AUTUMN ISSUE 2019 HEAR ME OUT A Note from T SAJA - This Hear Me Out is about changing and growing. They say a change is as good as a rest, and some writers have proven that in this issue. Others The Head showcase the difficulty of moving forward, which is hsomething the Head Student Team are familiar with. We are bringing our time as a team to a close, and as rewarding as this year has been, it’s most certainly an Student Team… emotional term knowing it’s the last. One of the goals I e had this year was to bring the magazine to life. The exceptional work of the HMO team, and the feedback we’ve received, prove how successful the magazine has been. Hopefully this will only keep growing. After editing, reading, cutting and pasting this Autumn issue I’ve learnt that the only way to grow is to embrace change. The writers and artwork show how befriending the hardships, and not being afraid of the outcome, makes life more enjoyable. Thank you to C STELLA - The first term back to school has been a everyone who’s been with us, and helped as grow as team, from the journalists to the artists and the teachers. busy one for all, but productive nonetheless. The We’ve got bigger plans ahead, so we aren’t wrapping Head Girl Team have been working on many new up just yet. We are taking our climate change initiatives this term in order to complete the amovement further by meeting with MP Luke Pollard objectives we set at the start of this year. An this term. We would never have demanded this exciting opportunity we got involved with this attention if it wasn’t for the demonstration led by the term was in the organisation of the climate students. Be proud of the changes you’ve made, and demonstration at school. It was a great success r keep growing. and it showcased the true passion and awareness of the students. We are still working towards making our school more eco-friendly and will continue to do so in the last couple weeks before n Christmas. In addition to this, it has been a privilege I to work closely with the Student Council team this year. They have helped greatly in gathering the t students’ feedback on many of our new projects. I e’ TESS - Since the start of this new academic year we, want to thank all the students involved with the s PHSG, have already raised over £100 for our school Student Council and am excited to meet the new charities: Mind and Devon Wildlife Trust, which is team next year. As well as this, it has been a amazing. Our first charity event was the climate pleasure to work with the new head teacher and gS change movement on the 20th of September which we would like to thank him for all the support he h the head girl team organised at school. Devon Wildlife has given us throughout this term and the Trust kindly donated some leaflets and posters in order enthusiasm he brings to the school. Being part of a to raise awareness and understanding about what the the Head Girl Team has been an experience that I ik charity does and why their work is so important so at will never take for granted and am so thankful for e the event students were able to learn more about the all the opportunities this role has given me. I want charity and we also raised nearly £70. After this I to wish the best of luck to the new Head Girl Team s received a very kind email from the charity thanking us next year and to all the students and staff that ep for choosing them as one of our schools’ charities and work so hard to make Plymouth High so special. e also for all the money that was donated. In October we had a talent show which showcased the extraordinary has written a a talents of the students at Plymouth High. We had a r range of talents from opera to Irish dancing and I personal note to HARRIET - Over the last year, and particularly the last term, the would just like to say a massive well done to everyone the students at e students at Plymouth High have all shown huge support and who took part because they were all incredible. Its PHSG,initiative and in aboutpushing for a greener school. Our climate demonstration ’ takes a lot of courage to perform in front of an hisat time the beginnihere. ng of the year was not only a protest, but highlighted s audience. We raised an amazing £83 at the talent B the willingness of students to get involved and make a difference. show and this money will be split between Devon It is aThanks real to the hard work and support of the students, our own Wildlife Trust and Mind. As my time as deputy head girl school demonstration was recognised and supported by Luke T is running out, I would just like to say how much I have privilege to Pollard, our local MP, and raised awareness within the school of the w enjoyed my position in the head girl team and how contribute to this need for change to individual lives, and whole communities. In our omuch I’ve enjoyed working with Saja, Harriet and Stella. addition of Hear e last few months we are looking to build upon our existing Ecobrick I’m very sad that we only have a few months left but I Meproject, Out andsupport a the canteen's changes to reduce their harmful waste, l wish the new head students all the best and I hope chancesupport for the me Surfers to for Sewage group in their plans, and hopefully f they enjoy their time as much as I have enjoyed mine. I reveal one last surprise initiative to make our school more owould also like to thank the charity ambassadors for all share with you t environmentally friendly. This is a personal thank you from myself, and their hard work this past year- I have really loved what I have the rest of the team, to students who have been so involved and so h working with you all! And thank you to everyone who learnedsupportive about our of our plans and events - you've been amazing! has helped or taken part in the charity events! school since kN joining in i September. From g day one, all the h students I have For Life Not School, We Protest On Friday 20th September an Dr Hazel Gibson’s speech and so incredibly necessary as they estimated 4 million people from 152 was definitely a highlight of the are getting government and big countries stood united to demand event. Dr Gibson spoke about her companies to sit up and listen. But action be taken to address climate work as a researcher of public climate change is something we change due to global warming. The understanding of geothermal energy should be thinking about all the time. school community came together to at Plymouth University and how as Every time we go clothes shopping, show our support with inspirational well as discussing the issues every time we go to put a tin can in speeches from the head girl team, surrounding global warming and the bin, every time we go to buy a students and guest speaker Dr Hazel climate change, we need to focus on single use plastic bottle from a Gibson. There were also stalls to raise solutions; using the analogy “ if your vending machine, our impact on the environmental awareness, to make house is on fire, you don't need wider world should be at the plastic free pledges, support people telling you that it is. And our forefront of our minds. In the words The Devon Wildlife Trust, make eco house is on fire. What you need is of Greta Thunburg: "This is not a one- bricks and write to our local MP, Luke people to tell you how to fight the time thing, this is our entire future." Pollard. It was a really great event, fire.” with students from all year groups The stalls around the courts This is the speech Frankie made at and the staff making a commitment were really interesting and varied. the demonstration: to change and sustainability. The plastic pledge stall was really I sat next to a girl (about 7 or 8) on thought provoking, reading all the the bus home talking to her brother promises people have made and (about 5 or 6) about climate change. She said "We need to stop crying in reflecting on all the the corner! We need to stand up... small ways we can (but not right now because we are make a difference on on a bus and I don't want you to get a daily basis, from hurt)….and make a difference cutting out single-use because it's up to us, because this is plastics to becoming our life! We can recycle, and not more conscious waste water when we brush our about recycling. But I teeth, loads of stuff that's super easy! wonder how many We need to because no one else of those promises will!" Her five or six year old brother have already been then said, if climate change kills us, forgotten? Big rallies will we go to heaven? The girl and events like this thought about it for a minute and are brilliant, said I don't know, some people think so, and I do! Some people don't think anything happens but I think that's sad for them but we have to love them too.