St Margaret’s School Magazine
M S S FALL ISSUE
2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITORIALS
1-3
CONTRIBUTORS
4
CULTURAL EVENTS AND HOLIDAYS
5-9
FALL SPORTS
10
FOUNDATION YEARS
11
OUTWEEK
TUCK SHOP
12-13 14-15
RECIPE
16-17
MATH PROBLEM
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EDITORIALS SENIOR EDITOR Currently a grade 12 student, you may know me as the most hardworking Tuck Shop employee, one of the Model UN captains, a classmate, or a friend. As the senior editor of the SMS Magazine, it is both a privilege and an honour to be a part of a legacy that began in 1911. This longstanding tradition of the magazine is not just a part of our school's history; it is a living testament to the power of words and the stories we share. One of my primary goals this year is to deepen the connection between students, staff, and parents. In a world that often feels fast-paced and disconnected, fostering a sense of community is more important than ever. Through the stories we share, I aim to create a tapestry of experiences that binds us together, transcending the boundaries of classrooms and corridors. I am immensely grateful for the invaluable guidance and support of Ms. Merwin and Ms. Campbell these past few months. and I extend my appreciation to the dedicated fellow students who have consistently shown up every week, enriching the collaborative spirit that defines the SMS Magazine. Entering my final year at SMS, I am acutely aware of the responsibility to continue an SMS legacy while also crafting a narrative that will endure long after I graduate. Putting together the Fall edition of the SMS Magazine has been such a treat and it is my sincere hope that the stories we tell, the connections we forge, and the sense of community we cultivate will flourish for years to come. Sincerely,
Heidi Liu
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TEACHER EDITOR Greetings to all and welcome to St Margaret’s School Magazine’s inaugural edition for 2023– 2024. My name is Sindhu Merwin and I am the Teacher/Librarian of the school; I also support the magazine club. Even though I have been at the school for a short while, I have enjoyed the camaraderie shared by the school community. This year marks the completion of the 115th year of St Margaret School since its establishment. The school continues to flourish under resolute principles and supportive administration. My exploration of the school’s rich history started from the classrooms, where teachers had prominently displayed materials on the school’s illustrious past. Discovering and establishing a connection with the practical components of the school was really enlightening for me as a new member of the school community. Working with the magazine club has been a genuinely enriching experience. A special “shout-out” goes out to Heidi (Grade 12), the senior editor of our magazine and Yearbook, for her brilliant initiative to start a termly school magazine that would truly embody St. Margaret’s. I hope you enjoy the magazine, as you gain a comprehensive picture of daily life at St. Margaret’s. I wish everyone a relaxing winter vacation and an amazing 2024!
Mrs. Merwin
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TEACHER EDITOR It is a pleasure having the opportunity to work on the SMS Magazine with all of the keen students who have so many talents and gifts to share with you. Not only am I a new teacher at SMS (K-12 ELL, and online Career-Life 10), but I’m also new to Victoria. Wanting to learn more about the history of St. Margaret’s in Victoria, I asked our librarian, Sindhu Merwin, if she could lend me the book, Servite in Caritate, by Deidre Simmons (see photo of book below). Sindhu kindly gave me a copy, and I couldn’t put it down! It felt so wonderful to become part of the history, as I read about the resiliency and spirit of the Fenwick sisters, who sadly lost their lives, and their friend Margaret Barton, who survived and was a beacon of hope for the girls of St. Margaret’s and the school. What struck me most, was the ambition to create a place where girls could be empowered and educated to serve a life of curiosity and kindness. Wanting to keep in the spirit of the rich history of SMS, the new school magazine’s cover was beautifully designed by Heidi Liu (Senior Student Editor), as a re-creation of the original SMS magazine from 1911, which was the first-ever of its kind. Carrying on with the integrity of this wonderful school, there will be 3 editions of the magazine to be published seasonally. This first Fall/Autumn edition of 2023, is a testament to the hard work and ambition of the students. Please enjoy it as you sip a hot cocoa over the holidays! The Winter edition will be coming out in late February 2024, the Spring/Summer in late May/early June 2024. Happy Holidays!
