Volume 1 Issue 32015

World of Inquiry High SchoolA student produced Newspaper

Good Luck to our Class of 2015! OUR FIRST GRADUATING CLASS! Make us PROUD! Do things that make you happy, work hard at whatever you’re doing, stay connected with the people you love, and be a good

human being. Mr. Barry Look your best, do your best, be your best. GPB Always wear sunscreen. Mrs. Drake Practice limitless gratitude, accept that life has treated you much better than you may deserve, and always keep trying to be

better than you already are. Mrs. Oliveiri Always strive to better yourself. You are the only person you can truly change. Mr. Broser To our 1st graduating class: All the best, the best is yours to claim! Ms. Fisher, Records Secretary “Remember it always seems impossible until it’s done!” Nelson Mandela. I always keep this quote in mind when I’m faced with

what I see as a challenge. Karen Dingwall When I think back to high school, what I miss the most is all my friends. There wasn't another time in my life where I knew so many

people all at once. Keep in touch with each other as you move on and continue your lives because it's great to share your journey with people who have been there with you all along. Charlotte High Graduate (Mrs. Wagner)

Seniors, In order to be successful, you should always: Be kind, Be caring and considerate, Be polite. Remember. You are here for a reason. Pursue your purpose. You are loved! Ms. Bess

“Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.” Mark Twain (from Ms. Bates) “The only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary.” Vidal Sassoon Work hard, enjoy success, and above all,

enjoy all that life has to offer. Ingrid Dickson “I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason bringing something we must learn and we are lead to those who help

us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return. Well I don’t know if I believe that’s true but I know I’m who I am today because I knew you...Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better, but because I knew you, I have been changed FOR GOOD.” ~Stephen Schwartz It’s impossible to state the impact you’ve all had on my life so this quote from the musical Wicked sums it up the best. Mrs. Maio

“Too much sanity may be madness- but the maddest of all….to see life as it is, and not as it ought to be!” (Don Quixote de la Mancha, Cervantes) Go forth, and help make the world a better place! Abrams

Travel. Get out of Rochester. You can always come back but your opportunity to leave will slip away from you. We have tried hard to get you out of school, out of the city and out of the state to give you a little taste of what is out there and now it is your turn to take control of your life and go North, East, South and West in pursuit of new experiences. There is no better way to learn about the world than to go and live in it. Mr. Widmaier

What do you want to be remembered for? What three words will come to mind when teachers remember you in years to come? What do you want your college recommendation or job reference to indicate about YOU?There is nothing quite like writing a letter of recommendation for a student who has exemplified what it means to be a true CREW member here at World of Inquiry High School.

~A student who is reflective, empathetic, caring, responsible, collaborative and compassionate.

~A student who embraces diversity and the natural world.

~A student who loves to discover and is willing to fail in order to be successful.

People only know what you show. As you finish the year and look forward to next year, think about your contribution to our school community. Think about ways that you can show your teachers and other school community members how YOU exemplify a true CREW member. Think about what you want to be remembered for!

The Griffin Guardian

Ms. Garlock

4th Marking period ends June 25th

Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Senior Capstone Projects~Branwyn Wilkinson

Senior Spotlight’s On… Ani’Vreh Whyte and Aziza EvansThe Senior Capstone project: A chance for EL students to share their passion and know-

how with the rest of their community in a final, self-designed Expedition. But what exactly does a self-designed expedition look like? The numerous creative projects currently being devised by the Senior class are proof that such an expedition can take many forms. Here’s an inside look at one Senior Capstone project:

Ani’Vreh Whyte and Aziza Evans are putting together a fashion show of clothing and jewelry inspired by jungle animals. They have designs for a dozen different items so far and are making all the pieces for the show themselves. Ani’Vreh says they have had the sketches since 7th grade. Fashion has been a career goal both Seniors have been aiming towards for years, so “this is the year to start.” Both Ani’Vreh and Aziza hope the successful completion of this project will be an inspiration for future Seniors as they design their own Capstone projects; to show that as long as you are willing to put in the time and effort you can accomplish something big. The fashion show will also help guide other aspiring fashion designers. Ani’Vreh commented that “fashion can be a hard job to break into,” so it is good to dedicate yourself to your passion early, as these ladies have. As Aziza put it, with hard work “you can achieve anything.”

