March 2016 Issue

2 FIRST GLANCE P.4: CLUBS

P.10: LIFE

The Pinetree Post

STAFF FOUNDERS Russell Kim, Felix Guo EDITOR IN CHIEF Beverley Fung

Release the Cookies: Science & Tech Project

P.14: FEATURED

Where does the school budget go?

P.18: WORLD

WRITERS Coco Chen, Jeff Feng Beverley Fung, Elaine Gao Felix Guo, Nigel Tan, Zhen Zhen Tsai Carly Wang, Sherry Zuo COLUMNISTS Emily Liang, Not Felix LAYOUT DESIGN Elaine Gao COVER AND GRAPHICS Emily Liang WEBSITE DESIGN Jordan Liu Zhen Zhen Tsai SPECIAL THANKS TO Mr. McCullough, Mr. Lau, Damir Ninkovich, Sudoku

Up close and personal with a student

Project Cambodia 2.0: Back at it again

GET INVOLVED IN THE PT POST! A lot of people dont’t seem to fully appreciate the fact that The Pinetree Post is a student newspaper, fully run and produced by the students. This means that any student can submit content of any kind, whether they be a letter to the editor (I’ll have to prepare myself for these), editorials on issues you feel strongly about, or even comics. Plus, there will be prizes

up for grabs for the best content submitted that month!

We also have many positions to fill in our staff, since some members graduated last year. No matter your niche, whether it be writing, editing, drawing, coding websites, navigating savvy business deals, or marketing, we’re looking for students in all grades to join us!

Join us Fridays in Room A204 during lunch to learn more about PTP.

3

First Glance EDITOR’S NOTE

Under new management

MYSTERIES Q: What is an editor-inchief?

“The person who writes this editor’s note, I guess.

They get a picture.”

“A??? Human???”

She’s beauty! She’s grace!

There’s a new sheriff in town, now.

Beverley Fung Editor-in-Training Hi all, The Pinetree Post is back after a short hiatus during January and February - did you miss us?

March marks the beginning of many things: spring sports, Global Perspective’s Cambodia trip, the Europe trip, and spring break.

What are your plans for this break?

During this month’s issue, we have covered a wide array of topics. We’ve compiled a summary of all you need to know about this month’s sports. As well, we’ve sent our writers out to find out about

Henry Liu / Pinetree Post

different electives our school offers and what exactly everyone’s student fees goes towards. If you were at the Key Club famine, you may have noticed us running around with cameras; there is also the “March Madness” event that is coming up soon. Finally, the Science Club’s inthe-works cookie dispenser.

As we move later in the year, graduation is nearing. Many of our grade 12 leaders are working with our younger members to prep for next year, so you may notice a lot of changes with our staff coming soon.

We hope you all continue to support us and stay tuned for our upcoming issues.

See you all next month, Beverley Fung

“Someone with charisma.

Someone compelling.

Someone who could bring Destiny’s Child back together again.”

“All hail!”

“The editor-in-chief may inherit by blood, but they must first prove their strength as a warrior in battle before the rest of the staff will follow.”

“That one guy who points out your typos online.”

“Like the Godfather but with newpsapers.”

A: We just don’t know.

4 CLUBS GOODBYE SILVER PLATTER, HELLO TO:

Cookie-inator-3000

DIY programming kits have endless versatility.

The newest, most innovative way to get your cookie fix for the day.

Nigel Tan Writer

There are few things as welcoming as a plate of sweet, fresh cookies. Of course, is a single cookie really worth the effort of the long, arduous pilgrimage over to the office? That is where the Cookie Dispenser comes in.

Brainchild of Pinetree’s own Science & Technology Club, the Cookie Dispenser aims to remedy the issues with the existing plate of cookies, while creating an iconic symbol of Integrity at the same time.

One might question the sanity of constructing such a mechanical monstrosity. According to the head of the Science & Tech Cookie Team, Parsa Rajabi, the goal of the Cookie Dispenser is four-fold. Rajabi intends for the machine to be an opportunity for Pinetree students to put their creative minds to work, creating a device that will clear up office clutter, provide everyone with free cookies, and leave Pinetree with a shining beacon of the spirit of Integrity at the same time. “We at the

Photo courtesy of Instructables.com

Science & Tech Cookie Team anxiously anticipate the completion of the machine and we encourage everyone at Pinetree to do the same,” says lead project designer, Xinghao Zhao.

Stepping into the office, whether one is paying some fees, making a request at the secretary’s desk, or simply grabbing a waiver, one is swamped by the everpresent crowds filling the office to the brim. Pinetree’s Science & Tech Club aims to change that. The Cookie Dispenser will be placed right in the main foyer, an easy to access, public location for all to see. This will draw much of the traffic away from the office area, resolving the constant congestion that seems to plague the secretary’s desk.

Rajabi’s team also promises that not only the cookies, but the very machine itself will be an icon of Pinetree.

Every generation aims to leave a legacy behind, and what better legacy than a giant, diabetes-inducing contraption? The christening of the Cookie Dispenser will forever adorn the halls of Pinetree, celebrating the retirement of perhaps Pinetree’s greatest principal, Mr. J. McCullough. Finally, a Cookie Dispenser is not a Cookie Dispenser without what is arguably its

5

Clubs at Pinetree most important aspect: the cookies, free of course. When completed, the device will be equipped with a barcode scanner capable of identifying each and every student at Pinetree using their GoCards. Once authorized, the machine will dispense a single cookie to each person who scans their card.

“We at the Science & Tech Cookie Team anxiously anticipate the completion of the machine and we encourage everyone else at Pinetree to do the same.”

Of course, nothing belongs more at Pinetree Secondary than something created by everyone. Project Manager Rajabi encourages all to come and sign up to help out and bring this dream to life. Without the efforts of the students at Pinetree, this dispenser would be nothing more than a pipe dream. And a very sweet one, at that. 2

Students who are not yet a part of the Science & Tech club are also welcome to join the Cookie Dispenser Project. The team welcomes any potential participants with experience in programming and construction, or simply people with an interest in cookies. To sign up to be a part of this unique and influential opportunity, contact Parsa Rajabi, or sign up at the URLs listed below.

tiny.cc/CookieProject tiny.cc/CookieGroup

I HAVE OPINIONS

BuzzFeud

Why I want to send a box full of bees to Jonah Peretti.

