Academy Chronicle Issue 3 by Grace T

The Official Newspaper of Bergen County Academies

Trump’s FIRST Year: A BCA Perspective

Volume II, Issue 4 // March 2018

Inside Senioritis

Meet the guidance counselor: Mrs. Acuña

// Maeve Mcfadden

// CAmeron Guan & Simona Vigodner

At BCA, there is a particularly strong politcal climate. In a poll, 174 students revealed their approval rating for Trump’s first year in office. Page 7

After finishing college applications, a crippling disease overtakes high school seniors. The only known cure is graduation. Page 9

// Krishi Desai From her favorite food to what attracted her to BCA, Mrs. Kymberly Acuña described it all in this exclusive interview with the Academy Chronicle. Page 10

Spoon University BCA Officially Launches

Join Us

Contents Spoon U BCA Launches 2 ATCS & Comp Sci trends 3 exploring interests @ bca 4 trump’s FIRST year 7 Inside Senioritis 9

// Irene Hwang

mrs. Acuña interview 10 bca flash Interview 14 states championships 16 #metoo movement 17 crossword 19

Website

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// The Academy Chronicle

// School News

Spoon University BCA Officially Launches

By // Irene Hwang email // irehwa20@bergen.org

The only interaction between clubs at BCA and food seems either for profit or pleasure. Yet, a new club has arisen using food for a different purpose: a chance for students to publish their own articles on the Internet. Spoon University BCA is a new club for students to embrace their inner foodies. Chapter co-founders Sue Lee, ABF sophomore, and Irene Hwang, ACAHA sophomore, worked together to bring the full Spoon experience to BCA. Spoon University is a food and health publication where university students from their own schools’ chapters submit their work to editors. After rounds of edits, the piece will be online for the public to see, with the student’s name labeled as the author/creator. Already, hundreds of chapters exist, including those at Yale, Harvard, and Princeton University. With the minimum requirement of six articles fulfilled by the BCA Chapter, it is now officially recognized as the equivalent of a university-level chapter on the website, making BCA students the first ever high school students to be a part of the publication. Spoon BCA meets every Wednesday during club hour to pitch new ideas or to continue on existing work. Students are able to choose from a variety of options: writing articles, making videos, or focusing on photography. 15 articles and one video have already been published on

Left: 2017 Brainfood event; Right: Spoon U BCA Website. Photo credit: Irene Hwang & Sue Lee // Spoon University a wide range of topics, including the real difference between coffee and espresso beans, personal experience of poutine, and the great, but underrated, uses of coconut oil. Students are allowed to be creative to the fullest extent and write about anything in relation to food or health. AVPA sophomore Elana Lane, who also had her article published on the Spoon University website, said,“I was incredibly surprised that something that I had created had reached such a large audience.” She added, “Being an art student, I had created pieces that I knew people enjoyed, but seeing a numerical value of exactly how many people have seen my work gave me such a different feeling!” She learned that her article had gained over one thousand page views. Since the launch of Spoon U BCA, the club has seen successful growth in membership. AVPA sophomore Lily Cohen, who joined the club at the beginning of second trimester has

published three articles since the the beginning of her journey. “I’ve really loved being in Spoon. Spoon has helped me improve as a casual writer and I feel really proud every time I publish an article.” You may have also recently caught sight of Spoon U on BCA’s very own TV screens in the hallways: Sue Lee’s video, “How To Make The Best Waffle & Cake Hybrid Ever,” was put up all around the school with the help of Mr. Frank Fuchs, BCA Computer Specialist, in order to publicize the club. Lee thinks students can learn a lot from the experience of Spoon University. “The professionalism that we receive is just incredible,” said Lee. She added: “Most people look down on high school students because we’re still young, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have great ideas. It just puts us as equal to the real world, and that feeling is really gratifying.”

March 2018 //

ATCS Considers New Comp Sci Trends By // Catherine Park email // CatPar21@bergen.org

he tech industry is one of the largest markets in America today, with over 6.9 million employees as of 2017. Over 400,000 work as technologists in other fields, such as banking or healthcare. As the $1.3 trillion¹ industry continues to thrive, students and teachers in the Academy for Technology and Computer Science (ATCS) offer their opinions on the academy and how it relates to the future of this workforce.

emy for Telecommunications and Computer Science. Mr. Benjamin Isecke, a computer science and music teacher, as well as a BCA alumnus, was one of the individuals who helped with this transition from telecommunications to technology and computer science when he arrived to teach at ATCS four years ago, along with fellow ATCS teacher Mr. Bryan Respass. “We worked hard on transitioning to CS,” said Mr. Isecke. “When we first came, the curriculum had begun transitioning to computer science, but it wasn’t complete. People still called it the ‘telecom’ academy, and it drove us a little crazy.” ATCS students participate in a

Mr. Isecke teaches an AP Comp Sci A class. Photo credit: Catherine Park // Academy Chronicle ATCS has seen major growth as an academy over the last few years when it comes to student enrollment. While the current senior class has only 22 students, the freshman class boasts double that: 44 students. AJ Kim, ATCS freshman, commented, “Computer science is a growing field, especially because of technology advancements and because our world is becoming a lot more modernized. I think that more people are trying to join the field of comp sci.” Until about four years ago, the Academy for Technology and Computer Science was known as the Acad-

number of computer science competitions and clubs. Some of these programs include the hackBCA club, which runs the annual “hackathon” events at BCA, and competitive events like the ACSL (American Computer Science League), where students compete locally prior to advancing to nationals in May, and the USACO (USA Computing Olympiad). Students also participate in a number of online Capture the Flag (CTF) security competitions like picoCTF and easyCTF. Beyond the classroom, BCA’s senior experience internship program means

