Alice Duncan - Grade 12, Javi
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Letter From The Editor The Move from Grade 5 to Grade 6
Letter From The Editor
World Teacher’s Day Teacher’s Day Poem
Pink Day
CONTENT
04 06 12 14 15 16
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18 20 22 24 28 30 32 34 35
The Ancient Greeks & Their Contribution to Our Modern World Emirati Visitors
Imagine
5 Years Later Chemistry Poems
The Bigger Picture
New Beginning
For Him
Once in a Year
35 36 40 42 44 46 48 50
Fish, Fish Which would you choose?
Should We Start Colonising Different Planets?
NLCS’s Own Arts Week Receipe Corner
(Frida) Louisa Boult
Our contributions towards Saving Earth
Afghanistan: Two Decades Passed
English ECAS
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Letter from the Editor,
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Welcome to the latest edition of Oasis Magazine. This edition marks the start of a return to normal in school and reflects the many interests of our students. The school is, once again, becoming the active, vibrant place it was before the
pandemic arrived and this publication is just a taste of the busy life of our wonderful school.
The students involved in Oasis range from Grade 6 to Grade 12. They decide what they want to write about and they are responsible for the planning and execution of their articles. Being an Oasis journalist is about being
independent, learning to meet deadlines, adapting their own voices for a wider audience – all vital skills that they will need in the real world.
We hope that you enjoy the creative, the informative and the entertaining pieces
Mrs Monaghan
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INTERVIEWING Mr. Bland
Asa Mittal - Grade 11, Yibir Why did you decide to come to NLCS Dubai? “I had decided to come to NLCS Dubai as I had heard a lot about the school from some friends who have worked here. I was living in Dubai and have played sports fixtures against the school. I knew about the school’s history and ethos, which made me think that it would be a place that I would enjoy working at, with students who I would enjoy working with.” How are you finding it so far? “I’m enjoying it! It’s great to work with both the older and younger areas of the school. I also get to work with IB students in my role as CAS coordinator. Time went quickly during the first half term, and I enjoyed getting to know more about the school. Whenever you start at a new school, there are many names to learn and many people to get to know - I find that thrilling.” How is it different to your last school? “At NLCS Dubai, there is a strong focus on academics, and I think it is fantastic that students are encouraged to work hard in their academic subjects. However, there is also attention given to the other pillars and awareness around the pastoral care system. The extracurricular activities encourage students to try themselves out. Many schools in Dubai have a focus on extra-curricular activities, but they are missing the focus on academics and pastoral care. The balance found between all of them at NLCS really makes it an outstanding school.” What is your favorite thing about teaching at NLCS? “There are a lot of different things. If I had to pick one thing out, it would be the keenness of the students to play different sports and activities in PE. I have noticed their commitment in lessons and extracurriculars. The determination I see in students during our PE classes really motivates me to provide my best when teaching.” What inspired your subject passion? “My subject passion comes from a lifetime of playing sports and being a part of different teams. I love the team spirit that is present when you are part of a team, or the feeling you get in an individual sport when you achieve a target. I want everyone to have that feeling and achieve their own success in sport. I think that getting that feeling is important for every person. Sports bring out a lot of key elements in an individual that are vital in growth.”
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INTERVIEWING Miss Rae
Jane Lee, Sarah Ismael - Grade 6, Yibir Why did you decide to come to NLCS Dubai? “I decided to come to NLCS Dubai because many of the school’s values align with my own view of teaching and helping young people. The academically ambitious nature of the school was very appealing to me, and I was delighted for the chance to start to teach in a new, challenging way.” How are you finding it so far? “I am finding it amazing so far. The students are brilliant, and the staff have made me feel very welcome. I particularly enjoyed the ice cream on the special occasion of world teacher day!” How is it different to your last school? “In some ways NLCS Dubai is very different from my last school and in some ways, it isn’t. The focus on extracurricular activities is different and it is much more important and valued here. At this school I feel more students hope to go onto college or university and further their studies beyond what they learn here.” What is your favourite thing about teaching at NLCS? “My favourite thing about teaching at NLCS is the crazy, amazing things students discuss in our lessons. They always have such thoughtful ideas about things that I would never have thought of. I also like how it is very much like a family and everyone looks out for each other.” What inspired your subject passion? “My inspiration started from Mrs Cooper, my English teacher. She was kind and always made my lessons challenging. Then, I developed a passion for linguistics at university when I studied all kinds of things, like how animals communicate, how Stephen Fry talks, the link between language and thought. I find it fascinating, and language is something which we all use every day, so we should always be talking about it!”
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INTERVIEWING Mr. Mulvey
Alya Acikgoz - Grade 6, Javi Why did you decide to come to NLCS Dubai? “I decided to come to NLCS Dubai as I’m a teacher of IB that wanted new experiences with teaching, as well as getting the opportunity to teach a wide range of students. That’s why I moved here.” How are you finding it so far? “As of right now, I’m finding that NLCS is an extremely exciting school. I find that all the classes that I am teaching here are highly enjoyable, too. The friendly relationships everywhere around the school really give it a positive atmosphere.” How is it different to your last school? “I noticed that the passion for house activities and the passion for ECA’s is very noticeable in this school. It is a good thing. Coming together to do something is a skill that will remain prevalent in all of our lives.” What is your favorite thing about teaching at NLCS? “My favorite thing is that I get to teach physics to all age groups. I find that teaching a variety of students really gives you an experience that stays with you.” What inspired your subject passion? “I was very curious as a child. I was motivated to get up too early in the morning, way before my parents got up, and would use my dad’s tools to disassemble and reassemble everything. That inspired my subject passion: the curiosity.”
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INTERVIEWING Mrs. Dhesi
Tanisha Mehrotra - Grade 11, Jais Why did you decide to come to NLCS Dubai? “I came to NLCS Dubai was because I was impressed with the school’s management, considering how few COVID-19 issues were in the school. I’d also been living in Prague for two years, and the lockdown had been difficult there. Compared to the cold weather in Prague, I fancied the sunshine.” How are you finding it so far? “It’s really interesting. It’s a great school, the building is lovely, and the students are exceptional. I enjoy the bustle and the fact that it’s busy. It’s good to get back to ordinary everyday life after the strangeness of living in a pandemic for two years.” How is it different from your last school? “It’s really different from my last school. In Prague, the school I worked at had around 180 students in IB. There were a lot more students in senior school compared to NLCS, where there are a lot more students in junior school compared to senior school. The cultural environment of Dubai is also quite different from the culture in Europe.” What is your favorite thing about teaching at NLCS? “I think my favorite thing about teaching in NLCS is the engagement of the students. I love the drive of the students and just how keen they are to do well. I can see it in all the classes I teach, from Grade 6 to the Sixth Form.” What inspired your subject passion? “My journey in finding my subject passion began a little late in high school. I didn’t take the history course in Key Stage 3 because I didn’t enjoy my history teacher’s teaching style. Instead, I did geography. When I did IB, I chose history. I’ve loved it since then, and I decided to complete a degree and a Master’s in history. My two significant areas of interest in history are Russian history and colonial history. I think my character had the most prominent role in inspiring my choice. I’m one of those people that wants to know things, and I like the fact that there isn’t a simple answer in history. I find it intellectually interesting that there are so many different factors that contribute to events. It’s fascinating that history doesn’t stop, that we keep discovering new information that challenges our views of the past and revises it. Teaching ToK to DP students has also opened up a new avenue for my curiosity since it’s clear that the past isn’t set in stone. The fact that history is constantly reinterpreted makes the subject very exciting.”
