveries was immense. Students were inspired for all ASB students, in line with international Prodromos Prodromou, visited AISC to observe
to think critically about how these dinosaurs standards. The partnership will also work towards the school’s health and safety measures. He
had entered the school. They wanted to find the utilizing the outstanding facilities at ASB to serve was accompanied by the Director of Secondary
best way of sharing the news with the rest of our as a community hub for swimming and water Education, Dr. Kyprianos Louis.
school community! Even the quietest children safety education. RLSB was established in Bahrain
were bursting with ideas, and the most reluctant with the vision of preventing drowning related Congratulating the staff and management of the
writers were eager to write their breaking news death and injury and prospering from the waters school, the Minister noted that AISC “provided
reports. Proof, if any were needed, that the best surrounding the island. With this collaboration, simple but very effective practical solutions,
learning really does take place when children are all ASB students receive professional swimming ensuring, first of all, that all the rules of health care
excited about their experiences. lessons at the school pool during regular school are observed, but at the same time we have the
hours. One of the pillars at ASB is "community regular and comfortable attendance of classes
leadership" and the school team is looking in the classrooms. The whole school is proof
forward to working side by side with RLSB to give that if there is the will and the right framework
local schools without access to a swimming pool, for cooperation, solutions can be found for all
an opportunity to learn to swim and save lives in the issues that the extraordinary circumstances
the process. bring before us.” He added that the whole school
effort, supported by parents and students
following the rules of health care and mask
DESIGNING WITH EMOJI wearing would be the island’s best defense during
these extraordinary times.
The ubiquity of emoji symbols in our popular
culture is so undeniable, one even made it to
Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year in 2015: “face BRINGING HOPE TO
with tears of joy!” From ASCII emoticons in the
1980s to emoji keyboards on mobile phones, they
CHILDREN WORLDWIDE
now universally convey emotion in a text driven AISC High School student, Kasra Mulot, has been
world. Originally meaning “pictograph,” the word hard at work advocating for children’s rights in
emoji originates in Japanese: e (絵, "picture") + partnership with Hope for Children (HFC), an
moji (文字, "character"). This year Grade 5 Art international independent charity working towards
& Design students at ASB looked at emoji as a a world where every child has a happy childhood
subject matter. This unit of work provided them that sets them up for a positive future.
with an opportunity to develop an understanding
of this 21st-century global language, paying close As a Children’s Rights Ambassador, Kasra
attention to emotion and color theory. Students attended the Council of Europe’s international
explored a range of media and techniques from conference on "Redefining Power: Strengthening
collage to ceramics, and many enjoyed the novel the Rights of the Child as a Key to a Future-Proof
experience of sculpting with clay: “Using clay for Europe" in Strasbourg, France. Representing HFC,
the first time was a wonderful experience and AISC, and the children of Cyprus, he delivered a
helped develop my artistic skills in a new area,” speech to the entire conference delegation on
remarked Dilnaz, one of the student artists. Most "The Power of Speaking up Against Violence".
recently, students also embarked on an Adobe
Illustrator outcome.
STRIDES | 8
ensure that pandas are not harmed. While building each other. They did not give up even when they
their world on Minecraft, students reported that experienced difficulty with certain concepts.”
they learned more about the UN Sustainable
Development Goals, nutrition preferences of Comprised of teachers, academic coordinators
pandas, and improved their Minecraft skills! They and principals, the UCA PD Team was founded in
are very much looking forward to participating in 2017 for the explicit purpose of developing high-
the 2021 championship later this year. quality, prescriptive professional development,
fostering collaboration and leveraging internal
subject matter experts. Over the past four years,
UNIVERSAL COLLEGE - ALEY (UCA) the team has developed into a cohesive unit,
identifying areas where support is most needed,
then designing and implementing PD modules
PBL: THE ONLINE SAVIOR! that equip teachers to successfully address the
UCA’s adoption of online learning would not have needs of students while continuously building into
happened as rapidly, had it not been for the multi- and refining their practice throughout the school
faceted crisis experienced by Lebanon: economic, year. UCA is incredibly proud of this team and
social and political instability in addition to the appreciative of their servant leadership!
global pandemic. Living in the midst of chaos,
pedagogically, Project-Based Learning (PBL)
has been a silver lining. It set the foundations
TRIBUTE: MRS. SARVER
for teamwork and provided a constructive It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing
opportunities for students to stay connected of Mrs. Esther Sarver, former Deputy Director and
with their classmates, and teachers with their High School principal at UCA. Mrs. Sarver was a
colleagues. Adapting to the new norm of online teacher and Instructional Coach for 20 years in
learning via PBL has not only involved parents Dallas, TX before joining Esol in 2015 to serve as
in their children’s education but also developed the Assistant Director of Universal College in Aley.
students’ 21st-century competencies faster.
