Have you followed all that has happened environmentally since the start of the year? Well, I will remind you of devastating events that occurred worldwide and have affected hundreds of thousands of people. Most of you have probably heard of the Turkey-Syria earthquake. Those countries were not the only ones traumatized by mother nature.
On February 6th, at 4:17 am, Turkish and Syrian citizens were awoken by a real-life nightmare. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 occurred in southern Turkey which was followed by another with a magnitude of 7.5 and more than 1,900 aftershocks. At least 13 million citizens were impacted. “It was bad; my city has been destroyed. My parents, fortunately, didn’t die, but many friends did,” said Aaron from one of the impacted cities. Turkey is earthquake-prone due to its location on the Anatolian, Arabian, and African tectonic plates, which move in opposite directions. A local shop owner said, “We knew that we lived in an earthquake zone. It’s not fate. People are to blame for making weak buildings.” The current death toll is more than 50,000 but is not yet official because experts are still not sure of all the damage caused.
Two weeks later, on February 19th, Sao Paolo was hit with a wave of showers resulting in floods and landslides. An estimated 24 inches of rain fell each day
which continued for multiple weeks. As this coincided with Carnival, festivities were cancelled and a declaration of mourning was issued for 3 days. More than 1,000 people, regular citizens and official rescue teams (firefighters, police, etc), participated in the search for victims. The total death toll is about 60 but more than 4,000 people lost their homes.
In mid-February, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins declared “climate change is real” as floods, cyclones, and earthquakes caused the third-ever national emergency declaration. Tens of thousands of landslides affected over a third of the population and hundreds were evacuated. Earthquakes ranging from 5.7 - 6.3 magnitudes hit the coast which were followed by Cyclone Gabrielle, a storm that brought over 16 inches of rain, resulting in about 11 deaths and thousands still missing.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the globe, over 233 tornadoes struck the US. These events cause economic damage in the millions, as well as the human cost. After 9 fatalities in Alabama and Georgia, President Biden approved disaster declarations. The US has tried to reduce casualties by creating a tornado watch and warning system and public sirens.
Turkey is not the only country devastated by recent earthquakes. On November 21st, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck the mountainous Cianjur region of Indonesia’s Java Island. “Hundreds of aftershocks were felt and hampered recovery efforts,” said one observer. This earthquake was felt as far out as Jakarta. Around 2 million people were affected and many were trapped and swept away in landslides. Around 340 people died and over 2,000 were injured. Many victims were children, as this took place during school hours, as well as the elderly and disabled who were more vulnerable than the men working in the fields. Earthquakes have been frequent in this area due Indonesia’s position on the borders of 3 major tectonic plates.
The regularity and devastation of these natural disasters is cause for concern. Are we heading towards an irreversible trend of climate danger? Are we already there?
Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard of ChatGPT, the generative AI software that has answers to all your questions, responds to any question with an insightful answer in any context, and serves as a head-scratcher for educators around the world who wish to enforce academic integrity. It is safe to say that some of you reading this article have used ChatGPT on an assignment already. Is this a good thing?
ChatGPT was developed by Open AI, a research laboratory with the proclaimed intention of developing friendly AI. The company was founded in 2015 with notable investors being Sam Altman and Elon Musk. Their stated goal is to “advance digital intelligence in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole”. They also claimed to be non-profit. However, this was challenged after Musk left the board in 2018, laying claim that the company had become close-sourced and for profit, diverging from their original commitment.
ChatGPT provides quick and accurate responses to queries, which can be highly beneficial. With the vast amount of information available online, it can be overwhelming and time-consuming to sift through it all oneself. ChatGPT offers a more efficient solution, allowing users to input their question and receive a relevant response in a matter of seconds.
ChatGPT isn’t all fine and dandy though. Its revolutionary process has allowed students to detour from using their own critical thinking and research skills. This can lead to a lack of deep understanding of the subject matter and little personal engagement. It also creates a cul-
by Muen Yinture of plagiarism, where students simply copy and paste answers from ChatGPT into their assignments. This is obviously a massive hindrance to academic honesty.
