AISHK STUDENT MAGAzINE
TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 Moving on up... 02 How to be a teacher’s pet 03 study methods 04 Android VS IOS 05 Movie reviews Interhouse TOUCH 06 07 Aisa games 08 24hr race 09 Christmas spread 10 AIshk playlists
Ebba Hellstrom, Jane Kiang and Natasha Au
moving on up...
Year 6 students tell us how they feel about moving to secondary
Interviewers Hi year 6s! Thanks to Milanya, Ethan, Chloe and Tristan for joining us today. We will be asking a few questions about transitioning to Year 7. To begin, how do you feel about finally becoming a Secondary student?
Year 6 I feel very excited about becoming a Secondary student next year!
Yeah I agree! I feel excited since Secondary is a new challenge and challenging yourself is the only way to keep on improving as a person.
Wow, that’s a wonderful way to see things. So, what do you think will be the biggest challenge coming to Secondary?
I think tests will be a really challenging thing and having to adjust to tests that we will be having will be really challenging.
Ah yes, remember to study. Alright, next question : What will you miss most about primary?
I will miss being House captain and miss friends who are leaving the most .
I will mainly miss having all our classes in one classroom.
Those are things we all miss from Primary. So, what are you excited about?
I'm most excited about the freedom that I will get once I get to Secondary school and the things I will get to be able to do that I was once not allowed to do in primary.
For me, I am excited about life in general, I think.
You should always be excited for what is in front of you. Is there anything that you would like to know about Secondary life?
I really would like to know the curriculum and criteria in Secondary inside out, so I know what is expected from me.
EVERYTHING!
All interesting answers but finally, would you be interested in joining the student magazine?
I've never really considered joining the student magazine and I'm not sure if it's at the top of my list.
I would be interested in joining the student magazine because I like writing and I find writing for magazines fun.
I don't think I will personally join the student magazine because I think that will make my schedule a bit too packed.
I think the magazine isn’t really my thing, though it sounds interesting.
wise words... Advice for Year 6 2024... from year 7 2024 Feel free to ask any questions or for help You may get lost going from class to class, so stick with your friends Write down all the homework you have in a journal or a calendar
Advice To Year 12 2024... from Year 12 2023 ...
Jayden Botfield: Be consistent in your note-taking and make time to recap on them every week. You will make your life so much easier. Alison Or: Do a study schedule for exams and study hard for mocks because it is good revision for the real thing. Camlyn Tippet: Find balance between schoolwork and your social life so that you don’t become overwhelmed. Spend time with friends and doing stuff you enjoy, like sports or music.
JOANNE HELLY
How to be a teacher’s pet So you want to be the Hermoine Granger of your year group, reciting perfect extracts of textbooks in your dark academia glasses. No shame, being the teacher’s pet comes with its own many benefits and disadvantages. (This article is written for satirical purposes, please don’t actually do this or I’ll be in big trouble). Engagement Yes, shy kids, unfortunately this means shooting your hand up and answering the teacher’s questions. No teacher likes being stonewalled in a classroom. In fact, teachers value students who contribute as often as possible to class while showing enthusiasm. Grab that spotlight and show the wealth of your knowledge by indulging in your own personal insights, life story and why your parents divorce has fundamentally shaped the person you are today.
This could be you
Academics Teachers value smart students and have empathy for perfectionists and high-achievers…just as well because it can mean a traumatic high school career. So, you can study ahead of class by asking for a copy of the course outline and become the annoying class know-it-all. Oh, don’t get me started on the pristine white workbooks some already have open, with a ready pen in hand. You can give 110% on school assignments with a Times New Roman font so crisp it’ll send ‘em keeling like Harry Styles fans.
