APRIL 2021
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 5
PIN TREE POS
COVID-19 UPDATE
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN XINJIANG? LIVING LIFE AS A HIGH SCHOOLER PINETREE COURSES
EARTH DAY SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HOW TO PREVENT IT OPINION: OUR GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED THE MENTALLY ILL COMMENCE COMMENCEMENT!
April
2 FIRST GLANCE P.5: WORLD
P.9: SCHOOL
The Pinetree Post
STAFF
FOUNDERS Russell Kim, Felix Guo EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Briana Ho, Julia Ye
Living Life as a High Schooler Covid-19 Update
What is happening in Xinjiang?
P.16: FEATURED
Commence Commencement! Pinetree Courses
P. 21: OTHER
ARTICLE EDITOR Briana Ho CONTRIBUTORS Kaylin Brereton-Stiles Bryan Chen Kevin Fan, Jon Gough Na-Yeon Kim, Sun-Ho Kim Aaron Kan, Florin Lee Michelina Lee, Zoe Li Alexandra Mandewo Kaleigh Morrow Shaina Rajwani, Jennifer Shui Mattias Wong, Sophie Zhao GRAPHIC DESIGN Julia Ye SPECIAL THANKS TO The Pinetree Administration, Mr. Lau, Anonymous “Ask Tommy” Contributors, Harim Chang, Lily Chen, Jeremy Chung, Aaron Kan, Cleo Tong, Julia Ye
Earth Day Sexual violence and how to prevent it Opinion: Our Government Has Failed The Mentally Ill
Comics
GET INVOLVED IN THE PT POST! Although we at the Pinetree Post try our best to represent the voice of the everyone at Pinetree, we are only a small group of students. To find the most pressing topics and interesting avenues to explore, we rely on input from readers to curate relevant content only. Anyone is welcome to suggest a topic or provide an opinion for Pinetree Post writers and
contributors to look into further. Do you have something to say that needs your voice? The Pinetree Post also welcomes guest content, any time, of any kind. Feel free to submit an article on a topic you are passionate for, a comic you think everyone deserves to see, maybe even a letter to the editor! You can submit your original content to us at thepinetreepost@gmail.com.
Have a question or a request? Contact us at: facebook.com/thepinetreepost
3
FIRST GLANCE
EDITOR’S NOTE
Open Your Eyes
Look up to the skies, and seeeeeeeeeeeee~ Briana Ho, Julia Ye Editors-in-Chief
Hi Pinetree! The world can seem like a big, scary place as we continue to grow up, especially with the creeping introduction of words like “taxes” and “insurance” and “student loans” and “credit score” and “No Briana, you can’t make a stable living off of looting pennies from public fountains” But hey! There’s also freedom that comes with growing up, freedom to choose where your path will lead and how you spend your time. Sometimes, the most fulfilling way to spend some of that time is for a cause bigger than yourself. This month’s theme is “awareness” - as in being conscious of the world around you, from your interactions within the school to issues on a global scale. The best way to do this is to stay curious, to go out and educate yourselves and others! For this
issue, we’ve put together a bunch of topics to get you started. Although course selections are already long over, we wanted to help give students a better idea about what they’re getting themselves into (and maybe even make better decisions for future course selections) by interviewing graduating students (Pinetree Courses, page 14). Additionally, for everyone including our graduating students, we have an important update about Grad and other annual events (Commence Commencement!, page 12). For a broader perspective, we interviewed other students about general life lessons they wish they’d known before in hopes of setting the young’uns on the right track (Living Life as a High Schooler, page 9). With awareness also comes connections to current events. We’ve included another update on the pandemic that may clear up some confusion about the current state of things (Covid-19 Update, page 5). Additionally, in the spirit of Earth Day, it’s important to note how small things you do every day can make a difference in, say, the environment (Earth Day, page 16)! Er, but maybe not to the extent of showering
Source: Kevin Fan
Those who didn’t get a chance to go to Stanley Park, this is for you!!!
Source: Zoe Li
4 FIRST GLANCE
Source: Aaron Kan
with your clothes on, collecting the shower water in a bucket, and using that for your once-a-week toilet flush. (I need to stop watching so much TLC.) Then there are the more serious topics, the ones that are a little uncomfortable to talk about. They’ll make us feel squeamish and hesitant, and they force us to reflect on ourselves. We need to talk about topics like the downfalls of B.C.’s mental health system (Opinion: Our Government Has Failed The Mentally Ill, page 19). We need to talk about sexual violence around youth and schools (Sexual violence
and how to prevent it, page 17). We need to talk about the Uyghur re-education camps in Xinjiang, China (What is happening in Xinjiang?, page 6). We need to delve into the uncomfortable in order to make change in this world. If you’re looking for something more lighthearted, Tommy’s always here to comfort you (Advice Column: Ask Tommy, page 11). Get your fill of him while you can, as the government’s getting closer and closer to tracking me down and rescuing him. Even a cunning supervilla- um, citizen, such as myself, can’t hide from the law forever. And for those of you who’ve fallen in love with the star of our comics section - the unnamed buff bunny in a dress - I have some sad news. Our artist is graduating early, thus this issue will be the last appearance of our beloved swole friend (Comics, page 21). Speaking of change, I am proud to announce that we’ve chosen Jennifer Shui and Kevin Fan as next year’s Editors-in-Chief ! They’ve both worked very hard over the last year and Julia and I know that they’ll do great! Catch a glimpse of them in our next issue~ Hope you enjoy this issue of the Pinetree Post! Remember to like us on Facebook for new announcements and follow us on Instagram for the latest updates (@thepinetreepost). Message us on Instagram or email us (thepinetreepost@gmail. com) if you have a topic you’d like us to address next month or if you’re interested in writing a guest article yourself ! Missed the last issues? Read them at https://issuu. com/thepinetreepost. Oh, and wear your masks, you donuts! Hasta luego, Briana Ho & Julia Ye Editors-in-Chief
WORLD NEWS
Covid-19 Update
A chart depicting the recent data on Covid-19 Source: CBC News hospitalization in B.C.
