رسالة الكلية

رؤية الكلية

معًا نصل

المحتويات

الكتاب السنوّي2012 - 2011

كان هذا العام عام التغيير في كلية عمر

ثمانون عامًا من التأسيس

Model MUN LAU

Accreditation

SBM

التسّلم والتسليم

إضاءات هامة

إضاءات هامة

Kids Read

... خير جليس في األنام كتاب ...

»كّتاب مقاصدّيون« : معرض الكتاب الثالث عشر

The Red Moon

لغيت هوييت

إضاءات هامة

{

}

{

}

{}

ويستمّر الّتالقي...التبادل الّطالبي بين المقاصد والّشونفيل

إضاءات هامة

االحتفال بعيد األّم

عيد الطفل

ذكرى المولد النبوي الشريف

عيد االستقالل

إضاءات هامة إضاءات هامة

نشاطات اإلذاعة الصباحية

زيارة إلى مستشفى المقاصد قسم مرضى سرطان االطفالإضاءات هامة إضاءات هامة

احتفاالت دينية في قسم الروضةذكرى المولد النبوي الشريف

[[

Adha Eid عيد األضحى

نشاطات نادي كلية عمر بن الخطاب التطوعي لعام 2012

Leader in you and Ethics of Leadership andproject management

$

مباريات ونجاحاتإضاءات هامة

Effect of

Acids on Apples

Effect of Magnet on Plants

Negative Ion Clothing

Employee Guide

Fighting Fire

HESA

Hydraulic Press

مباريات ونجاحاتإضاءات هامة

WorldWater Day

Picture It

A Weekin the Life

Decision Making

Kids Read Individual Videos

British Council

The Red Moon

Spelling Bee

Kids Read School Competition Book Battle

British CouncilKids Read Individual Videos

Shout

ModelUnited Nations MUN

• •

• •

• • •

•

– – • – • – •

– •

•

• •

• •

•

•

• • •

• • • •

• • •

•

نشاطاتنا الرياضية

–– – –

– – – – –

– –

– –– – – –

– – –

– – – – – –

– – – – –

– – –

– – – – –– – –

– – –

– –

– – – – – –

–

– – – – – – – – –

– – –

–

– – – – – – – –

– –

– – – – –– – – – –

– – – – –

– – – – – – – – – –

– – – – – – – –

–

– – – – – – –

– – – – – – – –

– – –

– – – – – – –

– – – – – – – –

– – – – – – – – –

وداعا كلّية عمر بن الخطاب

أنشطة الروضاتاليوم االول 1st Day في المدرسة و

Last Day اليوم االخير

Open Day اليوم المفتوح

At the Pet Shop مع الحيوانات األليفة

أنشطة الروضاتIndependence Day يوم االستقالل

Art Exhibition معرض الفنون

نزرع في يوم االرض Planting on Earth daySmurf Act السنافر

With the Smurf مع سنفور

Pets at Schoool الحيوانات في المدرسة

النظافة من االيمانKeep Me Clean زيارة إلى النجار

To The Carpenter

أنشطة الحلقة األولىلقاء هام

األرنوب السعيد ومادة الرياضّيات

Living Colors

Bake Sale

درس تطبيقي في كيفية الصالة

االحتفال بذكرى الهجرة النبوية

In Liban Post

أنشطة الحلقة األولى

اليوم الرياضي

Leaves Activities أنشطة الحلقة األولى

في السيرك الفني

درس عملي عن النظافة الشخصيةحضور مسرحية لونا

نشاط قطرة ماء في االذاعة الصباحية

االحتفال بعيد االضحى مع بقية حلقات الكلّية

أنشطة الحلقة الثانية

زيارة إلى متحف الحياة البحرية

زيارة جريدة النهار

حضور مسرحيةحضور فيلم

Puss in Boots

أنشطة الحلقة الثانية

Math Activity

Read For Activitiy

Storytelling

A Poem Together

التالميذ المشاركون في نشاطA WEEK IN THE LIFE

حضور أفالم وثائقية فيAV ROOM

المطالعة في المكتبة

في مختبر العلوم

رحلة الى فاريا

أنشطة الحلقتين الثالثة والرابعة

Recycling Batteries

Bake Sale

CCO Projct

AUB Fair

Presentations

Tenth Graders Celebrating Their Friends’ Achievements

At MUN- LAU

رحلة فاريا

محاضرات صحية

رحلة الى سد القرعون

1

A Bridge to SuccessA vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more. In Omar Bin Al Khattab School, as in all Makassed schools, we all seek a perfect ending. Now, we learn that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and ending. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it.Our school vision and mission are founded on steady management and leaders. Our former principal, Mr. Ghazi Khattab, and our new principal Dr. Labban are both well-grounded Makassedien from whom we, teachers- administrators- and students, learn a lot. We learn from them that every single person in our school can be a leader. We show it in our actions every day. We are willing to take risks. Although the results may not always be what we want, we are so proud that we take the chance. We also learn that a pat on the back is always better than a slap on the wrist. We have role models of kindness and caring scattered all over school campus, and because of this, we learn to be ourselves. The way we dress and carry ourselves is never about others, but always about how we feel. Some words that we have heard over and over these years are “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” Being leaders, being willing to take risks, being kind, and being ourselves, are lessons that we need to remember and comply with at the beginning of this academic year. We all pledge to continue to do our best to reach success. The best things said come last. People will talk for hours saying nothing much and then linger at the door with words that come with a rush from the heart. A warm Farewell to Mr. Khattab and may God bless him now and ever more, and a confident welcome to Dr. Labban to our school board…. May God guide him to steady and sunny imprints on the route to education in our school.School CommunityOur first Morning Assembly Presentation at Omar Bin Al Khattab School (Saturday, October 1st, 2011)

Table Of Contacts:Index/School Profile+Comp.Pics .......................... 1Interview with Dr.Labban ...................................... 2Remarkable ...........................................................4Interview with Two Remarkable Alumni ............. 14Goodbye College ............................................... 18Goodbye College Word ...................................... 31

1

2 3

1. First, can you brief us a little about yourself- the personal as well as professional background? I am from Beirut, Lebanon. I was born in 1974. I went to Makassed Beit-El-Atfal for my elementary education, and then I moved to Rawda High School for my middle and high school education. Then, I went to AUB and had my BS degree in Biology in 1995.Then I travelled to the US. The first degree I got in the US was Master in Science Education in 1999. In 2003, I got the Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi. I recently got my master’s degree in Educational Leadership at St. Lawrence University. I taught Chemistry and Biology in Universities of Georgia, Mississippi, and New York in the US.Concerning my family, I have one sister who lives in Kuwait. She is married with one child. My parents live in Beirut, and I have two kids. 2. What were some problems that you faced during your studies? Do you ever regret doing/ not doing something in your life?If I were given chance to start again, I would go somewhere towards engineering not sciences, because the job market is better for engineers. The universities I picked were good, so I don’t regret that. The problem I faced once I moved to the US was that I wasn’t used to the accent in the Southern States. They have a very strong southern accent; to me it was not English. So when I left Lebanon I was around 23, and I could not really understand their English, so I thought I did not know English because the English they used was really different. That was one of the problems I faced once I arrived in the United States.

