“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” ― Neil Gaiman, Coraline
Glenelg School of Abu Dhabi -Female Campus newsletter
VOLUME 9 volume 9 Term 1-A Gsad newsletter 2014-2015 [female campus edition]
New year, SAME new team, same awesome.
IT’S A NEW ACADEMIC YEAR, A NEW TERM AND THE NEWSLETTER IN THIS ISSUE: COMMITTEE IS BACK IN FULL FORCE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH QUALITY ARTICLES ABOUT PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING FROM
WHAT GOES IN AROUND CAMPUS TO WHAT YOU CAN SEE ACROSS
THE GLOBE.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS IN ADDITION TO LAST YEAR’S TEAM OF JUNIORS WHO ARE NOW IN CAMPUS WEEK SENIORS, THIS YEAR’S JUNIORS HAVE JOINED THE TEAM AND
THE COMMITTEE IS WORKING HARD TO BRING YOU NOTHING BUT TEACHER INTERVIEW THE BEST. FASHION POLICE SHADES OF PINK The waiting and the won- dering, By Kerry Peterson So many plans on hold. EVENTS AROUND ABU DHABI Honor the suffering,
NEWS DESK Solicit and celebrate heal- SPORTS ing. It is an outright ordeal, WORLD AFFAIRS: MALALA Fuchsia, rose, crimson, Though we color it with salmon, baby-blush, coral, soft shades of pink.
One of those is my mum. Perhaps we know that
Another, your sister, his Pink wails and whispers wife, a friend. In its radiant grace. FROM THE BOOKSHELF REVIEWS FROM THE BOX OFFICE They didn’t go looking May it be a healing color- CONNOSIEUR’S CRITIQUE for the fight of their life, Beauty that renews and But the storm came: TRAVEL LOG rejuvenates, An urgent call, FROM THE KITCHEN Bringing strength and a Surgeons, stitches, ports, smile JOURNAL ENTRY mistakes, fatigue, and To the women of this pain, world
Long days, therapies, sym- Who must sail through pathies, the storm of cancer. TEACHER INTERVIEW Racha Mustapha
For this edition of the GSAD newsletter, we have interviewed Ms. Racha Mus- tapha, our tenth grade Math teacher who moved to Ruwais last year but is back in the Abu Dhabi GSAD Campus once again. She had a baby girl this June and is now teaching grades eight and nine.
How is life different here compared to Ruwais? What did you ton away. Google is awesome! My advice to students is to try to
miss most about Abu Dhabi? organize your time. Time management is key to a successful and
stressfree life. Developing selfdiscipline is important in this regard. My family. I missed them so much when I moved away. It’s inter-
esting how the little things you ordinarily take for granted are the What do you like to engage in when not working ?
very ones you end up missing the most. I used to LIVE at the gym, I also took several classes of Latin
Why did you decide to come back from Ruwais? dance. Now my favorite hobby is anything and everything Carmen
related. She is my vida! Having grown up in Abu Dhabi, I feel more at home here than in
Ruwais (it doesn’t help that Ruwais looks like Mordor at night) What is your favorite internet meme?
Why did you choose math as a major? I have several but I think you can relate to this one:
I loved it. It just came naturally to me. Math is a universal language
bereft of complexity. The fact that you can see math everywhere really appealed to me. What other subjects were you interested in as a student? History, art, music and gymnastics. I was mad about gymnastics. I
would train at least three hours a day. I was lucky to have attended
a school that had all these avenues of self expression, whether it
was sports or the creative arts. You have recently given birth to your daughter. Who does she You have taught AP Calculus last year. What is your advice to look like, her father or you? students taking AP Calculus? Your advice to seniors, in gen- She is her own unique person. An exceptional, spirited, milk eral? saturated amoeba who fills my life with joy! I would say try to download as many past papers as you can. It’s
amazing how many resources are available, simply a click of a but- Breast Cancer Awareness Week2014 Bake Sale
The Student Representative Council held a food sale which consisted of the most scrumptious desserts and mouthwatering smoothies, not to mention a selection of appetizing sandwiches. The over all food
sale was a success, the students and teachers were in line as soon as the break started and by the
time it ended, the student body and faculty were happily nibbling on their recently purchased treats.
