University Neighborhood High School

UNHS Press

What’s Love Got to Do with It?

A Valentine’s Day Perspective Roy Rivera, Senior

Oh! What a delight! February 14th has rolled in, and love is in the air. Men and

women all around are desperately trying to scavenge for Hallmark cards, heart-

shaped boxes of chocolate, corner store roses, and last-minute dinner reservations.

The stammering and commotion are just the sounds made when you love someone so

much that for one night, and no matter how brief, all you want to do is put a smile on

their face. But how did this tradition start? How did Valentine’s Day become Valen-

tine’s Day?

There are many different explanations of how Valentine’s Day became such, but one

popular version stems from the defiance of a priest named Valentine the 3rd Century,

A.D. Emperor Claudius of Rome had found it difficult to recruit men for his army.

Claudius felt that this was because men didn’t want to leave their wives and families.

In response, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. Priest Val-

entine, however, was a true romantic at heart and married couples anyways, defying

Claudius’s order. When Valentine’s defiance came to light, Valentine was brutally

beaten and put to death on February 14th, 270 A.D. After his death, Valentine was

named a saint. This is said to be the foundation for present-day Valentine’s Day.

Modern day Valentine’s Day has become not only a cultural holiday celebrated

throughout the nation, but it has also become one of the most profitable annual holi-

days. By mid-January, every Walgreens in the nation stocks up on heart-shaped

chocolates and Valentine’s Day holiday cards. 47.5% of gifts are given on Valen-

tine’s Day, with over 180 million Valentine’s Day cards being exchanged each year.

People spend $13,290,000,000 for Valentine’s day annually. That’s a lot of money

spent for love— how romantic!

Well, whether you have gone above and beyond to sur-

prise your loved one at a 5-star restaurant, or you’ve

taken the more casual box of chocolates and cards ap-

proach, or you’re just going to be lonely and binge-

watch shows that have better love stories than you, I

hope you all enjoyed a great and happy Valentine’s

Day.

Advisor: Ms. Haff

Senior Editor: Owen Chen

Junior Editor: Tyler Johnson

News:

Roy Rivera

Kim Garcia

Jennifer Risa

Uguloy B

Sports:

Kevin Chen

Ashfaq Ahmed

Ashley Gomez

Entertainment:

Leslie Tufino

Zoe Chang

Aline Martinez

Kim Lallman

Home of The Panthers

Our Team:

Volume 1 , Issue 4

February 1, 2017

UNHS Press takes a stroll

through Manhattan

Our student photographer,

Anthony Placido, snapped pho-

tos of events that occurred re-

cently around our school.

Chinese New Year celebration

on the LES

Women’s

March on

January

21st

through-

out NYC

School News

Students Want to Know the “Real Deal” About College! After an eye-opening assembly from some UNHS alumni discussing their first year in college so far, it left the staff at

UNHS Press to wonder: what is the real college experience? This became the main discussion of our press meeting and we

decided to venture out and find our answers. After interviewing four teachers who predominantly teach in the 11th and

12th grade classes, we have a better understanding of what to expect in years to come!

It was interesting to learn about our teachers’ college lives, and of course, we can learn from so many other staff

members here at UNHS. Reach out to your teachers and other staff members with any questions you may have

about other college experiences. The more you know, the better!

Ms. Asch, Dance Teacher

Where did you go to college? Fordham University.

What was your college able to offer you? What made you choose it? It was able to provide a Bachelor ’s

Fine Arts program, strong academics, a strong dance program, and scholarships.

What was your motivation to stay in college when it got difficult? My goals; suppor t from my family,

friends, and peers; and own self-motivation.

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing what would it be? Don’t worry too much about mak-

ing money or missing opportunities.

What is your advice for seniors going to college? Learn to save money and have a balance.

Mr. Whitman, English Teacher

Where did you go to college? Pace University.

What was your college able to offer you? What made you choose it? I was offered a scholarship, a

great internship, and it’s a great school for business.

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing what would it be? Don’t be afraid to study what you

love.