3. What was the reason behind leaving the US?It all had to do with my family issue. I had to come back and stay close to my parents. 4. Are you thinking of going back to the USA?Not for living, I might go visit my kids. As I told you, my two kids still live there.5. What was your first impression the minute you entered our school?It is a big school. The building is not ideal. The playground is small, and some of the classrooms are crowded. 6. Have you ever seen yourself in this position?I have seen myself in this position. That is why as I was teaching, I was also working on my master’s degree in Education and Administration. So, yes, I knew I am going to be a school leader, but what I did not know is that it is going to be in Beirut. That caught me by surprise.

7. Do you think you are going to make much of a difference without the effective involvement of student body? Do you believe that we are or at least should be part of the hierarchy to initiate change and growth? Actually, I started doling some little changes without asking you guys (with a smile). Generally speaking, I am a kind of person who would like to involve the whole school community in the decision-making-process. In fact, at the very core of my vision for the school lies the active involvement of all school fabric- students, teachers, and parents. When you do this, your decisions are usually easy to implement. That is what I am doing. I am doing it step by step.8. What’s your future vision for this school and how do you plan to reach it?I see the school has a good impact on the surrounding area. We are in Tarik Al-Jadida here, so I think because we are a big school we can use this fact to positively impact the community in general. I mean- the impact on people, environment, and on the community service.9. So far, what did you like the most and the least in our school?People are respectful here, and I like that. Students and employees in general are respectful. However, I do not like the so-called weekend, which is a Friday and a Sunday. It can be hardly described as a

weekend! 10. How can you help your students enjoy school and feel enthusiastic about learning?I am making sure that you feel that everybody teaches you fairly. It is important that you feel that. So, I would work on the emotional climate of the school. If it is a healthy emotional climate, people will do their work properly and students succeed. 11. Where do you see yourself and your school in like ten years from now?I hope to see a renovated campus and cafeteria; I want a properly-equipped science lab, an indoor gym…- in general an enhanced infrastructure. I would also try to ensure that OBK teaching staff and administration continue to provide the well-renounced quality education of all Makassed Schools and Institutions. 12. Do you think that you’re able to do all these changes?I think I can, and it is all a matter of will power and conviction.13. What advice would you give us as grade twelve students?You need to make sure you pick the right major, because if you make a mistake here it is not easy to fix. You need to really know that you are going into a certain major because you really want it not because somebody told you about it. So make sure you pick

the right major, because once you go there and spend 3 or 4 years at college, and then you say “No, it was not what I wanted”, then it is too late. Also keep in mind that once you leave school, it is a sort of a jungle in the real world. You will be on your own, so you will have to be tough.14. What would you like to add as a final word?Always try to do the best you can, so in case you fail you will not feel guilty about it later on in time.

Senior students at OBK sought to know a little bit more about their rather energetic young principal. Under the supervision and with the guidance of their English Language teacher, Mrs Kabalan, a group of around 7 students from all different sections of Grade 12 interviewed Dr. Wassim Al Labban. Check this out…

Interview with OBK PrincipleDr. Wassim Labban

2 3

4 5

A Week in the Life Elementary Flat Classroom Project is a global, hands-on project for upper elementary school students which was founded by Julie Lindsay (Beijing, China) and Viki Davis (Westwood Schools,Georgia,USA) in 2010.The project ‘s aim is to join elementary school classrooms with a view to explore what life is like in each country through discussion , sharing, and collecting multimedia to create final projects together.In this project, students demonstrate creative thinking. They communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media. They also develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures. This year’s project has brought together over 600 students in 31 classrooms in 9 countries across the globe. They worked in teams of 89- students from different schools, and they used technology to connect, communicate, and collaborate while exchanging information about a week in their life: how they go to school, were they live, how they get around, what kind of food they eat what they celebrate, what clothes

they wear or languages they speak, what they do in their leisure time, and what the environment is like

where they live. Together each team used different web 2 tools to co-create the final project to share

their information with the rest of the group. OBK fourth graders participated in this

project. They were placed in mixed classroom teams and contributed to their team’s product. They were

divided into themes:1- School – Time, Subjects Taught, School Holidays,

Field Trips2- Leisure – games, hobbies, sports, toys, books, films3- Where we live and how we move around4- Language and clothing5- Food and celebrations6- EnvironmentThe learning outcome was insightful understanding of the life of each class. Teachers in charge of the project, placed students from their class into the six teams across the six topics. They provided opportunity for communication and collaboration between team members. Students were also required to research the different topics in their community, compare and contrast life in other countries and reflect on that and on how the project impacted the community. They connected, communicated, and collaborated on their topic online.All the activities were interesting. Our students’ HANDSHAKE activity was very creative .Each one felt free to introduce himself in his own way using different web2 tools such as jigsaw puzzles, glogster, voki, and animoto. The final presentation was unique. It was actually a summit “real-time” Skype with other participating classrooms all over the world. Students liked it very much when they communicated, asked questions, and got the answers. They were enthralled when they say their presentations posted. Everyone loved the way our fourth graders firewalled the other groups. It was an Arabic goodbye “وداًعا “.

