Branksome Science College

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Your magazine, your opinion, your school!!

Issue 2

10p

Book

Mr. Coyne Receives a Coin

Many thanks to Mr Coyne who has successfully got some money for our newspaper to cover printing costs and other various stuff. We will be receiving 2000 in 2010 and 2000 in 2011. This paper starting from Januarys issue will be distributed all around the local area for free. This thrilling news means that our paper can have more of the publics opinion and can be more exciting to read. Because of this also starting from January there will be either double page spread or a small flyer as a type of advertisement for the Courier If you are reading this and want to get involved contact us in the library. Yr 7 & 8 Editing Team.

of the Month

How Loud Can You Burp?

By Glenn Murphy

Activities in the Library in December Come in out of the cold read a book or magazine or chat with friends. Play draughts, snakes and ladders or a card game Happy families or The Pair Game. Reserve a computer to do your homework. We also have puzzles and word searches to do. At the end of term there will be some Christmas Cards for you to colour in and take home. Dont forget to ask your tutor for a note in your planner you wont get past the prefects without one!!

Inside this issue:

PAPERMAIL (Writes a lot) Jokes Recipes Different Celebrations of Christmas Poems Puzzles Notices

2 5 7 3 6 5 4

Have you ever wondered why water is wet? Why you have eyelids but not earlids? Or whats the toughest animal in the world? Then this is the book for you! Glenn Murphy from the Science Museum answers real questions asked by real children in a funny, bizarre and fascinating way. It is one of the prizes in our Christmas Quiz but it is also available to borrow from Branksome Science College library.

Your bit
How to contact us? Through Your bit comments box in the Library. Go to Liam Pape who usually works at the desk next to the print room in the Library. Remember no matter if you have a poem or joke, article or review we want to hear it.

Whether they run around in a ball or wheel, these cute little mechanical Hamsters are the number one Christmas present this year!! They came into our shops earlier this year at the retail price of Ten pounds. Now they are going for up to Fifty pounds.

PAPERMAIL
Go, go Hamsters

E-Mail: Surtees@Branksome.darlingotn.sch.uk

I have seen this product in action and I can tell you that if you confront it with a real hamster there is quite a battle on. My hamster ripped its ear off. I think instead of spending millions of pounds on a fake, boring hamster why dont you just buy a real one. In the long term a real hamster will cost more however in the short term a real hamster is better because if you buy a cage you can get a hamster for free at some shops. Even better, real hamsters dont need batteries. On a different note, you may know that the new moon Twilight movie thing has just came out. (Ive just seen the first one.) Edward from Twilight looks so much like Edward form Jedward!! In twilight since Edward is going out with a girl called Bella. They can be called Bedwood!!

Library Opening Times:

8:15 - 8:50 10.15 -10.30

1:00 - 1:25

Find the author winner this week: Shannon Thompson

PE is great but when it comes to washing your trainers afterwards it is horrible. After you have washed the exterior of the trainers then you find that water has leaked in and the little caterpillars Katies Got Talent that live in there are having a pool party!! Recently I found enough Katie Allum from 9AUR waters in my trainers to supply the most of Africa. has applied and been ac- This year I got my Christmas tree on my fathers birthday . We cepted to audition for Brit- went to croft Christmas trees to come back with a bush. A Christains Got Talent. The audi- mas bush. We also got a new fairy for the top. The fairy has a red tion will take place on 15th dress on but since the wall behind my Christmas bush is red you cant see her. However if you squint you can faintly see her face!!

December at the Birmingham NEC. Well Done and -Liam PapeGood Luck Katie!

Every year, there is always somebody asking for a pet as their Christmas gift. You may have heard the saying, or you may not have heard it before. This saying is Pets are for life, not just for Christmas. What this saying is trying to tell you is, if you get a pet, make sure it is well fed, watered, walked, loved and cared for every single day of its life You may even play with it and take it everywhere with you, just like that little boy and his dog in that picture. This is not any old gift, such as, teddy bears, sweat shirts, Barbie dolls, make up, toy cars, etc. This may not even seem necessary to you right now, but some people don't even get a teddy for Christmas because they are poor. let alone a pet, for their parents simply just cant afford it. So this year, before ask for a pet , think about it, then see if you want to ask because as soon as you get a pet its YOUR responsibility to take care of it and love it.. Not your parents Hope you liked this article, have a Happy Xmas and New Year.. By Siobhan .G. Frame

Clues Across

Christmas Crossword
1 2 3 4 5

1. 5.

