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Antonine International School

Lebanon, Ajaltoun

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, French
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 1 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1929
Type Co-educational
Opened 2000
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP)
Taught languages English, French, Arabic
Typical class size 20
Strengths Performing Arts, Languages, Sport
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Kindergarten
Introduction

Antonine International School (AIS) in Ajaltoun, Kesrouan, Lebanon, offers international private education for ages 0 to 18. AIS provides multiple curricula, including the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for upper secondary, the Lebanese-framed French and American curricula, and a bespoke program. IBDP admission is possible after Grade 10 and requires strong English and a solid foundation in Mathematics and at least one science. The DP comprises six subject groups (Language A: English A; Language B/Ab initio in Arabic or French; Individuals and Societies; Experimental Sciences; Mathematics; The Arts or electives) with HL/SL options, and the core Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, and Service. AIS supports university-readiness through counseling and SAT preparation, including a weekly SAT course for Grades 10–11 and an annual University Forum with international exchange. The campus features a central library, a laboratory, and the Antonine International Theatre, set in a pine grove with views toward Beirut, the Mediterranean, and nearby mountains. Instruction is in English, with Arabic and French language options.

XM4H+PVV Zone 7، street 4, Ajaltoun, Lebanon

The Essentials

Antonine International School has 1,929 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in English, French.

Location
Ajaltoun, Keserwan, Lebanon. AIS is located in Ajaltoun, the heartland of Lebanon, with a view of Beirut and the Mediterranean on one side and the snow-capped mountains of Sannine on the other. A pine grove surrounds the campus, providing a clean, healthy environment and access for physically handicapped persons via ramps and elevators.

Stages
Pre-School (Antonine Nursery and Pre-School), Elementary Division, Intermediate Division, Secondary Division.

Type
International private school

Additional learning support
Special Arabic and FLE (French as a Foreign Language) support during school hours; after-school enrichment and remedial programs.

Country affiliation
Lebanon (Lebanese national curriculum)

Religious affiliation
Catholic (affiliated with the Antonine Maronite Order; part of Catholic schools networks)

School day structure
Typical school day runs from 7:40 am to 2:35 pm with two breaks; all periods are 50 minutes long.

Bus service
School transportation with monitored buses and a supervisor on each bus; a minimum of seven riders is required to provide transportation to any assigned region; payments of 50,000 L.L in June; other means of transport are not permitted on campus; contact the transportation department for details.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Wearing a uniform has a positive influence on students, strengthening self-esteem, pride and belonging to the school. A Uniform Committee, consisting of parents, heads of departments and teachers, developed AIS's uniform to be easy to wear, practical and fashionable.

Governance and Ownership
AIS is affiliated with the Antonine maronite order and is part of the Communion of Catholic Schools network, and participates in the Anglophone Catholic Schools (CASL). The Administrative Council governs AIS and includes the Father Superior, Father Director, the school bursar, and heads of cycles; they meet twice a month to address issues, set strategic plans and oversee operations.
Academics

Antonine International School teaches IB (DP) for students aged 1 to 18.

Curriculum
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for upper secondary. Admission to the IBDP is possible after completing Grade 10 with strong English and a solid foundation in Mathematics and at least one Science. The IB curriculum comprises six subject groups; students select one subject from each group, with 3–4 subjects at Higher Level and the rest at Standard Level. The six groups include Language A (English A: Literature), Language B/Ab initio (Arabic or French) SL, Individuals and Societies (Economics, Psychology), Experimental Sciences (Biology, Physics, Chemistry), Mathematics (HL/SL), and The Arts or Electives. The DP core includes the Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). AIS also provides university counseling and SAT preparation as part of its university-readiness program, including a weekly SAT course for Grades 10–11 and an annual University Forum, with opportunities for international exchange.

Student Teacher Ratio
Average class size is twenty to twenty-five students.

