The Gate

Nikhil to Soon Sing Goodbye to Schutz

2010-06-14T04:07:00.001-07:00

Out to Take Over the World, One Song at a Time
By Farah Kashwa

We have all seen him around campus and we have all heard him sing his heart out during our school concerts. Nikhil Krishnan is always shy but if there is one thing he is not shy about it is performing and spreading his music across to a wider audience.
Nikhil was in a very different school before Schutz, a school that was “very strict and disciplined”, and they even had “to wear uniforms”. Therefore, coming to Schutz was a big change since Schutz has a no-uniform policy. Nikhil explained that “Schutz really does shape and prepare a person for his/her future.”
Nikhil really enjoys doing anything involving music in his free time. After finishing his homework and studies, of course, Nikhil can be caught playing the piano, listening to great musicians such as his idol, John Lennon, or even following in the footsteps of great musicians by making his own music.
He is a person that likes to live in the present and lives one moment at a time. As for what he will be doing 10 years from now, Nikhil can not tell. “Future to me is just like the other side of a wall, I can’t see it unless time allows me to” he explains his concept on the future.
Ten years from now Nikhil might not know what he will be doing but at least for the next four years he has it planned out. He has decided to attend the University of Alberta in Canada, but he is still awaiting the decision from his top choice university, National University of Singapore.
“I don’t have a role model, but I do have a hero: a musician named Bob Dylan” explains Nikhil, “his stuff was realistic, about tough lives you run into and how tough and hard this world is. I learnt a lot of lessons from his stories and I was able to relate to him much more than I ever did with anyone else.”
Music does not play the most important role in Nikhil’s life; his parents do. His parents affect each and every decision he makes and it turns out that most of the times they are right!
We all speak of what a great musician Nikhil will grow up to be and sometimes joke about how he will win Indian Idol. But for Nikhil, his musical career is still very much unknown. “No parent is crazy about their child’s musical dream. There is a high chance that it fails. However, I would still like to strive for it because I just love it and it is a good way to reach people”. If he does not go professional, then perhaps Nikhil will continue playing and making music as his favorite hobby and hopefully continue to grow as an artist. “So, yes. I would want to record for Columbia Records, my dream label, but that’s just a dream. Turning it into a reality is another talk. But hopefully it happens.”
In a few days, Nikhil will sign off as one of the most talented students we have known, but before he does, he would like to leave some motivating last words and advice to upcoming classes: “Just try your best at being yourself because everybody will want you to be just like them. We are all born to run, so do what you like and do something that can serve this world and its people, and make the most out of it.” Before Nikhil is permanently dismissed, he would like to thank a few people who made his stay here a little better, “Also thanks to everyone I came across here, especially Kelly and Mr. Collins who understood me when nobody here was able to.”

New York City’s Next Fashionista

2010-06-14T04:03:00.000-07:00

Ingy Bids Farewell to the Place She once Called HomeBy Aya Kordy

Ingy Fahmy entered the gates of Schutz as a timid ECP-Half student, and, after spending a few years at the German School in Alexandria, she returned to Schutz in the third grade. At Schutz, Ingy embarked on a journey that led her to choose Regents American College in London, where she will major in Public Relations. This, however, will not be the end of her career. Bizoo, as she is commonly known, plans on earning a post-graduate degree in Interior Design and pursuing her dream of becoming an interior designer by opening her own firm and expanding it from Alexandria to Europe and New York City.
Even though she seems to have it all planned out, she can not see or imagine herself 10 years from now. She hopes she will be “happy and satisfied” with the life she will be leading with her family. Ingy believes Schutz has taught her everything she needs to know to prepare for the next stage of her life, adding, “I’ll be closing the door on my high school days confident that Schutz transformed me from a young naïve girl into a young woman with countless opportunities ahead of her.” Nonetheless, she considers her weakness to be her “extremely emotional and over-sensitive feelings towards things and matters,” and this can sometimes hinder her ability to judge or make certain decisions. Many people tend to think of Bizoo as a shy person. She agrees that she is to a certain extent. She quotes her friends saying, “People who don’t know you think you are quiet, people who know you wish you were.” Still, almost everyone who knows her realizes that she is “stubborn and emotional,” and that food plays a major role in her life. She is commonly referred to as Schutz’s princess for her blond hair and her rather elevated sense of style, being voted by students as most stylish for three consecutive years.
Ingy has left a strong mark on Schutz, but she believes that Schutz has left a much stronger mark on her. Her gratitude “comes down to a simple thank you,” even though she knows that it will never be enough. She hopes that she could one day return all that Schutz has offered her by making Schutz proud of her accomplishments. To Ingy leaves the following message to Schutz, “I will forever be indebted to you. I spent some of the best days of my life on your grounds and they will never be replaced. I cherish and love you with all my heart.” Looking back at her memories at Schutz, she finds it hard to pinpoint only one that she will always cherish. She will miss “the laughs shared in Miss Samiha’s classroom, the tears shed in graduations, and the atmosphere of the students sitting together and being in a classroom where so many things happen.”
Her last words of wisdom to the junior class are, “Do not be in a hurry to graduate. Trust me, when it keeps coming closer, all you would want to do is pause time and rewind it back to when you were a freshman, and start it all over again. Put yourself out there and experience every moment.” As Ingy bids farewell to Schutz and prepares for her adult life in London, she would like to thank her parents for shaping her into a confident young woman ready to take off into the real world. With that being said, I am confident that Ingy will face the world with great ambition and desire, startling us with all her future achievements in order to make Schutz delighted to have graduated such a thriving individual.

Still in Bloom

2010-06-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

Kurt Cobain Was the Last One to Have an Impact
By Nikhil Krishnan

If you are driving in the city of Aberdeen in the state of Washington, you are likely to see a sign that reads “Welcome to Aberdeen – Come as You Are”. The sign refers to the 1991 song Come As You Are by Nirvana, intending to pay a tribute to the city’s son, the leadsman of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain. Cobain was probably the last acclaimed rock persona we have seen till now. Cobain’s prominent music, coupled with his ideals and heartbreaking life and death, has led to a massive cult following of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain was born on February 20, 1967 at Aberdeen, Washington. Cobain showed an early interest in music when he first heard The Beatles’ classic Hey Jude and tried playing it on piano at the age of 4. His life soon turned upside down when his parents separated. He was treated as an outcast and was often severely bullied throughout his years at school. He soon dropped out of his high school two weeks prior to his graduation and was subsequently banished from his house by his mother. He would then live on streets or sneak into his friends’ houses to sleep.
Cobain was an ultimate music fan which was evident from the New York Times Bestseller Journals, a collection of journal entries by Cobain. He had an eclectic musical taste that ranged from 19th Century Blues music, 60s rock of The Beatles to Punk-Rock and Heavy Metal of The Sex Pistols and Black Sabbath. He also appreciated the then contemporary alternative rock bands such as REM and The Pixies in the late 1980s. He made several greatest albums’ lists which included Punk Rock, Folk and even Rap albums. His exploration of diverse genre sounds influenced him to find the ultimate sound for his band. His idol was John Lennon of The Beatles with whom he shared his political and social ideals.
Cobain met Kris Noveselic, who became his best friend and the bassist of his band Nirvana. The band played Grunge, a subgenre of Alternative Rock that was only known to Seattle. Following their locally successful debut album Bleach (1989), Nirvana replaced their previous drummer with Dave Grohl and received their breakthrough ticket by releasing the highly influential classic album, Nevermind in 1991. Nevermind consistently ranks as one of the greatest albums of all time, and popularized Alternative Rock and Grunge in the mainstream music. Nevermind spanned big hits such as Come As You Are, In Bloom, Lithium, and of course the classic teenage anthem, Smells Like Teen Spirit. Nevermind catapulted Nirvana into international stardom with Cobain being labeled as the spokesman of his generation. His lyrics infused his Buddhist-like ideals about freedom and peace with teenage desolation. He was, however, very uncomfortable with the fact that he was being misinterpreted and soon became extremely depressed. Nirvana went on to release In Utero (1993) which was noted for being different from Nevermind.
Kurt Cobain gradually got disgusted by the material world that surrounded him. He realized he could not change people’s minds and affect the world ethically with his music. He soon turned suicidal and shot himself on April 5, 1994. Since then, Nirvana has sold over 30 million records and made many milestones. Kurt Cobain has always been viewed as a revered person who tried changing the world but became a target of the world instead.

All Quiet on Schutz’s

2010-06-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

Our Sen’10rs and 8th Graders Headed to Different Directions
By Hanna El-Amrawi

If there was one thing that our whole school can agree on, it is that the upper school campus seemed empty the beginning of the month of May. Am I right or not? Was it not a lot quieter on campus? It sure did seem that way. With the 8th graders off to hike Mount Sinai and the seniors off to Barcelona, it sure did seem a lot emptier on campus.
The 8th graders, who were chaperoned by the Spurlocks, left to climb the world’s famous Mount Sinai from May 14th to May 16th. They had a great time bonding with their classmates and getting ready for High School.
The seniors had another trip in mind. They headed off to Barcelona from May 16th to 18th! The twelfth graders were chaperoned by Mr. Robert Blankinship and Kelly Sullivain. It was a great way for the class of 2010 to reconnect and cherish some great memories before heading moving each in theri separate directions. Yaseen Moussa, a senior, felt that, “This was the best trip that I have ever been on, and I will never forget the friendship between all of us”. Barcelona, Spain 2010, was definitely a trip to remember.

Entertainment Corner

2010-06-14T03:50:00.000-07:00

Movie Madness
By Farah Kashwa

The Ladies Are Back
Director Michael King decides to revive the ladies of Sex and the City and form a sequel, Sex and the City 2, which is sure to be another box office hit. In the sequel, the women are reunited together and share new adventures of both romance and friendship in an unforgettable journey to many places around the world. Once again they teach us the meaning of the high-society life of a socialite in New York City. So be prepared to get carried away.

Forever Finding True Love
Through forests, dragons, and evil kings, we have all found a place in our hearts for the green ogre, Shrek. Even though Shrek is bored in the beginning of the new movie, Shrek Forever After, the movie will not leave viewers bored after they discover what Shrek has done. Shrek has made a deal with the devil, Rumpelstiltskin, in order to make him feel like a real ogre again. What did Shrek’s wish get him in the end? Remember to be careful what you wish for, it might come true!

Time is Precious
Based on a video game, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, has been turned into a movie starring heartthrob Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal is a prince who teams up with a princess to stop an evil ruler from unleashing a sandstorm that can destroy the whole world. After being tricked to unleash the sands of time himself, the princess and he go on a mission to find the only thing that can save his kingdom and reverse his own fatal mistake, the Dagger of Time.

Opposites Attract
Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher team up for a romantic comedy and what a dream team! Kutcher plays a spy who is used to the European life of flashy sports cars and flashy women. But when he meets Heigl, a computer tech geek who is recovering from a bad break up, he falls in love with her. He then decides that he wants to give up his high-style life for becoming a family man. However, after three years of a happily-ever-after life, the couple learns that Kutcher’s character is the target for a multi-million dollar hit. Now, the ordinary couple is on the run for their lives. Can they both survive the professional hit men while also managing their in-laws? Watching Killers is the only way to find out!

The Talented Pianist

2010-06-14T03:48:00.000-07:00

Gregory N. Leet Shares His Schutz Memories
By Hanna El-Amrawi

Gregory N. Leet, the Head of the Music Department, is one of those people who have been able to stay on campus for as long as we can remember. During the seventeen years of working at Schutz, Greg has never managed to call in sick! What an immuned man! I wonder what his secret cure is.
From a young age, Greg had a deep passion for music. He was the musical one in the family and he often preferred to stay home playing the piano, instead of hanging out with his friends.
Greg was born in Albany, New York, but grew up in Massachusetts. He later enrolled in the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Oberlin College in Ohio where he earned a degree in both Piano Performance and French Literature. After great determination and effort, Greg managed to get his graduate degree from Columbia University in New York City in Historical Musicology where he completed his M.A and Ph.D. After fulfilling his dream of attending one of the top universities in the United States, Greg decided to come back to Egypt. “Since there are no universities teaching music programs in Alexandria, I am fortunate enough to find a music teaching experience at Schutz “, stated Greg.
When asked what Greg’s most memorable moment is, he replied with, “It is difficult to pin down one most memorable moment at Schutz. But perhaps it can be any moment where it is clear that the students and I are engaged in the process of really making music”.
Lately Greg has been able to collaborate with various Schutz teachers in professional music activities and performances. Greg is pleased to have worked on the musical Bye Bye Birdie with Mr. Bob Medina. He states that, “The combination of music and drama, to me, is one of the greatest genres of art and when presented well, can give lasting, wonderful and valuable memories to the audiences and participants”. Greg has also been working with Ms. Nona Petrosyan, a trained opera singer from Armenia, who also speaks Russian. Ms. Nona Petrosyan and Greg have given numerous recitals during this past year. Last April, they gave a recital at the Russian Cultural Center in Alexandria. “It is particularly nice for me to accompany the Armenian sons, as I had never done that before. It reminded me of my days as a vocalist in New York City”, explained Greg.
We are glad Greg has decided to continue his stay with us at Schutz! We are so pleased to have such a talented musician on our Schutz staff.

Farewell to the Walshes

2010-06-14T03:46:00.000-07:00

Yet Another Couple Has Decided to Leave
By Hanna El-Amrawi

The amount of teachers leaving by the end of this year is a surprise for everyone on campus. However, nothing is more shocking than the resignation of Mr. Walsh, the Upper School Principal, and his wife Ms. Jane Walsh, the Head Librarian. It was completely unexpected to have this couple resign after only being in Schutz for two years. Mr. Walsh explains that the couple was planning on staying for a third year, but then half way through the year many aspects changed their mind.
There are many burning questions on Schutz students’ minds, most importantly why this couple decided to leave. When asked this specific question, Mr. Walsh replied with, “ It is hard to answer this question, really it isn’t any one thing, it is just that I am not sure Schutz and I are a match, personally and culturally. He later added that he feels that his family is better off somewhere else, and that Schutz is better with someone else’s ideas and plans.
While Mr. Walsh feels like he has not made “a lot of changes in Schutz”, I bet every Schutz student can agree with me that, Mr. Walsh has brought about a dramatic transformation to the place. To name a few, a change in the quality of the canteen food, a ban on food delivery, the addition of the Falcon block, and a reinforcement of the absence policy.
Mr. Walsh started off his career studying Economics at Brown University in Rhode Island, where he met Ms. Jane Walsh. He was successful at juggling between school work, the wrestling team and the American football team at Brown University. However, with a major in Economics, he soon became more interested in Secondary Education. He began to pursue his career as a teacher in a public school in Rhode Island. Later on, he moved to Maine to work in a private school. While working in Maine for 18 years, the couple’s close friends got a job offer at the Cairo American College. A year after, the Walshes decided to go visit their friends and they “absolutely fell in love with Egypt”. “In a week we saw the Pyramids, sailed on a felukah, and dove the Red sea! Great place!”, explained Mr. Walsh. Upon leaving, the couple felt that Egypt was the right place for them. After a couple of work experiences at several different schools in the Middle East and Africa, it was time for the Walshes to enter the Schutz family!
Having worked in many different schools, Mr. Walsh feels that Schutz is different. “It has a lot of people that stay for a long time, whereas the other school, I worked at were more international”, he explains.
Having decided to put their teaching job on a hold, the couple has decided to possibly return to Maine, where the rest of the family will be waiting. The couple explained that, in their sixteen years of teaching abroad, they have really missed out on a lot of family events. Mr. Walsh adds that it is time for the couple to take a break, maybe a year off, but if the right job swings their way, then they will definitely give it a try.
Mr. and Ms. Walsh you will definitely be missed by the Schutz a family. We wish you a successful future!

The Schutz Sphinx that Guards Schutz Traditions

2010-06-14T03:42:00.000-07:00

Through the Eyes of the Man Who Has Seen It All
By Ingy Fahmy

Coming from an Italian school in Alexandria, Massimo Laterza attended Schutz as a student from 1972 to 1980. As a Schutz graduate, Massimo attended the American University in Cairo (AUC) to major in Political Science and minor in Middle Eastern Studies. He then continued his graduate studies in many prestigious schools and acquired various degrees, such as: London School Of Economics, Michigan State University, and the University of Bath. Massimo decided that all the skills he learned would best be applied to the place he considered to be his home for practically his entire life.
Hence, he returned to the Schutz community in 1987 and has been a part of it ever since. Massimo knows every little aspect of Schutz inside out. First being a student, then moving to becoming a faculty member holding various positions including, working as a teacher, dean of students, test center supervisor, college admission counselor, EMAC/ISAC coordinator, and HS principal.
Looking back at the different stages of Schutz’s history through Massimo’s eyes and experience, he recognizes two distinctive time frames. Firstly during his early years at Schutz as a faculty member, Massimo describes the school as being more informal than it is now. He explains, “Now the school has many more committees, more paper work, and more formalities. Then it was a more casual and laidback atmosphere; which sometimes I tend to miss”. Secondly 15 years ago, he claims that the school was different because it was more international and had a vast diversity in its student population. “It had a different flavor”, as Massimo explains, and he hopes that the school does get more international students because then you have the capability of doing so many more things.
When asked about next year’s huge faculty turnover, Massimo admits he is a little concerned because while the school is used to the change of teachers, next year in particular there is going to be a lot of turnover. It is not an easy obstacle to tackle because when new people come, it takes a lot of time and effort to orient, train, and bring them up to speed on the school’s system and expectations.
While Massimo might put on a front of being extremely sociable, he considers himself to be more introverted than extraverted. He enjoys his privacy and being alone for hours and even days without having any outside communication with the world.
Massimo looks to Karl Popper, a philosopher of science who lived in the 20th century, as one of his leading role models because his thinking is an aspect that Massimo values a lot. He was one of the most influential people on Massimo’s reasoning and thinking. As a student, Massimo reminisces on his “discovery” of books and reading when he first came to Schutz. He explains that, at his old school, reading for the sake of reading was not encouraged and that the first time he saw a library was during his first year at Schutz.
What the future holds for Massimo and his goals lie in the fact that he is a passionate learner who loves to learn and study more. The pursuit of knowledge is his most important goal. When asked if he had anything else to add, Massimo says, “I will miss Kelly. And students, you do not always realize the opportunities you are afforded at Schutz and you should always take advantage of the school’s educational resources.”

A Wonderful Tradition that Lives On

2010-06-14T03:38:00.000-07:00

Schutz Honor Societies Welcome Its New Inductees
By Nikhil Krishnan

An important traditional event held every year, the NHS/NJHS Induction Ceremony was held on May 24, 2010 in the auditorium to recognize and welcome the new inductees in the Schutz Honor Societies (SHS). This year, six students became part of the Schutz Honor Societies. Christian Atallah, Mena Alla Bedran, Hana Kira and Farida Sabry were inducted in the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter of Schutz while Sarah El Sebakhy and Nada Zaher were inducted in the National Honor Society (NHS) chapter of Schutz.
The event commenced with Arnab Chaudhuri, the current Schutz Honor Societies President, giving an introductory speech that described the ideals and qualities that SHS students abide with. The ceremony then proceeded with the current SHS members lighting the five candles that represent the five characteristics that lead the Schutz Honor Societies: Scholarship, Leadership, Citizenship, Character and Service. Each new inductee was then called upon to choose one of the characteristics that he/she associated most with and provide a brief speech on how it represented him/her.
The new inductees finally took the pledge of allegiance for the SHS before Arnab and were provided with a membership badge and card by their parents in order to officially be recognized as members of the Schutz Honor Societies. After the ceremony in the auditorium, everyone raced to the delicious annual ceremony cake and refreshments served by the Schutz kitchen staff outside of the auditorium. The ceremony was truly a success as every individual present at the event, whether he or she was a student, teacher or a parent, smiled energetically and felt proud. “I thought it was a lovely evening. The current members did a beautiful job with the ceremony. After I heard the speeches given by the new inductees, I am sure that Schutz will have a great group next year,” stated Kelly Marie Sullivan, the SHS Advisor.

Every Student’s Dream

2010-06-14T03:36:00.000-07:00

The “No-Homework” Policy Influence is Spreading
By Farah Kashwa

Imagine going home and having more time to spend with your family; more time to spend reading your favorite novel; more time to play your favorite sport. Or imagine that you are on vacation and you do not have to leave the beach to go work on an essay or practice from your 15-page math practice questions. Wouldn’t that just be the dream vacation?
Almost every student has had a moment in his/her life where they wished for a no-homework policy. Well, their wish may come true after all. Several schools around the United States and abroad as well, have already implemented this policy and have found it to be very helpful for the students.
Toronto’s public school system is taking it step by step, and they have implemented a policy that prevents teachers from giving students homework before a long break.
Other schools in the United States have taken a much bigger step concerning the no-homework policy. At the Brooklyn Free School, for example, students do not have homework or tests. They are allowed to do whatever they want whenever they want. Teachers also encourage students to pursue their dreams whether it is to become a fashion designer, a singer, or the next Bill Gates. A typical day at the Brooklyn Free School would be students playing chess, watching a movie, or reading a book. Free schools, which were popular decades ago, operate on the belief that kids are naturally curious and learn best when they want to learn about something. They go by the thought that every student is responsible for their education.
A “No-Homework” policy sounds like a really unrealistic goal for Schutz but even though the thought will most likely be dismissed by the administration, the policy may not be harmful to students. Students can practice math problems while they are in math class and students can read their assigned novels together in class. That will benefit them by giving them the chance to discuss any problems with their teachers and get their explanations.
Straight A-students at this school have stated that in order to have a perfect academic record, they had to give up a social life and even give up time with their family. School should not indirectly demand for such big sacrifices from students in order for them to be successful later on. A no-homework policy can benefit the student in more ways than one, and not just academically.

Obituary

2010-06-14T03:34:00.000-07:00

Daniel Speas (1955-2010)
By Aya Kordy

Daniel Speas, member of the Schutz American School Board of Trustees, passed away in the United States last month, at the age of fifty five after suffering from cancer. He arrived to Alexandria on the 14th of September 1994, helped Schutz for three years including two years as Head of the Technology Committee, a sub-committee of Facilities Committee and served as a Board member for two terms. He gave invaluable insight on networking and technology. “He had no direct connection to Schutz (no kids at the school), but he loved it. Serving on the Board gave him great pleasure, and he loved the people he got to know and appreciated how they treated him”, affirmed Tarek Fahmy, Vice-President of the Board. It is with great sorrow that Schutz’s family lost such a remarkable person, one that helped the school in so many indescribable ways. Schutz bids farewell to one of its esteemed Board members.

Demolishment of Senior Year

2010-06-14T03:31:00.000-07:00

Is Senior Year Just a Big Festivity and a Waste of Time?
By Ingy Fahmy

When senior year rolls, most students around the globe just want to relax and enjoy what remains of the rest of their high school career. After working hard for three years, taking tests, completing projects, and preparing for college admission. Starting December, senioritis starts kicking in, and seniors start leading a different high school experience than the rest of their years at high school.
By the time the final year of your high school career comes around, a lot of the students are one step ahead of the game with enough credits to graduate that they no longer take their school work seriously. Many seniors decide to opt for different things that might please them in ways school work will not, such as: having work experience before heading off to college, studying subjects that will be taught in college, or simply taking the year off and making the most memories possible of what is left of their time in high school.
The reason senior year is associated with slacking off and the infamous disease of “senioritis” is because many colleges in the United States and colleges that integrate the American system stop looking at students’ grades once they start their final year of schooling. It has been said that the most crucial year of a student’s high school career happens to be junior year; that is the most year colleges look at as a reference to your ability as a student. As a result, students tend to do their best during their junior year and then take senior year as a vacation and give themselves a break from all the hard work they put up in previous years.
Al Church, the principal of AMES Charter School in Salt Lake City, said, “Educators have worried about it for probably 40 years – what to do with 12th grade?” Some concerned individuals, such as Church, have suggested many different ways to tackle this endless obstacle. One of the more noticeable methods included the proposal of eliminating senior year altogether and it could save up to $60 million in some states. Another option would be to get a jumpstart on college credits; students in the 11th and 12th grades could start attending classes in colleges where they would receive college credits and in return save up to $3,000 in college tuition. Finally, eight American states are launching a pilot program where they will allow students as early as during their sophomore year to graduate and attend college.
“Let’s go to a system where if you finish early you can go and if you need more time you can stay”, said Daniel Domenech, the executive director of the American Association of School Administrators. But the dilemma or the risk of sending a student off to college before their completion of senior year is one that is debatable because students need to reach a certain emotional and maturity levels before starting their first year in college. That final year of high school is as essential as any other year. It might not hold the academic gravitas as any other year, but it is certainly a vital step and transition into moving to a different educational environment. Seniors and teenagers in general will always find a way to relax, enjoy, and not work, so if senior year is demolished then who knows, the disease might be renamed to being “junioritis” or even “sophomoritis”. The game is endless.

