Graffiti 2009-10

1. AFTERPARTY: DORIJAN AND BEN’S TOP TEN MOMENTS

BY THE LEGENDS THEMSELVES, DORIJAN NADJOVSKI AND BEN SHILLETTO

An Afterparty top ten….where do we begin? 2010’s afterparty may have been one of the most questionable and memorable after parties in NT history. When you first arrived, you walked into what seemed an empty place. The only people you could see were the little man standing collecting tickets and the bro checking to see if you stupidly brought licks with you. Little did you know that you were entering a place where there would be numerous inter-grade wheels, an endless smoke machine, strobe lights, and a small couch region where some really dirty dancing went on.

We have attended the fashion show after party since grade 10, when we were young kids and didn’t know what to expect. That year it was at a nearby location that made it convenient to access, however the location lacked many of the necessities of a quality after party venue, such as a smoke machine and a flooded bathroom.

Last year’s after party was located at a dark little club that made you feel like you were dancing during a solar eclipse. Jumping forward to the event that happened just a short while ago, partygoers experienced many interesting occurences. I think it is important that we give recognition to all of the people who fell during their visit at Vola Nightclub and I think almost everyone did… some, however, fell harder than others while some even fell down the stairs.

Anyways, here’s our top ten (school newspaper appropriate) of the night.

10. People Dancing on the Stage – You know who you are.

9. Intergracial-ness – Age did not matter at this party.

8. Smoke Machine – It’s better when you can’t see who you’re dancing with.

7. “Dirty Dancing” – And we’re not talking about dancing.

6. Overall Wheel Fest – As many hookups as there are students at this school.

5. Drunken Tickets – Apparently some were lucky enough to receive public intoxication tickets.

4. Yak – Everywhere.

3. Couches – There may have even been a few laws broken there.

2. Staircase – Whoever decided to build a staircase going towards coat check didn’t think it through.

1. Nip Slip Chick – Who are you?

2. PEDDLE POWER

SABRINA REN

Our six-foot mathematics teacher just became our new NT hero. We know who we’d want running to our rescue if our iPods ever get stolen: Mr. Peddle. Clad in sports gear and Einstein-like hair/math capabilities, he was able to react quickly in the incident that occurred a few weeks ago (refer to the second sentence). While strolling through the back door on a Friday, he was notified of the situation by a student, did a few lightning fast calculations, and at the same velocity, chased the suspects away. As one of the coaches for NT Ultimate Frisbee, he could have put projectile throwing to good use but the sad truth remains: Mr. Peddle isn’t a ninja just yet.

3. ART SCHOOLS

PANIZ MOAYERI

As more and more people get accepted to university programs everyday, art and music students wait patiently, (and some impatiently) for the results of their interviews, auditions, and in some cases even tests.

In many arts programs the interviews and auditions have already been done during the universitys’ reading weeks; in some other schools, they are still ongoing.

It is hard to be a student and see all of your friends get accepted into the programs of their choices while still having to get ready for interviews and auditions (by organizing your portfolio and practicing day and night) in addition to waiting with the knowledge that there aren’t any early admissions for the program that you are applying for. So for all those of you artsy people out there: hang in there just a while longer, the offers are approaching!

4. A CUPCAKE MIRACLE

CHARLES LEE

This year’s charity week was a huge success (special thanks to Ms. Wright’s homeform which raised over $1000) thereby setting the new record for the most homeform money raised in North Toronto’s charity week history. A round of applause also goes to Ms.Ratzlaff’s “grilled cheese sandwich” homeform who placed second and also raised about $1000 in one week. But what was so different or special about Ms.Wright’s homeform which supposedly sold “regular cupcakes”? “It’s simple; they worked really hard with lots of collaboration,” Nina Adelman, Junior Vice President cheerfully commented. Martin Laws, the cupcake mascot during charity week, had a similar opinion, “Well it was all in the costume. Kidding. Honestly, we all came together and worked so hard. Every year my homeform has raised a lot but NEVER with anywhere near the kind of support and involvement that Ms. Wright gave us.”

While the students were amazed by their teacher’s leadership and support, Ms. Wright see it slightly differently as she believes their success was a result of the students working hard as a cohesive group baking fresh cupcakes everyday. Delicious cupcakes, a giant mascot shouting in the foyer, Ms. Wright’s endless support, and most importantly, the will to support charity made it all possible to raise the amount of money that no other homeform has ever done during charity week before.

5. NT is a bust but Lawrence is a must….a tale of two Semis

MADELIENE BONDY

The big announcement comes over the loudspeaker and you can hear a collective yawn echoing through the halls of NT. We rush past the colourful posters in the corridors, offering barely a glance.

You probably think that I’m talking about something as deadly as an upcoming lecture on the history of the paper clip. Au contraire! It’s the annual promotion of our North Toronto Semi. At NT, apathy rules the day, as we wonder who would bother to attend such a lame, school-run event.

A few blocks north and west of us, another school is planning a Semi but with a different attitude. At Lawrence Park Collegiate virtually the entire school attends the Semi—one of the social highlights of the year. As one Grade 11 student puts it, “Semi is a big event at our school. Everybody goes. It’s a good time!”

So why, you ask, does our Semi have such a low status and is well, a bust every year, while over at Lawrence, it’s a major event? Are we still feeling the effects of the fateful Semi ‘06, when inebriated students threw up on teachers and passing out became the dance move du jour? Since 2006, NT students have been either too scared to attend the next Semi or worried that it would lame. And you know the rest.