Higher Education Progression
AIS provides individualized university counseling and SAT test prep; there is a weekly SAT course for Grades 10–11 and an annual University Forum, and there are opportunities for international exchange with partner schools.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Department of Psychology provides services to support students' social and emotional development and mental wellbeing. Its objectives include improving the quality of life for students within the school, helping manage academic and psychological difficulties, and supporting students experiencing psycho-relational challenges. It works to regulate interpersonal and intra-personal conflicts and to help students feel secure and regain confidence. The department offers cognitive-behavioral evaluation, psychological support and psychotherapy, and prevention, information, and training activities. It fosters collaboration among parents, teachers, and the psychology team to promote student wellbeing and positive relationships.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
AIS is an inclusive school that promotes equal opportunities. It prioritizes the integration of students who present difficulties or learning disorders. A learning difficulty can be temporary and may dissipate with proper supervision, and teaching is adapted to each student to help them reach the common core. A learning disorder is neurological and can affect reading, writing, or arithmetic; diagnosis may involve specialists (e.g., a neuropsychologist or a speech therapist) to identify the nature of the difficulty. AIS develops action plans to support students with educational needs, including identification of these needs and tailored interventions. A psycho-social team — comprising a school psychologist, a special educator, a psychomotor therapist, a social worker, and two nurses — collaborates with school leadership, cycle leaders, teachers, and parents to ensure no student is excluded and to implement appropriate accommodations for each learner.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is the first language taught and used for learning core subjects, alongside Arabic as the mother tongue. French is taught as the second language. In the middle school segment, AIS also provides French as a Foreign Language and supports Arabic through specialized provision (Special Arabic) and French as a Foreign Language (FLE).

Mental Wellbeing
The Department of Psychology focuses on the mental and emotional wellbeing of students, offering counseling, support, and preventive programs. It aims to help students cope with emotional and social challenges, facilitate healthy relationships, and promote a positive school climate. It provides services such as counseling and psychoeducation, and works with families and teachers to support student resilience and development.

Safeguarding
AIS is an inclusive school that seeks to ensure equality of opportunity and to support students with difficulties or learning disorders. A Center for Psychological Counseling is part of the services, providing psychological listening and support. The school identifies learners with educational needs and uses a psycho-social team — including a school psychologist, a special educator, a psychomotor therapist, a social worker, and two nurses — to observe, assess, and plan interventions within the classroom and beyond. An action plan coordinates the work of administration, cycle leaders, teachers, parents, and the psycho-medico-social team to ensure all students receive appropriate support and protection.
Parent Experience

History
Following the progress observed in Lebanon at the end of the nineteenth century, the Patriarch invited the Maronite Orders—Aleppine, Municipal and Antonine—to create monasteries in Kesrouan to spread charity and enhance spiritual, cultural and social life. Saint John Monastery Ajaltoun was established after donors Youhanna Tannous el-Khazin Kassab and Mounna Kahla Kassab donated land; the monastery's construction was completed in 1897 and the church finished in 1898. The Antonine Order, which had transformed its establishments into schools, opened the Antonine International School in September 2000 at Saint John – Ajaltoun for nursery through the third year of basic education, offering two programs: Arabic–English and Arabic–French. Courses began in October 2000, and the school grew to about 300 students by the 2001/2002 school year, progressing to the eighth year of basic education (grade 8).

Community
AIS hosts a variety of events that engage the school community and its surroundings. A First Holy Communion Mass for Grade 3 was held on 2 June 2023. STEAM Day for Grades 1–5 took place on 31 May 2023, organized by IB1 CAS. A production by G4–G5, 'The Wizard of Oz,' was staged on 8 June 2022, and the 1st International Educational Fair occurred on 18 March 2022. University Fair Day took place on 1 October 2019, with other events and activities posted in the school's circulars and media.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The AIS has a Parents Committee. The appointed committee has put parent welfare at the top of its priorities and works within the school's integrated educational scheme. The committee rests on four bases—the parents, the students, the Antonine Maronite Order, and the city of Ajaltoun in Keserwan and extending to parts of Lebanon. Parents and guardians are regarded as the primary concern of the committee, and it works for them with loyalty and commitment. The committee also aims to maintain the financial and ethical welfare of the parents and to preserve their rights to provide a fairly conditioned and pioneering education for their children. The students, from infants to fresh graduates, are the second important ground, while the Antonine Maronite Order forms the third, and Ajaltoun and its wider surroundings constitute the fourth. The AIS parent committee will achieve its goals with its members and the support of the diverse environments that surround it.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The AIS campus is located in Ajaltoun, Keserwan, Lebanon, with a clear view of Beirut and the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the snow-capped mountains of Sannine on the other. A thick pine grove surrounds the campus, providing a clean, healthy environment free from city pollution. Buildings and classrooms are airy and cheerful, contributing to student well-being and safety, with ramps and elevators providing access for physically handicapped students.

Sports Facilities
The school has the Antonine Fitness Center.

Academic Facilities
The AIS library is located in the heart of the school, a center of inquiry, knowledge, and creativity with resources related to the curriculum. AIS buildings and classrooms are airy and cheerful, supporting student well-being and safety, with accessible ramps and elevators. A Laboratory is part of the academic facilities.

