SEPTEMBER 2019

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 1

September 2019

PIN TREE POS MEET THE TEACHERS GET INVOLVED

(IN THE PINETREE POST)

JOIN US AT THE CLUB FAIR!

SEPTEMBER

2 FIRST GLANCE P.3: REMINDER

P.4: SCHOOL

The Pinetree Post

STAFF

FOUNDERS Russell Kim, Felix Guo EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Briana Ho, Raymond Gao ARTICLE EDITOR Briana Ho CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Liu, Noemi Galdamez, Amy Lee, Sophie Zhao, Sunny Liang, Raymond Gao, Chenille Wong, Cindy Liu, Elisa Korner, Tina Cao, Maria Diment, Julia Ye, Jennifer Shui, Harim Chang, Kaleigh Morrow, Zoe Liu, Yoonsik Jung, Eiko Maki, Clover L. Fowlie, Natalie Jiang GRAPHIC DESIGN Katherine Liu ONLINE CONTENT Katherine Liu, Julia Ye SPECIAL THANKS TO The Pinetree Administration, Rachael Pan, Mr. Lau, Ms. Hopkin, Ms. Browne

Get Involved at Club Fair!

P.6: FEATURED

Meet the Teachers

Join Pinetree Post!

P. 10: OTHER

Comic of September

GET INVOLVED IN THE PT POST! Although we at the Pinetree Post try our best to represent the voice of the everyone at Pinetree, we are only a small group of students. To find the most pressing topics and interesting avenues to explore, we rely on input from readers to curate relevant content only. Anyone is welcome to suggest a topic or provide an opinion for Pinetree Post writers and

contributors to look into further. Do you have something to say that needs your voice? The Pinetree Post also welcomes guest content, any time, of any kind. Feel free to submit an article on a topic you are passionate for, a comic you think everyone deserves to see, maybe even a letter to the editor!

You can submit your original content to us at thepinetreepost@gmail.com.

Have a question or a request? Contact us at: facebook.com/thepinetreepost

First Glance

3

4 LIFESTYLE INFORMATIVE

dents, too!), so while we encourage members to contribute every issue, it is not mandatory. However, contributing at least every second issue is what is expected.

BREAKING NEWS!

Q: What if I don’t have time to commit as a full-time member?

Hey You! Briana Ho Editor-in-Chief

Attention writers, photographers, videographers, and graphic designers! The official student-run newspaper of Pinetree Secondary (that’s us!) is hiring once again!

If you picked up this issue, then you are the type of person we’re looking for - curious, intelligent, and ready to get involved.

Q: What is the Pinetree Post?

A: We are the official school newspaper of Pinetree!

Completely student-run, from our writers, photographers, and even our editors-in-chief. Content ranges from current and upcoming school events to comics and opinionated editorials. There’s something for everyone!

Q: When are meetings?

A: Picking up and reading our monthly issues is another way of supporting us! If you’d also like to contribute, our email (thepinetreepost@gmail.com) is always open to guest articles on any topics you feel relate to the student body. If you are planning to submit a guest article, remember to give us a heads up through Facebook/email at the beginning of the month so we can plan to publish your work into the monthly issue!

Q: What if I want to join, but don’t have journalism experience?

A: No worries! While we appreciate prior newspaper experience, we don’t expect it. We teach writers how to use the Associated Press style (and with photographers it’s pretty straightforward). All we require from applicants is that writers can write concisely and skillfully, photographers can take clear photos, etc.

Q: How do I apply?

A: We publish one issue around the end of every month!

A: The online application can be found on our Facebook page (“The Pinetree Post”), or you can find us at Club Fair (Oct. 2-3 at lunch) in the gym to grab a paper copy (hand that into Mr. Lau in A204). All applications are due by Oct. 6 at midnight! Anyone interested can also come to our first meeting on Sept.

27 in A204 for an info and Q&A session. Once all applications are reviewed, we will contact those accepted into the second stage for in-person interviews!

Q: Where can I find your issues?

Q: Where can I ask further questions?

