Lest we forget - Howard S. Billings Regional High School

June 2010Lest weforgetKelsey PowellThe Chateauguay Legion started out in1944 as a gathering place for soldiers whoheld meetings wherever they could, mostlyin churches and school basements. As theyears passed, the Legion managed to raiseenough money to buy a barn, which theyheated with a space heater. Finally, in 1968,volunteers of all skill levels pitched in tohelp build the Legion that we know today.What started out as a group of 15 soldierseventually became an organization, thanksto the hard work, determination, and effortto give something back to those whohave laid down their lives to fight for ourcountry.Today, the Legion provides a placefor veterans and their families to gatherand have a drink, play darts, or just talkabout their experiences during wartime.Soldiers who have recently returned fromthe war in Afghanistan take advantage ofthe organization, as do the veterans of theSecond World War. Together, they honourtheir fallen friends by doing things suchas attending the Battle of the Atlanticceremonies. There, they paid their respectsto soldiers killed in action during the 1939-1945 Battle of the Atlantic in which theRoyal Canadian Navy fought to defendmerchant ships as they carried suppliesacross the Atlantic to Europe.The Chateauguay Legion Branch 108 is in danger of being forced out of operation if a solutionto its tax problem is not found. Surrounding photos are some of the members that have donetheir part in support of the branch and our country. (photos reprinted with permission fromroyalcanadianlegionbranch108.com)The Legion does not only give veteransa chance to honour the memory of fallensoldiers. Its members also go out intothe community to help others throughfundraising activities like the yearlyPoppy Fund, which helps support publicservices such as school breakfast clubs,the Chateauguay Food Bank, and more.They even take on the task of helping toteach children about war by attendingmany schools’ Remembrance Dayceremonies. Finally, contrary to popularbelief, the Legion is not just for membersof the military and their families. It is apublic facility and everyone—even nonmembers—iswelcome to make use of it.Sadly, all of this may soon come to anend. The Legion is currently in dangerof being forced to close its doors. Why?What seems to have been a combinationof a difference of opinion and a case ofmisinformation has led to the organizationsee Lest We Forget, page 3Iron Horse Wear HouseOld Malone Highway, Kahnawake(450) 638-0873Andrew Giasson, owner, HSB Alumni, and proud sponsor of Vision Newspaperwww.ironhorsewearhouse.com

community update2Vision Newspaper June 2010AMR Shelter’s adoptable petsAkinaAge: approximately 5 yearsHousebroken: YesCan live with kids: 8 years and upCan live with cats: NoCan live with dogs: larger breeds recommendedPersonality traits: Meet Akina, which means ‘spring flower’in Japanese. She was found roaming the streets with a largechain embedded in her neck. She was brought into vet for anemergency surgery and now is healing well. She has a greatcharacter even though she has been obviously very badlyneglected. She is looking for a home where she will be thecenter of her new family’s life!Date arrived: May 2, 2010Please consultAMR’s website forinformation on thecosts involved inadopting a pet fromthe shelter. Go towww.refugeamr.comand click on adoption.Pet of the month:GladyGlady is 11 years old. She’s a dog that I love cuddling upto. I can always clear my mind with her because it seemslike she listens and plus, she cannot talk. She is very quietand very calm. To me, she’s the perfect dog…if only shecould learn to use the bathroom.--MelanieLuluAge: 2 monthsGender: FemaleI’m Lulu, I’m only 8 weeks old, and I’m looking for a newhome. I’m very gentle and social. I have been in a sheltermost of my short life because the owners of my parents failedto have their cats spayed and neutered.For your vacation, the Caisse populaire Châteauguay offers financial products designed tomeet your needs perfectly. Do not hesitate to ask our personnel about them. We will be morethan happy to explain all the advantages of these Desjardins products.» Desjardins travel insurance — To leave with peace of mind and protect your family.» Personal line of credit — To make your dreams come true and be ready for the unexpected.» Desjardins access card — To have access to ATMs worldwide.» Desjardins VISA card — To make purchases, get cash and benefit from travel insurance.» Travellers cheques — To travel securely throughout the world.» Foreign currency — To make it easier once you arrive in a foreign country.YOU NEED SOME EUROS?It is no longer necessary to wait 48 hours to purchase euros. At the Caisse populaireChâteauguay, the most popular denominations are now available at all times. However, if youneed more than 2,000 euros, it is preferable to notify us in advance.Visit our Websitewww.desjardins.com/caisse-chateauguayHEAD OFFICE 65 Principale Street, ChâteauguaySERVICE CENTER 139 St-Jean-Baptiste blvd, Châteauguay450.692.6751

