Issue 16: Summer 2016
Nicaragua Trip
West Vancouver Secondary School’s Student Newspaper
By Ellie Willock
In the early hours of the morning, as the
rest of Vancouver slept, eight WVSS students met
at the airport and began the long journey to
Nicaragua. I was lucky enough to be one of
those students. I had found out about the trip
only because at grade eight outdoor school my
activity leader happened to be one of the
teachers organizing it. Our group was comprised
of three boys and five girls, ranging from grades 9
to 12, accompanied by Mr. Johnson and Ms.
Pirbhai. After a total of about eight hours on a
plane, a five-hour layover, and three-hour bus
ride, we finally made it to our resort around one
in the morning.
A few hours later, when the blazing
Central American sun streaming through the
windows of our cabanas woke us up, we were
whisked down to the beach for a surf lesson
before we had even eaten breakfast. This was
basically the nature of the entire trip: while we
did have plenty of time to relax, there was
always something new and interesting we could
be doing. Over the course of the next seven days
we surfed, hiked to the summit of an active
volcano, dug trenches, did yoga on the beach
at sunset, and finished off every day with some
time in the pool and a game of Cards Against
Humanity.
Continued on next page…
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The Highlander Report
Editors
While all of these incredible experiences are
certainly things I will never forget, what
Mona
made
Golmohammadzadeh
connection that was felt both amongst the
Yeji Kim
this
trip
truly
special
was
the
WVSS students, as well as with the locals in
Nicaragua.
Contributors
On the days that we did service work,
Nova Dexter
stalls, we got the opportunity to meet a lot
Joelle Geesing
building the foundation for new market
of the kids who went to the local high
school. The work site was right next to the
Mona
school and many of the students came
Golmohammadzadeh
over during their lunch break to see what
Yeji Kim
Simon Navarrete
Jasmine Saatchi
Hannah Toms
Ellie Willock
Lynette Yu
we were doing. A few of the older boys
even picked up shovels and helped us dig.
It was really heartwarming to see them be
so eager to help total strangers who didn’t
even speak their language. We were also
very lucky to have the opportunity to spend
an afternoon playing with the little kids from
the elementary school. Some of the kids
were as young as three or four years old,
and
they
were
all
so
adorable
and
incredibly friendly. We played soccer and
tag, and gave them lots of piggyback rides;
it was by far my favourite day of the whole
trip.
I’m
so
thankful
that
I
had
the
opportunity to be a part of such an
amazing trip; it truly was a once in a lifetime
experience, as so many of our school trips
are.
The Highlander Report
Wasting Time Efficiently
By: Simon Navarrete
It’s third term. Tests, quizzes and deadlines are flying past you like sand in the wind. Your
Crossgrade is one day, Provincials another, and your science final exam is coming up. But in
the midst of it all, you always seem to be able to see through your packed schedule and find
time to waste time.
You don't know how you do it. I don't know how I do it. But we always, always can do it.
Should we?
The obvious answer is “no.” But what if we’ve developed a system? If there's a clear,
straightforward and efficient way to waste time…
Sounds counterintuitive, I know. But finding time to lose time could be a really useful skill or a
nightmare, all depending on how you handle it. Most would agree that taking breaks is an
important part of any activity, whether it's studying, sports or a Netflix marathon. The thing is,
“break” is a loose term. A break can find itself anywhere between a quick stretch, to a glance
at your phone, or all the way to an entire movie between textbook problems. If your breaks
start taking longer than the activities themselves though, you should let that give you pause.
There's a Spanish saying that goes “descansa poniendo ladrillos” which translates to “rest by
laying bricks.” Personally I’ve never liked this saying, because there is far too much truth to it.
Rest by doing something else, it says; rest by being productive. This may be easier to follow if
you’re a more proactive person, but for the normal people who find this appalling, take a
moment to reconsider. You're still putting your activity aside, but while you do you’re getting
things done! At the end of the day I can guarantee you that you’ll have gotten more done
than if you’d liked that photo. Of course, stopping work to do more work is still not an attractive
prospect, but if you’re going as far as to waste time on schedule, it’s not a big stretch to make.
In fact, you may find that you’ve already started doing it. Alternating between two
assignments, pausing and listing off those verbs you memorised, or spending time reading the
book you need to do a report on means you’ve already figured this out for yourself.
