November 2008 - Holy Cross Catholic Academy

School: The new sheriffs in town: the scoop on the new VPs pg.10
November 2008
THE HOLY CROSS TIMES
MISSION STATEMENT: The Holy Cross Times is a publication committed to shedding light on the many people, events and issues that are making news locally and
worldwide. We offer the student body a variety of different perspectives and oppourtunities to further theire knowledge and formulate their own opinions whilst
maintaining excellence and journalistic integrity.
CONTENTS:
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American Election Time vs.
Canadian Election Time
Movies, Music, and Books
p. 3
Shopping
p. 4
Into The Woods
p. 4
Hockey Night In Canada
p.5
School Sports
p.5
Halloween at Holy Cross
p.6
October Jam
p.6
Whats Happening at Holy Cross p. 7
Time to Shine
p. 8
Multiculturalism in Woodbridge p.9
Honouring Our Students
p.9
Semi-Formal on a Budget
p.10
The New VPs
p. 10
Viva on Strike
p.11
161st Woodbridge Fair
p.11
Fun Page
p. 12
M
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Illustration By: Michael LaGrassa
An Election To Remember
As of Tuesday November 4,
Barak Obama has been elected the
44th president of the United States of
America; oddly enough though, I can’t
seem to remember when Canada’s
Prime Minister, Stephen Harper was
re-elected into Parliament. Is it because the Canadian Federal election is
normally as captivating as bingo night
at the local recreational center? Or
can the absence of anything remotely
Image courtesy of www.mobasoft.com
cool- for lack of a better way to put
it- be the reason that young and old
alike just don’t seem to care? With
campaign funds as high as 700 million
dollars, vice-presidential nominees
starring on Saturday Night Live, celebrity endorsements from the likes
of Perez Hilton, Alicia Keys and Jay-Z
and musicians like the Black Eyed
Peas performing at Democratic rallies, everything that is the American
election excites me enough to care.
Care about the economic crisis and
the encroaching if not ever present
recession; care about the men and
women overseas fighting to protect
the free world from terror; care
about the barriers and glass ceilings
that have been broken.
With a small nod to Kim
Campbell-a woman who defied the
stereotypical expectations of females
by staying in power less than five
months- Canadian Federal elections
has never gone beyond the norm.
It’s always the same types of peopleif not the same people- campaigning
to run our country. Case in point,
Jack Layton has been the leader of
the NDP for three decades. No surprise though, the Americans have
shown us what real progression looks like. For the first
time in American history,
an African-American has
claimed the presidency
with a win so grand
it hasn’t been seen
since Jimmy Carter
in 1976. Even if Barak Obama had
not won the Democratic nomination
and subsequent presidency, Hilary
Clinton- the first woman to run for
the White House- might very well
have done so.
The election has sparked a
fire in the youth of today, as students
of Holy Cross have become vocal
about the personalities and issues
involved- ironically though the only
reference to anything remotely Canadian is the amount of boredom in
regards to Canadian affairs of state.
When asked if he cared more about
Canadian politics than American,
Andre Blake- a student at Holy Crosshad but this to say, “American politics
are more interesting because….well
Canadian politics are simply boring”. This outcry for anything vaguely
interesting not only reflects what
little interest future voters have in
Canadian elections but also their
opinions on the effect of Canadian
policies in the global world. During a
brief interview with Natalie Massaro,
a grade 11 also in attendance at Holy
Cross, she expressed a greater care
for the American election “because
the country is much bigger and its
choices are far more consequential. I
think if anything, Obama’s presidency
will make the world a better place because he has a different perspective
to add in the international community.”
Canadians and global citizens alike were hypnotized by the
sheer greatness and eloquence with
which Barak Obama used to speak
and educate the masses about the
troubling times ahead and how he
planned to put things right. And for
the first time- at least in my case- I
actually believed that he could make
it better- that he cared more about
what the people needed then he did
about pushing any personal agenda.
Regardless of whether or not his win
as a man of color was symbolic of
change and growth, I truly think that
Barak Obama will be the change the
world needs.
In years to come, I hope to
see at least our local news stations
excited about the prospect of an election- excited enough to get holograms
like CNN did on vote night. Who
knows, maybe the tides will change
and in a couple of years- or a couple
of months- Americans will be stealing
satellite signals to watch CTV’s coverage of Canadian elections. But until a
truly charismatic and visionary leader
emerges to ignite some passion in Canadian voters we will, in good Canuck
fashion, continue to look south of the
border for our political excitement.
Have comments or questions
about the paper?
Maybe you have a story we
should follow? Feel free to email
us at:
[email protected]
We look forward to hearing from
you.
Check us online:
http://hocr.ycdsb.ca/crosstimes
November 2008
THE HOLY CROSS TIMES
“Out with the old, in with
the new” seems to be an echoing
sentiment as of present. We’ve said
goodbye to the last school year and
begrudgingly moved forward to this
year, while still holding on to every last
vestige of the summer that we can.
The beginning of this new school year
brings a number of changes, including the authors of this short blurb that
you’re currently reading. Our names
are Stephanie Palma and Theresa Do,
and yes, we’re new—to the Holy Cross
Times, that is. What’s interesting is
that, while neither of us has much
experience being part of the school
newspaper, together we decided to
tackle the daunting task of being editors. If you haven’t noticed, we also
made a few minor changes to the Holy
Cross Times; they’re not important
enough to warrant your attention,
but enough for us to use as examples
to support this paper’s theme of
“Change”.
Orientation Dances only to have all of
them end in zero turnouts. Cleverly,
this year, S.A.C. decided to combine
both grade nine and grade ten and
plan one dance for the two grades,
and finally, breaking the two year
chain, a surprisingly large amount of
students showed up and had the time
of their lives.
For those of us who have been
at Holy Cross this past year, our community has said farewell to vice-principals Ms. Rubino and Mr. Tavolacci, only
to then welcome Ms. Sheahan and Mr.
Babic. Already, one can notice a definite difference in school life; I mean,
you can’t really miss Mr. Babic’s game
show voice on the morning announcements.
It is clear that the 2008-2009
school year at Holy Cross has arrived
with a bang of change that will echo
into the future. The November issue
of the Holy Cross Times is one that
is sure to catch attention and inspire
transformation. Though consistency
still maintains a certain, undeniable
sense of comfort, change is what
keeps things exciting and worthwhile.
Essentially, through the production of
this newly improved issue of the Holy
Cross Times, we hope to have instilled
curiosity and motivated transformation. This is our year to
follow the trend of current events and break the
mould, discover new terrain,
and change the future.
This semester also eliminated
a growing trend once occurring in the
junior grades—lack of participation
at school functions. The previous two
years saw the junior grades of Holy
Cross adopting an indifferent and nonchalant attitude with regards to school
dances and events. Student Government, also known as S.A.C., organized
a Grade 10 Dance and several Grade 9
EDITORS
CO- EDITORS
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Newspapers, TV screens,
computer monitors, internet blogs—
all the forms of communication one
could possibly think of—were being
frantically searched, read and commented on as Barack Hussein Obama
was elected the first African-American
President of the United States. This
controversial election also marked the
largest voter turnout since women
were granted the right to vote in
1920, and also the first where a presidential candidate is of minority status
and a vice-presidential candidate is a
woman.
