We have issues!

Issue 1.2

And we like it! Our second issue has arrived on campus with sacks of holiday cheer. Please pick up a copy, pour a hot drink, read, enjoy. We are taking feedback of all shapes and flavors: suggestions, corrections, accolades, diatribes, responses–anything written in love.

We want to offer you the best reporting possible, and would love your help.

–The Candango Syndicate.

Word of the year is (tear), “unfriend”

Carolina Barbosa

This week, NPR reported that the “word of the year” is unfriend. In social networking, to “unfriend” is to take someone off of your virtual friend list.

Implicit in this decision is that “to friend” is a verb, and that as quickly as a random acquaintance from an unsubstantial time can be cataloged as a friend, another can be “unfriended” without reservation.

What does this say about us? How has facebook, orkut, et al., changed friendship?

Do you have a story of “unfriending”?

Please let us know, and we will include your thoughts in a future article about friendship, community, and true relationship in a world that is privatized by screens, text messages, and lazy correspondence.

What does Christmas mean to you?

All Hallow’s Eve just passed, and we’ve not yet given thanks for turkeys, but we’ve already set our hearts on Christmas.

Please leave a comment of 15-30 words that answers the question above. Just be honest, considering what the holiday truly means to you and to your family (it could mean very little!). We will include 25-or-so of the best responses in the next Candango issue.

Leave your first name and grade (or occupation for non-students) with the comment.

And so it begins…

Volume 1.1

The first issue of The Candango hit campus this Friday. Pick one up and let us know what you think. We had some “lift-off turbulence,” and know there are several typos and other imperfections, but we glad to have begun, and would appreciate any comments from the community to help us be a better service for you all.

Until next time.

–The Candango

The players and coaches speak: A Big 8 preview

By Luc Fagerberg and Felipe Serpa

Girls’ Varsity Soccer

Sarah Brassianini is a returning member of the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team for this year’s BIG 8 Tournament. Sarah plays as striker, and has been a starter every year as well. Her experience as a soccer player traces back to middle school, where she joined her JV team in eighth grade, and then came to Brasilia and has played for us ever since. One thing she sees as a cutback in this year’s team is the lack of communication – during and after games, but believes that this will come with time. She has high hopes for this year, as all seniors always do, and knows that the team has a competitive chance at top 3. The girls have not yet lost a game this season. She believes the player that will make the biggest impact on the team (and this year’s revelation) is the defender Lucia Perez Alfaro, also a senior and a new student at EAB.

 

Boys’ Varsity Soccer

Daniel Baum is a senior at EAB, entering the school his sophomore year, and playing on the team ever since as a starter. Baum was put on the backup team many times in Graded’s JV Soccer, but his dedication paid off and today he is an extremely skilled player, and this year’s captain. Daniel has attended practice despite an injury—a testament to his belief in this year’s team. There is intense individual talent and physical fitness is nearing its prime. The drawback for the boys is the lack of integration, and the unity. Daniel believes the team players need to trust each other and communicate, team chemistry is lacking. He also points out an exceptional player who he believes will make a great difference at Nosso Recanto: Frederico Farani, a new sophomore student. He sees great skill and potential in him, and places his bets on his abilities.

Coach Eric Méteé has been at EAB since 2003. He began as an assistant coach to both boys’ and girls’ soccer, and is today head coach and athletics director. He began coaching soccer in 1991, in the US. He states the communication needed between schools in the BIG 8 Tournament in order to organize the event – the host school with NR, and then the host school with all other schools (to inform price, dates, etc.). As coach, he has strong belief in this year’s team.

For the last years he has coached, he has achieved one first place, one second, two fourth and one seventh (last year’s team). This year, he (like Daniel Baum) sees strong individual skill, and believes he has the duty to unite this team and motivate them to play their best. Coach Méteé believes in the new coming players, like Frederico Farani, Tareq Al-Bader and the new goalie, Rodrigo. Two important points he emphasizes for this year’s team (differently from last years) are the presence of extremely skilled goalies and strikers. Méteé believes this team has a competitive shot at the championship trophy – and points out one game he would like to see played at NR: EAB vs. ASA (the school from Paraguay, who beat our team two years back in the semi-finals due to unfortunate accidents) in the semi-finals.

