The Stag, Issue 25

THE

STAG

Issue 25, Michaelmas Term 1, 2024

The Stag

CONTENTS PAGE College Events:

House Reports:

The Charity Colour Run - pg 1 The Charity Revue - pg 3 The Aquathlon - pg 9 Midlands Care Orphanage - pg 11 Cambridge choir trip - pg 13 Year 12 Dinner - pg 15 Be You - pg 16

Blackwater - pg 29 Craig - pg 30 Gonville - pg 31 Nugent - pg 32 Pennell - pg 33 Powell - pg 34 Reeves - pg 35 School - pg 36 Wargrave - pg 37 Watt - pg 39

International News: USA Election Report - pg 3 Kamala Unmasked - pg 5 France’s new Prime Minister - pg 6

Environment: Portugal in Flames - pg 7

Sport: The Paralympics - pg 8 Hockey season report - pg 17 125 years of College rugby - pg 18

Culture: 2024 MTV VMAs - pg 19 Film review: Beetlejuice 2 - pg 20 Is this art? - pg 21 Book review: Speak - pg 23 Design principles in fashion - pg 25 Caligula the Cruel - pg 26

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

This magazine is written for pupils by the pupils of Eastbourne College.

It is not an official College publication and is not meant to be an accurate reflection of every activity or event across the College, nor (obviously) is every pupil mentioned. The magazine is for the Eastbourne College community only, so please do not send it on to friends or family. We hope you enjoy reading our magazine!

COLLEGE EVENTS

The Stag

CHARITY COLOUR RUN

By Emily Finch The Watt House Colour Run was a huge success after a highly anticipated build up. With around 200 people on College Field, the afternoon was full of excitement as everyone was covered in paint!

After spending many weeks buying paint and equipment, making posters, contacting charities and baking cakes, the big day arrived with nearly 200 participants! The afternoon commenced with Daisy and Sophie leading a fun warm up in

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

very amusing banana costumes. This followed some intense rounds of the tug of war which parents definitely took seriously!

The run consisted of a few laps around College Field, making it past tyres, water guns and paint stations. You couldn’t escape the big water buckets, nor the very keen paint throwers! Finishing the event was the grand finale paint throw, covering everyone even more! Thanks to all the Watt House bakers, we had an elaborate array of cakes and refreshments and a face painting stall.

Page 1

COLLEGE EVENTS

The Stag

Proceeds are being donated to the JPK charity, who provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities in Eastbourne and surrounding areas. They are developing supported living accommodation and helping provide valuable life skills to develop independent living. The charity provides safe facilities and services for these people and, after having to close their café due to financial struggles because of Covid, they will benefit significantly from everyone’s donations. A small percentage will also go to Blue Skies Bursary. In total we made £1778.68 for a great cause.

We hope to make this an annual event and to see more of you there next year!

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 2

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The Stag

USA ELECTION REPORT

By Sam Watson The US Elections are one of the most significant political events to occur every four years, with many claiming that not only is this election set to be one of the most divisive and contested elections in the history of the USA but also that this election has the potential to impact the rest of the world.

of policy. His running mate is J.D. Vance, a former anti-Trump stallion who has previously referred to Trump as ‘America’s Hitler’. Vance is also known for being the author of the book Hillbilly Elegy in which he briefly describes an intense relationship he enjoyed with his sofa.

So, who are the candidates running for election? On the democrat ticket is incumbent Vice-President Kamala Harris and her running mate Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz. After sitting President Joseph Biden stood down from the race following a shocking debate performance against Donald Trump, Harris has stepped in and certainly stepped up. Since becoming the democrat nominee, the outlook of this election has changed from a decisive Trump victory to a closely contested battle. Tim Walz was announced as Harris's running mate in August of this year; he is known for his career as Governor of Minnesota and his previous jobs of primary school teacher and Command Sergeant Major in both the Nebraska and then Minnesota National Guard.

On the republican ticket is former President and convicted felon Donald J. Trump, known for being a billionaire, starring on the show The Apprentice and for being the oldest candidate to run in a presidential election.

Questions have risen over Trump’s capacity to lead as U.S. President given his advanced age and lack of direction in terms

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2024

Page 3

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

What does this election mean for Americans? For some Americans, the victor of this election could determine the future of American democracy. Last year in an interview Trump claimed that he’d only need to be ‘dictator for a day’ in order to accomplish his polices; furthermore, his running for president despite having incited rebellion against the government of the United States on January the 6th is questionable in itself. The fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Trump when acting as president had the right to enjoy immunity from his actions creates a dangerous precedent which steps away from the long American tradition of constitutional democracy and gives the former president a so-called ‘Right of Kings.’

For Americans on the ground, this election could mark the end of their reproductive freedoms, their right to marry those whom they choose and the right to determine one's own future and self-identity. For the world, this election has wider implications.

Donald Trump has made clear his lack of commitment to NATO and the protection of democracy in western nations. With a U.S. withdrawal from NATO, Europe and former U.S. partners in this scenario would need to provide for themselves and work together to counter the dangerous influences from Russia and China without U.S. backing.

The Stag

As seen in the previous election in 2020, U.S. politics has reached a breaking point with political violence becoming common place.

After the capital riots on January 6th and the two recent assassination attempts on Donald Trump's life, the world stage is beginning to sober up to the fragile state the United States is in. This year the Canadian military drew up plans for a ‘military intervention’ into the United States should this election cause the nation to descend into chaos. Media and film have also noticed this trend in U.S. politics and the release of the film Civil War, which depicts a second American civil war, has been received well but also with a fear that this could become a reality. Whilst the likelihood of civil war in America is slim, the fact remains that the party Donald J. Trump is representing has been or is being indoctrinated to follow his thoughts and ideas no matter how ridiculous or dangerous.

There is a glimmer of hope, however. Given the top performance of Kamala Harris in her recent debate against Trump as the U.S. public begins to sober up to the blatant lies of Trump such as Puerto Rican immigrants stealing and eating dogs, the chance of a democrat victory remains possible.

Regardless of who wins, and its impact on the world; this is undeniably one of the most important US elections in our history.

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2024

Page 4

The Stag

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

KAMALA UNMASKED: THE TRAILBLAZER SHAPING AMERICA’S FUTURE

By Esther Ellwood

Who is Kamala?

Kamala Devi Harris was born on October 20th, 1964, in Oakland, California. She is the daughter of two immigrants: her mother was a breast cancer researcher from India, her father a Jamaican economist. Evidently, her multi-cultural heritage influenced her strong commitment to social justice and civil rights.

Kamala earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics at Howard University, a college renowned as a historically black institution in Washington DC. Furthering this, she earned her Juris Doctor degree from Hastings College of the Law in California. She then went on to become the first female District Attorney in San Fransisco, reforming the criminal justice system and paving the way for future female leaders. Harris then again made history in 2010, when she became the first African American and Asian American Attorney General in California. This laid the groundwork for her future political ambitions.

What does Kamala stand for?

After becoming the second African American woman ever to serve in the senate, Harris focused on issues such as immigration reform, healthcare and civil rights. Her expertise in law and advocacy is exemplified in her incisive questioning during senate hearings, comically making several male members of the senate squirm under her unrelenting questioning.

