A Blind Brook High School Student Publication
Issue #2 January 2024
Blind Brook Is On A Roll By Carly Hodes
Blind Brook was named to the 2023 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Roll! For those who do not know, the AP Honor Roll is a recognition program that shows significant achievements for AP programs. The AP School Honor Roll offers four placements: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Blind Brook offers many AP classes, which helps expand opportunities for college credits. Many students here find themselves immersed in different forms of hands-on learning, which is at their disposal through these Advanced Placement courses. Blind Brook High School had the privilege of being named on the AP Honor Roll this year, an achievement that represents our rigorous course offerings. There are strict requirements to be placed on an Honor Roll, which shows Blind Brook students’ educational ardor. For a school to be placed on the Honor Roll, students must receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all of their taken AP exams or a 3 or higher on four or more of their AP Exams, thus showing its difficulty to achieve. Blind Brook had at least
83% of seniors who took at least one AP exam in high school, 71% of seniors who scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, and 2% of seniors at Blind Brook who took 5 or more AP exams. These statistics represent the enduring effort made by our students, which is nurtured by our encouraging environment.
Only a handful of eligible schools received the bronze AP Honor Roll recognition this year, and the recipients of the award held great variety. Schools can be private, public, this year, and the recipients of the award held great variety. Schools can be private, public, or charter schools.
The range of grade size goes from 30 students per grade to thousands of students per grade. Schools can be in rural or urban areas, be specialized schools, or have general programs. The Honor Roll each school placed on the Honor Roll is committed to expanding the opportunities for their students. By offering AP classes in high school, the readiness rate of students going to college has heavily increased. A high school superintendent, Dr. Monifa B. McKnight, expresses, “This is a wonderful recognition of staff in all of our high schools working hard to prioritize rigorous learning, including in Advanced Placement and other challenging courses available to our students.” Dr. Mckinight explains that the idea of the AP Honor Roll is effective in recognizing students for their well-earned academic accomplishments. Blind Brook is honored to be placed on the AP Honor Roll and will continue to offer AP classes.
Student-led non-profit organization, Strongheroes goes to the 8th World Congress By Alex Maniscalo
Strong Heroes is a nonprofit organization run by an intelligent group of Blind Brook High School kids looking to make a difference in the world. They have donated over 80,000 toys, books, and resources to children’s hospitals. Additionally, they have over 500 donors and volunteers and have put in over 1000 hours of volunteer time to fight health disparity to maximize health outcomes across all populations. Their commitment lies in
enhancing health fairness through a comprehensive strategy. They work to merge education, research, policy, and community involvement to create solutions that channel resources, establish programs, and foster support systems. These efforts aim to eliminate barriers hindering optimal health for everyone. Striving for a future where health disparities vanish, health inequities diminish, and every population achieves the best possi-
ble health outcomes is our goal. Jonah Bassuk is the founder and chief executive officer of Strongheroes and alongside him is Charlotte Zelin, chief operating officer, Emily Tian, research director, Emilia Boccini, news director, Richa Munjal, events director, Kabir Joshi, director of financial planning, Charlie Kaminsky, director of financial analytics and Noah leader director financial management. From August 27th to Sep-
tember 1st many of the leadership members traveled to Washington DC to attend a six-day World Congress. The vision for this conference was to improve the global standard for pediatric and congenital help. Continued on Page 2
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Health and Sciences
Student-led non-profit organization, Strongheroes goes to the 8th World Congress Continued from Page 1
The mission was to organize the most comprehensive scientific form ever convened for this patient population and their caregivers to improve the duration and quality of life for neonates, infants, children, and adults with pediatric and congenital cardiovascular disease. This was the eighth annual World Congress. At this World Congress Strongheroes set up a work booth where they provided information on health equity-related events during the day and gave general background information surrounding the organization. There are many different types of world congresses, but this one specifically was an international meeting designed with the objective of promoting the sharing of ideas to improve cardiac care for children across the world. and middle-income countries. One of the main goals of this conference was to bring together non-govern-
mental organizations and patient family advocacy groups to share best practices and develop strategies for improved and sustainable access to patient care in low- and middle-income countries. of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery received over 2200 abstracts from 92 different countries, and out of those 92 countries, only 76 had representatives at this international conference. It was a huge honor to be a part of this conference for the Strong Heroes organization. Going forward after this event, they have many more events that they are looking to be a part of in 2024, including the third annual International Public Health Conference in Singapore coming in March and the RISE Summit on Social Determinants of Health in New Orleans coming in April. This organization is looking to do great things going forward for the world of health inequality.
