Get to know the 2024 House Masters team! 

1.    What are your plans for your House this year?
Increase house spirit and enthusiasm and increase participation specially for older year groups across the 3 houses. Have more sport house events.

2.    In your opinion what does your House has to do to win the overall competition?
We have to beat Tudor (Windsor and Stuart). We have to keep it up (tudor). All houses: Resilience and house spirit.

3.    In your opinion what does your House has to do improve as a House?
Improve participation across all year groups, have more structured competitions and enhance house spirit amongst all.

4.    What are results that you are expecting?
Next year I expect us to strive for excellence and win! Go Sharks!
We expect to keep winning and enhance house spirit Go Tudors!
We expect to improve participation earning more points and beat the other 2 houses . Go Dragons!

5.    What will you do to encourage House spirit?
We will listen to pupils so we can make competitions that are more fun and engaging and encourage pupils to participate and even lead. House prefects and house captains will be more involved in the competitions to enhance house spirit.

6.    What do you and your House Captains plan to do next year?
We want to create a healthy competitive environment where students can embrace challenges and support one another. Improve participation, spread  fun and score points.Provide more well-structured events that will provide opportunities for students to earn House points.

What are your main goals for this year?
To get more people excited about the houses at St. Pauls, and to hold more house-oriented activities and assemblies!
 
Are there any ideas of possible competitions that you would like to implement in the school?
A monthly pop-culture quiz, encompassing both film and music, would be a great competition to implement in the school. It would be of interest to many people.
 What do you love most about being part of this team?
Working with my peers is something truly enjoyable: we’re all focused on similar goals for the school, and I’ve learned loads from my peers. They’re highly efficient and I’m proud to be able to contribute to the team.

What will you do to encourage House spirit amongst all year groups?
To encourage House spirit among all year groups, I will focus on inclusivity and active participation. Here are some specific strategies:
Organize House Events - Plan and execute a variety of events such as sports days and other competitions that appeal to different interests.
House Assemblies - Hold house meetings to celebrate achievements, discuss upcoming events, etc.
School platform - Use school platforms to share updates, highlight student achievements, and promote house events.

What are your main goals for this year?
My main goals for this year as a House Prefect are:
1. Strengthen the bonds between students across different year groups through collaborative activities and events.
2. Encourage more students to get involved in house events and competitions, ensuring everyone feels included.
3. Lead by example and promote a culture of respect, kindness, and integrity within the house.
4. Regularly recognize and celebrate the achievements of house members in various fields, boosting morale and motivation.

Are there any ideas of possible competitions that you would like to implement in the school?
Apart from the current ongoing competitions (wordle, MFL, etc.), the house prefects are also currently developing a new monthly competition, which includes exiting categories such as movies, flags, etc. More is to come in the following weeks.

What do you love most about being part of this team?
What I love most about being part of the House Prefect team is the sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. Working together with like-minded individuals who are equally passionate about making a positive difference in our school is incredibly rewarding. I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate, share ideas, and support each other in our efforts to enhance the house spirit and student experience. Being part of this team allows me to develop leadership skills, make meaningful connections, and contribute to a legacy of excellence and unity within Tudor House.

By: H. Janér and G. Ball

A historical moment is pasted in Brazil's sporting legacy. Volleyball is a sport, worked with threads of passion, skill, and unyielding determination. As the sun sets over Copacabana beach, the fans cheering echoes around the beach, the Brazilian national volleyball team immerges on a journey through time.  
For decades, Brazil's volleyball capacity has been unique, both on the indoor court and the sun-kissed beaches where the beach volleyball teams thrive. During the spirited rallies and thunderous spikes, there lies a treasure collection of memories that encapsulate the history of Brazilian volleyball. 
One cannot look into the Brazilian volleyball tradition without thinking about the legendary figures who adorned the yellow and green jersey with pride and honor. Names like Giba, Bernardinho, and Sheilla vibrate not just within Brazil but across the globe, symbolizing excellence, and teamwork.  
The journey began with the Olympic Games, where Brazil's volleyball team reached its highest point. From the golden success in Athens and Beijing to the unforgettable moments in Rio de Janeiro, the Olympics serve as a ground where dreams are realized, and legacies are cemented in eternity. 
Beyond the awards and trophies, Brazilian volleyball is a celebration of passion and joy, evident in every serve, dig, and spike. Whether it's the deafening roar of the Maracanãzinho stadium or the intimate gatherings on the sandy shores, volleyball is more than just a sport--it's a way of life, engraved in the Brazilian identity. 
Brazil's volleyball teams dominated the courts, with both the men's and women's teams securing medals. 
Beyond the medals, Brazil's participation in the Rio Olympics symbolized more than just athletic achievement. It showcased the country's ability to host a global event, highlighting its rich culture, vibrant spirit, and unwavering hospitality. As the Games ended, Brazil emerged not only as a medal-winning nation but also as a beacon of inspiration, proving that with dedication and unity, anything is possible on the grandest stage of all. ​

Farewell Tours are a tradition for elite athletes, in which they celebrate their last season in the sport’s league and solidify their legacy. They provide an immense emotional impact on not only the athletes and the teams, but also on the fans. It allows them to express their admiration and appreciation and to say a proper goodbye to beloved icons. The significance of this event is beautiful, bringing opposing teams together to simply celebrate one athlete’s career filled with excellence and example for one last time. Therefore, this article aims to explore some of the most memorable farewell tours, the planning involved, the emotional highs and lows, and most importantly, the legacy left behind by each one.  

