December 2014 Issue

Monthly Journal for Pinetree Secondary

Dec 2014 | Volume 1 | Issue 2

pinetreepost.com

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

Table of Contents 03

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Russell Kim

11

BATHROOM STICKY NOTES Zohreh Rezaiemanesh

04

WINTER FORMAL Natalia R.

12

GRADE 10 ADVISORY COUNCIL Yoojin Lee

05

ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE Vivian Zhou

13

MICROTRANSITIONS Natalia R.

06

A YEAR IN REVIEW: GAMING 2014 Natalia R.

14

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS Michael Lin, Sam Hong

07

FOOD REVIEW: BELGIAN WAFFLES Laura Chang

15

CONTINUE TO RUN Hannah Im

08

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2014 Youna Lee

16

SPORTS RESULTS Hannah Im

09

CHRISTMAS CONCERT PART 2 Youna Lee

17

GRADE 9 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Hannah Im

10

PINETREE SCIENCE OLYMPICS Jason Piao

18

MACARONS Miguel Oreta, Vivian Wu

11

MODEL UN Moses Lee

19

THINGS I WISH I KNEW IN GR. 9 Dalya Al-Masri Chief Editor Russell Kim

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT pinetreepost.com

Editors Amanda Mitchell James Yoo Vivian Zhou Youna Lee Photography James Yoo Design and IT Felix Guo Jordan Liu

For the latest updates on the Pinetree Post!

2 – Pinetree Post – Dec 2014

Special thanks to Mr. Lau for his invaluable advice and Mr. McCullough for his continuous support.

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

A

s the New Year approaches quickly, I thought that it might be a good time to reflect on what an interesting year we have had so far. First was the Ebola scare, when over 14,000 people in West Africa became infected with the deadly virus. Then came along the mysterious Malaysian Airlines incident, where an entire plane disappeared over the Gulf of Thailand.

(This has led to many conspiracy theories since-the wackier ones include the plane getting shot down by US-Thai fighters, the rapper Pit-bull prophesizing about the disappearance two years ago in his lyrics, and an intricate life insurance scam that was methodically planned out by a passenger on the plane.)

However, among all the events such as the annexation of Crimea and the ISIS tragedies, one held our attention the most-the BC Teacher’s Federation strike.

Missing the last week of school might have been a blessing to some, as final

exams were cancelled, but this was an ominous sign-over the summer, although several meetings were scheduled between Peter Fassbender and Jim Iker, the issue wasn’t resolved until September 18th, almost three weeks after school had originally been slated to start.

Since then, things have calmed down significantly, and student life at Pinetree Secondary is slowly starting to return to normality. Several new programs, such as the fresh fruits and vegetables initiative have made their way into our classrooms to promote healthy eating.

But I feel that December has come very quickly this school year-perhaps it is because of the lockout. In this issue, there is a wide variety of articles to suit everyone’s taste. Making the perfect macaron, playing the ultimate league game, and …. bathroom sticky notes?

I admit, I was as surprised as anyone else would be when I received this article; I had been wondering for days what the sticky notes that everyone seemed to be

talking about (and snapchatting) had meant. It turns out, that they came from an unexpected, but understandable source.

Maybe it’ll set the mood for the rest of the holidays.

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.” – Dr. Seuss

Dec 2014 – Pinetree Post – 3

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

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s of Monday, December 8th, Pinetree Secondary’s Winter Formal was officially postponed to a later date, possibly in January or February. This was due to a tremendous lack in ticket sales, where not even half the ideal goal of over two hundred tickets was reached. It’s disheartening to graduates to find out that school events alone were cancelled, but for it to be special grad events is even worse. In past years, there hasn’t been one case where a grad event was canceled or postponed due to ticket sales, so why is this year different?

It’s important to understand that Pinetree’s Winter Formal isn’t just a dance for students attending, there is a variety of activities set up throughout the school. The graduation council of Pinetree works hard to decorate the foyer and hallways with lots of bright lights, snow, and confetti to really make it an immersive experience for everyone attending. In the last two years, there has been a teacher run casino for students to enjoy varying cards games like poker and black jack, which has turned out to be incredibly popular.

There are even tables set up throughout the halls so student can just sit down and hang out if dancing isn’t their thing; which for many is the case. Pinetree also hires the photography company, Artona, to come and take professional photos for anyone attending, which is free of charge.

Those photos are sent to Mr. McCullough, who will distribute them appropriately so everyone can get a copy. It is these activities that separates Pinetree’s

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Winter Formal from everyone else’s, it’s not just a dance where there is music playing and the hallways are packed with sweaty kids. There are activities for everyone, whether you enjoy dancing, casino games, or just hanging out and taking advantage of the wide range of food (sushi among them!) which will be available.