The student council raised around 2000 dirhams for the cause. Breast cancer is a growing illness that
many woman are facing, and what a better way to raise awareness and celebrate the survival of
many woman than by gorging on appetizers and desserts? All with the ability to raise a good amount
of money for the cause. As the great Betsey Johnson said “With over 3 million women battling breast cancer today, everywhere you turn there is a mother, daughter, sister, or friend who has been affect-
ed by breast cancer”. Breast Cancer Awareness Walk 2014
“JOIN US IN THE FIGHT, JOIN US IN THE FIGHT!” that was the phrase that the girls cheered and reiterated, to help motivate others, during the walk to highlight breast cancer awareness day that took place on the 23rd of October 2014. The students and teachers from the female campus, along with the teachers and students from the elementary campus, joined together to raise awareness after meeting in the assembly point early in the morning. The students walked, with their pink caps and t-shirts, from the female campus right up to the round-about that is just outside the male campus. While some of the children were drumming and playing some instruments, others were cycling on their bicycles and cheering. Not only did some girls cheer and shout, but they showed up with enormous, hand-made and hand colored posters that represented "The Breast Cancer Awareness Day" at GSAD. After a long walk, the police- men and the children who cycled all the way joined us for a group picture outside the female campus as a memory of this unforgettable day. It was a great day because not only did we walk and cheer on the road, but the purpose behind this walkathon was to help raise money and to raise awareness for the breast cancer. Breast Cancer Awareness Walk 2014 Fashion Police -PINK POWER
October is all about Breast Cancer Awareness. And what bet- ter what to help support the cause than by spreading the spirit through your outfit? Go all out! All shades of pink go very well
with whites and offwhites. Careful with clashing colors because pink does not go very well with all colors. For accessorizing, pearl is the way to go. Pearl goes well with absolutely any fabric and
any shade of color. EVENTS DATES:
AROUND ABU DHABI (Thu, 31 Oct. - Sat, 08 Nov.) Disney's Beauty and the Beast Musical
(Thu, 13 Nov. - Fri, 22 Nov.) Abu Dhabi Science Festival
Events in the City (Thu, 13 Nov. - Sat, 23 Nov.) YASALAM 2014
(Thu, 20 Nov. - Sat, 23 Nov.) Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (F1 Race)
(Thu, 20 Nov. - Sat, 23 Nov.) After-race Performances
Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning
Broadway dazzling and remarkable musical, is coming to
Abu Dhabi! This intricate theatrical production will come
to life on stage for 10 days! Fantastic packages are
offered on Yas Island for Disney's classic, Beauty and the
Beast.
Musicals.. Theaters.. PLAY!