The next steps in this project are to cast for models and to find people who could do hair and make-up. Aziza is working on a graphic design portion of the project, which includes creating a brand logo. The girls also need to find a venue for the fashion show and organizations to help fund the show. Ani’Vreh predicts that this will likely be the lengthiest process of their project, and asks that if anyone knows of someone who might be able to help with these next steps, they contact her.

Ani’Vreh and Aziza have been working hard this year to get their project up and running. It is a great opportunity for career exploration as well as a way to share their passion with friends and family. Both Seniors are looking forward to showing off their final product, a fashion show you will not want to miss.

The Front Row By: Melea Jones

“The Front Row” is an anti- gun violence video created by people who have seen too many lives lost to gun violence. We want it to be shown in as many places as possible, reaching at risk lives and making a positive difference in their futures.The video presents this basic message – You have three front rows to offer your family:

the front row of your trial, the front row of your funeral, or the front row of your graduation

Which row will you choose?

On April 20th School of the Arts hosted the premiere of this inspirational short film. This short film highlighted the three front rows you may have choose to be a part of or allowed yourself to be dragged into. The first row was you trial, stating that if you allow the negative forces to consume you will end up in prison. The video showed the video of the gates closing and the silence one is overcome with when they realize that they no longer have freedom over their actions. The second row, is you funeral. When confronted with the thought of you own death some teenagers are nonchalant and appear to not care, but think of you family. Mother, Toni Nelson lost her son in a triple homicide and couldn’t fully express how much she missed her son. At the premiere she also, mentioned that she cares about all of her children, referring to us teenagers in and out of the premiere. Nelson said that she cares for us even if those in our lives don’t and that she wants what's best for all of us. Graduation, the final and most positive row out of the three mentioned before. Speakers on the panel and in the video said that graduation is something great and that only when you achieve it can you see what you can accomplish with your life. As a final note, these questions were left to answer:

Do the paths to the 3 Front Rows seem real to you, based on your life experiences?

Do you know people who are on each of these paths?

Do you know which path you are on now? How do you know?

Are there things you can do to ensure your loved ones are in the front row you want them to be in?

Are you ready to make a commitment to act?

Make a plan and follow through with it.

Melea Jones Interviewer- Mr. Visca is a teacher loved by all his students. Visca was our school’s very first MC for the pep rally and a funny one at that. As a math teacher Visca’s funky and hilarious attitude makes the class enjoyable to his students and takes the edge out of math. Visca is a welcomed and loved addition to our school’s staff!

Q. Why did you become a teacher?A. I wanted to make a difference in

the lives of young people who can still be heavily influenced to do what they love and be successful at it.Q. What do you like about teaching?

A. I love the high school energy! I am high energy myself. Adolescence is awesome!

Q. What compelled you to become a teacher at World of Inquiry School?

A. Mrs. Webster kept calling me. I almost didn’t accept the position! I over-heard enough people, who are teachers, comment on how wonderful it is here. I’m glad I took the position. Best decision I made since I became an educator.

Q. What advice would you give to students who want to succeed in class?

A. You need to learn. You can have fun, but you HAVE to learn. Ask questions; be proud to be right in class. If you’re not right, be satisfied that you learned from your mistake…and for heaven’s sake…do your work. All the highly successful students all have one thing in common…they never fall behind. They can better manage their work than others who do not do well in class.

Q. What teaching methods have you used to help your students learn?

A. I like to use humor whenever possible. I’ve seen what a smile and laugh can do for people. I’m also huge on “brain based” learning. The brain needs a break

Q. What is your favorite pastime/hobby? /Why?

A. I like sports, traveling, family and food! So, I suppose going on vacation with family and eating a lot and playing sports on vacation would be my paradise!

