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IAS TIMESOfficial Newspaper of the International American School

It began as an idea in my 12th grade English class—“You know,” I wondered aloud, “I’d love to take you guys somewhere off campus, where we could really learn something. Like, I don’t know, Auschwitz.” We had discussed the mournful fate of both Poles and Jews in World War II through the course of many books and side conversations. Sometimes, those conversations reached towards the classroom walls, and were restricted by them. So with only a few months left with this particular group, I suggested an Auschwitz excursion. The idea germinated throughout the halls, and pretty soon other grades became interested. Grade 9 was reading the “holocaustic” graphic novel Maus by Artie Spiegelman. Grade 10 was discussing the semester theme of madness...both made logical precursors to such a field-trip. Add a few more curious minds from the 11th grade and in total we rounded up a group of 25 students, along with myself and Mr. McBride. We set off on the 25th of May, a sunny day filled with the perfume of spring, and rode the rails to Krakow without a hint of the gloomy past that awaited us.

Krakow itself was beautiful. We marched along the Planty with our bags trailing behind, the wheels bouncing off the cobblestone to the sound of an army brigade. The air was thick with scent and it must have been powerful enough to draw Michał and Artur B. off course. After a delay to rope them back within the group, we made it to our hostel in the Kazimierz district. The students flocked to their rooms with fourth floor views of the city, with prominence given to the Bożego Ciało church steeple. After an hour’s rest, we marched again through Kazimierz, girls on boys’ shoulders, past the old kosher butchers’ stalls of Plac Nowy and the eight spoked candelabras of the famous flea market. We enjoyed our first group meal outside the confines of the school cafeteria and had to instruct a few students on the art of tipping. Then it was onto the main Rynek, where the romantic figure of Mickiewicz loomed large, as well as the twin towers of Kościół Mariacki. Many students, led by Wiki’s charge, climbed towards the old poet’s arms, but the wild energy was soon tamed by our first organized walking tour. The students glimpsed the many epochs of Krakow’s storied past, from medieval neck manacles outside Kościół Mariacki to Lenin’s favorite bourgeoisie cafe along the main square. The tour rounded up at the famed door to Uniwersytet Jagielloński, where students could forecast their own collegiate achievements in relation to those of Jan Sobieski III, Wisława Szymborska, and the Blessed Pope John Paul II.

But the future is ever predicated on the past. Thus the students got their sleep in preparation for their descent into the 20th century’s primary history subject and stigma: the holocaust. Our vans collected outside the hostel on a breezy morning and carted a sleepy crew through the hillside country, arriving in the quiet hamlet of Oświęcim, a town that lost its rustic innocence through no fault of its own. We gathered in the shade near the infamous gates announcing the sordid deception: “Arbeit Macht Frei”. Prior to a film and four hour tour, students were given simple instructions: listen, absorb, process. To personalize the experience, a heap of red envelopes was placed at their feet. Each student selected one at random; inside were poems written from children, most of whom were younger than our students at the time they were sent away to the camps. Each student was asked to keep this poem with them throughout the tour of Auschwitz and Birkenau, and in a private moment, read the work of this mis-fated child.

Return to Auschwitz ...

Students at the feet of the master: a Krakow tradition

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Many students told me later that they were surprised by the optimism of the poems. Others were moved by what could possible motivate a child to write a poem when facing such inhumane conditions. The answer, that a poem can restore one’s humanity, while a gun can take it, was one of the messages imparted on this day.

Others? It’s hard to tell. But the group did the best they could to absorb and process all the anguish experienced on this patch of ground, from death block 11 to the claustrophobic torture cells, the execution wall to menacing barbed wire, the forlorn heaps of shoes, baggage, wire glasses, and hair, to the blown up barracks and crematoria, and of course the harshly cynical ovens. Some complained of stomach aches while others worried over their incapacity to feel the “proper things”, like sorrow, sadness, guilt. Who can say what the proper reaction is to Auschwitz. As our tour guide said, it’s simply important to come once in your life and witness. Those who survived the holocaust have no simple answer to why it happened, nor justified context to place it in. The decision of our students to make this excursion and walk these grounds is commendable in itself. But real understanding of the event cannot exist without undergoing the ethical decisions that those on both sides the conflict had to face. And let’s hope that day does not come again in this lifetime.

