from our headmaster - american community school … · from our headmaster volume 4 issue 1; april...
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From Our Headmaster
Volume 4 Issue 1; April 07, 2016
A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y S C H O O L AT B E I R U T
ACS Welcomes You
Important
We need your photo and a short introductory paragraph for our next issue.
Please note that entry to Lebanon is not granted to people with passports showing
Israeli visas or stamps. If this applies to you, please get a new passport immediately.
Your first paycheck will be available on the last working day of September.
Latest arrival date at Beirut should be August 17, 2016.
Keep this issue! You will be met by someone from the welcoming committee and your
principal in the greeting area after you pick up your baggage and go through customs. Our pictures are in the issue.
Karim Abu Haydar
Welcome to our first issue of the welcoming committee newsletter. In these newsletters, we will try to answer most of your
questions, at least those that might apply to all of you. For individual concerns please contact your “buddy.” The school
will be providing you with his/her name soon.
I want to welcome all our new hires to ACS and to Beirut. Ceci and I have enjoyed conversing with you on line and in a few cases meeting you in person and we are thrilled for the school that we have attracted such a strong group. We are also thrilled for you and know that each of you has a wonderful learning experience ahead as you move to Lebanon. Of course there are problems here with not being able to elect a President and having garbage piled up on the other side of town, but we still have wonderful sea views, enticing outdoor bars and cafes, incredible fresh food, warm and welcoming locals, and a 111 year old school that goes out of its way to promote diversity and critical thinking. We are a strong school with an important history in Lebanon and you will help to add to that history.
Our HR department teams up with a terrific welcoming committee and they will organize your orientation, meet you at the airport and assure that you have a smooth transition to ACS. Count on a fun-filled few days starting after your arrival on August 18th. Sadly Ceci and I will not be here to greet you as we are headed back to the States in June, but I know that you will enjoy working with my successor Greg MacGilpin who will move to Beirut just a bit before you do, coming with his wife and three girls from Costa Rica. Greg will welcome you in our next newsletter.
All the best for the remainder of this school year, and look forward to joining a very hospitable and supportive community in August. Ham and Ceci
Hamilton Clark and Ceci skiing in Lebanon
I would like to welcome you to ACS at Beirut. The ACS community is a wonderful mix of people that are committed to working together to provide our students a rich educational experience. Lebanon and Beirut have a great deal to offer in the fine arts, delicious cuisines from around the world, the outdoors and history that is over 5000 years old. I
look forward to meeting you in August.
From Our Deputy Headmaster
I am Rob Allison and I am currently the High School Principal at Escuela Campo Alegre in Caracas, Venezuela. I hold a B.A. and Ph.D. in English literature as well as an M.Ed. and will be serving as the High School Principal at ACS. My wife Julie is currently the Elementary Counselor at ECA. She holds a B.A. in journalism as well as Masters degrees in both Education and International Counseling and will be part of Student Support Services in the elementary school at ACS. We will be joined in Beirut by our son John, who will be a sophomore in high school next year, while our daughter Hannah will begin her university career in California. Prior to Caracas, we have worked at international schools in Cairo, Bangkok (where both children were born), Sydney and Mumbai and are looking forward to this next adventure. We enjoy an annual family ski trip to Italy every winter but, between the four of us, also pursue fairly disparate interests from reading to computer programming to sports to planning elaborate social extravaganzas.
Meet Your Principal
Phil Wendel
MS Principal
Sawsan Yaseen
EY Principal
ACS Welcomes You
Welcome to ACS Beirut! This is my second year at ACS as the Elementary School Principal, and I’m delighted that you are joining our community. I’m here with my husband, Donn (who is in private business) and with our cocker spaniel, Schooner. We have a family home in Portland, Oregon, where we spend our summer holidays. Our daughter, Katie, mostly grew up overseas and is now in her third year at Smith College as an engineering student. I count myself as one of the fortunate ones to have lived and worked in many places around the world, including Singapore, New Delhi, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Jakarta, and now Beirut. I enjoy exploring both the city and the countryside with my husband and friends, especially appreciating the Lebanese hospitality. Lebanon has a lot to offer and I know you are going to enjoy the lovely opportunities here.
