Summer fun started for grades 1 to 6 with a trip to a choice place! The students got to participate in activities to their hearts' content, as well as enjoy the beauty of the spot. And it did not rain. . .
Dear students, have a very nice summer vacation!
Jungle Fever was a smash hit, with great acting, dancing, costumes and sets. The protagonists were Wade Watkins, Sarah Rizkallah, Myra Dakhlallah, Grace Kouyoumjian, Menassa Makarios, George Demian, Zaid Sarraj, Steven Attwe and Jeffrey Daoud. Sincere congratulations!
We present here representative pictures of the event, taken by Mr Ragheed Breidi. Kindly check our Newletter section for more information.
Mrs Aline Tashjian organized a culture week for her grade 3 students. What a week! The students devised many a way to demonstrate the different cultures and lifestyles of people from around the world. We share with you the pictures that we have available. Thanks, Mrs Aline and grade 3!
Every year, Mr Elias Haddad entertains us with witty plays in Arabic. This year's play involved the old (really old!) method of schooling, as compared to the modern (too avant garde) style. Though both ways of teaching were comically satirized, it is clear where the allegiance of Mr Haddad lies! Maybe a compromise is better - after all everybody, old and new, joined in one dabke.
The old style teacher was Angelo Shami, and the new style teacher was Elissa Nader. Congratulations to all the students involved.
The students of Mrs Samaha's grade 5 flew their kites during kite day. The kites were supposed to be handmade, but the majority seemed to be store-bought. The kites had problems getting airborne, but not the spirits of the students! Great day, students!
New this year was a spectacular event organized by the CTI Parents' Committee. All honor and jr honor students, along with their class teachers, were invited by the Parents' Committee to a poolside dinner. Buses transported the students to the beautiful Nova Garden restaurant, where the students had the privilege to relax near a pool, as they sampled lots of good food, accompanied by a varied program with entertainers and a raffle. At the end, the Parents' Committee and administration cut and served a spectacular cake. It was a most memorable evening that the honor students will treasure for years! Thank you, Parents' Committee, and congratulations, students!
We attach some pictures so you could share the joy of the students.
As for grade 7, their destination was the Chouf area. In particular, they visited Deir el Kamar, the Moussa Castle, Beiteddine and the Barouk. It was a memorable day that was captured by the lens of Jeffrey Daoud.
The students of grade 8 visited the majestic cedars of Becharri. They spent the day in the area and got a taste of God's majestic creation! Here are a few pictures taken by Christina Salamoun to remember the day.
From Sidon, grade 10 headed to Tyre. Their destination was the Roman Necropolis and Hippodrome. The sight of these ruins was beyond the expectations of the students, and grade 10 spent a memorable time there. Next was the port and the ancient town. And the busy sight-seeing schedule did not prevent a few adventurous students from sampling the Mediterranean waters. It was a day to cherish for a long time!
Grade 10 had the chance to visit Sidon and discover the many attractions of this ancient town. From the Crusader sea fortress, to the Ali Baba souks, and from the museums to the Ottoman town houses, CTI visited the best!
Here are a few pictures to showcase Sidon!
The students of Mrs Shona Hill Barakat had a paper making project - from pulp to paper! It was an extraordinary experience, as the students made one paper after another. Here are a few pictures of the occasion(s).
The students of grade 10, as directed by Mrs Jamie Chaaya, gave a performance of the detective closed-room mystery, "Lady Clarice Dies". Kanaan Kanaan was the policeman and Jeremy Basta was the butler, supposed by a very diverse case of characters. At the end, the audience was invited to participate in solving the whodunit, before the butler shared in clarifying the mystery. Or did he?
CTI was honored with the presence of several alumni who came for a football game against the current CTI students. The game was great fun, and ended with the loss of the alumni - lack of practice? CTI wishes to thank Coach Bahzad who organized the event, and the alumni for coming!
Grade 8 gave a presentation of the play "Lamia's Son". The play deals with the Three Fates from Greek mythology, and it was sublimely acted. The sets were very beautiful, including clouds on which the Fates sat. The play was directed by Mrs Jamie Chaaya. The pale-faced Three Fates were Cynthia Azarian, Marie Belle Ibrahim and Clarita Khoury. Lamia was Margarita Abi Saleh, the eponymous son was Joseph Ballout, and Ralph Khoury and Joseph Nohra also contributed. Good job, everybody!
It has become a tradition: Towards the end of their school year, the students of grade 9 get treated to an extensive treasure hunt organized by Mrs Hourani. The students get to practice their French, they get to have some fun, and they get to stretch their legs a bit! Thank you Mrs Hourani, and congratulations to the "treasure" winners!
In coordination with YFC, the CTI students were treated to sessions of caged football, of which we show some pictures. This activity coincides with the last events of CTI's April Festival, which seems to have spread to the month of May!
A lot of things worked together for this event: the Aflaton Project, the encouragement of Ms Claude Geagea, the enthusiasm of the students, and the bright ideas of the teachers Mrs Abou Malab, Mrs Georgi, Mrs Samaha and others. So, ultimately, after several months, the students of grades 3 and 4 were able to share monetary gifts with each of the janitors at CTI. Then, the students and workers shared cakes and goodies, especially prepared by the teachers. The altruistic event was concluded with the distribution of certificates, attesting participation in the Aflaton Project.
Fun Factory, and Mrs Jamie Chaaya, organized a Professions Day at school. Suddenly, CTI was filled with doctors, firefighters, soldiers, actors and actresses, and athletes. Now, there will be no shortage of future professions in Lebanon. We post the pictures that we have of the event!
