Seaside

The hronicle

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“E Pluribus Unum - Scientia est Potentia” “Out of Many, One - Knowledge is Power”

The Scholars’ Academy Newspaper Volume VIII Issue III Summer 2017

http://www.scholarsnyc.com/

See the Graduating Seniors and their Colleges on page 4!

Inside School News Pages 2-3

Scholars’ Got Talent How to Survive the Regents Read Across America and more...

Features

Rememebering Elie Wiesel By: Samantha Yershov As a child, he experienced something that no one should ever have to and later, turned his experiences into something incredible. He saw the worst of the world, and found his own way to speak up. Elie Wiesel was just a teenager during the Holocaust. But, so were millions of other people—so, what made him special? What separated him from the others is what he did many years after the Holocaust ended—writing a book about his experiences which touched the hearts of millions. But sadly, this great man has passed away on July 2, 2016. Born Eliezer Wiesel, he started

his life in the small town of Sighet, Romania in 1928. He lived with his father, Shlomo, mother, Sarah, and three sisters, Hilda, Beatrice, and Tzipora. The Wiesel family was poor but content until 1943, when Nazi Germany invaded and life was changed forever. Elie was just 15 years old when his entire family was detained by the Nazi’s and sent to Auschwitz, a concentration camp in Poland. There, the Wiesel family was separated, and Elie’s mother and youngest sister were killed almost immediately, but luckily his older sisters survived (after the war, Elie was reunited with them, at an orphanage). With his father, Elie was later transported to another camp, Buchenwald, where they worked. Both

Image from Google Play camps were very similar. Both of those camps were made to work their prisoners to death, exterminating the Jewish people and any other undesirable groups from an aryan society. At Auschwitz and Buchenwald, Elie saw horrible things happen—people being shot, whipped, hung, being

continued on page 5

Ten Tips for the Summer

Pages 5-6

By: Smart Choices for a Healthier You

The Year of the Blown Lead Image from The Odyssey

Boardwalk-a-thon

Columns Pages 7

Kevin Calderon

With the light breeze pushing your hair back, and the warm sunlight kissing your face, you smile as summer has finally arrived. You’ve worked long and hard this school year, and you’re about to get started with your summer vacation. But wait! There’s a few things you should remember before kicking off your sandals at the beach. Here’s ten tips that you should use this summer:

The Award Actually Goes to......

and more...

burned alive, gassed in gas chambers—yet Elie miraculously survived. His father was not as lucky. He died shortly before the camp was liberated, in April of 1945.

1. Stay Hydrated! The average person needs to drink about 11 cups (or about 2.6 Liters) of water a day. Water helps flush toxins out of your body, and helps keep you energized throughout the day. Ward off dehydration, which can be especially dangerous during these hot summer days. 2. Wear Sunscreen! During the summer is when UV radiation continued on page 6

We Are The Champions

Diary of a Senior Scholar The Melting Pot

School Sports Pages 7-8

We Are The Champions HS Baseball

Arts

Page 8 2017 Summer Reading Recommendations A Night in Neverland Creating a Yearbook and more...

By:

Leyla Arcasoy

The Scholars’ Academy Boardwalk-a-thon has returned to our shores after a five year hiatus. The last time the school participated in the walk along the boardwalk was in the 2011-2012 school year, a year before Hurricane Sandy ravaged the boardwalk and the community. Five years later, after an astounding and unsurprising recovery, the boardwalk has been restored to an even better state, and the Scholars’ Academy was able to participate in yet another successful Boardwalk-a-thon. The Parents Association (PA) hosted this year’s Boardwalk-a-thon, selling t-shirts donned with “Schol-

ars’ Strong, Back to the Boardwalk” and urging donations from the school’s students, raising a whopping $8,327 at the end of its donation period. The day of, students were staggered out of the building, with sixth grade exiting first. After walking down to Beach 73rd Street, students were met with a performance from the school’s marching band and stunt team, and returned back to school. Arriving back at Scholars’, the PA offered complimentary snacks and water bottles, and each grade was given an hour’s worth of free time in the yard, after a jubilant walk on a beautiful day along the beach.

By: Nasreen Duqmaq Congratulations to our Lady Seawolves! The high school softball team took home the gold trophy June 9th, emerging as the B division city championship winners after being guided to success by head coaches Ms. R. Henck and Ms. J Henck! After an undefeated season of 19-0, the softball team went on to destroy their competition in playoffs. The sheer dedication and tenacity of our Scholars’ Academy athletes and coaches are evident in the collaboration and cooperation that such an amazing win entails. The win marks the second time that the softball team won the cham-

pionship, with the last time being June 2014. The championship game has long been anticipated by the team, as they reached the semi-finals stage of the competition for two consecutives years in 2015 and 2016. Finally reaching the championship this year, the Scholars’ Academy Seawolves beat out the John F. Kennedy Campus (JFK) at the St. John’s University field for the coveted title and trophy. Winning by a score of 7 runs to JFK’s 6 runs after a tie of 6-6 lasting for two innings, the championship winning run was scored during the bottom of the seventh inning. Astonishingly, the score of 6-7 is the same score that the team continued on page 7

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The Seaside Chronicle ● Summer 2017

School News

see. This is absolutely imperative as community service has a major impact on college admissions. Colleges want to know and see that potential students in their schools are taking an active role in their community. It demonstrates leadership skills that are key to succeeding in college and the future. Furthermore, many students while working on campaigns and projects get to see the impact their work has on their community. Thus giving individuals an insight of their personal attributes and how their actions affect the community. Exposure to various situations where service is required can teach students to further develop skills they have and establish new skills. In particular students may find themselves to develop skill such as leadership, communication, and the collaboration with others. The knowledge that they are essentially assisting the community and the people that inhabit it affects student volunteers on a more personal level. When students know that

their work has a direct impact, they show levels of increased self-esteem as it tends to create a strong support system for the participants. Some students fail to see the benefits of volunteers to their country and to many organizations. Volunteers are responsible for the improvement of the environment of our community, which can sometimes be taken for granted. Hurricane Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive Hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, and the second-coastline hurricane in United States history. The wreck and damage caused by this swirl of violent winds was cleared up by volunteers. They helped victims get re-settled, fed, and back to their “normal” lives as quickly as possible. Without those helping hands, Rockaway Park and various other areas in the New York and New Jersey areas would not have been restored to their current state. Volunteering is also a great way to explore different interests. High school students who do community service can try various work environments that they would usually not be exposed to at a young age. It also

affords the oppotunity try new things that may lead to a potential career for them in the such as organizing events, or working in a specific institution, such as a hospital. These opportunities are everywhere. Schools or groups offer many opportunities for one to get involved in their community. Key Club, a community service program that is offered in most New York high schools, including Scholars’ Academy, provides many opportunities. If you prefer to volunteer at an institution such as a hospital or camp, contact them or visit websites to find more information on how to get involved. Learning to understand the needs and motivations of others, especially those who live very different lives from our own, is an important part of living a productive life. This leads to a perception of humanity that can lead to a more diverse and thought provoking life.

Thanks to the unwavering dedication of student government representatives, staff members and the flair for performance inherent to the Scholars’ Academy community, the high school Talent Show on June 2nd was a roaring success. A reflection of the wide range of student talents, the Talent Show is also a testament to the strategic organization and diligence of Student Government and their ability to engage their peers in a school wide end of the year celebration. Seniors Jesse Funtleyder and Thomas Atehortua received praise for their role as hosts of the event; dressed as Mike and Sully, respectively, from Monsters Inc., their antics and jokes easily brought smiles to both nervous performers and entertained audience members. Improvising in the face of technical difficulties and smoothly transitioning between acts, Funtleyder and Atehortua began and ended the Talent Show on a fun and light hearted note. Junior Sydney Schmieder and freshman Steven Wagner opened the Talent Show, with their act consisting

of both students singing a song that Schmieder had written. Their voices when accompanied with Schmieder’s piano playing gave way to an emotional performance that was illustrative of the level of talent and professionalism that the competitors had to rise to that afternoon. Other acts featured included junior Danielle Gugliemo playing Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen on piano, junior Simisola Adeosun singing a rendition of My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion and senior Ashley Walters singing The Other Side by Alessia Cara. Audience members held their breath during the highly anticipated awards ceremony, as the friendly competitiveness of the event took center stage. Third place went to musical group APMT consisting of seniors Mia Melchiorri and Emma McCarthy who both sang, as well as Mary Esguerra and William Anderson who both played the guitar. Coming in second place was a performance of Runnin’ by Beyonce, by seniors Josephine Yanful and de Andre Brown accompanied by junior

Stefan Joseph on piano. Taking home the coveted first place prize were freshmen Benjamin Campos and Joshua Feliciano whose act consisted of an original drum and piano performance. The entire production was only made possible due to the efforts of the leaders of Student Government, and their ability to work collaboratively with teachers and their fellow peers to produce a friendly competition that showcased school spirit and unity. Student Government President Ryan Schwach worked in conjunction with seniors Justin Henry and Nicole Skolnick as well as Student Government Secretary Angelica Burac over the course of multiple months, watching the Talent Show become reality after weeks of meticulous planning. If anything, the Talent Show is a manifestation of the type of unique innovative spirit instilled within the Scholars’ Academy community; ultimately hard work, determination and cooperation are what translate talent into success.

