The Raven Review - Summer Edition (June 2016)

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so Many Class of 2016 Poem By Amez Rasoul

So many days. So many faces. So many names. We’re perceived as different, but we all feel the same. Starting all over This is change. Our shaky steps will surely grow strong. We’ve held these dreams for far too long. It’s time to start its time to make friends. Five years, plenty of time to spend. We wonder where our roads will go. From today to tomorrow, no one knows. Our future road shines, gleaming bright. Lit up by headlights. Our tires may squeal. Our hands occasionally shake. But, we’re taught U-turns are possible. It’s okay to make mistakes. Grateful for the support we know we are never alone. This school is not just a school. This school has become home. Today, we stand tall, proud, Royal Like monarch to throne, Nothing but loyal. The Raven-- we see it everywhere, plastered on our shirts to the emblem on the wall. Our wings glide us right through the free fall. From this yellow and blue birds eye view we soar through this sky. These wings have shaped our identity. From the nest, MacNeill has taught us to fly. We’ll show the world how much we’ve grown. We couldn’t have made it all on our own. We’ll have some time to chase our wishes but we have just a moment before this all finishes. So let’s enjoy it. Widen those smiles. Look around and see our past and our future our roots and our wings the wonderful people Between You and me.


Summer Edition | June 2016 | Issue 6 | Vol 10

Contents 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 23 24 25

Student Council Elections Activity Days The Eagle has landed Valedictory Business Department Report Fire? eagle makes a surprise landing POWER Rep Report Page 5: Anat our school! Raven Athletics Report StuCo: A Look Back Dear MacNeill: An Open Letter Curriculum Changes Weird World News Fort McMurray Fire Movie: Captain America: Civil War Anime:: Boku No Hero Academia Gaming: KTNE Screamers is 1st on our Page 21: Danny’s list of things to do in Richmond! Raven Reader’s Report White Rose Wang’s Weird Trivia Canucks’ Corner MESSAGE FROM THE EDITORS 16 Things for Grad Once again, a spectacular effort by all contributors to yet another successful edition! On behalf of the entire crew, we’d like extend our sincere appreciation Rich-Gang Irani to Ms. Phillips, our teacher sponsor for her year-long dedication in guiding the Raven Review. Also, congratulations to the Grad Class of 2016, which a large Mercury’s Transit part of our team is from! Without you guys, The Raven Review wouldn’t have been posible this year. 11 Things to do in Richmond We’ve gone through many changes this year, from gaining a surplus of members to holding new and fun submission polls and creating new stylish designs. Our Ninja Squad Comics experience with The Review this year has definitely been a great one. Time will pass as MacNeill continues to change, but hopefully it’ll be a fond memory as Irani’s Advice you look back upon it. Sincerely, The War on Bread LGBTQ+ in Hollywood David Yang Dennise Leung Josh Ralla Horoscopes


Read Us Online

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Find this edition of The Raven Review online at issuu.com and Google Play Books! Teacher Sponsor Ms. W. Phillips issuu.com/ravenreview

bit.ly/RRJun16

Connect With Us Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest on MacNeill news, announcements and sports, to get involved or to submit content! /macneillravenreview @theravenreview macneillravenreview@outlook.com

Editor In Chief David Yang

Managers

Dennise Leung Josh Ralla Tina Kuan

Print Designers Josh Ralla Masaab Hashmi

Editors

David Yang Josh Ralla Judy Huang Justin Salinas Kyle Ching

Journalists

Join Our Team Journalists: You don’t have to be the best at writing to be a journalist! You just need to be curious and energetic. You can start your own column and write about anything you want, from food to sports to entertainment. You can also help out with an existing article, such as MacNeill’s news or reviews. Editors: These are the guys and gals who should be pretty good at writing, as they check each article for grammar and fluency. This is a pretty relaxed position, so if you just want to join us but aren’t ready to be a full journalist, this is the job for you! Want to join? Contact us online, talk to one of our members, or listen to the announcements for our next meeting!

Alex Bustos Alex Choinski Askari Sayed David Yang Dennise Leung Edmond Wu Erica Caalaman Giovanna Gowmez Hanah Dhanani Irene Wong Jordon Houluboch Josh Ralla Justin Salinas Kelvin Chan Kyle Ching Manolya Sag Marc Chua Ms. V. Lo TIna Kuan Yuki Xia


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STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS Few campaigns; competitive races. David Yang

Josh Ralla (11) and Dennise Leung (11) collect the position of Presidents.

Serena Yeung (10) and Rachel Yuen (10) elected as 2017 Vice Presidents.

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for students. Yuen and Yeung’s internet campaign also featured #YuenILetsStayForeverYeung, a hashtag to engage Ravens online throughout the campaign. MacNeill students between Grade 8-11 cast their ballot on voting day May 24th and elected Yeung and Yuen as next year’s Vice-Presidents. Another competitive race unfolded for the Grade 9 Representative Election. Grade 8s this year participated in their first elections on May 24th at they selected their preferred candidates to represent them in council next year. Three members of council participated in the campaign to seek the position, including Mark Cheng,

he 2016 MacNeill Student Council Elections was under way on May 24th, as more than 500 eligible voters selected their preferred candidates for next school year’s Student Council. The 2016 elections marked the 4th year of democratic elections in MacNeill dating back to 2012. This year’s democratic process was comprised of two major races: The VicePresidential election as well as the Grade 9 Representative election. Vice-Presidency was once again up for contention, as this position has been contested for the past four years. Two candidate pairs declared their candidacy mid-May, including Alisha Matharu

and her partner Anna Mathew, as well as Serena Yeung and Rachel Yuen as the other candidate pair. Matharu and Mathew, both Grade 11, stated in their campaign speech held during the Pep Rally to increase school participation in major Student Council events. Both actively involved in MacNeill extracurriculars, Matharu and Mathew both committed to engage the student body and to better connect Council with the students. As for Yuen and Yeung, both are accomplished Grade 10s with involvement in various organizations in and out of school, promised to work hard to create a friendlier school environment

Jasper Chu, and Justin Salinas. All three of the candidates contributed their efforts into various school projects and initiatives. Cheng and Salinas are the incumbent Grade 8 Representatives, while Chu serves as a member of StuCo’s General Affairs Committee. Both Cheng and Salinas were elected to serve as Grade 9 Representatives for 2016-17 school year. “This year’s General Election once again yielded a good voter turnout and we hope this trend continues into future elections,” President Kelvin Tsai stated.

Your 2016/17 Student Council Executive Team: PRESIDENTS

SECRETARIES

PURCHASING MANAGER

Dennise Leung (12) & Joshua Ralla (12)

Judy Huang (12) & Ryan Chong (12)

Marc Chua (12)

VICE PRESIDENTS

EVENT COORDINATORS

INVENTORY MANAGER

Rachel Yuen (11) & Serena Yeung (11)

Judy Yu (11) & Megan Ling (12)

Joey Yang (11)

PUBLIC RELATIONS EXECUTIVES

TREASURERS

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Bianca Kozica (12) & John Deasy (12)

Karen Liu (9) &Teresa Yuen (12)

Masaab Hashmi (12)

GRADE REPRESENTATIVES

GENERAL EXECUTIVE

ART DIRECTOR

Grade 9: Justin Salinas & Mark Cheng Grade 10: Arisa Kinugawa & Selina Fu Grade 11: Destinie Yang & Vivian Yan Grade 12: Kayelah Tumamak & Sidonia Wu

Jasper Chu (9)

Dominic Seriani (12)

Note: Grades are shown for the 2016/17 school year.

