Message from the Head of School – September 10, 2021

20 years on…
Jackie and I were living in Bethesda, Maryland, USA on 9/11. Bethesda is a few miles within the Washington DC beltway about 10 miles from the Pentagon. I’ll share a few memories from that day…and the days that followed.

I was teaching Grade 5 Social Studies and had the first period off. Sitting at my computer grading some papers, my colleague pounded her fist on our adjoining wall – “go to CNN” was the instruction. As we will all recall, I sat there in disbelief staring at the first plane’s damage to Tower I.

An hour or so later I walked down into our library and saw our librarian, Judy Brown, crying uncontrollably thinking about those unfortunate souls who were trapped above the wreckage.

With so much unknown, we sent the boys home at 11:00 a.m. that morning. Days later, when we had returned to school, I was with the boys out at recess, the silence in the skies was remarkable. With all planes being grounded, the normal busy skies around DC were crystal clear and eerily still.

Out of every tragedy there come stories of sacrifice and generosity, kindness and love. One such story is about the small village of Gander, Newfoundland, Canada that accepted 1000’s of stranded passengers into their homes. My Father was taken with this story as it was happening – possibly connecting with his history of immigrating to Canada and staying with generous Church members until he found his way. A musical has been created about this story of the goodness of humanity  – Come From Away.

When I close my eyes, I can be – if I let myself – transported back to that morning of 9/11. For many of my generation, that was when terrorism became real. I realize many have had to deal with similar events and challenges before and since, but for me it is a yearly reminder to do my best to understand other perspectives and get to know those I interact with in meaningful ways. In order for us to build a better world, we need to understand each other.  

South Parking Lot Closed
BIS no longer has access to the South Parking Lot. Please use the North Parking Lot for any Parking needs from now on.

If you are dropping off a Primary or Secondary student and not parking your vehicle, I suggest you use Jalan Pamamuran (road from By-Pass to the BIS South entrance) and drop your child at the corner.