What was your motivation to stay in college when it got difficult? I wanted to better myself, find my-

self, and become more independent.

What is your advice for seniors going to college? Pursue a practical passion.

Mr. Trunkely, Science Teacher

Where did you go to college? Dennison University .

What was your college able to offer you? What made you choose it? I wanted to go to a small place

with a good student-teacher ratio, and I grew up in Ohio.

What was your motivation to stay in college when it got difficult? I wanted a science degree, and drop-

ping out was never an option.

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing what would it be? Keep studying; don’t slack off too

much.

What is your advice for seniors going to college? Follow your passion— and have a balance.

Mr. Lotosky, Social Studies Teacher

Where did you go to college? Stony Brook University.

What was your college able to offer you? What made you choose it? It had a teacher -prep and a good

history program. It also part of the SUNY system

What was your motivation to stay in college when it got difficult? I wanted to work for something, and

wanted to work hard for achievement.

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing what would it be? Take advantage of the oppor tunity

to travel.

What is your advice for seniors going to college? Life throws surprises at you— and keep a balance!

What’s So Great About February? Just Ask UNHS! In typical UNHS fashion, teachers and students banded together to demonstrate why February is a month to

remember. Each floor at UNHS has been decorated to reflect the different celebrations in February. If you

haven't noticed, our lobby is now covered with pink and red hearts to celebrate love. Our second floor shares

the importance of health and fitness for UNHS Fitness Month. The third floor rang in the Chinese New Year

with its door decorations, the fourth floor highlights Black History Month with photos and quotes created by

the students throughout the hall, and our fifth floor celebrates Women’s History. In addition, for Respect for

All Month, we contributed to daily “Wall Conversations” based on different prompts. These are now displayed

on the third floor, in front of the main office— be sure to check them out, and there is still time to add your

part to them! Happy February!

School News

News Break

Thoughts on the Super Bowl Kevin Chen, Senior

The Super Bowl LI ended with a wild finish. The 2016-2017 MVP Matt Ryan and the

Atlanta Falcons (11-5) faced off against four-time Super Bowl Champ Tom Brady and

the New England Patriots (14-2) in Houston, Texas. During the first quarter, both teams

do not score, but the Falcon’s underrated offense leads to some highlights with a 45 yards

in their first play. But the second quarter dictated the game. Two minutes into the quarter,

Devonte Freedman scores the first touchdown for the Falcons (0-7). 2 Minutes later, Aus-

tin Hooper scores Atlanta’s second touchdown (0-14). In the final minutes of the first

half, Tom Brady’s pass gets intercepted by Robert Alford with an 82-yard interception

touchdown, which adds onto to the Falcons lead. In the last minute, the Patriots score a

field goal kick.

Going into the second half with 3-21, Falcons lead. After the second half during the eight- minute mark, the Fal-

cons score another touchdown by Tevin Coleman (3-28). The Pats will eventually score their first touchdown of the

game in the final two minutes of the third quarter, but they will go for a two-point conversion (12-28).

The Falcons seemed to have the game until a fourth-quarter run by the Patriots brought them back. The last six

minutes, the Patriots go on a 16-0 run. The play of the game had to be during the fourth quarter by Julian Edelmen,

an amazing catch. The patriots would comeback to tie for overtime (28-28).

During the first overtime in Super Bowl history, the New England Patriots win the coin toss and get the ball first.

The Patriots toss it to James White and he charges into the end zone with four Atlanta Falcons on him to score the

game-winning touchdown. The New England Patriots become the Super Bowl Champions. Who knew that Super

Bowl LI would have one of the greatest comebacks in sports history? Congratulations to the New England Patriots!

Tracee's Golden Moment at the Golden Globes Tyler Johnson, Junior

Tracee Ellis Ross was the first African-American woman in 35

years to win Best Actress in a Comedy for the phenomenal televi-

sion series: “Black-ish.” Ellis-Ross dedicated her iconic award to

people of color, and emphasized on the importance of diversity in

the Hollywood film industry: “Hollywood can be at the forefront of

diversity—not just [about] people of color . . . it’s people of all dif-

ferent ages, shapes and sizes, and making sure that the stories we

tell and how we celebrate those stories actually represents the hu-

manity that we are right now.” This particular win just highlights the

change in the TV and movie industry that the public has been look-

ing for. If you haven’t started watching “Black-ish” yet, tune in on Wednesdays at 9:30PM to watch new episodes.

