The Cambridge Collective
Issue 4
Autumn Term 2022
Online Friendship -- Kindness Matters How to be confident -- Churches in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The Revolution of the Match Girls -- Poems
Weird Words Get to know Mrs Trafford Mrs Smith Mrs Goulden
Short story
The Great Race Meet The Head Pupil Team The Prefect Team
Interview with
The Cambridge Collective
Writing Award
Baron Way of Plean about the Monarchy
Fatemeh Valizadeh
Halloween Art Competition 2022
Claire Enriquez
Namita Sohal
Solymar Latimer
Evie Netherwood
Harrison Ruby
Martina Clara
Editor's Letter Dear Reader, Welcome to the fourth and Autumn Term issue of The Cambridge Collective. Each issue of The Collective features a special theme. For this present issue, the special theme is 'Unique U'. Many people have no idea of the vast differences between the different countries that CHS pupils all live in, so these articles highlight the unique and special elements in our lives that other people in different countries might not share. This issue introduces the Cambridge Collective Writing Award, inviting the student body to submit articles for a chance to win a featured spot in the magazine along with an Amazon voucher. We have also introduced with this issue 'Guest Articles' - a series of articles that are written by inspiring persons outside of the student body, or by CHS pupils interviewing guests. I would in particular like to thank the efforts of our editing team as follows: Mrs Howard and Mr Boylan for the invaluable time and advice they both provided to us in compiling, editing and shaping this edition of The Collective. Xenia Plarre and Bow Burnham for the incredible amount of effort and time that they have put into organising and shaping the jumble of ideas that every publication starts off as into the final product. Finally, our sincere thanks from myself and the entire Editor's team to everyone that contributed to this issue of The Collective in any way. Imran Gulamhussein Editor & Head Boy The Cambridge Collective
Editor's Note: The articles, pictures, diagrams and all forms of content presented in this publication do not in any way represent or reflect the views, opinions or beliefs of the publication and of the editor's team.
The Cambridge Collective Contributors Asha Nagarajan, Claire Enriquez, Bow Burnham, Editorial Adelyn Chung, Jude Josephine Aboumechrek, Imran Gulamhussein Editor Imran Gulamhussein, Adittya Sakline, Xenia Plarre Deputy Editor Kayra Nur Kaya, Christian Cuda, Charlie Abdo, Bow Burnham Junior Editor Asma Yusha'u, Conrad Ho, Matthew Huggett, Guidance Leo Brown, Julia M. V. Williams, Xenia Plarre, Mrs Howard Mrs Howard, Heer Usadadiya, Mrs Trafford, Mr Boylan Mrs Smith, Mrs Goulden, Winwin Shinpat, Harrison Ruby, Sergej Metodijevic, Mr Boylan
THE TEAM
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Table Of Contents Unique U Online Friendship Kindness matters How to be confident Churches in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The Revolution of the Match Girls Poem
6 8 10 11 12 13
Meet The Head Pupil Team 14 The Prefect Team 18 CHS Updates The Cambridge Collective 22 Writing Award Prep School Meet Mrs Goulden 23 Poems 24
Recipe Page Perfect Apple Pie 26 Sports and Activities Interview with Heer Usadadiya 28 Current Affairs Guest Article - Interview with Baron Way of Plean 30 about the Monarchy Get to Know Meet Mrs Smith 33 Meet Mrs Trafford 34 Clubs Drama Club 36 Short Story The Great Race 38 Weird Words 42 House Competitions 43
Online Friendship Asha Nagarajan
I believe that friendship is a key element in every individual's life and it certainly influenced mine in so many ways. It all started when I texted Claire saying “CLAIREEE” after working together in Spanish one day. Ever since that day we never stopped talking to each other. It was unexpected that we got along so well and matched each other's vibes. I guess, the quote “expect the unexpected” is true after all. I’ve never once imagined that I would ever get THIS close to someone online but I did. Our chats were endless- we would keep talking for hours. Although I was really happy that we texted so happily and made each other laugh, I was concerned it would be awkward when we actually talk on a call. Little did I know that I was so wrong about that- not only did we entertain each other through text messages, but we clicked the first day we talked on a call. We’re not the type of friends that always compliment each other. Instead we’re the type of friends that make fun of each other, insult each other, roast each other, all the time. But we both know deep within that we only have care and love for each other.
There are some friendships which are just so special that it’s hard to describe them. I believe our friendship is one of those. We started talking like we’ve known each other for years even after just talking for a week, and I still don’t understand how we got along so well. Claire always radiates this positive and crazy energy which I love about her. Even if I’m feeling so sluggish, lazy and tired, she makes me want to get my work done. And let me tell you a fun fact! If you’re talking to Claire, I can guarantee you that you will get your assignments done, and I’m saying this because I have experience. Every time we talk, we have fun but at the same time we manage to be productive and get our homework done.
Claire and I are completely opposite people; she likes everything I don’t like. We don’t have much in common, not even similar interests, but that didn’t stop us from becoming best friends did it? We still manage to hype each other up and match each other’s vibes perfectly, that’s why we get along well.
I expected both of us would be shy when we physically met in real life, and yet I was wrong, AGAIN! We got along even better in real life than through texts. I was really happy that we finally got to meet each other, it was a priceless moment. I expected she would be taller than me, BUT I was wrong again! Claire, if you’re reading this, how’s the weather down there? It’s so hard to notice the time going so fast when we talk. We never run out of topics to talk about, we always have something to talk about, and it never gets awkward with her.
We’ve been best friends for almost 3 months now, but we talk like we’ve known each other for years. We had a lot of embarrassing moments together, especially in public. We were crazy, but at least we were crazy together. Claire and I almost talk to each other every day, but even if we didn’t it wouldn’t matter. Friends don’t necessarily need to talk every day, but when we need someone, they’re there. That’s Claire. I’m glad I found this amazing, hilariously crazy companion. Thanks to CHS and ESPECIALLY the Spanish teacher who put us together. Though meeting people like this is amazing, be careful who you talk to online as not everyone's the same and online safety is important, but if you do find someone like this, don’t lose them.
We both have our inside jokes that no one else would ever understand. Our friendship started off with girl talks and eventually we became karaoke partners, and slowly our friendship bond grew even stronger.
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We’ve eaten together, we’ve sung together, we’ve studied together, we teach each other new things, we’ve made fun of each other, we’ve helped each other, we understand each other, we’ve been stupid together too! Most importantly, we made memorable memories together. We genuinely enjoy each other's company and we both know our friendship will last really long.
UNIQUE U
Online Friendship Claire Enriquez The first time Asha and I met physically, it was actually not awkward at all; however, the crazy only ensued moments after we went to the mall... If anybody was wondering, we didn’t buy anything other than $1 ice-cream and a few collectables from Gacha machines. Asha bought the reasonably priced ice-cream while I was loyal to McDonalds. We're really broke and we know it.
We started off as karaoke partners singing to cheesy 2013 pop hits and in the span of less than 3 weeks and since we live in similar countries with the same time zones, there were already 5-hour calls and my chat with her was endless. We would use google meet to call and google chat for daily chats and conversations. If you try to find the very beginning of when our friendship blossomed in teams, your entire computer would start to lag and you’d be several years older. I would know because I tried. I'm still scrolling. A very vivid memory I have is when we were motivated to study and complete every single one of our assignments. I ended up trying to see whether or not Asha could eat an extremely spicy ramen bowl or play scribble. Yo - fun fact, I lost more times because I struggled to spell the word banana!
UNIQUE U
There was never a quiet moment with Asha since she has the mouth of a 5-year-old. Even though she is 2 years older than me I like to think because of my ‘insane maturity’ I was able to find this hilarious, confident person that brightens up my day, teaches me questionable things and makes bets on whether or not it's going to rain. That person who is my free bickering companion and roast partner that has the best comebacks ever. That person whose messages I can ignore without feeling bad and finding out that she does it too. I never knew I would get to find that person online. Asha, I see you crying over there. I hope you’re crying...
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Kindness matters Written and illustrated by Bow Burnham
There are many positives to having kind friends, but did you know that being kind can have an impact on your mental health? Not only does it benefit you receiving kindness but actually being kind to others and being a good friend has many personal benefits too. Research suggests that loneliness is connected to an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems and increased stress. Friends prevent isolation and loneliness, boosting our happiness and reducing our stress which can lower the risk of mental health issues.Spending time with our friends releases endorphins in the brain and makes us happy. As well as happiness, our friends can keep us grounded, help us get things in perspective, and help us manage life's problems.
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Although having friends is great, we need to be wary of which ones are good for us or not, having a friend who is toxic can increase the risk of having mental health problems most likely even higher than if we were lonely. Toxic friends can easily cause low self-esteem, anxiety, stress and make us doubt ourselves as humans. 7 signs of a toxic friend: They do not respect your boundaries. They always seem to need something from you. They don’t see that anything is their fault. They gaslight often. They talk bad about you often. They make you feel drained/sad after spending time with them. They never acknowledge your achievements.