Although there is such a wide range of

activities to do, this didn’t seem to matter to Pinetree students as only 107 tickets were sold to the event. In contrast, last year’s Winter Formal sold 260 tickets, with 207 of them being graduates, with the other 53 being guests. This year’s senior sail also sold over 300 tickets alone. There has never been an issue with sales in any years prior, provoking the question of what went wrong this year. The ticket price of $35 has also been the same for past years, which may also be a factor.

However it is important to note that Pinetree’s Winter Formal isn’t simply opening up the foyer and playing loud music. Heritage Wood’s Winter Formal

was on the 10th of December earlier, and entry was $10 for a ticket. The reason for such a low ticket price in comparison to Pinetree is only because they simply opened up the hallways, turned on the music, and strung up some lights. They didn’t have the catering that Pinetree has always offered, or the varying activities that we have either.

Pinetree puts a lot of effort into making this night special for everyone attending, which makes the higher price worth it in every aspect.

Those who weren’t going say it was due to a lack of advertising, and Souzan Amin in Grade 12 claims that “…there was not much advertising, so it didn’t really get my attention or get me interested.” as to why she herself didn’t purchase a ticket. Mr. McCullough acknowledges this lack of advertising to students, and unfortunately pushes the responsibility to himself for not being able to get the word out as he normally does due to a two week absence.

However it is unfair for anyone to take sole blame, when there was a medley of implications going wrong with the weeks leading up to Winter Formal.

Whether it is a lack of school spirit, or the lack of advertising, there is nothing to do except wait for the final date, and hopefully purchase your tickets. There will be activities available for everyone, and it will be a night no one wants to miss.

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

There are two sides to every story- while the media portrays Christmas as a festive time of year, the harsh reality is that for many families, it is almost exactly the opposite. Pinetree Secondary holds an annual food drive to alleviate this problem during the holidays, and it brings in hundreds, and even thousands of dollars’ worth of donations in the form of non-perishable food items and in cash every year.

A rivalry between classes has significantly helped the number of donations to the food drive, and it has mysteriously affected Mr. Lin’s class in particular. His class has consistently won first place over the years, surprising both teachers and students of Pinetree.

To unravel the mystery I asked Mr. Lin how his class has been so successful.

“Well, in a way, it just happens to be a tradition every year.” he replied. There has been speculation that Mr. Wong’s class may accept the challenge

considering they have followed behind closely in past years.

It’s important to understand the deeper reasons behind the food drive, other than the obvious one of having a pizza party. Inflation hits hard on families who don’t have much to start with, and in the words of Abhi Dixit, “It’s a great initiative because around this time of year there are numerous sick and homeless people suffering due to cold and lack of food. Donating items helps get rid of hunger and [also] with keeping warm.”

“I guess it’s just important to remember to how fortunate we are and sometimes we don’t even realize it. Which is why it’s great to be able to give back when we can.” said Ivy Huang, a student in Mr. Lin’s math class.

Nutritious non-perishable food items are needed as they can be stored for long periods of time without spoiling.

Examples of this include canned foods, dry pasta, cereal, and many more. Baby foods are an often overlooked item which are just as essential as other foods to families with small children. Keep in mind that expired or opened goods, homemade food, unlabelled cans, perishable items (fruits, meats, vegetables) or gift cards will not be accepted. Items such as bulk packages of flour, or sugar are not be accepted as well, since food banks cannot repackage these for distribution. Donations in the form of money are accepted, and encouraged!

Be sure to bring all donations to your block two class, as to reward the class with the most donations will receive a free pizza lunch. Every dollar is worth four points, with every food item being worth one. Starting from December 1st, all donations will be accepted until the 16th, which is the final deadline date.

Good luck to all classes!

Dec 2014 – Pinetree Post – 5

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

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he year of 2013 brought revolutionary changes to gamers with the Playstation 4 and Xbox One releasing both releasing in November, and the Wii U having been launched the previous year. With the release of the next generation consoles, they changed how everyone would be gaining access to their favourite timeless titles, new titles, and seeing the changes from the previous generation of consoles. However, it is with the past year that varying companies each proved what they could do with the new releases, turning out AAA game titles, and releasing innovative updates. But, some were also met with titles that fell flat throughout the year, which can only be expected.

A console is nothing without solid game titles backing it. Although 2013 was when the majority of next generation consoles were released, it was only until this year were we able to fully comprehend what next generation meant for gamers. With companies like Blizzard finally porting Diablo 3 to consoles, Microsoft releasing the widely anticipated Titanfall and the nostalgiafilled Masterchief Collection, Ubisoft’s

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Assassin’s Creed Unity, and Insomniac Games releasing a brand new title, Sunset Overdrive (exclusive to Xbox One). Among others fantastic games, 2014 was a widely anticipated year for console gamers which did not disappoint.

