Sinclair Secondary, Whitby
Monday, November 7, 2016
Hurricane Matthew
In This Month’s Edition
Art by Morgan K
Hurricanes are a type of tropical
cyclone, usually accompanied by
thunderstorms and a high
circulation of winds near the
Earth’s surface. They are
categorized into five categories,
with Category 5 being the most
hazardous. Hurricane Matthew
formed from a tropical wave that
pushed off the African coast in
late September. Approximately
1000 citizens were killed when the
Category 4 storm slammed into
Haiti, leaving thousands more
homeless. Major parts of the
country are facing a public health
crisis as cholera spreads through
hundreds of rural communities
lacking clean water, food, and
1
shelter. According to the United
Nations, at least 1.4 million people
across the area need assistance
and a total of 2.1 million
individuals have been affected by
the hurricane. The hurricane then
proceeded towards Florida and
North Carolina where it destroyed
more than a million structures.
However, officials still believe
that the hurricane has caused less
damage than expected. It has
temporarily cost about 30,000
retail jobs, mainly in New York
and New Jersey. In total, the
storm has caused about $10 billion
in damage, making this the 22nd
worst storm after World War II.
 Hurricane Matthew
 The Third and Final
Presidential Debate
 University Research Tips
 Fundraising Initiatives at
Sinclair
 Sinclair in the Fall
 Diwali
 Antigone – Fall Show
Review
 The Five Things Sports
Have Taught Us
Hurricane Safety Tips:
 Have proper tools, supplies, and a first
aid kit
 Have plenty of batteries and flashlights
 Always have plenty of non-perishable
food on hand
 Secure exterior objects
 Make sure you have plenty of fuel and
water
 Pay attention to local weather reports on
radio, television, or the internet
 Do not use the phone, or candles
 Remain indoors when the eye moves
over your area because the storm will
resume shortly
 If called to evacuate, do so immediately
Article by Feny Pandya
2
Monday, November 7, 2016
The Third and Final Presidential Debate
The final Presidential Debate between the two major
American candidates for President, Democratic
nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee
Donald Trump, occurred this past Wednesday (October
22, 2016) at the University of Nevada. It was the last
major televised event for both candidates to attract
voters before election day: November 8th, 2016.
Resembling the previous two debates, at Wednesday’s
debate, both candidates spoke with confidence and were
prepared to speak on the stage. However, quite
reminiscent of the previous two debates, both
candidates diplomatically refused to directly answer the
questions they were asked, and often went off on
tangents in order to dodge questions that could
potentially criticize their character. The debate topics
consisted of the Supreme Court, specifically the
political ideology of justice appointees, Guns and the
Second Amendment, abortion law, immigration, the
economy, taxes, fitness to be Commander-in-Chief,
foreign policy and national debt. The debate also
consisted of multiple interruptions by both candidates,
obscene remarks, and multiple instances of using
incorrect facts.
Clinton represents the Democratic Party with centre-left
policies involving free college, increased taxes on the
upper-middle and upper class, and creating 10 million
new jobs, all without raising the national debt. During
Clinton’s speaking time, she spoke about policy,
whereas her opponent Trump spoke about issues which
surrounded policy, but did not contain much substance.
What Trump does get across with his centre-right,
Republican platform is not likely to attract American
voters. Trump has proposed the deportation of 11
million illegal immigrants, bringing back jobs from outsourced nations, lowering taxes for all Americans, and
creating a border wall between the United States and
Mexico. One of Trump’s crude responses to moderator
Chris Wallace’s question regarding immigration and the
U.S.-Mexico border was: “[…] we have some bad
hombres here and we’re going to get them out.”
Trump has repeatedly stated in the past that he believes
the election is rigged against him, and he continues to
publicly state so. At one pivotal point during the debate,
Clinton mentioned that Russian President Vladimir
Putin “[would] rather have a puppet as president”, to
which Trump interrupted with “No puppet. No puppet.
You’re the puppet.” It’s disappointing to see that the
“Greatest Nation on Earth”, with a population of 325
million, has decided that one of these two are the most
fit to be the next President of the United States. This
situation showcases the flaws of America’s two-party
system. It is crucial that anyone with the opportunity to
vote should research all their options before making a
decision.
