Cedar Bulletin, Vol.I, issue i

Bulletin Vol.1 Issue 1 August 2024

Messages from the Principals Welcome back! This is a crucial phase of your educational journey and we are here to support you in achieving your academic goals and personal growth. Your commitment and hard work during the AS level have laid a strong foundation, and we look forward to building on that success together.

This year presents new challenges and opportunities. Our dedicated faculty and staff are here to provide the guidance and resources you need to excel academically, and our College Counseling team will help you get into your dream university. We encourage you to take full advantage of the support available to enhance your learning experience and help you develop valuable skills for your future endeavours.

Remember that it is essential to maintain a balanced approach, combining rigorous study with co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and self-care. Remember, time management and a healthy lifestyle play a significant role in your overall success. Stay organised, set realistic goals, and seek help whenever needed.

As we begin this academic year, let's work together to create a positive and productive environment. Your success is our priority, and we are committed to helping you achieve your full potential.

We wish you all the best and look forward to a successful and rewarding year ahead.

Best of Luck!

Fatima Khurshid Principal, DHA

Welcome back! The A2 journey is not only about striving for academic excellence as you look towards university admissions, but also about personal growth and a sense of responsibility.

Stay committed to your academics, attend classes and engage actively in your coursework throughout the year. Remember, this is your chance to develop a strong portfolio that will demonstrate your capabilities to colleges.

Balancing your academics with extracurriculars is essential to combat the rigorous nature of the A-Level programme.

Participation in societies and sports enriches your experience at Cedar, allowing you to explore your passions, develop new skills, and build leadership qualities. They also demonstrate your ability to manage multiple responsibilities while pursuing a challenging academic programme.

A2s are the role models for the incoming AS Knights. Lead by demonstrating respect, integrity, patience and strong work ethic. Your legacy at Cedar will be defined not just by your achievements, but by the positive impact you have on those who follow you.

Finally, remember the importance of balance. Senior year can be stressful, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential.

Take care of your mental and physical well-being and set realistic goals, focusing on what’s important to achieve success and happiness.

We cannot wait to see all the wonderful things that the Knights of the Class of 2025 are going to accomplish during their final year.

All the best, Raheel Masood Principal, PECHS

DEAR KNIGHTS! Cedar Publications is proud to present its very first issue of the Bulletin!

This year the Publications Team aims to provide consistent and informative insights for our Cedar Knights, faculty, and staff in the form of newsletters, telegrams, periodicals, podcasts and so much more!

The Bulletin will be published every week to provide updates on events happening at Cedar, written and designed by Cedar Publications. Our mission for Cedar Publications this year is to delve deeper into all aspects of investigative journalism, and publishing this volume of our bulletin is just the beginning of our journey to ensure that this mission comes to fruition.

We look forward to your contributions towards the different elements of Publications this year.

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SUMMER

PROGRAMMES AT CEDAR Core Courses - Phase 1

SAT Prep Classes SAT season is upon us, and with it comes the stress of understanding the best way to study and ace the exam.

However, there is no textbook approach to handling the SATs, and navigating them can be overwhelming. To understand the process better, we sat down with Zuha Fatima Salman, a Cedar student preparing for the SATs. Team Publications: Can you walk us through your typical study routine for SAT preparation? How do you structure your study sessions?

The Liberal Arts Core Program at Cedar College made a dynamic return this summer, kicking off on July 1, 2024, across both our DHA and PECHS campuses. There was an impressive lineup of core courses, engaging students from both campuses, enhancing their academic and professional development.

The following Cores were offered in Phase 1: Introduction to Turkish Language, and Spanish Language cores aimed to build basic language skills - Syed Ahmed Mukhtar Shah The Money Game: Navigate the World of Finance was designed to impart essential financial principles - Sanwal Abbasi Psychological First Aid Training (PFA) provided tools for mental health support in emergencies - Rabika Shoukat Machine Learning with Python, focused on AI and data Amniyah Reimoo Intro to Pakistan Stock Exchange explored the stock market - Asaad Sohail Hands-on Guide to Electronics and Automation offered practical experience with technology - Daniyal Ahmed Introduction to Computer Science and AI covered key concepts in computer science and artificial intelligence Daniyal Ahmed Ignite Innovation with 3D Printing Technology taught students about 3D printing - Bilal Khan Afridi Precision Medicine and Generative AI delved into advances in medicine and AI - Atta-ur-Rehman

Zuha: My primary source for SAT prep was to enrol in the SAT classes hosted by Cedar. We have classes three times a week as well as online sessions and homework. Most of us are giving the SAT in October and have structured our prep likewise, which means we finished our course in late July and now have shifted our focus towards practice and revision. I recommend leaving room for a 1-hour study session every day in your daily routine.

