Veritas February 2012

Welcome to our new Year 7’s, the Class of 2017!

veritas

February 2012

a few events for term one... ear Y r o f s ’ 2 d a iP 9’s and 11’s

ay Breakfast D ’s n e m o W l Internationa e page 8 for more details :) Se Get involved!

Interho use Sw imming to be h eld

Carniv al

at the B oroond ara Sw imming Friday 16th M Comple arch x on

year12 breakfast Year 12 was off to a rough start with a heavy homework load and no sleep for everyone. The Year 12 breakfast however was a nice distraction and a chance for the year level to bring their parents and socialize with each other.

It was a quaint morning and we were fortunate for the lack of rain and delicious food. The chocolate croissants a personal favourite.

There was much banter between the adults and students, the Siena Parents Association organised a great morning, so much thanks to them!

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By Grace Ramsden, IT Captain 2012

Februar y pollQue stion: what colo your favo ur of skittles is urite?

A) Red B) Orange C) Yellow D) Green E) Purple

Vote now ! Results will appear in March Edition! http://micropoll.com/t/KE1C0ZJ9es

earth hour 2012 31st March, 8.30pm

Hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world unite each year to support the largest environmental event in history – Earth Hour.

More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 alone, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. It also ushered in a new era with members going Beyond the Hour to commit to lasting action for the planet. Without a doubt, it’s shown how great things can be achieved when people come together for a common cause.

How to get involved?

The first step is signing up to show your support at http://www.earthhour.org/page/getinvolved/join-community Next step, planning something fun for the evening! In 2012 we're encouraging communities around Australia to throw a local "Earth Hour Unplugged" event, a great way to celebrate the night and help raise funds for WWF. Click here to find out more.

Finally, don't forget to check out this year's WWF Earth Hour Awards - celebrating grassroots community action by the people for the planet.

At the end of the day, Earth Hour is not about saving an hour’s electricity, it’s about uniting people to protect the planet. And the best thing? Each one of us can be a part of it.

enviroFastFacts Australia’s annual use of bottled water generates more than 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions the same amount that 13,000 cars generate over the course of a year Producing and delivering a litre of bottled water can emit hundreds of times more greenhouse gases than a litre of tap water

Australians spend more than half a billion dollars a year on bottled water.

Australia produced 582.9 million litres of bottled water in 2009-10 Australia recycles only 36% of PET plastic drink bottles.

Assuming the 582.9 million litres of bottled water produced in 2009-­‐10 is in litre bottles, according to these figures, 373 million of those bottles will end up as waste!

enviroSolutions Filtering your tap water with a high quality ‘under the sink’ water filter can cost as little as 2 cents a litre. Bottled water costs up to $2.50 a litre. Filter jugs can also be bought at major supermarkets, but they remove less impurities than ‘under the sink’ models Just drink tap water!

Always ask for tap water or filtered water when you’re in a restaurant

Every year, millions of European carbonated water bottles are imported into Australia, causing damage to the environment and our wallets. A cheaper alternative is to filter your home tap water and then carbonate it with a Sodastream

Buy a reusable bottled for when you're going out and about in a car, on foot or on public transport, picnic etc

WEBSITES TO VISIT!!

Want to learn more about our Earth???

Below are some great websites packed full of informa:on on facts, sta:s:cs and what we can all do to protect our environment h"p://planetsave.com/ h"p://www.50waystohelp.com/ h"p://www.ecologyfund.com h"p://www.earthhour.org/ h"p://earthday2012.com/ h"p://planetark.org/ h"p://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne.php?id=2226 h"p://kidsforsavingearth.org/index.html h"p://www.olliesworld.com/planet/ h"p://www.thesavedplanet.com.au/

enviroFastfacts and solutions, as well as websites to visit, all by Katherine LoPresti, Environment Captain 2012

Background - What is Project Compassion?

Project Compassion began its ministry to the people of Mexico in 1991. During its first five years, Project Compassion made hundreds of single and five-day trips into the Northern and Central Baja regions providing free medical care where there was little or no care available.

They play an active role in building clinics, planting churches, and assisting orphanages.

In 1995, Project Compassion grew, and began performing weeklong clinics in other developing nations. Through this, PC have assisted tens of thousands of people in need all over the world.

Project Compassion has responded to emergency requests, and has provided disaster relief from devastating events such as Hurricane Mitch to Nicaragua and Honduras, and earthquake relief to El Salvador. Their global response outreaches have included Central and South America, the Pacific Islands, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Project Compassion continues to receive requests for help from all around the world.

(above) Bala regions

What do they do?

Through a strong network of dedicated volunteers, PC are able to bring their proven and invaluable service directly to the point of need. Most often the clinic site are in very rural and remote locations where medical care is limited or inaccessible.

(above) Project Compassion Volunteers

All volunteers run a full-functioning clinic, regardless of the volunteer's career experience. A medical background is not essential, as PC draws from the talents and knowledge of each individual. The environment varies with each country they visit, and have conducted clinics in both churches and schools, local clinics and orphanages, and are even completely functional in open fields with mud-walled thatched-roof huts!