The New American Family Center Urgent Care Opens in Port Chester By Emily Tian
The American Family Center (AFC) Urgent Care opened on Thursday, November 23, at 2 pm. Located at the corner of Westchester Avenue and South Main Street, the center provides Port Chester residents with medical attention for non-emergency injuries and illnesses. Regardless of insurance status, Portchester residents now have access to a new provider of medical care. The center is
equipped with the equipment and space needed to provide patients with whatever they may need in an urgent medical situation. It has six exam rooms, an X-ray room, and a separate procedure room. The list of services they provide ranges from COVID-19 tests to the treatment of broken bones, however, Raymond Velez, the practice administrator of the Portchester AFC location, wants to highlight how the facility is tailored toward
benefitting the Village’s population. Velez says that the center offers all services in English and Spanish and that the center has a turnaround time of approximately 30 minutes with no appointment needed. He is also trying to hire employees who can easily connect to the population of Port Chester and Rye Brook in an attempt to make patients as comfortable as possible. Most of the staff are intimately familiar with the area and culture. The center currently has 3 staff members from Port Chester, and among them is a nurse practitioner called Chrystel Lewis, who grew up on Haseco Avenue. Additionally, Valez has been in contact with the Port Chester-Rye Brook- Rye Town Chamber and Commerce and the Port Chester-Rye Brook Rotary Club and would like to take part in events that would get the AFC name out into the community while also helping to spread health education information. Valez believes that the community is very unsure of what urgent care does. He hopes to participate in events, give out pamphlets, or provide free blood pressure read-
ings. Valez is also concerned that many people have trouble understanding the difference between an urgent care facility and a primary care provider. An urgent care facility is primarily an immediate medical service that is equipped to tend to most ailments and may transfer the patient to an emergency room. In contrast, a primary care center is a more long-term provider. The AFC can even assist with severe medical emergencies. It can handle any low-level trauma, and if it’s something that’s very severe, they will stabilize the patient, prepare them for transport, and send them to the most appropriate hospital so they can get the care they need. Regardless of the need or circumstance, the AFC says they will do their best to help as many people as possible. “We would never turn anyone away. We’ll assess any patient,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you have insurance or what your immigration status is, we’ll address everyone if they have an acute condition. Every patient gets addressed for any acute condition.” 2
Features
Israel and Palestine By Natalie Fier
The conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas has occurred over the past few months. Currently, the United States has come to the aid of Israel during the suffering in Gaza. Recent developments have led to a new playing field in this historical war. The Biden Administration recently bypassed Congress in the decision of handing over $106,500,000 worth of tank equipment to Israel. Meanwhile, Palestinians in Gaza are facing mass starvation. Arguably the most significant of the recent updates, a truce was made between Palestine and Israel involving Israeli hostages being released in return for Israel stopping the ceasefire attacks and other Palestinian hostages. Israel’s main goal is to dismantle Hamas once and for all and has been persistent with this goal throughout the war. As the compromise was put into motion, a bus arrived back in Gaza full of Palestinian prisoners on Friday morning, people were chanting “God is great” and holding up green Hamas flags. The trading of hostages has occurred since November 24.
