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The harmonic sound of violins, the blasting sound of trumpets, and the angelic sound of singing voices ring in your ears as you walk along the majestic pieces of art created by middle schoolers. With each step, you replayed the experience in your head. This was an experience of a lifetime. If you don’t already know, a few weeks ago, many of your middle school friends showcased their artistic skills at ASIAC Arts. On April 26, middle schoolers from AES, ASIC, and ASB either performed with Band, Strings, and Choir or displayed their art at the art gallery. Strings The Strings section performed three pieces, starting with "M to the 3rd Power," a fast-paced piece by Carol Nunez. "M to the 3rd Power" is an energetic song that captures the essence of complexity and energy. The music is like a puzzle with lots of pieces that fit together perfectly. When you listen, it's like going on a journey with twists and turns. You can almost feel the music moving you along! With its mathematical title, it hints at layers of depth within the music. It makes you feel like you're moving along with the music, and it's so cool how it mixes math and music together. It's like a special blend of both. They followed with "Misty Cavern," a soothing piece by Jim Kazik that brings a sense of mystery. This song is like going on an adventure in a mysterious cave. You can almost feel the mist swirling around you as you listen. It's like exploring hidden places in your mind or soul. The cavern represents an inner journey, with the mist reflecting the obscured aspects of the mind or soul. By the end, you feel like you've found something special in the fog. The final piece was "Slumdog Millionaire," written by A.R. Rahman, combining three songs: O’ Saya, Latika’s theme, and Jai Ho. A.R Rahman is a famous composer most known for writing the Oscar-winning songs of the Indian movie “Slumdog Millionaire.” Slumdog Millionaire is a movie about how a kid who had no privileges reached the hot seat of a game show (Kon Banega Core Patti), based on his true experiences in life. “My name is Oran, and I’m in 7th grade. I performed with ASIAC strings. Mrs. V is so nice, and I’m happy I did strings. My favorite songs to play are Misty Cavern and Slumdog Millionaire. I liked Misty Cavern because of its slow melodic tune and because of the way the orchestra can convey its emotion. I don’t really know why I like Slumdog Millionaire, but it’s just nice. There was only one string performer, not from AES. I would describe it as friendship, music, and fun. YASS, I loved it! It was better than band.“ - Oran (Grade 7) “My name is Mika, I am in 8th grade, and I was in ASIAC strings. My favorite piece was Slumdog Millionaire because it was fun to play and sounded really good. For the ASIAC strings, we only had one boy from Chennai. I talked to him, but not a lot because we are in different sections. I would describe the experience with the words learning, fun, and musical. I enjoyed it a lot, I think it was a great experience, and I learned a lot, it made me a better player.” - Mika (Grade 8) “My name is Mishika and I’m in 7th grade. In ASIAC fine arts, I participated in ASIAC strings as a violinist. My favorite song that we played was M to the 3rd Power because it was a beautiful and fast song that took me a while to learn since it was hard but sounded so good. I didn’t really get a chance to meet people from the other school because there was only one person, not from AES in strings, and most of my friends were doing ASIAC, so I was mainly with them. In three words, I would describe this experience as productive, fun, and playing. This was my first ASIAC experience and next year I would do it again because it was totally worth it.” - Mishika (Grade 7) Band The band started their performance with "Action Scene," a piece that bursts with energy, like a fast-paced movie chase. Its lively beats and exciting tunes symbolize facing tough times with courage and determination. This piece encourages listeners to tackle challenges head-on and keep pushing forward, no matter what. Next, they played "Fragile", which in contrast to “Action Scene” takes a softer, more thoughtful approach. Its gentle melodies and tender harmonies talk about how delicate feelings and relationships can be. It reminds us to treasure every moment we have with others and handle those connections with care. Then there's "Arabian Dances," their last piece, which whisks you away to a whole new world with its exotic rhythms and captivating melodies. It celebrates different cultures and shows how music can bring people together, no matter where they're from. This piece encourages us to explore and appreciate the beauty of diversity. “My name is RJ, and I'm an 8th grader. In ASIAC fine arts, I played in a band as a trumpet. My favorite song was Fragile. I talked a lot with people from other schools who were in my section, so