community update3Vision Newspaper June 2010Lest We Forget, from pg. 1being roughly $29,000 in debt. Years ago,the Sergio Pavone city administration toldthe Legion that they would not have to paytaxes because they are a non-profit groupthat helps the community via activitiessuch as the Poppy Fund. Despite municipalsupport, the provincial governmentrecently declared that the Legion didnot qualify as a non-profit organizationbecause the Legion “did not do enough forthe community in order to qualify for taxexemption”. However, this was not clearlycommunicated to the administrators of theLegion, who believed that the organizationwould not have to pay taxes if the Citywould still exempt them, as Pavone hadsaid. This continued until recently, whenNathalie Simon took over as the mayorof Chateauguay and announced that theagreement made between the Legion andthe City, which stated that the organizationwould be tax-exempt if certain conditionswere met, was no longer valid. The Legionwas subsequently informed of its hugedebt and told that it must somehow comeup with $10,000 by September if it is toremain open. Otherwise, the building willbe sold.The Simon administration seems tobe ignoring the fact that raising such alarge amount of money in such a shorttime is next to impossible for a non-profitorganization like the Legion. Veteranswho want to be a part of the Legion dopay a small membership fee, but half ofthat immediately goes to the Dominionof the Royal Canadian Legion, whichis the main control center of all Legionbranches. Adding to the problem is thefact that the group has far fewer membersthan it used to. Its numbers have droppedfrom roughly four hundred to about twohundred over the past few years. Finally,the city does not seem to understand thatmost veterans are on a tight budget andsimply cannot shell out the money to payoff the accumulated debt. Worst of all,even if the Legion members are able to paythis bill, how are they going to pay othersin the future? Between the loss of half oftheir membership fees to the Dominion,the dwindling number of members, and thefact that the Legion does not receive anyof the money collected during the PoppyFund (which goes to the community), thegroup simply will not be able to pay thetaxes that could be imposed on them.According to Jasmine Zitouni, first vicepresidentof the Legion, the city is not doingmuch to help. Despite its offer to buy thelarge piece of land owned by the Legion inorder to help alleviate some of the financialpressure, the administration is “draggingits feet” and has not communicated withthe organization in over a month and a half.Furthermore, the Legion cannot afford topay to have someone officially evaluatethe land and will therefore not be able tonegotiate a fair price. And if they pass thedeadline and default on their taxes, whoeverpays their taxes can take legal ownership ofthe land—a situation which Zitouni findsmorally wrong.The strangest part of this whole mess isthat Simon does not seem to be lacking in herdesire to help community groups. Recently,the city made the controversial move ofdonating two thousand dollars to the Anglersand Young Anglers fishing tournament,helping fifty children learn how to fish and,most importantly, honouring an agreementmade between the fishing group and thePavone administration.Luckily, there is a lot that the communitycan do to support the Legion in its time ofneed. The group has organized many differentevents for the community in order to raisefunds, such as a brunch that will be held atthe Legion Hall on June 6, starting at 10:30am. Other events are planned for the summer,and the Hall holds darts competitions everyMonday, Wednesday and Friday.Everyone is welcome to participate inLegion activities. Members of the communitycan also rent the Legion Hall for just $150.The space is great for showers, weddings or,in the case of Billings’s alumnus Orin Loftand his band, “Ode to the Fallen”, concerts.Rentals can be booked by calling 450-691-6780. Finally, donations can be made to theLegion by calling 450-844-1840.For more information on the Legionand upcoming events, please visit http://royalcanadianlegionbranch108.com.Embrace this worldA recycling approachKatrina HopkinsCanadian landfills are coming totheir limits and it’s becoming difficultto locate new zones. With today’srecycling programs throughout Canada,we can diminish amounts of waste inlandfills and help to sustain our naturalresources.In Quebec and Ontario, we recycle themost materials overall, but the recyclingrate and materials recycled per personare higher in Nova Scotia and BritishColumbia.Participate more fully in the programby putting metals, glasses, papers andplastics in the appropriate slots in theChateauguay blue bins. Here are sometips to help you recycle the most itemspossible:• Plastics vary in numbers from1 to 7. But what do these numbersmean? The following are the numbers andexamples of materials in these categories.1: Polyethylene terephthalate:soda/ water/vinegar bottles, medicinecontainers.2: High-density polyethylene: containersof detergents, fabric softeners, milk, juice,yogurt, shampoo, etc.3: Polyvinyl chloride (vinyl or PVC):pipes, meat wraps, shrink wraps, coffeecontainers.4: Low-density Polyethylene: sandwich/grocery/dry cleaning bags.5: Polypropylene: Tupperware6: Polystyrene: disposable cutlery, meattrays, Styrofoam7: Others (combination of the abovecategories): sunglasses, DVDs, iPod andcomputer cases, nylonThe two numbers that are forbidden inthe blue bins are numbers 3 and 6.• When placing your bin to beclaimed, it must be positioned with thewheels facing your house and the front ofthe bin facing the street.• The recycling is collected everyMonday once a week for all residentialbuildings.• For a new bin, you can contact theChateauguay department at 450-698-3150.• If you have any questions orcomplaints about the collection service,you can consult the MRC de Roussillon formore information at 514-928-5227.• For more details in Englishabout which materials are and are notaccepted in the City of Chateauguay’srecycling collection go online towww.ville.chateauguay.qc.ca/files/GuideChateauguay_EN.pdfTaking a small amount of time to recyclea single jar or an old newspaper can savedecades that it would normally take for theenvironment to break down these items.It’s time that we decrease the amount ofEvery item we recycle is one less item theearth needs to break down in an overcrowdedlandfill. (photo: M.L.)garbage we throw away and recycle moreto help make the world a better, cleanerplace for our children and grandchildrento live in.

community update5Vision Newspaper June 2010Mom faces back-to-work challenges head onAndrea McMillanFrom designing and creating intricatevalances to decorating rooms for multipleclients, Diane Auger is undertakingprojects she would never have anticipatedherself carrying out after being a stay-athomemom for more than 20 years.Auger is a devoted mother of fourchildren between the ages of 16 and27 who has spent the majority of herlife tending to their every need. As heryoungest daughters neared the end of theirhigh school education, she realized that shehad no idea what her next step in life wouldbe.“I was petrified. I was so afraid toimagine myself going back out into thework force,” Auger admitted. “I didn’tknow what to expect or what I couldpossibly achieve after all these years. I’dalways thought that the only thing I coulddo was take care of my children.”In September of 2006, despite all herfears and anxiety, Ms. Auger ended upjoining an Interior Design course offered atthe New Frontiers Nova Education Centre.“Going back to school was probably oneof the hardest decisions I’ve ever had tomake,” she said. “I debated with myselffor a few years before actually taking theinitiative to sign up for that design class. Ifelt guilty for wanting to put my own needsin front of those of my children.”Auger described her struggles once shebegan the course. “I cried my first day. Thestudents in my class were even youngerthan my eldest daughter. They were justkids. I seriously thought about quittingright then and there. If it wasn’t for theendless support from friends and family, Iprobably would have.”With a lot of hard work and perseverance,Ms. Auger completed her program inDecember of 2007 with exceptional gradesand lifelong experiences.“To finalize my course, I had to takea five week stage,” to get on-the-jobexperience, she explained. “I was fortunateenough to participate on a TV show, ‘A vosmarteaux’. Not many people get the chanceto see what’s involved in putting a TV showtogether. Had I not gone back to school, Iwouldn’t have had that opportunity.”“I’m so glad that I decided to persevereand finish the class,” she continued, “It wasgratifying to realize that I could actually dosomething and be good at it. I got greatfeedback from teachers and classmates. Itreally boosted my confidence.”Since Ms. Auger has completed hercourse, she has participated in severalbig design projects, including multiplebathroom and kitchen remodels. Shedoes not lament returning to school inthe slightest. She even developed closefriendships with a couple of her classmates,Former stay at home mom, Diane Auger, admits that going back to schooltook bravery but was completely necessary for her to get back in theworking world and follow her dream. (photo: Andrea McMillan)African Drummers and Dancers Visit HarmonyHarmony Elementary students experienced the sounds and sensations of Africa during a recentvisit by Fodé Bangoura and Iris Lindsay, who treated them to a demonstration of several Africaninstruments and dances. (courtesy photo)with whom she stillremains in contact.The only regret thatshe does admit tohaving is waiting solong in making herdecision to go back.“I would definitelyrecommend to othermothers in thesame situation notto hesitate or letthe fear of beinginadequate holdthem back fromtaking the next step.Be confident andbelieve in yourself,because after all,you’ve been doingone of the mostdemanding andchallenging jobs,and if you’re ableto do that, youcan accomplishanything you setyour mind to.”Dean Cleaver, Chloe Palazuelos,Jasmine Remy-Branker,Bianca Akeson, Tamara Trench,Lily BerlinguetteThe African drummers and dancerstroupe, Fodé Bangoura and Iris Lindsay,came to Harmony School on April 28 toshare the culture of Africa with studentsfrom grades four, five, and six. This wastheir third visit to our school.As a class we all learned drumming,dancing and singing. They introducedan African song and then showed us thedjembe drum and the doum doum drumand taught us patterns on them. We all hadeither a djembe or a doum doum.Iris also played an instrument called thebalafon. The balafon is an instrument likea xylophone but comes from Africa andhas calabash resonators underneath theinstrument. Iris showed us the song thatwent with the music we had learned.After we sang and drummed at the sametime for a couple of minutes, we changed tolearn the dance. She taught us a traditionaldance that comes from Guinea, a countryin West Africa where Fodé is from. Thedance was complicated, but fun! The dancegave us lots of exercise. While we danced,Fodé played the djembe. It was really neatto put all the parts together and hear how itsounded. After we practiced the song, wedid free style dancing with other peoplewhile Fodé and Iris played the drums.The best part of the visir was when welearned the traditional dance. It was thebest part because we had done drummingand singing in music class and the dancingwas different. But even if you haven’t donedrumming or singing, you would enjoya visit from Fodé and Iris during musicclass.We recommend Fodé and Iris for yourschool because it’s very interesting to learnabout the African drumming, singing anddancing. If you’re going to have them visityour school, you’ll definitely have fun!