Q. What is your favorite book? /Why?

A. Anything Mitch Albom writes: The 5 people you meet in heaven, for one more day, Tuesdays with Maurie are all great!

Q. Where would you like to travel? /Why?

A. The Caribbean! I love the beaches and culture ;)

Italy was wonderful and beautiful too…but more expensive to get there.

SAT Practice Questions:Improving Sentences: Looking up from the base of the mountain, the trail seemed more treacherous than it really was.

(A) Looking up    

(B)  While looking up

(C) By looking up    

(D)  Viewing   

(E)   Viewed

Math: A special lottery is to be held to select the student who will live in the only deluxe room in a dormitory. There are seniors,

juniors, and sophomores who applied. Each senior's name is placed in the lottery times; each junior's name, times; and each sophomore's name, time. What is the probability that a senior's name will be chosen?

(A)     (B)    

 (C)     (D)     (E)

The answer is somewhere in this newsletter!

here and there in order to fully process and retain new information more effectively and efficiently.

Words of WisdomBy: Melea Jones

To my fellow WOIS Griffins I ask that you respect your teachers. It is not easy to be a teacher. A teacher is tasked with nurturing the mindset and intelligence of their students. Teachers are given the same task that many people believe is parents jobs and why? The answer is because they truly care about you. You have it wrong, if you think teachers are only teachers because of the money their given. Teachers spend all their time taking care of other people’s rude and disrespectful kids and the only thing they ask for is, for the kid to be successful and make themselves proud.  That is why teachers are a “rare breed, “they provide us with so much love and care and don’t ask for anything in return.  That’s why when students are asked whether or not they want to become a teacher, students respond by saying “no”. Now why is that?

Let’s see, I hear students curse out their teachers and storm out their classrooms, but that’s none of my business. Why do I care about how students act because I’m not a teacher? True, but I am a student who has been in your shoes. I was once a student who “disliked” my teachers. I always felt that teachers were fake, due to the fact that they would act one way in front of me and then tell my parents what a great student I was. I will admit that in middle school it’s okay to dislike your teachers, but by the 9th grade you should me more mature. You are not in school to disrespect you teachers. Your parents put you in this school so you can learn from people who are capable and willing. Our teachers in World of Inquiry School love their students dearly, but don’t take their love for granted.

Many students will argue and say that teachers kick you out the classroom and that endangers your chance of passing. Why do you think teachers send you out of the classroom for? Not to hurt your grade or show dislike towards you, but to help you. Yes, I said help you, if you were to continue acting “ratchet” and disrespecting your teachers and fellow classmates, you won’t make it very far in life. Life as in going to college, achieving your ideal career, and possibly starting a family if you wanted to. Okay so you don't want to go to college, well, you wouldn’t get accepted with the attitudes I see. Colleges that require recommendations take them seriously, but if you disrespect every teacher, who will you choose to do your college recommendation? With the small chance that you do go to college, you won't stay long, colleges want your money and they can get if you’re present or not. You can’t keep a job if you’re disrespectful to your supervisor or the customers you serve. But hey, you want to roll that dice and take that chance, so be it.

Like I said before I have been in your shoes, and I have matured since then. I am not ashamed to say that I was an unappreciative student when I was younger. I didn’t like Widmaier for the life of me. I was in the 7th grade and I just didn’t like the way he talked to me or acted in general. These are just some of the petty things I’m sure some of you are feeling towards your high school teachers. As I grew up I looked at all my teachers, especially Mr. Widmaier, as people I needed to respect in order to succeed. If a teacher is hard on you, it is for you to succeed and be better prepared for the real world. I will be the first to tell you don’t have to like a person, but you do have to respect them. Many students forget that teachers are people too and encounter problems just as students do. Actually some may encounter worse. Still teachers come in and teach us with integrity. So, when I see students yelling at their teachers whether, I had that teacher, or not, it upsets me on so many levels. Teachers are a rare breed for sure, I couldn’t be one. Teachers deal with your rude ignorant actions because they want a better life for you. Just imagine if you acted that way too your parents, or someone out on the street. Next time you recite the model citizen pledge, think about acting like a WOIS Model Citizen.