The CTI Choir, under the direction of Mrs Jamie Chaaya, did it again! It was an absolutely amazing concert whose theme was Golden Oldies. In this very melodious concert, the choir performed popular songs from the 1950s to the 1980s, that have now gained classic status. The students delivered with total assurance and enthusiasm. The response of the audience was overwhelming!
There were soloists in several of the choral songs, with a special solo by Bryan Powell. A band accompanied the songs, with Mrs Krista Kashouh on the piano, Mr Philip Fahmi on the flute, Mr Castaneda on the guitar and Jeremy Basta on the drums. A special guest was engineering student and CTI alumnus Mr Rudy Youssef who accompanied the Arabic songs on the oud. Light effects coordinated with the singing, adding to the magical effect of the evening.
Congratulations to the CTI Choir, and thank you Mrs Jamie Chaaya!
The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a colossal production! After a year's laborious work, this performance was presented on Friday, April 27, by the students of grade 11 with choice students from other classes. The musical was a feast for the eye and ear, involving song, dance, drama, sets and light effects. It was expertly directed by Ms Wilma. This musical dramatization of Hugo's novel was met with a well-merited rapturous reception. Congratulations, director, actors and set designers!
The role of Quasimodo was acted by the incomparable Karim Rawda. Esmeralda, the gypsy girl, was taken by Nour Hourani. Frollo was Bryan Powell, Phoebus was Joseph Saikaly, and Gringoire the Bard was Nicholas Haddad. These main actors were supported by a wondrous set of enthusiastic singers and dancers. Bravi, all around!
Enjoy the souvenir of the occasion!
The grade 3 students of Mrs Lola Khoury visited Bank of Beirut, as a tie-in to what the students were studying. The Bank of Beirut staff took of their time to explain the functionings of a bank, and the president of the bank, no less, welcomed the students. At the end, the bank presented the students with special treats. Thank you, Bank of Beirut!
As part of career and college orientation, grade 11 visited AUB for an overview and a campus tour. The students got to learn about college options, in general, as well as what AUB has to offer. The CTI students thank AUB for this opportunity!
The pictures are finally here! During the Easter break 2018, the CTI scouts were treated to a camp in the beautiful countryside of Lebanon. The scouts participated in numerous activities, and went back home laden with wonderful memories. A lot of loving effort was put into this camp, so thanks are due to Mrs Ghaya Abi Antoun, Mrs Lara Kahoush, Mrs Nidal Francis, Mr Zahi Lahham, Mrs Mary Kfoury and the many others who gave of their valuable time to make this a successful camp.
Enjoy this selection of pictures, and share the excitement of the students!
It was the last day of class sessions for the students of grade 12 - an absolute end to 15 years of life at CTI. Now, after the final exams and the governmental exams, the class of 2018 will be ready to face the challenge of college life and the world. This jubilant occasion, though, turned out to be a tearful one, as students bade farewell to their school and friends. Behold the pictures!
CTI offers their best wishes to the wonderful class of 2018!
PS And, oh yes, Joy Dagher did accept to accompany Charbel Hajj to the proms.
CTI hosted a group of Canadian skateboarders from Canada. They gave a skateboard show, participated in PE classes, shared in chapel, and taught skateboarding skills to the students. The students tried to show off their comparable skills, but few could! Thanks for coming, skateboarders!
Coach Adnan organized a major Warrior Fitness Challenge for the students of grades 10 and 11. It was a strenuous tournament, and the students proved that they are up to the toughest bootcamp standards! Congratulations, one and all, and thanks, Coach Adnan.
CTI students had the chance to have a special hot-dog lunch, prepared by Frank Wurst's and presented from a special van! The line seemed endless, but it was worth the wait! Special thanks go to Mrs Jamie Chaaya who organized the event with SAD, Mrs Darine Moukarzel, and Coach Bahzad.
The grade 2 students of Mrs Abou Madi dressed up as clowns, as a tie-in to their Arabic lesson. The outfits were supposed to be devised by the students themselves, but some chose to wear ready-made costumes they already had. The result was a lot of boisterous fun! Here are some pictures of the occasion!
Mrs Hourani had her iconic French cheese meal, and the students of grade 10 regaled - especially Michel Melki! Bon appétit!
The interclass basketball games finished with a jump and a wham, with grade 11 garnering the championship, and grade 10 ranking second. The tournament was organized by Coach Bahzad. Bravo to the winners!
CTI is back from Hungary, carrying tons of joyous memories. Budapest is an extraordinary city, divided by the beautiful, blue Danube, and uniting Buda and Pest. The trip to Budapest was rich in sightseeing and activities. The students visited museums, churches, the home of Liszt, the Parliament, and much more. They stayed in a luxurious 5* hotel, and were treated to choice restaurants. They attended folk shows, horse pageants, a classical music concert and more. They admired the Danube, and cruised on it. They visited cozy towns outside Budapest. They swam in thermal water. And they shopped till they dropped.
Several students were asked about what they had liked most. Invariably, after a pause, they would answer: Each thing that we did was "the best".
Of thousands of pictures taken for the yearbook, and many more thousands floating in virtual cyberspace, we present here a random selection for you to share our joy.
Easter at CTI was celebrated in a series of chapels, events, crafts, art and music celebrations, SAD and Fun Factory presentations, egg coloring, and quite a few egg hunts! We share with you some of our contributions to this joyous event! Happy Easter!
