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Ms. Martin: Health Advocate at SLA

May 11, 2017 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Ms. Martin during a quiet moment at SLA. Photo by Sara Frunzi.

By: Ella Petersen

Staff Writer

It is no secret that we do a lot of things differently here at SLA. That’s why it is interesting to take a look at how health classes are taught at the school. Health and physical education teacher, Pia Martin, has been teaching for 27 years. She believes health is a subject that should be required at all high schools across the nation.

“I teach health because we don’t want children having all the diseases that could have been easily avoided if they had been taught about them. And when their friends get the diseases they learn that they can still be their friend,” she laughed.

Ms. Martin is a firm believer that sexual education should be normalized. The things she teaches about are things that can happen to any of us at some point in our lives. Letting children know these things are normal creates a safe space. “Just normalize it all. It’s all natural and it all happens in kids’ lives. I am here to just be a resource for them.”

Ms. Martin’s favorite thing about being able to teach is the fact that her students make her laugh all the time. She never has a dull day with the kids at SLA.

“Ms. Martin is my favorite teacher. I really appreciate the way she teaches. She doesn’t beat around the bush with us. In health, we are learning serious topics and she takes them seriously. She’s straightforward with us, she doesn’t treat us like we are in middle school,” sophomore Raymond Lucci explained.

Even though Ms. Martin has a great relationship with her students, she has run into issues before where a parent or student does not think they should be learning about the topics taught in her sexual education class. In those cases, Ms. Martin still respects their decision and works with them accordingly.

“Of course there have been cases where I need to see the perspective of people who have different beliefs than I do. But in the end it is about teaching children all that they need to know before they get themselves into trouble.”

Although Ms. Martin has been teaching for almost 30 years, she admits that she hasn’t perfected everything yet. She is still learning herself: “I haven’t mastered everything yet, I just roll with flow,” she commented.

Dear White SLA…

May 9, 2017 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Tamir Harper

Staff Writer

Dear White People,

Where do I begin? Do I have to begin by justifying this piece or explaining what racism is?

This inspiration for piece originated from the Netflix movie and series “Dear White People.” I strongly recommend the movie and show to everyone regardless of their race.

During interviews around the SLA community, Black students around the building were definitely “woke” and provided statements about what they want the White community to know — both in and out of SLA.

Sophomore, Naimia DeBrest: Dear White people, being in a diverse environment does not mean that you are in a petting zoo. You are not able to touch them and question us.

Junior, Sandra Watson: Dear White people, just because you have a Black friend doesn’t mean you are part of the culture.

Junior TK Saccoh: Dear White People, just because Sharkeesh got into Harvard doesn’t mean she took your spot.

Sophomore Sashoya Dougan: Dear White People, just because you wear Timbs and carry little fuzzy pom-poms on your back pack does not mean you are Black or part of the Culture.

Senior, Husain Kegler: Dear White People, just because you go to a school with Black people that say “Nigga: does not mean you can say it.

Sophomore, Nzinga Bey: Dear White People, can you stop stereotyping the Black community–just because they are Black does not mean they are in a gang or listen to rap music.

Sophomore, Kyianna Thomas: Dear White People, stop asking if my hair is my hair.

Sophomore, Imani Murray: Dear White People, just because I am angry does not mean that I am going to hit you.
Are any of these statements news to you? If they are, As members of the Black community, we ask you to not double down on your defensiveness or anxiety because we doubled downed on our blackness and are checking you. We just want you to understand your privileges. Stay woke my brothers and sisters!

Off to Cuba!

May 9, 2017 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

By Meymey Seng

Staff Writer

What better way to start off spring break than to go on a trip to Cuba? Hosted by Spanish Teacher Melanie Manuel, Science Teacher Stephanie Sessa, History Teacher Pearl Jonas, and Secretary Diane LoGiudice, this field trip took ten female students to the long-embargoed country. This was a nine day trip from March 29th to April 6th.

Cuba and the United States have not been on very good terms because of the 60-year-long embargo. Recently, parts of the embargo have been lifted due to the efforts of previous president Barack Obama, which made SLA’s trip possible.

“It’s such a different country and there’s not another place like it that we could actually access,” said Ms. Sessa. “It’s one of the very few communist/socialist countries left”.

The trip’s focus varied, including elements of science, history, and of course, Spanish. Other than that, some of the focuses were agriculture, medicine, business, and education. Going to Cuba, the girls had the opportunity to interview and talk to people of different professions. After gathering information, they would be able to compare and contrast how things worked between the different countries.

Cuba was very different from Philadelphia. Ms. Sessa’s pointed out the differences in architecture as her favorite thing. “They have a lot of these bright buildings but then these bright buildings would be next to buildings that are falling down and decrepit, and that comes from a variety of different things,” she said. “So even though everyone’s supposed to make the same amount of money, because it’s a communist society, there is still some discrepancy in that.”