Yes, yes, that is actually not a waste of time. If your heart’s really set on not making progress,
and rest isn’t rest without moving forward, feel free to do what you please. Just make sure you
keep a close eye on your watch.
If you ever find that the clock is moving slower than usual when convenient for you, maybe
reading this wasn’t as fruitless as you thought. A waste of time isn’t always a waste of time.
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The Highlander Report
4
Interview with The Highlander Report Editors:
Mona Golmohammadzadeh & Yeji Kim
How long have you both been in the club for?
Mona: I joined in Grade 10, so this is my third year in the club, but it’s my first year being the leader
and editing the newspaper itself!
Yeji: I joined in Grade 8! This is my fourth year with Highlander Report and second year of editing.
Are you interested in journalism?
Mona: I used to be far more interested in literature and writing in elementary school, but am currently
more interested in science; so I don’t think journalism is in my future, but it has definitely been nice to
explore something that I used to have quite the passion for when I was younger.
Yeji: I want to study journalism after high school. I wanted to follow this path since grade 7, and still
do today.
What genre of books is your favourite?
Mona: I really like science fiction, fantasy, and maybe a bit of horror (while it’s still light outside at
least).
Yeji: I love mystery. Mystery books make me want to solve the case before the ending.
What do you do when you’re not stressing out over deadlines for The Highlander Report:
Mona: I’m taking three sciences this year, so I barely have time for fun! But when I do have some
time, I watch T.V., play some video games, practice the piano, and hang out with friends.
Yeji: I watch Food Channel. Guy Fieri and Alton Brown make my day.
Have you learned anything while leading The Highlander Report:
Mona: Definitely! I’ve developed my teamwork skills, and learned how to really communicate
effectively with others, while working on something as interconnected as a newspaper. I also learned
what it’s like to constantly refresh my email while waiting for an urgent response.
Yeji: Yes, I learn to cooperate with my co-editor and the club members. Reading quickly but
efficiently is also very helpful!
The Highlander Report
Do you have any ideas for the future of this club?
Mona: Since I’m graduating this year, I just hope that Yeji and the other few dedicated members of
this club will be able to continue making the Highlander Report the best that it can be and continue
increasing its popularity. Ideally, I’d like it to become a well-known newspaper!
Do you have any final words?
Mona: Keep on keepin’ on.
Yeji: Do what you love and do it more.
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The Highlander Report
Comic Corner
By: Lynette Yu
1.
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3.
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The Highlander Report
Do It the Puppy Way
By: Joelle Geesing
Who knew the slobber of a pup could reduce
the stress of a test? Finals, the struggle of
remembering everything you learned this year,
and secretly wishing you’d paid a little more
attention to what the teacher was saying
rather than staring at the door. When the time
comes, teachers bestow the test upon your
desk as their final gift to you. You’re rearing up
to dump a year’s worth of information onto this
jewel your teacher has presented you with;
normally in the form of a neatly packed
package of stress. The information is stacked in
your brain like the pancakes at Denny’s but
unlike the sweet Canadian goodness drizzled
upon the starchy fluffs, the stress drenches our
stacks of “pancakes” leaving nothing but its
undesirable sour taste. Mr. Stress-Away might
just hurdle towards you in a fuzzy, barking cape.
Studies have shown that interaction with dogs
reduces 37% of stress levels. The real question is:
why don’t we use these statistics to help solve
the stress struggle of students at our school?
Interaction with dogs would allow students to
become more comfortable with dogs (for those
who aren’t) and help reduce stress! It’s a
double whammy!! If you have no clue what
I’ve been implying these past few sentences
then let me say it straight out, this school needs
a puppy room!
Healthy Food
4
By: Yeji Kim
Healthy food is essential in our lives; it is more
than possible to enjoy eating without having to
constantly check calorie consumption. A meal
that consists of the appropriate portions of
healthy food is not only healthy but also
pleasant. The term “healthy food” often is
associated to a bowl of salad or a heap of
celeries. This false connotation discourages
those who do not like vegetables since veggies
seem to be mandatory for them to stay healthy.
However, this is a false notion. Healthy food can
be delicious! For example, oven baked zucchini
chips are not as greasy as market-bought
potato chips, but retain their tempting flavor.
Although quite simple, thinly sliced cucumbers
in vinegar and sugar are also popular. Not only
are cucumbers nutritious themselves, vinegar
controls blood sugar levels, increases calcium
absorption, and replaces unhealthy fat and
sodium. They are good alternatives to pickles!
