PROJECT

Formerly known as Children's Express, Headliners is a UK-wide news agency producing news, features and comment by young people for everyone.

Through a unique learning through journalism programme, young people aged 8 to 19 research and write stories on issues that are important to them for publication in national and local newspapers, magazines, television and radio.

The aim of this blog, created by Maëlle Guéroult and Connor Scullion, is to let every young person from Northern Ireland express their ideas and opinions, whatever their background.

The views contained in this blog are those of the individual writer and are not necessarily endorsed by Headliners, the host school or any other partner organisation.

If you want to join us, e-mail us!

Saturday, March 28

What's a good future?

Jade Goody died on the 22nd of March. She died from cervical cancer. It must be awful for her family and friends. We think that she shouldn’t get so much attention from the press because after all she is not really famous for anything, other than being on Big Brother. Being famous means you're talented, being on Big Brother means you want to be on television. It is good that she has helped her children to have a good future but by providing a good future for her kids she is making them famous for nothing.

By Deirbhile Schmidt ,12 and Rachel Tombs, 12.

Friday, March 27

By Vivienne Morrison, 15

Hunterhouse College


Winter time is dull, cold and freezing
It makes you really sleepy
It makes me want to hibernate, relief.

By Sarah Newell, 15

Hunterhouse College


Winehouse leafs rehab and feels bitterness of no wine in the house.
Amy drops the wine bottle.
Winehouse bounces outa rehab after dropping the drink!
Amy disappears into her beehive!


By Rebecca Ward, 15

Hunterhouse College

Ireland players leaf for joy over win,
Fans springing in the streets,
Losing rugby team Wales like the wind.

By Rachel Wyatt, 15

Hunterhouse College


Whinehouse is back to black once again
getting cold feet on a
hot holiday, she gives in to addiction


By Hannah Kelso, 15


Hunterhouse College


Rihanna lost Chris due to frosty relationship
Chris’s career is now frost
Frost where to turn and paying cost


By Rachel Stewart, 14

Hunterhouse College


It was Ray who shone Dancing on Ice.
It was the final that Colleen skipped.
Liberty Breeze springer could not present Bunny’s day before her mum’s eyes.
Donal Macintyre just flipped.


By Naomi Hegarty, 15

Hunterhouse College


Squirrels in the trees are gona leave
Everythings going to fall down
The summer will be here soon enough
Along with everything that left

By Leah Clark, 14
Hunterhouse College


This summer Ash Cole burns
Caught with his mistress
The scorching love lust affair
Heats up Cheryl’s rage
By Hannah Carmont, 15

Hunterhouse College


Dannii Minogue looked set to leave show
The X Factor, last autumn
How would the other judges take it?

Britney Spears mimes her way through song
Oops she did it again!
She won’t be back in London soon

Paris Hilton has found new best friend
British 19 year old Sam
To the others, talk to you never (TTYN)

The corruption of tanning

By Emma-Louise Clarke, 14
Hunterhouse College


Hot, Sunny think its funny?
Sweating up the day
Cancer cells produce all day
Tanning’s a problem.

Tantasics

Tantastic, not fantastic
Carrot orange face
Now girls are all FANTANGOED
Stop this silly fad
By Clare Pollock 14
Hunterhouse College

Jade was a gem but taught us,
Don’t get caught off guard,
Get out the sunnies, and sun cream
This summer’s gonna’ be alive!

Tuesday, March 3

I’m batty about TV

By Ga Wai Phun
Drumellan Family Learning Centre


In school my favourite subject is sports and basketball in particular. Outside school I also play football. My hobbies are drawing, reading and using the computer. My favourite TV programme is Batman. My favourite football team is Liverpool. I would like to travel to Hong Kong.

Mario is super game

By Declan McCann
Drumellan Family Learning Centre

I have two brothers called Eoin and Ciaron. I have a sister called Rosin. My friends are called Gemma and Mark. I like Emmerdale and I watch it with mum and dad. I like playing Mario on the PlayStation. My favourite characters are the Dingles. They are called Zak, Chastity, Shadrach, Aaron, Belle, Debbie, Eli, Marlon, Lisa, Sam. I like Marlo. He is the best because he is funny. I also play Mario on the Nintendo Wii. I play Mario with my brother and I always beat him. In school I like to do maths and English. In English I learn my spellings. In maths I like to do sums. I also like to listen to my CD player. I like to listen to High School Musical. My favourite character is Sharpay because she is beautiful. When I am in Lurgan I like to go to Lidl with my mummy. I also like to read books.