You are welcome to follow the link to watch the whole activity: Fourth graders’ handshake: http://makassederc.blogspot.com/201205//week-in-life-project-handshakes-by.html

A Week in the Life

A Week in the LifeElementary Flat Classroom Project

Collaborative ProjectsOBK School believes in the importance of working collaboratively online and encourages its students to participate in fun and creative projects. This helps in scaffolding knowledge in various meaningful contexts which help employ higher – order thinking skills as well as advanced skills in information technology.OBK’s 20112012- was a remarkable year for joining these online projects. It has selected a set of activities that are purposeful and mesh with curricular goals, objectives and themes.Here are some samples of these collaborative projects:

6 7

The “Picture – It Project”The “Picture – It Project”The “Picture – It Project” is a brand new idea. The main goal behind this project is to create a collaborative piece of art with 23 other classrooms around the world. Each classroom received one piece of the picture, created, colored that piece, and sent it out to the other 23 classrooms on their lists. In turn, they received the other 23 pieces of the picture. The final product or image was a mosaic of artwork from students all over the world. Students also got to exchange information about their schools. OBK sixth graders were proud and delighted to tell others about their school’s status and achievement.

Water Cycle Activity“Learning by Doing” is the best strategy to understand concepts and ideas. Grade Five students learnt better about condensation and about the Water Cycle on Earth by carrying out an experiment in class .It was one of the activities that OBK participated in on the theme:

Shout Water Cycle Activity 2012 .Our

work was perfect, and the video of the experiment was featured with FIVE stars.Experiment on ePals website featured with 5 stars…http://www.epals.com/media/p/319718.aspxVideo shout featured:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150779568185984

Shout Water Cycle Activity, 5th graders at Makassed OBK Experiment ProcedureFiled under: Video, Teacher-Created Projects, Lebanon, Science, Student Work, Water, Shout, Smithsonian Institution Student Work, Shout Water Cycle Activity, Smithsonian Institution, ExperimentFifth graders at Makassed OBK in Lebanon participated in this Shout Water Cycle activity. Download the experiment proecedure.You can see the accompanying video here:

http://www.epals.com/media/p/319718.aspx

Shout Water Cycle

Baby Gruffalo, the friendly monster visited Lebanon in May. He came from POINT VIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL in AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. Gruffalo stayed at OBK for a month. He had many adventures with our Second Graders who showed him around the school campus and carried out several activities with him. Our students were so excited when watching the movie “The Gruffalo”.They had writing sessions with him where they wrote descriptive paragraphs and stories with him. He also spent a night or a two over with some second graders. When Cycle One students went to LIVING COLORS fun fair, Baby Gruffalo escorted them. How much our students cherish the time they spent together! All the activities were documented in his book and online.If you want to watch them, don’t hesitate to visit the following links:Makassed OBK School’s new friend from Point View Primary School in Auckland, New Zealandhttp://thegruffalostravels.blogspot.com/Story link: http://www.storyjumper.com/book/index/5859282/Sami-and-the-GruffaloPlanting/Cooking/Recipe: http://plantingthelearningseeds.blogspot.co.nz/201205//life-in-lebanon.html

Gruffalo’s Child Visit to OBK

8 9

Earth Day at OBKOBK students celebrated Earth Day in their own way. Words were written and said, posters were created, and T-shirts were designed creatively with words, mottos,slogans and drawings representing the occasion. Students also made their own bulletin boards and ended the event by planting in the playground. OBK School is on its way to become an environmentally friendly school.

The Monster ProjectThe Monster Project encourages the development of reading and writing skills while integrating technology into the classroom. Using monsters as a vehicle, students exchange written descriptions via this wiki, http://monsterproject.wikispaces.com. Students read the descriptions and then recreate their partner,s monster without ever looking at the «real thing». Grade three students at OBK took part in this collaborative “Monster Project”. First, they exchanged written descriptions with Ms. Adamson,St. Dominic School, Bolingbook, IL, USA, and then each student created his/her partner’s monster as required.During the process, students discussed, described, interpreted, analyzed, organized, and assessed their monsters as well as the monsters of their peers. They used vivid sensory words to develop descriptive paragraphs. How thrilled everyone was when he / she noticed how the recreated or redrawn picture bore much resemblance to the original one. If interested, check the following links:monsters 2012 wiki: http://monsterproject.wikispaces.com/2012monstersour wiki page: http://monsterproject.wikispaces.com/1112alma-shatilaMs. Adamson,s Third Grade Class:http://monsterproject.wikispaces.com/1112sds-adamson

Following a series of training sessions and a UN simulation over the past five months, the Global Classrooms–LAU Model UN program wrapped up its activities in the month of May, with a two-day final conference that included committee sessions and “Global Village” celebrations on the Beirut and Byblos campuses, and a ceremony at UNESCO.More than 900 students from high schools across Lebanon, and representing various countries, participated in committee sessions over two days. Through formal and informal debate and following rules of procedure, the 16 delegates (Grade Ten) Omar Bin Al Khattab School discussed different topics depending on their committee. After stating their countries positions and making amendments on draft papers, they voted on the final resolutions. Through their diligent work and support from their administrative as well as teaching staff at OBK, Rana Al Zarif was

awarded The Best Position Paper, Ahmad Marouf was awarded the Diplomacy Award, and Mohamad Abbas was awarded Secretary General Award with a full scholarship to the Lebanese American University. Special thanks to Ms. Souad Bulbul, Mr. Mazen Sheikh, and our studious school advisor, Aya ZaaZaa. Congratulations young diplomats…

New Class of Young LeadersLAU Model UN Makassed Graduates

Happy Bunny, the sweet rabbit, had a tour in Makassed schools. The first school to visit was Omar Bin Al-Khattab School. He met our preschoolers and Cycle One children. He went home with one of the children and spent quality time with the family. He had a tour in the school and an interview with Third Graders. Happy Bunny also learnt how to write letters in Arabic, too. He sang a lovely song with Second Graders in Arabic and he watched “The Hare and the Tortoise” play with them. In the P.E session, he raced with Grade Two, and in the Arts period, students were so creative enough to replicate stuffed bunnies using cotton. Grade One had an interesting activity with Happy Bunny on the interactive board. Even in Math, students wrote problems and took them to Aisha Um Al Mou’mineen students to solve them. Our visit to Aisha school was a unique experience. We enjoyed ourselves there, attending sessions, having breakfast, and doing activities with preschoolers. It was a great visit, and we were so glad when they accepted our invitation and repaid the visit. We ate breakfast together, had a Math session in the AV Room ,and watched a puppet show with the preschoolers. Happy Bunny’s stay at OBK was unforgettable. If you are interested, check Happy Bunny’s adventures wiki page: http://happyadventures.wikispaces.com/

