The Column

On February 6th, Holocaust survivor, Toby Levy, spoke to WHSAD students about her experience as a child during the Holocaust. The event was sponsored by Project Witness, a non-profit organization that offers sources for students to learn about and remember the Holocaust. For the last four years, Project Witness has worked with WHSAD to provide students with information on the Holocaust from people who have lived through the Holocaust first-hand. Toby Levy has made it her responsibility to share her experiences with as many people as possible so the event is not forgotten. As a part of Project Witness, she strives to teach students about the events of the Holocaust and its relevance even today.  Toby Levy was born in 1933, the year … [Read more...]

February 15 2023, Mr. Codio invited me to attend a New York City Department of Building’s presentation. At first I was nervous because I had a feeling that this would be completely different from the presentation I attended my freshman year. Coming back to this building was a different feeling from last year such as the difference in room, my age, and the purpose for being on that trip. Thanks to my connections with Mr. Codio from freshman year, having put myself into these situations has helped with my anxiety, my social skills, and my networking skills.  This year, I sat in the same seat as the inspectors in training. Knowing that everyone started somewhere and being in the same environment as those who turn out to be assistant … [Read more...]

On February 1st, US History students attended Hamilton, a Broadway performance, and were able to experience the lights, songs, and immersive theatrics of it all. Hamilton, a musical following the life of founding father, Alexander Hamilton, focuses mostly on the time period surrounding the American Revolution. Despite the questionable historical accuracy, the show cites several historical documents, many written by or contributed to by Hamilton himself. Some of these documents were made familiar to students in US history, building context and a connection between learning and the arts.  Some students who attended the event share their experience below: Alexander Diaz As a part of the Gilder Lehrman Foundation, WHSAD Juniors were … [Read more...]

On February 2nd, 2023 some 10th grade students visited the Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in lower Manhattan. They were split up into different groups of about 15 and led around the museum by a tour guide, who talked them through stories from various Holocaust witnesses, teaching them the importance of remembering such events. They looked at propaganda posters, religious artifacts, items owned by Holocaust victims, and more. The tour guides were very knowledgeable on the artifacts on display in the museum and answered any questions the students had to ask. Here’s what a few of the students had to say about the trip: Cynthia Luna-Marcelino Last Thursday we attended The Museum of Jewish Heritage, where we … [Read more...]

Interested in starting YOUR college journey?  College Now is your best bet at WHSAD!  College Now is a CUNY based program which offers high school Juniors and Seniors to apply to a wide range of introductory college level courses. The courses vary from Public Speaking to Psychology. 10 introductory- college level courses are offered either online or in person. The courses focus on giving high schoolers a taste of not only the courses being offered, but a taste of the campus lifestyle.  Who to keep in mind: As mentioned above, the College Now program is available to both Juniors AND seniors who have a 75 or higher on the English Regents and an 80 cumulative average. All ten of these courses are hosted at New York City … [Read more...]

If you had the opportunity to mentor the next generation of architects and scholars would you willingly take part? Becoming a mentor brings out skills that you never even knew you had such as developing communication skills and expanding your experience working with new people. Expressing your voice is only the tip of the iceberg. While mentoring at MS582, I have built a bridge that connects me with the mentees of the next generation. I started during my freshman year in 2021, and it was a blast. Creating laser engraved art and 3D printing was an adventure I would never trade for the world. Being able to give something that I never had the opportunity to receive unlocks a new type of emotion that I can't describe with words.  This past … [Read more...]

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...]

What is CTA Architects? One of the best things about WHSAD is their commitment to give students early opportunities to chase their dreams. Recently, about 15 students from all grades were offered a great chance to work with a New York architecture firm, CTA Architects. Thanks to Mr. Codio and Ms. Cumberbatch, we get the chance to see how the architecture and design field operates. Now, you may be wondering what company is CTA Architects. It's an architecture firm based in New York. The sole purpose is strictly centered around architects, as their firm is composed of all architects. They work on a lot of restoration and renovation projects, helping to bring back the culture and the feel of New York to what its architecture originally … [Read more...]

The year of 2020 set a course for a lot of changes worldwide, affecting all forms of living things for better or worse. The lack of human activity throughout the year led to empty parks, soulless streets, and barren stadiums. These places are homes of human activity and create bonds between the people. Such was the case for the Staten Island University Hospital Community Park, which prior to the pandemic was Richmond County Bank Ballpark and housed the Staten Island Yankees from 2001-2020. Once the pandemic hit, the establishment remained empty for two years, and over that time period, a lot would need to be updated, such as signage, seating, branding, and ensuring that health codes were up to date. The sudden gear of motion began to … [Read more...]

My first semester in the Bernard and Anne Spitzer school of architecture program was challenging because it was in the midst of Covid. Due to the transition from virtual learning to in-person learning, I felt as though I had missed out on the typical college experiences and the hands-on learning that came with the architecture program. However, since the transition to fully in person, I have deeply enjoyed these last two semesters. I have had the opportunity to work on new projects as well as explore and learn about different aspects of the city. Through this process I was able to learn new programs such as Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and additional mapping programs such as NYC Open Data and ArcGIS Pro. What I enjoy most about … [Read more...]