Emily Liang Professional Hater

There is nothing inherently wrong with a website purposed for entertainment, or one that is dedicated to mass appeal. However, BuzzFeed fails to remain consistent in its image (except for being annoying of course). A portion of BuzzFeed is dedicated to “serious news” about real life issues, yet more often than not, these pieces are indistinguishable from their more fun compatriots. It is simply disingenuous for BuzzFeed to claim that it does real reporting, when it fuses real content with a format that fails to convey respect for the field.

BuzzFeed also fails to provide on the entertainment front, as it seems only capable of spitting out cookie cutter, inane content that is only amusing for its cringeworthiness. For a website targeted to Millenials, BuzzFeed seems to have a sense of humour ten years younger.

Multiple BuzzFeed staff writers have been fired over plagiarism, which really says something about the originality of its content.

Clickbait, based off of established forms and jokes, is the modus operandi of BuzzFeed, meaning that it adds nothing new to media.

BuzzFeed is not an entertainment website; it’s an advertising one. It is utterly shallow, incapable of creativity, and motivated only to generate money out of viewers. That a website with such values should be considered representative of my generation is concerning.

BuzzFeed is not quirky, relatable, or trustworthy.

Like the name denotes, BuzzFeed is a hive, vomiting on the reputation of the Internet. 0

6 LIFE ART THOU AUTO-MOTIVATED?

A brush with a driving force

Nighthawks, a piece replicated outside the Pinetree library.

Further investigation into the mystery of Lower B wing courses.

Carly Wang Writer

What is art? We could cleverly make up a rich paragraph, well deserving of a “6” on the essay portion of an English provincial, illustrating our lack of knowledge just to sound educated and insightful.

AThey don’t just look at how many textbooks you can juggle with a high GPA. Textbook juggling is a great talent, don’t get me wrong. But you need more than that. Why do you think UBC is starting to look at personal profiles? Why do universities ask about your elective courses? What will YOU write, when they ask you to talk about yourself, your hobbies, and what makes YOU unique?

Let’s start with Art and Photo.

Have you ever tried painting? Finger painting’s great

Photo courtesy of Edward Hopper

when you’re writing a “Happy Mother’s Day” card at age five, but have you ever actually tried to create work consisting of simple brush strokes and pools of colour?

Photography? Selfies look fantastic, don’t get us wrong, but ever played around with more than just which side is your best side?

If you don’t already have a special hobby, or maybe a side passion to really help define yourself, Art is for you.

“But I have never really been, like, an ‘artist’ before, I guess.”

That’s perfectly fine! If this course is something you’re interested in, another “what if ”, it’s a perfect place for you to explore different mediums, textures and styles.

Here you can most definitely discover something you’ll love, something you have a knack for, or maybe even a great continuing hobby, if I dare say.

But instead of listening to us ramble on and on about these courses (I mean, what do we know anyway?), here are some of the opinions of students currently enrolled in these courses.

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Life OPINIONS: FROM THE STUDENTS

“I’m not taking this course to get into an art school, that’s not what these courses are here for. I mean if you want to go to an art school, of course these courses are practically a necessary asset in high school, but these courses are so much more. Taking Mr. Gleckman’s electives has expanded my perspectives so much in these three years. It’s not an “easy A”, that a lot of students only care about. It takes effort, heart and work. I’m constantly examining, challenging my own perceptions and others’ perceptions, and it all led to growth. This gave in to development and really makes you look outside of the box, as cliche as that is, for other courses as well. These courses gave an opportunity for growth in a low competitive, open environment, so it’s easier to reach out and grow without being afraid to fall and crash.

I am now more aware of colours and textures in the world around me. I felt like this really helped me in AP English especially.”

-Zohreh Rezaiemanesh, Grade 11 We think we can agree. This will be something you can hang up in your home or anywhere you desire, just not a private property that is not yours, please. It’s something you can look at and be proud of your own capabilities, literally, a “work of art”.

Checking out the art studios ourselves, we found that it is as true as the students say, a chill, open atmosphere with eager people ready for new experiences.

The black room for photography is super cool for developing your own photos. Photos can be seen on

Photo class still shoots on traditional film.

“I took art because I like art. It’s as simple as that. I also like exercising my creativity and creating something new. There’s something really nice about holding your own work up and going, ‘I did that. That’s mine.’ It’s really satisfying. This course was fun and I made great friends, but it really widened my perspective too. I think it made me very well rounded, and I had lots of exposure to different mediums and art styles that helped develop my own style.”

-Alice Zhou, Grade 11 display with more than what meets the eye and as they all say, “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

Mr. Gleckman is always there to help and encourage his students, so don’t be afraid of ever being lost in his courses.

If interested, we, the writers, encourage you to walk down 1st floor B wing and take a look at the art from Pinetree’s own art students, and take a peek at the photos in the classroom without disturbance. Students’ artwork can also be found all over the school! 4

8 LIFE

Student work on diesel.

But if you’re just not into expressing yourself and would rather work with some neat cars, or if the impending doom of moving out after graduation has got you really worked up, automotive is for you.

What’s a torque wrench? A stanley flathead? What pliers do you need - a vice grip or a side cutter?

What are you going to do when you’re away from home and your car happens to start smoking while you’re driving across the bridge, or maybe a flat tire?

You can’t call your parents or friends every time, and crying on the side of the road isn’t going to do any good (trust me, I know).

Automotive is a hands-on course where you’ll learn with hands-on experience to deal with all sorts of car problems, like smoky engines and worn out brakes.

You’ll be able to work on practice pistons, work on cars that others bring in, check out cool cars, and observe Pinetree’s very own racecar that Mr. Kalyk takes with his small group of students to a high school drag racing competition. Interested yet?

