Crestword
Fall/Winter 2020
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Anjali Juneja, '21: Senior Student Editor This is Anjali's first year as Editor of the Crestword. Last summer, she completed the New York Time's High School Journalism Program, and we welcome her expertise this year!
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Meet your Editors!
Learning in Another Time Zone
page 12 Disney +: is it Worth is?
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Letter from the Editor
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Credits
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
In a Hybrid World
Spotlight on CPC Athletes
Time really does fly. I don’t often use cliches, but right now, this one feels particularly apt. I still can’t come to terms with the fact that my fellow peers and I are in our final year of high school. Regardless of the challenges this year has brought upon us, CPC teachers and staff are doing their best to provide us with the most supportive experience possible. Through masks and screens, our school’s sense of community is very much present. I remember my first day at Crestwood so vividly; I am still in utter disbelief that it is so far in the past. As my fellow classmates begin to submit their post-secondary applications, watching them start to plan their lives following graduation startles me. Soon, Crestwood’s warmth and support-- which will remain forever in our hearts-- will not be a part of our everyday reality. Crestwood has provided me with endless opportunities. My passions were encouraged and fostered by both my teachers and peers. That’s part of the reason I am writing this, as the Senior Editor of the Crestword. Being the Senior Editor of the Crestword is definitely one of my biggest accomplishments thus far. It’s not about the title, but the journey it represents. Sharing my work was never easy, and over the past year, I’ve developed the confidence and trust in myself to do that. I'm eternally grateful for this opportunity and am so excited to work with the team of writers providing content for this year’s Crestword. This year, our school newspaper is about giving students a voice to explore different topics and share opinions about what matters both within and beyond the walls of our school. From grappling with social and economic issues, to providing product reviews, the possibilities are limitless. The freedom of expression that writers have is something special. This paper is what fosters that individuality and provides a medium for it to be shared. Our team of writers this year is composed of a diverse group coming from different ages, backgrounds and interests. This paper is what unites us: the Crestword is our power.
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Fiction: Repetitive Motion
Poetry: "Safe Lies"
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What did We Miss?
by Anjali Juneja, '21
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Spirit Point
Hayden John, '22: Student Editor This is Hayden's second year as Editor of the Crestword and his third year as part of the Crestword team!
Jessica Ge, '21
in a Hybrid World
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In this piece, Student Editor Hayden John talks to CPC students and staff to find out how hybrid learning is going so far.
Crestwood’s new hybrid of online and in-school classes has everyone living day by day in an attempt to adapt to this school year's new parameters. I spoke with Grade 11 student Zack Graff, who is now learning through both in-school and on-line platforms, and he shared his opinions on the first few months of this school year. He expressed mixed feelings about this hybrid class schedule as it has offered the benefit of not having to commute to school during online days, while also offering social interaction on in-class days. Virtual education comes with its challenges: Zack expressed that he deals with technical issues on a daily basis. This pales in comparison to the frustration caused by the termination of most sports within and outside of the school. This impact has been upsetting to most student-athletes. Zack adds, “Grade 11 is a hard year and I think I speak for most when I say I hope we can all get more at-school time ASAP.” For many different reasons, some students have chosen to take school completely online such as Grade 12 student Anjali Juneja who has an interesting viewpoint on virtual education. “I really enjoy online school as it has allowed me to be very productive,” she continues. “It suits my learning style greatly because I’m more of an independent learner.” Besides the obvious differences between online and in-class learning, Anjali has found virtual communication with teachers to be crucial and finds that difficulties arise within collaborative projects when other peers are in-school. While virtual classes have been academically fitting, Anjali’s has found it to be challenging to stay socially connected with classmates. Our ability to adapt has not only been challenged as students, teachers also face many of the same issues. Drama and English teacher Mrs. Pagano has first hand experience with how virtual classes have dramatically changed teaching. Since Drama, in particular, is a very physically engaging course, teaching drama within a virtual platform has made it necessary to gear and alter every lesson to correspond to whether the class is in school or online. Like everyone, Mrs. Pagano felt overwhelmed at first but, with time, she has now become much more comfortable with her circumstances. “I think it's really important for all of us in the community, students and teachers alike to understand this year is going to be a process and we all have to be flexible.” Mrs. Pagano concludes, “Staying safe is the most important thing.” While we may all be in this together, how we each experience life in the midst of this global Covid pandemic seems to vary by personality. I have explored just a handful of the many perspectives on this new school year, that reflect on both the advantages and disadvantages of our “new normal”. As a school community, we have been cooperative in upholding the important health and safety guidelines. Many efforts have been made to rise above our difficult circumstances and still make the best of things, including our school food drive, Halloween competition, Arts Night and Anti-Bullying Week. Our school spirit and creative energy find new ways to ensure that we make it through this experience relatively unscathed and ready for the year ahead.
