The International Insider » seniors 2011

Preparing for the Future

Priscilla Torres — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:24:06 +0000

Recently, Junior Clarisse Concepcion was one of a lucky few students accepted for a prestigious internship at The Jewish Heritage Museum. Out of the sixty two students that applied, Clarisse was one of the fifteen applicants that were chosen.

This internship was given to high school students based on their academic grades. The Jewish Heritage museum honors Jewish history, especially the Holocaust.

The museum is located in Manhattan, New York.

“The training for the internship is held every other Wednesday. The real work begins on June 29th. It’s a paid internship for participation with no tax deducted, all paid in check. I’m not certain a job will be open after the internship, however, there is a possibility. For a fact I heard from previous interns is that a few percent of the intern students do have a part-time job at the museum during college and most become part of the staff after graduation,” said Clarisse.

Clarisse and the other students chosen for this internship will learn about The Holocaust, Jewish Heritage, and what goes on behind the exhibits, which is the part of the museum visitors don’t get to see.

Over the summer, Clarisse will even learn how to create an exhibit and how to lead a tour of young groups.

“We chose Clarisse for a variety of reasons being her commitment to learning about other cultures, when we saw her in a group we saw that she really fit in well with a diverse group of her peers and we really valued that Clarisse is creative,” said Museum educator Bonnie Unger.

Juniors Get Physical and Explore the Body

Adetola Adeosun and Amanda Long — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:19:16 +0000

On March 24th the juniors were given a chance to explore the bodies museum and everything in it. It was fantastic for the juniors because it supplements a health credit they need to graduate.

The Bodies Museum is in Manhattan located at 11 Fulton Street near the South Street Seaport.

It has real human bodies that are used to showcase how the bodies work and what goes on inside the body. What better way to learn than to see it for yourself right?

The junior advisors planned the trip for the juniors in order to give them something to supplement a health credit that would be interesting at the same time.

“I truly was amazed not only at the exhibit, but at the reaction and ht behavior of the students, the kids were amazing…I did not expect them to be so into the exhibit,” said junior advisor and parent coordinator said Ms. Annette Lentini.

While at the Bodies Museum, the juniors viewed parts of real human bodies. The exhibits were amazing, the lighting and the tools the museum used brought out the colors in everything and made it look more vibrant.

The museum displayed things that students wouldn’t normally be able to see in the most interesting and mind-capturing way possible so we could be interested in the exhibits which most of were.

It looked like food!”, said junior Christina Tsang, referring to the exhibit.

In one exhibit there were babies form different stages of birth, and we were able to see what a baby looks like from the time it’s conceived until it is born.

One exhibit was full of only veins and arteries. To preserve the arteries and veins they were injected with silicone, which hardens inside them, and then the body is dipped in acid and all that remains are the veins and arteries.

It was very interesting and I was the last one to leave the exhibit” said Junior Jessica Chan.

The museum was very interesting and is definitely worth a visit.

Besides the juniors, even some of the present sophomores and seniors paid the museum a visit.

“The bodies exhibit was so fascinating,” said sophomore Anita Platis.

“The museum was so interesting and I learned a lot, my favorite part was when we saw the smokers lungs, because it was surprising to see how they actually looked in real life and not on T.V.,” said senior Adefola Adeosun

This trip was great especially for students who are looking for careers in medicine because they saw firsthand before they even entered college or med school.

After the museum the students ate lunch at the South Street Seaport…lunch sounds great after we’ve seen where it all goes right?

Junior Column: Pain-Free Finals

Nicole Margolies — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:12:02 +0000

The halls echo with well-earned sighs of relief, now that first semester finals have finished. Whether students did superbly well, are beleaguered by that one mistake, or utterly bombed, the start of a second semester means many feel entitled to forget about finals for a while.

After all, finals are stressful. Finals mean late nights studying or, unfortunately, ‘winging’ it. Finals are often also headaches students give themselves. Study smarter, not harder. The less joy the thought of finals fills your heart with, the more you need to think about them now.

The first step to pain-free finals is cliché, but it still counts: focus. You may need to endure the occasional pinch on the arm.

It takes about twenty nine repetitions for a fact to lodge in long-term memory. Finals are easier when you know the material. If you know you should study, but also know that you won’t, there’s still hope. That’s because paying attention in class is even more effective than solitary review. A little known bonus for your final is that what you learn in your classroom, you’re more likely to remember when in that classroom, thanks to a quirk of the mind called context-dependent learning. It’s another incentive to pay attention in class while you’re already there.

Second: use your resources. Strange as it may seem, teachers who take sadistic glee in watching their students flounder are fewer than the students would like to believe. If class material confuses you, clear the misunderstanding that day. Never let it linger past a week. If you do, bet that it will only haunt you when it’s too late. “If you wait until the end of the year to review, so much time has passed that you may not remember what you needed help with,” said Parent Teacher Coordinator Mrs. Lentini.

We all have our habits, and cramming is difficult to quit. To make it easier to ease out of, don’t lose your notes. Assuming you take notes in the first place, put them in a notebook, a binder, a folder, or anything that you will keep.

