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

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

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)

Some Summer Madness

By Hayley Andrews

Headliners

Summer is usually the time of getting off school, having parties and also sleeping in late but what really gets on my nerves is the weather. Northern Irish people are the worst for warm weather. Once they see a tiny bit of sunshine, they crack out the three-quarter lengths, flip-flops and sunglasses.
I prefer the cold weather and having to wrap myself in a big woolly blanket.

I hate it when the weather is all hot and clammy and I have to sit in school.

It’s like sitting in a big oven and we can’t open up the windows!
This also brings to mind the most talked about subject of recent years, climate change. Waaaa! It’s these two words that have everyone out with their recycling bins on bin collection days.

I always nearly get knocked down by that recycling van every Monday!
It annoys me that the news organisations are only taking notice of climate change now.

Surely they knew all about the problem years ago.

In the part of Belfast where I live they are doing something about it. They will soon be installing solar panels in selected homes and also some thingymabobby or other to stop heat escaping from your house.

This is in an effort to cut down on electric and gas usage and thereby reducing our bills. Yippee.
The government should really stop and think just how they are going to make solar panels more cost friendly for working class people like myself ( though, I don’t have job and I hope I don’t get one ).
Unfortunately my house didn’t get selected for solar panels. I’m pretty unhappy about that as I had always dreamt of the day when I would get solar panels. I guess I must wait until I am older.
I also like the idea of wind turbines, they are pretty and remind me of the time I went to Amsterdam! That was a fun trip!

Anyway - climate change matters to me because I’m a tree hugger and I like the environment. I want an electric car too!

Damien's on the right track

By Damien Simmons

Lisanally Special School

My name is Damien Simmons and my hobbies are Greyhound Racing, playing the PS2, and the following football teams Arsenal and Chelsea.

I play lots of games on the PS2 I like Formula 1 and Fifa 07. I also like music. I like Grease and High School Musical 2.

I have a dog called Good Man he is brindle dog. His father is called Hush Man and his mother is called Dirren Glen. He runs at Dundalk and Lifford. I walk him out at the tracks. Granda walks him out every morning and when I’m off school I walk with him and the dog. We walk the dog at the golf course and in Lough Neagh.

PlayStation games rock

By Ryan McCone
Lisanally Special School

I like gaelic football and my favourite teams are Clare and Armagh. Oisin McConville is my favourite player for Armagh.
I also enjoy listening to rock music and I have Rock Star game on the PS2. I love playing this game because it allows me to play the guitar which is my favourite musical intrument. When I go home I like to go to out and play football.
At Easter I got four chocolate eggs and one was a Crème Egg.
I have a dog called Spot who I take out for a walk.

Aoife gets a kick out of football

By Aoife French
Lisanally Special School

My name Aoife French and I like soccer and follow Man Utd and Liverpool.

I also like playing on the computer and watching TV.

I got a new football recently and it is red and black.

I really like Ben10 and Yu-Gi-Oh.

I also like Shane.

Walt a wonderful place to visit

By Stephen Loughran
Lisanally Special School

My name is Stephen Loughran and I would like to write about some of my interests.
My favourite sports are gaelic football and golf. My favourite gaelic fotball team is Armagh and Manchester United is my favourite soccer team.
I have PS3 and Wii. My games on a Wii is Super Mario Galaxy and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. My Favourite Game on PS3 is The Simpsons Game.
I also love The Simpsons Movie and High School Musical 1 & 2.
Every Friday when I leave school I go to Armagh to go to supermarket called McAreney’s. Sometimes I was going to Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon.
My Sisters are working in chip shop called Ellen’s in Keady.
For my holidays this year in July my family are going to Florida. Florida is a state in USA. The are lots of things to see and doo there such as the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios and Also Wet n Wild.
Over the years Florida has been struck by Hurricanes and many building have been destroyed.
Walt Disney World Resort was opened in 1971, five years after Walt Disney Died in 1966 during the production of a film in 1967 called The Jungle Book.

By Kevin Mc Entaggart

Lisanally Special School

My name is Kevin McEntaggart and I love to cook food.
As well as cooking I like to play pool and the PS2 and I am also interested in gaelic football.

My favourite team is Down.
When I get older I think I would like to be a firefighter because I think they are very brave.
When my school had an open day recently I showed the guests how to play football and basketball. We also played Turbodaily which I like.
Outside school I go to the cinema with my parents and I enjoy watching comedy movies and music shows on TV.

Elvis fan is all shook up

By Nathan Andrews
Lisanally Special School

My name is Nathan Andrews and I am a big fan of computers and games.
I love to play on my laptop at home and I like using Windows Vista. I think I would like to work with computers when I get older.
I also have a PS3 and love playing games on it.
My favourite films are Spiderman and Lord Of The Rings and my favourite music is Elvis and I would love to see his house in Graceland.
Recently our school had an Open Day and I took part in some PE.

By Colum O'Neill

Lisanally Special School

My hobbies are farming, Armagh, boxing, rugby, cinema, looking after my snake, midsummer murders.
I like looking after cows, sheep and chickens in the farm main Moy road. My uncle Sean owns the farm. I help my uncle to clean the cattle houses. I also drive a Massey Ferguson 135.

