The Chronicle
JANUARY 2012
ISSUE # 3
Study to your advantage:
What type of learner are you?
How many children have burned their hands
because they reached up and touched the stove? How
many
children
have done this twice? Of course not
By Eric
Flockhart
many; they would have learned from their first
experience that if they touch the stove, they are
burned. As humans, we are constantly processing
information that helps us to learn and understand the
world around us.
During the teenage years, learning becomes that
much more important as we are forced to sit and
absorb the information that we are taught in school,
so that it may be beneficial to us in the future.
Around the time of exams, we are required to
understand all of what we had been taught throughout
the semester and regurgitate the information onto the
pile of foolscap paper that is provided. This creates
problems for many as much of this information
cannot be remembered, or was never even learned at
all.
Different students will choose different methods to
learn this information, based on the types of learning
they are most successful with.
There are three basic styles of learning: Auditory,
visual, and kinesthetic. Many people will use a
combination of these three styles so that their
learning may be the most efficient. Auditory learners
are those who best understand information when they
hear it spoken to them. These people will generally
have outgoing personalities, especially in group
situations.
Auditory learners may study by reciting
information out loud to themselves, or even recording
themselves speaking the needed information and then
playing it back over and over. Auditory learners also
tend to find success in study groups where they are
able to discuss what they know with others.
Visual learners are able to better understand
information if they are able to see it in front of them.
These people will generally enjoy art, especially that
dealing with bright colours and fashion. Many visual
http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/what-happens-to-yourbrain-when-you-exercise-.html
learners will also have dreams in exquisite detail
including accurate colours and shapes. Visual
learners will find success in studying by creating
charts and diagrams and colour coding work and
research notes.
Lastly, kinesthetic learners are those who easily
grasp information if they are performing or
experiencing something in a hands-on
environment. These people are usually athletic,
enjoy adventure books and movies, and succeed
in classes where labs are frequent. Kinesthetic
learners are also generally impatient, and will cut
corners when doing work that they do not enjoy.
A kinesthetic learner will be more productive
when studying by creating memory games and
flash cards so that they have something tangible
to work with.
Understanding your learning style and
developing techniques to improve your efficiency
when studying is a great way that you can
improve your exam marks for this semester.
There are many quizzes online that will help you
to determine which learning style best describes
you. With this information you will certainly be
able to find success when studying and achieve
fantastic marks this exam season. Good luck
Xavier!
>FULL INDEX ON A2
A2 · THE CHRONICLE · JANUARY 2012
WORLD NEWS
INDEX
A World News
Learners, A1 Study Tips, A2
___________________________________
Study Tips:
All You Need to Get You Through the Long and
Bumpy Journey of Exams
By Sarah-Michelle Nemeth
H Human Interest
Top Dog, H1
Crossword, H2
___________________________________
O Opinion Pieces
How to Study For, O1
Three for Five, O2
___________________________________
X St. Francis Xavier
Sudoku, X1
___________________________________
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/techstudent/archive/2011/12/01/study-up.aspx
January, the month that we get back from the joy and
relaxation filled holidays to face a new year. Some might
still be in a state of relaxation and hope that there will be
little or maybe even no work to do upon arrival back to
school. But that kind of thinking couldn't be more wrong.
Now is crunch time. With only two weeks left until exams,
things are in full gear. It's time to crack down on all we
have learned this semester. The truth is some of us might be
a little stressed, nervous, or even confused on where to
start. There's just so much to study and so little time. Well,
no need to fret any longer. I've prepared a list of some tips
that may help you when it comes to getting organized,
studying and practicing for exams. Let's get started:






Choose a quiet place free from any distractions
Make sure there is lots of lighting so as to not strain
your eyes
Get yourself in a comfortable position in which you
feel ready to work
Start from the beginning of the work you have done
this semester
Read through each chapter/unit, taking notes on
key definitions, information, and visuals
Re-do the quizzes and tests at the end of each
section, chapter, and unit as this will be excellent
practice for your exam
*HINT-Similar style questions may appear on your
exam

If you come across any concepts that you don't
understand or have trouble with, tale charge and
find a way to clear away any doubts. Here are some
measures you can take in order to deal with this:

You can clear up the matter with your teacher
prior to exams by asking for clarification on any
concepts you don't understand

Make sure to read your notes every night for at
least half an hour to an hour a night. Give each
subject at least half an hour each of study time per
night.
