March 2018, Volume 34 No 2

THE CLASSIC

March 2018- Volume 34 No. 3

January/February 2016 TOWNSEND HARRIS HIGH SCHOOL AT QUEENS COLLEGE

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www.thhsclassic.com

FON 2018

*Coverage of the student walkout will be featured in our April issue.

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NEWS “Academic conversation” initiative invites sometimes heated debate

By Danielle Amster, Associate editor throughout the past few months, the townsend harris community has expressed various opinions regarding this year’s addition to classrooms: academic conversations. the new initiative has led to numerous students voicing complaints with how they are being graded, sharing that academic conversations seem to focus more on contribution logs and participation points than on meaningful academic discourse.

In their ideal form, academic conversations aim to elicit studentto-student discussions that provoke higher levels of thinking. students can engage in these conversations by asking questions, answering them, or participating in small and large group discussions. In the classroom, teachers aim to make students more comfortable speaking and listening to each other by encouraging them to discuss their ideas in groups. Many teachers within the math and science departments keep track of student contributions using spreadsheets where students select the type of contribution they made and submit evidence along with it.

Among many students, completing spreadsheets in these classes has proven itself unpopular. the logs are distributed as a worksheet or Google form, prompting students to record examples for the contributions that they may have made.

In science classes, students fill these

forms out each week, making sure they include three specific instances of when they contributed to any type of academic conversation.

In math classes, some students check off a box each time they participate or fill out a worksheet at the end of the marking period that provides their teacher with certain times that they voiced their ideas in class.

Some students say they find themselves thinking about logging their contributions while sitting in class, explaining that it takes focus away from the contribution they’re making. senior Josselyn navas states, “Instead of focusing on the quality of the conversations and the atmosphere of intellectual curiosity they create in the moment, you have to worry about remembering what it is that you said so you can put it down on a form later on. It becomes more about fulfilling a quota and less about letting your intellectual curiosity run free. I’ve always been the type to raise questions when I don’t agree with something being said, but transforming this into something that can be qualified with a [point-system] grade has really disrupted its value.”

Additionally, some think that students are participating simply so their grades do not suffer.

Junior Joseph Zhao states, “I believe the only reason students choose to participate after hearing about [academic conversations] is because they know that if they do not participate, it will

negatively impact their grade.” teachers have shared their opinions about incorporating academic conversations into class time. some feel that they may be promising, yet others have noticed minimal visible shifts in the classroom.

“I don’t think it’s really different than the way I’ve run my classes all the years I taught,” Assistant Principal susan Brustein explains, “the only difference is in labelling some of the things we do.”

Physics teacher Joshua Raghunath added, “For the scope of my class, it hasn’t really changed how it runs because a lot of what we do is discuss how things happen in the real world.” he continued on to say, “I think the push for academic conversations has noble goals in mind. I think it’s designed to help students get more comfortable speaking to one another and voicing their own opinions on a variety of topics. however, we need to adjust how it is implemented into their grade.” english teacher Robert Babstock explained, “I think the academic conversation described in the book pretty much overlaps with academic conversation that people have had in academic settings for millenia. to have academic conversations mixed in is almost distracting; the whole thing about ‘here’s a mystery, I want you to discuss its esoteric possibilities’ seems to take away from American practicality.”

Principal Brian Condon feels

PHOTO BY MATTHEW NEIL

students discuss topics during a recent chemistry lesson.

that students will need the speaking and listening skills that they develop in school in their futures. “It’s not okay for a kid to sit in a class here and make no contribution,” he says. “speaking and listening are the skills that are really going to get you ahead in the work world. It’s something that you have to practice.”

For students who are focused on the number grades attached to academic conversations, Mr. Condon states, “sometimes the point

that you get for something is not the most important thing; points on a grade do not equate with learning. I know this is a weird position for people to be in, but if you have that attitude, your scores will be fine. It’s not the final essay that you write; the real learning occurred in the process as you were getting there. Don’t focus on the product, focus on the progress and you’ll go a lot farther in life.”

new comics room captivates thhs readers

By Angela huang, staff Writer Doesn’t the library seem a little brighter now?

Maybe it’s because of the redesigned glass-windowed sideroom.

Previously known as the biography room, it now hosts manga, comics, and graphic novels.

Additionally, it’s a space for student art.

Assistant Principal Rafal olechowski states that he’s “ecstatic” about turning the biography room into a comics room. he stated, “there are different kinds of libraries. there is a reference library.

Libraries that collect books.

Libraries that keep a record of something. We are a good old circulating school library.

It should be filled with books that students are into. so if there are books that we don’t read as a community--and we haven’t for the last 30 yrs or so, it’s time to move on with those books and give them to a library that needs them perhaps.”

Mo re ove r, M r.

olechowski states that trying to have different kinds of stories which “now live on the shelves is a noble idea. I think graphic novels and graphic narratives will have more of a place in our schools and our culture in general.”

Librarian Arlene Laverde said, “I wanted to make a more colorful, more inviting space. When I looked through the biographies in the biography room, I noticed they were biographies students weren’t reading. And I knew that manga and comics needed a space to grow in.” she continues, “students would be more apt to read biographies if they were located in the subject area they were affiliated with.”

Ms. Laverde stated that the new comics room would have a “multiple number of purposes.” on its own, it holds comics and manga, but shutting the door allows Makerspace activities to take place in a relaxing and quiet environment.

