Volume 4, Issue III - Christ the King Catholic Secondary School
Transcription
Volume 4, Issue III - Christ the King Catholic Secondary School
By students, for students Volume IV, Issue III December 2006 Ctk Writers Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town Editors Melanie Bechard Imre Gams By Jacqueline Gubiani Santa paid an early visit to Georgetown on Sunday, November 12th when Georgetown held its annual Christmas Parade. I decided to come out to support our school. I was glad to see many students also came out to show school spirit as we marched down to the fairgrounds cheering all the way. Students were dressed in school sweaters and uniform jerseys. I think I might have seen a few wearing the actual uniform! Georgetown had some pretty fabulous floats to show off. Our float was Assistant Editor Allison Hill Staff Sarah Dunlop Claire Faver Phil Faver Ben Flikkema Jacqueline Gubiani Chanel Jakobsons Steven Kanichis Enjoying the Santa Claus Parade decorated in blue and white with carolers singing Christmas carols down Guelph Street. Other floats included cross-town rivals Georgetown High, Halton Hills School of Dance, and of course, the Shriners’s gocar ts ma de their yearly appearance. The most anticipated float of the night was when Old Saint Nick appeared to wave “Merry Christmas” to everyone who came out. It was a great night and not too cold to walk through Georgetown. Everybody who came out did a fabulous job. Un Voyage Français Nina Mazzé By Lucy Schmidt, Chanel Jakobsons, Sarah Dunlop Victor Pek Lucy Schmidt Kristen Van Haeren Inside this issue: Jenny’s Story 3 Why Weed? 2 Christmas Concert 2006 4 Vendredi le 29 novembre, les classes françaises sont allées à Toronto où nous avons visité l’Office national du film. Nous avons vu le film “Les Choristes”, un bon film qui a gagné un prix Lumière pour avoir été le meilleur film étranger. Dans ce film il y a une école pour les jeunes garcons qui sont très méchants. Beaucoup de garcons n’ont pas de parents. Ils sont orphelins et ils sont mauvais. Clément Mathieu est arrivé à l’école chargé avec la surveillance de ces garçons. Il se sentait mal à l’aise avec les autres professeurs et les élèves. Il n’aime pas le directeur de l’école qui est cruel avec les enfants. Il frappe les garçons beaucoup. Le directeur de l’école est très agressif et ces methodes de discipline ne sont pas acceptables. M. Mathieu com- mence la chorale pour ces garçons. La chorale est magnifique! M. Mathieu decouvre Pierre qui a une voix incroyable. M. Mathieu aide les enfants avec la musique. Pierre a une belle mère. Quand M. Mathieu la rencontre il l’aime beaucoup. Elle est très belle mais elle aime un autre homme. Le professeur devient triste. Continued on page 2 PAGE 2 V O L U ME I V , I S S U E I I I Le Toronto Français Un autre garçon arrive à l’école: La chorale a amélioré la vie de tous Mondain. Il est un enfant méchant. les étudiants. Il est un criminel qui maltraite les Nous recommenderions ce film autres garçons. Ensuite, le direcà nos amis. Le film est très émoteur accuse Mondain d’avoir volé tionant et bien fait. l’argent de l’école. Il va en prison. Après le film, nous avons visité Mondain est responsable pour un le Collège Glendon. Voilà huit chofeu dans l’école. ses que nous avons apprises penÀ la fin du film, M. Mathieu est dant le tour: congédié parce qu’il y a un feu à 1. On ne doit pas parler français l’école et le direcpour aller au collège teur pense que Glendon. c’est la faute de M. 2. On peut faire Mathieu. Il laisse les cours en français la chorale et l’école ou en anglais. mais il amène le 3. Le collège plus petit garçon, Glendon est une Papineau, avec lui. section de l’univerIl devient un prosité York. fesseur de musique à une autre place. 4. C’est mieux de Le Collège Glendon vivre dans une résidence pour la première année. 5. La majorité des cours sont au sujet des arts, des langues et des politiques. 6. Le collège Glendon et l’université York ne sont pas dans le même endroit. 7. On peut louer des livres de n’importe quelle bibliothèque de l’université, Quand on connait la langue française, on a beaucoup de bonnes opportunités. En conclusion, c’était un voyage fantastique et merci aux professeurs Brun del Re, Piovesan et Continenza qui l’ont organisé. Why Weed? By Claire Faver From the Great Pyramids of Giza to the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle; from the Grand Canyon to the Great Barrier Reef…. the list of the many wonders of the world seems endless. But of all the mysteries in this world, something which still baffles me every time I think about it is the simple, yet apparently difficult question to answer: Why do the young people of today find such immense pleasure in smoking “the green stuff”? Weed, alternatively known as marijuana, cannabis, grass, or even more commonly, “pot,” has become the new favourite pass-time and hobby for many teenagers throughout North America. In most, if not all high schools, weed has become as easily available as candy is, and “good,” middle-classed teenagers are buying it just as frequently. Contrary to popular belief, studies have shown that weed can in fact cause a range of harmful long-term effects on the body and mind. These include sexual dysfunction and damage to the brain’s memory functions. I acquired that bit of “useless information” by doing a swift little Google search on my computer; something which, just like marijuana, is readily available to most, if not all teenagers. Yet, despite the vast amount of