By Seif Zahran
Seif El Attal made every sports team possible in his four years at Schutz. He is one of the most athletic students in High School, with an award “Athlete of the Year” received last year in addition to a good academic standing. On top of all that, Seif also has the appetite of an elephant! He does not eat to live, he lives to eat!
Seif has many plans for his educational future because he believes that he is a successful person with many achievements in life. He plans to get a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and later on an MBA. All of this studying and hard work he will pursue will be in the United States with his friend Ali Seif. Seif has high hope to get accepted in a good college there. His favorite subjects in school are Math and Physics.
His favorite sport of all is Volleyball. He wishes to continue doing various sports in college, just as he did in school. The EMAC and ISAC tournaments that are held are the two things he will miss most.
Pasta and chicken panne are his favorite food. He could eat his three meals a day with just that. If there is no pasta and chicken available, sushi is an alternative. If he were to change one thing in Schutz, he would change the canteen for it does not satisfy his big appetite.“I would take the canteen so that they can get a new one,” he stated as the only thing that he would take with him from Schutz when he graduates.
He seems to be a busy student with a lot of things on his hand, but he manages to do more. Not only does he keep up with school and sports, but with friends and family as well. Socializing is on his list too. He likes to go to his friends’ houses, to the movies, or just to chill somewhere with his group of friends. Aly, his brother, and Zeina, his sister, are the two people that he will miss when he leaves Schutz. Seif is planning to visit Schutz occasionally so that he remembers the days that he cherishes.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Smart and Athletic
Long Journey Comes to an End
By Omar Zahran
Kartikya began his journey in Schutz when he was in the second grade. Now he is a senior, and it is his eleventh year at Schutz. When he first joined Schutz, many people described him as shy and quiet. I think we all agree that he has changed a lot since then. He has become very outspoken and is often one of the loudest voices heard on campus.
Most people would even call him the school's jester. You could always see him running around campus energetically telling jokes. Many people will remember this about Kartikya after he is gone, and Kartikya will also miss many things about Schutz. However, the thing he says he will truly never forget about Schutz is the fact that it is such a small school and that he knew everybody and everybody knew him. He has many things he says he loves about Schutz. He said that he would miss things like participating in extra-curricular activities and goofing off at lunch.
He plans to continue his education in Canada where he could be closer to his older brother, Vinayak, a Schutz alumni. He said he would like to go into the field of Engineering. Even though he was lazy during the first three years in high school, he is working hard to get into a college in Canada. We all hope the best for him as he goes on into college life. Now as he is finally leaving Schutz, he will be remembered for many things mainly his fun-loving attitude.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Roba's Diaries: On Bullying and Bullies
By Roba Mahfouz
Special to The 83rd
A lot of young people have a good idea of what bullying is because they see it every day! Bullying happens when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose and the person being bullied has a hard time defending himself or herself. Usually, bullying happens over and over. It can take many forms such as punching, shoving and other acts that hurt people physically, or spreading bad rumors about people, or keeping certain people out of a "group", or teasing people in a mean way, or getting certain people to "gang up" on others. There are all kinds of reasons why young people bully others, either occasionally or often. Does any of these forms sound familiar to you?
- Because I see others doing it
- Because it is what I need to do if I want to hang out with the right crowd
- Because it makes me feel, stronger, smarter, or better than the person I'm bullying
- Because it is one of the best ways to keep others from bullying me
Think about what you are doing and how it affects others. If you think calling others names is really harmless, or if you think pushing, hitting or stealing from other kids is funny, you probably have forgotten what it feels like to be hurt yourself! Teasing, hitting, and keeping others out of a group, all of these things are examples of attempts to harm someone. All of us have been hurt at one time or another and we all know how it feels - awful!
If you have ever heard an adult or anyone else say that bullying is "just a fact of life" or "no big deal," you need to know that they are actually wrong! Too often, people just do not take bullying seriously until the sad and sometimes scary stories are talked about. According to facts, it can mess up a kid's future. Young people who are bullied are more likely to skip school and drop out of school than those who do not get bullied. They are also more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and get into fights. According to established research done in the United States, as many as 160,000 students may stay home on any given day because they are afraid of being bullied. It can lead to huge problems later in life. Children who bully are more likely to get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school. Sixty percent of boys in the United States who were bullies in Middle School had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24.
Kids who bully like to pick on kids who are by themselves a lot; it is easier and they are more likely to get away with their bad behavior. If you spend more time with other kids, you may not be an easy "target" and you will have others around to help you if you get into a difficult situation! If the person who is bullying you thinks you will not do anything about it, they are more likely to keep picking on you. This does not mean you should fight back or bully them back. Instead, tell the person bullying you that you do not like it and that they should stop! Keep it simple. You might just say, "Cut it out!", and then walk away. If possible, try to talk to them in a calm voice. Kids who bully often like to see that they can make you upset. If you are afraid to talk directly to the person who is bullying you by yourself, then you might want to ask someone else to be there with you.
Bullying should not be mistaken for a show of power over someone else. It is an act of fear, a feeling of inferiority and low self-esteem that pushes someone to bully someone else to prove they are stronger and to draw so much attention.
Schutz’s Pride in a Blonde
By Marina Guirguis
Kara Michelle Newell is probably known by being the significant blonde in Schutz’s high school, but she is anything but the stereotypical blonde. She is a smart girl enrolled in AP classes, such as AP US History. She enjoys reading in her free time, hanging out with friends, as well as listening to music.
She spent the first nine years of her life in Charlotte, North Carolina, before moving to Alexandria, Egypt. As a young girl, ballet, dance, gymnastics, and piano lessons dominated Kara’s elementary years. The first school she attended was called Covenant Day School. Her first memory involved “My best friend Shanna sleeping over. So much fun!” Kara and Shanna Van Beek have known each other since the day Kara was born, and were often mistaken for twins. “We still joke about that now. In fact we refer to each other as twin or sister sometimes, “Kara explained. In 1994, her family and a few other families started a church in uptown Charlotte called uptown Christ Covenant Church. This is where Kara goes to visit when she returns to the United States and where she spent last summer tubing, wakeboarding, swimming and water fighting at Lake Norman.
The Newells moved to Egypt in 1999. The hardest thing about moving according to Kara was, “not seeing friends and family on a regular basis.” Her dad wanted the family to have an overseas experience.
In time though, all good things come to an end. This is Kara’s senior year, meaning soon she will pack up her bags and leave what she loves once again. Her first choice for college is Elon University, about twenty minutes away from the university her brother attends. She dreams of one day being a kindergarten teacher because she “loves kids and wants to help them grow and discover new things.”
Kara is known among her friends for giving great advice and being a caring shoulder to cry on. You are surely guaranteed hours of fun if you spend time with this girl in or out of school. Some advice that Kara leaves with us is, “Let go, jump into life! Try something new at least once a day, everyday. Don’t let anyone say you can’t do something. Try and you might prove them wrong!”
Dubai Leadership Conference: Bringing International Night Back
By Ingy Fahmy
Schutz students attended one of the most stimulating Leadership Conferences in Dubai (October 3-6). Schools from all around the Middle East flew into Dubai, and heads were put together in order for each school to create a strategic plan. Through the conference, a strategic plan was created to resume the festive tradition of International Night to Schutz American School. The Schutz students who attended the conference felt the urge to liven up the school by showcasing the diverse cultures that exist in Schutz.
In order to be able to come up with a strategic plan for each school, the conference organizers arranged for the participants to visit the Wild Wadi water park. During the time spent at the park, conference participants were separated teams to work on building the bridges from person to person and learning to be part of a squad. The objective was to have the ability to work together and cooperate within a group in order to have an effect on a greater cause.
