HMA Newsletter

WHAT’S UP HMA?

WHAT’S UP HMA?!

STUDENT COUNCIL

Week 1

The 2024–2025 Student Council had its first meeting on April 22, 2024, kicking off with a warm welcome for its new members Considering it was mostly an introductory meeting, there were few agenda items It began with the members writing letters to themselves in a year, expressing their wishes and reminders to their future selves Following this, the co-presidents informed the council that this year’s Appreciation Day would mainly focus on staff and administration members instead of teachers A committee was formed to prepare for and organize this event As a final activity, the Student Council had an entertaining bonding activity, which created a more friendly environment for the members

Week 2

This week, both the old and the new Student Council members met up and started off with an icebreaker: “If you could know the answers to any question, what would it be?” The copresidents then thoroughly explained each step of the meeting. This was proceeded by a mock meeting where the agenda item was “Should we bring back punctuality and English policy competitions?” although this time, the rules would be adjusted so that it can become a culture rather than a competition. This is because of the fact that the student body should obey rules not for the sake of points, but to build a sense of responsibility The decision was postponed until the next meeting and everyone was to think of possible solutions. At last, the meeting was adjourned.

Lelna Mammo, 10th grader

WUH

EXTRACURRICULARS

ChessCorner

Some people like learning new things. If you are this type of person, playing chess could be one of your newfound skills. The game of chess first appeared in India in the seventh century AD, which makes it very old. In ancient tombs, certain pieces were found, which archaeologists assure us constituted a form of chess Originally,chesswasagameofwar. It was called Chaturanga, and it rapidly made its way to Persia and Arabia. Some of the Arab terminology remains to this day For example, the word checkmate comesfromthePersian“shahmat”, with “shah” meaning king and “mat”meaninghelplessorlost. So what makes chess so interesting? At its core, chess is a game of infinite possibilities.t is a game of sixteen pieces, an eightby-eight board, and enough theory and strategy to fill all fifteen centuriesofitsexistence.

“Chessis everything: art,science andsport.” -Anatoly Karpov

With each move, players must anticipate their opponent’s response, leading to a complex and dynamic interplay of tactics and strategy. The game rewards foresight, calculation, and creativity, making it a true test of mental acuity. For example, after three moves by both sides, there are over nine million possible positions on the board, and after four moves, there are over 288 billion different positions. In fact, there are more than forty million games, more than there are stars in the universe. Chess is not just a game; it’s a mental workout that challenges your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and decision-making abilities. With each move, you must anticipate your opponent’s next steps while planning your own path to victory.

WUH

The thrill of outsmarting your rival with a well-executed strategy is unparalleled. In HMA, there are quite a few people who enjoy playing this mind-challenging game. I personally really recommend this game for students as a hobby. Besides being fun, chess is a game that challenges your mind, sharpens your strategic thinking, and improves your decision-making skills It offers endless possibilities for growth and learning, while providing a platform to showcase your creativity and intellect. By playing chess, you not only engage in a mentally stimulating activity but also join a global community of passionate players. So, why wait? Start playing chess today and unlock the potential within you!

Places to learn chess:

I would say that to learn chess, it may take a certain time, but this is for advanced players or for someone who wants to become a world champion. But for people who just want to learn for fun, here are some useful materials that I would say are a good place to start:

(In the box beside this text)

Remember: Every grandmaster was once a novice who dared to make that first move. Will you be the next champion?

Good luck with your new journey!

“I’m convinced, the way one plays chess always reflects the player’s personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing.”

- Vladimir Kramnik

Anna Habtamu, 9th Grade

Places to learn chess

● Joining the chess club at our school

● Creating Chess.com account

● Gotham Chess (@YouTube)

● Playing more and more and reviewing games

● If you are into reading (maybe chess books),

● Watching The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix (as motivation)

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Football Tournament

The football tournament that was prepared by the GYM club ended a day before winter break

The game ended with the Longclaws winning against the Bushbucks in both genders. With that being said, the GYM club has awarded best players, best goalkeepers, and top scorers from the game

In our first school meeting after break, Bereket from the Black Lions and Bernabas from the Bushbucks emerged as the best goalkeepers, demonstrating their remarkable ability to protect their teams’ net. Biniam G. and Hamernoah from the Longclaws were lauded as the best players, not only for their individual skills but also for their contributions to gojo spirit and unity.

