By Rania Maayeh - Head of School

As an authorized International Baccalaureate School, Ramallah Friends School strives to maintain quality delivery of its three IB programs—the primary years program (PYP), middle years program (MYP), and the diploma program (DP). The International Baccalaureate organization evaluates the standards and practices of each IB school every five years. This month, RFS successfully passed the evaluations of the MYP and PYP programs. As part of the process, the School engaged in a self-study for each of the programs. This has helped all those involved to reflect and further understand the philosophy and the practices of the program and its alignment with the Schools’ mission and values as a Quaker school. The evaluation process was an opportunity to identify successes, celebrate them, highlight challenges, and create an action plan.

For both programs, RFS submitted evidence documenting the work of students and staff in several forms: short videos were recorded, and past exhibitions of student work were documented and shared.The evaluation process was collaborative, with all the school’s stakeholders involved, and in this way reflected what RFS does as a school and as a community. The school’s governing body, parents, teachers, and administration all took part in the evaluation. The process allowed for everyone’s voice to be heard, and all were able to witness the steps of the evaluation.The collaborative effort and commitment of the RFS community is undoubtedly the reason for our successful evaluation, which allows the school to maintain its status as an International Baccalaureate school. Ramallah Friends School is incredibly thankful for the cooperation of parents, friends, and everyone who has contributed and continues to contribute to the excellence of this renowned institution.

By Besan Omary-Jaawan

Three RFS girl students were announced winners of the School’s first English Public Speaking Competition on April 7th. Tala Salama won at the middle school level, Rania Makhlouf won the high school level, while Nadine Anabtawi won the whole school award.

The competition began in February with more than 55 middle and high school students presenting their speeches to Ms. Samah Hussein and Ms. Alia Dar-Ammar; two English teachers who took the initiative to introduce this activity for the first time in Ramallah Friends School. Twenty-one students were then chosen as finalists to start writing and preparing their speeches about the inspirational effect of the pandemic on their lives.

“The goal of this competition is to enhance the vision of the new generation and encourage them to express themselves.” – Samah Hussein, RFS English and Drama teacher

The competition was held in the Upper Campus’ historic Khalil Totah auditorium, and attended by the Palestinian Minister of Culture, school staff, and the participants’ parents and peers. Participants were judged according to strict criteria on content, posture, speed and timing of the speeches. The school is grateful for RFS friends Mr. Sam Bahour, Dr. Dalal Erekat, and Mr. Mazen Asad who took the time to join the competition as judges.

In her opening speech, RFS Head of School Rania Maayeh said: “It is not strange for our prestigious institution to be the first to offer such innovative activities. For when the Friends Girls School was first founded more than two centuries ago, regardless of the social conditions prevailing at the time, to offer our daughters and community a spot of light and a better future. We still, today, continue in applying our mission to enable our students to keep pace with the needs of the times with confidence.”

One by one, the participants walked up on-stage and gave their speeches, each offering the audience a glimpse into their personal life during quarantine and the changes that came with it. Some students spoke about loss while other spoke about motivation. The school hopes to repeat this activity on an annual basis in an effort to develop students’ public speaking skills in the English language.

Five #RFS 9th grade students were awarded first, second and third places in Ramallah Municipality's annual art competition for saving the environment.

Through the visual art classes, grade nine students joined the annual competition run by Ramallah Municipality on themes related to the environment. Participating students practiced creative thinking skills and art techniques they learned to produce drawings that discuss concurrent environmental issues such as solid waste management. 

RFS is proud that five students won first, second and third places in three competing categories. 

Congratulations again and again!

Nicole Ackall - for winning 1st place.

Layan Imseeh & Lujayen Tannous for winning 2nd place.

Khamees Tannous & Laith Ghozzi for winning 3rd place.

The IB Middle Years Programme culminates into the Personal Project. A project where students follow their passion, show independent research skills and present their findings during the Personal Project Exhibition.

A quick look at RFS' first #IBDO Visual Arts course.