Friday, 27 March 2015
Solar Eclipse
Partial solar eclipse on Friday 20th March 2015
This Friday we will witness the first partial solar eclipse since 1999. Once thought to be the signal to the end of our world, it is now to be a 4D attraction throughout the globe.
A solar eclipse, although very rare, is when the sun, moon and earth all align. This creates and casts a luminous shadow over certain parts of the earth. We haven’t had a total solar eclipse since 1999 and if you miss this partial one you will be waiting until 2026 for the next.
As it’s such an unusual occurrence, it’s worth the time spent on watching his event unfold.
The next total eclipse won’t be until 2090 as scientists predict in the UK so it’s worth counting up all the partial eclipses you witness.
Starting at 8:45am in the UK it’s going to be a breakfast affair as you munch on cereal and stare bewildered at the sky. The maximum eclipse will take place 9:31am, where the moon is nearest the centre on the sun and this is where you all pay the most attention. In the end it will all wind down at 10:41am.
According to astronomers, the further you are north and the clearer your view of the eclipse, the greater the shadow and the fuller it is. But if you can’t make it far up north, you’ll still get a breath taking view and another tick off your bucket list.
If you are going to watch the eclipse, don’t watch it without eye protection as it can damage your eyes. Special ‘specs’ are specially made to filter out harmful radiation and ultra violet light so you can gaze at the star without hurting your vision. They’re relatively cheap and you can buy them online. Alternatively you can build your own at home.
1. Get yourself a piece of card and cut a hole in it.
2. Cover that with a piece of tinfoil and pierce a very small hole in it.
If you point that towards the sun and project the light coming through the pinhole onto a piece of white cardboard or paper then you can view the sun and view the Sun's projection there, so you aren't looking directly at the sun.
Voila! Your own pair of eclipse watching glasses. Enjoy this rare occasion as you might have to wait a while for the next!
By Lilly
By Lilly
Thursday, 19 March 2015
Fandom day 2015
Fandom day:
Members of the fandom community, our prayers have been answered… We finally have our first ‘official’ national fandom day!
Whovians = T.A.R.D.I.S. blue
Once-ers = Silver
Sherlocked = Black
Supernatural = Green
Marvel universe = Red
Disney = Yellow
Divergent = Pink
Hunger games = Orange
Hobbit /Lord of the rings = Gold
Other = Grey
Merged fandoms = Rainbow
If you don’t know what a fandom is here is a brief introduction and some simple steps on how to join:
Do you ever find that when you talk about doctor who or your favourite film/TV show that everyone around you tunes out? Even your friends? – but don’t worry you are not alone, this happens to so many people. Fandoms- communities built up of fans the come together to share their love of their idols, when their friends and family will not. So how do you join and what do you do in a fandom?
Step 1. You're probably browsing the internet bored stiff, but then you notice something…
You see gushing posts/ tweets and re-posts of GIFs by fans of their favourite book, film or TV show.
Step 2. At first you roll your eyes, because you can’t think that what all these people are raving about can be so great.
Step 3. Although your own curiosity gets the better of you, so you can’t help but look at what all the ‘hullabaloo’ is about.
(And at this point is your last chance to turn back before it’s too late.)
Step 4.then it begins when you read the first few pages of that fantastic book or the first few episodes of that amazing show you have been ignoring.
Step 5. After a while you realize that you are trapped and that there is no exit to your fandom and you begin to regret not joining in the first place.
Step 6. You then try to drag your friends and family into your fandom.
Step 7. And finally you begin to wonder if other people think that you are crazy.
So Wednesday the 1st of April 2015 will be the day to put on your fezes, to pull out your wands and kill dragons… happy fandom day to all...
At World's End
Jessy: "Because the world hates us."
Kitty: "...Oh, okay. I'm part of the world; I don't hate us! Well, maybe. It's pretty debatable."
Jessy: "Fine. The world of computers hates us."
Kitty: "Even Tumblr?"
Jessy: "Even Tumblr."
Refurbishment in the William Allitt Library
Students
and staff at the William Allitt School are eagerly anticipating the refurbishment
of the school library. The library, which hasn’t been refurbished for an
estimated 15-20 years, has to act as a classroom on many occasions and
therefore finds itself in frequent use- the school librarian, Mrs Collier,
explained that requirements of the library had, inevitably, changed. She plans
to prioritise mobile shelving as the allocated budget is significantly lower
than would be preferred at £10,000. The budget is responsible for new
carpeting, paint and furniture hence the separate money for new computers. When
asked about other prospective new resources, Mrs Collier mentioned that as well
as new computers the school are always purchasing new books and upgrading the
library collection.
