!Creativity Reaches the Sky

Silence is the True Trait of a Golden Heart

Mahmoud Ben Halim

He is the quiet guy on campus who is known for his peaceful nature and kindness. Karim Maksoud has been a Schutz student for seven years. Karim was at the American School of Alexandria (ASA) before he came to Schutz. Kairm loves working with computers and is interested in Computer Animations and would like to study abroad somewhere in the US. His creativity is his strongest point which he thinks might play a major role in getting him to where he wants to be.

Ten years from now, Karim wants to make animated movies. Karim would love to work for Walt Disney, Pixar, or Dream Works and wants to get a master’s degree in Computer Animations. Karim thinks his weakest point is that he sometimes can get lazy, and his laziness can affect him academically. However, when put to a challenge, Karim is always driven to pass the challenge.

Karim thinks of his dad as his role model since he is a hard worker, enjoys his work but still finds the time to have fun. Karim has had many memorable moments at Schutz to the extent that he can not pick a specific one to talk about. However, he will definitely miss sitting around by the green tables.

Karim would like to inform people that although he seems quiet most of the time, he has another part of his character that likes partying and having fun.

Karim thinks Schutz has taught him to live and fight the many challenges that he meets everyday. He thinks everyday at Schutz is a new day with new challenges to overcome. He also thinks that the school changed his way of thinking. He now believes that learning should be fun and creative.

Karim likes to describe himself as creative, funny, and kind. When asked who would he like to thank for being the person he is today, he responded by saying it was definitely his dad. Karim thinks that his effort and dedication are what inspires him to do the best he can.

Karim would like Schutz American School to keep inspiring the students. He really wishes the students to keep showing their school spirit, which he thinks has come down over the past few years. Finally, Karim would like to advise the current junior class to finish their college applications as early as possible since he left them to the last minute and struggled to get them done on time.

A Determined Rana

A Girl Who Seizes Every Opportunity

Alaa El Damaty

"It’s never too late," said Rana when asked about her motto in life. Rana Ragab is someone who seizes every opportunity to excel and improve herself. She has an ideal combination of traits that make her the person she is.

Rana is the epitome of a hard worker. When she realized that her English was not where it was supposed to be, she took off to a summer camp in the United States to improve it with a six-week course. Her A in English class shows how hard she worked to improve herself.

Rana is a perfectionist. She does not hand in any work unless it is her best work. Her projects, which are always handed in polished and without any mistakes, show her perfectionist nature. This year she is retaking Pre-Calculus because she was not satisfied with the grade she received last year. She did not rest until she got the A’s she wanted.

Rana is also known to stick to her guns. She is a fighter who in any situation does not rest until she gets what she wants. Last year, one of Rana’s wishes is for all of the senior class members to give speeches in the graduation. When she heard that this might not happen, she fought to change it. Rana made petitions and surveys to promote her views to the administration.

Rana’s determination adds to her strong character. She also strives to be a leader in her community. Rana has been a High School Student Council representative for two years. She was a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and she traveled to leadership retreats numerous times. She values these experiences because they add to her character and improve her leadership skills.

As mature as Rana is, she has set goals of where and what she wants to do in her life and is working toward these goals. When asked about what she wants to be in the future, Rana said, "I want to be a Finance Consultant in my father’s company; I want to make his company the best it can be." To reach this goal, Rana has spent her summers training in her father’s company. She plans to attend the American University in Cairo and major in Finance in order to be as educated as possible in the field she loves.

There is more to Rana than her serious side. In her free time, you will always find Rana stuck to the TV watching her favorite show, Gossip Girls. She loves speaking on the telephone. When surfing the Internet, Rana is known to look at fashion websites. She absolutely cares about her appearance, always coming to school dressed in the nines!

Rana is known among her peers as the "friendly one". When any new person comes to the school, Rana is the first to greet them. Her friends even call her "Kid Magnet" because she can always be found with the little kids all around her; her school bag is always full of lollipops.

When asked about advice to next year’s seniors, Rana said, "Take 11th grade seriously, so when you get hit by senioritis, you can enjoy your last semester in school."

"I Hate You, Don't Leave Me"

Temper at Its Highest Peak

Noureen Ben Halim

The joke was funny, and everyone was laughing. Although he was joining in the fun just a minute ago, Luke suddenly got up and moved away from the crowd. He felt angry, like he would attack anyone that came close. It was unexplainable because nothing and no one had triggered his emotions. But sooner than he knew, Luke was laughing along with his friends again.

Luke is just another teenager. But what differentiates him from the rest of his friends is his unexpected and unexplainable mood swings. His moods can vary a lot in just one day. Luke has a common disorder called bipolar disorder. He often becomes depressed, and he loses enjoyment in what is going on around him. On the other hand, sometimes he will become extremely excited and in high spirits on a day where nothing exciting is happening.

Sometimes, normal mood shifts are confused with bipolar disorder. In these cases, the person must see a doctor in order to prevent further problems. Bipolar disorder may be passed on from generation to generation in a family. If not treated well, this disorder can make a person’s life miserable. Thoughts of suicide and self-harm easily appear in someone with bipolar disorder.