A Sensational Comeback to Schutz’s Theatre

2010-06-14T03:27:00.000-07:00

The Bye Bye Birdie Production Was a Stunning Success
By Aya Kordy

Obnoxious voices can be heard around campus, hollering, “We love you Conrad”, the voices belong to the Schutz Drama/Music students who recently put on a successful production of the hit play Bye Bye Birdie.
The setting is the late 1950’s, when teenagers from across the United States were going crazy for the gorgeous rock star, Conrad Birdie (Dikran Alexanian). However, his manager Albert Peterson (Antarah Leet), will soon go into debt after staking his financial future on Conrad’s success. He is under even more stress when his secretary Rosie (Aya Kordy), becomes increasingly frustrated with the time and money Albert is losing on his project with Conrad. The play takes a dramatic turn when Conrad receives a draft notice warning him that soon he will have to join the military. Albert attempts to hold a farewell party for Conrad, and his plan is that Conrad must kiss one lucky girl chosen at random.
They will appear on the Ed Sullivan Show before he leaves for the army. Kim MacAfee (Tonya Drummond), from Sweet Apple, Ohio, is the chosen lucky girl to be kissed. More problems unfold when her boyfriend, Hugo Peabody (Marwan Zahran) arrives on the scene, and feelings of jealousy arise.
Meanwhile, Rosie reaches a boiling point and becomes fed-up with the insulting treatment she receives from Albert’s mother. Eventually, things take a turn for the better. Kim and Hugo resolve their problems alone, while Albert sends Conrad off to New York with his mother. He then surprises Rosie by retiring the music business and gets a job in Pumpkin Falls Iowa. The plot is both exciting and funny involving many dramatic situations.
Tickets for the Thursday show were quickly sold out leaving only a limited number of seats for the Friday show. Over two hundred people attended this must-see performance, “I loved the merge between the light comedy and the drama, the overall mood that was set with the music and the singing certainly awed me”, stated Yassin El Naggar, a 9th grade student. People agreed that it was certainly a sensational comeback to Schutz’s theatre, with the remarkable co-operation of Bob Medina, the play director and Upper School art/drama teacher with Gregory Leet, the music director and K-12 music teacher.

Schutz Officially Dismisses the Class of 2010

2010-06-14T03:18:00.000-07:00

The Beginning of the Rest of Their Lives
By Ingy Fahmy

On numerous occasions, you would find the seniors sitting by the front porch reminiscing about all the crazy things the previous classes did and how those times used to be marked as the “golden days” of Schutz. But what this year’s senior class seems to be oblivious to is the fact that its members will be talked about in the same spirit of the “golden days” memories that prior graduates shared before.
I will not exaggerate about how this class gets along all the time and how it is always “rainbows and butterflies” with them. Each class member is distinctive and unique in a way that is not comparable to any other. Even though differences exist in every class, this class had the chance to grow together and to put their discrepancies aside to aid in each other’s own growth.
As they get ready to close the door on their high school days, the graduates realize that commencement is often referred to as the end of a long journey; however, they understand that it only defines the beginning of the rest of their lives.
In the coming months, the seniors will have to face new realities, including leaving the comfort and familiarity of their own homes to establish and create their own new ones from scratch. Graduation carries around a constant feeling of bitter-sweetness; you want to be done, but at the same you do not want it to be over.
The Class of 2010 will soon be officially relieved from their educational duties at Schutz American School. Nevertheless, each member in this class was empowered with the tools to thrive academically, which will aid them in thecoming stages of their lives as they mature in the years to come. The graduates will soon become freshmen in universities such as the American University in Cairo, Berkeley College, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Copenhagen University, Regents American College London, University of Alberta, Gardner Webb, Purdue University, and Vellore Institute of Technology.
The Schutz community wishes the departing seniors heart-felt congratulations and nothing but the best of luck and success in the beginning of the rest of their lives. The graduates hope they have left a mark on Schutz and its current students as Schutz has forever left a stamp on their lives.

Lost! Nicki Minaj! If Found, Please Return to Schutz

2010-05-19T04:58:00.000-07:00

Shereen Elkhazendar the Nicki Minaj in the Making
By Hanna El-Amrawi

When it is quiet on the Schutz campus and you do not feel that sudden burst of energy, you know someone is missing. When you do not hear Lil’ Wayne’s latest song blaring in the background, again you know someone is missing. When you walk through the campus, and you do not smell that Victoria Secret lotion, you immediately wonder where she is? How is the campus just so normal? Is Shereen Elkhazendar sick today?
Ever since Shereen moved to Schutz in August 2005, Schutz was never the same. Shereen moved to this “uptight and judgmental school”, from Ramapol Middle School in Mahwah, New Jersey. Once entering the big bronze Schutz gates, this Punky-styled girl felt like something was wrong. “Daddy it is one year and I am going back home”, stated Shereen. However, as she learned to open up to her classmates and got acquainted with the Egyptian culture, she truly fell in love with Schutz and Egypt. In fact that planned year was now moved to five years as she will be completing High School from Schutz American School.

Shereen will be graduating from Schutz as a unique and confident woman, who will pave her way to be the next leading anesthesiologist. I know what you are thinking, a scientist! How boring? Well, Shereen is not like any other boring scientist. Along with getting her degree in science, she will also pursue a career in singing. “I hope to be the next Nicki Minaj”. Since I am not as big of a rapper fan as Shereen is, I had no idea who Nicki was. “Nicki Minaj is Lil’ Wayne’s project, he is making her a star!”. Lil ‘Wayne is Shereen’s role model. “Dude! He worked his way from the bottom to the top with no help at all. Now look at him! He is the best rapper alive”, explained Shereen. In fact she loves Lil’wayne so much that she is planning on visiting him this spring break! Who knows, maybe he will be able to discover her, just like Nicki.

Ever since graduation has been coming near, Shereen can not get the fact across her mind that she will be leaving, and that this time it is not her choice anymore. “I am going to miss the people in Schutz so much!”, added Shereen. One specific memory that Shereen will never be able to forget is EMAC Varsity Volleyball 2009. “It was by far my most memorable moment at Schutz, I will never be able to forget the smiles on all our faces when the guys scored the final point!”. Shereen feels that Schutz has changed and shaped her into the person she is today. However, there is one person in particular who Shereen feels has been able to set her on the right track. “Kelly Sullivan has been able to influence my past and my future. She has set my mind on the right track, and for that I would like to thank her”, explained Shereen.

With graduation nearing in, Shereen’s advice to the upcoming seniors is “Senior year is once in a lifetime! So enjoy it”. Well Shereen we are glad that you have decided to graduate from Schutz, and I am sure that one day we will hear you on the radio.

Possibly, the Next, Next Oprah Winfry

2010-05-19T04:55:00.001-07:00

Aya Kordy Departs with the Tools to Achieve her own Desires
By Ingy Fahmy

Five years ago, Aya Kordy had no intention of attending Schutz American School let alone graduate from it. She used to be enrolled in the British School of Alexandria, and she was preparing to attend the Arab Academy. Nonetheless, here we are five years down the line, where Aya will be graduating from Schutz and very grateful that her father pushed and insisted that she continue her schooling career here. Aya’s classmates have no doubt that she is destined to reach incredible places with her undeniable talents. Being voted the school’s loudest female, most likely to make it to Hollywood, and the most energetic individual are all small determinants to what adds up to create Aya’s personality. At any given day, you can walk through the front porch to see and hear Aya putting on a performance of some sort whether she does it intentionally or not; you will be guaranteed a scene that will very much entertain you.

Aya is an individual who does not necessarily know what she wants but there is no doubt that when she does figure out what she does want, she will get it. To emphasize on that point, she does not like to think about the future and what it holds for her; Aya likes to concentrate at what is considered to be “the here and the now”. Aya has not yet decided as to where she will be attending college. In her mind, her options are either a certain college in London or the American University in Cairo where she plans to earn a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. When asked where she sees her self ten years down the line, she replied, “I have no idea. I still haven’t even decided where I am going for college. It is bad enough that I know I am leaving home and my school. I tend to stop myself from thinking that much into the future”.

As a young adult still trying to realize what she wants from her life, Aya harbors the element of not resting till she gets what she has in her mind. She almost never gives up and is always out there. She keeps pushing and pushing until what she desires is obtained. However, Aya might come off as a very strong-hearted individual; but actually, she is the most sensitive person you can meet. She may act strong in front of a person, but on the inside so many emotions and thoughts are going on. Add to that, if any one utters a single bad or offensive word about wither her family or her friends there is no doubt that she will defend them and do what is necessary to protect their name. By nature, Aya is a very protective and helpful human being; she tends to abide by the saying “The world is my country, its citizens are my brethren, and to do well is my religion”.

Nearly closing the book on her days at Schutz, Aya is aware that her name will no longer appear on the enrollment list, consequently, she stresses that Schutz will always be a part of her life. Aya reminisces on the countless moments she lived through at Schutz some of which include: the Romeo and Juliet play, the Ronny and Julie production, the canteen boycott, the Fashion Show, and definitely her presentation to Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, the Egyptian First Lady. Aya cannot bear the thought of walking away from the sense of family that dominates the school and is not present in many institutions she has previously attended. However, Aya expresses that she is somehow glad to be leaving Schutz at this time because, “I feel that many Schutz traditions have changed and what is left of that tradition is now changing”.

Through her five years at Schutz, Aya walks away from it all with a very prominent life lesson and that is to constantly ask “WHY?” She further explains herself by quoting to me, “Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why. And Schutz taught me WHY”. Before officially ending her days here she wanted to lend the current juniors and the rest of the classes a piece of advice that she came to realize, “Someone once told me that I have to choose what I want to loose, for I cannot have everything. So know what you are willing to give up because there will always be those who will not allow you to have everything”.

Exiting the school with the diploma she earned with all her effort and motivation is what will keep Aya striving for a better future for herself. Aya has learned to open herself to endless opportunities and never limit herself to one option. With that in mind, I am sure that Aya will go out to the world and surprise us all with her future doings and Schutz will be proud to have harbored such a successful individual.

A Ray of Light

2010-05-19T04:53:00.000-07:00

Ray Charles Was Always the Genius
By Nikhil Krishnan

There have been many musical giants who have been labeled as geniuses. However, only one individual was directly nicknamed as ‘the genius’: Ray Charles. Ray Charles’ unique rhythm and blues (R&B) music, an eclectic fixture of gospel, jazz, soul, blues, country and rock n’ roll broke into the mainstream music for the first time in the late 1950s. By the 1960s, Ray Charles was reputed as a national treasure. Charles’ story is not only about outlawed music breaking into mainstream popularity, but also a story about how a blind, African-American man overcomes his obstacles and works up to his dream.

Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23, 1930 and raised in a poor black community in Albany, Georgia. By the time he was five years old, he began to lose his eye sight which eventually left him completely blind by the age of seven. He lost his whole family that consisted of his parents and a brother by the age of 15. Ray Charles attended Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida where he showed an early interest in music. He was extensively taught classical music at the school, which he would later incorporate in his piano playing.
Charles did not return to school and instead played the piano with several jazz groups and on his own at gigs in clubs and theatres. Just like many African Americans in the U.S. during 1940s and 1950s, he too was facing severe prejudice and discrimination. He struggled to make it on his own as a solo artist and also got addicted to heroin, which exacerbated his state and will. He was soon discovered by Atlantic Records manager Ahmet Ertegun and was signed to the record label as a solo artist.

Ray Charles released a few moderately successful singles with Atlantic Records. It was not until he released his song I Got a Woman that he came to receive some notice. I Got a Woman and other following releases were considered controversial and sacrilegious because they were mixing Christian gospel music and blues, a less-respected art form due to its lyrics. Nevertheless, Ray Charles had an original Rhythm and Blues sound that people grew to love. In 1959, Ray Charles released his greatest single of all time, What I’d Say, which went on to become a rock n’ roll standard and paved way for many other rock n’ roll artists such as Little Richard and Elvis Presley to perform.

In the 1960s, Ray Charles produced some fine and well-received studio albums such as Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, The Genius Hits the Road, Genius + Soul = Jazz where he increasingly experimented with jazz and country sounds. He had several No.1 hits including Georgia on My Mind and Hit the Road Jack. He was well known for being outstandingly original. He was much respected as a singer who genuinely demonstrated the whole feeling and mood of the music he played with his voice.

Ray Charles garnered number of honors including Grammys, Kennedy Center Honors etc. He passed away in 2004 just a week before the academy award winning film based on him, Ray was released. Ray Charles continues to influence a generation of musicians and average people to achieve what they want.

The 82nd Academy Awards

2010-05-19T04:49:00.000-07:00

Kathryn Bigelow: The 1st First Woman in Oscar History to Win the Directing Award

By Aya Kordy

The Academy Awards, best known as the Oscars, are awards that are exhibited annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to distinguish the professionals in the film industry. The Academy awards are the oldest award ceremonies in the media; hence, it is one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world.

Each year, a host is chosen by The Academy to conduct the Oscars night, many have hosted the ceremony like Conrad Nigel, Bob Hope, Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres, Hugh Jackman and finally Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. However, Bop Hope is in the lead having hosted 18 Academy Awards.

When Titanic was released in 1997 and accumulated a grand total of $1,843,201,268 worldwide it became the highest-grossing film in history, and remained so for twelve years. Until Avatar, a movie written and directed by James Cameron, surpassed it in 2010 with a grand total of $2,667,881,000. Despite Avatar’s world record, it did not win Best Picture or Best Director; instead they were both granted to Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron’s ex-wife and competitor, for The Hurt Locker. Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman in Oscar history to win the directing award. It was a big night for The Hurt Locker, a war-epic drama that blew away audiences worldwide, with nine nominations and six Academy Awards.

For Best Actor, Jeff Bridges won for his phenomenal performance in Crazy Heart. He plays a washed-up musician, obsessed with alcohol, who turns his life around after finding love. Bridges was competing against Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Renner, and George Clooney. For Best Actress, Sandra Bullock won for her heroine role in The Blind Side, inspired from a true story. Sandra honored her mother and all the mothers in the world who raise their children and children who aren’t theirs. Sandra Bullock was up against Carey Mulligan, Helen Mirren, Gabourey Sidibe, and the phenomenon Meryl Streep.

The awards were as follows;
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
Actor is a supporting role: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds)
Actress in a supporting role: Mo’Nique (Precious)
Animated Feature Film: Up
Art Direction: Avatar
Cinematography: Avatar
Film Editing: The Hurt Locker
Make Up: Star Trek
Music (Original Score): Up
Music (Original Song): Crazy Heart
Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker
Visual Effects: Avatar
Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Precious
Writing (Original Screenplay): The Hurt Locker

Did You Know That...

2010-05-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

By Aya Kordy

…Some birds bark instead of sing?

… There are about 2700 languages spoken in the world?

… An elephant can be pregnant for up to two years?

… Elvis had a twin brother named Jesse Garon, who died at birth,
which is why Elvis' middle name was spelled Aron; in honor of his brother?

Entertainment Corner

2010-05-19T04:38:00.000-07:00

Movie Madness
By Farah Kashwa

New Rules
Zoe, played by Jennifer Lopez, had it all planned: to become married with children before 30. However, her plan does not work out the way she hoped it would. When she realizes time is quickly passing by, she decides to resort to a plan B and goes to the sperm bank. The same day she leaves the sperm bank, she meets Stan, her Mr. Perfect and there are fireworks between them. After dating for a while, Zoe is convinced that she found “the one”. During her relationship, she finds out that she is in fact pregnant. Although she is happy, she decides to tell him that she is having a baby. But will Stan break her heart or step-up to the plate? A romance-comedy that is warm and light-hearted, The Backup Plan is a movie for everyone.

The Return of the Superhero
After the world witnessed his world-altering technology, Iron Man is back with the sequel, Iron Man 2! This time, things get more challenging when there is another person out there who decides to build his own Iron Man suit. However, this new suit is not used for good and it is up to the original and beloved Iron Man to step in and save the world. While fighting his worst villains, he also has to fight the American government. After Iron Man is being exposed as Tony Stark, the government demands to have his suit and all other inventions of his. With Iron Man having several strong opponents and many battles to fight, will he crush them?

The Cat is out of the Bag
Death at a Funeral was originally a British movie, but when it came to America, it was double the fun. The American re-make of the hit British hit movie features a great ensemble cast: Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, Martin Lawrence, and James Marsden. When the family is notified that their father has passed away, they come together for the funeral but bring a lot of baggage with them. Dirty laundry is aired when the family reunion takes place and the cat is let out of the bag too many times. Along with hilarious moments and a juicy forgotten past, this movie is a must-see.

The Losers Fight Back
The Losers, believe it or not, are a smart and unbeatable CIA special tactic force. While on a search and destroy mission in the jungles of Bolivia, they find themselves being set up by an unknown man named Max. With Max thinking that The Losers are gone for good, the group decides to come up with a revenge plan. While planning their big plan, they meet a beautiful and mysterious operative named Aisha who offers to help them find Max but also has an agenda of her own. The Losers finally put their plan into attack mode and try to stop Max from the high-tech global war he is determined on starting.

Lil Wayne: CONVICTED AND IMPRISONED!

2010-05-19T04:36:00.000-07:00

Keep Your Head Up, Weezy
By Ingy Fahmy

The worldwide famous rapper, Lil Wayne, made his final appearance on Monday, March 8, 2010 as a free man before he entered the courthouse where he will be imprisoned for a minimum of eight months, depending on his behavior. As he entered the courthouse in Manhattan, hundreds of fans were lined up to get a last glimpse of Lil Wayne, aka Weezy, before they jail the legendary rapper.

In October of 2010, Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., pleaded guilty of attempted possession of a weapon in connection with a gun that was found on his tour bus in 2007. After initially pleading not guilty, prosecutors were able to negotiate a one-year sentence for Weezy in exchange for him pleading guilty. He will be incarcerated at Rikers Island in New York City. During his last court hearing, Wayne chose not to speak.

Lil Wayne was initially meant to start his sentence on March 2, 2010, but it was postponed twice in the past month. It was postponed the first time so he could undergo dental surgery and delayed a second time after due to a fire that broke out in the courthouse where he was meant to be handed his final sentencing.

Eight months or one-year might seem like a pretty minimal amount to be sentenced. However, that is a long time in today’s 24/7 pop culture news cycle. That being said, Lil Wayne and his team have been extremely busy during the days leading up to his imprisonment. He informed MTV that he had shot seven new music videos in addition to the nine new ones he made a few weeks before. It is even rumored that he has new songs stashed up in a vault somewhere. That is a lot of material that he strategically put aside to keep his fans busy during the coming year.

Wayne told Rolling Stone Magazine: “I look at things as ‘Everything is meant to be.’ I know it is an experience that I need to have if God is putting me through it.” Lil Wayne is still a major culture phenomenon by any measure regardless of the fact that he will spend the rest of 2010 behind bars. Going to Rikers Island is definitely not the best career move; it does, however, set the stage nicely for a 2011 comeback narrative that will undoubtedly take the whole world by storm.

Arrival: 1993….. Departure: 2010

2010-05-19T04:29:00.000-07:00

The Last Pharaoh Bids Schutz Farewell

By Aya Kordy

“I want them to be confident in themselves, and do what they love. I want them to always be thinking, question what they learn, and most importantly I want them to keep in touch.” A message delivered for the students and to the students by Kelly Sullivan.

After earning her degree from California and teaching there for a few years, the young goal- oriented girl took off and taught in Brazil then in Madrid. Half way through her journey, she received a phone call from Schutz’s former headmaster Larry Pattie, offering her a job in a small yet unique school in north of Egypt. Overwhelmed with the gesture and with Egypt’s inimitable history, she blindsided accepted the job offer to Schutz American School.

In 1998, 5 years after her arrival to Schutz, Kelly went back to America. She received her Masters Degree in teaching secondary school, and flew back to Schutz in 2000 with the urge of teaching in the place she once called “home.” She has not lived outside Schutz’s doors since then. Nevertheless, after almost two decades of living and teaching in Schutz, Kelly whole heartedly believes that it is time for her to move on.

Her passion and desire for Egypt is what made her stay for all these years; the welcoming hearts and the comfort she once felt is the reason behind her spending almost twenty years of her life behind Schutz’s walls. "My students, no question are the main reason why my years at Schutz have been great”, added Kelly. However, it all comes to an end right here. For the first time in her life, Kelly bought a place for herself. After the end of the school year, she will be flying to Nevada where part of her family lives and where her new home now is. She has to go furnish it and actually see it for she only saw pictures. Nonetheless, she has not yet decided if she will permanently live and teach there. Where she is going to teach next year is still unknown to everyone including Kelly.

“Alexandria is in my heart. Alexandria has my heart”, affirmed Kelly “I will never forget the Red Sea, Aswan, Luxor, Siwa, White Dessert, Nile Cruise, Lake Nasser, the cocktail party at Abu- Simbil, the hot air ride over the temples of Luxor, and scuba diving in the Red Sea.”

Kelly does not fully reveal the real reason behind her decision; however, she mentioned that she got used to Schutz’s tradition, and did not like too much change. Despite the dramatic change that Schutz underwent, Kelly emphasizes that there has always been one element of stability and that is Massimo Laterza, the dean of students. “He is my best friend”, stated Kelly.

Just like Egypt, Schutz has three main pyramids that are the essence and the base of its foundation. In Giza, they have Khufu, Khafre, and Mankaure. In Schutz, we have Kelly, Samiha, and Jackie. The Egyptian Pharaohs said their good byes, one after the other and moved on to their afterlife. Schutz’s teachers said their good byes, one after the other and its time to bid farewell to the last Pharaoh that ever lived in Schutz. Just like the Egyptian pharaohs departed their surroundings and left behind the pyramids that shaped the foundation of Egypt, Kelly will be departing but there is no doubt that she will be leaving her pyramid behind. We hope your life after Schutz is as luminous as it always has been. Schutz bids farewell to its unparalleled math teacher, Kelly Sullivan.

The Dare Devil

2010-05-19T04:25:00.000-07:00

I love Schutz Because of the People
By Farah Kashwa

Nahla Hassan came to Schutz as a ninth grader not knowing what the school will be like and not knowing what to expect about the people there. However, as time went by, Nahla fell in love with the school, not because of its environment, but because of the people themselves. Even though she liked the students, she felt that the teachers did not have as much spirit as the students.

Whoever knows Nahla, knows that she is strong, independent, and confident. Even though Nahla has no role model, she is determined to someday serve as one for the younger generations. Even though her family gives her advice concerning her life, because of her being such an independent girl, they do not influence her decisions so much. Nahla makes her own choices and decisions in life and believes that a person cannot learn life’s great lessons unless they make mistakes and learn from them.

Even though school occupies a lot of her time, Nahla never fails to make some time to do her favorite things. She loves to draw during the weekdays when she has some free time. However, on the weekends, Nahla can be seen dancing the night away and shopping with her friends. Her favorite hobbies though, are sought during the summer since she can go tanning and travel to all the places she dreams of. One of Nahla’s favorite vacation destinations was Russia because she got to spend time with her family during the day, then go out with her cousins at night.

Also due to Nahla’s strong and independent personality, she wants to study abroad. When I asked Nahla where she wishes to study, she replied saying that her top choices are Parsons in New York City and New Jersey Institute of Technology. Although it is not her priority school, she might be attending the American University in Cairo (AUC). I am sure that Nahla will be successful no matter where she plans to study.

Over the years, we have known Nahla to be the daring and the adventurous one so when she graduates, people will feel the difference. She has always been the one to stir up the genius plans that defy authority. Nahla, I am sure people will miss your free and bold spirit on campus so do not change, wherever you end up going.

A New Tradition Begun At Schutz

2010-05-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

Schutz’s Second Annual Science Fair Labeled a Success

By Nikhil Krishnan

Science education not only requires students to understand its theoretical aspects, but it also requires them to understand its practical use in real world applications. Science fair events at schools have always been a great opportunity for students to explore and apply the scientific method and concepts in their projects.

Following last year’s success with the science fair, the 2nd Annual Science Fair was held on March 18, 2010 at the covered court. Elementary students from 4th to 6th grades presented their projects based on varying scientific topics to an audience that included the staff, parents and upper school students.

This year’s science fair was especially noted for a great improvement in the quality of experiments and projects compared to that of last year’s science fair. “It was Ms. Lianne’s idea of having a science fair last year. We really didn’t know what to expect and the results were quite surprising. This year, the quality of the projects is a lot better since the 5th and 6th graders have already done this last year and know what to do,” said Mr. Mike Wavrin, the grade five teacher. He further believed that science fairs give students an opportunity to venture freely into the practical aspects of science and learn something on their own as opposed to being taught in a small, restricted classroom. Most parents and teachers genuinely enjoyed watching students use their scientific skills and put a lot of effort in their projects. “I am very impressed. Most of the kids have put a lot of effort. They are quite creative and parents also get to take part too,” said Mr. John Luke, the president of the Board of Trustees and a parent at Schutz.

Just as parents and teachers enjoyed watching the science fair, students also enjoyed working on their projects. Last year’s science fair’s winner, 5th grade student Jonathan Drew, expressed his delight at the event as follows, “It takes a lot of hard work, but at the same time it is fun. And yes, it’s rewarding.” This year, each grade level had two winners each. The overall winner for the fair was Jaida Abbas, in grade 4 for her project on fingerprints. Most students expressed the fact that they learned a lot and found themselves applying whatever they had learnt in their projects. “One of the great things about science fair is that the students learn the scientific method and apply it. They have also worked with their parents on their projects and put in a lot of effort,” said Ms. Debbie Bacon, the grade four teacher.

Infantasy- World of Magic and Wonderment

2010-05-19T04:18:00.000-07:00

Infantasy Chooses Schutz to Celebrate Easter and Mother’s Day
By Aya Kordy

An Easter festival along with a late celebration of Mother’s Day was held on the 10th of April, at Schutz American School. It was organized by the Infantasy team with the help of Elisa Jackson, the Marketing and Communication Coordinator. Infantasy’s aim was to set a world of fun and magic for the children, and indeed that aim was reached.

Upon entrance, kids were divided into five age ranges and given colored pennies according to their age group. Activities were divided into zones; each activity had a colored flag (same color as the pennies) that indicated which age range could participate at the game. Each activity ran in rounds through out the festival. Each round was about 25 minutes long (depending on the activity) and the child who succeeded in the game was given a prize. A total of one hundred and forty prizes were distributed to all of the winners and their mothers. After five hours of magic and enchantment, all the games came to an end, giving time and space for the huge egg hunt to commence. Ten prizes were given to the top two from each age range. Subsequently after the hunt, the tombola was initiated allowing five mothers to prevail gifts from El Kady Brothers (jewelry), kitchen objects and tickets to the movies.