Madelaine Campbell
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CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS Madeleine Stewart, Grade 6
PHOTOGRAPHERS Sydney Pinvidic, Grade 4 Isabel Barabafh, Grade 4 Isla Strauss, Grade 4 Sophia Sundberg, Grade 4
COVER ART Kelly Li, Grade 12
Why do you want to be a part of the SMS magazine? Izzy: I’ve wanted to be on the SMS magazine since I was younger because I really want to know where the magazine came from and now, I'm really excited to be on the school magazine because now I can take pictures of stuff and write it in the newspaper so people can have an eye on it and swim club is also coming up so be ready it's on Tuesday. Sydney: I wanted to join the yearbook club because I just thought it would be really fun taking pictures and doing all the different topics and then writing them down and Google Docs and I had a lot of spare time so I thought that I could do that in most of my time. Sophia: I thought it was a good idea to just like do things like in the yearbook I'm pretty sure — do you like add pictures in the yearbook? And I kind of wanted to do that and choose pictures. So, I could also choose people that I think might want to be in the Magazine too. And also it kind of just sounded fun.
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Madeleine Stewart
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS By Victoria Romo, Grade 8
WHAT IS EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS?
WHY IS IT CELEBRATED?
El día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, though in some areas they might include October 31st or November 6th. It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed, and is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage.
To honour the lives of ancestors and to acknowledge the everrevolving cycle of life and death.
WHY GOES ON MY ALTAR? Candles, rose quartz for the heart, elements of nature, murtis, mala or prayer beads, oracle cards and pieces of art, sacred texts and prayer books, offerings (flowers, fruit, candles, prosphora, wine, oil, or incense), photographs, objects that reflect yin/yang, light/dark, masculine/feminine, items that symbolize the continuum of life, death, and transformation.
WHY DO WE USE ALTARS? To honour the lives of those who have passed. They are often quite beautiful creations constructed with love and care.
WHAT DO YOU EAT? Sugar Skulls. Although not made to be eaten, the colourfully decorated sugar skulls, also known as Calaveras are the item most commonly recognized and associated with Día de los Muertos around the world. Other foods include Pan de Muertos, Mole Negro, Tamales, Red Pozole, Sopa Azteca, Chapulines, and Calabaza en Tacha.
WHAT DO YOU WEAR? Instead of suits and fancy dresses, a popular way some people dress is by having their faces artfully painted to resemble skulls, copying the Calavera Catrina style. Many revellers wear shells or other noisemakers to amp up the excitement, and also possibly to wake the dead and keep them close during the fun.
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SHABE YALDA (SHAB-E CHELLEH) By Zarmina Sultani, Grade 10
Yalda night, or “Shab-e Chelleh” is the longest night of the year in Afghanistan. It is an ancient Afghan festival celebration usually taking place on December 21st or 22nd. Yalda means passing the longest night and lengthening of days. Afghan people believe that on this night, the longest night will end and long days will come with the victory of light over darkness. This night starts from the sunset on the last day of autumn and ends before the sunrise in the early morning on the first day of winter. Afghan families usually make a wonderful dinner, and after that, they bring red-coloured fruits like watermelon, pomegranate, red apple, strawberry, and so on. All the families come together, and an elder family member recites poems and stories, often about love, courage, and wisdom. In addition to storytelling, families also play games like Backgammon and card games. The night is filled with happy faces, music, and joy as people celebrate the coming of light over the darkness. Yalda night originally began as the custom of the Aryans to celebrate before the appearance of Zoroaster, and the day after that, prohibitions such as stopping war, stopping the shedding of human and animal blood, and banning hunting were imposed. This night also celebrates cultural identity, nature, respect for women, hospitality, cultural diversity, and the custom of peace and mutual acceptance. Unfortunately, due to the adverse situations currently in Afghanistan, many families are unable to celebrate Yalda night together or traditionally. However, there are still people who try to keep this tradition alive and pass it on to future generations. Overall, Yalda night is an important cultural celebration in Afghanistan and Iran. It is the time that families and friends come together and spend time with each other. By sharing their storytelling, they continue the culture through the generations.