Overall, attending NHSMUN 2017 was a positive and engaging learning and social experience for students. Bertolini states, “The four days taught the students freedom and independence, surpassing the amount that just their schools have taught them … The things that I experienced are the things that every high school student should get to experience.” Although Model UN is still a relatively new club, students came together with their teachers and each other to form a bond and create an experience unimaginable to others. “As a first year school, [the students] made a big impact and good impression,” said Ms. Doran. Ms. White followed up by saying, “[They] ran the show. [They] took

charge.” NHSMUN 2017 was enjoyed by students across the board, and many plan to experience it for themselves next year as well.

The Importance of Community Service

By:

Salma Elhassa

Getting involved in the world we live in today is not all that difficult. In fact, our communities need all the help they can get, as demonstrated by the lack of many different resources and the large amount of help needed across the world. Improvements needs to be made to allow for an interconnectedness to form among the people. Community service enables for people to volunteer and help reap the benefits for their respective communities, and communities across the world. This non-paying job is usually performed by a person or a group of people to essentially benefit the public and its institutions. Participating gives one the opportunity to affect someone’s life and to see the impact of ones work. Some students are required to complete community service as a part of a class requirement in order to graduate high school or become

a member of a certain organization such as the National Honors Society. Although it is a requirement it is usually done so with grace and decorum. This form of service comes with many essential benefits such as gaining the hands-on experience. While working with your community one may be able to grasp skills that range from customer service to medical skills. Those skills may be used for resume purposes, thus allowing for the acceptance into various prestigious programs and colleges, because it makes one unique. However, community service should not be done if it is to be used for just resume purposes, as it completely defeats the purpose of assisting the community. Reaping benefits is only plausible if one works with the intention of giving back to the community. Doing community service has personal benefits as well. It allows for participants to acquire qualities such as responsibility, organization, and compassion, which many employers and college admission offices like to

Scholars’ Got Talent

Image by Suvan Chowdhury By: Nasreen Duqmaq

Model UN Experience By:

Joya Pariyal

This year, students were able to participate in the National High School Model United Nations conference. Also commonly known as NHSMUN, this event brings students from all over the world together in order to discuss, evaluate, and break down issues of importance in the modern world. The event simulates the procedure and formalities of the actual United Nations, allowing for students to gain a deeper and broader perspective about international diplomacy. Hosted in the New York Hilton on 6th Avenue, Scholars’ students were able to have an engaging and rigorous experience like no other. This experience went beyond simply being a part of the club. By attending NHSMUN, students were exposed to different cultures and issues that they were not aware of before. Hailey Acosta, a ninth grader, said, “I loved being introduced to new cultures and customs and seeing so many people with so many differences come together to make one thing.” Attending this conference, students were able to meet people from Spain, Italy, Georgia, Portugal as well as other states in the United States. Exposure was one of the highlights shared amongst students. Teachers and supervisors of

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this club, Ms. Doran and Ms. White share a similar opinion. Ms. Doran stated that attending NHSMUN “[Opened] up people’s eyes to problems they wouldn’t have known about and how it affected people you don’t know about.” Ms. White added on, “It makes you a well-rounded global citizen.” NHSMUN really takes students out of their comfort zones and self-formed bubbles to raise awareness about issues that are not even mentioned in the news. In a way, NHSMUN is creating and shaping people who could change the world for the better. However, with all good comes bad, and the journey to attend this conference was definitely not an easy one. The conference itself takes place in mid-March, but students prepare research and a position paper for months prior to this date. Being that this is the first year Scholars’ participated in NHSMUN, the strenuous preparation was a challenge for students. Maria Bertolini, a ninth grader, said “Writing a position paper on a country and position you don’t exactly identify with while finding your own sources was difficult. Independence was key in Model UN.” Students were assigned a country and a committee with two topics respective to that committee. Although they received background information from the administration of NHSMUN, the rest of information was to be found on their own

Image by Kirill M. means, causing the task to be time consuming and rigorous. Beyond the research, students had to absorb themselves in the actual country themselves. “Looking up facts and putting them on paper [was] one thing, but to have to take the perspective from Tajikistan, that was hard,” said Acosta. Composing this position paper was more than simply stringing together facts with eloquent words. Students had to, in theory, become citizens of the country they were assigned and adapt the mindset and beliefs of said country to address the issue they were presented with. The preparation and workload that comes with NHSMUN is definitely not light and easy, but for many, the end results are extremely worth it.

The Seaside Chronicle ● Summer 2017

Student Government Update By:

Claudia Dana

As the year draws to a close, Student Government is about to end on a high note, literally and figuratively, reinstating the annual Talent Show. After several weeks of planning by the events committee, headed by senior Justin Henry, the show was a grand success, showcasing the talents of Scholars of all grades. In an unprecedented turn of events, first prize was taken by two freshmen, Ben Campos and Joshua Feliciano, who performed an original piece on piano and drums. In addition to the Talent Show, Student Government also produced a Constitution outlining the rules and procedures of the organization. The Constitution contains the obligations

and requirements to run for office, the different positions within the government, as well as the hierarchy and impeachment process of elected officials. This was created with the hope that the incoming Student Government can begin next year with clearly defined procedures and duties to the student body, becoming more effective in engaging the Scholars’ community. To prepare for the coming year, Claudia Dana was named acting high school Secretary, and will oversee meetings until replaced by the new high school President. Finally, the Chronicle would like to wish the graduating Seniors in Student Government—President Ryan Schwach, High School Secretary Angelica Burac, Secretary of Events Justin Henry, and Nicole Skolnick—the best of luck in college and beyond!

Fitness Elective By:

Jana Elsayad, Ashley Hassan, Marykate Wee, Supinder Kaur, and Taspia Khan

The idea that physical fitness and exercise use up precious time that could otherwise be dedicated to academic activities is a widespread misconception. In spite of such assumptions, multiple interviews with students from the Scholars’ Academy actually paints a very different reality; students have expressed the sentiment that physical activity is a positive influence on their intellectual endeavors. Such views are not necessarily new or groundbreaking, despite the widespread perpetuation that physical activity is too time consuming to be part of a daily routine. After all, President John F. Kennedy once stated, “Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” Some students have voiced difficulty in striking a balance between being physically active and their school work. Eighth graders Bridget Donnelly and Fabian Apicella find

it easier to manage physical activity and assignments by making their academics a top priority prior to their involvement in the fitness electives offered at Scholars’. The lack of education regarding sports and exercise is the main culprit in the battle to get students to become more physically active. Thus, classes and electives specifically dedicated to fitness and health has eliminated anxiety regarding when and how exercise can implemented into their everyday lives. Students now have time from their day carved out for them specifically to devote to physical fitness under the supervision of teachers, who can guide them throughout their fitness journeys. Physical education has developed its own niche in the Scholars’ Academy, spawning a new interest in fitness among the student body. Although sports and gym class have been unfairly targeted as being “useless” in the past, students given the opportunity to strike a healthy balance with academics and physical activity are grateful for the immense health benefits accompanied with the integration of such classes into the Scholars’ Academy curriculum.