WRITERS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Theresa Do
Stephanie Palma
Daria Matulic
Jen McRae
Lauren Protomanni
Lina Tran
Ramina Adam
Sarah Battistelli
Adriana Cellucci
Melissa Cutone
Michael La Grassa
Chanel Sanci
Andrea Sferrazza
Nadine Abdallah
Jamal Baksh
Victoria Breda
Angelene Cerisano
Jessica D’Angelo
Jessica Goncalves
Marian Guirguis
Nahrain Hanna
Sara Moscatel
Sami-Jo Perruzza
Brittney Sutherland
Cristina Volpini
Melina Zito
Ramina Adam
Adriana Cellucci
Melissa Cutone
Daniela Mitrovic
Sara Moscatel
Joelle Pecora
Sami-Jo Perruzza
Melina Zito
CARTOONISTS
Michael La Grassa
Chanel Sanci
Andrea Sferazza
Lina Tran
MODERATORS
Mr. Almeida
Mr. Videka
2008 - 2009 Newspaper Team
Photo courtesy of Mr. Almeida
-2-
November 2008
Music, Movies and Tv Scene
Lights, camera, action! Can
you hear the sounds of music? These
past, present and coming few months
are being ruled by the world of entertainment. There are many movies,
television programs, and music that
have been successful, and there are
many more coming to look forward
to.
New Year,
New Seasons
It’s that time of year again:
new school year, new falling leaves,
and new seasons of televisions’ most
popular programs! Grey’s Anatomy
returns for its fifth season, which
premiered September 22, 2008. This
drama deals with the relationships
and practices of doctors at Seattle
Grace Hospital. This Golden Globe
award winner for Best Drama Television Series in 2007 attracts many
young adult and adult viewers. Viewers feel like this new season is moving
things in a new direction. Dancing
Image courtesy of www.fanpop.com
Love, Suspense, and, of course, Vampires
In the past, many successful
books have been produced into films.
This November, one of the most
popular teen reads of the decade will
be hitting the movie screens: Twilight. Twilight, published in 2004 and
written by Stephenie Meyer, seems to
have become the number one book
young adults are talking about. (This
novel has made teens pick up the
book and never want to put it down.)
Some even say Twilight is becoming
the new Harry Potter. Twilight tells a
dramatic love story between a mortal,
Bella Swan, and an immortal vampire, Edward Cullen. With the novels’
popular success in selling over seventeen million copies worldwide, and
with the saga becoming the #1 New
York Times Best-Selling Series, it’s no
wonder why readers are thirsty to see
this vampire-mortal romance come to
life. Many students of Holy Cross are
also anxious to see the movie: “Although the reactions from most of the
fanbase somewhat doesn’t make me
Image courtesy of www.daniusoft.com
want to see it, and although it doesn’t
seem to look as good as the book, I
am excitedly anticipating the film.”Holy Cross student. “After reading
this incredible book, excitement fills
my mind at the thought of seeing this
romantic suspense come into a reality.”- Holy Cross student. I, myself, am
highly anticipating the premiere. Be
sure to check out Twilight in theatres
November 21st, 2008.
Image courtesy of www.fanpop.com
Music, Music and More
Music
With the Stars also returns for its
seventh season. This season features
a variety of competitors, from musicians to comedians to chefs. This seventh season also features its youngest
and oldest competitors, Cody Linley,
18 and Cloris Leachman, 82. There
have always been injuries, and in this
season, a serious injury forced one
of the competitors to drop out of
the competition. Misty May-Treanor
injured her ankle while rehearsing before a show, and therefore was forced
to drop out on the fourth week of
competition. So far, Brooke Burke has
received the highest scores, but the
audience helps determine who stays
and who leaves. Will someone else
take home the mirror-ball trophy?
Tune in on November 24, 2008 to find
out at the finale.
Image courtesy of dearkitty.blogsome.com
It seems like one of the
things Holy Cross students can’t live
without is music. It makes sense; we
hear music on a daily basis. This past
summer I attended the Simple Plan
concert on August 29, and I have to
say there couldn’t have been a better
way to end the summer. They put on
an amazing performance, and showed
the audience what down-to-earth
artists they are. There are upcoming
concerts in Toronto during the month
of November: OneRepublic will be
performing at the Sound Academy on
December 7, 2008, and The Academy
Is… will be performing at The Guvernment on November 14, 2008. The five
most popular digital Canadian tracks
right now are: Kevin Rudolf-‘Let It
Rock’, Nickelback- ‘Gotta Be Somebody’, Katy Perry- ‘Hot and Cold’, Pink-
-3-
‘So What’, and Britney Spears- ‘Womanizer’.
Entertainment is at its highest peak with all music, movies, and
TV programs. Be sure to check some
of these out. I’m sure there will be
much excitement in the near future
in movies, music, and TV. Keep
watching and listening!
Image courtesy of www.google.com
November 2008
Loving Labels
Money. We earn it and we
spend it. But what do we do with
most of our money? Our money is
spent daily on two main things; the
food we eat and the clothing that
we wear. Our clothing and even food
preferences are constantly changing
from day to day. With new reasons
to eat healthier and different trends
each day, our answers to simple questions often change. Media plays the
most significant role in our decisions
and preferences. Suddenly we want
to eat apples since Jessica Simpson
says they are her favorite fruit, or we
want to use the same perfume as
Jennifer Lopez. Winter will be arriving soon. It’s time to take out the
scarves, the warm winter jackets, the
sleek but stylish gloves, and the furry
warm boots.
Now, last year’s fashions for
winter were quite popular. Looking
down at girls’ feet, one sees either
Emus or Uggs keeping them warm.
Not only do these shoes come in colors such as black, brown, beige, and
even purple, but they keep our feet
so warm, that it’s hard to resist not
wearing these shoes. They’re sold at
stores such as Browns, The Shoe Company and Si Vous Play and range from
about 100-$200. As expensive as they
are, I personally completely depend
on my Emus for warmth during the
harsh winter days.
Photo Courtesy of www.photobucket.com
Scarves over our uniform
have also been a major fashion statement in our school last winter, and
it seems to be making its way to this
year’s styles in our school. Now I’m
sure the reason for wearing these
scarves isn’t only for warmth. It may
be that since we have uniform, many
girls feel that even the slightest way
to show off their style with different
colors and design is worth it. Scarves
can be found at stores such as Urban
Behavior or Costa Blanca, and prices
vary with quality and design. They
come in a tremendous number of
colours and styles which suit peoples’
personalities and may even slightly
define them as a person.