The past year also showed the capabilities which the Xbox One and Playstation 4 held for gamers, the biggest being incredibly detailed graphics. Looking at comparisons from games in last generation consoles (Playstation 3, and Xbox 360) it shows a massive difference in the game consumers are seeing today.

In contrast, 2014 also brought a lot of shame to gamers, as well. A number of new releases, and newly introduced IP’s both fell flat throughout the year. A recent example would be Destiny, produced by Bungie, which although was not a bad game, certainly brought a lot of disappointment to hyped up gamers from Playstation to Xbox.

Destiny started off strong, offering a Borderland’s first-player shooter vibe, with the open world environment of an

Elder Scroll’s game. However as time went on, players were met with the same weekly dungeons, and tiring raids which offered sub-par gear, often leaving tired players feeling unsatisfied with the hard work they put in. Even then, classes were too similar to make everyone feel uniquely powerful in their own right. The only plus to Destiny was the fast paced player versus player which it offered. In a similar vein, Watchdogs also fell surpassingly flat for some players.

Although it took an original hacker twist to a Grand Theft Auto shell, the plot line was repetitive and the main character Aidan was distant and boring. Among some others, these two stuck out most to many, but with downloadable content, there is hope for even the most flawed games 2014 brought.

For gamers, there was good and bad in 2014. This year it was all about backing up the new generation consoles with solid games to bring lifelong customers in, and 2014 definitely delivered.

However there was also disappointment accompanying this year, but hopefully the good outweighed the bad this year for gamers from consoles to PC.

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

thoroughly fit for a satisfying lunch or shared with a friend. For a more freshtasting waffle, you can enjoy the “Berry Good”, plated with colorfully rich and all-natural strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, for the same price. In addition, there is a separate place on the menu for savory dishes, if that’s what suits your style.

A

s the holiday season approaches, we’re all looking for a cozy, easily-accessible place to sit down and enjoy a hot cup of anything in an attempt to save our fingers from frostbite. Miracle Belgian Waffle is a new addition to Coquitlam, satisfying Pinetree students’ desire for cheap eats.

With prices averaging between $6-9, you can devour a quality waffle, artistically decorated with fruits, chocolate, ice cream, whipped cream, spices, nuts, or any combination of your choice. The process is simple: choose your waffle type (Brussels – light and crispy, or Liege – sweet and soft), then choose your variation. There is a wide range of topped waffles to choose from.

For example, “B&W” is a luxurious Oreothemed waffle topped with freshly whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup and powdered sugar.

Priced at $7.50 (before tax), this waffle is

The store itself is decorated with comforting Christmas lights and ribbons, synchronizing with the soft music, to instill relaxing vibes. Located a couple stores down from Ninja Bubble Tea, it is approximately 10-15 minutes walking distance from Pinetree Secondary.

Miracle Belgian Waffle (778) 285-1004 #160 - 2950 Glen Drive Facebook:

in a conveniently portable box. With flexible hours, you can having a relaxing morning or save your late-night cravings anytime between 10am-11pm (Monday – Thursday, Sunday), and 10ammidnight (Friday and Saturday). If you’re looking to give it a try, head down on December 24th, 25th, and/or 26th to take advantage of a free drink with the purchase of one waffle!

Though it may be a crunch for time during lunch, you can always take it to go!

Its take-out presentation is just as wellappreciated, as it provides you the classiness of the waffle, extra whipped cream, and utensils, all placed carefully

Dec 2014 – Pinetree Post – 7

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

The weather is turning colder and houses are beginning to twinkle with glittering lights as our days shorten and our nights linger.

After nearly three months of preparation and hard work from Pinetree’s music department, the passionate students showcased their progress on December 10th, 2014. The concert was from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, held in the cafeteria which doubles as a stage for concerts and musicals at Pinetree. The concert was packed with parents, friends, and even alumni from Pinetree’s music department.

I had the opportunity to get a word with last year’s music council co-president, Peter Wang, before the start of the concert: "I'm excited to hear all the people I've worked with in the past.

Good luck and have fun!" Peter is a past member of the music department and continues to actively support it by attending concerts at Pinetree. The choir started off the concert with a song from the hit television show Glee called, “Extraordinary Merry Christmas,“ as well as, “Let There Be Peace On Earth” by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson.

Following the beautiful performance by the choir, the grade nine concert band nervously clambered on stage for the first time since their arrival at Pinetree.

Anton Garcia, a grade twelve music student, gave us his thoughts about the nerves evidently present amongst the music students: "Everyone's nervous, but everyone's nerves are easing away as we are closer to actually performing.

The grade nines are really nervous because this is their first concert. I think it'll be pretty good since a lot of people have practiced to perform."

