Fashion Show

“Fashion is art and you are the canvas.”

(This is some cliche, basic quote everybody puts their Instagram caption, but I couldn’t find a better one.)

Everyone wears clothes. Some wear their outfits for a reason, like to impress someone, to look pretty, etc., some wear them just to, you know, wear clothes. On the 21st of December, the Prom Committee ended the week by holding the annual Fashion Show. At first, honestly, I was hesitant on going there because I was afraid I would feel very insecure, but I was wrong since it was an incredibly entertaining show. There were more than 20 pairs of guys and girls strutting on the catwalk with their fascinating confidence and stunning looks. The first round was formal themed, therefore the girls went single first with their on-fleek makeup and formal dresses and the guys went after with their macho suits. Then, the pairs went to walk together arm in arm as the guys never failed to impress us with their heart-melting-gentleman act at the end of the stage. Ah, it was very heartwarming indeed. The next round was casual themed as our models dressed in casual dresses with many pairs matching their outfits. I was screaming at a very high volume trying to support and encourage all the models on stage, but they probably didn’t need it since they strolled the catwalk with just the perfect sass. I know that every human being has their insecurities, even these gorgeous models do. But that does not mean that these insecurities, which are very unnecessary, should ever have to stop you from believing that you’re beautiful the way you are.

-Yasmin Zahra (Media Tech Club).

Cool Happenings in the ICE Box

We have introduced a new creative learning space at Dammam Elementary called the ICE Box. ICE stands for Imagine, Create, and Explore. The purpose of the ICE Box is to provide a place where students can engage in learning experiences that allow them to build, create, and design, in order to make real-life connections to their classroom learning. As students and teachers discover that anything is possible, lessons and learning can be designed around the freedom to imagine, create and explore. The expectation is that student engagement and learning will expand exponentially, and small creative learning spaces will begin appearing in the corners of teachers classrooms and maybe even in children’s homes.

Teachers began bringing their students to the ICE Box last spring.  Since that time, students have participated in a variety of hands-on activities that enabled them to experiment with and create items such as musical instruments, models of fish, windmills, marble machines and other products of their imagination that can’t be named. These activities foster academic success by developing important skills such as creativity, problem-solving, design and innovation.

During the 2016-2017 school year, we have introduced project-based learning as a way to extend the ICE Box experience and incorporate it more fully into the classroom curriculum. For example, some of the classes culminated their Cities unit by designing an ideal city then working in the ICE Box to build the different city sites such as houses, a fire station, a school, and a park. Fourth-grade students are attending a Genius Hour class in the ICE Box where they get to explore a topic of their choice and create a project that shares their learning with an authentic audience.  

The ICE Box is becoming a favorite part of your child’s school day.

Mrs. Lorrie Cook, Digital Learning Coach

 

Statistical Enquiry Study on Virtual Islands

The Islands is a free, online, virtual human population that can be used for simulating scientific and social research and data investigations.  Students will be given the opportunity to understand and apply Statistics in meaningful way.

The Island & An Islander

Throughout the continuous use of the Islands, it has been made evident that it is, in general, easier and more convenient than actually going out and testing people, as majority of the tests involve things that are hard for a high school student to do. It’s a great educational resource when it comes to collecting and analyzing data. Working on the Islands has not only furthered my comprehension of statistics, but made me develop a much deeper understanding of technology and different kinds of possible tests; it widened the scope of possibility that I saw. The projects developed my analytical and critical skills, and strengthened my understanding of how data is collected and observed by statistical means. One of the many projects in which the islands were used was our statistical study of human physicality; the study on whether age affects the white blood cell count in humans, and therefore their immunity. It was made simple for the group to collectively gather data and analyse it due to the fact that the Island’s infrastructure is made to do just that. One must simply select the individual they wish to test/record data on, and ask their consent. The data we collected was the white blood cell count per age group (all results in the proper format x10^9).  We theorized that the younger age groups would have more immunity and wbc count, based on other theories relating breast milk in giving children better immunity. Thanks to the specific nature of the results we gathered, and the usefulness of the islands itself, the study concluded with high standing results; we concluded that based on our results, our theory had some backing, and is a very valid possibility. However, there are always negatives; islanders seem to lie about their information or give sarcastic remarks when they are interviewed- this comes from the fact that it tries to be as realistic as possible. Once a few peers asked, “Do you have any deficiency?”, and the reply they received was, “Doesn’t everybody have a deficiency?”. So it was impossible to receive that small piece of information that was relevant to the study. Furthermore, it is difficult to grasp and understand the purpose of creating an Islander that declines consent. Based on our knowledge, the entire purpose of the islands is to obtain information from people that won’t decline consent because real people have the right to withhold information by saying no. Overall, I would like to conclude by saying that the Islands would be an extremely useful resource if- and only if- the issue of lying can be either turned on or off, and the consent was mandatory. Should this be the case, it could be used for a vast amount of research, on the field of Science , Physiology, and Psychology delving into the complex situations where something like this would be preferable.

