My Eighth-Grade Self
High school students were asked the question: What advice would you give your eighth-grade self?
- Moderation is your god. – Justin Fok, alumni
- BE YOURSELF… too many people are pretending to be who they’re not, changing for all the wrong reasons, to be accepted by all the wrong people. – Jenny Ho, grade 12
- Enjoy your time in high school while you can. Try to be productive but at the same time, be at a steady pace so that you can enjoy and appreciate everything around you. Try as many things are you can while you’re still in school… – Tammy Lee, Grade 11
- Worry less about finding that one ‘special’ person and focus on studies. – Matthew Le, grade 11
- Get a catchphrase; something funny that won’t wear off until late grade 10. – Mitchell Agostinho, alumni
- You think you have something to be angsty about? Wait another few years. – Jessica Poon, grade 12
Behind The Word
Welcome to the VERY LAST part of Behind the Word! Last issue, we talked to Emily Chan and Puneet Riar, the promotions team. We’ve interviewed nearly everybody on the committee; except for one person. He has been a big part of the Word for almost two years now, writing for nearly every issue. Presenting, Mitchell Agostinho!
N: What did you think of the Word Committee when it was first started?
M: I thought, “There is no way this think tank of people is gonna be able to put together even one newspaper.” Obviously, I was wrong.
N: Why did you join the Word Committee in the first place?
M: I was a big part of the word in the 2008/2009 year and thought now is a good chance to contribute more than just articles.
N: Do you like working with the Word?
M: Does anyone like work?
High School (I Couldn’t Think of a Better Title)
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
5 years ago, I entered through Windermere’s big wooden doors and took a gander at where I would spend the majority of my teen years. 58 months later, on June 11th at 1:50, I will hear the bell ring and dismiss me for the last time. I could say what every grad says and tell you that it went by so fast; but that’s the furthest thing from the truth. The truth is that it was a slow and painful process. Some grads reading this may disagree, but looking back on the past half decade; I know full well that high school has been the craziest and most memorable time of my life. So far.
Grade 8
When I walked through the doors, I became instantly confused and scared about everything. The grade 9’s looked so much bigger than they did in elementary school and the grade 12’s were practically adults.
Hot Tub Time Machine Review
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
What do you get when you combine a glowing hot tub, 3 friends, 1 nephew and illegal Russian energy drinks? Well you
end up in 1986, of course! What else? Hot Tub Time Machine is the newest sleeper hit comedy following in the steps of The Hangover and Superbad. Being a HUGE fan of all things from the 80s myself (especially the music) I was eager about watching this movie, where I could see the decade I adore so much in action. But I was slightly disappointed with how the writers handled the trip back in time. The movie did though have a few good belly laughs and gross-out scenes which like The Hangover and Superbad, make it a great “guy movie”.
The Poor State Of Music Today
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
A few months ago I looked at the weird world of television; examining the ups and downs and the current state in which it sits. This month I’m going to examine another huge media outlet that has the world listening intently 24/7 and that outlet is music. Music in all its forms has been around for many years but it is only recently that I’ve seen it spiral down. It’s gone from sweet and gentle, to rocky and cheesy; to loud and confusing which seems to be the way people like it.
The Poor State Of Music Today
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
We always see the movies that are successfully made. We see them because in the end they make it from the writer’s mind to the screen. But what about those movies that don’t quite make it in the end. Nine is about those kinds of movies. Nine is a drama/musical about director Guido Contini played by Daniel Day Lewis (in another Oscar worthy performance) trying to put together his ninth film which he calls “Italia”. The movie was adapted from the Broadway play of the same name which came from the book called “8 1/2.” This movie wasn’t bad but wasn’t the show I thought it would be.
The cast is full of super stars. Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, and Judi Dench all give wonderful performances in the complex roles they’ve taken on. While Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren give great support through out. Did you notice the gender ratio of the cast: 1: 7. The movie is basically the man and the women in his life. It covers all his relationships; from his mom to his childhood prostitute. We really see the influence they have on him through his life and why he is the way he is.
Nine – Movie Review
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
We always see the movies that are successfully made. We see them because in the end they make it from the writer’s mind to the screen. But what about those movies that don’t quite make it in the end. Nine is about those kinds of movies. Nine is a drama/musical about director Guido Contini played by Daniel Day Lewis (in another Oscar worthy performance) trying to put together his ninth film which he calls “Italia”. The movie was adapted from the Broadway play of the same name which came from the book called “8 1/2.” This movie wasn’t bad but wasn’t the show I thought it would be.
The cast is full of super stars. Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, and Judi Dench all give wonderful performances in the complex roles they’ve taken on. While Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren give great support through out. Did you notice the gender ratio of the cast: 1: 7. The movie is basically the man and the women in his life. It covers all his relationships; from his mom to his childhood prostitute. We really see the influence they have on him through his life and why he is the way he is.