Upon return to our hostel, the group regrouped, showered with no suspicion of the shower heads, and emerged vibrant as teens must be. We enjoyed a dinner together at Chłopskie Jadło, complete with chocolate cake celebrating everyone’s birthday, doing our best to praise the life we have. That included festivities back at the hostel and a different kind of English seminar, where the students instructed the teachers in fields of their own expertise.

The next morning it was back to business though, as we had one more walking tour to engage in: the historic district of Kazimierz. It was here that the students could appreciate what the Polish-Jewish community created over the course of many centuries, before the plague of the holocaust took it all away. We walked along Rabbi Mieselsa street and learned that he encouraged the Jewish community to participate in the Polish uprisings of 1860. Other highlights included the compact Remuh synagogue where students gathered closely together in their kipas and shawls, as well as a visit to the neighboring cemetery where they strolled through the tall grass and unkempt stones. The synagogue and cemetery are the two most common traces of Jewish integration in Polish society, an experiment that dates back to the time of King Casimir and continues this day with the likes of American Jewish English teachers moving to Warsaw and leading groups of Polish teenagers on tours of ancestral lands, proving there is no real distinction between past, present and future, that all flows back towards the source as a continuous cycle, and hopefully those here now can live our lives with the presence of a great collective humanity inside.

The Garden

A little gardenFragrant and full of rosesThe path is narrowAnd a little boy walks along it.

A little sweet boyLike that growing blossomWhen the blossom comes to bloomThe little boy will be no more.

Franta Bass

04.9.1930 – 28.10.1944

... And Back Again

Matthew Krasner

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This year an exceptional event took place – our students from grade 11 for the first time participated in the Mock United Nations (MUN). After receiving the topic of the DR Congo, we spent several weeks researching and preparing our formal speeches. Our group represented four nations and had to address both human rights and security council issues. Once Mr. Krasner was satisfied with our rehearsals, we were ready to go.

The event took place at the British School of Warsaw, where we traveled in style via a specially rented car by Mr. K vehicles. First, all delegates met at the school’s gym, since it was the only place that could fit over a hundred people. An atmosphere of excitement was present all around. Once settled, we learned that our delegates for the DR Congo, Hanna and Ben, were actually supposed to represent the Republic of Congo. This was no small difference, as they are unique countries with opposing political views. The mistake caused Mr. Krasner a lot of anxiety, however Hanna and Ben adapted and started to revise their position papers on the spot.

The delegates then broke into their respective committee rooms and began the schedule of speeches, debate, lobbying, more speeches and ultimately, the drafting of a resolution. During this two day period, we received

necessary materials for politicking, including Sudoku. We also received special paper scraps for the purpose of sending messages to other delegates, most of which were off topic (like, I wish Burundi would stop talking!) Each committee consisted of 25 delegates packed into a room, including the Chairman and Secretary General. We were lucky for those two authorities had a good sense of humor. On the first day the atmosphere was tense since nobody knew what to expect. Everybody relaxed more after the informal lobbying which took place in the evening on Nowy Świat. The next day most of the delegates were more comfortable. One of the highlights of that day was the synchronized alarm clocks hidden in our room to ring every five minutes, til one point when they all went off at the same time.

The event consummated on the third day with the General Assembly, in which two competing resolutions were drafted with neither one passing. The main reason? The first was sponsored by the U.S. and the second China. Neither superpower would back down and accept the other’s proposal. Thus, we learned the secret to politics on this day. Even with the best of intentions, it’s more than likely that nothing will get done.

