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UNHS Press

Home of The Panthers

Volume 3 , Issue 5

April—May 2019

We’re Bi-

Monthly

Now!

UNHS Celebrates Cinco de Mayo By ALEX COLOTL

On Thursday, May 2nd, UNHS’ Spanish Club held the first ever Cinco de Mayo celebration after school in the lobby. A Mariachi band kicked off the celebration with an uplifting pre-show performance. They used their instruments in such a beautiful manner playing iconic songs such as “La Cucaracha” and “La Bamba.” After the amazing performance, there was a

special salsa dance by junior Karla Santana. The entire crowd was impressed by her moves throughout her dance as she was both smooth and sharp. The show really got loud during the Mexican Shouting Contest led by students and teachers. Ms. Lopez dominated the first round and opened it up to the audience for a challenge, one of those challengers being Principal Willie. However, it was sophomore LaDon Fleming who took home the prize. The show returned with a Meringue dance led by Laura Cruz, Jocelyn Garcia, Karla Santana, Misael Perez, Erick Guevara, and Alexander Colotl.

The members of the show wowed the crowd more with some

spoken-word poems by senior Monserrat Perez and sophomore Alex Colotl. Monserrat spoke entirely in Spanish about taking pride in being Mexican and sacrifices one has to make to be in this country. Alex followed up with his poem about being an immigrant in the United States, the sacrifices it took to get here, and how we must accept each other no matter our differences. For the last performance we took a step back for a folklore dance by Karla Santana, Sophia Ameneyro, Jocelyn Misael, and Erick Guevara. The way the girls moved their long skirts was full of grace and elegance.

For the grand finale, the taco eating contest was held. It consisted of Mr. Willie, Mr. Kornfeld, Mr. Kazaks, Ms. Haff, Mr. Wohlers, Ms. Wright, Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Viteri competing to be the top taco eater. Overall, Mr. Kornfeld dominated the competition, eating the tacos (and the tie-breaker burrito) faster than anyone else. After receiving his prize, he donated his winnings to the Spanish Club.

Students, parents, and teachers enjoyed the festivities and of course the food that was provided for the audience. It is events like this that remind us how many different cultures we have at UNHS and how fortunate we are that we have the ability to celebrate all of them in different ways.

Inside the UNHS Press

Lady Panthers End a Great Season!....…..………. 2

Sally Jiang to Yale University………………....... 3

Spring Break in Europe! ……………………..… 4

Seniors Take on Six Flags……………….…….... 5

Monserrat Perez and Alex Colotl

perform their spoken word poems.

A folk dance performed by Karla Santana, Sophia

Ameneyro, Jocelyn Misael, and Erick Guevara.

Round 2 of the teachers’ taco eating contest!

Lady Panthers Finish the Season UNDEFEATED By SABRYN ADJODHA

The Lady Panthers varsity softball team completed their regular season undefeated (10-0), the first female team in UNHS to accomplish this great feat. Even though the Lady Panthers did not make it past the second round in the playoffs, it was a victorious season for the Panthers. Coach Kornfeld stated, “Through hard work and perseverance, it has definitely paid off. This incredible group of girls fought to not only earn the first-ever softball perfect season, first place in Manhattan, and be award the top seed in the playoffs, but they came together and brought a sense of pride and unity to the team and school.”

This was the first year UNHS was chosen to collaborate with another school, Orchard Collegiate Academy, in order to boost high school sports in NYC schools. This collaboration allowed UNHS to create varsity and junior varsity softball teams. While JV had a rough start to the season, they proved they are loyal and dedicated to their team through their commitment during practices and their perseverance in their games. “Practices were exhausting, but it was worth it because I got closer to more people and got to know what it means to work hard to earn something,” said sophomore JV player Meng Na Zhang.

As for our varsity team, they have proven to their division that they are a force to reckon with. Through practice and dedication, the Lady Panthers were able to lead their way into the playoffs. Even though they may have not taken home the final trophy, they still have a lot to be proud of. Because of their excellent sportsmanship and capabilities, Coach Kornfeld will represent the division as one of the All-Star coaches for the PSAL All-Star games. Senior Nandini Williams [center field] and junior Naidely Cabrera [pitcher] have been nominated for an opportunity to play in this year’s All-Star games. Coach Kornfeld added, “I am absolutely looking forward to what next year has in store for us! GO LADY PANTHERS!”