By Pauline Wong

Lisanally Special School

I like playing with my dogs and I take them for a walk.
I like watching television with my Mum.

We like watching wild life programmes and going to my Nanny’s for a walk to see if my Nanny needs anything at the shop.

I like going to computers on a Monday after than I like going to choir too.

I am also a prefect in Lisanally Special School.

By Shane O’Callaghan

Lisanally Special School

My name is Shane O’Callaghan and I love Yu-Gi-Oh and I have lots of cards. I am also a big fan of PS2. I like football and my favourite teams are Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool. I like animals such as snakes because they move very smoothly. I also like whales and cheetahs. It was Open Day at our school on Tuesday 15th April. When the visitors were being shown around our school I was doing French with Mrs. Devin and then I did P.E. with Mr. Oldham. We had a very busy morning. The visitors loved our school and Ms. Flynn was very pleased with us all.

By Alec Campbell

Lisanally Special School

My name is Alec Campbell and I like the Simpsons Hit & Run game for the PlayStation 2 because you can collect lots of money!!!!!!!!!. I save some money to buy chocolate.
I fight with Kim, my sis.
I love, love, love my doggie Jess who is white and brown and has a black nose.
I also like playing with my teddies London, Barney, Pickacku, Pongo, Dusty, David, Pooh, Purple, Blue Guy, Green, Peter, Rudolph, Gloria and Pinkie Rudolph.
I also have more than 100 Pokemon cards.
I really enjoy going out on my bike which is called Speedy.

Technology Torture

By Molly Cullen
Headliners

We have to do Technology until the end of 3rd year and then we get a choice to keep studying it or not. Personally, I hate technology. I think we should do it in 1st year and THEN decide to keep it on or not.
In my opinion it’s really pointless learning how to make a toy buggy. What’s the point? I’m never going to have to make one in the future. My employer is NEVER going to ask me ‘Did you pass Technology?’
I told my technology teacher this and she told me I would need it in later life. Never in my later life do I plan on making a buggy, key-ring, or a moving hook.
If you’re hopeless at Technology, like me, why do you still have to do it? I get why you have to do Maths and stuff, because that makes sense, being able to add and subtract.
The Theory to the subject is even more pointless. I couldn’t care less if a lever was balanced, or how much resistance is in a resistor. Out of my whole class (20 people), there is ONE person going one to do it at GCSE. ONE. What’s the point in making a class of 20 sit for 70 minutes of pure boredom each week, when ONE person is continuing it next year???
Technology is torture. The only result that comes out of technology is that we can stand and talk, until the teacher notices and makes you wire up your pointless project again, because you did it wrong the first 20 times. Can she not get the picture? Most of the 3rd Year population at Wellington College hate it. We should use the time for something interesting, like Drama or P.E. Not something stupid like technology.

Time flies... relatively speaking

By Laura Haughey
Hunterhouse College

Why is it that time only goes fast when you’re having fun?
The worst time for time to go fast is when you’re having fun and the best time should be when you’re sitting in the most dreaded class that does nothing for you and does benefit you at all i.e. right now.
It has taken me only one minute to write this.
Another thing, why does my sleep just consist of one blink?
Why does time have to fly when the best part of the day begins – bedtime?
I like to cherish my sleep time but because it’s a blink I don’t even know I’ve fallen asleep.
Right, so I’m sitting in class right now mulling over what I’ve written and time is still taking itself.
Only six minutes have went by and I’m still ranting on how time is such a melt.
Ever get when the news comes on and there’s a good show on after, but they news decides to broadcast really monotonous stories therefore it takes longer?
These tend to be on politics.
Who really cares like?
I don’t know about yourself like but I’d rather watch Ann Robinson grief people for being themselves.
Kay so it’s 6:30pm by the time the news is over and the TV show you’ve been waiting on comes on.
You have a few laughs, blink and it’s over.
You then go and waste your life away on MSN and then you look at the clock, it’s now 9:30pm. I’m now officially a computer creep.
I am now MSN and BEBOED out to the max.
I then do the daily things like attempt homework and shower.
It’s now 10:30pm.
I MSN it again and go to bed and blink.
It’s now a new day…

By Rachael Hesketh

Hunterhouse College

I don’t want to write about something, just for the sake of writing.

No ID is just the ticket

By Ciara Grazier

Hunterhouse College

Like many other people under 18, I see this information on tickets, ticketmaster or any posters for a good gig, and get very disappointed.

I start trying to make the decision as to either take the chance of buying a ticket and getting in, being ragingly rejected, or to just leave it and sit at home while old couples are having a drink and watching a band they haven’t even heard of who are AMAZING.
I think it’s ridiculous that we aren’t allowed into a building that has a bar, it’s not like we’re planning on getting plastered.

People should just be asked for ID at the actual bar.

And I hate the way bouncers can be so cheeky and sarcastic to you, it’s like they were never young themselves and they hold all the power to just ruin your night.
Some tickets don’t even say that it is for over 18s only, so then many more people buy a ticket and are let down and you can’t even get a refund in most cases.
ID should be asked for at a bar, not to go into a big room to listen to music.