Ms Geagea, coordinator of the Aflaton project, led the students and teachers of grades 3 and 4 to the park for an al fresco lesson. Here are a few picture of the occasion!
Mrs Abou Madi led her grade 1 students in an interesting project involving funny face food. The students gave reign to their imagination, and created wonderful comic consumable food! Here are a few pictures of the occasion!
Coach Adnan Sioufi organized a three point basketball tournament. This was a fun activity that involved CTI students with basketball skills. The audience was encouraging and enthusiastic! We share a few pictures!
Ms Elham Hajj organized a taco event for her Spanish class students. The students prepared the food, donned Mexican hats, and had a grand time. Ole'!
Church members from Rahbeh, Northern Lebanon, gave a chapel session about Easter. They used many modes of presentation, including flipboard, drama and puppets. Thank you for coming!
CTI Kindergarten celebrated Mother's Day with 3 diverse programs for mothers. The children were bright and happy on that day, and the mothers reflected the exact same feelings. Thank you, KG teachers and coordinator for this wonderful occasion, and many happy returns to our mothers.
Another visit from a school, and another basketball game. . .
A few pictures for you!
This time, the teachers challenged the students to a basketball game (we had earlier posted information about football, below). The students won, but we offer our congratulations to both teams!
The grade 4 students of Mrs Chaar presented their habitats and biomes to class. We give all the pictures we currently have, with apologies to the students whose work does not appear! Bravo, all around!
Grade 8 presented an opulent production of the Rahbanis' "Saif 840" (Summer of 1840) that was as perfect as can be in terms of acting, singing, dancing, sets, costumes and plain exhuberance. We cannot fault anything in this production! Bravo, grade 8! Bravo, Mrs Lina Abou Malhab who wholeheartedly directed this musical. Bravo, Miss Diana Blati who coached the dances. Bravo, main actors: Sarah Tawk and Steven Haddad. What a most extraordinary occasion!
This is an iconic trip for grade 11. The students study about the Middle Ages, then visit those times in the guise of fortresses and monasteries. A wonderful group of students got to discover these, on a wonderful, sunny day. The students got to do some strenuous walking, so at the end of the day, we offer our kudos to them!
There are lots of pictures for the yearbook, and we offer here a representative sample!
It is traditional fare at CTI: Teachers play the students and the students either win, or decide to let their teachers win . . . Ahem . . . Maybe not . . . but students may like to say that. . . Anyway, the teachers won by far. But what was new this year was the first-time ever participation of a female teacher, Ms Prisca Mrad. Great playing!
Thanks to technology, grade 3 were able to connect to Holland, India and Tunis for lengthy Skype calls. Our students got introduced to different cultures, and students in other countries got to meet the bright students of grade 3. The event was coordinated by Mr Herman van Uum, Mrs Claude Geagea, Mr Fadi Khoury, and class teachers Mrs Georgi and Mrs Tashjian.
Four class sections had the privilige to visit the Lebanese Central Bank for special presentations regarding the Lebanese monetary system. This was part of the Aflaton program. With the gifts that they were offered, our students came richer in more sense than one!
New Heights is reaching new heights! Their latest presentation engaged 100s of CTI students with extraordinary sets and acting. The story involved a retelling, in the New Heights inimitable way, of the story of Christ, from birth to death and resurrection. Thank you for visiting us, and a happy Easter to you, too!
Congratulations to grade 10 on winning the CTI interclass football tournament! Coach Bahzad awarded medals to the students. We present a few pictures. Of particular note is the one before the last, with grade 10 literally jumping with joy!
Grade 5, the students of Mrs Chaar, recently had their Invention Day presentations. The students brainstormed and came out with viable inventions to help humanity! The inventions will be exhibited again next week. Bravo, budding scientists.
Grade 11 had the opportunity to participate in a one-day workshop at the AUDI Bank headquarters. The event was rich in activities, and our students got introduced to many aspects of finance and banking. This was a great career orientation day, and a boost to the students' CVs.
"Orpheus" was the fare of grade 7, under the direction of Ms Areni Taslakian. The students of grade 7 acted out the tragic story of the ancient Greek musician, Orpheus, and the loss of his great love, Euridice. A brilliant idea was to divide the stage into two sections, one involving the land of the living, and one involving the afterworld. The stage went dark and smokey when the actors moved to the afterworld. The group of students acted very well, and were led by Menassa Makarios as Orpheus, Rita Khoury as Euridice, and Wade Watkins as a very indignant Hades. Bravissimi!
The grade 4 students of Mrs Chaar and Mrs Tashjian were in for a treat: the visit of basketball champ, Mr Ismail Ahmad. Mr Ismail was kind enough to share of his precious time, and teach the students quite a few basketball moves. Thanks for coming, Mr Ismail!
Here are some more pics of the ongoing interclass football tournament. The last that we heard was that grade 11 won. But the games are not over yet...
It was a fun time for KGI who visited Burger King. After an extensive playtime, the students ate hamburger meals. A few pictures of the occasion...
The legend of the ill-fated lovers, Pyramus and Thisbe, was the fare of grade 10. The play was ingeniously acted, complete with a "wall" of students, separating the two protagonists. Pyramus was Jad Karkaba, and Thisbe was Rochelle Chelala. The play was directed by Mrs Shona Barakat. Thanks, students.
SAD and Fun Factory organized talent show which highlighted - you guessed it - the talents of some of the students at CTI. We share with you pictures of the participants! The events were supervised by Mrs Jamie Chaaya! Good job, students.