Sonic’s just Egg-cellent

By Connor Maguire, 13
Drumellan Family Learning Centre


I am playing Mario. Mario and Luigi the plumbers rescue the Princess Far Away. Sonic The Hedgehog, he’s blue and he tries to defeat Dr Eggman. I love television and Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy in Disney.Winnie the Pooh and Piglet and Tigger and Rabbit all live in the 100 Acre Wood. Pooh likes the honey pot.

I’m one of the Bhoys

By Michael Rea
Drumellan Family Learning Centre


I THINK Celtic are the best team in Scotland and are better than their Old Firm rivals Rangers. Celtic were founded in 1888 in Glasgow. They have won the Scottish League 42 times. Celtic’s home stadium is Celtic Park. They have won every competition including the Scottish League, Championship, the Scottish Cup the Scottish League Cup and the European Cup.My favourite player is Nakamura he is number 25 and he also plays for Japan. Lots of people call Celtic by there nicknames. They are known as the Celts, Hoops and The Bhoys. Their home kit is green and white and their away kit is yellow.

Wheelie good fun

By Joe Kelly
Drumellan Family Learning Centre



In school my favourite subject is P.E. and swimming. Outside school I play football, I go to the park and ride my BMX bike. My hobbies are football and listening to 50 Cent. My favourite team is Manchester United and my favourite players are Ronaldo and Nani. I would like travel to Portugal and Spain. My favourite TV programme is The Simpsons, my favourite character is Bart. I also like Family Guy. I go to Drumcree School.

Sword is high calibur weapon

By Jason McGurran
Drumellan Family Learning Centre


I Like it when someone says that the sword in the stone and Excalibur are two different swords.I hate it when someone says that the sword in the stone and Excalibur are the same sword Arthur got Excalibur when the Sword in the stone broke in the battle with Palinor. Arthur got Excalibur after the sword in the stone broke in the battle with Palinor.The most famous knights of the round table are Lancelot, Galahad, Percival and Bors. They attended a court and ate at the round table.

Hop to it

By Berenice Quinn, 16
Drumellan Family Learning Centre

HIP hop is my favourite kind of dancing because I like the moves professionals come up with.I find it easy to follow the moves they do such as free styling. I also like hip hop dancing because it keeps me active and fit. I first started to like hip hop dancing when I was 12 years old because I went to America to visit my auntie and I saw lots of people dancing there and I wanted to dance like that. So I started to go to dance classes and picked it up fast and I really enjoy dancing.

Kop a load of my top player

By Jonny Brown
Drumellan Family Learning Centre

I really like Liverpool Football Club and so do my two brothers, Jack and Adam, but my dad is a Manchester United fan. We watch football together but we cheer on different teams and Liverpool are second in the league at the moment.My favourite player is Steven Gerrard. He is 28 years old and was born on the 30th of May 1980. He plays midfield for Liverpool. The number on his Liverpool top is eight and he is the club captain. He also plays for England.

Wednesday, February 4

By Angela Tweed, 14
Wellington College

Old joe hovers slowly home
Starting at the lambs in country tyrone
The dog and his bone

Winter and Summer words

By Rachel Tsang, 15
Wellington College

Snow on the window leadge,
Children making snowmen and having fun together
lots of joy and laughter

The sun shining through
The heat warming up the room
Children in the pool
By Matthew Jordan, 15
Wellington College

Sitting there in the stand
The rain falling down, a Winter day
The port's done us again

Spring

By Hannah McMillan, 15
Wellington College

Flowers growing in the garden
Little lambs are grazing in the field
Birds chirping in the woods
By Matthew Skinner, 15
Wellington College

The ball is kicked up
The players run at the enemy team
The first tackle is made

Fabregas scores the winning goal
The fans are in a total uproar,
Fabregas jumped on by supporters

Tottenham

By Niall Living Ston, 14
Wellington College

New leaf for Tottenham Hotspur
New season, new manager, new players too
Same old style of football
By Josh Murray, 14
Wellington College

I lost my X-Box
My mummie stole it on me
It's Winter, it's cold
There's nothing to do

