the
AUTUMN EDITION
SINCE 1909
30% NEWS, 70% REDESIGN
01 – school news
02 – world news
03 – culture
04 – history
05 – opinion
06 – science
07 – photography
08 – sport
09 – horoscopes & crossword
KILT
On Friday 30th September, people
up and down the UK were inspired
to get out their mixers and start
baking; CCHSG was no exception!
MACMILLAN
COFFEE MORNING
SUCCESS!
‘…the cakes were flying off the tables…’
'…the charitable spirit of all those
involved in the coffee morning was
clear…'
'…so many people came and we sold out
in minutes…!'
TURN OVER FOR MORE!
ALSO INSIDE THIS EDITION:
HISTORY, HOMEWORK, HALLOWEEN!
STARS, STRIPES &
PRESIDENTIAL HYPE
DAISY THOMAS
What does the date
November 8th 2016
mean to you? It
might not be an
important date in
your life right now
but on November
8th, the whole of
America will be
waiting with baited
breath to hear the
results of the 58th
Presidential election.
See PAGE 3 for more.
On October 10th the second
Presidential debate took
place: the Republican and
Democrat candidates took
part in a town hall style
'…although key
issues were
discussed, the
debate was full of
personal
accusations and
character attacks
between the two
candidates…'
debate where questions
were taken from undecided
voters, both online and in
the audience. In comparison
to the first 2016 Presidential
debate, which focused on
six different topics, this
debate contained more
direct questions from the
people of America,
discussing their own
concerns, with questions
ranging from Health and
Obamacare to battling
Islamophobia.
01 school news
EMMA SHARPE
THE MACMILLAN COFFEE
MORNING
`
On Friday 30th September,
people up and down the UK
were inspired to get out their
mixers and start baking;
CCHSG was no exception!
Organised by the sixth form, the coffee morning
was a sweet success, raising a fantastic total of
£412.59. The money raised at the bake sale will
be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support, to
help care for those with cancer, making sure
that ‘no one walks alone’.
It was a matter of first come first served at the
bake sale; the cakes were flying off the tables
and it was only a matter of time before they
were all scone, with everything on offer being
completely sold out. While everything certainly
went down a treat, it seems that the brownies
were the most popular item for sale. The
winner of the brownie crown is, however, still
undecided, as 12C’s Oreo brownies and 12S’
1
chocolate brownies, which were both described
as “delicious”, have left both forms unwilling to
concede defeat. Nevertheless, I think that we
can all agree that they gain significant brownie
points for contributing to such a successful sale!
enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their dietary
requirements. Genie Davidson, a newbie to the
vegan community, commented, “I’ve never had
a vegan cookie before but they were delicious
and I couldn’t even tell the difference!”
‘…the charitable spirit of all
those involved in the coffee
morning was clear…’
The charitable spirit of everyone involved in the
coffee morning was clear, whether they played
the part of baker, seller or ‘cake connoisseur’/
taster. Clara McElroy in Year 13 told The KILT
she thought the sale was “very successful - so
many people came and we sold out in a matter
of minutes! The cookies sold by 13C were
probably my favourite, although I didn’t get to
try as many as I would have liked!”
Year 12’s Hannah Abdly brought a savoury twist
to the occasion with her home baked sausage
rolls , offering an alternative to those who had
the willpower to resist the myriad of delicious
cakes for sale: “surprisingly they all sold out,”
she told The KILT.
Along with selling the traditional treats, the
bake sale was shaken up by 12C’s milkshakes,
which proved popular with many of those who
attended. Tabitha Stock also stood up to
convention, proving that, contrary to popular
belief, butter and chocolate are not essential for
a good bake as her vegan cookies could be
The huge success of the CCHSG coffee morning
is thanks to all those who participated, from the
sixth formers who brought home- made and
shop bought goods to the faithful patrons who
attended the bake sale - proving that raising
money for a worthwhile cause truly is a piece of
cake.
01
PHILIP MORANT BANS
HOMEWORK…
COULD CCHSG BE
NEXT?
KATIE THACKER GETS
THE SCOOP
Should homework be banned?
It’s a question that has
heated the blood of Critical
Thinking students since the
dawn of time. But what was
once hypothetical is now a
reality, as one school has
finally 'banned’ homework.
The Philip Morant School and College has sent
shockwaves through schools and councils, even
making national news, by becoming the first
school in England to ban homework without
extending school hours.
