Halloween...Age Limit?

Photo from morguefile.com

Halloween has always been one of my favourite yearly events, and it still continues to be despite the fact I am now older. It's a fun time to dress differently than you normally do, and have a great time with friends. Each year, my sister and I go trick or treating together, and it is something I really look forward to. On top of all the free candy, for me it's also a great opportunity to have a quick visit with some of the people in the community who I know well, but usually do not get a chance to see very often.

Halloween is an event that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and deep down I think we all feel like children at heart, no matter how old we may be. I can't imagine not going trick or treating on Halloween night, and would be very upset if that privilege was taken away.

In Bathurst, New Brunswick, a recent bylaw was renewed that prohibits teens older than 14 from trick or treating. This can result in up to a $200 fine if not obeyed. I am unsure of what to think of this.  "Older than 14" certainly covers a wide range of ages, which may bring about further conflict.

I feel that if teenagers can be mature, and behave in an appropriate manner, there should not be any major issues. However, I realize that this is not always the case, and some people may use Halloween as a time to be destructive and careless.

I think there is a lot of stereotyping when it comes to all teenagers misbehaving on Halloween, and this idea is certainly not true for everyone.

Bathurst also has a 7 p.m. curfew. The curfew here in the Village of Blackville is 8 p.m. As far as the curfew goes, for older kids, I agree that sometimes it can be hard to be inside by this time, but it is possible. I think complaints about the curfew should be the least of our worries, and we should be grateful our village has not introduced an age limit.

On another note, I can understand how some elderly people may feel uncomfortable or even frightened by older kids entering their homes. This becomes a problem when people refuse to dress up in a costume, and only use Halloween as a way to get free candy.

I believe everyone should have the opportunity to participate in Halloween. Whether they plan on staying at home to give out treats to younger kids, or actually trick or treat themselves, everyone should be allowed this choice, while keeping in mind to be safe and respectful.

For more information on the Village of Blackville's curfew along with some great tips and advice, click here and Happy Halloween!

By Jensen Urquhart

We Need a Balance When it Comes to Food Choices

For many students, a vending machine full of junk food might seem like the best thing the school has done yet!

After the recent introduction of pre-stocked vending machines here at Blackville School, I was honestly quite disappointed in the selection that was offered. There should be a greater variety of "healthier" foods.

The idea that our school was focused around healthy meal choices has been talked about quite often. I think it is safe to say, based on what is consumed by students, that our school hasn't exactly lived up to those expectations.  

According to the nutrition policy from Anglophone North School District:

"Schools will offer healthy food choices to students. The school district will reduce foods high in fat and sugar, and will educate students so they may make healthy lunch and snack choices."

Speaking as a high school student, I think that as a group, we are at the age where we should be mature enough to choose the type of food we want to consume.

No matter where you go, the option to eat processed food will be available, and school is no exception to that. We all know processed foods, whether it be regular chips versus oven-baked chips, are not the healthiest options.

Unfortunately, however, it is very unlikely that celery sticks will sell over chips or fresh fruits over a chocolate bar. Schools struggle to offer healthier food choices while at the same time make a profit or at least cover costs. 

In a recent Blackville Talon Viewpoint, Grade ten student Kel Vickers gave his opinion on the issue:

"I think it should be pretty even down the middle, because some people prefer healthy snacks, and some people would rather have, let's say chips. I think it should just be a healthy mix." 

School is a place we should come each day to learn. In order to be at our best, we must be fuelling ourselves with food that will enhance our ability to learn rather than hinder it. However, this is a personal choice that we must make for ourselves.  

I think that a better approach needs to be made for an issue as pressing as the food we eat on a daily basis, although I won't argue that the chips and chocolate are sure to be a best seller. There is nothing wrong with indulging in a treat every once and a while, and having a balanced diet.

By Jensen Urquhart 

Viewpoint: Vending Machine and Food Options

The Importance of School Spirit and Having Fun

Photo by Jules Keenan

On Friday, September 30, 2016, students from kindergarten through grade 12, along with staff, participated  in a Walk-a-Thon to help fund the repairs to the school elementary soccer field. For many this was a new experience, as it has been several years since this tradition has been at BHS.