A: Meetings are on Mondays about once a month in A204. Anyone interested in applying can also come to our first meeting on Sept. 27 in A204 for a brief info and Q&A session!

Q: How often do you publish?

A: At the end of the month, keep an eye out for copies of our issue on tops of lockers, at the library desk, or other places in the hallways at school. You can also find the online version on our Facebook page (“The Pinetree Post”), on our issuu.com page (“https://issuu. com/thepinetreepost”), or on our website (“https:// pinetreepost.wordpress.com/”).

Q: If I join PTP, how often will I need to contribute?

A: We understand that life can get busy (we’re stu-

A: You can email questions to thepinetreepost@gmail. com, contact one of our editors-in-chief Raymond Gao or Briana Ho via Facebook Messenger, or find us in person at Club Fair or our first meeting.

See you around, Pinetree!

5

LIFESTYLE INFORMATIVE

More than a “School Newspaper” Pinetree Post Experience Sophie Zhao Writer The first step into a new school year always feels like

a foreign ground. Especially in grade nine, it was the second time since middle school that I walked into the building knowing I was about to start a whole new part of my life. I was not too sure what I wanted my high school experience to be like, and “good” did not seem to be much of a detailed description. Yet, all I knew was that I wanted it to be “good”, which I can now clarify meant taking chances, working hard, and not leaving any regrets behind. What better way to do that than to push myself to try out a few clubs? That train of thought pulled me right into the Pinetree Post (PTP).

I remember the first moment I laid eyes on the PTP poster. It was a hand made of newspaper, and I thought that was the most creative poster I have ever seen. As a writer, I knew that I just had to attend the first meeting of this so-called school newspaper. I remember thinking: “Why not?”. To this day, I cannot be glad enough that I had decided to walk into A204 for the very first PTP meeting and into this club that enhanced my high school life.

The PTP prints an issue of Pinetree Secondary’s official school newspaper every month.

It is the perfect place for writers, artists, designers, and photographers. I first joined the club unsure of what to expect. What would one expect when wanting to contribute to the school newspaper?

Regardless of what I had first imagined, I did not know what writing seemingly simple articles could drag me into. For the past two years, I have

written about school events, social issues, holiday traditions, and many more miscellaneous topics.

Although it may appear that journalism is full of authors scrambling to generate an article by the deadline, I can say that writing for our school newspaper has opened up my high school experience to so much more.

By going out of my comfort zone to write about sports teams I knew nothing about, I was introduced to the energy of Pinetree’s Junior Girls Volleyball team despite not actually being on the team. By choosing to take on an article for an event I wasn’t planning on going to otherwise, I found myself having one of the best times watching Pinetree’s annual Small Ensembles Concert. Even when writing about something like the Chinese Zodiac, I learned that Queen Victoria was born in the year of the rabbit along with Albert Einstein and Zac Efron.

I get as much out of PTP as I put into it.

The more I push myself to write about different topics, the more sides of the school I see and the more I learn about our community and the world.

Letting myself into this seemingly straightforward club has brought me more than I expected a “school newspaper” to be able to. In general, I would say that I am continuing on my way to satisfying my three grade nine goals coming into Pinetree: taking chances, working hard, and not leaving any regrets behind; the Pinetree Post has been, and I know will continue to be, an important part of all three.

6 SCHOOL STUDENTS

Meet the Teachers

The new, and old teachers at Pinetree Elisa Korner Writer, Interviewer The school year is well under way, but how much do we know about the new teachers at Pinetree? Read on to learn a bit about teachers both brand new and returning after time away.

Mr. Hopkins Pinetree Post: What will you be teaching at Pinetree? Why did you choose it?

Mr. Hopkins: I’ll be teaching PHE Nine and English Composition 11 at Pinetree this semester. I chose PHE because I was always someone who was interested in movement and active living, and PHE is a great way for me to pass on my knowledge and passion of how to live a healthy and happy life. I chose English because I love to read.

PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree?

H: I chose Pinetree because of the awesome staff and students here, and the wonderful community environment.

PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

H: I’m looking forwards to coaching the Grade Nine Girls Volleyball team this year at Pinetree. Our first game is September 26th at home, come out and watch!

