Classic newspaper Volume 21 Issue no. 1

VoL 21, No. 1 November2004

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Townsend Harris High School at Queens College

Simulation concludes with Democrat sweep The Kerry/Edwards team

by Diana Bell Democrats dominated the racked up a win with a 55% polls in this year's election Continued on p. 3 sim ulation.

The landsl ide And lite wimters are... victory of Democrati c presiden tial President: Jobn Kerry, D c andi d ate John V.P.: John Edwards. D Kerry on NovemNY tenate: Oharles Schumer, D be r I c on tras ted Congress -sharply with PresiCO gth: AAthony We·rner 0 dent G eorge W. Bush 's actu al naCD 12m: Nydia Velazquez, D ti onal election wi n.

CO 1411l: carolyn Maloney, D Adam Stonehill , NY State Aseernb~y Coordinator of Stu022: Jimmy M~ng. 0 de nt Affairs, an026.~ Ann M. Carrozza, D nounced the results 028: Miohae1 Cohen, November 3, over th e loudsp eake r.

149- 11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, NY 11 367

20th Anniversary Celebration

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Classical language teacher Andrew Hagerty, Principal Thomas Cunningham, Assistant Principal of Foreign I.:anguages and Fine Arts Lisa Mars, and Assistant Pr incipal of Pupil Personal Ser vices Janet Solomon enjoy the gala celebrating the centennial anniversary of the school's founding and the 20th anniversary of its reopening. The event was held November 5 in the Grand Hyatt Ballroom at Grand Central Station."

Full story on p. 3

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Freshmen recite the Ephebic Oath, fulfilling the tradition of initiation into the school community.

by J em'tifer Park and Alyssa Chase The phrase on the cover of the Founder's Day program, "Memoria antiquitatis semper maneat," Latin for "He always holds the memory of the old," concisely embodied the pur-

pose of this annual, longawaited event. This year's Founder's Day Ceremony, held October 29 at Queens College Colden Center, embraced both the traditions and history of the school.

Students and faculty

Remembering our past

dressed in semi-formal attire to ered introductory speeches that celebrate the centennial of the stressed the importance of comschool's opening, the 20th an- munity and the values embedniversary since its rebirth, and ded in the Ephebic Oath, the an' the 200th birthday of Townsend cient Greek pledge taken by stud~nts to leave their city Harris himself.

The long-awaited "taking of greater than they found it. attendance," or the ritual noiseSenior AnikaAnam enjoyed making contest among the dif- the speeches, saying, " T he ferent grades, was initiated by Ephebic Oath is defin itely a Howard Kwait, Assistant Prin- part of student life here, and I cipal of Organization, and the think it's important for us toreseniors upheld the tradition of member the ideals."

In a speech emphasizing the having the most strident and prolonged shouting session . school's familial atmosphere, Professor Helen Gaudette, the Principal Thomas Cunningham new Liaison between remarked, "This day really be·. Townsend Harris and Queens longs to you freshmen and new College; Elizabeth Schnee, the sophomores. It is the occasion president of the PTA; and Craig · the whole school community Slutzkin, '91, Co-president of has set aside to recognize forthe Alumni Association, deliv- mally your acceptance into the

Coll ege ·stats

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Townsend Harris fam ily and to witness your promise to honor the ideals of the Ephebic Oath."

Martine Gue rr ier of the Class of 1989 p resented a lengthy but entertaining speech filled with humorous anecdotes. One of them vividly described an incident in which she and her best friend narrowly escaped getting referrals from Dean Wanda Nix, who coyly smiled in the back of the auditorium throughout Martine's speech as students glanced backwards to see her.reaction.

Violinist Foster Wang, j unior, played Wieniawski's Polonaise in A, and s.en ior Sharon Lim perfo rmed Fritz Kreisler's Praeludium and Continued on p. 3

Sports

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graders, crammed into a rented building on Parsons Boulevard, fondly nicknamed the "shoebox." These students proved that the alumni's mission was a success.

"They met and even exceeded the standards set for the school," said Ms. Orner.

And they themselves, set the precedent in excellence "that has been met by the later students," she added.

Only five years after its reopening, Townsend Harris was chosen as a National School of Excellence. Now we continue the tradition of being one of the top schools in the nation with our recent designation as a 21" Century School of Distinction for our academic excellence and community involvement.

The anniversary gala held on November 5 honored the founders of our school.

We are proud to be a part of this rich history, which will be commemorated further in the next issue of The C,lassic. We are also grateful for those who came before us and admire the dream of the old alumni, the vision of the founding principal, the perseverance of the original faculty, and the achievements of that first class. This is the legacy we all share as Townsend Harris students and we will carry it with us into our futures.

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Celebrating Our Past In June, 1942, Townsend Harris Hall, City College's preparatory school for bright young men, received a fatal blow, It was closed down by New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia as a result of budget cuts. This could have been the end of the story, but a determined group of graduates who loved their alma mater decided that it would not be the end.

The first step was to form an Alumni Association."There was a mystique about Townsend Harris that could not be denied," wrote Irving Gerber ('39) in his essay "The Birth of the Townsend Harris Alumni Association." A few years later, under the able leadership of Henry Shereff ('36), a movement got underway for thereopening of school doors to a new generation of bright young men - and women.

This year, the school celebrates the centennial anniversary of its founding. More importantly, however, it celebrates the 20'h anniversary of its reopening. The second chapter of Townsend Harris' rich history began with that group of alumni, who ceaselessly strove to bring back the tradition of excellence that is very much alive today, The school rests on the vision and strong purpose of these people.

With all the hurdles the alumni faced, only their continued perseverance could have made their vision a reality. The Board of Education was not inclined to the idea of a highly selective, Humanities~intensive school, which according to founding principal Malcolm Largmann, they thought "smacked of 'elitism.:· Other high schools in Queens were even more opposed to a project they felt would take away their brightest students. It took a lot of persuasion for the BOE to approve the idea, but the obstacles did not end there.

There was the question of the new school's location. City College was not interested in reviving the relationship it had once shared. Luckily, 'I;>r. ·saul Cohen, · then President of Queens College, recognized the: value of s~ch a school. He ea- · gerly welcomed the partnership and promised Townsend Harris a new home on the Queens College campus. There would be many more obstacles to overcome before that promise was fulfilled II years later, "but we had made up our minds · that we were not going to be beaten," said Dr. Largmann. · With the all the controversy surrounding the opening of the school, "coming to Townsend Harris was a leap of faith," said Sheila Orner, founding Assistant Principal of Pupil Services. In September; 1984, the first class, consisting of247 ninth

D§lncing Away Dignity The Senior Class Mixer on October l proved to be adisturbing event And that's a shame because school dances are not supposed to be "disturbing." · · The mixer's purpose was to create a mindless diversion from schoolwork that allows students, new and current, to meet, mingle and have a good time. It was nor supposed to be a risque spectacle that made people feel uncomfortable. The Classic shouldn't have to do a post-dance analysis and we certainly shouldn't be in a situation where we feel t!ompelled to write an editorial criticizing any of our fellow students. But regrettably, some behavior at the mixer, specifically sexually explicit dancing, mer· its criticism.

By bringing ev~ryone's attention to their steamy antics; the dirty dancers coerced students who would have otherwise been dancing into be" coming stationary voyeurs. They forced unanticipated thoughts and images into the minds of partygoers who assumed they were attending a lighthearted school function, rendering them immobile.• We know that no 'students were expecting line dancing, but they didn't count on the envelope being pushed to such extremes. Could the majority ofdancers really enjoy themsel~es as their peers ·disgusted ,them by tossing their dignity into a raging sea of hormones?