I can't Blink of anything to write

By Lauren Hamilton
Hunterhouse College

I don’t know what to write about today.
There’s lots of things I could write about but I have read them all before and that would bore me.
I could write about my team Manchester United or my favourite band Blink 182 but I really don’t feel like doing that. I hate being in school and having to write about things and having to think of my own blog is hard.
So I’m just going to tell you about how I can’t think of anything that excites me and that I can write about today.

Musing about a long summer holiday

By Sandra Perry
Hunterhouse College

My Summer is gonna be such banter, not only do I have 8 free weeks of NO SCHOOL, but I'm going to Muse…3 days of Tennents Vital, weeks of tennis and should be going to Edinburgh or somewhere…
After 30 weeks of school, I FINALLY HAVE 8 FREE WEEKS OF NO SCHOOL….and MUSE!...quite possibly, one of the most AMAZING bands alive.
Thursday night got a text through…
‘here dude, you like Muse?’
SO OBVIOUSLY I was like…
‘errrrm HELL YEA!...y’ So you know… ‘wanna go see em in Dublin?’
And this is the point, where I realised I AM GOING TO HAVE THE MOST IMMENSE SUMMER EVER.
When Muse did Wembley, a ROBOT brought your man his guitar out…A ROBOT!
3 days of Tennents Vital…even though the headliners aren’t up yet...I DON’T CARE…cause it’s 3 days instead of 2..and I only went to 1 day last year…I DON’T CARE CAUSE IT’S 3 DAYS NOW…and I’m going.
WEEKS AND WEEKS OF TENNIS, starting with the French Open where I can watch Rafael Nadal whip everyone’s asses…ooooh yes :D ..but, this is where school becomes a problem again, Wimbeldeon starts WHILE I'm still at school, what are they doing?
School CLEARLY ruins everything.

Burning issues

By Sarah-Jayne Tracey

Hunterhouse College

People are always telling us that we should recycle more and that we are ruining the planet, but is it true or is it just made up to scare us.

Some people believe that global warming is happening and that we should be worried.

Although many people believe that global warming is coming some people don’t, they think that scientists and the government are making up stories about how the ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising and how if they do we will all be underwater!
Which do we believe? Do we believe scientists telling us that this is happening or do we believe that it’s all just a big scam to get us to recycle more?

I believe that global warming is coming and it’s quite scary, but I also believe that if we start to change our way of life and try our best to help we could stop it or keep it away for as long as possible.

Even though I don’t like when people are always nagging me about how we should be recycling more and how we should do this and how we should do that, but in the end they are right and we should listen to them.

So the next time we are leaving the house and our phone chargers, TV’s, DVD players and lights are still plugged into the plug socket we should think and switch of the main socket at the wall!

It's just not fare

By Sophie Dickson

Hunterhouse College

Why is it that whenever I get on a bus, it’s the start of a very painful (and embarrassing) journey?

It is not impossible for anyone else to survive a bus journey without actually wrecking their limbs, so why me?

I get a bus virtually every day, so I have this ‘pre-bus-ness’ every day, this is when I am anxious about what sort of pain or embarrassment I am going to inflict upon myself.

If I was a fan of the phrase ‘bad times’, I would be using it right now.

You can only imagine how much I hate snow, when I have to worry about actually getting to the bus stop safely, with all limbs in tact.

Just the other day, all I needed to do was attempt to get on the bus before I actually hurt myself. It was about time.

It was getting a bit boring having to wait until I was on the bus before I damaged myself.

I hadn’t even put my two feet inside the bus, and the bus driver closed the door on my knee.

Of course, it had to make my knees equally sore, and couldn’t just injure the one that had been hurt one week previous to this.

Of course, I had hurt that one on a bus too.

Gotta a love for life

By Gina Ritchie
Hunterhouse College

I hate the fact that we have 5 days a week of school and only 2 days of the weekend, does my head in. Things would be so much easier if I had a car, I could do things at my pace and leisure.

I hate the fact that everyone I hang out with are older than me and all have their own methods of transport and I have to get stuck with someone else.

I hate that I spend more time with teachers and people that I don’t necessarily like in school than with my family at home.

I hate doing ironing every Wednesday and Sunday and the fact that I don’t get paid, but I love that it makes my mum happy that it’s one less thing for her to do.

I love the weekends where you get up, don’t plan what you’re gonna do but just go with the flow, roll outta bed, get a quick shower, slap on some makeup and get in my mate’s car and drive, not knowing where were going, what were gonna do or how much money it’ll cost.

I love the song Elements by Tiesto, there’s no words in the song but it just makes me feel like I can do anything, it puts me in the mood for anything, it’s the song of my life.

I hate school and the fact that in an all girl school there’s always guaranteed to be an argument between people in my class and you have to choose sides.

I hate that I have to get up at 7am to go to school and I don’t get home ‘til 4pm.

I hate that my mum makes me come home at 10pm whereas all my friends have no set time as to when they have to be in, but yet I love that my mum’s only doing it to look out for me and make sure I’m safe.

I hate school uniform because it’s plain and you have to wear it 5 days a week but it’s better than wearing your own clothes otherwise it’d be a fashion contest everyday.

I love that my friends don’t or look down on me because I’m the only girl in the group and that

I’m 3 years younger than the majority of them and that they treat me equally.

