KLASS Khronicles Season 3_May 2024

APRIL 2024

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‘CURTAIN CALL’: CANDID INTERVIEWS WITH THE CAST OF THE SCHOOL PRODUCTION Manahil Zubairi LIGHTS DIM, THE AUDIENCE hushes, and the curtains draw back, revealing a world crafted from imagination and dedication. The annual school production is more than just a performance - it is the passion and dedication of each and every teacher and student’s involvement and collaboration. Behind every captivating scene lies a story of perseverance, growth, and a shared love for the stage.

This year's school production was a double feature of ‘The Twits’ and ‘Gargantua’, that showcased the talents of The Alice Smith School’s very own budding actors, through countless hours of rehearsals, script memorisation, and the unwavering support of the entire cast and crew.

In this behind-the-scenes look, we delve into the hearts and minds of a few of these actors, who share their personal journeys, challenges and invaluable lessons they learnt along the way.

It’s time to finally shine the spotlight on the stars behind this year’s school production.

First, I spoke to Max Joynson in Year 9: 1.⁠⁠Which production were you a part of and what role did you play?

I played Mr Twit in this year’s production of ‘The Twits’.

Inset (Above): Max as Mr Twit in ‘The Twits

2.⁠⁠What drew you to the role you're playing in this production?

To be honest, nothing truly drew me to this particular character, but it was my ambition to play a lead character and because the Key Stages were split into the two plays I was cast for my role.

3.⁠⁠Have you had any previous experiences with school productions/acting?

I was involved in the production of ‘Wizard of Oz’ last year.

4.⁠⁠How did you prepare for your portrayal of your character?

To prepare for the role, ⁠I practised using a gruff voice and tried to be more vulgar and grotesque at any possible moment to truly embody my interpretation of how Mr Twit would behave.

5.⁠⁠What challenges did you face while rehearsing for this production?

Learning the lines was a big challenge for me and considering that this was my first time playing a lead role, as well as my scene being the longest, it made it particularly challenging, but I persevered nonetheless.

6.⁠⁠What has been the most rewarding aspect of being involved in this production?

The most rewarding part for me was putting on a show for the younger years in the matinee and having them enjoy the show, and of course, playing the role itself.

I also had the pleasure of interviewing one of Max’s co-actors, Kenisha Kiiran Randhawa, also from Year 9: 1.⁠⁠Which production were you a part of and what role did you play?

I took part in the KS3 production which was The Twits. I played the role of the narrator in one of the scenes.

2.⁠⁠What drew you to the role you're playing in this production? ⁠. We didn’t decide on the roles that we got in this production. Instead, the teachers assigned the roles to who they best thought could portray and truly carry the character.

3.⁠⁠Have you had any previous experiences with school productions/acting? ⁠. I am very grateful to have had numerous opportunities in terms of taking part in school productions. I took part in my Year 2 and 4 productions in primary. I also took part in the ‘Daisy Pulls It Off’ play that we were able to do as we had just slowly started coming out of lockdown. Lastly, I took part in last year’s production, ‘Wizard Of Oz’. All of them were truly memorable productions.

4.⁠⁠How did you prepare for your portrayal of your character? ⁠ Personally, when preparing for a production or for a certain character, the best thing is to understand what exactly is this character or what story is this production telling. Once you have got a grasp of this, it is much easier to carry out the necessary lines and so on.

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KLASS KHRONICLES, APRIL, 2024 5.⁠⁠What challenges did you face while rehearsing for this production?

When rehearsing for this year’s production, I think the main challenge was just to consistently keep up the energy as it no doubt can sometimes get quite tiring. As well as this, being able to manage your work alongside the production can sometimes be quite challenging as there are the Sunday rehearsals as well as the whole day rehearsals. However, this was all worth it after seeing how well the production turned out.

6.⁠⁠Can you share any memorable moments or funny anecdotes from rehearsals?

