Wally Street Journal Spring Edition 2024

WALLY STREET JOURNAL

AN EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTING WALLY GIRLS’ TALENT

THE DEMISE OF MOTHER EARTH | LONDONS THEFT ISSUE | HOW IS SADNESS SIGNIFICANT TO US? | FIT OR FAT?: THE OBESITY PANDEMIC

Photography by Tanesha Prasad

WALLY STREET JOURNAL

Editors! MEETTHE

Tanesha Prasad

HiWallyGirls!MynameisTaneshaandI’mexcitedto bringyouthisyear’sWallyStreetJournal Ilook forwardtoreadingallyoursubmissionsandlearning aboutyourthoughtsontheworld!

Natsai Jambwa

Hello!I’mNatsaiandIcan’twaitforyoualltoreadthe veryfirsteditionofthisyear Setasidesometimeto fullyimmerseyourselfinourtalentedsubmissions. Youwon’tregretit!

Safeerah Ahmed

Hi!I’mthrilledtobeapartoftheWSJteam Weare dedicatedtoshowcasingyourboundlesspotential! Havefunreading:)

Mary Antony Joseph

I’mMaryandIamexcitedtobeapartofthe WSJteamandihopeyouhaveagreattime readingthroughallthesubmissions.Keep youreyeoutforfuturenewsletters!

LONDON’S Theft Issue

Princess Kwade, Y11

It is a commonly known fact that theft has been a huge issue for people in urban areas, specifically tourists in big cities and commuters in tube stations. Figures show that this issue has doubled in the past year, especially in London’s capital, but recent stories have also shown that the problem has begun to grow within the boroughs too, with the verb “mugged” used to summarise the event.

For example- a student whom I had interviewed had been pickpocketed in Uniqlo at one of the Oxford Street branches. Her experience left her “in tears” when she realised that the lady who had been shadowing her around the store had managed to sneak her fingers into her pockets.

Another act of theft, again sighted by a teen girl, took place on the 157 bus towards Crystal Palace between the hours of 3 pm and 4 pm. It was speculated that a young man was “mugged” and was pinpointed as a target. The boy was supposedly left “smiling in shock”, unable to process his phone being snatched.

Another witness tried to intervene but the phone snatcher escaped down the stairs swiftly.

The police have also confirmed that there’s been a rise in street robberies around the Purley area, with a John Fisher student also being subject to these crimes. An argument that arises from these stories is the finances on both sides of the story. The victim on the 157 was lucky enough to get a replacement phone as her stolen phone had been in her possession for many years and was an older model. However, not everyone would be this fortunate. Pickpockets often sell phones and so stolen devices tend to be traced to countries such as China and Nigeria; we can then conclude from this information that thieves, commit theft for financial gain but their victims may not always be as financially sound as they may assume. These events also trigger conversations on how we can protect ourselves from theft. One way to do this is by wearing garments with secure pockets, or bags with

WALLY STREET JOURNAL

compartmentswhicharedifficulttoaccess;theharderyoumakeitforpickpockets,theless likelyyouaretobeatarget.Thisyear,manytextilestudentsaredesigningtheft-proof clothingfortheirGCSENEAswithinnovativelyhiddenpockets.Anotherwaytoprotect yourselfisbyholdingbagsclosetoyou,withthefasteningfacingtowardsyouandmost importantly,lookingalertandawareofyoursurroundingswardsoffpickpockets.

HaaniyaShafi

9Pankhurst

The Demise of Mother Earth

Thickblacksmogcascadesdownfrom chimneys, Andchokespassersbyastheytrudgedown streets, Oppressedbytheswelteringheat. Thegovernmentwatchesfromtheirhigh pedestal, Countingtheirmoneymadefromthedying earth, Theyonlyconsiderchangeifithas monetaryworth.

Meetingatsummits, Andpromisestophaseout, Fossilfuelscauseheatwavesand devastatingdroughts.

WhyshouldI,achild,havetopleadformy generation’sfuture, It’sadisgrace, Thatpoliticianscaresolittleaboutthe humanrace.