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ACTIVITY DAYS Grade 8 - Richmond Olympic Oval The Grade 8s ended their first year at MacNeill with their Activity Day at the Richmond Olympic Oval! We were able to spend the entire day there - my group starting off with team building exercises, creating an obstacle course and tug of war. Then we were off to the rockclimbing wall! Everyone was complaining how their body ached so we topped it off with some lunch, and then came my personal favourite exhibit - the Richmond Olympic Experience! The Richmond Olympic Experience, if you don’t know, is our mini-museum devoted to the Olympics! In the ROX we had multiple exhibits, from reflex timers to bobsled simulators (which almost had me throwing up) to trying your hand at some Olympic news broadcasting, if you’re a sports geek or an information nerd, the ROX really had something for everyone, and even got the quietest people in our group laughing and enjoying themselves. Now time for the sappy stuff - coming together as a family for the last time really made us feel relieved. Barriers between groups got knocked down and we just came together as one body!

Grade 9 - Steveston Village As for the Grade 9s, their Activity Day featured the local attraction of Garry Point Park in Steveston. The day started off with tons of walking, as the students journeyed to the park partly on foot. Then, Grade 9s engaged in a scavenger hunt to looks for items around the premises of Garry Point Park. The historical sites in Steveston also caught the attention of the curious crowd. Students also took in the beautiful shorelines of the park and embraced the beautiful sunshine on that day. Overall, Garry Point Park was a memorable experience and the day wrapped up by another long walk to the bus, then back to school.

Grade 10 - Castle Fun Park This year, grade 10s went to “Castle Fun Park” for activity day. Everyone had lots of fun and enjoyed the attractions and arcade games, even though the bus ride was over an hour long. We were given six dollars on a reloadable swipe card used to get inside the attractions and play arcade games. Some of the attractions in Castle Fun Park included Go karts, bumper cars, virtual reality, batting cages, a shooting range, and mini golf. Most students hit the go karts and waited for their turn to go. Despite the beaming sun, and obnoxious fumes, the wait was worth it. Students enjoyed the race, and feeling the gas below their feet. There were a multitude of arcade games there, ranging from star wars to DDR. There were two floors where the games could be found and there was also a laser maze challenge on the ground floor. We thought there was just way too little time to be able to properly enjoy the arcade games to the fullest.

Grade 11 - Sea-to-Sky Gondola Grade 11’s this year left the comforts of Richmond for a lovely trip to Squamish. The students spent eight minutes on the Sea-to-Sky Gondola, enjoy the view and ride as it ascended towards the mountain. As the day progressed, Grade 11’s split up to hike, exploring various trails and cliffs on the mountains. After, they gathered to enjoy their lunches at the chalet, eating their food on the balcony overlooking the summit.

Grade 12 - Locarno Beach

4 June 2016

Grade 12s participated in their last Activity Day of high school, a trip to Locarno Beach in Vancouver’s Point Grey area. After exploring Kitilano Beach in Grade 10 and Centennial Beach in Grade 11, the Grad Class of 2016 once again headed to the sand and sea to make more memories before their high school lives wraps up. The day of festivities started Monday morning at school, where close to 200 Grade 12 students lined up for breakfast, courtesy of MacNeill’s cafeteria. Grade 12s then boarded school buses headed for Locarno Beach and begun a series of mini-games upon arrival. Next to the beautiful scenics of English Bay and under the beautiful sunshine, students enjoyed every moment of the activities and group bonding. As the day wrapped up, Grade 12s were served a pizza lunch and some were treated to prizes from a raffle draw after returning to MacNeill. The last activity day for Grad 2016 was just one of many events in which graduates celebrated their time as Ravens.


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PHOTOS: THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.

A curious eagle played among the Ravens during one May lunch hour. Dubbed “Anderson vs MacNeill,” an eagle swooped down, claiming one student’s backpack as his. This photogenic eagle even made his way to the front page of the Richmond News.

VALEDICTORY Alex Choinski On Thursday, June 9th, the grad class of 2016 walked their way into a new stage of life. This year’s valedictory ceremony was a roaring success, bearing witness to excellent speeches, poems, and musical performances by MacNeill’s student body. The night started off with multiple bangs when Amez Rasoul took the stage as Class Poet and delivered her powerful poem entitled “So Many.” Next, all congregated in the church were treated to a beautiful musical performance on piano of Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody,” leaving us all stunned. The night rumbled on with an impassioned recounting of our inside jokes and schooltime memes by means of the Class Historian(s) address given by Matthew Lam and Lana Radomsky. They, accompanied by many meaningful props, funnily brought the audience up to speed on our story, from grade eight to twelve. Then the moment every student was waiting for, the honours to the class, where were to walk across the main stage while our name was read aloud and possibly receive scholarships. Each student moseyed across the stage, each met with thunderous applause from friends and family. The night wrapped up with the Valedictorians’ speech, delivered by Jasmine Jawanda and yours truly. The speech spoke to the difficulties one faces when making a transition in life like that which we now face, and how to overcome such resulting fears and inhibitions. All in all it was a magical night, long-awaited, and finally finished. We can now as a grad class look to the future, of which I’m sure we will be an integral part.

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BUSINESS DEPT. REPORT Ms. Lo

@ARMacBusiness

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t has been an eventful year in the Business Education Department with a series of in-school events and multiple case competitions. As a group, the team this year has been able to reach new heights and won multiple awards: 1) “The Most Strategic Idea Award” was won by the Accounting 11 class at the UBC Enactus Case Competition for their idea of “GreenFire Candle Co” 2) ”2nd Place Winner” was awarded to Matthew Lam, Sidonia Wu and Brian Hong for their participation in the SFU Beedie Case Competition hosted by Britannia Secondary School. 3) “2nd Place Winner” + “$200 Cash Prize” was awarded to Shazia Kazani, Nichakon Tangsri and the Business Department for their participation in the Kwantlen Polytechnic University – Future Business Leaders Case Competition. 4) “3rd Place Winner” + “$100 Cash Prize” was awarded to Angelo Ison, Ariella Koenjtoro, Ryu Watanabe, Saiya Heer and the Business Department for their participation in the Kwantlen Polytechnic University – Future Business Leaders Case Competition. A huge CONGRATULATIONS goes out to all the students listed above for all their hard work, dedication and achievements.

FIRE?

POWER REP REPORT

Josh Ralla

Jordan Holuboch

If this is a prank, people ain’t laughing.

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A

R MacNeill fell victim to two back-to-back false fire alarms last week. On both Monday and Tuesday, during the first few minutes of advisory, students and faculty flocked to the back field as precautionary measures following the activation of the school’s fire alarm. Despite lasting only fifteen minutes each, the evacuations have caused huge implications on the community and MacNeill’s student body. False alarms are no joke. Improper use of a fire alarm is a criminal offence, according to section 437 of the Criminal Code of Canada. Furthermore, emergency personnel must make the trek over to MacNeill to ensure everybody’s safety. By having these resources brought to MacNeill, they are no longer available to offer assistance to those who are actually experiencing a fire, or require dire medical assistance. As a result of these false alarms, all of MacNeill’s students must face new hallway restrictions. Teachers must have a record of all students who leave the classroom, and students who have spares must stay in the lounge, library, learning centre, or not be in the building at all. Being in the hallway during class means you’re now moving from point A to point B, not hanging around with your friends. If you have information about these recent incidents, MacNeill administration reminds you that you may speak to any teacher or staff member in complete confidence.

6 June 2016

ollowing the POWER Pep rally, your POWER Reps held a massive capture the flag game. There were two teams: Team one and Team two, who battled for a 25 minute game. According to the participants and onlookers, it was loads of fun. Several audience members said that if there is a capture the flag game next year, they would be sure to join. There was a commentator encouraging the players and volunteers enforcing the rules so no one could cheat. It was a really fun and safe atmosphere. Team one ended up victorious, winning the game and receiving goodie bags prepared by the POWER Rep Committee. In the end, everyone had fun and enjoyed themselves. If there is a capture the flag game next year, you should definitely come by and take part.