Increasingly ambitious, Harris was selected as Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

the Democratic vice-presidential nominee alongside Joe Biden for the 2020 election. After winning this campaign, Harris was the first woman, the first black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to ever hold this office.

She focuses on several key areas in politics, including economic recovery, immigration reform, and advancing gender and racial equality. She also presents a firm stance towards female reproductive rights and access to healthcare, in contrast to her opposition, Donald Trump.

Her legacy Kamala Harris has become a hope for many from a place which seemed hopeless. Reaching milestone after milestone in U.S history, she represents broader strides towards diversity and inclusion in which has previously been a secluded and culturally-limited government.

She embodies resilience and determination, inspiring many with her story as a daughter of immigrants who broke multiple glass ceilings.

Her campaign to become president will be closely watched by all as she navigates the complexities of American politics and the inherent racism and misogyny that is still so prevalent in the U.S to this day. Harris stands as a powerful symbol of progress and possibility in a continually evolving political landscape.

Page 5

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The Stag

WHO IS FRANCE’S NEW PRIME MINISTER?

By Reuben Mace For ages, France’s parliament was in complete disarray with no clear leader in day-to-day affairs. This left Macron, concerned by the continual rise of the far right, with no choice but to eventually address the issue. With limited options and time running out, Macron chose not to go for someone at the forefront of French politics to lead his government, but rather a veteran of the trade with a vast methodical approach when tackling the wealth of experience, Michel Barnier. incredibly complex issue, participating in the Born on January 9th 1951, Michel Barnier grew negotiations from start to finish even despite up in the small town La Tronche at the foot of frequent changes from the British side.

Barnier was chosen as France’s new PM on the Alps not too far from the Italian border. the 5th of September, promising to stabilise An avid skier and hiker from an early age, French politics and fix the cracks in its Barnier’s political ideology is vehemently patriotic and conservative, similar to that of fractured parliament. Undoubtedly, France’s legendary French president and war hero precarious financial situation will also be an Charles de Gaulle. Right-leaning, he joined immense challenge for Barnier to overcome. the Unity for the Defence of the Republic Yet many in France don’t know what to expect from Barnier and his cabinet. The odds party as a teenager and hasn’t looked back are stacked Barnier as well, given that since, now belonging to that party’s France’s last prime minister lasted for less successor, the present-day Republicans. than a year despite his best efforts. Though Unlike many French leaders and politicians, he never went to the National French School nothing in France is certain right now, time will tell how successful Michel Barnier’s of Administration, yet still made history by premiership is going to be. Macron seems to becoming the youngest ever elected MP in France when he was 27. He has three children have requested Barnier’s services thinking that he is level-headed, rational and with his wife, lawyer Isabelle Altmayer, and currently resides in Paris. experienced, qualities which are greatly sought-after in an increasingly volatile and Previously selected as the chief negotiator for unstable world. Hence why at present, the Brexit on the EU’s behalf, Barnier was praised question of whether Macron has made the for his diligence, attention to detail and right call remains to be answered.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 6

ENVIRONMENT

The Stag

PORTUGAL IN FLAMES

By Anya Rai Whilst central Europe experienced significant flash flooding last month, Portugal experienced over 100 fires blaze through the country in just five days. The majority of the fires were concentrated in the north of the country but became so out of control that the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, was made to declare a state of calamity for the most affected areas. Some of these areas are the towns of Nelas and Alveiro, which are just south of the city of Porto. In Alveiro alone, during just two days the fires burnt over 24,710 acres of forest. Overall, it has been reported that over 175,444 acres have been burnt in total. Until now, Portugal had actually seen fewer wildfires this year compared to last, but the recent weather conditions of low humidity, strong winds and temperatures over 30° were the perfect storm to create these destructive and devastating fires.

However, these fires haven’t only devastated the wildlife of Portugal but also the communities of residents in the areas most affected. Many people in north and central Portugal had to be evacuated away from their homes, with over 400 homes affected by the flames. Yet, even worse, there has been around 120 people injured by the fires and seven people confirmed dead. Three of the deceased were firefighters who were working tirelessly in attempt to contain the path of the flames.

This year, though, the fire service were far more equipped than when Portugal experienced wildfires in 2017, which took 66 Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

lives. They were more prepared this September because since the 2017 fires they have increased their fire prevention budget by tenfold and doubled their firefighting budget, precautions which may save many more lives this time around.

There are still other concerns in the aftermath of these fires, one of these being the amount of smoke released. Since the fires, Portugal has recorded the highest number of total emissions in September in the last 22 years and it is estimated that these fires have released around 1.9 megatonnes of carbon. This is of particular concern to the authorities as poor air quality across a lot of the country can lead to some severe health issues, especially to the more vulnerable demographics of the population such as the elderly and the very young. This problem may not just be exclusive to Portugal as, due to the strong winds, there are predictions that the smoke will travel to the neighbouring countries of Spain and France. The consequences of these wildfires are already proving to be extensive.

Page 7

The Stag

SPORT

THE PARALYMPICS

By Daisy Dunkley The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was once again a hugely successful and historical event. This was the first year which had not been interrupted by covid as Tokyo 2020 ended up occurring in August 2021. China took home the most medals with a total of 220 but Great Britain came in second with 124, beating the United States by 19. Aside from our medal success, there were a lot of incredible and moving stories which occurred throughout the games.

One story in particular is the success for the Refugee Team in winning their first medal.

The team represents the 82 million people around the world who have been forced out of their country due to war or persecution.

12 million of these refugees have a disability and this year it was the largest ever Refugee Paralympic Team which consisted of eight athletes and one guide runner.

Zakia Khudadadi won the bronze medal for taekwondo in the women’s K44-47kg division. 25-year-old Zakia was born in the Herat Province in Afghanistan. She was inspired to start taekwondo by Rohullah Nikpai, Afghanistan’s first Olympic medallist and since then practised at home in her garden as, due to the political unrest, she couldn’t join a club. This was a huge step forward and a hugely memorable moment for the Refugee Paralympic Team.

The inspirational Ali Truwit won two silver medals in swimming, just one year after a shark attack. In April 2023, she went on a post-graduation trip to Turks and Caicos

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

and whilst snorkelling, was attacked by a shark and had to swim 50 to 75 yards back to the boat to save herself. The shark took off Ali’s foot at the ankle and she was sent to Miami hospital where she underwent two life-saving surgeries to fight infection. She was then sent to New York where her leg was amputated below the knee. Ali wanted to get back into the water after just one month, but it took a lot of strength as she very much still associated water and swimming with the attack. Ali then decided she wanted to swim in the Paralympic Games and got into contact with Jessica Long, who competed this year for the sixth time in the games. Ali ended up claiming silver in the S10 400m Para swimming final and set a new USA record of 4:31.39.

Ali Truwit won two silver medals in swimming just one year after a shark attack

The games in four years will be in LA, where hopefully the support will be even larger and we will see some of the athletes returning from Paris to compete once again.