Of course, always complete your homework with a minimum of one more page than required so the teacher knows you are superior to your classmates. Don’t forget to hand in practice questions for feedback every lesson as the teacher is always willing to make time for you, even if it means sacrificing their lunch break. Throw away that copy of The Hunger Games and your best friend Jessica, textbooks are the only friends you’ll need. Responsibility Presentation and engagement is everything. Wear your uniform with pride with shirts tucked in and shoes so polished they’d make Miss Bailey’s knees buckle. Enter the school at 7:30am and leave at 6:30pm so Miss Dunstan knows your sheer irondetermination and loyalty to the school. As the teacher’s pet, your responsibility is to make sure other students know their place. Follow the rules to a T and tattle on other students who break the school laws since they should be disciplined. Stellar exemples of this are shushing noisy people who talk in class and daubing on the pesky year 10s who use the lift without permission. Of course, volunteer for every ECA and student-leadership opportunity possible. That means SRC, MUN, YES club and becoming Head Girl/Boy. Interhouse Rugby and the school Showcase? Piece of cake. That way, teachers will know at least someone capable is contributing meaningfully to the school. Suck up to the teacher Small talk Form close relationships to the teachers by asking them questions about their boring lives such as their favourite outfit to wear to school and the “many” hobbies they partake in during school holidays. The key is to plaster an all-teeth smile and to maintain unbreakable eye contact. Be patient. Building a favourable reputation among your teachers requires
careful strategy. Of course, when you see two teachers engrossed in a conversation in the hallway, butt in so that they know you are not only engaging and mature, but that you trust they respect you equally. So now you know all the secrets to a fulltime career as a teacher’s pet. Of course, other students may get a little annoyed, but the pride of being the teacher’s pet greatly makes up for any consequences you may feel such as anxiety, perfectionism, bullying and narcissism. Enjoy the rewards of better grades, extra help, special treatment and your ego being stroked. What are you waiting for?
STUDY METHODS ‘How do we actually study?’ is a question I often pondered frantically the day before a test with worksheets, textbook and stationery covering every inch of my desk. With IB and HSC exams right around the corner, my years of expertise in procrastination, last-minute cramming and pretend productivity was no longer optional if I wanted to perform well. Throughout my magnificent IB experience, I have researched effective study methods backed by cognitive science, so that you don’t have to.
The Process of Forgetting and Why it’s Important How do we forget, and why is this not only important to know, but beneficial? This can be explained by Ebbinghaus’s Forgetting Curve: As we learn new information, our retention of the knowledge decreases over time and after 20 minutes we only remember 50% of the content. Because the decline of memory stabilizes over time, rehearsal of information over spaced intervals can help for longer memory retention. While simplistic, Ebbinghaus’s model provides a good basis for study techniques that can be structured to eliminate ineffective processes.
What can be learnt is that information should be reviewed soon after it was first learnt to counteract the first initial drop in memory retention. However, while memorising is important in exams, forgetting and knowledge gaps also allow us to think beyond concepts learnt in class and new ways of thinking that explain a piece of information. This is incredibly important for critical thinking. Spaced repetition One of the most important study methods linked to the forgetting curve is spaced repetition. Unlike traditional studying, it indicates that we revise more frequently when we first learn a piece of information and over time, revision intervals are systematically longer (e.g 20 minutes, 1 day, 2 days, 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month). This can greatly reduce studying time spent while increasing the efficiency of learning. By letting ourselves partially forget the information and recall, this strengthens our memory trace, a concept called “theory of disuse”. During spaced repetition study sessions, use active recall methods such as: · Flashcards · Questions · Blurting · Practice tests and exams under timed conditions Some popular flashcard programs such as Space, Anki, Memoo, Voovo come with built-in spaced repetition. Use a combination of both active and passive studying to improve your absorption and memory of information.
