Talent Show + Grad Vs. Teachers Photos

Click on photos above. Enjoy.

March W.o.M. – Cast Your Vote!

Thank you for voting, your results will be published in the March Issue of The Windermere Word.

updated photos from the dance!

Yes, pictures are up from the “Midnight Masquerade” and all you need to do is click on photos to view them! Enjoy!

Editors’ Message

            Can you believe it? This is our sixth issue of the year! We’re more than half-way through the school year, with lots of more articles and exciting promotions to come. We hope that you’re liking the new visual improvements to our newspaper, and that you’ll stay patient with us while we spruce up our website and make it easier to navigate. It pays to be devoted readers – we always try to have prizes and promotions going on for cool stuff! All you have to do is read our paper and sure enough, you’ll find something. It may not always be Golden Tickets, but what have you got to lose from doing some reading?

             Special thanks to our writers who really pulled through this month and met deadlines. We know it was a short month, having released the January Issue on the 14th and then asking for another batch of articles before January was over, but all your hard work pays off each month. Also another great thank you to our promotions team who parade the halls at lunch with us every month with our great big whsword banners. We have a blast doing it every month and we look forward to seeing you again next month! We couldn’t do it without you. To see us in action, please click on “Our Team” at the top of our Word website at http://whsword.wordpress.com.

             In terms of our website and current hits, we’ve now surpassed 21 000 since our launch in November. Way to go Warriors for continuing to visit our website – and remember, keep on commenting! Don’t hesitate to write for us! The Word is constantly looking for fresh writers, so go ahead, email us at whs_word@yahoo.ca and get in on this opportunity while you can. As always, SPREAD THE WORD.

To Whom it May Concern

Thinking of gifts for Valentine’s Day? Want to show someone how much they mean to you?

Although you might not know this, many of the traditional gifts we often purchase such as roses, chocolates, and diamonds are products of slavery. Roses and chocolates contain many toxins and exposing workers to harmful chemicals. The poor are working long hours to grow roses and cacao beans on land that could be used to grow food to sustain their families. Ironically, children who work on the cacao fields cannot even afford to get a taste of the chocolate. Lastly, diamonds are a major cause of civil wars that are taking place in Africa.

Support G.A.L.A. this month by purchasing our alternative gifts such as cards and flowers.

We’ll be selling during the week of Valentine’s Day, February 9th-13th. Proceeds will go towards a womyn’s organization.

-From G.A.L.A. (Girls As Leaders and Activists)

Editor Vs. Editor – Immorality vs. Neutrality

BBC (UK equivalent to CBC) recently refused to provide the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which oversees 13 aid organizations, with free airtime for the international humanitarian Gaza charity appeal. The DEC hoped that BBC would follow through on their 1963 agreement to provide such service for relief agencies. Yet their decision was to reject the appeal on the grounds of impartiality and also the uncertainty concerning how they would deliver aid in such “volatile situations” (BBC release).

For argument purposes, Chitha and Jenn have intentionally taken up a side to explore the controversy regarding this topic.

Immorality vs. Neutrality

Jenn: Chitha, have you read the new January 23rd Media Alert on MediaLens.org?

Chitha: Yes, I have.

Jenn: And? What’s your take on it? Is BBC justified in rejecting the appeal or not?

Gifts of Love or Gifts of Blood?

by Neelam Khare & Peggy Lam, Grade 12

This Valentine’s Day we should ask ourselves if our ‘traditional’ gifts symbolize love. Many years ago tokens of love were hand made crafts and cards, so what caused this shift in thinking? Was it really just a coincidence or was it the corporations influencing the media to sell us these certain items? Whether we are talking about chocolates, roses, gold or diamonds, they all signify one thing: Injustice.

Roses are red, picked by their hands. Millions are dead, to meet our demands.

Flowers contain 50 times the amount of toxins than most foods we consume. If flowers are not food and we don’t have to eat them, then what’s the problem? Many of the workers who work in the fields are exposed to these chemicals, which they inhale. These toxins also cling on to their clothes, which are then washed at ‘home’ in the same sink where they bathe their babies and wash their food.

Warrior of the Month (Interview)

by Jenn Lin, Grade 12

You nominated & you voted. Your Warrior of the Month is… JASON COSTA! Jason was nominated for being “always smiling and being such a positive role model, as well as his involvement in student council.”