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HALLOWEEN By Madeleine Stewart, Grade 6 Halloween is a well-known holiday that’s been celebrated for centuries, but how much do you know about its spooky history? Let’s jump in! Halloween originates from a holiday called Samhain celebrated by the Celtic people around 2,000 years ago. It was celebrated at the end of the harvest to welcome in the new year. They would light bonfires and dress in costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory lll made a holiday known as All Saint’s Day, celebrated on November 1st. Over time, it incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The night before was called Hallow’s Eve and later called Halloween. Over time, it started to incorporate activities like trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving.
QIXI FESTIVAL By Lucky (Jiaying) Zheng, Grade 10
Qixi Festival is a Chinese traditional festival celebrated by couples and lovers. This festival originated from a classic Chinese story about 2 constellations, Altair and Vega. It was said that these 2 constellations would turn into human beings and reunite every 7th of July in the lunar calendar. In the modern explanation, the Altair is described as the symbol of a man, and the Vega is the symbol of a girl. Therefore, people usually view this festival as the Chinese Valentine's Day. Traditionally, couples wish for a happy marriage to the 2 constellations and young girls usually go to temples to pray for a pretty appearance or a perfect boyfriend. During this day, people eat fried thin pastes and crisp candies. Some wear traditional clothes and have celebration activities with friends. I usually don't celebrate this festival since I'm just a youth. However, my parents usually see this festival as Chinese Valentine's Day and spend time together. In essence, this is a festival for Chinese couples and lovers filled with traditional food and happiness.
TERRY FOX DAY By Sarah Tait, Grade 5 On Friday, October 6th, our school participated in the Terry Fox Run. To celebrate our school's participation in the run, the Tour de Rock team visited the SMS campus. Three of the SMS staff (Dr. Keddy, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Jones) and one Tour de Rock team member shaved their heads in support of the cause, raising awareness for cancer. Everyone at SMS showed their school pride by wearing their ‘Shine’ shirts, as shown in the picture to the left. Overall, our school ran around 1000 km. We would like to thank all the people who made this day possible. Camille Bolton and Myra Mangat showing their Terry Fox Run stamps!
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A SACRIFICE TO REMEMBER By Sydney Pinvidic, Grade 4
There on the fields where the poppies grow lie the people who fought for world peace. Today we gather here to remember the sacrifices they made to help us and our families. We cannot forget the pain that their friends and family have to go through each and every day. We also need to remember the people who had to work day and night to prepare for the tragic events that would happen shortly after. When the day finally came, the day that everyone dreaded as the battle started, think about how scared and brave they would be, being in something so tragic that could end up doing more damage than helping the world. I hope that from this day you learned how unstable the world was. Going forward we should always put people first because we are stronger together.
AN HONOURED SACRIFICE By Camille Bolton, Grade 4
When he took the step onto the field, he took out his weapons, his weapons to wield. As the children watch and the mothers weep, he looks back praying that the next time they saw him he would not look asleep. If you stop for just a moment you will feel the calm, the harmony in the air and you will remember the soldiers who fell and the veterans with stories to tell. Stop and remember that they had hope, hope for you and hope for me.
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If you look around you will hear the sounds of laughter and happiness. Now is the time to remember, thank, and honour their sacrifice.
FROM MS. ANDERSEN’S ART CLASS
Molly Stogdon gr. 9
Fiona Zouyan gr. 10
Jasmine Wan gr. 10 Andrea Ceballos gr. 9
Tracy Hu gr. 10
9 Nouria Loomer-Douglas gr. 9
CONGRATULATIONS to SMS students Riley Greenfield & Tracy Zhou, who competed in the BCSS 2023 Aquatics Championships in Nanaimo 17th & 18 November!
