Wycombe High School Magazine 2023

WHS Magazine 2023

NO TIME LIKE NOW

Don't get caught up in the past...

THere's

No Time Like Now WHS Magazine 2023

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Contents Headteacher's Introduction The Top Team - Your Questions Answered Meet the Magazine Team 2023 Introducing the new SLT Trips BreakAdvisor The Library Excellent EPQs Sporting Heroes Textiles Product Design Clubs Music Drama Alice in Wycombeland - Panto 2022 Highlights, Dance and Gym WHTV International Week Desert Island Discs BeReal

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4 5 8 10 12 18 20 24 32 34 36 37 40 44 46 48 52 54 56 62

A Note from the Head

Dear students, It is my pleasure to write the introduction to our 2023 Wycombe High School Student Magazine.

When I discovered that this year’s theme was ‘No Time Like Now’ I thought, yes, that captures it perfectly! As a school community there is a keen desire to get stuck in and try new things, to embrace opportunity and challenge. People often ask me what is unique about Wycombe High School and reflecting on it I think that this quality is one of the things which make us unique – you simply don’t see this sort of attitude amongst the students and staff in every school.

The magazine is an amazing celebration of what happens when you say yes and get involved in school life. It is an incredibly positive and uplifting collection of memories and achievements from this academic year. The infectious joy which abounds is woven through every page of this edition and it has been my privilege to enjoy it all with you over this past year.

To the writers, editors, and production team and Mr Binks who has guided them: thank you for a truly memorable edition! …and if you’re reading this intro thinking, I’ll save this for reading later, don’t. Devour it immediately and enjoy – after all, there’s no time like now!

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Mrs Renyard

The Top Team

your questions answered

WHS students sent in some questions for the new Top Team, and here are their answers! Are they the responses you expected?

If you could go on holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go?

🇺🇸

🏝️

What is your favourite film?

Mrs Renyard - Disneyland in Florida. I visited as a child, but I’d love to go back with my children now!

🇯🇵

📧

🎞️

Mrs Gray - You've Got Mail

Mrs JC - Japan!

Mrs JC - I have lots of favourites, but my guilty pleasure favourite would have to be Moulin Rouge

Mrs Gray - I would like to go and visit the Tropical Rainforests. Being a Geographer I would love to see the diversity and rainforest in person. However, I do realise that as it is under significant threat and would be concerned about contributing to its deforestation and destruction!

Mrs Renyard - I’m not a big film fan… can I choose a musical instead? If I’m allowed I’ll go for Hamilton

⭐️

What was your favourite year when you were at school?

What was your favourite meal at school as a child?

Mrs JC - I loved Year 11. I think by then I knew who I was and was looking forward to doing the subjects I loved at A Level. I had great friends and spent a lot of time laughing!

Mrs JC - I loved a packed lunch.

My favourite was tomato and mayonnaise sandwich!

Mrs Gray - Year 12

Mrs Gray - Fish fingers, mash potato and beans.

Mrs Renyard - Packed lunch!

Usually a ham sandwich, bag of crisps and an apple!

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Mrs Renyard - I remember lower school (Years 7-9) really fondly as I had a great tutor group with some amazing friends but I also enjoyed Years 12 and 13 because my A Level teachers were fab!

If you were an animal, what would you be?

What is your favourite day of the week and why?

🐼 Mrs JC - A red panda

`Mrs Renyard - Friday, it’s the start of the weekend!

Mrs Gray - Snow leopard

Mrs Renyard - A bird – the freedom to fly is very appealing

🦅

Mrs Gray - Saturday (morning) as I get to spend time with my family and I have the whole weekend ahead of me.

Mrs JC - I do love Fridays. You can't beat that Friday feeling.

What is your favourite part about WHS?

If you had to choose one food to eat or drink forever and you can't eat anything else, what would it be?

Mrs Gray - The students and staff who have been so friendly and welcoming since I joined.

Mrs Gray - Probably sounds very boring but it would have to be seeded sourdough bread and sparkling water.

Mrs JC - The students and staff without them it's some big buildings and space - they really make the school what it is.

🍕

🌶️

Mrs Renyard - The sense of community.

I feel a real sense of belonging here, and I hope that feeling is shared by students and staff too.

Mrs Renyard - Pizza!

Mrs JC - Something spicy! I am a sucker for lots of chillis.

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If you had to choose one food to disappear from the world, what would it be?

Who do you most admire from your subject?

🥘

🎭

Mrs JC (Drama) - I really like a director called Carrie Cracknell, but also Emma Rice another director who has a really unique approach to storytelling. Both creative women and I really recommend seeing their work if you can.

🌍

Mrs Gray - Avocado

🥑

Mrs Renyard - I’m not sure I’d want it to disappear completely but I really dislike overripe bananas!

🍌

Mrs Gray (Geography) - Sir David Attenborough - a true inspiration and voice of the planet.

Mrs Renyard (History) - This is an almost impossible question to answer for a historian! I really don’t know who to choose so I’m going with a slightly different answer … when I became a History teacher I worked for a fantastic Head of History for the first two years of my career. She taught me so much about how to share a love of history and learning with my students and about the joy to be found in this profession. I still think of her influence on me often and hope that I have a little of her great qualities in me.

What does your average day look like?

Mrs Gray - Up early about 5am, walk my dog Dizzie, off to work about 7:30. At WHS during the day - meetings, duties, teaching and then home about 5:30 pm. Dinner and then I try to do some exercise for 30 mins.

Then we try and find some family time and off to bed about 10:30pm.

📅

Favourite book you've read this year?

📚

Mrs JC - Fennel

Mrs Gray - Food for Life by Tim Specter

Mrs JC - I've just finished The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller.

Definitely my favourite from this year.

Mrs Renyard - I’ve recently finished ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ which was great; a really empowering read in many ways.

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Mrs Renyard - Usually quite jam packed with meetings, it can be difficult to get out and about around the school. Usually filled with some laughter and I always try to talk to at least a few students, even if it’s just a quick good morning/afternoon!

Mrs JC - It is really varied. I get up at around 5.30 and get my three children ready for school. When I get to school at 7.15, I tend to spend some time catching up on admin and emails. The rest of my day is always different.

I may be in meetings, teaching drama, on duty around the school... lots of different things. By the time I leave school I get home in time to make dinner, catch up with my children and then normally I will watch something on TV with my husband.

MR BINKS

anna

mariam

History, Panto Performer Satsumas

250

Classroom Decoration

134

Tennis Balls

101

Rockwell Font Documents Eye Contact

87

History, English, Drama

Politics, English, French

Dresses

16

Mothers that teach Maths

1

Drama-ness

100

Free Time

-27

Injured Foot

1

nysa

Meet the Team!!

vanilla lattes

98

pinterest boards

18

desire to use capital letters

-43

things on to-do list

177

humour

asma

lyra English, Psychology, Economics

History, French, Chemistry, Maths

Night owl

95

Hard Subjects

4

Crystals

21

Plants

34

Unfinished books

7

Languages to learn

15

Mitski

100

Easy subjects

0

Notes pages

61

Bones

206

History, Geography, Art, Spanish Cats

3

Beatlemania

100

1970s shirts

50

Austen

97

Greta Thunberg

78

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Our best bits Lyra: While WHTV gives us updates on all the important and exciting things happening throughout the year, I think this magazine paints a lovely, zoomed-out picture of WHS 2022-23. If you're as nosey as I am, you'll want to check out what your favourite teachers chose to keep them company on a Desert Island...

Anna:

Mariam:

Asma:

Nysa:

The magazine has I remember applying The magazine is I really enjoyed been so much fun - to be in the magazine an awesome working on the I have absolutely in September, only a collection of magazine this loved getting to few weeks after many students' year! Learning see what everyone joining WHS, and work and about the has been up to looking back at it I experiences, and different aspects (and all of the almost can't believe it was really cool of school has been photos)! I would how much has for me to be able really interesting definitely have to happened this year! to collect some of and I’ve had a lot say that the Drama Without a doubt, my it and interview of fun looking into section is a must highlight of this people in the different school read, and the EPQ project has to be process to find events, clubs and section is really coming up with the out about what school life! It’s fascinating. theme - No Time Like encouraged been really great We are all really Now. them and what interacting with proud of this The team has worked they enjoyed such a great team magazine, and we so hard to produce most. I'm sure in creating such a hope you enjoy this magazine, and it you'll find this an lively and reading it as much has been an amazing inspiring and fun entertaining as we enjoyed experience! read- be ready to magazine, and I’m making it! learn something sure it’ll be just as new! fun to read as it was to make!

Mr Binks:

My best bit has been how easy the team have made it all for me. They have been bubbling with ideas and creativity since September and have delivered to you a truly 100% student magazine by WHS students for WHS students. Dear reader, you are in safe hands with these guys. Enjoy all their brilliant work as much as I've enjoyed working with them.