Accord i ng to Ms .

Laverde, Makerspace activities are creative projects intending to teach students about things they wouldn’t ordinarily explore.

For example, in the first Makerspace, students made dreamcatchers and learned about the symbolism of each string’s colors.

Junior steve Mao states that the comics room “has a great collection. I enjoy reading [manga] because it keeps me relaxed in the stress of the school.” senior Vivian Chung agrees that it’s good to have a place at school dedicated to entertainment and rest. “this change would help make students feel more comfortable,” she says.

If you’re curious about the stock of the comics room, its titles include: The Walking Dead, Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul, and a graphic novel adaptation of Madeleine L’engle’s A Wrinkle in Time.

Additionally, the library has recently acquired issues of Batman, spiderman, and teen titans through a

subscription service. Ask to read those at the front desk.

Besides being a place that fosters entertainment and rest, the comics room features student art. senior Class President Bailey Chan is one of the artists whose art is displayed and she says, “I honestly feel like manga has been undermined for so long, being brushed off as just ‘a cartoon’, and sometimes it’s not even

the new comics room features manga versions of classic novels.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW NEIL

considered art in art school. People usually call you out for being childish for liking manga and for the library to contribute to respecting this art is something I find really empowering.”

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NEWS Winter Carnival earns clubs some spending money By stephanie Guevara, Associate editor After the stressful week of dealing with finals came to an end along with the fall semester, the student union welcomed the spring term with the annual Winter Carnival on February 8. the Carnival allowed various new clubs as well as already existing clubs to raise money and get the club more exposure to the townsend harris community. each year the Winter Carnival provides clubs, teams, and publications with the opportunity to fundraise and gain exposure along with the opportunity to bring friends and family to a school-wide event. Although tickets need to be purchased in order to play games and buy food sold by the participants, admission is free. ticket prices ranged from 10 tickets for five dollars, 22 tickets for ten dollars, 33 tickets for fifteen dollars, and 44 tickets for twenty dollars. each club/team/publication participating in the Winter Carnival is required to submit a form beforehand in order to let both Club Liaison Renaenia Pangan and Coordinator of student Activities sarah oberlander know how much space is needed for the clubs/teams/publications and for the activities they have planned.

Renaenia stated, “It tells me which clubs are actually participating in the Winter Carnival and what they plan to do. Knowing what each club is doing helps us avoid any duplicates.”

From there clubs have the choice of deciding what type of activities will be at their booth with the intention of earning as many tickets as possible.

According to Renaenia, the total amount of money raised from selling tickets is split up amongst the clubs depending upon the number of tickets that each club earns. Renaenia also mentions, “each ticket is worth an average of 48 cents. So the basic equation is the number of tickets the club earns times .48 equals the amount of money that you earn. the amount of money earned is then put into the Club Accounts.” one of the newest clubs that took part in this year’s Winter Carnival was Politics Reborn. Politics Reborn, a club based off a real organization, focuses on teaching real-life leadership skills to students. Junior Max Kurant, one of the leaders of Politics Reborn, said, “We will use this opportunity to attract as many people as possible to learn about our club as they participate in our booth.”

Another one of townsend’s newest clubs that participated in this years Winter Carnival was Latin Dance.

Latin Dance club explores various styles of Latin dance such as salsa, merengue, and bachata as well as incorporating the learning of partnerwork and solos. sophomore Faye shemper, Latin Dance club’s leader, said she “[she wanted to] spread some “Latin spice” at the carnival so people can learn about the club.

Aly tantawy presents at the moot court in the hague.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALY TANTAWY

senior participates in international moot court

By Amberly Khan, Associate editor FRoM JAnuARy 22 to January 26, townsend harris senior and mock trial captain Aly tantawy participated in the 2018 International Moot Court (IMC) competition at the hague in the netherlands. he was one of sixteen other new york City high school students that were chosen to represent the united states in the competition. the International Moot Court describes itself as a “unique event that enables selected students to gain international experience in their own country and at the same time learn a great deal about arguing and pleading a case in court.” the competition is held annually, in which high school students who display outstanding skills are chosen to represent their country and compete against other countries. the students are given a case and are all expected to take on the role of attorneys through arguing and pleading the case in court in front of judges. this requires much practice and research, as well as discussion among peers and advisors. the judges are able to question students and determine the strength of their arguments, ultimately leading to the decision of which team will win the case.

Competing at the IMC proved to be an emotionally and men-

tally draining, but very satisfying and cathartic experience, Aly shared. “I interacted with people from so many different countries and really understood a lot of new perspectives,” says Aly. he cherished being able to work and socialize together with a diverse group of students who share the same passion and interest in law as he does.

Before and during the c omp e t it ion , preparation is key. Aly, along with his team and coaches, devoted many hours throughout the weeks before the event to practice and research.

He specifically recalls his most valuable practices at the hague, in which they spent about three to four hours into the night in order to work on their toughest issues. thhs history and economics teacher siobhan Brand, who also assisted Aly and attended the competition, mentioned how his ongoing involvement in Mock trial contributed a great deal to

his success and confidence as a public speaker.

