The NCP

FEBRUARY 2020//ISSUE 3 ; VOLUME 15

. S T N E D U T S Y B / / S T N E D U T S R O F

THE NCP

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

With the entry of 2020 comes a new edition of the NCP. 2020 has been a bittersweet year so far, I'm sure everyone was glad to see the end of January. In January the NCP succumbed to the demons of social media! On Instagram we are @newbridgecollegepress and on Twitter we are @NBC_NCP. We look to support the Safer Internet movement in the future and are delighted of its existence! In other news, the election has really shook the country and could potentially split families once again. Most of all, I was proud to see my fellow fifth years care so much about the future of our country, and have completely educated themselves in political 'ongoings' and current affairs and have managed to form their own respective valid opinions. All in all, if you don't have information backing your opinion it is just ignorance. Perhaps that is a controversial statement. Anyway, enjoy the latest edition of The NCP! Ciara Munnelly - Editor of The NCP

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

Well, I think it's safe to say that Janaury has felt like a lifetime. World War III nearly started, Coronavirus is doing the rounds and Australia is burning. Despite this, January has also been filled with a lot of great moments, particularly for the school. The Senior & Junior Cup teams are doing fantastic and Safer Internet Day saw 1st and 2nd year students learn about internet safety with the help of TYs, 5th Years & Ms. K Scully. The football team is also excelling on the pitch. Our theme for this issue is "acceptance."

Throughout the issue, you'll find articles that discuss ideas about how we can be more acepting of those around us. There is a huge talent within the school for writing and this issue certainly encapsulates this talent. We would encourage anybody with an interest in writing to get involved!

Thank you to all of our contributors and to you, the reader, of course. We hope you enjoy this issue of The NCP. All the best, Alex Byrne - Editor of The NCP. Â

LATEST TRIP TO LONDON BY ALEX BYRNE LEARNER'S VOICE BY JUMMY AYODEJI EXCLUSION IS NOT SO EXCLUSIVE BY ALEX BYRNE ALBUMS HITTING A MILESTONE IN 2020 BY CIARA MUNNELLY BEING GAY IN NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE BY ANONYMOUS THE OSCARS BY ROWENA BREEN PODCASTS BY CIARA MUNNELLY A BOOK REVIEW BY ELLA COLE STAR WARS BY ALYSON MORBIN WELLBEING BY THE NCP COMPETITION TIME

EXCLUSION IS NOT SO EXCLUSIVE In recent months, I’ve noticed something which is seemingly rampant in friend groups of people around my age. Exclusion. I’ve spoken to some people about the issue, be it about their own experience with exclusion or their general thoughts about it. As you could imagine, one could draw some very obvious conclusions from these conversations.

Exclusion - An instance of leaving somebody out of something. Exclusion feels absolutely awful and is a form of bullying, many times, it involves a conscious decision to leave somebody out of an event for a specific and unjustified reason. Be that as it may, I have learned that exclusion is not always backed by a malicious motive and can happen accidentally. While this may sometimes be the case, it is still exactly as hurtful as the latter.

I have heard stories of friends being left out of gatherings in their own friend group and of people being hurt when they see the inevitable postings of said gathering on social media. I have heard stories of people who consciously make an effort to exclude others come up with perfidious justifications for their own behaviour. Unfortunately, exclusion is something that can not be easily solved and it can be argued that stopping it is just something that we can’t do.

What we can do however, is recognise the characteristics of an exclusive friend group and take active steps to create a welcoming and inviting culture in our own friend group.

Consider Everybody: When going out with friends, make sure everybody is asked along and not just a select few who you might get along with the most. Ask yourself, “Is this everybody in my friend group? Am I leaving anybody out?”

Listen: When in a social setting, listen to the voices of everybody within the group. I’m sure we have all seen this on many occasions. When somebody speaks in a group setting and is ignored.

Although it may not seem like a big deal, it can be quite disheartening to somebody if what they have to say is disregarded, especially if this happens on an ongoing basis.