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Introducing... The New SLT

Put yourself out there and try new things! My biggest regret is not getting involved sooner, as you might find something you absolutely love.

HISTORY, ENGLISH, PHILOSOPHY

My most important tip is to never be afraid to try something new, and to take advantage of all opportunities - you never know where something could take you!

ty H u p

De

De

CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, ENGLISH

HISTORY, POLITICS, PYSCHOLOGY

d ea

ALEENA

d G a i e

KATIE

rl

d ea

ty H u p

H

Don‘t be afraid to ask for help or support, everyone’s here for you!

Hea

ad o e H

hment

ALEX

Never be afraid to try new things and get involved.

Everything we have at WHS is for you, so make the most of it!

d of A

S CA

f Enric

We thought we could give you our advice to make the most out of your time at WHS!

MARIAM ANNA

POLITICS, ENGLISH, FRENCH

HISTORY, ENGLISH, DRAMA Read plenty. Try new things. Be nice to yourself. Remember it's not what you say, it's how you say it!

ANNABEL HISTORY, ENGLISH, POLITICS

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Well f o

a d e H

Taking pride in who you are is an essential part to realising what makes you different from everyone else! A community wouldn't be great without being full of diversity. Take pride in yourself and others :)

n bei g

of Cha

rities

Head

Take each day as it comes and remember WHS is a journey!

SHREYA PHILOSOPHY, ENGLISH, HISTORY

MY ADVICE!!!!

1. Listen to Pink Floyd.

2. Draw, even if you think you can't.

3. Use the Library, it's free!!

4. Try every club.

Talk to the people in your tutor group, they'll help you so much and everyone is always lovely.

Use your planner!

Go to every fair! They're so fun and have really yummy food

sten u A

nte o r B

LYRA

s become When thing ember ing, just rem overwhelm the ress about when you st e ut yours lf future you p twice. experience through the h day to take eac Remember r your e and consid as it comes grateful they will be future self, in time.

Ni

SAFFRON

HISTORY, DRAMA, ART

Be selective. You're a beautiful person with a lot to give to the world! So why limit yourself, when you know you can do better?

khur n a

st

ale

ting h g

ANNABEL

HISTORY, ENGLISH, PYSCHOLOGY

P

HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, SPANISH, ART

MIEKE

HISTORY, POLITICS, PHILOSOPHY

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Everyone says that time flies at school, and I didn’t believe it until I realised that I have one year left at WHS! Make the most of having little homework, sitting outside in the summers and cherish sports day (the best day of the year)!

Curie

HANNAH

HISTORY, POLITICS, DRAMA

Never s top striv ing for y best. It d our oes not have to THE bes be t. But yo ur best. are your Y ou greatest support so make e r sure tha t you are making yourself proud.

Parks

MALVA

POLITICS, PHILOSOPHY, DRAMA

WHS has been busy this year, not just at school but also much further afield...

SPANI SH

1. Tring 2. London 3. Slapton Sands 4. Fishbourne 5. Nottingham 6. Oxford 7. Warwick 8. Geneva 9. Stratford Upon Avon 10. Barcelona

s c i s y h P

MARCH YEAR 12

WHS

Geneva 12 9

YEAR 1 0 JUNE

WHS

BARCE

LONA

g n i r T o t p i r t Year 7 Art ee rtunity to s o p p I o n e e h th ay w ept We had forget the d tasks had k e h T . ls a w I will never my ne many anim enjoyable. ry y first trip in e v m s n a o g t w n n it ri e t w the T us busy bu l moment t on a trip to u n tf e h w g I li e l. d o o a as sch rful. I erish This trip w was wonde it d n a at I shall ch th m u fe li l g o in o muse th h every of my sc ere writing h it s s a ld u w o it c cause forever. ppened be a h d a h t a th ed to were allow e W . g in z ama we floors that e th f o 7 ll a explore Sathana, Y were able e w s a g n as lo wanted to e tasks. to finish th

Sixth Form Sp

anish trip to L ondon!

On Tues day the 2 8th of Ma went on r c h we a trip to w We then a tc h play - ‘La a Spanish made ou r way to th Casa de C e r B v a e e n r n te arda Alba Firstly, w s T h e atre to w e went to ’. s a ta tc rring five h the pla a tapas restauran y daughte t where w r s , a th n e d ir th e m o e other ir maid an rdered (in Spanish!) d ending a variety S h a k in o e f s a S pearian-l panish dishes, in ike trage cluding c e n dy. At the d o r o f quettes, the night, calamari, S paella an e ñ o r d Howells rove the d c h u rro finish! minibus s to b a c k and we li to schoo stened a l n d s a n s o g m a lo e Spanish ng to Amelie, songs. ¡Q Y12 ue diverti do!

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12 r a e Y r fo ip r T ld ie F y h Geograp to go location we’d like each chose which we , en Th d ge ran ld at y fie ations th visited Slapton Le rry out our investig ca to to ck In mid-march, we to ba cle cy for d the carbon our data collection mans have affecte hu w ho m centre to carry out fro the centre the high street. In l coursework. The cond homes along Geography A Leve se sentially) 5 t es ou in gab ns (colourin ust have been ings we had lesso en was huge, there m ev , go on d de om ro un to the games e, but it was surro en free time to go th d other schools ther an ed our ish d fin an ovies once we nshire countryside e walks or watch m id as by beautiful Devo se to go was great, we t lk from the famous s aside, the centre ow Cr . rk only 5 minutes wa wo s wa y it d a da s better and rrier beach. We ha ography classmate ge r ou ow ‘Slapton Sands’ ba kn in the s of a trip. suring rocks; a day on the coast, mea an all round succes e th in y da a d an il so fields, measuring rveys of Totnes doing su ‘Transition Town’ y was Lyra, Y12 of shopping (it reall and, for me, a spot shop capital!). the second-hand

📍 Slapton Sands

British Museum Trip

These statues from the Pa rthenon were originally painted in beautiful colours, however harsh we ather and natural erosion has remov ed much of their original life.

Right as the half-term holida ys ended and the new term began, Years 11, 12 and 13 visited the British Mu seum to enhance our knowledge of ancient history. As a Year 11 ancie nt history student, our year group vis ited the Assyrian collection, the 'Ma usoleum of Halikarnassos' and the Bri tish Museum’s magnum opus, remnants of the Parthenon’s friezes, jus t to name a few.

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Our day was very exciting , as we visited so many exhibits in such a small amount of time. We also saw the original Cyrus cylinde r and replicas of lumasi sculpture s, which are giant winged bulls wit h human heads.

Milla, Y11 P.S A couple of the many lumasi we saw on our trip. (left, bo ttom)

Y13 Houses of Parliam

ent trip

The politics tr ip was definite ly one I will never forg et. It was a very fun and independent trip, so fairly d ifferent to the ones you would normal ly have in secondary. It was fascinatin g seeing the Houses of Parliament an d watching the debates that m ost of us had only seen on TV!

My friends an d I had a great time exploring cen tral London, d o ing a scavenger hu nt and eating some fancy McDonald’s!

I’d say the hig hlight of the trip would be talking to our local MP, Steve Baker, ab out some curr ent political issues and se eing a more vu ln erable side of him (we go t to see him cr y!).

Yusra, Y13

ne is based d of the La n E e visual th t a also some n was Ocean a re e im a gic, w G re il e e Th felt like ma el by N v t y a o n m th s e e a th g w n ta It o ns ood. d across illusions o y Joel Horw y teleporte ll a I ic s adapted b d a n b a , y HS as a lad ing able to e trip at W was fun be ole first theatr h It . w e e g th ta s d e e th d teacher enjoy ents from smates an m s o la thoroughly c m y te m ri u ir views talk to e! My favo seeing the they d n rs a o r experienc o e d ft a g in y it as about it as the mov ed to enjo m e e g e n s a e h n c the play w o ould on it, every hen they w it made e s included w u a c e b well. es, this is e. some scen r and subtl a le c ry e v itions lso made it their trans the door a d 12 n u ro a one Chantelle, Y The lights as it was d h tc a w to g mesmerisin e dark. th mostly in

p i r t a m a r D

f o d n e e h t ot Ocean at the Lane

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Year 9 Latin trip to Fishbourne ‘fishy’ Palace

Gold DofE in The Brecon Beacons

Year 9 Latin

Physics Residential to Switzerland!

