FROM THE PRINCIPAL
BHS would like to extend this invitation on behalf of the National Health Association to the book signing of “Medication: …Mafia or System Crisis” by Old Scholar Dr. Ismail Sukarieh. This event will take place on Wednesday, 9 December 2009 at 4:00pm in the BHS Meeting House. We look forward to seeing you there.

BHS MAGAZINE
The second issue of the BHS Magazine is now available on the school web site. Please take the time to check it out.

SANTA FUN RUN
The annual Santa Fun Run is scheduled for Thursday, 17 December 2009 at 12:30pm, whatever the weather may be. The best costume will be chosen during the event, and Secondary students will receive community service hours for participation. The first three arrivals in both Intermediate and Secondary Sections will be acknowledged.

BHS WALKATHON This year’s walkathon which took place on Saturday, 14 November was a great success. Around 270 students from the various school sections participated and raised the sum of 3,300,000 LL. Certificates of participation will be distributed later this month. Well Done!

SCHOOL FEES
Parents are reminded that the deadlines for the 1st instalment of tuition fees and bus fees were 15 September and 30 November respectively. Parents who have not yet paid should do so immediately. If you have any difficulties, please contact the Bursar.

INSURANCE/ID CARDS
All BHS students are insured 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, should they have an accident in Lebanon and require any subsequent medical treatment. Insurance cards (which are also school ID cards) were distributed to US students and LS parents.

In case of an accident, the insurance card should be presented at the emergency room of any hospital (except American University Hospital and Clemenceau Medical Center) together with the student’s Identity Card.

Please check that you have received your child/ren’s card/s. Any cards unclaimed by Thursday, 17 December will be sent to the BHS Sick Bay, where they will be available for collection.

FABRIANO ART COMPETITION WINNERS
The winners of the Fabriano Art Competition 2009 are: Sara Luna Akl, Andrea Saad, Rebecca Ghajar, Yara Kehdi, Joseph Shalala, Romy El Hajj, Anthony Zeinoun, Yasmine Saad, Rudy Zalzal, Celia Prescott-Decie, Majid Issa, Valeria Hilany, Nour Abi Fadel, Ronald Karam, Juan Pablo Ghantous Herrera, Michel Sadek, Karen Aziz, Catherine El Aswad, Ingrid Aswad, Andrew Daoud, Tiffany Batrouni, and Zeina Chamseddine. Well done to all, and keep up the good work.

PA ANNUAL BRUNCH
The Brummana High School Parents’ Association is holding its annual brunch at Olivia’s, Sin El Fil, facing Metropolitan Hotel on Friday, 11 December 2009 at 10:30 AM. In keeping with the seasonal holiday spirit, there will be a festive atmosphere with carols.

The aim of this event is to raise funds to be donated to the school for the Financial Aid programme and to help expand school facilities.

Tickets at $25 are available in the Bookshop and from each Lower School Section Secretary, as well as from PA members.  We encourage early booking, which greatly facilitates the organisation of a good seating plan. Should you need any further information concerning this event, please contact the Chairperson Christina Gaspar (03-809430) or any PA member.

SAT Trials Results
Students who sat for the SAT Trial exams on Saturday, 10 October and Saturday, 17 October received a letter from Director of Studies Samar Barakat informing them of their results in each of the three sections (reading, writing, mathematics) and alerting them to action that needs to be taken to improve their results. Parents were asked to read and sign the slip at the bottom of the letter and to have the slip returned to the Secondary Section Supervisor, Fadi Badr.

Important Dates – Parent/Teacher Evenings
Quarter 1 ended on Friday, 20 November and report cards were issued on 1 December for all Upper School classes, except for Secondary III LP. All parents are invited to the Parent/Teacher evenings scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 2 (Intermediate classes) and Friday, 4 December (Secondary classes). Secondary III LP students will receive their report cards on Monday, 7 December. A Parent/Teacher conference for them will be scheduled later.

Incomplete Grades
Only students with valid medical reasons for a prolonged absence from school will be awarded “Incomplete” grades for Quarter 1. In such cases, all missing work has to be completed within two weeks of the end of quarter one; otherwise the “Incomplete” grade is automatically reported as 40%.