Settle differences: Sometimes, one can be excluded because of differences that they may have with others in the friend group. Aim to settle these by talking about them. Often, differences between people may only be apparent to one party involved. By discussing these differences, you can move on rather than questioning if you are at fault of your own exclusion, something which can be quite harmful to your self esteem.

Sometimes we can get caught up in our own lives that we fail to see how easy we have it. Of course, life is not always easy and things can happen to us. But you have a choice to be kind or not. Why be nasty to others and make things difficult for yourself? Why try and build walls that you’ll inevitably have to knock to find your own peace? In the end, it’s not how popular we were that counts or the “elite” friend groups that we were in. What matters is your treatment of others, how you make those around you feel. Yeah, we can say mean things and have off days, but there lies a responsibility within you to apologise for our wrongdoings, a responsibility to be the good that you would like to see in those around you. Be the change. Be kind.

Written & Submitted by Alex Byrne.

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LEARNER'S VOICE

Is your voice missing, are you speaking and not being heard, are wonderful ideas bouncing around in your head with no means of escape? Do you feel you have ideas that can impact or contribute to the way we learn and are being taught in Ireland?

Learner’s voice is an avenue for your voice to be found and heard. Where your ideas and opinions can be discussed and implemented. Where you do not just make a difference but become the difference.

We’ve all heard or seen posters of learner's voice around the school, but we are left with a vague understanding of what it really is. To further our understanding of what learner's voice is all about I met with Aobhinn Collins, our school Captain and a prominent member who has participated and spoken in several NCCA conferences (National Council for Curriculum Assessment) on a number of occasions in regard to Learners voice, and interviewed her on what learners Voice is all about. These are the highlights of our conversation.

In your own words what is learners voice?

“It’s a place for all the students to get together and express their views and opinions” Do you think its beneficial?

“Yes, especially for quieter students who might not get a chance to be on the student council, it gives them space so they can express themselves and put their opinions forward.”

Would you recommend more students to become members?

“Yes” Would you say it’s focused on changing the leaving cert?

“It's not focused on the education system but everything that can be done around it, so like wellbeing was the focus last year. This year it's about how the teachers approach teaching us and how we engage with the learning, so it's not really about the leaving cert course.

What do you do in a typical meeting?

“To make sure everyone is involved activities involve the use of place mats in which everyone gets a corner and we put common ideas as a group in the middle, we also use a graffiti wall. This is a huge sheet of paper on a wall where everybody has to get up and list their opinions by either writing their ideas directly on the board or by sticking post-it's on it ,this helps shy students who may not have been inclined to express their opinions.”

In what direction is learners voice headed?

“Well we’ve attended two conferences outside school which was kind of a big deal for the school and for Learners Voice in General. At the first one there were three other schools and at the second one, there were about ten, so we got a chance to mix with them and share knowledge. I feel like it is going places like around the country so I think it definitely will move forward and it must be kept up every year as well.” (continued...)

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LEARNER'S VOICE What did you do at the conference?

“At the first one at the start we got to listen to Minister Katherine Zappone who is the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and she launched a toolkit which is a website to help learners voice develop in different schools. And I had to give a talk at that as well.

At the 2nd one we didn’t speak in front of people, but we had different stations set up for different schools so teachers and inspectors and people high up in the NCCA came and asked us questions about our experiences.

It’s evident that due to the tireless hard work and diligence of its members Learners voice is thriving and growing at exponential rates, it’s having a profound impact on the way we are taught and educated at home and abroad.

Special thanks to Aoibhinn Collins for giving up her time to allow me to interview her.

Written & Submitted by Jummy Ayodeji

"Comhairle na nÓg and the Department of Child and Youth Affairs launched ‘Our Voices Our Schools’ on Wednesday 4 th December 2019 in Collins Barracks, Dublin. This is an online resource to improve participation of young people in decision making in our school system.

Minister Zappone was present to officially launch the toolkit on the day. Newbridge College were one of only 3 schools nationally selected to be involved in the development of this toolkit. Mr. Pat O’Brien, Mrs Deirdre O’Callaghan and Mr. Brian Howard attended, together with 4 of our students Aoibhín Collins, Kanna Kodama, Finnian King and Oscair Murphy, in what was an incredibly positive day and one that highlighted Newbridge College on a national stage as a leader in relation to our Learners’ Voice work.