The school has informed pupils and parents that
they will “no longer set homework”, but will
instead let students select their own optional
tasks in return for rewards. The head teacher,
Catherine Hutley, told the Daily Gazette that
teachers will use the valuable time previously
spent on setting and marking homework to plan
lessons more precisely, catering to the needs of
each student in their class.
The benefits of a no homework system include
allowing students to have more free time to
develop as a person, allowing them to
undertake new hobbies and further research
the topics that interest them. By removing the
stress of looming deadlines, it could promote an
improved mental health and more positive
attitude to learning, as students can now take
greater responsibility for their own learning and
develop skills critical for higher education.
"Finland has practically no
homework, yet has one of the
best education systems in the
world...”
But could this work on a nationwide scale?
Finland has practically no homework, yet has
one of the best educational systems in the
world due to experienced teachers, small
classes and long breaks, resulting in an
impressive 93% graduation rate. Perhaps hours
of maths equations and French grammar after
school are not the only way students can excel
in education.
However, before you start a change.org petition
clamouring for a homework ban at our school,
you must also consider the benefits of
homework. It helps to improve thinking skills
and memory as the information learnt in class is
consolidated through practice questions, which
also aim to improve exam technique, ultimately
helping to achieve higher grades in tests. We
acquire time management skills and learn the
importance of prioritising tasks. Subjects can be
explored more thoroughly than in a one-hour
period and teachers can monitor students with
the information it provides, allowing them to be
better supported
I’m not the world’s biggest homework fan and
to me it’s somewhat like running on a treadmill:
it’s hard work, tiring and if you stop for just a
minute you could trip up. However, there are
benefits and in the long run it can really help.
PRIYANKA ALEXANDER
A NEW LANGUAGE AT CCHSG
The languages department at
CCHSG recently started a new
languages club in addition to
German and French language
leaders and Chinese art club Malayalam club.
Run by Mrs Roshen, members meet every
Wednesday in the iLab and take part in South
Indian and Indian activities.
Malayalam is a language from South India,
2
originating from the tropical state of Kerala.
The first session saw a big turnout, especially
from Year 9, which had 25 students come to
learn more about the language. There were
even some native speakers, including club
leader Mrs Roshen.
During the second session, students discussed
typical Malayalam greetings as well as the
harvest festival of Onam, which marks the
homecoming of a famous king into the state of
Kerala. The club also looked at Onam clothes
and the festival's story.
Malu club is also preparing an Indian Bollywood
dance to be performed at the 'Evening of
Languages' in July, along with the French and
German plays. Hopefully this year's 'Evening'
will be as successful as last year's!
If you want to join Malayalam club, come along
to the ilab at 12:50 every Wednesday.
`
02
world news
DAISY THOMAS
STARS, STRIPES & PRESIDENTIAL HYPE
What does the date November 8th
2016 mean to you? It might not be
an important date in your life right
now but on November 8th, the
whole of America will be waiting
with baited breath to hear the
results of the 58th Presidential
election.
On October 10th the second Presidential debate
took place; the Republican and Democrat candidates
took part in a town hall style debate where
questions were taken from undecided voters both
online and in the audience. In comparison to the
first 2016 Presidential debate, which focused on six
different topics, this debate contained more direct
questions from the people of America, discussing
their own concerns, with questions ranging from
Health and Obamacare to battling Islamophobia.
The phrase "Please allow her to respond, she didn't
talk when you were talking" might sound like
something you'd hear in a school classroom but
unfortunately this phrase had to be uttered multiple
times throughout the course of the evening due to
Donald Trump's persistent interruptions during
Hillary Clinton's response time. Although issues of
great importance were discussed, the debate was
full of personal accusations and character attacks
between the two candidates, leading to Trump
admitting to avoiding Federal Income Tax and
pledging to jail Secretary Clinton should he become
President.
Ending the evening on a more civil and positive note,
an audience member asked the candidates to
describe one positive aspect of their opponent;
Clinton praised Trump's children whilst Trump
described Clinton as "a fighter".
Neither candidate can claim to be perfect (except
Trump "I consider myself too perfect" – Jan 2014),
but when we personally consider America’s
potential future, we should consider what each
candidate has to offer both young people and young
women just like us, sitting in classrooms reading
their own school newspapers, somewhere in
Washington or Kansas or New York. This is their
future and, partially, it's yours too.