MUN Invasion

Alex Rutczyński

MUN 2011: Mr. Krasner, Janny, Anthony, Ben, Marcin, Piotr, Hanna, and Alex

Piotr on the floor of the Human Rights Committee

Off Campus Life

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International News Osama bin Laden, the leader of the terrorist group, al-Qaeda, as well as the world’s most wanted man, was finally tracked down and killed on May 1st during an evening helicopter raid. This action was performed by the U.S. Navy Seals in the Northwestern region of Pakistan. The President of the United States, Barack Obama, spoke to his nation from the White House stating: “Justice has been done.” The operation lasted for 40 minutes, as bin Laden resisted the attackers. There was a major firefight between the two parties, which resulted in bin Laden’s death as well as three of his companions, one of them being his son and another his most trusted courier. The third was a woman whose identity has yet to be placed, though there is speculation that she could have been one of bin Laden’s four wives. Obama also stated that after the operation, the U.S. forces took custody of bin Laden’s body and disposed of him at sea. There is some controversy on this topic, as U.S. officials stated that the body was handled in accordance to Islamic practices. Many people in the country are angry that such consideration was given to a mass murderer responsible for 9/11. The President also decided not to release images of the terrorist leader’s body, nor any evidence as to how was it buried. He did so because of the belief that such images would be used to inflame the enemy. The state of bin Laden’s body, while not confirmed, could trigger outrage from the Islamic population regardless. The only footage people have been granted are the images shown by Pakistani TV (Express 24/7) of the bin Laden compound in flames, surrounded by trees and high walls.

This leads to the next irony or controversy: Pakistan. People have long speculated that bin Laden was hiding in the remote areas of Pakistan, near the mountainous border of Afghanistan, and most romantically, in a cave. Yet it turns out that he was found in the wealthy suburb of Abbottabad, a short distance from the nation’s capital, Islamabad. It is also the location of the the country’s top military training institution: the Pakistan Military Academy. How could the country not be aware that Osama bin Laden was right next door? His heavily guarded compound stuck out like a sore thumb, with its security walls and lack of any community interaction.

Though less substantiated, there are also anti-American controversies related to the political consequences of the event. When Barack Obama was a presidential candidate in 2008, he promised that he would lead operations to kill Osama bin Laden. After three years, it is now clear that he kept his promise. Was this to polish a reputation that had fallen due to the economic recession? Was the raid a plot of the American intelligence agency? The political arena is filled with mysteries, and they remain hidden for a reason. However it happened, the death of Osama bin Laden, the world’s reigning super-villain, marks a change in the ongoing “global war on terror”. The dramatic news sparked nationwide celebrations in the U.S., while many abroad remain ambivalent. After all, is the world really a safer place now that bin Laden is not a part of it? Is the al-Qaeda network dead too? Do Arab nations still not control the vast resources of oil that fuel the economy in the West? And finally, are relations between the two spheres any stronger? More questions remain than answers.

“Most Wanted” No More

Woo Jae Dong

Bin Laden’s compound the day after

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IAS Alum John Hendi Reports from Egypt on the Arab Spring and More

What was it like to be part of what the world press is terming the "Arab Spring"?

It sure is special, and I am proud to be living this period of time. It's beautiful to see everybody free to express his or her opinion, and see us teenagers getting involved with politics energetically, which wasn't likely before this period of the Arabic spring.

What I don't like is that the "Youth", who asked for freedom and the stepping down of their corrupt government, doesn’t have a real identity; meaning that anybody can get involved with the ongoing revolution without knowing their secondary targets, which might possibly cause us to lose what the revolution has brought us, and 'relapse' to a worse time.

How has the change in government affected your daily life? What is the biggest change?

The biggest change in my personal life is loving to follow the rules and getting to love our Egypt and encouraging others to do the same; to start a new era with a new population of Egypt lovers!

What is your prognosis for stable democracy in Egypt and throughout the Arab world? What is the attitude towards Europe and the U.S.?

I can see this bright future of a more opened Arab world with more freedom and rights and less corruption. I see how the youth are already showing a more positive attitude towards 'Gixing' what has been broken for so long, starting with very little things such as reading more about politics and having a reliable opinion to offer.

I can't see any speciGic attitudes towards Europe and the U.S., at least here in the Egyptian streets, considering the democratic uprising, but surely I have heard many authorities being very thankful for the Ginancial aid being supplied by European countries and the U.S.

How did most Egyptian students and citizens respond to the news of bin Laden's death? What was most surprising?

The news did not have any major impact on the citizens here, but mostly people did not like the fact he was killed this way, and think he should have been prosecuted Girst; that was most surprising.

