Januaryfebruary newsletter

THE LOCKSMITH New York District / Division 11 Volume 4 Issue 6

Stuyvesant High School January/February Issue

Editor’s Note: Hi Pandas! I hope your February break went well and you’re hype for a month without any breaks! Combined with post-SING! depression, it’ll be a tough month, but you can de-stress by going to volunteer events!

Director's Note: Hey Key Clubbers!

It’s Tiffany. Hope that you’ve been well during the start of the second term. I’m really missing break, but it’ll all be okay.

We’ll get through this together. :) I hope you enjoy this issue of the Locksmith. Keep volunteering and submitting articles and pictures! :D

16-’17 Stuyvesant Key Club Board: President: Jiaqi Gao jiaqigao12@gmail.com Vice President: Michelle Yang librasapphire2000@gmail.com Editor: Yvonne Pan ypan1@stuy.edu Webmaster: Alvin Zhu alvinzhu33@yahoo.com Secretary: Yuki Lau stuyyuki@gmail.com Treasurer: Sarah Rim sarahrim1221@gmail.com Contact Us: www.stuykc.org www.facebook.com/groups/stuyve santkeyclub/ Stuyvesant High School 345 Chambers Street New York, NY 10282

Table of Contents Timeline of Past Events January/February Events Upcoming Events Announcements Elections MulchFest Central Park Cocoa Classic Health Fair January Divisional Global Game Jam Bowling Fundraiser Winter Game Expo CNY Firecracker Festival Lunar New Year Festival Lunar New Year Parade

4 5 9 10 11 12 13 17 21 22 23 25 26 29 30

Timeline of Past Events January 7: January 8: January 13: January 20: January 21: January 22: January 26: January 28: February 2: February 3: February 4: February 5: February 11: February 18: February 19: February 25:

MulchFest MulchFest Central Park Cocoa Classic Health Fair January Divisional Global Game Jam Global Game Jam Global Game Jam NYRR Fred Lebow Half Marathon Bowling Fundraiser Winter Game Expo CNY Firecracker Festival Chinese Culture Night February Divisional Family Program Celebration Lunar New Year Festival Community Tax Aid Cupid Chase 5k Run Community Tax Aid Losar Family Celebration Community Tax Aid

January/February Events MulchFest (Saturday, January 7th + Sunday, January 8th) Time: 11am to 1pm Location: Fort Greene Park - Myrtle Ave, DeKalb Ave. between Washington Park and St. Edward's St. Description: We'll be helping NYC parks spread mulch in Fort Greene Park to help insulate these trees from the cold weather cold weather, retain moisture, and provide a decorative addition to neighborhood blocks. You can also pick up bags of mulch to take home with you and use on your trees. Volunteer stewardship activities will include picking up litter and spreading mulch.

Central Park Cocoa Classic (Sunday, January 8th) Time: 7:30am to 12pm Location: 102nd Street Transverse, Central Park, NY Description: We'll be helping NYCRUNS at their first run of the year! This event will have plenty of hot cocoa for participants to enjoy. Volunteers will help with water stations, bag checks, refreshment, etc.

Health Fair (Friday, January 13th) Time: 4pm - 6pm Location: Stuyvesant cafeteria Description: We will be having a booth at this year’s Health Fair! Join us to teach students about Lyme disease and hand out chocolate!

January Divisional (Friday, January 13th) Time: 5:30pm to 7pm Location: Meet at the fifth floor student cafeteria at our Health Fair booth and then we leave together at like 4:30ish Description: We'll get to meet Key Clubbers from other schools in Manhattan and the Bronx as well as hear the volunteer events they have been to and future, upcoming events! LTG elections will also be taking place, so come thru to see who our next LTG will be!

Global Game Jam (Friday + Saturday + Sunday, January 20th + 21st + 22nd) Time: January 20th: 5-8pm, January 21st: 8:30am-2pm or 2pm-8pm, January 22nd: 8:30am-2pm or 2pm-8pm Location: Microsoft–11 Times Square (41st Street & 8th Ave. – Use 8th Ave. Entrance) New York, NY 10019 Description: We'll be helping out at the 2017 Global Game Jam which is a collaboration between Microsoft and Playcrafting! The event will consist of game-making, free talks and workshops, refreshments and prizes! Volunteers will help with registration,setup, and takedown.

