The Column

Each year, the Editorial Staff of The Column releases a special edition of the student newspaper that celebrates our graduating senior. We are happy to present the our 2020 graduates. See below for this special edition. You may also download this a PDF file by clicking the link below. … [Read more...]

On Friday, June 5th, Mahalia Saint-Eloi and Deselle Thompson presented their proposed redesigns for Lake Como to the town's committee. After Hurricane Sandy, the lake became toxic, and the wildlife degraded. That's why revitalizing the lakefront by adding new plants and creating areas where wildlife can flourish as well as creating a fun but also sustainable environment is important. The title of the project is Lake Como’s Fun & Wildlife Lakefront Park Design, and the alliance with WHSAD was formed in order to achieve the environmental, social, and economical improvement of the lakefront and in the town itself. As a result of being located right next to the Jersey shore, Lake Como is often overlooked. That's why we want to make … [Read more...]

If you don’t already know, Project Witness is an organization dedicated to making the stories of those whose lives were greatly impacted by the Holocaust heard. Project Witness provides assistance for Holocaust education while giving full devotion to its essential mission which researches and discovers the physical and emotional pain of the stories Holocaust survivors have to tell. The creator and founder of Project witness is Ms. Ruth Lichtenstein. On May 20, Ms. Lichtenstein met with us to share her story and what Project Witness is all about. Below are interviews conducted by Deselle Thompson, WHSAD sophomore, and myself, Mahalia Saint-Eloi. What are some existing systems or programs of the project witness and how do they … [Read more...]

Project Witness is a non profit Holocaust resource center, dedicated to Holocaust education. Their mission is to create a better future, one that has learned from the horrors of the past, through the communication of Holocaust survivor stories. Through Project Witness, the WHSAD community was blessed with the privilege of hearing Holocaust survivor, Ruth Gruener, speak. Organized by the WHSAD Humanities Department, this event was held Wednesday May 13th, via Google Meet, with a plethora of special guests, students, and WHSAD faculty. In a video call lasting a little over an hour, Ruth Gruener was able to share something special with us that greatly impacted the WHSAD community. Over 50 people took part in the virtual event. Students … [Read more...]

What is life like now during quarantine, what was it before, and most importantly, what will it be after? Before quarantine I had structure and a routine, it was like a pattern, a rhythm, it came so naturally to me. I understood, and I lived by it. The importance of schedules and structure during quarantine is a concept that Psychologist Claudia W. Allen strongly believes in. Allen the Director of Behavioral Science in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Virginia’s School of Medicine believes that “while telecommuting initially sounds like an unplanned vacation, in reality, isolation, lack of schedule and not enough to do are a foolproof recipe for depression” (Allen 1). Years’ worth of buildup and creation of a routine … [Read more...]

There is no denying that in the world of art and entertainment there is a glaring lack of diversity. Across all media there seems to be very few artists of color or of other minority groups to garner mainstream attention. Hollywood specifically has been criticized for years about this and still feels far from change. As for the small screen, diversity feels painfully forced sometimes. I personally wish there was more latino representation in Hollywood films and not just foreign pictures. It's part of the reason films like Black Panther have been so successful. It's not that people hate Iron Man, but it’s because they got something that was never before seen, a cool black superhero with their own good movie representing a unique culture. Now … [Read more...]

In the following narratives, WHSAD students share their experiences, thoughts, and feelings regarding the pandemic through which we are all living. Additionally, Ms. Moos and Mr. O'Brien's students have also been creating emojis out of household items. Aviva Benderson: The quarantine is being taken very seriously by my parents. We even moved temporarily to our house in Massachusetts, and it’s honestly been kind of lonely, but I have my sister and my parents. I also have the freedom to go outside, and I know how lucky I am seeing as people in cities such as Brooklyn and just all of NYC it’s almost impossible to go outside. I keep myself busy easily. I actually have a lot to do; I have the outdoors, I have art and then of course online … [Read more...]

When asked questions about what teachers have been doing to keep busy during quarantine as well as a few questions about themselves there was a wide variety of interesting answers. Christopher Koestner-Sophomore English How have you been keeping calm and collected during this quarantine? "I’m an introvert by nature, so I know how to spend time alone. I love people, but I have music, books, cooking, and cats to keep me entertained. I’m watching Ken Burns’ Baseball, rewatching The Wire for the fifth time, and just finished the Madam CJ Walker story. Also, I’m communicating with students, which helps as well, because it keeps me feeling gratified andconnected." Have you taken up any hobbies? If so, what?"I’ve been working on my … [Read more...]

This year has certainly presented its challenges, to some more than others. Our WHSAD Seniors are like so many other students who were looking to the spring months as moments of the surreal bliss that is momentarily afforded us. And while there is a great deal one could lament and pine for, these students continue to demonstrate resolve. Mr. Codio, Senior Business of Architecture teacher, and his students exemplify such determination. In the process of developing their firms, students have gained tremendous experience due to the insights of Mr. Codio and various staff members, but maybe the best insights have come from peers. In the following clips, Mayerli Barzola remotely presented her vision for Euphoria's (her firm) break room … [Read more...]

In the midst of a global pandemic, it's clear that not everyone is okay. There’s a lot to worry about, and so it's no surprise that a lot of us are feeling down, hopeless, scared, and uncertain of the future. We worry about our family members who may not be in the best physical condition, the state of our future academics with the SATs and AP exams, and those who are seniors, wonder if they’ll ever see friends again before going to college. With so much negativity and uncertainty in the air, the Community Service Club decided to do something about it. Seeing that our community needs a break from the worries of this pandemic, they went to work. During the first week of April, The WHSAD Community came together to spread positivity. … [Read more...]