Team Publications: What specific strategies or techniques do you find most effective in improving your SAT scores?

Zuha: Our teacher, Sir Saarim Nadeem, worked closely with us to design the most efficient ways to study. These included practising SAT test questions with custom worksheets tailored specifically for us. Alternative material that proved fruitful for us were books by Erica Meltzer about SATs and digital SAT tests from the official College Board website.

Thank you Zuha for your time and useful insight. Good luck to everyone taking the SATs this year. We hope you succeed in this endeavour.

The diverse course offerings reflect Cedar College’s commitment to providing valuable educational experiences and a productive summer for our Cedar Knights. Phase 2 of the Liberal Arts Core Program will be starting soon, promising even more opportunities for growth and learning.

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CBMUN CBMUN hosted by The College of Business Management kickstarted the MUN season for Cedar. The competition hosted 300 participants from various academic institutions who competed in eight committees.

The Cedar delegation was composed of nine delegates who worked tirelessly to represent the interests of their assigned countries of Australia, Albania and Algeria and as members from the Pakistan National Assembly. This was no easy feat and took weeks of daily practice sessions to ensure everyone was well prepared for the competition.

The following simulations were debated upon: Measures to prevent the provisions of weapons to nonstate actors Revisiting the Non-Proliferation treaty in the light of current global conditions (DISEC) The systematic human rights abuses against the Rohingya minority in Myanmar (UNHRC) Charting women’s rights across cultural diversity combating gender based violence (UNW) Balancing power dynamics by abolishing veto privileges (UNSC) From regional to global: Israel and Palestine conflicts role in World War III (SPECPOL) The impact of the Treaty of Versailles on World War II (HCC) Open Agenda (PNA)

Cedar College Signs MOU with SOCH for SVP Season 2

The Cedar MUN team delivered outstanding performances winning the Best Delegation award which entailed a fully funded trip to Kashmir.

The awards were as follows: Best Delegate: Isa Sheikh, Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC) Best Delegate: Deena Ahmed Qazi- United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) Outstanding Diplomat: Zain Ali Pasha, Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) Outstanding Diplomat: Sara Shafique, United Nations Women (UNW) Honourable Mention: Fatima Emaan Athar, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Honourable Mention: Umer Sheikh, Historical Crisis Committee (UNHCC) Special Mention: Hannia Maher, Pakistan National Assembly (PNA) CBMUN helped set the tone for the Cedar MUN team for the upcoming year in terms of preparation and work ethic for global politics. The MUN team has not only lived up to its expected glory but also maintained their Seniors legacy. We look forward to their performances in the year ahead.

SOCH is a non-profit, non-governmental welfare organisation run by the students of Dow Medical College, working for the betterment of Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi and the promotion of community health. Cedar College signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SOCH for their School Volunteer Program (SVP), Season 2, 2024.

SOCH operates under the Koohi Goth Women’s Hospital and is based at CHK. Despite being one of the largest tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan, CHK faces challenges related to infrastructure, sanitation, and cleanliness. SOCH is committed to addressing these issues through initiatives that promote public awareness of infection control and public health. The organisation is also engaged in uplifting hospital conditions and improving sanitation across several wards.

This partnership will see Cedar College students actively involved in the SVP event, hosted by SOCH at Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) in August 2024.

This MOU underscores Cedar College's commitment to community service and its support for impactful health initiatives that contribute to the betterment of healthcare environments.

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Student Council and Society Heads Selection

Graphic Design Workshop

The selection process for Cedar College’s Student Council (StuCo) and Society Heads has begun, providing an exciting opportunity for student leadership. The process started with the release of the sign-up form, where candidates expressed their interest in various leadership roles. After initial sign-ups, candidates received clearance from the counselling and academic departments to ensure their suitability.

