RVHS Exposed - December 2017

December ’17

Issue 2

Aspiration · Respect · Endeavour

The Christmas Issue!

Festive Favourites Exclusive Interviews Christmas Markets

Introducing the Assistant Editor‌ Anya Khan 11akhan2@rodingvalley.net

Christmas is around the corner and in this edition RVHS Exposed is bringing you the best of Christmas. In this edition the team here will satisfy every Christmas need you have. From Christmas crafts for you and your family, recipes to suit everyone, the latest Christmas fashion this season and exciting events, we have anything and everything to suit all readers.

With half term to look forward to, you will have plenty of time to get involved in the festivities that this exciting season brings.

The first edition of the magazine went down very well so we hope you take pleasure out of reading the Christmas edition of RVHS Exposed and Merry Christmas to all of our readers.

Magazine Bake Sale On Tuesday 29th November, our magazine team put down their keyboards and picked up their mixing bowls to hold a school bake sale. Everything from chocolate sponge to cheesecake and flapjacks were on offer; all to raise money for the school magazine!

From London to your living room. Looking for ideas? We’ve got you covered. London’s Christmas displays maybe what you need for the perfect Christmas inspiration.

Oxford Street holds a great range of shops, all showing off their Christmas style. It seems that the traditional red and green are just as ‘in season’ as ever. With H&M hosting a huge Christmas wreath made from individual holly leaves.

However, as times are changing so are Christmas traditions. With even high street shops hosting a variety of copper and black decorations among the classics; gold, silver, red and green. Baubles in a chalkboard style, that allow you to express Christmas with a personalised message, or geometric and asymmetrical ornaments that bring your tree into the 21st century.

While you’re looking for your inspiration there are plenty of interactive Christmas spots all over the city. For example on Tottenham Court Road there is a two- story bauble smothered in tinsel and warm lights. This is a perfect place to take your Christmas snaps as the centre is a tunnel that gives the perfect Instagram opportunity. Other Christmas locations include; 

The tree at Trafalgar Square,

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The ice rink at The National History Museum,

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The garden on top of John Lewis,

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Selfridges,

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Covent garden and

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Regent Street

Christmas Sorted, By Estella Chambers 13U

Travel and Community Christmas is just around the corner now and it's time to get in that Christmas spirit. In this issue I will be giving you the best places to visit over the Christmas period.

Here is all you need to know!

Christmas Markets are the perfect place to go when you want to buy small gifts, eat Christmas food and get that all around Christmas feel.

Wintertime at Southbank Until 4th January 2018 Christmas by the river at London Bridge City Until 3rd January 2018

The Winter Forest at Broadgate Until 12 January 2018

Experience the Magic of Christmas at Lee Valley White Water Centre Until 24th December Winter Wonderland Until 1st January 2018

Christmas in Leicester Square Until 7th January 2018 Christmas at Greenwich Market Until 24th December 2017 Kingston Christmas Market Until 31st December 2017

Please bare in mind that most Christmas markets are not open on Christmas day, so if you're planning to go, please check there website.

By Ben Botterman 12Q

LGBTQ+ in our community There are many LGBTQ+ things to do in the Essex community. For example there are loads of different ideas on the ‘living well Essex’ website on how you can support your local LGBTQ+ community and get involved in a vast range of activities and groups. https://www.livingwellessex.org/going-out/ social-activities/lgbtplus-activity-and-social-groups/.

If you would like to talk to someone about anything to do with your sexual orientation or have any queries regarding your sexual orientation please email us at benandangellgbt@gmail.com, this information will be private.

By Angel Dean 12Q

The Best and Worst Christmas Jumpers ‘Tis the season to spend money’ If you are like anyone who loves Christmas you will likely sport a Christmas jumper to show your joy for the season. However, some Christmas jumpers are known for being creative and festive, whereas others are just the worst.

WARNING: This is a very controversial article; I have gathered opinions from other people in order to give each and every Christmas jumper a fair shot.

The Best If you’re a fan of the animated series Rick and Morty or know someone who is, you can buy this Jumper at GeekCore.com for 36.99 “Tis the season to get schwifty”.

Primark is a great place to find great clothes at affordable prices, and Christmas jumpers are no exception.

In particularly, this Elf jumper caught my attention. If you don’t find what you like at Primark, you can also find affordable Christmas jumpers for men and women at New Look or websites such as Pretty Little Thing.

You can buy this Elf jumper from Primark for 12.00

Top tip: you can snag a Christmas jumper for cheap at charity shops. The British Heart foundation has quite a selection of jumpers at prices of 4.50 and under.

(Literally just) The Worst This ‘3D Reindeer hoodie’ from Amazon is quite conflicting However, gathering other people’s opinions it appears that no one would actually want to wear this.

One person in particular even asked “Wait, is that a dog?”.

Yet if you do happen to like this dog/reindeer jumper, you can grab it at 13.97 on Amazon

Another conflicting one, depending on how you feel about Brussel sprouts. Also, I am aware this is not a Christmas jumper but felt it too weird not to include.