However the American people vote, November 8th
will go down in history and affect us here as well as
in the US. When all the campaigns are over and the
hype is stripped back, take a look at the people
behind the plans. Would you 'Make America Great
Again' or do you 'Stand With Her'?
EIRYS PROSELKOV
A POST-BREXIT PLAN FOR THE UK
On October 2nd, Theresa May
stood
in
front
of
the
Conservative Party Conference
and declared her plans for Brexit,
following the results of the EU
referendum.
Essentially, May wants a united United Kingdom to
leave the European Union, decide its own laws
and prosper as a sovereign state. But actions are
what matter and she promises that Article 50 will
be triggered no later than March 2017, officially
beginning the two-year process to leave the EU.
By March 2019 at the latest, the UK will
irreversibly no longer be a part of the EU.
May expressed an ambitious vision for Britain;
though we will keep our European neighbours,
laws made in the European Court of Justice will no
longer take precedence over our own. She again
stated that the referendum cannot be invalidated,
that we do not need another one and that the
British people have spoken. As she said: “Brexit
means Brexit, and we’re going to make a success
of it.”
3
After thanking her predecessor David Cameron,
May explained that although she aims to secure
maximum security for workers and businesses,
constantly updating the public on all negotiations
would be impractical. The public will instead be
informed at every reasonable point of her
progress. To confirm workers’ stability, the EU
leave will be consistent with current law,
regulations and obligations.
May explained that Article 50 was not invoked
right after the referendum to give time to revise
negotiation strategies and again ensure financial
security regarding employment. This would
improve
discussion
during
negotiations,
strengthening our relationship with other
countries and ultimately getting the UK the best
possible deal. It was also made clear that it is the
government’s responsibility alone to exit the EU,
meaning that it will not be debated in Parliament.
The SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon’s plans were also
rebutted as May said: “We voted in the
referendum as one United Kingdom” and
consequently “We will leave the European Union
as one United Kingdom.”
She assured people that workers’ rights will be
guaranteed after we leave and are likely to be
increased even further. Since the Labour Party is
dissolving and the Liberal Democrats are
‘insignificant’, it was especially important for May
to push the idea that the Conservatives are for
workers in the absence of a united Labour party.
May stressed that Brexit will be neither ‘hard’ nor
‘soft’. Many believe that a ‘soft’ Brexit still means
that Britain is more or less a part of the EU and
that a ‘hard’ Brexit would be cutting all ties.
Britain will be leaving the EU outright, which does
not make it a ‘soft’ Brexit, but it will be
negotiating to secure the best results. EU laws will
be reviewed keeping those the government agrees
with, so it is not a ‘hard’ Brexit either. She
supports free trade and counter terrorism, but
wants control over EU immigration, something
that we were not previously given.
In leaving the EU, May wants a thriving, global
Britain that’s not just restricted to Europe. We
have the fifth largest economy in the world and
we could develop further in places like the United
States and Australia. May wants us to have
confidence in Britain as British citizens with the
knowledge that we will succeed.
`
03
culture
DITI GUPTA
MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME
FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
Eva Green, Samuel L Jackson and
Asa Butterfield star in Tim
Burton’s brand new time travelling
adventure.
‘Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar
Children’ is Tim Burton’s new fantasy movie
starring Eva Green, Asa Butterfield and Ella
Purnell. This fantastic adventure involves a
boy called Jake whose beloved grandfather
leaves him clues to a mystery that spans
different worlds and times. Soon he
discovers a magical place known as Miss
Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children. But
the mystery and danger deepen as he gets
to know the residents and learns of their
special powers - and their terrifying
enemies. Ultimately, Jake discovers that
PRIYANKA ALEXANDER
THE LATEST
HALLOWEEN TRENDS
This takes pumpkin carving to the
extreme! Instead of just carving a scary
face, try to challenge yourself and carve
a Halloween image or the face of a film
character.
Disney films such as The Nightmare
Before Christmas are a good place to
start.
Get inspired by literature this October!
It is getting very popular to have
parties inspired by books from Gothic
fiction.
Some ideas include parties inspired Dr
Jekyll and Mr Hyde, decorations
shaped like Frankenstein’s monster or
even a Dracula costume.
Why not stage a zombie
apocalypse?
Halloween is the perfect excuse to
joke around with family and friends.
Just remember to stay safe!
4
only his own special peculiarity can save his
new friends. The movie is based on the
novel ‘Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar
Children,’ written by Ransom Riggs. This
fantastic movie was released on the 29th
September 2016.