25th December

A Christmas play usually performed by children Santas little helper 8. Rudolph had a red shiny one 9. A fairy tale show you may see at the theatre at Christmas 11. A very large meal Down

1. 2. 3. 4.

6 7 8

Light its wick to give a flickering light

The number of Swans a Swimming and Snow Whites dwarves It has no fingers but it will keep your hand warm All wrapped up it is what we get at Christmas Dashing through the ---- in a one horse open sleigh 9. Filled with mincemeat its tasty with cream 10. It could be in your drink or on the pond

10

11

There are many traditional festivities celebrated by a variety of cultures around the world and one of the many celebrations that pupils within our school take part is Eid. There are two types of Eid; Eid ul-Fitr, this is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fitr means "to break fast" and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period. Also there is Eid al-Adha "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is a holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honor the Ibrahim (Abraham) and the sacrifice of his son he made as an act of obedience to Allah (God). Eid is also about spending time with family and enjoying the fact that we all have food and a roof over our heads. Eid ul-Fitr lasts for three days of celebration and is sometimes also known as the "Smaller Eid" as compared to the Eid ul-Adha that lasts four days and is called the "Greater Eid". Men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer. Common greetings during this holiday are the Arabic greeting Eid Mubarak meaning Blessed Eid or Happy Eid. Eid expresses many of the basic values of the Muslim community. Fasting is believed to praise basic differences, praising the power of the religious Allah, while acknowledging the poor. As well this on Eid al-Fitr, the angel Gabriel descended with white clothes for each of Prophet Muhammad's grandsons. During Eid ul-Adha Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually sheep, camels, cows and goats) as a symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice. The sacrificed animal is called "al-qurbani". Distributing meat amongst the people, are considered essential parts of the festival. In some countries, families that do not own domestic animals can make a contribution to a charity that will provide meat to those who are in need. The Muslim communities demonstrate the regular charitable procedures during Eid to make sure that no poor person is left without food during these days. Eid is filled with happiness and joy just like the days of Christmas, Easter and Birthdays.

The True Meaning of Christmas by 7 Set 1

A Christmas Tale.
It was Christmas eve and everyone was sleeping, except two adults, who were looking at their daughter resting in bed. Awww, she looks so sweet when she is asleep. Said Alexandras mother (Marie). I almost dont want her to grow up! Said Alexandras father (Ian). As soon as Alexandras parents had left her bedroom she sprung into life, but soon fell off her bed. She broke her leg, and her fathers and mothers companies went bankrupt, they thought they would be fine with the money they had but again they were wrong. They had to spend the remainder of the money on their daughter because she broke her leg. On Christmas day there was no presents, and they found out the true meaning of Christmas is being with family and friends. By Thomas Wray By Alexandra Brooke James.

The Night before Christmas

On a dark and dingy night a boy called James walked down the street kicking the floor as he went, while the ice cold snow ran down his face. Yesterday he had just been on holiday with his mum, dad and baby sister, Roxanne. On the way to the taxi in the rush he had been separated from them. It was just 55 minutes away from 12.00 am when a car pulled up beside and there was the face of his mum and Dad his face filled with joy as they held him tight.

The Boy Who Remembered

On a dark, silhouetted, candle lit night, a boy named Tom, was wandering the streets of snowy Walford. Christmas Eve was the best night of Toms life. But on the journey home, Tom saw a lonely beggar saying money for the poor, money for the poor The next morning Tom rubbed his eyes only to reveal a large sack overflowing like a waterfall with presents. But Tom couldnt stop thinking about the lonely beggar. So Tom pulled a huge present out of his sack and gave the beggar his present. That evening Tom felt a warm glow of pride in his heart. By James Allison

Christmas Holiday Dates School Closes 18th December 2009 Do you need a computer to do homework? If you need a computer to do your homework at lunchtime or at break - see Mrs Surtees in the morning before 8.45am or at break time and she will reserve one for you. Reopens Monday 4th January 2010

Liam Pape (Editor) Thanks to everyone who has contributed articles to this newspaper

Help St Teresas Hospice

Christmas Quiz - Prize Draw

For Branksome pupils - (help from family & friends allowed) Write your answers and your name and tutor group on a piece of paper and put it into the competition box in the library. Closing date 14th January

Get a Legless Reindeer!