Make up Exams
Students who miss a few days of school and whose absence is considered excused by the Head of Section should make arrangements with their subject teachers to sit for a make-up exam or to submit other work. Students who have failed to do so will NOT receive an “Incomplete” grade for the course, but rather will receive a “0” grade for the exams and quizzes they failed to complete.

Conduct Grade
Report cards for 09/10 now indicate a conduct grade for each subject the student is taking. The grade is reported as a letter grade, with A meaning excellent conduct, B good, C fair, D unsatisfactory, and E very poor. Parents with questions or concerns about the conduct grade are encouraged to discuss their concerns with the subject teacher and with the Head of Section.

Writing Competition
Open to all from the age of 13 to 113. Submit your writing: poem, essay, or short story as a typed document to the library before 8 January 2010. You could have your work published! See the Librarian or English Department for more details.

Beirut Marathon
150 students (100 runners and 50 volunteers) will participate in the Beirut Marathon on 6 December 2009. Last year our students, with teacher Khaled Al Hilli, received the Best Water Station Award. We aim to win the award this year also. The funds raised from the Marathon will go to welfare institutions.

Representatives from the Beirut Marathon organization came to the Intermediate assembly on 8 November. They encouraged grade 8 and 9 students to attend this worthy event from which the funds raised will go to non-profit organizations that work to help needy children in Lebanon. We hope to have many BHS students go down to the Marathon on 6 December.

Secondary Section
The Careers Fair which was held on 11-13 November was a success. Around 36 prominent speakers including old scholars, parents, and university professors were invited to share with the students their experience, educational background, and success stories. Many speakers were pleased by our students’ mature attitude.

Founders Day in the Secondary Section was celebrated in the presence of Mr. Naim Baroud, former Head of Social Studies Department, who was invited by Dr. El Khoury.

Wadieh Ghanem (Sec. III LS/LP) was the host for the event. Lilly Chacra (Grade 12) wrote and read an English poem; Myriam Maalouf (Sec. I LP) wrote and read a French poem; and Majd Al Ashkar (Sec. III GS/LP) read an Arabic poem. Joe Al Adem (Sec. III SE/LP), Majd Al Ashkar, and Catherine Ramia (Sec. III GS/LP) prepared a short documentary on the school’s legacy by interviewing people in public places about the school. Nicolas Cyril Namar (Grade 11), Olivia Jabra and Eddy Labaki (Sec. II IP) displayed a movie about BHS Principals. Anthony Soufan (Sec. III GS) gave a speech on his 15 year experience as a BHS student committed to the school spirit. Dr. El Khoury wished that BHS students continue the legacy and carry the torch of the school motto “I Serve”.

Independence Day was celebrated in a different way in the Secondary Section. A group of Secondary students visited Dar Al Rahme and filmed a short movie titled “What does Independence Day mean to elderly Lebanese Citizens?” The patients there were thrilled and remembered the importance of Independence Day in the history of the country. Amou Costantine, a patient at Dar Al Rahme said “Independence means emancipation from slavery.”

Christmas activities are in progress. The choir is rehearsing nearly every break; the food and clothes drive for needy people has started; and Al Amal Institute patients and Dar Al Awlad children will be invited to share the Christmas spirit with our students.

Clubs: As of next week, students will be asked to choose the clubs they wish to be members in this year. Parents are expected to motivate their children to be active members in the school life.

Graduating students are applying to AUB and LAU. They are busy filling out applications and asking for recommendations.

Intermediate Section

A beautiful day and an amazing march – that was the setting for the Independence Day celebration which took place on Friday, 20 November. All Intermediate students, dressed in the colours of the Lebanese flag, marched behind the Upper Elementary students: out from the middle gate, up onto the main road, and back onto the upper campus from the main gate.

All students ended up in the sand field where they stood facing Dr. El Khoury and sang the national anthem. The students’ brilliant behaviour made us all very proud on this special occasion.

A special assembly was held for all grade 7 students on 5 November. In the presence of the Head of Section, Grade 7 advisers, and the Counsellor, the issues of bullying, peer pressure, and taking on responsibilities as mature teenagers were addressed in a very serious manner.

In last week’s advisory, the topic of “Note Taking” was worked on. Students, with their advisers, looked into methods for taking notes in class during lessons and at home while studying. The main objective of this session was for students to understand that just listening in class or simply reading a lesson at home is not always sufficient. By taking notes, the material being taught or read individually is reinforced.