Before the countdown to the last Formula One race, Abu Dhabi's beaches are This year's twilight race, with a magical Happy, happy, happy. The going to be filled with blasting beats and a lot more energy than ever before! atmosphere created as the day turns to crowd who will attend the third after- People are welcome to attend the opening parade to the annual YASALAM night under the lights, there is no better race show on Friday the 22nd of Novem- 2014 on Thursday, the 13th of November. way to enjoy the starry night as the race ber will certainly be happy as the pro- Throughout the month of Novmber, YASALAM 2014 won't be the one major cars race under the stunning illuminated ducer, chart-storming collaborator, and event that'll be held on the beach. Abu Dhabi will be holding more than one Yas Viceroy Hotel. The after-race per- singer-songwritter of 'Happy' will per- event where Science Festivals full of interactive exhibits, exciting shows, and formers will grace the du Arena stage form! Pharrell Williams will be gracing fun scientific activities and workshops are taking place for the young children through Thursday, 20th November and the stage as part of his 'Dear Girls' world here in the UAE. Sunday, 23rd November. tour. While the race cars race, and the after-race shows take place, YASALAM 2014 Egyptian movie star Tamer 'Keep the best for last' is what will hold an F1 Fan Zone for the people to experience the Formula One life. The Urban Arts Zone will be held on the Broadwalk, where the people can Hosny, award-winning Lebanese musi- they say, and as the band will perform watch how art comes to life as old furniture and old shipping containers are cian and actress Carole Samaha, Emirati on their first official day of the WHO HITS completely transformed, bringing the heritage of Abu Dhabi into the creative singer Faiz Al Saeed, and Mohammed 50 Tour, THE WHO will be performing world, and finally live on the Corniche, Beats on the Beats. Enjoy the free Assaf, the 'Arab Idol' popstar from Pales- live on the du Arena stage with their international music festival and groove to the magnificent sounds of award- tine, will all perform on the very first blasting rock 'n' roll sensational hits such winning Emirati, Arabic, Bollywood, Filipino, and K-POP talent. after-race show this year. as, Who's Next, My Generation, and Live at Leeds. The Dutch DJ sensation, ranked number one DJ for five years, Armin Van Buuren will energize the READY, SET, audience with his extensive record of beat dropping hits and trance music. RACE! WORLD AFFAIRS: WOMEN FOCUS
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“Through my story, I want to tell other children all around the
world that they should stand up for their rights. They should
not wait for someone else. Their voices are powerful. It would
seem that they are weak but at the time when no one speaks,
your voice gets so loud that everybody has to listen to it.”
Malala
“A girl is not supposed to be a slave. A girl has the recovery, Malala got back on her feet and decided to power to go forward in her life, and she’s not only a raise awareness about education and highlight its mother, she’s not only a sister, she’s not only a wife; necessity in every individual’s life. Currently residing but a girl should have an identity and she should be in Birmingham, she has surpassed numerous expecta- recognized.” These were Malala Yousafzai’s inspiring tions and has given speeches at the UN National As- words as she gave her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance sembly and is a passionate advocate of education. speech in Birmingham on Thursday October 10th. No- Thanking everybody for presenting her with such a tifying the audience of how she got to know of her huge honour, Malala Yousafzai even gave speeches in victory, Malala mentioned that she was in Chemistry Urdu and Pashto, two dominant languages of Paki- class when her teacher called her out and congratu- stan, to thank her people for their relentless support. lated her, saying that she had won alongside Kailash She expressed her hope of building a bridge between
Satyarthi, the Indian child rights activist. Yousafzai Pakistan and India that would help ease their rela- rose to fame after being shot in the head while riding tions, asking Kailash to help her in the process of the school bus home. The Taliban targeted her as she making this wish of hers successful. With confidence refused to adapt to the widely believed taboo that far beyong her years, Malala reiterated that her mis- girls were not supposed to be educated and should sion was not over and rather it was just a push that only contribute to house work. After a long, successful would help her aim higher. The three most entertaining and thrilling leagues
have already started in Spain and England.
The Premier League in England started on August 16
with the match of Manchester United vs. Swansea city. Recently, Chelsea is in the lead in the rankings
of the Premier league charts having a score of 19
points. Second on the Premier League charts is
Manchester City, obtaining 14 points. Third team on the Premier League charts is Southampton, obtaining
13 points. The Premier League matches continues until finals in 2015 .
La Liga had started in Spain in August
23 with the match of Malaga vs. Athletic. Currently, Barcelona is in the lead in the
ranking of the La Liga charts scoring 19
points. Second team on the La Liga charts The UEFA Champions League, which is one of the is Valencia, with a score of 17 points. Third most important leagues because it includes all the team on the La Liga charts is Sevilla, scor- clubs from different countries, had already started on July 1. It is organized by the Union of European ing 16 points. Football Association. It is a competition between the most famous and prestigious clubs in European football. The winners of UEFA Champions League in 2013-2014 were Real Madrid who has won the Champions league for the tenth time.
