Jcg the college magazine 2013

September 2013THE COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

List of Contributors

ArtAll artists whose work was exhibited on the Year 10 Art WallBeth MooreDanielle HugoElise GallichanEmily DoyleFlorence CrowcroftGeorgia MoyseHannah-Marie LuceKaty HughesKiera ShalesLauren Chalmers-Hunt

Laura CostardLucy ByrneMillie Colston-WeeksNatalia Fortuna Nina VentonRebecca MichieliSophie FranckelFront Cover Artworkby Laura Costard

WordsAlice LeedhamAnnabel St GeorgeCharlotte Smith

Courtney BlampiedDaisy BuselElla HuelinEmily GraceGrace O’ReganHannah GardenerHannah Le SueurHannah WrightHarriet RothwellIona KellyIssie OsborneJenny RussJody MilnerKatelyn Ridgway

Kelly LynchLucy HowarthLucy KershawMairead CahillMarie HénocqMia BourneNicole TaylorRohini Gangaramani Rowan PilleySamantha BouchardSarah BentleySteff SpencerTia Murray

Stella, Ben, Mike and William (studying in China)

Thanks to the Highlands and Islands group for extracts from their lovely sketchbooks: Amy SainterBrooke Knaggs-SlatterCaroline BennettsCeline Willing Charlotte Sayers

Contents

College Life 4-7Learning to Communicate: the Jersey Autism Befriending SchemeCommunicating as Head GirlVoices from China

Languages 8-13French Poems Book Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns Languages at College and Beyond Book Review: The Etymologicon Communicating on the Rouen Trip

Music 14Communicating through Music

Humanities 15Journey to Eigg Psychology and Communication Science 16-17Using Communication to our Advantage Mobile Devices in Lessons

JCG Prep 18-21Splash the Cash! Money, Money, Money One Day Mall in the Hall Matilda Critique A Critique of Matilda’s Giant Adventure

The Foundation 22-23Being a “Foundation Girl” Communication in the Workplace

Creative Minds 24-29Marrakech A Bird’s Eye View UnblemishedLost (two stories) Manga Cartoon

The Locker 30-31How do Teenagers Communicate? Twilight Review Communicating Online: YouTubeA

SPIRE

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JCG Foundation Corporate Partner SchemeDesign and Production by AEA Design Limited T: 01534 280888

Le Mont Millais, St Saviour, Jersey, JE2 7YBemail: [email protected]

www.jcg.je

Artwork created by Year 11 Student Sophie Franckel

Elana St GeorgeElla GarnettElla SiodlakEllen BakerEllena DubrasEmily ShawGabriella NewtonMai Lan MabbsMegan HollymanPenelope AzuelosSadie RuellanSienna MajorTia MurrayZara Norem

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Editor’s Note Simon Milner

Welcome to this new edition of the College Magazine: there is much about it that is new! Even before you hold this issue in your hand – or at the instant that its digital counterpart appears on your screen – you will notice its new landscape layout. I hope you will agree that this new format helps showcase both the outstanding artwork of JCG students and the wonderful visual composition created by AEA Design, in a way that is truly impressive. The decision to fill this magazine from cover to cover with examples of pieces of art that are indicative of the talent and commitment of our artists (and their teachers) reflects the priorities of this publication.

The magazine is moving in a new direction and this issue takes the first steps along that path. Firstly, the magazine is almost entirely student-authored. Providing students (you – if you are a student reader!) with opportunities and celebrating the successes that follow gets to the heart of what the College is all about. This is what the magazine seeks to offer: an opportunity for students to explore, develop and celebrate their interests. It is a record of and an outlet for different sorts of creative and intellectual inquiry within the College.

Readers may feel that this issue is rather light on ‘news’. Reporting the myriad events that make up the College’s vibrant existence is a job done to the highest

standard by the termly publication, JCG Life. Our hope is that the annual magazine can do a different job. As incredibly busy as they are, JCG students do not (quite) spend all of their time rushing from one activity to another: thankfully, they do take time to think and to reflect. It is to these thoughts, reflections and creative responses to ideas that the magazine is devoted. Even where an event is the starting point of an article – the Prep production of ‘Matilda’s Giant Adventure’, for instance – the writing shows students reflecting as well as reporting. This issue’s theme is communication and students have thought about various ways in which the concept of communication informs their academic studies as well as their wider lives within and beyond the College. Not all articles address this theme directly but it has been our inspiration in collating and producing material for this issue.

This is the first issue of the reconceived College Magazine: it represents a period of transition and a point of departure. We are very conscious of building on the exceptional publications produced in recent years under the direction of Mr Bonney. In future issues, the scope and scale of this newly refocused publication will expand to include fuller coverage of all curriculum areas and the voices of a wider sample of students. This issue provides a taste of what is to come in its exploration of ideas and expression of student (or former student!) voice from across JCG Prep, Jersey College for Girls and the Foundation.

On a number of occasions above, I have slipped into speaking about ‘our’ rather than ‘my’ ideas or intentions. This is a quiet acknowledgement of gratitude that I will now make more explicit: the student editorial team have been wonderfully creative, organised and committed to the process of bringing this publication into being. It would be an understatement to say the publication is ‘student-led’: I owe thanks to all of the writers and artists whose work appears on these pages. My prior experience of working on the Jersey College Gazette means that I am in no way surprised by the supreme efforts to which students have gone. Everyone acknowledged in the final issue of the Gazette (published on the College’s website) continued to contribute as the team switched its attention to the new format magazine. Steff Spencer and Charlotte Smith, supported by Sydney James, have made outstanding contributions as writers and editors. I would also like to thank all of the staff who miraculously found time to help me in various ways, particularly Mrs Silvestri-Fox, Mrs Slater, Mr Barnett, Mr Crespell, Mrs Grieve and Mrs Paul.

If you are a parent or part of the College’s wider community of friends, then I am sure you will be amazed – as ever – by what our students can produce. If you are a student then I hope you will be proud and inspired by what you – your friends and your peers – can achieve.

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Foreword

I am delighted to introduce our annual magazine; revamped and refreshed to reflect the continuing evolution of College. Our termly magazine, JCG Life, has evolved to become the messenger of events, trips and achievements. And it does this extremely well. What we wanted was something that shone with the work, words and ideas of our remarkable students. Something that was from them rather than about them. If education is about anything, it is about igniting curiosity, weaving natural creativity with learning and letting the human spirit discover that one’s life is not formed but full of possibilities. This, I hope, is what is communicated in this magazine. Communication is its theme and I invite you to enjoy what our students have to say.

Carl Howarth

Principal

Artwork created by Year 10 Student Lucy Byrne

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Learning to Communicate: the Jersey Autism Befriending Scheme Steff Spencer, Mairead Cahill

and Kelly Lynch

After hearing about the amazing work of Autism Jersey through an

assembly at College, and about how it was so easy to get involved and volunteer for the charity, we all decided to sign up for SPELL Training, which would lead us to become fully-fledged Autism Jersey Befrienders.

During the course of our training, we discovered how difficult it could be to communicate with our potential befriendees. An excellent example of this was an exercise in which we had to sit back to back with another course member we hadn’t yet talked to and describe a picture for them to draw while loud noises were being made in the background. After having a good laugh at our failure to draw boats and houses, we discovered that, for an autistic person, this off-putting scenario could be what it’s like for them while they’re trying to have a conversation or follow instructions. This really opened our eyes and helped us to understand just how much autism could affect someone’s communication skills. This also helped us to understand what it could be like for us

in the future while befriending, and how important it would be for us to be clear, calm and concise when speaking with our befriendee.

After filling out a form detailing our hobbies, interests and what kind of person we would like to befriend (age, gender and level of communication), a meeting was set up for us with a suitable befriendee, their family and Jo Thorpe - the face of Autism Jersey, who first introduced us to the scheme. During this meeting, it was humbling to see the gratitude from the autistic person’s family towards us, simply because we wanted to volunteer for the charity and spend time with their child. At first, our befriendees seemed quite shy but as soon as we spent some time together doing things we both loved, it was clear that they felt more comfortable around us and accepted us as friends.

Here are some individual comments from the authors:

Steff: Personally, I have been befriending for almost a year and it’s great to see how my befriendee has become more comfortable and also more considerate when we have our fortnightly meet-ups. Although - sometimes - there have been moments when things may have been slightly uncomfortable when trying to make conversation, it has mainly been an experience that has allowed us each to grow as individuals and understand how hard it can be for some people to communicate with others.

Kelly: In the few months I have been befriending, my befriendee’s family have been given valuable respite time - which can help family life to become less stressful - and my befriendee has been able to form new relationships and to develop communication skills whilst making a new friend. I have also been able to see the influence Autism Jersey has had on my befriendee and his family, and how they have helped him develop his communication skills to the high level they are at now.

Mairead: The SPELL and befriending training run by Autism Jersey is an amazing process that teaches you how to communicate effectively with an autistic child. I completed my SPELL training earlier this year and one of the most important lessons that it taught me is how much we take communication for granted. Before the training, I never would have given a second thought to how lucky I am to be able to sit and chat with my friends. However, by completing the SPELL training I realised how, for others in this world, interaction and communication can be a huge battle to face. Unlike Steff and Kelly, I am not an Autism Jersey befriender yet but it is something I hope to start in September 2013. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to complete the SPELL training to do it! Becoming a befriender not only helps a family with an autistic child: being able to communicate in different ways is so helpful in meeting new, interesting people throughout your life.

COLLEGE LIFE

Artwork created by Year 11 Student Danielle Hugo

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Artwork created by Year 10 Student

Communicating as Head GirlJenny Russ

Where would humans - or any species - be without communication? We would be unable to form or maintain relationships, unable to express our feelings

and unable to interact meaningfully.

Communication is the basis of all learning and a way to share experiences. Jim Rohn, an American entrepreneur and motivational speaker gives this advice: “Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.”