they were trumpets. Describing this experience in three words is kind of hard because it was a big thing, but I guess they would be interacting, playing, and listening. It was really fun, and missing a couple of days of school was really fun. I would do it again, but I’m going to High School next year, so I'm probably going to do MESAC.” - RJ (Grade 8) “My name is Rohan, and I’m in 7th grade. I performed in the ASIAC band with my French horn. My favorite song that we played in the band was Arabian Dances because it's a fun piece that sounds nice. I met some people during breaks, but not that much during practices. I would describe it as loud, progressive, and fun. It was a nice experience. I learned a lot, and overall, I would do it again if I could.” - Rohan (Grade 7) “ My name is Colin. I’m in grade 8. I performed in the ASIAC band. My favorite song to play was Arabian Dances because it was very fast-moving and loud. I did connect with multiple people from other schools. In three words, I would describe it as fun, exciting, and entertaining. I very much enjoyed this experience, and I would definitely do it again.” - Colin (Grade 8) Choir The Choir captivated the audience with songs such as "Bringers of Noise," "Dies Irae," and “Revolting Children.” "Bringers of Noise" is a high-energy anthem that contains the raw power and rebellious spirit of its genre. The lyrics speak of a defiant attitude, celebrating individuality and the unyielding power of music as a means of expression and resistance. Each verse builds on the momentum, driving towards an explosive chorus that captures the essence of liberation and the shared experience of live music. “Dies Irae” is a Latin song written by Thomas of Celano. Dies Irea began as a poem. The poem tells of the Last Judgment when the trumpet calls people to God's throne, where the saved will be set free, and the unsaved will be flung into an eternity of fire. "Revolting Children" is a dynamic and defiant musical number from the hit musical "Matilda". With powerful lyrics and an energetic beat, the kids assert their refusal to cower any longer from unjust authority. The anthem includes themes of empowerment, justice, and solidarity, with the students proudly declaring their right to be heard and their willingness to fight for a better future. The choir also performed with a dance they made up. “My name is Minseo, and I'm in 7th grade. I did the ASIAC choir last month. My favorite piece from the ASIAC choir was Dies Irae. I really enjoyed it. I met people from other schools, and I loved the experience. It was a really special time for me.” - Minseo (Grade 7) “My name is Aya and I’m in grade 7. I performed in the ASIAC Choir. I really enjoyed it and it was a special experience for me. I’m not in choir so it was different. My favorite song was Revolting Children, mostly because I watched Matilda before, and I made the dance for the piece. I met 2 girls that were really nice and I helped them know the school and know the people. Even after ASIAC, I’m still in touch with them. I would describe it as special, different, and amazon. I like the opportunity of doing something like that.”- Aya (Grade 7) Art The fourth and final ASIAC was art. The art students worked for many days to create diverse pieces of art that they displayed in the art gallery on Saturday while the music performances were going on. Their art included paper masks with words, folding paper with spray, AI art visual, and Wari, showcasing the creativity and talent of the middle schoolers. Ms. Willcot, one of the art teachers in the ASIAC art said: “We talked about noise and expressed feelings. We had four workshops, and each teacher taught one workshop, 2 teachers from AES, 1 teacher from ASB, and 1 teacher from AISC. We made a lot of amazing art pieces and I enjoyed having ASIAC Art for the first time. “My name is Selma, and I’m in 7th grade. I did ASIAC art. It was so sad. My favorite art to make was the paper mache mask. It was kinda creepy because we kinda used human faces to make it. I didn’t really connect with people in art, but I met with some of my old friends from Mumbai. The experience was fun, weird, and artsy. I did enjoy the experience of ASIAC art, it was fun, and I would probably do it again.” - Selma (Grade 7) See more stories from #Aya and #Mishika

