| Brummana High School was founded in 1873 by Theophilus Waldmeier , a Swiss missionary , who joined the Society of Friends and became a Quaker. Waldmeier first came to Lebanon in 1867 and was engaged as inspector of branch schools in Beirut , the mountains and Damascus. In 1873 , he came to Brummana and took charge of the Quaker Girls School. During the subsequent year he bought Birket el Ghanam (20000 square yards of property) , changed its name to Ayn es Salam , and was authorised by owners ,the Friends Syrian Mission , to build the Training Home for boys which now is Brummana High School.
Education in Brummana High School was based on principles as understood by the Society of Friends. These stress lack of involvement in political activity , lack of discrimination , no acknowledgement of national or racial divisions , promotion of the spirit of service and encouragement of the pursuit of higher standards through enlightened methods. Furthermore , the fundamental Quaker belief that there is something of God in every man , made it mandatory for the School to prepare its students intellectually and technically , while imparting to them the spirit of service so that upon graduation they are well equipped to be good servants of their communities. The School did not indulge in mission activity and students' beliefs in their own religions were never challenged or depreciated. Teachers outside the Society of Friends were expected to be in sympathy with Friends' principles and to teach in accordance with them , particularly emphasising moral values , intellectual excellence , self reliance , and respect of the individual.
Before fleeting at the modern history of the Old Scholars Association, it is valuable to commit to memory that, since the foundation of Brummana High School, the Old Scholars never hesitated or wavered from supporting their school within their aptitude.
The First BHS Old Scholars Meeting took place in the presence of the founder of BHS Theophilus Waldemeir back in 1890. Only wars and occupations could interrupt those meetings.
In 1936, the OSA WAS RE-ESTABLISHED. The Old Scholars Library was open in 1947. It was a welcome event in the history f the Association where a large number of visitors and Brummana residents were making good use of the Library that was located at the Thomas Little Memorial Hall (now a succession to the Meeting House).
In 1972, the OSA was officially re-registered at the Ministry of Interior under decree No. 176 with approved By-Laws. Yet the 1975 war in Lebanon hindered the gravity of its purpose.
To shed a quick look at the last 14 years in the formation of the Old Scholars Association: In the late eighties, Lebanon was still suffering from the long years of the 1975 war that tormented it almost completely, thus driving away thousands of its inhabitants, especially the young generation. The biggest number of them headed to the neighboring countries and mostly to the Gulf. There and precisely in Kuwait, Bahrain, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia and later in Oman and Qatar, BHS Old Scholars could get together, although in small groups.
In 1991, under the President-Ship of late Albert Rizk, a Preparatory Meeting for the launching of the INTERNATIONAL BHS OLD SCHOALRS ASSOCIATION took place and Chapters were formed in the aforementioned countries as well as America, Canada and Europe.
The newly formed Association was saddened by the sudden loss of its President, Mr. Albert Rizk in May 1992. Mr. Khaled Saab was elected President and the First International Convention of the BHS/OSA took place in July 1992 under his president-ship which remained until November, 24, 1999.
A new committee was elected and headed by Mr. Fayez Bizri, which remained in office until November 2004.
The Present committee was elected on November 24, 2004 and Dr. Elias Shammas was elected the President of the Executive Committee with 15 members namely:
Mikhael Beshara - Vice President, Ghassan Kabbara – Secretary, Azar Azar – Treasurer, Tarek Baajour – Accountant, Members: Me. Amine Abu Jawdeh, Dr. Naji Aswad, Messrs. Mohamad Barbir, Naji Chakhtoura, Jawad El Khoury, Samir Halawi, Kamal Khoury, George Obeid, Dr. Fouad Ramadan and Mrs. Emily Salem. Mrs. Nuhad Misk is the Association’s Executive Secretary has been in office since 1995.
The first issue of the OSA Year Book was produced on the occasion of the First OSA International Convention in July 1992 and ever since on yearly basis. This publication is the attraction of incoming members’ articles, news and advertisements and is evidently the heart beat of the Association and is supported by colleague advertisers.
Today more than three thousand registered members can be traced on the Association’s Web Site. This could not have been done without the support of the Chapters and the OSA could not have reached this extent of progression without its active members.
Besides re-grouping former students and graduates, the main aim of the Association is to support BHS.
In 1999 extension of the first floor to the Science Block permitted the refurbishment and complete re-equipment of the two existing floors. Around half a million US Dollars were contributed by Old Scholars, advertisers and other individuals to both the Science Block and the Computer Labs and administrative and educational studies. But the substantial amount was contributed by Sheikh Walid and Khaled Juffali, Mohamad Alhamrani, Lutfi Al Mulla and Ramzi Nuseibeh.
In 2002 refurbishment of the Meeting House and pavement of the surrounding area was accomplished thanks to Sheikh Walid Juffali.
In 2004 a “BHS OSA Scholarship Fund” was initiated to assist distinguished and needy students.
The dream to have an “OSA HOUSE” has become today a challenge that the OSA is encountering. This House or Center can serve for their gatherings and activities all year round and the support of all is valued.
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