Over Spring Break many Mason students traveled to different countries, and this year a group of students went to Egypt.  This land has long held the imagination of thousands with its barren desert, red sun, and towering pyramids.  April 5 to April 14, students who went on this trip were allowed to dip their feet into the ancient sands of Cairo and tour the area.

 

"At first I think there was a culture shock since Egypt is poor and has a different standard of living compared to what the students here know.  I think they grew to appreciate how different peoples of the world live.  That in itself is an education," Mrs. Dean-Pratt, a chaperone on the trip, explained.

 

This trip was primarily arranged for Arabic students at GM though it was open to all students.  It was a way to submerge students in the language they were studying and also show them its day to day life.  Language is a living thing and one of the best ways to learn it is to see how it lives.  However, not all the students who went on the trip were from Arabic class.

 

"It was so different from anything I've seen anywhere else I've been. I think it was a really good experience, because I learned to appreciate more of my culture and what I have, as well as learn about a new culture,"  Laura Peppe, a senior on the trip, commented.

 

The students traveled over a large part of Egypt, starting in Cairo, then to Saccara to see the step Pyramids.  After this the students took an overnight train to the city of Aswan, in the south of Egypt, followed by a cruise on the Nile for four days back north making stops at Cumumbo, Etfu, and Luxur.  Students were able to see the ancient ruins as well as the more modern temples and bazaars in theses cities.  After this they flew to Cairo to visit the museum and spend some more time in the Capital.

 

Dean-Pratt commented on some of the scenery along the Nile, "I liked seeing all the tiny farms and the daily life of the rural villagers who live without cars and represent the agrarian lifestyle of long ago along the Nile."  This rural and lush scene is not what is normally pictured with the thought of Egypt; however, the Nile has helped create an environment that should be alien to the harsh desert terrain.

 

Mason students also met freshmen from a school in Egypt visiting Cairo.  "We saw the whole ninth grade class from a town eighty miles away from Cairo,"  Ms. Albader, the Arabic teacher and coordinator for the trip explained.  The students talked to one another and exchanged ideas and details about their lives and countries.  "Although the cultures are different, although the traditions are different, the religions are different, but students are students,"  Albader said.

 

"Talking to other students who live there was fascinating-- learning about their point of view, their goals, and even more interesting was their idea on America,"  Peppe commented on the run in with Egyptian students.

 

Finally, a lasting experience with all who went was the trip to the bazaar.  Unlike a simple ride to the mall, prices are not set and haggling is a needed skill.  Students were caught in a whirlpool of negotiations for the trinkets they desired.  "They had a shock of their lives, because of people grabbing them, shoving them, pushing them,"  Albadar described the chaotic scene of the market.  However, soon the Mason visitors were able to feel more relaxed and begin to haggle their way through it.

Do you want to have an original piece of artwork featured on every one of George Mason's computers? Well now is your chance. Mrs. Jinks, our technology coordinator, is announcing a contest for a new student desktop. Every student is invited to enter. The rules are as followed:

1. Can be a graphic, drawing, painting (art work in general), or a photo.
2. Must be an original piece-- no plagiarism or copyright infringement!
3. Must be school appropriate.
4. Does NOT have to have the technology warning on it.
5. Doesn't have to be "Mason" related.
6. State your name, grade, email, and TA on your entry e-mail.

Within the rules, we invite your imagination to run wild. Remember that Mason computer screen dimensions are 1280 x 1024, so design accordingly. The top five finalists will be previewed on rotation for a week after the contest, a new one each day.

 

All entries are due to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Friday, May 15!

After four of George Mason's students were pulled over last week for turning left onto Haycock Road during restricted hours, Officer Rau decided to promote doing the "Right Thing." Officer Rau and one student, dressed in the Mustang Sally suit, will be standing outside before and after school, reminding students and parents not to turn left onto Haycock Road. So wave hello to the dynamic duo as they enforce doing the RIGHT thing.

Congratulations to the winners of the First Annual Earth Day Short Silent Film Competition. There were several awesome films submitted- check out the GMHS website tomorrow- EARTH DAY -to see some of these great productions by your peers.

The runner ups were videos by:
Evan Kalantzis, Cody Adkins, Chris Schwartz, Pachu Chembukave, and George Kalantzis
Alexa Schaeffer, Nicole Peyton, and Chantal Thomas
Nils Westergard and Britta Coley
Matt Baker
Bryan Ward

2nd Place with a cash prize of $50 goes to the team of J. Rodock and Matt Baker

AND

1st place with a cash prize of $150 goes to Sam Atkeson

Thanks once again to our sponsors Falls Church Community Television (FCC-TV) and the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) and a special thanks to Chip Hailey, board member of FCC-TV and Karl Ensign, VPIS board member who presented the awards.

The George Mason Relief Project (GMRP) will be hosting a Chili Dinner on Thursday April 23, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. before the I.B. Art Show.

This event will be held to help raise money for a school in the Sikasso District of Mali, Africa. The group chose Mali, Africa because it is one of the poorest countries in the world and many children, especially girls, do not have access to a school which results in a surprising literacy rate. Just 12% of girls over 15 years of age are educated to read.

The group wants to raise 60,000 dollars in order to build a school with three classrooms, two bathrooms, a water point, a storage area, and an office for the headmaster. This money will also go to funding the school with school supplies and capable teachers to keep the school going for at least three to five years.

"There will be a slideshow with photos and a short DVD about Girl's Education in Mali, and an introduction speech with information about our project. We'll have decorations and also a donation spot for any old electronics GMRP," said Dana Allen, one of the student organizers of this project. The chili dinner will be held in the cafeteria and tickets will be seven dollars for adults and five dollars for students.

The final touches are being put on the IB Art show today, and all will officially be complete at 5 p.m. this afternoon. Over the weekend and through the next week, all the 60-some IB Art students' best works will be hanging on display for all to see.  To find the art show, simply turn left at the auditorium doors and walk down the ramp painstakingly decorated by Kim Kenny with the faces of our seniors and faculty members. There are two galleries: auditorium stage and the annex at the end of the music hallway. The gallery will be having its official opening night on Thursday the 22^nd, or Wednesday the 21^st if you can't make the later date. All are welcome to join in the festivities, and remember not to touch the artwork!