Sometimes it is not easy to follow this advice, particularly if you are naturally shy; it requires courage, confidence and a willingness to take risks. Speaking to an audience can be particularly daunting and, at the time, giving a speech to the rest of my year group about why I would like to become Head Girl was the most nerve-racking thing I had ever done. Even though I knew everyone in the room, I was shaking and terrified - but I made it through and feel incredibly privileged to have been given this opportunity.

Since becoming Head Girl, my communication skills have greatly improved through regular practice, including speaking in whole school assemblies, writing articles for College publications and giving speeches. For me, the key to success is to think about your audience: considering what would they like to hear or know about and how to ensure they are engaged. When writing a speech or letter, it is important to research your subject matter fully, look for positive exemplars and try to personalise the message to make it effective without it being too long. It is true that “practice makes perfect” and for the past term I have been given a variety of opportunities to do just that. Initially, the most difficult thing I found - having overcome my nerves - was talking spontaneously, as there is no opportunity to prepare which creates greater pressure not to stutter and waffle. In these situations, I force myself to relax and imagine that I am talking to my family, which enables me to allow the message to flow.

Finally, communication is an essential life skill which cannot be underestimated. Effective speakers like Barack Obama, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela provide amazing role models, reinforcing the importance of uniting the widest possible audience to make the world a better place.

COLLEGE LIFE

Artwork created by Year 11 Student Hannah-Marie Luce

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COLLEGE LIFE

Voices from ChinaIn this article, students from China give us a fascinating insight into their day-to-day experiences of education. Thank you to Mr Lewis who supplied the original text. (Ed.)

Ben, IGCSE student:

The school life in China is normally boring and tiring. We have a lot of homework to do so that we have no choice but to do these substantial homework tasks for a long time, so we even stay up late until all assignments are done. However, this homework can help us learn the knowledge that we learnt in the daytime and we usually won’t forget this useful knowledge, which we may use in the future: it is really a good thing. In school, we aren’t allowed to use a calculator: not only during the exam but also in everyday work with teachers, because they don’t think that the calculator will help us improve our academic skills.

There are some special rooms and equipment for students to use but, before using them, you must be allowed by teachers. There is a fantastic academic atmosphere, so students who study in China can study what they want to learn in wonderful surroundings. To students, the most significant building is the library. We can read books and do our assignments there: it is the excellent place to do these things. Although the study in China is arduous, gradually we find study isn’t a strenuous thing: I still can find something that attracts me.

Despite the laborious academic study, the events that are performed after school are colourful and meaningful. First of all, various sports in China are all very popular, such as badminton, basketball, table tennis and even football. After school and during lunch, I usually play basketball; I think this kind of sport can help me keep fit and improve my physical skills. Through playing basketball, I have met lots of friends and from this I learnt how to organise a team well and I also improved my team spirit and my knowledge of how get on with others. I am crazy about basketball, so I will continue to play it.

Second, we sometimes hold some concerts or competitions for singing and dancing. At these events, talented students can show themselves and get more people interested in music. We also have different clubs to fit various hobbies that each student has. Moreover, we help the old people who aren’t cared for; we do something that is in our capability range. We also teach some children in poor areas that haven’t received a high quality education.

Finally, I want to say: study in China is laborious but colourful.

Stella, A2 Further Maths student:

The best way to illustrate what Chinese schools are like is to have a look at the daily schedules of the students. They are different depending on different schools but have similar trends.

We usually get up at around 6:30am and the registration starts at 7:30. Then follows the morning reading. We will read out loud some Chinese poems or famous articles during that time. Then we go to assembly and do morning exercise on the playground. Every Monday there will be a “flag rise”. The classes begin afterwards.

We do not move to different classrooms for different subjects apart from PE and ICT; our teachers move around to teach instead. Different provinces in China have different subjects available for students to choose and in my province we have nine subjects taught in High Schools. However, the ways we choose our subjects are different. We will learn all the subjects for the first year in High School (Grade 10) and specialise a bit one year later. For the university entry test called “Gaokao” in China, we need to take 5 subjects in total - three of them are compulsory for everyone (Chinese, Maths and English) and you can choose the other two from the other subjects. Before that, you need to have tests on the other four subjects, and these four exams are called small “Gaokao”.

Normally, every day we finish school at around 5:30 pm. We have 8-9 periods a day and each lasts for 45 minutes. After school, we usually have extracurricular activities as well.

Mike, IGCSE student:

Hello, my name is Mike and I am from Dulwich College, Suzhou. I’ve heard that you are interested in our school: I will tell you something interesting.

I walk to school at 7:40 every morning, this is because I live near school. Some of my classmates’ homes are far away: some are even in other cities. In that case, they have to stay in the dorms in the school. They have to have their breakfast and lunch at school. They may have dinner outside of school. It’s said that the life in dorms is funny but far less convenient than that at home.

The campus is quite beautiful; we have ponds with kiosks and we even have a small hill. It’s nice to take a walk in there. We have most of the classes in the main building and we also have a lab building and a big playground. We have to go to different rooms to have different courses.

We have all kinds of after school activities, they are called ECA here: you may guess what that actually means. I have Physics and Broadcasting for my ECA and I really enjoy myself.

So much for my school: I hope you can visit here.

Continued

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William, IGCSE student:

I would like to introduce the secondary school in China. There are 12 subjects in the school: Chinese, Maths, English, Physics, Chemistry, History, Politics, Geography, Biology, Art, Music and PE.

In Seventh Grade, we study all of the subjects except Physics and Chemistry. We also have free time to do things that we want to do but, compared with

primary school, it is more important for us to spend time in studying. There is little homework: we can do it in 45 minutes. There are also 45 minutes for sporting activities. It is exciting that we can choose our favourite sports to do. As a whole, it is relaxing to finish Seventh Grade.

In Eighth Grade, we start to study Physics and there are more things to do, such as military training, being selected to join the

Communist Youth League and preparing for the final exams in Geography and Biology. There are only three lessons for sports, so it is a little bit tiring in Eighth Grade.

In Ninth Grade, we have finished the lessons of Geography and Biology, and we start to learn Chemistry. In the first term of the year, we finish all the lessons, so it is very tight for the lessons. We have

less time to do any other things. In the second term of the year, we revise all of the knowledge that we had learned in three years. The only aim is to get the best scores in the final exams. Therefore, we always learned and learned, revised and revised. I think it is very tiring to study in Ninth Grade.

Here is something about our secondary school life - what about yours?

COLLEGE LIFE

If you enjoyed learning about education in China, then why not answer William’s question? Write a reply to William that will be forwarded to China and will also be considered for publication in the next issue of the College Magazine: please email all responses to [email protected] (Ed.)

Artwork created by Year 11 Student Rebecca Michieli

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French Poems

La Banlieue

La banlieue est sans espoirLe public ne veut pas nous croireLa police nous voit comme des ennemisAlors qu’elle devrait protéger nos viesLa banlieue a beaucoup de bandesC’est un lieu où les drogues se vendentTout le monde est au chômageÀ n’importe quel âgeIl y a rien à faireÀ part subir et se taireLe crime, la violence et la pauvretéQuand est-ce que ce cauchemar va s’arrêter ?

The suburbs are without hopeThe public don’t want to believe usThe police see us as the enemyWhereas they should protect our livesThe suburbs have lots of gangsIt’s a place where drugs are soldEveryone is unemployedWhatever ageThere is nothing to doJust put up and shut upCrime, violence and povertyWhen will this nightmare stop?

Hannah Le Sueur, Marie Hénocq, Jenny Russ

La Banlieue

S’il y avait une petite lueur d’espoirS’il y avait un futur pour un Noir comme moi,Si l’égalité était de notre mondeSi je n’étais pas au fond du gouffreSi nous n’étions pas immigrésSi je ne vivais pas en pauvretéSi je n’avais pas rencontré la bandeSi je n’avais pas dessiné un tagSi on ne m’avait pas traité de racaille,Maintenant, il faut que je m’en aille.

If there was a glimmer a hope,If there was a future for a black guy like me,If equality was a part of our world,If I wasn’t at the bottom of the pitIf we weren’t immigrants,If I wasn’t living in poverty,If I hadn’t met the gang,If I hadn’t taggedIf I hadn’t been called scum,Now, I have to go away.

Ella Huelin

Banlieue Rap

Bof, ma vie en banlieue est sans espoirAu centre ville, je me sens étrangèreNon, pas de droit d’entrée, je suis exclue Loin de ma cité, je suis inconnueInsultes, police, ma vie est la galère Emeutes, incendies, violence dans ma citéUne ZUP, c’est chez moiEtat d’urgence, c’est sans espoir.

Bof, my life in the suburbs is without hope In the town centre, I feel like a strangerNo entry- I am excludedAway from my hood, I am unknownInsults, police, my life is a struggleRiots, fires, violence- in my hoodA disadvantaged area, it is my homeA state of emergency, it is without hope.

Steff Spencer

Bonjour, Au revoir

Bonjour le centre-ville, au revoir la banlieueBonjour la gentillesse, au revoir la violenceBonjour la vie tranquille, au revoir les émeutesBonjour l’égalité, au revoir la discriminationBonjour les gens respectables, au revoir les voyousBonjour l’enfer, au revoir l’espoir

Hello city, goodbye suburbsHello kindness, goodbye violenceHello calm life, goodbye riotsHello equality, goodbye discriminationHello respectable people, goodbye yobsHello hell, goodbye hope

Nicole Taylor

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LANGUAGESA Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled HosseiniReviewed by Charlotte Smith

R eaders of Hosseini’s first book The Kite Runner, may have wondered whether it would be possible to create

a similarly poignant story. However, the follow up in the form of A Thousand Splendid Suns doesn’t disappoint as the author depicts the brutality of human experience in a way that tugs at the reader’s heartstrings.

