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"What were their parents thinking?!" Teacher releases list of hilarious student names

In a world where coming up with a standard name seems about as trendy as using a landline phone, parents are unleashing their inner creativity by bestowing upon their offspring names that sound like they were created during a fever dream. We are clearly smack bang in the middle of the era of "Name your child after a random object you find in the pantry" – and teachers are the unsung heroes bravely navigating the choppy waters of these monikers. Specifically, how to spell (and pronounce) them properly. Now, let's not pretend this phenomenon is fresh off the naming press. Celebrities have been gifting their kids with names that could pass as WiFi passwords for donks. It was just a matter of time before the masses caught onto the fad like a catchy tune you can't unhear. But spare a thought for those noble educators who are more baffled than a cat watching a magic trick when confronted with these labels during roll call. Enter one valiant and anonymous teacher, armed with a class register that reads like a cryptic crossword puzzle. She unveiled her list of quirky names on the modern-day town square, aka Facebook, explaining that she merely gave the enrolment list a "blink and you'll miss it" glance. Because let's face it, no one has time to decode this kindergarten code on a Tuesday morning. So, brace yourself, because the highlights of this peculiar parade include names like Jaxen (apparently the 'x' gives it that extra pizzazz) and Aliyah, which sounds like a harmonious collision of Aladdin and Elijah. But the true gems are still to come. Hold onto your hats, for there's a Syakyra in the house! It's pronounced like "Shakira", because why make life easy when you can transform spelling into an extreme sport? Also on the roster of eccentricities are Rhydah, Presillar, Christisarah (which sounds like someone sneezed while naming their child), Anjewel'Lea (because apostrophes are the new vowels), and Biar Biar – quite possibly the sound of someone giving up mid-naming. The list goes on, unveiling Deklyn, Alarna (Is this a name or an exotic spice?), Aaryah (a name that looks like a typo in progress), Maz (likely short for Mazel Tov), Angel-Lee (a tribute to both celestial beings and two first names), and Karleb (a rebel in the world of traditional spelling). Social media users eagerly devoured this buffet of bewildering baby names, chiming in with their own comedic relief. One humorist quipped that some parents should enrol themselves in school, presumably for a crash course in 'Name Your Kid Without Making Them the Butt of Jokes.' Another jester added, "This really is tragic, at least none of them will get bullied because they're all so bad lol." A self-proclaimed comedian jibed, "These parents really aren't thinking it through." Yet amid the chuckles and facepalms, some thought the names were about as wild as a cup of herbal tea. One wise soul pointed out that among the chaos were rather mundane names like Diamond, Aliyah, Jaylene, Porsha, and Aalijah. Apparently, normality is now measured against the Syakyras of the world. Meanwhile, teachers everywhere collectively sighed in sympathy as they remembered their own quirky classroom encounters. One recounted an encounter with a "J'ley" (pronounced like Jaylee), a name that's the linguistic equivalent of a Rubik's Cube. A pupil named Pistol also made an appearance – because what kid doesn't want a name that guarantees zero playground conflicts? And lest we forget, a friend's teacher had the honour of teaching A'Blessyn. It's like the alphabet gipped, and the resulting letters spelled "Bless this child with an unforgettable name." However, the chaos isn't limited to the classroom. It's infiltrated even the most intimate corners of existence. Enter Reddit, where an expectant British dad took to the digital confessional to seek advice on his partner's fantastical name choices for their impending bundle of joy. The British bloke confessed that he'd prefer his offspring not be mistaken for an experimental rocket launch or a motor oil brand. He's opting for classic dignity, imagining a world where his kid doesn't have to explain why their name sounds like a weather forecast for Mercury. Meanwhile, the partner, a visionary in the field of avant-garde nomenclature, has pitched names like Fennix (for the spelling-challenged phoenix), Park (because nature reserves are inspiring, apparently), and Diesel (coming soon to a gas station near you). And so, as teachers practice their tongue-twister warm-ups and parents wage a war of wits over naming rights, we bid adieu to a world where names like John and Sarah were once considered bold. The age of the bewildering baby name is upon us, and the only certainty is that there's a whole generation of kids out there ready to conquer the world with names that defy both pronunciation and reason. Image: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