The best moments were definitely the break times during rehearsal. As we were spending so much time with each other you got very comfortable with one another and had some really great laughs!

7.⁠⁠What has been the most rewarding aspect of being involved in this production?

Without a doubt, the most rewarding aspect of being in this production would probably be the smiles you put on the audience’s faces.

Alongside this, it is always so rewarding to hear the immense amount of praise every cast member (including teachers) gets. It makes everything feel so worth it!

Moving onto the production of ‘Gargantua’, I had the opportunity to conduct an interview with one of our older castmembers, Preyankka Kiiran Randhawa from Year 12: 1.⁠⁠Which production were you a part of and what role did you play? ⁠In Gargantua, I played multiple roles because of how small the cast was and because of the minimalist nature of the costumes. So I played a member of the President's cabinet, a news reporter, an old lady, and a secret agent.

2.⁠⁠What drew you to the role you're playing in this production?

For the secret agent, I loved the whole concept of it. It was silly and funny and we got to be extremely creative about it which made it such a great character to act as. For the agent, I liked how my character had sarcastic moments, petrified moments and those moments where he starts yelling out of nowhere and is losing his mind. I think what made this character so great were the other actors. We leeched off each other's energy and this meant we had great comedic timing and could make the scene as funny as possible.

3.⁠⁠Have you had any previous experiences with school productions/acting?

This was my third production. I did The Tempest in Year 8, The Wizard of Oz in Year 11, and also took Drama GCSE. 4.⁠⁠How did you prepare for your portrayal of your character?

Well, I learnt lines by just pacing around because I find it easier to learn lines while moving. To prepare for the individual characters, I made my voice very distinctive and extreme based on my interpretation of the characters.

5.⁠⁠What challenges did you face while rehearsing for this production?

I think the main struggle was knowing who was on stage and when because there was such a small cast but all of us playing multiple characters. So it was important to know who was in each scene, what they were doing and from which side of the stage they were entering from.

6.⁠⁠Can you share any memorable moments or funny anecdotes from rehearsals? ⁠I loved doing the 360 camera for the school’s Instagram. It was so funny and we got to stand there and do some actions based on our characters. I also loved prepping the secret agent scene like we had a whole intro and got to do silly things like turns and spins that were really clumsy. I also think picking out the costume for that was great. The trench coat and the sunglasses were such a vibe and it made the character in itself immediately more humorous.

7.⁠⁠What has been the most rewarding aspect of being involved in this production?

This production was extremely special because the cast was so small. This meant that we got to know each other incredibly well and it was such a special experience because some of us have acted with each other before. I think that is why everyone just had so much fun rehearsing this production. It obviously was tiring and it had its ups and downs but it was because of how close-knit we all became that made it so special.

Inset (Above): ‘The Twits’ with Kenisha as The Narrator

Inset (Above): Shao Loo as Regina Bucket in ‘Gargantua’

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KLASS KHRONICLES, APRIL, 2024 Sharing the screen with her, was Shao Loo Kua (Year 12), who I also had the honour to speak to regarding the production: 1.⁠⁠Which production were you a part of and what role did you play?

I was part of Gargantua and I played the role of Regina Bucket.

2.⁠⁠What drew you to the role you're playing in this production?

If I were to choose it’s because the other characters I've played in the past are sort of mother-like and very mature. I wanted to switch it up and play someone who was sassy and heightened which also forced me out of my comfort zone.

3.⁠⁠Have you had any previous experiences with school productions/acting? ⁠This is the 4th school production I've been a part of. I really enjoyed my past experiences because it’s great to see how everything slowly comes together and it's a great bonding experience with people you don’t usually see around school or work with.

4.⁠⁠How did you prepare for your portrayal of your character?

I prepared my character by making sure I knew my lines inside out so I had the creative freedom to try new ways of delivering my lines and the different characteristics around them. I also prepared them by rehearsing with everyone else who was on the scene so we knew each other's cues.