With classes starting up for another long year, it is still important to have fun while promoting school spirit. What better way to do this than a walk together in our community, with a bonus of getting out of classes for the afternoon. This event was very successful with many participants of all ages. It was very nice to see everyone coming together for support of our young athletes. After just two short hours, close to half of the anticipated goal was raised.

I was very proud to be a part of my very first Walk-a-Thon here at our school, especially to help out such a great cause. Of course, I didn't mind the exercise and fresh air, after spending the day in school. Speaking as someone who enjoys sports, I can only imagine not having the use of our soccer field. Here' s hoping for more fundraisers in the near future. Let's give our elementary students back a safe environment to play the sport they love.

By Jensen Urquhart  

Viewpoint: Grade 9 and High School

Viewpoint: Christmas

Netbooks, a.k.a. "The Dark Ages Digital Device"

It's starts with 10 minutes, then 20 minutes and now you've been waiting for half an hour as you watch the loading signal spin in circles on the screen.

You're trying to log onto your student account.

By this time half the class is over and you've wasted all this time, when you could have been working on your project that is due...tomorrow! Is this really worth your time? 

Below are some opinions from some teachers and students in Blackville High School in response to the question: What is your opinion on the school netbooks? Should we be able to bring our own laptops/devices from home to do work on? Why?

From the teachers...

Mrs. Carrie Trevors (9T)-  "The netbooks are great, when they work. I think that students should be permitted to bring their own laptops from home. This would free up a number of netbooks, and allow the students to complete more work at home."

Mr.  Johnston (11J)- "The netbooks have reached the end of their useful life. They were part of a pilot project that began in 2010. This project, after two years of significant paper work and research, has not been reported upon nor has any further action been taken. It has created a false sense of technology availability in Blackville school, and their demise will leave teachers and student feeling as if they have been plummeted into the digital dark ages. Let students bring their own devices; start working with their generation and the trend and not against them!"

From the students...

Gina Keenan (9U)- "I think the netbooks should be available for use, but we should be allowed to bring laptops from home for use as well. I believe we should be able to use our own if we have one because it would help make work from school be done on our own time more efficient." 

Cody Taylor (10C)- "The netbooks are alright. They are great to have but they only work half the time, and the ones that do work are missing keys and are barely in working condition. If we could bring our own laptops it would make everything so much easier. We'd be spending more time working on the projects instead of spending half of a class trying to find a netbook that is in working order. Also there would be enough computers for more than one class to use at one time. I hope that we are able to bring our own laptops soon."

Jessica Donahue (10C)- "I think we should be able to (bring our own), because most times there aren't enough netbooks for everyone or half of them don't work."

Michael Waugh (11J)- "My personal opinion on the school netbooks is that they are old, damaged, and almost too slow to use somedays. Students should be able to bring their own laptops to school and connect to the internet to do projects or even type notes. It would be much easier for the students instead of trying to find and/or get a netbook to work."

Brooke Underhill (11J)- "I think the school netbooks are a great privilege to have while trying to complete school work. However, they rarely work and are not always trustworthy for saving information. I believe that we should be able to bring our own laptops from home, as we already have the programs we need on them, work would get done much faster and we would run into less difficulties."

Curtis Donovan (12B)- "They are pretty good sometimes. I'm glad we have them, but they don't work sometimes so that's why we should be able to bring our own computers."

Felicia Stockless (12B)- "The school netbooks are a good resource for students but, sadly, we don't take care of them. We should be able to bring our laptops because it would give people without laptops the possibility to have better access to functional netbooks. Talk about that, too many students use one so it slows down the netbooks because they are worn out and in bad conditions."

By: Leah Hennessy and Ashton O'Donnell 

Opinion: Dress Code

We all have different ways to express ourselves, whether it is with music, opinions and even our clothing. You are your own "you," and no one can change that. Except when you walk into a school and you have to follow a "dress code." Many people have different opinions on this and it is one of the most talked about topics in high school, especially with high school girls.