4/5 kilts
HEATHER DICK
TOP 5 THINGS
ABOUT AUTUMN
1. Autumn weather - some days you wake up and it
seems like you’re back in summer, but others feel
as brisk as a winter’s day
2. Autumn evenings - you can stay in, eat chocolate,
drink tea and watch a movie while a fire’s roaring
3. Autumn food – Sunday Roasts are back in fashion
in autumn; chicken, gravy and all the trimmings fill
you up with delicious warm food
4. Autumn menus – this list would not be complete
without mentioning the return of the legendary
Pumpkin Spice latte, but be quick as it is, of course,
limited edition
5. Autumn changes - looking out the window and
seeing the gradual changes taking place is amazing;
the leaves change to red then brown and one by
one leave the trees bare, signalling the start of
winter
04 history
ISABELLA SANTINI
MY FAVOURITE HISTORICAL
FIGURE
the Tower of London but escaped and fled to
France – exciting stuff!), and, of course, he
recalled Despenser from exile.
Born the son of Edward I and
Eleanor of Castile, Edward II
always had a lot to live up
to…
His father conquered Wales and was nicknamed
the 'Hammer of the Scots'. When he died in 1307,
the 23 year old Edward II inherited an unwinnable
war. He was a naturally unwarlike man, who
preferred rowing, thatching, and other rustic
pursuits. His main defeat came in 1314 at the
Battle of Bannockburn when he was beaten by
Robert the Bruce despite having a much larger
army. However, he is largely remembered for his
unpopular favourites, his relationship with his
nobles, and his eventual deposition at the hands
of his wife and Roger Mortimer.
Edward's first favourite, Piers Gaveston, had been
a knight in Edward's household since adolescence,
and the two were so close that they were
rumoured to be lovers. As soon as Edward
became King, he made Piers the Earl of Cornwall,
and after his wedding to Isabella of France, he
displayed the arms of Piers Gaveston at the
wedding feast instead of Isabella's. Gaveston was
even made regent of the kingdom when Edward
went to France. People were not happy - the
English earls became so worried about Gaveston's
influence on Edward that they forced Edward to
exile him, which he did, but only for a few months
before bringing him back.
In 1312, after a few more attempts at exiling
Gaveston, the earls had had enough, and a band
of noblemen led by Thomas of Lancaster
imprisoned Gaveston at Warwick castle before
unlawfully executing him. Edward had lost the
love of his life and he swore that he would not
bury Gaveston until he had got revenge on the
murderers. In the meantime, Lancaster effectively
took control of the kingdom by keeping a private
army and imposing a series of ordinances with the
backing of other leading nobles.
His life during this period was not entirely bad, at
least. From 1311, he clearly enjoyed a good
relationship with Isabella. She gave birth to their
first child in November 1312, and had three more
5
Unfortunately for Edward, things never quite
seem to go his way. Charles IV, pretty much
unprovoked, attempted to take away Edward's
duchy of Aquitaine. Isabella, Charles' sister, was
sent over to France to negotiate. However, by this
time, her relationship with Edward had broken
down. Hugh Despenser had limited even her
access to Edward, as well as convincing Edward to
confiscate her lands and reduce her income. She
wanted Despenser out of the picture, and once
she was in France, she declared that she would
not return home until Despenser was gone.
Edward, however, would not let Hugh go.
over the next decade. While the couple were on a
trip to Paris in 1313, one chronicler pointed out
how Edward loved his queen with "fine love". He
even wrote that the couple had missed a meeting
with the King of France because they'd overslept
due to some ‘night-time’ activities.
It was not until the 1320s that Edward faced
another serious threat to his kingdom, and this
was the result of yet another unpopular favourite
– Hugh Despenser the Younger, Royal
Chamberlain since 1318. Gaveston had been
arrogant, but Despenser was dangerous, and
Edward was obsessed with him. Despenser used
his position to steal land in South Wales and
nearby areas – even lands belonging to his sisterin-law! He also often denied people access to
Edward unless he or his father were present,
meaning that he was in complete control. The
final straw was when Edward confiscated Gower
in South Wales from another nobleman to give to
Despenser. The earls were furious, and war broke
out. Edward's opponents (the Contrariants)
pillaged their way to London and forced Edward
to send Despenser into exile.