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INTERVIEWING Mr. Scotson
Naya Najjar - Grade 7, Hafeet Why did you decide to come to NLCS? “When I decided on coming to NLCS, I was prioritizing my son’s education, as well as my own enjoyment. To me, there is no purpose in teaching at a school that you simply cannot find enjoyment in. I researched more about NLCS and found very appealing structures and ethos that were prevalent in the school.” How are you finding it so far? “I am finding that NLCS Dubai is a very interesting school to teach at, with the diverse number of students and their thirst for knowledge. It has also been very fun!” How is it different to from your last school? “This school is much bigger than my last school, and it is about twice the size of it. The students all seem as one collective body, rather than being socially separated like my old school. That is something that I specifically enjoy about NLCS – the unity within the community, between students and staff.” What is your favorite thing about teaching at NLCS? “As of right now, I am really enjoying getting to know all of my colleagues and students better. I find that meeting new people is always remarkably interesting and exciting. It feels like a new chapter.” What inspired your subject passion? “Reading books is what really developed my subject passion into what it is today. When I was a teenager, I kept and kept on reading about science and always wanted to know more about it. I found that the interest I developed as a teenager stuck with me throughout my adult years. That is why I decided to pursue my interest professionally. Once you find your passion, no matter how much you ignore it, it will always stay with you.”
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INTERVIEWING Miss Arnold
Zahra, Devica, Saanvi - Grade 8 Why did you decide to NLCS Dubai? “I came to Dubai 20 years ago and have been here ever since and I believe NLCS is the best IB school in the region, and I wanted to come to the best IB school possible.” How are you finding it so far? “I’m finding it exceptionally good. It is a lot of challenging work, though that was expected from a top school like NLCS. Though, I cannot say that the work is not worth it – it certainly is. I am extremely pleased with the fact that I am teaching chemistry, and I am also incredibly happy with all my students – their willingness to learn is encouraging and amazing to see. I feel very welcomed by the school and staff, too. Admittedly, it is difficult learning all the names here, but everyone knows mine, which makes me happy.” How is it different to your last school? “There are lots of differences compared to my previous school, but it is mainly the ethos present within the NLCS community, students and staff alike. The academics here are also greatly valued, though not the focal purpose of the school. The plethora of available activities to the students is also very amazing to see. It really is a good educational experience, to be here at NLCS.” What is your favorite thing about teaching at NLCS Dubai? “The students are my favorite thing about teaching at NLCS. They are keen and bright, which motivates me in my teaching skills and presentation. It is refreshing to have a class that wants to learn about your passion.” What inspired your subject passion? “When I was younger, I really enjoyed chemistry, and it really helped that I had an amazing chemistry teacher. All the scientific aspects of it really intrigued my young mind. As I explored the subject further, I had eventually worked to an apprenticeship whilst doing further studies. That was when I had realized that chemistry was my true passion. Chemistry really is the all-encompassing science. That’s what makes me love it so much.” What other subjects have you taught? “When I was a new teacher, I had to occasionally teach other subjects but now, to my joy, I purely teach the three sciences. I also used to teach DP biology. Many years ago, I used to do A levels and GCSE’s, too.”
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The move from Grade
Grade
From Junior School to Senior School, it felt like it was from one end of the world to another. On one hand, we are thrilled to be in Senior School, but it is sad to leave some things behind. For example, having a great relationship with your teacher because you got to see them for the entire day, regardless of if you were doing Maths, English or UOI and over time that relationship grew. “I missed taking your tray out from under your desk and all your books would be in there and you wouldn’t have to take your bag everywhere,” says Sarah Ishmael, Grade 6. I must say it was a shock to see the classes were not named by animals, but instead by letters, and that was the beginning of minor differences that separate young to old, Junior from Senior.” The move was not all bad: we were welcomed graciously on our first day with plenty of signs telling us where to go and we settled into the rhythm fast. Once we settled in, Senior School was great. We have numerous different classes to develop skills, such as Geography and History. It is hectic, once you are done with one lesson, you are rushing off to the next, but it is nice to get the exercise. There is plenty to do during break, lunch and after school, like the societies and ECAs, and even where we spend our time during lunch, at our House space, is a calm space to interact with your House group. Linking to Houses, one thing that I have noticed in Senior School is how much our house is our family, from form times to House competitions, your house is important. I really like the form system, because I feel as though it is a great start to our day and the patience our form tutor has whilst listening to us rattling on about our day is unbelievable. They listen to what we have to say and support us in what we want to do. The rest of Grade 6 is split down the middle, some reminisce of times fondly, whilst others prefer the change. “Everything was so much simpler back in Grade 5,” says one student,” I didn’t have to worry about timetables or daybooks, it was just school.” Another student disagrees: “Senior School is a much more mature community, and we learn much more than the core skills.” Others love the attention paid to certain subjects, like Science, “Back then science wasn’t focused on as it is now, it was an occasional lesson, but now I love that the curriculum clearly separates the three Sciences and allows you to develop separate skillsets for each one.”
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In conclusion, the move was a smooth one albeit a big one, and we could not have done it without the care, consideration, and courtesy of our teachers on both sides. Both schools have their rewards but altogether we are still NLCS Dubai, and we will continue to be. We are thrilled about all that will come next in this journey. This is just the first step. Falak Jalal - Grade 6, Hafeet
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Dr. Radhakrishan was the founder of World Teachers’ day. He was a teacher and on September the 5th, his birthday, his students approached him to seek permission to celebrate September 5th as a special day. Dr. Radhakrishan instead requested the government to see September 5th as World Teachers’ day, to recognize the contribution of teachers to the society and, with a slight change of date, in 1966, UNESCO proclaimed 5th October as a day to commemorate teachers around the world. Ms. Audrey Azoulay, the director of UNESCO, shared this message on the first World Teachers’ Day: “On World Teachers’ Day, we are not only celebrating every teacher. We are calling on countries to invest in them and prioritize them in global education recovery efforts so that every learner has access to a qualified and supported teacher. Let’s stand with our teachers!” World teachers’ day is, to this day, a very special day. Every year we honour the teachers who are making a difference in our communities and the world at large, while also generating awareness about the issues facing teachers today. A theme that guides the festivities marks this annual celebration. For example, the theme for 2017 was “Empowering Teachers,” while 2018’s focus was “The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher.” In 2020, the theme for World Teachers’ Day was “Young Teachers: The Future of the Profession,” designed to call attention to the value of teaching and reaffirming the mission of teachers. As of 2021, there were nearly 85 million teachers worldwide. The teaching field encompasses a wide range of roles and credentials, including Special Education teachers, subjects such as Math and Science, Instructional Education, and more. Teachers work hard to earn the degrees and certifications they need to lead a classroom, and their hard work is honoured on World Teachers’ Day. Sanah Jain - Grade 6, Hafeet
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I could have entered the wrong pathway, but my teacher allowed me to walk through the road to success. I could have created a blank, dull art piece with little life, But my teacher encouraged me until it was a colourful, vibrant piece of art with shimmering happiness. I could have dreamed it, I could have hoped for it, But my teachers gave me the confidence and instead I achieved it. I could have started my report the night before, But my teacher taught be to be organised and responsible. I could have lost myself in greed and regret, But I was found and taught by those with kindness and respect. I could have gotten lost in the darkness of confusion, But my teachers lit a light of guidance and the light made me shine brightly in this world. I could have let simplicity get the best of me but I chose to indulge in creative, beneficial activities the school offers.