We would like to express our gratitude towards Dr. James Baglin, BAppSc (Psych – Hons), PhD , Lecturer, Statistics, School of Science, Mathematical Sciences, RMIT University, Australia for providing us with the access to explore the Virtual Islands . Your continuous support and valuable feedback is greatly appreciated.

Sample Result:

• Relation to scientific background +Conclusion

Over all, all our three graphs show that the younger a person is the higher his or her white blood cells count is and vice versa. Also, the highest results average was 10.82 x10^9L for the age group of 10-20 and the lowest was 6.76 x 10^9L for the age group 40-50 which again shows that younger people have higher WBC.

Amaar (Grade 12) & Julia ( Grade 10)

New Year, New Me?

We are all guilty of coming up with resolutions but never fulfilling them. It seems so easy for us to come up with them every year but it is an overpowering challenge to actually keep them up. You know some of us have the  “I’m going to join the gym” or “I will study more often this year” type of aims but spare a moment and think about those whose resolutions might be “I will work more to earn enough money for my family” or most importantly those who have “I will try my best  to get my family to safety”. 2016 was a year filled with mixed emotions: happiness, liveliness, love, pain, sorrow and anger. From Donald Trump winning the elections to David Bowie’s death to Leonardo Dicaprio winning an Oscar, this year was anything but uneventful. Though it was saddening to see all those wonderful stars pass away, we often forget about those in Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan and a lot of other countries suffering from war and poverty. It’s, even more, saddening that the world is well aware of those things but does so little to make a better life for those suffering. 16,000 Syrians were killed in 2016 but did the world care? No. We were too concerned about Kim Kardashian being robbed.

About 21,000 people die everyday, because of hunger but did we do anything about it? No. We were busy trashing the half-eaten McDonalds burger. Around 62 million girls were out of school in 2016, while we were busy complaining about waking up early in the morning.

Instead of coming up with resolutions that are hard to fulfill, how about we come up with plans for donating enough money, food and clothes to countries that are in agony and taking care of refugees that are present in your countries so they could live a better life and their children could have a better future. Come up with plans to reduce the amount of racism, sexism and bullying that happens every single day. No one deserves to die, starve to death or get beaten up without a reason. I say we should take this opportunity and use it to make our world a better place. Make it better for not only you, but for everyone else around you. Leopards, it’s in our hands to make 2017 an even better year not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us. Happy New Year!

Safia Mouzzam. Grade 9, Media Tech club Member

Tis The Season to Be Musical!

 

It’s a very well known fact that music is one of the world’s given gifts. However, when put together with a winter wonderland theme, it becomes something exquisitely magical. To cap off 2016 in their own way, the Music Club arranged a music concert on December 12. But what set this one apart from many of their concerts was its winter wonderland theme. The performers and MCs all sported red Santa Claus hats, and the stage was transformed with Christmas-themed decorations. With the entertaining hosts and extraordinarily talented performers, we saw a multitude of talents showcased in front of our eyes. From a desi dance to piano recitals, rock bands to singing, this concert had it all. Where words failed music spoke, and the musically spoken message for that day was that, “sometimes, music and the chilly weather are all you need to warm your spirit.”

Written by: Mirna Hussein, Grade 11 (Media Tech Club Member)

Fall Festival

Fall is one of the cherished seasons that people wait for every year, where the cold wind blows your hair and the ground is covered with colorful leaves to reveal a beautiful view. Likewise in ISG Dammam, we never got tired of trying to amuse our Leopards with different kinds of atmosphere throughout the school year. On the 31st of October till the 2nd of November, we celebrated the spirit of Fall, where each department creatively decorated the school in a scary and spooky style and came wearing creative costumes to add color to the atmosphere.

