How I define family - Kyle Haddad

 Family is where you can feel comfortable, where you can feel accepted and where you know that there is people who are loving you the way you are. Family isn't just a group of people who live under the same roof, no, it's more than that. Family is defined in many ways which some of them could be true but my definition of family is a group of people who care for each other. Family has the same resemblance as you they are like you.

 What comes in first in family? Respect. Respect is a major thing in a family. When a family treats each other  well, the family will relatively get along with each other. Our generation is losing more and more respect for one an other but mostly in families. The children or the parents are having a lack of respect for each other and for parents to have no respect for there own child is unacceptable.This is why respect for me is huge, and as an unknown person once said " Respect others feelings. Even if it doesn't mean anything to you, it means everything to them".

 Acceptance, For me when your in a family you need to feel accepted or else you have no place in it. Acceptance is feeling comfortable with a group of people who you love, a group of people who you care for. When you feel accepted you will always know that there will be people there for you when your going through hard times this is when you'll know that you are part of a group who loves you and who accepts you just the way you are. In my family we accepts others thoughts, feelings, and opinions thats why in my family we are happy. 

 You need to remember these 3 things, respect, acceptance and comfortable. Those 3 things differentiate a true family and a family. Trust me, after reading this you will get your mind thinking of how you treat others in your family and how you should of respected them in a certain way. So here, its easy. Uno: respect other family members. Dos: accept others thoughts and feelings and last but not least make your family members feel comfortable.

The Benefits of Cursive Writing by Neil Manek

Cursive writing is becoming less and less common everywhere, schoolwork,office work etc. Cursive writing is becoming less and less common since now most work is done on computers such as sending emails to fellow colleagues, writing essays for English class or creating a PowerPoint about a French comedian for French class. Anything if not everything can be done on the computer, which also means less cursive writing is used. Is the fact cursive writing is becoming less and less common good or bad? Yes, there is an alternative for typing and cursive writing called writing in block letters ( which is basically the type of letters you are currently reading. ) But not only does it take a lot longer to write in block letters by hand compared to cursive letters, it also brings few disadvantages.

Block letters

One disadvantage of not learning the art of cursive writing is that the reader won't be able to read any other cursive text. Cursive texts meaning; historical texts from 100 years ago, old texts from relatives such as your grandma's diary etc. Just imagine not being able to read a specific text for an exam. What would happen? There definitely wouldn't be anyone to convert the cursive writing into plain block letters. The only solution is to learn how to read and write in cursive writing.

Unique signature using cursive writing

Another disadvantage to not learning the art of cursive writing is that when it is time to create a signature, and you don't know how to cursive write, chances are the signature will be really easy to forge. Most signatures today are people's own unique mix of both cursive and printing writing.  Signatures are used to sign bills, legal documents, child exams etc. Just imagine if your signature as a parent was in block letters (Ex: Sandra Johnson) and your son or daughter gets a 40% on his math test, what do you think will happen? The child will just write his mother's name, in plain simple letters since he and the mother doesn't know how to cursive write, which results in the mother not having her own personal unique signature. Also, signature forgery could lead to a lot worse than just a child's exam.



Cursive letters

Lastly, it'll just create an easier time reading texts. There won't be any worry,no panic or any stress especially when doing an exam. Just imagine, doing an history ministry exam, you have to read and find the goals of the text written by a French explorer in the 18th century, and text is in cursive. That would make you be in a whole lot a of trouble and would cause stress and panic that wouldn't be there if you had learn how to cursive write in the past.

In conclusion, there are more benefits in learning cursive writing compared to not learning it. My recommendation to all is, learn how to cursive write. Doesn't mean you will use it every day and quit block letters and typing, but learn how to write cursive, it will definitely be beneficial.





STOP IT !!!!!by Samuel Fiset

Many things may trigger the mad mood of someone. For me, those things are when people either do little noises or say stuff just to annoy you. These are the things that annoy me the most because they get into my head. The repetition of noises and words just get in my head and stay there unless I start thinking about something else. Not only are the noises annoying but they just disturb me while everything is silent and they make me less concentrated. I don't know why these things annoy me the most but they are definitely not the only things...

I think I can say that most teens find their parents annoying. My dad is the most annoying person in my family. After each basketball or other sports game I play, he always finds a way to tell me what I did wrong in that game and just keeps reminding me about it. This annoys me because I know what I did wrong and he doesn't need to remind me. My mom also annoys me when she tries to be funny while she's just simply annoying. 