Extra Curricular Facilities
OASIS offers sport-based extracurricular activities that integrate education, arts and culture. The Antonine International Theatre provides performing arts programming in a venue designed to host theatre, music, dance, and related performances.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is offered at AIS. Admission to the IB Diploma Programme is possible after completing Grade 10 and requires an international passport or exemption from the Lebanese program. Applicants are expected to have high proficiency in English and a solid foundation in Math and at least one science subject, with the admissions process possibly including a short personal statement or an admission test. The DP core elements are the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS); the DP uses six subject groups with HL/SL options.

Arts & Creative
The school has the Antonine International Theatre as part of its facilities. The Video Gallery documents performing arts events such as AIS GOT TALENT 2014. The AIS site also hosts a Photo Gallery and Video Gallery that showcase performances and arts-related events.

Cultural & Language
All language of instruction is English. The IB Diploma Programme at AIS uses six subject groups that include languages such as English, Arabic, and French. All language programs are offered in English, French, and Arabic.

Social & Hobbies
The Social Club is AIS's service-oriented club formed by employees, teachers, parents, and students. Activities include visits to Baalbeck, a convivial day with elderly, charity work for EOS in Mrouj, aid to families in Hrajel, and regional activities in Banias-Syria and Iraq, plus solidarity events with AIS colleagues. The club also lists other clubs such as the Environmental Club and Bicharaf.

Community & Service
The Social Club engages in extensive community service activities, including charity work and support for vulnerable groups, with donations used to cover needs and equipment for programs. Donations and assistance are coordinated through AIS staff and offices.

Leadership & Professional
AIS maintains governance and leadership through a network of committees and councils, including Administrative Council and Academic Council, as well as a range of committees such as Teachers Committee, Parents Committee, Delegates Committee, Pilot Committee, Pursuers of Peace, Year Book Committee, Uniform Committee, School Twinning Committee, Events Committee, and Development Committee. The school also supports student involvement through clubs like The Social Club and other student-led activities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
AIS is located in Ajaltoun, nestled in a pine grove with views of Beirut and the Mediterranean; the campus emphasizes well-being with airy, accessible classrooms (ramps and elevators). Facilities include the Antonine International Theatre, The Bridge, Library, Chapel of The Annunciation, and Laboratory, along with the Antonine Fitness Center. The OASIS program offers Sports, Cultural, and Social activities and has a long history dating back to 1959, with AIS hosting its newer presence in Ajaltoun.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the primary language of instruction. French is taught as a Foreign Language (FLE). Arabic is taught as a language of culture and identity.

Bilingual Teaching
English is the main language of instruction. French is taught as a Foreign Language (FLE). Arabic is taught as a language of culture and identity.
Reputation

Accreditations
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) offered for ages 16–19; Admission requires completion of Grade 10 and an international passport or Lebanese program exemption; AIS expects strong English proficiency and a solid foundation in mathematics and at least one science; entrance may involve tests or a personal statement; Pre-IB options may be offered if requirements are not met.
Part of Communion of Catholic Schools; member of the Catholic schools network and participates in Anglophone Catholic Schools (CASL) meetings.
IB DP languages include English (Language A) and Arabic/French (Language B/Ab initio).
Admissions

Admissions
1. Online registration for the 2023-2024 academic year is available. After submitting the online form, an appointment with the Father Director and the head of cycle is scheduled. Registration priority is given to siblings of current AIS students. The online registration form is the starting point of the process.
2. Registration of current AIS students for the coming year takes place at the General Secretariat. Priority is given to siblings of current AIS students. Re-registration of current AIS students is not a guarantee of class promotion; end-of-year results and class council decisions validated by the Director are considered.
3. Registration of new students: Kindergarten Cycle: contact Fatima AZZAM at 09/230967/8/9 Ext 300. KG1: born before January 31, 2021; KG2: born before January 31, 2020; KG3: born before January 31, 2019. For students in other cycles: contact Ms. Takla AKIKI at 09/230967/8/9 Ext 151. Places are limited; finish registration before Monday, February 28, 2023 at the latest. Entrance exam will take place on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. sharp.
4. Admission applications: You may email [email protected] or call 09-232557 ext 151 to schedule an appointment with the director. The email should include the name of the child, date of birth, class, and contact number. AIS-ADMISSION-APPLICATION.pdf is available for reference.
5. Required documents: Final 2021-2022/2022-2023 school report cards from the previous school; Copy of the Individual Census for Lebanese students or passport for foreigners; Copy of the Family Census; An academic attestation legalized by the National Ministry of Education; Copy of the Lebanese Brevet Diploma for students applying for the secondary cycle; Six passport photographs; A true copy of the Arabic exemption letter (for exempted students); A completed Application Form must be submitted.
School Events
The school has not added events
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