When the U.S. Government Shuts Down: What It Means for People in the US and Around the World
By Annabel 28′ Every year, Congress, the U.S. governmentās lawmakers, must agree on a budget. This budget decides how much money is spent on everything from national parks to scientific research to paying federal employees. When lawmakers cannot agree by the deadline, the government does not have the permission to spend money. That is when a āgovernment shutdownāā¦
Step Into Londonās Museums: a Journey through the Cityās Heart
By James 28ā, Annabel 28ā, Isha 28ā, Finbar 28ā, Sara 28ā & Beatrix 28ā Summer is hereāand that means itās peak tourism season in London. And who can blame them? Even locals still pause to admire Big Ben or snap a photo by the Thames. But if youāre looking for a break from the crowds, Londonās quieter museumsā¦
News in Brief: Roof garden is on the way
By Elias 31ā As some of you ā or, well, a lot of you ā may know, there is going to be a roof garden coming to Halcyon. Rita Halbright, co-founder and board chair, told the Halcyon Happenings, “This expansion represents a pivotal moment in Halcyon’s evolution.ā Through contacting Mr Taylor I have learnt that they are expectingā¦
Youāve Seen La La Landā But Did You Really Watch It?
Annabel 28ā You Thought It Was Just a Love StoryāBut It Was Always a Mirror.Youāve Seen La La LandāBut Did You Really Watch It? You saw the twirls in traffic, the tap shoes on sunset streets, the stars dancing in an indigo sky. But blink, and you mightāve missed what was underneath: not just a romance, but a goodbye.ā¦
A true tragedy: review of Macbeth at the Lyric Hammersmith
By Izzy ā27 Macbeth is a well-known and well-loved tragedy written by William Shakespeare discussing themes of guilt, power, ambition and the supernatural. Macbeth has been shown all around the world from the first public performance at the globe in April of 1611, to the iconic five-star theatrical production of Macbeth from October to December of 2024 starringā¦
An audience with Mr Lippman
By Amelie ’27 and FĆ©lix ’25 Students of Halcyon played an active role in selecting and vetting our new director, but as in any case, curiosity about his leadership has only grown. To give a broader picture of Mr. Lippman, Halcyonite conducted a short interview with him, summarised in this article. Our reporters asked him questions ranging fromā¦
Empowering Futures: Women in STEM Assembly 2025
By Felix, ’25 On Monday, February 10th, students and faculty gathered for a powerful Women in STEM assembly, hosted by Dr. Lodhi, to celebrate and amplify the voices of women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Featuring inspiring guest speakers and student presentations, the event shed light on the challenges women face in STEM fields whileā¦
WELCOME TO HALCYON: A perspective on being new to the schoolĀ Ā
By Elias ā31 Starting over from being the oldest or smartest at your Primary School to then being the youngest group at Secondary can be hard. This article is about my experience of beginning Grade 6 at Halcyon. Residentials At the beginning of the school year, when I met my grade group on the orientation day, it feltā¦
How to Love ā and Write ā Poetry
By Annabel ā28 Poetry is a wonderful way to express yourself, explore your emotions, and connect with the world around you. Whether youāre new to writing or already a fan of reading poetry, this guide will show you how to dive deeper into this creative art form and make it a meaningful part of your life. Poetry canā¦
Exploring the Extended Essay: Halcyon Class of 2025ās Research Journeys
By Felix O, ’25 The Extended Essay (EE) is a crucial part of the IB Diploma Programme, allowing students to explore topics they are passionate about while developing valuable research skills. For the Class of 2025, this process was not only an academic challenge but an opportunity to deeply engage with subjects that matter to them personally. Below,ā¦
ReseƱa de El Club de los Poetas Muertos
Halcyonite is so excited to bring to you our first non-english publication, expanding our international mindedness and showcasing our language skills. We hope this will be the first of many.Ā El Club de Los Poetas Muertos es una pelĆcula en inglĆ©s, dirigida por Peter Weir,Ā que se estrenĆ³ en 1989 con una duraciĆ³n de 2 horas y 8ā¦
A Farewell to Mr. Mansfield: Celebrating and Looking Back at His Time at Halcyon
By Felix O. ā25 In the world of education, few leaders leave as indelible a mark as Mr. Mansfield has on Halcyon. His tenure, marked by a commitment to fostering a nurturing and human-centred environment, has seen the school through significant milestones and challenges. From guiding the first graduating class to navigating the complexities of global events likeā¦