 

Basketball

Basketball is the other sport to be played at the big 8. The girl varsity team is led by Andrea Lewandowski who has played basketball since 5^th grade including 2 years here at EAB. For her this year is about working her best and having no regrets in her final year of basketball as a senior. Although the team lacks communication and chemistry as well as proper conditioning, Andrea is confident that her team can attain at least a first or second place at the Big 8. The teams recent loses against teams in Brasilia have been a “good learning experience” and feels that this teams particularly high shooting percentage will pay dividends when they travel to São Paulo.

Gabriella Valencia, co-captain of the basketball team has only been playing for four years yet has already achieved a high respect from all the players. For her, this season is about the team yet still grasps the opportunity to grow as an athlete and perform well at the point guard position, one that she has never held before. The lack of truly veteran basketball players on the team is outweighed by the hustle or “raça” the team displays on the court. Gabriella wants a medal, and so does the team.

Boys basketball, last years champions, are returning to the big 8 tournament with many key players missing – Shean Itholeng, Daniel McCaskey, and João Felipe Meirelles, Dyllan Taxman. However, a solid core is returning with point guard Luc Fagerberg, gaurd Pedro Baena, and center Guilherme Zanetti, and head coach Scott Galles. With new additions Emilio, Gustavo, and Miguel, and Coach Wolverton as well as additions from the little 8 squad, the team is ready to make a run. Mr. Galles, a veteran coach who has always displayed a high level of success as a coach, whether it was in Japan, Rio, or here at EAB has always been defined as a man who demands intensity. His teams have taken the personality of the coach. Some time is spent refining offensive patterns while other parts are dedicated to skill building. Both players and coaches are keen on achieving the goals of having fun, growing, and wining. The road will be hard but as Coach Galles stated, “underneath all the pain, there will be growth.” We hope this growth will bear the fruit of a championship.

 

Cheerleading

The last sport to be performed at the big 8 tournament. The team is led by veteran dancers Maria Eduarda Oliveira and Maria Eduarda Negri. They have been cheering 10 and 9 years respectively through junior cheer, prep cheer, little 8 and now captains at big 8 level. This year’s squad is experiencing many difficulties as one of the coaches has left the team due to pregnancy. This leaves both the varsity and junior varsity team with one coach, Patricia.

Despite setbacks, the cheer team is preparing 3 performances, a dance characterized by the movimento of Brazilian music. The next is a pom dance to the rhythm of Justin Timberlake that has more structure and pyramids. Differently than previous years, this team is undertaking a third performance in which they will dance with the little 8 squad with Michael Jackson music as a homage to the late pop artist. The team is extremely exited to perform with the new additions of this year. Even though there is no prize, they will perform and cheer to the top of their lungs just as we all will for the 5 teams departing for São Paulo in November.

 

Lights, cameras, and lots of action

The Hosts of the 2010 MTV Music Awards

By Rachel Bhaskar, Marcos Buitrago and Julio Sammy

Forget Hollywood—The 2010 MTV Music Awards was handled seamlessly by the EAB senior class.

EAB holds a culturally diverse community, and with that comes a wide spectrum of talent. This year the upper school talent show (6^th grade-12^th grade) consisted of twelve acts with a total of twenty-two participants. These acts were judged by Mr. Meklin, Mrs. Crandall and Dona Gracinha. “The first day of the show can be considered to be a great success,” said Nicole Nasr, Vice President of the Senior class.

The turnout on October 16th was unexpected and unprecedented, and they helped make a great source of income for the senior class—sources confirmed that this year there was a marked increase in attendance.

