Sustainability and the Eco Club

By Michaela Ciranni and Sophia D

Father Bressani's Eco Club has adopted a proactive approach to increasing student knowledge of sustainability in an era characterized by environmental issues. Their current focus on this critical topic serves as a reminder of why students must keep sustainability in mind.

There has never been a more critical time for young people to take on the concerns of climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss. The Eco Club's steadfast dedication to sustainability is a source of inspiration and evidence of the significance of these initiatives.

Sustainability education encourages students to be environmentally conscious. It helps kids develop an awareness of how their actions affect the environment and empowers them to make decisions that will lessen their carbon footprint. This awareness enables individuals to live environmentally responsible lifestyles. Education on sustainability will not only raise awareness but also provide students with valuable life skills. It instills valuable skills in today's tech-driven society, such as a sense of responsibility, patience, and a connection to nature.

The notion of satisfying our current wants without sacrificing the capacity of future generations to satisfy their own needs is at the heart of sustainability. Putting this into practice entails incorporating eco-friendly decisions into our daily routines. Sustainability promotes ethical behaviour that protects the environment, whether it is through waste reduction, energy conservation, or the encouragement of environmentally beneficial practices. However, the focus on sustainability is a community-wide endeavour rather than just an individual one. The success of group effort is exemplified by our Eco Club. It brings students together for one common objective by encouraging a feeling of community involvement. The recent "Plant-A-Tree and Sustainability Fundraiser" is just one of many sustainability initiatives that show off how students can help create a more sustainable world.

In conclusion, Father Bressani's Eco Club fosters environmental consciousness, life skills, and community involvement while also shaping students into stewards of our planet. Sustainability isn't just an abstract notion; it's a lifestyle that places you on the journey towards a better, more sustainable future that every student can contribute to, embrace, and prosper within.

International Culture Council

By: Elizabeth Goloubov

The Month of November

November 1st marks the start of Hindu Heritage Month! During Hindu Heritage Month, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Canadian Hindus. Ontario is home to a large and prospering community of 573,700 who follow Hinduism. These individuals have made their mark in various fields of science, education, medicine, law, politics, business, culture, and sports. Their outstanding contributions have helped build and continue to build a strong and successful country that has become a home for millions of diverse Canadians.

This year, Hindus celebrate Diwali on November 12, which, based on the Hindu lunar calendar, takes place in either October or November of each year on the 15th day of Kartik. Named after the row of clay lamps called avali that South Asians light outside their homes, it is a significant festival of lights that symbolizes warding off darkness and admiring good over evil. It honours the Hindu goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, whom people lit candles for so she could find her way into people’s homes and bestow good fortune for the new year. Though it is considered a Hindu celebration, Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains worldwide.

Via National Geographic (Click the link to learn more)

Congrats to the new 2023-2024 International Culture Council Executives!

President: Lada

VP: Isabella

Secretary: Valentina

Treasurer: Saba

Communication: Elizabeth

Upcoming Cultural Celebrations and Commemorative Days

All Saints Day, November 1

A Christian celebration that honors the saints who lived in faith and have attained heaven. Roman Catholics attend mass, read and learn of great saints, and light candles. Orthodox Christians celebrate this day on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

Via: Marcin Bielecki/EPA-EFE/Rex

Day of the Dead, November 2

Celebrating the memory of deceased relatives, people of Latin American origin create ofrendas garnished with photos, candles, flowers, and personal items of their lost loved ones.

Via: Enrique Castro/Getty Images

All Souls Day, November 2

Preceding All Saints Day, All Souls Day remembers and honors our faithful loved ones who have passed away. Christians visit the graves of loved ones to clean and set down flowers, share their memory, and offer prayer.

Via: Vecteezy

Lha Bab Düchen, November 4

Translating directly to “The Festival of the Descent from Heaven”, Lha Bab Düchen marks for Buddhists the descent of Buddha Shakyamuni, founder of the Buddhist religion, from heaven. The main objectives of this festival other than paying tribute to the founder is to pray, make offerings, and light butter lamps.

Buddha Shakyamuni Descending from Tushita Heavens to the Earth

Veterans Week, November 5 to 11

A week of acknowledgment of the men and women who served and continue to serve our country. It is also a time to acknowledge the diverse cultures that have contributed to the Canadian Military, and we motivate you to explore the rich stories and experiences of Canadian veterans.

Via: Andy Rain/EFE

Indigenous Veterans Day, November

Indigenous people along with other Canadian minorities experienced a lot of struggle and discrimination during their military careers, but that does not discount the sacrifice and courage they have shown. We take this day to honor Aboriginal people’s contributions and the challenges they faced while serving our country.

Via: Ashley Lacourciere

Diwali, November 12

A festival of lights celebrated by Hindus that symbolizes the warding off of darkness and in honor of the god of fortune, Lakshmi. Hindus light candles, perform worship ceremonies, and partake in feasts in which gifts are exchanged.