UNIQUE U
7 signs of a kind friend: You feel happy after spending time with them. There is no competition. They value honesty. They stick up for you. They respect you as a human. They validate your experiences. They respect your boundaries. As well as making sure our friends with are good people, it is important that we are good people too! It can cause many mental health benefits if we are kind, not just to other people but to ourselves as well. The benefits of kindness in general are infinite.
UNIQUE U
5 easy ways to be kind: Treat people the way you want to be treated. Listen. Sometimes the best thing you can do is listen to them. Compliment them. It might make their day. Smile. Smiling is contagious, if someone looks slightly down and you're on a walk, smile and wave hi. Don’t be negative. Negativity is also contagious. No matter where you are from, no matter what your beliefs are, we are all human and we are all living different experiences, be kind; be kind to yourself and be kind to others. Now, have a great day!
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How to be confident Asha Nagarajan
"You know what you need to do? The world needs to accept you for who you are, so you should simply keep doing what you're doing and not change", is something I would never say to anyone. Why? Because that's the worst advice ever. Don’t confuse between being yourself, and improving yourself. You can improve yourself by being yourself, can’t you? The world owes you nothing. Neither do the people. We constantly strive to better ourselves and change for the best. Every person has changed from the person they were when they were first born. Therefore, it is just unrealistic to advise, "Oh, don't change yourself; just accept yourself." Because our lives are truly in our hands, we cannot sugarcoat situations and expect them to turn out well. Instead, we must take responsibility for their outcome. You'll become the best version of yourself if you start acting like that person. In whatever circumstance, ask yourself how you would act and look if you were your highest self. What image do you have of this person? You must begin behaving in that direction and setting goals once you have chosen what your ideal self looks like.
The most successful athletes, for instance, radiate such confidence in their abilities and every action they do. Why? Because they train, turn up every day, and are confident that they are performing at their highest level. These people have discipline. These individuals don't consider if they "feel like it or don't feel like it." Your feelings should be off. It isn't about the emotions. When you push yourself to complete tasks and succeed, it feels fantastic. Your mind will gradually begin to adopt the belief that "we can do even more" each time you push yourself and set a new limit for yourself. You have so much immense potential that you haven't even begun to explore. So keep exploring and learn more about yourself. Start getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Humans are not naturally wired for happiness. We have evolved to seek comfort. Because of this, when we attempt to make a significant change all at once, our body is shocked and we subsequently lose the will to continue. Do small things but do them consistently, rather than surprising yourself with big steps all at once. Beauty is in the process of getting to the goal, not just the goal itself.
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Take pleasure in the process of growing and changing to become a better version of yourself. Make minor adjustments gradually so that you may grow used to them and, once you have, your mind and body will recognize them as comfortable and good for you. Do uncomfortable things until they get comfortable... We do not grow in our comfort zone. We will never be confident if we don't do things that we're not used to doing. You'll start to feel confident and pleased with yourself once you begin to consistently show yourself that "I can do better." This could be hindered by perfectionism, which is essentially a dread like "Oh no, what will people say? How will they respond? ". I'm going to break it to you: people don't generally think. So, what people think shouldn't be your concern. It's very reasonable that not everyone can understand each other because people come from different backgrounds and different cultures and that’s completely fine because all of us are not living the same life. For every action you want to take, first imagine this entire person in your thoughts and ask yourself, "Is this something that my highest version of myself would do?" If it's not, you don't do it. Learn more about yourself every day, and eventually you’ll get there!
UNIQUE U
Churches in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Myth or truth... Jude Josephine Aboumechrek
The photographs were taken in 1986 shortly after the ruins, under the protection of the "Saudi Department of Antiquities", were partially exhumed.
Let's continue our journey of Controversy continues to surround exploration and head to the vibrant this deserted, withering structure, seaport city of Jeddah situated in as there's insufficient evidence to The Jubail Church the Western Province. On the way substantiate the claim of it actually Our first destination is Saudi to "Al Balad '' also known as the old being a church... Arabia's Eastern Province, where oil downtown, you will have to drive was first discovered. It borders the past the district of Baghdadiya. The presence of churches in the Arabian Gulf and consists of: Here, on an isolated lot surrounded Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may seem Dhahran, Khobar, Dammam, Qatif, by outdated office buildings and a ironic in a land that practises Islam. Hofuf and Jubail. dense overgrowth of shrubbery, However, there is an abundance of you will discover a lonely, proof that centuries ago Christians In the mid -1980s, near the largest dilapidated building. Presumably, it and even Jews lived peacefully side industrial city in the world, Jubail, is the ruins of an old Anglican by side in this country. As whilst attempting to dig their church. The Arba'een Lake and mentioned above, the 4th Century automobile out of the sand, a group Juffali mosque are located slightly church that was exhumed in the city of individuals unearthed the south of the forsaken, neglected of Jubail is believed to be one of the remnants known as "The Jubail land where the church is situated. oldest known churches in the entire Church". The original ruins world. Many of the aged historical contained four stone crosses, which The background of this building is buildings in the old part of Jeddah vanished; however, there are visible mysterious; however, it is believed are being restored, hopefully, this impressions of where the crosses to be fewer than 100 years old, built so-called "church" will be preserved. once were. Apparently, the remains during the period when Britain From a historical and are thought to date back to the 4th supported the Ruler of Mecca's archaeological perspective, it's part century, making them older than revolt against the Ottoman Empire of the country's heritage! any known church in the world. in the hopes of achieving Arab Little is known about its history, yet independence and creating a Panthere are assumptions that it Arab state. What is apparent originally belonged to one of the though, is that there are numerous five Assyrian churches of the East speculations as to the history of this bishoprics, an ancient Nestorian structure and uncertainties about branch of Eastern Christianity in the whether or not it was actually a Middle East - known to have existed church. This “presumed” church was in this area of the Gulf in the 4th actually constructed outside the Century. The church is huge walls that encompassed the acknowledged by the Saudi then small fishing village of Jeddah. Ruins of presumed Anglican church in Jeddah government.
UNIQUE U
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The Revolution of the Match Girls Claire Enriquez
Annie Besant The industrial revolution was the time of mass development, occurring during the 1800’s and 1900’s. During this time, workers had to work in atrocious working conditions and they were forced to fight for their lives. In 1827, the first friction matches made accidentally by the chemist John Walker - were introduced and sold to the public. By 1831, white phosphorus was added to the matchsticks. Even then, white phosphorus was known to be an extremely deadly substance. Despite this, the demand of matchsticks grew. During the 1840’s, red phosphorus was discovered and used for their nontoxic but still effective properties. Sadly, by the late 1800’s, only 2 out of 25 match factories switched to red phosphorus instead of white. The Bryant & May factory was not one of them.
For 14 hours a day, workers would face the various stages of production, including dipping pine wood into the poisonous white phosphorus. Additionally, most of the workers were woman from foreign countries due to the fact that women were paid less than half the wage of men. Daily, the workers’ salaries were deducted for ridiculous reasons such as talking, using the bathroom outside of scheduled breaks, dropping a match and dirty feet, which singled out the workers who couldn’t afford shoes and who were forced to work barefoot. The treatment alone was enough to make life miserable, but the exposure to the deadly white phosphorus was so horrendous, they had to risk their wages to save their lives and revolutionize. Annie Besant, an activist born on the first of October 1847, decided to investigate the matter and interviewed the match girls first hand. She wrote lengthy descriptions about the absurd fines and the dire working conditions faced daily. Besant then published her findings in a weekly newspaper called ‘The Link’.
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As the story gained more popularity it horrified readers leading to public awareness, sympathy and most importantly support. Factory owners turned down the accusations and fired the women they believed had spoken to Besant. They even went as far as to force employees to sign a statement which contradicted the truth. When one worker was sacked for refusing to sign the document, a strike was set in motion. On July 5th 1888, 200 workers paraded out of the factory to The Link’s office to further air their matters to the press. Soon after, all 1400 match girls marched out from Bryant & May’s match factory. Finally, a few weeks later on 21 July 1888, Bryant and May gave in to almost all their workers’ demands, agreeing to a breakfast room allowing a safer place to eat food away from the lethal chemical. This revolution set into motion by Annie Besant brought awareness to the factory working conditions for the first time. The strike inspired and motivated other workers to fight for their rights in the coming months and years that followed. Eventually, in 1902 Bryant & May discarded the use of white phosphorus completely. The factory remained standing until 1979, until the company moved to Liverpool. The factory building was transformed into flats and an eyecatching azure plaque that commemorates Annie Besant's work and the courageous, resilient match girls is displayed there.
