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Capstone Grants

May 29, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Ella Donesky
Staff Writer

This year, three SLA seniors were each rewarded with a $500 scholarship to assist them in creating their capstone projects.

Wynn Geary’s Capstone was to start the first “Smart Beehive in the City.” The project involves sensors and a camera to track the health of a bee colony. Geary is a 3rd year beekeeper and will soon have a Buzzfeed article written about him and his hive.

Geary purchased a camera, $200 worth of sensors (including an optical dust sensor and weight sensors) and bee boxes. The sensors are used to determine the temperature, humidity, noise levels, and pollen levels inside the hive. For example, when there is an absence of a Queen Bee, the bees get louder. Using the noise sensors, you can better identify the cycles and patterns within a hive.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Smart Beehives, and I wanted to start one and see if I could make one better than other people out there creating them and create one that’s more tailored to bees. One that’s actually created by a beekeeper,” Geary said about the project

“There are some out there, but they’re done by sensory experts, they don’t know what’s going to actually help people understand what’s happening in the hive.”

Klarissa Hudson’s Capstone involved raising money for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, through bake sales. She also raised funds for her project by buying brownies and cookies from the many bake sales held throughout the school year.

Hudson didn’t use the grant, due to complications about submitting a receipt, but nonetheless her project was successful, raising almost $1000 through fundraising.

Hudson would have used the Grant to help pay for the supplies and snacks, because she acquired the supplies through money provided by her parents.

“I kinda changed the process of my whole project. My idea at the beginning was to make stuffed animals and cards for the kids themselves, hand-make them, and give them to the kids.” Unfortunately, CHOP denied hand-made things, so she had to buy individually wrapped gifts. Ultimately, she decided on donating the money she raised.

I asked Geary and Hudson if they thought that receiving the Capstone Grant allowed them to create a better Capstone Project.

Geary was emphatic in his response: “100%. I went to TFI and I asked them for a grant, they wouldn’t give it to me, I went to Whole Foods and I asked them for a grant, but it’s SLA that’s really been able to fund it. Without them, I couldn’t buy 500 dollars worth of sensors and cameras.”

Geary, who initially didn’t know about the program, first turned to other companies looking for grant money

By contrast, Hudson regrets missing the requirements to get her grant.

“[The Capstone Grant] would have been really helpful, because my parents had to basically get a loan to help get me money to go buy things from the store.” Hudson said.

Naihema Powell’s Capstone was a fashion show, held at SLA. Unlike Geary and Hudson, she was able to return the Grant provided to her by SLA, through ticket sales for the fashion show. She only needed the money to start the project.

“My beehive is going to be the most technologically advanced beehive in the world.” Geary stated with a laugh. He followed up with, “I think it’s going to be really awesome to be able to give a shout out to SLA as my capstone. To be able to say thank you to SLA, to say thanks you guys for a great 4 years.”

Hudson said, “Personally, I had a boyfriend who was at CHOP and the hospital really helped him recover, and get healthy and so I was really thankful to the hospital. I’ve gone there before, and so I wanted to give back to the hospital and I know that by doing this capstone, it was my way of doing something that was within my limitations that I could do to help them.”

Wynn Geary, Klarissa Hudson and Naihema Powell are set to present their Capstones on June 8th.

The money for the Capstone Grant was provided by the book sales from SLA English and Journalism teacher, Ms. Pahomov. While this is the first year SLA has provided Capstone Grants, when you become a senior, and if this opportunity is still available, make sure to apply! And then you might have a buzzfeed (or an slamedia) article written about you and your project!

Personal Column: How much did I spend on prom?

May 28, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

bellevue — Ballroom in the Hyatt at the Bellevue, the location of SLA’s Senior Prom

by Leah Kelly

Staff Writer

The prom season is a crazy and busy one in the lives of high schoolers, especially if it is senior prom. While boys tend to be more reserved with how much they spend on the event , the stereotype is that most girls go all out and spend tons of money to make sure that their night is “perfect”. This includes purchasing an elaborate dress that they will only wear for one night, paying to get their hair and makeup done, manicures, pedicures, shoes, jewelry, purses, the list goes on and on.

And so, the question that many people end up asking is: Is it all worth it? How much money should actually be spent on the prom experience?

I have a lot of thoughts on this topic.

First of all, I don’t think that it’s fair for me to judge people who spend a lot prom, even though I don’t agree with it.

For many people, especially in Philadelphia, I find that prom is a largely cultural phenomenon. Depending on your family or neighborhood, some groups tend to have huge sendoffs with big balloons and their whole family present, while others meet up with a small group of friends, snap a few pictures and head to the prom venue. One is elaborate and expensive, while one is small and frugal.

The flip side to all of this pomp and circumstances is that tensions run high while people are preparing for the big night.

I think that prom is not nearly as much about how you look as it is about having a good time with whoever you’re with. To me, the company I share is much more important than the material things: a dress, shoes, makeup, etc.