Aly was already experienced with instances that require quick thinking, such as dealing with objections, addressing opposing counsel, and more. however, there were many new abilities that participating in the IMC specifically required. “on the large part though, I was learning a lot of skills and things from scratch. I had never done moot court before— I just knew that I loved public speaking, and through international team, I was able to learn new skills and hone in and polish the ones I already had”, he says. the passion-fueled, rigourous efforts that Aly and his team displayed throughout the event lead them all the way to the final rounds of the international competition.

Ms. Brand recalls, “the understanding of competitive wins and losses was hard for each of

“ It was really interesting to talk to people from other countries and learn how they interact with their politics, their religion, and their lives differently. ”

the teams. this was especially hard for Aly’s team because they made it to the final rounds at the Peace Palace. Aly demonstrated confidence, leadership, and perseverance throughout the entire competition.” through participating in the IMC, Aly was able to gain insight into a lot of different cultures through engaging in collaborative efforts and communication with students from other nations.

Aly expresses, “It was really interesting to talk to people from other countries and learn how they interact with their politics, their religion, and their lives differently. Being in the hague also allowed me to step back from my everyday life here and look at it more objectively. Coming back, everything seems a bit smaller and less significant than what it used to be.”

With regard to the future, Aly’s experience with the IMC competition has helped further guide his passion for politics, law, and public speaking into a substantial vision for college and beyond.

He mentions, “This was definitely a boost into the direction of law for me. I used to always want to become a politician, but after this experience, I’d like to perhaps do something in the realm of international law.”

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By Nancy Jiang, Staff Writer With the changing of the seasons also comes the transition from SING! to FON, Townsend Harris’ annual cultural dance celebration.

Every year, Festival of Nations allows for a peek into a variety of different cultures, be it your own, or somebody else’s. An event comprising of the cumulative effort of the largest population of Harrisites every year, the last performance of every FON marks the end of a four year high school era for some, and future memories in the making for others.

Unlike many previous FONs, this year’s FON consisted of four shows- the usual Friday night, Saturday afternoon and night

showings, as well as an additional showing Thursday night, with tickets at half the price. When asked about the decision, FON Director Ellen Fee said, “Last year, we sold out both Friday and Saturday night, as well as 400 tickets at the door for the Saturday matinee, and because I saw that tickets were going very quickly, for this year’s show, I thought that it’d be really great to give one more opportunity for another show. I talked to a few performers afterwards and people thought that it was good practice for the real show. A lot of times on Friday night, that becomes the practice for Saturday night. People liked the fact that we had a practice

Thursday, so that we were ready to go, and I felt that Friday’s performance was better than some of our Saturday performances. ” For many, FON has become synonymous with their high school experience, As a member of both Korean and Chinese Fan FON, Sophomore Kailey Van explains, “I feel like FON is the performance that I look forward to the most every year. You get to meet so many new people with the same interests as you. There’s a strong sense of togetherness in the FON community despite the diversity of different ethnic groups, [all] coming together to celebrate and appreciate the beauty of all cultures.”

As a member of African American, African, and Caribbean Fe t e F O N , S e n i o r A l y s s a Mohammed agrees, “What separates FON from other school events is that it allows everyone to show off their backgrounds, FON truly makes me proud of who I am.

We’re surrounded by so many different people (ethnically), and you really get to see that during FON, it’s another side of people because in a way, it’s really personal.

As leader of the new African American FON, Alyssa speaks about the effort put into maintaining her FON, “[This year] I put in the most work I’ve ever put in.

It was so much more work than

I expected, and doing two other FONs obviously didn’t make it any easier.”

When asked how she managed to deal with so much on her plate, she provided insight as someone behind the scenes, “My co-leaders and I helped with the workload, but it’s all up to the dedication of the group members. When you lead, obviously you know things in advance and have the dances down, but it’s up to the members to practice, even at home, when they don’t get something. A leader would never be able to accomplish it without her team. It was truly a team effort.”

Filipino FON leader Vince

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Plasencia seconds this by saying, “It was definitely challenging having everyone be engaged and eager sometimes, but in the end everyone put on a great show and we couldn’t be prouder. I couldn’t be more thankful for how cooperative everyone was, they really made practice something to look forward to.”

Another difficulty faced by FON enthusiasts this year was the event’s ever growing popularity amongst Harrisites, resulting in many overcrowded sign-up lists. A solution towards this was proposed by the creation of new FONs, an execution that Fee is happy with, “I was really excited

about the collaboration between Korean [FON] and Filipino [FON], when they got to the point where they would have to cut a lot of people or do [the other option of] a fusion of K-Flip, and I was really proud of their performance and the way they were able to let more participate.”

Every year, graduating seniors hand down the baton of leading their FONs into eager and capable hands. Junior Tenzin Kalden excitedly looks forward to her duties as a future leader of Korean FON, “I am so happy that the past KFON leaders have placed their trust in me and it honestly means so much to me. When I was a freshmen and

even a sophomore in KFON, I saw the leaders as sort of a role model and the fact that I will be a leader next year is truly mind-blowing. I don’t have any concrete plans yet, but I do know that I am going to try my absolute hardest to make sure all the dances [for next year] are energetic and synchronized.”

New leaders aren’t the only ones excited for prospective FONs, Kailey is already excited for her next, “I get so excited when FON comes around, I’m always eager to participate in different FONs. This year’s FON just came to an end, but I’m already looking forward to next year’s FON.” While new leadership has

already been assigned, seniors will soon have to reminisce about the yearly festivities. Even after the frenzied screams of “Seniors!