UNIQUE U
Unique Me What is so unique about me? What makes me different from a tree? A tree that sways from side to side in an abandoned town, A town so depressing it makes everyone frown. Here I am playing tennis in the sun, But golf and chess are also plenty of fun, Every day I gain brand-new knowledge from my teachers, Revision and practice help me memorise different creatures. To help Griffin House I enter House Competitions, House Music showcases the talent of our musicians, I donate to charity so I can help out others in need, Our merits are used for good causes and keep Griffin in the lead. So, let’s ask ourselves that question again: what is so unique about me? What makes me different from a tree? The answer is simple: everything. Poem by Adelyn Chung
Meet the Head Pupil Team Head Boy
Imran Gulamhussein L6
I was born and live in Ontario, Canada. Living in Canada is quite unlike what most people might tend to think. Although it does get quite cold in the peak of winter (the temperature has gone below -40° C where I live in the past), and although we do sometimes get snowed in with hip-level snow, that’s only part of the story. Spring and Autumn offer just perfect weather, and the Summers can get blisteringly hot - contrary to popular belief, we do experience heatwaves up to 40°C to the point of killing the grass! I would say that climatically, Canada is more a country of extremes rather than the very, very cold land that many people believe it to be. Not all stereotypes are false though: Canadians are generally very nice people indeed, especially in rural areas such as where I live. When it snows over, the cars get stuck bringing everything to a standstill. The long North American distances mean that people can’t get to work or school, so everybody turns out onto the streets with spades, shovels and snowblowers to help all the neighbours, and it generally turns into a big sledding party! It’s very amusing, and offers a rare and warm fuzzy sense of community despite the cold. If you ever get a chance to visit Canada, I’d definitely encourage you to do so - particularly if you’re the outdoor, rural type of person. Canada is one of the least populated countries in the world (per square kilometre) and the countryside is very refreshing; one of our provinces is said to contain every major landscape feature that exists. As you might be able to tell, I’m a bit patriotic!
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A little bit more about myself: I suppose I would be considered a Maths and Science chap. For my ALevels, I take Maths, Further Maths (AS), Physics and Chemistry, in addition to having taken Business in the past. I’ve very much enjoyed being the head boy here at CHS for the past year and a bit, as well as being the Editor of The Cambridge Collective. Being Editor is marvellous since I get to read all the articles a couple months before anybody else has access to them! If you’ve ever been interested to write, or are considering writing, The Collective is the perfect place to get started - I’d encourage everybody in the school to send something in for our next, Spring Term issue. It’s always a bit difficult for me to choose and name hobbies since I find interest in many things: hiking, cycling, reading, photography, writing a novel, and some climbing and acrobatics here and there are all on my somewhat lengthy list. I do have some primary activities that I like to spend more time on. In an effort to engage better with realworld science for the past year and a bit, I’ve helped write a scientific paper with a professor at a nearby university, and so getting it published now is a thrill. Politics also somewhat appeals to me. I’ve worked in the Ontario House of Commons as a page (this means I’m one of the people you might see in black suits assisting members during debates) and I regularly follow Canadian and British parliamentary debates. I also like debating myself: I’m participating in a Model Parliament Program at the Ontario Legislature, and in a Model UN Conference later this year. You can also often find me in Debate Club on most Fridays, so please do drop in to say hi! I do like connecting with and speaking to people around and about the school, so if anything interests you, please feel free to send me a message on Teams.
MEET
Head Girl
Kayra Nur Kaya L6
Hello everyone! I'm Kayra and I'm 19 years old. I was born and raised in a coastal city in Turkey called Izmir. It has beautiful beaches, a diverse population and incredible coffee shops - which I adore! I'm a dual citizen and have studied all over before I joined CHS. I love to travel East-Asian countries, baking recipes with chocolate, do Pilates and yoga and read the classics, especially the feminist ones. In my time off I translate for foreign groups in my city and attend ballet, opera and plays. I enjoy learning and educating myself about emotional management and life coaching, which is the training of learning how to balance every aspect of your life and feelings to serve you. I take English Literature, Law and Psychology at CHS, and Turkish separately for my Alevels. Academically I'm interested in International Relations and Politics, and do a lot of reading and research concerning it! My role as Head Girl this year is unchanged from last year - our School Council and School Charity. I want to make sure we have a wide panel of students from every year group to discuss and debate what we can do for our school to make it a better place for everyone,
MEET
relying on your feedback and cooperating with the senior staff. The school charity aims to raise awareness about giving and mindfulness about our planet and people. We want you all to join in helping others and serving well, to make the world a better place. I volunteer at two charities, both based around humanitarian and crisis work with international networks. This has widened my perspective on the issues of immigration and refugees, natural disasters and aiding people who are less advantaged than us. I also partake in mentorship for L5 students and lead study groups for L6 students. I like to teach from the courses I take, such as Managing Emotions in Stress and Uncertainty by Yale University, which has become a M.E.T.S. lecture course for our school! If anything here has interested you, let me know - I would love to hear from you! You can always contact me on Teams.
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Deputy Head Boy
Adittya Sakline L4
I was born in Brighton, a coastal town just south of London in east Sussex County. I wasn’t there for very long; soon after we moved to the U.A.E - more specifically Dubai - a country with a ridiculously warmer climate than we were used to, bordering Oman and the Persian Gulf. After adjusting to the change in climate, we found it quite accommodating, known for its ever-increasing desire to provide good tourism. A hobby my family and I share, is exploring new areas or getting involved in anything that might depart good times; there have always been exceptional entertainment options right around the corner, which has been my favourite thing to do here. The U.A.E is a prime example of the phrase “the sky is the limit” - the country has achieved global ranks in very little time, it’s roughly 51 years old at the time of writing this article. It has been wonderful to watch it develop and learn over the past decade. I live in a suburban area, a short 15–20-minute drive away from the coast, which is a spectacular way to escape the heat, surrounded by date palms and olive trees. I’m roommates with a rather shy poodle (Harvey) and an ebullient Pomeranian (Ava), both still puppies. My guests are often colourful small birds, parrots and pigeons. They’re wonderful guests, apart from when they’re going tap, tap on my bedroom window at 6am every Saturday morning - I find that a bit rude but they’re too nice for me to be stubbornly mad at. People who know me would generally describe me as a realist, a pragmatist and resilient, and a few of my closest friends would describe me as authoritative, boring-ish, and possessing a good sense of humour. A hobby I wish I could share with more people is reading books; I am not necessarily a fan of novels, but they do good by my English, I prefer to divulge in more instructional books, ‘how to’ books or ‘for dummies’ books. It is, in my opinion, a wonderful way to explore different mindsets or exploring rather different skillsets. Some authors I’d recommend are Dan Brown and Robert Greene. 16 | The Cambridge Collective | Autumn Term 2022
In my current position here at CHS as the deputy Head boy and the House captain for Pegasus House, my favourite opportunity has been getting about as many people possible, and in turn various cultures, through my weekly talk on “Goals and Aspirations” or just getting involved in the school’s extracurriculars. I am an extrovert, I always have been and so are my close friends. It bodes well that we all detest being alone, this means when we are together, there is just joy and goods times, valuable memories that have been created and will be forever cherished. When I am not in school or around my friends, I like to dabble in the equity markets. I started off mid 2021, I was a beginner so nothing really made sense to me, only 3 months later after numerous losses and accounts blown, on a simulation and on a real account, I had found an edge that worked specifically for me and my style of trading. On weekends, after finishing my revision works for the upcoming iGCSE’s, I try to refine that edge in hopes to create a more efficient and accurate system every time - I could always be better. Recently I have started to explore boxing; it is definitely challenging as a beginner, but I have found a burning passion for it. Despite my couple dozen injuries, I do not plan to give up on it anytime soon. I look up to Mohammed Ali, not just as a boxer but as a person. He was a dedicated and inspirational individual, I aspire to learn and follow his techniques and his ideals - it is a wonderful way to learn about sportsmanship. When I am not being humbled in the octagon, I hope to improve my agility to stop that from happening as often, and so far my attempts in lasting longer when sparring with my coach have been improving. Eventually I hope to expand my arsenal with Muay Thai, Wing Chun and Taekwondo styles.
MEET
Deputy Head Girl
Jude Josephine Aboumechrek L6
A native of Saudi Arabia – a country renowned for its oil, a global heritage celebrated by UNESCO, Arabian horses, pristine coastline, the origin of Islam, the gateway to the two holy cities for Muslims and much more. Saudi Arabia's climate varies from one region to another because of its diverse topographical features. I reside in the all-year-round warm city of Jeddah, known as "The bride of the Red Sea" - a modern commercial hub with one of the world's most stunning coral reefs. The bustling city has seen an influx of tourists and pilgrims post-COVID due to the less stringent e-visa services. A sight for sore eyes to witness a new era in Saudi history unfolding. Gosh, traffic congestion creates a headache commuting from point A to B. Humidity is a silent assassin and rain is a rare blessing that is welcomed wholeheartedly. Cultural, musical, food and sports festivals are celebrated all year round. The city’s architecture is a mixture of ancient mud houses, historic souks and multiple shopping malls. Top it up with the 30 km boardwalk – The Corniche - along the Red Sea, and you have a fascinating city. Living life with my mum, aunt and two kitties is filled with loads of unpredictability and fun. Our unique household is all about "individual empowerment" and sowing kindness. Having my adorable felines jumping on my computer can be hectic at times. There is never a dull moment at family get-togethers - the warm ambiance of our cosy home is frequented by chuckles and laughter. The occasional fribbling scenes follow pursuit.
