Robert Mayzine Issue II

Robert Mayzine

Festive Recipe: Gingerbread

Ingredients

g butter

tbsp golden syrup g dark muscovado sugar ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda tbsp ground ginger tsp ground cinnamon g plain flour g icing sugar

STEP

Heat the butter, syrup and sugar together in a pan until it has melted, Remember to keep Stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool slightly.

STEP Mix together the bicarbonate of soda, ginger, cinnamon and flour in a large mixing bowl. Pour in the buttery syrup mixture from the pan and stir to combine, then use your hands to bring together to form a dough.If needed add a splash of milk. The dough will be soft, but it’ll firm up in the fridge.

STEP

Put the dough on a sheet of baking parchment, shape into a rectangle, and lay another sheet of parchment on top of it. Roll the dough out to a thickness of ½cm. Move it to a baking sheet to keep it flat, and chill in the fridge for hr.

STEP

Heat the oven to C/ C fan/gas and line a baking sheet with more baking parchment. Remove the dough from the fridge and cut out shapes.

STEP

Place the shapes on the lined baking sheet, and bake for - mins or until golden. Leave to cool completely.

STEP

Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar withtbsp water it should be thick but not too thick and not too thin or it will run. Decorate the cooled biscuits with the icing.

By Matilda Brown and Lily Hilzer, 9Y

A Glimpse into the World Cup

Portugal made it out of their group top of the table and got drawn to play Switzerland in the round of sixteen. An hour before the game kicked off, the starting eleven comes out and everyone worldwide is shocked to see Portugal's star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, on the bench in one of the most important games in Portugal's World Cup history. The man replacing him was twenty one-year-old, Goncalo Ramos. Portugal ended up winning without their star man, Ronaldo, - , with Ramos getting three goals of the six.

By Rudy Whelton, V

Mrs Bennett’s DofE Experience

What made you apply to the role and what does the role involve?

A new post was created for somebody coordinate DofE. Mr Gane and Mrs Tyrer share the role. They are the DofE coordinators for the school. When they asked students if they wanted to do it, they had over students show interest. They had to get extra members of staff to help so Mrs Harrington and I are being trained up. Their roles are expedition supervisor and assessor. They will be responsible for a group of students on their Dofe expedition. They will then assess another person’s group.

What sort of activities do DofE people take part in?

There are three components: physical (sport and show progress); volunteering component (volunteer an hour a week, nonpaid.); skill, could be learning violin or language, British Sign Language. Then you do an expedition. We only have students on bronze level - day expedition overnight.

How did you train for the role?

I had to go to some training in the new forest to learn how to use maps, compasses. We did nighttime navigation. It was to simulate what it is like for students who don’t have experience of going outdoors and using a map. One of the top tips was to download an app called OS locate which is free. You can see the compass and get your map grid reference. They all need to do first aid and online training. This training qualification lasts five years.

What did you cook on your trip?

Filled pasta with pesto.

What technology will pupils be allowed to be used?

Support school policy but technology can be useful.

Why did you decide to do DofE?

I love walking and the outdoors. I like to try to take part in other parts of school life. It helps to promote the role of the library as a safe place to come to. I get the opportunity to talk to pupils more too. It’s important to be part of school life and gives you greater satisfaction in your job. It is great to learn new skills at any age because it is important and fulfilling.

What will the challenges of DofE?

The main challenges for students will be working as a team for the group to get through the expedition. Reading the map and deciding whether you know you’re going the right way or not. There will be training but it will be interesting. Carrying heavy equipment may also be a challenge.

By Ava Herdman-Grant, 8P

Quick Questions with Ukrainian Students at RMS

. What do you like about Robert May’s School?

. Describe Robert May’s School in words

. Tell me about your experience at Robert May’s School so far.

Anastasia, Year

. Teachers.

. Kind, smart, support.

. I came to RMS in June. Definitely like the school. When I came, the teachers understood and supported me.

Uliana, Year

. I like delicious food, nice teachers, excellent education programme.

. Modern, big, helpful.

. In RMS, students are very helpful. One time, one girl saw me sat on the wrong bus and she told me about it. Then, she helped me to find the right bus. This situation shows that in RMS there are really kind students.

Tim, Year

. Delicious lunches.

. Support, open-air, library.

. When I came, my maths teacher really helped me and improve my knowledge in maths.

Melissa, Year

. I like in school that the school is equipped with all facilities necessary for learning.

. Beautiful, open-air, people.

. When I lived in Ukraine, I never studied with my older sister in one school, but it was always my dream. Now, I would like to say a big thank you that they took me to RMS so I could learn close to my older sister.

More Quick Questions with Ukrainian Students at RMS

Nataliia, Year

. In RMS, I like that teachers support me, help me and motivate me to continue learning.