With these encouraging words, Anton described the tightly knit family that the

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music department has become while practicing and creating beautiful music together. They played three Christmas songs called: “Mariner of Fortune” by Mike Hannickel, “Away in a Manger” by James Curnow, and “Wind River Overture” by Bruce Pearson. As expected, the grade nine concert band played terrifically and the audience’s applause echoed throughout the entire school.

The intermediate concert band, consisting of tenth graders, performed “Winter Winds,” “Black Jack March” by John Edmondson, and “Santa’s Fiesta” by Patrick Roszell. In comparison to their performance last year, it was incredible to see the immense amount of improvement. “Black Jack March” included solos from Erin Loo and Eric Jung on trumpet, as well as a feature from Daniel Tan on the snare drum. The intermediate concert band ended its stage time with a flair, setting the mood for the audience and excited the next group to perform.

One of Pinetree’s many music clubs includes the String Orchestra, consisting of a group of motivated students who love to play music. The articulate and resonating sound of string instruments was a stark contrast to the rest of the program.

The String Orchestra president and copresident of the music council, James Yoo, gave us his thoughts about how the concert would turn out to be: "I anticipate that this concert will be a success, showcasing the many talented musicians of the music department."

With these confident words, James led his club on stage and left the audience shocked at the talent and passion that was conveyed through just one piece: “Palladio.”

As the end of the concert drew near, we heard the senior band preparing for their performance of the night. The grade eleven and twelve students sounded comfortable with the idea of performing and even joked around: "It will be my debut solo" boasted James Xiao, a grade twelve student.

Mrs. Carmichael seemed excited to share the music of Pinetree’s most advanced band and we heard the thoughts of a grade eleven student who was new to band this year. Thomas Lee, a new band student who joined the class this year said, "As a beginner, I got encouraged by my tuba section. They helped a lot. They pushed me to master the notes. Mrs. Carmichael tries to organize the whole ensemble as a unit, and how the concert goes smoothly and professionally. I look forward to it." These students are truly a finely tuned group of friends who share the same love of music and support each other.

The Senior Band performed “How Firm Thy Friendship” by James Swearingen, “Acclamation” by James Curnow, and “Canadian Brass Christmas” by Luther Henderson.

The senior band’s performance was inspiring to the younger music students and ended off the night by spreading warm holiday spirit into the hearts of the audience.

After a deafening applause, the concert ended and the clean-up ensued.

I was lucky enough to speak with Mrs. Carmichael about her thoughts about the concert and how she felt about her students’ performances.

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2 "It went really well! I had great expectations, but everybody met them.

They did an outstanding job. I directed the grade nines and I thought they did a great job. So many of the grade nines are beginners with no experience with band before, and they've now shown that they have progressed.

“They've done about a year’s work of learning in about 2 months and they

were really successful on it. Overall with all the bands, a lot of new students started on new instruments and they did a great job. They took on a new job to make the band sound better and they fulfilled the task. I am really happy that the clubs that we have are being directed by students. The strings orchestra is mostly people who are not part of band, and it is still open for newcomers. James

Yoo and Matthew Yep did a great job at directing that. The A cappella club is directed by Lisa Baek and they have members and sounded really good, they are also still open for newcomers.

“Lastly, I am proud of music council, which is led by James Yoo, Lisa Baek, and Marissa Ouyang, for their hard work and dedication to make this concert a success."

Grade 9 Concert Band: 3 Christmas Songs

Grade 10 (Intermediate) Concert Band

String Orchestra: Palladio

Senior Concert Band (Grade 11, 12)

Dec 2014 – Pinetree Post – 9

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

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n November 14, Pinetree was invited to participate in the Eastern League Science Olympics held at New Westminster Secondary.

This competition tested the participants on their knowledge of different areas of science. Pinetree sent one team called “The Timberwolves”, composed of five members - Jason Piao, Jordan Lee, Chance Park, Louis Luo, and Hillman Leung - to compete against 25 teams from schools all over Vancouver.

Teams were given an hour to complete a lab assignment on energy transformation - they were judged on proper lab technique and data/calculation accuracy. They were

10 – Pinetree Post – Dec 2014

then quizzed in the next round on various topics from Chemistry to Quantum Physics in a Jeopardy-like

fashion

to

compete

for

points.

This was Pinetree’s first time competing at the Science Olympics and were the socalled, “under dogs”. However, The Timberwolves with their use of cunning

intellect placed second, falling just a few points short of the victors, New Westminster Secondary. Regardless, Pinetree’s impressive first performance made a lasting impression on the organizers and earned Pinetree an invitation to the next Science Olympics in two months, even allowing Pinetree to send up to five teams!

Continuous placing will earn Pinetree an invitation to the finals held at UBC in June.

