THE DRUM @WOODFORD
Issue 22, 26th July 2024
Week Without Walls!
By LangYing Zhu
It has finally come to the time of the Woodford Middles and High School annual event, Week Without Walls or simply Camp!
Middle school is headed towards Ginger Beach while High school is
Woodford International School
Welcome back!
Welcome back to school for the third term of the year! Wow, time has been flying by so quickly.
We are back with our first issue of this term, bringing news updates of what happened over the holidays.
Openings for new members are also available for those in secondary who are interested!
headed towards Aruligo. They departed school on Wednesday morning and will be heading back on Friday, spending three days and two nights camping and bonding with their friends.
Right after they arrived, they found their spots and set up the tents and unpacked the things they needed. Soon after, they set up the volleyball net, they played a few rounds and quickly went on with preparing for their big dinner: Motu. After eating they washed everything and went to sleep.
On Thursday they had big plans ahead of them, they went to nearby schools to do community services such as painting the school and doing donations. Then they headed back to the campsite and did more activities.
Then at night they had dinner, had some talks around the fire and went to bed.
On Friday morning, they got up, ate breakfast and packed everything to go back to school since camp was coming to an end.
Tournaments
By Idamali Wickham
Over the recent holiday, there were two tournaments that Woodford was privileged enough to participate in.
That was the Rugby and Basketball competitions.
In Rugby, our boys came third in their pool, as well as winning the solidarity award for the amazing teamwork, communication, and togetherness they displayed on the field as they played against others.
In Basketball the boys managed to come third in their pool and get into the knockouts.
Unfortunately, during their first match paired with the strongest team in the opposite pool they lost to Honiara high, but played strong and kept the distance to a minimum.
Our girls, however, weren’t fortunate to make it into the knockouts with the little knowledge and experience they held during the competition, but they did stay strong and kept the point differences under 20. They also won one game against St. Nicholas High School and coming fourth in their pool.
Please make sure to congratulate them on their hard work and thank all the players who participated.
SIBF
President Meets Acting Prime Minister to Discuss the Future of Basketball in Solomon Islands
By Tyronne Tongi
The Solomon Islands Basketball Federation (SIBF) President recently met with the Acting Prime Minister to discuss the urgent need for more support for basketball development in the country. They emphasized the importance of expanding basketball programs, improving training facilities, and increasing support for both men's and women's national teams, especially in preparation for the 2025 FIBA Melanesian Cup. A National Team program is set to launch in March, with training sessions for the men's squad beginning soon and the women's squad following in April, aiming to prepare athletes for international competitions with high-quality training and support.
2024 WESTERN CUP
By Tyronne Tongi
The 2024 Western Cup volleyball tournament in the Solomon Islands has been a highly anticipated and exciting event, showcasing the competitive spirit and talent across the provinces. The tournament, held at JFK Stadium in Gizo, has brought together teams from various regions, all vying for the top spot in this prestigious competition.
As the tournament progresses into its third day, fans have been treated to a series of thrilling matches. Notable performances include West Marovos convincing 3-0 victory over North Rendova, with standout players Lario, Tuni, and Roni scoring decisive goals.
Another highlight was South Rannongas narrow 2-1 win against Kolombangara, where John Kovasas second-
The half goal clinched the victory for his team. West Gizo also demonstrated their prowess by defeating Simbo 3-0, thanks to goals from Ben Basi, Manashe Paua, and Apolos Ahiau (SIBC) (Solomon Star News).
The tournament's success is attributed to the support of sponsors such as Our Telekom, SIFF, Solrais, and the Western Provincial government. Their contributions have ensured a wellorganized and vibrant event, drawing significant attention from local communities and sports enthusiasts alike (SIBC)
With more matches lined up, the excitement continues to build as teams compete for glory and the championship title. Fans eagerly anticipate the next rounds, hoping for more spectacular performances and memorable moments on the volleyball court.
Current Affairs:
Biden out
By Hudson Preece
Joe Biden has officially dropped out of the 2024 US election after many called for it, including actor Georgeactor George Clooney as well as other members of the entertainment world and former president Barack Obama. Vice president KamalaKamala Harris has replaced Joe Biden for the democrats running against former president Donald Trump.
Riots in Bangladesh
By Hudson Preece
At least 150 people have been killed in Bangladesh following formerly peaceful protests turned deadly after police opened fire on university students protesting the government.
Hospitals struggle to cope with the hundreds injured in the capital Dhaka.
Random facts!
By Idamali Wickham
Human Body Glow : The human body emits a small amount of visible light, but it's about 1,000 times less intense than the light that humans can see with their naked eye. This bioluminescence is a result of metabolic reactions.
Longest Word : The longest word in the English language published in a major dictionary is "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovol canoconiosis," a type of lung disease caused by inhaling very fine silicate or quartz dust.
games would commence in Paris, France with athletes from 206 national Olympic committees competing in 302 events in 32 sports. The events will occur from the 26th of July to August 11th.
The opening ceremony will be held on Friday 26 th July along The Seine – the second longest river in France. This opening ceremony will mark the first time in the history of the summer Olympics where the opening ceremony is held outside the stadium. Instead of the routine contingent parade around the tracks. The spectators would be treated to a vibrant boat parade of athletes along the Seine river.
Over the course of 19 days, athletes will compete in their respective sporting events and in the last week; gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to those who have outstandingly shone and performed in the events.
SIBC’s Take on Logging Activities in the Solomon Islands
By Tyronne Tongi
The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) has been vocal about the various impacts of logging activities throughout the nation. Recent reports highlight the detrimental effects on the environment, local communities, and food security.
Ongoing logging operations are threatening marine conservation areas, as well as leading to severe soil erosion, exacerbated by recent wet weather, causing destruction to gardens and crops. Local community members are urging the Ministries of Environment and Fisheries to conduct thorough environmental impact assessments to protect the ecosystems.
By Tashli Toito’ona
The government has stepped up and banned logging at altitudes above 400 meters, this measure aims to conserve 21% of the country’s land from activities like mining and logging.
The SIBC continues to advocate for sustainable logging, for more information and updates, check their website.