Association and Relation to Real World Concepts In cognitive science, the organisation of information and their relationships are called schema. Schema explains why it is difficult to remember information we don’t understand and how association to existing knowledge can help us to comprehend and remember information better. Take notes in your own words and link the knowledge to real-world examples and scenarios in your own. This will help integrate new information through concepts that you already know into your long-term memory and improve your comprehension and critical and creative thinking. Also consider adding short summaries in your notes and flashcards of complex topics or information. For example, my explanation of schema shows how cognitive science has useful applications in understanding the way we understand, which is important in studying effectively. Parkinson’s Law and the Illusion of Productivity When tasked with a large amount of content to revise or an assignment to do, we often take as much time possible to complete it. That is, “work expands so as to fill the time available before its completion”. This phenomenon is known as Parkinson’s law and is a fatal flaw in modern day hustle culture that gives us the illusion of being productive. In other words, study by counting the spread of content reviewed rather than the amount of hours studied. Eliminating unnecessary busywork such as content you are already sufficient in, and eliminating unnecessary planning and organisation can help to increase your productivity. We will often prefer revising content that is easier and we are more familiar with because it takes up less cognitive energy than harder topics we don’t understand. What I suggest is to create a list of all the topics you need to cover in each subject and highlight them according to your level of understanding under exam conditions (e.g green, yellow, red). For weaker areas, write why you struggle in each topic. This will prioritise topics that you need to review more urgently than others, while targeting the specific areas of each topic.
Motivation, health and attention You are going to have days where you’re burnt out, in a bad mood and didn’t get good rest, and that’s okay. Our ability to pay attention relies on multiple factors such as our love or hate for a subject, mental health and environment. Structuring our workflow around circadian rhythms in attention can boost our productivity. In a nutshell, organise the hardest tasks around when you are most alert and focused. Avoid studying during circadian ‘low points’ such as 2am-5am and 2pm-4pm. A lot of us have rather limited attention spans, and one way to keep studying engaging is to cycle between subjects or topics. For example, set a timer for 30 minutes per task or subject, and once that’s finished switch to another. If by 30 minutes you find yourself productive and want to continue working on the same task, you can reset the timer. This also improves our distinction between two topics as our schemas may organise the information learnt into one ‘cabinet’, making it more difficult to retrieve information when needed. Throughout the day as we spend more cognitive energy, we also become more mentally tired. It’s important to partake in activities that increase our energy and mood, such as sports and yoga which improve cognitive and memory functions of the brain like our ability to focus. Knowing when to stop working is also important. If you find you cannot focus, take a break and do something that lifts your mood so that it boosts your productivity when coming back. Avoid using up your ‘attention budget’ on things that easily consume it such as doom scrolling on social media and watching TV. Some great alternatives are meditation, reading a book, exercising, doodling and even socializing.
Consistency and Organisation Yes, I’ve dedicated a whole section to organisation and consistency because it is often overlooked. As we saw from the Ebbhinghaus’s forgetting curve, we forget information that we’ve learnt over time. Forgetting information that we’ve studied is incredibly ineffective, which means studying a topic once after school doesn’t guarantee you will remember it well. Dedicate study sessions to reviewing content you’ve already studied in your own time. It can often feel overwhelming and impossible to complete a large amount of tasks, however, breaking up topics over feasible amounts of time is much easier to complete. Use a planner and to-do list to organise topics you study ahead of time and your workload. Most importantly, remember to do active recall sessions and stick to what you’ve planned. Prioritise your time in class so that you decrease the workload and study needed in your own time. Key takeaways Cramming may work in the short term, but a LOT of content is covered in your final senior years. Start the studying process early so that the workload doesn’t build up and you retain the information for longer. Starting and familiarising yourself with these habits will give you a step up the study ladder. Reread this article, save it, or take notes so that the information sticks. Studying can be taxing, but learning to love the process can improve your mood and willingness. Above all, take good care of yourself, sleep early the night before a test and skip that Jolibee meal by eating brain foods such as avocados, berries, eggs, fatty fish, nuts, tea and vegetables. Reduce impulsive and unnecessary activities such as picking up your phone and watching 2009 Emma Watson interviews on YouTube. Seriously, do you really need to be googling about a random TV show from your childhood? Write down those things for later and refocus on the task at hand. As a (somewhat) qualified senior, take it from me. I certainly wished I’d learnt and tried these study methods before my diploma. Best of luck! .
