Tag: Athena’s News Fall 2021

Please help save the critically endangered vaquita!

I am taking Professor Emma’s Marine Mammals science class and wanted to share some information about a critically endangered marine mammal, the vaquita, and how to help. My mom and I made a list of things you can do and some information about the vaquita. I hope people will speak up about the vaquita so that it won’t go extinct because that would be bad for humans and the environment.

Vaquita by Bridget at Athena’s

Vaquitas are dying and I don’t want them to be extinct. They are also interesting – they are the world’s smallest cetacean and only live in one place (Mexico). Because they only live in one place, the people there need to take care of them, but they don’t. So we need people to speak up for them. They are one of the most endangered animals in the world because of illegal overfishing in their habitat. The fishing has to stop for them to be safe. Vaquitas are adorable and I don’t want them to be extinct, so please help them! -Bridget

by Athena’s

Athena’s Advanced Academy is excited to share with our community a recent success by one of our own students.

Ethan Dsouza has won an
international young author’s writing competition!

The writing initiative was sponsored by the United Arab Emirates’ National Commission for Education, Culture and Science as part of UNESCO’s network of cooperating bodies and UNICEF. The stories were required to incorporate at least 2 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and Children’s Rights, be a fun adventure that appeals to young children, and include the author’s vision for a sustainable future. As a national initiative, the competition was fierce, so it is quite an achievement that Ethan was selected as one of the shortlisted students to have their story published! Not only will he be in the national anthology, but Ethan also won a special award for “Most Thought-Provoking Dialogues” for his wonderful adventure story! At the awards ceremony, a special message was delivered to the winning authors by none other than Dame Jane Goodall. Ethan’s drive and goals reflect what we promote and celebrate at Athena’s. Congratulations, Ethan, for your achievement and for working to make the world a better place!

Read on to learn more about Ethan and his experience! Ethan states:

I’m a 10-year-old homeschooler living in Dubai, U.A.E. I’m an avid reader, and I enjoy writing and playing chess. I am passionate about sustainability and want to ensure that our planet remains home to us, other living organisms and our future generations.

“The Voices of Future Generations” story writing competition is a UNICEF initiative and was created to promote awareness of sustainability and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. I participated in the hope that the story I wrote would help draw the urgent attention that these issues require. I am so happy that my story, “Mission CO2; Max and the Secret Desert Lab” won in a category and will be published in an Anthology.

I have taken several writing courses at Athena’s Advanced Academy, and they have helped me tremendously with my writing skills. I have enjoyed them all and my favorite course was “Whodunnit” by Prof. Aman, who encouraged, supported, and helped me with my writing. I hope that everyone enjoys my adventure story and it inspires them to protect our beautiful planet.