Over 50 teams will be participating from schools such as Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, Pacific Academy, and Port Moody. Contact Jason Piao if interested in participating in the next event. Good luck next time!

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

Last week, many students found a pleasant surprise waiting for them in one of the most unlikely places-the washrooms.

More specifically, the mirrors in the bathroom were decorated with a single, rather quirky sticky note that read, “Your clothing game is so strong today”.

Many reacted to the aforementioned sticky note with smiles and awkward laughs, seemingly thinking this would be the end of this small gesture of kindness.

Yet as the days crept by, some of these mirrors slowly evolved from being adorned with one sticky note to more than a dozen as anonymous students pitched in with simple positive sentences such as “You are worth it” to

T

he United Nations is a nongovernmental organization, with delegates from countries all around the world. While most of us may never actually become a delegate, we can simulate the experience in high school. In Model United Nations, members go to conferences all throughout the year debating solutions to problems that the world faces. An important topic that was discussed in recent conferences is Ebola because the outbreak has been expanding. Delegates, representing their respective countries,

“‘Sup, homie?”. English Honours student Alice Zhou reflected upon these random acts of kindness, “It definitely puts a smile on your face and makes you want to do something nice for others as well”.

Other students have also exhibited the same attitude towards the RAK, praising the student who initiated the act.

It may be obvious that random acts of kindness like this can have a significant impact on someone else’s day. As a matter of fact, researchers have found that people who spend money, time and effort on others receive a much greater sense of happiness in return than those who spend it on themselves. Around the school, students also reported feeling

more positive and confident after viewing the sticky notes, and quite disappointed when the notes mysteriously disappeared over the weekend.

will propose resolutions and debate with other delegates that suit their country's best interests. Delegates also belong in various committees which categorize these worldwide issues (Ebola would be categorized into the World Health Organization (WHO) committee). The most well-known committees include: the World Health Organization (WHO), the Disarmament and International Security (DISEC), and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The most recent MUN conference that Pinetree participated in

was ConnectMUN. ConnectMUN was held in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, located in downtown Vancouver. The event lasted for three days and two nights.

Twenty delegates representing Pinetree spent 3 days and 2 nights there, all with positive feedback afterwards. If you are interested in politics, fierce debates, erudition, the United Nations, or you are just looking for a fun club to join, why not try Pinetree MUN? Meetings are held every MUNday at lunch in A102.

Will another random act of kindness occur in the future? We hope so. As for the names of the student or students who contributed to this random act, who knows? All one can hope for is that even more of these selfless acts pop up in Pinetree over time. “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up to make new trees”- Amelia Earhart

Dec 2014 – Pinetree Post – 11

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

Get ready Grade 10's, for a festive celebration on December 18th at Pinetree Secondary! The Frost Festival will have an exciting array of mini team building games such as, "Guess the Christmas Song" and “Gingerbread House Contests”.

The Grade 10 Student advisory council is a student led club which organizes fun student events throughout the school year. Thanks to our principal, Mr. McCullough, Pinetree's students are able to practice building leadership skills.

Our principal understands the importance of allowing students to guide themselves to take responsibility and has become our role models of integrity.

Our original Principal's council had begun when our seniors: Elaine, Lisa, and Janice had risen to the opportunity to exercise their newfound freedoms as

high school students seeking leadership.

The main event last year was a Grade 9 Event day called Battle Royale. Hosting this event for our school was worth the time and effort into planning as it gave our entire group a sense of accomplishment despite our young age.

Last year’s council members had a blast during Battle Royale as they witnessed their friends have fun playing fun with light-hearted quizzes, and party games.

However, we learned through last year’s experience that leadership was not all fun and games. It involved planning dates, buying supplies, and assigning shifts in haste.

Fellow council members such as Rachel Shin and Ina Huang also feel gratitude towards this opportunity to work with the future leaders of Pinetree Secondary School.

"We have so much joy contributing to the school, and connecting with other Grade 10’s. Through providing fun events for our peers, we wish to create wonderful memories for our friends during the Frost Festival. " "Although it is a hassle to create new innovative game ideas, I enjoy being of service to paint banners and sell tickets for our upcoming event,” says council member Eugene Jeong.

As our seniors: Lisa, Elaine, and Janice have introduced us to being leaders of Pinetree, we hope that we can continue their legacy as council members to create a fun while safe school environment for our peers to educate and experience the four most memorable years of their lives.

“‘One can never have enough socks,’ said Dumbledore. ‘Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.’” – J. K. Rowling

“A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.” ― Garrison Keillor

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The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

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o many gamers, the idea of a micro-transaction based game is accompanied with ill feelings. To those who are unaware, a microtransaction is usually offered in a freeto-play based game, where gamers can use their own real money to purchase ingame content; this can be game currency, boosts, or upgrades. In many cases, the games which offers these options are found on mobile apps, such as Clash of the Clans, Candy Crush, and Kim Kardashian’s own mobile game.