TNA clothing from Aritzia is
all the rage among the girls in our
school. Walking down the streets of
Woodbridge, a girl is either wearing
TNA yoga pants, a sweater, or at the
very least, a scarf, in every direction.
This style seems to be everlasting in
Woodbridge. TNA clothing is never
last year’s look. From the TNA gym
bags, to the track suits, and even
pencil cases, so many girls just love
Into The Woods
this brand. As well, Aritzia contains
so many different coloured and
designed sweaters which have a
unique and attractive look to them.
It’s almost like nothing beats it, and
that this timeless style will never be
replaced.
Now when we think of parties or special occasions, a restaurant
location is usually one of the first
things that come to mind. After
doing a survey among Grade 10
students to see if they would prefer
to eat at Burger King, Mandarin or
Boston Pizza, results were tallied
and Mandarin seems to be the most
favoured. It’s surprising to see that
we teenagers wouldn’t prefer to grab
a bite at Burger King, but rather leave
behind the unhealthy, preservative
filled fast food and go to a restaurant
with more variety. Mandarin offers
such a wide palate of food from
meats, to seafood, to vegetables
which are cooked regularly. But to
attract teenagers, who usually stuff
themselves with Big Macs? Is it
because Mandarin has such amazing
cooks, or is it just teenagers searching for variety?
Akita Sushi is a place where
many people from Woodbridge have
showed a major interest towards
lately. Located on Highway 7, it’s
seems that sushi for lunch or dinner
or even just a snack is what many of
us would prefer to eat.
As a new Starbucks opens
on highway 27, it appears that the
desire for purchases at Starbucks is
beginning to replace the craze most
people have for Tim Hortons beverages. With countless different types
of hot drinks, and tons of extravagant
flavoured cool drinks, it’s hard to
choose one Starbucks beverage
as your personal favourite.
Drinks sold include Mocha
Valencia, Cinnamon Spice
Mocha, Caramel Apple Cider, Chocolate Crème Frappuccino, and much,
much more. Just the names of these
beverages attract people’s attention
and cause us to wonder if they taste
as good as they sound. But with the
delectable tastes of these beverages
comes the cash; it’s a 5 dollar bill,
if you’re lucky, that purchases you
something from Starbucks, which
would probably buy you at least two
coffees at Tim Hortons. Again, we
seem to be seeking more variety and
more choice in what we drink, and
even though Starbucks is relatively
expensive, their creative drink names
and flavours easily persuade us into
buying their products.
What if there was a play that
combined the musical elements of
High School Musical and the acting
skills of Will Smith with guest appearances from your favorite fairy tale
character(s)? You’re just in luck as
the Grade 12 Drama Class presents to
Holy Cross Catholic Academy “Into
the Woods”. The plot of this exhilarating play involves a baker and his
wife who set out into the woods on a
fascinating journey. In order for their
‘wish’ to be granted, both have to
face different challenges and obstacles ahead. Also, they meet wellknown fairytale characters, such as
the Little Red Ridding Hood, Cinderella, the Big Bad Wolf, and of course, a
witch.
According to Ms. Facchini,
the Grade 12 Drama Class was given
10 different ideas for a play that
would be picked to perform. The class
then voted on their favorite selection, which in this case was “Into the
Woods”. Auditions were held in the
second week of September to decide
the cast.
“A lot of people showed up
for the auditions”, Ms.Facchini said.
“There was a lot of competition for
all of the roles and all who auditioned
were amazing!” In the end, it came
down to Alejandro Chirinos and
Marcus Sibley winning the role of the
Baker. Gabriella Iamundo and Adriana
Dimitri also became the Baker’s wife.
So, many of you may want
to go take a look at the Uggs, or see
how you’d like those stylish TNA
sweaters from Aritzia. Maybe instead
of Tim Hortons, you should purchase
a drink from Starbucks and take a
look at the wide variety offered, or
perhaps go out to dinner with your
family at Mandarin. I mean, there has
to be a reason that we all love these
places so much, right?
-4-
The two moderators for the
play are Mr. Farro, producer, and
Ms.Facchini, artistic and musical
director. “It’s fun working with the
students, but there is a lot of work to
be done. However, I like to take on different challenges because they excite
me and force me to work even harder
than usual”, Ms. Facchini explained.
The majority of the cast includes the Grade 12 Drama Class, but
other students from other grades are
playing extra roles since there are not
enough grade 12s.
A grade 12 student who plays
one of the narrators has been in four
plays before and had this to say, “It’s a
great experience being in a play! The
feeling of performing for an audience
is fun. We’re a big talented group that
works hard every single day to get
things done. I’m not nervous because
as long as I stay in character, I know
everything will be just fine.”
“This being my first play, I was
nervous coming in”, said Justin Bianco, a grade 11 that plays one of the
narrators also. “But, the cast helped
me feel more welcome and now I’m
a part of a big family that really cares
for me.”
The cast is heavily into rehearsals in anticipation of opening
night. The play is being preformed
from January 6th to January 9th.
The cost for one inexpensive ticket is
$10. Tickets will be sold everyday in
the cafeteria and atrium on all three
lunches. This wonderful cast really
does foreshadow the future plays to
come.
November 2008
Holy Cross
Athletics
Hawks are down two points
with ten seconds left on the clock.
The adrenaline is building up as you
sprint down the court, ball in hand.
You round outside of the key and take
a deep breath. You shoot, you score!
For those readers who don’t know,
the Hawks had a spectacular season
last year. I want to take this time to
congratulate all team members on
their hard earned success, no matter which sports they participated in.
Let’s make sure to continue our phenomenal accomplishments this year.
Well into the second month
of the school year, there are already
numerous sport teams, and coaches,
who are determined to do their very
best and attain victory. Last month
teams such as Sr. Boys Volleyball, Jr.
and Sr. Girls Volleyball and Sr. Boys
Basketball began their season. We
all definitely look forward to hearing
the victorious news about the season
standings of these teams.
One of the newer teams to join the
Holy Cross roster of sports teams
is the Rock Climbing Club. In October, they took part in their first two
practices at the Rock and Chalk. One
of the members of the team, Angela
Corapi said, “It’s really fun but also
very strenuous. I didn’t think I’d be
so tired after rock climbing, but my
arms were so sore because it’s all arm
strength.” On November 18, they will
be participating in their first competition. Good luck Hawks!
Not a very athletic person?
Why not come down to all of the
different games and cheer on our
Hawks! The more spectators our
teams have, the more school spirit we
contribute. Haven’t joined any sport
teams yet? What are you waiting
for? Holy Cross has a wide variety of
sport teams for just about anyone.
Sports are a great way to meet new
people and try out new things. What
do you know, you might even enjoy it!
Coaches are always looking for new
members. As the famous Muhammad
Ali once said “It’s lack of faith that
makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.” So
next time you hear an announcement
for that sport you’ve secretly always
wanted to try out for, go for it!