Sun-Ho Kim Writer Even after the anniversary of the Covid-19 outbreak back in December of 2019, the province of British Columbia has still yet to contain the deadly virus with another record number of hospitalizations in 2021. As seen in the trends provided by the CBC news on April 16th, B.C. has reached a new highest peak at 425 total hospitalizations as of April 2021, surpassing the previous record during the sudden spike only 3 months ago. The second wave currently at its peak began early in March, just as the province was recovering from the first unprecedented spike hospitalizing the population by the hundreds. With another 6 new deaths along with 1,005 new cases across B.C. in a single day, the province holds a total of 117,080 cases and 1,530 confirmed deaths, placing itself on the 4th most coronavirus cases in Canada as of April 16. With this unexpected rise in Coronavirus cases, two Provincial Health Officers were sure to make a statement reminding the citizens in British Columbia on how to minimize the risks of infection as spring makes its way around the corner.
5 “Be purposeful about who you are seeing and where you are going, and stick with the same close contacts.”
(Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, April 21, 2021) The two Provincial Health Officers, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, advised anyone visiting their close friends and families to be staying with the “same friend every time” or “keep to your roommates or family only” as people begin to enjoy the weekend and the early spring. Not every update on this seemingly endless pandemic is negative though, with news on vaccines bringing hope to eradicate this deadly virus from the province.
“So far, 1,282,091 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 87,970 second doses.”
(CBC News, April 21, 2021) Despite seeing low numbers of vaccinations for the first 3 months of the vaccine’s introduction in Canada, the total number of vaccinations finally skyrocketed as February came to its end. As of now, the daily Covid-19 vaccination in British Columbia saw a steady increase, and with the most recent data showing well over forty-thousand shots, B.C. seems to be on a slow path to recovery.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix in a news conference
Source: Abbotsford News
6 WORLD NEWS
What is happening in Xinjiang? The ongoing Xinjiang conflict
Uyghurs attending a class in the camps
Source: BBC
Anonymous Writer
Recently, there have been many reports of internment camps for the Uyghur ethnic minority in the northwestern Chinese autonomous region of Xinjiang. These camps, while claimed by the Chinese government to be “vocational education centres,” have in response been called by many Western governments and NGOs to be “internment camps,” with some even referring to these as “concentration camps” and comparing the Chinese government’s actions in Xinjiang as “genocide.” The Uyghur population is 12.8 million according to official Chinese figures and are one of the 56 national ethnicities of the People’s Republic of China, as well as the designated ethnic minority of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Throughout Chinese history, they have been both in conflict and at peace with China.
The Imperial Chinese governments conquered Uyghur khanates in Xinjiang throughout history and massacres between the two groups occurred occasionally. The Republic of China government which ruled China from 1912 to 1949 faced several conflicts with Uyghur rebels allied with the Soviet Union who attempted to form an East Turkestan Islamic Republic and secede Xinjiang from China, both of which attempts were put down by Hui Chinese Muslim soldiers and Uyghurs loyal to China, and their leaders’ heads put on display at mosques. Continuing into the People’s Republic of China’s rule over Xinjiang since 1949, many Uyghur insurgent groups and militias continued to attempt resistance to the Chinese. In the last thirty years, these Uyghur insurgents have instigated and committed various riots and terrorist attacks across China, with some notable ones being the 2009 Xinjiang attacks, 2011
WORLD Hotan bomb plot, and the 2014 Kunming railway knife attack, all of which were orchestrated by the Turkistan Islamic Party (a.k.a. the East Turkestan Islamic Movement), a Uyghur nationalist and terrorist organization which has maintained ties with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIL/ISIS). With the population of Xinjiang polarized between the Han Chinese (the majority ethnic group of China) and Hui Chinese (Sinophone Muslims closely related to the Han Chinese) against the Uyghurs, the Chinese communist officials sought to initiate policies that would connect Xinjiang to the rest of China. Many Uyghurs in 1990 across Xinjiang could not speak Mandarin Chinese, the official language of China. Zhang Chunxian, the Communist Party Secretary of Xinjiang, began limiting the presence of Uyghur culture in Xinjiang in favour of Han Chinese culture. Under Zhang, the Chinese government launched the “Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism” initiative in 2014. They announced a “people’s war on terror” aiming at suppressing the continuing insurgency and conflict in Xinjiang and curbing support for Uyghur separatists. In 2016, Chen Quanguo assumed office as Communist Party Secretary of Xinjiang. Chen, formerly the Communist Party Secretary of Tibet, began overseeing the establishment of the re-education camps. In 2017, the Xinjiang internment camps became fully operational.