Page 8

The Stag

COLLEGE EVENTS

THE AQUATHLON

By Poppy Campion On Monday the 9th of September 2024, over 100 Eastbourne College pupils took part in the the annual College Aquathlon, an iconic sporting event involving a 250 metre sea swim along the sea front, immediately followed by a 3 kilometre run to Holywell and back, finishing at the Wish Tower.

Thanks to the glorious weather, the competitors eagerly gathered on the beach by the bandstand in the sunshine and set off at the sound of the klaxon in the early hours of the afternoon. The experience of competing in an aquathlon is unique and very surreal, so I’ve recalled my personal experience of the race to use as a generalised description of how it feels to take part for anyone who has never participated in one before.

Your feet touch the ground for the first time and you feel a small jolt of relief before a surge of adrenaline rushes through you as you see and hear the cheering of the crowd.

You emerge from the waves and scramble up the beach, stumbling along the renowned blue carpet to your transition box before seconds later bolting off into an enthusiastic start to the run. A tingling sensation of pride simmers through you as you begin the run as the entire school watches and cheers you on, your friends and peers screaming their lungs out in encouragement.

Nothing beats powering through the water, hearing just the sounds of the sea sloshing in your ears and the rhythmic gasps of everyone around you as you all surge forwards in one big wave of arms and legs.

The occasional foot or hand being thrusted in your face followed by a panting “sorry!” in between strokes arguably makes the race all the more exhilarating. However, the best feeling is coming round the corner of that final groyne and sprinting into the shore, knowing the end of the first part of the race is in sight. It’s an undeniable challenge approaching the beach, trying to decide whether or not it’s shallow enough to stand and make a run for it, or whether a few final strokes will launch you effectively and gracefully (or maybe just effectively) right onto the shore.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 9

COLLEGE EVENTS

The Stag

The three kilometre run seems endless but you are offered continuous bouts of energy as teachers, members of the public and runners passing you the other way cheer you on or high five you for your admirable efforts. You reach Holywell and pace up the monstrous hill that marks your halfway point and you let your legs go free as you fly down the other side and begin the final stretch of the race.

You approach Bistro Pierre and hear the animated voices of onlookers cheer you on as you get closer to the end. As you dart around that final corner, your legs go numb as you sprint up that famous blue carpet to the finish line. Finally, you throw your arms in the air in triumph as you run through the iconic finish line ribbon before falling into the elated arms of friends hugging and congratulating you.

Your legs go numb as you sprint up that famous blue carpet to the finish line Prize-giving offered an opportunity for the winners of each category to be credited and awarded their medal. Special congratulations go to the following girls who won in their year groups: Lottie Hecks (Year 9), Isabelle Gorrill (Year 10), Bertie Cooke (Year 11), Poppy Campion (Year 12) and Sophie Fellows (Year 13). The following boys won in their year groups: James Fisher (Year 9), Jack Jordan (Year 10), William Fellows (Year 11), Nate Cahill (Year 12) and Charlie Evans-Shepherd (Year 13). The five competitors from St Andrews being James French, Max Smith, Connie Ash, Tom Price, Lottie Fellows and Teddy James also performed superbly in their first College sporting event.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 10

The Stag

COLLEGE EVENTS

OUR CHARITY Last Easter, Mr. Fellows led a group of seven students to South Africa.

During this time, we visited a local school and the Midlands Care Orphanage in Colenso, where we met the owner Noel and his team of amazing carers.

The Midlands Care Orphanage is home to 105 children who have been placed there for a majority of reasons. These range from parental loss or diseases such as AIDS, to fleeing domestic abuse and domestic violence from their own villages. The children range between the ages of 2 and 18 with some planning on attending university to train to be vets or accountants. Sadly, there was a new arrival when we visited; an abandoned eight-week old baby.

By Ella Banks

lots of supplies that our school had donated towards. We played with the children, danced and formed indescribable bonds. They took us into their homes, showing us where they slept and ate. Their living quarters were much like miniature boarding houses, containing six to eight children and a house mother who would care for them. We quickly learnt that that their head of education was actually an orphan there herself, showing the kind of community they are.

During this visit we were lucky enough to hold an assembly for the children, bringing Noel told us that the orphanage would be experiencing a serious cut in funding by the South African government. It costs £68,000 to feed all 105 children for a year and the government is cutting the equivalent to £40,000. This is a catastrophic blow to the orphanage and their only option is to reduce the amount of children that they can care for and support. This is why we knew that we had to act quickly to ensure that no child was left unsupported and unfed. The Midlands Care Orphanage is a Christian organisation, putting all their faith in God. They have never advertised or asked for help from anyone, even though they face such hardships.

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2024

Page 11

COLLEGE EVENTS

The orphanage only spends £800 per year to train and qualify one of their house mothers in child welfare and development.

There is a total of 35 house mothers who are essentially the role of our matrons. They are vital for the care and growth of the orphans.

The Stag

Each child requires a total of £200 a month to be cared for. Considering that in one charity lunch we can raise enough to nearly feed two children for an entire month it seems like a cause worth investing in to me.

Your money can keep this organisation running, allowing these children to get the opportunities they deserve, that they haven’t been provided with as we have. We have the ability to do something great, and with a whole year’s worth of funding we could end up being able to feed all 105 children without the orphanage having to cut numbers.

To give you an idea of what your money can do to help these innocent children: last Lent Term you raised around £1500 for the orphanage which we used to buy supplies.

This ranged from toys, games, food and essentials such as nappies and baby formula. We brought these with us on our trip and the orphanage was so grateful.

Even with a full trailer, we had £400 left which we used to set up an entire school with internet and access to two smart projector boards as well as a collection of laptops stored in a secured locker. Your money can go a long way and help those in need.

Summer Term 2 Edition | 2024

Page 12

The Stag

COLLEGE EVENTS

THE CHOIR GOES TO CAMBRIDGE

By Hanhan Zhu On Friday, 27th of September, the College choir and Rev. Merceron travelled up to St. John’s College, Cambridge and led the Evensong Service.

Since the very start of term, the Evensong at Cambridge trip has been something every choir member has been really looking forward to. After five weeks of intense rehearsals and fine tuning of hymns and various pieces of music, they finally made their journey to Cambridge.

The trip included not only the service in the evening but a tour around two prestigious colleges, Queens’ and St. John’s. At Queens’, the students were shown around by an OE, Natasha, who graduated three years ago and studied medieval history at Queens’. The sights of the campus including the Mathematical Bridge, the chapel and library of Queens’ College and the famous ‘Punting River’ were definitely worth the four hour bus journey!

ceilings. Singing in such a place is definitely a fascinating experience. The choir was joined in with by the Dean of St. John’s, Victoria Johnson, who led the responses by singing the cantor part. A special mention to Xanthe Lawson and Harry Shouksmith who then, with their incredible voices, sang the solo parts of Magnificat and Nunct Dimittis. Both of them were also part of the chamber choir which also included Alice Caroe, Ella Horne, Ian Tam and James Yee. Their extra time and dedication definitely paid off as their interweaving melody in Psalm 126 was sung so gracefully and with accord. The penultimate song which the choir sang for the evening was the anthem, ‘Stars’ composed by Ešenvalds. The piece was unique in that it was not accompanied by an organ but by wine glasses which created a magical and ethereal sound.

