Abdul Hamid Sharaf School

The Abdul Hamid Sharaf School is a private, coeducational, K-12 day school serving the needs of a diverse group of students, international, local, and bicultural. The primary language of instruction for the basic subjects is English. The school is American system and curriculum accredited and also licensed to teach the British General and International Certificates of Education (GCE) and Secondary Education (IGCSE). Successful completion of the programs of study in English allows the student’s diploma to be equated with the Jordanian Tawjihi high school diploma that is necessary for continuing education in Jordanian colleges and universities.

Vision
“A School for Children, an Education for Life.”

Mission
To create a learning environment for people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential as citizens of the world.

The mission of the Abdul Hamid Sharaf School is to create a nurturing learning environment where people of all nationalities, backgrounds, and abilities can develop together cooperatively (family style) to reach their full potential as individuals and citizens of the world, dedicated to truth, understanding, respect and justice.
Beliefs

We are the school that has never become, but is always becoming. We embrace diversity and believe education is for everyone of all abilities. Student learning is our main purpose. Students must be actively involved in the learning process and need to learn independence, responsibility and respect

1. Education is for everyone, all students can learn, even the most challenging or challenged student.
2. Students are individuals and should be treated according to their individual needs.
3. Learning is a lifetime activity. School must prepare students for life in a world of rapid change.
4. Students need to be actively involved in the learning process and experience success.
5. Fostering a high self-esteem depends on positive relationships with staff and other students.
6. Discipline is important, but children must be helped to learn independence, develop self-discipline and accept responsibility for their own actions.
7. All people involved in the education process – home, school and society – must work together to provide a unique educational experience for the child’s benefit.
8. Students of all cultural backgrounds and nationalities must be respected and accepted.
9. A creative, interesting, relevant, and exciting atmosphere is most conducive to learning.
10. Interest and motivation and trust are the keys to learning. Without these elements no real or lasting learning can occur.
11. Children’s needs, feelings, and characteristics shall be considered in the planning of learning experiences.
12. Children should feel proud of their school as they do of their homes. School must be a warm, friendly, accepting place where nobody is afraid or threatened.
13. Teachers should be professional and ethical, and they should perform their job with integrity and in the best interest of the students.

Dr. Sue Dahdah and husband Farid Dahdah, founded the Abdul Hamid Sharaf School (AHSS) in 1980. Their motivation was a perceived need for a “different” kind of school in Jordan that was child centered and fostered independent thinking. It was among the first of many modern, private, non-parochial schools to open in Amman in the early eighties. Sue started teaching in the USA in 1957 and continued teaching at the American Community School (ACS) in Amman from 1961 until 1979. She was also the principal of ACS from 1971 – 1979.

Abdul Hamid Sharaf School was named to honor the memory and legacy of the Jordanian prime minister Sharif Abd Al Hamid Sharaf (1939-1980), a popular, progressive Arab nationalist and champion of education. The prime minister had tragically died of a heart attack three months prior to the school’s opening.