The latest network results on external examinations are testament to the high-quality education delivered to students in SABIS® Network schools around the world.
Over the span of 135 years, the achievements of students in the SABIS® Network have contributed to a reputation for excellence.
Schools in the SABIS® Network seek to get almost all students, rather than a select few, accepted to college or university.
Students are admitted on a non-selective basis and follow the SABIS® Educational System to help prepare them for college or university.
Year after year, students in SABIS® Network schools are accepted to many of the world’s top colleges and universities.
There is a success story behind every student in the SABIS® Network.
This is the story of a shy student who found her voice and went on to become an excellent public speaker.
Riwa Snih joined ISC-Choueifat in 2012 as a 7th grader after moving back to Lebanon from Saudi Arabia with her parents. When Riwa first joined ISC-Choueifat, she was a very quiet, shy, and introverted student. Now in 11th grade, Riwa has become a confident, well-spoken individual, a result of her active participation in the SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®).
In her first year at ISC-Choueifat, Riwa was continuously encouraged by the staff and teachers to get involved in SLO®. Her teachers knew that she was very capable and would quickly fit into the various clubs. Encouraged by her teachers and willing to push herself beyond her comfort zone, Riwa took their advice and joined the public speaking club, a decision that would change her life.
Riwa soon found that she enjoyed speaking in front of others. One thing led to another and before long, she also joined the United Nations club. Next, she became active as a prefect in the Academic Department, tutoring students in math, chemistry, and physics. Her participation in these clubs really helped build Riwa’s confidence and public speaking skills. This year, as an 11th grader, Riwa opted to join the Model Arab League (MAL) program, a multi-regional model competition in which high school and university students from around the world compete as representatives from member states of the Arab League.
From among 1,200 participants in 90 schools across Lebanon, Riwa was selected to represent Lebanon and compete at the National MAL Conference at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. in April 2017. At the conference, Riwa continued to shine and came home with the Best Delegate Award, one of the conference’s highest honors.
And Riwa’s talents are not only limited to public speaking! She also excels academically. Her average this year ranges between 92% and 94%, and she is following the honors curriculum at ISC-Choueifat. She will also be taking two AP® exams (in math and chemistry) this year, one year earlier than usual.
After she graduates in 2018, Riwa is hoping to be admitted to Princeton University in the U.S. to study
chemical engineering. We wish her the best of luck!
This is the story of a student whose happiness was compromised by racism until she moved to ISC-6 October, where she found happiness and acceptance!
Nida Salah Mana is a Sudanese-American girl who spent her early years living in China and Egypt, where she regularly encountered racism. Nida joined ISC-6 October in 2010 as a Grade 6 student, a move that would change her life!
When Nida first arrived at ISC-6 October, she was extremely defensive and isolated, largely due to the racism she had faced growing up. She soon realized that there was no place for racism at ISC-6 October, where her classmates and other students only saw her for who she really was: a kind and helpful person. In due course, Nida no longer felt like an outsider but rather felt accepted and recognized. Her teachers supported her and encouraged her to join SLO®, which she did. After becoming an active member in SLO®, her attitude and character began to change. She became a more positive, confident, and helpful student. Seeing the change in herself, she was inspired to help other students as well, so she began a mentoring program to help students with disciplinary issues.
Nida’s academic performance was good and her dedication and hard work were noticeable. She was
selected to attend the Student Life Training Camp in 2015. She also participated in 11 different Model U.N. conferences in Egypt. Her most recent accomplishment was being selected to be the Deputy Secretary General of ISCMUN V at ISC-6 October.
SLO® provided Nida with a platform to pursue her dreams of making a difference in her community and across borders. As a result, she has spent her summers interning at UNICEF in Zambia as a volunteer at an NGO called Agents of Hope, where she taught underprivileged children how to become leaders of change in their society. She also visited the Living Hope Foundation for runaways and orphans. In addition, she volunteered as a photographer for the Barefeet Foundation, which aims to educate street children about the dangers of drug abuse through music and theater.