The chapel of St. John’s College continued to blow our minds with its acoustics. It brought back many memories for Mr Jordan as he told the histories and stories of this magnificent college. The chapel was filled with warm voices of the pupils as they resonated so beautifully under the high

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 13

COLLEGE EVENTS

As we embraced the holiness through silence and expressed our thoughts to God through prayers, music was sung to praise Him and bring us all together. The hymn ‘How Shall I Sing That Majesty’ brought the Evensong to a close as the choir and the congregation sang this well-known hymn together with power and confidence.

The Stag

vocal music and preparing for future events including the Confirmation, Remembrance and Advent Services…and of course Mr Jordan is always be on the look out for more talented young singers in the College to join us!

The trip, however, did not end there for the pupils as they waited for something they’ve been looking forward to for the whole day: supper at McDonalds. This always ends up to be the most memorable highlight of the day but, after a long day, it was definitely well deserved. The choir continues its journey exploring a variety of

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 14

The Stag

COLLEGE EVENTS

YEAR 12 DINNER

By Apple van der Meer

The year 12 dinner hosted on Saturday the 14th September served to mark the transition of pupils from the Lower School to be welcomed into the life of the Upper Sixth with more freedoms and responsibilities. It was also a chance for new and old pupils to talk to someone they might not have met before.

We were welcomed in with punch and the buzzing chatter of pupils. Boys were dressed in formal suits and girls in elegant dresses.

After digital camera photos and a chance to say hello to everyone, we found our seats. We were addressed by speeches from teachers welcoming us to the dinner and the Head Boy and Girl, Tilly and Noah setting the scene for the night. To begin, Mr Roberts asked everyone to stand up to play a game of heads or tails with Egor taking the win.

Tables were randomly selected to ensure that groups were mixed up to allow people to chat to others. The meal consisted of three courses: a starter salad, roast chicken and potatoes for main and a cheesecake for dessert. With wine on each table, we were given the opportunity to prepare for adulthood as we progress through the school.

After a successful and positive night of laughs and games, pupils headed back to house!

After dinner there were various games which got everyone involved such as logo guessing and anagrams on tables and a huge game of higher or lower where two pairs were asked to volunteer to come up and try their luck, hoping to win the prize of a box of After Eights chocolates. The music was then switched on as the awkward dancing began and more digital camera photos were taken.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 15

COLLEGE LIFE

BE YOU

The Stag

By Flo Garvey

Be You is a forum to discuss matters, meet like-minded people and make a positive change to the College community through awareness campaigns or a celebration of a protected characteristic. There are four groups who meet regularly, and if you are interested in joining any of them, please contact Mr Ahmed via Teams, or find him in B4 at breaktimes.

Neurodiversity and Disability – With more of a focus on neurodiversity, our mission is to support all pupils with learning and to allow them to feel comfortable and safe at school. We aim to come up with ways that we can make changes to the school so that it supports absolutely everyone, as well as highlighting the difficulties that some pupils and staff face because of neurodiversity. We want to raise awareness of the fact that there is no neurotypical: everyone has a challenge, and we want to help remove the stigma of that and encourage people to speak out about their experiences and offer ideas about how the school can improve.

This term, we are working on designing a safe quiet space in the Learning Enrichment Department that students will be able to access when they are feeling overwhelmed.

On top of this, we are working on creating a map of the school and creating clearer signs to make the campus more accessible to new pupils and staff.

Gender- BeYou Gender organise awareness campaigns for International Women’s Day. Last year, they created a slideshow, gave out stickers and organised an International Women’s Day themed lunch.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Race and Ethnicity – BeYou Race and Ethnicity spreads awareness about different cultures and helps to change policies within the school that might be restricting people from expressing their culture. It provides a safe space where people can discuss the diverse cultures within the school community and provides a platform to celebrate them through cultural events. This term, a trip is being organised to the Kola Nut Exhibition, which explores the entangled global histories, traditions and future innovations connected to the kola nut. This will be followed by a trip to China Town.

LGBTQ+- As transgender awareness week is coming up, BeYou LGBTQ+ are hoping to give out pronoun badges to celebrate diversity within the community and encourage people to use the correct pronouns. Later in the year, they are hoping to organise a pride lunch, as well as raising awareness of LGBTQIA+ history month in February. The group offers a general space to talk about issues in the school, including check-ins about whether anything has happened that has affected anyone and what can be done to improve the school and promote inclusivity.

Page 16

The Stag

SPORT

HOCKEY SEASON REPORT

By Sophie Fellows

It has been a very busy season for the XI girls hockey already, starting with the Nottingham pre-season tournament which took place over the first weekend back at school. The girls played a total of 7 matches: drew 4, lost 1 and won 2. It was a great opportunity for the new team to get some practice in together before the cup matches start and was a lot of fun along the way.

“The girls played some brilliant hockey and were great value too” – Hilly However, before the first cup match, the squad went to St George’s for a 6s tournament which is always a test for the legs before a cup match the next day! They ended up finishing 3rd in their pool on goal difference which caused them to narrowly lose out on going through to the cup. A super effort all round!

support which is always loved at a home game. The support continued as the next cup match v Reigate Grammar was home too a week later! It was a very intense match, it has to be said. The girls drew 2-2 at full time which meant the game was decided on penalty flicks. But not just normal flicks - sudden death flicks! Another 2-2 draw on the first best of 5 flicks went onto an Eastbourne win on 2-1 sudden death with Nelly and Sophie scoring the winning flicks. Special mentions to Bertie Cooke (GK) for saving not only 2 flicks during the game but 4 more to finish. What a game girls – well done!

Weekend fixtures for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th U14 and U15 squads against Roedean and Cranbrook have been going very nicely.

Brighton College is to come this weekend.

Fingers crossed for some good results and best of luck for the rest of the season, girls!

The first cup game was against Hurst but having drawn to play them in the first round of 2 different cups the girls did a 2 in 1 winner take all match – and they took a win!

0-0 at half time then led to an amazing goal from Rosie Hill in the second half setting us up for a 1-0 win at full time! It was a great match for both the players and the spectators with many of the parents, staff and rugby and hockey boys coming to

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 17

SPORT

The Stag

125 YEARS OF COLLEGE RUGBY

By Eli Clive

Eastbourne College is celebrating 125 years of rugby this year! 125 years is a huge milestone. In celebrating it, we honour all the teamwork, adversity, and muddy matches of the last 125 years.

In other sporting news, the basketball team beat Bedes in their first game of the season in a closely fought battle: 65-62. This was headlined by Daniel Li scoring 40 points.

That’s a whopping 60% of the team’s total points scored!

Over the years, the College rugby pitches have transcended sport. They have been a place where pupils have learned resilience, shown Eastbournian spirit, and made friends to last a lifetime. As we celebrate, it’s clear that rugby isn’t just a sport for us Eastbournians: it’s part of who we are. Here’s to the next 125 years!

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

The girls' 1sts in hockey beat Reigate Grammar School in a nail-biter, winning 6-5 on penalty flicks.

The golf team has just one league match left to play later this week against Ardingly. We wish them luck.