Do Egyptian Muslims have a special reaction to bin Laden's death? Are they hopeful that radical Islam will begin to decline, or are they more resigned to its continued existence?

Many Egyptian Muslims are not happy about his death, and they take his death as 'an insult'. Although many citizens hope radical Islam will decline, they are resigned to its continued existence, as they know it's an organization, not one man, and therefore think it will not end with the death of bin Laden. Others think his death will trigger worse acts of terrorism, and others even support this idea, as they are against bin Laden's killing.

Anything in particular you wish to add?

I just wanted to say that these are my very personal views and opinions! And they sure should not be taken as anything ofGicial :D

No hopes of that...we’re a small paper :)

IAS Alum John Hendi, Cairo Egypt

Where Are They Now?

Staff Report

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Royal Romance

International News

April 29th--a big day for the royal family of Britain, and an even bigger one for the Middleton, dare I say, “dynasty”. How big? Back killing hours for the polishing of golden chains, rig wheels, shoes, and medals for the polishing team of the Buckingham Palace; vital moments for the drivers of the royal rig; extra hours for the workers of royal wedding shirt and gigantic hat producers; thousands of pounds and stitches for the producers of that 1,000 mile long bunting in London; huge income for the sprawling souvenir shops; plenty of popping for popcorn salesmen; a massive payday for the creators of the official royal wedding 2011 webpage; ecstasy for the fanatics of the royal family who camped outside the Palace for three days to get the best seats; enormous stress for the police and jail for those who dared to undermine the occasion; a rather catastrophic day for the parents of the 18,000 children around the world who died from hunger according to UN reports....and one giant mess for the brooms and sticks of the street cleaners. And of course, not one, but two royal kisses from the balcony to seal the event. This was a day when the dream of all little girls to have a glorious wedding with a prince riding on a white horse came literally true, for Kate (though without the horse...he wasn’t there). This day was not solely for the couple. No, this marriage was special, an exception, something unusual, beyond ordinary circumstances and ordinary attendees. It was a marriage that attracted hundreds of millions of viewers front of the tele from more than 180 countries. This was the Royal Wedding 2011. The wedding was glorious, full of pageantry and pomp. Only the crème brulé of society could attend and thus step on the 92 meters long red carpet; members of the royal family, celebrities, diplomats, politicians, the lot. But the rest of the nation participated as well. Many watched the ceremony live from venues throughout London while others watched from home. For weeks leading up to the event, the media built anticipation. News headlines claimed it the “wedding of the century”. During the 24 hours leading up to the wedding, 2.8 million people from Britain and America posted relevant status updates on Facebook. And get this: 237 “tweets per second” were posted on twitter. However, the adoration of the royal couple and appreciation for the old traditional monarchy theme did not touch everyone the same. People both from England and around the world expressed different views. Many people celebrated the wedding, cheered for the royal family and felt a sense of national pride while watching the wedding. Others, especially those outside England, were simply interested in the ceremony, Kate’s dress, Prince William’s sash, the hats, and those cuddly royal nieces and nephews playing their parts. There were critics too, however, who considered the wedding an expensive spectacle paid for by the taxpayers, in a time when many social programs are experiencing drastic cuts in their budgets. It doesn’t matter however, which one of those people you are. Because everyone agrees that regardless the background and the issues, hopefully William and Kate will be happy together. Therefore, the students and teachers of IAS and the IAS Times team wish a lasting and fulfilling marriage for the Prince and his bride.

Ben Kiss

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Karol Wojtyła, also known as John Paul II, was born on the 18th of May, 1920. He died on the 2nd of April, 2005 after 26 years of pontification. Pope John Paul II is a very recognizable character for many reasons. He visited 129 countries during his pontificate and was able to speak 13 languages, including Italian, French, Polish, Spanish and Latin. John Paul II has been acclaimed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. He was instrumental in ending communism in his native country, Poland, brought the Catholic message to an unprecedented number of people around the world, as well as improved the Catholic Church’s relations with Judaism, Islam and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

During John Paul II’s funeral, crowds gathered there were heard to call of “Santo Subito!” ("Saint Immediately!"). Benedict XVI began the beatification process for the Polish Pope, bypassing the normal restriction that states that five years must pass after a person's death before the process can begin. On the 1st of May, 2011 Karol Wojtyła was beatified, and called as Blessed John Paul II.