“A lesson learned”: Uni student lands herself in an overdue book nightmare

A university graduate student received the shock of her academic career when an email arrived in her inbox to inform her she owed her school’s library a whopping $11,900 in overdue book fines. Hannah took to TikTok to share her story, posting a snippet of the horror email, and the news that her library account had amassed a debt of “$11,9000 owed for 119 lost books”. The books had been declared lost, though Hannah was quick to note that she was “still using” each of them, and had every intention of returning them once she was finished with her studies. To drive home the fact that the books were not missing, and instead safely in her scholarly possession, Hannah panned around the various piles of tomes stacked around her home, with a caption reading “the books aren’t lost, I’m just hoarding them until I finish my dissertation.” The email itself explained the books were marked as lost in the library’s system if they exceeded 30 days overdue, and that there was a flat rate of $100 per book in such instances. And according to the library, it was up to each patron to renew their books, and that Hannah “received overdue notices on the following dates prompting you to renew your library books before they are declared lost.” As she explained to The Daily Dot, she had checked out her collection three years prior while she’d been preparing for exams, and confirmed that she had received four reminders to either renew or return the books, but she’d put it off each time. “Then I got the automatic email,” she added, “saying all of the books were marked as lost and my account was charged $100 per book.” Hannah’s woe drew a mixed response from her audience, with some surprised that her library had even let her withdraw that many books in the first place, others unable to wrap their heads around the fact she could have let her situation get so bad, and many quick to defend the librarian, who they declared had only been doing her job. “My library only lets me check out 5 books at a time,” one wrote. “That’s why keeping library books past their due date is considered stealing,” another said, to which Hannah responded to promise her lesson had been learned. “Only 30 days over due??? Damn give a lil more time,” said one, with Hannah informing them that she’d had the books for years by that point. It wasn’t all bad for the budding scholar though, with Hannah explaining in another comment that “it was hunky dory”, as the library had waived her fees as soon as she’d responded to them, and that she’d been allowed to keep all 119 for an additional year. And, as she told another follower, “I’ve never replied to an email faster.” Images: TikTok

Books

Disturbing new details emerge in death of head teacher, husband and daughter

Warning: This article contains distressing content that some readers may find confronting. A headmistress at a private school in the UK made a distress call to a family member just hours before she was found dead, a report has claimed. School principal Emma Pattison, the head teacher of private school Epsom College in Surrey, England, was <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/news/news/headmistress-husband-and-daughter-found-dead-on-school-grounds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found dead</a> alongside her 39-year-old husband, George, and seven-year-old daughter Lettie on the school grounds earlier this week. As an investigation into their deaths has commenced, the BBC has reported that Emma made a frantic phone call to a relative with concerns about her partner. By the time the worried relative arrived at the house, which is surrounded by other properties occupied by college staff and is close to the prestigious school’s rifle range, all three were dead. Police have yet to disclose the official cause of their deaths, but are confident no one else was involved in the "isolated" incident. Detectives confirmed a firearm registered to George, of which he had a license for, was found at the scene and they are treating the tragedy as a double murder and suicide. Detectives suspect George killed his wife Emma, 45, and little Lettie before taking his own life. Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, senior investigating officer on the case, said, “This is an incredibly traumatic incident and we are working around the clock to investigate and understand the exact circumstances which led to this point." “We understand the public concern and upset, and we will clarify what we can, when we can, while respecting the right to a level of privacy for the families of those who have lost their lives." The community is reeling from the tragedy, as devastated neighbours who knew the "lovely" family shared how "heartbroken" they are. One person said, “It is just shocking and unimaginable.” Chloe Rathbone, a nursery worker who looked after Lettie, told The Times, “I am utterly so heartbroken over this awful news." “They were such a lovely family and Lettie was perfect in every way, everything you could have wished for in a little girl.” <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Don't go it alone. Please reach out for help. <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Headspace: 1800 650 890 or headspace.org.au Image credits: Getty Images / <em style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">epsomcollege.org.uk

News

Headmistress, husband and daughter found dead on school grounds

School principal Emma Pattison, the head teacher of private school Epsom College in Surrey, UK, has been found dead alongside her 39-year-old husband, George, and seven-year-old daughter Lettie on the school grounds. At just 45 years of age, Mrs Pattison was a very recent addition to the school, having joined the award-winning school in September 2022. While an investigation is underway, Surrey police have released a statement saying that they believe this to be an isolated incident with no third-party involvement. Epsom College has also released a statement following the discovery. “It is with the deepest sadness and regret that we have to announce the news of the deaths of Emma Pattison, Head of Epsom College, her daughter Lettie, and her husband George,” the statement reads. “Our thoughts, condolences and sympathies are with their families at this tragic time. The College is working with the Police in what remains an ongoing investigation. “We must now focus on the welfare and wellbeing of our pupils and staff, and work to ensure that they receive all the comfort, warmth and support required from the Epsom College community. “We ask that the public and the media respect the privacy of Emma’s family, and help us to prioritise the needs of our pupils. The news is heartbreaking and we need time and space to come together and process this loss. No further statement will be issued at this time.” Dr Alastair Wells, chair of the board of governors at Epsom College, said, “On behalf of everyone at Epsom College, I want to convey our utter shock and disbelief at this tragic news. “Our immediate thoughts and condolences are with Emma’s family, friends and loved ones, and to the many pupils and colleagues whose lives she enriched throughout her distinguished career. “Emma was a wonderful teacher, but most of all she was a delightful person. In time we will commemorate Emma and her family, in the appropriate way, and in line with the wishes of her family. “But for now, we ask that we are all given the time, space and respect we need to come to terms with this tragic loss." Pattison’s husband, George, was a chartered accountant who was director of a management consultancy firm called Tanglewood 2016, according to Companies House. Surrey Police’s Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey also said: “I want to give my assurance that we will conduct a thorough investigation into what took place last night and hope to be able to bring some peace in these traumatic circumstances.” Inspector Jon Vale, Epsom and Ewell’s borough commander, also said: “We’re aware that this tragic incident will have caused concern and upset in the local community. “While this is believed to be an isolated incident, in the coming days, our local officers will remain in the area to offer reassurance to students, parents, teachers, and the local community. I would like to thank the school and the community for their understanding and patience while the investigation continues.” Don't go it alone. Please reach out for help. Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au Headspace: 1800 650 890 or headspace.org.au Image: epsomcollege.org.uk