Y12

o l l e h t O h c t a w o t p i r t m r o F h t x i S t walls n th e s e e h w d ed e all gasp tors lean c e a W e h t s ove a llo by te rs te d to m r tch Othe a a t s w e c h a ra c h o ’ t g ly e o s b t u t m a n e c s We we re d ru n k o antic As t h e m, b e r m n ‘F o r ly e e n titio ressiv f th e p ra c ly one o me prog ized a e n r c it e e n fi d b e o D ed. ally m a pub e a r, and it re isillusion g it all in d in d t n t school y a e s is , h e t r s s a it e ip u ve r ourite t g tra c k s lays I ha Shakesp v p in t r fa s a y e e b m w e o f th ry o n e sily one ! It was with eve a s t e n d e n c a c don a e! with Lon in a whil n d th e a n , e y e n s n g gly fu eathtakin surprisin r b s a w na , Y12 n phy a A r g o e r cho ic. ible mus d e r c in with

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Nationals in Nottingham, KS5 Squash

Stratford Upon A

von, Y13 English

Y12 Sports trip to Dev on

e h t o t ip r T y h p a r Y10 Geog Olympic Park Model U N Confe rence, Y12 & 1 3

Olympic Park, Y10 Geography

Year 10 SpanishTrip to Barcelon a Thorpe Park, Y12

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BreakAdvisor

Looking for somewhere to sit?

Make choosing infinitely easier with these ratings and comments from experienced spot users themselves!

Ampitheatre Very muddy in autumn and winter, very lovely in summer when its warm, good place to meet up with friends.

Bush with View over Ampitheatre Usually it’s quite boring. When it is muddy you can push your friend down the little slope that goes down to the bush which is very funny. We like it though because it’s the best spot in the amphitheatre (apart from when our amazing bench was still there 😢), you can see the big house coloured flag and eat your unflavoured chips from the forum. #bringbackthebench

Outside Tech Block Pros are that it’s (mostly) dry on the ground and it’s the only place in school that is half decent but the cons are that it’s cold, windy, damp, cold, littered, freezing cold, and did I mention cold because I don’t think I’ve said it enough.

Outside Tech Block I don't really gate keep it because literally everyone who walks past can see us there, it is a very nice spot to sit in and yeah.

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Outside the Library It’s quiet and away from other bits.

However it gets muddy there easily. It is also very good to stalk people in the library. However it’s risky if a teacher catches you on your phone from the library.

Overall a good spot 👌

Field My spot on the field is a quiet yet social space, there is plenty of room to be active and enjoy the fresh air and it is the perfect spot in the summer when we can soak up the sun. However, in unbearable heat there is limited shade since four of the trees were cut down. In addition, in the Autumn, Winter and Spring, it is extremely cold, wet, muddy and slippery there, so we cannot sit down without getting mud all over our uniform or getting drenched from the long, wet grass, which never gets mown in that area. It is also very stinky because there are mushrooms and fungi growing everywhere. Plus, I have slipped and fell countless times there from the moist ground!

Outside PE Block My friendship group has nice chats there, when it rains the floor isn't wet.

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Book Recommendations From the Student Librarians...

Shatter Me - Taheri Mafi Aoife, Y9 This book is the first of 7 in the Shatter Me series. This series follows the story of teenager Juliette Ferrars as she learns to control her deadly powers and fights to survive within a dystopian version of North America. It’s an incredibly gripping read which I struggled to put down; I ended up finishing the series within two weeks since each book ended in a cliffhanger. Juliette’s adventures were a rollercoaster of emotions- I even had to put the book down for a few seconds once as I was so shocked! Full of action, romance and intrigue, this series is definitely a must-read.

You Must Be Layla - Yasmin Abdel-Magied Fatima, Y7 About a Sudanese Muslim girl who is put into a country with nobody like her.

She joins a new school where nobody wears a headscarf. At first she thinks she was going to be bullied but soon her classmates see how funny she is and they become friends. There are many problems she has to overcome and secrets to hold but the biggest of them all is the COMPETITION!

Sophie's World - Jostein Gaarder Juno, Y9 A pageturner with both fiction and non-fiction, 3000 years of philosophy are condensed and explained in a way that you can understand as well as be intrigued by. The book also has a thrilling background plot centred around the ideas taught by ‘the philosopher’- this book is perfect for anyone, a modern classic, especially for people interested in philosophy and who want to learn more.

The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver Lyra, Y12 This incredibly moving and exquisitely written book tells of the unravelling and tragedy of an evangelist American family living in postcolonial Africa. It forces the confrontation of new perspectives as the narrator switches between the women of the family, each one with different outlooks on their situation. The story is dramatic, taking place in a period of political upheaval. Perhaps what's most affecting: it is completely feasible.

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Spellslinger - Sebastian De Castell and Fly By Night Frances Hardinge Ellie, Y11 Caraval - Stephanie Garber Ava, Y12 Year 9+

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Winners of the Libraries' week competition for best Bookplate Design. From left: Giselle, Y9, Natasha, Y7

Mrs Goddard

Librarian's Favourites...

What is your favourite book you have read this year?

Catfish Rolling, a beautifully written tale set in Japan, with intrigue, romance and lots of clever turns of phrase. The descriptions remind me of my travels in Japan.

What was your favourite book while you were in secondary school?

I am showing my age here...Harry Potter was released when I was in school, and I loved it!

What is your favourite part of your role in the WHS library?

I love getting to know the students...and having access to all the books I could want!

If you could have a dinner party with fictional characters, who would be top of the guest list?

I would have the Twilight characters to my dinner party, because they all infuriate me. I'd give them some better suggestions for how they could handle their lives.

Do you have a favourite non-fiction book?

Mistresses of Cliveden. It's all about Cliveden House and its history; a fascinating read.

What book is next on your reading list?

I want to read A Thousand Splendid Suns next.

Any particular library highlights of this year and are there any exciting plans in store for the library in the future?

Having the younger years in for reading lessons is a definite highlight. It's great helping them find new books they like. I loved World Book Day too - give me a chance to dress up and I will take it!

World Book Day Alice in Wonderlan d!

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Grace, Y13

Gemma, Y13

Ella, Y13

Anna, Y11 Charlotte, Y13

20 23

excellent

EPQS

In Year 12, we are given the opportunity to do an Enrichment to add some variety for our A Levels. You can choose from Core Maths, Further Maths and Young Enterprise, but some students choose to do an Extended Project Qualification.

By recommendation of Mr Sheehan and others, here are some of the top picks from a range of subjects. Have a read - they’re really interesting!

fashion - saffron Is sustainable fashion an obtainable goal through materials for the year 2030?

Why an Artefact?

I really enjoyed the fact that I was able to create garments and focus not only on the research but also the creation of my artefact. It broke the project up a little bit, and I was obviously sewing clothes, which is something that I love to do anyway! I broke it all up and made it much more manageable by playing to my strengths. I also found it was useful as my sewing skills have massively improved.

My project was on sustainable fashion, because I love fashion and hope that someday in the future it will be a career that I pursue. Sustainable fashion is so important for the future of our planet and more awareness needs to be created. In my project I put to the test the various ways in which fashion can be made sustainable and explored the practicalities of making fashion more environmentally friendly, highlighting the probability of reaching the 2030 sustainable fashion goals. Since the environment has never been more important, I aimed to raise awareness and explore the severity of the fashion industries impact on our planet. To do this I created fully sustainable garments made out of 100% recycled and reused denim to prove how clothing can be given a longer life span, reducing waste and the amount of clothing purchased.

What did you discover?

I found that fast fashion is a huge obstacle for creating a fully sustainable industry and that an environmentally friendly industry will not be possible with fast fashion still being a major employer.

Without fast fashion, sustainability is an obtainable goal, however it simply cannot just be boycotted. It is one of the largest industrial employers in the world and aims to keep many fashion companies up and running, whilst making fashion accessible and affordable for everyone. Everyone can do their part by creating a capsule wardrobe, not following current trends, with good quality, staple clothing; whilst recycling and reusing old garments, ensuring less waste.

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history and politics - becky ‘Political changes were the most significant impact of the Berlin Wall.’ To what extent is this true?

Why this topic?

The Berlin Wall was the physical Iron Curtain and the front line of the Cold War. Symbolising the differences between either side, the divided city was where communism and capitalism collided. I chose this topic as not only do I love reading about the subject, but I am learning German, and hope to study in Berlin in the future. Fundamentally, I believe that in this modern world of growing polarisation, unceasing conflict and exacerbated tensions, studying the past is our best chance of improving our future.

What did you discover?

For my EPQ, I researched the impacts of the Berlin Wall.

From President Kennedy to Pink Floyd, I explored how the Berlin Wall has shaped modern Europe. First-hand accounts from Berliners formed the backbone of the essay, with perhaps the most eye-opening discovery being the East-West divides which prevail in Germany to this day, through voting behaviour, politics, and culture. I reached the conclusion that social impacts were and continue to be the most significant impacts of the Wall, as they were the most long-term, widespread and heartfelt, with the severe impact on ordinary lives outweighing minor inconveniences for international politicians.

