Winter Recap 2024 by vp.pantherpress

2023

winter

recap

issue

Panther Press Team Co-Editors-in-Chief Simone Ghosh Mona Jiang News Board Mariam Hussain Zahraa Jahangir Gloria Chen Jasmine Chen Manal Hussain Cora Tian Ellen Zhang Jeffrey Zhao

Print Development Lucia Kim Winnie Chen Sujay Golla Ayesha Kugaeasan

Teacher Supervisor Mrs. Yulien Life Board Tazmeen Mohsin Ayaa Al-sultany Zaina Khan Thomas Li Shreyaa Subaeasan

Outreach Board Lena Ettibaryan Tina Luo Vidhi Jaju

Editorial Board Lucy Chen Subu Bhattarai Visual Arts Board Emily Shao Feng Cai Michael Luo Alex Tian Sarah Zeng Amy Zhang Web Development Surya Tallapaneni Frank Huang Ivy Co

Table of Contents News Wrapping it Up: Exam Week Stress Breakfast Club Vandalism Athletics at VPCI (Vol. 3) FTC Robotics & its role in VP Science Simplified Highlights of the Winter Concert VP’s December of Giving

Life Apple Cider Vinegar Back on Schedule Ring Ring

Editorial R.F. Kuang Book Review

Cover Art Credit: Mona Jiang

Wrapping It Up: Exam Week Stress By Jasmine Chen The days are long, and the nights are filled with open textbooks and furious notetaking. That’s right, it’s exam season. After completing all their culminating projects, students are thrown into another week of cramming for final exams. With some exams being worth almost 30% of their final mark, one feeling is familiar among students: stress.

With how our semesters are set up, demanding and laboured days at the end of January are unavoidable. Not only do you have culminating projects for nearly every course, but some also include a final exam. These critical assessments and assignments with due dates so closely together can be difficult for most students. The results from this increased workload include varying degrees of panic, anxiety, and distress.

So, what can you do to manage your stress in healthy ways? Well, the first thing you should do if you're distressed about the "what ifs" is to remind yourself that a bad grade isn't the end of the world. Even though grades are vital to academic success, beating yourself up over a less-than-satisfactory grade could be healthier and more productive. Be sure to set realistic expectations for yourself because having unattainable goals can significantly contribute to your stress. If you're overwhelmed by everything, take a step back and breathe. Having short breaks between your study sessions will help you de-stress and refresh your mind when you're reviewing course material.

If you can manage your stress but still feel unprepared for your exams, try changing how you study to be more effective. Instead of going through everything at once, break the content into smaller chunks to make it more digestible. Additionally, creating a schedule for studying can help improve your time management and help you stay on track. Remember to prioritize your tasks based on the importance and difficulty of the subject. If you have trouble with the work, don’t hesitate to ask your teacher for help. It may not seem like it, but they want to see their students succeed just as much as you. Using resources such as textbooks, online materials, and your peers can benefit you greatly while studying. Exam stress is something every student goes through, and everyone handles it differently. Remember that taking care of your mental health is as vital as being academically prepared. Sometimes, it’s not about the destination but instead the friends we made. Good luck!

Photo credit: Emily Shao

Breakfast Club Vandalism By Jeffrey Zhao

The VPCI breakfast club is an integral part of the VPCI community. Every morning, from 8:20 to 8:55 am, all students are welcome to drop by room 121 to grab a nutritious breakfast free of cost. From people whose families are facing food insecurity to those who may have just forgotten to eat breakfast, it's safe to say that the breakfast club has provided many benefits to the students of VPCI. Unfortunately, the breakfast club shut down briefly a few months ago, starting on November 23, 2023. Along with the closure of the breakfast club, PE facilities were shut down, and no spectators were allowed to attend the home games of VPCI sports teams. According to the school, the cause of these closures was that people were vandalizing the boys' changeroom using food from the breakfast club. Based on eyewitness accounts, the vandalism came in the form of spilled chocolate milk and ketchup all over the Gym 1 boys' changeroom. According to a member of VPAC (Victoria Park Athletic Council), "the vandalism of the boys' changeroom was only the trigger for the two-week closure of the breakfast club and athletic events" after repeated acts of vandalism inside the school. An eyewitness account corroborates this, reporting that there was also littering around the breakfast club. When asked if the school knew who the vandals were, they said it knew the identity of "some, not all." Ultimately, the breakfast club and PE facilities were reopened on December 4, 2023, and spectators could watch VPCI home games again. However, the school emphasized that if similar acts were committed in the future, it would not hesitate to adopt similar measures.