A shortlist of candidates was then created based on this clearance and feedback. These candidates were scheduled for interviews with the Student Council (StuCo) and Society Heads, allowing them to showcase their leadership abilities and vision.

Following a comprehensive evaluation, selections were made, and the successful candidates were informed via a congratulatory email. From this core group now, the StuCO Cabinet will be elected by their peers.

This structured approach ensures that the most capable individuals are chosen to lead and represent their councils and societies. Cedar College congratulates all selected leaders and anticipates their contributions to enhancing student life and fostering a dynamic campus community.

Aiming to provide the Publications group with proper guidelines in terms of the Cedar brand, and tips to excel in designing their work, a workshop was held on 2nd August at the DHA campus, conducted by Sir Nolasco Moniz, a valuable member of the Cedar Media team. The workshop was attended by students from Cedar Publications, Cedar Strokes, Cedar Shutter Speed, and Cedar Ted-Ed Society.

Mr. Nolasco has been working closely with Cedar and his valuable contribution towards helping Cedar maintain its brand identity and unique design was evident in his work.

Mr. Nolasco started the workshop by shedding insight on the general brand guidelines for Cedar College and went into depth regarding the design of formal print and digital documents through the use of Adobe Illustrator software.

Some of the elements he talked about included logo positioning, colour scheme, and standard font and text sizes for different documents.

This one hour workshop was wrapped up after Sir Nolasco shared some professional design tips and answered some questions raised by inquisitive Cedar students, making the workshop experience more enlightening for all those present.

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National Science Bowl(NSBP)

The National Science Bowl Pakistan (NSBP) is an international Science Knowledge Competition using a quiz bowl format held in USA (US National Science Bowl). This prestigious science competition has been held on a national stage for the past 6 years and covers 5 disciplines: Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space. It is partnered with esteemed organisations such as CERP and the Pakistan Innovation Foundation to promote the fields of Science and Mathematics across Pakistan.

Every year, students from top colleges across the country compete through three rounds: Qualifiers, Regionals, and Nationals. This competition equips them with valuable skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and research, while enhancing their passion for science.

The qualifiers took place on March 16th, with multiple teams from Cedar College participating. We achieved 9 out of 16 qualifications for the Regionals, which were held at City School PAF Chapter on June 28th.

The two teams that qualified for the Nationals were: Team 1: Mahad Baloch Ali Imam Enjaz Ismail Hooira Aman Maria Nadeem Mubashir Saeed

Team 2: Ghulam Nabi Daniyal Imam Mohammad Sohaib Nayl Khan Zimran Gill Zaid Hashmani

These teams dedicated weeks of hard work to enhance their knowledge of their respective subjects for the competition.

They won from their respective groups after defeating top colleges in Karachi, with Team 1 achieving the highest tally of marks in the Qualifiers across Karachi as an A-level team and the second-highest total points in the Regionals through a 3-0 sweep in the group stages.

This year, Cedar demonstrated a dominating display of skill and knowledge in both the Qualifier and Regional rounds, securing 2 out of 4 available spots from Karachi for the National Round that took place on August 3rd in Islamabad where they won the Runners up and the Best Team from Karachi awards.

Sports Trials Cedar College is renowned for its excellence in the field of sports. Over the previous years our Knights have brought home several trophies, having won competitions all over Karachi. To ensure that their performances in the season ahead remain consistent, our sports coaches organised sports trials open to all the students, AS and A2 combined.

Cedar offers several sports disciplines such as cricket, throwball, futsal, basketball, table tennis and rowing and these trials provide a great opportunity to shine for those passionate in the specific sport and to secure their spot on the official team.

Such vigorous training ensures that our Knights are able to take on any and every challenge in terms of sports tournaments, internal and external.

The trials are currently in their second phase, having had an overwhelming response in the first phase. These trials are extremely thorough and rigorous, shortlisting the college teams and preparing them to be the best and ensuring that the year is as rewarding for Cedar sports as always.

Participation in the National Science Bowl is a testament to the teams’ and Cedar’s efforts to excel in the field of Science and serves as a beacon of inspiration for future Knights.

