Avi Cantor

Amelia Benamara

Staff Writer

On February 20th, 2018, the first-ever winter concert was held at SLA Center City, hosted by teachers Anna Walker-Roberts and Steph Sessa.

The concert included musical performances by students, and staff, including principal Aaron Gerwer. Not only were many voices heard, but musical talents were also shared by a number of students, as well as dance performances from the Black Student Union Dance Team.

Having a winter concert in a community such as SLA’s caused many individuals to walk away with confidence.

“When I performed Killing Me Softly, it was a short-lived experience, so to be able to take part in an event celebrating what you and your friends can do is really nice,” junior Sashoya Dougan shared after the event.

Unlike other concerts with a bigger audience where everyone’s attention is on you, SLA’s Winter Concert was more intimate. Dougan expanded on the meaning behind the event saying:

“It was only a branch of SLA because we, in a way, made something that shines a spotlight on one person, shine onto the rest of the community.”

Although the night was filled with memorable moments that were beautifully organized, more confirmation is preferred because a number of people said they were performing, canceled last minute.

Junior Mindy Saw who was part of the audience stated, “For future preferences, maybe organizing a better method for outreach, just to gather a larger performing team and audience.”  

Considering that SLA, unfortunately, does not provide vocal, or musical classes students can take part of, having a concert as such means a lot to performers such as junior Darlenny Rodriguez.

“To performers, such as myself, it meant a lot to have the opportunity to share multiple music talents,” Rodriguez exclaimed.

Digital video and photography teacher Anna Walker Roberts and biochemistry teacher Stephanie. Sessa put in a lot of work and dedication into this event, providing students as much comfort as possible

“I have never performed solo, so Ms. Walker-Roberts was very supportive and comforting. She constantly check up both during rehearsals and during the concert,” Darlenny Rodriguez made clear.

Another reason to why SLA should dedicate more time into planning more events that allow students of all grades to expose their talents to an audience inside of the school is because this is another opportunity to unite the community.

“I have met a number of people that I have never thought of talking to outside of the daily stressful work environment. It was like getting to know them on a different level — through their vocal talents. Hearing them sing with all of their emotions built a connection,” Rodriguez explained.

Singing isn’t the only talent that certain students posses, there are a handful of talents at SLA that deserve to be showcased. A special performance was shared by SLA’s dance team which added a bit of spice to the night.

“Some people have dogs that can do tricks!” Darlenny Rodriguez jokingly suggests.  

Organizing future events that consist of multiple performances can be really awesome not only for fun but to discover new things about people who you regularly see in the halls in what’s mostly a work environment.

Taylor Green

Staff Writer

Vans Warped Tour is a traveling rock festival that has toured the United States and other countries since 1995. For almost 25 years, it has been a way for people in the alternative and underground community–people who listen to music that is less mainstream–to come together to see their favorite bands in action.

The tour built its reputation by giving some of the most legendary bands in history a platform to launch their career including the bands Sum 41, Green Day, and Good Charlotte.

The tour has also helped rising bands make more of a name for themselves.

2005’s Warped Tour helped launch the careers of more emo artists like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Panic! At The Disco when they were just starting out on the scene.

Bringing over 60 different bands to the festival each year, Warped Tour has always had very successful runs.

However, on November 15th, 2017 it was announced that 2018 would be the Tour’s final run. Kevin Lyman, the creator of Warped Tour, issued a statement saying, “I have been a very lucky person to have traveled across the country and sometimes around the world as one of the founders and producers of the Vans Warped Tour.”

When this news broke, many fans were shocked and distraught, including junior Lauren Nicolella, who shared her opinions on this being Warped Tour’s final year.

“I was surprised because I knew that it had been around for a long time. When it was announced, my friend said that we should go considering the fact that it would be the last one.”

Nicolella’s thought was shared by others including Roman Catholic High School junior Michael Golassa.

“I decided that I need to go this year because it would be the most memorable experience ever,” Golassa explained.

