Volume 42, Issue 3, (April 11, 2023)

Who let the dogs out... onto the NT field?

By Salma Kassim-Lahka page 7

Grade 12 advice on applying to university

By Sophie Block and Elena Vlitas page 9

By Abby Harlow page 13

STAFF INTERVIEWS

UrbaNT Dictionary: Can teachers understand?

NT students talk a lot. In class, in the washrooms, in the halls, and, of course, on social media. Let’s see if the teachers have been keeping up!

Sophie Block Editor in Chief

Elena Vlitas Editor in Chief

Glow up

To look more attractive/better than before. He had a glow up, look at him now compared to grade nine!

Ms. Lau: I think it’s when you go from like, a normal everyday look, to everything is just like, makeup and hair, and nails, all that.

Slay

You did awesome, you killed it. Wow, you slayed that interview.

Ms. Lau: I think it’s like I killed it, I slayed. Like “slay, queen.”

Mr. Hobson: They slayed! They did really well. The philosophy exam was slewn, slewed, slayed!

Rizz

Short for charisma, ability to attract others to you. He’s so hot and nice, he can rizz anyone up.

Mr. Chen: Is it like a place to go to? Like a rizz?

Mr. Rea: I think it means French for rice.

Mr. Jones: I had a friend named Rizz once. Way back in high school. It sort of sounds like a music term, like a riff. Is that a short term for continued on page 15...

A letter from the editors

Dear North Toronto,

Step aside COVID, senioritis is the new plague falling over NT students faster than ever before. Doing work in class? Yeah right. The talk of the town is Red and Grey. Prom tickets are on sale today. And going to class has never seemed more optional.

The library has become a swamp of calc students, mixed in with the occasional hand of cards. Clubs are dying (if not dead) and the field is ready to welcome back you and your trash (just joking, throw it out!). And with Mr. Hobson leaving NT, there’s a mob of sad philosophy students left, too.

If you’re interested in Galleria, NT’s new favourite spot to buy snacks, check out Local News. See Internal to learn the most pricey items in our lost and found, Features to learn about the new Grade 11 English curriculum, and Arts and Lifestyle to catch up on the pop-culture world in case you’re living under a rock, like Sophie. Don’t worry, your long-awaited April horoscopes are ready for you, and the crossword is calling your name. And for the mob of sad philosophy students, check out his farewell article in Internal.

Our NT rights of passage are almost complete: personal essay is done, Charity Week has passed, and prom is fast approaching. We’re just waiting on showing our spirit on Red and Grey day to prove that we are, in fact, the best school. And, of course, us grade twelves are squinting at each email, hoping to get the last (or firsts) of our university acceptances.

Until Issue 4, don’t set off any fire alarms. Please.

Your Editors-In-Chief,

Elena Vlitas and Sophie Block

P. S. Elena is very sad her February message was a flop, so she would like to redeem herself by finding Sophie a prom date this time.

CONTACT US

Have a question, criticism, praise, or comment? Send a letter to the editors, and we’ll be happy to respond.

Email: ntcigraffiti@gmail.com

Instagram: @ntcigraffiti

Twitter: @NTCI_Graffiti

ABOUT US

Graffiti is North Toronto C.I.’s award-winning, student-led newspaper. Graffiti aims to amplify and represent the voice of the student body at North Toronto C.I. by creating a unified communications plaform that allows students to develop their skills in language, design, art, teamwork, and leadership. With every publication, Graffiti strives to maintain the highest integrity and provide readers with honest, relevant journalism that is grounded in truth.

SECTION EDITORS

HEAD COPY EDITORS

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY HEAD

LAYOUT

BUSINESS MANAGERS

STAFF ADVISORS

Elena Vlitas

Sophie Block

Baran Forootan

Felicity Hughes

Ema Kazazi Rowen Uy

Abby Harlow Andjelina Illic

Isis Mullaj

Sara Kaboudvand | Logan Proulx

Malak Mohamed | Arissa Roy

Ruby Steinberg | Natasha Bernstein

Ava Reitmaier-Stone | Victoria Man

Constantia Pilnitz

Leila Schrenk | Krisha Mittra

Elizabeth Rosen | Jack Wolkove

Sarisha Panday

Luke Taylor | Grace Uy

Tai Vaughan | Ethan Cairns

David Silver Jessica Bulgutch

A bittersweet goodbye: Mr. Hobson

A farewell to NT’s favourite turtleneck lover.

Victoria Man Section Editor

If you hear a loud, booming scream followed by a classroom door slamming shut on the third floor, it’s probably Mr. Hobson: a teacher who is known for his captivating, unique, and impactful teaching methods. Mr. Hobson came to North Toronto C.I. in 2006 as a department head and as a history and philosophy teacher. He has recently gone through the process of gaining the opportunity to seek higher positions in different schools, such as the position of vice principal and principal. Now, Mr. Hobson is taking a huge step forward in his career by taking on a new vice principal position at Wexford Collegiate Institute, starting immediately after March Break. This sudden news of his leaving has left the NT community feeling bittersweet. Having been at NT for 17 years, Mr. Hobson has made a true impact. The NT community, while sad about his departure, is excited for Mr. Hobson taking the next step in his career.

In an interview with Mr. Hobson, he shared an overview of his teaching career. Mr. Hobson expressed how teaching was “the last thing [he] ever thought [he] wanted to do”. Mr. Hobson claims to have “fell into [teaching]” after his experiences as a tutor near the start

of his teaching career. He shares, “mid 20s, I realized ‘rock star’ wasn’t going to happen” and so he went to pursue a Master’s degree in English literature at the University of Ottawa, after an undergraduate degree in English and history at the University of Waterloo. He soon realized that he didn’t want to pursue a position as a professor. From there on, Mr. Hobson worked for a while in the countryside and even travelled to work in Korea. He eventually came back to Canada and realized he loved teaching younger students through tutoring experiences at a private school. In 2000, Mr. Hobson went to teacher’s college, and the rest is history.

As Mr. Hobson takes on the new position, he reminisces about some of his favourite aspects of being a teacher. He shares that he truly enjoys “watching when something clicks in a student’s head.” He explained his enjoyment of when students start to understand the course material and “begin challenging [him] and start getting carried away” with the topic. Mr. Hobson finds teaching very rewarding because he believes that teaching is “a human thing to do” and he likes that he is “able to help kids”. He thoroughly enjoys that “everyday is different” as a high school teacher. Mr. Hobson particularly expressed how teaching makes him “feel like [he is] doing something useful.” Now that he is to step into the position of vice principal at an-

other school, Mr. Hobson is “daunted, [finding it] hard to leave.” Still, Mr. Hobson feels it is the right time to take on this new challenge and “make a bigger contribution” with the new responsibilities that he will have to undertake.

Many students who have had the pleasure of being in one of his classes, or of working with him in the organization of major assemblies, all share the same sentiments of Mr. Hobson’s impact on their high school experience. They truly believe that Mr. Hobson is, in fact, doing something more than just useful. These students are immensely overwhelmed by the sudden departure of Mr. Hobson and have many emotions and anecdotes to share.

Natasha Bernstein, a grade 12 student who has had Mr. Hobson for 3 different courses during high school, shares her appreciation for him as a teacher. She explains, “If there is one teacher that has truly made an impact on my life, it has to be Mr. Hobson.” She notes that the first time she had him as a teacher was in grade 10 history, and from the first class “he instantly became [her] favourite teacher at NT.” Bernstein greatly appreciates Mr. Hobson’s “ability [to make] everyone feel acknowledged, appreciated, and most of all, valued.” Bernstein further expands, “As a person, Mr. Hobson is someone who can really listen to what people have to say and more importantly, he cares. His

teaching methods allow for a class full of debates and laughs, as his interpretations and ways of teaching have the ability of grasping the attention of every student.”

Sara Kaboudvand, a grade 11 student in Mr. Hobson’s ancient history course this semester, expresses, “Mr. Hobson doesn’t just teach, he shows you what it would be like to live in the time [period that] he is talking about.” She finds his teaching “engaging [and] valuable”, stating, “I’m thankful for every moment I’m with him and everything I learn from him.” All of these teaching qualities of Mr. Hobson’s that are so highly spoken of throughout the student body have made his courses very popular among students during course selection periods. It’s no surprise when students fill up his classes, but even then, this is the first year that Mr. Hobson has had to teach 5 sections of his philosophy course due to the overwhelming number of grade 12 students interested in taking it.

Aside from Mr. Hobson’s numerous club staff advisor roles and sports team coach positions, another prominent role he has within the school community is his role in the school auditorium. Many of the important, formal assemblies that we have the honour of attending in our school auditorium are co-organized by Mr. Hob-

Photo by Victoria Man

son. The Holocaust assembly and the Remembrance day assembly are both examples of the meaningful assemblies that Mr. Hobson has helped bring to our school. A stage crew member, Lola Urosevic, shares her experience working alongside Mr. Hobson and others for these assemblies. She explains, “to me, what stands out the most is how invested he is in the assemblies he runs/assists with. He’s not running the Holocaust assembly because the school told him to. He’s running it because it’s something that’s very important to him personally. Working with him during dress rehearsals and assemblies, it’s clear he wants them to mean something to the students who attend them.”

Aside from helping with different assemblies, Mr. Hobson is also a huge part of many musical events at NT. Most well known for playing the guitar and being the face of the Hobson Band, the performances that the band does always leave the audience rowdy with excitement. Not only does he encourage the school community with music, he also left a legacy for the students who perform alongside him in the Hobson Band. Grade

Mr. Hobson’s departure from the school. In a private farewell performance done by the four grade 12 students to Mr. Hobson, sentimental hugs and congratulations were shared. The students of the Hobson Band notes that they were “scared of him” because they could “never imagine someone being as nice and cool as him.” It is evident that Mr. Hobson is able to impact students both inside and outside of the classroom. Mr. Hobson is sure to impact the students at Wexford just as much as he has for the students at NT.

Word on the Street

man, and grade 11 student, Lola Urosevic are all emotional about

Artwork by Selina Lee STUDENT LIFE

Mr. Hobson has many mottos, but there is certainly one that he affirms most strongly: “Everybody needs to treat each other as human beings first, and their role is secondary.” This mantra truly reflects in his teaching style and personality, allowing students to feel a true connection to him. Mr. Hobson has truly made an impact on the NT community, and everyone is grateful for his contributions. Now, it’s officially time for Mr. Hobson to take the next step. While the NT community is saddened by his departure, the whole of NT is very excited for Mr. Hobson. Thank you and congratulations!

Hey NT, ever wondered what’s going on in students’ minds? This issue for word on the street, Sarah and Leila take a deep dive into who seniors are taking to prom and what NT students would change about NT. To check it out, head to @ntcigrafitti on Instagram for the full story.

Leila Schrenk Section Editor

Sarah Flemington Contributor

If you could change one thing about NT what would it be?

Leah: More late starts.

Adam: More money.

Miah: The amount of grade nines who stand in the middle of the hallway.

Noah: I would have a longer lunch period.

Chloe: I’m not really loving all the cement around us, you know the grey colours walking to school. That green down there, what’s the green for? We don’t bleed green, we bleed red and grey!

Are you taking someone to Prom?

Abby: Me, myself, and I.

Claire: Well, I was going to take my boyfriend, but since there are like zero tickets, I don’t think that’s a possibility.

James: I do have a special someone I’m going to bring, and it’s my true love Ryan Spagnolo.

Madi: Well, I have a boyfriend, so I might bring him, but he goes to another school so I’m not sure if I can get him a ticket.

Alyssa and Sofia: Definitely a football team.

Annabella: I would change the walkup to the fourth floor, it’s pretty treacherous.

Isis: I would change the smell of the fourth floor.

We hope you enjoyed learning some of NT students’ opinions, and stay tuned for more next issue! Follow us @ntcigraffiti on Instagram to see the video version.

12 students, Brayden Rak, Daniel Jung, Ryan Spagnolo, Stella Sher-

Music! Art! Drama!: Soda Pop Shop

An in-depth review of NT’s artistic event.

enjoy something you have put together.”

Sophie Block Editor in Chief

In the month of February, NT students could walk the halls and see posters for the mysterious event of Soda Pop Shop. Being hosted for the first time since before COVID, Soda Pop Shop was a new experience not only for students attending, but also for the students planning it. Put together by the dance club, music council, art council, and drama club, Soda Pop Shop is a performance and display of the many talented artists at NT. Students, parents, and teachers alike gathered for a night full of creativity.

Soda Pop Shop transformed the normally plain walls of the first floor to a display of amazing student art. As you walked in, after you bought your entry ticket (automatically getting you into the gift card raffle), you were surrounded by student’s art on the walls. Art Council continued the pre-COVID tradition of the interactive art gallery, in which you could draw something on a sticky note that would then be placed on the poster of Soda Pop shop 2023.

The performances started off with a bold opening, MC-ed by Grade 10 junior band rep student Minuette Waugh. She was impressed by the turnout, saying that “to see the back of the strings room full was actually really scary.” She was “horrified” at being the MC, but kept it lively with jokes and praise after each performer. Though she says that the night was planned “very poorly” and that they were “all over the place”.

Music Council president and Drama Club head Hana Chessel said the scariest part of planning the event was that due to a technical misundertanding, “we had no idea how many people were going to show up.” She’s definitely impressed with the turnout, saying “[they] ran out of food so fast that they had to run to Shoppers to get more”. She explained more of the behind the scenes: Art Council and Music Council have been meeting two hours a week for a whole month. They would go through performers, food, and logistics for the night and discuss how they were going to pull it off. Chessel says her favourite part is “seeing how many people are here. One of the best parts of being Music Council president is seeing other people

Chessel also performed in the drama showcase with Hannah Hamilton, performing “Blueberry Helicord.” She says it was “very nerve wracking, but our jokes landed well.” Chessel was very happy to be performing in front of an audience after COVID, saying “it was really nice to show people how hard we’ve worked.”

Like most NT events, stage crew was there controlling the behind the scenes, making sure everything was running smoothly. Charlie Carter and Alex Cherkovsky, both Grade 12 members of stage crew, could be seen adjusting microphones throughout the night.

The night ended with a classic performance from “The Hobson Band”, a band featuring, of course, Mr. Hobson, Ryan Spagnolo, Stella Sherman, Lola Urosevic, Daniel Jung, and Brayden Rack. Mr. Hobson says that the students are “crack musicians, and it’s been an inspiration for all of us to be able to play.” They performed three songs, with Mr. Hobson even singing “Buddy Holly” by Weezer to end close out the night. Don’t miss their tour, which is continued at Maytime Melodies.

Student Council President Gordon Wang said that his favourite part is the “music and the different performances.” He’s “really happy to see everyone back in person.” Grade 9 students Baxter Selley and Elliot Metcalfe loved the night, with Baxter loving “the food” and Elliot loving “the music.” Ms. Packer, an English teacher who helps out with music council, is “loving her first Soda Pop Shop.” She says it’s been “really fun to see everyone out of context, out of the school hours.”

Soda Pop Shop 2023 made history, bringing in some new features. Ms. Monteith told us that

“we’ve never ever had, in the entire history of music at North Toronto, have someone sing in their own language. When Ummayal got up and sang her lullaby, I had goosebumps. She made history.” No one has ever written their own music either. As well, Mr. Hobson “has never performed at Soda Pop Shop.”

Where did the name Soda Pop shop even come from? Only Ms. Monteith, a former NT music teacher, seemed to know, saying that “if you know your Archie comics you would know that in Riverdale they have a diner. So about twenty years ago the head of the department and the music council put out the idea to do something like a diner type thing. What we had hoped would be people serving tables would be like the old fashioned drive-in type thing, where

the girls were in poodle skirts and the guys were in leather jackets.” Ms. Monteith continued, telling us that “Of course, nobody had roller skates and so we had roller blades. But the principal found out, and said that’s not safe so the very first two years he only allowed everyone to wear one roller blade and so we had roller blades. Everyone went around with skate, step, skate step.”

Though this year’s performance didn’t include the roller blades, the creativity that existed twenty years ago is still live and booming. With new additions to the night while maintaining the classic Soda Pop Shop feel, NT student’s creativity was brought to life and showcased in a lively night to the school community.

Photos by Sophie Block

All about the new “Genocide and Crimes against Humanity” course

An in depth interview with the course’s teacher: Mr. Silver.

Alejandra Duarte Garcia Contributor

The school year is ending and students have chosen their courses on MyBlueprint for the next year. But this time, there is a new course, never before seen as an option. It’s the Genocide and Crimes against Humanity course. This new course has sparked the curiosity of many students. Today, you get to learn more about what this course entails, why it’s important, and how it came to be here at NTCI. These questions are answered with an interview with the course’s official teacher, Mr. Silver.

Q: Why did you start a course solely focused on genocide?

A: There are two reasons: One, the TDSB recently mandated that highschools need to offer a grade 11 course focused on promoting equity and diversity. Part of the reason for this is due to the recent anti-semitic incidents within TDSB schools as well as other incidents targeting other minority groups.

Q: Could you give an example of the incidents?

A: Last year there was an issue in an elementary school there was a student who gave the “Hail Hitler” salute in class. As well there have been reports of swastikas being drawn in classroom bathrooms.

Q: What was the process that led to bringing this course forward?

A: There was a collection of courses we had to choose from. One of them was Genocide. Another option included Equity, Diversity and Social Justice. However the history and social science department believe the genocide course would be of most interest to students.

Q: It’s such a depressing concept, why did you think young minds would benefit from your class?

Advice with Leila

Leila Schrenk Section Editor

Dear Niners,

A: Yes. Obviously it should be very depressing, but on the other hand if we choose not to learn about an event because it is depressing then no one would ever learn about said event. There is a cliche that says “ if we don’t learn about past mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them.” However, I would say, promoting equity and diversity has to start with young people, so then the ideas and concepts that are taught in classes like genocide can be passed down to younger generations.

Q: How is your teaching of Genocides different from a Youtube video online about genocides? Is there something in depth you want to learn with your future students? No offense.

A: *laughs* None taken. Well I mean its not as if the course will be me putting on a movie for 5 months of the year. So we do a bunch of things when we study genocide or a history course and the biggest is listening to primary source voices. With Youtube videos online, some of them can be primary and some also can be secondary, and Youtube videos as well can have their own biases that can pass over the heads of students. In my courses, I promote discussion as much as possible so we can understand the events that took place, why they took place, how they took place, and the repercussions and connections to present day. You’re not gonna get that from a Youtube video.

As you can see from the interview, the course offers something new and valuable. It offers a deep understanding of the horrors of the human race, the history behind them, and the remaining significance in our modern day lives.

You are officially one step closer to finishing your first year of high school. Crazy, I know. March break has come and gone, and now we are just waiting for the May 24th long weekend. But the biggest event of the year is coming up soon, so let me tell you how to do Red and Grey Day right.