A video that captured our story of how we incorporated learners’ voice in the development of a Junior Cycle Wellbeing Curriculum was shown to all, together with a presentation by our representatives. This video is also available on the DCYA national website."

- Ms. Deirdre O'Callaghan For as long as I can remember, there was a specific order of power in the education system.

Students had to listen to the teachers, teachers had to listen to the principle, and so on. There was no interchanging in this sequence. The Department of Child and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education seemed to be in a whole other galaxy of thier own. (Or that’s what I thought). That then posed the question, “Who listens to the students?” Learners’ Voice has broken down this barrier and has become the answer to this question. (continued...)

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LEARNER'S VOICE For as long as I can remember, there was a specific order of power in the education system. Students had to listen to the teachers, teachers had to listen to the principle, and so on. There was no interchanging in this sequence. The Department of Child and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education seemed to be in a whole other galaxy of their own. (Or that’s what I thought). That then posed the question, “Who listens to the students?” Learners’ Voice has broken down this barrier and has become the answer to this question.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been part of the Learners’ Voice from the very beginning. I’ve had the privilege of watching it grow from a small lunch time group, to a group that can address the Minister of Child and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone with great influential power. If someone had said to me that all this was possible at my very first Leaners’ Voice meeting, I wouldn’t have believed it. How glad I am that I was proven wrong.

The day that was had on the 4 th of December was a historical one. 80 people, all with the common aim of promoting student voice gathered in one room. Newbridge College (Ms. O’Callaghan, Mr.Howard, Mr. O’Brien, Aoibhin Collins, Oscair Murphy, Finnian King and Kanna Kodama), along with two other schools got the opportunity to speak out about the changes that had come about and the positive effect that those changes had on the school since the introduction of Learners’ Voice.

Newbridge College spoke proudly about the new wellbeing curriculum that’s now in place for the junior years. Terence Mac Swiney Community College spoke about their reformed code of behavior.

Kinsale Community School enlightened us about their new system of target grades and one to ones between teachers and students.

All these changes were built on the foundation of student opinions. By listening to the students’ thoughts and opinions, Newbridge College and the other schools were able to create a better learning environment that was pro-active, catering for every need. The most genuine and authentic information you can get about student needs are from the students themselves. Learners’ Voice strives to do exactly this, to insure accurate and effective changes are made, to benefit all.

It was an eye-opening experience. Not only did we get to speak up ourselves, our minds were also broadened by the ideas of others. This highlighted all the good that can be done when the voices of everyone are listened to and taken seriously. The whole day inspired me to be pro-active, stimulate a change and use my own voice. This launch was evidence that the Learners’ Voice is effective and should be adopted by schools across the country. It truly is revolutionary and is changing school life for many young people, including myself.

The launch of this new toolkit, assured students like myself, that our voices do matter. A student from Terence Mac Swiney Community College said, "Young people are only 20% of the population but 100% of the future." This statement made a huge impact on me. We are the next generation to shape this country. There’s no better time to start than now. Why not try improving our education system. Learners’ Voice has provided us with the platform and opportunity to do so. (continued...)

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LEARNER'S VOICE Overall, the whole day was just an amazing experience full of positivity. I’ve grown to be more confident through being part of Learners’ Voice. This launch allowed us to show that Learners’ Voice is powerful. It has the power to do so much more than you could ever possibly imagine.

We’ve come so far already and I’m very excited to see where Learners’ Voice takes us from here.

This was an experience I will never forget and I’m extremely proud and thankful to have been part of it.

Written & Submitted by Kanna Kodama.

