School upgradesby Gabriela Pertab and Alyssa Sankar Richmond Hill High School has been around since 1899, and as well as Principal Ganesh has preserved the school's history, he has acknowledged the need for renovations to fit the more modern day learning initiatives. With this vision in mind during the upcoming years, he intends to improve the school programs and facilities to expand student project based learning. Students and faculty can expect several renovations. While some of these updates can be expected within the next couple of years, others are being planned for further down the road. Equipment Updates (ETA summer 2023) The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT), located in room 222, is set to receive some upgrades. To address the outdated computers in the lab, Queens Borough President Mr. Donovan Richards helped the school secure funding not only to replace the computers with newer models but also to refurbish the broadcast studio including the floor tiles in room 224. Mr. McCormack, head of AOHT, expects this to aid the students in “learn[ing] how to film and edit videos.” Pool Upgrade (ETA summer 2023) The pool, located in the basement, is expecting a modern upgrade according to Principal Ganesh. The pool is currently drained awaiting a new coat of paint. The locker rooms are also under construction to be expanded so it can be used “for both during the day and after school activities.” Captain of the boys swim team, senior Joy Sinisterra, explained that during the swim season the team “struggled with the condition of the pool water and locker rooms” while having to go to John Adams High School for their swim meets. These renovations for the pool will allow the students “less waiting time and more practice time” and serve to “support the team.” Hydroponics Lab (ETA September 2023) A hydroponics lab, a controlled space for plant growth, is currently under construction in room 204 and is expected to be completed over the summer. In this elective students will have the opportunity to observe plant growth. One of the primary teachers, Ms. Sultan explains that as part of the Project Based Learning (PBL) this will “teach students more about agriculture but in a water based tank.” The next crop is also expected to include flowers. Junior Noor Shabaik, a student in the Criminology and Forensics Academy, explained that “the tanks [they] currently have are very small so there is a limit to what [they] can do and a lot of plants died because the tanks were not protected enough.” With this new installment they “can have a bigger crop and more plants.” There are different kinds of tank systems because all the plants are different so “this upgrade will be very helpful.” Students can currently see the progress of the room on the second floor. Boiler Upgrade (currently in progress) Students and staff alike at Richmond Hill have felt the fluctuating temperature at the school. The boilers at Richmond Hill High School are antiquated, therefore affecting the temperature regulation of the school building. During the upcoming summer, these amenities will be renovated to enhance the calefaction system (the heating system). Freshman Josiah Derrico, says that a stable temperature would benefit students by making them feel “energized” and “comfortable” to do their work. Health Sciences Academy (currently in progress) Over the past few months, medical equipment has been slowly integrated in room 316, supporting the expansion of student learning in the Health Sciences department led by Mr. Zazzarino. Mannequins, blood pressure pumps, medical chairs, along with other medical equipment have been included to convert the room into a pseudo medical office and are available for students in this pathway. Principal Ganesh wants student learning to “be put into practice in the same setting.” Sophomore Ridwana Rodela, a student in the Health Sciences Academy, is excited that learning how to use those devices “is preparing her for the future” and in her pursuit of a health career. Innovations Lab (TBD) The projects aren’t just limited to the academies. Principal Ganesh has plans to renovate part of the library into an innovation's lab, an interactive space where students can explore new ideas. "It's really meant to support the project based learning initiative,” Principal Ganesh said. One of the unique features of this project includes “writ[ing] on the walls” similar to spaces used by Google and Apple. Ms. Marchant, the school librarian who will also oversee the use of the space, feels “confident and excited” about supporting “students' creativity” with this new project. Water fountains (ETA over next three years) The water fountains have been an ongoing problem for both students and faculty. They have expressed their frustration of having only one purified water fountain. Junior Felipe Gutierrez uses the first floor water fountain despite the conveniences of closer fountains because he “feels that the water is cleaner” and is “the only one that can fill his water bottle.” Faculty and students that are positioned on the fourth and third floor must go to the first floor and basement to refill their water bottle. Therefore, over the next three years there will be a plan to install a purified water fountain on each floor, each year. Mr. Ganesh wants to support our students in their search for post secondary education. Driven by the goal to assist them in “fulfilling post secondary success, not only for students going into college but also for career connected learning.” What ultimately drives these projects is “how the facilities can support these programs” aimed at achieving student’s academic success and giving the students real world exposure.