Returning to the hosting school, the American School of Dubai (ASD), participants were sent off to find out more about their personalities and identities and getting acquainted with oneself helped with the developing of strategic plan through teamwork. Mr. Thomas Lungrin, a keynote presenter, talked about becoming true leaders and learning to work with what is available. Mr. Lungrin holds no college degrees yet he has managed to open one of the most leading retail furnishing stores, THE ONE (Total Home Experience), located all over the countries of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. Through his presentation, he gave the following message that participants should follow for the rest of their lives, “Nothing great has ever been achieved without passion.” He taught participants to look for what would make them happy in the end, not what would make them successful.
The HSSC Treasurer, Aly El Attal, reflected on what he learned, “A fine leader is a fine servant.” The HSSC President, Youssef Talaat, added, “In order to be a true leader, one must discover the potentials of one’s team and execute them through a methodical and meticulous plan.”
The Schutz participants succeeded in completing this task of planning for an International Night and proudly presented the action plan in front of all the other participants.
The International Night will be taking place shortly to Schutz, and all people attending will witness the effects of the Dubai Leadership Conference that impacted the organizers of this event. Finally, the Schutz Coach, Kelly Sullivan stated, “I was proud to accompany the Schutz delegation, and I was pleased with their participation and with what they learned. They represented Schutz very well.”
Science Genius Inspires Schutz Audience
By Shereen Hassan
Susannah L. Clary, a senior in Los Lunas High School, NM who was scheduled to give a lecture at the Biblitheca Alexandrina on October 24, met the Schutz students to talk about her motivation and success in her research. The beauty of nature, which attracted her to science at a young age, has captivated her. Her parents are the two people who inspired her the most. They supported her in conducting research and collecting data in institutes in Canada, where she was allowed to use the facilities.
In fifth grade, she started writing research papers on salmon. She was trying to distinguish between the male and female salmon because their growth rate was declining. The only way until now to figure out whether they were male or female was to dissect them, but dissecting them decreases their number which was endangering their species. However, with her discovery it is possible to distinguish between the male or female salmon by using the scale she patented, which was her first discovery. This scale measures the ratio between the head length and the body length, this determining the gender of the salmon.
She won several awards from 2003-2007, and she published 5 research papers, the first one in 3rd grade. Some of her significant achievements were Intel Foundation Achievement Award and Intel ISEF Finalist & Second award in Zoology in 2005. She also won Grand award in Life Sciences from 2003-2006, and then in 2007 she won full tuition scholarships from University of Alaska Fairbanks and University of New Mexico. She did SATR Summer Research Intern at Sandia National Laboratories last summer. She would like to go to the University of New Mexico to study Biology & Engineering.
The advice she likes to give to all students is, “Do not let little failures discourage you. You have to do things over and over. Have good background knowledge of the stuff you are dealing with and do something you are interested in.”
As Direct as it Gets
Dr. Martinez Meets the Schutz Community
By Marina Guirguis
The search for the new Head of School is on, and the first candidate introduced to the student body publicly was Dr. Joyce Martinez. Her short stay in Egypt (October 20-24) was packed with hours of meeting new people including Board members, teachers, students and parents.
Dr. Martinez has always had a dream of coming to Egypt. She stated, “This is where I want to be”. Currently working as Head of the American School of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands off the shore of Spain, Dr. Martinez would like to move on to another international school. She declares that her main qualities are flexibility, patience, love for other cultures, and pursuit of visions. These are also qualities that Dr. Martinez claims every head of an international school should have.
She took a year off her busy schedule in Florida, and wrote Eight Steps to a Financially Successful School before resuming her career in international education. In her past, she has worked in cities from Miami to Denver, Los Angeles to Mexico City. This has influenced her views as a leader due to her work with different environments and cultural backgrounds. She describes herself, “What you see is what you get, blunt, direct, consistent, and open-minded.” Her leadership style is collaborative, but Dr. Martinez does not hide that she can be a dictator when certain decisions need to be made.
Dr. Martinez left behind her a strong impression of a tough leader who loves to work on a vision and excels in the international crowd. She definitely came across as someone who naturally fits in a multi-cultural environment.
Largest College Fair Had Great Turnout
By Ibrahim Fathelbab
Schutz American School hosted its largest annual College Fair on the 4th of October. This year’s fair was very special because there were as many as ten colleges. An assorted number of students showed up. This fair was very significant in giving the student body a clear prospect of college life. Colleges such as Suffolk and Villanova had representatives giving out handbooks and answering questions.
The fair was very helpful in guiding students on the path towards college life by giving advice on how they could make the college experience the best years of their life.
Students asked questions, such as “What are some of the requirements I need in order to get accepted to this college?” and “What are the SAT scores needed for this college?”
Kristen Kammarata, the Amideast representative, stated, “I am very happy to see that the students are excited.” Kristen Kammarata has been to many college fairs in the past and knows how much work really goes into setting up one such event.
The High School Principal, Massimo Laterza, had even higher expectations of the students. He stated, “I just hope that the people who are here are getting what they came here for”.
Varsity Volleyball Tournament Ends in Girls’ Disappointment
By Moustafa Barakat and Aya Kordy
Schutz American School hosted this year the Varsity Volleyball tournament (October 24-28). The Schutz players showed that both teams have made great improvements and excelled. The girls won the first two games but lost the final games to rank in fifth place which was quite a disappointment to the general team and the school. In contrast, the boys played with great teamwork and cooperation crowned by achieving third place.
Hannia Zanana and Laila Afifi were the girls’ captains while the boys’ captains were Seif El Attal and Khaled El Naggar. They were great role models for the rest of the teams and they showed great compassion at the time of their losses.
Five different schools from the Middle East competed in the tournament. In addition to Schutz American School, there were the British International School of Cairo, the American Community School of Amman, the American Community School of Beirut, and the American School of Doha. All teams showed great enthusiasm; nevertheless, sportsmanship was not fully achieved between teams. Some players unfortunately displayed inappropriate behaviors.
The coaches of Schutz’ teams are Clay and Susannah Huggins. They encouraged their teams to keep doing the best they can at the times of a loss. Mrs. Huggins declared, “I like how creative the players are because they always have solutions to problems.” Clay Huggins added, “There was a lot of chemistry between players, and I think they worked well together and had a great time”.
Doha won first in the girls division. After a final game between Doha and Amman, Amman won the boys division.
The Schutz Athletic Director, Mindi Dryer, performed really well in organizing the festivities and working out any tribulations.
Determination Brings Forth Great Achievements
By Omar Zahran
Name: Arnab Chaudhuri
Born: January 22, 1992
Hometown: Calcutta, India
Plays: Right-Handed
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Hobbies: Computer Games, Cricket, Guitar
Arnab has been playing cricket since he was eleven years old. At first he played for fun and did not realize that soon he was about to play cricket for national teams. Arnab kept on practicing to perfect his skills in cricket. While studying in Thailand he was picked for the National Team of Thailand. He has traveled to international competitions in Malaysia, Dubai, and India. Arnab proved to be a valuable player in Thailand and played for them for three years till he moved to Egypt in 2005.
Arnab is a hard working person as he works just as hard at school as he does on a cricket field. Arnab joined Schutz just two years ago. Arnab decided to join the Alexandria Cricket Team and has now become one of the permanent team players. The Alexandria Cricket Team which plays under the first division includes six teams. Arnab stated that “The Alexandria Cricket Team still needs a lot of practice as the players managed to win only five matches out of eight matches last year." This year Arnab believes the Alexandria Cricket Team may have a chance to win the league.