News

Misdiagnosed student learns she has incurable cancer

A young woman who suffered from severe pains was told it was due to her excessive drinking – when actually she had an incurable form of cancer. Georgia Ford would occasionally cough up blood, lose her breath easily and struggle to walk or exercise – but was told it was because of how much alcohol she drank. The 20-year-old was given stomach-lining tablets but over time her condition worsened - this time with weight loss and back pain. “Originally the GP said the sickness was acid reflux from the amount that I was drinking because I was a student,” Georgia told Kennedy News. However, when the law student came back from holiday she limited her drinking. But the pains persisted. She kept going back and forth with her doctor, who told Georgia that the pains she was feeling were all in her head due to anxiety. “They basically said that this was all in my head and I wasn’t ill at all. I said ‘I fail to believe that I’m having this many severe symptoms and it’s all in my head’. For almost a year-and-a-half Georgia searched for answers as to why she was feeling the way she was. It was only in November 2021, after Georgia booked a private appointment, that she was diagnosed with papillary renal cell carcinoma – a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer. “I was just so shocked. Just any hope I had of it maybe being something else, it was just the most sinking feeling to be told basically the worst-case scenario and I was just so disappointed in everything,” she said. “Honestly it’s not been the same since that; that one moment has literally changed my life.” Doctors explained to the young student that the cancer had started off in her kidneys and spread to her lungs, liver, lymph nodes and bones. And it was then they told the aspiring lawyer that her condition was incurable, forcing her to accept that this is her life now. “It’s just like this overwhelming sadness that just fills you at the time,” she explained. Since the shocking diagnosis, Georgia has begun immunotherapy, which involves taking medication every day and having an intravenous drip every two weeks. She is always required to take portable oxygen tanks when she goes out, and when it’s time to sleep she requires an oxygen pipe to help her breathe. Doctors say this treatment will help Georgia’s cancer shrink to the point of having a “normal life” as much as possible. A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/fightagainstprcc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page has been set up to help Georgia with her treatments. Images: 7News/GoFundMe

Body

Why you do NOT ask your students what they think of you

“I told them they couldn’t say ‘nothing’ and they delivered.” Those were the words from a Year 3 teacher who has revealed online that she asked her students what they would change about her – and the results were nothing short of savage. TikTok user Alex Jean shared the results in an hilarious video in which many of the kids went straight after her looks. <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@grade3withms.e/video/7079120207637335342" data-video-id="7079120207637335342"> <section><a title="@grade3withms.e" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@grade3withms.e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@grade3withms.e</a> Thank you @missnormansmiddles for this idea that humbled me very quickly 😅😅 <a title="teacher" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teacher" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teacher</a> <a title="teacherlife" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teacherlife" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teacherlife</a> <a title="teachers" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teachers</a> <a title="teachertiktok" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachertiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teachertiktok</a> <a title="teachertok" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teachertok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teachertok</a> <a title="teacheroftiktok" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/teacheroftiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#teacheroftiktok</a> <a title="students" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/students" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#students</a> <a title="whatwouldyou" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/whatwouldyou" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#whatwouldyou</a> <a title="♬ Originalton - AnnenMayKantereit" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Originalton-7076464112204614406" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ Originalton - AnnenMayKantereit</a></section> </blockquote> First up, one of the kids told her “one eyebrow is skinny and the other is fat” and another said she “tucks all her shirts in.” A third child also slammed her appearance and said “you smile a lot and it looks like your eyes are closed”. Another found her mannerisms annoying and said she “blinks too much”. One child took issue with her teaching style, and said “you make us do a lot of work”. However, one of the children was sweet with their answer, saying the only thing they’d change is that she won’t be their teacher next year. Many people found the video adorable, with one viewer commenting: “the eyebrows one made me laugh. children are so funny”. Another joked: “I’d be there consciously trying to blink less.” Images: TikTok

Beauty & Style

Gun pulled during fight outside New Zealand school

A brawl between students at a high school turned vicious when one of them pulled a gun and pointed it at another girl’s head. Horrific footage shows the teenagers punching and yanking each other’s hair in front of shocked students at Otahuhu College in Auckland on Thursday. Suddenly, a student dressed in all black is marching toward another waving the gun around yelling: “You touch my sister again, touch her, touch her.” She approaches the other girl and holds the gun to her head telling her to go away. “Get the f*** out of here right now,” she yells. Principal Neil Watson confirmed that police were investigating the incident but it is still unclear whether or not the gun was real. “We have a member of the public with what looks like a firearm. We’re helping the police with their inquiries, and our priority is the safety and security of our families and students,” he told <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gun-drawn-during-fight-between-auckland-high-school-students/UNNRMV2JWDWQSXID6MVTVRROHQ/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a>. The publication was sent the video by a worried police, as police confirm they have begun their enquiries. “It was a report of a group of people fighting. Inquiries are underway to speak to those involved to establish the circumstances.” Watch the incident <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gun-drawn-during-fight-between-auckland-high-school-students/UNNRMV2JWDWQSXID6MVTVRROHQ/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: NZ Herald