Barack Attacks the Nobel Prize
By Mitchell Agostinho and Puneet Riar, Grade 12
In 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Frédéric Passy and Jean Henry Dunant for making the world a better place. On October 9th, 2009 it was awarded to Barack Obama for doing nothing. Well, it’s said that it was “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”. There is little to no description, which leaves this pair of writers puzzled. Obama is the fourth president to win the award behind Wilson, Carter, and Roosevelt. Though Obama won the peace prize, we still think the shoe that Bush won was a more deserving prize. Many, many people have voiced their outrage for this victory while few have said it was well deserved. Needless to say this award came with some controversy. Let’s explore, shall we?
Hey, Did You Hear Michael Jackson Died?
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
Do the titles, the King of Pop, MJ, The Gloved One, and Jacko; ring any bells? 
They should unless you’ve had your eyes shut and your fingers were in your ears all summer long. On June 25th, 2009 tabloid magazine TMZ was the first to announce the passing of a legend. At the age of 50 years old, Michael Jackson died. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was instantly covered by flowers and other signs of condolences. His children were left devastated and all around the world the jokes about him and little boys were instantly forgotten. Neverland streets were filled with mourners and celebrities who had lost their king. During a large elaborate memorial, they celebrated his style of music, highly publicized personal life, and way of being which made him a major cultural icon for four decades.
Michael was born on August 28, 1958; the seventh child born to Joe and Katherine Jackson in Gary, Indiana. At the early age of 8, his musical talent was discovered as lead vocalist of The Jackson 5. Rolling Stone magazine called him “a prodigy” with “overwhelming musical gifts,” and he “quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer.” His breakthrough began while playing The Scarecrow in The Wiz, when he met Quincy Jones; the man who would change his life forever. With Quincy Jones, Michael produced his debut album, Off The Wall.
Crossing the Line
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 11
Since 1999, there has been a force in the world so powerful it has made headlines numerous times. A force so magical it has reduced us to tears of both joy and fear. A force so epic, that it has been dubbed the “most offensive thing on TV today”. That force is nothing more that the whacky antics of Peter Griffin. Peter, as you may or not be aware of is the star of the hit FOX animated show Family Guy. Peter and his family grace our screen every night on numerous networks and never fail to rake in a huge audience. The show is famous for its outlandish plotlines, its numerous random flashbacks, as well as the hard-to-forget background characters. However, there is an opposing force in the world trying to take down Family Guy. The Parental Television Council (PTO) who, for as long as time itself, has been trying to take down the series deeming Family Guy unfit for children’s eyes. The show is filled with family, stories and education but a parent organization wants them off the air. Huh?
Jenn and Chitha’s Top Ten Editing Screw Ups
10. Misspelled Mitchell’s last name and said Emily Chan was in Grade 9 – September Issue.
9. Said Emily Chan was in Grade 11 – October Issue
8. Repeated a paragraph in Mitchell’s article “Burn After Reading” – October Issue
7. No “Warrior of the Month” photo for Emily Chan and Brendan Chan – January Issue
6. Pope Gregory VIII not Pope Gregory – April Issue
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.
One Click of a Wheel
By Mitchell Agostinho
Remember when music was on CDs? Or how about records? Remember when music was cavemen banging two rocks together? Well all that is soon to be forgotten entirely. The planet has been consumed by a fad of epic proportion. Millions of people around the world have them and you probably have one in your pocket. The item I refer to of course is the iPod. On October 21st, 2001 the world was hit by storm when Apple released the very first iPod. Since then, everyone and their dog has had the convenient music player plugged into their ears at one time or another and have been hooked ever since. They’re known for being very handy for helping people pump iron or do homework and other time consuming activities. In the first four years alone, Apple sold twenty million of the little gizmos, making it the most purchased portable hard disk player and the numbers just keep on growing.
The Shame of Canada
By: Mitchell Agostinho
Canada has a lot to be proud of. We invented basketball, the snowmobile, and half of Superman. We made Margaret Atwood and James Cameron; but those accomplishments are in the past. Our shame is the present.
Northern Alberta should be filled with rich, lush boreal forests – but it isn’t. Instead, it is covered in a flat, barren landscape all because of one thing: oil. The Athabasca Oil Sands (better known as the Athabasca Tar Sands, even though there is no tar), contain massive natural deposits of heavy crude oil that is necessary for making cars “go” and creating plastics. These oil sands consist of a mixture of crude bitumen (semi-solid oil), silica sand, clay, and water. The Athabasca Oil Sands are the largest natural bitumen deposits in the world. The oil reserve is second only to Saudi Arabia, and its cultivation has quickly begun to destroy our world by poisoning the environment. The sands are roughly the size of Florida and pose a huge threat to our future.
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.
