aab newsletter - American Academy of Beirut
Transcription
aab newsletter - American Academy of Beirut
AMERICAN AC ADEMY OF BEIRUT AAB NEWSLETTER ISSUE # 1 Movie Geek 2013/14 ACADEMIC YEAR By Reem Zrein Education is Knowledge, Knowledge is Freedom The theory that every citizen should have the right to study at school or university for free is a very controversial one. We all know that nowadays, applying to a school or university costs us fortunes. In that case, making education free of charge could really help people suffering from financial difficulties. Education can be very beneficial for the country and its economy. One of the benefits of free education is that we could find really smart world changing people in poor families. Now, if we go back in history a little, we realize that worldwide most of the famous actors, writers, mathematicians, scientists…come from poor families! So seeing rich kids going to school and learning could affect the behavior and personality of the poor ones. In fact, the world will lack and lose talented specialists, whose skills were not discovered. Another advantage of making education free is the economy of the country. Excellent and well developed education will surely be taught by professional professors and doctors who will obviously lead to a good result. Students would work hard to bring profit to themselves and hence to their country. That would compensate most expenses of state budget caused by education of free charge. To sum up, even though making all schools free could be very expensive and may take time, advantages are invaluable. After several years, such improvements will really make our world better, decrease society problems, would bring fruits of happiness, and an intelligent confident nation about its future. Presented by: Lamisse Khalifeh Teacher: Joumana Zantout 1 Do you remember back in the old days, when we used to watch movies in black and white, and with no sound? Well, this year is 2013, and for sure movies are not the same anymore, thanks to movie editors, digital cameras, and computer graphics. One thing about movie editors is that they all are professionals, or else the movie would totally suck. With move editors we can create imaginary characters, like dinosaurs in the movie 'Jurassic Park' and aliens, in 'Revenge Of the Sith'. Now, movies are more famous and successful thanks to un-usual characters made with movie editors. When you think of digital cameras, what's the first thing that pops into your mind? Yes, it's taking pictures and videos, but digital cameras are not only useful in that, but they also bring amazing qualities to the movie that has never been seen before. Image quality improved rapidly, and the last decade has seen some striking examples of filmmakers exploring and exploiting digital to aesthetic advantage. Digital special effects, meanwhile, are turning up this season not only in phantasmagorical places like “Cloud Atlas” and “Life of Pi,” but also in movies that emphasize naturalism! What would movies be like without computer graphic? There wouldn't even be a movie without computer graphic. Computer graphic isn't only necessary; it's also demanded by every movie maker. Why? You may ask, it's because computer graphic can create imaginary settings, dangerous effects, and entertaining animations! CG makes movies better, usually. Technology has for sure played a major part in movies. Sometimes, technology can either overwhelm a film, or make it better. It depends on how you use it. It's important not to forget that what matters mostly in a movie, is its idea, how it was played, and not how it was produced. American Academy of Beirut Don’t Let Your Emotions Lead You! Do you always get led by your emotions?? The answer is yes, but don’t listen to your heart. I'll tell you my story and you'll then decide if emotions are good leaders. On a Saturday morning, I arranged a meeting with my friend. We decided to meet each other at her house that was two minutes away from mine. While walking in excitement to her house, I bumped into a kid who was wearing really nice and neat clothes, but crying hysterically. I was in a hurry, so I continued walking. I took two steps forward, but retreated to see what was wrong with him. I asked the normal question, and there came the answer as the following: " I, I, I, I can't find my, my, my, mother. I'm Lo, Lo, lost. I want to go home!" I started calming the boy down while searching quickly for his mother because I wanted to leave. The mission seemed hard so I had no choice but to call my friend and apologize telling her that I couldn't make it then, and my visit will be postponed to the afternoon. I asked the boy where he left his mother but the boy was crying and couldn't make me understand a thing, so I was confused and didn’t know what to do. I wanted to think wisely. The search was so hard because the kid was a stranger; I've never seen him in the neighborhood. I started asking neighbors about him, but none knew him. I asked some groceries stores but no positive respond. I started walking and