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6
SUMMER
2013
March 22, 2013. It’s the last day in the
Elementary school – the building of-
ficially known as Reynolds Hall. On this
last day, it is school as usual except for fre-
quent ripping sounds resonating through
the halls. Glimpses of teachers hovering
over empty cardboard boxes filling them
up one by one is an ever reminder that
this is indeed an unusual day.
In only a few more hours, the children will
go home, teachers will tape up the last few
boxes, and doors will be shut permanently.
There is a distinct feeling of anticipa-
tion yet at the same time, a deep sense of
melancholy.
This building, after all, has been home for
oh so many years.
For those who have been here since 1984,
when IC took it over from the British
Embassy, it is a poignant moment.
“What can I tell you?” says Najwa Haddad,
the Office Manager and Secretary to the
Elementary school director. “I have been
here since the beginning. I saw generations
grow here.This is so difficult for me.”
Inside, French teachers Charles Tabet
and Wael Issa, are in the teacher’s lounge
– their last meeting in this building.
“Twenty-five years I’ve been here,” ex-
claims Tabet. “How can I leave?”
Next door, Mona Beyhum, is taking
advantage of her students’ absence in the
class to finish up packing. “I have been
coming to this class every day for the past
26 years. My life is here…” she begins and
stops. Tears escape. She struggles to hold
them back. It is just too emotional.
In a corner of the class there is a ‘suitcase
of memories’ - the brainchild of Elemen-
tary school Director, Julia Kozak. Students
had filled the suitcase with little ‘memora-
bilia’ to help them in their transition.
Arabic teacher, Lina Oueidat, walks
down the hallway – children in tow. “I’m
excited,” she says, “but sad. I’ve become
attached to this building. But change is
good. It’s better for the students.”
The students themselves seem excited.
“But can we take the monkey bars with
us?” asks one. “I don’t want to
leave them here.”
The child is quickly assured that
there are other monkey bars in the
new school.
At 2:00pm the bell rings.The chil-
dren start for home. At 3:30pm
the teachers leave one by one. At
4:15 Kozak walks out the door
and heads home.
As she walks past the green gate,
she pauses to look at the build-
ing and blinks tears away.The
school had captured her heart 11
years ago when she arrived from
Canada.They are precious years to
her. “This is it,” she says to herself.
“This is the last time I walk out of
this door.”
It’s been a good twenty nine years.
The sparkling new Elementary
school is on the hill just above. Its
glass – some of it tinted – glitters
under the sun. Inside, green, pink
and blue walls await the children.
Brand new desks and chairs await
its new occupants.The old furni-
ture was left behind. Teachers will
only be bringing with them books
and essential material.
Two weeks later, excited children
arrive at the new Elementary
school.The rain hardly dampens
their enthusiasm. Wide eyed
preschoolers look across their
playground in surprise. Cardboard
walls had blocked the view of the
construction site for the past two
years. Now, suddenly, the wall is
down and there is another play-
The
Move