HSC Middle School's
@THEHELM OCT 2026 | VOL 8 | ISSUE 1
Hillfield Strathallan College - Middle School Student Newspaper
CONTENTS @theHelm—Issue 1: Oct. 2026 On cover: photo by Evie X.
08 Thrifting Lower your carbon footprint by buying secondhand!
09 Biocomputing Learn more about the future of AI + brain cells
19-20 Benefits of Public Transit Your nudge to make eco-friendly travel choices
SPECIAL FEATURES 05 School news 06 Halloween Costume Ideas 06 Travel feature: London, UK 07 Camp Timberlane Photos 10 All About Canada 11 HSC Uniforms Through the Years 16 Cameras and older technology 31 All About Pusheen!
REGULAR FEATURES 04 Orange Shirt Day / Jour du chandail orange 07 Student Spotlight & Pet Corner 11-15 Animal fun facts 12 & 19 Sports Corner 17-18 Wellness Corner 20-22 Sports Corner 22-25 Recipes 26 The Interview 27-29 Jokes, Riddles, and Comics 32-33 Music Corner 33-34 Show Reviews 35 Survey Results: Best Video & Board Games
ART AND CREATIVE WRITING 17 Candid Photography 30 Poetry 36-37 Fall Photography Contest
@theHelm - page 2
The story of...
Halloween by Jena A. 604
https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-wecelebrate-halloween
On November 1st, about 2,000 years ago, the Celts (a group of people) would celebrate the new year. But on October 31st, the Celts would think that there were ghosts that would rise from the dead. Because of that, they would light large bonfires and wear animal skins to trick evil spirits. This gave people the idea of Halloween’s main characters like: witches, vampires, ghosts, and goblins.
@theHelm - page 6
Jour du Jour du chandail chandail orange orange
Madyn V. 704
Neyan S. 703
Arleen R. 704
Yousef A. 704
Rayna W. 703
Serafina R. 703
@theHelm - page 4
School News By Rohan G. (504) and Marcus W. (503)
House Events
School Events
House Cross Country:
Thanksgiving Chapel:
Date: Oct. 8
Date: Oct. 7
Location: Dundas Valley Conservation Area
Location: School
125th Anniversary:
Costume Contest:
Date: Oct. 24 Date: Oct. 30
Location: School Location: School
@theHelm - page 3 @theHelm - page 5
Halloween Costume Ideas Single 1.Dinosaur 2.Pirate 3.Alien 4.Bunny 5.Witch 6.Skeleton
PORTIA V. 702 Do you want to make something different because turkey isn’t your different cup of tea? Well, this is the right article for you!
Duo 1.Elphaba and Galinda 2.Thing 1 and Thing 2 3.Nemo and Dory 4.Barbie and Jessie from Toy Story Group 5.Buzz and Woody from Toy Story 1.Inside Out 6.Disney princesses 2.Ghostbusters (Can be a group 3.Cop and Robber costume too) 4.Boxers 7.Firefighter and 5.M&M’s Dalmatian 6.Zombie
By: Anna L. and Kaleena G. 702
FAMILY DINNER IDEAS
A classic crowdpleaser is stuffing! The stuffing! bread gets so fluffy when fluffy baked like that with herbs! When accompanied by cranberry sauce, you’ll become the head chef in dinners in no time!
Want something a little bit different? Try different? maple-baked salmon! It makes the salmon have a nice sweet taste to it, and it’s perfect for people who don’t want anything like a roast or turkey.
Cheerleaders 7.Sharks and Lifeguards
London London By Aanya J. 701
What major activities should you do? In London, you should visit major landmarks like Big Ben and London Bridge. Visiting Buckingham Palace is also really important because you get to learn about the Royal Heritage. I would also recommend taking a tour bus so that you don’t miss anything!
What stores should you vist?
While you're in London, make sure that you save time for shopping! I think you should visit stores you might not find everywhere, like Brandy Melville, Edikted, and Subdued.
@theHelm - page 6
Camp Timberlane Photos By Kaleena G 702
Student Spotlight:
About My Dogs
Anna L. 702
Rayna W 703
Floyd
Portia
This is my dog, This is my dog, Portia. Floyd. He is a She is a South African boerboel. pug-Boston mix. @theHelm - page 8
Favourite Colour: Yellow Favourite Food: Popcorn HSC House: Cedar More Hobby: Theatre By Kaleena G 702
Bukayo T Bukayo T 804 804 Climate is the average weather for a long period of time (Usually several decades). Climate is important because humans depend on it. If the climate is good, we get to live our lives normally, and everyone is happy. But if the climate is bad (too hot or cold), after a while, it could lead to the extinction of our race. Example/s: Tropical Rainforests (Hot & Humid), Tundras (Cold & Dry).