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📍House of Lords

Dentistry - mabila To what extent is the artificial fluoridation of water ethical?

Why this topic?

This topic really interested me because I would like to study dentistry at University and when I researched more into this topic, I realised the ethical uproar it created within the dental society. I first heard about this in my GCSE Chemistry lesson when my teacher said they put fluoride in water to reduce dental decay. I remember being very fascinated by this and I just had to debate this in my dissertation. I really enjoyed researching about this topic and in the process, received a fantastic opportunity of being able to go to the House of Lords for the British Fluoridation Society’s annual meeting, where I was able to communicate with very knowledgeable people who specialised in this field.

What did you discover?

My conclusion was that it should be discernible as to whether water fluoridation is ethical. It should absolutely be an ethical preventative health measure, as not only does it successfully prevent thousands of young children from having to experience the discomfort of dental decay, but it is also a cost- effective method, being cheap and fair. Additionally, it ensures that children in deprived areas can have the same head start to life as other children, by increasing the quality of their lives and ensuring they have brilliant dental health.

TW: The subject of Hannah's EPQ contains topics some readers may find upsetting

Law and the Police - hannah ‘To what extent is the police the most significant factor for why the serious sexual assualt conviction rate is so low in the UK? Why this topic?

I had really started to take interest in this topic following the Sarah Everard case in 2021. Once I had googled and found out that out of 70,330 serious sexual assaults which were recorded by the police in 2022, there were only 2,223 which were charged, let alone convicted, I had known that this was a suited topic for my EPQ. Originally, I knew that there was a backlog in court cases following Covid-19 which might have resulted in the low conviction rate, but when doing some general research, I had uncovered that there were several other reasons too.

What did you discover?

There was not just one reason for why the conviction rate was low but an accumulation of many: victim attrition, gathering of evidence as well as the general distrust, causing people not to report. If a report is made to the police, the investigation will begin whereby evidence shall be collected - however, there have been cases where the interviews and forensic medical examination have not been conducted thoroughly enough to be used in court. When this happens, the case is dropped and labelled as NFA (No further action), thus reducing the conviction rate. Furthermore, victim attrition - when victims withdraw from the case themselves - was equally as important in causing the overall conviction rate to be lowered.

Many withdraw due to stigma, the nature of the investigation and the role of the police in terms of their attitude and methodology. Overall, there was not just one reason for why the conviction rate is low, but rather an accumulation of lots of factors. One thing that was made clear to me after writing my dissertation were the extensive faults within the criminal justice system and more significantly, the police force. They have a general lack of trust and communal relationship with the public following several scandals, and when considering cases of this nature in particular, they act as a trigger for cases being withdrawn.

Philosophy - mieke

What did you discover?

I discovered that there was not a clear answer to which reality ‘Subjective Reality outweighs outweighed the other. This is all other perceptions of because it is impossible to say that reality.’’Discuss. the strengths of Subjective Reality outweigh the strength of Why this topic?

Objective and Intersubjective I have always been interested in Philosophy and Ethics, as talking combined. I therefore concluded about topical issues and how the history of thought has influenced that the most beneficial reality for our society today is truly fascinating to me. I chose reality because I thought that researching what is real - or what is perceived to be real our society to have would be a combination of the strengths from - a daunting, but captivating, idea. I looked at 3 types of reality (Subjective, Objective and Intersubjective), and learnt about different each reality, rather than just one on its own, as each have their own theories within each. It was so interesting to learn about theories I’d weaknesses. There could be many never heard about! A difficulty was knowing how to decide which other conclusions from the same theory of reality outweighed the other. I then came up with the criteria of how well the reality would fit with our modern society. This topic, but in terms of modern day was such a great topic, and has made me love Philosophy and Ethics society, this appeared to be the most beneficial to me.

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medical and parental ethics -archayah How valid is the view that saviour siblings are ethical?

Why this topic?

Are you a younger sibling? Can you imagine being born just to save your elder sibling’s life? This is the concept behind saviour siblings – the topic of my EPQ. A saviour sibling is born when a couple has a terminally-ill child, usually with cancer or a blood disease, and chooses to have another child through IVF, who would eventually donate stem cells and perhaps organs to their elder sibling. This topic is riveting because it is very controversial as it can save the terminally-ill child’s life but could mean that the saviour sibling is mistreated.

What did you discover?

I concluded that saviour siblings are unethical as we have a responsibility to protect all children and it is impossible to tell how the parents would treat the saviour sibling, especially if the terminally-ill child dies. The parents may treat the saviour sibling as inferior or as a commodity by forcing them to donate bodily substances both of which may have a detrimental effect on their physical and mental welfare.

environmental climbing - holly To what extent does mountain climbing have a more negative impact on the environment than rock climbing?

Why this topic?

I have always enjoyed rock climbing and bouldering, especially on the cliffs by the beaches I visit with my family on holiday, and recently I have had the chance to take part in it more. I am also taking geography A Level, and have an interest in the ways the planet is impacted by our actions.

After some initial research, it became obvious that significant causes for concern were being raised about the damage that climbing was beginning to cause to the environment, and there was clearly a distinct separation between mountain climbing, and other climbing subtypes. Due to my interest in the sport, I therefore chose rock climbing to compare it to.

What did you discover?

Throughout my dissertation, I discussed the impacts of mountain climbing and rock climbing on different factors, focussing mainly on the globally significant climbing locations of Mount Everest (Nepal side) and the Yosemite National Park (California, USA), to help to structure my debate. In the end I concluded that, to a small extent, mountain climbing does have a more negative impact on the environment, because the majority of the factors that I discussed were more significant in mountain climbing than rock climbing. For example, the volume of waste and discarded equipment left on the mountains is so much higher than on cliffs, because the expeditions are far longer (50 tons of litter has been left on Mount Everest in the past 6 decades!), and every time the snow melts, the rubbish and microplastics are naturally transported in the water systems, and to the villages below. However, in my evaluation, I also mentioned how, if the time and word count had not been restricted, then I could have compared even more subtypes of climbing, and so I may have come out with a different conclusion.

NoTimeLikeNow… I think that my question is very relevant to young people in 2023, as we are growing up with a climate crisis, and throughout our lifetimes, finding new ways to reduce our impact on the environment will be vital, in order to protect planet Earth for future generations. Therefore, I hope that by highlighting some ways that specific activities are damaging the environment, young people may be more 27 conscious of the impacts of their small actions.

Chemistry - sophie

Dana Polk - The Cabin in the Woods

‘To what extent can carbon dioxide capture and storage be effectively used in climate change mitigation?’

Why this topic?

The topic of carbon capture is largely relevant today as more sustainable processes are needed in order to decrease carbon emissions to slow or stop global warming. It is vastly important to consider how global warming can be reduced as its effects greatly impact the whole population, especially future generations. This is also why I was interested in taking on this project, being part of a younger generation, we have a responsibility to work towards a more sustainable future in order to reverse the mistakes of the past that have led to increased global warming, so I was intrigued to research a possible method of climate change mitigation in extensive detail and to understand the science behind it. Carbon dioxide capture is a process considered effective for this purpose, but there are questions as to how successful it may become or if it is cost and energy effective.

What did you discover?

At the end of my project, I concluded that CCS technology clearly has the potential to be utilised for effective climate change mitigation.

As of 2022 there were 30 operational CCS facilities, capturing 42Mt of CO2 annually, aiding the decarbonisation of large industries and the generation of low carbon electricity. I found that though there are improvements that must be made to enhance the impact CCS has currently, the heightened deployment of technology is promising and the technology itself is advanced enough to scale up the commercial usage of CCS. This will allow CCS to be used alongside other technologies that reduce carbon emissions to effectively combat climate change.

Laurie Strode Halloween Franchise

Horror Films - Ella To what extent does the male gaze affect the portrayal of women in postmillennial horror films?

Why this topic?

To begin with, this topic directly contrasted with my A Levels (English Literature, Politics and History), meaning that my EPQ allowed me to break away from my usual subjects. I have always had an interest in the film industry and this gave me the opportunity to research it in depth.

Researching the male gaze, I found that its impact is much more prominent in horror as it covers more taboo and controversial topics. In 2023 there are more conversations regarding gender roles and stereotypes which makes an audience more aware of the portrayal of women. It is interesting to see if these portrayals represent the public opinion or if tropes in horror movies are just being recycled. The topic of women will always be relevant as there is a constant struggle for equality.

What did you discover?

I concluded that the male gaze is very prominent within tropes such as the ‘monstrous feminine’ and ‘overtly sexual woman’. In the trope of ‘the final girl’ (the last woman alive to confront the killer) I found that social changes such as the #MeToo movement had a direct impact on the portrayal of women. This is perceived with the development of the character of Laurie Strode in the Halloween franchise over time. There is a comparison to the character Dana Polk in The Cabin in the Woods (2018) where the male gaze remains prominent. In the future, social changes will play a bigger role in the portrayal of women as society develops.