MEET
Unwinding is a precious perk that I cherish dearly but when it comes to academics ... I'm a bit of a geek! I love all my subjects ranging from the sciences to classic literature and business. Nothing interferes with my studies and my focus is undeterred. Every day brings new opportunities and knowledge! As a global citizen, I'm concerned about numerous issues that are currently affecting our lifestyles and that of various species co-inhabiting this planet with us. I advocate for organizations such as Greenpeace, Two Ocean Aquarium and UNHCR. I strongly object to animal trials as I view them as inhumane. My love for music, singing, gymnastics and drawing is an outlet to destress - a form of self-therapy. During cooler months, picnics along the Corniche is a ritual, where the city lights and anchored ships illuminate the Arabian night. During my spare time, my activities include snorkeling (the coral reefs are a diver’s paradise), camping trips, desert hikes, swimming and horseback riding - as you can gather there's an abundance of recreational options. My family is scattered across the globe, from the British Isles to Japan, the United States to South Africa ... Saudi Arabia to Lebanon. Vacations are the best as I have a valid excuse to visit my relatives in various countries. This year is filled with mixed emotions as this little birdie will be leaving the nest - flying away to a new destination - starting her undergraduate studies away from her loving family and safe-haven!
Autumn Term 2022 | The Cambridge Collective | 17
Meet the Prefect Team
Christian Cuda
Asha Nagarajan
Country: Australia Age: 14 Level: Level 3 Subjects: Math, History, English Language, English Literature, Business, Economics, Geography, Sociology. Hobbies: As a hobby, I enjoy hosting board game nights, following politics, reading the Bible, cooking international cuisine and volunteering.
Country: Clementi, Singapore Age: 15 Level: Level 3 Subjects: I have chosen for my iGCSE Biology, Chemistry, Physics, International Mathematics, Spanish, Psychology, Geography, English Literature and English Language. I’ve already completed iGCSE Sociology and Computer Science exams. Hobbies: I have a passion for singing. I’ve also been learning MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) for a while now! In addition I also really enjoy spreading positivity and helping people. I always had compassion for the deaf and dumb community and plan on learning sign language. Although my mom is really busy, she always cooks for me and makes sure I eat home cooked food as much as possible. All three of my family members know how to cook, so all that’s left is just me; my dad is a “try hard cook” who tries to impress us with his cooking but fails sadly, while my mother and brother are complete perfectionists in the kitchen. I'm just there trying to figure out the difference between brown sugar and brown flour sometimes! I adore Indian cuisine and would wholeheartedly suggest it to anyone who enjoys spiciness and flavour!
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MEET
Adelyn Chung
Country: Guernsey, Channel Islands Age: 9 Level: Level 1 Subjects: I take all 16 Lower School subjects – Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Art, Music, Geography, Spanish, Business, Latin, History and Drama. I also do Level 2 French. Hobbies: I do three sports: tennis, swimming and golf, but I also like reading and writing, solving equations/problems, playing the piano and baking! About me – I only hate two foods: candy and garlic. My favourite subject is currently Biology and my favourite animal is a dolphin. About my country – Guernsey is located in the English Channel and is a beautiful island with white-sand beaches, crystal-clear seas and lots of nature!
Charlie Abdo
Bow Burnham
Country: Between Dubai and France Age: 13 Level: Level 2 Subjects: I take level 3 psychology and business Hobbies: I like gaming, coding, tennis, swimming, music, songwriting, animating, and psychology. I play guitar and drums; I love punk, rock, pop and indie music. I have ADHD and ASD and numerous other things, but that doesn’t mean I can’t function! This means that I have to try harder than most people but that isn’t a problem for me. I hope I can be a great addition to the prefect team!
Country: Just outside of London in the UK Age: 11 Level: Level 2 Subjects: I take Chemistry, English Language, Mathematics, History, Art, Biology, English Literature, Spanish, Computer science, Physics, Geography, Drama, Latin and Business Studies. I also take Level 3 music. Hobbies: I love Art, Manga, Anime and recently became obsessed with a game called Dungeons and Dragons; I play every Sunday and look forward to going and seeing my friends there. On top of this this I also play the guitar. I am non-binary and go by the pronouns they/he. I believe we should all be kind to each other and strive to be nicer humans, we should be kinder to ourselves, others and our planet.
MEET
Autumn Term 2022 | The Cambridge Collective | 19
Asma Yusha'u
Country: Cambridge in Boston Massachusetts, USA Age: 17 Level: Level 6 Subjects: I take History, Law and English literature. Hobbies: I really enjoy reading and writing poetry, especially reading poetry by Mahmoud Darwish. I also enjoy taking long walks and cooking. I am originally from Nigeria which has around 35-60 twins per every 1000 births!
Conrad Ho
Country: West Midlands, England Age: 14 Level: Level 3 Subjects: I do 9 iGCSE subjects in total: English language, English Literature, Maths, Additional Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography and Computer Science. I also do A Level Music. Hobbies: I am a flautist and violinist, so most of my free time is spent on practising. I participate in orchestras, ensembles and my Saturday lessons in the Junior Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Other interests include Physics, Calculus or Pure Maths. I was born in Hong Kong and my grandmother is Taiwanese, so I am technically a quarter Taiwanese. The reason I am saying that is, it might as well be the reason why I love bubble tea so much. In my opinion, it is probably one of the greatest drinks to ever exists, period.
Matthew Huggett
Country: Stone Cross of Eastbourne Age: 13 Level: Level 3 Subjects: I take Maths, English Literature and Language, Geography, Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics. Hobbies: I love to play games (video and board) and enjoy doing art. I am very shy. According to my friends I am fun to talk and open up to. I love to listen and if possible, help out with any worries or concerns.
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MEET
Leo Brown
Country: Scotland Age: 12 Level: Level 2 Subjects: Maths, English Language, English Literature, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Music, Art, Spanish, Latin, French, Computer Science, Geography and Business. Hobbies: I play the oboe and do judo. I love writing (and reading) stories. I am the Captain of Phoenix.
Julia M. V. Williams
Xenia Plarre
Country: The Gambia Age: 17 Level: Level 6 Subjects: I take History, English Literature and Economics. Hobbies: My hobbies and interests include writing poetry, reading and singing. I am honoured to introduce myself as a member of the prefect team, assigned the role of Head of Mentoring. The Gambia is a small country situated in West Africa. It is also known as “The Smiling Coast of Africa”. This nickname is inspired by its welcoming people but also because of its location on the map of Africa. The Gambia cuts through the middle of Senegal and its position appears like that of a smile on the map of the continent, greeting those who make their way up the River Gambia.
Country: Namibia Age: 15 Level: Level 4 Subjects: At CHS I take English Language, English Literature, Maths, Physics and Art & Design. I also take German, Afrikaans and Music online at a local school. Hobbies: I love sailing, playing drums, piano and creating art. Despite Namibia being one of the least densely populated countries in the world, you still always bump into someone you know, since we’re only 2.5 million people… Lastly, I do not enjoy any food, in any shape or form to do with peanuts!
MEET
Autumn Term 2022 | The Cambridge Collective | 21
The Cambridge Collective Writing Award Adittya Sakline & Imran Gulamhussein
The Cambridge Collective is hosting a writing competition! The Cambridge Collective is inviting pupils to pen articles on topics of their choice for the Cambridge Collective Writing Award! Submissions can be written alone or along with a friend, and will compete for a page in the next issue of The Collective. It is encouraged to write about something you are passionate about: the best articles are emotive and descriptive pieces. The deadline for submission is 31 January 2023, 00:00 UTC. Submissions will be judged in three categories: Prep School, Levels 1-3 and Levels 4-6. There will be a winner for each category, who will each receive a £25 Amazon voucher as well as earn a featured spot in The Collective. Please address submissions to the Editor at: imran.gulamhussein@chsonline.org.uk
Word limit for entries: 850 words Deadline: 31 January 2023
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CHS UPDATES
Meet Mrs Goulden This is me in front of the Cunard Queen Victoria this summer and is my new profile picture as it was such a happy time. We sailed from Florida to Barcelona over 15 days.
tsby Ga
Daisy
Tea, coffee or ……………….? Tea but only herbal - I love green tea with lemon!
Where were you born and where do you live now? I was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, UK and I now live in Liverpool.
Where is your favourite place? My favourite place is New York City because I got engaged there, had my honeymoon there and took my son there for his 16th birthday.
What was your first job? My first job was working on the checkout at Tesco, aged 16!
Why did you become a teacher?
What is your favourite book? My favourite book is the one that I have just finished - 'Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine' by Gail Honeyman.
Which is your favourite subject to teach? My favourite subject to teach is maths! I love, love, love maths.
I would be a robin because they are a symbol of Christmas, they are super cute and friendly and I have a pet one who I feed in my garden.
Do you have pets, and if yes, what are their names?
What is your hobby/hidden talent?
