The Last One- From one of the BBC School Reporters

Franceska is going back to Romania. Before her trip she wanted to report about her experience at Prendergast Ladywell School. Here it is;

 

Hi, here is Francesca from BBC School Report.

This time I’m writing about my experience at Prendergast Ladywell School. It was the best experience of my life. When I came here I was scared, I thought I wasn't going to be part of the school. I found new friends and they encouraged me to be brave, believed in me and always smiled. I learned a lot of stuff and it didn’t matter if they were hard or easy.

It was the best experience.

We wish you all the best! We will miss you Franceska!

New Londoners Trip- October 2015

On Friday, 23^rd of October 2015, 20 EAL (English as an Additional Language) students from PLS who have recently come to live in UK were invited to join New Londoners Trip to central London to see London Eye, the Parliament, Big Ben, 10 Downing Street, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. This trip helped them to familiarise themselves with English heritage and culture they have been studying as part of KS3 Induction. The value of New Londoners trip for these young people was immense, as it provided them with an insight into English history, politics and lifestyle, which is often very different from their countries of origin.

After the trip Doroteus, Yr7 Romanian speaker, said “I loved the trip not only because I have never been on London Eye before, but also I could see all the places you normally just see in pictures”. Whereas Jhon, Yr9 Spanish speaker, stated “I liked the 4D cinema at London Eye the most because it was very realistic and scary.”

 

Mrs. A. Bachurska

PLS EAL Teacher

 

BBC School News Reporters- News Practice Day- 10th December 2015

Saint Nicholas:

The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

 He died December 6, in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6^th.

Saint Nicholas is celebrated in Belgium. There are people who dress as Saint Nicholas to give presents to young children who were good for the entire year. You would wait till the 6^th December to get sweets and presents. He would come to the homes of children with his donkey.  

I love saint Nicholas day as it brings memories of the days when I was a child.

 

 

By Mariya- Year 10

BBC School News Reporters Practice Day - 10th December 2015

Romanian Christmas

In my city, all the people love Christmas. The children go to from door to door singing Christmas carols. Our moms are preparing foods, cookies and more staffs. Some teenagers go to park, restaurants or they stay home and do a little party. By Franceska- Year 9

 


In my town there aren’t many traditions. The biggest tradition we have is hanging the Christmas lights each year. The lights are usually hanged after the first day of snow but if it doesn’t happen we would hang them anyway just on the trees. When it does snow, some of the town’s people would come and build snowmen in order to hang the Christmas lights around them. Every night most kids and teens come to the park and sleigh down the big hill. Chrismas is probably the best time of year in my town. By Selena- Year 10

 

 

BBC School News Reporters Practice Day - 10th December 2015

Romanian Christmas(Maramures)             

 There are a lot of traditions in Romania Modern Romanians only keep a few of them, but many of the old traditions can be discovered in the countryside, in remote areas of the country.

 In Romania, Christmas and mid-winter celebrations last from 20th December to 7th

January. The 20th is when people celebrate St. Ignatius's Day. The Lenten is a period of religious preparations for the great feast of Christmas. Religious people don’t eat meat, nor other animal products during this period before Christmas. It is not the only Lent period during the year. Religious Romanians usually keep the Lenten tradition during Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year, while longer periods of Lent are set before more important Orthodox holidays during the year. It is traditional that if the family keep pigs, one is killed on this day. The meat from the pig is used in the Christmas meals.

The Christmas celebrations really begin on Christmas Eve, 24th, when it's time to decorate the Christmas Tree. This is done in the evening of Christmas Eve. In Romanian, Christmas Eve is called 'Ajunul Craciunului'.

 Carol singing (known as 'Colindatul') is also a very popular part of Christmas in Romania. On Christmas Eve, children go out carol singing from house to house performing to the adults in the houses. The children get sweets, fruit, traditional cakes called 'cozonaci' and sometimes money for singing well. Adults go carol singing on Christmas Day evening and night.

Viflaimul is the climax .

After the end of Mass on December 25 , men should play Viflaimul . It's a play that represents the early days of Jesus' life . In front of the church , everyone should know their role well . It is only made from boys even if they have to dress up as a woman. Even after hundreds of years, this is usually enforced for Maramures . Viflaimul is the highlight of Christmas.
Here some links to a small part of the play.-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCPco09MLsE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEi8Hi8MAgo


Traditional Romanian Christmas foods include Roast Gammon and Pork Chops , 'Ciorba de perisoare' which is a slightly sour vegetable soup made with fermented bran and pork meatballs; 'Sarmale' cabbage leaves stuffed with ground pork and served with polenta; 'Cozonac' a rich fruit bread; Romanian doughnuts called 'gogosi' and cheesecakes.
In Romanian, Merry Christmas is "'Crặciun Fericit'
By Maria -Year 10

Should Europe accept Syrian Refugees? - Class debate- Articles

The number of Syrian Refugees in four neighbouring countries has jumped by 40% in recent weeks and now stands at about 55,000 people. Almost half of whom are under 18 years old according to UN figure. But the total is likely to grow because these are estimated to be at least 20,000 refugees or more yet registered as well as 200,000 or more Syrians who are displaced within their own country.

Europe should accept more Syrian Refugees says Brussels, a top European Union official appealed to the EU's 28 member state on Monday to step up their efforts to resettle Syrian refugees, saying Europe must offer a legal alternative to migrants who risk their lives to reach the continent by sea.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner said Syria's neighbours were hosting three million refugees displaced by the country's 3-year-old civil war but Europe had accepted fewer.

By Andreea- Year 10

Most of the people are desperate enough to try to enter Europe by boat come from countries in conflict rather than being purely economic migrants. The incentive to escape must be high for people to take this risky journey: an average of 11 people have drowned trying to cross the Mediterranean everyday in year 2015 so far. Of the third million people who have arrived by sea this year most are from the Arab world: half from Syria while Iraq and Sudan are also among the top 10 countries of refugees' nationality.

Thousands of Syrians are fleeing the war have been accommodated in the Gulf and many provided with benefits not usually available to migrant workers like free access to education and healthcare.

By Marie - year 10


Letter from a refugee:

Dear Sir,
My name is Mohamed and I am living in Egypt alone. All my family died in the war in Syria and my uncle who paid for my ticket died as well. I am asking from you to give me asylum to one of the EU Countries. I will be so happy, because I am having a very bad time right now.
I have no work and I sleep on the street. So please help me! I am a human being just like you. Thanks for reading my message,
Mohamed

By Carolino- Year 10 


I partly agree that we should accept Syrian Refugees into Europe, because they are running from a terrible war and many are poor. They are very kind people. However, we need to be cautious with who we accept into Europe because of terror threats.

By Alex- Year 10



Europe should accept Syrian Refugees, because;

• They are running from war
• They are trying to help their children have a life
• As Christians we need to help everyone who needs help.
• We are citizens of world.
• It is such a shame to refuse these refugees running from death.

 

However, we need to be careful because;

• We need to protect our borders
• We cannot afford welfare care for all of them
• We need to protect our citizens against terrorism.

By Nikolay - Year 10