How you can help: Get involved over the next month and change the lives of those less fortunate then us by contributing to your project Compassion Box. Boxes will be distributed on Monday 27th February, and are due back on Tuesday 27th March. See how much you can contribute during Lent to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in third world countries.

By Georgia O’Grady, Social Justice Captain 2012

at S iena !

InternaEonal Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8th across the world.

IWD is a global day celebraEng the economic, poliEcal and social achievements of women in the past, present and future. It is a day when women are recognised for their achievements, regardless of divisions, whether naEonal, ethnic, linguisEc, cultural, economic or poliEcal.

It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potenEal and opportuniEes that await future generaEons of women.

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local acEvity connects women from all around the world ranging from poliEcal rallies, business conferences, government acEviEes and networking events through to local women's craP markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

So come along, make a difference, think globally and act locally!! IWD will be held at the Box Hill Golf Course on the 8th March, at 7.00am. Tickets to be distributed at a later date. Make everyday InternaEonal Women's Day! Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

Tickets are limited and are selling fast! Print out your order form from Siena’s homepage! Hope to see you there!

big sister little sister pajama party!

A few happy snaps of the great night that was!

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BIG THANK YOU to the SPA and House Co-ordinators for

“The Big Sister Little Sister PJ Party!�

Everyone had a blast, dancing, singing, talking, laughing, and having a great time!

Thanks to everyone who attended!

statistics Average number of seeds reportedly on a Big Mac bun: 178

The word ‘bible’ never appears in the works of Shakespeare.

Number of variaEons in the first four moves of a game of chess: 318,979,564,000

There’s an esEmated 180,000 people living in the world aged over 100,

and 85% of these people are women.

The longest Eme a person has been stuck in a liP is 6 days.

It was a 76-­‐year-­‐old Cyprus woman in 1976.

Australia is one of only 30% of countries worldwide that drive on the leP side of the road.

There are 14billion pencils manufactured worldwide each year. They can write an

average of 55 kilometers each, that is, roughly 45,000 words.

Average Eme a women spends in a store;

If accompanied by another women: 8 minutes, 15 seconds

If accompanied by her children: 7 minutes, 19 seconds If accompanied by a man: 4 minutes, 41 seconds

There are 4000 men in the Bolivian navy, however, Bolivia has no coast line.

By Charly McInnes, PR and Admin. Captain 2012

Celebrity success...after death?

BY KATHERINE LO PRESTI The recent death of Whitney Houston has reignited the argument that death for a celebrity could in fact be their best publicity weapon. Are celebriEes worth more dead? Or alive? It appears that in death, celebriEes reach new levels of media interest and sales of their work booms resulEng in success that they haven’t achieved since they were in the height of their prime. Is it because now that they are gone, their work is that much more valuable? Are they seen in a new light? Appreciated more? It’s funny that when a celebrity dies, everyone is their fan all of a sudden. ArEsts have for centuries found appreciaEon aPer death – Van Gough cut off his ear and died broke, but didn’t live to see his work recognised or sell for millions of dollars decades later.

I am an enthusiasEc (slightly obsessed) Michael Jackson fan and was amazed by the amount of news his death made in the weeks, months and even years aPer his passing. His (already astronomically high) record sales jumped through the roof, his This Is It movie was a huge success and his other merchandise profits and revenue has nearly erased all the unbelievable amount of debt he leP behind in this world. He had his many issues, but I strongly believe he was completely innocent of the criminal charges he was accused of. Whitney had her fair share of problems too, but at the end of the day, most acknowledge the tremendous amount of accolades they both won, the contribuEons they made to the music industry, and their humanitarian efforts.

The Elvis Presley and John Lennon estates conEnue to rake in money – thirty years on, and Kurt Cobain’s influence is sEll vast. The huge success of these masters of their field is a sign that even in death, the presence of these celebriEes are sEll felt here. CelebriEes can have tough demons to face in their lives, and some deal with it be"er than others. But one thing is for sure, no ma"er whether you hate or love that celebrity, their success beyond the grave seems to be a guaranteed certainty.

MJ will con:nue to be a thriller, we will always love Whitney, Kurt Cobain will forever smell like teen spirit, John Lennon will keep on imagining and Elvis will forever keep rocking in Viva Las Vegas.

QUICK QUIZ!!

In what month and year did the famous celebrity die?? a) Michael Jackson? b) Elvis Presley? c) Kurt Cobain? d) John Lennon? e) Whitney Houston? (this is a tad easy)

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Looks like thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the end of the February 2012 edition of Veritas! A huge thank you to all those who submitted content! :)

We want you to submit your articles, random facts, artwork, stories, jokes, experiences for the March 2012 edition! Feel free to submit your articles to vertias@siena.vic.edu.au by the Friday 16th March!

Anna V, Veritas Captain 2012