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Column: To Mr. Wannabe President

October 28, 2016 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Dear Donald Trump,

Have you noticed the disrespect that have been going around our country? These days, It’s your fault.

“The Hispanics,” “the Muslims” and “the blacks.” You continue to use these phrases in your speeches.

Why does this language offend me? You continue to use “the” before addressing us as if we were objects, but in reality we are human beings that have been oppressed multiple times by the systems of our country. It may not seem like a big deal for you, but it’s definitely a big deal for me and my brothers and sisters.

You disrespect people that have nothing to do with you, that have never asked for your attention. You continue to help people find reasons to oppress minorities. You have disappointed the Black Community, and you have has been disrespectful to almost every minority group in our Country. As an African American male, I am disappointed that this country has allowed a bigot to become a frontrunner for President of These United States.

During last Wednesday’s debate, you continued to say the African Americans and The Hispanics. But during his closing statement he hit home for urban city residents and in the past hit home for residents directly in Philadelphia.

“I know the city so well, because I went to college here, but it’s very sad to see what’s going on inside Philadelphia,” he said. “It’s gotten so much worse than when I was going. It’s dangerous; the crime numbers are up. Your mayor is doing a terrible job.”

During Mr. Trump’s time as a student at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960’s, Philadelphia was a much different place. But the changes have nothing to do with our most recent mayor. Mr. Trump, why do you continue to one target urban communities and minorities in your speeches? Why do you tell us we are living in hell? What do you hope to gain from these attacks?

I think you are one of the worst candidates that have ever run for office. You should never be addressed as Commander in-Chief. You should never have access to the nuclear codes.

At this point, it doesn’t look like you have any chance of winning, anyway. But I promise you something — if you win, I will never address you as President of The United States. You have disrespected the American people in a way that makes you unqualified for the job.

Beyoncé Tickets come to SLA

October 25, 2016 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Isabel Medlock

Staff Writer

What do you do with 70 Beyoncé tickets?

This is the question that SLA staff had to ask themselves when they got the news from the School District that these free tickets would be available to seniors.

The teachers were surprised and confused by the news and some felt that there were more effective ways Beyoncé could have supported the school district.

“Free tickets are nice but the school district could have used a financial donation from Beyoncé more,” said Ms. Pahomov.

After school on the 21st of September, the staff held a group conversation to decide on what would be the most effective method to distribute. It was clear to them that the fairest way to distribute the tickets would be to hold a lottery as any other method would involve the judgement of the teachers.

To enter seniors needed to give their name to their advisor and be up to date on paperwork. Approximately 70 seniors entered the lottery. During lunch on Monday, the names of the winning seniors were pulled out of a hat.

While many students were thrilled by the opportunity to see a Beyoncé concert many were more excited about the lucrative financial opportunities.

“I was initially very excited,” said Kia DaSilva. “I like Beyoncé and I wanted to go to the show. I then realized that I had Math class on the day of the show and couldn’t skip so I decided to sell them. Depending on the section I’ll sell my two tickets for between 75 and 150.”

Tickets for the concert were officially being sold from a range of $45 to $280. The tickets were given to winning students who had submitted their permission slip by advisors on Thursday afternoon after advisory.

While for the most part students enjoyed the concert, there were some common complaints.

“I have mixed feelings about it,” said Fatu Castillo. “I got there fairly early and it was cold rainy and all types of wet…for the first half of it Beyonce wasn’t there.”

These weren’t the only complaints. Most of the seats were at the very top of the stadium and not covered from the rain. Many students were angered when security confiscated their umbrellas.

“I was kicking and screaming, I was so angry,” said Kia who coincidentally ended up attending the concert rather than selling her tickets. “I thought they were going to take my big bag of cheetos that I bought specifically for the concert.”

When Beyoncé actually appeared on stage many students thought the concert was worth the rain.

“I felt a lot happier and a lot warmer when Beyonce walked on to the stage,” said Fatu. “[I]t was magical.”

“The box shot fire and fireworks,” said Kia. “She came out of it and there were acrobats. People were crying…She owned the rain…Her producers had all these waterworks going on…She was the rain goddess and everyone was in awe.”

SLA Ultimate Frisbee Catches Morning Practice…Sometimes

October 18, 2016 by lpahomov 1 Comment

Caroline Pitone

Staff Writer

It’s 6AM. Where are you?

Most SLA students are still in bed, but for a select few students each fall, they are already on their way to ultimate frisbee practice.

There are benefits to playing this sport and things that can grind people’s gears.

The ultimate frisbee holds practice that are mandatory in the early mornings at 6:50 AM. It’s the only time that can be scheduled that allows them to use a field and that make everyone’s schedule work.

To get insight from how the players actually feel about this tight schedule, they were asked their opinions.

[2016] Destiny Patton shared her view on going to practice stating,

“I mean…kids mostly go to practice, uh, it can be hard to wake up from your bed in the morning.”

Sophomore Bea Gerber shared her view on the quantity of kids that go to practice saying,

“Usually we only have half to three quarters of the team on a good day.”