It is the end of the school year which means that we will soon have to say goodbye to a few of our favorite teachers. This year, 5 middle school teachers are leaving or moving out of the middle school. Over the final weeks of school, The Direct Message will post an ‘Exit Interview’ that we conducted with each of these educators. Check out all the Exit Interviews by clicking here:   Exit Interviews How many years you have been at AES and what were those years: I am finishing my 5th year at AES (July 2019 - June 2024) What will you miss most about AES? I have made some great friends, and I'll miss the children.  I really love getting to meet  and work with children and adults from all over the world. What is the best part about being a teacher at AES? For the most part, we don't have to deal with the same behavior issues at AES, so we get to focus on greater learning and a positive school environment.  What are your plans for next year and what are your thoughts about this next step? (Please include where you will be and your work plan.) I'm going home to Australia for a while and looking into teaching there.  It's a bit scary because I don't have a job yet. After all, it is the middle of the Australian school year, but I'm sure it'll all work out. How do you hope your students and colleagues will remember you? I hope people think I was helpful, supportive, and that I had a positive impact on Middle School What message would you like to leave for the community at AES? One of the most important factors to children doing well in school is if they feel part of the community.  That means, if people are caring and kind to each other they are actually helping them succeed, and that could have an impact on the rest of their life! ______ And now, a few words from Ms. Macs students: Fatma (8th Grade) What will you remember about Ms.Mac?  I remember Ms.Mac gave us a lot of freedom to pick what we wanted to talk about in the assembly. What is a funny or memorable story that you have about Ms.Mac?  Whenever we had to rehearse a song for assembly, she always pretended to sing with high notes and low notes. What makes Ms.Mac unique? Ms.Mac always used to make us laugh during assembly club . ______ Aiden (8th Grade) What will you remember about Ms.Mac?  I remember Ms.Mac came into english class and played games with us in a circle, for the first and last part of the year. What is a funny or memorable story that you have about Ms.Mac?  We remember learning dance with her in 6th grade dance exploratory, and she was funny to be around. What makes Ms.Mac unique? She always participated in different activities in our classes. ______ Aileen (8th Grade) What will you remember about Ms.Mac?  I remember Ms.Mac Helped me with my script for assembly club. What is a funny or memorable story that you have about Ms.Mac?  Ms.Ma c helped me with my math work whenever I finished my work early at assembly club. She was very kind. What makes Ms.Mac unique? She had a kind attitude while also being strict. She is also very clever. See more stories from # Devansh !

It is the end of the school year which means that we will soon have to say goodbye to a few of our favorite teachers. This year, 5 middle school teachers are leaving or moving out of the middle school. Over the final weeks of school, The Direct Message will post an ‘Exit Interview’ that we conducted with each of these educators. Check out all the Exit Interviews by clicking here:   Exit Interviews How many years you have been at AES and what were those years: I have been at AES for one year which was this year. What will you miss most about AES? I will miss many things about AES! I will miss greeting students each morning, I will miss the excitement and achievements around each of the ASIAC events, I will miss my amazing and talented colleagues, and I will miss the regular 'changing of the flowers' on campus. What is the best part about being a teacher at AES? The best part about being a counselor at AES has been getting to have 1 on 1 time with students. I also loved being able to visit all classes and see students excelling in different areas. What are your plans for next year and what are your thoughts about this next step? My plans for next year are to go back to retirement where I spend 6 months in British Columbia, Canada and 6 months in Arizona, United States. How do you hope your students and colleagues will remember you? I hope to be remembered as someone who really cared about individuals. What message would you like to leave for the community at AES? My message for the AES community is 'Be Kind'! And now, a few words from Ms. Grant's students: Areebah ( 8th Grade) What will you remember about this teacher? I’ll remember how understanding Ms Grant always is and she was so amazing to have as a coach. What is a funny or memorable story that you have about this teacher? A memory I have of Ms. Grant is after MESAC, she gave us all personalized nicknames, which I thought was really funny. What makes this teacher unique? One unique thing about her is how she was always there for us and helping us out. I’ll miss Ms Grant so much! Esther ( 8th grade ) What will you remember about this teacher? All though I only knew Ms. Grant for a short while I feel like I can trust her with my deepest secrets. To me that's something that I will always remember about Ms. Grant. She is someone who is free to talk about anything going on. She gives her input as well as listens to everything you have to say. What is a funny or memorable story that you have about this teacher?
