What's Up BJAB Vol. 2

WHAT'S UP BJAB?

A NOTE FROM THE HEADTEACHER

Dear all,

Welcome to the bumper Christmas edition of What’s up BJAB? No sooner had the first edition hit the newsstands, BJAB’s roving reporters were already hard at work on this, the hugely anticipated Christmas double issue Issue number one (volume one) has been eagerly read by visitors in the reception areas to both school sites Issue number two really is a cracking read and will, I am sure, be an impressive adornment to any festive coffee table, so do please print one out and display it prominently I am sure that you will enjoy reading it My thanks to all involved with the design, research and first-rate journalism Finally, at this stage of the term, may I extend a very Happy Christmas to the entire readership, as well as good wishes for a successful and healthy New Year, based on BJAB values all the way!

All good wishes, Mr Retter

The team of WHAT'S UP BJAB? worked really hard to bring this very special second edition. We hope you enjoy reading it.

AN UN-BJAB-LIEVABLE BIRTHDAY!

BY ARCHANA AMRUTHARAJ AND GUILHERME ANTUNES DOS SANTOS

On 1st September, our school reached a grand age of 30 years old Older than some teachers working here, BJAB is a much-adored place by all of us and we wish BJAB many happy years ahead Every year new pupils, new teachers and new challenges arrive but that does not stop us It does not matter if you are new or old, BJAB will always work in your best interest

THE BJAB FAMILY KEEPS GROWING

The whole team at What's Up BJAB? send their congratulations to Mrs Vancoillie and her family on the birth of her son, Andreas (left) We also extend our warmest congratulations to Mr Mitchell and Ms Vanderbiest on the birth of their son, Indy (right)

Both families are much-loved members of our BJAB family and we can't wait to meet the new additions!

One of BJAB's old logos is shown above.

LES MUSICIENS ÉCOSSAIS DU BJAB!

Happy St Andrew's Day!

BY DESIREE CURCIO

Trois chanteurs écossais sont venus à BJAB

Ils ont joué des instruments très populaires en Ecosse, qui s’appelle la cornemuse Les étudiants de BJAB se sont éclatés en les écoutant jouer Les étudiants de BJAB ont également beaucoup appris sur les outils qu’ils utilisaient

Nous les avons trouvé très intéressants et relaxants et nous avons appris beaucoup de choses sur la guitare que nous ne connaissions pas, comme le fait que la guitare a une forme humaine !

Students from across the school are treated to a performance of traditional Scottish music in the Prep Theatre (Photo credit: Benitez Media)

Andreas Indy

16 BRIGHT STUDENTS IN 1 BRIGHT ROOM

BY MR VARDEN

BJAB has never shied away from investing in the future; our motto is education for life after all You will have undoubtedly noticed that the old Art room in the Prep school was completely renovated over the summer and is now a pleasant, spacious learning area

Students in Year 8 felt pure joy (it is the value of the month!) at being the first class to be welcomed into the space During the lesson, Year 8 conducted investigations into reflection and acquired a huge body of knowledge Classes are welcome to use the space for a number of purposes, but this journalist is particularly excited to use it for science experiments!

FEATURED INTERVIEW

WITH MME DE MAERTELAERE

by

Madame De Maertelaere: It started with my father who was a share holder in BJAB with many other share holders around 35 years ago, and the school at that point was failing My mother used to go along to the board meetings and in the car journey back home my mother always used to say: ‘If I owned the school I would change that and this’ She thought that she could really make something beautiful of the school After a few years of these conversations my dad said ‘Oh I am so tired of you saying that! Why don’t you take over then?’

And so my mom took over and that is when the journey really started when there was just one building for BJAB and she was running the school There was a headteacher there but she did not agree with his vision for the school and so she hired another principal That was a huge shock to the international environment in Brussels, and that was when a lot of parents and students left BJAB to go to another school So my mother had to start from zero again My mother, then, bought another piece of land for the early years and the playground And that is how it all started

How would you like to celebrate BJAB’S 30th birthday this year?

Madame De Maertelaere: We have not really taken the time to celebrate because we feel that BAJB is a story that is not finished yet and is not a story that will ever be finished, but it feels like we are still growing But yes, it is a great milestone

But we are having a ball in the summer I think for the parents and the staff So I think that is also a good way to celebrate

What do you find unique or different about BJAB that others schools do not have?

Madame de Maertelaere: Of course, I was not a student at BJAB, I wish I was, but if I think, if I were a pupil, I would have loved the care that I would have received from the teachers The teachers really know all the students strengths and weaknesses I find that very special and that is also what makes us really different

How many years will BJAB expand to?

Madame de Maertelaere: They are going all the way up to year 13, the graduating year when they are 18 and that is in 2027?

How do you feel when you are adding or changing BJAB like adding the senior years?

