Timothy Martinez did all writing and interviews for this story. Jared Birks took all photos. It’s a brand new year at WHSAD, and many changes are being made. After the pandemic turned our world upside down, things had to be put on hold, such as the student council. But after a long and exhausting two years, it is finally making a return to our school. Since 2014, the student senate has been capable of many things, such as bringing the students and the administration together by holding meetings with the grades a few times a year so that the administration would hear what the students want the school to improve on. Also, the council helps students organize and plan events and class fundraisers so that students would find something fun … [Read more...]

WHSAD students have enjoyed many opportunities to work with mentors from Gensler architecture firm. Receiving feedback from professionals in the industry provides students with insights about keeping work organized, the process of putting together their collected works, and how to diversify in order to provide future viewers with a wide scope of the students' interests and abilities. Thank you to the professionals from Gensler, Anne-Sophie Hall, Geoffrey Diamond, and Chasen Van Lang, for their knowledge, patience, and dedication. Below, a few students wrote about the experience and shared some of their work. Brandon Rosario-WHSAD Sophomore Today I met with three mentors from Gensler. They met with several WHSAD students from … [Read more...]

The WHSAD community has been privileged over these last three years to work with Project Witness, “a nonprofit Holocaust resource center” whose mission “merges judicious scholarship with cutting-edge media to provide thought-provoking Holocaust educational resources for schools, community centers, and lay readers.”  For two years, students listened to the insights from Ms. Ruth Gruener, who despite her experiences during the Holocaust always brought a message of hope and love. For more information about those meetings, you may click on these links: After Ruth’s passing, WHSAD Senior, Deselle Thompson, who authored the aforementioned articles, wrote an obituary which you may find here: … [Read more...]

This dance program at WHSAD has a positive effect on me since I have such a strong passion for dance. This dance program is fun and whenever I am feeling down or not at my best, dancing motivates me and inspires me to not lose myself. I think everyone should have the opportunity to dance or at least try to dance and give the dance club a try. This dance program doesn’t just do hip-hop dance, but we do afro-beat, up-beat, and the most modernist dance. Overall, I recommend anyone who enjoys dance or participates in dance just for fun to join this dance program because it is extremely fun and entertaining. It would be cool to set up shows or films of the dances we make up and eventually share out the choreography to those entertained or … [Read more...]

My name is Derek Ramos, and I am a member of the Youth Advisory Council. We are a group of students from different boroughs of New York City who work with DOE staff to project our voices and the voices of students all around the system. We work on finding ways to improve the overall environment of schools and find solutions to the problems we encounter as students. We strive to make schools safer and a more welcoming space for students such as ourselves with the help of Dennis Carter the director of Community Youth Development. Dennis is a senior director at the Ramapo for Children organization. He works with training, coaching and providing technical assistance to community-based organizations across New York City. Also part of our … [Read more...]

Ms. Fields The students loved seeing Shakespeare come to life! They were surprised to see the modern interpretation but were very impressed. I loved watching them delight in such a classic piece of literature!  Damian Dzięgielewski Macbeth was mind blowing. I'm honestly somewhat sad that Macbeth is my first play I have seen because my expectations are now through the roof for any play I see. The whole experience was incredible and once in a lifetime. Going into the play I honestly didn't know what to expect. I had never stepped foot into a Broadway theater before. On the way to the theater, we were discussing this superstition about not saying “Macbeth” in a theater, because it's bad luck, and bad things start happening. I find … [Read more...]

Elliana Duran, WHSAD Junior College. I feel like I've been hearing about it my whole life from the moment I stepped into school. This became even more real when I entered high school. Everywhere I turned there was something college related. It was overwhelming to be truly honest, and now as a junior the pressure is on. College is a completely different thing than high school. I felt like I wasn't ready for that cultural shock! Like, you're telling me I choose my schedule? I can live at the school? Heck, I can even walk out of the class if I really wanted to! Which I obviously would not do… but it's still shocking that I can do that! College life felt out of reach and unrelatable until we were able to attend these college trips.  First … [Read more...]

This school year has been one of transition, renewal, and resurgence. WHSAD staff and students have enjoyed being back in-person, getting the opportunities that were sorely missed during remote schooling. One such opportunity is field trips, and one trip that occurred on an on-going basis was the Staten Island Greenbelt in which students worked at High Rock Park to refurbish the trails. During these Wednesday excursions, students collaborated to apply the instruction they received from High Rock environmental educators Christopher Ricker, Karen Roos, and Angel Ehlers. Filled with moments students will remember for years to come, the days provided ample occasions not only to learn about flora and fauna that were a novelty to many of our city … [Read more...]