The Commissionersand Directors ofThe New FrontiersSchool Board take thisopportunity to wisheveryone a safe, fun,and relaxing summer.We look forward towelcoming everyoneback in August tobegin an exciting2010-2011 schoolyear.Please check yourlocal paper in Augustfor back-to-schoolinformation.Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along,listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.~Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A.A. MilneNew Frontiers School Boardwww.nfsb.qc.ca450-691-1440

entertainment7Vision Newspaper June 2010Skepsis releases first full-length albumPeter DiktakisSkepsis, a local band that needs nointroduction to Billings students, isbeginning to make a significant mark onthe music scene with every move theymake. They just released their first fulllength album, an 11 track, self-titled CD,on May 8.For a debut album, Skepsis’ sound isvery developed. Over the years, the bandhas taken on a mature sound that has manylayers and deep lyrics to match. Lyricalcredits go to front man and bassist CollinSteinz, whose themes are drawn from lifeexperiences that he and the rest of the bandhave had to go through over the years.Music credit goes to the entire band,which has produced an album with manysurprises. “Skepsis” is a unique and variedalbum that manages to explore every aspectof the band members’ musical talents. Topoint out a few personal favourites, “OfDisguises” really hits home in all the rightplaces with a killer riff and meaningfullyrics, while “Prelude to the Waltz” shineswith touching lyrics and a great chorus.There are a lot of things to hear within thisalbum; whether it’s the heavy guitar hitter“Mountain Air” or Nicholas Dobroruka’sepic piano intro in “Schiriditch”, fans ofDuring the 2009-2010 school year,hundreds of heavy metal albums wereflying our way. There were so manyalbums that there is no way they allcould have come with a review. It’s timeto shed some light upon this year’s bestof the best.alternative rock will get something out ofthis disc and new fans of the genre will geta great introduction as to what to expectfrom the band.In terms of production, Skepsis hits inareas, while missing in others. Being adebut album from a group not signed to aprofessional record label, however, makesminor flaws forgivable. To point out someof the strong points, the quality of CollinSteinz’s vocals are top-notch, and DonovanLayne’s drums have a great kick to them.On the con side, Alex Dobroruka andJarrett Butler’s guitars could be louder andmore present in order to enrich the sound,and the general volume of the album couldbe cranked a little. But for a first, it’s prettydarn good.To draw a simple conclusion, Skepsisis going places. The amount of work thatwas put into this album is exceptional for adebut CD, and it shows just how dedicatedthis band is to doing what they love. Theband has a lot to be proud of, as they’vedodged a lot of obstacles that hinder mostother local bands’ recordings. They remainone of the most unique bands around.Don’t just take my word for it; visit www.myspace.com/skepsismtl to find out how toget yourself a copy of this worthy CD.Metal hits hard this yearPeter DiktakisBest of Death Metal:Nile - Those Whom the GodsDetestDo you want brutal? Do you wantmind-blowing speed? Do you want analbum that was spawned within thepyramids of Ancient Egypt? Nile’slatest, “Those Whom the Gods Detest”meets that criteria and further shapesit. The album features 11 sphinxinspiredtracks that will stun you withdestructive technicality and furiousdouble bass drumming the whole waythrough. Who ever said slow and steadywins the race?Best of Thrash Metal:Overkill - IronboundThere have been a lot of great thrashmetal albums released during the schoolyear, but none of them managed to capturethe pure classic essence of 80’s thrashmetal like veteran Overkill’s “Ironbound”.Listening to this album is like throwingyourself into a time machine and headingback 30 years, where everything was fast,relentless, and brutal. “Ironbound” is easilyone of Overkill’s greatest achievements,and is one of the greatest achievements ofthe last school year.Best Foreign Release:DELUHI - YggdaliveYggdalive is Japanese visual kei artistDELUHI’s second mini album, and it’sa gem. This is one artist that you don’tThe all-Billings alumni band, Skepsis, released their first full-length CD in May. Shown above areAlex Dobroruka, Collin Steinz, Jarrett Butler, Donovan Layne, and Nikki Dobroruka in one of theiralbum shots. The group is ready for the big-time music scene. (courtesy photo)want to miss, as each and every one ofthem is gifted and talented. There’s a lotof variety to explore here, like the fast andfurious “Follow the Future” or the moremainstream-appealer “Wake Up”, fans ofrock and metal in general will fall in lovewith something on this album.Best Production of the Year:Fleshgod Apocalypse - OraclesNot only is “Oracles” one of the mostbrutal albums we’ve ever heard, but, it’salso one of the clearest and best sounding aswell. Every hit of the bass drum (and thereare a lot of them) can be heard perfectly andis accompanied by a nice thump to perfectthe sound. Every other instrument is sowell balanced within the mix that nothinggets lost in the shear destructive amount ofcraze going on at once.Best overall album:Avantasia - The Wicked Symphony &Angel of BabylonTwo is always better than one, andAvantasia mastermind Tobias Sammetagrees. His two latest epics flow perfectlytogether and feature more than enoughvariety to have you coming back time andtime again to listen to each track. Withthe song count totalling 22, The WickedSymphony and Angel of Babylon arewithout question the best albums ofthe year as far as quantity vs. qualityis concerned; but when you manage toinclude both together, you know you’vedone things right.