Madame de Maertelaere: At first I felt really scared and nervous because senior years involve teenagers and a lot of attitude and puberty Now I am feeling more confident and exciting to see the senior years develop and to see our students going into the world as adults with what we have taught them

If you became a teacher at BJAB what subject would you like to teach?

Madame de Maertelaere: History I love history, I have a master in history and history is my passion

Are you in a house?

Madame de Maertelaere: No, I am not in a house but it might be a good idea to be in a house Maybe soon!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Madame de Maertelaere: I read a lot and I love to travel I like to spend time with children and play board games And my husband and I if we can find a babysitter we love to go and enjoy some really nice food

What is your favourite Christmas movie?

Madame de Maertelaere: I am sure that most of the teachers would want me to say ‘Love actually’ but for me it is ‘Home Alone ‘Love actually is actually right below ‘Home Alone’ because it is romantic, it has the Christmas vibes and all the elements

What is a perfect Christmas Day for you and your family?

Madame de Maertelaere: I think it is just about being around family because on Christmas Day we all come together and have some food we also invite our closest friends because it is not only about family but friends too My father in law always organises a quiz and there is always a prize at the end, it does not matter whether you are good at quizzing, you will still get a prize

There are many Harry Potter fans around the world and in BJAB, are you one of them?

Madame de Maertelaere: I am really sorry to disappoint you but no, not really, because I have never read or watched any of the Harry Potter books or films yet

What are your top 5 major highlights in BJAB’S 30 years?

Madame De Maertelaere : I definitely think that one of the major highlights is a visit from the Belgian Queen and for a little while one of her children was attending BJAB, in Year 4, that was nine years ago The Queen came for a visit and it was really exciting because the bodyguard always used to talk with Mrs White

I think the other highlight is the renovation of the Prep building because we had to do it in just 6 weeks time It was really stressful but once it was done it turned out so beautiful, it was a relief

Finally, I would say the inspection by ISI For the last 20 years we have always received excellence so that was really good And even opening Year 7 and 8 was a big step as well

Mme De Maertelaere, proprietor of the British Junior Academy of Brussels

Can you please tell me about the fantastic journey of BJAB over the last 30 years and how it all started?

Advika,ChiefEditor, met with Mrs de Maertelaeretodiscuss BJAB's future, aspirations and look back on thirty successfulyears

Advika Hoskote, Chief Editor

A REMARKABLE MILESTONE

By Guilherme Antunes dos Santos

On 15th November the human population surpassed 8 billion (that is 8 000 000 000) for the first time in history The last milestone of this magnitude took place in October 2011, when the population surpassed 7 billion for the first time

Human population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050 Scientists predict that this is the maximum capacity for planet Earth and could bring with it a host of problems Some worry about the population growing at such a rate and are concerned at the narrowing gap between current levels and maximum capacity This is because we might need to stop overpopulating the world this much Some issues about this are: increased demand for food, water, housing, energy, healthcare, transportation, and more

However, others see it as an accomplishment worth celebrating This being because it is the first time in the history of Earth that humans have reached such a mind-blowing population size and it represents a triumph of modern medicine over life expectancy and survival rates Some examples of this are: greater human capital, higher economic growth, economies of scale, the efficiency of higher population density and the improved demographic structure of society

Year

The graph has been made by the author of this article to illustrate the trend in human population growth To help read the y axis data, think about 'E+09' as showing nine digits (or place values) after the first digit (for example, 72E+09 is 7 200 000 000)

INSIDE THE MIND OF A PHILOSOPHER

A FASCINATING CONVERSATION WITH MRS NESBIT

By Archana Amrutharaj

This journalist had the pleasure of interviewing one of our newest members of staff, Mrs Nesbit Below is this journalist's account of that interview

Q: Where and when did your interest for philosophy begin?

A: It began in university, since then I have loved philosophy

Q: That is interesting! Which university did you attend?

A: I went to Cambridge University

Q: Where were you born?

A: I was born in Devon, UK

Q: Where did you spend the most of your childhood?

A: We moved around a lot but I spent most of my childhood in Kent

Q: How many countries have you travelled to and which are your favourites?

A: I travelled a lot and my favourite is Tunisia

Q: How long have you been in Belgium and what is your favourite thing about this country?

A: I have been in Belgium for 3 years and my favourite food has to be frites and mayo!

Q: What is your favourite food?

A: My favourite food is cheese

Q: What tips would you give to your students in philosophy?

A: I would ask them to open up and be honest because nobody’s thoughts are wrong

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: No, but I would very much like to have a guinea pig

Q: What sentence would you use to describe paradoxes?

A: I think they are simple questions but hard to answer

Q: What do you think philosophy is?

A: I think it is to understand the world

Q: What did you like doing in Rome the most?

A: I liked to visit archaeological sites and excavate artifacts

Q: What topic would you choose for the upcoming philosophy contest?