5.⁠⁠What challenges did you face while rehearsing for this production?

A challenge we faced was trying to brainstorm how to craft the scene, specifically the zealots. We didn't have a lot of time to work with the twits cast so we had to work efficiently and proactively to make sure they knew what they were doing. Also sometimes when I forget my lines it’s frustrating especially when we try to work with the tech.

6.⁠⁠Can you share any memorable moments or funny anecdotes from rehearsals?

Definitely when we’re getting ready together before going on stage and just hanging about. Each night we would stand in a circle and hold each other's hands before yelling “1,2,3 Gargantua” which really amped up the energy.

7.⁠⁠What has been the most rewarding aspect of being involved in this production?

The most rewarding aspect would probably be after each show, where we congratulate one another because the show went very well.

Also, to have friends, families and teachers who said they really enjoyed the show is particularly rewarding because all that hard work paid off.

Ultimately, it was made evident that the school's productions weren’t just about the final bows or applause, but instead, the friendships forged, memories created, and growth experienced by each member of the cast and crew that they will carry with them even after the curtain’s close. And until the lights rise again next year and as we bid farewell to this production, the stories that were told will be cherished for years to come.

Inset (Above): ‘Gargantua’ with Preyankka as The Secret Agent

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KLASS KHRONICLES, APRIL, 2024

THE SCIENCE BEHIND EXERCISE ADDICTION Freida Foong What is Exercise Addiction?

EXERCISE ADDICTION IS a behavioural addiction that involves an unhealthy obsession with physical fitness and exercise.

The chemicals, endorphins and dopamine, released during exercise by the nervous system create a sense of pleasure or reward. Exercise addiction is noted to have potentially formed out of a dependence on this pleasure response.

2. Continuously engaging in exercise even when it’s causing physical harm At this stage, exercise no longer improves the individual’s quality of life, but instead, it is a source of both physical and psychological problems. This can take the form of: engaging in exercise for several hours a day, without allowing the body a chance to recuperate and recover, engaging in exercise surreptitiously, or experiencing an inability to conduct a reduced exercise routine.

How does it start?

Exercise addiction typically results from poor body image, with the aforementioned individual desiring for their body to conform towards society’s ‘acceptable’ standards. This leads them to frequent exercise avenues to achieve that level of physical fitness.

In addition, exercise addictions often occur in conjunction with eating disorders.

Individuals who feel pressure to stay physically fit such as competitive athletes (i.e runners, triatheletes, endurance athletes, etc.) are at risk of developing exercise addiction. Those who are overweight and set out on an extreme weight loss regimen are also at risk. In other cases, former drug addicts and alcohol abusers may also be at risk as they turn to exercise to ‘fill the void’ that’s left by past addictions.

Inset (Above): A clipart of individuals at a gym

How is it diagnosed?

Unfortunately, exercise Addiction is harder to diagnose than most other disorders.

This is attributed to how it is not recognized in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statisc Manual of Mental Disorders) as a disorder due to lack of distinction between substance-related and addictive disorders and borderline personality disorders, which means there aren’t specified diagnostic criteria that can be used.

However, an increased fitness obsession and decreased social activity are common indicators of such an addiction.

Other common signs include: 1.Obsessing over exercise This causes the individual to reduce activities in other areas of life to make time for exercise, leading to social impairment.

Individuals with exercise addiction may also show indications of irritability, guilt, depression and anxiety when reducing the intensity of their exercise -- these are examples of withdrawal symptoms.

Exercise addictions can also have detrimental consequences on the individual body, leading them to suffer from anxiety, depression, irregular periods and even heart complications.

After explaining the relevant theories and symptoms, this begs the question -- what are the treatments available for exercise addiction?

1. Residential Treatment This is an inpatient program that allows individuals to focus on wellness by separating them from the stress and routine of day-today life.

Patients undergo individual or group counselling to address emotional reasons behind an addiction as well as develop healthier behaviours and coping methods.

