ISSUE 1 SY2017-2018
THE BLUE COMPASS WE GUIDE THE WAY
EVENTS Krakow Christmas Celebration MYP Ceremony
WELL BEING New Year's Resolution Book Reviews
CORE CAS 101 Extended Essay TOK 101Â
CONTENT Announcements.................................................................................................................... 6 Scientifically Proven Ways to Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions........... Krakow Trip........................................................................................................................... CAS 101.................................................................................................................................. The International School's Christmas Celebration............................................... Student Interview on University Open Days .......................................................... Global Affairs: How Hollywood puts a spotlight on sexual harassment...... Lord of the Flies Book Review........................................................................................ The Book Thief: A Spoilered Book Review................................................................ Extended Essay with Ms. Bergman............................................................................. The Blue Compass Team..................................................................................................
JANUARY
2018
ANNOUNCEMENTS Flora Kalogeraki from MYP2 was the winner of this years Christmas and New Years card. It was a tough selection process, but her design was both colourful and creative, making it the perfect inside of the card. Mr Weston awarded Flora her prize of a Wacom drawing tablet, which I am pleased to report that Flora has been using well. In fact, she is currently busy creating a digital art work that she will share in the next addition of the Blue Compass! Mrs Ingram looks forward to next years entries! MYP4 have just presented their Community Projects for Service and Action and they did an excellent job! It is the first year that formal presentations take place. Keep an eye on the website for the up and coming presentation evening for the School community, which is no doubt worth a look! In addition, DP2 have just finished presenting their Core components, which depict aspects of their TOK, CAS and Extended Essay’s, for the DP1 class who found it both inspirational and informative. There will be more news regarding this in the next issue! On February 21st, we will be celebrating National Mother tongue day, please keep an eye on the school website for further details and you can check out the following link for more information: http://www.unesco.org/education/imld_2002/dg_message.shtmlttle
6 SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN WAYS TO
ACTUALLY STICK TO YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS Are you making a resolution for 2018? Warning: More than half of all resolutions fail, but this year, they don’t have to be yours. This year, impress yourself by following through with these six easy tips that are scientifically proven to help you achieve your goals!
1. Pick the right resolution Before you even try to keep up with your resolutions, you should think about HOW to make your resolutions. Most resolutions fail because they’re not the right resolutions. To get the right resolutions, you should follow these 3 steps:
Step 1. Is it relevant? Is this a goal that really matters to you, and are you making it for the right reasons? Be honest with yourself. “If you do it out of the sense of self-hate or remorse or a strong passion in that moment, it doesn’t usually last long,” said Dr. Michael Bennett, a psychiatrist. Many New Year resolutions are created based on what someone else or society is teling them to change. It is important to make resolutions because YOU really want to, not because of others tell you to. I promise, this will not only make you feel much better but it will also give you a higher chance of achieving your goal.
Salima Ouali
Step 2. Is it achievable? Don’t aim too high and ignore reality – consider your previous experiences with resolutions. What led to failure then? It may be that you resolved to save 2000 euros this year which is very unrealistic. Instead you should plan to save, for instance, 25 euros a month (or more if you can). The timeline toward reaching your goal should be realistic too: That means giving yourself enough time to reach your goals. It is important to break your goals down in manageable chunks. “Focus on these small goals so you can make gradual progress,” Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit”, said. Don’t try to rush your goals, nobody ever got better overnight. You will get wherever you need to be in time, so fully experience the journey and enjoy it!
Step 3. Is it specific? Your resolution should be absolutely clear. It is important not to be vague and to set a hard, clear and concrete goal. Instead of just vaguely saying ‘I want to lose weight.’, you would want to have a set goal: How much weight do you want to lose and at what time interval?” According to Katherine L.Milkman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, it is much more effective to say "I want to lose 8 kilos in the next two months.” Instead of just vaguely saying ‘I want to lose weight.’
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2018
2. Plan your resolutions ahead Once you have established an understanding of what your resolutions will be, the next step is to create a plan and to identify the tools that will help you achieve your goals, says Tony Robbins, a business and life coach. Most people set themselves up for failure because they commit to a resolution fully knowing that they have no idea which steps they have to take towards this goal and how to take those steps. Therefore, you need to give your resolutions a set time and place in your daily schedule which will give your goals a sense of permanence and importance instead of being just another pipe dream. This whole planning idea may sound foolish to those who are not big on planning, but many studies have shown that deciding in advance exactly when, where, and how you will take specific actions to reach your goal can double or even triple your chances of success! So what are you still waiting for? Go and start making that planning!