I hate school, it melts me. I know it’s not meant to be fun but I’m not concerned with it, I do well in school but I just don’t have the determination to go on, I want to do well in my GCSE’S and then drop out of fifth year and get an apprenticeship in mechanics, move on to traffic branch and get on with my life.

I hate the fact that the car I want costs £26,400 every two years to run, and that it has to be imported from Japan.

I hate that my boyfriend gets up at 2pm everyday, goes to work for a couple of hours and then gets to do whatever he wants from then on, he can stroll into the house at 6am if he wanted. Melts my head.

I love the fact that even when I get jealous and angry at the tiniest things people don’t react back the same way but let me blow off steam.

I love that when I get home from school my dad always asks me what I want for dinner and tries to make it the exact way I like it, even though he’s not my real dad, the smallest things mean the most to me.
My sister left home when she was 16 to be with her boyfriend, I didn’t talk to her for a year because I hated how much she hurt my mum, but I love it now because that she’s wised up and is picking up the pieces that she left, I love that she texts me the odd time and comes up to the house to confide in me about things she never would of done before.

I hate that when you go to the cinema and you wanna see an 18 film but you can’t because you’re too young so you get stuck with a 12 or 15 and still have to pay the adult price.

I hate that my mum says I’m too young to know what I want, just because I’m 15 doesn’t mean

I have the mentality of an 18 month old baby.

I love people who live every day like it’s their last.

I love those drives when you’ve got the tasteful music on kinda loud and the sun’s shining so much that you can’t see where you’re going but yet it doesn’t matter. And you’re with one other person in the car, both with your sun glasses on, not having a care in the world, not thinking of anything, apart from each other.

I love my mum.

I love my dad.

I love my boyfriend.

I love the people in my life who make a difference.

I love things that make life worthwhile.

I love that no matter how bad or sad I feel because of school, it only takes a matter of minutes for my bestfriend’s to change my mood.

I love life.

Pumped up about footwear

By Rebecca Huston
Hunterhouse College

I hate the way we can’t wear pumps (flat shoes) to school, they are pretty cool I think.
They are better than my moon boots that I have now I am practically dragging my feet behind me. They also look really nice making our uniform look even nicer.
I’m really jealous when I see other girls from different schools wearing them and I’m like Nooo!
I can’t wear them in my school. They are comfy and they do not give you “feet disorders”.
So basically what I’m trying to say is break the rule just for me, well and others who want it because they don’t hurt me outside school so why would they hurt me inside school?
Want to answer that for me?

It's gymtastic to be a coach

By Emily Kate Herbert
Hunterhouse College

I was tired last night, because I was coaching, gymnastics, I have been doing gymnastics on and off for years, and recently my coaches asked me to help them out a few days a week, before or after training or just after school.
I have been coaching for about two and a half months now.
I enjoy coaching, its nice being able to pass on knowledge to other children about a sport that I really enjoy, I love interacting with the children, they make me laugh with the comments they come out with.
I do gymnastics 3 times a week for five hours
After gymnastics I went for a walk with my dad and dog, it’s the fourth or fifth day I have went for a walk, because the days are getting longer and the weather is getting better, after a tiring day of exercise, I relaxed and watched Desperate Housewives.

Pencil heels are a real sketch

By Sandra Perry

Hunterhouse College

Why is it when your at a gig, that people INSIST on wearing pencil heel shoes…not just normal people either, drunk, fat, tangoed, smelly wanna-be indie kids in PENCIL HEELS.

Jumping about, squishing me until the limit that I can’t move, let alone breath and tramping all over my feet with their DUMB shoes with feet inside that probably weigh a stone each and chucking their proof juice all over me whilst trying to act hardcore by ‘head-banging’?

Not amused.

Throwing my weight behind Nicole

By Jamiee Burns
Hunterhouse College

Nicole Richie’s super skinny body, amazing style and not really caring about what other people think has made her the front page of papers and kept her the centre of attention.

People have been digging up pictures of her fat past and saying that she looked better with the weight on.

But personally I think she looks better now and for the fact she isn’t letting the media get to her and continuing to look how she feels is best.

For a while she was really really skinny and that wasn’t a good look but she admitted that….

Now she still continues to look brilliant all the time despite being stalked by the paparazzi!!

Comeback's going to take a Brit of time

By Danielle Farrell
Hunterhouse College

Britney Spears has been in the news a lot recently.

The singer has been having a hard time because of her broken marriage, losing custody of her two children and her mental break down.
She has been stalked by the paparazzi since her career started when she was about fifteen years old and her mummy wanted too much from her at such a young age.
I think this is why she has gone from being an idol to many to being a complete mess.
I hope she gets the reputation that she used to have back but I can’t see it happening any time soon.

