Dragon Isue 2

Edition 2: April 2017
The Dragon
Look inside for road safety tips, the latest from
Mr Wilson to leave Saint
George
By Isobel Reynolds
After many fantastic years at St. George our
head teacher – Mr. Wilson – has decided to
return to Bitterne Park. We gained an
exclusive interview with Mr. Wilson to ask
him his thoughts on leaving in the summer.
Although Mr. Wilson still has one term left
with us we were able to interview him
shortly after the news was released. He said
he had “mixed feelings” on leaving: happy
because he’s always wanted to return to
Bitterne Park but also very sad as he’s
grown to love St. George.
“There are a lot of lovely, hardworking
people in this community,” he said.
He hopes the future for St. George is that it
keeps improving and that a 6 th form will be
put in place.
We asked what Mr. Wilson would like to
achieve in his new school and he stated that
he doesn’t really know what the challenge is
yet. He starts his new job in September.
Mr Wilson added: “It’s a fresh, new building
so I want to make any improvements
needed to make sure outcomes for students
are the best they can be.”
He told us that he hasn’t applied for
any jobs in 10 years however he always
knew if there was a job offer at
Bitterne Park that he would return.
He hopes the new head teacher of
Saint George will continue to share
ASPIRE values and really build the
school around them.
Mr. Wilson said he would miss a lot of
things: students and staff the most;
having a chaplain, and singing in the
morning!
His message to everyone at St. George
is: “It’s been a privilege to be head
teacher of the school. I have enjoyed
nearly every day of it. I wish the new
head teacher all the best to carry on
improving the school and the students
to enjoy and support them. Different
doesn’t mean bad, different can be
good.”

A word from the team
Welcome to the second edition of The Dragon, the termly magazine written for St
George students, by St George students.
In this edition, you will find lots to read, including interviews with Father Andrew
Pinsent, who visited our school earlier this year, and Miss Lefeuvre, who tells us
about her views of Saint George, as well as how our rugby team beat the
Winchester competition!
We’d like to hear from you – please share your thoughts and ideas about what
you’d like to see in The Dragon in future ...
------------------------------------------------------------
Klueless Kevin
by Joel Shibu

Father Andrew Pinsent recently visited St George to talk to some of Year 10 and 11. Thank you very much Father
Andrew for giving your time to them and for our interview!
1) Could you tell us about what you do for your job?
I am a Catholic Priest for the diocese of Arundel and Brighton but I am also part of the Faculty of Theology
and Religion at Oxford University and a Research Director at the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion.
2) Do you encourage young people to attend university?
Yes, I encourage people but I don’t think that university is
meant for everyone.
3) Why did you choose to combine Science and Theology (the
study of the nature of God and religious belief)?
I combined them because Science looks at the world, how it
was made, through experiments and careful observations, but
Theology looks at who made the world and why.
4) What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
I enjoy visiting schools to talk to pupils and hearing intelligent questions!
5) What do you find most challenging about your job?
I find the basic tasks most challenging, such as administration at university!
Father Andrew Pinsent
6) What would someone need to do to follow in the footsteps of your career?
I think that everyone has their own path to take, everyone is unique, every human is God’s particular work of
perfection.
7) What are your goals for the future?
In the end, I want to die well with a good friendship with God, but as for the near future I want to continue
working on my publications such as a Confirmation course. I am also working on an explanation of Thomas
Aquinas’ Account of Virtues which will be linked to modern science and psychology and will include 10 new
paintings.
8) What advice would you give to a young person unsure of their beliefs?
I would advise them to step back and think about what life is for because we’re all here to know and love
God. They should learn prayers and talk and pray to God as much as possible to be closer to Him.
9) You have clearly accomplished a lot; how do you prioritise your interests?
I have to be able to balance research work and going to schools because I need to do both, but at the
moment I have a good balance.
10) What is your greatest achievement?
I think that my greatest achievements are mostly the results of the work of other people, co-operative work
is important. Also, understanding the Account of Virtues and what it means to flourish as human beings has
been one of my greatest achievements.
11) Finally, it’s been great talking to you today, how have you found your visit to St George?
Well, I have visited many schools- about 50 in five years, but I always get asked the best questions at St
George! Thank you very much to the students and teachers here for having me today!
Interview by Isabelle Mills and Julia Orawiec.