From what I’ve learned, at school, Jason Costa is involved in the vocal ensemble, the school planning council, and is president of the student council. Meanwhile in the community, Jason still does a lot of volunteering at his church despite his current disability. He hopes to soon raise awareness in the community about cancer and spinal cord injuries, and help those with similar disability, youth in particular, to cope with it and share his experiences. Jason also loves reading, music, and spending time with friends.

The Half-Way There Survey

By Soraya Ahmad Parwani, Grade 8

Our replies, if any, have been inserted
Also, if you would like to answer any of these questions, feel free.

If you were to change one thing, and keep one from the paper, what would it be, and why?

“I’d definitely keep the advice column, seems like it’s helping a lot of the student body indefinitely and for a change…to be honest I wouldn’t change anything, it’s great!
Cheers” – Elton. Grade 11

Hardcore Detention

by Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 11

When Windermere students misbehave in school they get detention; when adults misbehave they go to prison. But when adults REALLY misbehave, they get thrown into detention camp. Guantánamo bay first opened in 2001 and has since incarcerated several of the suspects of the 9/11 bombings and other terrorists. Localized in the bay it’s named for, Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp (GITMO for short) is an American prison located in Cuba (just south of Florida). GITMO currently holds 245 men and has held 775 in the past. It is one of the oldest American naval bases that are still standing today. It’s also the oldest US base in a communist country.

Valentine’s Day

By: Jenny Ho, Grade 10

In present day society, Valentine’s Day is most often a holiday celebrated between lovers. Fancy chocolates, gorgeous red roses, heavily decorated cards, and other lavish gifts are exchanged by couples. There are many theories about the origin of Valentines Day, but the most common one is about a Catholic bishop.

Saint Valentine was a Roman bishop in the 5th century. During that time, Emperor Claudius II placed a ban on marriage over the Roman Empire; he had a theory that single men made good soldiers for the army. Saint Valentine on the other hand, persisted in performing marriage ceremonies. Later, Saint Valentine was imprisoned, and formed a relationship with his jailor’s daughter. Sadly, he was put to death on February 14th. Before his death, his farewell message to his loved one was brief and sweet: “From your Valentine.”

Cupid also plays a major role in this celebration. Known as a mischievous, winged child who pierces arrows through the hearts of his “victims,” he originates from Roman mythology. Cupid is the son of Venus, Roman goddess of beauty and love. In Greek mythology, he was known as Eros. He is often seen in a diaper, and sometimes blindfolded, symbolizing the figure of speech, “love is blind.” Cupid makes the majority of his appearances on Valentine cards.

Yet, in reality, Cupid is a two dollar Hallmark card. Saint Valentine is a name of a day for lovers to express their passions for one another through a day of non-stop romance!

stylewatch

By: Cheryl Loh, Grade 12

Target: Mrs. Polonijo
What are you wearing today?
A blue shirt. I always wear blue. It’s my comfort colour and it brings out the blue in my eyes.

How would you describe your personal style?
Let me think about this…easygoing, very relaxed, casual.

How has your style changed or evolved over time?
I started in two-piece suits, dresses and high heels. Then as you get older, you realize that you need to dress for the job. High heels don’t work on these floors.

Where do you usually shop?
Richmond Centre. We go shopping every Friday night and have dinner. It’s girls’ night out without any groceries.

What is your favourite clothing store?
Aldila. They have better quality clothing there, stuff you don’t see at other stores.

If I told you that there was going to be an earthquake and you had to pick three clothing items and run, what would they be?
My jeans, my runners and my new sweater (blue, of course).

What is one style that you particularly dislike?
Oh, I’ll tell you! The leggings with the top that comes down that doesn’t really cover your body. Ugh. It’s not that it doesn’t look cute. It just looks obscene to me. I don’t think leggings replace pants.

If you could command every student to wear a certain outfit, what would that outfit be?
If it was the girls, it would be the private school uniform, the pleated skirt, the blazer, the white shirt. And boys, their clothes are boring. Maybe plaid, with blue and burgundy.

Do you honestly think that what a person wears reflects their personality?
Yes, I do. I think if you want to stand out, you’ll wear bright colours. If you want to be a wallflower and blend in, blue’s good for that.

2010: Olympics or Owe-lympics?

