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What is the Best Place to Eat Lunch at SLA?

January 13, 2022 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

by Maya Smelser

Staff Writer

Everybody loves lunch. For obvious reasons, It’s a lot of people’s favorite period of the day. The list of lunch spots at SLA isn’t too long. Students have five options—

First off, there is also an actual lunchroom, but it’s always full of freshmen, seeing as they are obligated to eat there. The line to get lunch is always long, usually almost out the door. I’ve never gotten school lunch, but I have waited in the line with my friends who do. The rest of the room is full of tables and chairs, some decorated with the Rockets emblem.

The terrace is my personal favorite, but it definitely has its cons. I love it because I can be outside and get fresh air. I also like that I can take a long break from my mask. Students will sometimes play sports up there. You do have to watch out unless you want a football to the head or a frisbee in your lunch. The weather is also a big factor. There have been multiple instances where I found myself shivering while eating my sandwich or having to get paper towels from the bathroom to wipe down the seats because it rained the night before. It is always a pain to walk all the way to the sixth floor, but I think it’s definitely worth it. As long weather and my legs allow, I always eat there.

The most popular place to eat is the commons, located on the first floor. It’s big and has lots of room for people to sit. It’s very close to where food is served and the vending machine. But I hate eating there. I find it overwhelming. It’s always loud and busy. For the first few weeks, I ate here exclusively. Then I discovered the terrace and never looked back. I don’t mind the balconies overlooking the commons, but they are usually just as loud.

Next is the ballroom. Being on the second floor, it is fairly close to the lunchroom and vending machine too. There are only a few tables and chairs, so it’s not as big or loud as the commons. It’s almost like a mini version of the commons. If you have ever visited the ballroom, you’ve probably seen the whiteboard. Students doodle and write all over it. It’s always so fun to see what new things people have added and to make my own additions. If I am too tired to make the trek to the terrace, I normally eat here.

Depending on who catches you, students can also eat in the darkrooms at the end of most floors. I have only ever done classwork there but it seems nice and secluded. The only downside is the possibility of getting kicked out by a teacher or administrator.

We all have our favorite place to eat lunch!

The Controversial Topic Of Music

January 13, 2022 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Leticia Desouza

Staff Writer

It is finally fall and you can finally feel the vibes of cold and the approaching winter. With the season changing, more and more artists are coming out with new music that will fit that specific aesthetic. Big platforms like Youtube and Spotify, aswell as big social media like Instagram and Tiktok will promote these new songs. While some people do enjoy listening to the new tunes and lyrics artists have in hand, others take this as an opportunity to bash on other people’s interest in music.

There have been many cases where I went on social media to do my daily dose of scrolling and I noticed a discussion of how Person A doesn’t like what this artist dropped. Confused, I click on the discussion and to my surprise, the person who posted the thread is completely bashing the artist and their fanbase.

The more you scroll, the more you see that the discussion of a social media post turned into a warzone with flying body parts and limbs.

On one side you have the person who started it all. They are talking about how the artist doesn’t produce real music and that they shouldn’t even be popular and trending. And on the other side you have that artist fandom trying to defend their idol and their music.

In my opinion, I’m still highly confused on why music wars are happening to this day. Something that seems to be so childish is still a daily occurrence in the media we consume daily.

Don’t get me wrong, people are allowed to have their own opinions about the music they like and they don’t, but they shouldn’t start bashing other people for liking the opposite of their tastes.

I have always wondered why these events are such a high occurrence. Could it be that the person creating these wars is trying to get fame out of it, or are they just disrespectful human beings that bash on someone else’s taste in music.

I personally like to stay out of these wars. They seem very time consuming and a waste of my day. Though I do like sticking through some of them to see what they could be talking about.

Debating whether you like or don’t like someone’s music taste is not a place you get to decide. There are many other places where people can put the same energy to but for a greater cause. The world has many problems as it is, why not help solve them?

Halloween Bust

January 13, 2022 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Sean Hogan

Staff Writer

Halloween 2021 should’ve been a good one. Kids getting a break from the pandemic and staying indoors and dressing up and getting candy. I was looking forward to what I hoped would be a trick-or-treat bonanza.

What I got was the opposite.

In my neighborhood, Only 15 houses gave out candy. I traveled down blocks and different streets, and everywhere I went. No lights, no people on their steps. No candy. Which sucks because there were a lot of trick-or-treaters this year. My family ran out of candy an hour after we started. We had a lot of candy to give out.

And I got 1/5th of a bag full. Which isn’t that bad. It’s enough candy, it just felt so long in between houses. It was so ridiculous. And it took too long, Usually, I would get that after 10 minutes of Trick or Treating, not 30 minutes.