Healthy food can be fun and enjoyable!
The Highlander Report
8
5 Years at WVSS
By: Mona Golmohammadzadeh
ko
It was Plato who said that, “Old age has a great sense of calm and freedom” and whether his
words were, in a sense, foretelling the epidemic many refer to as Senioritis, or simply the resolution
that many finally (or hopefully) come to at the end of long struggle, it still seems to hold its own in
this day and age. I’m definitely not as wise or as rational as Plato was, but I’d like to think that
after having spent five years at West Vancouver Secondary, that I’m better set for the future.
Right now I’ve decided to study science at UBC; this means things like lectures, laboratory
experiments and research, are in my near future. But whether that statement will hold any truth in
another five years is something that I’ll just have to wait and see for myself.
I believe that there are three types of high school seniors. There is the first type with people who
are eagerly awaiting the day they graduate since they have had enough of this place; you tend
to find them drudging through the hallways. There’s the second type with people who actually
wholeheartedly enjoy high school, and would stay another year if they could. And finally, there’s
the third type which includes people who aren’t willing to spend another year here, but at the
same time aren’t ready to enter the real world yet; stuck in a sort of limbo, if you will. The third
type in my opinion is definitely the most inconvenient as you’re unable to move on, but at the
same time dislike the place where you’re currently at.
Senioritis, a common trait among high school seniors that causes a loss of motivation that tends
to result in a GPA drop, is well and prevalent at WVSS. It’s easy to spot too as it’s evident by the
glossed over look in the students’ unstable eyes. Teachers tend to refer to this as “zoning out.”
Fortunately, I have not been struck with Senioritis; whether this is because of my habit of over
studying that I have perfected over the years, or because I’m the third type of senior. Being stuck
in a sort of high school limbo, aside from being frustrating, has allowed me to make some
observations that I wish I had made sooner. And this, dear readers, is the part where I will be
making some clichéd remarks.
The Highlander Report
9
Number one would be to have fun while you still can. Don’t let your parents or teachers tell you
otherwise, but grade eight does not matter! Neither does grade nine for that matter. From my
eighteen years of wisdom I can assure you that the only year where your grades actually start to
hold some relevance or deciding factor towards your future, would be grade ten. That’s why you
should enjoy yourself until then! I unfortunately, whether I was aware of this or not, tried extremely
hard all throughout high school, and as such, was slightly burnt out by the time September 2015
rolled around. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling you to go fail your Social Studies 9 course,
but it’s definitely important to understand that essay for your grade nine class will not matter much
in the long run (someone had to tell you eventually). Hopefully this will save you a few hours and
tears.
Number two from the list of observations I have made as a Popcorn
high school senior would be that some
people take themselves too seriously. There will always be that one person who walks around with
their nose so high up in the air that you would think they were trying to catch a whiff of something.
From my experience personally, these are the kind of people who will make you consider edging
towards the open window you may be sitting beside. I’ve sometimes wondered where they get all
of that self-pride from. Is someone feeding it to them? Is it their parents? Just where is that delightful
mixture of arrogance and obnoxiousness coming from? Wherever it is, I would advise you not to
waste your energy on them, as debates concerning even the smallest matters will end up leaving
you frustrated.
Honestly speaking however, grade twelve has been a revolutionary year for me as I’ve made some
great bonds and memories that will hopefully last long after my legacy at this place dies out.
However, it’s important to remember that even if it does come to the point where no one at this
school remembers you anymore, as long as you revisit it and dredge up all of those old memories,
something close to nostalgia is sure to come out.
The Highlander Report
The Breakfast Club
By: Hannah Toms and Nova Dexter
In February WVSS’ Theatre Company staged John
Hughes’ 1985 classic The Breakfast Club. Ms. Hoyak and
the Theatre Company students started meeting after
school in late September to adapt the film’s original
script for the stage. After auditions and casting,
rehearsals began in late October under the direction of
Ms. Hoyak and our student stage managers. From then
until opening night, the cast rehearsed our scenes for
several hours after school in the drama room two or three
days a week, then four days a week, then every day. This
may sound like a big commitment, but the time spent
together in rehearsals couldn’t have been more fun. As
well as memorizing lines, actors had to get under the skin
of our characters and understand our characters’
relationships with the other characters in the play. Ms.
