Insider Issue 22

BSB INSIDER‌ INSIDER‌

D O N’ T B E A N O U T S I D E R , R E A D T H E I N S I D E R !

JAZZ WEEKEND GUESS THE TEACHER A D O L E S C E N C E - M E N TA L H E A LT H AWA R E N E S S ALBUMS INTERVIEWS ....AND MUCH MORE

TABLE OF CONTENTS CLASSIC ALBUM COVERS

01

ADOLESCENCE / MENTAL HEALTH

03

JAZZ WEEKEND

05

GUESS THE TEACHER

07

FAMOUS NON-GRADUATES

09

INTERVIEW WITH JAMES PENSTONE

11

CHAT GPT FOR TEACHERS

13

UPCOMING CAREERS TALKS

14

GRADUATION WORDSEARCH

15

AMNESTY CONCERT

16

SPORTS SEVEN

17

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ON GRADUATION

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The Untold Stories Behind Classic Album Covers

By Nick Willan

Some album covers are impossible to forget. They become part of the way we think about the music itself, whether it’s a photo, a symbol, or a visual that somehow just fits. But the covers that become iconic aren’t always carefully planned. Sometimes, they’re the result of accidents, split-second decisions, or ideas that almost didn’t happen at all. Here are some of the most recognisable album covers in history, and the unexpected stories behind them.

Nirvana – Nevermind (1991) One of the most instantly recognisable images in rock: a baby floating underwater, chasing a dollar on a hook. It was never meant to be iconic, it was just a quick photoshoot.

Photographer Kirk Weddle was hired to capture something raw and striking. He asked a friend if he could borrow their infant son, Spencer Elden, and took the photo at a local pool in Pasadena. The entire process took less than 30 seconds.

The label was nervous about the nudity and pushed for a censored version. Kurt Cobain pushed back. He argued that if the image was controversial, the real problem wasn’t the photo, it was the reaction to it. His response? Either leave it as is, or slap a sticker on it saying, “If you're offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile.”

Controversy followed, but so did massive success. The image, like the album, captured something raw, messy, and unfiltered, exactly what Nirvana represented.

Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) No band members. No album title. Just a triangle, a beam of white light, and a rainbow.

The band wanted a clean break from their previous surreal covers.

Storm Thorgerson, of the legendary design team Hipgnosis, suggested something simpler. He found inspiration in a science textbook, a prism diagram showing light refraction. Graphic designer George Hardie adapted it into what would become one of the most famous pieces of album art ever made.

The cover fit the music perfectly: sleek, atmospheric, and full of subtle complexity. It’s been printed on T-shirts, posters, coffee mugs, and tattoos, often by people who’ve never even heard the album.

It’s the kind of design that seems obvious in hindsight, but at the time, it was a gamble that paid off.

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The Velvet The Velvet Underground Underground && Nico Nico (1967) (1967) The debut The debut album album from from The The Velvet Velvet Underground Underground was was strange strange and and groundbreaking. The groundbreaking.

The cover cover matched matched that that energy. energy.

Andy Warhol, Andy Warhol, who who produced produced the the album, album, designed designed the the artwork. artwork. At At first first glance, it’s glance, it’s just just a a banana. banana. But But on on early early vinyl vinyl pressings, pressings, it it was was actually actually a a peelable sticker. peelable sticker. Underneath: Underneath: a a flesh-coloured, flesh-coloured, slightly slightly provocative provocative pink banana. pink banana. The The sticker sticker read: read: “Peel “Peel slowly slowly and and see.” see.”

ItIt was was clever, clever, but but also also expensive. expensive. The The custom custom printing printing process process delayed delayed the album’s the album’s release release and and raised raised costs, costs, which which partly partly explains explains why why the the album wasn’t album wasn’t a a commercial commercial success success at at first. first.

Years later, Years later, it it would would be be called called one one of of the the most most influential influential records records ever ever made. And made.

And that that banana? banana? A A symbol symbol of of pop pop art art cool. cool.

