Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Tecca, Trippie redd, Juice WRLD, XXXTENTACION, King von,Tupac, Biggie, Drake, and Yeat. What do these musicians have in common? My favorite genre of music is Rap/Hip Hop because of the beats and lyrics, and I was curious about what the people of Bank Street like, so this week's Word on the Street is: what is the best genre of music? I interviewed 14% of upper school students. The results are below.
Almost half of the people interviewed liked Rap/Hip Hop the most. You might wonder what Old Man music is. Two interviewees said that it is “Country, Blues, and Jazz”. As you can see, the most popular genre of music among the people that I interviewed is Rap/Hip Hop.
At the 2024 Grammys, only one of the seven best songs nominated was a Hip Hop song. Bank Street clearly does not agree!
Word on the Street Max, 11/12s
Hi Bank Street readers!
Welcome to Word on the Street. Today, the question being asked is, if you had to eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be? I've interviewed two kids from each grade along with two teachers. I've also added images and captions to foods we may not be familiar with. See the Bank Street community responses below!
Word on the Street Radhika, 10/11s
If you had one wish,what would it be?
Hi Everyone! This week’s Word on the Street is if you had one wish what would it be? So, let's see the answers of your peers! Q: So if you had one wish what would it be and why?
A: “To get rid of Poverty and Pollution” - Leela F. and Leela K. (5th grade) A: “Climate change to end” - Amara (6th grade) A: “End all problems in society”- Noura (7th grade) A:“Free,high quality education”- Laelena and Lauren (Teachers of 6th and 8th grade)
We have one more answer from one of the lower school students Eve! Q: Eve, if you had one wish what would it be? A: To be a mermaid
I hope you enjoyed all the fun answers given by our teachers and students across different grade levels! -B.S.L crew
The Future American Idol Winner Davis Kim Alexa, Linna, & Teo, 11/12s
Everyone knows that Davis Kim is the new Math & Science teacher of the 11/12’s, but other than that we don’t know a lot about him. The only thing we know, as his students, is that Davis is Mollie’s co-teacher, a Taylor Swift hater, a huge jokester, is always snacking, and thinks he is the next Ariana Grande. So to learn more about him, we decided to interview him!
Q: How old are you? A: I am a tender 30 years old physically, but about 55 years old spiritually (and based on how out of breath I am when I walk up the stairs).
Q: When’s your birthday? A: May 9th, 1993 - a proud Taurus.
Q: What motivates you everyday? A: I need to make money to buy skincare products to keep my skin youthful. Oh, also seeing students grow more confident in their skills every day. Both are equally important.
Q: Where did you grow up? A: I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I hated it growing up, because a lot of Houston is inaccessible without a car, so I felt very stuck all the time. My parents didn’t want to buy me a car (but my brother got one????? I was UPSET!). As an adult, I appreciate Houston a lot more now - amazing, diverse, and cheap food, and interesting things happening - just maybe not as interesting as NYC.
Q: What is your favorite sport? A: HAHAHAHAHA did you mean favorite skincare product? Let’s go with that. My three holy grail skincare products are: Illiyoon Ceramide Moisturizer, CORSX Advanced Snail Mucin Power Essence, and AXIS Y Dark Spot Corrector. Go sports!
Q: If teaching wasn’t your job, what would be your dream job? A: Currently, I’m interested in software engineering, specifically building applications for EdTech (educational technology) - Google Classroom, Kahoot, NewsELA, and Amplify are all examples of companies in EdTech. A long time ago, I wanted to be a pediatric neurologist, but I would cry all the time walking out of patients’ rooms (when I was shadowing doctors) because I’m so much of a sensitive empath, so I thought that probably wasn’t good for my mental health. In another multiverse, maybe I could’ve been part of BTS, but I’m an awful dancer so… probably not.
Q: What’s your favorite clothing company? A: Uniqlo. Solid basics, cute stuff, and good quality.