finally the kid shouted in excitement that the next neighborhood is his. So even though I was so exhausted, I ran with excitement to that strange place. But suddenly I found myself in a deserted place, surrounded by people who looked like a gang. I was horrified and my heart almost stopped. I searched for the boy in a quick look around, but the boy has disappeared. The gang was consisted of four girls and seven boys. One boy said in a coarse voice: "We brought you here to take a ransom, and let you go. But pick one: its either we take a ransom and leave you alive or we'll keep you here and KILL you!" When I heard the word kill, my heart sank. I asked in a shaky voice: "An... And how much do you want??" He said he wanted two thousand dollars. God really loves me, because I suddenly heard the police car's voice. That's where I felt more than relieve. Before I left I found the boy standing behind me, so I looked at him in a way full of blame. I was really happy to see my family and friends again. It was an unforgettable experience that was totally unexpected. So that's why you shouldn't let your emotions control you, because sometimes your emotions may lead to a disaster. Hiba Rustom / Grade 8 L 2 American Academy of Beirut 12 graders debated on many issues this term and they seemed to have various viewpoints about them. Lynn Srouji comments and On the topic of Immigration, Fatima Ayoub, says on the issue of “abortion” that a 12 grader, highlights an “Why is abortion being undergone? Why would a woman risk her own chances of being a mother? Many points come up in this controversial debate. But what we, as debaters, sometimes do not take into consideration, are the angle and says: “Is Immigration Always A Good Choice? Immigration is widely true emotions of a woman who wants or needs abortion. talked about and debated. To take it from an ethical humanitarian perspective, abortion should be against About half of the Lebanese the law. The killing of an innocent unborn child, who could have been destined citizens are immigrating, for complete greatness, should be considered a crime. Our society should usually with the aim of punish whoever undergoes abortion and the doctor performing the surgery. changing their lives for the Imagine one’s own child, a child who started out as a single cell, in a woman’s better. womb, in her body, is being thrown away in the trash. If woman thought that way, no one would consider undergoing abortion. People may be immigrating for several reasons; it might be because of a bad government, Woman undergoing abortions usually say that they are the ones in control of or lack of job opportunities, or their bodies. But doesn’t being in control of one’s own body mean one should in order to look forward to also take all the preventions to make sure that pregnancy is not occurred? The having a better education. If advance of medication should give every woman all the safety she needs to they’re people fleeing their prevent pregnancy; birth control pills are sold everywhere. country because of an Despite all that was stated, a woman who got pregnant due to rape has every immediate threat to their lives right to ask for abortion. She should never be reminded of that traumatic experience. She might eventually grow to hate her own child. That being said, it’s unfair for the millions of children being killed due to the irresponsibility of parents. But at the same time, it cannot be illegalized. Abortion is and always will be a debatable topic with no solution.” 3 then they are considered refugees because they’re seeking safety. For example, Syrians are considered refugees. American Academy of Beirut Immigration does have its disadvantages; it can lead to While Saoud Shaib, also a 12 grader comments by saying: an increase in crime rates if “Why immigrate? immigrants or citizens were Lebanon, where cultural diversity exists, where knowledge modernization and beauty gather to create this masterpiece land, is still a country that rates high unable to get work. Poverty would also increase due to a high percentage of people in terms of immigration. Although diversity in politics and religions have been being employed on a low used for the good, Lebanon had been suffering and still is from political and unskilled wage. And, the cost religious conflicts that caused the civil war back in 70’s. Civil wars caused the of education could rise due to absence of government and economy crisis which led many of Lebanese families language barriers and cultural to immigrate. Immigration is a phenomenon threatening the Lebanese society; diversity. We should not nevertheless immigration has been the one and only way for Lebanese citizens to forget the outbreak and spread of viruses and diseases. avoid poverty with many advantages. Immigration in Lebanon started many years ago and for many reasons. One of them is the low unemployment rate. Another reason might be that youth are However, the benefits of immigration far outweigh the disadvantages in many ways. too ambitious to think of success inside a country being