Thomas of Lancaster, Edward's longstanding
enemy, gathered the Contrariants to him and in
March 1322, fought the Battle of Boroughbridge,
which Edward surprisingly enough won. He finally
avenged Gaveston's death and had Lancaster
executed, also rounding up many of the other
Contrariants and imprisoning them (including a
certain Roger Mortimer, who was imprisoned in
Isabella also convinced him to send his heir to
France in order to pay homage to Charles IV, as it
was the only way to keep Aquitaine without a big
war. Now with the heir to the throne, she allied
with Roger Mortimer, raised an army and set sail
for England to take the kingdom, which she did
with remarkably little resistance since by this
point nobody really liked Edward anymore. She
had Hugh killed, deposed Edward, and placed
their son on the throne.
Edward was imprisoned in Berkeley Castle, where
he reportedly died shortly afterwards. A royal
funeral was held, and many believe that Isabella
and Roger had him murdered – after all, keeping a
former king alive was dangerous. However, there
is a more interesting (and well founded) theory
that Edward II actually survived and escaped to
Italy, where he lived out the rest of his days in
peace.
To conclude, Edward is often regarded as one of
the worst rulers in English history, and for good
reason – the guy really just wasn't good at his job.
He was a man who loved too strongly and was too
easily swayed, but he was also a kind man, who
took time to stop and chat to his subjects
whenever he could, who, until his deposition in
1327, made sure Gaveston's soul was prayed for
and his grave well-tended to and who rescued his
wife from a fire single handedly in 1313.
That is why he is my favourite historical figure.
04
KATHERINE COOK
THE GHOSTS OF
HALLOWEEN
PAST
Halloween has always been a
time for focusing on life and
death, the past and the future.
influenced by Feralia, a festival in late October
to commemorate the dead, and one celebrating
Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees,
whose symbol was an apple.
It began as the Celtic festival of Samhain
(pronounced: sah-win), which marked the end
of the harvest, the summer, and the year, since
the Celtic new year began on the 1st of
November. The Celts believed that around the
New Year the line between the living and the
dead blurred, so on Samhain they set places at
their tables for any spirits that might return.
They also built large bonfires, which the Druids
used to make prophecies and to burn sacrifices
to the gods. During Samhain, Celtic people had
a good time and sometimes wore costumes,
much like we do today, although theirs
consisted of animal skins and heads. Later, they
would relight their own hearths from the sacred
bonfire to protect them over the winter.
After those in Celtic territories were converted
to Christianity, celebration of pagan festivals
and beliefs was discouraged. However, given
people’s reluctance to stop celebrating
Samhain, Pope Gregory III decided to create a
Christian version of it. Therefore, he created All
Saint’s Day, which was celebrated on November
1st and incorporated some of the elements of
Samhain. The day before All Saints Day was All
Hallow’s Eve, later called Halloween. On All
Saints Day people could go around to their
neighbours and receive ‘soul-cakes’ in return for
promises to pray for the dead; this is probably
where trick-or-treating comes from!
By 43 A.D., the Romans had conquered most of
the Celtic territory and their own festivals began
to mix with the Celtic ones. Halloween was
When the Pilgrims went to America they took
their Halloween traditions with them and
continued to celebrate it in the New Land. Here
it was influenced by Native American customs
and included singing, dancing, fortune telling
and ghost stories. Then in the second half of the
19th century a new group of immigrants from
Europe, specifically Ireland, popularised the
celebration of Halloween and brought over the
idea of dressing up and going trick-or-treating.
Many young women believed that on
Halloween they could divine their future
husband and there were lots of rituals to help
you: in Scotland you named shells of walnuts
after your suitors then threw them in the fire
and whichever one burnt away would be the
one you’d marry. Another ritual was peeling an
apple then throwing the peel over your
shoulder; when it landed it was supposed to
resemble the first letter of your future
husband’s name.
By the 1930s, Halloween had become a much
more secular, community-orientated holiday. It
was mainly celebrated in America and this is
where many people mistakenly think the
tradition originated, but really when we dress
up and knock on people’s doors looking for
sweets we are taking part in a tradition that
goes back many centuries.
AMELIA DHUGA
OCTOBER - THIS MONTH IN HISTORY
On October 3rd 1990, Germany was
finally reunified after 45 years of
occupation.
Germany currently represents a modern country with
a strong economy and flourishing culture. However,
between 1945 and 1990 the country consisted of East
and West Germany, with each side mirroring the
respective powers controlling it. It is interesting to
uncover the stark contrast between the modern day
Germany we know and the problems encompassing
the country less than 30 years ago.
