Dunbarton High School will be turning 50 years old, faculty and committees are planning a reunion for former and present staff and students
Stephanie Gertsakis Spartan staff
Dunbarton High School, in 1960 has opened up so students could enroll in High School. 50 years later staff and student council are planning a reunion for all staff, former and presents, as well as students. The reunion will occur on May 14th, the day will start off with all former students and staff arriving at the school at 9:30 am in the front lobby to register. After registering, everyone will then proceed to check out the decade rooms, looking at old clothing styles, newspapers, pictures etc. The opening ceremonies will start at 11 am in the East Gym. Following the opening ceremonies, a BBQ will be constantly running from 12-5 pm if staff and students are there all day. A reunion reception will occur in the library giving people chances to talk about their experiences at Dunbarton High School and their fondest memories. A decade rugby game will be played from 3-5 p.m. Which people will then move to the cafe for casino games from 5-7 p.m. A fashion show will also be occuring in south campus, and at 7:30 pm the East gym will be a quiet place with a bar so old friends can catch up and West Gym will have a live band. The band is called the 49’ers, they will be playing old ‘70’s music. Tickets will be on sale in the new year, its only 184 days til the re-union! It is coming up fast, and we already have 236 guests attending.
Canadian author gives DHS life lessons at assembly
Cassie Gibson Spartan staff
Author, full time speaker and justice advocate, Katy Hutchison came to Dunbarton on Thursday, November 4th to discuss safety in society regarding situations that youth, alcohol, and a lack of supervision can result in.? On New Year’s Eve, 1997, Katy’s husband, Bob, was murdered by an intoxicated teen, after attempting to break up a neighbor’s house party that had gotten out of control. This event led Katy to her view on emerging from a terrible situation with a positive point of view.? "When we have a mess, we need to do everything in our power to clean that mess up," Katy told the audience. Katy had plenty of advice to give to everyone, such as living the same type of life as her husband did.? "Don’t think of the way he died, think of the way he lived; giving everything he did 110 percent." Along with discussing what it takes to live a safe and successful life, Katy also told the audience what it takes to maintain a good community.? "Her presentation gave me something to think about. It definitely taught me to think twice about the decisions I make in my life," said Sara Mehraban, a student that got to enjoy Katy’s presentation. If you’re interested in learning more about Katy Hutchison’s speech, advocacy, or book "Walking After Midnight", check her out on the web.
Dunbarton Pep Rally a success
Pep rally successful- Spartan junior football team wins
Rick Frank Spartan staff
Dunbarton’s annual pep rally was successful. The Dunbarton Spartans, junior football team, shut out the St.Steven Royals, 34-8. Many students were outside at the bleachers and in the west gym to support the team despite the cold weather. The Spartans obliterated the Royals in a clean game. #34 Jervonte Allong, a grade 9 at Dunbarton, was the player of the game with two back to back touchdowns and many strong runs. Two Royals were injured but injuries were not severe. The Spartans pushed the Royals towards their end zone which gave the Spartans a scoring advantage. The Student Activity Council (SAC) pumped up the crowd and sold food throughout it. The football team made an appearance in the gym and was warmly invited by the SAC and the students. The Samba band and Mrs.Hadaway’s dance crew also performed. The SAC members, who were at the football game, sold food and kept the spirit high for the spectators. "The junior football team played extremely well and the SAC did an excellent job in promoting and raising awareness for the game, bringing many supporters, which I think helped the team," said a football fan. There also was a basketball game in the gym, a friendly game amongst teammates. The senior and junior basketball teams combined to play a 5 against 5 game. The school mascot pumped up the spirits and made the basketball game much livelier. The team wearing the black jerseys as opposed to the team wearing the white jerseys won. "I thought the SAC really did their job in pumping people up for the game, and the football team played well.
Spartans recruit new soldiers
As the grade eights entered the doors of Dunbarton, not only were they given a warm welcome, but they were given the great opportunity to be a Spartan
Amanda Adams Spartan staff
Once a year Dunbarton hosts an event called "Spartan for a Day", this day offers grade eights an experience in which they become familiar with the school. The day started off with a presentation with Mr. Hall. He provided information about the school website. The eighth graders were then separated into individual groups. Once in their groups the students got the chance to experience one of the many grade nine courses provided at Dunbarton. "Ms. Larter taught my group substitution from grade 9 academic math," said Connor Fukusaka, the brother of one of our own fellow classmates. Mrs. Campbell’s leadership class then had the privilege of playing an activity with each of the groups. The activity involved a lesson about bullying. The leadership students linked this message to one of the many statements Dunbarton supports and that is, "no tolerance for bullying". Lunch was next on the agenda. Many of the grade eight students brought their own but the school did sell pizza and cupcakes for those who wanted any. Excitement was heard from outside the east gym as all the grade eights met and talked with the representatives from each council offered at Dunbarton. "I think each council did really well, and a lot of the grade eights seemed really interested," replied Shannon Harrison, representative of the Dunbarton Athletic Association (DAA), when asked of her opinion. "DAA had set up a board on previous events, such as the kids Christmas party. We also provided suckers with labels for DAA to promote our council." The rest of the day consisted of the grade eights again experiencing more the of the grade nine courses. "My group was also given the opportunity to learn about auto shop from Mr.Martin," Connor Fukusaka said. The grade eights left Dunbarton with high spirits as to what will come of their high school experience.
World Aids Day at Dunbarton
Hollie Smith Spartan staff
On December 1st, 2010 we will be welcoming World Aids Day to Dunbarton. With many guests from the around the school and the community attending, the goal is to promote HIV/AIDS awareness. For the past 22 years, World Aids Day has been a global event that countries, cities and communities have been involved with. From east coast to west coast, the entire globe celebrates and raises awareness to this severe issue. WAC (World Aids Campaign), the foundation that leads worlds aid day every year works to ensure that governments around the world meet the HIV targets they set, standards they have to meet as they strive for a world where people do not die of AIDS or HIV related diseases. In the past, World Aids Day at Dunbarton organized by Mr. T. Hopkins has been recognized as a very successful event. This year is planned to be no different. With performers and speakers; a very exciting, mind opening and emotional show has been arranged. From our own music department, Kira Guthrie, will be performing a solo of the acoustic version of True Colors along with another performance that is to be announced. Dunbarton’s dance team has also compiled a routine, choreographed by Ms. Hadaway along with members of the dance team and Jacquelynn Moody. The newly re-elected mayor of Pickering, Dave Ryan, may be attendance, along with other dignitaries from the Durham District School Board. Rogers cable (Durham) will be filming the event as Mr. Hopkins will be on Durham talk TV, the previous day. Joining these performances will be two guest speakers that have been directly affected by HIV/AIDS. One is an older East Indian gentleman who has been HIV positive for 20 years. The other speaker is an African Caribbean youth worker who is also HIV positive. Both speakers have overcome obstacles and experienced many setbacks as they courageously faced their hardships. The assembly will be held during 3rd and 4th period in the east gym. Students are encouraged to come out and support the cause. Stop AIDS. Keep the promise.
Never Too Old For the Zoo!
Grade eleven biology students visit Toronto Metro Zoo.
Hollie Smith Spartan staff
On the rainy morning of Friday November 5th, Dunbarton students set off to start their day at the Toronto Metro Zoo. This trip was highly anticipated trip by the grade eleven biology classes of Ms. Smith, Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Mitchell. Bundled up in sweaters, hats and mitts, the biology students started their new unit; The Evolution of Living Things. The students had only a little bit of work to get done, as they spent the rest of the day exploring the zoo. Many students hadn't been to the zoo in years. The grade eleven students were accompanied by lots of other kids visiting the zoo. It was safe to say Dunbarton’s students were the oldest ones there that day. Although some animals were out of season, such as the flamingos or camels, there were still many species that were out and about. The gorillas, an all time favorite were very active as they seemed to enjoy all the attention Dunbarton students had given them. Students arrived back at school at approximately 2:15, happy to be out of the cold but satisfied with the fun day they had just experienced. All in all, the trip was a great success!