The way Hosseini interweaves hope and the possibility of redemption throughout the narrative makes difficult themes such as rape and war more readable and gives the reader a sense of stark reality that is often glazed over in similar novels. Even the title paints a brilliant picture which in itself seems to contradict the first pages, which follow Mariam’s sad youth, as well as a modern reader’s first impression of Afghanistan.

Unlike The Kite Runner which follows the tale of two boys, A Thousand Splendid Suns shows the reader what life can be like for the women of Afghanistan; it provokes a comparison to our own lives in the west. As well as a comparison with us, Hosseini offers further comparison in the form of Laila, a young Afghan girl who has high ambitions for education. Laila is an interesting character as she is clearly an outsider – not just in the intellectual sense, but in the physical sense as she has blonde hair. Much like the reader, Laila is also an outsider to Mariam’s way of life.

Although I really enjoyed the book, I think the ending is a little too obvious as Hosseini’s desire for his homeland’s freedom becomes apparent. The way it ends with orphanages being rebuilt and cinemas opening, takes away from the strength of the rest of the novel.

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Languages at College and BeyondDaisy Busel

T he Oxford Dictionary defines language as: ‘The method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured

and conventional way’. Language, be it spoken, signed or written, is a skill and an instrument used in every aspect of everyday life because without it, there would be no communication and without communication where would we be?

As an A Level student studying two languages - French and Italian - I really believe in the value of language and communication. Opening the treasure chest that is language unlocks an entire world of opportunities. It is a lot easier to see the world if you are able to communicate directly with the people in it; having a second or even third language allows you to discover the world as an explorer and not a tourist, enabling you to experience first hand the different cultures and ways of life that have shaped our world today. Furthermore, language not only permits you to broaden your knowledge and understanding of the world around you but is also a device to express your opinions and ideas to a wider audience in order to improve and refine that world and enhance the lives of others. If you speak one language, you are able to contact the speakers of that language but if you speak two languages your thoughts can reach a whole new set of ears.

It is easy to assume that we do not need to learn other languages because, chances are, someone, wherever you are, will be able to speak English – it is, after all, the world’s second most widely spoken language, just behind Mandarin Chinese. However, perhaps surprisingly, 75% of the world’s population cannot utter a word of my mother tongue and so there really is no excuse!

Of course, learning a language isn’t easy and with an estimated 7,000 languages on the planet, it would certainly be a challenge to learn them all. For that reason, getting to grips with just one foreign language is a great achievement which shows determination and consideration of others and which will always be of use and appreciated by many.

Finally, as Nelson Mandela once said: “If you talk to a man in a language that he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” Make an impression on the world: language is our greatest tool – use it!

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Artwork created by Year 10 Students

The EtymologiconReviewed by Charlotte Smith

Have you ever considered how words evolve? Mark Foster has; in fact, he’s written an entire book about it.

When you think about it, you can often tell where a word has come from. For example, those of us old enough to remember videos will remember that they contained film that was wound in a circle. So, when you went backwards in a film you were rewinding the tape – hence, we say ‘rewind.’ Now we watch our films on DVDs or computers but the word ‘rewind’ is still used. In one hundred years, perhaps no one will remember where the word came from!

The author of The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language tells the story of words in a way that’s both concise and funny. Here, I’m going to retell some of my favourite passages from the book.

BiscuitsBiscuits are traditionally cooked twice. In French, this becomes bi-cuit.

Gambling and ChickensFor gambling in medieval France you would need: friends, a pot and a chicken – everyone would put an equal amount of money in the pot (hence, poultry sum); the gamblers would then take turns throwing stones at the chicken until one hit it and won all the money in the pot. The French called this poule (for chicken); English gamblers, who changed the spelling to pool, picked up the term and, therefore, we have a pool of money in the middle of the table. From this gambling phrase, we’re pooling all sorts of things, including cars, resources and of course our genes (the gene pool) – nothing to do with swimming pools though!

GasesIn the late eighteenth century, scientists had trouble separating the gases in the air as they all seemed so similar. Eventually, a Frenchman came along and decided that the gases only differences were in the way they burnt. But of course the names got changed into Greek:

• Water-producer became hydro-gen

• Acid-maker became oxy-gen

• The one that produced nitre became nitro-gen

Argon is another major gas in the air but as it doesn’t do anything, it got called ‘argon’ – Greek for ‘lazy.’

Eating Humble PieBack in the day, there would have been a clear divide in large houses. So, after a hard day’s stag-hunting, the rich would dine on the expensive cuts while the servants would dine on the innards – otherwise known as the ‘umbles.’ Therefore, they would eat humble pie.

The English vs. The DutchThe Dutch used to be a huge naval and trading power across the North Sea, so there was a natural and nautical rivalry between England and Holland. There is evidence of this throughout the English language:

• Dutch courage – courage found at the bottom of a bottle.

• Dutch feast – a dinner in which the host gets drunk before the guests.

• Dutch comfort – not any comfort!

• Dutch wife – a pillow.

• Dutch reckoning – a fraudulent price.

• Double Dutch – a language no-one can understand.

In 1934, the Dutch government noticed all these insults and made it official that all of their ambassadors in English-speaking countries should make use of the phrase ‘The Netherlands.’

I hope I’ve gotten you interested in etymology!

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Communicating on the Rouen TripSteff Spencer

While studying for an AS-Level in French, I snapped up the opportunity to have a place

on the Home Stay Trip to Rouen. The purpose of this trip is to help every student improve their skills and confidence in the French language while staying with a French family to immerse them fully in the culture and to discover a different way of life. Add in lessons most mornings at The French in Normandy Language School and the hugely anticipated day trip to Paris, and the Rouen Trip really is a week where there are many chances for every student to communicate with local people and to expand their language skills.

The day before departing on the trip, I realised just how nervous I was about spending a week with a family who I had never met before and about actually talking - or attempting to talk - to them in a language that I had only really used in a classroom on the top floor of Chesshire. I began to worry about not being able to understand anything that my host, Madame Langlois, would say and - even worse – about her not being able to understand a word that I would attempt to splutter out in a moment of pure embarrassment. So, I decided to practise the basics: facts about myself, a bit about my family and the island of Jersey. I hoped that these topics would get me through the car journey home, or at least up to the point when I could plan more interesting subjects to discuss (my AS vocab. lists concerning cinema and TV came promptly to hand when attempting to find inspiration).

So the time arrived and we were at our language school, waiting for our families to arrive, when my name was called out along with the name of my room mate - Katie - to meet our host . After I saw Madame Langlois’ smiling face and heard her calm and collected voice saying “Bonjour”, I realised that I had nothing to worry about. All of my nerves disappeared as I realised that this was a lady who had had many students from all over the globe stay at her home before; I just hoped that I wouldn’t stay in her mind as, “The Jersey girl who couldn’t speak a word of French”, or should I say, “La fille de Jersey qui ne parlait pas le français”. After a brief chat in the car on the way home, we deduced that - the previous week - a group of Italian girls had been staying at her house and that there was also a Japanese student currently there for her final week of a four week stay in Rouen. This settled my nerves a bit more, and made me feel at ease, as Madame Langlois seemed to be a very calm and understanding woman who knew that we would be a bit shy and afraid to speak upon our first meeting.

On arrival at her house, I don’t think I have ever used the word “mignon” (sweet) more in my life. But it was the only word that came to mind when I saw mirrors framed with flowers and fluffed up pillows in a living room with a pink wall. I instantly felt that I had one of the best families, as I was staying in a home which felt homely and, as soon as we stepped in, a very sweet Japanese girl came down the stairs to welcome Katie and me to the house. We found out that this was in fact Natsumi and that she seemed to have great skill in speaking French, as well as being able to converse with us a little in English (which became very useful throughout the week if any of us couldn’t think of the word we wanted to use). Throughout the week, breakfast and dinner were the main times for us all to use our French. Breakfast was especially

entertaining, as we watched a French breakfast show similar to Day Break: a feature on sunglasses swiftly comes to mind, as we spent much time afterwards discussing the models with lime green hair and also the cost of the accessories that were being shown!

Over the week, I could feel my confidence in using the language growing, for which I mainly have to thank the daily lessons at The French in Normandy Language School: our teacher was extremely kind and helpful, encouraging us to only speak in French and to try and push through our perceived boundaries. My favourite memories of our lessons are introducing our teacher to classic English treats like Hob Nobs and Wagon Wheels (which I’m not sure went down as well as expected), and also a debate in which we got extremely enthusiastic about winning and which featured a lot of expressive arm gestures and many laughs when someone whipped out a newly learnt piece of vocab.

Overall, I truly felt that my confidence had grown over the week that we spent in Rouen. Even though it was sad having to say goodbye to a very welcoming and kind-hearted lady, I had to admit that I was excited about returning to Jersey and about being able to watch a film in English without trying to figure out what was going on before making up my own story line instead. But I realised that if I wasn’t as shy or nervous as I was when I first met Madame Langlois, I could have improved my French even more. This made me think that no matter what language you’re trying to communicate in, whether it’s your first, second or even third, the most important thing is to have confidence in yourself and to realise that you are going to make mistakes: it’s all the little slip-ups that make your first full length conversation in a different language truly memorable.

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Artwork created by Year 11 Student Natalia Fortuna

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MUSIC

Communicating through MusicIssie Osborne and Ella Huelin.

Having agreed to write about music and communication, it

turned out to be harder than we thought! Elvis Costello allegedly said that, “writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” It’s not easily done. It’s hard to put into words the impact that music can have on our lives yet a world without music would be a very strange place. Music can make us smile or make us cry, and can evoke so many memories.

Music is a language through which people can communicate their personalities without the use of words. Although a simple thing, it is something that everyone can understand, no matter what their nationality or age is; it is something to which everyone can relate. Not only the use of lyrics, but musicality within instrumental pieces can really tell a story and express someone’s feelings.