Goonpoliticians,hideyourfaceandavert yourgaze, Awayfromthepeopledyinginfrontofyou. Thepeoplewhoyouliedto, Towhomyoupromisedabetterearthfor themtoinherit, Butinstead,theyreceiveanearththatwill soonperish.

“They only consider change if it has monetary worth.”

ASURVIVOR

Down in the meadows, resided perplexing life along the aloesDeep in the bewildering forest of its own, resided the ghastly demon on its unmerited throne.

As poignant evocative memories ran through one's mind, the fiend slaughtered every single burned soul: Posed in one's eyes to malign, was there never to be seen an open knoll,

Trotting on the ashes of joviality, came in the king of brutality

Leaving not a single breath, drew upon the clouds of death

The monstrosity once again rose, in a peaceful village no one knows;

Life was once again a striver, up until there was no survivor.

MugdhaDeshpande 8Bronte.

Gua Gua He, 9 Johnson

Imagination

A poem by Eshika Manu, Y7

Imagination is the thing with a horn, Millions of creations when someone is born.

It’s the magic that governs our minds, The qualities that make us unique from other kinds.

Butawhisperofevilcanabolishthisquality, So,wecanchoosetoconquerthisdevil: Ourspiralofcreativitycanmakefantasticalcreatures. Dragonsandgriffinssoaringthroughtheair, Fairiesandelveslivinginthemostmysticalmatter, Butitisalluptous.

Imaginationisthethingwithahorn, Creativitybeingitswingswhenitwasborn. Asoul,yearningformeaning, Thehornandthewingsarecarefullyintervening. Bringingthebarrensurroundings, Toaparadiseendlesslygrowing.

Imaginationisthethingwithahorn, Takinghopefulmindstoitstherapy.

Ignitingtheyoungfromtheforlorn, Thetwinstakingonchallengesmercilessly.

Imaginationisthethingwithahorn, Creativitybeingitswingswhenitwasborn.

JAEDAHBAODIY10 Coriaceous

Coriaceous - resembling or having the texture of leather.

Her heart was thick and sturdy, bound by stout thread, fissured, worn and earthy. the stitches ran across the head, the spindly and the girthy.

inside her encased heart

Was a frail home with a frail window

it made her cold but also smart

It made her safe but also mellow

For how could she,

She who sheathed her fragility in planes of leather

How could she really be someone pleased by the weather?

How could she be pleased by the weather

Or pleased by decent food

Or pleased from a nice walk

Or pleased from a good grade

Or pleased from a promotion?

Isn't that a life worthy of pity

Someone who's heart is so cold

So full of judgement and so gritty that it cannot see the world for its gold?

But in some way, it made her warm, Warm like being scalded by hot stones

In a long and frosty winter storm

While rejoicing at the heat blister; To ignore the cold seeping into her bones

Gua Gua He 9 Johnson

SHOULD THE NHS BE PRIVATISED?

FAREEHA ISLAM 12JSR

By the end of World War II, the concept of an integrated, statefunded hospital service had become established and, in 1948, the NHS was designed to guarantee levels of treatment. However, as the time went on problems with the NHS began to unfold. Chronic understaffing. 46 percent less access to treatment

Low standards of cleanliness

Excruciating waiting times. These are some of the many problems in which a share of individuals stated in which were the biggest facing problems facing the NHS in Britain 2023. After having this many issues, it begs the question on whether we should we privatize the healthcare system in the UK in order to have a better high-quality state of care during desperate times.

A GREAT NHS?