Fashion Carbon Emissions Fast Fashion 10
Second-Hand
10
8
Handmade
Greenhouse Gases are gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat in Earth. Without greenhouse gases, the Earth would always be cold. That would make everyone freeze to death, and we would all die, which is not very fun. But too many greenhouse gases will heat up the Earth’s atmosphere to a point where it negatively affects us. That would make everyone burn to death, and we would all die, which again is not very fun. Examples: CO2, Methane & Nitrous Oxide
A Carbon Footprint is how much greenhouse gas emissions that you directly or indirectly cause. Your carbon footprint is important because it shows how much you directly contribute to global warming and climate change
6
on rbon Carb y Ca My M t int prin tpr Fooot Fo
Wh W ha at t is is A A C Ca ar rb bo on n Foooot F tpprrin int t?? A Carbon Footprin t is how m greenhou uch se gas em issions th directly o at you r indirec tly cause. ways peo Examples ple have h of igh carbo are trav n f ootprints elling a lot , using no and wear n-LED ligh ing fast f ts, ashion.
14.3 Tons 14.3 Tons (Target: 6) (Target: 6)
4
2
LED Lighting LED Lighting
1 0 Source
Thrifting Thrifting A lot of newer things are poorly made, and most older/second-hand clothes are way better quality. There are lots of fast fashion clothes that are online scams because they don’t match the descriptions and are cheap. The prices of luxury brands are really high, even though the product quality is bad. If you buy second-hand items, they probably won’t have AI-generated images/AI slop. 10% of carbon emissions are caused by fast fashion. Buying more vintage goods lets big corporations realize that cheap clothing/items with higher prices are not superior to better-quality, lower-priced ones.
LEDs are very small and can be any colour. They only go in a single direction, so they are more efficien t. LEDs barely emit any heat, which is good for effectiv ely using energy LEDs last much longer than regular lighting LEDs are very common and easy to get They are safer because, as I said before, they barely emit heat They are made with epoxy lenses, and those are much stronger than glass They are reusable and last for up to 40+ years They are very easy to install E-Vehicles E-Vehicles
Even though electric cars emit some carbon in the building process, overall, they are better for the environment than gas cars. “We shouldn't claim victory that with this switch to electri c cars, problem solved, we are going to have zero emissions,” says Sergey Paltsev. “No, that's not the case. But electric cars are actually much, much better in terms of the impact on the climate in comparison to internal combustion vehicles. And in time, that comparative advantage of electric cars is going to grow.” 15% of carbon emissions are caused by gas cars; meanwh ile, 70% less are caused by electric. The energy to charge them also takes emissions, but only in some places and not as much as gas cars. Overall, Electric cars are better than gas cars when it comes to emissions.
BIOCOMPUTING What is biocomputing?
By Arjeet K. 703
Biocomputing is a type of AI that uses neurons/brain cells instead of chips alone.
What’s happening with it? One of the companies doing biocomputing is Cortical Labs. Cortical Labs has made a petri dish the size of your thumb play the hit 1970s game, Pong. They’ve also made the CL1, the first-ever biocomputing computer.
Why should I know this? Well, my friend, biocomputing saves thousands of Watts of energy, no need for those AI data centres. In addition, biocomputing is better at adapting to unfamiliar environments. What I’m saying is, biocomputing is miles better than AI!
VERITY CONFIRMED???
How does it work? Scientists grow neurons onto a chip that, for example, Pong, sends the coordinates of the ball to the neurons. Neurons strongly dislike randomness, so when they miss, the computer sends random white noise. If it hits the ball, they send predictable patterns.
Fun fact: Biocomputing is putting neurons on chips so they can interact with the computer. Biocomputing saves energy. Biocomputing is much better than AI.
SOURCES Cortical Labs and Cortical Labs. If you want a more in-depth explanation, watch “We’re Not Ready for Biocomputing” on YouTube. Thanks to Clarified Mind for the inspiration.
@theHelm - page 9
Canada
Facts, People, & Places By Arman Khalid 602
Facts Facts Capital: Ottawa
Provinces and Provinces and Territories Territories Quebec
Second-largest country in the world by land
Language: English, French
Alberta Yukon Manitoba Nunavut Nova Scotia Saskatchewan
Area: 9,970,610 square kilometres The first people to come to Canada arrived between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago
New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Northwest Territories British Columbia Newfoundland and Labrador Ontario
Leaders of Leaders of Canada Canada Mark Carney – Leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister
Pierre Poilievre – Leader of the Conservative Party (Official Opposition)
Yves-François Blanchet – Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Avi Lewis – Leader of the New Democratic Party
Elizabeth May – Leader of the Green Party King Charles King of England
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/geography/countries/facts-about-canada/ @theHelm - page 10
HSC Uniforms Through the Years
Here are the types of tunics and blazer that we wear today.
There have been a lot of changes over the years. Here are some older styles of the tunic and blazer.
