![]() By: Sunni Zhou Well, fall is over and winter holidays are finally here! Aside from all the snow, presents and the Christmas trees, without holiday fashion, your Christmas will be boring. So that is why I am here. The first thing you need is to find good Christmas colours like green, red, white and maybe even black just to make it more exciting and cool. Maybe you don’t have to have all those colors all together, but you should at least have red. Let’s start with girls and holiday dresses. If you ask me what is the first thing I think of when you mention the holiday season, I would say sparkles! You need a dress with sparkles on it. Sparkles will always catch people’s attention. Your shoe should also be sparkly, matching the dress. To be fancier, how about a sparkly jacket? For both boys and girls, if you want to wear something warm and casual, but still reflect the holiday spirit, try a warm long-sleeve shirt that has some holiday symbols on it. For example Santa, or maybe presents, sure it can be a reindeer. Pair it with a regular one tone colour pants that are either red or black. Now let’s talk about accessories and makeup. For girls, make sure your hair is neat and tidy with lots of hair decorations. Your makeup should be stronger than normal parties and more on the warm color tone side. ![]() For guys, a simple pattern scarf will make you look handsome and gentleman like. Oh, the most important thing is to make sure that you have a fancy jacket and a cute hat that keeps your body warm (this goes for both guys and girls!) It is winter and some of your friends may say that if you want to be pretty you have to tolerate the cold and not wearing jackets and sweaters, you have to “sacrifice” in order to stay in fashion. I personally think that is ridiculous. If you have runny nose which you have to wipe all the time and eventually, it looks like a little red cherry, how would that be looking fashionable? You can still look pretty inside of the party place when you take it off then. So kids listen to your parents about that one – dress warm! Christmas fashion is not all about wearing something related to holiday season, it’s about the way you want to look, the way you act, the way you to express yourself and cheer up the people around you. ![]() By James Newman Political party is a term you may have come across online, on television, or on the radio. But what exactly is a political party? Is it a string of secret underground parties where politicians dance the night away? Sadly, it isn't one great party. It is a significant system that not only affects our communities, but our entire country. In the Canadian Parliament, there are hundreds of MPs (Members of Parliament) that are grouped together by their shared ideas, goals, and concerns for the country. These groups are defined as political parties. Currently, in Canada, we have numerous political parties such as: The Conservative Party of Canada, The Liberal Party, and The New Democratic Party (NDP). The largest political party is the one that holds the most power and has the most MPs. Currently, the Prime Minister, Stephen Harper’s party (The Conservative Party of Canada), has the majority of seats which makes him the Prime Minister. This results in what is referred to as a majority government. This is a beneficial position that most parties want to be in because of the power it gives you. Basically, it’s like if you were trying to be elected to your school’s student council, you would be more confident and likely to be elected if you have more friends than your opponent. As long as the MPs keep agreeing on ideas, social issues, and possible changes they want to focus on, their concerns can always be at the top of the list. In an election, the leader of the political party who gets the most votes will become the Prime Minister. If they also have the most MPs elected, the power is very much in their favour. Someone trying to be elected as an MP is usually already in a political party, so people voting for them would easily know their views. To learn more about Political Parties and read James' interview with Cabinet Minister Tony Clement pick up our current issue of Voice K magazine. ![]() By: Edward Chang-Wang, age 7 The most wonderful time of the year is here; a time for family, friendship, love, and laughter. A time when walking through the snow-filled streets fills our hearts with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Christmas is the time where family and friends get together and sing carols, sip hot cocoa by the fireplace, and give presents to one another. Christmas is my favourite holiday, though it only comes once a year. Many families are working together during this time to decorate their Christmas trees with pretty ornaments and lights. Children are usually attracted by the decorations on