Q: What school did you teach at before bankstreet? A: I taught at a school called The Equity Project Charter School. I taught 8th grade and can’t stand 6th graders.
Q: What's your favorite article of clothing? A: My favorite article of clothing is my pink Nike crewneck sweater. I realized pink was my favorite color 2 years ago when I realized I look amazing in it, and I didn’t wear it two years ago because my whole childhood people made fun of me for wearing pink with all the gender norms.
Q: What’s your favorite skin care product? A: My favorite skin care product is this moisturizer called Illiyoon ceramide moisturizer. It leaves my skin extra smooth and extra hydrated.
You can find Davis in 705 singing, laughing, and eating an interesting snack.
Word on the Street: Do you think AI is good? Faris, 11/12s
I was curious about what the Upper School thinks about Artificial Intelligence. I asked one kid from each grade and one teacher if they think AI is good. I also asked them why or why not. AI can create art, generate code and much more. The images are art created by AI.
Aesthetic Note Taking Tips Ella and SJ, 12/13s
Many people don’t enjoy notes, maybe because of their handwriting, or it just may feel like a hassle, but you can use this guide to help make your notes aesthetically pleasing, readable, and organized. We hope this basic guide will help you to make your notes how you want them.
The unit title should be the biggest, subheadings should be slightly smaller, and the body text should be the smallest
Stay within the lines as a guide. If you need to, you can use your ruler to practice not going off the lines. Start with college-ruled paper.
Remember, you don’t need to know cursive in order to have clean, aesthetically, pleasing notes. You can make the title in another font.
Basic Guide:
Write down the things you may forget
Paraphrasing will be your best friend while taking notes
If the teacher writes anything on the board, copy it down
If you are doing math, write down as many examples as you can and make sure to do them in pencil first
If you are a slow note taker, check in with your teacher about posting today’s slideshow on Google Classroom or ask a classmate to copy their notes
Always include a title and a date to make it easier to reference your notes later on
If you’re in math class write out the formula or steps to solving an equation
Write down definitions, they will be helpful later
If you’re a visual learner, your notes will most likely be more helpful to you if they are aesthetically pleasing
Nobody learns this overnight or even in a week. It is a skill and a habit to develop over time. Start with the basics and be patient with your note-taking skills. We hope this helped!
The Most Amazing of All Amazing Grade Trips Radhika & Leela, 10/11s
Pocono Springs is a fun overnight trip that the fifth and sixth graders go on! A few weeks ago, we all went there. We stayed at a camp called Pocono Springs Camp for one night.It was very exciting and most of us had a great time! To get there, we took two coach buses, with 709 and 705 in one bus and 707 and 706 in the other bus. The buses were a lot bigger than your average school bus with DVD players and bathrooms. In the 709 and 705 bus, after attempting to watch a movie on a broken DVD player, we ended up just singing songs the whole time. On the 707 and 706 bus, they managed to get their DVD player to work and watched Monsters Inc. Once we were finally in Poconos Springs, we did many fun, exciting, and new activities. A few things we did were ziplining, canoeing, swimming, paddle boarding, archery, rock climbing.Some of the activities were startling or scary, but we learned to try new things and push ourselves out of our comfort zones.
Delicious Meals We Had a Poconos Spring One of the favorite parts of this amazing trip was the food. The food prepared by the Poconos Springs Staff was said by many people to be delicious. The food had different drinks every meal such as fruit punch, lemonade, and orange juice. Let’s entice you with the meals we had at Pocono Springs. For Lunch when we had: Chicken nuggets,fries,cheesy mac and cheese,and obviously as an option–salads. To wash it down we had some pink lemonade. For dinner we had: Spaghetti and meatballs and garlic knots (biggest hit for dinner). We had chocolate ice cream sandwiches for dessert . Later we had our own campfire! We sang songs and laughed and bonded with our friends. Very fun. Obviously, a campfire is not a campfire without s’mores! We had traditional s'mores,so ingredients were graham crackers, chocolate, and YDI roasted marshmallows. For Breakfast next morning we had: Scrambled eggs, french toast sticks (biggest hit), cocoa puffs cereal and lucky charms cereal, boiled eggs, fruits, and orange juice. For Lunch that day we had: Cheese and chicken quesadillas, guacamole,chips and salsa, along with fruit punch.