// Science/Tech

students interested in computer science can immerse themselves in the tech industry early on. Jay Mo, an ATCS senior, works as an intern at Fountain, a company that uses automation and machine learning to hire large hourly workforces. He explained how the coursework of his academy has given him an advantage. “[In ATCS], every single sophomore is as well-prepared as most college freshmen.” He described how ATCS has given him valuable training that is not available at a typical high school, through opportunities developing programs and websites for the school and other applications of the computer science coursework to hands-on projects. The relationship between the trends in the workforce and the growth in ATCS could be there. “Certainly, employability is something that encourages people to study computer science,” said Mr. Respass. With enrollment in ATCS increasing every year, the academy continues to strive for a healthy academic environment— one that encourages collaboration and cooperation. “The culture we’re trying to create is a non-competitive culture where students are all focused on the things they’re interested in,” said Mr. Respass. “We have a core curriculum where students learn the fundamentals, but then the students really branch out into all sorts of areas.” As more and more people start to develop a passion for computer science and technology, growth in STEM education and in the workplace is evident. “BCA is a great opportunity to try something, figure out whether it’s for you or not,” said Mr. Respass. “Our hope is that people who enjoy it, do it. Not just because they’re looking for a job.”

// The Academy Chronicle

// Feature

By // Ashley kim email // Ashlkim20@bergen.org

espite Bergen County Academies’ seven distinct academy programs, the academic program is not as rigid as some might think: students are not purely restricted by their respective academic program. From conducting medical research as a business student or dabbling with photoshop in the visual lab as a science student, BCA has been extremely open to students weaving in an out of different fields to explore their passions and interests. Dan Hu, for example, is in AAST but is heavily involved in the visual academy. “While I’ve taken Dr. Kenny’s psychology electives and used my frees to run unscheduled optics experiments with Dr. Dogru, I also do a lot of visual work. I produce short films with the help of Mr. Lang, photograph for the Drood musical, format for the Academy Chronicle, work on branding hackBCA, and I love it all.” But that is not all. Hu also runs ColorInBCA, a newly formed club at BCA. “With the help of Dr. Dogru, we are going to paint murals on the walls of the basement,” he explained. “A little more urgently, however, I’m focusing more on a short film for the Visible Poetry Project in New York.” While BCA always maintains a cohesive identity, there is no denying that each academy is unique and brings its own attractive opportunities to the

Exploring Interdisciplinary Interests at BCA table. Hu shared that there are some parts of being involved in the visual academy that the science academy cannot always bring. “There is something about design in general: the fact that almost everything we interact with was designed by a someone somewhere, and that there were conscious choices behind each design. A lot of people don’t think about it, but design influences so much of what we see and do— that’s just something I find very fascinating.” He added, “You can’t fully appreciate visual art without science however. Understanding how the optics of a camera work or the chemistry of the printing process helps me a lot.” Dan Hu is not the only example of students who go beyond their academy to explore other interests. Seniors Sarah Chowdhury and Sharon Ahn gave a different insight into the way BCA allows

// people don’t think about it, but design influences so much of what we see and do. //

for interdisciplinary passions: through its courses. Ahn, an AVPA-M senior, took AP Computer Science last year and is currently taking Data Structures although she is a music student. Chowdhury, meanwhile, an AMST senior, shared how she has deviated from the traditional medical path by also getting heavily involved in computer science. “I was introduced to technology in my medical classes. Sophomore year I took Biotechnology Lab, where I got to explore BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool), which is an algorithm that compares genes sequences and tell you what organism it matches up with. It combined biology and technology, which I loved.” Chowdhury first started getting interested in technology through the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program she participated in the summer before junior year. She said, “I had never done coding before that. So when I started getting involved in Girls Who Code— learning to code robots and making different websites— I realized I really liked coding and wanted to explore how it could be integrated with biology through genetics or with robotics for surgery.” Yet, Chowdhury did not stop at that, deciding to bring some of what she learned at Girls Who Code to BCA. “So I started exploring that my junior year, and started the Girls Who Code Wednesday club with a friend of mine,” she explained. “I had never coded before coming to BCA, so I really think BCA is good in allowing you to explore other fields and figure

March 2018 //

From left to right: Dan Hu, Sharon Ahn, & Sarah Chowdhury. Photo credit: Ashley Kim. Graphic editing: Dan Hu (how ironic) // Academy Chronicle out what you are passionate about.” Yet students agree that boundaries do exist. In a poll conducted by the Academy Chronicle, only about 28.7% of the 87 recorded responses felt that the academies were permeable and another small 26.4% of students felt that the academies were restrictive. Meanwhile, the majority of students, 44.8%, were “unsure” about academy permeability, indicating many might not be as informed about interdisciplinary opportunities at BCA. Mrs. Michelle Pinke, Supervisor, shared that she wants students to know there is an overabundance of ways to get involved in a field that may not be your

own. She said, “I think probably electives and Wednesday projects are the most visible way of exploring other interests. We have electives and projects in every one of our career focus areas: science, medical, engineering, computer science, arts, culinary, and business. We also have electives and projects in fields like astronomy and mythology, which may not be specifically tied to a specific academy.” Mrs. Pinke also expanded on the interdisciplinary nature of research. “I know that when BCA talks about research, a lot of students think of our science labs. But we also have opportunities for research in many non-sci-

ence areas; we have research in creative writing for example. Students can explore more in ‘The Research and Explorations’ information that can be found on our school webpage, right under ‘About Us.’” When it comes to science research, however, ABF senior Alex Blumenfeld is just one example of how one does not have to be in AMST or AAST to take part. Blumenfeld is heavily involved in biology research despite the business courses that occupy his schedule. Blumenfeld explained, “Research is totally unlike any extracurriculars, including those of ABF, in that you’re given a huge amount of freedom to pursue the