Our iconic Book Fair was organized by Heritage Publishers, as an endeavor to encourage students to read. There was a big choice of books to choose from, and children browsed and bought the books they liked.
We were honored with the presence of another school for a friendly basketball game. Here are some pictures of the occasion.
The students of grade 6 and Miss Chibli present a play based on the Perrault / Grimm story of "Le Petit Chaperon Rouge." The play was presented in impeccable French. If there are cuter Chaperons, wolves or grandmas, it is doubtful. Bravo, students!
If you think this was an Italian project, you are mistaken. For this cooking project was concocted by Miss Christie Chibli as part of French - note! - lessons. The students got to cook pasta in the school kitchen, then eat their culinary creations. Bon appétit!
We had our medical checkup again. The students were examined, and the reports sent to the parents. We offer a few picture, with thanks to Dr Asoghliam and Dr Mardelli!
As part of their lessons on professions and occupations, the students of KGIII headed to the impressive Kidzmondo. The students had a great time, and got to live different professions and learn about them. We post quite a few representative pictures here! Enjoy!
On a rainy day, the students were happy and bright as they twinned with their friends. Our roving photographer was at hand to take snapshots of the occasion, and we share with you these pictures of grade school students! The event was organized by Mrs Jamie Chaaya.
CTI hosted New Heights in another production, on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. The play had the theme, "Man looks on the outside, but God looks on the inside." Again, the visit of New Heights was much appreciated and CTI offers its thanks.
They're back from Snow Camp! The snow was dense. The weather was warm. The activities were a-plenty. The evenings were cozy. What more can one ask for? Many students participated this year, and they all came back happily planning for next year. The event was organized by Mr Jean Nassar. Here are some pictures to share!
As part of the cultural festival topic of the week, the KGIII students were treated to nice, fresh, soft tacos! What is Spanish for "bon appetit"?
We share with you some of the projects done for Mrs Melki's grade 1 science class. Bravo, students!
The students of grade 4 worked on a "clouds" project, related to what they were studying in English. Thanks to Mrs Chaar and Mrs Tashjian, the students happily pasted cotton pads and formed clouds to their hearts' content. Here are a few pictures!
Mrs Castaneda (mother of Josue') gave a presentation about Colombia to the students of KGIII. There was a PowerPoint presentation, as well as the opportunity for the students to wear traditional Colombia clothes. The event was capped with tortilla chips and homemade salsa. Thank you for coming, Mrs Castaneda.
It was next the turn of Mrs Asmar (mother of David and Mark) to present her country, the Ukraine. Wearing traditional Ukrainian clothes, Mrs Asmar gave a lively talk, with lots of nice slides. Thank you for coming, Mrs Asmar.
Mrs Bradley (mother of Leo) and Mrs Watkins (mother of Claire) were guests of honor in KG III combined. The purpose of their visit was to talk to the students about the US. The students got to learn about the geography and history of the US. Some students even got the chance to dress up as a pilgrim, an Indian, a cowboy, an astronaut, and even as the Statue of Liberty. Thank you for coming, Mrs Bradley and Mrs Watkins!
Mrs Sarrouf (mother of Joseph) introduced the Philippines to the combined students of KG III. In her lively lecture, she used posters and demonstration items, involving the students in the presentation. This is part of an ongoing series of presentations about countries, given to the KG III students. Thanks for coming, Mrs Sarrouf!
Get the idea? If not, check our previous post about the letter K!
Just two pictures this time. . .
K is for Kite! We all know that. So, why not go fly a kite? That is what the students of KG II did, and we present some pictures of the occasion.
Some classes decided to have plants in their classrooms. So, with the help of Mrs Abou Tayeh and Mrs Maha, the students were able to organize projects to cover the expenses. Then a group of these students visited a plant nursery and bought plants of their choice. Now, the plants are there to give a nature flair to the rooms! Bravo, students!
Three professors from the International School Project (ISP) visited CTI and gave demonstration sessions in four classes. Pictured individually here are director of teacher training and development Joi Christians, executive director Roy Christians, and regional director Skid Logan. We also present some general class pictures. CTI thanks its guests!
By special invitation to Cafe Najjar, the students of grade 5 were able to have a grand time visiting the premises, seeing how coffee is made, and having a hearty breakfast. Thank you, Cafe Najjar, for your hospitality and generosity!
The students of grade 10 and 9 presented a condensation of Henrik Ibsen's great play "An Enemy of the People". The play was directed by Mrs Jamie Chaaya, and acted by Joshua Powell, Alic Kleyaani, Nader Bou Hamdan and Liana Salian. The very serious topic unfortunately segued into mirth as the actors forgot their lines. But that did not seem to be a problem. . .
Coach Adnan organized a friendly basketball game for grades 11 and 12, of which we present some pictures here.
The youngest group of football players at CTI, and Coach Marc, were invited to play football at another school. Our grade 1 and 2 students were met with older students, so the solution was to intermingle equally the two teams! Here are a few souvenir pictures taken by Mrs Boucher.
By special invitation, a school visited us and played had a friendly football game with our Middle School team, led by Coach Fabio. Here are a few pictures.
Benefitting from extraordinary weather, our CTI scouts had an outing that included many activities, including . . . a live tiger show! The excited group of students was led by Cheftaines Ghaya and Lara!