I have two cats - Gatsby and Daisy. I am a 'crazy cat lady'!
What is your biggest pet peeve? My pet peeve is bad and rude drivers. Liverpool is a crazy place to drive, unfortunately.
I became a teacher because of my mother really. She was an executive What is an expression you Head Teacher of three primary probably use too often? schools and told me that I would "Do you know what I mean?" make a good teacher.
PREP SCHOOL
If you could be a bird for a day, what bird would you be?
My hidden talent is interior design. Everyone who comes to my home raves about the decor and the styling.
What is one thing that nobody at CHS knows about you? I am an incredibly fussy eater, which drives my husband insane as he is an amazing cook! Oh and I can't cook either!
Autumn Term 2022 | The Cambridge Collective | 23
Editor's Note: This article has been published as received from the original author, including artwork.
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PREP SCHOOL
Friendship Acrostic
Editor's Note: This article has been published as received from the original author, including artwork.
PREP SCHOOL
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Bake-Off Club Every other Monday 2-3 PM (Open to all pupils)
Perfect Apple Pie Written and illustrated by Bow Burnham
Preparation time: less than 30 mins Cooking time: 30 mins to 1 hour Serves 6
INGREDIENTS For the filling 5oz golden caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp for sprinkling 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tbsp cornflour 600g/1lb 5oz Bramley cooking apples, peeled, cored, sliced For the pastry 400g/14oz plain flour, plus extra for rolling 2 tbsp caster sugar 1 lemon, zest only 250g/10oz cold butter, cut into cubes 1 egg, beaten with 2 tbsp cold water, plus 1 egg, beaten, to glaze
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RECIPE PAGE
Unable to make it to the club? You can still use the recipe and upload your finished treats in the Bake-off channel.
INSTRUCTIONS 1. For the pastry, place the flour, sugar and lemon zest into a bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the beaten egg and stir with a roundbladed knife until the mixture forms a dough. 2. Set aside one-third of the pastry for the lid. Roll out the remaining pastry on a lightly floured surface until the thickness of a pound coin and 57cm/2-3in larger than the pie dish. Lift the pastry over the rolling pin and lower it gently into the pie dish. 3. Press the pastry firmly into the dish and up the sides, making sure there are no air bubbles. Chill in the fridge for a few minutes.
6. Place the apple filling into the pie dish, making sure that it rises above the edge. Brush the rim of the dish with beaten egg. 7. Roll out the reserved ball of pastry. Cover the pie with the pastry and press the edges together firmly to seal. Using a sharp knife, trim off the excess pastry, then gently crimp all around the edge. Make a few small holes in the centre of the pie with the tip of a knife. Glaze the top with beaten egg. 8. Lightly knead the pastry trimmings and re-roll. Cut into leaf shapes, place all around the edge of the pie, slightly overlapping each other, and glaze with more egg. Sprinkle the pie with sugar and bake in the centre of the oven for 45–55 minutes or goldenbrown all over and the apples are tender.
ENJOY!
4. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C (fan) / Gas 6. Place a baking tray into the oven to preheat. 5. For the filling, mix the sugar, cinnamon and cornflour in a large bowl. Stir in the apples.
RECIPE PAGE
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Interview with
Heer Usadadiya Xenia Plarre
Heer is a 13-year-old CHS student in Level 3 who did exceptionally well in his most recent international swimming competition.
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How did your latest swimming competition and the icebreaking dinner at the World Youth Festival go? They were very fun and interesting experiences! There were two main reasons; number one was that I got to meet a lot of other young athletes like me and we got to share each other’s knowledge about our different sports. The second thing which I really found nice about the whole Youth Festival, was that all the talks we had throughout the days I was there were all based on inclusion and providing opportunities for people who don’t have them. The competition in Tanzania was really good, because first of all, I had broken many of my personal bests and on top of that, I had gotten two new national records for the 100 metre and 200 metre backstroke for the 13/14 boys. I was also able to back two silver medals for team Uganda.
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
When did you start with your swimming journey? I started learning to swim when I was three years old and I began competitive swimming at the age of nine.
What made you interested in swimming? My parents always told me that I was attracted to water as a child and one day they decided to take me to swimming classes. I feel like that’s where I fell in love with the sport.
Did you have to make any sacrifices to be able to pursue swimming?
How much time do you spend on your training per week or per day? I train for 24 hours per week, with 18 of the hours being swimming and 6 hours being gym sessions. I also play basketball with my younger brother. Since swimming requires a lot of aerobic capacity and endurance, gymming and basketball help a lot - and it's also really fun!
For how long have you been at CHS? I’m practically on my third year in CHS; I joined when I was in Level 1 and I’m in Level 3 now.
There were a few small sacrifices like some of my friends’ birthday parties or TV time, but I think one of my biggest sacrifices is sleep – that’s because I wake up at 4.30 every morning to train, every single day, apart from Sundays of course, which are my rest days.
Ezra French, paralympian medalist in track and field sports
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
Do you view being part of an online school as an advantage to be able to pursue your activity? Yes, it’s a huge advantage, because in Uganda, classes start at eleven to twelve based on the seasons and that gives me more than enough time in the morning to be able to train and also to rest.
What are your goals and aspirations for your future? I hope to make it to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and also, hopefully, to a good sports-oriented university; I have Queen or Saint Peter’s University in Australia in mind.
Sarah Schumacher, German minigolf world champ
Stephan Fox, president of UTS
Autumn Term 2022 | The Cambridge Collective | 29
Guest Article
Interview with
Baron Way of Plean about the Monarchy Leo Brown
What does being a Baron mean and what does it mean to you? My personal title is Baron of Plean. This is an ancient noble title but does not have any connection to my Royal duties. The Plean estate is centred around a restored 15th century castle near Stirling. I am proud to have this title but it has no real impact of my daily life. You are a messenger of the prince of Wales, Wiliam and before him the current monarch King Charles III. What are your duties there, and do you enjoy it? I am a Royal Herald – my present title is Carrick Pursuivant – collectively all the heraldic officers are referred to as heralds but are divided into three ranks – the chief herald is sometimes called just that the Chief Herald of Canada and the Chief Herald of Ireland but traditionally they are called “Kings of Arms.” There are four Kings of Arms in the UK: Garter King of Arms (the senior), Lord Lyon King of Arms (Scotland), Clarence King of Arms (south) and Norroy and Ulster King of Arms (north and Northern Ireland). Then there are heralds. The third rank is Pursuivant with titles like Carrick Pursuivant in Scotland or Fitzalan Pursuivant in England.
What was your first experience/job with the Queen and how did you get there? I have been in the Queen’s service for 20 years. I was first appointed prosecutor with the task of enforcing heraldic law. In Scotland it is an offence (both civil and criminal) for someone to use the coat of arms of someone else (it is like identity theft) and the Procurator Fiscal to the Court of the Lord Lyon investigates complaints of that kind of offence. I was appointed after an open competition advertised in the press. I was then promoted in 2016 to be one of the heralds with the title Falkland Pursuivant Extraordinary. Sadly the “extraordinary” does not mean I was given superpowers – it means “unpaid extra pair of hands”!
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I was further promoted to be Carrick Pursuivant in Ordinary (from the Latin “ordinarius” originally meaning an officer in the legions but also in the sense of “regular, customary, empowered to act by having the office”). I get paid the princely sum of £50.00 a year. I do get chauffeured in a limousine with flags on and get a good seat for all kinds of ceremonies that I would never experience close, but for this job. The job entails wearing an elaborate gold embroidered uniform with a staff of office, a gold neck badge of St Andrew (patron of Scotland) and an ostrich feather bicorne hat. Sometimes we will only wear the uniform but for full State occasions we wear over it the Royal Tabard. This is derived from the medieval embroidered cloth surcoat that knights wore over their armour so that people would know who they were: armour makes people anonymous. It consists of four panels: back, front and two shoulder panels. Each panel is embroidered with the Royal Arms of the monarch of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The shoulder panels are much smaller. The function of a herald is twofold. Firstly, they are representatives of the monarch just like ambassadors.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
They had non-combatant status and that is why the tabard is so bright and gaudy. The herald would carry messages for the king or queen often in wars (to ask for surrender of a castle for example) and it was vital that the opponents knew that the person or persons approaching was not a threat and came in peace - the origin of the phrase “don’t shoot the messenger”! To perform such tasks in medieval times, the heralds had to know who they were talking to, even if they were in full armour, and so they had to be able to identify coats of arms on surcoats, shields, and flags. So, for practical reasons heralds became experts in the science of heraldry. They started to keep records and books for their own use of coats of arms and who they belonged to. These private text books were called Armorials and were handed down to the next generation; some still exist today in libraries and museums. The private records and books eventually became State controlled. In Scotland, all coats of arms have had to be registered since 1672. This is the 350th Anniversary of the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland which is kept up to date in the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. People can come and see it. It is in process of being digitised (a project of many years’ work) which will make all these records available online! Did you ever talk to the Queen? I had met the Queen on many occasions like Royal Garden Parties because of my position as a lawyer, but I first met the Queen in my role as one of her heralds at a ceremony in the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh when she was holding an investiture of honours on people like knighthoods or medals.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
We are in attendance, very close to the monarch, at most Royal ceremonies in Scotland. I have also met the Queen in more private settings in the Palace or sometimes at Edinburgh Castle. The Queen also held receptions where all the members of the Royal Household can meet and mingle in an informal atmosphere. This was actually quite nerve-racking as an informal event is stressful when the hostess is the Queen. It is impossible, even when not in royal finery, to forget that the small lady talking about horses is still your Sovereign Lady! Formal events are actually easier because you know what to do, where to stand, what to say, etc. What was the best experience that you had with the Queen? My best personal memory of the Queen was after the State opening of the Scottish parliament where we perform ceremonial duties. I had been on duty at the Palace in the morning, then at a Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral and then the State Opening in the afternoon. As we were leaving the Parliament the Queen stopped in front of me and said that she noticed that I had had a long day on my feet and that she would ask the First Minister to see if we could have seats the next time! The fact that she recognised my face (as opposed to just the fancy uniform) was such a thrill. We never did get the chairs….!