Mrs
Collier confirmed that the plans had been constructed almost two years ago and
explained that the budget had been insufficient for the needs of the library.
She further hinted that the refurbishment had really just involved her and that
this time around she hopes to include more of a student voice. Our survey
results suggest that most pupils asked would prioritise soft furnishings over
new books and computers. Series 1 represents what the students would prefer
whilst series 2 shows how many pupils would be more likely to visit the library
if their choice of features were to be implemented.
The
same group of student inputted the data displayed in the pie chart concerning
how often they visit the library. As is evident in the pie chart, more than 75%
of students quizzed replied that they prefer to only visit the library in
lessons; the common response being that they “have better things to do”. Mrs
Collier also suggested that she is satisfied that the library is a sort of
‘safe haven’ away from large crowds. Some students have speculated, in their
questionnaires, that the capacity if the library could be a hindrance to the
prospective library visitors. Deputy Head, Mr Henshaw, said “at the moment it
is very busy” referencing the current state of the library, he further
expressed opinions of encouragement towards more students utilising the
facilities and resources of the library.
Overall,
students and staff alike are keenly awaiting the transformation of the William
Allitt School library which should commence very shortly now that the funds
have been acquired.
Written by Katie
Exam Pressure
Every year students all across the nation face exams. The pressure to
succeed soon mounts up from parents, teachers and even Ofsted. Surveys have
shown that many students are having difficulties with exam pressure, in a
survey of 1300 UK students, 96% felt anxious about exams and revision, 59% said
they feel pressure from their parents to do well and 64% say they’ve never
received any support in dealing with exams.
The Child Line website states that: “Worryingly in the survey results,
some of you said that you coped with anxiety by smoking, taking drugs and self-harming.”
The statistics are alarming, revealing that almost 50% of pupils say they have
skipped meals, two thirds of the pupils surveyed said they have had trouble
sleeping and 14% said that they have drank alcohol as a way of dealing with
their anxiety about exams.
There are some things you should watch out for if you think someone you know may be suffering from exam stress such as:
- Tiredness
- Aching all over
- Crying and feeling sad
- Panic attacks
- Trouble sleeping/ broken sleep
- Suffering from stomach upsets
- Having itchy skin rashe
- More likely to get colds and flu
Any of these symptoms are not good for you and you should try taking a break. The issue of exam stress is a well-known problem as organisations such as the NHS and child line offer help and support. If you are finding exam revision especially hard then you should talk to someone and ask for help. They won’t think that you’re being stupid, so don’t worry about that. Most people in your life only want what’s best for you so will do what they can to help you. The most important thing is that you need to make sure that you eat often and keep hydrated. Also make sure that you get some sleep because you are less likely to succeed if you are too tired.
BBC Radio 1 have created a link which offers
advice to all ages on exam pressure -BBC Radio 1 - BBC
Advice This link offers help and guidance for you to understand the true
meaning of what you’re experiencing.
If you think you suffering from exam stress then don’t just carry on
with it, do something about it and get help, don’t make yourself ill because of
exams.
Understanding Autism
World autism week is fast approaching. At this time awareness and the profile of autism is raised.
What is autism?
Autism stays with people all their life as it is a development disability that affects a person’s communication, how they relate to other people and their sense of the world around them.
Autism is a spectrum disorder meaning that the condition will affect people in different ways, requiring different amounts of support. Some people with autism live their lives almost independently, whereas, others may require a lifetime of support as they may also have accompanying learning difficulties. People with autism may have over or under sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes and colours.
Autism stays with people all their life as it is a development disability that affects a person’s communication, how they relate to other people and their sense of the world around them.Who is affected by autism?
Over half a million people in the UK have autism which works out as around 1 in 100 people. Everyone can be affected by autism whatever faith, nationality and background they come from, although autism appears to affect more men than women.
What causes autism?
Research suggests that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may account for changes in brain development, this research is on-going and no exact cause has been found. However, we do know that autism isn't caused by someone’s upbringing or social circumstances and that it is not the fault of the person with the condition.
How do people with autism see the world?
People with autism see the world as a mass of people, places and events which they struggle to make sense of that can cause anxiety to them. They may find everyday family life harder as they struggle to relate to other people.
About autism
There are three main areas of difficulty that people with autism share:
- Difficulty with social communication
People with autism have difficulties with verbal and non-verbal language, with many having a literal understanding of language and think that people always mean what they say. They find it difficult to use or understand facial expressions, tones of voice, jokes and sarcasm.