But, hey! It’s almost four years later and things don’t have to be that way anymore. The major difference between our Semi and Lawrence’s is the attendance. So come on people at NT….strap on your dancing shoes, get ready to kick up your heels and and give our next Semi a chance!

6. BLACK HISTORY MONTH

HANNAH TARDER-STOLL

February is a busy month for NT. We are winding down from charity week, preparing for fashion show, and the 28 days feels even shorter with a nice four-day weekend thrown in the middle. But what NT has failed to recognize is that February was Black History Month. Black History Month, celebrated in February in the United States and Canada, is meant to recognize and honour the achievements of great African-Americans and African-Canadians throughout history. It was started in hopes of incorporating Black history into the school system. However, NT did not do anything this year to take part in Black History month. For a school that recognizes and supports so many important issues, this should recognized as well. Hopefully next year NT can take a bigger role in contributing to Black History Month.

7. SPRING FLING

ADAM WILKS

This year, for the first time, I heard about Spring Fling. Far from being an excuse for an assembly, Spring Fling seems to be a chance for us all to come together by giving up our individuality. Student council has long feared that the students, as a divided body, suffer greatly from class struggles. By eliminating the difference in clothing within the different tiers, the masses shall be divided no longer. It has been clear to me for many years that the root of misfortune at our school is not the heavy workload (as many people complain), but rather that social advantages are unevenly distributed throughout the students. Spring Fling should be seen as a stepping stone towards a new school mentality of equality. I want to see a school that breaks free from the concept of different grades and embodies the structure of a team. When jersey day arrives, remember everyone can contribute to the team according to his ability.

8. SILENT AUCTION

REBECCA JACOBS

Hear Ye, Hear Ye. Posted around the school are sheets of bright yellow paper covered in tiny writing. Just what are these for? The answer lies in one of NT’s most underappreciated charity events; the silent auction. Held annually on the Friday of Fashion Show, the silent auction raises thousands of dollars for our chosen charity. This year the prizes were, well, phenomenal. Take a closer look at those yellow sheets, and you will no doubt be awed by the sheer number of prizes and just how superb they are. Take for example, the tracksuit signed by none other than Catriona Lemay Doan, one of the five people to light the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony. There were certificates for rounds of golf at golf clubs, dozens of restaurant gift certificates (such as a meal for two at the Mandarin), a solar powered knapsack with built in speakers, an iPod, and others. With Ms. Hayden as the staff advisor, Veronica MB, Laila Ierullo, and Michelle Soloman deserve credit for the hours of work they contributed to organizing the event, and these three would like to thank their canvassing team. Michelle says she “personally believes our team worked terrific together. They all went out and tried their hardest to get as many prizes as they could.” The team ended up getting double the number of prizes as previous years; around $22 000 worth was donated to the event through going door-to-door asking stores for donations as well as working with connections such as the Dan Aykroyd winery who donated 12 bottles of wine signed by the man himself. “It’s not necessarily fun organizing the auction and it’s a lot of work, but it’s rewarding because we raise so much money for charity” says Veronica MB. Indeed, this year’s silent auction is estimated to have made around $8000 for the Not For Sale campaign (out of the total $40 000 raised). Thanks also goes to the volunteers who gave their time on Friday night to help out (including the Charity Week Treasury Committee), and of course to the 200 people who came to support this fantastic event. This year’s silent auction was a definite success.

9. GREEN REP

GILLIAN MCCORD

Nine is a great number. Nine is the largest single digit number. It is the square root of 81, and the perfect square of 3. Nine is the number of current positions there are on student council: nine is a great number. Ten, however, is a little bit more controversial. Ten is a two digit number, composed of a one and a zero, and zero, as everyone knows, sucks. Ten is a factor of way too many numbers to make it anything special and in terms of student council, ten may become the new nine. This integer leap comes in the form of ‘Environmental Minister’- the new position that may be available for the 2010/2011 student council. Their job is to “green” NT by reducing waste at events and initiating new activities for the school. This would be the first position of its kind in any TDSB school and could be a great new initiative for NT students. However, there is some debate over whether or not this is a valid new position. As the position lies, any candidate must have been on NEAT (North Toronto’s Environmentla Action Team) for at least one year. “If NEAT gets a representative on student council, why can’t there be a Graffiti representative as well!?” Graffiti’s editor-in-chief Alex McRobert complained. And what’s stopping fashion show from getting a position, or art council? If NEAT gets a spot on council, who knows where the line will be drawn. Sure, the environment is an important issue, but do we necessarily need an Environmental Minister to make sure student council is ‘green’? Shouldn’t the environment be on everybody’s mind not just if someone is there watching over every decision you make? It’s a tough question and may turn out to be a great new inititative here at NT, but there is also the chance of the opposite happening. The decision as to whether or not NT’s student council will have a tenth member next year will be determined at the next class rep meeting, where class reps will vote on the matter. Make sure to talk to your class reps if you have any questions or concerns as to how the vote goes!

10. SCHOOL PLAY

YUKIKO SUZUKI

If you’ve never seen any of the NT drama department’s productions before, it’s time to go see one now! The upcoming NT play, Skin, deals with an issue that is concerning many around the world: racial discrimination. The play covers the issues on three different scales: in Canada, in the community, and in the school. It deals with the hardships and the struggles that people go through, and their efforts to eliminate racial discrimination. The play will take place on Friday, April 16th, 2010. Come and watch the production; be amazed by the astounding talents; be moved by the captivating story about the struggle against racial discrimination that the people face and their brave efforts to fight against it.