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Additional needs education - katie To what extent do children with additional needs work better in mainstream schools, in comparison to special schools?

Medical ethics - lisara

Why this topic?

I chose this topic because I’m interested in developmental psychology and children’s mental health, but also have a passion for improving the education system. I hope to become a teacher in the future and have worked with children with additional needs; so, completing this EPQ has allowed me to gain a really in-depth understanding of the challenges faced. This topic is so important because it affects every single one of us, and by providing equal access to education and teaching children about diversity we will create an inclusive and educated society of the future.

What did you discover?

I concluded that children with additional needs do work better when integrated into mainstream schools, however there is a significant requirement for appropriate support to be in place; and if this cannot be provided then special schools should be made more accessible. I discovered that the education system is failing so many students, whether this is by depriving them access to support for their needs, or not protecting them from bullying and stigma; and this is something that desperately needs reformation.

The American Medical Device Safety Crisis: To What Extent Should the FDA 510(k)* Pathway be Overhauled?

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Why this topic?

I chose a topic relating to the medical field, as I hope to work in the healthcare industry. I first became interested in the medical device safety crisis after watching the Netflix documentary ‘The Bleeding Edge’. There is a staggering number of people across America who have been severely affected by faulty medical devices, so I thought it would be interesting to take a deep dive into some of the most serious cases regarding medical device failures. It was also interesting to hear patients’ stories on the subject, and to learn about the importance of patient safety in the healthcare world.

What did you discover?

I came to the conclusion that this pathway should be fully overhauled. From my research, I have found that a large number of pharmaceutical companies have been accused of conducting little to no clinical testing, before selling their medical devices and implants. There was also evidence to suggest that manufacturers may exploit the systems put in place by healthcare organisations, to prioritise their profit over the patient safety. I think that this is something the American government should address, in order to prevent injuries due to medical devices from being such a widespread issue in the future. *Process manufacturers take to get their devices approved and sold on the market. The problem with the process is that it does not have tight testing regulations - which leads to faulty devices.

Medical Education - Alice To what extent are medical students prepared for procedures during their university undergraduate course?

Why this topic?

What did you discover?

My choice of topic was driven by my desire to My EPQ highlights the challenge in visualising the incorporate both Product Design and Clinical veins under dark complexions and in elderly skin.

Practice by providing a solution to a common The veins are not easily visualised under darker experience shared by everyone, blood-taking. complexions compared to lighter complexions.

Though a simple procedure, a variety of factors Similarly, the vessels in elderly patients are more can impact your experience. My EPQ focuses on difficult to anchor due to changed skin tension. two groups in the community that share a Taking this into consideration, I designed a common problem when their blood is taken, the prototype that replicated the elbow pit of a Black, black community and the elderly. Medical elderly woman with simulated veins under the skin undergraduates are not usually exposed to to assist the undergraduate to identify the veins. In these factors when they start learning about and addition to that, the prototype will help the practising venepuncture during their training. undergraduate apply appropriate pressure on the This leads to both undergraduates and patients skin at the time of needle insertion. In summary, being put at a disadvantage, especially in an my EPQ was designed to address the challenges emergency situation. My EPQ strives to improve that healthcare professionals face when taking the experience of the patient by providing a blood from dark skinned and elderly patients. The level of comfort, and the healthcare professional outcome will help overcome these issues for the by helping them to develop the appropriate benefit of health professionals and patients skills.. ’s more…

But wait, there tition orrow' compe m o T r fo e lv o .I cross the 'S PQ idea forward E y When I came a m t u p I l, e n s Careers chan nuary that I wa a J through the HE in d e rm fo when I was in tition. I was so excited 2 of the compe se a h P in te a ip artic Design shortlisted to p by specialists in d e st o h s p o sh le work msung attended multip h to visit the Sa g u o n e ky c lu s and wa May, I and Marketing rkshop. On 12th o w n o rs e -p in y for an invited to House in Surre dges and was ju f o l e n a p a g KX in siness idea to 5th at Samsun 2 pitched my bu y a M n o y n o rds Cerem ced 2nd attend the Awa announce I pla to y p p a h ry ! ndon. I am ve e competition th f o Kings Cross Lo ry o g te a lop e 16-18 c ssions to deve Runner Up in th se g n ri to n e m months of 1-2-1 Flip 4!

I won £1000, 3 amsung Galaxy S w e n e th d n r, a my idea furthe

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Brianna, Y8

Brianna, Y8 Lyra, Y12, for Remembrance Day

Brianna, Y8

Brianna, Y8 Brianna, Y8

Natasha , Y8

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Brianna, Y8

mith int S ose a S Miss cho . to sked t a p all e e W .E D rom f P e m a th at g te and innin g talent w r i came in the port at they s e th wh his is with...

T .

S WH up

Katie, Y12

Elana, Y12

Wheelchair Basketball on the Great Britain Pathway programme

Rowing star with a fantastic future ahead!

Nikol, Y10

Football - future Lioness!

Lola, Y13

Charlotte, Y10

Lily, Y11 Gymnastics – Medallist at the Club Champs in Florida Hockey - England 15-18 Elite Training Programme

Tennis - Superb national player (watch out Wimbledon) but also a very brilliant badminton player

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Maisie, Y11

Niamh, Y9

Saskia, Y13

Rugby - Always a calming influence to the team, looked up to by the younger players.

Ultimate Frisbee - U20 GB Womens Squad 2 years in a row, and will play in Euros in Padua.

Netball - interception queen (silent assassin)

Emma, Y10 Lucy, Y13

Mia, Y7 England 15-18 Elite Hockey Training Programme

Netball - Super captain, great commitment and team spirit. Super versatile player.

Katie, Y13

Dance - Talent Scholarship at Institutes for the Arts Barcelona! A truly inspirational Captain.

Ultimate Frisbee - Leading, organising and coaching the Ultimate Frisbee club and Team this year

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I'm a teacher in the textiles department, and my favourite thing is getting to see the passion from the students.

Honestly, I like to try all sorts of things such as beading and other hand crafts, but I never did one thing for too long until embroidery. But now, I could sit for the whole day doing it. At the beginning I was inspired by my family so I wanted to embroider them.

I think textiles is great for the fact that you don’t need to buy clothes as often and can make them unique! Here are some brilliant projects from this year.

Brianna , Y8

Natasha , Y8

I really enjoy travelling and seeing the world so I decided to choose an animal (the elephant) to represent that.

Inspired by : minimalism "I chose fish since they symbolise luck.This was the first time I tried sewing, and it was really fun!"

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Sketches by Brianna Y8 and Aisha Y9

" I wanted to be ambitious so I put panels to challenge myself and because I genuinely liked the designs (I’d added them to my Year 8 bag too). I like the creativity in textiles and being able to design your own things based on what you like! "

Alexandra , Y9 Inspired by : summer, the time of year and my friends.

Maya , Y9 Georgia, Y10

Cleo , Y10

Inspired by : fashion at the moment. " I really enjoy the freedom of creativity in textiles. "

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Sketches by Poppy Y10 and Georgia Y10

Welcome to Product Design!

The architectural model of a lamp, Amelie Y13

One of the things that I like the most about Product Design at Wycombe High are the amazing machines and processes that are available to us as students. This means that we don’t have to restrict our designs as much as in other schools: if there are problems along the way during manufacture, then the teachers will always work with us to resolve them.

The architectural design of a lamp, Lucy, Y13

The design for a 3D lamp, Matylda, Y7

A great thing about Design & Technology at Wycombe High that I am grateful for is that we have been able to use as many materials/ machines as possible, to which we have more creative freedom to design our chosen product. I have really enjoyed learning how to use power tools, as well as adding electronics work to my design.

Additionally, there is a real collaborative approach to Design & Technology at Wycombe High, with peers supporting each other during those challenging times, whilst utilising the various skill sets of each of the teachers.

Design for a light box, Kavya, Y7

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With over 100 clubs and societies at WHS, there are so many to choose from! If you are looking for something new next year, take a look at these options…

History Society Maddie & Azzura No time like the present to find out about the past!

History Society is back in full swing this year, with discussions and presentations from all years. We’re a lively community of debate and conversation; a chance to learn more about cultural history, art and forgotten eras. From swashbuckling pirates to the rise and fall of empires, great artists to popular movements, there’s something for everyone. The study of history is vital to understanding our world - there’s #notimelikenow to find out about the events of yesterday.As said by John Jay Chapman: “The enduring value of the past is the very basis of civilisation.” We look forward to seeing all budding historians in C317 on Tuesday lunchtimes!