First, you might not really know what Red and Grey Day is because, you know, you’re Niners and have never done one before. It’s kind of like homecoming but 10x better. Everyone goes out and supports all the NT sports teams that are playing and shows some school spirit. From stories I was told by the best science teacher ever NT had (I’m not biased at all), Mr. Mildon, you would see one kid painted head to toe with red paint being dragged down the hall by his friends, then a minute later you would see a kid painted entirely grey doing the same thing. Your Grade 9 R.A.G. will be the best one you will ever have. Usually, it’s in the fall, so it will be a little different without the football team playing (R.I.P) but still, make sure you’re there.

Second, as I said in my first column of the year, you have to take the iconic pic-

fectly instagrammable R.A.G. pics on the track, you need three things: an assortment of red and grey clothing, someone you barely know taking pictures of you and your friends, and finally, a bunch of random people in the background that you didn’t even know went to NT. This is guaranteed to give you your perfect Instagram pics, which you will see about 500 different versions on your feed.

Lastly, RAG is all about the perfect theme, so get your creative juices flowing because I truly don’t think any Niner can beat the theme that Ms. Aragona’s 2019/2020 business class had. There is nothing that truly encapsulates the spirit of NT more than waiting for it … cement. Yup, our theme was cement to represent the school’s depressing, almost prison-like walls (it’s uncanny) because nothing is more accurate about NT than the sheer amount of cement in our school. So get those groutfits out and be blocks of cement Niners because this year’s RAG is your first taste of the cult of the Red and Grey.

XOXO, Leila

P.S. Enjoy the throwback to sorta brunette, sorta ginger, sorta blonde Leila

Every issue, senior student Leila Schrenk shares her advice for life at NT

How do NT students feel about the destreaming of education?

NT’s reaction to the abolition of enriched and applied courses.

Sophie Ratner Copy Editor

When does a student decide what their post-secondary life will look like? Often an argument is made by teachers, guidance counselors, and peers that picking your grade 11 high school courses paves the pathway for the rest of your life. Really though, as a grade 8 student is browsing MyBlueprint and faced with the sheer dilemma of picking between Learning Strategies and Business studies, it used to be that choosing between the little “academic” and “applied” blurbs beside the course codes that determined their future.

On July 6th, 2020, Ontario premier Doug Ford stated he was in favour of the destreaming of highschool education in the province. Three days later, the government issued a news release stating that they would be making “bold new changes to the education system that will help break down barriers for Black, Indigenous, and racialized students and provide all students with an equal opportunity to succeed.” In part, these changes would purportedly be achieved through destreaming. Ontario is one of the last places in Canada to still have a streamed education system.

Streaming of education involves students selecting between academic and applied courses in high school. Destreaming is the

opposite; it involves mandating one clear pathway that all students are required to pursue. As of June 2021, a destreamed grade nine math course was mandated by the Ontario Ministry of Education. Following this, in Spring 2022, the grade nine science course was also destreamed, with both of the courses eliminating the choice for students between academic and applied.

Some people are in agreement with this change in the Ontario education system, believing that it is a step towards equity for students of all racial and socio-economic backgrounds. According to a York University study from 2017: 53% of black students in the TDSB were enrolled in academic programs, compared to 81%

of white students. North Toronto student Rowan Boswell agrees that destreaming was a good decision: “I think it’s a good idea for people to have more opportunities as streaming can limit people’s life paths early on. I don’t think that should happen when students are still young.”

However, some students take an opposing view. “I think it is unfair to people who want to do more advanced courses, rather than those who are just doing them to graduate high school.” says grade ten student, Norah Tetlow. Regardless of people’s opinions, it seems like destreaming is here to stay, and students can expect more classes to be destreamed in the future.

Who let the dogs out... on the NT field?

Breaking down the canine compulsion to use NT’s private property.

Salma Kassim-Lakha Contributor

We are all aware of the “no dogs permitted” signs on the NT field’s fences, so why do we still see people letting their dogs roam free on a daily basis? Although the field is not a designated off-leash dog park, there are dogs frequently seen roaming around off-leash, without an owner in sight. Additionally, these dog owners not only allow their dogs to run loose in a dog-free zone, but they also leave dog waste behind. Now, I’m sure you don’t want to eat lunch on the field next to a dog whose leftovers their owner chose not to clean up. On top of that, on a turf field waste doesn’t exactly disappear, so eventually, someone will be required to pick it up. Are these factors something that dog walkers don’t consider? Why do these owners let their dogs run around on a perfectly good turf field instead of taking them to nearby off-leash dog areas like Eglinton Park or Sherwood Park?

Is it fair to label these people as lazy? A local dog walker says, “It’s very convenient and in a good location with all the surrounding buildings. I often take my group of 4-5 dogs to run around freely since there are barriers not allowing them onto the roads.” One of the

main reasons so many dog owners prefer to let their dogs use the field instead of taking them to a real dog park is that numerous condos surround the school with several dog owners living in them. The dog walker also mentioned that before starting her dog walking business, she would take her dog to the field; “when I started my dog walking, having the field right next to my apartment made it super easy for all the dogs to have fun and run around together without the risk of them running away.”

It is debatable whether the dog restriction signs play a part in one’s decision of letting their dog on the field, “If I pick up after my dog and he’s not causing any harm to others, I don’t see how it’s a problem”, adds another dog owner. What could be done to solve this issue if they are aware of the regulations that have been set in place yet still disobey them? This rule was enforced for a reason, and these dog owners need to recognize that the NT field is private property.

The consequences of dogs on the field also affect gym teachers and staff. Ms. Blackmore finds that “If an unleashed dog is on the field or track area where a class is going on, that can be very dangerous if it interferes with the class.” and she also adds “it’s a distraction for the class.” Mr. Tallevi states that, although he doesn’t believe there are any consequences, he still

finds himself “frequently asking dog owners to leave the field”. He also is “constantly picking up after the dogs” so much so that the gym teachers anticipate having to clean up when using the field; “we have a roll of dog waste bags we bring with us.” Although using the field may be very beneficial to dog owners, it is certainly frustrating for the school’s gym teachers. Dogs are not permitted on school grounds, as per TDSB policy. This regulation was established for everyone’s safety, as well as to prevent damage to the field. Letting dogs off the leash could result in easily preventable consequences,

and despite how harsh it may seem to have dogs strapped up and being held by the neck, their running around blissfully without limitation is causing unintended harm. Even if a dog is the most well-behaved in the world and never gets aggressive, owners should still keep them on a leash when they are out in public. The last thing one would want is for their pet to get lost, hurt, or injure someone else.

Ultimately, without further regulations put in place, it seems as if dog owners will continue to use the NT field as a dog park.

Photo by Elena Vlitas

SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

Finder’s Keepers?: Exploring the Lost and Found

A deep-dive into the vale of NT’s

discarded items.

Logan Proulx Section Editor

Sara Kaboudvand Section Editor

How many times have you stopped and wondered, “wait, where is my _______?”. Chances are you have lost countless objects throughout the course of your life, and you probably didn’t know that at NT, they are accumulated as a clump by the north entrance. Here, one can expect to find moldy books, ripped coats, discarded water bottles, and decomposing waste. Yum! Whether it be because of its discreet placement or the mildew growth on the bins, many tend to disregard this heap of lost goods. But what exactly is it that they’re flagrantly ignoring? How big is the pile? What’s in it? How much is it worth? We at Graffiti HATE leaving questions unanswered. You may be thinking “why would you investigate that dusty raggedy pile of trash?”

Energy jean jacket

Old Navy oversized down & feathers

fill hooded parka aoat for men

Carl Zimmer - Microcosm

to which we scoff profusely and shake our heads in disagreement. The people (Ms. Bulgutch) want to know! As such, we braved the bin, analyzed the assortment, and cataloged the conglomeration. Here’s what we found.

Variety

The contents of the pile ranged from clothing (typically jackets or athletic wear) to miscellaneous items, most of which were books or water bottles. Naturally, we gravitated to the miscellaneous items box first, as lost and found clothing can be very hit or miss. In this pile sat two water bottles, a few scarves and mittens, and R. Scott Bakker’s (a cute lil indie YA author) entire body of work, which we suspect was planted or donated. We were about to dismiss the heap of items and move onto the clothing until we came across a signed copy of James Clavell’s Gai-Jin. A few Ebay searches later and the value of the pile increased by $150 for one book. We then moved onto the clothing, only to get assailed by the bio-hazardous fumes wafting from

the pilled fur. Let’s work on our hygiene, mmk NT? The pile was predominantly jackets and sweaters, with the occasional shirt dispersed within the mound. Upon our first visit, we were relatively underwhelmed. There was a depressing amount of Shein amongst the pile (three items to be exact) and we left questioning NT’s fashion sense. The next day we returned as we thought we saw a LuluLemon dupe (it turned out to be Levi’s). The estimated range of items within both piles was about 60-70 items. Although we only accurately priced about ¼ of the items, here’s the value of the lost and found items:

Value

Our investigation led us to some pretty shocking conclusions about NT students’ disregard of money. Assuming that the data from the quarter of the items we evaluated is relative to the value of the other three quarters, NT’s lost and found is worth a whopping $3,555.76 (we looked at many of the high value items so perhaps the value is slight-

R. Scott Baker - The Judging Eye

ly lower, likely $2000 - $2500. The value of each item was also found based on price of the item’s original selling price, NOT it’s second hand value). Are these numbers really unexpected though? Considering NT’s in-district areas consist of Chaplin Estates, Lytton Park, Mount Pleasant, and the midtown area, there were bound to be some big spenders in the bunch. Nonetheless, the number being higher than the average high schooler’s monthly income is definitely food for thought.

Although we don’t know exactly what happens to lost and found items if they aren’t claimed, chances are people don’t care what the consequence is, and belongings that were lost once, stay lost forever. If that is the case, look out for an NT depop page because there is too much sell value on these items to let them go to waste. For those of you reading this and remembering that you may have lost something, check the photos of your internal section editors rocking the lost and found items below: you may find something familiar.

Jed Rubenfeld - The Interpretation of Murder

R. Scott Bakker - The White-Luck Warrior

Signed copy of James Clavell’s Gai-Jin book

R. Scott Baker - The Great Ordel

R. Scott Baker - The Thousandfold Thought

Alastair Reynolds - House of Suns

Miltex Hoodie

R.

Photo by Logan Proulx and Sara Kaboudvand

NT Takes on France and Spain

A quick overview of our exciting March Break experience.

Grace Uy Section Editor

Adrina Farzan Copy Editor

Day 1 - March 9 & Day 2 - March 10:

After a two hour delay at the Toronto airport, and a long flight where we got no sleep, we finally arrived in Paris. Within the first five minutes of driving in France, we got in a mild car crash. Nobody was injured, but that gave us a glimpse of Parisian culture. After getting stuck in a narrow, one way street, we reached the Sacre Coeur church in Montmartre. The view was incredible, and was worth the hundreds of stairs we had to climb up to get there. After looking down at the city of Paris, we had our first dinner in France, then off to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Our busy day in Paris started off with an early morning wake up. We got to have a guided tour of Paris, where we learned about the city and its history. Our tour included places such as the Gardens of Luxembourg, the Notre Dame Cathedral, l’Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées, the Louvre, and la Seine. After a lunch of “French pizza”, we visited a perfume museum and got to see and smell the scents of France. One of the most exciting parts of the day was going to visit the Louvre, and see famous pieces of art, including the Mona Lisa. The day ended with a boat tour of Paris at night where we saw the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

Day 3 - March 11:

Day 5 - March 13:

We started off our day by climbing the Dune du Pilat. At 107 metres tall, it is the biggest sand dune in Europe. The climb was exhausting, and the sand will never get out of our shoes, but the amazing view at the top of the dune was worth it. We headed to a beach town, Arcachon, for some lunch. After eating delicious seafood, we continued to a town called Dax where we got to see a bullfighting ring (it was empty!). We then arrived at our cabin style hotel and got ready for our last day in France.

Day 4 - March 12:

We left Paris bright and early, and after a three hour bus ride, we walked around the Chateau de Chenonceau, an old palace built in the 1500s. After exploring the castle, we had lunch in the small French town of Amboise where we got to put our French skills to the test. We drove further until we got to our hotel in Bordeaux, where we had an American-style dinner.

Photos by Grace Uy

Our last day in France started off with a visit to Biarritz, where it was very windy, rainy, and cold. We then crossed the border into Spain, and got off in San Sebastian for some lunch. While there, we tried pinchos and the famous San Sebastian cheesecake! After lunch, we hiked up a hill where we got to look over the Playa de la Concha. We then drove to Pamplona, and got a guided tour of the famous city. We learned about the history of Pamplona, bull races in the streets, and got to see sights mentioned in Ernest Hemmingway’s novels. We finished our day with a quick visit to a mall beside our hotel, where we got great deals and saw horses in the parking lot!

Day 6 - March 14:

Day 8 - March 16:

We started off our busy day in Barcelona with a walking tour of the city. We saw the national art museum of Catalo- nia, which had an amazing view of the city, the Park Guell, had the famous Spanish dish, Paella, for lunch, went shopping in a nearby mall, and walked around Mercat de la Boqueria. After dinner, we got to watch a Flamenco show, and were blown away by the dancing, singing, music, and emotion.

Day 7 - March 15:

We spent most of the day on the bus, travelling towards Bar- celona. We stopped in the city of Zaragoza, where we saw the Basilica del Pilar and had some lunch. We drove for the rest of the day until we arrived at our hotel in Catalo- nia, which is just outside of Barcelona. We ended off the day with an eventful walk on the beach (IYKYK) beside our hotel.

Day 10- March 18:

Our day started at three in the morning, when we began our journey back to Toronto. We were all very upset to be leaving Spain, and to reach the end of an amazing trip.

Day 9 - March 17:

Our last day in Europe started off with a long drive to Montserrat mountain, which was home to many beautiful buildings,great views,and farm fresh food.We drove back to the city for some lunch, then headed to the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. Everyone was in awe at the beautiful architecture envisioned by Antoni Gaudi. The church has been under construction since the 1800s, and isn’t expected to be finished for another six years. After some shopping time, we had our last dinner in Spain and headed back to the hotel to pack our bags and get ready to leave early the next morning.

Galleria review

The new store on the block.

Sandra Tauroni-Fernandez Contributor

Canada is known for being a welcoming and multicultural nation. Canada tries to welcome everyone, and aid their integration into our society. As a community, they are able to actively promote the appreciation of many cultures. More specifically, Toronto is seeing a broadening of Korean culture in Canadians’ everyday life.

Galleria K-Food is a supermarket chain that sells Korean food and groceries. In 2003, they opened their first store in North York. The consumer base was predominantly made up of Korean Canadians at the time, who were looking for a taste of their culture. The su-

HEALTH & SAFETY

permarket was a massive success as it made Korean products easily accessible to those living in the area. Since then, it has expanded to several locations downtown. It wasn’t until this February that the popular franchise opened up a new branch in midtown, Toronto. Prior to this store, the midtown area was lacking convenient access to basic Korean staples. According to Galleria’s CEO, Joseph Kimthey, they “have been preparing to open a store based on the interest in Korean food and Korean products of not only Koreans living in midtown, but also people who are growing due to the K-POP culture.” Currently, they are “raising Korean culture by widely promoting Korean food” to new potential consumers.

The term “K-Wave’’ refers to the increase in popularity of South Korean culture around the world. This includes the rise of k-dramas,

Hurricane Healthcare

How effective is Canada’s free healthcare?

wait two hours before we could get treated. In the end, we got a hefty bill.”

Niveideeta Cour

Contributor

Canada is famous as the land of publically funded healthcare system; benefit envied by other countries. But, as of now, Medicare, the publicly funded healthcare system, is going upstream without a paddle. The system is on the verge of collapse - with eons of waiting time, unprofessionalism in almost every nook and cranny, burnt-out healthcare workers, understaffing, hefty bills and a government struggling to deal with the situation. In a nutshell, it’s in the sixes and sevens. This chaos is responsible for at least 11,000 deaths nationwide, with 8734 of those deaths occurring in Ontario alone. The disastrous effects have begun to impact North Toronto as well, affecting a number of students and staff.

Kuo Dingha, a ninth-grade student, has had an important medical exam, which ought to have been provided by the healthcare system delayed for the past two years. “They’ve just been delaying it and haven’t gotten back to me till now. It is really disappointing.”

Another student revealed the hospital’s long waiting times and the quality of care. “We had to

Ayesha Salim, a ninth-grade student, found herself in a similar situation. She explained “The waiting line at the ER was exceptionally long.” She continued “even though my little sister was gravely ill, they made us wait for so long. Furthermore, the service provided was of poor quality. Definitely not worth the wait and trouble.”

Ontario had 80 Emergency Rooms and more than 20 hospitals close over the summer because of a shortage of healthcare workers. Those that managed to stay open were plagued with accusations of inefficiency and healthcare of poor quality. As this trend increases over time, the question of whether the remaining healthcare institutions will stay open lingers. The possibility of just having the expensive options of private healthcare, which many may not be able to afford, seems to stand strong. “Private healthcare is really expensive, and the possibility of just having that option is worrying,” says a NT student.

Many believe the cause of the crisis is a shortage of healthcare professionals. This “shortage” is leaving many without family doctors or clinics to register in or experiencing poor quality of healthcare, resulting from long waiting times.

k-pop, k-beauty, and Korean cuisine on an international level. Instances of this have been shown in the award-winning motion pictures Parasite and Squid Game, which took the world by storm. K-pop groups like BTS, TWICE, and TXT all have massive fan bases across the globe. Galleria can seek this growth as a marketing opportunity for fans of popular Korean media. For example, they sold cold brew branded by BTS members.

On the topic of popularity, word around NT’s halls has been positive towards Galleria’s new branch. Due to its convenient location, students can now purchase their snacks and prepared food during lunch. Some of the prepared foods they offer are gimbap, rice cakes, and soups. They also have a small section dedicated to k-beauty products, where facemasks, hair dye, and creams are sold. When

asked for her opinions on the store, Salma Kassim-Lakha, a grade 10 student, mentioned that “the store was full of people when I went. I was able to try kimchi for the first time! I also recommend you try the Sugar Lolo jelly snacks.’’ NT student, Cassidy Clifford, shares a similar liking for the store since “it’s different from places like Metro and Loblaws.” She also mentions how the store offers a tasty “drink called Ramune; it has a bunch of flavors, and you push this marble in to open it.”

Galleria is a unique new addition to the Yonge and Eglinton area. Students can now easily access an array of Korean groceries just a short walk away. The next time you are in the area, it’s worth checking them out at 2293 Yonge St., Toronto.

