VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1
October 2018
PIN TREE POS Introducing Link Youth ‘N Culture!
BOO!
Inter views about how Grade 9 Students will celebrate Halloween!
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2 FIRST GLANCE P.4: STUDENT
P.8: SCHOOL
The Pinetree Post
STAFF
FOUNDERS Russell Kim, Felix Guo EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Briana Ho, Katherine Liu
How Grade 9’s Are Celebrating Halloween
P.12: FEATURED
How To Get Involved
P. 17: COMIC
ARTICLE EDITOR Briana Ho CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Liu, Noemi Galdamez, Amy Lee, Sunny Liang, Chenille Wong, Marvin Shi, Tina Cao, Maria Diment, Julia Ye, Jennifer Shui, Harim Chang, Kaleigh Morrow GRAPHIC DESIGN Katherine Liu ONLINE CONTENT Katherine Liu, Julia Ye SPECIAL THANKS TO The Pinetree Administration, Mr. Lau, Ms. Hopkin, Ms. Mohamed Ali, Ms. Browne, Ms. Ikeda, Sonia Sandhu, Bernice Liu, Michelle Deng, Deborah Berman, Gabrielle Chu
The Rise of A New Club
October Comic
GET INVOLVED IN THE PT POST! Although we at the Pinetree Post try our best to represent the voice of the everyone at Pinetree, we are only a small group of students. To find the most pressing topics and interesting avenues to explore, we rely on input from readers to curate relevant content only. Anyone is welcome to suggest a topic or provide an opinion for Pinetree Post writers and
contributors to look into further. Do you have something to say that needs your voice? The Pinetree Post also welcomes guest content, any time, of any kind. Feel free to submit an article on a topic you are passionate for, a comic you think everyone deserves to see, maybe even a letter to the editor! You can submit your original content to us at thepinetreepost@gmail.com.
Have a question or a request? Contact us at: facebook.com/thepinetreepost
First Glance
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EDITOR’S NOTE
3, 2, 1... Action!
It’s about time to get moving again.
We hope you enjoy this issue. Briana Ho, Katherine Liu Editors-in-Chief Hi Pinetree, we’re back! As the second month of school ends, most students have just about settled into their schedules, ready to pull through the upcoming year. To make the most of our time at school, why don’t we make it fun? There are many opportunities to get involved at Pinetree! To promote the start of a spirited year, our theme for this month is connection, whether it be participating in school events (Spooky Showdown, page 10, and Introducing: Link Youth ‘N Culture!, page 15), joining clubs (Pinetree’s Clubs and Club Fair, page 12 ), playing sports (An Inside Look at Cross Country, page 8), or simply meeting new people (Grade Nine Interviews, page 6). This is our first official issue as the new Editors of the Pinetree Post, and with our brand new team! Over two-thirds of our PTP members are fresh faces; in fact, this entire issue was put together solely by our newbies (and us Editors). We started quite late this
month, for we really wanted to make sure we had a good team, and we had a bit of a rocky beginning as we got a hang of things. However, we definitely will take this as a huge learning step and move forward with the experience. This is a shorter issue because of some bumps in the road, but in the future, as we all gain further experience and build stronger connections, we will be sure to improve as a whole. We have acquired a bunch of talented PTP staff, and are looking forward to a promising year!2
4 STUDENT INTERVIEWS
BOO!!!!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Halloween at Pinetree. Jennifer Shui, Kaleigh Morrow Writer, Interviewer
Halloween is a holiday with costumes, trick or treating, and giving out candy. The Pinetree Post interviewed students for Halloween. “Every day is Halloween, isn’t it? For some of us.” (Tim Burton.) 5
Tyler (Grade 9) PTP: Are you excited for Halloween this year? TM: Yesssss. PTP: What are you going to be? TM: I have no clue yet I really have to decide. PTP: How do you usually celebrate Halloween? TM: I used to go trick or treating but I probably won’t this year. PTP: If you don’t celebrate Halloween, what do you usually do on that day? TM: Well I celebrate Halloween so. PTP: What do you think will be the most common costume trend this year? TM: Oh gosh…. Well, what movies have come out in the last little while because that seems to be? I don’t know
Source: DB&G
maybe something to do with Star Wars. I don’t know. PTP: How old is too old for Halloween? TM: I mean as long as you’re being respectful, it doesn’t really matter. PTP: What’s your favorite candy? TM: Maltesers. PTP: What’s an iconic costume that you remember? TM: I was a fifties chick one time that was a really cool costume.