If you’re just not ready to dive in head first into a pile of metal, Car Maintenance is great just to get a feel for this topic and to start learning how to take care of your future transportation vehicle. The furthest our ancestors travelled in their entire lifetime is probably the amount we travel in a year. While it’s great to call up a knowledgeable friend, it’s much better to retain the abilities yourself for convenience.

Tools can be interchangeable across other fields too,

Photo courtesy of tcatmackenzie.edu

so once you get the hang of all these wrenches, screws and more, at least you won’t be completely clueless when you’re playing handyman by yourself.

So many teachers come to the auto shop for help, and many we’ve asked all voiced their thoughts looking

“What are you going to do when you’re away from home and your car happens to start smoking while you’re driving across the bridge, or maybe a flat tire?” back at their high school years, that they wish they had taken their automotive classes back in high school. You already have a requirement of 8 courses per semester, so work it by taking a practical course you’ll be seeing come to good practical use after graduation, or maybe even before.

Additionally, because you’re at Pinetree, you should take the automotive courses even more. Why? Many other high schools don’t have an auto shop, much

9

Life FROM THE STUDENTS “I took automotive so I know how to fix my car if my car runs down out of nowhere. Automotive is also related to the engineering I want to go into in the future. This course is also important because I think it’ll help give me an idea if the car I’m buying is not a rip off when I do buy one in the future, and know about what is wrong with my car beforehand when I take it into a shop to pay to get it fixed. It also helps to learn about different tools, that I can have an idea of how to use them even outside of cars. Finally, the best part is when teachers come in for help on their cars, and they thank you after you work on their car. It feels great!”

-Paul Cho, Grade 11 less the course itself. Automotive teachers are harder to find nowadays, and both Centennial and Pinetree, the two schools with auto shops, have voiced troubles finding automotive substitutes. They’re just that rare, so take advantage of this course while you still can!

It is so easy to make great friends in the course too, especially when you and your new best buddy both just finish off a car that went from a 0 to a 10.

Finally, as a last note, don’t be afraid of danger. Even when you’re welding with fire, working with electricity, or working with heavy manifolds and engines, it’s extremely safe. You learn all sorts of things, but not even a strand of hair has ever been burnt on my head. Mr. Kalyk is easy to talk to and always trying to help as many students as possible. (This is one teacher with a class all out and about! Give the man some credit.)

So did you decide yet? Art, photography, or automotive?

If you’re still hesitant, don’t forget to check back on our previous articles on other forgotten electives from the past issues (this is a series), and check back next issue for our last article. 4

I HAVE OPINIONS

The Trial of Job Things I have learned from having a job in fast food.

Emily Liang Casual Cashier

1. Getting exact change from a customer and having to count it is more annoying than being handed a bill and giving change back.

2. Absolutely no one knows how Interac Flash and proximity entry/tap works.

3. There are many more adults who work in minimum wage jobs than there are teenagers.

4. Franchise instructions sound a lot like dystopian brainwashing (eg. Step 1: Smile!

Smile! Smile!, Step 2: Use [franchise]-approved greetings, while smiling some more).

5. Elderly people and young people tip more often and more generously than people between those age ranges.

6. There are a lot of vegans in Coquitlam.

7. One hour of minimum wage work is only enough to buy you one full meal at the place you work, unless it’s McDonalds.

8. If you talk to yourself or mutter darkly all the time at work, no one will say anything about it.

9. Customers can and will hold you responsible for food prices being raised, due to the minimum wage going up.

10. Telling lies is okay if it makes a troublesome customer go away.

11. Nothing is fresh. Nothing.

12. Shredded eggplant looks kind of like raw chicken and someone will threaten to call Food Inspection on you.

13. Customers are often surprised at how fast their fast food is. Surprised as in suspicious.

14. You can be blameless and upright, but you’ll still be a little misanthropic when the shift ends.

10 LIFE FOLLOW THE MONEY

Budge-it

School supplies take the biggest chunk of the school budget.

Public schooling requires strict budgeting to make ends meet.

Coco Chen, Jeff Feng, Beverley Fung, Sherry Zuo Writers It takes a great deal of money to run a school. How else would we pay for textbooks, equipment, supplies, furniture, and, most importantly, all the free cookies?

Each student at Pinetree pays a $45 activity fee, but that cannot possibly be enough to support an entire school. So then, before we discuss how schools use their money - where does the money come from?

The Ministry of Education is responsible for giving money to the district based on student enrolment.

For each full-time student (excluding international students), the Ministry of Education provides approx. $4800 FTE. This money is then allocated within the district to pay for employees’ salaries (91% goes to employees), maintenance of buildings, supplies and equipment such as learning materials, and consumable products. In essence, the money goes towards all of the things that enable the school to run as smoothly as it does.

Afterwards, the district divides the rest of the money

Photo courtesy of ednet.ns.ca

to each school. Some schools are given more than others due to differences in their student populations.

In addition, schools with special programs such as MACC, TALONS, or IB are given extra money. For every international student, schools are granted $350/ per year, which is then used for the student’s cultural development and to smooth integration with the school and district.

“Mr. McCullough’s job is to responsibly and wisely spend the money the school is given. Some departments receive more money than other, depending on what their classes need.”

Using the money distributed to each school, Pinetree covers the cost of many of its expenses. The school receives about $155 000 a year, and this money is

Life

11

targeted towards learning materials, staff development, FSL, skill development students, and additional supplies (paper towels, soap, paper, photocopying, library purchases, professional development for staff, furniture, computer improvements, secretarial draw time). There is a belief that our school has a lot of money; in reality, there is very little to spread around.

Pinetree uses the $45 student activity fees, paid at the beginning of the year, solely for students. This is also the only fee that students must pay, unless they participate in extra-curricular activities. Mr. McCullough assumes that students attend four years, meaning that each student brings in a projected $180. This money is then portioned out to subsidize student activities (hence the name) such as all the grade 12 grad activities, Principal’s Advisory Council’s events, athletic teams going to provincials, club expenses, MUN trips, tokens, free pens, free t-shirts, and free cookies.