To start with, the Elementary Fall Festival was a great success because of the incredible collaboration of all the staff and the students did to create something different and entertaining. We had the pleasure to welcome parents to share this festival with us and their delighted children. At the early morning after the little Leopards settled in their classes with their exclusive costumes, they were prepared by their teachers to march across the hallways till they reached the soccer field, and they formed a big, organized circle. The parents themselves, who was happier than the children, took pictures and proudly watched them enjoying the day. After that, the students went to nibble different kinds of Halloween-themed food and got to choose any activity they would like to do. They could either have an amusing face painting, play fun games in the gym, play racing robots that can be remotely controlled, or take a photo in the Photo Booth.

In the same way, the Middle School also had their wonderful time. The students came with their unique costumes, enjoyed their day by playing different kind of games, and danced with the upbeat spirit in their socials.

Last but not least, the High School! On this week, the High School Department was filled with the spirit of Fall and Halloween. High School students came with their costumes on the 31st of October and it was fascinating to see people with their own creative costumes. They got their new Munchies cafe, which is sponsored by the Business class, where coffee, cookies, popcorn, and other appetizing snacks were sold. Not to mention, the Student Council also played a big role in lighting up the week. They held a Bake Sale, various of mini-games, and, how can we forget, the lively Socials that was held in the 2nd of November in our auditorium. We can say it was just lit.

The Fall Festival celebration is one of the themed celebrations that ISG Dammam hold every year to put the word ‘fun’ in our minds when we hear the word ‘school’. It simply just tells us that with all our different costumes, each one of us is different and unique on our own. But a spiritual, fun week with several entertainments can gather us all as one.  

Check our Album for more pics.

Edited by Yasmin Zahra (Media Tech Club Member)

The Growth of the Leopards

Each day is a milestone as we bloom towards achieving our hopes and dreams. We’ve lavished these milestones with such passion and dedication, and now it’s time for us to claim the fruit of our hard-work and be recognized.

On the 29th of September 2016, the recognition ceremony for Quarters 3 and 4 of the school year 2015-2016 was held at the auditorium. The students were awarded with High Honor Roll and Honor Roll academic awards . Students with outstanding performance  in subject areas and clubs were also given awards to recognize their efforts and dedication.

ISG Dammam conquered the summit and aced the Mangahigh contest for being the first place out of all the participants in the Middle East. Therefor Mangahigh awards were given to top achiever students, who have given honor to our school. And lastly, character recognition awards were given as well, to acknowledge the great morals and prominent attributes of our fellow Leopards.

Now, all of this couldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the hardwork of our very own recognition committee teachers Mrs. Reham Fadel, Mrs. Zeinab Karnib, Mrs. Merlyn Leny,  Mrs. Ann Smith, and Dr. Natalia Socolova, lead by Mrs. Shahnaz Salim as the sponsor and Mrs. Misra as the alternate sponsor, who intricately planned and organized the ceremony. Our principal, Mr. John Rutten, and the High School vice principals, Mrs. Nehla Lejmi and Mr. Naidoo, were  given the honor  to recognize the young high school achievers.

After all, it was a success not only for the students but as well as for our beloved school as we soar up high as one great Leopard family. 

Please check all the recognized students in the following links:

Gr. 9& 10 Rec

Gr. 11 & 12 Rec

Herculean effort by the leopards!

The leopards have always displayed outstanding skills and performances in table tennis playoffs. Sometimes a match result doesn’t reflect the intensity and the competitive match play. Unfortunately, this was reflected in the match held on 15 October 2016 at the ISG Dhahran grounds. The boys team were tough competitors in the matches against the other ISG schools. The playoffs included singles and doubles. The leopards  played with valiant effort and won some of the matches, but couldn’t win a medal in the singles, however, they  played exceptionally well winning 10 matches in the doubles.

An exuberant player Omar Hesham, who won 4 matches in the singles stated, “Even though we couldn’t attain a medal in this match, we are hoping to give our best performance in the upcoming match.” Last year’s gold medalist Omar Radwan said “This match was a competitive one. I really enjoyed playing with such talented players.”  Yousuf Balouch, a good competitor said, “The match was close and our players exhibited great efforts. I played 6 matches, won 4 and lost 2 in the singles. The doubles were good too, I won 4 but I think my performance was better in the singles. We’ll be practicing more for the forthcoming matches.”