This might sound like a petty complaint — but it says something deeper about what’s going on where I live. There is an influx of renters in my neighborhood, maybe that contributed to it. Also, some people are making these row homes into mini apartments. This makes it harder for residents to hand out candy because there are so many different households in one row home.

In some cases, though, it looks like people just opted out of participating. It’s so weird seeing house after house dark as the night with no signs of life inside. I feel bad for the kids who were waiting for Halloween, kids getting disappointed with the lack of people handing out candy.

Really Crude Drawing of A Pumpkin — Crude Drawing of a Pumpkin by Me

Is it that hard to hand out candy or leave a bowl out for kids to trick or treat? When I gave out candy for a few minutes it was fun. Seeing these kids in their cool costumes and seeing people. It was nice. I feel horrible for these kids who were walking around looking for candy. And no one really delivered this year. And that sucks.

Halloween was really important this year. It felt important to get kids outside and get them motivated to get candy. To make people feel like we aren’t in a pandemic. People are outside, wearing masks, people are vaccinated, why can’t you give out candy? Dr. Fauci said that it’s safe. And to let the kids have fun.

I’m saving my costume for next year. I’m pretty sure it will be better then.

Why Not Leave?

January 13, 2022 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Claire Powell

Staff Writer

Science Leadership Academy is located in center city, Philadelphia. At Broad and Green, we have many businesses less than a block away from our school. The broad street line also is less than a block away from SLA. We have everything at our fingertips, yet we are not able to exercise these benefits. I believe many students would support the opportunity to leave school, grab a quick lunch from the food trucks, and then head back to school.

SLA’s lunch period is an hour and five minutes. This is actually the longest lunch in the school district of Philadelphia. Seniors should be able to leave, grab a bite to eat, and make it back with more than enough time to get to our next class. Back at 22nd and Arch, seniors were granted that privilege and I don’t see a reason not to bring it back. We are responsible enough, so why aren’t we able to leave now?

Our seniority should grant us the responsibility to leave the building. It almost seems like such a waste that we have Starbucks, CVS, Dunkin’, so close yet we aren’t able to go. I think that SLA prides themselves in the freedom of their students, but we aren’t able to use this to our benefit. Schools like String Theory, and Central, allow their senior class to leave the building during lunch periods. Those students are granted the right and they have not had any serious issues.

Many students rush out of bed every morning to head to school. They don’t have time to pack lunches, and let’s be honest, the school lunches are not quite filling. Being able to leave and get food would even benefit the students. They would be full after lunch, and therefore participate better in class. How are we Teachers would greatly appreciate this.

As long as we can prove our responsibility, I believe we should have the option to leave the building during our lunch band. Students are able to get to school safely and get home as well. So leaving during the day wouldn’t be any different. The school officers are still on duty, we would have our ID’s, everything would be the same. And I believe students would really appreciate it.

Students at this school have proven their responsibilities time and time again. Seniors have gone through almost two years of virtual school, moved spaces, and adjusted to the new building. This is our last year. I believe we have earned our redemption at this school. Many students are 18, this means they are able to vote. Many students can even drive, yet we aren’t even able to leave the school building for a short amount of time? Students at SLA are driven, dedicated, and intellectually creative. If the school were to grant us this opportunity, students would greatly appreciate it.

Is it safe to be inside of SLA or the surroundings?

January 11, 2022 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Biran Mahmoud

Staff Writer

Since the start of the school year, there have been multiple physical altercations between students from the many high schools near Broad and Spring Garden.

What does this mean for the safety of SLA students?

If any students that go to SLA get asked whether they have seen a fight or not most will respond with either they have seen it or heard it from a friend. The southwest corner of Broad and Spring garden, in front of the CVS, has been a location for repeated problems.

Is this affecting how students feel outside of the school building?

Sophomore Leo Braveman stated that during the school day, he feels safe — but “When I stay late, I don’t feel safe and have to stay vigilant and on the subway. At night I don’t feel safe,”

As for fights in and around school, Braveman reported, “I Have not seen any outside of school but I have seen a fight on Ben Franklin’s side through the glass thing that separates our side and theirs.”

So one would think about what should be done to prevent fights from happening?

Sophomore Nate Manyara said that “ there should be more security in the subway and school.”

Sophomore Zane Friedman said had thoughts about what would make the building more secure on the inside, “ They need to put people in the stairwell to make sure no one is skipping because that’s how fights start.”

His viewpoint comes from the fact that he has witnessed physical altercations in the stairwell that both schools share.

When asked about what the school administrations are doing about school safety, Principal Lehmann addressed the issue.

“We are working with the School District of Philadelphia and Benjamin Franklin Administration to ensure that all students at the Broad St. Campus are safe,” he said.

“Several options include looking at extra staffing and technological solutions to ensure the physical integrity of each school.”