What’s up Welly? S E P T E M B E R
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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3
E D I T I O N
Welly Walk
Entertainment
Book Review
Read all about our exciting fundraising events
Riddles, jokes, you name it!
What makes the Harry Potter books worth a read?
Festivities Read all about the origins of Christmas
Teacher Feature Get to know Mr Ludvigson
And Much More!
OUR WELLINGTON VALUES: COURAGE
Written by Layla
Layla tells us about what courage, our Wellington value for this half term, means to her... Courage has been our value for this half term, and it can be expressed in any different ways, like facing your fear or standing up for someone. There are lots of differnet ways you can show courage, in both school and at home. We can view courage like an ingredient which can be used to make lots of different types of food. Showing courage can be doing something new, like starting a new school or making new friends. We have been thinking about why is it important to have courage. It gives us a chance to come out of our comfort zone and even learn more about ourselves. Anyone can show courage from any age, right through from nursery all the way to the top of the senior school! Here are some different ways in which you can be courageous: Face your fears Try a new sport or activity Read a different book to what you normally read Travel to somewhere different Standing up for someone or something when you see an injustice
Wellington Wellington Identity Values Kindness Courage Integrity Responsibility Respect 2
THE ORIGINS OF CHRISTMAS... Plus explains more...
Why do we hang tinsel on trees?
It is December again, the air is becoming cooler, and Bangkok is getting ready for the festive season. But where some of our Christmas traditions come from? Let’s get into it... Itsy, the little spider, lives in the attic of a large house in northern Germany. It is Christmas time, and the family living in the house are busy cleaning it. The mother doesn't leave a spot, as she cleans every crack and corner of the house. 'Swoosh,' comes the mother's broom, and sweeps away Itsy and her friends out into the garden. Itsy and her friends are disappointed that they will not be able to see the beautiful Christmas tree that the family is planning to keep in the house. They plan to meet Baby Jesus and put forward their wish. "Oh, Christ Child, why can't we have a glimpse of the magical Christmas Tree? We want to enjoy its beauty too." Hearing their plea, Baby Jesus is moved. As it is his birthday, baby Jesus feels it is right to share the joy with spiders. So, he invites the spiders to come and see the tree that night. The spiders step into the house later that night when the family is asleep. They are awestruck by the glorious, towering tree. In their excitement, they clamber up and down the tree. After checking the tree, they thank baby Jesus and leave. When Baby Jesus looks up at the tree, he sees that the cobwebs are running through the tree. He understands that seeing the tree filled with cobwebs will upset the mother. So he touches the webs, and in a flash, they turn into gold strings. And that, they say, is how the practice of hanging tinsel around the Christmas Tree came about!
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WELLY WALK!
Written by Phookhan, Sinahm, Hunter and Fame
On Thursday 12th October, the whole school took part in a sponsored walk, the Welly Walk. The purpose of the walk was to raise money for a school in Kanchanaburi to help them build a library. The atmosphere was incredible, there was a buzz in the air as the walk began and everyone was very excited to be there. Some participants threw themselves into the walk by running laps of the route, despite the serious heat!
Most participants managed to run or walk between 5-10 laps, which was helped by the water being handed out! We managed to speak to some people taking part to get their thoughts on the walk... Nate: “I am very tired but I have managed to run some laps. I can’t wait to keep going!” 9
Mighty: “I am very hot but I am having fun enjoying the Welly Walk.”
In spite of the scorching temperatures, there was a great buzz throughout the walk, music was playing and everyone was motivated to raise as much money as possible to help support the library in Kanchanaburi.
Thanks to the hard work of everyone who took part in the walk, we managed to raise an incredible 520,000 Baht, almost double the target we were aiming for to help renovate the library. We can’t wait to see the new library at Banpubon School!
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WELLINGTON RIDDLES! VIEW! Can you solve the riddles? Answers on the next page... What gets wetter the more it dries?
I can die but I am not alive...what am I?
The more you take from me, the greater I get...what am I?
What has many keys but cannot open a single lock?
By Kraam
WELLINGTON RIDDLES! VIEW! How many did you manage to solve? What gets wetter the more it dries? A towel!
I can die but I am not alive...what am I? A battery!
The more you take from me, the greater I get...what am I? A hole!
What has many keys but cannot open a single lock? A piano!
Reporters Hans and Bamboo interviewed Year 6 teacher, Mr Ludvigson, about his life and passions.