Which one do you prefer? Source 1 Source 2
By Maya G. 503
Source 3
Fun Facts
V
They can fly up to 45 mph
By: Danielle B. 602
by Kenny B. 604
Marbled Polecat Marbled Polecat
Hawks migrate during daylight hours
Large groups or “kettles” of raptors may contain up to 1000 birds.
ela peregusn m r o
Hawks
a
Source
The Marbled Polecat is a small weasel-like mammal in the Mustelinae subfamily. Marbled Polecats habitats are grasslands, throughout multiple regions and countries, mainly Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Marbled Polecats are usually about 11 to 14 inches long not including the tail. Their body is covered with short fur, their tail being the only part with long fur. Their fur consists of yellow, reddish-brown, white, and dark brown colours. @theHelm - page 11
Source
Asian Asian Water Monitor Water Monitor Overview Overview Scientific Name: Scientific Name: Varanus Varanus salvator salvator
Lifespan: 15 Lifespan: 15 -- 25 25 years years Habitat: Vietnam, Habitat: Vietnam, Laos, Laos, India, Malaysia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Singapore, Thailand, and Thailand, and other other Asian Asian countries countries Diet: fish, Diet: fish, birds, birds, eggs. eggs. rodents, chicks, rodents, chicks, shrimp, shrimp, insects, and insects, and invertebrates invertebrates like leeches like leeches Size: 6.5 Size: 6.5 ft ft -- 10.5 10.5 ft ft (Length) (Length) Weight: 20kg Weight: 20kg -- 50kg 50kg
Leopard Seals
The Asian The Asian water water monitor monitor now sits now sits with with the the title title of of
being the being the “second “second largest largest
lizard in lizard in the the whole whole world,” world,” right behind right behind the the Komodo Komodo dragon, of dragon, of course. course. The The
Asian water Asian water monitor monitor is is aa semi-aquatic lizard semi-aquatic lizard that that
inhabits Southeast inhabits Southeast Asia Asia and and
is also is also able able to to adapt adapt quickly quickly to new to new environments. environments. PS: These PS: These monitors are monitors are illegal to illegal to own own in Canada!!! in Canada!!!
By: Katrina By: Katrina G. G. 804 804
By: Katrina G, 804
A.K.A “The Dangerous Sea Leopard.”
Overview Scientific Name: Hydrurga leptonyx Lifespan: 12 - 15 years Habitat: Southern Ocean, Antarctic pack ice Diet: Penguins, squid, krill, fish, and other seals. Size: 9.8 ft in length Weight: 200kg - 600kg
Description Leopard seals are known as one of the fiercest beasts of the sea, earning their glamorous title among predators like the orca and the great white shark. Coming from the animal family, phocidae, it’s surprising that the leopard seal is the only seal in its family that's an apex predator. Now that’s certainly a special seal, if I do seal so myself!
Source
CRESTED GECKO The crested gecko is a reptile in the gecko family, diplodactylidae. They are known as the best beginner reptile pet for anybody. But beware: when these geckos are put under stress, they may drop their tail. Don’t fear; it’s just their defense mechanism. Despite being qualified as “beginner,” all reptiles deserve love and care. These geckos can grow to be the size of your palm and can live for years in the double digits, so make sure you help these pets live a long time by getting the right tank, food, nutrition, and company.
Source
By: Katrina G. 804 Scientific Name: Correlophus ciliatus Lifespan: Up to 20 years Habitat: New Caledonia Tropical Rainforests Diet: Omnivorous: Dubia roaches, crickets, and sometimes fruit. Size: 20cm - 25.4cm Weight: 40g - 60g (adults) Cage Size Minimum: 18x18x24. Vertical enclosures are essential. Terrariums with live plants are better than fake ones. Use isopods and springtails to clean it. Humidity Levels: Must be 50% - 80%.
GORILLAS
By: Matthew & Sebby 503
Gorillas eat a lot of things, including fruit and vegetables like bananas, corn,
Wikipedia
Most gorillas are 5 feet 11 inches and their arm span 8 feet 6 inches Gorillas live until the age of 35-40 years old
They are the largest primates
@theHelm @theHelm--page page11 8
Celeste V, 703 and Eve K. 702
Cutest Sea Creatures
Sea turtle
Seahorse Dolphin Crab
Goldfish
Cheetahs Fun Facts:
By Danielle B. 602
Cheetahs are the fastest animals in the world, reaching up to 112km/h in just 3 seconds.
Cheetahs are carnivors and like to eat gazelles, rabbits, warthogs, springboks, and birds.
Cheetahs hunt during the day to avoid other predators like lions, hyenas, and leopards.
Female cheetahs give birth to 2-8 cubs at a time. After 16-18 months they can take care of themselves.
Source @theHelm - page 14
Axolotls
The Frilled Shark
By Olivia B. 503
Habitat
Part 1. Deep-sea Nightmare Fish
Annabel G. 701
city Mexico in o c il chim Lake Xo
Eel -shaped body type Dark brown and grey colours They grow to about 6.4 feet (193 cm)
THE TEETH
SOURCE!