Another ninth-grade student at NT who has been looking for a family doctor in Toronto since the onset of the pandemic is experiencing these effects. “We’ve been looking for a family doctor since the pandemic started, but we just can’t find one. It’s tough; all clinics and family doctors have an overflowing number of patients,” she revealed. But we’ve actually got plenty of qualified Canadian healthcare professionals that can join the workforce. So why are they not?

A shortage? The “shortage” is occurring because many of them are not joining the workforce or those that are currently in it are leaving. A census taken in 2021 revealed that one in four nurses planned to resign. Their reasons for resigning? The two most common were abuse and mistreatment. Healthcare workers were reported to have been mistreated several times at their workplaces, like being asked to work overtime with low pay and not being allowed to leave. The second reason, although not as common now, is the abuse these professionals face from their own patients. This has reportedly been on the rise since the onset of restrictions for COVID-19 and has not seen a lull since then.

Solving the crisis with money is a common option that many might choose, but according to the Trudeau government, it is

nothing more than “filling in hot water in a broken tub”. The other option is to bring internationally qualified healthcare professionals to Canada. Asyah Unal, a ninthgrade student, thinks this is the best measure the government can take. “There are so many healthcare professionals out there, and they’re really good at their jobs. I feel the government should definitely bring in more international medical workers. It’ll help improve the system significantly.” Jarius Villapondo, another grade 9 student, feels both measures should be taken equally, an approach that seemed to be supported by other students as well. “The government should definitely put in more money just for the purpose of bringing in internationally trained medical workers. I feel that would really help the situation.”

As the crisis continues, students are left with a feeling of doubt mixed with fear, disbelief, and a hint of anger at the authorities. With the government expected to put their plans into full swing as soon as possible, hope may return. But if it turns out to indeed be a hopeless case after all, the cruel possibility of healthcare being swept under the rug repeatedly might just come alive. The possibility that some of us at NT might find private healthcare too expensive to afford and access.

Prom: The clock is ticking and the prices are rising

The stress and excitement to graduate, party, and standout is on the horizon as prom season approaches.

Natasha Bernstein Section Editor

Picture a store - four walls filled with long gowns hanging side by side in an array of colours and materials. The salesperson, fiercely determined to get you home in a bank-breaking, lavish dress. A window casts a natural light that makes all the sparkling dresses shimmer softly, exploding with elegance. This scene is serene, it is calm, it is regal. Until a stressed teenage girl comes crashing in, mother by her side. The young girl has come to the realization that she waited too close to the last minute. All her friends have bought dresses, and she was recently informed that it was ‘frowned upon’ to wear the same dress as another person. Tensions are growing, competition is waging, the game is on.

As prom season approaches, many Grade 12 students are faced with a series of problems, as well as excitements. Not only is there the factor of not wanting to repeat the same outfit as someone else, but costs, and other social implications also create a dent in the excitement for the ‘most special night’ of the senior year. North Toronto is no exception.

In the past few years, there has been a tradition of creating a ‘prom dress’ Instagram account. Many schools like North Toronto, Northern, and Lawrence Park have accounts like this created by students. The intent of these accounts is to prevent anyone from accidentally showing up in the same dress (*gasp*). This year’s account is @ntcipromdresses23, run by a Grade 12 NT student. The student explains that “this account is not meant to discourage people from getting the same dress,” instead, it is “useful because they [the student body] can see which dresses have already been purchased so they don’t get the same one.” They also express that “it’s super exciting to see the dresses everyone is getting,” insinuating that the prom spirit and excitement have begun.

Grade 12 students Gracie Burke, who has not yet bought a prom dress, and Tamara Almasri, who has bought a dress, have a different outlook on the page. Burke feels that the account has led her to

look for a dress earlier than she expected, “which is exciting in some ways, but also weirdly stressful.” She worries that she will “accidentally pick the same dress as someone else if I don’t look through all

“didn’t really compare [her] dress at all”. The grade 12 student running the account stated that “there are trends in dresses” that people have chosen this year. Many people have been buying from online

to find something that is different from whatever is considered ‘basic’.” She has already heard “so much comparison and judgment around other peoples posted dresses,” which has deterred her from making a decision and posting it on the account. She believes that “if people continue to be critical about others’ choices,” it’s not “worth the potential drama”.

Grade 12 student Manuela Morandi from the prom committee said “it’s crucial to keep everyone updated with all the important details until the day of [prom].” However, Manuela has also heard some backlash around the account, “the prom dress account creates some controversies as I have overheard a lot of people judging and comparing their dresses to other girls. I think it creates a competitive environment that only stresses people even more.” Things like this make prom lose its sparkle as tensions grow.

When asked about recommendations on where to go prom dress shopping Almasri said that she “didn’t go to any stores” and instead “just browsed online because it seemed easier and there were so many options.” However, this does bring the issue of cost into play. Burke feels that “it’s a strenuous process because these dresses are so crazy expensive and there are so many options” that she ends up being more worried “about what everyone else is doing” and “can’t focus” on what she wants. Morandi recommends buying a vintage dress, as they “personally wouldn’t pay anything above $400” for a dress that will only be worn once. With that said, they are “loving the dedication” and find the prom dress account to be “inspiring”. They also agree that many people have been buying them online “which can be a little risky, but definitely worth the try” if people are trying to save on spending too much on a dress.

the dresses that everyones posted.” Almasri, on the other hand, has bought her dress and shared it with the account. She feels that she “ personally did not find it stressful.”

She “likes [her] dress choice and everyone has their own style.” She

stores; “low cut and open back are popular” as well as “corset style,” apparently “most of the dresses are bodycon/form fitting.” In return, Burke feels that there are trends amongst prom dresses, and “the bigger goal is

There are certainly many expectations as to what prom is going to be like. Truth is, no one knows until the special night comes around. The best thing that North Toronto students can do (if they are choosing to attend) is to stick to what is true to them, and if need be, use recommendations from others to guide them in the decision making process.

Photo by Elena Vlitas

Grade 12 advice on applying to university

Advice from your graduating class on applying to universities.

Sophie Block

Editor in Chief

Elena Vlitas

Editor in Chief

Applications are all submitted now… how do you feel?

Elena: Like a boss.

Sophie: No, just joking. Now, we try our best until April and pray for acceptances.

What was the hardest part about applying this year? (were you extra nervous because of the first and most important exam?)

It’s hardest to represent yourself on a piece of paper, or in even less, like the 1800 characters you get for UBC. You want them to want you, not just for your ego, but so that you can then go there. To do that in so few words is challenging, but ultimately, produces the best piece of writing.

But also, the click-bait emails are not helpful. “Congratulations… on applying”, “Come and join us at Queen’s… for a webinar!” Don’t get fooled by the headlines, click on the full email before you get too happy.

Also, we weren’t ready for how much time exams would take up, so pushing supplementaries until exams was not a good idea. Get them

done early, or at least start thinking about it!

What are some things you wish you could improve about the application system (basically what did you struggle with?)

Make all the websites more functional! (shoutout to Dal!!). And make the logins and passwords a better system. Because right now, you get more than one code for everything. Once you apply, you have a registration code, to get the real code, to get the next email, etc., etc.

What is something about the application process that you wish you could redo?

Sophie: I would have applied to more programs. I would have kept more options open. I only applied to arts programs, but I could have applied to some business dual degrees, too. Not that I’m necessarily a business gal, but just in case I turn out to be.

Elena: I would have applied to fewer programs. Maybe another school or two, though.

How do you write the best supplementary:

Have people read it over. You are trying to write a portrayal of yourself, and the people around you know you best. You don’t want to try and sound a certain way because you think that’s what’s going

to impress a university. Get eyes on it, review it, check it over. Maybe, if you’re fortunate, you will be the Co-Editor in Chief of the newspaper and have a co-editor to read over all of your work.

What is the biggest factor you took into consideration when applying?

When looking at a school, you’re not just going for the social life; you’re going for the education, too. For technical degrees, you have to pick an area of focus because that is going to point you towards something. In high school you can be more of a renaissance person, doing everything, but in university you have to pick a lane. This is where looking at different programs becomes important, because each program offers something different. One may offer co-op, or one may offer a first year foundation. As well, we looked for programs related to what we love. If you hate it now, you will likely hate it forever. Don’t think you will fall in love with something in university that you don’t like now. High school is as easy as it gets, so if you can’t handle chemistry, don’t apply for biochem. If you’re miserable, it’s not worth it.

Looking at the social life is the factor that you look at once you get in. If you only apply to Queens and Western and don’t get into either, you’ve made a mistake. Apply to

places that aren’t your top choice and narrow it down later.

Other advice?

One night you are going to close your laptop and submit your university applications. Don’t read them when you’re done – let it ride. As long as you put in enough effort, that’s as good as you’re gonna do. Figure out what you want to do now so you can apply earlier. November and December is the sweet spot so you don’t miss out on the first round of acceptances at the schools that don’t define an “early acceptance” deadline.

You are going to be viewed as a competitor to many people, but don’t lose sight of your friendships. And don’t make a club or become a head because you want it on your resume. You are letting people down if you don’t put in the work. Also, if you get a hard semester, like all three sciences, that is going to be your university life if you want to go into sciences. Don’t spend every day complaining. A hard day at NT will be an easy day in university, so if you can’t handle it, take a step to think about it.

Remember that you know yourself best. Make sure you make a smart choice for yourself and don’t just follow the herd.

Most importantly, have fun. If you don’t stop to look around once in a while, you might miss it.

Photo by Elena Vlitas

Have a successful High School relationship in 5 simple

steps

Tips on how to maintain a healthy and successful relationship while in high school.

Claire Kelly Contributor

High school is hard. It’s difficult to balance the workload and maintain friendships while still finding time for self discovery. It’s even harder to find time for something as emotionally demanding as a romantic relationship. Not a meaningless, whatever kind of fling, I’m talking about a meaningful and loving relationship. I know, it sounds scary, but it’s possible. As someone who has been in a relationship for a little over five years, I know a bit about how to have a successful relationship. And, in five simple steps, I’m going to tell you how you can have one as well.

Step 1:

To start off strong, these five steps start far before you even start dating. The idea of “friends before lovers” is true. Instead of jumping blindly into a relationship, first you should get to know each other. Conversations, texting, or calling are all forms of communication in which you can learn more about each other and establish a meaningful friendship. If you’re looking for ideas, I suggest going on a walk and talking. By doing so, you learn about one another and can form a stronger connection.

Step 2:

As you start dating, step 2 allows you to implement a very important aspect of your relationship; communication. Again, communication can come in many forms. But, this kind of communication is different. For example, tell your partner if you feel upset over something, such as not answering you at an appropriate time, or not making enough time for you. What you decide is valid, and if your partner tells you otherwise, then maybe you aren’t meant to be together. Therefore, step 2 is important to implement early on because if not, more problems will begin to arise if you choose to continue your relationship.

Step 3:

As communication is very important, in step 3, communicating in the way that both parties are truthful and honest is crucial.

So, no cheating.

Loyalty is probably one of the most important aspects of a healthy relationship. Cheating can ruin your current and future re

lationships.

To put it in simple words, it’s pointless and a waste of time. If you are willing to have a healthy relationship, maturity is absolutely crucial. To stay loyal to one

another, you must communicate whether you are happy or not because you are not meant to be stuck in a relationship. If you are feeling stuck then maybe it just isn’t for you. But, this does not mean it must end in cheating and disloyalty.

Step 4:

To lighten up the mood after step 3, step 4 is all about caring about one another. To have a successful and happy high school relationship, you must care about each other. By asking how your partner is doing or how their day was, this can make someone’s day so much better. Although this step should be obvious, many people forget about it. But, it is crucial. Showing love and kindness will ultimately lead to happiness for both partners, and contribute towards a successful relationship.

Step 5:

On a less serious note, for my last and final step, I am going to tell you that to have a successful relationship you must go on fun dates. I’m not saying you have to go crazy and spend hundreds of dollars. I’m saying something casual like going on a picnic, going on a walk, or sitting in a cafe. This will keep the excitement or the “honeymoon phase” (new relationship energy) going. By doing this, you can learn more about each other and have more experiences together as a couple. It is always fun to get out of the house and try new things, whether you are in the friendship phase or in a 10 year relationship, it is always important to explore and find new activities to do as a couple.

High school is obviously a very weird and confusing time for everyone but, through these 5 simple steps, I hope that you can, (if you are searching) find a successful and healthy relationship. If you are searching, then you must get to know each other, communicate, stay loyal, care for each other, and go on fun dates. If you follow these steps, I can’t promise you will have a perfect relationship, but you stand a better chance of having a long lasting, healthy relationship. Good luck!

Illustration by Paige Trudeau

STAFF & ADMIN

UrbaNT Dictionary:

Can teacher’s understand?

NT students talk a lot In class, in the washrooms, in the halls, and, of course, on social media. Let’s see if the teachers have been keeping up!

continued from cover...

something? For something evil? I don’t know evil things.

Mr. Roche: Maybe when you get a reaction out of someone

Mr. Hobson: Is that like when you shave and you have bumps or something? Like I shaved this morning and I didn’t have enough shaving cream so I got Rizz.

Cap Lie

There’s no way that’s true; that has to be cap.

Mr. Chen: Cap means to lie, because when you say “no cap”, that means you are telling the truth.

Mr. Lane: Cap means that you are lying; that you are trying to put it over somebody’s head, where your cap is stored. If somebody was lying you would say “that’s cap,” and they would say “no cap.”

Slaps

So amazing

This new album is so good, it slaps.

Mr. Rea: My initial thought was that it’s to hit somebody, but I’m going to guess that that’s incorrect so I’m going to say … being late.

Ship

To say two people would be good in a relationship together. They would be so cute together, I ship it.

Mr. Rea: Well, back in my day, we used to call it crib, so I’m guessing your house.

Mr. Roche: I would think like a large boat, or a term to describe moving out or going somewhere.

Mr. Hobson: Isn’t that when you dump someone? Like you ship them off.

“W” Win

That game today was such a W.

Mr. Tallevi: A W means you just got a win.

Mr. Hobson: Well, it’s a letter. That means you like Wheaties, the

cereal.

Bet

For sure.

Bet, I’m down to go to the movies.

Mr. Tallevi: I think bet means that they will prove whatever it was that was said to be true.

On Aux

Playing music.

Who’s on aux, this song is so good.

Ms. Blackmore: I think it means that somebody is really loud.

Mr. Roche: Like auxiliary?

Tea Drama, gossip.

I have so much tea to tell you.

Ms. Blackmore: I think tea means gossip.

Stan Supporter, hardcore fan.

I stan Billie Eilish.

Mr. Jones: A who? I don’t know what that is. I had a professor named Stan once. He was a good chemistry guy, very good.

Carry

Be the main reason for success. He carried the basketball team in that game.

Mr. Jones: Like to carry a firearm? Or to pack heat? Like someone is piggybacking you, like there’s a main person that is carrying the others who are not so good?

Dap

Handshake between friends

Dap me up!

Mr. Peddle: I think its like a handshake with a chest bump. My son Jack loves to say dap me up bro!

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

TDSB changes 3U compulsory English course to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit focused curriculum

Understanding Indigenous perspectives through education.

Logan Proulx Section Editor

Pack it up Shakespeare, the 11s don’t need you anymore. Othello? Who’s she? It’s Indigenous works from here on out. On February 1st, 2023, trustees of the Toronto District School Board approved the implementation of an Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Metis and Inuit Voices (NBE3) to replace the current compulsory 3U English course (ENG3). The motion was made in an attempt to further truth and reconciliation by educating Canada’s younger generations, a monumental step for Indigenous expression. “It is part of the TDSB’s truth and reconciliation commitment – we cannot have reconciliation before there is truth and when we build [the] capacity for students to engage meaningfully in the work of truth and reconciliation, we can see a society that better respects Indigenous peoples and their diversity of cultures and traditions,” says Shelley Laskin, Toronto District School Board Trustee. “This also fulfills the Call to Action #62 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which asks to make age-appropriate mandatory classes about reconciliation for all grades,” she adds.

meet with the board this upcoming June. By then, a date is likely to be decided regarding when the change will take place.

The course will cover the same four strands of curriculum present in the ENG3 course, those being oral communication, reading and literature studies, writing, and media studies. It will also implement a new strand: First Nations, Metis, and Inuit perspectives and text forms in Canada. Much of the course will be structured around contemporary approaches and applications of indigenous culture. However, because the course covers culturally significant material, teachers will need to be knowledgeable on the issues facing Indigenous communities today in order to adequately teach the course. “All educators who teach this course will be prepared to do so in a meaningful, anti-colonial, culturally responsive, respect[ful] and trauma-informed way,” adds Laskin when asked about educator involvement in the course. The texts covered will also be contemporary rather than classic as the intent of the course is to understand the modernity of Indigenous issues in Canada and as such, more recent works are more applicable.

Visit @ntcigraffiti Instagram to see the teachers answer these questions live.

The TDSB’s decision falls in line with other school boards across the province such as Greater Essex County, Lakehead, and Simcoe County who have already implemented the course change. “I am sure more will [implement the change]. Not only is it part of truth and reconciliation and the calls to actions, the course overall provides students with excellent opportunities to learn from Indigenous peoples and provokes critical thinking as many students who’ve taken the course leave with a passion to work towards truth and reconciliation,” says Laskin. The TDSB is scheduled to

When asked about whether or not the 3U literature course would also be affected, Laskin responded, “As of now there are no discussions about any other replacements happening in the TDSB. That is not to say we won’t see other course replacements in the future, but for right now we are focusing on the implementation of the current course.” This means that those interested in the literature course might still have a choice. If so, this raises a concern: will the ratio of students who choose to take an alternative English course negatively reflect the board’s truth and reconciliation plan? If after implementation, student enrollment in Encontinued on the next page...

glish literature suddenly spikes, the course’s intent of educating Canadian youth would not be particularly effective as fewer students would be taking the course.

In fact, in response to the course change, many students have voiced their concerns, stating that while they support and agree with the board’s truth and reconciliation plan, they feel as though a course in which English is the

NT vs. Northern vs. LP

fountains with exceedance of lead (>10.00 ug/L is an exceedance of lead) Northern SS Lawrence Park CI 68% 15.8% 26.7% 47 69 585

2 years or Demographics

EDUCATIONAL North Toronto CI 74.9% 15.9% 2.4% 56 139 610

educated parents (%) 79.6% 9.8% 3.6% 18 30 382

We’re never getting a piece of media like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ever again

A look back on the game’s legacy.

Jordan Phua Contributor

Describing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in one word is a surprisingly challenging task, and that’s largely because there are so many ways you could interpret the game. Some might use the word “celebration”, because that’s essentially what the game is; it’s a celebration of video games. Others might say the game is “amazing”, simply because it’s a really entertaining game where you can have just as much fun playing by yourself as when you’re playing with your friends. You might even describe the game to be “ultimate” (I’m sorry).