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by Hayden John, '22
In the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 global pandemic, many aspects of our lives have been regulated, modified and, in some cases, even prohibited as we collectively attempt to establish a “new normal”. In the Crestwood community we have experienced firsthand the differences in our school year, forcing all staff and students to adjust accordingly. However, these times have also offered us a tremendous opportunity to exercise our interpersonal skill of empathy as we all do our part in making Covid-friendly choices as well as embracing self-care. With heightened stress and fewer opportunities to escape, it has made it that much more crucial to monitor our mental and physical well-being. Continued on next page...
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by Kian Torabi Ardakani, '22
Whether you're learning in this time zone or not, Zoom has quickly become the "new normal"
Iris Xu, '24
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So far, 2020 has been a disastrous year where adaptation to the "new normal" remains crucial for survival. During this time of change, one vital element of society that needs to adjust yet stay constant is education. Education allows us to think critically and thoughtfully, which is what Crestwood is trying its best to do. With the help of technology and apps such as Zoom, it is now possible for Crestwood students to virtually go to school, even if they are in another time zone. Theresa Yu is an international Crestwood student who travelled to China at the start of the pandemic to be with her family during these tough times. With China being 13 hours ahead of Toronto, Theresa joins her classes through Zoom starting at 9 p.m. until 4 a.m! It is extraordinary that students located in different parts of the world can click on a link, and in a matter of seconds, they can communicate with each other and learn. Theresa not only has to overcome the struggles of being in another time zone, she also has to face the challenges that come with online learning. Sixteen year-old Theresa was born in the metropolitan city of Beijing, China. With her family being dissatisfied with the education system of their country, they decided Theresa should move to Canada. As she stated, "in China, the education system is pretty strict. You wake up at six-thirty in the morning and you are at school until nine at night. And you are studying all day.”
Ms. DeCata
Zoe Halpern, '21
A glimpse into Grade 11 student Theresa Yu's flight home to China last spring
At the age of 12, Theresa moved to Canada, where she lived in a stay-home; something that takes a lot of independence and courage to do at such a young age. Being distant from your family for a long time can lead to loneliness, which is why she decided to move back to China during this pandemic. As she stated in a solemn tone, "during COVID, family should stay together.” Attending a school that is in another time zone has numerous challenges that affect Theresa's daily routine. She has to join the Zoom classes until 4 a.m. After that, she goes to sleep until the afternoon, after which she eats her brunch and does her school work. Adapting to this routine requires a tremendous amount of discipline and hard work, which is something that Theresa and other students like her have gone through. Online learning, in general, also has created many difficulties for students. As Theresa explained, "When you open your laptop to attend the classes, you have multiple browser tabs open. Maybe someone sends you a text, and you want to reply to them. It is very hard to stay focused.” She also made the point that when you physically go to school, you pay more attention because it is more interactive. Thankfully, with pharmaceutical companies making advancements in the production of COVID-19 vaccines, we can finally see the light at the end of this tunnel. Theresa seemed quite optimistic about the future and was looking forward to moving back to Canada when this pandemic has ended. When asked about any final words regarding online learning and COVID-19, she stated, "during this pandemic, if you don't try to change your routine and find a way to keep up with an online course, you are being irresponsible and disappointing yourself.”
by Samantha Ross, '21
Since returning to school, most of us have been stuck in our seats in front of a screen, but there are some teachers who are keeping us up, moving and having fun (while staying loyal to COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions). One of these teachers is Coach John Woldue. He coaches Crestwood’s Junior and Senior basketball teams, who are both championship contenders. For the past two years, he's been coaching these elite teams, and he is now in his 3rd year of coaching. When asked what his favourite part of coaching is, he happily said, “Watching the growth and evolution process of the game with the young individuals involved. It's a beautiful thing to be a part of.” Coach Woldue’s love for basketball started at the age of 10, when he first started shooting hoops. He loved the game and played it until he graduated from the University of Victoria. Now he is passing this knowledge onto the next generation of young athletes. In these troubling times, people like Coach Woldue are giving kids an outlet to have fun, play their favourite sport, and build their skillset. Let's hope that when things return to normal, Coach Woldue will help bring CPC some banners!
