The Newspaper with a Student PerspectiveWe present to you: The Common Room, German Swiss International School’s student-run newspaper. Completely revamped and relaunched, this year we are on a mission to get the attention that our school’s student-run newspaper deserves.Too many years have gone by where our student-run newspapers have slipped under the radar, often overshadowed by the school’s official newspaper, ‘the GIST’. With a brand new team, name and approach, we hope to turn ‘The Common Room‘ into an acknowledged and respected school paper. We aim to bring a fresh perspective on all things related to school and students, and what better way than to hear it from students themselves? Get to know the school a little better, be updated with upcoming events and dive into exclusive interviews in issues of ‘The Common Room’.

FUN FACTS ABOUT GSIS How well do you really know the school? Read on to learn fun facts about GSIS that you did not know before (continued on page 2).

ARE YOU A BOOKWORM? Head on over to the book reviews in our media section on page 5 to learn about the best-selling books behind the movies.

NEW HEAD STUDENTS TRY THEIR HAND Will they fulfill their promises made in their campaigns? Find out on page 6.

ONLINE EDITION

GERMAN SWISS INTERNATIONAL/11 NOVEMBER 2011/ISSUE 01

The Common Room

By Samantha Chow

But besides our dedicated team of writers, we want to hear from you, our readers. As a student-run newspaper, we emphasize the importance of listening to our readers and taking your suggestions into consideration in order to improve. Hop onto our website, www.thecommonroomnewspaper.webs.com, to give us your feedback and ideas for future articles and to view other issues. While you are at it, ‘like’ us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thecommonroomnewspaper.

EDITOR: SAMANTHA CHOW

Fun Facts about GSIS

Name: Samantha Chow

Age: 16

Class: 12B

Position: Editor

Enjoys: Writing, traveling & cooking

FUN FACT #1Before Sodexho and now Compass, GSIS food was catered by Ah Hong, the sole cook and delivery man of his food, whose kiosk was situated on the roof next to the swimming pool. Every day at 1:15pm, he would personally deliver his famous packed lunches which cost approximately twenty dollars each, to all students and faculty members who bought them.

FUN FACT #2

The school choir was once required to train separately - Altos practiced in the current music room and Sopranos in another room. The two types of vocals would often practice separately for several sessions before joining as one large group. There was an emphasis on the ability of the choir, once run by Mr. Stephen Clemes, to sing in harmony. The formality of the choir’s performances would often require students throughout primary to wear semi-formal clothing.

FUN FACT #3GSIS’s annual Christmas Bazaar has been an ongoing tradition for many years now. Every year, hundreds of people attend the event to indulge in the imported foods and beverages and enjoy the festive mood that is always accompanied by music from several student bands as well as a teachers’ band. Raclette cheese, the famous Swiss delicacy, is always highly anticipated.

FUN FACT #4GSIS started off with an enrollment of 73 students in its first year of establishment, but today this number has swelled to over 1,200 students who originate from over 30 different countries. Founded by German and Swiss families in 1969, the school was meant to cater for students looking for a bilingual German-English education.

FUN FACT #5

One of GSIS's celebrity alumna is Kat Alano, an Anglo-Filipino model, actress and television presenter in the Philippines. She currently co-hosts the morning show " The KC Show with Kat" on Wave 891 with KC Montero in the Philippines.

Name: Ian To

Age: 16

Class: 12C

Position: Writer

Enjoys: Reading, playing video games & writing

By Ian To

Name: On Tim Tang

Age: 16

Class: 12C

Position: Writer

Enjoys: Blogging & chitchatting

ABOUT US

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MEDIA CORNER

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, U2. British music has had such a major impact on the world. Recall the days of the first and the second British Invasion of Music. The question now arises: are we witnessing a third British invasion of music? Think about it. Adele, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and Coldplay - numerous British artists have been dominating the latest pop charts and garnering many Grammy nominations.

English singer-songwriter Adele has released her new album and named it after her age at the time of the album’s production: ‘21’. The album consists mostly of blues, jazz, country soul and pop. Its main themes focus on her emotions of resentment, vengeance, heartbreak, and forgiveness. The singer has been praised for her ability to carry emotions in her voice and for the unique combination of genres of her music.

The album includes “Rolling in the Deep” which eventually became a worldwide number one hit. Other successful songs from the album

include “Someone Like You”, “Set

include “Set Fire to the Rain” and “Rumor Has It”. Moreover, ‘21’ broke the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive weeks at number one in the UK, after holding that position for 11 weeks. Adele has also set a new record as a female artist for holding the number 1 position on the UK Albums charts for 18 weeks, and ‘21’ has become a top selling digital album in both the UK and the US, having sold approximately 10 million copies.

