The Column

On behalf of the WHSAD community, we want to thank all the incoming students and parents of the Class of 2022 who attended the Freshmen Orientation on Saturday, June 9th. Your participation and support will help school staff ensure a smooth transition for your child from middle school to high school with all the required documentation and paperwork. Ms. C. Singh donated a BBQ basket and snacks and raised $127 for the Class of 2021. The winner of the basket raffle is Ms. W. Pompey. Thank you once again for your support.  We are looking forward to working with you the next four years! … [Read more...]

This week WHSAD students completed their mural project for the Broadway production of "Once On This Island." Through their work, students pursued an objective that incorporated aspects of art and heritage that broadened their scopes of their creative abilities and the ever-changing world.  Students felt the gratification of seeing their hard work progress from the brain-storming stage to development and drafting to the catharsis of completion. Below is a CBS news report covering the mural's unveiling and what some of the stakeholders think of the piece.     Part of adolescence is gaining a better sense of one’s self. In the midst of the tumult of teenagehood, people begin to recognize who inhabits … [Read more...]

For high school students, and many people in general, it is often difficult to think beyond the day at hand. With so many responsibilities, demands on time, and efforts to simply enjoy one's life, it is easy to get caught up in the here and now and not consider what life could be in the coming weeks, months, and years. However, the future is out there, and, in order to prepare for its challenges, one must plan and prepare. Such preparation is something that many WHSAD students having been taking advantage of through the SYEP program. Students receive hands-on learning opportunities so that they can more seamlessly adjust to life after high school. Additionally, hired students fulfill their pressing immediate needs by making a nice … [Read more...]

When a project goes through all its stages and students see how ideas and mechanisms can shift over the course of a process, education reaches its ideal. By recognizing that one must be flexible in one’s thinking, reflect on strengths and weaknesses, and then continue being consistent while also adjusting to make improvements, students learn what so often takes place in the professional world. Few people, if any, come up with an idea and implement it to perfection on the very first try, so it is imperative that students learn about process and how to plan, act, reflect, and revisit so that, when it comes time to “go live,” the pieces put in place are honed and those who put those pieces there are thoroughly familiar and prepared to work … [Read more...]

Last week, newly appointed New York City Schools Chancellor, Mr. Richard A. Carranza hosted student journalists from various high schools at Tweed Courthouse in downtown Manhattan. At this event, students networked with peers, cultivated their talents as school journalists, and develop a greater sense of agency by asking the chancellor about pressing issues.  WHSAD's student correspondent, Antonio Perez, attended and provides his thoughts on and the questions and answers from the session. On Wednesday, May 9, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a journalists' meeting with the newly appointed NYC school chancellor, Richard Carranza. The meeting was extremely important because students were able to ask questions … [Read more...]

Achieving academic excellence in high school is no small feat. There are myriad variables and stimuli that can often divert a teenager's attention from the day-to-day task of effectively accomplishing his or her assignments. However, when students are able to buckle down and invest themselves in their learning, they not only gain insights about subject matter that advances their intellectual capacity for internalizing information and reasoning skills but also garner accolades that will support them in a more pragmatic sense. Five WHSAD Seniors have proven their mettle by attaining Advanced Regents Diplomas and New York State Academic Excellence Scholarships.  Below, recipients provide insights as to what it took to gain such … [Read more...]

     After four years at WHSAD, Seniors gathered to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Moving on to the next academic level can be a somewhat overwhelming and intimidating experience as students disperse to new locations and take on the rigors of college curricula. Therefore, taking a moment to savor the past, present, and future during the #idecided party was important for students to appreciate those experiences of the past and those yet to come.  Below, some seniors share their thoughts about the event. Yesterday's college acceptance gathering was a relief. The college process was extremely hard but making a decision was even harder. After thinking about money, my best option, and what would make me most … [Read more...]

Congratulations to all of the students that made the honor roll for the 2nd marking period of the Spring, 2018 term! Keep up the good work! To see if you’ve made the honor roll, look for your grade in the report below. Remember, while your average may have been high enough, you can only make the honor roll if you’ve passed all of your classes. [gview file="https://www.whsad.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2017_2_2_HONOR_ROLL.pdf"] … [Read more...]

   WHSAD students have worked to foster a relationship with the Powers Street Community Garden. We attended a planning meeting and agreed to spend Wednesdays helping to prepare the gardens for spring planting. We have also   signed on to help maintain the gardens and participate in the activities that will be scheduled there.    This is incredibly important work for the students for several reasons. First, they are leaning to work cooperatively with members of the community. They are learning first hand how people come together to cultivate a positive space for the community. Secondly, they are learning how to care for the earth. They will learn how to prepare the earth for planting, how to grow plants of … [Read more...]

On March 23rd, a group of freshmen students from the architecture club presented their midterm presentations on re-imagining the Small Pox Memorial Hospital Ruin to Walter & Melvin Architects. This was a great opportunity for the students to receive feedback from professionals in the field of architecture. Student Reflections: Ifteza Linath Throughout the whole presentation, I learned many things. I have learned about how each person views this project. I have learned where my team is compared to all the others. I also have learned where my team’s project needs improvements and where to concentrate on the most. I learned a lot from others' feedback. There were times when I was able to give feedback to others when I thought they … [Read more...]