News

Tributes flow for siblings named in suspected murder-suicide

Tributes are flowing for two young siblings who died in a suspected double murder-suicide by their mother in Perth. Abiyah, 10, and Aiden Selvan, eight, were found dead in the back seat of a car at John Graham Reserve in Coogee, west of the city, on Monday morning. Their heartbroken father had left for the US on Sunday and arrived back home in Perth on Wednesday after hearing the devastating news. Principal Bill Innes of Providence Christian College and students at the children’s school remembered the siblings with messages and flowers. “You can never prepare for something like this,” Principal Innes told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/wa/heartbreaking-tributes-flow-for-young-victims-abiyah-and-aiden-selvan-killed-in-suspected-coogee-murder-suicide-c-6081634" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>. “We’re still numb, it’s still sinking in. To see those faces, it’s not easy.” A bulletin board was offered to the students to write their messages to Abiyah and Aiden. Abiyah was described as being the “brightest light of the world” from one of her fellow classmates. “Remember I always love you. It pains me to know I will never see you smile, touch you, laugh with you, and even wave to you,” another of her friends wrote. “Your secrets! Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone in honour of you. I will never forget you. See you in heaven,” another student wrote. A message dedicated to Aiden simply read, “I will miss you.” Tsaparah Tabernacle, the church the family attended was in a “state of shock” when news spread of the suspected double murder-suicide. “We don’t have an understanding of what’s going on, we are puzzled and completely shocked at this stage,” a church spokesman told <a href="https://thewest.com.au/news/crime/coogee-car-fire-neighbours-reveal-details-of-mum-children-killed-in-suspected-murder-suicide--c-6065373" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The West Australian</a>. The homicide investigation continues. Images: Nine News

News

Students stunned as wild fight erupts outside school

A violent altercation between two men erupted outside a school in Melbourne as students were being picked up by their parents. Shocked students from Melton Secondary College in the state’s west, watched on in horror as two motorists began throwing punches at each other in the middle of the road on Tuesday afternoon. Disturbing footage shows a shirtless man grabbing a pole off the floor before allegedly forcing it through the ute window while children were inside. The man allegedly appears to repeatedly force the pole in the window as victims inside could be seen moving their heads to avoid being hit. The driver of the ute attempts to jump out but his door is kicked shut by the attacker, but eventually he makes it out. He charges at the alleged attacker, both of them throwing punches at each other as the altercation spilled in the middle of the street forcing children and their parents to run away. Police arrived and arrested the 21-year-old Melton man and he was subsequently charged. 'Police have been told a man stepped out onto Coburns Road near High Street just before 3.30pm,' Victoria Police said in a statement. 'It is believed the man smashed the windscreen of a car causing three other cars to collide nose to tail.' 'The driver of the damaged car got out of the vehicle and was involved in a physical altercation with the offender.' Warning: Confronting footage <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-charged-over-alleged-melton-road-rage-attack-outside-melbourne-school/1be1cdf6-449d-4fe7-b365-86e3811676ed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Nine

News

Furious backlash after school offers shapewear to female students

Image: Facebook/Getty A Mississippi middle school has offered body-slimming shapewear to female students this month, leading to furious backlash. Southaven Middle School in northern Mississippi sent a letter home to parents of teen and tween girls, educating on the issue of negative body image. The letter concluded with an offer from the school's counselors to provide shapewear — a foundation garment that's used alter a person's body shape. This offer was made to any of the students, aged 10 to 14, whose parents agreed to it. The letter was shared on social media by mom Ashley Heun, who said that she was 'beyond p***ed.' 'This is what was sent home with my 8th-grade daughter,' Heun, whose daughter Caroline attends the school, wrote on Facebook. The memo is headed with the nonsensical title 'Why Do Girls Suffer from Body Image?' — which should more accurately say suffer from 'bad' or 'negative' body image. The memo goes on to discuss how 'social and cultural experiences' create a 'desire to adhere to an "ideal" body shape,' and how girls are 'more likely than boys to have negative body image.' While the memo is mostly thoughtful, noting that 'women in the United States feel pressured to measure up to strict and unrealistic social and cultural beauty ideals,' it also asserts that girls with a positive body image are more likely to have good self esteem, physical health and mental health — and it offers a surprising way of supporting that. 'We, the counsellors of Southaven Middle School, would like to have an opportunity to offer some healthy literature to your daughter on maintaining a positive body image. 'We are also providing girls with shapewear, bras, and other health products if applicable.'

