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This term, a group of our outstanding Year 8 students took part in University College London’s Ocean Health Challenge 2024, a prestigious national engineering design competition for secondary school and college students aged 11-18.
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The Balkan and Eastern European Society hosted our first official charity fundraising event on Monday 25th November that brought together students and staff, raising over £130!
Our dedicated team members not only organised the event, but also got involved at home to prepare all of the homemade desserts and popular traditional dishes from our cultures. We want to thank everyone for their support - every purchase has a huge impact! It was amazing to see how well-received our efforts were, and the enthusiasm with which people were willing to try something new.
“The bake sale was genuinely excellent for discovering different traditions, because I’d never even heard of half of the things they were selling, but it was surprisingly good.”
Lou Annarumma
“I liked that there were lots of cakes that I wouldn’t normally have tried, but the honey cake I did have was very nice. There was a good selection of things to choose from.”
Mr Whittaker
“The B.E.E.S. events are definitely ones that inspire ACS. Their exponential growth having just started this year is commendable, and every society should take a note out of the BEES book”
Ify, ACS Co-President
“Being able to share traditional desserts from my Bulgarian culture was an amazing opportunity, and I’m so glad everyone enjoyed all the delicious food all the B.E.E.S. members supplied!”
Deya Dimitrova
As well as this, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved for providing an amazing representation of our diverse cultures and backgrounds, allowing us to offer a taste of the rich history and significance behind our recipes, particularly from Poland, Bulgaria and Romania.
We are currently working with Rubikus, a charity committed to providing aid to Ukraine in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the war. Their motivated team of volunteers directly helps to evacuate and situate refugees most affected by the conflict into newer, safer homes. The money we have raised has gone towards covering transportation costs and lodgings needed for an evacuation, offering a lifeline to someone who is suffering. Rubikus’ purpose and dedication is inspiring for us all, and we are honoured to be able to assist them in their mission. If you would like to read more about their cause, find their website here https://helpua.rubikus.de/en/#survey, and they are welcoming any donations through paypal - https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RX494MS6H29Q2
Every donation helps towards making a massive difference in the course of someone’s life.
For any questions about future events or getting involved, please feel free to email us at bees.bgs@gmail.com!
Victoria Karasimova, President and Founder (B.E.E.S.)
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It’s a common misconception that economics is boring and too complex for the average person to understand. I remember speaking to my particularly talkative hairdresser about studying economics, to which she replied “I could never study that” and “It’s all just a bit confusing really”. And while I don’t deny that economics can be challenging, I also believe that economics IS for everyone and that it can be applied to our daily lives much more than you might think.
Take choosing what to do on a Saturday afternoon, for example. You might decide to meet friends for lunch, but that means giving up the chance to watch your favourite TV show. In economics, this is called opportunity cost, which means that when you choose one thing, you’re giving up the next best alternative. Economists use this idea to analyse decisions on a much larger scale. For instance, when a government decides to spend more on healthcare, it might have to cut funding for education. Or when a government chooses to invest in improving roads, it might have to delay funding for expanding public transport. However, the same principle of opportunity cost applies on a small scale in our everyday decisions, even if we don’t realise it.
Imagine walking into a store and seeing a jacket marked down from £100 to £50. Suddenly, it feels like an incredible deal, even if you wouldn’t have considered buying it at £50 to begin with. This is anchoring bias, a concept from behavioural economics, which looks at how we fixate on the first piece of information we see—like the original price—and lets it shape how we judge value. Economists study anchoring to understand how it affects consumer behaviour, helping businesses set prices that feel more attractive. And we, as consumers, experience its effects every day, often without even noticing it.
Take eating chocolate, for example. The first piece might taste amazing, but by the fifth or sixth, the enjoyment starts to wear off. In economics, this is known as the diminishing marginal utility—the more of something we have, the less satisfaction we get from each additional unit. Economists use this concept to understand why people often prefer variety and why demand for a product may decrease as consumption increases. It also explains why companies introduce new flavours or limited-edition products to keep consumers interested. However, we experience diminishing marginal utility all the time, whether it’s scrolling through social media or playing your favourite game.