Therefore, my financial breakdown for senior prom this year looks much different than I’m sure other people’s budgets do. I am barely spending any money on a dress, shoes, hair, makeup and things like that. I borrowed a dress and shoes from two different friends, which means that I spent no money in that department. I’m having another friend do my hair and I am doing my own makeup. The only part of my appearance that I am spending money on is $10 to get my nails done.

The things that I am spending money on are all of the activities that my friends and I are planning for that night and the following day: a hotel room, gas money to get to the beach and spending money for a day in Wildwood.

Overall, I think that it’s important to look nice and to dress up for prom which requires spending at least a little bit of money, but I think that the main point of prom (especially senior prom) is to enjoy those who you are with, which is priceless.

Sexual Tension Among Comic World

May 21, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

DC Comics, Batgirl Cover:

There are many situations where there are sexual tensions in our environment and on the news, along with other displeasing news. People usually try to escape the world with fiction using comic books. Little do we expect such tensions that happen in the real world to happen in the fictional one as well.

In the last year, the company DC Comics Universe released a new issue of Batgirl: New 52 Series. In (month), They released the cover as a teaser — but many people weren’t so pleased. The cover showed the main hero Batgirl with The Joker, the arch enemy of Batman. The Joker had his arms around Batgirl and his left hand has a pistol in it.. His right hand had its pointer finger covered in what appears to be blood and he had the finger across Batgirl’s face in the shape of a gun. There was also blood around Batgirl’s lips in the shape of a smile which was the complete opposite face her lips formed. Simply put, she was terrified while the Joker seemed to be enjoying it.

Many viewers saw this as picture of sexual assault, and found it inappropriate. The photo sent fans into a fury, and the variant was quick to receive criticism which ultimately led to DC pulling it all together.

Other readers said that the image does not point to sexual assault. They cited an alternate storyline from the comic, where the Joker beats Batgirl and sends her father bloody naked pictures of her after he paralyzed her.

The Batgirl cover brings up an important debate: when does violence go too far in comic books and movies? We already expect a character like the Joker to be violent–but is there a line that his creators can cross where it’s too much?

I decided to expand upon the issue and ask a fellow student, a sophomore Chloe Epstein. I interviewed Chloe and asked her her take on the cover.

“I understand why people were concerned about violence about women,” Epstein said. “However, he is a villain, that’s what he does. He is The Joker he is supposed to be an asshole. Just don’t make jokes about rape.”

“What he is doing is wrong, but it doesn’t specify that he was raping her. It’s just blood on someone’s face. He’s done it many times. If anything should be against him involving sexual tension it’s how he treats Harley Quinn. People should pick their battles because this isn’t the worst thing he done.”

I personally feel that the cover did not appear to be a sign of sexual assault. I felt that it showed the Joker’s natural state of putting fright into people’s eyes and I like for once, that the hero appears frightened and not have a usual stonhard courageous face.

Marvel Comics, Comments regarding the character Black Widow:

Many moviegoers and comic book fans were really excited for Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron and many reporters wanted thoughts from the actors about the movie and characters. One reporter was able to sit down with Chris Evans (Captain America) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye). One question that came up was about the new sudden relationship between Scarlett Johansson’s character Black Widow and Mark Ruffalo’s character Bruce Banner, a.k.a.The Hulk. In the interview, the two actors responded with comments against the character Black Widow, calling her a “slut” and saying that she been around with every character.

In the interview, their tone was joking, but many viewers were still not happy. They did not find it funny at all.There were hate mails, sell drops, and some fans even came to the conclusion to no longer represent Marvel until an apology is made.

I wanted to know other’s view point on the debate and issue. I asked a student who was well aware of the topic as well as someone who has a issue with the topic of sexual labels in general. Michaela Peterson, sophomore had this to say:

“What they said wasn’t ok, no matter who or what. It’s demeaning and offensive to women everywhere. It’s partially females fault for using the language for themselves making it seem okay but it’s not. Fictional characters inspire real people. They may be fiction but it doesn’t make them less real. Just because they are fictional it doesn’t make the language less awful. The fact that they are publicly apologizing and acknowledging it was a step.”

My initial response to the issue wasn’t as strong as the Joker and Batgirl cover . I felt that the two were in the wrong and it was a bad thing, however it’s just a fictional character.

After hearing from others and thinking it over, I do see that my view point is not so open minded. It is true that many people connect with characters and some may have felt offended from the words said.
The fans of comic books should consider that writers are trying their best to make the stories more realistic with real world problems but the fans do however have the right to draw the line of what’s too far since they are the audience set to be pleased.

More Than A Test

May 21, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Staff Writer

Angelica Owens

According to the board of education that gives the tests in Pennsylvania, the Keystone exams are a way to judge how well a school is educating its students, and also whether students have learned the content.

However, many students, teachers and families disagree with the practice of standardized testing for a variety of reasons.

Many of the objections include that standardized testing hasn’t improved students improvement, they are unreliable way to show students performing, and it causes stress for younger students.

In Pennsylvania, students can opt out of standardized tests by writing a letter to the superintendent or principal explaining that they want to opt out of it.