Another word that people use, myself included, to try to encompass the game is “impossible”. Why “impossible”? Well, just look at the game’s 89-character roster and you won’t question me about

it. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many other things to take into account, like stages and music tracks (of which there are 115 and 1068, respectively). The whole concept behind Smash Ultimate seems unfathomable, and you really have to give credit to Masahiro Sakurai, the game’s director, and the rest of his development team for going out of their way to collaborate with other video game companies and to have nearly every possible video game franchise packed into a tiny Nintendo Switch cartridge. That, to the average human being, would be a truly impossible feat to accomplish.

Even for the game development team, Smash Ultimate was an absolute hell of a challenge to design, and getting all of these different gaming franchises was, as you might expect, a licensing nightmare for Nintendo. Everyone involved in this game worked incredibly hard for two and a half

years straight (and this was right after continuous development of the previous Smash game, which went on for 3 years), and once postlaunch content for Smash Ultimate concluded (Smash Ultimate’s DLC would go on for another 3 years after the game launched in December 2018, totalling 8 and a half years of consecutive development on both games). Everyone on the development team was physically and mentally drained, desperate for a break.

The sheer amount of effort put into Smash Ultimate is staggering, and honestly, people who still want to complain that their favourite character isn’t in the game Where’s Master Chief? should just shut it and be grateful for what the game has to offer. Ian Gu, a 9th grader from North Toronto C.I. who plays the game often, shares, “It’s a nice collaboration of a variety of games. It also answers the question of who will crush who of the different games that many communities

bicker about, which is nice.”

Smash Ultimate is more than just a fun party game for the casuals, it’s more than just a competitive experience that pros win tournaments for, it’s even more than a celebration of gaming. For me, Smash Ultimate is the climax, the peak, the untouched pinnacle of the many reasons why people who call themselves “gamers” or “fans of video games” have such a deep passion for this artistic medium in the first place. It is the physical embodiment of what got people into video games and why they will remain fans for the rest of their lives. This game doesn’t just celebrate the legacy of video games, it also celebrates why gamers love playing video games.

Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m going to watch the Steve reveal trailer again to relive the day I saw it live. Or the Sora reveal trailer. Or the Sephiroth reveal trailer. Man, too many good memories. I love this game.

Illustration by Estela Moya

ChatGPT: Amusing or alarming?

Changing education from here on out.

Constantia Pilnitz Section Editor Noah Pilnitz Contributor

ChatGPT has taken the world by storm. In just days, the chatbot has amused students and appalled teachers. So much was the furor that many administrations have even issued a stern warning against even considering using ChatGPT for assignments. But is all this furor justified?

Make no mistake: ChatGPT is an impressive achievement in Artificial Intelligence technology. It produces astonishingly - or perhaps, alarmingly - humanlike sentences and phrases. However, a closer look at the chatbot’s answers reveals that although fluent, the text is monotone and unimaginative, and the ideas are plain, evident, and self-repeating.

MENTAL HEALTH

The chatbot might be able to summarize a story, but would never be able to discuss how dialogue represents the conscience of Macbeth, or how the hero’s journey limits the perspectives of other characters. I encourage you to try entering these prompts into the chatbot. The result is a nice-sounding, but substanceless essay, a regurgitation of the most popular study guides offering little in the way of innovative thought or depth. The essays ChatGPT spit out more closely resemble a Wikipedia article with every other line removed than a demonstration of a high-school academic discourse.

Given ChatGPT’s inability to generate high-quality and thoughtful content, why have schools shown so much concern over its use? Well, NT’s Academic Honesty policy states that the unauthorized use of aids is considered cheating. What counts as an authorized aid depends, of course, on the assignment at hand. For example, calculators might not be

appropriate on a math test, but are allowed and encouraged in other assignments.

In these cases, a calculator is a tool that allows students to focus on the more profound aspects of math beyond low-level calculations. Entire fields of modelling and statistics are accessible to students due to the power of calculators. In fact, much of the advanced math courses revolve around harnessing the power of the calculator.

Likewise, ChatGPT should be seen as a tool to help students structure a simple essay or to give inspiration, for the times when students are staring at a blank page. At a high school level, learning should not come from the mechanical reproduction of an essay format, but rather from critical thinking and thoughtful ideas. If a student tried to cheat an assessment with ChatGPT, their mark should reward them accordingly, because having the proper 5-paragraph format down to the sentence wasn’t the goal of the assignment.

Seasonal depression and exams

Season depression and how it affects exams.

Natania Baskaran Contributor

Six months. Six months of wind blowing in your face at 8:40 in the morning, 5 days a week. The struggle of getting snow days every other century is something we are all used to, it is familiar. But this year something that many of us are unfamiliar with occurred in the middle of this familiar weather: exams. If I could sigh and rant about it, I would. Exams are something that we’ve seen in movies and social media. But only a small percentage of us have actually sat through one ourselves. A looming 30% of our final calculated grade, determined in less than two hours. Other than timing, how do exams and the winter weather correlate?

Seasonal depression. Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a type of depression that coincides with certain seasons. In other words, when a certain weather or season rolls around, a person with SAD would fall into a state of depression. When the season changes again, the person is relieved of their depressive tendencies.

Why are there more people diagnosed with SAD in Canada than

in some other countries? Well, visualize Canada. Yup, it’s that certain six months, that’s why. Canada is tied with Russia for the “title of the coldest nation in the world”, and many people are affected by SAD in these colder temperatures.

How does one know if they are suffering seasonal depression?

There are a variety of symptoms that could mean you have SAD, but you don’t want to self-diagnose. Speak with your family doctor, a mental health professional, or a trusted adult to get the answers you need, because your health is of utmost priority.

Almost 10% of Canadians experience the symptoms of seasonal depression, and part of that percentage are high school students. Many of these highschoolers are actually unaware of the fact that they have SAD, and are convinced that it is a normal feeling that everyone gets. Of course, there is a difference between being depressed, and feeling temporarily unhappy, upset, or a little bit un-

motivated. Knowing the difference can have a positive impact on your emotions.

Unfortunately for high school students, it can be hard to tell if it’s SAD, or appropriate reactions to exams. Exams for semester one were in the height of winter, and SAD normally affects people in winter. Since there can be overlap in some of the symptoms, determining the cause can be difficult. In addition, this school year was the first time that most of us took any exam, and with no prior knowledge, distinguishing between the foreign feeling of acceptable nervousness and stress versus recog-

Mr. Hobson, the Head of History and Social Sciences at NT, says: “In high school, what is important is the process, not the product. If I get a philosophical essay proving the existence of God, I don’t go running to the Vatican to show Pope Francis, yelling ‘hey, finally got it!’ No, I give it a mark, with comments about how to improve. I don’t want the essay per se; I want your mind to be trained by the actual writing of it.”

As we get more familiar with ChatGPT, it can be hoped that the attitude towards this chatbot is more open-minded. Students and teachers should explore and discuss the powers and limitations of the technology. No doubt, as Artificial Intelligence progresses, new chatbots will produce ever higher-quality work. It’s impossible to ban students from ever using chatbots, however, it is possible to have a receptive discussion around the pitfalls and the benefits of using technology in the pursuit of learning.

nizing a mental health problem, is even more challenging. Ideally, no one who is struggling with SAD brushes off feelings of depression under the belief that they are experiencing typical exam pressure. But it could happen when the symptoms start at relatively the same point of time. What’s important is to be aware of your symptoms and reach out for help. There is help for people who feel overwhelmed by exams and for people who have SAD. Let an expert determine cause and course of action, you should get to experience the benefits.

Photo by Elena Vlitas

Mom Jeans or Skinny Jeans? Differences between Millennials and Gen-Zs

What really divides the generations?

Rowan Boswell Contributor

Usually, bordering generations will contrast with each other: 40s minimalism to 50s maximalism; and 80s neon to 90s grunge. Gen-Z to Millennials are no different. In fact, the Gen-Z and Millennial conflict seems the most intense so far. So what differences fuel this divide?

Millennials include anyone born between 1981 and 1996, while Gen-Z is anyone born between 1997 and sometime in the 2010s. When comparing generations one of the ways to get the most accurate view is to look at the values of the respective groups. Gen-Z seems to be more entrepreneurial.

According to a Forbes survey, more than 10% of Gen-Zers were aiming to create their own business within only a few months. Millennials value more of a work-life balance and 80% of Millennials seriously consider how a job could influence that work-life balance.

One of the most well known generational divides is the controversial use of the laughing emoji. Millennials often use this emoji literally. In comparison, most GenZers would either use it ironically, or not at all. Recently many people have been paying attention to these subtle differences. TikTok recently came up with some new phrases including the ‘Millennial Pause’, referring to how Millennials often wait before speaking on camera to ensure it is recording and the ‘Gen-Z shake’ referencing how

Gen-Zers usually start filming before setting up their phones. Small and seemingly insignificant differences like this are further exaggerated by social media.

The generational identities are drastically different and in some ways polar opposites. Gen-Z has been unforgiving in critiques of Millennials. A main complaint is that Millennials are “cheugy”.

According to the Urban Dictionary, “cheugy” is: “The opposite of trendy. Stylish in middle school and high school but no longer in style. Used when someone still follows these out-of-date trends.” Generational identities are distinct and taken seriously by some. Millennials’ identities are fueled by a minimalist style, Facebook, and being a generation that grew up during the transition to more mod-

ern technology (e.g., cell phones, the Internet). Gen-Z identity is associated with individuality, TikTok, and having their formative years taken over by the Covid-19 pandemic. These manufactured identities have created divides between the two generations.

Although a select few Millennials and Gen-Zers take this conflict very seriously, for most it does not occupy much of their time and is more of an afterthought. The generations have distinct differences, but those differences do not mean that Gen-Z and Millennials should be enemies. The world is increasingly more polarized and dangerous, with climate change, political instability, and conflict. The two younger generations have a responsibility to work together to solve these huge issues.

Netflix: Its not you, it’s me (and my revenue)

NT’s rant about Netflix and the new password sharing policies

Krisha Mittra Section Editor

Netflix has announced some new policies likely to shake up the streaming world. No, it’s not the revival of all our beloved shows that were taken off Netflix (you wish). Although we love BoJack Horseman, Stranger Things, The Crown, and so many other amazing Netflix originals, it turns out the company isn’t too keen on letting people leech off their friends’ accounts anymore. So, get ready to say goodbye to the freeride you’ve been getting by using your friend’s account because Netflix is finally putting its foot down by removing password sharing. Basically, they’re asking for a huge surge of angry subscribers and a loss of customers. Another policy Netflix is coming up with is that people who don’t live in the same geographical location cannot use the same account. So to all

those with long-distance friends and loved ones, say goodbye to the times you could snoop through their “Continue Watching” and judge their taste.

Unfortunately, the year 2023 will be the last time Netflix viewers will be able to use their accounts without any restrictions. This may benefit Netflix in the long run by increasing revenue and helping it understand its user database better. But what about the folks who aren’t willing to pay 10 to 20 dollars a month just to watch some 30-minute comedies? Barira Manzoor says, “I hate it. It’s really weird, and people should be able to share a Netflix account because not every household can afford 20 dollars a month.” .

NT’s student body has some strong opinions (rants) and alternate solutions for the new policies. Angie Ling comments that “the password thing is so dumb, and the subscription is already so expensive since they raised the prices so much. At least you should be able

to share passwords if you want.” Furthermore, these new policies will definitely increase the number of people using illegal websites. Supporting this statement, Sophia Logie adds, “Get over yourself, Netflix. If you raise prices too much, everyone is going to leave Netflix and go to illegal sites like Soap2Day.” The new policy not allowing viewers who don’t live in the same household to share an account isn’t practical either. It’s an obstacle for family members who don’t live together and college and university students who are still on their parents’ plan to watch movies and binge TV shows. Constantia Pilntiz says, “This is just dumb; if people want to share passwords, they still will. A geographic restriction isn’t going to prevent password sharing in the same general region or VPN bypassing. Ultimately, the new policy doesn’t do anything but annoy [Netflix’s] loyal subscribers.”

Some have useful suggestions for Netflix, which might help them make better decisions about

changing its policies and annoying the hell out of everyone. Laura Tudor says, “What would be fairer is having a system similar to Spotify (individual plans, family plans, etc.). Overall, it would cost less for families and friends since, instead of paying for two subscriptions, they could pay a little more for its members to share a family plan.” Perhaps Netflix should consider coming up with better and more accessible policies without needing a high school student to come up with them.

Although Netflix’s new policies are a bummer for the masses, count on the internet to come up with loopholes for us to be able to get around the issue of password sharing. But still, let’s all hope that Netflix comes to its senses by the end of the year and doesn’t go through with these insane implementations. Although, if Netflix really decides to continue down this path, who knows, we might go back to the old-fashioned methods of cable TV and DVD movies.

In case you live under a rock: celebrity drama roundup

We aren’t TMZ, we’re a school newspaper. But we try.

Sophie Ratner Contributor

Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show performance

The 65th annual Grammys

Known by many as the “#Scammys”, the Grammy Awards this year were once again a mediocre watching experience. Although there were some highlights, like Beyoncé winning the record for most Grammy awards ever and Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti being the first fully Spanish-language album to be nominated for album of the year, it is a major American award ceremony, so of course there were laughable moments.

Most notably, while accepting his album of the year award for Harry’s House,

Harry Styles discussed how “this doesn’t happen to people like [him] very often”. Harry…can you expand on that a little more? Adele rolling her eyes when his name was announced was just the cherry on top of the disappointment sundae. An honourable mention for the silliest Grammys moment is Ben Affleck and Jenniffer Lopez being awkwardly caught on camera mid-argument. I guess the stars are just like us after all! Also, researching for this portion is how I found out that the Staples Center got renamed to the “Crypto.com Arena”... so good job society!

One Sunday night a year, families gather around the television to watch the final playoff game of the NFL, but as many poorly lip-synced TikTok audios from celebrities who are clutching on to relevancy have pointed out, most people were just there for the “free Rihanna concert” (my apologies to the genuine football fans reading this). When it was announced in September that Rihanna would be performing at the halftime show, fans were extremely excited. It would be her first live perfor -

mance in five years, and social media posts were already circulating with predictions for the performance. The actual performance definitely lived up to the hype. Surrounded by so-called marshmallow-adjacent back-up dancers and floating on a platform, Rihanna’s performance was one to remember. Rihanna also used the halftime show as an opportunity to announce her second pregnancy (this article also acts as a formal apology to every family member who got yelled at for not being body positive when they suggested that she might be pregnant). With all the hype surrounding it, it’s no surprise that Rihanna’s performance became the second-most watched halftime show in history with a total of 118.7 million viewers.

“Spare”, - Prince Harry’s questionable memoir

What has 416 pages, some great promo for Elizabeth Arden face cream (if you know, you know), and a ghostwriter? If you guessed Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, you’re correct! For the record, I have not read it, I’ve only heard

the oh-so-memorable audio clips on social media. The book has received mixed reviews, but public ridicule of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from platforms like South Park shows how their anti-monarchy publicity era (including the highly criticized Netflix series: Harry & Meghan) was a failure. It seems that many are divided on either loving or hating Harry and Meghan, but it is looking like this biography was the last straw for those fed up with Harry.

Ice Spice: a cultural reset

When rapper Ice Spice released her song Munch in August 2022, it almost immediately blew up on TikTok. She exceeded expectations of forgotten TikTok artists of the past (who else remembers Tiagz?) by famously stating in a Genius interview how she is not a one-hit wonder- and she is correct. Following the success of Munch, Ice Spice released her debut EP, Like..?, on January 20th of this year. Not just a commercial success, Ice

Spice has become a beloved pop culture figure, referred to by many as “this generation’s Princess Diana.” Ice Spice acknowledged her status on the EP with the track Princess Diana. Pairing up with another TikTok-born sensation, she collaborated with artist PinkPantheress for Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2. “She’s a revolutionary! More than a two hit wonder - she knows her audience and makes her art accordingly.” says Junior Vice President of North Toronto, Logan Proulx. “She is to me what fire was to the cavemen” he adds.

Selena vs. Hailey: EyebrowGate

In a series of passive aggressive Instagram stories, over-analyzed TikToks, and long forgotten interviews dredged up from the past, two female celebrities are pinned against each other once again. Before this turns into an argument over whether anyone actually did anything wrong, can it please be acknowledged how dumb this is? Not to be all, “Can we talk about the political and economic state of the world right now” but every time this conflict comes up on my ForYou page, I roll my eyes.

Basically, Selena Gomez (pop star and Justin Bieber’s ex-girlfriend) and Hailey Bieber (nepotism baby, model, and his wife) have a supposed “rivalry”. Both of these women

MUSIC

What’s in our ears?

A listen into our Global Ed concerts.

Elena Vlitas

Editor in Chief

Leila

Schrenk

Section Editor

If you know us, we’re always listening to music. Although Spotify and Apple Music users have been divided since the dawn of time, such is no longer the case. That is of course only during second period in room 324. Between jokes of the day and the reading of “The Wayfinders” the unlikely, yet highly predictable, duo of “lala pods” and “Elena’s Airpods Pro” come to-

gether to listen to the jankiest and best playlist ever created. You never know what’s coming next; a click of shuffle could start with lord and saviour Morgan Wallen on repeat then immediately jump to rap. In the rare moments, we stop listening to music and take out our Airpods, we talk about it. Here’s what we have to say about each other’s contrasting music tastes.

Elena on Leila

I have a Spotify account that I have never listened to a single song on for two reasons. One of these reasons is to keep tabs on what Leila’s listening to. Very early on in our friendship, Leila showed me her top five Spotify wrapped art-

have said that there is no issue, and that they respect each other, but the speculation continues. The climax of this drama was when Hailey and her best friend, Kylie Jenner (another nepotism baby), posted a picture of their eyebrows to Hailey’s Instagram story. This was the alleged response to a video where Selena showed her eyebrows, saying she laminated them too much. Now known as #EyebrowGate, the internet is divided into team Hailey or team Selena. Let’s be real… most people are on Selena’s side and ganging up on Hailey. With allegations that every single thing she does connects back to her “obsession” with Selena, it seems like the internet is being too harsh. Who knows, maybe by the time this article is published, Kylie Jenner will have posted a picture of her other eyebrow and the entire internet will be shut down.

ists and I found out everything I needed to know about her. Leila’s Spotify account captures her perfectly. We see country girl Leila, fake blonde Leila, and most importantly, VSCO girl lala. Perhaps my favourite playlist of hers is “The summer I turned blonde”, mostly for nostalgic purposes. Although her playlist names are unrivaled, the 84 hour, alphabetized playlist, “Mess and a half” does raise eyebrows. Sometimes listening to these songs makes me want to rip my Airpods out of my ears, which is a difficult feat. Other days, I am lucky to find new favourites to add to my playlists. Leila is, in fact, the number one Morgan Wallen fan, and she will not let me (or anybody

else) forget it. After many failed attempts to convert me to a country fan, I must admit, “You Proof” and “Wasted on You” aren’t half bad. Despite being a country fan, the Red Hot Chili Peppers topped off her Spotify Wrapped, proving she is in fact her father’s daughter. As well, Leila was 100% more excited about my dad going to the Rage Against the Machine concert than he was. Personally, I will never understand how she finds the songs she listens to. I regularly receive texts about the random European EDM she has become a fan of, or about her being part of an exclusive cult of 16 monthly listeners of

the Tadros Brothers. Leila, if you’re reading this, it’s too late to change your courses. If The Weeknd, Mac, and Coldplay got me through two semesters of physics, Luke Combs, Riley Green, and Eric Church got your back (hopefully more than 89% of the time).