Top Commercials from the Super Bowl

1. 84 Lumber: The journey between a mother and a daughter traveling to the boarder of America and Mexico. Fox 5 deemed this com-

mercial too controversial, so we were unable to see the whole commercial , unless you went on their website.

2. Busch— Born the Hard Way: Adolphus Busch’s process of immigration to America from Germany in the mid 19th century.

3. Audi– Daughter: This commercial highlights a dad’s awareness of his daughter’s achievements and limitations because she is a girl.

Audi did an amazing job identifying and addressing the female stereotypes that need to be corrected.

4. AirBnb— We Accept: Another commercial that identified with the immigration and culture issue that is going on in our world today.

AirBnb announced their work policy and accepting everyone regardless of race, gender, and sexual preference.

UNHS Sports

Panthers on the Road to the Playoffs! This season’s UNHS Panthers are 4th in the Division League with 7 wins and 7 losses for the season. Let’s keep

rooting for our basketball team this year and spread that Panther Pride!

Handball is Back in Season! Last week, tryouts began for this year’s handball team. While the first game isn’t until March 21st, the buzz

around school has certainly shown that students are excited and willing to start practice. For more information

about handball and its practice days and times, please see Mr. Fox. Enjoy everyone!

Want to show off your UNHS Panther Pride?

Get custom Panthers gear at the official UNHS online spirit store! Purchase

hoodies, hats, bags, T-shirts, sweats, and more! Visit: www.unhsgear.com.

CALLING ALL STUDENTS! WE’RE RECRUITING!

UNHS Press desperately wants to expand our team and we NEED YOUR HELP! If you are interested in

investigating and researching today’s events and issues… this is your chance!

We would love more photographers, readers, writers, artists, and anyone who just wants a place to belong!

We meet EVERY Wednesday and alternating Fridays with Deloitte in room 403.

See Ms. Haff for more information! ALL ARE WELCOME !

CONGRATULATIONS, UNHS

BASKETBALL TEAM, FOR MAKING

IT TO THE PLAYOFFS! GOOD LUCK!

College Corner 2017 College Now Summer Program

Available!

July 5th—August 10th

Mondays-Thursdays 9:00 A.M - 2:00 P.M.

*Lunch and MetroCard Provided*

Courses offered: Business, Critical Health Issues,

Journalism, and Anthropology

You qualify if you have one of the following:

At least 75% on the ELA Regents exam

At least an 80 average overall in all ELA classes.

If interested, please apply by April 14th, 2017! For

more information, go to

www.baruch.cuny.edu/collegenow

PTA Update

During our February 8 PTA meeting, a representative

from NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness)

joined us to let us know of the many programs they can

offer our parents. Family members of students exhibit-

ing behavioral or emotional issues can take courses on

how to support their child and also be connected to other

families dealing with the same issues. NAMI offers

weekday and weekend activities, support groups, and

publications. The goal of NAMI is to reduce the stigma

of mental illness and offer support to families and

friends of those who suffer.

For more information on what NAMI has to offer,

please contact our parent coordinator, Haydee Rodri-

guez, at (212) 962-4341, ext. 3060. In addition, join us

for our next PTA meeting from 5-6:30 P.M., during

which a speaker from Planned Parenthood will present a

workshop on parent-child communication.

During the month of February, letters were sent home

regarding laws that protect immigrants. Report cards

were also sent home. An informative letter on April’s

PSATs and SATs for sophomores and juniors was sent

home with students. If you did not receive these letters,

please contact Ms. Rodriguez.

School Leadership Team

Update During the School Leadership Team meeting on

February 8, the team reviewed UNHS’s CEP goals and

looked at the data used to identify progress toward meet-

ing those goals.