“I think the boys were excellent. They played really well. They were tough competitors.” Dr.Natalia, counselor of High School remarked.

The matches were played in the best of spirits by all the teams. Some excellent matches resulted in some fine rallies and shot selections by our players. The playoffs highlighted that we’ve got budding players in our team who aim to improve and attain excellence.

Written by Iffa Ahmed (Media Tech Club Member)

Support Comes in Many Colors

NHS General Cancer Awareness Assembly

“There’s a ‘can’ in cancer because we can beat it!” Cancer is a group of diseases that begins by a normal cell with an abnormal cell growth and its potential to spread to other parts of our bodies. Most of us are aware of that. To me, cancer is not just a disease that is a leading cause of deaths all over the world. It is not just an illness to grieve about. Yet, it is a powerful reminder that we are living a life full of obstacles and it’s our choice to choose the kinds of obstacles we face. Cancer is a question that asks us, “What kind of life do you choose to live?”

On the 17th of October 2016, National Honor Society delivered a strong message to the high school Staff and students. I walked in the auditorium with curiosity about the facts and types of cancer. I could see the word “HOPE” in huge letters and felt the positivity spread through my body. As the students settled down, an inspirational one minute video was projected stating facts about cancer. I heard some of the most wise and unforgettable words I had ever heard.  “There’s a ‘can’ in cancer because we can beat it!”

The auditorium was filled with enthusiasm as I clapped my hands along with the roaring applause from other students. Without delay, Nada Ibrahim, the NHS president, took over the microphone and started a presentation about different types of cancer. She talked about breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, uterine cancer, and so forth. The causes of these types of cancer were also mentioned and some of them are actually a part of our daily routines/habits, such as eating junk food, sitting too much, not exercising properly, etc. In fact, cancer-causing substances, like carcinogens, can be anywhere around us. The presentation ended with each student learning something new about cancer. Then, it was time for the jeopardy.

Not only has this assembly taught me facts about the different types of cancers, but it has also taught me about the life choices I should make from now on. It taught me that I should be aware of my own life, because if I can’t support myself, what makes me think I can support others?

• Written by Yasmin Zahra (Media Tech Club member)

“Support comes in many colors.”

Effect of video games on human body

Hey all of you gamers out there! Do you ever feel a rush of adrenaline and a sense of intensity whenever you play video games? Why do we feel so immersed and focused whenever we play video games. That is just the question we are yet to answer.

To find the truth behind this sensation, the High School Science Club set out and begun a research experiment on different age groups,  ranging from high schoolers (16-18 years old) and adults (50-55 years). Each volunteer was asked to play two different games which had varying genres meant to have different levels of focus and skill needed. Each volunteer had their heart rate, blood pressure and pain tolerance measured before, during, and after playing to see if playing video games really did have an effect on the human body. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored using a digital monitor tied on the wrist. Pain tolerance was measured by pricking a pin several times on their arm and recording the counts they sensed. The measurements were compared to their resting state observations.

Line graphs were plotted for all the parameters to have a comparative insight of the variations. Some sample graphs have been shown herewith. The data evidently represented that all the tested parameters show higher variations during the test conditions as compared to the resting stage (control condition). Also, it was clearly noticed that volunteers in the teens group showed higher fluctuations in their heart rate and blood pressure while the older volunteers tend to have more stability in their basic parameters. This may also be attributed to the varying interest levels in people of different age groups.

Though the data was divergent for different volunteers, making it inappropriate to quantify the results as an average effect of video games. But overall trend in the data suggests, that there is a significant fluctuation in your heart rate and blood pressure along with a decrease in your pain sensitivity while playing video games.  Even though your body isn’t actually moving when you play video games, adrenal medulla gland releases hormones and adrenaline due to the amount of focus paid to the game. Some effects are also visible like dilation of pupils to enhance focus for the game.

It can be concluded that a prolonged use of such games, may result in severe complications. These blood pressure variations may be mild for the moment but may have a long term effect on the body. So, we must advise young generations to use these activities only for leisure rather than an addictive routine. 

Study conducted by: Layan Salameh (Gr11), John Michael Magallanes (Gr10), Marcel Improta (Gr10) and Sobaan Basharat (Gr10)

Supervisor: Mrs. Neha Pachisia