BRAVO!
KABIR SAMLAL RAISES AWARENESS FOR WAR CHILD THROUGH YOGA
Kabir Samlal is a sophomore at Awty and the 2013 World Yoga Youth Champion. As a yoga ambassador, he has held live demonstrations at many yoga festivals. He is also a certified yoga teacher, and he conducted and donated a class for War Child at the Rotterdam in Balance festival in the Netherlands on August 9.
War Child is an independent NGO investing in a peaceful future for children affected by armed conflict. Organized through a partnership between War Child and the Rotterdam in Balance organization, the event was a great success with 200 people participating at Kabir's one-hour yoga session in the center of Rotterdam. Kabir raised 1,000 Euro (approximately $1,100 US dollars) while creating awareness for the mission of War Child. He continues his efforts by teaching occasionally to refugee children in Houston.
As a community service project, Kabir has set up Kabir's Kids Yoga. He donates a portion of the proceeds to children's charities. Most recently, Kabir served as the keynote speaker at the 2nd Annual Symposium on School-Based Yoga and Mindfulness on November 14. For more information about Kabir, click here.
AWTY INTERNATIONAL AWARDED ECO-SCHOOLS USA SILVER AWARD FOR ‘GREEN’ ACHIEVEMENT
The Awty International School was recognized by National Wildlife 
Federation’s Eco-Schools USA program for exceptional achievement in ‘greening’ physical structure and grounds, conserving natural resources, and integrating environmental education into curricula. It is the seventh school to win the silver-level award, Eco-Schools USA’s penultimate honor.
The Eco-Schools USA program, which is based on the work of student-driven teams dedicated to issues such as recycling and energy conservation using sample materials, background information, and teacher advice provided by NWF, claims more than 870 American schools across 47 states so far.
“We at National Wildlife Federation and Eco-Schools USA are proud of the example set by Awty for Texas, other schools, and the country at large,” said Laura Hickey, Senior Director of Eco-Schools USA. “This award demonstrates not only a commitment to sustainability and environmental literacy for students and faculty, but an appreciation that the best, most effective education transcends the classroom and offers a hands-on approach to learning.”
To win the silver, Awty’s students and faculty tackled a host of sustainability initiatives that began with forming an Eco-Action team, auditing facility energy efficiency, waste disposal, and other environmental impact areas, and instituting environmental-themed curricula. These steps led to several projects including a biodiversity survey of the school campus, an electricity audit of classrooms, and a school-wide assembly for Earth Day, all designed to raise environmental and natural awareness, cut waste, increase student engagement, and save money for the school.
National Wildlife Federation was named the stateside host for the international Eco-Schools program in 2008. The original Eco-Schools program is an international network of 41,000 K-12 schools in 53 countries, started in 1994 by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) with support by the European Commission. It was named by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as a model initiative for Education for Sustainable Development in 2003. To learn more about Eco-Schools USA, click here.
AWTY RECEIVES GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD
On October 8, The Awty International School received the Good Neighbor Award from Spring Branch ISD for Awty's work with its adopted school, Ridgecrest Elementary School.
Awty has set up a mentoring program with Ridgecrest Elementary School, where Awty students volunteer during the summer and in the after school program Monday through Thursday. In addition, Awty sponsors a school supplies drive, a food drive, and a uniform drive for Ridgecrest Elementary. Awty also sponsors three or four Ridgecrest families during the holiday season and donates toys for the children. Each year, Awty sponsors the graduation pins for Ridgecrest's graduates. Finally, Awty's Community Service Coordinator Mrs. Marcelle Gharibeh volunteers on the Ridgecrest Campus Improvement Team.
CLASS OF 2016 - NATIONAL MERIT STUDENTS
Several Awty seniors have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their superior performance on the PSAT.
Four students have been named Semi-Finalists and have been invited to compete to become a Finalist. They include Francesca Alabaster, Connor Grace, Devon Merz, and Arjun Saran.
Ten students were Commended by National Merit: Maxim Gurevich, Tian-Tian He, Lucas Jonasch, Roni Midyat, Michael Niemer, Michelle Ong, Julien Ruzzo, Caroline Sempere, Ellana Slade, and Cristabella Wolff.
Two students earned National Hispanic Scholar Recognition: Margot Hasty and Cristabella Wolff.
Congratulations to all!
AWTY RECEIVES SAFE SPORTS SCHOOL AWARD
The Awty International School, with the help and support of Dr. Jack Jensen and Dr. Mark Geyer from the Athletic Orthopedics and Knee Center, is the recipient of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Safe Sports School Award.
Left to right: Dr. Jack Jensen, Sports Medical Advisor Kiley Muthig, Sophomore Taylor Rechter, Sophomore Zoey Willoughby, Athletics Director John Hoye, and Dr. Mark Geyer
“This is another step in helping to ensure our student athletes participate in a safe and healthy environment," stated Athletics Director John Hoye. "The work that Kiley Muthig, our Sports Medical Advisor, has done to secure this status demonstrates our commitment to providing the best atmosphere possible.”
The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that provide safe environments for student athletes. The award reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention, and treatment. Awty is honored to be one of the first schools in the Houston area to receive this recognition from NATA, and remains committed to keeping its student athletes safe during physical education classes, team practices, and games so they can accomplish their own goals of great competition, winning records, fair sportsmanship, and good health. The goal is to lead the athletics program to the highest safety standards for our players.
“We remain committed to the health and welfare of young athletes in competitive sports,” says NATA President Scott Sailor, EdD, ATC. “This award recognizes the contributions and commitment of schools across the country that are implementing safe sports policies and best practices to ensure athletes can do what they love best and have the appropriate care in place to prevent, manage, and treat injuries should they occur.”
In order to achieve Safe Sport School status, as Awty did, athletic programs must do the following:
- Create a positive athletic health care administrative system;
- Provide or coordinate pre-participation physical examinations;
- Promote safe and appropriate practice and competition facilities;
- Plan for selection, fit function, and proper maintenance of athletic equipment;
- Provide a permanent, appropriately equipped area to evaluate and treat injured athletes;
- Develop injury and illness prevention strategies, including protocols for environmental conditions;
- Provide or facilitate injury intervention;
- Create and rehearse a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan;
- Provide or facilitate psychosocial consultation and nutritional counseling/education; and
- Be sure athletes and parents are educated of the potential benefits and risks in sports as well as their responsibilities.
For more information, please visit www.athletictrainers.org.
9TH GRADE CHESS TEAM NAMED STATE CHAMPS!
On October 23-25, Awty’s 9th grade chess team comprised of Sherwin Rasekh, Yian Wong, Jacob Berg, and Stephen Wells competed in the 19th Annual Texas Grade Championships, which was hosted here in Houston.
The team took first place in the 9th/10th grade division, making them state champions for both grades. Individually, Yian Wong finished in 7th place with two wins, two draws, and one loss—an outstanding result given the strength of the field.
Congratulations to all!