// The Academy Chronicle

project you want. BCA will get you the resources you need once you’ve demonstrated you have a good idea, but ultimately I believe that a students’ success is all up to how much time they’re willing to put in.” Even while doing research, Blumenfeld still has pursuits within business. “In the Fed Challenge at BCA, an economics competition that I’m also part of, our success in the annual competition is all dependent on a team effort months leading up to our all-important presentation.” He highlighted the difference in these two pursuits and explained, “Research is very different. Research is a lot more individual. Even beyond the difficulty of learning the complicated lab procedures with zero background knowledge, it’s all up to you to decide how much time you want to spend in the lab and how much effort you’re going to put into your experiments, and that has helped me to find a lot of motivation while working on my project.” Blumenfeld also stated that although he wants to study economics in college, he is still be open to the idea of continuing biology research after high school if the opportunity arises. He credits this desire to the great experience he has had in Dr. Pergolizzi’s stem cell research lab. Beyond research, Mrs. Pinke shed light on some of the more overlooked interdisciplinary options at BCA. “There’s also some exploratory opportunities for students. Students can get a Bloomberg certification if they’re interested in financial markets, and they could participate in the fall play or musical.” Mrs. Pinke added, “One of the things that makes BCA so unique is that we can work interacademy. For example, during the chocolate competition, the engineering academy helps the culinary students build the structure. We have the entrepreneurial science program where students are thinking about science and business simultaneously. We also have Senior Experience, in which students can do their internship in any area, whether it’s related to their academy or

// I really think BCA is good in allowing you to explore other fields and figure out what you are passionate about. //

// I believe that a students’ success is all up to how much time they’re willing to put in. //

not.” Mr. Paul Kaser, BCA’s Lead Counselor of College and Career Relations, as well as the Senior Experience Internship Coordinator explained that students intern at organizations and companies that may not be related to their academy all the time and that this is actually encouraged. He said, “Realizing that students select their academy in 8th grade and cannot change it, their academic and career interests are bound to change by the time they start Senior Experience four years later. Over students’ four years of study at BCA, certainly they change their mind about what they might want to study and discover new interests they didn’t even know existed before!” Mr. Kaser added, “We want students to pursue an internship that is meaningful towards their career goals, not just their Academy.” In fact, Sharon Ahn (AVPA 2018), currently interns at TEMA Therapy Center, despite being a music student. She shared, “I took mini-med-school with Mrs. Feuss my sophomore year, which had doctors come in and talk about their jobs and how they got there. I just found that very fascinating. That really sparked my interest in psychology and I am now doing a psychology internship.” Mrs. Pinke left the Academy Chronicle with an important note. “One thing I’d really like students to know is that when we say embrace the journey and find your passion, it’s fine if you haven’t found your passion yet; just work on finding it— that’s what you should be doing now.” She explained that the administration is always happy to help should a student seek interdisciplinary paths at BCA. “We are very careful about designing a system where there are lots of ways for students to take different avenues, and we are very passionate about providing as many opportunities as possible. We always encourage students to come and ask us, and we would be happy to help them nd out about opportunities at our school.” Mrs. Pinke concluded “We want students

March 2018 // to know that they can always come to us with ideas! Many of the opportunities at our school were made because of our students’ passions and creative projects.” Not all students have a desire to look beyond the confines of their academy, but such opportunities certainly await those who do. Despite seven distinct academy programs under one roof, it is the diverse passions and multidimensional interests of BCA students that drive interdisciplinary exploration and enable the pursuits of such varied nature in their four years here. Every student has the ability to make their BCA journey unique. How far are you willing to push the boundary of your academy?

Left: A graph depicting students’ options on academy-permeability at BCA (1 = not permeable, 5 = very permeable) Right: A survey of whether or not BCA students would rather change or stay in their academies.

Trump’s First Year: A BCA Perspective

// Politics

By // Maeve McFadden email // MaeMCF20@bergen.org

onald Trump never ceases to make the outrageous headlines of national newspapers, lending to topics of incensed conversation in the hallways of BCA. At BCA there is a particularly strong political climate. Many students have fervent political views and values, and with the large participation in MUN and debate team, many of those students will also be up for a rigorous debate to defend what they believe. From a poll sent out to the student body, of the 174 responses, 74% said they had supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential Election. This indicates BCA is a liberal-leaning high school. On average, from the same survey, BCA students’ approval rating of Trump’s

Donald Trump speaking at CPAC 2015 in National Harbor, MD Photo credit: Gage Skidmore // Flickr

// The Academy Chronicle

first year is a 3.2 on a scale from 1-10. 44.3% of students gave him a 1/10 while only 8% gave a perfect 10/10. 78.7% of the responses gave Trump a 5 or less rating. And although 26.4% said they supported Trump in the 2016 presidential election, only 19.5% said they would vote for him if he ran again in 2020. Since his inauguration, some students think Trump has made some noteworthy