Regarding the distribution of funds within Pinetree, each individual department is not given a specific budget.

Instead, department heads discuss any expenses with Mr. McCullough. If the money goes directly towards the benefit of students, Mr. McCullough will grant their request. As he says, “The money has to go to benefit the kids. If the students directly benefit, then I will try to make it happen.” Mr. McCullough’s job is to responsibly and wisely spend the money the school is given. Some departments receive more money than other, depending on what their classes need. The courses with consumable materials, such as Woodworking and Foods, require more funding to cover supplies. Overall, the departments have all been generally affected in an equal manner – Mr. McCullough tries to even it out as much as possible.

However, Pinetree still struggles to cover all of the school’s expenses. For instance, the school spent $161 202 last year alone. It is not only the school that is experiencing a shortage in funds -- according to the SD43 20142015 budget report, the district holds a total deficit of approximately $13 000 000. Fortunately, the Ministry of Education will adopt a debt repayment plan, allowing the school district to pay back at least $2 million per year.

In the meantime, all schools are being forced to undergo cutbacks. The district is unable to keep up to date with maintenance. Many of the lights around the school are left unrepaired. Middle school and high school cafeterias have Graphics courtesy of Sherry Zuo

12 LIFE

Textbooks weight heavily both on the spine and the wallet. been closed, with five high schools, including Pinetree, adopting Canuel Catering. Areas in the school are not as clean as they once were due to decreases in custodial help and supplies. This is seen most notably in lower A wing and the cafeteria. In addition, there were plans to replace all the computers in the school; however, there are no longer funds to pay for new technology. There have also been many positions cut from schools. The student-classroom ratio (SCR), representing the number of students per teacher, was approximately 27 five years ago. The SCR has risen to 29.6 students, and this number has been rising for

“The school district’s monetary situation at the moment is not the greatest. Many changes have been necessary to save money.” the past few years. The higher it goes, the greater the class sizes become, and the fewer teachers there are to manage students.

Students should keep in mind that money given has nothing to do with the number of classes being opened. However, the deficit does affect the number

Photo courtesy of trincoll.edu

of students per class. To lower costs, the district places more students in each class to limit the amount of teachers being hired. In the past, classes have had limits of around 25 students. This number has increased to a maximum of 30 students, with most classes being filled to capacity. The exceptions to this are Woodworking and Automotive, with a maximum of 24 students for safety reasons. However, certain courses such as Foods and Textiles run on lesser numbers compared to core courses like Math and English, due to space and equipment restraints.

Teachers try to help in cutting expenses as much as they can. For example, one big area that the school spends money on is learning materials such as textbooks. A single textbook is already rather expensive, so buying textbooks for multiple classes is a large expense. Both Mr. Lin and Mr. Lockwood will search for the cheapest prices for textbooks all over North America before purchasing them. This allows the money that would have otherwise been spent on these books to go towards other supplies.

The school district’s monetary situation at the moment is not the greatest. Many changes have been necessary to save money. At Pinetree, the administration is unable to purchase or maintain everything that they would like to, and staff are doing their best to keep expenses down. Though these conditions are not ideal, Pinetree is still running quite smoothly. At the end of the day, no matter the financial situation, Pinetree’s first priority is the students, and that is where the money goes. 7

13

Editorials EDITORIALS

Ask Felix

Not written by anyone actually named Felix.

Not Felix Columnist

Dear Felix, Can you give me some tips on breathing?

--Under Pressure Step one: Stand with your feet shoulder length apart, your hands by your side. Step two: Breathe in calmly through your nasal cavity when you are, your stomach should be rising.

Stop sucking in on your stomach, nobody cares, you’re human. Step three: Let out the air via your mouth. (Make sure your mouth is open) Skiddy on, you’re breathing!

Remember, you can only breathe following these specific instructions. Trust me, I’m a pro.

Dear Felix, Do you want to help Trump #BuildTheWall?

--The Apprentice Oh you mean, Donald Jonathan Trump, my man? Of course! I’d help him build a nice wall around him from the rest of us anyday!

I mean, I’m neutral. No comment.

Dear Felix, Who is the most attractive girl in Pinetree?

--Magneto Let’s be real. We’re all a bunch of sweaty, awkward teenagers constantly outgrowing our own clothes, all crammed inside a building too small for our population with deadlines over our heads for everything. Who is the most attractive boy, girl, anybody in the school? That crisp paper with a 100% on it… Wait, it’s not mine.

Dear Felix, How much do you lift, bro?

--Jim Goer About 5 textbooks in a semester. You want a lift off, schmuck?

Dear Felix, How do you survive without sleep? I need to know or else I’ll fail all my courses this semester.

--Of Course Not Firstly, remember that failure is just a part of life’s journey. It’s about the journey, not the destination.

Secondly, if you’re not sleeping, I wisely recommend you look into your study habits, your work load, because this is Canada, where we all deserve an equal right to sleep.

Lastly, not that I am saying this, but I’m just saying that during a particularly desperate week I brewed about 4 cups of coffee in my mug each night and another 2 cups for the morning.

Dear Felix, How do you take your coffee?

--Caffy Nated I take only Tim Hortons black coffee from the huge tin you get from the chain, due to my insecurity regarding my Canadian identity as USA looms over our country, influencing us into assimilation.

I then scoop in icing sugar because I ran out of regular sugar, then scoop in cream because I’m too weak to take in coffee straight black. Thankfully Homo sapiens are a species that allow the weak to live instead of weaselling them out via natural selection.

Finally, I season my coffee with tears. A bit of salt always help bring out the sweetness.

I know you’ll all be satisfied with your answers, and as always, don’t forget to follow my instagram @felixthehooman because I am an aspiring reality TV star. Send in your questions at Pinetree Post on Facebook, or shoot an email to thepinetreepost@gmail.com.\ Sincerely, Not Felix 5

14 FEATURED STUDENT FEATURE

Up close and personal

A veritable ray of sunshine, dressed in Pinetree merch.