Anonymous PTP: Are you excited for Halloween this year? A: Yeah I’m kinda excited for Halloween. PTP: What are you going to be? A: I haven’t decided if I’m gonna be something yet. PTP: How do you usually celebrate Halloween? A: I usually trick or treat and go home and eat candy and trade candy and stuff. PTP: What do you think will be the most common costume trend this year? A: Fortnite. PTP: How old is too old for Halloween? A: Maybe this year? I don’t know. PTP: What’s your favorite candy?
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Student A: I like… I actually like a lot of things. Hershey’s, caramel stuff, Tootsie Rolls. PTP: What’s an iconic costume that you remember? A: I was Superman once and I had fake muscles.
Parker Lee (Grade 11) PTP: Are you excited for Halloween this year? PL: Yes! Of course! Who wouldn’t be? Free candy AND fun costumes? How can anyone pass that up?! PTP: What are you going to be? PL: I like to find something unique and funny, not necessarily scary, for Halloween. I also have this personal rule for myself, I can’t be something that I’ve already been and whatever I am has to better than last year’s. Unfortunately, it takes a while to think of something so I usually end up making my costume a couple days before Halloween. And I make ALL my costumes. PTP: How do you usually celebrate Halloween? PL: Normally I would go out trick or treating, but lately I’ve been sort of alternating between trick or treating and giving out candy. PTP: What do you think will be the most common idea/ costume trend this year? PL: It. This year’s feeling like a clown year. Maybe some Jokers too. PTP: How old is too old for Halloween? PL: One of my favourite quotes is, “We don’t stop playing because We grow old; we grow old because we stop playing,” because I really think this applies to Halloween. I don’t think it matters how old you are, as long as you don’t set anything on fire or rob children of their candy. PTP: What is your favourite candy/treat? PL: Hershey bars definitely, or even Twix bars. Oh, maybe Mars bars too. Can’t forget Coffee Crisp as well. Snickers are pretty good, but also Jolly Ranchers. Oh, there’s also… PTP: What’s an iconic costume you remember? PL: Hahahaha, last year, I decided to dress up as an iPhone X, because it was pretty trendy at the time. I used cardboard for the base, which was spray painted black. I used wrapping paper to make the screen, and then paper cutouts that were coloured to look like apps.
As of now, it’s my proudest Halloween creation, and if I can flatter myself a bit, it looked pretty good. Actually, I still have the costume at home. I wish I got into more photos in the yearbook with that costume, but by my logic that shouldn’t be too hard assuming I have to top that this year.
Elisa Lim (Grade 9) PTP: Are you excited for Halloween this year? EL: Yes. PTP: What are you going to be? EL: I’m gonna be Dora. PTP: How do you usually celebrate Halloween? EL: I don’t know, I go trick or treating with my friends. That’s it. PTP: What do you think will be the most common idea/ costume trend this year? EL: Fortnite skins. PTP: How old is too old for Halloween? EL: There is no too old for Halloween. PTP: What’s your favorite candy? EL: I like Hershey’s cookies and cream or Tootsie Rolls. PTP: What’s an iconic costume that you remember? EL: I was a Kraft Dinner box once.
Looking cool on Halloween!
Source: Isaac Zhang
6 STUDENT INTERVIEWS
Grade 9 Interviews about Pinetree
Halloween Spirits Haunt Pinetree Secondary
What our new students think about Pinetree. Harim Chang Writer, Interviewer Grade nine can be a daunting year for most at Pinetree, especially with the major differences between middle and high school. It’s been one month since school has started, and a lot has happened since then. For example, the Club Fair, food sales, Spooky Showdown, and even club conventions have been conducted to draw in school spirit and new members. However, what has the reaction been? To answer this question and to get into the minds of some of our new students, Pinetree Post set out to interview them about what they think about Pinetree so far!
