Danish Exchange

By: Maja D.

On April 24th 19 students from Denmark will visit Calgary to attend the International Youth Leadership Summit that will take place at Robert Thirsk High school from April 24-26. April 27 they will have the day of with their host families. April 28 they will come visit Western Canada High School to learn more about the Canadian school system and experience a high school. For a lot of the Danish students that’s a big experience because the Danish school system is different than the Canadian so the only experience they have with the high school culture is what they have seen in American movies.

Not a lot of Danish students gets the opportunity to visit a Canadian high school so it will probably be a experience they will never forget. Also the Canadian culture is quit different from the Danish so hopefully they will get an insight in the Canadian culture when they stay with their host families. On April 29th they will get a tour around the city where Mr. McGuinness and Mrs. Muhlberger will show them around and go for lunch at the Danish cultural club. April 29 they will go for a 3 days trip to Banff. The Canadian landscape is also really different from the Denmark. The mountains are something the students are used to seeing either. The students will leave Canada May 2.

Western Canada High School is looking for host families for the Danish students. It would be a great opportunity for you to get to learn more about the Danish Culture while you are showing your new Danish friends the Canadian culture. If you are hosting you would usually have two students to stay at your house if your family only have room for one that can be arranged too. If you are interested in being a host Family for the Danish students please go to Mr. McGuinness for more information.

There will also be a tour to Denmark in October 2014. Grade 10 and 11 students are invited to join the tour where you will get the opportunity to go experience the Danish culture and their school system. The students who choose to host will be given priority when selecting students to travel abroad to Denmark. It would be great experience to travel to Denmark and learn about the Danish culture. You will be visiting the Danish Capital Copenhagen too, which is a really nice city famous for it’s history, pretty buildings and fashion. Copenhagen is on the biggest Island in Denmark so it has the ocean around and a view to Sweden. See Mr. McGuinness to apply to travel to Denmark ASAP.

Less Buzz in the Air this Spring

By: Emma G.

It is being noted by scientists, for quite some time now, that wild bumblebee populations have been declining worldwide. Therefore, less buzz. There are multiple ideas out there as to why, but scientists have found no definite answer. Still, looking at the various ideas is a great way to begin to tackle this issue.

I mentioned how wild bumblebees are important, but equally important are the honeybees and bumblebees raised commercially by farmers. Looking at reports by the British Beekeeping association, and the Canadian Honey council, the populations of honeybees fluctuate. These associations are still concerned for the loss of their bees, as they are still subject to many problems that also challenge wild bees.

Under the many problems that challenge bees, a mysterious problem called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), is a major reason of why bee populations are declining.The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) defines the symptoms as “very low or no adult honey bees... with a live queen and no dead honey bees present.”1 Many worker bees just simply leave, and the hive cannot function. Causes are still not definite. Possible causes may be parasites, diseases, and stressors from management of the bee hierarchy or from the environment (like pollution for example)1. Research is still ongoing into the causes.

The first cause is thought to be pesticides, in particular, neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids are used to control minor pests and do so by attacking the nervous system of insects. The bees come in contact with it because of pollen, and although it is typically in low amounts, the exposure to it makes bees easier to be attacked by viruses and other pests 2. Fungicides, herbicides and other toxins in the environment also cause damage to bees. This pesticide doesn’t kill a bee , but it makes it very vulnerable. It is widely agreed that pesticides are a contributing factor to CCD. This is worrisome. We are causing the decline of bees. Pesticides exist to increase food production, but if bees keep declining, then don’t we lose food production?

Next, other pests or parasites, especially the Varroa mite have killed many bees. The Varroa mite is a small parasite that clings to the outside of bees, transmits viruses and feeds off of the bee. They can kill entire colonies 3, and almost all hives contain these mites. Farmers have methods for dealing with these mites, but they are still a pest.

There is a unique idea put out there by a German Landau university. Their study provides evidence that with cell phones on near the hive, the bees would not return to the hives 4. It seems unlikely, but it is one of the many theories out there to explain CCD.

Another theory put out there, has nothing to do with CCD. This piece of news has come to light recently regarding declining populations of wild bumblebees. A article published wednesday by the Nature journal talks about a study by Mark Brown of the University of London that tracks bee sites all across the UK. The study shows that diseases (mostly from honeybees) are transmitted by flowers to wild bumblebees, as the commercial honeybees typically contain more Varroa mite which is thought to transmit the disease 5. It also shows that bumblebees are more affected as they live shorter life spans and have smaller colonies 6. This is a interesting idea on movement of diseases for bees.

Why should we care? Bees are a major pollinator. Californian almond orchards rely on 1.6 million bees to pollinate the flowers, for example 7. They pollinate Canadian fruits, nuts, canola, and much more 8. Loss of bees can lead to loss of food production and a rise in food prices. Bees, though seemingly insignificant are important to everyone. We should care about these small insects because they do a lot for us.