Their teeth make them different from other sharks. They have lots of mini needle teeth
https://animals.net /frilled-shark/
LIFESTYLE They live very deep in the water, as deep as 164 to 4921.3 ft [50 to 1500 m] in the Atlantic. They eat their own eggs or smaller fish if they’re desperate.
Axolotl bodies
Axolotl s can b e pink, brown, blue, yellow, light ta n
Sources Picures and info
Really good info
More Info on axolotls 23 Amazing Fun Facts
@theHelm - page 9
Tilcayo A new species discovered
The tilcayo (leopardus tilcayo) is a newly-discovered wildcat species in Bolivia. The tilcayo is the first new cat species discovered in over 100 years. By reconstructing DNA from museum bone samples and living animals, they have discovered that the tilcayo comprises 5 distinct species.
Kenny B. 604 Source
After being taken home in 2017, it was only discovered in September 2026, and it has been brought into care.
Weighing only 3 pounds, the tilcayo’s frame is much smaller than an average house cat, with muted fur, large dark spots, and a light brown coat. The tilcayo is very unique to itself. @theHelm - page 15
Cameras & Some Older Technology by Joseph F. 504
This is a DSLR. DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex.
This is a SLR. SLR is the same as a DSLR just without the D so SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex.
This is one of my VHS cameras. VHS cameras record onto tape not SD cards. This camera is the Panasonic AG-450.
This is the Nikon P1100. It it has the highest focal length for consumer cameras 24mm - 3000mm (30cm).
This is my VHS-C camera. It is the JVC-GR AX606U and records onto big bulky full-sized VHS but can only record 30mins in SP and 90mins in LP.
This is the Nikon D800 and it takes CF and it’s from the 2010s. It uses the Nikon F-mount.
Hello
This is a VHS tape. You put these into VHS cameras or a VCR.
This is a Compact Flash (CF) and it is the older version of the SD card. It’s still used but not as much as micro SD or SD.
This is a Secure Digital card, (SD). You can put these into any modern camera and some older cameras.
This is my CRT/VCR combo. I don’t need to plug in a VCR to watch VHS tapes.
@theHelm - page 16
This is a VHS-C (AKA compact VHS). These are for older camcorders that aren’t shouldermounted.
This is my VCR. You can plug these into any modern flatscreen and watch VHS.
Candid Photography
Arcade in Xiamen, China
Xiamen, China
Rhode Island, America
Rhode Island, America
EVIE X. 802 Portia V. V. 7702 02
❤️Cool Fact About Kittens❤️
Fall Edition
Dana A. 503
Wellness Corner If you had a long school day, and just feel like relaxing and winding down, that’s nothing a chai latte can’t fix! fix! That with a nice movie, you will be so calm..
A kitten weighs 0.25-0.50lbs
A kitten’s stomach is the size of a ping pong ball
Source You can also go outside! It’s beutiful outside during fall. You can do many things outside. One of my favourites is applepicking.
Kittens can eat eggs.
Chocolate is poisonous for kittens.
Mental Health Tips Source
by Tara M. 703
Sleep To improve sleep, it’s important that you set a good bedtime routine, e.g., go to bed at a good time and prep your breakfast and/or your outfit for the next morning. If you set a good bedtime routine, then it could take you less time, less stress, and even more sleep.
Nutrition Nutrition is very important to keep your body strong and healthy. Protein helps build and repair your muscles. Fats play a key role in body and brain development, and it’s also very important to consume vitamins and minerals.
Physical Activity There are four physical activity guidelines that every preteen or teenager should follow, sweat, step, sleep, and sit. Sweat: At least 60 minutes (1 hour) of physical activity every day, going on a run or playing a hard sport is a great way to do physical activity. Step: ways you can get better at steps is from walking to and from school, going for a jog everyday, doing chores, and doing sports. Sleep: you should be getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep almost every night. Sit: you shouldn’t be on screen time for more than two hours a day.
NICE MESSAGES NICE MESSAGES
You can do what you dream to do
You make people smile Don’t give up, even if things are hard
You’re fun You can do hard things
You’re kind
By Emily D. 501
@theHelm - page 18
The Benefits of the Hamilton LRT by Rafael V. 505 Ah yes, Hamilton. Also known by some as the ambitious city, it has lots of transit plans, such as the HSR bus expansion, but the biggest plan in my opinion is the new LRT. This future rapid transit line running from McMaster University to Eastgate Square mall via downtown Hamilton will reduce congestion on the buses. At the moment, Hamilton has a load of bus routes, which can get super congested, so the LRT will be super handy. Here is a route map provided by the City of Hamilton.
ven is What e ? an LRT nds LRT sta
t rapid for ligh . transit
Benefit 1: Shorter travel times Say for example, you want to get from McMaster to Eastgate, now you have to take 1 or 3 buses which are often delayed and there are so many stops! Or maybe, McMater to West Harbour train station, if you want to go to Toronto, but 4 buses and 3 are delayed! But with the LRT, you just go to James station and walk from there or the 16 GO bus to Toronto Union Station from Hamilton GO Centre instead. This map is from Apple Maps
Benefit 2: Not much congestion and small space Buses take up so much space on the road, they often get slower but with an LRT, the light rail vehicles have their own right of way and bright, large, stations. With buses, everyone has to be crammed into a small shelter so the LRT is better, and like I said earlier, buses get crowded pretty quickly. Benefit 3: More money saving As of right now, everyone in Hamilton drives or buses on fixed routes that are often empty and infrequent. With a LRT, however, one big vehicle may help ridership increase with more capacity.