I hope you can see that economics isn’t just about numbers and theory: it’s something we experience every day. Whether it’s choosing what to watch or how governments spend billions, economics is constantly shaping our world in ways we don’t always notice.
If you're interested in learning more about economics, feel free to reach out to me or any economics teacher for further information.
James Orchard, Year 13
Our first and second netball teams played Gravesend Grammar Sixth Form on Wednesday. With a mix of Years 10-13 gracing the court, the teams had to adapt to lots of new combinations. The first team had a hard fought game, but managed to pull away in the last quarter, winning 26-20. Ayaka was voted as player of the match for her dynamic play and feeds into the shooters. Our second team managed to secure a 13-4 win and grew in confidence as the game progressed. Caitlin was voted as player of the match for her great work in attack.
A fantastic afternoon of netball! Well done all.
Ms Leffen & Ms Paige, PE Department
Year 7 played against Harris Falconwood in the North Kent Cup on Wednesday. It was a tough match, but I think the boys did their best against a good team. Harris worked well together and were a very good team. Although at times it seemed impossible, Bexley encouraged each other to keep their heads up and play to the whistle.
We caused many problems for the other team and Jayden scored a good goal in the second half after good team play, but unfortunately we couldn’t triumph over them as Harris was too strong. It was a great match and the boys will remember it as a brilliant display of skill and talent.
Neev Chaganti, Year 7
The Year 7 rugby team played really well after a slow start against Hurstmere. After conceding 4 early tries, the boys scored some nice tries themselves in a game that finished 30-15 to Hurstmere.
Lots of progress.
Mr Lines, Head of PE
Bon Om Touk is celebrated annually between early October and mid-November in Cambodia. This year, Bon Om Touk is taking place from the 14th to 16th November.
It marks the end of the Monsoon Season in Cambodia AND it celebrates the change in direction of the Tonlé Sap River. (It is the only river in the world that flows up and downstream seasonally and is viewed as a miracle).
To celebrate, there are: boat races with boats decorated to represent the Hindu and Buddhist gods of the Moon and River, lanterns honoring the full moon adorn the riverbanks, fireworks, traditional costumes and special food such as Ambok, a rice dish served with roasted banana and coconut.
Caitlin Gorman, Year 10
On Friday 8th November, I had the amazing opportunity to go to Ypres in Belgium, following on from what we have been learning about in history - The First World War. The journey to Belgium was an adventure in itself. It was very early, but spirits were high. We started with an hour-long coach journey to Dover to catch a ferry to Dunkirk. The ferry was a fun start to the day with a very yummy breakfast.
We travelled by coach to Ypres and explored many parts of the beautiful city. It was absolutely stunning, with its beautiful mediaeval architecture and rich history. The atmosphere was so vibrant yet peaceful and the local café and chocolate shops added to its charm. I was captivated by the Menin Gate, which holds such significant meaning as it is inscribed with the names of nearly 55,000 soldiers who did not return to their homes. It helps us to remember those who fought for their countries during the war. It was amazing to see what Ypres had to offer.
We also went to the 'In Flanders Museum', which was an unforgettable experience. The atmosphere brought the history of World War One to life. The museum was thoughtfully designed with its interactive exhibits. We wandered through displays filled with artefacts, letters and photographs that told the stories of soldiers and civilians impacted by the war. The emotional letters of family members writing to their sons, brothers and husbands made us feel a deep sense of respect and gratitude for those who lived through such challenging times. It was one of the highlights of the day.
Having spent some time in Ypres, another part of our visit was to Langemarck Cemetery, where over 44,000 German soldiers were buried. We were particularly struck by the mass grave where so many soldiers had been buried without being identified or individually commemorated.
After this we travelled to Tyne Cot cemetery, which is the largest site in the world commemorating Commonwealth soldiers. This cemetery was much larger than Langemark and all gravestones were the same regardless of rank - reminding us that everyone made the same sacrifice for the war.