CABINS The cabins have sets of bunk beds and one single bed.The people in the cabins were anywhere from 7-11 kids, which varied depending on how many sets of beds. Unlike the 9/10s sleepover last year which was at the Bank Street Gym, we actually slept on this trip! At least, some people did..
Overall, the Poconos Springs trip was amazing and a big hit.
Word on the Street: A Pet for the 7th Floor? Bank Street Jr. Club Crew, Bennett, Leela, Radhika, 10/11s
Hi Bank Street Live Readers! Hope the first few weeks of school have been treating you well. Welcome to the first ever Word on the Street! Word on the Street is a new weekly tradition where a few reporters come together and come up with a question. The question can be anything. We ask students and teachers in the upper school, any grade, to answer these questions to the best of their ability. We publish their answers in this paper! Keep your eyes peeled for some of our reporters around school, because you may get a chance for your answer in the paper! Unfortunately, though we’d love to, we can’t feature everyone at once. But don’t worry, if you don’t get in in the first few weeks. We will try our best to reach out to everyone for their opinions and answers based on the question. And always, if a reporter asks you but you don’t feel comfortable being in the paper, politely let us know and we will respect that. Below is the question of the week and what other kids or teachers you know had to say about it!
Picture this: the upper school is getting a division pet. It’s up to you to decide what. It can be any animal, real or imaginary. What would it be? “A dolphin or a turtle.” - Ruth, 12/13s
“[A] pegasus because I like unicorns but pegasus have wings and kids could take turns flying on it.” - Mary, 10/11s and 11/12s dean of students and upper school learning specialist “Puppies because they are cute and adorable to play and interact [with] unlike a fish or a gerbil.”-Tula ,11/12s
“Turtle because they are cute and fun to watch”-Griffin, 10/11s
If you have any question ideas for the Word on the Street, please write some question ideas on paper and give it to any of us or to Niki or Davis. If we choose your question, we will give you credit. We can't wait to see what you come up with!
-sincerely the B.S.L jr. crew
How to Survive Your 8th Grade Musical Kat & Priya, 13/14s
The musical is one of the most exciting parts of eighth grade. The musical is an incredible bonding experience saved for your last year at Bank Street. Most people look forward to it from the time they join Bank Street up until it finally happens. Still, a lot about the musical process remains unknown. We thought that we would give you some tips and tricks on how to survive your 8th grade musical. John, Annie, Michael, and Candice announce the musical sometime before winter break. Rest assured the musical will be fun no matter what you do. Over winter break you should spend some time working on songs or monologues for your audition. Your first MAD cycle is like the unofficial audition. Remember that the way you act in and outside of auditions is incredibly important for their impression of you. The audition after winter break is the formal assessment where John and Michael record you singing a song, and reciting a monologue. Auditions are stressful, there is no doubt about it. The audition process may continue for several days or several weeks. John and Michael will give you the tracks that you are allowed to audition with, and monologue scripts will also be given out. You have to memorize part of a song and audition in front of John and Michael. It is terrifying and nauseating but remember this is only one portion of your audition. Even if you don’t think you will get a lead role, don’t hold back on something that you really want to do just because you’re scared. Whatever you do in the musical, whether it’s a cast member, set tech, or something else, makes (or breaks) the show. When auditions are over, the real work begins. You will receive a script and begin working on songs and line memorization. The more work you do to memorize your lines, the easier it will be later on to prepare. In this time there will also be work for your parent(s). They will begin organizing costumes, and sign up to do hair and makeup for the show. Many people will bring in their costumes, and some pieces will be purchased. Rehearsals will happen about twice a week. They consist of scene blocking, choreography practice, and song practice. These rehearsals occur for a few months leading up to the show itself.
