The rexonian april 2009

S ince 2008 Since 2008

Widening our Horizons

Thursday, April 2, 2009

What community service is doing now

M adaba - M anjaJordan , J ordan Madaba - Manja,

His Majesty Visits Campus

Students receive words of support before exams

By MARIA ZABANEH, ’10 JUMANA SHAHZADEH, ’10 STAFF WRITERS

The King’s Academy Community Service Program is widening its horizons by working with new people and new projects. The program is going strong and taking part in many different projects and helping out various organizations.

For the second year, Community Service is working with the Amal Center in Madaba to help improve the school by cleaning the fields and renovating the interior. Future plans include painting and planting flowers. Additionally, Community Service students are using their creativity to make fun and informative games for the students who attend the school.

Another project is reading for visiting children on Tuesdays.

Students from Al Mahmoodia School come to King’s for around one and a half hours so that Community Service volunteers can read to them stories in both Arabic and English. Also, Community Service held a feed this past Tuesday at McDonald’s to raise money for the program.

Finally, students have recently been going to the Rowad organization, where they play with children and participate in the various activities that take place there.

Community Service has been successful in promoting many projects, and more are soon to come! Students, faculty and staff at King’s Academy have all been very supportive of Community Service and continue to help out in many different ways to make these projects worthwhile to those who truly benefit from them.

Inside This Issue

By NADINE SOUSOU, ’10 STAFF WRITER

His Majesty King Abdullah II visited King’s Academy on Monday, February 23rd, for Advisor Lunch. He encouraged the students through an uplifting speech to do their best in the PHOTO: WASIM AYESH final exams, reminding them that Backpacks adorn the steps outside the Auditorium they are privileged to be in this school and that they need to take advantage of the opportunity.

Quoting the American World Backpacks vs. Lockers War II general, George S. Patton, His Majesty said, “Accept

By LEEN HAJJAR, ’11 REEM AL-HADDADIN, ’11 challenges, so that you may feel STAFF WRITERS the exhilaration of victory.” He Since the very first day it less of a hassle, as they don’t I have had several very important came to campus to remind the of school, the issue that has have to worry about going to the notebooks stolen out of my bag students to challenge themselves, startled many people on our lockers after every class. when I laid it in front of the indicating that he believes campus is the concern for However, recently there have academic building,” replied Dana ardently that the students here students carrying heavy bags been many theft-related issues of Arafeh ‘10. She now agrees with are the future of the country on their back every day instead people stealing things out of bags the use of lockers because of the and region. His Majesty trusts of using the lockers provided that are laying in front of academic theft issue. that education is what empowers for them. Many members of buildings (or even in front of class In conclusion, there are several youth. As he has said since the student population don’t rooms) – students have been losing good reasons why some students the founding of the school, “I use their lockers or even know many important note books and prefer to use their lockers, finding envision a new generation of where their lockers are located. information. them a useful storage place for enlightened and creative minds As a result, they carry their bags In addition to the risk of theft, their books. But there are also emerging from King’s Academy.” to each and every class. students continuing to carry heavy reasonable explanations for why His Majesty also referred to The positive side of carrying bags on their backs and not making many students prefer carrying bags the fire alarms incident in his bags to class is that students use of their lockers may end up to every class, avoiding the bother speech to the students, reminding always have everything they need hurting themselves. Research of having to always go retrieve everyone that he is very up to ready with them in one place, and from The American Academy things from their lockers. Both date on the issues affecting our they don’t have to worry about of Pediatrics shows the harmful the use of lockers and carrying school, both large and small. His forgetting something in their effects of carrying backpacks backpacks/bags will continue for Majesty then took time to observe lockers. Students sometimes which are too full; lugging around the students of King’s until they the ongoing King’s Academy have consecutive classes far heavy bags can directly lead to bad decide what’s better for them. tradition of the Advisor Lunch. away from each other and they posture, back pain, and red marks Perhaps the best solution is the The presence of His Majesty don’t have enough time to go on the shoulders. Carrying the bag rolling suitcase. Jaber Al Sabah inspired many of the students back to their lockers and get over only one shoulder can lead to ’11, Ziad Lababdeh ’12, Firas to strive harder for excellence their things ready for the next chronic neck pain, back pain, and Muasher ’12, and Ali El Jundi in their daily lives and school class. Therefore, carrying bags headaches, and in the most serious ’12 are four day-students known work. It was just what was with them on their backs makes cases, postural misalignments and around campus for their constant needed to give students a burst osteoarthritis. companions: the rolling suitcase. of energy and determination.