Everyone has a brother or sister that does everything in there power to make you get in trouble. This is the situation I have everyday with my 8 year old sister. Small things I make like eat an extra dessert makes her go crazy and she starts whining about it until she finally gets an extra dessert like me. She also does everything in her power to make me be mad at her and do stupid stuff. She will annoy me, hit me and then get me mad. The problem is I CAN'T touch her, she is young and she is a girl is I always get in trouble if I push her a little.

This is an article about the top 100 most annoyinng things: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/howaboutthat/6131208/The-100-most-annoying-things-poll.html

This is so annoying by: Sarah Stumpf

Have you ever been annoyed by something or somebody so much that you just want to kill whatever is causing you to loose your head?  Be it a mosquito or simply someone who keeps annoying you.  But what is an annoyance exactly?  Is it something unpleasant?  A diluted rage perhaps?  Overtones of disgust?  Or simply a dislike?  Since there is no real definition of annoyance it is simply all of these things.  For example, I think that all teenagers can agree with me that parents can be annoying sometimes.  I mean I love my parents but sometimes they really annoy me. 

Firstly, This can be either parents but for me it is mostly my Mom.  She always asks me to do twenty million different things at the same time and asks me why I am not done already.  Seriously Mom?! Jeez, I can't teleport myself up and down the stairs and do everything in twenty seconds! I'd love to but that's not how it is.  Sometimes she can ask me the same question: "Are you done yet?" millions of times in the opening of three minutes and all I want to say is: "No Mom, I am still doing the first of the many things you asked me; I am still doing my room."

Secondly when I ask my parents something and they answer: "No." And then I ask why and they have no good, valid reason but this comes out a lot: "Because I said so."  Or they say the ever so famous: "Because you're in my house and until you go and make your own life and live somewhere else you will follow my rules."   When actually they say that because they have no other arguments. Like if you tell me: "No." I'd like to at least have the smallest explanation possible. I am not asking you to touch your head and jump like a frog and dribble a basketball at the same time- I am only asking for an explanation.

 And lastly, I don't know if I am the only one, but my parents do this: they always blame everything on electronics.  For example, let's say I have a headache.  For them, the only reason possible is because I am too much on my phone when actually that day I forgot my phone at home and didn't even go on it yet.  Or if I haven't finished my homework yet and its been one hour and they'll be like: "Oh, Sarah, it's because you're always on Facebook on your computer",  when I actually haven't checked my messages for one week. God, it annoys me so much! I am sure that the list could go on and on but those are the main ones.  

After all, an annoyance can be something so little but can still poke some nerves.  What about you?  What are things that annoy you?

Posted by: Sarah S.

The ''I'' Genreration - by William Comtois

Ipod, Ipad, Iphone, IMac. Slogans like "because you're worth it" or "you deserve a vacation". It's due to these kind of marketing in media that is making our generation the most self-centered to ever live. Social networks and media are the source of all this self-centered people.People's opinion are important to have also. We need to learn how we could stop people from being self-centered! If it continues, our genreration might have to face the consequences.

Social networks, I think they are the source of this problem. Social media is making people believe that the world revolves around them. For example twitter or Facebook. These social networks keep asking you: whats on your mind and things like that but actually when you hit post or when you tweet, not many people care that much actually. When people post "selfies" on instagram or facebook they get a few likes. Subconsciously, these likes are making people feel more appreciated.This is the problem though, they start feeling more important than others. 

Our generation is more self centered in my opinion. Some might say that being self conscious and self centered is a good thing due to feeling good in our own body and worrying more about our own opinion than others. Although, these people may be right. Society has lead us to believe we should think of us before we think of others. This is quite a problem for the future because others opinion might become more important. In life people decide whether we get a job or not and being self-centered and not caring about your empolyers opinion won't get you that job. If you want to have a girlfriend/boyfriend you need to care for them not just your self. Society plays a big part on the way our future turns out and being self-centered the way our generation is would be like having a bycicle race with flat tires. Some might pull through and finish the race to success but many will just give up.

Five words that could be a great way to stop our society from being self-centered: shut-down-your-facebook-account. Shutting down your facebook account is a great way to stop people from being self-centered. By doing so, people will be less egocentric. Also, people could make a good action once a day. For example helping someone that has dropped out of school or helping an old lady across the street. If you do these tasks once a day, you will start to realize that the world doesn't revolve around you, and that there are things more important than knowing how many likes your last picture got on instagram. Lastly, you could get a job. By getting a job people are showed that if they want to keep that job they need to listen to other people.

Finally, being self-centered has negative consequences on this genreration. Being self-centered might result in a huge increase of the amount of people who don't have a job which could hurt the economy. Being self-centered may cause the downfall of "real life heros". This will also cause a world where technology takes over because people are too busy updating there status on facebook instead of having a real conversation with other people. A world where I'd rather not live in.

