SAMIS Journal | Issue II Vol.1

NEW SCHOOL: A NEW HOPE

by Sedrah Ammar

A new building for a new beginning.

On August 29, 2022, SAMIS girl section announced its official transfer to a new building

in Shihar. This transfer aims to provide students, teachers, and staff a more favorable atmosphere and teaching and learning environment where everyone can

feel the freedom of interaction, safety, and respect. This purpose has been served through the school’s first step to move to a new building with more spaces,

better classes segregations, and an increase in the capacity in number of students toward a greater quality of education

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News GS Acad Heads attend IMPACT Cognia Conference

by Elaf Adnan

GS Academic heads attended the Cognia International Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last November 12. Continuetopage 2...

Centerfold Journal

by R. Shaltout, A. Almutairi, J. Emad

Editorial Board of SAMIS Journal organized Mental Health Awareness and Peer Advocacy Program for their fellow SAMISians. The EB and staffers attended the Breast Cancel Awareness. Continuetopage 7...

by Malak Ahmed

Shorouq Al Mamlakah International School marked a three-day celebration of its 16th Founding Anniversary from October 18-20, with the theme, “Sixteen years of Strengthening the Cultural Exchange in SAMIS.”

Middle and high school students joined this year’s celebration by representing the continents assigned to them.

Grade 7 represented the icecovered continent of Antarctica; Grade 8 illustrated the African culture, while Grade 9, with their splendid red skirts, represented Europe. Grade 10 featured Asia choosing India, Grade 11 for Colombia, and Grade 12 took Australia. Thus, six unique presentations took place on the last day.

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Editorial

Children’s Day Celebration spreads joy to kids

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TASTE OF TRIUMPH - Grade 3 pupils won the dance competition in the Lower Elementary Department during the 16th Foundation Day. Photo by Elaf Adnan

GS Academic Heads attend... from page1

The SAMIS GS Academic Committee, headed by Ms. Marjery Madula-Orallo, went to the Abu Dhabi IMPACT: Cognia International Conference 2022. This conference aims to examine the strengths and challenges of both Western and Eastern education in addressing issues related to International Schools and identifying the Challenges, Strategies, and Successes therein.

The SAMIS delegates attended different topics at the conference. Dr. Julia M. Williams, Regional Accreditation Evaluator Midwestern Division Cognia, explained that school leaders should consciously employ powerful action research methods. The Academic team also attended the session that tackles Cognia’s New Standards. Mr. Sherif El Tawell, a Senior Administrative Official at Cognia, introduced Cognia’s new 30 performance standards organized as a single set. The new standards are intended to be a cohesive set of statements that exemplify high-quality institutions and guide their work toward continuous

improvement with a focus on learner-centric practices. In the topic entitled Effective Leadership During the Review Journey, Mrs. Heba Khalifa, a resource speaker at the conference, pointed out that accreditation is a journey of continuous improvement and celebration of success. Effective leadership on this journey requires vision, spirit, plans, resources, and will. The academic heads joined the breakout room; they discussed their best school practices with other educators over the accreditation journey as pre, during, and postprocess. Mrs. Khalifa gave some tips to guide the leaders through their review process, help them enhance professionalism in their institutions, and continue to grow.

“Attending the conference was a great experience. I am excited to share my learnings with my colleagues” Ms. Ricabeth Bolo said.

The Academic Department, who attended the conference, shared their insights about the seminar with the teachers during the GS Annual Staff Meeting last November 23.

NEW SCHOOL: A

“We have checked several buildings and areas including this building over the last two years and this meets all our needs for a temporary building. The selection of the building was a difficult part, and this building matches all our criteria.”, says Mr. Saud Ba Zaheer, the school’s Administration Manager.

The reason for the school transfer is the increasing number of enrollees and staff. New teachers were hired for additional sections to match the demanding numbers of students enrolled. The school currently has 96 employees in the girl’s section building alone. After 10 years in the old building, the school decided to move.

Time element for

Ali claims victory in the SC Election

by Wassan Khalid

Rodaina Ali claimed victory in the recently concluded Student Council (SC) Election after securing over 40 percent of the vote defeating her nearest presidential rival, Sarah Naim.

Mrs. Michelle Sanna Guzman, the Student Council adviser, announced the screening of the SC Election last October 27. SAMISians showed interest in this school activity; the student organization will be re-established.

