The Classic newspaper Volume 17 Issue no. 3

Page 1

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Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

Fool

149-11 Melbourne.Avenue. Flushing, NY 11367

Renumbering scheme puts first floor first

Editors:

Alice Iosifescu Allison Slotnick Kerty Purtell

Emily RivlinNadler

Writers: Danny Bloch Jessie Chou Jennifer Gong Jamie Gullen Angela Hom Talya Lieberman DianeTiao. Jessica Wang

Artwork: Kathy Choi Frank DeBellis Janine Petrovits Kerry Purtell Emily RivlinNadler · Layout: Clarke Gradinger Advertisements: Janine Petrovits, Kerry Purtell

Advisor: · lisa Cowen

Principl!!: Thomas

Cwmingham

by Angela Hom paint into those tricky ceiling corners ," Confusion caused by the way the said Mr. Moreorless; floors are numbered will soon end. Over This plan to change the numbers was the summer of 2001,'Townsend Harris · suggested by several freshmen after they High School plans to hire students to - used the elevator to go to the first floor repaint and renumber the floors. The before figuring out that the exit to the project is being made possible through school was on the second. "I think this a joint grant given by the New York school has to get its numbers straight. I State Psychiatry Department and the New _ York City Board of · Education. Those who are looking for a part-time job can apply for the repainting positions, As an added incentive, the job will also count for volunteer hours that can be applied to the 40-hour requirement needed by all Townsend Harris students. "We're.looking for some student workers because we don't want to hire some outside people who will probably charge us an arm and a leg and got confused when they told me I had then rip us off anyway with bad paint- to leave school from the second floor," ing jobs," said Joe Numericomo, head said freshman Roman Around. The , freshmen obtained their elevator passes of the custodial staff. Students.who are interested in work- after their weighty bookbags took them ing as painters will have to attend a few for a ride down the stairs. Another problem that helped con- . " lessons taught by Arty Moreorless, art teacher. These sessions will be held af- vince new principal Tricky Runningman ter school on Wednesdays, where wall that the floors should be renumbered painting techniques 'will be taught. "I was the confusion over locker numbers. don't want to see streaky or mismatched ''We see locker numbers beginning with colors with no signs of directionality or three on the fourth floor, and four on the tension in the school hallways. And the fifth floor. i didn't know a school with students have to be taught how to get an emphasis on Humanities could mess

up numbers this badly," said sophomore· Litty E. Ritt. . . Renumbering will cause the b~se­ ment to become G I; the floor with the cafeteria will become G2; the floor with the school's entrance and the auditorium · will become I and each floor after that will be numbered co~secutively. Each floor will l).lso be colorcoded. The idea to repaint the floors came from a longstanding problem. In an effort to avoid schoolwide stress, Mr. Runningman proposed that the hallways be painted in bright shades so that the students would have something to focus on besides their endless ·collaterals. The ~ew York State Psychiatry Department was contacted to find out the best colors for brightening up moods. From the suggestions, red was selected for the new fifth floor to blend in with daily chemistry bonfires; a rainbow of the colors will adorn the fourth; purple, the third; crimson and gold, the second; blue to match the security staff, the first; and an "interesting" shade of green, the new G2. The funds for the project were given to Townsend Harris because it was the first school to contact the department for help with depression prevention. "I applaud the efforts to make this learning institution a happier place," said Dr. Happy Goodmind.

Largeman· makes a comeback: ·

Brin·gs b·igger and better coll~terals by Jennifer Gong and Diane Tiao You're sitting in your usual seat at the back of the room listening (or trying to listen) to the class discussion when you feel a light breeze prickle the hairs on the back of your neck. You turn your head slightly to your left and are your eyes playing tricks on you, or is that retired principal Makeme Largeman standing right next to you (though still at eye level) peering (or trying to peer) over your shoulder? Yes, it's true: Dr. Largeman is back, and staying for good. Dr. Largeman has been preparing for his return since the beginning of March. · He's been sneaking in and out of classrooms and making the faculty and students think he was only "a figment of their imagination."

He said it gave him the "chuckles." It turns out that his retirement three months ago was a hoax to liven things up in the Harris community. His leave of absence served as away time for him to think of ways to academically better the school as well as give him a break from his role as principal. With a broad smile, Dr. Largeman said, ·:It [the fake retirement] was lo.ts of fun and I loved seeing everyone's expressions when they saw that I was back, especially those ot the staff." "I knew it was him! I spotted him gliding down the hallway a few days ago, but I thought .it was all in my head, 'ya know? I can't believe that he's back. But what I don't get is what's going to happen to the principal we currently

have," sophomore Pete Jenkins said. In an exlusive inteJview with The Classic, Dr. Largeman revealed that he had contemplated his retirement prank for five months. In his ~pare time, he'd come up with elaborate plans and sketch out his idea. He knew frpm the star!_ that his friend, Tricky Runningman, · would 'play' the role of principal. ''Nobody inside or even associated with the school knew about the plan. It was just the two of us," current principal Runningman said. "I knew I'd get the job. I'm very qualified. I'm also quite charming," he said with a smile. During his three months away, Dr. Largeman came up with several aca~ demic boosters. He's sure that one of Continued on p. 3


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