Furthermore, music often helps in communicating a sense of one’s own identity. If we look at punk music for example, there is a whole culture associated with it (perhaps unique hairstyles and piercings spring to mind?)

and so the music someone likes gives a sense - to some extent - of who that person is. Of course, in this example, it doesn’t mean they will conform to the stereotype of what a punk is but it means there is something in the music that they can relate to and identify with. Moreover, whether we realise we do it or not, people are judged by the music they listen to and this shows that music can and does communicate something powerful to others.

The power that music has in communicating a message can be seen in a more literal sense. For example, the incredible formation of “Band Aid” by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, which was created to raise money to decrease the amount of poverty in less economically developed countries and raised millions. The song “Do they know its Christmas time?” was a gigantic hit and is still recognised in our society today as a milestone in the charity music industry; from this, more record companies and musicians were inspired to release singles to raise awareness and money to improve the lives of less fortunate people.

Communication is about connecting, and there are so many ways to connect through music. We leave you with a remark from Victor Hugo: “Music expresses that which cannot be said, and on which it is impossible to be silent.” Artwork created by Year 13 Student

Katy Hughes

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Psychology & CommunicationMia Bourne

Psychology gives us a deeper understanding of communication as it provides us with an explanation

of others’ thoughts and feelings, which elucidates their behaviour. Psychologists are able to explain group and individual behaviour through both objective and subjective methods. Psychology seeks to make sense of all human behaviour, therefore building better communication between everyone.

As part of our AS course in Psychology at Jersey College for Girls, we have looked at a psychologist called Savage Rumbaugh who carried out a case study to explore communication used by Pygmy chimpanzees. The report is based on all the data collected over a long period, which demonstrates how the chimpanzees, Kanzi and Mulika, could spontaneously communicate with the researchers using a lexigram (symbols). Savage Rumbaugh assessed the communication used by the chimpanzees by letting Kanzi and Mulika lead the researchers around the forest to specific points using the lexigram. The research carried out by Savage Rumbaugh is very useful as it may affect the way in which we view animals in general if we are aware we can communicate with them to some extent.

Psychology enhances communication because understanding others’ behaviour allows us to adjust the way in which we communicate with a particular group or person. A theory of mind is defined as “the ability to attribute mental states beliefs, intents, desires, pretending, knowledge, to oneself and others and to understand that others have beliefs, desires, and intentions that are different from one’s own” . Baron-Cohen is a psychologist who

investigated the question of whether Autistic adults have an impaired theory of mind. He conducted his research through a range of tests involving identifying emotions. The results from Baron-Cohen’s research suggested that Autistic adults have an impaired theory of mind as they performed significantly worse in the tasks than the other groups of people involved in the study. As such, psychology has given us a better awareness of how people living with Autism behave, helping us to communicate with them more effectively.

Psychology has lots of practical applications arising from its research. Loftus and Palmer’s study provided evidence that better policing techniques needed to be put in order. The study demonstrated that information received at the time and after the event can affect an eyewitness’s memory of the incident. The results from this study illustrated how one word could affect the participant’s response and memory of an event. Loftus and Palmer’s research has developed better communication between police and eyewitnesses as the results provided evidence that a leading question can affect the response.

This year in College, A Level students have taken part in the Psychology Academy through which we had the chance to listen to a range of interesting people involved in psychology. Areas such as acupuncture, meditation, clinical psychology and Alzheimer’s as well as cross-cultural differences and hypnotherapy were covered. The talks were inspirational and broadened our knowledge of psychology. Fortunately, we had the chance to meet Professor David Canter who is director of the International Research Centre for Investigative Psychology. David Canter is an offender profiler: he helped the police in 1985 on the railway rapist case, and his lecture was motivating and memorable. The psychology academy was a great and enjoyable way to communicate to students how important psychology is in our everyday day lives.

Journey to Eigg

A number of Year 8 and 9 students participated in the exciting Highlands and Islands trip during Activities week. These students kept

sketchbooks, in which they recorded their experiences through words, images and found-items. Extracts from some of these books are reproduced here. Thank you to the students for sharing these with us and also to Mr Fallon, Mrs Mansell and Miss Thomas who accompanied them on the trip.

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SCIENCE

Using Communication to Our AdvantageCourtney Blampied

Communication is one of the most important elements of life. It occurs everywhere in

every little thing and is so natural to us that it often goes unnoticed; for instance, communication is constantly occurring within our bodies without us even being aware of it. Our cells have to release chemicals which are sent as signals to other cells to trigger specific responses, achieving the ultimate goal of keeping us healthy. The world is just like the human body, as strange as it may seem. Think of each person on earth acting like a cell, releasing ideas into the world in order to trigger a response. Our communication with each other and the spread of ideas are what keep our society healthy as we all work together to achieve the ultimate goal of bettering the world. The range of different media that we can use in order to communicate is vast: from online blogs, instagram, Twitter, Facebook, other social networking, email, television, concerts, theatre, conferences, debates, sermons, books, magazines, speeches, postcards, music, art, sign-language…the list is endless! It is practically impossible to imagine going about our daily lives without using communication.

Communication is so relevant in our everyday lives that we should make sure we are using it to develop how we portray ourselves. Be the best version of you! Ever heard the expression, “a smile goes a long way”? It really is true! Although most of the media listed above may involve the

spoken word, according to studies it is actually only 7% of communication that relies on words; the majority (55%) comes from our body language and the other 38% is how we say things. George Carlin has said that, “by and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.” This suggests that our actions and facial expressions are what give away the truth about our character the most and reveal our intentions. Even without speaking we are communicating our emotions through posture; communication is a basic, common ability that all humans share regardless of any difficulty with language or speech. If we stand in a certain way or speak in a certain tone, we create a “vibe” about ourselves that is either positive or negative.

The value of communication in today’s world is heightened as we have the ability to communicate to people all over the world within seconds, which makes it incredibly easy for good ideas or talents to flourish and be recognised. The development of communication today can be used to enable us to progress and achieve our own personal goals and to achieve bigger, global goals. One reason for the rapid innovations in online communication and social networking sites is the fundamental fact that we, as humans, simply cannot live without interacting with others. Therefore, it seems only common sense that we use these media and developments to our advantage by communicating positive ideas and building friendships, as opposed to being hurtful to one another. We should think about what we are typing or saying, about how we act and the way this may be interpreted by the receiver: remember, you are a cell, and you send a signal to trigger a response. So, always bear in mind the response you want as the outcome.

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SCIENCEMobile Devices in LessonsHannah Wright

This year, students have been encouraged to make use of iPads, laptops and other mobile devices in lessons. A wide range

of applications are available to be downloaded and then used for different tasks in our studies. For example, in Science and Religious Education, a website is used called ‘Dropbox’. It can easily save work so everyone in lessons can see it. It is a great way to find homework from the correct folder, complete it and then print it out to give to the teacher.

This technology can also help students to communicate. When working on tasks, a pair can share a device to find out information. Work can also be sent to one another with a few clicks; some students may have found this technology relatively distracting at the beginning of the year, but now these devices have become a natural part of school life! Students have now adapted to the rules concerning how and when they can be used.

The AVA office provides students who do not own a device with one to use. Currently, these gadgets are not used in every lesson and teachers have an online booking system to arrange what classes will be assigned the iPads, laptops or netbooks in each lesson.

Overall, using these electronic devices benefits students’ learning because it can make a very complicated task much simpler, while being easy and practical to use.

This year, the Science Faculty has been pioneering the use of mobile devices to support student learning and the initiative will continue to grow and develop in the academic year 2013-2014 (Ed.)

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JCG PREP

Splash the Cash! Lucy Howarth

Hundreds filed into JCG Prep’s hall to experience the amazing atmosphere inside.

On Thursday 7th of February, many gathered from around the island to be a part of the amazing celebration that was JCG Prep’s Jamboree. Students eagerly waited behind the vivid violet ribbon and watched as Governor Nick Kershaw cut through it.

At that second, people of all different ages flooded in to come and participate in all the fun activities and help raise money for the five charities the students had chosen at the start of the year (Jersey Guide Dogs for the Blind, Robin Ward, The British Heart Foundation, Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Antoine Trust).

Children and teachers enjoyed the delicious cakes and beautiful tie-dye bags. Altogether, we raised about a whopping £2,000 for charity. As you can probably imagine, this was very much appreciated by the charities and we hope to raise as much next year.

We interviewed the Headteacher - Mr Andrew Willis - for his point of view. “I was overjoyed…of course, no-one could resist the smell from the Year Four chocolate and sweet stall. This has definitely been the most successful school Jamboree yet.”

Many children - from as young as five - were running stalls with the help of older students. The children were enjoying themselves immensely and brought along their parents after the day had ended.

Teachers and all the children are looking forward to next year’s Jamboree and hope they can raise as much and maybe even more money than they did this year!

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Money, Money, Money!Harriet Rothwell

JCG’S Charity Jamboree opened in the early morning, as Mr Kershaw one of theCollege’s Governors cut the

ribbon!

This sensational event took place on the 7th of February 2013. The money that has been raised will be given to the following charities: The Antoine Trust, Great Ormond Street, The British Heart Foundation, Robin Ward and Jersey Guide Dogs.

Throughout the day, children of all ages helped run stalls full of items that they had made during their afternoon lessons.

Gifts that were sold at the Jamboree included tie-dye bags, delicious brownies and cakes, handcrafted door sings , flower headbands and much much more...

Entering the hall, you could hear children buzzing with excitement as they received their toys. Hundreds filled the room as they swept around playing games and hunting for gifts.

A young Year Three girl explained to me what superb items she had loaded her shopping bag with so far… Her collection included a bag of scrumptious cookies, and a colourful flower headband!

Children in Year Three held an exciting lucky-dip, loaded to the brim with a host of excellent

prizes. Year Six held many stalls such as pop art photos, Guess How Many Sweets in The Jar, tie-dye bags and Bella’s Buns!

The Jamboree wasn’t just about things to fill your bag with or things to eat; there were also many games, including Pin the Wig on the Beatle, and the Chopstick Challenge!

