How has it been adapting to high-school so far? How is it different from middle school? Adapting to high-school is a challenge for me personally because I am not used to the conditions and habits of in-person school. On the bright side, I enjoy myself because I began socializing more and making new friends. high-school is definitely not what I imagined or expected. High-school is different from middle school because I was homeschooled for all of middle school and it is significantly different from in person school. Also the assignments I get overall are more complex and challenging, but I've gotten used to it so far. How do you feel about this environment? How has the experience with students and teachers been? The environment is … [Read more...]
About Sheena Luke
Student Profile, Felisha Solis
How has it been adapting to high-school so far? How is it different from middle school? "I think I've been good so far. I've already gotten adjusted to all of the classes I have, and I’ve created some goals for me to complete this year such as, how I want to get started on working or even get some experience with the projects that we do in Makerspace. Overall, I think everything I’ve had so far has been a smooth transition." How do you feel about this environment? How has the experience with students and teachers been? "Everybody's nice, the teachers and students are nice. And, if you need to ask for help, they'll help you. I think that if you treat people nice, you get the same treatment back." What are some projects … [Read more...]
Student Profile, George Pinto
How has it been adapting to WHSAD? How different was it from last year? Adapting to WHSAD was a little tricky at first because it's been so long since I've been in an environment with so many people I didn't know, but now I feel a lot more comfortable here. This year has been different from last year because we are in person full time, obviously, but also because I have to completely readapt to new people, rather than just the same people I had known for the past two years. How do you feel about this environment? How has the experience with students and teachers been? I really like the environment here because there are so many people interested in different things, and the teachers here are always trying … [Read more...]
Student Profile, Chelsea Garcia
How has it been adapting to high-school so far? How's it different from middle school? I feel as though I have adapted quite easily to high-school despite the many changes. One main difference for me was there not being any homeroom, which was such a strange concept to me after all the years of having a homeroom. How do you feel about the environment? How has your experience with students and teachers been? I personally love the environment at WHSAD because there are resources, experiences, creativity, and a community. But despite everyone participating in extraordinary things, people always treat others as equal. Everybody that I have come in contact with at this school- and I cannot stress this enough- has always … [Read more...]
Student Profile, Mia Kokilashvili
How has it been adapting to WHSAD? How different was it from last year? I am new to both WHSAD and to New York so everything has been different from last year, including the environment and the teaching ways, but WHSAD has made it very easy for me to adapt to the change. How do you feel about this environment? How has the experience with students and teachers been? I have always wanted to live in New York because I loved how fun it looked on the internet. I also knew the education system is better, and everything is more accessible, so for me this environment is new in a good way. I like all the teachers, they're all very helpful and make it very easy for me to catch up to the things I haven't learned before. The students … [Read more...]
Origami with Make: STEAM
At WHSAD, students are exposed to various activities which are often integrated into classes. Among the activities that students have been participating in recently is origami with Make: STEAM educator, Kate Yourke. Beginning on May 6th, this activity was included in the daily schedule as Ms. Yourke collaborated with students to create pieces and teach design applications. In order to realize the work students produced, Ms. Yourke taught a 4-class curriculum organized by aspects of origami. To view North Brooklyn Community News' article on the event, click here During Class 1, students were introduced to Yin and Yang, a Chinese philosophy that complete opposites hold a position to balance each other out, even when … [Read more...]
WHSAD Students Reflect on and Set Goals for The Tompkinsville Esplanade Project
At WHSAD, students have the opportunity to participate and learn from numerous partnerships and projects. An example of such a partnership is the Tompkinsville Esplanade project, which has been developed over the last few months by students. At the beginning of the project, students were given a simple overview and goal of the project to develop a design concept that would fit the needs of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC). They turned this information into a vision and presented the idea to stakeholders at the midterm. They received feedback in response to the presentation and updated their project accordingly. The second presentation of the project's progress was held on Wednesday, April 21st. In attendance were … [Read more...]
WHSAD’s Battery Park City Project
Battery Park City is situated on the southwest part Manhattan Island. This 25-acre park in Battery Park City, as well as the entire community, has been managed by Battery Park City Authority since 1968, transforming the area from a feeble state to today's thriving community. A problem has recently arisen regarding the current map of Battery Park City: the issue revolving around its relative lack of detail. Battery Park City Authority, as expected, acquired the job of editing and improving the map. This is where the Battery Park City project started. Permit Associate John Sherzai, a WHSAD alumnus, contacted WHSAD in hopes of developing a partnership for students to assemble the drawings as a work project. Through the completion of this … [Read more...]
Whitney Museum Arts Education at WHSAD
On Tuesday, March 16th, the Whitney Museum had a digital collaboration with WHSAD to present and analyze art work with the students. This interactive event made a lasting impression on students by providing the opportunity for stimulating and entertaining discussions. Arts educator, Jano Cortijo, discussed with freshmen students various subject matters, from portraits to architectural observational drawings, each provoking its own response from students. To provide a student perspective on the event, several students shared their opinions and overall takeaway from the Whitney Museum sessions. Nataly Hurtado The most interesting aspect was how interactive the presentation was. We all got to participate and give our opinions. It … [Read more...]
With Artist Ruth Sergel, WHSAD Students Remember the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
On March 25, 1911, a fatal fire broke out inside Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in Manhattan, New York's Greenwich Village. This industrial disaster caused 146 deaths as a result of the owners' negligence. Of these 146 people, a majority were young immigrant women that were subjected to a harsh and unfair working environment. This event became a catalyst for workers' rights movements. Consequently, numerous factory laws have since been passed to improve factory conditions and ensure worker safety. For the 4th consecutive year, students at WHSAD are participating in the living memorial to the victims of the fire, ensuring their memories and story can continue to be kept alive. Though this year not all students were able to do this … [Read more...]