Two King’s Academy students It seems a little funny looking People were amazed to think took the time to share their take – almost as if they are walking that he could somehow sense on the issue of lockers versus through the airport. And going when the students were starting backpack: up and down stairs can be a hassle. to experience burn-out.

“We never have enough time Still, the rolling suitcase seems The reactions of students to go back to our lockers and sometimes like the best solution, the next day were unanimously get our things for the next class especially for the King’s day student glowing. One student perhaps because some of our classes our in need of a mobile storage unit summed it up best: “We all felt far away from where our lockers into which they can throw almost important [because] his Majesty are located,” Bashar Jarrar’11 said everything: books, clothes, papers, wanted to spend his valuable when asked why he doesn’t use his candy, and sandwiches.

Most time to give us a push so that locker and instead takes his bag to importantly, they can be locked. we can achieve a better place every class with him.

But it means that they must always for ourselves, and never regret “On more than one occasion, have a sidekick, even when they go E M Y. E we F O R U P D AT E D N E W S A N D E V E N T S , V I S I T K A N E T . K I N G S A C A D anything D Udo.” .JO

A Heavy Burden to Bear

PHOTO: SIMONE SALVO

Hala Halaseh ’10 and Sally Bisharat ’10 with the kids from Rowad

The Rexonian, April 2, 2009

Page 2

XOXO, Gossip Girl

How gossip affects King’s Academy students

By ZENA KOKASH, ’10 YASAMIN TAYLOR, ’11 STAFF WRITERS

Have you ever walked into a room and felt the room suddenly get quiet upon your entrance?

Have you ever had a sense that all eyes are always upon you? If so, you are considered to be a victim of the world of gossip.

In this notorious world, anything is possible. It is a world where somebody can have multiple boyfriends/girlfriends, and be cheating on them all at the same time; where your identity and reputation are at the mercy of those of who start the heinous rumors in the first place. Gossip, this manipulative pastime, has led us to become the source of our own problems. Obviously, we can all be charged with the accusation of having known the guilty pleasure of spreading some juicy gossip – but when is enough truly enough?

Is it when we allow someone to have a nervous breakdown and leave him or her crying? Or is it when the cutest couple in school break-up after a hurtful

lie? The answer is that we have already gone past our limit and we are slowly descending into the “Danger Zone.” We can only handle so many rumors and lies before they start to affect us – and honestly, they affect us all. If gossip has not yet affected your daily life, it will.

The dangers of gossip are innumerable: such as tarnishing reputations and breaking-up relationships, to name but a few. The emotional effects are especially dangerous because gossip tends to spread like wildfire, and once a rumor is unleashed upon the community, everybody will be talking about it at every corner. Inevitably, there are consequences. Gossip will entertain some people, while hurting others, and you never know if you will be next.

This intricate world of gossip can pull you in at any moment and spit you right back out. It is at this point when only your true friends – those who stand by your

side through the good times and the bad, the right and the wrong – will be there to support you.

Some words of wisdom: In order to overcome this dilemma and get over all the gossip, we must initially learn to overlook it. If we choose to disregard those who spread the gossip, they will seem less important to us, and they will feel foolish for being ignored. When nobody has control over our thoughts, this means that we have full control over what we wish to believe.

We must not conform to what society has in store for us; rather, we must all learn to be ourselves.

After all, our individuality is one of the most important characteristics we have. If we lose it, then we are like everybody else in this world of desperation and melodrama. If we lose our sense of identity, ultimately, we will become nobody. You know you love us.

to discover what this experience was about, what King’s Academy was about, and what the future held for us as students. We were all putting our best foot forward – to one another, and to teachers.