Athletics at VPCI Volume 3

By Ellen Zhang

Amidst the storm of exams, holidays, and events, VPCI athletes went strong. From the basketball court to the swimming pool, these determined students dedicated their early mornings and afternoons to improving their form, skill, and teamwork. Their persistence garnered great results thus far in mini-meets, games, and competitions, ultimately leading to city or provincial finals. First, the girls’ volleyball teams played most of their season’s games, and the juniors tied for second place in the East Division by points, having racked up three wins and two losses. They suffered losses to Don Mills and George S Henry early in the season, but the girls quickly found their footing. They triumphed 2-1 in games against Westview Centennial, Downsview, and George Vanier, all in a week. The girls played their hearts out during the quarter-finals versus John Polanyi, and although the season ended at a 23-25 loss on February 5th, they made the Panther jersey proud!

Meanwhile, the senior volleyball players were just as busy. Like the juniors, the senior girls began as underdogs when the season commenced in November. They came back stronger after losing 2-0 to AY Jackson and losing sets to Don Mills and Newtonbrook. At their first home game of the season, they played George S Henry and came out on top. With the home advantage, they continued to rematch Newtonbrook and AY Jackson, winning both games in two sets. Next, the boys’ basketball teams are halfway through their seasons. The junior boys played three games, starting with a 65-35 loss against Sir John A Macdonald. Their second game resulted in a 48-23 loss to AY Jackson. In their most recent match, they came out victorious with 56 points to George Vanier’s 40. The senior boys had similar experiences on the court, with three games under their belt so far. They experienced losses to Sir John A Macdonald, AY Jackson, and George Vanier. Up next, the team is slated to play York Mills.

Beyond the gym, VPCI’s swim team trained diligently, braving early morning practices and cold showers. So far, they participated in mini-meets with several local schools, including Westview Centennial, Northview, and Lawrence Park. Our swimmers performed well in these informal competitions and are optimistic while they prepare for regionals. The aim is to return to OFSAA, which several swim team members attended in 2023. Good luck in the Regional Championships at Markham Pan Am Centre to the Sr. Girls Swim team on February 12th. In other news, the badminton and indoor cricket teams are busy training in preparation for upcoming tournaments. Overall, it’s shaping up to be a great season. We wish all VPCI athletes the best of luck in their competitive endeavours. Go Panthers!

FTC Robotics

and Its Role at VP

By Eshan Kiritharan

FTC Robotics plays a unique role as a club in Victoria Park, from competing to providing a deeper view into the world of mechanics. In addition, it can be an excellent way for students to share their interests in a science field while encouraging them to apply their skills.

Image by: Feng Cai

The robotics club also plays a vital role in Victoria Park by representing the school in various competitions. To better understand FTC Robotics’s role in Victoria Park, we interviewed one of its executive members to get an insider’s perspective on the club and what it does regularly.

Eshan Kiritharan: So, describe what it's like to be a general member of the robotics team. Andrew Li: Being a general member of robotics means that one needs to make the daily commitment of coming to the lab after school. We work on the robot, hang out with friends, and sometimes even cook our own food. It's very fun. Eshan: A big role of your club is competing in robotics competitions. How do these robotics competitions work, and what competitions have taken place? Andrew: Each year, a new game is introduced with a specific challenge. The challenge is to build a robot that can complete a series of tasks within a playing field. This year, the goal was to pick up pixels and put them on a board, shoot a paper airplane, and hang it on a truss. In each round, a task completed gives points, and the team with the most points in the end wins. For our team, we competed at David Mary Thompson and Windsor. Eshan: In the past week or so, you’ve held bake sales to boost your club. How does your club manage its costs, and what does it use its money for? Andrew: Our fundraising team managed the money from the bake sale, and they used it to help register for competitions, buy new materials, fund transportation, and book hotels. Eshan: Is it worth it to be an executive member of FTC Robotics? Andrew: In my opinion, it is worth being an executive at FTC, as we manage and overlook the whole team. We coordinate all the subteams to create the perfect robot, and it is an amazing leadership experience. Eshan: We’re glad to have interviewed you about the FTC and its role in our school. Thank you.

