The Slice CHRONICLE
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THE MAGAZINE TEAM
Welcome to the Summer Edition
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WELLBEING POETRY & ARTICLES
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WORLD BOOK DAY 2024
A round up of events from the day.
Diversity in Literature
The Slice
YEAR 8 & 9 MAGAZINE CLUB SUMMER EDITION
The Slice
As the warm embrace of summer sunshine fills our days, we are delighted to present a radiant selection of articles designed to brighten your spirit and elevate your well-being In this special edition, we’ve gathered a range of inspiring content, all aimed at promoting positivity and nurturing your mind, body, and soul.
From refreshing tips on staying active and healthy under the golden rays, to heartwarming stories and poetry that will make your soul shine, we’ve got it all. Dive into articles that explore the sunny side of life, offering practical advice, uplifting insights, and a dose of summer cheer to keep your spirits high.
So, grab a cool drink, find a comfortable spot in the shade, and enjoy the sunshineinfused wisdom we’ve gathered just for you. We hope each article warms your heart and lights up your path to a happier, healthier you
Here's to a summer filled with joy, wellness, and positivity may your days be as bright as the sun!
Thank you
The Magazine Team
WELLBEING POEM
WRITTEN BY: MEERA MUDUNKOTUWE
I live to be someone my parents are proud of, I live to be an example for others to follow, I live to be loved, I live to be cared for, I live to laugh for endless hours, I live to have meaningful conversations, I live to work out problems that no one can solve, I live to learn about life situations, I live to read, I live to develop my knowledge, I live to read, I live to watch tottenham, I live to watch Formula One. I am worth living for, And so are you.
WELLBEING IS A STATE OF MIND
WRITTEN BY: ERIN ALLDER
Wellbeing is a state of mind, A feeling of contentment is hard to find. It's about being happy, healthy and whole, Achieving balance and reaching your goal. It's not just physical, but mental too, Taking care of yourself in all that you do. Eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest, Meditating and breathing to calm your chest. Wellbeing is a journey, not a destination, It's about finding joy and inspiration. Surrounding yourself with positive energy, And embracing life with all of its synergy So take a step back, and breathe in deep, Put your worries and stress to sleep. Focus on the good, and let go of the bad, It is costly to be sad.
WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE MY MENTAL HEALTH?
WRITTEN BY: MAYA PETTY
Relaxing
Relaxation can help reduce stress.
Creativity
Find something creative to distract yourself if you ever feel worried as it realises endorphins.
Connect with others
Connecting with others is a good way to relieve stress.
Nature
Spending time in nature makes you feel calm and more relaxed.
Physical health
Looking after your physical health is important because it makes as being active also releases endorphins.
WELLBEING,WHAT IS IT?
WRITTEN BY: ERIN ALLDER
Well-being is a fundamental aspect of a happy life. It contains both physical and mental health, as well as emotional and social well-being.
Taking care of yourself through proper nutrition, regular exercise, long rests, and engaging in activities that make you happy are essential components of overall well-being.
Additionally, having positive relationships, seeking support when needed, and practicing mindfulness and self-care are important for maintaining a sense of well-being. Prioritising your well-being not only leads to a healthier and happier life but also enables you to better cope with life's challenges and stress .
Ways to feel more good in yourself
HOW TO MAINTAIN GOOD WELLBEING?
WRITTEN BY: OLIVIA DAVISON
How to maintain good wellbeing?
If you asked someone how you would maintain good wellbeing or what images come to mind when you think of wellbeing, they might say people doing yoga, or someone out exercising, or even someone eating the healthiest meals and drinking lots of water. Of course these are ways of maintaining good wellbeing, but there are other ways.
Wellbeing is defined as ‘feeling good and functioning well and comprises an individual's experience of their life.’ The term ‘functioning well’ could be interpreted as exercising, going to the gym. That’s not necessarily what it means. You don’t need to cut out all the foods you enjoy and spend your free time exercising. I think it’s really about having a normal diet, a range of food groups, and just making sure you have some exercise
Having good wellbeing isn’t even all about what you eat and how much you exercise. It’s also a lot about mental wellbeing and space of mind and feeling calm. To maintain good mental wellbeing, it can be helpful to find something calming that you like to do It doesn’t even need to be an ‘official hobby.’ It could just be going on a walk or finding a good book, listening to music and, of course, art, even if you’re awful at it, is very relaxing and is also amazing fun once you realise that not everything you create needs to look amazing and perfect It can look however you want, but still be very good for your wellbeing.
NHS top tips for maintaining good wellbeing says for number 1: Reframe unhelpful thoughts. The word ‘reframe’ is interesting. It doesn’t say, forget about it and clear it from your mind. Instead, you should focus in on the positives and if you struggle to do that, think about a different way of looking at the situation. Adjust the way you see something and try to rationalise your thinking.
So the word ‘well being’ is very broad, but essentially it is wellness of your being, so to have good wellbeing,
HOW TO FEEL HAPPY WITH YOUR DAY
WRITTEN BY: ERIN ALLDER
Here are my tips for feeling like you had a productive and happy day:
Limit the amount of time you spend on your phone I do this by letting myself on it, but use it to find something to do like a crochet tutorial for example
Read a book
I know you may have heard this before but, you can find free online books or go to your local library or read comics
Learn a skill or song
This can be singing a song or learning a note on the piano or a different instrument, you can get free online pianos
Going outside
You can go to your local park or just your garden, it makes you feel good about yourself and reduces stress
Doing things you enjoy
This can be anything really e.g cooking, reading. You will be happy doing things you enjoy.