People’s Armed Police armoured vehicles deployed in Urumqi
7
“We must be as harsh as them and show absolutely no mercy.” -Xi Jinping, 2014. Within the camps, several allegations were raised in regards to Chinese treatment of the Uyghur inmates. Some of the human rights abuses range from political re-education to torture, with some former inmates even alledging that human experimentation was conducted. Several sources critical of the Chinese policies in Xinjiang have claimed that these policies were directly aimed at brainwashing and the destruction of the Uyghur ethnic identity. Video footage has surfaced of Uyghurs in these camps singing Chinese communist songs, such as “Without the Communist Party, there would be no New China.” In an interview with Radio Free Asia (which has ties to the American government), Zumuret Dawut, a former Uyghur inmate, claimed that she was not given food or water and was forced to undergo sterilization. Another inmate, Gulzira Auelkhan of Kazakh ethnicity, when interviewed by the BBC, claimed that she was forced to strip naked and that “The Chinese men ‘would pay money to have their pick of the prettiest young inmates.”’ She also alleged that systematic rape was present in the camp system. However, Chinese media depicts a story that contrasts with those mentioned earlier. Chinese media has released footage of the Xinjiang camps, depicting Uyghur inmates dancing and singing, in sharp contrast with the more gruesome accounts presented earlier in the previous testimonies. CGTN (China Global Television Network), a news source directly related to the Chinese government, released an interview with a former inmate, Zulfira Ahmat, in which she claims that prior to attending the vocational centres at the camps, she was brainwashed by Islamic extremists. In the school, she claims she was de-radicalized away from Islamic extremism. “The school did not just teach me Mandarin and law. I feel like my thinking has improved.,” she said to interviewers on CGTN. Chinese officials have rejected the accusa-
8 WORLD
People’s Armed Police at Uyghur bazaar, Xinjiang
tions of “Uyghur genocide” purported by Western sources, dismissing these as “politically-motivated propaganda” and other terms of the sort. Shohrat Zakir, the Chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region - himself of Uyghur origin, refuted the allegations of mistreatment in the camps in 2019. As of October of 2020, 45 countries have backed China’s policies in Xinjiang, such as Russia and North Korea, including several member-states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, such as Syria, Iran, Palestine, Indonesia, and Egypt, commending Chinese efforts “in providing care to its Muslim citizens”. Meanwhile, many Western governments have been vocal critics of China’s policies towards the Uyghurs, deeming these to be “draconian” and “oppressive”. British lawmakers issued a staunch disapproval of the Chinese treatment of Uyghurs on April 22, declaring that the policies enacted amounted to a genocide. Of the 39 countries in condemnation of the Chinese policies in Xinjiang, some of the most vocal opponents are the U.S., U.K., Canada, Japan, and Australia. Among these countries, the European Union issued condemnations and sanctions against Chinese officials involved with the camps. Various American leaders and politicians, including Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Mike Pompeo, and others have declared
American determination to condemn the activities of the Chinese as a genocide. Various human rights organizations have also participated in condemnation of China’s policies. Freedom House released reports which heavily criticized China’s level of political rights, in which China has been accused of “altering the demography of ethnic minority regions, especially Xinjiang, Tibet, and Inner Mongolia.” Human Rights Watch, another human rights organization, released another report denouncing China’s policies, citing the Xinjiang internment camps as examples of “the Chinese government’s oppression of Turkic Muslims.”
A propaganda billboard in Kashgar
9
SCHOOL Living Life as a High Schooler
Did It turn Out to Be How We Thought It Would? Shaina Rajwani Writer, Interviewer
Remember yourself as a nervous middle schooler often wondering what your life would be like as a high schooler? It may feel like a lifetime and many valuable life lessons ago. You may have had many misconceptions that you had heard from others based on their experiences or been worried about what the future had in store for you. Since then, we have gained incredible skills and learned many new things, whether it be from our personal experiences, parents, teachers, or peers. We asked our very own Pinetree students how they have grown as individuals since being at Pinetree, and how they are making the best of their high school years. Student 1 PTP: What is one thing you wish you knew before entering your high school years? S: I really wish I knew that it is okay to ask for help when you need it. I had always been (and still sometimes am) the type of person who likes to be independent. I feel that if I ask for help, people will make the assumption that I am not able to do something. That is 1000% not true. Asking for help does not mean you do not have the ability to do things on your own. It means that you have taken responsibility to learn from others, to become the best at something that you can be. No one is good at everything, and that’s okay. We can all just learn from each other and share our strengths at the same time PTP: If there was one thing you could tell your past self, what would you say? S: Everything will be better than you ever imagined. The things that seemed like a big deal really won’t matter in 10 years. PTP: What is the most valuable skill that you have learned in high school?