Sources:

1. http://www.ars.usda.gov/news/docs.htm?docid=15572
2. http://bees.pan-uk.org/neonicotinoids
3. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/bees/varroa-biology.htm
4. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/are-mobile-phones-wiping-out-our-bees-444768.html
5. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-colony-collapse-bumblebees-20140218,0,4328799.story#axzz2uCUatTzc
6. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/what-s-killing-canadian-honeybees-1.1312511 and http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/wild-bees-catch-deadly-diseases-from-honeybees-1.2543782
7. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in720
8. http://www.honeycouncil.ca/industry.php and http://www.mnn.com/local-reports/pennsylvania/local-blog/the-importance-of-honeybees

Is The Canadian Senate Useless?

By: Molly D

The Senate has been a part of Canada’s democratic system longer than  Canada has been an independent nation.  The Senate consists of 105 senators, who are appointed by the Governor General upon the Prime Minister’s request. It is the Senate’s purpose to re-examine bills and protect the interests of Canadians. Anyone with an elementary education should know these basic facts about Canadian Government. Whether or not you were awake when the teacher was going over this material is a completely different matter.

Politics and the workings of government does not usually grab the attention of the average person, and the politics we do see tend to be centred more on the unfortunate crack cocaine addiction of a certain mayor. Another big political scandal that caught media attention was the 2013 Senate scandal. Two senators thus far have been arrested for illegally claiming thousands of dollars for personal expenses. The faith of many Canadians in the Senate has been lost after the 2013 Senate scandal. Although the aftermath of the scandal is still playing out, the discontent with the Senate is found nationwide, and a little bit of research shows that this unhappiness with our ancienct democratic institution is not unfounded.

For years, Canadians have asked for reform concerning the Senate, and Stephen Harper has promised these reforms to make the Senate more effiecient, but other political parties want to take it a step further.  One of the NDP’s main platforms for the upcoming 2015 to abolish the Senate, and their website hosts a petition called ‘Roll Up The Red Carpet’, in which they intend to remove the Senate from Canada’s democratic system entirely. The petition has just under 30,000 signitures.

It is known that the Senate is not exactly the picture of efficiency, but the NDP petition states some very surprising facts about this piece of our parliament.

For example, the cost of the senate is over 92 million dollars per year.
With Canadians throwing millions, and I mean this quite literally, at the Senate one would assume that the money is going to good use. Considering that the last year the Senators worked approximately 71 days out of the year, it’s getting harder to believe that all the money that is put into the Senate is being put to good use.

The Senate does not consist only of bad qualities. It’s purpose is to represent the interests of all Canadians, and this includes minority groups, and gives a sober second thought to a bill that is well on its way to being passed. It’s easy to look at the Senate and only see the political scandals, the staggering amount of money getting pumped into it and the lovely salary that’s attached to only 71 working days, but the Senate is more than that. 

We have senators raising awareness for human rights violations, giving minorities a voice and caused great things in the past. The fate of the Senate depends on which party comes into power next.

Super Typhoon Hits Philippines

By: Katherine B.

Ten thousand people estimated dead. Six-hundred-twenty thousand displaced from their homes. In total, more than eleven million people affected across two-hundred-seventy towns and thirty six provinces. Typhoon Haiyan, perhaps the strongest tropical storm ever recorded, has left numerous cities in the Philippines ruined, torn apart families, and has killed thousands since it hit on Friday, November 8th. The Typhoon hit across a chunk of land roughly the size of Germany, and has caused a humanitarian crisis throughout the world.

Of the many cities affected, Tacloban may have taken the brunt of the damage. Recently ranked the fifth most competitive city in the Philippines and second in the emerging cities category in a 2010 survey by the AIMPC, it is tragic to think just how far this promising city has fallen in less than a day. Houses have been reduced to piles of debris, streets flooded, cars turned over, and bodies piled on edges of roadways. Brigadier General Paul Kennedy describes the wreckages, saying, “Everything's destroyed. Roads are impassable, trees are all down, posts are down, power is down... I am not sure what else there is. I am not sure how else to describe this destruction.” This bleak picture is only the beginning of what survivors are now enduring.

Elena Aquino, who grew up in the Philippines and whose friends and family still live there, describes the situation with tears in her eyes. Thankfully, most of her friends and family have survived this trial, as most live in the northern Philippines, yet many of her friends have not heard back from their relatives who live further south. Some harder-to-reach areas are not getting the aid they desperately require, while others struggle to find clean water, shelter, and food. Still others have been cut off from electricity and are unable to reassure their worrying relatives. As Aquino puts it, it is the unknown that tears her apart: not knowing whether or not her friends are safe, while mourning all those who were not as fortunate as she was.

Currently, the lack of clean water for residents is the greatest concern. Supplies may not be reaching those who need them, and some remote areas are unreachable. Doctors are desperate for medicine, and more than two thousand Red Cross workers are providing as much aid as possible. The Canadian government has promised five million dollars of aid, and to match every dollar Canadian citizens donate to regulation Canadian charities. If you wish to help, the website below has many charities you are able to donate to. Our thoughts and hearts are with all those who were affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

Link to Donation Information

Alberta Government Gives Technology an A+

Clare T.