NYRR Fred Lebow Half Marathon (Sunday, January 22nd) Time: 8am to TBA Location: Central Park - West Dr. in Central Park near 94th St Description: We will be helping out with NYRR Fred Lebow Half Marathon! This race honors the late NYRR president and New York City Marathon co-founder, Fred Lebow (1932-1994). The course is two-plus loops of Central Park. Volunteers will mainly be helping with bag checks!

Bowling Fundraiser (Thursday, January 26th) Time: 11am to 2pm Location: Shell Lanes, Bouck Ct, Brooklyn, NY 11223 Description: We will be bowling for Trekstock, an organization that works to provide support to over 100,000 young adults living with or affected by cancer. The price is $10 per person; covering 2 games and shoe rental.

Winter Game Expo (Thursday, January 26th) Time: 5pm to 9pm Location: Microsoft 11 Times Square New York, NY 10019 Description: We'll be helping out at the Winter Game Expo! The event will have Over 200 game developers in attendance. They will be showing off their latest games one-on-one to a crowd of 800 people. This is an unique opportunity to try out the biggest collection of games made in and around NYC all in one place.Volunteers will help with registration, setup, takedown, and social media. Free pizza will be provided.

CNY Firecracker Festival (Saturday, January 28th) Time: 8am to 1pm; 12:30pm to 5pm Location: Sara D. Roosevelt Park Description: Better Chinatown is hosting the Lunar New Year Parade Festival! We will be helping with set-up, breakdown, and helping the different companies run their booth.

Chinese Culture Night (Thursday, February 2nd) Location: Barclays Center Description: The Chinese Culture Night is a great event for children and parents to create a link.

The ticket was $30. Jeremy Lin played at Nets and he may be playing that night! Kiwanis Club can pay tickets for 25 Key Club members but and we/children must bring one or both of the parents. The parents have to pay their own tickets. Everyone may go but have to pay their own tickets. In addition, everyone will receive a Brooklyn Nets hat with Brooklyn Nets spelled out in Chinese.

February Divisional (Friday, February 3rd) Time: 5:30pm to 6:30pm Location: HSMSE Description: This Friday, we will be holding the February Divisional! Come to the February Divisional to get updates from the division, meet new people, and get food! It's going to be exciting because we're going to have Happy Dollar and Divisional Twinning!

Family Program Celebration (Saturday, February 4th) Time: 12pm to 5pm Location: 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor Description: We will be walking with China Institute with their New Year celebration. There will be New Year-themed workshops and activities including dumpling making, storytelling, and lantern-making. In the evening, adults and families alike are welcome to a party featuring a lion dance, food, and live music.

Lunar New Year Festival (Sunday, February 5th) Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Location: The Met - 1000 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10028 Description: Celebrate new beginnings and mark the Year of the Rooster, with performances, interactive gallery activities, and artist-led workshops! Volunteers are needed to help with hands-on activities: registering Cool Culture families, helping them navigate the museum; and language interpretation. Volunteers will be provided with refreshments and a Cool Culture t-shirt!

Community Tax Aid (Saturdays, February 11th to 25th) Time: 10am to 2pm, 2pm to 6pm, 10am to 6pm Location: Flushing YMCA (136-48 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354) Description: We will be helping out Community Tax Aid every Saturday from February to April. CTA prepares tax returns, free of charge, to deserving low income taxpayers. Since the taxpayers speak Chinese, they asked us for translators who can fluently speak either Mandarin or Cantonese. This event would be extremely rewarding to CTA, Stuyvesant and to the community.

Cupid Chase 5k Run (Saturday, February 11th) Time: 7:30am to 1pm Location: Riverside Park: West 103rd Street and Riverside Drive New York, New York 10025 Description: We will be helping with Cupid Chase 5k Run. There will be runners, walkers, and rollers (baby strollers and wheelchairs) to help make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities by participating in our annual Cupid’s Chase 5K Fundraiser. Volunteers will help with water station, course marshal, gear check, refreshment etc.