Although it is better to depend on a professional therapist to diagnose bipolar disorder, one can come to the conclusion that they are affected by bipolar discorder if they often have thoughts that are completely blown out of reality. "I’m going to stop going to school, I’m not going to learn anything useful in life", would be an example of someone who could be bipolar, if the person argues about a matter that is out of the question.

Life can be very hard being around someone with bipolar disorder. It can be very frustrating and intimidating. People must be very patient when someone around them is suffering from bipolar disorder. Giving them space is better than trying to find out what is going on. The person who has the problem must recognize that they should be treated well. Along with medication, playing sports and being active is good for a person’s mind and body because endorphins are released (chemicals that your brain produces that cause feelings of euphoria). It is already tough living with someone with bipolar disorder, and one must learn how to properly react around them.

Rivalry Revived

The Celtics-Lakers Rivalry Comes Back to Life

Youssef Talaat

The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are the two most successful basketball franchises in National Basketball Association history. Their rivalry dates back to the 1960’s when Boston featured stars such as Bill Russell and Bob Cousy and Los Angeles had great players such as Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. It was then fervently renewed in the 1980’s and was personified as Larry Bird (Celtics) vs. Magic Johnson (Lakers). After Bird and Johnson retired, the rivalry became less intense but was reborn in 2008 when the two teams met in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. This season, they are both at the top of their conferences and are expected to meet in the 2009 NBA Finals.

Statistically speaking, the Celtics is the better team because it won 17 championships while the Lakers have won 14 championships. Together, the two teams’ 31 championships account for half of the NBA’s 62 championships. Both teams have met 11 times in the NBA Finals with the Celtics winning 9 of the 11 matchups; however, today’s teams are undoubtedly equal in both skill and support. In their last meeting, on February 5th, the Lakers pulled out a close 110-109 victory.

The most notable players on each team today are Kevin Garnett (Celtics) and Kobe Bryant (Lakers). Garnett was selected as the NBA Most Valuable Player in the 2003-2004 season, and Bryant was selected as the NBA MVP in the 2007-2008 season. Bryant has led the Lakers to win the NBA Finals three times while Garnett has led the Celtics to win the NBA Finals once. Unsurprisingly, there are other superstars on each team such as Ray Allen (Celtics), Paul Pierce (Celtics), and Pau Gasol (Lakers). Over the years, both teams have greatly contributed to forming legends such as Bob Cousy (Celtics), Bill Russell (Celtics), Dave Cowens (Celtics), Larry Bird (Celtics), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lakers), Magic Johnson (Lakers), and Shaquille O’Neal (Lakers).

A Celtics-Lakers matchup will always be breathtakingly exciting. Their last championship game in June of 2008 was eagerly anticipated after a 21-year wait. Fans are still zealous about their predicted meeting in this year’s playoff as both teams appear to be extremely close in skill and performance. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry has once again divided the United States into the East and West; after each team wins its respective conference, the entire fan base of that conference shifts to cheering one of two teams: the Boston Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rise of Weezy

A Legend in the Making

Aly El Attal

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., better known as Lil’ Wayne or Weezy, is one of the world’s most successful rappers. His eccentric tunes and lyrics have made him one of the world’s most celebrated hip-hop artists. His talent and charisma have enabled him to receive numerous awards and nominations, including eight Grammy nominations, Lyricist of the Year, and Best Rap Artist at the BET Awards.

Despite his great success, Lil’ Wayne had a fairly humble start; he was born and raised in Hollygrove, an underprivileged neighborhood in New Orleans. He began his singing career when he recorded a few freestyle rap tracks at Cash Money Records. A few years later, he became the youngest member of a rap group called The Hot Boys. The group separated and Lil’ Wayne started his solo career; however, the group has claimed that they will reunite and release an album in the coming years.

Some of his most famous songs are Mr. Carter, Lollipop, and Got Money. He is also known for featuring in several popular songs, including I’m So Paid by Akon and Let It Rock by Kevin Rudolf. He is currently working on a new, innovative album, Rebirth, which will combine rap lyrics and rock music. In a quote about the new album, Lil’ Wayne said, "This is something brand new, so we don’t want it to be some experimental thing, ‘cause some people are not gonna like this." He also referred to the upcoming album as "the birth of a new beginning."

Dwayne’s personal life has also been a topic of public discussion, especially his unusual tattoos. There have been many theories as to what the teardrops under his eyes represent. Some believe that they represent the number of people he has murdered, while others believe that they represent the number of people around him who have died in recent years.

The Man Who Ages Backwards

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Mohamed Zahran

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt, tells the story of a man who was born in the post World War I era. This movie is adapted by the 1922 short story, All the Sad Young Men, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Unlike other movies, the story portrays a man who ages backwards. He is born wrinkled and old while others are born young. Benjamin, the main character, experiences his life backwards. He sees everyone getting older, while he is getting younger.

David Fincher, the director, transforms this twenty-five page short story into a two and a half-hour movie. The "Curious Case" foreshadows the mystery of Benjamin’s life. How can he pursue love? How can he raise a family? How can he get over his troubles?