the tree, because they look so colourful and bright! My brother and I like to play games under the beautiful tree and feel the love of the holiday season. I always wonder, though, why are Christmas trees always green, and not other colours? However, not everybody celebrates Christmas. Some have their own festival to celebrate such as Diwali, Hari Raya, the Chinese Spring Festival, etc. Just because somebody doesn't celebrate Christmas, it does not mean they don’t like it; it is just that they have their own religious beliefs. In fact, everybody loves holidays. I mean, who wouldn't enjoy white snowflakes, colourful lights, nice music, delicious food, and great presents? No one can refuse the power and magic of the holiday season. One of the reasons why I love Christmas is because I can get presents. Anything can be given as a present, such as a DS, iPod, telephone, or TV. However, it is the thought that counts. Speaking of presents, one of the greatest things about Christmas is Santa Claus! He takes his reindeer sleigh to go around the whole country-even the whole world-to give presents to children. When you meet Santa, you can take pictures with him. He is very nice with everybody. Some people think that Santa Claus is real, while some believe that there is no Santa Claus. If it is possible, I hope I can see Santa come to my home through the chimney. I had a dream about Christmas one night, where Santa Claus came to visit me with his big bag. When he opened the bag, I could see many presents in it. He allowed me to take only one, but I got to choose before anyone else. Guess what I touched? Glasses, pants, jackets, belts, chocolate, and candy! After taking my presents, Santa kissed my forehead and then left my home. Santa seems to love travelling with his reindeer sleigh, but if I were him, I would travel with a dog sled and use a team of husky dogs. This is because sometimes, I think that the reindeer cannot run very fast. My brother disagrees with me though. He thinks that the reindeer can also run very fast if there is an urgent situation. Day after day, I count down the days until Christmas with my fingers. When I go to bed every night, I know that a new day will come tomorrow and that means that Christmas is getting closer to the date. I get more and more excited, especially because I already know what present I am getting for Christmas. But, that is a secret that I will keep hidden until Christmas day. As for now, let us be quiet and patient as we wait for the wonderful moment. We should save our excitement and energy, and release it all together when the merry day comes. Then, we can sing and dance together, hand in hand, and just enjoy the holiday. Dear Christmas, I love you! ![]() The Traz – A Book Review The Traz is a book full of action and adventure, touching on issues such as drugs, gangs, grief, and the meaning of life. The targeted audience are young teens, but it is also a good read for adults. The story follows the life 13-year old Katrina, who had lost hope and will to live after the night of her parent’s death. She makes reckless decisions and actions to overcome her grief and loneliness. Her choice of following Shrug, a fierce biker of the The Traz gang, changes her life forever. Katrina joined the gang to feel included, but soon life gets tougher. Katrina is at the bottom of the pecking order. Within the gang, there is no mercy and she becomes the target of their abuse. Her troubles increase when she witnesses a murder of an old friend. Katrina feels too entangled in this mess to come out clean, until she meets Chad, an undercover cop who offered to help her. Katrina starts to feel a bit of hope for the first time. Chad is a nice guy, but oddly enough, he knows Shrug very well, and also knows something else no one knows. The characters are very complex, having mysterious pasts and roles. Katrina possesses a wide range of emotions too. I find it hard to see her true personality, she can go from vulnerable to vicious. Sometimes I would feel uneasy with the things she has to do and witness, but it is the grim reality. I feel so sorry for what she has to go through. I also feel really sad sometimes, since I can imagine how much potential she can put to use if she was living a normal teenage life, in a family that truly loves her. Shrug is also a significant character that caught my attention. I am confused in the way he acts sometimes, like the time he hit Katrina was totally unexpected. I am curious to see his character develop, and maybe we can discover why he decided to live like a gang member. However, I am impressed how each little conflict leads to the climax of the story. It reminds me of how little white lies can turn into a crisis. The plot is very original, and I found it fascinating to see what it is like to live in a gang. The Traz’s interesting plot made me want to read more, and I can’t wait for Schuh’s next addition to the series. The Traz definitely makes a great debut. ![]() 10 Holiday Gift Ideas By: Alyssa Vidal and Dea Yu ‘Tis the season to be jolly! Here comes that time again when we hear about the celebrations, holidays, presents, gifts, and Santa Claus! Speaking of Santa, have you heard of Secret Santa or Kris Kringle? Are you participating in one? Or maybe, are you planning on giving a gift to your friend? If so, then you might want to read on. Here are some holiday gift ideas that could help you on deciding what to give:
![]() An Introduction to Canadian Politics By: James Newman Politics is a word you may have heard either from your parents, on the television, or even from your teachers at school; but have you ever wondered what it really means and exactly who is involved? The word Politics is defined in the dictionary as, “The science or art of government and the practice or profession of conducting political affairs.” Therefore, politics is the general term used for the thoughts, ideas, rules and passing of laws in any country, city or community. You may have also heard of terms like: party, left wing, centrist, right wing and so on. There are many aspects of the political system; for example, in Canada we have a political system that is considered Democratic, which means we have a group of people in our government who make decisions together based on public votes that are counted equally. When we turn 18 we will be able to vote. As a citizen of a democratic country we have a responsibility to be informed about this subject and I will begin by explaining the political framework. I hope by the end of my four articles you will know a lot about politics! ![]() The Political Spectrum The terms ‘right wing’ and ‘left wing’ get thrown around a lot in politics, but don’t get too excited, they have nothing to do with hockey. The political spectrum is a helpful tool where all of the different views and opinions on what should be done in the country are divided into groups. The two major factors in the political spectrum are personal freedom otherwise known as Human Rights (rights to which a person is entitled to simply because she or he is a human being) and financial freedom (rights to having significant income and savings). The farther right someone is on the spectrum, the more he or she values financial freedom, and the farther left someone is, the more he or she values personal freedom. The higher someone is on the political spectrum the more freedom he or she wants overall and vice versa. The people who fall under the Right-Wing section are often called Conservatives and tend to want fewer regulations on financial industries; allowing banks and other large corporations to manage themselves. For example if it was up to you and not your principal to decide what type of ball you brought to school, or what kind of clothes you were allowed to wear. Left-Wing Liberals vote for more personal freedom and choice, but want the government to have more influence on the economy. For example, if everyone was allowed to start their school day at a different time depending on where they lived - if you lived farther away you would start later than someone who lived across the street. Authoritarians want the government to have more control over people’s personal choices in life and the economy. Libertarians prefer freedom both ways, giving people a lot of choice in their life and also giving some leeway for companies in terms of their decisions. Centrists attempt to combine Left and Right wing views to make a good combination of personal and financial freedoms, as if they were making a peanut butter and jam sandwich, rather than just using either jam or peanut butter alone. ![]() Fun Fall Wardrobe By Victoria Veloso Summer is over, and school is here! No more shorts and t-shirts to wear at the beach. Now is the time to put away the sunscreen, and take out that comfy sweater of yours. Say goodbye to green leaves and hello to orange, brown, yellow, and red. More importantly, it’s back to school! It’s the time to dress comfy and cute with these new fall fashion trends! New colours for fall should give a warm feeling that reflects Mother Nature. Colours such as chocolate brown, cream, gold, and a smoky gray make this year’s fall fashion fun and glamorous for getting back to school. Also complimenting your wardrobe with a bit of sparkle is a great idea for fall. Although summer is over, incorporating some of your summer pieces with a fall wardrobe is in. In early fall days, try wearing a comfy sweater with a pair of shorts! This look is comfy, yet fun to wear on a sunny autumn day. On cold fall days, scarves make a great accessory. Whether you wear it over a coat or a sweater, scarves are always known as the signature