Farewell Faculty and Staff-2011

This being my last year at AIS-R, I wanted to say a few words to pay my tribute to this distinguished institution that has been an integral part of my life for the last 28 years.

I’ve been a part of AIS-R since the 80’s when it was known as RICS and was just beginning, and perhaps, from the time when many of you, who have recently joined the school, were either born or only beginning to grow up!

Like many of you today, at that time, I was just starting my own career, and even though this school wasn’t as grand as it is now, it still held the same vision for providing the most comprehensive and the highest standard of education to its students, that it does today.

Back then, the school had just moved from a group of villas into this brand new 20-acre campus that had no trees or gardens or flower-beds or fountains like it does today.  There were no streetlights, homes, malls or shops surrounding our campus, instead, all we could see for miles around us were mounds and mounds of sand dunes with one dark and desolate highway leading to the school gates.  Even though it was sandy and dry and did not have the many facilities it boasts today, we thought our campus was magnificent and we were proud to be enthusiastic contributors in helping it achieve its mission.

Through my years here, I have been a part of the school’s many changes not only in the administration, faculty and staff, but also in educational philosophies and teaching trends.

I have seen AIS-R through the time it had about 3000 students with surplus revenue to the days when it was drowned in debt. And am happy to be leaving it as it regains its position and, funny enough, when there are talks about building a new campus!

And today, I just want to express my gratitude to this institution that has seen me grow as much as I have seen it grow.  It has been a privilege and a blessing to have worked at this wonderful school and I attribute my personal and professional growth and many of my accomplishments to this institution.

It is through AIS-R that I came across some wonderful, caring and supportive administrators, who inspired me and paved the way for me to complete my master’s degree and certification. It is here that I met so many international educators from different countries and cultures who, through the exchange of ideas, helped me to see the value that diversity offers to learning. And it is here that I have made many lifelong friends.

It is from this institution that my four children graduated from ninth grade and went on to build their careers. It is from this institution, that I started as a young mother of four little children and it is from this institution that I am leaving when I am a grandmother of four beautiful grandchildren!  And for this reason, AIS-R will always hold a special place in my heart for as long as I live!

I will cherish AIS-R because I am taking with me many fond memories of friends, parents, colleagues and special people who have been my mentors during my learning journey – AND most of all memories of MY students!  Each day as I walked into the AISR campus, no matter how I felt the evening before…no matter how tired I was…my students brought joy to my heart.  I’ve enjoyed every moment that I spent with my little ones. And as my husband often points out, when I talk about the incidents that happen in my classroom and share the joys of my students’ day-to-day successes and growth, that I talk more about my students than my own kids!

As I leave AIS-R, I want to take this opportunity to thank my dear husband for his encouragement throughout my professional career.  He always willingly and whole-heartedly supported me in my endeavors – to complete my education (since I married him when I was just out of high school), to push me to attend conferences and take evening classes to grow professionally even though I had four very young children at home.  He extended his listening ear, his creative ideas and most of all his willingness to allow me to do what I wanted to…throughout these long years that I have been associated with this school.

I want to thank all of my colleagues who are present here or absent, all of the parents who supported me, appreciated me throughout my time here at AIS-R.  I want to thank Ms. Jan for her support throughout the years she has been my principal and Ms. Jenny for her support this year. Last but not least, I want to thank Dr. Brian Matthews who I had the opportunity to work directly with first as my assistant principal, then principal and now as the superintendent of our school, and who also assisted – and more importantly – challenged me to grow professionally.

I remember the chants he encouraged his students to shout out as part of their daily going home ritual when his first grade class shared the same hallway as mine. I wonder if the progress in his career in such a short time is because of his motivation, his perseverance and his ability or is it because of the magic of his chant?

As I think about starting this new chapter in my life with my children and grandchildren, and the many adventures I will have outside of AIS-R, I will begin this new journey with this very chant “Believe in Yourself”.

As I end my chapter here, by celebrating the twenty eight years I spent at AIS-R, I want to wish all of you the same success I experienced at this exceptional institution and share the advice I received from my good friend by encouraging all of you to always ‘Believe in yourself’

As Salaam Alaikum-Peace be upon you all!