Modern show of Shakespeare a hit with students
Field trip leaves students excited to read Shakespeare
Shannon Rogers Spartan staff
Grade eleven students took a bus to downtown Toronto on October 22nd, 2010. The purpose of the trip was to watch a modernized version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The play was being held at the Bathurst Street Theatre near the heart of downtown Toronto. The production was a modern take on William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, and used many lighting and sound effects to interest the audience. "The special effects were amazing," says Olivia Gunn, a student present on the trip. The production was put on by only nine actors, a surely exhausting feat for everyone involved. "It was amazing to think that there were only nine actors in the production! It looked like a lot of work," states Gunn. "The modern way that the actors portrayed the characters was really cool to see. They didn’t use the stereotypical images that people have of the characters, they made them their own," Gunn explains. For many students involved, the field trip served as both enjoyment and educational. Most grade eleven classes read Macbeth and study the themes and lessons embedded in the work. "Watching the play is going to help a lot when it comes to actually reading the play," says Michelle Schofield, also present on the trip. "Now when we read it, I can use the play as a reference point. It’s going to make it much easier to understand." Whether the students attended the trip for entertainment or for education, everyone involved had a wonderful time. The English Department tries to run the trip every year, however places on the bus do fill up fast. "This production of Macbeth is definitely worth seeing," says Gunn.
Classes learn the sociology behind The Social Network
Grade eleven classes see modern, cultural art and movie
Elizabeth Carmichael Spartan staff
On Thursday November 4th, downtown Toronto was clear, cool, and busy with people. Some of these people included two grade eleven Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology classes from Dunbarton. The classes were on a trip to explore Toronto’s graffiti and see the movie, The Social Network. The morning was spent walking around Toronto, enjoying the day, and personal conversations with friends. “We got to look at awesome graffiti and see how people express themselves through their art,” said Eric Elson, a student on the trip. The classes did see quite a lot of graffiti, each with its own meaning. This was to help the classes get ready for their sociology unit where they will be talking about gangs. The classes then got free time to explore Toronto themselves. At this time they could also get lunch or talk to the many Taylor Swift fans lined up outside Much Music. In the afternoon everyone met up inside the Scotiabank theatre waiting to see the movie, The Social Network. The Social Network, is about Facebook, its creators, and how it came to be. Some of the students were getting impatient and started getting restless. This didn’t last long though because security came and almost kicked out one of the students, Steven Natskoulis. Once the issue was resolved everyone got their tickets and entered the theatre. Kristyn Bradley, another student on the trip said, “The movie was really interesting because so many people use Facebook and don’t think about how it originated.” Once the movie was over the classes got onto the bus and headed home at around 2:45pm.
Helping the environment is as easy as 1, 2, 3
We may be a gold level eco school, but there is still more we can do!
Jonelle Littley Spartan staff
Dunbarton has been awarded the title of a “Gold Level Eco School” and thanks to the environmental club; we have continued to maintain our success and continue to work towards environmental changes in school and out. Although we have been successful with a more eco-friendly approach within the school, there is still a lot of work to be done. There are many ways to help the environment within the school that doesn’t take much time or effort. We already know to turn off the lights, computers and televisions when leaving a room; we know to recycle and throw our garbage out. We know the basics, so what else can we do? For one, we can reduce the amount of garbage by not supporting over-packaged foods in our cafeteria. There is too much waste in the packaging and many students end up throwing recyclables in the garbage. Instead of throwing out plastic zip-lock bags from our lunches, bring them home and wash them out to reuse them. They still work just the same. Mostly we just focus on the last “R”, but you should follow them in order; “Reduce”, “Reuse”, and then “Recycle”. The school is located in an area that happens to have bus transportation and is in an acceptable walking distance to many students homes, so why are there so many cars every morning? Instead of getting a ride from your parents, walk to and from school with a bunch of your friends! This way you can have social time as well as get some exercise. It is a fun environmentally friendly solution. Or take the bus! Sometimes the price can add up, so invest in a bus pass. If that still is too much, carpool. If you and your friends discuss a schedule with whoever is going to be the driver, you can easily get to and from school in a logical way that can save you from the expense of a bus pass and the possibly distant walk. Paper and water bottles are two items that we often use too much of. Make sure that when you use paper, don’t just use half the page and then throw the rest away. Try to use the full page or at least more than half. Don’t waste perfectly decent paper. A concern about water bottles is that they may be recyclable, but they still create waste when not recycled and takes too much energy to recycle so many bottles. Try investing in a refillable water bottle; they have better designs, last longer, and aren’t as easily confused with someone else’s. These little ways to help the environment may be little now, but when more and more people actually try these key points there will one day be a big difference. It only takes one person to begin significant change!
Universities come to DHS
Students get a chance to talk to their choice of schools
Tiana Khan Spartan staff
Grade 12 students got a chance to visit the university fair on October 27th. Students signed up for 3 different sessions in order to get a little taste of their possible futures. Each session was held in DHS classrooms and had a representative that spoke about their respective universities.
Some of the universities that attended this successful event were Ryerson, UOIT, York, Western and the University of Toronto. The speakers talked about the different aspects of the University. Students were able to ask the reps questions on many topics; tuition, transportation, residence, classes, information about the universities and more.
This event was open to all High School students that attend Dunbarton. “It was great to see the universities that I wanted to see. I also liked how we could ask them questions that apply to me, personally.” said Nicole VanDenHeuvel, a grade 11 student at DHS.
If you missed this event, an upcoming College and University day will be held on November 17th for our grade 12 students. See guidance for more information.
Grade nine take your kid to work day
How the students at Dunbarton enjoyed going to work with their parents.
Shenita Dennis Spartan staff
On Wednesday November the 3rd, all grade nines from Dunbarton had the opportunity to experience what work is like for one of their parents. Take your kid to work day is when either the mother or father takes their son or daughter to work for one day. Many students took this opportunity and enjoyed their time. “My dad is a teacher at this school in Mississauga. I actually had fun with those grade threes,” said Jervonte Along, a grade nine student at Dunbarton. Most students didn’t mind missing a day of school to go to their parents workplace. They kind of took it as a day off, but others would have rather been in school. “My mom works at Centennial College as a president,” said Jyaunai Along, also a grade nine student at Dunbarton. “It was so exhausting, she works in an office so I had to run a lot of errands,” she added. Some students found their parent’s workplace boring. “My mom is a doctor so I basically sat around doing nothing,” said Alicia Thompson. “Since a doctor is too much of a job for me to do, there wasn’t really much I could help out with.” This day was an experience that all grade nines could learn from for when they get older, and decide on what they want to be.
I Am Canadian!