In conclusion, social media formed a generation tthat has become self centered, but we need to realize that other people's opinion are also importand for our future. Solutions are simple but we need to do something quick. Or else, we will have to face the consequences. My question is, in 20 years will we still have heros who will still be willing to jump into a fire to save someone and ask nothing in return, or will we be too preoccupied by ourselfs on our Ipods and Iphones to even hear them scream?

An outstanding teacher! Sandy Latour

Have you ever had an outstanding teacher you would like to thank but never had the chance to? Well, Mr. Trudel is that teacher for me. I would like thank him because he supports every single one of his students and encourages them to do their best. Moreover, he teaches clearly, gives examples and corrects homework. He is also very involved in school activities.

Firstly, he pushes his students to do their best and works individually with you if you ask for help. He was my math teacher last year, in secondary two. When I had a hard time understanding certain concepts, he met with me after school to help me understand. When I was confused, he reexplained the concept in a different manner so that I did not confuse myself even more. Mr.Trudel is genrous of his time and it is very appreciated.

Secondly, he teaches in a manner that was easy to follow. His explanations were clear and he gave examples to help the students understand concepts. He also corrected homework, which helped me see where I made mistakes. Thanks to Mr.Trudel, I fully understand algerbra. Algerbra is a part of math that will be useful to master for my following years of secondary and for the rest of my life, too.

Last but not least, he gives a lot to the school. Almost ever year, he organizes school trips at destinations all over the world: Pérou, Costa Rica, Ireland and more to come. I know he spends a huge amount of his own time into this and I don't think students realize it. The school trips gives the opportunity to students to voyage, learn new cultures, ways of life and make their experience at St-Pats so much more fun! 

In conclusion, I would like to thank Mr. Trudel not only for being a great teacher, but for giving a lot of his own time to students. He provides support for every student, he teaches incredibly well and he gives so much to the school. Thank you Mr.Trudel!

Thats so Annoying! by Vincent Fournier

A lot of things may annoy you in life. Not everybody is the same and not all the same things annoy people. In my opinion, one of the things that annoy me the most is people trying to do there funny jokes or "bad calls" in class. Someone that can't stop talking or making noises in class annoys me a lot too.

 If your trying to be funny or doing silly jokes, do them somewhere else than in classes cause everybody will look at you with that face saying, shut up. A girl who went in college, has written all the things that can annoy you when you are in 32 different courses and know about 960 students. One of the things that annoy her is people doing silly things in class and it is the same for me. "This guy will crack jokes like he’s on stage with a stool and a water bottle.  Every class discussion is a chance for him to test out his new molecular cell stand-up routine. It’s never funny. Like not even this-is-so-awkward-it’s-funny funny. It’s straight up annoying. Class isn’t a Comedy Central audition and you’re not sure why this kid insists on turning your 8 a.m recitation into an audio torture sesh".(http://collegecandy.com/2010/11/08/the-most-annoying-people-in-your-class/) 

This is exactly what I mean. This is what that annoy me and I can totally relate myself to her by what she is thinking when she hears those annoying things.

In conclusion, stop trying to be funny in class with your stupid calls, cause the only thing you are gerting after that is people telling you to stop or to just take your books, and leave the class.

Under The Uniforms by Audrey de Varennes

According to many people cheerleading is only cute girls in little uniforms who cheer for cute football players. But what they don't see is that cheerleading is much more then that and it's indeed a sport. Behind the pom pom's, the mini skirts and the tight uniforms there is a true sport. Cheerleading is in fact a wonderful sport that requires teamwork, strength,agility and intelligence, just like any sport.

For an example basketball. Just like basketball cheerleading requires strategy and concentration, meaning when the girl is in the air we need to be concentrated on doing everything right so that the girl doesn't fall, one bad movement and the girl in the air can get seriously hurt. Just like any team sport we need teamwork. If there is no teamwork how will we get the girl in the air, because without teamwork everything could go wrong and again not only the girl in the air can get hurt but the girls that are holding her too. Cheerleading needs alot of muscle because we need to lift up the girl for a long period of time and we cant drop her. People say figure skating is a sport or gymnastics, when these sports have little uniforms too. When u see girls on the ice in the olympics they all have little tight dresses and they do flips and other things that we can do in cheerleading that people find inappropriate to do in cheerleading uniforms. Its the same with gymnastics, they have tight skin uniforms the only difference is they don't have the skirt and the little shorts that go under the skirt, which I find even more inappropriate. 

So what is under the uniform? It's a great sport that requires teamwork, strength,agility and intelligence. A sport just like basketball,gymnastics,weight lifting, etc. A sport that means more then little uniforms and cheering on cute boys. Cheerleading should be a sport, is a sport, and a fun one above all.