continuously shared by The main advantages of political crisis and careless government, adding to that the poor wages in immigration are economic Lebanon. gain and an increase of skilled Government absence and insecurity, the absence of the law and injustice workers in certain sectors, as that have been replaced by the religion and political leader’s unfairness made a well as an increase in the very big chaos in the country where fights and problems erupted among the diversity of culture and an people. Thus many left Lebanon to better and more stable countries. Lack of human’s rights such as retirement payments is also another reason. Governments must help people who are physically or mentally sick, or poor. improvement in life style for the immigrants themselves. It’s hard to make a decision that big, whether to look Certain countries suffer from a lack of human rights caused by careless forward for a better life, or to governments. Politicians in Lebanon are the only people who can live a free and continue your life living in a happy life while citizens don’t. That’s why most of the Lebanese people deteriorated homeland. Still, immigrate to well developed countries where they can find everything they need. whatever the reason was, Immigration to a well developed country is the best way to live a happy immigration will never stop as life, especially immigrating to countries where there is no lack of human’s long as one country is a rights, no poverty, no problems, and no absence of government. People usually better place. “ immigrate for those reasons so they immigrate seeking a good business, seeking education and seeking a better life. “ 4 American Academy of Beirut Personal Writing Last but not least, Rayan Abu Khoudoud has an intriguing personal account on a real immigration experience: “Another story of immigration” 30 years ago, dad immigrated to Spain. Why? Because Lebanon was busy with what was going on, while Spain seemed like a well developed country or it’s developing and more civilized. Dads traveled to work and support his family; soon my grandmother and her siblings followed him there. Dad had a goal in mind to achieve and it was to start a family and work. The idea to leave everything and moving to a foreign country, leaving one’s house, friends, family, and memories was a bit difficult and rough on my father. Europeans are tough to handle anyway. They have different language, and it was hard to pick up fast. They have their own lifestyle and ways of thinking which was hard to deal with. At that time Europe was still developing, but it was more developed than the Arab countries, well most of the Arabs country. Once the natives discovered that this person were an Arab, a Muslim, they would avoid dealing with him/her. They would even start rumors. Yes, it is hard to adjust with foreign countries especially if they were non- Arab. Dad faced tough obstacles to deal with, yet he managed to stick to his goal more than ever. If someone is determined to achieve something, it’s a done deal. Dad also found out what he was capable of. His personality changed more and more. He started to be one of them. I think that’s the price one has to pay when you’re an immigrant!” The cons are listed more than the pros. traveling or immigrating for a certain period of time is a wonderful experience nowadays. It helps us by developing the personality in us; also we will find some happiness. The person will know how capable to tolerate foreigners or how capable we can depend on our minds and thinking. It also opens a lot of opportunities such as: work, universities and social life, but in a certain time or period, it’s a must to go back to our hometown and to our origin. 5 Personal Writing The Mean Priest “What’s wrong?” I asked looking down my window. “Come down fast,” Selim replied, ”something really bad has happened to Rocky!” I rushed down the stairs not knowing what actually could have been so serious. As I came out the building door, I saw all of my friends talking so loud; you’d think they were to lose their voices. Before I could ask why they were so upset, I figured it out myself. In one of the corners, Rocky, the German shepherd we had found and taken good care of, was covered with blood all over his face. I could no longer feel any part of my body_ I was simply paralyzed. “How did this happen?” I burst out with tears running down my cheeks. “The priest shot Rocky in the eye!” cried Joseph in his squeaky voice. “It’s only because poor Rocky ate two of his stupid chicken!” cried Selim. His face was so red that I started worrying about him suddenly. “Ok! Standing here sobbing till death will lead us nowhere.” I said racing up home to inform my mom of everything, hoping she could help. She and dad suggested that we take Rocky to the vet. We put Rocky into the car carefully and drove to a veterinarian nearby who was very professional. Luckily, the veterinarian was there and he took in Rocky directly. However, we had to head home because the place was very busy. The entire day I was unable to focus on