In my opinion, I think that dress code doesn't allow people to express who they are, but then again there is a limit and people should know where to stop because they have gone too far. I think that a dress code applies more to girls because boys don't "reveal" themselves as many girls would. Also, some people have different views. Some girls feel more comfortable in a T-shirt and jeans while other girls like to express themselves more with a low cut shirt and skirt- just because they feel comfortable in it. I also think that dress code limits what people can wear and causes girls to feel self conscious about what they wear just so they aren't revealing themselves.

There is a limit, and you should dress to show that you have respect for yourself, but you should be able to express who you are too. Some people like to express themselves by their clothing.  To get some other opinions other than mine, I asked other students what they thought of the dress code. Here is what they had to say.

Gina Keenan (9U): "I think that the dress code is stupid. It shames girls of their bodies because we're forced to conceal everything."

Leah Hennessy (12U): "My personal opinion on dress code is that yes it can suck not being able to wear certain clothes in the summer when it is hot outside when you wish that you could be wearing lighter clothes, but at the same time I don't think I would want to see girls walking around showing their three B's. I also don't think that the girls dress code is stricter than the guys."

I couldn't agree more with Gina's opinion as it echoes the view of many female students about the dress code. We should all be able to show our individuality when we want to - no matter what the situation. I think that girls seem sexualized by dress code because they are forced to wear what is "permitted" on the school property to cover themselves up. But, then again like I said there is a certain extent to what we wear at school because you don't want to be showing off things others don't want to see.

Recently high school students in Fredericton have protested high school dress codes because they want to express themselves. They want to wear what they choose and not hide their bodies and wear clothing to please others. Also, check out the side panel of the Blackville Talon and give your opinion on whether you believe in the school's dress code or not.

By Ashton O'Donnell

Opinion: Remembrance Day

Every year on November 11 we remember those who fought for our country. We respect those who are still here with us today and also those who sacrificed their lives for us and this country. A country they loved and believed in so much, they fought to defend its values.

Here at Blackville School every year around Remembrance Day we always hold a service that takes place in the gym.  The ceremony features our choirs, band, readings from students between K to 12. It also includes  the wreath laying which includes each person from each grade to lay a wreath in remembrance of our soldiers that fought in the world wars. The wreath laying also includes members from our community, such as the local legion and the wreath is laid in memory of fallen soldiers. 

To show respect for our soldiers most people wear a poppy on our left sides over our hearts. This year it was noticed that more Canadians are wearing poppies which, in part, could be because of two soldiers who were recently killed here in Canada.  

Below are some thoughts from students who  went on a trip to Europe in June 2014. While they were there they got to visit the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France that is dedicated to the memory of Canadian soldiers killed during the First World War. 

By Ashton O'Donnell 

I always held Remembrance Day in high regard, in my opinion it is one of the most important days in the calendar year. It's a time when we remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives  in order so that we could live in a free country.

High School students from Blackville School at Arc de Triumph 

This summer I got the opportunity to visit Juno Beach, Passchendaele and Vimy Ridge while on a trip to Europe. All of these locations are very prominent in Canadian History. Juno Beach was the Canadian designated beach in the D-Day landings, Passchendaele was a World War I battle that claimed over 15,000 Canadian lives, and of course Vimy Ridge was the first victory that the Canadian military got on its own.

Visiting these locations really made me realize just how much these men who fought during the first and second World Wars sacrificed to preserve our countries freedom. While at Vimy Ridge, we got to tour some of the underground tunnels which served as a home to many of the Canadian troops leading up to the actual attack on Vimy. I could not even imagine spending more than an hour in these tunnels, even the shortest person in our group had to duck sometimes to walk through doors or down hallways. Seeing these living condition and hearing the tour guide talk about how inhospitable these tunnels were in 1917 really opened my eyes to the sacrifices that these men made.