Bobby, a Journalism 25 student at
Western Canada High School,
 listens intently as Minister Johnson
fields questions from students
around Alberta.

CALGARY – Revealing plans for the future direction of the education system, the Government of Alberta demonstrates that it fully embraces the technological age.

On May 7th, 2013 the Government of Alberta hosted a teleconference call with over 100 middle and high schools across the province. The conference provided students studying Journalism the opportunity to question Premier Alison Redford and Minister of Education Jeff Johnson, about changes coming to the Alberta education system.

Throughout the conference, Premier Redford emphasized the importance of developing an education system which gives students every opportunity to succeed. The project of transferring diploma exams to a virtual format, which starts this coming fall and is expected to be completed come the year 2017, will personalize learning and allow students the flexibility to achieve success in school.

One of the benefits of online diplomas, advertised by Minister Johnson, is the ability to accommodate all kinds of learners. As of next year, diploma exams will be offered more frequently and eventually on command, allowing students to learn at their own pace. Additionally, because diploma exams taken online will be transferred directly from students to teacher, Minister Johnson claims that the speed of the mark turnaround will increase, resulting in a more effective examination system that that which currently exists.

Though neither Minster Johnson nor Premier Redford gave a solid explanation of how the security of online diploma exams will be monitored, they shared that numerous technological experts are involved in the project of transforming the diploma exams and promised to “invest great time, effort, and money to ensure the integrity of the system.”

With the goal of personalized learning in mind, Minister Johnson ensured that students will still have the ability to write hard-copy diploma exams, and that rewrites will still be available to students at a potentially lower cost.

Recent budget cuts to Alberta’s education system were mentioned briefly during the press conference. Minister Johnson expressed regret over the budget cuts but explained that the government is working hard to maintain the sustainability of the education system despite these financial setbacks. He expressed that the cuts are being focused on unnecessary areas of funding, not directly connected to the instruction system, to make sure that students continue to receive high quality learning. Despite the recent budget cuts, Minister Johnson stressed that Alberta places one of the highest values on education in North America.

Premier Redford and Minister Johnson stressed that technology is the key to achieving the government of Alberta’s vision of a personalized learning system.

“The way we use technology is going to be critical for our education system moving forward,” Minister Johnson shared. “There is a big push to not just use technology as a tool for teaching, but to integrate it into day-to-day learning so that it becomes second nature.”

The Alberta government asserts that their motivation behind all coming changes, including converting diploma exams into an online format, is to build an education system that reflects the way Alberta students live their lives, and to therefore educate in a way which is technologically-oriented and hands-on.

Western’s February Formal

By: Hailey S.

Recently, Western held its first formal school dance of the 2012/2013 school year. Students could come either dressed up or in casual wear.  The purpose of this dance was to encourage everyone to have some fun and get into the fancy, dressing up spirit! If you had the opportunity to experience this night for yourself, or you did not attend and would like to hear about how well it went, look no further. I had the chance to chat with three attendees of this year’s event, and I found out their opinions of how the night “went down.”

In your opinion, how was the overall experience of the night?
Taylor C.: It was pretty good! It started off really slow when I arrived there with my friend Annika. We didn’t think it was going to be as good as we had hoped because there weren’t as many people as I thought there would be, but by the end of the night, it turned out to be really fun! We all had a great time!

Klara H.: It was fun but I think it would have been even more fun if there were more people. It would have had a greater atmosphere.

Geneva B.: It was awesome because I came with a whole bunch of my friends, which made it a lot of fun! 


What made this dance unique or different from any other dance you’ve been to?
Taylor C.: Well, the committee that organized the dance really went full out on the lights, and the DJ was really good. The space and the ambiance were a lot better then some of the other dances I’ve been to.

Klara H.: The photo shoot that was at the dance was really cool because you could take group pictures with your friends and you could just goof around and be silly.

Geneva B.: You actually had to get dressed up in formal clothing so that was something different! I was wearing heels, which made it really hard for me to dance in. Tough life I know! Haha!


What was the highlight of the night?
Answer:
Taylor C.: I don’t know if I could pick a specific moment. The entire night was pretty good in its entirety. Probably, the part was when everyone was dancing all together to Gangnam Style; that was so funny!

Klara H.: The picture taking was the really great part! The professional photographer that came brought props so my friends and I were really happy with the photos afterwards.

Geneva B.: Surprisingly, the pictures we took were really good quality and turned out great, which I was not expecting! The only thing that could have made the night better would have had to be, fans! It was so warm in there so maybe even one door open and some fans could have cooled the room down a bit!.

As you can see, the photos taken during this exciting night were a big hit amongst the students who attended.  The photos allowed each attendee to remember the enjoyable times that occurred during this night.  These three interviewees definitely danced up a storm and had a great time. All in all, the February Formal Western Canada High School Dance resulted in smiles all around.  It was a perfect gathering to meet new people, or maybe, even ask that special someone, whom you’ve had your eye on, to dance. Because hey, the following day was Valentine’s Day after all! Based on these testimonials, you can see that the next dance truly will be a hit!