3. Keeping Track The next step after having made a detailed planning of your goals, is to keep track of them. According to Gretchen Rubin, the author of Better than Before, people who monitor their behaviour tend to do a better job at sticking to their goals than those who do not. Therefore, it is important to commit yourself even further to your goals by keeping track of your resolutions. *One way of doing this is by writing down the details and progress of your resolutions in a notebook. You could also keep a scrapbook and fill it with pictures that motivate you so that you will be reminded of why you started in the first place.
Salima Ouali
Another way to keep track of your progress is using apps. With the development of technology, it is almost impossible to not find a useful app that can help you achieve your goal. These are some free apps that can help you keep your resolutions and achieve your goals: If your goal is to spend less money and save more: Mint (iOS, Android) If your goal is to eat healthier: MyFitnessPal (iOS, Android) and Lifesum If your goal is to use your time better: Productive (iOS), Todoist (iOS, Android) If your goal is to be a better person: Grid Diary (iOS), Journey (Android)
*Note how I am giving you multiple options to keep track of your resolutions as there are many ways to do this and it is up to you to choose the one that fits you the best and you feel comfortable with.
4. Use dopamine to your advantage by rewarding yourself When we get something we want—a good report card, a piece of chocolate, or a kiss from a loved one —our brain releases dopamine. This chemical is often known as the “feel good” neurotransmitter as it makes us feel good. It is possible to manipulate your dopamine levels by setting small goals and then rewarding yourself with something you want. For instance, your brain may receive a spike in dopamine if you promise yourself you will get a chocolate bar if you improve your term grade on Physics. Each time your brain gets a whiff of this rewarding neurotransmitter, it will want you to repeat the associated behaviour.
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2018
The next time you want to accomplish a big goal, try to break it down into smaller goals and reward yourself for reaching one of those goals. However, Wendy Wood, provost professor of psychology and business at the University of Southern California, explains “These rewards must be instantaneous. Don’t buy a new pair at the end of the week, the reward needs to be immediate, something that makes the behaviour fun so that our brain wants to keep doing it.” One way of immediately rewarding yourself is by actually thinking about how good it feels to have accomplished this goal and how proud you are of what you did. Appreciate this feeling and soon your brain will come to crave it.
5. Seek Out Support Going at things alone might work for some people, but seeking support is a critical way to keep yourself in check and motivated to succeed in the new year. Try to talk about your resolutions and share your experiences with the people around you. Just having someone to share your struggles and successes with will make your journey so much easier and less intimidating. You may not see the value of seeking support now, but trust me when I tell you that a good support system can make or break the outcome of your resolution. Just remember, that there are always people out there who want to see you achieve your goals, even if you lose sight of it. It is at difficult times like this that your support network is crucial. Therefore, you need to surround yourself with people who inspire you to be more, do more and have more. However, remember that those people should be a positive force in your life, not a negative one. So let’s leave the toxic people who drain you mentally and emotionally in 2017 and surround yourself with people that actually motivate and inspire you to be the best version of yourself!
Salima Ouali
6. Don’t be hard on yourself if you slip up Bear in mind that your resolution would not be a resolution if it was something you could just make happen at will, so you should expect a few slip-ups at some point. However, you must not let this become an excuse to completely give up on your goals. Instead you should show self-compassion. Dr Jessamy Hibberd, a clinical psychologist, says “The biggest obstacle to reaching goals is self-criticism. Study after study shows that self-criticism results in less motivation and worse self-control, in contrast with being kind or supportive to yourself.” So Next time you have a slip-up, try to feel proud of your past achievements and do not become critical of yourself. People with higher self-esteem and confidence are in a much better position to succeed, so immediately forgive yourself and say “I’m starting again now!” However, that is not to say you should not do your very best to stick to the goals you have set, of course. Your failures should come with consequences, and for every step back you have to take along the way, you should be learning from it and improve yourself to take the next step forward. Just do not forget that you are human, and humans make mistakes. Pick yourself up, and continue striving to hit your goals. Remember, the road to success never comes with a fresh pave. When it comes to accomplishing your goals, there is always something standing in your way, such as school, money, or your brain’s neurochemistry. Hopefully, with these seven tips, it should be possible to fight at least one of these variables and finally keep to your New Year resolutions for once. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can start reaping the rewards of your goals. As Stephen King once said: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration—the rest of us just get up and go to work.”