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By William Christofilos, '26
In each issue of the Crestword, we put a spotlight on a few members of CPC's incredible athletic community
Coach Woldue
Stian Klaassen
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Grade 12 student, Stian Klaassen, has definitely made us at Crestwood proud! Klaassen is constantly competing in tennis tournaments across the world, showcasing his exceptional athletic abilities. One of Klaassen’s proudest achievements is winning the Under 16 National Championships in the Netherlands. He trains around eighteen to twenty hours a week in order to achieve this level of excellence. It may be surprising to hear, but Klaassen doesn’t let this vigorous training schedule affect his studies. On top of being a star athlete, he is a phenomenal student who consistently makes the 90 percent Distinction Honour Roll. When asked how exactly he achieves this, Klaassen said that he doesn’t waste one second of class time. If the teacher gives the class a head start on homework, he’s completely in the zone because he knows he doesn’t have a lot of time after school to complete his work. When asked what’s next for Stian Klaassen, he said, “My international ranking under 18 is around 350. I’m very happy with where I’m at, but not satisfied. I want to try to play a Junior Grand Slam next year (four big tournaments). That is one of my many goals and I work very hard every day to achieve that.” We are beyond excited to see Stian reach these goals!
Although it’s just Peyton Van Volsen’s second year here at CPC, she’s definitely made a name for herself. You may know her as number fourteen on our girls’ hockey team, but she also is a full time athlete in and out of the school league. On average, Van Volsen spends four days a week training on the ice for two hours at a time. In addition, she does three days of off-ice conditioning for an hour at a time. Some of her major accomplishments include being selected to play in the Ontario Summer Games in 2018, playing at the highest level for her age for 11 years straight, being team captain of our school team and most recently, winning Most Valuable Player at our end of the year athletic banquet. Van Volsen does admit that balancing her hectic hockey schedule with school can be quite stressful at times, but with the help and support from her teachers, she always manages to succeed on and off the ice! We’re so proud of Peyton and can’t wait to see what's next for her!
A spotlight on CPC athletes
Peyton Van Volsen
Sophia Arhontoudis, '23
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While Covid is certainly important, lots of other things have been going on in the world. Simran Anand walks us through what we might have missed in the headlines over the past few months: Covid-19 is an extremely pressing matter in the world. It has made headlines and the number of cases continue to increase rapidly. The first cases of Covid began in December of 2019 and so far there have been more than a total of 48 million cases worldwide. While this is certainly an important topic to follow in the news, there are, of course, other issues going on at the same time. Here are a couple of other threats that may have been overlooked in recent news: The Asian Giant Hornet, also known as the Murder Hornet, is an upcoming threat to North America. The Murder Hornet is the largest hornet in the world. This hornet can be dangerous; multiple stings can be lethal. It is still unclear how it came to North America but it is most likely that a fertile queen hornet larva entered a shipment that was transporting to North America. From there, Murder Hornet populations have continued to increase. Although their numbers may be small at the moment, they are continually being spotted in more areas. These hornets are a serious threat to bees. Murder hornets have slaughtered entire hives of bees. Bee expert Ted McFall said, "Whenever they find a beehive, they will slaughter all the bees, go inside the beehive and then rip out the pupa and rip out the bee larva, and then they will fly that back to their own young and feed that to their young." Bees were already endangered without the threat of Murder Hornets; they do a lot for people and without them, we will lose a lot of fruits and vegetables. This invasive species should not be taken lightly!
What Did We Miss?