*REMEMBER-Your brain can't absorb the
information all in one night and especially not the
night before the exams. There's just too much
information. Consistently reading and reviewing
is key.



It might be wise to keep a bottle of water with you
to stay hydrated. Although you may be tempted to
drink caffeine, stay away from it. It will give you
a boost in energy at first, but you'll end up feeling
tired, drained, and lazy. Caffeine may even cause
an increase in anxiety.
Make sure to have a snack, preferably something
healthy and without sugar (as this will have the
same effect as caffeine). Eating a little something
every now and then will give your brain the
nutrients it needs to function.
Make sure you get a good night's sleep the night
before your exams to ensure the best performance.
The last thing you want to do is fall asleep on your
exam paper and wake up to the sound of your
teacher saying, "Time's up! Hand in your paper!"
Remember to be organized, stay calm and GOOD LUCK!
…
H1 · THE CHRONICLE · JANUARY 2012
HUMAN INTEREST
How to be Top Dog
By C. Perrotta Pooler
Training our nine month old puppy has not been
an easy task. He is too cute for his own good, he
feigns deafness like a seasoned actor, and he is
now in his “teenage years”. However, training
Charlie has helped me to see that dogs are not
so different from us, and this is clear when
trying to teach a young puppy.
Like humans, dogs are creatures of habit. If a
dog makes it his habit to sit by the door when he
wants to go outside, then he will always make
this same gesture. Similarly, when we tell him to
“stop” or “heel” or “leave Pinky (the cat) alone”,
we expect that he will listen and do as he is
asked, to the best of his ability.
This is exactly what your teachers expect of
you when it comes to class work, assignments
and exams: create good habits and do what you
are asked to do, to the best of your ability.
When it comes to exams, and study habits
these expectations become very important. It is
not enough to know what good study habits
look like, it is more important to figure out what
study habits work best for you and your learning
style.
You may like to listen to music while you study
because it helps you to concentrate.
If you are kinaesthetic/tactile learner then you
probably learn best with hands-on activities. You
might like to dramatize or create models. When
studying, you might benefit from creating charts and
using post-it notes to organize your information.
Regardless of your learning style exam time can be
stressful, so the sooner you begin studying the better.
Schedule time in your day for studying like you would
schedule an appointment, or like Charlie would
schedule his walks and naps. Make sure you have all
of the necessary tools and materials when you sit
down to study, as Charlie waits at the door with his
leash in anticipation of his walk. Lastly, set yourself
realistic goals and try your best to meet those goals,
as Charlie seems to be training for a marathon when
we get to the park and he charges through at full
speed.
As Charlie does, create good habits and do your
best! Good luck on your exams, Xavier!
There are four main styles of learning: visual,
auditory, kinaesthetic/tactile, or a combination
of any or all of these. Knowing which styles of
learning fits you will help you when it comes to
studying.
If you are a visual learner then you probably
prefer reading over your notes numerous times
and even re-organizing them for clarity or recall.
If you are an auditory learner, then you will
benefit from reading aloud, or recording
yourself reading and listening to your notes.
Charlie, clearly not on his best behavior-- no top dog
here!
H2 · THE CHRONICLE · JANUARY 2012
HUMAN INTEREST
The Chronicle Crossword
By Ritika Chakrabarty
O1 · THE CHRONICLE · JANUARY 2012
OPINION PIECES
How To Study For…
How to study for an English Exam
The best thing you can do- make a table!
Down the side, list all books/plays studied this semester.
Across the top, list any themes are major ideas that your
teacher has stressed.
Think:
-> have themes like blindness, madness, time or
illusions come up?