Cooper Gibbins Spartan staff
On November the 11th the S.T.O.P group (Students together opposing prejudice) did a slide show presentation on all the great and diverse things Canada has done and how it impacted us. The first section on the slide show was Shelley Ann Brown; she was an Olympic Silver medalist in Bobsleigh! Shelley Ann graduated from Dunbarton High school in 1999 and has helped put our school on the map. It’s not everyday that an Olympic medalist has come from our school. The next part of the presentation was Cirque De Soleil; this is a Canadian group of Circus performers that started off in Quebec. They had some hard times at the beginning but the government recognized their talent gave them a grant. Now they are one of the most popular shows. They perform worldwide and it is always a hot ticket. This is a great feat in Canadian entertainment and really helped put that industry and Canada on the map. Now on to the band “Down with Webster”, they are one of the hottest new bands. The band started about 10 years ago at a school talent show. The name “Down with Webster” is from a show that was in the 80’s They needed a name for the school talent show and they thought of it in 15 minutes! They have a lot of fun when they perform and I suggest going to see them. Canada is also responsible for the invention of basketball, who would have guess that? James Naismith invented basketball in 1891 and it is now one of the most popular sports! Possible the greatest Canadian is Terry Fox. He tried to run across Canada with an artificial leg. He lost his leg due to his fight with Cancer. Terry asked for everyone to donate $1.00 to help fight cancer. He helped raise over $10 million dollars and is now a great Canadian icon and a role model for all people. Sadly Terry died of lung cancer in Thunder Bay, Ontario age 28 on June 28. He will always be remembered with Terry Fox runs run annually all across Canada. He will always be in hearts of proud Canadians.
English may be the third most commonly spoken language but could knowing a second language be beneficial?
Elizabeth Carmichael Spartan staff
Should all students be able to speak another language? Should they continue taking French or pick up Spanish? Many students just drop French after grade nine and don’t even bother to look into Spanish. Rachel Jewson, a grade 10 student said, “I didn’t have any room in my timetable for Spanish. It didn’t seem to benefit me.” French is the ninth most widely spoken language in the world. It is the official language of 33 countries but is spoken in over 43 countries. 200 million people in the world can speak, read, write, and understand French. Knowing French also doesn’t just help students when travelling but also in their education and in their future careers. There are scholarships offered to bilingual students in Canada. French also looks good on a resume and salaries are higher for bilingual students. In a 2001 Canadian census, bilingual workers earned 10% more than just English speaking workers. Spanish, on the other hand, is the second highest spoken first language and has 332 million people who can speak it. This also helps with travelling opportunities. Spanish may not be widely spoken here in Canada but it is very popular in the United States. In the US, Spanish is the second most common language. There are 35.3 million people who speak it there. The United States also has 3.3 million high school students taking Spanish. They’re finding more students study Spanish than French. Dunbarton offers classes in French for grades nine to twelve, and Spanish classes for grades ten to twelve. Students are encouraged to take these classes and reek the benefits.
Chance to help!
Brianna Bader Spartan staff
How many times do you hear people talk about how they visited a thrift store or a Salvation Army over the weekend? Girls getting vintage stuff and guys picking out sunglasses for a real cheap price. You hear it all. Some people don’t have the luxury of buying clothing at thrift stores “just for fun”. That is why our school, Dunbarton High School, puts on a Santa Cause every year. Santa Cause has been a great supporter of the Pickering area’s Salvation Army for the past seventeen years. Our school has provided many clothing articles, toys, food, and other objects to Salvation and has helped many families in our area afford a good Christmas. Once again this year we have started up the Cause! It starts on Monday November 29th and goes until Wednesday December 15th. This year they are asking for mostly food, money and new toys/books. Clothing is not much of an issue this year because they are looking more for Christmas time joys. Every council in our school has to make an event to contribute to the donations we make to Santa Cause. Individuals, staff and academic departments also try to get involved and make donations. Santa Cause also collects within classrooms, offering a prize for the class that collects the most items/money. The motto of this group is “Cause we care”. It has been an excellent motivator. This event teaches planning, commitment and organization. Santa Cause not only helps other people but helps our students realize how you can give people Christmas joy and put a little bit of hope into people’s lives. There will be a teacher versus senior’s hockey game at the Pickering Recreation Complex at 3:30 p.m. on December 15th to support the Cause. The cost of getting in is either two dollars or a canned good. “Every year many families in Durham benefit from our generous donations. We make a lot of people happy at Christmas”, stated one of the main leaders, Mrs. Johnston. Remember that every little bit helps. If you get a Christmas, other people should too.
Samaritanspurse “Operation Christmaschild”
Giving children across the world a chance to experience love and compassion.
Sarah Henderson Spartan Staff Samaritans Purse Canada is an Evangelical Christian Organization that has been providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world since 1970. Operation Christmas Child is a “global Christmas gift exchange” where you can fill a shoe box filled with toys, clothes, working utensils and other goodies to send to children across the world; boxes go to children living in poor areas such as some of the South American Countries and Africa during Christmas. Many churches worldwide hold this event where they try to pack as many shoe boxes as possible with necessities and toys to bring a smile to a face of a less fortunate child on Christmas. Volunteers are always needed at the Operation Christmas Child centre. After a comprehensive 15 minute training session, volunteers will be assigned to inspect, pack and sort thousands of shoe box gifts in an exciting and interactive way. This year, there is a new way to pack shoe boxes and support the rebuilding work that’s being done in Haiti. If you’d like to consider packing a shoe box to be given to a child in need, visit the Samaritans Purse website to find out how you can help. Listed below is the way in which you can create your own shoe box to send to a child: -Use a regular-sized shoe box or pliable plastic box. If wrapping your shoe box, please wrap the lid separately. - Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. -Fill your shoe box with a well-balanced variety of items from the following categories: School supplies, Toys and Other gifts, and Hygiene Items.
Voters hope for change after municipal elections
Its time for council to shape up
Nabiha Naqvi Spartan staff
This year the municipal elections were held on October 25th 2010. In Pickering the majority of voters chose Dave Ryan to lead their city for the 3rd straight year. The ballots had been cast and counted and the mayor received 10,361 votes compared to Ryan’s opponent Maurice Brenner who received 8,661. The third hopeful candidate who ran for Mayor Ken Nash received 1,212 votes. Mayor Ryan first took office in 2003 and has been on council since 1994, and is more than happy to serve for the 3rd straight term. “I thank the people of Pickering, as they have acknowledged that Pickering can go forward with a positive message”, he said when he learned the results that Monday night. He also stated that the council is going to focus on downtown development and attracting more businesses to the city of Pickering. Voter turnout was up by 3% which demonstrates progress as more voters are becoming aware on what is going on in our city. Elections in Toronto were quite stressful for the mayoral hopeful’s, but voters chose Rob Ford as their new mayor replacing David Miller. Ford beat George Smitherman with over 9,000 votes. Some promises from the new mayor and council full of fresh faces include construction of new subway lines/stops, targeting tax cuts, getting tough with unions, lining up more police officers for protests, etc. The people of Toronto are expecting the mayor and councillors to keep their word by making a change in our city although elections get quite stressful, once they are over it’s a relief for both voters as well as campaigners and this marks the end of a dramatic 10 month campaign.
Domestic Abuse Affects Everyone
As many as 360 000 children are exposed to domestic violence in Canada every year
Rebecca Palen Spartan staff
Domestic abuse is a terrible and life altering event that effects 51% of women in Canada. Considering the number of people that are affected by this issue, it is given very little publicity and many who suffer abuse don’t know how to deal with their situation. Domestic abuse occurs when one partner tries to dominate the other partner in a relationship or marriage. Abuse can occur in many forms including; verbal, physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Every minute of every day a child or woman is sexually assaulted in Canada. Girls in high school are three times as likely to be in an abusive relationship, unfortunately only 10% of this abuse is reported. Things that may seem insignificant could be signs of abuse. Anything from insults to manipulative behavior, including belittling comments, jealousy and alienation could be classified as abuse. Many people don’t even realize they are being abused, however there are always warning signs. Recently the media has glorified domestic violence through television shows and pop music. The song “Love the Way you Lie” by Eminem ft. Rihanna tells the story of a terrible relationship, but instead of empowering women to leave the abuse, the song masks the problem with a good tune and catchy lyrics. This is a very serious problem and women need to be empowered to stop the cycle of abuse. If you or someone you know could be in an abusive relationship relationship, you can call 1-800-799-7233 or visit www.stopviolence.ca.