Key Stage Two also got involved with some maths investigations and market research to find out how much children throughout the school would be willing to pay for goods on the stalls.

Mrs Paul - a Year Six teacher - told me her highlights of the day, “It was definitely our best one yet: everything went really well and everyone from around the school seemed to have a thrilling time; so let’s hope it goes just as well next year!”

Overall, the school raised an extraordinary £2000! We are sure the charities will be very thankful for this generous amount of money.

Here are some young Year 1 boys trying to attract customers to their mouth–watering cookie Stall!

In these articles, various students share their impressions of two JCG Prep highlights (Ed.)

Claremont Road, St. Saviour Jersey JE2 7RT

[email protected] www.jcgprep.sch.je Tel: 01534 516111

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One Day Mall in the HallEmily Grace

JCG Prep held a School Charity Jamboree on 7th February to raise money for five Jersey charities, including Robin

Ward and Jersey Guide Dogs.

JCG Prep’s parent Governor, Mr. Nick Kershaw, was asked to cut the ribbon, which was holding back the throng of eager shoppers who were waiting outside the hall with anticipation!

Over the course of the day, everybody in JCG Prep from the tiny Reception children to the Year Six girls, helped to raise an amazing £2,000! “It is an amazing achievement,” stated Prep Teacher Mrs. Paul. “We only aspired to raise £1,500!”

The school hall bustled with activity and the aromas of Year One’s freshly baked cookies drew people towards their stall - but they had to compete for supremacy against Charlie’s Chocolate Factory, manned by Year Four! Year Five’s exceptionally well handmade ‘Gone to go…’ signs were so good they sold out before 10:30 break!

Eye-catching, brightly coloured tie-dye bags were folded neatly in front of the Year Six stall, attracting hordes of people. In the centre of the hall were the ‘Fairies’ from Year Three who were serving delicious looking iced cakes and drinks to refresh the busy shoppers.

As well as being a lot of fun, the Jamboree also had an educational purpose. “Some people think, because of the Jamboree, Academic Studies get ignored – for example Maths - but the Jamboree partly takes place to improve on many of the students’ confidence with handling and counting money,” commented Mrs. J. Aygun.

All the students and teachers at JCG Prep are looking forward to next year’s School Charity Jamboree and the chance to raise even more money for different Jersey based Charities.

Artwork created by Year 12 Student Florence Crowcroft

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JCG PREP

Matilda Critique Katelyn Ridgway

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this wondrous spectacle of talent unfold before my very eyes. Watching

‘Matilda’s Giant Adventure’ performed by Year Six was a remarkably positive experience due to the comical element concealed within.

The showcase of immense talent portrayed during the duration of the performance was unbelievably awe-inspiring. Each segment of the play was interesting and the array of jokes and humour was a positive addition. To continue, it was obvious that a huge amount of effort that had been put into the acting, dancing, singing, props and costumes, all of which came together on the night to create a bewitching atmosphere.

In addition, the execution of the well-written script was played to perfection and I could relate to the characters’ emotions, such as Miss Honey’s anxiety; Miss Trunchbull’s anger; The Grand High Witch’s wickedness; and the Queen’s distress. Moreover, each character was remarkably believable; likewise, I felt that the actors were consistently growing in confidence. In fact, I thought the characters were an admirable reflection of Dahl’s.

Although I know all the characters were played to their full potential, the quirky personality of The Head of Army and The Head of Air Force had me on the edge of my seat for the whole performance.

The complex characters were well thought-out and I congratulate the director for moulding Year Six children into Roald Dahl characters. Mrs Paul, Mrs Pallot and

Mrs De Gruchy did a superb job of writing a dynamic script which captivated every member of the audience. In the majority of scenes, I was stunned by the incredible talent communicated through the performance.

Whilst having the truly inspiring experience of enjoying ‘Matilda’s Giant Adventures’, I did have a favourite scene: scene 10. The creativity of this particular scene grasped my imagination. The humorous speech accompanied by the award-winning acting almost constantly drew a clap or laugh from the audience.

In this particular scene, The Head of Army and The Head of Air Force capture the giants, which have been causing chaos and panic throughout the country. Subsequently, The BFG and Matilda come to the rescue and undertake a breathtaking, daredevil adventure…

All speech was clear and the expression used throughout the show was stupefying. The storyline was easy to understand and the clear links between chapters helped the audience massively. The dances - which were immaculately choreographed - broke up the speech suitably, therefore drawing back the audience’s attention to its former state. All the songs were note-perfect and the style of singing was ingeniously adapted. The versatile performers were just as spectacular in the melodic lullabies as they were in the spirit-rising songs sung by the school children. Similarly, the high-energy dances were a crowd favourite; nevertheless, the audience had their heart warmed by the elegant dream and ribbon dances. The dances were a wondrous addition to the show. Although all the dances were choreographed magnificently, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the performance of one particular dance – Zero to Hero. I loved this dance because not only was it was danced stupendously, but the grin on the BFG’s face was unbelievably infectious.

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In addition, the costumes were stunning and the care taken over the makeup was truly inspiring. The costumes were unbelievable and suited the characters’ personalities exceptionally. The added details on the costumes made the performance so much more real. In addition, the makeup stunned the audience with care, creativity and imagination. Overall, the costumes and makeup were a well-thought out asset and aided the young actors’ performances as well as helping the performers maintain energy throughout.

The high-energy that was absorbed by the audience never stopped and ran consistently throughout the performance. In fact, it looked like the actors were enjoying themselves as much as the audience.

They showcased a wonderful and sophisticated range of scenery and props that really stood out. The BFG’s cave - being hand-crafted - took centre stage when it was first revealed to the audience. Everything was made to perfection, from the sausages for the breakfast scene to the giants’ masks. The intricate details really added to the atmosphere, creating a more entertaining experience for the audience.

Special effects were highly accomplished and as a result the show was much more atmospheric. A Year Six girl managed the special effects and the standard at which she was working was unbelievable for her age. Creating different shades on the stage was an important role that came with added pressure; however, on the night, she pulled it

off creating different emotions throughout the performance.

If I had the opportunity to change anything, I wouldn’t because - in the length of time that they were given - I think they produced a stupendous end product. This production would not have been possible without the teachers’ guidance and the help and support that they received from school, home and the community. Evidently, the Year Six girls worked superbly as a team both on and off the stage to make this show the best that it could be.

To conclude, this high-standard production is definitely a ‘must see’. You gain the experience of seeing the next generation’s acting abilities in a comical performance that is ideal for everyone. A dynamic script converted into a fantastic piece of family entertainment with a few shocks and thrills within: a complex plot that holds your attention, imagination and concentration throughout…

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A Critique of Matilda’s Giant Adventure Annabel St George

In this critique, I will be reviewing a production by JCG Prep entitled ‘Matilda’s

Giant Adventure’. It is a clever twist on three Roald Dahl stories - Matilda, The Witches and The BFG - cleverly combined by three ladies: Mrs Paul, Mrs Pallot and Mrs De Gruchy (three teachers at JCG Prep.) These ladies worked tirelessly to combine the plays to produce a big production to accommodate forty-four girls.

The characters were very believable especially the more ‘make believe’ characters such as the witches and the giants who were portrayed very well. They were portrayed very well because of the energy the actors put into their performances; also, the witches put on cackling voices and the giants put on very low croaky voices. Many of the characters intrigued you greatly, including the Queen herself and the Grand High Witch. Every

time a new character was introduced, I wanted to find out more about them; like the BFG, how did he know to save Matilda? Why is he different from the other giants? What possessed him to look after Matilda? The costumes on the characters added to the suspense, like the witches wigs and bald caps; other costumes added to the comical side of the story, such as the BFG’s patchwork shirt. I am not entirely sure how the Queen managed to change her outfit in seconds and be ready to give another one of her breathtaking performances!

Not just the costumes made the story come alive - the actors kept you absorbed in their acting; there was never a moment when I was twiddling my thumbs, except during the interval where I was waiting for the jaw-dropping acting to commence one more time. I was never twiddling my thumbs because the actors kept you occupied through the changes in the tone of their voices and the way they flowed around the stage. My favourite character was the Queen because - in the last scene - she purely laughed at herself because what she was saying was extremely funny! Although the Queen was my favourite, all the parts exceeded my high expectations.

Moreover, I thought the extracts from the original

pieces were combined really well to make a continuous storyline, which was clearly narrated by the narrators so that you were never confused about the plot of the story. If I had to choose a favourite scene, it would have to be the newscast clip performed by Poppy Ginnis, lighting director. It was my favourite scene because it was so realistic and Poppy managed to keep a straight face all the way through the 2 minute video. Even though I chose this as my favourite scene, I pondered my decision for a long time whilst dripping wet in the taxi on my way home.

During the interval, I thought it was a lovely touch that there was a little snack stand from which you could purchase chocolate bars and water, with the proceeds going to Fairtrade.

The dances were choreographed very specifically by Miss Gabrielle Robbe, a professional choreographer who gave up her holiday hours from work to help this production stand on its feet.

To enhance the audience’s pleasure of watching this production unfold, the staging added to the wonder of the performances and the props were used very appropriately. In addition to this astonishing work, if an actor made a minor

mistake the rest of the actors would help the first actor back to her original part. I would not have changed a single thing in this remarkable production because, if I had, the storyline might not have flowed as perfectly as it did.

In conclusion, I personally think this was a very positive experience for the audience and I would recommend it to my friends with great pride and pleasure. I would recommend it to any age groups for it suited all of them, for example the Queen’s more adult humour, the scary voice of the Grand High Witch, or simply the Head of the Air Force jumping into the Head of the Army’s arms. Be warned though, towards the end there is a surprise in store for everyone! I learnt that 10 and 11 year olds can perform a play that keeps babies from crying when they sing and the whole audience entertained for the entire duration. I have one idea: if this was shown on DVD to other children, the teachers could produce a quiz to ensure that they did pay attention all the way through. Apart from that, I rate this production 10/10: brilliant job, JCG Prep!