A: I would choose being wrong because it is fascinating to explore different people's opinions

ANTI-BULLYING COMMITMENT

BY FELIX DAVIS

Monday 14th November marked the beginning of Anti Bullying Week There were a number of fun activities to raise awareness of bullying; from wearing odd socks to school to making posters to celebrate the occasion

The first event that happened was Odd Socks Day, when many students, pupils and teachers wore odd socks to school This was to celebrate that no two people are the same and people should not be bullied because of this, in fact nobody should be bullied at all!

Students from across the school have been competing to create posters to remind everyone that bullying is not okay Another thing to consider is that if you are ever being bullied, always tell a teacher or someone you trust

BJAB: A SCHOOL OF EXEMPLARY AMBASSADORS

BY RIYA HAARISH

All Prep school students went on a trip to the synagogue this term We learnt about Judaism and saw many Jewish books on the shelves A tree of remembrance was prominently displayed on the wall to help remember lost members of the local Jewish community

We learnt about the Jewish holy book which is called the Torah It was a very old scroll which the people hosting the workshop even read out to us

There were then some activities where we shared parts of our identity and we learned that like many people in many religions, Judaism is a big part of a Jewish person's identity

We also learned about some Jewish holidays and celebrations At the end we even tasted some Jewish homemade bread which was very tasty It was a great trip!

AROYAL REMEMBRANCE DAY

BY JULIA SCHEMBRI

Remembrance Day is basically the day where people from all over the UK celebrate the people that served the UK from many different conflicts passed away Remembrance Day is always on a Sunday, so the dates can differ This year, Remembrance Day was on the 13th November.

Why is it “Royal” this year?

As all of you may know, Queen Elizabeth II sadly passed away on the 8th of September For this reason, this year is extra special because we are remembering the time when Queen Elizabeth ruled over the United Kingdom

This year marks the first year that King Charles III led Remembrance Day in his new role as monarch and without the help and support of Queen Elizabeth II

What have poppies got to do with Remembrance Day?

Poppies are a big part of Remembrance Day as when WWI ended, the first flowers to grow in Flanders' fields were poppies The flowers serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during conflict

Year 8 designed anti-bullying socks for Odd Socks Day

Year 5 are shown a Torah at the Jewish Community Centre

GOODES NEWS

BY MISS GOODES

BIG NEWS ABOUT THE BIG READ

As term comes to an end, so too must BJAB’s ‘Big Read’ I have been very impressed with the number of books we have managed to collectively read since September and look forward to the big reveal of our cumulative efforts in the final assembly of the year!

YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG ONCE

Hopefully, most of you will remember the ‘Year 2021’ anthology we published last year This year, we are working on a new project, titled: ‘Only the Young’ This anthology will focus on what it is like to be a young person (so, no entries from staff members please!) You can submit any poetry you have written at home or in lessons on the BJAB Books Library Websitethe submission point is on the ‘Competitions’ page Thank you in advance!

A BRILLIANT BLIND DATE

Not sure what to get everyone for Christmas this year? Well, don’t worry because the BJAB Library has you covered We have repurposed some of our second-hand books into fantastic Christmas presents All your lucky relatives and friends will be given is a hint at what the story is about – they’ll have to wait until Christmas Day to get stuck into reading! The parcels are available to purchase from the school office- 5 euros for one or 3 for 10 euros! All proceeds go towards new books for the school library

MITCH'S PITCH

The excitement during breaktimes this term was reaching feverpitch Chants of different coutries rang out across Etterbeek as over half the Prep School competed in BJAB’s very own World Cup With no less than 12 teams – including a highly competitive staff outfit – competing for the glory of the golden cup, group stages made way to knock-out rounds With Mr Mitchell refereeing and his trusty yellow and red cards to hand, players were guaranteed a fair competition At the time of writing the group stages were nearly complete We look forward to announcing the winners in our next edition Mr Mitchell would like to thank all Prep pupils who represented the school during fixtures this term Rest up and get ready for more in the new year!

DANS MES BASKETS DE JOURNALISTE

DE MME DESIDERIO

Nous avons rencontré Archana, l’une de nos fantastiques journalistes, pour savoir en quoi consiste son travail à WHAT’S UP BJAB ?

