Youth Writers Awards Asia 2010: English Short Story Writing Competition

Students who are interested to join this competition, may see Pn. Norizah Baba to get the official registration form

Requirements:
1. Theme:Dare to Dream: stories of Imagination, Passion and Sporting Excellence
2. Length : 500-800 words
3. All short stories must be original and written in English
4. Open to youths born between 1992 - 1996
5. Closing date: 13 September 2009

RHB New Straits Times Spell It Right (SIR) Challenge.

On 24 May 2009, MOZAC sent four participants to the RHB New Straits Times Spell- It -Right(SIR)Challenge. The competition was held at Dataran Pahlawan Mall. 18 secondary schools turned up to compete for the Melaka State Championship and Adlina Abd Rahim, a form 2 student from MOZAC was crowned the state champ for RHB New Straits Times Spell- It - Right (SIR) Challenge 2009. She will be representing Melaka at the National Final on August 8 in Kuala Lumpur. Congratulations.

Participants.
1. Adlina Abd Rahim
2. Jananieswary Servai
3. Zul Farahin Zulkifli
4. Thulaja Thesa a/p Vasudevan

Teacher in charge - Pn. Nur Sinarsuria b. Mohd Nadzar

Happy Teacher's Day

Choral Speaking Competition - State level 2009

The State level Choral Speaking Competition was held on 7th May 2009 at Sek. Men Teknik Jasin. As previous years, MOZAC took part in this year's competition. 33 students of form 1-4 was led by Girinivashi presented Financial Disaster at the competition. Again MOZAC did not finish top 3 in the competition. Hopefully, we will have better luck next year. It is hoped that the script writer for next year's team will come up with a script that has humour & audience appeal. The result of the competition:

1. SMK Tinggi St David - Teacher's Nightmare
2. Sek. Tinggi Melaka - Phenomenal Women
3. SMK Yok Bin - Choral Speaking

Teachers in charge:
1. Cik Ungku Khairunisa Ungku Nordin
2. Pn. Norizah Baba

Happy Mother's Day

Myspace Layouts

The History of Mother's Day
In May of 1905, Anna M. Jarvis made a vow that would change the face of calendars forever. Her mother had longed for a special holiday to honor mothers, and Anna vowed to finish the job her mother had started. It would be nine years of hard work before President Wilson signed the official Mother's Day resolution, making official the holiday that started as a way to honor one special mother.
Anna's mother was Anna Maria Reeves Jarvis, the founder of the Mother's Day Work Clubs. She organized these clubs to improve sanitary conditions in her city. The club raised money for medicines, made bottled milk and food inspections, and provided domestic help for mothers who had tuberculosis. The clubs spread throughout the area. During the Civil War, the clubs acted as neutral agents, serving the soldiers of both sides. This was a time of personal tragedy for Anna, as she watched eight of her 12 children die before reaching adulthood.

Near the end of the war, Anna organized a Mother's Friendship Day at the courthouse to bring people of both sides together in peace. Many were afraid the event would backfire and lead to violence, but the event was peaceful and so successful that it was repeated for many years.

Anna died, and her daughter Anna led a small service designed to honor her mother on May 12, 1907, two years after her mother's death. She then went to work making Mother's Day a national holiday. She and her supporters wrote thousands of letters to businessmen, politicians and clergymen, seeking their help in establishing the holiday. In 1908, the first official Mother's Day celebrations were held in West Virginia and in Philadelphia in 1908. Philadelphia was the first state to make Mother's Day an official holiday in 1910, and by the next year, most states had declared a Mother's Day holiday.

After Woodrow Wilson had declared Mother's Day a national holiday in 1914, Anna may have thought her work was over. Unfortunately, the holiday took on a commercial tone, and in 1923, Anna filed a lawsuit to stop a Mother's Day festival. Later, she was arrested for disturbing the peace at a Mother's Day convention. She was furious to find the white carnations she had designated as the official Mother's Day flower being sold. "I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit," she protested. She eventually admitted to being sorry she had ever started the holiday, and she spent all of her inheritance trying to return the holiday to its loving intentions.

Anna Jarvis, the woman who gave us Mother's Day, never married and never became a mother herself, although she received Mother's Day cards from around the world every year.

PIES 4 -8 May: Orang Asli to be IT Savvy

The orang asli village of Kampung Simpang Arang is stepping into the unknown- the villagers have been presented with five computers by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.

For now, no one in the village knows much about computers and digital technology, but village headman Tok Batin Lang Botong hopes the gift will help improve the students’ education and community’s development.

