The HCOS Weekly Ninth Edition
Meet Megan Ferguson
An Interview By Jennica Wlodarczyk 1. For the readers who don’t know you very well, give us a rough explanation of who you are. Well my name, as you know, is Megan. I’m 14 years old and currently in Grade 9. I live in a little town called Sooke just outside of Victoria on Vancouver Island. I have been homeschooled all of my life and have always loved Language Arts. I tend to lean towards the creative, artistic side of the spectrum; well minus the drawing and painting! I am a born again believer. I was baptized at my church in September. I try to follow God, but I’m not perfect and often have big struggles with obedience to Him. 2. What is one of your favourite things to do and why? Ooh, I have many favourite things to do. But if I can only choose one, I would choose reading. The reason I would choose reading is because you can travel the world by opening a book. Middle Earth, Panem, Narnia, Medieval Britain,
even Outer Space are places any- er loved him. He has no reason to one can visit at any time! I find it live but he presses on and serves very exciting. his city and his people. I have compassion for the innocent, broken3. You’ve written most of the hearted and weak-spirited; the Verse of the Week articles for the people who are empty inside. HCOS Weekly. What usually inspires your ideas for this article 5. What was one of the most series? meaningful moments in your life? Well I try to make my articles This summer I went to a Bible somewhat relatable to everyone. I Camp and I remember everyone often think about struggles I’ve talking about what was important had and what got me through to them and what they wanted to them or things I wish I had done. do in life. The things they needed. Occasionally I’ll write about some- Such as a good job, friends, a thing that I need help with. house of their own. I’m positive Usually, I try and find a verse that God hit me with this; I realized that will help everyone in their day to I didn’t need anything. I didn’t day lives. Sometimes when I’m need anything at all if I had God running low on ideas I’ll go to this with me. I could be homeless, I wonderful site called Bible Gate- could have no education but as way, read the verse of the day and long as I had God I would be fine. It come up with an idea of my own! was such a strong overwhelming Isn’t the internet wonderful? feeling and it gave me such http://www.biblegateway.com/ strength and hope! That was one of my most meaningful moments. 4. Those of us who know you know that you’re a big Lord of the 6. What are you planning to do Rings fan. Who is your favourite once you graduate from high character from this series and school? why? Immediately after I graduate, I’ll True, very true, I am a huge Lord of probably go eat some dinner and the Rings fan! This is a very mean watch TV. But seriously, I have no q u e s t i o n ; I l i k e a l l o f t h e clue. I would like to go to College/ characters! Ahaha If you ask me University and get a degree in this again next week I’ll most likely something or other, perhaps a have a different answer! Currently, Teacher’s degree. Honestly, I’m just my favourite character is Faramir. going to have to play it by ear and The reason I adore Faramir is be- trust God will show me what he cause he is put through so much. wants me to do. His brother dies and his father nev-
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7. What does the colour gold make you think about? It makes me think about the Desolation of Smaug and a part I can’t share because it would spoil it! By Jaleesa Taylor Sorry everyone!
Dating: Is it Worth it?
times before. Whenever you date someone, you give a little piece of your heart away. I have to ask, what happens when you have
8. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Out of anywhere in the world, I would go to the UK. Why? Most of my family originates in the UK, mainly Britain. Or if I couldn’t go the UK, Israel would be my second choice! It would be so neat to visit the country where Jesus and many folks in the Bible walked around!
Nowadays, according to society, dating is equivalent to being cool or popular. Studies show that 89% of teenagers are in a dating relationship. I have to wonder if these teens are even considering the idea of dating or just going along with their peers and following the examples of celebrities. Since their friends have either a boyfriend or a girlfriend, they presume that they should have one too.
9. Who is one of the greatest role models in your life and why? Jesus!!! Best role model you can ever have! He’ll never fail you, he never messes up like I do, and he’ll always be there for you! Also my Grandma is a huge role model for me! She’s not perfect but she is such an amazing lady! She has so many life experiences and stories to share! I feel that I gain wisdom by being around her.