Junior Girls Volleyball Team
Photographed by: Daniela Mitrovic
Senior Boys Soccer Team
Photographed by: Mr. Del Principe
The Puck Will Drop to a New Beat
Hockey Night in Canada has
always been one of the top programs
viewed and discussed by Canadians.
Hockey Night in Canada is hosted by
the ever popular Don Cherry and his
creative wardrobe. The show is a must
for hockey fans of all calibre. It discusses statistics, gives valuable player
information, breaking hockey news,
and game updates. It became a valuable part of Canadian society in the
1920’s and almost one century later,
the enthusiasm and patriotism for our
country hasn’t changed. Many people
will tell you that every hockey season
is phenomenal; that it’s filled with action, suspense, hope, and enjoyment.
This season, however, will be one for
the history books.
After forty years, Dolores
Claman’s catchy tune has finally been
replaced. On June 19th, a contest was
launched to find the new theme music for Hockey Night in Canada by CBC
Sports after it didn’t renew the rights
to Claman’s, ‘The Hockey Theme’,
which were subsequently purchased
by CTV. Canadian musicians were
asked to create a melody which would
compensate for the lost jingle.
After 14,871 entries flooded
in, five semi-finalists were chosen by
our fellow Canadians. They were each
profiled on The Hour with George
Stromboulopoulos and later, on Hockey Night in Canada Anthem Challenge
special, where their original compositions were played in their entirety.
Again, votes were cast and two finalists emerged; Alberta’s Colin Oberst,
and Toronto’s very own Robert Fraser
Burke.
Colin Oberst of Beaumont,
Alberta is no stranger to the musical
stage. Not only is he an elementary
school teacher who has been providing musical education for 10 years,
but he is also an enthusiastic music
writer, and member of an Edmonton based band. Oberst submitted
a total of five entries to the Anthem
Challenge, one of which was entitled
“Canadian Gold”, the winning submission.
The other finalist is a mere
thirteen year old Torontonian. Robert
Fraser Burke has music in his genes.
As the son of a music teacher, he has
developed a passion for the piano,
sings in a choir and performs in a
school band. For such a young child,
his piece - “Sticks to the Ice”, was immensely entertaining and catchy.
Night in Canada, and for music.” It’s
obvious that most of our country feels
the same. We have a clear infatuation
with the sport, and many have come
to realize that this simple activity of
hockey has brought Canada together
as a nation. We’re a land ruled by ice
and snow; our passion and excitement comes together on the rink,
or at home in front of the television.
Colin Oberst will forever be respected
in the Canadian sports community
and his achievements will always be
treasured. This truly is Canadian Gold.
Once again, the people of
Canada were called upon to vote.
After thousands cast their ballots, Colin Oberst’s Celtic-themed piece was
chosen to represent Canada’s longest
running television program. His victory was announced by Don Cherry
during the October 11th Hockey
Night broadcast featuring the Toronto
Maple Leafs hosting Montreal and
Vancouver in Calgary games. Aside
from the great sense of Canadian
pride, Oberst took home the top prize
of $100, 000 and half of the lifetime
royalties; the other 50 per cent are to
be invested into minor hockey leagues
across the country.
“I’m thrilled that it’s an
ordinary Canadian whose passion
for hockey will be forever associated
with the show,” says Scott Moore,
executive director of CBC Sports, “The
process has shown the passion that
Canadians have for hockey, Hockey
-5-
Image courtesy of www.google.com
November 2008
All Hallows’ Eve
October Jam
kisses, even McLovin’ made appearances, just to name a few.
It is the one day a year where
ghouls, ghosts, devils, skeletons and
witches can roam the streets with
absolutely no fear of being caught.
A day where shrieks of horror and
evil laughter are common sounds;
where porches are filled with carved,
candle-lit pumpkins, scarecrows and
cobwebs. Of course, the only day that
could possibly contain all of the above
elements would be Halloween.
This well-known and favoured holiday
originated with an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. This was a period
of time where ancient pagans would
gather stock for storage and slaughter
livestock for the winter months. This
festival included a bonfire, costumes,
and even masks worn in an attempt
to impersonate the evil spirits. Sound
familiar?
This year’s Halloween festivities turned out to be a huge success
with the help of Holy Cross’ Student
Council. The day began with the usual
participation by students arriving at
school fully dressed in their exceptionally creative, scary, or hilarious
costumes. Feelings of good-hearted
competition arose as it was time to
add finishing details to the pumpkins
of the homeroom pumpkin decorating
contest, while anxiety was evident as
classes watched their pumpkin masterpieces being carried away to the
cafeteria. Some classes had their own
individual plans for the day, potlucks
and such, but nothing could top the
lunchtime activities in the cafeteria. The exhilaration of the costume
contest became nearly overwhelming
as the students of Holy Cross entered the decorated cafeteria. To the
disbelief of many, the seniors seemed
to partake in this year’s festivity to
a great extent, which is usually not
the case. Everywhere you looked,
imaginative costumes filled the halls:
a herd of cows, Facebook, Hershey’s
If participating in your high
school’s proceedings for the day was
not your thing, there was also an
abundance of events taking place
outside the school community. The
most prominent place where most
Holy Cross students would have been
found during the weekends of October would be at Canada Wonderland’s
Halloween Haunt. It is an annual
event, with new additions every season expanding their haunted houses
and adding more and more spooky
creatures and special effects. If you
were able to get tickets and the allcoveted ride to the Exhibition Place,
you could have attended Screamer’s,
which, many say, is definitely a more
horrifying experience than Canada’s
Wonderland.
If your Halloween plans did
not involve spending large sums of
money to be scared out of your mind
to the point of tears, there were
plenty of other things to do on Halloween night. Sticking to the traditional trick-or-treating method of fun
has no shame, even for those twelfth
graders who consider it “uncool”. Costume parties appeared to be another
favourite of this year. Even a gathering
at someone’s house, in your costume,
squeezing your friend’s arm so tightly
because they made you watch that
horrific movie which will definitely
give you nightmares for a week, was a
distinct option for many.
So your plans may not have
been that big. So you did not party
with Paris Hilton at her hotel in Los
Angeles. As long as you made an attempt to get into the spirit and keep
the essence of Halloween alive for
all the future generations of sailor
moons, clowns, and the next herd of
cows, you fully experienced the idea
of All Hallows’ Eve.
As you may already know,
the Student Government of Holy
Cross hosted the October Jam, its first
junior dance in almost three years,
just a few short weeks ago. There
was no shortage of energy as nearly
everyone arrived quickly to make sure
their hands were stamped, clearly
ready to hit the dance floor. Once
everyone had arrived, they piled into
the cafeteria, and the fun began. With
a quick change of songs, the mood
was set, and we were ready to dance
the night away—or, at least, the next
three hours.
It was obvious that the grade
nine and ten students came to get
their seven dollar’s worth. Everyone
was looking good, smelling great,
and had their dancing shoes on. It
was great to see bodies moving,
not glued to the walls, like common
beginnings of many school dances. It
was clear that everyone was having
a good time, and didn’t mind being
squeezed together, even though we
had the entire cafeteria to ourselves.