ios VS ANDrOID Sam Wong
The war between Androids and iPhones has long been a topic of debate. Today, I would like to settle the argument and see which is better for you. Price: Android offers a wider range of devices at various price points, with both budget options and pricier flagships. iPhones, however, can be incredibly pricey for some. Apps: iOS often receives apps first or exclusively. This is also true for accessories. This is because there’s only one aspect ratio if you want to develop for iOS, however, there are many different Androids with different specs, hardware, and display sizes, and that’s not even mentioning foldables! Customization: Android provides greater customisation options, from icon packs and home screen adjustments to custom modified versions of the OS. Apple has improved on this aspect recently, however, Android is still far more customisable than iOS. Features: Android devices offer diverse and advanced features, such as high-resolution cameras, alternative app stores, or expandable storage via microSD cards. And if you want foldables, you have to use an Android.
Performance: Both platforms offer high-performance devices. Updates and Security: iPhones generally receive regular software updates for an extended period, ensuring the latest features and security patches. They tend to get 6-8 years of support, blowing Androids out of the water. Most Androids only get around 2 years of support, and some don’t even promise any updates! Samsung has promised 4 years of software updates, but that’s nowhere close to Apple. As of 2023, Apple edges them out. Excitement: If you want exciting features, you have to choose an Android. You want a foldable? Android. Gaming phone? Android. Compact phone? Android. Headphone jack? Android. Fast charging? Android. Experimental features, designs, and materials? Android. Ease of Use: iPhones are known for their user-friendly interface and intuitive user experience. Androids can also be easy to use, but iPhones edge them out, and their customer support is especially helpful. Ecosystem: iPhones seamlessly integrate with other Apple devices and services, creating a cohesive ecosystem. You should choose Android if you value customisation and want as many features as possible. If you want an exciting phone, like a foldable, a gaming phone, experimental materials, or a small, compact phone, you have to choose an Android. Also, there are a wide variety of price ranges for Androids, from very low to phones that are even pricier than the iPhone. Androids offer plenty of good value phones that can fit any budget. You should choose an iPhone if you’re already integrated into the Apple ecosystem and own other Apple devices like a Macbook or an iPad. It is also a good option if your friends use iphones or you’re not too tech-savvy and value an easy-to-use interface. iPhones also have a longer life than most Androids, so if you’re looking to keep your phone for a long time, you should consider an iPhone.
Audrey Chan
OF
WES ANDERSON
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar | Wes Anderson | 2023 (Available on Netflix, HK)
A whimsical color palette, an offbeat tone and striking symmetry...Wes Anderson has done it again. He has made a film that both pleases the eye and entertains the soul. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is a film adaptation of a short story in the book “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and 6 More” by Roald Dahl. It tells the story of Henry Sugar, who decides to learn a skill to help him cheat at gambling. It is a simple story suitable for all ages, but still manages to provide an entertaining 40 minutes and a clean, satisfying ending. It is part of a film collection that was released at the same time as some other short stories from the book. One thing I personally enjoyed about the film was the use of narration throughout the movie, which I thought was a very interesting touch as it kept my interest piqued. The symmetry and the buttery color palette brands the film with the mark of Anderson’s cinematography. With stellar acting from cast members Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley, the film was able to capture the quirkiness of the Roald Dahl story and convey a strong moral message. It is a movie that I would recommend to all ages, and to all who are looking for a quick, 40 minute, relaxing but amusing movie.
너의 시간 속으로
“내 눈물 머아” (GATHER MY TEARS'')
A TIME CALLED YOU”내 눈물 모아” 너의 시간 속으로 (A Time
If there was one word I could use to describe “A Time Called You”, it would be thrilling. “A Time Called You” is a adaptation of the Taiwanese drama series “Someday or One Day”, and stars Vincenzo starlet (Jeon Yeo-Been) and Business Proposal star (Ahn Hyo-Seop). It is an exciting drama-filled series, with timetravel, romance and a murder mystery that keeps you on your toes. The drama is fast paced, but I was personally still able to make a connection with the characters. The drama is filled with twists and turns, and will satisfy the quench of a entertaining and fast-moving show.
