Traf Trash wants to know!
Check out our Halloween edition coming out next week for a round up of the results!
What’s your Favourite Horror Flick?
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Graduation Playlist
By: Sara Capanna
This being my last Traf Trash article ever, I wanted to make this last one about my graduation. It makes no sense to me that I am graduating and I am going to miss my friends more than anything, but it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life. My last day of high school ended on an emotional high, everyone sobbing and screaming, joy and sadness doing somersaults in all of our hearts. One of the things I learned at Traf was my love of music. So, as my last article, I wanted to create a playlist of “Grad” songs that definitely touch my heart.
Always be Together by Little Mix
Little Mix
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day
For the First Time by The Script
I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman by Britney Spears
Britney Spears
David Guetta
The Perfect Solution
By: Emma Butson
THE COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER HAS BEGUN. That’s right, I’m getting out the wedges, the multi-coloured shorts, my many pairs of sun glasses, and I’m slapping on the 100+ SPF sunscreen…But wait. There are still exams coming up. It’s a depressing thought. When you’re on the bus, looking at everyone in their short dresses and floral prints, without a care in the world, all because it’s summer! Well, I have the perfect solution that helps me whenever June Exam time rolls around: the perfect, heart-warming playlist that will get you out of exam time blues. Hopefully, it will help you shake off some of the exam jitters but also get you excited for summer!
Summer Preparation Playlist
Foster the People
Shuffle by Bombay Bicycle Club
Kimbra
Call it What You Want by Foster the People
Something Good Can Work by Two Door Cinema Club
Two Doors Down by Mystery Jets
You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates
Junk of The Heart (Happy) by The Kooks
Impatience is a Virtue by Two Door Cinema Club
Gotye
What You Know by Two Door Cinema Club
She and Him (Zooey Deschanel)
My Time In The Inferno
By: Alexa Pronman
During the Victoria Day weekend, I went on a trip to Toronto to visit my aunt, my uncle, and their three kids with my mom, sister, and her two kids.
Most people are ecstatic about spending time with the family. “ROAD TRIP! YAY!” Not for me. See, these two kids are rather…difficult. I’m not saying others aren’t, but the six-year old happens adore hitting and swearing more than a sailor. He also claims he watches CSI, which I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know what that show’s even about. The two-year old is like an angel sent from heaven. They say that the first kid turns out sort of bad and you make all the mistakes on them, and then do everything right with the second kid. I’m not saying my sister is a bad mother, she’s quite the opposite, but the deal is this: that little two-year-old angel has lungs of an opera singer and he doesn’t mind using them.
The drive to Toronto couldn’t have been longer. I think it was six hours, and after six hours of being hit in the head by a water bottle, hearing the two kids belt out the lyrics of Dormez Vous? And hearing the two-year-old scream: “JAMAICA! Because apparently, the way the guy who sings the song says “Troublemaker” it sounds a lot like “Jamaica” to the two year old’s ears.
Chuck E. Cheese was fun. That is, until the six-year old decided to start running around like a maniac around the games. He ran so fast, we didn’t even see him move! So we nearly lost the kid and his brother and by that time, I was seriously considering getting them a leash. They’d look cute, little rascals walking around in line.
On Saturday we visited Harborfront, which I first thought was called Harvard. Everything is free, so it’s pretty cool. Of course, the two boys wanted to get these little balloons made by “Balloon Masters” and then the six-year old gets a hold of a balloon sword and as cute as it is when a little kid goes around talking like a pirate, it isn’t cute when they’re trying to destroy you with a form completely made of helium.
We saw the circus over there and the waterfront was beautiful. Of course, the rampaging boys were a downside, but hey, what can you do?
On Sunday, we went to Canada’s Wonderland. I wanted to check out all the
cool rides that involved going really fast, so two of my cousins stood in the lines with me and we went on The Vortex, Canadian Minebusters, The Thunder Run, and a bunch of other cool rides. However, I went mentally unstable for about fifteen minutes, for the twelve I was in line and the three minutes and ten seconds I was on the ride. The Behemoth has a 230-foot drop, and they don’t secure you from the waist up. Unless you go upside down you don’t get anything to protect your chest.
The ride back was horrible, involving many things being thrown at me, and screaming children. Besides Wonderland, I went to Hell, Purgatory, but I never quite reached Paradise.
Deceptions of a Famous Writer
By: Sara Capanna
People have always admired me. They think I am beautiful. They love my writing style; they think that I could write books in my sleep. They don’t know what the world of literature would be without me.
If only they knew.
My outer shell weaves deception into the minds of everyone who sees me. All they see is a smile of confidence, a posture of purpose and an aura of success. If only they switched their eye lenses, they would see the torrents of agony that flow through my pores. They would see the sadness that floats over me behind any closed door. If they were able to listen to silence, they would hear the screaming that bursts out of me, the frustration that encumbers me and the pain I never show.