In addition to a number of diverse and dynamic high school performances, middle school children also displayed their talent in unique and various ways. Students performed dances, sang, and played instruments. Participants entertained audience in creative ways. One act involved a girl singing while three others accompanied her dancing.

Pedro Fárias

Perhaps the most surprising act of all, sixth grader Pedro Fárias displayed his outstanding talent for acting and singing simultaneously, and won first place that night! Being a young student, Pedro was composed and ready to perform. Not only did he perform well, but spent time backstage reassuring older students who were suffering from stage fright.

The lower school talent show went well also; children had fun and the parents were content.

Little kids are naturally very hyper, and that made it hard for me to interview them because when I asked out loud, “Who wants to get interviewed?” at least five children raised the hand and started to argue but I chose one of them named Isabella. A seven-year-old Brasilian American, she has been in Brasilia for just about a year. She told me that she was going to dance to a song called “Hold down, throw down” by Hannah Montana. She also said that she and her friends practiced for about ten days before the talent show. Although she shared with me that it was the first time she was going to perform in front of such a large audience, she appeared to be very confident and was sure that she and her group will win. She told me that she did not feel nervous, even though she was closely observed under the spotlight that night by her family and friends.

Overall, for preparing this talent show so meticulously, the seniors were praised for constructing “one of the most professionally organized talent shows,” said another seasoned observer. However, seniors could not have planned this event without the support of the dedicated teachers who spent hours advising the organizers. Many felt that during the process of setting up the decorations and moving through obstacles as a class strengthened the unity of the Class of 2010.

Julia Piquet, the class president shared with us that at one instance during the show night, the music had not played after performers came on stage, and how she felt perturbed at that moment. So, at most, the main flaw was when the sound system was not synchronized with some performers.

This blunder and Kanye West notwithstanding, we think there were fewer mishaps than MTV’s ‘09 Awards.

New teachers, part two

Mr. Nejman

by Gabriela Fajnzylber

A year ago, John Nejman would be in the freezing cold November of Philadelphia. Now, his big coats lay stashed away, as he has become one of the newest members of the EAB faculty. Mr. Nejman always wanted to travel to South America and after being interviewed by several schools, he made the decision to come to EAB. He was born in Philadelphia and has lived in both Hawaii and New Zealand. When he was young, Mr. Nejman never dreamt of becoming a chemistry teacher but wanted instead to grow up to become a football player for the Eagles, his home team. After realizing that he was just too small (and admittedly too slow) to play, he decided instead to go into teaching. He then attended Duke University to study biology, anatomy and education. So far, he loves Brazil, particularly our tropical weather. However, he misses his friends, his family and especially his beloved football games.

Ms. Gallagher

by Gabriela Fajnzylber

Erin Gallagher, one of the newest editions to our school, had never lived outside the United States. When the idea came up of working in an international school, EAB seemed like the best choice. So far, she loves the weather, the people, and the many regions to travel to and experience. However, she must admit that not speaking the native tongue has been hard. She also misses her family and the friends she left back in Philadelphia. She decided to become a teacher after working at a sports camp and getting the experience of working with kids. She then decided to attend Layfayette College and study biology. She enjoys the interaction between students and teachers and likes the fact that it is not a typical “desk job.”

Ms. Hills

by Borja Buitrago

Originally from Arizona, it is Edie. Hills’ first time working at an overseas school. Brazil is perfect for her for our newest middle school math and science teacher. She says that it reminds her of Arizona because of the beautiful sky. Although Portuguese is challenging for her, Ms. Hills still has a great time and loves her new students. Ms. Hills has graduated from four different universities, in which she majored in four different topics, psychology, criminal justice, social service, and education. She loves this school, her favorite so far. “Kids make my day every day,” says Ms.Hills. When she was little Ms. Hills hated math but was good at science. “Brazil would be like a paradise to work in,” says Ms. Hills, “if only the cicadas would disappear”.