-> had the teacher mentioned types of heroes, or the
journey of a hero?
-> have relationships between characters been
stressed at all?
To study, just fill the table in! You'll go over all the works
this way, and you'll remember how each major idea applied
to every single work.
I like to do this twice: once to just note that a theme or idea
took place, and once in more detail. For example, if my first
table, in the "blindness/King Lear", my box would say
"Gloucester was blind". My second version would list the
specific instances of this, and who else was involved, etc.
This can really be done as one table instead of two, but I like
them separate.
How to study for a science Exam
The first thing you should do is read over your notesif you really want to, you can even copy them out.
Then, highlight the key concepts you need to know.
Try and explain the concepts- to a partner. The ability
to explain basic concepts like how an electron
behaves, how respiration works, or how to balance a
chemical reaction shows that you have not just
memorized the concepts, but that understand them.
* Daily do your homework for math because each
lesson adds on to the next one
FOR OTHER TOPICS COVERED-i.e. dramatic devices,
The best way is to quiz a friend, and get to know them using
examples, not just definitions. If you understand what they
are, you don't need to memorize.
* Do not only read over your notes, go through
your own examples and the one’s given in the text
book
Exam Essay Writing Tips
* Re-do your homework and finish your review
questions
If you've done your chart, coming up for points for your
essay on the exam should be quite easy. However, if you like
to be extra prepared, brainstorm some possible essay topics at
home. Then, go through and make essay outlines for each of
them. Then, two outcomes are possible:
1) A topic you thought of/one similar to it is on the exam
or
2) Your topic is not on there, but you've practiced making
outlines and can make a quick one effectively.
DO use an outline on your exam essay- this ensures that your
essays covers all major points, stays on track, and that you
get done in time without leaving anything out!
Make sure that this outline includes your topic, your focus,
and your thesis. If anything you write on the essay doesn't
directly explain these, then do not waste your time including
it in your essay!
* Ask your teacher to go over any examples you
may not understand or find confusing
* Look at your tests and practice those questions
as well because teachers usually take these
questions, change the numbers and place them on
the exam
* Start a week or two prior to your examination
and review one chapter a day to avoid
procrastination and exam related stress
3 for 5, worth every penny
By Kelly Ngyuen
Expect the unexpected is the phrase I’d use to describe
Xavier’s very own 3 for 5 productions by the “We’ve
got the funk” cast. From the complimentary music and
flexible props to the highlighting lights and the
believable cast members, this group of young
individuals with the wonderful direction of Ms. Parker
managed to produce outstanding performances that left
the crowd in tears of hysteria and tears of emotion.
The show ran from Wednesday January 11th to
Saturday January 14th in room 106 with three different
shows every other day. Opening night started off with
a comical parody of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
titled “Romeo and Winifred” where rivalry meets the
world of Department stores. Chris Sporich and
Monisha Randhawa, who played title characters, made
an interesting spin off of the leading roles. Romeo, or
should I say “Bart,” was an apprehensive love-struck
teenager whereas Winfred was beyond head-overheels—much like the present day teenage girl in love.
Needless to say, these characters seem to fit Sporich
and Randhawa quite well, and their performance was
superb.
However, they were not the only leads in this play.
This piece seemed to have very minimal side
characters, dramatizing the other renditions and
additions. Some of the most notable characters were
the Prince-meets-comically-sublime-cop played by the
charismatic Noelle René Simms, and the exotically
humorous Friar Tuck played by Ashwin Lal.
The next performance was a collection of original
shorts revolving around a wooden door, titled “Knock
Knock.” It went from the literal Banana knock-knock
joke (featuring Michael Mousa in a banana suit), to the
embarrassing every day and random collection of
events, to more than just the grudge hiding in your
closet. The placement of “Knock Knock” within the set
was really well thought out, as it relieved the relatively
long Romeo and Winifred and added a humorous touch
before the serious production of “Mirrors”.