The music was loud, making conversation with someone inside cafeteria
dancehall nearly impossible. In fact, I
think it’s safe to say that we all went
home with ringing ears that night.
The songs were upbeat, catchy and
had everyone singing. Gloria Echeverria, a Holy Cross student, said “The
dance was good, but they need more
variety in songs. Overall, it was a good
dance.” The dance was well-equipped
for fun with glow sticks, streamers,
and yes, even a conga line. Even
approaching 10 o’clock, all students
were partying away and showed no
signs of slowing down. It didn’t smell
as great as it did in the beginning, but
-6-
that didn’t seem to bother anyone.
When friends Sofia DiSevo and Deiala
Abdallah were asked about the dance
they revealed, “It was fun, energetic,
and very exciting.” They were not the
only ones who left satisfied as many
people shared similar emotions.
Not only was it the grade nine’s first
high school dance, but also the grades
ten’s since our attempts at dances
failed three times in the last two
years. Well, it looks like the fourth
time is the charm. The turnout of
people was very impressive, considering that previous dances had to be
cancelled due to low ticket sales. It
seems that there is more school spirit
this year, and we probably have the
freshmen to thank for it, as they clearly outnumbered the sophomores.
Brigitte Cianfrone, a grade nine
student said that she would “Totally
buy tickets again!” And that’s just the
kind of liveliness that we need in this
school. We can’t be sure why people
weren’t buying tickets before, but the
classic, “I don’t dance”-excuse won’t
work any longer! No one ever said
that it was a dancing competition,
just show up, bust a move, and let the
music take you.
Instead of waiting for something fun to happen at the school and
complaining about how nothing ever
takes place, think about how many
times the student council has tried
to plan something fun, but have had
to cancel because not many people
choose to participate. I would highly
recommend that the next time there
is a dance or any other fun event
approaching, buy a ticket and participate, it really is a lot of fun and makes
school more exciting. See you at the
next event!
November 2008
What’s Happening at Holy Cross
Freedom 4 Tomorrow:
Anti-Bullying:
As a new academic school
year begins, so does the hustle and
bustle of academic life. Although the
action packed school day ends at 2:30
in the afternoon, for many students,
the school day is not done yet. In fact,
countless students are involved with
numerous clubs, committees and
sports teams. Such extracurriculars
abound at Holy Cross with the help of
the teaching staff. Holy Cross’ extracurricular activities have gotten off to
a great star.
CLUBS:
Student Government:
Proven to be amazing leaders within Holy Cross, the Student
Government is a committed group of
individuals who work hard to serve
and represent the student body. With
elected representatives from each
grade level as well as the executive
members, this council is constantly
working to ameliorate the Holy Cross
community. In fact, the planning of
amazing activities has already begun.
Starting with Halloween festivities,
the Student Government had many
amusing and interesting events
planned. From pumpkin decorating
to the infamous costume contest, it
was a wonderful Halloween week.
Furthermore, the arrangement for
the council’s largest event, the semi
formal has already begun. This year’s
theme is ‘A Night in Paris’ and it is
guaranteed to be a night to remember. Led by President Joseph Palmieri,
the Holy Cross Student Government
has a number of enjoyable events to
look forward to.
After losing the majority of
their members last year, the AntiBullying Committee was fearful of the
upcoming year. However, thanks to an
amazing turnout at their first meeting, their doubts quickly vanished.
Bullying Awareness Week is quickly
approaching and this committee
has already started promoting this
extremely important time period in
our school. The Anti-Bullying Committee has many events planned for the
duration of the school year including
inspiring guest speakers.
MegaMix:
Promoting multiculturalism
and harmonious acceptance of others
within the Holy Cross community, the
MegaMix Multicultural Committee is
dedicated to the promotion of equity.
Planning events for Black History
Month and Asian Heritage Month,
this committee advocates open-mindedness in the diverse Canadian population exemplified in the Holy Cross
microcosm. Along with creative guests
of different ethnicities and samples of
food from around the world, MegaMix is a truly active committee in our
school.
SLIC Leaders:
What is SLIC Leaders? SLIC is
an acronym for School Library Information Centre. These leaders work
collaboratively with the school library
and Ms. Regina. They are a superb
extracurricular club that helps plan
and organize events. “If you have any
talent that you feel can aide in the
library, join SLIC!” says Ms. Regina in
hopes of increasing the involvement
within this committee.
Freedom 4 Tomorrow is a club
that works collaboratively with our
school library and ultimately with a
larger organization, Free the Children.
This club’s main focus is spreading
information and awareness of social
justice issues such as child labour. One
of their main objectives is promoting youth action. The Vow of Silence
campaign is organized by this group
and has proven to be a great success
over the years. This year, Freedom 4
Tomorrow, has taken on an initiative
of organizing a weeklong event called
“Celebrate for Change”. Taking place
during the first week of December,
Freedom 4 Tomorrow will be selling
cupcakes to raise funds and awareness about how there are thousands
of children who are not registered at
birth.
Arts Council:
Mr. Farro and Ms. Facchini
have developed an Arts Council for
those individuals interested in the
Arts at Holy Cross. The Arts category
encompasses music, visual arts and
drama. Talent shows, productions and
the promotion of the arts are a few
of their many objectives. Recently, on
October 16, a Talent Night was held.
Many talents were displayed and
applauded. The Holy Cross student
body truly does have a lot of talent.
Whether it be singing, dancing or acting, the Arts Council’s main purpose
is to promote love and respect for the
arts at our school.
Youth Group:
As one of the largest groups
in the Holy Cross community, the
Youth Group is an extremely influential committee. Led by chaplaincy
Photo Courtesy of Ramina Adam
and Sara Moscatel
-7-
members, Mr. Battilana and Mr.
Mignella, the group is committed to
performing actions that better the
Holy Cross neighbourhood as well as
the rest of the community. Just recently, the Youth Group went on their
annual apple picking excursion. As a
group, forty students picked apples to
donate to the Good Shepherd Centre. Also, the members performed
service work which truly made them
realize the importance of sharing as
a community. The Youth Group also
held their annual Turkey Raffle where
they auctioned off raffle tickets to
win stupendous prizes like an iPod
Touch, pies, and an actual turkey for
Thanksgiving. The proceeds went to
a worthwhile cause, the Dominican
Relief Fund. In collaboration with
Father Michael and St. Peter’s Parish,
the Youth Group wishes to plan and
execute activities that embody Christian virtues.
As shown by the long list of
extracurricular activities offered at
Holy Cross, the students have many
activities to choose from. It is important to be involved in your schooling
environment. It is recommended that
all students participate for the betterment of Holy Cross. In the words of
the famous Mahatma Ghandi, “Be the
change you want to see in the world!”
Get involved and make a difference!
November 2008
Cross Got Talent!
