CIS TIMES

CISTIMESSCHOOL MAGAZINE Issue 3 - Oct 2019

IN THIS ISSUE BACK TO SCHOOL .......................................................................................6-7
RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY: OUR SCHOOL VALUES ..........8-9
GREEN PAGES ..........................................................................................10-13
READ MY STORY: HOUSE ON THE HILL ..............................................24
MY LIFE IN 30 WORDS .......................................................................28-29

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DEAR FRIENDS,

I am delighted to introduce you to a new issue of our school
magazine. I am sure you will have a genuine pleasure exploring
the pages of this issue.
We started our 4th educational year as a Cambridge School in
Armenia. We have seen significant growth for the past 3 years,
not only in number, but I believe mostly in quality as well. This
magazine has been created and produced by our students and
teachers who want to reflect our school life and share their
experience of being in a Cambridge School.
We are proud to be truly international with a diverse school community, having teachers,
students and parents from all over the world. I believe that this diverse background and
culture, with different experiences and a truly innovative approach to education, ensures the
strong values and broad vision that make our school special.
With such a great team of teachers, students and parents who support us we can embrace
any challenge and achieve our best. If you would like to share your views or join the team of
authors, please write to us at [email protected]
I wish you a pleasant read!

Kind regards,
Runar Salimullin,
Director

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CIS TIMES

October 2019

Editor:
Narine Shaljyan

Proof Editing:
Peter Sloan

Layout Design:
Narine Shaljyan
Runar Salimullin

Photos and illustrations:
Khandoot Paruyryan
Zaynab Megdam Year 9
Aya Megdam Year 8

Contributors:
Fran Lynggaard Hansen
Angelica Sanasaryan
Linda Sloan
Peter Sloan
Lilit Blrtsyan
William Kojumian Year 12
David Ghazaryan Year 8
Monika Gharibyan Year 8
Areg Tshutikyan Year 8
Hirad Choroomzadeh Year 8
Aram Pogossian Year 8
Mariam Agadzhanyan Year 8
Arpi Arakelyan Year 12

Printed in “Master Print”
Publishing House

2019-2020 © CIS TIMES
[email protected]

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CONTENT

06 BACK TO SCHOOL - KNOWLEDGE DAY
08 VALUES-BASED EDUCATION
10 GO GREEN, BE GREEN, THINK GREEN!
14 ELECTIONS OF STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS
15 YEREVAN MARATHON RUN
16 SUNFLOWERS AND COMPASSION
ARE BLOOMING IN YEAR TWO
19 CIS ASSEMBLIES DESIGNED TO
CELEBRATE OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY
20 CIS ARMENIA - CELEBRATING
YEREVAN’S ANNIVERSARY
22 A TEDDY BEARS PICNIC
WITH EARLY YEARS AND YEAR 1
24 BOOK NOOK: READER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
25 READ MY STORY
26 QUIZZES
28 MY LIFE IN 30 WORDS
30 MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

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BACK TO SCHOOL - KNOWLEDGE DAY

By CIS students

David Year 8

Today is 2nd of September. It is such a happy
day in CIS Armenia. It is fun to see your old
friends and to make new friends. I am very
excited to see many new teachers and hope to
have a great year with them.
We have also our traditional BBQ party.

William Year 12 Mariam Year 8

On the first day of school, we were all invited to The first day of school. Students were really
participate in an enjoyable BBQ event. excited to meet new teachers and of course eat
Staff members, students and parents had a very some delicious buffet food.
pleasant and enjoyable time in school.

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▲ Knowledge day

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VALUES-BASED EDUCATION

By Narine Shaljyan

Since students spend a majority of their time Students who feel safe, challenged and
at school, it should be a place that supports supported by a positive school environment are
families’ and communities’ efforts to establish able to aspire to be the best they can.
strong values in students.
Alongside the main curriculums the school
As parents and educators, we are children’s implements, Values Based Education, which
biggest and number one influences; and it is highlights a different value each month for pupils
our responsibility to teach our children about to focus on in assemblies, in class and generally
core values so they may grow up to be caring, around school.
confident and respectful adults.

Why are Values Important
in Education?

