The Cambridge Collective
First Edition
Your Country Jamaica, Romania, The Gambia, Nigeria, France, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Philippines, UK
Get To Know Your Teacher Meet Ms Aiken
Get To Know The Head Pupil Team Meet Isabel Tatham
December 2021
Get To Know Dr Page A Pioneer of Online Schooling
Table Of Contents The Editor's Team Meet The Team
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Get To Know Dr Page - A Pioneer Of Online Schooling Meet Ms Aiken The Head Pupil Team - Meet Isabel Tatham
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Your Country Jamaica Romania The Gambia Nigeria France France & Saudi Arabia Poland Philippines London, UK United Kingdom
Poem Page Calligram - Home
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CHS House Competitions The Launch of the CHS House Competition
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Current Affairs UK Migrant Crisis
Miscellaneous Article Why Do We Use Social Media?
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Comic Down At The Farmyard
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Editor's Note: The articles, pictures, diagrams and all forms of content presented in this newspaper do not in any way represent or reflect the views, opinions, or beliefs of the newspaper.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Editor's Team Editor's Letter It has been with great pleasure that we have compiled the first edition of The Cambridge Collective as Cambridge Home School’s very first publication. In reading and editing the submissions from the student body, we encountered a truly diverse and intriguing gradient of topics. The pieces in this issue include interviews with teachers, poems, and articles describing the country students live in; the special theme of this edition. Each issue of The Collective will feature a special theme. This edition’s theme is similar to the theme of the first CHS House Competition - the theme of ‘Your Country’. This category enjoys a considerably higher number of entries than its parallels, with articles from all around the world including Jamaica, Romania, The Gambia, Nigeria, France, Saudi Arabia, Poland, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. We might note that the credit for the cover art goes to Eva Blanchet who originally produced the illustration as a submission to the first CHS House Competition themed ‘Community’. We would particularly like to thank the efforts of Mr Boylan and Mrs Murray, and the invaluable time they both provided to us in compiling, editing and shaping The Collective into its present form. Our sincere thanks from myself and the entire editing team to everyone that contributed to The Collective in any way. Imran Gulamhussein, L5 Editor, The Cambridge Collective
Deputy Editor
Junior Editor
Xenia Plarre, L3
I have lived in Swakopmund, Namibia for my entire life. Namibia, a breath-taking and diverse country, is bordered by Angola, Botswana, South Africa and the Atlantic Ocean.
Anish Maheshwari, L2
I was born in India and have lived in the UK for the better part of my life. I moved from London to Scotland, which is more lush, greener and mountainous.
I love sailing, which is an incredibly fun and thrilling sport, and playing tennis with friends. I also enjoy playing drums and piano, especially when performing with other musicians.
I love tennis; it's the sport I've played longest. I also like nature and exploring. I'm also a technology geek!
I joined CHS in September 2021. I find it fascinating and amazing to be able to meet and work with students and teachers from across the globe.
THE EDITOR'S TEAM
This is my first year in CHS and the current term has flown by. I love the diverse environment and fascinating skillsets that every CHS student owns. I can't wait for the next two terms and the journey that has only just begun.
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Get To Know Dr Page
A Pioneer of Online Schooling
By Xenia Plarre
Dr Troy Page, headmaster of Cambridge Home School (CHS), was born in Chelmsford, Essex, UK. Having also lived in France and Spain, he currently resides in Hertfordshire, UK, with his Spanish wife and daughter. He is a man of many opinions or, as he would phrase it, “What good is a rainbow with only one colour?” If it were not for his determination and out-of-the-box thinking, online school might have never come to be as we know it today. Here, Dr Page talks about his journey in creating Cambridge Home School.
What was your first job? I used to help my father, who was a builder. He was very creative. Being a brother to my three sisters, I was often the peacemaker as well, because they seemed to be at each other's throats all the time. My first paid work was at a technical library in an airport. I spent all day talking to aircraft engineers and filing aircraft movement and maintenance documents. However, I got very bored after a couple of years of work there, because I'm a creative person. Believe it or not, I didn’t do particularly well at school. I was motivated at school, but school wasn’t a good place for me. It’s precisely because of this, that I then became a headmaster and ran a school, in the hopes of improving the school system.