Three school political parties were formed in this event: FEET Party, headed by Sedra Ammar Obeid; UWU Party, led by Rodayna Ali; and the Independent Party. The aspirants wrapped up the campaign period with their

presentation of their platforms of government during the Miting de Avance.

After two years of hiatus, students were given the right to choose their leaders. Middle School and High School students successfully cast their votes on Election Day.

Students chose Rodayna Ali as the new Student Council President, and Naema Ahmed Atta secured the Vice-President position. While Mayar Sultan won the Executive Secretary and Leena Jalal succeeded the Director of Finance. Shahad Ibrahim received a landslide vote for Director of Sports and Competition, and Maria Basha won the Director of Values, Peace, and Order position.

President-elect, Rodayna Ali said, “I am glad that the students chose me as their leader and I hope I can meet their expectations.”

The newly elected officers

from page1

the construction was the most challenging part of the relocation since most of the buildings’ sections and rooms were newly built. However, this also served an opportunity to display unique SAMIS designs.

Mr. Saud also shared that the administration has major plans and visions to make the school bigger and more convenient for everyone. This bigger vision is expanding the GS building close to the boys’ campus in the next years to come . Other facilities are planned to be added as well like a library and an art room.

Truly, SAMIS is growing and will continue its vision to become one of the top 5 international schools in the kingdom.

of the Student Council, Editorial Board of Campus Journalism, and Classroom officers will take their oath on December 23, coinciding with the celebration of Family Day.

USE YOUR VOICE! SAMIS students support their fellow candidates by casting their votes on the 2nd and 3rd of November after hearing their compelling speeches for the position of student council body for the academic year 2022–2023. - PhotobyEsraaOsama

CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LEADERS (LefttoRight) Ms. Rica Escalante-Bolo used a digital assessment tool prescribed by Cognia. Ms. Marjery Madula-Orallo, shared the best practices of SAMIS to Mrs. Nicole Dizon, Director of Professional Training in Cognia. Photos by Miss Reem

NEW HOPE...

FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT - SAMIS improved the classrooms and facilities of the new GS Building. The teachers made it more

creative and appealing to the eyes of the learners. Photos by: Jonalyn Manalac

CJs attend Online Intensive Training for Campus Journalism

by Jood Emad

The Media Department organized an Online Intensive Training for Campus Journalism via Zoom for the members of the Chronicle and Journal last October 30 - November 2.

Miss Jonalyn D. Manalac and Mr. Klarc Luis D. Tamayo initiated an Online Intensive Training for Campus Journalism. They invited resource speakers from the Philippines to share their expertise in the field of journalism.

Ms. Noralyn JimenezAustria, an English teacher from Lauis National High School in Zambales, Philippines, discussed the technicalities of writing a news article. Also, she gave some tips to the members of campus journalism to write a powerful editorial text. Mr. Mark Daniel Cruz, a Social Studies teacher from Tapinac Senior High School, Olongapo City, Philippines, tackled the different writer’s

styles in creating a feature article.

Mr. Kristian B. Lego, the Media Editor of the SAMIS Boys Section, guided the student journalist in managing a campus paper. He also presented some tips for writing a photo caption in the newspaper. Ms. Reem Fattah, the GS Media Coordinator, explained photography’s technicalities to the Girl Section’s student journalists.

Mr. Tamayo and Ms. Manalac expressed their deepest gratitude to the resource speakers for sharing their expertise with the students of SAMIS. They also recognized the efforts of the student journalists who attended the said training.

The Media Department gave certificates to the workshop winners of the different categories. They also recognized the new members of the school publication during the morning assembly last November 4.

Mercado displays Math expertise in Indonesia

by Malaz Abdallah

SAMISIANS’ Academic Directress shares helpful Math tips to Grade 7 students during the Virtual Math Expert Visit in collaboration with Mutiara Harapan Islamic School on November 18.

Ms. Marivir Mercado shared Mathematician insights and tips to Indonesian students during her talk in the said visit via zoom. Mr. Raymond Solis, a Grade-7 Mathematics teacher from Indonesia invited Mercado to improve Grade-7 learners’ understanding of Mathematics as

they enter a new branch of learning.

“Truly, education and the love for learning know no boundaries. You just need to reach out and accept the challenge, big or small, as an educator,” said Ms. Marivir.