Though the conflict seems like it’s coming to an end, there are still significant events. Only 10 Israeli hostages are released per day, while 30 Palestinian prisoners are released. The difference between them. This is controversial because many media sources highlight that Palestinian prisoners have committed murderous acts as children, whereas Israeli hostages are innocent. This past Thursday, there was a deadly attack by two gunmen on bus riders on a main highway in Jerusalem. It is clear although there is a truce, Hamas still has intentions of killing Israeli people. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby hopes this truce will continue so Israeli hostages will keep getting released. The truce was extended to a 10th day, and most likely ongoing. The hostages being released from Hamas captivity have explained it as hell. They have described abnormal fear, zero sleep, hunger, and a difficult mental and conditional state. One hostage, Margalit Moses, said her captor took away her oxygen machine. She explains that being in those tunnels is an unbearable
FOCUS Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Kunjal Kothari Operation Manager: Rachel Horn Webmaster: Natalia Terentiev Layout Editor: Sophie Possick Multimedia Directors: Charlotte Zelin and Jordana Esterow Social Media Manager: Maya Vinikoor Features Editor: Sofia Padilla News Editor: Abby Goldstein Viewpoints Editor: Hailey Mallah Arts & Entertainment Editor: Abby Meron Health & Sciences Editor: Emily Tian Politics Editor: Zoey Possick Sports Editor: Maya Vinikoor Faculty Advisor: Andre Soto Iris Chen Noah Dweck Natalie Fier Madeline Fishbach Hunter Greenspan Carly Hodes Max Kulekofsky
Jack Mallah Alex Maniscalco Joley Meron Tyler Taerstein Yana Vorobiev Bridget Zelin
to rescue the rest of the hostages as soon as possible. One may think this is an unfair trade between Israel and Palestine. But clearly, from the hostages’ experience, the top priority of Israel is to get all of the hostages back home and will do whatever it takes, which is why this truce will continue to extend. Despite the release, there are still 137 hostages held by Hamas. Meanwhile, there are still many innocent Palestinians as well as Jews living in Gaza while all these attacks are taking place. Gaza is in a really bad economic state, leaving people in desperate hunger. People have even tried to set up man-made tented camps in which to live. Hamas is not giving up yet, although people are saying this is the “beginning of the end of Hamas.” Recently reported, many
Hamas members have surrendered to the Israeli army and there could be a significant breakdown of Hamas’ finances. Currently, heavy fighting is being reported in the Gazan city, Khan Younis. The Israeli army has initiated heavy airstrikes in hope of getting to the Hamas leader, Yayha Sinwar. Rumors speculate that he is hiding beneath the city in a network of tunnels. Prime Minister of Israel, Netanyahu, stated directly to a Palestinian military group, “It’s over. Don’t die for Sinwar. Surrendernow!” This response to the current events is a hint to what is to come next, which could be the end of Hamas by the Israeli army in Gaza’s very own city, Khan Younis.
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Arts and Entertainment
Taylor Swift: An Inside Look on the Pop-Stars’ Journey from Country Roots to Global Stardom By Madeline Fishbach
Global sensation Taylor Swift is rising through the ranks and taking over pop culture as we know it. Ever since she was little, she had the desire to become an inspiring singer and songwriter. Starting as a small-town country singer, Taylor never expected the influence and popularity she would gain shortly. At the age of 14, Taylor signed with Big Machine Records in 2004 to write country music. With this record deal, she produced her first album, titled Taylor Swift. This was just the beginning of a long and continuous career. She quickly became known for her country music and later released her second album, Fearless, which
grew to be even more successful than the first. Getting nominated for “Best New Artist” at the Grammys and being invited to the Met Gala in 2008 were only a few of her early recognitions. After the release of more country albums, Taylor received an extensive number of awards and nominations during the 52nd Grammy Awards, including Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song, and Album of the Year. One of the unique aspects of Taylor that fans love the most is the lyrics of her songs. Her lyrics display authenticity in her life while expressing maturity, emotion, and stories everyone can relate to. Soon enough, every-
one knew about the rising pop star. Taylor Swift’s prosperity continued to grow as she came out with her next album, Speak Now. This album still showed a strong connection to her country roots, but her next album began to stray away from this. Red began to show hints of pop, but it wasn’t until its release of 1989 that Tayor showed her musical growth in this industry. This album marks Taylor’s transition from country to pop music. Although it was risky to switch the music genre that had gained her millions of fans, she believed it was time for a change in her music style. This pivotal moment in her career framed her future and provided her with more fans than ever imaginable. Even though there were a few bumps in the road, such as her dispute with Kanye West, they brought positive influences to her music and made her and her fanbase even stronger. Taylor’s current influence on pop culture is revolutionary. Through sold-out stadiums and a movie produced for her concert, she has proven herself to be a true music star. Because of this, Taylor’s net-
Viewpoints
work has substantially increased to the point where her net worth is now estimated at $1.1 billion. With over 53% of adults identifying as Taylor Swift fans, Taylor has become a recognized living legend. She has made it known to the world that she will never go out of style.