There's no denyiflg society has become more accepting 9f overtly · sexual behavior! which. may or may not be a good thing: This editoria,J, however, is not commentary on society, but.rath~r a wake-up ca)Lfor . Harrisites. The fact remains that exploiting this trend to the poi fit of making peers uncomfortable is irr¢sponsible, inconsiderate and imma" ture behavior. The students arthe dance who shared this point of yiew ··· were not old-fashioned or prudish 1 but sensible. . . · .· .... .

We are all part of an accepting and inclusive school community. In order for us to learn .aod truly grow, we m.ust behave· in a way thatis .. generally accepted by those In the community. While mixer attendees could have left the dance if they felt uncomfortable, it wouldn't have been fair. to them since they were expecting 111ore· decent conduct ala school event. If someone decides to go clubbing, he or she mjgbt fores~e . some of the things that went on.at the· mixer. That person wouldn't expect to see such· bawdy behavior at a school~sponsored event with the name ;'Townsend Harris" attached to it. . . . we~re riot suggesting dancers leave 200 feet.between each other, but we are asking that none provoke 'a feelingofrepugnance.iri their peers.

Ifany inconsiderate students still feel as though they ca11't hcive (un if they haveto leave some things to the imagiriati~n. they can go elsewhere to have a good time.And besides, is provocative dancing really ihatcool when your English teacher is ,watchillg7 . · ·

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News Staff: Samira Annabi, Mimi Chung, Andrea Gavora, Megan Law, Robert McCullogh, Lance Tomas. Jocelyn Wright Francesca Pizarro

Editor-in-Chief Christopher Amanna

Alyssa Chase

Managing Ediinr

News Editor

Tanaz Talebpour Feature Editor

Michelle Montgoris

Eugene To

Ann Margaret Santa-lnes

Sports Editor

Art Editor

Business Editor

Laura D' Amato

lisa Cowen

Diana Bell

Photography Editor

Advisor

Food and Entertainment Editor

Prlncipa,l 7 Mr. 'Thorrtas Cunningham _ " ·,-

Feature Staff: Faith Aronwitz, Jennifer Bhuiyah, Cindy Chen, Gloria Chen, Tiffany Cheng, Annie Cboi, Marissa Green, Elena Gulloua,Shruti Karnawat, Sangsoo Kim, Veronica Kim, Maureen McCluskey, Donna Mordente, Stephanie Pak, Mary·Grace Papatheodorou, Jennifer Park, Darcy Rendon, Ann Margaret Santa-lnes, Alexis Serra, Priti Shah, Marlene Sim, Nisha Singh, Anita Sonawane, Samia Ullah, Christine Wliang, Janet Whang, Maria Wojakowski, Devon Wright, Madeleine Wright, · Sports Staff: Rookminie Behari, Gabriele Guelly. Lauren Korzeniewski, Maureen McCluskey, Michelle Montgoris. Alex Rush, Lance Tomas, Wendy Yan Artists: Mitchell Bader, Darren Deoraj, Rowena Eng, Bonnie Ng Photography Staff: Diana Deng, Warren Cheng. Hannah Kang, SunMei Liu, Matthew Molina, Tabassum Rahman. Jonathan Stein, Alexandra Stergiou, Anne Tan, Patricia Tolete, Fan Zhang

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Townsend Harris High School at Queens College 149·11 Melbourne Avenue, Flushing, N.Y. 11367

The Classic is an open forum for the expression of student views. The opinions expressed therein should not be taken to represent those of the administration or faculty or student hody as a whole.

Readers are invited to submit letters to the editor.

Letters should be placed in Ms. Cowen's mailbox in Room 315 ore-mailed to thhsclassic@yahoo.com. The Classic reserves the right to edit all letters. Letters must include name and official class. Names will be withheld

'· \1~'1~. request.

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Gala serves up fea.s.t:QffJt$ts

by Francesca Pizarro

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Trombonist Peter Lustig joins his Jazz Ensemble class at the Queens College sponsored jazz clinic.

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Students lauded this new outlet for musical creativity.

Michael Finkelstein, senior, said, "It's great to just come down and relieve some stress, for me to play guitar and for everyone else to play their instrument.s." Junior Peter Catalano added, "It is great because it's nice to know professionals actually play your in- · struments."

"I was very impressed with all the students here. They are some of the best I've ever heard," said professional saxophone player Julie Braustein.

The Jazz Clinic is an offshoot of the Jazz Residency offered in the old Townsend Harris building during the Enrichment program. The Residency was eliminated due to budget cuts. Funding by the Colden Center has revived the program.

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Allegro. The Concert Band entertained the audience with a collage of songs from popular movies, such as the theme song of Jaws. Senior Michael Mucha played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on electric guitar.

The Founder's Day Singers' parodies of well-known tunes, such as the Addams Family song, were also well-received.

According to incoming sophomore Anita Sonawane, "The performances were absolutely brilliant. The students who performed were very talented, and lt was very enjoyable."

The Ephebic Oath, the formal initiation of the freshmen and incoming sophomores to the school, .;as administered by Archon President Cecilia Kim, senior. According to one anonymous freshman, "I felt like Ireally belonged after it was delivered. The Ephebic Oath welcomed all of us into the school."

Senior Emily Berliner said, "I loved it. Presentations were funny and it was all around very well organized. We showed that Townsend Harris students are a iittle quirky, a little funny, and truly talented."

The ceremony in Colden Hall was the highlight of a special day that began with the collection of food for the Mercy Center. Seniors seized the opportunity of the annual walk across the Queens College to publicize the candidates whom they supported in the election stimulation.

Continued from p. 1

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The first Jazz Clinic on the Blues, held for the Jazz Ensemble in the band room October 26, showcased the unique bond between Townsend Harris and Queens College. Graduate students of the Queens College Aaron Copeland School of Music led the first of three planned sessions focusing on Blues improvisation techniques.

While the Jazz Ensemble has always existed as a club, this year it gained status as a class.

The October clinic exposed students to the historical, theoretical, and social impact of jazz."It's a wonderful opportunity for our students to be able to work with professional jazz musicians up close," said music teacher Peter Lustig.

Day

Election Simulation comes to close

College conducts clinic for jazz group

By Alyssa Chase and Francesca Pizarro

Founder's

I Love," by Ira Gershwin, and we deal with day by day," said "Falling in Love with You,'' by · ASsislanr Prindpal· of· MathRichard Rogers. .ematics Ellen Fee.. "It was also "It was a v¢ry festive occa- exciting to be in a fancy place sion and made one ·feel a part with students and teachers all of something bigget than what dressed up," she added.

the school. Eugene M. Lang ('34) and George Weissman (' 35), graduates .of the old Townsend Harris were hosts.

Leslie Koch, Chief Executive Officer of Funds for Publie Schools, began the evening by declaring November 5 the Centennial Anniversay Day. Founding principal Malcolm Largmann accepted the plaque for the Men of the Century award. The award was also given to the late Henry Shereff, the principal alumnus behind the school's reopening.

Dr. Largmann 's speech shared his memories of the school's early years.

The Jazz Ensemble performed songs from Broadway musicals composed by famous Harrisites, among them "A Man

Past met present at the school's Centennial Anni-versary Gala held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel . in Grand Central Station on November 5. The occasion celebrated three milestones in the history of Townsend Harris - the I 00' 11 anniversary of the school's founding, the 20'11 anniversary of its reopening, and Townsend Harris, the man's, 200'11 birthday.