Nana Sim PTP: How has high school been so far? N.S.: It’s been great and I’m having a lot of fun meeting new and old friends. PTP: What’s the biggest difference between middle school and high school? N.S.: The fact that you have to really try hard now to get good grades, and also moving to classes! There’s
Source: Kyiv
lots of people in the school so that’s a bit of a struggle. PTP: What’s your favourite part about high school? N.S.: Meeting new and old friends, just hanging out with friends… actually, just friends in general. Period. PTP: What’s your least favourite part? N.S.: Homework, of course, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I’ve been working really hard to get good grades! PTP: Which clubs have you joined so far, and if you haven’t joined any clubs, which ones caught your interest and why? N.S.: I joined Key Club, SPCA, Debate Club, UNICEF… is that too much?
Karley To PTP: How has high school been so far? K.T.: A bit stressful, but actually somewhat fun with my friends. PTP: What’s the biggest difference between middle school and high school? K.T.: High school has a bit more strict teachers and a wider variety of classes. PTP: What’s your favourite part about high school? K.T.: I get to meet more people, and I feel more free to express myself !
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Student PTP: What’s your least favourite part? K.T.: The amount of work I get. PTP: Which clubs have you joined so far? And if you haven’t joined any clubs, which ones caught your interest and why? K.T.: I haven’t joined any clubs, but if I did, I would probably join Key Club or SPCA because they seem really fun!
Ms. Martino and Jeter
Anonymous PTP: How has high school been so far? Anon: First of all, it’s really hard, but I can manage it. PTP: What’s the biggest difference between middle school and high school? Anon: Too much homework. PTP: What’s your favourite part about high school? Anon: Lunch time. PTP: What’s your least favourite part? Anon: Math class and English class. PTP: Which clubs have you joined so far, and if you haven’t joined any clubs, which ones caught your interest and why? Anon: I haven’t joined any clubs, and I don’t feel ready to join any right now. As the months roll by, make sure to take the time to take care of yourself and others around you! Balance work and having time to hang out with friends, and the year will go by smoothly. Pinetree is full of supportive students and teachers, so don’t be afraid to ask questions about school anytime, especially to your counsellors! Let’s hope to have a great school year!5
Source: Isaac Zhang
Anonymous PTP: How has high school been so far? Anon: It’s been very fun, but sometimes it’s a bit boring. PTP: What’s the biggest difference between middle school and high school? Anon: It’s a bigger school, and we get to use our phones. PTP: What’s your favourite part about high school? Anon: E-Sports Gaming Club! PTP: What’s your least favourite part? Anon: Lunch time is too short! It should be like one hour. PTP: Which clubs have you joined so far, and if you haven’t joined any clubs, which ones caught your interest and why? Anon: E-Sports Gaming Club!
Our rockin’ cool admins!
Source: Mr. Wong
8 SCHOOL INTERVIEWS
Going the Extra Mile
Nestor puts on a brave face as he gently saunters through the finish line.
An Inside Look at Cross Country. Chenille Wong Writer, Interviewer Cross country prides itself in being one of the first sports to crack the ice of a new school year. With open arms, the sport welcomes students of all grades and abilities to become part of the notoriously large community. Returning this year as District Champions, the All-Star team participated in mini-meets at Mundy Park and in the Fraser Valley Championships at Aldergrove Regional Park. This season has been phenomenal in terms of team spirit and weather, according to many of our runners, with almost all of the meets taking place in favourable warm conditions. Better yet, the runs for senior girls have increased in distance from 5km to over 6km to match the senior boys. Talk about equality! At the Fraser Valley Championships in Aldergrove, I interviewed a few of my teammates to get an inside look at the Pinetree sport that unifies students from all backgrounds and running ability. . Thank you to the runners who allowed me the pleasure of interviewing them, and congratulations to
Source: Yearbook
our Cross Country team for winning the team district championship trophy for the sixth time in a row! Keep on going the extra mile, Pinetree!5
Ivana Truong (Grade 12) PTP: Why did you join cross country? IT: I joined cross country at first because my friend got me into it, but then I ended up really liking long distance running. At first short distance was more my thing and long distance wasn’t really my forte, but I ended up really enjoying it. PTP: What surprised you about cross country? IT: The hills we had to run. This was our first year going to Aldergrove, and there are these massive hills we have to go over and everyone is just in pain. PTP: What did you learn from cross country? IT: What I learned is that pushing yourself is so worth it. Push yourself through it and you feel so good after, and you can really apply this to everything else you do. Work hard for something and you’ll get results.