The day before the beatification, Pope John Paul II’s coffin was exhumed from the grotto beneath St. Peter’s Basilica and placed in front of the Basilica’s main altar. As people arrived to Rome, for one of the biggest events since his funeral, they could pay their respect to the dead Pope before and after the beatification mass in St. Peter’s Square. It is estimated that about 300 thousand Polish people traveled to Rome, just to take part in the beatification. On the 3rd of May, Blessed Pope John Paul II’s coffin was moved to its new resting place in the marble altar in Pier Paolo Cristofari's Chapel of St. Sebastian, which is where Blessed Pope Innocent XI was buried.

The beatification of John Paul II was a very important event for the Polish people and was commemorated when the Polish mint issued 1,000 gold Polish zloty coins with the Pope’s image. On the evening of the beatification, thousands of Poles gathered in churches to thank with prayer for the continuous workings of the man who they got to know first as a man, then as a Pope, and now as a Blessed figurehead. Pope John Paul II wasn’t only a great leader for the Polish people. He was known to billions all over the world for his warmth, courage and charisma. He will always stay in our minds and his character is now etched forever within the story of Catholicism.

Path to Sainthood

Daniela Domachowska

International News

The Blessed Pope John Paul II

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Artist’s CornerWhat types of art do you create?I create many types of art. From the fundamental basics like painting and drawing to some more exotic things too. For example, at the recent show I had a number of lamps made from ordinary objects like soft drink bottles. I am open for new things because these are cutting edge and modern and I believe it can be something innovative, while I continue to improve my skills. I never forget about the traditional fields of art and therefore I produce oil paintings and drawings as well.

Which form do you prefer?Well, it is complicated. I like all of the genres equally. All of my works are my babies. Therefore, I have a special attachment to each of them. I mean, I created them. Thatʼs something rather special and I donʼt have and I donʼt want to have any preference.

I see, so do you have any preference for artists? Do you have any idol?I take inspiration from a range of world known artists and therefore I canʼt say that I have one main idol...

But perhaps you can give an example?Yeah sure. Such muses are Salvador Dali and Jean Griese, whose work has made a strong impression on me.

How are their influences reflected in your works?They are reflected but itʼs not always so direct. One of the pictures which was shown at my exhibition a few weeks ago is a good example. The painting was inspired by an early surrealistic work of Dali.

Yes, the exhibition was what I wanted to ask about. What did you think of it? What feedback did you get from others?The exhibition was an important event for me. I put a lot of effort into the preparation and it was rewarding to see people interacting with the finished work. It was worth it to me. And no catastrophes occurred, which was good! I hope it was a success. Of course Iʼm critical and know it couldʼve been better, however people who visited responded quite positively.

Thatʼs great. I guess itʼs good to hear these compliments which give you encouragement. These feelings are essential in creating art. So what emotions do you express in your work?Well, the emotions I express depend on my mood at the time I actually produce a piece of art. And honestly speaking, it is easy to guess my mood based on those works. If my mood is dark, this results in a darker, mystical, horrific expression. While if I am in a state of happiness or inspiration than the opposite result happens. Of course, between those extremes there are many other aspects reflected.

As final question and sort of a bombshell, why do you even practice art? What is the calling?This question can be answered two different ways. One way is to explain it with long and detailed self evaluation; the other is just to give the most simple and honest answer. And that is what I am going to do. I practice art because I love it. That simple.

Interview with school artist Wiktoria Wysocka

Staff Report

Wiki’s Wiki

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Works done by Wiki at her exhibition

Lady Artist herself

A guest at the exhibition we can all

recognize

Warhol inspired

The future design of lamps

Everyone’s favorite: MR. MONKEY!!!!!

