On 5th May, 2011 a video conference was held between Beaconhouse Garden Town Branch, Lahore and Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA.  This was the result of a partnership between the two schools, developed and sustained through the efforts of Mr. Kader Adjout, Head of the Global History and Social Studies Department and Mrs. Amber Mustafa, Education Technology Coordinator (SG III), Central Region.  Mrs. Nausheen Arshad, a senior Pakistan Studies teacher at the Garden Town Campus coordinated the activities and facilitated the students of Classes IX and X in participating actively in this collaboration.  

After months of regular correspondence, the video conference was arranged in which the students became part of a comprehensive and highly interactive discussion about drone attacks and Osama Bin Laden’s death.  Students on both sides asked questions, shared their points of view and refuted perceptions. They were highly motivated to communicate with a real audience and learnt to be calm and sensitive to the listener. It was a great learning opportunity for the students and similar sessions will follow in the next academic term.

With the support of WWF, a Tree Plantation drive was organised in BGTL Middle School to celebrate Earth Day during the first week of April. Green School students were proud of being a part of this drive. They showed great enthusiasm in planting the trees because these plants would recharge ground water, purify the air, maintain the ecological balance, prevent soil erosion, and provide nutrients to the soil etc. Students brought trees themselves and WWF also provided different plants which have been planted in the Lahore Safari Park and other localities of Lahore. 

Four groups of Class VI, VII and VIII students enjoyed a very useful BOEP camping at Rana Resort near Head Balloki.  It was a fabulous opportunity for students to learn several tactics of living in the wilderness as they received training in tent pegging, self management skills and maintaining their confidence in tough situations. The students collected lots of information about plants and animals during the jungle walk, shared jokes, sang songs around the campfire and played different games including treasure hunt and many others.
Students reported that their camping was a wonderful experience.

Two more groups of Class VI are ready to go camping on the next two weekends.

The Sports Gala of Beaconhouse Garden Town, Primary Branch was held on 1st April, 2011. The event started at four in the evening with a recitation from the Quran.  Former test cricketer Mr. Ijaz Ahmed, who is currently coaching the under 19 national team, was the Chief Guest for the occasion. The ceremony began by releasing balloons in the air, followed by a song by Class III students. It led to a welcome dance by Class III and IV boys. The participants presented a pretty sight of colour, synchronisation, rhythm and teamwork.

There were different races to suit every student’s ability and skill such as spoon race, hurdle race, sack race, three-legged race and 70, 80 and 100 meter races. The colourful display of the Dragon Dance was a special part of the event. It was a glimpse of Chinese tradition and the sound effects added an impressive effect. The Cowboy dance was another treat to watch.

Gymnastics boosted the event and it engaged everyone’s interest. A Bhangra dance, a depiction of Punjabi culture, was the highlight of the sports day. The lively performance of boys on bhangra and the music lifted the mood of the audience.  

The winning students were awarded prizes. The teachers also participated energetically in the teacher’s race.
Mr. Ijaz Ahmed, the chief guest, congratulated the management for organising such a grand function. He said he was happy that the school was providing both academic and extracurricular opportunities to the students. The event went very well and promoted great teamwork and a high level of competition.

Over 800 Beaconhouse staff received awards in recognition of their hard work and dedication at the Long Service Awards ceremony on 10 April 2011 at the Royal Palm, Lahore.

Paying tribute to the staff, Chairperson Mrs Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri said that only those countries who invested in the education of their people were able to break the cycle of poverty and dependence. The quality, motivation and commitment of Beaconhouse staff had made an invaluable contribution to education and the success of the organisation and, as part of faculty development, an international exchange programme in Beaconhouse schools was envisioned.

Staff received their awards from Mrs Kasuri, Chief Executive Kasim Kasuri, Regional Director Centre Ali Raza, and other senior Regional and Head Office Directors.  The participants were entertained by the performances by Shujaat Ali Khan, Nadeem Ali and the band Quadrum, interspersed with amusing skits enacted by the staff. 

Beaonhouse also paid tribute to the teachers who have been with the system for more than 25 years for their contributions to BSS. Special recognition was awarded to Mr. Gull Jabbar, the employee who rang the first BSS bell after the first school began operating. 

An e-learning project was launched in February 2011 at the Canal side Campus of the Beaconhouse School System by Chairperson Beaconhouse Group Mrs. Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri. The Beaconhouse School System aims to instil in every student the skills necessary to succeed in a knowledge-based economy. With a futuristic teaching and learning environment and a holistic blend of technology, the students are better able to develop their skills. BSS is committed to investing in the next generation of innovators and supporting the community needs at local, national, and global levels to create a lasting impact.

The e-learning initiative has been taken to revamp the conventional teaching methods in the Early Years and for Class VI - Mathematics. With interactive whiteboards and N-computing approach, teaching and learning practices in the Early Years are expected to be radically modernised. In order to tap into children`s innate capacities to learn, share, and create on their own, a range of customised software has been provided to cater to the communicative, language, literary and creative development of the learners. Apart from equipping the classrooms with modern technology, the provision of customised furniture and air conditioning has enhanced the comfortable environment.

In Middle school, for the first time in the history of local schools, Beaconhouse again takes the lead in providing one-to-one computing to the students of Class VI. The ICT suite is equipped with an interactive whiteboard and compact Intel Netbooks for each pupil. Initially, Mathematics will be taught with ICT integration. However, new and innovative applications of technology will eventually be extended to all subject areas. This will be just the beginning of embracing change and moving towards 21st century schooling.  

Our young students Muhammad Bilal and Temaur Ahmed of Class VII Orange secured the 3rd position in an Inter School General Knowledge Quiz Competition held at Aitchison College.

Well Done Boys!!!!

Students of Classes 1 to 4 from LMA 29-C participated in a Children’s Art Competition titled ‘Lahore As I See it’ organised by the Punjab Arts Council at the Open Air Theatre, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore on 28 February 2011. More than 700 students from schools all over Lahore participated in the competition.
Huda Zaheer from Class 1-Violet won the 3rd prize and was awarded with a shield, certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 2000.

Names of the participants from LMA 29-C

Abia Zernab II-Gold
Huda Zaheer I-Violet
Asma Zainab I-Violet
Saroosh Zahid I-Violet
Anoosha Faisal II-Violet
Ayyan Rashid II-Rust

Winner: 
Huda Zaheer I-Violet

In collaboration with the Lahore Arts Council, the Embassy of Japan organised an Art and Speech Competition about Japan on 22nd February 2011 at the Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore. The participants were encouraged to draw pictures and prepare speeches on the topics of their own choice based on relations between Japan and Pakistan.

Ammar Haider of Class VIII (White), Beaconhouse Garden Town Campus brought laurels to the school by winning the 1st position in the competition which served as a platform for the young students to express their individual views on Japan-Pakistan relations.

Chief Guest Mr. Muhammad Ali Baloch, Executive Director Alhamra, Ms. Kuniko Nakamura, First Secretary, Head of Public Affairs Section, Embassy of Japan and Mr. Aamir H. Shirazi, Honorary Consul General for Japan at Lahore and President Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association, Lahore awarded certificates and souvenirs to the winners.