TEACHER FEATURE
MR LUDVIGSON
WRITTEN BY
BAMBOO AND HANS
What makes Bangkok a great city?
Story time!
Well, the best city in world, FOOD! Mango sticky rice. The food in Bangkok is unbelievable. Whatever you want you can have. If you like seafood and Thai food, Indian food or Mexican. If you like Japanese it is there too. The food is unbelievable. It’s got the best Ramen, I absolutely love it.
A few years ago, I bought a motorbike to get to school. I only I had it for one week and it broke down on the way back home and I thought to myself, ‘Oh no! I mean Bangkok is a massive, huge city! How am I get back home?’
Besides from food, the people are so friendly. If you went to places in the UK (I am from Edinburgh), you just do not get the same amount of smiles and the one of the best things about Bangkok is that it is just such a friendly and smiley place. In fact, I have got a very quick story about how kind and friendly the people are in Bangkok…
Somebody came up to me and I couldn’t understand Thai (I still can’t). Well, with actions he said to me to get on his motorbike. His friend who was on his motorbike got on my motorbike and they basically pushed my motorbike with his foot. I didn’t know what was going on. They took me all the way home. Long story short, at the end I thought wow this is such a friendly city. They didn’t need to do that. They pushed me and that was amazing.
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TEACHER FEATURE
What is the meaning of life? I think it changes depending on how old you are. When I was kid growing up for me was snowboarding. That was all I wanted to do. I was quite selfish. All I wanted to do was snowboarding and that was all for me. Now, I’m a bit older, my life has changed and stuff. Now that I have a family it changes your outlook and adds a new perspective. The meaning of life is family and friends and being kind to everyone and being happy.
WRITTEN BY
BAMBOO AND HANS
What are you famous for and why? I say that everyone has their own five seconds of fame, so I don’t particularly think I’m famous, but I have been on a front page of a snow boarding magazine before. I remember I was living in France at the time and I was quite close to the Swiss border, so my friend flew into Geneva airport which is the airport to get to the French and Swiss Alps and he was in a magazine shop and saw a magazine with a picture of me on the front cover. He came up to me and said, “Aaaah, you’re famous you’re famous you’re famous! I have just seen you on a front cover of a snowboard magazine!“ That’s probably the time when I felt like I was famous but famous in a very little way, I’m not really famous famous.
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BOOK REVIEW Bonnie tells us what she has enjoyed reading... Harry Potter - ‘the hit read’
Harry Potter is a popular read which is written by the best selling author, JK Rowling. This book is about a boy named Harry who grows up without knowing that he is a wizard. Not soon after finding out, Harry was sent to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts is a school which lets students open their mind to their powers. Two of Harry’s best friends include Ms. Hermione Jean Granger and Mr. Ron Bilius Weasley. This troublesome trio stir up all kinds of trouble but unfortunately for them, this trouble does not come alone. Not only does the trouble come with a hint of bravery, but it is also a lifesaver to most of the characters. If any of you readers want to try Harry Potter, you can always go to the library. We have multiple copies available in the library! Check out what we had to say about the book... ‘It allows me to escape my mundane life.’ Mr.Flegg ‘We don’t know whether the good or the evil win!’ Ms Ferguson ‘I like it because it reminds me of my childhood and the importance of friends.’ Miss Hancock ‘I like it because it inspires me to write portal stories.’ Ames
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SIDE-SPLITTING JOKES Why do reindeer like Mrs Claus so much? She sleighs.
Why is it always so cold around Christmas time? Because it is Decembrrrrr.
What did the ocean say to the beach? Nothing it just waved.
What is it called when a snowman has a tempertantrum? A meltdown.
Where does Sants stay when he goes on holiday? A ho-ho-ho-tel.
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BY
BAMBOO AND LAYLA
CREATIVE PAGE
CREATIVE CARTOON
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Wellington
WORDSEARCH
Christmas!
Christmas Santa Stocking
Snowflake Sleigh Ornament Tree
Rudolph Holiday Reindeer
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Wellington Newsroom
CONTRIBUTORS Bonny
Plus
Mochi
Theo
Hans
Wellington Newsroom
CONTRIBUTORS Bamboo
Layla
Phukhao
Theelyn
Geneve
Wellington Newsroom
CONTRIBUTORS Mani
Fame
Gaz
Sinahm
Kraam
Wellington Newsroom
CONTRIBUTORS Mighty
Dev
Mulan
Hunter
Jaoka