8th Graders Academic Victory!

by Merari Hernandez, 8^th Grade Reporter

October 24, 2010, the big day that thousands of eighth graders in New York were waiting for—the second day of the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT), a test that determines one’s acceptance into any of the eight elite high schools in New York City.

A handful of eighth graders from 214X applied and took the test. But of the few, only three proved worthy, and came out victorious. On February 11, the brave eighth graders who took the test received letters containing the words that foretold whether or not they would be attending a specialized high school in September. Reda Bouzidi, Charles Smith and Tyrone Thomas, all students of class 801, were the three who opened the letter to see that they had what it took to compete with the other thousands of diverse eighth graders across New York State who took the test.

“I thought I failed. I guessed on the last twenty questions because the time was limited,” said Bouzidi, who was accepted into the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering at City College.

“After taking the test, I felt anxious. I knew I passed, but I didn’t feel it,” Thomas stated, thinking back to that day in October.

Both Smith and Thomas were accepted into Brooklyn Latin High School, but neither of them will be attending due to distance. Thomas will be attending a private school, St. Raymond’s, and Smith plans to attend an all boy’s school in the Bronx.

While the three of them passed, neither of them even knew about the test’s format nor requirements for specialized high schools until seventh grade. Prior to the SHSAT, Bouzidi planned on attending a private high school and Smith thought he was going to a Catholic high school.

To prepare for the rigorous test, Thomas attended a program, Specialized High School Institute; Bouzidi bought and used Kaplan’s SHSAT Test-Prep book; and, Smith used a SHSAT handbook he received from a teacher.

Leprechauns, and Shamrocks, and Rainbows—Oh My!

by Merari Hernandez, 8^th Grade Reporter

Leprechauns, shamrocks, rainbows, pots of gold. The first thing that comes to mind is probably St. Patrick’s Day, a day celebrated once a year to admire the Irish.

However, St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish to begin with! He was actually a British captive, captured by Irish pirates when he was just sixteen, but returned to his family six years later. Although, he returned to Ireland, as a bishop, and became the patron saint of Ireland in the seventh century. On March 17, near the end of the fifth century, Saint Patrick passed.

St. Patrick’s Day is in fact a religious holiday, celebrated internationally. The color green was adopted years later. Blue was the first color associated with Saint Patrick. Shamrocks were used by Saint Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity, since the shamrocks have three leaves.

There are many ways this holiday is celebrated. Parades take place in major cities in several states, such as New York, Chicago, Boston, and even St. Louis. Every March 17, the Chicago River and the North White House Fountain are dyed green. Participants of parades in these cities cover themselves completely in green, as well as painting their faces completely green, or a simple shamrock.

Even though this holiday is known as an Irish celebration, the first parade took place here, in New York City on March 17, 1762. Irish soldiers serving in the English Military marched through the streets, trying to express their feelings towards the mistreatment of Irish immigrants in America.

But, the US and Ireland aren’t the only countries that celebrate this holiday. Surprisingly, several other countries also take part in this celebration, such as Argentina, Japan, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand, and Great Britain.

Girl Talk

Girl Talk is a column that gives feedback and advice to real girls. Questions can be submitted to: girltalk214@gmail.com, or to the PAZ Office, Room 212A.

Dear Girl Talk:

I sometimes feel alone, and like there is no one who can understand me. My grandmother does not listen to me and tells me that I am just like my mother. I never really knew my mother… and my family only talks about the bad things she did when she was my age. I feel alone and like no one in my family will ever get to know the real me. My friends in school do not know how I feel. I usually pretend to be happy. But, inside I am sad.

Sincerely,

Miss. Understood

Dear Miss Understood:

I am sad to hear that you feel lonely and misunderstood.  Maybe your Grandmother does not know how you feel about being compared to your mom, and she may need to hear firsthand from you about your feelings. My advice is to write your feelings in a journal. Imagine the things that you may want to say to your Grandma and share with her the impact… or your feelings after she compares you.

You may want to use an “I statement” when you communicate to her your feelings. For example:

Grandma I feel sad and misunderstood when you compare me to my mother. I would like you to get to know me for who I am, and for you to listen to the way I feel. If you can do this I will feel happy and listened to.

Misunderstood, I have learned that the best way to feel understood and listened to is to start by sharing your feelings and listening to the feelings of others. Have you asked yourself, why is your Grandma is comparing you to your mother? Time to have a talk with Grandma. Don’t forget to write to me and share how things turned out.