Finally, we explored a section of restored trenches at Sanctuary Wood. Craters from shells that were all around gave us a surreal reminder of the experience of battle. The trenches were also very cramped, which demonstrated just how difficult the living conditions were.
Later, we returned home tired but with a much greater understanding of the realities of the First World War. Thank you to all the teachers who accompanied us and made our trip possible.
Victoria Lawani and Freya Savage, Year 9
The Balkan And Eastern European Society (B.E.E.S) is proud to announce our entrance into the BGS community!
We aim to raise awareness about our traditions, sharing our culture with the school community. It has been amazing to see how many students have interacted with our Balkan and Eastern European cultures, and learnt more about our countries! We are a team of dedicated Ambassadors, Creative Directors, including a Social Media Director, Finance Manager, President and Vice President, from a wide range of countries, such as Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Russia, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, etc.
I’d just like to say a big thank you to Victoria Karasimova for organising and forming the society and Ms Zotova for being our teacher representative!
As well as this, we aim to fundraise for many Balkan and Eastern European charities with our events. This includes our Bake Sale on the 25th of November. It will be a special opportunity to try our homemade Balkan and Eastern European desserts. We can’t wait to share this part of our culture with you. Make sure to look out for the posters and posts on our Social Media pages! @bees.bgs
On the 14th October, we hosted a traditional dance session and learnt Bulgarian and Albanian dances. It was so great to see many people taking part in this and stepping out of their comfort zones. It was such a fun experience and a successful first B.E.E.S event! See the pictures below of this event.
We hope to see you at the B.E.E.S Bake Sale, where all our proceeds are going to charity! For any further questions or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out at @bees.bgs on Instagram or email bees.bgs@gmail.com!
Deya Dimitrova, Social Media Manager (B.E.E.S)
Having the opportunity to attend Alexandra Quan’s talk about Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway was very inspiring. Since this course was something I had not previously heard of before, this was new information to me and was incredibly useful! We were enlightened about all the possible societies, trips (to Cyprus, Tenerife, etc.) and events associated with this university course, as well as university life in general. I have to say a massive thank you to Alexandra for her talk and all of her information today!! Especially since I am also doing Biology as one of my Higher Level subjects, seeing how Alexandra went to uni for this subject was something that definitely personally resonated with me.
Deya Dimitrova, Year 12
The Senior Science Society were blessed to have the privilege of hosting Alexandra Quan from Royal Holloway University of London. She gave us a deep insight into her course, Earth Sciences, and illustrated the university life we will be experiencing soon! Alexandra, being a former BGS student, deeply connected with us as she told us about her journey into Earth Sciences, starting with Biology in her first year. Alexandra also highlighted how important the practical laboratory work on her course is, emphasising how it complements theoretical knowledge and prepares students for future research opportunities in large companies, such as BP or even Thames Water. The talk was incredibly inspiring and gave us a preview of what’s to come if we followed her steps!
The entire Senior Science Society would like to thank her for taking the time out of her schedule to talk to us. Thank you, Alexandra!
Jesse Oshogwe, Year 12
Last week, BGS Year 12 Senior Society attended King’s College’s annual Daniell Lecture. These are delivered by internationally renowned scientists and cover a topic of current interest or excitement in memory of Professor Daniell.
First we heard from a PhD student who is exploring cutting edge nano medicine. I was particularly inspired by her masters project focussing on simultaneously diagnosing and treating diseases. We also heard from Professor Rebecca Goss, who was the first female professor of organic Chemistry at St Andrews in Scotland. It was amazing to see such an ambitious and successful woman in that position. She demonstrated to us how we can start building molecules sustainably, exploring areas of chemistry and biology.
The Senior Science Society is a group of aspiring scientists in Year 12 who all come and meet every week. It is such a great opportunity to collaborate and fully embrace our subject. We took the initiative and booked tickets for this lecture and all attended together. It is so nice to work with like-minded students and I look forward to our meetings every week.