The Value of Responsibility The Value of Respect

Throughout September we focused on what Through October we have been learning about
Responsibility means and what we have to be the value of respect. Through assemblies,
responsible for. In assemblies and during the stories and lessons, we have learnt about having
lessons, we learned about being responsible for respect for ourselves, respecting others (and
our words and actions. We need to be responsible their differences), respecting our school and the
around school and make sensible choices about school rules, and respecting our surroundings
the way we behave. We also talked about and environment. Children have been awarded
taking responsibility for our learning – using our with values certificates. We are certainly seeing
initiative, putting lots of effort into our learning children listening to one another’s ideas, holding
and taking on that extra challenge to keep doors open for each other, sharing resources
making progress. well and using good manners – all great signs of
respect.

▲ Y7&Y8 ESL Display ▲ Y5 Display ▲ French class display

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▲ Year 4 performance for assembly ▲ Year 2 “respect hats”

▲ Assembly in Secondary school ▼ Year 4 “Respect“ performance ▲ Weekly Value certificate nominations

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▲ Cambridge topic lesson in Year 6 ▲ Year 4 project presentation

▼ Lesson in Year 4 ▲ Year 6 presentation ▼ Lesson in Year 5

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GO GREEN, BE GREEN, THINK GREEN!

By Angelica Sanasaryan, Cambridge Topic Sessions Coordinator

Green is not just
a colour.
It means taking special steps
to preserve the nature — the
land ,the water, and the air we
breathe.
Why green? Plants are green,
and without them the Earth
wouldn’t be such a beautiful
place for all of us.

▲ Lesson in Year 6

Children live what they learn and
experience as they grow. Cambridge Topic
Sessions challenge our children to think
about their world and their responsibilities.
By including Topic Sessions with lots
of environmental themes in the school
curriculum, our students are exposed to
the concept of green thinking not just to
its very basic meaning but to all its ins and
outs. We believe that developing respect
for the environment at an early age will
make a difference in our students’ future
and the future of our planet.

▲ Year 4 in process

During the whole 1st semester our primary section (Year 3 to 6) as a part of theirf Cambridge Topic
Sessions dived into the subject of “Green and Eco-Friendliness ” enjoying a very exciting and diverse
project under a general theme “Go Green”. Students collected the litter around the school’s green area
and packed it away into sacks.

Later during the semester we designed and assembled Eco friendly buildings, Smart and sustainable
houses, talked about smart gadgets, discussed green living and practices that help to conserve
resources like water and energy and eliminate carbon footprint.

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We are glad to share the interview done by
Monika and David, students from Year 8:

Monika: What is an environmentally friendly rainwater harvesting system, insulation and
house? double glazed windows for our green building
model. It was a real fun!
Daniel Year 4: An eco- friendly house is all about
helping the environment. It normally has solar Aakarsh Year 4: We used pencils, lot of recycled
panels and wind turbines. things as printer paper boxes for making a house,
foil for creating solar panels, toilet paper roll
David :Do you like this topic? Why? for wind turbine and plastic bottle for rainwater
harvesting system.
Alina Year 6: I am interested in this topic because
it teaches us how to take care of our environment David: Aside from energy efficiency, what
are some other important elements to
Adham Year 6: Yes, because we did so many include in a green home?
activities on this topic as making a green building
and planting a tree . Emile Year 6: Bio thermal energy ,wind turbine,
solar panels and of course recycling.
Nareg Year 4: This topic was interesting as we
learnt new things about eco-friendly houses. Monika: What was the most fun part to build
the eco-house?
Nick Year 4: Yes, the topic was interesting as we
found out how good eco- Friendly Houses are for Amir Year 6: Working with my friends, discovering
the environment so many new things I didn’t know about eco-
houses.
Monika: How did you build the house?
Aizere Year 4: It was very fun to paint the fence
Amir Year 6: We used many recycle material as with different colours.
old cd, plastic straws ,yogurt and water bottles,
foam board to do solar panels, wind turbine,

At the end of the 1st semester we concluded our green projects by planting flowering trees
in the yard of our school. We even added some peel of vegetables and fruit to the soil for
composting and enriching the earth for our trees. Students promised to be responsible and
to water and care about the new trees.

We also thought about own homes and found at least 3 ideas or ways to immediately adapt
them to be more eco-friendly and green.

Can you also follow us and GO GREEN?

