Delta Secondary School

Delta Secondary School
1284 Main Street East
Hamilton, ON

Principal: M. Visca
Vice-Principal(s): B. Smith, T. Powell-McBride
Pulse Page Coordinator: L. Arndt

ART GALLERY

Rebecca Smith, grade 10

Amy Provo, grade 12

Jessica Hyde, grade 12

Jennifer Sever, grade 10

ARTICLES

In Tokyo
Michelle Warren, Grade 12

Cherry blossoms are foremost in the minds and hearts of those who experience a Japanese spring. I remember the sweet smell of sakura in the wind. To me, it was a mixture of honey and vanilla, ambient and enchanting. Pale pink petals, soft as silk, luminous against the bold blue sky. The falling of the silken petals marks the end of cherry blossom season and the beginning of summer.
Summer is the onset of festivals. Vibrant colours of matsuri are beautiful and wondrous. The gathering excitement is magical. I remember food stands along the dirt path in the lush green park. I walked with my host family to a wooden stand that sold takoyaki; I felt a jolt of anticipation; I remember trying the new food, not knowing what to expect. It was a luscious experience: a mixture of flavours enveloped in my mouth, nothing like I had tasted before.
As summer approaches its middle days, the rainy season begins. A grey cloud hangs over the city and brings rain for one solid week. But the grey is offset by a colourful sea of umbrellas that covers the city. Soon, the rain gives way to heat and humidity. Days are too severe to do anything but sit with a book or watch T.V., and drink ice cold green tea.
I remember the transition from summer to autumn and the changes in the colour and the weather. The leaves went from green to gold and startling red. Now afternoons were spent outside, close to the vivacious shades of the trees.
Winter comes when all the leaves are gone. But the bitterness of cold air doesn’t spoil the heart of the Japanese, for winter marks the end to an old year and the start of a new.
For me there was loss though, for winter marked the end of my stay



Spring Break In Jamaica
Nakeitha Galati

Jamaica is my native country; Montego Bay, I call home. Every morning, as the hot sun begins to rise, small birds chirp. Roosters start to hunt for food and dirty dogs bark for breakfast. Children dressed in light blue shorts start their daily chore: they go to the river with water pans on their heads. Around them, the green mountains stand tall and proud toward the powerful sky.
I smell my grandmother’s French toast, rich with a hint of cinnamon, so sweet it overpowers the scent of fresh cut grass. Next door, my eyes are held by the elderly neighbour, Mrs. Clarice, who sweeps the dirt from her bright red porch with and ancient branch broom. But my grandmother’s enormous kitchen beckons and in bare feet on cool black tiles, I head toward the smell. Later, as I feed the hungry dogs, I see the jumbo goldfish leap from the river for bugs, tall banana trees, and orange trees laden with green fruit give way to the wind. I hear the people of the neighbourhood come alive with morning laughter and I see them in sitting on porches in their white, straw chairs. The day begins in full and the heat intensifies.
That was spring break, 1998.
My return ten years later reveals noticeable change. The children no longer carry wash water up from the river; loud washing machines have replaced the scrub board. The green mountains are now marked with bright coloured houses. Mrs Clarice now has a green-swifter wetjet to complete the job. And the chatty neighbours in their big white chairs are gone, replaced by men and women in dark pin-striped suits, dress shirts and ties, all heading for work in the busy city.
The peace and relaxation of my old Jamaica has, in ten short years, got lost in the upswing of bustle.



My Old Movie Theatre
Paige Pflieger, Grade 12

A movie theatre across the street? A young child’s dream, but I was too young. Richard, my much-adored older brother, was old enough to go to the movie theatre alone. He went with his friends. They were old enough and I was jealous.
The new Star Wars movie had just been released. At the last minute, my brother’s friends were unable to go; therefore, he asked if I wanted to tag along. I was ecstatic.
The sun was shining the brightest I had ever seen it shine. The feeling of walking down the street was exhilarating. As we walked, we got closer to the boy who sold tickets to the many customers. His booth was a 4x4 box with red and white stripes running horizontally across it. The boy had short blonde hair and a red and white hat that matched his ticket booth perfectly.
The popcorn was moist and yellow, drenched in butter. Each kernel was grainy with excessive salt. I had sour Skittles. They made my mouth pucker and water. My orange crush came in a small plastic cup with a holographic picture of Darth Vader on it; he looked furious. My brother’s cup did not have a picture on it because he had a jumbo drink and jumbo drinks are for big kids—no picture required.
My booster seat was hard red plastic. It was put on top of one of the busy patterned cushioned seats that everyone else sat comfortably on. The movie was good, but I was more thrilled at being there, in the big theatre, than watching the film.
That movie theatre is now a big pile of dust and dirt. The city is doing renovations to clean up the east end of Hamilton. Frankly, I thought the movie theatre was perfectly fine the way it was.