A Captivating Theatrical Reimagining of Studio Ghibliās “Spirited Away”
Article and Photos By Felix, ā25 The live-action stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s animated film “Spirited Away” at the London Coliseum brings a fresh and immersive interpretation of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated classic. Under the direction of John Caird, this production runs from April to July, allowing audiences the opportunity to experience the enchanting tale of Chihiro’s journey inā¦
Take the Leap and Wing it; Why flying is cool
By Ezra, ā25 and Tom ā25 This is a picture of a Cessna 172, commonly known as the āSkyhawkā, refuelling before a flight with a member of the Halcyon Community (and one of this articleās writers!). The Skyhawk may seem like a complicated and terrifying machine built to be flown by only the most experienced of airmen, butā¦
I Hate Movie Reviewers, a Review of Kung Fu Panda 4
By Ezra, ’25 Universal Pictureās long-awaited fourth installment in the Kung Fu Panda journey was released on the 28th of March this year, to a panda-monium of bad reviews (ha ha). The movie, directed by Mike Mitchell, follows the panda Po, voiced by Jack Black, as he sets off to find and defeat the Chameleon, an evil sorceressā¦
April 1 Marks First Outing of New Halcyon Website
Walter 30āā and Teo 30āā A couple of tech savvy students, new to our community have chosen to spend their free time designing a website for a good cause. From this website you can see accurate lunch/ snack menus, special upcoming events and substitute teachers for all lessons. The final part we added is a new revamped lunchā¦
Decoding the Psychology Behind Academic Procrastination: Strategies for Academic Success
By Felix, ā25 In the world of academia, procrastination often lurks as a silent adversary, thwarting students’ efforts and hindering their academic progress. The allure of distraction and the tendency to postpone school assignments can lead to increased stress and compromised performance. However, understanding the psychological dynamics behind procrastination and employing effective strategies can empower students to overcomeā¦
Reusable Water Bottles: An Environmental Solution Turned Problematic
By Felix O, 25ā In an era where environmental consciousness is at the forefront of global concerns, the rise of reusable water bottles was hailed as a pivotal step towards reducing single-use plastic waste. However, what began as a noble endeavour has now morphed into a concerning trend, with the proliferation of these bottles posing new environmental challenges.ā¦
Celebrating Notable Women: A Tribute on International Women’s Day
By Felix, 25′ As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s essential to recognize and honour the incredible contributions of women throughout history. In this special edition, some teachers at our school have chosen a notable woman who has left an indelible mark on society. Let’s delve into their choices: Ms. Mitchell – Angela Davis Angela Davis embodies classā¦
Halcyonās music show was āJust like a Dreamā
By Imogen, 26ā Halcyonās annual music show was a brilliant success to mark the beginning of February and the end of a happy term. Soloists and ensemble members grades 6-12 experienced the rewarding thrill of performing for an audience so full it overflowed. After the performance, the Stern hall buzzed with the pride of family, friends, classmates, andā¦
“Lessons in Chemistry”: A Seamless Journey from Page to Screen
By Felix, 25′ Bonnie Garmus’s “Lessons in Chemistry” has flawlessly transitioned from the captivating pages of her highly acclaimed book to the visual medium of a celebrated show, available for free on AppleTV. Having discovered the book as one of my favourites last year, I eagerly anticipated how the narrative would be brought to life on screen. Itsā¦
International Night
By Walter & Teo ā30 On Thursday the 30th of November at 18:00, we hosted our annual school wide event: International Night. It was a large collection of dishes and foods from around the world that were brought in by the Halcyon community. Where but Halcyone can you find Eton mess, hard candies from China, and Doritos loadedā¦
Halcyonās Inaugural IDU Days are a Success
By Ezra ā25 With Reporting and Editing from Tom ā25 On the 18th and 19th of January, Halcyon hosted its first ever IDU days. Each MYP grade took the two days off their regular schedule to travel London with their peers and practice interdisciplinary learning through a first hand experience that connected with their topics. Grade 6 exploredā¦
The Inner Workings of Halcyonās Sporting Successes; a Closer Look into Halcyonās Football Season
