Backstage Grad Showcase Video
By Jhona Binos
Let’s Talk About Stress
By Tanya Waung, Grade 10
It’s everywhere. The nervous twitch, the flustered looks, the anxious orders from one to another… It’s a flu that spreads from one person to the next: Stress. Once one person succumbs, it’s no trouble to pass it on. Yelling at someone for something trivial easily leads to an airborne disease for anyone to catch. It doesn’t help that we feel pressure to make our proud parents happy; after all, they only think of what’s best for us. Joining multiple clubs, volunteering countless hours, studying tirelessly for that next test or exam, and maybe trying to keep a part time job… No doubt that at times it feels like the world’s resting on your shoulders…
How can we tame this stress when we strive for excellence or are pressured to multi-task? The way I see it, there are five major ways to reduce stress.
Cut Paper, Not Jobs at CBC
By Cassandra Ly, Grade 10
Each country has its own diverse culture and unique national treasures that hold history and stories; Egypt has its pyramids, England has its crown Jewels, and in Canada – our treasures are what make up the backbone of our country. One of those treasures includes our media broadcasting station, CBC. It is one of Canada’s most popular public broadcasters with its bilingual radio and television services. Currently, CBC is suffering from a hectic situation of planning 800 job-cuts this summer due to the nation’s recession resulting in the economy entering into a state of debt. However, a few private networks including CTV and CanWest have been reported to be excused by the government. As opposed to public broadcasting who obtains all funds from the public; including donations, specific taxes, and funding from the government. Since this is so, public broadcasters are known as “non-commercial” networks that air more educational programs and documentaries that are deemed ‘less attractive’ to the mass market, such as The Passionate Eye and This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
Mexico + Drugs = Failed Country?
By Emily Chan, Grade 10
Since 2007, only two years ago, Mexico has filed a grand total of 7,000 deaths. The headlines, which have been plastered over every newspaper in the last few months, have been questioning Mexico: are they becoming a failed country? In other words, is it too late to dig them out of the hole that they’re already in?
Mexican cities are lined with bullets, grenades, and beheadings; it’s no wonder that the citizens are scared. Since last June, an amazing 329, 000 jobs have been lost which amounts to 30% of Mexican adults unemployed. This just adds to the inevitability of Mexico’s current spiral towards failure.
Jorge Marrufo, a Mexican citizen, has lost his chance at life. Jorge was working at his ranch, when a group of gunmen ravaged through. Trying to run away into the desert, he was found dead with his skull caved in and four bullet holes on his chest. The authorities are still looking into whether he was involved with drugs or if he was an innocent citizen. However, in a city without rules, it is up to the hands of the drug lords to determine if you are a problem or not. This is just one example of the brutality of the 6,000 deaths in Mexico; and it doesn’t end there. Marrufo wasn’t even able to rest in peace, as the drug lords drove over his gravesite repeatedly, crushing his flowers and the simple cross lain by his loving family.
Introducing Vancouver’s New Convention Centre
By Kaitlyn Fung, Grade 8
Four years of construction and a budget of $495 million. What does that add up to?
Recently, I had the chance to take a look into the new convention centre that Vancouver now boasts, or more specifically, the expansion of the convention centre. While the main (and rather obvious) purpose will be to host conventions, this massive building will be the hub for media activity concerning the 2010 Olympics.
Personally, I didn’t really find anything that grasped my interest immediately, but it’s an attractive place with big rooms and high ceilings. There were numerous little conference rooms and a huge ballroom that included a spectacular view, and the exhibition hall was very spacious as well. Even the escalators rides were extended. In short, everything was just kind of big. However, there was some hype about its green features as well, especially about the green roof.