Radiohead – Kid A (2000) Kid A marked a dramatic shift in sound for Radiohead, and the album’s artwork reflected that sense of unease and disconnection.

Thom Yorke collaborated with longtime visual partner Stanley Donwood to create something that looked alien but familiar. They used photographs of Icelandic landscapes and digital distortion effects, layering in textures that resembled propaganda posters and early computer graphics.

The jagged white shapes that look like mountains? According to Donwood, they’re actually imagined nuclear explosions. The art matched the mood of the record: cold, abstract, and emotionally distant. A landscape that felt post-human.

It was risky for a band coming off the massive success of OK Computer. But the cover, like the music, helped cement Radiohead’s place as one of the most forward thinking bands of their generation.

The Beatles – Abbey Road (1969) It’s one of the most famous photos ever taken, and it took ten minutes to shoot. On a sunny morning in August 1969, the band walked across the street outside Abbey Road Studios. Photographer Iain Macmillan climbed a ladder and took six quick shots while a police officer held up traffic. One of those frames became the cover.

There was no deep symbolism, just a simple image of the band crossing the street. But fans read into everything. Paul McCartney was barefoot, out of step with the others, and holding a cigarette in his right hand (despite being left-handed). This fed into the conspiracy theory that Paul had died and been replaced by a lookalike.

The image became iconic and tourists still visit the crossing, trying to recreate the shot.

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WRITTEN BY DOROTTYA KOVÁCS

ADOLESCENCE A Silent Cry For Help

picture from the Netflix series Adolescence

Adolescence, a British TV series consisting of merely four episodes, was released on March 15th, 2025, and has confidently earned the title of a true success, topping Netflix viewing charts in more than 70 countries. For the past two months, it’s felt almost impossible to avoid hearing about this British mini-series, with people of all age groups discussing its message, importance, and quality. Whether through social media or conversations with loved ones, most of us have heard about Adolescence.

But do we really understand the true reason behind its popularity? And above all, do we understand the message it’s trying to convey?

The series is centred around an event, which is one of the most extraordinary aspects of the show. In my view, there is no true protagonist. Over the four episodes of Adolescence, we follow the aftermath of the murder of a teenage girl somewhere in the North of England. This isn’t your usual crime story: police suspect it was committed by a 13-year-old boy named Jamie, who is arrested within the first few minutes of episode one. However, this isn’t a simple “who really did it” crime drama.

The question of whether Jamie truly committed the murder quickly becomes irrelevant, overtaken by a deeper moral dilemma: How—and more importantly— why could a young adolescent be capable of something so violent?

Guided by that question, the series explores challenging themes like identity struggles, family issues, and social pressure, shedding light on the crucial—but often overlooked— mental health challenges faced by adolescents.

Photo Illustration by Victoria Sunday/The Daily Beast/Netflix

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Firstly, I’d like to draw attention to the very beginning of the show — a moment that could easily be overlooked due to the rapid rise in action that follows. In the first few minutes, we’re introduced to our first character: a police officer. We watch as he listens to a voice message from his son, who pretends to be sick and asks to stay home from school. The officer dismisses the message and even shares it with his colleague, telling her that his son will be going to school regardless of the excuse.

This short, two-minute exchange might seem like meaningless banter on first watch, but it actually sums up the series so effectively that it’s impossible not to mention. So, why are these two minutes so important? The father ignores what he knows is a lie — something most parents might do without a second thought. But what we need to notice here is the deeper reason the child may be trying to stay home. Like the parent, we also overlook this unspoken message, brushing off a silent cry for help as just another childish attempt to avoid responsibility. picture from the Netflix series Adolescence

This ignorance becomes a key theme in the series and unfolds in front of our eyes, embodied by multiple adults throughout the episodes. Perhaps the most important among them is Jamie’s father, who, as we come to learn, clearly represents both active and passive ignorance towards Jamie’s behaviour—directly contributing to his destructive nature. Along with him, most adult characters in Adolescence stand in for societal ignorance, highlighting the serious impact this can have on teenagers today.

picture from the Netflix series Adolescence

Another issue raised in the series is the effect of a flawed education system. In episode 2, through the eyes of a police officer, we get a glimpse into the environment Jamie was in every day—his UK state school. We see not just conflict among the children, but the deeper roots of their behaviour, which are shown as direct consequences of adult failures and institutional neglect.