That week was remarkable; we really felt as if we were the ones developing this institution, and it was the students, along with the fascinating faculty and staff members, who sought to foster and maintain a healthy and loving atmosphere.

We keep talking about the future: where will we be when we turn 35? We ask ourselves vague questions and, frankly, I am not quite sure what will happen next.

We keep hoping that nothing will change and that everything will be just fine. But will it?

I am convinced that what we have now will always be remembered – all the laughing and crying, the sweet memories, and the adventures. But they say change is inevitable. As we move on, we will recall all the times we have spent together, swearing that we will stay friends forever, won’t we?

In Greek mythology it is told that Pegasus, the winged horse, is the one who carries Zeus’ thunderbolts through the sky. Our friendships, as well as

our kinship with this school, are similar to Pegasus: students are holding on to one wing, and everyone else involved in this community is holding to the other. If any of us lets go, the horse will not be able to fly.

We give each other strength and power. We are inseparable!

What the Future Holds

By LYNN MANNEH, ’10 STAFF WRITER

Paulo Coelho once said, “What happens once never happens again. However, what happens twice will happen a third time.” Since high school only happens once, it is an experience that is carried for a lifetime. It can be a scintillating one, too, for those who choose to make it memorable.

This year, everything has changed for everyone, especially the juniors. As a junior, I feel that things are getting harder and more serious as the clock ticks every second. Time is passing, just as a flying bird. We might not notice this passing of time, but in a couple of months we will send applications to many of the elite universities of the Western world; our college careers will begin and, sadly, separations will start to happen.

Friendships that brought people so close to each other will be tested by distance. Loyalty and trust will be treasured above all else, as high school memories are etched into the heart. But our close relationships make us one big family, one that no distance or time can ever break.

I remember the first day of Orientation last year, when we all jumped around getting to know each other more and more, excited

Weekend Plans

By RNAD SALAITA, ’10 STAFF WRITER

For seven day boarders, King’s Academy is a second home, especially on the weekend.

For this reason, The Rex set off in search of the truth, seeking the answer to this question: What do the seven-day boarders of Alnilam (a.k.a. “The Castle”) really think of the weekend activities?

When asked, most of the girls seemed as though they couldn’t wait to answer and expressed their concerns openly. A variety of girls gave similar answers.

Both Aseel Asoub, ‘10 and Sally Shaban, ‘11 said, “[The weekend program] is very repetitive.”

Though most people gave negative feedback, some voices still sparked with hope --hope for change and the possibility of improvement. Maheer Azmat, ‘11 replied, “They could be better, a lot better!” Yusra Bitar, ‘11 said, “A change would be appreciated.” Sima Shabaneh, ‘10 differed, saying, “The bus trip is the best part, and I love going on weekend activities with friends.”

Even when staying on campus, students have been enjoying their weekends with their friends, the spacious campus, and the changing weather, trying to make the best of the time they have together.

The new options such as the hike to Ajloun and the Friday Challenger are evidence of the continuous attempts of the Student Life office to make a better and more promising weekend schedule.

But it never hurts to add

some diversity and to challenge the current ways. Indeed, as Dana Al-Jawamis, ’10 said, “It’s time for a change!” Having student input on the weekend schedule is definitely paying off: more five-day boarders feel drawn to spend time doing community service activities and getting involved in the full-boarding lifestyle, and the students are taking advantage of the activities offered both on and off campus.

Ms. Salwa and Mr. Ryuji (as well as many other teachers) are getting involved in the scheduling of weekend activities.

On Monday, March 16, they organized a brain-storming meeting with all the sevenday boarders. Their aim was to gather up to 1,000 ideas, whether doable or not, to spark new life into the weekends. One of the main points discussed in the meeting was that the students have to step up and make the weekend more fun instead of just asking others to do it. This idea was significant in that it is a new concept for many students.