Boy’s Soccer Finishes Second in Inaugural Season By KERRY LIN & OSKAR RZUCIDLO

The UNHS boys soccer team finished their amazing season placing second in their division during their inaugural season. The soccer team lost 2-0 in their second playoff, finishing their season. Junior Christopher Mendez stated, “It was a fun match. But when they blew the last whistle it hurt.” Coach Moulder added, “I thought it was thrilling. Our goal was playoffs. The fact that we ended up at the championships is great. Next year we will do better. We will become champions.”

The soccer team had many highlights throughout their season that no one would want to forget. One of the biggest was winning the first playoff game in an intense shootout. After countless hours of practice and meetings, the soccer team really made a name for themselves in their division. “Thanks to Mr. Willie and all the teachers who supported us and all the people who congratulated us. I was impressed and humbled by how congratulatory everyone was towards the team,” said Mr. Moulder gratefully.

The 2019 Lady Panthers JV team with coaches

Kornfeld and Wohlers.

The 2019 Lady Panthers varsity team with

coaches Kornfeld and Wohlers.

The 2019 boys soccer team with coaches

Blatt and Moulder.

Senior Sally Jiang Heads to Ivy League Yale University By UDEME UDOM

The United States has eight Ivy League institutions, each with acceptance rates less than 10%. On March 28th, several seniors across the world at exactly 7:00 P.M. anticipated the decisions from each Ivy school. Sally Jiang, a senior at UNHS, faced the same excruciating wait as she watched the clock. This news could have been either overwhelmingly good or bad, so she decided to get the support of her friends while opening the acceptances. Sally was with her closest friends Jennifer Risa, Udeme Udom, and Kimberely Garcia at a Denny's waiting for the clock countdown.

At the stroke of seven, Sally loaded her portals of all the Ivy League institutions on her computer. Her hands trembled as she typed in her login information for each school. She started with Dartmouth, getting a rejection, then found that she was waitlisted for Cornell and University of Pennsylvania. Next, as she log into Yale’s portal, the screen of her laptop went blank. Her fingers tapped furiously for the refresh button. A video played, singing the Yale acceptance song, “Boola! Boola!” “I was excited yet calm because I couldn’t believe I was accepted to my dream school,” Sally stated. She immediately called her mother, telling her of the good news. She couldn’t believe she had gotten into such a prestigious school.

Sally credits her acceptance to UNHS teachers and staff for helping her achieve this goal. “College advisors and Ms. Powell, [assistant principal of UNHS] helped read and edit my common app essays and supplements.” She also credits the support of her friends and family throughout her entire college process.

Sally’s advice for upcoming seniors? “Beginning early is key because with Ms. Sanchez [the previous college advisor] I learned how to use the common app and have ideas of my common app essays and supplements.” Sally recommends making use of the resources around you: Tutoring with your teachers and studying on your own for the SAT and ACT. Sally mentioned that students shouldn’t be afraid of taking these standardized tests several times as long as they learn from each score and prepare by putting effort into studying. She added that if you’re offered interviews by prospective schools, “Take that opportunity, but don’t forget to know about your prospective school, show up early, and keep in touch after the interview by sending a short email thanking your interviewer for their time.” She felt UNHS prepared her for Yale University, stating, “At UNHS I took a lot of challenging College Now courses. This allowed me to know how finals and following a syllabus work just like in college. Building relationships with teachers is really helpful especially since they will write your letter of recommendation.” Sally also mentions that if that teacher participates in a club, they can show the college admissions another side of you. Sally added that students should be involved inside and outside of their school to show they are balanced students. A regret she has about her college process was “applying to too many schools, 6 CUNY, 9 SUNY and 20 privates colleges. I wasted efforts in applying to schools that I should have channeled into colleges that I cared about.”

We are all so proud of Sally on her accomplishment of getting into her dream school, and we wish her the best of luck for her college career!