My words may flow on paper, but they don’t out loud. They stop themselves in my throat and stay there. In those moments, it is me against a world of people with mocking looks, people who don’t now how to react and people who react with shock. All I’ve known my whole life is shame, anxiety and anger because of how little I can express myself.
Who would guess I wasn’t normal? No one. But, my rope is growing thin. Could I stay here in the fame? My “problem” came in exchange for my sanity. I could never stay. So, goodbye, goodbye Hollywood. Please don’t cry for me when I’m gone for good.
Plans for the Summer
By: Sarah Auclair
Oh how I love summertime! The birds are chirping, the sun is shining and the trees are green once again. What’s the best part about summer? NO SCHOOL. I’m sure plenty of you have plans for the summer. Some people are going on family vacations, some off to camp, and others enjoying home sweet home. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things to do in Montreal. I know some people are going to Osheaga.
I have some fun plans for the summer myself. On June 27 my mom, my sister and I are going to Germany! My brother and dad are staying home; it’s not their cup of tea (crazy!). The girls are going for 9 days. While we are there, we are going to meet family even my mom hasn’t met. We will also sightsee, relax and eat German food. I can’t wait, I know it will be so much fun!
When we come back, I’m going to take it easy. Sitting around the house is pretty nice. Every morning I’m going to watch 1 episode of Bates Motel, seeing as I missed the first season because of SCHOOL.
The second thing my family has planned is a long weekend vacation. My dad is off for two weeks in July, so we might go to Boston or Chicago. My sister and I prefer Boston. Those are the two major things I have planned. For the in-between time, I’ll hang with friends and enjoy the great weather. I hope the rest of you have a super awesome summer! I know I will.
The Kizuna Blog Project at Traf
At the beginning of this year, several of our students embarked on a plane to Japan as part of the Kizuna Project. Here is the official description of this initiative by the Japanese Government:
“The Youth-Exchange Project with Asia-Oceania and North America (Kizuna (bond) Project)” is a project run by the Japanese government with the objective of promoting other countries’ understanding with regards to Japan’s revival efforts in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake. The project invites young people from 41 different countries/regions in Asia-Oceania and North America, allowing them to participate in exchange programs, visit disaster-affected areas and engage in volunteer activities. It also involves sending young people from Japan to target countries/regions. Over 12,000 people are to become part of the exchange through this project.
As the third and final part of the Kizuna exchange program, Trafalgar students participated in a Blog Project sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan at Montreal. Each student or team created a blog to reminisce and reflect on her experience in Japan. The blogs were judged by members of the Japanese Consulate of Montreal, a representative from the Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports for Quebec, a representative from the Ministry of International Relations for Quebec and several Trafalgar teachers.Here is a link to their page. Below are the links to the Student blogs about their experience- Check them out!
Awarded the Certificate of High Distinction:
Kizuna Kids by Emma Butson:
I believe that us, the next generation of leaders, whether it’s on a municipal, provincial, federal, or global aspect, we can all make a change. Before this experience with the Kizuna Experience, I didn’t think that I could make much of a difference on others, because I didn’t really think I was significant, but after seeing the people of Hokota City’s generosity, kindness, and strength, I felt that even I, Emma Butson, could make an impact.
Kate’s Kizuna Project Blog by Kate Whitmore
When we visited Japan, one of our main focuses was on the disaster affected-areas. Since our trip highlighted the earthquake and tsunami of 2011 and Japan’s reconstruction process, one of the main aspects of our trip was visiting different zones affected by these natural disasters. What we saw was especially shocking. It’s one thing to see pictures of the disaster-affected areas online or to watch footage on the news, but to be on site in actual time and see the damage that occurred, that is especially moving.
The Kizuna (Bonds) of Friendship by Camille Cockerton and Michaela Field
there is one student from the Hokota high school who has left a strong mark on me, even now, months after. I will never forget him. My friend and I were walking around the party when we noticed this guy standing alone so we decided to go speak to him. We said hi and he responded with a hello and his name and then he walked away. My friend and I where really confused we didn’t understand had we done something wrong? But within a couple minutes he was back, and he came up to me to hand me a gift. This act of kindness surprised me, I thanked him profusely. I felt bad I had nothing to give him but then I remembered that I had gloves in my room; which I could give to him. I ran upstairs to my room and grabbed them. I went back to him and gave them to him, what happened next is probably one of the most memorable moments of this whole trip… He took them and stared at me for a few seconds, then began to thank me. The gratitude he showed was unlike anything I had ever seen, he was so happy! I had never seen anyone so thankful for such a little thing like this and he very quickly became one of my favorite people on this trip. This man that I met that day has truly marked me and shown that even the little things are worth something.