The reasons there are such harsh feelings towards micro-transactions is that it feels like a way to cheat through a game, and often these games are hard, if not impossible, to even play without spending your money. However in freeto-play game models (mainly mobile apps), micro-transactions may have a valid place, but what about AAA console and PC titles, such as Battlefield 4, and

more recently Ubisoft’s own Assassin’s Creed Unity, released just this past week?

To many it seems incredibly greedy for a company that is already selling a $60 base game to only to then turn around and ask for more money to unlock certain weapons armour, and chests throughout the world. This idea of micro-transactions becomes an even bigger issue in an example such as Battlefield 4, which was published by Electronic Arts earlier in 2013, where gamers have the option to pay an additional $50 (on top of the $60 for the very game itself) to unlock every weapon and its accompanying upgrades.

This easily creates an unbalance between players who are struggling to work towards those rewards, versus those who were able to buy them and immediately.

games will stop. If various gaming companies have the opportunity to make more money out of the consumers, then why should they stop? Electronic Arts is notoriously famous for releasing incredibly bare base game content to only later release almost required downloadable content. If they are bringing in money due to consumer’s buying into their micro-transactions, then there should be no reason to stop, which may result in such a tactic taking over the gaming world.

This also raises the question of when, and even if the micro transactions in

Dec 2014 – Pinetree Post – 13

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

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s the new patch settles in, the topic “meta” in League of Legends has risen in conversations on forums and message boards. People across the globe are sharing their ideas and methods on how the game should be played. This article is our two cents on how you can take advantage of the new patch and finally climb out of the Bronze III ranking you know you don’t belong to. The biggest change that has come along with the new season is the new jungle.

With Feral Flare removed, (RIP Trick2g) no longer can you “carry” your team with self-centered play as easily in season 4.

The new patch calls for teamwork and tactics that leave the opposing team confused and ‘salty’. However, we are going to go against the odds and revive the one trick ponies and teach you that self-centered play will still yield victory.

With Riot leaning towards skill and decision making more than the champion you select, the champion you choose does not matter instead you can go ahead and hit that random button when it is your turn to pick the champion. Next it is important to fill in your masteries. According to tens of hours of research we have concluded that taking 1/1/28 is the most effective distribution of points, taking biscuiteer

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because you can never go to battle on an empty stomach. Once you have entered the field of justice, it is important you hit F and D to fly and dance and don’t forget to also press Alt + F4 for good luck.

Reconnect back into the game and you will notice you have more than 475 gold, don’t worry though, this is the interest

you have built up since you disconnected from the game. Upon opening the store you will find four new elixirs that can only be purchased after level 9. If you negotiate with the store owner and buy a Mejai’s on the side, he will sell you any elixir of your choice. Be persistent or he won’t be convinced you can handle it.

Now that you are all geared up to take on the opposing team 1 v 6, head to the jungle where your first enemy rests. At the start, the camps may be overwhelming but remember kids, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of

dedicated individuals.” As you quickly gain levels from grinding the camps, your map awareness tells you the enemy team has already infiltrated your base and is destroying the nexus. Don’t avert from the strategy though, keep killing those golems and get ready for the counterattack. Return to your people and purchase a Ghostblade, Tear of Goddess, Thornmail, Tiamat, and two boots of Mobility. The essence of your champion will fend off the fire nation and cause all 9 players to disconnect. From here, all the jungle creeps and minions from both teams will be under your control. You will have complete reign over the map and do whatever you want, start a democratic government, bake some pie, swim in the river, whatever it may be, you can do it because you followed this guide. Now go and be golden.

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

I

n a month we will all be revisiting the Christmas holidays. Winter is certainly beautiful, with white snow covering the trees and the rooftops, and family reunions resounding with laughter and joy. It is truly the most blissful and merry time of the year.

However, winter comes with astonishingly low temperatures, shorter days, and a blanket of snow hugging everything in sight. These side-effects to winter inevitably cause a mood of laziness throughout this season of sweets, food, and habitually staying at home. This mood doesn’t apply to everyone, such as athletes like skiers, snowboarders, hockey players, and other winter sport junkies. But for those of us who find joy in being wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket, imitating happy little burritos… the winter season can be quite harmful to our physical health.

Winter brings back the hardest trial for runners: taking that first step out the

front door to go on a jog when the streets are barren and cold. The Pinetree Cross Country team has faced similar challenges during their last few meets of the season. The heavy rain and icy chill had the athletes under a shadow of laziness and dispirited hearts. Luckily, with Coach Wazny’s uplifting encouragement and admirable guidance, the athletes were able to break free from the spell and head to Mundy Park with regenerated motivation and determination. It is this same excitement and team spirit that enabled the Pinetree Cross Country team to achieve the District Championship trophy last month for the first time in Pinetree history.