Golassa and Nicolella may be setting themselves up for fantastic adventure given that those who have gone to the tour in the past describe it as being one of the greatest days of their lives.

Biochemistry teacher Stephanie Sessa experienced the tour first hand and couldn’t stop raving about it.

“I went to a show in 2002. That year I went for Alkaline Trio, Anti-Flag, and Flogging Molly. Alkaline Trio to this day is still one of my favorite bands,” Sessa exclaimed.

Sessa shares the most memorable moments from the festival were the mosh pits and crowd surfers.

“I don’t mind big crowds. I try to stay away from moshing. I like going through the crowd and getting as close as I can to the performer.”

Unlike most festivals, Warped Tour has smaller stages and tents for non-profit organizations. f you donate to the festival, you can earn backstage passes to meet your favorite band or various other prizes.

Due to their work with nonprofits and a sponsorship from the popular skate-wear company Vans, Warped Tour is one of the few festivals that allow people to see many of their favorite artists at a fair price.

“Warped Tour is coming at a more affordable price. It’s an all-day event that has multiple performers and stages,” Nicolella explained. “In comparison to festivals like Made in America, Warped Tour artists aren’t mainstream or always played on the radio so the tickets aren’t outrageous.”

The scene of Warped is different because people go because they have a genuine interest in the music.

“Coachella is really well known, and I feel as though people really just want to go for the aesthetic. All you see are celebrities or Instagram influencers there and you see posts about their fashion, not about the show,” Nicolella said.

Although many people rave about Warped, there are some downsides to attending the festival.

Sessa explained that “The heat was my least favorite part.”

There is also conflict with scheduling due to conflicting performance times.

“While there were only a few bands that I wanted to see, sometimes they play at the same time,” Sessa described.

Although Warped might have some minor flaws, it is inevitably a safe space for fans of the alternative rock genre so they don’t feel ostracized for their style or music preference.

Roman Catholic junior Michael Golassa said, “I feel as if it more inclusive because, a lot of the people who go like the genre and can relate to the music since they have gone through some emotional or physical turmoil and just find a good place with each other at the event.”.

Overall, many would agree that no other festival can compete with the atmosphere of Warped by the way everyone goes to specifically see pop-punk bands in their true element.

Kai Bradley-Gutierrez de Teran

Staff Writer

 

The shortest month of them all is February, and that’s also Black History Month. With an African American History course and English classes that read plenty of Black authors, Science Leadership Academy Center City does a lot to celebrate African American culture. But is it enough?

Senior Ajanae Mills said that while she thinks SLA could do more., She recognizes that the school  “Strives to educate people about issues that may affect certain minority groups.” She then added, “I don’t think they [SLA teachers and the administration] effectively talk about it [BHM] in classrooms. Instead, I think it is suppressed due to students who may have an opposing opinion about the way Black people decide to celebrate BHM, and the education they decide to give to people.”

A big part of any Black History Month program is the celebration of African Americans and their joy of being part of such a group. It is coming together and acknowledging all the suffering that they have suffered as a group, a continue to do so. A typical part that many people will talk about is their “Black Joy Story.” A Black Joy Story is a story of when an African American was happy and embraced themselves as an African American.

For Mills, her Black Joy started “When I started to embrace myself and Black people, and what they have to offer to America.”

Another Black Joy story was when she started to go to poetry, where she says a majority of their focus is on Black issues and Black people. She said that this “Was when I was really able to coincide with my race and enjoy being Black for what it is.”

Sophmore Sanaa Scott-Wheeler said that her Black Joy Story would occur at her elementary and middle school when she was able to connect with Black community members who came into her school as she says they were able to connect because of their race. She stated that her elementary and middle school were predominantly white.

Scott-Wheeler felt that the reason for a lack of celebration had to do with a lack of interest on the part of the student body.

“Only a certain amount of people seem to really care about BHM, so I don’t know if we can make the rest of the school care.”