Junk food and Trans fats banned from schools in 2011
Time to say goodbye to caf cookies
Tareque Moatar Spartan staff
On the first day of school in 2011, students will not be able to purchase candy, chocolate, pop, fries, energy drinks, or anything else deemed to be unhealthy.
The Ontario Ministry of Education, MPP Pat Hoy, said that the ban addresses the growing trend of obesity in children. He also said that the ultimate goal was to save the province money in future health costs.
“Studies show that 28% of our students, between two and seventeen, are overweight or obese,” said Mr. Hoy. “Naturally, that’s not a good state to be in, leading to all sorts of health problems like diabetes and heart disease.” “We would like to do something about it. Also, good nutrition seems to be a significant factor in how well children do in school.” Hoy said that by September 1st 2011, the new nutritional standards will be mandatory to all schools across Ontario and will be covered under Health Food for Schools Act. Food like frozen pizza, sandwiches, and pastas must meet nutrition criteria outlined in the policy, which states the maximum amount of fat and salt. "It's going to be a whole change in the way we think about things," said Luigia Ayotte, a Durham District School Board superintendent. "Remember this is only for sale goods, they do not include what the students bring in the schools.” Oshawa School Board Trustee Michael Barrett said that schools depend of fundraisers like hot dog days to support other socio-economic issues. “We fully intend to comply but it’s difficult,” said Mario Iatonna, superintendent of business for the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board. “We can control what goes into the cafeteria and the vending machines but fundraising events for student council and parent groups may be more difficult to police. We have 50 schools and there are a lot of fundraisers.”
Lest we forget:RemembranceDay in Durham
People are asked to take a few minutes of their day to honour Canadian veterans and soldiers
Karen O’Gorman Spartan staff
On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, of the 11th year people all across Canada, paid their respects for the Canadian soldiers and veterans, who risked their lives to fight for our country and make Canada what it is today. Remembrance Day is a day to remember the achievements and sacrifices Canadian soldiers and veterans have made in both World Wars, Korea, Afghanistan, and numerous peace keeping missions. Durham region did their part to pay respect for our veterans and soldiers. The Legion, on 111 Hunt St. located in Ajax, held a number of events for Remembrance Day. The Legion held a Poppy Dance that was open to the public on November 6th. For just $10 a ticket, people enjoyed live music and a meal. All proceeds from the dance went towards supporting the veterans. Other events that the legion held included a Remembrance Day parade, which ended at St. Paul’s United Church at 2:00 pm, where a service was held. After the service there was a potluck lunch for all the people who participated in the parade. There was a poppy raffle that was held on November 7th, to raise money for veterans in the community. Tickets were sold for $2 and there were many prizes, including a Grand Father clock and a 32-inch Television. On November 11th, people all across Durham gathered at the Legion for the main Remembrance Day ceremony. Dunbarton also did their part to pay respect to the thousands of soldiers who have fought for our country. At 11:00 am on Remembrance Day, Calvin Akler, a student at Dunbarton, read the famous poem In Flander’s Fields. The last post was also played, and there was a moment of silence, to honour Canadian soldiers and veterans, and to remember the soldiers who did not come home from the wars. Poppies were given out around the school for donations, which was organized by Ms Lyon and her class, but this year it was different. The legion is getting a refund for paying the HST on poppies, which mean’s there is more money going towards the veterans and their families. Although another remembrance day has passed, their sacrifices will not be forgotten.
Scotiabank Giller Prize awarded to unlikely candidate
“Long-shot” winner is the youngest recipient yet
Jenna Gloazzo Spartan staff
Johanna Skibsrud, a 30-year-old author from Nova Scotia, took home the Scotiabank Giller Prize on the evening of November 9th, 2010 for her novel, The Sentimentalists. Skibsrud, who has become Canada’s youngest recipient of the Giller Prize, won out over four other finalists shortlisted for the prize. In total, 98 books had been up for consideration, but only five made the shortlist, which was released earlier this year, on October 5th. The other finalists included the 2005 winner David Bergen for his new novel The Matter With Morris, and two short-story collections; Alexander McLeod’s Light Lifting and Sarah Selecky’s This Cake Is For The Party. Debut author Kathleen Winter was also selected for her novel Annabel. The Scotiabank Giller Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in Canada, with the winner receiving $50,000, and each finalist receiving $5000. The prize was originally founded in 1994 by Jack Rabinovitch, who named the prize after his late wife, Doris Giller, a former Book Review Editor for the Toronto Star. Johanna Skibsrud is awarded the 2010 Scotiabank Giller Prize for her novel The Sentimentalists. Since 2005, the Giller Prize has been co-sponsored by Scotiabank, making it the first ever co-sponsorship for Canada’s richest literary award for fiction. Skibsrud’s The Sentimentalists was deemed a “long shot” by some critics, but it received a glowing review from the 2010 Giller Prize jury. “The Sentimentalists charts the painful search by a dutiful daughter to learn – and more importantly, to learn to understand – the multi-layered truth which lies at the moral core of her dying father’s life,” said the statement released by the jury panel, consisting of CBC broadcaster Michael Enright, U.S novelist Claire Messud and British writer Ali Smith. “The writing here is trip-wire taut as the exploration of guilt, family and duty unfolds.”
WiFi sickens school’s parent council
Is the health of students truly at risk?
Christine Tran Spartan staff
MEAFORD, ONT. – Shut your laptops, St. Vincent’s Euphrasia Elementary. The northern Ontario school is closer to becoming the first in Canada to ban WiFi in its classrooms. In an 88 percent vote, the SVE Parent Council opted to unplug the school’s wireless network citing possible health risks. Since wireless web hit St. Vincent’s last year, students have reportedly experienced nausea, headaches, and trouble concentrating. All of these symptoms allegedly disappear during weekends. “This is something every school council across Canada should be questioning,” said SVE Parent Council member Andrew Couper in a press release. Couper continued to reveal that none of the parents who vote against wireless access in schools have it at home. The vote, which was sent to parents as a “consent form” survey, was part of the council’s third attempt this year to convince the Bluewater District School Board to shut WiFi transmitters down. In a statement, Health Canada continued to “reassure Canadians that the radio frequency energy emitted from WiFi equipment is extremely low and is not associated with any health problems.” While the World Health Organization has seconded this stance, parents point to the research of Dr. Magda Havas, a professor at Trent University. Havas said that St.Vincent’s radiation levels measure “quite low” but would increase as a student touches the computer. Havas admits that there are not enough long-term studies on WiFi’s radiation effects for a conclusion, but still suggests that warnings about the use of WiFi in classes be issued in each province. In response to all the conflicting findings and studies on the risk of WiFi, Dr. Arlene King, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, urges Canadians to consider the weight of the literature on the topic before jumping to conclusions. As for St. Vincent Euphrasia, wireless web stays on until their school board declare otherwise. Meanwhile, the SVE Parent Council has its petition in progress and its school trustee on hold until the November board meeting.
On Thursday, October 28th the Dunbarton senior boys’ soccer team competed in the Lake Ontario Secondary School Athletics soccer finals. The final match couldn’t have been a better match. It was a game between two very good, experienced, and competitive schools, Dunbarton High School and St, Mary’s Catholic Secondary School. The game was filled with intensity and aggression. Both teams took off to a great start; however it was Dunbarton that seemed to be controlling the play for the duration of the game. When St. Mary’s did win the ball back, the Dunbarton defense was too solid to be broken down. Unfortunately, Dunbarton just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net. After a long, hard fought game, Dunbarton finally broke the deadlock by scoring in the final minute. It was a great goal scored by Jerome Green. St. Mary’s restarted the play of the game from center field and pushed hard to try and tie the game. In pushing their entire player’s forward, an opening was left for Tremaine Grant to score the winning goal. It was a well deserved win for the Dunbarton boys, showing that all the hard work and effort they put forth in their season paid off. The grades twelve’s on this year’s team have now won the L.O.S.S.A. gold medal in 3 out of their 4 years. This year’s Dunbarton senior soccer gold medalist team, coached by Mr. Pederson and led by the team captain Skylar Thomas, consists of: Allan Brooks, Justin Haywood, Brandon Ng See Quan, Alexander Lodu, Skylar Thomas, Brandon Chetram, Brandon Chiu, Alex Genus, Darnell Paris, Myles Stanley, Ian Mackenzie, Malique Beckford, Darian Bygrave, Jerome Green, Tremaine Grant, and Rizwan Thawer. Hopefully the team will continue to dominate Durham soccer in the years to come.