Sitting down and looking at the man in the Da-mirror.

Elaine Gao Writer

Commitment is a scary thought. In most cases, it’s an expensive commodity. Careers that require lots of it pay well, such as surgeons who must be ready for action around the clock. As a rule of thumb, humans tend to hate being told what they can and cannot do, and this is especially true if the payoff isn’t instantaneous.

For kids like 12th grader Damir Ninkovich, however, commitment is the de facto way of life. It essentially

Photo courtesy of Elaine Gao

defines him. The topic of his lifelong goals is the very first thing he addresses during our conversation.

We’re outside, despite the freezing cold, because we’ve just been kicked out of the school for conversing too loudly in the hallways. Consequently, we have no better option than to sit at the only green table in the Integrity Courtyard that is warmed by a patch of sun.

I’ve already stolen his jacket, leaving him to freeze in a thin sweater, but I continue to take advantage of his chivalry by immediately claiming the seat where my back is facing the sun. As a result, Damir is left to sit across from me. In order to meet my eye and answer my questions, he squints into the sun’s glare as if he’s searching for something in the distance. The

15

Featured scene is poetically fitting for the subject matter. He tells me that every decision he makes is for the benefit of his future, and indeed, all his habits are indicative of longterm planning. He hits the gym everyday for at least an hour. He practices playing the guitar everyday for at least two hours. He starts doing his homework at 4PM, allow himself little rest time after the insanity of school. He even keeps himself on a strict diet, which I theorize is only possible because he can’t consume pizza due to a severe dairy allergy. His daily schedule, which officially ends at 1AM with him “studying ahead on future units”, screams monumental discipline and overachievement. There is little, if any time at all that is dedicated to living life in the moment, having fun right now. Everything is done for a long-term goal that he doesn’t have to explicitly outline in order for me to develop a reasonable visualization of. He practices karate everyday in hopes of one day reaching a 10th degree black belt. He’s going to master the guitar if that’s the last thing he does. Essentially, if he’s going to devote time into something, he’s going to do it the best

“I do regret not enjoying my time a little bit, especially in grade 9 and in grade 10.”

that it is humanly possible to. That’s the long-term goal.

At this point, it sounds as if I’m simply piling on the admiration for this unearthly self-restraint, but in reality, I’m in open disagreement. I feel thwarted by the concept that I’m a relatively lethargic high school student, and therefore I point out that his life must suck. “Don’t you think you’ll regret not enjoying your high school years? It’s not going to get any easier.” To my delight, he concedes that my wisdom is valid. “I do regret not enjoying my time a little bit, especially in grade 9 and in grade 10. I’d study nonstop all day, and neglect people.

As a result, I didn’t really have any friends, anyone to help me through tough times.”

This is the biggest concession Damir will allow himself over the course of his interview, as he is incredibly tough on himself. He tells me, “Other than that, I don’t regret anything because I want to know that I’ve done

I HAVE OPINIONS

Id-entity

I thought of this title so I could make a psychology joke but now I’m serious about the topic.

Emily Liang [Insert label here]

Why do we, as humans, feel the need to place a label on other human beings?

The answer to this deep sounding three in the morning social commentary question is actually quite simple: It makes everything easier. In the same way that we might look at a fruit and think “this is sweet”, we categorize other human beings. In this way, we can have an artificial understanding of another person without having to make any true observations, because the other traits associated with the label can now be ascribed to this person also.

One could say that this is making assumptions, or even promoting stereotypes when the label and its aspects become dangerous. However, so long as the initial instinctive reaction towards a person does not interefere with later interactions, a label is not bad. In fact, it becomes a useful shorthand to describe people in association to others.

How does this tie into identity? Selflabelling. People not only ascribe labels to others, they do the same unto themselves.

Labels, in their nature, are external, yet many people can find deep personal value in a label.

This certainly speaks to the amount of internal overlap that human beings possess, as well as the curious desire to be defined.

What one may lose in identity to the reduction to a mere label, they also gain back in the form of surety of self and definition, and in solidarity with others under the same label. 0

16 FEATURED

Damir at the Christmas Talent Show. everything I can to achieve my goals. Honestly, if you live life without a plan, you’re just wasting time.”

First and foremost, he aims to get accepted into UBC general science next year, enter integrated sciences the following year, complete his bachelor’s degree, and then enter a prestigious law school for his graduate degree. “My cousin’s studying law at the London School of Economics and Political Science, so in order to have the superior Thanksgiving bragging rights, I need to go a law school ranking in the top 6 internationally.” As an understatement, these are lofty ambitions, and the realist in me is curious as to what he’ll do if he doesn’t achieve them. True to his nature of extensive planning, he’s got a backup strategy, but it’s simply something he cites to dodge around what he actually means to say. That is, failure’s just not an option. As a towering 6’1’’ white kid, Damir doesn’t exactly check the archetypal underdog box, but something about the entire image of his

Photo courtesy of Emily Liang

sleep-deprived eyes, carrying those trademark deep bags and staring down the face of insurmountable university acceptance odds is enough to rouse my dead sympathy. I find myself sincerely wishing him the best luck that life can offer, temporarily forgetting that he works much harder than I do and will likely become president before me by sheer willpower.

I’m now stuck at the part where he finds enough motivation to power himself through daily 9:30PM workouts at the gym, and asking provides a response that completely changes the way that I view him and his steely resolve. “My parents have lived a tough life. My dad escaped the Bosnian War, and my mom has given up everything to raise me to the best of her ability. They’re both super hard working and being successful is how I want to repay them.” (For clarification, Damir’s idea of success entails “achieving the goals you set for yourself.”) When I mention that the majority of my knowledge on the Bosnian War

Featured comes from a novel called The Cellist of Sarajevo, he chillingly responds by saying that Sarajevo is where he hails from. “After what he’s lived through,” he continues, “I just want my dad to be able to sit back and relax when I’m successful and I can support him.” Interestingly enough, Damir explains that he personally won’t be happy with sitting around doing nothing, without a goal to work toward when he retires. “I just want my dad to know that he can relax, if that’s what he wants.” For the first time, I can tell that Damir is driven largely by his emotions, and less by practicality and reason. Somehow, his aspirations make a lot more sense that way. For instance, he immediately wanted to be an ambassador working in the United Nations when he first experienced “how amazing it feels to be heard at a model United Nations conference. Growing up, I’ve always been largely ignored or made fun of, but at a conference like that, everybody in the room listens to what you have to say.