Numerous clubs play a role across Victoria Park by uniting students with common interests, ranging from science, art, technology, and much more. One of these clubs is the FTC Robotics Club, which specializes in designing and crafting robots for a variety of unique

purposes through real-world applications. Victoria Park's FTC Robotics enriches students' understanding of mechanics and engineering and serves as a platform for sharing and cultivating their passion for science.

Science Simplified Quantum Entanglement , Explained by the Science Club Dear Science Enthusiasts, Welcome to the second article of Science Simplified, where we unravel the mysteries of our universe and explore its fascinating applications, all while spitting straight facts. In this issue, we will be exploring the concept of Quantum Entanglement, a fascinating concept that’s fuelling our understanding of space.

Understanding Quantum Entanglement: Can Long Distance Relationships Work Out? What is Quantum Entanglement? Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum physics where particles become interconnected, so one particle's state instantly influences another's state, regardless of distance. Discovered through the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox in 1935, this idea was initially proposed to challenge aspects of quantum mechanics. Experimental support came from physicists like John Bell, who formulated Bell's theorem, leading to Bell test experiments confirming entanglement's predictions over classical physics. In simple terms, Quantum Entanglement reveals that particles can be linked in a way that the properties of one are directly tied to the properties of another, defying classical intuitions and illustrating a fundamental feature of quantum physics.

Quantum Romance: Enduring The Distance In quantum entanglement, the intriguing aspect is that the correlation between particles persists regardless of the distance that separates them, a phenomenon often described as "non-locality." The reason distance doesn't seem to matter in quantum entanglement is rooted in the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. When two particles become entangled, their quantum states become interconnected. These states are described by a mathematical entity known as a joint wavefunction. The entanglement ensures that the properties of each particle are not determined independently but are instead correlated with the properties of the other. The specific details of one particle's state become instantaneously connected to the other, no matter how far apart.

A Thought Experiment To Experimental Proof: How Quantum Entanglement Was Proven

The Clash of Intellectual Pioneers: Navigating the Unease of Probability and Unpredictability The concept of quantum entanglement was first introduced in response to foundational debates within the emerging field of quantum mechanics. In 1935, Albert Einstein, Boris Podolsky, and Nathan Rosen (EPR) published a paper proposing the entanglement concept as part of a thought experiment. Their motivation was to challenge certain aspects of quantum mechanics that they found puzzling. The EPR paradox was conceived as a theoretical scenario involving two entangled particles, highlighting what appeared to be a contradiction between quantum theory and classical intuition. Einstein was motivated by his discomfort with the probabilistic and non-local nature of quantum mechanics, seeking to expose what he saw as potential flaws in the theory. Little did they know that their thought experiment would set the stage for the subsequent development and experimental confirmation of quantum entanglement, marking a transformative chapter in understanding the quantum world.

Nobel Quest: Quantum Entanglement John Clauser, Alain Aspect, and Anton Zeilinger were awarded the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for their pivotal contributions to the field of quantum entanglement. Their pioneering experiments and theoretical work provided conclusive evidence supporting the reality of entanglement, challenging traditional notions of locality in physics. Clauser's groundbreaking Bell inequalities, Aspect's innovative experiments confirming violations of these inequalities, and Zeilinger's advancements in quantum optics collectively solidified the understanding that entangled particles can instantaneously influence each other's states, irrespective of distance. This work expanded our comprehension of the quantum realm and laid the foundation for quantum technologies with profound implications for communication and computation, marking a transformative chapter in the quest for harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics.