Cooking Mama! Teachers’ edition
By Nathan Dinh, Grade 11
Wasabi-Chili Pepper-Junior Chicken-Anchovy-Whipped Cream-Bitter Melon-Pickle-Oyster sauce milkshake… Sounds good doesn’t it? Just ask the staff that participated in our first ever Cooking Mama: Teacher’s Edition! Starting on March 23rd, the Student Council had been collecting donations to fund for a district wide initiative called Beyond Borders. Beyond Borders is a project set up by the Vancouver District Student Council to collect money in order to send 18 students from Vancouver to Vietnam to volunteer in an orphanage abroad. Mr. Schindel, Mrs. Liew, Mr. Walker, Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Tam, Mr. Castilho, Mr. Hamlen, and the Student Council did a great job of fundraising money for the Beyond Borders project. The Student Council spent two weeks collecting money for these 7 teachers, and the three that received the most donations would have to drink a random gruesome concoction made up of a mixture of wasabi, chili peppers, a Junior Chicken burger, anchovies, whipped cream, bitter melon, pickles, or oyster sauce. On Wednesday April 8th, their nightmare came true! Accompanying them were counselors, Ms. Lowe and Ms. Pears. The turnout was great and the house was roaring! Wasabi was mixed with bitter melon and junior chicken. Anchovies mixed with pickles combined with bitter melon. Chili peppers blended with… well, you get the point! Bottom line- gross and nasty things were being blended; it was sick! Thank you to the Student Council, the staff participants, everyone who donated and those who came out to watch! Look out Windermere; you may be seeing this again in the future!
Prohibiting the Rights of Women
By Valerie Wong, Grade 10
Afghanistan has proposed a new law that prohibits Shiite women from refusing to have sex with their husbands. This new law also requires women to gain permission from their husbands before leaving the house. Is it just me, or are we going back to the dark ages? Has the agony and pained determination of centuries of suffragettes been completely disregarded? What happened to the hundreds of years that women have been fighting for their own rights? For the Afghanistan men supporting this bill, why are they devolving into chauvinists? These are all questions rising out of this controversial bill.
This new law, if passed, will put the following injunctions on women’s rights and give men the power to do this:
- A woman cannot refuse her husband asking for sexual favours. The husband may ask his wife for sex every 4 days. Another side of this part of the law ‘protects the woman from sexual neglect’, requiring the man to have sex with his wife at least once every four months.
- A woman cannot leave the house without the permission of her husband. He may keep her inside for as long as he would like.
- A woman will not have custody over her children in case of a divorce or separation. The husband will have sole custody.
Extra Hot, 1% Soy Venti, White Chocolate Mocha with…
By Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 11
How does 16 120 stores, 49 countries, 145 waiters and waitresses (per city), $7.8 billion in net revenue sound? These are the “crowning” achievements of the world’s largest and most dominating corporation: Starbucks. Since its humble beginnings in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks has become the #1 coffee shop in the world. Starbucks is beloved by the business people and pencil pushers of today. The morning line-ups are usually filled with grumpy business people who want their morning brew before they cut your head off. However, beneath their success in selling coffee, Starbucks is being criticized by many for their constant ignorance of fair trade issues, un-organic products and labor issues.
Are We Supporting Animal Cruelty?
By Brendan Chan, Grade 10
Have you ever watched Tarzan, Beethoven, Babe, or the Discovery Channel? These movies are about wildlife and make a lot of money, plus we enjoy watching them; so what’s the problem? What if they’re all involved with some level of animal cruelty? Can it be possible that we are actually supporting animal cruelty indirectly? No way! How can this be? The truth is that some of us actually support animal cruelty subconsciously. We are supporting the abuse by paying to watch the movie. For example, let’s say an animal documentary used trained animals and abused them; we would be supporting the show by watching or buying it and would be unknowingly encouraging the directors/ trainers to do it again by creating a market for such films. So here’s the truth…
Sloppy Firsts Book Review
By Jessica Luu, Grade 12
“Deep down, I wanted to tell her that I’ve considered killing myself no more than an average almost-sixteen-year-old honor student with no best friend or boyfriend and bigger bumps on her face than in her bra.”