Teams One and Two battled it out on field.


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RAVEN ATHLETICS REPORT Junior Badminton

Senior Badminton

Girl’s Soccer

Bantam Badminton

Game

Result

Game

Result

Game

Game

Result

Mar 30 @ RCSS

W 8-3

Mar 31 vs McMath

W 8-3

Apr 6 @ Burnett

L 8-3

Mar 31 vs SLSS

L 2-0

Mar 31 vs McMath

W 9-2

Apr 4 @ RHS

W 6-5

Apr 13 vs SLSS

L 10-1

Apr 5 @ Boyd

L 2-1

Apr 4 @ RHS

L 5-6

Apr 6 vs Palmer

W 7-4

Apr 20 @ RHS

L 9-2

Apr 7 vs Burnett

W 6-3

Apr 6 vs Palmer

W 9-2

Apr 11 @ Burnett

L 7-4

Apr 27 vs Burnett

L 9-2

Apr 12 vs RHS

W 4-1

Apr 11 @ Burnett

L 8-3

Apr 14 vs Boyd

W 9-2

May 11 vs RHS

L 11-0

Apr 14 vs McMath

L 1-0

Apr 13 vs McRoberts

W 7-4

Apr 20 @ SLSS

W 7-4

May 16 vs SLSS

L 9-2

Apr 19 vs McRoberts

L 5-0

Apr 14 vs Boyd

W 11-0

Apr 25 vs SLSS

W 6-5

May 18 @ RHS

L 9-2

Apr 26 vs McNair

L 3-0

Apr 18 vs Cambie

W 9-2

Apr 27 vs RHS

W 6-5

May 3 vs McNair

L 1-0

May 5 @ Boyd

L 1-0

Apr 20 @ SLSS

L 8-3

Apr 25 @ SLSS

L 8-3

Apr 28 @ RHS

L 7-4

Result

Juvenille Boy’s Volleyball

Senior Ultimate B Team

Game

Result

Game

Result

May 31 @ RHS

W 3-0

Bantam Boys’ Volleyball

Apr 4 vs MacNeill A

L 13-1

Apr 7 @ RCSS

W 3-0

Senior Ultimate A Team

Game

Apr 6 @ Boyd

L 12-11

Apr 14 @ McMath

W 3-1

Apr 5 @ Burnett

L 3-2

Game

Result

Apr 11 vs Burnett

L 10-9

Apr 19 @ McRoberts

W 3-1

Apr 7 vs RCSS

L 3-0

Apr 4 vs MacNeill B

W 13-1

Apr 13 vs RHS

L 13-0

Apr 21 vs Cambie

L 3-2

Apr 12 @ McMath

L 3-0

Apr 6 @ SLSS

L 8-7

Apr 18 vs McMath

L 13-7

Apr 26 vs Burnett

L 3-1

Apr 13 vs McMath

W 3-0

Apr 11 vs McMath

W 13-2

Apr 25 vs SLSS

L 13-4

May 10 vs McMath

L 3-1

Apr 19 vs McRoberts

L 3-2

Apr 13 @ Palmer

W 13-5

Apr 27 vs McRoberts

L 13-6

Apr 21 @ Cambie

W 3-1

Apr 18 vs McRoberts

L 10-9

May 4 @ Palmer

L 13-1

Tennis

Apr 26 @ Burnett

W 3-2

Apr 20 @ RHS

W 12-11

May 10 @ Boyd

W 13-5

Game

Result

Apr 28 vs SLSS

L 3-2

Apr 25 vs Boyd

W 13-2

May 11 @ RHS

L 13-2

Apr 4 vs Burnett

W 6-5

May 3 @ McNair

W 3-0

Apr 6 vs RHS

L 7-4

May 5 vs Boyd

W 3-0

Apr 11 vs McMath

W 6-5

May 2 @ Burnett

W 13-3

May 11 vs Palmer

W 13-5

May 16 vs RHS

L 13-11

May 18 vs SLSS

W (Forfiet)

Junior Ultimate Game

Result

Apr 13 vs SLSS

L 7-4

Apr 7 @ SLSS

L 11-3

Apr 18 @ Palmer

L 4-7

Apr 13 vs RHS

L 13-4

Apr 25 @ Palmer

L 8-3

Apr 20 vs SLSS

L 8-5

May 2 @ RHS

L 11-7

Result

Data retrieved from Richmond Secondary School Sports via esportsdesk.com on 03/04/2016. Playoff games might not be shown.

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STUCO: A LOOK BACK Josh Ralla @MacNeillStuco

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h, June. It’s the end of the year, and the end of this year’s Student Council. It’s that time of year, to look back at the great memories we’ve made with the best family in Richmond.

SEPTEMBER Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, we all stepped into the first Student Council meeting ready and eager for the year’s events. Starting off with Clubs Day, we hosted thirty of MacNeill’s Clubs - from the Animal Rescue Club to Yearbook, there was something for everyone who needed a place at MacNeill.

OCTOBER Halloween! We brought back two MacNeill classics - a Haunted House and the Halloween Dance! The “What’s Your Phobia?” Haunted House challenged students to enter and face their biggest fears, from spiders to doctors, we had everyone spooked on their way out! The “Graveyard Gala” Halloween Dance had many students jumping about, dancing their hearts out on the dance floor to DJ Matt’s hot beats.

NOVEMBER Time to put on that coat and tie! It’s Formal Day! The whole school dressed their best for this spirit day. Ten lucky students were also given raffle prizes, including some Starbucks Gift Cards for their classy outfits! Internally, Student Council began meeting in four smaller committees, coinciding with a new executive structure: the General Affairs Committee, Treasury Committee, Public Relations Committee and Grade Rep Committee.

DECEMBER Ho Ho Ho! The jolly man himself made an appearance at this year’s Breakfast with Santa - a long-running MacNeill tradition. Students came out bright and early, enjoying the delicious food, watching in awe at the spectacular performers, and basking in the warmth of community, in celebration of the holiday season. Performances included the Dance Team, 2015 MacNeill Idol contestants, and the classic grad class and staff carols.

JANUARY As mostly a development period for Student Council, there wasn’t much to see from the outside for this month. Internally, we started organizing our snazzy StuCo hoodies, and ironed out some proposals. The Extracurricular Funding Aid Program reached final approval, which would allow clubs to request for a financial grant from Student Council. As the forefront for leadership and extracurriculars, we strive to promote the development of other clubs within the school.

8 June 2016


/macneillravenreview FEBRUARY Love is in the air! Our annual Crush Cans made a return, allowing students to send their special someone a flavour of Crush soda: Orange “Glad we’re friends”, Cream Soda/Pink “I love you”, and Grape/ Purple “It’s complicated”. Delivering over 300 cans for the Valentine’s Weekend, it took us hours to get through every single one! It’s also show time! We watched five amazing singers in the MacNeill Idol Finals: Andrea Alonzo (12), Eagle Ho (12), Kenberly Lovidad (11), Jason Chung (12) and Matthew Lam (12)! In the end, Ravens voted for Eagle Ho in a landslide win by 60 votes, followed by our first runner up, Matthew Lam!

MARCH The seasons are changing! We celebrated the seasonal change with Winter Appreciation Day and Spring Celebration Day! Featuring bright white and blue clothing and hot chocolate in the lounge, we said good bye to winter in style! The following day, we welcomed in the new season with yellow and green threads, and free ice cream along side it!

APRIL It’s TABLE 38 time - a district-wide leadership conference, and it’s our turn to host it! This meeting was themed around a model United Nations, and attending students definitely showed their nations colours! We had a blast discussing leadership topics with students from other schools. It really showed us different perspectives around how their student councils are run!