Welcome to the Early Years Division at ACS! You’ll be a great addition to a team whose members are very professional, dynamic and passionate about children and their learning, and I trust that you are, too. Together we will embark on a learning journey as we dialogue and communicate to build relationships with children, parents and colleagues. This journey will be joyful as it reflects the Early Years vision, “Nothing without Joy” for
everyone. I look forward to meeting you in August!
Welcome to ACS! I am excited to have you join our middle school faculty this year. You are joining a vibrant, dedicated group of middle school educators who are student- focused and have a deep understanding and appreciation for the many development challenges the middle school child experiences. The Middle School is a warm, caring and challenging place for our students. As such, students feel safe here and generally like coming to school. This is my sixth year at ACS, and I am finishing up my second as the Middle School Principal. I previously was a middle school principal at an independent school in Atlanta, GA, for five years, after serving there the previous 10 as a teacher and assistant principal. I have 25 years in education- nine as a full-time classroom teacher and 16 as an administrator; although, I have continued to teach at least one class while serving as principal throughout my career. Outside of the walls of ACS, I enjoy yoga, running, biking, hiking, playing basketball and all the flavors of the Lebanese culture.
Diann Osterlund
ES Principal
Rob Allison
HS Principal
When you arrive in Beirut you will receive a shipping allowance which will vary in
amount depending on your status (single, family, etc.). This is the only money you will
receive before pay day at the end of September, on the last working day of the
month. You are entitled to ask for an advance in salary from the Business Office.
Please feel free to do so. Shipping allowances do not go very far. Beirut can be an
expensive city and getting your apartment set up with cleaning products, groceries
and other essentials for your new home, and the general living expenses for the
almost two months without a paycheck is very costly. As of last year, most singles
need a minimum of $1500 USD in addition to their shipping allowance to get
through until their first pay day. In Lebanon both USD and Lebanese pounds are
accepted in all places and we suggest that you bring enough cash with you to help
you get by until the end of September and again contact the business office if you
need an advance. It is expected that you may need to do this.
Finances & Your First Pay Check
Travel Arrangements
As you all already know, Jocelyne will be
handling your travel arrangements along with
her assistant Ghada Temsah.
This is a kind reminder of what she already
wrote you in my welcome email letter:
Travel arrangements:
To facilitate your transition, kindly advise your
departure city (home city) and specify airport
name so I may reserve and book your flight to
Beirut.
ACS Welcomes You
YOUR SHIPPING AL-
LOWANCE WILL BE
THE ONLY MONEY
YOU WILL RECEIVE
BEFORE PAY DAY.
YOU WILL RE-
CEIVE YOUR
FIRST PAYCHECK
ON THE LAST
WORKING DAY
OF SEPTEMBER.
Raouche or Pigeon Rock
Reservation guidelines: Arrival date at Beirut should be around August 16 - 17, 2016. Keep in mind that orientation
begins August 18, 2016.
Jocelyne or Ghada will advise your flight information and will arrange for a member of our
welcoming committee to meet you at the airport.
If you will be traveling with a spouse/dependent they will need a copy of their passport.
If you are traveling with a pet, let Jocelyne or Ghada know ASAP so they can choose an airline
that is pet friendly.
Shipping
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU BRING YOUR BELONGINGS WITH YOU ON THE AIRPLANE AS EXTRA
LUGGAGE. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE AIRLINE IN REGARDS TO LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE BEFORE DEPARTURE.
DO NOT INCLUDE CDs, DVDs OR PRESCRIPTION OR OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS IN YOUR SHIPMENT.
INCLUDE SUCH ITEMS IN YOUR TRAVEL LUGGAGE.