The Adventures of Happy Bunny

10 11

Kids ReadAt OBK, we believe that reading opens up a world of opportunities for students exposing them to other cultures, attitudes, and global concerns such as the environment. Good reading habits established early, improve later performance in most life skills as well as developing language and critical thinking.Because of that, this year our school has participated in the “Kids Read” program set by the British Council. “Kids Read” is an exciting reading program with lots of accompanying activities, including competitions one of which is the “Individual Video Competition” where students have to record a two minute video of themselves retelling a story.(The competition is designed to encourage students to listen attentively while stories are being told in class to be able to create their own videos.)Five students from our school took part in the competition and their video clips were recorded and uploaded onto a given website.Our school participants were:Faeka Ajam (Grade Two) and her story was “The Red Moon”, Yehya Hamad (Grade Three) and his story was “Brown Bear, Brown Bear”, Aya Al –Kurdi (Grade Four) and her story was “The Paper Trail”, Mohammas Anouti (Grade Five) and his story was “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, and the last participant was Razan Othman (Grade Five) and her story was “The Three Billy Goat Gruff”.All of them were creative, fluent, and confident. They executed their projects in accordance to the preset judging criteria.In May the results were announced. Faeka Ajam has won the first place in the «Kids Read Student Competition 2012». After careful consideration, HSBC and the British Council have selected Faeka’s ‘’The Red Moon’’ video to be the winner video in Lebanon. Faeka received her prize on June 23rd.All OBK staff congratulates Faeka and wishes her best of luck in the regional competition.As a school we have also participated in the school competition (portfolio) where most students , their parents, and the community got involved in school activities trying to implement the project successfully by linking the stories given by the British Council to the curriculum in all grade levels (1 - 6).

Kids Read Student Competition – Results Dear School Principal, Teachers and Kids Read students,Thank you very much for participating in the Kids Read Student competition 2012. We are delighted to inform you that after careful consideration, HSBC and British Council have

selected Faeka’s ‘’The Red Moon’’ video to be the winner video. Faeka will be awarded with a $75 book voucher.We are organizing a ceremony as part of the Kids Read Community Event on Saturday 23 June in

Geitawi public library where Faeka will receive her prize. Time will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Again, congratulations and thanks for your hard work on the Kids Read Project. We hope Makassed Omar Bin Al Khattab School will continue to develop and progress with its students Sincerely,

Claire RossEnglish Project Manager, British Council

The Shakespeare Globe Theatre WorkshopFor the fourth round, the English Speaking Union (ESU) Lebanon in cooperation with the School of Arts and Sciences – Department of Communication Arts at LAU and the British Council, organized The Shakespeare Globe Theatre Workshop conducted by Mr. Adam Coleman, the senior practitioner at the Shakespeare’s Globe Education.The workshops on improvisation dealt with the conflict resolution theme from different Shakespearean plays.Ten sessions were open to around 350 high school students on February 23, 24, 25 and 26, and one session to 35 university students and people from the community on February 26.The schools participating in the workshops were: Makassed Omar Ben El Khattab School, Eastwood College, Rawda High School, Makassed Khaled Ben El Walid school, Christian Teaching Institute (CTI), Husameddine Hariri High School, National Evangelical School, American Community School (ACS), Lebanese Preparatory School (LPS), and Broumana High School.

Students Of the Term

12 13

Quests for Better HealthCCO School Project

Health care is one of the scoops in the news nowadays, and it has become a focal point in today’s society. Medical health care has become so expensive that many of our families cannot afford getting it. Quests for Better Health is an inspirational collaborative rally of students of all ages putting on a vigorous show to help provide others with lots of answers to medical questions.1. Sketch: girls fighting over diet pills & Expert’s Advice2. Senior students with their presentations on Health and Exercise3. Video on small twists for leading a healthy life by Seventh Graders4. Simple healthy twists planned and executed by Seventh Graders 5. Grade Twelve Interview and Dramatic Play on Herbs and Medicine6. Live Demo by eleventh graders exploring the benefits of Ginger as a herbal medicine.7. Question/Answer Segment by fifth and sixth graders on common misconceptions on home remedies8. Grade Three Healthy Food Tracker and Fifth graders’ song- “Vegetable Soup”9. Preschool Photo Album on Healthy Habits10. Grade Twelve Interview with Principal of OBK on his go-healthy planThe show covers a wide area of health-related issues and topics addressed for men, women, both adults and children. All students are exposed to a blend of experiences and areas in which they choose to specialize, so that they may give the school community solid guidance on most medical subjects and questions. The tasks incorporate various language skills such as the art of persuasion, note-taking, and public- speaking which are authentic key elements of survival in today>s world.

A Remarkable Event

Promethean Team Visit To Makassed Schools

14 15

and mostly my friends. If it is one thing I have learned this year from university, it would be the difference between a classmate and a family member. University takes that away form you, it takes away the familiarity and openheartedness you share with your teachers and friends at school. Let me just put it this way; by going to school, you are joining a new family, one that is bigger than your real biological family; however, by going to university, you actually step into the world, at least a miniature experience of it. As for what it added to me, it would definitely be a greater degree of liberty, the ability to make my own choices and to observe the consequences of these choices.5. If you were to offer a piece of advice to your fellow senior students at OBK- what would it be?Fellow senior students (Drum rolls), My advice to you goes as follows; try to be acquainted with the universities you will be attending next Fall and familiarize yourself with them; don’t go there on the first day like complete aliens. Moreover, enjoy your university experience to the maximum and try joining all the clubs you wish to join because it’s very beneficial on social and vocational levels. Last, but definitely not least, prepare well for your courses and don’t cram things up until the last day before the exam. You’ve definitely heard that preach from almost everyone around you, and I know that it’s hard to fulfill, but at least try your best to do so. Oh and one more thing, do NOT argue with your professors, it’s bad, very bad, unless you have that most perfect dean of students. One more thing, only for those who are not graduating this year, enjoy school to the fullest because such an experience can never be repeated. I really want to thank OBK for always giving me the best opportunities and constantly fostering my success. I wish you all the best. I love you.