Alumni and their families, former as well as present-day faculty members, and current students attended the gala, which commemorated the landmark event by highlighting the achievements of famous alumni, honoring those awarded as Men ofthe Century, and sharing fond memories of

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majority, and Charles Schumer conquered the race for the Senate with an 88% majority. Congressional winners included Anthony Weiner for district 9, Nydia Velazquez for district 12, and Carolyn Maloney for district 14. The Assembly winners were Kimmy Meng in district 22, Ann M. Carrozza in district 26, and Michael Cohen in district 28. All those elected were Democrats.

Seniors were elected by classmates in their Participatory Democracy classes to play candidate roles. President George W. Bush was played by Harrison McGee, and Barnaby Grazlewicz played his running mate, Vice President Diek Cheney. Michael Frenkel opposed him as Senator John Kerry, with Josh Levy in the role of John Edwards. Eugene To filled Independent candidate Ralph Nader's shoes.

Candidates for senate were played by Thomas Ahn as Charles Schumer and Jason Wong as his opponent, Michael Benjamin.

The election simulation is led by the senior Participatory Democracy classes. Each class has a specific role. Chris Hackney's classes represented

the media, responsible for putting together a newspaper and the television and radio broadcasts. Candidates hailed from Linda Steinmann and Charlene Levi's classes.

Franco Scardino's Advanced Placement US Government and Politics classes took the roles of special interest groups.

The simulation's goal was to raise awareness of candidates and issues through interactive assemblies and campaigning.

Students marching to Colden Auditorium on Founder's Day were bombarded with the colorful signs and vivacious cheers of seniors, in a last ditch attempt to rally support for their candidates.

Assymblyman Anthony Weiner (Michael Bedala) was busy waving campaign ads.

On October 26, band 7 classes marched to the auditorium to watch the Special Interests Rally, where student awareness of special interest groups was raised. Most performances involved props, costumes, and music. Students attending the rally found it very informative. "The information that was given was very condensed and stuck in your head," said sophom.o re Marlene Sim.

Battle ofbands rocks auditorium

by Francesca Pizarro

appreciation for the performers. Frenkel organized the event.

Audience interaction and "The audience really made this "I was very pleased to find out enthusiasm played a key role in show," said senior and vocalist that we sold much more than the the success of this year's Battle for Indecision, Matthew initial goal of 100 attendees," of the Bands, held in the AglialoFo. "We had a great said Matthew Rek, who also auditorium Thursday, October crowd response. Even when the performed as a member of 14. power went out in the· middle Deuce. The money raised for Waist ina, 22 Day Bike Protest, of the song; 'Californication,' the event will go to benefit the Duplex-47, Deuce, and by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, senior elass.

Indecision rocked the night the crowd continued to sing Mutual appreciation among away in a two-hour along, even though we weren't the different bands was performance combining playing." apparent. ''Every band was musical genres from emo to Despite the restriction that amazing. They all deserve the heavy metal. only students and immediate prize just as ~uch as my band In the midst of technical familY could attend, many does," said Matthew Aglioloro. difficulties that climaxed in a agreed that the turnout was "It was a fabulo.us evening complete loss of electrkity "one of the best in years," showcasing the talent of during the last band, according to Matthew Duelka, students," said Battle of the Indecision's, performance, the who along wirh fellow seniors Bands advisor Georgette .x:towd lt()fitimurc:LtO<show their.-· •Matthew Rek and",Michaek •.wa:nac.t V··'

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The Classic

4 Reinstitute·d· bud.get dispels-fears Gaudette November 2004

freshman class," explained Susan Getby Chris Amanna and Diana Bell The late finalization of the school ting, Assistant Principal of Humanities. budget on October I 8 averted major ''In April we were expecting 294 new funding cuts. Approximately all of the students. Only 204 attended the open $420,000 slated for removal was re- house in June. By August, we determined the final figure to be 254 stustored.

Principal Thomas Cunningham was dents." She pointed out that fewer stuvery relieved by the restitution of funds. dents translated to less funding.

During the period of uncertainty over "It is very fortunate that the story is funding restoration, not budget cuts," he. the freshman class, the New York Legsaid . He credited certain individuals islature was deliberating the state budwithin the school community for their get, which determines funding to city help in averting a serious budget crisis. schools. Albany did not pass this legis"The support of parents and the Alumni lation until August 20, over four months Association was instrumental in restor- late. In turn, the city Department of Eduing funding that had been cut," he said. cation did not pass its own budget until Confusion over the number of stu- September 23, I0 days after the start of dents to be admitted this year and the classes.

Mr. Cunningham maintained that the late passing of the state budget led school officials to expect significant threatened budget cuts would not have jeopardized academic offerings, which cuts to the 2004-2005 budget.

"We were not sure of the size of tl\e were given top priority. Even before the

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restoration of funding, the total number of class sections was increased to 47 from 43 in September 2003, and the number of Advanced Placement classes went up from I 4 to I 8.

With the restoration of the budget, more services are actually being provided this year than in the previous ones.

"We are fortunate to have an increased role for several teachers to provide additional support services," said Mr. Cunningham . The position of Attendance Coordinator has been re-instituted and the post of Assistant Program Chairperson has been created.

The school must still cut corners, since the city is strapped for cash. Ms. Getting referred to the use of colored paper for photocopies. "The school had several reams of colored paper in the store room and decided to save money by using what we have,'' she said.

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Gerald Beirne attended the award ceremony last June in New Orleans to accept the award. Many students did not hear the news, however, until this fall when a celebratory banner was seen hanging over the main lobby.

The award was administered by Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to

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by Jocelyn Wright Professor Helen Gaudette took the position of Queens College Liaison this semester. As Acting Director of college programs for Townsend Harris, she is replacing Dr. Marvin Leiner, the former Liaison who retired last year.

Professor Gaudette wants "to sustain existing programs and add on to the collaboration between Townsend Harris and Queens College." She wants to make the most of tbe Townsend Harris student experience on a college campus.

Professor Gaudette coordinates the Humanities seminars taken by seniors, and organizes the Freshman Humanities Colloquium lecture series. She plans to continue the "Dialogue of the Imagination Workshops," in which, for the last several years, prominent writers have presented ideas on imagination to a group of Harris teachers and students . .

She also wants to get seniors more access to the college library and have tutorials on college level research .

Seniors began the term with a new orientation class called "Welcome to the College Experience." Professor Gaudette and Townsend Harris alumnus Joseph Merino discussed with seniors what they could expect from college.

Professor Gaudette hopes to continue this program into the following years.

Professor Gaudette is currently working to complete her Ph.D. dissertation in history, called "On the Power, Piety, and Patronage of Queen Melisende of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem ." She hopes to travel to Jerusalem to "observe the crusader architecture .. . or what's left of it," she said. She also continues to teach courses in Medieval and Early Modern History.

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'School of Distinction' gets national award

by Annie Choi Townsend Harris has been named a Twenty-first Century School of Distinction of2004 in the Community Involvement category. It was one of20 schools nationwide to be recognized, and the honor came with an awara of$ I 0,000.

Principal Thomas Cunningham, Dean· Wanda Nix, and Superintendent

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"improving academic excellence for all chi.ldren." The Schools of Distinction program searches for schools that exemplify excellence across the country.

Academic excellence is the basic criterion for all selection, and other achiements are also recognized in special categories.

The school went through an application process in December 2003, which continued through the spring. It included visits from members of the award committee, who visited classrooms along with Mr. Cunningham.

Out of many finalists and semifinalists, Townsend Harris ended up as one of two winners in the Community Involvement category.

Mr. Cunningham was "elated and extremely proud" of the school, staff, · and students. He said that it was recognition of the excellent work that the school produced,"but we deserved it," he said. "It is a certification of the finest Humanities education available."