Furthermore, ChatGPT stands for Chat generative Pretrained Transformer. It has the potential to perpetuate biases and stereotypes that already exist. It is trained on massive amounts of data, and if that data is biased, the AI will perpetuate those biases. For example, if the data contains gender or racial biases, ChatGPT answers will spew back those biases. This can have serious ethical implications, as it can perpetuate discriminatory practices and beliefs.
Another ethical implication is the potential for the software to be used for malicious purposes, such as creating fake news or spreading disinformation. As the software generates highly believable responses, it can be difficult to determine whether the information is true, leading to the spread of inaccuracies and potentially propaganda. The rise of ChatGPT raises questions about the responsibility of companies and individuals dealing with AI. Open AI claims to be committed to advancing digital intelligence in a way that benefits humanity. However, the development and use of ChatGPT call into question whether the company is living up to that commitment.
Hence the referenced Elon Musk statement. As individuals, we must consider our own responsibility when using AI technologies. We must ensure that we use it ethically, in a way that benefits society AND individuals. Are mental shortcuts always in our best interest? In conclusion, while ChatGPT may seem like a revolutionary technology, its negative implications must be addressed. That’s something artificial intelligence cannot do.
Turin’s bustling city streets and commotion make this place seem like the New York of Italy: the crazy drivers, that weird smell that lingers wherever you go, the trash along the streets. But apart from evoking America’s Big Apple (aged by 1000 years) Turin can appear so unique and diverse, with each neighborhood having its distinct history standing proud. From the eye of a photographer, these humble streets can become masterpieces.
Due my newly born career in photography, I’ve been strolling through the centre of Turin passing iconic places such as Mole Antonelliana, Piazza Castello, and Via Roma. Even with the crowds there is always a moment of peace when a perfect image springs up for the taking. It could be a portrait of a city dweller or an abstract idea for a landscape. But any time I set out there is always a good photo hiding around the corner. I’ve come to learn that with photography, you always find the best photos in the most odd places.
Photography is not a solo sport. Each day I come across the rambunctious drivers who seem to have gotten their licenses from a cereal box. But I have also met wonderful people, some who I take portraits of, other like-minded photographers, or just passers-by asking to see the photo I just shot. They
are all kind and respectful, from teens to those in their 70’s. My honest problem with first shooting photos were the people around me. I didn’t want to be stopped by a group of kids who persist for a photo, or from a “Karen” asking why I’m taking a photo of someone’s pet dog. But I can happily say I haven’t had to deal with those people, yet.
Turin is quite a city. Its ancient centre is the most diverse I’ve encountered. And its architecture conjures up so much history…being able to walk for no more than fifteen minutes and greet ex-fascist artifacts to storied structures that our great grandparents lived amongst…it’s a Piemont treasure that still holds the history of past events, even keeping the spoils of war in its architecture. When you stop and take a good look, you will be able to see what makes this city so special and a wonderful place to call home.
It’s time to meet two more WINS student athletes, Belal Attout from grade 8 and Emanuela Appendino from grade 9. Both are passionate about their sport, respectively horse riding and golf. Let’s find out more!
by Hoti MeganBELAL: Since I was young I was impressed by horses and I had this passion of doing horse riding, which eventually turned out into the sport I compete in today. Horse riding is an expression of freedom.
EMANUELA: I like golf because I find it beautiful and it was my passion since I can remember. You also visit many different places for the competitions.
BELAL: When I was really young, I used to go to a friend’s farm and we would drive horses and take care of them. I couldn’t actually ride them since I wasn’t old enough, so I waited. But eventually I started horse riding. My mother does horse riding too, so I was even more inspired.
EMANUELA: Sincerely, I didn’t choose it, but my family did since they all play golf.
BELAL: Since I turned 7
EMANUELA: I have practiced this sport since I was 5 or 6 years old.
BELAL: I think sport is good because it helps with your decisions.
Usually teenagers like me get bored very easily and it may lead them to make wrong decisions. Sport helps clean your mind. Of course it is very important.
EMANUELA: I think sport is good because it helps your health and it allows you to go out and not stay only at home.
IS IT DIFFICULT TO BALANCE SCHOOL AND SPORT?
BELAL: In other schools yes, but here no. WINS provides an athlete program, so if I for example have a competition, they let me go for those days, and the tasks and summatives that were done during that period of time are postponed. The school schedule is very flexible for students like me and it helps a lot.