Seniors! Seniors!” have long died down, FON will always live on as part of the Townsend Harris spirit and tradition, a tradition that senior Yasmeen Razaq “can’t wait to come back to see next year.”

Photos by Matthew Neil, Renaenia Pangan and Jennifer Moran Chirino

8 March 2018

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NEWS

New social studies teacher fills in after two month gap

By Isabelle Guillaume and Julianna explained Assistant Principal of Zitron, Associate editors humanities Rafal olechowski.

“We have tried both in this case.

RoBeRt BRADBuRy has We initially reached out to somejoined the townsend harris high one who graduated from QC school humanities department recently, and…had yet to have a as an AP US History teacher 84 full time job. that’s the biggest days after the administration left issue when you are trying to get students without a certified his- someone midyear.” tory teacher. Replacing previous Although the process took APush teacher John o’Malley, almost two months, the adminMr. Bradbury is a city-delegated istration ultimately got Mr. long-term absent teacher with a Bradbury to take over the five license in teaching history. classes. Before this, however, Mr. Principal Brian Condon sayer worked to cover the class; declined to comment on the rea- but as he is not a licensed history son for Mr. o’Malley’s absence, teacher, students were waiting only stating that now there is a anxiously for a licensed teacher certified history teacher in his to take over. place.

Junior APush student Julia until mid-to-late February, Pienkowska expressed her consubstitute and certified math cern stating, “the last topic covteacher Mr. Joshua sayer had ered with Mr. o’Malley was the been supervising Mr. o’Malley’s Jacksonian era, meaning that there APush classes as well as his one is still another 180 years of us Regents us history class. During history that needs to be covered.” this two-month period, the With this in mind, Mr. administration was attempting to Bradbury is determined to fully find a certified history teacher. prepare his students for the “We have two ways of going APush exam in May. “We’ll try about [finding a new teacher due to do our best with the time that to another’s absence]. you can get remains and economize our class someone from the city like an time to get to the basic points, AtR (Absent teacher Reserve)— while at the same time instructing that’s a long-term absence the students of what are the most teacher— or you can actually try critical things within the textbook to hire someone temporarily,” that will likely be on the exam.”

PHOTO BY MATTHEW NEIL

students at work in one of thhs’s AP us history courses.

Before having a licensed history teacher in the classroom, students turned to self-teaching methods, such as using review books and watching videos.

According to Mr. Bradbury, these efforts at studying should be sufficient to cover all the remaining material when paired with presenting powerpoints in class and outlining chapters from the textbook.

“Generally, we suggest for AP students that they outline, which

means that they would open their textbooks and take one chapter and reduce it to just one page and write only the most important things,” he explained.

As he is from the AtR, Mr. Bradbury’s role as an APush teacher at townsend harris is temporary, although it is not known how long he will remain as a teacher here.

“It could be today, or tomorrow, in a week, in a month,” said Mr. olechowski. “so, I don’t

expect to hire anyone. If we were to hire someone, we would do an extensive search for the person, which would include probably you as a student, teachers, and Mr. Condon.”

In the midst of this uncertainty, Mr. Bradbury does know his true goal as he prepares Mr. o’Malley’s students for the AP exam.

“I wish to put [the students] at ease, and reduce their anxiety,” Mr. Bradbury said.

spotlight: this year’s new additions to the Fon lineup

By Reshma Deonarain and tanisum halim, Associate editors Ru s si a n a nd A fr ic a n American Fons made their debut for the first time in Townsend harris high school history, joining the twenty-two other cultures that were featured in Festival of nations this year.

Russian Fon, choreographed by the junior trio Anastasia Codjebas, Anna Gutowska, and sabina Prochowski featured both modern Russian dances as well as traditional dance with a special twist. “For our traditional dance, we chose a very old, well-known song that represents the Russian spirit perfectly. the modern dance also shows the vibrancy of Russian culture through a popular upbeat song that many Russians enjoy listening to.

“The goal of the finale was to express our joy and pride of succeeding at creating something new with a collective effort,” explained Fon leader Anastasia. the creation of this new Fon provided an opportunity for both Russian students of thhs and the student body to participate in or look forward to learning about a new culture through its performing arts.

“I joined Russian Fon this year because it’s the first time my culture is represented in Fon. It’s my first time in FON, and as a junior, I regret not doing it my last two

the Festival of nations’ new Russian Fon performs.

years given the great time I’ve had this year,” says Brenden Picioane.

“We hope to inspire others to not be afraid to start a Fon they are passionate about. It is not easy, but completely worth it,” explained Anna.

seniors Caleb Williams, Alyssa Mohamed, and Cirndie Joseph created African-American Fon, inspired by similar motivations. they did so to use Fon as a platform of cultural expression. “townsend does not have a large

African-American community, which is why it’s even more important to represent our culture,” says Caleb, who originally proposed the Fon. though African American and Caribbean Fons have been

PHOTO BY MATTHEW NEIL

distinctly present in the Festival of nations for a while, AfricanAmerican FON will be the first to celebrate these cultural fusions this year. “We know it’s not a nation or a country,” says Brandon, “but it’s a culture to celebrate.”