MAY Pull out your posters, it’s election time! With two major elections - Vice Presidents and Grade 9 Reps, the competition was fierce in attaining the coveted positions. In the end, Ravens voted for Serena Yeung and Rachel Yuen in a very close vice presidential race. Justin Salinas and Mark Cheng won their seats for Grade 9 Representative.

JUNE Getting in a sticky situation! We raised money for wildfire relief over in Fort McMurray by taping our teachers! Mr. Daley, Mr. Henders and our own David Yang bravely took centre stage in the lounge, allowing us to duct tape for a good cause. After a half hour, we had all of them fully secured to the pillars! We also raised over $300! Wow, that went by fast. But while it may be the last week of school, we’re not done yet. Friday, June 17th, we want to celebrate the amazing school spirit exhibited by all Ravens. Join us in the lounge for MacNeill Appreciation Day, where we’ll be giving out ice cream to those who show their school spirit for one last day. Wear blue or yellow shirts, pants, shorts or hats, Raven Wear, club shirts, or athletics jerseys! We’ll also be hosting a student vs teacher tug of war game! With one year ending, we look to the next. Over the summer, Student Council will be meticulously planning out the next extraordinary school year for you guys. We’ll push ourselves to top this year’s already amazing council.

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DEAR MACNEILL Dear MacNeill, It is hard to imagine that in merely five short years, so much has changed around us. The iPhone went from 4s to 6s, a new Prime Minister in Canada, and the Canucks from a near-championship team to a struggling franchise, all in just half a decade. It was also just five years ago when the Graduating Class of 2016, first stepped into MacNeill as new Ravens. The experience on that day of September 2011 was personally nerve-wracking and filled of adrenaline. It was a moment when young Grade 8s were uncertain of what high school could offer. Towards the end of the first few weeks of school, some adapted to the new environment, while others struggled to find familiar ground. As for myself, I was in both of these situations; many of my pals were still around to hang out with, however blending in with the rest of MacNeill and with other peers was a hard transition because I was stuck in my comfort zone, reluctant to take an extra step to discover in depth of what MacNeill has to offer. This kind of unknown and uncertainty is, personally, a familiar theme. As a child raised in an immigrant family, life under the Canadian flag wasn’t always smooth sailing. Speaking hardly a lick of English upon arriving in Canada, I found my journey to where I am today an unpaved road with twists and turns along a steep incline. High school was just another challenge I had to face. From experience, I recognized that the only way to ease my transition was to break down of my social fences and explore outside of my comfort zone. From there, the rest is history. From my involvement in Student Council, The Raven Review, and other school organizations, to my participation in community initiatives and opportunities, the sense of community and inclusion that I lacked when I first entered MacNeill is now a given. Even when some experiences weren’t exactly a five-star rating, it expanded my capabilities. My time at MacNeill was, to say the least, quite enjoyable - not simply because of any significant achievements or contributions, but because of the many people whom I meet and share experiences with everyday. Many of them, either close friends, acquaintances or just familiar names, have their own unique potential to achieve great things. Whether it’s contributing to a championship team wearing a MacNeill jersey, or putting in tireless work for a school club, everyone has their own individual ways to pitch in to create MacNeill’s diverse identity. At times these differences may seem divisive, but Ravens are stronger because of our differences for it provides an environment that students can thrive in and relate to. For current and future Ravens: Seize every opportunity before you even think if it may seem out of line. Know that a good starting point is always right here at MacNeill for those who dare to challenge their own comfort zones. Potential needs ignition in order to spark results and those who seek it will undoubtedly find success. Remember, each and every Raven makes up a mosaic that forms a collective image of respect, positivity, and community. Until next time, keep munching on those Egg MacNeills and complain how difficult Pre-Calculus is. With Love,

David Yang

10 June 2016


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FROM FIVE EXAMS TO TWO Josh Ralla tarting next year, huge changes to the BC curriculum will be rolling out. What kind of changes, you ask?

With these changes, Education Minister Mike Bernier says he strives to ensure basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills remain at top importance.

Fewer Provincial Exams Say good bye to the Science 10, Math 10, English 10 and Social Studies 11 exams. These will all be cut down to one English, and one Math provincial.

“We’re focusing as well on communication, collaboration and critical-thinking skills. This will help in every education choice for our students and whatever career-path choices they want to make,” Bernier said.

More in-class evaluation Courses that no longer have provincial exams (Science 10, Socials Studies 11 and English10) will have in-class assessments.

BCTF President Jim Iker reports that teachers are “generally supportive” of the move by the provincial government.

New Course Requirement Starting in the 2017/18 school year, a new course called Career Education, which is designed to link student’s classroom learning to opportunities in real life, will be introduced

“For many students, provincial exams created significant barriers and took time away from actual learning. Over the years, provincial exams have tended to narrow the curriculum, force teachers to focus on content instead of skills and processes, and had a negative impact on students’ motivation,” Iker said.

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Starting next year, only grade 10 math and Grade 10 and 12 English will be provincially examined.

The curriculum will be mandatory for the next school year for Kindergarten to Grade nine, and for the remaining grades by the following year.

WEIRD WORLD NEWS Giovanna Gowmez Hilarious reasons for students being in detention.

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n order to get detention, a student must perform an act that’s despicable enough for a teacher to place the trouble-maker into custody after school. Here are some out of the ordinary ways that students did to make them stay after school. A grade nine disrupted the class and claimed to be the reborn Jesus and hit another student with a Bible. To all of the Harry Potter fans, a student called a teacher a “Muggle”. Elsewhere, a student took off his shirt in middle of class and yelled, “Come at me bro” at another student. And finally my favorite, A student threw a lamp at another student and told him to “lighten the F up!”

Judge offers to pay teen’s court fine as Judge refuses to jail teen for stabbing a pedophile who abused her as a child.

W

hen the unnamed teen was eight, a man sexually assaulted her and was given a community order instead of jail time. The girl felt the legal system let her down so she decided to take matters on her own hands. At age 15, she came into the man’s own home and told him, “I’m going to kill you,” then stabbed the man in the heart in front of his two young children. The man was not dead, but injured as the cut was located at an artery that supplies blood to the right ventricle. In court, she plead guilty and supposedly she had to pay a fine. However the judge offered to pay the fine for her and refused to send her to jail. The judge supported her act and said “It would be a disgrace to send a survivor like you to prison.”

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THE FIRE WE NEVER EXPECTED

Justin Salinas

F

ort McMurray is a relatively small city in northeastern Alberta. With around 61,000 residents in over 21,500 homes, Fort Mac seems like a great place to be, with its population growing because of the booming oil industry in Alberta. On May 1st, 2016, a wildfire started southwest of the city, and by night time, a local state of emergency was declared in the neighbourhoods of Prairie Creek and Gregoire. The fire quickly swallowed the city, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, and by May 3rd all of Fort McMurray was evacuated. The Alberta Government declared on May 4th a province-wide state of emergency. Evacuation of the city in panic was a nightmare for those in the hamlet, scrambling into nearby cities such as Edmonton and Calgary and smaller communities near Lac La Biche and Fort McKay. Approximately 17,000 estimated have headed north and another 35,000 south towards Edmonton. The temperature was almost 33 degrees near Fort McMurray with low humidity and strong winds, which intensified flames as fire continued to sprawl across more than 4,830 square kilometres. One-fifth of Fort McMurray has been destroyed in the fire, and a nearby oil sands facility has also been destroyed. The evacuation order is the largest wildfire evacuation procedure in Canadian history and the

12 June 2016

third-largest evacuation for an environmental disaster in recorded history. Hashtags such as #ymmfire and #fortmacfire helped bring awareness to this tragedy. Unfortunately, two were dead during the initial evacuation following a collision on Highway 881, which spans from Fort McMurray to Lac La Biche. The Red Cross says it has received over $54 million plus matching and $2 million from the Canadian Government. Five water bombers from Quebec and firefighters from Ontario, BC, Quebec and New Brunswick have helped aid the fire which isn’t expected to be extinguished for months to come. Other countries far and wide, from Australia, Israel, Mexico, Russia, Taiwan, the US and the Palestinian Authority have offered to send firefighters to Alberta. However Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has turned these offers down, stating that the government already a grip on the situation. The community of Fort McMurray has lost an estimated $2-5 billion, all of which needs to be rebuilt at the same cost. This figure surpasses the cost of rebuild for the 1998 ice storms in Quebec ($1.9 billion) and the 2013 floods in Alberta ($1.8 billion) For residents of Fort McMurray, this tragedy forces them to restart their lives from the ruins of the town. Canadians from coast to coast will continue to provide support and aid as Fort McMurray slowly moves into rebuild mode.