JANUARY
2018
KRAKÓW TRIP MYP4, MYP5, DP1 There was a something dark in the air, everyone was silent, as we were all walking quietly through the Auschwitz- Birkeneau concentration and death camp. Never have I witnessed anything like this. Usually the students would be talking and laughing, but today everyone was staring at the ground, quietly listening to the guide. Although so many years have passed, the tension is still present. We all felt it. Some started to cry and others gave each other comforting hugs. Then, we were lead into a dark room, and we realised we were standing in front of a large glass panel and behind the panel was mounds of hair. It was the hair of thousands of women, the guide explained that the Nazis chopped it off and shipped it to factories to produce clothing. Afterwards, we went on to another room with shoes that were kept after the victims of Auschwitz were stripped and killed. Some of which were my size, some small enough to fit a child, but these are just some of the images that we will never forget. Three days prior to this, MYP4-5 and DP1 were all packed into 2 busses at the beginning of a 10-hour trip to Kraków, Poland.
Sascha Salzano-weir
The trip had been planed by CAS trips, our tour operator. Once we met our guides, we were shown around the beautiful city centre of Kraków and we learned about some of the history connected to the town. Over the next five days we spent in Kraków, we got to know the old Jewish quarter, meet a holocaust survivor and learnt a lot about World War Two and Kraków’s role in it. Although much of the trip was focused on the second World War, we also had other activities: We were shown around Krakow’s rich street art and met David Christoff, a marathon-runner, that runs immense lengths to gather money for charity. However, not all was perfect, the bell pepper soup we had on the first day, for instance, caused many stomach problems, including myself. Lastly, we almost had no opportunities to discover the city for ourselves, because when we did, it was only for an hour or two. All in all, I truly hope that future students also get the opportunity to go on this eye-opening school trip that was both fun and educational!
JANUARY
2018
Extended Essay & Tok with Ms. Bergman
Are you confused about what the Extended Essay is? Are you unsure about how to write it? Then this might be the article for you! This article includes information about what the Extended Essay is and tips on how to write it according to Ms. Bergman.
What is the Extended Essay? The Extended essay is a part that is mandatory to the DP curriculum which every IB student has to do. It is an individual piece of work in which you conduct research on a topic of your own choice and write it up in a formal piece of writing. What are the features of a ‘perfect’ extended essay? This varies from subject to subject. Overall good Extended Essays have several factors: •Creativity. This does not mean fantastically written short stories or beautiful artworks, but it means finding new topics to investigate. •Credible sources. Good Extended Essays use reliable sources and use them to their advantage. •They clearly explain what they talk about. Do not forget that others might not be experts in the area you are exploring.
Nina Beurskens & Tina Shen
Are there things that students often underestimate when starting to work on their extended essay? Students often underestimate how difficult it is to make a research question. It is hard work and does not come out of thin air. This is not something that will take 5 minutes of browsing the internet, it takes work. It might take re-shaping as you go along. Once you get it, it is a lead that you can hold onto, however, this does not mean that the research question is not allowed to ever change again. What is an error that is made by many students when writing the extended essay? •Students often do not realise the amount of errors in the planning of the Extended Essay •Time management! Sometimes experiments are not set up properly or do not work as how you thoughts they would work and by leaving this till the end, it might lead to last minute scrambles. •You must save your sources used. This would avoid the problem of not being able to find them again in the future.
JANUARY
2018
How can students make sure they plan the work they have to do for the extended essay efficiently? To what extend can their supervisor play a role in this? Many students do not work with their supervisor in the planning stage. However, I recommend to sit down with your supervisor on to go over your ideas with them. You should break it down and ask your supervisor to help set small goals. What are you most excited to see in the extended essays? I am excited to see the stage where it all comes together and works. The Extended Essay can be seen as a work of ‘love or hate’ however, I hope that in the end, students can look at it and be proud of what they accomplished. It may be tough, but it can yield interesting results.