It is crucial for athletes to keep working towards their fitness goals and to stay active despite the bitter cold and usual loss of motivation that winter brings.

Sufferers of the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which typically makes

people feel moody and indulge in unhealthy comfort food during winter, are inclined to stay by the fireplace while devouring a bag of Doritos. The most effective way to shake off the “winter blues” is to head outside for a winter run!

Physical exercise is known to release happy endorphins in the brain. This “natural drug” makes people more energetic, awake, and much more willing to consume healthy food rather than unhealthy junk. Relieve stress and improve healthy bone mineral density by getting yourself onto the Coquitlam TransCanada Trail for a long sweaty run!

Improve your body’s oxygen delivery and ability to flesh out toxins by heading over to the Percy Perry Stadium for a cardio workout. After all, winter will soon pass and spring will return with the excitement of Track and Field season!

We hope to see you on the track!

Dec 2014 – Pinetree Post – 15

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

Volleyball Grade 9 Juvenile Girls Volleyball District Championship Results The district championships were held at Riverside on November 17-19 with the top 6 teams from Coquitlam competing for the title of District Champions. As the number 1 seed going into this tournament with a record of 7-0 in league play, Pinetree faced off against Arch Bishop Carney (ranked 4th in league standings) in the semi-finals.

Solid play and contributions from every Team Roster

player had Pinetree sweep the game in three sets with scores of 25-18, 25-22, and 25-20. In the other semi-final, Riverside (3) beat Terry Fox (2). In the finals, Riverside played a really good game. In the first set, they came back from 10-20 to take the first set 24-26 Pinetree fought back with two solid sets (25-17, 25-20) to go ahead 2-1 in a best of five final. Riverside answered with a solid 4th set win (20-25). But, Pinetree’s started the fifth set pumped and took a

2

Chantal Wong

Setter

3

Erica Manalo

Wing Hitter

4

Mariam Nadem

5

Jem Santos

7

Andrea Demeter

9

Shannon Song

10

Emily Liang

11

Sormeh Najafi

Middle

12

Saina Yarzadeh

Wing Hitter

13

Alyssa Lee

14

Mina Michael

16

Nicole Ramsden

18

Christina Co

19

Sophia Lacuna

Middle Wing Hitter Middle Wing Hitter Wing Hitter, Statistician

Wing Hitter, Assistant Captain Wing Hitter (Opposite) Wing Hitter, Captain Wing Hitter Libero

Assistant Coaches: Tianna Stratton Coach: Mr. Lau

16 – Pinetree Post – Dec 2014

commanding 7-1 lead and carrying the play to finish the set off 15-5.

Alyssa Lee received the team All-Star award while Nicole Ramsden was recognized with the tournament Most Valuable Player award. Special thanks go to Tianna Stratton for helping out as assistant coach and to all the administrators, teachers, family and friends who supported the team.

Can’t wait for beach season to start!!!

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

History was made on Thursday, November 20, when the Pinetree grade nine girls’ volleyball team won gold in the district tournament. Alyssa Lee (cocaptain) stated, “Everyone has a few games that they remember, whether they played really bad or really good, but I think as a team, the finals against riverside was one of the most toughest and closest games of the season”.

Nicole Ramsden (co-captain) stated, “The riverside finals went to five sets and it was just so memorable, exciting, and very rewarding because everyone contributed in one way or another and for many of the girls, it was the very first medal they've ever gotten!” This result was the outcome of the team’s dedication and commitment. Alyssa then stated, “(We practiced) around three to four times a week, but a lot of us were always in the gym in the mornings and after school on the days we didn’t have volleyball.” The girls were able to end the season with triumph and a final score of 15-5.

The team bonded as a family with the support of their coach, Mr. Lau. “He's a great coach, knows volleyball very well, and he puts up with us,” exclaimed Nicole.

Alyssa added, “By this point, we have bonded a lot and he is basically our favourite teacher at this school. He knows how to coach us and he makes us work to the best of our abilities.” As the only volleyball team at Pinetree this year, the team was very thankful to have Mr. Lau as the coach and to be able to play volleyball as a team.

“At the end of each game, we do this ritual where we high five each other and twirl in a line,” remarked Nicole. “And Mr. Lau does it too! He’s really nice, but he knows when to be strict during practices,” added Alyssa. It was the positive interactions between the coach and the athletes that helped the athletes succeed.

The grade nine girls volleyball team clearly had a blast while playing against their opponents. “One of the greatest things is seeing how close we have gotten in the short amount of time we have been working together. The improvement as a team in general is also quite amazing,” exclaimed Nicole.