Simran Anand, '23
Sam Li, '21
Another topic that is being ignored is a flesh eating parasite that has made its way to North America. This parasite is known as Leishmania and is transmitted through sandfly bites. This flesh eating parasite can be lethal as it can affect both skin and internal organs, and it is incurable at the moment. Globally 12 million people are affected by Leishmaniasis and there are about 1-1.6 million new cases every year. So far, cases of this parasite have been found in two provinces in Canada and in 18 American states. This should be taken seriously as Leishmaniasis is classified as a zoonotic, meaning that it can be transmitted from dogs to humans. Most of the dogs that have been affected were imported dogs. Dogs are easily able to transfer this virus by fighting with other dogs and breaking their skin. We need to start being more careful and strict about importing animals. Because there are no sand flies in North America, this parasite will be slow to spread, which is why this issue can be solved fairly quickly so long as we don’t let this slide. Finally, in Toronto, a 76 year old man named Terry McGinnis was experiencing chest pains. He avoided getting it checked out for fear of contracting Covid-19 at the hospital. Soon thereafter, he was rushed to the ER because of a heart attack. Doctors say that this was completely avoidable had he not ignored these symptoms for so long. There has been an overall decrease of about 40% in the number of people who come to the emergency because of heart attacks. This just goes to show another indirect effect of Covid-19. Covid-19 is real and it isn’t going away anytime soon, but neither are all of the other problems within our daily lives. So don’t forget, wear a mask, keep safe and don’t stop living!
By Tal Shram, '23
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Disney Plus: your absolute favourite Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm and Marvel classics all in one place. Sounds like heaven, right? But is the year-old streaming service worth forking over your nine dollars a month? I will just say right off the bat that if you are an immense fan of Walt Disney’s company, then this streaming service will spoil you for years. It includes virtually the entire catalogue of Walt Disney Pictures’ animated and live action films, Pixar movies and shorts, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all three of Lucasfilms’ Star Wars trilogies, National Geographic, 20th Century Studios, original exclusives, as well as Disney Channel’s live action shows, animated shows and original movies. If you are a giant Disney buff, then you will feel right at home. But what if you do not fall into that category of the biggest enthusiasts? Would casual Disney watchers still enjoy this platform? Well, that depends. I am not particularly a big fan of all of the content on Disney Plus, except for Pixar and Disney Channel, but having the convenience of everything I want to watch all in one easy place (with an attractive homepage, intuitive interface, as well as support for Dolby Atmos surround sound and 4K HDR) is a great luxury. However, I am more unbalanced than the majority of people because I am a serious fan of Pixar and have seen every film. I am also a guilty Disney Channel enthusiast, but I do not care much for most other content on the service, with the exception of various Disney and 20th Century Studios films. Since I do not watch Marvel, Star Wars or National Geographic at all, there is a substantial chunk of content that I have never touched while using Disney Plus. However, all of the Pixar and Disney Channel I have watched and rewatched has definitely made up for it. A balanced casual watcher of all things Disney may feel that it is just as good, if not better, to simply buy or rent the films and shows they want to watch. If they are not extremely passionate about any of the individual studios that are available on the platform, then they probably would not need to pay the money to have every movie in the catalogue. Some people may wonder if Disney Plus is still worth the price even if they have other streaming platforms such as Netflix. The answer is, it is absolutely still worth it. Considering that they do not share a single show or movie in common, that means that there will be no overlapping and each service has its own benefits for different audiences. However, if you do not have any streaming services and would only like to fork over the cash for one of them, then your taste in films and TV shows will answer that question for you. If you love Disney to death, then Disney Plus will be perfect for you, but if none of the companies that the platform contains suits your interest, then you should consider another streaming service.
Ali Farroukh, '21
"Safe Lies" by Kathryn Tuns, '21 I’m not telling you what I look like Because it doesn’t matter I’m not telling you my race Because it doesn’t matter It doesn’t matter who I am Because I know who I am I don’t need you to affirm that Isn’t that what it means to be equal We are all the exact same Blank boring canvases If the difference doesn’t matter If we are all the same Then no one is unique This is not a PSA We fell into the safety of manipulation The fearlessness of believing it’s not out fault The falsehood of blame But it was us We made that choice We took what we had And smashed it with a hammer Then told ourselves that the fall is what broke it They lied to us And we lied to ourselves Who really did the manipulating This is not some silly means of instruction It's not a warning It's not anything It's just words You can figure out what they are What they mean I don’t care what you think about them Because I know the truth
Ethan Yuen, '24
Poetry
Disney Plus: Is it Worth it?