The Philadelphia Student Union has made a website at www.morethanatest.wordpress.com that shows SLA students and even teachers having up signs to say why they are more than a test.

The site features numerous students and teachers holding signs saying why they are more than a test with the hashtag more than a test at the bottom.

I interviewed Senior, Nomi Martin- Brouillette, the creator of the website to learn more about the website and why she made the website and choices the way she did.

What was the inspiration for the More Than A Test website?

We were inspired by the opt-out movement that is growing in Philly and across the nation and wanted to do something about the Keystones being a graduation requirement.

Why did you choose to put Mrs. Menasion on the site?

We are welcoming submissions from parents, teachers, students, school administrators, school staff, and community members.

What were the requirements you gave the people who wrote on the paper in order for them to be on the site?

People write why they are more than a test on a sign and email it to us.

If you were to do this again, how would you do it differently?

It’s still going on! We want more submissions! We’re in a campaign and will be meeting with people who have deciding power on graduation requirements soon.

Are students at SLA choosing to opt out of exams? Have you encouraged them to?

I don’t know if any SLA’ers opted out. I only know of 12 in the whole state that did because it’s a graduation requirement, it’s really hard to opt out of the keystones and the project based assessment.

Are there projects like this at other schools? What actions are other students taking if they are frustrated with the exams?

Students from all over the city are involved in the More Than A Test Campaign. The other day some students students walked out of Kensington CAPA instead of taking the keystones!

Hannibal: The Best Show on TV Right Now

May 21, 2015 by lpahomov Leave a Comment

Sean Morris

Staff Writer

While the headline statement may be bold, it goes to show that NBC’s Hannibal is nothing short of a masterpiece. Plain and simple, it’s one of the most underrated and looked aside but remains to be one of, if not the best shows on television right now. From the beautiful, soulful acting to the artful cinematography, to the razor sharp costuming, the detailed sets, to poetic dialogue to even the careful color selection, Hannibal is a series that pays attention to the slightest details. In the hand of any other creator, Hannibal would have been another regular gritty police procedural, but showrunner Bryan Fuller has done something else- he’s elevated horror to an art form.

The series follows Special FBI agent Will Graham who has the unique ability to empathize with even the most savage and insane of serial killers. Head of the FBI Behavioral sciences Jack Crawford enlists Will to get into the mind of these killers in the hopes of catching them, but Will soon develops unsettling side effects and nightmares following his visits into the deranged minds. To help him cope with the trauma, they enlist renowned and cultured psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who takes will as a patient. Naturally, Hannibal is actually the most deranged of them all and sends Will down a metal spiral, along with meeting other characters from Thomas Harris’ books including the tough Jack Crawford, the insane sadistic Mason Verger the smarmy Dr. Chilton, and this season the terrifying Red Dragon himself, all in this acclaimed series (can’t underestimate that; it’s one of the few shows to receive 100% fresh on rotten tomatoes, beat every show for Hulu’s Best of the best, praised as one of TV’S best shows by IGN, A.V club,TVGuide.com, and New York Magazine; who called it “Bolder and more elegant than True Detective”, and “The best drama and Network television” to which I agree).

The visuals are in no small part of what makes the series so enjoyable. How the cinematography teams does Will’s visions, the transitions from scene to scene, the remarkable zoom ups and masterful costuming- from Hannibal’s beautiful three piece suits ( in my opinion, he’s the best dressed man on tv, (eat that, Don Draper) to journalists Freddy Lound’s unique style and more.specially the cooking scenes in which Dr. Lecter is serving up meat of human beings- dear God does it look good and tasty. All of this goes to show that the eyes are never left hungry (if you’ll pardon the pun).

Among the things I love about this show is that it doesn’t pander to its audience. It treats them like intelligent human beings and its shows through the artful metaphors, dialogue and brilliant plotlines shown. It’s able to sneak in references to the books and movies by using dialogue, but it always feels natural and leaves fun easter eggs for fans. It’s cast is also wonderful, with strong performances given around, especially by Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, Gina Torres, Michael Pitt, Gillian Anderson and undoubtedly Mads Mikkelsen, who nails it so much as Hannibal I might have to say he’s the best version ,although it’s up for debate. It also has a wonderful selection of female characters, not yet including Ms. Clarice Starling, who NBC is fighting for the rights to her character who were lacking in the original content, including changing the gender of two who were previously male. One of the biggest concerns in making this series for a lot of people was that it would cover old ground- when it fact it does the opposite although they are starting on novel adaptations and is able to re-write material and change it up in bold, new and exciting ways. Another great aspect is its fans, deemed “fannibals” who are able to make HILARIOUS comics and memes posted below, stunning artwork and also has a wonderful showrunner who constantly engages and tweets with fans as well as other cast members posting concept art, symbolism and more, many times in real time with the episode.

Series 3 returns on June 4th and you can find the previous two seasons available on demand and on Amazon Instant streaming. I highly recommend this show to anyone with a taste for enjoyable television, trust me you won’t regret, you’ll just be hungry for more…