Chronicle, The Slice, Issue 5

2024 • ISSUE NO. 5

CHRONICLE The Slice

CONTENTS

PAGE 3 THE MAGAZINE TEAM Welcome to the Summer Edition

PAGE 4 WELLBEING POETRY & ARTICLES

PAGE 10 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 PAGE THREE | INTRO

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.

PAGE FOUR | WELLBEING

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.

PAGE FIVE | WELLBEING

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.

PAGE SIX | WELLBEING

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 Creativity this includes drawing to dancing to drama Nature go on a walk or bike ride in the woods or do some gardening Sleep get 7+ hours sleep

PAGE SEVEN | WELLBEING

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, PAGE EIGHT | 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.

PAGE NINE | WELLBEING

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!

PAGE TEN | WORLD BOOK DAY

WORKSHOP WITH AUTHOR BALI RAI WRITTEN BY: ZARA NIELD

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!

PAGE ELEVEN | WORLD BOOK DAY

I really found the writing workshop very interesting. I think that all of the information that was shared by Bali is important when it comes to writing for pleasure or for GCSEs. (Meera M Yr 9) 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) I thought it was very good and beneficial. I liked that he told stories about things that happened to him or other people and he gave helpful feedback on our own writing.

(Zoe C Yr 9) PAGE TWELVE | WORLD BOOK DAY

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

PAGE THIRTEEN | DIVERSITY WITHIN LITERATURE

thank you for reading!