Body

Terminally ill man graduates college alongside his granddaughter

A grandfather-granddaughter duo from Texas have shared a heart-warming milestone together. Melanie Salazar, 23, and her grandfather Rene Neira, 88, have both graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) alongside each other. Rene first began his higher education in the 1950s, but when he fell in love and started a family, he was unable to finish his studies in the traditional four-year span. Throughout the years, Rene took part in online classes, but decided to re-enroll in college in 2016: the same year his granddaughter began her freshman year at the same school. "It just so happened that he wanted to go back to school again at the same time that I was starting." Melanie Salazar told <a rel="noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/04/us/grandfather-granddaughter-graduate-college-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>. "It wasn't intentionally planned, but it just worked out that way that we were in school at the same time." "I didn't know that we would actually get to share that moment together," Melanie said. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXW-XSZrxf9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXW-XSZrxf9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Melanie Salazar ♡ (@melaniesalazara)</a> </div> </blockquote> Melanie said she didn't share any classes with her grandfather due to their differing majors, but the pair would often meet up for lunches, study in the library or even carpool to campus together. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Rene suffered from a stroke and had to take medical leave from class. Unable to navigate the world of full-time online classes, Rene was only a few classes shy of completing his degree and his family rallied around him to get him the degree he has always wanted. "We, as his family, were able to advocate for him and request to see if there was any way that he could be recognised or honoured for all the work that he had done." Melanie told CNN. It wasn't until the week of graduation they found out he would be honoured. "It was definitely an early Christmas miracle that they were willing to recognize him." Salazar said. "When we walked past the curtains onto the stage, I was overcome with emotion and started to tear up because I didn't know that we would actually get to share that moment together." Salazar said, "I told him afterwards, 'You did it, grandpa! College is over!'" Melanie received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, while Rene got a degree of recognition in economics. "It's never too late to go back to school." Salazar shares. "Whatever your circumstance, there's people that are ready and willing to help you follow your dreams." Image credits: Twitter @UTSA

Family & Pets

Students’ removal of Queen’s photo causes ire

Students in the UK have caused a stir after voting to remove a photograph of the Queen from their university common room. Postgraduate students at Magdalen College, Oxford, voted to take down the print, with minutes from the meeting noting that “for some students depictions of the monarch and the British monarchy represent recent colonial history.” The move drew criticism from UK Education secretary Gavin Williamson, who tweeted: “Oxford university students removing a picture of the Queen is simply absurd. She is the head of state and a symbol of what is best about the UK. During her long reign she has worked tirelessly to promote British values of tolerance, inclusivity and respect around the world.” In a swift response, Dinah Rose, the president of Magdalen College, defended the decision and wrote: “Here are some facts about Magdalen College and HM the Queen. The Middle Common Room is an organisation of graduate students. They don’t represent the College. A few years ago, in 2013 they bought a print of the Queen to decorate their common room. “They recently voted to take it down. Both of these decisions are their own to take, not the College’s. Magdalen strongly supports free speech and political debate and the MCR’s right to autonomy.” She added: “Being a student is about more than studying. It’s about exploring and debating ideas. It’s sometimes about provoking the older generation. Looks like that isn’t so hard to do these days.” Rose also said the print would be safely stored in the event the students vote to put the print up once more. Matthew Katzman, Magdalen’s MCR president, told the Daily Telegraph: “It has been taken down. It was decided to leave the common room neutral. That was what this was about. The college will have plenty of depictions of various things but the common room is meant to be a space for all to feel welcome.” Image: Magdalen College, Theroyalfamily / Instagram

Art

University students jailed after finding KFC loophole

A group of Chinese university students have been sentenced to up to two and a half years in jail after they found a loophole to receive AUD $40,000 worth of KFC. The university students from east China’s Jiangsu Province scammed KFC through their mobile apps, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202105/1223171.shtml" target="_blank">the Global Times reports.</a> The group obtained free KFC meals and made profits by reselling it. In total, the fast food giant had economic losses equating to 200,000 yuan ($40,000). One student discovered that through his WeChat account, he could get meals and coupons without fronting up the money. The young person would sell coupons as well as meals to make a profit. He would also order meals for himself. In the time period between April and October 2018, his dealings led for the company to lose over 58,000 yuan ($11,000). The other students that were part of the elaborate scam had losses that ranged from 8,900 yuan ($1700) to 47,000 yuan ($9400) each. The court ruled the main instigator, whose last name is Xu, would be given a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence, along with a 6000 yuan ($1200) fine. They were charged for “crimes of fraud and imparting criminal methods”. The other four scammers were sentenced from 15 months to two years in jail. They were also fined between 1000 yuan ($200) and 4000 yuan ($800).