Article by Nash Ratnani
Photos by Nash Ratnani
3
Monday, November 7, 2016
University Research Tips
It’s that time of year again, when
grade 12 students finally need to
have answers to the “What are you
doing with your life?” questions.
The thought of grades, university
applications and choosing programs
seem better at the back of your head,
but we have to face it sooner than,
later. If flipping through view books
still leaves you uncertain, try these
alternative tips to become more
informed:
 Different schools specialize in
different things. While one
university may be known for its
co-op and job opportunities,
another may be recognized for
research.
When
visiting
universities or looking at
websites, try to get a sense of
what kind of education schools
offer and which one would best
suit you.
 Websites:

Yconic.com is a great site for
finding
scholarships
and
student-based
opinions
on
universities. It offers forums run
by future and current students on
every Canadian university.
 Visit scholarshipscanada.com
for financial opportunities.
 If you prefer the numbers and
facts, universities always have
an “accountability” section on
their website. It provides
detailed statistics like costs of
programs, enrolment, entrance
averages, and number of
graduates, student satisfaction
and
other
performance
indicators. Keep in mind that
these numbers do not mean
everything, and a school with
the best facts and numbers may
not be for you.
 Many companies and workplaces
offer scholarships. Try asking
your parents if they have these
opportunities at their work.
 Don’t forget that university tours
and open houses are another way
to stay informed. You will be
able to see for yourself about
where you will study.
 It is easy to get carried away with
the information dumped on us, so
keep these main factors in mind
when doing your research:
 Whether the school has your
program
 Living and tuition costs
 Local surroundings
 Class size, teacher-student ratio,
and methods of learning
 Grade and course requirements
of programs
 Possible scholarships
Article by Shannon Chakma
Fundraising Initiatives at Sinclair
As Dr. Loretta Scott once said, “We
can’t help everyone, but everyone
can help someone.” Here at Sinclair,
we have had numerous fundraisers
and events where students and
teachers get to become a part of the
“everyone”, mentioned Dr. Scott’s
quote, to help someone else. One of
the events that will give students
that opportunity this year, is the
Inside Ride. On November 15,
Sinclair will be hosting its second
event this year. Students from
around the school have been
challenged to beat last year’s
fundraising total and raise $15,000
for the Coast to Coast Against
Cancer Foundation which will be
organizing the event.
The foundation hosts a year-round
series of Inside Ride events across
the country to raise funds and
support families with children who
have cancer. It is the first cycling
celebration of its kind to be held
indoors in Canada. The foundation
states that “our vision is a world
beyond kids cancer,” and is
Canada’s leading national charity
for childhood cancer. It has
achieved this through ensuring that
100% of receipted donations go
directly towards improving the lives
of the children and families
themselves. Through its sponsors
(including Longos, Telus, and
Cadillac Fairview) and volunteers
who help organize the Inside Ride
events, the Coast to Coast Against
Cancer Foundation has raised
millions to support their cause.
(See more page 4)
Article by Nivaal Rehman
4
Monday, November 7, 2016
Fundraising Initiatives at Sinclair
In order to get involved in this
year’s event at Sinclair, students and
teachers are required to pick up a
team package from the Physical
Education Department’s office,
choose a team of up to six people,
and begin fundraising! Each
member of the team must follow the
instructions indicated on the
package and sign-up through online
at
sinclairfall.theinsideride.com.
The fundraising goal for each team
is at least $300 (or $50 per person).
Members of the team are
encouraged to get out into their
community or speak to their family
and friends when gathering their
donations. This will help spread
awareness about childhood cancer
and get more individuals to support
this great cause. By event day,
students will have the opportunity to
arrive in costumes with their team
and be prepared for an afternoon
filled with a fun and safe indoorcycling challenge for volunteers and
participants. At the end of the event,
prizes will be distributed to the
teams and individuals who raised
the most funds, were the most
spirited, rode the longest distance as
a team, and more.
What makes this year’s Inside Ride
event so special, is that it is
dedicated to a former student of
Sinclair named Andre Booth, who
recently lost his battle against
cancer. Join the Inside Ride to
support the kids around Canada who
are living with and beyond cancer
by signing up with your team. This
is an amazing opportunity to get
involved with a great cause and
have fun. See you in the big gym for
the event, Sinclair!