EMANUELA: No, because there is plenty of time. Over the weekends, I usually try to do most of my home-
work so that I have time for my practice schedule.
HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK YOU PRACTICE THIS SPORT?
BELAL: Everyday expect Mondays
EMANUELA: 6 times a week.
DID YOU WIN SOME COMPETITIONS BEFORE?
BELAL: I do competitions twice a month so yeah, I have won many competitions. In the last competition, I got in the first and fourth place for different skills.
EMANUELA: Yes, I won many, but I can’t really remember them since we go to so many places and everything is so rushed.
Thanks Belal and Emanuela for sharing your stories and showing how it is possible to balance our work with our dreams!
The Personal Project is assigned to 10th grade students following the IB program and consists in writing a report on a topic of interest and creating a final product, visual or digital, to represent the topic. Throughout the 8 month process, students are required to keep track of the progress and changes made to their project through journaling. Every student needs to include 4 main components overall: a report, a product, a process journal, and a written or oral explanation of the product. Students have the opportunity to choose something they’re passionate about while dealing with deadlines, improving their writing and developing self management skills. This project is not directly related to our daily schoolwork. Rather, the Personal Project is PERSONAL! It should be based on goals and interests of you as an individual.
The IB program is about more than just knowledge as it encourages students to have hobbies and cultivate them through deeper research into the field. The IB rewards students who have a passion, which, at the end of the year earns recognition in a more holistic way than a dull essay. Some students even show more interest the Personal Project than their regular academics, as it’s an act of creation that goes beyond traditional grading.
The Personal Project may be your first opportunity to have complete freedom to choose an assignment. This is your chance to be creative, develop old skills and learn new ones, and take action in your community. At WINS, this year’s Grade 10 Personal Projects were all fascinating. For this issue, I picked 5 to focus on:
Angeli Giorgieva: create a dress made completely out of plastic to bring innovation to the fashion industry, while recycling used plastic bags.
Gaetano Comito: create a 3D model of a city and add all the details the city should have, from swimming pools to skyscrapers and gardens filled with trees.
Alessandra Russo: create a radio style podcast episode about Marylin Monroe, her story, why she is still considered an icon to this day and how she changed the world.
by Marta Settanni
Elisa Zhou: research and present the history and meaning of Chinese lanterns while recreating some of these lanterns by hand.
Carlotta Banchi: produce energy from exercise machines by creating a frame with a wheel that will produce kinetic energy that can be stored and transformed into electrical energy thanks to a dynamo that will end up lighting up a lamp.
Sounds like we have some brilliant minds out there… thanks to this project, students can expose them!
This year’s International Day was pushed to the weekend and the turn-out was wonderful! Teachers organized games and, as always, our diverse community of families set up stalls with local cuisine and folklore. The day was marked by its array of flags and national colors, as well as the bright Italian sun. WINS also recently celebrated the Carnival, with the PYP organizing a costume filled parade and cultural games. Enjoy the gallery celebrating both events!
The Last of Us is a franchise that arrived in 2013 as a postapocalyptic adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and released on PS3. Now, a decade later, its series adaptation counterpart has emerged, following the same alluring story-line and gaining as much love as the game.
The story is set after an outbreak of a mind-controlling fungus called Cordyceps that wipes out most of the human population, turning them into ‘The Infected’. It follows a guy named Joel, who is set in charge of smuggling a girl named Ellie across the United States by a highly skilled militia. What began as a task to deliver ‘cargo’ for rewards turned into a multifaceted, complex and enduring story about human connection and the extent people will go to protect their loved ones at the expense of their moral consciousness.
I first played this game with my brother when I was quite young and have been hooked ever since (ask anyone that knows me). One of the main reasons why, apart from the amazing game engineering and characters, was the psychology behind it. We have recently been discussing dystopian worlds in English class, trying to understand how the destruction of one aspect of our world could reveal another aspect of humanity’s true nature. In The Last of Us, aspects of law have been completely removed, meaning morals have been as well. The relativity of morals is explicitly portrayed in this franchise, effec-
tively by making the hero himself a morally flawed character. The franchise challenges boundaries, both in our world and the dystopian world these characters inhabit, showing that taking away a pillar of society as big as law and world order can be decimating. However, it can also show how we reinvent our moral code, what we consider morally-right or wrong. The concept of how flexible morality truly is depending on its societal context has been explored before, and The Last of Us tries to challenge this same idea in the player, or viewer. It brings up a ubiquitous question over and over again: what would YOU do in this situation?