Legal

"Do it again!": The worst way to find out your diamond ring is fake

A Florida teacher and her student have gone viral across the globe after an innocent school experiment revealed her engagement ring isn’t real. A group of high school students used a diamond tester and went from class to class testing their teacher's rings. In the video that was shared to popular teen app TikTok, the students are seen approaching a teacher wearing an engagement ring with a large rock. The clip heard the woman saying she had proudly worn the ring for 20 years since her husband proposed. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Yo this kid goes around testing his teacher’s wedding rings & I’m screaming because most of them are fake 😭😭😭😭😭 <a href="https://t.co/tG3zWkDmDw">pic.twitter.com/tG3zWkDmDw</a> — I put sugar on my grits (@thismyburner8) <a href="https://twitter.com/thismyburner8/status/1321550282161971201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2020</a></blockquote> "I can test it to see if it's real?" a student asks the teacher. She tells him to "come on in" and places her hand on the table. The student commented about how large the diamond is, to which the teacher responded, "It's going to be big, we've been married over 20 years." However the diamond tester went on to beep, indicating the rock is not a diamond at all. "You say you've been married 20 years? Not going to lie I don't think it's real," the student tells her. The clearly agitated teacher demands the student test it again, saying: "Do it again. This thing is real. So what you telling me?" <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> “Wym you don’t think it’s real?” 💀💀💀 <a href="https://t.co/1ZbdI3K3bg">pic.twitter.com/1ZbdI3K3bg</a> — I put sugar on my grits (@thismyburner8) <a href="https://twitter.com/thismyburner8/status/1321569964508078080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2020</a></blockquote> Once again, the diamond tester beeps to indicate the rock is fake. The footage then cut to the teacher calling her husband and taking the ring off. "You knew it wasn't real?” she can be heard saying over the phone. “And you still gave it to me after 20 years? So this is what I'm going to get? "Okay, you know what, you thought it was going to be me and you tonight, guess what? It ain't. It's not going to be."

Relationships

We asked kids who their favourite teacher is, and why. Here’s what they said

Most of us can remember a favourite teacher. Some of us can also remember a teacher we didn’t get on with or with whom we always seemed to get in trouble. Relationships between students and teachers at school are important. They predict students’ motivation, performance, and expectations of future relationships. We interviewed 96 students from a range of schools in Years 3 to 9. We wanted to find out who students remember as their favourite and least favourite teachers. We also wanted to find out what made those relationships positive or negative. In our study, published in the journal School Psychology Review, all students described similar factors that made them like their teachers — care, kindness and humour. What we wanted to find Past research shows students with disruptive behaviour are more likely to experience negative relationships with their teachers than their less disruptive peers. Teachers often rate relationships with such students to be low in closeness and high in conflict. But these relationships aren’t always negative. Even self-described troublemakers and class clowns often remember a specific teacher who stood up for them, who took them under their wing, or who changed their perceptions of school for the better. The first group we interviewed consisted of 54 students who had a history of disruptive behaviour, such as acting out in class or being frequently suspended. Around half were in a special behaviour school for disruptive behaviour, and the remainder attended a mainstream school. The second group consisted of 42 students with no history of disruptive behaviour. They were often high achieving (such as school prefects or A-students), and all attended a mainstream school. We were particularly interested in the “magic ingredients” that would support positive student-teacher relationships, even for disruptive students. We also wanted to determine if there were “contaminating ingredients” that could sour these relationships, even for exemplary students. Who is your favourite teacher? We first asked students if they could remember any teachers they’d had a really good relationship with. If the student replied yes, we then asked what made the relationship good. The reasons students liked teachers were almost identical across groups. Even highly disruptive students bonded with teachers who were caring, kind and funny. One 13-year-old with disruptive behaviour (in a special school) said of their favourite teacher: "Every time I’d go there without food … Miss H always used to buy me lunch, let me go on excursions. … I was never allowed to go on an excursion [before] because of my ADHD." A 15-year-old with disruptive behaviour (also in a special school) said of their favourite teacher: "Mr M, he’s just hilarious. He’s the funniest man on earth. He’s always saying this weird stuff […] walking around with this big puffy jacket, like some kind of Russian guard […] pretending his pencil is a cigar […] we just laugh." These answers show how important it is for teachers to separate student disciplinary matters from relationship matters. Around 16% of students highlighted teacher helpfulness, while 10% highlighted effective teaching, as a key advantage of their favourite teachers. One 12-year-old without disruptive behaviour said about their favourite teacher: "She gave me and some of the other smart kids harder work. [I liked that] because it challenges me." What causes conflicts? We next asked students if they could remember any teachers they really didn’t get on with or clashed with. If a student replied yes, we asked what sort of things would bring that on. While not all students could remember a teacher they clashed with, a large proportion of each group could. Students in both groups overwhelmingly agreed on the key factors contributing to negative relationships. Across groups, 86% highlighted instances where they had perceived the teacher being unnecessarily hostile towards them, or where they felt they were treated unfairly. One 13-year-old with disruptive behaviour (in a mainstream school) said: "I usually have my earphones in and I just sit there and just listen to music […] she just like opened the door, seen me listening to music […] She comes up, grabs the earphones, she just rips them out of my ear [pretend shouting] ‘Listen to the teacher!'" A 16-year-old with disruptive behaviour (in a special school) said: "She just used to pin stuff on me. If I done the littlest thing wrong and someone done somethin’ major wrong, she would […] go for me first […] She just hated me, and I hated her." Another 10-year-old with no disruptive behaviour said: "She was always yelling […] Because she gave us a real hard book, and we were only in Year 1, and we couldn’t really read it that good […]" Frequently, students’ descriptions of unfair treatment included pre-emptive punishments and reprimands: One 15-year-old with disruptive behaviour (in a special school) said: "Well, I remember one time that, like, I went inside the classroom and she just, like, came up to me and she was like, you had better not talk this lesson and I wasn’t even talking at all." Another 15-year-old with disruptive behaviour (in a mainstream school) said: "Well, she always picked me out, as well, for misbehaving, so I got in a lot of trouble for that, but […] like, a lot of people were just doing a lot worse than I was doing, but she was like, no, no, you’ve been bad before." A 12-year-old with no disruptive behavior (in a mainstream school) said: "Every time I did something in the playground that was good, someone told her I’d done something bad and [Miss C] always believed them." What teachers can take from this Based on our research, below are some things teachers and parents can do to promote positive relationships with teachers for the young people in their care. <ol> <li>Remember empathy and humour go a long way to building positive relationships with students. Caring about students as individuals genuinely does break down barriers. Most teachers already report caring deeply for their students. It may simply be a matter of making one’s acts of kindness and care more visible </li> <li>Consider how warnings are given. Students benefit when they are allowed to start the day with a clean slate, and when reprimands are held back until an offence has actually been committed </li> <li>Separate classroom management from relationship building. Students who are most disruptive are also often the ones who could use a positive relationship the most </li> <li>Parents can help by encouraging students to reflect on their relationships with teachers. Sometimes situations are ambiguous, and understanding a teacher’s perspective may help in interpreting situations that would otherwise feel unreasonable to a young person. Students and teachers both win when they work on the same team.</li> </ol> Written by Misha Ketchell. This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-asked-kids-who-their-favourite-teacher-is-and-why-heres-what-they-said-145093">The Conversation</a>.

