The Regents Review - Winter 2015

The Regents Review Winter 2015

Departmental News

Book Corner A new edition to the ‘Regents Review’ will be book recommendations by RPCC staff and students. This issue’s ‘Regents Book Review’ is from Ms Webster, Assistant Headteacher. ‘I used to be a quite a fan of McEwan, after discovering ‘The Comfort of Strangers’ in my first years of teaching in Edinburgh and have read most of his novels. Some, like Amsterdam, were unrewarding but all have been thought-provoking. ‘The Children Act’ to me is a perfect short novel. At around 240 pages, this can be read in a couple of sittings. However, the depth of descriptions are worth savouring. The novel is narrated by a female High Court Judge called Fiona Maye whose personal and professional life intertwine. In the central case of the novel, she has to make a decision which will affect whether a seventeen year old boy lives or dies. This dilemma urges the reader on, but there is more to McEwan’s book than just a gripping story. Law, religion, relationships and ultimately responsibility are all explored in a novel whose characters stay with you long after the denouement.’

Also, this term Year 11 have sat mock exams for language and literature. The English Department are very impressed with the mature attitude and dedication the cohort are taking towards their exams. Well done, Year 11. Poetry Slam 2015 Move over the Poet Laureate, there’s new talent in town! The current Year 8 has shown that they have poetic tendencies, and this year’s annual Poetry Slam was a way in which they could exhibit this. All poems performed had a distinct ‘Different Cultures’ theme and students displayed what can only be described as, an excellent ability to not only write poetry but also to perform it to a high standard. Work was not only original, but also effective with the additional aspect of dramatising the written word; this proved to be very popular. Every class had at least 2 performances chosen to represent them, in the hopes of being victorious. The muse struck the students in a variety of way. Some used food, such as the humorous ditty about ‘Chopsticks in a Noodle Bowl’, whilst other performers used the slave trade and their journey to a life of misery, as their focus. Guest judges – members of the Humanities Department – had the tricky task of choosing this year’s winners. After much deliberation, Mrs O’Brien named members of Mrs Cox’s class the well-deserved winning group. Zakaria Sbaa, Konur Bilgic, Connor Earney and Alfie Bell, working in sync, did a fabulous performance piece that was both unique and moving.

The winning poem was entitled:

‘Harmony’ Again we row As I move, we all move Forever in harmony The boat creaks The steady beat The slashing waves Forever stays Forever in harmony. The stick comes and goes But never touching Deprived of sanity We never reach Forever in harmony The silence swallows all The drum shatters the silence As again we take another step Only to be brought back By the silence Forever in harmony We can never stop Until we die Freedom Never mine Forever in harmony Dawn breaks The day breaks The sun rises Only to set again Forever in harmony I dare to take another step Only going deeper I don’t look back But forward I see nothing Forever in harmony. Written by Zakaria Sbaa Crushing us Pounding us Breaking us Forever in harmony

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