Hopefully we don’t have to face any zombifying fungal infections soon, but it’s interesting to think about what we would do in situations where an aspect of our society is altered, or completely eradicated. Do you think your morals would remain the same, or do you think they’d succumb to the world around you?
If you’re intrigued by the concept of critical dystopias, or just want to be entertained, watch – or play, up to you – The Last of Us. Remember to bring a tissue box along and be careful of the kind of mushrooms you eat, just in case…
Even though we as students do not really take into consideration the value and importance of the syllabus the IB has extrapolated, the system inconspicuously plants seeds that could lead to deeper learning in more than one way. A nice example of this case is a currently assigned graphic novel called “Fun Home” that guides us, the readers, through the upbringing and life of Alison Bechdel with an emphasis on the complex relationship with her father.
The plot of this convoluted text guides us through the complexity of human life while giving the readers a chance to analyze the events and determine their psychological impact. The dominant themes of the book touch on topics like sexual orientation, gender roles, suicide, emotional abuse, dysfunctional families, and the role of literature and art when it comes to self-expression and relatability. Bechdel is able to make her entangled story relatable thanks to her brilliant illustrations, her clever narrative, her dark humor and ultimately her insights into family bonds and human nature.
Repression is a psychological reality we in society are accustomed to, so much so that art is considered as its escape and a necessary outlet for expression. The main characters in Alison Bechdel’s story – herself and her
father, Bruce Bechdel – feel forced to hide a part of themselves from the rest of the world, whether this is an insignificant detail or a colossal and life altering omission. As you might imagine, in this story it is the colossal omission. “Fun Home” exposes the repressed feelings and events in the Bechdel family saga in a safe and reflective way: through art.
The aftermath and consequences of keeping one’s truth locked away do not just take a toll on that person, but that person’s loved ones as well. “Fun Home” explores this dynamic from the first page to the last. It does not play out in chronological order but rather proceeds to show the effect of events before we are even aware of the events. This brilliant tactic opens the work up and per-
mits any reader to dissect the minds of our elaborate characters.
If you are a reader who magically finds free time to deep dive into a new book seeking the thrill of entering a new world, this book is not for you. The adventure, the rush you are seeking won’t be found in the pages of this graphic novel. However, if you find yourself in a perplexing mindset and are trying to understand the conflicted thoughts that keep you up at night, give this novel a glance. It might help. Just remember the old adage to never judge a book by its cover. As a devoted IB student and reader, I recommend this graphic novel as an interesting insight into not only the human mind but also on literary style.
Everyone’s talented. That’s what parents and teachers often say, and it’s true. But not everyone takes their talents seriously. Let’s meet one of them, 11th grader Dahlia Ado-Ibrahim. This is her first year at WINS and she brings much to the table: academic inquisitiveness, appreciation of her cultural heritage, and the urge to create. Why?
Well we asked her, and got this in response:
Self expression is not easy or straightforward. In fact for most of us, finding the right words to describe the right feeling turns out to be a challenging thing, which is why most people use fashion, music, etc. For me, art was always my way of expression. Since I could remember, I always had an inclination to draw whenever I wanted to express myself, whether that be a negative or positive emotion. Over the years my art style has developed, becoming more and more personal. My current art style utilizes aspects considered absurd or ‘foreign’ and turning them into focal points. It’s about finding beauty in the ‘other’, expressing my creativity in a way that is individual. My art is not meant to show perfection and flawlessness. It’s meant to find beauty where normally you wouldn’t think to look. In other words, finding beauty in imperfection. My art has been a way to express how I wish to perceive what I deem as flaws in myself and others.
Students participated in two fairs recently where they could apply laws of science in practical forms: the PYP STEAM Fair, and workshop oriented Science and Technology Day. Both were wild successes, as evidenced in the photo gallery. Thanks to our organizers for their passion and diligence in bringing both events to life!
by Elisa Barbera
To start with, this experience was anything BUT average. However, before I get into how everything went horribly wrong and yet wonderfully right on the day of the Festival del Fumetto, let me explain the event I reference in this article.