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▲ Planting trees with Year 6

▲ ... and with Year 2

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ELECTIONS OF STUDENT COUNCIL
MEMBERS

By Narine Shaljyan

Student Council is a very important ▲ Student council election process
part of CIS Armenia. Students are ▲ Elected members in Secondary school
encouraged to have an active and
healthy social life, promote school ▲ Elected members in Primary school
spirit and a sense of belonging.

“Last year I was a member of Student Council.
I remember that the students wanted pancakes
very much. I suggested this and we had
pancakes for the snack”, - says Tigran from
Year 6.

The elections for student council
representatives at CIS Armenia were held
during the first week of October.
From campaigning to voting for their
candidates, students learned the democratic
way of elections.

The Secondary School candidates campaigned
with lots of enthusiasm. They prepared many
creative campaign posters that they placed
over the school. All the candidates were
promoting peaceful values, showing their
willingness to contribute to improving the life of
their fellows during the school year.

In addition to choosing a president, the
students had to vote for council members for
each class.

CIS Armenia Student Council is comprised of
President, Vice President, Secretary, Publicist
and 2 representatives from each class (Year
4-12).
We wish all the best to our new Student Council
for 2019-2020.

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YEREVAN MARATHON RUN

By Areg, Year 8

Think Strong
Be Strong

[ ]Finish Strong

There were so many people I could not find my
classmates!
There were over 2000 participants there. I found out
that the money made will go to charity. Everybody
who participated received a medal of completion.
We ran to save children with no or little resources.
A Miracle!

▲ Areg with a deserved medal

CIS Armenia is full of exciting activities outside the school.
On Saturday, 13th of October CIS community of teachers, students and parents participated in
Yerevan Half Marathon, one of the most colourful and festive events in the country.
We had a great team representing our school in Marathon.
Younger children ran 1 kilometre, while the older students ran 5 kilometres.
Well done to all of the runners who took part. Thank you also to the parents who joined in with the
run.

▲ Matathon group photo with some parents

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SUNFLOWERS AND COMPASSION ARE
BLOOMING IN YEAR TWO

By Fran Lynggaard Hansen

During the months of September and October, As they continued to draw, one student happily

Year 2 students made a small study of Van Gogh remarked, “Look! It’s amazing! There are flowers

and tied their learning to the CIS values of the growing all over my paper!”

month, “responsibility” and “respect.” Students

wondered aloud what it would be like to have “We looked at the colours and were careful to

Van Gogh as a student in their class when he was use the ones that Van Gogh used,” remembers

a boy. Mihul Kaushik.

How would they treat a poor student

who had a special talent; would Luisa Wehnert remarked, “It was

they welcome him, or would “He was poor, easy to draw the sunflowers
they throw rocks at him as because sunflowers are all
Van Gogh’s classmates did and no one wanted different so we couldn’t get it
when he was their age in to buy his paintings”, wrong.”
1859.

Students came to learn remembers six-year-old It took three weeks for
students to create their

that yellow was a colour Luis Cezilly, year two paintings. They began with
of happiness for Van pencil sketches, then added
Gogh, and as he grew and student; speaking of the oil pastels, chalk and finally
moved to Paris, he took tempera paints so their
with him his memories famous artist, Vincent pictures practically jump off

of the beautiful sunflower Van Gogh. the page.
fields of the Netherlands,

now one of his most famous

paintings.

Students also focused on how to plan a painting, “The first part I thought was hard because we
and how to listen carefully to directions. Their had to listen and we didn’t know to how to draw
teacher showed her students how to use simple the sunflowers and the vase, but then our teacher
circles and ovals to create flowers on their own showed us how and then we did it ourselves,”
pages. Children began their paintings with pencil. remembers Davit Badalyan, “I felt proud.”

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▲ Creative process ▶
▲ Year 2 are proud of their work! ▼

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▲ Certificate ceremony during school assembly

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CIS ASSEMBLIES DESIGNED TO
CELEBRATE OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY

By Fran Lynggaard Hansen

Every Friday morning at 8:50 67 students of our The bird he brought with him was born this spring
Primary school and their teachers gather in the and was still not a mature adult. Upon being
Assembly Hall. There we celebrate our students’ asked, to the great delight of the children, the
accomplishments by presenting merit and values falcon spread his massive wings.
certificates.
“Assemblies are for community, learning and Nina Choroomzadeh, a five-year-old, Year one
celebration,” says Peter Sloan, Head of Primary. student was sitting in the front row. She was
“It’s a place to come together.” awed by the power of the beautiful bird. “I have
never seen a bird like that before!” she said, “I will
On Friday, October 11, 2019, Mr. Karen never forget it. It can fly super-fast!”
Aghababyan, an ornithologist who also runs the
nonprofit Birdlinks Armenia, is the coordinator Year Five student Matia Jalalian Targi agrees.
for the Armenian Bird Watching Association “I just loved it when the handler let the bird fly
and an advisor to the Armenian Ministry of the across the room – he was so beautiful!”
Environment, arrived with a baby Eurasian Hobby
Falcon to show the children.

As the falcon chirped loudly and happily, Mr.
Aghababyan explained that this variety of falcon
actually nests in the tall trees of Yerevan.

▲ Special guest

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CIS ARMENIA – CELEBRATING
YEREVAN’S ANNIVERSARY!

By Peter Sloan

On Wednesday 16th October the Primary interesting to see the writing used by Armenian
Department, from Years 2 to 6, and on the ancestors all those long years ago. Some of the
17th October Secondary Department visited writing on the huge stone tablets was nearly
the fascinating Erebuni Museum. The trip was a three thousand years old! We learned that over
special event to celebrate the 2801stAnniversary the years the name Erebuni became Yerevan and
of the founding of Yerevan. that meaning of the name was victory.

The children were excellent ambassadors for The trip helped us to hear more about the rich
our school as the guides showed us around the history of Armenia and that we can learn much
exhibits in the museum. It was amazing to think from our fascinating past. Many thanks to Ms.
we were standing where King Argishti and his Ruzanna, our Head of Armenian, who organised
warriors had stood all those many years ago. the visit for us.

We saw ancient jewellery, roof rafters, shields,
arrow heads and much, much more. It was really

▲ Primary school visit to Erebuni museum

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▲ Secondary school visit to Erebuni museum
▲ Children exploring the history ▼

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A TEDDY BEARS PICNIC WITH EARLY
YEARS AND YEAR 1

By Linda Sloan

We had a lovely day on Wednesday 16th October If You Go Down
as the class brought their Teddy Bears to school To The Woods
and the children had a fun-filled day of learning Today You’re
and games. This was part of this month’s theme In For A Big
based on bears.
Surprise!
All the children helped to make picnic food of
fantastic fruit salad, terrific teddy bear cup-
cakes and some delicious juices with names
such as ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy’, ‘Grizzle’, ‘Pawsitivity’ and
‘Pawlicious’. During the day the teddies and their
children played hunt the bear and some exciting
balloon games. The delicious picnic was enjoyed
by all and was followed by a special showing of
‘Brother Bear’ accompanied by cones of popcorn.

The children learned a range of skills such as
cutting, rolling, mixing and counting, along with
many opportunities to practise their social skills.
We also enjoyed sharing a lovely story about
Paddington Bear.

It was a great day and the children, and their
teddy bears, had a lovely time!

▲ Fun activities with EYFS ▲ ... and Year 1

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▲ Teddy Bears picnic day

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BOOK NOOK
READERS’ RECOMMENDATIONS

By CIS students

By Mariam Year 8

Title: Private Peaceful
Author: Michael Morpurgo

I really like this book because it is really deep and
emotional. It feels like the emotions transfer to you. The
book is about the World War 1. My favourite character was
Charlie because he always stood by his younger brother
and defended him. My favourite quote in the books is “He
was different and special.

By Aram Year 8

Title: 1984
Author: George Orwell

After World war 2 a man called Winston Smith starts to
understand that he is constantly under surveillance of the
Police.
It is an extremely interesting story and I think it is intended
for mature people.
My favourite quote from the book is, “War is Peace”.

By Year 2 Students

Title: Not Now Bernard
Author: David McKee

Mihul: I liked when Monster read Bernard’s comics.
Luis: I liked the pictures. I liked the Monster.
Katrina: I don’t like this story, as it is a very sad
story.
Angelina: Bernard’s parents did not listen to him.
Monster ate him. It was so sad.