This year I went on the JV Basketball Trip with Ms. Grant and the JV Basketball Team. Over that trip I really got to know Ms Grant further and to this day That trip has been one of my top favorite What makes this teacher unique? To me, Ms. Grant is different in so many ways and I hope to be like her someday. I really got to know her in this past year, and although I'm sad to say goodbye, I wish the best for her. Thank You Ms. Grant! Yejin ( 8th Grade ) What will you remember about this teacher? I will remember Ms.Grant as a great coach who helped me grow my interest in basketball and put tremendous effort into developing my skill in basketball. What is a funny or memorable story that you have about this teacher? The most memorable experience with Ms. Grant was the MESAC trip to Dubai. Her great care for the students ensured we had the best experience possible. We had many wins and quite a few losses throughout the games. She supported and cheered us on, teaching us numerous skills to become successful basketball players. What makes this teacher unique? What makes Ms. Grant unique is her mindset. Her positive outlook makes her an exceptional teacher. During our travels, I learned so much from her beyond basketball, and the most significant thing was her positivity. See more stories from #adi!

With the year coming to a close, the Media Publications class has a few words to say about their experience in this semester. ________________________________________________________________ Karanjot Kohli Wow, it’s already the end of the year! The TDM really got me talking about my opinions that were tough to communicate. It felt refreshing to publish my article about the Nintendo Switch’s superiority. I felt challenged by other peoples’ opinions in my article. I just want to say I will miss writing in the TDM. However, in High school, I can’t wait to write in the ROAR. ________________________________________________________________ Vyom Anand The TDM was really fun, after going through all the rotations and jobs, I enjoyed the slides most. This was because it gave me full control and I can add things that I wish I could see. I hope the TDM continues to grow and reach more of AES since it is a great way for students to express their feelings and show them to the school in a cool way. ________________________________________________________________ Emmanuel (Manu) Choudhury I think that being in TDM is a really unique experience, so that means that I will miss a lot in High School. I think that it has really helped me to prepare for high school in the sense that it comes with a lot of independence and responsibility and I think that I will need those skills in High School. It is such a pleasure and an opportunity to be able to share my thoughts and opinions with this platform as a tool. I will I think that being in TDM is a really unique experience, so that means that I will miss a lot in High School. I think that it has really helped me to prepare for high school in the sense that it comes with a lot of independence and responsibility and I think that I will need those skills in High School. It is such a pleasure and an opportunity to be able to share my thoughts and opinions with this platform as a tool. I will really miss everyone, Thank you! miss everyone, Thank you! ________________________________________________________________ Devansh (Dev) Das Being part of the TDM team has made me see the school from a different perspective. When I first joined the DM team, I didn’t know what it meant for students to have a voice to express opinions, publish articles, film videos, etc. As I near the end of my stay, I realized how powerful it is, and once I published my first article and looked at other people's articles, I notice how one article can strike up conversations, make people express their opinions, etc. ________________________________________________________________ Vivaan Desikan Even though I have only worked with the DM team for one semester. It really taught me a lot about delivering on time and managing my time well. It is a great class for time management and creativity. It is a wonderful class to be in for essential skills and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get better at these skills. My first article was about the English Premier League. I felt very good posting it because I was very passionate about the topic. It is not a very difficult class except for having to deliver your articles timely. Overall, I am very happy I was on the DM team this semester and I shall remember it always. ________________________________________________________________ Adam Farrell When I first arrived in Media Publications I didn’t really know what to expect but after a semester of writing articles, it has really left an impact on me and will always have a special place in my heart. Working on the DM has been a bit of a learning experience as I learned how much of a voice we actually have in this school. I always felt pretty overwhelmed with the amount of topics that I could cover and how exciting all these topics were with new ones appearing every day. My very first article was about how King Charles was diagnosed with cancer and it felt good to finish the article and to check in on it every day and see as people viewed it and liked it which made me feel proud of what I’d