Thirty students learned and gained insights from this 45-minute seminar.

SAMIS has proven that it has an outstanding teacher that gives quality education to every student but can also represent SAMIS all around the world.

SAMISIANS flaunt ...frompage1

Elementary students also participated in their beautiful costumes and dance presentation, demonstrating the beauty and uniqueness of each culture and custom.

Grade 8 class, under the advisory of Ms. Lovely Manay and Ms. Jonah Decale, claimed 1st Place in both Booth and Dance contests for the Middle School Department. While Grade 12, with their adviser, Ms. Sarah Mae Sadicon, won 2nd Place in the Booth contest, 3rd Place for the Booth contest was bagged by Grade 10 with Ms. Michelle Guzman and Ms. Widad as their advisors. They also won 1st Place in the dance contest in the High

School Department. Also, Grade 1-Harmony and Grade 3-Peace won in the Lower Elementary Category, while Grade 6-Justice and Grade 6- Gentleness won for Upper Elem.

Winners in middle and high school were awarded a oneday trip outside the school. Middle School champions visited Queen’s Taste factory, while High School victors experienced the Bin Baker Farm trip.

Despite the differences in cultures among students, staff, and teachers, they showed great unity in making the event possible. With the SAMIS community working together, the event was a success.

RAISE YOUR HANDS - Chronicle and Journal writers attended the online intensive training organized by the Media Department. Screenshots by Ms. Jonalyn D. Manalac.

WORLD CLASS TEACHING - Ms. Marivir Modesto - Mercado shared her Mathematics expertise to the international students of Mutiara Harapan Islamic School in Indonesia. PhotosbyMr.RaymondSolis

Editorial

Adulting 101: #BePrepared

Several students lack resilience and confidence because they are unsure of what they want to do after high school. By introducing a new initiative called “Preparation for Life After High School” to the school, I believe that each of these problems could be resolved.

Regardless of the name, students annually should be compelled to enroll in the course. As a freshman, they would be taught how to take practical notes, manage time, what clubs and activities are available through our school and community, what colleges and jobs are looking for, and how you can begin creating your resume as a first-year student. Activities that would help students explore potential career paths would also be included. It is crucial for first-year students to start considering their career options because, all too often, seniors graduate without any idea. A final project could entail an in-depth research presentation about the top three career ideas and the strategy for achieving those careers. Furthermore, activities could include identifying passions and interests and personal strengths, careers related to those hobbies and strengths, shadowing potential career options, and more.

The sophomore-level course should cover financial management, how to apply for jobs as a teenager, how to obtain a job, how to handle challenging circumstances, and how to update the career plan that was created during the freshman year. One-on-one conversations between teachers and students could focus on the student’s progress and potential changes to the program. More individualized projects that concentrate on a particular career route may be the focus of the sophomore class’ second semester. For instance, a student might use the second semester to complete an internship at a business that aligns with their professional objectives or to gain knowledge from a neighboring university. This experience might even help students obtain summer jobs or internships. Furthermore, a student’s application to college or a career would appear much more robust due to the time spent in an internship and developing depth in their profession.

The junior-level course might cover topics including how to locate, apply for, and earn scholarships, spot weaknesses in one’s resume and what can be done to enhance it, and planning and community service-related activities. These community initiatives, sometimes referred to as passion projects, can be able to address a challenge facing our neighborhood and be related to the student’s chosen professional path. Although they would have the support of the class and school, they would need to take the initiative to design, plan, and complete the project.

The goal of this program is to reduce time spent by assisting students in acquiring soft skills while engaging in projects and activities that are most meaningful to them. Seniors should feel appropriately equipped for life after high school and have developed the self-assurance and initiative to tackle things independently using a hands-on and individualized approach. They would recognize that investing time and effort into one professional route is far more crucial than dividing their time between numerous pursuits that might only ultimately amount to something.

Adviser’s Note

Greetings to you and your publication!

I am elated and grateful at the thought of your publication improving and being better than last year. All of the hardwork and effort you have poured into this edition exude success as you reach a new milestone for publishing the first issue this school year. Don’t give up! We have second issue for this school year so I know you will do your best because you are all diligent and determined. Thank you for using this school paper to raise awareness about mental health to your colleagues! I do really appreciate your crafts, devotion, and determination. May you continue establishing your bond as a family. Again, may you do your best in logging in your thoughts!