The children, for the part, were eager beavers, crowding around computers to look at what was on screens although none then knew how to operate the machines.

“The villagers especially the students will greatly benefit from these machines’” Tok Batin said, adding that he was touched that his village was chosen by the ministry. The Kampung Simpang Arang headman said he and other villagers were overjoyed with the gift.

“Computer skills are very important in improving one’s education and keeping pace with the country’s developments’” he added. When met after the ceremony here on Saturday, he said he hoped that the villagers would fully utilise the computers and gain more knowledge.

Ministry secretary-general DatuK Abdul Hanan Awang Endut, who presented the computers to the headman, said that the Government was committed in assisting the people of all races and background.

WORD LIST
1. stepping
2.presented
3. headman
4. improve
5. beavers
6. operate
7. greatly
8. benefit
9. touched
10. pace
11. developments
12. gain
13. knowledge
14. committed
15. assisting

ENRICHMENT LIST 1. savvy
2. eager
3. crowding
4. overjoyed
5. utilise

Yes DEAR: 4 - 8 May 2009 : The Donkey in the Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Yours too… Finally he decided since the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. So, the farmer invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed shovels, and began to shovel dirt into the well.
All the other farm animals were very upset about this, because the donkey was their friend. But they discovered there was nothing they could do to help him. At first, when the donkey realized what was happening, he cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw.
With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off, and take a step up on the dirt as it piled up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well, and trotted off!
MORAL: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. But each trouble can be a stepping stone. What happens to you isn't nearly as important as how you react to it. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not giving up!
Shake it off, and take a step up!

MOZAC - STATE CHAMPION for Parliamentary Style English Language Debate

The State level Parliamentary Style English Language Debate 2009 was held from 27 - 30 April 2009 at SMK Ghafar Baba, Masjid Tanah. MOZAC represented Ayer Keroh Zone.MOZAC emerged victorious as the new STATE CHAMPION for 2009. Congratulations to the debaters.MOZAC is going to represent Melaka to the National level in Kedah.

MOZAC debaters:
a) Ahmad Azri b. Abdullah
b) Muhammad Danial b.Abdullah
c) Thulaja Thesa a/p Vasudevan
d) Amundhan a/l Arumugam
e) Ahmad Rahimi bin Khairul Saleh

Ouater final: MOZAC vs SIS
Motion: This house believes that Malaysian schools are robbing students of their
imagination and childhood
Winner: MOZAC
Best Speaker: Ahmad Azri b. Abdullah(MOZAC)

Semi final: MOZAC vs SFI
Motion: This house believes that the media is eroding our traditional values
Winner: MOZAC
Best Speaker: Thulaja Thesa a/p Vasudhevan (MOZAC)

Final: MOZAC vs MGS
Motion: This house would raise the minimum driving age to 21
Winner: MOZAC
Best Speaker: Noel Tan (MGS)

Teacher in charge:
a) Puan Ivy Foo

A special thank you to all the teachers and Ashvin Avalani a/l Chandrakant, our ex debater who had helped to prepare the team for the debate.Thank you for the support and encouraging words. It is hoped that this will continue in preparing the team for the national level in Kedah which will be held in August.

PIES 27 April -1 May: The Artic : Losing its cool

Antarctica is getting warmer rather than cooling as widely believed, according to a study that fits the icy continent into a trend of global warming.
A review by U.S. scientists of satellite and weather records for Antarctica, which contains 90 percent of the world's ice and would raise world sea levels if it thaws, showed that freezing temperatures had risen by about 0.5 Celsius (0.8 Fahrenheit) since the 1950s.
The Arctic is warming up faster than any other region. Because it plays a vital role in cooling the rest of the globe, the effects of this warming will be felt worldwide, not just on remote tundra.
Today, one cannot venture far enough north to escape global warming. The region has heated up nearly twice as fast as the rest of the globe over the past 50 years, according to a 2004 study assessing climate change in the Arctic.
Land-based ice such as glaciers, ice sheets and permafrost and floating ice are vanishing, and the ongoing thaw has profound ramifications for the rest of the world.