Scenes fromSpirit WeekBillings Spirit Week was one of the bestweeks of the year as everyone in the schoolparticipated in numerous activities that werefun and exciting, such as the hockey game inwhich teachers and students faced off in an icerink war. Other activities included challengesduring lunch where students had to completecertain tasks that were difficult, and sometimesgross as in a Fear Factor-style chuggingcontests. A dodge ball game pitted studentsagainst students while wearing ridiculousoutfits that brought extra amusement to thespectators. During the week the Prefects, whograciously planned the enormous endeavor,served treats at lunchtime like cotton candyand snow cones that quickly became a hitwith the students. Based on both studentand staff reactions, it wouldn’t be a surpriseif this tradition continues as it was a weekto remember as evidenced in these photos.(photos: Theresa Elsmore & Audrey Marcotte)

April showers bring May flowersVision photographers were in heaven in early May Robyn when they Young visited theTulip Festival at Commissioners Park in Ottawa and the Montreal BotanicalGardens. They found that humans were not the only creatures anxious to getoutdoors to enjoy the warm, fresh air and beautiful colours of spring. (photos:Lauren MacLeod and Robyn Young)personale s s a yKelseyPowellEmoon theinside80’sBlast from the pastLauren MacLeodAriana ChasséDo you want to knowwhat fashion trends prevailin today’s adolescentcommunity? The 80’s aremaking a huge comebackamongst teenagers.From leather jackets,skinny jeans, and leggings,to Converse shoes, brightcoloured hair dye andbeads, teens are wearing thefashion of the 80’s. Neon colorsand random matching can also beseen, both of which were part ofthe fashion scene over twodecades ago. “EverywhereI go I notice people wholook really eccentric andit’s spreading. I’ve noticedeverything from suspendersto crazy hair styles and it’sgreat!” said Ashley Shane, agrade 11 student at Billings.It’s no doubt that this styleis all the rage, and needlessto say, we are sure to see itagain in the future.

illings billboard10Vision Newspaper June 2010Sex ed for teens an essential key to their futureAndrea McMillanTheresa ElsmoreIn today’s society, we are noticing thatmore people are engaging in sexual activityand intimacy at younger and younger ages.When agreeing to involve one self in sexualintercourse, it is of great importance thatone takes responsibility to get informationon the negatives. The 21st century hasbrought many changes in technology,morals, and style—both good and bad. Butthere has been one major change that hasnot benefited teenagers: they aren’t reallygetting the vital information that they needto truly take responsibility and the properprecautions for their sexual decisions.Workshops talking about sex are verysparse, and grade 11 students have had amere two classes to be lectured feebly aboutthe factors. In a world where skinny andsexy plaster every corner of media, muchmore needs to be done in sex-ed classes tohelp students grow up knowledgeable andhave a healthy self-image.Studies show that several factorscontribute to teens beginning to have sexat early ages.Low self esteemIn 2001, a study showed almost 20% ofyouths aged 12 to 19 have low self-esteem,representing a higher proportion of lowself-esteem than all other age groups. Onesubscriber to Seventeen magazine had thisto say, “I’m 14, and to be honest, we areattracted to older guys, and older guyswant more from a girlfriend. Some of itis peer pressure. At my school, I was thefirst one to do many things [sexually] andnow every girl wants to do what I did; it isvery much like a competition to see whocan lose it (her virginity) first. Insecurityis also an issue. Sometimes I think “Hey,maybe if I do this for him, he will like melonger and stay with me… Most girls arevery insecure and that is one way to try andget confidence.”An estimated 12% of boys and 13%of girls have had sexual intercourse byages 14 or 15, according to the new studybased on teenage confessions to a nationalsurvey. By age 15 to 17 that number jumpsto 28%.A comment from a female high schoolstudent suggests that these statistics mayhave to do with the fact that most teenagerstry to act much older than they are.ExperimentingOne has to ask, are these sexual activitiesat younger ages related to teenage fads inbreaking boundaries, including things likesmoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol?An association between early sexualintercourse and smoking makes a strongshowing for both sexes. Recent studieshave proved that at age 13, 26% of boysand 31% of girls reported that they hadtried smoking cigarettes. Those studiesalso showed that at least one quarter ofthem admitted to having sexual relations.Also, a similar percentage of girls who hadtried drinking by ages 12 and 13 reportedhaving had intercourse by ages 14 and 15.Drinking was not associated with earlysexual activity in boys.Poor relationships with parents/mentorsSignificantly high proportions of boyswho had a poor relationship with theirparents at the ages of 12 and 13 or whowere in a low-income family reportedhaving had sex when they were 14 or15.When a young person enters into sexualactivity prematurely, they often feelawkward or self-conscious asking importantquestions. They can talk to their friends orread magazines, but one can never be surewhether the information they’re receivingfrom those sources is accurate.Lack of informationInterestingly, younger teens seem tobe more likely to use precautions duringintercourse. Sex without a condom wasmore prevalent at older ages. Nearly 44%of sexually active 20- to 24-year-oldsreported sex without a condom, comparedwith 33% of those aged 18 to 19, and 22%of those aged 15 to 17.However, ignorance is still toowidespread in youth. An advice columnin Seventeen Magazine’s website hasquestions from teens proving this issue,with such questions as, “How old do Ihave to be to use a condom?” or, “Am I tooyoung to have a baby?”A report released on May 26, 2010, by theSex Information and Education Council ofCanada was a world leader in declining teenbirth and abortion rates. While Canada’sThe biennial Quebec Trades Olympiadtook place this year from May 5-8 inQuebec City. Construction, healthcare,engineering, hairdressing, and weldingwere only a few of the 35 competingcategories (two of which were heldoutdoors). Thirty grade six students fromeach of the New Frontiers elementaryschools along with three parent-volunteers,and the 2 GOAL coordinators, ChantalBergevin and Tom Muirhead, participated.Another thirty students from Howard S.Billings, along with Mr. Gundry-Whiterate dropped by 36.9% from 1996 to 2006,Quebec’s rate declined by only 10%.Sweden, a country that traditionally hasone of the lowest rates, actually increasedby 19%. Swedish researchers attributedthe rise in large part to “a notable dropin the extent of sex education in Swedishschools”.A proper education will allow students todevelop well-informed attitudes and viewsabout sex and sexuality. According to somesources, sexual education should startbefore students hit puberty, thus enablingthem to better understand the physical andemotional changes their bodies are about tobegin experiencing.Topics associated with sexuality, suchas the reproductive systems, sexuallytransmitted diseases, contraception, birthcontrol, religious or cultural views on sexand also sexual diversity are all factors thatthe young generation should be familiarwith before they even start thinking aboutengaging in intimate situations. With theseunderstandings, young adults will feel morecomfortable going to a parent, counselor ordoctor with any questions they may have.Proper knowledge of confidence andassertion skills, as well as the benefits andrisks associated with sex, can allow a youngperson to develop a healthy self-image anda completely natural, unique view of theirown sexuality that are statistically provento help them live healthier, happier lives.No one can stop a teenager from wantingto experiment with intimacy, so providinghelp, support and credible resourcesshould be a priority of every informationalauthority in teens’ lives, particularly inschool—a major source of their socialinteractions. With the right information,consequences such as low self-esteem,unwanted pregnancies and sexuallytransmitted diseases can become a thing ofthe past.NFSB competes in provincial Trades OlympiadJessica LazareEducating teens about birth control and self-esteem is a good idea according to teens themselvesand a recent survey. (photos: Lewis Armstrong and Ariana Chassé)also attended the event on Friday, May 7.The Olympiad is a competition for studentsfrom various trades and also a showcase toallow students to demonstrate their talents.This is the first time New Frontiers hasvisited the event.“This event takes two years to plan,” saidcoordinator, Marie Ann Côté. “There are atotal of 115 sponsors who donate money orequipment and it takes a lot of time to getin touch with them all.”Upon completion of the Quebec editionof the Olympiad, the trade school studentswho place are invited to attend othercompetitions in Quebec, then move up tothe national level and, finally, to representNorth America at the world competition.Only first place regional finalists can earnspots at the provincial level. Even thoughNOVA competitors failed to qualify, theycame in an impressive second and thirdplace.Each day, the audiences were delightedto watch the students working on theirprojects. A few of the divisions performedlive simulations of how they would carrysee Trades, page 11