Mrs. Sarver served the UCA Learning Community
Students’ projects have reached a wider audience faithfully until the end of the 2018-2019 school
Last year, he led a delegation to meet with and they have built core knowledge and skills. year when her illness forced her to return to
Strovolos Mayor Andreas Papacharalambous to Flipped classroom strategies have also motivated the U.S. Mrs. Sarver was a passionate educator
present their proposal for cooperating with the students to become more creative in the delivery who was tirelessly committed to the success
municipality to make Strovolos a “Child Friendly of their work. Appreciating students’ voice and of each individual student and the growth and
City” and to raise awareness and educate other choice, continuous feedback and peer critique development of our teachers. Her contributions
children on their rights and responsibilities, and has also encouraged students to strive harder to to UCA and the UCA learning community were
the mayor agreed to move forward with the produce better outcomes. By creating a positive significant and their impact will be felt for years to
initiative. learning environment in classes, where mistakes come.
are welcomed, PBL has truly been a stepping
Over the summer, he furthered his advocacy stone to online learning success. “Esther Sarver was the consummate educator,
work as an intern at the charity, and designed HFC
student advocate and capacity builder for
masks that were launched as part of a fund-
teachers. Her addition to the UCA team in 2015
raising initiative in November marking
set the stage for the significant progress we
World Children's Day. According to Kasra,
have made as a school in cooperative learning,
“Children are full human beings in their own right.
authentic assessment and teacher professional
They have their own lives and experiences and
development. Her impact on UCA is only rivaled by
most importantly, they are more vulnerable with
the loss we feel of her absence.”
less experience than adults. They should be
entitled to the same rights as adults and even
more. My favorite children’s right is the right to
be heard. I think no one can decide better than
children about children. We are brave, dynamic,
fearless, and full of hope and energy and we have
a lot to offer.”
HAVE YOU BEEN TO
PANDALOGIA?
COMMUNICATE.
AISC students participated in the first ever
Minecraft Global Championship held in 2020, COLLABORATE. CONNECT
designing spaces that support a healthy
As schools globally grappled with preparations for
environment for both humans and animals. Eight
the 2020-2021 school year, UCA’s Professional
entries were selected for the championship, and
Development Team quickly focused on the two
participants were asked to develop their ideas
“Ps” of “Platforms” and “Pedagogy” for online and
through different biomes including the forest
blended learning which included Microsoft 365,
to protect honeybees, the jungle to save from
Project Based Learning, Flipped Learning and
habitat loss and fragmentation, and the beach in
Authentic Assessment.
search of ways to save sea turtles from the impact
of coastal development and beach traffic. And
Teachers experienced remarkable success due to
so was born the city of Pandalogia, built by AISC
the ongoing support of the PD team and constant
students, where citizens live in caves so they do
school-wide collaboration of instructional staff.
not disturb the pandas and help them by bringing
PD team member Janna Chehayeb, remarked, “In
them food. In return pandas do not disturb them
keeping with our UCA belief that lifelong learning
and also bring food to the citizens. Structures like
is important, teachers were ready to extend their
the Generator Guard take care of generators that
own learning by connecting and collaborating with
run 100% on solar energy and at the same time
STRIDES | 9
COVER STORY BAHRAIN CALLING With an auspicious new school opening and its first university partnership, Esol Education deepens its commitment to bringing American international education to students in Bahrain and the wider region, while expanding its global reach to a network of 11 schools and universities. STRIDES | 10
NEW STATE-OF-THE-
ART SCHOOL FOR
BAHRAIN
A
merican School of Bahrain (ASB), the
newest addition to Esol Education’s
global family of schools, is situated
on an expansive 60,000 square meter,
state-of-the-art campus. Located in Riffa,
near the Bahrain National Stadium, ASB is
home to one of the most advanced learning
environments on the island.
Designed to facilitate innovation, academic
excellence, international mindedness and
happiness, American School of Bahrain aims
to foster students who will be leaders within
their communities and beyond. The school’s
facilities include technology-enabled
classrooms, STEAM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) labs and
Undeterred by the ongoing
maker spaces. A multi-level library, equipped
with the latest digital resources, will serve
pandemic, ASB opened its doors
as a research space and learning hub, while
art studios, music rooms and performance on schedule with a healthy
spaces build visual and performing arts skills.