We visited many Canadian cemeteries as well on our trip through western Europe. The cemetery that really made me realize how lucky and proud I am to be Canadian was one of the Normandy cemeteries. Walking down the rows of graves and seeing the ages of some of the men that participated in the D-Day landings was incredible.

 I stumbled upon a headstone with the age 17 written on it and was dumbfounded for words. Our lives were so different. I wake up every morning knowing what the day will hold, and I know that I will wake up the next morning. However, this boy woke up not knowing what the day was going to hold, and praying that he lived long enough to wake up the next day.

Touring Vimy, Passchendaele, Juno Beach and all the surrounding cemeteries has given me stronger and deeper feeling of thankfulness for our veterans that served during WWI and II, Korea, Bosnia, the Middle East and really anywhere that the Canadian military has been. Because without their service, I know that I would not have the life that I have today. My trip to Europe has given me a better understanding of what these men went through and this in turn has increased my standing on Remembrance Day and its importance in our society.

By: Graham Manderville

Remembrance Day is a day every year where citizens across Canada join together to commemorate the brave acts of the soldiers who fought for our freedom.  Remembrance day has always been an important day to my family and me, because I've had many relatives who have fought over seas in certain conflicts.

It is a day when we extend our thanks to those who were lost in order to live the great lives that we all have today. This past summer I had the amazing opportunity of taking part in a Canadian Battlefield tour across Europe. We went to very well-known battlefields, cemeteries, and landmarks that were once populated with Canadian soldiers in conflict.

 It was a very touching experience knowing that soldiers have lost their lives right on the ground I was standing on. I had moments where I was proud because of the bravery that past Canadian soldiers had, but I also had moments of sadness when I realized how many young lives were lost. I was fortunate enough to visit Juno Beach, Passchendaele, Vimy region, Normandy region, and countless other well-known war-time landmarks.

My personal favourite part of the experience was the Vimy Ridge memorial. It was breathtakingly large and beautiful. I didn't realize the true size of the landmark until I was standing directly under its shadow. I was in awe for the most part of the trip because of the beautiful European scenery, and the Canadian history that surrounded me for the whole trip.

I consider myself tremendously lucky for being able to travel across the world to see a place that is held so high in Canadian regard. Many people dream of seeing some of the landmarks I visited. My trip to Europe made me appreciate remembrance day more, and I have a better respect for Canadian gains, and also, much more respect for the losses. I will always look back on the amazing trip that I was part of. 

By Noah Hallihan

Opinion: Halloween, A Trick or a Treat?

Photo from http://morguefile.com/archive/#/?q=halloween

Some people do not celebrate Halloween for different reasons. Do you think Halloween is a holiday that everyone should celebrate? Do you enjoy or dislike Halloween?

Every year on October 31 we celebrate a holiday which we call Halloween. People celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating or through Halloween parties, wearing costumes, carving jack o' lanterns, lighting fires, watching scary movies and listening to frightening stories, playing pranks and visiting haunted attractions. These Halloween activities make some people like Halloween but they are also activities that puts others off the idea of Halloween.

I think it is reasonable not to celebrate Halloween, because some people have personal reasons or even reasons that they are not willing to share with people about why (or why not) they celebrate Halloween. Others can be superstitious about things like the black cat for example, and the idea of Halloween just scares them.

If you had to ask me, I think that Halloween is more of a fun holiday then any of the other holidays, and it is also personally one of my favourites. It is nothing compared to Easter, Christmas or Thanksgiving- we do celebrate those in candy or activities, but none are like the activities that we would do on Halloween.

I find that Halloween is also a holiday that attracts mostly teenagers than any other age group- at least the trick part does. As we all know, teenagers love to have a good time, and Halloween is the perfect time to have fun. For example, some people take things way too far, such as tormenting the elders in the village that don't mean any harm to anyone. Some older people do not enjoy Halloween because of this. On the other hand, little children treat Halloween as a fun experience where they can dress up as their favourite movie character and go get free candy. We all know this because when you say the word treat a million little children get over excited.