Check out the other great blogs:
Image by Zoe Campbell-Hionis
Veronica Campanelli & Jessica Fried
Shaelyn Carroll & Jessica Mintz
Megan Lindsay & Tareya Webster
Image by Zoe Campbell-Hionis
Victoria Videira & Christina Wagner
Stereotypes
By Cambria Wyckoff
When I was younger, I would never have imagined me the way I am today. And I think that’s true with a lot of people. But I think I went in a very, well, special direction. I always thought of myself as a sort of nerd in hiding. I have always been just a bit over excited when it comes to school work. But I definitely didn’t do nerdy things nor was I bullied or had bad eye sight like the very cliché nerd. But a few years later, I moved closer to the nerd spectrum. I got very large glasses and, I might add, I even have some suspenders at home. But luckily in our generation nerds are actually considered a lot cooler than, lets say an eighties movie. So instead of being thrown in the dumpster after getting excited for a new subject in history, people just laugh it off.
I guess I can still consider myself a nerd now. But only after finding out my 
love for the dorkiest shows like Doctor Who, Sherlock, and Merlin. I moved up to a higher level of weird. This level is called ‘dork land’. It’s where all the superwholockians live; a fandom that obsesses over Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Sherlock. It’s a wonderful place to live but it’s an obsessive place and once you get in, there is no way out. It’s like Target only much much much worse. There’s been a few times where my dork-iness has over-powered my inner nerd. A voice in the back of my head always seems to be longing to watch 
another episode. And by the time I get home after school the urge is just too much so I decide to watch just one episode….it ends up being a whole season by the time I snap out of my trance to go get some food. It’s like 10:30 and I haven’t even touched my homework .
I think it’s funny when someone first meets me. They just assume I hate school, I’m boy obsessed and I am just oh so in love with one direction all because of my hair colour. You should see their faces after they learn about my obsession. I mean what can I say, I need help.
Easy to Prepare Study Cookies
By Katie Neudorf-Rotchin
Via Eating well [ATTACH WEBSITE]: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/bevs_chocolate_chip_cookies.html]
We all know that exam time can be very stressful. Personally, when I get worn out by the hours spent studying, I find baking to be a very therapeutic outlet. However, with studying, hectic schedules, and tutorials, who has the time or energy to create complicated recipes from scratch? Here’s a simple recipe for chocolate chip cookies that is not only tasty, but it’s also low carb and a healthy alternative to store bought snacks. Prepare them in advance and freeze them. When the going gets tough they can be the perfect ‘go to’ escape for a little stress relief!
Makes: About 2 1/2 dozen cookies
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray.
- Grind oats in a blender or food processor. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg and vanilla; beat until smooth and creamy. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients, beating on low speed until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Drop the dough by heaping teaspoonfuls, at least 1 inch apart, onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until firm around the edges and golden on top, about 15 minutes. Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Tips & Notes
Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Per cookie: 99 calories; 5 g fat ( 2 g sat , 2 g mono ); 10 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrates; 8 g added sugars; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 64 mg sodium; 41 mg potassium.
Carbohydrate Servings: 1/2
Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 other carbohydrate, 1 fat
My Rant about Dogs
By:
Jessica Marshall
Don’t get me wrong, I love dogs. I have a dog, and he’s my best friend ever. But he can be a little devil sometimes.
A few days ago I was in a huge rush. I grabbed the last three pieces of delicious cinnamon raisin bread. I put them down on the kitchen table and then ran upstairs for about ten seconds to make sure my math binder wasn’t in my room. When I came down, my bread was gone. The only evidence it had ever been there was a few crumbs. Then, I heard a quiet crunching sound, and turned around to find my dog biting into the bread under the couch.
My dog eats EVERYTHING. When I say everything, I mean everything. Just last weekend, he stole three steaks and a hamburger from the counter. When my friends sleep over, he eats their stuff too. He’s eaten my friends mascara, stuffed animals, and even clothes! And just a month ago, he ate my glasses.
You may not believe me, but I swear its true; Susanna is a witness. One night, she was sleeping over, and when we woke up in the morning, my glasses were gone. We searched the entire basement, or rather, Susanna searched the entire basement while I tried not to walk into walls since I was practically blind. Then, we went upstairs and what did we find? Einstein on the couch with my glasses in his mouth,
Now, you’re probably laughing, but let me tell you, at the time, it was not funny in the slightest. There was my dog, eating a pair of one-year old, $300 glasses. One of the lenses was popped out, the other was smashed, and they looked like they’d been through a train wreck. I went two days without being able to see a thing, which really didn’t help much during a review for a science test.
So as cute as dogs are, and as funny as they act, no dog is perfect. Some dogs will chew up your eyeliner, some dogs will break out of three different crates, some dogs will try to destroy your house, but you still love them. My dog has done all of those, and he’s still the best dog I could ever ask for.
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