Left: “On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your overall satisfaction with Trump’s first year as president?” 1 being lowest, 10 being highest. (Survey size: 174 responses) accomplishments. Some BCA students specifically commended the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, in addition to corporate tax cuts and the overall new tax plan. One student said, “There have been enormous boosts to the economy under Trump, and he has also continued to keep the United States first by incentivizing companies to manufacture in the U.S.” Of course, “America First” was Trump’s main “selling point” during his State of the Union address, focusing in on domestic policy, tax cuts, soaring economy and planned immigration reforms. One student who rated Trump’s year as a 10, remarked he “removed unnecessary Affordable Care Act regulations, renegotiated unfair U.S. Trade policies, cut regulations (22 cut for every new one), increased funds towards military and veterans and increased respect towards law and enforcement.” Many students also said Trump has showcased his complete motivation to complete his own

political agenda, and he does get the job done (although what exactly “the job” is, we are unsure). However, the vast majority of the student body was unimpressed by Trump’s freshman year in office, specifically on issues of the travel ban and foreign relations. One student said: “Some of his actions have been extremely repugnant. His decision about transgender troops being banned from the army was absolutely revolting, and to make it even worse, he announced it on Twitter. He has banned many Muslim country refugees from coming into our country, and has attempted to lift many of the policies previously put in place by Obama [such as Affordable Care Act and Paris Climate Agreement].” In addition, most students perceived Trump’s constant use of Twitter to be a downside to his relationship with the American people (unless the tweets were being used as memes). One student comically stated, “if someone just threw his phone into a lake he would be a much better president.” Trump’s interpretation of being open with the public has consisted of many immature tweets, from his personal use of Twitter as President, unlike the more official use of Twitter by Obama. Emotions ran high especially about Trump’s character and demeanor, with even those who approved of Trump’s first year noting he has “spoken poorly” and was unprofessional. On the other hand, stronger words from most students criticized his comments about minorities, homophobic remarks and general childishness when making decisions. One student even pointed out the worrisome parallels between the SNL satirical political skits and what actually happens in the Oval Office— SNL, for example, predicted that Trump would try to fire Mueller, which may actually happen. North Korea was also a main topic of complaint; Trump’s immature tweet claiming to have a “bigger and stronger” nuclear button than Kim Jong Un certainly worried many Americans, including BCA students. As Trump harassed

and increased the chance of warfare with North Korea, the United States was almost left to the will of his tweets. In addition to foreign relations with North Korea, one student disliked how he “acts cozy at times to Russia,”; others noted his conflicting accounts of his Russian relations, and how the FBI investigation has shadowed Trump’s administration and caused more confusion for the public. Overall, BCA’s student body is not at all satisfied with Donald Trump as President. But what is incredibly important to note is that BCA students are aware of what is occurring in the government: while many are upset by what is going on, they believe it is up to our generation to work hard at change now. In the meantime we, as students of BCA, must continue to be involved and support what we believe to be right for our country. Democracy is not set by predecessors: it is set by the people, and what they want and strive for.

Right: BCA students were surveyed on who they supported in the 2016 Presidential election. (Survey size: 174 responses)

March 2018 //

Inside Senioritis By // Cameron GUan & Simona vigodner emails // Camgua@bergen.org Simvig@bergen.org

fter finishing the last of their college applications and coming back to school from the winter break, many high schools seniors across the nation begin to slack off. Classes are missed, homework is left untouched, and assessments are taken with little to no preparation. Even here at BCA, we are not immune to this affliction. Consider first the Urban Dictionary definition of this epidemic: “A crippling disease that strikes high school seniors. Symptoms include: laziness, an over-excessive wearing of track pants, old athletic shirts, sweatpants, athletic shorts, and sweatshirts. Also features a lack of studying, repeated absences, and a generally dismissive attitude. The only known cure is a phenomenon known as graduation.” Aside from this perceived definition, the Academy Chronicle wanted to understand senioritis from those who are most prone to it: BCA seniors. We asked several seniors to provide their own definitions of senioritis and although several respondents claimed the disease had not afflicted them, others provided more memorable responses. One AMST senior emphasized the role college plays in the lives of BCA students. He said, “I think for a lot of people, their lives and their activities were carefully crafted/curated around getting into a good college. And now that college apps are done, a lot of people don’t really know what to do.” ABF senior Brian Kehoe took a more

// Feature

// The Academy Chronicle

pragmatic approach and said, “It is what happens when you expect kids to maintain the same standard of work after removing their incentive.” Others were even simpler in their definition. Alessandro De Marchi-Blumstein, AAST, merely said, “I would, but I don’t care anymore.” One senior joked that, “I got senioritis freshman year!” Lucy Choi, AMST, explained that she thinks senioritis is simply “when you have reached maximum capacity.” Though not inevitable, she says the disease affects the majority of students and is clearly evidenced when those who have always been academic-oriented suddenly “fail a test and laugh at it.” Teachers are also aware of the yearly epidemic amongst students ranging 17-18 years old. Mr. Christopher Russo, IB and AP physics teacher and BCA Debate League coach, thinks the highest number of cases usually appear after

// Interview

By // Krishi Desai email // Krides20@bergen.org

he Academy Chronicle recently sat down for an interview with Mrs. Kymberly Acuña, the newest counselor in the Bergen County Academies’ Guidance Department. Mrs. Acuña first came to BCA to fill in for another guidance counselor who went on maternity leave. This year, however, she became the official guidance counselor for the Academy for Business and Finance and the Academy for Technology and Computer Science.

winter break. He said, “Usually around mid-January, some of them [students] slack off a bit.” Mr. Russo also suggested the disease may be more prevalent in the small population of students who were accepted to a school in the early period through Early Decision or Early Action.“Especially if they get into a school early, then the feeling really is, ‘I’m done.’” However, teachers also have methods of managing the condition amongst students. Choi explained that they often try to “use some type of persuasion.” Mr. Russo was a bit more specific. He said, “I try to keep them busy. Usually, after the AP exam, I give students some project in class, so they don’t have homework.” He continued, “They do it in class, and they are amicable to that.” Despite many humorous definitions and approaches, senioritis may have serious consequences.

