Year 11’s Guide to Addiction

When we get older we have strange cravings or we want to forget something negative, we may turn to drugs and smoking. This blog is a lot more serious than the others and hopefully some people might learn from it.

One of our previous blogs is about motivation, that has some tips that could help you with your intentions of driving away from addiction. When we have a bad experience, we automatically want to forget it and sometimes we turn to drugs and smoking simply because we just can’t face the pain, so if you come under this category we have a few tips to help: Beware the consequences, think before you take them. Smoking excessively damages your lungs; and drugs, while addictive, are extremely dangerous to your health. If the addiction has already found you and you want to stop, be sure to ask for help.

We know year 11s aren’t old enough to drink alcohol, yet we strongly urge you to not drink too much as it is the bane of the life of many a person.

We will name no one, as we know no names, but to those who are out there and have fallen prey to cigarettes, take our advice and stop for your own good.

Concept and co-written by Jamie Tait.

Also co-written by Rosie Edwards.

Motivation

 

                                                          Motivation

The New Year is a starting point for many future prospects, and as the end of the month awaits us, we can all push the thoughts of work and resolutions to the back of our head. Can that be avoided? Well it can, through determination and the key Ingredient, Motivation.

Motivation is needed for every activity in our everyday life to push us along the path of success and to sometimes encourage us to do something different and out of your ‘comfort zone’. Let’s be real, we can all get pretty lazy. So, how can you stay motivated to work hard and stick to your little resolutions?

No.1

Get a notepad and a pen, and write down all of the reasons why you made your resolutions or why you should work harder in 2015, it may seem silly, but by doing this you will see all of the benefits of why you should keep your resolutions.

No. 2

If you feel that a notepad is a tad old fashioned, there are many smartphone apps out there to give you some inspiration and ideas when it comes to keeping your resolution creatively. You could even schedule daily reminders on your phone as to why you should go jogging today, for example.

No. 3

Get a friend or a member of your family to help, it will be a lot easier. They can help to remind you and give you a little bit of a push if you’re feeling sluggish.

Most importantly, you should know for yourself how much progress you’ve made, if you failed a few times, then try again! It doesn’t matter how many times you try, just keep trying your hardest, because you will feel very accomplished by the time that 2016 comes around.

 

By Holly Croxton K3

My Partnership With Into Film

Over the past year, I’ve been a part of a talent development program at a film education charity called ‘Into Film’. Into Film is a film charity which seeks to put film at the heart of children and young people’s learning, contributing to their cultural, creative and personal development. They create lots of great content for all sorts of young film fans. The website features many reviews of newly released films, exclusive interviews with the stars as well as many great short films made by kids and teenagers alike.

It all started way back in February 2014 when I applied for a talent development program run by Into Film. Three months after I sent my auditions and applications, I travelled down to London to meet the team over at Into Film and have a try-out session with them. It was easily one of the most productive and enjoyable days that I’ve ever had! I’ve met a lot of great people who had many of the same interests and aspirations that I had!

 About a month later, I was accepted into their community and my first assignment was to attend a screening to 2014’s, Earth to Echo, two months prior to its release. The screening was held at London in a private theatre where many guests we’re attending.  

Being a part of the Into Film community is such a huge honour. I felt as if I was able to further express my love for film better than ever. As of right now, I’m doing another assignment for them. I’m reviewing three movies based on the theme of ‘Robots and Artificial Intelligence’ and then writing a 300 word report on what I learnt from watching them, which one was my favourite and why, whether it made want to watch more films or not and if it made me appreciate science and technology.

As of right now, I’m planning to study film-making once I finish my GCSE’s and go to college. I’m not sure about what the future will hold for me, but I can assure you that whatever I do, it will have something to do with my love for the world of film.

Written by Kyle Snape.

Into Film’s Website: http://www.intofilm.org/.
My Sentinel Article: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Westlands-teenager-film-critic/story-22866752-detail/story.html.

Newspaper… is it being forgotten?

From what I have heard on the news, it sounds like the newspaper is being forgotten. About 12 million people read the newspaper and 8.95 million of them are read online- so that leaves 2,420,000 million people reading the printed newspapers and if you are one of the people that still read the printed newspaper, then you are getting more information than the people who are reading it online; the stuff online is less informative then the one that is printed. Or to simplify it, reading online is like seeing the bones and reading the print is like seeing the skin as well.

Charity Golfing Game and K9 New Form Tutor

                                                              Charity Golfing Game

K4 had a golfing game for our charity. The Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust, it was registered as a charity in the year 1999. It was named after a 16 year old girl, Donna Louise Hackney, who died from a life-threatening condition.

K4 decided to have a mini-golf competition; it was 20p for 5 putts. The male and female people from KS3 and KS4 with the most points won a large chocolate bar. Well done to all who participated.

By Rosie Edwards.

K9 New Form Tutor

K9  has a new Form Tutor: Mrs. Thomas-Nash. The new director of music, she is an experienced teacher who is also proficient in Drama. She plans to help the whole school but especially K9, as she wants to help her Form at the centre. 

By Jamie Tait

New Year's Resolutions

 The tradition of New Year’s resolutions happens every year for lots of people, but it lasts for about 2 minutes doesn't it? But we have some helpful tips to try and keep them.

1.  Use Your Willpower Wisely

Your willpower is like your muscles, they only go so far before they need to rest.

2.  Start on a Monday

It’s easier to commit to something if you view it as being one week because it makes the goal look smaller

3.  Make an Actual Plan

Telling yourself that you won’t give in doesn't make it so you actually won’t you need to make a plan. Say you have said, “This year I’m not going to eat chocolate.” Try to think of a healthy substitute.

So now you know some ways of making it easier, but what are some good ideas for a good resolution that will help your health, social life…?

1.  Getting fit

2.  Managing stress

3.  Save money

4.  Show your appreciation more often

5.  Be more positive

I hope we have inspired you to have a (successful) New Year’s resolution.

Image from: http://www.visitlondon.com/

Written by Cameron Dixon K1

Christmas Jumper Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS! It was Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 12^th December and if a pound was paid, you could come in your own clothes!  Ho ho ho! Of course you were encouraged to get festive and dress in a Christmas jumper or it wouldn’t be called ‘Christmas Jumper Day’. But, jumpers weren’t all the same. Some were silly, some lit up, and some weren’t even Christmas related. But Miss Vlaikidou was not the full-blown Mrs Santa I hoped for.

Apart from that, we found out that Kings have the least negative behaviour points!

P.S. I was 4^th on the nice list, beaten by Becky Marks, Lauren Lummis and Abbie Bennett.

Written by Jamie Tait

Additional Assistance by Kyle Snape