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Anime Club's Ramen Noodle Challenge by Alan Barrios and Aeshah Ahmed 16 cups of ramen. 15 hungry contestants. One race for the final spot. On Friday, November 15, 2019, the Anime Club hosted the speed eating ramen noodle challenge. Ms. Marchant, the Anime Club advisor, believed that the competition would be “fun for kids to imitate Japanese culture.” She later added that “it [also] creates awareness” for the culture. The competition was ready to begin; however, there was one extra cup of ramen. Members of the Anime club were sent to the Underground meeting to recruit one last person. With many students on hungry stomachs seven went to claim the last cup. The Anime Club chose Junior Stephanie Duran. Before the countdown began, sophomore Lesander Delacruz demonstrated how to use chopsticks. With one final warning, Ms. Marchant advised students to be aware about not choking. And then it started. In less than a minute it was over. Stephanie Duran, the last second participant, finished her noodles with astonishing speed during the competition, winning it all. According to junior Aliyah Bedesi, Stephanie “inhaled the cup of noodles.” However, winning can change a person. “Everyone was treating me like a god,” Stephanie said. “People were giving me high fives and fist bumps.” The moment wasn’t without a little friendly controversy as not everyone was as entranced with Stephanie’s victory. “I should have ran to the library because she got the last cup!” Junior Tristan Thomas complained. He was only able to watch as Stephanie received her Sonic gift card from Ms. Marchant. Of course, some winners are more charitable than others. Ultimately, Stephanie gave her gift card to junior Reshanna Hamid. “Sonic is too far for me,” Stephanie lamented. Overall, the Anime Club was very pleased with how everything turned out. Richmond Hill High School Welcomes Five New Teachers By Heather Ponce and Taylor Herving As the last rays of summer fade, the cool breezes of autumn usher in change. New faces are seen among the seas of students, including five new teachers, all willing to share their knowledge with the budding young adults of Richmond Hill High School. Although this is her first year teaching at Richmond Hill High School, Ms. Cortes is not shy about showing her passion and potential in teaching. From a humble beginning of teaching in after school programs for four years, she is now achieving her childhood dream of being a teacher. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher ever since I've had my high school teacher Mr. Devo,” Ms.Cortes said. She now teaches algebra and geometry for all grades pushing to leave the same impact her high school experiences did on all the young people of Richmond Hill. Ms. Eissawi is joining the Social Studies and ENL departments this school year. She started out teaching at a local daycare in Brooklyn and with one email later she was embarking on a new journey. Even though this is her first year teaching she has learned to treat students like adults because they will soon be going out into the world. She knows it’s important to do this because it is an easy way to connect with students. “My high school English teacher helped me write my English essays when I was struggling to learn the language,” Ms. Eissawi recalled. Being from an immigrant family, it was fairly difficult to learn English, but along with her teacher helping her and her own experience with a second language, she quickly realized that helping students is what she wanted to do. Although Ms. Rodrigues has only been teaching professionally for a year, she realizes in order for students to maintain interest that it's important to have a connection with the teacher. She recalls that her, “fifth grade volleyball coach and history teacher kept class interesting when she had a connection with the students in her class and this definitely made learning history a lot easier.” Since Ms. Rodrigues is a Queens native she quickly heard about the opening in the school and applied as soon as she heard. She feels like making a connection with a student is very important and when she was young, she noticed that when her teachers made an effort to connect with the students within the class it quickly inspired her desire to teach. After working in China for three years, Mr. Jiang is a returning faculty member and a new addition to the ENL department. He worked during his TOC internship in this very school. With being a teacher for four years, he had realized that “the learning never stops.” Mr. Jiang's passion for teaching ENL students rose from his counselor, Ms. Carol, whose friendship still continues to this day. Their relationship began with Ms. Carol helping Mr. Jiang improve his English. Through this relationship she was also able to attend his wedding and later on help his daughter. Mr. Jiang's inspiration and passion for teaching is to work with people that speak different languages since he speaks a different language himself. Teachers often look for inspiration and are sometimes guided by their own parents’ careers. For Ms. Hassan, a new ENL teacher, this couldn't be more true. She found herself following in her mother's footsteps to become a teacher. “Seeing my mom as a teacher and watching her helping her students thrive to become the best inspired my passion for teaching,” Ms.Hassan said. She was in a mentoring program while in high school and her English teacher instantly knew that she had the skill to become a teacher and helped her in her promising career. After teaching in MS 210 for four years and making a drastic change in her career to work in a high school, she realized that students will be more open to learning when the teacher isn't forcing the subject on top the kids. With a mix of new and experienced teachers, these five new additions to the school’s faculty hope to make a strong impression on the Richmond Hill community. |
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