Many colleges often request senior year grades. Significant grade drops lead to questions about the student’s commitment to later education. Students who suffers from such severe senioritis may give off the impression that they will not be able to handle a more challenging course load in college. Furthermore, colleges may even take another step and consider rescinding acceptances. Back in 2009, 22% of colleges said they had rescinded acceptances, as stated in the State of College Admissions report published by the National Association of College Admissions Counseling. Colleges reserve the right to take the acceptance away if the student doesn’t live up to his or her academic responsibilities. Even if the acceptance is not rescinded, some students may start off their college experience under the scrutiny of the university, something known as ac-

Meet the Guidance Counselor: Mrs. Kymberly Acuña your Harry Potter one, but it is either Insomschool? nia by Stephen King or The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King. Mrs. Acuña: Sleeping, I love to sleep. I’m also an avid reader, so I run the Harry AC: What is your favorite food and why? Potter club here, along with Dr. Mayers. I’m a huge reader of fantasy, fiction, and Mrs. Acuña: My favorite food for a very those types of novels. I love to run, but long time was penne vodka with shrimp. only when I feel like it, because again, But my husband, he’s Filipino, and my biggest hobby is sleeping. I’m also there’s this dish called dinuguan and really into yoga, which I have been do- it’s made with beef blood. It’s beef and ing since my sophomore year of college. rice, and it’s this black looking dish, but it is so so good. It has a spice to it, alAC: What is your favorite novel? most like a beef stew, but I didn’t know it was made with blood until my mothMrs. Acuña: You know, every- er-in-law brought me into the kitchen one would think that it would be a after I ate it for the first time. She was AC: What are some hobbies outside of

March 2018 // AC: Is ing or ing on

there anything interestparticularly exciting goin your life right now?

Mrs. Acuña: I’m already married, but my husband and I got married in a courthouse, so we’re actually planning a really large reception now for our entire family. My family is mostly in Puerto Rico, and his is in the Philippines, so we wanted to plan it two years out so we can have everyone come. AC: Where did you go to high school and what kinds of activities did you participate in? Mrs. Acuña: I actually went to Teterboro (Bergen County Technical School), and I was a law and justice major so I was kind of already busy with that. But I was in debate, I was on the track team, I was in a whole bunch of other clubs. There wasn’t a Harry Potter club back then like there is now at BCA, but I was involved in quite a lot of clubs and activities. AC: Which college did you attend and what were some of your favorite aspects of the college experience? Mrs. Acuña: Montclair State University, where I did both undergrad and grad. I can tell you that I did not do my research on the school. I honestly applied, a last-minute thing, didn’t even visit it, and just going there ended up being the most important thing I’ve ever done in my life. The experience was fantastic. MontBCA guidance counselor and our interviewee Mrs. Acuña. clair offered a wonderful program Photo credit: Krishi Desai // Academy Chronicle in psychology and education— even in counseling as well. The staff like, “Oh by the way, this is what I used coming in here. Because regardless of members were amazing, they realto cook it with,” and there was a gigantic me trying to be as open as humanly pos- ly took the time to get to know you. container of blood. It’s cured and every- sible, it’s not always the easiest thing to thing, so there’s no harm, but it was the come in. I have a lot of students on my A lot of times counselors will tell you, most frightening thing I’ve ever seen. caseload now that weren’t in my life last “Oh you know, your professors won’t year or the times that I was here before. care about you because you are going to AC: What is the most important item Having the students hold Frederick ac- be in a room of 100 kids.” But professors, that you have in your office? tually helps them by calming them down they know you, they’ll know if you’re aband giving them something to play with. sent, things like that. I’m still actually Mrs. Acuña: Frederick, my therapy al- A lot of the kids here tend to fidget, and in contact with a few of my professors, paca. Without him, I think a lot of stu- although I’m not a big fan of fidget spin- just in terms of connections. But yes, dents would have a really hard time ners, this kind of goes in lieu of that. the experience was fantastic, I loved it.

// The Academy Chronicle

AC: What or who inspired you to become Mrs. Acuña: Working with kids. I think a guidance counselor? all of you have such unique personalities, and having the opportunity to Mrs. Acuña: My little sister. I have a meet possibly 1,000 different students sister who is eleven years younger than is fantastic to me. I’ve been here since me, and she has Asperger’s. She would 2015 as an intern, so I’ve worked with always talk to me about her school life a multitude of academies. I’ve had enand tell me how her counselors weren’t gineering, science, visual, performing really receptive to her, and understand- arts, and now, business, and computer ing. I felt like there was a need for that science. It’s almost as if I have hit all of in many schools, regardless of wheth- them, except maybe one or two (medier it was elementary or high school. So cal and culinary). It’s been great— just she kind of inspired me to go into this. the kids, they are the best part of it. AC: What initially attracted you to BCA? Mrs. Acuña: It’s the fact that the kids here are really driven, dedicated, and passionate, and I think that they need guidance in the form of, “Hey, you have all this potential, I see it in you, and I’m here to be your number one fan.” I love all my kids here. I just love the students; I think that the school brings in the best and the brightest, but also the kindest kids around the area of Bergen County.

