Volleyball Victory
The Runnymede girls took part last Thursday in a volleyball tournament, in which they triumphantly won, after having fought hard and played successfully as a powerful team. The competition consisted of four one-set matches (to 15 points), which they easily overcame, and two longer matches. They fought together, cheered together, suffered and most importantly, succeeded together until they reached the final.
All eyes were fixed on this new invincible team. The cadete girls sat and cheered with the juvenil team, encouraging the players to keep on fighting like the true warriors they are. With discipline and skill, they managed to win the first set, showing how their hard training each Tuesday and Thursday had paid off.
They continued to fight during the second set, which unluckily they lost, as the ICS team was also very strong. It was all down to the last set. Whoever won would be proclaimed the winner of the 2017 British Schools Volleyball Tournament.
The set was incredible, as were the Runnymede girls. The score was 15-15, and despite the cheering of ICS students towards their team, the Runnymedians united their strengths and won the two finals points. They then danced and sang around the pit celebrating their victory.
We know that this is only the beginning for this promising team, and of the others yet to come, as the perseverance of the coaches is exemplary. The girls have created a new family within their school life, with whom they can share experiences such as this tournament, despite their age difference, and can rely on each other as friends. Volleyball has made a significant change in the school, and we hope it only gets bigger from now on.
Congratulations girls! Elena V, Year 11MHC.
You might be wondering what that stands up for. It is a new program that a couple of Year 13 students have started and stands up for Mental Health Change. Our aim is to teach students of as many ages as we can about the importance of mental health and dispel some of the myths that have been created around mental health and mental illnesses.
We have started by giving some PSHE classes to the year 7s and 8s about mental health, mental illnesses and bullying.
We believe that we need to teach young people to care about their mental health as much as they care about their physical health as this can lead to a better life. From a very young age, we will learn how to deal with stress, sadness and many other things and it is difficult to learn to cope with these.
We are also teaching pupils about some mental illnesses because we believe that through education we will not only eliminate the stigma associated with mental illnesses but we will also start a conversation that is of vital importance.Ý
MHC was created with the hope that we, as a community, will come together and understand the importance of mental health and the importance of having a healthy mindset. This can be achieved by teaching students from a young age how to find the balance between school life and their regular lives as well as educating them on different mental illnesses, how to identify them and how there is no shame in seeking help.
MHC also aims to teach students the effects of bullying on others. We believe that if we are aware of the harm that we are doing to others, we will think twice before saying or doing something hurtful. This will make school much more enjoyable because it won't be a place where students have to fear being hurt but rather can learn and evolve into healthy, disciplined and bright young adults by the time they finish school.
What we are ultimately aiming for is to start the conversation about mental health. Our mind is one of the most vital organs of our body and we need to care for it and treat it well. Just like any other organ, the brain can be damaged for various reasons and we have to learn that there is no shame in treating our brains well and seeking help if we need it. We are also trying to reduce factors that might hinder our brains such as bullying or excessive pressure. We hope that with MHC we will significantly improve the quality of life of Runnymede students as these will be lessons that will help us throughout the rest of our lives.Ý
Pilar M, Year 13
The Experiment: Inter-schools Cross Country 2017
To whom it may concern,
I imagined that it was blindingly obvious that test subjects who weren't sufficiently qualified for the experiment were at a high risk of exhibiting the symptoms of the now widely known "race catatonia". The experiment I refer to consists of exposing test subjects to physical strain (known as the curious phenomena of *running*) in a manner verging on sadistic, and later recording the results, which don't seem to be conclusive despite the fact that the experiment is repeated year after year.
It was foolish, if not a bit reckless, to allow test subjects with immune systems prone to the disease to participate, not only due to the contagious nature of the virus but also the unknown means by which it reaches its victims. I myself have suffered from first degree, self- diagnosed race catatonia and I can assure you it is not a pleasant experience, far from it.
Race Catatonia begins with the test subject displaying involuntary feverish shivering, normally accompanied by a feeling of intense pain in the stomach, often described by experts as a sensation similar to a badly performed harakiri (otherwise known as a " Jack -the -Ripper- style disembowelment") previous to the event. Curiously, it does not have secondary effects, probably due to the fact that it is a self-induced response. As the brain detects the parasite, it fights back with sensory hallucinations . However, this is just the beginning. Afflicted test subjects are also likely to suffer from shortage of breathe manifested as a gasping sound (coincidentally indistinguishable from a magpie during the breeding season) and an alarming lack of facial expression accompanied by dilated, unfocused pupils.