You can do it! More power, Journal Staff! I am proud of you all!

Ms. Jonalyn D. Manalac, LPT School Paper Adviser

No Pointing Fingers

by Aljawhara Aljomiha

Time isn’t just a quantity!

As the years pass, SAMIS begins to introduce more extracurricular activities and programs for its students. As they introduce these activities, students gradually lose their free time and forget any other tasks that they were previously assigned to. As a result, students began pointing fingers.

Due to SAMIS wanting the best for its students, they have gradually increased the number of extracurricular activities available to them. With the constant stress of wondering if what they had done to get into the college of their dreams was sufficient, tasks began to pile up. Students began pointing fingers not only at people but also at things, most notably time, as a result of not knowing where to direct their regret. Something that has not been taken seriously is time, because, time nowadays is just seen as a quantity, nothing more. This is simply not true.

Every student's scenario is unique. Every person in our universe goes through different experiences that shape who they are. In recent years, students have thrown themselves at opportunities without considering the consequences. They never ask themselves, "Do I really want to be a part of this?" “Is this even appealing to me?” “How does this benefit me?” Students wind up in these situations as a result of a never-ending cycle. The truth is they never take a chance to learn from their mistakes due to pointing fingers and blaming something or someone other

than themselves. Something people hear as an excuse often is “I didn’t have enough time.” Now, I believe people forget that time is not only a number but also the way you decide to live your life.

It is up to the students to decide how they want to spend their time. Whether it's on their phones doing pointless things. The way you spend your time reveals who you are. How did that straight-A student end up where they are? How did that confused students end up where they are? The answer is that, time opens up a road for students to discover who they truly are. Many students join clubs and extracurricular activities not for themselves, but for the college admissions officers who will be reviewing their applications.

People should spend their time pursuing extracurricular activities that they enjoy in order to relieve the stress of their responsibilities. Students should not rush into anything without first considering whether it is truly worthwhile. Time management is not something that can be accomplished in a single day. Finding what works for your schedule takes time and effort. Everyone is special, but taking a few moments each day to find a schedule that works for you, your assignments and responsibilities, and your preferred activities will not only relieve tension but will also help you discover who you truly are. So, don’t think of time as a ticking clock but also as a key to the doorway you hope to unlock.

“Time is like a sword, if you don’t cut it, it cuts you”

For any organization, humans are quite a handful to manage. A consistently late-toclass student shows a lot of his/her character traits that are potentially displayed negatively. What is tardiness? What’s its impact? How can it affect educational quality? In what manner does it perceive people? What are the causes of tardiness and how to avoid it?

Tardiness is the quality or state of being late. It can occur in work, school, college, and the like. A person that’s always late is tardy, and no one wants to have “tardy” as one of their personality traits as it could be expressed as having poor time management skills and such. It is understandable if someone is 5-10 minutes late, yet when it exceeds 15 minutes therefore that would be considered crossing the line.

We often say “First come, first serve” just like food, the earlier you arrive the tastier the

Tardiness

by Yasmin Aboelkhair

food, and the later you arrive the food will soon be cold nonetheless still edible. Just like food in school, the later you come the more information you miss, even though you still gain the information you still missed the key points. After interrogating a couple of students regarding how much they’ve understood whenever they were late versus whenever they were early. I found out that most of them find it hard to get the main idea while trying to focus on the ongoing discussion unlike if they are early they didn’t feel the need to worry about catching up and comprehending all the points effortlessly.

Frequent lateness is an inadequate habit since a student can miss out on several things. As quoted by Ligon and Jackson, “Excessive absence or tardiness was the third most common reason for failure in grades 9 through 12, with failure to make up work and lack of effort the second tier of reported causes of failure”

As a student that’s always late, people will perceive you as having poor time management skills–making you unreliable–, or proclaim that you don’t care about school–making you seem ill-mannered to teachers. One of the most evident cons of being a late student is the distraction that you would produce. It can confuse others and disrupt the scheme of teaching and learning. Whenever someone infiltrates the classroom, no one can help but glance which can cause disorientation and distraction to the teacher and the students. Whenever you’re late, you can’t help but ask “Did the teacher just start?” “Did I miss anything important?” “What has he/she taught?” It is glaring that the latecomer is a problem to him/ herself and his classmate.