look for fall trends. They go with many outfits and add statements to your choice of fall colours. But this fall, over-sized scarves are a big nono if they are twice the size of your body! Berets were so last year. Beanies and knitted hats this fall are a must to keep warm, while still looking absolutely swagged out. Whether it is plain or patterned, this trend is a fun accessory to make an outfit pop! It goes and looks good with anything. That’s why it is always trending and the look never gets old. You cannot go wrong with a beanie. Leggings are lovely to pair with colourful skirts or tunics and large cardigans. But wearing them with short tops makes an outfit too revealing and makes legs appear bigger. Wearing leggings that are properly covered adds a simple and cute look to your outfit. Last fall, Uggs and fuzzy boots were a huge trend for fall fashion. But let’s face it, they rarely match with most outfits. The new trend this season is stylish boots, such as riding and calf-fitting boots. Both the young and old can flaunt it this season! Over all, have fun and give it all this fall. As long as you feel good, you’ll look good! ![]() Kids’ Fall FashionBy Wendy Wang Illustration by Sarah Friedlander In this fall’s fashion, kids are bringing back some old favourites as well as kicking up some new trends. That’s right, the original autumn yellow is out and the new primrose yellow is in! Could it be from the Hunger Games? For girls, this fall we are focusing on the harvest colours and clothes that are comfy yet trendy. The traditional striped navy blue and white long sleeves paired with jeans are still popular among girls. Denim is also getting well-known, as more and more girls start to wear jean jackets too. This year, we are seeing a soft orange colour for sweaters and hoodies that match well with black instead of the usual bright orange. Black yoga pants are often worn by girls too, even if it’s not for yoga – just daily life. For boys, snapback hats are the biggest thing. They can match any outfit, so it is better than a baseball cap. White hoodies are making a comeback, perhaps in advance for winter. Rubber wrist bands are a new accessory trend for guys, and chain necklaces are out the window. Deep teal and grey jackets are really cool to wear, a great transition from summer to fall. Impress your friends with your new trends this fall! ![]() Parents, what are the top 10 things your children can do before get back to school? Hear what the kids have to say. By: Dea Yu (Age 6) 1. Go to the Toronto Zoo. Becuase I have been so busy with my ballet practice, music recital, and school work, I haven’t been to the Zoo for a long time. I want to go to the Zoo because I want to ride a camel. 2. Ride my scooter. My scooter is purple with a girl sticker on it; I want to ride my scooter because I like things that go fast. 3. Have a sleepover with my friend. I had one sleepover with my Girl Guides camp, but I never had a sleepover with my friend before. My Mom has arranged a sleepover with my friend Luna’s mom. My sister and I are going to Luna’s house, I think my daddy and mom are going to go to a fancy restaurant and to a movie on that day. 4. Finish my music theory book. My piano teacher, Mrs. Zagala, said if I want to learn my next piano book, I have to be able to read music. So, this summer, I want to finish my theory book and move on to the next level. 5. Eat lots of home grown tomatoes. Last year, we had a lot of cherry tomatoes, it was fun picking the red ones from the plant. This year, I want to do it again because my mom’s vegetable garden is growing really well. 6. Learn my times table. Some of my classmates in school already knew the times table this year. I want to learn it over the summer so I won’t be left behind. 7. Learn to ride my bicycle without training wheels. I can ride my bike with training wheels, but my Mom said it is time for me to learn how to ride without the training wheels; even Eric, my best friend’s little brother, knows how to ride without training wheels. 8. Go rock climbing at my mom’s new gym. My mom is joining a really cool gym with all kinds of kids programs in it. Mom said I can go rock climbing. I am kind of scared, but mom says it is going to be safe. 9. Go to a Kid’s Zumba class. My mom goes to her Zumba class all the time, and she says it is fun. Her new gym has a Kid’s Zumba class too, so when my mom is working out, I can go to my class. 10. Go to a cottage. My friend Heather’s mom is looking for a cottage so our two families can go together. I went to a cottage before with Heather’s family, and it was fun. We had roasted marshmallows on the fire! What's your favourite things to do in the summer? Please share with me to have chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card. |
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