The Motorbike Race

By Sarah Dickey, 15
Wellington College

Good start, speeding, first!
Oh no sliping, sliding, fall,
Last place, lost the race.
By Stephen Rollins, 15
Wellington College

Winter really sucks
your hands get frozen so much
hope it's over soon
By Alex Heyes
Wellington College

Winter really sucks
you get cold and stuff like that
it is really bad

Summer is the bomb
you can skate and stuff like that
it is really fun
By Luke Rea, 11

I can't write haiku poems
It's winter and my brain cannot cope
help me with my poem

Tuesday, December 9

School Daze

First day of Primary School, not that tough! All you have to do is give someone your crayons and they’re your new best friend. And before you know it everyone in the class loves you and your crayons.

I’ve been to schools in three different countries. They were all very different, but one thing that was the same, was starting school. Everyone tells you that you’re not the only one that’s scared but you don’t believe it. Starting school can’t be mastered with practise, so remember that and soon you’ll be laughing over any mistakes you’ve made.

By Rachel Tombs, 12.

Tomb Raider Rocks!


I am obsessed with computer gaming if I could do anything for just one day that’s what I’d do.
My favorite game is DEFINITELY Tomb Raider. Out of all the games in the world I think it’s the best!
I only own four, TR1 remake TR6, TR7, TR8, but I still think I’m the most obsessed person in the world. I can’t explain why I love it so much, I just do.

By Jenny Finegan

I Don't Understand Animal Cruelty

I think animal cruelty is a self-centred thing to do and I don’t understand it.

I think people do it because animals are vulnerable and can’t protect themselves.

Hurting animals is a crime and people are often fined and jailed for their cruelty.

I think people are cruel to animals because they think they don’t have any value, but they do.

Even though there are centres to care for sick and injured animals we must all work together to help stamp cruelty out.

By Tarah Graham, 11.

School Subject Choices? I Vote For More Flexibility


I already know what I want to be when I’m older I want to be a lawyer so particular subjects are pointless to me in school I think if your like me and you know what you want to be when your older you should be able to choose in your first year of high school because your responsible enough to keep on with your subjects you’ve chosen to do.

There is a chance that I might change my mind during my time at school.
But I don’t think it is unreasonable to ask the school to allow me that flexibility.

By Annabelle Kraly, 12.

Hoping For Harry Potter This Christmas



29/11/08
I would normally watch Harry Potter ALL the time but my mummy stopped me from watching it. Because I was starting to get obsessed even my dreams were about Harry Potter. I would play Harry Potter games and I was Hermione. NOW that I am not watching all the time I am playing it all the time. It’s not bad. I am getting Harry Potter movie for Christmas.


BY ALANNA WEIR

Thursday, December 4

Seasons

By Amy Abernethy, 13
Hunterhouse College


Poem

In my English class
I have to write a poem
About a season


Summer Buzz

Grrr. I hate summer
Bees always chase after me
Why must they sting me?


Lovely Winter

I love the winter
Receiving gifts at Christmas
And giving them too!


Falling For Autumn

I love the autumn time
Colourful leaves on the ground
They are magical


Spring In My Step

Watching lambs in spring
Makes me want to jump for joy
Oh! It makes me smile


Pretty Colours

Colours like summer
Orange and yellow and red
They are so pretty

Sleigh Belle

By Lauren Hunter, 13
Hunterhouse College

Santa's coming to mine tonight
He puts his sleigh on the roof
Santa makes winter good craic.

Christmas Cracker

By Jodie Garret, 13
Hunterhouse College

Mince pies, Rudolf and Shloer
Crackers and presents and pudding
Richard Daniel, Cliff and O'Donnel sing carols.

Mistletoe And Whine

By Claire Beare, 13
Hunterhouse College

Christmas time, oh Christmas oh
There's Shloer, Christmas puddin and Daniel O'Donnel
Cliff Richard, misteltoe and wine.