By episode 3, we finally hear from Jamie himself, who reveals his true self during an emotional conversation with a psychologist. It’s here we see the full weight of everything the show has built up to: how adult ignorance and a broken system have together impacted the mental health of this 13-year-old boy. Jamie becomes a powerful representation of a very real issue—one affecting young people around the world today.

Obviously, what we are shown through Adolescence is an extreme case… or is it?

As we move out of May, Mental Health Awareness Month, this series stands as an important reminder of how much is left unsaid in the lives of young people.

Adolescence doesn't just ask us to watch—it asks us to listen. Maybe it’s time we all start paying closer attention to what might seem like “just a silly excuse,” because behind it, there might be someone silently asking for help.

Whether you're a teen, a parent, or simply someone trying to understand today's youth, Adolescence is a must-watch.

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JAZZ WEEKEND

Venues: Grand Place Place de la Bourse Place St Catherine The Busker Stages

5

23rd, 24th, 24th of May: Did you make it this year?

History of Jazz in Belgium

The history of jazz in Belgium starts with the Dinant instrument maker Adolphe Sax, whose saxophone became part of military bands in New Orleans around 1900 and would develop into the jazz instrument par excellence.

Antoine-Joseph "Adolphe" Sax (6 November 1814 – 7 February 1894) was a Belgian inventor and musician who invented the saxophone in the early 1840s. He also invented the saxtromba, saxhorn and saxtuba, and redesigned the bass clarinet in a fashion still used to the present day. He played the flute and clarinet.

Programme

Friday

Kristo Early Life Forms Aleph Quintet Adja Kosmo Sound Bandler Ching The Brums

Saturday

Incandescence Francesco Turisi Trio (IT) Tassin/Hermia/Jorris HYPERCONTENT! UNFINISHED BUSINESS Bodies Halibut On The Moon

Sunday

Wadje Riahi Trio Jazz Sanusi Helena Casella Amy Gadiaga Jamilah Barry Luismi Aguilar Sextet Ashtabiez

And More...

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G uess the T e acher These people graduated a long time ago, But that does not mean we can’t celebrate their youth. So WE at the BSB insider have got hold of Nine baby photos of teachers from around the school - can you guess who’s who?

7

Sara Coleman Alison Clarke Jane Whitehouse Anne Steadman

James Gibbs Richard Long Paul Christmas James Johnson

Dannielle White Naomi PHILIPS Clare Gunns Claire Williams

Carl Zolman Fiachra Glynn Alex Chituc Griffin Sharry

GLOw up

Paul Sullivan Adam Johnson

Jonathan Price Stephen Greenslade

Gregor Millbright

TOny Walk

Bryn Goodman James Rollinson

GLOw up

Charles Beckley Tiago Amaral Neil Chisholm James Willis

Joanne Craig Kerry Vallely Pascale O’Kelly Helen Vincent

Frances Brickley

AVril Delaney Ruth Ripoll Penelope Gibbs 8

Famous People Who Never Graduated

by Thomas Howe

Graduating from university is often seen as an essential step towards success.

However, history has shown us that some of the most influential, rich and famous people never graduated from university or didn’t even attend in the first place.

Steve Jobs: Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder of Apple, enrolled at Reed College in 1972 but dropped out after

just

one

semester

due

to

financial

problems.

Despite leaving formal education, he continued to audit classes that interested him, such as calligraphy,

which

later

influenced

the

typography and design aesthetics of Apple products.

Steve Jobs believed that following his interests, rather than a prescribed curriculum, was key to his innovation. His unconventional path led to the creation of groundbreaking products like the Macintosh, iPod, and iPhone, revolutionizing the

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tech industry.