For starters, Comicon is a general term for an event related (but not limited) to: comics, books, video games, TV shows, anime, art, movies, etc. The event is held inside a pavilion where there are stalls lined with either handmade or imported products. These products are often tailored for specific groups. There can be figurine stalls, book stalls, poster stalls, etc. Alongside the consumer section, there is always a dedicated area for gamers, with computers, arcade machines, and even a virtual reality section for the bigger events. Lastly, there is a food court section where food vans serve their goodies all day long.
Why attend Comicon? After all, it is expensive, crowded, and doesn’t last very long. Well, here are the main reasons:
• See the cosplayers that attend and take pictures of (or with) your favourite characters.
• Cosplay yourself! Show the world a costume you’re proud of!
• Buy merchandise! In Comicon you can find things that would only be available in niche stores.
• Watch events! Usually there’s a panel with famous creators, a show open to participation. There’s even a wrestling section! The possibilities are endless.
• And lastly, have fun! Comicon is a great way to spend a day with friends and meet new ones, and despite me saying it’s expensive, that’s only if you travel far and buy a lot of tickets (tickets usually cost around 10-20 euros).
Comicon is a large event with attendees ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands! The Festival del Fumetto had around 30,000 attendees. It’s important when going to such large scale events to know proper etiquette. For example: [1] bring a bag you can close;
[2] bring water; [3] ask permission before interacting with cosplayers; [4] take breaks; [5] remember: COSPLAYERS ARE PEOPLE TOO! Don’t touch costumes WITHOUT CONSENT; [6] bring cash and set a budget.
Now, onto my personal saga of the Festival del Fumetto, more commonly known as Novegro comics: I went over to my friend’s house, we’ll call him Fox. Fox let me sleep over at his place as we had to take a train at 9:00am. We hung out, slept, and once woken up, we had to wait for a friend to arrive. We’ll call him Void. He was coming from outside Turin so we could take the train together. He arrived, and we left but almost missed our train due to getting lost. Great start, right? Anyways, after getting on the train, we looked for a four seater as we were all carrying large bags and my fur suit had to be carried by all three of us (one large bag, the tail, and then the head). We managed to find an empty car, but only after we sat down did we realise why. The door seal was broken, letting in cold air and noise for the hour long trip.
After the uncomfortable train ride, we arrived in Milan. Void had supposedly planned everything to go smoothly (spoiler alert: it didn’t). We had two choices: either take the M4 metro line to a station near the convention grounds and walk 10 minutes, or take the M2 and wait for a free shuttle. We didn’t mind walking and figured the M4 was faster. As we arrived at the junction for the “M4”, we realised that not only was it not completed, but the station was under construction and the direction we were meant to head in was not even built. After this predicament, we returned to Milan central station, took the M2 and waited for the shuttle. In this process, I lost a part of my costume. It was not going very well.
After arriving at the convention, we signed in and got ready to change into our cosplays. This is when the WORST part of the trip happened. I felt pain and assumed I just needed to go to the bathroom. Turns out, I had gotten my period JUST AS WE ARRIVED. I was prepared, luckily, and was able to change and relax, but the ordeal was stressful (to put it mildly). I came out of the bathroom and regrouped, whereupon my other friends Ale and Frosty joined us. I started to change into my fur suit and may or may not have scared my friends with how loudly I was expressing my anger at my own body in that moment.
Once in our new identities, we dove deeper into the convention. We split up, me with Ale and Frosty, and Void with Fox to store our stuff in the provided lockers. I had heard there was a section of “furries” and due being one myself, I wanted to meet more! I had only recently met other furries at my last convention (only a handful). Meanwhile there were supposedly a hundred or so attending Novegro! My friends helped me reach the area, where I talked with friends I had met in previous conventions, and made new ones! There was a videographer filming the convention, which I would end up being part of, and there was a ton of people dancing to music. After hanging out in the furry area, we left to go to the central plaza to eat and came across a group of
tactical cosplayers. I asked for photos and for the rest of the convention we hung out with them! We took photos, videos, and had fun interacting with each other through the characters we were cosplaying.