ceremonies (called Operation Unicorn) and so I was not just a participant but a planner seeing ideas and projects coming to reality. The ceremonies began with the proclamation of the death of the Queen and the succession of King Charles III. This is grant military parade with soldiers, bands, and trumpets. There are two proclamations – the first is at the Mercat Cross (beside St Giles) and that is to inform the Capital City of the succession. Therefore, it is the civic centre – between the law Courts and the City Chambers of Edinburgh Council. The Lord Provost, Councillors and all the Judges attend to witness the event so that all those involved in government and royal justice acknowledge the succession and transfer of power from one monarch to another. Then the heralds with the soldiers and bands and State Trumpeters march in procession to Edinburgh Castle (Highest point in historic Edinburgh) and make the proclamation to the nation of Scotland.
You were at the Queen’s funeral what kind of experience was that? The Queen’s funeral services (Edinburgh and London) were unforgettable events. This was partly because for several years I was part of the team organising the
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There used to be a third proclamation at the Shore (beside what is now the Malmaison Hotel) in Leith. This was made facing the sea and was to announce the succession to the lands beyond the sea! This was discontinued after the coronation of King George V. The rest of the world could, by then, listen on the radio etc.. The service in Edinburgh was deeply moving. We had organised a simple but dignified ceremony with the Royal family at its heart. St Giles is quite small for a “cathedral” and the Royal family were able to sit only feet away from the Royal Catafalque draped with the standard and honour not only of a Queen, but mother, grandmother and great grandmother in quite intimate surroundings. The most moving part, for me, was when I escorted the ancient Crown of Scotland to be placed upon the Coffin in front of the Family and all the congregation. The crowds watching were large but the silence was stunning. You could feel the respect and love from all present.
The London ceremony was a world event and I will never be able to describe the impact that bit had upon me. I was in the centre of a vast logistical exercise involving ceremonial units from all the UK, British and World Royalty and Heads of State (even the President of the USA attended). The Army, Navy and Airforce were all represented together with units for all over the commonwealth in their traditional uniforms. I particularly remember the New Zealand soldiers who wore traditional Māori feathered cloaks. Even the practical arrangements were dazzling: TV cameras operated by giant robot arms and camera men with joysticks; drone cameras – concealed cameras and sound microphones. The technical problems were overcome through sheer hard work and amazing expertise.
We walked in front of her Majesty’s Coffin, escorting her on her last journey through the heart of her British Capital City from Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament to Westminster Abbey and then after the service through the centre of London – down the mall and past Buckingham Palace to Wellington Arch where she was transferred to a hearse for the drive to Windsor Castle for her final interment in St Georges Chapel beside her husband the late Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh. We had wonderful seats in the Abbey and I was stunned at the colour, dignity and soaring music that made the ceremony such an impressive world occasion. Billions of people watched the televised event and hundreds of thousands lined the streets of London. I was there and did my personal duty for my beloved Sovereign and that is all that really matters.
Baron Way of Plean (to the far right) escorting the Crown of Scotland to the Coffin.
Meet Mrs Smith Tea, coffee or ……………….? Coffee.
Where were you born and where do you live now? Witney, Oxfordshire.
Where is your favourite place and why? Cocoa Beach, Florida. I like it because it is a wide open, soft, Which is your favourite sandy beach on the Atlantic Ocean subject to teach? and a great place to watch launches Algebra. from Cape Canaveral.
What was your first job? Administrator in local government.
Why did you become a teacher? I enjoy helping others to understand Maths, even if they don’t like Maths as much as I do.
What is your favourite book? Lorna Doone.
Do you have pets and if yes, what are their names? No pets now, when I was young, I had horses, dogs and cats.
What is your pet peeve? People who say “I can’t”.
What is an expression/saying you probably use too often? “Is everyone getting on OK?”
If you could be a bird for a day, what bird would you be? A Red Kite.
What is your hobby/hidden talent? Genealogy.
What is one thing that nobody at CHS knows about you? My age.
GET TO KNOW
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Meet Mrs Trafford
Tea, coffee or ……………….? Always coffee – best I can get, but has to be decaf as I can’t be trusted with caffeine.
Where were you born and where do you live now? Born in St Andrews and now living in Wells, Somerset – the UK’s tiniest city.
What was your first job?
What is your favourite book?
Working in my Mum and Dad’s café - from about 12. They were Italian immigrants in Scotland, so worked long, long hours and all five of us helped. Hard work, but we had a lot of fun playing songs on the Juke Box for free (you will have to look up what that is).
Favourite play - ‘Twelfth Night’, Favourite poetry collection - Philip Larkin’s ‘The Whitsun Weddings’ and my favourite novel is always changing - loved Ian McKewan’s ‘Machines Like Us’ - very funny and very clever.
Why did you become a Where is your favourite place teacher? I became a teacher by accident. I and why? Too many to choose from! I’m a big fan of the outdoors, so my favourite place is anywhere in the Scottish mountains and, on the other side of the world, I’m lucky to have a sister in Queensland where there's an Island called Fitzroy, special for snorkelling; full of coral, tropical fish, tortoises and the odd shark – that's my happy head space!
wanted to be a psychologist after my degree, and in the olden days, you had to first spend two years either working in mental health institutions or in a school. I trained as a teacher, and did my two years, then was shocked to discover that I loved teaching.
Do you have pets and if yes, what are their names? I have two pets – Fluffy, the cat, who I adore and Charlie, the dog, who is adorable, but follows me around everywhere – aarrrgghghghgh – too much loyalty.
arlie Ch
Which is your favourite subject to teach? English Literature – I get to teach what I love best. I feel very lucky to have spent so many years talking about books and sharing them with generations of young people coming to them fresh.
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GET TO KNOW
Me walking the Pennine way this Summer - in the rain!
What is an expression/saying What is your hobby/hidden you probably use too often? talent? I seem to say lots of things that annoy my own children... ‘never mind’... ‘have you had enough sleep?’... ‘nothing that a good walk won’t cure’ … - I can have a door slammed at me for any of these little platitudes, but I can’t seem to stop myself from saying them.
If you could be a bird for a day, what bird would you be?
My pet peeve is Charlie following me around the house. On a serious note, Waste upsets me – when it is so easy to recycle or just buy what you need and no more – I can’t bare seeing stuff go to waste when it costs the planet so much to produce it.
GET TO KNOW
What is one thing that nobody at CHS knows about you? That would be telling... Ok... Nobody knows that I am only 5ft 2” - that’s the beauty of online teaching!
Flu ffy
What is your pet peeve?
That’s easy – I've always wanted to be an albatross. I would make a journey circumnavigating the Antarctic continent, but I wouldn’t stop for the raw fish.
I like to paint! But, not the woodwork. We have moved to a house with a garage for the first time – who needs a garage? So, my daughter, partner and I are planning a messy studio space.
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Fridays 3.15 - 4.15 PM (Open to all pupils)
Drama Club Written by Adelyn Chung Illustrated by Bow Burnham
So, somebody asked me: ‘What goes on at Drama Club?’ And I replied, ‘If I told you, I would have to arrange your assassination! No, seriously: I don’t even know where to begin. I mean, it’s Drama Club. If you know, you know.’ And then the other day, I went into Drama Club and heard Melpomene, the drama goddess, talking to one of our actors: ACTOR 2
I just wanna feel… appreciated. I-I wanna feel appreciated. Yeah. I just, you know, I-I-I've just been suffering through my job from 9 to 5 with a minimum wage at Walmart and I just, you know, I just can't accept to get screamed at by my boss in front of women with cheap highlights and “just take it” when I don’t even get credit for it… and I just feel really, really horrible. I j-just wish that people like, you know. B-But I-I would just like the spotlight for like one second. You know, I- duh. Umm…But who are you?
MELPOMENE
I am the greatest of the greatest, the Almighty. I'm her. She is me, the goddess. You know.
ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE
ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE ACTOR 2
MELPOMENE ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE
ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE
Yeah… but why are you- why are you here? W-What? What's happening? What is this? I have been summoned by a silly little boy w-with wings…words …and wonder… Poor attitude. Are you talking about me? Glad you could identify that. Well, you know, I take great offence to that because I personally feel like I've been wronged. I-I've been, I have beenTotally playing the victim here, isn't it silly little boy? How dare you? Are you questioning the goddess? You know, I work super hard. I don't know. I don't know you. First you summon me. Now you're questioning me? Okay, I apologise… I didn't- that wasn't my intention. Okay. Well, what do you want? What do you want? Oh, what? What do I want? You summoned me, and now you're asking me what I want? Wow. What does that mean? I didn't summon you. Do not underestimate the power of the deity. You do not want to know what will happen.
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CLUBS
ACTOR 2
MELPOMENE ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE
ACTOR 2
MELPOMENE
ACTOR 2
MELPOMENE ACTOR 2
MELPOMENE ACTOR 2
MELPOMENE ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE ACTOR 2 MELPOMENE
CLUBS
Okay, fine. Well, then, can you tell me what you can offer me? Can you give me credit? Can I have people acknowledge my existence? Say goddess three times and spin. Now? Okay. Do I like close my eyes or like- breathe in or what? Are you questioning the deity? Is that how you pray with your eyes open? I don't- I don't know. I haven't prayed before in my life. I don't. Not religious, sorry. Yes, everyone knows that. Everyone knows that you don't pray, you don't value your friends. Got it? Yes. Since when does that equate… OK, fine. All right. Goddess. Goddess. Goddess. Take away the self-centeredness. Take away the selfishness, give him compassion and teamwork and cooperation skills. You might feel a tingling sensation in your neck right here, son. Right here. I don't know what you're talking about. I feel like I just- oh… what? What was that? What are you doing? Ouch - that hurt. No pain, no gain. Wait a second… Oh gosh, is that- nope. My friend just tagged me in an Instagram story. No way! Thank you. Very grateful child, be grateful. No, I am. I've never gotten this many likes and this much, you know… notice in my entire life and I just feel so grateful to you. Like thank you so much. Bless you. Thank you. I must go then. Goodbye. Disappear now. I love you. I know. Off you go!
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The Great Race ”Three…“
Sergej Metodijevic
Elephant huffed and snorted, pawing the ground with his great feet and shaking his enormous trunk. Not to be outdone, Tiger snarled and roared so loudly that he frightened Cow, making her whine nervously. Flea quickly hopped and hid in Lion’s mane, where he had a short but angry scuffle with Nit, who had had the same idea. “Two…” Wolf stretched and flexed her muscles, barring her teeth and eyeing Cheetah with an undisguised jealousy. Rat, meanwhile, squealed when he saw Cat licking herself, and scurried to hide beneath the spindly legs of Emu. Koala, who was not in a particular hurry, blinked lazily and watched her own shimmering reflection in the river below her, where the water animals were readying themselves too. She could spot Salmon, Trout, Catfish, and even Bluegill… “One…” Rabbit wanted to hop over Hedgehog as to be closer to the starting line, but when he saw the wide array of quills he decided to try his luck with Pelican instead. Bear was discussing intently with Bee; if he were allowed to have access to an entire hive’s worth of honey, would she be able to count on him to be able to work together? Dog barked enthusiastically and wagged his tail, evidently desperate for the race to begin. “And… Begin!” The silver pistol was fired once, twice, thrice, and all of the representative animals hurtled off like the wind. It was a magnificent sight of fauna glory at its finest; hooves clattered against the dust-ridden ground, wings flapped and cut through the delicate air… Every heart was aroused with dreams of achievement and the honour of bowing before the Great One. The animals pushed and shoved themselves as the race finally began, each animal fantasising of honour and filled with otherworldly adrenaline, each one flying like the wind.
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Well… Almost all the animals. While most of the competitors were bustling ahead, their mind’s eye fixated upon the Grand Prize, the calm Giant Tortoise and everpresent Snail were not exactly ahead of the game. Not only were they the slowest competitors in the Great Race, they were unfortunately placed at the very back. So when the silver pistol was fired, the friends were blinded by an impeding storm of dust as everyone had stampeded. “Goodness gracious,”coughed Giant Tortoise, closing her eyes and shaking her large head slowly, “these animals really have no manners nowadays. Not a single one looking back to see if everyone is alright! Really, shocking behaviour.” “Indeed so. If only we were the fastest animals, we would show them a lesson,” squeaked the ambitious Snail, who had earlier that morning sworn he would be personally addressed to by the Great One. Giant Tortoise smiled. “My dear Snail, even with your antennae, you don’t even reach up to my knees...” “All right, all right, there’s no need to be mean,” sulked Snail, adjusting himself as he settled upon Giant Tortoise’s vast shell (they had agreed upon this arrangement beforehand). Giant Tortoise cracked her neck and leered at the vanishing mob; eventually, the dust cleared. A full twenty minutes after the pistol shot, they began the race at their own pace. If it were not for the Great Race, Giant Tortoise and Snail would have undoubtedly spent a lazy day beside the lake, chattering away about everything. The summer weather was quite nice and agreeable, perfect for a relaxing picnic. The sun gently soothed their limbs. Its light was blinding and difficult to look at, yet calming. Clouds frolicked happily across the sky as if they were newborn lambs, woven of innocence and of an artless sense of being alive.
SHORT STORY
“Dearie me, isn’t it hot…” remarked Snail, deciding to retreat into the comfort of his shell. They spent another few minutes in silence. Snail finally dozed off, muttering to himself as he slept. Giant Tortoise was not listening, for she had noticed a wounded blur of orange lying abandoned on the rocky road. “Snail, wake up!” He woke up with a start, just in time to see the hurt little figure of Squirrel looking up at the celestial figure of Giant Tortoise. She quivered with fright and worry, but could not run away. “Oh dear, the poor lamb is extremely upset… Would you like to come with us?” she asked, addressing the squirrel. “Yes please, thank goodness!”cried she, her button-black eyes shining with tears. Giant Tortoise lowered her head and the limping Squirrel managed to grab on and scamper up her neck to join Snail. Soon they resumed their journey. “Now, now… Calm down a little. Tell us, what happened? You look like you’ve had a nasty fright.” Giant Tortoise spoke calmly and carefully, having much experience in such situations as a loving mother. Snail rubbed his head supportively against Squirrel’s back, and she took a big breath and opened up. “Well… I was scampering from animal to animal, right? From one to the other, since I’m too small to actually race with all those great beasts. Can you imagine me racing that Wildebeest, or being faster than Falcon? Anyway, I was on Hippo’s tail for a millisecond, I was about to jump onto Alligator… But then… His curly tail was so slippery! He turned around so wildly that I couldn’t hold on, and I fell really hard, and my fingers really hurt.” The friends pouted sympathetically. Snail had an idea. “If you like, you can use my slime as a healing ointment? It worked for Gerbil when she hurt her toe the day before.” Squirrel gladly accepted, and the trio set off on their way. Before long, the three animals were chatting happily and had quite forgotten about the race. Squirrel proved to be very shrewd and a delightful and polite guest, who continually and charitably offered her insight to her new friends. Living up high in the trees, she knew and heard a lot of things… “No!” gasped Snail as she revealed something scandalous about the orderly Beaver, who never crossed a line or offended anybody. “Surely that can’t be true… Never have I heard such a thing…” The murmurs of Giant Tortoise faded into the landscape, and Squirrel continued happily. She had quite forgotten her previous pains.
SHORT STORY
“Look, look! Hear me out. It will be the smallest animals who will win! You know why? Because the big ones will all knock themselves out before they’re even halfway. They think that size is power, but in fact I think that it makes them weaker as they are a bigger target and they become overconfident…” The trio continued to strut along without being in a real hurry. Giant Tortoise was chatting amiably and was unintentionally ignoring the Great One’s instructions, which were ‘to focus and win glory by winning the race’. Squirrel’s predictions soon proved to be correct. They saw Cheetah lying beneath a tree, panting and gasping as he licked himself frantically. They offered him help; he declined it, as he was too proud, and was just, to quote him, “taking a short break before beating everyone”. They saved Frog from being snatched by Stork, and he proved to be a fantastic source of entertainment, mainly by singing and miming. Their laughs were drowned out by the sight of Shark, who was lazily swallowing fish after fish, not even considering the race but his own stomach and greed. They wanted to help the poor fish, but did not know how. None of them could swim particularly well (Frog admitted that he was out of practice) and none of them could fight Shark, nor do anything of the sort. They had only their wits… Eventually, the audacious Squirrel devised a clever and daring plot. After whispering it to her friends and confirming that she was willing to take the risk, she leapt upon the wallowing figure of Shark and put her hands over his eyes, which were covered in slime donated by Snail! Shark bellowed and yelled, opening his mouth for long enough so that the fish could escape! Squirrel quickly leapt back to shore and onto Giant Tortoise, where everyone cheered frantically. She was a hero! She turned around to see what had happened. The blinded Shark was furiously roaring at her, flapping his fins angrily. However, he could not approach her. The fish, meanwhile had escaped without a word of thanks to Squirrel.