illings billboard11Vision Newspaper June 2010“Life is the passing grade”Katrina HopkinsMichael WeldrickWith a combined teaching experience ofseventy years at Howard S. Billings, Mr.Helmuth Hoffmann and Mr. Bohdan Piechare ending their teaching careers. As two ofthe most respected teachers at the school,the pair never gave up on their students andenjoyed watching them become successfulin life.Mike Helm, principal of Howard S.Billings, described them as the “twocornerstones of the school to whompeople go for advice.” He said he wouldbe delighted to have them back fromretirement anytime.Their best memories include Europetrips and visits from former students. Theirdislikes have always been the studentswho do not take their courses seriously:the procrastinators and most of all, thecomplainers.“Nothing comes free in life,” Mr.Hoffmann said, “You have to work foreverything. You’ve got to put effort intoeverything to succeed.” As for the future,Mr. Hoffmann will continue to care for hisgrandchildren and keep an active lifestyle.Mr. Piech, who has coached the boys’softball team and won two championships,gives a shout out to his students, saying,“There’s a beginning and there’s an end;it’s the middle part that counts.” He alsostated, “When students ask, ‘What’s thepassing grade?’ I answer, ‘Life is thepassing grade.’” His advice to all scholarsis, “If you have dreams or ideas, act onthem.” Before his first year at Billings in1973, Mr. Piech taught in Thailand fortwo years from 1969 to 1971 with CUSO(Canadian University Service Overseas).Both teachers were asked if they wouldever come back to teach at Billings. Mr.Hoffmann declined without hesitationbecause he feels it’s time to let youngerpeople have a chance; while Mr. Piech saidthat he would strongly think about it beforemaking any final decisions.Never give up, be committed anddedicated, and keep after your studentsare Mr. Hoffmann’s recommendationsfor future mentors; whereas, Mr. Piechsuggests that you “treat this profession asa business so that you can survive” andthat “You shouldn’t be friends with thestudents, but be friendly.”Mr. Piech decided to become an educatorat an early age. He feels that his teachinghas had an impact because of the formerstudents he has met after graduation overthe years. He has been commended on hisattempt to treat all his students with dignityand respect. Several current staff members,who were once students of his, concur.Mr. Hoffmann said, “Students mightforget simple facts that they have beentaught, but the skills learned in the processwill remain. They will be able to pull themout sometime in their lives for their owngood.” He concluded that he wouldn’tchange anything about the way he taught ifhe were to start all over again.After the years of being taught by thesewise wonders, they leave us with greatmemories, witty quotes and the joys ofHoffmann’s “posters” in his classroom.Their careers have been fulfilling forthemselves and life-changing for theirstudents.Having been here almost as long as the building itself, social studies teachers Mr. Piech and Mr.Hoffmann will put away their chalk at the end of June and move on to other things in life. (photo:Katrina Hopkins)The rumours are trueHaving taught at Howard S. Billingsfor several years, Ms. Janice Bush isretiring this year as well. She has taughtintermittently while caring for her childrenand sharpening her brilliant mind. A friendlyfarewell to another devoted teacher andmay your retirement be a fulfilling one.The truth is truerIt’s official…Mr. Tony Evans will retirefor the seventh time and probably returnagain next year, which will be great newsfor any students struggling in grade 11math!select students from different schools toexplore the trades.”The Olympiad began with the openingceremony, followed by the competitionand interaction with high school studentsthroughout the second and third days. Thefirst and last days of the event were reservedexclusively for the judges; no visitors wereallowed to attend.Kudos to Marie Ann because this eventhad a fantastic turnout; there was not afrown in sight during the event and everyoneseemed to be participating—audiences andcompetitors alike.The next competition will take place thisyear, in Waterloo, Ontario on May 20-23.More than 500 competitors from all overCanada are expected to attend. The winnersof the Waterloo competition will move onto the “World Skill Competitions” takingplace in London, England, next year onOctober 5-8.Trades, from pg. 10out their work. For instance, the businesssector pitched stereo equipment to potentialshoppers, and nurses administered aid tomannequins that acted as patients.Some of the installations were interactive.For example, the cooking sector had a fewaudience members participate in makingpancakes, as well as writing their names incake icing. Having interactive exhibitionswas Marie Ann Côté’s brainchild; the ideaproved to be a successful one.“The main goal of the event is to inspireyouth and to promote professional trades,”stated Ms. Côté, “First we have ourcompetitions, and then we invite a fewDozens of students from the New Frontiers schools accompanied by Mr. Tom Muirhead and Mr.Gundry-White went to Quebec City May 7 to see the Trades Olympiad. (photo: Jessica Lazare)