@theHelm - page 19
What will the trains look like? The trains are expected to look like the options below. I think the trains will be the one to the right.
When will it open? I think it is expected to open in the mid-2030s. The opening date is not set yet.
The image on the left is from OPIRG McMaster, and the one on the right is from Beyond the Automobile.
L R T
Light Rapid
Take more transit! Driving is polluting the planet, and we try our best to keep it clean, so help out by taking transit!
Transit
NHL League Predictions 1: Minnesota Wild 2: Edmonton Oilers 3: Colorado Avalanche 4: Florida Panthers 5: Carolina Hurricanes 6: Montreal Canadiens 7: Vegas Golden Knights 8: San Jose Sharks 9: Boston Bruins 10: Anaheim Ducks 11: Utah Mammoth 12: Dallas Stars 13: New York Islanders 14: Seattle Kraken 15: New York Rangers 16: Buffalo Sabres 17: Pittsburgh Penguins 18: Toronto Maple Leafs 19: Vancouver Canuks
By: Will M 803, Nate M 804, Sarim S 802
20: Columbus Blue Jackets 21: Tampa Bay Lightning 22: La Kings 23: Ottawa Senators 24: New Jersey Devils 25: Philadelphia Flyers 26: Washington Capitals 27: Calgary Flames 28: Nashville Predators 29: Winnipeg Jets 30: St. Louis Blues 31: Detroit Red Wings 32: Chicago Blackhawks
NFL league
NFL GAMES OF OCTOBER by Conall E. 501
On Oct. 11 at 9:30a.m., the Eagles played the Jaguars
Winners: Florida Panthers @theHelm - page 11
The Browns played the Jets at 1:00 p.m The Raiders played the Patriots at 1:00p.m Also at 1:00p.m the Chargers played the Broncos
By Cooper D, LincoIn D (501)
and Zeyad H (502)
Source:
Mlb.com Evolution of the logo
The first Blue Jays manager was Roy Hartsfield. He was probably our best manager. The first starting lineup was: 1. John Scott – Left Field (LF) 2. Hector Torres – Shortstop (SS) 3. Doug Ault – First Base (1B) 4. Otto Velez – Designated Hitter (DH) 5. Gary Woods – Center Field (CF) 6. Steve Bowling – Right Field (RF) 7. Pedro Garcia – Second Base (2B) 8. Dave McKay – Third Base (3B) 9. Rick Cerone – Catcher (C) 10. Bill Singer – Pitcher (P) Toronto Blue Jays played their first ever game against the Chicago White Sox on April 7, 1977.
@theHelm - page 21
Kylian Mbappe’s Career Kylian Mbappe made his first professional team debut for AS Monaco at age 16 in December 2015, playing alongside Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva and leaving the team in 2017. With Mbappe, they won their first Ligue 1 title in 17 years after PSG had won it for four years straight.
In August 2017, the young star moved to PSG, where he became more well-known to the world. This move was great for him since he got to be teammates with Messi, Neymar jr, Sergio Ramos, Angel Di Maria, Cavani, etc. With France in 2018, he won the World Cup, beating Croatia in the final. He scored a hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final to get the golden boot for it and won the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot with Messi in second. Then, after wanting to leave PSG in the summer of 2024, he moved to Real Madrid for free. He won a UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Ingredients:
by Hamdan S. 702 Source 1 Source 2
Homemade Brownies
4 large eggs, at room temperature 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar Instructions 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar Preheat the oven to 350°F 1 cup butter, melted (180°C). Butter and line a 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 9x13 inch (23 x 33 cm) 4 teaspoons vanilla extract baking pan with parchment 1 teaspoon salt paper. Set aside. 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 ½ cups roughly chopped bittersweet chocolate, divided in half
Homemade Hot Chocolate 1 cup milk of your choice (whole milk, oat milk, or almond milk) 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tbsp granulated sugar or maple syrup (adjust to taste) 2 tbsp chocolate chips or chopped real chocolate
Source
Elizabeth B & Aria M 504
Adalyn. K 604
Loaded Avocado Toast Toast one piece of your preferred bread Cook two eggs Mash one avocado to make guacamole Cook 2 - 5 pieces of bacon Cut up some cherry tomatoes Spread guacamole on your toast Place your eggs on top of the guacamole Place the bacon on top of the eggs Place the tomatoes on top of the bacon Plate and enjoy!