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READ MY STORY

By Arpi Year 12

House on the Hill

The house was small, almost as small as the fire in the
owner’s heart, as small as the flower in a field. It was made
centuries ago but it still kept standing, after everything that has
happened to it. It was burned, taken down, almost torn down,
but it still kept standing. People couldn’t understand how, if
it was any other building it would’ve been “dead” a long time
ago, but it kept standing, like it was never hurt before. but little
did anyone know while standing at the top of a hill, and being
higher than the other houses, it was hurt. Hurt from the inside,
no one knew that, it never showed, the insides were being
eaten, it was getting weaker daily, but it was quiet. Didn’t resist
it, didn’t feel pain anymore, as it had nothing to feel anymore, it
was empty on the inside. Without feeling pain, without having
any emotions known to man. It was just...empty. No one did
anything, not itself, not others, no one cared, neither the house
or the others around it. It just got ruined by time and then it was
irreversible.
It was just a simple, ruined, hurt house on the top of a hill.

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THE THREE HORRID PIGS AND
THE BIG FRIENDLY WOLF

Can you find the differences in the pictures?

Illustrations by Aya Year 8 and Zaynab Year 9
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CIS WORD SEARCH

By Monika and David Year 8

I BS TNEDUT S
NZ R EMPA THY
T I TVALUEST
E GD I R BMA C I
R CO J GUR CG L
NK P B I MUHM I
ANML E K J E X B
TNVNLGHRL I
I K I NDNE SSS
OA T T ENT I ON
NP YOE XCBHO
A Y D T QWR N J P
LOOHC S YUOS
J LOVEGVZ PE
NUF T C E P S E R

1) School 6) Kindness 11) International
2) Teacher 7) Love 12) Cambridge
3) Armenia 8) Empathy 13) Values
4) Attention 9) Food 14) Responsibility
5) Fun 10) Students 15) Respect

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MY LIFE IN 30 WORDS Hirad Year 8

By CIS students I was born in an age of
chaos (I loved it). I love
Ernest Hemingway was once literature and films. I
challenged to write a story have faced hardships and
in six words. He wrote “For challenges a long time
sale: baby shoes, never worn.” ago, it made me happy.
Legend has it that Hemingway
called it his best work.

[ ]Inspired by this story, our
students tried to describe their
lives in 30 words.

Zaynab Year 9 Harut Year 8 Monte Year 7

I am a student. I was My name is Harut. I am 12 One night in 2007 came
born in 2006. I love my years old. I like computer out me!For 11 years our
family and I wish to speak games and I like football. family built our wall, our
English well, so I go to the I am from Armenia. I like friends holding it up. One
University and become a my friends and family so day, he took some words
dentist. much. and broke it down.

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William Year 12 Mariam Year 8 Aya Year 8

My name is William I am a shy but friendly I was born in 2007 in
Kojumian and I live in nature loving girl. Born in December. I am funny, nice
Armenia. I am a student the years of 2007, being and shy. I have two sisters.
at CIS Armenia school. I 12 years old, loving my I live in Armenia. I am from
am a hardworking and an caring family and friends. I Iraq. I speak Arabic and
intelligent sixteen year old lough and smile every day. English.
boy.

Menua Year 7 Monika Year 8 Aram Year 8

My name is Menua. I am Hi, I am Monika. I am 12. I was born in 2007,
11 years old. I am a very I love watching NETFLIX September 2. I am weird
happy person. I live in a lot. I am very emotional but I like it. I like books and
Armenia and I like going to and very crazy. I love philosophy. I am a nerd
school and I like travelling. to spend time with my and love it. I like movies
friends a lot. and comics.

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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Dear readers and contributors to CIS TIMES,
It has been a truly action packed Term at CIS
Armenia. We have had so many interesting
projects and events happened, happening and
still to happen.
It gives me immense pleasure to ensure that
this magazine has successfully accomplished its
objective. The reflection of the students’ work,
creativity and achievements is the focus of the
magazine.
What makes this magazine different is the
simple fact that it is the combined work of our
dedicated staff and also the talented group of
students who are attending our After school Newspaper Club.
This is a tremendous achievement in such a short time frame. THANK YOU.
Finally, I would like to thank you, the readers of CIS TIMES, for your interest in the
magazine. I encourage you to send us your invaluable feedback and ideas.
Have fantastic end of term holidays.
Narine Shaljyan
CIS Times Editor

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[ ]CIS TIMES
Isuue 3
October 2019

CIS Armenia is a registered Cambridge International School