By: Emily Chan, Grade 10

“And the host city is… VANCOUVER!” Cheers erupted across the city as people jumped for joy to hold such a prestigious title. Everyone will always remember July 2nd, 2003 as the day that Vancouver was announced to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Yet there were mixed feelings on that day; they ranged anywhere from feeling that you’re on top of the world to wanting to escape from this city.

Why would there be such a wide range of emotions? How can a couple weeks of fun sports cause any disappointment and anger? On the other hand, how can anyone enjoy debt, along with an increase in population for a couple weeks, maybe months? Therefore, the point of this article is to inform readers of the financial impacts of Vancouver hosting the 2010 Olympics so that they may make a decision for themselves on how they feel about it.

Chinese New Year’s Traditions

By: Nicole Yu, Grade 9

Another year has come and gone, according to the lunar calendar. Now, most Chinese people in Vancouver are finished celebrating, but people who live in China just finish celebrating after a whole week. Chinese New Year is one of the most important and celebrated holidays to the Chinese, and there’s a lot of preparation and things you have to follow for it!

Before New Year’s Eve, you have to do various things. You have to clean the whole house and get rid of all things that have to do with the old year, like calendars. You also have to buy red money envelopes, oranges, flowers, lucky candies, a circular candy tray, and hang a lucky red sign on a door upside down, all so the luck won’t fly away from the house.

Goodbye Costco, Hello Walmart

By: Nathanael Leung, Grade 12

Wal-mart, one of the world’s top 100 corporations, has a history of litigations and escaping through sly loopholes. That same Wal-mart has now inched itself into our beloved Grandview Highway neighbourhood, taking over the area of the old Costco. Wal-mart, an enterprise started with a single store in the 1950s by Sam Walton, currently holds more than 200 stores globally. With the automatic sliding glass doors and the blue exterior wall colourings, this “Mega-store giant” appears harmless on the outside, but catastrophic from every aspect.

When someone says the word “Wal-mart,” what is the first word that comes into your mind? “CHEAP!” Wal-Mart takes the upper hand in retail by offering “everyday low prices”; however, each product that Wal-mart sells has a long trail back to its original manufacturer. Most of its products were retrieved from countries such as Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, Korea…and almost NONE are from America, except for food products and other equipment.

Windermere Winter Sports

By: Nathan Dinh, Grade 11

Hey Warriors, this is Nathan introducing you to the latest update on your own Windermere sports! Currently, we are in the middle of the winter season which includes basketball and… well, basketball.

Senior Boys (4-4)
You know these guys; they’ve been raising money selling pizza on Fridays for their teams – it’s the Senior Boys Basketball Team! They had quite a poor season, but their season is not over yet. They practice hard, but strive to practice even harder. Their games were like an up and down rollercoaster, winning some, losing some. They hope to end the season 7-3. Also, they are hoping for a high seed in the playoffs for a better chance at taking it home. Good luck at the rest of your season boys!

Canucks Update

By: Gurjita Gadey, Grade 11

Although the Canucks lost their last game before the All Star break, they still had a very good game. They were playing against the San Jose Sharks and were up the whole game 1-0 with the help of Taylor Pyatt. However, with forty seconds left the Sharks were able to rally up a goal to take it into overtime. Plus, they were able to take advantage of a Vancouver penalty in overtime to win the game. Unfortunately, the Canucks weren’t able to get the two points they needed but at least they got one.

Sustainability Conference 2009

By Chanel Ly, Grade 11

“The dictionary definition of ‘sustainability’ is “to keep in existence or maintain,” but our definition is saving the world. Without sustainability, eventually our world will CRASH AND BURN.” -Puneet Riar, Grade 11.

What better way is there to inspire and educate students about saving the world than to hold a sustainability conference? On January 26, Leadership 11 students held their first annual sustainability conference for about 70 students in grades 4-7 from Windermere’s feeder schools.

The co-creator of 4REAL, a TV show on MTV, came to the conference to start the day off by telling us his experience of travelling the world and meeting new people, especially young leaders. The students had the chance to attend action-packed workshops throughout the day of topics such as water and energy, transportation, gardening, composting, and recycling. The workshops were led by our own leadership students, who were mentored by adult experts.

The day was ended off by intense action planning, where each elementary school developed a goal of completing a project of their choice by the end of May with the leadership students. Projects range from bike clubs, gardens, recycling programs, and even putting on a mini conference of their own.