In 1871 Germany unified its many small states in
order to encourage trade and increase power.
Although quickly gaining prestige and a recognised
empire, the consequences of both the First and
Second World Wars were instrumental in the
downfall of Germany’s independence. Following the
defeat of Germany in 1945, the Allies agreed to divide
6
Germany into sections in order to regulate their areas
and ensure continued peace in Europe. However, the
Western Powers joined their zones of Germany in
order to create Federal Republic of Germany in 1949.
As a result Russia, displeased with the growing
strength of Western Germany, set up the German
Democratic Republic.
also contained a Western zone, therefore thousands
of East Germans fled to the democratic West. As a
result, the Communist East German authorities
fortified Western borders and built a wall totally
encircling West Berlin. It was constructed overnight
on 13 August 1961, acting as a symbol for the overt
control the USSR exerted over the next 29 years.
It was during the first years of the Cold War that the
growing divide between Russia and the West lead to
significant differences between East and West
Germany. The stark contrast between democratic
West Germany and communist East Germany soon
became apparent, with East Germany’s centrally
planned economy and harsh policies limiting
economic growth; the oppressive governmental style
of East Germany was resisted by many.
By 1981 continued protests regarding the corrupt
government and lack of freedom led to thousands of
East Germans attempting to leave, particularly on
November 9th 1989, when a few sections of the
Berlin Wall were opened. This opening of the wall
released a wave of mass hysteria, and within months
the East German branch of West Germany's Christian
Democratic Union was elected into power, following
the disintegration of SED (Germany's leading socialist
Party since 1949), which advocated speedy
reunification. And thus Germany was officially
reunified on October 3rd 1990.
It is notable that Berlin itself was a loophole, as
though it was nestled deep in the Eastern zone, it
05
opinion
HARRIET CLARK
LEARNING TO LOVE: GIRLS AND
OUR INSECURITIES
On every magazine cover, on
every billboard, on every
social media site, young girls
are constantly being
bombarded with images of
women.
Many are leggy models, but others are stunning
singers and actresses - there is one thing that
we are always told these people are: the perfect
woman.
So, when picking up a magazine or scrolling
through a Facebook newsfeed, girls are
continuously viewing women who are, of
course, very attractive. But more often than
not, it is one body type that is displayed as
‘beautiful’, and this the image of a size six
twenty-something, possessing a 23 inch waist
and extremely long legs.
But, what happens if I don’t have a tiny waist?
Or if I am five foot two, and can only dream of
being the towering height of models like Karlie
Kloss or Kendall Jenner? Is that the only kind of
woman that the media deems as beautiful?
The simple answer to that question is no, of
course not! So why do so many think that the
response is yes?
In the age of social media and deceiving
perceptions of beauty, it is easy for girls to get
lost in the idea of what true beauty actually is.
Whilst admiring these images, there is often
one thing on the brains of many - the pressure
of perfection.
Perfection, in the eyes of many girls, is the
‘Victoria’s Secret’ model’s body, and due to this
every other body type that is different is
consequently unattractive. Unsurprisingly,
however, there is more than one type of body
shape. Everyone thinks differently, acts
differently and it is therefore unsurprising that
everyone is shaped differently as well. Despite
this, girls often brush over the fact, and still aim
for the fantasy of conforming to one single type
of beauty.
However, this idea of a ‘one size fits all’
appearance is distorted, and quite clearly
absurd. Beauty is not about being perfect.
Beauty is about embracing your imperfections.
Imperfection…the word itself is ‘I’m perfection’
and that is what we should be focusing on,
rather than striving towards an idea of beauty
that is often false due to airbrushing and
Photoshop. Marc Jacobs once said, “I don't love
Photoshop; I like imperfection. It doesn't mean
ugly. Perfection is just... boring. Perfect is
what's natural or real; that is beauty.”
Like a colour spectrum, beauty comes in all
shapes and sizes, be it straight, diamond, pear
or hourglass, to name but a few. This variety
should be embraced by each and every one of
us, and most of all, loved.
So if you have ever felt inadequate, stop.
‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ - it is all a
matter of perception. In this materialistic
society we should stop focusing on how we and
others look – we are all unique and beautiful for
it!
POPPY SUGDEN
iPHONE 7: TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY?
What makes the iPhone 7
different from the rest?
So, I am guessing many of you have seen, or at
least heard, about the new iPhone 7, which was
released recently alongside its brother, the 7+.