Sara Abou Eliweh (LAU)

1. Can you brief us about your status as a current university student? After I graduated from OBK, I thought that the Makassed>s guiding role will simply fade away. However, I found myself mistaken, and thanks to the Makassed, I am going through this new chapter of my life, being constantly protected and aided. Offering me academic as well as psychological support, Makassed helped me achieve my goal: to be an AUB Mechanical Engineering Graduate. Hopefully, I will not let them down.2. In what ways did OBK School help shape your personality as an individual? The most important attribute our school has added to my personality is definitely being sociable. I wouldn>t have been the «chatter box» I am today, if I didn’t have the opportunity to treat friends as family, teachers as friends and idols, and our school board as leaders. Thanks to the Makassed family, I am now able to communicate with every type of individual with such an ease.

1. Can you brief us about your status as a current university student? I am currently pursuing a B.S. in biology as a premedical major at the Lebanese American University. Indeed, it sounds so sophisticated and grave, but it’s pretty much starting a new 12-hours-a-day open relationship with your books. I am also working at the university’s central administration for 20 - 22 hours a week.2. In what ways did OBK School help shape your personality as an individual? Well, I can be quite elaborate and extensive in answering this question. I do believe that one of the most valuable skills Omar Bin Al Khattab School boosted in me is my social skills. By giving my friends and me the chance and actually encouraging us to join several extracurricular activities and clubs, it presented us with a golden opportunity to improve our capabilities of performance at a social level and enhance our self-confidence. Moreover, my experience in such a happy environment like OBK, along with a unique student-teacher relationship, has given me a more positive and less anxious attitude toward life in general and any new experience in specific.3.What future actions do you recommend that our school follow through in helping their senior students choose their majors?Here are some of general guidelines I really hope OBK would implement in order to provide its graduates with a better university experience: • Introducing the students to the chief universities in Lebanon, the majors they offer, and the way

to apply to them starting from early grade 10. How many of you know that there’s an actual major called “Social Work”, very few I suppose; at least, at the time I was at school, I had no idea such a major even existed.

• Introducing popular international universities, the majors they’re popular for, and the scholarship programs they’re offering.

• Providing SAT courses in addition to TOEFL which we used to take because the SAT is a requirement for most of the universities now. Without it, our students would have lesser chances and opportunities ahead of them.

• Finally, and most importantly, setting a career guidance office at school to help the students orient themselves and decide, at least, their preferable fields of study if not actual majors. This can also

be enhanced by encouraging students to apply for extracurricular activities that involve field work and actual contact with the work environment.4. What is it that you miss about school days? What has university taken away from you? What has it added to it? Well, if I had been in the shoes of any student reading the following, I would

definitely consider my words as those of a teacher’s pet. Nevertheless, I can never express how much I miss the actual building, the playground, teachers,

Interview with Two Remarkable Alumni

16

3. What future actions do you recommend that our school follow through in helping their senior students choose their majors?I believe that our school should think about making more orientation sessions to different university campuses, in order for student to have a general view of different majors as well as different majors offered in several universities. We did go to AUB in school, but it was the only university visit. I think if these visits were more frequent, the student would then have a clearer idea of his major.4. What is it that you miss about school days? What has university taken away from you? What has it added to it?The thing I miss the most about school days is definitely class time. We can clearly see how unforgettable these days were! I will never forget the «fun» moments in class, whether it is in front or «behind» our teachers’ backs. This is definitely the thing I mostly miss about school, and I believe that university has deprived us of true friends. In university, each class would be in different rooms with different students, and this would make it really hard to transform friends into family, the way the school does. However, it has definitely added to me a very important attribute, punctuality. I have learned how to be on time for class, how to organize my duties according to their deadlines, and how to manage my free time at home or in university. 5. If you were to offer a piece of advice to your fellow senior students at OBK- what would it be?Carpe Diem! This is the only thing I can say to my friends. I want to wish them and myself the best of luck in our new journey. I hope we make the best out of it, seizing every moment, and making sure nothing is forgotten. And remember, you only live once!

Mohammed Yasine (AUB)

This is the car that Mohamad and his teammates made at university.

17

18 19

GOODBYECOLLEGE

Name: Mohamad AyadSection: GSYears at OBK: 14Future Major: Mechanical EngineeringHobbies: BasketballI will always remember: - The enjoyable physics and math classes and the great teachers that guided us. -Ofcourse each and everyone of my lovable classmates: Hamo, Handam, Rere Comments: I hope that the end of the road in OBK is not the end of our friendship but a reason for the relation to be deeper and bonds be stronger.

Name: Hassan AjihehSection: GSYears at OBK: 14Future Major: Mechanical/ Electrical engineeringHobbies: SwimmingI will always remember: Mr Mahmoud Yassin,Mr Amin Tawil,and Mr Ghanoum; Grade 11 A and how we reached GS. And I will never forget Mr MoutazzComments: The friends you make in your last 3 years are your long lasting friends (I,M,K,M)

Name: mostafa TbailySection: GSYears at OBK: 14

Future Major: Civil EngineeringHobbies: Volleyball, FootballI will always remember: Getting kicked out with Kareem dur-ing Arabic periods, sleeping with open eyes, Mr Mahmoud

Yassin, Mr Amin Tawil, Mr Mouataz Rifai and Mrs Nariman KabalanComments: I Love you 12

Name: Hala SardoukSection: LS

Years at OBK: 15Future Major: Pharmacy, Genetic Engineering, Psychol-ogyHobbies: Biking, swimming, volleyballI will always remember: strict Mrs Nariman, Iman’s silly

jokes, Bos, OBK memes, Mr Moutazz’s accent, Reem sing-ing to her eyeglasses.

Comments: Great friends, amazings years, best part of my life!!

Name: Abdel Rahman MahairiSection: GSYears at OBK: 8Future Major: EngineeringHobbies: swimming and footballI will always remember: my friends and our life as a family in the class!Comments: The professional teachers in this school really built our future!

Name:Mohammad ShirkawiSection:GSYears at OBK:14Future Major: Civil EngineeringHobbies: BasketballI will always remember: Mr Mahmoud Yassine “EX-PLAIN”Comments: Ya Ayaaaaaddd!!Kbeer ya Tbaily! Smeeeeekkk!!Long Live GS

Name: Mohamad Nibal Al ChamaaSection: GSYears at OBK: 14

Future Major: CCE/ Power EngineeringHobbies: basketball, ping pong, listening to musicI will always remember: Mr Yassin the best teacher ever, also Mr Amin, Moutaz, Mrs Nariman. As I’ll always remember our funny moments in Arabic, Geography,Philosophy and the cha-os that me and my classmates made in the secondary classes.