Despite a rough start to the day, Novegro comics was my favourite convention in the history of conventions, and I’ve been attending since 2019. I made tons of new friends and bonded with my closest buddies. I still look back on the pictures of the event and talk to the cosplayers I interacted with on a daily basis. In fact, me and my friends, Fox, Void, Ale, Frosty and some others will all be attending Torino comics in April, all three days, all day long! If you plan on attending, come say hi!
The concept of memorialization is as old as human culture. While it varies significantly from country to country, the central ideas remain the same. Memorialization is an essential step in a grieving process that satisfies the desire to honor those who suffered or died during a conflict. Its practice serves as a means to examine the past and address contemporary issues. Acknowledging those who suffered or died is an essential way for communities to make sense of the human cost of war.
“To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.”
—Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, writer, Nobel Peace Prize winnerIn most countries, public gatherings incorporate memorial services and marches of former soldiers and military officers, which are accompanied by an orchestra and follow the minute of silence. However, January 27th, which we recently observed at WINS, is different. This is the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in which the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz – Birkenau is observed. On this day, people all around the world honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and 11 million other victims of Nazism. More than 75 years after the end of WW2, this memorial is more important than ever.
In November 1938, antisemitism took a violent turn in Germany. Organized groups of Nazis burned hundreds of synagogues, killed almost 2,000 people, and arrested another 30,000 who were later sent to concentration camps. Police had been ordered not to intervene. This was called the Kristallnacht (night of broken glass) and it marked the beginning of the Holocaust, where many citizens became spectators of violence. Several intervened and tried to withstand the atrocity; however, the majority preferred to stay
silent and not hinder the mass murder of innocent people.
The Holocaust is central to Germany’s culture of remembrance. Acknowledging the country’s historical guilt for the crimes committed during World War 2 is a fact of life. 50 years after Kristallnacht, on the site of Berlin’s first synagogue, a memorial was built. The Nazis had used the synagogue as a place to round up Jews for deportation. From here, they were loaded into trucks or forced to walk to the freight train station.
After the war, only 37,000 Jews were left in Germany. Many years later, the push to create a national Holocaust memorial came largely from “within German society” (non-Jewish communities). The country then oversaw one of the most profound memorials in the world: the memorial to the murdered Jews of Europe, by architect Peter Eisenman. In all, 2,711 concrete stelae of different heights were composed to awe visitors into silence and contemplation. “The space resembles a graveyard, a vast cascade of stone markers with no names or engravings on their facade. The ground beneath them dips and rises like waves,” write Clint Smith of The Atlantic. Nevertheless, the way Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial is treated is tricky. Some choose to engage with the sacred space irreverently. Today, it could be argued that “it’s lost its purpose and meaning. Or maybe it never had it.”
Sooner or later, the commemoration of the victims of wars, in particular, victims of Nazi crimes, will have to continue without the people who witnessed the atrocities first-hand. This raises the question: for how long can we meaningfully preserve the memory of past tragic events? Can we keep that memory alive like a flame for future generations or not?
by Masase Tempia
The Ivrea Carnival is the oldest historical carnival of Italy. Its primary rites of medieval origin were handed down orally until 1808. During the event, the community of Ivrea celebrates its capacity for self-determination, recalling an episode of liberation from the tyranny of medieval memory. Best known for the spectacular “Battle of the Oranges”, which unfolds over three days in the city’s main squares, the Carnival of Ivrea features a complicated ceremony that incorporates various eras and culminates in a historical parade.
The star of the show is the Beautiful Mugnaia (Miller’s Daughter), a symbol of freedom and the festival’s heroine since her first appearance in 1858. Alongside her are the General, from the time of Napoleon, who leads the brilliant General Staff. According to legend, it was the heroism of Violetta, a miller’s daughter, which freed the people from tyranny. Rebelling against the “droit du seigneur” that the Marquess insisted upon, Violetta killed him with his own sword. The famous Battle of the Oranges recalls this uprising.