I recommend that you bring your belongings with you on the airplane as extra luggage. Please check with the
airline in regards to luggage allowance before departure. However, if you must ship your belongings, I
recommend the following shipping companies:
CIEL, please contact Mr. Fadi Marchi at Tel: 00961- 4- 522149 Mobile: 00961-3-687450
COMPASS LOGISTICS, please contact Mr. Mario Nassif at Mobile: 00961-3-355152 [email protected]
CARGO MASTER LINE, please contact Mr. Jack Abou Zeid at Tel : 00961-1-561000 [email protected]
NATIONAL SHIPPING CO., please contact Ms. Mirielle Sfeir at Tel: 00961-1-560986 Ext: 314 m.sfeir@radec
-lb.com
LEVANTINE, please contact Mr. Wael Daher at Tel: 00961 -1 368170. [email protected]
Beirut Cargo Center (BCC), please contact Mr. Jad Daccache at Tel: 00961- 1 48 22 11 Ext.
118; [email protected].
BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL MOVERS (BIM), please contact Ms. Georgette Bejjani, at Tel: 00961-1 49 55 00
Ext. 107; [email protected]
GENERAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES SAL – GTS, please contact Mr. Nabil Ghantous at Tel: +961 1 585
777 (10 lines) Ext. 208 [email protected]
Whether you ship with the above mentioned company or any other shipping agency, I urge you to insist on a
written quotation / invoice describing clearly the services and related charges you are getting, this is the best
way to avoid surprises later.
Do not include in your shipment CDs / DVDs / Video tapes, prescription or over the counter drugs. Include such
items in your travel luggage. Please note that a door-to-door service does not include Lebanese custom duties
charges if any.
Clearing a shipment through Lebanese Customs could take up to three weeks from the time it arrives to Beirut.
You have to be present in Beirut for the shipment to clear; the shipping/clearing agent will need your passport
to do the job. I recommend you ship your belongings three weeks before your departure if you are shipping by
air, eight weeks before departure if you are shipping by sea, so it may arrive to Beirut around the same time
you do. In any case, consult with your shipping agent on when to ship and ask him questions about custom duties
(based on your packing list he should be able to tell you what is subject to custom duties and what is not and
give you an approximate figure of your custom bill and your total bill for shipping and clearing charges. (From
past experience, custom duties on personal effects were not significant, but it all depends on what you are
bringing in).
ACS Welcomes You
ACS Welcomes You
Your Mail
Whenever you are settled in Lebanon, you may forward your
mail to either of the following addresses, as it is not advisable
to have it delivered to your flat…
American Community School at Beirut
PO Box 11- 8129
Riad el-Solh, Beirut, 1107-2260 Lebanon
This will get delivered to our PO Box; we do empty the PO
Box 2 to 3 times a week
OR
If you'd rather have it delivered to the school's post office
station, simply use
American Community School at Beirut,
67 Nigeria Street, Jal al-Bahr, Ras Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon 2035-8003
You may use the ACS NY office address for important mail
such as bank statements, financial statements etc. Only small
(5"x 9”) light weight (up to 2 oz) envelops are forwarded
weekly via courier to Beirut. Bulk mail, parcels, catalogues;
pamphlets etc. will not be forwarded.
American Community School
3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza 8th floor
New York, New York 10017
Kaak Seller on the Corniche
Early 20th Century Beirut house: These are
disappearing.
To give you a clear picture of Lebanon, we have to include a
picture of a cat. This particular cat, Bella, belongs to the school and, yes, she has
been spayed and has all her shots. In Lebanon, cats are everywhere.
Many school buildings do not allow pets so if you are planning on bringing an
animal or adopting one please make sure your building is pet friendly. Also,
contact Jocelyne so that she can choose the most pet friendly airline for you.
CATS and Other PETS
We do not recommend having items shipped to this country. They often don't arrive. This includes ordering online and care packages. We suggest that you buy what you need locally or bring it
with you.
This information is for those of you who are ACS Foreign hires after your arrival to Beirut. Upon your arrival at the Beirut Airport,
people with a work visa will get a work visa entry stamp on their passport. The work visa stamp fee is approximately US $35 and must be paid in cash. During orientation you will be
reimbursed the $35.
School personnel are not allowed beyond the greeting area of the airport but a school representative will await your arrival outside of the baggage pick-up area
and will verify that a work visa stamp is complete on your passport.
Please look for a sign that reads ACS and your name on it.
Based on the work visa stamp on your passport, the process of granting your work and residence permit will take approximately 10 weeks after your first entry into
Lebanon. During this time you cannot make travel plans to leave the country.