Privatizing the health care system may lead to more effective treatment, as if the pay increases for doctors, nurses, physicians, etc there may be more people finding themselves wanting to take the job Additionally, more money means it can be put to maintenance which leads to a cleanly environment which again attracts more workers and overall can deal with the problem of shortage of staff With the increase of staff, more patients will be seen and consequently quicker

The demand for healthcare and ageing population is negatively correlating with the ability of the NHS which may be the reason why current US child and adult morality rate are 46 percent and 19 percent higher than Britain.

diagnosis and quicker treatment, overall leading to a better standard of care. In fact, many have adopted the belief that care provided by private sector will have better effects in the future. Several people would argue that privatisation gives people greater choice. For example, things like transplant lists for kidneys and waiting for donors can take up to 3 to 5 years and sometimes even after waiting it still may not be a match. Having the choice to buy a kidney for example could give more people the chance to survive

In Iran (the only place where marketing human organs is legal) there is a very short waitlist for kidneys and much fewer people die due to the lack of finding donors. To add patients also have a choice in which doctor is able to treat them but also, have a choice of when they want to be seen in the private hospitals meaning more convenience as a patient can be seen on their own free time causing less disruption to their routine or schedule. Having no restrictions on visiting hours and getting to choose what kind of rooms to get into, the ability to have free will on all these different options allows patients to feel at ease and in control about their own health which can be extremely comforting.

But just how unsuccessful actually is the NHS? Despite all harsh conditions, the medical team at the hospital try to see as many patients as they can, and the most urgent ones are prioritised to urgent care The national target for A&E waiting times, taken from the NHS Mandate, is a pledge to treat and admit, transfer or discharge a patient from A&E within 4 hours of arrival, unless extremely severe which is not extremely bad as even in America somewhere with private health care they still have waiting times in the emergency department has often waiting times of up to six hours In terms of the maternity ward there were 578,562 deliveries during 2021-22 and over 10 million operations are performed each

year in E operating seem to b the NH relatively privatiza ethically aspects o that by further p live a mo everyone healthcar even mor Denying life simp money t seen as primarily of the compreh taxation, the time William B Privatizin from the will not who nee can affor example popular b not rec services. much le time in h point tha be better

That bein that priv be the allowing chance wealth create m there alr flaws an despite NHS stil successfu some s Health is is unpred no matte public he

FARE

HOW IS SADNESS SIGNIFICANT TO US?

Sadness is an emotion caused by loss or a particular distressing event that occurs For instance, if you break up with your best friend, most people will experience sadness, as something upsetting has happened. When we feel sadness, we often believe this is an abysmal emotion that should be eradicated forever. But, is this true? Can sadness be an advantage in our lives too?

I think that the answer is... YES!!! Sadness does not always have to be depicted as a horrible thing, it can be a stepping stone to bring boldness, braery and strength in us –something which other emotions are weaker at doing If I experience sadness, and later on my friend experiences sadness, I can relate my

earlier problem and aid her This can build trust and a stronger string between the two of you However, you are probably thinking; if I had no sadness and just joy in my life, there would be no need for consolation and bad things to occur?

Well, the answer to that is yes, the world seems more epic with just happiness but actually the more you seem to understand each other and help them through thick and thin, the more they will care for you and the stronger your bond would be. Therefore, I feel that sadness is not always a bad thing and can help you in your life with your personality, the way you perceive things (in a positive way) and your inner soul

Anaisa Jain 7 Sharman

Aanya

FIT OR FAT?

The obesity pandemic

Nature vs nurture: an endless debate

Simply put, obesity is an excess of fat stored in the body, especially when this fat is stored around the abdomen. The body stores energy as fat since it is the most energydense food component( at 9 kcal/g) and so the most efficient Originally, storing fat in this way was an essential survival mechanism against starvation. Still, nowadays, 68% of UK adults are either overweight or obese, showing us we need to make a widespread change. However, to treat obesity, we first need to understand what causes it, and many doctors and

scientists find it hard to narrow it down to a single reason. Obesity is largely accepted as a multifactorial disease; it is caused by several factors that all contribute to an individual’s likelihood of becoming obese. One side of the argument talks from a

natural perspective; that obesity is due to hereditary factors passed down at birth, meaning we have a genetic predisposition to obesity. Obesity is sorted into two types: common, widespread polygenic obesity and rare, early onset monogenic

LinegraphshowsobesityrateshaveslightlyrisenforYear6(23%),stayedthesameforReception(10%)