Ms. Nix felt that the award was all the more meaningful because "it validates what we're all about-giving back to our. community." She added, "I felt a lot of pride."

The prize money will be used to provide the school with various supplies, including computer hardware and Smartboards.

Blood drive·sets. record

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by Jennifer Park What takes approximately 25 minutes and saves ljves?-Donating blood.

A record of 44 pints was raised by the blood drive, held on Friday, October 12 in the school auditorium. Senior Alena Korosteleva and Coordinator of Student Activities Adam Stonehill organized the event in conjunction with the Long Island Blood Center, a division of the New York Blood Center.

Some students, such as senior Joanna Mufioz, were "a little nervous about giving blood," but felt that it was "for a good cause." Others, including seniors Tian Tian and Stephanie Arredondo, were more relaxed. A few teachers, including social studies instructor Charlene Levi imd physical education teacher Ray 1 Adamkiewicz, decided to take part in the event. · , ,_Alena was happy to have raised 44 pints of blood; however, she hopes for "a ~uich bigger turnout next time," including more teachers. The next blood drive ~s likely to be held this spring. , . , · · Blo,od don,ots had ,to be at least 17 years old, II 0 pounds, and also meet other ·· · medic'al requ1remeot.S. ~ . . . . . . •.

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November 2004

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Enthusiastic newcomers glad to be here The new additions to the faculty and staff arrived with an optimistic outlook on the year ahead.

With their varied backgrounds and interests, these 10 individuals are bringing new perspectives to nearly every department.

The Fine Arts and Foreign Language Departments and the Science Department have received most of the new faculty members, with three additions each. The. Humanities Department welcomes its newest English and Social Studies teachers. Also, a new guidance counselor, lab special, ist, and paraprofessional now call Townsend Harris home.

Last year saw the retirement of seven faculty members and the departure of several others.

Many Townsend Harris icons said their goodbyes last June. Anthony Morales, the art instructor who taught every student from 1984 through 2004, has bid farewdl to teaching. Longtime College Counselor Marilyn Blier has also written her last recommendation.

The new teachers are eager to fill the voids left by departing staff members and also make their -by Christopher Amana own contributions to the school community.

Jonathan Hirsch

. . sentor anxtous about college applications, Jonathan Hirsch is here to lend a helping hand.

Mr. Hirsch has tlO taken Antoinette ..c Teague's place as N a guidance coun~ selor. Previously, ~ . he taught social }i studies courses ina. eluding, AP Government and Economics, at Forest Hills and John Jay High Schools.

Mr. Hirsch became interested in counseling when he had a chance to interact with students, and he says helping teens is a rewarding experi-

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Jonathan Hirsch

by Jennifer Park For those of you who feel overwhelmed, whether you're a freshman in a new environment, a sophomore or junior burdened with collaterals, or a

ence. He commented that the students here are "mostly affected with worries pertaining to schoolwork," whereas in other schools, he dealt with problems involving disobedience and violence. "The stuc · dents here are fiercely competitive, and this causes stress levels to rise immensely," he said.

Mr. Hirsch feels it is his re- · sponsibility to help with stressmanagement and progran1ming, particularly with students who may need certain accommodations. "It's nice to be in an environment where there are not as many disciplinary problems," he said, He advises students is to "take the time out to smell the roses" instead of always focus·ing on academics.

Linda Steinmann

by Jennifer Park New social studies instructor Linda Steinmann is very familiar with Townsend Harris. In the past, she taught students here for two years. and two of her children are graduates.

Now she teaches Participatory Government and AP Government.. · "I had always wanted to teach," said Dr. Steinmann.

"Whenever I played 'school' when I was young, I always had to be the teacher." After earning her Ph.D. in history, she acquired a posttton at Marymount College. She then jumpstarted her career here,

teaching from 1988 to 1990.

She. transferred to Forest Hills High School in 1990 becuase a teacher with greater senior~ ity was entitled to her position.

Dr. Steinmann then moved to be a technology integration staff developer at the Queens High School Office, where she taught teachers how to use technology in the classroom.

Now she is "back home" and decided to return to Townsend Harris because "the students and faculty are wonderful," she said.

Dr. Steinmann noted that Townsend Harris is very lucky not to be overcrowded, adding that the halls of Forest Hills are extremely congested. She observed that the students here are "extremely motivated," and advises Jhem "to keep your eyes on the prize but to not stress." She also wants to tell se0 niors that "they will get <;; E into the college that de-< serves them."

0 ~ In her spare time, g.

-l Dr. Steinmann enJoys ;>, .D attending the ballet and 8 theater.She hopes to 0 .c work here until she re..........- - 0.

Linda Steinmann tires.

Juanita Holland

by Priti Shah Paraprofessional Juanita Holland is excited to become part of the Townsend Harris family.

She is passionate about her job as an educational assistant and looks forward to interacting with the students and staff.

Ms. Holland has been working as an educational assistant for eight years. Before that, she worked at the Occupational Therapy Center at Queens College as a counselor. Here, Ms. Holland works in the Guidance Office, helping teachers and students .

When she is not working, Ms.

Richard Cappucio Cappucio enjoys experiencing

by Sangsoo Kim "I think all teachers have a the city's culture to the fullest. common goal: to guide students In his free time, he loves to atwho have the same passion for tend literary gatherings hosted knowledge that we have," said by New York .

Mr. Cappucio cannot imagRichard Cappucio. The new ine living in a world without English instructor currently poetry.

He was impressed with teaches freshman, sophomore, the school's literary magazine, and junior classes.

The Phoenix, and offered to Before becoming part of the faculty here, Mr. Cappucio taught at Grover Cleveland High School in Queens,and at Erasmus Hall ::::1 0 High School in '§ Stu Yellin Brooklyn. Motir/l

by Francesca Pizarro vated by a con~1:: Prior to coming threeseasonsanimatingtheTV tinuousdesireto "'>< here and filling the po- Fimhouse segments on Satur- learn, he enjoys :;;( sitionleftbytheretire- dayNightLive. teaching be ~ ;>, .D ment of art teacher · ' This is Mr. Yelhn's first time cause it allows 0 0 Anthony Morales, Stu educating students at the high him to meet new .c 0.

Yellin spent many school level. "I actually-found people with new Richard Cappucio years working in the that 1 enjoy working with kids," ideas. animation industry. he said. "I would just like to Mr. Cappucio gf "I have done make a difference, to be the art appreciates students who show lend his services to its memprojects for television teacher with actual real-world a strong committmeQt to aca- bers . He strongly urges stu§ series, commercials, experience to share. 1 didn't demics. "Townsen&Harris is a dents who love to write to join Ci internet films, and have [that] when 1 was in high pretty special plac~," he said. The Phoenix.

E even a feature film," school."

"The students I've met in my If Mr. Cappucio could give ~ he said. He was a key His transition has been classes are serious about their one piece of advice to his stu-§. animator on Lizzie somewhatconf'usina ."withthP~ .education.". . . .. dents, j_t w,ould · ,. .\b, fi "!/-'-/ 1 ~ ,...,.~,.

-• • • tbe. . • •to r f..~:wqrk , •-4'" .

McGuire and spe'n'{ ,'·' .·.·' ,,', -' - 'coritin~~don p.'S' ,... ' 'As'a'native:Nfw Yorker, r:Mr.' ' naro ; play hard; pro'otrelid.'' . '

Holland enjoys writing and reading. The ::::1 0 goal she hopes '§ to achieve from r/l being a parapro..."'

-o fessional is to 1:: "'>< more learn :;;( about adoles;>, .D cence and be0 0 come closer to .c 0. children.