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CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

By Irene Wong

A

fter the Battle of New York (The Avengers), and the tragedy of Sokovia (Age of Ultron), the UN decides to intervene in the actions of the Avengers with the Sokovian Accords. Said accords would enable the UN to monitor the Avenger’s actions, in the hopes of limiting the collateral damage the Avengers cause in their operations. Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, is all for the accords as he sees it as a chance for the Avengers to take some responsibility for their actions. Others on his side include War Machine, Black Widow, Vision, and newcomers Black Panther and Spider-Man. However, Steve Rogers, or Captain America, is against the accords, believing that the government’s newfound power to decide who the Avengers can or can’t save will ultimately result in the prioritizing of human lives. Others supporting his stance on the accords are Scarlet Witch, the Winter Soldier, Falcon, Hawkeye, and Ant-Man. The different opinions result in a divide amongst the Avengers, which ironically leads to a fight, probably exactly what the UN tried to avoid. Civil War was an amazing movie that had great characters, exciting action, and a proper storyline (cough Batman Vs. Superman cough). The characters were mostly written well, making the most out of the limited screentime that is inevitable with such a

superhero packed movie. The movie did an amazing job introducing Black Panther and the new Spiderman, giving us the Clint Barton we love from the comics, and also integrating Ant-Man into the more mainstream Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, while I enjoyed the adaption of the wellknown comicbook arc, I found myself kind of disappointed with how it felt more like Avengers 3 than the next Captain America. Although it was still a great movie, I would have preferred a bit more development in the friendship of Bucky and Steve and the recovery of Bucky’s memories, because in the end it is still technically Captain America 3. Overall, it was a great movie that had you hanging off your seat at times, and sobbing silently at others. I definitely would recommend this to any action lovers- but comic lovers beware, as this movie does differ quite a bit from the comics.

Rating: 4/5 Positives: Action packed with riveting storylines. Nicely ties together many superheroes from other Marvel films. Negatives: Although the storylines were amazing, they seemed a bit more lacking than the prequel.

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BOKU NO HERO ACADEMIA By Edmond Wu & Yuiki Shirohana

“B

oku no Hero Academia” begins in a world that consists of “quirks”. The quirks are super powered beings that account for 80 percent of humanity, leaving the rest of the world powerless. These powers can range from anything to possessing fire, gravity manipulation, and even super human strength. The main character, Izuku Midoriya, is one of the few powerless humans. When Izuku was a child, he was bullied for being quirkless but always had a burning desire to become a hero, one just like his personal idol, All Might. Later in the story, Izuku undergoes a huge transformation, enduring through the gruelling training to possess All Might’s quirk, “All For One”, which can only be inherited through a special process. With this power, Izuku begins his new journey in the most prestigious hero academy, U.A. High, but will he be able to control and master the power he has gained while also managing to keep the true identity of All Might hidden? The art of the anime may seem a bit old or similar to the animes in the past, but that can be easily overlooked. The plot, however, is very interesting and the comical ways the characters are portrayed is fantastic.

KEEP TALKING AND NOBODY EXPODES By Matthew Liu

A

lthough this game receives an overwhelmingly positive Steam review score, it is not to say that it is flawless. A major issue that lies within the game is the immense pressure it will put on even the closest of relationships. For example, you and your best buddy are ten seconds from defusing the last module of the bomb, but suddenly your partner claims that the rest of the manual is illegible and/or in Russian. Without thinking, multiple filthy words, possibly in French, directed at your friend slip out of your mouth, hurting his or her feelings. You walk away from the game with not only a detonated bomb, but also with a severance of your childhood friend. Feeling depressed about how this seemingly perfect game obliterated the tightly strung bonds formed between the timeless friendship, you try to write a negative review of the game, but your efforts are wasted because you are just one voice in the sea of thousands. Evidently, the greatest flaw in “Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes” is not in the game itself, but it is in human nature, hardwired into the brain. The game would be flawless if not for this gash in its otherwise perfect silk. Steel Crate Games, please fix your game.

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RAVEN READER’S REPORT:

YOU KILLED WESLEY PAYNE Date: May 17, 2016 Members Present: May Wang, Harsunder Hunjan, Giovana Gowmez, Manolya Sag, Ms. Phillips Story: You Killed Wesley Payne is a truly original update of classic pulp-noir filled with dark humor. Hard-boiled seventeen year-old Dalton Rev transfers to the mean hallways of Salt River High to take on the toughest case of his life Food: Chips (party food, for all the parties in the book) Coke (the addictive and destructive RUSH drink)

What We Liked: »» The main character is always asking around. He is trying to be secretive but he’s not. »» The good cop-bad cop routine »» When he walks into the high school, he’s wearing detective clothes that must have looked really funny »» The cliques and divisions at the school were so exaggerated it was funny. The names the author used for them were really imaginative. »» It was a terrifying place to go to school – a gangster school rather than actual high school »» It was taken to extremes. Cliques control everything, and the rackets were out of control. »» The opening chapter sets the tone – it’s funny and exaggerated. »» The detailed social structure and the diagram to make it clear. »» References and slang language was entertaining. »» Dalton Rev is a send-up of Humphrey Bogart. »» Lexington Cole books gave a funny background to Dalton’s thinking »» The most attractive features of people are their brains (!) »» The parody of hard-boiled detective shows, high school and self-help books made us all laugh. »» Dalton is not “cool” – he’s just a dork. He symbolized hope when we realizes that life goes on even if he doesn’t get into Harvard, but goes to a community college »» The book reads like really good fanfiction.

Not So Much: »» Some of the slang was off-putting. No one really speaks like that. »» The parody could at times be over the top and irritating.

What We Found Interesting: »» Dalton is a decent guy even though he puts it out that he’s tough and cold. »» Rules that are scattered throughout the book were not really rules. They were comments on what went on.

Rating: 3.9/5 Ravens

Coming Up Next:

Carrie by Stephen King The story: Carrie is strange and unpopular but she has the power to move objects with her mind. When she is bullied by her fellow students, she begins to get violent revenge Date: June 14, 2016 Place: Library couches Host: Collaborative New Members Always Welcome!