S: Definitely time management and how to com-
plete multiple tasks in a short time. I also learned the importance of having strong communication skills. Having to work in groups more has really improved my communication skills overall. PTP: What is your biggest hope for the future? S: My biggest hope is that I am able to always helps help and improve the lives of others. PTP: At which moment in your life did you learn your biggest life lesson? S: IAfter being selected to go district public speaking festval in fourth grade, I realized what I was truly capable of. At that age, many people told me that I wasn’t capable of doing some things. At that moment, I decided not to let others tell me what I could at couldn’t do. In fact, that became my motivation to reach any goal I put my mind to. If I believed in myself, I could do anything. PTP: In your opinion, what is the best way to manage stress or anxiety? S: Take a break from the thing that is making you anxious. Talk to your friends, family or someone you trust. Don’t hold in your feelings as that stress can build up and be overwhelming. If you are unable to talk to someone, write down your feelings as a way to feel relieved. PTP: What is a task that helps you stay motivated? S: Listen to uplifting music or watch/hear “success stories” to get inspired from others. Student 2 PTP: What is one thing you wish you knew before entering your high school years? J: Hmmm, I don’t really have something that I wish I knew before entering high school. I rarely wish something never happens because I believe that my past experiences shape who I am today, and I am pretty happy about myself haha. But if I really need to say one thing, I wish I knew that it’s normal and okay for friends to drift apart. PTP: What is one misconception you had about high school that turned out not to be true? J: The only thing that people do is studying and everyone is hyper-productive.
10 SCHOOL
PTP: WIf there was one thing you could tell your past self, what would you say? J: Plan for the future but don’t stress too much about it, you will turn out just fine. PTP: What is the most valuable skill that you have learned in high school? J: Definitely how to stay open-minded and listen to other opinions. Grade 9 was a big year for me because I had many life changes. Me having to quickly adapt to new environment really taught me how to be open-minded and learn from other voices. PTP: What is your biggest hope for the future? J: Short term hope will definitely everything going back to normal. My biggest long-term hope is to be happy with whatever I end up doing and be able to give back to the ones who really have positive influences on me, especially my family. PTP: At which moment in your life did you learn your biggest life lesson? J: It was more of an aha moment than a life lesson moment. But a few days ago when I managed to do a few pull-ups, I realized how strong my body is, it was kind of like an aha moment. Just to give a little bit of context, I have struggled with severe body image problems in the past few years. I realized that there is no point blaming my body, it has done an amazing job. PTP: What is an important piece of advice do you have for your peers? J: Don’t force yourself to socialize just to build the “connections”, try bettering yourself and people will come to you. PTP: In your opinion, what is the best way to manage stress or anxiety? J: Yoga with zen music, crying to sad songs and ranting to my parents, close friends and my journal. There are all my go-to’s. PTP: If you could go back to one moment in your life, what would it be? J: If I can re-live one moment in my life, it would be summer 2018, when I was travelling with my family and we were in a Buddhist temple in Qinghai, China. Everything was just right on that day.
PTP: What is a task that helps you stay motivated? J: Reminding myself of how hard my parents have worked to support me. Student 3
PTP: What is one thing you wish you knew before entering your high school years? K: One thing I wish I knew was how to manage my time more efficiently PTP: What is one misconception you had about high school that turned out not to be true? K: That all the teachers would be mean haha. PTP: If there was one thing you could tell your past self, what would you say? K: Not to worry about what others think of you. PTP: What is the most valuable skill that you have learned in high school? K: How to speak up for myself. PTP:What is your biggest hope for the future? K: To achieve my goals. PTP: At which moment in your life did you learn your biggest life lesson? K: 15 I learned how to let go and move on. PTP: What is a important piece of advice do you have for your peers? K: Not to get caught up in your fantasies and leave room for reality. PTP:In your opinion, what is the best way to manage stress or anxiety? K: Breathing techniques. PTP: If you could go back to one moment in your life, what would it be? K: I’d go back to all the drama and handle things differently. PTP: What is a important piece of advice do you have for your peers? K: Not to get caught up in your fantasies and leave room for reality. PTP: What is a task that helps you stay motivated? K: Extra cuticular activities
SCHOOL Although we still have much to learn, our experiences and the people we meet will continue to make impacts on our lives. We should consider each experience as a learning opportunity, that will help us be the best versions of ourselves we can be.
ADVICE COLUMN:
Ask Tommy Tommy Sharpe
Hello all, My name is Tommy Sharpe, and welcome to the April edition of Ask Tommy! I finished my Biology final yesterday, and now I’m FREE!! Haha, as if. Alas, I am bound to the rigors of high school for another quarter. That said, it’s only for another two months or so! If you imagine hard enough, then summer break is just around the corner. Well, until then, I’m drowning my sorrows in bubble tea and alfredo sauce; not at the same time, but maybe? I’ve gotten two fantastic responses, as I tend to this year. The first asks a very poignant question: Hey Tommy, What would be the limit of socially acceptable music? Into The Unknown
...is your name part of the question? In any case, I think that anything is fine to listen to for yourself. That said, there are some situations that call for a bit more tact. I would know; I’m partial to heavier, more metallic music myself, and I know full well that many people dislike that sort of thing. My personal solution is twofold; first, I have a playlist of more inoffensive, lighter songs that I deem acceptable to listen to in company. These are still songs that I enjoy, but they are simply songs that won’t immediately cause the other person to run out the door. Second, just ask!