ASB’s sizeable athletics complex boasts enrollment, and is already
gaining acclaim as one of the
excellent sporting facilities, with a swimming
pool, large indoor gymnasium, basketball
courts, regulation-sized soccer field and a
400-meter track.
best schools in Bahrain.
”The Esol Education and ASB teams have
worked diligently over the past three years
Education and Elm Education Fund (Elm), vocational education,” he added.
to bring their vision for the school to life.
a Bahrain-based education platform,
I’m proud to say that thanks to their efforts,
established by Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Established in 1976, Esol Education
undeterred by the ongoing pandemic, ASB
Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign currently operates ten schools across five
opened its doors on schedule with a healthy
wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Elm countries, and is the largest operator of
enrollment, and is already gaining acclaim
establishes and co-invests in world-class international American schools in the world.
as one of the best schools in Bahrain,”
educational institutions in partnership with The opening of the new school in Bahrain
remarked Mr. Walid Abushakra, Chairman
leading global operators. is a major milestone for the organization,
and Superintendent of Esol Education. “Over
following closely after its entry into East
the past forty-five years we have built a
“Local demand for high quality education Asia in 2016 with the opening of American
strong reputation of educational excellence
continues to rise with private school School of Hong Kong (ASHK), and the
in the world of international education.
enrolment growing at almost twice the opening of Dunecrest American School and
With its experienced leadership team, ASB
rate of public school enrolment in recent Fairgreen International School in Dubai in
is on track to become a leading center of
years,” explained HE Khalid Al Rumaihi, 2018. Each Esol Education school is a close-
education in Bahrain, equipping our students
Mumtalakat CEO. “The American School of knit community, bringing families together
with the essential skills they need to excel
Bahrain is a promising venture for Elm and with the values of multiculturalism and
at top universities worldwide and in their
Mumtalakat as it addresses the changing dedication to helping students discover their
chosen careers,” he added.
needs of an ever-changing world, from the individual talents.
ASB is a joint venture between Esol
skills for tomorrow to quality academic and
STRIDES | 11COVER STORY
Ar c h i t e c t 's No t e s
ld, inquiry-
s, A S B ai m s to combine real -wor
vative facilitie
at ur in g st at e- of -the-art and inno in gi ng key 21st centur
y skills of
Fe ch no lo gy , br
ational te
ith the latest educ tivity into its clas
srooms.
based teaching w in ki ng , an d cr ea
l th
llaboration, critica
communication, co
mpus supports
hi te ct s En gi nee rs, the school’s ca
team at THA A rc
Bennett and his mal student
D es ig ne d by Je ff
bor at iv e le ar ni ng spaces and infor
ating colla
ethos by incorpor
its future -focused
s.
presentation area
ool, the campus
S ch oo l to M id dle and High Sch
d Elementary tural
ildhood Center an maintaining a na
From its Early Ch ate learning envi
ro nm en ts w hi le
built, age appropri t commons,
incorpor at es pu rp os e-
co m m on ar ea s such as the studen
rconnected with teachers to
th ro ug ho ut . Cl assrooms are inte B re ak-out areas allow
flow d ca fe te ri a.
ning hub an other's
, playgrounds, lear d build on one an
athletics complex ling them to sh ar e id ea s an
aller groups enab to extend their
divide st ud en ts in to sm
sp ac es of fe r st udents the chance
oor learning
large, covered outd
experiences while
e classroom walls.
learning beyond th
ate natural
at io n of th e bu ildings to incorpor
clude the orient the classrooms
er no ta bl e on -c ampus features in ga in with majority of
Oth so la r he at
tal impact of solar
e the environmen while maximizing
light and minimiz reduce dire ct su n ex po su re
beat
th an d so uth facing windows to id e sh ad ed ga thering points to
nor ov
having exterior areas pr
l. Fu rth er m or e, spacious covered le to students from th
e interior
er gy co nt ro ar e ac ce ss ib
en torium facilities contributing to
m er he at w hi le the gym and audi rk ing area, thereby
the sum ro ug h th e pa
the public th
e ca m pu s w ith separate access for
of th
environment.
a safe and secure
STRIDES | 12ESOL EDUCATION ACQUIRES STRATEGIC STAKE IN THE AMERICAN
UNIVERSITY OF BAHRAIN (AUBH)
Esol Education is excited to announce that it has concluded a
strategic partnership with the Elm Education Fund in respect
of the American University of Bahrain (AUBH).