anything other than Rocky. The image of him lying down on the ground with blood streaming out of his eye could not come out of my head. But most of all, I wanted to find that so called priest and teach him a lesson. The next day, after school, we went directly to check on Rocky. The operation had succeeded and Rocky was fine. He jumped up and put his front legs on my shoulders like he always did. However, he was unable to lick me because of the round plastic thing he had around his neck. It was supposed to keep him away from rubbing his eye. I was so happy to know Rocky was alright. The thing was that I could not bring him home because my parents didn’t agree to keep him and neither did any of the neighbors. Throwing him in the streets just like that was impossible. Well, I had no solution to my problem, until the veterinarian promised me to give Rocky to a man he himself knew. That man was sure to treat Rocky just the way my friends and I had. It’s true that I had always wanted a dog, and that I thought my dream had come true when Rocky came along. However, I was even happier when I had been able to save him. At first, I wanted to seek revenge for Rocky from that priest. But since Rocky was all better, I decided to forget about it. I was sure God would punish him in some way. Plus, Gandhi once said, “An-eye-for-an-eye leaves everyone blind.” Written By: Marihan Ayoub Grade: 9A American Academy of Beirut Karim Rustom, another 10th grader, sheds the light on the same topic by stating it’s: “A Priceless Treasure Given For Free When thinking about the word learning, it symbolizes covering all the questions raised due to curiosity, and the answers of those questions generate what we call education. But, should a priceless treasure be given for free? As for an individual, education free for all would not only help him/her pursue his/her dreams, but would also make a student focus on his education without having to worry about the payment and the fees of college or school. Also education free for all would make an individual choose to study what he/she likes, not what he/she can afford, as Leonardo Da Vinci once said: “study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in” and nobody would want a doctor or Human Rights/ Rosa parks Rosa parks was born on February 4th, 1913 in Alabama, the U.S. Rosa was a little child who was suffering from poor health. When her parents separated, she moved with her mom to Pine Level. Rosa grew up on a little farm with her mom, brother Sylvester, and her two grandparents. She went to Industrial School for Girls in Montgomery until she was eleven. Rosa went on to a laboratory school set up for secondary education, but then dropped out in order to take care of her grandmother, and then her mother who became ill. an engineer or any educated person with a spoiled memory. “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” says Kofi Annan, implying that education free for all would also avail the society as a whole. A good example would be the effect of education on politics, since the more educated people the better representatives they will elect resulting in better politicians and better politics producing a better society. The best talents out there are the undiscovered talents, and education will unleash most of those talents. But, the obstacle has always been that the talented person cannot afford to be helped with unleashing his/her talent, and if education became free for all, the society would be rich with talents that will make the whole world progress and develop on a tremendous rate. I actually failed to find anything to write as a conclusion, so I think it’s enough to say what Glenda Jackson said, “It would be nice if education was free to In 1932, Rosa married Raymond Parks, a barber from Montgomery. On December 1 1955, Rosa was on a bus when the bus driver told her and a man next to her to give up their seats so two white people can sit instead. The black man next to her gave up his seat, but Rosa didn’t. She stood up for herself and for the black people. The driver asked her one more time to move but she refused. So he called the police. Rosa was arrested for disobeying the bus drivers order. Later, because of Rosa Parks a new law came out that white and black people are allowed to sit wherever they want on public buses. After that law came out Rosa parks became very important in the United States. everyone who wanted it, but that's not the world we live in.” “ Rosa Parks taught people that they have the right to be free, to do whatever they want and most of all to learn, and go to schools. Not only did she donate most of her money to poor people, but also to schools and hospitals that needed help. In 2005 Rosa Parks died at the age of 92. Rosa Parks is an amazing woman who cannot be forgotten! Done by: Norhan Ayooub 6 American Academy of Beirut From Being Bullied to Being The President of The U.S.A. The Technology of Music By Karim Yashrouti Gr. 9A Music has been around for as long as people have been on Earth. Nowadays, thanks to technology, music has become