Ten years Juanita Holland from now, Ms. Holland sees herself running her helped in the past. In the meanown clinic and having closer re- time, she is enjoying the lations to those children she has school's atmosphere. <!)

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November 2004

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Where do you want to go? Admission Stc

by Tanaz Talebpour If you ever wondered what your dream school is searching for when considering applicants from Townsend Harris, look no further. Below is a list schools and a profile indicating the results of acceptance for the graduating class of 2004. Included in the statistics

or

are the total number of applicants; the of 2004 was Boston University. A total total number accepted; the lowest aver- : of 81 students applied, and only nine age accepted; the highest average re- were rejected.

Last year's seniors also showed jected; the SAT scores of the applicant with the lowest average accepted; and much interest in colleges close to home, the SAT scores of the applicant with the particularly St. John's University, the highest average rejected. second most popular school. St. John's · The number one school for graduates accepted all 76 students who applied.

New York University's College of Arts and Science was the third most popular among the Harrisites; it drew 69 applicants, 37 of whom were admitted.

A number ofHarrisites applied to Ivy League institutes, but a slot at Columbia was the most coveted, with a total of 38 applicants, three of whom were

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The Classic November 2004

s lend hand in deciding accepted. Yale and Harvard took two Harrisites each, while Princeton and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) admitted none. Princeton . also rejected students from the class of2003 and 2002, totaling three consecutive years of denied acceptance for Townsend Harris applicants.

In addition to SAT scores and grade point averages, post-secondary schools consider various other factors when evaluating students for admission, including essays, teacher recommendations, personal interviews, community service, and extracurricular activities.

(See "College Knowledge," p. 9.)

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The Classic November 2004

New faces in many places: Enthused staff comes aboard Silvio Martinez

Stu Yellin

by Samira Annabi

Continued from p. 5 rotating schedule and all the paperwork," but "everyone has been great," he says. "The other faculty has been very helpful."

Mr. Yellin teaches Art Exploration and Video, and he is also the advisor for the Art Club.In the future, he hopes to offer animation and computer

by Diana Bell

illustration as available art After teaching Spanish for eyes," said Mr. classes. Assistant Principal of 18 years in New York City's Martinez. He finds in Art Lisa Mars "seems very sup- public schools, Silvio Martinez satisfaction watching his stuportive" of the idea, he stated. - decided to join the Townsend Mr. Yellin looks forward to Harris faculty. He had been dents "develop to having some of his suggestions waiting for a position here ever their full potenHe also for "new class ideas, possible since he heard that "it is a fan- tial." noted that he loves field trips and guest speakers" tastic school." teaching and implemented in the curriculum .

Before arriving here, Mr. "loves the interacMartinez taught at I 0 different high schools, the latest of tion with stuw_hich was Frederick Douglass dents ."

When he atAcademy. He also taught at Daniel Roschnotti Riker :s Island, but now he is - tended Queens -proud to be part of -the College, he especially enjoyed Townsend Harris community. studying linguistics. Mr. Here, he feels not only that he Martinez later graduated from is able to teach, "but also that the University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil with a degree in Span[he] is able to get results ." ish-Portuguese Literature.

"I love to see how students In his free time, Mr. begin to grow in front of your

The newest addition to the Foreign Language de)Jartment, Daniel Roschnotti, integ rates classical texts with modOil c:: ern applications. "' ~ He teaches Latin c:: d': I and 3 and dur>-. .0 ing the summer, 0 journeys to 0 ..<:: 0..

Greece and Italy for archeologiDaniel Roschnotti cal digs.

Mr. Roschnotti is eager to Roschnotti ;s first excavation impart his love of Latin to his was in 1992. For one year, he students. "A friend showed me attended the American School there was a lot worthwhile in of Classical Study in Athens. studying Latin," he said. :'It has "I always seem to have the best been one of the best things I've find at an excavation," he said done with my life." with a smile. During the sumMr. Roschnotti transferred mer of 200 I, on his last day at here from Staten Island Acad- a site in Cosa, Italy, he found emy, a private school where he the entire painted floor of an taught Latin, Greek, and En- early Roman house with a coin glish . He is excited about the on top, which enabled him to change in academic environ- date the home. ment. "I came from a public Besides Latin, Greek, and education, so I can relate to you archaeology, Mr. Roschnotti's better [than students at S.I.A]," hobbies include singing at pihe said. ano bars, sailing, and dancing As for archaeology, Mr. the tango.

of demonstrations," he said.

"Class doesn't have to be about just reading out of a textbook ." . From a young age, Mr. Sangiorgi knew that he wanted to teach at the high school level. "As a teen, I used to go to a youth center. They did so much for me, and just from my ex>-- periences there, I ~ knew that I wanted to help others," he exc. plained.

Tom Sangiorgi He attended New chemistry teacher Tom Queens College where hereSangiorgi hopes to pique the inceived his degrees in science. terest of students who think He then worked at John chemistry is dull. "I hate givAdams High School in ing a: t>6ring·cf~fsi~ S"o·iii~(dt)t'S--~,;-~-tl~ns where he taught -sci-

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The English-Only Restaurant, and a third in English entitled,

Our Wondeiful Theater.

Phillip Porzio

Phillip Porzio

by Christopher Amanna To most students, new science and math teacher Philip Porzio is an unfamiliar face in the ever-changing sea of faculty members. For some veteran staff members, however, his countenance is strikingly familiar. This is because he is a graduate of Townsend Harris's

class of 1998.

"I don't really find it odd coming back to Townsend Harris," said Mr. Porzio. "I always loved the Oil @ environment ~ and being withc:: in the Townsend u."' >-- commumty, so I .0 2 jumped at the _g0.. chalice to come back when offered."

He admits he has trouble addressing former teachers as colleagues, on a first-name basis. "1 still call them by the titles I used when I was a student, and I get reprimanded every time I do so," he said.

While studying for a Master's Degree in forensic science, Mr. Porzio decided to

shift gears and become a teacher. "W)lile [forensics] interests me greatly, and I study it independently, the work that I was performing didn't seem fulfilling enough," he stated.

"Although it's [a] cliche, I feel as though I can make a difference being a teacher."

He is the instructor of the new forensic science elective and teaches chemistry and Math A as well. He is also qualified to teach biology.

Mr. Porzio's students are well ' aware of his love of baking, as he bakes for them on test days .

Whether it is cookies or brownies, Mr. Porzio's treats are intended to make students look forward to testing days and help them perform better.

Mr. Porzio is confident in his choice of career. "I see myself teaching until I'm too old to lift a piece of chalk," he said.

Alice Arimelikara

Tom Sangiorgi

by Mary Grace Papatheodorou and Christopher Amanna

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ence research, astronomy, and both Regents level and Advanced Placement chemistry.

Mr. Sangiorgi feels that here he will be able to appreciate the best part of "reaching out to students who are interested in chemistry and really teaching them something."

2

Alice Arimelikara

by Tiffany Cheng Alice Arimelikara, new lab specialist, sets up the labs before classes, orders materials; and makes sure large quantities of chemicals are not used in the laboratory. She is also involved with students' safety while using lab equipment, and she ensures that everyone in the science department follows these procedures. ::l Because Ms. 0 ·§l Arimelikara works 0 ~ mostly with teach~ ers, she misses in~ teracting with stu~ dents . Born in In£ dia, she taught gen8 era! science at prio -§.. vate schools there for five years. After-

wards, she moved to Africa and taught at public schools. While specializing in chemistry, Ms .

Arimelikara began teaching students at a higher level. When she first cp.me to America, she became a substitute teacher, and she worked as a lab specialist at Manhattan Humanities High Schoo l fo r five years .