On the night of October 16th,
students of Holy Cross, including myself, forgot about school and put their
best foot forward in the annual Talent
Night! The evening was filled with
laughs, singing, music, dancing, and of
course, lots of talent.
This was the third talent
show I’ve been in, and personally I
was excited because I love getting
up on stage and performing. Before
the show I asked some of the other
performers how they were feeling,
and I was surprised to find only a
few nervous individuals amongst the
group. But we were all getting in as
much last minute practice as we could
while we anxiously waited for show
time. Finally, Mrs. Facchini called us
into the cafeteria for the beginning of
the show.
Three very funny and charming students – Alejandro Chirinos,
Johnathan Dipasquale and Nicholas
Del Plavignano - were chosen to act
as emcees and introduce the acts
throughout the night. Sal Fierro
kicked off the night with his many
voices in a hilarious comedy skit. His
relationship jokes and awkward, but
funny, childhood memories had the
crowd laughing the entire time. Next
up was Arianna Comella playing piano
and singing My Immortal by Evanescence. I have to say that the quality of
her voice just blew me away. Marco
Giovenetti and David Gambin rocked
the stage next with an original guitar
arrangement. Their guitar skills were
unbelievable! Following them were
David Nguyen and Clifford Bassey
with a hip-hop dance to Live your
Life by Rihanna. Their smooth dance
steps made me want to get up and
dance with them. I was next playing guitar and singing my version of
Taylor Swift’s, Teardrops on my Guitar.
After that I called up my good friend,
Maryam Oyewumi to perform Realize
by Colbie Caillat with me. Not to brag
but, I have to say we did a great job.
We worked really hard to put together a great performance and it was all
worth it as I strummed the final chord
of the song and heard all the claps
and cheers from the audience. After
us was another dance, but one that
I’ve never seen at the Talent Show
before. Jenny Cassir and Marilyn
Ayyad did a fantastic belly dance that
wowed a lot of people in the crowd.
The last, but certainly not least, act of
the night were two more singers, Tiana Donnely and Christina Gonsalves,
performing a collection of Alicia Key’s
songs including Karma and No One.
Talent Night is one of my favourite school events because I love
to perform for people on stage, and I
enjoy seeing all of the other talented
individuals in our school share their
gifts with everyone. I had much more
fun this year because I got to share
the stage with a friend, as opposed to
last year when I performed by myself.
Mrs. Facchini who always works very
hard to organize the show thought
“The Talent Night was overall very
well done, and the students had a
lot of great talent, and it was a very
fun and entertaining evening.” “The
comedy was great, and it was great
to see different talents, like the belly
dancers. I had a really fun time,” said
grade 11 student, Juliana Piazza. I
also would like to congratulate all of
the performers. I know what it takes
to get up on stage and I’d like to give
everyone credit who is brave enough
to get over their fears and share their
talent with everybody.
If you weren’t at the Talent
Night that just passed, you should
definitely attend the next one. Although there are usually about 100
people in the audience, it would be
great to perform for an even bigger
crowd. It’s a show you don’t want to
miss!
Photos on this page courtesy of Daniela Mitrovic
-8-
November 2008
Are We Really a “Mosaic”?
be the same thing; “This is a Caucasian school. I felt out of place for the
first few weeks, especially because I
came from a school that was largely
diverse.”
Woodbridge is facing a
diversity crisis. In comparison to its
largely diverse counterpart, Toronto,
Woodbridge is only a small town with
a large Italian population.
Diversity in Vaughan is adequate; visible minorities make up at
least one fourth of the population. At
Holy Cross, however, visible minorities
are so minimal that they do not even
make up five percent of the school’s
population. Within the school there
are twenty-four linguistic groups, of
which the largest number of students
speak Spanish and Tagalog, which is
spoken in the Philippines. Nevertheless, there is an increase in other
ethnic groups.
Look around Holy Cross and
the truth, if it has not already, will
hit you; Holy Cross is not a diverse
school. Arielle Townsend’s first impression of our school happened to
Visible minorities are not the
only apparent non-existent communities in Woodbridge. There is a lack
of Europeans that are non-Italian as
well. Sure, there is a café on Hwy
7 with a Portuguese, Croatian, and
Italian flag hanging from it, but that
is the closest you will get to exposure
of other European cultures here in
Woodbridge.
The same issue applies to
our school. The MegaMix Multicultural Committee, however, attempts
to unify the student body by raising
awareness of multiculturalism and
equality. Within the MegaMix mission
statement, it states; “If students are
more aware of the diversity among
them and learn to respect their peers,
that knowledge will carry through
high school and prepare them for
life.” Arielle is making a difference by
joining MegaMix. I support MegaMix’s
cause and am a proud member of the
group. What are you doing to help?
This month, the MegaMix
Committee is going on a campaign to
make itself known, to mainly junior
and grade eleven students. MegaMix
is currently made up of only senior
students, meaning that there will not
be a MegaMix Committee next year
if no new members join this year.
This will have a drastic effect on the
student body at Cross and lead to
ignorance, or non-acceptance, which
will only worsen when the seniors
graduate this year. If you are interested in joining MegaMix look for Theresa Do, the President of MegaMix, or
Ms. Sanci and Ms. Pereira, the school
faculty members who are behind the
student group.
I have been asked why, if lack
of diversity appears to be such a problem for me, do I remain in the city?
Well, I did not have a choice when I
moved into Woodbridge and continue
to have no choice on where I would
prefer to live. On a larger scale, this
crisis appeals to the idea that, as Ms.
Sanci has coined, “Non-acceptance is
ignorance.”
I am not of Italian or Canadian descent, and being brought up
linguistically and deeply learned in my
own culture, I cannot stress enough
that this is basically assisted ethnic
suicide. If you are not helping the
cause, not speaking for diversity, you
are helping it diminish. If you love all
aspects of your culture, and enjoy
sharing details of it with others, MegaMix is definitely a committee you
should add to your list. The common
stereotype is that this is basically a
coloured or non-Italian committee,
but Italians and others of Caucasian
descent are always welcome. All you
need is an open mind and passion
for your culture in order to join, and
I know that there are many people
in this school who have these basic
requirements. As a person of Torontonian upbringing, I see Woodbridge
as a safe-guarded bubble. MegaMix is
one of the only committees that can
burst the bubble and change the common one-minded mentality. Seriously,
there is so much more to the world
other than Market Lane and Palazzo.
Open your eyes and look at the big
picture; you will find that your vision
will improve, enabling you to seeing
a large array of new things, each with
their own shade and colour.
The Culturally Diverse Mega Mix Poster
Honouring Our Students
success in the 2007-2008 school year.
There is definite cause for celebration as the academics of Holy Cross
students continue to improve.
On the evening of October
22nd, students, parents and teachers congregated in the Holy Cross
cafeteria to recognize the efforts and
outstanding achievements of various
members of the student body. The
awards ceremony was an opportunity
to celebrate the school’s collective
Once the ceremony officially
commenced with the national anthem
and prayer, both Mr. Allan Mackey, supervisory officer of the York Catholic
District School Board, and Mr. Rotino
addressed the audience with heartfelt
words of inspiration and congratulations.