By Tom, ’25 As Halcyon begins its Winter Season of sports, we look back to the successes of the Autumn Season that has just passed – particularly in Halcyonās football season, where some exciting moments of teamwork, learning, and shared success took place. We also look into how it was made possible by a number of dedicated peopleā¦
A Magical Escape: Winter Wonderland, Explored and Rated
Article by Felix O, ’25 Photo By Maddie Skatulla-Emberson As Winter winds are beginning to wrap London in a chilly embrace, many of you will be looking forward to embarking on a festive journey to the much-anticipated Winter Wonderland. Nestled in the heart of the city, this seasonal spectacle promised a magical experience for all ages. My family,ā¦
Halcyon Mini-Marathon
By Walter F, ā30 In mid-October, Grades 6-9 took part in the mini marathon, which is 2 laps around a part of the Serpentine (2 km per lap). The purpose was to improve fitness, and raise money for charity. Now, the results are in… And here they are: 1st place 2nd place 3rd place Most Ā£ raised Gradeā¦
Socratic Seminars: When Dialogue Becomes Dominance
Ezra ’25 With the reintroduction of Socratic Seminars into my English class I am once again reminded of my single least favorite experience in my school day, Socratic Seminars, where silence is golden, but speaking without substance is far preferred, because sometimes you just want to talk for the sake of talking. In an attempt to maintain openā¦
What is in Stock for the Upcoming COP28?
Sasha, 24′ As December approaches, the Global Sustainability Community eagerly anticipates the UN Climate Change Conference ā UNFCCC COP28, set to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12, 2023. COP events have been pivotal in shaping international climate action, and this 28th edition is expected to be a landmark gathering. According toā¦
Introducing Our 10th Grade Student Council: Leading the Way in 2023-2024
By Felix O, ā25 As we embark on the 2023-2024 school year, We here at Halcyonite are here to provide a quick introduction to the team of young leaders who will serve as our Student Council. These individuals will hold their respective roles until the next election in September 2024. Meet the Council: President: Sufia C Sufia willā¦
Pumpkin carving ideas
By Walter, ’30 Halloween is almost upon us so below Iāve ranked pumpkin carving ideas from 1 (least scary) to 10 (make-the-trick-or- treaters-wet-their-costumes scary). 1/10 A basic Halloween pumpkin with a crooked smile and triangle eyes. 2/10 A cute pumpkin carving idea with googly š and tiny paper hands 5/10 6/10 The zigzagging mouth on this pumpkin matchesā¦
The Science of Eating
By Sasha ’24 Does food really contribute to your happiness? The short answer is yes. It may be hard to believe, but food is incredibly powerful not just for your physical health, but also your mental health. Over recent years, nutritional psychiatry has emerged as a much more researched field. It highlights the potential influence the food weā¦
The 2023 Halcyon Design Fair
By Sara ā28, Dan ā29, and Ayden ā29 The Design Fair was a delightful and very important event for the Grade 9 Halcyon Design students who were selling their products to students and teachers on Wednesday, May 24. This was the perfect event for the students to show their baking, cooking and selling skills, depending on what theyā¦
Study Tips and Organisation for the DP
By Sasha ’24 Welcome to the second part of this three-part series. With exams coming up, not all of us feel on top of our workload, and very understandably, the IB expects a lot of us. This article will focus on organisation and study tips. It will zoom in on the specifics of study methods that will helpā¦
āShe could be a farmer in those clothesā
The Fashion Behind Clueless By Ela ’24 Our school doesnāt have a uniform. Some people spend a lot of time on their outfits and some donāt, and we might not really think about how much our outfits can say about us. Everyone knows the movie Clueless that came out in 1995, but few people actually know the storyā¦
Behind the Willow Project
By Josh ’25 At the Halcyonite, we promote student voice and encourage students to hone their persuasive writing skills. What follows is Joshās opinion piece arguing against further drilling in Alaska. The Willow Project (Willow Master Development Plan) is a proposed oil and gas development project in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) that is being pursuedā¦
AIR Review
A 2-hour Glorified Nike Advertisement That is Unexpectedly Entertaining Nonetheless By Liam ā24 (Image source: IMDb) I will spare you the frequent basketball puns surrounding reviews of this movie, but I can say that AIR took an idea with legs, put some shoes on them, and ājust did itā with finesse.Ā Despite its name, AIR was a solidā¦
ChatGPT: The Future of Education?