something important in a young person's life. Centuries ago, music was around to entertain people. Music used to be about love, friendship, comedy and wars. World war did not start yet, so wars were not as bad as they are now, and therefore music was about simpler things. It was about the life of a simple man living with a simple woman. It was about nature and its beauty. It was mainly comedy and sadness. You listen to the song being played and you try your best to memorize as much as you can, because you won't be hearing it again until someone plays it again. Decades later, internet was invented. They put Google and YouTube on it. You can search for any conductor or any orchestra that play nice music, like Marin Alsop. You can download her music on the iPod and listen to it anywhere you want. It is not certain how or when the first musical instrument was invented, however, most historians point to early flutes made from animal bones that are at least 37,000 years old. Several millenniums later, the bell was created to make a whole city hear the same loud sound. And as time passed, the string instruments were created. And today, the violin, a string instrument, is my favorite musical instrument like my good friend Jacqueline Tabet, a violinist in the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra. I took you on a journey about how music started, and how today it is the thing that people use to calm themselves down instead of fighting with each other. See you on another journey soon. 7 "No black people are allowed in." This statement has to be changed. This is what some people were determined to do. Racism is all around the world; surely it has to be changed. Racism is the discrimination between people. Racism has two phases: Racism for the color of skin, color of eyes… and racism for people's shape: tall, short, skinny, fat… There are many ways to treat racism. I have chosen the easier and most effective one. Let's specify a day in the week "probably Sundays" where all people from different societies, religions, and colors, will sit at one table and chat, eat and even play. Probably this will give a chance for everyone to accept diversity. And when seeing someone discriminating let's go to him and try chatting with him/her and make t realize that we are all God's creations. One of discriminating results is hurting people's feeling. And it makes people cry, have physiological problems, and even leads to suicide. So before saying anything to anyone think! I hope all people would be like Barak Obama. He had a very harsh childhood full of bullying and discrimination, but he was determined and aimed for the best, till he became the president of the most powerful country in the world. My other and last hope is instead of writing no black people are allowed, we should write no racists are allowed. Hiba Rustom Grade 8 L. American Academy of Beirut الصيف Arabic Classes at AAB في فصل الصيف يصبح الطقس حارا ،فتقفل المدارس ابوابها .عند اذ ,يذهب الجميع الى البحر لكي ينعشوا أجسادهم .بعض الناس ينطلقون الى الجبل ألن الطقس أكثر برودا في األعلى .فيمشون ويمرحون .يوجد أيضا من يسافر الى بلدان أخرى لكي يتعرفوا على عادات وتقاليد أو فقط لالستمتاع بفرسة الصيف والتغير األجواء .فصل الصيف مليء بالمرح والمغامرات .الكثير من الفاكهة والخضروات تثمر في هذا الفصل ولذلك نستمتع بها .وال تنسو أصوات العصافير التي تيقظنا عند الصباح .الكثير من الرياضات يمكن ممارستها أيضا في فصل الصيف مثل السباحة أو تسلل الجبل. نورهان أيوب 8 American Academy of Beirut Nelson Mendela Born in Transkei, South Africa, Mandela was the son of a tribal chief, and educated himself with a university degree and law degree. In 1944, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and actively worked to abolish the apartheid policies of the ruling National Party. On trial for his actions, Mandela declared, “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.’’ Sentenced to life imprisonment, Mandela became a powerful symbol of resistance for the rising antiapartheid movement, repeatedly refusing to compromise his political position to obtain his freedom. Finally released in February 1990, he intensified the battle against oppression to attain the goals he and others had set out to accomplish almost four decades earlier. In May 1994, Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa’s first black president, a position he held until 1999. He presided over the transition from minority rule and apartheid, winning international respect for his advocacy of national and international reconciliation. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1993). He has achieved more than this though. He has received more than 250 awards that are in every way honorable and keys to cities and honorary degrees are among them, along with the peace prize. This was Nelson Mandela’s goals and achievements. 