Blue Jays Starting Fresh
With the new season comes new management
Justin Manning Spartan Staff
Cito Gaston has retired from coaching the Jays, leaving behind solid stats, hard for any future manager to beat. The Blue Jays have recently selected the new manager, John Farrell, along with award winning CY young award winner, Pat Hetgen. Hentgen has been chosen as the new bullpen coach for the Jays. Don Wakamatsu was hired for post, and Turey Hardlo as the new first base coach. Also Brian Butterfield (third base), Dwayne Murphy (Hitting), and Bruce Walton (pitching) were all retired from the 2010 season. Hentgen is making his coaching debut and is Jays fan favourite after a 14 year playing career that included 10 seasons in Toronto. He was the first jay to win the prestigious award (CY Young Award).
Leafs In Search of Victory
Leafs have lost 6 In a Row
Justin Manning Spartan staff
The Toronto Maple Leafs head in Tampa FL, Currently on a 5 Game losing streak, the offence has not been great lately only scoring 9 goals in past 5 games, with no wins. Including star player Phil Kessel goalless in the past 5 games, also Captain Dion Phaneuf injured, players need to start taking the leadership role. The leafs lost to Tampa Bay 4-0, star Lightning player Stamkos came in the game already with a plus 7 rating. He didn’t stop when he scored 2 goals against giguere. The first line for Leafs had a total of 19 points with ( Kris Versteeg, Phil Kessel, and Tyler Bozak). Stamkos has already gotten 22 points alone. Rumours have already gone around about head coach Ron Wilson on thin ice for his job. Wilson quoted in disgust and quoted “that it was just rumours.” “Also why is it only in Toronto where coaches in slums have to be fired.” The Lightning are coming off a 1-2-1 road trip in which they scored just seven goals. The Leafs have won just once in their last nine games, and are still smarting from a shootout loss to Buffalo after blowing a 2-0 lead. Currently up to printing date the Toronto Maple Leafs are 5-8-3
Tennis team makes an impact on other schools
The Dunbarton tennis team had a lot of wins and three people will be going to O.F.S.S.A.
Stephanie Gertsakis Spartan staff
At the Oshawa tennis bubble on October 15th and 25th, tennis for L.O.S.S.A. was occurring. Brianna Bader was partnered up with Mike Gemmick in mixed doubles. They both made it past the first round but lost their second. After losing their second match they were then put in consolation, finishing in second place. Ivor Mohorovic and Ian Winningham played boys doubles together. They beat there opponents from Pickering high school and won gold. Shelby Fallis and David Leck played mixed doubles together but their opponents were good and they lost, leaving without a medal.
Josh Matos played in boys singles and played three matches to end up in the finals. He played Raheel Manji, a top player in Canada and lost, winning silver. Stephanie Gertsakis had competed in girls singles. She made it to the finals and left with a silver medal. Ivor Mohorovic and Ian Winningham will be attending O.F.S.S.A. at the Rexall centre, as well as Stephanie Gertsakis. They will be playing the top players from Ontario and hopefully be coming back to school with medals. Dunbarton had a great tennis team with everyone competing at their best. Competition was tough but the players still put up a fight. Ian Winningham and Ivor Mahorovic will be competing at O.F.S.S.A. at the Rexall Centre. Stephanie Gertsakis will also be competing at O.F.S.S.A.
The hit television show sparks school spirit all over North America.
Amanda Filardi Spartan Staff
Glee has everyone talking, from it’s charismatic comedy to it’s chart topping songs, we can’t seem to get enough. Now, schools are taking the hit TV show to a whole new level. Schools like J. Clarke Richardson in Ajax have started on their own interpretation of what Glee is all about. Danielle Oake, a grade twelve student at J. Clarke is one of many “Gleeks” in the club. “It’s so much fun, we have stood in the main hallways of the school and performed for basically everyone. So far we have done songs like Dynamite by Taio Cruz and songs like Seasons Of Love from R.E.N.T.” This widely popular idea seems to be spreading around schools all over North America, and is known in the U.S. as the “Glee effect”. Dunbarton has yet to form a club, so if you and a few friends want to belt it out like your favourite characters from Glee, you should consider starting up this club.
A blast from the past to unintentional laughs
Some movies survive the test of time. These B-flicks were doomed from the start.
Christine Tran Spartan staff
The Pumaman (1980)
Have you ever watched the old Superman movies and thought “Boy, this would be more fun if Superman was visibly fumbling on his power cords!”? Of course you have! In this low-budget superhero movie, a young man named Toby (Walter George Alton) is granted puma-powers from outer space Aztec gods. While donning a cheap red cape (and what appears to be khaki pants), Toby walks through walls, teleports and flies…just like a real puma! These leaps in logic extend to the movie’s casting; Alton is more of a Man of Pencil than a Man of Steel. It’s so obvious he is not physically prepared for the role as he flails his hands and bottom in the air for balance while flying. Somewhere out there, Superman weeps through his laughter. Fun Fact: Does the Pumaman look nauseous sometimes? That’s because he was using an off-screen trampoline to create his indoor flying powers.
Labyrinth (1986)
Who knew a movie starring glam rocker David Bowie could be so boring? The fantasy flick starts as a teenaged girl loses her brother to goblins, for some reason. The only way she can save him is by solving a mystical maze. Alongside some very ugly puppets, she wanders from one uninspired challenge to another. Bowie’s performance as Jareth the Goblin King is the sole reason to watch. He took the role so seriously that glitter, tights and bedazzled jackets became slightly less dorky. Fun Fact: David Bowie had to make the baby noises in the song, "Magic Dance”. The on-set baby was too stubborn.
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
In this attempted horror film, a family is stranded in an evil hotel while on a road trip to nowhere. The road trip gone wrong is a typical B-movie staple. Manos’ awfulness, however, is truly unique. For example, most films aren’t bold enough to begin with a 12 minute long shot of a family looking for a hotel, but Manos went there. Director Harold P. Warren knew that editing is overrated. Clapboards, boom mikes and un-synced dialogue just ensure the audience’s attention. Warren also knew how to compromise. When an actress broke her leg before shooting, he didn’t waste money in recasting her. He just rewrote her role so that she could stay in a car for the whole film. When faced with the daunting task of creating a half-goat man on a low budget, did Warren botch the idea? Of course he didn’t. A homemade prosthetic was made for the actor to wear under his trousers. Yes, they consisted of wire hangers and forced the actor walk like he was in diapers, but at least it distracted from the film’s repetitive dialogue. Fun Fact: Manos was made because Warren, a manure salesman with no film experience, bet to his friend that anyone could make a film.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is finally here
Premier shows everywhere are sold out
Rebecca Palen Spartan staff
Friday, November 19th marks the beginning of the end. Part I of the final Harry Potter movie that is. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is the most anticipated movie of the year, with over 500 midnight shows (Friday at 12:01am), across Canada, all of which have been sold out. The lucky enthusiasts who were able to get tickets are expected to start lining up as early as two days prior to the show. Muggles everywhere have waited over a year for this next installment of the phenomenon that is Harry Potter. Part one debuts on the 19th, while fans have to wait until July to see part two. There has been much debate over the two part movie, but most fans agree that they would rather have more detail included in the movies, than have the 607 page book reduced to one film. This movie marks the end of an era; for, many have grown up on Harry Potter. Many fans are sad that the epic tale is coming to a close. The movie stars Daniel Radcliff as Potter, Rupert Grint as his best friend Ron Wesley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. In this final film Harry and the gang gear up to destroy Lord Voldemort. Will they succeed? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out!