Medical tests will be completed with the assistance the School Nurse & The Expat/
Ministry Affairs Coordinator.
Photos will be taken at school with the assistance of The Expat/Ministry Affairs
Coordinator.
Other legal documents will be provided by the school.
Your passport and all other original documents will be attached to the residency
application, submitted and retained by the security office. for a period of time.
Pre-Work Visa/Work permit/residency requirements
Visa/residency requirements for accompanying dependents and wives.
In Lebanon, men may sponsor their non-working wives and children but women cannot sponsor non-working husbands
They can sponsor their children.
Visa/residency requirements for dependents and non-
working wives are as follows:
US, Canadian and European citizens are some of the nationalities who are offered a free tourist visa upon
arrival at the Beirut Airport.
An accompanying nonworking wife and/or child(ren) will apply for a yearly residency after residency has
been granted to the husband/father.
To apply for their residency, dependents are required
to go in person to the security office.
The original marriage certificate is required for granting the residency of a non-working wife and the
original birth certificate is required to obtain the residency for accompanying children.
ACS Welcomes You
The process of granting the work and residence permit will take approximately
10 weeks.
During this time your passport will not be in your
possession.
Do not make travel plans to leave the country during this period of time.
Entry to Lebanon is not granted to people with passports showing Israeli
visas or stamps.
Make sure the visa is a work visa and not a tourist visa and have $35 dollars in cash
ready at the Visa desk.
Potter at Souq al Tayeb
ACS Welcomes You
Starting at the beginning of each New Year, the Welcoming Committee starts to meet to plan for your
arrival in Beirut and at ACS. We want to make sure your transition to living and working in Lebanon is a
wonderful experience. We are also anxious to meet all of you too! If you could e-mail a photo and a blurb
about yourself by the 15th of April (for our next newsletter) it would be appreciated. You can e-mail them to
Meet Your ACS Welcoming Committee
I am Karim Abu-Haydar and would like to welcome you to ACS at Beirut. Beirut
and Lebanon have a great deal to offer. I enjoy attending the various locally
developed theater productions, and a variety of music performances such as the El-
Bustan and Beit-El-Dine concert series. The outdoors is another wonderful outlet
when in Lebanon.
My name is Nada Aoun; I’m from Lebanon. I am the Expat/Ministry Affaires/
Personnel Coordinator at ACS. I have worked at ACS since 1984 handling several
jobs including visas, work and residence permits for all foreign hire and their
dependents. Commitment towards my job and colleagues is my priority. I enjoy
sightseeing and have visited several countries but I have never seen a country like
Lebanon. This country combines endless opportunities of fun, beach, nature and
outdoor activities and an unforgettable time awaits you.
Karim
Nada
Charbel
Hi, my name is Charbel Daou. I am Lebanese and the Maintenance Supervisor. I look forward to meeting all of you here in Lebanon and ACS.
Hola! My name is Andrea Alemany and I am a first grade teacher at ACS. I first fell
in love with Lebanon when I came for a weekend getaway while I was teaching in
Kuwait. Three years later, I continue to be mesmerized with the beautiful sites and
delicious foods that this place has to offer. On my free time I love exploring new
areas or joining one of the many available workshops around the city, including
yoga, photography, and writing. Welcome to Beirut! You are going to love it here!
Andrea
ACS Welcomes You
Jocelyne
Hello, my name is Nada – it means the morning dew in Arabic though in Spanish it means “nothing”. I am the upper school nurse and part of the school’s disaster team and coordinator of the First Aid class for HS students. I am a member of several international school nurses’ associations and I represented ACS in several international conferences. I love to travel and I plan lots of trips inside and outside Lebanon throughout the year for the ACS community. We’ve been to Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Russia, Spain
and Italy.
I love animals and I have an 8 year old Himalayan cat who thinks he is a natural born tiger. I am delighted to be part of this group to welcome all of you into our
ACS family.