Page 18

The Stag

CULTURE

2024 MTV VMAS

By Esteban Boruel-Lopez After having changed its air date following the presidential election, the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards took place in New York on September 11th. These awards take place every year to celebrate and award the best in the music video scene.

Hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, the VMAs celebrated its 40th anniversary, including many performances in between awards from artists such as Eminem, Katy Perry, and Cyndi Lauper.

Other artists also had a great night. Sabrina Carpenter won Song of the Year for ‘Espresso’, beating Kendrick Lamar (‘Not Like Us’) and Beyonce (‘Texas Hold ‘Em’). As for Best New Artist, Chappell Roan took the prize home, controversially beating South African sensation Tyla. Nominated 7 times, SZA won Best R&B for her song ‘Snooze’, ahead of Alicia Keys and the aforementioned Tyla.

Taylor Swift made history this year. She cleaned up in most of the awards, winning seven awards out of twelve nominations.

Not only did she win the top prize of Video of the Year, for her song ‘Fortnight’, but she also won awards for Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, Best Direction, and Best Editing. All this led her to beating Beyoncé in becoming the most awarded artist in VMAs history.

Turning towards other cultures of music, Best Latin was won by Anitta with ‘Mil Veces’, in a stacked nominee list consisting of Peso Pluma, Bad Bunny, Karol G, and Shakira. Best Afrobeats was secured by Tyla’s ‘Water’, pipping to the post Chris Brown, Burna Boy, and Usher. Finally, Best K-Pop was attained by Lisa’s song ‘Rockstar’ ahead of BTS icon Jung Kook, concluding the critically acclaimed awards for this year.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 19

The Stag

CULTURE

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE

By Layla Cluskey El Jishi

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the highly anticipated sequel to Beetlejuice, released back in 1988. The film was definitely something, but it left me with mixed feelings about the concept of making sequels to films so far after their release. We saw a similar thing with Ghostbusters a few years ago, which also didn’t meet my expectations. The problem with this idea is that most of these sequels seem very unnecessary, as shown by Beetlejuice 2.

The performances from Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton certainly did hold up.

However, especially for Ryder’s character, Lydia, it did feel that key parts of her character’s essence were removed, especially regarding her life and career decisions. Moreover with Jena Ortega’s character, it felt like the all-familiar trope of the teen that hates their mother, leaving her with no room left for any other personality.

The film was certainly enjoyable for many fans of the franchise, with features from infamous characters from the original film, making the viewing experience more exciting. However, the characters felt very flat with a seemingly pointless plot. It felt to me, and the others I went with, that the film simply held no purpose.

The film overall holds up as a nice add-on for any fans of Tim Burton and Beetlejuice, but definitely felt like a pointless add-on to an already loveable movie.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 20

The Stag

ART

IS THIS ART?

By Flo Garvey Many people live under the misconception that art is only impressive when it is drawn, painted, or sculpted ‘realistically’ with their definition of ‘realistic’ meaning it looks true to life and emulates what they can see in front of them. However, this is a limited understanding of what constitutes ‘good’ art, as art can be realistic in the meaning and emotion that it conveys. Some art presents realistic, relatable feelings using a more conceptual approach, and artists have increasingly been pushing the boundaries of art, using different materials and processes to evoke specific emotions in the viewer. Art does not have to be realistic to resonate with us! In this article I will explore a piece of performance art which some people may initially dismiss as ‘easy to create’ and therefore not ‘proper’ art. I want to discuss the story behind this work, Blue

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Abstraction, exploring the symbolic meaning behind the performance and its importance as a work of art. Whilst it is not a realistic painting or drawing, I believe that this does not detract from its value, and in many ways contributes more to its meaning as a method for the artist to convey the trauma of conflict and present his emotions in an unconventional way.

Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa uses performance art to reflect on his experiences in Guatemala, before moving to Canada to escape the dangers of civil war there. The civil war was a violent, traumatic time not just for him but for the country as a whole, as 200,000 civilians were killed or disappeared. Ramírez-Figueroa explores this trauma through his work. His piece Blue Abstraction depicts a man standing

Page 21

ART

motionless on the side of a road, with the artist applying blue paint across the clothes and body of the man until he is fully covered. The figure represents the artist’s uncle, who was an activist in Guatemala and was murdered when Ramírez-Figueroa was six years old.

Art does not have to be realistic to resonate with us Despite the deeply personal nature of the performance, the lack of context and relaxed application of the paint turns it into a universal exploration of memory and loss.

The use of blue paint refers to the history of early black and white cinema, in which objects were covered in blue to turn them white and create the impression that they had disappeared. However, in this piece, the use of neon blue draws attention to the figure and makes it the focal point, which highlights rather than covers it, perhaps to draw attention to the memory of his uncle and the atrocities that were committed during the civil war. As Ramírez-Figueroa himself states: ‘Trauma is something that doesn’t fit into the narrative of your life: it

The Stag

stands out, and how the thing stands out, I expressed it through the neon blue.’

Therefore, the nature of the piece as a performance involving the artist himself gives it a poignant message of making invisible feelings visible. So, whilst some will dismiss Blue Abstraction as another piece of modern art, I believe that it is a great example of an artist presenting their feelings in a unique way, forcing people to think differently about the world around them and consider important issues in more purposeful ways.

Trauma is something that doesn’t fit into the narrative of your life: it stands out Blue Abstraction and other works by Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa are available to view at the Tate Modern.

Naufus Ramírez-Figueroa

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 22

CULTURE

The Stag

BOOK REVIEW: ‘SPEAK’

BY LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON

By Suki Sheraton

Warning: this book involves the theme of rape which can be distressing for some readers ‘Speak’ is a powerful, emotional young adult novel that follows the journey of Melinda, a teenager who was raped at a party by an older boy at her school, and how she copes with this trauma and is eventually empowered to fight back and speak out against her attacker. The importance of resilience and standing up for oneself is central to this book, and the reading experience is extremely emotive and inspirational as you witness the protagonist fight to overcome her trauma and courageously challenge society’s treatment of victims of sexual crime, especially in settings of mainly young people such as in her high school.

Melinda adopts selective mutism as she returns to school after the attack, as she is already ostracised from her peers due to calling the police on the party over the summer in an attempt to protect herself, and she’s also wary of their reaction if she did reveal her truth as she knows that she’d likely not be believed and instead be mistreated and shamed.

However, as she isolates herself from her friends and family, she manages to find

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

rare solace in her school art classes with Mr Freeman; he’s the only one of Melinda’s teachers who seems to believe in her abilities and encourage her, and each class she goes to allows her to retreat from inside her shell more and more as she works on art that expresses her overwhelming feelings.

Moreover, as the story progresses, readers witness Melinda’s recovery as she starts to become more social, finding a few genuine friends and concentrating on her studies and her passion for art. We see that the trauma that disrupted her life so significantly doesn’t define her as she works hard to recover.

Page 24

CULTURE

Towards the end of the book, as her attacker comes after her once more in a janitor’s closet after haunting her around school throughout the novel, Melinda decides to fight back, screaming for help and threatening him with a shard of glass held to his neck. Here we see her full empowerment as she faces down her fear and refuses to be silenced anymore. In the last scenes of the book, she finally breaks her silence, confiding in her close friend and art teacher about what happened to her so that she can access support and achieve justice for herself and others.