Minute to Win It @ DHS
Eric Elson Spartan staff
You have one minute to flick one spoon with another into a plastic cup, or carry M&M candies from one bowl to the other only using a straw. These are two of the games students participated in last week’s Minute to Win It fundraiser in the cafeteria; all for the cost of a quarter.
The event was run by Amanda Adams and Teghan Henderson for their grade eleven Leadership class, with the help of Daniel Connolly, Amanda Filardi, and Amelia Mazaharally.
Teghan and Amanda are both big fans of the show and thought bringing it to the school as a fundraiser would be exciting and fun, “Teg and I had to come up with an event for leadership and we having our own take on Minute to Win It would be awesome.”
Students in the cafeteria eagerly participated in hopes of scoring a prize or to just try one of the addicting mini-games. “On Tuesday we had about thirty kids coming to participate,” says Amanda Adams. “The participants seemed really enthusiastic about these games, even kids who won came back to play again.”
Many students succeeded in completing the mini-games. Some even won multiple times. “I was really excited that I won, so I played again…and I won again”! says grade eleven student, Niki Meek, who won the spoon flicking game on Tuesday.
Minute to Win It was a great fundraiser that was not only affordable but also lots of fun for students. The event raised a fair bit of money for the school and students like Shannon Rogers are hoping to see it return, “The Minute to Win It fundraiser was really great, and I really hope they do this again in the future.”
Dear Heidi
Q: Recently, my friends have been doing drugs. They offered me some to try, but when I declined their offer they started to call me names and tease me. I don’t want to do drugs but I also want to be cool and not lose my friends. What should I do? A: A friend is someone who will respect you and will be there for you when you need them. In this situation, your friends are not respecting your decision and they are not looking out for you, so you’d have to question if they really are people you’d want to be hanging out with. I’d suggest talking to your friends, and telling them how you feel, and if they still aren’t being respectful, then try to find a new group of friends to hangout with. It is important to stay true to yourself and to do what you feel is right. There are many people that will treat you the way you want to be treated.
Subgenres of Metal
Exploring the some of the more popular subgenres of heavy metal
Tareque Moatar Spartan staff
Heavy metal Heavy metal is a subgenre of rock music. The bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness.
Alternative metal Alternative metal is a cross-genre term used for metal bands that have an experimental edge. They use unconventional lyrics, odd time signatures, and unusual techniques. Examples are: Rage Against The Machine, Alice in Chains, and Tool.
Black metal Black metal uses fast tempos, shrieked vocals, distorted guitars played in droning, hypnotic patterns, and unconventional song structures. It creates an atmosphere of dread or depression, like doom metal. Examples are: Blashphemy, Bathory, and Woods of Ypres.
Death metal Death metal employs heavily distorted guitars, harsh vocals that are low-pitched/growled, blast beat drumming, minor keys, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes. Examples are: ARADD, Dark Tranquillity, Atheist, and Odium.
Doom metal Doom metal uses very slow tempos, low-tuned guitars, and a much heavier sound than other metal genres. The music and the lyrics evoke a sense of dead, despair, and impending doom. Examples are: Sunn O))), Swallow the Sun, and Anathema.
Industrial metal Industrial metal draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal. It uses repeated metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Examples are: Fear Factory, Malhavoc, and A DARK HALO.
Metalcore Metalcore is a fusion genre of combing elements of heavy metal and hardcore punk. It uses harmonised guitar riffs and solos, drummers use hardcore d-beats and double bass drums, and vocalists use a sing along style. Examples: are Killswitch Engage, CENTURIES APART, A Sentence To Silence, Charge The Gates, Dancing With Paris, and The Agonist.
Nu metal Nu metal is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with genres, including grunge and hip hop. Examples are: Disturbed, Slipknot, and Kittie.
Post metal This genre takes influences from post rock. Though it is similar to post rock in many ways, post metal tends to include lower-tuned guitars, distorted guitars, heavy atmosphere, gradual evolution of song structure, and minimal emphasis on vocals. Post metal stresses on emotion, vocals are almost nonexistent, and lyrics are equally abstract. Examples are: The Pax Cecilia, Isis, and The Ocean.
Power metal Powel metal is more upbeat than other metal genres. Power metal has clean, melodic, high pitches vocals. Fast pacing is driven by double bass and melodic lead guitar. Examples are: Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, and DragonForce.
Progressive metal Progressive metal is one of the more complex metal genres, due to unusual and dynamic time signatures. It blends the powerful, guitar driven sound of metal with the complex compositional structures, odd time signatures, and intricate instrumental playing of progressive rock. Examples are: Protest the Hero, Crowded Sky, Structures, Opeth, and Amorphis.
Thrash metal Thrash metal is characterised by its fast tempos, complexity, and aggression. It typically uses fast, percussive and low register guitar riffs. Lyrics often deal with social issues using direct and denunciatory language. Examples are: Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth.
This Month’s Quotes
Alex Lodu and Brianna Bader Spartan staff
Life Quotes: "We all live in suspense from day to day. In other words, you are the hero of your own story." - Mary McCarthy "I believe you should live each day as if it is your last, which is why I don't have any clean laundry because, come on, who wants to wash clothes on the last day of their life" - Unknown
Name These Quotes: Character 1: “Listen, I know that we started out as foe. But after that courageous act that you showed me against the one they call Derek, maybe someday we could become friends. Friends who ride majestic, translucent steeds, shooting flaming arrows across the bridge of Hemdale.” Character 2: “I would follow you into the mists of Avalon if that's what you mean.” Movie: ……… Characters: ………
"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." Movie: ……… Character: ………
Band Profile: Signals
Shannon Rogers Spartan staff
Just the Facts Name: Signals Members: Patrick Morrow-lead guitar. Zach Murray; lead/rhythm guitar. Krish Dineshkumar; drums. Derek Reid-Wilkinson; bass. Genre: Metal-core. Audience: Teens and young adults. For Fans Of…: Protest The Hero, Periphery.
What’s the best part about being in a band? Just ask Patrick Morrow, a seventeen-year-old Pine Ridge Secondary School student and lead guitarist of the local band “Signals”. “The best thing about being a part of a band is experimenting with new material,” says Morrow. “Playing a show and seeing the reaction of the fans to the new songs is really rewarding.” The band writes all of their own material, turning to some of the darker topics in life for inspiration. “One of our songs is actually based off of a disease that can cause your muscles to turn rock hard, almost like stone. It’s just really fun to write music!” exclaims Morrow. “Although, most of our new material doesn’t have lyrics yet. We’re working on that,” he laughs. “Signals” has been together for about a year, and they started playing shows after only a few short months. The boys played shows at Top Shelf in Ajax and a few other small venues around Pickering. They are currently on hiatus due to their search for a new vocalist. The remaining members still practice weekly, both running through current material and writing new. “It’s a lot of fun because we’ve been friends for a while,” states Morrow. “It’s more or less a structured jam session when we practice because we want to share our ideas with the others, but we know that we also have a job to do.” Whether the boys are practicing their current songs or writing new ones, their passion and energy comes alive in the music. “We just love the music, and we hope to keep doing what we’re doing for as long as we can,” says Morrow.