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

H: I love fishing! If you ever want to talk about fishing, feel free to stop by Portable C! ?

Ms. Olujic Pinetree Post: What will you be teaching at Pinetree? Why did you choose it?

Ms. Olujic: Business Education - it is a natural fit for my background. I worked in various industries before

starting a teaching career.

PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree? What were you doing before?

O: I chose Pinetree because it is a strong, academic school, and it is close to home. It is nice being able to contribute to the community where my family lives.

Before Pinetree, I was teaching in a program for adults: Canadian Workplace Culture for professionals who are newcomers to Canada.

PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

Something you’re nervous about?

O: I am looking forward to the Terry Fox run later this month, [and] very nervous about the mad rush around report cards.

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

O: I speak a handful of different languages in my daily life: Croatian and Brazilian Portuguese, besides English.

PTP: Is there anything else you would like to add?

O: I am also an English teacher - watch your grammar if you enroll in any of my classes :)

Mr. Zhao PTP: What will you be teaching at Pinetree? Why did you choose it?

Mr. Zhao: I’m teaching Mandarin classes and Career Life Education. I would like to promote Chinese culture to students and also help new students from China to adapt to the new environment quickly.

PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree? What were you doing before?

Z: I have worked at Pinetree at three different times, I really enjoy the positive school culture. I was a Permanent Teacher Teaching on Call before with the School District working at different schools.

7

School PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

Something you’re nervous about?

Z: I’m looking forward to spending a wonderful school year with the students and staff. I’m nervous about [whether] all students [will be able to] achieve the level that I want them to after taking my classes, but I’m sure after working hard everyone will improve significantly.

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

Z: I love sneakers! I learned cool and trendy stuff from students!

PTP: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Z: I like travelling, working out, cars[,] and sneakers!

Mr. McMahnon PTP: What will you be teaching at Pinetree? Why did you choose it?

Mr. McMahnon: Teacher-Librarian. [I] chose it because I can contribute to all subjects and get to know all of the students.

PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree? What were you doing before?

M: [I] chose Pinetree because it has a beautiful library and Ms. Ikeda spoke very highly of the students here.

[I] saw it as a wonderful opportunity to step into a fantastic position, set-up through many years of her development. I was teaching English and the librarian at Port Moody Secondary School.

PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

Something you’re nervous about?

M: [I am] looking forward to getting to know all of the new faces and working with the staff and students. [I am] nervous about the same; new situation and there is a lot of new people.

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

M: [I] taught overseas in Macau for two years.

PTP: Is there anything else you would like to add?

M: Only to encourage students to come into the library and introduce themselves to me!

Ms. Perro PTP: What will you be teaching at Pinetree? Why did you choose it?

Ms. Perro: This semester I am teaching Information Technology Nine, English Nine, and Career-Life Education. I really enjoy teaching IT because, since it’s an introductory course, you get to learn a bit of everything! I also have a side business where I do filming and video editing for small local companies, so I absolutely love being able to teach video editing. The reason why I teach English is because I love learning through story-telling. I studied English at SFU and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Fun fact: my focus of study at SFU was medieval literature.

PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree? What were you doing before?

P: This is actually my third time coming back to Pinetree. I have been a teacher here since January 2018, (with the exception of a small break last year where I taught at Heritage Woods). I just like it so much here that I can’t stop coming back.

PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

Something you’re nervous about?

P: I’m really looking forward to coaching the Grade Nine Girls Volleyball team at Pinetree this semester. I’m also nervous for our first few games. Come watch and support us at our home games!

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

P: I love traveling! I have backpacked around 20 different countries.

Mr. Anderson PTP: What will you be teaching at Pinetree?

Mr. Anderson: I am teaching in the EAL department (Beginners and Academic Strategies).

PTP: Why did you choose it?

A: I spent two years teaching in China, so that experience makes EAL a natural fit for me.

PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree?

A: I am a former student of the district and wanted to

8 SCHOOL come back to the area.

PTP: What were you doing before?

A: I was teaching Physical and Health Education and Career Life Education at a BC Offshore school in Foshan, China.

PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

A: I was the Junior Badminton sponsor teacher last year, and I am hoping to continue that this school year.

PTP: Is there something you’re nervous about?

A: Nothing!

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

A: I am a big CFL fan (definitely better than the NFL), and since I’m from Winnipeg, I love cheering for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Ms. Dam PTP: What will you be teaching at Pinetree? Why did you choose it?

Ms. Dam: I will be working with the students in Learning Services and Skills Development. I love teaching and working with students, so I look forward to getting to know and working with all the different characters.

PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree? What were you doing before?

D: I TOC’d for both the Science and Math department at Pinetree before and just fell in love with the staff and the school.

PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

Something you’re nervous about?

D: I look forward to working with all the students and staff at Pinetree. Since this is my first time as a Skills Development teacher, I am both excited and nervous about the role, but so far so good!

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

D: A fun fact about me… I have two Ragdoll cats.

The breed is named after the doll because they go limp

when you pick them up. I take full advantage of this when I’ve had a stressful day. The downside to this is I always seem to still find cat hair on my clothes no matter how many times I’ve used the lint remover.

PTP: Is there anything else you would like to add?

D: Nothing in particular, other than that I am very excited to be back at Pinetree again!

Ms. Mah PTP: What will you be teaching at Pinetree? Why did you choose it?

Ms. Mah: I will be teaching English Composition 10, English Nine, English Language Development 10, and Oral Communication. Teaching English has always been a great passion of mine and I love to share that passion with my students.

PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree? What were you doing before?

M: I decided to work at Pinetree because I was fortunate enough to work here last year. I really loved working with the incredible staff and Pinetree students.

PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

Something you’re nervous about?

M: I am looking forward to learning more about my teaching practice and my students this year. One thing that I’m nervous about is making sure that I do not get lost (again) finding the different classrooms around the school. My PACK this year is in the drama room and I’ve made a wrong turn every time I’ve tried to get there.

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

M: A fun fact about me is that after high school I backpacked around parts of Europe.

PTP: Is there anything else you would like to add?

M: If you see me in the hallways, say hi! :)

Ms. Tam Pinetree Post: What will you be teaching at Pinetree?

Ms. Tam: My name is Ms. Tam and I will be teaching Skill development at Pinetree this year.

School PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree? What were you doing before?

T: Last year I worked at Gleneagle and I taught science and worked in learning services.

PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

Something you’re nervous about?

T: I am excited to get to know more students and teachers and ultimately build more connections at the school, however I am most excited to enjoy the holiday season in December and celebrate with all the students, EAs and teachers in the Skills Centre.

The thing I was most nervous about this year was starting a brand new position at a brand new school, but Pinetree has such a wonderful network of support here that has been super encouraging to me as a new teacher.

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

T: A fun fact about me is, I am half Chinese and half Italian, so I love FOOD! I love to cook and bake, but I am also a big “foodie” and enjoy trying new restaurants, cafes, bakeries and dessert places.

PTP: Is there anything else you would like to add?

T: I am so happy to be at Pinetree and I look forward to an amazing year with amazing students and staff.

Thank you for welcoming me into the school!

Ms. Jafarzadeh Pinetree Post: What will you be teaching at Pinetree?

Ms. Jafarzadeh: I am teaching science and work at Learning center this term and I will be teaching Math and ELL next semester.

PTP: Why did you choose to come to Pinetree?

J: I love working at Pinetree. I was here two years ago and couldn’t wait to come back to such a great school community PTP: What is something you are looking forward to at Pinetree?

J: I look forward to making meaningful connections with staff and students.

PTP: What is a fun fact about you?

J: I love teaching, travelling and learning.

9 Also new to Pinetree this year are Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Campbell, and Ms. Bablitz.

We wish everyone a warm welcome and a great year!

10 OTHER Comic by Amy Lee

Let us know what you think or submit guest content at thepinetreepost@gmail.com Like our page and follow for extra online content at facebook.com/thepinetreepost Visit our online archive at http://pinetreepost. wordpress.com/ or at issuu.com/thepinetreepost