11 If you’re unsure whether other people will like the song, just ask! Quick side note: I apologize for basically telling you to censor yourself in front of others. In an ideal world, you could listen to whatever you want, whenever you aren’t. Alas, different people have different tastes, and I think it boils down to a matter of mutual respect. That said, feel free to listen to whatever you’d like! There’s a reason I carry headphones in my bag all the time. The second one is much simpler; Dear Tommy, Ramadan Mubarak!
Thank you! I hope that you have a great Ramadan month. For those who don’t know, Ramadan is an Islamic tradition that involves a great deal of fasting and prayer. It generally lasts for one moon cycle. It is an extremely spiritual time for the Muslim faith, and I wish everyone who celebrates it the best! That’s all for this month’s edition of Ask Tommy. As always, please send me any questions or comments you may have about school, life, or anything else at pinetreepost.asktommy@gmail.com. I hope you all have a great quarter 4! Adieu! Tommy Sharpe
12 SCHOOL
Commence Commencement! Leadership Events, Athletics, and Graduation
The Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver 2011.
Kaleigh Morrow Writer
The events that Pinetree have done and can do this school year are very limited. Band has been able to do virtual concerts, but Leadership events, like Grade Week, cannot be done as usual. Normally for Grade Week, a couple hundred students gather in the courtyard and eat food together. Since that cannot happen, the school is hoping to pull off an alternate grade event in June, depending on Leadership’s plans. When asked, Mr. Clarke, Pinetree’s principal, said, “The events we have been able to do have been done in the safest possible way.” So far, Pinetree’s sports teams have been focusing on keeping student interest. The volleyball and basketball teams do skill practices, but unfortunately have not been allowed to do inter-school competitions and competitive games this year. That also means that athletics like track and cross-country cannot happen.
Source: MichaelThoeny, CC BY-SA 3.0
The last day of school is in two months, but it is still unclear how the Grade 12 commencement ceremony will look this year. Typically, commencement is held in either the Orpheum or Queen Elizabeth theatre downtown as a very formal three-hour ceremony. At the beginning of the school year, in September 2020, the school made plans for an optimal situation. Pinetree booked venues a year in advance, like usual, but due to public health orders, cannot hold large gatherings currently. If commencement does not happen downtown, the school is leaning toward the idea of a drive-through commencement, so that families can see their students walk across a stage. A virtual ceremony would likely accompany. Alternatively, like in June 2020, commencement might be a small courtyard setup. School District 43 is currently working with Fraser Health to clarify exactly
SCHOOL what sort of ceremony is and is not allowed right now. Pinetree is hoping to find out soon. Beyond commencement, Pinetree usually holds a Senior Sail in the fall, where Grade 12s have a dance down in the Vancouver Harbour, on a boat. This year’s Senior Sail is currently postponed until May 2021, because the cruise provider is not allowed to do these types of events at the moment. Usually at the end of the school year, students attend a dinner and dance at a hotel downtown, organized by Pinetree’s counselors. Around midnight students return to Coquitlam to have an aftergrad, organized by parents, in the Pinetree Community Centre. Finally, Mr. Clarke said, “We are doing our best to keep our whole school community safe and are following the guidelines from public
Burrard Inlet, July 2018.
13 health authorities to the best of our ability. Unfortunately, we are missing the social piece, and are not allowed to have big bubbles of people. I know that is something that we are all missing, especially for students. School is not only an academic institution, it is also a social place. People come to school for the social aspect, not only for their studies and classes, but to see their friends and to socialize. Unfortunately that is very limited right now. It is the piece we are dealing with right now, with COVID-19.” Pinetree students, and especially Grade 12s, are likely disappointed that many school events are not happening as usual this year. The Pinetree Post hopes that students remember that safety protocols will protect the school community. The school will hold events in the safest, but most fun ways possible, so that hopefully soon events can run as usual.
Source: Wpcpey, CC BY-SA 4.0
14 SCHOOL
Pinetree Courses Advice from graduating students Sophie Zhao Writer,
Electives
Electives are necessary for graduation and help fulfill grade 12 requirements, and students tend to approach them in two ways. The first method is to choose electives with academic focuses to prepare for university. As one student says,
“when I choose my courses, I usually go for the academic ones because I want to give university admission offices the impression that ‘I can accept their academic challenges’.” The second method is to use electives to explore the fun and diverse courses offered at Pinetree. Preferences for these vary greatly depending on students’ interests: “I always found Active Living fun. It’s pretty chill and keeps you fit. You meet lots of people and do loads of fun activities (when the world is more normal).” “Programming and ICT Media Design (didn’t take this one) should be useful and fun if tech is your stuff. But if you like music, I would say go for vocal jazz, you get to sing good music (most of the time), and you get to play with microphones.” “An elective I really enjoyed was Art 9 - it was a great time to chill after a math class and simply paint or draw away! I think any art class is great as long as you try your best.” Other electives like guitar, shop-work electives such as woodworking or metalworking, and peer tutoring are also suggested electives. Meanwhile, the electives with a more difficult reputation are home economic courses including food studies and textiles, where teachers have “high expectations” and “mark harshly for little mistakes.”