done. ________________________________________________________________ Rohann (RJ) Gupte TDM taught me that one of the most important things about schools is meeting deadlines so you don’t have to stress about assignments during your free time. It gave me practice for when deadlines are going to be a more common practice in high school next year. Publishing my first article which was a Game Review, felt very accomplished but also taught me a few things about how I would write articles in the future. Never make an article too long, and you don’t have to already know all about a topic. Sometimes it’s better to know less because then you are like the audience that you are writing for. One thing I learned that was very challenging in journalism is that getting ideas for an article is harder than writing the article itself. Articles that I knew more about the subject I had an easier time writing, but most of the time I struggled to find ideas and research my subjects. ________________________________________________________________ Seojun Kim It was truly fascinating to be on the TDM team and write articles. Publishing my first article was very proud, it was about some kind of lithium substance. I was challenged when I wrote my article for our magazine because I got in a lot of trouble with connecting the information to make it have sense. ________________________________________________________________ Taemin Kim Being on the DM team was amazing; I learned there are lots of students that work inside of the school, such as TV or New in 90. After I published my first article, it was about International Day, I was so proud of myself that I made the article. The biggest challenge for me was choosing a subject that I would write about. Thinking of a topic was the biggest challenge I had and I was able to manage it by brainstorming topics that I liked and I was interested in. ________________________________________________________________ Vivaan Sagar Being a DM team Member was an amazing experience I will not forget. Working on articles about things that I enjoy and others could too, which would benefit others as they have more knowledge on that topic. At the end of the semester, we make a TDM IRL magazine that includes articles from every student in the DM team! By far my favorite group was News in 90 as it was an amazing experience. ________________________________________________________________ Tom Shaal After being a part of the DM for the past semester I can clearly say that this has become one of my favorite classes. Writing about things that people that I hang out with every day care about is a really satisfying task. One of the best feelings for me was when I finished writing my first article and one of my friends came up to me during break and said that he read the article and that he really liked it, that was when I knew that I was going to make this article a series (Out of Bounce). After finishing my second I felt like it was the best article, I didn’t have any ideas what to write my next article about. It was also a stressful time for me because I had a lot of big projects to complete, in the end, I decided to write about another person who was having a stressful time, Bronny James, the son of Lebron James was falling down the mock draft in the NBA while I did not have problems in that scale it was reliving to see that other people also go through tough times in school. ________________________________________________________________ Sumer Sidhu My experience in the TDM team taught me about myself and my working habits. There are many things that I noticed about my behaviors in class that I didn’t know about myself. This class has been one of my favorite classes of the semester because of the freedom it offers and the independence you get from this class. But it comes with responsibility because it can be hard for me to work by myself. ________________________________________________________________ Ryotaro Stainer Being in the DM team is something that was new to me and it was a different experience. It helped me think about things that I thought people in school needed to know about. The First article I published was Japan Moon Landing and it felt really interesting and new. I was challenged a lot when I was working on an article and that was because I am not good with due dates. ________________________________________________________________ Hyunseong Yoon First of all, it was a great pleasure to be on the DM team. Before joining Media Publications, I wasn't confident in my writing skills and was worried if I was going to be able to write good-quality articles. As I had imagined, It was challenging initially, and I remember having to spend additional time outside of class to publish my first article. However, I was able to grow both as a writer and a student throughout the semester. I got the chance to write about what I'm passionate about, and I truly enjoyed doing that. ________________________________________________________________ Fatma Al Sheibani I think being part of TDM has made me realize so many things about myself and the school. I remember posting my first article and feeling so proud of all the research and writing I’ve done. There’s so much freedom in choosing what you want to write about and actually being able to follow through, interview people, and gather information is a key part. I think I’ve