After the meeting, many were left with the feeling that the efforts by the school (and especially the teachers) are amazing, for they are empowering the students to be stronger and to speak up. Success comes with time and experience; King’s is truly building its own ladder, step by step, to create an amazing atmosphere for sevenday boarders.

PHOTO: MATT WIDMER

“Where will we be in 20 years?” asks Lynn Manneh ‘10

The Rexonian, April 2, 2009

Semesters vs.

Trimesters

By SALLY BISHARAT, ’10 STAFF WRITER

Most of us have grown accustomed to the system in which a school year is divided into two semesters. The first one is usually longer and takes forever to end, while the second semester – which is more fun – seems to end rather fast. King’s Academy features a lot of unique and different activities and programs, and it was the first school in the region to change the routine we were all used to by implementing the trimester system.

Last year, King’s featured a semester system, with the first round of exams taking place after the December holiday.

This year, the first trimester ended before the December holiday, and there was a short winter trimester that has now just ended and given way to the third and final trimester.

This change from the semester system has resulted in a varied reaction from the student body and faculty. This is why The Rexonian decided to interview some people at the school to hear what they have to say about

this new system.

“I prefer the trimester system because we have less material to study each term and more time for sports,” said Suhaib AlJawhari, ’11.

“I like the semester system better because we won’t have to take a lot of exams during the year. Instead of three midterms and three final exams each year, we have two of each,” said Razan Abdelhadi, ’10.

“I think I like the trimester system better because it gives the colleges the opportunity to better see our improvements during each trimester,” said Swara Saleh, ’10.

As indicated from these quotations, students’ opinions differ over this change in the school year. Still, the fact remains that however the King’s Academy school year is divided, students still need to study as hard and perform as well as they can, especially now that the juniors will be graduating at the end of next year. Good luck everyone with your studies!

Students Sound Off:

“What did you really do during Advisor Read last year?”

By Dalia Mehyar, ’10 STAFF WRITER

Ibrahim Abudawoud ’10: We used to eat turkey sandwiches.

Reed Ghandour ’11: We had a combination of eating, chatting, and reading.

Rakan Shbeikat ’10: Homework!

Hashim Hadeed ’10: On Mondays we read. On Wednesdays we talked.

Marwa Majali ’10: I hung out with my advisor and the other advisees, and we read.

Rnad Salaita ’10: We gossiped and shared personal stories.

Fadi Hamati ’10: Reading. Sleeping.

Anonymous: Everything other than reading.

Page 3

Anybody still Waiting for Godot?

BY SWARA SALEH, ’10 STAFF WRITER

“I was not originally going to attend care” for one another. Not because I had to study. However, I now exactly what the student body has been learning in literature don’t regret coming.”

Lawrence Shweihat ’10, after Act class about Godot, yet this theme still relates back to what we I On the nights of January 26-28, know as Beckett’s original intent Mr. Tristan Chirico, our Theater of conveying “what is there” teacher, presented his production (on the stage) to the audience. of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for The lights then go out. Once the Godot, which is considered to be actors return, the audience sees one of the most famous Absurdist the familiar scene of Estragon/ plays of the 20th century. While Joe struggling to get off a pair sharing the widely-held opinion of boots, with Vladimir/Tarik about the play’s difficulty, the cast coming out to help. Throughout and crew remained dauntless in Act I, Tarik remains funny and their rehearsals throughout the ironic in his role as Vladimir, winter months and gave a splendid with hilarious facial expressions performance distinguishing as well; these gained applause King’s Academy’s Fine and and laughter from the audience.

Performing arts department. He only had a week to prepare Walking into the auditorium, for the role, yet he gives an the audience first sees a set exceptional performance. Joe (conveniently not covered by the maintains a strongly sympathetic curtain) consisting of a mound, tone in his role as Estragon, being a withered tree and pieces of both charismatic and moody; timber in the back. Knowing traits that fits his character well.