There were several booths at the festival like; McDonalds, Bupa (health insurance), Leo Club of Alexandria (charity/ social club with the intention of selling enjoyable items for the kids). Activities and workshops included, arts and crafts, balloons tied to the feet, liquid painting, computer animation, cones race, pin the tail, sand pool race, bags jump race, egg in spoon race, surprise box, fishing race, ground board game and musical chairs.

The day was certainly a blast. Mothers referred to it as “children’s heaven on earth”. The Infantasy association came to be as it is today as a result of four female friends wanting to fulfill a need for kids that they felt missing. The phrase Infantasy is derived from both infant and fantasy combined together. The Infantasy association highlighted that their choice of place was Schutz American School, for its well- recognized and acknowledged reputation in the city of Alexandria.

New Blood, New Ideas

2010-05-19T04:16:00.000-07:00

The Thought behind the Citizenship Award Program
By Farah Kashwa

At the beginning of the year, Ms. Rovack introduced a new program at Schutz American School: the Citizenship Award program. At a sit down with Ms. Rovack, she expressed that she wants for everyone to come to school feeling comfortable and not intimidated. Ms. Rovack continued by saying that sometimes when someone is emotionally upset, they can miss school or even do badly on assignments which would hold them back. It would also prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Because not every country in the world is the same in terms of culture and living style, the program could be implemented differently depending on the country. “I would continue this in my future schools. The program’s core would be the same, but just implemented differently. The main goal would be to help people become better”, explained Ms. Rovack. Ms. Rovack also stressed that the role of a psychologist is different from the role of a counselor. In some big schools where she has worked, they had a psychologist and also a counselor. So sometimes her work plan for the year did not allow her to have such a program. But at an age when students face a lot of peer pressure, they need something that will help them become better people ethically.

Students should know that being a good and kind person is as important as being smart. People who have good morals and who are good and king help make the world we live in a better place. Since school is an academic based facility, good grades are celebrated so it is refreshing to have a program that shows another side of the students.

Ms. Rovack will change the awards the next month to stir things up. For next year, she plans on working to make advisory better. She is also very open to students’ feedback and comments about anything. She also welcomes all students for a talk.

Love amidst the World of Coat Hangers

2010-05-19T04:11:00.000-07:00

Elanor Wren, New Baby On Board
By Hanna El-Amrawi

As of the next school year, over ten teachers have decided to leave our campus. With many new faces coming in, it just seems like Schutz will never be the same. However, two recognizable faces, that we will still be able to spot in the crowd, will be the Ortegas. The Ortegas are one of the few couples at Schutz who have decided to remain with us on campus. “We love the Schutz community, especially the teachers we work with” stated Mr. Ortega, the Kindergarten teacher. They love the Schutz community so much, that they want their new born baby girl, Elanor Wren Ortega, to be raised amidst the Schutz family.

The Ortegas moved to Schutz two years ago from sunny California. Mr. Ortega attended San Francisco State University for his undergraduate studies and then, did his masters in childhood learning at Bankstreet University in New York. When asked which state he liked more, he replied with; “My heart is always in California”. While Mr. Ortega was doing his undergraduate studies, he took a part-time job at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts, as a coat hanger. “It is the coolest job ever! You don’t do much work, just hang people’s coats, plus you get paid well!”, explained Mr. Ortega. Not only was this a fun job that paid well, but it was also where he met his true love, Mrs. Jill Ortega. Mrs. Jill, the current 2nd grade teacher, also happened to work as a coat hanger at the same museum. Since there was a lot of free time, the two were able to get to know each other very well. It was not surprising that within a few years the couple was happily married. “We never get sick of each other, we have been together for six years! And I just love her”, explained Mr. Ortega. After some work experience at several schools, the Ortegas got many interviews; one being to teach at Schutz American School. Mr. Ortega admits that the couple at first went into the interview as a joke; they just wanted to have an experience at being interviewed. “We had no plans whatsoever of moving to Africa or to the Middle East”, explained the couple. However, when they sat down with Matthew Farwell, the ex-principal, they just loved him! Within a few months they were all packed and ready to head to Alexandria. “We wanted Egypt to surprise us, we came having no expectations”, stated Mr. Ortega.

Having come with no expectations set, Schutz definitely blew their minds away. They feel proud that they part of the Schutz community. Once entering the classrooms, the Ortegas became attached to the children they taught. “I have been teaching early childhood for nine years, but the children I teach her at Schutz are different. They love to learn and I love to teach them” stated Mr. Ortega. For the past two years, Mr. Ortega has been teaching Kindergarten, but as of next year, he will be teaching the second graders. “I am ready to start something new”, he explained. Mrs. Jill will also be trying something new, as she will be staying at home and taking care of Elanor. “Jill and I not only love her, but we like her a lot”.

Well Mr. and Mrs. Ortaga, we are glad you decided to stay with us on campus! And we welcome Elanor Wren Curtleck with open arms into our Schutz family.

One, Two, Three, Let’s Dance

2010-05-19T04:08:00.001-07:00

Our Schutz Dances are lacking support
By Hanna El-Amrawi

“One, Two, Three, Let’s Dance!” That seems to be the motto for most school dances. In most schools, as soon as hearts are pinned up, Christmas trees are decorated, or Easter eggs are found, students rush home in order to get themselves ready for their schools dances. The talk and the excitement of the upcoming school dance buzzes around for weeks before. Yet, in Schutz American School, everything is different.

It seems to me, that when grade levels are assigned to plan a school dance it is almost a drag. If there is no enthusiasm in planning the event, what makes you think students will want to come? Most of the students are not dedicated and are almost forced to attend the event. Because of the lack of spirit, other students just choose not to attend.

I have seen students walk right passed poster that are hung for their school dances, without even stopping for a second to take a glance at the time of the dance. I have seen organizing students beg the other students to come, but still with the same dreary expression on their face. So what exactly is the problem? Is it a cultural reason why students do not attend? Is it the lack of enthusiasm? Or do Schutz students simply have better things to do? School dances are supposed to be a way for students of all grade levels to get together in a carefree zone and just party all night long. It is supposed to be a way for students to socialize on campus. There are some people though that choose to attend, but once they step in the auditorium they realize that no one is dancing and instead everyone is sitting outside chatting. So what’s the point of a dance if no one will get their grove on?
So why don’t we try to put more excitement and seize the opportunity of school dances? I know that the Falcon dance is coming up soon! Is anyone ready to attend? Come on let's spread the word!

The Gigantic Turnover!

2010-05-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

After This Year, Only Two Familiar Faces Remain
By Ingy Fahmy

At the start of next year, only two high school foreign-hire teachers will be present from this year’s teaching staff. The faculty turnover will be huge at the beginning of the upcoming academic year and it is questionable just how much change the Schutz community can handle at a time.

Living in Alexandria, or in Egypt, in general can be a huge adjustment to many individuals who are unfamiliar with Egyptian cultural styles. This unfamiliarity can be a cause for many teachers to decide to either break their contracts or leave right when the contract expires without wanting to renew it. These situations have happened in the past, particularly over the past four years or so. A lot of these individuals just cannot adjust well to cultures that are completely different from what they have been harbored in or accustomed to.

Another reason Schutz is suffering from such a huge turnover is as a consequence or results of experiencing staff retention in the past couple of years. In particular, two years ago, Schutz underwent a major change in the faculty teachers. The case at the time was that a few teachers broke their contracts and decided to leave either at the end of the school year, meaning their contract of two years would be disregarded, or even in the middle of the school year. Consequently, Schutz offers its teachers a two-year contract, which means that the new teachers who arrived two years ago completed their time and would like to move on to new places. Many of the teachers during this period were not content with the behavior and performance of the overall Upper School student body. Others were simply not satisfied with the city and its offering as well as the school as a whole.

Since then, there have been major improvements on the students’ behalf. Many assemblies and workshops held by various organization including the Schutz Honor Society, High School Student Council, and competitions organized by Schutz’s counselor, Ms. Rovack. However, it would be non-realistic to propose that Schutz students are exhibiting perfect behavior and achieving 100% in performance. Consequently, many of the teachers leaving this year did not mention that the reason for their departure had anything to do with students’ behavior.

Reasons for departure vary from one teacher to the next: some want to be constantly on the move, others are committed to family reasons, some dislike the culture of the country and the students, others are unsatisfied with the administration, some decide they want to retire, while others even settle on a different job field. Either way, the Schutz community suffers greatly from such changes happening all at once. I believe one way to escape this fate is to be sure of the new faculty teachers being hired. When potential teachers are being interviewed, they should be asked about any plans or their intentions of their post-two year contract. There should be a variance in the teachers hired based on the answer to the questions in this particular area. Schutz should no be destined to undergo a massive turnover every couple of years. Just because it started a few years back does not make it okay for the following years to be walking down the same path. We need faculty to go one-by-one, not all at once.

The Jewel of Muscat

2010-05-19T03:59:00.000-07:00

A Historical Trip into the Future
By Farah Kashwa

We have all heard about unconventional teaching methods done by several teachers. Students almost usually enjoy scientific labs or hands-on projects more than simply taking notes in the classroom. However, the journey of the Jewel of Muscat introduces a whole new syllabus to the educational system. Robert B. Jackson, a history teacher at The American International School of Muscat (TAISM), has been invited, by the Omani government, aboard a ship that will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Therefore Mr. Jackson has invited all his students and students from all over the world to follow the unique journey.

This project is both a historical and a cultural project that was started by the Omani and Singaporean Ministries of Foreign Affairs under the supervision of maritime archaeologist Dr. Tom Vosmer. The project involved the reconstruction of a ninth-century ship Arab merchant ship that sank off the coast of Indonesia. The original cargo on the ship in the ninth century consisted of some 60,000 pieces of Tang dynasty ceramics that was headed for Arab and Persian markets. After the ship and its cargo were discovered in 1998 by archaeologists, it provided them with a lot of information about the Indian Ocean trade and also the manufacture of Arab ships.

The construction of the Jewel of Muscat was complete during the early days of February. The ship was scheduled to set sail on the 16th of February, 2010, and is expected to arrive in Singapore in early July. On its incredible journey, it will follow one of the oldest and most significant mercantile trade routes that history knows. The route that will be followed is the same route that was documented by Arab geographers who sailed on the original ship. Even though their journey is from Oman to Singapore, the crew and ship will make several stops along the way: Cochin, India; Galle, Sri Lanka; and Panang, Malaysia, and then will finally dock in Singapore.

Once the crewmen and ship reach Singapore, the ship will be put on display permanently at the same museum which displays the artifacts discovered from the original vessel.

Mr. Jackson’s job throughout the journey is to document the trip by keeping a photographic and video record of it. As Mr. Jackson said, this will be a tremendous opportunity for both teachers and students to learn about geography, history, navigation, Indian Ocean trade, and ancient ship design.

The World Heeding the Calls

2010-05-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

The World Answers Appeals to Provide Haiti and Chile With Relief

By Nikhil Krishnan

As the world already knows, earthquakes in two countries in the first three months of the new decade shook the world and many humanitarian organizations. The first being in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12, 2010, was on a 7.0 Richter scale magnitude. The other was near the city of Concepcion in Chile on February 27, 2010 with a Richter scale magnitude of 8.8. Just a few weeks after the earthquake in Chile, three more earthquakes struck Chile on March 11, 2010 with one of the earthquakes measured at 7.2 Richter scale. The situation in these two countries is completely different, the death toll continues to rise, and challenges for humanitarian groups and organization continue to increase.

Although Chile suffered an earthquake with a greater magnitude, the status in Chile has been a lot better compared to the status in Haiti. The Chilean government is extremely organized under the leadership of President Michelle Bachelet and is taking measures to ameliorate the situation. On the other hand, the Haitian government is extremely corrupted and has turned its back towards the country. Moreover, Chile was somewhat prepared for this calamity since it has been frequently struck by earthquakes in the past, but Haiti’s Port au Prince had its last earthquake in 1751. In Haiti, the damage is concentrated in the area of Port au Prince as opposed to Chile, where the damage is very widespread.

Therefore, humanitarian challenges have been very difficult to meet with. “The challenges we are facing are typical of an earthquake. You’ve got a lot of homeless people that are living outside of their homes. They may have lost their homes or they’ve been compromised. Power has been cut off, water and sanitation have often been cut off, and of course now they are dependent on aid organizations and the government for food, water, and sanitation and those kinds of things. So, as we know, this was one of the biggest earthquakes of the last 50 years, and it did quite a bit of damage,” stated Richard Sterns, president of World Vision at a PBS news interview.

As a result of the earthquake, the U.N. Missions Building in Haiti collapsed and most members including its head, Hedi Annabi, have passed away. The good news was that U.N. Development Program (UNDP) and the World Food Program (WFP) buildings in Haiti have survived and have been able to serve with the aid of about 11, 000 blue helmet soldiers and officers of the Mission des Nations Unies la stabilization en Haiti (MINUSTAH). Since, many nations have responded to appeals for relief in Haiti and Chile. The U.S. government has in fact raised about $ 48 million for donation. Many nations have sent military and naval personel to the two countries for creating and operating rescue bases. In addition, the International Committee of the Red Crosses has been providing medical aids to the hospitals in Haiti and Chile.

Found: Cristiano Ronaldo's Number One Stalker

2010-04-18T05:51:00.000-07:00

The Quiet Girl With the Strategies

By Hanna El-Amrawi

You probably have heard many people say “First impressions are not always correct”, well that is definitely the case with Farah Kashwa. You see, when you first meet Farah you get a sense that she is a shy, timid girl. However, once you get to know her and start to open up a discussion with her, you will realize that she is actually everything but quiet. If you really want to test my theory, just bring up the name Cristiano Ronaldo! You better be prepared though because once you start on this topic there is no going back. You will have Farah describing everything from his looks to his soccer moves. When it comes to soccer, this senior knows what she is talking about.

Born on September 12, 1992 in Alexandria, Farah has always had a deep passion for soccer. Growing up she was different from the typical pony tailed girls. While those girls go around shopping for clothes, you would see Farah on the field playing her favorite sport with the boys. “Since I was not a girlie girl, I always felt like I had more in common with the guys”. Not just at school, but at home Farah can be caught passing the ball around with her two younger brothers, Ahmed and Mamdouh. “Just like soccer players form strategies against their opponents, my two brothers and I form alliances against our parents”, stated Farah.

As you can tell Farah is very close to her two younger brothers. “I love them to death and I can’t imagine living without them”. Farah is the typical family girl. She often prefers to stay home and have movie nights with her family rather than going out. Farah’s family is a big part of her life, and that is why she is struggling between going abroad for university or staying here close to home. Farah has applied to many respected universities including New York University (NYU), Northwestern, and the American University in Cairo (AUC), where she hopes to major in either Law or Mass Communication.

Having moved to Schutz in the beginning of 8th grade, Farah feels that Schutz has shaped the person she is today. It has made her more confident in facing any problems that come her way. “Schutz is not just my school, it is my second family that I have found within those front gates”, explained Farah. She recalls her first day at school, as she crossed the big gate at 51 Schutz station, she felt nervous and wanted to turn back and go home. But as she approached the front porch and met her classmates, she immediately felt like she had known them for years. Well it has been five years, and it is now time for this lady falcon to say her goodbyes. “For all high schoolers, especially juniors, seize every opportunity you get because you only live once!”

A Picasso in Our Midst

2010-04-18T05:48:00.001-07:00

Look Out World 'Cause Here She Comes

By Farah Kashwa

Her art work catches our eyes and makes us stop what we are doing, her unique and loud laugh fills our hearts with warmth, and her hugs make us forgot our worst troubles. Marina Guirguis has been a part of the Schutz family for almost four years now. Before moving to Egypt, Marina lived in Ohio and for a brief period of time attended Wayne High School.

A lot of people would agree with Marina when she says that her first impression of Schutz was that it was really small. Her previous graduating class had 740 students alone so entering a class of only 23 students was a big change. With 740 students in one graduating class you couldn’t get to know every class member well, but with only 20 students in the senior class of 2010, Marina says that saying goodbye will be hard.

Friends describe Marina as very creative and laid back. Creativity, of course, comes with the territory when you are a talented artist. When I asked Marina where she gets her inspiration from she said, “My inspiration comes from whatever mood I’m in. While I’m painting, my mood can totally alter my piece.” Marina’s artwork has always been personal to her or symbolic of something in her life.

Marina does not have a role model; she is her own role model. One might wonder why Marina does not have another role model and it is because she believes that people are a disappointment. The only people who have stayed constant in her life are her dad, Amir Guirguis and her best friend Ahmed Elbana. “My dad is my biggest hero,” Marina says, “and I’m his biggest fan. He has accomplished so much in his life time. I don’t think anyone on this earth compares to him.” As for her best friend, Ahmed, she owes him a lot for making her the person she is today. Family is very important to Marina. In Marina’s book, God comes first, then family, then friends.

As for Marina’s future, she has recently decided to major in architectural engineering. Marina loves art and physics so she has decided to combine both these things into one and picked her major. Marina plans to start her college career by spending a year in the American University in Cairo (AUC), then she hopes to transfer to MIT or another Ivy League university to continue her studies.

Marina’s dream as a little girl was to become a mermaid or a country singer but neither worked out to her advantage. But Marina, never stop dreaming because reality can only get you to certain places in life.

Spokesman of a Generation

2010-04-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

Perfection Would Have Flawed Bob Dylan

By Nikhil Krishnan

Bob Dylan’s yearbook prediction was ‘to join Little Richard on the rock n’ roll expedition’. Since then, each and every Bob Dylan fan knows he has ended up doing much more than that. At the height of his career, Dylan’s lyrics were quoted in politicians’ speeches, taught in poetry classes and worshipped by people because he sang for them. With a long musical career spanning five decades, Bob Dylan’s incalculable musical impact has influenced the worlds of music, literature and politics and has been only surpassed by The Beatles. Every generation has since used popular music effectively to express their imperative issues. Yet, Dylan never realizes his impact and continues on his musical expedition, recreating history. Bruce Springsteen said of him as follows, “Bob Dylan freed your mind just as Elvis Presley freed your body.”

Quiet and serious, Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in Duluth, Minnesota. Though his life was luxurious, he showed an early interest in serving the needy and underprivileged. At a very young age, he showed interest in music and mostly recorded his private thoughts in poetry. At high school, he performed at several talent shows, but he was consistently booed because of his lousy singing voice.

Zimmerman gave away his early affinity for rock music when he heard obscure folk and country records by Hank Williams Sr., Pete Seeger, and most importantly, Woody Guthrie. He then started to perform folk music at various coffeehouses where he started calling himself Bob Dylan in the honor of Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas. It was not until his second album with Columbia Records, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963) that he identified himself as more of a songwriter than a singer. The album included several anti-war classics such as Blowin’ in the Wind, and A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall, etc. Dylan instantly clicked with the people, becoming the leader of the 1960s American folk music revival at a time when British Bands such as The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones dominated the musical world. After folk albums including The Times They Are-A Changin’, Dylan controversially ventured into rock music, which in turn influenced The Beatles in expanding their musical creativity. Bringing It All Back Home (1965) spanned classics such as Mr. Tambourine Man and Subterranean Homesick Blues. Dylan got the opportunity to fuse his sophisticated poetic lyrics with the then non-serious rock n’ roll, introducing his social critique to a wider audience. Heading to the paramount of his career, he released Highway 61 Revisited (1965) which included his surreal classic Like a Rolling Stone that is most famous for topping the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list by the Rolling Stone magazine. Other great Bob Dylan albums include Blonde on Blonde (1966) and Blood on the Tracks (1975).

Bob Dylan ventures back and forth from folk to rock on his recent albums such as Time Out of Mind (1997), “Love and Theft” (2001) and Modern Times (2006). With honors ranging from countless Grammys and Academy Awards to the Kennedy Center Honors and the Pulitzer Prize, Bob Dylan has always asked questions and done things differently, paving the way for many others to do the same.

The Fashion Show: Black & Gold

2010-04-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

An Exclusive and Exceptional Night Achieved

By Aya Kordy

On the 22nd of January, the auditorium was fashionably decorated with black and gold drapes that hung from the ceiling. The High School Student Council took a lot of time, energy and preparation to organize an exquisite night filled with interesting surprises and unexpected performances. The fashion show was a success.

The show commenced with a speech given by Dr. Joyce Martinez, the head of school, followed by a speech given by Ingy Fahmy, the student body president. Thirty-five high school students participated in the event in front of an overly crowded audience. The fashion show consisted of 15 acts, from imitating cultures such as Spanish, Arabs and Bedouins all the way to portraying characters like cowboys, sport players, Danny and Sandy, and Michael Jackson, to an Egyptian customized wedding scene. Each act had its own costumes, props, and a distinctive song that went along with the theme. The amount of diversity portrayed by the students was a reflection of how unique the Schutz community is. The audience appreciated each and every act in its own way.

The purpose of this event was as a fundraiser project for the HSSC to raise money in order to renovate the current student lounge. According to the council members, this goal is highly attainable now that the Fashion Show proved to be an over the top sensation! The council now not only has enough money to buy new furniture for the lounge, but also is able to afford re-painting the lounge’s wall and possibly even redoing the floor.

The success of such an event lies primarily on how hard the students involved worked together to create such an elaborate show. With only having practiced three times before the actual performance, the students were able to impress the audience with scenes that seemed to be professionally rehearsed for, for months prior to the event. Kudos to all our talented Schutz models, and a particular appreciation for the vast support from the audience who attended.

Entertainment Corner

2010-04-18T05:34:00.001-07:00

Movie Madness!

By Farah Kashwa

Back To Wonderland

We all know it and we all watched it as a kid at least once. This time, Alice in Wonderland goes from fantasy to reality. Director Tim Burton has again produced another masterpiece. Although you might have watched Alice in Wonderland as a cartoon, Burton brings the classic animated movie to life.

Fear Thy Neighbor

Everything might seem to be picture-perfect until one day, the whole around you changes. One much unexpected day, all residents of Ogden March, Iowa start to act weird as a result of inhaling a weird toxin. The toxin turns all of the residents into violent psychopaths except for four unaffected people. The four unaffected people form a band to try to stop their neighbors from harming anyone but it is a brutal task. The Crazies will definitely keep you sitting at the edge of your seats.

Impossible “I Do’s”

Ever thought it was not a small world? Well, think again! In Our Family Wedding, two dads, who have never met before this incident, get off on the wrong foot and within the next couple of days, they find out that their children have decided to get married! With two very competitive dads who care about their egos more than anything, organizing a wedding is a great challenge that the two families will face. Will the fathers finally find a way to get over their competition for the sake of their children’s happiness?

Did You Know That...

2010-04-18T05:31:00.000-07:00

By Aya Kordy

… The only place in the universe where a flag flies all day, never goes up or comes down, never flies half-mast and does not get saluted, is the moon.

… During the great plague of Europe, the Pope passed a law to say “God bless you” to one who sneezed.

… Mercedes cars are named after an Austrian girl.

…. The tomato is the world’s most popular fruit.

....Giraffes have no vocal cords.

Knock Knock, Come in Dr. Seuss

2010-04-18T05:26:00.000-07:00

Schutz Celebrates Dr. Seuss's Birthday

By Hanna El-Amrawi

Knock Knock! Who is there? March 3rd!? March 3rd? What is happening on March 3rd? Dr Seuss’s birthday! This March, the spirit of Dr. Seuss has come to Schutz American School. Let me tell you this, if Dr. Seuss were still alive he would have been so impressed at the decorated doors, which certain grades have decided to decorate in celebration of his birthday.

This brilliant idea started when Mrs. Jane Walsh, the upper school librarian, encountered Tonya Drummond, a ninth grader, and was informed that March 3rd was the birthday of Dr. Sues. Tonia related that, in her old school, on March 3rd, every door from Pre-k to twelfth grade, was decorated in honor of Dr. Seuss. ‘I love Dr. Seuss! He is quirky”, said Tonya. Having heard this idea, Mrs. Walsh decided to add a little bit of enthusiasm to our school and had created a contest where all grades can compete for the best decorated door. On march 3rd during the afternoon, two committees were formed in order to judge the Lower and Upper school doors. The first committee headed by Mr.Bob Medina judged the lower school, while the committee headed by Dr. Joyce, judged the Upper school doors. The results were as follows:

Pre K 4 and Senior Class: Best Eye Appeal

Grade 1 and Grade 8: Best Dr. Suess Spirit

Grade 2: Best evidence of Student Work

Grade 3: Most creative

Grade 6: Participation

A Rising Young Business Man

2010-04-18T05:23:00.000-07:00

Saad Attia Aspires to Follow in his Father's Footsteps

By Ingy Fahmy

Saad Attia arrived to the Schutz gates 11 years ago as a humble and shy young boy from Kawmeya Language School. He describes that single moment as, “possibly one of the greatest and most beneficial decisions my parents have made in my childhood years”. Saad explains that growing up within the Schutz community has enabled him to be a well-rounded person who is eager and fervent about the next step in his life- his college career and soon after the real world!

Saad is planning to attend the American University in Cairo (AUC) where he will be pursuing a degree in BA Business Management. He hopes to apply this education when he steppes into the real world where he will be working alongside his father, managing a real estate company. Saad puts his father on a pedestal; therefore, all his visions for his future derive from how he aspires to be the man his father is. He describes his father as being a viable role model because “he built his company with no one’s effort but his own and still managed to be successful in his life as a business man, husband, father, and simply an honorable man”. Saad credits his father for the young man that he currently stands to be.

As a personality, Saad might come off as a person who is reserved and does not have much to say. But for those who truly know Saad and grew up with him at Schutz, they know better; Saad is a man of many words and he could possibly be one of the most outgoing and gregarious people on campus. He never has something bad to tell you and always leaves the person with a smile from a nice comment he made or the joke he cracked.