What motivated you to start Cambridge Home School? Sir Ken Robinson, who sadly passed away last year, was an enormous influence. Without him, Cambridge Home School would never have been founded. In one of his highly viewed TED Talks, he describes a failing education system that doesn't account for 'everybody's element', as he calls it. Everybody is unique; everybody has a light to shine, and a school system that doesn't look for that is a failing school system. I'm very passionate about education and I understand that people are different and special, and I was dissatisfied with what young people have been offered for decades. The current school system is still based around a conveyor belt system. This schooling method came about in the mid 19th century, and intended to teach people how to read instructions and use them to run a machine in a factory setting.
"I don't settle for what is. I always question what can be, and I tirelessly pursue what can be over what is. I really want to make things better. My greatest fulfillment, my happy place, is Cambridge Home School."
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In this capacity, the current school system does not really test intelligence; it just tests how well you can remember pieces of information. A great deal of people are disenfranchised by those memory tests simply because they fail to remember things they find dull. Schools are supposed to ignite the flame of curiosity, and give people an opportunity to discover just how brilliant they are; they are supposed to launch people into a successful and fulfilling life. My school didn't do that. The initial beginnings of CHS actually came out of my own teaching in other schools. I was battling as a teacher against a regime and all of the things that were wrong with conventional schools. Eventually, I set about creating an online resource that allowed my students, who could do so, to get a qualification faster. At the time, this was very unusual. This was before Google, and I had to study HTML code to be able to create a web page. This online resource enabled people to learn at their own pace.
GET TO KNOW
Later, Tony Blair's government got hold of this resource since he was promoting online learning. Through this connection, 50 schools got hold of it and it was a breakthrough. I saw the power of online learning and through establishing CHS, I was able to allow people to personalise their education to match their needs. Online schooling offers something that just wasn't there before, and I'm proud to be a part of the giving of this wonderful opportunity. What three pieces of advice would you give to CHS students? It's really easy to fall into clichés or quote your last three Facebook messages, however: Tread with purpose, but with care. Know that there are things you can't know and make your peace with that. Keep moving. Don't stop. Keep sailing and keep swimming, because that is important.
"I worry why people nail their colours to the mast and will die for those colours. I understand that some people are standing up for really important things. But for me, I'm quite prepared to be told I'm wrong. I'm quite prepared to say that I'm not the person I was some years back, but yet I remain the same person at my core."
GET TO KNOW
Quick-fire Questions Where is your favourite place and why is it your favourite place? My favourite place is somewhere where I'm happy, secure and motivated, and usually with people I care about. If you could be a bird for a day, what bird would you be? I love the sound of a nightingale. I'd also like to be an albatross. They can spend nearly all of their life on the wing, seeing thousands and thousands of miles of the globe. I also wouldn't mind being a penguin for a while. It would be just hilarious to walk that way. I could have a nice time being a duck as well. What is your hobby or hidden talent? My first degree was in Art and Design, so I'm a fine art painter. I also really like encouraging people. It is something I do every chance I get. It's so easy to encourage people to do good things. I think more people should do it. Do you have pets, and if yes, what are their names? Rex is our little, fluffy dog. We recently lost our cat, Gordi. So it’s just a dog for now. What is your biggest annoyance? Negativity. I do understand moaning - it’s a normal human trait. But life is far too short to be negative. We should drink from the cup of life and find a counterbalance to be able to embrace the wonder of life. Another annoyance I have is when our dog jumps up when he shouldn't. My wife also loves to push my buttons and spoil the dog… What is an expression you probably use too often? If you ask my wife and daughter, they would say “Down Rex!“.
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Meet Ms Aiken By Ms Aiken
Tea, coffee or ……………….? Coffee, I couldn’t survive without it in the morning! Where were you born and where do you live now? I was born in Ireland and now I live in Bayonne, France. Where is your favourite place? My favourite country is Spain. I love the language, the culture and the food. What was your first job? What is your favourite subject to My very first job was as a waitress in teach? my local coffee shop when I was 16 Maths - the funny thing is, I hated - surprisingly I loved it! Maths when I was at school, but now that I get to teach it, I love it! Why did you become a teacher? I became a teacher because I truly Do you have pets, and if yes, what are believe that a good education leads their names? to amazing opportunities in life and No. Sadly I don’t have any pets, but I I wanted to pass this on to others. would love to rescue a dog one day.