illings billboard12Vision Newspaper June 2010An Unforgettable Bike RideThree hours by cartakes how long by bike?Grade eight Option-Etudes students foundout in early May whenthey cycled fromChateauguay to QuebecCity to present a projectto the Quebec Ministerof the Environment andother members of theprovincial government.(photo: Luc Pelland)Jessica LapennaHave you ever thought of saving theenvironment but didn’t know where tostart? Well the grade 8 Option-Étudesgroup biked from Trois Rivières to QuebecCity to promote our ecological video.The film is about the green spaces weneed to protect in our region. The reasonwe biked is to show that we don’t alwaysneed automobiles to get around. Use yourbike! Hopefully after presenting our filmand sending it to schools across Quebec,people will understand their environment alittle bit better.Monday, May 10, was the first day of ourbiking journey. We arrived at Trois Rivièresby bus and presented our project to a highschool. Once we were done, we were off.The first day was probably the hardest.The bike ride was long and cold, and itwas windy. Before we left to go biking thesecond day, we presented again to a schoolin Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade. The secondday was a little easier; it was warmer butthere were a lot of hills. Before leaving forour last day of biking, we had to presentin front of over 100 students in a school inDonacona. On our last day we were goingquite fast and it was hard to keep up. In theend, we made it! We realized we had justbiked 150 km in three days. It was a veryproud moment for the whole class.It wasn’t all work, though. Once wearrived at each school, we would unpackour things from the truck and bring theminto the gym, and then start a two-hoursession of homework. We would have towrite in a journal in English and Frenchabout our day. We also had to do twopages of math. When we weren’t biking ordoing homework or eating, we were doingphysical activities until 10 pm—bed time.We would have to wake up at 6:30 amevery morning, pack our things back intothe truck, eat breakfast, present our DVDto the school in which we had just slept,then we were off again.Building a better hospital bedIt doesn’t look like grade nine student, Aqiyl Johnson, is taking a science technology exam,but he is. The requirement was to build a prototype of a hospital bed with a headrest thatelevates and retracts using gears and pulleys—a technique that students worked hard toperfect during classes. (text & photo: Lewis Armstrong)Once we were in Quebec City, it wasthe greatest feeling knowing we madeit. We went to the Parliament to presentour project to Pierre Moreau, MNA forChateauguay; Line Beauchamp, Ministerof the Environment; and MichelleCourchesne, Minister of Education. Wewere given a tour of the parliament buildingand sat through Question Period. We did ascavenger hunt around the City, watched a3D movie about the history of Quebec, andtoured the old city.All in all, this trip was definitely anexperience of a lifetime and we are so gladto have been a part of it. We just hope wegot our message out there, and people willbe more aware of the green spaces in theirneighborhoods.Provincial MNA visits HSBGrade 11 students were treated to a visit from Moreau Pierre, ChateauguayMNA and Chief Government Whip for the provincial government of Quebec onMay 17. Mr. Moreau came to interact directly with students and explain whathe does for a living. Students were given a chance to ask questions at the endof the presentation, and many took a keen interest in the topics discussed. Heis shown third from left above in the science lecture room amidst students withsocial studies teachers Mr. Hoffmann, Mr. Piech, and Mr. DelGuidice. (photo &text: Ariana Chassé)

illings billboard13Vision Newspaper June 2010Making a hamburgerjust got complicatedAndrea McMillanZachary PappsFor Mr. Couture’s grade 11 scienceproject this year, the goal was to makea hamburger. But forget the frying panor barbeque; the purpose of the RubeGoldberg project is the opposite oftechnology as we know it—studentsare required to make a simple task aselaborate and complicated as possible.This project created by Jared Cavanaghtook ‘complicated’ to the next level,truly capturing the essence of RubeGoldberg himself. The five-foot towerconsisting of marbles, string and tincans intricately accomplished it’sincredibly simple goal of constructinga hamburger.Don Quixote was also popular amongthe many projects present at the fair May12 that several grades attended in thelibrary. A donkey pulling the completedhamburger behind him around the track inKristina McMillan’s project demonstratesthat creativity also played a major role inthe presentation of these projects. (photos:Andrea McMillan)New award available forcommunity serviceKirstin PenzesThese days, students leaving high school are under a lot of pressure to -get into theCEGEP of their choice. There are many other applicants and expenses to worry aboutas well as academic qualifications. In the area of expenses, however, there are severalorganizations that provide scholarships and grants for the students who are eligible.One of Howard S. Billings’ English teachers, Mr. Greg Giroux, and his wife, LoriMorrison, are offering two $500 awards for teens participating in volunteer work or activismwithin their own communities. One award will be presented to a middle school student(grades 7-8) and another willgo to a senior school student(grades 9-11). The awardbegan as an incentive to getyouth involved in helping thecommunity.In order to be eligible, youmust provide valid proof ofyour completed volunteerwork. Deadline to submitapplications is June 23,2010. If you have any furtherquestions, do not hesitate tocontact Mr.Giroux.