Pozzo/Jude and Lucky/ that this is what the set will be for the entire play, we are subtly Abdullah then enter. While the initiated into a minimalist mood. others remain absurd, Jude gives According to the play’s art cold, calculated, and rather fierce direction, it features props that accents to her role, resulting in are spread throughout the stage, an intimidating feeling among allowing for full use of the set the characters and audience; this and extensive movement by perfectly fits the role of Pozzo. A the actors. Complementing the promising talent can be seen here. already impressive direction of By stark contrast, Lucky’s silent, the play the set is a yellowish burdened movements, facial dusty-colored backdrop, making expressions of intense submission it appear as if the action takes to his fate, and his overall place on an abandoned roadside. hopelessness elicit sympathy The light direction is also from the audience. Lucky (who, innovative, setting bright lights for incidentally, is held by the neck day and dim lights for night, with with a rather long rope) gives a a single white light shining on the powerful, realistic performance.

This original talent never fails wall and representing the moon.

Once we have taken our seats, to impress, especially when it is Mr. Tristan comes out to deliver learned that he, too, only had his introduction. He mentions one week to prepare the role. that Godot is a “challenging piece,” When he is ordered to “think” and a “difficult play,” and for by his master, Lucky delivers a this lauds the cast and crew for babbling monologue laced with putting it together. He then says that he made it his goal to show people how enjoyable the play can be, through a viewing of it rather than a mere reading of the text.

Interestingly, in Mr. Tristan’s introduction, there is no mention of the words “Theater of the Absurd,” or “Absurdist.” He instead says that he sees Godot as a take on human relationships, featuring those between the main characters: Vladimir (Tarik Al-Bahrani, ’12) with Estragon (Junior Fellow Joe Zych) and Pozzo (Jude Aswad, ’11) with Lucky (Abdullah Khalaleyh, ’11).

Mr. Tristan explains that these relationships should be taken to show how human beings “should

precise and sudden changes of tone; yet he also seems to convey a subtle, pained and burdened tone throughout.

Tarik’s and Joe’s reactions to this are eccentric and disorganized, greatly adding to their performances as well, while Jude remains splendidly cold.

After they depart, a boy arrives.

Act II is next, and it is perhaps ten times as absurdly hilarious as the first. Joe as Estragon seems genuinely forgetful of the previous day/act, and he displays this with believable, puzzled expressions. Tarik as Vladimir frustratingly attempts to jumpstart his memory, while also trying to make something out of the nothingness of their situation.

Then Pozzo and Lucky (with a considerably shorter rope) return with no memory of the previous events either. They all hilariously end up in a pile, followed up by the eccentric departure of Pozzo and Lucky.

After the boy returns, Tarik and Joe convey a sense of submission to their fate of having to “wait” perpetually. A huge applause for the whole show follows.

A brilliant production by decidedly impressive actors, Godot proved to be an accomplished and audacious feat that the cast and crew could not have achieved without a lot of discipline; another amazing production from the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at King’s Academy.

PHOTO: GEORGIA JEWETT

Abdullah, Jude and Joe during a comedic moment from Godot

The Rexonian, April 2, 2009

Page 4

A Letter to the Faculty from Mr. Ryuji Dear Faculty, Tamer Attar ’11 and I met briefly with the full boarders after lunch on March 11th to discuss weekend activities. The general consensus among the boarders seemed to be that the activities are becoming monotonous.

When asked what they suggest as alternatives, however, the students usually failed to come up with good responses.

Though this is somewhat typical of students from this generation, it is understandable, particularly because most of the full boarders are not from Jordan and do not know what is available in this country.

Improving the full boarder experience on campus is critical to the health of our school, and I think that we, as a Faculty, need to do our best to contribute to the improvement.

In my opinion, we need a major makeover, and I hope to have students and faculty working together to accomplish this.