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THE FOUNDATION

Being a “Foundation Girl”Iona Kelly

Being a JCG Foundation Girl has been one of the most interesting and inspiring aspects of my time

in 6th Form so far.

I came to be a Foundation Girl as I am interested in a career in Marketing and it was suggested to me to go along to the Foundation to help give me an insight into that career. I am so thankful for the opportunity I’ve had over this year - and those I will have over the year to come - to work with Leanda so closely on all the Foundation events and fundraising we’ve done. Yes, at times it can be stressful and several hours have been spent stuffing various envelopes but it is definitely worth it!

As a Foundation Girl, you get to help organise, market, design and plan many occasions, such as the Hawksford Debates, the Jacksons Pride and Joy as well as the alumni reunions and many, many more. As well as this, you get to meet and communicate with some amazing people in various industries as well as working with Leanda, who is absolutely amazing at what she does and is a lot of fun!

If you’re interested in a career in marketing, design, PR, management, communications or just want to help organise some of JCG’s fabulous events then becoming a Foundation Girl might well be for you. Not only do you get to help out JCG and create a real connection with the College, but you also make friends with the fellow Foundation Girls, which is really lovely as you become a close team of interesting, different and active girls. Personally, I’ve become more confident with my teamwork, organisation and communication skills and have loved every bit of it!

Communication in the Workplace For this feature, we invited a number of ‘Old Girls’ from the class of 2005 to reflect on how communicating with others has shaped their experience of work since leaving Jersey College for Girls (Ed.)

Samantha Bouchard, Interior Architect

‘Communication: the imparting or exchanging of information or news.’

The exchange of information plays a huge part in my day-to-day role as an interior architect. I have a constant flow of specifications, restrictions and alterations filtering through emails, phone calls and board meetings and all moulding the output I create. Without these lines of communication, it would be impossible to compose realistic projects from a concept or an idea. By collaborating with engineers, landscape architects and consultants, we have the ability to build on individual client objectives, all the while balancing several projects through each phase of their completion.

Lack of communication results in errors and therefore in loss of time, wasted money and – ultimately - unsatisfied customers. In an attempt to minimise this risk, our office has adopted an open plan layout. Our architects, technicians and drafters all cooperate in discussions in order to share knowledge and information. In doing this, we are constantly learning more efficient methods, new techniques and popular strategies in order to maintain a good reputation and a high satisfaction rate. All of this happens through communicating with one another on a daily basis. So, as the saying goes, communication (really) is key.

Sarah Bentley, Ernst and Young

As an accountant, the general perception is often that numbers are my priority; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Communication is key!

Technology has caused a huge cultural shift in the way we communicate - gone are the days of pen to paper and now there’s texting, Facebook, Twitter, and smart phones. This means there are many ways in which we can get our message to its intended audience.

The business world is no exception to this; I have the ability to contact my clients and colleagues not only over the phone but via email, instant messaging and we even have an app! However, the benefit of this convenience also comes with its challenges. Once you click send on that email you are unable to control who - and how many people - see what you have written. Also, what you have written can be interpreted completely differently than in a face to face meeting. I’m sure we have all at some point Facebooked or texted a friend only to find out later that the message has been completely misunderstood and it can be just the same at work!

I therefore have to be mindful of the way I am presenting myself to my clients and colleagues. Before I send an email, I have to read it twice and often nothing beats just picking up the phone or simply going to see someone to ensure there is no confusion. It’s not only about what I say to others but what they are saying to me. It is important that I listen and can interpret what they are saying as this enables me to help them. This is certainly true when I speak to my colleagues around the world, for example when emailing my American colleagues I have to remember to change the way I write the date!

Business leaders and icons haven’t achieved their status purely as a result of a great idea: success lies in their ability to deliver their message. If Steve Jobs hadn’t been able to communicate his vision and get the world to buy into it, there wouldn’t be an iPhone in my pocket!

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THE FOUNDATION

Jody Milner (née. Stoddart), Insurance Broker

At The Trust Insurance Group, we work as an independent broker service, or intermediary, in the insurance market. We help customers to find the right policy for them by discussing their requirements, be it insurance for their business, home, car, boat, plane or holiday. As an insurance broker, communication is a vital part of my job. Obviously, I spend time during the day answering the telephone and responding to emails - the same as many office jobs. However, because the product we provide for our customers isn’t a tangible one - you can’t touch it and check that it is exactly what you’re looking for - it is crucial that we describe the product in detail and gain all the key information from our clients to make sure we are providing them with the right insurance policy to suit their needs.

Communication at my workplace also switches between discussing policy requirements with a client to then passing this information onto an insurer so that they can place cover, so language use can vary here. When speaking to customers you do not want to bog them down with unnecessary industry jargon as this can become intimidating and tedious. However, when speaking to insurers on behalf of our clients, insurance terms are key in transmitting information quickly and easily between parties to ensure cover is in place promptly. When dealing with clients, it is also important for us to remember that material facts given to us by the customer provide the basis for the insurance contract and if any of these details are incorrect, this could result in a claim not being paid. Therefore, we must also ensure that our clients communicate fully with us and provide all details relevant to the risk: this means asking the right questions. The Jersey Financial Services Commission has oversight in all areas of our business and, therefore, communication is heavily regulated: there is vital information regarding policy wording and what is or isn’t covered that must be provided to each and every one of our clients to ensure that they fully understand what the product can do for them and when cover is in force and when it is not. We are also keen to provide all of our clients with a friendly service and this must come across in our verbal and non-verbal communication to ensure that people feel comfortable with us, and are confident in the service we provide. This is something we strive for particularly, having developed from a small family business.

Rohini Gangaramani, Legal Assistant

I am a legal assistant in the Child Care department of a local authority in the Midlands; I assist in Court cases where the Children’s Services have decided that a child is not receiving the care it should from its family. These cases change people’s lives and - as you can imagine - careful, precise and effective communication is integral to this job.

Before any Court case, I spend my time communicating with the other lawyers involved in the case. This involves regular email or letter correspondence in relation to key events that may have happened within the subject family that are a cause for concern and need exploring. During the course of a case, it is important to let everyone know how your client feels about what is going on and this is done by way of a statement. This document (which can be anywhere from 2 - 300 pages long sometimes) communicates your client’s position, feelings and responses.

In the days leading up to the case coming before the Court, it is important to ensure that every lawyer and the Judge have all the information they need. Contrary to popular belief, there are no surprise witnesses or surprise evidence in Court. Each lawyer and the judge are provided with a bundle of documents which contains all evidence and statements before the hearing so everyone has time to prepare. When creating this bundle of documents, communication has to be clear and precise so the Judge is fully aware of the case that is going to come before him or her. Clear communication ensures the smooth running of a case from beginning to end!

To learn more please contact Leanda Guy at [email protected] or visit www.jcgfoundation.com

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EJersey College for Girls. Le Mont Millais, St. Saviour, Jersey, JE2 7YB. Telephone: +44 (0)1534 516200

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CREATIVE MINDS

Marrakech Lucy Kershaw

(Eisteddfod Gold Certificate Winner)

Marrakech. Famous all over the globe for its exotic markets. Constantly bustling with

people from all walks of life; tourists, locals, hawkers. The main square packed full with a sea of colour floating around the city. The sound of sellers shouting, tourists bartering, people conversing and laughing with their friends. The sweet scent of spices mixes with the crisp smell of fresh fruit – oranges, guavas, pineapples – wafts through the humid air. Monkeys are dressed up, running around, attracting attention as they are placed on top of your head and thrown into your arms, the screech of their cries echoing throughout the scattered stalls. Children stand transfixed at the sight of snake charmers, the enticing sound of the flute drawing you in as the snakes slowly slither up and out of the beautiful hand-woven baskets. Screams of delight pierce the air as children chase each other round the square, their bare feet making a soft patter against the warm stone floor.

Then you see the stalls. Colour everywhere. Beautiful baskets are thrust into your arms if you so much as glance in their direction; prices being yelled at you from every angle, a competition as to whose items will take your fancy. Next, a stall full of spices for every dish and herbs said to cure anything and everything. Women screech for you to get henna done, your hand scratched - like an eagle with its prey – into their

grasp as a pattern is produced on your hand before you can say no.

The scent of cheap, stale coffee drifts across from nearby cafés, each one seeming less appealing than the last, all claiming to provide ‘the world’s best cup of coffee.’ The clatter of

horses’ hooves sounds in all directions, dragging behind them rickety carts carrying terrified tourists around, the carts looking frighteningly close to collapsing any second. Donkeys and mules are laden with merchandise – rugs, spices, clothes and baskets – until only their heads are visible under the

mountain of goods waiting to be sold: surely animal welfare must be an issue?The dancers twirl across the square, their striking costumes jingling, the sequins catching the sun’s rays, causing everything to shimmer whilst an array of unusual instruments provides captivating background music.

Overall an incredible scene, bringing all senses to life, the sights, sounds and smells causing everyone to be drawn into this world of excitement; the square that is transformed to provide a whole new experience, only to be found on market day in Marrakech.

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Artwork created by Year 11 Student Millie Colston-Weeks

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CREATIVE MINDSA Bird’s Eye View Tia Murray

(Eisteddfod Silver Certificate Winner)

There was once a day when I decided to fly around the island of Jersey, to take a

good look and see what I could find. I am a bird, a cute, incredibly small sparrow I am; my wings are very soft, like smooth silk threads interwoven. When I am flying about, the noisy lorries always give me a fright and so do the buses. They just love polluting the air.

When I flew over the Bellozanne tower, the fumes were overwhelming. I could hardly breathe, and I couldn’t understand why the people of Jersey would want to harm their island and their wildlife. The seagulls were screeching like they were in pain, but not – they just love the smell of rotting food and other wastes. I used to like the seagulls but now all they care about is litter bin rubbish and eating young chicks, why has it become such a sight?