The Stag

I found the way this book was written really engaging and unique; it’s set up as a scriptstyle dialogue, so readers experience Melinda’s thoughts first-hand, helping them to understand her perspective and emphasise with her. Her story is likely resonated with by the worryingly high number of victims of sexual crime in the UK who are still in school, and after the upsetting, emotional experience of reading this book, I felt extremely proud of this character who managed to stand up for herself even as the odds were stacked against her.

In my opinion, this novel is beautifully and sensitively written, but also addresses a very prevalent issue in our society and is worth reading, especially as a member of a secondary school community. It’s an important reminder to handle situations such as this with empathy and support, as opposed to judgement, and as a school these values should be central to our values.

I felt extremely proud of this character who managed to stand up for herself even as the odds were stacked against her I was unable to put this book down, reading it within just a few days, and I cannot recommend it enough if you want to read something that helps to educate you on sensitive issues and change your perspectives around stigmatised topics within our society.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 25

The Stag

FASHION

DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN FASHION

By Mandy Luo

What is design and its principles in fashion?

The concept of design is when we use creativity to solve problems in the world and make the user’s interaction with the environment more natural and complete. In fashion, design can serve as a medium to achieve self-expression, while providing a better wearing experience for different occasions. It may be underestimated how much fashion design is seamlessly connected to our day-to-day lives, but many details of our clothes are a result of design. We tend to ignore the creative effort or thought process that leads up to the final garment.

There are many principles of fashion design that a designer may consider during their design development processes. Each principle has a specific role in creating an aesthetically pleasing garment to match the needs of the public. Balance is the principle that embodies visual weight of different parts of a garment whether it be sleeves, placement of buttons or patterns. Some haute couture designers may go for a more unbalanced approach as a way of creatively expressing their theme. Proportion is the visual size and scale of elements in a garment, and how they relate to each other.

For example, some clothes are scaled to flatter someone’s body shape, perhaps for formal dress occasions.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Emphasis is when a focal point or a specific element of the garment is being pronounced intentionally. This really catches the eye, and can be more visually successful as one will first observe the details of the highlighted focal point.

Finally, the contrast principle can come in handy if the designer wants to create a visually exciting piece. The visual anomaly can make the garment “pop” and stick to your memory better. Some elements can be more prominent as contrast creates this difference between them.

Page 23

CULTURE

The Stag

CALIGULA THE CRUEL

By Tian O’Leary In power between 37 A.D. to 41 A.D, it was a relief that Caligula was assassinated quickly.

His notoriety was not nobly earnt: he was pretty ugly, had no friends (so became obsessed with his horse) and, lo and behold, was justifiably branded a tyrant.

He was arguably Rome’s weirdest emperor after the absolute nutcases of Tiberius, who was a sucker for gossip, and Elagabalus, the infamous womaniser. It was a miracle he managed to bag four wives because his utter insanity and his fascination with torture and murder made him something of a liability. His debilitating mental condition may have been due to the permanent mental effects lingering after a terrible illness seven months after his accession.

Here are ten (not quite so fun) facts about Rome’s first absolutist: 1. His ability to seduce was so great it surpassed terrestrial levels Known for having conversations and arguments with the gods, Caligula must have been particularly bored on a usual insomnia-racked night, as he proclaimed to have seduced the moon, beckoning her to his bed. I doubt she was impressed.

2. He was practically in love with his horse Thankfully, he was assassinated before making his prized racehorse, Incitatus, whom he loved as much as he hated other people, a consul in the Roman Senate. Not only did Caligula invite him to dinner and drink to his health from golden cups, he ordered a marble, multi-room home

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

complete with furniture and slaves, who were to follow its every command, to be built for his horse to get comfortable in. If I were his wife, I’d be a little jealous.

3. He passed laws to forbid anyone from seeing his bald spot Not only was he temporarily plagued with a detrimental illness, but he was so sensitive about his baldness that he had to pass legislation forbidding anyone standing above him or looking down on him as he walked by.

4. Contrastingly, he was really hairy Where his head lacked hair, his body gained it. Being hairy was disapproved of in Rome, so his poor, oversensitive self made it illegal to discuss the ghastly topic of goats in his presence. He did love his face, though- he’d practice facial contortions in the mirror in order to become as terrifying to his subjects as possible.

Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (21-41 A.D.)

Page 26

CULTURE

5. He felt a bit bored, so he had random people eaten alive It was an ancient Roman tradition to line criminals up and to kill them in front of an audience for entertainment during the intermission of the games. Once, when there were no criminals to be executed, Caligula ordered his guards to chuck a random section of the audience into a ring of unleashed animals so he could watch them be devoured alive to cure his boredom.

6. To prove an astrologer wrong, he casually built a 3 mile floating bridge Before he became emperor, an astrologer named Thrasyllus predicted that Caligula had “no more chance of becoming emperor than of riding a horse across the Gulf of Baiae”. So, what did he do? He built a 3 mile floating bridge by lining up every single ship across the gulf and ordered slaves to lie across the ships so he could ride back and forth across the ships for two days straight to rub in how wrong the astrologer was.

The Stag 7. He was a huge party animal It was a well-known fact in ancient Rome that the emperor was a careless spendthrift.

He bathed in gold coins and wore the most lavish clothes; he drank pearls dissolved in vinegar and built two ‘pleasure palaces’ on Lake Nemi with floors paved with glass mosaics and filled with jewels galore. The sails were even made from purple silk, which was so rare only the emperor’s clothes were made of the material. However, what occurred within them was a little less glamorous: Caligula got a little ‘family friendly’ with his sisters, particularly Julia Drusilla, and would sleep with his noblemen’s wives before sitting his men down to give them a detailed review of how their wives were in bed.

“Go your way happy! Go your way rich!”

Caligula joyfully declared, excitedly, watching as his dejected men slowly placed rocks in their helmets

One of Caligula’s great Nemi ships. The largest was 240 feet in length, and the other was 230 feet, the largest ever recorded ships recovered from ancient times. Unfortunately, both were destroyed during WW2.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

8. He took his men out for a beach day to collect shells To satisfy his army, who were on the verge of revolt unhappy with their cut pay in their failing campaign against the Britons, Caligula took them to the English Channel and promised to repay them not with coins

Page 27

CULTURE

The Stag

or jewels, but with something even better… “spoils from the ocean”. In other words, rocks and shells 9. He was an excellent dancer Imagine you were a Roman consular shaken awake in the middle of the night and was told in a hushed urgent tone by the messenger that the emperor needed your immediate presence. As you stumble into his room, half-asleep and panicked, a million thoughts raced through your mind: were you to be tortured? Executed? Even worse, on shell collection duty again? Now imagine the relief and slight discomfort as you and your fellow terrified consulars silently watch your supposed great and glorious emperor dance in nothing but a robe. Then, he finishes and exits the room without saying a word. After, you shuffle back to your room and question your entire existence.