knowledge, facts, and warnings about the dangers of smoking pot that are out there, too many to mention of my teenaged counterparts still choose the “joint” above rationality, and really, just mere sensibility! It saddens me to think that, in all probability, at least more than half of our next generation is bound to be a bunch of cowardly “potheads” who would rather choose to be as high as kites for most of their lives than to have to deal with the realities of the real world. They would rather live a life of hallucination and dependency while real life around them goes on. In my pursuit of some more “useless information” on this topic, I also learned that smoking weed is just one step away from moving on to more hard-core drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Think about it: one step away from being a full-blown drug addict! This can surely not be a very appealing thought, yet, for reasons beyond all comprehension, the little green leaf still prevails! Exhausted parents the world over can but only shake their heads as their children puff themselves away into some green world of fantasy, and begin to walk, or rather, fly, the green path that leads to selfdestruction. Sad as it may be, there comes a time when they can but only stand back, shrug their weary shoulders, and say, “Hey, whatever flies your kite.” V O L U ME I V , I S S U E I I I PAGE 3 A Figure in the Shadows: Jenny’s Story By Phil Faver From the cold, dark, derelict shell of some abandoned building emerges a small, ragged- looking figure, barely identifiable in the midst of the gathering shadows of twilight. As this figure comes into view, I see her wild, raven-black hair blowing furiously in the vicious autumn wind; one hand is buried deeply in the pocket of her torn jeans, the other clutches almost desperately to the remnants of a cigarette. As the figure approaches me, I see an almost forced smile momentarily brightening up her pretty, but cold face and dark-ringed eyes. This is “Jenny.” With my heart brimming over with anguish, I listen to her story. Jenny, who is currently 18 years old, is one of the thousands of homeless teens eking out an existence on the streets of Toronto. For the past two years, she has made the harsh, unforgiving streets her home. With icy blue eyes- which have grown cold over time, yet still retaining just a glint of childlike innocence- Jenny tells me how, when she was just 16 years of age, her dad committed suicide and tore her whole world to shreds in the process. Horror-stricken, I listen as Jenny tells me how, after her mom remarried, her stepfather sexually molested her night after night, robbing her of the childhood innocence which today is nothing more than a mere shadow in her stony eyes. Needless to say, life at home for Jenny was completely and utterly miserable. “Miserable” turned to “unbearable,” and soon Jenny took to the streets in an attempt to start a new life for herself. With a touch of pride, Jenny tells me about her “street family:” other homeless teens whom she befriended and now considers as her only “real” family. She tells me how people from the “outside world” call them the “Wolf Kids,” claiming that they “live like wolves”, moving around together in “packs” and “hunting” for food and space by night. I was just beginning to contemplate how terrible that soundedfor a teenager, a human being- to be compared to an animal, when Jenny enhances my shock by telling me what it is that she does for a living: prostitution. With her blue eyes searching everywhere, unable to meet mine, Jenny tells me how she has no choice but to sell herself, her dignity, almost every night so that she can have food to eat and clothes on her back. Probably reading the shock on my face, she quickly reassures me that it is not all that bad, and that sometimes, every once in a while if she makes enough money, she can afford a motel with clean sheets and a roof over her head as a “treat” for a night or two. Just as I was thinking how painful it must be for her to “sell herself” like that after all the pain she has been through with the sexual molestation at home, Jenny looks up at me, smiles and says shrewdly, “Hey, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!” and tries to laugh heartily at herself. But I could see the hidden pain seeping through the cracks of her broken smile. I could hear the cry of the beast echoing from the depths of her laughter… And so, this is the shocking reality that is Jenny’s story. For a moment I just sit still, reflecting on all that I have just heard, pondering this gruesome truth that is a teenager’s life. I tell myself that this is no life for a young person, that when I was 16 years old, instead of merely clean sheets and a roof above my head, my idea of a “treat” was going to the movies or going ice-skating with my friends, or licking on an ice-cream on a hot Saturday afternoon with my toes in the pool as though all was right in the world…but after tonight’s visit with Jenny I now know that all is not, in fact, right in the world. Why couldn’t Jenny’s parents just take responsibility for her, and love her and be there for her? After all, they were the ones who brought her into this world. Should a home not be a place of safety and comfort and sanctuary to return to at the end of a long, hard day instead of an unbearable hell to run away from? Tonight, in one world, I will be going home to a cooked meal and a warm bed and parents that love me. Tonight, in another world, Jenny will be auctioning