Arnab has received many awards for his cricket skills. The biggest award in cricket is the Man of the Match Award. This award is given to the best player of the winning team. Arnab has received two man of the match awards. He received these awards when he played for Thailand against Singapore and Hong Kong. He has won a third place trophy and a third place medal during his career in other tournaments. With Arnab working hard both in and out of the cricket field it is possible he might have a future to maybe play in a national team at a higher level in the future.
iBust!
By Tarek Talaat
The iPod Nano is Apple’s mid-range portable media player. It originated on September 7, 2005. Apple surprised everyone with the iPod Nano as no one expected a sudden decline in the popularity of the former iPod Mini.
Many people say that the only disadvantage of the iPod Nano is that it does not connect or synchronize over a FireWire connection. That was not the case when it came to Danny Williams. Despite the iPod originating in 2005, another disadvantage was only discovered in 2007. "I look down and I see flames coming up to my chest," Williams said. He also explained that if it was not for the piece of glossy paper in his pocket with the iPod, he would have had a 15-second burn.
Apple wanted to send him a brand new iPod in exchange for his old burned one. Williams' mother refused and instead took the story to the Channel 2 news. She explained that this was not just about one iPod bursting into flames; it was about what could have happened. This led Elaine Williams to think, "It could have happened when we were sleeping, or when he was driving, and the outcome would have become much worse." When Channel 2 sent Apple the pictures, Apple refused to comment on the incident at all.
It was said that the iPod uses a lithium ion battery, the same battery under recall for setting laptops on fire. Use over a long time may be risky. Young people love the latest technology trends; however, they need to be aware of their potential downsides.
Hang out at the coolest place, where all the action takes place:
1. Carrefour
2. Sporting Club
3. Starbucks
4. Green Plaza
5. San Stefano
Porto Marina Powerboating Championship
By Karim Maksoud
The fifth race of the 'Class I' World Powerboating Championship was held at Porto Marina from October 25th through the 27th. This event was hosted by Amer Group. The world class event was described to have been an experience similar to "driving a Formula 1 car and flying an air plane."
Amer Group signed an agreement with the World Professional Power boating Association to host the Powerboating Championship in Egypt for at least the next five years. The teams that were present were from UAE, Italy, Qatar, Norway, and England. This event was covered by 142 international TV channels.
The Championship was advertised on Egyptian TV and on different channels. This event was a way to invite tourists to Egypt. The event was attended by thousands of viewers as it was free of charge, but many of the viewers attending had no background on the sport. People who attended found that there was poor organization. Some people were not informed that the races would be held at another gate in Marina. Hosting such an event in Egypt is a great step towards attracting more tourists to Egypt. It is also a good way to utilize the beautiful Egyptian beaches to make new water sports more popular.
Miss Karra Simpson: Lively and Enthusiastic
By Moustafa Barakat
Miss Karra joined Schutz this year, and she really enjoys it here. Not only is she an enthusiastic teacher, but she also shows great involvement in our school. Miss Karra Simpson lived practically all her life in British Columbia, Canada. Before she came to Schutz, she was in South Korea teaching for four years. She considers the greatest thing about high school years is having friends, she said, “I had great friends, and I am really thankful for that”.
Miss Karra Simpson has been a teacher for nine years. She considers the people in Schutz friendly and nice. Miss Karra teaches Drama and Social Studies, two subjects that she used to enjoy in high school.
Miss Karra has two major hobbies, sewing and cooking. Miss Karra Simpson is just appalled when someone is being fake or “phony” by Holden’s words. When you talk to Miss Karra, be yourself and you will have a great conversation.
Miss Karra Simpson has a natural difficulty with Math, or just that she never really understood Math. This year was her first time to visit historical places in Egypt. She really enjoyed the medieval places in Egypt. She says that her utmost enjoyment was visiting the Pyramids.
Miss Karra is one of the two co-sponsors of the Middle School Student Council (MSSC). She was the organizer of the MS Iftar along with Miss April.. The MS Iftar was a great success for the MSSC. All the Middle School students enjoyed this social gathering at Schutz. The goal of the MS Iftar was primarily to have fun; it also resulted in the collection of substantial money for the financing of future social activities in Schutz. Miss Karra Simpson has already made great contributions to Schutz. Her liveliness and immensely enthusiastic personality have already marked her beginning months at Schutz.
Rainbow for a Friend
By Suraj Baadkar
Keep looking for a rainbow
It soon will fill the sky,
You never have to worry
When friends are standing by.
Love in life will gather
In times when you are blue,
With all the rain that's falling
The rainbow's there for you.
So here we are just waiting
For a storm to go away,
Knowing that our friendship
Always brightens up the day.
No wonder I feel happy
No matter what the weather,
You cover me with sunshine
Whenever we're together.
Arrivals from Burkina Faso: Introducing the World of the Collins
By Ibrahim Fathelbab
The Collins have been to so many different places, seen so many different things and interacted with a diverse number of people and cultures around the world. I got a chance to better understand the “world” of the Collins. My experience was very fascinating, and I had a great time getting to know them much more.
Where are you from?
Mr. Collins: Philadelphia
Mrs. Collins: Tennessee, but Philadelphia is home for both of us.
Is this your first overseas assignment?
Mr. Collins: No, our first overseas assignment was in Burkina Faso.
What are some of your hobbies?
Mr. Collins: Traveling
Mrs. Collins: Reading, traveling and playing with our cat.
What do you do on your free time or weekend?
Mr. Collins: Though we are still exploring Alexandria, the place that we have been to so far has been the Opera house to watch Flamenco Dancing, which we really enjoyed.
Mrs. Collins: I go to the beach and watch television.
Do you have any favorite eat outs in Alexandria?
Mr. Collins: We have not eaten out that many times, but we really liked Zefirion in Abou Kir.
Mrs. Collins: My favorite restaurants so far are sea food restaurants.
Where have you traveled before, and how did you like where you went?
Mr. Collins: We have traveled to Morocco, Tunisia, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Gibraltar and Andorra. We like seeing new places and trying new things.
Why did you choose to teach in Egypt?
Mr. Collins: We like teaching internationally and traveling.
How do you like your so-called home away from home so far?
Mr. Collins: I enjoy it, plus we do not have to travel far to see Egypt. I love it!
Mrs. Collins: It is nice living on campus, and there is so much culture and opportunity in Egypt.
What were your worst and best subjects in school?
Mr. Collins: I did not like handwriting, and I had a hard time in chemistry. My best subject was history.
Mrs. Collins: I did not really like math all that much. I also did not like music because I had to play the bassoon. Well, it is not really what class I liked the most, it is just that I liked any class which involved much discussion.
Mrs. Collins, is this your first time being a Principal?
No, this is not my first time working as a Principal. I was working at the Ouagadougou International School as the Elementary Principal and K-12 Counselor.
How do you like being the Elementary/Middle School Principal at Schutz?
I like it very much. It is a very neat environment. The kids are warm and positive,and everyone knows everyone.
How do you like your classes so far Mr. Collins?
I enjoy most of them, and the students seem very interested.
Are you excited about the upcoming soccer season? Have you coached soccer before?
Yes, I am very excited and hope that we will do very well this season. No, I have not coached soccer before, but I did play first string “goalie” in high school.
How is Schutz different from the school(s) you have taught at before, and is there anything that you would like to see change at Schutz? If so, why?
Mr. Collins: Students in our old school would stay on campus much longer than students here because there were not really any hangouts or anything like that.