10. Ultimately, Caligula was a terrible person Tyrannical and absolute, Caligula was exceptionally cruel and was a sick enjoyer of suffering. Not only would he have laws written in tiny letters and hung high up so people were unknowingly breaking them and getting arrested, but he would order mass executions and parades of their dead bodies. He would shut granaries so his people starved to death, and forbid the audience watching the games on a hot day to leave the arena to he could watch them

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

A full-length statue of Caligula to which the people of Rome were expected to bow down and worship like a god. Flamingo and peacock sacrifices were also expected.

pass out from the heat. He’d attack priests, ordered the death of his wife, humiliated senators by forcing them to run alongside his carriage, prayed for a great catastrophe to hit Rome… Caligula was unforgivably cruel and a disgusting sadist with a god complex and a huge ego.

However, it is important to note that Caligula had not always been this way.

Initially, the Senate had welcomed the new, young, and forgiving Emperor who pardoned protesters unjustly imprisoned, but the detrimental mental effects after teetering on the brink of death left Caligula in an vicious state of mind shot through with disturbing perversion. His mental instability likely affected his rational thinking and perception of reality. His reign was cut short in 41 A.D by Chaerea, a distinguished member of the Praetorian Guard who Caligula had mocked ruthlessly for his effeminate voice. Chaerea stabbed his emperor 30 times and, unsurprisingly, was joined by several groups of conspirators waiting for his downfall.

Page 28

HOUSE REPORTS

The Stag

BLACKWATER HOUSE REPORT

By Anya Rai

All the girls in Blackwater have made a great start to the new school year! The new Year 9s have made a brilliant addition to the house and have had a busy start to Eastbourne College life from starting rehearsals for their Year 9 drama competition to arts and crafts in their first week of staying late. Their Year 10 buddies have been very helpful and supportive whilst making sure the Year 9 settle into their new school.

The sixth formers have also had a busy start to the new school year, with the Year 12s attending their year group dinner on the 14th of September. They all had a great time and enjoyed the evening. The Year 13s have also been adjusting to their new roles as house prefects, which they had a short practice in at the end of the previous school year, having now successfully chosen a house song and are starting to help organise our upcoming house review on October 12th.

We have also had our first major house event: the school Aquathlon! We saw many Blackwater girls across all years participate.

This lead to a healthy four medals come back to house, and a special congratulations to B-Belle for winning in the Year 10 category. However, this was very much a whole house event with loads of girls coming to support with signs, pom poms and Blackwater hi-vis jackets.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 29

HOUSE REPORTS

The Stag

CRAIG HOUSE REPORT

By Dan Clark As school starts again after the summer holidays, pupils in Craig have already started to make the most of College life.

This best presented itself in the form of house rugby, where an impressive performance by the Craig players saw Craig come second, with just one try behind Wargrave. This included Craig coming runners up in both the Year 11 and Year 10 sections. Furthermore, the Aquathlon saw not only impressive results for Craig but also a great house spirit. In the Years 9-10 category, three Cronkites found the top ten, with Jack Jordan coming in second place. Similarly, in Year 11, Harry Jordan came second and, in the Seniors, Nate Cahill won overall by an impressive margin, whilst Sam Bordas came in third. We also congratulate Nate on his performance in the national swimming heats, where he finished first.

Three Craig pupils took part in the hardfought rugby match on College Field, and earlier in the year Ollie Jones made his First XVI debut at the Churcher’s pre-season festival.

House song rehearsals are about to commence shortly, with the final song selection process taking place.

The Year 9s are busy rehearsing for their House Drama competition, which for this year is a modern rendition of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 30

HOUSE REPORTS

GONVILLE HOUSE REVIEW

The Stag

By Harry Doe

Gonvilians have come back from the summer hitting the ground running, with pupils of all year groups getting stuck into activities and house competitions. Gonville had an impressively high number of pupils in the Aquathlon who all made the house very proud. Special congratulations goes to Henry Cooke and Herbert Philips both in Year 9 who came second as they sped through the water, land and finish line. The Year 9s also took part in house rugby where they came an astonishing first place.

Gonville’s performance in the House Olympics took everyone by storm as the Year 12s dominated in the netball section, not suffering a single loss or even conceding a single point. The Year 9s showed off their strength in the tug of war as they finished undefeated in their year group.

Lots has been happening sports wise. Joshua Yip who took place in the swim team last Thursday represented not only Gonville but the whole school. Another mention goes to Daniel Li who scored an astonishing 40 points for the basketball 1st against Bedes.

Gonville boys have also enjoyed College social events. Barbecues for the boarding houses took place, with Gonville Year 9s hosting. There was also a Year 12 dinner that was mix of excellent food and equally good music. Gonvilians also enjoyed a trip to Bewl Water where all year groups had a fun and exhilarating day together as a house.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 31

HOUSE REPORTS

The Stag

NUGENT HOUSE REPORT

By Ava Najafi Nugent has made a great start to the first term of the school year, welcoming a lot of new Year 9 and international pupils with fun events like the House BBQ, Year 9 drama and game evenings.

Starting with the Nugent House BBQ on the second weekend back, we enjoyed an evening full of music, fun games, and dancing, bringing everyone together. The joyful atmosphere created a sense of unity and belonging, especially for our new people, allowing them to get to know each other and settle in comfortably.

Moreover, last Sunday was yet another fantastic evening with our resident tutor and matron organising a delightful gathering for students from different years.

The mood was lively as they arranged a series of amusing games for us to enjoy in teams. These events not only provided a fun break from our academic routines but also

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

strengthened the bond within our house community.

Moving on, the upcoming Year 9 drama house performance of Little Red Riding Hood, scheduled for the 21st of November is creating significant anticipation. With roles assigned and the cast members currently practising their lines, the excitement and commitment to the production are tangible.

Nugent is all set out for the upcoming house song competition, with a strong focus on maintaining our winning streak from last year’s outstanding performance of Super Trouper by ABBA. The excitement surrounding the upcoming competition is building, and Nugent’s efforts with regular practices already starting every week are sure to make this year’s performance a memorable one.

Page 32

The Stag

HOUSE REPORTS

PENNELL HOUSE REPORT

By Emmanuel Erebor and Owen Lee

As we step into this exciting new school year, we’re thrilled to welcome everyone back to Pennell House. Whether you are returning to familiar faces or joining us for the very first time, this year promises to be filled with opportunities, growth, and unforgettable experiences.

The Pennellians put on an incredible show at the Aquathlon, honourable mentions go to: Harris Kinniburgh Yr 10, Toby Cass-Muir Yr 9, Hugo Hurst Yr 9, Tom Stoner Yr 11, Luca Bissoli Yr 11, Rob Cain Yr 12, Archie Jones Yr 13, Ross Seavill Yr 13, Barney Revill Yr 13, Fergus Lawson Johnston Yr 13, Max Harrison Yr 13, Tom Schoorlemmer Yr 13, and thanks to Charlie Jones for bringing the house spirit.

Together, they dominated the event, turning heads and making sure everyone knew that Pennellians were a force to be reckoned with.

Pennell House showcased remarkable unity in House Rugby, with everyone either taking

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

part on the field or cheering from the sidelines. Congratulations to the Sixth Form boys for securing third place and also to everyone who gave it their all.