There’s no better feeling than that.” He adds, “that same night, I stayed up until 2AM researching law schools I wanted to attend.”

In hindsight, I’ve compiled an unofficial study detailing the various types of humility people exhibit.

In my not-so-considerable experience, most people are modest because it is required in order to be a pleasant, contributing member of society. Damir is a different type of humble: He doesn’t brag because he truly believes that he’s not good enough for the spotlight yet.

This explains why hardly anyone recognizes just how phenomenally he has represented Pinetree at multiple province-wide Model United Nations conferences, where he has been awarded second best delegate in a room of more than 100 of the most experienced students on two separate occasions. He’s ashamed of it because he wasn’t first place. I tell him that I’m wholly disappointed in his performance. Given the circumstances, it’s likely a distasteful thing to say, but he breezily laughs off the jab. Something about the practiced ease at which he demeans himself tells me he’s used to being the butt of the joke.

Several days later, Damir messages me with a request for his article. He tells me that he agreed to do the interview with the intention of leaving a message for younger students that find themselves in his shoes,

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Solemn and grave on Remembrance Day.

Photo courtesy of Emily Liang

and therefore he’d like to add some final words.

“To anyone who reads this,” he writes, “Invest in the future, because that will last you a lifetime, but live today so you have memories to last you that same lifetime. My success came through struggles, be it as a friend, a significant other, a student, and the struggles have made me who I am. I didn’t wake up with what I have today; I worked until I got to a point where I was happy, and I still haven’t found that. I think success comes from overcoming, not from getting it right the first time. I know I’ve said I don’t regret what I’ve done, but I don’t think everyone is cut out to do what I did.”

I can’t say that I agree with all of his wisdom, but I doubt I’m determined enough to do what he does. In that sense, he might be onto something. 9

18 WORLD INTERNATIONAL ANGLE

The case for Cambodia

Students fundraising for their trip.

No, Cambodia is most definitely not in Africa.

Elaine Gao Writer

I knew next to nothing about the country I would be spending three weeks in when I signed up for Global Perspectives during course programming at this time last year. The extent of my knowledge on the country was that I had seen “Made in Cambodia” stitched into my shameful sweatshop fashion labels several times before. I figured if the Global Perspectives class was going to visit, it was a developing country of some degree.

Judging based on the blank looks I’ve received in the past few weeks when I mentioned my upcoming project in Cambodia, most are as ignorant as I was about the country’s history and current economic

Photo courtesy of projectcambodiablog.wordpress.com

state. The name is just recognizable enough that you’ve heard of it before, but exotic enough so that it could feasibly be located anywhere in the world.

For starters, Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia right next to Vietnam and Thailand. It’s home to one of UNESCO’s most spectacular world heritage sites called Angkor Wat, which contains the largest religious temple on the planet. The site itself spans around 162 football fields, and it’s where blockbuster movies such as Lara Croft were filmed. Cambodians are so proud of this monument that it’s the symbol on their national flag.

Of course, the class is not just going on a vacation: We’re doing project work such as building shower blocks and maintaining paths. Most people are aware that Cambodia is a developing country, but fewer have any idea why. The great Angkor Wat site is indicative of a once thriving metropolis, and indeed, it’s believed that Cambodia was once home

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World to the largest city in the world. However, political strife within the nation in the past century has left most citizens destitute and starving. In short, a communist party took over the country and their regime saw the destruction of most cultural and historical monuments and the death of all educated citizens. Doctors, writers, teachers, and lawyers all fled the country to avoid execution, so by the end of the communist party reign, there was no one left in the country who was competent enough to maneuver a nation out of extreme poverty. Since then, citizens have been struggling to eke out a living by farming or by working in the new factories that have been built there as of late, but most of the country still faces the reality of not having an education system or any medical assistance.

In Cambodia the Global Perspectives class will be working with a non-profit that teaches young women how to spin and weave silk so they can have a marketable skill to make a living off of. A simple organization such as

“Of course, the class is not just going on a vacation: We’re doing project work such as building shower blocks and maintaining paths.” this one (called the “Stung Treng Women’s Development Centre”) really emphasizes the difference that a proper education can make in someone’s life. The women that work there are able to earn a living wage instead of slaving away at a sweatshop for pennies an hour. As a class, we’ve focused our efforts on communities that provide fair wages for work, as this is a humane way to sustain the lives of many people.

But where do you your donations from bubble tea and samosa sales go? When we build in Cambodia, we have to purchase the materials to build houses ourselves.

Thank you so much for your support! If you’d like to keep posted on our trip while we’re in Cambodia, visit our blog at projectcambodiablog.wordpress.com. 6

I HAVE OPINIONS

Freelancing

Graphic de-signing a contract for zero dollars of payment.

Emily Liang Indentured to InDesign

Consider this: Pepsi redesigned it’s logo in 2008 for $1 million dollars. It’s a simple design, and retains many of the original concepts, yet Pepsi shelled out the cost of approximately 1,739,130 Hostess Twinkies for this image. It would take you 20 months to eat those Twinkies, if you consumed them at a constant rate of 1 Twinkie/30 seconds, and never slept. So why would Pepsi pay 20 Twinkie months for a funny-looking blue and red circle?

Clearly, large companies understand how design is integral to staying alive (Bee Gees, 1977). Without recognizable branding, there is no way that a company like Pepsi would be able to outcompete, say, Coca-Cola (which also has excellent and extensive branding).

Industry standards estimate that professional designers receive at least $62 per hour for commission work, and even higher for fixed price comissions. If the average designer works 25 hours a week (big projects are rare and designers have to set aside time to eat Twinkies), they would make 49 Twinkie days annually.