Buy a cute fluffy toy from the Main Office for 1.00. Proceeds go to St Teresas Hospice.

Chance to Win 2 books:

Why Eating Bogeys is Good for You

How Loud Can You Burp?

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
What does the French word neige mean? What is the capital city of Lapland? In the song what gift did my true love bring to me on the 6th day of Christmas? Who wrote A Christmas Carol? In which year did Slade have their Christmas hit Merry Christmas

Christmas Cracker Jokes

Whats black and white and eats like a horse? Whats orange and sounds like a parrot? What did the bee say to the flower? A Zebra A carrot Hello honey

Knowing Your Bears

The Colorado State Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising hikers, hunters, fishers, and golfers to take extra precautions and keep alert for bears while in the Dillon, Breckenridge, and Keystone areas. They advise people to wear noise-producing devices such as little bells on their clothing to alert but not startle the bears unexpectedly. They also advise the carrying of pepper spray in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of bear activity. People should recognize the difference between black bear and Grizzly bear droppings. Black bear droppings are smaller and contain berries and possibly squirrel fur.

WINTER WORDSEARCH

Noel in France In France, people celebrate Christmas Eve by having a very lush meal with their families and by playing games until midnight or often later. Then sometimes families open their presents at the stroke of midnight but most of the time people wait until Christmas day. Then families meet again on Christmas day to have the traditional Christmas meal of turkey, brussels sprouts and chestnuts and dessert is a chocolate log. JOYEUX NOEL! by Mrs Wright

Feature on 2 teachers
NAME SUBJECT YEARS AT BRANSOME MOST MEMERABLE MOMENT PETS FUNNIEST MOMENT ADVICE(WORDS OF WISDOM) NAME SUBJECT YEARS AT BRANSOME MOST MEMERABLE MOMENT PETS FUNNIEST MOMENT ADVICE(WORDS OF WISDOM) MR BURFORD SCIENCE 9 BEING A ROCKSTAR AT A SCHOOL CONCERT ABOUT 600 PUPILS & 3 GOLDFISH LOOKING ATSOMEOF THE PUPILS IN MY TUTOR GROUP BE SILLY AT LEAST ONCE A DAY MR TEARNEY STUDENT SUPPORT OFFICER OVER TWO YEARS FRIDAYS AT 3:30PM A DOG CALLED BUTCH CURRENT Y11 BOYS DRESSING UP AS GIRLS FOR FASHION SHOW WORK HARD REWARDS WILL COME YOUR WAY

Cathy Cassidy
Cathy Cassidy is a British author of young adult fiction, mainly focusing on domestic fiction. She was born in Coventry, but now lives in Galloway, Scotland. She has written eleven books including Sundae Girl, Scarlett and Angel Cake. She has also been the agony aunt for Shout, a magazine for teenage girls. Cathy was born in 1962 in Coventry. She wrote her first picture book for her little brother when she was about eight or nine. When she was younger she used to make small magazines and sell them for 5p then claim them back and sell them again as they didn't have photocopiers. Cathy has two children named Calum and Caitlin - She often thanks them at the start of her books. She is vegetarian and has been for 30 years and was a chocolate-eating vegan for eight of them. She put her chocolateeating vegan habits into a main character in her book Dizzy. Cathy Cassidy has a dog called Kelpie who inspired the dog "Leggit" in the book Dizzy. We have several Cathy Cassidy books in Branksome library.