Dès le départ, Archana est très franche et nous informe qu’elle a rejoint le club sans vraiment savoir à quoi s’attendre Elle ne savait pas ce qu’était le journalisme mais l’idée l’intéressait Archana a maintenant contribué à deux éditions du journal, elle nous explique, avec enthousiasme que son travail consiste à produire des articles à propos de thèmes variés Les journalistes sont libres de choisir leurs sujets, l’important étant qu’ils se sentent à l’aise L’atmosphère est détendue : on peut y manger son goûter, échanger sur les articles en cours d’écriture, et même collaborer à plusieurs sur des articles Les articles écrits sont ensuite édités par les éditeurs du journal

Lors de la première parution, Archana a travaillé en majorité pour la section « divertissement » car elle a pour habitude de se jeter sur cette partie quand elle lit les journaux Cependant, maintenant qu’elle a plus confiance en elle, elle ressent l’envie d’essayer de nouvelles choses C’est pourquoi dans cette deuxième édition elle a réalisé un entretien avec l’une des enseignantes de BJAB ; une expérience enrichissante car on peut en apprendre beaucoup plus sur la personne interviewée Archana pense déjà à sa prochaine contribution : elle aimerait travailler sur ce qui se passe à BJAB Elle nous laisse également avec ce conseil pour tous les journalistes en herbe : « N’ayez pas peur de faire des recherches, cela va améliorer votre article Et soyez heureux de ce que vous écrivez »

L'HISTOIRE DU MOIS

DE TAEHEE KIM

Les années 5 sont en train d’apprendre à propos des première et seconde guerres mondiales Anderson Shelter est un endroit pour les personnes pendant la guerre C’était un endroit moche et sale C’était fait de métal Il était difficile de dormir la nuit parce qu’il y avait de l’eau et du bruit mais les gens dormaient là Les gens vivaient dans les tunnels et les caves. Pour les gens sans argent c’était gratuit et les autres devaient payer 7 livres

Archana and her colleagues from What's up BJAB? hard at work.

A big thank you to Mr Mitchell for organising this tournament and for his unbiased and skilful refereeing!

BY MS GREY

This is my column where you can read about all things weird and wonderful. The world is a strange place- I’ll let you decide the truth!

First up, let’s start with a Christmas mystery- this will chill you more than a snowball down your jumper!

On Christmas morning in 1964, many residents of Warminster in the UK were disturbed by a series of strange noises and pounding vibrations that woke up most of the town One resident was awoken by the repeated sound of something falling onto her roof When she looked out of the window, she heard a strange humming noise, but the weather was clear and nothing had fallen into her garden or landed on her roof This same experience was reported by many different residents in different locations that morning, but no one saw anything strange, nor could they figure out where these sounds had come from The most unusual incident involved a resident named Marjorie Bye While walking to church for a Christmas service, Marjorie was so overwhelmed by vibrating noises that she was knocked to the ground and unable to move In her own words, she was “pinned down by the “invisible fingers of sound ” Over the next year, there were many more reported incidents of strange unexplained sounds in Warminster These noises were eventually nicknamed “The Thing ” By summer 1965, witnesses started reporting unidentified flying objects in the sky After a photograph of a flying saucer was published in the newspapers, UFO enthusiasts started flocking to the town, but the hype eventually died down and there would be no more visits from “The Thing ” Even so, no one has ever been able to explain what happened on Christmas morning in 1964

In Ukraine, there's a folklore tale called ‘The Legend of the Christmas Spider ’ In this story, a woman and her children were living in poverty in their home when a tree started to grow in their house On Christmas Eve, the tree became covered in spider webs and when they woke up the next morning, the spider webs had turned to silver and gold Now, people in Ukraine decorate their trees with spider web ornaments as a reference to the tale and to encourage the family's good luck

2 would like to say ‘thank you’ to all those who came to buy cakes, biscuits, badges, cards and bookmarks at their fundraiser in support of endangered animals They were able to raise an incredible 290 Euros! They have decided they would like to donate the money to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as they do some very important work protecting endangered animals

The alleged Warminster Flying Saucer

A CULTURAL EXCURSION

BY DESIREE CURCIO AND JULIA SCHEMBRI

What is a synagogue?

A synagogue, basically, is the building where Jews praise their god in Some synagogues have a tree that is surrounded by blue, like the one we (the Y6s) went to On the tree, there would be the names of some people who died recently Next to their names, there would be a little glowing red dot that symbolises their remembrance

What do the Jews believe?

Jewish people believe that their God created Earth and all that lays on it It was the guide to a lot of other religions, including Christianity

What did we do at the synagogue?

At the synagogue, we created challah (Jewish bread), and we talked about 5 things about everybody At the end, we filled in a form about whether we enjoyed it

UN VOYAGE DANS UNE REALITE AUGMENTEE

DE FELIX DAVIS

En novembre, six étudiants (Teddy, Dan, Allegra, Maria, Olivia et moi) se sont rendus, en train, dans la petite ville de Malines, pour essayer le nouvel atelier informatique Il y avait cinq stations différentes et les élèves qui y sont allés, étaient répartis en groupes avec des personnes d'autres écoles afin que chacun puisse faire toutes les activités Celles-ci étaient axées sur l’espace et les élèves ont été choisis parce qu'ils affichaient un intérêt pour les technologies spatiales La première station consistait à essayer un casque VR La deuxième, à faire de la robotique, comme programmer des robots et des drones volants La troisième était une construction de modules d'atterrissage Il y avait également une station avec des écrans verts pour tourner un film spatial et enfin, un kospace pour construire un monde en ligne

A drawing of a synagogue by Desiree Curcio

AVEZ-VOUS...?