The road to traffic
safety
2,142. A staggering statistic. However sadly it is
the number of children in the UK killed every
year in road traffic accidents; that's around 5
children under 16 every day. This is not to
mention countless other children around the
world being killed or left with life changing
injures as a result. Road safety is a subject that is
constantly revisited and tragic accidents can
happen to anyone, even those close to us. So why
after so much information and advice and videos
warning us of what could happen if we misuse
the roads do these incidents still continue to
happen?
Main causes of road accidents
Outside schools and on roads in general, the
Road Safety Authority has said the leading causes
of most road fatalities are speeding, not wearing
seat belts and drink and drug driving. Often, the
reasons drivers speed is they are distracted by
things out and inside the car like mobile phones
or the radio and the speed increases when you are
not watching how you drive. Consequently, it is
harder to stop the car at a faster speed and you
are ten times more likely to kill someone at
40mph than 30mph. With seat belts, drivers
think that they don't need to wear a seatbelt on
short trips but this can prevent serious injury if
you are involved in a collision.
1

School children and road safety
Children are taught about being safe on the roads
from a very young age and generally they are
observant of the rules, but the most high risk
group for road accidents is secondary school ages
(11-16). This is because although children are
given necessary information about staying safe, it
can be difficult to remember to put it into
practice and be properly aware of the danger of
vehicles and their surroundings. A collision can
happen at any time to any child, whether it be a
pedestrian or cyclist.
There are many ways accidents can be prevented
on the way to and from school so you can be safe
and confident while out and about.
Advice for pedestrians-
• Make sure to always cross where you are visible to cars: don't run across but just
walk quickly and never cross in between cars, on bends or anywhere the whole
road is not visible
• Ensure you look both ways when crossing and listen for oncoming traffic
• Don't be distracted when walking by your phone or listen to loud music
Advice for cyclists-
• Make sure you are dressed so you can be seen in the dark (bright reflective
clothing)
• Always wear a helmet when you ride your bike to protect your head in case you
fall off
• Ensure your bike is properly safety checked and tyres are fully pumped, brakes are
sufficient etc
• Make sure you signal to drivers and other cyclists if you are going to make a turn
Stay safe on the roads!
By Emily Spencer-Hedges
2

Issy Interviews…
Ms Lefeuvre
Miss Lefeuvre is Assistant Headteacher and,
along with her many duties and
responsibilities, teaches History.
For how long have you been at St. George?
I have been here for 13 years.
What do you want to achieve in the next few years at St.George?
I hope the students continue to do well and I would like to see how the
students do with the new GCSE’s and new curriculum.
What has been your favorite year at St George?
Every year! Because every year we get to meet new students and see
their different views on the school.
How do you feel about Mr. Wilson leaving?
I’m really sorry that he’s going because I’ve learnt so much from him, but
credit to him that the school has continued to be so good.
If you could have any other job in the world what would it be and why?
I’d like to be an author or own my own tea shop.

What GCSEs did you take at school?
I did History, Geography, French, Food Tech, English, Maths and Science.
What do you enjoy most about St.George?
The family atmosphere, you get to know everyone and look out for each
other.
What do you think makes a good teacher?
Being approachable, patient, getting to know the students, taking a topic
and making it interesting for the students and having a sense of humour!
What was your favorite subject at school?
History, because it helped me understand things that happen today.
Enjoyed looking at things from other people’s perspective.
If you didn’t live in England where would you live?
New York, really exciting city or South of France because it’s very relaxing.
What is the best piece of advice you could give?
Treat people how you would like to be treated.
Interview by Isobel Reynolds