. Students, location, creative.

. I like the teachers who work in HUBL because they help me with my times tables and also improve my English.

Sophia, Year

. Robert May’s provides many new opportunities, to try in different fields of activity.

. Huge, modern, interesting.

Illia, Year

. Kind teachers, modern school, PE because I like sport.

. Pretty, cool, big.

. Some teachers cheer up students. I’m surprised that between some lessons there are no breaks.

Varvara, Year

. Good approach for education.

. Respect, tolerant, motivation.

. I just transferred to this school and I can already say that is very unusual and the teaching here is interesting.

. When I came to the school RMS, I met an English girl, who knew the Russian language. She communicated with us and she has really helped me. I would like to say a big thank you to RMS because they have grown such good people as Sasha.

By Dariia Pechena,

Pupil Eye: A Photography Trip to Kew Gardens

I think trips can help students immerse themselves in the environment of the subject which they have chosen. I would like to tell you about my first experience in this area.

On th of September, I went on a trip with my photography course to Kew Gardens. It was my first time visiting this place. It is a very beautiful location to take nice photos or draw different plants. My favourite thing was the Treetop Walkway, which reminded me of a five-story house.

I also liked seeing different art objects. For example, there was one I called “iron cloud” but in real life it was called “hive”.

In addition, you can see lakes, amazing flowers, big fields, and visit the cosy shop.

All the time that I was in Kew Gardens, we always had a working atmosphere. I think it's an important part of a trip . After this trip, I felt inspired and had a willingness to create.

In conclusion, my trip to Kew Gardens was very nice, very helpful and I had lots of time to practice taking photos.

by Dariia Pechena, 10Z

Writing and photography

Pupil Eye: A Trip to See TheCrucible

On the th of October, I went on a trip with my drama course to the National Theatre to watch the play, The Crucible. It was my first experience of visiting a theatre in the UK. The National Theatre is a very modern place and being in the theatre created more atmosphere than just a cinema. By the way, unlike Ukrainian theatres, in the hall you are allowed to drink any drinks and eat snacks!

and photography by Dariia Pechena, 10Z

The actors were able to keep my personal attention on the play because they occasionally used things like contrast, loud sounds and sharp movements to appeal to the audience and of course create an unbelievable atmosphere of the play.

My little wish to see London at night was also fulfilled!

Writing

Book Group Recommends…

Heartstopper is definitely an emotional rollercoaster. Parts can make you cry, some can make you smile. It also has a great storyline that makes you want to just keep reading on.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a very interesting read as you are trying to figure out who killed Andie Bell as Pip carries out her investigation.

Boy, Everywhere helps you to realise what is happening in Syria and what refugees have to go through. A five star read!

Enola Holmes. Are you interested in crime or adventure? If so, Then read this as Enola’s interest will set a spark of fire inside you to crack the codes.

Dune is the classic, quintessential sci-fi novel from before Star Wars, The Matrix and Ender's Game.

The book follows Duke-to-be, Paul Attreides, through a torrent of treason and revolution.

I’ll Give You The Sun tells the story of twins Noah and Jude and their relationship after a tragic family event. The author does a great job of putting you in each character’s shoes. It’s really descriptive and amazing.

By Lauren Watt, 9Y, Winner of the Student News Cartoon Competition.

A Winter Love

We were like, a raging sea, a winter love that could not be.

Our voices were, the ocean’s roar, we cried until we could no more We mocked the storm, and they fell the trees our broken limbs among scattered leaves

The tides had shown, what we did not heed the water holds, and then recedes.

By Izzy Page-Morris ,

A Cosy Christmas Morning

It’s Christmas morning so I jump out of my comfy, warm bed and into the freezing air of the corridor - my feet numb. I run down the creaking staircase and into our snug living room, where our grand evergreen tree stands, covered in sparkling tinsel and baubles. I turn the gold, glistening lights on and call my family, hoping my loud voice would wake them from their deep slumber. It was time to open the presents, which were blending in with the coloured lights on the festive tree perched in our living room.

By Megan Hale, 7P

Cartoon by Emily Wittstock,

ChicagoProduction: Backstage

On the week of the th of December, a group of pupils performed the show, Chicago. As well as having a large cast, there were also people behind the scenes helping backstage.

On Friday the nd December, the whole cast and crew gathered for rehearsals, during which the backstage crew were learning cues and the best way to do their jobs.

The next day, Saturday, the cast arrived at school ready for a full run through of the show. It was very fun and exciting. This run through had its ups and downs, but overall it was good!

Sunday came and, once again, the cast and crew arrived, but this time for a dress rehearsal. It went great and ran smoothly so there was only one more thing to do. Show night.

pm on the th. Nerves were high, but so were spirits. We were READY! The audience piled in, the show was about to begin. It was fabulous. From backstage, we heard as the cast exited the stage to the sound of applause. We only had to do it four more times!