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MUSICAL TRIP TO LONDON The end of January saw the annual musical trip to London. The scenes at Dublin Airport’s terminal one at 5am resembled something of a zombie apocalypse, that is, in my case anyway after I’d dragged myself out of bed two hours prior. Once we landed, we took a train to Liverpool Street Station where we then went on the underground. A few stops later and we had made it to Oxford Circus, our home for the next 24 or so hours. We spent the next few hours exploring and inevitably, falling for some tourist traps. I also paid £22 for a burger...yes £22 (far from that I was reared but that’s London). After a few hours of sightseeing and significant damage to bank accounts from extortionately priced food, we headed back to our hostels to relax before the evening that was ahead of us.

Dressed in our best clothes and doused in cologne, we caught a tube to the West-End where we all had dinner together. We then walked to the Apollo Victoria Theatre, home of the musical phenomenon “Wicked.” Seats filled fast and it wasn’t long until the lights dimmed and the curtain rose. The musical was incredible, unlike anything I had ever seen before. An array of colour, vibrance and talent before all of us. The singing challenged any preconception of what I thought was humanly possible and the music which was played by a live band was incredible. The bowing cast was met with a well deserved standing ovation and a round of applause.

We then caught a tube back to Oxford Circus where we returned to our hostels. In a state of complete and utter delirium (due to the fact we had been awake for more than 18 hours) myself and my room-mates took it upon ourselves to order food to our hostel.

I downloaded the app, “Uber-Eats.” An app where your food is delivered right to your door from a person who usually rides a bike. We decide to dine like Kings and order a huge bucket of fried chicken. And so after hitting “order,” we wait. We can see our driver, “Arslan,” on the map on my phone, he seems to be absolutely hurtling through Oxford Circus on his bike, that is until, he falls off his bike. Yes… after a call from the Uber-Eats head office, it was confirmed that poor Arslan had fallen off his bike… so no chicken.

Defeated, we reluctantly go to bed.

The next morning, we went to Camden Town for a few hours. In a sea of people, we navigate our way through the shops and stalls and take in all that this place has to offer.

I was so excited for the food stalls, naturally. We then met up together and headed back to the airport and caught a flight back over the waters to Dublin.

All in all, it was a great weekend for all of us and I know I speak on behalf of everybody when I say that I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you to everybody who went on the trip and to especially, the teachers who organised and accompanied us!

Written & Submitted by Alex Byrne.

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ALBUMS HITTING A MILESTONE IN 2020

Goo - Sonic Youth (1990): A record that has been hailed as ‘a brilliant, extended essay in refined primitivism that deftly reconciles rock’s structural conventions with the band’s twin passions for violent tonal elasticity and garage-punk holocaust’ (Rolling Stone, 1990), was Sonic Youth’s message to share by the end of the 20th Century. The album, upon release, was much more different in comparison to the band’s earlier work, but much less different to what was going on in the rock scene at the time. From 1981 onwards, the band had been focusing on the New York underground noiserock scene that surrounded them. Goo brought a new tonality and structure, rather than chaos and disorder, in line with the start of the American grunge movement.

The album, with standout tracks such as ‘Tunic (Song for Karen)’ and ‘Kool Thing’, gained mostly positive reviews. When the band were recording Kool Thing, Public Enemy, the East-Coast hiphop group, happened to be in the same studio. Chuck D, the group’s leader, ended up providing some featured vocal work on the track, which was a satirical comment on the Riot Grrrl movement of the early 90s.

Sketches of Spain – Miles Davis (1960): The Prince of Darkness was inspired by the Spanish flamenco musical stylings whilst straying further from his traditional free jazz trumpet sounds. This album was released a year after perhaps the greatest jazz record of all time ‘Kind of Blue’ and had a lot to live up to. The album included an extended version of the second movement of the Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez where Davis’ trumpet extraordinaire shines through. Grace Slick of American psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane said that before she wrote ‘White Rabbit’ she listened to Sketches of Spain during an acid trip, and that gave her great inspiration.

The album marked the point in Davis’ career where he started to get experimental and moulding himself to the popular music of the 60s and 70s. It also marked the middle of a dark, drug-fuelled road for him. The musician died in the early 90s leaving behind him an arsenal of genre-bending trumpet. Possibly the most influential artist of all time, Davis will be remembered for millennia to come.