Saad points out that a strong point in him is the fact that he views work as a fun element and not just a duty that he has to perform. He claims that not many of his friends are aware of the fact that he likes to work, and they tend to think he is just very lazy. Saad does admit, however, that he has a flaw of losing his temper sometimes. But that weakness tends to be covered up by the benevolent, blissful, and gratified character that Saad was able to establish for himself.

The years at Schutz will be embedded into Saad’s memory for many, many years to come. He describes one of the most memorable moments at Schutz as being both Varsity Soccer and Volleyball tournaments in Doha this year where he enjoyed his last EMAC/ISAC events alongside his lifelong classmates which he now considers to be his brothers and sisters. Leaving behind all the soccer games played at lunch, his well-spent free blocks, and his classes with the former Arabic teacher, Miss Samiha, will truly be a daunting task for Saad, as he will miss every single minute of them. On the contrary, Saad is glad to finally be closing the door on his Math and Science classes as he suffered a great deal in both.

Saad is eager to start a new page in his life as he closes this chapter of his life. But before he exits the familiar grounds he grew up in, he would like to extend a few words to various Schutz parties, “First off, I would like to thank Schutz as a teaching institution not only as an academic one but also as sociable one as it helped me form the responsible and independent person I graduate as. In return Schutz, I would like to offer you my own advice: it truly is time to establish a healthy and high-quality canteen for your students. Finally, upcoming seniors, start your college applications early and get it out of the way so the rest of your senior year would be one for the books”.

The Cycle of Welcomes and Farewells

2010-04-18T05:17:00.001-07:00

New Faces Will Show Up as Some of Our Favorite Faces Leave

By Nikhil Krishnan

Schutz’s family has always been a changing family: senior students tend to commence their journey to college life while new recruits for pre-K 3 students enter the Schutz gates. Teachers follow a very similar pattern and tend to move on in their career. This year, unfortunately, several teachers are going to bid farewell to Schutz and Schutz will have several new teachers initiating their journey at Schutz next year. The teachers that are going to leave by the end of this year are the Meleks, the Wavrins, the Spurlocks, the Collins, Kelly and Mr. Blankinship.

On the other hand, we have a number of new faces who will teach at Schutz next year. Ms. Carrie Danziger will be replacing Mr. Robert Blankinship to teach Upper School Science. Ms. Jessica Koch will replace Mr. Seth Spurlock and teach Math. Mr. Benjamin Dunbar will replace Ms. Melek and teach upper school English. Mr. William “Joe” Donahue will teach High School math, replacing Ms. Kelly Sullivan. Ms. Kathryn Smith will be teaching upper school social studies, replacing Mr. Collins. Mr. Joshua Pickell will replace coach Melek and teach Physical Education next year. In the lower school, Ms. Penny Johnson will replace Mr. Mike Wavrin in teaching the 5th grade.

Moreover, several members of the staff are going to be changing positions for the next year. Mr. Ortega, who was teaching the Kindergarten class along with Ms. Maie Abou Gad, will be teaching the 2nd grade next year. Ms. Sara Salem will start teaching the Pre-K 3 class next year. Ms. Nawal Selim, who is teaching Pre-K 3 this year, will be teaching the 1st grade next year replacing Ms. Barb Hultman. Ms. Randa Shoeb who has been teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts, will now shift from teaching to administration by becoming the lower school principal next year, replacing Dr. Collins.

While we get ready to welcome new faces in the Schutz staff, we will also get ready to bid farewell to the faces that are going to leave us to commence on a new phase of their lives. “It’s time to move on”, Kelly stated after being part of Schutz’s family for about 15 years. Mr. Collins also expressed mixed feelings about leaving Schutz, “We have lived here for 3 years, which is a great amount of time, and it has been great teaching here. However, both of us are getting great opportunities next year: Dr. C will be a principal in a bigger school, and I will get the opportunity to teach IB History, something I look forward to. We have been having a good international experience, and we would like to continue it.”

People leaving and entering is part of our lives. On a more optimistic note, we get to meet new faces, and old faces commence on a new beginning. We wish all the leaving teachers a great success in the following year.

Michele Serros: It All Began with Writing a Daily Journal

2010-04-18T05:12:00.000-07:00

A Woman to Watch For in the New Century

By Aya Kordy

Since the beginning of the school year Schutz hosted two author visits. Luckily enough on the 6th of September 2009, Tom Palmer visited the Schutz campus. He was invited by the 13 year old 8th grader Omar Younis. In December Schutz was once again fortunate with another author visiting campus, Michele Serros. She was invited on campus by the high school Librarian Mrs. Walsh. Nonetheless, many upper school classes were at a time of closure due to swine flu cases; hence, many students did not get the chance to meet the unparalleled author. Therefore, the journalism class choice to conduct an interview with Serros to acquaint the students with the author who they would have desired to meet.

Surprisingly, Michele Serros’ personality is almost as fascinating as her writings, and it was a privilege to speak to her recently and get to know more about her writings as well as her personal life. Michele’s openness of spirit was immediately evident. It is my pleasure to introduce this rare talent to those who have not yet read her books and to those who read them, but have not yet had the opportunity to meet her in person to get to know the amazing personality that lies behind her astonishing words.
Michele Serros is an American author and poet described as “A woman to watch for in the new century.” Her journey began when she wrote her first book of short stories and poems Chicana Falsa, reflecting on death and identity. She also entered the TV business in 2002, and subsequently became the official screenwriter for the George Lopez Show; nevertheless, she left after only a year for medical reasons.
When asked if the reason that made her become interested in writing was her parents’ separation, Michele Serros answered, “Yes, definitely their separation was a great factor, I used to keep journals of how I feel”. She started telling her story and how she started her path in writing. The first person who advised her to write was her favorite author, Judy Plume. After sending Plume her first letter, Serros was surprised that she wrote her back and advised her to keep a journal about her fears or concerns over her parents` separation to help her vent her worries. She admits that keeping this daily journal set a foundation for her as a writer. Answering my question whether she sends a message to her audience through her books, Michele Serros declares that she does usually send a message but with a humorous approach.

I then asked,” I noticed that in your previous novels you wrote about deep issues like death, separation and role models. Why that path? Serros opens up and speaks about herself the way she sees it telling that she tends to be that type of writer who writes not only what she has a passion for, but of what she knows. Writing is very cathartic to her. She usually writes during or after a painful experience. Chicana Falsa was written after her mother's death while How to be a Chicana Role Model was written during the separation from her husband at the time. I found it a good opportunity to ask Serros about the way she felt after she was hailed as “a woman to watch for in the new century”. Being a down to earth person as I realized from the way she has been responding to my questions, she answered “I was much honored, but now the accolade is somewhat intimidating. After all, it is a big title to live up to! And we are ten years into the new century. What have I really done that was so worthy of watching for?”

Finally, I asked Serros whether she would like to be hosted on the Oprah Winfrey Show and have her book in Oprah`s book club as the show was actually coming to an end. I was actually very surprised when she answered frankly saying, “Every author would love to have more people read their work and, of course, Oprah's Book Club would allow this. But to be frank, I've never really fanaticized about being featured on Oprah's Book Club. I have, however, fanaticized, about winning a new car from her!” At last, I would like to say that it was my pleasure to interview this amazingly talented author.

The Owner of Simplicity and Modesty

2010-04-18T05:08:00.000-07:00

Tias Amazes the World with Her Art of Being Simple

By Nikhil Krishnan

Tias Sneh Paul has been consistently identified as the quietest girl at Schutz’s campus. However, when it came to interviewing her, she was quite open about describing herself and her life. With an admirable high school academic record and a prestigious membership in the Schutz’s Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS), Tias has genuinely been a great student with a high level of modesty at.
Tias was born in the city of Kolkata in the western part of India. Before coming to Schutz, she studied at an Indian school in the city of Baroda. She commenced her educational expedition at Schutz when she entered Grade 2. She stated that she came to Schutz as a shy nobody who refused to speak up even when picked on. However, she strongly believes that Schutz has given her her own voice and taught her to be a better person since it has taught her firsthand of what it is like to be picked on. She has truly come a long way in the past ten years as she presently holds the office of Treasurer in the NHS and the office of Secretary of the senior class.

Tias admires her dad and considers him as her role model. She marvels her dad because of his ability to work hard and the fact that “he built himself from scratch” “Being the oldest son in a family of five not only did he have to do odd jobs to make ends meet, but also keep up with his studies along with tutoring his younger siblings. Due to his outstanding performance he earned himself a scholarship to one of the best institutes in India, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)”, says Tias.

In her spare time, Tias enjoys reading, watching movies and taking care of her plants. Currently, she plans to be an engineer and earn a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering at a reputable university. Later on, she would like to get a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and work at a respectable company. She has already received acceptance letters from universities such as Michigan State University (MSU), Purdue University, and the prestigious Ivy League University, Penn State University.
She loves the fact that Egyptians are kind, warm and open people and will miss them when she leaves Schutz and Egypt. Her most memorable moment at Schutz was in the Comparitive Religions class last year when Mr. Collins called up a group of people which included her. “All of us thought we were going to be congratulated for having a great paper, but actually, it was that we had incidentally taken down the same notes, since we were told to jot down the most important points. All of us burst out laughing because all of us had worked very hard on it and each of us, including Mr. Collins, knew that we had not cheated.” Her advice to the coming seniors and other high school students is to take High School seriously, but at the same time, to take time off to enjoy the little moments that can never be re-lived. Tias has a great future in store, and we all wish her to succeed.

What Every Junior Looks Forward To!

2010-04-18T05:02:00.000-07:00

Thimuners Head to The Hague

By Hanna El Amrawi

As the year goes on, the 12th graders look forward to graduating and entering a new phase in life. The 8th graders might start to feel anxious as they enter High school. But what about the 11th graders? Do they have anything to look forward to? Of course, they do. Most of the juniors at Schutz get to travel to the Hague and take part in a very prestigious conference. Hoda Eldib(Ambassador of Tajikistan), Dikran Alexanian, Hana Afifi, Soha Afifi, Ahmed Ayroud, and Moustafa El Naggar represented Tajikistan at the 2010 The Hague International Model United Nations conference. The THIMUN conference is one of the biggest MUN conferences in the world, holding around 3000 delegates. For the past years at Schutz, it has always been the History teacher who accompanies the MUNers but, this year’s juniors were accompanied by Massimo Latereza, the Dean of Students.

Each student was placed in a different committee where they negotiated and debated on various issues from the country they represents, point of view. By meeting and interacting with new people, the delegates were able to experience what actual MUN members go through. Hoda Eldib, our ambassador, felt that this experience was very memorable to her as she was able to meet people from all over the world.

As you can tell, this MUN conference is definitely an event that you would look forward to.

The Point of No Return

2010-04-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Once You Leave the Schutz Gates, Returning is Not an Option!

By Farah Kashwa

We started the year receiving a bomb threat, and we can witness all around campus the changes made to make our school a more secure and safer place to be. One of the steps taken to improve our school’s safety and security, however not the main reason, is not allowing students back in when they leave campus. Even though implementing such a rule may be in the best interest of the students, the students should have an easier way of leaving and re-entering campus.

Schutz is located in the neighborhood of Bakous, which is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Alexandria. When students step outside the Schutz gates, they stand out. The student’s choice of attire is different from the clothes of the inhabitants of the neighborhood, and they attract attention from the people walking in the streets. Several people verbally harass Schutz students simply because of their appearance. Wouldn’t staying in school be safer for the student?

A student forgets their cell phone, no friend is around to lend them theirs, and they need to find their drivers. How can they check for their drivers through the thick black door? Obviously, they have to step outside to look for their driver, but students, think again! The new rule does not allow them to return to school.

Recently, a group of girls, who had basketball practice after school, stepped outside to buy something from the little store outside school. When they came back inside, they were approached by Mr. Walsh and were asked to leave school immediately.

Another incident took place when another girl, not aware of this rule, stepped outside the gates to talk briefly to her driver and then was told that she had detention. However, Mr. Walsh kindly only invited her for a small talk about the incident and warned her to not repeat it again.

When Mr. Walsh was asked about the matter and the reasons why the school has this rule, he had a lot of reasonable things to say. He said that the main reason for this rule’s existence is to keep the students safe. The parents drop-off their children to school, and they believe that Schutz will keep them safe. If the administration has no control over when the students leave campus and come back in, a student can easily get lost or the school will have no idea of the whereabouts of the student. If, God forbid, anything bad ever happened to a student, the school needs to know is on campus and who is not.

Mr. Walsh also clarified that if there is an emergency and the student needs to contact their driver, for example, they can take permission from him first or use his cell phone to contact the driver. He said that this rule has always existed but just not enforced before.

Canteen Issues Emerge Once Again

2010-04-18T04:57:00.000-07:00

Uproar over Restricting the Sale of Canteen Items

By Ingy Fahmy

As it currently stands, Schutz students have been banned from the following: ordering food from restaurants and cafes, drivers bringing in food during lunch hours, the purchasing of chocolates and soft drinks from the canteen, and the availability of Mentos and Halls from the canteen.

It has been a long-standing issue that students are not quite satisfied with the food provided at school, whether it comes from the canteen or the cafeteria. In the past, many efforts have been made by the student council in the hope of obtaining outside caterers to replace the canteen. At the start of this year, a change did in fact occur. Roasto has been operating the canteen since the start of the school year; however, it still stands to be a great disappointment. The food being offered is no different than what last year’s canteen, which was operating under the school’s supervision.

The banning of the purchases of chocolates and soft drinks from the canteen has been due to nutritional reasons. The administration has asked the canteen to eliminate these items and not make them available for purchase by the students. However, at the same time the current canteen still offers hamburgers, chips, and biscuits, etc. So, does that mean that somehow chips are more nutritional than chocolates?

The ban on Halls and Mentos has been due to the results left behind from students. Teachers have complained on numerous occasions that wrappers have been left behind in classrooms. Also the students have been accused of eating these two items during class time. As a consequence, the administration has once again asked the canteen to stop providing the students with these items.

As a solution, some students have preferred to turn to outside restaurants and cafes to provide them with their lunches, or even have a driver bring them food from home during lunchtime. But, once more, this practice has been banned. According to the administration, allowing deliveries to enter school and drivers to bring in food is a great hassle. They further explain that the logistics of such a practice can engage in a lot of unwanted disruptiveness. When asked whether that specific ban had anything to do with any security issues or regulations, the administration denied the claim.

The age group being dealt with here is teenagers! Teenagers are possibly the most difficult age group to handle and be involved with—ask any parents! They are known for being rebellious, disobedient, and resistant to anything possible. With all the banned actions the students are experiencing, disagreements are bound to occur. Not everything the students want they should get, but at least there should be a comprise of some sort from both parties. The administration should realize the students concerns about the “food” issues they are facing and try to sit down with them and come to agreeable conclusions. The students, consequently, should hear the administrations concerns about certain troubles.

All in all, both sides lack a sense of mutual communication among one another. Often times, it is the misleading facts that cause a group of teenagers to feel the urge to be rebellious. In any case, the solution to any, if not all problems, is definitely not by banning. If anything, the practice of banning creates more uproar and discontent for the parties, the administration and students.

New Security Regulations Put Into Effect

2010-04-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

Pat Down is Here to Stay on U.S.-Bound Flights

By Ingy Fahmy

In light of the two incidents that occurred in two different airports during the busiest time of the year, the Christmas Holidays, tightened security measures have been put into effect immediately. The transportation Security Administration (TSA) is applying new security rules to passengers flying to the United States from the following 14 countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

These 14 countries are especially identified because they are “stable sponsors of terrorism”, such as Iran, Syria, Cuba, and Sudan, or because they are “countries of interest”, such as the remaining ten nations. According to the State Department’s Country Reports on Terrorism for 2009, new countries may have made the list due to recent happenings. In Lebanon, Hezbollah has “moved arms back into southern Lebanon where it was providing training to members of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). In Sudan, there is evidence of the existence of terrorist elements of Al-Qaida as well as elements of the Palestine Islamic Jihad and Hamas. Nigeria and Yemen both made the list because they are the countries that Umar Abdulmutallab emerged from with the plan to bomb the plane to Detroit, Michigan. Pakistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan are countries in which the United States is in a state of war. Libya is a country that has reduced its advocacy for international terrorism, but it is still in contact with some terrorist individuals and organizations.

These upgraded security measures are in response to, first an attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit. Mar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a Nigerian who is believed to have received training from Al-Qaida operatives in Yemen, was charged with the attempt to blow up the plane with explosives sewn into his underwear. This attempt was a response to the incident that rose from the Continental Airlines terminal at Newark Airport. Security footage showed an unidentified person passing through an exit lane to a secure area without being screened. The airport went into lockdown as all flights were grounded and all passengers were returned to the ticketing area for rescreening. The unidentified individual could not be found.

Citizens of the above-mentioned 14 notions or passengers holding passports from those nations, taking flights that originated or passed through any of them, will be subjected to full-body pat downs and will face extra scrutiny of their carry-on bag before boarding on United States-bound flights. This intensive screening will be enforced at airports worldwide. Also, this new system treats people differently based on their nationality or the country from which they are traveling.

However, eased conditions for Americans and most other nationalities that do not fly through the 14 countries on their way to the United States are on the way. These passengers will no longer be subjected to automatically intensified security regulations imposed after the Christmas Day incidents.

At present, only flights to the United States are deeply affected. Airlines are currently telling passengers to “plan to arrive at the airport at least three hours in advance of their flight’s departure to allow extra time for check-in and the boarding process”, and “passengers will be required to cooperate with cabin crew on any other in-flight security measures instructed”. Now, life for travelers is likely to become more complicated once again because pat downs are here to stay on United States-bound flights.

A Super Sub Who Is a Master at His Craft

2010-04-17T13:35:00.000-07:00

Geddo Is by All Means a New Soccer Phenomenon in Egypt

By Aya Kordy

Egypt has a population of about 8 million people, each individual is very distinct from the other in terms of the way they think, speak, believe and live. Egypt has several dilemmas: its economy, the abuse of power by government officials, and the lack of democracy; hence, the nation is divided into various diverse groups. Nonetheless, all these groups can and do unite when it has to .do with one thing: soccer

On the 2nd of February 2010, the Egyptian national team played against Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations in Ghana. The score was 2 -1 for Egypt and Nigeria was really pushing for another goal in the last ten minutes. However, five minutes after the young sun Mohamed Nagy Geddo was admitted into the field, he scored a goal and subsequently became the man of the match. Geddo ‘s soccer career from then on significantly changed.

Fans were overwhelmed; Egyptians fell in love with Geddo. The hidden skills and talent of this young, unidentified player did not end though at the opening game. He was a substitute player like no other, one that manages to score a goal in a very limited amount of time towards the end of each game. Though he was only granted 20 minutes each match, he scored the most goals in the competition. Five goals in six matches led to the discovery of the newly identified star. He was referred to as ‘The Super Sub’.

Interviewers were racing for a word from the new national star. He was a newborn compared to all the other players. The journalism class was privileged enough to conduct an interview with that key player. Gedo was so modest while answering the questions. His name is Mohammed Nagy Ismail, born on the 30th of October in Hoosh Issa in El Behaira governorate. Curious as everyone was, I asked where the nickname Geddo came from. Bluntly replying, he explained that he had an incredible bond with his grandfather and spent a lot of time with him. The name Geddo became then associated with him as a sign of that incredible bond.

He started playing soccer on the streets, then in Hoosh Issa’s Youth Center, then in Damanhur Club, and finally in El Ithad Club. The next question was of his experience in the national team and if he thought he was supposed to start the kick off of the ninety-minute match. Geddo then put in plain words that it was a once in a lifetime experience, continuing that sometimes he felt the urge of playing more; however, he knew that the coach had the team’s best interest at heart. Interrupting me from asking the next question, he added that Alaa and Gamal Mubaraks’ presence gave him and his fellow colleagues the impression of how people back in Egypt were strongly supporting them. How it was different leaving Egypt as an average player from coming back as an idol, was my next question. He implied that it was very hard for him to comprehend that he was for many a source of pleasure. Talking more about soccer, Geddo clarified that his role model in Egyptian soccer is Abou Terika and from abroad Cristiano Ronaldo, highlighting that one of his biggest dreams is playing for the Spanish club, Real Madrid.

Ending the interview with a very emotional question, I asked if that quote: “I’ll buy my sister a cell phone if I score five goals” is true. Timidly replying, he explained that his sister believed he was going to score no less than five goals while, he believed it was not possible since there are only six matches, if they reach the finals. She then betted on her hunch and he accepted the challenge agreeing that if she was right he would buy her a cell phone. Fortunate as she was, he did indeed score five goals in the championship. “And I did buy her a cell phone”, he continued.

Geddo proved himself, in the first African Cup tournament he participated in as a player who is indeed a master at his craft. He is a living example of a soul who is solely dedicated and living to achieve his goal, and never considering his simple origin as an obstacle. It was without doubt a delight interviewing such a humble and goal- oriented man.

Eight Miles High

2010-02-02T01:01:00.000-08:00

Miles Remained Miles Forever

By Nikhil Krishnan

He was not a virtuoso trumpeter like Louis Armstrong. He was not a colorful composer like Duke Ellington. He was not an innovative jazz pioneer like Charlie Parker. Miles was Miles! Whatever he did was considered beautiful. Till the last split second of his life, Miles Davis performed, and everyone had true faith in his genius.

Miles Davis was born in Alton, Illinois, to a relatively musical family. Though his mother wanted him to learn the piano, his father forced him into learning the trumpet at the age of 13. At this point of time, he would meet several trumpet teachers, who would eventually influence his perception of music in general. At the age of 17, Davis would get an opportunity to see the legendary Charlie Parker perform at Illinois, which led his profound love for Jazz to evolve. After graduating from high school, Miles Davis attended the prestigious Julliard School of Music but eventually dropped out because of their tremendous “focus on only European and ‘white’ cultural music”. However, he did credit the institution later on for having contributed a principal music theory base that he would use for a large portion of his career. Meanwhile, he performed at several 52nd Clubs, where he eventually got to meet and perform with his hero, Charlie Parker.

After performing with Charlie Parker and many other local be-bop players as a sideman, Miles Davis experienced severe tension from being in such groups and later quit to make it big on his own. He soon met the Canadian composer and arranger, Gill Evans, and impressed him with his independence in composing original pieces and interpreting others’ works. Gill Evans helped Davis get a recording contract with the Capitol Records. Davis released the promising The Birth of Cool, making a fair end to the post be-bop period and an innovative inauguration of the ‘Cool Jazz’ movement. Though it was very well received by the critics, it was a commercial failure. This encouraged Davis to continuously experiment with combining and utilizing everything he had ever learned from classical and jazz music, producing a series of broad and artful body of works.

He really hit the ground running when he was signed to Columbia Records, eventually releasing a series of brilliant records such as Miles Ahead, Milestones, Ascenseur pour l’Echafaud, Sketches of Spain, the electric rock groove influenced Bitches Brew, and of course, the magnum opus, Kind of Blue. These albums have had their own influence and have been great in their own right. In fact, Kind of Blue remains to be the biggest selling jazz disc of all time. The popular Progressive Rock band Pink Floyd claimed that Kind of Blue had a huge influence on their gigantic album, The Dark Side of the Moon.

In his late years, Miles Davis focused more on performing live than recording new studio material. He had his own distinct stage persona and performed many of his own and other modern pop/rock songs. Miles Davis unfortunately suffered a stroke and a respiratory failure on September 28, 1991, marking an end to a legend’s long career and era.

His Hidden Self

2010-02-02T01:00:00.001-08:00

Ratnesh Raj’s Hidden Maharaja Apparel

By Nikhil Krishnan

Ratnesh is one impenetrable senior who has always kept himself on a modest profile when he is around at school. Having a quiet and shy disposition, he hardly lets anyone around him know anything about him, his talents, his mind and his life. Here is your chance to vividly know Ratnesh.

Ratnesh was born on November 13, 1992 in the city of Lucknow in Northern India. He began his schooling life in India and continued it at Schutz right in the middle of his 4th grade year. “From then on, it has been quite a journey. I have known a lot about this school and really have cherished my moments here at Schutz,” insists Ratnesh. When asked to describe his best memory at Schutz, he answered by stating that every moment that he has spent at Schutz has been part of his best moments; and he really means it.

Though Ratnesh’s name hardly appears in the list of team rosters, apparently because he does not try out as much as other athletic giants, he is genuinely gifted in the assorted field of athletics. He really takes pleasure and shows energetic outlook in playing multiple sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, badminton and of course cricket, his utmost favorite. In fact many fellow students and teachers at Schutz usually ask him why he does not try out for varsity volleyball or soccer. Ratnesh always has the immediate, terse response to such a question: he really does not want to miss his classes and the great moments at Schutz’s campus. However, he had been part of the Varsity Basketball team last year and has been actively engaged in playing cricket with the Alexandria Cricket Team along with fellow senior, Arnab. He believes he learnt a lot from the experience of playing with the team and has improved his abilities at the game he loves. He claims that the intensity at which it is played is what amazes him and draws him to love it.

Those of you who are not aware, Ratnesh also plays the guitar and can be found playing one secretly in the basement of the Meloy building. Apart from playing the guitar, he watches movies, hangs out with his friends and spends invaluable time with his family. His long term goal is to become a successful Mechanical/Chemical Engineer and attain an MBA degree with further studies. He views his own dad as a role model and goes on to state as follows, “I view him as my future, if not better, he has been my mentor and guided me through every stage of my life.” In addition to his dad, he considers Mr. Aditya V. Birla, a very successful Indian entrepreneur, as his idol mainly because of the struggles he faced and how well he tackled them.