Avez-vous déjà dit ?

par Mme Rozie

DONNER SA LANGUE AU CHAT

Voici deux expressions idiomatiques dont les français raffolent! Mais qu'estce que ça veut dire? Et quelle est leur origine?

Imaginez que vous êtes en classe et que votre maîtresse vous pose une question difficile Vous cherchez la réponse mais c’est tellement difficile que vous ne trouvez pas Alors vous pouvez dire « Je donne ma langue au chat », ce qui veut dire que vous renoncez à trouver la réponse, car elle est impossible à trouver

Avez-vous déjà lu ? par Mme Gurtner

IL PLEUT DES CORDES

En anglais, on dirait qu'il pleut des chats et des chiens mais en français on emploie l'image de cordes qui tombent, tout simplement pour dire qu'il pleut beaucoup, comme si des cordes lourdes tombaient.

LES ORANGERS DE VERSAILLES D’ANNIE PIETRI

Si vous aimez l’histoire et que vous voulez remonter le temps, plongez-vous dans ce roman qui a pour décors le somptueux Château de Versailles Vous suivrez Marion qui est au service de la favorite du Roi-Soleil, Madame de Montespan, dans les dédales du château et comprendrez vite que Madame de Montespan n’est pas la meilleure amie de la Reine Marion découvre le complot qu’elle a mis au point contre la femme du Roi Un livre plein de suspense !

LES ALBUMS DE TOM-TOM ET NANA

Vous trouvez que lire en français est un peu dur ? Essayez Tom-Tom et Nana ! Ils sont frère et sœur et cette bande dessinée vous raconte leurs folles aventures dans le restaurant de leurs parents Ils ont toujours des idées rigolotes et sont toujours en train de préparer leur prochaine blague ! La bonne nouvelle c’est que si ces histoires vous plaisent, il existe 34 albums et une adaptation en dessin animé !

Avez-vous déjà visité ?

par Mme Desiderio

LA VILLE DE LILLE, FRANCE

Lille se situe dans le Nord de la France, et c'est un choix idéal pour une courte visite depuis la Belgique En effet, grâce au TGV vous pouvez vous y rendre en moins de 30 minutes depuis Bruxelles

Surnommée "La capitale des Flandres", Lille vous séduira avec sa charmante architecture d'époque, et également par ses nombreuses boutiques et rues piétonnes En ce mois de décembre, elle offre également un beau marché de Noël sur lequel vous pourrez goûter aux spécialités régionales du Nord

Avez-vous déjà écouté?

par Mme Gurtner

Les gens de Christophe Maé.

Vous aimez chanter ? Moi aussi ! Attrapez votre brosse a cheveux et mettez-vous devant votre miroir ! Imaginez votre public en folie devant vous et c’est parti ! Vous pouvez écouter la chanson en scannant le QR code ci-dessous

Avez-vous déjà vu? par Mme Scott

"Coco" des studios Disney Pixar

Si vous voulez en savoir plus sur la fête des morts au Mexique, Coco est le film parfait pour vous ! Un des éléments les plus importants de la fête des morts c’est bien sûr la musique mais chez les Rivera, la musique est interdite depuis quatre générations Miguel Rivera rêve d’être guitariste et débute un extraordinaire voyage au bout duquel l'attend une importante vérité cachée concernant sa famille Regardez le film pour connaître la suite !

LES DEVINETTES DE MME ROZIE

Qui aime rigoler tout en se remuant les méninges ? A chaque édition de ce journal, vous aurez l’opportunité de remporter une pluie de Dojos si vous êtes le premier à trouver la bonne réponse

1 On peut me briser en disant un seul mot Et dès qu’on a dit mon nom, je n’existe plus Qui suis-je ?

2

J’ai une grande sœur qui est rapide et moi je suis plus lente Nous n’arrêtons jamais de travailler Qui sommes-nous ?

3 Elle tombe toujours mais ne se casse jamais Qu’est-ce que c’est ?

Vous avez jusqu’au jeudi 22 décembre pour soumettre vos réponses à Mme Rozie ou à Mme Desiderio

Bonne chance à tous !

AN INTERVIEW WITH MISS GOODES AND MR WILKINSON A RIOTOUS PAIR

BY ADVIKA HOSKOTE

When I went for this interview I was unaware of the laughter riot that I walked into I had a great time learning more about Miss Goodes and Mr Wilkinson and capturing their festive mood! I really do hope that you will enjoy reading this article!

Advika: How are you feeling this term with all the events and excitement?