2. Stop Exercising altogether Most exercise-addicted individuals may need to stop exercising for a period of time to gain control of the desire to exercise.

Once they have achieved a positive mindset surrounding the topic of exercise, they can gradually begin to ease back into the act, regulating the intensity and frequency of exercise.

However, for an individual to gain access to care, the first step that one must take is in acknowledging that they have a problem.

Once the individual acknowledges that they have a problem, they can take steps to control their exercise activity.

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KLASS KHRONICLES, APRIL, 2024

SCIENCE FAIR BOOTH: WILL AI TAKE OVER THE WORLD? Cay Men Sin ON THE 26th of March, all the enthusiastic contestants participating in the whole-school science fair gathered in the Main Hall for their science projects to be judged. Read on to find out about one of the booths by Renn Kai & Kaelyn who explored the topic of AI and its uses and potential harm in the future. Enjoy!

Inset (Above): Kaelyn (left) and Renn Kai (right) at their booth during the science fair

The purpose of their experiment was to investigate a controversial question that the world has pondered about for decades: Will artificial Intelligence take over the world?

The answer to this question is thankfully, no! AI cannot make decisions for itself without a person having programmed it to do so.

Also, AI lacks experience and behaviour and therefore, wouldn’t be able to make all the right decisions to, in theory, take over the world. Furthermore, AI lacks soft skills, such as creativity and communication, that are integral to a human being in order to function as a community and team of workers working towards a unified goal.

For the practical part of their project, they tried testing the intelligence of AI compared to the intelligence of humans. They made Key Stage 3 students answer maths questions and did the same with ChatGPT 3.5. The children who took part in this experiment averaged 36 seconds per question whereas the Artificial Intelligence took only 6.8. This proves that AI is a more effective and efficient source of information but it is important to note that, right now, it can only be used as a tool and needs to be cross checked for accuracy. There is a lot of potential for AI to improve and develop but as of right now, it is believed that due to AI’s inability to think for itself, it likely will not take over the world.

FINDING ALICE SMITH’S FAVOURITE SUBJECT Sara Hazra HAVE YOU EVER wondered what people see as their favourite Congratulations to the science department and those who voted for subject here at Alice Smith? At Klass Khronicles we wanted to find science as their best subject because it has come in first with 30% out…. of the votes. We are so lucky to have brilliant science facilities and even better Science teachers at the Alice Smith School.

A survey was conducted over the past few weeks, where the ultimate goal was to find the subject that KLASS favoured the But our excellent teachers are all over the school. Other subjects most. A Google form was sent out that asked students to fill in students voted for were English, coming in at 20% and PE with what subject they favoured the most and why.

15% of the votes. Of course this is just a snapshot and we really value all the different subject areas and our teams of teachers here at Alice Smith. Never forget you are definitely someone’s favourite!

Inset (Above): A pie chart containing the data of the proportion of different subjects as a students favourite from the form

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KLASS KHRONICLES, APRIL, 2024

WHO KILLED JFK? Danha Kim and Ella Jia Who was John F. Kennedy?

JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to as JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States. He was president from 1961 to 1963 until his mystifying assassination by someone on a motorcade whilst he traveled in an open-top limousine through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas on the 22nd of November.

BUT WHO KILLED HIM? Suspected Assassins Assassin 1: Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald was a U.S. Marine veteran, one of the many suspects in JFK’s assassination. Oswald’s motive, if he really did assassinate John F. Kennedy, possibly had nothing to do with particular resentment towards President Kennedy. Instead, those who believe Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated Kennedy claim he had issues with his selfesteem, and wanted to be the centre of attention. They believe that in the end, Oswald placed himself right at the centre by assassinating the President of the USA. Ironically, he did not live long enough to receive the attention he so badly sought.