Stuck on the web

By Karen Smyth
Hunterhouse College


So, most people have access to internet these days, and almost everyone who does is on some kind of social network.
It seems to appeal to everyone, no matter what age. But what is it that makes it so appealing?
You make a profile and it lets the world see you, people who you don’t know, seeing what age you are, where you live etc. And like you can add your friends and have a chat. But now its all about how many random strangers you can get on your profile to give you profile views. And bribe your friends to leave you luv.
Bebo seems to be the ‘in-thing’ at the moment. And to be honest it’s all a bit random. I’m pretty addicted to bebo, but why? I can’t really see anything particularly amazing about it...
So why is there like a million people from all over the world on it? And everyone says they hate it, so why don’t they delete they’re account? Why do we feel the need to have it? Does it fill up time cause we have nothing better to do than waste are time going through people’s profiles finding random people, and being a general ‘bebo stalker’, and going onto every bebo in sight, spending possibly hours at a time on it?
Maybe some people feel pressured because all the friends have it, they should have it too. But you aren’t actually missing out on anything if you don’t, cause like is it gonna be discussed at the lunch table who said what on bebo last night? Depends I guess but have you really nothing better to talk about? It’s a bit sad, and I’m talking on my own behalf, I’m on it every night at the moment, because I’m always on msn and when you get an email you automatically go on and see what its about. Which brings me to msn. I think it’s great, all you need to pay for is the internet bill and your away, add your mates email addresses and away you go. Talk your life away. So a conclusion? Does anyone actually meet up a talk like civilised people anymore? Or have a phone call? Nah. Go online, I’ll sit in front of my computer and act cool instead.

Something's not write today

By Zoë Bailey-Wood

Hunterhouse College

I don’t know what to write about today.

Well, I can think of loads but nothing which I can be bothered to type up.

I could ramble about shopping, shoes, school and other things.

I hate when people tell you to just think of anything to write or talk about.

There are loads but you just can’t pick one and they just expect you to pick one like that.

If you can’t think of what to write, they should just let you sit and do nothing but instead, you have to wreck your brain thinking of what you can write without sounding obsessed.

This is the point where you just ramble on about something you don’t care about because it’s short and easy to write about then when you finish and read over it, it makes no sense what so ever but it fills a good bit of the page so it will do.

I think they should give you a topic to write about because it’s so much easier!!!

How bebo has crept into my life

By Lynsey McCusker
Hunterhouse College

Bebo creeping is it good for your health?

Signing onto bebo you may say “ill just check, two seconds”, and the next time you look its 4 hours later and you’ve found yourself looking at some randomers bebo creeping in on there lives, basically being a nosy git.

You know you’re addicted to bebo when you take new pictures and the first thing you say is bebo? Or you recognise somebody from somewhere and you then realise you were on their bebo the night before!
Is this the future of socialising, sitting in your bedroom with the laptop to all hours creeping the same people over and over again?
I do admit I creep myself and I know of many more people who do, is this really that bad for us? BEBO stands for broadcasting everyone’s business online, so is the any need for private profiles, this is another sign of addiction, click on to that person bebo and it says sorry no can do, you find yourself screaming and in sheer frustration, EVEN if you know their bebo has always been private, we still try so does this prove just how sad our lives are?
That we feel we have to nosey into other peoples business? I will admit I LOVE bebo and personally now couldn’t live without it.

Why I won't stay silent about useless letters

By Cherith Scott

Hunterhouse College

.

What’s the point in Silent Letters?
None..Exactly!
Why use more letters spelling K-n-o-w when you can use N-o… and F-o-u-r is another one when it’s F-o-r.

By adding a ‘u’ in F-o-r it’s ridiculous and so pointless, they both sound the same maybe not spelt the same and obviously and they don’t have the same meaning but that’s wasting more energy writing more letters than just using the shorter word and when you say t-h-e-r-e, it sounds exactly like t-h-e-i-r and t-h-e-y-‘r-e, that’s three words all sounding the same but with different meanings and spelling.

Like how stupid can some people be? Using these words in a certain context, you can tell what ‘there’ you are talking about so why not reduce it to ‘t-h-e-i-r’ and make them all have the same spelling!

Looking at a severe genetic condition

By Heather Mallon
Hunterhouse College

Retinitis Pigmentosa is a genetic disease in your eyes and it gradually takes away your eyesight turning you blind.
It is caused by mutated genes when send out the wrong messages to other genes causing the genes to die impairing your vision.

It can be passed on from parent to child even if the parent doesn’t have symptoms and are unaffected by the mutated genes.
When you have it the first part of your sight to go is your night sight or your ability to see colour, although the most common part to go first is your night sight.
There is a cure for it but it works in some people and doesn’t in others. There is also a microchip to enhance vision is under development.

If a member of your family has or had it, it is a good idea to go to the hospital and get tested for it. A good local hospital is the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
When getting genetically tested there is a percent chance that they will find the gene responsible as some genes that cause it have not been discovered yet.