Applications of Quantum Entanglement: Why Should We Care? Quantum Entanglement in Quantum Communication: Quantum entanglement is crucial for quantum communication applications, notably in quantum key distribution (QKD). In QKD, entangled particles enable secure communication by detecting any eavesdropping attempts. Disrupting the entanglement during transmission alerts users to potential intrusions, ensuring the security of cryptographic keys. Quantum entanglement is becoming integral to the development of quantum communication networks, offering a quantum-safe alternative for secure data transmission.

Quantum Entanglement in Quantum Computing: Quantum entanglement is a cornerstone of quantum computing, where entangled qubits accelerate computations exponentially compared to classical computers. The interconnected state of entangled qubits allows quantum computers to explore multiple possibilities simultaneously, known as superposition. This property is harnessed in quantum algorithms to solve problems like factorization and optimization that challenge classical computers. Researchers and tech companies actively pursue practical quantum computers, leveraging quantum entanglement to revolutionize computation and problemsolving capabilities.

Highlights of the Winter Concert By Gloria Chen On the morning of Thursday, December 14th, VPCI held an air of anticipation unlike any other. Months of hard work and dedication finally came to fruition– it was the day of the Winter Concert! There would be four performances, with an evening pre-show to add some spice. VPCI’s musical groups were to perform, including the jazz, symphonic, and concert bands. The songs would cover various genres and artists, with modern pop songs like Skyfall by Adele being performed hand-in-hand with classics like Tchaikovsky’s Trepak from The Nutcracker. It was going to be a jam-packed concert– with some notable highlights peppered throughout.

BTS: The Hair Curler Incident Just before the third show was set to start, the musicians at VP made a startling discovery. Jonathan Wang had (inexplicably) brought a hair curler and was curling the hair of an excited and somewhat reckless musician. As more people crowded around to look at what could become a fiery disaster, advice began to flow freely. Tips on how to properly curl hair and how to ensure that nothing was damaged were exchanged. Throughout the rest of the concert, musicians could crowd around the glorious hair curler, ready to either gawk at those getting their hair curled or go through the ordeal themselves. Although the styling qualifications of almost everyone in the room were questionable, techniques were slowly learned, and the smell of burning hair became less prominent. A musical spark may not have been ignited when the Winter Concert finally ended. Instead, the newfound passion to become a hairstylist and the gratification that came from freshly curled hair carried VP’s musicians home.

The Mic Incident Were the microphones at the Winter Concert cursed? The MCS, Thomas and Pearl, had trouble getting them to work throughout the day, but the catastrophe didn’t occur until the evening pre-show. The first two acts– Quinn Wang, performing Polichinelle in F-sharp minor, and Emily Dai and Jasmine Chen, with Carol of the Bells– had played beautifully, starting the evening show without a hitch. However, when the time came for Jonathan Wang and Shirley to sing Love is an Open Door, disaster struck. The microphones refused to work correctly, shutting off at inopportune moments and leaving the stage crew fumbling, the singers thumping the mics desperately trying to get them to work, and the audience mildly hysterical. It was so perfect that in the end, they were invited back onstage for an encore, where Wang let loose his inner theatre kid and added some impromptu choreography into the song. All in all, despite the microphone mishaps, it was a truly spectacular pre-show. To conclude, the Winter Concert was a resounding success. VP’s musicians had outdone themselves, with their strenuous morning rehearsals paying off well. It would be a day remembered not only for its musicality but also for the small, warm moments that strung the concert together.

VP’s December of Giving By Cora Tian December has arrived, and in this wintry month that introduces hardships to some families, two impactful initiatives took center stage by VP’s non-profit clubs. Oxfam orchestrated its third annual food drive, Warmer Winters, while Key Club and World Vision brought forth a clothing drive throughout the month.

Giving of food by Oxfam’s Warmer Winters Oxfam’s Warmer Winters spanned two weeks, aiming to collect non-perishable food items for local food banks. With over 50 student volunteers involved, VP’s school community helped carry out this mission, spreading awareness, organizing donations, and assisting with logistical tasks. Oxfam would also like to thank Ms. Grancaric and Ms.Shaw for their generous food donations every Thursday! Shoutout to the winner and top contributor of Warmer Winters, Mrs.Tregwin’s grade 9 math class with 216 items donated! Fantastic jobs to the runner-ups, Ms. Swanson and Ms. Yeganegi’s classes. The collective effort of giving will be helping families during unwanted hardships.