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WHITE ROSE A short story by Yuki Xia

O

re was having a really busy day. This wasn’t exactly a bad thing though; the busier the flower shop, the more customers, the better the business. It wasn’t easy running a flower shop all on his own. He stifled a yawn as he wrapped up another bouquet and handed it to the customer - a lady with a kind smile who looked to be around her mid-forties. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re such a talented young man, and this is such a lovely little shop.” “Thanks,” he told her, smiling. “My parents would be very happy to hear that.” The lady smiled and waved as she walked out of the store. As soon as she was out of sight, Ore let the smile slip off of his face. Even though he told the lady that his parents would be very happy to hear her compliments, it wasn’t like they’d ever hear it. Not anymore. There was a jingling sound of bells that signified the door opening. “Welcome!” Ore called, turning towards the door. It wasn’t a customer though, but his newest order of white roses. He hurried over and signed all of the required forms, then bid the delivery man goodbye. He carried the roses to the back of the room, dodging and weaving through the multiple flowers within the shop. He then returned to work. The day continued to be busy, customers continuing to come and go from the shop. It wasn’t until late into the afternoon that the stream of customers slowed to a trickle. Ore sighed deeply as he wiped the sweat from his brow. He looked down at his watch, noting how late it was getting. He should probably start closing up, there hadn’t been too many customers in the past while anyways. He flipped the sign on the door from open to closed, locking the door securely. He then checked that all of the windows were closed as well. Ore took off his apron and started trudging up the stairs that led up to his apartment. It was really convenient to live right above where he worked sometimes. He was so tired, he didn’t know if he could even make it back to his home if he didn’t. He walked into his room and collapsed on top of his bed groaning. He was just so tired. It was in the middle of the night when he heard the crash. He had been asleep and had been woken by the sudden sound. Ore scrambled out of bed and started slowly sneaking down his stairs, worried about what he would find downstairs. No matter what he could have imagined finding, it was not a girl wearing a simple white dress, standing in the flower shop. “Who are you?” he asked. She turned to look at him. “I’m Rose.”

WANG’S WEIRD TRIVIA 1. Which of the following is false? a) Dragonflies live for 24 hours b) Bert & Ernie on Sesame Street are named after the cop & taxi driver characters in the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life” c) Dueling (with pistols) is legal in Paraguay as long as both individuals are registered blood donors d) Ferrets will die if they don’t mate when they are in heat

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2. What are bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels, etc) not capable of doing? a) making pearls b) filtering the ocean water c) climbing trees d) swim 3. Birds are said to have amazing vision but are unable to see: a) blue b) ultraviolet c) gray scale d) can see all of the above

Answers on page 25!


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CANUCKS CORNER

A Guide to the Canucks’ Offseason

By Kelvin Chan & David Yang

F

rom Cup contenders to NHL basement dwellers, the Canucks have significantly changed throughout the years but not for the better. The 2015-16 Season marked the 2nd time the ‘Nucks haven’t made the playoffs in the past 3 years. This is surely a disappointment, as the Canucks’ staff and management continue to address the issue of rebuilding while keeping the Aquilini (owner of the team) family satisfied by rushing the Canucks back into the playoffs. Jim Benning and crew will be in for a challenge to restore the powerhouse that once was. Here are some insights to keep you Canuckleheads excited for next season.

Linden: Why did you reveal your lucky charm? The NHL Draft Lottery was held in Toronto in April, where the top 3 picks were drawn. As always, the Nucks were unlucky and saw their draft position slide from third to fifth overall. Trevor Linden represented the Nucks at the lottery, only to reveal his lucky charm: a Pat Quinn hockey card. Oh if

Bill Daly: Canucks will be selecting 5th at this year’s NHL draft.

Linden didn’t reveal his charm to millions of viewers. Oh what could have been. But nonetheless The Vancouver Canucks will be selecting 5th at this years NHL draft. Here are some players they should target at the draft. Pierre-Luc Dubois is projected to go 5th overall in this year’s draft. He plays both

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@ravenreview centre and wing and is known for his physical presence and ability to make plays and read the game. Another name to keep in mind is Matthew Tkachuk, a centreman with great offensive abilities and skating. Though one would question if his draft stocks are slightly inflated because of his linemates on the London Knights championship team, particularly Pierre-Luc Dubois may be the Canucks’ next top prospect. Mitch Marner (a Leafs prospect). Some would even speculate the possibility of drafting a defenceman, specifically Olli Juolevi and Jacob Chychrun. The Canucks will face a tough decision, as their 5th pick will not allow much flexibility. Canucks have good depth on forward, but the prospect pool on the blueline is lackluster. Juolevi and Chychrun are lower ranked, so drafting either of them may be at the expense of better, higher-ranked offensive talents.

Shopping with Benning Veteran Dan Hamhuis is due for free agency. The 33 year old has been the backbone of the Canucks’ D-core, but it seems possible that his tenure as a Canucks will come to an end with more youth in the system. However, he really wants to stay with his hometown team and the Canucks would love to re-sign him. He even agreed to sign discounted contract. Notable free agents for the Canucks such as Radim Vrbata, Brandon Prust, Matt Bartkowski and Yannick Weber will most likely be released. The Canucks should target a strong winger to play with the Sedin twins. A player that the Canucks should target is Kyle Okposo from the New York Islanders. At the age of 28, he is coming off a miraculous season with 22 goals, 42 assists (matched career high) and 64 points. He can be a threat on the power play, brings size and physicality to his game, but he may seek a significant raise for which the Nuck may be paying more for his services. Another big name that bounces around from time to time is Milan Lucic, Yes, the big Vancouverite winger who is best remembered for raising the Stanley Cup in as a Bruin back in 2011. Though his production is not nearly as high as when he was a Bruin, the Canucks may need someone with local roots and a notable name to encourage Canucks fans once again. Also, the Nucks will need to bolster their blueline whether Hamhuis leaves

18 June 2016

or not. A valuable pickup on the blueline is Kris Russell, a defensive player who isn’t afraid to block shots and get the job done. Other pricey options include Keith Yandle and Alex Gologoski. However free agents signings are at this stage, short term. If Benning does go on a shopping spree and more veterans take up roster spots, young players will lack the ability to develop, thus a younger core will mature slower. In other words, Benning needs to be careful not to use bandaids instead of stitches to cover up gashes.

Questions 1. What will a Canucks team look like next season? Will there be significant free agent additions? Who will fill the roles of 2nd liners? This team lacked a productive 2nd line and that spelled doom for the Nucks. In order to fix the issue, free agents may be needed. All this Do the Canucks need to bring back will be unfolded closer a big-name local player like Lucic to to Draft Day and July revive its fanbase? Free Agent Frenzy. 2. Could Jacob Markstrom possibly get the job being the starter in goal next season? An injury-prone Ryan Miller might just give Markstrom and other candidates (like Richard Bachman or Thatcher Demko) a chance to play and gain some experience in the NHL. 3. Willie Desjardins and the coaching staff could be on the hot seat depending on how the Canucks start their season. Desjardins seat is getting warm; however he should be given a fair chance to coach a winnable team in order to test his capabilities. The squad this year has definitely let Willie down big time. 4. Can young players follow up after a year of decent performance? Bo Horvat, Ben Hutton, Nikita Tyramkin, Jake Virtanen all caught the eyes of fans this past season. Could they continue to impress the bench boss and the fans to put on a good season next year? Can other notable rookies such as Cole Cassels, Thatcher Demko, and Brendan Gaunce crack the lineup next year? How will the youth movement affect next year’s performance? 5. Is Alex Burrows on his way out? Once a fan favourite (and some may argue that he still is), production has plummeted to an all time low. Is it in the best interest of the team to remove his cap salary or to retain his leadership and integral role within the organization?


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10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU GRADUATE By Yuiki Shirohana

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o celebrate the Grad Class of 2016, here’s 16 things to do before you graduate, for all Ravens! 2. Ride the Elevator! 3. Eat your lunches in the hallway 4. Attend a Student Council meeting 5. Attend a school dance!

1. Eat an Egg MacNeill!

6. Access the theatre booth.

7. Run the Terry Fox Run

8. Join a club or sports team. 9. Go to Breakfast with Santa

10. Read the Raven Review! :) 11. Vote for your favourite book in the Reading Riot! 13. Use a computer in Mr. Klose’s lab. 14. Read an announcement over the PA system. 15. Access MacNeill_Wireless 16. Add MacNeillStuCo on Snapchat!