WORD LIST
1. believed
2. continent
3. trend
4. freezing
5. risen
6. vital
7. effects
8. tundra
9. region
10. heated
11. glaciers
12. permafrost
13. floating
14. vanishing
15. profound

ENRICHMENT LIST
1. thaws
2. remote
3. venture
4. assessing
5. ramification

Yes DEAR: 27 Apr - 1 May 2009 : The 4 Wives

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.
He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times. Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.
One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!" Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.
He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!"
Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives
a. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
b. Our 3rd wife? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
c. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
d. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.
Readers, our soul is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament

RHB- Star Mighty Minds Challenge

On March 29 2009, MOZAC sent 4 teams to the RHB- Star Mighty Minds Challenge at the state level. The competition was held at Mahkota Parade, Melaka.The teams in each category were required to answer quiz questions based on Mathematics and Science principles and general knowledge through interactive devices.

Category 1 - Forms 1,2 & 3
Group 1
1. Zul Farahin Zulkifli
2. Muhammad Nabil b. Salim
3. Nurashidah Razali

Group 2
1. Erick Naim
2. Jananieswary Servai
3. Adlina Abd rahim

Category 2 Forms 4 & 5
Group 1
1.Muhammad Arif b. Abu Kasim
2.Muhammad Emir Saifullah Abu Bakar
3.Muhammad Faiz Fo'ad

Group 2
1. Muhammad Afiq Razali
2. Akmal Fauzul Azim b. Ayob
3. Akhmal Hakim Zainal Ariffin



MOZAC emerged the first runner up after KYS in Category one. The participants received certicicates, RM 2,000 and a digital camera.Puan Wan Hailah Wan Yahya is the teacher in charge.

Congratulations to Puan Wan Hailah who is the second speaker of Melaka English Debate team which qualify to the semifinal of teachers' debate 2009. The debate will be held in Terengganu next month. This is the first time Melaka qualify to the semi final round.Good luck to her and the team.

Busy Weekend

This week is indeed a busy week as both students and teachers are very busy with co academic competitions and our school programmes - Panca D' 5 and E Mozac Powerpoint Competition. Congratulations to Syed Aidarus who won the best supporting actor award in the SBP Southern Zone English Drama Competition which was held last weekend at SMS Kota Tinggi, Johor.Besides that the choral speaking and debate teams are busy preparing for the State level competitions which will be held at the end of April and early May. Meanwhile, Puan Wan Hailah Wan Yahya is representing Melaka for the Teachers'Day English debate competition along with En. Shuhairi Mat Rus and En. Husaini Zakaria for the Bahasa Melayu debate.Puan Norizah Baba will also be going as an adjudicator for that competition.Good luck to all.

Yes DEAR: 13 Apr - 17 April 2009 : Mountain Story - An interesting short story

"A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it."
YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!"
-- Unknown Author

Parliamentary Style English Language Debate - Ayer Keroh Zone 2009

MOZAC took part in the Parliamentary Style English Language Debate - Ayer Keroh Zone 2009 from 24 - 31 March 2009 at SMK Tinggi St David. Congratulations to MOZAC debate team and teachers.MOZAC is the WINNER of the Ayer Keroh Zone defeating SMK Tinggi St. David in the final. MOZAC is represented by:
a) Ahmad Azri b. Abdullah
b) Muhammad Danial b.Abdullah
c) Thulaja Thesa a/p Vasudevan
d) Amundhan a/l Arumugam
e) Ahmad Rahimi bin Khairul Saleh

Ouater final: MOZAC vs SMK Ayer Keroh
Motion: This house believes that extending school hours ensures a better education
for students
Winner: MOZAC
Best Speaker: Thulaja Thesa a/p Vasudhevan (MOZAC)

Semi final: MOZAC vs SMK Bukit Baru
Motion: This house believes that advertising health and beauty products should be banned
Winner: MOZAC
Best Speaker: Ahmad Azri b. Abdullah(MOZAC)

Final: MOZAC vs SMK Tinggi St. David
Motion: This house believes that development in technology is more a bane than a
boon to society
Winner: MOZAC
Best Speaker: Sara Jane Ho (SMK St. David)

Teachers in charge:
a) Puan Ivy Foo
b) Puan Rita Malina Rahmat

A special thank you to Ashvin Avalani a/l Chandrakant, our ex debater who helped the team to prepare for the zone final.

The Star and Pizza Hut’s Newspaper-in-Education (NiE) Mag Inc (Magazine Incorporated) Contest 2009

Contest Theme: Teenage angst
Deadline for submission: 15 June 2009

Open to lower and upper secondary students. This contest is compulsory for all forms one and two students. Each participating team can comprise of up to 4 members only.
Those interested please see Madam Hailah, Madam Nor Sinasuria or Madam Ivy.
** Briefing about the contest will be on Monday ( 6 April 2009) after
the assembly at the Astaka.

For more information log on: http//contests.thestar.com.my/nie