Arts Department: Drama class students are working on short skits which they hope to present before the Christmas holiday. In art classes, Intermediate students are working on mosaics, stencil work, and drawing objects by observation.

P.E. News
Well done to the BHS Senior Boys Football Team who won 4:1 against Greater Beirut Evangelical School on 13 November. Congratulations to Coach Micky Sawaya.

Bravo to the BHS Senior Boys Basketball Team who won 67:44 against the Evangelical School, Rabieh on 13 November. Congratulations to Coach Tony Kareh.

LOWER SCHOOL NEWS
In the last three weeks a lot has happened in the lives of our students. Many values were highlighted, discussed and set as goals to attain. Our Librarian Christine Labaky prepared an assembly on the importance of friendship, along with Supervisor/ Drama Teacher William El Roumouz who took snap shots of clusters of friends in classes working together and on the playgrounds competing in several activities. The students enjoyed the presentation. To follow up, they wrote essays on "Friendship" and reinforced living it on campus and outside it. This was their way of laying the foundations for building a future peaceful and diverse community.

Counsellor Rula El Khoury addressed the issue of "Bullying" with students through a PowerPoint presentation. She identified different kinds of behaviour and defined which ones are considered as acts of bullying. She answered a lot of the students' questions and set goals for them to change some of their behavioural patterns.

Since sports are important at BHS, we hosted the Lebanese high jump champion, Jean-Claude Rabbath, during assembly time. His biography was most interesting for many students who looked up to him as a role-model and aspired to follow in his footsteps.

As planned by Head of Elementary Shatha Abu Khalil, in coordination with Head of Intermediate Rima M Habib, and executed by PE teacher Jessie Sawaya, the Elementary students marched through the streets of Brummana to commemorate the  Independence Day of our country. They joined the Intermediate students in the tennis court to sing the national anthem together. We were very proud of them.

Arabic language teacher Myrna El-Onaissy and Social Studies teacher Graziella Ibrahim helped their students to present a well researched PowerPoint presentation on the Independence of Lebanon. Some students also simulated the Lebanese Independence period events on stage. They were efficient, clear and very patriotic citizens. Thank you, teachers! In the Lower Elementary Section, teacher Yolande Al-Aswad's Grade 3 students introduced the men who took part in the 1943 Independence events and changed the history of the country.

A warm Thank You is extended to singer Ayman Kafrouni, who sang a patriotic song to commemorate the occasion. All LE students helped our Art teacher Vivian Schmaissani as she prepared long flags to celebrate Independence Day.

The school's Founders' Day was also observed. Teacher Emilie Abou Abdallah marked the day with a special PowerPoint presentation where the students had to identify their teachers in pictures of old scholars and where in the school the pictures were taken. In the Upper Elementary section, Dr. Nabih Zalzal, an old scholar, conducted a beautiful presentation where he reminisced about his life at the school some thirty years ago. His experience at the school was very inspiring. Thank you, Dr. Zalzal.

In the Lower Elementary, Grade 1 students learnt about the planets and the sun. Each student made his/her own sun and wrote sentences about it. They loved learning about space.

Grade 2 students prepared their own maths riddles. They also wrote a paragraph about how they got ready to go to bed. They enjoyed painting murals about land and water habitats.

Integrating English with science,  Grade 3 students prepared safety tips projects and shared them along with the sayings "Better Safe than Sorry", "Know Safety, No Injury; No Safety, Know Injury." On a different topic, the students used their mathematical minds to prepare riddles which they shared and solved. In Special Arabic periods the students were busy learning about the winter supplies that mums prepare from autumn harvest. In English: After learning the steps of writing a how-to paragraph, the students wore their cooking hats and prepared delicious pizza recipes in the kitchen. Sahtein!