The weekend before the show is when dress rehearsals happen. These are all day rehearsals in costume, where the show really begins to take shape. The show gets run over and over with lighting, sound, and set changes. This is one of the best bonding experiences you will have with your class at Bank Street. Sitting backstage together and cheering for your classmates onstage is a feeling you will never forget. When showtime comes, everybody is so excited. The feeling of performing in the musical is indescribable. Everybody has a different experience during their final show. We can promise you that yours will be just as special as ours was!
Here’s some final advice from the 8th graders: The actual performance feels really fast. Try to enjoy it. It’s easy to get stressed out. It’s a really good chance to have fun with your friends and have something to show your hard work for your community. -Ethan
An Interview with Sara, by Oliver, 10/11s
I met with The Upper School Mental Health Counselor, Sara. Before she worked at Bank Street she worked for Counseling in Schools and before that she was a performer, working as an actor and a singer. She loves to cook and explore the city.
Upper School Mental Health Counselor Where did you work before you came to work at Bank Street? I worked for a company called Counseling in Schools.
Why did you become somebody who works with children’s mental health? Because I really remembered how challenging it was to be a middle schooler and how important it was to have adults to go and talk to.
Why did you decide to work at Bank street? I really like Bank Street because it's a progressive school, it's a small school with a kind of tight knit community, and they really believe in social justice and are really supportive of all aspects of a child's education which includes mental health. What is your favorite part of Bank Street? I love not only the staff but also the kids who are really intelligent and smart. They bring different experiences and their backgrounds and share them openly with me.
Bob Brings It and Gary Gets It Kat 13/14s, Bob M, & Gary S
Hello readers, this is the first ever published edition of Bob Brings It. The two questions we received this week were:
Dear Bob and Gary, I love to read, what should I read right now and why?
On What to Read
Dear Reader, I am a big fan of nonfiction that is well written and really pulls me into history. My first choice is a classic about the Revolutionary War: 1776, by David McCullough. All of McCullough’s books are terrific, and since he recently passed away, picking up a book of his is a way of expressing gratitude for his scholarship. Another book in this same genre that I could not put down is Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, by David Blight. Masterfully told, Douglass’s life and achievements come to life in vivid, engrossing detail. A similarly riveting book is Grant, by Ron Chernow, who challenges many of our misconceptions about Ulysses S. Grant, a great Civil War general. And just now, I am digging into a book that one of my son’s passed along to me: How the World is Passed, by Clint Smith. It looks unflinchingly at the legacy of slavery. Smith’s writing is lyrical, searing, and powerful. Turning to a more contemporary subject, a recent book by Matthew Desmond, Poverty by America, has gotten a lot of attention. It can be a bit heavy, so I recommend an earlier study of his entitled, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. Published in 2016, this non-fiction book is set in the poorest areas of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and closely follows eight families struggling to pay rent to their landlords during the financial crisis of 2007–2008. You should view this lineup as a cafeteria of very tasty dishes and make sure to sample before you sit down to enjoy a hearty meal. Yours truly, Bob
Dear Reader, Ask your parents and teachers for specific suggestions, and in the meantime you can start reading the N. Y. Times every day. That will challenge and inform you while you’re putting together a reading list. Sincerely, Gary
Dear Bob and Gary, I am in the eighth grade and next year, my best friend and I are going to different high schools, and high school in NYC is quite intense, so I know we'll be very busy. How should we stay in touch and maintain our close friendship while allowing for new friends over the next four years?
On Keeping A Friend
Dear Reader, You are wise to recognize that it will be challenging to keep a friendship when you find yourselves in different high schools next year. The key is to commit to a plan so the demands of the new situation do not crowd out your relationship.