AC: What is the best advice that you have ever been given? Mrs. Acuña: I guess, don’t live in the past. A lot of people have said that, you know, “Don’t live in the past!” but one thing I heard was live through this and don’t look back. It’s important to look back occasionally but not in terms of, “Oh my goodness, this happened in the past. I’m miserable and I can’t believe that happened.” You live through it

// regardless of me trying to be as open as humanly possible, it’s not always the easiest thing to come in. // AC: If you weren’t a guidance counsel- and you look back on it every now and or, what career path would you have fol- then but more of as a learning experilowed? ence. So don’t live in the past, accept what happened, and move forward. Mrs. Acuña: When I was in school, I If you’re not in the present moment, was actually studying to be a psychol- you can’t actually enjoy and triumph ogist, specifically working in a prison. over what you’re dealing with now. I would have worked in a prison because I thought it was really import- AC: What advice would you give to stuant to assess the prisoners and make dents at BCA for coping with the worksure that there was reform. I wanted to load and stress of high school? make sure that they really comprehended what they’ve done and were suit- Mrs. Acuña: Come and talk to someable to at least go back into the world. body. It’s not going to be as bad as you Or I would have been a rock star! think it’s going to be. I understand that some of you are honestly stayAC: What is the most satisfying thing ing up until 3 in the morning. As much about your occupation? as I would hope and pray that none

of you do that, it’s going to happen. So in those moments of weakness, and in those moments of absolute fear and dread, come and speak to someone. That doesn’t necessarily mean come to your counselor. If you aren’t comfortable, or if you’re a little nervous, go talk to your teachers, talk to your parents — just be communicative and open. It’s important to address when you’re feeling anxious because if not, it can even lead to more feelings of stress and being overwhelmed. Everyone’s going through the same thing here, regardless of if you’re a freshman or even a senior. So it’s really important just to talk and understand that you’re not alone, that’s the biggest part of that, too. AC: What is the best quote or lesson that you have heard from a student? Mrs. Acuña: There’s been so many kids that have changed things for me…So a student, who already graduated— she didn’t really give me advice, but more so realized that I was stressed out. She had noticed that I was in my office, constantly busy and frenzied at times, and she would come in here and do breathing exercises with me. She would calm me down. To have a student recognize that and not even feel, I guess, disheartened by the fact that her counselor was all over the place, showed that she cared. It was really just beautiful to see somebody recognize that and want to do something

March 2018 //

// Hey, you have all this potential, I see it in you, and I’m here to be your number one fan. // for another individual, even though it is someone that they respect and who is an adult. She basically taught me to take some time out of my day and really sit back and breathe when I need it. I’m forever thankful for her, she’s great. AC: What is one thing you like and one thing you dislike about BCA? Do you see any room for improvement at this school? Mrs. Acuña: There’s always going to be room for improvement, no matter if this school was the most perfect school ever. So I’ll start off with more of what I would like to improve, rather than a dislike, and that is just the focus on mental health and wellness. At BCA, we talk about embracing the journey and different things like that, but it’s important to recognize that this journey is going to have its pitfalls and its difficulties. So how can we address that? I think it’s important for us as a counseling department to be more visible within the school. We have semi-

nar classes, but it’s important to be present in your lives always. I really make a point to walk through the halls, and say hello to everybody. I go into classrooms, and I do that not because I want to be friends with all you lovely kids, but because I want you to know I exist and that I’m available to you. That’s the one thing that I would really want to focus on. On the other hand, what I like most about the school — besides the students—is the staff here. They really genuinely care, and I know some kids will doubt that sometimes, but they truly care and make such a difference in your lives, even if you don’t realize it until you graduate. The staff here would do anything for their students, and the amount of passion and selflessness they have makes it an honor just to work with them. AC: Thank you to Mrs. Acuña for allowing the Academy Chronicle to gain some insight on her life and role in the Bergen County Academies community.

Above: Frederick. Illustrations for this article by Grace Tan.

// I want you to know I exist and that I’m available to you. //

// The Academy Chronicle

// Interview

BCA Flash: Meet the Founder!

By // RAchel Hur email // Rachur20@bergen.org

n January 20, 2018, the Bergen County Academies held its very first BCA Flash, which is, according to the official website, “a one-day event where Bergen County Academies students teach courses regarding their [respective] academies to middle school students who reside in Bergen County.” The Academy Chronicle was lucky enough to sit down with its founder, Justin Oh, currently a sophomore in AAST, to discuss his inspirations, goals, and future plans for the event. AC: What inspired you to create BCA Flash? Oh: When I was in middle school, I attended a similar program called “Yale Splash” in which Yale students taught classes to both middle school and high school students, and that was my inspiration behind BCA Flash. At the time, I looked up to those college students and in the same way, I wanted to provide a similar program which would allow middle school students to see high school students as role models who they could see as mentors. AC: What problem are you trying to address with BCA Flash? Oh: I wanted to the show the diversity in the knowledge that BCA students possess. I also wanted to debunk the rumors surrounding BCA and show middle school students that they have nothing to be afraid of; BCA isn’t a scary and

Top: Participating middle schoolers at a class hosted at BCA. Bottom: BCA Flash founder and our interviewee, Justin Oh. Photo credit: Catherine Park // Academy Chronicle

March 2018 // stressful place - the students here have a vast background of knowledge to share. Also, I was hoping that these academy-specific classes would help middle school students to explore each respective academy and confidently decide which one they want to join. I heard from a lot of my friends that it was difficult to choose an academy in eighth grade, especially because we wouldn’t be able to switch once accepted. I created BCA Flash with hopes of providing middle school students with an “insider look” of each academy and the ability to experience the learning environment for themselves. AC: What were some of the biggest hurdles you had to overcome in developing this event? Oh: I would say the biggest hurdle was when I had to make all the schedules for the BCA Flash participants. I made each individual schedule myself, and it was difficult because I had to change some classes and also mix and move some classes for students. It took so much time, but I think my work paid off in the end! AC: Who were your mentors along the way? Oh: My mentor and advisor was Ms. Skuriat. She guided me throughout the entire process and also purchased all the supplies and T-shirts— she was eventually reimbursed. I am so thankful for her help; I couldn’t have done it without her. AC: Why did you choose to recruit student teachers instead of having actual BCA teachers? I chose to have BCA students teach the classes because this is a student-run program/event. I also thought it was important to show the students’ individual perspectives on the topics they taught rather than having actual teachers because in reality, they’re teaching all the