On the th, unfortunately the main character fell ill. Another member filled in for her after a few hours of studying the script. After all, the show must go on.

By Mason Williams, 9V

ChicagoProduction: Onstage

Chicago was an amazing experience. If you didn’t see it, it’s a musical jam packed with murder, adultry and a whole lot of cringey jokes. Behind the scenes, so many rehearsals, hours and overall work went into it. All of the students and teachers did an amazing job though, as was demonstrated if you went to see it.

I was a lead dancer for the show and I need to say that all of the choreographers did a fantastic job. The dances were easy to pick whilst also being entertaining. My favourite (like pretty much everyone in the cast) was cell block tango. Everyone would join in backstage whenever the song came on.

On Friday, everyone was an emotional mess backstage; every person was crying, hugging and congratulating each other. It was like a crying mob surrounded by a sea of tears. I would be guilty if I said that I didn’t bawl my eyes out. Overall, in my extremely biased opinion, I can say that the musical was Oscar worthy!

By James Burridge, 9V

ChicagoProduction: Review

The school’s production of Chicago was incredible. The singing was heartwarming and melodious. The choreography was well thought out and on beat. I loved it. Although the storyline was hard to keep up with, it was well made up for with the witty comments and hilarious jokes. I felt as though I was travelling back into s Chicago.

Those who went to the Friday production would have also experienced the touching awards ceremony. You could tell that this production and others before meant something them. It had impacted them either by giving them confidence onstage and off or just giving them a chance to make friends that they previously wouldn’t have even thought of having. Overall, I think that the schools production will stay with these pupils for many years to come.

By Ava Herdman-Grant, 8P

The Air Vent Story

Nora stepped outside onto the roof. The sun was emerging, creating a beautiful red sky, but only God knew what was about to happen to her. The air was cool. Everything was quiet. Nora, for the first time in what felt like forever, was at peace. But she thought back to the news on the television, Poor Thomas would have to be put together in a can before being buried. Early in the morning, the police had found a giant red splatter near the exit of an alleyway. The walls, floors, and basically everything in a metre radius of the entrance was pasted with blood and Thomas’ “Meat Giblets”; Even one of the officers had thrown up, according to WOLF News. She still missed him, but it was for the best that they parted ways; not that she wanted him to die seemingly horribly, but Nora wouldn’t shed a tear thinking about him.

The roof was lonely. She was the only person who came up here, especially this early. Small steel railings stopped people from accidentally falling off, though she wondered how exactly they’d do it. They were only up to Nora’s waist. The floor and the roof was of uneven stone. Some of the cracks in the floor were big enough to jam her thumb in. She had heard somewhere that this apartment block used to be a car park, which would explain the odd roof flooring. To be continued in the next edition…

WARNING: a great but gruesome story. Drawings

by Alvina Sokolova, 9R

House Fundraising at RMS

Jubilee Chinook

raised quite a good amount of money and Make-a-Wish responded to us and said they were very grateful. It was amazing to see people getting involved, including Mr Warman (dressed as Santa!) and Mrs Mitchell and Mr Dale.’

Jason Hartley, Natsune Stephens, Chinook, 10U

‘We

‘When we sent the message out that we needed people to bake cakes, it we didn’t think many would come through and on the day we were pleasantly surprised at the effort people put in and the money we had raised. We liked seeing the happiness on people’s faces with the cakes.’

Rose

Jonny Bass, Rose House Captain, 7Z

The Current Cost Of Living Crisis

The “Cost of Living Crisis” started in April . It has since affected national insurance, council tax. The cost of food, fuel, electricity and heating have also increased. It has changed the UK. The pound has gone down.

There are many reasons for the crisis such as Brexit, Covid- and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. It is a "period of prolonged austerity” . This means a state of reduced spending and increased economic problems. The crisis has reduced wellbeing, increased anxiety and worsened mental health.

Although most people will be living on the same amount, the cost of basic necessities is too high, meaning there is not enough money left over for luxuries. This will especially affect us all at the moment, with Christmas and other festive holidays.

Interview with Mrs Wilkie

How is the cost of living affecting our school?

Prices of goods are increasing across electricity, power, gas, exercise books, stationary. School only has certain amount of money to spend. We are always juggling the budget and it is getting more difficult to juggle.

It is making the job more challenging? We have to consider what is essential for the school to buy.

Is funding different for KS and KS ?

With GCSE students generally we need to spend more. They need more textbooks, more revision guides, more online texts. There are also specific visits and even trips/events specific to GCSE subjects. We need to consider whether they are essential or fun and good to have.

Have you noticed an increase in requirements for financial help?

There have been more requests from families who can no longer afford things for school.

By Matilda Brown, 9Y