Blur – The Best Of (2000): Perhaps a strange choice for this list as a compilation album, but Blur's trophy piece for winning the Brit Pop battle was essentially the introduction into the 21st Century. An album that is instantly recognisable, this piece of best hits defined CD culture of the early 2000s. Akin to The Verve's Urban Hymns and Green Day's American Idiot, the album was found in everyone's home. The album also carried a celebration of ten years' worth of work. The obvious 'Song 2', 'Beetlebum' and the British Gas advert theme - 'The Universal' all line the album with a warm familiar feeling of being young and in London. The best thing about the Brit Pop movement was that unique feeling you got whilst listening to the songs, like the world was your oyster yet so fast. Blur still remain relevant to this day because they essentially were the Brit Pop sound, Damon Albarn's Cockney accent rings through yet still sounds fresh, as with their music.

Written & Submitted by Ciara Munnelly

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BEING GAY IN NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE

It’s easy to feel forgotten in a school of over 900 students. Sometimes you feel like the only rainbow in a sea of clouds (full metaphor intended). You see, I’m a member of the LGBTQ+ community and growing up in a catholic background and going to predominantly catholic schools can be conflicting. But I am not ashamed of who I am or who I love. That being said, I still wasn’t able to come out and show the world who I was, because it wasn’t really anybody’s business. And because I’ve noticed that this school has been lacking in the LGBTQ+ representation....Until this year, that is.

You have no idea what’s it like to find out that teachers are trying to make an active difference to make people like yourself feel welcome and included in the school community. Ever since I was in first year, I knew I was gay, and I’m it was pretty obvious sometimes. But to know that the school, a very catholic school, supported and accepted me? That was something else. That was like getting the perfect present on Christmas. It was the kind of feeling that spread all throughout your being and made you feel loved.

Its amazing how much something like an open room with the words “You are welcome!” can do. I’ve felt alone for years, like I was the only one who was like this, but seeing all the younger years come in in floods to support this because they cared was an amazing wake up call that I wish everyone in the world could have.

Being LGBTQ+ in this school can be hard. I’ve heard all the terms being used in negative ways. The f-slur being thrown around like it’s nothing, gay being used insultingly. It’s hard to hear your peers redefine a word that makes you feel safe (gay, not the f-slur) and turn it negatively. It makes you hate it, and by association, you hate yourself. Using gay as an insult or the f-slur isn’t harmless, its so harmful to the kids who truly listen to your words.

It’ll never be the straight people who truly understand the impact of the word because you don’t resonate with it, or understand it like the rest of us non-straight kids too. To us this word is a save heaven where we know we are accepted, so by taking that away from us and changing us, you’re telling us that its not okay to be gay, and we aren’t welcome.

You may not understand that but it’s true.

But the school has made strides to show us that using those words is not okay and that we are welcome in this school. There’s still some way to go, to be honest, and it’ll feel like an uphill battle, but we see you, and we appreciate you.

I would really like to thank all the teachers who took the step up and made that ‘Come in to come out’ day happen. You are doing so much to make us all feel included. And its only a start, yes, but it still means something to me. Thank you, for everything you are doing for us, we appreciate the teachers like you. And the students who stand up to the ignorant, we see you and we thank you.

Written & Submitted by Anonymous.

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THE OSCARS As the rush of indie, biopic, and art house films are thrust upon cinema goers as of the winter months, we are reminded of the looming presence of the Oscars. These films, seemingly dripping with integrity and promise, pose many questions as award season blooms. Who will be nominated, and for what? Will we see more diversity this year? Who is hosting? Will they get all the announcements right?

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that all the Oscars should be is a for congratulating and honouring the best films of the year. We are so focused on who is winning and who is nominated, the focus is shifted from the actual content of the year. The few that do win seem to be the only important films of that year, and it almost feels easier to not be nominated at all, then to lose.

They have unfortunately become a competition, rather than an event of recognition for the films we loved.

We wait too, for the red carpet, and the extravagant outfits that the celebs don. They are judged harshly for this, despite the fact that they should be there purely to honour the work they did that year, totally unrelated to fashion.