Though here in New York she found the students much less disciplined than in India and Africa, "Townsend Harris is one exception," said Ms .

Arimelikara. . In her spare time, Ms. Arimelikara likes to read, and organize and clean her home.

As a new member of the faculty, she feels very welcome and comfortable here.

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The Classic November 2004

College knoWledge

by Tanaz Talebpour Should I apply early? Should I take college courses in high school? What if my SAT score isn't high enough? These are just a few of the endless questions that many high school students have on their minds. Applying to colleges and universities may be complicated for some, but if you are well informed and have a good understanding of the process, then life gets a whole lot easier.

Institutes of higher education consider the high school years to be the most significant for an individual's future education. "Course selection throughout high school is important," said College Counselor Antoinette Teague. "Colleges are looking for students who have challenged themselves with the most rigorous course of study offered at their high schoo1." Teachers here at Townsend Harris stress the importance of taking Advanced Placement (AP) and Queens College (QC) classes so that students can both get a taste of what a college F>rogram 'is 'like, and add advanced courses to their academic transcripts.

Once a college is aware that a student has taken an AP or QC course, the applicant's academic ranking automatically rises on that school's scale.

Colleges regard senior year in secondary school to be just as important as

ccin-Curtail Stress

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1------------------------.. ----·· any other year. Many pupils believe they caR take things lightly during their final year, especially after they've been admitted to a school to which they applied, but beware of "senioritis," the name often given to slacking off in the 12th grade. The truth is that if admissions officers see your senior grades drop drastically, they may refuse you admission, or if you have already been admitted, they can revoke that scholarship you re-

Tea,g,ue. gets p,rog:ram·change way to Townsend Harris, Ms. Teague worked at East New YQrk High School of Transit Te;ehnology for nine years, where she was the Co.llege and Career Counselor for the last three years there.

As a guidance counselor, ~ Ms. Teaglile dealt mostly with personal and crisis counseling, programming, and transcript review, but college counseling en· .!:> tails "a multitude of other B 0 tasks," she stated. "Each position l'las its rewards and chalAntoinette Teague lenges,'' she explained, and col. lege counseling calls for an extensive

by Tanaz Talebpour Guidance counselor Antoinette knewledge of college pmgrams, requkements, and schetlrurships as well T~-l}gue ma,Ele the switch from room 3 f2 to 314 this year. The joe that once as tne.eting with stucl'tmts and parents belong~d to former Cot:lege CbUilset0 cl:isseminate information and anlor Ma.rilyn Blie;r, who ret-ired fast swer ifUestions. With tbe aid of a team year, ·h as now eeen assi~ed te N1s. of"f.aculty members.• she also writes Teague. ''I was comp.limenteti by Mr. official co}lege rectQmmenl!lat1ons for • 1;. ' s conuqeo-c.e #.:A • ~11..-'rJ m my itliltseniors. The Class of 2tlQ5 consists Cunnmgn'8mi. ity to take over Mrs. D11-er's position,'' of nCMly 285 seniors., one of the largest in recent years. ••since I began said Ms. Teague. counseli!ng, my case load has always Af~r graduating from Hun:ter Cotlege with a minor in Edueation and a been large; therefore I depend on stu~ Masteor's de,g ree i'n Guidance and dent cooperation and a team apCounseling, Ms. Teague began her c,a. pt;.oach," she said.

Although Ms. Teague is experireer as a math teacher at Philippa Schuyler Middle School for the Gifte'd encedin college counseling, Ms. Dii:er and Talented in B:rooklyn, where she has offered tp help in the oo11ege ofworked fur 10 years..,_!)he ~pent her .fi- fio:e twice a week to increase producnal four yeats there as the High School tivity. "I am. apprec.iative of M..rs .

Articulation Counselor. helping stu- Blier's contribution in he~ping the coldents ad-vance from junior high scltooJ lege process get ofl' to a good -start,'' to high -scfi(Jel. Bdore makrn·g. her Ms. Teague said.

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ceived, or even rescind your acceptance.

Students' transcripts are of course a major criterion for colleges' e:vaJuation of candidates, but since academic offerings and standards vary from one high school to the next, many colle.ges give great weight to national test scores.

"Exam scores, including SAT and ACT scores, are a part of the picture that will demonstrate to college admissions counselors how much students have ashieved and the likelihood of their continued success at the college level," said Ms. Teague. For those who aren't completely satisfied with their scores, there's always the option of taking the SAT agliin.

Many schools require the SAT II subject tests. "Competitive schools ask for three SAT II exams," said Ms. Blier.

In addition to the academic record and exam scores, extracurricular activities, volunteer work and college essays are "all part of the profile you present to the college admissions office. All are important and help to describe and set you apart from others with the same academic credentials," said Ms. Teague.

Ms. Blier said that it's "far more important to show dedication to one or two activities than to a whole laundry list of clubs." This goes for community service as well, because students can receive a fine letter of recommendation for their consistent volunteer work. Finall y, it is imperative to have a strong essay, because the essay is "the last impression," as Ms. Blier calls it. "After all, admissions counselors are reading your essays, often at midnight, and they are looking for students who have something to say and can say it wel l," she said.

Some coJ.Ieges offer opportunities for "special admits ." Athletes, musicians, and artists can be considered '"special admits," as well as the physically handi- , capped and other students who may be considered as part of a minority group within the school's population.

Many schools offer the opti<;m of Early Decision (ED). Under this policy, student~ apply to one place only, usu- · ally in early November of senior year, and agree to attend the school if they are accepted. This agreement is binding. ·~·~.

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In mid-December, applicants find out whetbet they have been admitted, rejected, br placed on the wait list. About 25% of ou1 school's senior classes apply ED, according to school statistics.

Senior Catherine M. Kim is applying ED because after visiting a university campus, she said she "really feel in love with .it." She then added, "I can't imagine myself going any place else." But ED isn't for everyone. Ms. Teague said, "Students should only use this option when they are very sure about the school they want· to attend." When this is the case, there are advantages to applying early. "Acceptance is received sooner, you may have an advantage in getting accepted, l5ut your profile should be very close to or exactly what the school has traditionally accepted," said Ms. Teague. According to an article in the November 4, 2002 issue of Newsweek, EJ) can "dramatically increase [a student's] odds·" 0f getting in, but those "who apply early for the wrong reasons can end up dissatisfied."

S.o me s~nools, including Yale Universi~, :Se:l6jt College, and the University of North Carolina~have announced that they have dropped ED and have switched to Early Action (EA), the. nonbinding policy, EA allows applicants to compare financial aid packages with other school·$ to which they've beerl admitted.

While some anxiety over the application process is "normal," Ms. Teague stressed that, "it is important to keep anxiety within manageable limits because too much can be counterproductive." She advises you to "ask for help as soon as you need it."

As you gather more knowledge about the applications process, you'll gain a better understanding of what colleges are looking for in you, and what you are looking for in a college.

Sources:

ACT: Information for Life's Transitions. "A Guide to Colleges and Universities for High School Students and Parents."

Key. Fall 2002.

Kantrowitz, Barbara. "The Early Decision Rebellion." Newsweek. November4, 2002: 60-63 .

New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Booklet: "Big Apple College Fairs/ Col'!ege Planning Booklet." HESCBig Apple 2002.

For More Information: www.act.org www.campustours.com · www.collegeboard.com www.collegeispossible.org www.collegenet.com www.myroad.com www.ed.gov/offices/ O'SFAP/Students 1 www.fafsa.ed.gov 'www:finaid.org

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The Classic November 2004 '

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Sharing educational experiences:.