Therefore, when it came to my attention that all test subjects would be submitted to the experiment, qualified or unqualified, (*I belong to the second type*), I was not only outraged but also had an involuntary reflex when my subconscious remembered past, unhappy experiences and thus started a shut down mechanism in case the virus appeared. I was luckily only in the first-phase (badly performed harakiri) when I noticed that something had changed.
This year, things were a little different. To my surprise, my body seems to have developed a strategy to avoid the disease as it was not eager to repeat the painful experience. This strategy consisted of remaining at a distance of about 15-25m (depending on what I deemed prudent at each specific point) from the rest of the test subjects and it proved extremely successful in avoiding the virus and its effects. Due to my new healthy pace of 2 miles per hour, I did not suffer from the magpie gasping sound or the stupor, and instead managed to flawlessly execute the instructions given without sweat or any other visible sign of the dreaded "physical effort". I advise all test subjects to adopt this strategy if the popular (yet effective) crying-in-the-corner, mom-I'm-ill or hiding-behind-the-curtain techniques aren't available.
I hope this helps inspire other test subjects with similarly insufficient capabilities.
Kind Regards,
Hypochondriac Test-Subject Number 21, Year 10
A US College Experience.
Are you thinking of applying to the US? If you are, then this will hopefully help you make the decision whether or not you want to live approximately 4,730 miles away from home.
My brother is currently attending Georgetown University. A month has passed since the term started and he is having the time of his life. However, before that he had to move in and get used to his new home. My brother says it was strange to see the unfamiliar room that was soon going to become his new home. He found that being in a new environment and having to sleep in a different bed with a different mattress was weird. However, despite his uncertainty, he was excited to unpack and decorate his bed to his own taste and make it feel welcoming.
The first week at Georgetown was to get settled in, both socially and academically. Umberto found the number of classes that he had each day peculiar. He couldn't believe that he had 2 hours of class a day when he was used to having 8 hours of class at the French LycÈe. Unlike the French LycÈe, he found that the teachers and the environment of classes were very welcoming. He was impressed by how good the teachers were and how quickly he got integrated in this college environment. He gets a lot of free time now that he doesn't have so many classes. Umberto explained how his free time has taught him to manage his spare time more productively. He has the time to go to the gym, study, to join clubs, hang out with friends and have his own time, feeling that this independence is like "having a job". "I go to work and then I come back home. My room is like a flat." He recognises that the university is training him for his future career and therefore they want them to live as if they were already working.
When I ask my brother to explain his time management techniques he explained a typical day. He is trying to follow the four management rules that the university recommends: studying, sleeping, sports, and social life. My brother uses his free periods to do his homework to then be able to exercise in the afternoon. He eats dinner with his friends and at the weekends he will go out or attend university parties. Part of his social group are his two roommates. He spends most of his time with them. Umberto affirmed that he never gets bored and that having a roommate is a positive thing as you are never alone. However, having roommates can mean a lack of privacy and a lack of independence. For example, my brother or any other roommate has to be careful not to wake the other in the mornings when they set an alarm.
The reason why he chose to attend university in the US was because he loved and loves the idea of living on a campus. He told me "that living in a campus is like being inside a bubble. Everything is five minutes away." The reason why he chose Georgetown University was because it had a campus but at the same time it was in Washington DC. Therefore, he highly recommends that students who are fond of America apply there even though he did admit that the process is a bit of a pain.
Sofia S, Year 13KUBUKA UPDATE
As many of you will already know, this year's charity is one of our most ambitious and rewarding so far. Kubuka will not only provide a better education for over 500 children but also pave ways for a better future for so many young Zambians.
So far the Runnymede student council has already got to work and have managed to raise over 400 euros. We are immensely proud to announce that this money will have an amazing and powerful impact and go towards feeding and sponsoring some of the more vulnerable students in Malota.
Our bake sale, arranged by the Year Sevens was an excellent way to start off what we hope to be one of the most successful years, as far as charity fund raising goes. We also had the opportunity to collect donations from junior school parents who were extremely generous and excited to hear about our project.
So what's next? For the first time ever snacks and beverages will be available at the cross countries. All of the proceeds will of course go towards the charity. As we strive to create new, innovative and fun ways to raise money we will also be returning to the Halloween Disco that will take place on the following 26th of October. One of our main aims is to keep you posted on all of the great things that we have achieved together.