Why a sleepover is such a Grand idea

By Alex Dickey
Hunterhouse College

Well, my Gran is so fussy and this is what makes her annoying. Like last night, she stayed at my house, and of course, it was my room she stayed in. Everybody voted against me! I wasn’t staying in the same room as her because the last time she stayed it was terrible!
Well, she talks non stop, all night and all day. I was bored out of my mind by the time night came, so I was in a bad mood already.
I mean, I don’t want to listen to some old woman rambling on about church, and recycling, the law and boring old waffle.
So anyway, I was a bit annoyed so I went to bed early. And as I slowly drifted off to sleep. You know that feeling when you’re halfway between sleep and being awake.
Then all of a sudden the light turned on and I heard, “Alex, are you asleep?” And she fully on screamed it into my room. And then she got into bed beside me. I turned around ready to go back to sleep.
And then she said “Alex dear, it’s too bright in this room do you mind if I close the curtain.” So I got up to close it and then apparently it was still too bright. (I actually couldn’t see two feet in front of me).
Then I had to get a blanket and blue tack it to the window. I know, I told you she was fussy.
The rest isn’t much better, she stole all the covers, so I was freezing and she kept getting up to either go to the toilet or get a ‘wee’ cup of tea.
And she took up the whole bed. How could one small woman take up so much space? It was awful!
The next day I woke up next day to find that I wasn’t in my room anymore, it was like a zoo, everything was everywhere, she’d threw my clothes all in the floor, and lying around where bit’s of paper with things like, ‘I need to post that letter to Maggie’ on them!
My room was a tip, and my camera was on the floor, my prized possession, just thrown away. I was so annoyed, and for once I couldn’t wait until I got to school.
But when I got downstairs, I went into the kitchen, I can’t find the words to write about what I saw, but it was good.
The kitchen was a mess but there was like a five course breakfast out for me.
Pancakes, and cereal, and French toast, tea and orange juice. I now know, my granny may be awful with her bad habit’s and really bad car.
Oh, don’t even get me started on the car; she drives it at likes two miles an hour. But she does all that stuff for my benefit and I don’t know what I would do without her!

Gonna make it a blue day

Michael Gill (Boys Model, Belfast)

I have been a Chelsea fan all my life, well since I can remember liking football anyway. 

The first time I saw them, that I can remember, was a live televised match. I think it might have been against Arsenal back in 97’. 

The goalkeeper played an outstanding game, he was making saves covering all aspects of the nets, left, right and centre, keeping them in them in the game. 

Since then I can remember old managers, trying their hardest to bring the club into high succession within the premier league and Europe. 

The earliest manager with the best record that I can remember is Italian based Claudio Raneri. He bought the club from mid-table to 3rd and 4th in the seasons he was appointed manager.

The employment of Russian billionaire, Roman Ibromivich, has brought high standards to the club after the departure of Ken Bates. 

He has had the power over three managers. Claudio was the first to fall. 

He had the money power but did not bring the club to the standards that the fans and the owner were looking for.

Then the powerful Portuguese, Jose Mourinho came into the power. It all started in 2004-2005, when the big ego showed. 

He vowed to bring success and trophies to the bridge. In his first season he was invincible. He had cleared his squad and bought in a whole new level of talent. 

Players such as Drogba, Cech and Wright Phillips showed what they were capable of and won Chelsea the title for the first time in 50 years.

During the seasons that he stayed at Chelsea he won 6 trophies and that was only in seasons!

Fall out with the owner had seen him pack up and leave at the start of the 07-08 seasons. Appointment of backroom coach Avram Grant was quick and he was soon Chelsea manager. 

He has yet to show his honours but has started off with the same record as Mourinho. He is in his first cup final, Carling Cup, against Spurs at Wembley. Hopefully it is his first of many!

Good luck to the boys and hope Avram is a success.

NORTHERN IRISH IS WHAT I AM

Kyle Pott (Boys Model, Belfast)

Well being brought up in a loyalist area I was told by my parents and family that I was British however I began to challenge this almost forced identity and began to search for heritage. This lead me to a YMCA Youth and Government Course which was advertised in my AS level politics class. I have really enjoyed myself at the course and on the 1st till the 3rd of Feb 2008 we went on a trip to Londonderry to learn about the Bog Side and the Troubles which went back to the Plantation of Ulster, which saw the Native Irish driven from the land and homes and saw them replaced with Protestant British citizens.

More recently the formation of N.I Civil Rights Campaign leading to marches and Riots, then the RUC being forced out of the Bog Side of Derry. We saw colourful murals across many a wall and one which really got to me was a mural of a young girl who was shot on Bloody Sunday while walking home from school. There is a butterfly, which was painted in black and tied down to stop it flying until there was peace and now it has been repainted in bright colours and is flying high. However our guide had a Republican agenda and had a hostile view towards Britain and this made me a several others feel unwelcome. Luckily for me the group has a strong dynamic so I told the leaders how I felt and they reassured me that his view was a dying one and I was welcome in Londonderry.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Graeme Greenwood (Boys Model, Belfast)

I am a year 13 pupil in a secondary school in Belfast. I decided to come back this year to sit my A levels as after thinking it over and with the grades I got in my GCSEs I thought it was probably the right choice.

When you come back in year 13 pupils can be paid up to the amount of £30 a week depending on their parent’s incomes. EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance). Unfortunately not everyone can receive this, which is my point.

Schools make a big point of saying that this is a reason to come back to school but it’s not for everyone. People’s parents could be bringing in a big income but that’s not to say that their kids are going to benefit from it. Not everyone’s parents believe in giving their kids money at the end of the week. Another point is that not everyone can find the time to fit in a part time job. So there are pupils who are in full time education without receiving EMA and without a job.

What are they meant to do? Although I’m not affected by this I believe it’s a point that needs to be raised - its not fair on everyone either no one should get it or we should all receive it!

Discrimination in today’s society

Chris Millar (Boys Model, Belfast)

Why is discrimination accepted in today’s society? Why should people get away with saying what they want and putting people down because they are different? There are all-different kinds of discrimination in today’s society for many it is because of the way they dress or of the music they listen to.