Relationships

Zoom class captures terrifying moment student was held hostage

An online Zoom class captured the terrifying moment a young woman was held hostage in a home invasion. The scary ordeal took place during a live English lesson that was being broadcast during Zoom due to the strict coronavirus restrictions placed on citizens in the State of Durango, northwest of Mexico City. The horrifying footage showed Ariana Sofia Hernandez Aldama on the left hand side of her screen with her hands tied and her face covered. Throughout the video Ms Aldama remains motionless so as not to egg on the intruder. Her fellow classmates watched on as the man moved silently in the background wearing a baseball hat. The man lowers the camera so his movements can no longer be recorded. The suspect then allegedly stole a set of keys from inside Ms Aldama’s home and used them to steal a car. A number of the girl’s horrified classmates contacted emergency services to report the crime but by the time anyone arrived at Ms Aldama’s house, the attacker had already fled in the stolen vehicle. While Ms Aldama was physically unharmed, there is no doubt she will be haunted forever by the incident and has undergone counselling to help recover from the invasion. The Durango Prosecutor's Office reported the alleged perpetrator has been identified, and they are working to find his whereabouts. The authorities also maintained that the vehicle stolen by the assailant has already been recovered.

Legal

High school student apologises to Prince Harry for “cuddling” Duchess Meghan

A British high school student made news around the world after he hugged the Duchess of Sussex during the royal’s visit to a school on Friday. Now 16-year-old Aker Okoye has apologised to Prince Harry for embracing his wife. Okoye, head boy at Robert Clack School in east London, came up on stage after Duchess Meghan invited a “brave young man” to volunteer to discuss the importance of International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8. Okoye leaned in for a kiss on the cheek before telling his classmates, “She really is beautiful, innit.” The Duchess gave him a hug after he made his comments about the day. “Incredible confidence, don’t you all agree,” she said after Okoye left the stage. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9eqhs3J2uP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9eqhs3J2uP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">The Duchess of Sussex visited Robert Clack School, to celebrate the women of the future, and also highlight the important role men and boys play in International Women’s Day. The Duchess asked a young student to come on stage and share his perspective on the importance of the day, and whilst much attention has been focused on his initial comment, what he shared beyond that was compelling and true. Please watch the full video and tag a man in your life, and have him share what #IWD means to him</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/sussexroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> The Duke and Duchess of Sussex</a> (@sussexroyal) on Mar 8, 2020 at 9:23am PDT </div> </blockquote> In a written letter to the Duke of Sussex published on The Sun, Okoye said he hoped his actions weren’t out of line. “I hope you didn’t mind me cuddling your wife,” he wrote, noting he was “just overwhelmed and shocked to see her arrive at my school”. Okoye said it was “a pleasure to hear [Meghan’s] speech and to speak in front of her as well. She is truly inspirational”. In an interview with Good Morning Britain, the student told host Piers Morgan: “It was one of those moments which I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.” The Duchess’ surprise visit to the school was her last solo official engagement as a senior royal before she and Harry step down on March 31.