Mrs. Collins: It is somewhat different, I guess I could say, since Mr. Collins and I never really see each much of each other like we did in our old school. There is not much that we would like to change. We would just like to support students to be successful inside and out of school. Also, we would like to prepare students for their later years in life.
Re-reading the History of the Last King of Egypt
By Aya Kordy
Approximately fifty five years ago democracy and freedom of speech were aspects that King Farouk I tried to implement, allowing people to "raise their voice" and ask for their rights and privileges. Ironically, the biggest proof of this was that during King Farouk's reign, a group of young revolutionaries known as the “Free Officers" called secretly for independence and for an end to the monarchy. Unquestionably King Farouk knew everything about them, yet he still granted them the freedom they wished for. On the other hand, if we look at Egypt in this present day, both democracy and freedom are minimal. Many people are against the current government. However, establishing a group like the “Free Officers" nowadays is a very remote possibility.
After re-reading history, people now know how much they have been deluded by Gamal Abd El Nasser. He appointed Muhammad Naguib as Prime Minister and Regent of the then one-year old King Ahmed Fouad II. Nevertheless, the Free Officers decided they had no need of a monarchy. They then appointed Muhammad Naguib as President of Egypt, only to be dismissed from his office and placed under house arrest very soon afterwards.
Gamal Abd El Nasser was loved by millions of people. His funeral stands as one of the largest funerals people have ever attended in the world. The question is "Were all these people deluded by Gamal Abd El Nasser?" If I were to answer just one month ago, I would have totally disagreed and said he was a gracious man. If I were to answer you now, my answer would be yes. In addition, it seems that the Egyptian people including King Farouk I and Gamal Abd El Nasser and his companions were deceived by British power.
Just before King Farouk was ordered to leave Egypt and abdicate his thrown to his one-year old son King Ahmed Fuad II, he met one of his private secretaries,
Dr .Hussein Hosny and told him, "I know they'll say a lot of horrible things about me, but please if one day you are able to write, write about the truth that you have seen with me, the good and the bad." Dr. Hosny has in fact written a book called "Years with King Farouk". However, during Abd El Nasser's time democracy and freedom of writing were non-existent, particularly after the Ministry of Education had released history books based on the history made up by Gamal Abd El Nasser and his companions. Other books were buried along with Karim Thabet's book called "My Diaries of King Farouk".
The truth was buried, and King Farouk left Egypt and eventually died without being given the respect and love he deserved. He died in a restaurant called "Ile de France" in Rome while he was eating. Some people even say he was poisoned. His body was flown to Egypt in the middle of the night in a coffin, and he was buried secretly in Muhammad Aly's burial site. He was buried as a stranger in the middle of the night in a country that he once ruled. Freedom and democracy were buried that night and until now Egyptians are digging and searching for them.
After revealing the truth of this episode of Egyptian history, will the Egyptians ever stand up to defend their history that has been misused? Will Egypt ever become a Kingdom once again if the Egyptians choose it? Or will it always remain a republic, with its rights lost? The answer is definitely inside every Egyptian. It is hard to answer since freedom and democracy were buried fifty-five years ago. Imagine. If King Farouk I were still alive till today, what would we possibly tell him after we have discovered the truth? Do you think he would ever forgive us?
Facebook- Connecting People or Minimizing Privacy?
By Shereen Hassan and Ingy Fahmy
“Facebook is a social utility that connects you with the people around you.” Or is it really? Facebook started out as being a fun and dependable way for high school and college students to stay in touch with each other, but now people across the globe have started to misuse this privilege.
Through Facebook, one could upload photos or publish notes, get the latest news from friends, post videos on profiles, tag friends, use privacy settings to control who sees personal information, join a network, and see people who live, study, or work around them. Nevertheless, one could say that people have started “stalking” other’s lives.
As of October 2007, there are 49 million active users on Facebook, and of those 49 million, 60% log in daily, 85% log in weekly, and 93% log in monthly. It seems like addiction has started and is still continuing to increase within the barriers of Facebook. The stalking and addiction that have risen within Facebook are starting to effect the real connection between people.
Although Facebook has privacy settings that can limit personal information , one can still never be in full control of people out there who get to see personal conversations between friends.
Facebook members can join or create groups such as study groups, common hobbies, culture, etc. This might seem like a good way to find people who have common interest in life, but people have misused this privilege. The content of the posts are most often offensive to different kinds of people, some might be offending or discriminating on the bases of religion, culture, ethnicity, etc.
In addition to the loopholes in Facebook, there is another problem of caching. Caching is a term used for temporary storage of updated files called cache. Once something is posted it cannot be erased completely.
The Journal of Consumer Research found out that “negativity is contagious” through studies. The behavior of people toward products and services are a lot of times influenced by the others around them. Facebook, as one of the largest social networks, will continue to be an important driver of individual beings’ attitudes as societies become more interconnected.
Now that the younger generations of middle and elementary schools have started to have active accounts on Facebook, there is no control over what these children will be exposed to and what experiences that might have a serious effect on their lives. What was originally launched to create a bridge between college and high school students that are sited away from each other is turning out to be potentially harmful.
Next time, think again before signing up to Facebook or logging into your account because no one never knows who is watching.
Social Networking; Technology’s No Return Point
By Suraj Baadkar
Technological advancement may be defined as inventions and discovery, but it actually reflects the kind of community and the society we live in. One of the major reflections comes from what we call today "Social Networking. There are millions of people using it everyday. Social Networking is the use of the Internet to interact with friends, family and to make new friends with similar personal interests, hobbies etc. This technology has advanced a lot for many simple reasons. It is cheap, easy to access, and it removes distance between people. For entrepreneurs, it has become a source of business. The founders of such platforms use advertisements that bring in money.
Platforms like these have become a place for marketing as well. Some of the famous social networking platforms used today are Facebook, My Space, etc. They make millions of dollars in annual revenue. Now with these platforms becoming the hangout place for teens, some of these sites have also been made accessible on their cell phones. These upgrades bring improvement for sure, but all good things are accompanied by bad things. Bad things here mean that more and more people are vulnerable to break certain laws, more and more children are vulnerable to explicit content like adult rated photographs or videos.
As the social networks like Facebook and My Space grow, so do the concerns of Internet security and privacy. According to the Center of Missing and Exploited Children, there have been 2600 incidents reported in which adults have used such networks to track down their potential victims. In another instance, a qualified graduate was turned down by a company because he had posted explicit photos of himself on Facebook. One of the cases was astonishing. Five students were arrested for using My Space to plan out an attack on a boys' hostel. One of the social networks called Orkut, which is famous in Brazil, reported arrests of two adults who used to look for potential child victims whom they could use for their pornography website.
Caching is the technology that monitors such illegal things on the net. Caching is a procedure with which file images are saved as cache in the search engine servers. For example, suppose you upload a photo on Facebook and then delete it. The cache of this photo will still be saved in the archive.
People today use social networking sites to represent themselves in the community by uploading photos and music, etc. While doing so, they should keep in mind not to produce false identity and not to portray any potential harmful stuff for the viewers.
With this pioneering leap of comfort in the field of information technology by which people now can get in touch with each other, it is obvious that there is no way back. In the years to come, there will be ad-ons to this technology, but we should keep in mind the requirement of privacy, personal space and safety.
