NEWSLETTERS

December 1, 1998

We invite you to share with us major events and activities, current and previous: that have been going on during 1998.

START OF ACADEMIC YEAR 98/99

This year the Association is delivering its services from a new location of 1500 square meters in area. This has allowed for ample work area for the vocational training. The school occupies two stories and a basement. The first ground floor has a garden and a parking lot. So you can imagine the delight of the students as they have play grounds to explore during break hours! Moreover, the students are more comfortable in their spacious, with natural ventilation and lighted classrooms.

The new premises are located on the road to the Beirut International Airport, amidst a quiet residential and schooling neighbour-hood.

The new facilities have allowed the enrolment of a larger number of students. Of equal importance, these facilities allow us to improve the provision of quality education and related services to pre-schoolers and youth, and their families.

New recruitment was necessary to accommodate the extra number and needs, reaching a total number of 30 staff-members. A Strategy and Development department was established during this month, headed by a specialist who reports to the Director. The primary role of this Department is to carry strategic planning, marketing and evaluation studies focusing on increasing the quality and quantity of the workshops’ production. The efforts of the department are expected to culminate in generating income to cover substantial sum of the running expenses.

Worth mentioning, that the premises were donated to the Association by two benevolent friends to use for two scholastic years. The premises were deserted all through the war years in Beirut, which has caused it to deteriorate tremendously. The Association has incurred a substantial sum of money to restore and render it suitable for living.

American Women Club in Lebanon has invited us to take part in their annual holiday bazaar to be held on the 5th of December, at the Mariott Hotel in Beirut.

The Eighth Bazaar which is organized annually by the Association’s Parents Sub-Committee is to be held on the 11 to 13 of December at the Summerland Hotel.

At both events, the students are exhibiting what they have produced since the start of this new academic year. They are displaying gift articles, such as key holders, leather bracelets, clay mugs, wooden frames, baskets, trays, and many other handcrafts.

Special thanks go to the exhibition committee and the ladies who supported them and spent evenings at their homes to prepare decorative items to add special touch to the student’s products.

Among other items that are exhibited, are table clothes, bed sheets, cushions and other similar items, that are done from the finest fabrics by the parents’ committee members. It is a fact that the fabrics are of high quality and of exquisite designs donated by a prominent Lebanese lady residing in London. Thank you lady!

What’s coming? Excavations in ElMeshref for the Referral Center have finished. Engineering plans and maps were submitted for editing and final approval. We are expecting to have the Engineering Study printed by the end of this month. Decision was reached by the steering committee to go for general contract.

Our children will be planting the trees on the borders of the 10,200 sqm land allotted for the new buildings. This will take place during mid this month. The trees are provided on gratis by the Ministry of Agriculture.

This summer, the Association held its summer camp at the Delhamiyeh Scout’s Club in Shouf Mountain. The club is located in a forested area which is visited only by people who are interested in serene nature. Twenty-six students, accompanied by seventeen careers shared in this camp.

The summer camp features a healthy balance of academics, recreation and self- enrichment activities.

A valued and most appreciative gift was received recently by the school. The gift constituted of resource materials for speech therapy donated by the family of the diseased Ghada Kassir. The books were found to be indispensable references, and the educational material is so rich to teach children with special needs.