Victoria Dimitrova

WALLY STREET JOURNAL

The basics of weight

Our bodies have formulated a well-crafted system to make sure we remain within a roughly constant weight range. Usually, we should be eating roughly the same number of calories we burn, to maintain our weight. However, if we reduce or increase the number of calories eaten, then the body will implement systems to return our weight back to normal. This is why diets so often fail! It is not a lack of self-resolve, but a system that we have had for thousands of years! Make fresh produce cheaper and more readily available. Since people in deprived communities are more likely to be overweight/ obese, there should be government schemes to ensure everybody has access to healthy, nutrient-rich food.

obesity, and it is the latter that is thought to be mainly due to genetics. This has been shown in research into obesity, for example, the hormone leptin has been found to ’switch off hunger’ and even helped two obese twins reduce their appetite and lose weight,suggesting it is a genetic defect that caused their obesity. Yet, when this was applied to a wider sample, the effects diminished, highlighting that other factors also come into play

These other factors make up the nurture argument, and include environment, lifestyle choices, cultural environment and social choices Firstly, the environment and culture you are in influences the availability, type, and quantity of food it is deemed acceptable to eat, influencing energy intake For example, in the USA- where obesity is highest- they have larger portion sizes, increasing energy intake. Furthermore,

people’s individual lifestyle choices such as level of physical activity, diet and alcohol use will also affect their energy balance. Lastly, social trends and advertisers can promote a certain lifestyle, encouraging people to adopt these methods. Obese people also undergo a lot of scrutiny from society They are less likely to receive a job, even if it is one where they are not face-to-face with people. They receive prejudice in many

aspects of life. Furthermore, overweight people are 70% more likely to get a mental disorder, due to distorted perceptions of their weight Lastly, there is also a strain on the NHS In 2017, the cost of treating problems due to obesity was £6 billion. This could be spent on other important issues!

We all hold responsibility in helping to combat obesity.

A Dream’s Game

ABIGAILDO

The first thing I must ask is how I got here. I could have sworn I was in bed a minute ago. Is this a dream? I can feel everything around me: I'm freezing (maybe because I am stuck in a blizzard right now) and my arm has fallen asleep

The pine trees stand looming over me, and they are the only thing I can see is this blizzard- other than the fact that I'm in my pajamas. They shine an unnatural deep emerald green; it’s so shiny that it seems to glow. The chilling wind bites through my skin and acts like how it feels: cold; it seems to make a face at me, a face that sends shivers down your spine (if you haven't already gotten enough) Even though I can’t see in this snowstorm, I can tell it is dark, especially with the gloomy yet mysterious atmosphere I must be in another realm: you're not going to find things like that on Earth.

“I see you have arrived, Alina.” A cool but cold voice greets me out of nowhere, sending another chill down my spine. It sounds feminine so I think it may belong to a female of some sort.

“Who are-” I begin before being interrupted by the voice

“No questions Come with me ”

I’m sure she just dragged me along with her I then find myself in a room resembling a grand hall but with objects indescribable: it was nothing I've ever seen before!

“YELLOW!” she bellows, and I am put under a yellow banner. A creature resembling a tiki stares at me. “That,” the voice says, “is your mascot ”

I look at my teammates: I’ve managed to figure out this was a team game We were in a team of three However, I recognize someone: Kai We went to the same school and being put together (seeing that noone else knew each other) seemed to have been an incredibly lucky coincidence. We just stare at each other with our mouths agape in silence until the other boy in our team opens his mouth to speak, but then closes it again

“What’s your name?” I ask, out of curiosity. He does not reply. Kai burst out, “He’s either mute or has social anxiety.” Kai was like that: chaotic, mean and unpredictable but he had a good sense of humour and managed to get along with everyone

“One, that's extremely random And two, that is just disrespectful!” I exclaim in the boy’s defence.

“His name is Max. Question answered,” the voice says. This time, it has a twinge of annoyance to it.

“Thank you,” replies my now-shaky voice

Two thunder-volume claps silence the children

“Good night to you all ” I think saying good night to someone is a normal greeting here.