Losar Family Celebration (Sunday, February 19th) Time: 12pm to 4pm Location: Rubin Museum of Art -150 West 17th St. Description: We will be helping with Rubin Museum of Art with their Losar Family Celebration.

Volunteers will be tour guides of the galleries, listen to traditional music, and make auspicious, Losar and Fire Bird-themed crafts to take home.

Upcoming Events Community Tax Aid (Saturdays, March 4th to 25th, April 1st to 15th) Time: 10am to 2pm, 2pm to 6pm, 10am to 6pm Location: Flushing YMCA (136-48 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11354) Description: We will be helping out Community Tax Aid every Saturday from February to April. CTA prepares tax returns, free of charge, to deserving low income taxpayers. Since the taxpayers speak Chinese, they asked us for translators who can fluently speak either Mandarin or Cantonese. This event would be extremely rewarding to CTA, Stuyvesant and to the community.

After School Tutoring Time: Monday to Friday (4:00pm [or 4:30pm if you don't have tenth free] to 5:30pm) Location: Simon Baruch Middle School on West 18th St Description: We will have a after school tutoring partnership with Simon Baruch Middle School on West 18th Street, starting March 13th. Volunteers can tutor anywhere from once per a week to every day of the week. Tutors will go to Simon Baruch for the tutoring. Sign up ASAP if you're interested!!

IF YOU'RE IN ARISTA, YOU CAN GET ARISTA CREDIT FOR THIS!!!

United Airlines NYC Half (Sunday, March 19th) Time: 5:30am to 10:30am Location: Fluid Station 4 - West Drive in Central Park at 67th Street Description: We will be helping NYRR out at their half-marathon. Volunteers will be setting up the fluid station tables, pouring water, and keep the area clear. Volunteers will receive a NYRR volunteer tech t-shirt, and there will be coffee and hot tea at check in.

AIDS Walk (Sunday, May 21st) Time: 7am to 4pm Location: Central Park Description: We will be helping with annual AIDS Walk to raise money for GMHC, the world's first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy! This is one of our largest event of the year! We will be volunteering as crowd control etc.

Announcements 0. Teacher Volunteer Hours Form!!

Several of you have reached out to us about the possibility of receiving volunteer hours with Key Club for volunteer work you've been doing with teachers in the school.

We would be more than happy to accept that work as an event with Key Club. For those volunteering in the school library, this is also applicable!!! Attached is a form you will have to fill out and email back to us so that we can record the work you do appropriately. I also attached an example of a filled out form you can refer to. The deadline to send us your form is May 19th.

If you volunteer in the library during your frees, you may also receive hours! You may consider 1 period = 1 hour when filling out the form.

1. SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP (AKA the Kiwanis Club of Chinatown James Tong Scholarship) Are you a committed senior member of Key Club? Would you like to win a $1000 scholarship with us? Take a look at the attachment on the scholarship! This scholarship is only offered to Stuyvesant and Nest+M Key Clubs with three possible winners. The scholarship application requires two recommendations from either teachers or members of the Kiwanis Family (Kiwanis Club, Key Club, or Circle K), as well as a short essay about Key Club. Please read the attached document well beforehand for the details if you're interested in applying. The application must be mailed and is due by April 15th.

Elections Thank you all for coming to the Stuyvesant Key Club elections! We had many inspiring and even poetic speeches on Friday.

With 38 members participating in the voting of this year's elections, please congratulate your newly-elected cabinet members for the 2017-2018 service year!

President: Michelle Yang Vice President: Yuki Lau Treasurer: Justin Chan Secretary: Jenna Foo Webmaster: Jason Lam Editor: Tiffany Chen We are all so proud of the aforementioned people and of everyone who had the courage and dedication to run for office. Regardless of the election results, I am sure they will all continue to do great things in the future!