The movie starts when a mother is giving birth to an ugly baby. The mother dies, and the father then abandons his child blaming him for his wife’s death. A beautiful young lady becomes his caretaker, and they live in a nursing home. At the age of seven, he meets a young, beautiful girl. He soon gets to like her although he is a nonagenarian. This little girl named Daisy moves out of the neighborhood to pursue her dream as a dancer, and he was hired on a tramp steamer. Twenty years later, they meet in New York City where they fall in love. The character, Daisy, is really interesting. This character changes during the course of the movie. They then get married and have a daughter together. Benjamin refuses to help raise the girl because he is getting younger by the week. The final scene of the movie is where "just born" Benjamin dies in Daisy’s wrinkled, old arms.

This movie has received 13 Academy Award nominations and won three Oscars for Art Direction, Makeup, and Visual Effects. I have watched this movie, and I personally enjoyed it. It highlights how life can be wonderful or how it can be painful. So go get the movie right now!!

!Let's Get Synergized

Facing the Challenge of Hosting

Malak Kira

For the first time in Schutz’s history, the school hosted the Senior Fine Arts Festival from February fourth to the seventh. This was a huge challenge because as you all know, we are the smallest school participating in the festival (EMAC/ISAC). It was a challenge to provide performance space and band equipment for the festival.

Students and teachers from the American Community School in Beirut, the Dubai American Academy and the American International School in Kuwait participated in Band, Choir, Art and Drama activities. They ended the Festival by having a Gala concert and an art exhibition. The theme of the Festival was "Synergy". Greg Leet, the music teacher, came up with this theme to refect on the value of the coming together of more than one element.

The first day of the festival culminated in a very successful Showcase performance. Greg Leet stated that, "Nikhil and Shereen both sang wonderfully in the Showcase". He added that. "Merna Sakr, Noureen Ben Halim, Hanna El Amrawi, Hana Kotb and Ankita Ray put together a marvelous short skit about airline stewardesses with the help of Omneya El Naggar, who was kind enough to be the SAS drama sponsor in this festival." The Drama students preformed a fifteen- minute skit in the Gala Concert entiltled Welcome to McClucky’s. How Can We Serve You? How Can You Serve Us?

The festival was a great opportunity for the students with artistic talent to meet. Mrs. Huggins commented, "As an art teacher, it is always inspiring to collaborate with teachers from other schools who share my love of art, and to gain new lesson, ideas, and techniques from them."

The participating students also visited the Roman Theatre, the Library, and Fort Quaitbay to get a flavor of the history of Alexandria.

This festival over all was a success thanks to everyone who participated and helped putting it together. This was a challenge for Schutz, and we lived up to it.

A Helping Hand

Sahar Takes Students Under Her Wing

Aya Kordy

Sahar has remarkable abilities to help others; she is a passionate woman who believes that she was born to assist people. Upon her arrival at Schutz, many students questioned whether anyone would be able to fill the heavy burden that the previous School nurse, Salwa Hussein, carried for twenty eight years. However, questions were promptly answered. Sahar El Awadly’s success as a school nurse is evident through the highly organized clinic that she runs. Her own style is leading her to create a legacy of her own in Schutz.

Not only did Sahar go to Nursing College, but she also has a diploma in Public Health. Sahar is multilingual, as she is fluent in three languages Arabic, French and English. Before working at Schutz, Sahar was the Medical Coordinator at the International University of Senghor. She also was the school nurse at the American School of Alexandria (ASA), and the school Nurse at the International Schools of Egypt (ISA). When asked why she chose the field of nursing, Sahar responded, "The challenge of helping and taking care of others in their pain, then seeing them cured is more than just rewarding."

Sahar enjoys her leisure time and takes advantage of it. Sahar loves listening to classical music, taking long walks and doing what she is most good at: cooking delicious meals for her family. Sahar proudly says that the most cherished things in her life are her mother, two sons and daughter. "They are my world", she stated. When asked about her role model, Sahar replied, "It’s the Egyptian writer and ex-Minister of Education Taha Hussein, it just amazes me how someone could lose their sight and still see the road of goals and ambitions laid out in front of them."

Sahar sees Schutz as her home now, "I love it here. I’m honored to be here, and I just love everyone and feel that I’ve known them for years." Sahar is welcomed by all to the Schutz family, and we are all by her side as she embarks on a new experience in her life.

A Weekend of Knowledge

JV Academic Games Teams Compete at Schutz
Mahmoud Ben Halim

The JV Academic Games tournament was hosted at Schutz American School from the 4th to the 7th of March. There were sixteen teams participating in the tournament with a total of 59 students.

Schutz American Schol had two teams consisting of four members in each team. Hoda Eldib, Farah Mokhtar, Farida Sabry, and Nada Zaher were the first team. Our second team had Jared Bruner, Malek Kassem, Antarah Leet, and Priyanka Ray. Both Schutz teams participated and worked very hard. Team one came out in 9th place, and team two finished last. Farah Mokhtar (9th grade) won the Spelling Bee Competition. The tournament was a great success, and it positively ended Schutz’ mission of hosting the third tournament held in Alexandria during this acdemic year.