This I Believe
By Laila Afifi*
Special to The 83rd
First day of my freshman year, I walked into the English class, bewildered and anxious. The seats were set in a U form, different from my middle school familiarity. I sat down and noticed a peculiar box sitting in the middle of the room. After everyone was seated the teacher lifted the box and revealed a pumpkin. He asked us to describe it. I was not sure if he was testing our descriptive skills or just measuring our writing but we all sat down and started describing. The pumpkin was orange, it formed a vase shape: fat at the bottom thin at the top, and it had a pink paper pinned roughly in the middle. Then the teacher asked two students to walk around the pumpkin. The second student then lifted the pumpkin top and looked inside it, chuckled and set the top back on.
After the time was up the teacher asked one of the students who walked around to describe what he saw. “There is a pink piece of paper pinned up on one side, a red balloon pinned up on the other side, and an X mark on the third side.” We all gasped because while concentrating on what we saw, we forgot that the people opposite us saw something else. The teacher then asked the second person who saw the inside of the pumpkin to tell us what he saw, and he said, “A red heart.”
At that moment I realized I was guilty of looking at things in only one perspective. I began looking at my life and realized that there were times when I only saw one side of the story rather than look for all perspectives. When my friends tell me a story, I only hear their side of the story. I never considered another side.
This point is emphasized daily. In Nagiub Mahfouz’s novel, Miramar, this idea is shown explicitly. The book contains seven chapters. Each chapter gives the same story. All the events take place at the same time, with the same people. However, each chapter is told from the point of view of a different character in the book. The only way to understand the entire story and the motives behind each character is to read the seven chapters. This book is stimulating in the sense that it makes you think and analyze your life.
As humans we owe each other the truth, and this can only be achieved by seeing the entire story, in full 360 degrees. I realized that we only see one side of everything, and as humans, we judge. We judge solely on what we see, which is only part of the story. This is a problem because its human nature. To understand the full idea or whole concept we must look at all angles.
I believed that I was a fair and unprejudiced person; however, this exercise showed me that we all need to work on our perception skills. Now, I believe that school is the ideal breeding ground for open mindedness and that all classes should integrate such ideals into their day-to-day learning because not only is limitation of perspective a problem in our school but also in our community, nation, and world.
*Laila Afifi is responding to the topic of the Near East and South Asia (NESA) Call for Papers for the 2007-2008 academic year. Teachers were asked to reflect on the essential things they believe in in their learning/teaching career.
Sleep VS School!
Students always object to schools for making them wake up early. In fact, some students skip breakfast just to get to school on time. The school schedule works well for some people but a nightmare for others. In average, four people out of twenty would be found sleeping during the first two periods of the day.
Parents usually like the idea of their children leaving home before they do. It has been studied that sleep-deprived children are grouchier, poorer learners, more prone to attention deficit disorders, and are more likely to skip classes. Some schools start early because school buses need to make three full cycles to bring elementary, middle and high school students to school. Starting high school later would mean buying more buses and hiring more drivers or even sending younger students to school earlier.
According to Michael J. Breus, PhD, MD; there are many consequences that result from sleep deprivation. Decreased Performance and Alertness (reducing your nighttime sleep by as little as one and a half hours for just one night could result in a reduction of daytime alertness by as much as 32%), Memory and Cognitive Impairment (decreased alertness and excessive daytime sleepiness impair your memory and your ability to think and process information), Stress Relationships (disruption of a bed partner's sleep due to a sleep disorder may cause significant problems for the relationship, examples are sperate bedrooms, many conflicts, etc.), Poor Quality of Life (you might not be unable to participate in certain activities that require sustained attention, like going to the movies, seeing your child in a school play, or watching a favorite TV show), Occupational Injury (excessive sleepiness also contributes to a greater than twofold higher risk of sustaining an occupational injury), and Automobile Injury (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates conservatively that each year drowsy driving is responsible for at least 100,000 automobile crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities).
In this regard, parents play a big role in establishing sound sleeping habits. Parents are responsible for getting their children in bed earlier since it has been known that the brain is fresher in the morning, students should not criticize schools by saying that it is too early, instead they should take matters in their own hands and make the right and responsible decision of sleeping earlier.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Tennis Legend Among US
.JPG)
Name: Rafik Abbas Zaher
Born: April 11, 1991
Hometown: Alexandria, Egypt
Plays: Right-Handed (Double-Handed Backhand)
Height: 172 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Hair Color: Brownish-Yellow
Eye Color: Blue
Hobbies: Soccer, Tennis, PS2
Rafik is a self-motivated player and is always trying to reach the best of his abilities as a tennis player. He attended a tennis school in California last year and tried to make the best use of his time and to enhance his skills and techniques. He stated, "It was a good experience, but it was a bit hard." He also noted that there was not that much difference between Schutz and the other school, but as far as tennis is concerned he confirmed, "It is TOTALLY different”.
Rafik has won two titles for his school in the U.S. He benefited also from the fact that he was living in the school's dorm to become more independent.
Rafik is playing for the Alexandria Sporting Club after his return from the U.S. He goes everyday to the club to practice for hours and hours. He is currently a junior in Schutz American School, eager to receive a scholarship from a reputable university in the U.S. where he will later be discovered by a scout and achieve his dream of playing professional tennis and participating in all the four Grand Slams.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Is she what she says she is?
Gelan Badr is a girl whom everyone says is shy. Is she? Interviewing Gelan was not as hard as I expected. She might truly be shy, but when talking to her you realize that she is not. Gelan has been at Schutz for five years. She left Schutz for a period of time and went to CAC (Cairo American College), but she found that there was nothing like Schutz. Therefore, when her father’s work required another move, she was happy to go back to where she belonged.
Has she seen any changes since she was gone? No, was her answer. Things were pretty much the same, may be just a few paint jobs around the corner but things have not changed a bit. Gelan who gives the impression that she does not like school much, states, “Oh it’s just insane just to tell you all the things I will miss! It will take forever!” That itself tells us a lot. Not only does Gelan love Schutz, she loves the students, the teachers, and the workers, for everyone treats each other as siblings here.
Gelan is always referred to as a shy girl. She is always quiet and very peaceful. When I asked her why that is she simply said, “It’s just because I don’t get a chance to show my personality. I’m not quiet; it’s only in school, but outside I’m something else!” Well people, next time you talk to her, give her the chance to show who she really is!
Gelan has very good friends, including Tatiana whose way of laughing is the thing Gelan will miss most when she leaves Schutz.
After school there is college, the next big step in life, what will she do? She is taking her best friend, Karine Aziz, with her. Both of them have agreed to take the next step in life helping and supporting each other. They believe they have lots of potential, and that they will succeed in college. They plan to attend the Arab Academy for Science and Technology in Alexandria, hoping to be accepted in Engineering. We will all miss Gelan, and we all wish her great luck to fulfill all the plans she has for life!
Roba's Diaries
By Roba Mahfouz
Special to The 83rd
Is falling in love and having boyfriends really the same? If it is the same, does every couple really experience true love? How can you know that it is worth being with this guy? Nowadays, all I hear from couples about relationships are problems. From the repetition of these instances, it became very normal for guys and girls to break up and some see it as “being cool”. Some sensitive people can be affected by a relationship, and their academic performance decreases. They sometimes even get depressed.
One of the interesting problems I heard about was a girl that loved a guy from the first sight. He too had feelings for her, but he never showed it. They talked as friends, but he was treating her as if she was special. This made the girl understand that he loved her, and she became more attached to him. Day after day, the relationship began to grow, and she was completely attached to him. Then came a week when she traveled, and they did not talk at all. When she came back, he showed her how much he had missed her. After a few weeks, he completely turned 180 degrees and became another person. When she asked if he had loved her before, his answer was, “I have always treated you as my sister”.