Frost Is Biting

By Sarah Donnelly, 13
Hunterhouse College

Christmas Eve, cold frost bite
Snow on the ground, children all round
Father Christmas is coming tonight

Thoughtful Walk

By Zara Adair, 13
Hunterhouse College

When I go for walks
I think of the day I have achieved
I listen to the rustling

Onions Give Me The Runs

By Lauren Anna Hughes, 14
Hunterhouse College

Spring is my favourite season
I love to run in the field
With my lovely spring onion

Off School

By Nicole Hewitt, 14
Hunterhouse College

Sunny summertime I'm off school
Out with my friends having a laugh
Not enough time to spend

Summer's A Beach

By Grace Dundas, 14
Hunterhouse College

I like the summer holidays
You can play with buckets and spades
When you're at the beach

Winter Warmer

By Orla Morrison, 13
Hunterhouse College

Christmas is full of joy
Eating Christmas dinner at the kitchen table
On a cold winter's day

Crummy Weather

By Sarah Bates, 13
Hunterhouse College

Waiting for the Crumlin bus
I am freezing, let me go home
It's snowing, deep and cold

Snow White

By Gemma Connery, 14
Hunterhouse College

The cold breeze is blowing
The snow starts to fall heavily down
White clouds fill the sky.

Leaves Me Cold

By Lara Bloch, 13
Hunterhouse College

Crunching leaves on the road
Freezing my socks off while walking home
Hot chocolate on the stove

How I love frosty nights
Fluffy socks and woolly clothes
Watching the fire glow.

On The Rum

By Josephine Johnston, 13
Hunterhouse college

Christmas bringing joy and fun
There's chilly weather and piping hot rum
Winter warmer in the corner

It's Juice Too Chilly

By Mary Pop, 13
Hunterhouse College

Snowy white winter is cold,
Like ice, juice, water and blue hands
I need my gloves, brrr!

Brrrrilliant Weather

By Rebekah McCord, 14
Hunterhouse College

Teachers nagging snow is falling
All around me children playing having fun
Blue hands, cold toes... Brrr

Monday, October 13

Hello My Name Is Alex Smith and i am aged 13 from Ilkley Grammar School in West Yorkshire And my blog is about my self and a turning over of a new leaf.
Here it is ....

Satisfying And Philosophical.

That's What i would call it.

Its funny until today I have always had away of dealing with school, and home. Not separate. My life at the moment revolves around school and friends. If I had A fall out with a friend or got full marks in a science test it would be the first and mostly the last thing to be thrown across the dinner table, and my parents way of dealing with it would always be positive and to make a witty remark or just congradulate me on the school day. There would be nothing i could say or do to change that and i don't intend to change it or want to. Its always nice to here positive feedback from your parents. I mean i would hate for your parents to be miserable old farts who only contribute to when you got a bad test result in maths and the contribution being " Oh well you should of done better i told you to revise!" Now i would HATE That. But i think my way of dealing with school and life has to be separate I cant always expect my parents to make a suggestion on how to deal with school and friends or how to get on with teachers after they have had a hard time at work or they have work to do i never thought about it until today. Maybe selfish in some poeples eyes. Its also interesting that if you got to know me well enough and i mean enough, that most of the time i am never satisfied with myself , what i have got or what i do And when I come to think of it there is no reason for me to be dissatisfied with everything, I got parents who care and love and most of all Know me, I have a sister you i can relate to talk to and she will be always there for no matter what. even when i use her speakers! I have a great house a great education SOME Good friends. And well what else is there to say! Today All my friends that i wanted to be with were being sad losers who hibernate in there rooms eyes glued to the TV with an awful stench of sweat and foot odour, plus piles upon piles or dirty plates that have been licked clean to save the last bit of strawberry jam from the tepid toast, plus glasses that look like they have been dipped in oil (which really is 12 day old ribena). That's how i imagine it anyway! So theres nothing to do inside or outside the house ok so........ My eyes become glued to the TV Then get two glasses of orange juice just so if i get thirsty after the first one. And just before i make some toast My mum and my 16 going on 24 sister offer me to go to Salts Mill (Art Gallery) This is what is going through My head: NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. Oh God if i say no i will just get a will once again get another lecture stating that I am not cultured enough (being in mind that i am only 13) and do not respect the true beauty of Art. God I cant face that! But wait isnt there a cafe? That sells FOOD!The car journey was tedious. My thoughts for salts mill were an old frail man with nothing better to do with his life than your half interested people round an art gallery I could hear the voive of gabby logan moaning on about some sporting british glory which probably was "Its fantastic 505 listeners we actually have a british team in the olyimpics!" I coudnt hear it probably thanks to my sisters ipod Jesus Christ what the hell does she listen to! Salts Mill Was.. What should i say......nice. No it was actually quite cool (especially the cafe)