Fiction
"Repetitive Motions" A Short Story by Madelyn Tuns, '23
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My feet hammer down on the pavement, my breath is heavy. I watch it form into a vapish fog in front of me, the cold air turning me into a smoker. It’s my favorite weather to go run in, where the sky is a murky grey, the air crisp, and window ledges decorated with a tint of frost. I look down at the bracelet, hanging off my right wrist, beaded and bright and very obviously made by my three-year-old niece. “You like it, Uncle Wobbie?” She can’t say her ‘r’ sounds. “It’s awesome!” She smiled at me, her too big pair of glasses pushing up on her face. “It made you smile!” she had cheered. “I thought, if you have it on, you can also look at it and smile.” It looks ridiculous. The bead size is inconsistent, the ribbon bright pink, and stands out extremely from the rest of my attire. But I’ve worn it everyday for the last three months. The last three months. Sixty-two days. I don’t understand how they’ve been so long, yet blur together. Minutes feel like hours and days feel like seconds. Faaz snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Earth to Robbie.” “What?” “I asked you a question. Were you paying attention?” I laid my head on the table, looking at him. “Man, you look tired.” “I forgot to sleep last night.” “What do you mean you forgot to sleep last night. How does someone forget to sleep? Boy, boy, boy.” He looked up at the front of the room, shaking his head back and forth to the ska bands he has some unhealthy obsession with always listening to. “You wanna sleep now?” “We are in the middle of class.” I replied. He shrugged, picking up his knapsack and banging it down on the desk in front of my face. “Boom! Now they’ll never notice.” “That’s your master plan?” I said. He smirked at me. “Your master plan was to pass out from sleep deprivation. So yes, compared to yours, mine is masterful.” Right now, Faaz is probably playing video games in his bedroom, listening to ska music and getting way too furious over things that I find trivial. But they are not trivial to him. We all get our highs in different ways. His is slaying pixelated leviathans. Mine is running.
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You can get lost in it. Escape reality and just listen to the sound of your feet hitting the ground, over and over and over. It’s repetitive. It’s reliable. It’s safe. It’s security. It’s something I have complete control over. In a world where, comparatively, I have virtually no control over anything, this is something I can control. This is a constant. Everyone has a constant. Something they can control and rely on, no matter what comes along. Typically, they’re nothing extraordinary or overly eye catching. They differ from person to person. But their value is unmeasurable. “Why are you going for a run at four in the morning?” my mother asked me. “Why are you awake at four in the morning to integrate me?” “Touche.” She walked over to the sink, turning on the faucet and flicking water onto her face. “Be safe. Be smart.” “I’m always smart.” That’s not exactly true. Ask anyone of the pleasurable professors who handed me back my subpar papers. “Just try harder,” they always say. “If you work a little harder, you’ll get it.” “That’s a lie,” Fazz told me. I looked at him. “They mean well, but it’s a lie. You can try real hard, and still come up short.” “That’s easy for you to say, Mr. Perfect. Besides, doesn’t it sound more motivational to say try and you will succeed? “Maybe it sounds more motivational, but not very practical. Doesn’t it feel better to be told the truth? That sometimes you do your best and things don’t pan out, and you just have to take a deep breath and move on.” I look at the bracelet on my wrist, smiling. I don’t see the crack in the road, that catches the corner of my sneaker, and sends my flying. I fall. Hard. But I get back up. Always get back up. And keep running.
Tinamarie Otchere, '21
The Writers
Anjali Juneja-- Senior Student Editor Hayden John-- Junior Editor Samantha Ross Simran Anand Tal Shram Madelyn Tuns Kathryn Tuns William Christofilos Kian Torabi Ardkani
Kevin Liu, '22
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Jessica Ge Zoe Halpern Iris Xu Sophia Arhontoudis Ali Farroukh Ethan Yuen Tinamarie Otchere Kevin Liu
Ms. Young Ms. Doble Mrs. Pagano Ms. Ly Ms. Belanger
The Staff
The Artists