He is going to be missing the basketball court where he dribbles the basketball around at lunch, the friendly environment and the feeling of being together as a family at Schutz. His advice to the coming seniors is to keep the grades high, to stay on task and to concentrate before they are eventually hit by senioritis. He further insists that they should thoroughly communicate with teachers and Massimo Laterza, the Dean of Students, since they always give a beneficial piece of information. We truly wish Ratnesh a tremendous success in his future.

A Radiologist That Can Shoot Hoops

2010-02-02T00:57:00.002-08:00

Yaseen Moussa Is the Next Leading Radiologist in Egypt with a Passion for Basketball

By Hanna El-Amrawi

Yaseen Moussa was born on September 30, 1992 in Los Angeles, California, with a basketball and hoop in hand. Ever since Yaseen was a little boy, he loved to play basketball, and as days went by his passion for the game only grew. In fact, Yaseen loves basketball so much that his role model is Coby Brian. If you do not know who Coby is, don’t feel alone. When I first heard that name from Yaseen, I had a puzzled face on, until he shouted, “You don’t know Coby Brian!? He is like the most successful basketball player! Dude he made it pro right after high school!” I guess we are not all as big fans of basketball as Yaseen Moussa is.

Yaseen came to Schutz as a small, timid third grader in 1999. Coming from sunny California, Yaseen found Egypt a lot different. However, as he opened up to people and got acquainted with the environment, he began to love it here. “Even though I was born in California and lived there for about ten years, I consider Egypt to be my real home”, explained Yaseen. That is why when he had to move back to America last year, he fought in order to come back to Egypt and graduate from the country he loves.

Being in Schutz for seven years has filled Yaseen with a lot of memories that he will cherish forever. “My favorite moment was when we won first place in volleyball this year. I will never be able to forget the expressions that each one of us had, even the girls, when we won the final point!”, stated Yaseen.

After graduating from Schutz, Yaseen plans to major in Radiology while still pursuing a career in basketball. He has applied to many respected universities including New York University (NYU), University of California (UCLA), and the American University of Cairo (AUC). However, he is stuck between going abroad and attending one of the best universities or staying in Egypt close to family and friends. Yaseen’s family is really important to him and he believes that without it he would not have been able to make it this far. Yaseen has a very close relationship with his friends, and he manages to always stay in touch with them. To many, Yaseen is the type of guy you go to when you have a problem and you know he will always help you. When asked where he sees himself in ten years, Yaseen replied with, “A radiologist that is married with kids, who plays basketball on his free time”.

Yaseen’s advice to upcoming seniors is to take senior year seriously and not fall back on senioritis. “I will truly miss the teachers, the campus and just everything about Schutz. It has been my home for the last seven years and it will always be a part of me”, explained Yaseen. Well Yaseen we wish you the best, and we assure you that you will always be part of the Schutz community.

Did you know that…

2010-02-02T00:57:00.001-08:00

By Aya Kordy

… There are about 5,000 prince and princesses in each Saudi Arabian royal family?
… King Louis XIV of France established in his court the position of "Royal Chocolate Maker to the King"?
…. Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other simultaneously?
… Thomas Jefferson wrote his own epitaph without mentioning that he was US President?

Oprah Winfrey Retires

2010-02-02T00:55:00.000-08:00

Oprah “Redefined the Talk Show Genre”

By Aya Kordy

Oprah Winfrey intends to end her 25-year run as a talk show host in 2011. The show is syndicated in more than 140 countries, and has been consistently successful since its establishment. According to the BBC the show “redefined the talk show genre” and created an “empire” which included “magazines, books and a satellite radio station” .The show was noted for its inclusion of major figures from the political and entertainment worlds. Oprah was able to challenge established figures such as Dr. Phil Donahue, and expanded the fairly narrow format of the talk show to incorporate a wide and diverse range of topics, from serious social and political issues to the more light-hearted aspects of the entertainment business.

Although Oprah still claims the highest ratings, “audiences are half what they were a decade ago” (BBC, 2009), which may have been a significant factor in the decision. TV stations built their schedules around Oprah, and distributor CBS will unquestionably lose hundreds of millions of dollars when the show ends. The falling audience numbers may have prompted the move to cable, for Oprah Winfrey is widely expected to start up a new talk show on the Oprah Winfrey Network, a joint venture with Discovery. This would seem to indicate that the ‘Oprah show’, as such, is unlikely to disappear altogether, but will simply be changing its venue. BBC news points out that Discovery has invested heavily in the new venture, which would not be the case if Oprah herself intended to retire from the TV spotlight.

The audience response has been muted, although viewers describe the show as central and important to their lives. Although Oprah herself has been circumspect about the future of the show, it seems unlikely that she will be leaving national television completely. Rather, it seems that she is changing audience her method in order to boost ratings and avoid the typical programming which has led to a decline in audience numbers over the past few years.

The Sound of the Holidays

2010-02-02T00:52:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Spirit Fills Us Up And Takes Over

By Ingy Fahmy

December and January are filled with celebrations everywhere. Schutz takes these celebrations to the next level by making sure the entire Schutz community is able to enjoy the holiday festivities. From Winter Programs, to Christmas plays, Schutz is ready and well equipped for any holiday that comes its way!

One of the forms students display their emotion and holiday spirit is through the art work created. During the month of December, Lower School students were busy hanging their santa hats and decorated christmas trees throughout the halls of Walters Hall. Every floor and classroom was filled with different objects colored and decorated with red and green.

The third grade class decided to further display their holiday spirit by holding a class play. The play was about Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus; Mr. Santa Claus got a cold so he could not deliver the presents on time. However, Mrs. Santa volunteers to step in, deliver the presents on time, and so Christmas is saved! They performed in the Auditorium in front of parents and students. Overall, it was a very Christmas-y atmosphere and all parties enjoyed the show.

The annual Winter Program took place on the evening of December 18. Lower School students were lined up on the auditorium stage singing the night away with Greg before them conducting all . Each group of students who sang added a unique delight to the winter spirit with Christmas Carols boasting through the sounds of the Auditorium.

All in all, the Schutz community celebrated and enjoyed the winter festivities. Each holiday that came during this period was well distinguished, memorable, and very merry!

Entertainment Corner

2010-02-02T00:48:00.000-08:00

Movie Madness!

By Farah Kashwa

Up in the Air

George Clooney plays the role of Ryan Bingham whose job is to fire people from theirs in his latest movie, Up in the Air. Since he is flying all across the United States to perform his job, he does not have an office. Due to him not having an office, he lives out of his suitcase and he is not compassionate and he loves the way his life is. However, when his boss hires new, arrogant, and young Natalie, Clooney’s job is threatened because Natalie develops a method of video conferencing. This new method will allow them to fire people from their jobs by never travelling around all the time. Determined to bring down Natalie’s new method, Clooney takes her on one of his firing expeditions across the US. As she starts to realize the upsetting realities of her job, Clooney starts to see the downfalls of his way of life.

The Blind Side

It has been at the top of the box office for days and there is no question why. The Blind Side, based on a true story, is about Michael Oher, an African-American boy from a broken home who is taken in by a white family. The family thinks that they are changing Michael’s life but what they do not know is that he is changing theirs too! He gives them new self-discoveries about themselves and quickly adapts to playing the role of a big brother. With the support of his new family, he faces new challenges but overcomes them all. With a pinch of love, a pint of happiness, and a teaspoon of family values, it is a recipe for a great movie. The Blind Side will leave no dry tear!

She is Watching You...

The Lovely Bones is a movie based on the best-selling book by Alice Sebold. The movie centers on a 14-year-old girl from Suburban Pennsylvania who is murdered by her neighbor. She tells the story up from Heaven, where she is watching. She shows the lives of the people around her and how they all have changed since she has disappeared and how they also changed while attempting to get someone to recover her lost body. However, the little girl must weigh her desire for revenge against the desire for her family to heal and move on. Will she go after her killer?

A Universal Language: Sports

Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon join their great acting skills in the movie Invictus. Invictus is based on a true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team to help unite their country. Nelson Mandela, newly elected to office, is aware that his country is economically and racially divided. Mandela, believing that he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, rallies up the South African rugby team as they make their eventful and historic journey to the 1995 Rugby World Cup championship match. Watch the movie and witness a great mixture between national pride, sports, and politics.

Mai Eldib: Living in "Empire State of Mind"

2010-02-02T00:46:00.000-08:00

Grasping Every Experience to Achieve Independence

By Ingy Fahmy

Mai Eldib graduated from Schutz in 2004 and went on to attend Barnard College, Columbia University in NYC where she acquired her bachelor of arts degree in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies in 2008. Since then, Mai has had a couple of internships in the city; she interned for ABC News and a botique venture captilist firm. She describes both internships as being great learning experiences.

Currently, Mai is working in NYC as a client developer at Sotheby's, one of the most prominent international auction houses that deal with the sale of fine art, jewelry, watches, furniture, wine, books, etc. She loves her job and explains, "It is so different from what I studied, so it feels like I am going to school all over again. I get to work with great pieces of art and see them on a daily basis; it's like working in a museum!". Mai further explains that her job gives her the fortunate opportunity to engage in so much people interaction; she gets to meet such fascinating and interesting people whom she must understand in order to help enhance Sotheby's multinational clientale.

Schutz has affected Mai's life tremendously; she came to Schutz as a young sixth grade girl and came out as a fully prepared young lady ready for the Big Apple. She says it would not have been possible were it not for Schutz instilling a sense of independence in her which has grown over the years. It has enabled Mai to become her own person who is able to identify her own strong and weak points. Mai describes one of Schutz's benefits is being such a small school because it allows and teaches you to foster great relationships with those around you.

When asked if there is anything she would have done since graduating, Mai said, "Maybe stayed on for another five years in Schutz; they were seriously some of the most amazing days". She claims that things have changed so much from her time at high school. After being realeased from the Schutz gates almost six years ago, Mai admits it has been a little scary and crazy being in the real world. She has primarily gained so much independence since graduating. Mai has gradually learned to become aquainted with what she really wants out of life and to know how she should go about getting it. She explains, "If you were to tell me during my senior year of high school that I would be working in New York in the Art Industry, I would have laughed; I thought I was going to be a lawyer or a diplomat, but I soon realized that I am not really a desk job person or a 9 to 5 person either".

Mai hopes her future path takes her back to Egypt at some point where she will be working and maybe even serving on the Schutz Board, but for now she is happy with work and is open for whatever plans her future might hold for her. "I am totally indebted to Schutz for making me the person that I am today. Without Schutz I would not have learned the importance of thinking outside the box or managing life. Schutz really teaches you how to be your own self and that is very important when you are at whatever job, because being confident and assured about your identity always enables you to grow in your life and flourish".

As a successful Schutz graduate, Mai Eldib offers current Schutz students some advice about their days at school, "Enjoy every single minute at Schutz, from MUN to Sports Day to the EMAC/ISAC events. Cherish them; because once you graduate you will miss every thing you did at school. The bond you shared with your friends there – it is truly irreplaceble".

2010-02-02T00:45:00.000-08:00

Taking the World by Storm, One Country at a Time

By Farah Kashwa

Sarah El Sebakhy is the new face we all see around campus. Before she came to Schutz, she attended the American-British Academy (ABA) in Muscat, Oman. She lived in Qatar before moving to Oman. She really liked ABA and she also liked Oman. Sarah, at first, was afraid about coming to Schutz because she felt like everyone had their own friends already and she was also concerned about the American diploma. However, as the weeks went by, she got used to the system and made her own friends. Even though she misses her old school and friends, she believes that Schutz is a good way to end high school.

When it comes to Sarah’s hobbies, she has more than one. She likes taking photographs and watching movies and documentaries; especially documentaries on politics and history. She also likes to read books and chill with friends. Her favorite author is Jodie Picoult.

Sarah is fairly sure about her future. She wants to attend the American University in Cairo (AUC) and she wants to major in International Relations and Modern History. She wants to attend AUC for about two years and then transfer abroad to the United States or Europe. For Sarah, thinking 10 years down the road is a little too far but she wants to have seen a lot of places and wants to have earned her bachelor’s degree and maybe even master’s. Although she wants to get a good job in a big, busy city, she excludes Cairo and New York City.

Sarah has a lot of talents. She speaks three languages fluently, she is currently learning Spanish, and she would like to touch up on her French. One of the most memorable moments in Sarah’s life was when she won 3rd place in one of the categories for a photography competition in a famous travel magazine in Oman called Oman2day.

Sarah’s family is very supportive of her. Although they give her advice and try to lead her to making the right decision, she makes the final decisions herself. According to Sarah, they are always there to back her up. Sarah wants to have a broad knowledge about everything, just like her dad. She says that her dad reads a lot and someday she wants to read as much as he does. One of Sarah’s family supporters includes her sister, Farah, who is currently enrolled at British School of Alexandria.

Although she is a shy person, she is a very open person once you get to know her. So let’s give Sarah a big Schutz welcome. Sarah, welcome to the family!

Establishing Peace by Books and not by Bombs

2010-02-02T00:40:00.000-08:00

The Big Read Project Takes Place for our Community’s Well-Being

By Nikhil Krishnan

A man named Greg Mortenson climbs the K2 mountain of Pakistan, the world’s second highest mountain in the Karakorum Range, to honor his sister’s memory. While coming back and staying at a village called Korphe for a while, he sees a group of underprivileged girls trying to write with sticks on sand. He walks up to them, and promises to build them a school. As of 2009, Greg Mortenson has built 131 schools. His incentive of establishing peace by ‘books and not by bombs’, has awarded him several honors including a nomination for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Big Read project at Schutz American School is strongly inspired by the story of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Three Cups of Tea, written by Greg Mortenson. Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea is an inspirational autobiographical account of how Mortenson successfully established a number of schools in the remote communities and areas of Central Asia and how he is changing the state of the world one school at a time

The Big Read project similarly aims to assist in providing needed resources and build libraries for three underprivileged schools in the neighborhood of Alexandria. For a kickoff start, the Big Read project contributors and members introduced the long-term project at an Upper School Falcon Block assembly held on November 19, 2009. The two upper school Language Arts teachers, Ms. Randa Shoeb and Ms. Jean Melek have been encouraging their students to read Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea for exciting rewards, such as opportunities for earning bonus points in their Language Arts classes, occasional tea-parties and pizza offering at book discussions during lunch times. Since then, there have been several successful book discussions during lunch times.

On the other hand, many fundraising activities and events have been held at Schutz such as the National Honor Society’s Big Read Bake Sale, Upper School library’s Book Donation and Sale etc. All raised funds and money are being donated to the Central Asia Institute (CAI), the organization that is co-founded by Greg Mortenson and that builds schools in the remote mountainous areas of northern Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and the steppes of Mongolia.

Greg Mortenson with the Central Asia Institute has effectively enlightened and motivated the world with one of the most staggering humanitarian campaigns ever, and the Big Read Project is certainly one result. We are proud of Ms. Melek and Co. for establishing Schutz’s Big Read Project and hope that it successfully serves its community to make it healthier than ever.

The Transformed Man

2010-02-02T00:38:00.000-08:00

Mohamed Seif’s Journey Through School Helped Establish His Masculinity

By Ingy Fahmy

Mohamed Seif, more widely known as Aboody, came to Schutz seven years ago as a timid, introverted sixth grader. He recalls his first day, “I went into class and I was sitting next to Tias. Noureen was supposed to sit next to me as well, but she was still in Spain. It was later time for recess, and a few boys called me over to play tetherball and I hung out for a while with them then pulled myself away. I remember being extremely shy at the time”. It was not until a few years later that Mohamed started converting his character and transforming his personality into one that you no longer overlooked as you sat with the different boys in his class. Mohamed established himself as one of the most recognizable students in the senior class.
Mohamed plans to attend American University in Cairo (AUC) to specialize and major in Engineering. He plans to pursue a graduate degree after acquiring his undergraduate one. Mohamed envisions himself in the future, as a well-respected, established working man among the elites of the country. He will be joining his family’s business, where he wants to be working side-by-side with his father. Parallel to that, Mohamed wants to be raising his own family and raising them with the morals that he was brought up with during his own childhood.
Mohamed is one of those people who really concentrate at what he has at hand; he makes sure that his work is done on time and in high quality. However, he does admit that he tends to cram and wait until the last moment to do the required work. Despite that, Mohamed leaves no room for anyone to argue that he truly is a hard worker. Amongst his friends, Mohamed is described to be the tall, loud, kind, and hyper guy who is always guaranteed to be a smile on your face.
Reminiscing on his days at Schutz, Mohamed will always cherish the precious moments he has spent here during his adolescent years. In particular, he tends to take pleasure in the Dr. Atef was a substitute for his Algebra class; Mohamed claims that time to be full of laughter and happiness. Mohamed will sincerely miss Schutz’s friendly and secure environment. He explains that in previous schools he never correctly felt at home till he became acclaimed in the Schutz family.
Mohamed would like to end his days at Schutz by thanking it for everything it has harbored in him for the rest of his life. In particular, Mohamed explains, “Schutz has embedded in me the most important lesson of all time: You only achieve success through hard work and commitment”. Mohamed would also like to thank Dr. Tony Spencer, the former Head of School, for helping him become the man he is today. He explains that Dr. Spencer is the person who saved him for going down a path that would have lead him to places he would later regret. Finally, Mohamed would like to extend the best of luck to the junior class and tells them, “Work hard, you only have one more year to go. Enjoy it…”

Delegation of Japan Head-Off to Turkey!

2010-02-02T00:33:00.000-08:00

Delegates Declare TIMUN ’09 A Success!

By Farah Kashwa

One of the greatest advantages of being a junior is getting a chance to travel to the Turkish International Model United Nations (TIMUN). The delegation from Schutz that represented Japan at TIMUN this year were Hana Kotb (Ambassador), Hala Abou El Seoud, Sandrine Aziz, Nourhan El Sallab, and Nathaniel Helminiak. Travelling along with them were Noureen Ben Halim and Hanna El-Amrawi for the journalistic experience of TIMUN; of course the students were accompanied by Mr. Collins since he is the MUN director.

It is the first time in the history of Schutz to send non-delegates to the conference. This year, Hanna El-Amrawi and Noureen Ben Halim made history when they travelled to TIMUN to be part of the journalism department of the conference. When participating in an MUN conference, there is a daily newspaper updating you on the happenings of the previous day. Usually throughout the conference you are sitting down on a chair in your committee; however, Hanna and Noureen were running in the building to find their next big story. Apart from writing, several documentaries were made about the diversity of the conference. When I asked Hanna about what she thought of the journalism department of there conference, she said, “Comparing being a delegate to this I enjoyed this a lot more because I have a strong passion for journalism so I thought this was the right thing to do. It made me feel that I was in a real press room.”

While the students are attending the conference, they lobby with other delegates. While lobbying they discuss resolutions and aspects of the issues that they weres presented with. All preparations and discussions should be made from their country’s point of view of course. Also, while lobbying, people from all around the world were present at the conference. You are constantly being introduced to new cultures and new thoughts.

The advantage of TIMUN is that it is a smaller conference than The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) therefore delegates have more opportunities to speak in their committees.

When I asked Hala Abou El Seoud about that conference, she had this to say, “I loved the people there; it was different and diverse, and it was really interesting for me to get to know so many different people from so many different places. The experience I got was magnificent and I learned a lot from it! Mr. Collins was great!”

Travelling to Istanbul, Turkey for TIMUN does not only mean conferencing throughout the trip. The delegation managed to get a chance to explore the lovely city of Istanbul; a city filled with so much culture. Being a delegation dominated by girls of course there was a lot of shopping involved. Apart from some shopping time, they visited the European side of Turkey which was a fun experience. Noureen Ben Halim pointed out that the banquet at the end of the conference was a lot of fun.

Overall, the trip was a great success! The delegates had a great experience and also a lot of fun. What better combination than that can there be?

Mr. K.G. Knows the Best!

2010-02-02T00:28:00.000-08:00

Armed To Equip His Students with Technological Skills

By Nikhil Krishnan

Mr. Linroy Kilgore is yet another new distinguished addition to Schutz’s teaching militia. He is commonly known as, Mr. K.G., who is armed to equip his students in order to have their best foot forward in the changing world with technology skills. Mr. K.G. is not the kind of person one would go around addressing as a tech geek because he has been around the block regarding many things and has lots of different things to do in the future.

Mr. K.G. was born in Abilene, Texas but was raised mostly in Fort Worth, Texas. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Texas Christian University and majored in Science Education. He then enrolled in the Air Force and served as a target intelligence officer for 8 years, reaching the rank of captain and serving in Desert Storm. At the Air Force, he was assigned various technological jobs to handle top secret information and inevitably, that is where his interest for technology received a spark. He further continued his studies by receiving his masters in MBA for technology. Since then, he has served as a teacher, assistant principal, and head director in the eclectic and rewarding field of education. Last year, he finally decided that he wanted to teach overseas, and therefore took the next available plane to Alexandria, Egypt to start his newly generated overseas experience.

Mr. K.G. has expressed an affinity for Egypt. “I like the place in general but it’s a bit too loud. If I had a magic wand to do something, I would like to lower the volume on the streets, especially at 2am! Other than that, it’s a beautiful place.” states Mr. K.G.

Mr. K.G.’s model student is someone who has the ability to learn on their own. “We’re here to help students learn how to learn, particularly in regard to technology. They have to be able to use and apply these tools in college and their future careers.” Further states Mr. K.G. Mr. K.G. is quite concerned about the state of secondary and post-secondary education today. He believes the reason why so many students fall behind is because the educational system is no longer relevant to how students learn today. “Many students in the U.S. appear to believe they are entitled to the easy way and are less willing to work toward their own learning.” He also believes that the K-12 educational system in the U.S. has some serious flaws. “That is why I chose to teach overseas. I wanted to get out of the U.S. Educational system for a while.” He further believes that students should stay at school and make the most of it to have a deserving future.

Apart from being the average tech guy, he is also an avid reader. He claims that he has over 300 books on the Kindle and has about 60 eBooks on his Ipod. He often enjoys playing online games and working on his own online school website. Though he has achieved much in his life, he is hungry for more and wants to earn a doctorate in education (PhD.) and serve a school by being part of the administration or as the head principal.

Mr. K.G. came up with a well-put piece of advice: “We’re estimating between the years 2006 and 2016 that there will be nearly a 1,000 new jobs in technology. The U.S. is short about 100,000 engineers every year. Therefore, it is a very good time for students to go into technology. Kids can write their own tickets.” We wish Mr. K.G. a successful first overseas year at Schutz.

Boycotting Al Jazeera

2010-02-02T00:24:00.000-08:00

Was Egypt demonized by Al Jazeera?

By Aya Kordy

Al-Jazeera was praised for its reporting on the conflict in the Gaza Strip, and commentators stated that although Al-Jazeera obviously sympathized with the Palestine resistance the coverage was very professional and provided alternative opinions. However, the coverage was criticized by Egypt because it also gave considerable airtime to opponents of Egypt's official approach to the conflict. One focus of the critique was the fact that Egypt had been unwilling to open its border to allow humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and in interviews broadcasted by Al-Jazeera, critics blasted Cairo’s position that many saw as proof of Egyptian complicity with Israel against the Palestinian resistance.

About a month ago Egyptian security forces clashed with a pro- Palestinian convoy led by the British MP George Galloway who spent the past month travelling from London to deliver 198 truckloads of aid and supplies to Gaza. Several protestors and policemen were injured after clashes at El-Arish, a few miles away from Gaza. Soon after there was large protests by Palestinians just over the border inside Gaza. Hamas, then called for a protest over the delay of the “Viva Palestina aid convoy”, which quickly got out of hand. An Egyptian border guard watchtower was shot dead and stones injured nine others, and several Palestinians were seriously injured. Egyptian officials told the convoy some of their trucks could not pass through Rafah. But had to enter into southern Israel and then pass through Israeli-controls, crossing Gaza. However, there was no guarantee that the trucks would be allowed to enter the strip, on top of that George Galloway refused to pass through Israel.

In an interview George Galloway said, “ I was determined to try and avoid the 27th of December being a confused date, it ought to have been the date that all eyes and all fingers were pointed at Israel the criminal that killed 1400 people in 22 days, most of them women, children and civilians. I begged Egypt not have everybody pointing at them, and have everybody with their eyes on them instead of Israel. If they had behaved sensibly they would have said to their “friends” in America and their friends in Tel Aviv, look sorry this is a very sensitive anniversary for us you’ll have to cut us some slack, you’ll have to give us a bit of sensibility here or we are going to end up being blamed for something that Israel did, and that’s exactly what happened.” Of course as a motivated humanitarian George Galloway is concerned about the people in Palestine, however; he is blind sighted of Egypt’s point of view. Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, explained that the government is protecting its people and its nation and that other countries should accept the Egyptian protocol, clarifying that Egypt helped and still helps Gaza in so many ways, but, Hamas abused the power by smuggling weapons across the border. Furthermore, he elucidated that the murder of an innocent soldier protecting his country was completely off the line and that Egypt “Will no longer allow convoys, regardless of their origin or who is organizing them, from crossing its territory.” Nonetheless, Al Jazeera regarded Egypt as taking sides with Israel, explaining how welcoming other countries were like France and Jordan while Egypt was uninviting and undesirable to the convoys. Egyptian media commentators stated that the coverage of Gaza was a “despicable media war against Egypt.”