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Pink Day is celebrated to raise awareness for breast cancer. It takes place during October, which is International Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This was first organized by the American Cancer Society in 1985 and has grown and continued since then. Every year, we use this month to spread awareness. In NLCS Dubai, students were asked to dress in pink and to donate 15 AED each in order to support charities related to this cause. Students were also had the option to bring 5 AED to get portraits of themselves in pink. In the atrium, there were several artists who drew pink portraits in many different styles. The results were incredibly beautiful, and highly creative. In addition, the school’s charity committee distributed pink ribbons which signifies the breast cancer symbol. Students and teachers wore them on their clothes and school badges and pinned them on their pencil cases to show their support for Breast Cancer. By the end of the day, everyone was pink, lots of money was raised and the entire school had fun!
Jane Lee - Grade 6, Yibir
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THE ANCIENT & THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR MODERN WORLD To celebrate Modern Foreign Languages week, it would be interesting to take a turn back to the 8th century BC to Ancient Greece. This was a time of prosperity, knowledge, along with deeper understanding of academics and an improved perception of ethics and morals. Additionally, it also included the writing of complex literature which continues to influence our world today. As of today, 13.5 million people speak Greek, and it is the official language of Greece and Cyprus and one of the twenty-four languages of the European Union. We also have the Greeks to thank for helping establish democracy in the 6th Century BC. However, today we live in a democracy and women do have the right to vote. The culture directs political systems and encourages problem solving-therefore, it would be fair to say the concept of modern thinking can be traced back to Greek stories and the valuable lessons that they taught. Ancient Greek has been written in the Greek alphabet since approximately the 9th century BC, the Indo-European language, and was created by modifying the Phoenician alphabet, with the innovation of adopting certain letters to represent the vowels. Furthermore, the three major dialects which were spoken were; Aeolic, Doric and Ionic. However, modern Greek is the form of language that is currently spoken, as opposed to the ancient Greeks. Many people have heard various versions of stories from Greek Mythology; however, it is likely that these narratives evolved from stories told in the Minoan civilization of Crete, which thrived approximately around 3000 BCE. The twelve Greek Gods of Olympus, who were important deities of the Greek Pantheon include Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Hermes, and either Hestia or Dionysus. They were thought to live upon Mount Olympus, Greece’s tallest mountain, and to govern over all aspects of life from there. Consequently, Greek mythology has had a significant impact on Greek culture and our modern world.
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Ancient Greek thinkers made big discoveries, for example; Pythagoras found ways to measure and describe shapes that we still use in maths today. Aristotle studied plants, animals and rocks and he devised experiments to find out about the world we live in similarly to the scientists today. Although some stories were constructed to teach people vital and significant lessons regarding situations that were not necessarily understandable at the time; such as disease, earthquakes, floods, or death, Greek myths were regarded to be accurate accounts. Subsequently, this includes the stories of how the Earth and people came to be by explaining notions such as the connection between the location of the stars and a person’s fate (astrology), echoes, constellations, sunsets, and rainbows. Moreover, Greek mythology affected cultural practices, religion, philosophy, mathematics and medicine. Additionally, Greek civilization has influenced modern theater and literature (such as tragic and comic drama, pastoral poetry, epic and lyric). Good versus evil, vanity, greed, love, anxiety, and fear which are all principles taught from Greek mythology and are still pertinent to humans today. Lastly, these themes of emotion and motivation are still understood almost two thousand years later.
Here are few phrases in Greek with their Phonetic spelling: Hello/Bye/Bless you - Γειά σου - (Geià sou) How are you? - Τι κάνεις; (Ti kàneis?) Fine, thank you - Καλά, ευχαριστώ (Kalà, efcharistó) Μεράκι (Meràki) is one of the words that cannot be translated directly into another language. However, it loosely translates to making something with effort, love, or your soul. Rameen Ali - Grade 9, Hafeet
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Emirati Visitors My Deleel
We are so lucky to all be living in such a wonderful country, with such a rich and interesting heritage. But how much do we know, or think we know, about Emirati cultre? To help us all get to know Emirati culture a little better, we were treated to an informative and very entertaining assembly by two entrepreneurial locals who developed a touristic programme to keep UAE culture alive, while still educating tourists on its unique nature in a modern and diverse manner. It was a humorous yet educational insight on the reality of UAE culture and heritage. It also helped in clearing some misconceptions many might have about Emirati locals. We learnt lots about the simple yet heartfelt meanings of prominent objects in daily life. For example, many of us probably didn’t know that the coffee pot featured on the one-dirham coin was to represent hospitality; and that in olden times, wives would put perfume on the tarboosh of the Kandura to remind their husbands of home on long trips for pearl diving. This definitely was an assembly to remember! Christianna Oduneye-Braniff - Yibir & Shaza Khan - Jais
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If you were to ask me a month ago where I would be in 5 years- I wouldn’t know And I still don’t know, and I don’t think I will ever know what will happen, but maybe I can guess what may happen One would hope their life would be like saccharine-sweet honey- everlasting in its sweetness Or some may hope their life is more akin to lit matches- it burns ever so fast but with passion and causes a ripple of change for better or worse But if I were, to be honest, I would hate both of those lives Lives that have to do so much and achieve such great things- but can we not just go through life experiencing things without having to achieve the great. But I haven’t answered the question, have I? In 5 years, I will be in my first year of college Or at least I hope I may be in a new country I really don’t know much about what will happen in 5 years But I know- or at least I hope- that I have the answer to what I want in this bittersweet world Shaza Khan - Grade 9, Jais 24 | THE OASIS | VOL 4 | MARCH 2022
Hi me, the better version, the evolved, the advanced. Are you satisfied with yourself? Do you feel allayed? Have you finally accepted your fate? Are you secured? are you assured? Are you relieved? Can you finally breathe? Is it worth it? All the stress, all the anxious frights? Is it worth it? All the tears, all the sleepless nights? Will you, will I? Can you, Can I? I know—right now I’m inexperienced, naïve. I know— right now I’m at the roots, not the leaves. But will I ever feel comfort in my dark unruly mind? In this cold dreadful abyss, where I can’t find solace, scared of the truth I might unwind. Does it ever get quiet? Do we get a chance to breathe? Do we get a chance to not wear our whole heart upon our sleeve? Do we still get hurt, Are our tears here to stay? Will they remain forever fragile In a deep thoughtless array? Our thoughts are our demons, our thoughts are our friends Our thoughts are our saviours…do our thoughts ever end? So please tell me, do we ever beat time, And it’s constant inconsideration for when we’re truly fine. Anyway, these are just some questions, burning at the forefront of my mind, Some questions I myself am scared of, To one day look and find. Christianna Trinity Oduneye-Braniff - Grade 9, Yibir 25