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March 2018

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oPINIoN

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From THE EdITorS

The Classic is an open forum for the expression of student views. The opinions expressed therein should not be taken to represent those of the administration or faculty, or of the student body as a whole.

EdITorIAL STAFF eDItoRs-In-ChIeF Aly tantawy Ilyssa Delos Reyes

oPInIon eDItoR Diego Ramos A&e eDItoRs Francesca Filiberti Kristiana Deur CoPy eDItoRs Ashley An Ashley Zhao PhotoGRAPhy eDItoRs Renaenia Pangan Matthew neil students discuss a project during an e1 class.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW NEIL

Conversation policy needs a fix With the start of the 2017-2018 school year came the establishment of the new academic conversation initiative, a requirement meant to encourage and broaden discussion among students with the use of academic language. though this is a valuable skill with the potential to develop our intellectual discourse, its execution has created great controversy among our school community. Specifically, the school has enforced it in a manner that requires students to bear the responsibility of forcing this new style of discourse into a classroom that has not yet adapted to do so.

Certain classes, including those in the science and math departments, require students to selfreport the quantity and quality of their contributions on Google Forms or worksheets. this way of recordkeeping is troublesome because it obliges students to remember their contributions then log them at the end of the week or marking period.

Consequently, logs are impractical and unreliable, with some students making false claims about their contributions and others not completing them on time.

Although this method has caused conflict, not having logs at all also poses problems because students do not always know the methods of evaluation.

Due to the inconsistency in the grading process of academic conversation among subjects, it is difficult to understand how academic conversations should be enacted.

For example, while one mathematics teacher may request that students write the date of their completed participation in a chart at the front of the classroom,

another may prefer to collect individually-written responses at the end of the semester. the organization of academic conversation and its importance should be consistent, ensuring that expectations in classrooms are clear so that students can understand and meet the requirements.

As stated in the book, Academic Conversations by Jeff Zwiers and Marie Crawford, “Conversations allow students to closely examine, scrutinize, criticise, validate, and shape the ideas

“ though this is a valuable skill with the potential to develop our intellectual discourse, its execution has created great controversy among our school community. ” being discussed…they allow students to own their idea.” But have classes provided openings for students to own their ideas?

For instance, in math classes, there are situations in which students are expected to have academic conversations regarding close-ended questions.

In these cases, class-wide debates are rare, and having them as often as our standard of academic conversation implies would drastically limit the time spent

covering material in class. under these circumstances, conversation is forced and unnecessary.

Alternatively, academic conversation should emphasize the reasonings behind given concepts or formulas and the explanation of problem-solving processes to ensure the understanding of class material. the school administration put the academic conversation policy into effect without a concrete foundation explaining its execution. teachers who attempted to provide examples for students were not entirely sure of what to do themselves.

Within the first few months of school, multiple classes had chosen to borrow, mix, and shift rubrics and grading policies. It seems unreasonable to place such a large percentage of a student’s grade in the hands of a system still undergoing change. the current policy should undergo several changes to address its many flaws. the logical solution is to adopt a uniform grading policy (and a unfiorm set of examples for what counts as valuable times for conversation) for each subject area.

Given that there are only a few months left in this school year, we should use this time to enforce a trial run of the redesigned academic conversation. A grade for academic conversations should not exist until we modify the system, re-evaluate what works, and recognize what needs more attention. only if the newly-designed academic conversation method proves to be efficient and beneficial should we confidently adopt it for following school years.

MuLtIMeDIA eDItoRs Aleksandra hubczak Rachel Gaugler neWs MAnAGeR tehreem Khan LAyout eDItoR tara Jackson MAnAGInG eDItoR Arifa Baksh

ADVIsoR Brian sweeney Associate Editors: Samantha Alzate Danielle Amster, Reshma Deonarain, Stephanie Guevara, Isabelle Guillaume, Anna Gutowska, Tanisum Halim, Yasmin Hasan, Amberly Khan, Victoria Kuzma, KaiQi Liang, Amanda Renzi, Diya Vanjani, Julianna Zitron

We welcome letters to the editor.

Townsend Harris High School 149-11 Melbourne Avenue Flushing, NY 11367 thhsclassic@gmail.com

The Classic reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and concision.

From THE EdITorS

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10 March 2018

THE CLASSIC

ArTS & ENTErTAINmENTT townsend trends: Kanken bag on the rise

By Georgia Malo and Amanda Renzi, staff Writers Backpacks a re becom ing extremely popular in the fashion industry, replacing the role of purses for many women. one brand in particular that has gained a lot of attention for their stylish bags is Fjallraven Kanken. these relatively small bags, with their distinct red fox logo, are common around the hallways of townsend harris this year. the bag is rather small, with dimensions of 38 cm high, 27 cm wide, and 13 cm deep. sophomore nicole Monaco says, “the bag is not practical for school. I find it too small to hold all my school supplies.” nonetheless, the bags are stylish, which explains why many people purchase them regardless of their size. Freshman Jaida Boodram says, “It’s cute, stylish and I love the color variety.” senior erica Vercessi adds, “It fits a lot surprisingly, I think it’s a cute black bag with a unique material.” the Kanken bag comes in many different colors and sizes, retailing at $80 for the basic size (most popular), $70 for the mini, and $110 for larger models. Many people buy them from the official Fjallraven

website, but you can also find these bags at Urban Outfitters, Lord and taylor, nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Pacsun. unfortunately, you won’t have much luck trying to find the Kanken bag for a cheaper price. you can, however, find Kanken bags on Amazon at a slight discount, for about $60 to $70.