Via: Adobe Stock

Holodomor Memorial Day, Fourth Saturday of November

A day of commemoration for the millions of Ukrainians who starved and passed away due to the registration of Soviet policies in 1932–1933. Ukrainians attend memorial services to put symbolic vessels of grain and light candles to honor the victims of the Famine.

Via: Kostyantyn Chernichkin

History of Black Achievement Week, November 20 to 26

For the annual Canada History Week, the theme of reflecting on the History of Black Achievement in Canada was chosen for 2023. We encourage you to take the time during Canada History Week to explore the contributions of black Canadians and their impact on historical and present-day Canada.

Via: Jamiel Law

Guru Nanak Gurpurab, November 27

The religious group of Sikhism celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, who was the first Sikh Guru. Sikhs gather together for this festival and light candles and fireworks to honor his service to the people and his teachings.

Via: Istock

Day of the Dead Initiative, November 2

The ICC gave students the opportunity to post the names of lost loved ones at the council-built Ofrenda to celebrate the Day of the Dead on November 2nd during all lunches. With colourful and intricate papel picado, flowers, and vibrant big text, the Ofrenda certainly caught the attention of everyone who passed by. In addition, students could purchase candy for 10 cents and 50 cents for the chance to win a big box of 50 candies. The ICC made a total of $34.30 in sales that will go towards future initiatives for promoting diversity within our school! We would like to thank the students who participated in the Ofrenda and hope you all learned more about Día de los Muertos and its significance to Latin American culture throughout that week. We would also like to congratulate Valentina Buitrago for winning the candy raffle!

Via: Rodolfo Vanegas/Getty Images

Learn more about cultural commemorative days and heritage months:

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/important-commemorative-days.html

Diversity Calendar for 2023:

https://www.edi.uwo.ca/resources/2816-2023-Diversity-Calendar-PDF.pdf

Keep on the lookout for future ICC initiatives!

Debate Tips

Written by Doris L.

Glossophobia is defined as the fear of public speaking. This phobia is believed to affect approximately 75% of the global population.

Fortunately there are many ways to overcome this fear!

Debating is an excellent way to help with becoming a better public speaker. Through debating, you can become more confident and resilient. Debates encourage students to think on their feet and communicate eloquently and efficiently to get their point across within a set time limit.

Though adaptability can be particularly challenging during a presentation or debate, fortunately, there are many tips and tricks to aid your performance. The following tips and tricks can also be of aid for any presentation you may have in your high school and post-secondary career.

1. Know your subject matter well.

This knowledge includes your argument, your topic, relevant research and statistics, as well as a broad idea of the overall topic or general area. Your research and statistics will back up your argument by providing sufficient evidence. Understanding the general area of your topic will be extremely important when rebutting or counter-rebutting, as rebuttals and counter-rebuttals require quick thinking and understanding of the argument or rebuttal. This understanding will reduce the chances of your ideas floundering in the limited time frame given during the debate process.

2. Listen attentively and think your words through before speaking.

Since a debate includes two opposing perspectives, you must listen carefully to your opponent(s) words. Without understanding their point of view, it would be challenging to produce a satisfactory counterargument. Similarly, in public speaking, you may be asked questions that require you to answer without preparation. In both debates and public speaking, it is best to take a few seconds to gather your thoughts to help communicate your reply as best as you can.

3. Be concise.

No one likes listening to a very long presentation or argument. Rambling and repetition take up time without providing enough detail or analysis of your perspective. Debates often have time limits on how long a statement, speech, or rebuttal can take. By adding unnecessary words or phrases, you merely take up valuable time when you could have potentially contributed more salient points.

Hopefully, these tips can assist you in gaining more confidence in your debating or public speaking skills or at least an idea of what you should strive to do when presenting.

If you are interested in debating, The Father Bressani Debate Club holds weekly meetings on Wednesdays after school in room 103. The Club is always open to new members!

Math Club Events

By Iris Luo

One down, so many more to go! If you like math or want a boost in your math grade, the Math Club is for you! As math contest dates are quickly approaching, joining one will be greatly beneficial to your brain! Sure, some questions will be difficult, but it will greatly help your problem-solving and creative skills! Instead of looking at everyday life in a literal way, you will be able to further dive deeper and use your math skills to make life so much easier! Plus, doing harder questions will, of course, make math class much easier than it may be right now! Using math contests for your advantage to put on your resume or improve your skills are both great reasons why you should join the Math Club!

Upcoming Math Contests

Canadian Senior and Intermediate Mathematics Contests → Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Canadian Computing Challenge → Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Pascal, Cayley, and Fermat Contests → Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Euclid Contest → Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Fryer, Galois, and Hypatia Contests → Thursday, April 4, 2024

Canadian Team Mathematics Contest → TBD in the New Year

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