After weeks of planning and many last minute preparations, the sustainability conference came together as a great success. The leadership students couldn’t have done it without the support of our adult mentors, Sean from Check Your Head, Mr. Schindel, Mr. Castilho, and Christine Macer. We wish the elementary schools good luck in achieving their goals!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead

SING update

Thank you to everyone who supported our hygiene drive and our Canucks raffle ticket sales. We raised over $200 which will be donated to a local organization that will soon be chosen. Congratulations to Dale, a student in grade 9, who won the two Canucks tickets. Go Canucks Go! Also, the donated toiletries will be given to the Aboriginal Youth Shelter.

SING (Students Inspiring a New Generation), is a club at Windermere which focuses on key global issues and we try to do something about them. Recently we focused on war and poverty and we will be tackling discrimination next. Our meetings are on Mondays or Thursdays at lunch in room 203. If you’re interested please come to our next meeting on Monday, February 09! New members are always welcome, so join us!

PS. It’s fun.

Oscar Picks from Mitchell

By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 11

best picture
Who I want: Frost/Nixon
Who I think should: The Dark Knight
Who will: Slumdog Millionaire

best director
Who I want: Ron Howard
Who I think should: Danny Boyle
Who will: David Fincher

Gran Torino Movie Review

By: Max Miller, Grade 9
It seems as if Clint Eastwood, one of America’s most respected filmmakers, can pretty much do as he darn well pleases. No matter what he does, his movies will still win over audiences and have critics crying ‘Oscar!’ Case in point: his latest project, Gran Torino. It’s not a good film by any stretch; it’s a very poor one that just so happens to have the big man’s name all over it. Heavy on clichés and cheese, Gran Torino is proof a great actor/director can only go so far when working with a D-list script and a mediocre cast.

Things aren’t going so well for Walt Kowaski (Eastwood). His wife is dead and his children want nothing to do with him, so he spends the most of his time sitting on his porch with a cooler of beer, sneering and swearing at the general populace. Why the contempt? The neighbourhood is overrun by Hmong immigrants, and Walt is one of the dirtiest racists ever to make his way onto the silver screen. If you had the poor judgment not to be born white, there’s no saving you from Walt and his impressive vocabulary of racial slurs. The only non-white thing he’s able to love is his gorgeous ’72 Gran Torino. So when a Hmong teenager named Thao (Bee Vang) tries to steal it as a gang initiation, it should be game over, right?

Wrong. Walt abruptly abandons his bigot ways for the kid, and proceeds to become a mentor of sorts while vowing to protect Thao’s family from the threatening gangs. It’s a complete 180, and it happens all in the space of ten minutes or so – far too quick to be believable. Gran Torino does this repeatedly. Just as you’re getting to know a character, the writers decide he or she needs to be turned right around. Despite this though, they can all be neatly classified like black and white. The good guys are always clearly the good guys, and the same can be said for the bad guys; they’re all completely two-dimensional, with no unique or interesting traits. Coming from the man responsible for Unforgiven, this is definitely surprising.

But the film’s problems don’t end there. Gran Torino’s script contains some of the most cringe-worthy dialogue of any film this entire year. The gangster characters drop more f-bombs in one line than in a whole episode of Beavis and Butt-head. It doesn’t help that the entire cast is made up of novices with no acting experience. Lines are delivered so poorly, it sometimes seems like it’s the actors first time performing them.

I really tried hard to like Gran Torino. If you dig deep enough, it does carry some very poignant themes but the awful execution makes them hard to swallow. Even the most die-hard Eastwood fans pass this one up without a second thought. 4/10.

‘Love is in the Air’

By Jemar Ebreo; Dedicated to: a special person

It takes over you like a sudden rush,
Emotions everywhere, you just think with your heart.
So many ways to express it, just like a beautiful piece of art.

And when you do find that special someone, you can’t help but feel,
The euphoric feeling of happiness, it takes your breath away, you cant help but just smile,
Every time spent together, each precious moment you wish could stay for awhile.

But say you haven’t found that someone, so what? love is still the same,
A love for your family, a love for your friends, its all good to share,
The only thing important is that you show how much you care.

Love is not something that should be wasted, its something that is cherished from the giver and receiver,
It shouldn’t be kept hidden, because there’s nothing worse then unrequited love,
Some people just need to do what they have to do when push comes to shove…

Fashion Show Photos

Photos courtesy of: Venus Wan, Grade 10