Lights….Camera….Oliver!
Review by Anthony Baillie-Powell
It is hailed the world over as one of
the best-loved family musicals of all
time. Lionel Bart’s award winning
masterpiece Oliver! blasted its way
onto the stage at St George Catholic
College, playing to audiences during
the week beginning 13 th February
2017, with plenty of Oom Pah Pah!
Based on the classic novel ‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles Dickens, Oliver!
is a heart warming, uplifting tale of an orphaned boy’s deliverance
from a life of poverty and iniquity. With its rousing, memorable
songs, extravagant sets and powerful acting to re-tell a classic tale,
the 1968 film adaptation earned itself five well-deserved Academy
Awards as a result – a great film with a feel-good factor.
However in its light-hearted, clean and tidy portrayal of life in
Victorian England, it overlooks Dickens’ point that in reality
depicted the many social ills at that time, predominantly the cruel
treatment of children.
Auditions at St George began back in the Autumn Term 2016, and
the search was on to fill the many characters’ roles and bring them
to life. The task at hand was to recreate Bart’s work of genius,
while remaining true to Dickens’ classic tale. With a cast of around
60 students assembled, rehearsals began in earnest and the
months that lay ahead, where lines were learned and dance steps
perfected, soon turned to weeks and then days, before long it was
time for the first live performance.
On the feast of St Valentine, 14 th February 2017, the
St George Performing Arts Department transported us back to the
harsh reality, the dirt and grime of Victorian England, could they
really pull this off and make it believable?
The scene was set… spotlights beamed, the music started, the
workhouse children took their places and everyone backstage held
their breath. The first melodic tones of ‘Food Glorious Food’ filtered
through the audience, face upon face lit up while the children sang,
which resulted in a huge sigh of relief – yes, it was going to be
great!

As the story unfolded, no one could fail to be immediately
captivated by a bold mix of divergent shades of grotesque comedy
and 19th-century melodrama; you could almost smell the pungent
smoke and soot of the streets. Here, the sugary sweetness of such
songs as ‘I’d Do Anything’ were contrasted with the vinegary
sharpness of ‘Boy for Sale’. This production deftly immersed us into
the gritty realisation of Dickens’ social interpretation that was both
significantly powerful and hard edged.
The uplifting songs and dances were still there and brilliantly
executed, which gave some respite to the dark undertones of the
production, where we witnessed the menace of Sikes, the
wretchedness of Nancy, the desperation of Oliver and the cheeky
smirk of the amoral street urchin, the Artful Dodger, not forgetting
the malevolence of Fagin.
To pick out individual performances from this ensemble would be
wrong, as everyone was strong and tremendously talented in their
role. It really was hard to believe that this was a school production,
as the acting, singing and choreography was so professional.
It was obvious that this was a real team effort from all those who
gave such unforgettable performances that did both Bart and
Dickens proud. There was real blood, sweat and tears in this
production, but it was worth every drop.
All that is left to be said is to give a huge thank you to all the
teachers, cast, musicians, technicians and in fact everyone involved
in making Oliver! the unforgettable, overwhelming success that it
was.
This really was a dynamic, energetic and stunning portrayal, and it
was truly wonderful to be a part of it.

Why study Creative Arts?
Many people think that learning and studying the creative
arts is a waste of time - is that really true? Are there
actually more opportunities than meets the eye? In this
issue we are going to take a closer look at art as a subject
and the many things art teaches us without us even
noticing.
We will talk about some of the misunderstandings students had about the creative arts.
Art is more than picking up a pencil and drawing a flower or picking up a paint brush and
splashing paint across a canvas; it's about creating eye-catching pieces that come
straight from the artist's soul. They could be so identical to an actual flower you would
believe that it’s a photograph or it could be creating an abstract image in which you
would get lost in trying to find the meaning since it is so diverse. Moreover art is
something that invokes a lot of passion from the artist and could lead to many hours
staring at a blank canvas for ours just waiting for that spark of inspiration to kick in.
However, there are many benefits to studying the arts, for example studying the arts
can help with: hand eye co-ordination, problem solving skills, focus, organization, time
management skills and critical thinking skills. Now you don’t need me to tell you that
these are very important (if not crucial skills) that could help a lot with other subjects
that cause you a lot of stress. Studies have also shown that art has helped develop
patience - this helps with situations outside of school.
On the other hand, many students who have studied art say that it's quite a tiring
subject that demands a lot of attention and has a lot of homework that comes along
with the subject. Art has also been seen as a 'soft' subject or an 'easy' subject to take
that has not got such attention from the colleges and universities unlike other subjects.
Furthermore, art has a lot of hidden expenses such as: specific art paper, expensive
paints, pencils, and sketch books. Additionally, art has a specific curriculum- that’s right,
you can't just draw what you want to. This is why many people who are artistically
talented don't tend to take art since many people don't like being old what to draw/
they only have one specific area in art where the feel comfortable.
So finally, after seeing the highs and lows of studying the creative arts – why not give it a
shot? If you like art and are interested in what artists believed in, how they functioned
and how they influenced modern art then art is something for you to consider taking.
It's always good to have a creative subject in your life because most of the time it will be
your stress reliever - and when exams come along, a stress reliver can be a blessing.
By Julia Orawiec.