“GPA Boosters”
Adding on to university requirements, some students look for “easier” courses that can increase their average grade. Among electives, the courses that people have received higher grades in include geography, earth science, and comparative cultures. Nevertheless, the difficulty of courses is arguable due to different teachers and students’ preferences. For example, some find P.E. courses to be a good change of pace while others believe that obtaining a good grade in P.E. requires a lot of effort. The topic of “GPA Boosters” themselves can be controversial as well. “Honestly, just don’t look for GPA boosters. Why not just study harder in your academic courses and get better grades in them. (If you practice enough, you can ace most of the science and math courses … it’s just high school stuff),” says a grade 12 student, and
“when in doubt, take a class you know you’d enjoy or do well in!” says another.
Hardest Courses
Especially in the quarter system, science and mathematics courses have been a struggle for many. This is especially true of honours and AP courses. In terms of honours courses, one student says, “don’t take it unless you know for a fact that you’ve learned it before or have a passion for science and math.” For those who do decide to take AP Chemistry, Calculus, and similar classes, students have given the following advice for these more challenging fast-paced courses: “Set a proper studying schedule and treat school like your full time job, meaning you work on school stuff at least 8 hours a day. It works for me, and really helps keep me productive.” Referencing Chemistry 11 Honours with Ms. Chan, “my advice would be to not be afraid to ask questions! I lost so many opportunities to do better simply because I was embarrassed to ask for help. (P.S. The Organic Chemistry Tutor on YouTube is a LIFE SAVER!!!)”
15
SCHOOL
Retaking a Course
Even for those who are not satisfied with their final grade, a common agreement is that second attempts are not ideal if they can be avoided. A student who strongly advises against this says, “don’t, too many universities look down on retaking courses” or do not accept them at all. However, some believe it can be worth the time and effort. “For example, UBC requires that you have a certain percentage in English and Math in order to get into certain programs, so if you fall beneath that requirement, definitely retake it,” says another student.
Online Courses and Summer School
Generally, students may take maths and sciences courses online. One student summarizes them by saying that “online classes set lower expectations than in person, thus the tests are easier. however you have to get yourself to study at your own pace, which very easily slides into procrastination.” Additionally, although courses like CLE 10 (Planning 10) are suggested by some to take in the summer, it is also important to keep in mind that summer school courses tend to be fast-paced, especially the sciences. Summary The difficulty of courses can vary by different factors. For example, one student says “economics 12 is a pretty chill course, and it’s university approved so it counts towards your GPA,” but another says that this depends on the teacher.
Bonus Advice and Favorite Courses PTP: What’s the hardest course you took? A: It would definitely be Spanish. Even though Ms.
Korby is a lot of fun, the language is just too much for me. Every time I tried to speak Spanish I feel like my tongue is in a knot. Now I don’t have to think about Spanish anymore. I still get scared when I hear hispanic music. For advice…. If you don’t like the language… do yourself a favour… just watch anime and take Japanese. PTP: What has been your favorite course? A: “AP English 11 was by far the best course I have ever taken. You learn loads of impressive writing and analytical skills that translate into all aspects of your life, from essays to arguing to job interviews. Sadly, the teacher Mr. Wallace has moved to another school but whoever teaches it, the course material is really interesting!” A: “I loved all my STEM academic courses (except for Science 10, ugh) because most of my friends are in the honours cohort heehee. They make the past years a good time.” A: “My favourite course has to be History 12 with Ms. Loo (she’s retired now). Her classes were so fun and filled with humour, and as long as you showed effort, she gave you great marks. It’s sad that newer Pinetree kids won’t get to experience the great atmosphere of her classroom, but history with Ms. Loo was always a blast.”
Overall, the best general advice that graduating students have is to do research about courses before you pick them;
it is helpful to have an idea of post-secondary plans and consider courses that would be beneficial. Quoting from a number of grade 12 students, one “wanted to push [themselves] academically but also within reason,” and another suggests that students “sign up for honours if you can, the community is pretty amazing,” but “be realistic, do not choose honours to ‘look cool’.” Furthermore, learning about courses through word-of-mouth, especially from older peers, is helpful for discovering cool courses that may not be as well known.