Based on research studies some reasons for tardiness are the following. First, oversleeping. This can be caused by staying up late for a school project, watching a movie late into the night, and

having a messed up sleeping schedule. Subsequently, a traffic jam, which is quite understandable, but if a student knows there’s a traffic jam then he/she should prepare for school earlier instead of perpetually being late. Lastly and unexpectedly was laziness. Some students are usually very exhausted from studying that may cause them stress, or it could be just pure laziness. The most prominent advice researchers gave was to work on time management.

In short, tardiness is the state of being late to school although with valid reasons but if it’s constantly occurring it invalidates the reasons suggested. It causes a lot of issues for the student, his/her fellow students, and the teacher giving the lecture. It affects the student the most since he/she needs to catch up on a lot in a short period. It also perceives people’s actions, behaviors and traits negatively.

Think Twice Before You Type

Cyberbullying is bullying!

Over the past few years, the number of people using the internet has increased significantly. Even though it has brought some incredible and remarkable innovations to society, it has a negative effect simultaneously. One of these adverse effects I’d like to highlight is cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. When it comes to cyberbullying, the victim is frequently blamed or

by Aljawhara Aljomiha

brushed off. However, this is not the case when bullying is physical.

Victims of cyberbullying do not deserve to get brushed off just like that! Or feel like they deserve to be trampled on. Bullying, whether cyber or physical, deserves the same punishment because cyberbullying is bullying!

37% of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 have experienced cyberbullying, which shows how serious the problem has become. Also, 30% have had it happen more than

once. Children and teenagers are experiencing this every day.

Children?

Teenagers?

What has the internet come to? The internet used to be where people could share images of that vacation they went on or a memory they wanted to bring attention to. But, the internet is now mainly used to spread rumors about people. This is also used to harass, blackmail, and track them down. Yes, track them down! This has caused most teenagers and children to experience depression or anxiety. Many say they want to

raise mental health awareness, but few address the root causes of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

Cyberbullying is a significant contributor to these mental health issues. Just as when it comes to physical bullying, the victim is given justice. Cyberbullying victims deserve the same justice because, after all, cyberbullying is bullying. Cyberbullying should be brought to light to stop it possibly. Speak up and never remain silent!

Reaching Out

byJoodEmad

SAMIS aims to produce middle schoolers who are equipped with English proficiency, respect, and good hygiene to excel in their own personal growth and to respect others.

SAMIS Journal started doing a peer advocacy program where the Editorial Boards discussed about Learning the Basics.

Respect Others

A good student respects each other, as respect begets respect. Respecting one another will encourage every student to involve themselves in different school activities. This will create an open and comfortable environment where anyone can exercise their freedom of speech without the fear of being rejected and cancelled.

English Proficiency

SAMISIANS are globally competitive. As a student in an international school, speaking English is a good practice to enhance communication skills. Knowing how to communicate well in this language offers not only personal development but a higher chance of getting admitted in different universities or schools within the country and abroad.

Personal Hygiene

A good student and a role model must be neat and properly groom at all times. Healthy and clean body provide a healthy environment to everyone.

A good student is not just by designation, it can be seen through deeds. Practicing the basics will always be an act of being a good student because a SAMISIAN can always make a difference.

Breast Cancer Awareness

byAlbandariAlmutairi

Whenever someone mentions cancer, a shiver of fear probably goes down their spine. It’s commonly painted as a fatal disease, but what is cancer, and is it as dangerous as people say?

In our bodies, cells die when damaged. In that case, cells divide to produce new ones, meaning cells only grow when given signals to increase. Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells and usually spreads to other body parts, unlike normal cells. Furthermore, cancerous cells tend to ignore signals that tell cells to stop dividing or to die. Not only do cancerous cells hide from the immune system, but they may also trick the immune system into protecting them instead of finishing them off.

But how exactly does cancer develop? Cancer may be caused by genes, such as accidental cell division, inherited from parents, or DNA damage, like exposure to UV rays or chemicals in tobacco smoke. The body typically eliminates cells with damaged DNA before turning cancerous, but its ability to do so decreases as humans age, which is a part of why people have a higher risk of cancer as they age.