Called You) | 김진원 (Kim
Jin-Won) | 2023 (Available on Netflix HK
전여빈
안효섭
“BEAUTIFUL RESTRICTION”
내 눈물 모아
The show features classic Korean ballad ” ” (“Gather My Tears'') that provides a sense of nostalgia and sorrow throughout the series, and is a song that you will remember forever once you watch the show. Along with this, the girl group NEWJEANS has also been featured in the series, singing the carefree and sweet “Beautiful Restriction”. It is a decently long series, being 12 episodes long, each around an hour. This show, though entertaining to all, may resonate more with an older audience, as it explores the themes of first love, the ephemerality of youth, and has elements of classic, late 90s Korea, but overall, this is a show that I will talk and rave about no matter who it’s to, and one I would strongly recommend anyone to watch.
INTERHOUSE Touch
Cynthia Lu
Week 7 of Term 4 was much anticipated as Interhouse Touch emerged from the sidelines. We witnessed the wizards of Waratah and Wattle, jumping-starting Jacaranda and energetic Eucalypt compete to be Touch titans. Students and staff from across AISHK, house patrons, and PDHPE staff were all there to cheer the teams on.
We kicked off on Monday at lunchtime and, for the first time this year, there were mixed teams in the Interhouse competition. Junior players in years 7-8 got the job done on Wednesday and Thursday, with Eucalypt triumphing over Jacaranda with a 2-1 win. Though all players did their bit for the team, Eucalypt can be especially thankful for Will Walsh, whose attacking tactics and deceptive moves gave the team the upper hand throughout many games. Jacaranda outplayed Waratah and Wattle to earn their place in the finals against the greens. Tyson Barr provided Jaca with the speed and agility needed to score a try in every round, with spectacular line breaks and flexibility nobody can best. In the Senior games, despite valiant efforts by Waratah and Jaca, Euca and Wattle earned their rightful places in the finals.
INTERHOUSE Touch
Cynthia Lu
On Finals Friday each house ran through last-minute game plans and warmups. Juniors took to the field as soon as the bell rang for the end of lunch. After two halves, the score was nil-nil. Refs called a sudden death, where the first team to score won and every minute a player got taken off both teams. Tensions were running high, with neither team scoring, until Jacaranda’s renowned Tyson Barr charged for a successful try. Although it was a three-player victory on the field, there was no denying it was a whole team result. Seniors played next, bringing with them the same grit and determination demonstrated by the juniors. It was a tight game, with neither side giving their opponent much opportunity to slip past them. With tension high, it was a sorry sight to see Euca’s Sheanna Mutthumani go down with a neck injury. Once she felt well enough to move to the side, the game resumed with only a minute remaining. With calculated passes, spectacular saves, and terrific tries, Euca came out in the lead in the final seconds with a great try from Jasper Lo. To wrap up the exhilaration of the week, our new school prefects were matched in a header against fellow staff members. It was a spectacular sight - the display of physical capability and unity of the year 11 cohort, or the moves Mr Walsh managed to pull off from watching way too many Josh Addo-Carr line breaks.
INTERHOUSE Touch
Cynthia Lu
Aidan Tsoi (Wattle), Cameron Flinn (Eucalypt), and Daniel Allison (Jacaranda) put up a real fight, yet were not enough to outwit Mr McLean’s St Kilda shenanigans, and many of our Primary teachers in a 5-0 defeat for our battling students.
DECEMBER 2022 | ISSUE 10
Overall, it was a fun week of Touch and it brought back some NRL Grand Final vibes, with brilliant school spirit on and off the field. The athletes, the spectators and the refs all had a fantastic week of House fun competing, running the games and cheering on their Houses and friends. It hopefully inspired many to have a go in the next House competition and gave us all some fantastic school memories.