Are there any do’s and don’ts for writing the extended essay? Don’t: • Not collaborate with your supervisor. Do not disappear. You must remain in good contact with your supervisor. • Do not leave things till the last minute Do: •Read! Do a lot of research
TOK 101 Theory of knowledge – or TOK for short – is one of the core subjects of the IB. It is a very difficult subject, that many students struggle with. As was described by on of the ISG’s TOK teachers, ms Rogers: “Theory of knowledge is about question knowledge comes from. In TOK lessons we discuss how we know what we know, and why there is disagreement about knowledge”. A key part of TOK are the TOK presentations, which can on just about any topic you can think of. DP2 has just done their final presentations, and DP1 has just started doing their first. Therefore, we interviewed ms Rogers to gain knowledge on what the TOK presentations entail and what is so difficult about them. What exactly are the TOK presentations and what do they consist of? “TOK presentations give students the class to analyse the knowledge behind a topic that interests them. It involves selecting a real life situation (such as a news story) and analysing it. What do we know about this situation? How do we know? Why are there disagreements?”
Nina Beurskens & Tina Shen
JANUARY
2018
What is the importance of TOK presentations, and how do they play a role in the development of the students’ analytical skills? “TOK presentations are a vital part of the analytical process in TOK. They ask students to challenge their pre-existing thinking on a topic. They also require students to consider an issue from other people's point of view. Which can be challenging!” What would you like to see in a TOK presentation? “The most important thing is an interesting real life situation to base the presentation on. I also like to see evidence to support the arguments that they are making. I also like to see them considering different perspectives on the issue.”
What are the most difficult things concerning the making and giving of a TOK presentation? “There are several things that the students find challenging. The first problem is standing up in front of a class and talking about issues which may be out of their comfort zone. However, after the first presentation most students gain confidence. The other difficult aspect is the depth of research required. However, the whole course is structured to build up the skills that the students need.”
Nina Beurskens & Tina Shen
What are things that students often underestimate when making and doing a TOK presentation? “The time needed for in depth research. A TOK presentation can't just be knocked up over a weekend (or the night before the presentation).” What is an error that most students make when making and giving a TOK presentation? “Students often give a presentation about a topic, rather than a presentation about HOW we know about that topic. They often lack the focus needed on the knowledge behind the topic.” Are there any do’s and don’ts when making and giving a TOK presentation that you can list? “Don’t worry too much! TOK skills take time to build up. It’s a process. Stay up to date with what’s going on in the world. The news is a great source of reals life situations/ examples that can be used to support arguments. Allow yourself time for in depth research. Think about how other people might see the issue.”
JANUARY
2018
CAS 101 How To Deal With Creativity, Action and Service So, you’ve probably been hearing this "CAS" term a lot lately and maybe you’re feeling a bit stressed and sick about it or you feel like you don’t have the time or simply forgetting to do your CAS (or maybe you’re doing pretty great and updating your CAS portfolio, but nonetheless this section will be helpful to you, I promise *wink wink*). I understand how it feels to have a lot of work piling up continuously and you feel like there is no way you’re gonna hit those CAS requirements, but hey, that’s what I’m here for. I am going to help regain your perspective, manage your time for CAS, guide and remind you guys on how enjoyable and meaningful CAS experiences can be and to make you feel like you really can make a great impact in this world (no matter how small or big). CAS should be one of the best parts of your IB diploma experience and we as The Blue Compass will make sure you get as much as you can out of these 2 years! What is CAS? • Creativity – arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking. • Activity – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the DP. • Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student. The rights, dignity and autonomy of all those involved are respected. That is the official definition of CAS according to the IB diploma programme, but in my own words, this is what I think CAS means:
Carmen Ettina
Creativity - experiences that relate to thinking outside of the box in terms of your artistic skills. Some examples are photography, filmmaking, playing an instrument/making a mixtape (yes), painting a mural, performance art that expresses the anxiety and stress that IB gives you (you can even imitate "The Scream" by Edvard Munch to release those emotions you hide inside your soul), assisting with the stage design at your local theatre, designing bio-degradable or eco-friendly products for the public, dancing, singing, donating your artworks to your school or hospital can be considered C & S, etc. You really can make anything creative if you just think about what you love doing (or something you’ve always wanted to try but never did before) and to take advantage of that freedom to express yourself; the opportunities are endless! Action - this means anything that’s good for your physical well-being such as your sports team, you going to the gym 2x a week, dancing at your local studio or in your room, etc. As long as it fits into the CAS criteria, it counts. Service - Contributing to your community and society. This can also mean helping one single person or a small group of people. Basically you are spending your leisure time helping out others and making a change one way or another and I think that’s pretty amazing because at the end of the day that is one of the greatest learning lessons that you will learn in life. Making someone feel happy, cared about or blessed is beautiful and that’s why this is my favourite part of CAS. It really does capture the essence of the IBO’s mission: "to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect –– encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right." I really stand by this statement and is one of the reasons that I am doing the IBDP. In this section of CAS, The Blue Compass will religiously update you guys on opportunities based on the service aspect of CAS.
