Stephen Perse Cambridge, Junior School - The Fitz Chronicle

Our Team Our editors: Lauren and Aarav Our writers: Ilina, Rodin, Aiza, Laura, Sophie, Alba, Abishaun & Ezzah

Sports p2

Mr Hewlett interview p5

Science News p9-11

Special Halloween Edition: Spooky Music News p7-8

Beverly Naidoo visit p3-4

Comics on p13

Super Sports Survey Results Students from the newspaper club made a survey that year 6 compleated. The survey consisted of some questions about how much they enjoyed playing sports.

In the survey we have conducted, 80% of people said sports should be mixed, a very positive response. The majority of people have said they enjoy sports 7/10 or higher. More than 90% percent of people said they agree that they should pick their own sports. In our survey, 80% of people said they enjoyed picking a sport of their preference. One person said they liked picking their own sports because they can pick the sport that they like.

By Rodin and Abishaun

Pupils enjoying mixed games lessons

IAPS Match Report

On the 15th of September 2023 some year 5 & 6 girls went to a hockey tournament at The Perse school in which we played multiple games against schools such as Kings Ely, The Perse, St Faiths and more. We played very well towards the end but unfortunately did not win, overall we came 4th place, but had a lot of fun.

By Sophie

Beverly Naidoo Visits Year 6

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Year 6 had the opportunity to meet the author of Journey to Jo’Burg, Beverly Naidoo. We asked her a number of questions and here is what we learnt: Does the book relate to any story of your life?

When she was eleven, she lived in quite a small at. Mma Sebate (their maid) looked after her family and she received a telegram one day that Beverly remembers very well because Mma Sebate was suddenly collapsing, crying, sobbing when she got it. Two of Mma Sebate’s children had died while she was away working for their family.

What (would you like to think) happens to Naledi when she’s older?

Beverly would like to think Naledi becomes a doctor like she wants to at the end of the book.

Did any part of you fear standing up to racism when writing and publishing this book?

It did take a long time before getting the book published since at that time kids hadn’t been told about what was happening in South Africa. However, Beverly was not that afraid, because she had already left South Africa when she wrote the book.

What stories did your Mma Sebate tell you?

Beverly remembers her telling stories mostly about her time at school. It was very violent there and the teachers would beat the children.

How did you come up with the names Naledi and Tiro?

Beverly spoke with Tswana friends and they came up with some. When Beverly was young, children were only taught the languages such as Afrikaans and English, not the languages like Xhosa or Tswana. Beverly regrets that because languages are beautiful and she liked the meanings of the names Naledi and Tiro.

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Are there any important things about apartheid that you haven't demonstrated in the book?

Of her own life experience, Beverly says she did not talk about how at university she nally began to meet and make friends with people of di erent skin colours for the rst time. She also did not include an interracial marriage, even though her own marriage is to a black man, which means it would have been illegal in apartheid.

Since the end of apartheid, how has equality changed?

Sadly, not enough. Beverly explained that there is still huge inequality in South Africa and she believes Nelson Mandela would be sad if he were still alive to see this.

How did it feel to experience apartheid as a child?

Beverly explained that she feels like she had blinkers on when she was growing up. She did not understand or notice apartheid’s injustices until she was older.

If you knew that you would get banned (in South Africa) would you write the book again?

Absolutely yes. She wanted to write a book that her family can read to understand how things used to be. Her granddaughter is reading it now.

By Sophie and Alba

Mr Hewlett tells all in EXCLUSIVE interview Q. Do you like being head teacher?

What’s your favourite part about it?

Yes I absolutely love being head teacher. My favourite part of it I think is being surrounded by so many happy, friendly people all the time everyday.

Q. Who is your favourite class?

I do like teaching year 6 in particular because you start to really explore complex ideas, but of course as the head teacher I like all classes equally.

Q. Do you like doing the massive assemblies with all the pupils on Friday?

Yeah it’s really nice, it’s the only time when you get everyone together and get to talk to each other.

Q. How many kids do you have?

I have three. My daughter just started in sixth form college because she’s sixteen, my middle one is fourteen so he’s in year ten and my younger one is still in primary school in year four.

Q. Do you have pets?

I've got an awesome job. I’m not fi

I do. I have a black Labrador called Chase a cat called Pickle, two sh called Zoomer and Boomer, a visiting hedgehog that comes into the garden occasionally and three pigeons. I count the pigeons as pets because I feed my dog in the garden so I scatter its food all over the garden, it’s a bit like exercise, then the fat pigeons come in to pick up all the crumbs that the dog always misses, but it’s always the same three fat pigeons so they kind of

saying that I don’t like what I do but I would like to explore that a bit more because I think a biologist would also be very cool.

Many children just give up their hopes and just ‘close the door’ before even having a chance of walking through.

Q. So what makes you like 3D printing.

become family pets.