AISA GAMES 2023 Valerie & Maddy
AISA Games was an experience like no other! Around 50 of our student athletes travelled to Vietnam to represent our school in various sports: Touch, swimming, basketball, football, and netball. The games brought together Australian international schools from all over Asia, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The three-day tournament offered new friendships, experiences, and unforgettable memories. When not sweating it out on the field, students could be found cheering at the top of their lungs for their school. The scorching hot weather tested everyone's endurance, but the sweet taste of victory kept us going. The trip for AISHK started one day before the tournament, allowing us a day to explore the vibrant culture and bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Leaving the comfort of our hotel, we ventured through the busy streets, surrounded by tall buildings and the constant hum of fast motorcycles, heading straight to the night markets. There, we marvelled at the local handicrafts, clothing, and indulged in delicious street food. During our stay, the host school kindly provided us with delicious lunches and dinners. Each morning, we fuelled up with a buffet breakfast at our hotel. Our coaches emphasised the importance of staying hydrated, urging us to drink water throughout the day and night to maintain maximum energy. Despite muscle aches, bruises, and a few injuries along the way, our school achieved an impressive overall second place, with outstanding results in all sports. We showcased our determination, skill, and teamwork, and we couldn't be prouder of our accomplishments.
24 HR race
Recently, AISHK had the amazing opportunity to join the charity Running to Stop the Traffik 24 hour race on 2526 November. The RTSTT initiative is aimed at raising awareness and money for modern slavery. Our school sent mutiple groups to partcipate in this relay challenge. Each group had 6-8 members from years 9-12, and had to raise $10,000 to be able to participate in the race. All the groups had different, unique ways to raise this money. Some sold baked goods, icy poles, soda, and some people got donations from family and friends.
Kim b
e rle y & M a d d y
On a beautiful track located at The Peak, our groups all required to have one person walking/running at all times, even through the night! The challenge was tougher than anticipated, as we had to sleep on the hard, rocky floor on a cold winter night. We brought sleeping bags and sleeping mats, but the sleeping arrangement was still far from comfortable.
Although sleep was lacking and muscles were sore, this experience was eye opening. We got to meet so many new people, and form stronger relationships with our peers. There were plenty of activities to keep the non-runners entertained throughout the 24hours, notably the karaoke and Bollywood dance lessons. This experience taught us so much about slavery, and how it is unfortunately still very relevant in our society today. After a long 24hours, Lucas Woodyard took home the award for fastest male runner making the AISHK community so proud of his determination.
Salted Peppermint
Hot chocolate
Ingredients Servings: 4 ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ½ cup semisweet chocolate ⅛ teaspoon/ 1 pinch of salt 1 ½ cups of heavy cream (whipping cream) 1 ½ cups of milk 3 crushed candy canes Optional: Whipped cream Mini marshmallows Sprinkles 4 whole candy canes
Steps Combine the heavy cream and milk together in a saucepan on low heat and mix in cocoa powder and salt until the powder has dissolved. Add the semisweet chocolate and crushed candy canes into the mixture and simmer over low heat until the chocolate and peppermint has melted. (May take up to 10 mins) Bring to a boil then immediately take off the heat. Ladle it into mugs. Optionally, serve with whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles and 1 candy cane per cup.
What’s On In Hong Kong? Disneyland (World of Frozen) Stanley Christmas Market The Nutcracker (Hong Kong Ballet) AIA Carnival Ocean Park
🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
Christmas Movies: Home Alone movie franchise The Grinch Spirited A Christmas Carol
🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
Candy Fruitcake Reindeer Snowman Mistletoe Tinsel Santa Elf Ornament Snowflake
SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS SCAN ON SPOTIFY TO LISTEN NOW!
MERRY CHRISTMAS SECONDARY
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
DESIGNERS:
WRITERS:
VALERIE NG EBBA HELLSTRÖM NATASHA AU KIMBERLEY NG JANE KIANG SAM WONG
MADELINE STAINER KIMBERLEY NG CYNTHIA LU JANE KIANG NATASHA AU JOANNE HELLY
VALERIE NG NATE WONG SAM WONG AUDREY CHAN EMILY CHANG