The top scorer award went to Eyuel A. and Shahid, both from the winning gojo, with Eyuel A. scoring an impressive 10 goals and 3 assists, and 3 from Shahid.

The HMA community is known for their respectful behaviors during any events. The Mountain Nyalas received the sportsmanship award, being recognized for their exemplary conduct throughout the tournament

According to what we got from students, this tournament has helped the gojos to build their spirit and allowed them to have fun as well This competition also allowed students to show their amazing performances.

The Newsletter team extends its heartfelt congratulations to the winning gojo and individual players as well as its gratitude to the Gym Club and HPE department for organizing such an engaging and successful event on campus.

-Nuhamin Yitbarek, 11th grader

WUH

EXTRACURRICULARS

Elevate Your Voice: The Speech and Debate Club

Mark Twain, a famous American writer during the 19th century, once said, “ It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” He emphasizes belief, mindset, and perseverance rather than just fighting or arguing about something. And what better way to practice and develop our argumentative mindset and belief than joining the speech and debate club which has resumed after such a long time here in our school?

Are you prepared to go out on a path of empowerment and self-discovery? Look no further than the Speech and Debate Club, where students are chosen to unlock their full potential. Hawiael, the co-president of the club, states, “The Speech and Debate Club is more than just a place to practice public speaking; under the direction of myself and Yonathan Abiy, with assistance from our faculty adviser Ato Ermias Wassihun,

it catalyzes good transformation and personal development. ”Twelve individuals, selected from a pool of talented applicants, have been invited to take part in this opportunity that could change their lives, according to Hawiael. Every student has been chosen according to their unique voiceandcapacitytomakeanimpact. Greetings and congratulations to the chosen students on joining the SpeechandDebateClub.

1 NuhaminYitbarek

2.NathnaelMengistuUrge

3.RaniyaSeid

4 EtagegnAbebe

5.MelkiteBezabih

6.MariamawitBehailuSesbie

7 AnnabelNebiyon

8.AnnaHabtamu

9.HeywetErmias

10.RuthAbiyot

11.YonasMulusew

12.AnanyaGezahegn

Together, elevate your voices and change the world, one speech at a time!

-ArsemawitHailemariam,11thgrader

WHAT’S UP HMA?!

UPCOMING EVENTS

A grand showcase of intellect and creativity unfolds at the Celebration of Thinking and Learning in the HMA community. In this energetic May event, students take the spotlight, exhibiting their year-long educational ventures, club innovations, community service acts, and athletic perseverance. This annual event showcases the boundlessness we all hold.

The excitement escalates as this year's event approaches, as shown by contributions from our 10th and 11th graders. These students are actively preparing, and we've snagged a glimpse into their focused preparations as follows:

Last year's celebration was a clear demonstration of the potential power of the young mind. Different students from various grade levels presented their annual educational triumphs with engaging exhibitions. The visible commitment of the students, along with their assertive display of knowledge, inspired everyone present.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

“My students are eagerly preparing for the celebration by organizing interactive projects that showcase their critical thinking and creativity. They are creating a Google chat group for collaboration, discussing and organizing selected projects, allocating time for presentations and drafting plans for project displays Additionally, they are requesting materials to support their work”

-Ato Ewnitie Amare, Grade 11 and 12 physics teacher, Grade 11 dean

“The Biology Celebration of Thinking and Learning team is working on brainstorming ideas on how to incorporate different presentations into one big presentation We have different ideas in mind from exploring traditional medicinal plants to dissecting a heart to better understand how it works We plan on using the rest of the time until the event to refine our presentation even more. We look forward to this big event, and make sure to show up for our presentation!“

-Tsion Belay, Grade 10 student

“I'm happy to say that the Math department is getting ready for the celebration of Thinking and Learning. Our team is working together with my friends to create a special showcase that shows how amazing and important math is”