Never Come Back What if all the birds flew south And never came back? Would angry words spill from your mouth Without their songs near your house? What would you do if summer changed And never came back? Would the winter make you deranged Without the summer sun? What if the flower wilted and the trees died And never came back? Would you feel sorry that you lied That you never recycled? What if the sun set in the sky And never came back? Would you feel like you would rather die Than live in darkness? By Nicolle Fryer 10KPH

Charles Dickens
Some Year 7 pupils did some research about the author of A Christmas Carol The information in this article has been taken from books and from the internet. The Times & Sunday Times Books for Schools Tokens If anyone gets these newspapers please will you collect the tokens and bring them into school so we can send them away and get free books for our library. Charles Dickens - researched by Shannon Thompson Charles John Huffem Dickens was born on 7 February 1812 in Landport. Just before his father got arrested. At 12 years old Dickens started work for ten hours a day at Warrens Blacking Warehouse on Hungerford Stairs near the present Charing Cross railway station. He earned six shillings a week by pasting labels onto jars of thick shoe polish. This money paid for his lodgings with Mrs. Roylance and helped support his family. Charles Dickens book A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843. It took Dickens only 6 weeks to write this book. The book Christmas Carol is about a miserly, cold, unfeeling, old curmudgeon and his secular conversion and redemption after being visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve. The book was first published on 19 December 1843 with illustrations by John Leech.

Christmas Biscuits
Ingredients : Biscuits : 170g flour 60g cold butter, cut into small pieces 85g brown sugar 2 tablespoons sugar cane syrup, or golden syrup 2 tablespoons milk 1 egg yolk 1/5 teaspoon powdered ginger teaspoon cinnamon teaspoon mixed spice Icing : 170g sieved icing sugar 1 egg white Food colouring if desired

Recipe : Makes 24 biscuits. Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Make biscuits : Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon and spices together in a large bowl. Add the butter and rub in thoroughly with fingers until mixture has consistency of breadcrumbs. Add brown sugar. In another bowl, mix syrup, milk and egg yolk and add to mixture. Stir until you have a smooth paste. On a floured work surface, knead pastry for a few minutes, then roll out to a thickness of 5mm and cut into shapes with a Christmas biscuit-cutter. Place on a baking tray and chill for 10 minutes. Bake at a medium heat for 12 minutes, until biscuits are golden. Leave to cool and place briefly under grill. Make icing : Add the icing sugar little by little to the egg white, in a small bowl, add food colouring. Ice biscuits with a piping bag. Decorate.

Favourite Christmas Presents!!

Anita McDonnell (Attendance and Data Manager) When I was little my parents didn't have a lot of money but we always received lovely gifts for Christmas. One year my dad made me a dolls' cradle from an orange box. Mum made all the frilling and little quilt & pillows for it and also made all the clothes for the doll that was in it, because it was much cheaper to buy the dolly naked than already dressed! I once received a fur hood for Christmas that was much too big for me but it proved to be a bonus on cold dark winter mornings when I had to leave home at 6.30am. I could get it on over my Carmen rollers then do my hair when I got to work! Mrs Surtees (Learning Resource Centre) When I was 10 I wanted to be Dusty Springfield I loved her songs and I had her autograph and I wanted a huge sticky out skirt just like she had. So my most memorable present when I was 10 was a big petticoat with lots of layers of lilac net so I could make my dresses look like hers. The worst and silliest present I ever received was a bee outfit. Myself and 3 friends were going away for the weekend, we put our names in a hat and we all had to buy an outfit for that person from a charity shop to the value of 5.00. Everyone else got a silly hat, jumper etc and I got the 'bee costume'. To make matters worse we all went to dinner at the hotel that night, swapped our pressies and all had to wear what we had been bought!!
Mrs Johnson (Exams Officer)

Attendance Figures 231 Pupils had full Attendance in November 93 Pupils have full attendance since September 24 Tutor Groups had over 90% attendance in November 18 Tutor Groups had 92% or more (7KCL, 7DWI, 7HFR & 11PHA all had over 95%) **STAR GROUP** : 7KCL - 96.5% The library opens at 1 o'clock so please dont hang around the bottom of the stairs go outside If the prefects tell you to do some think you have to listen to them or they wont let you in if your naughty. NO FOOD, NO DRINKS IF SEEN WITH THEM YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOUNED IN THE LIBRARY