Humans of BISJ

Principal edition: Ms Claudia Baker on her time at BISJ. Here it goes -

I joined BISJ in September 2000, shortly after 9/11, the very day my visa was collected from the Saudi Embassy in London. There were fears in Jeddah that I would not travel. I remember my arrival quite well, particularly the warmth of my welcome and the kindness shown by the whole community. This was the first of my several Bangladeshi appointments, my first experience of a very different culture and so a learning experience also. However, I very quickly came to feel part of, and to love the whole school community, especially the charming, well behaved and hard working students. I still display on my bedroom windowsill, the gift they gave me when I left.

At the time, BISJ had just embarked on 'A' levels, the students on the first of the two year courses. The committee was working on bringing up the science laboratory to the Cambridge standards necessary for it to be accepted as an examination centre.

When I joined, the sport of choice was basketball, the playground being ideal for it. However, cricket was fast becoming a national passion and I found there was a local school league we could join. So we did and thereafter I spent many a pleasant weekend out in the desert watching our splendid team take on the local opposition.

I have been asked about memories. One was at the end of one term when I was informed that Ershad, ex President of Bangladesh, was about to visit the school - and I was to make a speech. It was a big shock but fortunately, there wasn't time to panic so I just got on with it, which I did. We met with the staff in the library as I remember, and all went very well.

My overriding memories of the school though, are of the amazing academic results the students achieved, "Best In Country" and "Best In World" for instance. They were so good we made the local Saudi English speaking newspaper, and the Saudi Minister of Education paid us a special visit. I felt so proud of first, the wonderful, dedicated teaching staff, secondly the quality of our students, their hard work, ambition and determination to succeed, and thirdly our parents, the pillars of our community who so often made huge sacrifices for the sake of their children.

At some point in my last year at BISJ, I remember in a committee member's speech being called an 'honorary Bangladeshi', a title I have used ever since. My time in Jeddah unfortunately coincided with the Gulf War, and my family worried dreadfully. However, my experience with BISJ led me to shortly afterwards taking up a post in Sylhet and later still, in Dhaka, and Bangladesh remains very much my second home. I wish everyone a successful future, good health, and much happiness.

Evolution of BISJ report cards.

L-R - 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Today's post is a very special one. I really had to go the extra mile to find this one.

My time at BISJ started with Nursery (the room next to the old IT Lab and former library) in the main building and ended with A2's. This institution will forever hold a special place in my heart and even after years of it's demolition, I can still picture the campus and the people I met throughout these years. There is a certain drive that always makes me look for these pictures.

I feel lucky to be able to share these with you all and help create conversations amongst your circles surrounding your memories. With today's post, as always, I hope to do the same.

This picture is from 1996. 3 years into the birth of BISJ. Teachers like Ms Sardar, Ms Pasha, Ms Syeda, Ms Khoaz, Ms Askew and Ms Morgan were the backbone of the education of the hundreds, if not thousands of students that graduated from here.

A former teacher was really generous to share this. She left our school in 2001 but to this day she cherishes her time at BISJ. She is none other than Ms Fraser (if you know, you know).

Enjoy everyone!

Mrs Mansfield with her class of 1999. She was the Grade 5 class teacher.

Does Jungle Land still exist? Wasn't this near Mersal Village or something?

This month marks half a decade since our campus was demolished. This place now is nothing more than memories that have been etched onto the minds of hundreds of students who graduated from here. A school with annual rankers in both IGCSE and A Level examinations, a 21 year old institution, reduced to rubble in less than a month. Today, the campus is gone and so have the teachers and in summary our school life.

Almost all discussions about school start with this excitement that glows on our faces and lifts our mood until the thought of the non-existence of this institution creepily dawns over the discussion thus ending it. This is exactly how our conversation ended when we were gathering this panoramic pic clicked with a “Nokia 6300” almost a decade ago. To change topic, “Anyways, school life is over and dead” said one of us. There was a feeling of pain, knowing, those days will never come back and neither can we return to that place at least to visualize those memories. Maybe the latter is the most painful part.

Maybe the point of this post it to remind BISJians that school was a fly time and that we always had a reason to wake up before sunrise (even earlier for the Makkan students) to return to this campus.

Inna Nillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun. Fayez Anwar’s mother has passed away.

May Allah Grant aunty Jannatul Firdous.

"Salamualaikum Everyone.
My name is Fayez Anwar, a BISJ Alumni and I graduated with IGCSE in 2008. I want to share with you a little about my life. My Ammu has stage 4 cancer and has had a colectomy and will be going through chemo. All that I am asking from you all is prayers. Inform our BISJ community and please pray for her."

Hey science fellas, look what we found. Good old IGs’ Chem Paper 6, Bio Paper 6, Physics Paper 6 days.