Assassin 2: Louie Steven Witt (Umbrella man) Louie Steven Witt, another infamous suspect, was more commonly known as “The Umbrella Man”. The reason was due to how he was infamously known for carrying a black umbrella with him to Dealey Plaza (where John F Kennedy was assassinated), and was caught raising it into the air as Kennedy’s car drove past.

This simple action diverged into many inklings of what could be behind it. Some insisted that he was giving a signal; others think he could have shot a poison dart from the umbrella.

During an interrogation in 1978 with Witt, he stated that he just wanted to heckle the president. Apparently Witt heard that the umbrella was a “sore spot” with the Kennedy family, because of its association with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.

Assassin 4: Fiedel Castro Shortly after Fidel Castro’s death on the 19th of December, 2016, the tabloid National Enquirer published an article entitled “Dying Castro Admitted Killing JFK!” The article claims that Castro finally admitted to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Apparently Fidel Castro made his confession shortly before his death into the ear of a trusted confidante.

His motive was because he wanted to ‘settle the score’ with JFK for the bungled CIA invasion on April 17th, 1961. There were also multiple botched attempts on his life.

Inset (Above): Suspected Witt holding an umbrella at the time of the assassination

Assassin 3: Anonymous shot JFK on “Grassy Knoll” Most people don’t think that Anonymous shot JFK -- it was purely speculation.

However, some people who were present when Anonymous hypothetically ‘shot’ President Kennedy, insist on having heard a gunshot noise and Anonymous withdrawing something from his clothing.

The House of Representatives concluded that there was likely a second shooter on the ‘grassy knoll’, a hill overlooking the site where JFK was assassinated, in his motorcade.

Regardless of whether or not Anonymous and his potential sidekick shot JFK, it would be near impossible to find both of them.

Inset (Above): A newspaper cutout from the New York Times

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Inset (Above): Fiedel Castro

KLASS KHRONICLES, APRIL, 2024 Assassin 5: The Mafia Allegedly, President Kennedy was in major debt with the Mob, more commonly referred to as the Mafia. This was because JFK asked the Mob for more votes, which is ‘the same’ as taking money from them. From this point onwards, the main theory splits into two. The first one is that he ‘couldn’t pay back his debt’ (in terms of money) and the mob had no choice but to kill him off. The second motive, quite different to the first, is that the Mafia actually got upset with the Kennedy family because they ‘betrayed them’. The reason being, JFK’s brother, Robert Kennedy, became Attorney General after this event and cracked down on the Mafia.

After all our research, the question now boils down to this: Who do you think killed J F. Kennedy?

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A QUICK DEEPDIVE INTO WHAT IT IS Zhuhai (Albert) Xu THE OFFICIAL DEFINITION of artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines or software, as opposed to the intelligence of other living beings, primarily, of humans. It is a field of study in computer science which develops and studies intelligent machines. These clever machines are better known as AI. When was it created?

Important dates that mark milestones in the development of AI include: 1) 1950 when Alan Turing published “Computer Machinery and Intelligence” which proposed a test of machine intelligence called ‘The Imitation Game’.

2) 1952, when a computer scientist named Arthur Samuel developed a program to play checkers, the first to learn the game independently.

Many AI platforms are currently prevalent, however, the most famous and trending one is known as ‘ChatGPT’ created by open AI. How is AI currently being used?

Virtual assistants such as Siri and Alexa Personalised content recommendations on streaming platforms such as Netflix Fraud detection systems in the banking industry Inset (Above): Some of the applications of AI in our daily lives!

What are some advantages and disadvantages of AI? Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is in a nutshell, smart technology which tries to imitate what humans do, for example: learning and problemsolving. It has been around for some time, however, further modern advancements in technology started appearing more commonly in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Benefits of AI include assisting individuals in finding the cheapest prices online when shopping, reducing the number of grammatical errors in essays and research papers, text summarising and many more!

Unfortunately, AI isn't all rainbows and sunshine. One major concern it poses is job depletion. This is because some jobs may be accomplished more efficiently by robotic means. Imagine your dream job one day disappearing solely because a machine can get it done for cheaper and quicker!