By Calder ’28 (Image source: generated by craiyon.com) ChatGPT is a computer program made by OpenAI that can talk and write like a real person. It’s really smart because it was trained on a lot of stuff that’s on the internet. It’s not just good at making up stories or answering questions, it can also do other computerā¦
Halcyon Hosts Successful MUN Conference
By Sara ā28, Dan ā29, and Ayden ā29 From March 23rd to 24th, Halcyon hosted a Model United Nations (MUN) conference for more than 100 students from five different schools. Students dressed in suits and ties and stern Hall was decked in flags from many different nations. Sunlight streamed in as students researched, bringing optimism to the people whoā¦
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead Review
A shocking and unconventional adaptation of Olga Tokarczukās eponymous novel Image Source: (Barbican Theatre) By Liam ’24 āThe best conversations are with yourself.ā This is a quote from Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, said by the protagonist of the play, that well describes the winding script and flow of this new play, currently showing ā¦
The Willow Project: What it is, and why you should care
By Felix ’25 In the lead up to Earth day this Saturday, itās important for us to be aware of the impacts on our climate, and the events that are happening right now to affect it, both positively and negatively. ConocoPhillips, a US-based energy company, has recently announced its Willow project, which involves drilling for oil in Alaska’sā¦
Science shorts: Does Better Gut Health Link to Better Mental Health?
By Sasha ’24 New scientific research has revealed the ubiquitous and significant effect of gut microbiome health on a person’s mental wellbeing. This relationship was given a title of the āgut brain axisā, referring to the bidirectional communication between the brain and gut. ā[The] communication occurs through neural, inflammatory, and hormonal signalling pathways.ā said by Dr. Ghannoum inā¦
Indoor air pollution: Our hidden exposure to toxic gases
By Defne ’23 With many initiatives to improve the air quality of London, air quality in the city centre has been increasing. However, we need to keep in mind that this applies to the outdoors, which are regulated. The quality of our indoor air is not monitored as heavily, so we may actually be inhaling more pollutants thanā¦
Movies set in 2023
By Felix O ’25 These movies showcase a variety of different genres and styles, from action-packed sci-fi to thought-provoking thrillers, and offer a glimpse into what filmmakers and writers imagined the future to look like in 2023. It’s worth noting that while these movies may be set in 2023, they were made several years earlier and the futureā¦
Opinion: Capital Punishment: Justice or Just Corrupt?Ā
Capital punishment is legalised murder. And those in power choose exactly who they want to target. By Samara ’25 Capital punishment in the USA is not by any definition new. Just from the start of 2023, 7 executions have taken place, with 3 more scheduled before February ends. The last execution was just two days ago, 8 February,ā¦
Glass Onion Review
By Liam ’24 (Image Source: IMDb) Peeling back the layers of Netflixās highly anticipated Knives Out sequel 2022 was a year with intriguing trends in film. Among these was the revival of the classic murder mystery genre, with films such as See How They Run and Bodies Bodies Bodies hitting theaters throughout the year. To conclude this yearā¦
Women in Science You Should Know About
By Defne ’23 On Saturday, 11 February, we will be celebrating the 8th International Day for Women and Girls in Science. In light of this occasion, we have asked women in science from the Halcyon community to share inspirational women in STEM they think you should know about! So, hereās our listā¦ Amelia (Grade 12): āAda Lovelace andā¦
Dyer’s Othello is Dire
By Ezra ’25 āFarewell the tranquil mindā. This quote from Shakespeare’s Othello nicely sums up my experience of watching Clint Dyer’s reimagining of the play at The National Theatre. I recall that the most captivating part throughout the play was the number of phone screens I saw coming from similarly bored fellow audience members. And I can’t blameā¦
Halcyon Celebrates Chinese New Year
By Ash ’25 Chinese New Year started last Sunday, January 22, and students at Halcyon were prepared to celebrate. In fact, Angie ā24ās CAS project has been centred around a community-wide celebration. On Monday, January 23, Angie carefully curated a lunch in collaboration with the catering team, and Grade 10 Mandarin students presented to mentor groups to educateā¦
Dietary Modifications Have Been Linked to Reducing Symptoms of Cancer-Related Fatigue
By Sasha ’24 Recent research has shown nutrition can be used to regulate and treat cancer and even prevent it. Following a cancer diagnosis, nutrition can play a role in supplementing treatment. Cancer has many side effects, but a very prevalent side effect is cancer related fatigue (CRF). According to Macmillan Cancer Support, 9 out of 10 peopleā¦
Swearingā¦ Does the surrounding Stigma Belong?