But what makes this iPhone different to those
that have come before?
At first glance, it appears almost identical to the
iPhone 6s, but that is as far as it goes. Firstly,
and perhaps most infamously, Apple has
removed the audio headphone jack,
encouraging customers to use their brand new
7
wireless headphones. The iPhone 7 is the same
size as the iPhone 6s, only lighter, making it
more portable.
More major differences between the 6s and 7
are the better quality camera, improved battery
compartments and increased water resistance.
Finally, the classic home screen button has been
replaced; it no longer needs pressing down as it
is instead sensitive to light touch. Meanwhile,
rumour has it that the iPhone 7 is going to be
the last to display any form of home button. It is
said that in future iPhones will have no buttons
at all, being entirely touchscreen. The stand out
features include two speakers, one at each end,
and two camera lenses, one of which is wide
focus for all the budding photographers out
there.
Overall, the iPhone 7 has had very good reviews
and, despite the whopping price tag of £599.99
(for a 32GB), is already very popular worldwide.
06
science
RIA VARSHNEY
NASA’S JUNO CLOSES IN ON JUPITER
On July 4th 2016, NASA’s Juno
spacecraft successfully entered
Jupiter’s orbit.
The £830 million space probe was launched
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on
August 5th 2011, as part of the New Frontiers
program, and has, since then, travelled 1.7
billion miles
detailed map of the planet’s interior. Many
pictures will be taken using the JunoCam to
investigate specific targets on or around
Jupiter’s moons, perhaps even discovering new
ones in the process.
Additionally, Juno will orbit Jupiter's north and
south poles for about one year, showing what
the weather is like there. There may even be
water on the planet.
Juno’s main mission, to investigate the gas giant
more closely, will commence on October 19th,
when the space probe will orbit Jupiter for 518
days (that’s around 37 orbits!)
The space probe will help scientists understand
how Jupiter was made and how it has changed.
New discoveries could help us understand more
about the Solar System in general. Furthermore,
Juno may even aid scientists in learning more
about other stars and planets across the
universe.
Juno is only the second spacecraft to orbit
Jupiter and the first solar powered craft to do
so, following the nuclear powered ‘Galileo’,
which orbited from 1995 to 2003.
When the investigation begins, Juno will map
out Jupiter’s cloud bands and plot the planet’s
immense magnetic field, helping us examine
further the strength of Jupiter’s enormous
forces.
Juno will also gather data to provide us with a
atmosphere and the light around it as well as
taking the first pictures of its poles. Juno is solar
powered so the probe has three large solar
panels around its six-sided body.
Juno has scientific tools to study Jupiter's
Scientists are hoping that they will uncover
secrets of the universe every day that Juno goes
deeper into Jupiter’s orbit.
LILY SNEDDON
IS THIS A DYSTOPIAN WORLD?
In George Orwell’s dystopian
fiction, ‘1984’, there is a language
taking over society – Newspeak.
Qualifiers and prefixes are added
to words to eliminate synonyms
so that ‘thoughtcrime’ can be
stopped. “So what?” you say. “It’s
only a fictional language.”
Except it isn’t.
Take the word ‘sad’ which can be substituted
for ‘unhappy’. The use of this prefix is a basic
example of Newspeak, which is used excessively
in ‘1984’. ‘Really sad’ is referred to as
‘plusunhappy’, or in extreme cases,
‘doubleplusunhappy’. There’s also ‘unkind’
turning into ‘plusunkind’, or ‘doublepluskind’ as
an opposite. So why do we need ‘sad’ or ‘nice’?
8
This eradication of synonyms will not only make
your English teacher ‘doubleplusunhappy’ (sorry
synonym-appreciative English teachers
everywhere), but will make our emotional
expressions a lot more limited.
freedom to communicate, it is difficult to
socialise. This will make it easier for authority to
control large groups of people as they can
control ‘thoughtcrime’ and extreme emotion as
expression can be repressed.
Orwell, when writing the novel, thought that
Newspeak would be used in real life by the year
1984, however he was wrong... by 66 years; it’s
said complete Newspeak will be in use as early
as 2050!
Are there any other Newspeak words we use?
Think of invisible, mismatched and
disapproving. Any word that contradicts
another is an example of Newspeak (but only if
the original word exists by itself). Who’s to say
that soon there won’t be a ‘plusmismatched’ or
‘superplusdisapproving’?