SPORTS Between Shades of Grey From the Bookshelf
Between shades of grey is a book brutal but it also has the of extreme suffering and tremen- equal amount of love and family dous hope. This book follows that balances it out. Ruta Septeys, Lina, a 15 year old Lithuanian be- being a Lithuanian, did her re- ing dragged in the middle of the search by interviewing Lithuani- night - in her night gown - with ans who survived those years and her parents in cattle cars and taken found out that there were men to Siberia, seeing the light once a from the NKVD (soviet soldiers ) month or so. Ruta Septeys beauti- who showed some mercy & kind- fully provides pictures & poetical- ness. This is where the title of the ly writes this story & asks for only book came from. Between the one thing, for history to be known shades of grey and darkness, there and read. might be a crack where love might shine through. That's not enough ? If you want to know more about the book : After Lina, her little brother and her parents were taken cap- tive. They spent months and months in cattle cars stopping once in two weeks and some times once in a month for a shower. An- imal food was given to them and many people tried jumping out of those cattle cars. None succeeded. Those who survived- including Lina- were taken to labor camps to work for a minimum of 15 years. This might sound very dark and-
BOX OFFICE FEATURE The Maze Runner
The Maze Runner was definitely one of the most anticipat- The only criticisms I will throw are against the set and the ed movies of this month. Partly because, as you may or may not scriptwriting. Anything that did not involve digital computers to fabri- know, it is actually a well-acclaimed young-adult dystopian novel by cate reality were disappointing. The tree house and the “slammer” – James Dashner and the readers were keen to witness this book come that served as a jail cell – seemed too make-shift, haphazard, and low alive. Although, I believe a larger proportion of the audience bought -tech in contrast to the advanced maze and mechanical Grievers. The a ticket because the main character, Thomas, is played by Dylan dialogue was mediocre. I found myself writing my ideal script in my O’Brien, who also stars in the TV show Teen Wolf which is all the head and predicting what the characters were about to say and un- rage to teenagers of this time. However, the movie lived up to its fortunately what I heard was a less grand version. They could’ve hype as a whole and not just because of its main actor’s popularity. done a better job.
The film starts off with a disheveled and confused boy, Having read the book before watching the movie I was Thomas (O’Brien), being elevated (and trapped) into what he later both at an advantage and disadvantage. Advantage because I knew finds out is called the Glade which is situated at the center of a mas- the plot inside and out, and I was psyched to see it in film. Disad- sive maze. Just like all the other existing inhabitants, all boys, of the vantage because I couldn’t help compare the book to the movie as I Glade, Thomas recalls no memories from his past. Impressively, for watched because they made so many changes. However, unlike most three years the boys in the Glade have survived independently while book-to-movie adaptations, with this one, I have little to no com- they tried to map a way out. Slowly, he realizes it’s not as easy as it plaints. I felt like all the changes made were necessary in providing seems. Faced with grave obstacles, menacing creatures, and hostile flow and understanding, catering to an audience that have not read company, Thomas and his friends are determined to find an escape. the book(s). It also meant that they did not have to explain too many uninteresting details like the process of “the Changing” (side effects With it being in the sci-fi action adventure genre, I must of the antidote for Griever stings) or the Glade slang – which I found say that it fulfills its purpose. The movie as a whole was captivating, hard to keep up as I read the book. I also found the characters in the nerve-wrecking, and kept the audience at the edge of their seats. movie much more appealing in the movie. In the book, I thought of Especially if viewed in the cinemas with the Dolby Surround Sound them as very disagreeable and annoying. The amendments in the experience, the audio was very effective. The visuals, cinematog- pacing and details also did not have a drastic impact either; the mov- raphy, and special effects were great and impressive as the maze and ie remained true to the story of the book. It is very hard to come the “grievers” seemed realistic. (Almost too realistic that my mother, across a movie adaptation that did not want to make you scowl con- who