I’ve spent hours designing posters and logos for friends. The Pinetree Post, not including concept work, requires a full weekend to put together properly. The yearbook alone takes at least 8 combined months to make. Even at 10% of the average designing wage, the sheer volume of design I do should be profitable. So, how much have I earned off of this lucrative work after two years? 52 Twinkie minutes and my name printed in a small, nondescript font. 0

20 WORLD CRUDE OIL CRISIS CRIPPLES ALL

Why the dollar falters

Soon, this entire handful of coins will be worth $10.

It’s not gravity, it’s the economy.

Felix Guo, Nigel Tan Writers

Walking down the aisles of the store and glancing up and down at the price tags, my eyes open wide at the sight. Perhaps I’m getting old, but I cannot help wondering what happened to the good old days?

Sadly, those days are long gone, along with the value of our dollar. On 20 January, the dollar was at its lowest point in decades, slipping down to US$0.68 at 1:00am. This comes as a shock to many, as a large amount of economists had anticipated the drastic drop last summer to rectify itself come autumn. However, the current state of affairs shows little hope: Many analysts project the loonie to keep falling, stabilizing around US$0.59-0.65 and holding until 2018.

This sharp decrease in value has shown its effects everywhere. Just step into any grocer and you’ll see the outrageous cost of food. Electronics giant Apple is also announcing a price hike on products sold in Canada to make up for the lost value in exchange. Cellular service providers Telus, Rogers, and Bell are also following in the Mac manufacturer’s footsteps.

Although many consumers have noticed the disastrous effects of the shrinking purchasing power of our currency, a shockingly low amount actually know why.

A large part of the reason behind our sinking dollar is due to the dropping of oil prices. The biggest problem with having an oil-based currency is that

Photo courtesy of cbc.ca

when crude oil plummets, so do we. In fact, it was just a few weeks ago that crude dipped below $30 a barrel for the first time in more than a decade. This vast plunge in crude oil prices is largely thanks to OPEC, or the Organization of Petrol Exporting Countries, consisting of Middle East nations such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, who have recently been offloading an excess onto the markets. Combined with the increasing American production of shale oil as of late, this has created an oversupply of oil where there is little demand to meet it. OPEC has been aggressively resisting international pressure to cut production, stating that they fear they will lose their market shares should they allow the price of crude to rise again.

Fortunately, OPEC head Abdullah al-Badri has recently made a public statement calling other OPEC nations to reduce overall output in order to combat the stock crisis. The bad side of this is that many OPEC member states are refusing to adhere to this.

Furthermore, al-Badri has also made statements blaming nations outside of OPEC for causing the current oil crisis.

As a major oil exporter, our loonie is highly dependent on the trading value of crude oil. Historical analysis of the past decade shows that the CAD/USD exchange rate is correlated to nearly 78%, meaning that if oil prices do not rise anytime soon, the dollar may see a value starting with a ‘5’ in the very near future. While this may be good for visitors coming from south of the border to do their shopping, for those of us living here, our economy grows closer to the breaking point. 8

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Sports ATH-LATE TO THE PARTY

‘Tis the season

In case you decide to stop reading this newspaper and get exercise.

Jim Goer Guest contributor

The snow has finally melted (not that there was any to begin with) and everybody has finally settled into their daily routines for the second semester – presumably, at least. You know what’d be really useful right now? Fulfilling your new year’s resolution only two months late.

Pick up a racket, a ball that can somewhat roll or bounce, your sneakers, and perhaps a helmet – we all want to live to see another decade, and I at least want to make it long enough to see the day that hover boards can actually hover and not blow up.

There are a variety of sports and teams at Pinetree for you to try! Forget that yearly gym membership you just signed up for (because the regular gym attendees are far too intimidating for the majority of you anyway), and join a sport where other lanky, awkward teenagers just like you can get together and hit a ball around.

But more practically, spring is quickly approaching, and what could be better than a good sweat in the beautiful, bright, sunny weather? You’ll feel less guilty about that last pizza, be able to pretend you’re better than others and, most importantly, have the opportunity to Instagram a pre-workout non-sweaty photo with a #werk. 8

If you enjoy running and want to be prepared to survive a zombie apocalypse, you can still try for track.

Track practices run (get it?) from 4-5pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Soon, there will also be district practices on Tuesdays from 4-5:30pm. For the past month though, the team has only been doing conditioning, so you can bet you’d have some catching up to do.

Under the “Clubs” tab on the school’s website, there is the cross-country club that takes place every morning. A hiking club takes place Thursdays at lunch in room A202, if being outside is something you really need. Finally, table tennis takes place Wednesdays after school in rooms 7/8/9 in the Community Centre.

Although badminton tryouts have just ended, you may be able to find partners for the weekend sessions at the Community Centre if you’re interested – not that there’s such a thing as preparing yourself for tryouts next year.

Also: Racquets = Fly swatting tools.

Golf club posters have been showing up left and right. I’m no Tiger Woods, but it’s definitely an active sport, right?

While wrestling season is over, it’s never too early to start preparing for next year’s equally triumphant and provincial-qualifying season! Literally fighting people is a year-round sport.

Tennis club is set to start after spring break, to make up for all the time you spend being a couch potato.

22 EVENTS FIGHTING EXHAUSTION

The only voluntary all-nighter

The famous Key Club bell.

The key to a good sleepover is not getting any sleep at all.

Jeff Feng, Zhen Zhen Tsai Writers Key Club correspondents

This year, Pinetree Secondary’s Key Club hosted yet another of its annual sleepovers. The event was a major success and, with over 180 attendees, raised an astonishing $1700 for Project Eliminate. Planning the sleepover turned out to be a daunting task, as many obstacles had to be overcome. It was originally slated to be held in mid-December, but had to be postponed to late February due to a lack of available supervision.

Photo courtesy of fvhskeyclub.com

Now, for those inquiring minds - what happened at the event?