Ingredients:
Cupcakes
Kaleena G. 702
6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter softened Vanilla Bean Frosting ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar firmly packed ¼ teaspoon table salt 1 large egg room temperature preferred 3 cups (375 g) powdered sugar 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 1 Tablespoon vanilla bean paste 1 ⅓ cup (167 g) all-purpose flour 1-2 Tablespoons heavy cream ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon baking powder Source: Sugar ½ teaspoon table salt Spun Run ¾ cup (175 ml) buttermilk room temperature preferred
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@theHelm - page 11
Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned & levelled) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch* 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (170g/12 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted & cooled for 5 minutes 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 and 1/4 cups (225g) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
By Kaleena G. 702 Source
Instructions In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt together. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until no lumps remain. Whisk in the egg and egg yolk until combined, then whisk in the vanilla extract. The mixture will be thin. Pour in the dry ingredients and mix together with a large spoon or spatula. The dough will be very soft, thick, and shiny. Fold in the chocolate chips. The chocolate chips may not stick to the dough because of the melted butter, but do your best to combine them. Cover the dough tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days. Chill the cookie dough overnight to prevent it from spreading too much. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. If the dough has chilled for longer than 2 hours, let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop the chilled cookie dough, about 3 tablespoons (about 2 ounces, or 60g). Repeat with the remaining dough. Arrange the cookies 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies for 13–14 minutes or until the edges are very lightly browned. The centres will look soft, but the cookies will continue to set as they cool. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
@theHelm - page 24
Oreo Mousse
By Seher R. 602
Ingredients:
1 cup milk 8-10 Oreos 3 teaspoons of baking powder
Baking Time:
First, crush the Oreos in a bowl and add the milk. Mix it together while sprinkling the baking powder. Freeze for four hours and you are done!
by Taryn Scarfone on Bakingmehungry.com
Best Cheesy Best Cheesy Macaroni Macaroni and and Cheese Cheese Recipe Recipe By Allie By Allie O. O. 803 803
Ingredients: Ingredients:
A box of any pasta Butter Heavy cream pepper Paprkia garlic powder cheddar cheese mozzarella cheese
Cook for Cook for 10 10 mins mins Can feed Can feed 2 2 people people
Tip: Tip: You dont You dont have have to to use heavy use heavy cream. cream. You can You can also also use use whipping cream whipping cream
Tip: Tip: Use Cavatappi Use Cavatappi so the so the cheese cheese gets in gets in the the pasta. pasta.
Instructions: Instructions:
Add 3 cups of water and 2 cups of your pasta of choice. After 10 minutes, drain the water out of your pasta. You're going to add 2 tablespoons of butter and mix it until it melts. You can turn the oven on to help it melt, but not too high; otherwise your pasta will burn. After that, add 1 cup of heavy cream, and mix it into the pot. Then add a pinch of salt, pepper and paprika. If you like a slightly stronger taste, you can add some garlic powder or garlic salt. After that, add one cup of cheddar cheese and one-half cup of mozzarella cheese. After mixing, pour your cheesy pasta into a bowl and enjoy!
@theHelm - page 25
A Teacher’s point of view By Etta C. (601) and Seher R. (602)
Interview questions: 1. What is your favourite thing about teaching? 2.Is there anything you would like to work on as a teacher? 3. Do you have any advice for the next generation?
Interviews: Mr. Cormican 1. I enjoy when students and I make close bonds. I also enjoy seeing students achieve their goals. 2. At teacher meetings, I sometimes want to jump in to say something but don’t want to interrupt others. 3. Kids need to go outside and do other stuff that is not screens. Dr. Annable 1. I like that every day is not the same. 2. I would like to work on staying patient after the Grade 5s ask me the same question for the millionth time! 3. Believe in what you do.
Nyla K 503
3 Fun Riddles!
Cookie Riddle
Question 1: What has 13 hearts but no other organs?
Mr. Cormican, Mr. Bera, Mme Camus, Ms Kee, and Ms Gutauskas found 67,676,767 cookies in the forest. Mr. Cormican was the first to propose a plan for dividing the cookies among all five teachers. The other teachers will vote for/against this plan in order to receive as many cookies as possible. If his plan is not accepted, Mr. Cormican will be kicked out of the group, and the next teacher (Mr. Bera) will replace him to make a new plan for dividing the cookies. This routine will continue until it is down to two teachers. All teachers are top logisticians in the world, and they all want to stay in the group and have the most cookies. If you are Mr. Cormican, how would you divide the cookies to achieve that goal?
Try not to look at the answers!
Answer 1: A deck of cards
Question 2: You see me once in June, twice in November, and not at all in July. What am I? Answer 2: The letter “e”
Question 3:Two in a corner, one in a room, zero in a house, but one in a shelter. What is it?