12. Climb the Rock outside the library.

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RICH-GANG By Alex Choinski

E

arlier today Mr. Irani shocked millions with his open admission stating that he is a full-time member of the very secretive quasi-religious sect, Rich-Gang. “I was just looking for a good time!” he sobbed earlier today, just outside the Supreme Court of Canada where he was convicted earlier that morning for Jaywalking en masse with his gang members. Little is known about this “Rich-Gang” other than the identities, dental records, family histories and favourite colours of all 112 of its members; information attained through the ground-breaking life-endangering investigativejournalism performed by The Raven Review earlier this month. “I was falling behind on my marking, and was really feeling the pressure from admin, and then these students approached me saying they could solve all of my problems!” Rich-Gang, the premier causer of The Great Diaspora Of Students Who Used To Spend Lunchtime In Ms. P’s Room, or TGDOSWUTSLIMPR, is a strictly secret society, students say, so school staff seem suspicious sans some successful

subpoenaing. We asked Mr. T. “Butanal” Irani to comment on the inevitable heat death of the universe, to which he replied “death is inevitable, the only thing that is forever is Rich-Gang” after which he promptly flashed us the gang sign and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Note: no part of this article is factual in any way, and is, furthermore, completely and totally false.

ThoughtBubble:

MERCURY AND THE SUN GAVE EARTH A LITTLE DANCE

By Manolya Sag On May the 9th of 2016, from 10:12 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. Pacific Time, millions around North America and Europe got see the rare view of Mercury crossing the Sun. The planet closet to the Sun, transited across from east to west and could be seen by the naked eye, but with proper solar-filter telescopes. Fear not though, if you did miss this beautiful sight, the event was streamed lived, and can still be seen by Slooh, an organization that broadcast celestial events from telescopes, or on the NASA website. Mercury orbits around the Sun every 88 days, but is not visible to us here on Earth as the orbits between the two planets are tilted relative to each other. However, this means that the transit of seeing Mercury move across the Sun occurs only about 13 times every 100 years for us to see. And it still does depend on where you are planet Earth. Canada will not be able to see this transit again until

20 June 2016

November 11, 2019, but after that transit, Canadians will not be able to see a daytime transit until 2049! Speaking of which, NASA also released the first full topographic map of Mercury a week before the transit, revealing that the plant closest to our Sun is a pretty flat planet! They determined this by using 10 terabytes of data from the MESSENGER mission (which lasted 4 years). The scientist of NASA were able to combine over 100,000 images from the mission to map the rocky planet. Pretty cool, huh?


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ELEVEN THINGS TO DO IN RICHMOND THIS SUMMER By Justin Salinas

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o crack the case of boredom, here’s a list of 11 places to go to during the summer, so we’re not just stuck to our phones all day!

Danny’s Market 9040 Francis Road

For an authentic piece of Richmond, head to Danny’s Market for some Screamers for $3! Screamers are basically Slurpees and Ice Cream put together. They’re much better than I’m making it sound. If you’ve never had one, you’re missing out. Are you even from here?

Richmond Night Market & Panda Market 8351 River Road / 12631 Vulcan Road

For some kick-in-the-face Richmond Culture, head to the Richmond Night Market and the Panda Markets, with free $3.25 admission and free admission, respectively! While you’re there, can you get me some Rotato?

Steveston Village Historic Steveston Village - an amazing place to go with family, friends, and your “special friends” *wink wink*. Take a walk around the village, which is famous locally and home to Storybrooke, the main city in ABC’s Once Upon A Time and the home to other filming locations. Try some Pajo’s Fish and Chips or Steveston Pizza while you’re there!

McArthurGlen Outlet Mall 7899 Templeton Street, #1000

The brand new McArthurGlen Outlet Mall outside is a great place to go for a girl’s night out for shopping or a way to escape long times at the border and a long drive down to Tulalip, which might not be worth it. Plus, it’s close to the airport so you can look your best before your flight.

E-Exit Escape Rooms 4653 Garden City Road, #2115

For some teambuilding exercises to get your blood pumping, you’ll wanna come to an escape room. There are plenty of escape rooms around the city, you can find many just by Googling them, but we chose this one because it’s the one that has the most people talking about it.

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RiverPort Complex Entertainment Way

This entire street is filled with so much to do, from movies (SilverCity @ 14211 Entertainment Way) to skating (Richmond Ice Centre @ 14140 Triangle Road) to bowling (The Zone @ 14200 Entertainment Way, #150) and getting all your frustrations out by jumping at Extreme Air Park (14380 Triangle Road), there’s something here for everybody!

Richmond Olympic Oval/Olympic Experience 6111 River Road

If you’re a sports nerd (not like me), or an information geek (now we’re talking!) then you need to head to the Richmond Olympic Oval and the Richmond Olympic Experience, where the grade 8s went to during Activity Day! If you want to find out how it was and our take on it, check out page 6!

Richmond Nature Park 11851 Westminster Highway

Our ecosystem is getting smaller than ever, and why not give a tribute to our animals and learn about them too by heading to the Richmond Nature Park! You can take a walk or bike and just enjoy the scenery and the sounds of *actual nature*, which we all need once in a while.

Richmond Indoor Paintball 6631 Westminster Highway, #160

Wanna unleash your anger without hurting them too much? How? Indoor paintball, duh. I’ve never been to a paintballing course, but what I’ve heard from it, it’s super fun and I’ve had friends who’ve lost their voices from paintballing. True story.

Richmond GoKarts 6631 Sidaway Road

Our only GoKarting track - outdoors too! Close to Cambie Secondary, cheap and fun, and if you don’t wanna go to Chilliwack, obviously come down here and become like Toad and try your hand at real life Mario Kart, and take your revenge on your friends who backhandedly beat you even though they said they’d “go easy” on you... I still haven’t gotten over it. GAHHHH!

Splashdown Waterpark 4775 Nulelum Way, Tsawwassen

I know this isn’t in Richmond, but Splashdown Waterpark is closing after the 2016 Summer Season because their land renewal with the Tsawwassen First Nation wasn’t renewed. So why not wish Splashdown good riddance and head down to Tsawwassen for (unfortunately) the final time? I’ve spent many summers here and

22 June 2016

it’s safe to say that this is a sad moment for everybody - so like I’ve said before - head down there soon! Splash around with friends and slide down the Black Hole for the final time! Don’t be lazy this summer - head down to these amazing places and support local business in your city!


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NINJA SQUAD By Askari Sayed & Ralph Li

IRANI’S ADVICE What are your tips for Grade 12’s going in to post secondary next year? “Get ready to cry… Eat. Cry a little. Then, cry a little more. Sleep. Cry even more.” When will you retire? “When I am 57 years and 9 months because that’s when I receive my pension, or when Zayden can support me.”

What are your affiliations with Rich Gang? “I was dragged in to this by a foolish family member.” (Does this mean Mr. Irani is affiliated with Rich Gang?! For more on this scandalous topic check out Alex C’s article on page 20!) What are your plans for summer? “Babysitting… only my baby.”