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School Mattias Wong (Grade 9) PTP: Why did you join cross country? MW: I wanted to meet new people and stay fit. PTP: Was it scary being a Grade 9? MW: Not really, I just didn’t know what to expect. PTP: What do you like most? MW: I like the competitive atmosphere. PTP: What surprised you about cross country? MW: The distance was longer and harder than I expected. PTP: Would you recommend others to join? MW: Yep, it’s a great way to meet new people and get fit.
Rebecca Liu (Grade 12) PTP: Why did you join the team? RL: I think what attracted me to cross country was the high team morale, and how much everyone supports each other. Even if you’re not as good, you’re still supported by the team if you try. PTP: What do you like about cross country/running? RL: When you’re running under pressure it’s not as likeable, but it’s still fun to do on your own. It’s fun to have that feeling of having a steady pace and being in control of what you’re doing.
Mr. Wazny
Mattias Wong Grade 9
Source: Yearbook
Paula Estebanez (Grade 11) PTP: Why did you join cross country? PE: Because I’m an international student from Spain, and in Spain we don’t have cross country. So I wanted to try new things and I like it. PTP: What was your first impression of cross country? PE: That it was so hard. Because our first training was so bad, but then we kept trying and trying and we got better. PTP: Would you recommend joining cross country to anyone else? PE: Yes, I recommend it, I think it’s really good and really cool. You make new friends, meet new people, and have new experiences.
PTP: What do you like the most about being the coach of the cross country team? W: I’m very proud to represent Pinetree, and I like motivating students and getting them involved in activities outside the classroom. It’s been proven that it helps academic performance for students and gets them more connected to the school, their teachers, their community, and to the entire environment. So it’s a positive all-around and it’s nice to see the improvement of all the students. PTP: Is there anything else you would like to say? W: We put the onus on our students for self-improvement, so you might be the slowest runner but you could probably become the best one by the end of the year improvement wise. So I keep encouraging students to come because it’s a win-win, there are no losers here, and everyone’s a winner. More people should be getting involved and we’ve had the greatest weather this year, it’s remarkable. We’re used to the rain, but this year was really spectacular. The people here are outstanding so it’s been a pleasure to be part of this whole group and to represent Pinetree so well. The other schools all notice us, we always have bigger numbers usually, and we always try our hardest during the meets and have good sportsmanship. Students love it, runners love it, and it encourages us to get into other sports at pinetree.
10 SCHOOL EVENT
Spooky Showdown!
Our Grade 10 Rep. William Zhang, tries his best to eat a pretzel.
Pinetree’s First Annual School Event.
Source: Katherine Liu
Kevin Liu Writer Pinetree Secondary School has started the school year of 2018 with a wonderful event titled the “Spooky Showdown.” The Spooky Showdown consisted of nine amazing and entertaining events such as building the tallest tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows. The entry price to the event was 1$ and the sign-up sheets were available in the foyer. It also featured students trying to limbo while eating pretzels, serving badminton birdies into a hole, and the classic game of musical chairs. This event was hosted by the grade 11 leadership group who did a wonderful job. The group members dedicated their afternoon towards setting up stations in different classes and different sections of the school. When they eventually finished their product, it satisfied many of the contestants. This event combine the everlasting spirit of the students at Pinetree and the amiability of the Halloween activities. Each game contain its own special twist such as
Setting up the event takes a lot of sugar.
Source: Katherine Liu
the movie guessing station. Not only did the contestants need to acknowledge the movie’s title, they also had to toss the bean bag into the right section or else they would not have been able to score for their team. They also needed team listening skills as there were many agreements and disagreements during the activity. A fan favourite game was the obstacle course. A grade 9 student named Alex Zhou was there, and said how “the most fun [he] had was when [he] became blindfolded and traveled across
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School a room full of obstacles to reach an end point. [He] was scared since [he] always felt something in front of my face as [he] slowly stumbled [his] way across…”. Alex also said how “[He] was also very entertained by the badminton station [since] it was hard to hit the birdies into the loops at first. … Once [he] managed to hit one in, [he] wanted to keep playing as it was very addictive”. There were many difficult games to win such as the musical chairs or the badminton serve into a hole; however, each member of the group tried extremely hard to land their team at the top. The first planned school activity was a huge success and bonding activities such as the Spooky Showdown are beneficial to the school environment, as it lets students interact and be who they are. Students at Pinetree Secondary are encouraged to try out events such as the Spooky Showdown, and will hopefully be seen attending the next activity the school is planning.8
Participants get food!