Made by: Sarim S 802 & Chen L 801
Order: 1. Mr. Cormican, 2. Mr. Bera, 3. Mme. Camus, 4. Ms. Kee, 5. Ms. Gutauskas.
Answer 3: The letter “r”
Danielle B. 602
Source
Halloween Riddles
Chess Riddle Can you find checkmate in 1 move?
1. I am always in 2. What’s harder for the front of you, werewolf to but totally invisible. What catch the faster he runs? am I?
3. If a rooster lays an egg on the top of a haunted house, which way will it roll?
Made by: Sarim S 802 Source: 11 Most Tricky Mate-in-2 puzzles
October Comic by Josie L. 503 Hello everybody. My name is Shaun.
I hope you enjoy my morning
Ack!!!
BAP !
(hehehe)
Could you calm down, please! You’re being dramatic.
You don’t need to overreact when there’s a spotlight.
I’m Shirly OK, AMAZING! Everyone has their attention on me...
Hi Mom! Hi Dad! I’m home!
Nothing other than lots of homework
Hey, Mom!! Duke’s being weird again and did you know he has a crush?
Wink wink
Hey big bro. What’s up?
(Everything goes silent)
Breathe, Shirly...
The End @theHelm - page 28
by Rayna W. 703
THANKSGIVING JOKE WHAT DO YOU CALL A A RUNNING R UNNING TURKEY? TURKEY? FAST F AST FOOD.
PORTIA V. 702
What do you call a man born with no body and no nose, just a head, arms, and legs? NO BODY NOSE
The prince says to his father: “Dad, I want a better bed. You get a king-size, Mom gets a queen-size. Where’s my prince- size?” The king smiles and responds: “Go back to your heir mattress.”
That Random gh C. u H Joke Page 701 Two chipmunks stare up at a hawk circling in the sky above them. One turns to the other: “Quick, unscrew the horizon while I paint the wind blue. Once the hawk loses the third dimension, we can put it in an envelope and mail it to yesterday.”
SIR! Your son is STARVING!! OH NO!! Where is he? Uh, RIGHT HERE! SON!!
Dad... I’m hungry...
Hi, Hungry. I’m Dad!
Source 1
Source 2 @theHelm - page 29
WAR WAR HEROES HEROES Oh, my poor son Trevor Too young to even understand That the digital war games you play Aren’t even close to the battlefield firsthand Those digital rifles you shoot Killing digital helpless kids Have a real, dark backstory Of how oppressed people were expected to live And even if you spend your digital currency On a digital a “hero” avatar It will never change the fact That real soldiers are emotionally scarred Scarred with memories of analogue pain Losing allies, roommates and friends Memories of starvation, gore, and lost hopes Wondering if their suffering would ever end Those stories were about the brave soldiers Who fought to save our nation Those stories were told to create peace Not some cheap gaming application And maybe every time you press its icon You’ll remember all their pain You’ll think about all the lives that were lost After all, it was never just a game.
The The The Best The Best Best Number Best Number Number Number There’s one, two, three, Five and four, plus six, Nine, eight, and so on But there is one that we have missed A number so special It has an extra syllable A number so cool that it’s prime And rarely shows up in decimals This number beside itself three times Symbolizes luck and prosperity And this number put right beside six Makes it a hilarity A number that’s so significant That it times a billion is the number of humans on earth A number so important to me That it’s in the date that I was birthed This number is the best Out of every single digit number combined It’s the amount of seas, continents, months that aren’t cold Or anything you can find The best number is also the number of days in a week And happens to rhyme with eleven The best number in the entire world Is obviously 7.
Eternal Summer I walk outside for a cool, fresh breeze And get hit with smoky ash instead I turn to my plants, planning on watering them Only to find out they’re already dead As I open the tap and put my cup underneath I cough and regret breathing in The water drips as if mimicking our city’s “clean” air Scarce, polluted, and thin Rivers of filth flow in our parks And rays of straight fire shine Summer is the only season we know And it’s long, ashy, and dry We’ll live to see old age if we’re lucky Despite what the smoke does to our lungs But the factories still keep pumping out more And they haven’t even begun Planes fly all over, releasing more carbon With packages from as far as Chad The rich delight in the hilarity of it all With their ACs and clean flowing taps Climate was never taught in school We had to end it early each day due to the heat But who needs education when we work In the ports and factories Maybe, in a world where they actually cared And tried to change and evolve There would be no more record-breaking droughts And climate change would be solved Maybe if we worked together to reduce The amount of carbon we release We could finally sleep and breathe normally And live our lives without disease.
By Bukayo T 804
Pusheen the Cat Pusheen is a fictional cat created in 2010 by Claire Belton and Andrew Duff for “Pusheen Things,” a comic strip on their website. Since then, Pusheen has been found on social media, absolutely blowing up with the public. Pusheen is described as a female cat who loves adventuring and going on adventures. Yes, Pusheen is a cute cat, but how did she begin?