Several thoughts:
You could agree to connecting (probably by phone or zoom if easy) at a certain time each week – keeping the duration not too long.
I am sure you want to see your friend and you could schedule a sleepover occasionally and or when you are going out with your new friends invite your Bank Street buddy to join the group.
An easy way to keep in touch is forwarding to your friend documents that you are working on at your new school. Do this with discretion – but sharing what is playing out for you in your new high school is a way of taking your friend with you on your new ride.
Coming back to the plan – the most important step is for you and your friend to agree regarding how you will keep in touch. No doubt, you will need to revise the plan as the year unfolds.
Finally, be open to the possibility that you will develop new friends and they may also become your “best” friend(s). That is the beauty of our lives -- that powerful new friendships blossom at all times.
Yours truly, Bob
Dear Reader, Make it a point to call your best friend at least twice a week. That should help. Sincerely, Gary
Artists Come Together During Recess at Sketching Time, Ani & Ian, 10/11s
Sketching is an exercise for the hand, mind, and eyes. The activity provides benefits that can be applied to many aspects of life, from work to relationships. On Mondays and Wednesdays during recess there is something called Sketching Time which is hosted by Annie Sicherman. Students can go to the 3rd floor art room to spend the recess time sketching and drawing. We have gone to the art room during recess and have experienced recess sketching firsthand. Three weeks ago when we went for the first time, there were only 4 people, including ourselves and 2 other classmates. We realized that a lot more people keep coming each time. Of course there are some days, like 11-14-22 when fewer people came, but most of the time, the number of people attending rises each week. Sketching time is a good place to finish any art projects you didn’t finish in class, and if you have already finished, it's a great place to talk to fellow artists as you draw. You can also get inspiration from them. We asked Annie Sichermana few questions. First we wanted to know what she liked best about open sketching time. She said, “
What do you like the best about open sketching time? “I like the open-ness and imagination of everyone!”
What do you think could go better? “ I think that one thing that could go better is that more students could join!” We haven’t gone recently, but we do know that the last time there were a lot of people there! So Annie is clearly on her way to achieving one of her goals! So, next recess time head to the Art room for sketching time! If students don’t want to draw, or know how to draw, they can just go and talk to each other. We hope that you will consider popping your head into the art room on either a Monday or Wednesday soon and give it a go!
Introducing the new Interim Upper School Division Head: Priya Sitaraman Quincy, 10/11s
Just a month ago, the Upper School got an announcement that our beloved head of Upper School, Saara, will be leaving Bank Street and Priya, my teacher, will be taking over her position. This article will tell you about Priya’s perspective on her new position.
How do you feel about becoming the Interim Upper School Division Head next year?“I feel so many things! I feel excited, nervous, curious, sad to be leaving the classroom, and more emotions I probably haven't identified yet. I feel grateful to be doing something new in a community of kids and adults that is extremely supportive, and I am hopeful that I can have a positive impact!”
Did Saara give you any important and useful tips and information on how to be the Interim Upper School Division Head? “Yes, Saara is already giving me so many great tips, and I am very lucky to be able to get her advice! Most people don't get this kind of opportunity when they start a new job, so it feels good to know I have what I need to hit the ground running next year.” What are you most excited about? “I am most excited about spending time in classrooms in other grades, and working with teachers that I currently don't get to see that often.”
What do you think is going to be challenging?“Doing anything new is challenging, so I guess that is it - the 'newness' will be the hardest thing. But I like your use of the word challenge, because challenges are great learning opportunities. I think I will also have to find ways to remind myself that I don't have to be perfect, I just have to do the best I can and keep a positive attitude.”
When you were younger would you have imagined that you would be the head of a section of a school?“No way! When I was much younger, I never even imagined being a teacher. I've never liked being the center of attention, so the idea of doing a job where people were constantly watching me never crossed my mind.”