Sincerely, The chances are that school dating Norris, Chuck will not end in marriage. So, what's the point? I honestly cannot see Dear Chuck Norris, one. School should be a friendly environment where students are He would chuck as much would as enabled to learn and grow, while a wood chuck could if a wood getting an education, not a signifi- chuck could chuck wood. cant other. I believe that if students started focusing on their Thanks for your question, schoolwork, instead of maintain- Dr. Wise ing their dating status, we would start to see a notable increase in Dear Readers, school grades. If you were seriously wondering We are now in a time when even el- how much wood a woodchuck ementary students are dating. This would chuck if a woodchuck could gives me a great deal of pause. Are chuck wood, here is an actual anthese students mature enough to swer from an actual experiment. even think of dating? At an age when children usually play with “He'd chuck 361.9237001 cubic Lego and Barbies, they are being centrimeters of wood per day, taught that dating is perfectly ac- which is the wood that a woodceptable and even encouraged. I chuck COULD chuck, if a woodchuck am compelled to believe that this could chuck wood.” is completely wrong. Cheers, Also, when you finally meet your Jubilee Chiu, Editor. prince charming or the fair maiden that you want to spend the rest of Source: http://scientopia.org/blogs/ your life with, you want your rela- scicurious/2012/10/05/friday-weirdtionship to be special-not some- science-how-much-wood-could-athing that you have done a million
10. And finally, since it’s a very important question, what is your favourite colour? I agree! It’s a totally important question! Actually, I have three favourite colours: Blue, Purple, and Green! Thank you so much for interviewing me! It’s been wonderful! *lots of confetti* Oops… I guess someone will have to clean that up. But seriously thanks so much to Jenn and the whole HCOS Weekly Team for all their hard work putting together the paper!
nothing left?
Ask Dr. Wise By Kristina Fedorov Dear Dr. Wise, How much wood could a Wood Chuck chuck if a Wood Chuck could chuck wood?
The HCOS Weekly
woodchuck-chuck/
I.M.O. with Grace By Grace Kelly
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rant, because if I actually got started on that it could quickly turn into a full length book. I’ve decided to talk about New Year’s Resolutions, since any that you’ve made this year are probably already abandoned. If they’re not, good on you. This is going to be a relatively short thing, I only have a couple of points on this subject, so don’t mind me while I spin through them like a demented monkey trying to make a birthday cake for his mother in law. (Appreciate that analogy; it took me three minutes to think up.)
Hey guys, I trust your break from school was both beneficial and enjoyable; and if you think it was too short then you are correct. What bothers me is when teachers actually expect us to do schoolwork over the holidays. I mean, there are some people that actually work over the Christmas break, and they’re the ones that get their dream jobs in the future and retire early. But if you’re like me, if you’re given work to do during Winter Break, you write it down on a paper, schedule it out so that you have a few days free, and then proceed to berate yourself and moan and agonize every single day that you neglect to actually do your work. All this is to say that I got next to no schoolwork done over the holidays and I’m begging you to join in my angst. But the lack of my work ethic is surprisingly not the subject of this
cant in your life. Hard work and dedication, coupled together, are the two things that make and numbers of events transpire. Point 2: Stupid Resolutions. Okay, so you all know those annoying people that say stuff every New Year such as, “I want to grow my hair this year.” Or “I want to get taller.” Or, “I want to stop biting my nails.” A) Your body is going to grow by itself, there’s nothing you can do to help that. B) Stop resolving to quit habits, everyone knows you’re not actually going to change anything. Shhhhhhh.
Point 1: Why Make New Year’s Resolutions? And then there’s the most annoying one: when grade 12 students There is virtually no point. If you say, “My resolution is to graduate want to do something, just do it. this year.” You’re in grade 12. For instance, more than half of the You’re going to graduate. It’s pretty population makes their New Year’s much the only thing you can do at resolution to lose weight during this point (except failing grade 12 the year, and I believe that the or dying.) statistic was that less than 20% of everyone that makes that resolu- Point 3: People That Don’t Make tion actually goes through with it. I New Year’s Resolutions And Grumfeel that New Year’s resolutions are ble About Them Because They’re too often used to assuage guilt Too Lazy to Even Try And Motivate over people not doing what they Themselves To Do Anything Of Imknow they should be doing. An ex- portance. ample: last year I resolved on the first of January 2013 to be nicer to It’s pretty much in the title. my brother. That resolution lasted about seven minutes. I’m not nec- So there’s my fairly short take on essarily saying this to make much resolutions and doing stuff. By the of a point except that resolutions way, if you’re one of the people like that are stupid. You can’t be that make resolutions and actually consistently nice to someone that go through with them, I have imyour generally not nice to unless mense respect for you and you you have a change of heart, it’s just should teach me your ways. not the kind of thing that you can switch on and off by sheer power -Grace of will. If you want to do something I’d love to get suggestions for fuyou have to work at it. And the ture rants, just message me on harder the task is, the harder you moodle or the ning or find me on have to work at it. It’s that simple. facebook. So many social networkWords alone are not going to spur ing sites, so little time. you into changing anything signifi-