It’s not an unpopular opinion that the Oscars and award shows in general might cause more harm than good to the cinema industry. Do the later months of the year become a rat race for who can release the most diverse, most gritty, emotional biopic that somehow transcends the worlds of indie and blockbuster cinema. God forbid a strong film be released in January; it would just be forgotten.

People complain about no new ideas in cinema recently, but we seem to respond to this mould.

We go nuts for sequels, remakes, and biopics, but actual adventures in cinema seem to fall into the trap of going unnoticed completely or being “Oscar-bait”.

Of the films nominated for best picture this year, none of them came out earlier than October, except for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which was released in August. The world of cinema seemingly stands still from the months of Febuary to July, in the eyes of the Academy. Does this take from the integrity of the films, or just from the Oscars itself?

Written & Submitted by Rowena Breen

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PODCASTS

The Blindboy Podcast: Good podcasts these days are hard to find, but this one has been staring you in the face the entire time. One half of The Rubberbandits, Blindboy Boatclub has been in the public eye for almost fifteen years. He frequents the Late Late Show. He wears a plastic bag over his face. He has created an art movement with a not-so-PC name. This podcast is anything he wants it to be and it always works. Blindboy shares his incredibly insightful opinions on topics such as music, art, politics, education, society, history and more. An incredibly articulate man, Blindboy should be regarded as the next James Joyce. This podcast is definitely worth a listen, so you can achieve that, as Blindboy says, 'podcast hug'.

Bunny Ears: Macaulay Culkin is back and better than ever with his new 'Goop meets The Onion' lifestyle comedy website. The podcast is great if you like WWE, as many wrestlers have been on, if you like movies (especially John Hughes movies), or if you just want to hear old friends chatting. Culkin serves as an excellent host and has his fair share of inside jokes with the audience, whom he has named 'The Warren'. I spent all of summer 2019 listening to this man speak and it was certainly worth my while – so make it worth yours!

Written & Submitted by Ciara Munnelly.

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BOOK REVIEW Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone:

Looking for a classic fantasy-fiction novel to get stuck into? Have you read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone? An enchanting tale telling the story of a notso-ordinary young boy and his adventures in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with lots of twists and turns along the way! This book is the first in a series of seven and I just couldn’t put it down! It’s definitely suitable for all ages – kids and adults love it! It’s extremely popular with over one hundred and twenty million copies sold!

Eleven year old Harry Potter has just found out that he’s a wizard and has been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Join him on this exciting journey where he makes new friends, learns magic, plays Quidditch and solves mysteries! This story grabs the reader’s attention with many unexpected turns such as- oops! I had better not say! No spoilers!

I love how creative the author, JK Rowling, is. She has a great sense of imagination and really shows that in her work. The story is very original with creative features such as the sport Quidditch which she invented herself. She also created dementors, acromantualas, boggarts and many more fascinating creatures, foods and symbols of the wizarding world. The author is extremely descriptive, bringing each scene to life in the most brilliant way.

The plot is structured very well, making you want to read more. The build-up to solving the mystery is very exciting. The ending was definitely unexpected! The characters are very realistic and relatable, which I feel is important. I liked the fact that the story included some realistic elements, friendship troubles being one of them. One of the morals of the story is that you never know what you are capable of before you try it. Harry was faced with multiple obstacles throughout the story, one example being that he had never learned about magic before, yet he was expected to have experience with it when attending this new school.

I would highly recommend reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – I loved this book and think everyone should give it a try!

Written & Submitted by Ella Cole.

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STAR WARS

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Star Wars was created by George Lucas in 1977, and is arguably one of the most successful franchise of films to ever be on our screens. With the first film released in 1978, this sensational saga ran for nine action packed films, with the final instalment in 2019. With such a vast worldwide audience and extremely high expectations, you’d expect the final episode to be an accumulation of all the best and most successful elements of the saga, with an epic showdown that decides the fate of the entire galaxy at the end... right?

