1 . With graduation time around the comer, it’s a bitter-sweet moment for everyone involved.

Leaving school with style

It was inevitable that I would leave my school in London where I had spent most of my time. That day, we wore something a bit different from our usual suits and uniform and we all sat down and watched a high-light video of the last two years, including inspirational messages from our teachers and some funny photos. Two weeks later, we attended our school prom (毕业舞会), where we could dance and say a final goodbye to our teachers and friends.

Coming out strong

The graduation ceremony is one of the most memorable parts of school life in Kazakhstan. At the official farewell, teachers and parents expressed their wishes for our future and cracked some jokes about the graduates. Then students danced “the last waltz at school”. One or two days later, the graduating students went to the after-party event, involving fresh air, camping and having cozy chats by campfire. There is a tendency not to spend money on after-parties. Instead, many choose to give it to charities.

Filled with traditions

There are many traditions in the graduation ceremony in the United States. On the graduation ceremony day, four hundred of us sat on the football field and listened to speeches before we got to “walk”—went up for our diplomas and shook hands with the principal. We were dressed in formal clothing, went out for dinners and then danced the night away. There was usually an after-party at some-one’s house.

2 . Student Organizations at the University of Houston

Wherever your passions lie, you’re sure to find a match among UH’s 400+ organizations. Here are four hottest organizations at UH.

Active Minds is an organization working to use the student voice to change the conversation about mental health on college campuses. The organization wants to increase students’ awareness of mental health problems, provide information and resources regarding mental health and mental illness and encourage students to seek help as soon as it is needed.

E-mail: amindsuh@gmail.com

Center for Student Media gives UH students free opportunities in print, online media while providing the UH with popular community-based media. The organization supports student success through professional guidance and skill development. At the center, students are actively engaged in journalism, publishing, marketing, media production, radio broadcasting and leadership.

E-mail: csm@uh.edu

Chess Club at UH is a great way for students to play chess with each other on campus and meet like-minded people. No membership fee and all skill-levels are welcome! We meet twice a week, hold in-person tournaments, have activities with other chess clubs, and organize workshops for those who are looking to learn more about chess.

E-mail: chess.atuh@gmail.com

CSG (Computer Science Girls) is the first female organization at UH that recognizes excellence within the computer science and technology community. Members of the organization will be able to discuss technical matters and problems. We encourage all UH girls interested in computer science and technology to join our organization and build a stronger community together.

E-mail: contact@csgirls.org

3 . A creative program using gardening connected with mentorship (导师制) is changing the lives of students. The program, trying to help students with study problems or misbehavior in schools, will soon be making its way into more Clark County schools.

Students who take part in the program are usually introduced by school advisors who think it may do students good. Parker, head of the program, said that they let the students know what they are joining, and make sure they understand what they’re getting into and that it’s a good fit. They work to find students that they think can have a positive influence in the school once they complete the program.

The chosen students attend the class during their normal school days, rather than after school. Rather than a traditional classroom, the rooms are decorated (装饰) with beanbags and sofas to create a place different from the public school, one that will attract the students. It starts with mentorship weeks, during which the officer shares a poem or a music video that is related to that week’s topic. In the following week, the teachers of the program teach plant science using hydroponics (水培), which is a soil-less method used to grow plants.

Besides changing culture, the program also is designed to open students up to new chances to lead happy lives and succeed in the world through self-discovery, self-development and self-improvement as they follow their chosen paths.

“We really want these kids to see that there are chances for them to learn about different jobs,” Perry said. “We have to make sure that our kids in Nevada see themselves in the key areas for the future. Agriculture (农业) is a key area that is growing in our state. These kids are now considering jobs in agriculture.”

5 . Maryton College Public Lecture Series

Join us for our 9th season of free lectures in 2024. All lectures start at 11:15 A.M. Doors open at 10:30 A.M. Seating is strictly on a first-arrival basis, so plan to come early. Call (555) 757-4310 if you have any questions.

March 30       Melville Hall

Nation of Ulysses: James Joyce and the Great American Novel

Dr. Carl Morris

One of the country’s foremost experts on modern American literature, Dr. Morris will discuss the influence of Irish novelist and poet James Joyce on the modern American novel.

April 5       Science Hall, Room 130

Beaches in Peril: Maryton’s Human and Animal Populations in Conflict

Dr. Elizabeth Thorogood

A Maryton College biology instructor and Life Sciences Department chair, Dr. Thorogood will describe the impact that booming residential construction is having on Maryton’s coastal wildlife.