MulchFest

Photos taken by Nikita Borisov

Central Park Cocoa Classic

Photos taken by Sammi Lin

Photos taken by Sammi Lin (top left) and Irene Chen (top right, bottom left and right)

By Sammi Lin It was perhaps one of the coldest days of the month, and coupled with the fact that the volunteers were scheduled to meet in the early hours of the morning, the cold was multiplied tenfold. Nevertheless, bundled up with my thickest coats, scarves, boots, hats, and gloves, I headed to Central Park under the dark sky. Under the thick haze of sleep, the stillness in the air, and the blackness around me, Central Park seemed especially confusing, with serpentine pathways that merged and diverged like an endless labyrinth. Eventually, I made my way to the racing grounds and met up with the event coordinators. I had apparently arrived about a half hour earlier than we were supposed to, and so I helped out with the setting up of the actual tents for the different tables for registration, food, and music, as well as assorted banners. I was then recruited into the bag checking team, which had no tent, and we were thus left to fend for ourselves against the biting wind of that winter morning.

As the sun began to rise, so did the runners, and the event was finally beginning to kick off. Over at bag checks, where my team of three ran through the snow to organize the runner’s bags on numbered tarps, as the hordes of participants increased, so did the number of bags that needed to be checked in, leading to a state of organized chaos. When the races began (5k and 10k), all of the volunteers were invited to dine on donated hot chocolate, bagels, and fruit, giving us some source of warmth in the still frigid air. In this time, I had a lot of time to bond with many of the other volunteers, as the event ran for about 6 hours. Overall, despite the weather conditions at the time, I truly enjoyed this event. Something about volunteering while simultaneously being able to witness the sunrise made the whole experience feel incredibly rewarding, and by the end of the event, many of the runners continuously showered us volunteers with praise for our efforts. As this was the first race I had ever volunteered at, I was left with such a good impression that I wouldn’t hesitate to sign up for this event again as well as experiencing other race events in the future.

Photos taken by Irene Chen

Health Fair

Photos taken by Michelle Yang

By Yvonne Pan After a long Friday, I was more than excited to be volunteering at Stuy Key Club’s Lyme Disease booth at the Health Fair. For pre-health fair preparations, I went to the Key Club locker and gathered all our leftover chocolate from a previous fundraiser and brought it to the cafeteria where the fair was held. By the time I got there, Key Club already had a table set up with a poster and a Powerpoint presentation. I dumped some chocolate onto the table as Sarah and Alvin cut the limes into bite-size pieces.

After Jiaqi gave me a brief overview about lyme disease, we, along with the rest of the cabinet and committee directors took turns warning spectators how dangerous lyme disease was and how to avoid it. We then asked them a series of questions hastily written on index cards if they gave us a ticket.

If they gave the correct answer to the multiple choice question, they could choose one chocolate, but we were often lenient and gave them chocolate anyway (only Mr. Contreras got the question wrong anyway because the answer were on the poster). We also passed out lime pieces for free and enjoyed the grimacing faces we received in return.

After a fruitful night, we received about eleven tickets which meant that Red Cross would pay us $5.50 in compensation.

Although it wasn’t very much money, we had a great time volunteering and informing our peers about lyme disease. I had a lot of fun and I hope to visit the fair next year, the way a few Stuy graduates visited this year.

Photos taken by Sarah Rim and Michelle Yang

January Divisional

By Yvonne Pan Curiously enough, most divisionals are scheduled on days that I am busy so the January Divisional was probably my first of the school year (I am not a slacker). As the only cabinet member that could attend, I was put in charge (always a bad idea). As I waited for the M9 bus to take me to the Golden Unicorn restaurant where the divisional was held, I was dismayed to see only a handful of other Key Clubbers waiting also, two out of three of which were mandated to attend. As we stepped onto the bus, I hoped other members would also show up.

We entered the restaurant and were greeted by Key Clubbers from other schools. They introduced themselves and we chatted before the divisional started.

Although it started about ten minutes late, there were significantly less people present as it started at 4:30 PM as opposed to the regular 5:30 PM and some schools end at 4 PM. However, we still had a nice time.

After Kalvin, our LTG, reviewed the standard announcements, a representative from each high school discussed their club’s past events. I stupidly forgot to do so but Justin Chan (who did not come on the bus with us but showed up anyway and made my wish come true) saved me by quickly showing me past Key Club emails (I don’t have data), so shout out to him.