Debate Society Y10-13 Serren I joined the debate club as I love politics and learning about different viewpoints and how people back up their controversial ideas with little evidence. Debate club is perfect for even more reasons, such as looking at current world affairs and extreme views in politics.

It’s great fun as we get to see many people's unique styles of debating and ideas related to obscure topics as well as debating them yourselves even if you do not agree with the motion. I recommend it to all even if you don’t have an interest in politics, as it’s so fun and interesting.

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Senior Politics Politics Society is a place of debate, discussion, and democracy. There really is no time like the present to learn about politics - it's constantly changing and that's what makes it so interesting!

You never know what's going to happen from one week to the next - whether that be a new scandal, new law announced, or sometimes a completely new government! Politics society has been so much fun this year, as we’ve been able to spend time doing what we love – debating and learning about a wide range of issues that different members feel passionate about. From politicians who deny climate change to communists, Politics Society has a topic for everyone to discuss!

Junior Politics Junior Politics Society is a great opportunity for all students in years 7-10 to engage in international politics, debate on important issues and learn about new ideas and perspectives. According to our current members, it is enjoyable because the topics covered are ‘engaging’ and ‘very interesting’, with debates being the most loved activity because ‘you get to share and hear views you might not have considered before' and 'all opinions are valid’. There really is ‘No Time Like Now’ for young people to be involved in politics, with current events affecting every aspect of our lives and the news changing each day. Our club is the best way for younger years to understand these events and learn about thought-provoking ideas to share with friends and family!

MESME Club MESME club is part of a national charity that aims to develop the mathematical reasoning skills of younger students. The Year 7 students enjoying learning to think outside the box and how to consider new, fascinating concepts that they wouldn’t learn in class. Here, they can work in a small team and try to solve thought-provoking questions together! We cover everything from parity to conditioning and recursion to game trees. The mentors also love working closely with the students to take them on new mathematical adventures, by teaching them new skills and ways of thinking that they (or even us!) had not noticed before. We also take pride in improving their skills outside of the maths world, by showing students how to express and share their thoughts confidently. This is the perfect opportunity to learn how to be a good mathematician: adventurous, articulate and accepting!

Junior Myth Club The example below of the termly sacrifice speaks for itself.

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Med Soc (Sixth Form) Maryam, Y12 Are you interested in a career that involves improving people’s lives through their healthcare? Keen to pursue a path in biology? Either way, MedSoc is the perfect club for you to join - right now! The important thing is that you don’t need to be a budding doctor to be welcomed into our club. The time to join is now. UCAS applications, personal statements, interviews - these are only a handful of the dreaded words that instil nerves in so many of us.

But not to worry! At MedSoc, we invite guest speakers such as health professionals, interviewers, and current university students. Year 12s also have the opportunity to ‘interview’ Year 13s. We traverse topics that are ‘hot’ and relevant in the medical world, and everyone gets a chance to present during our sessions. My favourite is when we do SpeedDebating, exploring ethical dilemmas in the medical world. We hope to see you all soon!

We asked MedSoc, if they could be any body part, what would they be and why?

They had some interesting and really funny conversations, and this is what they came up with!

Maryam: A cell (not sure if this counts as a body part!) - to the human eye and under a light microscope seems very basic and disinteresting. The extra cellular appearance is deceivingly simple, yet the ultrastructure is unique and fascinatingly intricate!

Varya: Again, it is not so much a body part, but I would like to be the immune system. I am inspired by the show ‘Cells at Work’ as blood cells and the immune system are shown as a thriving community that are constantly fighting with ‘monsters’ (viruses and pathogens), and younger cells are getting trained to become the next worker generation, for example a native t-cell getting matured by a dendritic cell to mature into an effector t-cell.

Everybody works in harmony to keep the system functioning!

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Eloise: I would be the brain because I find it fascinating how the brain could be perceived as a ball of mush, however it is responsible for all of the actions and communications between different parts of the body to keep us alive! i have always wondered how something that looks like it could be so little does so much.

MUSIC

Terry an d the Vu ltures: A va, Zoe, Ria & Sa mi

Terry and the Vultures, Y12 Band night is always a highlight of the year at Wycombe High School for all the bands that meet up for Rock and Pop Club weekly. The event is a great opportunity to showcase our talents and what we have been working on. With the amazing live music, drinks, food, and all the happy smiles and dancing, the night is a great experience. Our band, Terry and the Vultures, have been performing at Band Night every year since we joined the school, and it’s great to see all the years interact, from the Year 7s to the Sixth Formers.

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THE MUSICAL Summer, Y12 (Sandy) In February of this year I was very happy to feature in John Hampden and Wycombe High School’s joint musical of Grease! I was overjoyed to be given the role of Sandy and was immediately thrown into rehearsals, first looking at some scenes and then songs. I feel the best part about performing in Grease was the family feel that developed over the rehearsals, with the great sense of build up before the first show. Waiting in the wings and listening to the audience chatter die down as the lights dimmed you could practically hear the anticipation, and the comments made afterwards were great and it seemed everyone had enjoyed the show! My favourite part of the performance was singing the last song on stage with the whole cast and just enjoying the company that we had found. There was an amazing feeling of anticipation that I will always be searching for, and I am very excited to work on another production in the future.

A massive thank you to John Hampden for putting on this production - it was amazing!

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Brianna , Y8

Gemma , Y13

Amelie , Y7

Nia , Y13 Zoe , Y8

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Lyra , Y11

TECH TEAM SHENANIGANS s e n e c S e h t Behind

:

Sarah, Izzy, Katie, Sydney and Mia

Mia, Head of Tech, Y12 I would strongly recommend joining the Tech Team as it gives you an opportunity to partake in school shows - especially if you’re a little stage shy but still want to be involved! It’s a great opportunity to make good friends across year groups with people who have similar interests as you, I know I have made many friends from partaking in tech team for a few years now.

It is very rewarding as you learn a lot of valuable skills such as teamwork, creative thinking and it improves your overall ability to work well under pressure. You even learn how to programme the whole lighting and sound system and work at the little desk at the back of the hall with all the wires! The best bit is performance nights and seeing the audience happy after a successful show. I really liked Highlights this year because I loved watching the different types of dances and getting creative with the Tech on the second night! I recommend joining the tech team for an overall fun and chilled environment with the opportunity to take part in lots of different extracurriculars and shows!

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Picnic at Hanging Rock The entire experience of 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' was definitely one to remember! Becoming friends with people you probably would otherwise never get the chance to talk to was my favourite part of it; we had built a shared sense of comradery (and inside jokes) with each other. The whole cast was on this journey together, and it was rewarding watching it play out before us. As one of the very few (but un-arguably the most dashing) men of the play, my role as the police officer meant I had to change my gait, my register and even certain stances and expressions, which was difficult at first. It was great fun a privilege to be a part of one of Wycombe High's rare naturalistic, non-musical productions.

Yusra, Y13 (Police Officer)

, Lads s d a L , s Lad

The nar rators

The school Girls

Th incree cast an d dible t team ech !

eyard Mrs AppSlara and

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Thanks to Mr Bellars for making every rehearsal fun and being an incredible director!

Alice in Wycombeland!

Perspectives on the Panto zy and Nina, Y13 Su , cy Lu rs to ec ir D e panto this year! The th g in nn ru d ve lo e W in to meet new people panto is a great way n before the end fu ve ha to d an s ar different ye entirely student is n tio uc d ro p s hi T of term! props, and we were e th to t rip sc e th led, from committed cast! We a ch su ve ha to y so luck e derland because w on W in e lic A e os ch clude a variety of thought it would in with w us to experiment lo al d an rs te ac ar ch sure g, we tried to make the plot. When writin l to all year groups ea p ap ld ou w s ke that our jo tely follow the story le p m co t n' id d e w - even if years, we always er g un yo In k! oo b e of th in running the panto ed lv vo in e b to d te wan ghly h Form -we would hi xt Si in e er w e w n whe et the Performer - E in the future if you g vie, Y13 to an p d en m m co re I’ve done lots of WHS panto chance! s and I think th was the best is one yet! I play e d a (somewhat unconvention al) Tweedled um and really enjoyed work ing with the o ther students and staff invo lved. Followin g auditions in October, we h ad just two m onths rehearsing, d ance learning and costume making to bri ng it all togeth er! It was grea to see how m t any students w e re involved in both the actin g and technic al side, which made for a hil arious and tru ly unforgettab production. M le y favourite pa rt o f th e process was of course our performa nces on the la day. Lucy and st Suzy’s fantasti c script really came alive on stage and wa s met with gre reviews from at students and s ta ff. There’s nothing quite like the WHS panto and I w ill m is 46 s it very much!

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s r o t c e r i D The

The SLT

d i d t a h w But e c n e i d u the a think?