Sophomore Class Visits Old Bethpage Village Restoration By KERRY LIN

On May 1st, sophomores attended a trip to Old Bethpage Village Restoration on Long Island. They learned that the Village Restoration contains original and recreated buildings from the 1800s. The buildings were mostly made out of wood, which could easily deteriorate. The roofs also were not completely flat, so snow and water would seep into the interior of the buildings. General stores were also very different. General stores in the 1800s would sell anything anyone would want, including candy and medicine. General stores would also sell toys such as dolls, but in a different manner. You would buy parts of the doll and sew the dolls yourself!

Most of the students had a great time during the trip. “I had a lot of fun as I learned much about the history of Old Bethpage Village,” said Orion Maldonado. While many people enjoyed learning about the history of the place, others just enjoyed walking around nature. “I really enjoyed walking around and looking at the animals,” Sabryn Adjodha said. The trip connects to global history because when the Dutch colonized parts of America, they left their influence in the form of architecture. Their architecture then influenced our buildings and helped shape our modern buildings.

Overall, the trip was a good learning experience for everyone. We hope that the sophomores next year will enjoy the trip as much as the current sophomores did!

UNHS Spends Spring Break in Europe By STEPHANIE CHEN

Over spring break, 32 students and teachers ventured out of New York City to try their hand at exploring Europe. During this trip, students experienced many firsts. For some it was their first time out of the country or visiting Europe. UNHS visited four different countries and their major cities during the ten-day trip: Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary. All of these places provided a unique perspective on history, stunning architecture, and rich culture. Students were able to practice their language skills, explore new places, and see WWII and the Cold War come alive. Nikolas Ayala, a sophomore on the trip, noted, “It was exciting to see places I’ve learned about in Global. It made me feel more connected to history.” Othneil Cassie, Jr. reflected after the visit to Auschwitz Extermination Camp in Poland, “I was able to connect this to the history of my ancestors, who unlike Jews were rather transported by ships, but they in a way had the same experience. They too faced starvation, sickness, and death during their time of transport. They were also sold as property based on their ability to perform, similar to how the Jews were selected for survival at the concentration camp. This experience made me acknowledge how groups of people outside of my own have had struggles and how we can relate with each other through the obstacles of our past.”

Andrea Roman would definitely recommend going on the next international trip, “If you have the chance do it. It was exciting to see new cultures and how they are so different from New York. I want to keep traveling.” For more pictures visit the trip Instagram, UNHStravel. In the meantime, take a look at some of our highlights from the trip below!

Berlin, Germany Best Food: Pretzels and currywurst (fr ied pork sausage cut into pieces and seasoned with curry ketchup)

Top Highlights:

Remains of the Berlin Wall - The East Side Gallery is the long-est remaining structure of the Berlin Wall, measuring 13,000 me-ters. The wall is covered in graffiti from artists all across the globe celebrating peace, unity, and freedom. Checkpoint Charlie was the third but most well-known check-point between East and West Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie was manned by American soldiers and was a point of tension within the city during the Cold War. Student Reflection: “As the years have passed, portions of the wall remain standing up straight and tall (well...sort of) and have been refurbished with new artwork. However, Berliners still de-bate whether the Berlin Wall should continue to stand or not. Some believe it’s a piece of history and that it should be pre-served as a piece of history.” -Ely Segura

Prague, Czech Republic Best Food: Trdelník, aka Chimney Cake (sweet dough baked with a hollow middle, filled with ice cream or other goodies!)

Top Highlights:

St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest church in Prague and is where all kings and queens had their coronations. Along with beautiful stained glass there are famous relics and the burial places for saints, archbishops, sovereigns and noblemen.

The Charles Bridge is the largest stone br idge in Europe. The bridge crosses the Vltava river and is home to street ven-dors and a golden statue of Statue of John of Nepomuk. Legend has it that if you place your hand on the gold then your secret wish will come true.

Student Reflection: “I found the palace and the cathedral very fascinating because living in America and New York City— we have nothing that compares. And surprisingly, they have a pres-ident just like the United States, not a king anymore.” - Jeyda Pacheco

Teachers and students in front of the Berlin Wall in

Germany.

Teachers and students in front of St. Vitus

Cathedral in Prague.