My Sugar Bush
Ben Moore, Grade 12

Sometimes, I exist in a place without being there. By shutting my eyes, I travel to the places that I visited so many years ago.
In the fresh and thawing month of March, if I take the bus from the town hall, I find myself tiptoeing over the threshold of the Sugar Bush – the perfect place to make maple syrup. As I enter the Sugar Bush’s front gates, I am given a piping hot cup of apple cider. I always dread the scorching, stinging first sip, but today it is different; today the cider warms me from the inside out. The Canadian concoction bubbles over with joy that is shared by the people competing in pairs to saw the end off of a log. I stare at their bizarre back-and-forth motion; I blink and it’s over. When I try it, the itchy, scratchy, malicious sawdust bites the inside of my nose, and my task seems to last forever. When I finish, I see that my work is flawed – the surface of the wood seems to have sprouted hair! The hair reminds me of the best hairs in the sugar bush: those of the giant caterpillar. Outdoors, near one of the log buildings, there is a trough. Tall hooded figures pitch snow into the trough to create the great white caterpillar; then, Popsicle sticks plunge into the caterpillar’s back – these are the hairs. Next, the tall lady with the curly hair and the long skirt saunters out of the log cabin and pours steaming liquid gold all over the caterpillar. I pluck one of the caterpillar’s hairs and partake of the icky, sticky, licky, sweet stuff. The sweet stuff can also be tasted in the grand log cabin. As I enter the double doors, the building heaves a sigh of relief – I’ve finally arrived; the rush of warm air lights a fire in my bones. The soft, yellow light calms the soul, and the pancakes, maple syrup, and peach juice warm the soul. There are wholesome, soft, white discs of fluffy golden brown goodness drizzled in that tantalizing icky, sticky, licky, sweet stuff. Soon it is time to go. I climb into the horse-drawn sleigh with the others. As I wave goodbye, the trees cry golden tears. I can still return to that Sugar Bush any time I want; it’s just a blink away.



How to Succeed in High School
Andrea Coulombe, Grade 12

High school is an important part of everyone’s life. Not everyone succeeds in high school, but there are ways to avoid an unsuccessful high school experience. Two ways to succeed are first, by not allowing insignificant people to get to you and second, by thinking about the future. These two pieces of advice have come in very handy in my four years of high school.
There are many people in a high school; some are easily befriended, and others will say or do anything to keep you down. These last are the people that should be completely disregarded. People that are worried about what you wear, what you look like and what you do are only wasting their time. In order to be successful, you cannot waste your time with people who mean nothing to you. Always think about the future of your life.
Your future should be the only thing on your mind when you’re at school. Although this is difficult to do with the distractions and friends, it is important to do your best. The beginning of each semester in an important time to think about your future. How a certain class will benefit your education and career choice is key in succeeding. Do not join a class for a friend, or a boy or a girl. It is your future; never forget that.
I haven’t allowed insignificant people to bother me. I always think about the future. These two discoveries will help me succeed in high school.



The Deserted Playground
Ben Fok, Grade 12

In the elementary school where I studied, our favourite time was recess and our favourite sound was the ringing of the bell, signalling the end of school. During these time periods, we would rush out of the doors and run towards one place: the playground.
In springtime, the sweet scent of flowers surrounding the playground blended in such a way that no perfume could ever match. Laughter and joy could be heard for miles as children would “tag” one person and then tag someone back. The girls often preferred the swings or a game of hopscotch.
As summer approached, less vigorous activities were done as we would sit under a big oak tree that provided us shade. We would read some books, while listening to the chirping of the birds. We would let the wind hit our faces, giving us that cool and refreshing feeling. However, the more active children never wasted this time for a game of kickball or basketball.
Temperatures gradually decreased and the days grew shorter. Snow eventually covered the entire playground. This didn’t stop the children from going out, but only motivated them to invent new games. All of us had one common, favourite pastime during wintertime: a snowball fight. Although throwing snowballs was prohibited by the teachers, nobody could resist throwing snow at somebody. When school ended, we would split into two teams and have a huge snowball fight, since the teachers no longer had control over us. It was all about hanging out with your friends and enjoying the innocence of childhood.
I am all grown up now. I still walk past my old school whenever I walk my dog. Some things have changed. Gone is the musical laughter of children on the playground. Instead, it is replaced by the clicking sounds of children text-messaging on their phones. In a nearby home, I can hear a group of children playing the tunes from “Guitar Hero”. Instead of running around and playing a game of catch, they use a Wii controller as a ball and have a game of catch in their own virtual worlds.
As the snow melts, the ground will thaw and the flowers in the playground will blossom again, their beauty unappreciated and forgotten. Whenever I walk past the school, all I see is a playground, a deserted playground.