UPCOMING EVENTStudents Take the Stage:

An Unforgettable Evening

Much anticipation is already in the air for the upcoming annual school talent show. The school has been buzzing with rumours of hot competition and of which acts made the final cut. You know what we’re talking about - the one and only International Evening! A night where the audience is bound to be dumbfounded by spectacular student acts.

Each act must earn their place in the show and this year is no exception. After much preparation, every act with hopes of performing had to go through a round of auditions, judged by a panel of teachers with high standards for selection. According to this year’s judges, it soon became evident after the first few auditions that every act was in it to win a spot on the IB Hall stage. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to get excited for another jaw-dropping performance!

International Evening has been a tradition at GSIS for many of years and it just keeps getting better and better. GSIS students boast a wide variety of talents which range from dancing and singing to standup comedy and even Korean drumming. The diversity of

performances never fail to amaze, astound and entertain.

By Hilaire Wong

Teach Me How to Say ‘Cheese’I thought, were also the most interesting. Clare and Katherine are sisters so I felt that it was much easier for them to get comfortable, therefore producing better photos. I shot Karina with a Red Indian-inspired headdress which was pretty cool too!”

What advice do you have for other young, aspiring photographers?“Keep taking photos! Just bring your camera everywhere. It gives you an excuse to take photos.”

Who/What inspires you? “Jessica Klingelfuss, Ann He, Natalie Kuchen. There are so many amazing photographers out there!”

Do you plan to take up photography as a career in the future?“No. For now I just take it as a hobby that I love. However, I do see myself continuing this as a hobby and perhaps take it a bit further after I graduate from university.”

By Nicole Chong & Hilaire Wong

Ever since her first Canon, Veronica Ahn has been pursuing her hobby and love for photography. Although only 14 years old, she has shot the likes of both signed and aspiring models, including former America's Next Top Model contestant, Monique Weingart, in Hong Kong.

How did you get into photography?“I got my first camera 2 years ago and since then, I have been taking photos non-stop. I started doing portraits in March [2011] with my best friend Cynthia and I guess my interest grew from there!”

What has been your most enjoyable shoot to date?“I enjoyed shooting Clare & Katherine Pemberton and Karina Tsui because in the short period of time we had, we got the most out of the shoot and I felt like the photos I took with them turned out to be some of my most successful photos. The themes for them,

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The Music NookBy Michelle Lam

• • •

Adele - A New

British Invasion?

The Best of Both Worlds: In German and In English

FC Venus ist ein sehr lustige Komödie, in der sich Frauen gegen ihre Fussball fanatischen Männer auflehnen. Seit ihrer Kindheit hat Anna (Nora Tschirner) nicht mehr Fussball gespielt, doch nach ihrem Umzug zu ihrem Verlobten Paul (Christian Ulmen) muss sie feststellen, dass er und seine Freunde nichts anderes außer Fußball kennen. Sobald sie es aber herausfindet, dass er sich sonntags aus dem Haus schleicht um Fußball zu spielen, fordert sie ihn und seinen Verein zu einem Spiel gegen die Frauen der Spieler auf. Wer gewinnt bestimmt wann oder ob überhaupt Fußball gespielt oder gesehen wird. Die Frauen verstehen anfangs zwar nichts von Fußball, nach einer Weile und hartem Training (was die Beziehungen auf die Probe stellt), stellen sie für die Männer aber eine Herausforderung dar. Das Endspiel wird nun entscheiden, wer die das Sagen zu Hause hat und ob die Beziehungen noch weiter bestehen werden.

FC Venus is a very funny comedy in which women rebel against their football fanatic husbands. Anna (Nora Tschirner) has not played football since her childhood. After moving in with her husband Paul (Christian Ulmen), she realises that he and his friends don’t know anything but football. As soon as Anna realises that Paul plays football every Sunday, she challenges him and his team to a football match against their wives. The competition will decide when, or if, the wives or the husbands get to play or watch football. At first, the women don’t know anything about football, but after a while, and a lot of hard practice which is takes a toll on their relationships, they pose a big challenge for their husbands in the end. The final match will decide who will rule at home and whether their relationships will exist any longer.I think that one can have a lot of fun watching this movie with their friends and family. Girls can also learn the rules of the game, for example, what the term “off” means in the football world. The stereotype that women cannot play football makes FC Venus a fantastic and funny film that you can probably watch multiple times and still enjoy it.

Meiner Meinung nach kann man mit Freunden und Familie eine Menge Spass damit haben. Ausserdem werden den Mädchen auch die Grundregeln des Spiels beigebracht, sodass endlich alle wissen, was zum Beispiel „Abseits“ heisst. Das alles macht den Film zu einem witzigen Erlebnis den man auch mal zweimal (oder dreimal) erleben kann.

