St. Robert CHS Student News
Sarah Morra (12) | STAFF REPORTER
As per the results of the recent U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump has been elected to be President of the United States for his second term. However, one major difference between this victory in contrast to his last is the emergence of far right rhetoric, extremist policies, and a faction of supporters since the 2016 U.S. election. It is vital that we note these key differences and what they may entail for Americans…
Christian Intendencia (10) | STAFF REPORTER
In the past few years, Black Friday has been quietly slowing down. Instead of just being a one-day event, it’s now turned into weeklong sales that aren’t as high as they used to be. Snaking long lines in the early morning have disappeared. What was 60-80% off is now 30-50% off.
Anya Yang (11) | STAFF REPORTER
Specialized programs admissions are changing more than ever all over the public education system. Dubbed “voluntary program(s) that uses alternative instructional strategies that respond to individual student needs and learning styles”, students who are especially interested in certain topics have the opportunity to receive a more focused education in those areas. In the past admissions have mostly been based on standardized testing, interviews and written applications, but recently they have become “interest-based”, meaning anyone can apply regardless of skill, making it a lottery: anyone can get in, and luck will determine the final decision.
Eva Guo (10) | STAFF REPORTER
In the spring of 2024, waves of Canadian students rallied on university campuses. Their goal? To show solidarity for Palestinians affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict, a push for greater awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza resulting in… zero meaningful change. While these protest encampments generated media attention, and the passion of these students is undeniable, such demonstrations are ineffective in furthering their cause and can even deter others from lending their support.
Serena Ahmad (9) | STAFF REPORTER
It is not new news that Taylor Swift is here in Toronto performing for her Eras tours. She is everywhere, promoting her sold out concert with posters on public transport, large billboards throughout the city and much more. She is all the rave and, until Taylor leaves, it’s all you will hear about. However, this concert is doing Toronto more bad than good as the city stops focusing on its priorities to cater to Swift’s concert and fans.
Anya Yang (10) | STAFF REPORTER
Entertainment can manifest in a variety of ways for the consumption of the people. It ranges from TV shows, movies, stories, and more. It reaches wide audiences, not only by word of mouth, but also by advertisements, and is ever-present in our lives. Yet, we often overlook the impacts of entertainment. We finish the T.V. show Friends, watch the movie Barbie, or read the newest Percy Jackson novel. However, we never fully consider just how much these stories and values may affect our perception of the world, values, thinking, problem solving, and being more open to others.
Ethan Xu (10) | STAFF REPORTER
Since 2013, the number of gun-related crimes has jumped by almost 42%. In 2017, there were a grand total of 7700 victims involved in firearm-related crimes. In 2018, Toronto alone had 428 shooting incidents, amounting to nearly two and a half times the number of incidents in 2014. Obviously, this is a very negative and alarming trend, and the solution seems to be simple: get rid of all guns. The problem, however, is that criminals don’t follow the law, and if we take away guns from civilians we are simply making it easier for criminals.
Ryan Hu (11) | STAFF REPORTER
In an increasingly interconnected world, anyone can hop on the internet and transport themselves to another country. Still, there are many benefits to getting up and moving to another country, both pragmatic and idealistic, and more and more individuals are choosing to as expats, digital nomads and international students.
Serena Ahmad (9) | STAFF REPORTER
American Sign Language, ASL, is a common language used for deaf communities throughout the United States and Canada. However, this language is often only used by deaf people or people who require communication with someone who is deaf such as a family member. This generally creates a misconception that ASL should only be used for certain groups, making it difficult for deaf people to communicate with others beyond their hearing group. Thus, ASL classes should be offered in school to increase its recognition.
Eva Guo (10) | STAFF REPORTER
In recent years, many countries have jumped on the trend of decriminalizing or legalizing certain drugs. While there are benefits that come with legalizing these substances, the impacts of such a change only prove that all addictive drugs should be banned from the public.