How to Succeed in High School
Sarah Lyman, Grade 12

High school can be one of two things, the best time of your life or the worst. After four long years, you’ll have some amazing friends and even better memories. You’ll learn more about yourself than you ever imagined. Sports, clubs and dances become your life. One of the biggest lessons I can pass on to anyone wondering how on earth they’re going to survive high school is.... HAVE FUN. Seriously, high school isn’t really that great if you’re not having fun. Sure, you’re there to get an education and gain knowledge, but that’s only half of it! High school is about making new friends and new memories. It’s about trying new things, and growing up, and having fun doing it. Yes, you will have more homework, and yes, exams do suck. But that’s just the boring part. You have more freedom to be who you are. If you’re an athlete, there are so many teams you can join: hockey, football, soccer, water polo…whatever you like! It’s a great way to meet new people and build great friendships. If you’re one of those people who don’t enjoy going to school everyday, get involved. Join a team, join a club, go to the prom. Just have fun! High school is what you make it, so make it count!



How to Succeed in High School
Andrea DiBattista, Grade 12

A student is presented with two definitions of success in high school. One definition involves becoming a fun-loving, risk-taking party animal that everyone wants to be around. The second definition involves getting great grades, developing strong skills for post-secondary education, and getting involved in extra-curricular activities. The true way to succeed in high school involves careful manoeuvring of both of these types of success.
It is important to meet new people and to have loads of fun while you are young, but the golden rule is never to put partying above school on your list of priorities. High school students must remember that education is essential in building their futures and they must make their schoolwork the number one priority. Students must always put thought and time into their work. It is important to make an effort in schoolwork in order to grow academically and excel. It is also very important to be careful when choosing friends, and to make sure that they are good people who want you to be successful and fulfill your ambitions. High school friends need to stick together and look out for one another, especially when presented with drugs or alcohol. Becoming involved in extra-curricular activities and volunteering are also great ways to feel good and give back.
In order to succeed in high school, students must make goals for themselves and accomplish their dreams one small step at a time.



How to Survive High School
Taylor Moore, Grade 12

If you want to survive in high school, there are many aspects you need to consider, such as social and academic.
To start, if you do not want to stand out and be made fun of, act and dress like everyone else. Most of the time, being loud and obnoxious does not help you fit in. Choosing your friends wisely is the next step toward succeeding. When trying to make new friends, it is often a good idea to interact with everyone before you settle on a group. Your friends don’t have to be the smartest kids in the school but it is important that they attend class regularly and that they have respect, not only for themselves but also for their peers and teachers. Students who do not attend class regularity and do not show respect will most likely be a bad influence.
When trying to survive high school, it as also a good idea to join some of the many teams and clubs offered within your school. Participating in these types of activities is often a lot of fun and it allows you to enjoy time with your friends as well as meet new people. Being active in the school makes the time you spend there pass a lot faster.
Academics are very important. They are the last step toward your post secondary education which allows you to choose your future. It is important to attend class regularly as well as complete all assignments within the timeline given, and with effort. If you don’t do this, you will quickly fall behind and your marks will begin to drop. It is important to study for upcoming tests or quizzes, because they are worth much of your final mark.
Following these simple steps will allow you to survive and succeed in high school.



The Mathemagician
Troy Haney, Grade 9

A long time ago, in a village, there lived a magician, and a young boy wanting to learn the art of magic. But what the boy did not know was that the magician was not only a magician, he was also a mathematician. One day, the young boy went to see the great magician to learn all his teachings.
"Hohoho… You wish to learn the art of magic, my young fellow?" the mathematician asked.
"Yes, great magician," the boy said.
"What is your name, young sir?" the magician asked.
"T – Troy. Troy Haney." he said.
"Hello, Troy. I'm Mr. Milosevic-Hill." The magician said. "I am also a mathematician. I am very experienced when it comes to numerals."
So, Mr. Milosevic-Hill decided to teach Troy the complex optical illusion that is magic. The young Troy learned many magical acts, such as making a rooster turn into an egg, and water into wine and back again.
"How do you do that, young man?" the elder of the village asked.
"I cannot tell you that. I am under oath to the Great Mathematician!" Troy said.
"The mathematician?" the elder asked.
"Yes. He is the magician that lives on yonder hill just outside the village,” Troy said. So Troy decided to show all who would watch, wanting everyone to know about the great mathematician. The entire village decided to pay the mathemagician a visit. Troy was the first to Mr. Hill's home, and there, he discovered a note.

Dear Troy,
I have left the village, and gone to teach Mathematics to young children in a village called
Westdale. I wish you and the village all good futures.
Yours Truly.
Mr. Milosevic-Hill

This is dedicated to Mr. Milosevic-Hill. Have fun at Westdale High School!