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Verse of the Week
By Megan Ferguson But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 This verse urges us to be Holy. But do you ever wonder what it means
love are not things that are easy to achieve. But we all have to try for it is written “Be holy, because I am
to be Holy? Well let’s take a look. In Romans 6 Paul states that we are not to let “Sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” He also says that when we were sinners we were slaves to sin. However when we are saved we become slaves to God, willing servants. He fills us with righteous- Dear holy”.Readers, ness and our reward is holiness and eternal life with Him, so we are If you have requests for TV show or to be righteous. movie reviews, Davin, Noah and Jesse would love some suggesIn the book of Timothy, Paul re- tions! Grace is taking requests for minds us to lead “Peaceful and rants as well, and she’s reachable quiet lives in all godliness and holi- through Skype (grace.olga1), Ning, ness.” So we are to be righteous, Moodle, Facebook and email. Got peaceful and quiet. Paul instructs questions, or need advice? Feel the women of the church to contin- free to shoot Dr. Wise (Kristina) and ue in “faith, love and holiness, with the Editor an email. We are always propriety”. Yet I believe this applies ecstatic to hear from you!! Reach to the men as well. Being holy is us at hcosweekly@outlook.com. not something that happens overnight. You have to work at it. Cheers! Righteousness, peace, faith and
Super Comics
Homeschooler Reading - By Joshua Wlodarczyk
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Noah's Random Movie Review of the Week:
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug By Noah Penner Jubilee (BC Consumer Protection Classification: Rated PG. Several scenes of violence depicting fighting, stabbing, shooting, decapitation, impalement and/or burning; several frightening scenes depicting supernatural beings.) I have to admit, I wasn't really very excited about seeing The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. The first film was pretty good, but it was obviously stretching the source material to create a trilogy. The LOTR movies had 1500 pages to adapt, while the Hobbit has 200! As such, The Desolation of Smaug suffers from the dreaded middle-movie syndrome, not having enough story to wrap up in a nice satisfying package, while also having to entertain us for two and half hours. Remember when I said Catching Fire had a not-so-great ending? The Desolation of Smaug is even worse; it doesn't just end, it ends, leaving us completely unsatisfied and unhappy that the last 30 minutes of the movie are effectively useless in the grand story. There's no semi-conclusion that makes us feel satisfied yet excited for the next installment; just a lame cliffhanger that significantly tarnished my impression of the film. Another big issue is the film's running time. This wasn't a problem for me in the last four Tolkien films, but here, it's nearly unbearable! I blame it on the needlessly complex storyline, which delves into every detail imaginable, even if it doesn't
cellently, with great action scenes, great acting, and great special effects. Do I even need to explain the plot here? Watch the first film, think about the second film's title, and it should be pretty clear. The new characters are alright, with the standout of course being the dragon Smaug, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. He's not as interesting as Gollum, but does make the final act of the film interesting. My only complaint in the storytelling aspect is that Bilbo, again portrayed by Martin Freeman, isn't given enough screen time; he's there, and he's useful, but he isn't the sole focus of the story, which is odd considering that the entire affect the big picture. It's obvious thing is being told in flashback that The Hobbit could have been from Bilbo in the first film. easily adapted into two films (as was originally planned), thus elimi- All in all, should you see The Hobnating the awful middle-movie bit: The Desolation of Smaug? Of syndrome that affects The Desola- course! Otherwise you won't be tion of Smaug. We already know caught up when There and Back the film won't conclude the story, Again, the final installment, releasand that the next film will of course es in theatres. It's a good film, just be another two and a half hours, packaged badly. I'd personally wait so why should we care? I suspect until it is released on home video, this problem will be lessened when but if you're a huge Tolkien fan the film is released on DVD and who could actually read through Blu-ray, since you can pause it, The Silmarillion in one sitting, of take a break, maybe finish the film course you'll have a good time. another day, and then immediately watch the next one, but in the Two and a half stars out of four. A theatre, it drags on. It feels like we good film, just packaged badly. should be watching a miniseries, Would be far more enjoyable to not a theatrical film. watch in the comforts of your own home. Now, despite everything bad I've said about The Desolation of (For comparison's sake, since I Smaug so far, it's important to re- didn't review it before, I would member that this is a Peter Jack- give the first film three stars out son film, and as such is filmed ex-
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of four.) Corner Presents: Literature
THE COURSE OF CHANGE A Poem By Jennica Wlodarczyk A brand new fight It starts tonight The crowd is cheering And the price is right The same old dance They see in me But hold up There’s nothing wrong With holding on But I’m so tired ‘Fraid I’ll slip and fall I know there’s more To my life than this So change up There’s something there I know I’m not perfect But even so this world’s worth it I’m fighting for my life here I’m breaking strife here Changin’ up the paths now Not looking back now The war is on so Not looking back now Breakin’ old habits Changing the climate And so I’ll stay here Giving my life here Stay on this path so Just holdin’ on now