WHSAD students continue to work to enhance literacy throughout New York City. This time, our students, supported by Ms. Heather Butts of Health for Youths, and teachers Mr. Alain Codio and Ms. Sandra Spaziani, visited Sheridan Academy for Young Leaders in the Bronx. During this event, students and staff members from both schools collaborated to build more Little Free Libraries, read to one another, and enjoy seeing how libraries built in the past have flourished. A total of seven libraries have been built between two events. These libraries have been placed in classrooms, schools within the campus, and other local south Bronx schools. The school safety agents’ office also has one. It has generated a great interest in reading, even … [Read more...]

Over the last few months, select students have been working on projects to pay homage to the storied history and current energy of New York City jazz. Partnering with the New York City Department of Buildings and Architecture Grille, students learned an array of technical skills and built their networks for the future. WHSAD would like to thank all of those who worked with our students through the creative process. In particular, Keldwin Portes and Jason Allocco from Architecture Grille; Lisa Lewis from the Department of Buildings; Dr. Mambo and the Experience Ensemble; and First Baptist Church of Crown Heights. The following are narratives from some of the participating students. The Jazz Grille project was a great … [Read more...]

Jean-Michel Basquiat was an extraordinary artist from New York City in the 1980s. Basquiat created very non-traditional pieces of art that pushed limits and boundaries, which can be seen through his vibrant use of color and intense brush strokes, as well as the unconventional objects he used as his canvas. His unique style gained him a large amount of prestige and fame in the white-European dominated art world, which I personally found amazing, considering he was a poverty stricken man of Puerto Rican and Haitian descent. When I, along with other students, was given the chance to explore this exhibit, I grew quite impressed by this man's story along with his complex art. From being extremely gifted in creativity and imagination along … [Read more...]

“Who is it that can tell me who I am?” It is such sentiment that makes a work such as King Learn transcendental. Wondering about identity is something prevalent in each high school student’s experience, and an adolescent often looks to others to help define identity. Therefore, when students examine William Shakespeare’s work, it is in those students’ best interests to see the Bard’s words as relevant to a modern context.   This year, Ms. Newton’s freshman English class has been studying Romeo and Juliet. Through this work, students have seen examples of relationship dynamics and impulsive nature commonly associated with adolescence. Therefore, the opportunity to see a modern day interpretation of King Lear permitted ninth … [Read more...]

From this past October to last week, students have been working with WHSAD teachers and community mentors in developing innovative products. Throughout the course of the Incubator project, students have learned how to plan, pitch, and execute on their ideas, and how to modify their work based on feedback from teachers and mentors. Due to the efforts of teachers Ms. Pia Moos and Mr. Ira Geringer, and mentors Sinclair Smith, Director of Groundfloor Incubator at School of Visual Arts; Noel Wiggins, co-founder of design and manufacturing company, Aeraware; and Bill Harvey, a sculptor and housewares designer, musician, supporter of WHSAD for many years; WHSAD students gained essential insight into the design process. The following are … [Read more...]

For the 2nd year in a row, The Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design juniors/seniors took part in Ruth Sergel’s living art that commemorates the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. On March 25th, 1911 the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire took the lives of 146 workers, mostly young immigrant women and girls. The tragedy began a movement to deal with dangerous working conditions in the city. This commemoration is a capstone for the students following a unit of study on immigrant communities at the turn of the 20th century. This year our students commemorate the lives of seven victims of the fire, many coming from the same neighborhoods in which these students live. The following are the names and addresses of the seven … [Read more...]

As the weather warms and the calendar pushes along, WHSAD seniors get closer to the culmination of their years of high school study. Such closure brings them closer to life beyond WHSAD, and while the "real world" and its trials and tribulations beckon, many students have already taken some significant steps into such reality. Through internships, after-school programs, and partner projects, WHSAD students, in particular the seniors, have had ample opportunities to get tastes of punching the clock and developing networks that they can call upon in their future career searches. One such example of real-world experience is this year's Bushwick Generator project. The following includes an overview of the project and student narratives … [Read more...]

For the 10th year in a row, WHSAD hosted its annual Internship Interview Breakfast. Partner organizations, such as Silman Structural Engineers, The Park Avenue Armory, Heritage Equity Partners, and others, conducted over forty interviews with two dozen students who applied for summer internships. In the following narratives, students share their thoughts regarding the experience, including why they applied to specific internships, how they prepared for their interviews, and advice to future students who will be applying and interviewing for internships. I applied for the internship at Silman Structural Engineering and the World Monuments Fund. I applied to these internships mainly to gain working experience and skills in an office … [Read more...]

Thank you to The Park Avenue Armory for being a consistent partner of WHSAD's. Through trips, artist-in-residence partnerships, internships, and employment, WHSAD students have enjoyed tremendous opportunities due to the generosity of The Park Avenue Armory. In the following narratives, students who attended this most recent trip recount their experiences and the impressions those moments left. On Thursday, March 14, a group of WHSAD students visited The Park Avenue Armory. On this trip we did several activities. One of the activities was a scavenger hunt throughout the first floor of the Armory. We were able to freely roam throughout the rooms on the first floor. Inside these rooms, we were able to read about the history about the … [Read more...]

As a community-based school, WHSAD recognizes the need to develop lasting relationships with organizations in order to inspire and advocate for our students. Ms. Dana Rachlin and NYCTogether bring a crucial element to WHSAD, and we appreciate the organization’s continued support of our future leaders. The following narrative comes from the NYCTogether website. Ms. Rachlin and her team have been instrumental in bringing adolescents and New York City police officers together in creating a dialogue that promotes constructive relationships for the betterment of the city’s future. WHSAD’s students have enjoyed numerous opportunities to express their thoughts regarding personal and societal concerns. More information about NYCTogether's … [Read more...]