For others it is the background they come from or even the colour of their skin. But mainly in today’s society it is because of their sexual preferences. But why are these things just accepted even in our schools by just walking down a corridor or passing a room you can hear the abuse being yelled towards people and figureheads ignoring the problem?

These are the main issues that should be addressed - not the state of uniforms or hair styles. Attention should be directed towards stopping the abuse and discrimination around today.

Understandably discrimination doesn’t just take place in schools, its in the streets and around everywhere but I believe that it is up to the schools to put an end to the abuse and discrimination as they can get the message through and keep pushing it.

There are lots of different ways in which the schools can help - there are many different organisations such as the rainbow project who can help with acceptance and even places like Samaritans are willing to help with the issues so why not get them involved?

What is an extreme hair cut?

Chris McDowell (Boys Model, Belfast)

I go to a secondary school in the North Belfast area and it can be like prison sometimes. They have this rule that says you’re not allowed extreme hair cuts although What is an extreme haircut?! I have a bit of blue in the front of my hair. It isn't alot nor is it all over my hair and I was told it was extreme (even though who ever is reading may think it isn't) but to me it isn't an extreme hair cut. Now, I don’t know but is that wrong? Who knows?

Well, anyway I think they should tell us in more detail what’s expectable if they want us to run about like marines then we would have joined the marines. Why should an hair cut decide whether you should be thrown out of school till it comes out when there is pupil stopping others from learning and going on the beak and not coming to school and yet I get told I have to get it out. I think our school are taking hair cuts too seriously and I would recommend that they lightened up a bit on it after all I am a big Senior School pupil lol.

Brad and Angie

Sonya Gorman (17)

Usually when a couple decides that it is time to take the plunge and get married the first thing that pops into their mind is how happy they will be or where they were to go on their honeymoon, well not if you a celebrity. If you’re a celeb the first thing that pops into your mind is “Oh no were going to have to get a pre-nup.” And that’s to surprise because in Hollywood marriages don’t really last that long anyway. So usually a pre-nup is the norm.
Welcome to the world of Brad and Angelina, they seem very happy together they have four kids. And loads of money Brad earns £25 million per movie. However you would be wrong to think that Angie is a little stay at home wife who has no money of her own she does £14 million per movie in fact. They are they king and queen of Hollywood and they seem to love each other very much however they seem to still feel that they need to sign a pre-nup.
This maybe this is no surprise as they have had three failed marriages between them. They have always said that they have no plans to get married again however it has been reported that in past days they have signed a 160million pre-nup agreement and they are said to be planning to walk down the aisle next spring.
It is said that the pre-nup is not about Brad and Angelina’s personal money worries, “When they get married they will have every last penny accounted for. They are responsible parents.” So if they ever do split their four kids are protected. They want to walk down the aisle knows that every little detail is ironed out.
And if they ever decide they also not that they have every little detail ironed out.

Final Cut

Sonya Gorman (17)

Getting your hair cut is fun and it makes you feel tons better... Yeah. It does but its not really about that is it? It’s about looking like you’ve just had your hair done and this is why it becomes a chore. It not fun anymore you only do it because you have to. If you’ve got your hair done you’re going to look pretty stupid if you aren’t wearing a cool top, and that top is going to look stupid if you haven’t got a new pair of jeans and you can see were I’m going with this blog.
Most young people now have part time jobs. I do, I don’t really like it all that much, well to be honest I don’t really like it at all. If I was an adult I could say that I only do this job because have responsibilities. But I’m not an adult so why do I keep the job? Its simple, I have fallen into the trap of relying on my monthly pay from my part time job. My job isn’t particularly horrible or bad it’s just I would rather be out having fun. Which I wouldn’t be able to do if I didn’t have a job. So im trapped in one of those vicious circle things you hear about.
I suppose your thinking save up your money... but it’s not really that easy is it. Every time I try something else comes up. Like a new pair of jeans or a top or my shade of blonde is completely out this season.
I guess you are wondering what I’m on about but the point to my story simply is that I spend all my money on stuff like DVDs, Clothes and things I won’t really need. Still, to be quite honest I don’t really care all that much because that’s what young people are all about going around and not really taking anything to seriously. So I guess that the true reason why I have a part time job, because I can go in behave like an adult for a while and then go spend my money like a young person.

Rock n Roll

Ruth Smyth (18)
Why does tabloid press concentrate on exposing the shaded lifestyle of celebrities? The casual drug-taking, promiscuous relationships and hedonistic backdrop to an otherwise mundane world are almost synonymous with what music magazines like to call “Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

Popular music as found in the UK’s Top 40 include hip-hop, dance, R ‘n’ B, boybands and now even reality show contestants. In following the new trends of an imprudent youth, music companies can now produce near carbon copy artists whose performance is next to insignificant. Although there is a marginal group of musicians throughout the years who manage to scratch through the surface of Britain’s mediocre music scene.