Some people with autism may not speak, or have fairly limited speech. They prefer to use sign language or visual symbols themselves but will usually understand what other people say to them.
Others have good language skills but still hard it hard to grasp the give-and-take nature of conversations, often repeating what the other person has said and talking at lengths about their own interests.
When talking to someone with autism it helps to speak to them in a clear and consistent manner giving them time to process what has been said to them. Don’t expect eye contact from someone with autism as it may make them feel uncomfortable to look you in the eye and don’t touch them without warning as it may upset them.
People with autism have difficulty fitting in socially because they find it hard to recognise other people’s emotions and feelings. They also find it hard to express how they're feeling themselves.
- Difficulty with social interaction
They may not understand the unwritten social rules which most of us pick up without thinking. They may appear to be insensitive because they have not recognised how someone else is feeling. They may prefer to spend time alone rather than seeking out the company of other people. They may not seek comfort from other people and appear to behave strangely as it is not easy for them to express feelings, emotions or needs.
People with autism may find it hard to make friends as they may be unsure how to form friendships.
Social imagination allows us to understand and predict other people’s behaviour, make sense of abstract ideas, and to imagine situations outside of our daily routine.
- Difficulty with social imagination
People with autism find it hard to understand and interpret other people’s thoughts, feelings and actions. They also find it hard to predict what will happen next, or what could happen next and understand the concept of danger. They find it hard to engage in imaginative play and activities, prepare and plan for the future and cope in new or unfamiliar situations.
Although people with autism have difficulties with social imagination they still are creative and imaginative, with people who have the condition becoming artists, musicians and writers.
Picture credits:
The Japanese Exchange Article
The Annual Japanese Exchange
The William Allitt School
19th March 2015By Rachel
Every year the William Allitt School takes
part in an exchange trip to Japan. This trip involves 4 students from the
school and one member of staff. The students and their families host a student
from Japan for one week in September, and then the students spend two weeks in
Japan later in October. The two week trip involves one week at a hostel
visiting places of interest around Japan and another week staying with a
Japanese family and attending school with the host.
In 2014 students visited
places such as Kyoto, Miyajima and Hiroshima Peace Park, led by a knowledgeable
guide. The trip to Hiroshima is always memorable providing students with an
accurate representation of the events following the atomic bomb that was
dropped in 1945. The picturesque hotel on the island of Miyajima lies on the
harbour front and gives students a taste of traditional Japanese life. Students
kneel as they eat, sleep upon tatami mats and dodge the indigenous deer often
found photo-bombing and stealing recent purchases.
In the second week
students experience a very different culture in which they are expected to wear
slippers at school and take part in cleaning classrooms after school. Each
Japanese school taking part plays host to 2 English school, 4 students, and one
teacher. In 2014 The William Allitt School was paired with Suenohara Junior
High School where they were given the utmost privilege of being dressed by
women who are usually dressing brides on their wedding day. It is an amazing
experience and places are coveted, the application process for the 2015
Japanese exchange is currently underway.
“I feel a lot more confident in myself. This trip has helped me to
understand cultural differences and has given me friends on the other side of
the world.”
- India
ClariS-Clear & Bright.
Much focus was
put on Clara and Alice being in junior high school at the time of their debut.
From early on when they uploaded their covers onto Niconico, there were some
arguments online whether the girls were actually in junior high school and
there were numerous opinions on their adult-sounding voices. Despite this,
Clara and Alice were described as simply normal junior high school girls.
ClariS released their third studio album ‘Party Time’ on June 4, 2014 which was Alice's last song with
ClariS. Following Alice's departure, Clara denied all rumours that ClariS would
disband. On November 8, 2014, volume 19 of M-ON!
Entertainment's ‘LisAni!’ magazine
was released with an attached CD containing the original song ‘Clear Sky’ sung by ClariS, now composed of
Clara and Karen who was also still in high school at the time.
In order to keep up with their schoolwork, ClariS have not
released any photos of themselves to the public and employ illustrators to draw
them, on the left we see Clara with a crescent moon, and Karen with a star.
Former member Alice was depicted with the sun. To also prevent anyone from
finding their identity, they have told no one that they have debuted as idols
except close family.
As listed on their website, ‘ClariS’ can also carry the
meaning of ‘clear’ and ‘bright’ in Latin (although it is actually spelled as ‘clarus’).
Image credits- www.fanpop.com, www.wikipedia.com
News Reporting is Under Way
The William Allitt Reporters have begun their day - follow all the action here and on Twitter @WANewsReporters
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