Riley who competed in 2 events, the 100m Backstroke & 200m Individual Medley, placed an outstanding 6th and 9th respectively. Tracy who competed in the 100m breaststroke also placed an incredible 9th in all of B.C. The Middle Years Basketball Team secured a thrilling victory in a tough match against St. Michael’s School, showcasing their exceptional teamwork and skill on the court!
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BASKETBALL
FUN IN FOUNDATION YEARS Ms. Dholakia taught our K1 class a dance for Diwali. Students first made dandiyas, then learned the steps. Ms. Dholakia is also our coding teacher. Students made connections between coding and the dance steps.
— Ms. Kaukinen, Kindergarten Teacher This is when our whole class plus coach Ian came by and took a photo with us. — Isla Strauss, Grade 4 11
OUTWEEK From the Foundation Years Ms. C:
Alright, so this is Miss C from the SMS Fall Edition magazine and I'm here to interview you about Out Week. So, can you tell me your name and what grade you're in?
Izzy:
Um, do I do Isabelle or Izzy? Um, I'm Isabelle and I'm in grade four.
Ms. C:
Okay, so what was the most fun memory that you have of Out Week?
Izzy:
Probably kayaking. Actually, I really like paddleboarding because I really like to paddleboard and I'm used to it because I like to go camping and it was fun and some people fell in. I fell in on purpose. Yeah, because it was really hot. Yeah, but the water wasn’t — it was really hot that day, but the water was really cold.
Sophia: I'm Sophia I'm in grade four and I like zipping through the trees on the zip lines at Wildplay, but we weren't allowed to go on the extreme course because it was just really way too high and it's too hard to get people down if they're stuck.
Isla:
I'm Isla and I'm in grade four and I liked the paddleboarding because it was fun. It was also the first time that I got to paddle by myself. I went on with Miss Mols at first but then I was like wait this actually feels good. I don't want to go actually — I want to go on my own so I went on my own; it was like really fun to stand up on my own.
Madeleine: My name is Madeleine Stewart and I'm a grade 6. I went to Camp Imadene, same as grade 5, so grade 5 and 6 is when you go to camp Imadene for more than three days. Ms. C:
And where is that?
Madeleine: I don't know, but I think it's somewhere near Duncan. I think everybody from each grade went. Approximately like 50 kids? Yeah, 50. Maybe 50. I think it was Miss Formosa and Mrs. Emerson who went with us.
Ms. C:
What was your weirdest, wackiest experience during out week?
Madeleine: So, it was raining really hard, but we still had free time. And there's a lake, a really pretty lake near Camp Imadene. So, I decided to go while it was freezing and raining. And I didn't have a dry towel.
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And it was so weird. Like it was really, really cold, but it was also really fun. And a bunch of people also went.
Ms. C:
Okay. Question number two, what was one of your favorite memories?
Madeleine: One of my favorite memories, I think was... Probably swimming or kayaking, maybe. I think I'd have to say kayaking. Wait, no, swimming. Swimming is definitely the best. Because swimming, and like, all my friends were there, and there was a diving board. Wait, no — not swimming. Sorry, I keep remembering new things. I think the slide was actually the best part.
Ms. C:
Okay, so what was your favourite activity?
Madeleine: Aside from swimming, I'd have to say like, tricarts, which are basically like really, really big tricycles that you get to sit in, and they're really fun. They're really hard to control at first, because you control it. They're wobbly, right? Maybe while you're shifting your weight. And I think another one was talking about kayaking.
Ms. C:
Do you know the name of the lake?
Madeleine: No I don’t. Can we google it? Ms. C:
Okay, it’s called Lake Mesachie. Thank you so much girls.