           

Activism and Infecting the SystemBy Unique Fair

If activism was to be described as person, it would be the short sighted surgeon. This surgeon is tasked with fixing the body of society once a sicken is detected, this can range from sexism, to the war on poverty (which is really just a war on the poor, but that is an entire article in itself), to the massive amount of police brutality on “Black” citizens. The problem with this myopic sighted surgeon is that they can only focus on the most obvious aspects of the sickness. This handicap condemns the surgeon to failure, as they are doomed to be unable to comprehend the vast and intricate aspects required for the procedure. We look at issues like racism and think to ourselves that we need to rid ourselves of them like the cancers they are. However we fail to acknowledge one massive aspect. The United States of America was built on racism and systematically thrives on it, and with the recent deaths of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown, we can see the system is working effectively.

The failure of activism in the United States is that it looks at racism as an infection within the system and says “Let’s fix the infection” but fails to realize that racism is the system.

As a nation, we were not built from scratch on the backs of hardworking Americans. We exist due to the forced labor of millions of enslaved peoples. We gained this land from the raping and pillaging of natives after we broke an innumerable amount of treaties with help from the unexpected biological warfare that was smallpox on the native peoples of this continent. This was all justified by the belief that those innocent people were savages and needed to be “civilized.” As a country, and as a society, racism has been within the status quo from the beginning.

Thankfully, I can say that as an American, we have not always just accepted the system. There have been, and there are currently, many movements to disrupt the health of such a racist system. But one common pitfall I notice is that most movements do not have longevity. Take the civil rights movement of the 1960’s for example: equality for all races was a popular topic and many people were inspired to be the change. However, after the civil rights act of 1964 the energy that pulled people toward the movement dissipated. Fifty years later, we once again find ourselves in the same place. What we need is to always push for the continuation and improvement of these actions against the system; if we give it time to recuperate, it will return to the default setting, which is what we are seeing now as the bodies pile up and the system neglects justice.  

This system of racism, does not need to persist, as those who stand against it, and within it, we can mutate it into something better. Something that thrives on equality and equal treatment. Let’s give activism the proper prescription of contacts and let it infect the system of racism cell by cell by teaching our current and future activist realistically about racism and the system. This will create a league of activist within our nation that will purge the system of its natural racism and replace it with love and equality.

(If you would like to tell us YOUR TAKE on a school issue - lunches, sports, pep rallies, etc., please submit your opinions to room 128)

OTHER NEWS: Make sure you get your summer assignments from your teachers!! ALL AP students will have a reading assignment, and ALL STUDENTS will have a summer reading assignment. Please make sure you keep your brain engaged!

Attention Gamer GirlsBy: Melea Jones

As a gamer girl, in 2015 I find it strange that people are surprised when they find out how many girls actually play video games. Although, it was new knowledge for me to find out that women from ages 16-50 play video games. Regardless of the age, women are being treated wrong when they want to play video games either by their families or the opposite sex. For instance, my mother still believes that playing video games is something that men and boys do. So, when I started to play video games, she always told me that I should be more interested in the prom, hair or makeup. She always referred to me as a tomboy and shot me down when I said I wanted to be a game designer. Also, some of my friends think that I am boring because of the fact that I play video games instead of shopping all day. In my opinion playing games at home, in a relatively safe environment, is more fun than standing in lines all day; definitely during the summer time. I sometimes believe that the reason why I have become so attached to video games is because of the fact that I grew up with my older brother, who loved to play video games. Also, as a gamer I have come to see fellow gamers as my family, the guys are like my older brothers and the girls are like my sisters. In an article posted by the Washington Post, it is said that women in the gaming industry/ that play video games are harassed and have received death threats. The article also states that, “About 70 percent of female gamers said they played as male characters online in hopes of sidestepping sexual harassment.” This brings me to the conclusion that women are ashamed or scared of admitting to playing video games.  Some of my friends refuse to talk about video games, or are more reluctant to, when they’re in public, but not when they are alone. In The Guardian’s article “52% of gamers are women – but the industry doesn't know it,” author Meg Jayanth, the article makes it known that the industries are ignorant to the fact that a majority of their games are played by women. The conflict of what a true video game is brought up saying that if women are playing games on mobile devices those “aren't proper games”. I agree with this statement, for some strange reason, but it doesn't excuse video game inequality in terms of gender. Which is what some gaming industries and male customers are using as an excuse to present women with an unequal gaming experience.