Cuba also made a strong impression on the students.

“I enjoyed watching the Cuban people going about their day. How their life is so different from ours yet the same. I also enjoyed the first street food and we had churros. Also just being able to explore, having that freedom and trust from the teachers, and to really immerse myself into the Cuban culture,” said Senior Chhievling Seng. “I also really enjoyed asking questions, whatever it was I was curious about. Really being able to connect and have them share things about their life was my favorite part.”

“My favorite memory was when we went to this farm in the more rural part of Havana. The owner started a farm where he grows his own plants and raised his own animals. He was giving most of his products to restaurants in the city. The goal of it was to show that farming and agriculture is important and that more people should start their own farm to provide for themselves,” said Sophomore Lily Rivera. “He wanted to start a program where he would bring kids to his farm to teach them, starting from teaching children to adults. We can’t rely on chemicals, we need to be able to farm for ourselves and I think that he is taking the steps into the right direction to do that well.”

The trip was the initial idea of Ms. Manuel, who has been to over thirty spanish speaking countries, including every Spanish speaking country in Central America and South America (except for Paraguay).

For Manuel, the trip holds a special place in her heart.

“My favorite moments were when our SLA girls were laughing, smiling, asking questions, and experiencing the joy of travel in a place as special as Cuba. We danced, we sang, we learned together, we had great conversations. I had an incredible time,” Ms. Manuel. “This trip was probably the highlight of my 9 years at SLA. I had wanted to organize a trip to Cuba for my own students since my first visit to the island in 2003. 14 years later, it was a teacher dream realized.”

This trip was such a success, it has inspired the teachers to create a course called International Cultures. The class will be tied to a trip that allows juniors and seniors to have similar experiences. The destination is still to go to a Spanish speaking country and they will be looking for a program that best fits the different topics they want to learn about.

Movie Review: Look Thou Eyes Into the Void

May 9, 2017 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Fatu Castillo

Staff Writer

I’ll be honest and say that if you have epilepsy or a weak stomach, you can save yourself some time and just click on a different review, because this one ain’t for you.

Not only will you most likely have seizure from the flashing effects but you’ll also unload the contents of your stomach watching Hellish, grotesque monsters roam around the screen. Turn away now, I’m not about to be responsible for you doing either of those things because you just had to watch the movie I reviewed.

I ain’t having that on my conscious.

I’m normally not a fan of horror movies, I’ve admitted numerous times before, go read I Admit It, I’m A Weenie if you don’t believe me. Say what you will but I take pride in my cowardly nature because I know it would keep me alive in a horror movie.

No sir, the token minority character, that would be me, won’t die this time.

Now all of this should give you reason enough to believe me when I type that this movie had my attention, and kept it, from the first scene. It goes to say something if I, a known coward, will sit through

The movie starts off intense, I saw a women get gunned down as a man runs away, assumedly to his death, as his friend gets drenched with gasoline and set on fire by two obviously compassionate individuals. Then the screens pans over to that handsome man, pictured above, and I was left wondering what the heck was happening.

It didn’t get any better as the movie went on either.

It kept me on my toes the entire run, I was never sure how things would throw down. It was amazing!

That seemingly important deputy that I thought would lead everyone to safety? Dead. Those two men who gunned down and torched a women? Victims. The hospital that everyone is stuck in? A portal to another dimension.

And that’s not even half the stuff that threw me through a loop, that’s just the stuff I could say without spoiling anything.

I definitely recommend watching this if your stomach and brain can take it, you may not like the acting but you won’t be able to stop yourself from watching. The entire time, you’re eyes will be glued, your brain wondering what the heck will happen next?

Earphone Review

May 9, 2017 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Saamir Baker

Staff Writer

Introduction

Symphonized is a company that prides themselves on creating products that primarily use wood as the base for creating their music products from speakers, to earbuds, and earphones. Today we will be focusing on a product they have made that is a little over a year old named Symphonized NRG 3.0 Earbuds. From an initial look at the product, they appear to be very rustic which is a definite positive. The earphones and cable also appear to feel very stable compared to other earbuds that sometimes feel very flimsy to the touch.

In Ear Sound

For the price of $25.49, you get sound that I have yet to hear from other earphones at this price point. From the low bass to the trebles of songs these earbuds capture it all and with the projection of the wooden base that makes up the earphones the sound is amplified more than I’ve ever heard with earphones at this price point. The only con with these earphones is the louder you play the music after a few months of usage bass can become distorted at times which takes away from the experience of listening. However this happens rarely.

Overall

If you’re still reading this review and are undecided then my final bid to you is BUY THESE EARPHONES. At this budget priceline you are buying earphones that blows competition out of the market but in design and sound. I have almost nothing but good things to say about these.