Peace,

Girl Talk

The Idol: Who do you think should have won 214X Idol?

by Quiara Santiago, 6^th Grade Reporter

Were you at 214X Idol, on March 11? If you were, then you know that Christopher Ramirez, of class 501, won overall and Faith Johnson, of class 603, won best show tune. If you were not there, then you missed out on the incredible guest performances of Lady Gaga, J-Lo, LL Cool J, Enrique Iglesias, and the host Beyonce.

There was a lot of great singing talent besides Ramirez’s powerful performance of Eye of the Tiger. Highlights from the evening include Elizah Cartagena (602), Patricia Elie (602), Demi Santos (604), Zoe Williams (503), and much more.

Idol contestants sang many great songs, from pop to musicals. Williams sang Party in U.S.A by Miley Cyrus. Meanwhile, Elie sang a true classic, Tomorrow from the musical Annie. There was even a guest performance by the Cheetahs Monsters, who rocked the house with Lady Gaga as she performed Poker Face.

I polled some of the PAZ Afterschool students and most people in the survey didn’t agree with the audience’s vote. Respondents to the poll thought Elie or Johnson should have won 214X Idol overall.

Do you know what the celebrity judges wore? Lady Gaga wore a long black shirt, a black tutu, a belt made of playing cards, and black tights. J-Lo wore a dark brown shirt, vest, and jeans. LL Cool J wore a short black shirt, black, red, and white shorts, and a gold chain. Enrique Iglesias wore a black shirt, black jeans, and a chain. Beyonce wore a black jumpsuit with a red bow. All the celebrity judges looked fabulous.

Inspirational Bronx Women: Celebrating Women’s History Month

by Tyrone Thomas, 8th Grade Reporter

There are many extraordinary women born in the Bronx. These women are scientists, authors, representatives, activists, Olympic Gold medalists, and much more. The history of women is celebrated in March and these are some very accomplished women to learn more about.

Rosalyn Sussman Yalow, born on July 19, 1921 was the second woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine. She and her co‐discoverer Berso discovered radioimmunoassay (RIA). It measures many substances found in tiny quantities in the human body. The RIA finds substances including some cancers. Additionally, blood donors can be screened for diseases such as hepatitis.

Mary Higgins Clark, born on December 24, 1927, in the Bronx is the author of 42 bestsellers in the U.S. She wrote novels like Where Are the Children and The Life of George Washington. Amazingly, she sold over 80 million books in the U.S alone.

Nita Lowey, born on July 5, 1993, is a member of the Democratic Party. She represented the 20th district from 1989‐1993. She is currently working in Congress to help our economy recover and reinvest in priorities like health care and education. In addition, she has helped lower taxes for 95% of American families and is creating better‐paying jobs, particularly in Westchester and Rockland Counties.

Sally Regenhard, of Co‐op City, is one of the leading voices for the families of the victims of the September 11th attacks. She has a degree in gerontology and has worked in nursing homes for over 20 years. She is a probationary firefighter with the F.D.N.Y.

Finally, Margaret Johnson Bailey, born January 23, 1951, was an Olympic Gold medalist in track and field. Her specialties are the 100 and 200‐meter dash. She won the Gold Medal in the 4×100 meter dash in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

These are all amazing women who started right here in the Bronx. Now you know that no matter where you’re from, or what your gender, everyone can succeed!

Your Monthly Math Brain Teaser

by Ms. Johnson-Parham, Math Staff Developer

Students Who Tell the Truth : A school has 200 students; however, these are special students. Some of them ALWAYS tell the truth, and the rest of them, alas, NEVER tell the truth. Among the subject areas of math, science, and social studies, each student has one favorite. A survey was conducted where each student was asked three yes, or no questions: “Do you like math the most?” “Do you like science the most?” “Do you like social studies the most?”

The results were as follows:

• 104 students said “yes,” they liked math the most.
• 86 students said “yes,” they liked science the most.
• 60 students said “yes,” they liked social studies the most.

How many students tell the truth, and how many do not?

HINT: How many subjects will each kind of student answer that “they like the most?”

Always remember: “A Winner Finds A Way!”

 

 

Chocolate Pudding

by PAZ After School and Quiara Santiago, 6^th Grade Reporter

Ingredients:

¼ c. cornstarch

3 tbsp. cocoa

1/8 tsp. salt

½ c. sugar

2 tbsp. butter

2 ¾ c. milk

Directions: In a saucepan, stir cornstarch, cocoa, salt, sugar, and butter. Add milk gradually and let boil until thick. Serve warm or cold. This dish is fantastically delicious!