A
long with the newly acquired
strategic stake, Esol Education
will play an active role in the [Esol Education’s] reputation for
development of the institution with
two of its representatives joining the academic excellence, experience
in the region, and longstanding
Board of Directors of AUBH. Speaking
on behalf of the Elm Education Fund,
member of the AUBH Board of Directors,
Mr. Marwan Tabbara, shared, “We are
excited to welcome Esol Education as a
relationships with American-
strategic partner in AUBH and expand the
scope of their involvement across the fund. based academic institutions
will be a great asset to the
Their reputation for academic excellence,
experience in the region, and longstanding
relationships with American-based
academic institutions will be a great asset
to the partners and academic leadership of
partners and academic
AUBH, and further support the University’s
development and growth.” leadership of AUBH, and
Through this new partnership Esol
Education seeks to provide an attractive
further support the University’s
regional higher-education pathway for
students enrolled in its K-12 schools across
development and growth.
the Middle East and internationally. It also
intends to leverage its established network partnership with the Elm Education Fund, which opened its doors to
in the development of new educational students in the Kingdom of Bahrain in September 2020. ASB offers a holistic and challenging
partnerships for AUBH, as it has most American and international educational program with experienced leadership, dedicated and
recently done with the introduction of caring educators and state-of-the-art facilities.
California State University Northridge
(CSUN) as a proposed academic partner
to AUBH, providing AUBH students with
opportunities to study abroad in the United
States of America and complete their
studies in the State of California.
Renowned for its commitment to advancing
high quality American education within
the Middle East for over 44 years, Esol
Education has earned its status as a trusted
partner. Its Superintendent and Chairman,
Walid Abushakra, commented, “We are
excited to be playing a role in AUBH, which
is destined to become the Kingdom of
Bahrain’s leading institution of higher
learning. The planned academic partnership
with CSUN will support the University in
fulfilling its promise to produce thousands
of young graduates with the skills needed to
contribute to Bahrain’s future success in the
global economy. Esol Education’s strategic
stake in AUBH underscores our long-term
commitment to the educational landscape
in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the wider
region.”
Esol Education has also recently established
the American School of Bahrain (ASB) in
STRIDES | 13ONE-TO-ONE
EXPANDING HORIZONS
Dean Joyce Feucht-Haviar from CSUN’s Tseng College
discusses the evolution of a new partnership with Esol
Education and American University of Bahrain (AUBH) and the
future of higher education in a post-COVID world.
F
ollowing the recent announcement of education. When Walid contacted me some
Esol Education’s strategic educational years ago about exploring a new university
partnership with American University project with CSUN in Egypt, I knew that we
of Bahrain (AUBH) and California State could count on Esol being a solid partner
University, Northridge (CSUN), STRIDES that shared a commitment to educational
caught up with Dean Joyce Feucht-Haviar, excellence. Esol also had the capacity and
University Senior International Officer & experience to make a new university work
Dean of The Tseng College for Graduate, on all administrative fronts. Without CSUN’s
International, and Midcareer Education and my own personal experience with Walid
at CSUN. Under her leadership, The and Esol, embarking on a sizeable project
Tseng College has won many accolades, halfway across the planet would not be
establishing itself as a leader in innovative something CSUN would normally consider.
program design, winning awards for program However, with Esol we found a partner
excellence; developing the capacity to that shared our purpose and values, and
create and manage distinctive custom- it seemed like a perfectly sensible thing to
designed and contracted programs; do. When the organization began another too. Individual employers need to evolve
expanding its degree, certificate and collaboration in the Kingdom of Bahrain, it with increasing agility. Organizations are
professional development programs; invited CSUN to help implement a higher transforming and pivoting, and may evolve
and establishing innovative international university model through an educational into a completely different business model
partnerships. Here, Dean Feucht-Haviar partnership with the American University of in the future – car companies become
shares some insights into the future of Bahrain. transportation companies or mobility
higher education: companies and reimagine what is possible.
What do you see as the key priorities for What will engineering be when it is shaped
Can you tell us about the history of the future development of the American by virtual reality, living materials, and or
CSUN’s relationship with Esol Education University of Bahrain (AUBH)? AI? The university-prepared workforce is
and the factors that led CSUN to pursue now expected to be far more conceptually
collaboration with Esol? I don’t think that it has escaped anyone’s agile the ever before. Innovation, solution
notice that the worlds of work and design, breadth of education that empowers
I was first introduced to Esol Education by professional practice are changing in imagination and analytic capacities are now
a colleague at CSUN over 15 years ago. fundamental ways. The knowledge, skills, essential professional capabilities across
The organization had been working with and abilities needed for success in that nearly all fields and disciplines.
