Campus Club

International School Dhaka: March Highlights

Maheen Khan

Students of ISD pose with Prof. Mohd. Yunus, Photo: ISD

March began with the Annual Book Week, which the International School Dhaka (ISD) has been celebrating for the past eight years. The event aims to promote reading books while emphasising knowledge attainment. Numerous events and contests took place throughout the week. There were separate themes for the primary and the secondary schools - “Embracing the Journey” for the former and “Pathways to Decent Work for Women: Equal access to education, training and science and technology” for the latter. ISD also celebrated “International Women's Day” where all the members of the school, including men, wore the colour purple as a tribute to women and their contribution to society. Everyday for fifteen minutes, all staff and students were required to undertake “DEAR”: Drop Everything And Read, between classes and/or work. Parents and members of the staff gladly took the initiative to read out books to the students. There were book stalls by 'Words N' Pages”, “Omni Books”, “Chotto Amra Shishu” and “Patha Bahar”.

Primary students singing patriotic songs. Photo: ISD

books here at ISD. Special thanks go out to Linda Lechasseur, Siobhan Barker and Totty Aris for an excellent arrangement.

In January, 14 ISD students studying IB Economics in Grade 11 and 12, as well as their IB Economics teacher, Mr. Christopher Scoggins attended a Level 1 training workshop conducted by the Yunus Centre at the American International School Dhaka (AIS-D). This workshop was the first step towards participating in the presentation of Professor Mohammed Yunus, Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize winner. The students participated in a "Social Business Idea" contest where they were required to develop a blue print of a new, doable social business plan, which is self-supporting and sustainable in the long term. Shadman Rahman from Grade 11 was one of the three finalists to have presented their original concept to Professor Yunus on March 23. The event was graced by an eager audience who had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Yunus, as well as familiarise themselves with the passion of the youth in Bangladesh. ISD congratulates Sir John Wilson for claiming the first position and is proud of Shadman for making it to the top!

ISD students during the performance. Photo: ISD

Students perform a 70's rock musical version of "Much Ado About Nothing". Photo: ISD

ISD celebrated Independence Day on March 24 with an assembly that started with a choir singing the national anthem while CEO, Mr. Richard Tangye hoisting the Bangladeshi flag. It was followed by a collection of patriotic songs presented by primary students.

ISD is proud to announce that its student, Felicity Aris from Grade 7, is cutting off twenty inches of her hair on April 3, and donating it to the Ashic Foundation, a cancer charity in Dhaka. The hair will be made into a wig for a child suffering from cancer or a hair-loss disease. It is such dedication from students that fills us with pride and instills in us a sense of encouragement to be a better education institution everyday.

Saving the best for the last, it all ended with William Shakespeare blending with the 70s! ISD undertook the challenge of presenting William Shakespeare's “Much Ado about Nothing” in the form of a 70's rock musical and it was a treat for both the eyes and the ears. The end result, of tremendous hard work being poured in for months by 45 students from the secondary school and staff members, was first class! It was visible through an enthusiastic audience who filled the auditorium for the duration of three days. The students were highly professional; they acted, sang and danced for three performances and not once did they fail to entertain the spectators who were laughing at Benedick's jests, gasping their breath as Claudio shamed Hero and singing along to Abba's “Take a chance on me”. The musical ended with Benedick shouting out to the audience, “If music be the food of love, then play on!” A fantastic musical presentation was displayed by ISD's very talented, Eivind Lodemel, also the Music Director of the show and an enigmatic band of three; Sharfuddin Ali, Saarim Khan and Abhinav Tamang. ISD is grateful to Totty Aris, Director; Raimey Booth, Assistant Director; Jennifer Tickle, Lighting-in-charge and the entire crew involved in the making of the play.

March in ISD will be remembered for all the successful initiatives by its faculty and student bodies. It is a significant month, culturally and historically, and the students did perfect justice to it.