Sloppy Firsts, by Megan McCafferty, is one of my all-time favorite books. It is a hilarious and insightful account of a teenage girl, by the name of Jessica Darling, who presents her life through her many journal entries. Ever since her best friend, Hope, has moved away from Pineville, Jessica is unable to see the only person who she is able to communicate with. Therefore, she forms a habit of writing down her feelings and opinions about the different aspects of her life. Hope, The Clueless Clue, Hy, her dad’s obsession with her track races, her mother’s involvement with her sister’s wedding, and the compelling and mysterious Marcus Flutie, all ramble up together, to create the person that she is and will become through the course of the novel.
The Wrestler Movie Review
By Max Miller, Grade 9
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Starring Mickey Rourke, Marissa Tomei
Run Time: 109 minutes
Rating: 14A for violence, language, sexual themes
You’ve probably seen The Wrestler before. Maybe it wasn’t called The Wrestler; maybe it was Rocky or Million Dollar Baby or The Rookie. We’ve all watched the underdog sports hero fight against insurmountable odds to reach the top. It’s been done to death. So, it’s pretty amazing that The Wrestler – a film that follows many of these conventions – always manages to feel fresh and poignant. It’s an honest contender for my favourite film of 2008.
Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) has seen better days. His huge career in the 80s finished, The Ram now fights in small-time wrestling match-ups and works at his local Acme supermarket. Eventually, Randy is offered a chance to relive his
Warrior of the Month Interview
By: Puneet Riar, Emily Chan
Hey Warriors! The Windermere Word just wants to thank all of you who voted for “Warrior of the Month” for the month of May. The turnout was great! We had a total of 306 voters all over the school, which are the most voters we’ve had for a single month all year!
We also want to thank everyone who went on the Word website and gave in their nominees. We received a number of nominees through the website, all deserving to be “Warrior of the Month”.
Again, the hunt is on to find June’s “Warrior of the Month”. Do you know anyone who should be commended for their leadership skills, or their outstanding community service? Or maybe just a great friend? Then start thinking of those people! The Windermere Word is going to be announcing some important dates regarding the “Warrior of the Month.” Stay tuned
Lastly, congrats again to Nam Bui who is May’s “Warrior of the Month.” Way to go, Nam!
Horoscopes
Aries – The internet is not the place for you this month. Try to avoid it if you can. Yes. That includes facebook.
Taurus – Don’t get so ambitious. There’s a lot of projects you can start, but ask yourself once more ‘is this a good idea?’
Gemini – You might be in a creative rut. Don’t worry about it though. Let nature run its course and you’ll be fine.
Cancer – With the weather as good as it is, you should go exercise or take up a sport. In the end, all that matters is good health.
Leo – You just came into some really good news. You might have won a bet, or even a contest. Don’t worry. More victories are soon to come.
Motherly Love
By: Jemar Ebreo, Grade 11
May is the month of appreciation for that special woman in our lives,
whether she’s the one to go to for advice, or just giving us high fives.
She’s there with a warm bright smile, caring for our every need,
I can’t think of anyone else who can do daily tasks with such speed.
A woman in our lives who we can look up to and depend on whatever it may be,
we need to stop taking her for granted because she is more than what you see.
She is our mother, the beginning of our life, and continues to be there each day,
so on the 10th make sure you show her love and express it in every single way.
Youth Celebrate Canada Day
Y.C.C.D is a one-day culturally unique outdoors festival that attracts well over 1,000 guests to treat themselves to games, entertainment and many other multicultural activities. We will need volunteers to help us make this event happen! This year, it will be held on Wednesday, July 01, 2009 at Renfrew Community Centre. Come out and volunteer for our 13th annual event of Youth Celebrate Canada Day! PLEASE PICK UP YOUR APPLICATION IN ROOM 210 AND HAND IT IN NO LATER THAN MAY 15TH. Questions? Feel free to contact sarahxie@live.ca