Bill Gates: Bill Gates enrolled at Harvard University in 1973 but left in 1975 to co-found Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen.

Bill Gates was deeply engaged in computing projects. during his time at Harvard, even facing disciplinary action for unauthorised use of the university's computer lab.

Despite, the success of Microsoft, Gates has expressed some regret about not completing his degree,

acknowledging

the

value

of

the

academic environment he left behind. However, his decision to pursue his passion for software development led to the creation of one of the world's most influential technology companies.

Walt Disney: Walt Disney- the creative force behind Mickey mouse and the founder of Disneyland and Walt Disney World, dropped out of high school at the age of 16 to join the Red Cross during World War I. After returning from France, he pursued a career in animation, eventually co-founding the Disney Brothers Studio with his brother Roy. Disney's innovative approach to animation led to the creation of the first synchronized sound cartoon, "Steamboat Willie," and the first full-length animated feature, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves."

Despite his limited formal education, walt Disney received numerous honorary degrees from prestigious institutions like Yale and Harvard, reflecting his significant contributions to the arts and entertainment industry.

The case studies of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Walt Disney should highlight that while a degree can provide valuable knowledge and expertise, it is not only path to success.

The stories above as well as the countless others from Oprah Winfrey to Mark Zuckerberg to Rihanna highlight that with a passion and hard work, you can go far and make amazing achievements without a university degree.

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Meeting Our New Principal: AN INTERVIEW WITH JAMES PENSTONE BSB Futures is a school-wide initiative of The British School of Brussels that seeks to enrich student learning by building connections with the professional world. We aim to help students explore pathways and build students’ knowledge of university, career and other opportunities available to them beyond and after their time at BSB. Through seminars, talks and other chances, to ask questions of professionals in varying fields aim to help students build skills and strengths needed to work toward their goals and encourage self-reflection.

(BSB Futures, 2024) t

paragraph text The BSB Futures programme provided usYourwith the chance to interview James Penstone the new principal of BSB. James joined in January of this year however can already be seen as an instrumental part of the school and its wider community.

James first started his journey toward a career in teaching after working in London in a marketing role for a number of years. He recounted to us the moment that he decided to become a teacher, one that led him on the path towards BSB. Back in 1999 on Primrose Hill in London he declared to his future wife, “I think I’m going to be a teacher” and apparently, she’d been thinking the same.

Sparked by his own fervour for academic learning, his passion for the environment, and his concern about its surrounding issues, he began his studies as a Geography teacher. One step closer to the position he holds today.

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James’s job has led him across the globe and after his most recent stint in Zurich, here to Belgium and more specifically to BSB. He explained how after a wonderful chapter in Switzerland, he was ready for a headship position of a school.

Through research he came across the opening at BSB, apparently it was a perfect match.

The people in the school with whom he had connections reinforced the idea that BSB aligned with his own beliefs and maybe this was the perfect opening for him.

James told us about the interview process and how every stage further solidified his decision to set up the next chapter of his career here at BSB. He regaled us with the fabulous qualities of the school, the most important of which is its being “incredibly welcoming”.

He further explained how the whole BSB community was amazing, it had the “sort of energy and culture” that he was looking for in a school.

Leading on from this we asked him about what aims he may have for the school going forward. He focused on his plans to include workshops and chances for the wider BSB community to pitch in and voice their ideas and opinions on the school and how it goes about doing what it does.

Finishing off the interview, we asked James for advice he would give to students, more specifically those in Post-16.

In his response he highlighted the importance of doing what you love to do.

As he mentioned in the “ever changing landscape of modern employment” it is incredibly plausible for jobs to be created that have never existed before.

He added that for those students that are unsure about where to go next, don’t stress.

The best thing you can do is make the most of the opportunities available to you at BSB and go deeper with your academics allowing you to develop broad and transferrable skills that will come of use in all areas of life. He finished off by stressing that one doesn’t create opportunities but that “you create the conditions for those opportunities”.