Dear Me, Five years seems like a long time away, but I know it will pass by quicker than one would expect. I begin to wonder how the next years of life will progress and what new experiences would be encountered. Will it turn out the way as perceived or will it go down a completely different route to what I have in mind? What will my passion be? Would I have grown into the person I always aspired to be? I anticipate that I will learn to embrace every aspect of myself. Sometimes, I begin to wonder if I will still know the brilliant individuals I have already met. I believe that I will remember that it is the quality of friends one surrounds themselves with and they are the ones who support us and constantly lift us up. I have confidence that I will make good memories and appreciate the little moments and be a part of societies and groups that would broaden my understanding and create a new perspective to perceive the world through. Never forget that one should always be heard. I hope that I would have achieved my goal of being fluent in French and Greek and have understood the beauty of language and learnt that each language is absolute, as well as having learnt the history that comes with each place and country, I would like to comprehend how it influences us everyday. Language has the terrifying power to divide but an even mightier power to unite. Oh, the places I would have traveled, and been all around the world! Did I ever make it to France, Amsterdam or even Italy? I desperately desire that I would still enjoy reading and have developed an even better taste for literature. I imagine that I still write stories which come up in my head along with a limitless imagination. Did I finally pick up a book written by Tolstoy yet or some poetry by Emily Dickinson? I want to remind myself that family is important because sometimes we take our loved ones and relationships for granted and I hope that I have spent as much time as possible with my family. I want to tell them how much I appreciate them and love them because I know in the future they would have helped me accomplish my dreams. I really hope that I thanked them because it wouldn’t have been without their support. One last piece of advice I leave to myself is to remember everyone leads a different life, so do not worry about what someone else has done as long as we are confident and sure that we have made the right decision. I’m curious to know but what has been most important throughout my journey in the last five years? Yours truly, Rameen
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Poems In a wonderful interdisciplinary moment, Grade 8 students created Haikus all about the wonderful world of Chemistry!
Extracting metals Using electricity Chemistry is fun - Edward T, Ahad
Oh my electrodes Copper sulphate moves to you My life is complete - Mrs Mosses
Chemistry is cool Now experiments are done Chemistry is cool - Riyad T
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I like Chemistry When there is no math because Balancing hurts me
Positive electrode Reacts to attract a gas Electroysis
- Hannah G
- Tian
Chemistry is fun Negative and positive Electrolysis
Poetry is fun But Chemistry is better My haiku is done - Riyad
- Allegra Negative attracts Its opposite positive A metal is formed - Edward T Chemistry is fun Negative positive charge Metals are burning - Youssef Syed
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Bigger The
Picture Rheanna Muncini Kaur - Grade 10, Yibir
Hearing their voices, echoing through the walls, gave a feeling that I never thought I’d be able to feel. Everything that I’d worked for, I’d put my life into, it all came down to this. Sometimes, I wish that I had got here faster, but I realised it was all worth it when I looked back upon the moments that led up to this. On the day that I decided to disappear, there was an uneasy feeling. Conscience was something that vanished when it came to making the right decision. There was a whisper of the words that were once told to me, “It’s the path that will be remembered, more than the destination.” This was a phrase that was imprinted in my mind; these were the words that were told to me in the very house I left behind. The house that protected me through everything, every hardship, and every joy that I have experienced so far. In the third bedroom on the second floor, the walls were painted purple, covered with posters of my favourite artists and singers. It was the place that I spent nights up until three am, trying to perfect every word. If the walls could talk, I’m sure they would talk about the laughter that had filled the room and the people that helped me shape into the person I am today. There used to be a kitchen, separated from the living room with a sliding door, that was covered in painted handprints and pictures. If I could go back to that kitchen one more time, I would be reminded of how happy my mother would be when I came home with a good grade on a recent test, or a new story that I was so enthusiastic to tell. It was also the place where she would hold me tight because tears were streaming when I realised maybe I didn’t do as well as I had planned. My father would turn on the radio and turn up the volume. He used to have a bright smile on his face and signal me to dance with him, radiating his positive energy that always made me feel better. My mother never really joined us when it came to the dancing, she believed she had two left feet, and no matter how much we would try and convince her, she would just laugh it off and watch the two people she loved most act like popcorn over the heat. 30 | THE OASIS | VOL 4 | MARCH 2022
Even though the place will always be called my home, I was the one that deliberately took a step away from it. I wanted to go off, to some countryside village with green fields and a horizon of hills. Where the people around me were small town folk, the kind that knew everybody around, living the simple life. That’s where I knew I would find my peace and quiet, and hopefully be in a tranquil state, and write. Write songs, poems, journals about everything around me. About how I perceive life and all the little things that make it great. People often look at the big picture, they forget it is the experiences that make it memorable. That’s exactly what I wanted to do – make my memorable moments. My favourite times, I’ve got to say were when strangers from across the street smiled, waved, and asked how my day was. I guess when one is taking a solo trip, any human interaction is special. I met people along the way that guided me to get to spots that had beautiful scenery. I saw animals that I never thought existed, and ones that came up to me and gave me a gentle touch from their nose to say hello. I saw flowers so pretty, that even the thought of plucking one, would ruin my conscience. There are some songs now in my book that explain scenarios that I wouldn’t have in my normal life. But more than that, I have memories and feelings that I have endured which will forever be staying in my heart and locked in a part of it so that they can never escape or leave me. Which brings me back to this very moment right here. The sound of the crowd, cheering my name. Ready to listen to me sing and share my stories with them. This was my time to shine. The little narcissist in me was jumping around in joy knowing I had people who wanted to know about the things that I’ve written about and share some of those feelings with me. The fact that I held the power to make them feel safe, give them that peace and tranquil that I was searching for. As I stepped out onto the stage, I realised that this, this was the bigger picture. To have this feeling this emotion, this happiness. But I will never forget the experiences and friendships that have grown during this journey. There in that moment, I felt alive, whispering under my breath as a silent oath to myself. “I made it.”