I like technology and I like trying

Q. What would you say to your

things and I can tell that 3D

to keep up with new and exciting

younger self?

printing is really big and it will

What I would say is make the most of

important. You know that now

opportunities. I really wanted to be a biologist, but I’m not, and whilst loving my job always wonder what it would have been like.

only ever get more and more making houses using 3D printing and printing medical things.

By Sophie, Alba and Laura

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Q: What is your favourite genre of music?

A: Jazz.

Q: What made you want to play the trumpet?

A: My uncle was a trumpet player who was very good.

Q: What’s your favourite song?

A: Animal Spirits by Vulfpeck Q: Have you ever been in a band? What kind of songs did you make?

A: I was in a covers band called Turn Table Q: Who is your favourite year to teach?

A: Year 1 because they are on my wave length .

Q:Did you like the army?

A: I did, I really enjoyed it.

Q: Did you ever get hurt ghting for the army?

A: No and I actually never held a weapon.

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Quick- re Interview with Mr McDowell

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Mr McDowell struts his stu outside the music room

Q: What did you have for dinner?

A: Pizza and chicken strips.

By Sophie and Alba

Performer s platform

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On the 28th of September a large number of musicians gathered together to perform at the Performers Platform, where pupils can showcase what they have learnt in peripatetic lessons.

Many people put on a stunning performance with people playing piano, drums, ute, and much more. We really enjoyed the variety of genres performed including rock, romance and more.

By Rodin and Aarav

Year 6 Nature Reserve Trip Thanks to Mr. West the nature reserve was a totally immersive experience for year 6. There were 4 events that will change each term. These 4 are the surveying the tree bank, pond dipping, ood meadows and stream dipping.

Tree bank In the tree bank we were collecting bugs and insects into little pots with a magnifying glass on top so that we could identify what exactly they are. We picked up many creepy crawlies such as beetles, wood louse, centipedes, millipedes, spiders, worms and much more. The tree bank and ood meadow do the same thing.

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Tree bank I was in the tree bank group and I could say it was quite di erent to what I would usually do. As much as I found it scary seeing the creepy crawlies, it was also intriguing. We found creatures such as such as worms,spiders,snails and much more.

One group even saw a frog.

Stream dipping In stream dipping they were using nets to catch water invertebrates. Everyone said that it is extremely fun to do and they are very excited for the upcoming trips. The stream dipping and pond dipping are almost the same thing. So, year 5 I hope you’re getting excited for year 6!

Even though there were many more things, these were the one to be said the most fun.

By Aiza and Ilina

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Mr West on science and why he loves it What made you decide to pursue a career in science?

I have always had a curiosity about things, even as a child.

What is your favourite branch of science?

Biology Was science always your passion?

Yes but matched with history When did you start studying and enjoying science passionately?

Secondary school Which university did you go to to get your degree in science?

University of Glasgow When did you start teaching science?

2005

Have you ever had any rsthand experience with explosions (purposefully or by accident)?

Yes What is your most longstanding memory with science or an experiment?

Carl Sagan’s Cosmos which was a TV show when I was a child

By Aarav

Mark Grist made poetry cool

The 3D printer was the theme for the rst unit of digital lessons in year 6. We were using Tinkercad to design and make name badges and household items over the course of a few weeks. Sadly, we could only use one colour on each of our designs as Mr Hewlett could not change between his colour choices which were red, black or white. fi

On the 4 of October one of the best poets came to our school for National Poetry Day. He gave an assembly for KS2 pupils.

3D Printing Perfection

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Mark Grist is by far one of the funniest poets, I really liked his last poem about his dog called Boo. He told us about his parents' near death experience and basically how they almost drank bleach plus some other poisonous stu . He rapped a great rap about board games and how many he’s good at.

By Aarav

By Alba Here is the 3D printer in action

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Terri c Tween Trends

Are you one of the people who loves being on trend? You came to the tweenterri c page Some of the latest looks of 2023 are here Are you going to a trendy place? These are the things you should probably wear…

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- Tight top and baggy trousers - Oversized hoodies - Chunky sneakers especially converse - Statement accessories - Bright colours - Y2K

A messy braid modelled by Lauren

As a trend scientist you need to learn not just how to style clothes but hair too.

Here are some tip top ideas to help you look stunning! Bonus, these hairstyles t into the school rules too.

- Wavy top knot ponytail - Curly half space buns - Messy braids

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We will cover trends for boys next time!

Aiza and Lauren

Aiza models a wavy top knot ponytail

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Opinion: the pros and cons of school lunches

By Ilina There are many good things about lunches at our school. Firstly, the chefs add spices and seasoning to the food to give them avour. If you want halal food or another dietary requirement you can ask the chefs and they will make sure everyone is catered for. Sometimes, they have two good options for food so it is hard to decide what to choose.

However, there are some things I think could improve. They should make more of the food that people enjoy the most. For example, I wish they would bring back the quorum sausages because children who can’t eat pork have said they miss them.

They should also put what type of soup they made on the menu because not many people know that the school has soup and it is often quite good so people should know about it.