Principal takes trip

to South Korea

by Jocelyn Wright Classes start at seven every morning and don't finish until nine in the evening for students at Wankgong Girls High School. These long days are typical of South Korean schools, as Principal Thomas Cunningham discovered during the I 0-day visit he made to South Korea over the summer.

conference on September 29.

Mr. Cunningham, who traveled with his wifeJulie, felt the trip was a oncein-a-lifetime experience. He said he was treated royally and had a wonderful time. During his stay, he visited an all-girls high school, a university, a steel factory, and a tea plantation.

At Wankgong Girls High School, Mr. Cunningham found that students were well-behaved and enthusiastic, with the strong belief that a good education will provide people with opportunities to change their Jives. He also found that students had a strong work ethic. Most schools in South Korea are segregated by sex, but Mr. E Cunningham does not jg feel that single-sex educa.?f tion results in better learn§ ing. "I believe that stuU dents benefit from the co~ education experience," he '0;>-. said. :.3 Korea's curriculum is nationalized, and includes ~ a strong cultural compo_g nent that stresses Korean "" history and arts. While Undeterred by the rain, Mr. Cunningham explores English, Chinese, and South Korean history at Mount Mai Park. The Buddhist temple behind him was built by a monk. It took over I 0 Japanese are some of the years to construct a total of four temples and shrines. foreign languages taught, English is the primary He was invited by the Korean SAT I secondary language. & II Foundation, which sponsors annual At least in Seoul. Mr. Cunningham trips to share Korean cultur~ with found that most of the locals spoke EnAmerican educators. The trip lasted glish fairly well. One morning, though, from July 1 -July I0. It guided 34 edu- Mr. Cunningham got lost while jogging cators from all over the country, includ- through the streets of Seoul and asked ing Mr. Cunningham, through almost all someone for directions. Although the of South Korea. He described his expe- local spoke English, there was some riences to the journalism class in a press misunderstanding, and Mr. Cunningham

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Mr. Cunningham and his wife, Julie, visit the ancient tombstones of Songsanri. The mounds behind them are tombs of the first Korean kings. almost got more lost than he already was . He describes this as "one occasion where people spoke English but there was not a one-to-one correspondence." Later on, he discovered that he had been just 200 yards away from his hotel.

Mr. Cunningham found that the people of Korea were welcoming and kind. In exchange for this generosity, he handed out Townsend Harris t-shirts, pens, and coffee mugs brimming with candy, and he shared his Townsend Harris experiences with other educators. "I am extremely proud of this school... and that [exchanging educational experiences] was the purpose of this trip," he said.

In his travels throughout South Korea, Mr. Cunningham visited the DMZ between North and South Korea, where, among many things, he saw an underground tunnel North Koreans had dug to invade South Korea and the radio tower that the North Koreans used to broadcast propaganda into South Korea.

Mr. Cunningham's tour group was instructed not to look at the North Korean

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soldiers patrolling the border for fear of antagonizing them . Despite the conflicts between the two countries, Mr. Cunningham found there was overwhelming South Korean hope for the eventual reunif~ation of South and North Korea.

When asked about cultural differc • ences between America and South Korea, Mr. Cunningham noted how recent foreign occupation has inlluenced the South Koreans' attitude toward freedom. Noting thatAmericans tend to take democracy for granted, he said that South Koreans "revere their freedoms."

As a result of the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945, many natural products such as wood were shipped to Japan. Now the Koreans use steel chopsticks and plastic toothpicks as part of a national reforestation campaign.

Although he was impressed by what he saw in South Korea, Mr. Cunningham found little in the Korean education system that he would like to apply to Townsend Harris, saying, "We have a wonderful school here and I like it just the way it is."

Hal/ex bridges-gap between parents, teachers

by Annie Choi In keeping with its efforts to establish a stronger bridge between schools and parents, the New York City Department of Education created the new staff position of Parent Coordinator in August 2003. In this school, Winnie Hallex has filled this position for over a year.

Before being named the Parent Co-

ordinator, Ms. Hallex was active in the Parent Teacher Association for four years and also was involved in the School Leadership Team for one year.

When she heard of the opportunity to act as a friendly intermediary between the school community and its parents, she left her job as a physician's assistant and took the position.

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Unlike a Parent Volunteer, a Parent Coordinator is a staff member who works with other staff members to deal with the concerns that arise.

According to Ms. Hallex, her job is to provide "a welcoming environment for the parents, to help them navigate the system."

As a Parent Coordinator, Ms. Hallex also supports parent organizations, such as the PTA and the School Leadership Team. She looks to the community for financial support and aid to improve the school.

The goal of the Parent Coordinator is to increase parents' involvement in education. Ms. Hallex expressed her concerns about people's tendency to think that once _ _their children are , in high '_: ~ ..

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November2004

11

Snazzy styles surface during Spirit Week

by Diana Bell and Tiffany Cheng For the first time in cartoon history, Spongebob Squarepants made the fifth floor his new home for Townsend Harris sophomores. Juniors set the fourth floor "ablaze," while freshmen wrapped the sixth floor in black, white, and purple balloons. Seniors won the contest for best decorations with their unc

derwater theme on the third floor.

Spirit Week kicked off on October 25 and ended on October 29, Founder's Day. Monday op~ned with color day and each grade wore clothing in its designated color: freshmen in black, sopho~ mores in yellow, juniors in red, and seniors in blue.

"I never had a spirit week in school,

so it was different for me," said freshman Mannan Hassan. " I enjoyed getting involved."

Tuesday, Halloween Appreciation Day had a low turnout. Several students told The Classic that this was because it was nearly a week earlier than Halloween's actual date.

"Halloween Day went well for those

who participated, but I noticed it was mostly upperclassmen [who] dominated," said junior Grade Leader Jackie Dinas.

Wednesday's Retro Day saw many juniors sporting styles of the '50s, '60s and '70s, and on Thursday's Pajama Day, many students from all grades showed up in sleepwear and slippers.

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Provocative dancing at mixer peeves party participants

by Andrea Gavora and Christopher Amanna The senior class mixer provided a good time for many, but some students and teachers considered certain behavior at the function to be inappropriate.

Held in the Queens College Student Union Building from 3 to 6 p.m., all grades socialized, danced and welcomed the new school year in an annual school tradition. Some, however, found the dancing and dress of some students too indecorous for a school function.

Described by Coordinator of Student Affairs Adam Stonehill as "risque" the

dancing proved to be too provacative in _ announcement regarding safety and con- people other than close friends ." said · some people's opinion. "Some of the. duct: Many students refused to pay at- sophomore Sara Lynch.

Freshman Noah Bonner explained, dancing was a little too suggestive," said tention and proceeded to talk. This caused Mr. Stonehill to wait several "[The mixer] was a good welcoming to senior Anika Anam.

The dress of certain students also minutes for them to be quiet before giv- Townsend Harris and a good way to start the year." brought about much criticism. Although ing his warning.

The dance served not only as a soChaperone and Spanish teacher the mixer was not held in the Townsend Harris building, the school's dress code Amelia Betancourt said, "[Students] cial event but also a fundraiser that still applied. "Call me crazy, but I think were not aware that it was a school func- added $ 1,000 to the senior class coffers.

"I think the overall turnout was a push-up bra and a mesh tank top isn't tion and didn'ttake note of what 'was appropriate attire for a high school ·expected. Had I known that I could kick good," said Senior CfJuncil Vice-Presiden.t Nessa. French. "Despite the overdance," said Student Union President people out, I would have."

Despite the controversy, dancers en- .reaction to the provocative dancing, I Kris_Imperati.