As “Mirrors” began, it was obvious that the audience
was expecting another delightful production filled with
laughs and clever alliterations, but as the show
proceeded, the room became nothing more than the
voices of the cast themselves. Juliano Carrelli played a
schizophrenic father who feels responsible for the
death of his family. The play switches back from the
too-good-to-be-true admirable conversations that he
has with his wife and children to the emotional therapy
that he has to go through. Carrelli’s acting and the
repertoire between characters was magnificent, and left
the crowd in silence wanting more until the end.
Closing night followed a similar fashion to opening
night—two comical plays that left the audience at the
edge of their seats of laughter, and an emotionally
provoking production to end the night.
The show began with “13 Ways to Screw up Your
College Interview”, with Samantha Rocha and Chris
Sporich playing the unfortunately traumatized college
interviewers meeting with very unique individuals. In
this production we met several character’s, one of the
most notable being Monisha Randhawa’s overly
sensitive character who had piercing obnoxious cries
and laughter for ridiculously average events. Her
intonation and facial expressions made her absolutely
perfect for this part. But Randhawa was not the craziest
of the bunch. With his natural demeanor and crooked
grin, Ashwin Lal took on the role of a practicing
vampire waiting for the vampire apocalypse, Michael
Mousa with the character having a made up disorder
called “Chroniquestimixidous” where he mixes up run
of the mill questions with absurd and personal ones,
and the unforgettable Ben, the ideally perfect candidate
with the secret potential to be a homicidal maniac
played by Karl Go. This piece was something of an icebreaker.
The piece that followed was “Drugs are Bad”, starring
Dalia Naser and Ashwin Lal as Dolores and Harold-the
seemingly inappropriate parents of Bradley, played by
Chris Argoso. In this strange world, the phrase “don’t
do drugs and stay in school” is reversed. Dolores and
Harold fall into tragedy when they realize that their
wonderfully rebellious
son has hit a downfall—he loves to go to school, drinks
milk, and has experimented with…fat free!
The entire skit is a heated argument between Bradley
and his parents, who encourage him to indulge himself
in drugs, sex and laziness, and outwardly tell him that
trying hard in school, volunteering and succeeding in
life are preposterous. It is only until the end that
Bradley storms out claiming that he has a full
scholarship to Princeton and is dating a wholesome girl
that Dolores and Harold reveal their that ridiculous
parental morals is actually a
rouse to subconsciously push their son to into becoming
a better man. The entire production of three for five
ended on a beautiful note.
“Our Own Words”, another original piece, was a
nostalgic and moving piece that touched upon the
innocence and fragility of children, and on the
misunderstood teenagers that they grow to be. This
piece definitely showed just how much trust that the
cast not only have with their director and with each
other, but with the audience as well. Their bravery
shone brightly through this piece, and there is not a
single person who did not stand out. I’m sure that
everyone who had a chance to see this piece gives “We
Got the Funk” a big thanks for
sharing their personal stories with us.
It is obvious that this group been through a lot, but they
managed to overcome everything in spite of the
unexpected events that have occurred in the creation of
this show. This group of talented individuals has
become more than a cast, but a family, and this is
clearly seen in their performance and in their off-stage
chemistry. 3 for 5 is something that Xavier should look
forward to every year, and I predict that each year will
have promises to be as equally amazing as this
production and the many others that have showcased
before it.
X1 · THE CHRONICLE · JANUARY 2012
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
ZOFF
CanYou Sudoku?
The objective of the game is to
fill all the blank squares in a
game with the correct numbers.
There are three very simple
constraints to follow. In a 9 by 9
square Sudoku game:
Every row of 9 numbers must
include all digits 1 through 9 in any
order
Every column of 9 numbers must
include all digits 1 through 9 in any
order
Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9
square must include all digits 1
through 9
Attention all performers, auditions for Unity Live
2012 will take place February 13th and 14th 2012!
How to reach the Editors and the teacher advisor:
Mrs. Perrotta Pooler
Dalia Naser
Ritika Chakrabarty
stfxschoolpaper@gmail.com
Send us your articles, creative writing pieces, drawings or letters for advice!