Hello! My name is Dania Karame, I am the Middle School Academic Support Specialist, I
have been working at ACS for the past 16 years. I am Lebanese, originally from the City
of Tripoli which is in the north of Lebanon, but have been living in Beirut for a while. I
enjoy reading, traveling, trying new cuisines and getting acquainted with different
cultures. I am looking forward to meeting you all in August. Welcome to beautiful Beirut
and to ACS.
Nada
Dania
My name is Jocelyne Diab Bitar, I am the HR and I have been at ACS for four years now. I
will be facilitating your transition to Beirut & ACS. Looking forward to meeting you all in
August.
Welcome to ACS and Beirut! I have been teaching overseas for a long
time and I think one of the things I love about this city is the laid back feel-
ing! It is easy to get around and after a very short while you will know
people in the shops that you frequent and they will be eager to help you!
Life at ACS is like that as well! The all of the staff, and even the guards,
are welcoming and very helpful! With the school and faculty housing situ-
ated right on the corniche it is easy to enjoy the Mediterranean on a daily
basis! If you have any questions, just ask!
Susan
ACS Welcomes You
Welcome! My name is Andrea Norman. Most of the time, you will find me in the
Upper School (6-12) Library but I often visit the library in the Lower School. I come
from Vermont and have worked overseas for 25 fun-filled years. When I am not in
the library, I travel, garden, eat French food and explore Lebanon. I love it here!
The people are open, friendly and they want to share their country. The
neighborhoods are just that, neighborhoods, and you feel as if you belong. I hope
you will love it as much as I do. See you in August.
Andrea
My name is Becky Naughton and this is my first international teaching job,
and the end of my third year at ACS. I teach high school history, grade 11
IB Economics, Psychology History and Grade 12 IB history. I also coach
volleyball and track. My husband is Ryan, and he is the athletic director
here at ACS. We originally came from Chicago. Beirut has been great for
hiking and also for being a vegetarian, along with running along the
Corniche. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Becky with Ryan
Midge and Family Greetings! I am Midge Livingston and I am the MS Librarian /IT Integrationist. I am
finishing my 3rd year here at ACS and looking forward to many more! I live here
with my husband, Tim and our two daughters (as well as our two cats!). Tim and I
work at ACS and our daughters attend the school. We are from just north of
Seattle and this is our first overseas adventure. We enjoy being part of our
neighborhood community, walking along the Corniche, traveling around Lebanon,
reading, playing games and experiencing the food of this wonderful place. If you
have any questions I am happy to help! Also, feel free to take a look at our blog:
http://timandmidge.blogspot.com
Hello! My name is Erin Mukri and this is my first year here at ACS. Before Beirut I
lived in Athens, Greece and before that Washington D.C. Currently, I work as a
fourth grade teacher and as a swim coach after school. Beirut is an exciting, easy
city to live in with great nightlife, diverse cultural experiences, and delicious food.
Get out of the city and there are amazing trails to hike, beautiful beaches and towns
to explore. I love it here and I know you will too. Feel free to email me with any
questions that you might have. Welcome!
Erin
Hi :) I’m Lebanese, and it’s my 4th year at ACS. I currently teach in Early Years,
KG1. I also help out with the high school and middle school athletic competitions. I
can’t see myself working in any other school in Lebanon. The ACS community is
warm and friendly; mix that with a hospitable country and delicious food, and
you’ll enjoy a dynamic and exciting time while you’re here. If there is anything you
need or have any question, don’t hesitate to e-mail me or to stop by my
classroom. Welcome to ACS!
ACS Welcomes You
My name is Tom Pederson and I have been a HS math teacher at ACS since 2005. I
have been teaching in overseas schools for more than 25 years. My favorite things here
are my Lebanese colleagues, hikes and drives in the mountains, and hummus. Minnesota
is my home in the States.
Iman
Tom
Ma
n'o
ush
e w
ith za
tar a
nd
jibn
eh
on
the
sag
e
Talar
Greetings from Beirut, my name is Talar Partiyan, I have been working at ACS for
the past 16 years. I am currently teaching high school Biology . I am a mother of 2
boys in grade 10 and grade 6. In my free time I ride my motorcycle and explore
parts of Lebanon with the local H.O.G.® Lebanon Chapter. I hope to meet you all
soon in person!