Read Across America By:

Raisa Amin

Reading fanatics all across America count down the days until Read Across America Day in March. Celebrated on March 2nd, Read Across America was created by the National Education Association (NEA) to increase “student achievement and create lifelong successful readers.” Truly a homage to reading and the power of words, March 2nd was deliberately chosen, since it also the birthday of the beloved children’s book author Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss wrote some of the most iconic children’s novels including Oh, The Places You’ll Go and Green Eggs and Ham. The Scholars’ Academy Read Across America celebration occurred on March 17, 2017; preparations for the event were met with excitement by many of Scholars’ staff and students. Students were allowed to dress up as their favorite author or book character and were encouraged to bring in their favorite book to share with their class. In addition, Ms. Gerasoulis, the librarian, had the library open for the entire day. This encouraged students to check out books, many of which were recommended by their classmates. Scholars’ teachers prepared by collaborating with their fellow staff members to plan activities that would “awaken or rekindle the students’ excitement for reading,” said Mr. Miltenberg. In order to continue fostering

a love for reading all year round, Scholars’ staff members encourage students to discover books that cater to their interests. Mrs. Gerasoulis continues to display a wide variety of genres, while Mr. Miltenberg tries to get to know his students to better recommend novels. Similarly, Mrs. Colleran asserts that classwork and grade level assigned novels encourage students to continue reading. “Teachers are encouraged to dedicate class time to independent reading to allow for students to get a quiet place to read,” said Mrs. Colleran. Scholars’ teachers have integrated reading into the school curriculum through the use of Reading to the Top, NewsELA, text talks, Socratic Seminars, and book clubs. As Scholars’ continues to celebrate this event every year, the unifying effect of reading and its power to bring people together becomes more and more evident, as staff and students alike embrace their love for words and literature. In the wise words of Mrs. Gerasoulis, the “...close knit community and the encouragement to thrive beyond your potential” are embodied in Scholars’ celebration of Read Across America Day.

School News

How to Survive the Regents

Image by Andreas Breitling By:

Nafiza Azizi

As most Scholars’ students are aware, regent exams are right around the corner, creeping up on anyone taking courses such as Spanish, Chemistry, and Global History. Tensions are running especially high for the eighth grade, with this being their first year taking regents exams. Teachers are expressing similar sentiments of anticipation; it is difficult for teachers to assist students, due to the overwhelming amount of material to cover. Unknown to some students, but both students and teachers bear pressure as regent

exams approach. Regent examinations are the culmination of all the hard work for high school courses such as Living Environment or Algebra I. While students only need a 65 in order to pass the exam, to some the pressure to score high is the source of their anxiety and stress. It is common for students to respond differently to how well they think they can score. While these tests aren’t necessarily the easiest exams in the world, teachers are assured that Scholar’s eighth-graders are capable of doing well. Due to its foreign format and robust amount of content, there will be challenges that arise while

students take the test. Despite those complexities, a calm and collected mind along with a good amount of studying beforehand, all of the students at Scholars’ are more than capable of passing and scoring well on this straightforward, yet slightly trivial exam. In spite of the tension, several regents teachers advise students against feeling pressure and encourage them start preparing early. Mr. Milano, the 8C Algebra I teacher, suggests to “Practice Regents questions for 15 to 20 minutes each day, use all the resources you are provided with, and start studying early so you don’t have too much to study at once.” Essentially, try approaching your practice material whenever you get the chance, and take your time while going over different topics. Overwhelming oneself with stress is not in the student’s favor and can be counterproductive to someone’s mental preparation. As Ms. Podmore, an eighth grade science teacher, explained, “Regents exams are just another exam. Nothing to get worked up about. You study and do your best and at the end of the day it is just a number on a piece of paper.” With this mentality, you can confidently tackle any regents exam!

Farewell Scholars’

Image by Danielle MacInnes By:

Zoe Indarshan

The anticipation was bubbling inside everyone throughout the entire day. Even as the teachers demanded that their classes quiet down, the buzz and tension still hung in the air. “Seventh period” they told us. Seventh period could not come fast enough. Once the hour came, our teacher gave us a pep talk with the usual encouragements on how it didn’t matter what high school we went to and all that good stuff that we, as middle schoolers, tend to ignore. Then the moment finally came. The envelopes were passed out, each student clearly agonized with anticipation as the teacher scampered around the room. Loyal friends kept their envelope sealed, waiting for their peers or parents before opening it. Others tore into their envelope immediately and quickly unfolded the paper. Looks of surprise and happiness could be seen on some students’ faces. Looks of surprise and disappointment could also be found on others. I got my envelope, skipped the casualties, and went straight to tearing it open. I had applied to three schools, and at the time of my application, I was fairly certain that I had put Scholars’ as my backup. I was also sure that my application to

specialized high schools was pointless. As far as I was concerned, I just took the SHSATs to see what score I would get. As months passed during the grace period after applying and before results, I became more attached to this school and all of my teachers. However, when I unfolded the paper and I saw my results, I was left in a state of shock. I had made it into my top choices for both the specialized high schools and regular admissions round. My score for the test was insanely high, for me, considering I had studied for the test for a total of approximately two days. I had gotten exactly what I’d wanted, or so it seemed, until I looked across the room at my best friend. We had made a decision to take the Specialized High Schools test and list which schools we wished to attend, similarly. After the actual test, we both realized we did not finish and were sure we had failed. During the months between, we forgotten about it and it became kind of a inside joke. And then we got the envelopes. The look across my own face was surprise and extreme excitement, but when I looked across the room, the face I saw was confused and conflicted. A few hours later when we met up to talk for the first time after receiving the envelopes, reality dawned on us. We were not going to be attending the same high school.

Besides two different outcomes with the specialized high schools, we had gotten offers from different regular high schools. At first, we tried to dance around it, giving half-hearted ideas about applying in Round 2 and trying to ignore the subject completely. I even tried to get back into Scholars’ specifically, but in the end, decided that it was time to move on. Now that we had realized that we couldn’t stay together, I was still grappling with two choices. On the day that I got my envelope, I thought I knew for sure which school I was going to. My parents wanted me to attend a different school, the other choice, but I was dead set on attending the school that I wanted to. As a few weeks passed, I started to see how the other choice could be beneficial. I tried to move on from my emotional attachment to Scholars’ and look on the positive side. I still had friends going to the two schools I had offers from, just not my best friend. As I continue to make the bigger decisions of my life, I will always be reminded that true friendship survives distance. I will always remember my middle school years, the teachers I learned from, and most importantly the friendships I made.

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The Seaside Chronicle ● Summer 2017

Senior Acceptances Key: Valedictorian - Salutatorian - Out of State Tithi Adhikary St. John’s University Tatiana Alejo CUNY Brooklyn College William Anderson Rochester Institute of Technology Jonathan Archila New York University Aryeh Armstrong CUNY York College Michelle Atehortua CUNY Queensborough Community College Thomas Atehortua SUNY at Buffalo Amanda Austin St. John’s University Seline Bacchus CUNY LaGuardia Community College Sarah Balkaran SUNY Stony Brook Brittney Barnes Adelphi University Ashley Bethea CUNY Hunter College Stephanie Bongiorno Hofstra University Zachary Boodoo CUNY Hunter College Michelle Boodram St. John’s University Theresa Borrello SUNY Stony Brook Reshmi Bridgelall CUNY Queens College De Andre Brown Oakwood University Kerone Brown SUNY Stony Brook Angelica Burac New York University Charlotte Chapman Binghamton University Motunrayo Charles CUNY Brooklyn College Samantha Charles St. Francis College Jacky Cheng SUNY Stony Brook Meenakshi Chickery SUNY Stony Brook Melina Chin CUNY Hunter College Rayeed Chowdhury CUNY Queens College Casey Colleran University of Pennsylvania Kalista Cox CUNY City College Alexander Cuglewski Farmingdale State College Lukasz Czyzo CUNY Queens College Malachi Davidson CUNY Baruch College Malik Davidson CUNY Baruch College Annie Dengler University of New Haven Kerry Ann Deopersad CUNY Huunter College Caitlin Donohue CUNY Hunter College Mary Doyle SUNY Binghamton Emma Edri Marist College Mary Esguerra SUNY Stony Brook Cristaly Espinal CUNY Queens College