UNHS Participates in AIDS Walk

By SOMIAYA ATKER

On Sunday, May 19th, UNHS walked the an-nual AIDS Walk New York in Central Park. In the 30 years that the AIDS Walk has been run-ning, it has become the largest single-day AIDS fundraiser in the world. The 6.2 mile walk spans 74th St. to 110th St. through Central Park.

One of the more fortunate events of this walk was the weather! Students and teachers enjoyed the sunshine and warm weather as they ventured through Central Park for a good cause. Support-ers were lined up throughout the 10K cheering on walkers and runners.

Leading up to the walk, T-shirts were on sale at UNHS for $10 to raise money for the cause. As always, UNHS cares about the world around them and contributes to making it better.

Seniors Celebrate Upcoming Graduation at Six Flags

By SENIOR STAFF

On Friday, May 17th, the UNHS Class of 2019 took a special trip to Six Flags Great Adventure to celebrate their upcoming graduation. During Decision Day, Mr. Willie announced to the senior class that they were receiving an ex-tra senior trip to Six Flags for all their hard work these past four years. Nor-mally, seniors and the other grades at UNHS get to go to Six Flags as an at-tendance incentive at the end of this year. This year however, the seniors had to opportunity to go a whole three weeks before everyone else.

79 seniors and eight chaperones headed out at 8:30 A.M. for their trip and ar-rived back at school around 6:00 P.M. Even with some minor bus issues, it was a great time had by all. The senior staff at UNHS Press would like to thank Mr. Willie for giving the seniors the opportunity to have a day to them-selves at Six Flags. It was filled with memories that will last us a lifetime.

Seniors Xue Yi Chen, Karen Tian,

Emily Zhu, Wenglin Guo, and Jia Yi

Ma in front of the fountain at Six

Flags.

UNHS Dance Team Represents District 1 in NYC Dance Parade By ANNJALIE CHANDER

On Saturday, May 18th, the UNHS Dance Team represented District 1 in the 13th Annual Dance Pa-rade & Festival. The parade started on 21st St. and Broadway and finished at Tompkins Square Park to celebrate with the annual dance fest. The NYC Dance Parade is a non-profit organization that was built on the idea of celebrating dance and culture for all ages. The UNHS Dance Team strutted their stuff to an Afrobeat and hip-hop style, wowing the crowd that gathered. This would not have been possible without the help of dance teacher Ms. Asch, who got the stu-dents together for many practices to make this an un-

forgettable experience.

Teachers and students at the AIDS Walk.

The UNHS Dance Team at the 13th Annual Dance Parade.

Upcoming Regents Week: Are YOU Ready?

By KIMBERLEY GARCIA Regents week is approaching soon and students will be scrambling to meet the required score for their diplomas. UNHS provides tutoring during lunch, after school, and on Saturdays. This extra tutoring is highly recommended by teachers! Attending tutoring gives you a great opportunity to catch up on school work, better understand class material, and study. It is when students have the chance to sit and get one-on-one assistance from teachers to better understand the materials. Various students have already taken their Regents exams and shared their advice on how they prepared for it. Jennifer Risa, a current senior, said, “For the Living Environment Regents, I remember writing down every vocabulary word on a flash card and writing the meaning behind them.” Another alternative for flashcards is Quizlet, an online platform and app with premade or DIY flashcards. Quizlet is one of the easiest way to learn and be a master at a subject. For those who don’t use flashcards, we recommend you use Khan Academy. Khan Academy is an online educational tool that provides free tutoring for any subject and you can use it anytime you want. English teacher Ms. Pintak said, “The Regents exams are testing the skill level of the course. Making sure that students start at the beginning of the semester to understand the content so that they can be better prepared for a culminating exam like the Regents, teachers are offering after school and Saturday time, but that should be considered as final review time.” When asking Mr. Moulder on his take about the Regents, he said, “It’s about being confident in yourself and being prepared.” Ms. Haff added some advice for the day of your test: “Make sure you’re on time and have a solid meal before the test. There is nothing more distracting than an empty stomach during a three-hour exam.”

