What is your Project? My project is the Richmond Terrace Esplanade Beautification/ Katherine Walker Statue Memorial Project, both of which are on Staten island. Our objectives for this project are to beautify and add more activities to the esplanade so that people can have a better experience, and so that we can attract more people to the esplanade. As for our objectives for the Katherine Walker statue, we aim to make sure that the people know who she was and what she did by dedicating a statue to her on the esplanade. Who is/are your stakeholder mentor(s), what are his/her/their Professional titles? My stakeholder is Manager of Communications and external affairs at Staten Island borough hall, Colleen Siuzdak. What are … [Read more...]
The Column
Archived here is every article written for WHSAD's student run newspaper, The Column.
Fundamentals of Geometry
Who are you? My name is Ms. Decker, and this is my second year teaching high school Geometry. I grew up in Washington, D.C. and attended the University of Chicago for college. (If you want deep dish pizza recommendations, email me!) I worked for a math education non-profit organization for a couple of years before I decided I wanted to get back in the classroom and teach. I moved to New York City for graduate school in 2017, and I am so thankful to have found a place here at WHSAD! What’s the Curriculum like? (Pre-Quarantine and Post-Quarantine). Geometry is the study of shapes and space, and it’s the first math class where students begin composing proofs of mathematical theorems and statements. … [Read more...]
WHSAD and Newtown Creek Alliance Garden Project
Over the last couple of weeks, students and teachers have been working on a garden project. They had transformed a weedy piece of land into a beautiful site. I was one of the students who took part in beautifying it. Students from all grades were involved. During the meets we got to talk to different people and just have fun. During the pandemic, students weren’t able to meet in person. This limited them from doing hands-on projects like building models, community service, and much more. Over the last couple of months, schools were reopened and that opportunity slowly came back. Below is some of what we accomplished and did during the last couple of weeks. The first day, we gathered together at the back of the school and discussed what … [Read more...]
District 33 Council Candidate Interviews
Disclaimer: All candidates were contacted for an interview, and these interviews do not represent any endorsement on the part of Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design. Before I began writing for the Column, I wasn’t very interested in, or even aware of the importance of civic engagement and local politics. However, since I’ve begun, I have seen the importance of these things and now know that the people that are elected to local government are instrumental in bettering the community. Facing problems, big and small, head-on, our elected officials can make life just a little bit easier for everyone. April Somboun-aprilsomboun.com April is one of 8 candidates for the council of Brooklyn’s 33rd district. She brings … [Read more...]
Fundamentals of AP Human Geography
This article is an overview of the AP Human Geography class. Below Ms. Connors talks about what the class will cover and what to expect. Who are you? Hi, I’m Ms. Connors and I teach AP Human Geography! I’m originally from Jacksonville, Florida, and lived there for 18 years until I went to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. I moved to New York to go to graduate school at Teachers College, Columbia University before getting a job at WHSAD. What’s the Curriculum like? (Pre-Quarantine and Post-Quarantine) The purpose of AP Human Geography is to help students understand the city, country, and world in which they live. The course is organized thematically around topics of population and migration, culture, politics, … [Read more...]
Fundamentals of US History and AP US History
Who are you? My name is Ms. Weinstein. I teach US History and AP US History (APUSH). This is my 8th year teaching. I went to Binghamton University for undergraduate and Hofstra University for grad school. I grew up on Long Island and now live in Queens. What’s the Curriculum like? (Pre-Quarantine and Post-Quarantine)? For both US History classes, we begin with indigenous North America pre-Columbus and end with modern-day America. Pre-Quarantine, students complete a lot of collaborative and group work, as well as discussions and debates. That is a bit of a challenge with remote learning, but I try to incorporate digital discussions as much as I can. I also used a number of digital learning tools before remote learning, … [Read more...]
Fundamentals of Sophomore Architectural Drafting class
Who are you? My name is Mrs. Rivera. I have been teaching Architectural Drafting for 16 years, of which 9 have been here at WHSAD. I am the daughter of Dominican parents and was raised in the South Bronx. I am the mother of three beautiful children. I studied in St. Francis college for two years and then transferred to New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn to finish my degree in Technology Education. What’s the Curriculum like? (Pre-Quarantine and Post-Quarantine) Pre-quarantine students learned to identify and draw the components of a residential structure through the use of the AutoCAD and Revit programs. Students learned how to design and create floor plans, elevations, and other construction drawings. Towards the end … [Read more...]
RAMSA Session 4
Amelia Velez During RAMSA session 4, the session consisted of a panel of five different speakers, all managed by Ms. Gaylin M. Bowie. Each speaker focused on their specific job in RAMSA and how their jobs have been influenced by the current pandemic. The five main categories for the panel were; Teaching, Learning, and Designing from Afar - Presented by: Cassie Nozil, Hand Sketching in the Digital Realm – Presented by: MaryGrace Lewis, Massing Development – Remote Working Strategies – Presented by: Sami Joer, Designing Details at a Distance – Presented by: Christopher Tritt and Authenticity in Architecture - Presented by: Jincy George Kunnatharayil. During the first presentation, speaker Cassie Nozil went over her experience with … [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...]
Fundamentals of AP Environmental Science
Who are you? My name is Mr. Giambrone (Mr. G), and I am currently the AP Environmental Science teacher in addition to one of the Earth Science teachers this year. This is currently my second year of teaching, and I couldn’t be more thankful to have started my teaching career here at WHSAD. I grew up in Lindenhurst, NY - a town in Suffolk County on Long Island. It was in Lindenhurst High School where I figured out that I never wanted to leave high school. So, I thought to myself that there was no better way to accomplish this then to become a teacher! From there, I went on to receive my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Hofstra University. In this picture, I (on the left) am standing here with former student, Dajour Williams (’20), … [Read more...]