The presentation of awards,
though probably the longest segment
of the evening, held much excitement
for those receiving an award, or in
some cases, multiple awards. In each
subject, awards for excellence and
achievement were distributed. It was
a great experience for all students, I
am sure, to watch their friends and
classmates proudly walk to the stage
to retrieve their plaque or certificate.
The entire event was a proud and
fulfilling one for all present as teachers and family shared in the success
of the students. Needless to say, the
refreshments generously provided
-9-
by students, parents and Holy Cross
were widely appreciated after the
ceremony, as this was the opportunity
to socialize.
The effort put forth by the
awards committee in organizing an
event as exciting as the Award’s Ceremony was evident in every aspect of
the evening. Their hard work is sure
to be appreciated by all who attended.
November 2008
comforted knowing that you are the
first to do something so “different”.
Semi-Formal On A Budget
Other stores worth mentioning are
H & M (only for the brave-at-heart),
Zara, Forever 21, and Denise.
A modest budget is no excuse
for a lack luster outfit as this year’s
theme for the Grade 11 Semi-Formal
sets out to immortalize Parisian style,
elegance and sophistication in the
fashion and attire of those who attend. It is the night that offers every
girl a chance to be trend-inspiring
and fashionable and all guys dapper
and suave. With that in mind, one
must also recognize that “au courant”
taste is not always illustrated in the
outfits of those with an infinite budget.
High or low; choosing a
dress that exemplifies personal style
requires a combination of innate
knowing and outward inquiry. It is
much easier to spend loads of money
on a look that has been manipulated and adjusted to conform to the
latest trends than it is to shop with
a budget. Fortunately, there are
many stores that do accommodate
shoppers with very little to spend
without compromising quality and
taste. Stores like Mango and Urban
Outfitters offer a wide variety of
dresses that are both inexpensive
and reflective of the current trends.
At only $139.00, the lace feature on
the Mango dress (photo to the right)
epitomizes the current Parisian style
without looking like your Nonna accidentally sowed on her lace doilies.
Similarly, Urban Outfitters offers a
variety of options that range from
$39.99 to $119.00, thus, proving
that first-class taste can definitely
be achieved at second-class prizes.
Fortunately for those of us
with an unlimited budget, the sky’s
the limit, the choices are endless, and
the options are abundant. From the
catalogues of the finest department
stores in Toronto and the elite dwellings of the most coveted dresses of
the season, nothing is off limits and
nearly everything goes.
Ultimately, it is important to
remember that the night’s success
is not so much dependent on what
you’re wearing or how much your
dress costs, but by the way it fits and
whether or not you feel comfortable.
Buy the right dress for you because,
in the end, the greatest thing you
could possibly wear is self-confidence
which, ironically, happens to be free.
Holding just as much importance, choosing the right transportation, salon and make-up artist can
be quite daunting. Limousines are
always an option as they are a classic
fixture in the parking lots of any hall
hosting a high school event. Most are
quasi-affordable and can fit as many
as friends as you fancy. However, if
limos are out of your price range or
just aren’t your thing, another option
could be hitching a ride with the only
G2 driver you might know. Though
personally, my favorite alternative- as
heard from a friend of mine- is taking
your parents mini-van and decorating it with streamers, balloons and
car paint. The last option I offer, as
unconventional and embarrassing as
it might seem, is taking public transportation- at least then you could be
Once you’ve found the
perfect dress, and decided on the
right transportation, the next hurdle
to tackle is where and by whom you
will be getting your hair and make-up
done. There is an abundance of salons in Woodbridge and the Vaughan
area but, in my opinion, I would stick
with a hairdresser you can be sure of
to avoid the scary feeling of putting
your hair in the hands of a complete
stranger. If you have an innate talent
for hair, then I would suggest doing
it yourself as that is the best budgetfriendly option. The same theory
applies with make-up. If you’re good
at it and willing to experiment, then
do it yourself. For people like me—
those who have no idea how to put
mascara on without hurting themselves—I would suggest finding a department s tore. Sephora, MAC, the
Bay and even Holt Renfrew all offer
make-up artists qualified in applying
make-up for your special event.
To all you guys out there
reading this article, I don’t have too
BCBG $360
(bcbg.com)
The New Sheriffs in Town
Mango $139
(mangoshop.com)
people of all ages and brings forth a
new adventure.
Ever heard of the saying,
“Change is good?” I happen to agree
with this simple, yet profound expression because it can be applied to
almost all aspects in life. Change not
only provides diversity and interest;
it also provides knowledge, a different
point of view, and may even help to
improve a certain area of focus. Without change, the minds of us students,
and even of teachers, would become
so narrow that life would
become an ultimate
bore. Change, rather,
broadens the minds of
Sara
urtesy of
Photo co
This year, Holy Cross Catholic
Academy has warmly welcomed two
new Vice Principals to our school community, Mr. Babic and Ms. Sheahan.
Together with our sincerely dedicated
Principal Mr. Rotino, Mr. Babic and Ms.
Sheahan bring a new perspective to
the school with innovative ideas and
helping hands to help create a positive
high school experience for students.
One thing that does not
change—no matter how many different principals and vice Principals run
a particular school—is their dedication to the students and faculty of
the school. “I want to work with the
many suggestions for you. Simply
buy a suit that fits well or if a suit is
out of the question, choose an outfit
that exemplifies your personal taste.
Regardless of whether or not you
wear a suit, just remember that jeans
aren’t an option and neither is tucking your pants into your socks.
Once you’re all dolled up,
don’t forget to arrive on time for “A
Night in Paris”.
staff and community of Holy Cross
and most importantly, the students,
towards making school a place where
students can shine,” says Mr. Babic
about his goals for his upcoming time
at Holy Cross.
Now, as I have begun my third
year of high school, I have acquired
a comfortable liking for the daily
routines, and overall school system
here at Holy Cross. I feel privileged
to attend this school because of its
dedication to academics, sports and
recreational clubs, and its devotion to
our Catholic Faith. Morning Prayer on
Mondays, as well as Morning Mass on
Fridays, are two very special aspects
of our school which help keep our
religion alive.
l
Moscate
Photo courtesy of Joelle Pecora
Photo courtesy of Joelle Pecora
-10-
Urban Outfitters $119
(urbanoutfitters.com)
Mr. Babic believes that “[Holy
Cross] Catholic school community’s
dedication to optimizing student
success” is what makes our school
so unique. The wide range of sports
teams, school clubs, and contests
available here at Holy Cross enrich a
student’s academic experience. Ms.
Sheahan would like to “increase student involvement in leadership roles,
and in programs such as dance and
cooperative learning.”