Next stop was a quick, refreshing wash in the cold inky blue sea at the golden sand beach. On the beach, the sunshine was blinding; that’s a change from always seeing smoke! As I flew onto the beach, I was absolutely astonished. All the way around me were litter and a horrible, ugly green substance right the way round the bay. Other birds like me were wondering how this had happened. Where had all of the lovely little crabs in the sand gone? Where were the pretty shells? Nothing but rubbish. Just dirty used bottles, crisp packets and milk cartons. Not to mention having to hop over the dog mess. I wandered further down the beach just to

see a thick black layer of something. Was it oil lying on the surface of the water? Or maybe something worse: like chemicals. The smell of rubbish was unbelievable; it was just another dump on this lovely bay. I can’t do anything to stop people doing this. I’m just a helpless little bird.

After this horrible experience, I flew over to the duck pond to get a drink (I couldn’t get one on the beach). When I arrived, it was empty; none of my duckling friends were to be seen. The pond had completely dried up, no drink for me again: what was I to do? This probably happened from that global warming I hear everyone talking about, I thought. That is probably the reason. Just then, I heard a noise from behind me. A man, sucking up all of the other ponds with some sort of machine device. How could he? All of my friends must have died. The humans never think of us anymore. As I set off to go and discover more, I saw a sign: ‘Housing Development’, it stated. More houses – when I thought Jersey was already overpopulated. Someone has to put a stop to this, I thought. Humans are just ruining our homes. I set off disappointed again, eager to find some good water.

Whilst I was flying it started to pour down with icy rain. I had to take cover somewhere as my feathers can get all dirty and wet if I stay in the rain. I hopped into the nearest shop for warmth and cover. It was a sauna in that shop: like nothing I’ve every felt before. BANG! I found the automatic doors opening and closing! This is all still so new to me. On the side of the door, I could just make out the words, ‘Closing Down Sale’! It’s the same thing all the time. All of the shops have no people buying things so they close. No money at all. How can I help? I’m just a lonely, small bird.As I came to the end of my long journey, I decided to

visit my friends at Durrell. At least if I go to Durrell - I thought - I will get some well-deserved water at last! My silky wings had turned dry and murky. I had a lovely little wash in the baby blue water! I could hear the animals screeching in the distance. The fresh air there was just amazing compared to all of the places I had visited that day.

Jersey is trying to turn into a big city these days. The double-decker buses and the massive banks and buildings. Why has the island changed so much?

Thump, thump, thump; I heard footsteps! These were the first people to visit Durrell in ages! So many people are just driving around in their cars or committing crime in the local town. People should definitely come to Durrell more often, I thought. I finished off some spectacular food and decided to call it a day. After visiting Bellozanne, the beach, the pond and town I had experienced the place Jersey is turning into.

People just don’t care about the environment anymore. No recycling and no walking places. I really hope that it doesn’t get any worse; people should experience my ‘bird’s eye view’ and put a stop to what is happening. I would if I could!! At Durrell, everyone is a family. The animals in the enclosures do not know what is happening in the real world: if they did, they would be horrified.

It had been a scary day, a worrying day but overall a day where people put a stop to destroying the beautiful island. As I settled down for a good night’s sleep, I ruffled my feathers. A new day, a new start tomorrow.

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Unblemished After Carol Ann Duffy

Grace O’Regan (Eisteddfod Gold Certificate Winner)

if you were stonea plain pebblelying on some

forgotten ocean floorI would take you

home forevermoreif you were water

colourless and blandI would dive into your embrace

and let you cleanse my handif you were fire

wild beautiful heatkissing my skinI would shiver

letting youwarm through me

if you were nothingyou would be

everything eternalunblemished

your raw formwould still soothe me

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CREATIVE MINDS

Lost Alice Leedham (Eisteddfod Gold Certificate Winner)

California happened like a thunderstorm. First it was deserts and glorious sun-

stained nothingness; it played like an unbroken sprawl of images that were the type of summer you see only in old movies shot in soft focus, and then it exploded. Dirt roads turned into gravel, stars became fluorescent and the moon flashed neon. The night throbbed with music; then music like you’d never heard before that glittered and swam in the light-drenched sky and suddenly everything was beautiful and large and dressed in synthetic magic like the wrapping on a chocolate bar. Los Angeles was a city perfumed in Technicolour; the days were bruised pink and purple flushed with deep orange and sangria while the nights were of the darkest and most alluring gold threaded with the white of aeroplanes and an illustrious black skyline so thick it could have been drawn on in lipstick. The streets were people; millions of them. They had power in their hair, power whispering at their fingertips and a cigarette between their lips. They were the modern day fey; alluring in all their madness. A beautiful mess. It was awe-inspiring, dangerous and euphoric and she wanted to see it all.

First it was Silverlake, and then we got lost in the urban decay of the East Side together and held hands on glorious Sunset Boulevard. Then it was electric Hollywood so she could dance along the super-highway, flutter through the traffic and brush her fingers along the Walk of Fame, collecting the

dirt of a thousand dreamers on her fingertips. She told me she could taste the magic on the tip of her tongue like a sparkler, it hissed and sparked in her mouth. And from that moment on she ate, slept and spoke Los Angeles. I couldn’t stop it, I knew I was too late it was eating her up from inside out. She let her hair grow long and dyed it sun-washed blonde and lacquered her lips the colour of midnight. Some days she’d wake up close to me with makeup around her eyes and I could hold her in my arms and barely recognise her. Every morning loomed ahead inevitably threatening, had I lost her yet? Who was she going to be this morning? Marilyn Monroe with LA’s stars glowing in her eyes or Judy Garland in sparkling ruby slippers or someone else entirely?

It was the thirteenth day and she was almost too far gone. She slipped out of bed in clothes I didn’t recognise. “Out today?” she’d ask and I’d nod without properly registering that she’d ever spoken. My mind was heavy with alcohol and her enchantment-laced kisses. We left without paying the hotel bill because our pockets were empty. We wandered the streets like lost tourists even though it felt like years since we were first caught up in this storm. We walked Sunset Boulevard in silence; the only sound I numbly registered was the painful inhalation as she took another drag on the cigarette trapped between her painted fingers like a bird in a cage. Suddenly something ethereal had caught her attention; I couldn’t feel her next to me anymore and she’d flitted down another street in the labyrinth for the very last time.

The street was drenched in smoke that twisted and glittered, before long it swallowed her whole and I could only see her shadowy form dancing on the walls, she was almost unreachable. “Sit down

darling,” a voice breathed seemingly nowhere and the words were drowned in smoke that smelled too sickly sweet to have leaked from a cigarette filter, “you wouldn’t want to die without saying you’d smoked on the Miracle Mile, would you?” and he passed her a joint wrapped in newspaper print. I forgot to find that question strange.

“Just a moment,” she whispered in my ear, the words caught in her throat and I wrapped my shaking fingers in her hair and squeezed tight. I wanted to sob. We sat down on white plastic lawn chairs from some lost suburban sprawl, surrounding a fire that was inexplicably present despite the smothering LA heat. The whole scene swam before my eyes, the flames were fluorescent blue and they licked up the brick wall like a witch’s tongue. I could see figures dancing in the light, ghostly figures with flowers in their hair and something fluttering at their backs. The modern day fey; alluring in all their madness. A beautiful mess. And voices so terrible and beautiful I still couldn’t shake them from my head for years after.

“We are sorry,” they whisper, but every word was a lie, laughter effervesced dangerously beneath their every word. “We are sorry, but sweet Los Angeles must take its sacrifice.” Then suddenly it’s the fey that fill the plastic chairs and they’re standing now, together. And they hold her in their arms and step into the fire, and Los Angeles swallowed her whole. For a few moments she was consumed completely by brilliant light and she was beautiful, the LA starlet she wanted to be more than anything. She was on the stage, the radio, the LCD-lit television screen, and she’s everywhere. There are stars in her eyes and she’s wonderful; the prettiest of offerings. And it was her. She was Los Angeles, and she was lost in her own brilliant madness.

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CREATIVE MINDSLost Rowan Pilley (Eisteddfod Gold Certificate Winner)

Sunlight streamed through the colour stained glass, the religious icons bathed in their

own victorious glory. Beneath their gaze the sincerest stillness fell amongst the pews as the rings of desire were exchanged in a moment of eternal bliss. The proud sob of the elderly, crumpled mother demonstrated the triumph of this holy union. As he kissed her silvered hair, a single smile broke her mouth of misery. He was her boy no more.

It was between the walls of calming shades that he was drowned. Surrounded by the white light and spotless scent of silence he was led to her grave’s beginning. The eyes were mirrors of his own – still open, searching. Her expression tranquil but still he wept for her demise and in that place it was life as well as death that he despised. Mother.

Later in the armchair of domestication he struggled to break the surface of his suffering. She was little consolation for his childhood loss which still he clung to like any man should. Only the clink of bottle or glass could rescue him momentarily from that abyss. There was no harm in the liquid that slipped slyly past his lips, befuddling his brain into perfect numbness. To all, one was acceptable. To him, twenty was merely twenty ones and twenty times more acceptable. To her it was not.

She caught the smell on his breath a heartbeat

before she tasted the bitter flavour of his mourning. She tried to free him from the net which had ensnared the man she loved but her attempts were feeble and infrequent and she too became a prisoner of his dependence. Her victories were small: the gurgle of the beast beneath the sink as she emptied bottle after bottle of poison, the cold feel of the glass concealed beneath her clothes. The inevitable day dawned and he came disheveled, drunk and unemployed. She was discreet, sympathetic, exhausted. She joined him in bereavement. Remembering the man she lost. He was too drowned in drink to care when she left him, humming a hymn from a less hazy time.

It was when only fluff and receipts from long ago were left in his pocket and only dust collected in the corner of the cupboards that he was confronted with the enormity of his emptiness. All he had left were the drops of liquor which were poor solace amongst his tears. In the solitude of his grime-covered sheets he wept for the steely resolve which was the inevitable solution. In the blinding light of dawn he emerged from his lair with his hair parted and a glint of purpose in his eyes.