At lunch, Tamer and I asked each of the students to email us with five activities that they would love to do in the abstract, which means whether the activities are available or not. I told them to feel free to be ridiculous and spontaneous about their requests. Here are some examples of what they said:

I want to watch a live soccer match I want to go to Wadi Ma’in and climb the 16 foot water fall and then jump off of it I want to go to the oasis in in the eastern desert I want to go rock climbing I want to offer a wrestling clinic I want to play ultimate Frisbee I want to play cricket I want to play soccer I want to play Mafia I want to go sky diving I want to learn how to kill a chicken and eat it (like the Junior Fellows) I want to go find a clean camel and milk it and drink the raw milk I want to play tennis I want to learn how to make those chocolate crispy thingies that they make in the dining hall sometimes for brunch I want to explore the neighborhood and find out what they’re actually growing

I want to go eat Chinese food I want to learn how to tightrope walk I want to do something with the tower, like jump off of it (probably not), or throw something from it, or climb it from the outside, or some thing I want to climb into one of the glowing towers that Sulafat and Nihal have I want to build a vehicle that has a sail and that people can travel around the campus by the force of wind I want to drive aimlessly for about 3 hours and get lost, and then try to find my way back I want to do fireworks

of extreme off-piste skiing. (I can’t really tell if Mr. Matt is, as he says, an extreme skier, or if he is just making it up, though his ski parka does have a lift ticket from the weekend.) If that is not possible, can we go sand skiing? I am not sure how many kids will respond. We will see.

I talked to Ms. Salwa about this. Two Mondays ago after school meeting, she and I scheduled a mandatory full-boarder meeting for ten minutes. All residential Faculty were encouraged to attend, but people seem very busy right now, and the turnout from Faculty was sparse.

Thank you, Mr. Ryuji

Once we have a list of items that they dream of doing, we can sift through them to see what is possible and what is not. For example, if one writes that he wants to go skiing, is it possible to go to Lebanon? Mr. Matt just went this past weekend to check it out, and he says that it’s amazing there. He says he did all kinds

PHOTO: CARLOS ABELLANOSA

The monument atop Jebel Um Adaami

A Reply from Mr. Carlos

Hello All, Graham Payton, Patrick Dean and I were talking about opening a Mountaineering Club at the school, or at least to organize regular trips. There were many words, projects, and ideas, but no time to implement them. Hopefully they went to Wadi Sabis last weekend.

Last winter I went to Jebel Um Adaami, the highest point in Jordan, with Mr. Yaser, some of his kids, and my family. It was easy and really beautiful.

I was really happy to find at the top of the mountain a plaque commemorating the accomplishment of a student group.

It was the record of a recent outing of a class from Montessori. The climb even happened during the current academic year.

Fifty students at the top?

Probably not, but it’s still great!

It does not mean that we at King’s do nothing, because I know there are people working hard on it to satisfy everybody.

There are many challenges: we often depend on third parties, some activities are expensive, the timing can be difficult, and, of course, last minute cancelling.

But there are many ways to improve.

For example, it was a pity to know that some of you were in Wadi Rum when we were also there. I had no idea that while we were there climbing up Jebel Khazali (quite scary by the way) there was a group of students in another part.

I was sad not to meet and do something together, because our team had brought equipment to climb.

I applaud the initiative of Mr. Ryuji, “to

PHOTO: ELISABETH LICTEVOUT

Mr. Carlos with his friend Hakim Tamimi at the top of Jebel Khazali

shake the tree” so that students take part in the activities and not be just spectators.

Ultimately, students should probably be the ones organizing the activities. For instance, if there are many students who want to combine outdoor activities with, say, rock ’n’ roll (yes, I’m of the Led Zeppelin generation). It will be great to form them to prepare their own trips in the future, along the lines of a Mountaineering Club.

Slowly, we will get more confidence so we do not have to depend on third parties for some activities. If we put together a budget, then we will slowly accumulate equipment like backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, ropes – so that we can be more independent as a school.

But this is just my suggestion about the activities I love. Springtime is just around the

corner: the countryside is beautiful, and the weather is excellent, so count on me for any help you need with these kinds of activities.

I agree with the student who answered Mr. Ryuji’s poll with the thought about an activity involving the tower; that idea has been going round and round in my head for long time – how about a zip-line!? But my dream activity is to go to one of the dry salt lakes in Wadi Rum and drive full speed… in reverse!

Best, Mr. Carlos