Bulky binders and book bags are annoying, so leave the old notes in a drawer, but once every few weeks flip through them. Jogging your memory over time like this is not only easier than attempting to swallow a textbook in four days, but it will get you better results. Jot down any questions and take them to your teacher.

According to UC of San Diego professors of psychology Hal Paxter and John Wixted in their study “Improving Long-Term Learning Through Spacing of Lessons,” if you want to remember something for a year, space the sessions out over about a month. If you become a more conscious student before the test, you may very well ace it without batting an eye. No cramming required.

Sneaker Selling Savvy

Nicole Margolies — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:52:52 +0000

In the bitter November pre-dawn chill, Glenn Kugelman arrived in Manhattan at 5 a.m., beginning what would be a fifteen-hour wait on line. He was there to score three pairs of Nike sneakers, to be released that day only. They were “hyper strikes”, meaning fewer than 300 exist. Fifteen hours is nothing; he’s seen people wait five days.

In fact, for one design, only thirty six pairs were produced. It was a huge event. Ninth in line, Glenn watched a news reporter interview a man ahead of him. He returned home that day with three pairs of sneakers that have since sold on eBay for $900 each.

Glenn has an encyclopedic knowledge of sneaker brands and history – he can describe limited edition sneakers, tell the stories behind them, including which artists worked on them, and what they’re worth just like our history teachers wish we’d memorize facts.

“They’re sneakerheads,” said junior Martin Sanchez.

Sneaker-whats? Teens so interested in sneakers that they collect them, often buying from high-end sneaker boutiques. They read sneaker-oriented magazines like Sole Collector. More impressively, they are finding ways to turn their hobby into a profitable enterprise.

These, of course, are not your parents’ shoes. “To some people, sneakers are trophies that they don’t wear,” said junior Justin Roa.

Some sneaker ideas are just bizarre. Soho shop “A Life” teamed with Reebok to produce its pumps in bright yellow tennis-ball fuzz for a Black Friday special in 2006, and has been selling them in a different color each year since. Not all understand the hype, however.

“Shoes protect your feet. They’re not meant to be a primary fashion accessory,” said junior John Shiavone.

Yet comprehend it or not, they are.

Now Glenn enjoys ‘friends and family’ discounts on the weekends, is notified of releases nine months in advance, and has a definite edge: “I can sell sneakers at 40 percent off retail price and still make a profit,” said Glenn.

And profit he does. He’s attended sneaker conventions where, expense of renting a table inclusive, he’s racked up $150 in shoe sales in one day.

He doesn’t see his interest in sneakers fading in the future, and he’s milking the present for all it’s worth.

“There are a lot of good releases at the end of this year,” Glenn revealed, adding that “they’re bringing back Jordans in the most sought-after colors, and a few new ones.”

Sneakerheads, get them while you can.

Shortchanged on Sex Ed?

Nicole Margolies — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:50:47 +0000

You may or may not have read Volume 3, Issue 4 of the Insider, but if you at least flipped the pages, chances are you noticed the headline “Let’s Talk About Sex.”

We may not flinch from mentioning the unmentionables, but our school’s still short on sexual education.

Twenty two US states, plus DC, mandate sexual education.

As of September 1, 2009, New York is still not among them.

Many will receive the infamous “talk” from a family member, or some offhanded tips from a friend, but check the numbers: more than six in ten high school students will have sex before they graduate, and 110 teens will become pregnant today, according to getthefactsny.org.

“We should definitely have health education in school,” said junior Raven Fakoya, adding “students get their knowledge on sex from the streets.”

Data compiled by the Guttmacher Institute reveals that fifty percent or more of teenage pregnancies in New York end in abortion.

Only three other states can claim likewise: New Jersey, Massachusetts and District of Columbia.

At least New Jersey and District of Columbia mandate Sex Ed.

It’s time for New York State to step up. Since it rejected federal funding for ineffective abstinence-only programs, state and federal governments have not replaced that funding for evidence-based sex education.

And when the Center for Disease Control reports that one in four teenage girls have a sexually transmitted infection, it’s clear students either don’t have the information they need, or aren’t using what they know.

We can’t change hormones but we can change some major misconceptions.

Some teens are going to have sex. But bombarded with enough of the facts, a fraction might sink in and incite them to be slightly safer about it.

National Honors Society: Embarking on a New Tradition

Brianne Hannafey and Marissa Mule — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:33:05 +0000

Have you ever wanted to be part of a new club or organization? Is your grade point average at least an 88? Do you have community service hours that you need to put to the test? Fortunately, you’re in luck. Our school has joined in the chapters of The National Honor Society (NHS,) and recently inducted a second year of new members.

NHS is a nationwide organization, consisting of many chapters. According to the official National Honors Society website, nhs.us.com, induction into this organization is based on four criteria: service, leadership, scholarship and character. Additionally, NHS chapters typically elect officers, who, under the supervision of the chapter advisor, coordinate and manage the chapter as a student organization

Scholarship for the students inducted is based on the students average GPA before NHS.

“I was honored to be the leader of NHS and I’m looking forward to learn and experience more throughout this school year,” said a senior inductee Wingsum Cheung, who spoke about the scholarship and it’s requirements.