In addition, the team agreed that last month’s workshop

on the teen mind was very informative and that it should

be presented to our staff and students.

The Student Government reported that they were selling

Valentine’s Day items to be distributed during 3rd peri-

od classes on February 14. The PTA offered to contrib-

ute roses to the sale.

Ms. Collins discussed the budget and asked for sugges-

tions regarding student incentives. Ideas for educational

trips and special classes (i.e. SAT prep) were also dis-

cussed.

Our next SLT meeting will take place on Wednesday,

March 8 from 4-5:00 P.M. It is open to the public.

Parent News

On February 14, a new law went into effect al-

lowing 16- and 17-year-olds to sign up for organ

donation. Julian Cruz-Barben was interviewed by

NBC News regarding the new legislation and

stressed the importance of organ donation. Valerie

Cruz organized the Young Adult Legislation

Launch at UNHS on Valentine’s Day, and UNHS

registered 29 students to save lives!

Join Us To See an Original Play:

Laundry City Laundry City is a hilarious exploration of what

“separate but equal” means to us today based on in-

terviews from over 30 educators, policy experts, par-

ents and students on the topics of school segregation

and integration. The play is at 1:00 on Wednesday,

March 1, 2017 at P.S. 15 (Roberto Clemente

School), 333 East 4th Street.

Students at the Young Adult Legislation Launch.

Monthly Horoscopes

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Try looking into new ways to make extra money. You may have a problem dealing with elders. Don't

let criticism upset you. Hassles will delay your plans. You need to do something that will make you feel better about yourself. Your

luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Someone may not be thinking of your best interests. Make money using your ingenuity and creative tal-

ent. Deceit with coworkers is apparent. Don't make unreasonable promises. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Real estate investments could be to your advantage. Be careful not to take on other people's problems.

You may find yourself in a financial bind. Do not lend money or belongings to friends. Your honesty will not only win you points but

also respect. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You can ask for favors and get sound advice from close friends or relatives. You may want to take anoth-

er look at the investment you are about to make. If you can't get away, make plans to do something special with friends or relatives.

Take your time before making personal decisions. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Being unappreciated by your boss could make it hard to do your work effectively. Keep your ears open,

especially to those who care about you. Uncertainties regarding your home and family are evident. You can expect insincere gestures

of friendliness this month. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) You will be overly sensitive this month. You can help sort out problems that friends are facing. Use dis-

cretion in your dealings and refrain from making verbal promises of any kind. You might not be as reserved on an emotional level as

you'd like. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Take your time and try not to overload yourself. Luck is with you, regardless of the financial venture. Take

your time. Your ability to put things together will be appreciated by your comrades. Your luckiest events will occur on a Tuesday.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) If you keep busy you won't feel the personal pressures you are going through. Trying to deal with your

mate will be unproductive and possibly hurtful. Look into any educational activities involving the whole family. You can make mon-

ey if you are careful not to let it trickle through your fingers. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Your confidence will stabilize your position. Look into family outings or projects. Your ability to stand out

in a crowd will bring you the recognition you desire. Real estate should be lucrative for you. Your luckiest events this month will

occur on a Wednesday.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Talk to your mate about a vacation and discuss the expectations of your relationship. Difficulties with

females you live with could cause emotional stress. You may not see your situation clearly. You must refrain from overspending on

entertainment. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Be sure to find out all you can before you commit to anything. Exercise programs will be effective.

It's time to reevaluate your motives. You'll be tempted to spend extravagantly this month. Mondays are your lucky days this month.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Try to spend some time on your own. You're in the mood to get out and visit friends. Help elders in

your family. Anger may cause you grief; control your temper and try to sit back and calm down. Your luckiest events this month will

occur on a Wednesday.

Fun Page

Please see next page for our February calendar.

Sudoku Puzzle The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3

sub-grids that compose the grid contains all of the

digits from 1 to 9.

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: UNHS Press is switching it up a bit by request! Can

you spot all 12 differences in these two images?

If you have any ideas or brain teasers you’d like to see in the next issue, email us at UNHSpress@gmail.com!

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