Major school events at ISC-Lahore include frequent sports competitions with other schools in Lahore, annual sports days, concerts, English and Urdu plays, English and Urdu debates, field trips, carnival, bulletin board competitions, and art exhibitions.

Educational quizzes, spelling bee contests, and mathematics quizzes are also organized on the ISC-Lahore campus. Grade 12 students take part in Senior Day festivities, a tree planting ceremony, and graduation ceremonies.

During the month of August of each year, ISC-Lahore runs an annual three-week Summer School Program for students in grades 3-10. Students from grades 11 and 12 plan and implement this summer program which has become successful over the years. They work as Senior Prefects within the following departments: Academics, Management, Finance, Sports, Activities, and Examinations.

The Urdu Drama Festival

The Urdu drama festival, a culturally rich and vibrant event, was held on February 9, 2013. It was a joint effort of the Urdu Department and the SLO with three hundred students as participants. The event was colorful and it was made festive by the delighted faces of the audience and their cheers. A hearty welcome was given to the guests by a shower of rose petals by students who were dressed in beautiful attires.

The event opened with the national anthem and then a warm welcome was given by students of KG1 and 2. A tribute was paid to Allama Iqbal through recitation of his poetry. First a “dua” by Iqbabal was recited by students of grades 1 and 5, and later grades 5 and 6 performed the song “Ya Rab Dil-e-Muslim.” A tableau on environmental awareness was performed by grades 2, 3 and 4. It was depicted beautifully in exquisitely colorful costumes representing nature. The festival also included two dramas. The first by grade 7 and the second by grades 10 and 11. Both were serious dramas and were performed exceedingly well by the students. The festival also consisted of a short skit on the traditional custom of Mehndi by grades 8, 9 and 10. The entire festival was a rich representation of Pakistani culture. This included dances by the junior and senior sides alike, a Qawali by grades 9 and 10 and a cultural parade by the senior-most class illustrating the four provinces of Pakistan.

The festival ended on a note of acknowledgement and an address by the Director, Mrs. Margo Abdel Aziz, who thanked the audience and appreciated the efforts of all the participants. The Urdu Festival was a huge success and was conducted effortlessly under the guidance and leadership of Mrs. Shah, Head of the Urdu Department. The whole Urdu Department, the SLO, students involved and the concerned faculty should be applauded for their untiring efforts in successfully carrying out a fun-filled festival.

Women Empowerment: A Dream Turning Into Reality

8^th March, 2013 was a celebration of International Women’s Day. Accordingly, the Women Development Department in the Punjab government had arranged a seminar that was partly a celebration of all that had been achieved in the past year, and partly a call to arms for all that still needed to be achieved. Arranged by the Secretary to the Government of the Punjab (Women Development Department), Ms. Irum Bukhari was our host for the event.

ISC-Lahore sent four representatives (Ms. Aimal Asi, Ms. Faryal Barque, Ms. Sobia Ansar, Mr. Adham Fayyad) to show their support for the Gender Reform Action Plan initiated by the Women Development Department as well as for the cause of women empowerment. Ms. Bukhari introduced the admirable work that had been achieved in the eleven months that she has been active in the Department. She spoke of social, legal and educational changes that GRAP has been a part of so far, creating a niche for women to coexist with their male counterparts in the professional and legislative world.

Representatives from other organizations that actively work for the empowerment of women were present in full force. The Working Women’s Organization, the Aurat Foundation, Shirkat-Gah, and DFID were all represented. The guests of honor for the evening were Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Advisor to the Chief Minister, and Dr. Mira Phailbus, an eminent educationist and the first female Ombudsperson. Every speaker articulated their message with dignity and passion.

The importance of the work that is being carried out can only truly be appreciated when one realizes that women do not merely form one functioning part of society. They do not merely perpetuate society, they help educate and shape it. In a very real way, they are the vanguards of its morality, its integrity, its honor, its happiness, its prosperity: All that makes society humane.

By Ms. Aimal Asi

English Department