International College Beirut

[EduCativ]

Welcome to International College, IC is one of the oldest, largest, most prestigious international schools in the world, reflecting the unique blend of both the school’s and the country’s history, a long-standing commitment to academic excellence, and the “IC Spirit”, which becomes part of the character of each student that passes through the classrooms and hallways of the Ras Beirut and Ain Aar Campuses.
Reflective of the value and importance IC places on multiculturalism and global diversity, IC offers four distinct diploma programs: the Lebanese Baccalaureate, the French Baccalaureate, the International Baccalaureate, and the US-style College Preparatory Program. Exam results for each of the diploma programs have been exemplary resulting in IC graduates being accepted to highly selective universities around the world.
The early childhood program addresses the whole child through an integrated approach and aims to develop a close relationship between educators, parents, and classmates. The learning environment provides a warm, friendly, and joyful atmosphere that advocates itself to learning through inquiry. All content is taught using the target languages of Arabic, English, and French and works within the PYP curricular framework. The preschool staff aims to stimulate the learning of concepts, skills, attitudes knowledge, and action.
The staff believes that children learn best through play during which they use concrete, multi-sensory experiences. Classroom play stimulates inquiry and presents challenges and opportunities to learn about the world in which children live. Moreover, it builds concepts and improves problem-solving skills. Teaching and learning are based on ideas, perceptions, beliefs, and matters raised by the students.
The Elementary School educates children ages six through eleven. The school provides a safe, welcoming environment that fosters a love of learning through a student-focused, inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning.
The philosophy of instruction addresses the whole child. Learning focuses on connecting the various disciplines: language, mathematics, science, social studies, personal and social education, physical education, creative arts including music, drama, and visual arts.
To make learning relevant, engaging, meaningful, and challenging, children are encouraged to learn by inquiring, questioning, exploring, and doing. Different approaches are used to reach the widest range of individuals. The teacher acts as a guide/facilitator to help students discover concepts, principles, and generalizations.
The ultimate goal of education at the Elementary School is to produce internationally-minded individuals who are compassionate, caring, responsible, and knowledgeable. The aim is to develop risk-takers (courageous), children with life-long learning skills like critical thinking and problem-solving, and character traits such as integrity, commitment, and good citizenship. Self-awareness is promoted through questioning, exploring, reflecting, and self-assessment.
Open communication and cooperation among educators, parents, and students are essential elements. As partners, both parents and educators endeavor to help children reach their true potential and to aim for personal excellence.
The Middle School of International College is a four-year cycle covering grades 6 to 9 (1st Intermediate to 4th Intermediate). It offers three different programs: The Lebanese program, which prepares students for the official Lebanese Brevet examination the College Preparatory Program, which is an English medium non-Brevet program commonly known as the High School program which prepares the students for the High School diploma or the International Baccalaureate and the French Program, which is a French medium non-Brevet program that eventually prepares students for the official French Baccalaureate examination.
The IC Secondary School is a three-year cycle made up of four separate programs: The Lebanese Baccalaureate Program which follows a curriculum set by the Lebanese Ministry of Education The French Baccalaureate Program which follows a curriculum set by the French Ministry of Education the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program and The American College Preparatory Program (CPP), a non-baccalaureate diploma program.
The Lebanese Baccalaureate Program is available to all students in either an English or French track for core subjects including maths and sciences. In the French track, English is taught as a third language and vice versa. In both tracks, Social Studies, History, Geography, Civics, Sociology and Economics, are taught in Arabic with the study of Arabic Literature and language mandatory. In the second year, students chose a focus in humanities or sciences and specialize still more specifically in the third year.
The French Baccalaureate Program is designed to meet the needs of foreign and Lebanese students who wish to pursue the French Baccalaureate. All core subjects are taught in French. Upon successful completion of the Lebanese or French Baccalaureate program, students are eligible to enter at the sophomore level in all Lebanese and many European and North American universities. It should be mentioned that some students pursue both the Lebanese and French Baccalaureate simultaneously.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a demanding two-year curriculum with a rigorous assessment component. It meets the needs of highly motivated students and prepares them for university by encouraging them to ask challenging questions, learn how to learn, develop a strong sense of identity and culture, communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures. The IB diploma is recognized by universities around the world. Students admitted to the IB program hold a second nationality in addition to Lebanese, or they have an exemption from the Lebanese official program allowing them to engage in a non-Lebanese program. Good knowledge of English is a prerequisite as it is the language of instruction.
The school that finally became International College was founded in Smyrna, Turkey in 1891 by Alexander MacLachlan, a renowned Canadian educator, as the American Boys’ School. In 1895 ABS graduated its first class of five students and renamed itself the American Collegiate Institute for Boys. In 1936, Dr. Bayard Dodge of the American University of Beirut invited ACI to come to Beirut and affiliate with AUB as its preparatory school. This is why for many years IC was known fondly as “The Prep.” During its first year in Beirut, IC welcomed 901 students from 37 countries representing 16 religious sects. IC was truly an international school welcoming students from all over the Middle East who came as boarders living in Thomson and Sage Halls.

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