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“Surely they should have gifted us something… We saved their lives, after all!” Snail grumbled to himself. Squirrel overheard him and smiled sadly. “Do you feel that way? I understand, but you can’t possibly see it unless you do it yourself… It’s just so empowering to see them swim away. I gave them another chance at the race, another chance at life, and that knowledge is enough.” Snail remarked that what if not all of the fishes had managed to escape? Squirrel sighed sadly as Snail continued. “It’s wonderful that you have a good intention, but if it doesn’t turn out completely right, most people will not thank you for it… That’s why you have to give one hundred percent, eh?” Squirrel nodded. The crew was quiet, and not even Frog the comedian dared to interrupt the silence.
The thought that some fishes had escaped and that some others had not bolstered the mood. What if Snail was right? Could they have done more? At that moment, they heard a tiny cough. They looked back upon Shark, who was gazing emptily in their direction. Though he was still blinded, unmistakable tears fell down his face. He was sobbing inside, grieving what he had done. The good in Squirrel had awakened the good in him. Without a word, he opened his mouth one last time, and a dozen more fishes swam out. Snail had been right; but it was Squirrel who had done something about it. By now, everyone was wondering what would happen after the Great Race. It was already midday, and surely someone had won by now? In fact, no one in the group really knew the rules of the Great Race. They just knew they had to keep going. Giant Tortoise raised her leg, about to tread upon the ground… But then she heard a faint, pitiable squeal. “Oh please, mercy! Don’t squash me!” She scanned the ground, and came to the conclusion that she could not see anybody. Did she imagine it? She decided to say something. “Could you tell us where you are, or maybe move a little? I can’t hold this leg up forever…” There was a shuffling sound, and with a tiny movement someone pushed a leaf off herself. It was the young, plump, yet lovely Queen Ant. “Oh, Queen Ant, hello! Do you need help?” Ant nodded.
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“Are you injured? Do you want one of us to come down and help you?” Queen Ant shook her head, and pointed to a rough stone behind which Pangolin lay, hidden and waiting for unsuspecting ants or termites to wander around. Pangolin was also known as Scaly Anteater; he used the alias Pangolin whenever he was at the hunt, so that no ant or termite would ever recognise him. “Hey, Pangolin! Scaly Anteater! Yes, you, behind the rocks!” Frog decided to act first, despite seeing Pangolin’s furious shushing motions and hissing. Pangolin came out in front of Giant Tortoise, his long tongue wrapping itself up continually. “I’ve been waiting to get that Ant ever since he or she wandered off! You know my favourite meal is Ants and Termites, and I know for a fact that Termite is hiding on the hairy head of that hideous Hog! So, you’re not depriving me of my lunch and only meal during the Great Race! Understand?” Frog approached Queen Ant, and kindly whispered to her. “Do you trust me?” Queen Ant stared at Frog, and without hesitating nodded. He whispered something else, and Queen Ant smiled mischievously and nodded again. Frog turned back towards Pangolin, winked at Queen Ant, and without a moment’s doubt threw his long tongue upon the spot where Queen Ant had been only a moment before. Pangolin shrieked. “My only meal! You’ll pay for this, you dirty Frog! I thought you ate flies, anyway?” Frog stared defiantly at Pangolin until he finally wandered off. Squirrel jumped down and with all her might slapped Frog. “How dare you eat Queen Ant? What, it’s better that you ate her instead of that brute?” Frog massaged his injured cheek and, smiling nervously, shifted the leaf over. There was Queen Ant; quivering, nervous, but on the whole fine. “She moved back beneath the leaf, as I told her to.” Everyone sighed, Frog was cheered on as a genius and a hero, Queen Ant joined the crew, and Giant Tortoise continued. By now they had developed a personal philosophy of helping the weaker and standing up to bullies. The cleverness and skill of Frog, the audacity and quirkiness of Squirrel, the size and strength of Giant Tortoise, the trust and will of Queen Ant, the honesty and good-quality slime of Snail… Together they were stronger than the mightiest animal.
SHORT STORY
But wait! Who was this, lying hurt and forgotten on the side of the road? The self-proclaimed ‘king of the animals’, the mighty Lion himself, who bore a frightening wound from the combined efforts of Hyena and Bear. He seemed quite at ease, however, and was eagerly conversing with an animal perched above him, on the lowest branch of a towering redwood. He chuckled and winced. “Wow, is that Lion? Why isn’t he at the heart of the race? That wound looks pretty bad…” The group whispered to themselves as Giant Tortoise slowly approached the heaving mass of fur and mane. “Friends,”called out Lion, his baritone voice ringing out through the air, “why don’t you join me and Owl here?” Giant Tortoise smiled and trudged through the grass (he was lying in a clearing, well away from the racetrack) to join him. With Queen Ant on his back, Frog hopped off the shell, followed closely by Squirrel, who was carefully holding Snail in the palm of her small hands. Owl hooted appreciatively as Lion told him a good joke. His hunter’s eye appreciatively scanned each of the animals. “Good Lion,” started Snail, but Lion interrupted him. “Please, my dear fellow, mind you don’t interrupt Owl or he shall eat you for dinner!” Snail frowned, as he wasn’t sure whether owls ate snails, but quivered with fright nonetheless. Squirrel frowned. “Please don’t talk like that to Snail. He’s a good friend of ours and we won’t accept any insults on his behalf.” Lion raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Owl blinked good-naturedly and hopped onto Lion’s exposed back.
SHORT STORY
A few awkward moments later, Lion apologised. Soon they began talking, and realised that beneath his posh stature Lion was still an animal… Just one with an overinflated ego. Queen Ant was commenting on how almost all the world was good with some exceptions when Owl hooted again. “Friends, it seems that you have learned a valuable lesson. You are stronger together, no?” Giant Tortoise sighed and exchanged looks with Lion and Frog. “Shame it doesn’t make us faster…” Owl smiled. “Dearie me! Didn’t you realise that the Great Race never ends? The Great One created a starting line, but not a finish line. At least, not one within sight… You must go on through your journey! Continue!” And the friends spent a pleasant evening together, and when it was morning again and time for the Great Race to begin, Giant Tortoise, Squirrel, Queen Ant, Frog, and Snail had one major advantage over anyone else… They were together, and were not rushing to win... They were doing it at their own pace, and were making up their own rules.
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Weird Words Written by Mrs Howard Illustrated by Bow Burnham
1. Fudgel
This eighteenth century word means ‘Pretending to work when you’re not actually doing anything at all’. Managers, now you can holler “Stop Fudgelling” to reprimand employees busy updating their Facebook status while at work.
2. Nudiustertian
Have you always been wondering how to say ‘day before yesterday’ in one word? Nudiustertian, the obscure sounding word derived from the Latin phrase ‘nudiustertius’ is the answer to all your queries.
3. Selcouth
Need a word to describe the potent mixture of unfamiliar, strange yet wonderful? Try the archaic English locution, ‘Selcouth’ and impress everyone at your reading club.
4. Zabernism
The term is used to describe abuse of military power or authority and was first used in the early 1900s. Apparently a German soldier abused a cobbler for smiling at him, upon which the military intervened curbing the power from local authorities, thus giving rise to the expression.
5. Douceur
The French word which literally translates to sweet is used to describe a financial inducement or bribe. So go ahead and give your English teacher a handsome douceur for those sterling grades!
6. Pauciloquent
This 17th century Latin derivative, means using few words while speaking.
7. Defenestration
The 14th century Romans used the term to describe the act of throwing someone out of a window. So now you know what to do when you hate someone…death by defenestration it is.
8. Hiraeth
This Welsh word used to describe ‘a homesickness for a home you can’t return to, or that never was’, is capable of churning your guts and give you the feels. Convey yearning, nostalgia and earnest desire through this beautiful vocable.
10. Sonder
Ever hit by the realisation that each passer-by has a life as vivid and complex as your own and you might feature in their story only for a fraction of a second? Then you would be delighted to know that this least used word in the English language describes the exact feeling. So go ahead and ponder about the sonder.
House Competitions Mr Boylan
Leaderboard status: 16 December 2022 The academic and extra-curricular achievements last year resulted in 4,000 house points being awarded, which were converted to cash and as a result £4,000 was donated to the following charities voted for by the school council: People of Ukraine Greenpeace World Wildlife Fund Centrepoint Charity for homeless teenagers Save the Children This is a truly remarkable achievement given the small size of the school community. So keep those House Points coming to ensure we can beat last year's charity donations. We are already on track to do so, with £2,180 already raised as a result of the 2,180 House Points earned this term. Well done everyone!
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
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Iara Reeves
Leo Brown
Milla Blanchet
Afiqatul Izzah
Dana Zimmer
Chun Kitpongnikorn
House Art Competition - School Values
Jude Aboumechrek