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New
Beginning Navya Kumar - Grade 7, Hafeet Tragedies have struck, Forests have been burnt, Tears have been shed, Hearts have been broken, Lives have been taken, But the world still orbits, The planets are aligned, The universe is in balance, It’s time for a change, Last year was different from the rest, Filled with pain and destruction, Restrictions and tension, It’s a new year now, Let’s stop dwelling on the last book, It’s been too long, The readers are waiting, Let the writer’s block pass, And let’s begin a new one, Because it’s a fresh start, Part two starts now, There’s a whole world out there filled with opportunities, Make the most of what can be a second chance, Time is too precious to waste, So don’t, just do it.
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The
One-Way Street
Freddie - Grade 10 A one-way street, just forward not back. One talks, one answers One walks, one follows Hoping the tide may turn One hour of happiness, then back to the past No matter what, they were not meant to last. No emotion, no rage The strongest of minds would not cause a change Stuck in a maze all too many thoughts One meaning, the other clearly not
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For Him Nuha - Grade 10
Time back then, Was just a hazy reel, Of childish beginnings, And days of no end. Time back then, Were circles of paling stars, Watery skies, And echoes of distant laughter. Yet time for him, Was like a candle Always threatening to extinguish, With every blow. Time for him. Was like rain, Falling, Faster and faster. But my childish eyes, Were closed to the lines and bruises, The paths of his struggle, Across his face. My innocent eyes, Never saw his trembling hands, His tired arms, As he reached toward us. My closed eyes, Never saw his pain, That extended further than his bones, And the flesh that smothered them. But now I long for my childish, my innocent, my closed eyes, To open, just once more, To see him, again.
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Chaeyeon Elly Son - Grade 11 Some days, when she awakens in the darkest nights, her eyes follow the drifting mists of the atmosphere but is soon lost by the climbing droplets of water up her sights. She misses him on such a day. He lived worrying about the fields and the winds of the fields. He lived a space of silence, carrying two huge burdens, narrowly leaning on the unseen and exhaled the indescribably hostile feelings into the blanks of his diary. Her reflections from in between the seconds of his drowsy blinks are never blurry, but she from his glasses, half-filled with invisible tears, are evermore misty. He is the loneliest hero she knows. Every once in a year, a sharp, scribbling pencil slides across a soft piece of card, with a storm of words finally pulled out from deep inside her heart. She should have done it more often, whispers of gratefulness and love.
Elyza Jamal - Grade 6
Fish, Fish Which would you choose?
Being a hot, tasty meal Or to be playing with a seal? Turtle, Turtle What would you like to be? Dead in a plastic bag Or diving with your dad, in the deep, blue sea? Shark, Shark Which would you choose? Murdered on a patch of sand Or swimming away from this hostile land?
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Colonising
Should We Start
Different Planets?
The topic of colonising planets has been an endless debate with new evidence coming in regularly. We’ve decided to write about both sides of the argument, why we should and why we shouldn’t colonise different planets. We Shouldn’t Start Colonising Different Planets
Sadene Qaddumi - Grade 8, Jais We have the best and frankly the only place to live for the benefit of our survival. There will be no condition where colonising other planets will be the best or only way to fix our problem on Earth. One major reason colonising other planets isn’t something we should be doing is that there is nothing that could happen to Earth that would make it any less hospitable than Mars and other planets. On Earth, we worry about sea level rise, ocean acidity and ocean pollution, but on Mars the only water is frozen in the polar ice caps. Mars has a thin atmosphere and is 96% carbon dioxide which is worse than any amount we would ever reach on Earth. The other option would be to find a similar planet to Earth. No planet in our solar system has a similar atmosphere and living conditions as Earth. The only planet like that is over 4 lightyears away. We are nowhere near the kind of technological innovation to allow us to travel that fast. Spending that kind of time and money on that would be such a waste considering with the same (even less) amount of time and money, we could do something like reverse global warming. There are so many other things we could use the money and resources being used now for other things that are far more achievable with far more benefits. We could put that money to exploring Earth itself because 65% of Earth hasn’t been explored, and one of the biggest uses we can put the 216 billion USD governments have spent on space exploration in the past 3 years is global warming and climate change.
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Another reason we should not be colonising other planets is the idea of “space madness”. A long time ago, people feared “space madness,” essentially people feared the effect of going into space on our mental health. We now know that it won’t cause a psychotic break, but there is a modern form of “space madness” people are now worried about. Being in space or on Mars or any other planet of that matter, won’t drive you crazy. What scientists today are worried about is the long-term effect of being away from our planet for long periods of time. In Hawaii there is a Mars simulation experiment that imitates conditions of life on Mars. Six people will be undergoing the simulation, spending four months in a dome-like structure. The crew will be isolated (their only communication source to the outside world is email), given only eight minutes to shower per week, and they will only ever be able to leave their habitat-yurt is in puffy insulated uniforms to properly give them the feeling of living on Mars. We are still unsure of what will happen to people if they live on Mars or other planets, not just physically, but emotionally. It seems so reckless to leap into colonising planets if we don’t properly understand the different effects on different kinds of people. Where does that really leave us, though? Earth is really one of the best places for humanity, but currently we are destroying it. We think of ourselves the most intelligent species, but even though all of us have our eyes open, we still can’t see that damage we’re doing. Instead of trying to fix what we have, we turn to empty promises of better lives outside of Earth, but the truth is that lives outside of Earth aren’t actual solutions. Instead of trying to colonise other planets, what we should be doing is forcing ourselves to turn to and face our problems and our mistakes because what we will all see without a doubt is the end of living good quality lives if we don’t.