Slick St George
Year 10 rugby
St George 29-7 Henry Beaufort
‘Are you ready to see some posh kids from Winchester be smashed?’ were the words of one
of the St George players before they started their final match of the season earlier this half
term. Despite already having won the league with a 100% record, St George came into this
match looking for the grand slam.
In the end, it was a well fought match that was won through moments of individual quality,
good passages of play, and a lack of conviction at the crucial moment.
St George started the match on the front foot, as they took the game to Henry Beaufort.
Winning a scrum early on gave Dynel Simeu the space and time to drive straight through
the heart of the opposition’s defence, which resulted in a try for St George inside the first
three minutes. However, Louis Alford failed to convert from a hard kicking position. 5-0 St
George.
After their good start, St George continued to press Henry Beaufort, getting the ball back
inside Henry Beaufort’s twenty-two. After some valiant defending, St George broke
through again, this time with a drive from Ash Chirima. Louis Alford made the kick, too. 12-
0, with only 10 minutes gone.
However, after St George’s second try, Henry Beaufort began to buck up their ideas, with a
spell of possession in the St George twenty- two. St George managed to hold on for a while,
until Henry Beaufort finally made their pressure count with a try and conversion with 7
minutes to go until halftime. For the remainder of the half, Henry Beaufort continued to
press, looking for another try. A couple of missed tackles gave them a chance at a second
try, but some disappointing knock-ons kept the score in favour of St George at halftime.
The second half started off very cagey, with both sides seeming unwilling to commit
themselves fully in attack. They both had small half chances, but nothing very exciting. St
George then started to press a bit more. Dan Bonavia picked up the ball inside his own half,
and through a mixture of determination and skill, dragged himself over the line to make a
great try. The subsequent kick was hard, though, so the score was 17-7.
St George continued to press, and this resulted in another try from Dynel, only two minutes
after the previous one. This time the kick was made, leaving the score at 24-7. Henry
Beaufort tried to come back with another try, but they were no match for the rampaging St
George who, after a good passage of play, killed the game from a try from Sam Tonks. The
final whistle blew soon after, leaving the score at St George 29-7 Henry Beaufort.
Report by Jon Insley

Report by Jon Insley

WILL’S HERE TO STAY
The Dragon joined regional and national sports
journalists at Hampshire Cricket’s Media Day ahead
of the new season. We spoke to Will Smith, who
gave an insight to his plans for the future, what got
him into cricket, and some of his greatest
moments.
Growing up in Luton, Bedfordshire, Will Smith
revealed that it was his brother more than anyone else
who inspired him to get into cricket. When his brother
wanted to start playing the sport at the age of 13, he
made sure the 7-year-old Will tagged along too. This
passion just grew and grew. Throughout his
childhood, he also enjoyed rugby as well, and it wasn’t until he broke his collar bone
three times that he realised it might not be for him. Soon after, he began to play
cricket as a professional.
After brief spells at Bedfordshire and Nottinghamshire, Will soon signed for
Durham. He stated that this was the most successful time of his career. After
winning a T20 championship and getting top of the T20 division one, he then went
on to captain Durham to another championship title. After a seven year spell at the
team, in which he was once named player of the year, he moved to Hampshire in
search of more glory.
“I’ll stay for as long as they want me!” Will said, as he sheltered from the rain in his
navy blue tracksuit. He added, ”I’m thirty-four now and I won’t go on forever, but I’m
enjoying myself here, so I’m in no definite hurry to leave.
“I’d like to win a championship with Hampshire before I leave. We have a good
squad, and we are very much capable of winning in the next three years.”
When he retires, he says he would like to go into coaching. “I already have various
qualifications,” he finished, “and it would be a good way of helping others to live the
dream.”
The Trojans Rugby first XV
recently won 47-20 against
Bognor. Keep an eye on them
as look to try and push to a top
three finish!
LOCAL SPORT
The Saints have a big task ahead
of them if they want to secure
European Football next season.
Some important fixtures coming
up include an away match vs
West Brom and a home fixture vs
Man City over the next couple of
weeks
The U15 Hampshire girls have
recently reached the ECB
national finals, so be sure to
check up on the result soon!