THE COMMONWEALTH AT 70: FROM WESTMINSTER TO THE WORLD

This week, the best athletes of the City of Zagreb were announced. One of the winners of the award is our Principal dr. sc. Martin-Tino Časl who was awarded with the Trophy for Lifetime Achievement in Sports. Dr. Časl has been in competitive sports (table tennis, tennis, basketball and handball) for a full 56 years. For years as a competitor, and for the last 16 years as President of the Dr. Časl Table Tennis Club, Vice President of the Croatian Table Tennis Association and the Zagreb Table Tennis Association and a member of the Executive Board of the Women's European Champions League. During that time, his club was 16 times Croatian champion, 7 times Croatian Cup winner, winner of the Mediterranean Cup (women) and finalist of that cup (men). They won the Central European Super League twice and played in the final 3 more times. The crown of his career was winning the European Champions League in 2018 and the final in 2019. In June of this year, the girls won the European Trophy for Women as their 6th different title. No club in history has won so many different competitions. Before his entering to professional sport, the students of our school were 18 times Croatian high school champions (9 times boys and 9 times girls), double European High School champions in 2007, and twice played in the final of the World High School Championship (2010 boys and 2012 girls) and the girls were third in the world in 2010. In amateur table tennis, dr. Časl was 8 times in a row SOKAZ first grade champions and won the Winter Cup 5 times. All of this was recognized by the Sports Association of the City of Zagreb and he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Trophy. On behalf of the winners, Dr. Časl gave a short speech of thanks with a clear message that this is not the end and that there are still many victories and goals to be achieved in future. In the pictures, he can be seen in the company of the individual athletes of the year, the golden Olympians Sandra Elkasević, the great rowers brothers Martin and Valent Sinković, and their coach Mr. Nikola Bralić. At the Trophy, he was congratulated by numerous famous athletes who won medals at the Olympic Games, World and European Championships, the Mayor of the City of Zagreb, Mr. Tomislav Tomašević, and the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Zoran Milanović, who praised our school in the conversation and called dr. Časl a top educator.

The Commonwealth celebrates its 75th year in an era almost as fractious as that in which it was born 75 years ago. At that time, 1949, the London Declaration established the modern Commonwealth and lit a flame of fraternity and hope for a world seeking to move on from the horror of global war and conflict. Its 56 members span the five continents and three oceans, number more than a quarter of the world’s countries and comprise more than a third of humanity, with 70% of them younger than 30 years. The launch of the Commonwealth at 75 book was held on 9th October in the Cloisters of the Westminster Abbey. It has been researched and written by a select team of academics and award-winning authors and was presented by Lord Norton, History of Parliament Chair, together with a Royal bibliographer and Commonwealth Secretary-General. The links between Westminster and the Commonwealth have their origins in British imperial rule and this book charts how many Commonwealth countries adopted and adapted aspects of the Westminster model to suit their own political cultures. The book explores the development of parliamentary democracy across the Commonwealth, and it is a complex story which reveals divergence as well as commonality. The importance of education and the exchange of ideas have always been fundamental principles of the modern Commonwealth. It is also home to some of the finest education providers and experts in the world. We are very proud that our British International School of Zagreb was invited and presented on 2 pages in a chapter dedicated to Education and Culture. Among many well known universities and schools presented in the book there are only two outside the UK and the Commonwealth. Our BISZ is one of them. Our Principal, Martin-Tino Časl and Mrs. Zdenka Časl his loving and supporting wife were among the distinguished guests. In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, it was a nice opportunity to meet with old friends from previous occasions and make new friends for the future. You can also get a feeling of the atmosphere by browsing through the following photos.

The British International School of Zagreb has been operating for over 10 years and in that time we have developed a modern educational environment which has attracted students from over 80 nationalities creating a truly diversified school community. Our high educational standards are equalled with state of the art campus facilities which include over 25 000 m2 of extensive grounds with sports courts and close to 9000 m2 of a high-tech building which is divided into the school building and the boarding house. The indoor school premises includes a sophisticated science lab, ICT room, art studio, indoor swimming pool, two sport halls, a fitness centre, highly equipped modern classrooms, lounge room, dining room, and a outstanding 165 m2 library etc. The boarding house includes 52 five star deluxe rooms at 28 m2 with each room having its own en-suite bathroom, gaming and lounge rooms, modern classrooms, a laundry room, medical centre, a security and reception desk, and a huge 70 m2 sun terrace and relax zone. As pioneers of education in Croatia the British International School of Zagreb endorses Cambridge International Education programmes such as the IGCSE, AS & A level. Our students who have successfuly achieved these qualifications have enrolled into the some of the top 20 universities in the world which include: Cambridge University, Imperial College London, Edinburgh University, Harvard University, University of California Berkeley, Tsinghua University, University of Toronto and others. The British International School of Zagreb as a member of Cambridge International School for over 10 years is well established with a safe and secure educational environment. It has a highly regarded international reputation as it was listed in 6 UK high-relevant publications and is looking at achieving greater milestones in the future ahead.
The British International School of Zagreb - past and future - Video.

At the British International School of Zagreb students can enjoy a rich and diverse range of books and genres from our library, which enhances the content and quality across all of our educational school programmes. The Boarding programme at the British International School of Zagreb includes additional study time under teacher guidance and supervision in the library. Being a proud member of the Cambridge International School community, we promote reading for enjoyment and our library is the perfect setting for quiet reading time as well as exam preparations. Reading books builds character and mind and for those who don't like to read, there is a famous quote that really hits the spot. “If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book.” J.K. Rowling.
Please check our library video.