She answered the door without apparent surprise and invited him into her monotone world. She was graceful, eloquent, little perturbed as he spun her a story which was as pure as herself. As the hand reached the hour she dropped all pretence and fell in the arms of fervent admiration. It was a moment of spontaneous heroism. And as romanticism faded into simple subjugation and time continued to chase those who need it most, happiness slept soundly between them.

The sigh of the clouds lingered in the pitiless space between sea and sky, each indistinguishable

from the other. Shadows which shuffled amongst the splatters of gothic paint were indistinct, incomprehensible. It seemed even the moon was sleeping. He stirred in his seat, stuck in the undesirable scratchy fabric in shades of garish grief. Beyond his breath was the close of the seemingly limitless world. The sockets were full of an anxious anguish; the creases on his brow were definite. His regret was captured in the indigo tinge of the light – harsh and artificial not unlike the world in which he was trapped.

As soon as he appeared at the frosted pane she read the scowl of sorrow which the sun of today had graffitied upon his face in a way which only he could. His voice when he stepped into the soft, subtle glow was deep, reluctant, streaked with deceit. He took great comfort in her enveloping embrace as he buried his tears in her warmth like a child. Their conversation was stilted, short – and they scaled the staircase in silence.

It was the mutter of the leaves which drove him on as he crept through meadows of carpet and across deserts of tiles. As his lips touched the piercing neck of his confidant he felt a pang of regret for what might have been. Subjunctive. He washed away the future with the bitter sweet liquid which waltzed down his throat to the tune of adulterated elation. She caught him at the height of his betrayal. It was dejection that spun her around and sent her back to bed like a naughty child but so passionate was he that he failed to pause, to even notice that she was there; and then she wasn’t. A ghost.

He left in the morning: failure neatly folded into his suitcase along with his clothes and gin.

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Georgia Moyse

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CREATIVE MINDSE

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Manga Cartoon by Elise Gallichan and Emily Doyle

Trusted by the world’s best manufacturers

St. Peter, Jersey, JE3 7BF Tel: 01534 497777 jacksonsci.com

Life’s a journey...Let Jacksons and the JCG Foundation take you there

Rathbone Investment Management Internationalis regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.

Offshoreinvestmentmanagement

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Jersey College for Girls. Le Mont Millais, St. Saviour, Jersey, JE2 7YB. Telephone: +44 (0)1534 516200

Hawksford is proud to sponsor the Hawksford/JCG Debate Society.

Guiding our leaders of tomorrow, today.

www.hawksford.comSuite 7 | 4 Wharf Street | St Helier | Jersey | JE2 3NR

www.grapemortgages.jeEnjoying a fruitfulpartnership withthe JCG Foundation

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CREATIVE MINDS

Artwork created by Year 13 Student Beth Moore

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THE LOCKER

How Do Teenagers Communicate?Charlotte Smith

It seems ironic that I’m writing this article as, personally, I tend to have the opinions of a fifty year-old man.

Nothing annoys me more than when I’m talking to a friend and they pull out their phone. The purpose of a phone is to communicate when someone is not around but – surely - a real conversation is better? However, I think they in turn get annoyed at me for being so unreliable with my phone. I just find the idea of being constantly available to people unappealing (not sure what this says about me…). Also, mobiles haven’t been around for long enough for us to really understand what they’re doing to us; in the next fifty years, we could be seeing headlines such as, “Girl’s brain fried by too much mobile phone use” – though they’ll use their media magic to make a snappier title.

If I were to answer the question posed by my title in one word, I’m almost positive that the answer would be ‘Facebook.’ Among teenagers, it’s seen as strange not to have Facebook; this shows just how common it is. In my entire year group, I know of only three people who don’t have Facebook! So what exactly is the appeal? Is there something attractive about being able to consider and edit your answer in a chat room? Maybe. Or maybe it’s because emoticons make us seem funnier. The main reason I use Facebook is for Groups. They make it so much easier for us to make plans with our friends and panic with our Chemistry class about the homework. Other than that, I just find Facebook quite annoying – I would say that the main way I personally communicate over Facebook is by ranting to my computer screen about ‘kids these days.’ Things aren’t all bad for Mark Zuckerberg and his Facebook minions: a study has

suggested that teenagers use Facebook as an extension to their real-life relationships, unlike adults who are seen to use it as a substitute.

So far, it’s not looking good for us poor teenagers. However, in our daily life we adapt the way we communicate without even thinking about it. Humans’ natural desire to be liked causes us to adapt the way we speak when we’re around different people. In an average day we probably speak to teachers, friends and parents; each requiring a different way of communicating. For example, think of the way you communicate to examiners through exams: it’s very formal and very different to how we all speak to each other. Teenagers are also known to be the most common users of slang. Unfortunately, this is another department in which I am lagging – I once questioned a friend about the meaning of ‘BRB’ when they used it and then wondered why they took so long to reply. Perhaps I am the exception and we teenagers truly are the chameleons of communication.

A study of 2000 13 – 17 year olds was carried out to see which form of communication they would miss the most should it be taken out of their life.

1. Face to face – 58%2. Texting – 28%3. Talking over the phone – 5%4. Facebook – 5%

So, it seems it’s not all doom and gloom! We have some sense after all.

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THE LOCKERCommunicating Online: YouTubeSteff Spencer

Over the years, it is clear that technology has become a growing part of our daily

lives, especially when you look at our generation. Nowadays, it’s hard to find a child who hasn’t used - or even heard of - a computer or the internet. We’ve grown to accept that children need to learn how to use this technology, due to the fact that it is evident that the world around them will - sooner or later - be taken over by technology. This process includes more and more people using social network sites in their daily lives and one particular video sharing website that, over the years, has grown in popularity with around 490 million users worldwide. This site is, of course, the social media phenomenon that is YouTube.

In 2005, YouTube was created by Chad Hurey, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, who thought of the idea after failing to find footage of Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction” at the Super Bowl and after they couldn’t attach a video file of a dinner party on an email due to capacity restrictions. Believe it or not, these two events laid the foundations for what has now become one of the most-used social networking sites with over 2.9 billion hours spent on YouTube a month- that adds up to 326,294 years.

However, even though YouTube was initially thought of as a way for families and friends

to keep in touch with each other through homemade videos, there is a new craze which is sweeping the globe. YouTubers have become a huge part of many people’s lives, with some who create videos daily for 5 days a week like Daily Grace, and others who never fail to upload a video every week like Jenna Marbles. I’m not ashamed to say that, without fail, I will watch any video that my favourite YouTubers upload and, to my pleasure, I even received some Danisnotonfire merchandise for Christmas. But, even as an avid YouTube viewer and subscriber, even I find it hard to understand why this form of one way, online communication has become so popular. If you comment on a video, the YouTuber may respond but, apart from that, there isn’t much in the way of communication between the two parties. However, I still find myself - week after week - spending hours on YouTube watching videos of these people talking about their lives and what they’re up to, with one of my personal favourites being JacksGap’s video about visiting The Rainbow Centre in Sri Lanka, a charity which provides education, welfare and support to children living in extreme poverty in South Western Sri Lanka. It’s when I find a video with a bigger purpose than showing me what someone’s bought during their “Summer Shopping Haul”, that I realised that YouTube could be used in such a bigger way than it currently is. I’m sure we all remember the Kony 2012 Campaign and, whether you agreed with it or not, it got people’s attention. That was the point of it. People all over the world couldn’t stop talking about the 30-minute video on YouTube and it sparked debates everywhere. This video helps to prove the power of YouTube and how one

single upload can communicate a message all over the world.

Taking a step back from changing the world and getting charities noticed, in recent years more of the world’s musical stars have been discovered via YouTube, with one particular “talent” being a huge example of this. In 2009, a bidding war started between Usher and Justin Timberlake to sign this “musical star” to their label. Enter into the music scene Justin Bieber, with millions of fans falling for the boy with “a voice like an angel”. Personally, I’m not a fan of Bieber; however, I do like some other artists who some may not realise started on YouTube: for example, Jessie J and Gabrielle Aplin. But whatever your music taste, you have to admit that YouTube has become an amazing ground for up-and-coming musicians to share their music, gain a fan base and to get noticed by someone who could make their musical dreams come true.

Looking back at what YouTube was invented for and what it is primarily used for now, it’s hard to see how much communication happens in this social media world. It’s clear that the site is used for more commercial gain but there are still people out there who use YouTube to communicate messages to a wide audience, with some trying to use the site to their advantage and as a means of entering into a career path that would otherwise be almost impossible to succeed in. But communication or not, you can count on me to carry on watching endless clips of chicken nugget challenges and, of course, spinning seals - seriously, check it out: it’s surprisingly soothing to watch.

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Twilight ReviewHannah Gardener

T he much-anticipated ‘Breaking Dawn – Part 2’ was released on Friday 16th November: the last

instalment to the blockbuster Twilight Saga. From the opening credits, there was much to live up to with millions of ‘twi-hards’ around the world hoping it would be the best film yet.

Reeling the audience into one of the most captivating, intense, romantic love stories of the modern day, Stephanie Meyer’s final chapter was brought to life by director Bill Condon. The audience was thrilled by Bella’s life as an immortal - the special effects were superb. We had been told the film had a twist but - no matter how prepared we felt - the story could not have been anticipated.

The long-awaited battle scenes did not disappoint and the audience was left sitting on the edge of their seats throughout – and were left thirsty for more! A magical closing scene between Bella and Edward was a perfect way to say goodbye after 4 fang-tastic years.

Excellent performances were delivered by all the cast with a special mention to newcomer Mackenzie Foy who played Renesme Cullen. The music, as always, was perfectly chosen and a location was found to match expectations. A great movie to really sink your teeth into - a must see!

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“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”

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