JANUARY
2018
THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL'S
Christmas Celebration
On the 22nd of December the International School of Groningen held a Christmas breakfast with the member of the MYP and DP department. The Christmas breakfast was held in the Biotoop. However, not only was there a breakfast held, there was also a talent show held for that same day; The ISG Talent Show. For the Christmas breakfast, each and every member of the class brough food, drinks and maybe some Christmas decorations of the table to give it more of that jolly Christmas kind of feel. Everyone was eating, talking with one and other, but most importantly, everyone was having a good time with this being the last time they would see each other all together in 2017, and getting prepared to jump into the next year of 2018. After everyone had their tummies full with the delicious food and drinks everyone brought along for their group, we were all ready for the ISG Talent Show. In total there were 11 groups all participating, this ranged from the year groups DP all the way to MYP1. In this talent show there were people singing, playing instruments, performing magic tricks and more. One of the more interesting performances was quite amusing in my opinion, never have I seen anyone perform the USSR national anthem on flute.
Loekie Groeneveld
I’ll give credits to them for doing such an outrageous performance that day. At the end of the day we had our beloved teacher Mrs.Jonker singa heartwarming song for us all along with a slideshow that the head of the school; Mr.Western had made. The slideshow consisted of every students face show up in a close up which of course made a lot of us laugh when seeing some of the pictures and hiding because of shame. Credits to him for embarrassing us to the fullest. The day was quite a nice day, it was short because it was the last day of school, but in the end it was nice that everyone was able to see their classmates all together once more before the start of a new year. There were tons of nice food served, everyone was in the Christmas mood, laughing was also a huge role of that day. There was a lot of nice things that happened that day, but of course at the end of the day there were people we had to say our last goodbye to. Thanks to those for being a part of the ISG, we will hopefully see you some other time in the future.
JANUARY
2018
Student Interviews on
UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS Eva Kuyper DP1
Nina Beurskens DP1
Where was it? Eva: Utrecht, 18th nov (UU, universiteit Utrecht) What was it about? Eva: psychology, liberal arts & sciences How was it? E: I followed a Dutch course. I didn’t Like it very much, but i learned a lot about the courses. What did you learn? E: What I needed to learn in order to get into the course and what the course entails for the students. Was it helpful? E: Yes.
Where was it? N: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 10th November 2017 What was it about? N: Psychology, biology, international relations and organisations, university college How was it? N: Every course was different. Biology and psychology were fun, we got a lecture. International relations and Organisations (IRO) was very formal and straight forward, I liked it. The university college was very fun, the people were very nice.
Upcoming open days: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen on Friday the 2nd of February, 2018. From 10.00-17.00. Registration is from 1st January 2018 onwards. Universiteit Leiden on 24th February, 2018. From 09.00-17.30. If you are interested in Psychology, statistics and biology. TU Delft open day held on the 9th and 10th of March 2018. It offers English taught programmes: aerospace engineering, applied earth sciences, computer science & engineering and Nanobiology. Registration starts in February 2018.
Hifa Raja & Wendy Shen
What did you learn? N: For biology, I learned about the different sections of biology and what you can do with those. For psychology, I learned about different behaviours and how nurture affects them. For IRO, we got lectured on poverty, on the poverty line and such and it was interesting. The university college, i talked to a student from the DP and i asked whether she liked the courses and what she was doing. I learned that you can do a lot and you’re not confined to just sciences, it’s very diverse much like the DP. Was it helpful? N: Yes.
JANUARY
2018
GLOBAL AFFAIRS How Hollywood puts a spotlight on sexual harassment.