What is your biggest annoyance? My biggest annoyance is something that I do myself - I make a cup of coffee and then I forget about it until it gets cold and I have to make another one! What is an expression you probably use too often? “I can’t hear you, you are on mute.” If you could be a bird for a day, what bird would you be? I would be a little robin. They are very cute, in my opinion, and they remind me of the Christmas period I love Christmas. What is your hobby or hidden talent? My hobby is surfing. I don’t think I am very good at it, but it’s great fun.
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GET TO KNOW
Get To Know The Head Pupil Team Aaliyah Richards
Kayra Kaya
Imran Gulamhussein
Afiqatul Izzah
Joshua Bayle
Meet Isabel Tatham By Isabel Tatham, L4 I was born and raised in Jamaica a small, surprisingly varied tropical island in the Caribbean. I live rurally, a short and bumpy drive from the North coast, surrounded by allspice trees and limestone forest. Life in Jamaica is brightly coloured in many ways, as well as topsy-turvy and outdoorsy. We’re partially off-the-grid (using solar panels for energy), and harvest our own rainwater (purified with UV light) - so something always needs fixing! Apart from fruit, our yard is full of wildlife: hummingbirds, scuttling lizards, parrots, naughty mongooses and shy boa constrictors. I find it peaceful to feel surrounded by so much life. …Although ‘peaceful’ is not how I’d describe my every day! I live with four cuddly but boisterous Rottweilers (who think they’re human), two rescue cats, two birds and a little brother and sister. We get together with cousins and grandparents as often as we can. So when it’s time to batten down for a hurricane, or take a family photo, it feels like a circus.
GET TO KNOW
Three times each week, I try to meet up with a study group of friends. I’m not yet sure of my favourite academic subjects; it’s nice to have a mix. Chemistry and Biology are up there though, so perhaps I’m a science nerd in the making?! Baking pastries is relaxing (when the heat and humidity don’t result in a buttery mess), and I love experimenting with them. We have a cocoa tree in the garden, but efforts at home-made chocolate have not gone well so far.
Outside school, I care deeply about the ocean and our environment, which got me involved with our local fish sanctuary, experimenting with artificial reef design. I love drama, and don’t mind looking silly, but sadly haven’t been in a production since the pandemic. For fun, I play tennis several times each week, and I enjoy scuba diving or snorkeling.
As well as the Caribbean, my family are dotted from Canada to France... from Italy and Belgium to England. Reunions are always my favourite holiday! This Christmas we are hoping for a seaside get-together, and (aside from doing my iGCSE revision, of course!) you’ll find me baking gingerbread men in the kitchen or kayaking in the bay.
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Special Sighting By Isabel Tatham, L4
At dawn shortly after the school year began, on a quiet little beach in Rio Bueno, Jamaica, a massive leatherback turtle - 5 feet long and the weight of 6 men - was glimpsed by fisherman Lewin Miller, as she made her way back down to the sea. Flipper trails in the sand suggest that this one was laying a clutch of eggs at the back of the beach, deep amongst the protective roots of beach plants. “Mi see ‘er gwan down on di beach at sunrise. Dis Mamma big and t’ick, sah, like a liccle car!”, Miller said. Leatherback turtles are on the world vulnerable animals list, so this was a very special sighting.
Sea turtles live a lonely life. After being hatched, they swim the oceans alone for years, eating jellyfish, sea sponges and sea grasses. Males never leave the sea. They are known to travel with the jet stream, diving over 1,000 metres deep, and swimming as far as Canada or Scotland several times in their life. Most sea turtles take a quarter of a century to reach maturity. The magical part is that sea turtles find their way back to the very beach where they were born, in order to lay eggs. Like snakes and whales, they must have an excellent inner compass, and hold that information in instinctive memory for many years. Sea turtles have lived on Earth for over 100 million years. In the wild they can reach a grand age, similar to that of humans, but as a result of overfishing, tangles with fishing gear, destruction of nesting grounds and climate change, too few make it.