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THERE’S A DEADLY WAR GOING ON, AND IT’S AGAINST BREAD By Manolya Sag

H

ow many times have you picked up a magazine, and right there on the cover seen a beautifully gorgeous probably-photoshopped picture of Beyoncé with a headline headlining a great diet where you will shed of pounds in a couple of days? More times than you can count, eh? It’s a little disturbing to see so many different kinds of magazines all selling the same idea, how to ‘stay healthy’, how to dress like a celebrity, even how to mimic them. It’s even more disturbing that these magazines are all doing one thing in common - they are making us believe in pseudoscience. I’m pretty sure you’ve probably heard about the gluten-free diet and how gluten (a protein for those who don’t know) ‘kills important parts of your digestive and other systems’ and causes a bunch of harmful diseases and health conditions. Yet, do you know where this claim came from? Who even started the fad? And will you believe me if I were to say a cardiologist made the false acquisition of the killer bread? Well, I’m not lying when I say that all you have to do is google Wheat Belly and Dr. William Davis will pop up with his wild claim that gluten has killed more people than all the wars combined! A little terrifying, don’t you think? Ah, before you spit out that cake in your mouth, I want to make it clear that gluten or as Dr. Davis calls it, “Frankenwheat,” is not killing us. Dr. Davis made this claim without doing any proper research! All he did was stop eating gluten to lose a couple of pounds for his type 2 diabetes, and found that his blood glucose levels dropped and his extra weight melted away, sort of like the Wicked Witch of the East. It is also rather upsetting that his claims are actually false, as more than 56 percent of the Canadian population are now gluten-free, even though they do not have celiac disease. I know, I know, you don’t want to hear that, but that’s what pseudoscience can do; it can make us believe

in something that isn’t even properly backed up by science. To put in the words of a Joe Schwarcz, a chemist at McGill University, who dedicates his time to debunking ‘scientific’ claims made by celebrities and doctors, “This is one of these arguments that has one smidgen of scientific fact to it, which is then exploded into a whole blob of nonsense.” Schwarcz also said that he has not seen any evidence of gluten as an ‘opioid peptide’, another claim made by David in his book. The funny thing is, Davis got this fact from a research done on dead lab rats in 1979 - a piece of research paper that is not regarded a credible resource, as the rats were dead. I am not criticizing people on the gluten-free diet, if they have celiac disease, or even feel better. It’s up to them to do what they want. I just want to make it clear that before you start a fad diet that all your favourite celebrities are following, do a little research. Find out if what they are doing to feel great or lose weight will harm you or your health. It’s the right thing to do: listen to the food scientists - not Beyoncé.

LGBTQ+ IN HOLLYWOOD By Irene Wong

I’

m sure we’ve all heard of the internet’s cries to give Elsa a girlfriend, Captain America a boyfriend, and even to make Luke Skywalker bisexual. But why does this matter? Why are they so desperate to “make everything about the gays”? But perhaps maybe the big question we should be asking is why are they so desperate to make everything heterosexual? The truth is that the world is not made completely up of heterosexuals, however Hollywood seems to like to portray the world that way. The little LGBTQ+ represented is often hypersexualized or killed to further develop the story. In fact, in this year alone, we’ve already seen 156 female character that were either homosexual or bisexual killed on TV. Hollywood needs to understand that LGBTQ+ people are not meant to be plot devices; they’re actual characters that people look up too. LGBTQ+ presence in movies or TV is extremely important in order to enlighten people more on the fact that they’re real, reminding LGBTQ+ people that they’re orientation is valid, and prove their existence. To have a major character such as Elsa, Captain America, or Luke Skywalker come out as members of the LGBTQ+ community would be amazing as this

24 June 2016

would mean that an LGBTQ+ character leads a franchise (something that’s rarely seen in Hollywood), much less another character with as much influence as said characters possess. The road to proper representation is never an easy road, in fact people often joke about how Marvel made Captain America a Nazi before they gave him a boyfriend, but this is why hashtags like #GiveElsaAGirlfriend and #GiveCaptainAmericaABoyfriend are so important. As viewers, we have a lot more say over characters than you may think because if they are to release content we don’t wish to see, it’s easy for them to “flop”. These hashtags and posts on social media can influence how Hollywood may choose to portray these characters. In fact the eighth volume of the Star War franchise was delayed to incorporate more demands of viewers into the script. So the next time you see someone posting about how another popular character should be LGBTQ+, how about instead of going off on another rant that no one will read about how you support gay people but that they’re just “taking it too far”, maybe take a step back. Ask yourself if you really support gay rights if you’re so opposed to gays getting proper representation.


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HOROSCOPES By Miss Fortune Aries (March 21 - April 19) My crystal ball looks very cloudy. Be cautious of your actions during the week.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) The spirits are very grim today and have cursed you with bad luck this week. Be cautious of your surroundings.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) My tea leaves read that you are stressed about school. Get up and take a break with some healthy snacks.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) The gods above are very happy today! They will do their best to surround you with good luck this week.

Leo (July 23 - August 22) I sense bad luck coming your way. Think twice about what you’ll say and do this week.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22) Karma is feeling neutral today. Your actions will determine your luck this week.

Libra (September 23 - October 22) I sense good fortune coming your way this week. Karma will grant you good luck.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) The spirits feel generous today. They will shower you with good fortune.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) My crystal ball is looking foggy today. Avoid bad omens at all cost.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19) Karma is displeased with your actions. Be careful for what you wish for.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) The spirits are whispering to me that this week will be a prosperous one for you. Good fortune shall rain on you.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20) The tea leaves read that this week will be neutral for you. The week will be determined by your actions

ANSWERS FOR WANG’S WEIRD TRIVIA No peeking! Read the questions on page 17 before coming here! 1. C An urban myth spread online that was corrected by the Paraguayan embassy 2. C You will see lots of reports online that state some clams can climb trees. Not true - the waves push the clams inland at times, which could give them the opportunity to attach themselves to trees close to sea level on the coast. Bivalves do not have arms to climb with! And yes, d is true. Scallops can swim - badly. 3. D Different species of birds are better at seeing certain shades better than others but some can actually see into ultraviolet! Again, there are reports out there online that state birds cannot see blue. Don’t even know how to respond to this one......

Summer Edition 25


@ravenreview

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES By Tiny Tina Richmond Public Library: Event Assistant Working with RPL staff and/or community presenters, volunteers will help at mid to large scale events at the library by being an event greeter, handing out programs and collecting evaluation forms. No previous experience required. Program Assistant - Children Working with RPL staff or community presenters, volunteers will help children to learn, create and connect with each other. Reading Buddies One on one reading with children in grades 1-3. Reading and communication skills at secondary school level required. Digital Learning Classes Interest in or experience with 3D printing, coding, ebooks, green screen and/or various other digital technology required. After School Help One on one homework support for children in grades 1- 7. Good knowledge of math and science at secondary level required. For more information and where to apply: rpl.yourlibrary.ca/volunteering

2016 Britannia Guides, Greeters and Programs Share the stories of Britannia with visitors from all over the world, all while being close to nature in our beautiful waterfront park! You will gain volunteer hours and experience for your resume that will help you gain future employment. You will also be able to take advantage of special volunteer privileges. Sign up at icanhelp.richmond.ca Minimum age: 15

Canada Day at the Cannery Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society Volunteers will be needed for the following areas: Parade Float Prep, Parade Float Participant, Children’s Activities Leader, Event Prep and Clean Up, Wayfinding and Information Booths. Volunteer shift times for Canada Day will be from 11:30am - 2:30pm, 2:15 - 5:15pm, or 9:00am -12:00pm for event and float prep. Contact: carina.harris@gogcannery.org or 604-664-9261. All new volunteers are required to receive an orientation before their shifts. Minimum age: 15

26 June 2016

Family Farm Day 2016 Volunteer London Heritage Farm Sunday August 20th, 2016. From 10:00-4:00 6511 Dyke Road , Richmond We will provide shade and seating for all volunteers. We are flexible with positions, and although some stations will require volunteers to stand, we are flexible and can provide full day seating for those who need it. Minimum age: 14 Sign up at icanhelp.richmond.ca

Ships to Shore Steveston 2016 All volunteers get a t-shirt, water bottle and a free meal from a food truck! Interested volunteers will need to attend both a mandatory information and training session. Please sign up for one of each for the following dates: Information Session Wednesday, June 8th 7:00-8:30pm Saturday, June 11th 10:30-12:00pm Training Session Wednesday, June 22 7:00-8:30pm Saturday, June 25 10:30-12:00pm Contact Britannia Shipyards at jtoda@richmond.ca or 604238-8050. Minimum age: 16

For more volunteer opportunities like the Salmon Festival and other summer programs, visit icanhelp. richmond.ca for more information and make an account to register and log your hours! Have a great and active summer Ravens!




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