By Ezra ’25 The act of swearing is generally a taboo, something seen as childish, and uneducated. But research, science, and general human sense would argue the opposite. To begin, I would like to highlight what exactly I classify as a swear word for this article; at no point will I at all be referring to execrations thatā¦
Why we shouldnāt wear Bucket Hats
By Ella ’25 Over the past few years, bucket hats have been very popular with Asos reporting in 2019, that their sales of bucket hats have risen by a massive 343% ( Moore, 2019). In 2022, they can still be found in many of the largest clothing shops, like Zara, Urban Outfitters, Mango, and others. Since bucket hatsā¦
Poetic Responses to “Who Am I?”
Who am I by Annabel I really don’t know who I am I guess no one does Life’s big question is āwho am I?ā I ask myself this again and again, again and again, again and again, again and I still don’t know my answer. I have lost myself so deep in my ocean, my once cheerful youngā¦
The Menu Review
(Image: IMDb) A tasteful yet experimental satire of āhaute-cuisine.ā By Liam ’24 I decided to see The Menu on a whim, and a very lucky whim it was. I was unsure of what I was expectingāa blind taste test, if you willāand I believe you should, too. The filmāwhich follows a couple who go to an island forā¦
Are AI Paintings Considered Art?
By Calder ’28 As we descend into this new age of AI technology, some new controversial questions arise. In this article, we will be reporting on these interesting questions, and how to proceed in the future. So what is āDALL-Eā and AI Art in general? Artificial Intelligence (AI) art is a complicated subject, but it can be boiledā¦
Dealing with Perfectionism in School
By Sasha ’24 Welcome to this three-part series of articles that will discuss topics as diverse as, how to keep organised, the best study tips, how to practise mindfulness, and how to battle perfectionism. The articles feature wise words from teachers in the Halcyon community and are aimed to empower you in your school and personal life andā¦
The Student Council shares their Hopes, Thoughts, and Plans for the Future
By Felix and Ezra, with additional reporting from Ash On September 30th, the student body gathered to vote for their next Student Council. After a round of speeches, members were chosen. We were able to secure interviews with 4 of the 5 members and their advisor, Ms Stoneman. The following explores their thoughts and plans for the upcomingā¦
Help with Hormones: How Joining Sports Can Make You Happier
By Sasha Grade 11 The endocrine system. A complex network composed of hormones, organs and glands, it is responsible for producing all your body’s hormones that contribute to controlling and regulating biological processes such as metabolism and growth in the body. It can also have an effect on up to 50 moods that a human experiences. Hormones areā¦
Rosalind Franklin and the Structure of DNA
By Defne The story of how Rosalind Franklinās work on DNA was used by Watson and Crick to make the first DNA model and how she was unrepresented for her work has become widely known. But what is the full story behind this? āRosy Franklinā as presented by James Watson In his 1968 book, The Double Helix, Jamesā¦
Halcyon Studentsā Favorite Halloween Movies
By Liam With Halloween around the corner, itās time to have fun and subject ourselves to 90 minutes of psychological torture! Or, for those who prefer, a fun but not-too-scary film to get yourself in the spirit. After sending out a form to people in the school, we at Halcyonite have compiled a list of our schoolās favoriteā¦
Fashion Activism
What is fashion activism? Art has long been used as a medium for societal change. One of the ways in which art is used as a political statement, is fashion. Fashion activism has a long history dating back to before even the suffragette movement. However, a recognizable utilisation of fashion was by the suffragettes. They often wore white,ā¦
A guide to all cafes around halcyon
Leela Y (Halcyon Class of ā23) weighs in on the best cafes around Halcyon London International School. Starbucks, Edgware Road The āStarbucksā on Edgware Road is my first culprit on this list. The impact it has had on Halcyon student culture has been and continues to be paramount. Without fail, every year, sixth and seventh graders flock toā¦
Art: Who Cares?