For the time that I’ve known Elena, her music taste has always been a tightly kept secret. That is until last summer when she added a single song to my playlist, “18” by Jer-

emy Zucker. This single song was the start of decoding the mystery that is Elena’s music taste which was quite difficult considering she uses Apple Music. I know, grody. Let’s start off with the basics. As I have come to learn through “GED”, which is what I have aptly named our playlist, Elena’s music taste can only be described as when you get into a teenage boy’s car and he tries to play you his favourite songs he insists are “super underground” and it turns out to be Juice WRLD. Surprisingly, even though

listening to her music sounds like you took my 14 year old brother’s headphones out at the gym and connected them to “Elena’s AirPods Pro”, Elena does occasionally listen to a song that isn’t half bad. From “What I Got” by Sublime to “Jealous” by Nick Jonas, if you dig deep enough past the concerning amounts of Drake and 21 Savage she has some real gems in there. Even more shocking, through conversations in Roche’s biology class I have come to learn that Elena is Hannah Montana’s number one

fan, and is not ashamed to admit it. Although personally I think she could expand her country music taste past her two comfort Morgan Wallen songs, and dive into some new unconventional music, say some Danish rap, Elena’s music taste is something that is on the brink of greatness.

Most surprising? We both happen to have the same favourite SoundCloud song. It’s very underground.

Colleen Hoover: Is she worth the hype?

Are the books worth the emotional bruises?

Salma Kassim-Lakha

Contributor

Rowan Boswell

Contributor

Colleen Hoover has skyrocketed in popularity recently, but this popularity has also been met with criticism. So, is Colleen Hoover worth the hype?

Colleen Hoover’s books are advertised as romance books which gain popularity among teenage girls, however, the themes throughout are anything but romantic. In recent years the trends in promoting harmful habits have accumulated. This is evident through the popularization of books like Twilight, Fifty Shades of Gray, and most recently, Colleen Hoover’s work. The promotion of stories and relationship dynamics like these has made young girls idolize abusive behaviour, putting them in danger.

Colleen Hoover’s books romanticize controlling and abusive behaviour that is dangerous to her mostly young fans. In her 2014 novel ‘Ugly Love’, the main character Tate’s love interest, Miles, displays extremely overbearing behaviour. He does not allow her to question any choices he makes and encourages her to have complete dependence on him. Although this sounds terrible, Hoover’s positive spin on harmful characteristics actually made the book a fan favourite. One of the ways Hoover romanticizes the controlling behaviour is by painting Tate as being ‘better’ or ‘stronger’ for remaining in the toxic relationship. At one point Tate says, “It’s the beautiful moments like this that make up for the ugly love.” This diminishes the dangerous actions and makes emotional abuse appear transactionalas if good moments can erase the bad. Themes like this tell readers dangerous behaviour should be tolerated or even valued. This is

incredibly dangerous to her extremely impressionable audience.

“It Ends With Us”, one of her best known books with rave reviews on TikTok and popularized by celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, is advertised as a romance novel. However, it is a story of a survivor of domestic abuse. The “romance” novel released in 2016 started gaining a great deal of attention on TikTok’s BookTok and many other social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube’s BookTube in 2020. The plot portrays newlyweds Lily and Ryle’s relationship starting with love bombing and ending with constant, but also has unexplained abuse. Throughout the novel, Lily continues to stay in a relationship with Ryle despite the fact that he starts to physically abuse her early on in their spontaneous marriage. Lily is subjected to increasing amounts of sudden abuse but she brushes it aside, telling herself that “all people make mistakes”

and that “everyone deserves another chance.” Her ignorance and dismissiveness allows Ryle to continue to abuse her to the point where she winds up in the hospital. This book is being promoted to young girls on TikTok, which can be quite harmful as they read this favourable image of domestic abuse and internalize it as something acceptable and suggestive.

When Colleen Hoover is criticized on BookTok, her fans never fail to flood the comment sections in support. Colleen Hoover’s fans do not waste any time defending her and her writing - best believe you will be harassed in TikTok comments after sharing a negative or contradictory opinion of her work.

The type of content people consume will impact them in one way or another. It is necessary for people, especially impressionable audiences, to be aware of the harmful ideas promoted in Colleen Hoover’s books.

Photo by Mariia Krasnenkova

Leila on Elena

Morgan Wallen: Album Review

A guide to the biggest country album of the year (sorry Luke Combs).

Leila Schrenk Section Editor

March 3rd is officially a national holiday people, because that is the day Morgan Wallen’s third studio album “One Thing At A Time” was released. My overall review is that it’s a little bit more Religious-y and alcohol-y than “Dangerous” or “If I Know Me” and a bit less Southern than “Stand Alone”, but overall this album is truly a masterpiece. So here are my honest opinions, thoughts and rankings of all 36 songs.

Born With A Beer In My Hand

I really like this song but, for opening the album, I honestly thought it was a little forgettable. He could have opened it with something else.

Last Night

Truly a pop-country masterpiece. I was not expecting the lyrics as it’s not really Daddy Wallen’s vibe but I still loved it and I’m glad he released it on “3 Songs At A Time”.

Man Made a Bar (feat. Eric Church)

That Eric Church feature really saved this song. That’s all I’m going to say.

Everything I Love

Reminds me of a more upbeat version of “Thirteen Silver Dollars” by Colter Wall for some reason.

Devil Don’t Know

Needed a re-listen to even remember what this even sounded like not going to lie. After a re-listen, Morgan, do you need a hug?

One Thing At A Time

The title track did not disappoint. ‘98 Braves

If he’s constantly singing about how much he loves Tennessee, why is he a Braves fan? Oh wait, Nashville doesn’t have an MLB team (side eye MLB).

Ain’t That Some

OFF THIS ALBUM!!!! Clearly he took some spelling lessons from Fergie for this one.

I Wrote The Book

Probably my least favourite song off the sampler. I just am not feeling it.

Tennessee Numbers

This and “865” are the same song but from different perspectives.

Hope That’s True

A combination of “7 Summers” and “More Than My Hometown”. Buddy did not play around with this one and aired all his dirty laundry. I feel bad for the girl.

Whiskey Friends

“Whiskey Friends” is just the continuation of “Whiskey Glasses” and I love it.

Sunrise

Elena’s fave even though she is a country hater. I see why it’s that good.

Keith Whitley

I was wondering why this sounded so familiar. It literally sounds like “Miami, My Amy”.

In The Bible (feat. HARDY)

These feature songs are really not hitting so far.

You Proof

Only gets a half point off because it is so overplayed.

Thought You Should Know

Probably should have opened the Album.

F150-50

WE GET IT YOU LIKE YOUR TRUCK.

Neon Star (Country Boy Lullaby)

Exactly what the name suggests. It could actually be used as a lullaby for those little kids you see wearing the baby cowboy boots and their Carhartt.

I Deserve A Drink BIG MOOD.

Wine Into Water

The perfect Jesus-alcohol combo that represents this entire album.

Me + All Your Reasons

Oh Morgan, who hurt you?

Tennessee Fan

ROLL TIDE BABY!!!!!!! (I don’t know much about college football).

Money On Me

It’s really hard to listen to a 36 song album without them all starting to sound the same. This kinda sounds like every other song off the album.

Thinkin’ About Me

A MASTERPIECE. This is the song I’ve seen all over my TikTok and it’s deserved because it’s so so good.

Single Than She Was

Okay homewrecker Wallen. Catchy though.

Days That End In Why

Loved it when it first came out. Now that I’ve heard the rest of the album it’s still good but I think other songs are better.

Last Drive Down Main

The guitar kind of overpowers the song.

Me to Me

Self-centered much?

Don’t Think Jesus

At first, I didn’t like this song when it came out. But after a few listens it’s one of my favourites of his whole discography.

180 (Lifestyle)

I needed a song like this off of this album.

Had It

I am going to cry. Why does this song sound exactly like every other song on this album?

Cowgirls (feat. ERNEST):

ERNEST YOU PULLED THROUGH!!! Best feature song on this album.

Good Girl Gone Missin’

Good but snoozy.

Outlook

This man is either like “girl I love you so so much” or “I hope I never see your face again”. There is no in between.

Dying Man

And that closes off the album. Pretty good closer but I think if I listen to one more song I will pull my hair out. Love you Morgan but I’m glad it’s over.

Glass Onion: Review

A roller coaster of mystery.

Daria Lapikova Contributor

Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion was released on September 10, 2022. The film is a sequel to Knives Out. The film is about another case of Detective Blank, who was played by Daniel Craig, an actor best known for his role as James Bond. The film tells the story of how five friends are invited to their billionaire friend’s mansion to play a murder mystery game. Detective Blank also received an invitation, although, as it turned out later, the man

was not supposed to participate in the game. A very exciting story that will be suitable for people who like mystery and intrigue. The suspense of the riddle is aptly combined with humour and irony, making it an enjoyable watch. You will never guess the outcome of the story, and at the end, a plot twist will shock you to your core. You can watch the movie on Netflix, and the film is available in 17 languages if you are more comfortable watching in your native language. Run to watch Glass Onion immediately after finishing reading the newspaper!

Velma show: Review

Congratulations HBO, on the worst show of the new year!

Felicity

Layout

Hughes

As far as offensive shows with no sense of direction go, HBO’s Velma isn’t atrocious; but it definitely isn’t good. The show somehow manages to insult every single audience it could potentially reach, and all with a smile on its face. Velma was released to HBO Max on January 12th this year, receiving astonishingly negative reviews. The show received a 7% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I’m far from surprised. The animated show claims to be a Scooby-Doo spinoff prequel, though Scooby himself is non-existent in its universe — an interesting choice. The show’s colour-blind “casting” could have been great had the show not chosen to employ the most basic racial stereotypes in its characterization. Velma, the dorky

MOVIES & TELEVISION

Hunters show: Review

Amazon Prime’s original show back for season two.

Ava Ahlstrand Contributor

After a three year long wait, the Amazon Prime original Hunters is back for a a second season. Executively produced by the famous Jordan Peele, this piece of television is not only beautifully directed but an important watch as a work of art and cinematography.

The show starts in 1977 in New York City, post World War II, where audiences are met by a group of Nazi hunters who work to find and drive out Nazis hidden in the plain sight of the new world, hiding from their shameful past. They find out that a senior Nazi figure is attempting to establish a Fourth Reich, or a new line of succession and ruling after Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich which began in 1933. Meyer Offerman, played

by Al Pacino, leads the group of hunters, finding and prosecuting Nazis in hiding. Though years after the events of the Holocaust, the hunters are faced with the terrors and reminders of such a horrifying time. Leading up from prior events, in the second season the hunters are now led by Jonah Heidelbaum, played by Logan Lerman, known for his work in Percy Jackson and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The show was inspired by the real-life Nazi hunters of the mid-20th century.

Due to the show surrounding such serious topics, it can be quite intense, but the addition of friendship, action, mystery, and suspense create a beautiful variety of themes and interconnections within the plot. IndieWire article writer, Ben Travers, proclaimed, “The series has a talented ensemble cast and blends historical fiction with an action thriller.”

Why is this an important

watch? To begin, although fiction, it sheds a light on the atrocities of the Holocaust while adding enticing characteristics of action and drama. When the new group of hunters, led by Jonah Heidelbaum, starts in the 70s, the show demonstrates the fight against racism and other forms of hatred towards the hunters and many other characters. Alongside the exposition of the Holocaust in the show comes the display of the lingering effects of the Holocaust on the survivors and their families. Now in 2023, it’s getting increasingly rare to have the honor of hearing the stories of the Holocaust survivors. Being exposed to these stories, even carried on to fiction, is still important and can be very valuable. Furthermore, the show displays the issues associated with extremist groups that have spread across the world, and the significance of not falling victim to their beliefs. The show touches on subjects such as morals,

self-deprecating South Asian. Daphne, the hot, mean Asian, and Shaggy, the Black (presumably soon to be) stoner. Simply shallow, reductive, and shockingly uncreative. Unfortunately, Velma… it’s been done. With the show’s attempt at racial inclusivity and queer representation, one would assume that the show’s target audience would fall into Gen Z or younger Millennials. Well, with its rampant jokes about cancel culture, its reduction of the #MeToo movement to simply censorship of comedy, and its prevalent misogynistic undertones, I’d be surprised to find a peer capable of sitting through such garbage. Velma is hopelessly lost and nobody’s going to give it a hand. I’d suggest a weeklong meditative retreat because I don’t think the writers even know what’s happening.

ethics, and justice, which makes the show interesting and valuable in its messages. Making these morally challenging decisions means exploring the divide between ethical and unethical. For instance, it poses a debate of whether it is ethical to break the law if it means a fight for justice and a fight against Nazis. Additionally, the cast of Hunters is fairly underground, so it feels good to support the cast. In many ways it is diverse and the cast represents a variety of races and nationalities, including women in prominent leadership roles. This representation offers a great chance to support aspiring and talented actors while highlighting the abilities of underrepresented groups.

Hunters is everything a dramatic TV show needs to be, while covering important topics everyone should expose themselves to. Both seasons are available on Amazon Prime.

Photo courtesy of Entertainment Weekly

Profiling student-run businesses

Profiles of North Toronto’s insightful student entrepreneurs.

Tai Vaughan Section Editor

Unsatisfied with your minimum wage job? Looking to make some money? Become your own boss, and start a business! At North Toronto, some students have turned their passion for a particular subject into an independent, profitable hobby. If you have read this section’s previous articles, you would know that the rising interest of students in the stock market and business developments over the past few years has skyrocketed. This has made the desire to go into business amongst students more prevalent than ever before. The profiles of Natasha Bernstein and Felicity Hughes are an exclusive look into the entrepreneurial talent of NT’s student body. They are sure to inspire you to kickstart your business journey!

Natasha Bernstein, a graduating student at North Toronto, knows very well what it takes to start and run a business, as her entrepreneurial experience dates

back to grade eight. While her products were limited to necklaces and bracelets in middle school, her jewelry startup Natsbeadlab established itself when she was in grades ten and eleven. When asked what inspired her to choose jewelry out of the myriad of other options, Bernstein’s answer was simple: “I’ve always been a crafty person and had a love for jewelry. I thought ‘why not connect something I was good at with something that could make me money?’” In today’s society, a countless number of things are available a mere click of a button away. However, as she explained, the inspiration for your business should be what you are passionate about. As the Harvard Business Review states, “The more passionate the entrepreneur, the more likely they are to succeed.”

Despite having been an entrepreneur since grade 8, the first business course Bernstein ever took was Grade 12 Business Leadership. How was she able to start and run a business at such a young age?

Bernstein explained: “Anything I learned about running a business I learned from my dad, who is a busi-

nessman himself.” Reaching out to people you know who work in business can help you launch and sustain your business as well as prepare you for any future endeavours. As her final piece of advice, Bernstein calls on North Toronto students to open their eyes to the idea of entrepreneurship, and remember that “There’s business in just about everything.”

NT’s Felicity Hughes is in grade 12 and shared their experience running an earring business during grades 10 and 11. The earrings were all handmade and sold on Etsy, and during the year their business was running, they made around $2000. When asked why they started that venture, Hughes explained that “[they] wanted a way to make money that [they] would enjoy, from the comfort of [their] own home, and on [their] own time.” Having a business in high school should be about gaining experience and profit - it should not monopolize your academic schedule. Hughes is a great example of how you can start a business doing something you love, make money, and discontinue it before it begins

interfering with other elements of your life. While NT’s business courses are great, not having taken one should not restrict you from launching your own! In their case, Hughes took a business course at NT following their success. For this reason, they encourage any student interested in the subject to create their own startup - regardless of their age or prior experience. As a graduating NT student that used to have a successful business that they were passionate about, Felicity Hughes leaves you with this: “You’re never too young to take initiative over your own place in the economy.”

Hopefully, the experiences of grade 12 NT students Natasha Bernstein and Felicity Hughes have made you consider turning your interests into profitable side hustles. In doing so, you’ll gain both experience and knowledge. Best of all, of course, it’s a great way to make some extra cash!

Photos by Natasha Bernstein

The best job for you

Are you considering getting a part-time job? If so, this article is for you.

Lily Homenuk Contributor

Are you considering getting a part-time job? If so, this article is for you. There are a lot of good places for teens to work, but trying to find the right one can be overwhelming. This article is going to be focusing on three different jobs: lifeguard, camp counselor, and food service. There are also rules you should consider if you are a working student: the minimum wage for students in Ontario is $14.60 an hour, and students can only work a maximum of twenty hours a week to maintain balance in their lives. Here are the three jobs I believe are good options for teenagers.

Lifeguarding

Typical Hours/Time: Four hours on the weekends, one hour on weeknights.

Typical Pay: $19.00

Locations: Pool, indoor and outdoor.

Requirements: Bronze Cross, Bronze Medallion, National Lifeguard Course, and Standard First Aid.

A lifeguard watches over a pool to make sure people are safe. In case of an emergency situation, they step in to help. Lifeguards may also teach swim classes in an indoor or outdoor pool all year. A lifeguard has to be a minimum of fifteen years old. As a lifeguard, you are constantly watching multiple moving people at a time, so you have to be observant. Lifeguards also need to be good swimmers and physi-

GAMING

cally fit so that they can help and teach their classes. Lifeguards work with kids every day at their job, so they need to have good people skills. Becoming a lifeguard is a lot of work. You’ll need to get certified by taking multiple classes and then get training on site too. This is not a job you can just suddenly decide to do, and it often requires a major commitment.

Camp Counselor

Typical Hours/Time: Three months if you are an overnight camp counselor, several weeks or months if you are a day camp counselor, and full-time if the camp runs 9 AM - 4 PM.

Typical Pay: $16.42

Locations: Indoors or outdoors, can be anywhere, depending on the type of camp you are working at.

Requirements: May need to have attended that camp, first aid, and lifeguarding credentials depending on what camp.