Scott-Wheeler noted that, in response to this, the Black Student Union is planning a citywide gala, which will be held on March 9th from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Philadelphia Ethical Society.  The event will be attended by Black Student Unions from across Philadelphia. FIve speakers are expected to speak for 30 minutes, and the SLA Center City Black Student Union will be performing a step routine.

She hopes the gala will be good for bringing attention to BHM, and all that it means and could become.

Nate felt that BSU should be taking more charge at SLA and that what they are doing is on the right path. He says that “As a diverse school more action should be taken, one way could be events.”

What will happen to Black History Month and how it is celebrated in the future is yet to know. Perhaps these SLA students and Black Student Union will shape the celebration of BHM for the history.

Amelia Benamara

Journalism

When are your benchmarks due? And when does the quarter end?

These questions can bring a lot of stress to students at SLA. Since the school is project-based rather than test based, tracking deadlines and the last day work can be submitted is very important for students.  

How do teachers approach this process? And are their policies fair for students?

Sunil Reddy, a math teacher at SLA Center City stated, “Regarding benchmark deadlines, I typically decide based on when I can estimate the class acquiring enough of the information to complete a benchmark,”  

When teachers plan their benchmarks, they must place their final deadlines on a school-wide “benchmark calendar” — and they can’t schedule two deadlines for a stream on the same day.

“In quarter 1, that didn’t happen until the end of the term,” explained Mr. Reddy, “so when the staff was putting benchmark dates on a shared calendar, I had to put mine towards the back-end of the term, knowing that we wouldn’t cover enough material sooner than that.”

The quarter date finale announcement is not spread out to students in the clearest way, it more or so takes getting used to juggling all missing assignments and the benchmark before one day.

Junior Cynthia To felt Mr. Reddy’s approach to benchmarks is clear.

“He informs you when the project is due and gives time in class, so there should be no excuses to submit a late benchmark. Making sure to communicate with all teachers in general about any issues.”

According to BJ Enzweiler, a physics teacher, there are multiple methods he uses to inform students about deadlines continuously before the end of the quarter, “I use Canvas to communicate all due dates.”

Larissa Pahomov, an English teacher at SLA uses similar methods. “The due date is published on canvas, and I remind students every day during a benchmark work week.”

As for math classes such as Pre-Calculus, at times the teacher warns the class of the deadline within weeks after completing their planning process and decided on a date. “I always give project descriptions out 3 weeks ahead of the benchmark deadline, and it lists the date it is due. I also post that on Canvas when I give the handout.”

Mr. Enzweiler expands on the final due dates he sets for the classes he teaches himself, “SLA end of quarter dates help me as a teacher figure out when my benchmark project should be assigned. This way I can know how much time I have to grade the assignments before grades are due online.”

Students say it would be more efficient if teachers provide daily reminders through email and in class about the final due date for the quarter. They have also mentioned that canvas isn’t the necessarily the best way to communicate the date due to the fact that the website is used for submissions rather than calendar organization.

Junior Meeghan Kersten explained how students approach their deadlines online.

“Whereas we use canvas for submitting assignments, we’re not paying close attention to things that are coming up on the calendar. For due dates on handouts, I look at it once, and never again.”  

The canvas calendar lists regular assignment and project deadlines; however, it doesn’t list any official end of the quarter dates for different classes, which is definitely complex for students to keep up with because all classes are different.

Meeghan Kersten continues to lay out her opinions on ways teachers should improve the way they communicate with their students.

“It would be better if they clearly remind them at the end of each class that this and that is due tomorrow, so students clearly hear these announcements and keep up with them.”

Cynthia To expands on the strategies she has in mind for teachers to do to so that students are willing to turn in their work earlier.

“I feel like some teachers should approach the students if they see them struggling because often times students are too scared to approach the teacher and ask for help. This will encourage them to keep up with their work periods, then meet the deadlines with no problem.”

“Even though the end of the quarter date can be hard to keep up with, for both the staff and students, eventually everyone will be able to find a way to adjust to this system that makes SLA different,” said Junior Meymey Seng.