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THE ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY MEET THE TUCKERS: EXPLORING OF ARABELLA OGUNDU AND KELLY LI By Heidi Liu, Grade 12
HOW ARE THE SALES? Arabella: There are good days and bad days. Recently, sales have been very good, especially in the past 2 weeks. I think last week on Wednesday was a particularly good day. Kelly: Yes, last Wednesday because it was also Green Club’s honey sale so lots of people brought cash. We stole some of their customers.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE SO FAR? Kelly: One time an eighth grader stole our ice cream sandwiches! Dealing with the thieves has been the most difficult thing.
HOW HAS IT BEEN WORKING TOGETHER? Arabella: Pretty good. We started working together in our grade 11 Leadership class and things have been smooth sailing since. There have been some tough times though — not between us — but in this process. Kelly: Yes like when we lost the key. I locked the key in our cabinet. Arabella: We thought we lost the key for a week and a half. Kelly: But I locked it in the cabinet. It was in the cash box.
Arabella: Yeah, dealing with horrible bandits!
Arabella: We’ve lost both the cashbox key and the cabinet key.
Heidi: How did you deal with the thieves?
Heidi: Is this a frequent thing?
Kelly: We made Mr. Walker pay for it. It was only five dollars though.
Kelly: No! It only happened once and we have taken measures to prevent it from happening again.
Heidi: What have you done to prevent further issues like this? Kelly: We have our own freezer now. When we used to keep stock in the boarding houses, things were getting stolen by unruly eighth graders even though I wrote, “Do not touch.”
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CUSTOMER REVIEW “I am SHOCKED by the incredibly low prices!”
Mr. Walker
COULD YOU EACH SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT THE TUCK SHOP? Arabella: My favourite thing is Srinidhi’s (alumni) sponsorships last year. She was one of our biggest supporters financially and also emotionally. Kelly: The customers are my favourite thing, especially when the teachers come and support — it’s very heartwarming. It makes the Tuck Shop traverse beyond just a student thing and unites the entire SMS community. I would like to shout out Mr. Walker in particular. He never fails to support the Tuckers. Arabella: Our star teachers include Mr. Walker, Dr. Fitz, and Ms. Roberts.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR SUSTAINABILITY Kelly: We are starting a campaign. Right after school resumes in January we will start collecting bottles and offer gummy worms in return. Arabella: So we are encouraging students to return their cans and bottles that they buy from the Tuck Shop and we will take it all to the bottle depot and get more money — but it’s not about the money. It’s about sustainability.
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS? Arabella: Expansion! Expansion! Maybe more opening days and a bigger selection of items. We were thinking of setting up the shop in the Junior school once a month. There are lots of possibilities in store for the future. Heidi: Both of you are graduating this school year. Where do you see the Tuck Shop going when you graduate? Arabella: We’ve had a few students reach out to us about taking over but we’re not making any decisions yet. We know that the Tuck Shop will be in good hands so we’re not worried.
“Customer service is 10/10! It is so good; the tuckers are so kind — they’re such nice people. The prices are amazing. All of the SMS students need to come to the Tuck Shop right now and buy something because this food is delectable! I would rate it 5 stars out of 5; would recommend; will be coming again.”
Chetra Cunningham, dedicated customer
WHY DID YOU TWO DECIDE TO TAKE OVER THE TUCK SHOP? Arabella: When I was in grade 10 and Hikari (alumni) was still in charge of the Tuck Shop I just saw it as something wonderful. It inspired me and I saw a vision for expansion beyond what she already had, so I asked for her blessings and she said “Yeah, why not.” Kelly: I had never seen the shop in person but heard a lot of good things about it and I really wanted to see it reopen but no one was doing it. So, I decided to be the change I wanted to see and discovered that Bella shared the same vision so we partnered up. I was motivated by the Tuck Shop and what it stood for — the spirit.
WHAT IS THE SPIRIT? Arabella: You know, people are hungry and we feed them. Kelly: And we raise funds for the grads. The money’s going towards a really good cause.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CLOSE OFF WITH A FINAL MESSAGE FOR YOUR FANS? Arabella: Come support the Tuck Shop! Kelly: Thank you for always tucking. We truly appreciate every face we see on Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:05 to 12:45.