gained so many skills and learned so much about journalism etiquette. ________________________________________________________________ David Baig Being a part of the DM team was a new experience. I got to know how things in schools were made such as the slides on the TV that give information about the school. The articles and work we did improved my writing and made me more creative. At the start of the semester , everyone was asked to write an article with a due date, it was really challenging to think of a topic I was going to write about. Also after writing the article thinking of how other people will think about my writing. Will they like it? Would they find it interesting? This was the biggest problem that I had to go over. Once I wrote my article writing in class was easy. ________________________________________________________________ Aya Ben-Oz This class wasn’t what I thought it would be at the start; it was so much better. When I started this class, I didn’t know anything about it, and when I realized this is the class where the DM team makes amazing magazines I got excited because the magazine was the best part of it. I really enjoyed this class, the TDM website, the magazine, the articles, and of course the people and Mr. Currey. This class changed my perspective on responsibilities, it was hard. I liked writing my articles and researching about them. ________________________________________________________________ Mishika Garg When I first started this class, I was scared because of the amount of work that would go into everything and also the fact that I was one of the few 7th graders and one of the few girls in the class. I had never really done anything like this. I mean I write articles on my own and publish them so I was excited about that part but I had never really shared them with anyone before. The collaborative projects were really hard but fun. Honestly, this elective wasn’t my first choice and I didn’t really want to be here but this was probably the best elective I signed up for, and being a part of the DM team was really worth it. The best part of this was designing the TDMIRL magazine because I’ve always wanted to design something so big and in the end it looked so amazing. I hope that the future DM team is passionate and motivated in this class all year. ________________________________________________________________ Adi Shah Being a part of the TDM team has taught me so much about media in general. It has also helped me become a better learner. It has helped me finish my work on time and help me develop my learning habits successfully. One of the best feelings is publishing an article and having everyone talk about it. That has recently happened for one of my volleyball articles. It creates a new energy in the community. It connects people together. I believe that's what the TDM is all about, connecting everyone with our school news. When I posted my first article, which was a human of middle school, I felt scared. I did not know what people would think about it. I always felt worried about how people would perceive my article. But it was the exact opposite as people were laughing and talking about it. I made it as though I had created a good article. As time went by I loved creating articles and expressing my thoughts. That is what I will forever miss about TDM. I hope it continues in the future. One time I felt challenged by journalism was keeping up with the demands of the articles. Even though it was challenging it has helped me become a better learner. Thank you, Mr.Currey, for continuously supporting us even though we didn't meet the demands, and thank you too, you guys, for the support. BYE! ________________________________________________________________ And that's it!

For more #exitinterviews <------click here Mr. Isaac Currey 13 Years at AES: 2011 - 2024 Next Stop: Hong Kong, Hong Kong International School What will you miss most about AES? I will miss so much about this place. I came to AES in my 20's - so much of my formative life has been at AES. A big part of who I am is because of the AES community. Both my kids were born in Delhi, so this is really the only home that they know. I will miss the joy that they have being a part of the American Embassy School. I will miss getting snacks every day in the canteen - Samosas, Uttapam, Dosa, Vada and Idli Sambar, Pao Baaji, Aloo Ka Paratha. They are all so delicious and I will miss that! The beautiful campus that changes throughout the year but is always beautiful. The job that Ms. Kaur and all the FMO staff do to make AES beautiful never ceases to amaze me. On a personal level, I will miss all of my friends. Our best friends in the world are all here or were here. I take comfort knowing that they will continue to be there, but I will miss seeing them every day. What is the best part about being a teacher at AES? This could be an essay in itself. The students are amazing; the teachers are welcoming and, smart, and supportive, and the opportunities to grow professionally are numerous. Obviously, we have amazing students at AES and that is one of the best parts. I think the best part of being a teacher is how much you can grow as an educator here. There are so many opportunities to lead, learn, and try out new things with great support. I learned how to be a good teacher at AES.  