Amazon only offers a few colors and sizes, which sell out quickly.

Another thing to look out for when buying from Amazon or ebay is knockoffs. If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. one way to tell if your Kanken bag is real is by looking at the zippers. If both zippers have the fox on the same side and “Fjallraven” on the opposite side, then the bag is real. If one zipper has the fox on top and the other has “Fjallraven” on top, the bag is a knockoff. the fabric also tells whether or not the bag is real. Authentic Kanken bags are made with a material called Vinylon F, which gives it the smooth texture on the outside. Vinylon F is also waterproof, so if you find that your bag absorbs water when it rains, it is most likely a knockoff. the easiest way to tell if your

bag is fake is if the tag on the inside says that the bag is made in a country other than sweden.

Besides having more room for your belongings than shoulder bags, backpacks provide extra support for your shoulders and back. In fact, Kanken bags were invented for the purpose of relieving back pain.

According to www.fjallraven.us , Kanken is “the backpack that straightened up a whole generation.” the website explains that, “In the late 1970s, new statistics showed that nearly 80 percent of the swedish population suffered from back pain at some point in their lives.” their biggest concern was that students were experiencing back pain at such a young age. Many used shoulder bags, which put pressure on the back and caused bad posture. the Kanken bag is meant to provide a stylish alternative that distributes weight evenly among both shoulders, thus, promoting a better posture. unfortunately, many students have reported that this bag is not the most comfortable.

According to sophomore olivia

sophomore olivia Biedrzycki wears the popular Kanken bag.

Biedrzycki, “It’s too small and the straps are too thin, they hurt my shoulders.” Despite this, she agreed that the bag was stylish and good for everyday use.

From their broad color variety to their unique texture, the Fjallraven Kanken bag is a fashion statement, loved by many students at townsend.

the Inside scoop of thhs Fashion with Kimberly Cubilla By samantha Alzate and Victoria Kuzma, Associate editors As she walks the halls of townsend harris high school, sophomore Kimberly Cubilla manages to break fashion norms, dressing in her own unique fashion. she describes her out- of- thebox style as “edgy... I don’t have boundaries when it comes to fashion. If I like something, I’ll wear it no matter what.” her carefree and risk-taking fashion mentality combined with a mixture of street-wear and Korean styles has allowed her individuality to shine through.

In elementary school, the restriction of uniforms meant having to blend into the crowd and always being stuck in an endless repetition of outfits. However, the start of middle school marked a change in Kimberly’s view on fashion where she began to take an interest in building her current personal style. From this point forward, her love for unusual articles of clothing grew.

A t to w n s e n d h a r r i s , Kimberly’s outfits are a true representation of her interests and personality. taking the dress code into account, she manages to allude to an edgier vibe, posting frequent pictures to her Instagram account. Kimberly’s many shirts from “omocat” is a staple piece in her wardrobe. omocat provides apparel that gains its inspiration from Japanese media and celebrity figures. Whether it be through

images or comics, Japanese and American culture fuses to create wearable art. this store promotes the ideals that “it is possible to live by doing what you love,” an idea Kimberley avidly supports.

A few of her staple pieces have become her many interesting pairs of pants. on instagram, she sports baggy, bright orange camo pants which have been seen all over social media in a variety of colors. In addition, Kimberly states that her “shiny and chunky shoes” hold a special place in her heart.

Accessories can transform a basic outfit into a one-of -a-kind piece. For Kimberly, layering necklaces and chokers adds interest to her many looks. “earrings must have some type of design,” Kimberly states. this allows her to lean away from the “basic” trends and make a statement wherever she walks.

Despite the wild and adventurous looks she creates, Kimberly admits that her outfits are also based off of her daily moods and emotions. she shares,“I have days where I will dress more casual, depending on how I feel.”

A l a rge p or t ion of her

ever-expanding closet is made up of thrift store finds, the majority from one of her favorite stores “search and Destroy” located in lower Manhattan. the store is an affordable option for anyone looking to expand their collections, all the while managing to sell unique items with interesting histories. tak ing on a pu n k-ro ck appearance, the shop focuses on unique pieces, such as vintage tees, that are rare to find throughout the city and can range from $5 to $50 dollars. Kimberly c ho o s e s not to define herself as either a trend-setter nor a trend-follower, but rather focuses on the importance of cultivating her personal style.

With this goal in mind, Kimberly looks at thrift stores to meet her fashion demands. she describes her strategy for shopping at thrift stores and states, “When I walk into a thrift store, I usually have something in mind that I want, and I will look for similar pieces at the store.”

Kimberly and sophomore

Rachel

Zhang can often

closet

b e

“ I feature my favorite outfits as a way to give viewers inspiration on what to wear for that season or occasion ”

seen in matching outfits in their coordinated Instagram photos.

Rachel reveals how the pair styles their outfits stating, “Usually we just ask what the other is wearing the next day or if we plan on twinning we’ll describe the fit to each other.”

Kimberly adds, “I know her

really well and whenever she buys something she always shows me.”