The media conflict is seen as reflecting a wider gap between those who support US policy in the region and those who oppose it. The former group includes Egypt, whereas the other includes Qatar, where Al-Jazeera is based. Moreover, in recent coverage by Al-Jazeera on the clashes between Egyptian and Algerian soccer fans the media channel believes that it was in objective terms, and did not demonize Egypt in anyway, while the Egyptians are in complete discrepancy. The coverage acknowledges that Egyptian fans were attacked and threatened, and cites a number of sources from international media such as CNN and the BBC, nevertheless; the channel never emphasized or highlighted the whole scandal, and gave it the amount of coverage it needed. The main issue, that Egypt has with Al-Jazeera, is the fact that Qatar is a part of a group of nations which do not support Egypt’s policies in the region, and especially that Qatar is a strong allay with Iran, while Egypt supports the US. Consequently, any criticism of Egypt is biased, while the coverage should be in fact comparatively neutral and objective.

There Is a Missing Factor in Our Schutz Formula

2010-01-27T04:45:00.000-08:00

The Parents of Our Schutz Community Are No Longer Involved With Our School Affairs
By Hanna El-Amrawi

In Schutz American School, the parents have always played a very significant role in the community. They not only support the students and care for their school, but they are also looked upon as the foundation of our Schutz society. However, lately those parents that we considered to be our base are not always there for support. Parents are not as actively involved in our Schutz community as we would like them to be.

For instance the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), which is one of the leading organizations in our school, is in need for more active members. Before, there used to be many parents involved in the PTA, all running for various positions. They planned and advertised their events to the rest of the school and were extremely involved with the Lower School. They organized numerous events such as the Christmas Play Day and Bingo Night. Lately, however, their participation in their children’s school events has declined dramatically. Bingo Night; which is one of the PTA’s most famous events, was not as successful this year. Bingo Night was always the night where teachers, students and their parents could all come together in order to try their luck. However, this year there was a missing factor in this formula. The teachers were present, the students were there, but what happened to the parents? What happened to the rest of the PTA members? Everyone could tell that something was just missing.

While most parents are not showing support, there are still the few parents that continue to give us their support and are trying to keep our community nurtured. For example, those are the parents that send in food on such days as Teacher Appreciation Lunch, and for that we would like to thank them. Another successful event this year included the Christmas PlayDay, sponsored by the PTA, which brought smiles to the children’s faces, as they were singing and decorating with family members.

Therefore, as a member of the Schutz community, I encourage the parents to show their support and bring back that enthusiasm that was once embraced in our community. The parents are a big part of Schutz, and without them, we just feel that there is something missing. The parents’ presence in our events and in our school affairs really affects our school. Now that more parents choose not to attend our events, we truly begin to feel affected. So how about some more support? How about some more enthusiasm? Let us bring back that spirit that Schutz has always been known for and make our Schutz formula complete.

Should We Scream? Should We Drop Cream? How About a Happy New Year!

2010-01-27T04:39:00.000-08:00

There Are Many Different Tradition That People Do On New Year’s Eve

By Hanna El-Amrawi

For many people the New Year is not another chapter in someones life. It's a chance to start over and have a new beginning with new resolutions, that will make the coming year filled with love and fortune. This idea of celebrating New Year’s Eve has been going on in some manner for over a millennia. Different cultures and regions have come up with different ways in order to make the coming year the best it could be. These customs range from eating grapes to wearing yellow underwear. Whatever the customs maybe, most rituals that accompany this holiday symbolize purging of the old year and ensuring good times in the new one.

Buying new clothes is a common ritual in most countries during the New Year. In Venezuela, wearing yellow or red symbolizes good luck in the coming year. For extra luck, people give each other yellow underwear. So next time the clock strikes twelve, make sure you show your friends that you are wearing yellow.

If you are spending New Years alone, and no one has passed by to give you that yellow underwear, well do not feel alone, look at your door step. In Denmark, it is a good sign to find your door loaded with a pile of broken dishes at New Year’s Eve. The more broken dishes you have on your door step, the more popular you are. Throughout the year old dishes are saved so that, on New Year’s Eve, people could throw them at their friend’s homes. So if your planning to head to Scandinavia during winter break, BEWARE from broken dishes. Make sure you clean up it up, so that your animals don't step on it.

When you were little, did you ever think that animals could talk? Well in Romania talking animals are considered a bad sign. When the clock strikes twelve, everybody gets quiet in order to listen to their animals. If their animals talk, then they will have a bad year and if they do not, then there year will be filled with love and fortune. Seems to me that these Romanians just want to be lucky!

Well if the animals do talk and you run out of luck, you can always follow the Spanish tradition. In Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, people eat one grape on midnight for every stroke of the clock, symbolizing luck and love for each month of the year.

With the leftover grapes you might want to add some strawberries and top it all off with some wiped cream. Well let us hope you dropped some cream on the floor while making your delicious fruit salad. In Switzerland, people allow a drop of cream to fall on the ground in order to ensure abundance in the coming year.

While many people wish for luck and abundance on New Year’s Eve, some people wish to travel in the next tweleve months. When the clock strikes twelve, Colombians and South Americans walk around their house with suitcases to ensure travel. So if you wanted to travel in the summer, you better have started packing your suitcase.

Let us say things did not work out and you didn't get to travel, well you would probably be very upset. In Ashikaga, Japan, people participate in the Akutare Matsuri, or the festival of Abusive Language. The Japanese climb a tall hill in order to reach the 1,200 year old Saishoji Temple while screaming and yelling at workers, teachers or politicians. After the outbreak, they enter the temple and take part in ceremonies that will allow happiness to flow in the coming year.

Whether you stuffed your face with grapes or listened for talking animals, the Journalism class would like to wish you all a successful year.

Egypt’s Very Own Iron Woman

2010-01-27T04:30:00.000-08:00

After Two Decades of Evasion, Hoda Abdel-Moneim Returns to Face it All

By Ingy Fahmy

Egypt’s “Iron Woman”, Hoda Abdel-Moneim, has finally returned to Egypt after being on the run for more than two decades. She was arrested at Cairo International Airport last August when she boarded off a flight arriving from Greece. The infamous “Iron Woman” of the 1980s suddenly came back without any introduction or notification to the public. Judicial authorities placed Hoda in custody in Qanatir Khairiya prison in Cairo, where she will be detained there until her retrial begins.

Hoda Abdel-Moneim, who faces charges of forgery and embezzlement of up to 600 million Egyptian pounds in loans from five Egyptian banks, stood trial in September and her hearing was delayed to November 21st upon request of her lawyer, Ragaai Attia. Abdel-Moneim pleaded not guilty, averring that she has repaid all her debts to the five banks and has also paid taxes to the government. Hoda has been ordered to remain in custody pending her third hearing in November.

The tale of Hoda Abdel-Moneim began in 1980 when she established her own investment company known as Hodaco Misr. Her company started an endorsement campaign for luxurious and exclusive housing projects in the posh Cairo suburbs of Heliopolis, Maadi, and Al-Haram in Giza. Hodaco Misr was able to attain a 20 million pound loan from the Egyptian Land Bank and the Suez Canal Bank, along with receiving millions of pounds from people paying down-payments for investing and reserving houses. Three years later, in 1983, Hoda started stumbling across obstacles when the socialist prosecutor-general (SPG) indicted her of forging official bank documents and failing to distribute estate to those who paid. Thus, the SPG ordered Abdel-Moneim’s property to be detained, and she was prohibited from exiting the country until further investigations were to take place.

Hoda Abdel-Moneim, however, still managed to leave the country regardless of her being a flight risk. At the time, her story created media frenzy. Local press later christened her as the “Iron Woman”, and alleged her of utilizing her influential connections to pull strings in order to allow her to flee the country without being stopped or questioned upon departure. It was rumored that she was concealed behind the attire of an Islamic women’s gab (niqab).

Mustafa El Said, a former economy minister said, “There is a growing belief among officials of the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazeif that businesspeople who fled the country should be encouraged to return and repay their debts”. This belief is shared among many government officials and the citizens of Egypt. It is believed that it is the government’s aim to allow them to return and settle any outstanding loans with the exchange of a pardon so that they will not face prosecution. The return of the “Iron Woman” has made it clear that it is the government’s initiative is aiding those who have made a mistake in the past and wish to repent it.

Beyonce at Port Ghalib's Opening Ceremony

2009-12-20T04:47:00.000-08:00

Beyonce Recieves Acclaim and Objection in Egypt
By Hanna El Amrawi

The First African - American female artist and the second woman to win the annual ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year Award, Beyonce Knowles, decided to make a stop in Egypt. Beyonce Knowles performed live on Friday, November 6th, in Port Ghalib. She celebrated the launch of the new Egyptian resort, Port Ghalib which is located next to Marsa Alam. This is the first time that Beyonce has come to Egypt. She performed part of her I AM ...Shasha Fierce global tour.
Beyonce’s decision to perform in this luxurious resort added to the resort growing popularity as one of the most exciting new holiday destination in the Middle East. The resort contains many five-star hotels such as; InterContinental Hotel and Coral Beach Hotel.
Born in Houston in September 1981, Beyonce Giselle Knowles began to perform at age seven. As a teen, she attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston where she honed her musical talents. Upon winning many local awards for her vocal and dancing abilities, she decided to team up with her friends to create an adolescent vocal group, Destiny’s Child. Mathew Knowles, Beyonce’s father signed up to be the group’s legal guardian and manager.
The creation of this group led to one of the most popular female RnB groups of all time. Destiny’s Child had several smash hits such as Say my Name and Survivor. After some difficulties in 2001, Beyonce decided to break away from the group to pursue her individual solo career. In the summer of 2002, she co-starred in the film Austin Powers in Goldmember with her role as Foxy Cleopatra. She then decided to focus on her singing career, and her debut solo Dangerously In Love topped both the RnB and Pop charts in America as well as in Canada and the UK in 2003. She released her sophomore solo album, B’day, in 2006 and three months later she did an award-winning performance for the movie, Dreamgirls. The following year, she landed a role as Etta James in the musical Cadillac Records. Shortly afterwards, she released her third studio album, I Am...Sasha Fierce, featuring number one singles such as Single Ladies, and Sweet Dreams.
Although many upper-class people were thrilled to have Beyonce come to Egypt, some of the lower classes felt excluded. These people of the lower classes felt that it was like an elite concert, that they could not attend. Not only did they not fully know who Beyonce is, but also felt that the cost of this event was extremely high. For a person to attend this event they had to pay an airline ticket, hotel costs and the ticket of the concert. To them, it was just “not worth it”. Beyonce also ran into some problems due to her revealing clothes and different dance moves. Members of the Muslim brotherhood said “Beyonce is not a Christian; she is satanic, serving the devil”.
Even though Beyonce faced some criticism, her performance was highly liked. With such a successful career, Beyonce is a role model to future young artist. We were proud to give Beyonce Knowles our five-star welcome.

Entertainment Corner

2009-12-20T04:37:00.000-08:00

Movie Madness!
By Farah Kashwa
Saw 1, 2,3,4,5, and 6!
Saw, probably one of the most famous horror movies ever made, is back again this fall with a horrifying sequel. Special Agent Strahm is dead, and detective Hoffman dawned as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw’s legacy. However, when the FBI starts to investigate and to be more suspicious of Hoffman, he is forced to put a game into motion and start playing. Jigsaw’s grand scheme is finally understood!

Picture Perfect, until…
Penn Badgley plays the not-so-privileged kid in Gossip Girl but tends to have a lot of action and drama in his life. However, in his new movie, The Stepfather, he steps out of his comfort zone and surprises us all by starring in a horror/thriller movie! In the movie, Badgley plays Michael Harding, a military school student. One day, when he returns home, he finds out that his mother is dating a new guy that has also moved into Badgley’s house. One day, Badgley overhears the neighbor talking to his mom about how her new boyfriend looks a lot like a man on the most wanted list. Badgley’s mother confronts her boyfriend, but he denies it and a week later, the neighbor is dead! Do you believe in coincidences?

Fashion Legend’s Life Made into Movie
A lot of us wear her shoes, glasses, perfumes, and carry her bags. Coco Chanel has had a heavy impact on the fashion world. Chanel is one of the biggest and most respected names in the fashion world today. But don’t be fooled by all the runways and shiny lights. The movie, Coco Avant Chanel, follows the fashion moguls’ life from start to finish: from her nights at the orphanage, doors of opportunities for her, and even where she got the name, Coco.
A Must-See
Law Abiding Citizen is about a man who, ten years after his wife and daughter were brutally murdered, returns to punish the assistant district attorney who let his wife and daughter’s killer not go to jail. Not only does he threaten the man who set the killer free, but he is prosecuting the whole justice system. Gerard Butler plays the man who loses his wife and daughter. He becomes a brilliant sociopath who plans a series of high-profile murders all from inside of his jail cell. Butler triggers Philadelphia’s days of terror.

SUDOKO

2009-12-20T04:33:00.000-08:00

A Piece of the Girl who Sang the Blues

2009-12-20T04:23:00.000-08:00

Janis Joplin Dared to Be Different
By Nikhil Krishnan
Don McLean, in his famous 1971 song American Pie, was actually referring to Janis Joplin as he sang the famous line ‘I met a girl who sang the blues’. Janis Joplin was undeniably the Blues powerhouse of her time; she emerged as the leading female figure in the late 1960s rock scene when it was essentially dominated by male musicians. Deeply influenced by traditional blues and folk, she explored their preliminary roots in the soil of Rock & Roll through her Psychedelic rock music.
Music critic Lillian Roxon wrote the following of Janis Joplin, “Janis Joplin perfectly expressed the feelings and yearnings of the girls of the electric generation – to be all woman, yet equal with men; to be free, yet a slave to real love; to reject every outdated convention, and yet get back to the basics of life.”
Janis Joplin was born to Seth and Dorothy Joplin on January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas. During her high school years, she molded her critical, authoritative vocal technique according to singing styles of powerful Blues and folk vocalists such as Bessie Smith, Leadbelly, Odetta and Billie Holiday. Joplin was labeled an eccentric girl and a misfit at her high school and was often taunted for her hobbies of music and painting, and for her dressing and hair style. She nevertheless continued to be the way she was even when attending the University of Texas, where the local student newspaper ran a profile on her tilted She dares to be Different. Her characteristic of being different and standing out would remain synonymous with her for the rest of her life.
Joplin initially performed solo at coffeehouses in Austin accompanying herself with an acoustic guitar. Eventually, she started to get some attention from performance reviewers and Psychedelic bands looking for a lead vocalist. Her major breakthrough was in 1966 when she caught attention of an emerging Psychedelic band named Big Brother and The Holding Company. Though their music was not commercially successful initially, critics recognized Joplin as a great talent who just needed a breakthrough to achieve the success that she and the band deserved. It was not until their second album Cheap Thrills, that Joplin found a good equilibrium between commercial and critical success.
Janis Joplin’s vocal style was heavily acclaimed and described as a strong bluesy force that was wild, screaming and uninhibited yet still focused and deliberate. She was often mistaken to be a black soul vocalist when her breakthrough hit Piece of My Heart aired on radios. Joplin was not only a stunning vocalist but also a spectacular stage performer. Her performance with Big Brother and The Holding Company at the 1967’s Monterey Pop Festival alongside Simon & Garfunkel and The Who and her performance at the legendary 1969 Woodstock Concert alongside Jimi Hendrix have been considered some of the finest live performances ever.
Unfortunately and ironically, Joplin destroyed herself at the age of 27 by an overdose of heroin similar to Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison who died in the same year of 1970. Her posthumous album, Pearl, has been her best-selling album featuring the revered country crossover Me and Bobby McGee and giving rise to a huge posthumous fan following.

Hanna El-Amrawi: CNN’s Next Big News Reporter

2009-12-20T04:22:00.000-08:00

Schutz Bids its Audible Voice Farewell
By Farah Kashwa

Hanna could clearly be heard from the front porch all the way to the middle school lockers. She was also always pumped up.
One thing Hanna was not afraid to do was show her true self. Hanna is one of those people that are not afraid to show her true colors no matter who she is with. Hanna is someone that is very approachable and easy to talk to. She always makes you feel welcome, and she will always lend you an ear if you need to talk to her. Although her classmates were not used to all that energy at first, they soon came to realize that when she is around, there is never a dull moment.
Hanna’s role model is her sister. Her sister taught her to be strong and face anything that came in her way. These words of advice had a heavy impact on Hanna. Hanna never runs away from a problem; instead, based on her sister’s advice, she faces these problems. Hanna has a very big family and she loves spending time with them. She said that when she will have kids, she would like them to experience having a big family as well. When Hanna looks down the road ten years from now, she sees herself married and also working!
Even though Hanna is not known for her athleticism, she used to horseback ride when she lived in Cyprus. On the other hand, something that Hanna is famous for is her love of the performing arts. Hanna sings and also acts! What can’t that girl do? She has a great passion for acting and so she is pursuing drama in her senior year, and acing it.
Hanna went to the New York Film Academy this summer and took a journalism course. She came back with a lot of experience and a lot of friends. When Hanna was behind the camera, she felt like she belonged there.
Hanna will surely be missed around school, especially when she calls out “Masssssiiiimoooooo”. She is applying to many respectable universities abroad including University of California-Berkley, New York University, and she is also applying to The American University in Cairo (AUC). Hanna is torn between going abroad and being introduced to a whole new environment and staying in Egypt in AUC and maintaining the “Schutz” environment. If she goes to The AUC, however, she will transfer abroad at some point.
When I asked Hanna what she will miss most about Schutz, she said, “This feeling that everyone knows you and you know everything about everyone; this feeling of unity. You feel like you have the whole school behind your back.”. Well Hanna, I assure you that wherever you are, you will always be a part of the Schutz community and family, and we will always have your back!

Dina Abou El Ela: The Two-in-One Girl!

2009-12-20T04:16:00.000-08:00

Schutz’s Very Own Golfer and Future Fashion Designer
By Ingy Fahmy

Dina Abou El Ela has been part of the Schutz family ever since she joined it as a little timid girl in ECP-Half. She has been known throughout her 15 years at Schutz as the girl with the big white bus and headband that came in every color. It is here that we all watched this coy girl blossom into a poised young woman ready to take charge of the life ahead of her. It is not everyday in our community that we get to witness an emerging golf champion along with the title of a fashion designer.
“I want to major in fashion, yet at the same time I want to continue pursuing my career in golf by being part of a college team; therefore, I am still trying to figure things out”, added Dina. She is still uncertain about which college she is planning to attend, but she is considering either continuing her studies in the United States or Europe. She has her mind set on what it is she wants to do with her life. Dina can see herself 10 years down the line as a happily married mom with her golf title and managing her mother’s clothing factory. She deems her mother to be her role model because as Dina explains, “She has four crazy children and runs her own business, yet she manages to keep it all together. She has everything set straight in her mind and gets everything accomplished.”
Having spent many, many years at Schutz, Dina has so many memorable moments. She really cannot point to one event as her favorite or most cherished one; she will always treasure the moments that had her shed tears of misery and laughter between the walls of Schutz. The thing Dina will miss most about Schutz is walking through the gates feeling like home, seeing people sitting on the green tables, and hearing all the noise and commotion coming from the front porch. She admits that it will be hard to let go of all this. Schutz taught Dina how to depend on herself; she explains, “Even though Schutz is a family, and it always will be my family, you will eventually have to dependent on yourself at times”.
Dina is a strong advocate for “Things happen for a reason” and states that growing up in Schutz and getting all its benefits is not just by luck. She believes she was sent to Schutz to make a difference and learn all there is to know in order to be able to embark on a life-long journey where she will hopefully be able to leave a mark in the world. Dina ascribes the person she is today to the people around her who helped her shape her life and character. She would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for helping her construct her own identity. She claims that every single one of them had an effect on her to make her become the person she is today.
Dina is walking away from all this knowing it all happened for a reason and is grateful that it did in Schutz. She ends by reiterating to the Schutz community that, “Enjoy your time in Schutz, time flies by and you will regret not enjoying it. Schutz is a family and always will be, so do not waste your time wishing something would happen. Make it happen before your time is up, and it is too late”.

Always Above the Rim

2009-12-20T04:14:00.000-08:00

Cameron Newell Carries out his Family’s Legacy
By Nikhil Krishnan

After having built a staircase to ultimate success for his two siblings, Schutz will finally do the same for Cameron Newell this year. Cameron clearly stands out at Schutz not because of being the only red-headed hipster in the whole high school, but because of his unique personality.
Over the years, students around the campus have come to recognize Cameron as an amiable fellow with a unique character that consists of a mixture of a strong athletic verve and a distinguished comical persona. I personally expected him to horse around while I tried interviewing him because of his humorous approach to almost everything. However, he was surprisingly serious when he started to describe his personal goals and aspirations and how he would like to transform them into a reality.
Cameron was born on March 31st in the large city of Charlotte, North Carolina. The Newells moved to Egypt when Cameron was 6 years old. Although he has lived in Alexandria for ten years, it was not until the 5th grade that he officially became a member of the Schutz family. His brother Joshua and sister Kara have already graduated from Schutz, and Cameron will be the last Newell to graduate and carry the family’s legacy.
Cameron is an extraordinary athlete at Schutz and has dedicatedly participated in many sports activities by joining Junior Varsity and Varsity teams. Although he enjoys sports, such as volleyball, soccer and baseball, he has always had basketball as his straightforward favorite sport. If a Schutz student claims that he/she has never seen Cameron play basketball, then he/she has probably been daydreaming for all this time. Cameron is always seen dribbling a basketball down the basketball court during lunch and after school.
Cameron showed an initial interest for basketball in 7th grade and has since evolved and expanded his skills at the sport. He professes his love for basketball by claiming that he is “always willing to play the sport all day long and spend all his free time in playing basketball”. He has also shown his fine leadership skills by being the captain of the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team last year. His most memorable moment was when he scored the final scoring basket at the last moment and won the last game of last year’s Varsity Basketball tournament for his team. His favorite player Michael Jordan is his role model since he admires Jordan’s ability to play in different ways each season. He also admires Jordan’s determination to succeed despite so many failures.
He would actually like to take his fascination and passion for basketball to another level by actually playing college basketball at some university in his home state of North Carolina. He would like to major in some sort of business management program, mainly Sports Management. Currently, he is working very hard to get a basketball scholarship, which might play a significant role in expediting his dream of playing college basketball until being drafted for the National Basketball Association (NBA).
When Cameron chooses to do something else other than playing basketball, he occasionally enjoys a good game of pool with his friends. He will obviously miss playing basketball at Schutz’s basketball court in lunch and hanging out with his friends at the green tables after leaving Schutz. Finally, his wise words to the upcoming seniors are the following, “Enjoy your last year before you go off on your own for good.”

A Lawyer in the Making

2009-12-20T04:12:00.000-08:00

She Can’t Wait to Enter the Real World
By Hanna El-Amrawi

With senior year coming around, many seniors begin to feel upset at the thought of leaving their school and moving on. They are afraid of the idea of entering a new phase in life. Many become distressed and anxious. However, this senior is quite different.
Nada Abou-Gad can not wait to leave all of this behind and enter the real world. Nada has been in Schutz for seven years. She feels that Schutz has supplied her with enough knowledge and experience to help guide her throughout the rest of her life. She feels that Schutz has taught her the true meaning of friendship, and she will never forget that Schutz made her the person she is today.
Nada was born in December 18, 1991 in Alexandria, Egypt. After a few years, she moved to Washington D.C. Nada has always strived for perfection. She has received the second highest SAT score in her class and has always ranked top in her class. Her hard work and dedication will take her far. Nada plans on moving back to the States and attending either the University of George Washington or the University of Virginia with a double major in Political Science and Pre-Law.
Ten years from now, Nada sees herself as an accomplished lawyer juggling to balance between work and her married life. She hopes that one day she will become a judge in the International Court of Justice in the United Nations.
Nada has a passion for history and English. She will graduate from Schutz with all 3 Advanced Placement history classes(AP World History, AP European History, AP US history, and she is also taking an independent study of AP Comparitive Government). In fact, her role model is Queen Elizabeth III. “Queen Elizabeth is an inspiration to me. In times when women were subordinate to men, Queen Elizabeth proved to be one of the most successful monarchs in history”, stated Nada.

A Day in the Life of a Pedagogue

2009-12-20T04:10:00.000-08:00

Mr. B.’s Take on Education
By Nikhil Krishnan

Mr. Robert Blankinship has clearly stood out as one of the most accomplished educators at Schutz. Whether one sees him teaching in his classroom, walking down the stairs, or running his laps after school, Mr. B., as he is commonly known around Schutz, has been recognized as someone who is acutely focused on what he does. Mr. B. has become an essential part of the Schutz community and has shared with us his experience both in education and in life.
Mr. Blankinship was born in Long Island, in New York. He was a good student, but he admits that grades did not come easily walking to him, and that he had to work very hard to earn them. He did his M.A. in Science Education at the University of Texas. Since then, he has taught at various destinations including the U.S., Vietnam, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Liberia, Korea, Singapore, Jordan, and presently, Egypt. He taught for 20 years in Singapore, and he considers it as his home.
His most unforgettable moment as a teacher was at Saigon, Vietnam, from 1970 to 1974, which he describes to be the most exciting and depressing time of his life. He vividly remembers how he and other teachers were being evacuated from the city when the North Vietnamese Communists were approaching the city in 1974. Currently, he has demonstrated warmth for Schutz and has labeled it as “a small school with a friendly environment.” However, at this point of time, he believes that he really needs to “change his lifestyle to the one of semi-retirement in order to have more free time.” “I’m approaching 63, and that’s a good time to be doing that”, states Mr. B.
A model student for Mr. B. is a student who is an attentive listener, a curious person, and a hard working human being. He inevitably values education and is very concerned about how education is being carried out today. “America became a great country because of education,” he states. He is especially concerned about the increase in dropout rates from high schools and colleges. He stated that the main reason for students’ dropout from schools and colleges is because of not reaching their potential as students through either lack of study or inefficient study habits. Moreover, he believes we have quite a few math and science teachers and not enough doctors, engineers, and research scientists, especially those dedicated to the examination of alternative forms of energy. “There needs to be a far greater push to motivate students to enter the sciences and only by having dedicated science teachers is this going to happen.” explains Mr. B.
Apart from enjoying his vocation as an educator, Mr. B. likes to participate in and train for marathons. In addition to that, he likes traveling. He admits to not have traveled inside Egypt as would like, but he definitely plans to when time permits. He has expressed his wish to ease into ‘semi-retirement’ by alleviating his workload to part-time teaching and tutoring, especially training in ESL (English as a Second Language).
Mr B. would like to spend half the year in Singapore and the other half in the U.S. and so forth. Mainly, he would like to stay in Singapore, “I like staying more in one place. It’s nice to have roots and a place to call home. Singapore is that for me.” We earnestly wish Mr. Blankinship to have a good last year in teaching the high school level.