Image by: Emily Shao

This year, Oxfam’s food drives continue to exceed expectations, with nearly 1,000 donations collected from classrooms. The success of Oxfam’s food drives was the collective efforts of the teacher, the student body, and the club’s driving mission. Oxfam’s Co-President Lucas Fang says, “At its core, Oxfam is all about fighting against inequality - poverty, women’s rights, literacy rates, hunger, you name it. At VP Oxfam, we always strive towards creating a better future on as global of a scale as possible.” Oxfam empowers through action and invites you to join and be involved with their rewarding goals. Fill out the application with the QR code posted around the school and choose to be part of various councils that suit your interests.

Giving of clothes by Key Club and World Vision’s Clothing Drive The collaborative clothing drive organized by VP’s World Vision and Key Club aimed to collect clothes from homerooms to donate to local clothing donation boxes. Both clubs, motivated by charitable principles, unified to create tangible and influential change within the community. Key Club’s Co-President Ahsan Ameer explains the origins of the clothing drive: “Whilst fundraisers are great ways to encourage community involvement, asking those who [can] donate clothing for the less fortunate felt more personal, adding a personable touch to the entire process.” The drive’s impact was significant, with a total of 532 articles of clothing donated and with all VPCI homerooms participating. Amongst the vast participation, Music Class M1 emerged as the winner with 152 total articles of clothing, earning a fantastic pizza party! The efforts of the VP’s homerooms were valued and treasurable; it is no wonder why Key Club’s Co-President, Mohamed Saidi, was spotted stealing from the piles of collected clothes! Nevertheless, moving forward, VP World Vision and Key Club are guided by the motto “Progression, not Perfection” as they continue their commitment to positively changing the Parkwoods community through various endeavours and inviting the school to join in.

Giving warmth and kindness Despite the unique charity approaches of the events, both invited the school community to be a part of community helping. VP’s Oxfam, World Vision, and Key Club opened December with acts of kindness and closed December off by giving out to those in need.

The corpses of his brethren litter the surface Of the saccharine amber bog before him. What drove him this far? Temptation? Vengeance? No, courage. He dives in, unafraid of what lies beneath him. Another victim claimed by apple cider vinegar.

Apple Cider Vinegar By Shreyaa Subaeasan

Ring Ring By Ayaa Al-Sultany Ring Ring Dread lingers as I make my way to work Ring Ring Dawning the noticeable red vest Ring Ring Bell in my hands, shaking it to the same tunes Ring Ring I’ve played Last Christmas more than Wham! Ring Ring Humming jingle bells while my mind rots slowly Ring Ring Hours pass by Ring Ring Observing the public Ring Ring Donations flood through Ring Ring Not a single penny in my pocket Ring Ring Face numbing, smiling for the hundredth time Ring Ring Frigid air nipping at my fingers Ring Ring The creak of the door prominent all day Ring Ring Cacophony of voices lingers in the entrance Ring Ring Small talk with weird strangers Ring Ring Laughing with their weird jokes Ring Ring I can’t wait for Christmas to end Ring Ring So I just have to stand there Ring Ring Ringing my bell Ring Ring