off her dignity to the highest bidder. Her cigarette butt drops to the ground from between her shaking, bone-like fingers. She stamps it out with her tattered sneaker, flashes me another one of her impaired smiles, then the ragged figure that was Jenny disappears into the night, becoming one of the shadows that seemed to be hounding her life. PAGE 4 V O L U ME I V , I S S U E I I I La Journée des Carrières By Steven Kanichis Le 22 Novembre était une journée très impressionnante et importante pour notre école et notre communauté. Durant cette journée il y avait beaucoup de choses qu’on a apprises. Par exemple, quelles sont les bénéfices de la langue française au Canada et pourquoi est-ce que ces bénéfices existent-ils? Pendant la Journée des Carrières, on a appris que de connaître seulement une langue au Canada ne suffit pas. (Même si cette langue est une langue très utile!). Canada est un pays bilingue, et en plus, un p a y s mu l ti cu l tu r el . On a entendu quelques histoires qui nous ont données une perspective tellement différente de la est-ce que je n’ai pas commencé à apprendre le français?” Rappelezvous, qu’il n’est jamais trop tard pour apprendre le français comme deuxième langue! Un grand merci à: • Mlle. Glasier et le trois danseuses • John Forcier : Le système de son • Le défilé de mode : Jaclyn Manley et le groupe • Tous les autres bénévolats French Lives on at CtK! langue française. Aussi, on a entendu que beaucoup d’invités qui sont venus nous parler, n’auraient pas un emploi s’ils ne connaissaient pas la langue française. Vous, vous demandez maintenant “Pourquoi Christmas Concert 2006 By Melanie Bechard Combine your love of music on Thursday, December 21, with a chance to support your school’s musical Jaguars and leap into the Christmas spirit at Ctk’s much anticipated Christmas Concert. The Music Department usually only has two such concerts every year, so this is a rare chance to be impressed by the dazzling talents of the staff and students. The Senior Band, Junior Band, Choir, Gospel Choir, guitar class, and grade nine music class have all worked diligently for months to prepare stirring medleys and Christmas classics. The proceeds of this event fund the one of the largest and fastest-growing departments of the school, which constantly requires new instruments to support the musical ambitions of hundreds of Ctk students. Buy a ticket during your lunch, attend what is sure to be an amazing concert, and support your friends in the Music Department so band geeks can continue to rule the world! Write All About It! E-mail your articles, comments or ideas to: [email protected] For a “spot” in the Jag-wire V O L U ME I V , I S S U E I I I PAGE 5 Senior Boys Basketball– Monthly Report By Ben Flikkema and Victor Pek With a quarter of the season over, the Christ the King Jaguars Senior Boys Basketball team (22), sits in third place, tied with Acton High School in the Halton North Division Standings. Coming off a convincing 87-62 victory over the Milton District Mustangs on December 11th, the Jags appear poised and ready for a playoff run. “We are looking to build on from last year, and to be competitive in all our games,” said Coach Mr. Biturajac. In their most recent win, CtK had 5 players score 10 or more points. Steve Ples and Dan Witczak led the team with 18 and 16 points, respectively. Expectations are high for this year’s squad, as the thick of the season approaches. Their fast- paced offence accompanied by a pressing defence exhibits tremendous potential. According to Coach Biturajac, the Jags are focused on “implementing a high pressure defense, and an up tempo offense”. The Jaguars’ next home game will be played on December 18th. Come support your team as they host the E.C. Drury Spartans (0-4). The two teams have met before, on November 29th. The Jags emerged triumphant in close contest, narrowly edging the Spartans 53-50. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. Christmas Poetry Lest We Remember By Nina Mazzé By Kristen Van Haeren Snow is falling Children Playing The presents Under the Christmas Tree The lights shine Don't matter He's Not Here with me By the fire All alone Lying under The mistle toe, and Reading Letters I feel his pain It's Christmas eve And He's so far away He's a soldier Overseas Fighting a war So peace can be achieved I'd fight for him If he'd come back home 'Cause I'm fighting A war on my own Santa come Down my chimney Please Bring my baby Back to Me I have been just So good this year I just want my baby Near We remember test scores and test questions We remember formulas and calculations We remember dates and times We remember our teachers and their expectations We remember paragraphs and sentences We remember appointments and meetings We remember numbers and letters We remember holidays and greetings We remember people and faces We remember rules and regulations We remember consequences and punishments We remember streets and their locations We remember so many things in life Dealing with present-day activities and responsibilities That we forget about our past And all of its liberties The fighting and horrors In the wars we once shared Play a part in the present From all the lives that were spared Lest we remember those soldiers That laid their lives down for ours The fights they endured Coming out with tragedies and scars Let’s remember our life cycles in science And formulas in math as we were taught But let us keep in mind Remembrance Day And the wars that were once fought