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Dunedin i an adie hee aad ae Lo ™ -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 14, 1986 Under pressure of the Big E's: Students knuckle under exams by Cathy Robb They're under the gun, now. Even * as you're reading this the hundreds of students at Port Perry and Cart- wright High Schools are in the last stages of cramming for the Big E's. Exams. This is the major set, the 'tests that will determine whether or not senior students will gain early admission to colleges and univer- sities, and they begin with vengeance at the end of this week. The halls, libraries and cafeterias are relatively quiet this time of year, according to principals John Gradish (Port Perry) and Jim Musselman (Cartwright) as students realize the immense pressure they are suddenly put under. "You can just feel the electricity in the school right now," Mr. Musselman says. "I notice the kids that think they're going to fail and they're the only noisy ones. They're the ones fooling around, drawing at- tention to themselves. It's only human nature to start compen- sating for the mistakes before they happen. The other ones, the confi- dent ones, have become quite intense." At Cartwright,-where the school year is semestered, these exams are students' last chance to pull up their marks. They're tested on the entire year's marks and if they blow it, there's no other opportunity to make the grade. In most courses, the exams count for 50 per cent of the final mark at Cartwright. The results could make or break a report card. The percentage is basically the same at Port Perry High School, but here the students are under a dif- ferent type of pressure. It's the halfway point for the students at Port, where the school year is an entire year long. Still, January exams arc crucial for Grade 12's and 13's hoping for ear- - ly admission to other institutions, as wéll as for other students who have a lot to lose if they flunk in January. "It's a major set of exams, kind of the big one," Mr. Gradish pointed out. *'Students have to do well on this set if they want to consider ex- emption in June." The smart ones have been study- ing since the end of Christmas holidays but there are those students who wait until the final week or the final day before exams to crack open a few books. "I got up at quarter to five to study for an exam that day," said one Cartwright student. Most are more practical, making sure notes are up-to-date and in order a couple weeks or more before exams start. Teachers are kept busy over lunch hours and after school with students needing extra help and guidance counsellors are over- © Fresh & Silk An essential of the - Rentals - Wedding Cakes, etc. PERSONALLY DESIGNED AND COLOUR CO-ORDINATED IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR APPROVAL. Wedding Flowers Bridal Party's "Total" Look is . : . "Flowers - Bouquets > Corsages - Boutonnieres / } | oA Church Flowers & Decorations, | fo Canada's Most Trusted Name in Formal Wear Port Perry 209 Mary Street (Across from the LC B.O. outlet) 985-9360 ® Fresh Cut Flowers ® Fresh Floral Arrangments (Weddings Hospitals Funerals) ® Silk Flower Arrangements ® Green Plants ® Silk Plants ® Unique Gifts ® Baby Novelties ® Wicker and Brass ©® and many more items. whelmed by students requiring ex- am timetable changes and conflicts. In some cases at Port, students can find themselves writing two, even three, exams 'in one day. At Cartwright, where there are fewer students and therefore fewer con- flicts, chances are teenagers will never have to write more than one exam in a day. "We spoil them," Mr. Musselman laughs. 'They complain about their exams but they don't know how lucky they are compared to the kids at Port Perry." Although students spend a lot of "time worrying about exams, their principals say they should look at the two hour or so long tests in a dif- ferent light. "It's an opportuntiy to prove they know the work or it's a last chance torecover.'"' Mr. Gradish said. 'It's not really something to be horrified of, but there is a psychological thing about exams that makes them tougher." The good news about exams is that most people pass them. Mr. Gradish says if they've kept up with the workload all year and have done a little studying, they should pass, no problem. "Really, to fail you have to be pretty bad," he said. Still, accidents happen, and nobody knows that like someone who has blown an exam. "1 did the whole thing and then threw out one of my good copies," said one student, smiling wryly. "The thing that usually happens to me is I don't get through all 10 pages. Or I look at the exam and think, wow, only three pages, and don't see the fourth page until time's up,' ' said another. "The worst part is getting caught cheating," quipped a senior Student, who 'said the best way to cheat is slipping the cheat notes inside a calculator. Other students claimed writing the answers on the chair in front of theirs; ciphering the answers on their fingernails; and just tucking a slip of paper up their sleeves work best if cheating is the only resource. The problem with cheating, is, of course, getting caught -- which could mean a ripped up exam paper and a solid zero as a mark. "Do you really cheat? Really?" one smart-aleck was asked. He looked at the questioner through laughing eyes and replied ~coyly, "Who me?" Milder weather brought faces Greenbank and Area rv by Margaret Holtby The milder weather brought out 'new faces at church on Sunday with a large attendance in Sunday - School. It was good to see Mr. and Mrs. Mason again. The Annual Meeting for Green- bank Church is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22nd at 8 p.m. The Annual Sunday School meeting will be held at the church, Wednes- day, January 15th at 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Come and participate in the growth of the Sunday School. The Women's Institute will hold their meeting at the home of Mrs. Velma Foster on Wednesday after- Bridge score results January 8, 1986 Afternoon - 4 Table Howell . Average 42. 1. Harold Brown and Doris Watson - 51 points; 2. Ida and Joe Hurtig - 49 points; 3. Norma Kenny and Barbara Bracken - 46 "points. Evening - 4 Table Howell - Average 42. 1. Bonnie and Jack Davies - 50 points ; 2. Harold Brown and Charles Labanovich - 46 points; 3rd and 4th. Doris Phinney, Otto Czilok, tied with Marie and Blake Vanderwater - 43 points. 5. Virginia Clifford and Kath Burley - 40 points. Turmberg Kennels DOG TRAINING Classes begin: Tuesday, January 21st Register Now! 655-4721 Frozen Ground Beef for Pets 2 vars ean © 19.09 32 blocks wa noon, this week at 1:30.p.m. Mrs. Doris Hill and Earla have just returned from a weeks' holiday in Orlando, Florida. From -there they travelled by rented car, 700: miles, taking in such places as Disneyworld, Seaworld, Busch Gardens. Doris reports having a wonderful holiday. Mr. and Mrs. Armour MacMillan visited Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Wilson of Ashburn, one afternoon recently. Mr. and Mrs. Minton enjoyed a 3 week visit from her sister Mrs. Tina Bloanan from Holland over the Christmas and New Year Season. They also visited friends Mr. and Mrs. Karsay of Oshawa recently. Mr. and Mrs. Len Jarvis arrived home Christmas Eve from a very enjoyable holiday spent in Idyllwood, California which is situated half way down the west coast in the mountains. They ex- perienced snow and rain for the first few days, then beautiful sunny weather during which time they travelled around visiting farms and other attractions. Mr. and Mrs. Neil Hunter attend- ed the 40th Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Reg Bowes of Agin- court on Saturday, then called on Neil's brother Ken who ig recover- ing from an operation. Recent dinner guests with Fred and Iva Phoenix were Mr. and Mrs. Don Christie of Sunderland, and Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Simmons of Oshawa. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Break from Houseys Rapids, called on Len and Eileen Jarvis, recently. THE 2287 QUEEN 8T. - CHILDREN'S DEN PORT PERRY Quality Clothing for Quality Kids Infants to Size 14 FETs 28 KRICKETS -- GAYTOGS -- STANFIELD -- and more! "At Our Lowest Prices Ever?" WINTER HOURS: We will now close Friday evenings at 5 30 p m Evening hours will resume in the Spring.