Back on Schedule By Zaina Khan Her hair splays out on the dirty, tiled floor, the strands falling in all directions, each an incomplete river of the deepest chestnut brown. Her face meets the ground, hidden underneath hair that was shoulder length when it was allowed to fall to her shoulders. There’s something about being unconscious that makes the human body so messy. Inevitably, permanently messy. I study the angles of her elbows, which side her palms are turned on, how the limbs overlap, and how gravity compresses her body until it’s as level with the ground as possible. There are places where her clothes have been rumpled and folded by the force of her fall. In the light, it’s clear that most of her body was composed of the length of her legs, long when she was standing up, now bent at perfect Vs at the knee, one resting on the other in a dignified way. Her arms look almost graceful as they circle her head, the tips of the fingers almost curled into her palm. Blood is pooling near her head and grazing her fingers, and she is not afraid of what it touches. Everything is so still; she looks like an artifact belonging to a museum exhibit. Except for the hair. All I can think about is how a portion of the hair will be dripping with the blood, and I’ll have to clean it somehow so that she doesn’t leave a breadcrumb trail to her whereabouts. She’d laugh about that one, how, even in death, she managed to score a point against me. And then I’ll have to hold her head away from my face when I carry her so that her hair won’t brush against my face. But I can avoid all this by tying it up in the first place so that when I put her in the bag, I won’t waste a few seconds shoving it all in so that the zipper doesn’t get caught. If I had the time, I’d shave it all off. And then I remembered that I had no bag to put her in. There’s no portion of ground I’ve marked anywhere to bury her under. There’s no plan. I don’t know what to do with her. I close my eyes and imagine myself half an hour ago when she was still alive. I want to pretend that if I think hard enough, I’ll be able to bring myself back to that time and avoid this whole process. I don’t know what I want to do with her. She’s gone, but her body speaks for itself; it’s clear what I’ve done, and there’s no use thinking about her when I’m left to handle whatever comes after. If only I had kept my temper in check.

She wasn’t terrible, but sometimes, she was just terrible. There were moments where I thought: What if... But everyone thinks those things, and no one means it. And very few people ever find themselves in situations where they not only meant it but have accepted it. In my mind, I’ve already gone through the stages of grief. There’s no panic in me; I have to leave. It was a clean death for me. I can walk out of this room and be an average person again. I put on my winter gloves and dragged her body into the corner of the dark room. I cover the blood with a musty carpet I find rolled up in the supply closet down the hall. I walk upstairs to my office from the empty offices on the basement floors and prepare to leave for the day. George walks down the hall and nods at me as he passes by, “Morgan.” “George,” I say in return with a curt nod. “Morgan,” says Jessica from the office next to mine. She barely looks me in the eyes while speaking with her client over the phone. I grab my satchel, jacket and keys and leave the office leisurely. I drive just a few kilometres below the speed limit on the road. At home, I pack a suitcase. I’m just going on vacation, I tell myself. I get back on the road, ready to decide, as I know I must. All the streets and people blur into my periphery. I can only remember some ad I saw on the side of a bus: Crisis never calls. But you can…

In a pitiful attempt in trying to reach my 2023 Goodreads goal, I decided to pick up three of R. F. Kuang’s bestselling novels: Yellowface, Babel , and The Poppy War . While I did not get to finish all three books, here I’ve compiled my thoughts on what I’ve read so far.

BY LUCY CHEN

Into the World of R. F. Kuang

YELLOWFACE

BABEL: OR THE NECESSITY OF VIOLENCE

Yellowface is told through the lens of June Hayward, an unsuccessful author who, driven by envy, decides to plagiarize the work of her deceased Chinese-American friend. This book is a profoundly satirical, metafictional story of racial diversity in the publishing industry. An issue I have with the book is that every character in Yellowface is unlikeable, making reading less enjoyable. However, I enjoyed the thorough descriptions of the publication process and the coverage of tokenism and plagiarism. This book is going on my rereads shelf!

Babel is set in a grim alternate-reality of the 1830s, in which the use of magical silver bars fuels Britain. At Babel, an institution at Oxford University, scholars capture what is "lost in translation" between words of different languages and derive magic from it. The protagonist is Robin Swift, a halfChinese orphan accepted into Babel. As Robin continues his studies, he becomes more aware of his complicity in aiding British imperialism, thus beginning his moral dilemma. While I haven't finished the book, I find it to be a very compelling read. It's evident from every page that R. F. K. has done thorough research, making the story fluid and realistic even though it has a fantastic premise.

THE POPPY WAR

The Poppy War trilogy by R.F. Kuang is a dark and gripping epic fantasy that takes readers through the brutal realities of war, politics, and power. While I’m still on the first book, I can say with certainty that this trilogy will be a fantastic read. The characters are multi-dimensional, with flaws and virtues that make them compelling, and the world-building is rich and detailed. The plot parallels the Second Sino-Japanese War and has an atmosphere inspired by the Song dynasty. Pick this book up if you’re interested in historical fantasy!