Source: Katherine Liu
Our VP, David Alim, helps the participant.
Source: Katherine Liu
Time to play some trivia.
Can I take these chocolates?
Source: Katherine Liu
Source: Katherine Liu
Sunny and Cheng are having a good time.
Source: Katherine Liu
12 FEATURED FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Getting Involved!
Pinetree’s Clubs and Club Fair. Maria Diment Writer
Any true highschool experience isn’t complete without some school spirit. At Pinetree, students are able to indulge in a full spectrum of school activities, from numerous clubs, to sports teams, to exciting events. Every year there are new opportunities for students to be involved with the school and the best place to start would be at Pinetree’s Club Fair. To kickstart an engaging school year, an announcement sounds over the PA in late September and all of Pinetree’s clubs gather together during lunch for a showcase in the gym. Over these two days, students buzz from table to table, flyers flash amongst crowds, and sign-up sheets fill up with new members. It is a hustle but Pinetree has a club for everyone. Most clubs involve themselves with fundraisers and volunteer/charity work like the Environmental Club, Me to We club, and Indian Umbrella club while others focus on specific interests and hobbies like the Literature Club, Game Creation Club, and Math Club. Everyone and anyone can shine their school spirit and getting involved is the best way to show it. If at heart you desire to better the world and aid those in need then fundraiser-based clubs may be the highlight of your life at Pinetree. The school homes a total of eight fundraiser clubs. UNICEF – become part of a worldwide organization that aims to improve the rights of children globally. (A209 on Fridays at lunch). SPCA – help raise awareness about the issue of animal cruelty and improve the lives of animals through volunteering, fundraising, and advocating for the cause. (B204 on Wednesdays at lunch). Indian Umbrella – work side by side with grassroots charities in India to raise funds (by
organizing henna sales and other events) and build a school alongside Amcha Ghar in Mumbai. (B101 on Wednesdays at lunch). Social Diversity for Children Foundation (SDC) – eliminate stigmas around youth with disabilities by supporting the Social Diversity for Children Foundation with fundraisers to provide funding for social learning programs across the lower mainland. (A212 on Fridays at lunch). Operation Smile – raise money for children with a palate condition (deformity of the mouth/jaw) who cannot afford surgery. (B207 on Wednesdays at lunch). Wish Youth Network Society – reach out to terminally ill children and their families and help youth realize the things we tend to overlook or neglect in life; hope, health, and happiness. (A217 on Tuesdays at lunch). The Hot Potato Initiative – participate in the de-stigmatization of homelessness in Canada by distributing baked potatoes to the homeless on Hot Potato Runs, relieving their hunger, and sharing their stories. (A222 on Tuesdays at lunch every two weeks). Hope for Tomorrow – raise money and awareness through fundraisers for cancer research. (A100 on Fridays at lunch). Equally many, students looking to gain volunteer hours and give their time to community work are in luck. Pinetree has thirteen volunteer and community service oriented clubs to choose from! Pinetree Secondary Key Club – sponsored by Kiwanis International, become a part of an worldwide organization with more than 270,000 members and, through fundraisers, raise money towards the Thirst Project. (A100 on Tuesdays at lunch) First Aid Club – become a lifesaver! Learn about Emergency Scene Management, cardio-
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Featured
Source: Sunny Liang
vascular emergencies, broken bones, severe bleeding, medical emergencies, and more. Volunteer hours and first aid certification are included. (A115 on Wednesdays at lunch). Me to We – help establish safe, healthy, and well-educated societies around the world by hosting events and fundraisers, such as the popular Krispy Kreme sales. (B203 on Mondays at lunch). Charity Brighouse – advocate for youth leadership through volunteerism and help other students all across Metro Vancouver participate within their fields of interest as volunteers. (A200 on Tuesdays at lunch). Pinetree Recycling Club – reduce our school’s ecological footprint by organizing the daily production of recyclable drink containers in the community. (B200 on Tuesdays after school) Alpha Wolves – gain leadership skills by volunteering in various school events, such as the grade 9 orientation. (A100 on Wednesdays at lunch). Pinetree Community Club – give our school’s (or even Canada’s) newcomers a taste of ‘Pinetree life’ by doing community service together, exploring the city, or just having a conversation.
