The School was founded in 1860 by a British lady called Mrs. Bowen Thompson. Her husband had recently died and when she heard of the sufferings in Lebanon due to the civil strife that was present in the country during the early part of 1860, she sailed to Lebanon to try and be of some use to those people who flocked to Beirut from the mountains in search of security. One of the things she thought would be most useful was to start school. This she did and so was born the Lebanon Evangelical School for Boys and Girls.
As an institution of the Lebanese Evangelical Society, we aim to maintain an educational institution that will have a special emphasis on moral and spiritual values, and which will be a center of working Christian Fellowship and witness. The development of the whole of the child’s personality is our aim. Therefore, we strive to provide opportunities for learning through shared experiences, to enable the student to learn, develop and recognize the resources within themselves to know how to deal with the pressures of today’s society and make a constructive contribution to it.
LES Loueizeh has always tried to provide a secure environment for students with a wide range of academic abilities. Within this general framework, we endeavor to encourage those who find lessons difficult and, at the same time, to challenge those who find academic work easy. As far as possible we resist the temptation to ‘drop’ students for academic or disciplinary reasons unless it becomes clear that a change of school might benefit them.
Students normally aim for the Lebanese Baccalaureate administered by the Department of Education and Fine Arts of the Lebanese Government. Success in that examination provides, for example, a basis for entering the first year of the Lebanese University program or the Sophomore year of an American University.
The school runs a special “Foreign System” for those students who have an exemption from Arabic studies. From Class Nine, the program follows the British-based examination system of GCSEs and A levels and their International equivalents. Passing seven subjects at GCSE and three at A level usually entitles students to enter the Sophomore year of university. Students who pass the High School Certificate enter the Freshman year.
Responsibility for all aspects of registration and entry procedures lies with the Principal. Entrance examinations are held towards the end of the summer term and, if there are vacancies, sometimes early in September. For those coming from outside Lebanon, special arrangements can be made.
If it is wished to register a student in the School, the office of the Registrar should be contacted as early as possible. Each completed application form should be accompanied by a fee of 10,000 LL. If an entrance examination is offered to the student, there is a fee of 20,000 LL. On registration, a fee of 1,050,000 LL is required, which is part of the school fees. There is also a charge of a one-off charge Development Fee of 750,000 LL per family. This is used to further the development of the school in terms of infrastructure. An example would be the new football field or Basketball stadium.
After an interview and successful completion of the entrance examination, the student can be considered for acceptance. Either during the interview or after the results of the entrance examination are known, the special ‘atmosphere’ of the School will be explained to the student and his or her parents. It is appreciated that not all students would be willing or able to benefit from this type of school and it could be irksome for some to try. Students in Lebanon are fortunate in that they have a large number of schools from which to choose.
For several years the School has had state-of-the-art computer facilities not only in the Senior Section of the School but also in the Junior Section. These are always being updated and are in constant use throughout the day, including times before and after school. We are proud that our students have responded splendidly and with integrity to our policy of an ‘open’ computer room. The total number of computers available for use by students is 60. In addition, the Administration and Staff are generously supplied with computers.
Within the constraints of the pressures of the Baccalaureate system, practical sessions in the laboratories are encouraged as much as possible. A laboratory assistant is about to be appointed and it is expected that this departure, together with the curriculum developments being introduced to the program by the Ministry of Education, will result in a rapid increase in the use of the laboratories.
In addition to the regular PE lessons, sports are a very important aspect of the life of the School. We participate in several Athletics, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, and Table Tennis tournaments and are proud of our achievements. The School is divided into four ‘Houses’ which compete in all the above sports, providing an opportunity for all who wish to participate in these activities. The ‘Houses’ are directed by the Senior students, who thus enjoy the opportunity to prove their leadership qualities. There is normally a high level of competition in the House system.
The School has a history of extra-curricular activities, of which summer camps have been a feature for many years. More recently very popular and successful ski camps have been run. Trips are arranged for various sections of the School throughout the year. There are several after-school activities taking place most days and students are encouraged to participate as much as possible.