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
2009: Still No Flying Cars
by Mitchell Agostinho
I would like to be the first to welcome all you readers to the year 2009! This is a big year for a lot of people. For our local government; it means they have less time to prep for the 2010 Olympics. For the grade 12 students it means they have 6 months until they graduate. Some pretty cool events are happening this year. For example, Slovakia will adopt the Euro as the official currency; this year marks Lincoln’s 200th birthday; lastly, the Women’s Professional Soccer League will debut. The world is being updated (and downgraded), but in which ways?
New Years Resolutions Questionaire
by Nicole Yu
Kylie Rondpre, Grade 9: Oh. I will give more to the needy; I will help raise awareness [for] poverty, not only other countries, but also our own; I will reduce waste; I will gain super powers and save the helpless; I will show my appreciation for others, [and] I will accept what comes to me.
Nicole: That’s great!
Kylie: I will also read to old people, hahaha.
Allison Ferreira, Grade 8: In 2009, I will… hm… I will try to volunteer in the community more!
Frost/Nixon Movie Review & Golden Globe Picks
by Mitchell Agostinho
Before we get into the movie: a bit of American History. On June 17 1972, five men were arrested for breaking and entering into the Watergate Hotel, which “coincidentally” was the location of the Democratic National Committee headquarters. They were found to be trying to plant “bugs” – hearing devices – around the hotel in order to eavesdrop on what the Democratic party was planning, seeing as there was an election coming up. The FBI investigated the break in and discovered that it was one of the illegal activities both authorized and planned out by President Richard Nixon’s staff. Though there was no hard evidence at the time, a set of tapes were discovered that had President Nixon discussing the events with his staff. This was evidence that he had full knowledge of the break-in. In the case of The United States VS. Nixon, the US supreme court voted that Richard Nixon be impeached as President and for him to resign. Now that you’re caught up on the basics, let’s get into the movie.
Mathical Review
By Cassandra Ly
Who ever knew adding together a few feet-tapping, hip-shaking beats along with some brain-racking math formulas and rules could make a musical? In this case, a “high school mathical?” Windermere’s Athena Arts program hosted its first ever musical with its creative storyline written and produced by Maggie Przyborowska, directed by Mitchell Agostinho, and choreographed by Aiden Farrell and Natasha Pheko; the masterminds behind this successful production. Parents, teachers, administrators and other students also made great contributions. “The Number Devil,” a fiction, fun kids’ book written by Hans Magnus Enzensberger about a young boy who has dreams of the number devil visiting him was the inspiration to the creation of the mathical. Songs ranged from old-school classics including “Beat it” to “YMCA” to modern catchy beats including “Rehab.” Instead though, these songs were drastically altered from “Beat it” to “Cheat it,” from “YMCA” to “mx + b,” and from “Rehab” to “Math class.” The hard work of more than 30 grade 8 & 9 Athena students along with the help of a few Nootka students paid off with their great dance moves, acting, singing, and overall presentation. High School Mathical is definitely a one-of-a-kind production and was entertaining and a joy to watch.
Ho Ho Hoax
by Mitchell Agostinho
Everyone’s favorite winter holiday is soon approaching. On December 25th, people around the word will unwrap their presents and see what Santa delivered. Was it Santa? The answer that kids around the world are being told is “yes.” Skeptics like to believe that it’s impossible for a large man in a red suit to visit all children in the world during one night. The world knows of the jolly man in the red suit and he is inarguably the symbol of Christmas. But where did he come from?
When I think Santa, this is what I think: I think jolly large man with a red suit, black boots, a sled, and an army of munchkins. What do you think? Well whatever it is, what we should know is the origin of how Santa came to be. I think everyone knows about Saint Nicholas. He is said to be Santa’s “secret identity.” In fact, Saint Nick was a 4th century bishop from Turkey, and was famous for giving out gifts. Some believe that he is in fact Dutch and some are certain that he’s a gnome.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Movie Review
by Mitchell Agostinho
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is cute – it’s a simple story of love – that’s it. For those people who want to see Michael Cera (star of hits such as Juno and Superbad), come and see him in this. For those people who want to see stellar acting from total no-namers, come see Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo, and Rafi Gavron give awesome performances. If you want to see a developed plot and real story line that doesn’t revolve one question… stay away. Cutie pie films for couples are usually good but this one lacked in real story that others in this genre usually excel in.
NNIP tells the story of two people. Nick (Michael Cera): recently dumped and hung up on his ex-girlfriend, Tris. Norah (Kat Dennings): looking for love and forcing to find a spark when there is none. Open and shut case right? Wrong! Norah’s classmate happens to be Nick’s ex-girlfriend. Tris always talks about how Nick used to make her mix CDs but never really cared. Norah on the other hand loves Nick’s mixes and some how falls in love with him. These three all meet up at a club on night and from that point on, things start to happen. Kisses, drunks, and new boy friends and all that fun stuff pop up in no time. I shouldn’t leave out the quest. Oh yes, the quest to find Fluffy. Where’s Fluffy you ask? Well that’s the point. A band that is so mainstream shy that they will only plays secret shows. Why is this important? Nick and Norah are both HUGE fans. The story begins from there.