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Juan Pablo Essel SUNY at Buffalo Ava Evangelista Adelphi University Joseph Focarino CUNY Baruch College Jesse Funtleyder CUNY John Jay College Nycia Glover St. Francis College Amanda Goldberg CUNY Brooklyn College David Grant CUNY Hunter College Alex Greaves Adelphi University Amanda Gresser SUNY at Oneonta James Guaman CUNY City College Zhane Hazel Howard University Justin Henry Columbia University Ryan Hilgendorf CUNY Hunter College Danielle Hoffman SUNY at Oneonta Namia Islam CUNY City College Marcia Jaigobin CUNY Baruch College Marie James CUNY Queens College Kyrsten Kane SUNY at Cortland Samantha Kaplan LIU Brooklyn Samantha Kerr CUNY Hunter College Mawuli Kofie SUNY at Albany Jillian Krol University of Deleware Alexander Kucherina Cornell University Mickayla Laing Still Deciding Aydavis Lara CUNY John Jay College Taylor Lambardino Fashion Institute of Technology Mason Maxwell University of San Francisco Marybrigid McManus Molloy College Sean McCarthy-Coyne CUNY Baruch College Emma McCarthy SUNY at Oneonta Erin McDermott Quinnipiac University James McManus SUNY Maritime College Mia Melchiorri Muhlenberg College Zakiya Mendez CUNY City College Miyah Morales Howard College Dayana Morataya Menend CUNY York College Tiyanna Mullgrav College of New Rochelle Alia Nasim CUNY Hunter College Guillermo Navas Drexel University Victoria Nowinski Saint Joseph’s University Brandon Obando CUNY John Jay College

Kings Odgie Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ashley Ortiz CUNY Hunter College Andrew O’Sullivan St. John’s University Yerandy Pacheco University of Southern California Ryan Panetta Augustana College Madhurie Parasram SUNY Stony Brook Heather Parra Cortez CUNY John Jay College Steven Persaud Cornell University Damien Pizarro The Sophie Davis School Naresh Ragoobeer SUNY Stony Brook Maariz Rahman CUNY Brooklyn College Brandon Ram SUNY Stony Brook Lena Rampersaud New York Institute of Technology Angelique Rodriguez CUNY John Jay College Cara Rosenfeld SUNY at Oneonta Jenna Rosenfeld Adelphi University Cristina Ruiz SUNY Stony Brook Shanyah Rumph New York Institute of Technology Rebecca Schreiner St. John’s University Ryan Schwach CUNY Brooklyn College Kathryn Sheehan George Washington University Zakaria Siddiqui SUNY at Buffalo Sanjiv Singh CUNY City College Nicole Skolnick Boston College Lloyd Smith St. Francis College Manuel Soto CUNY John Jay College Vincent Spiteri SUNY Stony Brook Brandon Stewart Georgia Institute of Technology Juliet Sullivan SUNY Stony Brook Shabina Tammi St. John’s University Ryan Tardona Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Kelley Thakurdeen CUNY Hunter College Courtney Vanetten CUNY Hunter College Ann Velluzzi Iona College Anmol Virk CUNY Queens College Addie Winfield St. Francis College Josephine Yanful CUNY John Jay College Iyannah Young St. John’s University Zefan Zhou SUNY Stony Brook Thahmena Zzaman Hofstra University

Congratulations to all!

The Seaside Chronicle ● Summer 2017

Smart Choices for a Healthier You

Image by Brooke Lark By:

Daniella Ciniglio

Being that we are young and are not being faced with high cholesterol, heart disease, or atherosclerosis right now, it is easy to forget about the risks associated with a poor diet and lack of exercise. Now is the time to make a change in our lifestyles before it is too late. I was fortunate enough to speak with Mr. O’Connell about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. As someone who has been dedicating his life for many years to transform his lifestyle, he serves as a role model for all of us. Mr. O’Connell wakes up before five in the morning every day to exercise, and goes to the gym after school to follow his muscle rotation schedule. By sticking to a schedule, he assures he remains active no matter what life throws his way. He abides by the mantra “eat to live on more days of the week than you live to eat.” You do not need to eat per-

fectly every day, but on most days it is important to condition yourself to avoid giving in to food ‘weaknesses’. He relayed the importance of always challenging yourself mentally and physically to see results and live a balanced life. Five tips on your health and fitness journey: 1. Dedicate yourself mentally to bettering your lifestyle, which you can do once you establish goals. You should always have attainable goals to continually motivate you. Establishing short term goals such as learning how to cook a balanced breakfast or benching ten more pounds at the gym will boost your self-confidence and bring you closer to your long term goals. 2. Start tracking what you eat so you can understand how to adjust your diet. Free apps like LifeSum and Myfitnesspal allow you to record everything you are eating to track how many

calories are consumed per meal. By entering personal information such as your height, weight, age, and end goal, a guideline to how much of each food group you should eat will be provided. As I began tracking what I ate, I became more passionate in ensuring that I was meeting my daily criterion. 3. Create an exercise routine and hold yourself accountable. Find what type of exercise not only benefits your body best, but you enjoy doing. Not all people are the same and not all goals require the same kind of exercise. Once you discover the type of working out you enjoy, make a schedule so it becomes part of your everyday routine. By integrating working out into your daily life, sticking to your goals becomes much easier! 4. Make sure to do your research! Fun ways to learn more about workouts and healthy meals are to watch YouTube videos, follow athletes on instagram, and read blogs. I personally recommend @aaron_nimmo, @whitneyysimmons, and @sarahs_day on Instagram for workout pointers, meal ideas, and overall beneficial health tips! To keep yourself dedicated, it is important to learn more to find interesting ways to spice up your health journey. 5. Do NOT get discouraged if you hit a rough patch- it is normal for some days to be harder than others. Remember you’re embarking on a journey, not a rapid change. By just trying to make a change, you are doing something so beneficial for yourself!

The Award Actually Goes to......

By: Stephanie Bongiorno If you tuned into the 2015 Miss Universe pageant, you naturally received second hand embarrassment through the television screen. It seems as though calling up the wrong winner to the stage has become the new “thing,” dating back to Steve Harvey and following suit when Warren Beatty made the same mistake during the 2017 Oscars. Whether it be a publicity stunt or a sheer accident, both The Oscars and The Miss Universe Pageant have stirred up quite the attention. Steve Harvey, beloved comedic host of Family Feud and The Steve Harvey Show, reigned in Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutiérrez, only to decrown her moments later on the Miss Universe stage. The winner was in fact, Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach. He merely confused the winner’s name with that of the runner up, which put him in an unfortunate predicament; however, he later apologized and took full blame for the error. On account of the mishap, his multi-year signed contract with the program that, was expected to last anywhere from three to seven years, is no longer being considered. If you thought it ended there,

hmm think again. Meme creators ran with the mishap and connected the situation to anything that correlated: Oprah, Justin Bieber’s song “Sorry,” relationships, and politics. When it comes to publicity and the program itself, Harvey’s “stunt” did not aid in prevailing its stagnant downfall in ratings. In 2014, the pageant drew in 6.2 million viewers and earned a 1.7 rating. On account on this year, the pageant drew in 5.2 million viewers which consists of adults aging from 18-49 and earned a rating of 1.4. It is clear that any amount of attention still won’t bring in audiences across the globe. As for the Oscars, the same story holds true. LaLaLand, a film about honoring love, fulfilling dreams, striving for fame, and making music made sure to clean sweep the award ceremony. The film took home five Academy Awards for Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Music Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Production Design. Therefore, it only made sense that LaLaLand would take Best Film as well. I mean, they did… not. Instead, Moonlight, a film that explores the protagonist’s complex life through three main stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, brought just the right amount of attention to itself when it won for Best

Film. The protagonist is portrayed in a groundbreaking way that is poetic and implements a deeper meaning. There are clear universal truths that promote self reflection and a new outlook on life. For these reasons and many more, it deserved to win. The only thing is that MoonLight did not win fair and square. The presenter of the award, Warren Beatty, was given a card with Emma Stone’s name on it from when she won for Best Actress previously. He took it upon himself to say that LaLaLand won for Best Film. The LaLaLand cast took their places on stage, took the time to thank every person they could possibly name, and sealed the almost win with a kiss right smack on the Oscar that was not theirs. Seconds later, after all of this occurred, Beatty and a backstage manager, took control of the situation to confirm that Moonlight in fact, won. The whole five minute meltdown was simply awkward. The cast of LaLaLand stood on the side shocked and looked hopelessly at what could have been theirs. Just like the Miss Universe pageant, ratings did not spike up this year but rather have dropped 4% and it is said that the Oscars are at an all time low of nine years. To lighten the mood, here are some responses to the Oscars mishap: The Miss Universe Twitter handle (@MissUniverse) tweeted, “Have your people call our people – we know what to do. #Oscars#MissUniverse.” Even Steve Harvey made sure to comment on the situation, tweeting, “Call me Warren Beatty. I can help you get through this! #Oscars.” Hopefully this is not a recurrent event that takes place in other awarding ceremonies.