Whether you are bold, loud, shy, or quiet, the clothes you wear help hint at your complex personality. Kimberly recommends, “Find what you like and then incorporate that in your own way. ”

THE CLASSIC

March 2018

11

ArTS & ENTErTAINmENT

the best events in nyC this spring

By Reshma Deonarain, Associate editor As spring approaches, there are many events that will be taking place in new york. these include festivals and exhibits. however, one of the main focuses for the spring events is art. there are several festivals and hands on experiences that will take place this spring. the events are for people interested in art, whether they like to look at or produce art pieces.

Art helps represent emotion and can be inter preted in different ways.

“Art is important due to its ability for visual expression of one’s ideas. It allows the artist to convey messages to the viewer which enables the visual aspect of an idea to be represented and also pondered,” says art teacher Margherita Wischerth. some of these events include the hit up Artexpo, Frieze Art Fair, and the Washington square outdoor exhibit. the hit up Artexpo is an annual art show that will take place at Pier 94 on. It shows off groundbreaking pieces and new artists on the rise. the Washington square outdoor exhibit brings together

hundreds of exhibitors, from college students to professional artists. they display their sculptures, paintings, and photography. the Frieze Art Fair, on the other hand, is a more handson experience where people can participate in creating their own art. there is a display of over 130 pieces. this fair takes place at Randalls Island Park in Manhattan. the new festivals and shows have brought interest to people. s ophomore M a r y a m Rahman says, “I’d go to see the different pieces and try to learn about the messages that the artists are trying to give.” students agree that these art shows are important for showing off talented work and being able to have consumers interpret it on their own. teachers also recognize the importance of art and the freedom it grants. When asked about having events for different types of art, Mrs. Wischerth thinks that it’s “always important to have events where different ideas can be explored and viewed. If there was only a single avenue for expression, how limited it would be for a society.”

Phoenix wins highly prestigious award

“ Art is important due to its ability for visual expression of one’s ideas. ”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE

spring in nyC brings multiple options for exciting excursions.

PHOTO BY AARON FERNANDO

A promotion for a recent Phoenix reading in Manhattan.

By Amanpreet Kaur, staff Writer

the Phoenix has always been known for their creative magazine released at the end of the year, along with their shorter “zines.” this year they have been awarded with a highest award possible from the national Council of teachers of english among over 280 other literary magazines.

With only 26 of these awards available in the whole nation, the Phoenix is clearly pushing to be the best this year. the Phoenix was placed in the top two out of the state, this being the first time they have ever ranked so high.

Co-Director Aaron Fernando said “We have gotten a lower level award, like a silver award, honorable mentions but this is the highest that we’ve gotten”. this is not the only award the Phoenix has won this school year either. on top of the nCte award they have also received a crown award from the Columbia scholastic Press Association for literary magazine, receiving the highest score that The Phoenix has ever had in its 34 years of running the magazine.

Fernando gives the credit for winning these awards to the members of the Phoenix saying “We had a great team and worked really hard on the final edition”. his fellow Co-Director Cirara

Burke also expressed her views on this year’s publication, “one of the big reasons that the final came out so well was not just the incredible content and layout, but the effort we put in. “two juniors being the editors-in-chief is an unusual situa-

“ two juniors being the editors-inchief is an unusual situation and the publication last year seemed almost impossible for us to top with the restricted time we had ” tion and the publication last year seemed almost impossible for us to top with the restricted time we had...that being said, we also had a dedicated staff and layout editors with incredible talent, passion, and drive.”

When talking about the award specifically she stated “It is one

thing for people in the school to tell us how much they loved last years publication. It is another to have a prestigious competition give us the highest score and ranking we’ve ever received.”, When reviewing her time at the Phoenix, Burke stated “the Phoenix has taught me so many things. I’ve learned how to be a team player but also a responsible leader.” she felt proud and grateful for her experience being involved in the publication.

Long time Phoenix member and social Media Consultant Andrea Jainarine also felt proud to be part of the club when talking about their accomplishments saying “It feels great knowing that I am in something that is recognized not only in our school but nationwide.”

Jainarine sums up her view of the Phoenix saying “ Being a public school’s literary and art magazine, we do not receive an abundance of funds similar to private schools. however, each year we still manage to put together a beautiful piece of work.”

Recently, the magazine featured a public reading at the union square Barnes & noble, which was held in solidarity with Marjory stoneman Douglas high school.

In addition to thhs students, students and alumni from Marjory stoneman Douglas were present to offer readings.

12 March 2018

THE CLASSIC

SPorTS

A winning formula: the 2018 girls varsity basketball team

By Kunchaka Fonseka, Staff Writer eVeRy yeAR, around the middle of winter, the gym is packed to the brim with fans, cameras, and food. By halftime, the bakesale in the lobby is vacant of food and its organizers gather at the gym entrance looking on. these are the efforts of the successful townsend harris girls varsity basketball team as they face off in another home playoff game.

For the past four years, the hawks have racked up at least 10 wins and finished close to the top every single season. this year they finished with an impressive 15-3 record that tied them for first in their division. there were many memorable moments this season, but one of the most memorable was the regular season outing that helped them land their elimination game against Forest hills’ Lady Rangers on our very own court. the hawks won in imposing fashion, even after a slow nine point showing in the first quarter. their shots seemed to be falling short of the mark and playoff jitters gave their passes a tad extra force. however, the next quarter saw the sheer power of great game planning shining through.