What are some activities and things you plan to make the Upper School do next year?“I'm not sure yet! I'm still trying to wrap up being a teacher in 709, and thinking through all of our end of year activities as best I can.”
Do you plan to make any new Upper School traditions next year?“That's something I'll think about over the summer.”
Will Ivy have a position in the Upper School now that you are going to be the Interim Upper School Division Head?“Yes, Ivy is going to be the Upper School Fortune Teller - if you want to know your future, you can come ask her and she will reveal your fate.”
So next year sounds like it is going to be a fantastic year due to having Priya be the Interim Upper School Division Head. I hope this article was informative for you.
Tom's Restaurant Review Hayden, 13/14s
As an eighth grader, one of my favorite things this year has been my new privilege of going outside to eat lunch. Personally, I have attended Bank Street since the 4/5s, so that’s about 10 years. However, before this year I had actually never been to Tom's Restaurant across 112th. I also didn’t know for many years that the outside of the restaurant was featured in the television show Seinfeld as the diner that the main characters are almost always eating at.
So a few weeks ago when my friend and I were searching for a place to pick up food at lunch, we found ourselves at Tom’s and now we have been going back at least once a week.
Tom’s has a large variety of food which can only be described as diner food, since it is a diner after all. The food is prepared very quickly and I have never personally been late back to school because of waiting for food there. And, it’s inexpensive. My personal favorite order is chicken tenders, fries, and soup and it is all for about $15 dollars. A pretty good deal in my opinion. Sometimes I add in a chocolate milkshake, but I don’t suggest that if you have PE next period.
And even if you aren’t an eighth grader, you can still get food from Tom’s. Whether it be take out, delivery, or when it’s safe to, a sit down meal. So I hope this compels you to take a look at Tom’s if you haven’t and maybe enjoy some high quality diner food.
Interviews with Teachers in the Upper School Ronit, 10/11s
I decided to interview three of our Upper School staff members because, hey, you never know, they might have something to share that you don’t know. See below for some interesting interviews with Mary Corbelli, and two of our amazing classroom teachers, Becky Eisenberg and Niki Singh!
BECKY EISENBERG (707, 10/11s):
How long have you been working at Bank Street? I started working at Bank Street in 2007. What is one of your favorite parts of the Upper School? One of my favorite things is watching students become more independent. What do you LOVE teaching in the 10/11s most? I love when I get to teach about connections. For example, connections between the history of ancient China and what China is like today or connections between our study of China and other past studies. Have you taught other grades in the Upper School? Nope. What is one thing you hope for in the Upper School? I hope for a longer lunchtime!
MARY CORBELLI (707A, Learning Specialist):
What is one of your favorite parts of the Upper School? One of my favorite parts about the Upper School (even though I know this is true or largely true of other divisions) is that we are all together on one floor, with some important exceptions such as specials. I have never worked in a school where we are all together to talk and connect so much. I also love the enthusiasm, helpfulness, and creativity of the Upper School Teachers. Another one of my favorites has been morning meetings. When I have joined morning meetings in different classrooms, I always learn something new about the world and/or Bank Street students! Also, I can't leave out running club. Being able to help with sports has been a lot of fun and I hope this is something I can do more. It is a blast seeing students outside of the classroom and working with the other coaches, Melinda and Mollie! I also love "This or That!"
What do you LOVE most about teaching in the Upper School? I am new at Bank Street, but what I know I will love is seeing all the students change and grow over time. It is incredibly rewarding to see students overcome challenges, develop their talents and discover who they are. While this happens at all ages, I find 10s/11s through 13/14s to be a particularly exciting time and I am grateful to be on this Upper School journey with you all. Also, I love that Upper School students are the oldest students in the school which may make them more likely to advocate for themselves. It is a privilege to work with students as they ask for help and seek out support in the areas they may need it in at any given time. I also love the sense of community in Bank Street's Upper School. I feel like there is a strong spirit of mutual respect and support while it is also a fun place where you hear lots of laughing in the halls!