illings billboard14Vision Newspaper June 2010Kids intimidating kids: bullying in the 21st centuryKelsey PowellLauren MacLeodRebecca CunninghamCorina RiceKarina BrodeurThink back to your first day of highschool: your schoolbag overflowing withbooks, papers, binders and more; theanxiety of starting a new part of your life,and making your breakfast roll uneasily inyour stomach. Now, imagine that as you sitin your first class of the year, you begin tohear soft giggling coming from the desksbehind you. Wondering what is so funny,you turn your head a fraction to look overyour shoulder and the giggling suddenlystops. The moment you turn to face theboard again, however, you hear a whisperedexchange from the same spot. It seems thatthe two girls behind you think that youlook funny (despite your perfectly normaljeans and t-shirt), and that your glassesare too big for your face (not that you canhelp it; you couldn’t see your own hand infront of your face without them). Close totears with embarrassment, you push theoffending glasses back up on your noseand wait for class to end, trying to blockout the continued giggling behind you.When it does, you let the girls leave beforepicking up your belongings, knowing thathigh school is going to be just great.This is a true story, not only for theperson who supplied it but for countlessyoung students in both elementary andhigh school. In fact, one in four Canadianchildren is a victim of bullying.Bullying is the act of intimidating anotherperson. This can be done in many ways,including physically (pushing, hitting,shoving into lockers) and emotionally(insults, threats, rumours).In today’s technological world, a newform of intimidation has emerged: cyberbullying.This type of bullying is perhapseven more potent than shoving anotherperson into their locker because thesee Bullying, page 15Students themselves can make a big difference, with even the smallest gesture, when they seesomeone who is being bullied. (photo: Ariana Chassé)ongoingCrib Tournaments held at theChateauguay CIVITAN Club will takeplace on the following dates: June 19and Sep.18.Bingo will be held every Saturdayevening at 7:30 pm at the Bingo Hallon Principale Street. Your bingo $$is appreciated and helps severaldeserving community groups. For moreinfo, call Claude at 450-691-4059.Encourage new readers! Tell themthey can do it! Learning to read opensup a new world to those with literacyproblems. For FREE lessons or tovolunteer, call the Chateauguay ValleyLiteracy Council at 450-698-0342 or 1-888-598-0342.Calvary Baptist Church will hold thefollowing meetings: King’s Club, Tue6:30-8:00 pm; Young Women’s BibleStudy, Wed 7 pm; Prayer meeting, Wed7:30 pm at 197 Dubois St.; Teen`sgroup, Sat 7-10 pm; Rose of SharonFellowship, 1st Sun of month 7 pm.Info: 450-691-7828.Chateauguay Community Churchwill hold the following meetings:Bible Study, Tue 7:00 pm; PrayerMeeting, Wed 7:30 pm; Youth Group,Fri 7:30 pm. For more info, visit www.chateauguaychurch.com.Chateauguay Community Churchhas opened a soup kitchen andgathering place open on Mondays &Thursdays from 5 pm to 7 pm at 111Lauzon Street. This is a no-cost serviceto the community. Call 450-699-HOPE(4673) for more info.THERE IS A SOLUTION TOLONELINESS...“My name is Gloriaand I live alone. I sometimes feel lonely.Recently I decided to call Johanne atthe Greater Chateauguay VolunteerCenter, to find out what she could offerme. She told me about free friendlyvisits for the elderly. For the past severalweeks, a volunteer has been visitingme once a week. We are getting alongvery well, I can’t wait for the next visit.I am not as lonely anymore. If you canrelate to my situation, I encourage youto contact Johanne at 450-699-6289.”june-augustSaturday, June 5th from 9 am– 3 pm. Garage Sale at St. George’sChurch at 162 St. Francis Blvd.,Chateauguay. Clothing, kitchen/homewares and baking. Hotdogs & drinksfor sale. Contact Person: Susan Wardat 450-691-7532.Saturday, June 5, at 7 pm. Haiti &Chile Benefit Show at Billings’ MosherAuditorium. Tickets cost $5.00 each atthe door. Proceeds go to the CanadianRed Cross in relief efforts for victims ofthe earthquakes. Featuring the Billingsdance team, Glenna McConnell,Euphorik, One Over the Eight, Pat’sPet Show in the foyer, and much more!Please help restore these countriesfrom devastation.June 24-July 1, The Société duMusée du Grand Châteauguay willwelcome you to the Maison LePailleur,on Thursday, to celebrate the QuébecNational Holiday. On Wednesday,June 30, the Châteauguay Canada DayCorporation will present its fireworks atMarcel-Seers park and, on the nextday, the Canada Day festivities willtake place in the parking lot of the Guy-Scott arena.July 7 at noon, “COOL OFF” withthe CWL Ice Cream Sundae Luncheonat OLPH Church Hall. For tickets callVi Burns 450-699-2243 or Pat Gauthier450-691-0406. $10.00 for adults &$3.00 for children under 12. Sandwichplate included.Thursday, July 8, The Grand orchestrede Châteauguay returns to MercierPark in Chateauguay. The mechanicsof Garage Électrique will present theirrock concert on Friday, July 9. El HadjiDiouf, from Senegal, will present hisworld music concert on Thursday, July29. Finally, Roman Zabada returns topresent his movie-concert under thestars on Thursday, August 19.Saturday, August 14, 12 to 6 p.m.the Family Festival will entertain withperformances by the children registeredin the summer program, with manygiant inflated structures, a corn roastand, finally, professional entertainersLes Petites Tounes will perform theirspectacular Au grand galop, at 4 p.m.Saturday, August 21, 10 am to 4 pm,the CECN Artisan’s Fair will take placeat the Chateauguay Cultural Centre, 15Maple Blvd. Original crafts at kiosks,entertainers, raffle table, bake sale,and canteen. Inflatable children’s ‘funbouncers’ & children’s raffle (everybodywins!). Artists, entertainers or visitorsmay contact Pauline Wiedow for moreinfo: 450-699-1974 or pwiedow@hotmail.com or consult www.thececn.webs.com.ChateauguayChurchesWelcome You!OLPH Catholic Church295 McLeod • 450-691-4430Saturday Mass 5:15 pmSunday Mass 10:30 amMaplewood Presbyterian215 McLeod • 450-691-4560Sunday Worship 9:00 amSt. Andrew’s United46 Dupont • 450-698-1050Sunday Worship & SundaySchool 10:30 amCalvary Baptist Church215 McLeod • 450-699-6723Sunday School 10:00 amSunday Worship 11:00 amSt. George’s Anglican162 St-Francis450-691-4970Said Eucharist 8:00 amChoral Eucharist 9:30 amChateauguayCommunity Church111 Lauzon Street450-699-4673Sunday Worship: 11:00 amSee Ongoing announcementsfor more church activities