Ms. Rovack to the Rescue

2009-12-20T04:09:00.000-08:00

Now Girls Can Openly Talk about Their Feelings
By Hanna El-Amrawi

With a school as small as ours, it is very hard for a person to keep secrets without having them broadcasted around the school. With a student population of less than 300, many individuals are not able to openly state their opinions without being judged or criticized. That is why, this year Ms. Jannette Rovack, the Guidance Counselor, has come to the rescue.
Coming from a large international school in Tokyo, Ms. Rovack realized that Egypt was quite different. She thinks that in most countries there is some type of a support system that helps out teenagers. However, in Egypt, she feels that there is not much support.
Therefore, Ms. Rovack has decided to set up a “Girls Group” where girls can openly discuss their issues in a confidential manner. “I felt that girls in Schutz needed to have a place where they can have nonjudgmental feedback”, explained Ms. Rovack.
The first group meeting took place on Thursday, October 15, during lunch. Before starting the discussion, each member was required to sign a confidentiality agreement that stated that what is being discussed remains in the room. This allowed the girls to feel secure and be able to openly discuss their issues. The girls discussed many issues ranging from school to outside interest; the basic issues that face most adolescent girls. This idea of a confidential place sparked the interest of many upper school girls, “The room was filled with more than twenty girls”, stated Ms. Rovack. The group proved to be a success. Due to the large number of girls that were present, the group is still to decide whether it should meet twice per week.
Ms. Rovack has many new ideas that she hopes to bring to Schutz in order to truly foster this idea of a support system.

EMAC Activities Cancelled and Pushed-Up

2009-12-20T04:08:00.000-08:00

Why Did EMAC Decide to Do Things Differently this Year?By Ingy Fahmy

The Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference (EMAC) organization has decided to make some changes to this year’s activity’s calendar. To begin with, the High School Leadership Conference and the Middle School Festival got cancelled. Then the Academic Games got pushed-up a whole two seasons. All these events affected many students in Schutz, and the changes that took place might have been helpful to one student while being disparaging to another. Massimo Laterza, the EMAC Coordinator, explained that the decision to cancel both the HS Leadership Conference and MS Festival is a temporary decision that will only last for this year.
The cancellation was due to the fact that EMAC is currently undergoing a number of changes. There used to be a total of sixteen participating schools in the organization. However, due to controversies between the schools and within the organization, these 16 schools split into two different organizations, EMAC and Middle East School ‘s Activities Conference (MESAC). As a result, many schools have pulled out of this organization, which has led to a decreased number of participating schools.
Hence, the participating schools felt overwhelmed with the amount of events that they were hosting this academic year. As a result, none of them was capable of hosting both the HS Leadership Conference and the MS Festival. As for the Academic Games, it usually takes place in the late spring. This year, however, it got moved to take place during the early fall. Massimo Laterza elucidates this change to be due to the fact that most students who attend the Academic Games tend to be juniors and seniors who also happen to have Advanced Placement (AP) exams and SATs at around the same time of the event. This discouraged a lot of students to try out for the teams since they felt it would be taking away from their study time for these crucial exams.
Kelly Sullivan, who is the coach/advisor of both the HS Leadership Conference and Academic Games, said that many teachers have been asking the organization to move the dates of Academic Games to February, but for some reason they decided to move it to October.
All these events prove to be very effective on a student’s transcript for college. Therefore, the decisions made around these events are very crucial for all college prospective students. An anonymous senior expresses sadly that they have been saving to attend the HS Leadership Conference for their last year at school because they wanted it to be a memorable one and one that would look good on their transcript. We hope that next year the same unfortunate fate of the conference and festival does not affect yet another graduating class or eager students wanting to attend them.

Team Work Makes the Dream Work

2009-12-17T04:55:00.000-08:00

Schutz Boys Teams’ Comeback

By Aya Kordy

The SAS Varsity Boys Volleyball and Soccer teams managed recently to achieve first and second places in the competitions held in Doha. This great comeback of the boys teams is not only a sign of the hard work of the players and coach, but of a sense of great determination.

Coach Tamer Melek explained that, with both hard work and determination, dreams can be achieved. As a result, a victory found its way between the trophies, which were now gathering dust.

The last time Schutz Boys achieved first place in Varsity Volleyball was in November 2005, so that is certainly a comeback that needs to be acknowledged. As for soccer, after ending in disappointment in 2008 with the boys disqualification, this year SAS boys returned with second place. “ We were playing against the weather, the referees, and the crowd, but we still made it to the 2nd place with great effort and team work. Like I always say, team work makes the dream work”, stated Coach Melek.

A Student-Governed Zone

2009-12-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

The Student Lounge Is in Need of Our Cooperation!

By Farah Kashwa

The student lounge is one of the most important places for the upper school students. It is a place where students can go to study and hang out with friends. It is also a warm place for students to hide in during the cold winter days. The lounge’s back wall used to have signatures of students who have graduated several years ago. That wall was a symbol of how much the students cared about the lounge; they wanted to leave their mark in a place special to them. However, this wall of memories has been painted over. After hearing comments from the senior class, it is obvious that they would like to leave their mark too.
The lounge’s furniture is a topic that students are not happy about. The lounge has basic furniture that “is not very comfortable”, according to several students. Since some students use this lounge for leisure time or when they want to relax, they would like more comfortable furniture to relax on. Apart from big improvements that will take time, the lounge could have small details added to it to make it more cozy.
The lounge also is not one of the cleanest spots in Schutz. Some people who want to go to a quiet place and work are sometimes disgusted to go into the lounge since, most of the time, garbage can be found lying everywhere. People who spend lunch in the lounge need to learn how to clean up before they leave. The administration has taken several steps to prevent the littering problem by occasioanlly closing down the lounge during lunch time. However, the lounge still needs to be taken care of by students in a better way.
I asked some students about their thoughts on how the school can improve the lounge. I got a lot of great ideas, but they are mostly ideas that would take time to execute. When I asked Arnab Chaudhuri what he wanted to see in the lounge in the future, he said, “I would like the lounge to have a TV.” I asked Youssef El Akkad, a ninth grader, a couple of questions about the lounge, and he said, “I go to the lounge to relax. I think that the lounge could be more organized.” When I asked him what he thought about having a TV in the lounge he replied, “That would be great!”
Most students agreed about having a TV in the lounge. Mrs. Jane Walsh, the Head Librarian, said, “I don’t think that would be a great idea. My main concern is students having access to a TV while they are unsupervised. I don’t know much about the lounge, but I do think that it can be improved.
Changing and improving the lounge will take time and a lot of convincing arguments from students to the teachers and administrators. Since students want some changes that the administration might not support, it will take time and it will also take a compromise from both sides to achieve the goal.

The Spirit Has Graduated

2009-12-17T04:47:00.000-08:00

A Campus once Full of Life, Now an Ordinary Campus

By Aya Kordy

More than ten years ago, if you asked any Schutz student what stood out in their school, they would all answer the same thing, “Spirit!” But today, if you ask any of these students that same question, the answer would not be the same. What once used to be the most energetic campus in Alexandria is now just a common campus. It seems like the graduates of the 1990’s took the school spirit along with their diplomas.
When asking Noureen Ben Halim, a student who has been in Schutz for fourteen years and now a senior, what she wishes could be renewed in the school, she replied, “The school’s spirit!” She explained, “The first seniors I can remember were the class of 1998. One of the many things I recall is them dressing up for us, the little kids, on Halloween, and filling the campus with their charisma and unique character.”
We have noticed a great decline in the Schutz’s spirit; starting with the cancellation of the Falcon Cup, to the cancellation of the friendly competitions between students of all grade levels, to the lack of enthusiasm on the senior sale’s day. Where does the problem lie then? How did the school lose its spirit? “The continuous change in teachers is the paramount reason for that”, declared Khaled El Naggar, Ingy Fahmy, and Hoda El Dib, students who have been in Schutz for more than ten years now.
“Throughout the past decade, there was a high teacher turnover to the point that teachers did not get a chance to be fully immersed in the school spirit in order to pass it on to the students”, explained the veteran students. Other students clarified that with the high turnover of the teachers and with the old generations graduating, Schutz’s spirit is quickly fading away. Teachers should be bursting with excitement for everyday and for every morning; however, that is not the case. The lack of awareness of such a crucial component in Schutz is what brought the level of spirit down.
For 84 years, one class after the next graduates from Schutz, and education was always the priority; nonetheless, school spirit was a given. Today, education stands solely on the “must list”. The front porch used to spangle with enthusiasm and students full of excitement. The bond they had with their school was unbreakable. However, today you can barely see life on the front porch, all you see is students enveloped in their studies. All you can see is just an ordinary campus.

Revival of Our Mission and Values

2009-12-17T04:42:00.000-08:00

The Need to Remember Our Mission and Values Arises
By Ingy Fahmy

At the center of every successful organization or establishment lie its core values and its mission statement. These two aspects are what steer the focus of an organization toward a certain direction. Without values and a mission, the organization would just be flowing in the middle, not knowing where it is heading or where it wants to head.
On November 5th-6th, the Strategic Plan Core Planning team met and discussed the development of Schutz and its progress in achieving its Strategic Plan. Over the past few years, people have always been talking about the concept of Schutz being a true family. In the meeting, the team reviewed whether this statement still stood to be true. Through the discussions brought up at the SP session, it was evident that people do realize that there is an apparent problem with “Schutz’s Family”; however, the community is still driven and determined to draw back that old sense of family by making sure they understand and believe in Schutz’s core values and mission.
I believe that from Schutz’s core values, one that truly needs to be improved on is: “We believe that every individual has immeasurable intrinsic worth.” Since Schutz is an establishment based on the foundation of family, this concept should really be stressed upon. Every member of our community is equal; each individual should be able to realize and accept what their own worth is so they can empower their character with the ability to achieve their life-long aspirations.
One key concern that evolved from the discussion is how people at times are not getting the information needed so that successful communication is apparent. This does not necessarily limit the communication to informing parents about events or happenings, but it is more about the failure to explain why certain things are being done. Not one party is to be blamed, but rather our entire family for simply failing to ask why.
We, as an establishment built on family values, must have the same determination to steer our community back into focus. We must all come together as a family to realize what is best for our students. We still acknowledge our school mission as our guide to where we are driving our students, and to the future. So please, take a look at our values and mission statement. Make sure you understand what our establishment’s reference to each individual’s intrinsic worth is all about, and if you do not, then simply ask why.

Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize

2009-12-17T04:33:00.000-08:00

Pandemonium Over the Sincerity of Obama's Choice
By Aya Kordy

In 1895, the foundations for the Nobel Peace Prize were created when Alfred Nobel wrote his last will, leaving much of his enormous fortune to the establishment of the Nobel Prize. Alfred Nobel was a Swedish engineer, a weaponry manufacturer and the inventor of dynamite. Ever since 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize has been honoring men and women from all over the world for outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peacemaking.
Many world leaders have won the Nobel Peace Prize in the past for their outstanding contributions to their world. For example, leaders such as President Jimmy Carter sponsored numerous peace treaties, formal Vice-President Al Gore made efforts in creating a world awareness of the rapidly changing climate, and both President Anwar El Sadat and President Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accord creating peace between Egypt and Israel.
In October, members of the Nobel Peace Committee decided to award President Barrack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize. The decision stunned many around the United States and the world, including those at the award ceremony who were caught on camera gasping when Obama’s name was announced. Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said, “Our choice could be seen as an early vote of confidence in Obama, for intending to build global support in his policies. Our choice was meant to build momentum behind Obama’s initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world, and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.”
After only hours from receiving the news, Obama responded, “I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize.” He added, “I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century.”
Many were stunned by the surprising choice so early in the Obama presidency, which has yet to produce distinct achievements in peacemaking. Several objected to the choice of Obama, as he still oversees wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While others contended that Obama won the prize as a result of his “star power” rather than significant accomplishments. Surprisingly enough, even former Polish President Lech Walesa, who won the prize in 1983, questioned whether Obama deserved it now. “So soon. Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act,” Walesa said.
Some view Obama’s nomination as an ideal choice, for Obama in less than a year was loved by millions, and he sent his message of peace all over the world. On the other hand, many regard Obama’s efforts as being at their earlier stages and are yet to materialize into concrete and measurable achievements. Whether or not Obama really deserves the Nobel Peace Prize will be determined solely by his actions in the upcoming four years.

Egypt vs. Algeria: Reaching a Boiling Point

2009-12-17T04:03:00.000-08:00

A Rivalry that Dates Back to 1989!

Farah Kashwa

For many decades, Egypt and Algeria have always had a rivalry when it came to soccer. There were games where there was heated competition. There were games played as grudge matches. There were games played in unfriendly atmospheres. And then, there is Egypt and Algerian rivalry, which was a rivalry taken to a totally different level.

Egypt last qualified for the World Cup in 1990 at Algeria’s expense. Algerians got very upset and started attacking the referee. After that, at an after-match recepetion, an Egyptian doctor travelling with the team got his eye gouged out by an Algerian player using a broken bottle. As a result, relationships between the Egyptian and Algerian national teams have always been tense.

On November 14th, at the Cairo Stadium, Egypt needed a three-goal win to qualify for the World Cup at Algeria’s expense. Even though it was a hard goal to achieve, many Egyptians had faith in their national team players. Two minutes into the game, Egypt scored! Egyptians thought that the three-goal victory was going to happen easily; however, the second goal was scored in the last two mintues of the game. Therefore, all 80,000 Egyptians attending the match at the stadium were sitting on the edge of their seats for the 92 minutes in between. With the smashing Egyptian 2-0 victory over Algeria, there had to be a sudden-death match.

With the luck of the draw, Sudan was announced to be the hosting country of one of the most intense games both countries have ever witnessed. When the Egyptian national team arrived in Sudan, their bus was attacked by Algerians. However, that was only after the Algerian bus carrying the players was attacked during their visit to Egypt.

Before the match kicked-off, both teams were praying to be victorious because for both Egypt and Algeria, qualifying for the World Cup was something both countries have not achieved in a long time. A couple of minutes into the game, both teams had an unfriendly interaction and started to get violent. Also after a while, another unfriendly interaction occurred between both teams which proved that not only were the fans heated, but also the players. With Algeria scoring a crushing goal, the Egyptian national team never recovered thus allowing Algeria to qualify for in the 2010 World Cup. What happened after the game is what is causing a great political and national turmoil between the countries.

After the match, the Algerian fans attacked the Egyptian fans attending the match in Sudan. The Algerian fans reportedly bought knives and other dangerous weapons upon arrival in Sudan with all the intention of using it against the Egyptians, win or lose! Egyptians, unexpecting the attack, were defenseless. An Egyptian fan who was attending the game in Sudan and witnessed the atrocities said, “We have seen death”.

It was hours of terror in Sudan! Egyptians were hiding in Sudanese houses. Some men and women took off anything representing Egyptian flags only so they could walk in the streets without being attacked. Because many Egyptians wanted to express themselves about the recent events, they have rallied outside of the Algerian embassy in Cairo on the 19th of November protesting and voicing their objections to the recent events.

However, with all these events, the Egyptian-Algerian relationship has been scarred forever. One might wonder what happened to playing just for the love of the game.

A Star Among Us

2009-06-11T01:31:00.000-07:00

A Combination of Talent and Passion

Youssef Talaat

Rafik Zaher was born on April 11, 1991 with a tennis ball in his hand. From that day forward, he never stopped loving the game of tennis. Rafik came to Schutz fifteen years ago and will leave a strong mark in Schutz’s athletic record. He joined every team the school had to offer and always fought for the school with passion and ardor. Outside school, he dazzled spectators, both in and outside of Egypt, playing his much-loved sport of tennis.

Being the quiet person that he is, Rafik is often misunderstood to be a lazy person. The truth is actually far from the aforementioned portrayal; Rafik is an extremely dynamic and intelligent person. However, his constant pursuit of several sports and his countless training sessions everyday make school seem like a place to lay back and relax. When asked, Rafik said that three words that best describe him are, "fun, smart, and athletic." He believes that his strong point is his determination. He also believes, however, that his bicep muscles are a weakness he must continue to work on with his friend Mahmoud. Rafik considers two very different people to be his role models: Roger Federer and Lil Wayne; Federer because he is the perfect tennis player and Lil Wayne because he shows the world the meaning of following your dream and influences many, many people.

Next year, Rafik plans to join his friends, Aly and Youssef, in Boston to study Finance at Boston University. He has already spoken to the tennis coach there and has earned a spot on the tennis team. Ten years from now, he hopes to be either a professional tennis player or a worldwide-known businessman. Either way, he would like to thank his parents for always supporting him in whatever dream he decided to follow.

Rafik will miss many things about Schutz, the most of which is talking to Massimo Laterza, the Dean of Students. He is glad, however, to be leaving behind the absence policy that has been a constant hindrance to his pursuit of extracurricular activities outside of school. He believes that Schutz has taught him many lessons the hard way. Rafik will truly miss school next year and would like to tell Schutz that "it will always be his second home." He would also like to advise the upcoming senior class to get started on their SAT’s and college applications because "it is a long and painful process!" Rafik Zaher has truly shined in his fifteen years at Schutz, and the Schutz community has nothing but high hopes for his future.

Mohamed Zahran: Conqueror of the Egyptian Economy

2009-06-11T01:25:00.000-07:00

The Soccer Star and Guitarist Is Off to College

Aly El Attal

If you walk around campus during lunch, you will probably see most of the seniors hanging out near the front porch or the courtyard. However, Mohamed Zahran can only be found doing one thing in one place—playing soccer in the covered court. Since he came to Schutz in Grade 2, Mohamed, or Z, as he is more commonly known, has participated in every extracurricular activity imaginable. His friendliness and unique character have made him one of the most lovable characters on campus.

After graduating from Schutz, Mohamed will be heading off to the American University in Cairo with some of his classmates where he will acquire a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is planning on working hard so he can transfer to McGill and graduate from there and eventually obtain a master’s degree from the University of Southern California or Stanford. His hard work and persistence will help him become a businessman who will "conquer the Egyptian economy" by expanding the family business and starting businesses of his own. Even though his main goal is to become a successful businessman, Mohamed also plans on improving his guitar skills so he could obtain the highest diploma and become a semi-professional guitarist.

Eleven years at Schutz have filled Z with lots of memories and aspirations. He still remembers his first day after transferring from the Alexandria Language School. Alaa El Damaty remembers that "everyone thought he was a foreigner." He says that his most memorable moment at Schutz was when he "scored the winning goal at the last minute in the 2008 Varsity Soccer tournament," which is why he will miss the Varsity Soccer tournaments more than anything else. Mohamed feels that many Schutz traditions are changing these days, so he is glad that he will be leaving those changes behind. Despite that, Mohamed believes that Schutz has taught him something very important about life, which is "to think outside the box." He also believes that Schutz empowered him with the knowledge and skills that will benefit him throughout his life. Mohamed’s words of wisdom to the junior class are, "Live your life."

Many people idolize someone great, such as a family member or a public figure, to set an example for what they would like to become in the future. Mohamed is so unique that he believes that he does not need a role model for inspiration. However, he would like to thank his family for shaping him into the person he is today. Mohamed wants to grow up to become a unique man and to blaze his own path towards success. Z claims that he is very open-minded, but does not work well under pressure. His is known to be shy, funny, and kind, but a more subtle quality that he possesses is his trustworthiness.

Stranger Danger

2009-06-11T01:22:00.000-07:00

Opening Up to an Outsider
Noureen Ben Halim

For many people, talking to strangers, and being open to them on the first encounter is unusual. The idea that a person can talk to an outsider and be comfortable enough to tell them about their life during the first hour they meet, threatens many people’s privacy. But for only a number of people, it is very normal to do so.

An instance that happens every day: When person x meets person y on the way home from work. Person x is very stressed out and is dealing with a lot of problems at home and at work. What is bothering them even more is that they have a hard time discussing their problems with family or friends because they are afraid of being judged. Person x and person y happen to be sitting in seats next to each other. Person y comes off as very friendly. They exchange greetings, maybe talk about the weather, and then start to converse about more important things. Person x gets the feeling that person y cares about what they have to say and will not be judgmental. They are at ease, and soon, they start talking about their problems. Person y asks person x where they live, and person x feels it appropriate to say where. They might even exchange numbers. Person x believes that person y is trustworthy, just another passenger on the bus, and there is no harm in giving the number. Person x says goodbye to person y, gets off the bus, not knowing person y’s dangerous intentions.

Person x has just made a BIG mistake. Talking to a stranger is safe only if you keep ALL your personal information private. Person x gave away their number, and home address. Person y could easily find person x’s whereabouts. Like person x, people often feel comfortable around strangers because they feel that they will not be judged. Unfortunately, this could result in a crossing of personal lines. People should be well aware of this and should take precaution. 1) Meeting a stranger and having a conversation should be minimal. 2) You should never give out personal information to someone you have just met. 3) You should never accept an offer such as a ride home from a stranger, even if the location is very near. There is no way to know who this person is. 4) You should be aware of your surroundings and what you say and how you act. It is particularly important nowadays to be cautious and alert. Choosing to open up to an unfamiliar person is like giving them the key to your world, you will never know how or when they will use it to get to you.

The Soon to Be Golfing Star

2009-06-11T01:13:00.000-07:00

Issa Abou El Ela Excels in Keeping the Family Legacy

Aya Kordy

Ranked in the top 20 worldwide, Middle East champion, Egypt’s champion and recently champion of the Katameya Junior Open competition, Issa Abou El Ela raised the bar for all Schutz athletes.

Issa Abou El Ela is a current ninth grader, who has been enrolled in Schutz since Pre-Kindergarten. Issa has been playing golf for thirteen years. Despite his young age, he is motivated, committed and dedicated to the game. Issa is part of a large family that is all inspired by golf, "We all started playing golf at a very young age. Now, my younger brother Mohamed who is currently in Pre-Kindergarten practices golf", stated Issa.

Adding to the family achievements, Issa’s father, Amr Abou El Ela was the Middle East as well as Africa’s champion: His older sister Dina, who is currently an eleventh grader, has been the Ladies Middle East champion for two years. "My father is my role model, I want him to be proud of me one day as I’m grateful that such a man is my father," explains Issa.

Issa has always set goals for himself and has always tried his best to achieve them. When it comes to golfing, he says, "It is always the ball and me, nothing else in the world matters."
Issa would like to go pro when he is twenty years old, but until then, he will continue to engage in many tournaments winning himself numerous titles. Of the many championships he has won, Issa is truly proud of the Pan Arab Junior Champion as he has won it two times, securing for himself the title of the junior championship of the Middle East. He is also proud of the Pinehurst World Championship as he was ranked twentieth worldwide.

When asked to pass down a word of wisdom to those wishing to pursue the art of golfing, Issa said "The harder you work, the luckier you get." Issa finds himself blessed that he grew up on the endless green golf course, and he says that the quote by Tiger Woods, "I want to be what I’ve always wanted to be: dominant," truly applies to him.

The Road to the FIFA World Cup 2010

2009-06-11T01:09:00.001-07:00

We Bet on the Best

Mohamed Zahran

The 2010 World Cup Qualifications have been going on for quite a while. The qualifications are divided into six factions: Africa; Asia; Europe; North, Central America and Caribbean; Oceania; and South America.

Currently, the teams in the African Zone are divided into five groups. The top team from each group will advance to the World Cup 2010. In the Asian Zone, the teams have reached Round Four with ten teams divided into two groups. The winner and the runner-up of both groups will advance to the World Cup. The third-placed teams from each group will play a home-and-away play-off, with the winner advancing to the inter-confederation play-off with New Zealand.

　
There are 53 teams in the European Zone that are divided into eight groups of six and one group of five. The eight best group runner-ups advance to Round Two and all the group winners will advance to the World Cup. In Round Two, the eight teams will be paired in four, and they will play a home-and-away series. The winners of these four games will advance to the FIFA World Cup.

In the North, Central America and Caribbean Zone, there are six teams left. The top three teams will advance to the World Cup, and the fourth seed will play the fifth seed team in the South American’s Zone in a home-and-away match.

The winner will advance to the World Cup. In the Oceania Zone, the winner of the group is New Zealand. It will now play-off against the team that finishes fifth in the Asian Zone for a place at South Africa 2010. In the South American Zone, the top four teams qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The 5th-placed team enters a home-and-away playoff with the 4th-placed team from the North, Central America & Caribbean.

This year, some great teams are performing below expected. On the other hand, developing teams are doing better than expected. It is hard to determine who will eventually qualify for the World Cup, but I can predict which teams will make a great entrance to the World Cup. Brazil is doing very well in the qualifications as well as Germany. It is still too early to determine which teams are strongest in the African Zone. At the other end of the world, Australia and New Zealand are doing very well, both being on the leader board in their zones. Finally, USA is first in its group. It is quite clear that this year’s competition is tough. We all wonder who will drive on the road to South Africa.