Nida is currently a Grade 12 student. She has been accepted to both the American University of Beirut
(AUB) in Lebanon on a partial scholarship and to Penn State University in the U.S. Whatever choice she makes, we wish Nida the best of luck and hope that she continues to erase racial divides.
This is the story of a student who used every opportunity his school offered to make outstanding contributions to his community.
Haig Cholakian joined ISC-Sharjah in 2007 as a Grade 3 student. From the very beginning, Haig was a very active member of the school community and participated in every aspect of school life. This, along with an excellent academic record, helped Haig gain acceptance to the college of his dreams after he graduated in 2017.
In Grade 9, Haig joined the SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®), where he discovered a passion for making a difference in his community and around the world. Haig was Deputy Head Prefect in the Academic Department when he first joined, and by 2016 he was promoted to Head Prefect of the SLO®. Looking back, Haig credits SLO® for the opportunities it offered him to make a difference in the lives of others. “SLO® was my second home, providing me with a supportive environment to learn and grow. Over the years it has allowed me to foster many skills which are essential to thrive in the modern world. Through SLO®, I have become a conscientious member of my community and am well-prepared to tackle the challenges I will face later in life.”
Haig has a huge heart and is an inspirational individual. In 2015, after the earthquake that hit Nepal, Haig flew over to volunteer as a teacher for the children who lost their homes and their schools. He also assisted doctors as they cared for sick and impoverished patients and distributed food to the homeless. In the same year, Haig volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Toronto, Canada, for two weeks, where he helped restore homes for the needy. Most recently, Haig sponsored an 8-year old Armenian boy, whom he sends money to every month to pay for his schooling.
In addition to his community service, Haig was an important member of the Model United Nations team at ISC-Sharjah. He received the “Best Research” award at the MUN competition at the American University of Dubai in 2015 and “Best Delegate” award in 2016.
Haig always maintained a high average in his academic performance. He earned a 97% overall average
and excelled in all his external exams including O Levels and AP®s. Haig’s SAT scores were equally impressive. He earned a total of 1520 out of 1600 on the SAT I and full marks on his essay. For the SAT II he scored 800 in Chemistry, 780 in Math II, and 800 in Biology.
As a result of his hard work, academic excellence, and dedication to helping others, Haig was accepted to top universities around the world: Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Toronto, McGill University, Dartmouth College, and McMaster University. He has decided to attend Harvard in the fall and is intending to major in biology as a pre-med student.
This is the story of a girl who stood tall against the challenges she faced in her life and came out on top.
Abir Ayoub joined AIS – Al-Sulaimaniah in 2005 as a 5th grader. She graduated from the school as a member of the Class of 2012. In her first couple of years at school, Abir felt challenged for being a person of short stature. She felt “different” and was intimidated by the other students. As a result, she fell into a depression in grades 7 and 8 and had great difficulty socializing with the students in school. That could have been the end of Abir’s story, but two things happened that changed everything.
First, Abir reached out for help. She opened up to her Academic Quality Controller (AQC) about the troubles she had been experiencing. Attuned now to Abir’s challenges, the AQC at the school focused her efforts on making a difference in Abir’s life. She worked with Abir to help improve her confidence and academic performance, which had been hindered by the social challenges she had been facing. As her confidence improved, so did her grades. Cs changed to Bs and then to As, and, when she graduated, Abir had an overall average of B+.
The second thing that changed for Abir was her involvement in the school. With growing confidence and better grades, Abir felt like a new person. In 2010, she joined the SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®) and participated in numerous departments. She eventually found her niche in the Outreach Department and attended the Student Life Training Conference in Bath, England. The camp proved to be a life-changing event for her. “I am very grateful and thankful for the opportunity [to attend the SLTC]. It made me stronger and more driven to be my own person and a leader,” said Abir.