One way that we could get more involved in the positive ways of Halloween are the activity we have here at school called "Trick or Peas". It is a great way to get involved in the community, school and even just have a positive out look on Halloween. You go door to door and ask for canned foods that we can use at school to send to our Food Bank and feed people in need. To get more information on "Trick or Peas" you can go to our High School Student Council.

Some people take part in the Halloween spirit, and others don't. Myself, I don't usually dress up on a dress up day or Halloween because I don't really like costumes. Although I don't dress up, it doesn't mean I don't have the Halloween spirit, it actually is one of my favourite holidays and I just choose to not dress up. To get some other people's opinions for the Blackville Talon I asked some of my Kindergarten co-op class a question to see what their view on Halloween was. The question I asked them was "Do you enjoy or dislike Halloween, and why?" here is what they had to say:

Kiara Dunnett (KN)- "I like Halloween because I get treats!"

Dallas Curtis (KN)- "I like Halloween because I like dressing up. My favourite costume is the Hulk."

I think that if you like Halloween then you can still go out and have a fun time but just make sure you keep in mind to have respect for others. Particularly those that may be frightened or if Halloween just isn't their thing.

Have a Happy Halloween and also put your input into the Halloween survey on the Blackville Talon!

By: Ashton O'Donnell 

Viewpoint: Hockey

Viewpoint: Hunting

Destination Leadership: CSLC 2014

“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.”
- John C. Maxwell.

I have seen this quote before, but I had never actually experienced the full meaning of what the author of this quote was saying, until this past week. I had the opportunity to attend the annual Canadian Student Leadership Conference (CSLC) alongside 1000 other youthful leaders all converging on Kelowna, Colombia by plane, train and automobile.

These 1000 other students, just like me, were leading members of their school student bodies, either as part of a leadership class or holding a high position on the student council. Regardless of their reason for being chosen to attend, every student that was registered for CSLC 2014 was there to become a more effective leader in their school and in their lives. At CSLC 2014, we all took part in numerous leadership building activities, heard keynote speakers share their secrets on leadership and made friendships that would last forever.

            

Student Council Executive Members
Graham Manderville and Brooke Underhill
arriving at CSLC 2014

"Destination LEADERSHIP: Your ticket to Inspiration" was the conference motto. This is what the whole week was based on: getting inspired to become a better leader in your community and in your school. Numerous keynote speakers helped with this task by giving captivating one to two hour sessions; sharing adventures from their lives and their own thoughts on the traits of a great leader.

One such speaker was Micah Jacobson, the cofounder of the Boomerang and WEB program. He shared his thoughts on how to leave your mark as a leader, how to connect with people and how to inspire them to want to follow you. Jacobson spoke of being a great leader and ensuring that you are remembered after you leave school by making meaningful connections with people. Just by talking to everyone in your school, asking how they are, or even just saying hi, will make them remember you and how you took an interest in them, when no one else did. This is what great leaders do; they make sure everyone is heard and everyone is acknowledged. He also talked about how to lead by example and inspire the people that look up to you, how to be energetic and really take an interest in what you're doing.

Ta'Kaiya Blaney was another very inspirational speaker. She is a twelve-year-old Sliammon First Nation member from British Columbia, Canada. At such a young age she is already heavily involved in the environment and protecting marine and coastal wildlife. She has spoken across the world at numerous UN conferences about her thoughts and feelings on the state of the environment all over the globe. I had the privilege to hear her speak at CSLC 2014. She was very inspiring. She was passionate about what she believed in, and she also taught all of us to act the same way about leadership, really make an effort to be a good leader. Part of her message was to inspire others to act like you do when you’re leading and to do what you think is right, not what is popular.

Keynote speaker Micah Jacobson

                  
Three workshops were also part of the itinerary.  Each of the workshops was leadership or student council related, and focused on ideas such as event planning, how to build a stronger relationship with the students of your school or even how to mediate and get rid of stress. The workshops that I attended concerned building better character, global leadership and how to challenge your limits concerning how you lead.