Miss Goodes: I haven’t been to most of the events but I have been to the musical soiree and it was really nice seeing all of the talented pupils and seeing everyone being really involved I was part of the staff choir and that was great too

Mr Wilkinson: I am feeling overwhelmed but in a positive sense It was fantastic to see all of the talented pupils at BJAB The staff choir was really wonderful

Advika: Could you please share the highlights of the Halloween party and what the pupils could look forward to at the Snowball?

Miss Goodes: I didn’t go to the Halloween party but I did hear it was very messy And as for the Snowball the theme is silver, blue and white with snow themed decoration And I also heard that there were awards that are going to be given out too

Mr Wilkinson: I think that the Halloween party was really great because what was special was seeing the interaction between the Year 8s and the younger ones which was really affectionate

Advika: What are your favourite Christmas films and books?

Miss Goodes: I think my favourite book is ‘The More the Merrier’ and it is about how an extended family shares a Christmas together and how everything turns out as a disaster They don’t get along and everything goes wrong My favourite film is ‘Love Actually'

Mr Wilkinson: My favourite book is ‘A Christmas Carol’ and my favourite films are 'The Sound of Music’ and 'The Grinch’

Advika: Do you think it is a good idea to organize a Secret Santa for each class?

Miss Goodes: When I was younger, actually, we used to do something really similar The problem was always the budget and it constantly changed In the end, we all just used to buy each other crisps But I do think it is a good idea for the staff to do a ‘Secret Santa’

Mr Wilkinson: I do think it is a good idea, however some people might be having some monetary issues So maybe we can make it something like it has to be handicraft or get creative

Advika: What meals do you like to eat at Christmas?

Miss Goodes: I don’t know if it is a very British thing, but we used to have something called ‘Picky Tea’ on Christmas Eve This is when you get food or things like chicken nuggets in the shape of a snowman and a bunch of other weird stuff to eat

Mr Wilkinson: I would love to have a gathering with other friends and have a nice raclette which is basically ham, lots of cheese and potatoes, but I also just love the leftover turkey

Advika: What is a perfect Christmas Day to you and your family?

Miss Goodes: We always get up at around 09:00 and have breakfast together We always have a small breakfast activity organised by our mother before going to church We then have cocktails later in the morning Then we always drive up to our father’s home and open our presents there We sit in a circle and watch everyone open their presents one–by–one and we always say thank you We take our time to thank everyone, so it is always at least four days after Christmas before we finish opening our Christmas presents I also loved going for long walks with my sister and her dog

Mr Wilkinson: It has always stayed the same since I was a boy We get up at 07:30 and spend time with family and open our presents and stockings too We also go to church and then later on in the day have a nice dinner For dessert my mother and brother always make some delicious chocolate and then we all just sit on the sofa and talk and it's all just so merry

Advika: What is the plan for carol singing this year? Miss Goodes: I have no idea!

Mr Wilkinson: It is all really exciting I have just been blown away by the rehearsal the Year 8s and I did earlier The Year 2s have been working really hard too There has also been some talk about where the carol singing will be this year The staff choir will be performing, and I also heard there will be some dance moves! It’s all an earworm really

Advika: What is the one thing that you are thankful for this season?

Miss Goodes: I am thankful for all of my friends and my family, for being happy and healthy and this opportunity to be interviewed by you

Mr Wilkinson: I am thankful for working with the pupils, all these live events, togetherness and the opportunity now with you to be interviewed

Advika: If you were Santa Claus, what type of cookie would you like left out for you?

Miss Goodes: If I were Santa Claus I would like a subway cookie - the rainbow one - with smarties and a nice cup of hot chocolate with cow’s milk

Mr Wilkinson: If I were Santa Claus, I would actually like three types of cookies to be left out for me One would be salted caramel, another would be white chocolate and raspberries and the last would be a classic chocolate chip cookie Of course, with a nice cup of ice–cold milk (oatmeal milk because I am lactose intolerant)

Advika: Have you been naughty or nice this year? Have you already made a list for Santa?

Miss Goodes: I’ve really been trying to be nice this year and no I haven’t made a list for Santa yet, but I actually would like a mug I have also organised a play for Christmas on the 14th of December and I hope most of you will be able to join us! It is called ‘Once Upon a Christmas’

Mr Wilkinson: Well it depends on who you ask really I have not made a list for Santa yet, but I would like a two-week holiday to a very sunny resort

Advika: Thank you for your time and enjoy the rest of your day! Happy holidays!