It was a huge shock for her, and she became depressed. She realized that after all that she still loved him and still had some faith and hope that one day he would come to her and ask her out. So is it worth waiting for that guy? Can he really be trusted? Does love really make a person that blind?
Arts + Sciences = Suraj
By Shereen Hassan
A creative and critical thinker with a true artistic talent, Suraj Baadkar stands out. He may give the impression that he is an average guy, but he is one with many talents. He is the President of the senior class, and he is one of the nicest people one would see on campus.
Suraj has been at Schutz since the 11th grade. Schutz is the platform that allowed him to excel. Being a senior makes him feel very responsible, “As we are the seniors it tends to be everywhere in any fields that seniors are looked upon as role models” said Suraj. He wishes to study either Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering. His dad is his inspiration. His dream college is MIT, but his current option is India. About ten years from now, he wishes to see himself working with a software company.
Suraj is a unique person who is good at both arts and sciences. He likes to draw, and he is very good at it, but it is just last year that he discovered that he could draw portraits. He even received a special pin that was given to him last year by Mr. Al for Arts. On the Fine Arts Night, four of his art works were sold. Not only is he good at drawing, but he is also a good writer. “When I feel something, I like to write about it”, said Suraj. His poems are one of a kind. He is a very talented person, and he likes to do other things. He loves music. He has played two percussion instruments since 6th grade, the Congo and Tumba.
Suraj will miss many things in Schutz. “My close friends, they know who they are, and some teachers who have motivated me and guided me through my time in Schutz,” said Suraj. He will also miss the many moments he spent in front of the library on the White Tables.
Suraj wishes to achieve many things in life, but most of all he said “ I wish to bring happiness to others in life.” Not many people really think of the others, everything is usually centered on themselves. Suraj adds “The world is my country, its citizens are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”
For the juniors, Suraj says “If you want something you never had, do something you’ve never done”. Suraj will be leaving Schutz this year and trust me he will be missed by all. His warm personality and creativity are two traits that will be most missed.
Confident Woman
“If it were my ideal world, I would own an empire of hotels.” What a unique dream for an eighteen year old! She has her pros and cons, ups and downs, she is like every other person yet one of a kind.
She likes to be responsible and tell people what to do. She has been her class president for two years, secretary for one year, and treasurer for one year. Her history in Schutz for the past twelve years stands out.
Laila Afifi is a senior Schutz student. She began her school year in Schutz twelve years ago, and now she is ending it in the same place. As I interviewed Laila I realized how much Schutz influenced her whole life. Laila wishes to attend college in the United Kingdom, specifically the University of Warwick. She wishes to major in International Relations, International Business, or Business Law. Laila has not yet pictured her future as a whole; she likes to take it “one day at a time.” Nevertheless, there is one thing she knows, she said confidently “I don’t know what exactly I want to be, but what ever it is, I‘d like to be good at it.” As we all know, Laila has a very firm personality. She rarely ever shows her weak side, as a matter of fact she never does. Out of curiosity, I decided to know what her weakness could be. Smiling at my question, she sighed, “When I have an idea of my own and I strongly believe in it and somebody plays it down”.
Laila will miss “everything in Schutz” and added “I’ll miss that everybody knows everybody and everything.” Laila had her own thoughts that she wishes to share with the school. “I have been at Schutz for twelve years. I remember practicing with Greg for the winter program, standing in the
front row because I was one of the youngest students. Now I stand in the back of the room, with twelve years behind me. I know that the next step is out of the door, outside of Schutz. The thought that it is finally coming to an end is both scary and exhilarating. Schutz has been more than a family to me. I hope that everyone may have this wonderful opportunity as I did!”
Laila Afifi’s name will no longer be in Schutz’s enrollment list after this year; nevertheless, it will always be part of its history.
Welcome Back!
.JPG)
One of the traditional kick start events of Schutz American school's academic year is its welcome back party hosted by the members of staff for the students. This year it was held on the 30th of August. The new staff members were excited to see the happenings of this event and the returning staff members were excited to meet their students after a great summer break.
But year after year the event is losing its importance. Every year the student count for this event is decreasing. This year figures of high school students attending the event were countable on fingers. More than 75% of the students that attended were in grades 5th through 8th though the event was successful and well organized. The pool was open for the whole evening, the table-tennis tables were set up, the volleyball nets were set up and there was also music in the second half of the event. The canteen provided refreshments and snacks. Overall I think the event has achieved its main motto of casual interaction between the staff and the students.
The 83rd staff interviewed some teachers and students who attended the event. The most common answer to the question "What do you think of hosting such an event?" was "The event is very creative as in terms of interaction between students and staff outside the class instruction area, but more students were expected to attend this event. Some of the best quotes of the evening were by by Mr. McCright who stated, "Finally, myself and Mr. Spencer realized today, due to this event, that we are getting old. We have the skills and techniques to play basketball but our body does not co-ordinate. Therefore we are mentally going strong but physically getting older."
Altogether it was a wonderful evening spent on campus amidst laughter, smiles on the faces and a cool breeze. This event has made the bond between students and teachers stronger. With an ending note on the event, the members of staff quoted, "Hope there will be more students next year and in the years to come, we are glad to host such events."
Fresh Meat on the Grill
Every year, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) hosts the annual new parent BBQ, directed to the new staff, parents and students, as well as PTA members. “I like the school so far!” says Nehal Hussein, a new seventh grader. Schutz has a very positive and welcoming feeling towards those new to the campus and to the lifestyle of Alexandria. Mrs. Huggins, who is the new art teacher on campus, exclaims “I like it!” while Mr. Huggins sitting next to her by the pool nods in agreement. Because of the size of the school, the couple claims they feel a loving “sense of community” upon their presence here.
The BBQ was held in the auditorium, the pool and gym where parents and PTA mingled while the new students engaged in amusement. The children played, the parents and staff chatted, and the meat was being grilled. Soon the food was served, and while standing in line for the food, Azza El Rabbat, a new parent, mother of two children in grades 5 and PK3, said that the festivity was well organized. “There’s a good strong communication system,” she declared. As the food was being served, Mindi, the new Athletic Director, was getting popcorn. She said that she would like to see “more people involved in the school’s athletics”. When asked about the students, she jokingly replied, “so far, they are good kids.”
Standing at the BBQ, all that could be heard was the mumbling of different conversations between different people. Eiman EL Naggar, the Vice-President of the PTA exclaimed that this year had an impressive turnout. She discussed in detail that the PTA was trying to send out flyers to the parents, talking about raising money for the workers here for the month of Ramadan. All the staff that I approached agreed that this year’s PTA BBQ went very well.
The children enjoyed it, thus you could hear their laughter exploding, and they ran though the crowds in excitement. It was a memorable experience for those new at Schutz American School and another great start to a hopefully one more great year.
Fourth Grade Brings Charity to a New Record
.jpg)
Giving during the month of Ramadan is considered to be one of the best things a person can do. Every year the Schutz family holds a Ramadan Food Drive. The Food Drive is made as an effort to help the communities around us that are less fortunate than we are. This year the seniors took charge of this drive, and they did a great job.
Entering the school in the morning, one would see many students carrying bags and bags of non-perishable goods and items into Sadat Hall. Everyday at 8:00 a.m., the number of items brought in were counted by the Senior Class and tallied up. This year, Schutz is proud to announce that it has collected 9,465 food items in the 2007 Ramadan Food Drive. The class with the leading number of products is the Fourth Grade having brought in 3,032 food products. The Fourth Grade will be receiving a pool party provided by this year’s Senior Class.