Just like anything else you have wake up for, it can be hard. But does it affect the rest of your day to wake up at a time like this and run around outside?

”It’s a good way to start your day off because you have energy,” said Gerber. “But it gets harder during the day because you basically just crash because you’re so tired.”

It is said over and over again that it is hard for the kids to stay focused throughout at the last periods of the day. Not everything students do in school is able to be done at the best of their ability, i the time that they have to wake up at to make it to practice on time.

“On days where I have everything ready, I have wake up at 5:40,” Gerber added. “Waking up that early makes me feel kinda… sad, because I am always tired, but I feel happy about it because, I’m gonna be doing stuff outside with my friends.”

“I know I have friends that arrive to class late, and is it fair to mark them late? After frisbee, theyŕe all hot and sweaty, and they want to get changed. Is 30 minutes enough time to get changed in school, and start their day?” science teacher and coach, Ms. Sessa, said about the attendance. ” I really do, because I let my students out at 7:45, and it shouldn’t take a half an hour to get to school and get changed. You don’t have the most amount of time but I definitely give time and am aware when I let them out.”

All of the kids have a different view on it. Some believe that time is so limited when you have to get back to school, sign in, walk upstairs, get changed, and start class, acting like you didn’t just work your butt off.

Although frisbee is on a tight schedule, the kids manage to pull through it!

Guide to SLA Running. Where Do You Belong?

October 14, 2016 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Aaron Watson-Sharer

Sports Editor

When fall comes around, our running teams aren’t being eased into the sport like how we are into a sleep schedule. They’re in the thick of their seasons committed to their teams. Science Leadership Academy has two major running teams in the fall, cross country and Students Run. We got the opportunity to ask SLA’s best runners some questions. For example, as a runner, what team are you best suited for? How do these teams recruit for the fall season before the school year? These are just some of the questions we aimed to solve.

Cross country is a sport that is running on a terrain as a team. Terrain means grass, dirt, hills or any similar surface. Students run on the other hand, is distance training. Students run is an organization that prides itself on youth development through distance running. Their season last from March until November to partake in the Philadelphia Marathon. As a marathon is 26.2 miles long, a common competitive cross country run is five kilometers, or just north of three miles. Cross country assistant coach Daniel Symonds that “cross country has more of a focus on competition and team building.”

If they’re both running, what could be different? They can be distinguished through practice. Students Run practices mostly consist of mileage and endurance training. Corrs country practices have a variety of routines. Like hills, distance training, ab workouts and sprints. Cross country has much more team oriented practices that revolve around many physically challenging tasks while Students Run strictly builds endurance.

Where they do meet is in recruiting. As a public school, we can’t directly recruit middle schoolers to Science Leadership for the intention of playing a sport. Instead, both teams go old school, get the word out person to person hoping someone has the drive to join. Kobe says “a few people join the team, and then they convince their friends to join.”

Senior runner Kobe Nabried feels better suited for Students Run because he is a long distance runner and feels the training Students Run offers cater to his running skillset. On the other hand, Captain Tomas Arango says cross country pushes him more to be a superior runner. They both play for different teams, but they both share the common goal of striving for greatness.

A runner at SLA should pick their team based on personal passions. Not just the love to run, but how they wish to utilize their ability. If your aim is to run the marathon and Race for the Cure, join Students Run, they’ll help you get there. If you want to play a sport that’s more high school competition based, join Cross country.

Boys Soccer Wins as a Team

October 14, 2016 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Saamir Baker

Staff Writer

The heat settles into the bleachers and the soccer field, as the SLA men’s soccer team gathers in a huddle before their game versus Benjamin Franklin High school. In preparation, co-captain Jori Gervani gave a heartfelt speech that he gives before every game.”

Listen up, I want to see 100% passes, 100% effort and we’re gonna go out there as a TEAM. Most of all we’re gonna go out there and have fun and play the game we love.” “Team on 3!” The team is energized, and the team storms of the field, hungry for their first victory.

On Wednesday, September 15th, the SLA men’s soccer team won their first game in a blowout 15-0 against Benjamin Franklin High School. Coach Mark Johnson, who is new this year as SLA’s soccer coach, helped guide the team to victory. This was their first win of the season after losing their first two games., respectively. This win provided the boys with the confidence they needed to take on this season.

“We just really needed this win to continue our season. We played some of the best teams in our division. “We needed this one to stay with the best, we needed this on to stay alive,” said Jori Gervani.

“Ben Franklin may have not been the best team, but this game was a big confidence booster for all. Ben Franklin used to be better. That team was clearly up to play, and they clearly were in the same situation as us and lost a lot of seniors. They even beat us 11-0 last year,” said Junior William Figueiredo.

They all knew this season would prove to be a hard one. The Rockets had just lost 9 of their core players from last year, in an amazing season run that let them advance from C to B division that has left them fighting to stay in A division, the city’s best division. As a result, they are facing better teams than last year.
Though all odds are stacked against them with a new line-up of players ranging from a few seniors all the way down to freshman, they’ve adjusted pretty we’ll for not having a coach in school. Their mission is to hang with the best and enjoy hanging with the best. There are 7 games left in the season.