In Grade 11, Abir became the head of the Academic Department, and in Grade 12 she was the SLO® Head Prefect. She became a very strong, optimistic, and confident individual who her peers looked up to. When thinking back at her time in SLO®, Abir says, “SLO® has positively shaped my school experience […].I learned the importance of trying and never giving up.”
After Abir graduated from AIS, she went on to pursue a degree in Health Promotion at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, where she quickly realized that her time at AIS had given her a strong academic foundation and life skills. “AIS taught me to be hardworking and dedicated and helped me develop strong study skills from a young age. This made me productive, responsible, independent, and aware of my surroundings, which was a huge asset at university. Academically, I was always one step ahead!”
Abir has just graduated in the spring of 2017 with a degree in Health Promotion. We are very proud of her and wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors.
This is the story about how the Holyoke Community Charter School helped a young boy find happiness.
When Angel Rosa joined HCCS in 2010, he was in Kindergarten. Angel progressed smoothly through school, studying and doing his schoolwork until he was in Grade 5. In that year, Angel hit a roadblock when his father left him and his mother. Confused as to why his father was no longer part of his life, Angel started to struggle to connect positively with his peers and adults alike. He started acting out in school, often disrupting class to the detriment of his learning and others’.
From the moment Angel started to struggle, the HCCS staff mobilized to create a positive support system for Angel. They tried everything to help Angel make positive decisions; however, nothing seemed to work. That is until the school administration made the decision to invite Angel to attend the HCCS Student Life Training Camp in August 2016. It was an invitation that would change Angel’s life and teach him the value of making a positive contribution to school life.
Angel is now a student helper in his classroom. He is the Assistant to the SABIS Interactive Testing and Learning® (ITL®) Lab Coordinator and helps teachers with minor technical issues when in the lab. He understands and promotes the importance of being a prefect and safeguarding the academic environment in his classroom. His new attitude toward his peers, teachers, and the school is not only evident in his behavioral transformation but also his grades. Angel went from a 60% average to an 80% average, and as a result, he was recognized at this year’s Academic Award Ceremony as the Most Improved Student.
Today, Angel is a different person. He has gone from a student who gave his teachers a hard time and disrupted the class frequently to someone who is actively teaching others the importance of learning. Angel has become a leader who is motivating other students. He has learned to channel his anger into actions that make him feel productive and is now comfortable reaching out to the administration and staff at HCCS whenever he feels the need to.
Through the help he received at HCCS and his involvement in SLO®, Angel got the support he needed to deal with the challenges in his life at home. Angel now knows that no matter what happens in life, HCCS will be there for him, actively cheering him on and helping him succeed.
This is the story about a student who witnessed a change in her school life when it was taken over by SABIS®, and instead of being afraid of change, she decided to embrace it!
Beshara Chechmen is currently a Grade 10 student at Fakhir Mergasori International School (FMIS), a SABIS® Public-Private Partnership school that serves the children of martyrs in Erbil, Kurdistan. Beshara joined FMIS in 2007 before it became a member of the SABIS® Network. When SABIS® took over the school in 2008 and introduced the SABIS® curriculum, teaching methodology, and the SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®), Beshara saw an opportunity to embrace change, a decision that has helped her become a dedicated, passionate individual.
Before FMIS became a member of the SABIS® Network, Beshara did not know how to speak a word of
English. Although she attended school regularly, it felt like she was just going through the motions. This all changed when FMIS joined the SABIS® Network.
As she watched her school change and adopt the SABIS® Educational System™, Beshara too began to change. She started to pay close attention in her classes, and she quickly went from not speaking any English to being one of the most fluent speakers at school. She started looking forward to going to school every day. Beshara also became active in the SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®) at her school. She participated in a variety of activities including cleaning campaigns and debates. This year, she is active in the SLO® Management Department. Being in SLO® has taught Beshara important leadership skills that have helped shape her personality as well as her academic performance.