Kayleigh , This panto Y7 mime was a m azing right I walked in from the sta to the hall, rt! As I c ould tell th and Wond a t it was Alic erland as th e ere were p walls as we la y in g cards on th ll as a spira e lly light go was going ing round a down the r s if she abbit hole. the show th T h e n , later on in ere was so me crowd songs and participatio “he’s behin n with d you!” It w hilarious sh as a really ow especia lly since lo had roles in ts of the te the play an achers d M r Bell was th Dame, whe e pantomim re he playe e d the Quee was one of n of Hearts the best sc . This hool perfor ever seen a m a n ces I have nd it was a really nice way to end the term!

! t s a C The

The Impo

sters...

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We can’t wait to see what the WHS Pantomime will be this year… if you want to get involved, watch out for auditions in the Autumn Term!

Lucy, Y13 Dance Captain This year we have been so fortunate to see the return of ‘Highlights’ gym and dance show following COVID, and what a show it was! From rehearsing every week in lunchtime clubs, it was amazing to showcase the talent WHS has to offer. The shows were a great opportunity to showcase what the students achieve outside the classroom and we saw this through amazing pieces including Bollywood, tap, lyrical, trampette to name a few. Many students also choreographed and showcased their own pieces in ‘Spotlights’ alongside pieces from DPG, Senior dance and Junior dance and displayed such high levels of talent and enjoyment in dance. The gym squads performed a number of impressive routines and of course the trampette performance which was an audience favourite!

Dance Squad It was a fabulous 2 nights and an incredible atmosphere which was thoroughly enjoyed by all involved and so rewarding to showcase everyone’s hard work and dedication over the year! A huge well done to all the cast and of course none of this would have been possible without Mrs Urquhart and the support of Miss Harris and Miss Williams who we are all so grateful for! It was a great end to a great year of dance, roll on Highlights 2024!

Ballet - Eleanor and Edie, Y12

Dance and Gym Captains, Y13

Junior Gym Squad

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Trampettes!

Salma, Y8 Dance at WHS is absolutely amazing all year round. We work with the dance captains and learn new routines every week and we learn so many new styles and have fun with all our friends.

There’s an opportunity for everyone here whether you audition for a spot in the dance performance group, try out a dance club or perform a self made piece in the school dance showHighlights. The rehearsals near the show were so enjoyable and there was a lot of preparation done by students, teachers and technicians. All the hard work definitely payed off and Highlights was an incredible experience for everyone watching and performing. I loved the feeling of waiting in the stage wings getting ready to go on and having fun with friends in the dressing rooms. I would highly recommend anyone to try out dance in WHS because it’s a great experience!

Felicity, Y7 A soon as I joined WHS I knew I was going to try out for the dance performance group.

During the months coming up to highlights we were practising every week with Lucy, our dance captain, who would choreograph and teach us all of the routines! When it came to highlights we all worked together to put on the best performance we could. All the cocaptains made their contributions as the best role models! I was also a part of the Junior Dance Group which was choreographed by Edie and Mia who made 2 amazing routines. I would also like to shout out the Gym Squad run by Rufaro and Lola for putting on an amazing performance and having eye-catching routines full of tricks, being a part of this was the best experience! You won’t regret joining.

A huge thanks to Miss Urquhart who makes all the magic happen in the first place!

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Bollywood Kunjul, Y13 Bollywood Dance Club started in 2021 for Wycombe High, and so did my opportunity to immerse myself with teaching and the younger years. Thanks to Miss Urquhart, the chance to show how our club excels was given to my team.

This amazing prospect was called Highlights, and I believe that my club demonstrated an outstanding number of skills.

The experience of Highlights was a nervewrecking and daunting one, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless. I don’t think there is quite anything like the glamorous lighting falling across your face as you exhale and begin your hard-practiced routine.

Gym

Hollie, Y12 Gymnastics is a sport full of eye catching and jaw dropping skills that never fails to put audiences in a state of shock. This year we have been able to see great potential across the year groups. We have competed in competitions which got through to National Finals where we placed 7th overall out of 14 teams and 2nd in the state schools! We learn new routines singularly and in groups as well as trying out the vault and new skills on the trampette. Not only do we get to showcase our talents in a competitive form but also at the end of every school year at Sports Day for friends and teachers to see and at Highlights every two years. The routines learnt for Highlights and Sports Day take on a more relaxed and fun view. This allows a vast range of performances to be shown across the year.

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Viktor, Y10 Noble, Y8 Martha , Y8

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'S FAVOURITE MOMENTS

This year WHTV celebrated its 2nd birthday. Here are some of the highlights as told by its stars...

My highlight would be the amazing opportunities tha t came my way whilst working as an Apprentice Reporter for the Women's Team at Wycombe Wanderers. Having the pri vilege to get to know the thr ee female teams and their coaches gave me valua ble insight not only into the world of football reporting, but also into the sheer talent within women's football. Additionally, having the opportunity to watch the Wycombe Wand erers match against Burton Albion from the Me dia Team's perspective wa s an eye-opening experience, and I even had the chance to interview Ca ptain Joe Jacobson and Manager Gareth Ainsw orth! My first live radio expe rience was as a guest on BBC 3 Counties Radio wi th Farzana Choudry, which was an honour to be recognised for my achieve ments, as I had contributed to the club winning the FA Sports Award for Best So cial Media. The support fro m the WHTV team, I will be forever grateful for, since it has provided me with ma ny unique opportunities and unforge ttable experiences.

Amani, Y10

nting V is prese T h ig H e comb lunchtime t from Wy n a e g m in o d m n e rite d a n d sp My favou enting an s much fun re o s p s re a o w . It g . I ad on I the news st amazin ju is e g to a pers v in lo k I a t e a p h s w joy doing agined . l also en le, so I im ll p e o w e t p n e r to talking nd it all w tick to ou a s t to u o re b u a s care t make know and love to ge iends. We ld fr u y o m w I h . it e ut w I od tim hanging o ving a go ut for now a b h r, ll e ti ld s o e whil n I’m be deadlines n e ws wh e e th h at Wycom it g w o in d rt o to p the re into a job lping with e h y p p a am very h high.

Faith, Y8

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What an incre dible school!

I started work media officer ju ing here as a st last Novemb er – but when the rich and exc I think about a iting stories th ll e student-led T it doesn’t feel V c h a n nel run, possible that it’s been such think my favou a sh o rt rite moments a time. I re usually real news being a liv e re a ctions to nnounced, su ch as Wycom the title of ‘Be b e H ig h earning st School in B ritain’ – but th enjoy watchin e n I also really g the amazing footage of sch students bring o o l tr ips that the back. I have to be honest and every second say I enjoy of this job!

Miss Keeble W atson

It’s Hanna h

Fry!

Staff re actions!

o Mang

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DIVERSITY AT WHS eek w l a n o i t a Intern Culture day was a request made by many students at our school, so we decided to become diversity reps to organise a day where everyone was able to express their culture and be appreciated during International Week. Though the whole school was not able to participate in dressing up, they were able to learn lots about the significance of cultural clothes through a PowerPoint made by the Head of Diversity. The day proved to be very fun and it was a great experience for 6th form learning about one another's heritage. It was wonderful to see the 6th formers confident in expressing their cultural backgrounds and sharing stories with their friends. The atmosphere in Miller had transformed entirely into excited chatter and heartfelt memories were made over the course of the day! We are looking forward to doing this every year and encouraging other year groups to join in so we can learn more about our students who have come from all over the world. It has been a really unique experience and we were so happy to have finally arranged the first ever Culture Day at WHS. Selina and Mysha, Y12

Culture Day

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IDIOMS

Spanish Cara, Y11

Ser la leche Literal translation: To be the milk Actual meaning: To be amazing!

There are so many wonderful languages spoken by students and staff alike at WHS, but some of them have some funny and wacky phrases! Here are a few examples from students …

Urdu Ummayyah , Y9

‫اک انار سو بیمار‬

(pronounced ‘aik anar sau bimar’) Literal translation: One pomegranate, 100 sick Actual meaning: Several people pursuing only one common thing

Italian

Japanese Amna, Y9

猿も木から落ちる

(proverb pronounced ‘saru mo ki kara ochiru‘) Literal translation: Even monkeys fall from trees Actual meaning: No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes

Arianna , Y11

’In bocca al lupo’ ‘Crepi il lupo!’

Literal translation: ‘In the mouth of the wolf‘ ‘Wolf die!’

Actual meaning: Break a leg! It’s my favourite saying cause I’ve always found it really funny as it doesn’t really seem to make sense!

Thai Miss Bowles, Geography Teacher

กินข้าวยัง

Greek Mrs Zafeiriadou, Physics teacher , NMAPS

Ρίχνει καρεκλοπόδαρα Literal translation: It throws chair legs Actual meaning: The same meaning as ‘It’s raining cats and dogs’!

