Meet WHSAD's Students

What have been some of your most memorable moments over the last four years at WHSAD? The most memorable moments at this school for me have definitely been the trips I went on in my junior year. The college trips were some of the most fun and memorable trips I've gone on. The Cornell trip had its chaotic and super long bus ride, and the overnight college trip allowed the senior class to grow closer since it was the first time any of us had spent that much time together. Not to mention there was also the Hamilton trip which has now become my favorite play ever. There was some in school events as well, but none of those left a lasting impression on me compared to the trips we went on. Like I said earlier, the best part about the trips was … [Read more...]

What have been some of your most memorable moments over the last four years at WHSAD? I have a lot of good memories at this school. Between meeting my girlfriend, taking my CAD certification exam, making new friends, and going to dances, I've had a good time. This is the place where I found my love of science. This is where I found my favorite person in the world. I remember when I first met my girlfriend. We'd been texting for a few nights, and I mustered up the courage to ask her on a date. Ever since then I've been the happiest guy in the whole world. She gets along with my friends, she laughs at my jokes, she lifts me up when times are rough. She's amazing. She's what I'm the most thankful for. What are your plans for life after … [Read more...]

What have been some of your most memorable moments over the last four years at WHSAD? I have had a lot of amazing moments at WHSAD. For starters, I met my boyfriend Dalton, and got close with my best friends Jayden, Max and Jaylin. We're all a friend group, and we've hung out a lot. I can't lie and say schools been perfect. Sometimes I get stressed, and sometimes life seems too complicated to handle. But then I remember all the amazing people I've met, the times we spent together, and how no matter what happens, I know they have my back. One of my favorite classes was architecture with Ms. Moos my junior year. It revived my love for art and set in stone that I wanted to be an art teacher. What are your plans for life after high … [Read more...]

In this story, hosts Jaiyana Wiley and Alonzo Jones, and producer Jake Kadar share their thoughts about the inspiration for their endeavor, what they have learned from their experiences, and what's next for their podcast. Please provide an overview of the club, your role in the club, and when and where your sessions take place. I am the producer and editor of the Beyond the Banter podcast. We film in the chemistry lab utilizing the living wall as a backdrop. We typically record once a week. I then edit the recordings and get them posted the following week. I also make blooper reels. -J.K. The podcast club is a production of the finest podcast out of New York! We (Jaiyana, Alonzo, and Jake) host a podcast which looks to inspire … [Read more...]

In this story, Melissa, Alison, and Reyly discuss their processes, challenges, strengthened and burgeoning skills, and what they foresee for the rest of their work this year. Thank you to the Crème mentors, Jun Aizaki, Masako Fukuoka, and Tania Kaufman, who have been working with our students in realizing their visions. Describe the Creme project so far. The Crème project is going well so far for me and my group. Everyday we all come up with a new idea for the restaurant, such as the seating arrangements and the color scheme for the walls. Many of us sometimes agree and disagree with how we want the restaurant to be, but eventually we come to good terms on how our restaurant should look. Some of the disagreements that have taken … [Read more...]

One of the perks of attending WHSAD is graduating with an AutoCAD certificate. AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) program that allows users to create 2D and 3D drawings, models, and blueprints. It's used in many industries, including architecture, engineering, and construction. WHSAD students use AutoCAD on a daily basis to work on projects for both their architecture classes and their extracurricular pursuits with the school’s industry partners. In the following narratives, students share their thoughts about the AutoCAD exam, preparing for the exam, the benefits of AutoCAD certification and being well-versed in the program, and how they have used AutoCAD in their work at WHSAD. Thank you to Architecture teachers, Mr. Blake … [Read more...]

This is the first installment in Sophomore, Sayelis', journal regarding her experiences working on a project partnering with MAOarch. She, along with some of her peers, will continue to provide updates as to their teams' progress over the course of the process. The students' next check in will be at the end of March, so stay tuned for a future update. On February 26, I met the architects from MAOarch again. This time, my team presented a brand new project for this school year. I was so excited because it meant that I would be receiving feedback from actual experts who would help me get better and reach a higher potential. Over the summer, I was so shy because I didn’t know what they were going to say, and I had no idea if I was good … [Read more...]

WHSAD Sophomore, Jesse Sanoff, devised and wrote this story and will continue to provide updates regarding the CTA program over the course of this year. CTA Architects is an architecture firm based in Manhattan. For the past two years, WHSAD has partnered with CTA Architects in an architectural program. This program is returning for a third year and now students are going to be creating proposals for the renovation of a retirement home. Students are split into groups, work with mentors from CTA, and compete to make the best design and presentation of a space given to them by the mentors. Students have to meet certain requirements for their design and are given pieces to work on in increments, such as having their program for their … [Read more...]

I have always enjoyed art. Animation and online tutorials have always been a part of my life. In middle school I did a ceramic class, and my teacher encouraged me to continue working in creative fields of work. This experience reinforced my aspiration of becoming an artist. When I joined WHSAD in the 9th grade, I learned about the Pratt Young Scholars program. Pratt teachers came to the school and did a presentation on the program during 4th and 9th period in an architecture classroom. It provides three years of exposure and various types of art and techniques taught by real college professors. The opportunity that the program offered was more than anything that I have ever been exposed to. I applied, interviewed, and submitted samples … [Read more...]

This summer I worked as an intern for an Architecture and Engineering firm through Saint Nick’s Alliance called SRW. I got the opportunity to work with professionals in the field on AutoCAD drawings, site visits, weekly meetings, and more. I’ve learned a lot about professionalism and communication, and the experience has helped me figure out what I’d like in a career.  A lot of what I did was editing AutoCAD drawings, which helped me apply what I learned in class to real life. My supervisor would give me an assignment, I would work on it as best I could, then we would meet again and discuss what still needed fixing. If I ever needed help operating a command, he would help me figure it out. In addition to the experience being … [Read more...]