Wiki’s Show

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If someone says that the world is full of madness, he or she won’t be wrong. Indeed, it is. But you don’t encounter it every single day, unless you are a wacko or a psychiatrist. For sure I’m not a psychiatrist, but I never know if I’m not nuts. However, assuming that all parts of my brain are where they’re supposed to be, an atmosphere of madness has surrounded me since last autumn. It all started when our English teacher, Mr. McBride, gave our 10th grade class the first book we were to analyze: the famous “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. Theme: madness. What else could it be? Inspired by the book, I’d certainly consider clubbing a few Sejm representatives with a cane. Whoever has read the book will understand. While strolling to the cafeteria with my regular kebab and Wyborcza (many will be surprised that I recently rid myself of these addictions), I heard a voice from Room 2 where my classmates gather, or it was a voice in my head: “...baseball bat’s better, man, not a cane”. I didn’t care much, and I continued my stroll to the cafeteria, biting off another chunk of the kebab. When I unfolded my Wyborcza, I noticed another article about Warsaw’s dreaded cross defenders. In my definition of a typical “person”, there is no place for standing before two combined planks of wood for five months, but according to an old rule, you don’t discuss about others’ likings. I thought: OK, let’s rid the bloody cross defenders from my head. I decided to write about them for a piece in the IAS Times, which kindly gives me space to publish my formally objective articles under the condition of writing ’em in double-talk. OK, here the theme madness, which originated in our English lessons, created a journalistic masterpiece. Maybe you read it. But then again, there weren’t that many pictures so perhaps you skipped it. Continuing with my thoughts, I heard: “Let’s all go under the palace to shout ‘Where’s the cross!’” Who said that? Me? Impossible. Later in the term, Mr. McBride dished out a second portion of madness: “One Flew Over a Cuckoo’s Nest”. Each student was assigned a character to play in the scripted version. But what was it about? The whole story? Wackos! Lunatics! The play must have been good because the reading made us all somehow insane (OK, don’t glower...I speak for myself!). My character wasn’t talkative, and I’m not talkative either. No, that had’a be some plot to ruin me mentally! Classmates, do you feel we’re being driven to madness by the stick? Yes? Welcome to the club. Anyone know a conspiracy theory discussion group? I wanna sign up for one. Maybe I was a complete wacko by now. I wanted to clear the Sejm of idiots, and though I didn’t like the insanity under the palace, it ruled my head. If you won’t come to the Cross, the Cross’ll come to you. And it came! When Mr. McBride assigned his next task, a ten minute speech based on the theme of madness (OK, conspirators, ruiners of my mental health! Show up! I wanna know who you are!), I immediately seized on the good ol’ topic of religious zeal and masses being blinded by an idea, and wiola! The cross defenders were perfect meat! CROSS DEFENDERS! I’ll summarize this shortly: Put me in a strait-jacket now or you will suffer from more articles and feuilletons of this maddening nature, of which I’d be proud to be author. Unless you like them, of course.

Student Opinion

Mihał at the altar

Michał Kolwas

Private Investigations Part I: Tales of Madness

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I n t e r n a t i o n a l A m e r i c a n S c h o o L • w w w . i a s . e d u . p l • s e c r e t a r y @ i a s . e d u . p lu l . d e m b e g o 1 8 • 0 2 - 7 9 6 w a r s a w , p o l a n d • + 4 8 2 2 6 4 9 1 4 4 0