Another huge issue that comes with AI, is privacy. With facial recognition and data snooping, it may sometimes feel as if AI is constantly watching your every move online. Furthermore, AI can also be used for cybercrimes and spreading false information. It may be used incorrectly and abused if in the wrong hands!

Self-driving cars sound cool, right? However, they come with risks. What if the system were to fail us? Who would we blame - AI or humans? There is also much debate and controversy surrounding the control of AI systems and who should be the right people to have this much power and control over such a thing as AI. The bottom line – AI is beneficial if used correctly, but it has its negative downsides if abused. Jobs might slowly disappear, algorithms may become biased and manipulated, and privacy could be a thing of the past.

We need to keep an eye on how AI is used and ensure that it does not become more of a problem rather than a tool meant to benefit mankind.

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KLASS KHRONICLES, APRIL, 2024

EMPOWERED INTERVIEW Andrea Lam and Helen Kang

EmpoweredED IS A student-led organisation founded by Jessie Gong and Shao Loo Kua which is currently active on Instagram.

Their platform tackles difficulties that people of any race, gender, age may face regarding their mental and physical relationship with food. As the name suggests, Jessie and Shao Loo aim to use their newfound power as co-founders to raise awareness on eating disorders among the youthful community. We had the opportunity to interview these two students on their journey as co-founders regarding their newly found experiences with starting an organisation.

Inset (Above): EmpoweredED Youth Logo

Q: Can you both provide a brief introduction about yourselves?

Jessie: Hi, I'm Jessie, I'm currently in year 12, and my A Levels are Math, Economics, Geography, and Physics. I'm hoping to study either something related to economics or the environment and economics, but I'm not exactly sure at this point.

Shao Loo: Hi, I'm Shao Loo, I'm 17. I'm currently doing English Literature, Sociology, Media, and EPQ for my A Levels, and I hope to study Sociology in University.

Q: What inspired EmpowerED Youth?

you

to

start

Jessie: I believe it stemmed from personal experiences. I personally feel that diet culture is rather ubiquitous now and therefore it’s really important to create a platform that is able to help people navigate this complex world of issues such as toxic dieting and body image issues which is what we hope to empower.

Q: Were there any difficulties in setting up the organisation such as miscommunication, dead-weight team members, etc.?

Shao Loo: Yes, there were many. In the beginning, when we were trying to recruit people, we didn’t really have much content and we weren’t as established, so it was a little difficult. Other difficulties include managing schedules and ensuring that everyone is staying on track. Even now, we are currently a little behind.

There were definitely a few deadweight team members when we first started.

They were really passionate at the beginning and then they just slowly replied less and less to our messages which was a hindrance at times because we had to adjust the schedule a little and arrange for others to create content on a last minute basis.

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking to start up their own organisation?

Jessie: I believe finding someone who's like-minded and knows what your project is truly about is very important. For me, that person was definitely Shao Loo. She helped me so much. I definitely think if it wasn't the two of us working together, it would make the process a lot harder.

Q: What can your followers expect in the future for ‘EYC’ in terms of contents and future events?

Shao Loo: Jessie and I have been planning on expanding to Tik Tok, which we have started, but we haven't really done anything there yet due to our busy schedules. Currently, we’re pretty occupied with just posting content on Instagram weekly, which changes from diet culture to educating people.

However, we hope to bring everything that we are currently posting on Instagram to TikTok since that's also a great platform when it comes to spreading information and educating young people, especially since diet culture is so prevalent on TikTok so that's the main goal that we're working towards right now. However, we're also aiming to diversify our posts to attract a wider audience.

Jessie: In addition to that, we were also recruiting members from all over the world and the different time zones made it really complicated to work around. For example, ensuring that everyone is able to attend a meeting. We ended up making a Google Slide and telling them to look over it and ask us if they had any questions. Something really funny that happened was members coming to us and asking us if this was a paid recruitment even after we already recruited them!