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RAJ’S BUTTER CHICKEN Prep time 3 hours | Cook time 1 hour | Makes 15-20 servings
INGREDIENTS ½ cup plain yogurt (or whole milk) ½ cup sour cream ¼ cup vegetable oil 2 Tbsp unsweetened lemon juice or fresh lemon 2 tsp salt 1 ½ tsp ground cumin 2 tsp ground coriander seed 1 ½ tsp paprika 3 tsp garlic powder or garlic paste 1 Tbsp ground or fresh grated ginger 1 tsp chile powder 2 tsp garam masala 2.5 kg boneless chicken thighs ¾ - 1 cup unsalted butter 2 L Punjabi Curry Sauce* 2 tsp granulated sugar 1 L heavy whipping cream 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro
INSTRUCTIONS 1. To prepare ingredients: dice chicken into 2-inch cubes. Prepare Punjabi Curry Sauce according to recipe and instructions. Wash and pick cilantro. 2. Mix yogurt, sour cream, vegetable oil, lemon juice, salt, cumin, coriander, paprika, garlic, ginger, chili powder, and garam masala. 3. Pour spice mixture over chicken, Marinade under refrigeration for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight. 4. Preheat oven to 350° F. 5. In a large pot, melt butter. Add Punjabi Curry Sauce and simmer for 15 minutes. 6. Add sugar. Gradually add cream, 1 cup at a time, stirring constantly. 7. While sauce is simmering, place chicken on sheet pan(s). Bake for 20 minutes. 8. Add chicken to sauce and cook until proper internal temperature is reached. 9. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
*See Punjabi Curry Sauce on the next page.
PUNJABI CURRY SAUCE INGREDIENTS
Chef Raj with granddaughter Saira Baidwan
2 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 ½ tsp whole cumin seeds 4 large white onions 1 ½ Tbsp ginger root 1.5 Tbsp fresh peeled garlic cloves 1.5 tsp ground coriander seeds 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp turmeric 2 tsp garam masala ½ tsp chile powder 6 fresh tomatoes 2 Tbsp fresh cilantro 1 tsp jalapeno peppers (optional) 1 cup water 1 Tbsp tomato paste 2 tsp kosher salt (or to taste)
INSTRUCTIONS 1. To prepare ingredients: Skin and dice onions. Peel and grate ginger root. Chop garlic. Core and large dice tomatoes. Wash and pick cilantro. Halve and seed jalapenos. 2. Heat oil in a large pot and cook cumin seeds for 30 seconds. 3. Add diced onion and saute until very brown and caramelized. 4. Add grated ginger and garlic to onions and cook for another 20 minutes. 5. Place onion mixture into a food processor and blend till smooth. 6. Add onion puree back to the pot along with ground coriander, ground cumin, ground turmeric, garam masala, and chili powder; cook for 10 minutes. 7. Puree tomatoes, cilantro and jalapenos. Add to the onion mixture and cook on low heat until all liquid has evaporated and you have a thick paste. 8. Add the water to the tomato paste and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover. 9. Cook sauce until oil starts to separate slightly. 10. Season with salt and serve or use in Butter Chicken recipe.
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FIBONACCI SEQUENCE IN NATURE By Saloni Dholakia, K-9 Numeracy Specialist The next time you're outside, pick up a pinecone and look at its spirals. How many do you see going clockwise? How about counter-clockwise? What about daisies or sunflowers — look at the centers and you'll see that they're not just solid, but actually made up of sets of spirals that start at its center. Math is all around us, including in nature. The mathematician Leonardo de Pisa, whom most people refer to as Fibonacci, developed the following sequence of numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144 … This is called the Fibonacci sequence, where you add the previous two numbers together to get the next number. Let's revisit those pinecone spirals- you'll probably find that the number of spirals in each direction are Fibonacci numbers!
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Happy Holidays! Please tune in again for the Winter edition coming out in late February 2024