Should Digital Devices replace paper and books? By Hunter Greenspan
In an increasingly online age, many schools are making the jump from physical documents, Google Docs, cardboard to motherboard, and paper to online. While technology has been on the rise for decades, the pandemic catalyzed the exponential growth of technology in the school system. While computers were used in schools before COVID-19, now, at Blind Brook, even our math packets are digital. Does paper still have a place in our classrooms? Or should Blind Brook continue to make this leap fully? Blind Brook Senior Bridget Zelin says, “Absolutely!” Zelin remarks, “Utilizing online resources has helped me organize not only my academic activities but also my extracurriculars. Since the Pandemic forced our school to go fully online, I’ve had time to assess the pros and cons of going all online. It is nice to keep all of my
documents and work in one place, and to keep all of it in the same device as my planner. When I’m communicating with peers about debate tournaments or with my teacher about a test, having access to email on the same device as my work makes organization a breeze.” Senior Daniel Greenspan has more mixed feelings on the subject. “While I appreciate the choice to use Google Classroom or Google Drive, I think that I am becoming more forcibly dependent on my device to get schoolwork done. I much prefer taking hand notes in class, and while I still can, our school’s dependence on technology has made it harder to do so. In certain classes, I find myself switching between 4 or 5 different apps to get all of my work done, and it honestly defeats the organizational purpose that these devices are supposed to provide.”
Will we end up living in an age where paper is obsolete? How far will technology take us? The question remains: how much longer will paper be prevalent in the schooling system? Should we embrace the push for technology
push for technology or shy from it? Whether you want to take all of your notes on a Google Doc or prefer to scribble them in your notebook, both may have a place in our school’s curriculum. The question is, for how long? 4
Politics
The 2024 Election: Where are we now? As families across the country ring in the new year, our nominated presidential candidates are hard at work on their campaigns for this year’s upcoming election. This year’s presidential election may emulate that of 2020, pitting current President Joe Biden against former President Donald Trump. However, many analysts speculate that there may be a very different outcome. Against Democratic candidate Joe Biden stands Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips, who hope to obtain the support of the Democratic party seat in place of President Biden. Williamson attempted a campaign in 2020, calling for a federal Department of Peace and outwardly supporting reparations for slavery. Phillips overall has supported President Biden’s agenda in Congress and left a position in Democratic House leadership against the wishes of most of the elected officials within the party. President Biden is predicted to center his campaign around his bipartisan accomplishments, along with his support for Democratic priorities like abortion rights.
By Zoey Possick
Many Democrats worry that his age will deter voters and potentially harm future citizens in terms of how he will maintain office. Nevertheless, the party has publicly rallied in support of his candidacy. There are several Republican candidates who have made their place in the running clear, including former President Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Asa Hutchinson, Ryan Binkley, Ron DeSantis, and Chris Christie. Mr. Trump stands far ahead of his opponents in recent polls, which has been attributed to the number of less-known candidates and his firm hold on the base of the Republican Party. As of now, former President Trump outpolls his opponents from both the Republican and Democratic parties. Though he currently faces legal investigations by state authorities and the Justice Department, he maintains a dedicated voter base. Former President Trump has made his stance on issues like immigration and climate change abundantly clear. Where President Biden has passed legislation throughout his presidency with
aims to create a more humanitarian immigration system, former President Trump aims to detain and deport illegal immigrants residing in the United States. Immigration is one of the major issues that currently splits voters’ support for President Biden and Mr. Trump in their election campaigns. In addition to the potential candidates for the Democratic and Republican Parties, the 2024 election race has three potential third-party candidates. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Jill Stein are all seeking party nominations. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an
anti-vaccine activist, while West is known for enacting progressive activism. Jill Stein is a doctor and activist, pushing for an economic bill of rights and supporting efforts to combat climate change. The 2024 election will test how American values have shifted after the pandemic and in light of recent world and national events. It will undoubtedly be a close race, and its result will significantly affect American citizens’ legislative fate and livelihoods for years to come.