WORLD BOOK DAY 2024
WRITTEN BY: RISHI NEWTON
This year, for World Book Day, the English Ambassadors headed down to the Prep school to read to each of the classes from Reception to Year 6. We read lots of different books for example: The Boy Who Met a Whale, The Snail and the Whale, Omar, How to Train Your Dragon and The House With Chicken Legs. We would definitely recommend these books for younger students, if they haven't read them already! The senior school students were very eager to read and the prep students listened attentively. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the experience and we hope to do it again next year!
WORKSHOP WITH AUTHOR BALI RAI
On Thursday 7th of March, all senior year groups eagerly participated in a creative writing workshop run by the author Bali Rai. Bali Rai has written a number of books, including Mohinder’s War and (Un)arranged Marriage which explore his cultural heritage, history and different people’s perspectives on life.
In the theatre, he took us through the concepts and traits of human minds and what attracts us most to a story. Rai explained that humans have minds that always want us to ask ourselves questions that pushes us to keep reading, this is what makes a good story. Furthermore, he expressed how we can easily be emotionally attached to characters in a story, again showing that this is another way for us to be enthralled in the book. Later on in the workshop, he asked us to write a short opening paragraph for a book, and commented on them with those who wished to share and made certain changes to them to improve our creative writing skills. In other workshops he encouraged students to be imaginative and playful with their descriptions of their characters. He asked students to consider what colour they would be, that best reflects their personality and character. More strangely, he asked us to consider which kitchen implement we might be (!!) which roused a few strange looks and giggles, but ultimately got us thinking more creatively about our writing and how to develop a character in a story.
All year groups had a lot of fun during this workshop and hope to welcome Bali Rai back to Abbots Hill again in the future!
WRITTEN BY: ZARA NIELD
Ireallyfoundthewritingworkshop veryinteresting.Ithinkthatallofthe informationthatwassharedbyBaliis importantwhenitcomestowritingfor pleasureorforGCSEs.(MeeraMYr9)
The creative workshop was bursting with excitement and information. (Ava S Yr 9)
I really liked the workshop yesterday, I feel like the author had an interesting approach to reading and it really made it interesting how he explained why, psychologically, we like certain books (Annie N Yr 9)
I enjoyed the honesty and listening to an author's view on creative writing and writing in general. (Asha G Yr 9)
Interesting point of view and different way of explaining/teaching so it was a lot of fun and really interesting (Ophelia H Yr 9)
The creative writing workshop with Bali Rai was very useful for expanding my knowledge of creative writing in English because he taught us the importance of cliff-hangers and using what, how and why to make the reader question what will happen next and want to read on (Amber P Yr 9)
Ithoughtitwasverygoodandbeneficial.I likedthathetoldstoriesaboutthingsthat happenedtohimorotherpeopleandhe gavehelpfulfeedbackonourownwriting. (ZoeCYr9)
I found the workshop interesting and memorable, Bali Rai was honest and funny when explaining key points in creative writing! (Emily P Yr 9)
The creative writing workshop was an amazing experience, in which I managed to collect some helpful tips on how to write a book well as well as grab the audience's attention (Imogen M Yr 9)
The world book day workshop was enjoyable because it was interesting An author came in and shared his views on what makes a good story, he interacted with the audience which made it more fun. (Keira McB Yr 9)
I really liked it It provided information that I haven’t learnt yet that will help with my English as I move towards GCSE (Lauren L Yr 9
I thought that the creative writing workshop with Bali Rai was really interesting and helpful because It taught me to ask questions when I write and to not tell the readers all the information so they want to read on. I really enjoyed it and had a fun time! (Bea L Yr 9)
DIVERSITY WITHIN LITERATURE
WRITTEN BY: MAYA PETTY
Solitaire
This is not a love story, Tori is a year 12 student who doesn't have many close friends, she spends most of her time reading blogs, spending time with her brother, Charlie, and his boyfriend Nick and doing worse on her coursework than she probably should.
Cinderella is Dead
It's been two-hundred years since Cinderella found her prince and the fairytale is over. Every girl fears the day in which she is to be chosen at the ball, none however as much as Sophia. Who fears for herself just as much as she fears for the girl she loves. So she decides the cruel rules need a makeover.
I Am Malala
An autobiography about the remarkable story of Malala Yousafa and how she uprooted global terrorism and fought for girls' education
One Of Us Is Lying*
BRONWYN is a straight A student with a bad report card COOPER is a rising Baseball star with a secret he will do ANYTHING to keep. Prom queen ADDY thinks she is playing some sort of game with long term boyfriend and ex-convict NATE has something to hide. And the messed up gossip girl wannabe of the group SIMON dies 24 hours before he can spill their biggest secrets.
Breadwinner*
Parvana, an 11 year old girl living in Afghanistan, disguises herself as a boy in order to help her family and become the breadwinner.
Heartstopper*
Year 10 Charlie falls for year 11 “Rugby Lad” Nick. They soon discover their friendship might be something more………….
* = Netflix Show
thank you for reading!