Thanks to Mrs Mona Zurob, one KG class was regaled by the visit of a cute little dog - a pomeranian, we believe. This is part of an ongoing visit of pets to some KG classes. Thanks, Mrs Zurob!
A segment of Charles Dicken's huge, sprawling novel, "Nicholas Nickleby", was presented by the students of grade 8, and directed by Mrs Jamie Chaaya. The chosen part involved Dicken's bitter idictment of the education of the poor in his time. The scenes were ably acted by the students, with the lead roles taken by Barkev Hejinian as Nickleby, Markus Kashouh as the infamous Mr Squeers, and Maybel Saad as Mrs Squeers. We present a few pictures for your enjoyment!
As the students of grade 12 left for a well-merited break, choice students of grades 10 and 11 were invited to play football at another school during noon break. It was a fun meet, and CTI lost. Soon, there will be another friendly game, this time on home turf! A few pictures of the occasion. . .
CTI hosted a group of people from the US and Mexico. The group shared with us, gave short drama presentations, and played football and basketball games with the students. CTI thanks the group for visiting! A few souvenir pictues are presented here!
Coach Bahzad Karam organized a fun fete filled with fabulous fare! (Too many f's, right?). The games were varied, the students had a lot of fun, and the winter weather was clement! Thanks, Coach Bahzad.
It's back to school, and it is time to present nice Christmas projects. We were able to get hold of the work of 3 classes, that we share with you - including an impressive "penguins" exhibition.
It is common knowledge by now that on the last day of school before the Christmas vacation, Marc Hatem crashed the CTI SAD Christmas program. His visit added to the excitement of an already mega-joyous occasion. While MC and CTI alumnus Marc Moussan was entertaining the audience, Mrs Jamie Chaaya, with the complicity of Raffi Zeytoun, ushered Mr Hatem. The audience was thrilled beyond description! Marc Hatem gave a short word of encouragement, then attended the program which included segments by SAD, a hilarious skit by Joe, Angelo and Bryan, a touching word by Marcus Kahoush, special gifts to the teachers and dances from grade school students. The event ended with picture taking with the guest of honor. Merry Christmas, and God bless us everyone!
It was a wonderful Kindergarten Christmas Program, filled with adorable children, nice music, beautiful dances, gorgeous costumes, and large measures of Christmas cheer! A big Merry Christmas to the CTI kindergaren children, their parents and their teachers. We present pictures of the memorable event, with the attempt to cover all sections of the program.
It was a mega-gift exchange bash for the students of grades 1 to 6, as organized by Fun Factory and Mrs Jamie Chaaya. Santa was generous, and the students were excited and happy. A few pictures of the occasion...
The last period in 2017 for grade 10 happened to be that of Bible, and the students celebrated by sampling German Christmas food, listening to music (to Claudio Monteverdi!!!), and exchanging DIY gifts. The mood was festive, heightened by the prospect of the vacation that was coming in minutes. Merry Christmas!
The CTI Choir treated us to a wonderful Christmas concert, led by Mrs Jamie Chaaya and accompanied by Mrs Krista Kashouh. The program was varied and melodious, consisting of traditional and lesser-known carols. There were several soloists, as well. The students displayed remarkable beauty of voice and discipline in singing. Well-done, choir!
The students of Mrs Tashjian prepared penguin projects, a tie-in to what the students had been studying. The whole class became a penguin enclave! Here are a few souvenir pics!
The story of The Grasshopper and the Ant is very famous. It may have first appreared in ancient Greece, as one of the fables of Aesop. It is also quite famous in the French version by La Fontaine. Now, it is the turn of grade 3 at CTI to give a rendition of the story, as directed by their teacher of Arabic, Mrs Nathalia Georgi. Mohammad Jibaii was the Grasshopper, and Mia Salloum was the Ant. Bravo, students!
"The Gift of the Magi" was this year's musical for Christmas at CTI. The event was spectacular, jolly, moving and as Christmas-y as could be! The students acted, sang and danced to perfection. The audience clapped hard and enjoyed every item.We can only voice a resounding Bravo!
The story of "The Gift of the Magi" was based on the short story by O Henry. Musical direction was by Mr Philip Fahmi. Drama coaching was by Mrs Jamie Chaaya. The sets were by Mr Rami Khalaf. Dances were by Ms Areni Taslakian, Mrs Rima Melki and Mrs Marian Daou.
Thank you, grades 1 to 6, for spreading Christmas cheer - in heavy doses!
Our extravagant Christmas musical, "The Gift of the Magi" is coming up in a couple of days. Meanwhile, meet the cast: Nadime Saadi as Jim and Zoe Assad as Della, supported by Cate Bou Zaid, Jad Faddoul, Joy Neaimeh and Adam Bou Hamdan. Best wishes!
Students of grade 10 helped spread some Christmas cheer by volunteering at the Sin el Fil Municipality and organizing activities for children. The CTI students prepared materials and handcrafts, then conducted games and activities. All in all, it was a great opportunity to share the Christmas spirit! Thank you, Municipality, for making this possible!
For St Barbara's, the students of grades 1, 2 and 3 were in for a seasonal treat, thank to Mrs Lola Khoury. Later, the students of KGIII had a cooking session in order to make (and eat!) pancakes with maple syrup, as a tie-in to their latest lesson! And we also include a picture of Mrs Dareen Moukarzel decorating a Christmas tree, for good measure! Best wishes!
It was another New Heights production, with a full-length Christmas play retelling the Christmas story of the Shepherds and the Wise Men. The presentation was upbeat, with acting and song. The Christmas message was clearly shared! CTI thanks New Heights and looks forward to more drama presentations!