Comments: -mazbout walla sah??-w minshoof…-Majal el 3alam el thiathy I will miss you OBK!

20 21

Name: Ilham KabbaniSection: GSYears at OBK: 15Future Major: Management Information SystemHobbies: jogging,dancingI will always remember: each and every minute I spent at OBK,my childhood days, my Arabic speaking competition, my senior year with its amazing math classes, my teachers especially Mr Mohamd Kher, Mr Moutazz’s accent, Mr Amin saying “Smeeek”, Mr Mahmoud and postponing exams, and friends; Reem’s funny acts, Yousra’s loud laughter, Ahmad’s jokes and Mohamad’s issue with physics!Comments: Be as infinite as numbers in your ambitions, as wild as space in your thoughts, as flexible as calculations in your opinions,as strict as sequence laws in your seriousness, and as critical as a function in dealing with people. So, be as smart as mathematics in building your new life!

Name: Ahmad Mohamad HandamSection: LSYears at OBK: 15

Future Major: Mechanical Engineering/ Business HRHobbies: Swimming/ SleepingI will always remember: Teachers of high school classes Mr Mohamad Kher and Mr Moutazz, our funny moments shared with my best friends, and the secret jokes with Mr Mahmoud.

Comments: Wish for all my friends a successful life and I hope not to lose our friendship. Goodbye OBK, Goodbye friends and

teachers.

Name: Amanda MneimnehSection: LSYears at OBK: 1

Future Major: PharmacyHobbies: listening to music, dancingI will always remember: my classmates and teachersComments: We still have time :P

Name: Karim BleikSection: GSYears at OBK: 14Future Major: Mechanical/ electrical engineeringHobbies: Racing, volleyball, body buildingI will always remember: Me and Mostafa getting caught in the playground with a lot of food in our hands, Mr Mah-moud, Mr Amin, Mazen el Sheikh, Moutazz Rifai and Mrs Nariman Comments: Can you find me a secret place in the school where I can have a bed, air conditioner, and a hot cup of tea??!!I Love you Inas and Mariam!!

Name: Wajiha SweissiSection: LSYears at OBK:1Future Major: Nursing, Biomedical Engineering, doctorHobbies: drawing and readingI will always remember: my new experience in this schoolComments: Grade 12 is really important year in person’s life since he puts your first step to the future!

Name: Ahmad al ArabSection: LSYears at OBK: 3

Future Major: MedicineHobbies: Volleyball, Bird huntingI will always remember: Mrs Nariman, Mr Mahmoud, Mr Ghanoum, Mr Mouatazz and all my best friend and the funny moments in the volley games and class.

Comments: We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing while others judge us by what we have done!

Name: Mousa ArnousSection: GSYears at OBK: 5Future Major: EngineeringHobbies: VolleyballI will always remember: my days at OBK, Mr Mahmoud ,Amin, Moutazz and Mohamad Kher. I will never forget my classmates and our times together.Comments: LONG LIVE “GS”!!

Name: Rimaz MneimnehSection: LSYears at OBK: 1

Future Major: PharmacyHobbies: shoppingI will always remember: the good and bad moments in the class and the friends that I met in this schoolComments: We still have time :P

22 23

Name: Inas KeddeSection: GSYears at OBK: 3Future Major: ArchitectureHobbies: Hiking and raftingI will always remember: every moment I spent with my friends in class, postponing exams and just having fun.Comments: I was in another school before but OBK has something really special about it; I’ll miss you all and wish to satay in touch (M,H,K,M)

Name: Mariam DhainiSection: GSYears at OBK: 14

Future Major: EngineeringHobbies: solving math problems, swimmingI will always remember: my math class with Mr Amin, chem-istry classes with Mr Mohamad Kher (Grades 10 and 11), the funny times I spent with my friends especially in the last 3 years!

Comments: Enjoy your last year in school as much as you can, cause friends you make this year, teachers you meet and times you spend will last forever in your memory…

Name: Hiba DodarSection: LSYears at OBK: 10

Future Major: Bio Medical Engineering, Medical labHobbies: drawing, shopping, joggingI will always remember: My math teachers from elementary till high school, my friends as we shared moments full of fun and respect and teachers that taught us to believe in our-selves.

Comments: I hope success to all my friends and to learn from their past, bless their present, and dream for a better future.

Name: Farah BarakatSection: LSYears at OBK: 9Future Major: Genetic Engineering, BusinessHobbies: chatting, reading, watching TVI will always remember: my bio teacher Mr Amin Sinno say-ing “YA BABA”, my favorite math teacher Mr Amin and my physics teacher Mr Mahmoud. My classmates, I’ll miss you all.Comments: I will miss our biology humor…. Goodbye all.

Name: Amani KawasSection: LSYears at OBK: 8 Future Major: Architecture, businessHobbies: basketball, shopping, hanging out with friends, dancingI will always remember: Mr Yassin saying :” if not this year..”, Mr Sinno “sahhh”, my LS moments and the VIP exclusive trips :DComments: Mr Yassin I love you so much but I hate physics.It depends on the person you’re hanging out with, friend or a partner, it doesn’t matter who or what but how and on what bases you have chosen that person….love you ZAMN <3

Name: Iman el ZeinSection: LSYears at OBK: 14Future Major: Pharmacy, Criminal Justice

Hobbies: Trolling, punning, VolleyballI will always remember: my best friend Sarah with an “h”, OBK memes,Majd company,newsreporting,bos, Thursdays and Sat-urdays and “if you don’t get it:it’s physics”Comments: It’s indeed ironic that we spend our days yearning

to graduate and our remaining days beings nostalgie about our school days. OBK is having friends we’ll keep for the rest of our

lives,it’s a place where the most ordinary things could be made extraordinary, simply by doing them with the right people. I love you all and will miss you.