Article by Nivaal Rehman
Sinclair in the Fall
Photos by Lauryn Downer
5
Monday, November 7, 2016
Diwali
The festival of lights is once again
here! Also known as Diwali, this
auspicious festival will be held on
October 30th by millions of people
worldwide. Diwali is India’s most
important holiday of the year,
causing celebration to be grand.
Lights, colours, and Diyas (candles)
make up part of this five-day
religious festival celebrated by
Indians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and
Hindus. In Southern India, Diwali
celebrates the day that Lord Krishna
defeated the demon Narakasura, but
in other parts of India and in
different
religions,
Diwali
celebrates many other significant
events. In all interpretations of
Diwali, the festival marks victory of
good over evil.
On the first day of Diwali, called
Dhanteras, it is tradition to clean the
house and decorate it with lights and
Rangoli (colourful floor patterns
using colored rice or powder). It is
also tradition to buy gold or kitchen
utensils. On the second day, called
Naraka Chaturdasi, small religious
rituals are held in temples, along
with women decorating their hands
with henna. The third day is the
main day of the festivities in Diwali.
Before evening approaches, people
wear their finest clothes and jewelry
in preparation for the festivities to
come. Then, all the candles are lit
throughout the house and prayers
are offered to Lakshmi, one of the
goddesses of wealth. The rest of the
night is filled with visitations to
family and friends, exchanging
sweets, and fireworks. The fourth
day of Diwali, called Balipratipada,
marks the beginning of the New
Year in the Vikram calendar. The
last day of Diwali, called Bhai dooj,
is a day that celebrates the bonding
of siblings, specifically brothersister relationships. The day is filled
with visitations with siblings and
family. Diwali is a very important
and blessed time of year for all those
celebrating.
Sinclair
wishes
everyone celebrating a very happy
Diwali!
Article by Ayesha Khan
Antigone - Fall Show Review
Students across the grades have
been working hard on this year's
fall show, the Greek tragedy of
Antigone. Grade 11 student Emma
plays
the
courageous
and
headstrong Antigone in this play.
The show ties to the modern day
issues of feminism and male
dominance, showing the effects in
an old story and how they
intertwine with today's society.
While the plot is heavier than most
Sinclair shows, it is one you don't
want to miss. This piece follows
Antigone's fight for the right to
properly bury her brother, who she
sees as an enemy, which is a very
important traditional Greek practice.
This fight is carried through with the
powerful and stubborn Creon
(played by grade 11 student Matt)
who opposes Antigone's opinion.
Antigone is the first Sinclair show
to include a chorus that progresses
with the story, serving as a nice
change from the usual role that the
chorus has played in the past. This
tragedy is an "empowering and
controversial show that focuses on
more serious subjects", as said by
grade 12 student Miranda. The cast
is excited to bring a very fresh and
new type of play to the Sinclair
stage. Topics in the play will make
for a fantastic show, so support
Sinclair Theatre at the end of
November by coming out to see
Antigone!
Article by Alessandra Boodle
6
Monday, November 7, 2016
The Five Things Sports Have Taught Us
The “Never” Factor
In sports, there is a lot of
competition and the objective is
often to win. However, one does not
always succeed or get the desired
outcome. There are games where
you play horribly, where you are
scored on in the last seconds of
overtime, or, in certain cases, where
you lose by a landslide. At the end
of such games, the feeling of defeat
and hopelessness swallows you
whole. It is in such situations that
the great lesson of never giving up
and never giving in comes in. If you
give up, will you ever win? If you
stop trying, will that help you win
that MVP award? If you lose hope
and stop perceiving, will you reach
your goal? It may seem that in your
worst games giving up sounds like a
great solution, but if you take a step
back and think; “Will giving up
actually stop me from feeling sad or
will it solve anything at all?”
Simply put, it most definitely will
not. So as a famous quote says “The
most critical decision is made when
you’re about to give up”. I suggest
you think twice.