(A105 on Mondays at lunch). Pinetree Barnet Leo – as part of the Lion’s club, volunteer in the community or host fundraisers and gain volunteer hours. (A201 on Mondays at lunch). Pinetree Kidsport Club – raise funds and sporting equipment for children of the Tri-Cities community (18 years and under) to help break financial barriers by organizing fun sporting events, collecting used equipment, and volunteering within the community. (A101 on Mondays at lunch). Environment Club – participate as a volunteer in invasive plant removal, running workshops, going on field trips, and taking initiative within the community for a better change in the environment. (A116 on Mondays at lunch). H.Y.P.E – although founded by Gleaneagle Secondary, Pinetree students are encouraged to join and participate in helping local homeless youth, specifically in Rain City Housing situated in Coquitlam. (B107 on Fridays at lunch). Tutors Club – help your peers succeed academically by applying to be a tutor or to be tutored. (Every first Monday during lunch) Kingslangley – question the world around you; debate and share ideas about politics, society, and other interesting topics. (A118 on Wednesdays after school)
Source: Sunny Liang
14 FEATURED Lastly are the Hobby Clubs, a small community for like-minded students to gather together, make friends and connections, and do the things they enjoy or are passionate about. Luckily, there are nineteen different hobby clubs for students to partake in. Pinetree Post – become an illustrator/writer for your school newspaper! (A204 on Fridays at lunch). Music Council – get involved with all events related to the music department, from large concerts to smaller performances. (choir room on Wednesdays at lunch) Literature Club – express your creativity and hone your skills as writer or poet in a community of like-minded individuals. (A118 on Mondays at lunch) Chess Club – challenge your peers to an enticing chess match. (A220 every lunch). Hip-Hop Club – dive into the world of Hip-Hop and learn fundamental skills, participate in freestyle battles, practice songwriting, and perform. (A111 on Wednesdays at lunch). Model United Nations and Debate – work on your public speaking skills and/or express your opinions on government through competitive MUN or Debate conferences/tournaments. (A100 once a week). Pinetree Math Club – improve your math skills by expanding your knowledge beyond the general B.C. pre-calculus curriculum. (A206 on Mondays at lunch). Improv Club – participate in Improvised Theatre; practice general improvisation, miming, and speaking. (drama room on Mondays and Wednesdays after school; 3:45-5:00 pm). Neuroscience/Science Club – further your knowledge and interest in brain sciences through dissections, games, and lab tours, as well as participating in an international neuroscience competition. (B200 on Wednesdays at lunch). PTSS Coding Club – improve your coding abilities by designing apps and websites. (A218 on Mondays at lunch). Pinetree Business Club – learn about the field
of organizations and get involved in events such as case competitions, stock market simulations, and networking events. (A222 on Thursdays at lunch). Acapella (Club) – work on your singing to become a skillful musician and participate in multiple performances throughout the school year. (choir room on Fridays after school). Game Creation Club – work with your peers as either an artist, designer, programmer, or sound engineer to make and release games onto the web. (A222 on Tuesdays at lunch). Charity Band – play a wide range of music genres such as pop, jazz, rock, and ballad with musical peers. (band room on Fridays after school) Club 180 – discuss, share, and learn about Christianity in a non-judgmental place where both religious and non-religious students are welcome. (A201 on Fridays at lunch). Table Tennis Club – play table tennis either recreationally or competitively with your friends. (room 6/7/8 on Thursdays after school). Orchestra Club – learn about music/music theory, perform at school concerts, and meet people with common interests. (band room on Mondays after school). Gardening Club – learn the basics of gardening and fundraise for a school garden. (A116 on Tuesdays at lunch). Game’s Club – play a variety of games on the computers and PS4, learn about role playing board games, discuss in the discord server, and participate in organized events. (A220 on Thursdays at lunch).7
Source: Sunny Liang
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FEATURED INTERVIEW
Introducing Link Youth ‘N Culture!
Members of LY’NC who were able to help out at the first event!