A camp counselor is responsible for kids who could be aged 4-16 years old. They will need to schedule activities, and potentially teach classes to the kids on a variety of topics. If you want to be a camp counselor you may need to have gone to the camp in question: camps have different rules on who can apply. However, almost every camp rules that you have to be at least seventeen or eighteen years old to be a counselor. A camp counselor has to be good with kids, which means they are patient and have good communication skills. Camp counselors also need to know how to have fun and when to exercise authority while dealing with campers. As a camp counselor, you do not

get many breaks because you are constantly surrounded by kids, and this can take a lot out of some people. Being outside in the sun means you could get sunburned and dehydrated. You have to be careful to put on sunscreen and drink water. If you hate the outdoors, being a camp counselor at an overnight camp is not going to be your dream job.

Food Services

Typical Hours/Time: After school and afternoon shifts on weekends, with an average of 15 hours a week. This job can be all year round. It is really up to you and your schedule.

Typical Pay: $15

Locations: Restaurants and small food shops.

Requirements: No requirements usually but some places could have some of their own. A bonus requirement could be your food handlers license.

A job in the food service industry means you will be taking care of the cash register which includes handling money and ringing up customers. A person in the food industry has to make and serve food and drinks to waiting customers. The youngest age you can be in the food service industry is fourteen years old but it depends on the place. To work in the food service industry, you need to be good at multitasking because many things can be going through your brain at once: managing food and drink orders and checking people out, for instance. To keep people happy you will have to be good at communication, as well as quick on your feet, both physically and mentally. Having a job in the food service

industry is tough. Employees have to constantly deal with customers, who can be rude and demanding, and employees often cannot respond negatively to a customer. Most of the time, employees in the food service industry are on their feet all day and are doing the same thing. A person who enjoys facing new challenges every day may not like this job, but it is great for someone who enjoys working in a team and getting to meet new people.

Balancing a job with the rest of your life is hard, but NT students have some good ways to do it. Meredith Lee, a grade nine, said that she “spent time with family and friends” and “went to sleep early” to balance her job with her life. When you have a job as a student you have to make sure there is still fun in your life. Elsa Scurfield, a grade nine, found out that having a job “limits what you can accomplish on certain days.” She learned that you have to carefully “schedule things like homework” to do everything you want to do. Having a job can be tough at some moments and super rewarding at others. Before getting a job, think it over and decide whether it’s the right thing to do at this moment in your life.

There are lots of quality jobs for teenagers: lifeguarding, camp counseling, and food service are just a few. Having a job as a teenager can be stressful, but it’s also incredibly gratifying, giving you plenty of experience and life skills for the future.

Is Fortnite tricking you out of your money?

Microtransaction madness.

Ethan Cairns

Section Editor

At this point, I think it would be almost useless to describe what Fortnite is. Whether you love it, hate it, or couldn’t care less, I’m almost certain you’re well aware of its existence. Over the past five years or so, it’s become one of, if not the most popular video game in the world, and been incredibly successful for its creator and publisher, Epic Games. However, that has recently

changed. As of December 19, 2022, Epic Games now faces a 520 million dollar fine from the FTC, an American regulatory body, for its harmful and predatory marketing practices. Until recently, players could inadvertently make in-game purchases incredibly easily, sometimes without even realizing it. The game’s menu system was made intentionally confusing, hiding cancel and refund options while allowing purchases to be made with a single click. This is especially harmful because of Fortnite’s target audience, children and teens. I wouldn’t be surprised if a large percentage of

you reading this have bought an in-game cosmetic or battle pass before. This fine is the largest ever placed on a company for violating the FTC’s rules on this subject, and sets a precedent for other video game developers and publishers. Fortnite’s business practices are only some of the most recent symptoms of a larger trend across gaming as a whole. Whether you play games often or just occasionally with friends, you may have noticed a shift towards free-to-play models that offer in-game purchases instead of a single price tag for a game as a whole. This model

allows developers to continue creating content for a game and continue to make money from it over time. It also allows them to capitalize on “whales” - customers who are willing to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on virtual items, currencies, and other benefits. While it’s more beneficial for those creating and managing these new, ongoing games, many players are disappointed with this shift. Many see microtransaction-laden experiences as cash grabs, while continued on the next page...

others raise questions about the harm these marketing strategies can cause unwary players.

In addition to Fortnite, some of the more well-known offenders such as League of Legends, Genshin Impact, and Overwatch have seen players spending unreasonable amounts of money, sometimes bordering on dangerous. Once hooked, it can be difficult to stop. Some of the techniques used by developers could be compared to the effects of an addictive drug, for instance. To find out how and why, I asked grade 12 student Parsa Parvin Hosseini about his online spending habits and what he has noticed about the way video games hook their players.

“[I’ve spent] probably in the mid to high thousands [throughout my life,]” he said, listing more than seventeen games he has given his patronage over the years. In addition to the popular offenders mentioned above, you may recognize Among Us, Team Fortress 2, Valorant, and Warframe - all games saturated with in-game purchases of one kind or another. With regard to the marketing strategies that coaxed his money from him, Parsa said that “FOMO is a big one - ev-

FINANCE

erything is always either limited time, never returning, or has exclusive timed content.” He also mentioned that “Everything has some

‘bonus’ or ‘free’ thing that comes with it if you buy it,” and that many items are accessed through free play, but require spending to un-

lock their full potential.

All of these methods are intentionally designed to create a need to buy in players’ minds. Developers and publishers expertly introduce fear of missing out, include special bonuses that make you think you’re getting a deal, and tease you with hints of what you’ll get if you just cough up a few bucks. Looking at the industry as a whole, Fortnite’s practices and its FTC fine are nothing new: Epic Games just went one step too far. Predatory patterns in games are everywhere, and they can affect almost anyone. In closing, Parsa told me that his repeated spending over the years has “definitely messed up how much money is worth to [him].” This cautionary tale isn’t to say you should never spend money on an in-game purchase ever again. However, especially for students like us, it’s crucial to think about what exactly we’re getting from whatever we buy, and to recognize the ways in which we’re being tricked out of our hard-earned cash. Most of all, we need to remember that at their core, gaming should be about enjoyment. Never forget that video games are meant to be fun.

Best money you’ve spent on something

Are you spending your money smartly?

Sophie Block Editor in Chief

There’s a lot of advertisements out there, and even more opportunities to waste your money. To hear how NT students spend their money, and to hear if it was actually worth it, members of the Financial Freedom club were interviewed and asked the following question. What was the best purchase you have ever made and was it worth it? Would it be worth it to you?

If you’re looking to spend money, know that if you’re passionate about the purchase and there’s some long term value, it’s likely worth it. You might even gain some interest if you’re as into investing as these Financially Free club members.

Watch the extended interviews on our Instagram, @ntcigraffiti

What’s the best money you ever spent?

Jonah: The best money I’ve spent is on Apple stocks, and yes, it was worth it.

Matei: The best money I’ve ever spent is investing in a TFSA account that I can hold my money in for the long term, and just create profit over the next generation of my life.

Adam: Airpods Pro 2nd generation with an engravement of a peace sign. Absolutely worth it.

Ayush: My setup cost like $3000, I think it’s really very good. Compared to what I had before, it’s definitely worth it.

Liam: The Fortnite battle pass has great value all around.

Leila: My $8 Starbucks drinks that got me through exam season, because I truly don’t think I could do it without them.

Alen: My computer; it’s helped me a lot in school. I’ve learned a lot from the internet. I’ve learned a lot of stuff when I miss classes. I learn on YouTube.

Jake: Probably the best thing I ever bought was a tutor. I go to Oxford learning after school every day after school and they help me. Also tropic thunder.

Photo by Elena Vlitas

NORTH TORONTO TRADITIONS

Get ready for Red and Grey Day

North Toronto’s annual tradition filled with school spirit!

Abby Harlow Contributor

Mark your calendars NT, because Red and Grey day is coming on May 4, 2023! For those of you who don’t know, Red and Grey day is North Toronto’s most unforgettable day of the year. It is an annual tradition at North Toronto that gives students a chance to show all of their school pride. It’s one of the days that truly makes NT special.

This year, Red and Grey day has a lot in store for students that come with spirit. With events and competitions like the homeform door decorating contests, fun giveaway prizes, a BBQ lunch, sports

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games throughout the day, and a spirit assembly, this is not a day you will not want to miss out. Although many of us have only been here for one or two Red and Grey days, this tradition has brought about a ton of amazing memories for teachers who have been here for many more years than us.

Looking back on past Red and Grey days, there are parts of the occasion that have definitely changed with the times. Ms. Chamberlain, a teacher and NT alumni, said her fondest memory of Red and Grey day as a student was the spirit parade. She remembers the marching band leading the whole school down to Northern for the big NT vs. Northern football game.

Mr. Tallevi says his favourite Red and Grey day memory is coach-

ing the senior boys soccer team to three straight wins. “Atmosphere is such a key part to the day,” and he remembers “having the stands packed with fans who were dressed in our school colours.’’

Upon looking back, Ms. Bulgutch says, “I have never been able to recapture the high of my first Red and Grey day.” Up until COVID hit, themed homeform rooms were a massive part of Red and Grey festivities. In her first year, Ms. Bulgutch and her class took home the top prize with their ‘old hollywood’ themed room. Since her first year at NT, she has never won first again, but she also noticed the students started to lose interest. She found that her excitement and energy towards the special day was not being reciprocated by her students.

The future of refereeing

incredible game.

Will Smith

Contributor

The 2023 NFL season ended with a bang as Super Bowl

Sunday featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles finished with a 73 point thriller that attracted the second largest American TV broadcast audience ever (behind only the moon landing). However, in the dying seconds, the game, and to some extent the entire season, was tarnished by a highly controversial holding call that set the Chiefs up for a field goal kick to win. Immediately, everyone from respected NFL commentators to the average Twitter user began to blame the referees for ruining an

But it’s not just football. Seemingly every sport, from boxing to soccer, has been impacted by continuously worse refereeing. Baseball fans have been calling for the implementation of “robot umps”, basketball fans are demanding referee fines, and NFL fans have even gone so far as to call the league “rigged.” Amidst the constant barrage of negativity, it appears that refereeing accuracy has dropped off a cliff. But is refereeing actually getting worse?

Let’s use baseball as our example. Over the past decade, the number of missed ball and strike calls has dropped dramatically. However, baseball umpires are still among the most hated arbitrators of any sport. Why? Because “al-

most perfect” refereeing no longer matters; fans expect flawless calls. Today, we have analysis technology that instantly catches errors, and in seconds, bad calls are streamed across the internet. Endless web forums light up, full of disgruntled fans looking for an excuse for their team’s performance, and projecting their ire onto the perfect scape goats, referees.

The fact that “robot-refs’’ are on the cusp of becoming a reality does their human counterparts no favours either, creating unfair competition against the unflinching accuracy of technology. There will come a day when the last of the human referees are phased out, taking with them the inevitability of human error. Is that what we want? Or, just like with increasing

However, COVID has changed a lot about Red and Grey day, notably making door decorating the new contest for homeforms. Ms. Bulgutch comments that she felt a renewed sense of excitement during last year’s festivities, and that she hopes it lasts.

All of these memories were only made possible with the participation of the entire student body. Get ready to dig up all of that red and grey from your closet, and get your voices ready to belt the school song. The NTAA and student council are looking forward to seeing all of you on May 4th for a day filled with fun activities and a ton of school spirit!

ticket prices driving lifelong fans out of seats and profit-obsessed owners trampling over their clubs identities, will the loss of human refs only further dehumanize our great games?

Perhaps the next time you’re trashing the refs or angrily posting hate comments online, remember those moments are numbered. More importantly, infamous moments, like the “Hand of God” and “Tuck Rule”, so tightly interwoven into the identity of these sports, come ever closer to extinction. True sports fans should do everything in their power to prevent the disappearance of human referees, because who will be there to call foul when those same robots eventually replace the players?

Photo courtesy of Ms. Chamberlain

Photo courtesy of Abby Harlow

City Semi-finalists

A summary of the Boy’s Varsity Hockey season.

Luke Taylor Section Editor

After an early exit from last year’s playoffs with a loss to East York in the regional semi-finals, the Boy’s Varsity Hockey Team began a new campaign with much excitement and a number of new players.

As Mr. Taylor explained, regarding the past few hockey seasons, “we lost the [2020-21] year entirely [and] the subsequent year we were just glad to have some physical activity. So we returned this season on a mission.”

The season began in mid November with an exhibition game against Lawrence Park, the 2022 and 2023 city champions. However, after a tough, low scoring battle, it was Lawrence Park who took victory with a second period goal that proved to be the decider as they took the game 1-0: a loss, yet a positive sign for the team as it demonstrated their ability to com-

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pete with the best of the best.

After a couple weeks off, the next main event on the calendar for the team was the annual “Broadway Bowl” against Northern, a tradition that has been held for many years. In this particular game, Northern was victorious by a score of 5-2.

In their regular season, after the winter break, the boys started the year with back to back wins against Sir Oliver Mowat and Malvern CI. But after a post-exam slump against the two divisional powerhouses of Lawrence Park and Humberside, the Norsemen finished the season with an impressive 9-6 win against Sir Oliver Mowat, finishing with an overall record of 3-5-0 and placing fourth in the league, just three points shy of second place.

A fourth place finish meant the team would play the undefeated Humberside in the city semi-finals, a team who scored an astounding 55 goals while only allowing 8 during 8 league games.

Despite the incredible talent of Humberside, the game began

quite evenly. Humberside started the scoring midway through the first, but during the first intermission, the score remained only 1-0. However, it was in the second period when the game opened up. After an NT goal to half the deficit to 1, Humberside scored four times in the matter of only 5 minutes, after which a comeback was unreachable. The final score of the game was 8-2 as Norsemen were knocked out of the playoffs.

But not only was this game the last of the season, for the nine grade twelves on the team, it was their last varsity hockey game in the Norsemen uniform.

Reflecting on his time with the hockey team, James Cameron, grade twelve student and captain of the team, explained that “[being] on the hockey team was a great experience… throughout high school. My teammates were great [and] coach Russel and coach Taylor were amazing role models for me over the last four years.”

Mr. Taylor shared similar thoughts when reflecting on the past four years with this grade 12

group: “I’ve been looking forward to coaching this group since the core entered grade 9” he explained. “I saw many talented players but they were young [and] we had just wrapped up our first season when the pandemic hit”. This year was unfortunately the only full season with this group leading the team. “However,” as Mr. Taylor continued, “It was a fun season and I saw a lot of growth among the boys. As a coach that’s all I can ask for.” And as the team captain stated “I can’t thank [the coaches] enough” for all of their contributions to the team.” Although the year ended with a loss, the season should be looked upon with nothing but positivity: North Toronto’s boys hockey team hasn’t been to the city semi-finals since 2015 and only 3 times in the past 17 years has a team survived to the second last round.

All in all, congratulations to the players for a great season and a huge thanks to Coach Johnston, Coach Russel, and Coach Taylor for making this an unforgettable year.

Should tackle football be banned?

Has the sport we all know and love finally reached its end?

Ben Solomonov Contributor

Every Sunday, millions of Americans gather around the grill to watch the New York Jets get annihilated. The sight of 250-pound grown men plowing into each other like rams has become something of a tradition. Obviously, I’m referring to Amer-

ican football. Originally created at Trinity College in 1864, the sport has become a huge part of North American culture.

Recently, spectators and even the NFL’s commissioner have begun to realise the true dangers of the sport. Specifically during a pivotal game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills. Damar Hamlin, safety for the Buffalo Bills, collapsed in the middle of the field while attempting a tackle. A forceful blow to the heart caused him to

suffer cardiac arrest.

In response to this incident, some fans called for the violent game to be banned. However, in light of its history and positive impact on millions of people, the end of tackle football is a very controversial topic. Teamwork and leadership can be learned, but do the positives outweigh the negatives?

Among those that love American football are NTCI students Matteo Alessandro and Daniel Sidon, who both currently

play for the Toronto Jr. Argos. The majority of Sidon’s life was spent playing football, and although he agrees that the sport may be dangerous, he knows that players are aware of the risks. The same is true for athletes who compete in other high-stakes sports, such as boxing and ice hockey..

The first time Alessandro played football with the Junior Argos last year, he mentioned that

Photo courtesy of Mr. Taylor

he was going through a lot. Playing served as a distraction and a form of therapy for him because of the rough physicality of the sport. Football taught him a lot about discipline, and his experience helped him form strong bonds with people he never expected to meet.

Mr. Hood is a North Toronto CI teacher and was a long standing coach of the school’s team. Earlier, Hood played football for two years in high school, and for another four at the University of Toronto. Mr. Hood explained how the NFL is constantly changing its rules to make the game safer. He notes that coaches are now teaching the game in a much better manner. “Good football coaches aren’t teaching you to hurt people, [rather, they] teach you how to use physical force to win a football game within the rules,” he states. “If you look at what the NFL is doing, the executives and the coaches are all engaging on alternative levels. The way we hit is changing in football. The NFL is constantly changing

SCHOOL SPORTS

the rules, and if you’re a fan, you’ll know. Any helmet-to-helmet contact, and you’re fined. Football has always been looked at as a physical game, but very few people understand how complex it is and the knowledge that players need to read, recognize, and adjust to changes in a split second. It is much more cerebral than people think.”

With the influence that football has had on Mr. Hood, he is strongly opposed to banning the sport. Since there are other sports with just as much physicality he questions, “If you ban football, where do you stop? There are more head injuries in hockey than there are in football, and the last study I saw by the TDSB showed a higher rate of concussions in girls’ soccer than in football. So, do we ban soccer? I’m not a fan of that, and I believe in free choice in society as well. When I look back on my life, yeah, I had some bumps and bruises, some aches and pains, but when I look at the good and bad of football and what it’s done for me, the

The return of rugby

Girls’ rugby is back at North Toronto!

Grace Uy Section Editor

After being on hiatus since 2020, NT’s rugby team is back in action! A varsity team for girls of all ages and abilities, rugby is a wonderful team sport that builds resilience and camaraderie among the players.

NT has been running a girls’ rugby team for many years, generally playing six or seven games per season. The team was to be coached by Ms. Rough and Mr. Hobson, along with two community coaches from the Toronto Scottish Rugby

LOCAL SPORTS

Club (thanks to the liaison work of Alyssa Fowell). With Mr. Hobson leaving the school, the rugby team will now be coached by Ms. Rough and a new teacher volunteer. The season is just getting started for this excited group of girls, with the first game scheduled for late April.

Before Mr. Hobson left, he shared his favourite parts of coaching the rugby team. “It is very exciting to have the [rugby] team back,” says Mr. Hobson. “After three years of being cooped up inside, I’m so glad the girls have a chance to [play rugby] again.” NT students shared his excitement over the team’s return, with about 60 people who showed up for the

good far outweighs the bad.”