Finally, the Students of the Week for the last four weeks were:
Lower Elementary:
Grade 1A: Tatiana Rousse, Edward Prescott-Decie, Giorgio Kfoury, and Norman Rustom
Grade 1B: Kareem BouAkl, Luciana Nehme, Faye Abi Nafeh, and Angela Saade
Grade 2A: Rand Haidar, Mirna Issa, Carlos El-Khoury, and Dimitri Rousse
Grade 2B: Giovanni Rouphael, Gina Chamaa, Tia Najjar and Antonio Sawma
Grade 3A: George El Helou, Daniel Maatouk, Alexander-Mathew Wakim, and Cynthia Rachid
Grade 3B: Stephanie Ashkar, Michel Ghaleb, Perla Corbani, and Laura Nassar
Upper Elementary:
Grade 4A: Chloe Atallah, Dana Yared, Alexander Riachy, Nour Dika, and Sally Khoury
Grade 4B: Joey Alam, Yvana Rouphael, and Thomas Tarabay
Grade 5A: Jason Halabi, Perla Ghajar, Laila Ferguson, and Yasmina Hage
Grade 5B: Christine Nawfal, Tiffany Batrouni, Louis El Ashkar, and Michael Abu Khazaa
Grade 5C: Valerie Hilany, Youssef Akl, Nour Chebly, and Maysa Abu Khalil
Grade 6A: Anna Batrouni, Sherif Saad, Athena Marie Villard, and Ralph Maatouk
Grade 6B: Ryan Georgi, Romy Nehme, Laura Aouad, and Georges Hanna
Grade 6C: Lea Corbani, Magalie Eid, Alexander Saad, and Nareg Tenkerian

Infant Section On 16 November, the Infant Section watched a play called "Nour et le Monde Marin" by Abdo Hakim.  It was presented in Arabic in Dobbing Hall.

Infant Section students celebrated Independence Day in their own child-friendly environment on 18 November 2009. Students paraded on campus and sang the national anthem. Later, they enjoyed eating 'Markouk' labneh sandwiches with cucumbers and tomatoes. Students familiarized themselves with the colours of the Lebanese flag and its meaning (cedar tree represents immortality and tolerance, the red stripes symbolize martyrdom and self-sacrifice, and the white represents peace and the snow-capped peaks of Lebanon's mountains).

On 20 November, the Infant Section hosted an Open House for prospective families of the 2010-11 academic year. We welcomed families who were interested in a nurturing, creative and playful environment.

Playgroup enjoyed making autumn trees with paints and sponges. They were also creative in making a pair of apple sunglasses and decorating them with finger paints.

During the past few weeks, KG I students have enjoyed tremendously accomplishing several hands-on activities: painting the parts of a plant, painting apple trees, drawing a twig man, sticking autumn leaves on a squirrel, and sticking shredded cardboard on birds.

KG II students are enjoying their science lessons. They investigated the parts of a plant by observing a real one. They identified the roots, stems, leaves and flowers. After that each child drew a plant.

It is a very busy time of the year where students rehearse for songs and dances to be performed on 14 December during the Christmas Show.

STAFF NEWS
Congratulations to Accountant Antoine El Kareh and his wife Rana on the joyous occasion of the birth of their beautiful baby girl Mayssa on 26 July.

THANK YOU TO…
- Grade 6 student Deema Al Huqail for donating a book to the Upper Elementary Library.
- Liliane Alam, teacher and co-ordinator of English, for donating 8 books to the Upper Elementary Library.
- Wellington Quaker Meeting, Somerset UK, for donating 80,000LL towards Financial Aid.
- Director of Studies Samar Barakat for donating 7 books for the Upper Elementary Library.
- Students William and Chloe Atallah for donating 15 books to the Lower Elementary Library.
- Grade 5 student Maysa Abou Khalil for donating 96 books to the Lower Elementary Library and 14 books to the Upper Elementary Library.
- Upper Elementary students Kai and Zoe Koenye for donating 86 books to the Elementary Libraries.
- Old scholar Rosette Hanna for donating two used books to the Thomas Little Memorial Library.
- Old scholar and parent Nahida Aswad for donating one used book to the Thomas Little Memorial Library.
- KG I student Jad Abdennour for donating toys to the Nursery.

The Newsletter will be published approximately every 3 weeks. If you would like to receive a free copy of the Newsletter by email, please send an email with “subscribe” in the subject line to: najat.wakim@bhs.edu.lb.

BHS Newsletter
4 June 2010
13 May 2010
23 April 2010
18 March 2010
25 February 2010
4 February 2010
14 January 2010
3 December 2009
5 November 2009
16 October 2009
12 June 2009