By Yuki ’23, Halcyonite Editor The price of a piece of art ranges from single digits worth of the local currency to hundreds of millions of dollars. So what gives art its value? One might say that the value of a piece of work depends on the time and labour put into making it. But this doesn’t workā¦
A Brief History Of The Tube
By Leela Y ’23, Halcyonite Editor The first tube line was opened in 1863, and it was the metropolitan railway. Its purpose was to connect the main line railway termini and the city. It opened in stages with the first stage opening between Paddington and Farringdon, soon after extending to moorgate in the square mile. A second companyā¦
The Lost Daughter film review
By Liddie ’23, Halcyonite Editor in Chief Maggie Gyllenhaal’s stunning directorial debut explores the real life implications of gender roles subtly. Confined to the location of one island, Maggie successfully portrays different timelines with clear distinction. Each character is carefully established in great detail. With a caring and passionate tone, this story follows Leda observing a young familyā¦
Licorice Pizza Film Review
By Liddie ’23, Halcyonite Editor in Chief Alana Haimās dazzling acting debut in āLicorice Pizzaā is one of a kind. Her talent for expressing complex emotions in an understated, authentic manner makes you long for more screen time from her. Both Este Haim and Danielle Haim star in the movie as well as the parents of the threeā¦
Nevada desert, Michael Heizer
In the hot Nevada desert, Michael Heizer vowed to build āa succession of enormous abstract sculpturesā(ĆlĆ©a Baucheron and Routex). 5 decades in and this project is nowhere near completion. This ambitious undertaking commenced in 1970 when Heizer started looking for building sites. In 1972, he started work on the āCityā. This project consists of five stages; however, moneyā¦
The Nineteen Eighty-Four book review
By Amelia ’23, Halcyonite Editor As the world changes and evolves, older works and ideas tend to lose importance. There are some exceptions to this, such as the Nineteen Eighty-Four. A novel written by George Orwell in the 1940s seems to be more relevant with each day. Words originating from the novel, such as Big Brother or thoughtcrime,ā¦
The Biological Emergence of Art
By Defne ’23 Have you ever thought about what the meaning of the word āartā is? We find it hard to define, yet are able to identify art when we see it. Many philosophers have defined it as a product of humans made with the set intention of aesthetic appeal. When we look at the origins of art,ā¦
Interview with Kelly Foster
By Liddie ’23, Halcyonite Editor in Chief Kelly Foster was interviewed by a member of the Halcyonite team. Kelly is a theatre and philosophy teacher at Halcyon International School. Enjoy! Do you consider yourself an artist? āYes, because I get most of my pleasure and most of my inspiration (I hate that too) from doing things I considerā¦
Want to read more about Visual Art? Browse through our recommendations!
By Liddie S ’23, Halcyonite Editor in Chief āThe Museum of Mysteriesā An easy to read and interesting book filled with short, snappy introductions to some of the most fascinating mysteries surrounding art. āWomen in the Picture Women, Art and the Power of Lookingā Keen to unlearn some internalised misogyny? Then this is the book for you. Everā¦
THE ROCK SACRIFICED?!
Dwayne Johnson killed in a disturbing cult to end world hungerā¦ By Fiona ’26 CW: FAKE NEWS On December 5th 2021, Dwayne Johnson, otherwise known as āThe Rockā, was sacrificed in a disturbing satanic cult ritual by members of the Children of God. After the sacrifice, the Rockās body was placed in a crypto chamber time capsule forā¦
F1
By Elias ’25 As you might have noticed, throughout the season, there were many controversial decisions made between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton which have now had a major effect on the World cup. This will explain and evaluate these decisions, in addition to a short comparison between RedBull and Mercedes winning the championship with two races toā¦
SA Fundraiser
By Eliah For Service as Action this year, my group and I were tasked with a small student led fundraiser for the Evaās fund and St. Johnās hospice. As students, it can be difficult to raise money within a school environment for these kinds of organizations, but the group and I still wanted to do something for St.ā¦
Cryptocurrencies – good or bad?
Elias ’25 I will discuss the positive and negative sites in investing in Crypto currencies. First, what is actually a cryptocurrency and where does it come from? The Origin of the word crypto is greek ākruptosā and can be translated into āhiddenā or/and āsecretā. Crypto was first established in 2009. It was invented by a Chinese group underā¦
How economically dependent are countries on each other?