The Chronicles of Chronus - Part 5: The Terran Council

Zech's was standing in the middle of a dark, smoky chamber within the rebels warship. Around him stood six Terran War Priests in long, leather robes, flaming torches on their backs, holding heavy bolters, all of them aimed at him. The torches on their backs were throwing small amounts of light Further in the room, in the impenetrable darkness stood a mass of people. Zech's could not see them but he felt their presence. Ever since the incident in the forest while fleeing his homeland and waking up on the rebel warship “Fungol”, it was as if he could feel the life essence of each person aboard. The incident...that's why they brought him here... Sitting in front of him on a massive chair, encrusted with metal skulls, crostixes and other religious insignia, was an old man. He was dressed in a massive golden gown with various gems and crostixes in his garments. Cables were connected to augmented data slots in his hands. His face was that of ages past with heavy wrinkles set deep in to his skin. His eyes...his eyes where replaced with augmented visors. Zech's was waiting for the judgement of the Great Terran Priest. After what happened in the forest the pious priest took his unconscious body and decided what to do him. They were to decide whether the light that erupted from his hand was an act of holy power or...heresy. The Priest leaned forward, revealing several tubes and cables connected to the back of his neck. He pulled out one of his hands and a tall woman dressed in white armour with a red crostix on her chest handed him a scroll of brown parchment. The Priest unrolled it and gazed at the scroll for some time. When he finished reading the scripture, he leaned back and spoke in an ancient voice: “It is the belief of the Holy Terran Church that our Martyred Lord was born to free the Universe of the Shackles of Oppression. Throughout the millennia many have been born with the marks of sainthood, possessing holy powers of the Eternal Flame. Many have also succumbed to the darkness. Witnesses claim that you have committed an act of holy power, but many mistake Darkness for Holiness and allow chaos to infest their minds.” He lifted his right arm and a small blue flame danced on the palm of his hand only to disappear after a few minutes. “Even though I am the Great Priest and carry the insignia of the Crostix on me, The Terran Church has been forced to flee due to the fierce attack of Jagnar and his Empire. But the important question right now is what should we do with you boy? Should we brand you saint? Or heretic and send you to death?” He scratched his chin with long, brown fingernails. He pushed a button on the chair and with a quiet hiss, all the cables and tubes retracted from his body. He stood up and moved towards Zech's, whose knees where feeling weak. He placed a hand on his forehead and stood there for a moment murmuring something under his nose. Time seemed to slow down. The whole chamber was filled with tension. “Innocent,” the Priest exclaimed. It was as if the whole room let out a sigh. “Now...the best thing I can think of right now is sending you to join the Terran Warpriest's. This way you will learn how to control your new powers and will aid the Uprising. PRIESTS!” he shouted out. Six more priests emerged out of the shadows, each one of them wearing identical white armour. Zech's noted that one of them was Arya. She gave him a faint smile before looking away. “Take him to the Sanctum,” the High Priest ordered. The twelve priests and priestesses surrounded him and carried him out of the chamber. Zech's wasn't sure what awaited him from now but he new that he was going down a dark path full of obstacles and hard tasks. Once the chamber cleared out and everyone was gone apart from the Priest tied to his life sustaining throne, he whispered something out to himself as if he was giving out a prayer. “I have seen it...the light...Eternal flame...the boy...the time has come.” With those words he unplugged all of the cables and tubes and gave away his last breath.

Sebastian Kettley

Writer’s Corner

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I n t e r n a t i o n a l A m e r i c a n S c h o o L • w w w . i a s . e d u . p l • s e c r e t a r y @ i a s . e d u . p lu l . d e m b e g o 1 8 • 0 2 - 7 9 6 w a r s a w , p o l a n d • + 4 8 2 2 6 4 9 1 4 4 0

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Picture Club

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I n t e r n a t i o n a l A m e r i c a n S c h o o L • w w w . i a s . e d u . p l • s e c r e t a r y @ i a s . e d u . p lu l . d e m b e g o 1 8 • 0 2 - 7 9 6 w a r s a w , p o l a n d • + 4 8 2 2 6 4 9 1 4 4 0

GO MS. EWA!!!GO!!!

Visitors of Kabaty Forest beware! IAS students on the loose!

Mr. Renaud pleasantly regresses back to childhood

Quan, Bobby, and Nam Riha’s offering

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I n t e r n a t i o n a l A m e r i c a n S c h o o L • w w w . i a s . e d u . p l • s e c r e t a r y @ i a s . e d u . p lu l . d e m b e g o 1 8 • 0 2 - 7 9 6 w a r s a w , p o l a n d • + 4 8 2 2 6 4 9 1 4 4 0

The following students have been recognized by IAS faculty for outstanding achievements in and outside of the classroom. While we do not have space to highlight all the students deserving of such praise, those selected well represent the school’s mission to cultivate diligent, creative, and sensitive young adults.