By Cosima Lauk

FC VENUS :A MOVIE REVIEW

Don’t speak German?We’ve got you covered.

• • • • • •

Name: Cosima Lauk

Age: 15

Class: 10C

Position: Writer

Enjoys: Reading & kite surfing

ABOUT US

Name: Michelle Lam

Age: 14

Class: 10C

Position: Writer

Enjoys: Reading & debating

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ONE DAY BY DAVID NICHOLLS• • •

(Romance) 4 out of 5 stars

Some of you may have seen the movie (starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess) but the book is really worth reading too. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, it is a hilarious yet realistic love story, which proved to be a great change from the usual sappy and incredibly predictable romance novels you might find on the shelves.

The book tells the tale of a bittersweet friendship between Emma and Derek through snapshots taken on the 15th of July every year over the course of twenty years, leaving you to piece some of the events together. The book follows them on this significant day, through their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, describing the struggles in their lives and relationships.

Starting with a love affair that didn’t work out after college graduation, Emma and Derek opt for being just friends. You are able to see clearly how the characters develop and change, through their letters, narrative and dialogue. It is funny in some places, but tragic in others. Their hopes and fears, successes and failures, as well as the steadfast bond between them, are all absorbed by the reader which creates a very intimate feeling, as though we are peeking through a glass window.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a good romantic comedy, especially one that you read curled up on the couch (perhaps with a box of tissues handy). It was surprising to see how author David Nicholls was able to write from a woman’s point of view and he did a great job of it too!

THE BONE COLLECTOR BY JEFFREY DEAVER

• • •

(Murder/Mystery) 4 out of 5 stars

Another book-turned-movie, The Bone Collector featured A-List Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington. Hopefully, this will encourage you to pick it up next time you’re at a book store! The first of the Lincoln Rhyme series, the book revolves around two detectives - Detective Rhyme, a brilliant world-renowned criminologist who is left paralysed from the neck down by a horrible accident, and Police detective, Amelia Sachs.

The book follows several cases that involve a sinister serial killer who calls himself the Bone Collector and initiates a game of cat-and-mouse with the police. Rhyme and Sachs are enlisted to solve the crime together, with Rhyme acting as the brains and Sachs acting as the

arms and legs. At each crime scene, the killer leaves a bag of clues, giving the detectives a chance to save the next victim. However, if they don't solve the puzzle fast enough, the victim will die in an elaborate and grisly manner – by being skinned to the bone.

The story is fast-paced and incredibly intense at many points as Deaver successfully ratchets up the tension and fear at the right places. What I liked most about the story was the amount of detail and the terminology of forensic science, as well as the fact that Lincoln Rhyme was portrayed not as some superhero detective with a love for machine guns, but as a more vulnerable and bitter character with a tough and non-self-pitying attitude.

B o o k s T h a t M a d e I t T o T h e B i g S c r e e n

By Sai Ying Liu

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which begins on October 17, and all senior secondary students should really watch out for this announcement!We also want to improve communication at GSIS. We have already approached Mr. Woodhead (Head of IT) and discussed ideas such as creating a Head Student interactive website, setting up calendars in each room and having televised announcements in the Lounge. Many of these plans are already in the process of being approved so it is all very exciting!After Discovery Week, we will be utilising the Head Student Notice Board to its full potential. At the beginning of every month, we will put up two to three goals that we hope to have achieved by the end of the month. This way, everyone will know what we are up to and can give us feedback about those ideas and whether or not we should go ahead with them.For more information on what Dominik and I have planned for the coming school year, feel free to email us at headstudent.gsis@gmail.com.”

As students, we spend most of our school days either in class or rushing to the next class. Slow down and appreciate the school!

Flip to page 8 for our photo montage - see the school through our eyes.

by Samantha Chow• • •

Last year’s head students, Sachin Srivastava and Raymond Hizon, definitely left some big shoes to fill. This year, Natasha Brown and Dominik Lang attempt to prove themselves as worthy head students.

• • •GSIS’s head girl, Natasha Brown, has already proved to be extremely proactive in the two months that she has held the position of head student. Elected by students before we broke up for the summer holidays in June, Natasha and Dominik Lang (head student of the GSD) have big plans for the coming school year. So we asked our head girl the big question on everyone’s minds: What are the biggest changes you plan to implement this school year? (We let Natasha take the reins on this one. She didn’t need any prompting!)Natasha: “Basically, over the summer I drew up a plan with all the ideas that I want to implement this year with Dominik. We ended up coming up with 25 ideas ranging from things like starting up a Boy's Rugby team to large scale plans like getting food vending machines, getting televised announcements in place and introducing a Y11/K10 Common Room area on the roof.Another thing I am really keen on introducing is the Student Committee. This will be based on the format of the Student Council we had last year, but will enable students to participate more in the running of the school. It will be announced before Discovery Week,

Name: Sai Ying Liu

Age: 16

Class: 12C

Position: Writer

Enjoys: Swimming, watching movies & sleeping

Name: Hilaire Wong

Age: 14

Class: 10D

Position: Writer

Enjoys: Going to the beach & watching tv

ABOUT US

Name: Nicole Chong

Age: 14

Class: 10B

Position: Wtriter

Enjoys: Reading magazines & shopping

Will our New Head Student Live Up to

Expectations?