Sports
Navigating the Choices in Terms of Collegiate-Level Athletics By Tyler Taerstein
When it comes to choosing between a large and small college for sports, there are several factors to consider. At a large college, one may experience a more intense and competitive athletic environment. The facilities are often state-ofthe-art, and there's a greater emphasis on performance. However, the competition for a spot on the team can be fierce, and one might find oneself surrounded by a larger pool of highly skilled athletes. On the other hand, small colleges offer a more intimate setting. One may have closer relationships with coaches and teammates, and there could be more flexibility in balancing academics and athletics. Facilities may not be as grandiose, but the sense of community can be stronger. The decision between a large and small college often depends on personal preferences, career goals, and the desired level of competition. Moving on to the distinctions between NCAA Division I
and Division III programs, Division I schools are known for their high level of athletic competition. These programs often offer scholarships and have extensive budgets for recruiting, training, and facilities. The commitment required is significant, and student-athletes often face demanding schedules, balancing rigorous training with academic responsibilities. In contrast, Division III schools emphasize a more balanced approach to student-athlete life. There are no athletic scholarships, placing the focus on the overall college experience. Student-athletes at Division III institutions participate for the love of the game, and the commitment is generally less intense than Division I. The emphasis on academics is paramount, and student-athletes have the opportunity to explore interests beyond their sport. When asking Muhlenberg College (Division III) Lacrosse commit and senior at Blind Brook,
Seth Low, about where his passion for this life-altering decision to play a sport in college stems from, he responded with: “I discovered my passion for the sport I’ve committed to in college (lacrosse at Muhlenberg) after watching all my friends play at a lacrosse game in 9th grade. They played all throughout middle school, and I never got into it, but after watching my first lacrosse game, seeing the energy the team gave off, and seeing how fun the sport looked, I knew I needed to give it a try.” A college recruit got his motivation from watching his friends play in their early high school years, with him watching from the side and juggling his lack of knowledge of the sport. Now, as he moves into the spotlight, he is determined to achieve numerous goals during his college career. “For my college athletic career, one main goal of mine is to eventually be a starter on the team and make an everlasting impact on Muhlenberg Lacrosse. I am most
looking forward to participating, strengthening, and building a new community in the Muhlenberg Lacrosse program. I am looking forward to bonding, spending time with, and becoming family with the students and teammates I will spend the next four years at college with,” Low enthusiastically shares. Continued on Page 6
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Sports
Navigating the Choices in Terms of Collegiate-Level Athletics Continued from Page 5
When reflecting back on his high school years heading into his final spring season of Blind Brook High School lacrosse, Low shares one of his favorite memories about the family-like bond he has created through lacrosse: “One of the most memorable moments from my HS athletic career was when we won our League title. This is the first time in Blind Brook history this has happened, and it happened during my second-ever lacrosse season. This banner will be in the Blind Brook gym forever and shows that our team made BBHS Men’s lacrosse history. Another memorable moment in my high school athletic career was scoring my first goal. As a defender, the chance to shoot the ball comes rarely. When it does, you need to take advantage of it.” Furthermore, both Division I and Division III programs come with their own set of advantages and drawbacks. Division I
offers the thrill of high-stakes competition and largely televised exposure, while Division III provides a more well-rounded college experience with less pressure on athletic performance. The right choice depends on individual preferences, career aspirations, and the importance placed on the role of sports in college life. In conclusion, choosing between a large and small college for sports involvement involves considering factors such as the level of competition, facilities, and the overall atmosphere. Similarly, the decision between NCAA Division I and Division III programs hinges on the desired balance between academics and athletics and the intensity of the sports experience. Ultimately, the best fit varies for each student-athlete based on their personal goals and values.
News
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence (AI) was born in the years 1950-1956 by Alan Turing. Little did anyone know that this invention would change the world forever. Although it may be exciting that your computer can do your homework for you, chatbots can take over jobs, reduce people’s work ethic, and change the trajectory of the future. AI allows computers to do things that humans would typically do. This function will affect the workforce in both positive and negative ways. Various studies show how AI could take away people's jobs and make them more manageable. A specific example of the adverse effects of AI occurred recently with the SAG-AFTRA strike concerning writers and actors. Many producing companies found that it would be easier to use websites, such as ChatGPT, to produce scripts rather than hire a writer. This caused the Writers Guild of America to go on strike. On the other hand, AI can also improve workers' experience by minimizing the repetitive tasks that they have to perform.
By Joley Meron
. AI enhances, as well as destroys, many aspects of the workforce. As AI continues to shape and change the world, the public voices many opinions and concerns. One large concern is that AI can spread misinformation. According to a survey conducted by Forbes, with websites like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Bing Chat, 54% of people can tell the difference between AI-generated messages and human-formed ones. As the use of AI becomes more prominent in business, companies have to make decisions regarding the possibility of AI being false and the chance of an incorrect narrative being shared with the public. Surveys show that the majority of people are concerned about AI’s effects, suggesting a consumer demand for authenticity and ethical practices between business and customer trust. Another concern surrounding AI is the impact it has on children. AI directly impacts education, toys, and games. Children can become attached to AI-generated materials and not learn how to navigate complex
human interactions. This happens and it is evident that changes can through artificial intimacy. If AI evolve, and it is evident that changes can stimulate human interaction can be both positive and negative. and relationships, people may become reliant on this and ultimately become lonely. AI will continue to have a prominent role in how technology and the world evolve,