There were a variety of fun, interactive games and challenges offered at the sleepover. Pitting competitive teams against each other in contests of physical and mental proficiency, participants played guess that song, balloon relays, rounds of trivia, and many more engaging activities. Involving an intricate point system and a subsequent grand finale of a head-to-head battle between the best teams, the games provided great entertainment for all contestants.

After the games, attendees of the sleepover became the audience of an engaging talent show, where many of Pinetree’s most talented students demonstrated their

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Events skills. From incredible dancing to captivating singing, the show was a truly marvelous display of talent.

Apart from the scheduled games and talent show, participants of the sleepover were also invited to take part in a variety of sports and activities in the community centre gyms. Pinetree’s many athletes engaged in a plethora of available sports throughout the night.

“There were a variety of fun, interactive games and challenges offered at the sleepover. Pitting competitive teams against each other in contests of physical and mental proficiency, participants played guess that song, balloon relays, rounds of trivia, and many more engaging activities.”

As an annual sleepover has become a tradition at Pinetree Secondary, Key Club will definitely attempt to host another one next year. This year’s sleepover ran smoothly without many issues, laying out the standards that we will definitely strive to attain next year. Of course, we will not only try to meet these standards, but we wish to exceed them as well. We hope that we can rely on your help, whether it be suggestions, criticism, or compliments, to ensure that the sleepover next year is even better than this year’s. -8

I HAVE OPINIONS

A zeal for seals

Seals are the supreme marine mammal of all the oceans ever.

Emily Liang Land Animal

All other marine mammals can honestly just go back to whatever underwater grotto they were born out of, because seals take the cake, with their unsuitable-for-holding-things flippers.

Seals, more specifically known as Pinnipeds, are carnivorous, semi-aquatic, finfooted animals closely related to bears. They prefer to live in colder climates, around the northern and southern polar regions, which makes them cool as h*ck already. Seals are made of blubber, fur, and purity. If you think you’ve been lost in the eyes of another person, just wait until you gaze deep at a ringed seal, still half underwater, its liquid eyes brimming with love and also benevolent superiority.

It’s scientifically confirmed that many species of seal eat penguins, but it is under my firm belief that if other marine animals did not respect and bow down to seals, the seals would absolutely destroy them. Whales die on land and contribute nothing to our society; otters are ignorant babies and don’t even have blubber; and dolphins look like wax bananas, as they are the horses of the sea. And everyone knows that horses would betray your family and set fire to your home for a bag of oats. Don’t trust horses.

In conclusions, seals are good. They are as agile as Olympic gymnasts, as deadly as teenage drivers, and as pure as new toasters.

Although they may look like sacks of fat that swim for no reason, seals are soulful and dignified creatures that make other marine mammals look like Party City balloons. 0

24

Events and notices

MARCH MADNESS

Up and coming event coming up

Not related to basketball March Madness (probably).

Calling to all Grade 9 students: March Madness is coming soon!

Sherry Zuo Writer At Pinetree, every student has the opportunity to engage in fun, meaningful activities outside of regular class hours and grade nines are no exception. The Principal’s Advisory Council is currently planning an exciting night specifically for the newest generation of the school’s family tree. This event, called “March Madness”, will include a number of interactive game booths in which participants can win prizes while enjoying a carnival-esque setting that allow for an escape from actual madness - exams and schoolwork.

Although “March Madness” does give grade nines a perfect chance to further interact with others in the same grade, any closet misanthropes can find solace in the free food offered at the event. Did we mention free food? For the benefit of interested grade nines, we at the Pinetree Post have compiled a helpful Q & A.

Photo courtesy of basketballmanitoba.ca

Q: When is the event and who is it for?

A: The event will take place on March 10th, in the Cafeteria from 5-7pm. All grade nines are welcome.

Q: How and where do I sign up?

A: Students can register in the foyer anytime from March 1st until March 9th. March on to the sign-up tables!

Q: Who is the event organized by?

A: March Madness is brought to you by the Grade 9 Council, which meets to plan fun ninth grade activities all year long. The council leaders include: Jeffrey Shen, Anna Ma, Gaby Abdi, Della Hamzah, Ragda Naji, Veron Cheng, Michael Wang, Joshua Tian, Rebecca Liu, and Clara Park.

Q: Will I actually go mad?

A: Yes, from all the fun you’ll be having! No worries though, this hyped-up mental state will only last for the duration of the event. Probably.

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EVENTS AND NOTICES Sunday

Monday

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29

March 2016

Tuesday

Wednesday

1

Spring music concert

Thursday

2

Friday

3

6

7

8

9

13

14

15

16

17

20

21

22

23

24

29

30

31

27

Easter Monday

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Spring break ends

ADVERTISE HERE The Pinetree Post is now selling advertising space for local businesses and club/school events on its website as well as in the print copy. We average about 3000 visits a month to our website and we have a readership the size of Pinetree Secondary-around 1300 students.

The prices for ads are as follows: $10 for a credit card-sized ad $15 for a banner size ad $20 for a half page ad $35 for a full page ad

March Madness

10

Saturday

4

Spring break begins

Good Friday

GP trip leaves for Cambodia

5

11

12

18

19

25

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1

2

YEARBOOK FEES Do you love yourself? Do you love being cool?

Do you attend Pinetree Secondary School?

Then you should cash in to buy a yearbook!

Nowhere else will you find a 256 page, full colour, glossy pull out centre-included, hardcover, high definiton book at a better value than the mere $45 that Pinetree asks for.

Other than great photographs, accurate summations, witty captions, and sleek design, the yearbook is also a valuable visual time capsule for the years to come. If you don’t have a yearbook, how will people write their heartfelt summer goodbyes to you, complete with pen illustrations? Get a form and buy now!

Congratulations! You flipped this newspaper upside down. Have you realized that X88B88 looks like the word “voodoo” reflected horizontally?

Wow!

Sudoku

You can view the solution upside down in ghostly 25% opacity below:

YOUR FAVOURITE PAGE

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Diversions

DIVERSIONS

27 FRESH NEW DIVERSION

Connect the dots