WHITTAKER'S WONDERS

BJAB ART COMPETITION

I would like to congratulate the winners of the ‘Brussels through the eyes of a child’ BJAB Autumn art competition We received over seventy entries from across the school, from kindergarten to year 8

A huge thank you to everyone who participated Mr Retter and I were incredibly impressed with the standard of art and proud of our gifted children here at BJAB

And the winners of the prep school are:

Verónica Godwin Mangado (Y6) who produced a beautiful watercolour painting of Eglise Notre Dame des Victoires We were impressed with the technical use of materials, composition and delicate use of colour

COBIS ART COMPETITION

This year, together

the world to produce a piece of art based on the theme, 'Who am I' This is a prestigious competition and standards are high I would like to congratulate Greta Amendola(Y8), Yasmin Petrova (Y8), Ameli Akkazynov (Y6), Grégoire Van der Straten Waillet (Y6) and Elisa Tshidimba (Y2) whose artwork has been submitted to the competition I wish them good luck Results from this competition will be announced in January 2023

Barbara Kukharenko (Y7) who produced a wonderful painting of houses typical of Brussels, using vibrant colours The overall impact of her piece is stunning

with Arts University Bournemouth, COBIS invited students from schools across

Painting of houses by Barbara

Watercolour painting of Eglise Notre Dame des Victoires by Verónica

Art works submited to the COBIS Art competition

From left to right: Yasmin Petrova Greta Amendola and grégoire Van der Straten Wallet Bottom left: work from Ameli Akkazynov, bottom right: Elisa

ADVICE FROM OUR

AGONY AUNT

Some newspapers and magazines have columns written by people that we call 'Agony Aunts'. Essentially, this is a column that offers advice and support. The letters and advice are published so that other people who are experiencing the same or similar situations can benefit from both the advice and the comfort of knowing that they're not alone.

Dear Agony Aunt,

One of my friends keeps falling out with me and saying that they’re not my friend. Sometimes I say “good!” and that I don’t want to be their friend but actually I like spending time with them. How do I stop them falling out with me? Thanks, Sad.

Dear Sad, It can be very difficult to maintain relationships as we are growing and finding new interests If you are fond of this friend, I would encourage you to invite them for a nice afternoon celebrating your friendship You could chat together about how you feel and let them know how much you value their friendship Best, Agony Aunt

Dear Agony Aunt

I don't have a mobile phone but some people in my class do I really want to get one but my parents said I m not allowed until I m older I think I m old enough now and I would use it sensibly – I promise! How can I persuade my parents to get me one for Christmas? Regards, Frustrated

Dear Frustrated,

It can be very frustrating to not have what others have; but remember everyone has different circumstances You could make a list with the reasons why a phone would be a necessity for you: do you need it to feel safe? To get in touch with your friends? Or is it just because of the fashion? It is important that you have a real think about the advantages of having a phone to have a useful conversation with your parents Best, Agony Aunt

Agony Aunt,

Dear Confused, Christmas is in many cultures a popular tradition, but every culture celebrates it in a different way Is there a different celebration that is bigger for your family? That could be the reason why Christmas is felt as a smaller celebration at home Remember that Christmas is, above all, a time to be with your family and to be grateful for what, and more importantly, who we have around us The gifts are a nice plus, but they are not necessary Best, Agony Aunt

If you'd like to write a letter to our Agony Aunt for advice, you're very welcome to! All you need to do is write a letter and hand it to your teacher Tell them it is for the Agony Aunt and they will know what

Dear

Lots of my friends will be getting really big presents for Christmas but I never get loads of stuff. I like what I get but for my family Christmas is not such a big deal. Is this normal? Yours sincerely, Confused

to do!

DAZZLING GIFT IDEAS

BY ADVIKA HOSKOTE, DESIREE CURCIO

Have you had trouble deciding what to buy for your loved ones for Christmas? Well, this is the perfect article for you!

What can you buy that is not insanely expensive but is also very much appreciated and nice?

Handmade Jewellery

If you hear the word ‘jewellery’ then you might think 'expensive'! But it doesn’t always need to be! Kits can be used to make jewellery on your own This is a really fun and thoughtful gift and is often much more appreciated than just purchasing jewellery

Cards

Now, you must be thinking why cards is on the list? That is because a simple handmade card can be appreciated a lot It does not need to be made with expensive materials You can just make it with materials that you can easily find at home All you really need is paper, glue, scissors, colour and love!

Watch or a smartwatch

You can buy a nice watch or smartwatch for your siblings I am sure that anyone would love to get a new watch I know we would love to!

New stationary.

We love stationary and we also know a few people who do! You could simply buy an art book, paints, colours, and many other things! There is always time to get creative!

TANENBAUM TONGUE TWISTERS

BY TAEHEE KIM

Try saying the following phrases out loud How quickly can you say these sentences?

Six silly santas sang a song in the savannah since eating seven sizzling sausages

Red Santa green cheese, red Santa green trees, red Santa green cheese

Nineteen naughty notes never help ninety-nine nightmares

CHRISTMAS CHARACTERS

DE RIYA HAARISH

Every year brings the return of some of our favourite Christmas characters Many of us know their names in English, but do you know them in French?