There is also a presence of discrimination when it comes to the characters in the video games. In the NPR article “All Things Considered” a 12-year-old girl named, Maddie Messer, wanted the women in the

video game, Temple Run to be free. She conducted research and found out that only 5 out of the 50 games she downloaded provided free female characters.

Many of the video games that I play have a male based story. The video

games that have female characters available such as, Saints Row 2, Grand Theft Auto V Online, and Mass Effect stories only make sense when you play as a male character. Once there is a female character present in video games there's sometimes an

unnecessary amount of nudity within those character plots. For example, video games like Tomb Raider and Mortal Kombat both have female characters that have made women insecure about their bodies just like magazines have.

             As a gamer girl, I think that it is important for female gamers to have more pride in what they love. Once that happens, gaming industries and those who object female gamers will come to accept them as gaming equals. Also, having unity among female gamers in how they expect female characters to be portrayed, may improve the treatment of women and prove how serious they are about being treated equally in the gaming world.

Puns:1. I stayed up all night wondering where the sun went… then it dawned on me. 2. A book just fell on my head… I have only my shelf to blame.3. As two peanuts were walking in the park… one got a-salted. 4. Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? Don’t worry, he’s all right now. 5. I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger… then it hit me.

This issues Caption ContestLast Issues winner for the caption contest goes to, Kimberly Rodriguez: Turkey:Gobble Gobble

Pig:Im a twerky

Now let’s see who is the winner for this issue!!!!!

Exploring the Natural World!!!3rd Grade Outward Bound!!!

COUNSELOR’S CORNER:http://www.cityofrochester.gov/clergyrpd/

http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents

Our Mission

NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline. The program is designed for children ages 5-17, parents and guardians, educators, and law enforcement. With resources such as videos, games, activity cards, and presentations, NetSmartz entertains while it educates.

Our Goals

   Educate children on how to recognize potential Internet risks

   Engage children and adults in a two-way conversation about on- and offline risks

   Empower children to help prevent themselves from being exploited and to report victimization to a trusted adult

http://www.missingkids.com/homeThe National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® opened in 1984 to serve as the nation’s clearinghouse on issues related to missing and sexually exploited children.

http://www.teenempowerment.org/The Center for Teen Empowerment is a youth organizing and social change program that has sites in

Roxbury, Dorchester, and Somerville, MA, and in Rochester, NY. At each site, Teen Empowerment hires a group of youth, ages 14-21, and trains them as community organizers, providing them with the support, resources, and ongoing training they need to organize initiatives that involve both youth and adults in addressing community issues.

Teen Empowerment also provides consulting and training in our methodology, and we have published a book about how to run lively and productive meetings for people of all ages—Moving Beyond Icebreakers: An Innovative Approach to Group Facilitation, Learning, and Action.

STRAIGHT UP WITH ZEE

SAT WORD FOR THIS ISSUE: EPHEMERALWrite your definition, put it in a sentence, and submit it to the counselor’s office for a chance

to win a REAL COOL COLLEGE T-SHIRT!!_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Join the Newspaper Team! WE NEED YOU!!! Looks GREAT on your COLLEGE RESUME!Editor in Chief - Melea Jones Advisor – Mrs. Porretta-BakerPhotographer – Thomas LeReporters - Zhanna Thompson, Branwyn Wilkinson, Unique Fair-Smith, Aziza Evans, Alex Brunelle, Thomas Nhat LeMusic Review - Doug Vorndran

ANSWER: (English) E (Math) DIllustrator –Unique Fair-SmithSpecial Shout out to Erica Bryant for her guidance in developing The Griffin GuardianAnd HUGE SHOUT OUT to Democrat & Chronicle for printing this month’s issue! WOOT WOOT!