At IBSS, we pride ourselves on giving back to our community. The school system is an integral part of a thriving community, and we recognize the importance of the right support in educating our future leaders.
During the 2018-2019 school year, IBSS formed a partnership with Silver Spring International Middle School (SSIMS), which is approximately one mile from IBSS, to provide for various needs to support students, teachers, and families in the local community. This year, when IBSS reached out to the school to offer a field trip to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, officials at SSIMS were delighted! The field trip was offered as a reward to 60 students who made positive changes in a variety of school-determined areas.
Five school chaperones and 60 students met with five IBSS staff to participate in a narrated cruise on the “Harbor Queen” of the Annapolis Harbor and banks of the U.S. Naval Academy. With the boat all to themselves, SSIMS students, chaperones, and IBSS staff were given a historical tour of Annapolis’s role as an historic seaport and informed of the waterways around them.
Bruce Arvand, IBSS President said, “It was a great pleasure to be with the SSIMS students and teachers. As an international student myself, I greatly appreciate the effort to provide a brighter future for the students.”
After the cruise, the students and staff were able to observe the Naval Academy’s noon lunch formation. During this formation, thousands of Midshipmen march to Tecumseh Court to partake in a U.S. Naval Academy tradition since 1905. Although this formation happens every weekday during the spring, many civilians gather in crowds to watch. How lucky the SSIMS students, chaperones, and IBSS staff were to share in the opportunity to observe it!
Director of Governance, Risk Management and Compliance Services Nijel Redrick commented, “One student had just arrived from Ukraine, and this was his second day in the U.S. Originally the forecast was cloudy and rainy, but the boat ride was very sunny. An ideal day for sailing!” Even though the field trip was intended for SSIMS students and chaperones, the IBSS staff found joy in watching the students experience the Annapolis Bay aboard the ship.
Everyone was able to enjoy a nice lunch on campus at the Drydock Restaurant, where the SSIMS students received IBSS backpacks. We hope the students enjoyed a day of sunshine on the sea on the U.S. Naval Academy campus!
I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for everything you and IBSS did for SSIMS students… This was one of the first trips in two years, and it was targeting the students we are trying to make the biggest impact with: English Language Learners, 1st Generation College goers, and students with prior and current behavioral and attendance problems. It effectively motivated students to make positive changes in the weeks leading up to the trip, and it was especially touching to see our new arrivals making new friends while on the cruise and at lunch.
Richard Solomon, Resource Counselor, SSIMS
In order to make the day special and to ease the financial burden on students and their families, IBSS covered the cost of the school bus that transported the students, the tickets to the boat, and lunch for all participants. IBSS has supported SSIMS with a variety of needs, including: school supplies, holiday gifts, National Geographic Kids magazines for students who needed to practice literary skills, and helped parents use the myMCPS mobile app to stay informed about school news.
ABOUT IBSS
Since 1992, IBSS, a women-owned small business and Certified B Corporation, has provided transformational consulting services to the Federal defense, civilian, and commercial sectors. Our services include cybersecurity and enterprise information technology, environmental science and engineering (including oceans, coasts, climate, and weather), and professional management services.
Our approach is to serve our employees by investing in their growth and development. As a result, our employees bring greater capabilities and provide an exceptional level of service to our clients. In addition to creating career development opportunities for our employees, IBSS is passionate about giving back to the community and serving the environment. We strive to leave something better behind for the next generation.
We measure our success by the positive impact we have on our employees, clients, partners, and the communities we serve. Our tagline, Powered by Excellence, is a recognition of the employees that make up IBSS and ensures we deliver results with quality, applying industry best practices and certifications. Read more About Us.