These concerns prompted Mr. joyed themselves. "[The mixer] allowed think everyone had a great time and we Stonehill to stop the music an.d make an students to mingle and hang out with ended up raising some money too." ·· ~-

Pledged unlocks doors of sorority living Ratings Guide

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year-old author's 19-year-old features Their struggles to become pledges, their Sorority life has always been a sub- gives her a running start in her under- relationships with fraternity boys, their ject from which non-sorority members cover campaign, offering us a candid in- party habits, and how they benefited are isolated. In her book Pledged: The sight into the lives of Vicky, Sabrina, from their sorority, or did not benefit, Secret Life of Sororities, Alexandra Caitlin, and Amy. These sorority girls are all included. On each page, Ms. Robbins delves into the highly selective, at Southern Methodist University risked Robbins feeds us with factual in formasecretive world of sorority life. Herre- their membership to let Ms. Robbins tion.

Her words are stimulating not besearch brings forth the general charac- take note of exactly what happened beteristics of many sororities, not just a . hind the meticulously engraved Greek cause they cause us to think of being in letters on their doors, or more precisely, a sorority, or to laugh at the sorority particular type. system's many flaws, but because they Pledged not only presents a detailed on their souls.

Pledged is a guidebook for those as- tie each concept of the book to our Jives. chunk of sorority life, but Robbins incorporates skilled undercover voyeur- piring to be in sororities. Ms. Robbins · ism to successfully garner ~er necessary • ..

•. +. •• information. In other words, the 26- over ne course o an enttre sc oot year.

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The Classic November 2004

Hallflks spike wa,y to top

Track sta·rs ru:n to· strong .finish

byWendyYan Despite their success in the first two rounds of the play:offs, the Girls' Varsity Volleyball team was unable to overcome Hunter College High School, losing in straight sets in the quarterfinal match on November 15.

The loss comes after defeating both Brooklyn Technical and Bayside High Schools in straight sets in the first two rounds. In the regular season, the Hawks The Girls' Varsity Volleyball team sets the ball finished second in the division with a 10-2 record. straight-set loss and a 2-1 loss Although the Hawks' record to Francis Lewis High School. shows consistency for the This weakness is in part due to greater part of the season, their the fact that the Hawks vulnerability was seen in only brought back only seven playtwo regular season losses, a ers from last year to their 16-

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"We have new bench players with little or no expereince," said coach Wanda Nix. "But they are constantly getting better.

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by Michelle Montogoris The Boys' Varsity Bowling team's season was cut short on November 9, when their 2J loss to Bayside ended their playoff dreams despite the efforts of "A" bowler Jeremy Teperman (232) in the "C" match, and the sparkling performance of the "B" team, led by senior MatthewAglialoro's 156. The loss put them in a third place tiewith Forest Hills,

but Forest Hills won the playoff spot because they had more total pins.

The Hawks otherwise fared well, finishing I 0-4 in their first year in the Queens IV division, the toughest in Queens. The Hawks's regular competitors were powerhouses Forest Hills, Bayside, and the division champion Cardozo.

"We had a strong te~m,"

Boys' track

first year coach Shari Basis stated. "The boys bowled well."

The teams welcomed freshmen Vito Are-na and Jonathan Stein, and sophomore Alexander Lord at the begin·ning of the season. Senior David Joseph ( 166 average), junior Peter Catalano ( 165), and sophomores Neal Deluna ( 179) and Jeremy Teperman (165) compiled the "A" squad.

Fencing team seizes victory

by Lauren. Korzeniewski The Varsity Fencing team completed their regular season with a win over Robert F. Kennedy on October 21. They ended with a 5-3 record and a third place division finish.

The Hawks were impressive in their match against Francis Lewis October 14, showing their versatility as both the "A" and the "C" teams contributed.

Captain senior Kimberly Manis and junior John Kromidas each recorded two wins in the A match, while juniors Donna Mordente and Eleanor Fallon chipped in a win apiece in the C match to close out what was their fourth win.

Kimberly leads the team with 13 wins and is sixth in the city in that category. She is assisted by John (10 wins) and sophomores· Jim Brian Estil, Marcus. Ng, and Matthew Becce. "The team has a unique, cohesive, energized spirit," said Coach Deborah Michlewitz.

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Fencing invitational challenges city's best

by Michelle Montgoris Over 40 of PSAL's fencing best attended the first annual Fencing Invitational Showcase on September 26.

Townsend Harris hosted the event,, which brought together

by Michelle Montgoris and Rookmiriie Behari Tim Conner, coach of the Girls' Varsity Cross-Country team, predicted this season was going to be interesting. The conclusion to .the season has proven him "fight. The Hawks have had finishers in the top ten for every meet. On Saturday, November B, the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams placed fifth and fourth, respectively, in the City Championships helg in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.

The girls faced formidable competition despite being crowned Queens Champions earlier in the season. The Varsity team competed for the coveted top four position eligible for State Championships. Unfortunately, the team placed a disappointing but respectable fifth, ending the cross country season.

Sophomore Devotia Moore, wlro placed sixth in the Varsity Race at City Champions, qualified for the individual run in State Championships .. This year, she has achieved first-place finishes in three races.

"Devotia will be, if she is not already, one of the top runners in the city. She works very hard, but she enjoys it and I think that's one goal that I have-to have the girls enjoy what they do," said Mr. Conner.

Mr. Conner also mentioned that senior captains Hazel Chi, Venus Cheung, and Rebecca Lyneh, will have a very positive influence throughout the year.

athletes from nine schools across the city: Francis Lewis, Robert F. Kennedy, Cardozo, Long Island city, Beacon, Bronx Science, Bronx Leadership, and Totten ville, as well as Townsend Harris. Senior Kim-

by Alex Rush The Boys' Cross-Country team has gotten off to a strong start this season, with an especially promising beginning from their youngest runners. Six out of the nine freshmen placed in the top 20 in the Queens Freshman/Sophomore Championships held on October 12, while seven sophomores placed in the top 50. . In the Queens Grand Prix #3, on October 5, captain Matthew Duelka placed sixth, while six more of his teammates, including captains Nick Kolios and Pwps Saini, all finished top 30.

Coach George Rio is expecting his captains to "continue the dominance" that they started when they were underclassmen. Rio feels that the team, with the talent of third-year juni·ors Jonathan Pantano, Nestor Serrano, and Shrey Surana, can win the Queens Borough Championship and even advance to the State Cmss-Country Championship. Ten runners are on the verge of running the 5K (3.1 mile) in under 19 minutes and if these runners can do thi.s, the team will be on the fast track to becoming the borough, city, and even state champions.

"We will definitely prosper to be one of the best. in Queens," predicted s ·errano. "Where there is a will there is a way," added Surana. berly Manis came away as the resident star, taking fourth place.

"We wanted our fencers to have the experience of being in competition against a stranger," said fencing coach Debra Michlewitz, explaining the idea behind the tou·rnament. "You have to get comfortable enough to use your skills, even when it gets tough · and your mouth gets dry."

Kim acknowledged the effort of the younger fencers, such as sophomores Matthew Becce, Marcus Ng, and Jim Brian Estil.

Kim and Ms. Michelwitz began planning the event in

200 I, and once the idea was complete, they presented it to PSAL Fencing Commissioner Gladys Eaton.

"Gladys was very open to the idea; we both wanted this to help our fencers,'~ Ms. Michlewitz said. "Mr. Kwait [Assistant Principal of Organization] and Ms. Nix [Dean, Athletic Director] were ... very helpful also in bringing the event to Townsend."

"It .was exciting to see the turnout," Kim said. "We've been planning this since my freshman year, and we were afraid rio one would come, but they did and it was so much fun."