What are your plans for next year and what are your thoughts about this next step? I will be the middle school athletics and activities director at Hong Kong International School. I have been working towards moving into this role for many years now and the opportunity at HKIS was too good to pass up. I am excited about the new challenge, but I am a little sad that I won't be teaching kids. Next year will be the first time in 20 years that I won't have a class on the first day of school. We are excited to be outdoors in Hong Kong as much as possible - hiking, running, sailing, and camping.  How do you hope your students and colleagues will remember you? I hope that students will know how much I loved my time at AES. I hope they will remember me as someone who pushed them to grow, someone they could count on to come through for them, someone who cared about kids in a genuine way.  What message would you like to leave for the community at AES? I was always amazed when a new student would come to AES with a bit of a chip on their shoulder. They might be a little mean, or rude because that is what worked at whatever school they were coming from. But it didn't take long for them to realize that kindness rules at AES and year after year, I would see these students adapt and become more kind, caring, empathetic people. And that doesn't happen by accident. It's the teachers and students, and families, and staff...everyone plays a part in that culture. So I will miss that so much, but I am also so confident in the strength of the culture at AES. So my message is to fight passionately to maintain the special culture that is here. You are always contributing to culture, even when you do nothing. So do something, and make it positive. We have interviewed three of Mr. Currey's students; this is what they had to say about their time with him. Taeyeon What will you remember about Mr. Currey? Mr. Currey has a very cheerful personality. He is very talkative and sometimes makes long speeches, but he is very humorous and funny, so I really enjoyed doing advisory with him this year. What is a funny or memorable story that you have about Mr. Currey? It was really fun once we practiced dance for the showcase together in advisory. And I personally always think that his big reactions and gestures were really funny in every class. What makes Mr. Currey unique? I think one of the things that makes Mr. Currey unique is his mindset. He is a person who always has a positive and open-minded mindset and attitude. And so that has a positive influence on the people around him also. Manu I remember how energetic and exciting he was and how we always made the best out of every situation. I remember his talent show act during WOW, where he pretended to be a cat chasing a light, and it was really funny. What makes Mr. Currey unique is that he treats everyone nicely and acts more like a friend to people than a teacher. Fatma I will remember how understanding he was whenever we needed to communicate a problem. I remember back in Design Lab 2 when Mr Currey pointed out that I cut my wood the wrong way and that has stuck with me because it was a silly mistake that I’ve learned from. He’s always really chill, but he also pushes you to work hard, and he gives you lots of freedom to work on whatever you want. Mr. Currey has created the direct message and has been a teacher for the media publications class for 7 years. The entire Direct Message will miss him a lot!

Also available in the new TDM IRL Magazine Volume VI! (In advisories now) A forest that has grown over a lengthy period of time and has mostly been free from severe disturbances has become known as an old-growth forest. Large, trees in forests that are more than 120 years old are considered old-growth.  Deforestation of Old Growth Trees: Decline in Biodiversity: Many plant and animal species lose their habitats when these forests are removed. For example, it is estimated that approximately 10% of all known species in the world are found in the vast old-growth sections of the Amazon rainforest. Cutting down old forests might make money quickly, but it can cause big problems later on. Keeping these forests intact can actually make more money in the long run. Things like eco-tourism, research, and the benefits these forests give to the environment can bring in more money over time than cutting them down right away for immediate profit. Even though people are trying to protect them, old forests are still being cut down really fast. In places like the Amazon Rainforest, the number of trees being cut down has gone up a lot in the past few years. Forests are disappearing due to things like illegal logging, turning land into farms, and building roads and cities. Old forests are very important to native people and folks who live nearby. They give them things they need to live and connect them to their history and beliefs. If these forests disappear, it can hurt native cultures and who they are. Benefits of old-growth trees: They improve the overall quality of the air. Numerous animals call them home. Mature trees absorb huge amounts of carbon. Their large leaves have the ability to collect rainfall and prevent flooding. See more stories from #RJ

This was a fieldpiece were we asked 8th grade students to recreate some of the most popular moments in football, we hope you enjoy it! See more stories from #vyom #vivaan