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” was finally released to the public only eight months after it was announced on December 16th 2019. The film picks up where the last film ended, with Rey, Finn and Poe desperately trying to lead the resistance against the First Order once and for all. However, they soon discover that Emperor Palpatine has returned, and the odds start to dwindle against them.

Without giving away many of the spoilers, let’s just say the film had mixed reactions. To quote critics on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Rise of Skywalker suffers from a frustrating lack of imagination, but concludes this beloved saga with fan-focused devotion.”

Now, the second half may sound positive, but many people thought that “fan-focused devotion” was exactly the problem with this film. After the backlash of negative reviews on episode VIII, “The Last Jedi”, it seems like director JJ Abrams turned The Rise of Skywalker into what critics are calling “a fix-it of the Last Jedi,” and what The Guardian called it, a “crowd pleasing but unadventurous finale.”

Rather than writing a new and original plot with well thought out character arcs and new and interesting obstacles, JJ Abrams gives us almost an exact replica of “Return of The Jedi,” (originally supposed to be the final film) which left many fans wondering – what exactly was the point of the sequel trilogy?

Unfortunately, the answer lies in the fact that Disney seems to care more about money than taking the time to think of new and unseen storylines, which they seem to have achieved, as The Rise of Skywalker made £500 million in the first week alone. The Sunday Mid-Day website pretty much sums it up, saying “The Rise of Skywalker is an example of what happens when money becomes paramount in franchise-building.”

As with all films though, everything is subjective, and the film has received high praise from major reviewers. Even though a good amount of Star Wars fans would disagree, I personally enjoyed the sequel trilogy, and liked that we got to see some of the old favourites like Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford.

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” provided us with a definite ending to the 41 year saga, and whether or not it was a fitting end, I guess you’ll just have to find out for yourself.

Written & Submitted by Alyson Morbin.

MINDFULNESS What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness teaches us to direct our attention to what is happening right here, right now, with an attitude of kindness towards ourselves. For many it is simply taking a little time for yourself. In the modern world we are bombarded by information, work, and deadlines.

Stress and worry are natural biproducts of modern living. Here are “The NCP’s” top tips for dealing with stress.

1. Your body is your temple - Eat Healthy.

2. I sleep therefore I am - According to the National Sleep Foundation teens need between 8.5 and 9.25 hours of sleep. Don’t skip on sleep because you have a lot to do; you will perform better if you get a good night’s rest.

3. Exercise – Whatever your preference be it a gentle walk, gym time, a morning swim or game of soccer, not only is exercise good for you, it can help your grades. Sounds like a win/win.

4. It’s all about ME - Me Time. Take some time out of your busy day and spend it with a very important person: You. It's important to schedule some time into your busy day to do something you enjoy, like seeing a movie, reading a book, going shopping, or hanging out with friends.

5. All work and no play - Find Balance. Don’t take on more than you can handle at once. Make a to-do list… cross off anything that doesn’t need immediate attention.

If things seem to be crashing in on you, remember to breathe. One quick way to calm yourself quickly is to breathe. And remember, Laughter is the best medicine. When you laugh your body begins to relax and release feelgood endorphins. So, why not watch a comedy, or crack a joke with a friend and notice how a little laughter can change your entire mood.

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COMPETITION TIME

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The editors of The NCP would like to thank all those involved with this issue of The NCP. We’ve enjoyed working with you and look forward to seeing what you write next! In particular, we would like to thank Ms. O'Callaghan for her contribution regarding Learner's Voice, Ms. McCluskey and her students for their continued support and contribution and Mr. Doyle for his much appreciated help and guidance in making this issue of The NCP. Contributors: Jummy Ayodeji Alex Byrne Rowena Breen Alyson Morbin Ciara Munnelly Ella Cole Kanna Kodama Editors: Alex Byrne & Ciara Munnelly.

. S T N E D U T S Y B / / S T N E D U T S R O F

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THE NCP FEBRUARY 2020//ISSUE 3 ; VOLUME 15

. S T N E D U T S Y B / / S T N E D U T S R O F

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FEBRUARY 2020 //ISSUE 3 ; VOLUME 15