THE
American International School of Muscat (TAISM) students, parents,
staff, board members and honored guests from the greater Muscat
community came together recently at the school’s Sports Hall to
celebrate the inauguration of TAISM’s new campus facilities. The
facilities include the ‘Sur Library’, the ‘O’Shaughnessy Gallery’, a new
Sports Hall and Student Center Cafeteria.
His Excellency Ambassador Gary A. Grappo, Ambassador of
the United States of America to the Sultanate of Oman, along with Mrs.
Rebecca Grappo, attended the ceremony. The Guest of Honor was Ms. Amal
Suhail Bahwan, representing Sheikh Suhail Salim Bahwan, who was a
Building Patron for the school in its inception in 1998. The ceremony
commenced with a performance of “Symphonians” as well as the National
Anthems of the Sultanate of Oman and the United States of America by the
TAISM High School Concert Band, led by Mr Tim Willson, Instrumental
Music Teacher.
TAISM Director, Mr Kevin Schafer, welcomed the 800 event
attendees, thanking them for their continuing support for the school as
it successfully grows. He reminded his audience of the evolution of the
school that began in 1998 with 110 students and now has 600 students and
over 100 staff members. He noted that many of the guests at the
inauguration ceremony have been partners since its inception and
throughout its development.
Mr Michael Bos, TAISM Board Chairman, then recognised Ms
Bahwan, the Honored Guest at the event. The state-of-the-art, ‘Sur
Library’, named in 1999 by Sheikh Suhail Salim Bahwan, a TAISM Building
Patron, refers to Oman’s historical and contemporary maritime anchor,
trading port and traditional shipbuilding city, Sur. The city is the
home of the Bahwan family. TAISM’s new library, which replaces the
original library built in 2000, has a permanent display of books and
photographs relating to Sur and the Sharqiyah region, located in its
spacious facility.
Mr Bos then honored Mr Patrick O’Shaughnessy and the
late Mrs Kathrine O’Shaughnessy by announcing the naming of the school’s
new Gallery in honor of Mrs O’Shaughnessy, former Chair of the school
board and one of TAISM’s founders. The Gallery houses four permanent
tile mosaics, each based on floral designs taken from Omani kumas, which
form one unifying work of art. High School Art teacher, Mr Ray Montoya,
and students and adults of the TAISM community produced the artwork with
materials contributed by the Fawzi Mushantaf family of TAISM. The
gallery also showcases past as well as current student artwork.
Ambassador Grappo, who was a TAISM founding Board member
during his first tour of duty to the US Embassy in Muscat in 1998,
offered words of congratulation. In his comments, the Ambassador spoke
of the relevance of teamwork and cooperation to successful human
enterprise.
He commended the School’s community of supporters on its
laudable achievements to date. He also attributed TAISM’s developmental
progress to the mutual support and help offered by people in the
community, who are either directly or indirectly involved. He said,
“Looking at this expansion, the message for us all is to take heart as
human beings have accomplished this for TAISM. This is what people do
when they come together […] people of common purpose, goodwill and firm
determination come together to build an institution. What we have here
today did not happen by accident. It happened because of all of you —
students, parents, staff, and all the people in the community.”
The new Sports Hall (the ‘Blue Gym’) served as the site
of the Inauguration ceremony. This hall, the second sports hall on the
campus, provides enhanced physical education, sports and event
opportunities for the school community and complements all the other
existing TAISM sports-related facilities. The new Student Center
Cafeteria expands the opportunities for student dining and socialising
on the TAISM campus, and houses up to 300 students in one sitting.
The ceremony concluded with a rousing performance by
TAISM’s Elementary School Choir, directed by Ms Gwen Willson, Elementary
Music teacher. This was followed by all students singing the School
Song, “This is TAISM”. A tour of the facilities and a reception followed
in the O’Shaughnessy Gallery.