Beshara confidently shares, “The SABIS® Educational System™ gave me the basics I need to contribute positively in my community and make a difference, which is exactly what I am planning on doing.” Beshara has her sights set on the stars – she plans to pursue a career in astrophysics and one day hopes to join NASA and contribute to the world of science.
We wish Beshara the best of luck in her exams and look forward to watching her reach for the stars!
This is the story of a student who beat the odds. Despite facing a number of challenges, this student stayed in school, graduated, and was accepted to a reputable university in the U.S.
Chauncey Ragland joined MAIA in 2003 as a 1st grader. He is the eldest of four children in a home where his father was not around and his mother suffered a vision disability and was not able to work full-time. Despite these challenges and the impact they had on his life growing up, Chauncey stayed focused and hard-working. He graduated from MAIA in 2015 and is currently attending university.
Chauncey’s academic performance at MAIA fluctuated from average to above average throughout his time at school. His teachers saw that he had greater potential from a young age and consistently encouraged him to work harder, be more disciplined, and have more confidence.
In Grade 7, Chauncey joined the SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®) and was a prefect for the
Outreach Department. He helped organize fundraisers and donation drives that benefitted the school and the surrounding neighborhood of Mt. Auburn. Chauncey was also involved in improving school morale. In 9th grade, he became the Deputy Head of the Outreach Department, and in the 10th grade he was the Deputy Head of the Sports and Health Department. He was in charge of organizing the school’s pep-rallies, hosting in-house tournaments, and also assisted the school's Sports Department in starting a lower school sports program for the younger kids. In grades 11 and 12, Chauncey became Head of the Discipline Department and was responsible for ensuring that the SLO® period went smoothly. He also organized anti-bullying campaigns.
“SLO® had a major influence on my personality. SLO® helped me become less introverted and made me the selfless, outspoken character I am today. Being a part of it helped build my confidence. Because of SLO®, I know that I can do whatever I want to in life,” Chauncey says.
Today, Chauncey is a sophomore at the University of Cincinnati and is pursuing a degree in business
management. In parallel, he is holding down a full-time job to help support himself and his family. The school is still in contact with Chauncey and continues to encourage him to achieve his full potential.
This is the story of young girl who is reaping the benefits of the SABIS® Educational System™ to help her reach new academic heights.
Isabella Teneyuque joined the International Academy of Saginaw in 2011 as a Kindergarten student. Today she is in Grade 5 and is excelling. Isabella has been a leader in her class from the very beginning. She has been an Academic Prefect in her classroom all five years she has been at the school, a role that helped her gain confidence in her capabilities from a young age. She models remarkable behavior and assists in maintaining a positive culture in her class and the school.
In Grade 4, Isabella joined the SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®). She was, and still is, a very active member of the Academic Department. Isabella participates as a Shadow Teacher®, teaching assistant, and even an AQC assistant. She is also an active peer tutor, helping her classmates as well as older students who need academic support. SLO® has allowed Isabella to use her talents to help strengthen others academically and reinforce her own understanding.
In the same year that she joined SLO®, Isabella achieved an “advanced” status in the Michigan Student
Test for Educational Progress (M-STEP) for her grade level in all three subjects: English, math, and science. The M-STEP is designed to gauge how well students are mastering state standards, and the goal for all students taking the M-STEP is a rating of “proficient.” Isabella easily surpassed this in all subject areas and was the first student at IAS to ever achieve “advanced” in all three subjects. Results show that Isabella was in the top 24.1% in English, 17.1% in math, and 7.4% in science in comparison to Michigan state results.
Isabella also excelled in the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measure of Academic Progress® (MAP®) assessment. The assessment, which creates a personalized assessment experience by adapting to each student's learning level, measured Isabella’s progress to be beyond an 8th grade level. Her results were extraordinary, especially considering she is only in Grade 5 and the assessment only goes to Grade 8.