The Hawks fell back into a stifling zone defense and, despite how emphatically Brianna singh of Forest

hills zipped around, the hawks prevented long-range shots, as well as easy layups, leaving the flustered Hills team to throw up high difficulty floaters in the 15foot range. on the offensive side, the hawks showed incredible ball movement that broke open the hills own zone. on occasion it seemed upwards of 10 to 15 passes were zipped in a matter of seconds.

During the second and third quarter, the hawks outscored the Lady Rangers 43 to 15. Also, it didn’t hurt the cause that by the final buzzer the rebound ratio was 41 to 15 in favor of the home team.

From the end of the third period, it was light cruising as Lauren Caiaccia, the hawks’ coach and the thhs sports coordinator, rotated some younger players with important playoff minutes to prepare for the next game and the next season. the game ended with a final score of 62 to 29 led by junior olivia Falba’s 18 points and co-captain Rosalydia Caputo’s 11 rebounds.

When questioned about their success, Junior Weronika Falba remarks that the root is a “group of players that is dedicated 100 percent.” the team practices six times a week, including saturday practices at 10:30 in the morning.

they even have workouts during school breaks.

Meeting almost 20 hours a week in a basketball mindset has paid dividends in terms of skill and comfort on the court.

Rosalydia adds, “Without good team chemisthe girls basketball team had a memorable and exciting season, as usual. try, a team cannot be sucschedule, has an incredible resolve ika, Rosalydia, and olivia, identify cessful,” and the hawks exhibit so for her teams that rubs off on her Ms. Caiaccia’s unwavering energy each game. Ms. Caiaccia explains players. as the trait that surpasses all oth“the system and a commitment to Rosalydia states, “if you make ers as the cornerstone of this team. learning plays” as the source of the a mistake you aren’t necessarily the adage goes that you are only team’s success. punished, [but] Ms. Caiaccia will as strong as your weakest link, but All her players agree that, make it clear to us what we have it’s worth something that your however modest Ms. Caiaccia done wrong and help correct the strongest link is as prominent and is, she is deserving of a large mistake.” In addition, starting point steadfast as Ms. Caiaccia. amount of credit as well. Weron- guard olivia Falba remarks, “Ms. Look in years to come,, for ika says that “optimism is always Caiaccia never takes a break and the hawks to play in matches that there, wherever Ms. Caiaccia is.” pushes us harder and harder each many teams can only wish for.

Ms. Caiaccia, in spite of her busy practice.” In fact, all three, Weron-

Rebuilding for the future: a new team on the rise By hritamber Chakraborty, staff Writer the ReFeRees blow the whistle to signal the end of a hard fought season as the townsend harris Boys Basketball team begins to reflect on the year. The team had a record of 6-10 placing them fourth in their division, barely eliminating them from playoff contention. even though this year wasn’t fruitful in terms of sheer wins, there is plenty to gain and much to learn.

As the seniors leave their mark, they are dedicated to guiding the future of the team to new successes, both on and off the court.

A great team is one that sustains their greatness throughout years, no matter the game or the season. the townsend harris Boys Basketball team hopes to achieve this level of sustainability even though it will be losing some marquee players. senior Jonathan Mea, starting point guard and leading scorer, has stepped up this year as he was named captain alongside his fellow teammate D’vonte Davis. When asked about his role as team Captain he says, “I have just tried to keep my guys motivated and step up to make plays that will translate into wins.” he also says, “I can’t thank everyone enough for helping me get better at the game that

I love, and for making me a better person by putting me in a leadership role. I won’t stop helping these guys become better players.”

After this season, the team needs more players to accept leadership roles and develop the younger players for the regular season and with enough diligence, the playoffs. the future of the team is not only in the hands of the players, but also the coach.

Coach Denunzio may just seem like a jubilant fan of the game, however, when it’s time for business, he brings his A-game. Many of the comebacks the team has achieved are due to his novel coaching prowess. For instance, when looking at the game against Queens Gateway to health sciences, the team was losing by as much as eleven points and seven points at half-time. But, this is when Coach D. started to work on raising the morale of the players and breaking down all the flaws in gameplay execution. the team’s outlook seemed gloomy when they entered the locker room, but when they came out, it was a different team. townsend harris went on to win that game 47-46.

When looking at the future of the team, it is clear that many juniors are getting ready to take

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE

the boys basketball team feels next season is time to take their work to the next level. on their roles as new leaders. the end of this season simply means the beginning of the offseason where players will enhance their understanding of the game through working out plays and improving physical conditions by putting hours in the gym.

“We want to see our team do much better next year and we can only do that through hard work and cooperation as a team,” comments Ryan yavinsky when

discussing the next stage of the team’s progress. It is easier said than done but players like Ryan understand that their true progress can only be measured by what the team produces on the court. everyone on the team agrees that they need to become a cohesive unit, ready for any situation they face on and even off the court. the team needs to trust one another before any offseason transformation can take place.

the Boys Basketball team is saying goodbye to stars Jonathan Mea, D’Vonte Davis, nicholas Corrado, and Jayvon Judge, but the rebuilding has commenced. these players are nurturing the future of the team and passing on their knowledge of the game to grow the foundation.

With Coach D’s assistance, the team will foster its current talent and work to get better at all aspects of the game.