Cancer is fatal, but it relies heavily on the type of cancer and whether it’s too late for treatment, which is why it’s vital to do hospital check-ups as you’re older. Cancer is only dangerous when it affects your body’s functions and whether it has spread to other organs. Once the cancer cells have been applied to another distant area of the body, eliminating them is impossible.

According to medical students from Taif University who visited SAMIS to increase awareness of the condition, one in eight women may develop cancer at some point in their lifetime. Even though breast cancer is common, we can prevent it by maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and abstaining from alcohol.

During their visits, they displayed their expertise through their presentations. As medical students, they held knowledge concerning cancer. Although the students haven’t yet advanced to the point of aiding breast cancer patients, they have observed skilled medical professionals at work. Since breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer affecting women in Saudi Arabia, they wanted to ensure that women know the risks, preventative measures, and treatments. While men have a slight chance of getting breast cancer, the focus of awareness efforts is primarily on women since they are more susceptible to the disease. It means that after age 40, women should get yearly testing, whereas males don’t need to worry about breast cancer screenings.

There are two forms of breast cancer, but fortunately, the less severe type affects 80% of women. It’s also the type doctors can control, so it’s relatively easy to treat. If discovered early, the survival rate is 97%. While people can’t prevent the disease with the factors of age and genes, it’s possible to help against the disease by getting early treatment. While there is no such thing as genetic testing for the disease, one could get a mammogram or an x-ray. Lastly, the knowledge of medicines throughout the different stages of breast cancer is thought to be the most exciting development in the breast cancer field.

There are various methods to support someone you know battling the disease, including offering emotional support and looking for treatments to help them recover from the condition, whether it be chemical medicine or surgery.

Overall, cancer is a significant disease to prevent, so ensure to eat healthily and maintain a good weight. Eating a balanced diet may reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. The college students’ visit to SAMIS was a rare opportunity to learn more about the prevention of the disease, as well as the importance of taking care of your health before spending the future regretful, wishing you could’ve done something different in hindsight.

You Deserve to be Happy

bySulafAdnan

It is normal to feel nervous in some school situations. For example, being asked to present a topic or ideas in front of the class may cause you to feel nauseous as if there are lots of butterflies in your stomach. In social anxiety, everyday interactions with your classmates and teachers cause significant anxiety and the fear of being embarrassed or judged negatively by others.

Social anxiety can lead to avoidance which can disrupt your life. Social anxiety can greatly affect how you deal with people around you. Most of the time, you will see yourself being alone in a classroom filled with happy people.

Social anxiety can be a chronic mental health condition but learning how to cope with it can help you gain confidence and improve your social skills by interacting with others.

You cannot easily predict who has social anxiety inside your classroom but take a step to reduce the impact when you are anxious:

Seek Help - don’t wait for it to become worse, get treated immediately.

Write a Journal - keeping track of your personal life can be a big help to reduce anxiety as you will see some progress on how you are slowly coping with it.

Avoid Unhealthy Foods/Drinks - too much caffeine can cause to worsen your anxiety, it is not easy but slow progress is still a progress.

Remember, you all deserve to be valued and loved by people around you. You deserve to be happy.

Valuing Mental Health

byReemShaltout

“You deserve what you tolerate,”

Freshmen are set to become good examples. In the simplest ways in the future, thus SAMIS ensures that everyone of them would learn how to manage stress and pressure. Mr. Martin Kit Guzman - Boys Section Students’ Counselor gave them tips on how to handle those problems through a mental health seminar.

Grade 7 students are still in the process of transitioning from elementary to middle school, so they are having a hard time coping with tons of school activities. Most of them are under stress and pressure, but all they can do is to look at the positive way that this can make them responsible and a great role model to younger ones.

Being a student is not easy, but everything will be achieved through hardwork and determination. Most importantly, a student

Digital Arts Collection

by Anonymous Chocolate

The Girl

By: Lina Alharti

Long ago, in a far away land A girl was twirling around on the sand Without a care in the world she was having fun Little did she know a change in life had just begun.

Now in Australia where she would grow up Living glorious days until COVID came to interrupt She later moved back to what should’ve been a familiar place, However, that was not the case.

The girl realized that She had to embrace

In order to feel like she was in place I, myself, as the writer can guarantee That it really is a happy ending indeed.