See more stories from #Joris #Arjun #David #Ryotaro #Tom

Here are the interviews from a handful of our Asiac Q4 Athletes! See More Articles by: #Sumer #RJ #Devansh #Fatma #Vivaans

“During COVID, when we were moving to Delhi, we were supposed to come for a week or two to check out housing and much more. But when we were about to leave for the airport, I got COVID at the time, and we didn't know yet. The worst part was that the plane was delayed by two hours. That was the worst feeling. My Head was aching, and I had Severe body pain. It was the worst feeling. So, I guess you can say COVID has shaped a lot of people.” See more stories from #Vivaans

Given today's inactive lifestyle and rising health concerns, the significance of  sports and exercise can’t be underestimated. Mandatory sports and exercise programs in all schools are not a suggestion but a necessity for the overall well being and development of students, as they offer crucial benefits such as enhanced physical health, elevated self esteem, development of pivotal life skills (through team sports), peer bonding, and better mental health and academic performance. Firstly, mandatory participation in sports and exercise fosters physical health and well being for students. As childhood obesity and related health issues such as diabetes are becoming more prevalent, daily physical activity becomes vital. By blending sport and exercise into the school curriculum, students are not only encouraged but are required to participate in physical activities, which diminishes the health risks and promotes a healthier lifestyle. Moreover, better physical health could also mean enhanced self esteem. As students increasingly become more self conscious, their physical well being could significantly improve their confidence. Secondly, participation in sports develops necessary life skills and traits for personal and professional success. Through team sports, students learn the importance of cooperation, communication, team work, leadership, and resilience. The skills they learn through these sports are transferable to various parts of their life, including their academic life, and professional careers. Moreover, team sports foster the bonding of peers. Through these physical activities, they learn to understand and respect one another and develop a sense of belonging, which is imperative for holistic development. Lastly, stress is the biggest bane of modern humans and exercise is one of its most effective antidotes. Students these days battle a lot of stress due to academic pressure and cutthroat competition. Youngsters who are involved in physical activities can cope better with anxiety. Exercising stimulates brain function with the release of dopamine, also known as the happy hormone; which then plays a significant role in improving the mental state of youngsters. Hence, children and adolescents should be required to participate in sports at school. In conclusion, even though anything compulsory makes it more repulsive, for the long-term benefit of students, schools should make sports and exercise mandatory. Read more stories from #Hyunseong

Ariana Cooper I have been at AES for 2 and a half years and will be in Honolulu, Hawaii next year. I will miss the great opportunities like ASIAC and WOW when I move, I will also miss the diverse school body and knowing people from all over the world. My AES experience in five words? Fun, Different, Busy, and Good experience. I guess I want people to remember me as fun and energetic. Agastya Beniwal I have been at AES for two and a half years and will move to Singapore next year. I will miss my friends, ASIAC, and WOW. If I had to describe AES in 5 words, it would be fun, exciting, energetic,  and a pleasant experience. I hope that other students will remember me as fun and nice Rotem Nakash Kaynar My name is Rotem. I am twelve years old, and I'm leaving Aes. I've been at Aes for two years, and I'm going to Ra'anana, a city in Israel. I will miss my friends, Asiac, Wow, and other opportunities. If I could describe it in 5 words, it would be fun, inclusive, opportunistic, unique, and supportive. I would like it if people would remember me as the funny Pokemon science music Splatoon fan or the duck hat kid. Gahwa Lee I have been at AES for five years and am returning to Seoul, Korea. I want to describe AES as Fun, Good Friends, and Teachers. I wish people remember me as a positive person. I will miss AES so much! Because in AES, there are so many kind teachers and friends. I wish other students feel the way that I am! Agota Strelciunaite This is my third year in AES and I am moving to Beijing, China. If I had to describe AES in 5 words, I would say fun, crazy, kind, diverse, and unique. I will miss my friends, my coaches and teachers, and the swimming pool. I hope people remember me as the person who loved to swim and talked too loud. I will miss AES so much and all the opportunities I have gotten here. Rosemary McKenney I have been at AES for two years, and at the end of this year, I am moving to Nairobi, Kenya. I will miss a lot of things from AES, the biggest of which is all the fun events that the school has, like ASAs, ASIACs, and fort frenzies! If I had to describe AES in five words they would be Unique, Diverse, Special, Fun, and inclusive. When I leave I want people to remember me as crazy and funny.  See more stories #Arjun