// I wanted to the show the diversity in the knowledge that BCA students possess. // // I hope that the experience was empowering for students in helping them to recognize how knowledgeable they are! //

time! In the end, I hope that the experience was empowering for students in helping them to recognize how knowledgeable they are! AC: Are you happy with the result? Oh: Yep! I was really surprised because just as I had hoped, we started right on time and we followed through with the time schedule smoothly. I’ve heard so many compliments from parents, teachers, and administration, who all said that the event was so enjoyable, and they’re looking forward to next year’s BCA Flash! AC: What can we expect from BCA Flash next year? Oh: I’m hoping we can improve the entire event as a whole by making it more efficient. I especially want to make the scheduling process faster so that students can receive their schedules as soon as possible. Also, I want to make the classes more engaging and interactive overall so that students don’t just sit in their classrooms and do nothing. Justin can be found on his fame-worthy Instagram account @ohjustinoh, where a wide variety of pictures filtered to perfection can be found; in addition, he is the proud owner of foodie account @justin. time.to.dine which features just as breathtaking photos of food! Although Justin is known for having an incredibly captivating Instagram accounts, it was fascinating to see him apply his great leadership skills and focus at BCA Flash! Thank you to Justin Oh for participating in this interview, and we can’t wait to see what BCA Flash 2019 will hold!

// The Academy Chronicle

// Sports

By // Casey Chan & Sophia Wolmer emails // CasCha19@bergen.org SopWol19@bergen.org

The Road to States Championships Let’s start with the basics. The sports teams of Bergen County Academies are combined with all other schools in the Bergen Technical schools district. This means students from the Hackensack, Paramus, and Teterboro campuses compete together, making the size of our school seem incredibly large and placing Bergen Tech in the largest state division: group four for track and district five for fencing. For Indoor and Outdoor Track specifically, each New Jersey school is placed in a group or division based on their school size. They are also placed in a smaller subsection in this group either North 1, North 2, Central, or South. It is in this specific section for Bergen Tech, Group 4 North 1, that the road to states begins.

the Toms River Bubble, an indoor track arena in central New Jersey. The objective of every athlete is to place in the top six of their division. If they can beat out competitors from large high schools such as Randolph, Clifton, Ridgewood, and Hackensack, they earn a spot at the State Group Championships. From here, the athletes must battle for a top six spot amongst the entire Northern section of New Jersey. A top six spot guarantees the runner, jumper, or thrower a ticket to the state championships. The Bergen Tech Track team participated in the Group 4 North 1 Track meet on February 11th. Three members of the team qualified for the State group championships: Alianna Eucker, Anthony Diorio, and Steven Shields. They attended the State group championships in Toms River on February 17th.

ow that the BCA interviews have come to a close, current 8th graders from all of Bergen County are anxiously awaiting their admission decision. Each student is bidding for a spot in a school known for its incredible academics. Due to BCA’s reputation as an academic school, BCA’s athletic success stories will not likely be on their mind. Yet, within our academic walls, some might be surprised to find multiple statewide competitive sports teams. In fact, some athletes and teams at BT are among the top competitors at both The Track Athlete’s Journey the state divisional and state levels. In At the Group 4 North 1 Track meet, In the Eyes of a Fencer this article, we will outline the road takrunners in events ranging from the 55 en by BCA’s top athletes to the indoor meter dash to the pole vault compete at The state competition recently endstate championships .

The John Bennett Indoor Sports Complex in Toms River, NJ. Photo credit: Sophia Wolmer // Academy Chronicle

March 2018 // ed For the BT girls’ fencing team as well. However, the path to the fencing state championships is slightly different than that for track. Each year, the fencing team competes in three major tournaments: Counties, Santelli/Cetrulo, and Districts. These events occur at the beginning of the winter season. The team’s performance in these tournaments determines whether it will advance to the state tournament. Unlike other sports, the fencing state tournament is not a one-day event. Each school enters the state bracket based on their initial seeding. Seeding, or the team’s expected result (i.e. 1st, 2nd, 3rd), is based on the team’s performances in the aforementioned tournaments. During the state tournament, each team will face other schools in one-onone matches, until only two teams are

left. Then, these two teams compete in the championships, which is held at the end of February. This year, The BT girls’ fencing team not only advanced to the state finals, but also took the first place trophy. The team won its first two matches against West Windsor Plainsboro North and Watchung Hills at the end of January. On February 14th, the team won their semifinal match against Bernards High School. Then, on February 21st, the girls defeated Columbia High School and won their second state championship. What makes the win that much sweeter is the team environment. Team captain Maddy Chang, AAST senior, said, “I’m so honored to be part of such an amazing team. Although fencing is an individual sport, when you’re part of a team, it’s something else. Each member on the

team definitely gives the others energy, and this team has been incredibly strong all year.” After Chang won the final victory of the match, the Academy Chronicle had a chance to speak with her. She explained, “When I was fencing for our victory— the winning bout— I could feel all that energy in the air. But, I wasn’t scared or nervous, because I knew that no matter what happened, we would still be a team and would support each other.” Being part of a sports team at BT is a wonderful experience, and we are looking forward to the accomplishments of all of our incredible athletes in the near future!