As a sign of their participation in the festival, all citizens and visitors take to the streets from Fat Thursday onwards on the orders of the General, while wearing the classic Berretto Frigio. This red hat, shaped like a stocking, is a symbol of solidarity with the uprising and therefore the pursuit of liber ty, just as it was during the French Revolution. Most significanctly, oranges are
thrown at you if you’re not wearing a red hat, the most recognizable (and messy!) aspect of the festival today.
Our Physical Education teacher, Matteo Battuello, is from Ivrea and has participated in the carnival annually since he was 15. He describes it in this way: “The whole town is transformed and everything becomes magical”. Mr. Battuello is also a member of ‘the aces of spades’, the oldest of the 9 teams that shoot on foot in the main square of the city. His team represents the common people who fight against those in carts who symbolise tyranny. When he was a kid, Mr. Battuello didn’t fully understand the spirit of the carnival, but with time he recognized it as “a celebration of togetherness”. He began to participate as an “arancere”, a carnival participant who throws the oranges, which is not to be taken lightly. Aranceri throw hard, and this makes participants easily susceptible to injuries. However, the worst he’s ever gotten was a black eye, which he says nonchalantly is “a yearly occurrence”.
The traditions involved in the Ivrea Carnival are many, but the most important one is the public display of togetherness that Mr. Battuello refers to. The town literally comes together in its streets and squares and brings history to life by celebrating their birth as a free city. Mr. Battuello wears that civic pride every year in the form of a red hat…and black eye.
If you want to see the sight for yourself then visit Ivrea next carnival, but just remember to wear your Berretto Frigio!
This term was action packed, with Sports Month, GEMS battles, visits to the Bodies exhibit and Risorgimento Museum, Women’s Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day activities, and not to forget our ongoing CLUBS. Here’s a photo gallery capturing the best of these moments.
[In the first chapter, our hero, a typical middle school girl, woke up as “Akane Takana”, the hero of one her favorite Japanese novels. She seems to be stuck in one of her plots. Will she wake up in time to home again?]
The door burst open to reveal…my eyes widened for a split second…wait… what? What is happening? Is this the right book? Wasn’t there supposed to be a zombie? This HAS to be another book! Oh, I must’ve gotten the title wrong…
Interrupting my inner dialogue was a woman in an all-white suit with bodyguards following her.
“Who are you?! What do you want from us?!” someone yelled.
“As mentioned before, you might wonder who we are and what we want. To answer that question, we are an organization to create the perfect humans for society and currently a virus has been found so we are on lockdown.”
Silence. I had yet to process the strange woman’s words. I heard someone say Fujisawa sensei. A master of some kind.
“And how do you plan on doing that?” asked the student beside me.
“First of all,” she said, “we will estab-
lish dormitories, meaning you won’t be able to leave the school until we find a cure to the virus and we will divide the classes based on your performances from A to D.”
Wait. Is this ‘classroom of the elites’ kind of stuff?
“You are to go the the auditorium where you will receive more information on what is currently happening,” she said in her commanding way.
What the heck is happening?!
“Akane! Let’s go!” my friend Izumi said. At least I recognized her.
“Yeah, coming Izumi!”
In the auditorium, we were all assembled and listened obediently.
“To sort you in your new classes,” Fujisawa sensei said, “you will be required to take an exam that will take place in 3 hours. You are allowed to prepare yourselves in any way you wish. Or you could also do nothing. It’s up to you.”
Murmurs were heard everywhere.
“You are allowed to leave now, see you in 3 hours.”
3 hours passed and we completed the strange exam…We’ve never done this! These aren’t even things we are supposed to learn in this grade! What questions!
“Akane,” Izumi interrupted my thoughts once the test was over, “they put our results on the board already; let’s see which class we are in!”
Ok, I guess. Let’s see if we’re in the same class. Wait, what? How did this happen?!
Izumi shouted with joy: “We are in the same class! And it’s class A! Isn’t this amazing?!”
“Yes! Yes!” Now quiet down Izumi. People are looking at us weird.
I sighed. A new guy approached us.
“Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Kaito Ikari,” he said. “Looks like we will be classmates from now on.”
Hm, there aren’t many people in Class A, as compared to the others. We are only 10.
“So—o, what’s your name?” Kaito asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Oh sorry, I’m Akane. Akane Tanaka.”
“Well nice to meet you Tanaka-san.”