CSUN on programs and services to support changing context are, in turn, changing
teachers at its international schools. Esol’s
Chairman, Walid Abushakra
invited me into the world of
COVID-19 has forced a time for
international schools, and
we seemed to find many
things to talk about in the
world of education, at all
levels. I soon discovered invention, creative problem solving,
that he was highly regarded
in this sphere as a visionary
committed to educational
mutual support, and more. As
excellence, not only at his own
schools but in the overall field of
COVID fades from the planet in
international education; as well as a
remarkably astute businessperson. the years ahead, I predict that all
educators would have been pushed
He made his vision a reality
by prioritizing excellence and
educational values as the
foundations of a highly successful
school network. Walid and I shared to rethink the role and application
of technologies in achieving
that odd combination. .
In my field, institutions must be
innovative and self-supporting
if they are to harness the
transformative potential of higher educational outcomes.
STRIDES | 14The national and international conversations programs for more than 20 years. Those In general, students at CSUN are very
about the future of higher education, the programs are carefully crafted, and, in turn, comfortable with technology, but having
future of the economy, and the future of have exceptionally high student success their classes all online was a challenge, not
the global world of work have all recognized rates. To make that happen, CSUN has because of the technology, but because
these challenges. However, recognizing built a team of instructional designers to of the isolation and disconnection from
it is one thing and making radical change work with faculty developing and teaching in their usual ways of engaging with other
is another if you are a well-established CSUN online programs. Further, CSUN had students to work their way through
university. AUBH, as a new university with the good fortune to literally “fall down” in challenging classes. The increasing online
an expansive vision, can aspire to model an earthquake in 1994! I say “good fortune” instructional skills, which included a lot of
what higher education needs to be to because all such natural disasters (likely focus on approaches to expanding student
prepare students for success and leadership including COVID) are unimaginably painful engagement, has helped. Because CSUN
in the world today – thought leaders and and destructive, but the world that emerges also has students from diverse economic
creators as well as leading professionals. after is not the same. While that includes contexts, some students did not have their
Working in partnership with CSUN, one the hardship of dealing with things lost, own laptops and their residences didn’t
of the largest universities in California, it also opens a path to new possibilities. have Wi Fi. The university acted quickly even
AUBH and CSUN faculty will together CSUN’s new impressive campus is in part with increasingly constrained resources to
create a purposefully interconnected due to the fact that the university was able ensure students had what they needed to
breadth of education that links to college to rethink and rebuild its campus over the keep their education moving forward. No
majors in a way that is designed to prepare ten years that followed. CSUN faculty had small challenge.
a different kind of graduate -one that is to learn to teach in new ways and in new
conceptually sophisticated, committed to spaces, including exploring the potential I should also mention that the CSUN
values and to making a positive difference. of online education. CSUN today has a instructional design team offered several
A knowledgeable, innovative and engaged large number of faculty members who series of webinars on instructional
professional that is a ready explorer of new have embraced and taught one another strategies for delivering online courses,
information and possibilities, expecting to use virtual options. This has led to a including syllabus development, assignment
tomorrow to be different than today and to particular approach to faculty development design, student engagement, and the like.
play a meaningful part in making it so. and a faculty technology center. With the These webinars were also made available to
onset of the pandemic, CSUN called on AUBH faculty, just one of the ways we put
The current COVID-19 pandemic has had all its online/virtual education resources our collaboration in action!
huge implications for traditional education starting in March 2020 to support faculty in
for schools and universities, accelerating changing instructional modes. We offered What changes or innovations should we
the availability of online offerings. How has lots of professional development programs, expect to see in higher education as a
the current learning framework at CSUN acquired some of the latest educational result of the COVID-19 pandemic?
supported its students? technologies, and provided those who
needed it (faculty and students) with COVID took away a lot of the ability to
While CSUN has a very big and impressive laptops and hot spots for expanded Wi Fi “assume.” It is a quiet kind of natural
campus (you should visit sometime), it connections. disaster. You sit in your home – you don’t
has delivered distinctive fully online/virtual see it outside, you don’t hear it, and yet
STRIDES | 15You can also read