It is common to believe that
the role of a Vice Principal is to formulate rules, and essentially, enforce
them. However, having administrated
for six years combined at St. Augustine
and St. Joan of Arc, “patience, a sense
of humour, empathy, fairness, and a
positive attitude,” are the adjectives
Ms. Sheahan used to describe her role
as V.P. As for Mr. Babic, he says that
what he enjoys most about being a
vice principal is “getting the chance to
work with a large number of students
and staff with regards to very diverse
interests, needs, and passions.” Thank
you for eagerly expressing your genuine commitment and goals for the
future Ms. Sheahan and Mr. Babic, and
welcome to Holy Cross!
November 2008
Viva Strike Blues
Did you miss the big comfy
blue bus? The padded seats? The
comfort of getting to school or the
mall without having to depend on a
ride from your folks? If so, then you
most likely had the Viva Strike Blues.
Finally, on October 10th, an
agreement was reached. The drivers
get an hourly wage of $21.37, up from
$20.75, and paid sick leave. All Viva
bus routes were to be working the
next morning. No more waiting for
the YRT or walking.
So the next time you are
on the Viva, remember it is not the
“Free-va.” By not paying, we are
stealing. We show that we do not
care about the convenience that the
Viva offers. This shows disrespect,
and as Catholic school students, we
should give people the respect they
deserve. I think if you grew up to be a
bus driver, you would not want to be
taken advantage of; so don’t take advantage of the hard working bus drivers that help keep the city running. It
will make both your lives easier in the
long run.
As I’m sure many of you
know, Viva bus drivers had gone on
strike against Veolia Transportation
Inc. from September 25th until October 11th 2008. The reason for the
strike was the rejection of a contract
proposal made by the majority of Viva
workers. This contract included small
benefits for the bus drivers, such as
being paid on sick days and increased
wages. Most Viva drivers do not get
sick days. Not much to ask for, huh?
On September 24th, it was
decided that they would be striking
the next day at local bus terminals,
until a fair agreement resolved.
...So the battles began.
Many people were delayed
because of this. Adults could not get
to work, and students could not get
to school on time. This impacted us
greatly, especially those of us who use
the Viva buses almost every day
The Viva workers who picketed during the strike illegally blocked
YRT buses from leaving and entering
Finch station. This caused very long
and stressful delays, and left Veolia
Transportation Inc. to think about
negotiating their contract.
On September 30th, York Region was forced to consider the safety
issues that the blocking of the bus
terminals were causing. They had to
come to an agreement with the Viva
workers, stating that they were legally
allowed to strike—just not in front
of Finch Station. The same day, York
Region said they were committed to
helping the Viva workers negotiate, as
long as the safety of the people was
maintained and unnecessary delays
avoided. By this time, some Viva
routes were re-opened and Viva bus
workers considered taking back their
old contract.
Photo courtesy of Josh Andrewcheck
Woodbridge Fall Fair
ago. In its early years, the fair often
switched locations and would use
tents to house livestock, instead of
the buildings we see today.
Photo Courtesy of Josh Andercheck
Picture this: it is Thanksgiving
weekend across Canada. Looking for
something to do after that enormous
feast of turkey with all the trimmings,
you take a walk down Kipling Avenue,
straight into the heart of Old Woodbridge. The first thing you will notice
are the cars lined up along the sides
of the road. A tent is set up in the
distance, with people entering and exiting. You wander through the crowds,
anxious to see what all the commotion is about, then you realize that
you just entered the time machine of
the Woodbridge Fall Fair.
The Woodbridge Fall Fair has
been held since 1847. It has undergone only a few minor changes since
its grand opening those many years
Presently, the large white tent
that all have to pass through to enter
is host to vendor booths offering a
wide assortment of homemade goods
such as candles, Tupperware, and
chocolate pizzas—yum!
Walking further on, the excitement continues. In every corner
and crevice of the fairgrounds one can
see and smell food trailers offering
classic fair delights like candy apples,
hotdogs and ice cream. But what
good is all this food without a show
to it enjoy it with? Don’t worry, the
Woodbridge Fair has you covered.
There is an area where you can sit
down and enjoy these treats, facing
a stage set up in front with shows
including magicians and Elvis Presley
Photo Courtesy of Ramina Adam
Photo Courtesy of Ramina Adam
Photo Courtesy of Ramina Adam
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look-a-likes performing for your entertainment.
Next on the schedule of mustsee sites is a group of metal buildings
sure to catch your eye. They house
the agricultural products and floricultural items, the children’s crafts,
art, culinary art, needlework and
crafts, and school competitions. Giant
pumpkins draw attention to the rows
of plants in the agriculture and floriculture building. The children’s craft
building brings joy to your younger
siblings- and a short-lived rest from
babysitting for you. In the arts and
crafts building, Holy Cross students
were very successful in the contests
raking in many awards.
One of the most recognizable
aspects of the Woodbridge Fall Fair
is, of course, the petting zoo which
is home to a wide range of animals
from ducks to llamas, all of whom are
welcoming of any loving touch.
Finally, to the delight of kids and
adults alike, are the games, rides and
fun houses. They don’t compare to
the thrilling gravity defying rides of
Canada’s Wonderland, but they bring
about an old time charm sure to
please all members of the family, like
a time capsule being opened for the
first time in fifty years.
The Woodbridge Fall Fair
represents of course, Woodbridge
at its very best. It exhibits the accomplishments of the inhabitants of
Woodbridge and the achievements of
the entire community. It is through an
event like this one, in all its unchanging glory that we can say with reason
that Woodbridge is a brilliant place
to live, clearly full of talents, fun and
wonders.
November 2008
Adventures of ... Earth Mang
Upcoming Events
By: Chanel Sanci
November
11: Remembrance Day; University
Registration Information Workshop
12: Drug & Alcohol Awareness Assembly
12-13: Grade 11 Drama Night
15-19: New York City Arts Trip
17: National Bullying Prevention
Week; Graduation Pictures Week
18: College Registration Information
Workshop
21: Semi-Formal; Blue Civies Day
27: Civies Day
28: PA Day
December
1-5: Freedom 4 Tomorrow activities
9: Youth Ministers’ Spirit Day
11: Christmas Arts Night
18: Civies Day; Grade 9 &10 School
Teams Spirit Day
InTRANsition
By: Lina Tran
Pen Is Clean
By: Andrea Sferrazza
Pumpkin C
!
arving Contest
.... (no comment)....
how did you feel
about getting cut up?
Crick! Cric
10 minutes later...
SUDOKU
3 8 5
6
1
7
3
4
2
8
2
9
9 4 2
ck!
cra
Difficulty - Easy
1 4 9
9 3
3
4
8
9
2
1
3
6
4
4 7
5 8 6
OMG it
talked!!!
Difficulty - Hard
6
3 8
9
2
8
6
7 9
5
3
7
3
4
4
5
7
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k!
6
1 3
2
8
5 4
1
2
Be the first to complete the sudoku puzzle and bring it to Mr.Rotino for a prize!