“This is a dream game. It happens all the time. Right now, your body is in your bed, but your mind is here. Yes, you are all not actually YOU You are all put into teams and compete in games, and only one team can make it out alive ”

This sounds horrifying.

“Lose this game, die. Yes. You won’t wake up. Simple!” She says it

withatoneofsatisfaction.

Wealllookterrified.IknowIam.

“Iwilltellyoutheruleswhenwestartthegames.Iwillgiveyousometimetotalkwiththesepeople,maketactics, thingslikethat ”

Thevoicehasmadeherselfvisible Shelooksmassiveandextremelypowerful,givingafieryredglow (unfortunatelyitdidnotmaketheroomanywarmer)

“Thesearemysonsbytheway.”Threesmallerversionsofherfloatinfrontofherlikehowyouwouldimagine ghostswould.

Ihaveneverheardanythinglouderthanwhatthecommotioninthehallmade.Notevenbreakwasthisloud.There areonlytwelvepeopleinhere(ifyoudon’tcountthevoiceandherthreesons)

“SILENCE!Thegameshavenowbegun ”

Magic exists in our universe, Magic exists in our universe, Though unforeseen or acknowledged, Though unforeseen or acknowledged, It can surpass us, It can surpass us, But not by the mere force or brawn of mankind, But not by the mere force or brawn of mankind, Not by hokum or extreme imprudence, Not by hokum or extreme imprudence, But strengthened by the wisps of hope that have not yet expired, But strengthened by the wisps of hope that have not yet expired,

The magic that will shine the pathway of our destiny, The magic that will shine the pathway of our destiny, Yet… if this magic, this precious emerald, is passed into the wrong hands, Yet… if this magic, this precious emerald, is passed into the wrong hands, Then evil and perfidy shall conquer our hearts and world, Then evil and perfidy shall conquer our hearts and world, And so, the magic we thought was there is no longer ‘magic’, And so, the magic we thought was there is no longer ‘magic’, Instead, slowly but surely, the magic will be an impregnable monster never Instead, slowly but surely, the magic will be an impregnable monster never leaving our side again! leaving our side again!

A poem by Anaisa Jain, Y7

BellaO’Leary7Curie

WALLY STREET JOURNAL

Thammiha Rasakumar, 9 Pankhurst

Sharlene Liaw, 7 Pankhurst

Entries open for Wallington Street Journal!

The Wally Street Journal is the only school newspaper running and we are excited to invite all writers, artists and researchers for our upcoming edition!

Years 7-13:

For every writing and art submission each sent for this term's article, you will receive an edible prize from us!

Years 10-13:

Sending us submissions will look fantastic on your personal statement! It’ll showcase your strong writing skillssomething universities love!

Send in your submissions and you could be featured in our next issue! You are welcome to send in more than one submission!

Deadline for submissions: 31st May 2024!

Pleasesendanyartwork/writingetc.toanyofthefollowing emails:)

Safeerah: ssahmed18@wallingtongirls.org.uk

Mary: aantonyjoseph18@wallingtongirls.org.uk

Natsai: njambwa18@wallingtongirls.org.uk

Tanesha: tprasad18@wallingtongirls.org.uk

FOR THIS EDITION, WE ONCE AGAIN WANT TO THANK MS WILLIAMS FOR BEING THE OVERALL EDITOR, HER TIME AND SUPPORT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ENSURING THE PUBLICATION OF THE NEWSLETTER.

WE THANK EVERYONE FOR SENDING IN THEIR SUBMISSIONS - WE WERE THOROUGHLY IMPRESSED!

Tanesha Prasad: TPRASAD18@wallingtongirls.org.uk

Natsai Jambwa: NJAMBWA18@wallingtongirls.org.uk

Safeerah Ahmed: SSAHMED18@wallingtongirls.org.uk

Mary Antony Joseph: AANTONYJOSEPH18@wallingtongirls.org.uk EDITORS

ArtbySiXuanCelineFu7Pankhurst