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Graduation: Class of 2024 The Graduation for the Class of 2024 took place in early June, officially marking the end of their two years of A levels at Cedar College. With over 1300 student graduates from both the DHA and PECHS campuses, the event was planned on a grand scale at the Andalusian Banquet Halls. Graduations are a very emotional time for students and their parents alike.

For students it means having to step out of the four walls of Cedar which had become home, and face the challenges of university life and decide future career paths.

Special guests from The British Council who graced the evening were Amanda Ingram (Country Exams Director), Kanwal Shah (Head of Schools), Khurram Shah and Sameer Ali (Account Relationship Managers). We are also grateful to Mr. Shahid Ashraf, Deputy Country Director Cambridge, Pakistan who took the time out to attend the ceremony.

This year the Cedar community was presented with a prestigious award, the ‘Per Aspera Ad Astra', Latin for “Reach for the Stars”. This award was given to students with the highest academic achievement from each campus.

SPOTLIGHT

The graduation ceremony was a heartfelt celebration of our students' hard work and achievements, culminating in the joyous cap throw that marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their lives.

Sabicah Noaman Ahmed, a student of the A2 class, manages to balance her studies with her role as an entrepreneur, running her own businesses of baked goods and beaded accessories. Always passionate about jewellery, in 2023 Sabicah decided to turn this fervour into something profitable and kickstarted her journey into the business world by setting up jewellery stalls in fairs in Karachi and later, for baked items. She promotes her merchandise via her social media pages.

Coming from a business family, with encouraging parents, Sabicah has found immense support from within her own walls as well as her friends. Her will for monetary independence drives her to continue her passions in a profitable way, and with the surrounding people cheering her on, Sabicah considers herself extremely lucky. When asked about her initial struggles, Sabicah admitted how her own idleness and self-doubt became hurdles in her endeavours. However, she overcame her struggles through sheer perseverance and hard work, and with a healthy mindset regarding her own failures and successes.

Managing businesses, academics, extracurriculars and personal life is a tough routine to establish. Concerning this, Sabicah shared how sacrifices are necessary, and priorities need to be set. To tackle academic coursework, she utilises her free classes in revising and keeping up with her given work so as to not fall behind. Emphasising on the importance of one's mental and physical wellbeing, she explained how she would never refuse herself a break when needed, hence putting a hold on orders when necessary.

While she is happy with the present situation, Sabicah is not sure that she wants to continue this lifestyle as she approaches university life. She would rather shift her entire focus and efforts on her academics and let her businesses take a backseat. For Sabicah, these are her hobbies and she would rather not be entirely consumed by the race to monetize something she finds happiness in.

Some words of advice for those who are new to the world of startups, Sabicah recommends to never let insecurities take hold of their aims. Practical-minded, she also encourages costing and estimating products according to current financial trends, keeping a record, and a positive response to constructive criticism.

Kudos to Sabicah for her achievements and we wish her all the very best in her future!

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ARTWORK OF THE WEEK:

THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY BY SALVADOR DALÍ

This week, we invite you to explore Salvador Dalí's enigmatic masterpiece, "The Persistence of Memory". Created in 1931, this surrealist painting challenges our perception of time with its iconic melting clocks.

What do these clocks represent?

How does the dreamlike landscape influence your interpretation?

Ponder these questions and share your thoughts via email at cep@cedar.edu.pk on how Dalí's work relates to our understanding of reality and time. The best interpretations will be published in the next issue of the Bulletin.

MURDLE MYSTERY

Publications Team Vol.1 Patron: Aysha Sheikh Editor in Chief: Amnah Khan (DHA) Design Team: Adeena Tahir (DHA) Minahil Arif (DHA)

Murdle is a fun and addictive murder mystery puzzle where you get to solve crimes through logic and deduction. Each puzzle has an intro to the crime, a list of suspects, and possible weapons and crime scenes - your job as the detective is to find out who, what and where through the given clues and evidence. So put on your detective hats and scan the QR code for this week's puzzle and solution!

Wordsmiths: Meer Matar Khan (DHA) Hamna Siddiqui (PECHS) Malaina Alvi (DHA) Sanya Ali (CEP) Amnah Khan (DHA)

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