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Colonising
Should We Start
Different Planets? Sara Khashman - Grade 8, Jais
“How many things have been denied one day, only to become realities the next!” ― Jules Verne, From the Earth to the Moon
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While humans have long thought of gods living in the sky, the idea of space travel or humans living in space dates to at least the mid-1600s when Cyrano de Bergerac first wrote of traveling to space in a rocket. Space fantasies and popular imagination flourished after Jules Verne’s ‘From Earth to the Moon’ in 1865 and hit a zenith in the 1950s with productions like Walt Disney’s ‘Man and the Moon’. However, once the exclusive province of science fiction stories and films, the subject of colonising space and other planets has become more of a probable reality with the advances in astrophysics and astronautics. In view of the recent man-made and natural catastrophes it has become a matter of urgency to establish humans as a multi-planet species. Space can be colonised and provide Earth with the equivalent of the New World that Columbus discovered in the 15th century. Having said that, how is space habitation favourable for humanity? In the words of Elon Musk: “I think there is a strong humanitarian argument for making life multi-planetary, to safeguard the existence of humanity if something catastrophic were to happen, in which case being poor or having a disease would be irrelevant, because humanity would be extinct. We have a duty to maintain the light of consciousness, to make sure it continues into the future.” Settling into space gives humanity the opportunity to significantly raise the chances of survival for our species, it is therefore a moral imperative to settle on other planets as quickly as possible. Mother nature has hurled at the Earth a number of extinction cycles. The dinosaurs for example did not have a space programme; and that is why the dinosaurs are not here today. A back up space colony on Mars or any other habitable planet is like having an insurance policy to cover any unforeseen disasters. Space colonisation is the next logical step in space exploration and human growth. Fred Kennedy PhD, President of Momentus, a space transportation company, says: I’ll assert a fundamental truth here repeatedly borne out by history is that expanding, outwardly focused civilisations are far less likely to turn on themselves. A civilisation that turns away from discovery and growth stagnates. Kennedy also pointed out that while humans have problems to resolve on Earth like civil rights violations and wealth inequality, we shouldn’t avoid exploring space based on the false dichotomy of fixing Earth problems first. Human beings are not a species of stagnation. Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com who travelled to space in 2021, asserted that exploring space would result in expanded human genius: “The Solar System can easily support a trillion humans. And if we had a trillion humans, we would have a thousand Einsteins and a thousand Mozarts and unlimited, for all practical purposes, resources and solar power.” Though space colonisation seems daunting and unparalleled at first, but it is very much feasible. The longterm habitation of the International Space Station by rotating teams of astronauts, scientists and medical professionals has provided us with a wealth of data to establish parameters for keeping humans alive and healthy for extended periods in the harsh environment of space. Here on Earth as well, there have been several ambitious projects attempting to duplicate as close as possible the conditions of off-world habitation to test the limits of human endurance. Looking further into the future, physicists are already dreaming about the postchemical rocket era when we might use antimatter, fusion power, or ramjet reactors to travel at 50 percent the speed of light, which could take us to the stars.
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Arts Week NLCS’s Own
During Arts Week, everyone was encouraged to show their hidden artist. On Sunday, we started with an Art Society assembly on how everyone can draw. Sure, some people are exceptionally good at drawing, while others feel like they aren’t. Despite that, Mrs. Michaels convinced us that if they put their mind to it and practice - they’ll find that they CAN draw. The Art Week assembly included a fun interactive activity to prove it. In the end, the students sitting in the audience were comparing their drawings of one of the most iconic characters of all time – Mickey Mouse. Throughout Inktober this October, there were fun drawing themes for people to try their hand at. Inktober is a month where different prompts are posted on the InkTober teams every day, and the students participating would draw a piece of art related to the prompt and post it on the teams’ page. We also followed InkTober prompts in our individual form tutor groups. This was interesting because many people produced different, creative ideas that linked to the prompt in some way. For example, in our form, we drew small pieces of art on the theme of ‘Sour’. Everyone had different products even though we all had the same theme. This is because drawing is up to the imagination, and everyone thinks differently. For people who wanted to take part in Inktober, there was a team set up and many pieces of impressive art were posted. During the week, at lunchtimes, students participated in the Big Draw and shared their ideas on a massive piece of paper. The end result was beautiful and all the students had a fun time doing it. Devica Sadarangani & Zahra Manji - Grade 8, Yibir
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41
Receipe CORNER
Maya Vickers - Grade 6, Hafeet
Brownies Ingredients • 190 g soft butter • 190 g dark chocolate • 3 eggs • 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract • 1 cup caster sugar • 1 cup plain flour • 1/2 tsp salt • 75 g chopped hazelnuts or nut of your choice • 75 g white chocolate chips Decorations • 12 strawberries • 50 g white chocolate • 200 ml pouring cream/ double cream/ whipping cream Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 180o C. Line 12 muffin tins with cupcake paper. 2. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a large saucepan or in short bursts in the microwave. 3. In a bowl beat the eggs with the sugar and vanilla extract. 4. Sift the flour into another bowl and add the salt. 5. Let the chocolate mixture cool a bit before beating in the egg and sugar mixture, and then the nuts, white chocolate chips and flour. 6. Fill cupcake liners until they are 3/4 full of the mixture and bake for around 20 minutes. 7. When the top has dried into a pale brown and the middle still dark and slightly gooey, the brownies are ready. Decorations 8. Cut the base off each strawberry so they can sit upright. 9. Melt the white chocolate and spoon into a plastic zip lock bag. Snip a small corner off one end of the bag and carefully pipe a dot on the tip of each strawberry. Allow it to cool and harden. 10. Pipe a dot about the size of a 10cm coin in the middle of each brownie and press a strawberry down on each cupcake. 11. Beat the cream with electric beaters until firm peaks form. Spoon into a piping bag with a star nozzle attached and pipe little stars around the base of each strawberry.
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Gingerbread Cookies Ingredients • 115 g unsalted butter (room temperature) • 135 g brown sugar • 160 g golden syrup or molasses • 1 egg yolk • 315 g plain flour (leave some more for dusting) • 1 tsp baking soda • 2 tsp ground ginger • 1 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/4 tsp nutmeg Icing • • •
125 grams (1 cup) icing sugar or powdered sugar 1–2 tbsp warm water Red and green M&M’s
Instructions • In a large mixing bowl, mix the butter and sugar using an electric beater until they have merged. Add the molasses and egg yolk into the bowl and beat it until a creamy mixture forms. • Sift in flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Beat until a cookie dough starts to form. • Sprinkle your bench with some extra flour and then knead the dough for a minute or two, just until it comes together to form a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes. • Preheat oven to 180o C (350o F) standard or 160o C (320o F) fan forced. Line two cookie/oven trays with baking paper. • Roll out your dough using a rolling pin. Dust the rolling pin with flour as you go to prevent the dough from sticking. • Cut out shapes using cookie cutters and gently place the cookies onto the prepared trays. Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool. • Once the cookies are completely cool, place the icing sugar in a small bowl and add the water, one tablespoon at a time, and stir until it forms a smooth paste. • Add the icing into a piping bag fitted with a small nozzle or use a plastic sandwich bag if you don’t have a piping bag. Decorate your gingerbread men with icing and add a few M&M’s on top. Leave each cookie for about 10 minutes for the icing to set.