Ember L, Year 12An Unforgettable Trip to San Sebastian
On 29th September, Runnymede College sent their Year 7 explorers off to the endless woods of San Sebasti·n. Firstly, they set off on an orientation course in groups of six in the never ending woods. The explorers had to uncover mysterious clues throughout the woods and discover what they meant before informing the head monitor of their findings and if they were correct they would be named the official winners.
Afterwoods, ( it's a play on words ) they embarked on a new adventure of rock climbing. Firstly, they were fitted with a harness which made it safer to climb. Then a rope was attached to the harness so they could climb up the steep wall which had little artificial rocks to help you reach the top. Some climbing walls were tall, some were short, some were vertical and some were even upside down!!! One enthusiastic Year 7 said "I really enjoyed it " while another promised she would "never forget it".
The last and final adventure for these explorers was to enter a infinite pool full of lazy rivers and waterfalls and curvy slides. As soon as they saw it, they rushed towards it and there was instantly a tremendous queue at the entrance of the slide. "The most amazing slide EVER, " exclaimed the exited Agnes. There was also a bubbly jacuzzi which everybody adored. Before they realised, their time had run out and it was time to go back to the ever boring school on the bus where their continuous moans of "I wish we could go back again" could be heard, even though they were all soaking wet. When they got back to the school it was already time to go back home, relieved and happy.
Alice G, Year 7The Little Princess Trust
You may think that having your hair cut isn't generally a daunting experience; you go and spend maybe an hour or so sitting, idly chatting with your hairdresser while they trim a few centimetres off the ends. But how would you feel to have 20 or even 30 centimetres of it cut off?
The Little Princess Trust is an organisation, based in the U.K., that makes wigs free of charge for children who have lost their hair to cancer treatment or other illnesses. They encourage people to donate their hair and send it to them via post so they can then make wigs out of it, and that's what I decided to do this summer. My long hair had grown out of control and instead of just having the whole thing cut off, I thought it would be a good idea to donate it.
I expected the whole experience to be scarier that it was, but it was actually quite fun. My hairdresser put my hair in many little plaits, with a hair tie on each end, and chopped them all off. I've never had short hair before, and being so used to my old hair, looking in the mirror for the first time with my new hair was a shock. I had a moment of sudden panic, thinking that I’d made an awful mistake doing this - that short hair would look really bad on me or I wouldn't like how it looked but I realised that all these thoughts were superficial, and regardless of what it looked like, I shouldn't regret my decision as it would help someone in need.
Posting my own hair was a very bizarre experience too. Waiting in line to get a stamp, I thought what people around me would think if they could see what was inside my envelope: seven or eight random, long, blonde plaits bundled up and sealed in a ziplock bag- probably the weirdest package in the room.
The Little Princess Trust organize many events and encourage people not only to donate hair, but also to raise money, and people have their friends and family sponsor them to have their hair cut- a bit like our sponsored run, but instead of raising money for every lap you run around a sports track, you raise money for every inch of your hair that you cut off. There are of course specific requirements, like the minimum amount of hair you can donate is 10cm and it can't be a bright unnatural colour such as electric blue, but I think it is a great idea, and if you are considering having your hair cut anyway, why not think about donating it? The charity accept hair from outside the U.K. too, so what are you waiting for? Having 20cm of your hair cut isn't as scary as it sounds.
Sofia C, Year 11
Change: Year 6 to 7
New beginnings. Fresh starts. A chance to do better and… Senior school. Probably one of the hardest moments in life. New teachers, new atmosphere, new corridors to get lost in. The whole building is like a labyrinth! Year 13? Yes it's hard alright. Year 10? Of course it's challenging. But Year 7? WOW! The biggest jump of all is going from staying in classrooms and having teachers coming to your room to wishing you had a map of the senior school in your hands and missing half your lesson. Then of course, being the youngest children in the school and looking up at the teenage giants loom over you in the corridors.
Even after all this negativity, senior school is still really fun. Changing classrooms gets easier, especially if you find yourself with your friend and you get lost together! The teachers are really understanding and helpful if you have any questions and whenever you need help because you are struggling with something in school or at home they will take care of you. uihuih
Runnymede College’s goal is to be a place where you can have fun at the same time as you strive for success. In my opinion it has definitely achieved that goal with a gold medal.
Micaela G, Year 7