Features

Rememebering Elie Wiesel continued from page 1 Nevertheless, Elie didn’t give up. He didn’t break down or stop trying and most importantly, he did not stay silent. He made the extremely brave choice to share his life story with the world so the story of the Holocaust would not be forgotten. He wrote his memoir, Night, in 1955 which was translated to English in 1960. This memoir was a recollection of his life during the war and in concentration camps. His beautiful story has not only informed people of his experience but also touched many hearts. And one of the many, many, people he touched, was our very own Mrs. Camarinos, one of the 8C Humanities teachers. Mrs. Camarinos had the great honor of meeting Mr. Wiesel when she worked on her Master’s degree at Adelphi University, and was inspired. Since then, it has been the driving force in her classroom. She said, “Elie was the other teacher in room 105 and though he is no longer with us, I vow to keep telling his story for as long as they let me. As a teacher of humanities, we study human behavior and perspec-

tive. We learn that there are multiple sides to every story. Through his perspective, our 8th graders become HS students. Through him, they have learned graciousness and forgiveness, a lesson I could not teach alone. He is so very missed but his legacy lives on through each of my students and for that, I am eternally grateful.” Mrs. Camarinos’ words explain how many others feel about Elie Wiesel and his novel. It demonstrates the great effect that words can have on people. We can now see that even after Mr. Wiesel’s death, the novel continues to impact the word. Elie Wiesel was a man of words, and a man with a purpose. He felt that his purpose after the Holocaust, was to teach people about what happened. He did that, because he knew that if he didn’t do it, then no one would. And so, keeping that in mind, he wrote his novel, and stood up to the villains of his past and his present. Wiesel, one of the greatest minds of the past century will have a legacy that will make sure that he and his story are remembered. Elie Wiesel, though he is no longer with us, will continue to touch hearts forever.

State of the Media By:

Ryan Schwach

We face a world today where truth is more important than ever, yet our definition of truth is confused in a jumbled ball of fact and fiction. We live in a world today where “fake news” is a pressing issue and many have begun to question what the very purpose of news media is. It is obviously fair to say that every news organization has a bias—it comes with the territory of reporting sensitive information. Generally, the network channels—NBC, ABC, and CBS—tend to lean left, while FOX tends to lean right. The evidence of bias is clear to any observer in all reporting. For example, the headlines from the most recent White House Correspondents dinner in April, which President Trump did not attend, illustrated a range of perspectives on the event. NBC’s lead headline: “Trump Will Hold Rally Instead of Attending White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” calling out the commander-in-Chief for skipping out on the annual affair for his own rally. At the same time FOX news reported: “Host blasts absent Trump at White House Correspondents’ Dinner,” Only discussing the flak Trump took during the dinner. So who’s wrong? No one—neither of these headlines are “fake news,” since both happened. Trump did not attend the dinner opting to host his own event, and the host Hassan Minaj mercilessly attacked the Trump administration at any chance he got. Yet, the bias is staring you in the face. NBC only stated the fact Trump did not attend, while FOX ignored that and took it’s own aim at the events host. Every single news agency has some sort of angle, and today’s audiences are now faced with the problem of having to read every publication and compare to get the real story. But how can we bypass this? Nowadays, most people get their news from social media, which is leans towards being a problematic approach. Social media is one source you can receive updates from various news outlets, but most feeds are diluted with troves of sources, each again with their own set of opinions, and very few take the time to read pieces contradictory to one’s beliefs. If you only read one news outlet, that

is your story, and since you read that and nothing else, those are the facts. But someone else reads a different outlet, and those are his facts. Then, to add insult to injury, lurking in the recesses of our feeds are stories from second-rate sources, based on little to no facts, and if some reads that, they might as well be reading Ray Bradbury and saying “Fahrenheit 451” is a nonfiction story. Consequently, news today has become a game of roulette, where the readers are constantly guessing if their facts are indeed facts, making it hard for people to be properly informed. The purpose of the media is to inform the people and is where we find out what is happening in the world around us. Without a free and honest press, there is no freedom, and there is no democracy. In nations like North Korea, where the media is controlled solely by the government, the people don’t get the truth, limiting the people’s understanding of the world around them. That is why we work to get the facts. In 1975, facing pressure, a troubling economy, and a miniscule trust in government, President Gerald Ford stepped up during his State of the Union, and bravely said, “The state of the union is not good” and today we must say, “The state of the media is not good.” It is diluted with angles and fake stories while outlets fight for truth, only widening the political divide that rips through the fabric of our nation. In this landscape we have to do everything we can to stay informed, to go against our personal biases and seek the truth, because today it matters more than ever.

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The Seaside Chronicle ● Summer 2017

Features

Decline of American Creativity

The Year of the Blown Lead By:

Image by Tero Vesalainen By:

Richard Stix

For decades innumerable, the prevailing philosophy in the American Republic was that one’s IQ was the greatest determinant of future success. However, over the years an interesting phenomenon has been observed seeming to undermine that concept. The recently coined Flynn Effect is a description of noted increase in the results of IQ tests of people across the world. Since the 1930s, the number of IQ points of different people across the world have increased on average ten points per decade. Because of this observation, doubt has been shed on the importance of IQ as well as the theory that IQ is primarily heritable. Now, the theory that is in vogue is that IQ is determined by one’s heredity and environment. However, beginning in 1958, E. Paul Torrance set out to provide a different determinant for the intelligence of children. In that year, he tested 400 Minneapolis children in the titular, “Torrance Test of Creative Thinking.” One example of a question from the test was asking a third grader all the ways in which a fire truck could be improved upon, with one test-taker coming up with 25 ways to improve the model. According to his creativity index, the ranking the children received based on their ability to come up with answers determined whether or not they were going to become future entrepreneurs, inventors, college presidents, authors, doctors, diplomats, and software developers. According to

the data, Jonathan Plucker of Indiana University analyzed, the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking is three times more accurate than IQ tests in predicting the success of test takers. Like the other intelligence tests that have been created, the TCTT has been administered millions of times across the world in dozens in languages. Also, according to a survey given out to 1,500 CEOs across the world, creativity was identified as the number one indicator of success. Thusly, it is difficult to dispute the importance of creativity of the economic and working sphere. Also, because of this, it would be reasonable to assume that school superintendents and administrators of education would be focusing on increasing their students creativity. However, that has not been the case. According to Kyung Hee Kim of the College of William and Mary, after analyzing the results of 300,000 creativity tests over the past few decades, the creativity of Americans has decreased since 1990. This is a disturbing find, however not an unexpected one. For the past few decades, education boards have focused more on rote memorization and drilling. Hence, while test grades may have increased, creativity has suffered.

Misael Porras

In sports the greatest feeling is that of the unexpected. Predictability isn’t intriguing, and whenever the odds are defined, we feel rejoiced as spectators. Over the past year, there have been times when the odds have been mocked for being improbable. For what everyone would consider impossible has occurred, to the point where ironically, the unexpected has become the norm. Fresh off a 3-1 comeback in the Western Conference Finals, the Golden State Warriors were able to capitalize off the first games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, taking the 1st, 2nd and 4th games of the series. What made this title important for the Warriors was that it was fresh off a record setting season where they were able to win 73 games, passing the original record holders, the 1996 Chicago Bulls. They were favorites to repeat a Finals titles after defeating the Cavaliers a year before. This was a fairly significant Finals appearance for the Cavaliers since the city of Cleveland had experienced a 52 year title drought throughout all professional sports. 4x MVP Lebron James, from Akron, Ohio, returned to his native team to give them a chance to break the curse on the city. It seemed like it would be another year where the city would be let down by its sports team. In a historic turn of events, NBA Finals MVP, Lebron James was able to put his team and his city behind his back and lead both teams in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals for the rest of the series. Both him and Kyrie Irving averaged high numbers and motivated their team to take the series to Game 7. Game 7, played in Oracle Arena, can be described as no less than a nailbiter. With less than a minute to play, Kyrie Irving converted a 3-point shot to give the Cavaliers the lead, and ultimately the curse breaking title. The NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons led by MVP Matt Ryan were able to finish off their season with an 11-5 record, making them the 2nd seed in their conference. With offensive weapons in Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu, the Falcons were