Inset (Above): Keep up to date with what Shao Loo and Jessie are up to by following them on Instagram @empoweredyouthcommunity!

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KLASS KHRONICLES, APRIL, 2024

WHY DO WE SLEEP? Rivkah Frolov MOST OF US have been told getting our full 8 hours of sleep is a crucial part of our daily lives. But why is this? Why is it we are told we need more sleep, to not go to bed late, and to leave our devices alone before bedtime?

There are a countless number of answers to these questions, but to start it off, it needs to be stated that sleep is not just something that we, as humans, have to do, but is something that almost all animals do as well. Their sleep schedules may not come with a bedtime or a need for consistent sleeping habits, but they all have their own form of sleep that they need to achieve.

Rats, for example, tend to live for no more than a few weeks if they don't get almost 13 hours of sleep a day. Sleep, as we can see, is a universal experience among almost all mammals.

Inset (Above): Consistent sleep everyday will provide us with many benefits

The average teenager needs at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night, yet the majority of adolescents get around 6 to 7 on average.

While this difference may not appear significant, it could be detrimental to our health in the long run.

Inset (Above): A lack of concentration can affect our daily lives, and ability to learn at school

Sleep is important for the brain's ability to adapt to new information, and so not getting enough sleep may prevent us from being able to process and retrieve what we learn throughout the day. Having a good night's sleep helps with your brain plasticity, which is the neurons' ability to reorganise itself, and can affect its ability to function. Sleep therefore plays the role of helping your brain modify its connections and rewire and repair itself, allowing it to adapt to environmental changes and new situations we encounter.

Scientists now believe that having consistent sleep could even be more important than the duration of sleep you are getting. Getting consistent sleep everyday will increase your alertness, ability to cope with everyday stress, and overall health.

This may just improve your reflex, focus, and attention span, something that we can all benefit from in our everyday lives at school and outside of it.

There are many factors that can affect our ability to get a good night’s rest, one of which many of us may have trouble overcoming. Research has found a correlation between lower levels of the body’s natural sleep hormone, melatonin, and exposure to blue light. Electronic devices, including phones and computers, emit this blue light, which suppresses the melatonin production in your body. This would make it hard for you to fall asleep at night, as the suppression of melatonin fools the body into thinking it’s daytime, when it really isn’t.

Inset (Above): Blue light can be emitted from devices such as phone screens

These are just a few of the many reasons why getting a good night’s rest can be our stepping stone to living healthier and even happier lives. From rats to humans, we are only just beginning to understand how and why sleep is an integral part of our daily schedules. Nonetheless, sleep is a big deal, so you may want to think twice about picking up your phone before bedtime

EDITOR’S NOTE As Season 3 draws to a close, this will be my last editor’s note before I hand over the baton to my two co-editors, Zhang Ning and Andrea who you may have noticed helping me compile the last few editions of Klass Khronicles.

As I reflect on my time as the Klass Khronicles editor, I am overjoyed at the number of articles we’ve been able to publish. From covering interviews and sending out surveys, penning creative writing and reporting events at Alice Smith, Klass Khronicles is an EPA I believe can be succinctly surmised with one word: melting-pot. It is an EPA that allows individuals to freely indulge in their interests, without judgement, no matter how ambiguous or unheard it may be, and I hope this continues for the years to come.

A special shoutout to Mrs Stockings, our EPA coordinator, for always advocating for our publication and being so swift with her checkthroughs—we couldn’t have done it without you, Ms! I leave Klass Khronicles in the capable hands of Zhang Ning and Andrea with confidence that they will continue to carry on the publication of Klass Khronicles for the academic year to come.

It has been an honour and privilege to have been the Lead Editor for Klass Khronicles. Signing off for the last time:

See you in the next one!

–– Freida

Co-Editors: Zhang Ning & Andrea

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