Μου έψησες το ψάρι στα χείλη Literal translation: You grilled the fish on my lips Actual meaning: You have made my life very difficult/you made me suffer

(pronounced ‘gin khao rue yang’) Literal translation: Have you eaten (rice) yet?

Actual meaning: It's great because it's often used instead of Hi/How are you doing and shows the importance of food and eating together in Thai culture

Το αυτί του δεν ιδρώνει Literal translation: His ear doesn't sweat Actual meaning: He is insensitive And her favourite…

eiriadou: f a Z s r Ζήσε Μάη μου, να φας τριφύλλι!

M m o is it ( Fun Fact fr s m io Literal translation: Live my May, to eat clover! e is full of id g a u g n la k m e h t Gree f Actual meaning: For something that is uncertain eo ,000). Som 0 1 e b o ! t to happen, or it will take a very long time said ient Greece c n A s a r a f as 55 come from

Dear WHS Staff, Please suspend belief for a minute and imagine you have been shipwrecked indefinitely on a desert island, alone. Your basic needs are provided for - food, water, oxygen. You are also provided with a religious text of your choice and the full works of Shakespeare. You now have the choice of one song, one book and one item to keep you company forever.

Welcome to...

WHS DESERT ISLAND DISCS

MRS HOUCHIN - Geography MR WALPOLE - Latin

Song: Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac Book: The Barrytown Trilogy - Roddy Doyle (officially 3 books but you can get them all together in one, so technically not a rule break!)

Item: Sewing machine and unlimited fabric and thread (I know I am pushing the rules of the game but I will forego my religious text)

I would choose the Bible, but in the original Greek and Hebrew. And I'd like to swap the complete works of Shakespeare for the complete works of Plato.

Song: Handel's Messiah because it's 3 hours long, so I'm less likely to get bored of it.

Book: Liddle & Scott's Ancient Greek Lexicon, out of necessity more than anything else, if I'm doing all this translation.

Item: A lifetime's supply of pens and paper.

MR SHEEHAN - History

MR CROCKER - Physics Song: Bohemian rhapsody - Queen (Never gets boring and was number one when I was born) Book: No need for a book as I'll be on the PS6 all the time.

Item: PS6 with unlimited online games subscription

Song: New York Girls - Bellowhead Book: The Lord of the Rings trilogy (often comes as one book so does not count as 3) Item: A Nintendo Switch with a copy of the Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom (it’s a ridiculously long game that I do not have the time to play, infinite time on an island might allow me to eventually get 100%)

MR WADE - Chemistry

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Song: Human Anatomy for Artists. I would finally have the time to learn in depth Book: My Audible app with my entire book catalogue (rule bending in the extreme). I don't really listen to music.

Item: A3 sketchbook, pens, pencils and rubbers

MS GADD - Art

MR BINKS- History

Song: This is the hardest!! But I will have to go with Liberation - Outkast Book: Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer Item: Pencil, and paper

Song: Only the Lonely - Roy Orbison. My dad always played Orbison in the car when we were kids, driving to Blackpool, Whitby or France. He would sing terribly – I follow boldly in his vocal footsteps.

Every time I hear it I am back in a Ford Sierra going over the Pennines with my family. It would definitely help me escape.

Book: The Gallows Pole – Benjamin Myers. Again this is about home.

Brilliantly evocative of the valleys and hills around where I grew up in Halifax Item: A tennis ball. I’d be happy for the rest of time if I could just throw and catch a ball. Anyone who is in my lessons has probably already worked this out.

MR CLEJ - English Song: When A Boy Falls In Love - Sam Cooke Book: The Player of Games - Iain Banks Item: Leatherman Surge Multitool

MR THORNTON - Biology Song: Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash. This is one of the songs from my childhood and one of my favourite songs Book: The Lord of the Rings - J R R Tolkien. My favourite book and I do not think I would get tired of reading it. It's a long book so would keep me occupied.

Item: My Pokémon card collection. I would take my Nintendo switch with charger if there was electricity however!

MR RUSHTON - History Song: La Ritournelle - Sebastien Tellier. Partly because it is quite long (7 and a half minutes) so should last me a while and is kind of 2 songs in 1.

But also it’s a very good backing track to a variety of tasks. Good background music.

Book: World War Z - Max Brooks Item: 175 gram Discraft Ultrastar (a frisbee) because they can be used for many things, a plate , a fan, a tray, a shield, a light (if I got one of the glowin-the-dark ones). Also one can pass the time learning to do tricks with it.

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MISS NICOLSON - Spanish Song: Hotel California - the Eagles Book: A Confissão de Lúcio (Lucio's Confession) Item: 5.0mm knitting needles and unlimited supply of yarn

MR MARTINEAU - Classics

MISS CALDER - Pyschology Song: If anyone comes in my office regularly enough, they will know I am listening to music 24/7. It's is the first thing I put on when I wake up and often last thing I listen to before I go to sleep! It would have to be Caught Up - Usher.

Book: Behind Closed Doors - B.A. Paris. I am not the biggest reader, but this book definitely satisfied by psychologically inquisitive brain! I reckon I could read it again and the ending would still take me by surprise.

Item: I will have to be boring and say some sort of lip balm as I cannot be without it!!

Song: I find this one incredibly difficult. Probably Shake it Off - Taylor Swift.

Book: I know the Bible is included but I would actually ask for an individual paper back edition of the Book of Psalms which I could annotate.

Item: My laptop

MS SAXON - Biology Song: Robert Miles, Children Book: Life of Pi Yann Martel Item: Dance shoes

MR STEELEY - Chemistry Song: Murder Mitten by I See Stars Book: Harry Potter Series (to read for the first and only time) Item: Guitar (Acoustic Electric with Amp and Foot Pedals)

MR JACK - History

MRS WINGROVE

Song: 2112 - Rush. (This song lasts 20:37 minutes and includes many different interesting parts so will be less likely to become boring) Book: Ulysses - James Joyce Item: Acoustic Guitar

Song: Mr Blue Sky by ELO – it makes me smile!

Book: The Jaipur Trilogy by Alka Joshi with Where the Crawdads Sing sliped inside!

Item: Photo Album of my family

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MR QUESNELL - Computer Science

MR PIKE - Politics & History Song: IFA Wartburg - Freie Deutsche Jugend Book: George Orwell - Homage to Catalonia Item: A big box of Lego

Song: (Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Reading. I don’t need to explain why.

Book: A photo book of my friends and family. I’d probably lose interest with just one reading book, that wouldn’t happen looking back over past memories.

Item: A surfboard – in the hope there is a surfable break but if there isn’t then it’s my vessel out of there.

MRS ROBINSON - History Song: Supper's Ready by Genesis as played by Steve Hackett's 'Genesis Revisited' band Book: Tess of the d'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy Item: Endless supply of fresh dressed lobster as caught off the North Norfolk coast.

MISS BOWLES - Geography Song: Wayfaring Stranger (versions by different singers for some variety e.g by Johnny Cash or Emmylou Harris or Burl Ives...)

Book: Moby Dick - Herman Melville Item: A Machete for wood working fun

MRS JOHNSON - History & Politics

MR HOUSTON - Maths Song: Everlong - Foo Fighters Book: Speed Solving Rubiks Cubes Item: Rubiks Cube

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I'm not a religious person but I have recently been reading The Story of China by Micheal Wood and would like to read the Buddhist texts Faxian took to China in the 5th Century. I think Buddhism would be fascinating to know more about.

Song: Bad Idea - The Devil Makes Three. A fantastic band I discovered a few years ago and my son and I like nothing better than singing it loudly in the car.

Book: The Instance of the Fingerpost - Iain Pears. A brilliant historical novel I have recently reread, in an age of social media madness, it makes you think how differently people perceive the same events.

Item: Canvases and Acrylic Paints. I started to paint landscapes over lockdown and it's the best way to relax.

Photo goes here?

From the Magazine Team 2023…

We hope you enjoyed reading this year's WHS Magazine as much as we enjoyed making it. As you can see, it has been a very busy year at Wycombe High, and hopefully this gave you just a small idea of what has been going on (yes, there was even more!).

Thank you for everyone who sent writing, photos and artwork to be included in this Magazine - without you it would be quite empty!

We all can’t wait to see next year's edition. Any current Y11s, it’s your turn next! Make sure to keep an ear out for interviews in the Autumn Term, after all, there's No Time Like Now to start thinking about it...

And finally, a massive thank you to Mr Binks for being in charge and always full of brilliant ideas!

We hope you all have a lovely summer!

Asma, Lyra, Mariam, Nysa & Anna 60

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WHS Magazine 2023

No time like now