"It's 2018 and marijuana is finally allowed and sexual harassment finally isn't.’’, is how Seth Meyers started his speech for the gathered crowd at the Golden Globes. The topic of sexual misconduct has dominated the ceremony by being incorporated in speeches, the unwritten dress code and simply as topic of discussion. The sexual harassment claims has left its mark on celebrities and politicians that were accused, and now many stars are speaking and standing up for themselves and others. Since the first public allegations of sexual harassment and rape against Harvey Weinstein by Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd and others, a chain reaction of women speaking up has occurred. New allegations have been made against other powerful men in various industries seemingly almost every day.
Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Mark Halperin, Matt Lauer and about 50 other influential men have been accused of sexual misconduct over a period of a couple months. It seems like a shift is made in the kind of behaviour that is tolerated in the workspace, as many high-profile men have been fired or forced to resign from their jobs in the media or entertainment industry. The Hollywood atmosphere is no longer turning a blind eye on anything that varies from inappropriate comments to rape. The main focus of the Golden Globes was to put current campaigns like ‘Me Too’ and ‘Time's Up’, which are focused on bringing about change for women not only in the entertainment industry but also around the world, in the spotlight. To show their support and shared vision with the campaigns, many celebrities were spotted wearing pins and badges in favour of campaigns intent on fighting sexual harassment and gender inequality in the entertainment industry. Prior to the ceremony, most stars wore black on the red carpet, as a mark of solidarity with victims of sexual assault and harassment. This show of support and compassion from high-profile people, will hopefully cause more and more women to feel safe and empowered enough and be inspired to stand up for themselves as well. It is finally the time to speak up, and no longer letting sexual predators control lives by staying quiet. "I want all the girls watching here and now to know that a new day is on the horizon. And when that new day finally dawns, it will be because of a lot of magnificent women .. and some pretty phenomenal men fighting hard to make sure that they become the leaders that take us to the time when nobody has to say 'Me Too' again." - Oprah Winfrey, Golden Globes Awards 2018
Oprah Winfrey's golden globe 2018
Laura Silverstein
JANUARY
2018
LORD OF THE FLIES BY WILLIAM GOLDING
BOOK REVIEW Lord of the Flies is a novel written by William Golding – an ex-navy officer – which became a bestseller in the UK and the USA. Initially, twenty publishers rejected the book, however, the novel was finally published in 1954. Due to his time serving in the navy controlling a rocket launcher in the invasion of Normandy, the war affected his views on humanity, therefore sparking his inspiration for his novel. The novel Lord of the Flies is set on a tropical island when a plane of evacuee’s crashes, killing all adults, leaving a group of young boys, the eldest being twelve years old. They must mature quickly and learn how to survive on the island until they are rescued. Ralph and Piggy are the first characters introduced. Together they find the conch – a motif of civilisation – and Ralph uses it to call to the other survivors. The eldest of the boys are twelve while the youngest was around six years old. Ralph is voted as chief and he tries to get everyone in order by giving them certain jobs to do, one of those is to light a fire and keep it burning to try and signal to ships passing with the smoke for them to come and rescue the boys. However, later on in the story, Jack – a controlling, naturally evil boy – had enough of Ralph’s ‘weak’ leadership and he runs away to the other side of the island to try and recruit the older boys in his own tribe. Each tribe clashes and brutal fights take place on a regular basis to survive.
Vote for which book you’d like us to review next time on The Blue Compass! http://www.strawpoll.me /14754803
Anton Ruohonen
The Lord of the Flies was finally published in 1954 by Faber and Faber after the writer, William Golding asked twenty other publishers to publish his book. The Lord of the Flies is classed as a young adult fiction, novel, fiction, allegory & speculative and psychological fiction. The novel Lord of txhe Flies’ primary themes from what I have examined is mankinds innate savagery and the rules of civilisation that bounds that savagery within outselves. When the kids in the novel crash on the island they are left to become feral, savage animals as the rules of society bound them no longer, rendering most to become – due to their young age – like savages.