Ten Tips for the Summer continued from page 1 hits an all time high, whether it be when you spend the whole day relaxing at the beach, or even you walk the dog. It is recommended that you wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, in order to protect your skin from sunburn and the development of any skin disease. 3. Open the Curtains! During the summer is when energy usage per household hits an all-time high, with air conditioners usually running 24/7. In order to not only save some money on energy, but also contribute to going greener, during the day turn off any lights that may be on, and open the curtains to let in some natural sun light! 4. Keep Your Pets Safe! The

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summer sun sometimes gets so hot and intense that it heats up streets and sidewalks to an unbearable temperature for pets to walk on. To check if it is too hot to walk your furry friend, put the back of your hand on the sidewalk, and try to hold it there for five seconds. If it starts to hurt, then it is TOO hot to walk your pet. 5. Know Your Limits! Sometimes on a swim you might grow the courage to venture out further than usual in the ocean, or go into the deeper end of the pool. However, be sure to know your own swimming capabilities, and whether you are comfortable being in such deep waters. Also be conscious of any lifeguards in the area in case of an emergency. If there is no lifeguard in the area, do NOT attempt to go out

any farther! 6. Pace Yourself! With the summer comes lots of “fun” homework and summer assignments due the first week of school. Although you do have two whole months to do it, do NOT leave your summer homework for the night before the first day of school. Pace yourself, and start doing your homework either the week before, or do a little bit each week of vacation, so you’re not stressing out about it the night before it is due. 7. Eat Healthier! With the summer comes many chances to go out and have some fun. But, in order to do that fun in the sun, you need to make sure you are properly nourished! Make sure that your daily breakfast is fulfilling, including such as: a bowl of oatmeal, or toast with

able to muscle themselves into the Super Bowl. The AFC Champion New England Patriots were led by future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, who was suspended for the first 4 games of the season for his involvement in “Deflategate”, where he was accused of tampering with and playing with underinflated footballs in the 2015 NFL playoffs, where he had won his 4th Super Bowl. For Brady and Head Coach Belichick, this would be their 7th All Time Super Bowl, an NFL record. Nevertheless, the New England Patriots were able to have to best record in football a total of 14-2. The Patriots system of football is one where every player’s talent is centered around the benefit of the team, not the individual. Although the team has some Pro Bowlers, most of the team is filled with role players. Their system allowed them to easily reach the Super Bowl and face off against the Falcons on February 5th. The Patriots were the favorites to win, and it would seem like it would require a Brayd meltdown for the Falcons to pull off the win. After a half time performance by Lady Gaga, the Patriots seemed demoralized, everything that needed to happen for the Falcons to win was occurring. Matt Ryan and the offense were able to have a spectacular game while Tom Brady faltered. At the start of the 3rd quarter Matt Ryan would throw a passing touchdown to make the score 28-3. A comeback seemed almost impossible at that point. The Patriots would need skill and a whole lot of luck to even have a chance to come back at this game. After the last Falcons score, Tom Brady entered a stretch, that at 39 years old, can be described as the greatest quarterback performance in a Super Bowl of all time. With two minutes left he threw a passing touchdown to bring the Patriots to 28-10 to start the 4th quarter. They were able to then hold off the Falcons from scoring and kick a field goal to make it 28-12 Falcons. In a defining moment in the game with 8:33 minutes left in the game Linebacker Dont’a Hightower sacked Matt Ryan and the patriots were able to recover the football in the opposing territory near the end zone. With 6 minutes left in the game Tom Brady was then able to throw a passing touchdown and make a two point conversion

to put the game 28-20 Falcons. The Falcons were then able to drive down the field with a great pass from Matt Ryan to Julio Jones but were not able to score, giving the ball back to New England. With two minutes left in the game, Tom Brady threw a pass down the field to Julian Edelman that was deflected into mid air that could have easily been deflected. With what can only be described as the will of God was Edelman able to make a precise catch that by inches was able to keep from touching the grass, making it an incomplete pass. Instead New England had better field position with almost 2 minutes left in the game. With exactly one minute left in the game the Patriots were able to reach the endzone and with a running play were able to score a touchdown to go down by two points. The game would be decided by a two point conversion. If the Patriots made it, they would go to overtime. If they missed, the Falcons would surely win the game. Brady snapped for the ball and fired a spiral to tight end Danny Amendola for the two point conversion. The Super Bowl would be going to overtime. With the start of overtime come new rules in the game. There would have to be a coin toss to determine who received the ball first, as well as the first team to score would automatically win the game. The Patriots called heads, and sure enough heads came up. The New England Patriots, now with all the momentum headed into overtime just simply had to score to win it all. After a few passes by Brady they were able to reach only two yards away from the goal line and the title. The Patriots were able to overcome a 25 point deficit, the largest overcome deficit in Super Bowl history. Sports is a game where the unpredictable and the adrenaline make it exciting to watch. Whether or not your favorite team is on the field, we as humans, have always enjoyed playing and watching sports, since it always shows off what humans can do, the highest potential humans can achieve. The past year has given us edge of your seat entertainment, where even the most casual fans can enjoy the games. 2017 and beyond in sports has big shoes to fill if it wants to keep us engaged.

avocado. Eat fruit throughout the day as a substitute for chips with and water replacing sugar water. It will give you the right energy you’ll need for fun! 8. Read every day! Although reading isn’t the most exhilarating activity in the world, it is important to keep your reading abilities strong throughout the summer, so you come back to school totally unprepared. Take this as a chance to read about things you like--such as the news or sports--for thirty minutes every day! You can also do this by reading a little bit of your summer reading books every day as well. 9. Get Some Bug Spray! Always wear an adequate amount of bug spray on your body as well, wherever you have exposed skin. Bugs such as Mosquitoes carry many types of infectious diseases, and can therefore get you very sick if you don’t wear

any mosquito repellant. As the old saying goes, “a spray a day keeps the doctor away”! 10. Try New Things! This summer, don’t be afraid to try something new, whether it be gardening, learning how to swim, learning some differential calculus for fun, or rock climbing. Summer is the time to try and enjoy different things. Who knows, you might find a new passion in life!

The Seaside Chronicle ● Summer 2017

The Melting Pot By:

Julieth Sanchez

Christianity: Holy Week (April 9-15) Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and is the most important holiday in the Christian religion. Easter is a moveable feast since it does not have a set date every year, but takes place the first Sunday following a full moon in April. Easter is an entire season of the Christian calendar, starting with a 40-day period known as Lent. The forty days represent the 40 days that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before starting his ministry during which he resisted various temptations by the devil. During the Lent season, many people fast by cutting out something from their lives that distracts them from God such as electronics, soft drinks, and certain foods. Others might participate in a new activity such as collecting food for the needy, registering to reform problems in their community, or volunteering in soup kitchens. Each individual makes a change in his or her life to demonstrate his or her appreciation of Jesus for sacrificing his life for humanity. The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week and includes several important celebrations such as Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week and celebrates the entrance of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem where he was welcomed by crowds laying down palm leaves before him. It is for this reason that palm leaves are given out prior to the mass that takes place on Palm Sunday. Holy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ last supper with his disciples while Good Friday honors the day of his crucifixion and Holy Saturday focuses on the transition that Jesus underwent from his crucifixion and resurrection. Rituals that are commonly performed by Christians is going to church with the family and walking the stations of the cross while reciting the passages that come along with each station. The stations of the cross serves as a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made to provide a path to salvation to humanity. Judaism: Passover (April 10-18) Passover is a Jewish religious holiday that commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Passover is a weeklong festival that is celebrated with rituals and traditional meals. The Jewish people temporarily moved from Canaan due to famine to Egypt where for several years were allowed to live peacefully there. When a significant population growth occurred, Egyptian pharaohs began to perceive the Jews as a threat which prompted the change in the relationship between the Jews and the Egyptians.