Later, we also elected our new LTG, Eric Zhao, the president of HSMSE Key Club. His speech was phenomenal and he was elected unanimously (he also ran unopposed). I saw him at numerous events and his dedication to Key Club is admirable, so I am pleased to see him as our new LTG. The January Divisional was probably the shortest divisional I’d ever gone to, lasting about forty minutes and it ended in torrential rain. However, its significance as the divisional in which we elected our new LTG is important and I am glad to have attended.

Global Game Jam

Photos taken by Christy Guan

Bowling Fundraiser

By Tiffany Chen I went straight to Brooklyn after my Precalc final. I was excited to bowl with my Key Club friends. I haven’t bowled since the last bowling fundraiser at Melody Lanes, so I was shaky on my bowling skills. However, this didn’t impede on my enjoyment.

I was one of the first people there. Sadly, because of the lack of lanes, we had to wait a couple hours before we could start bowling. I preferred this. I was able to get closer to those Key Clubbers that don’t go to Stuyvesant. We bonded over Pokemon (one of the guys didn’t know how to evolve Sylveon) and this trivia game on Facebook (I learned how little rock bands I know). Once we started bowling, it was a blast. I was able to find a smaller, lighter ball for myself and get a couple of strikes and spares. Even though there were a few times I got a gutter ball, I was able to laugh it off with my friends. We all joked around about how we all sucked, but we all smiled and had a fun time. That was the best part. We all encouraged someone when they got a strike or a spare, and we enjoyed ourselves when we only got one pin the entire game.

Once everyone finished two games, we took a picture, returned our bowling shoes, and headed back home. During my commute back, I looked back and grinned at all of the new friends I made and the new memories I had with them.

By Yvonne Pan Living just a ten-minute walk from Shell Lanes, I was excited to attend the fundraiser, although I’m sure other Key Clubbers were dismayed to go all the way to Brooklyn. I entered the bowling alley at 10:40 AM and was dismayed to see only one other Key Clubber there, and he wasn’t even from Stuy! The next attendee wouldn’t enter for another hour and the fundraiser was off to a rough start.

Although the bowling alley was jam-packed and we had to wait a bit to bowl, I still had a great time at the fundraiser. The waiting time allowed us to bond and I had a lot of fun throwing numerous gutterballs.

A handful of us did bowl regularly and played on a team but honestly, most of us were pretty terrible (but not as bad as I was).

However, we all laughed through it all and had a memorable time, encouraging each other through every gutterball, strike, and spare.

My team had barely started our second game (we were allotted two games each) when everyone had already finished their first games so we left early. As I took the train back to school for SING! practice, I thought back to the wonderful time I had just minutes before and the amazing memories I made.

Bowling Fundraiser

Winter Game Expo

Photos taken by Jiaqi Gao

CNY Firecracker Festival

By Jeffrey Chen The CNY Firecracker Festival hosted by Better Chinatown was another event that was freezing cold, but also well worth it. For many of us, this event marked the second New Year’s Day in the span of a month and another fresh start, fittingly right after the end of the semester.

Hundreds of people poured into the handball and basketball court of Sara D. Roosevelt park to celebrate the Lunar New Year, while many more crowded around the periphery. Attendees witnessed onstage performances, bought merchandise, and indulged in free food. Key Club members worked with Red Cross members to set up the booths, run them throughout the festival, and deconstruct them at the end. Many Key Club members worked at a table selling Lunar New Year merchandise—rooster stuffed animals (for the year of the rooster!), lanterns, wall decorations, flags, and confetti canisters, which sold out quickly.

For much of the festival, the park was crowded well beyond its capacity and at times, it was even impossible to move. The celebration catered to native celebrants of the holiday, as well as others who wanted to experience the culture. Onstage performances drew large crowds and even some TV channels, who came to take pictures, record the event, and interview a few attendees.