The World of NEU
Thinking of going to college but just trying to figure out which one will suit you best? It is a hard choice especially for seniors because time is moving fast, and seniors you want to start writing your applications.
People like Wesley D. Roy, assistant director for undergraduate admissions at Northeastern University (NEU), will help you make the right choice for your college. On the 12th of September, Wesley D. Roy came to visit Schutz and talked to students about NEU.
NEU is located in Boston, the capital of higher education. Northeastern University is ranked among the top 100 national universities. Northeastern’s 67-acre campus is surrounded by many areas for entertainment that are only a ten-minute walk away such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Red Sox baseball games at the Fenway Park, Landsdowne Street, and many more.
Northeastern University‘s academic programs are divided among 6 colleges: College of Arts and Science, Bouve College of Health Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Computer and Information Science, College of Criminal Justice, and College of Engineering. NEU offers 70 majors in different subject areas. There is also a Gateway Faculty that is specialized for freshmen.
Northeastern University offers a Co-op Program in which you can experience your major by actually working for a company. The Co-op Program help you see if you are satisfied with your majors and like what you are doing or will be doing in the future. For one semester, students have school and then in the second semester they go for the Co-op Program. This program also allows you to work for more than 2000 Co-op locations nationally and internationally. There will also be a Co-op advisor who will work with you throughout your studies and will help find the best experience for you.
NEU has 230 clubs and organizations, which make students not only involved in their studies but also in their social lives. New England sports community is an important part of Northeastern. They field 19 varsity teams in NCAA Division 1 sports for men and women. There are also 27 intramural and club sports that students can participate in such as soccer, basketball, and rugby.
Admission to Northeastern University is very competitive, 3400 apply but only 2800 are accepted. NEU take students with a GPA average from 3.5-4.0. SATs are required from an average of 1160-1320. ACT is not required but should be taken. Applications for NEU look for improvement over years, or if you do well and fail one year students need to explain why these changes occurred, for example tragedy, moved to a new school, etc. If you apply before the Early Action that is from November 15- December 15 you might receive an academic and athletic scholarship ranging from US$5,000 to US$43,000.
The process of selecting a college is very tedious, so students should be very careful in what they choose. There are many colleges out there for different types of people and Northeastern University is definitely one that should be taken into consideration.
Rock Star Footballer and the Photographer of the Century
In his college years, Clay Huggins played base guitar in a band called “Threshold.” The band toured, and even made a few CDs. Until this day, his rocker side is exposed when he plays guitar hero, a popular game for those interested into the genera of music. Don’t forget his obvious football appeal! Clay Huggins has been teaching for six years. He taught AP chemistry, chemistry and physical science. His favorite age group to teach is the high school age. “They are more able to deal with abstract things,” claims Mr. Huggins.
Susannah Huggins went to Texas Tech University. She was enlisted in a student exchange program, which sent her to Italy for half a year. “The artwork was amazing,” she said, her eyes dazed as if she was re-living the memory of the magical country. Susannah loves traveling. She has been teaching for about three years and has taught art, drawing, photography and AP art history. Susannah has taught every age group imaginable and even bilingual students. She expects more of the Schutz students. She thinks that since this is a private school, students pay to go here. They need to do their best otherwise it would be a loss of money and education opportunity. Stop being so lazy!
In Mrs. Huggins’ art career, she has won countless contests and awards, and she also won a scholarship to go to school in Florence. She has had many art shows, displaying both her photography and artwork.
The Huggins are one of the new fun-loving couples teaching at Schutz this year. Susannah teaches the art classes while Clay is in charge of a number of high school science classes. In the couple’s short time in Egypt, they have tried the legendary camel riding, which seems to be highly recommended to new comers. They enjoyed attempting such a daring activity. Together, they enjoy photography and claim to be addicted to Starbucks. Mrs. Huggins shared the story of when they taught in the U.S. There was a Starbucks a short distance from the school they taught at. When students would need to turn in late assignments, Susannah would direct them to come to Starbucks and find them there at anytime after school. The couple enjoys backpacking. They are from Texas, but they would backpack through California and Wyoming and even Washington DC at times.
Susannah and Clay Huggins love the school by far. They favor the size and the comfortable home-y feeling. If you ever want to find them after school, check out the gym, for at the moment the couple coach both girls and boys varsity volleyball.
One Man's Wonder
This prose poem, written by Mr. Rab, describes the lack of organization and the confusion prevalent in Cairo as the citizens go about their work each day. This poem has a metaphorical take on the aspects of human nature that one might observe in Cairo.
Mr. Rab uses loaded imagery when he describes his feelings. An unusual catch, some may say, towards the daily excitement in the big city. Mr. Rab also uses much symbolism, for instance “…Cairenes mentally rehearse the choreography of the cosmopolitan, dance-like shuffle.” This beautifully explains the locals’ daily routes through the streets of the prosperous city. Through this poem, Mr. Rab shows his poetic and imaginative side not often seen in the classroom. He gives his explanation of the city’s hustle and bustle on a daily basis within just a few lines, a real talent that calls for much preparation and understanding when writing.
Cairene Rehearsal
A haze of pollution creates atmospheric pressure in a city of endless,
labyrinthine streets simultaneously gorged with people seemingly lost
in the comfort of urban anonymity. No relief can be found in man-
made tunnels that provide passageways for metallic cylinders
intermittently expelling humans who push and plow their way through
with no intent of rudeness---just urgency, lest they find themselves
wedged between merciless mandibles of steel.
Above ground, voices murmur steadily and are interrupted by the
chorus of taxi horns frequently seeking to transport beings from trade
place to trade place, while whirlwind activity recycles itself until the city
steals a few hours of rest---much needed and much earned.
Friday morning allows for a delayed awakening and a welcomed
reprieve for this the respected holy day. Midday approaches and a
caffeine-addicted urbanism prepares itself for fever-pitched comings
and goings in which, one by one, Cairenes mentally rehearse the
choreography of the cosmopolitan, dance-like shuffle---each keeping
eyes on the lead dancer caught somewhere in the maelstrom.
In a metallic flying machine an audience waits for the curtain of haze to
part and to begin the first section of a three-act drama: “al-Qahirah.”
Pilots conduct with electronic batons signaling the need for seatbelts to
be fastened. Now all seats are occupied and engines produce the
background melody as the descent begins and the curtain of smog
separates.
Cairenes, your places please!
All Change!
By Suraj Baadkar
One of the major constitutions of an institution is its administration. At the end of last year in the midst of a contract of 2 years, the Head of School resigned. Many of the students were enthusiastic to meet Mr. Matt Farwell after having a wonderful summer, but they soon acknowledged the fact that our previous Head of School Dr. Tony Spencer has taken the position.
Dr. Spencer retired from his post as Head of School in 2006. He was recalled back last June as the Interim Head for the year 2007-2008 due to the sudden resignation of Mr. Farwell. It is not only the position of the Head of School that has experienced a change, but also that of the President of the Board of Trustees. After successfully serving two years as Board President, Mr. Frank Newell has been succeeded by Mr. John Luke. Mr. Luke has been re-appointed to this position for the third time. He held this position for two terms prior to the presidency of Mr. Newell.
On the very first day of the academic year, more changes were evident. Not only were there changes in the administration but also in the physical plant, including the renovation of the kitchen, the canteen and the high school office. There have always been changes in the Schutz facilities since it was established in 1924. However, on the timeline of approximately nine decades, this is an instance when Schutz seems to be undergoing very profound changes.
Changes do bring certain new things to the community and they are clearly evident, but it depends whether the change favors the community or favors an individual. We have to be careful about who benefits from the changes. The Schutz tradition has always valued and well-received the changes. It also anticipates more changes in the future.