Looking at concussion rates in the NFL, it is evident that their updated rules have helped make the game safer. The league recorded 275 concussions in 2015, which included practices, preseason games, and regular season games. That number fell to 187 in 2021 as a result of the new rules implemented in 2018, which forbade players from lowering their helmets to make contact with their opponents. However, it goes without saying that the sport still isn’t completely safe, even with the new rules. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, commonly referred to as CTE, as well as other illnesses, are showing up more frequently in American football. One of the main causes of CTE is repeated brain trauma, which is among the most common with athletes. CTE is particularly dangerous because it has been linked to increased rates of suicide, mental illnesses like depression, and a loss of capability for complex thought. Researchers

at Boston College recently discovered that 345 of 376 (91.7%) former NFL players have CTE, according to their findings. A Stanford study from 2017–2018 found that every football game results in players taking 50–60 hard strikes to the head, some of which are comparable to a vehicle travelling at 30 mph slamming into a brick wall. I played football from 4th to 8th grade, and I was horrendous. I would get decked every play, and you couldn’t count on me to catch a pass. I couldn’t even start a junior varsity game. However, I still valued the game, even though I was terrible at it. This experience taught me a lot of valuable lessons in life, and I loved every minute of it. The game is very physical, as any sport is, and players are aware of that. The game is still constantly changing and becoming safer for players. The idea of just removing something millions of people love and are passionate about would simply be foolish.

team’s initial meeting. With 15 players fielded in a game, the team needs 25 dedicated and hardworking girls to be viable.

After talking to Mr. Hobson about why he enjoys coaching rugby, it is evident that for the years he coached the rugby team, he truly cared about the sport. “I love coaching because it really gives one a chance to give something back,” says Mr. Hobson. “What could be better than giving teenagers a chance to play an exciting game, be part of a team, face challenges, and build character?”

Compared to some other sports, rugby requires athletes to work as a unit. Athletes build

connections with each other, and by the end of the season, a team is truly made. Mr. Hobson shares how he has always found that “the students [are] supportive of each other, and [are] wonderful to work with.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, the rugby team will be facing a major rebuild. With only a few experienced players, the team will be looking at learning the game of rugby, building their skills, and hopefully getting to the city finals with some luck and good work. As the rugby team looks for a new coach, they will continue to channel Mr. Hobson’s enthusiasm and passion for the sport.

What to expect from the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023

A deep dive into the upcoming season for this beloved team.

Tristan Swartz Contributor

F

or many Jays fans, last season ended in frustration and disappointment. Going into the 2022 Wild Card series, the Blue Jays were playing some of their best baseball against the Seattle Mariners, with expectations set high. Things looked hopeful for the team, especially after finishing the

season as the first Wild Card seed. However, everything that could have gone wrong did. The Jays got unexpectedly blown out in the first game of the series, with ace Alek Manoah on the mound. However, it was not even close to being as heartbreaking as game two. The Jays seemed to have secured a win with an 8-1 lead during the game. Unfortunately, everything turned for the worse when the Mariners tied the game up in the 8th inning, and eventually went on to win it. It

was a heartbreaking loss for what was expected to be a deep run at the postseason, which this fanbase has not experienced since 2016. As many Jays fans have seen, baseball is a sport of excitement, thrill, and enjoyment, but can also be upsetting and frustrating at times. Despite the disappointing end to the 2022 season, there is still a lot for Jays fans to be excited about with the 2023 season right around the corner. In addition to the vast amount of talent

they already have, the front office has made many new acquisitions this off-season, which they feel will help propel this franchise not only to a playoff berth, but to a championship. Last year was just a demonstration of this team’s potential. This year, however, there is great reason to have such high expectations. This is an exciting group of players and the talent across the field is outstanding.

continued on the next page...

The biggest acquisition this offseason was the addition of outfielder/catcher, Daulton Varsho, from the Arizona Diamondbacks, in exchange for long-time star outfielder, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, and rookie Gabriel Moreno. The trade came as a surprise to many fans as Gurriel has been a big part of the team for many seasons, and Moreno was one of the top rookies in the organization. However, with the Jays already carrying two catchers on their roster, Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk, Moreno’s path in the club was blocked. As a consistent defender and hitter for the Diamondbacks, Varsho brings an exciting new perspective to this

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

roster with his ability to play centre field. On top of that, Varsho bats left, which gives a nice change to this primarily right handed team, giving manager John Schneider more options with the lineup.

In addition to the acquisition of Varsho, the Jays also acquired pitchers Chris Bassitt and Erik Swanson, as well as outfielder Kevin Kiermier. Bassitt will be a great addition to the starting rotation, especially with the uncertainty surrounding starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who arguably pitched one of the most horrendous seasons in the MLB last year. Bassitt thus provides more flexibility in the rotation and allows for more

options with Kikuchi. One of the biggest factors in the Blue Jays’ success in the 2023 season will be the consistency of first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and shortstop Bo Bichette. The two players had pretty uneventful seasons last year compared to their usual performance, and this team’s potential as a whole is up to them.

Guerrero had a decent season last year, however he looks to return to his 2021 season where he hit 48 home runs. Similarly, Bichette had a poor start to the season, causing many to question his position in the lineup, however he turned it around, emerging as one of the hottest hitters during the final few

weeks of the 2022 season. If both Guerrero and Bichette can be consistently good throughout this upcoming season, then the lineup will be one of the toughest and strongest in the league.

The upcoming MLB season looks very exciting and has many fans eager to return to the ballpark.

The potential of the 2023 Blue Jays team is astonishing and the expectations are set. There is so much to look forward to. This is no longer a team with aspirations for the playoffs, but one that hopes to return the World Series title north of the border once again.

Renovations to the Rogers Centre

What’s going on with the Rogers Centre?

Tristan Swartz Contributor

At the time of its opening in the summer of 1989, with the title of “Sky Dome”, the Rogers Centre was a marvel of its class. It was the first ever fully retractable stadium in Major League Baseball and was also located at the heart of the downtown core. Once an exciting and modern installation, the Rogers Centre now stands as one of the oldest and most bland parks in the league. Shortly after its opening, the trend in stadiums shifted to meet the quickly evolving fan experience and baseball needs of a ballpark, making the Rogers Centre outdated.

To address this necessary change, the owners are giving the stadium a much needed transformation into one geared towards twenty-first century baseball entertainment, costing $300M in renovations. One of the most notable changes to the stadium will be the addition of patios and lounge areas throughout the ballpark. The outfield 500’s section will be removed and turned into patio seating and a bar. It has consistently been one of the most deserted locations in the stadium, making it the perfect place to give a new purpose. Additionally, other patios will be added throughout the stadium’s lower levels, providing fans with a nice place to hang out with friends while overlooking the field.

Another exciting change to the stadium is the removal of

the gap between the outfield fence and first row of seats, bringing fans closer to the field. It is most exciting for catching baseballs as home run balls have often landed in this gap rather than in the hands of lucky fans. This failing was most notable last season when Aaron Judge hit his 61st home run of the season, which was estimated to be valued at somewhere near $250k. Many fans brought their gloves to the game in hopes of being the lucky fan to walk away with the historic baseball, however the ball landed inches away from the first row of fans and into the gap between the fence where no one could get the ball. For years it has been one of the most agonizing aspects of the Rogers Centre, however it will be no more. Not only will the fence go

right up to the fans, but the dimensions of it will change too.

Throughout the league, dimensions of the outfield wall have been shifted around, featuring different heights and angles. The Rogers Centre will now join this trend, giving the stadium more personality and character. Most importantly, the goal of the new renovations is to bring fans closer to the action. This has led to the decision to raise the height of the bullpens so that fans can get closer to the action and feel more connected to the game.

Overall, the new renovations to the Rogers Centre will improve the fan experience at the ballpark and help bring the stadium into the new era of Major League Baseball.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

humour & games

How to procrastinate with style

You’re wasting the time that you spend wasting your time.

Elizabeth Rosen Section Editor

Stop your skimming. We all know the drill; its some lousy Tuesday and your teacher shoves this newspaper in your face. You’re scanning the visuals and flipping through headlines and you get to the humour section in the back, you think to yourself “oh look, another article on procrastination, what else is new?” You move on to your horoscope or whatever. Well yes, this is another procrastination piece as a quick ploy to connect with our audience; however, it will offer you some much needed constructive criticism at that.

Just admit it, your second semester has already gone downhill. It’s okay, I promise I won’t tell, but you should know that your time-management and work ethic isn’t the only thing you keep getting wrong. There’s nothing new with waiting until the night before to finish an English essay or handing in a lab report at 11:59 pm. It’s lame, really, overdone. It’s time to up the procrastination game from cram to glam, and lucky for you I happen to know of a few cornerstone aesthetics to help frame your creative vision. First off, some ground rules must be established. One cannot take up the time they could be doing schoolwork with other meaningful tasks, such as

hobbies, social gatherings, or anything else that brings you joy. Remember, we’re here to make the most of our procrastination, meaning making the least out of valuable time.

One of my personal favourite genres of procrastinator is the idler. This person turns off as soon as the school day is over, like a lightbulb in a closed fridge. Their favourite activities include counting rocks, stacking rocks, naming rocks, putting on a stop-motion production of Macbeth with rocks, or entering random letters into a search engine to check if they have a stock value. These people are the strong, silent, stoic type, and truly have no excuse not to do their work; thus, an authentic procrastinator.

Of course there’s also the accidental procrastinator: a dangerous role. This is most commonly exhibited in fresh physics students who will spend 4 hours looking at their velocity graph, doubting their ability to plot a straight line. This type of student’s strengths include second-guessing their future, quietly envying the business kids, as well as raking in anxiety like halloween candy. This could be chic, it has potential. Start your homework session with the most simple, mindless task, and really put all your effort into it. Try looking up the spelling of words you already know or make a slideshow presentation, complete with transitions, on a two-line math question. Cite

Aristotle multiple times throughout your work, and if you can’t find any connection, look harder until you do. Don’t forget to add a complete annotated bibliography of every image and article you might have gazed at, in say, five days before you even started doing your homework that was only meant to take two minutes.

A spin-off version of the accidental procrastinator is the overplanner. This person has the appearance of someone who takes to their assignments very swiftly and diligently; however, they’re harbouring their dark procrastination secrets underneath their overachieving facade. The first and only thing on their minds is school, but in the midst of strategizing the best way to get their work done as soon as possible, they never actually get to it. It’s the choosing between fonts, picking out the most ideal location and room temperature for optimal brain capacity expansion; and of course, the right outfits to go with the study sessions. These procrastinators are living in their academia dream world, just one without academia. But in their defence, they have stunning taste in blazers.

Any of the brave Avengers above would be candidate choices for any average procrastinator to step up their game; however, there exists a final boss to look up to, far too out of reach for you and I. Such a marvel of time wasted must only be mentioned with the utmost ad-

miration and respect. The mother of all procrastinators: the sell-out. This god-like figure is a blessing to their whole school and surrounding community despite their rarity. They will complete all the assigned homework and projects months in advance, just not theirs. In fact, they will take on the toll of each and every student’s homework who comes to them for refuge and never actually finish their own. This person will have 30 tabs open, each a separate individual novel study and powerpoint presentation for their entire class list. But this knight in shining armour does not do your bidding for free. They will seek our certain favours, such as the coveted “cutsies pass”’ in the lunch line for a certain number of days, or weeks, depending on the assignment you pawn off on them.

Whether your takeaway be realizing how precious your time really is because you only have a finite amount of it on Earth, or realizing your procrastination skills could have been a lot more polished, it’s important to remind oneself of the role time plays in our lives and how meaningless it all is at the same time. I give you free rein with these archetype ideas, and if you are already thinking of trying some on for size. On behalf of the rest of my fellow students, we heavily suggest you consider becoming our homework saving grace.

An (un)motivational speech to help you get through your day

Have good times got your spirit lifted? Don’t worry, we have you covered.

Viola Wang

Contributor

One day, life gets hard. You can either fight it or accept the hand you’ve been dealt, even though the dealer’s clearly counting cards. Everyday, you have to decide to get up and face the truth of your life in your warpaint, like a clown at the painted circus, facing ridicule with a smile on your face. Eventually, you have to realize that not everyone is out to get you and you have to depend

on the people around you — they care about you, like the great Emperor Caesar’s friends cared about him. Tell the world of your greatness, conquer like the empires of old, and you will not fall. Imagine your future as you want it to be, and be realistic; dreams are for people who get REM sleep. Every time you choose to get up makes you stronger. You’re Sisyphus, persevering and unyielding in the face of calamity, calm in the face of the ever-persisting boulder. Our world, your world, is made for the seizing, if only you dared to take, to colonize. Unless the world is changed by those will-

ing to destroy it, the world will never recover. Remember yourself at your lowest. Even though you struggled, even though you hated yourself, you will never hate yourself as much as the first person to ever discover they had seasonal allergies. For all the reasons you doubt yourself, know that every single successful politician has set those doubts aside and you should follow their example. Under any circumstances, never give up; even if you don’t think you can, whether it’s illegal or going to put you on the FBI’s most wanted list, you shouldn’t let others stop you from accomplishing your dreams. Care

about what matters.

To all your doubters? In every single scenario, they don’t know how hard you’ve had it, how many rock bottoms you had to dig your way out of. One of the ways you can better yourself is by believing that you’re better than others. Not for the sake of pride, but for the satisfaction of your own abilities and achievements. All in all, you can do whatever you set your mind to, be whoever you want, be the one person who stares directly into the sun to witness just how

bright it is. Love yourself, because no one else will. Let the world be blinded by your brilliance and blind to your flaws, because you don’t have any. You’re more impressive than you realize and a better ver-

sion of your younger self because of how much you’ve grown. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, not because of the exploitation of the people in order to attain the gold, but because it’s so hard to

Studying Entripy and their battle tactics

A bit of info on the merch design website from hell.

Lola Urosevic Copy Editor

To the people reading who don’t know, Entripy is the business the school often goes through to get merch for various clubs and councils. As Sun Tzu emphasizes, we must know our enemies in combat. So, as a seasoned Entripy user, I have taken a deep dive into the site. Studied their every move. It is my professional and experienced opinion that this vicious villain is determined to stop you from buying anything from their website.

From the beginning of your journey through the website, you are greeted with an offensive colour combo: bright primary colours and a creative choice to add bright orange to the mix. This blinds you instantly. This is their first line of defence. Disorient your rivals. A commendable strategy.

Second comes when you enter the design studio (a.k.a. dungeon). Adding a picture is simple enough. Click upload your file, pick your file, put it on the shirt and you’re done, right? That’s what they want you to believe. Little do you know, I have spent several nights banging my head on my desk for hours straight because it’s not that easy. In reality, you can add the photo just fine, but then you come to realize that they made a tactical move to have the only aligning tool be for the center of the photo. No side alignment, nothing. It’s laughable how they’ve managed to destroy our spirits by intentionally putting in zero effort to make a workable interface.

Now comes the most devious move they’ve played in this little battle, the third blow. The most horrifying eight words anyone who comes across this enemy will face: “Your design may be outside the printable area”. Now, this would all be well and good if the image was actually outside of the printable area. What they’ve done here is a maneuver never before seen. Masters of this craft have been trying to crack the genius for centuries. The png “background”, which consists of absolutely nothing, is considered outside of the printing area. This blocks you from proceeding. Both an offensive and defensive move. Brilliant strategy from this opponent.

I know what you’re thinking,

be better than everyone else. Sure, you could feel guilt about the terrible things you’ve done, but ultimately, it hinders you. Everyone that has ever doubted you will die. Let them. Each and every one of

your obstacles can be solved with a shovel.

Savour your own tenacity. Savour it.

Jack’s Top 5: Textbooks

“Lola, can’t I just crop the photo to the actual image so that the problem goes away?” Sure, that’s what you’d think. Except for the fact that Entripy saw your move coming and equipped their site with no cropping tool whatsoever. The fourth strike.

If you and your army of hopeful club members somehow pass these four stages, congratulations. Now comes the “fun” part, ordering. You want to send your design, proper spacing, colours and formats to your staff advisor so that they can buy it for you. So, like a logical human being, you press the share button to share your design URL, but wait! A twist! The share button does not share a purchasable design, but only a photo that serves no real purpose when you can take a screenshot ten times faster.

Now you get to the proofing stage. This is a dangerous place, not for the faint of heart. They will now send you a mock-up of your design. The best part of this interface is that the moment you attach a file to show them what’s wrong, it automatically sends. So if you accidentally attached a meme complaining about your bio test, Entripy employees get to see that now. Hopefully they enjoy it. Oftentimes you will make comments for how the design needs to be changed, then they pull a fast one and send you the exact same proof a second time! Sneaky. Finally, you’ve ordered. Now you wait the one week they said it would take for the order to be printed and shipped. Two weeks, still nothing. They might email you to tell you about the delay and they might not. Who knows what’s going on in the minds behind this operation? You stare at the progress statement that never changes. It remains the same, never offering a glimmer of hope to you. Even after the order actually ships, it’s still the same. The confusion is meant as a diversion before their final act.

The box arrives, and you open it. Inside, a taunt. A haunting note to mock you to the end of time. A small card stares daggers at you as you read the words inscribed. “Thank you and consider ordering from us again!” The scoundrel. They think they’re slick but their innocent act is up. They mock you with these words, provoking you to re-enter the battlefield. Do you dare accept the challenge?

Jack is back looking into the best textbooks the TDSB catalogs have to offer.

Jack Wolkove Section Editor

1Drama

You might be thinking, “wait a second… there’s no drama textbook”, and you would be right, there is no drama textbook… that you can hold. Any drama student knows that the best book to follow is the one in your heart, and, metaphysical text is pretty light (physically), so no worries about having to lug it around in your backpack.

2 Biology

Any biology textbook is one you must simply crack open. The information: fascinating. The diagrams: helpful! The index: a MUST read. 10/10, and bonus points for all those pictures!

3 Grade 9 Math

If you are of the privileged majority to not be in grade 9, you may find a return to the debut high school math textbook a nostalgic walk in the park (I know I do!). After my many, many (3) harrowing math courses at North Toronto, I find going back to basics really reminds me of how far I’ve come academically. Upon opening one of those books, you can just smell the foundational building blocks of learning coming right off the pages… or maybe it’s just the dust.

4 Grade 11 Accounting

One does not even have to take grade 11 accounting to see what a truly suave textbook edition it has. Formerly known as Principles of Accounting, this book is all business (see what I did there) with its sleek cover and fancy information (one needs to take the course if one wants to understand the content). If this is the grade 11 edition, then I could imagine its successor, grade 12 accounting, is quite the looker!

5 Grade 11 Physics

I can’t believe I’m saying this but for the first time in my life, I wish I was a tri-sci student because they have the utmost privilege of possessing a physics textbook. If I was of that level of intellect, I would probably understand all those complicated diagrams and terms. I don’t know what ‘gravity’ is, but it seems really cool, and the people in the pictures seem to be having a lot of fun skydiving!