Pinetree Secondary School
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Its Origins and How You Can Make an Environmental Difference
Beautiful British Columbia
Alexandra Mandewo Writer Happy Earth Day Pinetree! It is very easy to celebrate and acknowledge the beauty of nature when we live in ‘Beautiful British Columbia’. However, when Earth Day was created in 1970, it was created with a bigger intention than just appreciating nature. Earth Day is meant for people to also actively show their support for environmental protection. I’m sure at one point or another you have heard the phrase ‘save the Earth’. The first time I heard the phrase, I found the task to seem very daunting. How can one person save the entire Earth? But it’s not a one person job; it takes many individuals working on smaller tasks with a common goal. So, in the spirit of Earth Day, I have compiled three ways to make a positive environmental difference and help save the world. Sign up for the Eco-Challenge via the Pinetree Environment Club Instagram page
Source: Pinetree Environment Club
Source: Kaylin Brereton-Stiles
1. Sign up for Pinetree’s Eco Challenge: Pinetree’s Environment Club has created an Eco-Challenge with an emphasis on completing easy tasks that will have positive environmental effects. The challenge runs until May 12, so it is not too late to participate. Check out the Environment Club’s Instagram or check your email for a link to sign up. If you need some motivation to participate, there are prizes for the top three winners. In addition, you will also be developing environmentally friendly habits that are invaluable. 2. Remember the 3 R’s: The three R’s are reduce, reuse and recycle. The first R, Reduce, means reduce the amount of waste you create. This can be done by using reusable containers for lunch instead of ziploc bags. The second R, reuse, means reuse as many items as you can. This helps minimize waste as well. One of the easiest things you can do to follow this second R is buying reusable grocery bags. The final R, recycle, highlights how recycling items is imperative to achieving sustainability. When you throw away your items in the right place, they can then be used again in different ways. Make sure you pay attention to the different bins labelled all around the school and at your house.
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The beauty of nature
Source: Kaylin Brereton-Stiles
Sexual violence and how to prevent it A grave problem that many people may overlook Na-Yeon Kim Writer
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “sexual violence?” Inappropriately touching someone? Forcing someone to engage in an activity of sexual nature? This may be the common answer for most of us. Because it’s difficult to imagine ourselves being in such a grave situation, we tend to not ponder too deeply about the issue, thinking that “it will never happen to me.” However, you will be surprised by the disturbingly high rate at which sexual harassment occurs in schools. After reading this article, you will be aware of the seriousness of this issue, how much it can affect the victim, and ways to prevent it. First and foremost, let’s define what sexual violence is. According to Voices For Women Sudbury Sexual Assault Centre, it means to enforce any type of undesired sexual act on a person. It includes three main behaviors: sexual harassment, such as sexist jokes, violent/disrespectful language, verbal assault, bumping, patting stalking, sexual assault, such as touching, grabbing, and raping and sexual abuse, such as general abuse of minors or children. Sexual violence can occur in various places such as in workplaces, parties, non-office settings, and learning environments, such as schools and universities, which is what we will be focusing on today. “Sexual violence has been a growing issue in educational settings.” According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), “in 2010-2011, 13% of students in grade 7-12 reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact.” In another study, CBC’s Marketplace conducted a nationwide survey of 4,000 young people
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of age 14 to 21 in Sept., 2019, and in the results 26% of girls underwent unwanted sexual contact in a school setting, while ¼ students experienced sexual harassment or assault before Grade 7 in elementary schools for the first time. A whopping 3.5 million students have reported being sexually harassed by an adult in school, primarily being a teacher or coach. (https://www.edweek. org/leadership/opinion-knowing-the-warning-signs-of-sexual-misconduct/2013/02) It is essential that we understand how such treatment can affect the person experiencing the sexual violence. Being sexually assaulted is a very traumatic event for victims; it is a violation of one’s privacy and rights. If a victim is a student who was sexually harassed in school, the student’s performance in school will deteriorate, absenteeism will increase, and the student will feel unsafe within school buildings. It may lead to the point where the victim can not function normally. Furthermore, traumatizing events may cause the development of mental disorders; a victim may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression/ major depressive disorder, panic/anxiety attacks, substance abuse, flashbacks, eating disorder, trauma, dissociation, insomnia and other mental disorders. These are all major illnesses that may lead to self harm or even suicide if left untreated. The victim will feel that their life has been stripped away, and fall into a spiral of guilt, shame, anger and fear. It will take years for the victim to regain their health, sense of trust, ability to build relationships, and function normally through day to day life. So the question is, how do we prevent it? Prevention is the best way to learn how to be safe, and it will help millions of lives from going through traumatic incidents that haunt people for their life. First things first: Consent. Consent is the state of agreeing with someone.
This concept applies to people in relationships, and it is a great way to keep each other safe and feel protected. There are signs that your partner shows when fully giving consent: A verbal agreement, such as “yes,” positive body language, and visible and continuous enthusiasm. Note that a person’s decision may change after agreement and consent can be withdrawn during sexual activity, and it is important for both partners to respect that choice. While this is a very important concept to know when in relationships, only ⅓ Canadians know the meaning of consent and how to give consent. (Canadian Women’s Foundation) In addition, know the warning signs. Is someone touching you and progresses gradually to the point where you are uncomfortable? Do you see someone being verbally harassed in the halls? Report it to someone, such as the police, the counsellor in the school, or someone that you truly trust. They will know where to guide you and what steps to take next. However, if you feel that you are not receiving the help you need, keep searching and persevering, because even though you may feel that nobody understands you and nobody will be able to help, you are important, and there are people out in the world who genuinely care and are willing to help. Sexual violence is a difficult topic to talk about, but it is important to be aware of it and know ways to stop it. Get help immediately from a trustworthy adult if you are experiencing sexual violence. It may be hard to admit it, since many people don’t speak up about their experience for years due to the stigma and sense of shame, but know that no matter what you went through, you are loved, valued and cherished. On that note, stay safe folks!