Top 5 Reality TV Shows
You can’t get any more real than these addicting shows.
Sarah Henderson Spartan staff
I can honestly say that TV would be extremely boring if we didn’t have our reality TV shows to watch and laugh over. In an online survey, a total of 74% of teenagers have watched or are currently watching reality TV daily. There are tons of them, but only the following shows have managed to reach the Top 5 by bringing in millions of viewers watching worldwide.
Dancing with the Stars is a hit TV show that pairs professional dancers with celebrities in an all out dance competition in which the viewers decide the winner. This show broke a record on September 21st, 2010 with a total of 23.9 Million viewers.
America’s Next Top Model is a show where a number of women compete for the title of America’s Next Top Model and for a chance to start their career in the modeling industry.
Jersey Shore is a hit show featured on MTV. The show follows eight Italian “Guidos” and “Guidettes” living in a household together during their summer vacations, the shows filled with drama and long nights of clubbing. Season 3 has been announced to start on January 6th.
So You Think You Can Dance is a show in which contestants compete in dance. The local versions of this show appear in over 10 countries such as in Canada, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The Bachelorette/The Bachelor is a competitive reality dating show. Many women and men compete for the heart of the “Bachelor” or “Bachelorette” at the end of the show the last contestant remaining usually ends up engaged to the Bachelor/Bachelorette, but it doesn’t always turn out the way you think.
In 1961, Matisse’s Le Bateau (The Boat) hung upside-down for 2 months in New York’s Museum of Modern Art - none of the 116,000 visitors had noticed. 9 out of 10 people believe Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. This isn't true; Joseph Swan, a British physicist, invented it. Charlie Chaplin once won third prize in a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest. The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910. Einstein couldn't speak fluently until he was nine years old. The names of all the continents end with the letter they start with. The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter of the alphabet. Your thumb is the same length as your nose. The length from your wrist to your elbow is the same as the length of your foot. If you plug your nose, you can't hum.
Dunbarton students cling to fears
Amanda Adams Spartan staff
Phobia may seem too dramatic of a word to describe someone’s fear but it’s more common than one would think. Many of Dunbarton students are clutching to an irrational and abnormal fear, no matter how much they are reassured that it is not dangerous or to be feared in anyway. These students share their unsettling phobia they live with everyday. Adriel Spencer (grade 9) – “I’m afraid of deep water, because I’m scared of drowning.” Kirsten Maciel (grade 10) – “I’m afraid of oompaloompas. When I was little I watched The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie and they just really scared me.” Eric Elson (grade 11) – “I’m really scared of sandwiches. I used to have sandwiches all the time when I was young. Then I moved to Pickering and started going home for lunch. So I didn’t have them for a long time. Then I just got really scared of them. However it’s only some sandwiches that freak me out.” Sean Houston (grade 12) – “I’m scared of spiders because some kid in kindergarten brought a green rubber spider to class and it scared me to death.” Alex Christou (grade 9) – “I have claustrophobia.” Cassie Gibson (grade 11) – “I’m afraid of things going in my eye. When I was at the optometrist a couple years ago, he tried to put a contact lens in my eye, I flipped out and hit him.” Hollie Smith (grade 11) – “I have a phobia of feet. They just stick out of the bottom of your leg like little things (shudders). I hate when they wiggle, I actually want to barf.” Mary Sherban (grade 10) – “I’m scared of unicorns. They just scare me.” Tiana Khan (grade 11) “I’m scared of used band-aids. I had a bad experience when I was rollerblading when I was younger. I had a huge scrape on my leg and the band-aids kept falling off (tries not to gag).” Kyle Whitehorn (grade 12) – “Snakes all the way, because they’ll kill you.”
TOP 5 ODD STORIES
Nabiha Naqvi Spartan staff
1. Baby killed after interrupting mother’s facebook time Some people are true facebook addicts. A Florida woman has pleaded guilty to shaking her baby to death after the boy’s crying interrupted her playtime on Farmville. Alexandra V. Tobias told investigators she was angered by her sons crying so she shook him, smoked a cigarette, shook him again and then he died. She will be sentenced in December and remains in jail for now.
2. Woman throws dog poop in drivers face A Massachusetts woman was charged with throwing a bag of dog poop in the face of a motorist to try to slow him down. Lt. Rick Santangelo says the woman initially contacted police last week and reported she was walking her dog when she saw the motorist nearly hit a man on a bicycle, so the only thing that she could do to slow him down was throw dog poop that ended up on the motorists face. Santangelo says the motorist contacted the police next day to report being struck in the face with dog feces. The woman is charged with assault, battery with a dangerous weapon, vandalism to property and disorderly conduct.
3. Woman in Taiwan marries herself? A Taiwanese woman "married" herself by throwing a wedding banquet. The 30-year-old Chen Wei-yi, held the ceremony in a Taipei hotel Saturday witnessed by 30 relatives and friends. She stated "We must love ourselves before we can love others. I must marry myself before marrying the special someone."
4. 10 year old gives birth in Spain A 10-year-old girl living in the south of the country has given birth. The social affairs minister says authorities are evaluating whether to let the mother and her family retain custody of the baby, born last week. Reporters have said that the father of the baby is 13 years old. Spanish newspapers said the mother is of Romanian origin. The mother told medical staff that giving birth at such a young age is common in their country.
5. Cup of tea forces plane to make emergency landing A British airplane which was on its way to Poland was forced to make an emergency landing in Germany after a 56 year old woman spilled a cup of hot tea on herself. The woman was treated at the airport and released and the plane resumed its journey. She later on took a train to Poland.
Fields are patchy and muddy. School needs to take action
Ayesha Rahaman Spartan staff
Have you ever noticed the outdoor fields at our school? Have you ever played a game of soccer, football or just hung out on the field for fun? Having a smooth, well manicured and safe field shouldn’t be a luxury; it should be a standard. It begins with the school management and their commitment to the students and athletes who attend the school and who represent the school in competitions across the region. The athletes and students of Dunbarton deserve to have a training field, one that is pothole, stone and ditch free. A field that is evenly grassed and smooth to run and play on. If the fields were properly maintained and managed, our teams would be more successful and the athletes would be more enthusiastic in wanting to come out and participate in the games. Currently the fields at Dunbarton are atrocious. A student can easily injure themselves just by walking across the field, as there are many potholes, bald patches all over the field. Our athletes are not given a fair chance to compete because their training grounds are neither adequate nor safe to practice on. One of our resident athletes said, “If the fields were even and smooth then we would dominate teams, and always have victories. Besides winning, the safety of our own teammates is important. Better fields mean preventing injuries. ” There are many ways we can improve the quality of the fields: meet with the school council to get their support and funding to do landscaping, engage in fundraising events to buy maintenance items for the field, encourage students and athletes to dedicate a couple hours to clean up the fields which can be counted as community service hours and lastly, promote and encourage our students to come out and support the project. If you could do anything for your school, what would it be? I would improve the fields to make them more enjoyable for everyone.
Money or school?
Does a part-time job add stress to an already stressful year of school?