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Nowadays, although all 4 species of endangered turtles which nest in Jamaica are protected by law, in practice it is hard to stop mongooses, dogs and hungry fishermen hunting them. The clutch on our Rio Bueno beach is lucky: it has been carefully covered with a protective grid, heavy enough to deter digging, but light and high enough to keep stable temperatures and allow an easy exit when the time comes for hatching - usually 60 days later. Maintaining steady, natural nest temperatures is critical because scientists now understand that the temperature at which turtle eggs gestate affects which gender the turtles will become by the time they hatch: warmer eggs become females, cooler eggs become males. The mother turtle instinctively buries her eggs with care, some an arm’s length deep, to ensure the gender balance she needs. For now, we will watch, hope and wait for the update to this report.
YOUR COUNTRY
Romania
A Breathtaking & Magical Land By Konstantinos Tsarouchis
Where is Romania located? Romania is one of the countries in the Balkans. It is located in SouthEast Europe, and is bordered by Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia, Moldova and The Black Sea. Touristic Landmarks in Romania The Delta Of Danube The Delta Of Danube is the second largest river delta in Europe. It is also home to the largest variety of flora and fauna in Europe. The greater part of the Danube Delta lies within Romania, with a small part in Ukraine. The approximate surface area of the delta is 4152 km² of which 3446 km² is in Romania. Including the Southern lagoons of Razim-Sinoe (1015 km² with 865 km² of water surface), the total area of the Danube Delta is 5,165 km². The Black Sea The Black Sea lies between Europe and Asia and is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean. The Black Sea covers 436,400 km² and has a water volume of 547,000 km³.
The Carpathian Mountains The Carpathian Mountains (also known as the Carpathians) are a range of mountains that form an arc across Central and Eastern Europe. The range is roughly 1500 km long; making it the third-longest European mountain range. The highest mountains within the Carpathians are known as the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia and Poland, where the highest peaks exceed 2600 metres (8530 feet). Romania celebrates the secondhighest range - the Southern Carpathians, where the highest peaks range between 2500 metres (8202 feet) and 2550 metres (8366 feet). The Romanian Language The Romanian language is easy to learn if you know English well because it consists of all the 26 letters of the English alphabet and a few extra ones: ă, î. ț (ts,) and ș (sh.) The closest language to it is Italian - if you speak Italian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian, Catalan or Romansh, you may know some words of Romanian as well because of the many similarities between them.
If you have never visited Romania, and like travelling to different places with a great deal of beauty and culture, then Romania should be on your list! Romania has are a great deal of delicious foods - one very popular dish is called Sarmale. In summary, if you enjoy travelling, eating good food and mountainous scenery with beautiful lakes and rivers, then Romania is the place to go.
The Black Sea
The Delta of Danube
YOUR COUNTRY
December 2021 | The Cambridge Collective | 9
The Smiling Coast Of Africa By Julia M. V. Williams, L5
The Gambia is Africa’s smallest non-island country, bordered by Senegal and a narrow Atlantic coastline. It is known for its diverse ecosystems around the central Gambia River. Abundant wildlife in its Kiang West National Park and Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve includes monkeys, leopards, hippopotami, hyenas and various rare birds. The Gambia has a wet-anddry tropical climate characterized by an intense rainy season (occurring generally between June and October) and a longer dry season.
Gambians are very warm and generous by nature, and the most popular (local) languages used to communicate are Wolof and Mandinka. There is power grid load shedding but apart from this, The Gambia is an amazing place to live in - it’s a very peaceful and safe country.
The country is known around the world for the beaches along its short Atlantic coastline. As an important historical site in the West African slave trade, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The capital, Banjul (called Bathurst until 1973), is situated where the Gambia River flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
I have lived in The Gambia for my entire life and it’s pretty good! My favourite things about The Gambia are its food, beaches, sunsets and how it allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature. The weather is pleasant and if it gets too hot one can always go to the beach to cool off.