By Tabby America, despite making up only 5% of the world’s population, currently generates about 20% of the world’s total income. This makes America the world’s largest national economy and makes it the worldās leading global trader. This is important as American prosperity has heavily depended on creating world markets and expanding trade to allow America to haveā¦
The Windrush Generation and The Deportation Scheme
By Tabby The windrush generation is most commonly known as the generation of people who immigrated from the Caribbean to the UK between 1948 and 1971 to help fill jobs due to Britain’s post-war shortage. This number reached nearly 500,000. Encompassing men, women and children who, since the Caribbean was considered part of the Commonwealth, never had toā¦
Student Council Update
The student council this year consists of grade 9 and 10 students. For the first time in years our student council president is a woman and she has been working hard behind the scenes for the past couple of months: so far we have been meeting with the HPC (halcyon parents committee), Mr Taylor to talk about theā¦
DP Advice Corner – 1st edition
For the first year ever, Halcyonite has created a DP Advice Corner! This is a space for MYP students to ask for advice from DP students about school life.
Ranking tube lines by vibe
By Leela ’23 The first tube line was opened in 1863, and it was the metropolitan railway. Its purpose was to connect the main line railway termini and the city. It opened in stages with the first stage opening between Paddington and Farringdon, soon after extending to moorgate in the square mile. A second company was formed. Theā¦
My Experience Doing The Grade 6 Passion Project
By Dylan ’28 I will admit before I came to Halcyon I had no idea what a passion project was! But now that I do, I can say that I love it. I was basically just told to find something I was passionate about and then instead of just writing down one word, to make that word intoā¦
Why Do People Need Psychologists?
By Maria G ’24 It was 3 years ago, I came home from school. Not a soul at home, so empty, dark and restless, rather hard. Outside the window it was drizzling with light rain, yellow leaves were falling from trees, it was damp everywhere, all people were immersed in their phones, unable to even smile. There wasā¦
COP26 and Mock COP26 at Halcyon
By Amelia ’23, Halcyonite editor What is COP26? COP26 was held from 31st of October until 12th of November in Glasgow. COP stands for āConference for the Partiesā, a climate conference organised by the United Nations. This year it was the 26th annual summit. The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in 2015, which pledged to keep theā¦
You Thought Your Diet Was Bad? Wait Until You Read About These Bacteria.
By Zephyr ’23 Radiation is the emission of energy in the form of waves or particles. Ionising radiation (also known as radioactivity), which strips electrons from atoms and molecules it passes through, can be a major health hazard. When this penetrates living tissue, it is able to damage genes and therefore cause cancer, as the cells lose theirā¦
4 Fun Things To Do On A Typical Friday Afternoon
By Anonymous ’25 We have found four cool places to hang out with friends after school on a Friday, and on the weekends! These places are located in Marylebone, which is very accessible from school, and in Shoreditch which is accessible by train. We will be recommending cinemas, and temporary exhibitions. EVERYMAN CINEMA Everyman cinema is located inā¦
Why We Shouldnt Separate Boys and Girls for Sex Education
By Ishani Y. Grade 10 I have been to 10 different schools, and I only had sex education in one of them, where the ending was disastrous . It did not feel like a safe and welcoming environment, especially if you wanted to ask questions, and the teachers did not seem to care, and made it more awkwardā¦
8 Novels to Read This Winter Break
Anonymous Grade 11 Desperate to limit time wasted watching tiktoks this break? Want to read this coming holiday season but unsure what to read? I got you. āIāll give you the sunā by Jandy Nelson A loving ode to growing, grief and greatness. This novel explores the relationship between two siblings in a relatable and insightful way. Art andā¦
The Importance of Music in Personal Development š¶
by: Cosmo V. (Grade 11)Photo Source: LāEcole Internationale Franco-Anglaise (EIFA) Music has always been a part of my life. I am surrounded by musicians and artists in my family, and grew up with instruments placed in my hands, from the guitar to the recorder. It has always served as a source of comfort and inspiration, but also oneā¦
Life Hacks āļøā