The Alley

By: Lina Alharti

On the darkest day

With the blackest night Along the alley way full of frights

An atrocious thing was crawling out of sight

“What could it be?” you might ask While sipping your juice out of a flask

Well my dear reader it’s something atrocious atrocious indeed So bad in fact you’d fall to your knees

Only to plead and plead “Now you’re overreacting author” oh no I’m not, it’s worse than being hit by a boulder!

“I knew it, I shouldn’t have read this, oh I just knew it” Well why put a warning sign and ruin the beat.

I Have All Time in the World...

Ahmed Abdelnasser

So suddenly, I have the power to freeze time but there’s a catch, it only freezes when someone needs help, and after I help them time begins to move again. Now, this might sound like a curse but I learned how to take advantage of this. I’d put people in situations where they had no other choice but to receive my help. This continued until one day, time froze its own. I began to worry - after all, I was supposed to control time, me and me alone. I started looking for this person, who needed my help. Days pass and I find nothing. Those days turn to months which turn to years. I was alone, an eternity had passed and time wasn’t moving at all. I have searched every single inch of the world. Who do I need to help? I gave up, laid down and started to think, suddenly, time began to move again.

Children’s Day Celebration spreads joy to kids

by Raghad Shaltout

With smiles, joys, and celebration of our future with the leaders of tomorrow Shorouq

Al Mamlakah International School celebrates International Children’s day on the 22nd of November.

SAMISIANs from pre-school to lower elementary wore different costumes and attended the morning program. They dressed up as their favorite characters and

brought their favorite toys to share with their friends. Kids also enjoyed the dances and games prepared for them.

Miss Carline Obenza, Preschool Coordinator emphasized that this celebration strives to enhance children’s welfare by fostering global understanding and awareness among them to make them feel like they are loved and valued. She also states that it was

SUDOKU CORNER

MODERATE LEVEL

such a coincidence that she was thinking about a program for the pre-schoolers in November and it was already children’s day that month.

Each year, people around the world celebrate International Children’s Day which is primarily dedicated to children. On this day, we honor the rights of all children as well as their tenacity and delight. This day is often referred to as the

World Day for the Protection of Children.

International Children’s Day is a special occasion to honor all children’s rights and the joys of childhood. This day does not only give children the right to feel included but also gives adults a wonderful chance to express how much they value and adore children.

Word Search

Riddle Time!

What can go up a chimney down, but can’t go down a chimney up?

Houses of the Magnificent Flowers bloom

by Reem Shaltout

To strengthen communication and a sense of competitiveness, four floral houses were introduced to SAMISIANs during the school’s 16th founding anniversary last October 20.

Ms. Marivir ModestoMercado, Academic Directress, introduced the four floral houses; Yellow Jasmine, Red Roses, White Lily, and Blue Iris.

The House of Jasmine leads the houses, followed by the House of Red Rose, while the House of Lily and Iris garnered the same spot. Winners will be identified at the end of the academic year.

“At this stage of introducing, the launching as well as the organizing of the houses, has gone well. However, more is expected in the upcoming events, such as sports competitions that should be held among the houses per level and per house so everyone is involved and older

kids can participate equally, along with the spelling bee. Everyone is included and welcomed.” said Ms. Mercado.

The initial plan was for the four houses to meet twice a month, but because of classes interruption due to various school-related activities, this was replanned to twice a month next semester. Nonetheless, Miss Marivir hopes that each SAMISIANS will be wearing their official house color, which can also be used as a Physical Education uniform.

Miss Marvivir also congratulated the girls’ section for embracing new ideas, such as launching a house. She also acknowledged the teachers who worked tirelessly and did their best to come up with a presentation during Foundation day, along with the enormous support of the management for allotting a budget for the formation of houses.

SAMISIANS garner awards in World Robotics Olympiad

by Sedrah Mohammed

With 700 participating teams across the country, SAMIS-GS representatives bagged awards during the World Robotics Olympiad last October 11-13 in King Salman’s Science Oasis, Riyadh.

Reem Shaltout, Latefa Wahib, and Elaf Adnan secured 4th place in the Robo Power Junior Category while Raghad Shaltout, Sedrah Mohammed, and Sulaf Adnan got 6th place in the Robo GM Junior Category.

The World Robotics Olympiad is a globally held competition that spikes up adolescents’ creativity with various robotic solutions and

proposals.

“I am happy and honored to be the coach of these competing teams. Truly their hardwork paid off,” said Miss Khloud Saeed, Robotics coach.