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YOUR COUNTRY
Nigeria By Idris Hassan Quick Facts About Nigeria Nigeria is the world's seventh most populated country, with about 200 million inhabitants. Nigeria is blessed with abundant agricultural resources. The region is fertile, and certain cities have numerous rocks that many people admire. Aso rock, Zuma rock, and Riyom boulders are a few examples. Manufacturing Nigeria is the continent's behemoth. It boasts Africa's largest and most developed economy. It is Africa's largest oil producer and the world's eighth largest oil producer. Shell Darcy discovered crude oil for the first time in Nigeria on Sunday, January 15, 1956, in the Oloibiri Oilfield. Nigeria's first commercial oil discovery had been made.
YOUR COUNTRY
Nigeria is a multiethnic region home to nearly 520 spoken languages. While English is the official language, the country's primary languages are Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo. Lagos, Nigeria's capital until it was moved to Abuja, is the country's largest and most populous city, branded "Africa's Big Apple" in allusion to New York City. Nigeria has remained a member of the British Commonwealth, an alliance of 53 sovereign states, despite obtaining independence in 1960. In contrast, the country is a member of the African Union. Nigeria is Africa's largest economy, largely attributable to its export market. While agriculture sustains over 70% of the country's workforce, petroleum products are Nigeria's leading export, accounting for more than 90% of the country's total exports.
The National Anthem Of Nigeria
Arise, O Compatriots, Nigeria's call obey To serve our Fatherland With love and strength and faith. The labor of our heroes past Shall never be in vain, To serve with heart and might One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity. O God of creation, Direct our noble cause; Guide our Leaders right: Help our Youth the truth to know, In love and honesty to grow, And living just and true, Great lofty heights attain, To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.
The national pledge
I pledge to Nigeria, my country To be faithful, loyal, and honest, To serve Nigeria with all my strength, To defend her unity and uphold Her honor and glory. So, help me God.
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France By Eva Blanchet, L3
P - Popular A - Affectionate R - Radiant I - Interesting S - Special
The Eiffel Tower in Paris; Paris is also known as ‘The City Of Lights’.
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La Seine, France’s second largest river; La Seine flows through Paris, through ‘The City Of Lights’. It is famous for its sightseeing long boats called ‘Bateaux Mouches’.
YOUR COUNTRY
Dual Homes By Milla Blanchet
My country is France, located in North-Western Europe.
Emerald, evergreen, and turquoise splashed on a wall of pure oxygen.
I live in a place called Guyancourt, where magnificent parks are easy to find, and where I feel the air is fresher than that in Saudi Arabia.
Windows adorned with unique sweets and confectionery.
Living in France is a total change from Saudi Arabia, from the climate to the people.
The interior, influenced by Parisian designers, with a sprinkle of the Eiffel.
A rooftop overlooking celebrations, the wind blowing off any disturbance.
Beige and crimson corrode the wall of dust, with lively traditions. The cuisine is plentiful, smells of Kahwa and Kabsa fill The geometric holes of Islamic patterns. A home that is different in all aspects, yet just as beautiful.
YOUR COUNTRY
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Abandoned Restaurant By Maja Walentynowicz, L3 Poland is a country where you can find many beautiful places that are often of great historical importance, usually associated with the First or Second World War. In my article, I am not going to focus on these kinds of places; I will write about a place important to our parents, because they associate it with their childhood or youth - a place where many stories have been written. It is a place important not only for them, but also for us; for the young generation, who write a new story and make new memories. Next to a beautiful lake, there is a building near to my house. It is not an ordinary building; no one lives there - it has no windows or doors, rather square cutouts in the walls. In every corner there is a huge spider’s web.
For some people it is just a scary place with a wonderful view of the forest, lake and beach, but for some – a place of sentimental memories.
This place is for us like a museum; like an exhibit in and of itself. On the dirty walls there are quotes, signatures, and scratched drawings on the wooden floor and on porcelain tiles, drawn with pebbles. It can certainly be said that this place is important for people, as it carries history, intrigue and curiosity with it.
About 30 years ago, this building was a restaurant, which later almost burned down in the fire, as can be seen from the destruction of the building. Some say that the fire was an accident, but others say that it was caused by competition.
Editor's Note: This article is presented as originally submitted by the writer with only minor adjustments.