Students Address the #MeToo and Time’s Up Movements

// Politics

several women came forward to accuse Ben Affleck, an actor, of sexual misconduct. This pattern quickly evolved into a movement as more and more women spoke out against their abusers, taking down popular names in Hollywood and the political world. From this series of events, the #MeToo movement was put into motion. Women and men continued to call out those who had harassed and assaulted them, abusing their power without facing any consequences. Through the #MeToo movement, victims do not need to remain silent any longer. Lily Koslow, AVPA junior, said, “I’d say that since the beginning of these

movements, I’ve been more inclined to take action against the sexist Trump administration under which we live. “Julian Torres, AMST freshman, said, “I can see some change on behalf of the morals around me, how it is definitely time to put an end to sexual abuse and things like that.” At BCA, the Women’s Empowerment Club has been actively involved in supporting this movement. Liv Glassman, AVPA senior and the club’s president, explained that she managed to talk with all twenty junior and senior health classes about the topic of sexual assault. “At BCA we have such a sheltered environment… it’s scary once you go to col-

By // Riesling Conway email // Riecon21@bergen.org

n October 5th, 2017, The New York Times released an article exposing Harvey Weinstein, a film producer and executive, for his alleged history of sexual assault. Actresses such as Annabella Sciorra, Salma Hayek, Lupita Nyong’o, Ashley Judd, Angelina Jolie, and scores of others have come forward to describe their encounters with Weinstein in which it is alleged that he sexually harassed, assaulted, or raped them. Five days later,

Also, if you ever have questions about joining fencing or track, feel free to reach out to Casey Chan (cascha19@bergen.org) and

// The Academy Chronicle

The Women’s Empowerment Club prepared presentations this year regarding the two movements for all junior and senior classes. Photo credit: Grace Tan // Academy Chronicle lege. You don’t really know what’s going to happen, you’re not used to drinking a lot, and you’re not used to being around people you don’t know, until scary situations happen.” Glassman added, “Just being aware of those situations and knowing what to do in those times is really important.” Many people and organizations have rushed to give their full support for the #MeToo movement. Time Magazine took a significant step when it declared their Person of the Year 2017 to be all the women and men involved in the #MeToo movement, calling them the “Silence Breakers.” Several famous names, including Taylor Swift, Terry Crews, Ashley Judd, and Tarana Burke, the founder of a nonprofit organization that supports victims of sexual violence and the creator of the #MeToo movement, were featured in the issue. Further in response to the scandals and the #MeToo movement, the Time’s Up movement was created, with its legal defense fund providing legal support for victims of sexual harassment and assault, particularly in the workplace. Many actors and actresses wore black to

the Golden Globes to show their support for the movement and brought activists along with them. At the Grammy’s, supporters wore or carried white roses. While many celebrities and public figures have been condemned for their alleged actions, there is some debate as to how these abusers should be treated in our society. When asked if they could separate art from the artist, Koslow said, “Your art might be brilliant in some ways, but it will never be the full package if the artist is a person who does not respect the humanity of everyone. I wouldn’t want to invest my money or attention in a person who would violate another human being.” This movement not only condemns sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood and the political world, but also supports women in all areas. In light of the recent events, women are now being given the voice and the support they need to come forward about their own abuse. The abusers in turn are undergoing more severe punishment when in the past their actions may have been overlooked.

Torres agreed with this notion, explaining, “They [culpable offenders] should be shunned, because, although it’s hard, it starts with them. They’re the most popular figures, and if they’re toppled, then that should influence many others.” Giving women the power and support to open up allows topics surrounding sexual assault and harassment to be discussed more often and openly. Francesca Mignano, ACAHA freshman, believes this is key to changing our future society. “I think it’s good to make these things public, especially because everyone says we’re the next generation, we are going to run the country one day.” She added, “We need to be educated on things going on in the world and how sexual assault is not okay, whatsoever.” Perhaps change really is coming. But, for now, Koslow captures the BCA and national sentiment with the following words: “Time is up on sexual harassment. Period.”

March 2018 //

Across

Down

2. The ancient Roman God of lovE, fertility, & passion 4. Teenage girl falls for a dance instructor at a summer resort in the Catskills, despite her father’s disapproval 7. Movie with the famous quote, “Make of our Hands one hand. Make of our hearts one heart. Make of our vows one last vow. Only death will part us now.” 8. When you’re crying you’re beautiful too 9. “If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.” 12. How many times do I have to tell you

1. The movie that asks, can women and men truly be just friends? 2. Medieval knights followed this code, and treated women with respect and honor as a result of it 3. A boy serenades the girl of his dreams with a boombox outside her window in this movie 5. And darling I will be loving you ‘til we’re 70 And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23 6. Movie in which a popular teenage girl ends up falling for her ex-stepbrother. 10. Classic Valentine’s Day Candy 11. Clyde Barrow’s girlfriend, and partner in crime

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UT ONE-ACTS ON YOUR CALENDARS! RFORMANCES AREGrace MAY Casey Chan Tan31-JUNE 3 // Editor-in-chief

// Managing Editor

// Design Editor

Maeve Mcfadden

Mr. Hathaway

// assistant managing editor

// Advisor

! !

Thank You

Mr. Pavlu, Mr. Guthrie, & mr. lang The Chronicle club meets Tuesday mornings at 7:40 AM in Mr. Hathaway’s room (room 148). If you are interested, please reach out to Simona Vigodner (simvig@bergen.org), Casey Chan (cascha19@bergen.org) or Maeve McFadden (maemcf20@bergen.org) for more details.

The Chronicle is grateful for the ongoing support from the BCA administration: Mr. Russell Davis // Principal

Dr. Raymond Bath // Vice Principal

Mrs. Giulia ZANONI-Mendelsohn

Mrs. Michelle Pinke

// Supervisor

And the central administration:

Dr. Howard Lerner

Ms. Andrea Sheridan

Mr. Gary Hall

MR. richard panicucci

// Superintendent

// Coordinator of Human Resources

// Assistant Superintendent

// Assistant Superintendent of curriculum and instruction

Mr. John susino

// business administrator, board secretary