We the BSB Futures team are incredibly grateful for having the opportunity to interview James Penstone. We look forward to seeing all that he achieves during his time here at BSB.

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Why teachers should embrace Chat GPT more AN OPINION PIECE BY ABIR KUMAR As AI continues to advance, tools like ChatGPT are becoming a vital resource for teachers , yet some in BSB are still hesitant to fully embrace it,.

But the truth is ChatGPT can be a powerful tool to enhance both teaching and learning experiences.

For starters, ChatGPT can help teachers save time by assisting with administrative tasks like grading tests especially for subjects such as History and English.

It can even help create practice questions , explain difficult concepts in simpler terms, or provide feedback on assignments.

This allows educators to focus more on one-on-one interactions with students and less on timeconsuming tasks.

ChatGPT is also an excellent resource for students who need extra support outside of class. It can offer explanations on topics, help with writing, and even provide practice problems, making learning more accessible.

By integrating AI into the classroom, teachers can encourage more independent learning. My math teacher used it for practice questions and it could detect the level you were at and as a result could teach content based on your current abilities

Of course, like any tool, it’s not perfect.

Students still need to think for themselves, and teachers are still the ones who guide that learning.

But ignoring AI won’t stop students from using it , it just means missing a chance to show them how to use it properly and efficiently, without becoming too dependent on it.

“ChatGPT can act as a helpful supplement by explaining concepts in different ways, offering writing suggestions, or helping students revise content outside of class time”- Sam Altman, CEO of open AI

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This article was written using chat GPT

More information to follow in the new academic year…

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Graduation Wordsearch How many graduation related words can you find?

Class of 2025!

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Some Final Thoughts on Graduation

by Vani Tiwari, in conversation with James Penstone As the school year draws to a close, reflection on this year’s experiences often creates a mix of nostalgia and excitement for what lies ahead. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to interview James Penstone who shared his insightful perspectives on graduation both from school and university and the stark differences he found.

For James, his own graduation from school was a deeply personal affair and was marked by celebratory meals and heartfelt assemblies. James described this experience as very ‘poignant’. As he filed past the school, teachers and students who wished him luck. It was a moment in which he felt a mix of emotions from being ‘proud’ to being ‘upset’ about leaving school due to the ‘many great friendships forged’. He described it as such ‘an abrupt ending that when it finally happened [he] was not quite prepared’ yet it was still a ‘special memory’ creating a lasting mark in his life.

Graduation from university, however, brought a stark contrast. The structured yet fragmented nature of the graduation left James feeling that it lacked a personal touch and felt very ‘functional’. He shared the functionality of the event emphasising that you had one short moment in which you would walk across the stage, accept your diploma and exit. Interestingly, he recalls thinking that ‘[he’d] worked very hard for [his] degree’ and slowed his 10 seconds of stage time to 15 seconds by walking slowly across the stage to extract much as much as he could from the moment.

Reflecting on his transition from school to university, James recalled doing well in his academics at school but found himself not giving it his all in his Post-16 years with juggling other interests he had. Going to university, he found his subjects really fascinating and became a much better scholar. He found himself deeply drawn to some of the people there who he found very inspirational, such as the lecturers. He emphasised the importance of aligning with your degree because if you do not, you may start to deprioritise your studies. With final advice for the students, he highlighted the importance of doing something you truly enjoy and making the most of the opportunities that come your way. You never know where life will lead you!

As graduation season approaches, let us celebrate all the successes and achievements of the Year 13s and wish them the best of luck as they finish of their exams and start a new chapter of their lives.

Thank you again James for giving us this opportunity.

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Answers Let’s see how many you got!

Answers for Baby Quiz: 1. Ali Clarke 2. James Gibbs 3. Claire Gunns 4. Alex Chituc 5. Paul Sullivan 6. James Rollinson 7. Neil Chisholm 8. Joanne Craig 9. Ruth Ripoll