Character, in the National Honor Society is effected by how the student behaves or acts. Students attending National Honor Society are role models for their peers. Leadership is based on how involved a student is in different school activities.

Service is determined on what the student does for the community in and outside of school. In our school, in order to graduate a student must have at least 120 community service hours.

Citizenship is the last of the five pillars of the National Honor Society, and does not happen until a student is inducted. Citizenship is based on how a student acts once inducted.

These pillars acknowledge all the achievements of each students. It is a way to prove that all their hard work and success has paid off.

“National Honor Society is a lot of fun, and putting together the induction ceremony was a great experience,” said senior inductee Katie McSherry

On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 17 students were inducted into the National Honor Society. Mr. Christopher Chieh, Ms. Karolynn Mangiero, Ms. Ho-Ling Lo, Mrs. Aimee Horowitz, and Mr. Joseph Canale spoke on behalf of the students being inducted and were able to broaden the inductees perspectives as lovers of learning, by giving words of advice.

Once everyone is inducted, elections are held to see which member will hold which job, president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. After they are assigned their job, they must fulfill the duties that come with being a part of NHS.

“The National Honor Society is an extraordinary academic student organization that shines on the achievements of the students in it,” said senior Raquel Wood.

“It was a real privilege to speak at the National Honors Society ceremony. My message was for the students to be persistent in their goals, and be dedicated to everything they do. The ceremony was very well planned,” said science teacher Mr. Christopher Chieh.

At the ceremony, while the students were describing the five pillars, a candle was lit for each of them. Moreover, each of the students inducted were called up one by one and given a certificate, a membership card with a pin, and a candle to hold.

After the last person lit their candle, the NHS pledge of allegiance was recited.

“I am excited to work with new and old NHS members. These members are gifted and talented students who have achieved academic and personal accomplishments. I look forward to supporting these students in their future success,” said math teacher and NHS advisor Ms. Ho-Ling Lo.

Rhyming to Your Own Beat – Poetry Slam 2009

Darlene Akanmu — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:24:47 +0000

What do food, friends, boys, self-esteem, and high school have in common? They were discussed, through performance, at the 2009 Sophomore Poetry Slam.

The slam was an overall success, which after three consecutive years now became a tradition in our community. All the slammers and readers showed great courage and wit in performing, but Priscilla Torres was the overall champion. Priscilla Torres tore down the stage with three poems that expressed her opinion on events in her every day life. In the end, she was outstanding and showed great emotion like all the other slammers and readers.

“I am always the quiet child that sits towards the front of the room and does her work. The thought of being on stage in front of so many people scares me. When I was signing up to perform, I had no plan on winning. However, winning this poetry slam brought an exhilarating feeling throughout me. I didn’t think I had it in me to even make it through the first round. Winning the slam was definitely a big accomplishment,” said Torres.

Sophomore Nicole Margoiles and sophomore Peter Grancio were the two runners up who outshined the competition with their great performances.

Nicole and Peter have been known for their spunky and outrageous personalities. Therefore, when they performed, their personality was highlighted.

No one would’ve been able to perform without the help of poet and guest artist Lamont Dixon. Lamont Dixon has been coming to our school for three years and always tries to help students who have trouble writing or performing poetry.

“My purpose of coming to CSIHSIS is to get students excited about poetry, give feedback, and help students understand that poetry has life and movement,” said MC, Lamont Dixon.

Dixon is known for his remarkable and sometimes startling beginning activities to loosen up his students. This sometimes surprises the class, but makes them more interested in what will happen next.

Dixon, Shivanna Duncan, and Kenny Cho, MCs, kept the crowd lively and helped move the slam along.

Throughout the night, poets were excited, because either they or someone they knew was performing. “I am excited for the fact that my friends are performing. However, I still know that everyone will be good,” said freshman, Jayme Farbowitz.

During the performances, other readers were preparing to go on stage. Nerves filled some of the readers before they went.

Unlike last year, there were musical performances between each readers’ performance to help liven the night. The musicians of the night were Chris Ekonomakos, Daniel Falero, Uvinda Jayalath, Jeremy Smith and Chamika Wanigatunga.

Since last year, there have been some changes. In addition to live music, performers were asked to read original work. Still, similar to last year, the poems were filled with personal topics that overtook some of the slammers emotions.

Dixon felt that our poetry curriculum was great and said, “The students were excited, energetic, eager, and welcomed me into their class.”

“The curriculum of poetry at CSIHSIS is at no comparison to any other school that I have taught at,” confirmed Dixon.

This is a huge compliment since Dixon has had the opportunity to work at over 40 schools since September.

ThePoetry Slam went better than expected. The audience was respectful and helped support students that were nervous.

“The Poetry Slam was a huge success; it was the best poetry slam I have ever been to. It was an especially great poetry slam because the softball team won that day and the students who participated performed exceptionally well,” said English and technology teacher, Mr. Rosario Miano.

None of this was possible without the help of Lamont Dixon, Mrs. Kaplan, Ms. Gagliardi, Mr. Miano, and Ms. Prevosti, who took time out to make sure the poets were ready for their performances.