Beauty & Style

Australian student shares update from inside Wuhan amid coronavirus outbreak

A university student has shared what life under lockdown in Wuhan was like amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Australian National University student Helen Chen has been unable to leave the city of 11 million people after she travelled in to celebrate Chinese New Year with her family. Speaking in a video distributed by Reuters, Chen said she has not left her parents’ apartment since around a week ago. “There is literally no one outside. It’s pretty scary,” she said. “The last time I went out was probably a week ago, I think. “I wore a mask, most people were wearing masks and when my parents went out this morning to do groceries they wore masks as well. “I made sure that they brought hand sanitiser and they wore gloves just to be extra careful.” Chen said she was keeping busy by doing her university assignments while her father watched the Australian Open on TV. She also noted the ways people had responded to the outbreak. “Times like this sometimes bring out the worst in people as I have seen a lot of comments online but there are also good people around,” she said. “A lot of people are donating food and people are volunteering to drive doctors and nurses around … Sometimes we forget that there are just wonderful people out there who are willing to put themselves at risk of infection, and possibly even death, to help others.” In a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/helecx/posts/3198588340156167" target="_blank">Facebook post</a> shared on Tuesday, Chen shared another update on life in the city. “We have enough fresh produce at home for a couple days since my parents went out again yesterday morning on a grocery run,” she wrote. “Most smaller neighbourhood supermarkets are closed but bigger designated supermarkets are open and the apparently the [government] is making sure they get multiple deliveries every day and prices are kept as per normal. “We’re more or less living our life like how we normally would, apart from the anxieties of infection and not being able to go out. But it’s all pretty mild stuff compared to what people directly involved are feeling. I do acknowledge I am speaking from a place of privilege, and my personal experience might not be the perfect reflection of the situation in Wuhan.” Chen also addressed the seemingly racist comments on social media which laid the blame on Chinese people for forgoing health and safety concerns. “I’ve seen reports of incidents where selfish individuals have knowingly put others in danger,” she wrote. “But again, it’s unfair to insist that they are an accurate reflection of Chinese people in general. Most of us are doing our part by respecting the quarantine, staying home, wearing masks when we really do have to go out, and donating in any way we are able to.” The coronavirus has so far taken more than 120 lives and infected more than 5,900 people in China.

Travel Trouble

A teacher’s beautiful decision for 14-year-old student with down syndrome

A teacher has made a beautiful gesture for a 14-year-old boy with down syndrome. Kerry Bremer, 52, first met Jake Manning when he was just 14 years old, along with his mother Jean four years ago after the family moved to Massachusetts from Florida, US. Sadly Jean had breast cancer and worried about the fate of her only son. “He’s just so lovable,” Bremer told Boston 25 News about the student. “He loves everyone, and he’s so smart and funny. He is very funny.” Bremer was Jake's teacher at CASE Collaborative School in Concord, Massachusetts when he and his family just moved to the state. After Jean expressed worry about what would happen to him if she were to pass away, which resulted in Kerry offering up to adopt sweet Jake who she admitted she “fell in love with” instantly. “I called his mom and I said, ‘I might be overstepping here, I’m really sorry if I am but just in case, if you need to have some backup for Jake my family would be willing to be his guardians,’ and she said, ‘I’m going to sleep better tonight than I have in a very long time,’” Bremer explained. “I knew he would a need a home and there was no way I wouldn't open ours to him.” Kerry and her husband already have three children: Kristen, 21, Jonathan, 19, and Kaitlyn, 16. On November 13, Jake’s mother, Jean, sadly passed away from cancer, and swiftly moved into Bremer’s home full-time. “He needed us and quite honestly obviously we needed him,” Bremer said. “He’s fit in so perfect here.”

Caring

Duchess Meghan’s heartfelt letters to students

The Duchess of Sussex is an avid note-writer since before she married into British royalty and even Hollywood fame. It appears while becoming a member of one of the world’s most recognisable families has been a life altering change in a myriad of ways, there is one thing the Duchess will never let go of - and that is her habit of sending letters. The royal mother of one has left a classroom of students overjoyed after it was realised she had sent them personal notes. A year 3-4 class at Woodlands Community Primary School in Birkenhead, Mereyside were put to the task of writing letters addressed to the Duchess, as part of their unit on Black History Month. A number of the pupils received thankful notes from the royal after posting to the Duchess. "Imagine our excitement when we received personal letters back from Buckingham Palace!" the school wrote on Twitter, along with a picture of the happy students. The Buckingham Palace correspondence staffer Claudia Spens wrote an introductory letter to the teacher of the class, whose students took time to write to the royal. "I am writing to thank you for your recent letter and enclosures in connection with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's visit to Birkenhead, Merseyside in January," Spens wrote. "Their Royal Highnesses very much enjoyed their visit to Birkenhead and greatly appreciated the warm welcome they received. I am so glad that the children were able to meet The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. "I would be grateful if you could pass the enclosed envelopes to each child that wrote a lovely letter to Her Royal Highness." While it didn’t look like the letters were penned by hand, the Duchess is famous for her distinctive handwriting and has spoken about her love for a personally written note. Even before she established herself as a well known actress, the royal worked as a freelance calligrapher. "Amongst the throwback things that I love ... what trumps all is my love of writing (and receiving) a handwritten note," Meghan once wrote on her lifestyle blog The Tig. "I think handwritten notes are a lost art form. “The idea of someone taking the time to put pen to paper is really special."

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"Do it again!": The worst way to find out your diamond ring is fake

We asked kids who their favourite teacher is, and why. Here’s what they said

Zoom class captures terrifying moment student was held hostage

High school student apologises to Prince Harry for “cuddling” Duchess Meghan

Australian student shares update from inside Wuhan amid coronavirus outbreak

A teacher’s beautiful decision for 14-year-old student with down syndrome

Duchess Meghan’s heartfelt letters to students