Name: Malak AyoubSection: LSYears at OBK: 14Future Major: ArchitectureHobbies: Hanging out with friends, paintingI will always remember: all the Biology, Arabic and Geography periods. Mrs Nariman’s “Shut up” , OBK memes ( le Iman!!), Shirkawi’s songs, Injaz experience, the 2 bake sales, our crazy trips & all the moments with friends and teachers.Comments: OBK you will always be my safest place!..Goodbye, I am gonna miss you!! You are the melody I need to listen to every-time I’m lost…I love you sisters!!

Name: Reem TabbaraSection: LSYears at OBK: 11

Future Major: PharmacyHobbies: chatting, writing, walking, basketballI will always remember: every minute I spent at OBK and especially the last 4 years. I will never forget my LS class and classmates, Mr Samir tales, Mr Ghannoum’s tests, Mr Mahmoud famous quotes and definitely I will never ever forget the most amazing people I’ll

ever meet, Hamo, Yasso, Mohamad and Ahmad <3Comments: “Kil shi based on sah howe sah!” Ilham’s Theory

That awkward moment when the guys start talking about basketball with Mr Moutazz and suddenly Mr Moutazz joins me to the conver-sation!!

24 25

Name: Khodor Ziad KhalilSection: SEYears at OBK: 14Future Major: business, militaryHobbies: football, swimmingI will always remember: the falling doorComments: Ti rash rash!!

Name: Mohamad Anas Al MohamadSection: SE

Years at OBK: 3Future Major: Computer ScienceHobbies: basketball, swimmingI will always remember: my days at OBK, the happy and

sad moments with my friends.Comments: And life goes on…

Name: Mohamad Nour SafieddineSection: SE

Years at OBK: 8Future Major: petroleum engineeringHobbies: basketball, hunting, technology,tradingI will always remember: I am sure we will stay in touch

my friends after school, will definitely miss my teachers.Comments: GOODBYE SCHOOL :D

Name: Khaled KolailatSection: SEYears at OBK: 6Future Major: engineeringHobbies: basketballI will always remember: the good and bad moments with my friends…Comments: I don’t like school that much but I’ll miss it!

Name: Saididine HossariSection: SEYears at OBK: 12Future Major: economical scienceHobbies: working on the computer, readingI will always remember: the first day I entered this school and every nice moment I spent in it.Comments: I’ve changed so many schools but this school is the best!

Name: Amer MezherSection: SEYears at OBK: 15

Future Major: military school, businessHobbies: basketball,swimming,singingI will always remember: the good and bad times, the songs we sang in class..

Comments: Although school is boring,tiring and nobody likes it and although we had no choice for joining it, but it was a

great journey.

Name: Joumana KamalSection: SEYears at OBK: 14Future Major: nursingHobbies: basketball, sleepingI will always remember: the yelling of the teachers knowing that they only do it for us to succeed.Comments: Don’t say my father was but say I am here and prove yourself by yourself.

Name: Mohammad HabbalSection: SE

Years at OBK: 12Future Major:BusinessHobbies: watching TV, olaying the guitarI will always remember: the first day of school and how it felt.

Comments: Be proud of what you are and your school.

26 27

Name: Rayan EdilbySection: SEYears at OBK: 14Future Major: banking, economicsHobbies: photographyI will always remember: the hilarious moments at class, Mrs Samar’s special quotes, the party times be-tween periods, Saad’s poor English( Mrs Nariman! We’ll missed you very a lot)Comments: Simple like this!

Name: Sarah Assem El DaoukSection: SEYears at OBK: 14Future Major: Nutrition

Hobbies: trolling,singing in the shower,hiking,biking,nagging,cookingI will always remember: Iman and me going round and round singing,neglecting the fact that everyonr thinks we are abnormal, MAJD experience,OBK memesComments: Mathematics just don’t get me!! Most importantly Samir the anonymous.School is a mainstream,and I’m just another brilliant mind ruined by

higher education.I’m certain that t’m gonna recall these days one day and die a little inside!! I love you and I’m gonna miss you all big time! Golden future ahead, best of luck my friends<3 teachers THANK YOU <3

Name: Rajaa Bilal KabbaniSection: SEYears at OBK: 15

Future Major: Human Resources ManagementHobbies: listening to music, chattingI will always remember: my teachers, my friends, our funny times in th class, playground,our parties between periods.

Comments: Sarah :”I’m Bored”, Rayan “I’m hungry” at the first period, Yousra nagging. I’ll miss you guys.

Name: Yousra KouziSection: SEYears at OBK: 6Future Major: Nutrition/HRHobbies: sports, chatting, watching TVI will always remember:my senior year and all my friends whom I’ll not forget, my teachers and especially Mrs Samar, Mr Mahmoud Yassin saying “if not this year the nest one”, Mrs Nari-man, Mr Moutazz,Mr Mohamad Ghannoum; I’m thankful to youComments: Freeee!!! Finally school is over!

Name: Rayan RakhaSection: SEYears at OBK:11Future Major: International AffairsHobbies:music, shopping,biking,basketballI will always remember: My years at OBK with my best friends,our bake sale, I’ll never forget the falling door and Mrs Nariman saying :”Tie up your hair nice lady”.Comments:I really had a premium time with you guys. I’ll miss you ya helween: Dabbousi,Dhaini,Nourallah

Name: Rayan DabbousiSection: SEYears at OBK: 7

Future Major: Graphic/Interior DesignHobbies:shopping,chatting,biking,singingI will always remember:my years at OBK with my best friends and our bake sale. Mrs Nariman saying:” Ya ret btehtame

la darsik ad ma btehtame la lebsik”, Mr Abed and teachers shouting :” Dabbousi w Rakha sketo ba2a!”

Comments: I’ll miss you all especially Rakha and Omran

Name: Rola NourallahSection: SEYears at OBK: 5Future Major: banking/Graphic DesignHobbies: shopping, musicI will always remember: my days at OBK, my friends and teachers, Mrs Nariman advices and Mr Abed el Wahab’s scary voice.I will never forget our days with BINGO!Comments: simple like thisWho laughs last laughs best!Thank you teachers!

Name: Maryam SalamehSection: SEYears at OBK:10

Future Major: Product designHobbies:drawing, photography, scoutingI will always remember: Mrs Samar quotes! My friends : Zainab, Rola,Nagham,Amani A, Amani k. Drawing each teach-ers enters the class especially Mr Ali Deya!

Comments: The whole purpose of education at OBK is to turn mirrors into windows.