Isabella’s teachers are extremely pleased with her as she continues to challenge herself through the
rigorous curriculum, resources, and support the school offers her. “Isabella is an amazing young lady. She's always asking what more she can do. She never gives up and is always seeking challenges. Isabella has a very bright future, and I'm lucky to have had her as a student,” commented Autumn Blaesser, IAS teacher.
We look forward to continuing to watch Isabella reach her full potential!
This is the story of a student who learned more than how to study at ISC-Lahore; he learned how to learn.
Dilsher Ahmed joined ISC-Lahore in 1999 as a KG2 student. Throughout his years at ISC-Lahore, he proved to be a very bright and hard-working student. His participation in school activities and the education he received contributed to the development of his character and gave him the tools to achieve success.
As a student at ISC-Lahore, Dilsher was driven by a love of science and math. Teachers and administrators alike saw potential in him and worked to help him develop his capabilities. They taught him to think critically “outside the box” and encouraged him to participate in activities and events. He competed in different competitions such as World Math Day, LUMS PsiFi Olympiad, which is the biggest yearly Science Olympiad held in Pakistan, and the online Pakistan Math Challenge in which he won 1st place.
In addition to his impressive academic record, Dilsher was also an active member of the SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®) at the school. He was continuously involved in helping other students through peer tutoring, Shadow Teaching®, organizing study sessions, and actively participating in clubs and activities.
During his years at ISC-Lahore, Dilsher sat for the O-Level, AP®, SAT, and TOEFL exams. He was named as an AP® Scholar with Distinction for receiving an average score of 5 on the six AP® exams he took, and he received an Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award in math for obtaining the highest grade in the O Level Math exam. These recognitions paved the way for him to complete a degree in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, U.S.
Dilsher credits the education he received at ISC-Lahore for his success. “As I matured during high school and further during my undergraduate years, I truly began to value what I had learned in my 13 years at ISC-Lahore. The SABIS® system doesn't only teach you how to study; it teaches you how to learn,” he said.
Currently, Dilsher is pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at Stanford University and works as a Course Assistant in the Computer Science Department at the university. He was recently offered a job as a Software Engineer at Google and will be starting there in August 2017.
This is the story about an inspirational girl who has excelled despite a series of unfortunate events in her personal life.
Rachael Gotterson joined the International Academy of Flint in 2009 as a 5th grader after being homeschooled up until then. Initially, Rachael struggled socially, finding the transition to a formal education setting challenging. On top of having to adjust to challenges at school, Rachael’s parents went through a divorce, and her mother, with whom she was living, fell on hard times, so Rachael moved in with her older sister (a teacher at IAF), who was named as her guardian. Later, Rachael experienced a serious, protracted health issue that required her to be hospitalized and miss school. She also tragically lost a sibling to suicide.
Through all her struggles, Rachael remained strong. She was an active member of the SLO®, which she attributes with helping her carry on when her world seemed to be crashing down around her. In 2016 she was selected to travel to Athens, Greece, for the Student Life Training Conference. Throughout her time at IAF, she has participated in a variety of community service projects such as food drives at the school, McKinley park clean-up, and the “Big Sisters, Big Brothers” program. This year, her senior year, she serves as the Head Prefect at IAF, and she is the face of SLO® at the school. She tutors students and is part of the robotics team, which she also captains. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in the school’s bullying prevention initiative, drawing on her own experiences as a younger student.
When thinking back on the impact SLO® has had on Rachael’s life, she says that it was a “huge help.” “I
was going through some really rough struggles in my life […]. Not only did SLO® make me a happier person, but it made me capable of taking all the struggles life had thrown at me and turning them into something positive. I was able to help others as well, and I learned that I wanted to inspire people in whatever I did in life.”
Rachael will be graduating from IAF this year, and in the fall she will be attending Kettering University, where she wants to pursue a major in computer programming. We wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors!