Le Père Noël est très important pendant Noël car il apporte les cadeaux

En Belgique, il y a aussi St Nicolas qui est célébré le 6 décembre

Les reines aident à transporter les cadeaux du Père Noël et tirent la luge

L’elfe est un assistant malicieux du Père Noël Il fabrique les jouets

Le Bonhomme de neige est fait de neige ,de branches et de pierres Il a souvent une carotte pour nez

A RECOMMENDED RECIPE

BY SAMEEKSHA KARTHICK

STEP 1

In an extra large bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer for 30 seconds Add the powdered sugar and the salt Beat until well combined, scraping the bowl occasionally and then add the vanilla Beat in the flour with the mixer until the dough comes together Wrap and chill the dough for about 1 hour

STEP 2

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius Divide the dough in half On a lightly floured surface, roll one portion of dough to 05 cm thickness Use a 10 to 15 cm tree-shape cookie cutter to cut out the shapes Repeat with the remaining portion of dough

STEP 3

Arrange the cookies 8 cm apart on the cookie sheets Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are very lightly browned Cool the cookies on the sheets for 1 minute And then transfer them to a plate

STEP 4

Spoon the icing into a small resealable plastic bag Seal the bag; snip off a small corner of the bag Pipe a border around the tree edge Squeeze enough icing in the middle of the cookie to cover the rest of the cookie Spread the icing and decorate as desired Let it stand until the icing is dry

½ cup butter, softened

1 ⅓ cup powdered sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups of allpurpose flour

Powdered icing sugar

Decorative sprinkles and / or edible glitter

BISCUITS DE NOËL D’ESPAGNE «POLVORONES»

DE BARBARA KUKHARENKO

Ces gourmandises sont de délicieux biscuits espagnols, typiques de Noël

Les ingrédients: 180 g de farine 50 g de poudre d'amandes 120 g de beurre mou 50 g de sucre glace 1/2 cuillère à café de cannelle moulue Quelques gouttes de sirop d'anis 1 pincée de sel

Temps de préparation: 55 min Temps de cuisson: 45 min

1

Ajoutez la farine d’amande à la farine puis faire grillée la farine Pour cela, mettez la farine sur une plaque à pâtisserie et enfournez pendant 30-35 minutes à 130 ° C

2 3 4

Faites-la refroidire pendant environ une heure Placez la farine sur table de travail Ajoutez le sucre glace, la cannelle et le sel Mélangez Ajoutez le beurre mou au centre et commencez à pétrir pour obtenir une pâte Ajoutez l'anis et continuez à pétrir Formez une boule et recouvrez-la d'un film alimentaire pendant environ 30 min Etalez la pâte sur une plaque à pâtisserie, avec une épaisseur d'environ 1,5 cm Formez les biscuits avec un emporte-pièce Placez les biscuits sur une feuille de cuisson et enfournez 15 à 20 min à 160° C

BY RIYA HAARISH

Who doesn't like to watch a good Christmas film, under the blanket when the weather is cold outside? This is the top 5 of Christmas favourites for you and your family to watch over the holidays (DISCLAIMER: The order has nothing to do with the greatness)

1 How the Grinch stole Christmas 5/5

It is an enjoyable heart-warming film( an old favourite) It is about the Grinch who hates Christmas and he wants it gone! At the end he too !

2 Home alone 5/5

It is a comedy sequel about a boy accidentally left alone He wakes up finding no one! There’s a twist to it

3 The Polar express 4/5

This is an old animation film, nevertheless it is worth watching It is about a boy who goes to the North Pole

4 Falling for Christmas 3 5/5

This film is maybe not so well known with the youngest but it is a certain pleaser The film is about a rich girl who bangs her head

5. The princess switch 4.5/5

Let’s say there are many more lovely films to watch! The ones above can be considered our top 5

ROXY'S ADVENTURE

FESTIVE FUN

READY FOR RIDDLES?

BY SAMEEKSHA KARTHICK

BY TAEHEE KIM

1 I am green , shiny things are around me and presents from Santa are under me Who am I?

2 I am a man but I can be delicious and I am eaten during the Christmas season. Who am I ?

3 I am a man, very cold and I am only alive during the Christmas season Who am I ?

4 I am a box full of goodies and Santa gives me out Who am I ?

WINTER WORDSEARCH

BY TAEHEE KIM

5 I look like a deer but I have a red nose Who am I ?

6 I am a little worker for Santa also l am jolly Who am I ?

MOTS CROISÉS

CHRISTMAS SUDOKU

BY BARBARA KUKHARENKO

CHRISTMAS FUN ANSWERS

Answers - Who I am?

1Christmas tree

2Gingerbread man

3Snow man/woman

4Christmas present

5Reindeer

6Elf

Ready for Riddles answers

There are two riddles One in English and another one is in French

The more of this there is, the less you see What am l?

Answer: Darkness

Qu’est-ce qui commence par un P, se termine par E et contient un millier de lettres?

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