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YOUR COUNTRY
The Philippines By Claire Justine Enriques
Philippines is a spectacular country, and lucky me, I am a Filipino! Geographically, we have three regions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. There are 7,107 islands in total, of which my home island Mindoro is the 7th largest and part of the region Luzon. Our beaches are too good to be true. We are known for our warm, golden, tropical beaches. Where I am from, there is a beach called Bulaklak Beach (Flower Beach). On the crystal-clear waters, we have a “boat-house thingy” that is manually pulled using a string to go to another island. On the bottom of our flag, the colour red represents freedom and independence. Blue on the top represents peace, patriotism and justice. Between the two colours is a sun depicting independence. The eight rays remind us of the eight provinces that made us independent from Spanish rule. The three stars represent our three regions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The background colour has a meaning too! It stands for peace and purity, while the triangular shape reflects equality.
YOUR COUNTRY
Inter-island transport in The Philippines
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the Philippines - there are courts in every street. We have our PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) seasons, literally. When our champion Manny Pacquiao (Pacman!), goes into the ring, streets are quiet and all Filipinos are in their homes to support and watch him. This is one of the best Filipino traits we help each other and support each other. Each region in the Philippines has its own different specialties and culinary strengths. Everything must be eaten with rice; we eat rice for each and every meal. There are desserts and snacks made from rice too. Jollibee, a fast-food restaurant, is like a Filipino version of MacDonald's and KFC! They even added spaghetti to their menu. We also love our Ube, a purple yam of which we can cook Ube cakes, icecreams, pies, and breads.
Three Quick Facts About The Philippines: 1. We have three of the top ten largest malls: SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall and SM Seaside City Cebu. 2. 81% of the Philippines population are followers of the Catholic faith. 3. Philippines is the second largest producer of coconut after Indonesia.
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Amazing London By Tia Argyrople Editor's Note: The following article is presented as originally submitted by the writer with only minor adjustments.
London is a big city that 9,425,622 people live in. It has many fascinating buildings and sites. Celebrations In London we celebrate Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day is when we think about the people who died in the war. We wear poppies on this day as well. Like many other countries we celebrate Easter, Christmas and New Year.
Food People in London eat fish and chips, English breakfast with English breakfast tea. They have afternoon tea where you might eat scones. On Sunday the family gets together and eat Sunday Roast. And last of all is sticky toffee pudding.
Famous Buildings and Sites The Tower of London is a place where the Crown Jewels are stored; it used to be a prison. The Shard is a tall skyscraper that is 309.6 metres tall. The Tower Bridge is built across the river Thames; it is 135 years old. The Cheese Grater looks like a real cheese grater, and it took two years to complete.
United Kingdom By Adelyn Chung
Let’s take a closer look at the country I’m from and also one of the most iconic places ever, the United Kingdom (UK). The country has a population of 68 million as of the year 2021. It consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. With 286 all-time Olympic gold medals and worldfamous cooks, I can promise you it’s definitely worth visiting. Firstly, we’ll take a closer look at London, the city I live in and the capital of England.
YOUR COUNTRY
London Landmarks I wish I could name all of the eyecatching landmarks here, but there are too many for me to mention. Two of the most famous places here include Big Ben and Tower Bridge. Big Ben also has another name, ‘The Elizabeth Tower’. The clock tower is 96 metres tall, and has 334 steps. People started constructing this tower on 28th September 1845. It was completed in 1859. In 1878, the clock stopped for the first time in history, through a ‘heavy fall of snow’ on the hands of the clock face. Big Ben is also next to the Houses of Parliament.
Do you recognise the beautiful bridge above in London? It is called Tower Bridge, and is close to the Tower of London. Most people call this bridge ‘London Bridge’; however there is a different bridge with that name. Construction started in 1886, and it took 8 years to build. The road on the bridge can open and close, allowing tall ships to pass under it, or cars and pedestrians to pass over it. The river there is the River Thames, a 215-mile river which leads to the ocean.
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London Transport London has a reliable transport network. We will focus on the main methods of transport – the tube and the bus. We have 9 tube lines, which each have their own colour on a special tube map. The 9 lines are: Central line (red), Circle line (yellow), District line (green), Victoria line (light blue), Piccadilly line (dark blue), Metropolitan line (violet), Elizabeth line (purple, in construction), Hammersmith & City line (pink), Bakerloo line (brown), Jubilee line (grey), Waterloo & City line (blueish-grey) and the Northern line (black). There are also different special trains, including the Overground line (orange), Docklands Light Railway/DLR (blueish-green), Thameslink (boat), and the Tram (South London train).
