« C'est une école où vous marchez dans les couloirs et on dirait que c'est une mini-ONU. C'est cette relation qui rend cette école si spéciale. » [Lire la suite en anglais]

On 15 October, the United Nations International School (UNIS) celebrated its 75th anniversary and unveiled the new Oman Assembly Hall made possible through a generous donation from the Sultanate of Oman. It is hoped that the Assembly Hall is the first of several projects aimed at enhancing the UNIS campus to make it fit for the next 75 years of teaching and learning.

The inauguration was a festive event with the flags of all UN Member States adorning the venue.

The diplomatic community was amply represented by Permanent Representatives who serve as Honorary Trustees of the School. They were joined by the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Izumi Nakamitsu, who is the UN High Representative for Disarmament, and the leadership of UNIS, headed by Dr. Dan Brenner, UNIS Executive Director. 

The Secretary-General was represented by his Chef de Cabinet E. Courtenay Rattray, who, in his remarks, praised UNIS, “We must make sure that this school is sustained for the next 75 years and empowered to live up to all of the potential that the future offers.”

Present among the many guests was also the Mayor’s Commissioner for International Affairs, Edward Mermelstein, signifying the important link between UNIS and New York City.

Representing his country at the event, the guest of honour was the Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hassan.  Before cutting the ribbon to officially open the Oman Assembly Hall, he spoke warmly about the school and its role in shaping responsible global citizens.

UNIS was founded in October 1947 by a group of UN parents who wanted their children to have an international education. 

Initially a small nursery school, UNIS now is a Kindergarten through 12th-grade institution with almost 1,500 students from over 100 countries, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma and teaching nine languages.

“It’s a school where when you walk the halls, it seems like a mini-United Nations. It is that relationship with the UN that makes this school so special,” said Dr. Brenner at the celebration.