Locker Talk – What did you do on your fake snow day?
SLA fashion
By Corinthia Bell Staff Writer
Where did you buy your clothes from?
I’ll buy my clothes from practically anywhere, as long as it’s in my budget. I get a lot of my vintage/retro clothes from thrift stores also. I love thrifting! I also get a lot of my clothes from H&M. This summer I went to London so I brought back a lot of clothes from there. London has really good taste in clothes.
What made you decide on them?
I like to wear things that i find different and unique, that I know not too many people are gonna wear, because I like to stand out. I don’t necessarily have as specific style. I dress according on how I feel; if I’m feeling bad-ass for the day, I might throw on some black on with heavy eyeliner and look very grunge. Other days, I might feel very girly and throw on a cute dress and heels.
Who’s your fave fashion designer/company?
I LOVE Marchesa! Their dresses are so pretty and detailed. I also like Givenchy, Jeremy Scott, Alexander Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander McQueen, Ralph Lauren, and Tom Ford. But as far as celebrities whose fashion I like: Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Asap Rocky and Pharrell.
What’s your particular taste in clothes?
I drift more towards 90’s fashion and ethnic, urban clothing. I like colorful clothes and lots of prints.
“Fashion Fades only style remains the same”. What does that mean to you?
To me, this quote means that fashion forever changes and there’s always trends that come and go but you’re always gonna have a style specific to you and only you.
~Jaiye Omowamide
SLA fashion
By Corinthia Bell Staff Writer
Where did you buy your clothes from?
H&M
What made you decide on them?
Like dark colours or skinny things and I just like it, that’s my style.
Who’s your fave fashion designer/company?
I don’t know any.
What’s your particular taste in clothes?
Plain dark clothes.
“Fashion Fades only style remains the same”. What does that mean to you?
I don’t know (laughs)
Mr. Kamal on joining the teachers of SLA.
Dylan McKeon
Staff Writer
As many people in SLA know, VK has left to go to Drexel University to help with a new STEM education program. Teaching Engineering, Robotics, and Chemistry in his stead is John Kamal who some students might recognize from being Ms. Echols’ student teacher earlier this year in Physics.
Although he only started as a full-time teacher this month, he has already made his mark on the school. Anyone who has visited Room 304 since winter break will have noticed that is much cleaner than it was earlier in the school year with most of the lab tables cleaned off and signs welcoming you to the room. Additional there are plans to alter the typical curriculum he will be teaching, so it’s clear a lot more changes will be happening in 304. To learn more about him and his arrival at SLA, an interview was set which you can read below.
Interviewer: To start, Where were you before you came here to SLA?
John Kamal: “I was working at WAM systems a company I co-founded and worked at as Chief Operating Officer for twenty-five years. We developed supply chain planning software and provide consulting services to large manufacturers.”
Interviewer: Why did you leave to come teach at SLA?
Kamal: “I decided to change career after the sale of the company to Triple Point Technology and I wanted to teach science and technology.”
Interviewer: How did you learn of the job and why did you decide to work here?
Kamal: “My son Nathan went to SLA and graduated in 2012. I also knew Mr Lehman and Mrs Echols from my time as a parent of SLA.
Interviewer: So far how has your teaching experience been here at SLA?
Kamal: “ I love it, everyday I have fun and I really enjoy the students energy
Interviewer: You started out helping Mrs. Echols, was the plan always for you to take over for VK?
Kamal: “ I was a member of the Philadelphia Teacher Residency program, I wasn’t thinking about staying at SLA but when VK’s job opened up it was a great fit.
Interviewer: How do you feel the students are taking to your replacement of VK.
Kamal: “Well change is always hard but each new person in role can add new things to a program”
Interviewer: What challenges have you face in fitting in?
Kamal: “Well I’m the oldest teacher in the school but I think thats a positive as I can provide a historical perspective.”
Interviewer: Anything else?
Kamal: “I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity and to work with such an incredible community and to have so much support.”
How does the School District determine Snow Days?
Chiara Nemati
Staff Writer
On Monday, January 26th, the School District of Philadelphia called for a half day due to bad weather. But as students woke up and looked out of their windows, not much snow was falling. Many people are glad to have this half day no matter what the weather is. However, others wonder why the School District did not just wait to see how the day would go before calling for an early dismissal.
So, how does the School District decide when to make it a snow day?
There are many theories as to why and how a snow day is decided. People in charge of this decision will listen to weather reports and gain the knowledge of how much snow is to be expected. Also if the crisis goes national, schools may be forced to close.
Another theory is that based off of calls made last school year decides whether or not the School District will shut down school or just call for an early dismissal.
In previous years, the School District has had some very close calls. Some of us may remember the day where we all got stuck in the snow on our way home. January 21, 2014 the School District called for an early dismissal, thinking that no student would get stuck in the snow. However, they were wrong. By making the students go to school for the day, they ended up making many students have a long trek back home. Students had to wait some time before any transportation arrived. Because of all the hurry to get back to homes the trains, buses, and trolleys were very full. Also the weather made it hard for Septa to be on time.
Maybe the School District was thinking about the terrible weather last year and the mistakes they have made. Maybe they were listening to the news channels and figured what was being said was true.
I expect that the school district has a protocol, but they don’t share it publicly. Nelson County Schools, (located in Kentucky) has an article talking about how they decide whether or not a snow day is required. Their first priority is the safety of the students and how safe transportation will be, for example slippery roads. By contrast, all the School District of Philadelphia offers is on their website a Inclement Weather Information section that teaches the reader what to do in case they are unsure of the status of school openings.
The School District should include a section on how they determine if we will have a snow day. It could be very helpful for students and also gives us an understanding of why certain decisions are made. It will also allow the students to go to bed earlier instead of waiting up for the update. With a clearer understanding of what decision will be made we can be more prepared for the day.