Each bus has a number and a destination where it travels to. We have both double-decker buses and buses with only one deck. London buses and tubes are part of TFL, which means Transport for London. Food We absolutely love fish and chips, but there are other British foods apart from this. Other British foods include Cottage Pie, Shepherd’s Pie, Apple Crumble and Beef Wellington. Education The British educational system is very detailed and comprehensive, with a full curriculum from reception year to A-Levels. Some of the most famous universities include: Imperial College London (ICL), University College London (UCL), the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. The Queen The United Kingdom has a Queen, Queen Elizabeth. She is 95 years old. The Queen’s family is also referred to as ‘The Royal Family’. The most famous Royal Family Members are as follows: - Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen’s husband - Prince Charles and Camilla, The Queen’s Son and Daughter-in-Law - Prince William and Duchess Kate, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Cambridge The United Kingdom is an amazing country. If you haven’t visited yet, I hope you can visit one day!
YOUR COUNTRY
December 2021 | The Cambridge Collective | 17
Home The cold air trickles through my clothes, Over and over again, I turn my breath into clouds. Over the smooth hills the wind blows, It cannot move the heavy mist that shrouds, The barren yet breathing land. For now the path that meanders through the fields, Is sodden – burying the stones that make this soil so hard to exploit. I scan the scenery; many a thing the lacklustre stare of dusk conceals, The tumbling depths of valleys no longer a void. Spellbound I stand, Adorned by the threads of nightfall, May these hopes and fears have but no end, The end of time forever beyond recall. By Zora Couenberg, L5
An Analysis Of 'Home' The poem is written in a staggered pattern to depict the meandering path – the location. Throughout the first three stanzas, there is a contrast between the positive and the negative. The appreciation for the country’s beauty yet a fear for the new country. That is how I felt when I first moved to France - at first, it wasn’t always pleasant but I was curious. I decided to reflect this experience in the landscape because going on walks was often a source of comfort. The last stanza expresses how positivity can be extracted from what may have once appeared in a negative light – the dark is no longer scary and fears give way to hope. In short, a life lesson. The last phrase was meant as a reminder of the infinite possibilities you see when you are young; because a young child only thinks of the start of things - and when you learn something, you get started.
The Launch of the CHS House Competition By Mr Boylan, Assistant Headmaster This academic year has seen the successful launch of Griffin, Pegasus and Phoenix as our three school houses. The house system has been introduced to strengthen our school community by bringing pupils from different age groups and levels together to compete in various competitions and tasks to win vital house points.
were encouraged to get dressed up in the Halloween theme or else to dress up in a way which celebrated their culture. Again, this led to some fantastic entries in which Kayla Muller placed first, Kayra Nur Kaya placed second, Claire Justine Enriquez placed third and Heidija Birzniece and Kaden Ramsamy placed fourth and fifth.
We have appointed three fantastic house captains for this academic year. Adittya Sakline (Pegasus House), Laura Homem (Griffin House) and Safiyyah Khan (Phoenix House). They have done a fantastic job of energising their houses to date, and they are working under the expert leadership of Isabel Tatham (Head Girl).
The house competition is for everyone in our school community, and we encourage all pupils to get involved and join in the fun competitions. We have also seen ‘House Origami’ this term as well as our ‘House Biscuits, Buns and Bakes’ collaboration. The winners of these will be announced in the end of term assembly on Friday 17th December.