“No need for formalities. Just call me Akane.”
“Well, then you can call me Kaito too.”
Fujisawa sensei arrived again, looking even more cool and authoritarian.
“Ok, now that we are here,” she said, “I will personally teach this class. Let’s start with introducing ourselves.”
Ug, I don’t like introducing myself.
a fictional series by Stella ZhouWhat am I supposed to say?
“Akane. It’s your turn!” Izumi whispered.
I stood up nervously.
“Hi everyone, my name is Akane Tanaka but you can call me Akane. Take care of me, hope we can be friends.” I smiled and bowed, then took my seat.
“Ok, do you have questions regarding this class? Why YOU have been chosen?”
“What will we be doing that makes us different from other classes, and why do YOU have to teach us personally?” someone asked.
Fujisawa smiled, clearly amused.
“You will learn that information in the future. Now, I have a question. How do you feel about this class? About being chosen?”
I…honestly I don’t know why I’m here, on so many levels!
“How is that relevant?” snorted a guy next to me.
“Oh Kimura-san, it will be very important in this class actually. Every lesson has a purpose. Let’s start the lesson now.”
We proceeded to do breathing exercises on yoga mats.
What kind of class is this?! All we are doing is meditation and yoga! What kind of ‘ClASsROoM oF tHe EliTes’ is this?
A month passed as so. We did yoga, meditation and emotional control the whole time. Boring stuff.
“Guys, since sensei hasn’t arrived yet, how about we play a game?” said Izumi. “Let’s play a game of truth or dare. Akane, you ask first.”
Oh no, more pressure. I just want to
be left alone!
“Ok, um, Hanako, truth or dare?”
“Truth,” she replied stoically
“Uhm…”
“Just ask a question!” said Kimura, frustrated.
“Uhm…oh, don’t you think class A is weird? I mean don’t you find it weird that all we do is meditation, yoga and emotional control instead of actual classes?”
“Yeah, true I guess. I thought I was the only one who thought that.”
Everyone joined in.
“I think it’s unusual, but I think there must be a reason for them making us do these kinds of activities.”
Suddenly, the lights turned off and the room started shaking uncontrollably. It was a bit chaotic, I just heard voices.
“Everyone, calm down for a second and grab the hand of the person closest to you. Let’s make a roll call!”
“What?”
“Where’s Akira?”
“Wanna know what’s happening?” said a familiar voice.
The lights flicked on and the shaking ceased.
“Akira?” we all said in unison.
She stood up with a glow about her.
“We are becoming supernaturals,” she said mildly.
We looked at her as if she grew another head.
“Akira…are you ok?” I asked in disbelief.
“No, moron. We are becoming supernaturals.”
“You are kidding.”
“Apparently, she’s not,” said Fujisawa sensei, reentering the room. “It’s about time I tell you the true purpose of this class.”
Silence. She took a cup and poured water inside, then touched the water, freezing it instantly.
“Powers.”
“It’s unbelievable but…it’s true,” Akira said. “We’re capable of doing super-human acts.”
“And how do you know?” Hanako asked
Fujisawa sensei interrupted: “Akira was the first one in the class to find her element,” she said.
“Elements? Please explain,” I said utterly confused.
“To put it simply, these powers develop in a situation of stress or intense emotion. Your powers depend on your personality and what you desire most in life. But overusing your powers could make you pass out…even kill you.”
The room became tense and silence was the only thing you could hear.
“This is the true purpose of this class, for you to learn how to use your powers and possibly eliminate the virus with them. People are turning into monsters because of this virus. The world depends on leaders to save them. This is why you are here.”
This is too much…
“It’s time to let the real class begin,” said Fujisawa sensei, smiling sickly at us…
It’s really too much…
World International School of Torino strives to be the new frontier in international education. Our mission is to create a safe and respectful learning environment to support each child in the development of their individual talents by fostering critical thinking from an early age. The truly mul-
ticultural context of our school with its cutting-edge technology and the high standards of its academic programs nurture the intellectual growth of our students helping them to become open-minded, principled, and inquiring citizens of the world.
EDITORS IN CHIEF:
STAFF WRITERS:
Elisa Rossetto
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their Mission can alter the course of history - Mahatma Gandhi