Qahwa Sada: A Shrine

2009-06-11T01:02:00.000-07:00

A Country’s Obstacles
Conjured On Stage

Aya Kordy

Have you ever been to an Egyptian funeral? Was it of a friend or a family member? Did they serve Qahwa Sada (black coffee)? According to Egyptian tradition, black coffee is strongly linked to grief and sorrow. Therefore, at a funeral people who come to offer their condolences are served Qahwa Sada, and it is exactly this tradition that the play refers to. Out of 45 plays produced by the annual Egyptian National Theatre Festival, during their 11-day show, one specific play attracted the biggest number of critical views. This play is Qahwa Sada.

Qahwa Sada is not really a play in the traditional sense, with a plot line and gradual development in the characters’ lives. It is rather a number of scenes set together to give a sort of overview of the many flaws of today’s Egypt. Many consider the opening scene as "the most original, even though it’s the most nostalgic of them all." As the 21 actors slowly begin to appear on stage, lights gradually increase with a poignant and moving melody along with it. The actors slowly bury items from the days when Egypt was a prosperous and an affluent country; pictures of political leaders, old actors and actresses, and items that symbolize the good old days.

Although this was a very heartbreaking scene, there were others that were very hilarious. During an hour and a half, the audience observes a scene after the other of almost everything that is wrong with Egypt; lack of ethics among the youth, spread of favoritism, misuse of power by the Egyptian tycoons, the hideousness of modern architecture compared to what Cairo was 50 years ago, absurd fatwas, the weakening of family relationships, the increased poverty and marriage expenses. These issues led girls to become old maids and boys to die in the sea as they try to illegally enter Europe. Qahwa Sada also focuses on the loss of the sense of belonging and the awareness of one’s history. 　

Qahwa Sada was first performed on July 1st, 2008 and scheduled only for 3 weeks at the Cairo Opera House. The show made it all the way to Alexandria and because it was such a great hit, it was performed to Cairo audiences for the last 10 months, and it is still performed with unfailing success. Many celebrities went to see the show, famous directors like Khaled Youssef and Sherif Arafa, several ministers, and even the First Lady, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak.

Qahwa Sada mourns over everything that many Egyptians long for, from the decreasing bond between families to the deterioration in the economy and the disintegration of the new generation. Qahwa Sada transformed the Opera House into a shrine for all art lovers. From the creation of the first scene you will immediately notice how the impromptu script reflects a true picture of reality, the audience was the mirror that reflected the script. Every moment on stage was matched with an experience once underwent by a member of the audience."Qahwa Sada reached the greatest degree of creativity, and it has definitely raised the bar."

The Wavrins Settle In

2009-06-11T00:44:00.000-07:00

It Is a Teacher’s Duty to Also Be a Friend
Mahmoud Ben Halim

Having visited many countries, Mr. Michael Wavrin and Mrs. Chris Wavrin decided to settle in at Schutz hoping to fulfill their educational duties as outstanding teachers. Married for thirty years, the Wavrins have two sons Mathew, 27, and Jacob, 23.

Mr. and Mrs. Wavrin have taught in Nigeria, Poland, Bulgaria as well as their home state Minnesota. When asked about their favorite place, Mrs. Wavrin said it was Minnesota since it brought her childhood memories back. Mr. Wavrin liked Poland a lot since they lived there for eight years.

Mr. and Mrs. Wavrin love to walk. They enjoy Alexandria the most since they can walk on the sea front. They find the Egyptian people very friendly. Their goals, however, are pretty different. Mr. Wavrin would love to continue teaching till he is 65 years of age, and he would still love to work with younger children in the Kindergarten to the third grade. Mrs. Wavrin, on the other hand, wants to retire in Minnesota to do cross county skiing.

Mr. and Mrs. Wavrin always wanted to become teachers because working with the younger generation makes them feel younger. Mr. Wavrin finds teaching as a pretty creative task because every day is different and every day is a new day, unlike a company where a daily routine is strictly followed and room for creativity is minimal.

When asked about what they like to do in their free time, the couple responded that they like to walk and listen to their iPods. Mrs. Wavrin enjoys reading too.

...Ellipsis

2009-06-11T00:41:00.000-07:00

AP Literature Students Issue the First Schutz Magazine

Mohamed Zahran

Last month, Ms. Jean Melek, the Upper School English teacher, assigned the juniors in her AP Literature class to do a project for their final exam. Those students are Nada Abou-Gad, Arnab Chaudhuri, Cameron Newell, Ingy Fahmy, Tias Paul, and Marina Guirguis. They worked to develop, combine, and distribute a magazine at Schutz American School. This will be the first magazine ever published by Schutz students.

The Board of Trustees approved the AP Literature class’s request to sell the magazine. The magazine will be sold in the week of the finals for about five to ten pounds. The magazine is open for anyone to submit poetry, short stories, journals, photographs and artwork. The students’ first step in accomplishing their goal was to choose a name for their magazine. Ellipsis came to mind. Ellipsis means the omission from a sentence or other construction of one or more words that would complete or clarify the construction. This name symbolizes upcoming opportunities when there is still more to come. It is usually represented by a row of three periods.

!Flying Back Home

2009-06-11T00:35:00.000-07:00

The Huggins Buy an Extra Ticket for Their Ride Back to Texas

Heba El Sahn

On April 11th at around 4 o’clock in the morning, a taxi cab went up the Schutz driveway. Just as soon as Mr. Clay Huggins and Mrs. Susannah Huggins were securely inside, the taxi turned around and zoomed off to Alex Sydney Kiel Hospital. It was by noon that the school was informed that Mrs. Huggins had safely given birth to a beautiful baby girl named Evelyn Amal Huggins.　

Mr. Huggins is the Upper School Science teacher and Susannah is Schutz’s Art teacher for the past three years. The couple has recently introduced the latest addition to our family. She is also the third result of the Schutz Baby Boom (after Malcolm Collins and Talia Abbas). Evelyn is named after her grandmother, from her father’s side. Her middle name, Amal, has a special story that goes along with it. Mr. Huggin’s best friend back in Texas is an Egyptian called Ashraf. Ashraf’s mother has been very helpful to the couple throughout their stay in Egypt. This was especially so after Mr. Huggins was attacked by Abdel Rahman Taher in Cairo. It is in the honor of this kind woman, and the fact that the birth took place in Alexandria, that Evelyn’s middle name came to be Amal.

It saddens people around the school when they realize that they are will not enjoy the Huggins’ company for long. The couple has decided it is for the best that they return to Houston, Texas, to be close to their family. Besides, Mrs. Huggins wants to spend time off work so that she can take care of her daughter. She plans to stay at home for a few years, and right now her classes are taught by Ms. Mai Merdan. Mr. Huggins will luckily be able to work in the same school district where he taught before coming to Schutz.

The couple plans to work overseas again after baby Evelyn is old enough to attend school. When asked whether or not they have an idea of where they would like to work next, they answered they would like to come back to Egypt or try someplace different in the Middle East. Both of them love the culture and weather in this part of the world. Mrs. Huggins joked on how one can see that Evelyn was born in Alexandria since she hates getting cold. Also, the Huggins have studied Arabic for quite some time now and would hate to forget the language. That is why they will ask their friends back home to tutor them.

So, in the end, the Schutz community should comfort themselves by believing that they will not part with the Huggins forever. There is a good chance that the family will return to visit again. As for now, they should wish them the best of luck and send their kind regards as the couple, along with baby Evie, fly back home.

A Tradition that Continues to Be Cherished

2009-06-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

The SHS Inducts Its New Members to the Societies

Alaa El Damaty

The elegant tradition of selecting the new members to the Schutz Honor Societies in an Induction Ceremony continues to be an event that the Schutz family deeply cherishes. This year, the ceremony was held on Monday, May 25th. The event proved to be successful, as noted by parents and staff who attended. Nikhil Krishnan, Tias Paul, Nada Abou-Gad, Jomana Abdelkader, Raya Mukherjee, and Assem Heiba were inducted as members of the Societies in a candle-lit ceremony.

The ceremony began with an introduction speech by Ankita Ray, this year’s NHS President. The next part of the ceremony was a solemn one, when the current members lighted candles representing the five characteristics that govern the Schutz Honor Societies. Scholarship, citizenship, character, service, and leadership candles were lit. Citizenship was an extra characteristic for the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) only. For each candle, a brief speech elaborating on how each trait fits with the National and National Junior Honor Societies ideals was read.

The students became officially recognized as members when they repeated after Ankita the pledge of allegiance to the societies. The next part of the ceremony was a memorable one, where the inductees each chose a characteristic that they believe best represents their potential positive contribution to the Schutz Honor Societies. Nada Abou-Gad said, "I chose leadership because I feel that behind every great people is a great leader, who paved their way to success."
The family ambiance was further highlighted as the parents attached the SHS pins to their children. Next, the audience congratulated the newly inducted members.

After the ceremony ended, everyone went outside for refreshments and Seham’s annual, delicious cake.

Overall, the experience was a remarkable one; parents, students, and staff all commented on how memorable the event was. "I’m proud of the great job that the current members did organizing the ceremony, and I am looking forward to working with the new inductees in the coming school year," stated Kelly Sullivan.

A Woman with an Immense Imagination

2009-06-09T01:28:00.000-07:00

Dr.Samira Kirollos Comes to Schutz to Tell Exciting Tales

Noureen Ben Halim

Dr. Samira Kirollos is no ordinary thinker. She is a storyteller with a great imagination. Dr. Samira is an international storyteller and enjoys telling stories of adventure, fantasy, and magic.

She has a doctorate in Drama from Stanford University in California. Dr. Samira has also taught drama. She has written for the BBC’s television program Jackanory, and for BBC’s Radio Four’s Book at Bedtime. She is the author of The Wind Children and Other Tales from Japan. Dr. Samira travels to many schools to story tell, and her audience is amazed by how well she can do so.

Dr. Samira came to Schutz on May 20th and gave three separate presentations to students. The first story was about Iris, an ancient Egyptian goddess, and the second was about a sailor. The last story was about two brothers, a story of greed and love. Ksenija Braese, a first grader in Schutz said "I liked the stories a lot, they were nice and funny." Dr. Samira uses body language and moves around a lot on the stage. She can imitate voices to create each scene in the story. Each story had a message overall and lessons about life. The event was successful because it stimulated students’ minds. Schutz students benefited from meeting an author like Dr. Samira and enjoyed the experience.

The Art of Survey Taking

2009-06-09T01:25:00.000-07:00

Schutz Students Are Not Taking Full Advantage of Their Rights

Heba El Sahn

Democracy forms the principles of social equality and respect for individual rights within a community. In this school, students should be proud about the prevalence of a truly democratic atmosphere. They are offered several tools to bring about a democratic organization. Schutz offers its students a student council with multiple representatives from each grade, a newsletter to voice their opinions, and participation tools such as surveys and voting. In addition, there is a student representative in each of the board meetings. Students are privileged to have such opportunities even though they proclaim, "It is our right!" This can be true on some level, but this phrase might have a few catches attached to it. A lot of people do not realize that for every right given, a certain duty is expected in return.

For a democratic system to work, the participants must have integrity. They must give their honest opinion and not sway because of outside influences. Sadly, this does not take place on a large scale at school. It has come to the journalism class’s attention that students do not necessarily express their own personal views while taking surveys. The survey taking process, instead of being quiet and quick, is a hassle and basically a calamity. The scenario usually unfolds with a student hollering out what he/she is going to write down across the room. Then, a classmate suggests an alternative answer. This, in turn, leads to the two students getting involved in a debate, with each one pushing to write his or her opinion. It needs to be clear that a survey or a vote is made to give individuals the opportunity to voice their unique opinions. "A survey is more efficient if taken on the school’s website because that ensures a degree of privacy," affirmed Nourhan El Sallab. A class is theoretically supposed to offer various views; however, in reality peer pressure may cause each grade level at school to present only one or two points of view.

Schutz students must realize that when they change their answer because of the influence of a friend, they are then devaluating their democratic rights. It is a person’s duty not to pressure others in formulating their own views, and leave them to express them freely. The HSSC president, Aly El Attal, stated, "Many younger students believe its "cool" to give negative comments in a survey, even if what they’re saying is untrue. They just enjoy showing a rebellious attitude." Surveys are a valuable tool for people to get what they want and students will jeopardize their power if they do not take them seriously. Everyone needs to remember that survey taking is an art.

Struggle for Independence

2009-06-09T01:19:00.000-07:00

Women All Over the World Gaining Their Rights

Malak Kira

Is it true that women are treated equally as men? Are women sacrificing themselves for their family if they stay at home? Why aren't men asked to do the same? Stereotyping women as just housewives is the main hitch. They are looked upon as the ones who should just clean the house and take care of the children. This label has existed for hundreds of years. Women were forced to be in a situation where their rights are not totally recognized. As the world developed and education played an important role in modern times, women became more aware of their rights and the situation they were being forced in.

Growing up in communities that value tradition, women have always been thought of as a lesser version of men. The idea that women have a bigger role at home has affected them greatly. They have been limited by their communities. Their rights were lost and so was their independence. A woman should be able to choose what she feels is the right thing to do not only for herself but for her family as well. Each woman has her own criteria for her self-fulfillment; some need to work and others derive their pride by being housewives.

Men play a more dominant role as the provider for the family. It is common to think that men, more so than women, work to achieve their self-esteem and sense of identity. Women today have started to link their self-identity to work. For most of them, the decision to work is all about their independence. Women want to feel more freedom, self-assurance and independence. They do not want to rely on men and feel weaker or less self-sufficient. According to the U.S Census Bureau, 66% of the world’s labor is performed by women, but they only receive 11% of the world's income.

It is viewed by most of the Upper School Schutz students that a woman should work only when she ensures that her first priority is given to her family.

Women should have the choice to work or not to. It is up to them to assess their priorities. The society does not have the right to limit their opportunities and capabilities because they are thus suppressing more than 50% of the society. As the world transforms, this view of women must adjust to this progression.

Ask Mahmoud

2009-06-09T01:16:00.000-07:00

From: Massimo
Q: How can a senior remain focused after being accepted in college and finishing AP exams so he or she may set a good example for other students and make sure they end the year on a good note and with good grades?

A: Being a senior myself, I personally think this issue needs to be addressed. After getting accepted into college, seniors start to lose interest since they feel that it is all over, and that what they do will not matter. However, it is very important for them to stay focused since acceptance into college is conditional, and actions taken after any acceptance may get reported to the college. Colleges may also change their admissions decision. As far as grades are concerned some seniors start to care less and less. When seniors find out that their grades will not dramatically affect them after already being accepted into colleges, they do not care and just want to pass.

I think that this should start to change. Seniors should become less grade-oriented and more into what they learn. Seniors are also the oldest in the school, and it is them who are considered as role models by the younger students. So, it is important for them to be good role models. I invite the upcoming senior class to keep my advice in mind since slacking off at the end of the year does not only look bad but also makes the school look bad.

From: Mr. Walsh
Q: If you were to give one piece of advice to the upcoming students in high school on how to be successful in high school, what would it be?
A: Out of my personal experience, I would recommend upcoming high school students to always try their hardest and to always think positively. Also, I would recommend that students always try to be careful about how they are viewed by the public. What I mean by this is their reputation. Students should be careful about how they are viewed by their teachers and friends. Sometimes, one wrong action can ruin someone’s reputation, and changing it is not as easy as it may seem. Try to keep a good reputation so that people respect you and take you seriously.

From: Anonymous
Q: How can a student gain a teacher’s respect throughout his high school career?
A: This is a tough one. A student can gain a teacher’s respect in several ways. I personally think that a student should follow directions and listen to a teacher. A student also earns the respect of the teacher when he/she shows respect to self and to others. . If you respect someone, they will respect you back, and he or she will have no reason to disrespect you.

From the Perspective of a Developing Nation

2009-06-09T01:11:00.000-07:00

The Slaughtering of the Pigs Creates Heated Debate

Alaa El Damaty

In 1350, the world was introduced to the deadly Bubonic Plague. Now, in 2009, the world is experiencing a similar phenomenon. The number of people infected with Swine Flu is increasing every day around the world. The first week of June marked the spread of the flu to 62 countries, with 17,410 persons infected and 115 dead. In any world phenomenon, reactions differ from place to place, and Egypt, as a developing country, is going through a unique reaction to the spread of the flu. Unlike many countries, Egypt has taken the decision to slaughter most of its 300,000 pigs. This decision has positive and negative aspects.

It has been noted that Egypt’s tourism has greatly increased since the decision to slaughter the pigs was taken by President Mubarak.. Sharm El Sheikh is a major competitor in tourism of Cancun in Mexico. Many have switched their tourist destinations from Cancun to Sharm El Sheikh because of that decision, thereby limiting the chance of the Swine Flu spreading in Egypt. Despite this positive side to the slaughtering, Egypt has been internationally criticized by many for its actions.

"It has been decided to immediately start slaughtering all the pigs in Egypt using the full capacity of the country's slaughterhouses," Health Minister Hatem el-Gabaly stated after having a Cabinet meeting with President Hosni Mubarak. The question is: will these slaughterhouses be sufficient for the amount of pigs being slaughtered? When the slaughterhouses could not handle the amount of pigs to be slaughtered, the remaining number of pigs was to be burned with chemical substances and then buried in lime while they are still alive. Most humanitarian organizations around the world, especially animal right’s activist organizations, view this act as an atrocious one.

Also, there are not enough refrigerators to fit the hundreds of thousands of pigs slaughtered. The remaining pigs were left to rot, which created more problems. In an attempt to save the meat from rotting, some companies used the pork in many of their supposedly beef products. It was declared by the Ministry of Health that some meat companies have used the pork in products such as luncheon meat and sausage sold in the market.

The killing of the pigs also led to religious controversy; radicals like Michael Mounir entered the scene. He believed that the slaughtering of the pigs is a sign for the start of the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Mounir argued that the decision to slaughter the pigs was not only cruel, but it was meant as a sign of prejudice against the Coptics
As a developing nation, Egypt was brave enough to take the decision to slaughter all of its pigs, but it was not prepared to handle the decision and its consequences.

Please Recognize the Graduates of 2009

2009-06-09T00:59:00.000-07:00

Officially Dismissing the Senior Class

Youssef Talaat

Commencement is often misinterpreted by many to mean the ending of a journey, but commencement is only the beginning. Upon graduating, the 2009 senior class will end their high school careers and embark on a tough, long journey full of freedom and responsibility. To be honest, it is sometimes difficult for students to leave the comfort and familiarity of their own homes to discover the new world that is college. College life is significantly different than life at home; parents are no longer around to remind us of our duties and responsibilities and the people we have grown with are no longer there to assist and support us. However, the true personality of people is further developed through the college experience. The truth is, Schutz’s seniors are armed with education, the most powerful weapon of all, and are ready to face whatever challenges await them.

The class of 2009 has been a team since day one. They always acted as one and have always supported one another. Many seniors recall their senior trip to Budapest as one of their most memorable moments in high school as it made them realize the true value of their friendship and camaraderie. Their graduation ceremony, which will be held on June 18, 2009 at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, will be a very emotional period for many of them. Mixed emotions of both joy and sorrow will be exchanged as students leave high school to embark on an unfamiliar journey.

This year’s graduating class will be truly missed next year. Aya Kordy, a junior at Schutz, expressed, “They’re the class I cherish the most, and they are definitely the people I will miss most next year.” Massimo Laterza, Dean of Students, described the class as being “small in number, but diverse in temperament and attitudes.” The class of 2009 will be attending universities such as the American University in Cairo, Babson College, Boston University, McGill University, and Rajagiri School of Engineering. The Schutz community wishes the departing seniors luck in their upcoming journey and has high hopes for their achievements in the future.

An Exceptional Past Leads to a Future of Opportunities

2009-06-03T01:32:00.000-07:00

Youssef Talaat Prepares for a Life of Success

Aly El Attal

Ten years ago a shy little boy came to Schutz for the first time. When he entered the third grade classroom in the Pharos campus for the first time, Youssef was filled with fear and a lack of confidence. Little did he know that he was to become one of the leaders of this school.

Youssef Talaat has been a member of the Schutz class of 2009 since 2000. Before settling in Schutz, Youssef attended Kaumeya Language School for 2 years and the American International School (now the American School of Alexandria) for 3 years. Since his arrival at Schutz, Youssef has maintained an outstanding academic record and has filled three officer positions in the High School Student Council.

Despite having such an impeccable resumé, Youssef does not plan on stopping there. He is planning on joining his siblings in Boston next year where he will study Finance and Entrepreneurship at Babson College, a prestigious college on the outskirts of Boston. Youssef is also planning on acquiring a master’s degree after gaining a few years of experience in what he calls "the real world."

As a person who thrives on planning ahead, Youssef has a deeper vision on where he will be in the future. Ten years from now, he sees himself working in his family’s business and having a family of his own. Youssef believes that his cleverness and wit are what keep him moving forward, but he admits that his impulsiveness is his main weakness. However, based on his past actions, it can be said with great confidence that Youssef will overcome his weakness and succeed.

Youssef is one of the people who can be considered as "in the spotlight" of the school. He is not one who shies away from trouble or settles for the average, and that is due to his ambition, a quality of his that may not be very obvious. Youssef cherishes that quality because he believes his late grandfather, who he considers his role model, possessed. He added that his grandfather "didn’t let anything get in the way of his determination." Youssef considers himself a "tough, smart, and compassionate" person.

Leaving a school is never an easy thing to do, especially when it comes to a close-knit community like that of Schutz. Youssef is one of the many people who will miss the family atmosphere in school, and even though it might sound like a cliché, he really believes that, "Schutz is family." The ten years he has spent at Schutz have created a lot of memories. The one he remembers the most is when many students boycotted the canteen and brought food to share with their peers. On the other hand, Youssef is glad that he will be leaving behind all the schoolwork that comes with a challenging high school. When asked what Schutz taught him about life, he responded by saying that it taught him that, "Life is not always about winning; there are invaluable lessons to be learned from defeats." He believes that this is one of the many lessons that Schutz taught him. He would like to show his appreciation by telling Schutz, "Thank you for preparing me for life."

His senior year has proven to be quite valuable for him. He would like to pass on his wisdom to the junior class by recommending that they do not cram their college applications. He would also like to thank his family, friends, and school for making him the person he is today. He is expected by the people in his community to become the great man that he is destined to be.

The Cricket Star

2009-06-03T01:29:00.000-07:00

An Inspiration to the Next Generation

Mahmoud Ben Halim

Sunny Thodukayil is one of the most unique seniors at Schutz American School. He has been at Schutz for five years. He is Indian, and he loves to play cricket. He is known at Schutz to be the Cricket Star. Sunny is planning to attend college in India and will study Engineering. Sunny particularly wants to be an Electronic Engineer majoring in Allied Electronics and Instrumentation in Rajagiri School of Engineering in the city of Kochi in south India. However, he is not sure exactly what university in India. Sunny loves electronics and is interested in knowing about how things work. He sees himself working in a big company as an engineer after college. Yet, he is unable to predict where his work will take him to after college.

Sunny is very good in knowing how to deal with people in general. He deals with most people in a very friendly way. However, he is very shy. He thinks that people know everything about him since he does not hide stuff from anyone, and he is a pretty open person.

He considers his dad to be his role model since he is a very hard worker. Sunny is also a hard worker and puts himself to meeting everyday challenges. His most memorable moment at Schutz is his first day at Schutz since he remembers that everyone was kind to him. He will miss his free blocks when he graduates from Schutz. He told me that he will not be glad to leave anything when he graduates as he will miss everything that Schutz gave him. 　

Sunny has another part of him that he is well-known for around campus. He is known as the "Cricket star". Sunny loves to play cricket and has been playing it since he was five years old. He wants to continue playing cricket when he goes to college.

If Schutz taught one thing to Sunny about life it is that life is not fair, and that you have to work hard to get something. Sunny thinks that, throughout his time at Schutz, he has become quite independent. He would like to advice the upcoming senior class to plan things ahead of time and take High School very seriously.

If there are two words that best describe Sunny, they would be "happy and kind." Finally, Sunny would like to thank his parents and friends for being the person he is today.

Follow Your Head, Then

2009-06-03T01:26:00.000-07:00

Think Before You Act

Noureen Ben Halim

We have all been through it. We have all met that sweet, caring, kind, person who seems to be everything we ever wanted. Everything is perfect for the next couple months, everything continues to be an utopia, until the problems start. Whether the problem is jealousy, lack of commitment, or simply not feeling what was there before, somehow this relationship was not meant to last. It happens.

Choosing the right person for yourself, is essential for a lasting relationship. The basics are simple for agreeing to start a relationship with someone. 1) If all you have heard is negative things about this person, that is your key to run away. Be careful with who you listen to though because sometimes those who will tell you will be girls who are jealous. 2) Notice how this person acts around his friends. Is he the same person he is when he is around you? A guy’s true self will show up around his friends. For example, it is normal when he jokes around with them by calling them names, but be careful of any signs of a bad attitude ALL the time. 3) Ask yourself, what am I looking for? You MUST have the same interests in mind. By interests, I do not mean goals and hobbies, but on the long run, you should be looking for the same thing. If you are looking for a serious relationship, and the person in front of you seems like the "guy who is confused", you should know although this type of relationship will seem perfect from every angle, it falls apart easily because of the mixed feelings on either side. If this person is not stable, then continuing in this relationship will be very hard. 4) Try to find out what he is like, and what he was like with previous people. Be careful with guys who seem to be rushing a relationship from the beginning. Starting something at a very fast pace will result in a crash and burn. 5) How does he treat you? Respect is very important. You must both have respect for one another. 6) Lastly, do you get along? Do you have chemistry?

The saying "love is blind" is true. We are often blinded by what we see and neglect to think of the consequences of what we get ourselves into. You must really think long and hard about what you want, and make it clear to the people you are with. Love is not what is portrayed in the movies. Love is what we make it. Follow your head, THEN follow your heart.