Ms. Looney

by Dorothea Niklhas

“Even though I already lived outside of the US for two years, I still was very excited to work at an American school in Brazil!” Megan Looney is our new lower-school teacher for third grade. Within a new teaching position, her first “own class-room” and of course an completely unlike surrounding, she explained that it never would be easy for anyone to settle down fast, but with specific help from an old friend of hers, Ms. Andrea, who as well worked at EAB, she thought it was an awesome opportunity to move to Brazil. “It was good that I live in South Korea for a little while, so I already knew what it would be like to live somewhere else” she added with a smile on her face “but Portuguese is still not easy for me!” Now she has her own class full of 22 third graders. While she went to the Bradley College she never thought of teaching a lower-school class; she always wanted to be a doctor, but as she stopped her major in medicine to start her new major in Elementary Education, she knew, that she finally found what she was looking for. “I love EAB! And I love my new class, it always feels like they keep me excited and happy!”

Behind the aprons

By Mathews Namachanja

Canteen King and Queen: Cicero and Marlene

Have you ever taken the time in recognizing who is behind the food that you day to day at this school. Not many people are concerned about who and how their food was made, just as long as they have conquered their hunger or quenched their thirst. I for once have taken the liberty in informal the EAB community on who is responsible for their satisfaction.

“Man shall not live by bread alone,” writes the author of the Torah, in Deuteronomy 8:3. The cafeteria staff took this phrase literally and began introducing different types of foods and snacks to soothe ones hunger. One of the sincere workers is Cicero Moraes the upper-cafeteria cashier. Most of you might distinguish him because he is the one you commonly address to when you need something to purchase. He has been currently working for the canteen for more than a year now and he still hopes to work there for more years if possible. Most of the employees seem to be pleased with their occupation. Cicero Moraes for example stays at Valparaiso and he has to wake up by 5:40am just to get the 6:00am bus so as to get to work before 7:00am. Most people would find this routine to be unpleasant after a short time, but that is not enough to keep him from having a positive attitude towards his work.
In the EAB cafeteria, there are diverse foods that cater for all. It has a price range R$ .50 of for common candy to R$ 13.00 for Nerds. It you are looking for a hot meal you will be sure to enjoy the food made by the local chef. The upper-canteen only consists of light foods such as Crepes, Burgers, Salgados, refreshments, and candy, while the lower-canteen only caters for hot meals which price varies depending on the amount put.

One wonders how much to start such a business might cost you when setting it up. Most students and teachers would recognize Samia as the sole proprietor of the canteen. Samia mentioned that she spent at least R$ 70,000 which is about $ 40,000 USD to hire some workers, and to buy kitchen equipment and other necessities such as plates and utensils. To begin such a delicate business involves taking numerous risks, because one is never certain if he or she would be successful.

This year the canteen has made improvements throughout. “I noticed the canteen has made improvements when I compare it to when it start last year. I certainly like the food epically when they started sushi day and I think the price of the food is fair, because that is what I would normally expect when I eat in a restaurant outside school,” explained Mr. Kliner, my Economics teacher. Another commenter was Pedro Baena Soares—known widely as Bobo—who stated he couldn’t last a day without the canteen’s Goobers.

We would like to take this time to that the canteen workers in their hard work and commitment in Serving the EAB community the best way possible.

K-5 bug project

By Maria Paula Guimarães

 

EAB strives for academic success. One indicator for this success is whether students are able to see connections across subject lines together for a better understanding. By learning history in a Portuguese class, or learning English in a math class. And that was Ms. Carmen’s objective. As a K-5 teacher her goal is to keep the children’s focus in the subject.

Last year she had this great idea of working with insects in all classes. In science, they would learn about each insect; in music, they would sing songs about bugs; in Portuguese, they would write stories about them; every subject had a little bit of bugs related to it. When doing the same things again the second time, it always comes out better. This year Ms. Carmen had the program modified to increase the educational and entertainment value for the kids. She introduced other creatures such as fish and snails to the program. Ms. Carmen was the specialist in the fish subject while the other K-5 teacher would work with the bugs. Since all K-5 teachers had to learn about bugs and fish they would swap teachers and expand their cycle of friendship by mixing with the other class. In music classes had always a little bug song. And the Portuguese teachers would ask the students to write bugs stories.