Photos taken by Jeffrey Chen

Photos taken by Tania Cao

Lunar New Year Festival

Photos taken by Christy Guan

Lunar New Year Parade

Photos taken by Irene Chen (top) and Penny Wang (bottom)

Photos by Sammi Lin (top left), Penny Wang (top/bottom right), and Nicole Zheng (middle right)

Photos taken by Penny Wang

Photos taken by Penny Wang (top left) and Irene Chen (Bottom left, top right, bottom right)

Photos taken by Irene Chen (Top left, top right, bottom right) and Sammi Lin (Bottom left)

By Yvonne Pan I found Stuy Key Club after about fifteen minutes of frantic walking amongst the crowd of New Yorkers that lined Chinatown’s streets. Having attended this event last year, I was not surprised by the throngs of people, and undeterred by the louds noises and Silly String-equipped children.

When I finally found Stuy Key Club, a Kiwanian handed me a cute Kiwanis cap that was much more useful than the thin, neon-colored shirts we usually get at volunteer events. I snuck out for coffee and a pineapple bun but I made it in time for our march with Chinatown Kiwanis behind their beautiful banner.

The parade was breathtaking with red banners adorned with Chinese phrases wishing their readers good luck, rooster decorations celebrating the new year, and excited spectators. We marched for several blocks, marveling at the enchanting sights and waving at all the excited pedestrians. Many children, especially, squealed at the confetti (cute) and sprayed us with Silly String (less cute).

After the parade ended, Chinatown Kiwanis showed their thanks by inviting us to dim sum. We were treated to more than half a dozen dishes of delicious, steaming Chinese food. Despite being a vegetarian, I still had the opportunity to eat a few of the dishes and it was a great bonding experience. My friend and I sat together and talked but we also met a girl from LaGuardia who we later learned was the treasurer. We talked through the meal and had a great time.

Despite the bitter cold, the Lunar New Year Parade remains one of my favorite events because of the people I met and the fun time I had. Hopefully this event will coincide with my break next year and I’ll be able to volunteer again!

Photos taken by Wavian Li

Photos taken by Nicole Zheng

Photos taken by Nicole Zheng (Top left, top right, bottom right) and Sammi Lin (Bottom left)

Photos taken by Nicole Zheng (Top left) and Sammi Lin (Bottom left, top right, bottom right)

By Sammi Lin Coming into the event, I had no idea of the popularity of this particular parade. In fact, I only signed up because I had a free Sunday and I enjoyed all of the Lunar New Year festivities the previous week, and I wouldn't mind spending another day experiencing the loud firecrackers, lion and dragon dancers, seeing all of the red banners with the Chinese phrases for good luck and well-being in the new year. So, when I headed to Chinatown for the parade, I was shocked to see so many participants and so many onlookers; pedestrians were crowding the sidewalks, craning their heads to get a better view of the men and women dressed in traditional Chinese garments and the performers all lined up in military-like arrays. Despite the crowd, I was able to meet up with a friend of mine, and we helped guide even more confused club members to where the others were meeting. I had a lot of fun climbing over the guard rails and felt rather rebellious while doing so, but once the coordinators got everyone lined up, we didn’t actually begin marching until and hour or so later. Unfortunately, the day was very cold, and I noticed a few club members sneak out of position to buy coffee before coming back.

Nevertheless, once the parade began, we all gave a whooping cheer, and I loved seeing how awestruck and impressed many of the onlookers appeared. I especially recall realizing the magnitude of the parade when I saw several people leaning out of apartment windows and crowded on store ledges to watch the parade go by. There were people of all ages gathered to see the parade, including the children who couldn't even stand on their own, to elderly men and women. There were some younger boys as well who found great amusement in spraying Silly String at the parade, in which one boy accidentally struck me in the face with the glue-like substance.

By Sammi Lin (continued) We walked for about an hour or two, circling most of the perimeter of Chinatown. We actually didn’t walk as long as I thought we would have, and the event coordinators actually treated the entire Key Club to a free lunch right after. Overall, I found the event incredibly invigorating and impressive, and for a moment I felt quite special to be a part of something as popular as the Lunar New Year Parade appeared. I would love to re-attend this event in the future, and I recommend attending or participating in the event for anybody who hasn’t yet.

Photo taken by Sammi Lin

Photos taken by Nicole Zheng

Photos taken by Wavian Li

Photos taken by Noshin Shakawat

Photos taken by Noshin Shakawat

Thank you for reading the November/December Issue of the Locksmith; please email any feedback to locksmith@stuykc.org.