sat beside me as I watched it, obviously terrified, clutched my descendingly and say, “The book was better.” arm when the Grievers were chasing Thomas.) The cast, too, did a swell performance, and no, I’m not pertaining to just Dylan O’Brien. Overall, I believe this movie had all the components of a For example, Gally (Will Poulter) portrayed an obvious tension be- decent sci-fi action adventure film; impressive special effects, exhila- tween himself and Thomas, making him a very effective antagonist. rating scenes and an intriguing backstory. The ending also makes you Minho (Ki Hong Lee) was also a crowd-favorite. His character showed wonder how it will play out in the sequel, which is always a smart tactic for a feature film franchise. Whether you’re in it for a good an aloof superiority which is apparently very likable to the audience. thrill, interested to see how the book is translated to film, or you just All of them brought character with a decent amount of depth and want to gaze at Dylan O’Brien for an hour and fifty-four minutes, I’d attitude. say this movie will not disappoint your prospect. CONNSOIEUR’S CRITIQUE Lilies
Looking for a comfy spot to have dinner on a weekday? Lilies is a great choice! The restaurant is dim and quiet, a great spot for midnight ramblings, although sadly the
restaurant closes it’s doors at 11:30 PM. The decor is vintage with a touch of hipster, quite charming and wellinvested in. The
service is great, the staff put much care and professionalism into their work. The seats
are cozy, you can chill and just relax while you wait for your meal. The menu varies, it
has an exceptional selection. It’s a good menu to juggle when you’re struggling between
Italian and American cuisines. The chef usually surprises you with a complimentary ap-
petizer and a dish. The food is good and served in quality time. The hot beverages are
comforting while the cold ones are refreshing. Choose wisely and prepare your taste
buds for an awesome adventure!
Ushuaia, Argentina Travel Log
Ushuaia is a remote frontier town surrounded by mountains and glaciers at the tip of the South American continent. It is the largest city in the province of Tierra del Fuego, Argenti- na. Ushuaia's name comes from the yámanas, patagonia's original inhabitants, which means "bay that penetrates westward." In summer the average temperature is around 10ºC meanwhile in winter the average temperature would drop to 1ºC.
One of the most visited attractions in the city is the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the world's southernmost national park. The park has stunning scenery, with waterfalls, forests, moun- tains and glaciers. Exploring the park's breathtaking natural wonders, patagonian lakes and charming scenery will certainly leave an impression on you. Options for transportation to the Tierra del Fuego National Park include the Tren del Fin del Mundo which, in English, is known as the "End of the World Train". This train runs among forests, rivers, bogs and makes a stop at the Macerena waterfall. Another famous attraction is the Martial Glacier. A chair lift ride up to the base of the Martial Glacier provides panoramic views of soaring snow-capped mountains, the town and the Beagle Chan- nel.
The Beagle Channel is a also must-visit attraction as it is home to beautiful scenery and impressive wildlife. On a navigational tour in the beagle channel you are likely to spot cormorants and sea lions. Travel agencies arrange these navigational excursions for tourists to ponder on soaring white-capped peaks, icy waters, impressive wildlife and visit the famous light house. In spanish this lighthouse is called Faro del Fin del Mundo which means the lighthouse at the end of the world. This lighthouse is a tower painted in red and white and is equipped with a solar energy based lighting device. It is one of the typical postcards of Ushuaia.
In Ushuaia you can see mountains and glaciers, but also a town that is most fairytale-like, sur- rounded by settlements and natural wonders. They're awaiting, so what are you waiting for to visit already? Recipe makes 2 dozen
Preparation -15 mins SOFT OATMEAL COOKIES
Cook-10 mins FROM THE KITCHEN
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sug- ar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla ex- tract
2 cups all-purpose flour Method
1 teaspoon baking soda In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sug- ar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, 1 teaspoon salt then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. cinnamon Mix in oats. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow- cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes be- fore transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.