The brand new club with a goal to connect the entire student body! Briana Ho Writer, Interviewer A rather unique club has established itself at Pinetree this year. Founded by Mr. Zenone, Link Youth ‘N Culture (LY’NC) dedicates itself to connecting international students with the rest of the student body, wanting to make sure that every person who attends Pinetree is welcomed and able to create deep, lasting bonds. They plan
Source: Katherine Liu
to achieve this through hosting events throughout the year that promote the mixing of students. On Oct. 9, LY’NC held its very first event: a Ping-Pong Hangout. After school from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Pinetree Community Centre, students were free to play ping-pong, Jenga, the Game of Life, cards, and other assorted games with friends. Free pizza, pop, and ice cream sandwiches were provided, much to the delight of many event-goers. It was exclusively for internationals and newcomers who had signed up beforehand, but the club has plans to open its events up to all students very soon. LY’NC is still very much in its beginning stages, so to get a better grasp on what it’s all about, find out about its next event, and find out how to get involved, read on to discover the thoughts of its sponsor teacher:
16 FEATURED
Mr. Zenone and Ms. Amanda Walraven being awesome! Source: Katherine Liu
Mr. Zenone PTP: What inspired you to create LY’NC? GZ: The inspiration for LY’NC comes from working with the international education department here in School District 43. I’m one of the international contacts here at Pinetree, and I’ve been doing it for two years, so the first year that I worked I got to hang out and meet with a lot of international students and I… I just realized while being part of that community, that they tend to just hang out with each other. That’s really comfortable for them, and it’s very understandable because they’re doing something that not many other students do. They’re moving halfway across the world, they’re leaving their families, they’re leaving their culture, and they’re coming to this brand new place to essentially just study, and that’s scary, so they want to find something that’s comfortable. In my mind… if they’re searching for that comfort, why can’t they find that comfort as part of Pinetree, as being a Pinetree student, rather than feeling like “Well, I’m an international student, so I’m kind of... different than everyone else?” So that’s kind of where the
inspiration came from. These students are in our school, other students might not even know that someone is an international student, and… we want to make sure that they feel like a Pinetree student, and that they feel comfortable here at Pinetree. PTP: [nods] Mm-hm. What would you say is your ultimate, ideal goal for this club? GZ: The goal for LY’NC is to… to one: just create a more cohesive community of students here at Pinetree. To get rid of the label of an international student, an immigrant student, a P.R. student, or a domestic student, and we’re... just Pinetree. We are Pinetree students. That’s the overarching goal, and then the secondary goal is to foster within some of our excellent students here: leadership students, people who want to help out... to foster within them more skills to be able to create events, to be able to… kind of… socialize and be good ambassadors for the culture we want to create at Pinetree. PTP: So what would be your goals for this year in particular? GZ: The goals for this year are to just set up and create events that are fun for all of our students here. By the end of the year, we want to get to a point where we have a larger event of like… I don’t want to put a number on it, but… a larger event, maybe like 80 kids. An event of international, new immigrant, and domestic students, where they can all be doing something together and it’s not… it’s not split up. We don’t have 20 international students that are hanging out with each other in this group, or the new immigrant students are all hanging out in this group. We want it so that they are able to talk with each other, that they’re able to hang out, and that they’re having fun. That’s the… the “goal” by the end of the year, and we’ve already seen some success with our first event. I’m really excited for the next one that comes up, and… yeah, it’s just going to keep going from there! PTP: [in a conspiratorial whisper] Advertise the next event. GZ: I don’t know if we have it… well, so the next event is going to be kind of like “speed gaming”, like small, mini-game style event where students are going to be able to play these small little activities against each other, with each other… [face lights
Featured up] it’s going to be hectic, it’s going to be fun, there’s going to be food, it’s going to be really cool. PTP: For the next event, will only international students be invited? GZ: No, no. We are going to be open, this is going to be the first event where we open up to domestic students as well. It will be… there probably will be a cost, but the idea is that this is our first, kind of, jump in getting these three populations mixing together, and that means that if you’re someone who… if you really want to make Pinetree that cohesive whole, if you want to make all students Pinetree students, this could be something that you want to look out for and come to. [After this interview, LY’NC switched its event to ‘Nightmare Before Christmas...cookies’ where event-goers will be challenged to use provided materials, such as icing and candy, to create the scariest Christmas-themed cookie. This will be exclusively for international students and newcomers, and the entry price is set at $1 as of the release of this issue, but LY’NC definitely plans to have more inclusive events in the future.] PTP: Where can students find upcoming