JANUARY
2018
THE BOOK THIEF BY MARKUS ZUSAK
A (SPOILERED) BOOK REVIEW The Book Thief is a historical novel written by the Australian author Markus Zusak. Published in 2005, the book became an international bestseller, and was translated into various languages. The book is set during World War ll. The story starts in 1939, as the main character of the book – a nine-year-old girl called Liesel Meminger – arrives at the home of her new foster parents after the death of her younger brother. Living with her new Mama and Papa, Rosa Hubermann and Hans Hubermann in Munich, Liesel is exposed to Nazi-Germany and the horrors of its regime. As the political situation in Germany worsens, her foster family welcomes a Jewish man called Max Vandenburg into their home, putting their lives in great jeopardy. Liesel grows very close to Max as well as her Papa, Hans. Hans teaches Liesel how to read in secret by reading to her from the first book she had stolen. As she starts to recognize the power of writing and the sharing of it, Liesel not only begins to steal more books – specifically those who the Nazi Party is looking to destroy – she also writes her own stories, and shares them with Max. The Book Thief takes a shot at making sense of the events that took place during WWll, by making use of a unique type of narration. The story is told from the perspective of Death, as it goes over Liesel’s story and gives insights and explanations in places where further comments may or may not be necessary. Death not only shares wisdom on the characters and the war specifically, but also on life in general.
Nina Beurskens
The short sidenotes that are written in bold add a touch of humanity as values and morality are explained and/or justified. It also gives clarity to somewhat unclear situations. Zusak provides the readers with indirect messages that contain life advice that has yet to be taught directly. In this regard, Zusak does not sugarcoat anything. The book is brutally honest on every subject discusses and therefore also amazingly thought-provoking. This is a book that changes your stance on not only the war, but also friendship, family, literature, and so much more.
“Even death has a heart.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief The narrative technique provides the reader with unique views on the war as it creates a distance between them and the characters in the story. While there is indeed a distance, the characters remain lovable. The feelings and thoughts of the characters are no mystery to the reader, as Death seems to know exactly what is going on in their heads. Death gives the reader wonderful and strange descriptions of the characters that are introduced, adding a hint of humour to the horror of what is going on around them. The description that Death gives of Liesel’s best friend Rudy Steiner is adorably innocent, even though he is being portrayed as crazy. The characters are complex, and never go flat, as they show great development and complicated thought processes. Zusak has made it seem as though the reader is growing up with the characters, being able to relate to the thoughts in their young minds. It is easy to fall in love with the characters in the book, as they each have their own charm. The reader will develop an intense and genuine attachment to the characters, as they grow up and simultaneously learn life-lessons with the reader as the story unfolds.
JANUARY
2018
Another amazing thing about the book is the illustrations it contains. The book even contains a short story within it, showing beautifully raw drawings while telling a troubling story. This short story is written and drawn by Max. Max is a Jewish man that the Hubermann’s welcome into their house in order to protect him. Liesel grows very fond of him, and spends a lot of time with him in their basement, where he lives. However, even though he is an enormous part of her life, he is also her biggest secret. In this aspect, the book again is brutally honest in portraying the real struggle of people during the war. Liesel’s innocent outlook on life enhances this, as Death gives a detailed account of her confusion about it all. Language is an escape for Liesel. For her, it is a way of understanding the world. Therefore, her relationship with Max leads to her discovery of the beauty and power of language. Liesel’s new outlook on language is incredibly touching.
Nina Beurskens
However, The Book Thief itself also shows the power of language. It is very cleverly written, as Zusak works the German language and illustrations into the text. This makes it a unique and remarkable read. Though the book is a bit slow at times, and has parts in which not much happens, the overall story is gripping. The things that happen in the book portray Nazi-Germany in its truest form. The honesty and tragedy of the book are what makes is it both make it a tough and a breathtakingly beautiful read. While achingly tragic, the ending of the book is perfect for the story (major spoiler alert for the rest of this paragraph!). The moment at which the bombs strike Munich and take the lives of almost everyone living there is described perfectly through the eyes of Death as it takes away the souls of those who passed. Again, the honesty in Zusak’s writing is astonishing, and while heartbreaking, this is by far the best part of the book. What makes The Book Thief such an outstanding work though, lies in all the things it embodies. It is not just a book about war and what it does to people. It is a story about family, friendship, love, acceptance, the power of language, grief, and so much more. Zusak even managed to get some visual text in as well, which makes the book all the more amazing. The Book Thief has many layers, containing life lessons from the one ‘being’ you least expect it from: Death. This book is definitely a life-changing one, and one of great importance, as it is not just a tragic war story and death, but also a book about the beauty of life.
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2018
INTRODUCING
THE BLUE COMPASS TEAM
Laura Sehnem: Editor Between her hours at school, playing guitar and running Laura has put together the layout of the first issue of The Blue Compass. She has joined the team to enhance her creativity and work on leadership and collaborative skills. After living 10 years in Southeast Asia, she considers herself asian at heart and has finally mastered her chopstick stills. Laura enjoys singing and dancing and will never fail to make you smile.