Firstly, it is important to recognize the significance of Farewell Tours and how they allow fans to show admiration and gratitude for the athlete’s contributions in the world of sports. As an athlete’s career progresses, it is natural that an emotional connection between them and their supporters will develop. The sense of pride and accomplishment that the athlete feels when succeeding is extended to their fans, that in turn play a pivotal role in motivating and encouraging an athlete to greater levels of performance. This exchange of inspiration creates a win-win situation for both parts involved, nurturing a sense of purpose and community within the sport. Therefore, for the most part, Farewell Tours have the intention of celebrating an athlete’s career and reliving their greatest moments for the last time, as if athletes and supporters are one.  

One of the most memorable and unique Farewell Tours in history was Kobe Bryant’s. In 2016, after 20 seasons, 5 championships and a memorable career, Kobe was saying his final goodbye to the world of professional basketball. It included a wide range of tributes and homages. Kobe even fittingly finished his last game, as he scored 60 points on 50 field goal attempts and brought the Lakers back from a fourth-quarter deficit. And then finally, his iconic address to the Staples Center crowd, in which he referred to himself in the third person, “Mamba out and literally dropped the mic. This amazing tour signified a celebration for Kobe, not only as an athlete but also as a person, in which fans from all around the world could watch his excellence one last time.  

Obviously, this type of event requires extensive planning and coordination. The athlete’s team works closely with the athlete to ensure their preferences and wishes are honoured throughout the tour. Then, the marketing department’s job is to promote the tour through social media, press releases and even special merchandise to celebrate the athlete’s career. They also need to organize any awards or ceremonies, as well as sort out how to document the farewell for historical purposes. Even opposing players may be involved, showing respect and sportsmanship to the retiring athlete. They may share their admiration as well as personal stories or memories, highlighting their colleague’s contribution to the sport. 

Furthermore, we can observe how this journey carries many emotional highs and lows. Athletes feel an extraordinary amount of gratitude for the ongoing support and are offered an opportunity to reflect on their past achievements. However, these positive feelings may be intertwined with some regret, as if almost already missing their time in the sport. For fans, this sense of loss of a great talent is also present, but normally the feeling of appreciation is the one that conquers people’s hearts. 
 
Clearly, Farewell Tours are an important part in cementing an athlete’s legacy and in drawing attention to their lasting impact in the sport and in the world as an example of determination, effort and leadership. Kobe Bryant himself in his final speech said “Thank you guys for all the years of support. Thank you guys for all the motivation. Thank you for all the inspiration…This has been absolutely beautiful, I can’t believe it has come to an end. You will always be in my heart”. Evidently, this is a great example of the beauty of athletes-supporters dynamics and how one impacts the other in the best way possible.  

However, it is also important to recognize some criticisms of Farewell Tours. Firstly, there is an extraordinary amount of pressure added to the retiring athlete, possibly providing a distraction from team focus. There is also the conversation about how to make this tradition fairer, as not all athletes are recognized enough to have a Farewell Tour. This can create a feeling that the athlete didn’t do enough, didn't work hard enough, throughout his career to deserve a celebration of their excellence, which is obviously not fair or true, as all athletes deserve to have their effort celebrated, even if just for being part of a professional sports team.  
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But in the bigger picture, Farewell Tours are incredibly important to recognize contributions, gather fan engagement, provide emotional closure for the athlete and for the fans, as well as to build tradition and inspire current and future players. Despite any challenges, the emotional and celebratory aspects are pivotal to building a healthier sports community worldwide and to warm the hearts of all sports fans. ​

Sport. "An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment."- Oxford dictionary. However, it can be considered so much more than that. Something that brings people and countries together as one, a source of enthusiasm and motivation, or even the origin of reminiscing memories. In this article you will be taken on a journey through time, remembering all those remarkable events that molded and altered a variety of different sports to what they are now.  

1. April 15th, 1947- Jackie Robinson, a major baseball superstar, not only overcame his own mental barriers but also smashed color segregation in baseball. Robinson became the first African American to ever play in a major baseball league, and ever since year after year his remarkable accomplishments and values are celebrated by the baseball community. 

2. October 30th, 1974- rumble in the jungle, in other words the heavyweight boxing match between champion George Foremen and prominent Muhamad Ali. Ali became the second man ever to reclaim the heavyweight title, and the aftermath of this led to his growing and now so famous name in America and all over the world.  

3.1984- 16-year-old Mary Lou Retton, American gymnast sensation was the first ever women to receive a perfect 10 across, floor and vault. The summer Olympics hosted in Los Angeles thus marked the beginning of her ascending profession and prospering gymnastic legacy.  

4.1998- Michael Jordan’s last ever shot wearing a red and black jersey, Chicago bulls. With an astonishing ending, Jordan clinched the 1998 NBA title, acquiring Chicago's third straight and sixth championship in eight seasons. His basket stopped the clock with only 5.2 seconds remaining, an impactful ending to both the game and his career with the bulls.  

5.1999- Serena Williams, the renowned tennis player, who currently has 23 grand slams resting on her own palms, effort and sweat. On the afternoon of September 11th, the young 17-year-old girl grasped her first ever title, winning the U.S open final, acquiring both her grand entrance to the ever-growing tennis realms, but also becoming the first black women to win a major tennis championship since 1958. A victory that she herself credits as the jumpstart to her bewildering career.  
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I sincerely hope these astonishing events caused an awe-inspiring feel to you readers and let them serve as a reminder of how breaking boundaries might seem impossible, but they are in everyone's grasp. In addition, I expect that these events show how sport isn't all about physique but about so much more; and when someone asks you what the simple 5 lettered word "sport" means, your answer won't solemnly be the oxford dictionary definition.... ​