Alyssa added, “Everyone is pretty close with each other, they are all people you are friends with on the court and off the court, and we all share the passion for this sport.” The girls cannot wait to be reunited next year for the next volleyball season.

She concluded, “We’re still a little bit confused on whether we are going to have a junior team or a senior team next year, but either way, we will be training hard and getting ready for next season no matter what happens.” We hope to see great results and more positive energy next season.

Dec 2014 – Pinetree Post – 17

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

M

acarons are sweet meringue cookies, normally sandwiched together by smooth buttercream, rich chocolate ganache, or tart fruit jams. They only require a handful of ingredients to make, namely powdered sugar, almond powder, allpurpose flour, egg whites and food colouring. The ingredients and the process may seem simple, but don’t let these finicky little cookies fool you. It takes around three to four hours to make on your first try, and it goes through several steps that must be executed precisely in order to achieve sweet perfection.

Whisking room temperature egg whites to stiff peaks is the first and most crucial step, as the cookies will come out flat if underbeaten. This can be done with a hand-held mixer or a standing mixer with a whisk attachment, or by using a whisk and beating until the egg whites are opaque and hold their shape. Stiff peaks can also be attained more quickly by slowly adding cream of tartar or white sugar through the whisking process.

After the stiff peaks stage is attained, you must now sift in your dry ingredients in thirds. Sifting is also a vital part of the process, as not sifting could lead to lumpy cookies that look more rustic than professional. After each addition,

18 – Pinetree Post – Dec 2014

the dry ingredients must be folded into the egg whites using about 15 strokes each addition (for a total of about 50 strokes).

cause hollow or cracked cookies. These then need to set for about half an hour before baking, or until a slight crust or shell has formed around the piped circles.

Baking macarons is both challenging and fun. Although you may not get it right the first time, keep a positive mind, a passionate heart, and a hungry stomach to pursue what you wish to accomplish.

Once you grasp the concept, everything will seem much easier. Your tribulations will be rewarded not only by the feeling of pride and success, but by the sweet sensation of perfectly baked macarons.

If the batter is underfolded at this stage, the cookies will not have the little “feet” at the bottom. However, if they are overfolded, they will crack on the top.

This is also a good time to fold in your food colouring, if desired. Gel food colouring is preferred as it does not affect the consistency of the egg whites and gives a more vibrant colour.

After all your ingredients are combined, they need to be piped onto a lined baking sheet to equal sizes, and tapped several times to release any air bubbles that can

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

A

t times high school appears to be the insurmountable step between childhood and adulthood. As this journey is coming to an end, I wish I had known certain things that would have made my high school experience more fun, manageable and beneficial. Now that I am a senior in my last year of high school, I have had the chance to reflect on various decisions I made throughout these years. As a result, I have collected some tips and tricks to making the most out of your high school experience.

Ask for help and learn how to forge relationships with teachers and guidance counselors.

If you have trouble grasping a concept, meet with your teacher after school.

This is why teachers often have ‘office hours’ during which students can see them. Getting comfortable with talking to teachers will help once you get to college. There will be times you need help, and when the time comes, you have to be able to interact with your professors. Being on good terms with them may help you get a job or get into grad school. Of course, your high school teachers will also likely write your college recommendations; it doesn’t hurt to get to know them early so they can have good things to say about you.

Don’t focus too much on popularity.

A lot of people want to be popular in high school, but don’t waste too much time worrying about it. In four years,

everyone will have gone on different paths and no one will care what former image you had or what specific clique you were involved with in high school.

Join a club, team, or activity.

Extracurricular activities are what make your high school experience worthwhile. Being on a team or participating in clubs can lead to unforgettable memories.

However, what if your particular interest isn’t one that is available as a club?

Fortunately, it is relatively easy to start a new club, and Pinetree is a very supportive environment for student involvement.

Clubs are a great outlet for individual student expression. In the process of creating a club or joining one in high school, you may find that a new passion arises.

Nothing is permanent.

Your acceptance to a university is not dependent on that math test you bombed last week. Neither does it depend on your mediocre socials project.

Remember to keep things in perspective, and always have the big picture in sight.

Dec 2014 – Pinetree Post – 19

The Pinetree Post, Volume 1, Issue 2

The Pinetree Post 3000 Pinewood Avenue Coquitlam BC V3B 7Y7

Copyright Š The Pinetree Post 2014, Jordan Liu, Felix Guo, Russell Kim, and all other affiliated with or involved in The Pinetree Post. The Pinetree Post is not responsible for any illnesses or diseases that may be contracted through the reading of this newsletter. To contact us about copyright or content issues, feel free to email us at thepinetreepost@gmail.com

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