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Frida
(Frida) Louisa Boult 1884 – 1966
As part of my summer holiday in Scotland, I found out about my great, great, great cousin Frida who was a NLCS pupil, but at the London school. I was so happy to find that she entered the school in 1893 at the same age that I am now: 9½! Fridaʼs grandmother was my 3 x great grandfatherʼs sister. I learned that Frida became a suffragette who was very brave in her actions. I know this because she is one of the subjects of a book ʻVotes For Women Cheltenham and the Cotswoldsʼ by Sue Jones, The History Press, 2018. My Grandpa showed me his copy of the book and told me of the conversations he had had with the author, including one where he told her about me doing this research at the same age that Frida was when she joined NLCS! Sue Jones messaged him back to say, “Iʼm delighted to hear that Lila is so interested in Frida and is almost following in her footsteps!” Fridaʼs time at NLCS was important in forming the political and social views that shaped her life. In Sue Jonesʼ book, I read that Frida came together with other NLCS pupils in the Womenʼs Freedom League (WFL), which was the militant but non-violent arm of the suffrage movement. In 1911 Frida was charged for Placarding a Pillar Box! The leaflet that Frida and her suffragette friends Ruth Eamonson & Agnes Bales fixed to the pillar box said, “Dare to be free!” and went on to call for “the enfranchisement of women”. In court, Frida and Agnes pleaded guilty. They were each fined 10 shillings, but both refused to pay. Ruth was unwell and so did not appear in court. Her plea was given as “Not guilty”, but she, too, was fined 10 shillings. Sue Jones thinks that Frida & Ruth paid their fines – or that suffrage friends did. However, Agnes went to prison. She was sentenced to 14 days. In 1927, Frida emigrated to Australia, a country with which her family had long connections. Her brother Charles Valentine, a talented musician, was already in Australia. On arrival, Frida studied music, but seems not to have pursued this as a career. She had her own income and spent the remainder of her life living in and around Sydney, her life focused on church work. She died in November 1966, age 82. My Grandpaʼs godmother, Marye Boult, who was Fridaʼs niece, told him lots about her auntʼs life in Australia, but nothing of her life as a suffragette nor that she had attended NLCS. Grandpa found out only when Sue Jones got in touch with him as she researched her book, having discovered our family tree on Ancestry. I am so glad to have found out about Frida and hope to find out more in the years to come. By Lila Mounsey - age 9½, Ayr, Scotland, August 2021
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Image: Frida Boultʼs applicatio n for admission to NLCS in 189 It is hard to believe, but at thi 3. s time, only a Father could enr ol a girl to the school. Fridaʼs mother, Frances Sarah Louisa Boult (née Morton), had to complete the form as Guardian.
Image: This photo is of Frida [figure in blue on the right] campaigning for womenʼs rights in the 1910 election. She is riding in a carriage with other of the leading suffragettes in Cheltenham. 45
Our contributions towards
Saving
EARTH “The Earth is what we all have in common” - Wendell Berry Rameen Ali - Grade 9, Hafeet
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The impact humans have had on the environment is so substantial that scientists believe “pristine nature,” or ecosystems untouched by human intervention, no longer exist. The world is running out of food, water, and resources at a phenomenal rate because of our rising population and climate change. Can you imagine the time when people will be at war for the sake of water? There is still time to prevent further damage but saving the earth will only be possible if we all act now and show a positive attitude which will also encourage others to take initiatives towards an eco-friendly lifestyle. Do you want to help be environmentally friendly? Do you want to help contribute to saving the earth? A simple and small way to begin is by turning lights off, try to use as much natural light as you can. Turning outlets off and shutting down electronics after use will reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases rather than creating more of them. In addition, we should check energy consumption for our appliances and make it a major consideration when buying new ones or we should try to purchase durable appliances. Around 27,000 trees are cut down each day just to produce toilet paper. Just imagine the amount of paper we use and waste without even realizing that we are killing ‘trees’ which are protecting us from climate change and the UV lights. At times, we just mercilessly use tissues and paper without even thinking of conserving. Similarly, 78% of marine mammals are at risk of choking on plastic and we use plastic excessively in our everyday lives. Recycling one aluminum can will save enough energy to run a TV for three hours, so just think how much energy we can conserve if we all start recycling and the positive impact it can create. Ecosia and DuckDuckGo are search engines that plant trees for every 49 searches you make. And considering that approximately 5.6 billion google searches are made per day, thousands of trees can be planted a day if we switch to these search engines. By planting these trees, they aim for a higher store of carbon to stabilise soil and maintain an ecological balance and Ecosia has successfully planted over 60 million trees in 15 different countries since 2009. You’re most likely tired of hearing this but, Recycling is the way to go and always remember the three Rs. Exploring the three Rs of waste management — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. In order to keep as much material out of the landfill as possible, it’s important for each of us to do our part. As well as, recycling conserves natural resources which reduce the release of toxic gases and stems from the dangers of global climate change. Therefore, we should try to up-cycle old objects into new creations and instead of using plastic bags for groceries, use reusable bags as plastic bags end up either in landfills or oceans, which exacerbates the climate crisis that often disproportionately affects many communities. Research shows that ruminant livestock account for between 7% and 18% of global methane emissions from human-related activities. Therefore, plant-based diets are another way to keep the environment clean and help our bodies get all the nutrients and minerals we require. Although this may seem intimidating at first, we can start off by practicing it twice a week, to try and get used to it. Our school’s Eco committee this year aims to make our school eco-friendly and environmentally safe by instilling changes in the school. The committee aims to promote various ways in which we all can work towards making our home and school eco-friendly. First, we will introduce paper recycling bins designed by our own students and they will be placed at various locations around the school. Secondly, the art department has plans for various arts and crafts projects using discarded material. Third, try introducing paper based everyday items such as straws, plates and cups into your everyday life. It is also encouraged to bring refillable water bottles rather than disposable ones. Everyone should bring cloth or paper bags to promote the concept of reusability. If you’re ever wondering how to dispose of something you may not need, first think if you can resell it or be able to reuse it later!. A green school needs to begin with its staff and students, and it starts with you.