 

The Eaglettes’ New Uniforms

by Ta’Shea Parham, 6^th Grade Reporter

From bland to flavorful. From colorless to colorful. The PS 214X cheerleaders have transformed themselves from casual to Eaglelicious!

After all of the bake sales and other fundraising events, the cheer team finally got their much-needed and well-deserved uniforms.

The color scheme of the uniforms is burgundy and white—our school colors. Uniforms include the following items: hair ribbons, a long sleeve white turtleneck that is worn under the shell, the shell (top), a cute cheer skirt (with shorts to go under it), and bright white sneakers. “We are very thankful for the uniforms,” says Jhane Hughes, cheerleader from class 603.

The cheerleaders will be taking pictures in their team uniforms and distributing the photo in flyers throughout the school community.

The Tree Woman

by Marieke van Woerkom, PAZ Educator

Gerda Lerner, one of the founders of the field of women’s history, once said “When I started working on women’s history about thirty years ago, the field did not exist. People didn’t think that women had a history worth knowing.” Now, every March 8, people around the world celebrate International Women’s Day.  Hundreds of events occur on this day and throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

In the US the whole month of March is designated as Women’s History Month.  Like other minorities, women as a group have been discriminated against, ignored and made to be invisible.  It wasn’t till the 1960s, in this country, that the women’s movement motivated women to question their invisibility in American historical texts. The women’s movement, moreover, raised the aspirations and opportunities of women across the country.  Equality between men and women is still a long way off, but progress has been made and American women today have more opportunities than those in generations past.

So what about in the rest of the world?  Here too, women face issues of discrimination and invisibility.  Of the 121 Nobel Peace Prize winners, for example, to date only 12 have been women.  Kenyan native Wangari Maathai won the prize in 2004 for “her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.”  Wangari Mathaai was not one to let her gender limit her life.  She herself took charge and lived a life of firsts.  She was the first woman in her family to attend college, the first women in East and Central Africa to earn a Ph. D. and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1977, Wangari Maathai started a campaign that came to be known as the Green Belt Movement in Kenya. Addressing the enormously complex challenges of deforestation and global climate change, the movement partnered with poor rural women who were encouraged, and paid a small stipend, to plant millions of trees to slow deforestation across Kenya. Besides the planting of trees the movement worked to preserve biodiversity, educate people about the environment and promote Women’s and girl’s rights.

In her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech Wangari Maathai shared: “As the first African woman to receive this prize, I accept it on behalf of the people of Kenya and Africa, and indeed the world. I am especially mindful of women and the girl child. I hope it will encourage them to raise their voices and take more space for leadership.

In 1977, when we started the Green Belt Movement, I was partly responding to needs identified by rural women, namely lack of firewood, clean drinking water, balanced diets, shelter and income.

Throughout Africa, women are the primary caretakers, holding significant responsibility for tilling the land and feeding their families. As a result, they are often the first to become aware of environmental damage as resources become scarce and incapable of sustaining their families.

… Tree planting became a natural choice to address some of the initial basic needs identified by women.”

Wangari Maathai came to be known as “The Tree Woman” in her native country. She faced numerous challenges, was arrested and jailed as she worked to empower women and protect the environment.  Yet she persevered.  Her story is now told around to world to inspire and mobilize others to affect change in their communities.

Senior Dues Crisis

By Xavier Fernandez, 8^th Grade Reporter

In June 2011, there will be trips for the eighth graders, graduation, and a prom dinner dance. There is one catch for these events to even happen, you have to pay for it.

Only a few eighth graders have paid their senior dues in full. Most have neglected to finish payments for their packages. Seniors, there is a short amount of time left to pay for these events—April 21 is the deadline to make payments.

Thus far, only forty students (out of 125 seniors) have paid for graduation events and out of those forty, only seven have completed payments in full.

Senior dues must be paid for these special events to happen and for there to even be a graduation ceremony.

There are four senior packages available for purchase: Package A, B, C, and D. Package A ($75) includes graduation costs only. Package B ($200) includes graduation and the prom dinner dance. Prom dinner dance includes three tickets—one for the graduate and two guest tickets. Package C ($200) includes the graduation and senior trip to Great Adventures. Finally, Package D ($310) is the full package, including all of the above mentioned senior activities.