I’ve seen impressive students in my time at IAS, but this year I’ve witnessed something truly special. In my grade 9 History class we completed the following three exams: The Origins of World War One; Britain in World War One; the Peace Treaties of 1919-20. Several students did well but only one managed the unprecedented feat of 100% on all three tests. That student is Luuly Nguyen. You won't be surprised that she is on track for an A+ in History, and straight A’s in all her other subjects. It’s incredible what hard work, intelligence and commitment can achieve. Congrats to Luuly. I wish I had been this successful at school! --Nick Brown, History Department Head

I’ve always been impressed by Krys’ ability to treat each task as a challenge that demanded his best. But nowhere was this more evident than in this year’s IB oral presentation. Krys prepared a speech on the controversial topic of prostitution, exposing some of the more uncomfortable realities for this marginalized group of women. His speech was charged, eloquent, well researched, and clearly captivated his audience. In fact, upon leaving the room one student told me, “Thanks. Now I know what a speech is.” It was simply the best speech I’ve witnessed in my time here. So kudos to Krys. His attitude will lead him to many more successes outside of school. --Matthew Krasner, English Department Head

In grade 9, Minh was as ESL student who sat in the front row and never let the teacher walk past him without answering his questions. He had to work double-time on his own to master the vocabulary and usage necessary to respond to texts like Homer’s “The Odyssey”. This year, Minh often spent his lunch time next to English teachers, pestering them with more questions about idiomatic expressions and SAT level vocabulary. His good natured effort and enthusiasm led to a remarkable speech on the high level topic of “madness”, and a forthcoming essay that reflects his ernest attention to detail. Minh will finish this year with the highest honor for a student who was struggling with basic English grammar only a year ago: an A in Literature and Composition. --Kenny McBride, English Department Co-Head

It began with election promises alongside Daniela Domachowska, but rare is the politician whose actual work surpasses his pledges. Sebastian was a constant presence in the hallways this year, organizing events like the Valentine’s Day and Halloween parties, and class field trips to go-cart and bowling venues. But his compassion and genuine school spirit was best demonstrated during the school’s Easter celebration in Kabaty forest, where Sebastian took the lead in corralling the younger students through egg races and an Easter egg hunt. With such deeds behind him, it’s clear that Sebastian has a bright campaign theme for next year and beyond. --Christopher Uden, Vice Principal

Enduring Academic Excellence: Luuly Nguyen, Grade 9

Student Accolades 2010/11

Greatest Performance Leap: Minh Ngo, Grade 10

Most Notable Achievement: Krzystof Pleciński, Grade 12

Community Spirit and Leadership: Sebastian Kettley, Grade 10

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A photographic solute to this year’s graduating class--thanks for the memories! Photos by Paul Raptis

Senior Farewells

A regular murderer’s row: Paul Raptis, Juhi Shewakramani, Hieu Can Duc, Krzystof Pleciński,

Monika Moncis, Wiktoria Wysocka, Diksha Amarnani, Hakeem Al-Obaidy, and unpictured,

Maya Nguyen, Hira Zainab, Filip Piotrowski, Patrick Kebang...now take on the world!

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• IAS was the first independent international school in Poland, founded in 1989.• IAS is accredited by the world’s leading education authorities: IBO, NAAS, CITA, MENIS.• Teacher to student ratio of 1:4.• Dedicated tutors for university guidance.• 100% university placement.• Dedicated staff from a variety of backgrounds, including Britain, America, Poland, France and Canada.• Programs to enhance student progress, including ESL, PSL, extra math, history, and science classes.• A variety of after school clubs provided for all students, meeting every Monday and Wednesday.• Fully resourced and staffed library, providing students with a choice of 30,000 titles.• Zero tolerance to drugs and alcohol.• Strong disciplinary policy conducted in a positive and friendly atmosphere.

The IAS News Team: Bence Peter Kiss, Senior Editor and Production

Matthew Krasner, Senior Editor

Thanks to this issue’s contributors: Daniela Domachowksa, Wiktoria Wysocka, Sebastian

Kettley, Michał Kolwas, Alex Rutczyński, Woo Jae Dong

International American School

(IAS)An IB World School

“Excellence in Education”

Continuing your education with IAS will keep you on the winning team!

To contribute to future issues, submit your work to i a s . n e w s p a p e r @ g m a i l . c o m