The workshop about building better character was all centered on trying to connect with your fellow students more effectively, even though there might be some that you do not actually like, you still should try to make a connection. I learned that connections to fellow students result in allowing yourself to become a better leader, hearing from every social group and trying to satisfy everyone as best as you can. Global Leadership was all about helping people on a global stage by volunteering in poverty stricken countries or by going to children's hospitals and taking care of sick children in countries with a lack of medical supplies. Improving your leadership skills by taking it to a global level, and helping people who are less fortune than most people in our country. The final workshop that I attended, and the one that really stuck the most with me, was all about challenging yourself to be a better leader. Going outside of your comfort zone to try and improve your leadership skills, trying new tactics and not giving up when faced with a circumstance that is unfavorable.

Keynote speaker Ta'Kaiya Blaney

Even though it was a leadership conference, and serious issues were discussed, there was still time for entertainment and recreation. We played numerous games at an academic pep rally, during an organized chaos session and during our spirit group time. We learned choreographed dances, saw the 2010 Olympic Flame for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, walked the mountains of Kelowna, took a tour of the University of British Colombia Okanagan campus, attended a TEDx presentation, trade show, a downtown Kelowna Scavenger hunt and a kangaroo farm. These were just a few of the numerous activities that were included in our jam-packed schedule that started at 7:45 AM and usually ended around 11:00 PM. It was safe to say that sleep was something that the CSLC 2014 organizers did not regard as a crucial part to becoming a great leader.

                  

2010 Vancouver Olympic Flame 

I came home from CSLC 2014 a changed individual; my thoughts and viewpoints on leadership have grown in the short time that I spent at the conference. I plan on using some of these new skills at my own school, hopefully improving leadership and changing the student council for the better. The 2014 Canadian Student Council Leadership Conference was one of the best experiences I have ever had the pleasure of taking part in. It made me appreciate my role as student council president and as a leader in my community, and I am 100% inspired and motivated to continue my leadership journey. This is all thanks to CSLC 2014.

 by Graham Manderville

Opinion: Longer Lunch Hour Welcomed, More Activities Required

At the beginning of this school year we were informed that we were not having a flex period anymore, and to top it all off… longer classes. The majority of us would agree that we were disappointed in this change and about the fact that it was no longer available to us.

Another change we had at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year was that since we no longer had a flex period we now also had a longer lunch hour. This was somewhat exciting news at the start because last year we mostly complained that our 30 minute lunch was way too short. Now, that we have a 45 minute lunch we still find ourselves complaining, but about the fact that we think it’s now too long. Some enjoy the long lunch hour, and others just find that it drags on and gets boring.


To get to the point of some of our schools students, opinions on this, I decided to ask two grade 12 students what they thought about having a longer lunch hour and no flex period.

“I do not like it because I liked our flex better because it gave us time to do our homework, instead of having to go home and spend hours going home working on all the homework. Also, the lunch hour is very boring now and drags on.” –Leah Hennessy

"I like the longer lunch hour because the day goes by faster, more time to socialize and more free time. I don't like the new flex because I like doing my homework in school hours and it was relaxing." - Morgan Underhill

In my opinion there isn’t much that we can do about not having a flex period, but I think that if we did something about the lunch hour, it wouldn’t be so long and boring. For example, if we maybe did some activities or games to keep us busy for at least half of our lunch hour. I think that if we gathered students ideas we could have a fun and interesting lunch hour that could make our 2014-2015 school year fun and memorable one! 

What do you think? Do you have any ideas for lunch activities? If so, the high school student council would like to know. Stop in and visit them at lunch time in the student council office by the cafeteria. Make sure to voice your opinion on the longer lunch hour on the survey posted.

by Ashton O'Donnell

Viewpoint December 04, 2013

Viewpoint: Remembrance Day

Students discuss what they like about the Christmas season

Middle School Students Discuss the Sport of Hunting

NHL Lockout Poll Results

Results from the question: How do you feel about the current NHL Lockout?

I agree with the NHL players	1 (7%)
I agree with the NHL owners	0 (0%)
I am upset about the lockout	5 (35%)
I don't care	8 (57%)

Halloween 2012 Viewpoint