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Meet our key senior leaders at ASB, all dedicated and experienced educators with years of invaluable experience.

With a focus on recruiting the best international educational talent, American School of Bahrain (ASB) is set to elevate the caliber of American international education in the Kingdom. 

A key announcement from ASB is the recent appointment of Mr. Steve Bodnar as Principal, working alongside ASB’s Founding Director, Mr. Dave McMaster.

With 33 years of experience as an educator in three different countries, Mr. Bodnar brings passion, energy and an internationally minded approach to ASB. For the past 21 years he has served as an elementary school principal in Ontario, Canada. Prior to that he had spent a number of years as a teacher in Venezuela and Switzerland, gaining international experience which he now brings to the ASB leadership team.

Early Childhood Lead Teacher Ms. Sandra Al-Ajmi, will be a familiar face to many parents in Bahrain, joining the ASB team from The Learning Tree, a leading kindergarten and nursery that she has successfully operated for the past 12 years.

Originally from Ohio, Ms. Al-Ajmi has over 30 years of experience, having served as a teacher, Vice Principal and Principal in Kuwait and the United States. She is an expert on early childhood education and will be a knowledgeable, reassuring voice for ASB parents.

With a focus on honoring the languages and customs of the school’s host country, Mr. A. Fuad Al Anzarouti has been appointed as the Head of Arabic Language & Culture.

Building on decades of experience across the region and internationally, Mr. Al Anzarouti has served as teacher and leader in Riffa Views International School and St. Christopher’s School. He has also been an official translator in a number of companies and a school liaison officer with the Ministry of Education.

“Providing sound leadership is especially important in a new school. It is the responsibility of the leadership team to set the tone and ethos at ASB so that it quickly becomes a school where the smile index is always high and there is a pervasive love of learning throughout the community. I am extremely pleased with the combination of talent, character and experience that our leadership team brings to ASB.” said Dave McMaster, Founding Director of American School of Bahrain.

Centrally located in Wadi Al Buhair, in North Riffa near the Bahrain National Stadium, American School of Bahrain is set to open in the new academic year starting September 2020. ASB is set to be a close-knit community, bringing families together with the goal of helping students discover their individual passions and talents.

ASB is being established in Bahrain by Esol Education, the world’s largest operator of high-quality international American schools, in a joint venture with Elm Education Fund (Elm), a Bahrain-based education platform backed by Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Elm establishes and co-invests in world-class educational institutions in partnership with leading global operators.

With an expansive 60,000 square meter campus catering to 1200 students, ASB will be home to one of the most advanced learning environments in Bahrain. The premium Pre-K-Grade 12 American preparatory school is set to open its doors in September 2020 with a challenging standards-based US curriculum leading to the option of an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in Grades 11 and 12, designed to meet the highest standards of international education.

At this time, due to the COVD-19 social distancing measures, ASB is offering prospective families a virtual admissions experience from the comfort of their own homes, where they can meet the admissions team online, and students can be assessed virtually for placement. Parents can learn more and apply by visiting www.asb.bh.

Curious about ASB? Here is a handy guide with answers to the most  frequently asked questions about ASB.

10ThingsParentsAskaboutASB

American School of Bahrain will open its doors in 2020. The school has already been gaining a great reputation as an exciting, future-forward schooling option for parents in Bahrain who are looking for a warm, tight knit community school, where students are happy, collaborating and learning together. Here is a handy guide to frequently asked questions by parents inquiring about the school.

 1. Where is the school located?

The school has secured a 17 acre plot for its campus, located in Rifaa, very close to the Bahrain National Stadium

2. When will the new school open?

The school admissions office is already open and accepting applications, and the school opens with its first year in September 2020.

3. Will it be accredited?

This is an important question parents need to ask about all US curriculum schools, and the good news is: yes, the new school will gain accreditations by

            •  Middle States Association (MSA)

            •  Council of International Schools (CIS)

            •  International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)

4. What curriculum will ASB follow?

The school will offer US curriculum delivered primarily by a North American and international faculty. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) will also available as an option for students in Grades 11 and 12. 

5. How will this school be different?

The school will include a cross-curricular STEAM program, which is exciting, as it goes beyond the regular Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) with an added ‘A’ for Arts, providing a balanced approach. Innovation and sustainability will also play an important role. Student wellness and happiness will also be a key component of the school’s program, with a focus on healthful living, positive learning attitudes and student voice.

6. What grades will be available?

The school will be a full-fledged Pre-KG to Grade 12 school, opening with Grades Pre-KG to 8 in September 2020, with Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 being added in subsequent years.

7. How many students in the school?

At full capacity, the current campus of 60,000 sq.m. with 19,260 sq.m. built up area will have a student strength of 1200, with plenty of room to expand in the future. 

8. What facilities does the school include?

The school’s campus is an advanced facility focused on connectivity and open spaces. It has been designed in line with modern teaching standards, with naturally lit classrooms and wide spaces to encourage student collaboration. Here’s what the campus will include:

            •  Technology-enabled classrooms

                                    •  STEAM Labs

                                    •  Maker spaces

                                    •  Library and Learning Hub

                                    •  Athletics Complex 

                                                •  Swimming Pool

                                                •  Large Indoor Gymnasium

                                                •  Basketball Courts

                                                •  Regulation-sized Soccer Field

                                                •  400-meter track

9. What are the fees?

The starting fees in Pre-KG are BD 3145 ranging to BD 6200 in Grade 8.