Tradition is the thing that keeps Schutz rich and distinguishes it from other institutions. The fact that changes can be good but can also come with a great risk should not be forgotten. Dr. Spencer, having had the experience of holding the same post in the previous years, might bring some stability to the situation. However, after the academic year is over, we will have to be ready to welcome another major change in the administration when the contract for the new head of the school will be signed.
A State of Mind
By Laila Afifi
Special to The 83rd
As I sit in the TV room with my family, friends, and our friends’ families, I await the prayer. ‘Ahh… my stomach is growling and my head is throbbing.’ This is not just any other prayer; it is the signal to break my fast. The room is filled with loud noises, everyone talking to someone else in the loudest noise possible. My mother is running around the house trying to get everything ready for the iftar. ‘Please let the prayer start.’ Finally, I hear the prayer. We all get up to eat, finally.
It is Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet. The holiest and most venerated month of the year; prayers, fasting, and charity are especially stressed during this month. Of course, ask any Muslim about Ramadan and the first thing that pops to mind is fasting.
But why do we fast? Why do we deny ourselves food and water, even if we are thirsty? I thought everyone knew the answer to that. The fasting is intended to be an act of deep worship in which Muslims raise their level of closeness to God.
When properly observed, the fast allows the mind to completely get rid of everything worldly, induce a feeling of peace and serenity, and allow one to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, as well as sympathy for the less fortunate.
For many, Ramadan is a chance to redeem themselves and to focus on their religious beliefs. For others, it’s a time to gather around with family and friends, and to some it has evolved into a social tradition; a social tradition that revolves around the opinion of their parents, family, and society.
People have lost sight of the true meaning of Ramadan. Ramadan is more than just the huge iftars, more than the Ramadan tournament, and more than the fasting from food.
It is a spiritual month, for prayer and worship; it is the fasting of the mind, the renewing of faith. Ramadan has been taken out of its context and turned into a social event of gatherings, festivals, and hypocrisy.
Where are the humbleness, the moderation, the tolerance, and the spirituality that should exist? Where is the peace and serenity that we should feel? Has our society gone so far away from the true purpose of Ramadan, we cannot enjoy the simple things like our family, our privileges, and our blessings? Can no one feel thankful that they have an iftar awaiting them at home when others cannot afford a loaf of bread? When we are aggravated because of traffic, can we not think of those who stand for hours trying to get the microbus home?
Ramadan has not just evolved into a scheme of events, but has actually changed from the peace and transparency it was into hypocrisy. Why are people fasting? Is it because they are afraid people will judge them? Or is it because they have grown accustomed to fasting during Ramadan?
I ask you, as I ask myself, do you know why you are fasting?
Ramadan Kareem!
Your School NeedsYou!
By Tarek Talaat
The 83rd is this year’s Schutz American School’s monthly newspaper. We chose this name because it symbolizes the tradition that has been carried on for eighty-three years at Schutz. The goals for the newspaper are included in our Editorial Policy. Issues of interest and concern to The 83rd staff will be reflected in our editorials. However, editorials signed by the co-editors will express their personal opinions. We will adopt a multi-perspective approach for controversial issues.
As for the newspaper sections, we have different sections, mainly, Schutz happenings both in and outside of Schutz, feature stories, sports and entertainment, profiles, and teens’ stuff.
Our teens’ stuff section is specifically designed to interest you. We would like to extend an invitation to all students, parents, and staff to contribute to this section. All contributions will be thoroughly reviewed for publication.
You can also write letters to the editors. Letters sent to the co-editors will be given much consideration. We are planning on doing the best we can to make the newspaper an open forum to be the voice of the Schutz community.
The 83rd staff is looking forward to the online version of The 83rd so it can be reached at all times and so that viewers could interact with the staff.
The 83rd staff is looking forward to a great year in the journey of the ninth decade heading towards the first century of Schutz American School.
Editorial Policy
The newspaper staff will:
-follow the interests of the readers
-be committed to tell the truth
-seek to raise the awareness of students to news and issues around them
-keep the confidentiality of their sources
-promote the right to the freedom of speech
-abide by the Society of Professional Journalists’ (SPJ) Code of Ethics
-work as a forum to express the students’ point of view and voice
-be loyal to the students.
"Rumor has it"
Rumors are a major aspect in Egypt. In fact, rumors are a paramount issue in the world. Rumors may sometimes control our life, instead of us controlling it. There are about six billion, four hundred and seventy million, eight hundred and eighteen thousand, six hundred and seventy one people in the world. If everyone starts repeating what the other said till the time it reaches the last person, the sentence would have changed at least a thousand times.
In the beginning of September, rumors fled across the death of Egypt’s President Mohamed Hosny Mubarak. The rumors went as far as suggesting that his son took over after his death.
That leads us to a question, “Why is it that people believe in rumors?” We strongly believe that people’s dreams are normally all they talk about, and changing that dream into reality is all they want. As a result, believing what is being said around them regardless of it being wrong or right is not the issue, it is whether it is what they want to happen or not.
It has been a whole decade since Princess Diana was killed in a car accident. Every year people make up a minimum of 10 possibilities as to how she died. Nevertheless, the truth is still unrevealed. The truth still lies inside Buckingham Palace, and knowing it, is nowhere near impossible. But then why just make up rumors? Once again she was The Princess of Hearts therefore reiterating a rumor is what satisfies people’s needs and fantasies.
The Schutz Connection!
By Ingy Fahmy and Moustafa Barakat
The Fundraising Committee is one of the many committees that we have here in Schutz run by the Board of Trustees. Justin Siberell, who is a parent of a first grader, is the head of the Fundraising Committee. Justin is really involved with all the school happenings and events. He attends the meetings of the Policy Committee and comes to school plays and other events. The Fundraising Committee cannot be run by anyone who is more interested and concerned about Schutz’s affairs. The goal of Fundraising Committee is to build a non-tuition established income, which means that the school shouldn’t gain its revenue only from the income of tuition paid by the families.
The 83rd staff met with Justin last week. He seemed to be very excited about school projects and eager to make a difference in this school. Justin is full of enthusiasm and passion to make Schutz a better place. We discussed his plans to establish this non-tuition income. One event held last year to accomplish this goal was the Gala Night. This event raised more than 127,357 Egyptian pounds and proved to be a great success and an immense step in achieving the goal.
Another achievement of the Committee is publishing “Connections” in the Spring of 2007. The name of the newsletter is pretty self-explanatory. The basic concept of this newsletter is to connect the new with the old.
“Connections” is a newsletter published for the Schutz alumni. The idea is to facilitate their continuous contact with the place where they spent a lot of their time and became very fond of.
Justin Siberell, the editor of “Connections”, explains, “We often say “Schutz is Family” and we want to see those family bonds strengthened across generations as well as time zones!”.
Lizzy Roland, a student from last year’s senior class, wrote about her experience in Schutz and what it feels like to be parting from the place where she grew up and considered as her place in the world.
“Connections” is published twice a year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Nine hundred copies of the first issue were sent out to alumni in the USA, Canada, Europe, and other countries around the world.
The Fundraising Committee also got in contact last year with the Schutz Alumni Association. The Committee asked the Association to send them their database in order to merge and share information. This effort aims at keeping accurate records about the Schutz alumni throughout the history of the school.
The Fundraising Committee meets once every month and welcomes anyone interested in attending. The Committee’s door is always open for any recommendations, suggestions, or ideas from any member of the Schutz family.
2.JPG)