The event was also attended by the Governor of Riyadh, Prince Faisal Bin Bander Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud; Saudi Arabia’s current Minister of Sports, Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Turki Al Faisal; and WRO Worldwide Representative Garther James.

Once again, SAMISIANs are making a difference and they have proven that SAMIS is one of the best international schools in Taif and it offers good quality education.

Generations of the Future

by Ms. Jonalyn Manalac

Misk Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2011 and has been supported by HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Abdulaziz. Misk Foundation aims to create a dynamic ecosystem for young Saudi talents to shape the future of Saudi Arabia and the world.

SAMIS, represented by Mr. Majed Al Rubaiaan - General Manager, and Dr. Mohamed Eid Bin Mahmoud, former professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Taif University, attended the meeting of the Misk Foundation for Distinctive College Preparation Program.

The Distinctive College Preparation Program is a 2.5-year journey that builds capabilities and supports ambitious and high-performing school students securing places at prestigious top-tier universities such as Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Princeton University, and more.

SAMIS integrates STEM activities

SAMIS students showed interest in this scholarship program. According to the criteria, applicants must be Saudi nationals. She is currently a Grade 10 high school student. She demonstrated top-level academic performance in Grade 9 with a GPA equal to or above 90% (similar to or above 80% for IB and British System). She can write and speak English equivalent to a TOEFL IBT score equal to or above 75, IELTS Academic score similar to or above 6.0, or a Duolingo test score equal to or above 100. The applicants are involved or have been involved in at least one extra-curricular activity. He is committed to participating in the program.

The registration started last August 29 and closed last October 22. Our applicants for this program will have their orientation on April 2023, and the program will end on June 2025.

MAKING FUTURE LEADER S - MOE and MISK leaders launch the Distinctive College Preparation Program for Saudi students. Photo Source: Arab News

SPORTS SPORTS

FIFA WORLD CUP: KSAARGENTINA BRAWL

by Raghad Shaltout

The FIFA World Cup football game between KSA versus Argentina game took a match at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar last November 22. The game was won by Saudi Arabia with a 2-1 lead over Argentina.

Are You Physically Active?

by Raghad Shaltout

Do you exercise regularly? How many minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise do you get per week? Do you skip the elevator and take the stairs?

It’s no secret that being physically active is good for your health. But did you also know that it can improve your mood, energy level, and sleep? If you need to exercise more right now, don’t stress. You can always start slowly and gradually boost your level of activity.

Regular physical activity and exercise have many positive health effects that are hard to ignore. Numerous studies have shown that exercise can lift your spirits, particularly in times of stress or depression. By generating feel-good endorphins, endogenous cannabinoids, and other natural brain chemicals that can improve your sense of well-being, regular exercise may help you feel better and reduce depression and anxiety. Even though getting enough sleep is crucial for overall health, it can be challenging to accomplish when

you’re stressed or concerned. Regular exercise can help improve your ability to relax and reduce worry, allowing you to sleep better at night. Additionally, if you exercise, your stamina will improve, and you’ll have more energy all day. Lastly, exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which helps you focus and be more alert throughout the rest of your body.

According to American Heart Association, physical activity guidelines recommend teens and adults get engaged in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week or anything that gets their heart pumping. Also, they recommend two days per week of muscular-strengthening activities or anything that makes their muscles work harder.

Get up, get moving, and you’ll feel better right away! You can still safely move if you aren’t in shape or haven’t been for a while. Remember, the more you do, the better. So why are you still waiting?

The two teams' brawl began when Argentina got off to a great start as Lionel Messi converted a penalty in the 10th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead. The brawl escalated quickly when Saleh Al-Shehri, Saudi Arabia’s 51st-ranked team, leveled the score at 1-1. Moments later, Salem Al Dawsari scored a goal to give the Saudis a crucial 2-1 lead in the 53rd minute. “Something utterly bizarre can happen,” - Herve Renard, KSA head coach.

Each player from Saudi Arabia who won the match versus Argentina will receive a luxurious Rolls Royce from the government. Truly, their victory made history in the whole Arab nation.

GIDDAM: MOVE FORWARD - Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari, center, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup group C soccer match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. Source: Arab News

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Al Owais is the Player of the Match. He made five saves against Argentina. Photo Source: FIFA 2022