April 12       Maryton School of Business, Room 255

Europe and the Italian Perspective

Silvio Paretti

Mr. Paretti, who served as the Italian ambassador to the United States for six years, will present an insightful overview of recent political and economic upheavals (动荡) within the European Union.

April 19       Lecture Room 4

Men on the Moons? — The possibility of life on Jupiter’s moons

Karen Godwin

Famous for her radio show “Science and the Stars,” Ms. Godwin discusses recent discoveries about the moons of Jupiter and the possibility of life beyond the Earth.

6 . Growing up in Louisiana, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, Barry Guillot loved exploring the wetlands with his friends when he was a child. However, as he grew older, a growing concern about the disappearance of wetlands took root. “Imagine if the New Orleans Saints, our football team, were playing on a field that was actually wetlands,” Barry says. “By halftime, that football field would be gone.”

In 1988, Barry became a middle school science teacher. With the intention of bringing home to his kids the importance of wetlands, he founded the LaBranche Wetland Watchers Service-Learning Project, “adopting” a small part of LaBranche Wetlands near their school.

Wetland Watchers activities are tied to academic subjects. Water-quality monitoring, for example, teaches students to use graphs to compare data from different time periods — part of the math curriculum. After Hurricane Katrina, the salinity (amount of salt in the water) was four times as high as before. Students made graphs to show that. As part of English composition, they wrote about seeing jellyfish (水母) , which had never come that far before because jellyfish live only in salty water.

“We obtained more than we would just sitting behind a desk with a book, because you’re out there and you’re getting all wet and muddy and having fun as you learn,” says Kurt, a seventh grader.

Barry is very proud of his students. “It’s amazing what middle school kids can accomplish when they get the chance,” he says. One of his seventh graders wrote, “If the animals and plants could talk, I think they would say we’re their heroes. That’s the way I feel when we do our work in the wetlands.”

I put Sharla, Tony, and Lee together to make a volcano (火山). I knew they weren’t good friends, and I encouraged all my students to learn to work together.

Something blew up! One looked mad, one looked sad, and one was nearly in tears. They didn’t agree with each other. Oh, dear!

I calmed them down. But they couldn’t agree on even the base for the volcano, and Tony didn’t want to touch the paste (浆糊).

I wondered if I had made a big mistake. Maybe this was one group who couldn’t work together.

Yesterday, Mrs. Holt made us stay behind so we could finish planning our volcano. Anyway, we finally moved ahead with our project.

I was making my side smooth. Tony just watched (unfair). I told Lee to smooth out her side, too. “No, Sharla, it should look like a real mountain,” she said just as if she were the boss. As a result of the whole thing going downhill, we ended up making no progress the whole day.

The last workday for the project came.

“Is there a problem?” Mrs. Holt knew well there was a problem. She wanted them to put it in their own words, though.

“Well, I think the volcano should be smooth.” Sharla began.

“And,” jumped in Lee, “it should look rocky, like a real mountain.”

“I see. What do you think, Tony?” Mrs. Holt waited.

“Well, I think it would have lava (岩浆) running down.”

“Hey, a great idea!” cut in Sharla, “The lava would be smooth. Right Mrs. Holt?”

Sharla continued. “The other side without lava would look rocky. Right?”

Tony caught on. “So one side can be smooth, and the other rocky. Come on, you guys, let’s go finish!”

It was the show time._______________

10 . We are King’s College London (KCL) Students’ Union!

We have a huge range of events!

Anatomy (解剖学) Museum Tour With    Professor Susan Standring Time   1st December; 3-5 PM Who   Only for Medical and Healthcare students — please bring your student ID! ONLY 20 places!	Clothes Exchange Thursday, 1st December 11: 30am-2: 00pm The Studio, Bush House £2 ticket and pick up 1 item you like Free Entry if you donate clothes in advance or on the day! You are able to collect as many items as you donated.
Shiny Stocking Join the KCL Jazz Society for our Christmas Concert! Sunday, 4th December 2022, 4 PM Great Hall, Strand Campus Free Entry! So bring along your friend! Donations welcomed. Donate £1 or more and receive a free souvenir!	Shab-E Yalda Games Night Join us for a fun night full of competitive games while celebrating Shabe Yalda! Wednesday, 7th December 5pm | £4 per person Students from other schools who want to attend need to inform us 24 hours before either via our social media or email: welfaresociety@outlook.com.