A big congratulations also goes to the first and second rugby teams who managed to nail down a solid victory against Sutton Valence School.

Page 33

The Stag

HOUSE REPORTS

POWELL HOUSE REPORT

By Esteban Boruel-Lopez

With the start of the academic year having dawned, Powellians have adjusted very well to the return back to the College, throwing themselves at each and every opportunity.

On the 9th of September, Powell saw lots of success in the Inter-House Aquathlon, with Charlie Evans Shepherd (Yr 13) coming second in the seniors' bracket, Ethan Symonds (Yr 10) coming 3rd in the Year 10 bracket, and James Fisher (Yr 9) placing 1st for the Year 9s. Congratulations to all the boys who took part in this impressive endurance test.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

On the Saturday of that same week, the boys took part in the Inter-House Rugby, with great effort shown throughout. Praise especially goes towards the senior boys team, spearheaded by 1st XI player Dan Abourous (Yr 12) and Saturday’s captain Jossi Pears (Yr 13), for coming second.

Finally, on the 14th, the Year 12s enjoyed their Lower Sixth Dinner, giving them the chance to have a break from academic life and enjoy a delicious meal with friends

Page 34

The Stag

HOUSE REPORTS

REEVES HOUSE REPORT

By Reuben Mace

As is often the case in Reeves, the start of the long marathon that is the Michaelmas Term has been met with a positive attitude and plenty of hard work, which has been an important characteristic of the house for so long. Also, the new cohort of Year 9s have been quickly finding their feet far more smoothly than last year’s infamous lot! This has been possible thanks to tireless efforts from the team of house prefects led by the Head of House, Finlay Eadie.

The Year 12s also had a social evening, which included a three-course meal as well as a significant amount of dancing and games to go alongside it. The event is very popular with the lower sixth every year, and this year it was no different. It also appears that, as well as making a black market in house through the sale of honey from the senior galley, they are taking to A levels like ducks to water.

The first major highlight of the year was the Aquathlon, in which the house achieved noteworthy success. In particular, Will Fellows took home gold in the Year 11 boys event, and Elliot Hibbert won bronze in the same category. Other sporting highlights include Eddie Anderson, Seb Pearson and Rowan Bell all making appearances for the 1st XV Rugby in a win over Sutton Valence, with Rowan making his debut in Year 12.

Noah Manos netted an astounding 6 times for the 1st XI Football in an impressive 9-0 victory last week.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 35

The Stag

HOUSE REPORTS

SCHOOL HOUSE REPORT

By Ariane Dodard

These first weeks backs have been very eventful in school as we welcomed all the new girls and started off the year with the boarders Olympics and the charity shopping challenge with an evening of fun in our families. Miss Gordon organised a sunrise walk where a few girls walked along the seafront as the sun came up.

The new Year 9s have settled in amazingly and have gotten know their Year 10 buddies.

They’ve also been working very hard for the Year 9 Drama. The older girls have had busy first weeks back, with the Year 12s having a great time at the Year 12 Dinner and the Year 13s settling into their new house roles.

Miss Whiddett and our matron Katie have now come back part time and all the girls have been taking advantage of all the baby cuddles received during roll calls.

All the girls have been working very hard in preparation for our house revue and house song, which have been great ways to bring the house together.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 36

The Stag

COLLEGE LIFE

WARGRAVE HOUSE REPORT

By Sam Watson

Wargrave House has completely outdone itself in its recent house revue which took place on Saturday of last week. Mr Lawson himself claimed that it was the best Wargrave House production he has ever seen and, from an anonymous staff member not affiliated with Wargrave, it seems that other houses are starting to feel the heat as their revues approach.

The Wargrave House Revue started with the Year 9 sketch, which contained an amazing rendition of the song Let It Go and other funny acts. A huge thank you goes to all of Year 9 for putting in the effort with the sketch and a massive thank you to Mr Roberts for organising the sketch.

The Year 12 dance this year was even better than last with some amazing performers; a special shout out goes to Egor for dancing the prisiadka (присядка) and to all the other Year 12 performers who made this dance routine come alive.

bassist Finlay Bulkeley, drummer James Ballantyne-Grant, celloist Christoph Freytag and yours truly on the piano.

A special thanks has to be given to our amazing compères, Paddy Cooper, Theo Cruttenden and Ed Nolan. Their ability to think on the spot and their dedication in ensuring this house concert came together is nothing short of remarkable. Another special thanks to William Coleman for editing the Year 13 video and to Marcus Ho for editing the Year 11 video.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who participated in our house revue who I have not previously mentioned and wish every other house the best of luck in their house revues: they’re going to need a lot of it if they have any hope of beating us.

“The best Wargrave House production Mr Lawson has ever seen” Another quality act of the Wargrave House Revue was the house band which was hopping on the Oasis revival train with their cover of Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis.

A special thank you goes to our singer Ian Tam, our guitarists Ed Nolan and Ben Perry, Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 37

COLLEGE LIFE

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

The Stag

Page 38

HOUSE REPORTS

The Stag

WATT HOUSE REPORT

by Flo Garvey It has been a fantastic start to the year for Watt House. The new pupils have all settled seamlessly into the house community, with new Year 9 pupils enjoying a vast array of activities in their first week, from mug cake making and bracelet making to Just Dance, alongside their preparations for the Year 9 Drama led by directors Poppy and Lucy. We have also been utilising Friday tutor time to take part in fun activities in family groups, such as quizzes and a trip to the beach for ice cream.

Watt have also enjoyed sporting success, as ten girls competed in the inter-house Aquathlon earlier in the term, with Poppy, Sophie, Hattie, Georgie and Lottie all making it to the podium. Well done to everyone involved!

The highlight of this term so far was definitely the Colour Run, a fantastic and highly anticipated event involving 200 people being splattered with paint on College Field, managing to raise £1778.68 for the JPK project, with some of the money also being donated to the Blue Sky Bursaries appeal. We are all very grateful to everyone who came to support the event.

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

Page 39

The Stag

HOROSCOPES

By Mystic Maudi Pisces

Aquarius

Aries

Taurus

(Feb 19th- March20th) (March 21st-April 19th)

(April 20th-May 20th)

Stay on top of your tasks before they get out of hand

Don’t get overwhelmed, by what is going on at hand! Keep calm and you will thrive

You will be prioritising the people you care about most this week

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

(May 21st - June 20th)

(June 21st - July 22nd)

(July 23rd - Aug 22nd)

(Aug 23rd-Sep 22nd)

Your thoughts might be pulled to the past today

Your close relationships will be changing

Your resented troubles will vanish quickly and smoothly

You may be in some tricky situations and changes will be happening swiftly

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

(Oct 23rd - Nov 21st)

(Nov 22nd - Dec 21st)

(Dec 22nd-Jan 19th

Make sure to look out for all those who matter to you!

Don’t wait to resolve your issues; go in head first

Make that first move!

(Jan 20th - Feb 18th)

(Sep 23rd - Oct 22nd) Make sure to seize all opportunities coming your way!

Michaelmas Term 1 Edition | 2024

You will be opening up in your close relationships this week

Page 41