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Afghanistan:
Two Decades Passed Tanisha Mehrotra - Grade 11, Jais
Afghanistan’s humanitarian catastrophe has progressively worsened under the stress of ecological issues, economic collapse, and an abrupt change in administration that has left the country and its citizens reeling in its wake. The population of the country is facing massive pressure from one of the worst droughts the country has seen in decades, rising living costs, mass unemployment, the destruction of critical infrastructure, and widespread poverty. Possible solutions to these problems are currently being debated, but the only way to come up with them is to understand the historical geopolitical context that gave rise to the issue, and how it will affect the future. Recent Developments The greatest development in the civil war this year was the United States’ complete withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 30th, 2021. The move out came earlier than the day dictated by President Joe Biden in his national address in April earlier in the year, though it was not entirely unexpected considering the Taliban’s swift takeover of the country on August 15th. The Taliban are a militant force that arose in the early 1990s and established their authority following the power vacuum left in the wake of the Soviet departure from Afghanistan. They drew widespread international criticism for their human rights violations, and few countries recognized their legitimacy. The United States invaded Afghanistan on October 7th, 2001, after their investigation into the 9/11 terrorist attacks led to the find that the Taliban was harboring Osama bin Laden, the perpetrator of the attacks. The Taliban crumbled soon after, but they didn’t give up even after the United States installed a government with a Western democratic model in the nation. What followed was a war that lasted two decades, cost hundreds of thousands of lives, and spent roughly 104.5 billion USD in foreign aid. Causes of the Loss One of the biggest reasons geopolitical analysts and international policy advisors like Hameed Hakimi attribute to the quick takeover of the Taliban is the West’s inherently flawed strategic approach to governance in the nation. Beyond the ideals and ideas that the West wanted to instill in their governance, there was one all-encompassing issue that they overlooked and ultimately paid for: the basic needs of the population. Hakimi stated that the Taliban “were a successful product of the failures of the international effort after 2001.” Long-term causes of the collapse of the government include the lack of thought given to the development of the Afghani government in the early years following the US invasion of Afghanistan and the interests of Afghanistan’s neighbors. The shift of US focus to Iraq from late 2002 allowed for a continuation of Pakistani support for the Taliban, and the lack of police and military investment in the year prior meant that the golden window of time where the militant group was on the defense was wasted. Following the Bonn Agreement of December 2001, the creation of the new government included numerous departments that bred rivalry, a lack of experienced politicians and an overly powerful executive branch led to many issues not being addressed. At the end of the day, most Afghans weren’t keeping an eye on the large-scale movements in the nation’s civil war. What mattered to them – economic stability, food to feed their families, healthcare, education, and security – were the essential services that West and the Afghan government failed to give them. Many government entities require bribes from the citizens of Afghanistan so that they can obtain public services. According to Integrity Watch Afghanistan, the average value of bribes 48 | THE OASIS | VOL 4 | MARCH 2022
among those that paid them in 2009 was roughly 156 USD – a large amount for a country where the annual income per capita was 502 USD. Indeed, the idea is even supported by P. Michael McKinley, who was the US Ambassador to Afghanistan between 2014 and 2016. In his analysis about the loss of Afghanistan in Foreign Affairs, he wrote, “Although we were largely successful in eliminating al Qaeda in the country and reducing the threat of terrorist attacks in the United States, we failed in our approach to counterinsurgency, to Afghan politics, and to ‘nation building.’ We underestimated the resiliency of the Taliban. And we misread the geopolitical realities of the region.” The Taliban were able to capitalize on the grievances and dissatisfaction of the Afghan population and mobilize support against the increasingly corrupt system that wouldn’t deliver for its citizens. The militant-group brokered deals with some rural villages and Afghan officials that were disguised as ceasefire agreements, but in fact, were bribes to government forces in exchange for their weapons. There were many reasons that Afghans were receptive to the message. Some just needed the money since they hadn’t been paid (in some cases) for more than six months. The issue of funds mismanagement due to corruption isn’t even a new issue – the “ghost” soldiers found in the years prior should have given the US government an indication of the massive problem they were facing. The timing was also important to consider, since it occurred close to the negotiations in Doha, Qatar in February 2020. The meeting gave the men the signal that the Americans do not intend to stay long, and some Afghan forces may have realized the outcome of war with the Taliban without the support of the US. Over the next year and a half, the Taliban had meetings offering the same deal to officials at the district level and then to the provincial level, leading to the quick surrender of the provincial capitals as the Taliban swept through Afghanistan. Future of the Nation The future of Afghanistan is very uncertain at the moment. The Taliban has inherited a state where sectors that involve the economy, government and national security have all collapsed. The challenge they face is to fill the void that has been created since their takeover and the withdrawal of the US forces. All the socioeconomic and environmental issues they are facing now need to be dealt with urgently, though it is something the regime has taken a backseat on. While the Taliban recognizes the benefit to bettering international relations, considering that their capacity to support their international-aid dependent population is not up to par, their attempts at finding solutions to the problems have given the citizens of Afghanistan little relief. Another issue the Taliban faces is internal division and external threats to their consolidation and retention of power. The former was camouflaged by the joint jihad against the superpower-led effort in Afghanistan, but since the Taliban have risen to power, differences of ideology regarding the administration of the country and conflicts of interest will soon cause the internal fragmentation to become visible. Meanwhile, for the latter, the external threat comes in the form of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K), whose terrorist attacks in the country came violently and relentlessly in the months following the Taliban’s takeover. The group based out of Nangahar has been active since 2015. Though they once worked with the Taliban for their goal, since the diplomatic negotiations between the Taliban and the US began, they have denounced the group as “filthy nationalists”. In the past two months, the IS-K has carried out bombings and attacks in different provinces across the country, which means that while America has pulled out of the war, the Taliban is not done fighting yet. 49
A
ENGLISH ECAS
s well as Oasis Magazine, students in the Senior School are given a whole host of opportunities to develop their love of reading and writing. We have Literary Society, which is the longest-running society in school. We also have:
Miss Rae’s Journaling Club
T
he journaling club has got off to a flying start this term with many students developing their organization and creative skills. This term we have experimented with different types of brush pen and different kinds of lettering. We have also shared ideas about pages to add to our journals such as ‘mood tracker’ and ‘things to look forward to’ to keep us motivated and in tune with ourselves and our emotions. More than anything, it has been a safe space for students to come and relax, talk, and have some peace in a usually hectic day! More to come next term as our skills develop.
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Creative Writing ECA Grades 6 & 7
G
rade 8 book club and Miss Rae are currently reading Amy Tan’s ‘The Joy Luck Club.’ We decided on this book as a group as we felt it was something we would never usually pick up and it presents the viewpoints of a culture other than our own. So far, everyone is really enjoying the novel (especially after our first choice was less popular among the group!). Miss Rae said “this is a fantastic read so far with the tensions between the older and younger generations at the heart of the plot. I’ve been hooked and seeing the world through lots of different characters has been very interesting and enlightening for me.”
Grade 11 Reading Buddies Ilyes Zeraiki, G11 Javi
Creative Writing ECA Grades 6 & 7
W
e began the Term by using a variety of writing prompts to create “flash fiction”: ultra short stories that have a definite beginning, middle and end. Some of these involved answering questions to create scenarios. We then shared these stories and considered how they could be improved. A fun bit of writing to attempt. We then turned animals into people, using their
R
eading Buddies is a lunch time activity, in which students are paired up with Sixth Formers in the aim to develop their passion for reading. Their buddies help them find a book within our school's extensive library, spend time reading the book with them, and the student then goes home to do some further reading on their own. Throughout the session, they are encouraged to reflect on the book, with many of them discussing various aspects of the book, from characters to the plotline, or just a detail they found interesting!. The activity is scheduled Wednesday on the second half of lunch in the library. The purpose of this ECA is to foster genuine enjoyment in reading and inspire students to read outside of what's assigned in class. So far, the club has experienced huge successes, with big turnouts, enthusiastic readers, and dedicated buddies. Personally, it was incredibly heartwarming to see my buddy, who initially was unsure of their reading interests, now come up to me at the start of sessions knowing exactly what they want to read. Seeing them talk about how much they're enjoying the books they're reading just makes me realize the positive and significant impact we are making to the school community.
characteristics to create new characters for our writing, and then after this our full energies went into writing entries for the Emirates Literature festival story writing competition focusing on the prompt, “Here Comes the Sun”. Now our attention has turned to writing ghost stories! Our aim is to have a fully finished ghost story written by the end of Term 1.
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