TAKE A TOUR AROUND CAMPUS

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YOU ASKED:

Help! I always feel bad at night because I’m usually up finishing a piece of homework due the next day. How can I stop this?

But it’s not due till ___

ANNIE ANSWERS

Dear but it’s not due till ____,It’s easier said than done, but the only way to overcome this problem is to work on your time management. Be aware of the times when you are procrastinating and remind yourself of the tasks that you have yet to complete. Some people find that doing work as soon as you get home so that it’s immediately out of the way, makes it a lot more pleasant. This doesn’t apply to everyone though, because everyone has their own individual working style. Identify what time of day is best for you and, when that time comes, get rid of distractions. To quote Nike – “Just do it”. People procrastinate because they know they can. Tell yourself that when you do this the quality of your work – and your mood – is compromised.

ANNIE ANSWERS

Annie answers your questions in our advice column. Ask annie on our website, www.thecommonroomnewspaper.webs.com,under the ‘Ask Annie’ section for the chance of getting your question answered.

by Anonymous

YOU ASKED:

I feel like I can’t fit in with the friendship groups in my year. I don’t know what to do, any ideas?

Feeling lonely

ANNIE ANSWERS

Dear Feeling lonely,Firstly, never change your identity to fit in. You are you; that’s all you need to be. Sit down and ask yourself if there are negative aspects of your personality which may be driving people away – and be honest with yourself. If there are, work on improving those qualities. It may be simply a matter of different interests. If so, you should seek out other interest groups and hopefully you’ll meet people who you have heaps in common with and make good friends. If you feel you have been made a victim of bullying though, for example if you are being excluded or targeted deliberately, you should speak to a parent or teacher and ask them for help.If you are genuinely having difficulty with your work and feel that you have to put in more hours than your peers, you should let your teacher know because he or she will be able to help you.

YOU ASKED:

I want to cut myself. I know it’s stupid,

so I don’t tell people that I’m tortured with

suicidal thoughts every day. People tell

me to be optimistic but I don’t know how

to actually feel that way. I get this urge

to cut every time I see a sharp object, like

a pair of scissors or a razor blade. What

should I do?

Don’t know why I hurt myself

ANNIE ANSWERS

Dear don’t know why i hurt myself,

Firstly, know that you are not alone. This problem is more common than you probably think, and there are options available to you to get help. If you don’t feel you can talk directly to your parents, you could approach the school counsellor, or another teacher that you trust who can help to find the right professional counselling. The important thing is that you seek help from someone experienced in helping teenagers to deal with these kinds of thoughts. You have taken the first step by writing to this column, but now you need to take the next step and speak to a counsellor.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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1. Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO

2. Levels by Avicii

3. Save the World by Swedish House Mafia

4. Mr Saxobeat by Alexandra Stan

5. Set Me Free by Phonat (Avicii Remix)

6. Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5

7. What Makes You Beautiful

by One Direction

8. Titanium by David Guetta & Sia

9. Walking Alone by Dirty South and

Those Usual Suspects

10. I Just Came to Say Hello (Mashup) by DJ Earworm

THE COMMON ROOMBesides being the name of our paper, the common room is a place for students who have free time during the school day. We have two common rooms: one for year 12 students and one for year 13

students. The common room is a place where we can work, as well as take a break from our hectic schedules. Sometimes, given that there aren’t any objections from students trying to concentrate, we even play music on the speakers. Music creates a great atmosphere in the common room and is also a good way to

discover new artists and songs. We’re here to recreate being in the common room with a list of the top 10 most played songs in the common room.

this month: tunes we’ve been whistling to

The View Around SchoolPhoto Montage

By Samantha Chow and Ian To

Ready to start the day?

Let’s take a break in the year 12 common room

You’ve left your books in your locker by the courtyard!

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Catch the buses at the roundabout at 3:20PM

Listen up to the announcements in the old gym

Desperately need to rush to class! Luckily this hallway is empty

Let’s get creative in the art room Time to shoot some hoops on the court

Break a sweat in the sports hallThe middle building rooftop is the place to play french tennis

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