Eric Elson Spartan Staff
It’s crunch time. Many students in grade 11 and 12 are preparing to head off to university. In order to prepare for tuition fees, students are looking for part-time jobs to help fund their post-secondary education and social lives. These part-time jobs can have a negative effect on a student’s grade average because the work hours can take away from the student’s availability to study. “It can be very time consuming and it can affect my studying,” claims Sara Mehraban, who works at her father’s Square Boy Pizza franchise. If the student is working late hours on a week night, it can take away from their hours of sleep. “I don’t usually work late on week-nights, but the few times I have, it made it really hard to get enough sleep,” says Sara. However having a part-time job does have some positive effects. Shamik Sen is a grade 11 who runs his own landscaping business as a part-time job. “It prepares you for the real world, but you become a lot busier. There is a lot less free time,” he claims. “The pay cheques, employee discounts, and the work experience as a whole make up for all the time consumption,” says Sara A job can be very time consuming, but it doesn’t stop Daniel Connolly from looking for one. “I really want the ability to control my own finances,” he said, “I want to be able to pay for some of my university without or very little of a student loan.” When asked if he was worried about the negative effect it might have on his grades he replied, “I’m not worried; I feel that I can stay on top of my academics.” Even though having a job may make your life a lot busier, you are making valuable money and gaining work experience. “You have your own pocket money, so you don’t have to rely on anyone else,” said Shamik, “You also develop a better sense of time and money management, you realize how valuable money actually is.” School is a lot of hard work, and a job can add to the stress. However, jobs can also be character-building. They offer a great learning experience and are an effective way of earning money. It just all depends on whether or not you’re willing to make the sacrifices.
Flaws found in more than just the candidates
Do you really know the importance of your vote?
Jonelle Littley Spartan staff
Many times there have been people of a community that are upset with how their city is being run, and blaming the government. However, the government is not always to blame; sometimes the voters have to take more initiative. A lot of problems surrounding government are that the voters tend to make irrational decisions. Sometimes the people are afraid of change, and therefore vote for the same candidates over and over; this being called the “old men’s club.” Without making changes in the elected council, how can you expect to make changes in your community? Sometimes change can be risky, not knowing what can happen, though it can also bring about a positive outcome. Many times there are dirty campaigns going on without the public’s awareness. Politics isn’t always fair, as much as we would like it to be. We want people to be honest and sincere, but sometimes all the candidates want is to win, no matter what it takes. A lot of the time the “good guys” don’t always win as much as we might want them to. A way for people to try and elect a respectful and sincere leader would be to make an educated vote. Reading up on the candidates and researching their prior accomplishments could really go a long way. Get to know the people who want to represent you and your community. Another flaw with elections/politics is that pretty much anyone can run. Candidates that have limited experience run for office. As much as a new voice is needed, they might not be very strong in the council position. When you read up on a candidate who has worked with the community, has been involved in local issues and has made some positive outlooks on the community, they are usually the people worth voting for. Not someone who will pretty much say anything to get elected. Many voters are impatient. They want to see drastic changes fast. But change takes time, you can’t just vote based on what you want to hear. You have to think realistically. Not only are there problems faced with voting, there are problems faced with people who don’t vote! People who complain about the way their community is being handled or looked after need to vote. If they don’t, they shouldn’t complain because they have made no real effort in contributing positively to their community. If they want a new voice, they need to help support one. Lastly, children are the future. It’s them we need to think about! Any decisions made now will affect them. Shouldn’t they be positive changes rather than the same old dilemmas? Voting matters. Make your next vote count!
Scorpio: (October 23 -November 21) A delightful gesture could bring a sense of emotional comfort and the realization that other people appreciate your efforts, even if they are not usually vocal or open in showing this to you .Expect to be even more withdrawn and sensitive this month. You will bring fresh opportunities and a sense that you are on a new path. This is a good time to put things in place.
Sagittarius: (November 22 -December 21) The good times continue to roll, although your focus is likely to shift to matters concerning school and relationships. Winning will be your sole desire this month. You will see red flags when interacting with someone new, just pay attention and don’t let others influence your decisions. Your creativity is booming in all aspects. Remember you are an individual; you have to stand out. Forget blending in, it’s just not in your genes.
Capricorn: (December 22 -January 19) This month it’s time to relax and put out everything else on the back burner. This will give you the determination to complete some of your goals and increase your ambition for the things you cherish. You will work hard on projects you're passionate about which will allow you to put things in perspective. You've worked hard lately, and it's only natural that you should finally arrive at this stage. Measure the distance you've come, and above all, evaluate your power. Whatever you do, think big.
Aquarius: (January 20 -February 18) This month is ideal for romance. Whether you’re currently in a relationship or not, things will get interesting. Remember to do things in moderation. If someone advises you to be more cautious, heed the warning. Don’t dismiss advice from friends, even if it seems absurd, they may see the things you can’t. If you’ve been indecisive lately it’s because you’re over thinking everything.
Pisces: (February 19 -March 20) If you continue to put your best foot forward, you are bound to receive rewards. You will relentlessly pursue your goals and objectives this month, which is your favourite medicine for feeling down. You have a good heart, and although others can’t always see that, stay true to yourself. Brace yourself for changes; there will be an upcoming opportunity that you might be unsure about. This is something that can’t be missed.
Aries: (March 21 -April 19) Balance your emotions and keep your ego under control. Treat yourself to something special and don’t hold back, especially if you deserve a little extra indulgence. Planning new projects and creative enterprises is a great idea, but wait until the end of the month before making these ideas into reality. Finding various ways to improve skills and expertise should be easier and can be an excellent way to move quickly up the ladder of success. A trusted friend who shares a common interest could provide motivation and inspiration for you.
Taurus: (April 20 -May 20) Just because there’s a goalie, doesn’t mean you can’t score. This month, you will encounter love in many different ways. Friends might seem pushy, but don’t let them control your emotions. Make sure you have a balance between responsibilities and relaxation; because recently you’ve either been pulling all nighters or completely procrastinating. Your sense of humour has you at the top of the class; keep up the good work. Don’t forget that at the end of the rainbow there’s always a pot of gold.
Gemini: (May 21 -June 20) Reminiscing about memories and feelings of long ago could be a pleasant hobby, but not an everyday thing. It’s time to get rid of superficial relationships and focus on those that really mean something to you. This month, you will try something new, opening your eyes, mind and heart to new experiences and people. Love and romance should be in plentiful supply but don’t commit just yet. If you climb a ladder, be sure it's stable. Use safety precautions when engaged in family repairs. You're ready for more variety in your life.
Cancer: (June 21 -July 22) Your love life will be intense and passionate this month; you may become obsessed with someone, whether you're single or in a relationship. As the week unfolds, emotional needs escalate more dramatically and level off quickly. At this stage, a lot of things are up in the air and you should concentrate on exploration rather than action. This month, your work load will become heavy and time management is the key to all your success. Recently, you have won something; whether it be an A on a math test or the person you really like. You have to acknowledge the people who have helped you towards victory because in the end you will need them more than ever
Leo: (July 23 -August 22) Issues will crop up in your family; with your parents in particular, due to buried secrets and emotions. You hate it when others are evasive or withdrawn, and this time may be difficult for you. During this month, you’re going to develop better coping skills and more sensitivity towards your friends. You realize they have equally important problems to discuss as well. Your energy will be increased, along with positive feelings about a new solution to fix a persistent problem. Through it all, you will have an open mind and a clear view of goals that need to be accomplished; you’ve learned that when you set goals you feel more satisfied with the outcome. Curiosity is at its highest peak this month.
Virgo: (August 23 -September 22) Expect lively action this month as someone who you don’t normally think about thinks about you. Take this to heart as last month you felt alone in different ways. A tendency to act in haste means you could regret a lot of choices this month so keep your options open. You will act as an inspiration for others in some way, even if they're older and wiser than you. Learning new skills, mastering subjects, and expressing your thoughts will be important this month.
Libra: (September 23 -October 22) Whether you’re ready or not, you will be pushed to center stage. Determination will be your middle name, along with your last name, ‘courage’. Try not to be obsessive responsibilities increase this month and so will your schedule. You will have many events, so keeping an agenda or day timer may help to ease the chaos. Self-esteem issues from last month evaporate and every time something good happens to you, like a welcoming smile from an old friend, take it to heart. This makes you feel good about yourself and gives you hope for new opportunities.