Hoyak was always there to keep us on track and give us
support, advice, and guidance, but she also allowed us
a lot of creative freedom. While the cast was busy
rehearsing scenes, The Cheerios were down the hall
rehearsing their songs. A Gouthro, their singer, put the
band together and led them during rehearsals as they
practised rock hits from the 1980’s to play before the
show and during transitions between scenes, montages,
and the intermission. At the beginning of February the
cast and The Cheerios started rehearsing the show on
the Kay Meek Studio Theatre stage. Ms. Hoyak
decorated our set with vintage posters to bring our
1980’s library to life. The flashback scenes we’d added to
give insight into the home lives of the five main kids were
played out behind a large white screen that covered the
back of the stage, making the actors appear as
silhouettes. At the same time, posters with the actors of
the five kids, recreating the iconic poses on the film’s
original posters, were distributed around the school. Prior
to opening night we had two dress rehearsals. The hair
and make-up team and the great retro costumes put
together by Ani Degirmentas made the cast feel as close
as we ever could to being teenagers in the 1980’s. The
show’s run from the 17th to the 19th of February was a
big success. The cast and crew received much praise
from teachers, peers and family who were very
impressed with all the elements of the production. After
the sold-out closing night we were all heartbroken that
our times of hanging out in the drama room and
backstage were over, but also incredibly proud of what
five months of hard work had accomplished.
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The Highlander Report
11
Sports for Those Who Can’t Sport
By: Jasmine Saatchi
Since the dawn of time we are preached at by teachers and parents to get at least 30
minutes of exercise a day, and for many athletes that seems simple, but what about the ones who
just can’t seem to get sports down? I believe many of you can relate when I say that some of us just
aren’t very gifted when it comes to throwing a football or getting that rebound shot or running
seven laps in twelve minutes. On top of all that, some of us are just too lazy and uninterested to even
give it a shot. Our lack of interest in sports is also greater if you have no hand-eye coordination,
strength, cardio vascular endurance, or skill in any sport required for P.E… This article isn’t meant to
send you on a guilt trip, population you and bowl of ice cream, because I’m here to tell you about
a few unconventional ways to get in your daily dose of exercise without hating every second of it.
Not good at soccer or basketball? Not the best runner or high jumper? There are a lot of other sports
outside of the norms of the P.E. curriculum. Yoga is said to not only help regulate stress levels but
improve muscle strength, flexibility and blood flow. With a number of variations like Acro Yoga,
Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga and many more, it’s easy to find one that best suits you. On top of that
all it requires is a mat and some comfortable, moveable clothes.
Ping pong, otherwise known as table tennis, is a sport enjoyed by many, but what makes it so
popular? Improving both hand-eye coordination and mental alertness as well as burning calories,
ping pong is a sport that feels less like exercise and more like playing around. For those of you who
aren’t into sporty activities, this is a great way to get moving while still having fun.
Martial arts, like taekwondo or Karate, are cool ways of learning self-defence and getting a
good workout. Most clubs have side teams for sparring where you can learn the Olympic sport and
compete in tournaments as well as a demonstration team where you can learn jumps and flips
while break boards. You’re basically a ninja.
The moral of all this is that exercise is important! As much as some of you may hate the idea of
it, keeping fit not only helps physically but also mentally. Exercises is said to release chemicals called
endorphins which interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your percentage of pain. This
chemical also triggers a positive feeling in your body and with school and personal stress; having an
outlet to release all of that negative energy can be very helpful. I implore you to look for more ways
to keep fit and find activities that best suit you and your lifestyle. From jogging to squash, try and see
what works best for you and give it a shot. And who knows? You may end up being good at it!
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The Highlander Report
Easy Summer Dessert Recipe
Berry Shortcakes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 8
Ingredients:
1. 2 pounds of berries (such as raspberries, blueberries, or sliced strawberries)
2. 1/3 of a cup plus 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
3. 1 cup of heavy cream
4. 8 biscuits, store-bought or made from a mix
Directions:
1. In a large bowl, toss the berries and 1/3 cup of the sugar. Let sit for at least 15 minutes
(and up to 4 hours, refrigerated).
2. In a medium bowl, beat the cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar until soft
peaks form.
3. Split the biscuits in half. Spoon the berries and whipped cream on the bottom halves
and sandwich with the tops.
Recipe taken from RealSimple.com