St Barbara's was celebrated in style, with 100s of students dressed in creative, elegant costumes! We present here a representative sample, and we apologize if some students do not appear here!
A group of students experienced the Christmas spirit at the German Christmas Bazaar. The students got to sample good food, and admire the many Christmas artifacts exhibited. Fröhliche Weihnachten!
A select group of grade 11 at CTI visited Sursock Museum in order to see the beautiful building and the latest in Lebanese art. The students got introduced to the concept of an "installation" in art. The pictures show the impressive residence of Nicholas Sursock, as well as the exhibitions of modern art.
For a first visit this year, New Heights had a simple, energetic play that captivated its audience. Thanks, New Heights!
In coordination with YMCA, and the active help of Miss Maha Hachem, the students of grade 10 planted 150 trees in Ras el Matn. The students and accompanying teachers were enthusiastic and energetic as they accomplished their tasks, and pledged more help in the future. Bravo, grade 10!
Patriotic Week came to a closure with a gigantic Knafe Day bash. Demand seemed to outpace supply, but all students got their share, with leftovers to spare. The event was organized by Mrs Jamie Chaaya. Bon appetit!
Coach Bahzad always comes up with nice, original ideas for Patriotic Week. This time, it was a gigantic map of Lebanon on which our students left an imprint. May our students always leave positive imprints in Lebanon!
KGIII celebrated Lebanese traditions with Mrs Myriam Sarkis. There were flags drawn, PowerPoint presentations shown, and even a compilation of "tarabeesh" in multiple forms! Happy Independence Day, KGIII.
Patriotic Week at CTI has started with two special programs of speech, song and celebration. These two events were jointly organized by Mrs Abou Malhab, head of the Arabic Dept at CTI; and the director of activities, Mrs Jamie Chaaya. The first event ended with a mile-long (well, not quite) dabke! Be on the lookout for more on the Patriotic Week!
The students of grade 2 presented science posters to Mrs Marian Daou. We show the excitement of the students herein! Good job!
Mrs Viviane Hourani and the students of grade 10 regaled us with a hilarious upbeat version of the Little Riding Hood story! The play in French, "Le Gros Chaperon Rouge" was one joke after another! The exhuberant students of grade 10 were led by Jeremey Basta, George Saab, Sarah Tabet, Emma Nour Habre and many more. How about Le Laid au Bois Eveille' next time?
Dictation from Lebanon is an iconic event(s) at CTI. The senior competition is organized by Mrs Lina Bou Malhab, head of the Arabic Department at CTI. The junior event is organized by Mrs Nathalia Georgi. This year we also had the presence of Mr Philip Fahmi, teacher of music at CTI, for a novel way of writing the National Anthem! We present a few pictures here, and we will soon announce the winners in our newsletter.
Mrs Nassar taught KGIII all about face features in French. "Mon Visage" carried on further with special food designs, describing the students' "visages"! Bravo, students and . . . well . . . bon appetit!
Seasons come, seasons go, and the students of grade 2 keep record! Mrs Shadia Abou Madi took her students to the park to collect autumn leaves, as part of their Arabic lesson. The outing was an eye-opener, and the students were able to discover many forms of beautiful leaves. Thanks, Mrs Abou Madi!
Grade 6 planted cedar trees up in the barren areas of Kfardebian/Faraya, in association with Jouzour Loubnan. The students did an exceedingly good job, and their teachers pitched in as well! Bravo, grade 6!
It is a traditional outing with Coach Bahzad Karam! Every year, a number of CTI students join the Beirut Marathon, and this year we had a group of enthusiastic students/teachers who ran/walked the race! Congratulations to Bryan Powell who ranked 1st in Lebanon in his category, and Steven Barakat who ranked 1st at CTI.
New this year was the participation of grade 12 as volunteers. They serviced the marathon runners and had a great day enthusing the runner and providing water. Thanks, grade 12!
We thank Rosaire school for visiting CTI again for another football game. This time it was the time for the junior teams! It was a great game and we await more games against other schools!
Mrs Rima Melki and the students of grade 1 gave a presentation about the Six Blind Men and the Elephant! The blind men felt the elephant, and each found it to be something different: a wall, a spear, a rope, a tree trunk and such. The play was well acted, and we finally had an elephant at CTI!!! In the end, according to the poem,
And so these men of Indostan
Each in his own opinion
Though each was partly in the right
There are five senses. There are five days in the school week. So, get it? We catch the KG children during - as you can guess - the "taste" day. Kindergarten children are sampling here different taste sensations. The culinary experience ranged from the yummy, to the distinctly not so! Bon appetit!
The KG students study about vegetables, and concoct a traditional fattoush salad. Here are few souvenir pictures.
CTI students were regaled by a thrilling bike show today! This is part of the SOAR program for this year at CTI. We have selected a few pictures to introduce the biker, and we have a few pictures that show the expressions of the students! More pictures are reserved for the yearbook.
Grade 8 had the chance to visit the latest Salon du Livre with their teachers. They had a good time browsing, choosing books, and even eating! Here are a few souvenir pictures of an energetic class!
In coordination with Dar el Handasseh, CTI celebrated Green Apple Day, an international environmental awareness day. A group of energetic engineers from Dar el Handasseh led several activities and presentations. Grade 7 had the lion's share with several projects to do. And all of the students ate fresh apples (mainly red, though!). Thanks, Dar el Handasseh for coming!