How to know: if someone is a TriSci student

Ever wondered who at NT is taking all three sciences? Don’t worry, there are easy tells. Use this list to find out.

Sophie Block

Editor in Chief

Brooke Williams Contributor

1. Constantly complaining about the courses they chose to take

2. No matter what you’re taking, they think your course load is easier

3. You have a test? Well, they have a physics test, chem test, and a bio test all in the same day, and don’t make any mistake: you will know about it

4. “Our school has a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floor?” – tri-sci students

5. Periodic table is always with them. Can be spotted in their binder pocket, binder cover, and, if they’re a hard core tri-sci student, as their phone background

6. Lunch before a test is not a time to laugh or socialize. It’s a time to quiz each other, reread notes, and explain long concepts out loud to anyone who may be within earshot

7. 50+ text notifications from each science group chat, adding up to a total of 150+ text messages (yes, I am a non tri-sci student that can do simple math)

8. They really wanted to take earth and space science, but they just had no space

9. Their bag is heavy because they have science textbooks. Oh sorry, not ALL of them have heavy backpacks (ahem iPad users)

10. They sound like they are speaking another language

Now, you can stroll the (mostly 4th floor) halls of NT and easily identify the notorious tri-sci student. And since exams are three months away, get ready to hear about all of their preemptive studying.

Where’s the zest?: Ranking the Hot Air sign-offs

Reviewing a week’s worth of NT morning announcement sign-offs.

Sofia Muruve Contributor

“Thank you NT, and have a ticklish Tuesday!”

At first glance, this one starts off as expected: maybe it could be a magical Monday, a take-charge Tuesday, if they were really feeling bold, but a ticklish tuesday?? That just shocks you. It grabs you. What’s a ticklish Tuesday anyway? Is that a weirdly worded way to tell us to have a good day, or instructions to go and cross some physical boundaries? Considering this sign-off’s shock value and concerning ambiguity, it absolutely takes the cake.

“And today’s Wellness Wednesday thought of the day is ‘Don’t forget to stay hydrated’ NT! And this is Hot Air”

You might be wondering: How did the Wellness Wednesday advice shoot to second place? It’s a nice once-a-week tip that always manages to add a little spice to the sign-off. It’s unique!

“Thank you NT, and have a fantastic Friday!”

This one was in the running for

second place, but I couldn’t let it overtake our iconic Wellness Wednesday with a clear conscience. There’s the basic “Thank you NT”, the basic matching word-weekday combo (with a nice ring to it), so this one shapes up to be a pretty solid representative of the average Hot Air ending.

“That’s all for today NT, and have a thoughtful Thursday”

The opening “That’s all for today” shows us a little more creativity than the regular “Thank you NT”, and combined with the well-meaning instruction to have a thoughtful Thursday, this sign-off is saved from last place. There was nothing wrong with this one, but as an audience we could have been given more. Abby Lee Miller said it best: “You were good, but I’m waiting for you to be great”.

“Enjoy the last Monday of February NT, and this is Hot Air”

This was a nice, regular old signoff. It made a comment about the month ending, which could be quite the sensitive topic if you’re particularly concerned with the never ending passage of time and the prospect of inching closer and closer to your ultimate end. Other than that, no complaints!

Photo by Sophie Block

Photo by Sophie Block

Ranking of the school song’s lyrics

The winning and losing lines of our institutional incantation.

Honourable Mention: The Trumpet Solo

Hadasse Kernerman Contributor

The school song has been played and sung at NT for longer than anyone remembers. It’s a classic; a classic that you all definitely want my opinion on… Since there are 14 lines to the song, I’ll spare you the time of ranking every line by splitting them into categories: top 3 lines, bottom 3 lines, and honourable mention.

Note: The ratings are based on a poll that asked “what is the best line?” and “what is the worst line”, respectively. Ratings may be contradictory and do not entirely reflect the opinion of the author.

Top 3 Lines

1Rah Rah Rah!

Although not a line or lyric, it is included in every performance of the song. After doing some research and listening to older versions of the song, I found it’s not actually a solo, but a duet (I think) with harmony?! This just iconic tune automatically lets everyone know that they are about to hear the school song.

Bottom 3 Lines

1 North Toronto, Holy Gee!

This was the highest rated as least favourite, which is funny since it was the 3rd highest rated as favourite as well. “Holy Gee” isn’t even a real phrase. Both words show expressions of excitement, surprise, or disappointment. Also they both are a bit dated.

To be clear, I really do love the school song, this is just for fun. I actually take pride in the fact that we still sing and play our school song even in 2023, unlike many other schools. It’s pretty special that the majority of NT students know the song. Even though I have many

critiques, I honestly don’t think we should change the song, for as long as it makes sense. For now we can deal with the old expressions and repetitive language, and enjoy screaming “rah rah rah” from the auditorium balconies.

N-O-R-T-H TORONTO!

Although not officially in the lyrics on the website or any sheet music, this is always belted out by the students and teachers of NT, and it really adds to the energy and excitement of the song. Even the new grade 9s, who don’t fully understand the importance or value of this song at our school, can still enjoy screaming the “rah rah rah” which may actually help them build a connection with the school song. It was also voted the “2nd Most Liked Line in the School Song” in the small poll I conducted through instagram. It’s kind of random but keeps things interesting, and what else could we really ask for from a school song? 2

There are many reasons why this line would be at the bottom of the ranking, and it just didn’t make the list; however, it was also rated the #1 most liked line of the song in my poll. Honestly, it has a nice flow to it, and no notes to sing off-key. This is in the “chant” part of the song so it’s mostly screamed, which can make it more fun… or ear-splitting.

3 North Toronto, Holy Gee!

There’s not much to say about this one. The use of “holy gee” really sets the vibe for the song. Technically both “holy” and “gee” mean the same thing and are old ways of expressing enthusiasm and surprise, but they are both fun to say. It also shows how old our school really is, and how long the song has lasted through time.

2 Oh hail, North Toronto, we praise thy name

It seems that the students have spoken and they do not like old words. This was the second highest rated for least favourite. I think that people might just find this line a bit boring too. Even though it shows a sense of pride for our school, people show their pride in a different way now than how they would’ve done in the 1950s.

3 Oh onward yet onward to victory

This line really is not that creative; it uses onward twice! Furthermore, the use of “yet” seems out of place. Why is there any question of moving “onward to victory”? I was pretty sure that this song was to support our school, not passive aggressively cheer on a bad sports team. I’m not sure who the writers of the song were, but I guess they got tired or something by this line and couldn’t come up with anything better? Maybe “onward with honor, to victory”? There are so many other options.

UN-honourable mention: N-OR-T-H TORONTO!

This line really is not that creative. Do we really need to spell out the word “north”? It’s not like it spells the whole name of the school, just the first word, and it’s followed by the next word – not spelled out –often pronounced: “tah-ron-ah”. I guess if we had a cheer team, this line would make more sense, but we don’t, so it doesn’t.

Photo by Elena Vlitas

Water fountain review

A thorough examination of all NT’s fountains

Livia Sabsay Contributor

Hello NT, don’t we all enjoy a nice cool drink from the water fountain? I know I do, but the question is which water fountain is the best, and which one’s the worst. In order to be clear on what is being evaluated I state the criteria; How high the arch goes is the main focus but the model of the fountain will be taken into account as well. Temperature will not be a factor since all of the water seems to be consistently cold.

0A

The height of the arch is fine but due to the shape of the fountain it’s hard to drink out of, the whole time you’re trying not to touch the spout.

1A

The water is low, like 0A, but it’s somewhat easier to get to. Despite

being a bit easier it’s still like you are actively trying to not kiss this thing, I feel like this is some kind of trick-kissing practice.

1B

This is unusable, unless you wanna have an indirect kiss with someone you don’t know. Also it’s probably got a lot of bacteria, so touching it with your mouth sounds like a pretty smart idea if you want to catch some new disease.

2B

This water fountain just doesn’t work, the water comes out of the nozzle only for it to leak out from the bottom, it’s unusable and should just be gotten rid of or fixed. This is an atrocity upon North Toronto Collegiate Institute.

2A

This water fountain is generally what a water fountain should be,

your face doesn’t have to be in close contact with the spout, and the arch is ideal.

3B

This water fountain is very low, but the flow of the water is fine. What makes me dislike it is the thing at the top, it pokes your face every time you try to drink water, or you twist yourself in the most awkward position ever. By that point, is it worth it?

3A

This water fountain is fine, not my favorite, the water is on the lower side but not as low as 2B. It does have that overly tall metal wall but compared to the first floor it’s not too bad. 4A

This fountain is at a reasonable water height and no weird backing to it. I do want to question why

there are zip ties on it, but they do not hinder the water drinking experience. 4B

Similarly to 2B and 1B this water fountain sucks. The water pressure is low, giving a lack of height so it’s more difficult to reach the already low water. This seems to be a pattern since 2B is the same.

The pattern I noticed is that the shape of 0A, 2B and 4B are all bad, it’s probably more to do with that weird design. Other than 0B and 1A the rest were fine.

The water fountain easiest to get water from is, drum roll please… 4A! It’s easy to get to with its high arch and smaller design. The worst fountain was pretty hard to decide, but it’s gonna have to be 1B. You can’t even drink out of it, that’s the widest a water fountain can be. At least you can try with 0A. 1A was also very likely to be the worst but at least you could use a small cup and slowly fill it up to get water from it.

Photos by Livia Sabsay

SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

What’s going on with NT’s bathrooms?

A look into the disaster that we create in our washrooms.

Beatrice Passmore Contributor

If different parts of North Toronto were different ecosystems, North Toronto’s bathrooms would be the wild west. Teachers are not allowed inside, and there are no cameras (that we know of … yet). Sometimes these washrooms are locked under mysterious circumstances, and you have to climb three flights of stairs just to use the bathroom. Generally, there are only three reasons you would ever go into an NT bathroom: to avoid class, to vape, and in the rare case, to actually use the washroom.

NT is a very modern, newly built school that seems to never have working sinks, soap dispensers, or even pipes. If I had to rank the different girl’s bathrooms at NT, it would go: first floor, third floor, second floor, and lastly, the fourth floor. The reasoning behind my ranking is that as of now, the girl’s fourth-floor bathroom has one empty soap dispenser and one broken one with an open lid that people have been dipping their hands into. I do not trust the weird pink soap on a good day, let alone open to the NT student population. My personal favourite NT bathroom is the first floor girls bathroom. It has very nice tile walls, is relatively clean, and has the best lighting. The second and third floor bathrooms are basically the same except for the slight differences in bathroom graffiti. I like what NT girls have done with the place, most of the graffiti is very uplifting. I consider myself lucky because in comparison to what I’ve heard about the boy’s bathrooms, the fourth-floor girl’s bathroom is like the Ritz.

From last year’s devious licks to recent developments of people pooping in the urinals and sinks, NT bathrooms cannot catch a break. Every time I hear anything about the boy’s bathroom, I am somehow simultaneously disgusted but also amazed. Never in a million years would I ever even think of doing that. I have so many questions to which I do not think I want the answers. What is the reasoning behind it? Is it the same person doing this? Are they acting alone? WHY?!

Up until recently, the hallway outside the fourth-floor bathroom has smelled like a sewage plant. Mr. Honywill’s business lead-

Have you read Graffiti?

ership class is right along this hallway, and both he, and the students have complained. Justin Gray, a grade 12 student in Mr. Honywill’s class said that it smells like a farm inside the bathroom. At one point, NT’s fourth-floor hallway smelled worse than Eglinton station and the dead birds outside Chipotle combined. According to a grade 11 student in the same class, the boy’s bathrooms have lost soap privileges due to students peeing and spitting in the soap dispensers. These concerns have been and are being addressed by the administration, but all I can say is do not complain that the bathrooms have been closed if you treat the whole washroom like your toilet.

The second most pressing issue in NT bathrooms is vaping. Unpopular opinion, but NT vapers are making the ultimate sacrifice. In exchange for making the bathrooms smell like every single kind of dollar store candy combined, all they get is popcorn lung, and judgement. Tell an NT “vaper” that you appreciate their hard, but thankless work of making the bathrooms smell a little better every day. The one downside is that they always block the sinks and look at you like you killed their grandma when you ask them to move. Keep in mind as well, that vaping in the bathroom is a serious violation of NT’s Student Code of Conduct with serious consequences handed down for those caught. In reality, the true heroes are NT’s caretaking staff, who have to deal with the downright horrific conditions of all of NT’s bathrooms (specifically the boys). There is not enough money in the world to make up for having to fix the quite frankly terrifying conditions that I hear about in NT’s boy’s bathrooms. Please be considerate of others and your surroundings. Try to leave places cleaner than you found them. For their sake, if you are not already potty trained, get on that. There’s a wikiHow article on it, so there is no excuse. Or if you are simply choosing to treat public spaces like your personal dumpster, maybe it is time you reevaluate your character, and life choices.

Sophie Block Editor in Chief

What new course is being offered at NT next year?

A) Law

B) Biomed

C) Genocide and Crimes against Humanity

D) Public speaking

What is Soda Pop Shop?

A) Musical performances

B) Art displays

C) Dance performances

D) All of the above

What was the most expensive thing in the lost and found?

A) Old Navy winter coat

B) Columbia gloves

C) Signed copy of James Clavell’s Gai-Jin book

D) Energy jean jacket

What is Galleria?

A) The gallery on the second floor

B) A new Korean supermarket chain

C) A movie theatre

D) A new book store

Which school has the most people who have lived in Canada for 2 years or fewer?

A) NT

B) Northern

C) Lawrence Park

Which teacher participated in Red and Grey day as a student?

A) Mr. Rea

B) Ms. Meyers

C) Ms. Bilmer

D) Ms. Chamberlain

When was the last time, other than this year, has the NT boy’s hockey team made the city semi-finals?

A) 2010

B) 2015

C) 2017

D) 2021

What’s one way to know if someone is a tri-sci student?

A) They really wanted to take earth and space science, but they just had no space

B) Their bag is heavy because they have science textbooks

C) They sound like they are speaking another language

D) All of the above

What’s the best purchase Leila has ever made?

A) Her $8 Starbucks drink

B) Stocks

C) Her TNA hoodie

D) Blundstones

What does Mr. Rea think “rizz” means?

A) House

B) Cool kid

C) Rice

D) Wizard

What does Ms. Blackmore think “on aux” means?

A) Watching movies

B) Somebody is really loud

C) The person who is playing the music

D) Gossiping

What has Netflix changed about their policy?

A) You can download Netflix on your Apple Watch

B) You can share your password with up to ten people

C) Password sharing is removed

D) They are taking away Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Comic Corner

Comic illustrations by our NT students!

“Club Deserters” Illustration by Lauren Peckham

“Tory and DiCaprio” by Brittney Simpson

“Tory and the 31 year old” by Krisha Mittra

Spring Issue Crossword Puzzle

Flex that brain of yours!

Rowen Uy Copy Editor

Across

4. Organization NTCI is supporting during Charity Week 2023 (Acronym).

6. Piece of paper used by teachers for multiple choice on a test. Makes marking multiple choice much quicker.

7. Vice-Principal responsible for students with last names beginning with the letters A-L.

10. NTCI department in which students can take courses such as accounting.

11. ___4U1, course code for the Philosophy course taught by Mr. Hobson.

13. Staff advisor for Robotics club and Ski Team. Was featured in a special article in the last issue of Graffiti.

15. Symphony ___________. Music ensemble that combines the band and string programs.

16. You will need to acquire one of these from the office if you wish to use the elevator.

18. Course that you are required to take all four years of high school (or the equivalent four credits).

20. Room where student artwork is displayed. Located on the second floor.

1) ti,ntcigraffi 2) Soda Pop Shop, 3) Google Classroom, 4) CCVT, 5) Three Cheese, 6) Scantron, 7) Mazzaferro, 8) Roehampton, 9) Outdoors, 10) Business, 11) HZT, 12) Tanush, 13) Kinoshita, 14) Spain, 15) Orchestra, 16) Elevator pass, 17) OFSAA, 18) English, 19) Locker, 20) Gallery.

Down

1. Graffiti’s official Instagram account (Please follow).

2. Annual collaboration between Art Council and Music Council that highlights student artwork.

3. If your teacher doesn’t use Brightspace for your class, it is likely they use this platform instead.

5. Mystery item in the NTCI cafeteria - No one is certain what exactly it is.

8. Street situated to the South side of NTCI.

9. If you want to participate in an NTCI ski trip, you should join the _______ club!

12. First name of the Senior Vice President of the 2022-23 NTCI Student Council.

14. During the Europe trip over March Break, students had the chance to visit France and _____.

17. Provincial sporting competition in which many NTCI teams competed in during the winter months.

19. A place for students to store textbooks, binders, and other spare materials. Each student has one of these, but not everyone uses one.

Horoscopes

Aries - March 21 to April 20

You are a brilliant genius! Don’t ever forget that you smell great and are a wonderful conversationalist. ‘Tis the season of Aries babes! That superiority that y’all are known for is finally appropriate! Milk it.

Sagittarius - Nov 23 to Dec 21 Chill.

Written by Ava Reitmaier-Stone

Lee

Taurus - April 21 to May 20

Please just drink some water. I actually beg you. Everyone is so worried.

Capricorn - Dec 22 to Jan 20

Really try and give meditating another shot. I promise it’s great once you get the hang of it. Also, learn to read tea leaves. It would be slay.

Gemini - May 21 to June 21

This is your sign to go absolutely feral this month. Just let all the intrusive thoughts win. Go nuts. Mars is in the twelfth house, it’s fine.

Aquarius - Jan 21 to Feb 18

That thing that you’ve been thinking about doing to your hair? The answer is yes. Avoid pentagrams.

Pisces - Feb 19 to March 20

You are going to find a million dollars on the street and five different strangers are going to propose marriage to you but not in a creepy way! Also, you’re gonna get caught in a flash mob, so look out for that.

Leo - July 23 to Aug 22

You are going to get really into the movie Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971) this month. I mean really into it. Don’t be scared.

Cancer - June 22 to July 22

This is going to be a great month for Cancer. Look out for combinations of red and gray. If anyone wears them, they might just be your soulmate.

Libra - Sept 23 to Oct 22

Once again Libra, you are perfect and you mustn’t ever change. Avoid anyone who doesn’t literally worship the ground you walk on.

Virgo - Aug 23 to Sept 22

April is going to be a fantastic month for you sweetie. You’ll read a book that you’ll actually like, your skin is just going to look dazzling, and you won’t even feel a little bloated. Eat as many tangerines as you possibly can.

Scorpio - Oct 23 to Nov 22

Okay sweetie, you need to listen to me very carefully, okay? If you haven’t even started dating and they have ALREADY disappointed you… BLOCK THEM. Just do it. Thank me later when you aren’t stuck in a five month situationship with some unwashed doo doo head and crying to Lana Del Rey every night.

Illustrations by Selina