The HCOS Weekly Vol. 2 Edition 4
Satellites An Article By Adley Soames
Today we will be looking at satellites, or more specifically, the lack of satellites. Satellites are an extremely important type of technology which we strongly depend on. Satellites watch the weather, giving us vital predictions about what’s going to happen. This has saved thousands of lives from natural disasters such as hurricanes, as well as saving the farming industry billions of dollars. As well as predicting the weather, satellites also make GPS systems possible, which is something almost all ships depend on for navigation. Meteorologists use two types of satellites to predict the weather. One type orbits at 35,000 kilometres above the Earth and the other
orbits at 800 kilometres. The second type (known as a polar-orbiting satellite) provides much more accurate data due to its location being closer to earth. However, the polar-orbiting satellites are extremely expensive to launch, due to the high speed it takes to enter orbit so close to Earth. Because of their pricey launch, the US only has 2 polar satellites in space: a primary and a backup. These two satellites are nearing the end of their lives. The primary satellite was never meant to collect data in the first place; it was built as a prototype. As for the backup satellite, it passed its life expectancy a year ago. Should these satellites fail, the entire US would be without any accurate weather predictions. The main dilemma in this situation is that the next polar-orbiting satellite is still being built and won’t be operational until as late as 2018. There is a good chance the old satellites will hold up until the new one is ready, but there is no guarantee. There is also no guarantee that the new satellite will survive the launch, in which case we will have to wait until 2022 for the next one. This incident will likely end with brand new satellites replacing the old ones in a few years, however, there is also a chance that an entire country could go blind for up to 8 years. In that amount of time, thousands could
die from late hurricane warnings. We are left with a dilemma. Here we have a government taking a big chance with the safety of its people, something that should never be done. To sum it all up, we have two new satellites on the way, one scheduled for 2018, the other scheduled for 2022. In the meanwhile we just have to hope the two failing satellites can hold up that long.
Created by Melody Brocke
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Literature Corner A place for YOU to showcase your writing!
Autumn A piece of creative writing By Emily Pearson
The most pleasurable moment in time. The leaves change ever so slightly as the weeks of September pass by slowly. Autumn beckons, whispering to the trees to change their colours. As October comes close, God paints the leaves. They burst forth into such deep hues of crimson and gold, saffron and peach. And as night passes into morning, a thick, smoky coil of fog enwraps itself around the tips of the mountains in the distance. The air becomes chilly and crisp. Frost nips at the windshields and slicks itself upon the streets and sidewalks. Pumpkins fill the outdoor departments of each and every grocery store. The shelves of stores are filled with spices and herbs to make the most decadent of desserts and meals as autumn brings in its harvest of garden fresh veggies and gourds. She curls her fingertips around the steaming mug of freshly brewed coffee, warmed by the cable-knit sweater and suede boots that she
is wearing. She glances out the Starbucks window and smiles. Warmth permeates within her soul as the beauty of the autumn morning enraptures her. See, it is but the little things in life that truly matter; it is in those priceless moments in time when all is peaceful and serene, when you can reflect on God's canvas. As autumn becomes prevalent in the early weeks of September, it indeed becomes the most pleasurable moment in time.
Robin Hood, Avengers, and Arrow A Story By Joshua Wlodarczyk Standing here, the breeze rushing through my luscious hair ... aaaahhh ... yes, this is the life, my friends. Standing on this massive building ... with my buddies. All my archer buddies. Yeah, I may or may not have started this "archer squad" thing. Okay, yeah I did. Ahem. My name is Robin. Robin Hood. Behind me are my two buddies: Oliver Queen, also known as "Green Arrow", and Clint Barton, also known as "Hawkeye." They’re my new merry men, since all my old friends are dead. “We’re not your merry men!” ... Yeah, that’s the funny thing. I woke up from my lovely little nap okay, okay, I was knocked out. Some "lowlife punk", as they’re
called nowadays, hit me in the head when I wasn’t looking, and I woke up here. Here, with ... so much ... well, everything. Massive buildings, amazing food, magic touch boxes, or iPads, as they’re called. Both my friends use them. I don’t understand them. Don’t wish to. Anyways, you might ask why we’re standing on this magnificent building, and you'd be right to do so. Well, we’re about to jump down and attack some metallic man. Oh yeah, that’s another new thing. Robots. Particularly: evil robots. They call this one "Ultron." He’s attacking innocent strangers and destroying this beautifully massive city. But we’re not the only ones fighting. There’s a team here. A team known as "The Avengers." Although, I’m not quite sure what or whom they’re avenging. Ah well, doesn’t matter. There's another metal man (don’t worry kids, he’s one of the good guys). He’s known as "Iron Man." There’s this blonde, bearded carpenter with a magic hammer - oh, he’s not a carpenter? Then why the hammer? ... Oh well. Then there’s an ancient man who definitely doesn’t show his fatigue. He was frozen for, oh, about 70 years. Quite the nap. Similar to mine, except I wasn’t enslaved in the arctic prison like he was. Anyways, then there’s a big green guy. Needs anger management classes. Poor fellow. There’s a leather-covered ninja woman, a man that moves so fast I can’t keep track of him, and his twin sister. She moves things around with her mind. Quite creepy if you ask me. So yes, we are fighting this mad robot and all his clones and saving this city. And we will win. So, until then, have yourselves a merry little day, and do your best to avoid iPads. The y’re way too confusing. GERONIMO!