Not only the teachers and students were part of this experience, the parents were also playing a roll. The kids and parents took part in “Family Projects.” One of the projects was to build an insect as a family. They would bring the insect to the class and show their friends.

All the students were glued  to this project. When interviewing the kids,  I could really see how much they are learning from this. They would talk about the “jumping worms” and describe the way they moved with details.  Rebecca, one of the K-5 students said, “We dissected a fish and we could see his bones, and we took the fish’s eyes, and we even saw the stomach where the food goes to.” Rafael told me how the fish lay small eggs and that “if the fish stays out of the water it is going to die.”  Cecilia told me that she found “small red ants that bite and some small black beetles” during the bug hunt that they performed as a class.  And Louiza said that in the school we can find many “green and brown grasshoppers that jump a lot because of their long back legs.” Rafael described snails as “insects that walk slowly and had a shell to protect them.”

As they observed each creature they could compare the differences of each like when Ms. Carmen would show the beta fish next to a guppy. They could really observe them and tell the characteristics of each.

Not only did the kids learn about the creatures but Ms. Carmen also tried to apply the character counts’ pillars into the learning of each day since the lower school is really reinforcing those values. She told me that on the beginning of the experience the kids when looking at the fish were tapping on the aquarium where the fish were placed. They weren’t treating them with the respect that was required, which is one of the pillars, so she thought them that they couldn’t do that to them. They learned to take care of the animals and insects by applying each pillar. So every teaching and lesson learned lead to another putting together this successful project led by Carmen and the community of K-5 teachers.

In conclusion, the bug project is a lovely example of the EAB community develops character, a love for discovery, and character, across the subject lines.

Offering a helping hand

By Maria Eduarda Oliveira, Maria Eduarda Negri, and Zena Salameh

Since 1972, Criamar has been providing a home to orphans in the capital of Brazil. In the last few years, EAB students    have reached out aiming to aid the development of this institution. Emily Dobson, an English teacher at our school, brought Criamar’s need for assistance to the attention of the community. With her leadership and guidance, the institution has reached a higher level. Students from various cultures and ages have united themselves to provide assistance to Criamar.

“There is no better way to teach you guys than you becoming the teachers,” Dobson answered when questioned as to why she felt Criamar was the right institution for the EAB community to help. This school has so much to offer, with students from different cultures and backgrounds coming together to achieve one common goal. The students are not only contributing to a needy institution, but gaining personal experiences that they will carry on throughout their entire lives.

The teachers, staff and students at EAB have come together to form many different teams. Several service learning groups have been formed–they range from a technology group to athletic teams. Members of the EAB community have provided medical assistance, computers and technology courses, painted and decorated the orphanage, and most importantly, created a friendly environment for the children at Criamar. Two houses have been built; the children now have a kitchen, several bathrooms, and a social room. Their “mother,” Angelica Faria, has her own living space. A playground was also built by EAB students. “We are currently working on the main building,” said Dobson.

EAB is composed of influential people in the Brazilian society. Furthermore, we are linked to various embassies and companies. Bringing Criamar to EAB is the same as exposing Criamar’s needs to the public eye. Important figures, such as Anna Christina Kubistchek, have contributed both economically and socially to the institution. A new entrance will be built to make the orphanage safer and more welcoming. Not only has Criamar`s infrastructure improved, the children living there have a friendlier environment around them. EAB students have visited and interacted with the children. Also, various drives were run at EAB to provide Criamar with necessary items. The September/October Clean Your Closet, the October/November/December Basic Needs, and the January/February/March Super School will all donate the products collected by the students to the children living at Criamar.

After several years of aid to the Criamar institution, EAB students have matured to understanding we should always help those surrounding us. While giving so much to those children, our students have gained as much as they have given, learning compassion through the practice of charity.