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Opinion: Our Government Has Failed The Mentally Ill And it’s partly our fault. Briana Ho Writer
Nobody likes to talk about pain. We don’t want to relive those feelings of helplessness, of guilt, of throat-clenching terror. So we keep silent, and we go about our routines like actors on a stage. But wounds neglected are wounds infected. 1 in 3 Canadians will be affected by a mental illness during their lifetime, and the Building Community Society estimates that 300 of those in severe crisis are abandoned on the streets of Vancouver alone. Many who have homes also suffer in silence, for social stigma and lack of reliable resources often block the path to medical care. Despite the high number of family and friends (and perhaps even ourselves) afflicted by mental illnesses, we tend to treat them as less than human. And it shows in our government policy. British Columbia is the only province where the Mental Health Act – which includes guidelines for involuntary treatment of a mental illness – allows “deemed consent to treatment”. This means that facilities can forcibly administer medications and electroconvulsive therapy, all while preventing the patient, family members, and other advocates from challenging those prescribed treatments. Now, one may argue that the “deemed consent to treatment” is a good thing. The healthcare system supposedly knows best, and there will always be some families that try to oppose vital medical procedures because of personal beliefs. However, the ability to challenge is not the same as the ability to obstruct. Barricading the freedom of individuals to even question their treatments, or ask for a thorough review of the treatment plan if they feel there’s been a mistake, or discuss a compromise that considers the patient’s values, is frankly a blundering of human rights. Moreover, Jay Chalke – B.C.’s ombudsperson – said in March 2019 that a month-long inspection of all provincial psychiatric facilities found that a rights-advice form, one that every patient should have signed, was missing in 51% of files. While the attorney general, the
Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions all accepted his recommendations, Chalke said in February 2021 that “some promised deadlines had already passed”. In places meant for healing, patients barely have rights – And the issues stretch farther than legislation. At 15 years old, Emma – who requested a pseudonym to protect her identity – and her family had to employ the Mental Health Act to detain her mother at a hospital after a relapse of schizophrenia. “The psychosis made her refuse to see a doctor voluntarily,” Emma said. “So we contacted the Tri-Cities Mental Health Centre, but… they’d closed her file. After some back-and-forth, they pretty much told us to figure it out on our own.” With options limited and her mother’s health deteriorating, Emma said that the Mental Health Act was their last resort. Marina Morrow, a professor at the school of health policy and management at York University in
This is a sign for you to smile.
Source: Aaron Kan
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Many have misconceptions about what psychiatric wards are truly like. Source: Lifebridge Health
Toronto, agrees that Canadian mental health policies are “crisis driven.” She explains that the government provides funding for psychiatry and acute care, while many other mental health supports are neglected. “It makes sense to me that a psychiatrist will say ‘Go to emergency and maybe you’ll get some help that way,’’’ Morrow says, describing how many patients regularly access care by getting detained in hospitals. But even in funded psychiatric facilities, stigma amongst staff can cause inhumane treatment of patients. “It usually feels like you’re their enemy,” Emma’s mother – now stable for a couple years – recalled. “They don’t care if they humiliate you or scare you. A few times they restrained me and injected me with something, without explaining what it was or why they were doing it.” And for the homeless with mental illnesses, they’re merely thrown back onto the street after landing in the emergency room. Bill MacEwan, the former head of psychiatry at St. Paul’s hospital, said that he saw the same mentally ill man on 29 separate days over a 30-day period. This lack of funding, lack of support, lack of compassion reveals the unspoken attitude that too many people hold against the suffering: “Out of sight, out of mind.” It seems that the mentally ill only warrant attention when they’re causing a public disturbance. Why else is Canada’s mental health system “crisis driven”? Instead of providing consistent, long-term care to heal these people, our governments treat them like nuisances that only matter when they grow disruptive enough. They aren’t pests that we need to chase from our parks.
They aren’t ghosts that’ll disappear if we avert our eyes. They’re people, people who can feel love and pain and sorrow. People who statistically make up one third of our loved ones. While they deserve to live with dignity, many are barely surviving each passing day. We must break the long-reigning silence. With more voices than ever before, we must finally hold our governments – and ourselves – accountable for this heinous facet of our society. Yes, nobody likes to talk about pain. Those discussions bring to light the raw, bleeding parts of ourselves that we’ve been conditioned to hide. But in drawing our stories out from the shadows, we can foster more understanding and more acceptance towards those with mental illnesses. And then – only then – can we unite in a formidable, overdue clamour for change.
Paramedics treat a man suffering a drug overdose in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, May 2, 2020.
Source: Jason Payne
OTHER Comic by Amy Lee
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