The pharaohs ordered the enslavement and drowning of firstborn sons in the Nile of Jewish people. However, according to the Hebrew Bible, one of the infants destined to die was rescued by the pharaoh’s daughter who saved him, named him Moses, and raised him in the royal family. When Moses became aware of his identity and the brutal treatment his people received by the pharaohs he escaped and lived as a shepherd until he received a command from God. God told Moses that he must return to Egypt to free the rest of his people from slavery; however, when Moses attempted to peacefully free them the Egyptian pharaoh refused. Thus God unleashed 10 deadly plagues that ranged from turning the Nile River into blood to the slaughter of the firstborn. Fearing further punishments, the Egyptians convinced their stubborn ruler to release the Israelites and Moses was able to quickly lead them out of Egypt. As the Israelites were leaving, the pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army to retrieve the former slaves. At the moment when the Israelites were at the edge of the Red Sea a miracle occurred and God parted the seas to allow Moses and his followers to pass through. Once they crossed safely the seas closed, drowning the Egyptian army. For the next forty years the Jews, traveled to their ancestral home in Canaan which is today known as Israel. One of the most important Passover rituals is to remove all leavened food products prior to start the of the

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holiday. Instead of consuming bread, observant Jews eat a flatbread called matzo which was created when Hebrews fled Egypt. Due to matzos light weight, it was easier to carry through the desert than regular bread, therefore, Israelites reference it. Another ritual that many families do is that the first two nights of Passover families gather for a religious feast known as a seder. During the meal, the story of the Israelites is told from the text Haggadah and symbolic rituals are performed that correspond with the story. An example of these rituals is the tradition to dip vegetables into salt water which represents the suffrage and pain of the Jewish people the years they were enslaved. Islam: Ramadan and Eid-Al-Fitr (May 26- June 24) Ramadan is a holy month of fasting and prayer for followers of Islam in which followers are able to truly understand the struggles of the less fortune. Fasting also allows for the body to be cleansed from the harmful toxins it might receive from a normal diet. Each day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims cannot eat or drink water from sunrise to sunset and are to break their fast by consuming suhoor which is a food eaten before sunrise to prepare for fasting in the upcoming hours. The recommended food to prepare for the fast are dates and water. Due to the excellent health benefits and high nutritional value, dates are the prefered food to break the fast since its properties wake the body up and

prepare it. It is recommended to eat dates in odd numbers since God, and the prophet Muhammad, recommended the method for increased health purposes. Praying to the Taraneh is required both before and after the fast: the main prayer, Isha, is recited after, and finally, the Witr ends prayer until sunrise. The five pillars of Islam included Shahada (declaration of faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Restrictions for fasting are put in place to protect the health of the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with health problems. Fasting becomes required for when an individual reaches puberty since they have entered a time of self growth and maturity. During fasting, traditions vary; however, the most common one is to sit down together as a family to enjoy each other’s company while enjoying a meal together. Additionally, some families go to their local mosque to pray and engage with community members. The dates and length of time of the month of Ramadan depends on the lunar calendar. The month of Ramadan begins at the first sight of the crescent of the new moon which in Arabic is know as Hilal and the end is represented by the new moon. The new moon represents the close of an intensely spiritual and community focused month and ushers into the celebration of ‘Eid Al-Fitr’.

Diary of a Senior Scholar By:

Casey Colleran

Now that all acceptances have been released, whether you have come out on top or fell short of your goals, you are still now left with a difficult decision. As a 17 or 18 year old, being asked where to spend the next four years which will then inevitably determine the rest of your life is trying. Questions like “what has the best program?”, “what is the best option financially?”, “what is too far from and what is too close to home?”, and most importantly “where will I be happy?”. While each of these answers for each individual school is easy enough to answer, taking all of these factors combined and then comparing each school wholistically sometimes does little in helping you make up your mind. Of course some students will find no difficulty in making this decision-in fact some students have already been committed to a school

since the early decisions came out in December. I, however, cannot relate to that feeling. While I had some schools that surpassed others on my list of where I would like to go, I really had no dream school. Not only was I too indecisive in terms of whether I wanted a school with a greater focus on what I wanted to do or a school which I would have everything-social and academic pleasure, but I was terrified of making a decision. Things that will scare you when it comes to this point in the year is the potential financial burden, and of course the fear of change. After attending the Scholars’ Academy for the past seven years, choosing a college seemed so intimidating. How will I survive in a new place, when I haven’t had to make new friends since middle school? Facing these uncertainties was challenging, and even after making my decision I still am facing so many fears. But before I get ahead of myself, let me address my decision making process first. After applying

to over 15 schools (which is way too much, I highly recommend you avoid doing this) I narrowed my choices to four schools- Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, and Binghamton University. Aside from the similarities between Cornell and Penn, these schools were vastly different in their opportunities and advantages. They were also diverse in terms of the sacrifices I would be making going to any of these institutions. For Cornell and Penn, the financial burden I would be taking on by attending these schools seemed detrimental to me, and nearly every single person I spoke to warned me to steer clear of excessive debt. Sophie Davis seemed like the most logical decision to me, and to many of my peers and elders who encouraged me to take this opportunity. It was the most direct program, and most financially sound opportunity. But the sacrifices I’d be making in terms of experience, and also the fear of going to such a

We Are The Champions continued from page 1 won the championships by in 2014. Outfielder Annie Dengler made an amazing catch in the first inning that got the team their second out, effectively preventing JFK from reaching home plate. Catcher Syndie Funaro made a memorable hit in the beginning of the game, starting Scholars’ off with two RBIs. Shortstop Morgan Connelly, designated hitter Gabrielle Mascari and second baseman Gabriella Vega all showed off their batting ability with multiple hits to the outfield. Margaret Valdez was phenomenal at first base, catching every ball that was thrown to her, while outfielders Deanna Duqmaq and Julia Hastings hustled to get the

ball back to the infielders. While not actively playing on the field, the rest of the team showed their unwavering support by cheering and communicating with the starters, ensuring that their teammates were focused and motivated for the win. Tensions rose when JFK scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning, bringing them ahead by 3 runs and making the score 6-3; in the bottom of the fifth inning, Scholars’ rose to the challenge and tied the game 6-6, scoring 3 runs. Scholars’ held the tie during the sixth inning and the top of the seventh; after two long hours of stress and anticipation, Pitcher Amanda Nolan hit a line drive to center field, allowing third basemen Gabriella Cabrera to score the winning run. The players’ stats are indicative

of the level of professionalism and expertise that coaches Ms. J. Henck and Ms. R. Henck expect from the team. Nolan has a 12-0 record, ranking her 3rd in the division with a 1.5 ERA throughout the regular season. Similarly impressive, Funaro has the second highest batting average in the entire B division, while also ranking fourth in hits and RBIs. Connelly’s batting average is just as incredible; with a batting average of 0.743, Connelly comes in at a close second for the highest batting average of the team and ranks seventh in the entire B division. Moreover, part of what truly made this softball season so unique and conducive to winning, is the fact that both the Henck sisters coached this year alongside the volunteer coaches Mr. Hastings and Mr. Molino. The

focused program and then second guessing my career path, made that option less appealing than initially thought. Binghamton was still in the running because it allowed me to explore other interests, have the experience I wanted, and it was the most affordable option. This option, however, was never my top choice. It just now seemed like the only option which addressed my anxieties. Making the final decision between these schools was stressful- even more stressful than applying for the schools themselves. What I did, and what I recommend everyone to do, is pick the school where you

see yourself going. Pick where you will be happy. Obviously financial and academic factors must come into play, but at the end of the day the University of Pennsylvania was where I felt I belonged. The program suited me, but more importantly the atmosphere felt like home. Walking on the campus I envisioned myself studying on the grass, and attending sporting events. Although I had my reservations, it was where I would be happy. So my last piece of advice for all of you is to chase happiness, because you can never get the college experience back.

School Sports last time the Henck sisters cocoached was the last season that the softball team won the championships in 2014, further proving the success of their winning formula. Together, Ms. R. Henck and Ms. J Henck introduced drills and practice techniques inspired from their own days as student athletes. Ms. R. Henck primarily coached first base, while Ms. J Henck coached third base. The Hencks’ communicated with the runners at their respective bases and home plate, updating the players with the necessary plays. The softball team and the coaches are extremely appreciative of the Rockaway Little League (RLL) for allowing the players to use their field as their home turf. The RLL set up the field for the team prior to each game, relieving some of the stress from the already anxious players. Without RLL’s assistance, the softball

would be left to play in less than favorable conditions. Additionally, without the moral support and community environment generated by Principal O’Connell, the formation of the softball team would not have been possible. The softball team had a fantastic season, led by amazing coaches; with such a strong support system behind the girls softball team, they will be sure to continue garnering such widespread success in the upcoming year.