9 American Academy of Beirut On the topic of gender equality, Morissa Chouery, a 12th grader wrote her reflection saying: “It's a man’s world but it would be nothing without a woman Marie Curie, the first woman to win the Nobel prize in Physics and Chemistry. Emily Dickinson, a successful American poet who became widely known, most revered poet in history. Mother Theresa, a sister known for her miracles honored in 1979. Marlyn Monroe, Mariah Carie, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce knowles, Anjelina Jolie and many more are examples of people who have proven that women would manage great success. So why discriminate? While Fatima Ayoub, also a 12th grader added by saying: “We Can Do It! Throughout history, women have been dominated by men, and were not given all their human rights simply because they were women. According to the known myth, Eve, the female human being, was created from one of Adam's ribs. Ever since then, people view men and women differently in their accomplishments, abilities and authorities. People all around the world underestimate women. God created two genders, if one of them were not responsible enough to play a great role on earth, then God would have only created one gender. From 1776 to 1876 they were at a struggle to become just as equal as men. If one asks a young girl what she wants to be when she grows up, she may say that she wanted to be a doctor, lawyer, or even a teacher. Think about it! Men and women are like a puzzle; they complete one another physically, to complete the cycle of livings -and emotionally to stand next to one another in harsh times. True, maybe the ability of a man in some physical challenges is way greater than a woman's, but what does this have to do with judging the gender? That is what any child would perceive their future to become, just like their parents. But what that little girl is unaware of, is that if she had lived 150 years ago, her future dreams would have been quite different. They say that women are weak, but what does really measure strength and weakness? Handicapped people with disabilities are proving their power by thoughts, so why judge a complete person just because of gender? "When there's a will, there’s a way” So it doesn't matter if it’s a male or female. When a person wants to accomplish success, he AND "she" can. ‘’ Women’s rights movement began its task on July 13th, 1848, where a lady named Elizabeth Cady Stanton decided that enough was enough, and she started the fight for her rights as well as all other women’s rights. She held many conventions to discuss the rights of women. Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Emmeline Pankhurst, Eva Peron, Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa, Susan Anthony… All of those women have been great leaders, warriors, visionaries, and humanitarians. 10 American Academy of Beirut You Might Like Soccer Grade 9 Social Studies Project Ancient Civilization Every person in the world has his own favorite sport. In my opinion, soccer is the best sport in the world. In fact, soccer has an amazing effect on our bodies, and its fun. In soccer games, players have basic techniques in shooting the ball. It is essential to know what part of the foot must be used to kick the ball. There are many important characters in the game of soccer. The goalkeeper must defend the goal/net from the other team preventing them to score. He can use all parts of his body. The defender tries to keep the ball away from his field and not let the other team score while using only his legs. This rule works on everybody except for the goalkeeper. There is also the midfielder who tries to take the ball and pass it to the attacker. Last but not least, the attacker tries to shoot the ball into the enemies goal/net and score. Also soccer games can’t work without the proper equipments. All players have to wear the football shoes that have like small balls under it. The goal keeper must have his football gloves, because when holding the ball when kicked by a player, he must be careful not to hurt his hands. Although all of the players must wear high socks to keep their legs warm in winter, yet the same socks are used in summer to avoid injuries. They also wear shorts and half sleeves T-shirt. There are many benefits if you play soccer. It helps you in running and building your muscles, stretches your body, helps to keep the body healthy and can make all the body stronger and fit. Finally, I hope after reading this essay everyone might change his/her mind and like soccer more. In my opinion soccer helps the body and its fun too, and I adore it. Abed Rawwas Grade 7 11 First Settlements Learning to Domesticate American Academy of Beirut Come join our grade 1 students by mixing and matching different letters to create our short “a” words. Putting letters together to form words is fun. Learning Centre Bake Sale Miss Karin supervising the Our “sales girls” Salma & Hiba “Bake Sale” 12 American Academy of Beirut Pumpkin carving with the Community Service students Halloween Community Service students setting up the playground for the Independence Day Celebration Pre School celebrating their independence 13 American Academy of Beirut Beautifying our playground – Human Rights Mural Thanksgiving Celebration at AAB Thanksgiving lunch in the playground. 14