CTI hosted Rosaire School for an exciting football game on Friday, October 27, 2017. Rosaire, thank you for coming! Football coach: Mr Fabio Saade. Bravo, teams!
Mr Haddad prepared a session of poetry reading, ably delivered by the students of grade 12. It was a happy occasion, with poetry ranging from the classical, to Gibran, to colloquial folk, to Mr Haddad's own poems. Bravo, all around! We present pictures of all the individual readers...
As a prom fund-raising event, Grade 12 organized a Halloween games and fun. We share with you some of the pictures taken, with that hope that you will share their fun!
The CTI cub scouts are back in action, with a large group of excited students (and leaders) set on for a wonderful year. The pictures we give here were supplied by Mrs Ghaya Abi Antoun and were taken during the first session. We hope to be able to post more pictures in the near future!
Miss Hermez organized a poetry reading event. The poems were varied and interesting, and the students read as experts. The suprise of the occasion was the reading of superlative poems written by Nicholas Haddad and by Bryan Powell. Bravo, all around!
Mrs Aline Tashjian organized a pageant of favorite book characters for grade 4. It was a dress up occasion in which the students got to present their favorite books. Keep reading!
As part of the CTI SOAR program during recesses, a visiting mime performed and bonded with the students. Here are a few pictures of the occasion!
After studying about the bread-making process and practice in class, the students of KG II got to visit a bakery (thank you, Keirouz Bakery!). After the tour, the students had a hearty breakfast at the restaurant of the bakery!
The KG students of Mrs Myriam Sarkis and Mrs Mireille Abi Saad learnt about roosters in their Arabic lessons, so lo and behold a rooster visited the class! The students were ready with the appropriate puppets, and we believe that the KG visitor enjoyed the students' hospitality...
The visit to the Silk Museum in Bsous is an iconic trip organized by Ms Wilma for the students of grade 9. We heard that the students had a great time visiting, and got to learn about the process of silk making, a forgotten craft nowadays. Here are a few pictures of the occasion, and we hope that you will enjoy perusing them.
Thanks to the initiative of Mr Emile Moacdieh, and as a requirement for the Earth Science class, the students of grade 11 HS visited the impressive museum of minerals, MIM. The place is overflowing with minerals and rocks and precious stones from all around the world. The students had a great time.
Grade 4 were thrilled to have a cute and docile animal visiting them, after having studied about pet dogs! Thanks Mrs Chaar and Mr Emile!
SAD (Student Activities Department) is here to make you happy! The new SAD members introduced themselves in a fun-filled event on Friday. The theme, in keeping with that of the latest yearbook (?), was that of superheroes. Being superheroes was left mainly to the imagination, but the fun was paramount, with lots of games and a surprise visit of acrobatics gymnast Aya Alaeddine! We are looking for a superheroes school year with Mrs Jamie Chaaya and SAD!
It was the first presentation of the year for Fun Factory. As the pictures attest, these students are fun-filled and ready to churn out fun the whole of this school year! The event was organized by Mrs Jamie Chaaya.
When CTI students visited the mines of Kutna Hora, Czech Republic, during the Easter break of 2017, the only person who was allowed to take pictures [for a fee] was the principal. So, here he shares with you the pictures taken, for those who traveled to download and keep. We hope that you will experience, belatedly, the exciting visit to these mines!
CTI hosted a group of Argentinians who spent the day at school. They attended classes, gave two chapel sessions and played a friendly football game (that led us to losing 3-0). Thanks for coming!
They are finally here, from the official photographer, for you to enjoy. Here are a few pictures of the super-spectacular "When Grandma Went to School", the CTI musical with a 1950s theme. Like, save and share!
CTI honored the students with the best performance records for the year in a spectacular ceremony filled with the happy faces of students, parents and teachers. There were special speeches from Marya Diab Harake, Anthony Zoughaib, Luna Kamar, Alic Kelyaani and Joseph Saikali. The students of grade 8 and Mrs Abou Malhab gave a segment of the musical "Biyaa el Kawatem" that had been previously given to the students. Then awards, diplomas and prizes were given to the honor students. The event was organized by Mrs Randa Antoun. Congratulations to the students!
We present here all the pictures that we have available of the students being given their awards, to download and keep. The pictures were taken by Mr Ragheed Breidi.
We now have the professional pictures of our awesome Graduation Cermony for this year. The guest of honor for the event was Mrs May el-Khalil, and we refer you to our newsletter for more information.
We have the daunting job of choosing a few pictures from 1000s. So we decided on these few representative pictures, with the hope that they will meet with your approval. Congratulations, class of 2017. Be on the lookout for the yearbook for many more pictures, including portraits of the graduates.
An awaited highlight every year is the Rahbani musical presented by the students of Mrs Lina bou Malhab. This year we were regaled with "The Ring Vendor" ( بياع الخواتم), the famous musical originally with Fairouz and Nasri Shameseddine. The role of the Mukhtar was taken by Sari Zaitoun who really embodied the role. Rima / Fairouz was energetically acted and sung by Maria Jabbour. The unexpected Rajeh was Chris Deeb transformed to look 60 years older! Other lead roles were taken by Jihad Dakramanhi and Rafic Ouraibi. The musical was directed by Mrs Lina bou Malhab. Congratulations grade 8 and their teacher!