-Bililign Eshetu, Grade 11 student, minister of education

“The robotics club is really working hard to show what they've achieved this year for COTaL We've got about six big projects ready to display, and we're getting ready to make the most of this chance. Guests entering the room can expect to gain intriguing insights Prof Jeff, we appreciate the additional resources you provided, as well as the assistance from Ato Kaleb and Ato Abraham throughout the preparation process, which has nearly completed our projects”

-Eyob Temesgen, Grade 11 student, vice president of the Robotics Club

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STUDENTS’ VOICE

Fasika (Amharic word for Easter) is one of the famous religious holidays in Ethiopia As some sources suggest, since the adoption of Christianity in Ethiopia in the fourth century Easter has been celebrated after 55 days of fasting season to hour and celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ within the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Even if some argue that the birth is as important as the death of Jesus Christ the Ethiopian Orthodox Church views the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as far more significant than the birth. Different from the Western Easter, Fasika is one week longer and is celebrated by all Christians including Orthodox, Catholic and Protestants

On Easter Friday it is Ethiopian Good Friday which is a day that is dedicated to commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ in Golgotha where it is celebrated by chanting religious songs, reciting biblical verses, attending mass services the whole day, kneeling repeatedly so share the pain of Jesus and request for forgiveness And following on Saturday an Easter Vigil (a service held late on Holy Saturday night) takes place where Christians will bow down and rise At midnight a symbolic chicken is killed, and then at 3 am everybody returns to their houses to break their fast with their family And at last on Easter Sunday, a sheep (for the symbolization of the story in the Old Testament) is slaughtered to start feasting

According to the HMA calendar, people celebrate Easter two weeks after spring break Before we move on, it’s important to hear from HMA students who have had firsthand experience with this over the past 3 years. The only Easter celebration was in 2022, as one of the students who was freshman at the time shared our experience by saying “My first and last celebration of Easter at HMA was when I was in 9th grade. Even though I wasn’t able to celebrate it with my family, it was fantastic. I recall we had a special lunch and community celebration in the HMA room which made me feel like I was at home. Overall, I can tell that it was one of the best holiday celebrations I experienced at HMA.”

And to hear about last year's experience I interviewed some students who celebrated Easter on our campus last year As Bitaniya stated “At that time, most of the students spent their time in the students’ center and Gym There were different scheduled activities. As we heard from most of the students, they spent their days playing foosball, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and soccer Also, they watched movies in the dorm During Easter, the Bushbuck Gojo has prepared holiday programs, such as games, storytelling, bread and cake cutting which made the day memorable In general, the school has tried its best to make the students feel comfortable.”

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Even though we can learn from those experiences, including myself, I have mixed feelings about it. Some degree of excitement and some degree of frustration.” From the freshman's side, I heard some comments about it from my interview with some of them. In Mahlet’s exact words “When celebrations come, students miss their home and their family. This can affect their spirit of working hard and achieving their goals So, celebrating Easter here, in HMA helps the students to be happy and feel like they are with their second family. Moreover, celebrating it together with students, faculty, and others fosters our relationship as a community.”

Even though we weren’t able to celebrate Easter due to different safety issues, sophomores and freshman students expressed their eagerness to see this new experience. Additionally, the school is trying to make it worth the inconvenience. The juniors and seniors, on the other hand, seem excited to see this celebration again. Happy Easter!

Resources

1.

Emma George Ross, 2022, October. African Christianity in Ethiopia Essay: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History https://wwwmetmuseumorg/toah/ hd/acet/hd acet.htm.

2.

Lizzie, 2023, April 13. An Insight into the Traditions, Customs and Festivities of Fasika Ethiopiaid UK https://ethiopiaidorguk/2020/02/an -insight-into-the-traditionscustoms-and-festivities-of-fasika/.

1.

Ethiopian CHristians Observing Good Friday as Part of Easter Holiday ENA English https://wwwenaet/web/eng/w/en 35163

-Yeabsira, 10th Grdader

SHOUTOUTS

Editor: Ato Ermias

Editor: Ato Belay

Bitaniya Y.

Hawiael