Nina Beurskens: Book review, TOK &Extended Essay article Between her school work, Nina writes book reviews and articles on the Extended Essay and TOK for the Blue Compass. She has joined this exciting project because she loves reading, writing and language. She enjoys the creative thinking and problem solving that is involved in the making of a school magazine. Nina hopes that through the making of it, she will learn more about not only the school, but also the world around it. Furthermore, she enjoys playing the piano and ukulele, singing, and dancing. Nina is a happy, caring person who is enthusiastic and passionate about every project she takes on.
Laura Silverstein: Global Affairs Tina Shen: Extended Essay As the person covering global affairs and news, Laura is Tina covered the article about the Extended Essay in the eager to learn more about the world around her. When The Blue Compass and interviewed teachers in the process traveling to foreign countries, she enjoys seeing new of doing so. She aims to get to know her classmates better cultures and learning about their traditions and ways of and to make new friends in this project. In addition, she living. She hopes to practise her writing and wants to hopes to improve her communication, collaboration and expand her general knowledge by contributing to the writing skills. She likes to help others and likes to look at newspaper. In her free time, Laura loves to dance, paint memes. and is interested in fashion. Additionally, Laura is a creative thinker and is passionate and enthusiastic.
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2018
Wendy Shen: University open days Although Wendy does not have many hobbies, she enjoys watching movies and trying new foods. Wendy is part of The Blue Compass and responds to the emails we receive and notes down as well as interviews students about their experience for the open days in universities. Wendy has joined the magazine to improve her communication, collaboration, and organisation skills.
Carmen Ettina: Photographer Hi everyone! My name’s Carmen but my friends like to call me Cara and I am the photographer of the Blue Compass as well as a writer who likes to write motivating CAS articles to get those IB students up and going (because we all know we wanna snatch that diploma asap).
Hifa Raja: University Open Days and Spell Check Between looking at pictures of other people’s’ cats and being allergic to cats, Hifa has an eye for error. Recognising this special ‘skill’ at a young age while looking at her reflection in the mirror, she’s decided to utilise it in the school magazine. Besides spell checking, she also works with Wendy Shen to interview students on their experiences at university open days. Hifa enjoys singing when no one’s in hearing distance and drawing. Hifa is a decent person.
Anton Ruohonen: Book Review article Hello, my name is Anton, some of you -especially the teachers- may already know my reputation as a.. mischief maker let’s say. Let’s see, I started year during MYP2 till now, this year being my last year here. Over my time here it has been ups and downs, quite a bit of the downs being of my own making and I just want to say something that most people in the school will probably not read, I’ll miss this place and the friends I made here.
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2018
Salima Ouali: Well-being Salima covers Well-being for the Blue Compass. She has joined this fantastic team because she has a passion for writing, health, well-being and helping people. Through her articles, she will give students tips and tricks to make it easier for them to find a balance between their busy school life and their personal life. By contributing to the school magazine, she hopes to enhance her collaboration, communication and problemsolving skills. In her free time, she loves to read, play the piano and go to the gym. Furthermore, Salima is an open-minded, cheerful and passionate person.
Sascha Salzano-weir: Krakow Article Hi im Sasha im 15 years old and I joined the blue compass as a part of my community project. I have lived in Berlin, Belfast, Seattle and Munic over the years until settling here in Groningen for a semipermanent basis. I also like music and programming or anything to do with computers.
Loekie Groeneveld: Christmas Article Loekie as a person isn't too interesting, she does have a few normal hobbies such as sleeping, cooking and going out. As for the Blue Compass, she writes for the MYP department along with two other MYP students. With writing articles for the Blue Compass, she hopes to improve her writing and social skills as she will be interviewing teachers during this time as well. Loekie is a somewhat cheerful person with a weird imagination and hopes to be some help to the Blue Compass this year.
Mrs V. Ingram: CAS/ATL coordinator and Visual Arts teacher About: Originally from the UK, studied Art & Design at the University of East Anglia moving on to University of Reading to complete my PGSE in secondary education I have been teaching within the Arts and Design for 18 years. Teaching in the UK, Spain and now the Netherlands has enforced not only my passion for teaching but definitely since being part of International education my love of working with such a diverse group of cultures.
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2018