Teachers thank youGoodbye Lebanon

28 29

Name: Mariam OmranSection: SEYears at OBK:4Future Major: Business/ManagementHobbies:BBM-ing, hanging outI will always remember: My years at OBK, my true friends,crazy times,people who really care! Dabbousi,Rakha,Nana, and my brothers: Loko,Tb and Khad-doura!! <3Comments: Gonna miss you all! XOXO

Name: Nagham Al KhatibSection:SEYears at OBK:3

Future Major:ArchitectureHobbies:painting,going out,imitating people, and sportI will always remember: My true friends, the people who stood by me all the times, from the moment I came to school

till now : Mato,Angel, Zozo, Mimo, Maryouma, Amani and all.Comments: I wish everyone have friends as good as mine and I

wish for OBK the bestThank you teachers.

Name: Rayan Al HalabiSection: SEYears at OBK: 3

Future Major: businessHobbies: DancingI will always remember: the crazy times we spent , Mr Abed screaming, the active board that works for an hour

and stops all day.Comments: : I will always work harder to be successful.Thank you teachers

Name: Layal BakriSection: SEYears at OBK: 6Future Major: sport coach, bankingHobbies: Basketball, volleyball,football,running,eatingI will always remember: My friends in class and how I make Rayan Halabi mad. I’ll always remember Mrs Nari-man.Comments: Love you all guys and wish you a happy life !

Name: Abeer ZaatarSection: SEYears at OBK: 15Future Major: Business/MarketingHobbies: swimming, driving motorcycle,shoppingI will always remember: Saad’s quote: “ It were the most best year I haved spented”, Mahmoud Yassin quotes,my absence,surprise birthdays, Mrs Samar shouting at us and how she used to give me a lollipop to shut up!!Comments: Simple like this !Abeer: Rayan do you love me?? Rayan: go awayAbeer: I’m feeling bored, what we’ll do?? Inas: suicide

Name: Duray AghaSection: SEYears at OBK: 14

Future Major: Architect engineeringHobbies:sleeping, swimming,listening to musicI will always remember: My friends, Mrs Nariman saying :”Come on!! Write notes”, Mr Ghanoum’s tests, Mr Abed Al Wahab’s voice and jokes, Mr Samir Sinno saying :”Sah Ya Baba”

Comments: School is over, summer is here but learning never ends.I will miss all my friends who became part of my life, and always know

that a friend is like a rainbow, they brighten your life when you’ve been through a storm.

Name: Amani Abed Al RaheemSection: SEYears at OBK: 15Future Major: computer scienceHobbies: swimmingI will always remember:my amazing teachers who encouraged and guided me and prepared me for tomorrow’s challenges,so thank you for caring so much. I’ll never forget my friends who gave me the best years of my life.I’ll miss you all!Comments: A life without cause is a life without effect! (Barbacella)So just work hard and claim your prize, best of luck for us and you next seniors.

Name: Zainab Al JundiSection: SE

Years at OBK: 15Future Major: Graphic Design/ArchitectureHobbies: swimming,shopping, writingI will always remember: All my crazy friends and the best ones Amani (2),Malak,Khaled,Maryam,Rayanz,Rola,Nagh

am,Duray…Comments: and life goes on….!!

30 31

Name: Omar HamzehSection: SEYears at OBK: 14Future Major: Civil engineeringHobbies: Basketball, volleyballI will always remember:Mr Mahmoud Yassin: First 100 years are difficult,, the falling door,Mrs Nariman : take notes and my moments with my best friends : Khodor,Khaled,Mostafa,Karim,HassanComments: Best school, Best teachers

Name: Krim BarrajSection: SEYears at OBK: 6

Future Major: -Hobbies: Basketball, footballI will always remember: the friends I had, the pranks that made us have fun and laught even in the saddest mo-

ments.Comments: I would like to give a special thanks to the teachers who helped me choose my path and enlightened my way to success.

Name: Bilal KobroslySection: SEYears at OBK:1

Future Major:BusinessHobbies:swimming, listening to musicI will always remember:the troubles I got into because they were the true lessons that made me learn and stay true to myself and improve.

Comments: It’s hard leaving this school after this one special year.Special thanks to my principal, teachers and classmates for mak-ing school my second home.

Name: Abdullah ZanhourSection: SEYears at OBK: 14Future Major: MISHobbies: sleeping, watching TVI will always remember: the last 3 years at OBK, Mr Mahmoud, Mrs Nariman,Mrs Samar…and definitely all the fun I had with every single one of my friends, MAJD companyComments: Keep smiling it’s life!

Name: Omar ShukrySection: SE

Years at OBK: 3Future Major: Accounting/Investment BankingHobbies: football,ping pong,swimmingI will always remember: my friends, teachers, and every simple detail in my senior year

Comments: Mr Srouji’s jokes and me being Mr. AbsentMillions of moments will never be forgotten.

GoodbyeCollege-A Valediction

12 years passed with a blink of an eye! How Time goes aflying! We can really not possibly explain or describe this feeling harboring inside-sadness, anxiety, hap-piness, rejoice, all draped in one! Looking at all these very walls, seats, and desks, we can’t but feel some bitterness and nostalgia despite the fact that our future awaits. OBK- you have paved our ways; you have macadamized this road, with devoted teachers working hard, with friends and classmates sharing and supporting one another with endless laughs, priceless moments, and definitely, unforgettable memories. I guess it is time to say goodbye. My dear friends- doors might close, school bells might stop ringing, studying seats might change, but ambition must always be accorded with our diligence and thoroughness. Hitch your wagon to a star; believe in yourselves; dream big; soar high; fold this page and put it behind; build what’s a head, but never forget what once had been. Farewell OBK school! My dear school administration and teachers- you have helped us through some difficult times and shared the joyous times. Some people judge their lives on what they do, others on who they are. We want our lives judged by the friends we keep, and how enriched our knowledge has become by just knowing you, all. To quote Shakespeare, who is a better word-smith than I am:«And whether we shall meet again I know not.Therefore our everlasting farewell take:Forever, and forever, farewell, friends!If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;If not, why, then this parting was well made. «To see you here in front of me, the last time all together, is a picture I will treasure for a very long time. So... until the next time we gather, my very dear friends, farewell for now.Class of 2012- Yes- we have made it.

Reem Tabbara Graduating Class of 2012