By: Katrina G. 804
Stormy
Pusheen
Pip
Back in 2011, the two decided to launch a Pusheen website, which ended up going viral. 2013 was when Belton published, “I Am Pusheen the Cat.” The internet loved Pusheen so much that she was everywhere, from Facebook stickers to book fair posters. Did you know that Pusheen has siblings, a husband, and her own children? She has a little brother named Pip and a little sister named Stormy, and a husband whose name is Tommy. Together, they had two sons. Pusheen is based on Belton’s childhood grey tabby cat, and the name comes from the word "puisin” in Irish, which directly translates to “kitten” in English.
Fun Facts About Pusheen
Source Source 2 Source 3
Pusheen’s birthday is February 18th Pusheen loves wearing costumes She adores food so much Pusheen brings a smile to everyone’s face!
‘’Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." — F. Scott Fitzgerald (from The Great Gatsby) By Adalyn.K 604
Source
The Beatles The Beatles were a musical group of young men who created emotional and energetic pop music. They all met in Liverpool, England.
Michael Jackson Michael Jackson started his singing career when he was 5 years old. He starred as the lead in the Jackson 5 and later at age 13 he started his own music.
He was known far and wide as the KING OF POP, and he got that title from one of his fans, Elizabeth Taylor.
Top Songs: Hey Jude 1968 Here Comes the Sun 1969 Let It Be 1970 Yesterday 1965 Come Together 1969 Something 1969 Strawberry Fields Forever 1967 Now and Then 2023
People still listen to his music and GK Films and Optimum Productions made the movie Michael about him, and I think they are going to make a 2nd movie. Even though Michael Jackson passed away, his music carries on his spirit.
Fun Fact!
Members: John Lennon - Vocals+ Rhythm Guitar Paul McCartney - Vocals+ Bass Guitar George Harrison - Vocals+ Lead Guitar Ringo Starr - Vocals+ Drums
By Clare G. 802 https://walkoffame.com/the-beatles/
The Beatles
Did you know... Michael Jackson lost millions of dollars so that his fans could pay under $15 to get tickets to go to one of his concerts! What a nice person!
JENA & ETTA Gr 6 All information is from what we know already about MJ plus this information video.
Punk Rock Bands blink-182
New Found Glory
MxPx
Green Day
Goldfinger
The Descendents
Note: Punk has many subgenres and different sounds, so I’m not covering all of them. These are just the bands I personally like/know of that are under the punk umbrella.
yo T Buka 804
Henry Danger Henry Danger was a show that came out in July 2014 and became very famous very fast. Henry Danger broke the record for the longest-running live-action sitcom in Nickelodeon history. It ended up with 121 episodes. The show ended on March 21, 2020. It was heartbreaking for all fans, but the laughter and joy that these actors have brought into our hearts will never leave.
by Jena A (604) & Seher R. (602) @theHelm - page 33
Source
Victorious is an awesome show; you should watch it if you enjoy humorous teenage drama. Victorious is an exciting show because it always leaves you with a cliffhanger. Victorious has many different characters in it, such as Tori Vega (Victoria Justice), Jade West (Elizabeth Gillies), Cat Valentine (Ariana Grande), Beck Oliver (Avan Jogia), Trina Vega (Daniella Monet), Andre Harris (Leon Thomas III), Robbie Shapiro (Matt Bennet), Erwin Sikowitz (Eric Lange), and many more. Victorious is a show with many different people and emotions. Some are mean, some are nice, and some get upset very easily. It is such a fun show, and if you are bored, I recommend watching a bit to see if you will like it. At first, it might seem boring, but after you get through a few episodes, it will get really exciting. Don't just quit after the first episode - trust me on this one!
Characters from Victorious
Robbie Shapiro
Tori Vega
Cat Valentine Trina Vega
Andre Harris
Jade West
What Do You Rate Victorious? Erwin Sikowitz Beck Oliver
Iw
@theHelm - page 34
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Joy S 501
BestGames Videoofand2026 Board
Best Video and Board Games of 2026
Scorus H. 704
As you know, lots of video games and board games have been invented, but which game is the best? Well, I did a survey and found out the result! So here are the results.
For the video games, the best game of 2026 is Roblox, followed by Minecraft and Fortnite. And some honourable mentions go to games like Geometry Dash, FC 26, Animal Crossing, and Florr.io.
For board games, some of the best ones are Exploding Kittens (all types), Monopoly, and Uno (any type). And some honourable mentions go to Guess Who and Catan.
@theHelm - page 35
Fall Photography Contest jOY s. 501
The winner is... Jordanne H. in 501 @theHelm - page 36
Fall Photography Contest Gallery
Connie S. 801
jOY S. 501
Bukayo T. 804
Jack R. 804
Emily D. 501
Connor S. 701 Evie B. 702
Emment C. 604
Zoeya G. 601