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Author’s Note: And that, my friends, cooking for him! is how "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" “Don’t worry, Joan.” Karla offered should really go. me a weak smile and fingered at a hole in her knitted sweater. “We both know Kevin. He’d eat monthold bread and still praise the chef.” “But this is a freaking Thanksgiving turkey.” I grumbled. “You can’t just destroy that.” A Story Karla laughed awkwardly. “Well, at By Jennica Wlodarczyk least this wasn’t as bad as what happened to the potatoes.” In the far-off world of silver screens “Potatoes? What about potatoes?” and cinemas, it would sound like a I cast a suspicious glance in her dicharming idea to invite your rection. boyfriend over for a homemade “Well . . .” She brought her shoulThanksgiving turkey dinner. That’s ders up to her cheeks and blushed. what I had thought at first. Kevin “They, um, turned black.” was a man who liked his food, and I deadpanned. I was not in the I could make a meal like no other mood for this. I was not going to woman this side of the Thompson ask just what type of family I was River. But, unfortunately, asking going to marry into. I was simply Kevin’s sister to help me with the done with it all. dinner had been a huge mistake. That’s when the doorbell rang. “JOAN, THE TURKEY!” “Oh, that’s probably Kevin!” Karla “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my squealed and wiggled her eyeGod.” I muttered the phrase as a brows at me. “You should go anmixture of panic and prayer, dash- swer the door. He’ll want to see ing over to the oven where my fu- you, you know.” ture sister-in-law stood, her face a A sigh escaped my lips. “Okay, mask of shock as she stood next to okay. Just try to keep everything the steaming mess. “Karla, how else . . . I don’t know, not burnt.” did this happen?” She stuck her tongue out at me. The twenty-six-year-old’s face be- “Go on, Juliet. Romeo’s waiting for came sheepish and pale. “I think I you.” forgot to set the timer. I really It took me thirty seconds to get shouldn’t be doing stuff in the from the kitchen to the doorway. kitchen, should I?” Despite my better sense, I peeked I groaned and turned the oven off. through the peephole before open“Of course not!” I slipped on a pair ing the door. My heart skipped a of oven mitts and opened its see- beat. It was, indeed, Kevin on the through door, coughing like a mad- other side. Making sure I had a woman when the piping hot, wide smile on my face, I swung turkey-flavoured air rushed up my open the door. Maybe my smile nostrils. My muscles complained would be distraction enough from as I lifted the beast of a pot onto the terrible smell inside the house. the stovetop. Already, I knew that “Hey, Joan,” Kevin’s dark brown what had once been a turkey was eyes lit up when he saw me, causeither turned to coal or very well- ing my smile to morph into a grin. done. My heart sank. Kevin was not He enveloped me into a bear hug going to be impressed by this; and and kissed the top of my forehead. this had been my very first time I sighed, allowing all of the stress
Of Turkeys and Potatoes
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and anxiety that had been building up in my head to fall off of me in waves. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you, Kevin.” “What’s wrong? Wait . . . is something on fire?” “Ugh,” I groaned and buried my head into his chest. “Karla and I overcooked the turkey.” I could have sworn I heard him snicker, but if he did, he was wise enough to cut it short. “You know I love you anyways. I mean, come on – it’s just a turkey dinner.” He chuckled and released me from the hug. “Besides, we all know that the potatoes are really what make the dinner special.” My jaw dropped. No way. There was no way that this could be happening. “KARLA, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!” If there was something I learned before marrying Kevin, it was that things never turn out in reality like they do in romcoms.
Events So You Think You Can Photograph WHAT? Fall-themed photography contest. WHO? Ning users! WHEN? October 2nd - November 30th WHERE? Ning! HOW? Submit your photo entries in the group. Chapel WHEN? Wednesdays at 11am PST. WHERE? Blackboard Illuminate! WHO? Heritage schools students. HCS Mentor & Protoge Program Please refer to the official Ning page for more information!
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Super Comics
Sleep In by Joshua Wlodarczyk The comic creator would like to thank Deanna Burmatoff for inspiring this week's comic. Deanna has often wondered why her grandmother turns on the washing machine early in the morning while the rest of the household is still asleep. The washing machine, of course, is located right next to Deanna's room. If you have a funny idea or story that you'd like Joshua to make into a comic, be sure to send him an email at hcosweekly@outlook.com. Joshua absolutely loves making these silly HCOS Weekly comics, so don't feel like you'd be putting him out of his way if you made a request. We hope to hear from you with your amazing ideas very soon!
You can praise God by playing your instrument (if God has blessed you with that talent) or by writing a By Megan Ferguson novel. Praise is so much more than many of us traditionally think. As “Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, long as we are doing things that my soul. I will praise the Lord all honour God and keep His commy life; I will sing praise to my God mandments, we are actually praisas long as I live.” –Psalm 146: 1-2 ing Him.
Verse of the Week
Praise. When I say - or rather type the word "praise", what is the first thing that pops into your head? Maybe it's Praise 106.5, or singing in church. Well, I don’t know about you, (don’t worry, I won’t insert a Taylor Swift reference here) but that’s certainly what comes to mind when I hear the word "praise." Guess what? Singing isn’t the only way to praise God! I’m not kidding! You can praise God in prayer, while writing a poem, or while sitting quietly by yourself.
Go now my faithful readers! Take what you have learned and come back next edition to keep up my self-esteem!
The HCOS Weekly
Student Photo Gallery
Photo taken by Ethan Johnson, Grade 9
Photo taken and edited by Jennica Wlodarczyk, Grade 11
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Photo taken by Ethan Johnson, Grade 9
Photo taken by Deanna Burmato, Grade 11
The HCOS Weekly
The HCOS Weekly
Photo taken by Deanna Burmato, Grade 11
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Weekly
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Compiled and submitted by Genevieve Ward