Last week I had the opportunity to run a debate on the ethics behind stem cell research. I really enjoyed seeing everyone get stuck into the topic and discuss what science looks like outside the theory within our curriculum. I am really looking forward to seeing what else we will do within our society in the future…
Matilda Jackson, Year 12
The Christmas Truce which occurred during the First World War in 1914 was a unique event in the conflict in which British and German soldiers fighting against one another in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium laid down their guns on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with some of them exchanging gifts with one another singing carols and even in some instances playing football. Before December 1914, the war on the Western Front had been raging since August, although by the middle of September it had developed into “stalemate” along lines of trenches facing each other with “no man’s land” dividing them and the British and Germans suffering heavy casualties as a result of machine gun fire and the use of heavy artillery weapons. The view that the war would “all be over by Christmas”, which was a common belief on both sides during August and September and which had led to so many men following the call to join the armed forces made by their governments, had now disappeared.
By Christmas, the soldiers on both sides were exhausted and weary of the constant warfare, with many of them having signed up in the early months & being excited by the opportunity to serve their country but now wanting to return home to their families and leave the damp and cold trenches where there was constantly the threat of having to go “over the top” into no man’s land and face almost certain death from enemy fire. The truce was spontaneous, and it began with German soldiers beginning to decorate their trenches with simple Christmas trees and to light candles and sing carols, and there were even some reports that the Germans began to shout across no man’s land, wishing the English “Merry Christmas” in broken English, and although British troops were initially hesitant they eventually began to sing Christmas carols in response being swept along by the mood of the Germans and thinking of loved ones back at home.
On Christmas Eve itself, unbelievably, soldiers from both sides along sections of the front line began to get out of the trenches & cross into no man’s land, which was an incredibly brave course of action with enemy machine guns facing them, which could have opened fire at any moment but which, at this time, did not take place leading to more fraternisation between individuals on both sides. Once the soldiers were out in no-man’s land, they exchanged greetings with one another even though in many cases they could understand each other very well and there have been reports that they shook hands and shared some of their food rations and cigarettes with the British giving the Germans some Christmas pudding and the Germans offering cigars and schnapps. There were even instances of showing each other pictures of their wives and children which they kept with them, indicating that although they were from different countries they had a great deal in common which united them.
Possibly the most famous part of the Christmas Truce were the football matches that some soldiers played in no man’s land, with there being several of these taking place in different parts of the frontline, with many of these being spontaneous, informal and quiet short rather than being organised, but they were a reflection of the shared humanity between men from different countries who wanted to put to one side the horrors of war. One German soldier later recalled the events, stating “I remember the silence, the sudden quiet of the guns and the singing. The next day, we were out there walking and talking with the Germans and some of us played football in no man’s land. It was strange, really, to have a game of football with men who only the day before had been trying to kill us”.
It is important to remember, however, that the truce was not universal along the whole of the front line and there were still areas along the front where fighting continued with commanding officers on both sides concerned that the truce would undermine their authority and the morale of the soldiers fighting in the war, and they were quite anxious that it should be brought to an end as quickly as possible. The truce where it took place did not last for a long time and in most cases, within one or two days it came to an end with soldiers being forced back into their trenches and fighting on the front line resuming. It did, however, have a lasting impact and for those soldiers who were involved it proved to be a very emotional experience as it raised questions about the futility of war & what they were fighting for, which became stronger as time passed.
There would be no repeat of the Christmas Truce in 1915, 1916 and 1917 as commanding officers in both the British and German armies were more prepared for such occurrences in subsequent years, with soldiers being ordered not to fraternise with the enemy even on 25th December. By the end of the war, the events of 1914 seemed a very distant event, although to those soldiers involved it would never be forgotten. In spite of the Christmas Truce of 1914, which happened 110 years ago, this event, or rather, series of events, has created a lasting consciousness amongst many people, demonstrating the potential for kindness, understanding and hope even in the most difficult circumstances. Even though it was not sustained beyond one or two days and did not prevent the resumption of the conflict which would last for nearly another four years, it is still important that it is still remembered because of the values it represented at the time and which remain relevant to us today.
Mr Goodall, Head of History and Politics
This week, I presented “Real-Life Ethical Issues In Neurology” at Senior Science Society!