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School Sports

The Seaside Chronicle ● Summer 2017

HS Baseball

By:

Ryan Schwach

Coming off a perfect regular season last year and a division bump, the high school baseball team completed another great season, finishing second place in the West Queens division with a 10-5 record. Last year, the team completed a 16-0 regular season after a previous record of 7-9. Due to their dominance last year, they were promoted from PSAL A division to PSAL AA division, presenting the team with stiff competition. The move also meant the team had to improve their already fantastic skills if they wanted to continue to dominate their competition.

Arts

The team attributes their rapid success to both their diamond full of talent and the comradery they have developed through their time together. “The brotherhood behind us is what led our growth,” explains junior Ryan Dougherty, “Being such a young team when the program developed helped with forming a strong relationship with one another each year.” A young team in terms of both existence and roster, with only one senior on the team this past season. The lone senior, Ryan Hilgendorf, quickly assumed a leadership role in the dugout in addition to pitching and batting a consistent .290 with 14 runs this year. “We all took to him. These past two seasons he has shown this is his team, all the guys respect

Arts

that”, Dougherty says. The team had stellar performances from other players as well, such as junior Justin Kaplan, who batted an incredible .575 batting average—to put that in perspective, the MLB’s highest batting average for the 2016 season was .348—as well as knocking two home runs, and pitching a 1.12 ERA with 37 punchouts. Kaplan would walked away with the MVP trophy at the 2017 Sports Night. The team is filled with talented underclassmen, such as freshman Daniel Green and sophomore Brandon Krol, who are poised to take the team further into the PSAL bracket in coming seasons. Regardless of who is on the team, the Chronicle wishes the team continued success in coming seasons, and best of luck to Ryan Hilgendorf in his future endeavors.

2017 Summer Reading Recommendations

By: Nasreen Duqmaq Young Adult: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Recommended for ages 13/14 up The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas diverges from the typical, light-hearted young adult formula that dominates mainstream coming of age novels. Thomas’s debut novel unashamedly tackles social justice issues, acting as a response to racial tensions in the United States and reflecting a new age of social awareness. Through a profound exploration of the interconnectedness of race, socioeconomic status and positions of power, the reader is taken on an emotional journey that reminds them of the ideals that America was founded on--and the importance of assessing if those principles are truly represented in our society. Gemina (Illuminae Files #2) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Recommended for ages 13 up The highly anticipated sequel to Illuminae, Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, is a

continuation of the fast paced sci-fi saga, in which two new characters confront the next wave of BeiTech attacks. The unique structure of narration featured within the Illuminae Files series is perfect for hesitant readers; told through a compilation of emails, classified files, transcripts and IMs, Kaufman and Kristoff put a refreshing twist on the young adult genre that enables the more intense sci-fi elements to be easily digested. Featuring illustrations by Marie Lu, Gemina is the perfect read for those seeking unconventionality and adventure while relaxing under the sun this summer.

Classics: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Recommended for ages 16 up The Handmaid’s Tale is perfect for lovers of dystopian novels who want to venture into adult fiction. Written by Margaret Atwood in 1985, the novel takes place in a futuristic version of New England in which a totalitarian theocracy has overtaken the United States government. In this new government, women are forced into the role of “handmaids” to serve as surrogates for upper class couples

A Night in Neverland By:

Alexis George and Marisa Montalvo

As students and staff members alike made their way out of the Scholars’ Academy Middle school production of Peter Pan, they found themselves humming, “so come with me where dreams are born and time is never planned.” Peter Pan is known around the world as the story for the forever young evolved into somewhat of a legend that children and grownups could enjoy. Scholars’ Academy has put on its fair share of plays throughout the years and

is no stranger to grandiose productions. The middle school drama elective, consisting of grades seven and eight, have worked diligently for the months, determined to put on the best performance that they can. Middle school and high school drama teacher, Leslie Kohn, worked with these wonderful and talented students since September. After all their hard work and dedication, they finally performed their musical in the theater on May 11, 2017. Scholars’ Academy 7th and 8th graders went through the process of auditions and rehearsals to make sure each role was fully portrayed to its best potential. Mrs. Kohn,

Creating a Yearbook By:

Kaitlin Coll

The Middle School Class of 2017 received a yearbook to commemorate their past middle school years. Students in yearbook club, assisted by yearbook advisor 6th grade Humanities teacher, Mrs. Schwach, worked collaboratively on putting together numerous pictures, backgrounds, and text to create a memorable book for 8th graders. This tedious process starts out with the division of tasks by homeroom. The students then pick backgrounds that best represent their homeroom class and take photos to capture the important

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moments that take place throughout the year. Students are also asked to send in pictures to an email address strictly designated for middle school yearbook. Titles and fonts are chosen and the book is put together. “We start in September and it is due to the company the first week of April but, the bulk of the work is done January, February, and March,” says Mrs. Schwach. “This is a months long process but, numerous yearbook members said they loved it,” continued Mrs. Schwach. Eighth grade student, Maria Monroy stated, “I enjoy it because it is creative,” while others such as, Isabella Goldberg and Amber Walters, said that they will keep the experience with them for a

who desire children but are unable to bear them on their own. The novel explores themes of female oppression and the means by which women acquire individualism and independence in a society that robs them of their humanity.

Marykate Wee’s Poetry Corner

Forever by the Willow Tree

We were sitting behind an old willow tree, Despite our differences we were free, Through our despairs and sorrow, We carry on until tomorrow, Together is where we see Behind this willow tree But as time will pass by Our love was caught in the eye But even though we will fall Above all I know we had a ball But I will always remember how we were like two birds so young and free Sitting behind that willow tree

They can’t wait till morrow My two parts cannot fly no more. To the willow tree. Years have pass’d since I saw you last We are not so young as we used to be But alas you write to me once more Behind bars you were as I waited for this messed up war But I still, despite our differences I am finally free Through the despairs and sorrows Now we don’t have to wait till morrow Together we are truly safe and free Now my two parts can fly free. Forever by the willow tree.

And just like that it was the end of the world. Suddenly I wasn’t the same. But who could blame society. And all of that anxiety. But I’ll always look back at those two locked-up birds who could fly no more. Through the despairs and sorrows

Middle grade: The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo #2) by Rick Riordan Recommended for ages 11 up Rick Riordan revisits Greek mythology once again with the sequel to his highly successful novel The Hidden Oracle. The Trials of Apollo series is a spinoff of Riordan’s critically acclaimed and beloved Percy Jackson universe, in which Zeus punishes Apollo, the god of the sun, music archery and more, by casting him down to earth in the form of a 16 year old mortal named Lester. In order to restore his godly form and reclaim his place on Mount Olympus, Apollo must embark on a journey to restore several oracles that have gone dark. In a heartwarming tale of friendship, mythology and adventure, Rick Riordan delivers yet another tale of the power of collaboration when achieving the impossible. the director of the play explained, “the casting of the roles for Peter Pan are perfect.” When the curtains opened, the audience was immersed in Neverland, with pixie dust flying and a nursery on stage. Eighth grade student, Julia Garcia, who is in the middle school drama elective stated, “the hardest thing about being in a play is learning all the dances because there are so many you have to memorize and also remembering lines. I feel like memorizing the lines are hard because you have to be the character and feel the emotions they feel.” Ultimately, the Middle School production of Peter Pan is illustrative of the tremendous dedication and talent of the Scholars’ Academy student body and staff. long time. The website they used to create the yearbook is called schoolannual.com, the same retailer that is used by our high school elective under the guidance of Mrs. DeRuvo. The website helps to organize all of the information in the yearbook and allows the students to design it. Since there are many people working on the yearbook at once, it would seem that it would be a challenge to agree on the layout and format. But for this elective, it is not a problem. While there are many considerations and challenges to overcome for our 8th grade student body, it is all worth it in the end! Next time you open a yearbook, remember the hard work, time, and love your classmates put into it!

Nicole Chernogor,

By: Emily Kasumov, and Malaika Khan

Contributors Journalism Advisor Mrs. Camarinos Co- Editors in Chief Casey Colleran and Ryan Schwach Managing Editors Julieth Sanchez and Claudia Dana School News Editor Nasreen Duqmaq Column Editor Salma Elhassa Photography Editor Angelica Burac

Features Editor Richard Stix Sports Editor Misael Porras Layout Editor Dennis Kats Writers 2016/17 Middle and High School Elective Special Thanks Ms. Earle Mrs. Salinas Mrs. Colleran