Teaching to international heights

Shaikha Hessa Girls’ School, the first and only private girls’ school in Bahrain, has recently received the significant honour of being authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) as an IB World School.

From September onwards this impressive, friendly school in Riffa will teach the IB programme to pupils in grades 11 and 12.
For GulfWeekly readers or the parents of teenage pupils who are unaware of the implications of this distinction, the International Baccalaureate diploma is recognised globally as a two-year study programme which results in its students being placed at an advanced level for university entry.  It is equivalent to – and many say better than – the British A-level examinations.
Shaikha Hessa is one of just six schools in Bahrain to offer this important curriculum and it’s a huge accolade for a school which was established six years ago with less than 10 pupils. 
The school has grown and developed well throughout its short life, reflecting the hard work and sheer enthusiasm of the staff and students to reach academic excellence. The school also meets all standards of the American Middle States Association for Schools and Colleges (MSA). 
When the IB and MSA accreditation teams visited Bahrain to inspect the school campus a couple of months ago, the eight members were apparently impressed by the standard of education, by the well-prepared students they met and for SHGS’s broad-minded and dynamic administration. 
Now, at the end of this academic year, the girls seem as enthusiastic as their teachers are that they have received such important endorsements and the school’s success reflects strongly with an increased enrolment of pupils. 
At the time of writing, Adrine Katchadurian,  principal of the school since its inauguration,  reports there are 380 girls entered into the 2007-08 academic year.
The establishment of a fee-paying, bilingual private girls’ school was the dream of His Highness King Hamad and about nine years ago he brought together a group of people who started to develop his idea. 
In March 2001, Ms Katchadurian was hired from the Bahrain School where she was IB and Arabic studies co-ordinator.  
Ms Kathchadurian had then worked at Bahrain School more than 14 years and was undoubtedly the right person to take on such an awesome task. 
“When I started work here in 2001,” she said, “the construction work was no-where near finished. There were piles of rubble and sand everywhere, so my office was initially located in a small villa nearby in Awali.
“Absolutely nothing was ready for a new school:  I had to plan the curriculum, interview and hire the teachers, order all of the school materials, oversee the building and construction to a certain extent – and find some pupils too! 
“But we couldn’t advertise for pupils until we’d devised a proper, professional application form. There was just so much to think of and do.
“A few months later, when Shaikha Hessa Girls’ School opened for our first academic year we had eight pupils and 16 staff members, but by the end of that year we had 18 pupils on the register from nursery through to grade 3.  And the school just took off after that. 
“Our second year began with 100 students and by September ’06 we had 320 girls. Our first graduating class will be a year from now in the summer of 2008,” she announced with a proud smile, “so that will be another huge milestone for us all.”
During the school’s short history, more classes have been included and extensions added to the original complex. As the school owns the surrounding land there is plenty of room upon which to grow in future. Construction work continues through this summer and into the following year, resulting in the campus being able to accommodate 600 pupils. They are currently building additional classrooms, science laboratories and a two-storey reference and lending library. 
The next phase includes the addition of a swimming pool and a second gym.
This fee-paying school is a non-profit organisation offering contemporary bi-lingual (Arabic and English) education with an emphasis on traditional Islamic values.  The children come from across the social spectrum. 
“We have a strong belief in teaching the importance of respect here,” Ms Katchadurian added. 
“It doesn’t matter where our girls come from or what their backgrounds are.  They are all taught to respect each other, to become critical thinkers, to seek information and grow into lifelong learners. 
“We have moved away from traditional teaching methods and we don’t believe in the rote method of learning. The girls have to learn to problem-solve from a young age, to question and think for themselves. Our girls are well-spoken and approachable. 
“We have an open society, we encourage them to talk and we allow their personalities to flourish. It seems to work for us all!”
Ms Katchadurian is an accomplished woman of Armenian descent. She came to live in Bahrain in 1983 and soon joined the Bahrain School. She’s always a busy woman:  doyenne of the arts, a board member of the Chaine des Rotisseurs and a leading character on the island’s chic social circuit who’s invited to all the best events.
Years ago, Adrine described herself to me as someone who needs to feel useful, who likes to be properly challenged.  She now agrees that she indeed took up quite a challenge back in 2001. 
She said: “For the past six years, I have frequently worked more than a 12-hour day, six-day week – but I’ve enjoyed it terribly. It’s been so fulfilling to watch the school develop and grow. And then, it was a monumental task to get such a relatively new school accredited by the IBO and MSA, but it really was worth it. 
“Everybody has been so supportive, there’s a very nice atmosphere here and we all pull together.
“As well as my staff, the Board of Directors has continually done whatever they can to help achieve our goals and make life easier for all concerned.”  
So it has all paid off.
The youngsters return to work at Shaikha Hessa Girls’ School for the next academic year on September 2, when the syllabus will include an IB programme for the older pupils.
“In the meantime”, said Ms Katchadurian, “I am very much looking forward to our summer recess.  I think I need a holiday now!”