Summer is getting closer, and no one wants to spend their summer vacation studying to retake a Regents. It is highly recommended that all students manage their time wisely and be productive to the best of their ability. Using various materials and ideas can help widen your horizon and lead you to acing your Regents. Work hard now and celebrate your success later! Good luck, UNHS!

REGENTS SCHEDULE, JUNE 2019

MONDAY,

JUNE 3

MONDAY ,

JUNE 17

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

WEDNES-DAY,

JUNE 19

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

MONDAY, JUNE 24

TUESDAY, JUNE 25

9:15 A.M. 9:15 A.M. 9:15 A.M. 9:15 A.M. 9:15 A.M. 9:15 A.M. 9:15 A.M. 9:15 A.M.

Global History & Geography

(New)

LOTE Exams

U.S. History & Govern-

ment

English Language

Arts

Transition Exam in Global

History & Geography

Geometry Chemistry

1:15 P.M. 1:15 P.M. 1:15 P.M. 1:15 P.M. 1:15 P.M. 1:15 P.M. 1:15 P.M. 1:15 P.M.

Living Environ-

ment

Algebra I Earth Science

Algebra II Physics

Oskar’s Reading Nook By OSKAR RZUCIDLO

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green A slice-of-life novel that tells the heartwarming story of a ex-prodigy who is searching for the love of his life. He goes on a road trip to relax and unwind from his recent breakup with Katherine. If you’re looking for a novel that you can read on the beach or in the park, this would be it. It’s the story of self discovery and independence after getting out of a difficult relationship.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson This gothic novel from 1959 captures the horror of a haunted house filled with skeptics. The Hill House is a dreary place that looms over the new guests who were invited by a Dr. Montague. After many years of standing in solitude, its ominous presence will now engulf the new visitors. This thrilling story has been adapted into a show. The characters and plot are different; however, the concept of the haunted house and some names stayed between the two.

A Song of Ice and Fire: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin This fantasy novel is a good read for many fiction fans. This novel is Book One of the seven novels to the series. The biggest issue with this series is the high number of mature themes and scenes. Other than that there is a deep story and fantastic characters mixed in. Ancient families fight over power in the land of Westeros. Bloodlines and grudges fill the narrative, making the story intense for all readers. Just like The Haunting of Hill House , this novel and the following books in the series have been adapted into the popular shows that many people know.

No Ashes in the Fire by Darnell L. Moore After being beaten and burned by who he thought were his “friends,” Moore dives into his life growing up in NYC and Camden, New Jersey trying to find his identity and exploring his sexuality. The content in this novel is for a mature audience but highlights common themes of identity, sexuality, and racism that many teens can identify with. Moore recently visited UNHS to discuss his memoir and gave a reading from his “teen” years. This is a book that you will not be able to put down and you learn more about Darnell and how he has overcome years of oppression and bullying.

Food Reviews

El Castillo de Madison (207 Madison St.) If you’re in the mood for a local Spanish spot, then head on over to Castillo on Madison (near Dunkin’ Donuts). They have a lunch special that is fitting for a high schooler’s pockets and quality food. The tostones are highly recommended at this spot and it’s not that far from school. Check this place out if you’re looking for good food and quality service. Location: Quality :

Ice & Vice (221 E. Broadway) I scream, you scream, we all scream for… ICE CREAM! With the summer approaching fast, we thought it would be nice to review the local experimental ice cream shop on East Broadway. While the ice cream is a tad expensive, what you’re getting somehow makes it worth it. If you’re not up for experimenting, stick with their Basic B (vanilla) or spice it up with their 9 A.M. (coffee with chunks of donut). You can even order a scoop of ice cream to substitute for ice in your iced coffee! Definitely give this place a chance when you’re looking for something cold on a hot day after school! Location: Quality:

Want to write a review for the UNHS Press? Submit your review to us at unhspress@gmail.com!

Senior Class Updates! Graduation rehearsals will be on June 18, 20, and 24. Rehearsals are MANDATORY.

A Senior Brunch will commence at the end of the final rehearsal on June 24th.

Graduation tickets will be given out on June 24th at Senior Brunch — you must attend in order to receive your tickets!

Remember to look at the Google Classroom page for Senior Activities!