Our initial house competition was House Art, which produced some stunning work from our pupils on the theme of ’Community’. We crowned nine winners within their categories. Our three Prep School winners were Harrison Ruby, Bow Burnham and Amy Owen. Our Level 1-2 winner was Claire Justine Enriquez, and our Level 3-6 winners where Eva Blanchet, Priscilla Cai, Hafsah Ankolkar, Isabel Tatham and Kayla Muller. The next house competition saw ‘House Fancy Dress' in which pupils
HOUSE COMPETITION
Not only are house points awarded for our competitions, they can also be earned for successes pupils achieve outside of school. We encourage pupils and parents to share successes with us, in return of which their whole house will benefit. Merits play a key part in the house system. For every ten merits accumulated by the pupils in a house, a crucial house point is awarded. On the date The Cambridge Collective was published, the house leader board was as depicted below:
December 2021 | The Cambridge Collective | 19
UK Migrant Crisis By Sebastien Alexander, L5 England has always been a goal for families fleeing from certain areas. They believe the UK is the best place to start anew and create a life for themselves, and thus make the perilous journey from wherever they resided, to the UK. This has created a constant but steady influx of immigrants wishing to seek asylum over the years. But this last year, the influx of migrants has increased exponentially, going from ≈ 2,500 in 2019 and ≈ 7,500 in 2020 (influx per year) to ≈ 25,000 from January to October 2021. This number continues to increase, with 669 people making the crossing in 14 boats (average of 47 people per boat) on Sunday the 26th of September. Most of the incoming migrants are being intercepted by the UK border force and are then brought to safe harbour by said border force, or the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution). The main issue with the ongoing crisis is that the people who are making the journey often go to people smugglers who put them on rubber dinghies and send them on their way, uncaring of the dangers that the travellers might face. For context, these smugglers (according to the UNODC) can earn up to $150 million a year, for journeys from Africa to Europe. These smugglers often prioritise profit over the safety of their clients, often overcrowding boats, which results in accidents.
To deal with this crisis, The Prime Minister of England, Boris Johnson, met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron a number of times, attempting to hash out an agreement. So far, the UK has paid ≈ £54 million, on top of other financial agreements, to the French, specifically “To fund another clampdown on small-boat crossings of the Channel”. Other measures are being spoken about, with the French appearing reluctant to agree to some of the more decisive measures, which would include British Border force (or the equivalent of) on French soil patrolling beaches, as well as a sensor and surveillance net that would ideally detect any attempts to make for England that the patrols missed. This is a rather sensitive topic due to the current relationship between England and France, which is less than ideal due to the recent AUKUS pact between the UK, US and Australia which caused France to lose around AU $90 billion (£48.36
billion) from the sale of nuclear submarines to Australia. The tense nature of this crisis is also not helped by video footage showing French border police sitting literal metres away from the migrants as they launch their boats, and not stepping in to prevent this from happening. This has caused outrage in some parts of the British public, as they view the French “efforts” as completely useless and not constructive towards the drive to stop the migrant crossings. On Sunday the 28th of November, the strained nature of this issue was displayed after Paris uninvited Priti Patel (the UK Home Secretary) from a meeting regarding the actions that should be taken to prevent the ongoing plight from worsening and possible measures to lessen the actual crisis itself. This was done in protest to an open letter that was sent by Mr Johnson to Mr Macron. This is an ever-changing situation, and both the British and French await further developments, as does The Cambridge Collective.
Open letter sent to Mr Macron: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1036220/PM_letter_to_President_Emmanuel_Macron.pdf
CURRENT AFFAIRS
20 | The Cambridge Collective | December 2021
Why Do We Use Social Media? By Ayada Pruksangkul
Why do we use social media? Some say for entertainment, others might say it's a business making platform, but it all comes down to one simple reason. The basic human desires: the need to be accepted, liked, and to connect with others. In 2021, the most common social media platforms amongst teenagers are Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter. If we use Tiktok as an example, in 2019 the app was downloaded 693 million times and in 2020, there were 850 million downloads. So why do we have all of these platforms, and why are they such a necessity for us? Let's look at a popular social media platform like Instagram and see why people use it. Instagram is one of the most popular platforms we use today. It's a place where we can upload short videos or pictures and show them to the world. With the way we process visual images, the app takes the information we want instantaneously, which is a trend that has always fuelled social media in the first place.
The main takeaway here is that social media is addictive and entertaining, especially during this pandemic. It completes our desire to be liked and accepted by others and can even be toxic. Overall, people use social media for many different reasons, but the overarching theme of why we use it is to connect with one another and share information with each other. It can be both beneficial and harmful, depending on how it is used.
SOCIAL MEDIA
December 2021 | The Cambridge Collective | 21