LY’NC events? GZ: We are going to be starting up a Facebook page, just so if you’re interested in knowing what LY’NC is going to be setting up, we’ll be having that hopefully set up in a couple weeks [from Oct. 18] and the best way to find out about events is to keep your eye out for posters that are around the school, we usually have sign-up sheets that go with them, you can come and ask me, or if you know a student who is in LY’NC you can go and ask them as well. PTP: So, how frequently will there be events? GZ: We’re looking to have events every… month and a half, two months. We want to space them out just so it doesn’t seem so same-y [laughs]. We want to make sure that we are spreading ourselves out throughout the year to provide these kinds of fun activities at all times in the year, so we’re looking, I think, at around one and a half or two months, and then for international students we’ll be doing larger out-trips. PTP: If people are interested in joining LY’NC,
17 will there be more opportunities this year? GZ: For this year, I think we’re going to be starting to cap off our membership. The club is a little bit different than other clubs within the school, but that doesn’t mean that for next year, if you’ve come to a LY’NC event, if you’ve heard about a LY’NC event, and you’re interested in being in it, I want to be one of those people that sets up this kind of community, like next year when we’re “staffing up” again, we would love you to come out and express your interest. That being said, it is… a group where there is a lot of work. You can talk to the people who are in LY’NC, they can attest, it is a lot of work, but the payoff… I’ve said this many times: if we get this right, if this works, this isn’t just good for international students, it’s good for all students a Pinetree, because it helps to create a better overall culture… and that is something that can improve any school. So, yeah. If you’re interested this year, I think we’re going to be capping off our people that we are going to be taking into the club as facilitators, as people who are going to be running those events, but then next year we are going to be needing a bunch of new people, so, check us out for next year. PTP: Okay, I think that’s all the questions that I have! Yeah, that was really good! GZ: Aw, thanks!5
One of the most intense Jenga games of the day! Source: Katherine Liu
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The most intense Ping Pong game!!!!
LY’NC Crew posing for a funny photo Source: Katherine Liu
Source: Katherine Liu
Having fun at LY’NC’s first event of the year Source: Katherine Liu
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Featured SCARY STORY WINNER!
Who Won The Scary Story Contest?
It’s a Small World. David Yuan Writer
“It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears, it’s a world of hopes and a world of fears. There’s so much that we share, that it’s time we’re aware, it’s a small world after all….” As we stepped into the tunnel of dolls, we are immediate greeted by their mechanical chants and dances. Despite how offsetting they are, I have developed a tolerance towards their otherworldliness, or so I thought. The dolls, enthusiastic in their voices, are fated to eternally perform their predesigned and looping waltz. They all appear so young, so innocent, but their internally decaying torsos suggest that perhaps, they are harvesting something sinister within. Of course, my perceptions of the dancing animatronic creatures at the time were of peace and love, a perception shared by the countless guests that visit this exhibit, and also by the family that went missing within this very tunnel. I am a Disney employee that operate the iconic Small World Exhibit, but after what I experienced, I don’t think I will return here any longer. We continued further into shallowwatered tunnel, our flashlights wonder seamlessly, searching for the missing family. The incident occurred earlier today, when six rides loaded with guests floated into the tunnel. Nobody would ever expect that only five rides would appear at the exit. The ride and the family of four vanished, as if they were
consumed, as if they were nonexistent to begin with. After thorough searches, my co-workers and I have no choice but to give up. Days went by and there are strangely no inquiries about the missing family from anyone. The entire world has forgotten their existence. However, I just can’t seem to let it go. I gained access to the missing family’s “memory maker video album”, what I witnessed, sent an immediate chill crawling down my spine. There are 713 videos, all taken in the Small World Exhibit. The rides only take a short video per go-around, it appears as though the family rode it over 700 times. The first video is normal, excited children and smiling parents. The subsequent videos displayed persisting enthusiasm from the kids, but the parents are slightly concerned, looking around at the dancing dolls. After 50 videos, the children are screaming and crying, the mother clenches her kids close, crying along with them. The father is missing in a few videos, but in every subsequent video, the father always returns, looking injured, catatonic, and pale. 500 videos after, the children are dancing mechanically, in synchrony with the dolls. The father is growing massive pimples on his torso, occasionally discharging ichor with agony. The mother is screaming and ululating in pain, chanting: “It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears, it’s a world of hopes and a world of fears.” I closed the album by then, unable to bear the repeating gruesome scenes of the hundreds of videos after that. The file size has increased since I last opened. My god….. are there more videos being added?....2
16 COMIC
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