You may recognise this hat from the YouTube sensation Zoella’s vlog, and if you’re looking to have a bit of a laugh at the dinner table this hat may be right up your alley. However, outside of that I doubt that practicality of this hat.

If you happen to like it, you can buy this hat for 6.00 at Asda.

By Sarah Wade

Homemade Christmas

Christmas beyond England

What Happened in Neverland?

Four Festive Favourites Home Alone When 8-year-old Kevin McCallister misbehaves the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother sends him upstairs and the family leaves in the morning without him. He wakes up and realises he is home alone, and believes his wish of getting rid of his family has come true. It’s all fun and games until he realises that two con men plan to rob his home, and that he must fight them alone.

Age rating: PG

Rating: 4/5

Arthur Christmas Christmas is now a tight, tactical operation run by the elves and Santa’s eldest son, Steve. Santa’s other child, Arthur, is, is most people’s minds, useless. Everything runs smoothly when one year, the unthinkable happens; a child is missed. Mayhem and chaos breaks out, Arthur sets out to bring righteousness and to most importantly, bring a pink twinkle bike (with stabilisers) to Gwen.

Age rating: U

Rating: 3/5

The Snowman A young boy decides to build a snowman after it snows on Christmas Eve. He wakes up in the middle of the night to find his snowman has indeed come to life. The snowman flies the pair of them away, for the boy to experience some magical adventures. Complete with a beautiful soundtrack, this film is a work of art.

Age rating: U

Rating: 5/5

Nativity Primary school teacher Paul Maddens is tasked with producing the school nativity, in hope to beat the rival school. Mr Poppy, his classroom assistant, who was a mind like a child and Mr Maddens tell a teeny tiny white lie; that a Hollywood film company is coming to film the school production. The only hope is for Paul to get back in touch with an ex-girlfriend, who is now a film producer.

Age rating: U

Rating: 3/5

By Florence New

People of Interest– Mr & Mrs Vermaak Interviewer: Do you have any winter traditions?

MVE: Not really. In South Africa, Christmas is in summer and is during the main holiday period. One do not experience the cosy atmosphere that the cold brings Interviewer: Do you have any Christmas traditions that differ from the typical English traditions? Do you think there any South African traditions that should be brought over to Britain?

MVE: We BBQ a lot, especially over Christmas. We however call it a ‘a braai’. It seem to have become quite popular here Interviewer: What were your experiences from school?

MVE: In South Africa schools are quite different with a real focus on sport. The variety of opportunities to take part in school activities were vast Interviewer: As a child did you enjoy school?

MVE: I did most of the time, but sometimes got into trouble for not working as hard as I should have

Interviewer: What is your best Christmas memory?

MVE: Spending time with family. We spent a Christmas in Scotland soon after we arrived. We loved the area and the people Interviewer: Are you religious? If so, does your religion impact your Christmas traditions?

MVE: Yes I am. It has always quite a part in my life and Christmas is quite a time of reflection. We also tend to try Interviewer: Where did you go to University? What degree and give personalised or handmade gifts did you do?

MVE: I went to the University of Pretoria and was awarded a Masters Degree in Industrial Engineering Interviewer: What about maths made you so passionate about it?

MVE: As an Engineer I used Maths frequently. I found the exactness of it appealing. At university I enjoyed the fact that if one worked hard to understand a topic, one never had to learn it Interviewer: Did you always know you wanted to be a math teacher?

Interviewer: What is your favourite Christmas song?

MVE: It is an Afrikaans song called ‘Somer Kersfees’ or Summer Christmas. Growing up one always saw the pictures of the snow at Christmas. The song is about that and how nice it will be to have a white Christmas Interviewer: Do you make New Year Resolution’s?

MVE: Not really Interviewer: What is your New Year Resolution?

MVE: Go to the gym MVE: I only started teaching when we relocated to the UK . Before that I worked for Mercedes Benz as Production Manager, General Manager for a large Textile compa- By Jade Tucker ny and eventually I had my own Consulting Company.

When we came to the UK we were keen to travel, so teaching suited me well Interviewer: Do you have any passions outside of teaching ?

MVE:I enjoy cycling (Mountain Biking) traveling and camping Interviewer: What is the biggest achievement you have ever received?

MVE: I can not really think of any achievements that stand out but do rate the impact I had on the development of people that I worked with as a real highlight.

*Braai: grill (meat) over an open fire.

Roast Turkey Tinsel Xmas Elves Holly Santa Angel Rudolph Family Presents

By Abigail Akers

Ana Fernandez I am a fully qualified and native Spanish teacher. I tutor at all levels including GCSE & A Level, whether they prefer to be taught one to one or in a group.

Contact me: anaflt@hotmail.com 07539889769

If you would like to support our school magazine and advertise your business, please contact Head of Advertising, Miya Atherton: 12matherton@ rodingvalley.net

Adverts produced and edited by Miya Atherton Year 12

By Alex Popa