by: Anonymous Want to download a YouTube video?Just add āssā to the URL between āwww.ā and āYouTube.ā If you mess up recording a voicemail, press ā#ā to re-record it. Out of āAAā batteries? You can simply use an āAAAā battery and fill the gap on the positive side with a small ball of tinfoil. Storing batteries in theā¦
Saudade
by: Theo O. (Grade 11) Painting: Saudade (1899) by Almeida JĆŗnior Saudade is a word that is exclusive to the Portuguese language. No other culture, no matter how similar to us Lusophones, is able to enjoy the existence of such a term. Not the Hispanophones, not the Francophones, not the Sinophones, and, of course, not the Anglophones. Becauseā¦
Your English Teachers’ Book Recommendations š
by: Lola D.M. (Grade 11) Not sure what to read next? Looking for some good book recommendations? The Halcyonite has got your back! Who better to ask for book recommendations than our literature-loving English teachers? We emailed Halcyon’s English department for book recommendations, and below are the suggestions made by Ms. Sandra Stoneman, Ms. Farah Ahmed, and Ms.ā¦
8 Scientific Study Tips š
by: Lola D.M. (Grade 11) Not sure how to study for your next exam? Reading and re-reading your notes not working? Here are eight scientifically proven study tips to help you out! Tip #1: Study sessions are most effective in small, short chunks. Instead of cramming in a ten hour study session the day before an exam, itāsā¦
Two Vignettes by Samara M. āļø
by: Samara M. (Grade 8) Vignette 1: Alisson worked at the record store a few blocks up from Canfield Street. She would idly stroll to work on the weekends, bearing a brown leather slouch bag that overflowed with old records, stray bits of food, and a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. She sauntered into the store, staringā¦
Top 10 Movie-Musicals – chosen by YOU! š„
by: Lola D.M. (Grade 11) According to Britannica, a movie musical is defined as, “[a] motion picture consisting of a plot integrating musical numbers.” The first musical film, which also introduced the Sound Era of motion pictures, was The Jazz Singer (1927), starring Al Johnson. Since then, musicals have significantly evolved. From Busby Berkeley’s imaginative productions in theā¦
The Real Cause of the Great Recession (and a Future Lesson to Prevent Another Financial Crisis) šø
by: Alex G. (Grade 11) The main cause behind the 2008 Great Recession was that banks loaned out subprime mortgages. Typically, banks want to loan mortgages out to people with good credit, as this means that they are more likely to pay back the loan. Subprime loans are riskier loans that are given to people with bad credit.ā¦
“March Is Nice, She Says” by Hannah L. š¦
“March Is Nice, She Says” by Hannah L. (Grade 8) March is nice, she says Itās a month for sights, she says Deciduous trees shedding their leaves The soothing rain dripping down the windowsill – March is for triumph, she says Studs scraping the humid grass Far, far away from the dirt, she says Accolades in gold, silver,ā¦
Top 10 Marvel Films – chosen by YOU!
by: Lola D.M. (Grade 11) The Marvel superheroes – who doesnāt love āem? Founded by Martin Goodman in 1939, Marvel has come a long way, having created more than 37,000 comic books. And, of course, we must at least mention comic book titan Stan Lee, who created some of the most memorable characters (for a full list, seeā¦
Everyday Practical Tips āļøā
by: Anonymous LAUNDRY: Keep the laundry basket smelling fresh! Sprinkle baking powder into the bottom of the dirty washing basket to absorb any odours. To wash very heavily soiled clothed, pour in a can of original Coca Cola with the washing powder/liquid. The combination of sugar and syrup works on the grease. If you run out of fabricā¦
Nature vs. Nurture š±š§¬
by: Zephyr K. (Grade 10) One of the oldest and most fiercely contested scientific questions is the āNature vs. Nurtureā debate, which spans the fields of both psychology and biology. It discusses whether human behaviour is more heavily determined by external influences during a personās life, or a predestined framework set out by genes. The term was firstā¦
Tik Tok, Tik Tok
I am not yet sure whether the periods when we lock ourselves away from the world are more like TikTok videos or some recent Woody Allen film. By Theo O. (Grade 11) I will say, contrary to many peers and colleagues, TikTok and I were not a match. The newest internet fever that took the web – andā¦
The Science of Love š§Ŗā¤ļø
by: Lola D.M. (Grade 11) Falling in love can hit you hard… almost like a brick wall in the face. But have you ever wondered if there is a āchemistry formulaā for love? If thereās an x and y variable that yield this complex, dreamlike feeling? For centuries, people have thought that love (and, mind you, most other emotions) arose from theā¦
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