10. Who is the founding body of ASB?

This is singularly the most important question parents need to ask about any new school they are enrolling their child in!

The school is being established by Esol Education. Esol is the world’s largest operator of American international schools, with an experienced leadership team, and a 43-year track record of establishing and running successful international schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Cairo and Lebanon. 

Esol’s Chairman, Mr. Walid Abushakra explains, “Our connections with accreditation partners and top universities, our ability to attract the best international teachers, together with our experienced leadership teams, empower Esol schools to become leading centers of education in their communities, equipping our students with the essential skills they need to excel at top universities worldwide and in their chosen careers.”

ASB is part of a global network of exceptional international schools, building on 43-year legacy of excellence

Esol Education’s American School of Bahrain (ASB) has commenced enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year, offering children in Bahrain a top-tier international education within its state-of-the-art campus.

With an expansive 60,000 square meter campus catering to 1200 students, ASB will be home to one of the most advanced learning environments in Bahrain. Located in Wadi Al Buhair, near the Bahrain National Stadium, the premium K-12 American preparatory school is set to open its doors in September 2020 with a challenging standards-based US curriculum, leading to the option of an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in Grades 11 and 12, designed to meet the highest standards of international education,

ASB is a joint venture between Esol Education and Elm Education Fund (Elm), a Bahrain-based education platform, established by Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Elm establishes and co-invests in world-class educational institutions in partnership with leading global operators.

‘Local demand for high quality education continues to rise with private school enrolment growing at almost twice the rate of public school enrolment in recent years,’ explained HE Khalid Al Rumaihi, Mumtalakat CEO.

‘The American School of Bahrain is a promising venture for Elm and Mumtalakat as it addresses the changing needs of an ever-changing world, from the skills for tomorrow to quality academic and vocational education,’ he added.

ASB will be the newest addition to the Esol Education global family of schools, leveraging its 43-year track record of establishing and operating leading international schools, serving 10,000+ students.  

“American School of Bahrain will follow Esol Education’s longstanding tradition of providing an exceptional, holistic and challenging education. With the multiple pathways of the IB Diploma and American High School Diploma, our graduates are welcomed at leading universities around the globe, including Oxford, MIT, Harvard, NYU as well as the University of Toronto and McGill University. We look forward to providing these outstanding opportunities to the students of Bahrain,” said Dave McMaster, ASB’s Founding Director.

ASB is designed to facilitate innovation, academic excellence, international mindedness and happiness, fostering students who will be leaders within their communities and beyond. The school’s facilities include technology-enabled classrooms, STEAM Labs (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and maker spaces. A multi-level library, equipped with the latest digital resources, will serve as a research space and learning hub, while art studios, music rooms and performance spaces build visual and performing arts skills. ASB’s sizeable athletics complex boasts excellent sporting facilities, with a swimming pool, large indoor gymnasium, basketball courts, regulation-sized soccer field and a 400-meter track.

“Over the past forty-three years we have built a strong reputation of educational excellence in the world of international education. The Esol Education schools enjoy the benefit of our longstanding relationships with accreditation partners, top universities, and teacher development and recruitment organizations,” shared Walid Abushakra, Esol Education’s Chairman and Superintendent.

“These connections, together with our experienced leadership teams, empower Esol schools to become leading centers of education in their communities, equipping our students with the essential skills they need to excel at top universities worldwide and in their chosen careers,” he added.

Established in 1976, Esol Education currently operates nine schools across five countries, and is the largest operator of international American schools in the world. The planned opening of the new school in Bahrain will be a major milestone for the organization, following closely after its entry into East Asia in 2016 with the opening of American School of Hong Kong (ASHK), as well as Dunecrest American School and Fairgreen International School in Dubai in 2018. Each Esol Education school is a close-knit community, bringing families together with the values of multiculturalism and dedication to helping students discover their individual talents.

Dave McMaster helms ASB with 30 years of international K-12 educational expertise.

With 30 years of educational experience in the K- 12 school sector in Canada and overseas, Dave McMaster is the Founding Director of American School of Bahrain. Joining the organization in Bahrain from September 2018, Dave is leading the formation of American School of Bahrain during its pre-operating years, in advance of the official school inauguration in September 2020.

Dave has a proven track record in leading and operating schools and delivering programs tailored to the individual environment and its students’ needs. Dave’s authenticity as a leader in education is a recognised force in motivating students, parents, staff and management to continually advance the status quo, ensuring the very best in education provision and learning.  He has a proven track record in leading and operating schools and delivering programs tailored to the individual environment and its students’ needs. With a lifelong passion for education, Dave believes strongly that building a school culture based on mutual respect, happiness and setting high, but realistic expectations will ensure a successful and fruitful education for students. Dave has always stressed the importance of what he calls the ‘smile index’ as a barometer in determining the success of a school. Dave has extensive experience at recruiting, hiring and retaining top international educators and feels this is the key to success in building a new school and providing the opportunity for all students to reach and exceed their potential.

To learn more about Dave, visit

 

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