The “Win the Quarter, Win the
Game” Mentality
Sports games are divided usually
into intervals, whether it is periods,
halves or quarters. Many believe
this is done for the sake of giving a
break to the athletes and allowing
them to regain energy. However,
there I have an alternative
explanation.
If games are broken up into smaller
fragments, the game as a whole does
not seem so intimidating and
frightening anymore. It becomes in
other words, more manageable. In
basketball, players can focus on the
12 minutes in front of them and by
breaking it up; they can see that they
only need to take it one play at a
time instead of facing the 48 minutes
head on. LeBron James, a famous
basketball player, said this phrase of
“win the quarter, win the game”, and
it is important to note that he came
back from a 3-1 series in the NBA
Finals,
something
no
other
basketball team had ever done
before. Likewise, in life, when
individuals break up intimidating
projects into smaller pieces, they see
that they are able to accomplish
tasks with much more ease. This
applies to a variety of situations. In
school, students fixate on how many
unit tests they must write, instead of
taking them one at a time. In work,
employers are often feeling
overwhelmed with the multitude of
tasks they must accomplish by a
certain deadline. Taking big projects
task by task will minimize the
overwhelming feeling that takes
over many people. Just take life one
quarter at a time.
Art by Sameer Abas
The Iceberg
For anyone who has ever spent
hours in the gym or at practice, this
is a lesson you may know very well.
For any successful game, there have
an unbelievable number of hours of
hard work. For any trick shot, there
have been millions of attempts in
practice. For any improvement,
there
has
been
endless
determination and effort. From an
earlier age, in sports teams, we learn
that practice makes perfect.
(See more page 7)
Article by Neeloufar Grami
7
Monday, November 7, 2016
The Five Things Sports Have Taught Us
It is only as we get older that we
realize how much practice is
required. It is not just an extra 10
minutes here and there. It is waking
up at 5:00am to practice drills or
staying hours after practice
perfecting techniques. It is all the
blood, sweat and tears that no one
sees that become your solid
foundation for success. Like an
iceberg, others only notice the small
piece of ice exiting the water; never
the masses of ice below the surface.
Sports teach us that if we want that
tip of the iceberg, then we have to
work for it. In sports, like in life,
nothing is ever given, it must be
earned and a good way to earn
things, more often than not, is with
endless hard work.
Time
Time is very limited. It often seems
we either do not have enough of it or
sometimes we have too much of it.
Any athlete, especially student
athletes, will tell you how important
time is. It is quite difficult to balance
sports, homework and work
schedules. It is here, where the great
lesson of time management is
learned. In these situations, you
have to learn how to be efficient,
productive and focused. You have a
certain amount of time to do
something and you must finish it.
There no “ands”, “buts”, or “ifs”
about it. In addition, there is another
perspective to time that athletes see
and this is during the game. Time
seems to go by very slowly when
you are winning and very quickly
when you are losing. This is where
the recognition of relativity comes
in. Time feels relative, but it is
important to note that 60 seconds
will always be 60 seconds. That is
why athletes persevere so much in
life as well as in sports. They know
that three hours of homework will
only be three hours of homework
even if it seems like longer or the
fact that, that 10-minute intense
workout will never be more than 10
minutes even if it seems like it. It
gives them a perspective that many
people who never play sports do not
often see.
be possible, but what sports teach us
is that it is never over until the final
buzzer sounds; there is hope until
the last second. Anyone who has
ever taken a buzzer-beating shot in
any sport will tell you that it was
hope, determination, and little bit of
luck that made it possible. You have
to believe that you can come back
from defeat; otherwise, if you do not
believe it, no one will. With no one
believing it, your chances of making
a comeback are slim to none.
Therefore, first you have to believe;
as a famous quote says: “He who
says he can and he who says he can’t
are both usually right”. This applies
in the other sense as well. If you are
ahead in the number of points, it is
not a guaranteed win. Your team
could mess up, or the other team
could play exceptionally well, or it
could be a mix of both. However,
the moral of the story is that it is
never a “done deal” until that final
buzzer sounds.
The “It Ain’t Over ‘til it’s Over”
Mentality
In sports, you are sometimes behind
and have to make a comeback. It
seems impossible, how could you
come back from such a large
difference in scores? It should not
Article by Neeloufar Grami