SCHOOL OF THE WEEK
Walworth Barbour American International School
Even Yehuda, Israel
WBAIS is a rigorous, caring, co-educational school that offers a myriad of opportunities for our students to develop as active learners and world citizens. We pride ourselves on our caring faculty and staff and the achievements of our students, a great deal of which is attributable to a phenomenally supportive parent body and school board that allows us to maximize the potential of each student. Our mission is to inspire each student to cultivate a respect for diversity, develop a passion for life long learning, achieve academic potential, assume leadership, contribute actively to society, and resolve conflict through dialogue and understanding.
WBAIS is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools with over 500 students enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Our program is based on an American curriculum, and includes 15 AP classes, electives, and special activities. In the elementary school we have very small classes - all with certified teachers and instructional assistants. In the middle school, we offer a rich variety of exploratory classes, competitive and lifetime sports activities as well as core subjects in math, humanities, science and foreign language all in small classroom settings. The high school program is a demanding academic program with a variety of electives, interscholastic sports, drama, Model UN and many other co-and extra-curricular activities, including our “Week Without Walls”, which focuses on community service.
This year is a huge year in the annals of history for our school. Not only are we celebrating our 50th anniversary but we also dedicated our new campus in early September (see article below). The new campus includes seven buildings (ES, MS, HS, cafeteria, performing arts center, library/administration building, and gymnasium), a swimming pool, tennis courts, soccer and baseball fields, and outdoor basketball courts.
AIS was founded in 1958 with 22 students. The school has continued to grow and expand under outstanding administrators and a talented and committed faculty. It has developed into a world class school which encourages professional growth for teachers and high academic standards and achievement for students. We are proud to celebrate our Jubilee year!
Find out more about WBAIS at http://www.wbais.org
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DEDICATION OF NEW CAMPUS
SEPTEMBER 9, 2007
By Marsha L. Aaronson, Superintendent
On September 9, 2007, the new campus of the Walworth Barbour American International School was dedicated to the delight of approximately 1,000 people who were there for the festivities. The new campus includes seven buildings (ES, MS, HS, cafeteria, performing arts center, library/administration building, and gymnasium), a swimming pool, tennis courts, soccer and baseball fields, and outdoor basketball courts. Our architects were Plesner Architects, Haim Dotan, and H2L2, who created this magnificent campus for us.
This process began with a School Board decision and resolution in 1995 under Superintendent Rick Detwiler to find a new home for our school and continued under the leadership of Dr Robert Sills through his seven-year tenure at WBAIS. We were delighted to have Linda Sills and their children Todd, Ashley and John with us to mark the day and the dedication of the Library/Administration Building as a tribute to Bob.
AIS was founded in 1958 with 22 students in four elementary school grades due to the determination of several US Embassy wives and then joined with the full support of US Ambassador Walworth Barbour who was the longest serving US Ambassador in Israel (1961-1973). We know of these events and days from original letters I received from Janet Tatum Yoder, the mother of a friend of mine, who was one of the “founding mothers” in 1958 and also from notes in a booklet I found about the dedication of the Classroom/Library/shelter complex on November 3, 1970. Precious pieces of history to have!
In 1958, the school began in a rented space behind the kindergarten in Kfar Shmaryahu according to Thelma (Tybie) Bloom who was at the school from day one and eventually became the K-8 principal until 1974. In 1959, according to one of the first students, Jim Keller, classes moved into the Dan Hotel in Herzliya. After that year in the Dan Hotel, the school moved to the basement of the synagogue in Kfar Shmaryahu. The desks were fabricated from the crates used to ship the belongings of Ambassador Barbour to Israel.
(l-r) Richard Outzen (Board Chairman), Linda Sills,
Marsha Aaronson, and Doug Steele (H2L2).
In August, 1963, under Principal Don Meyers (1962-63) and the leadership of many including Elaine Levy (AIS 1962-2001) who became principal in 1974, the AIS campus, which included a gymnasium, classroom and administration complex, was opened and continued to grow under Principal Seymour Radin. Principal Bob Morrison (1966-68) saw the graduation of the first class of 15 students in 1967, and he sent his well wishes to us from Maine on the occasion of the dedication of the school.
On November 3, 1970, through the vision, commitment, and hard work of Ambassador Barbour and others, the “old campus” in Kfar Shmaryahu, was dedicated with almost 350 students. Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan was there for the dedication of the new addition to the campus along with Ambassador Barbour. In his remarks, Moshe Dayan said, “I would like to add a few comments about your new school. One is about your bomb shelter – I think that it is a complete waste of money because who is going to bomb Kfar Shmaryahu?”
Kelly Gardner was the head of school at the time of the dedication of the building, and the “expanded library complex” was named in his honor after his untimely death. The first graduation in June, 1971, in the newly expanded campus, featured Golda Meir as graduation speaker with Walworth Barbour.
Bob Ianazelli was actually the first “named” superintendent when he took up the mantle on the newly expanded campus in 1971. Prior to that, the CEO was the principal.
In November 6, 1975, the name of the school was officially changed to the Walworth Barbour American International School in Israel, Inc, in recognition of, and as a tribute to, Ambassador Barbour’s interest in, and contributions to, the school.
The school went on to grow and expand under outstanding administrators and a talented and committed faculty. During the “Forrest Broman years” (1974-1991), the school began to develop into a world class school which encouraged professional growth for teachers, high academic standards and achievement for students, and a commitment to the community and life long learning. Forrest left his mark on the school, and the addition of the high school building to the Kfar Shmaryahu campus in 1985 was named after him. Why I am not surprised that Forrest wasn’t able to make it to the dedication is because he was in Massachusetts heading up his 50th high school reunion and organizing a clam bake and dinner dance! He sent his best wishes to all of us, and was an honored guest when he visited later in the month.
Dr Bea Cameron (seated)-Office of Overseas Schools/US Dept.
of State, Amb. Richard Jones, and Marsha Aaronson.
Rick Detwiler was superintendent during the time when a decision to move to a new campus was taken in 1995 and, although he could not be at the dedication (it is a long way to come from Brazil where he is Superintendent), he sent his best wishes to all of us.
During the seven years of Bob Sills’ leadership, he made sure that “things would happen.” Bob was a tenacious leader who always had energy, spirit, vision, and desire to get things done. After years of searching for land, he “closed the deal” for the land in Even Yehuda. Because of Bob’s many contributions to AIS, the new Library and Administration Building was named in his honor and his memory.
There are so many people to thank for bringing AIS to where it is today. Contributions large and small—people pushing and people pulling—people with commitment, desire and vision. That is what makes things happen in any situation. Our special thanks go to former Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer and present Ambassador Richard Jones for their contributions and support.
The heart of a community, particularly an international community, resides in a school. It is a place where families can meet and spend the day—it is the home away from home—for tens of thousands of international children. It is a constant in their lives. Although we closed one chapter of our history, a new chapter has begun – as it always has. As we celebrated our 50th Anniversary Jubilee Year, we also shared the 60th anniversary of Israel and the 75th anniversary of the town of Even Yehuda.