Society tends to hone in on these obvious “bad guys” within the morally corrupt industry such as co-frontman Pete Doherty of the London-based band The Libertines. In doing so, this disregards the exploitation of naïve singer/songwriters by big business. The sexualizing of pre-pubescent “talent.” The core message of sexism and violence as found in urban hip-hop. The erroneously trim face of teenage pin-ups and the artificiality of their management.
The premature split of The Libertines reinforces their success and legacy. With the formation of two new bands Dirty Pretty Things and Babyshambles, fans are able to argue freely the lyrical ability of Doherty and Carl Barat. However, Doherty’s life is focused on more heavily and not in any musical aspect but rather his personal relationships and drug habit. If the price of fame justifies such unwanted attention then why isn’t Barat as recognizable to hungry tabloid papers?

If lifestyles have trumped talent in some cases, does this not prove that the music industry isn’t just about music anymore? But even still, some celebrities are sympathized with more than others like the controversy surrounding Britney Spears. Seamus Craic, music journalist, tries to justify the snobbery in the pitfalls of fame: “If we can put ourselves in the mindset of The Sun for a moment: The British public loves a bad boy, but junkies are scum.”

Outreach

Over the next few months, Headliner's, Connor and Maelle will be travelling to schools, youth clubs and organisations trying to recruit members for our current journalism programme and finding interested young people to write for the Blog. During this time, alot of new young people will be posting fresh ideas and articles, so do give them your support and positive criticism. Thank you to those that are currently doing so.

Any articles should be sent by e-mail to lend_your_voice@hotmail.co.uk
For photos and multimedia, please use same address.
Always put a subject on your e-mail plus your name, age and article title.

Comments will only be posted if appropriate

Anyone interested in joining Headliners, Belfast or Foyle, should contact (028)90232032. Our staff team are friendly, good craic and supportive, so don't be afraid in talking to them.

The same difference

By Ruth Smyth (18, Headliners)

In Northern Ireland there is an effort to move away from the sectarianism principally between Catholics and Protestants. It is something that has plagued Irish politics for centuries and even, for a time, disguised racism because people focus on the penalisation of religious communities.

Following the devastation of the Troubles in the 1930s and particularly the late 1960s, most people want to forget the ethnic conflict of the Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries.

In helping to unite and give equal support to all belief systems, young people have become intrinsic to political agenda. Outreach projects, community programmes, youth organisations and integrated schools all contribute to creating the diversity Northern Ireland has pretended to lack in the past.

Despite this general push for a working peace, there is still going to be hatred on both sides. Perhaps it is down to a difference and uncertainty in Irish culture. In the latter half of the 1800s, there was a great movement to define what was meant to be Irish. This Cultural Nationalism fought to promote Irish Traditional music, dance, sports and literature, reviving the native Irish tongue, or “Irishness.”

W.B. Yeats writing at this time came from the Protestant Ascendancy but regarded himself an Irishman. The exploration of Irish identity was to have a significant shape on his poetry and highlighted that religion wasn’t completely associated with politics.

Now, however, giving preference to Rangers or Celtic automatically categorises which community a person may come from. The GAA national sports – Gaelic football and Hurling – are mainly attached to Catholicism. While a significant number of Protestants no longer define themselves as being Irish at all, but British.

Hurling is believed to have influenced other countries and cultures, if not transcending the identity crisis Yeats tried to dissolve. Canadian ice hockey may have descended from the game, and it is largely recognised in Continental Europe, Australasia and North America.

The resurgence of Irish Traditional music in the 1950s through to the 70s brought many instruments to the forefront of the music scene. The flute and tin whistle, uilleann pipes, harp, bodhrán, banjo and mandolin have all helped popularise Irish music, with many well-established players in America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Irish dancing, generally played to such set music is known also in Canada and Mexico. In 2009, proving the strength of influence of Irish dancing, the World Championships will not be held in Ireland or Scotland. Instead, Philadelphia in the United States has been invited to host the competition.

All aspects of “Irishness” have managed to seed out into other customs, and there is a mix of new cultures still being regenerated into our developing society. So if people are learning to embrace each other and other lifestyles, what denies the amalgamation of Catholic and Protestant traditions specifically inside Northern Ireland?

Will Smith is a Legend in his own movie

By Conrad Corr (16)

Would you like to find yourself alone in a post-apocalyptic world where zombies want nothing more than to feast on your flesh? Well then I Am Legend would interest you.
Based on the novel by Richard Matheson, the film is directed by Francis Lawrence and features the Golden Globe-winner Will Smith.
The movie follow's Smith's character as he wanders a deserted New York after its population has been wiped out by a lethal virus.
Unfortunately for him he is not alone as many people changed into zombies as the bug mutated. Smith plays a virologist Robert Neville who takes it upon himself to find the cure.
The film as a whole was brilliant with a balanced fusion of CGI and great acting. The movie is unusual in the sense that most of the film Smith has no other actor to interact with other than a dog and a few mannequins.
This gives the movie an eerie atmosphere at times and there are shots of the Big Apple that look almost primeval. The production, which took place in New York in 2006, proved to be expensive with just one scene on the Brooklyn Bridge costing $5 million.
The only disappointing feature of the film is the lack of background into Smith’s character. He seems to be a scientist turned soldier without any true explanation as to why he under took the job of being the saviour of the earth.
Did he have any part to play in the creation of the killer virus and if so how? All we know is that Smith cannot be affected by the air borne virus.
I Am Legend is a great film, however, if you want to see Smith in a futuristic setting with a little less blood and gore I Robot is a decent alternative.