“So next time you go to say
‘unhappy’, stop for a minute and
think.”
The psychological restriction placed on others
by using Newspeak is astronomical. Soon you
end up with a long word that barely makes
sense, which makes it even harder to convey
simple ideas and thoughts - without the
So next time you go to say ‘unhappy’, stop for a
minute and think. As much as we look up to Tris
and Katniss, it might be a lot wiser to use
‘miserable’, or at least ‘sad’ to stop ourselves
becoming them. As we head into the future, I
believe we should preserve our colourful
language. Don’t you agree?
07 photography
FROM SUNSETS
TO BEES, CCHSG
STUDENTS HAVE
BEEN SENDING
IN THEIR BEST
PICTURES…
Maansi Singaluri
Maansi Singaluri
Sylvie Clarke-Davies
Maansi Singaluri
Sylvie Clarke-Davies
Srishti Arya
9
08
sport
HELÉNA HICKS
RIO OLYMPICS ROUNDUP
The Olympics in Brazil may seem like ages ago, but there are
still a number of important messages we should take away
from the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games.
From Team GB collecting 67 medals, to Laura Trott
becoming the first British woman to claim four Olympic
golds, it was a Games we will never forget.
1. Teamwork makes the dream work
The UK’s Hockey Team won gold at the games, and what a moment it was. This
victory was only down to one thing in the end: teamwork. Ex-CCHSG student
Saskia Clark also won sailing gold in collaboration with teammate Hannah Mills.
2. First GB gold of the games to a very deserving winner…
Adam Peaty secured Team GB’s first gold medal. The humble Brit had been
breaking records before his swimming final had even started! It perhaps wasn’t
a surprise that he came home in first position for a very emotional victory.
3. Bolt breezes to yet another victory
He makes it look easy, he really does. After announcing his retirement, Rio was
the final Olympic Games for the Jamaican sprinter. And what a way to bow out.
Bolt did the double (100m and 200m) and did it in style by smiling at the
camera as he sprinted by.
4. Cundy wins Paralympic Gold after his disqualification at
London 2012
The 37-year-old had hoped a landmark win would come in front of a home
crowd at London 2012, but officials ruled against him, saying that he had falsestarted. After hurling expletives and water bottles in the direction of the
officials, Cundy refocused on Rio. And he delivered when it mattered most.
1,470 days after his bid for Paralympic gold on home soil ended in
controversial fashion, Cundy returned to the podium once again.
5. Dignity wins…
The dignity of athletes in victory and defeat, which was often extraordinary
given the pinnacle nature of most events, was to be admired. The way athletes
behave in taekwondo, at the end of a six-minute fight, reflects well on the
sport. So too the genuine respect and commiseration/congratulation between
rowing crews post-medal race. Not part of a four-year cycle, but Andy Murray's
embrace with Juan Martin Del Potro continued the trend.
10
09
horoscopes &
crossword
Horoscopes by Katie Birch and illustrations by Sophia Constantinou
SCORPIO Oct 23-Nov 21
The nights are getting darker, and so naturally that means it's time for a good old horror film
marathon. Sitting in the dark watching six Saw films in a row - what could go wrong? A visit to
the cinema isn't a bad idea either - with plenty of new films coming out and the excuse to stay
indoors because it's cold, just gather a few friends (and a few snacks of course) and you're all set
for a day out.
ACROSS
1. CCHS Winter Show (tickets
on sale soon!) (4,3,5)
7. One and the same (10)
8. Morning (1,1)
10. Repeated sound (4)
12. Quickly, please! (1,1,1,1)
13. Long-haired rabbit (6)
14. Acclaim (5)
16. Head monk in charge (5)
20. Skin condition (6)
22. Terror (4)
23. Molly or Mandy (1,1,1,1)
25. Thanks (2)
26. “Here’s looking at you kid”
(10)
27. The star of Sudbury (12)
DOWN
1. ‘The Kiss’ artist (6,5)
2. 8th zodiac sign (7)
3. Oppose (6)
4. Australian idiot (6)
5. Failure (5)
6. Iranian king pre-1979 (4)
9. “It was a graveyard smash”
(7,4)
11. None of these before
Marbella (4)
15. Regard (4)
17. Stance, Girls or Soldier (7)
18. An official count (6)
19. Panda food (6)
21. Desert flora (5)
24. Cool canine (4)
Compiled by Molly Saunders - Answers in the next
issue!
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