Bullying, from pg. 14billings billboard15Vision Newspaper June 2010Internet makes bullies feel invulnerable.There are no playground monitors tobreak up the scuffle, and teens are giventhe power to delete the traces of theirbehaviour if they feel that they are aboutto be caught. Cyber-bullying is achievedthrough many different kinds of media,including cell phones, instant messaging,social networking sites such as Facebook,and others. Some different types of cyberbullyinginclude spreading rumours abouta person online, posting embarrassing orinappropriate pictures of him or her onFacebook, or getting someone in troublewith website administrators by creating anaccount in his or her name and using it tobreak site rules or harass someone else.Cyber-bullying has another benefit forthose who want to hurt others: many parentsare not sure about how to use some kindsof technology, especially social networkingsites, and cannot always keep an eye onwhat their child’s classmates are sayingon his or her profile. This gives bulliesmore control than parents—a dangerousbalance.Statistics show that intimidation inand out of school results in more thanjust cuts and scrapes. The rate of suicidedue to bullying is so high that the term“bullycide” has emerged. Every year, 15to 25 children in the United Kingdom taketheir own lives after being bullied. Not allcases end so drastically, but there are manyother consequences, including depression,anxiety, and poor school performance.Unfortunately, many parents either donot see or do not want to see the signs ofbullying. Some parents were bullied aschildren and do not want to think abouttheir own children going through the samepain. Others may not want their children tothink of them as “overprotective”.Luckily, there are many things thatparents can do to monitor their childrenwithout being overprotective. Askingindirect questions that do not seem invasive(“So, who did you eat lunch with today?”)instead of direct ones (“Are you beingpicked on?”) that may cause a victim tofreeze up often provides better clues abouta child’s school life.Knowing how to recognize the signsof bullying is also crucial when it comesto stopping intimidation before it pushesa child to the point of no return. Somecommon signs are changes in behaviourlike loss of appetite, sadness, or anxiety;unexplained injuries; frequently askingfor extra lunch money or school supplies;and coming home with broken or damagedbelongings. If you see these signs, youshould talk with the child’s teachers,principal and/or guidance counsellor togather more information about what mightbe going on.Students themselves can make a bigdifference in the life of someone who isbeing bullied. An anonymous girl fromBillings offered this story of the defenceshe received from another student:“When I was in grades eight and nineI had very sensitive skin. My entire facewas red, covered with acne and scars. Iwas very self-conscious, and it seemedas though everyone was able to tell andused it to their advantage. When I was inclass, just sitting there during free time,I remember a group of boys in the desksnext to me taunting me, asking me ‘What’swrong with your face?’ I just wanted toget out of the classroom and crawl into adark hole, but then another boy noticedthat the others were putting me down andhe told them, ‘Guys, leave her alone.’ Theylistened to him and didn’t bother me afterthat. It just goes to show that it only takesone good person to intervene and make apositive difference in someone’s life.”As this story shows, even the smallestgesture can make a big difference in thelife of someone who is being bullied. Youdo not have to step between the bully andhis or her victim, and you might not be ableto stop the bullying completely, but theperson being bullied will be glad to knowthat someone cares. Sometimes, that is allit takes to keep them away from the edge.Knowing how to recognize the signs of bullying is crucial when it comes to stopping intimidationbefore it pushes a child to the point of no return. (photo: Ariana Chassé)Bully or Bullied?Think you are cool being a bully? Think that you are tough and that you aremaking a good impression on your friends? Perhaps you believe you are rankingpoints by being that though guy/girl that can scare the less assertive people. Butin time, you will alienate yourself from society; something you may need as youmature and want better things for your life. In fact, bullies are cowards becausethey choose a weaker opponent, are usually with a bunch of friends when they act,and attack the person while he or she is alone. Did you ever ask yourself, how youwould feel if someone was to bully your little sister or brother? Would you thinkthat it is as cool? Did you ever realize that instead of being a bully, you can actuallyuse a talent of yours and do something worthwhile to get attention; one that can bedeserved and appreciated?If you are being bullied, try standing up for yourself by putting your foot downand being assertive. Surround yourself with friends and support, meet your bullywhile he or she is alone, and tell them that it needs to STOP! Do not let peopleintimidate you, YOU are a strong individual who is entitled to respect, and no onedeserves to be mistreated or obliged to do things that they would not normally do.“That you may retain your self-respect, it is better todisplease the people by doing what you know is right,than to temporarily please them by doing what you knowis wrong.”William J. H. BeotckerDaisyDo you have questions and need some friendly advice from an adult?Maybe Daisy can help. Email her at deardaisy4u@hotmail.com. All letters will beanswered and some will be printed anonymously (and edited) as space allows.Vision distributionChâteauguayAll English schools and churchesChateauguay Public LibraryMini-General, St. FrancisCouche-Tard, MapleCivitan ClubBag-a-BagelPhotoluxCity HallCLSCCurves55+ CentreTony’s PizzaSous-Sol HobbyChateauguay LegionChateauguay Horizons ClubChateauguay Seniors (OLPH)Anna Laberge Hospital (CHAL)KahnawakeKateri HospitalMcComber’s StoreIron Horse Wear HouseKahnawake Public LibraryTHANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS!The following citizens and businesses generously support VisionVision’s Major SponsorsLa table de concertationjeunesse de ChâteauguayForum Jeunesse Vallée duHaut-St-LaurentChateauguay Civitan ClubEquipment & Tech SupportHoward S. Billings High SchoolP.P.O of H.S. B.New Frontiers School BoardPatronsMcDonald’s RestaurantTom & Mike CappelliEd ColtonCatherine HooperAlish O’KeeffeChateauguay SeniorsDebbie HoferDr. Daniel Kabasele

illings billboard16Vision Newspaper June 2010Spring Spotlight shines!Parting shotsI remember…(photos: Ariana Chassé and Kenneth Diabo;project: Lewis Armstrong & Ariana Chassé)Mosher Auditorium at Howard S. Billings was packed on Wednesday, May 19, with friendsand family who came out to support Arts students. The annual concert was called “SpringSpotlight” and included dance and orchestral performances, Billings Idol finalists andpiano solos by Gage Diabo, Esther Provencher and Kelsey Powell. The show was enjoyedby all. (text: Robyn Young; photo: Karly Tomney)“I will always remember beingstuck in grade nine.” –Kevin B.“I will always remember that invisibleposter in Mr. Hoffmann’s room.” –Ariana C.“I will alwaysremember chillin’ infront of the cafeteria.”–Audrey M.Pictured: Troy Diabo,Joshua Heinz, TheresaElsmore, KatherineSchurmann, AudreyMarcotte, JustinGagnon“I will always remember findingthe best group of friends there everwas.” –Ariana C.Pictured top: Jeremy Disnard,Ashley Shane, Joshua Lawrence,Zachary Papps, Patrick Di Lella.Bottom: Ariana Chasse, JordySauve, Kevin Beaulne.What’s black & white & read all over?Vision Newspaper!Vision would not be possible if not for theefforts of a great team. Below are the peoplewho give the newspaper its professional look.And don’t forget the people who make it allfinancially viable--our advertisers and donors!Please use their products and services andthank them for helping support the studentsand schools through Vision. And if you wantto get on board, don’t hesitate to contactthe Project Manager or Advertising SalesRepresentatives soon. We have great deals foradvertisers who sign on for the whole year!Layout & Ad SalesCaren Macbeth Christine WormaldCopy Editorsc/o Billings High School210 McLeod,Châteauguay, QC J6J 2H4450-691-3230 ext. 355vision@csnewfrontiers.qc.caThe 2009-2010 Vision journalists & photographers accompanied by Mr.Ernie Herskovits, Journalism teacher, and Ms. Mary Leblanc, Vision ProjectManager: Andrea McMillan, Mike Weldrick, Tom Devaney, Karine Brodeur,Rebecca Cunningham, Theresa Elsmore, Jordon Kelly, Karly Tomney, RobynYoung, Vanessa Carbonneau, Lewis Armstrong, Phil Bougie, Cody Hand-Gregory, Peter Diktakis, Lauren McLeod, Ariana Chassé, Katrina Hopkins,Mylisa Sherry-Landerman, Kirstin Penzes, and Kelsey Powell. Missing fromphoto: Jessica Lazare, Carrie Zimmerman, and Corina Rousseau-Rice.Judy MarkhauserGreg GirouxVal AllanPatricia DannMelissa GloverWe wish you a great summer--see you next October!Paula Monette-BennettJill Smeall