Every year CTI students have the chance to visit a country outside Lebanon. This year they visited beautiful Prague, in an event-filled luxury trip. The students got to visit museums, explore castles, walk down quaint streets, experience local culture, cruise down the river Vltava, eat gastronomic food, stay in a 5* hotel, shop till they drop, and have a great amount of fun. The students are now back home, safe and sound, trading an immense amount of pictures, of which we share a humble few. Praise the Lord for His blessings!
A CTI alumnus wrote us (and we thank him): CTI, you are giving your students these great opportunities! You take them places (e,g, Prague!!!), you give them fun opportunities, you teach them so much more than math, history and English. You are making such a difference in their lives. A difference that they won't see until they are well grown up. And that is what we see today. We meet graduates from CTI from the 60s, 70s and 80s, and they recall the great experiences they had at CTI and what a difference it made in their lives. You making an eternal difference in these kids' lives.
It was finally performed, to thunderous accolades from the audience: "Romeo and Juliet" was a smash hit!
Romeo was Dori Fares, Juliet was Lea Tenn, Friar Lawrence was Bryan Powell, the Prince was Mark Moussan, Tybalt was George Saab, Mercutio was Karim Rawda, the sprite (Fate?) was Yana Rossoshanskaya. The musical was directed by Ms Wilma. Kindly check our Newsletter for more.
A note on the pictures: The pictures are often fuzzy because of the fog effects onstage.
"The Tale of Thomas and Joan" was a big challenge for CTI, since it meant transporting students and parents from our times, back to the Middle Ages. The challenge was met, and the result was spectacular beyond belief (but as we said earlier, we could not get horses for the joust!). The music was carefully chosen, based on reconstructions of ancient melodies and instruments. The sets were superbly designed and executed by Mr Rami Khalaf, with every stone in the fortress faceted and woodwork made to look as such. The dances were partly based on modern dance, and partly based on authentic old dances (anybody for a passamezzo?). As for the costumes, let us not get started: we had a whole factory executing our costumes and the audience gasped and cheered and filmed with each display of opulent costumes.
Courtiers, villagers, brigands, townsfolk, peasants, troubadours, knights, jesters, acrobats, duelists . . . what more can one ask for?
Special thanks to Mrs Krista Kashouh (musical and general direction), Mrs Jamie Chaaya (drama coaching), Miss Areni Taslakian (assistant drama coaching), Mr Rami Khalaf (sets), Boghossian Uniforms (costume execution), and the CTI teachers!
Every year, Ms Wilma and grade 11 prepare top-notch musicals. This year was no exception. "Macbeth - the Musical" was an extravagant feast to the eye and the ear. The acting was superb. The music and dancing were spectacular. The sets were magnificent. The effects were astounding. The use of space - everywhere in the auditorium - was amazing. Dori Fares was Macbeth. Nour Sadek was Lady Macbeth. The students of grade 11 (all sections), as well as some students from other classes, provided an impressive supporting cast, complete with show-stopping witches. Ms Wilma, methinks that Shakespeare doth smile in contentment!
Incidentally, this musical was presented during the Shakespeare year, practically on Shakespeare's birthday, April 23, 2016.
A select grade 8 group visited NDU engineering lab for a study on recycling and alternatives to concrete building blocks. The group was led by Mrs Abou Tayeh and alumnus Pierre Abou Tayeh. The students had a most profitable time. CTI thanks NDU for their warm reception and hospitality!
Posted here are some pictures from our musical for this year, "Pulcinella". It was a big triumph, as these picture attest! For more information, kindly check our newsletter. Bravi!
Check this link for a very quick overview of the musical! You will like it!
The CTI students had the privilege to attend a special performance of the musical "Petra" by the Rahbani Brothers. Helena Sarnouk was the queen, leading a case of students from grade 8. Mrs Abou Malhab ably directed the production. Congratulations! For details, kindly check our newsletter.
As part of a bigger project, CTI students visited Rome and Campania during the Easter vacation of 2015. It was the experience of a lifetime, filled with a program rich with art, culture, adventure and fun. The students and teachers would like to share with you some of the activities that they did, and by now the social media has 1000s of other pictures about the trip. For information about the trip, kindly check our newsletter section. Enjoy! Ciao!
Despite foreboding weather, "Rafael in Rio", our musical with a Brazilian theme, was performed to thunderous (no pun intended) acclaim. Congratulations to the students who did a superb job in acting and dancing. Many thanks to Mrs Krista Kashouh who put all of this together, as well as to Miss Areni Taslakian who coached the drama, and to Mr Rami Khalaf who designed and executed those wondrous sets.
Also thanks to all the teachers who taught dances, supervised and helped in the performance. It was an evening to treasure!
The event was filmed by Tele Lumiere.
It was another dream CTI trip, this time to Madrid, Spain, during the Easter break of Spring 2014. A large group of students and teachers visited art-filled museums, walked down quaint roads, and engaged in every imaginable exciting activity. Their outings even took them outside Madrid, to Segovia, Toledo, Valle de Caidos, El Escorial and elsewhere. It was a trip to remember forever, as the pictures testify. Where to next year?
The Christmas musical for grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 had Hollywood as a theme. A group of intrepid actors and producers are putting up a Christmas story film, and their work needed some correction in order to present the real Christmas story. This bubbling production was directed by Mrs Kashouh. Mrs Aida Tabbal and Mr Rami Khalaf designed the sets.
We were voted "smarted school in Lebanon" by Virgin Radio! As the scoreboard (presented by Virgin Radio and was propagated in the media) shows, we scored first, thanks to the efforts of several students led by whiz kid Rami Rouss. Congratulations!