What is one thing you hope for in the Upper School? My hope for the Upper School this year is that as a community we can do as many of the things that make us feel "normal" and like ourselves, as safely as possible. Aside from anything related to COVID, I hope we can continue to work on practicing kindness and patience with one another. I think this is something that Bank Street is already very good at, but there is always room to grow and do better (myself included)!
NIKI SINGH (706, 11/12s): What is one of your favorite parts of the Upper School? There is so much to love: the students, my colleagues, the orange walls, the books hiding under benches. I love seeing my former students working at the cafe tables and in the hallways -- something I really missed during the pandemic schedule. What do you LOVE most about teaching in the Upper School? I LOVE so much, but I’ll share just one thing: I love that being playful, doing art, and generally being creative as we read, write, think, and learn is considered to be an important part of education here (not just in the Upper School).
What is one thing you hope for in the Upper School? One hope for the Upper School this year is that we can get out of here. In other words, my hope is for field trips.
I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about these Upper School faculty members. Make sure to ask your teachers for a sneak peek at their outer-classroom likes! (Or even in-classroom like that you don’t know about. You may hear some interesting stuff!)
The Future of Fifth and Sixth graders Quincy, 11/12s
The future is a magical thing. Some kids look forward to the future, some kids hate the future, and some want to leap into the future. Here is the Bank Street Live fifth and sixth grade’s vision of their future.
Name: Henry How do you imagine yourself in 15 years? “Maybe, I picture myself having a beard and wearing a grey short sleeve shirt and jeans.” What do you want to do in fifteen years? “I want to be a lego designer or architect.” Do you have a goal for your life, and if so what? “To have a successful and good life.”
Name: Nora How do you imagine yourself in 15 years? “Running a bakery, being a writer, and living in a big house.” What do you want to do in fifteen years? “Write and run a bakery.” Do you have a goal for your life, and if so what? “ My goal is to at least publish two books.”
Name: Nate How do you imagine yourself in 15 years? “Either in graduate school or finding a job after college.” What do you want to do in fifteen years? “Be in graduate school studying rocket science.” Do you have a goal for your life, and if so what? “To become a rocket scientist.”
Name: Ronit How do you imagine yourself in 15 years?: “ Using college degrees to help me on my way.” What do you want to do in fifteen years?: “I want to start teaching in a school. Maybe help in a baking business before that.” Do you have a goal for your life, if so what? “To be successful and helpful to others and myself.”
Tour of the 7th Floor, Ronit 10/11s
The 7th floor in Bank Street School for Children is very cool. Have you ever been there? Are you very familiar with it? Well, if not, you are in luck because I am going to give you a tour.
Let’s start with the part of the hallway closest to the elevators. When you get out of the elevators, you can go to the left, which leads you to the girls’ bathroom and to a side staircase, or you could go to the right. Immediately on the right is Saara Mahjouri and Lisa Khakee’s office. There is a whiteboard that has a “this or that” every day. You can vote with tally marks for which thing you like better or agree with. Some examples; Winter or Spring; Illegal or Legal pets; Frosted Flakes or Oatmeal; September or October, etc.
The classrooms along that side of the hallway are 701, 703, 705, 707, and 709. There is one other office which belongs to Mary Corbelli, 707A. Mary is the Upper School Learning Specialist. The other side of the hallway consists of classrooms 702, 704, and 706. There is also the boys’ bathroom, the all-gender bathroom, Lourie Slodounik’s office, 702A. Laurie is the Upper School psychologist. Then we have Jose Guzman who is the Math and Science Coordinator for the WHOLE School for Children! His office is 706A. Finally, we have the Science Lab, 708/710.
The Upper School students also get to go to the STEAM Lab on the 4th floor, 408/410) STEAM is a time where students get to explore and create their own robots/technology/coding. The gym is on the 9th floor, music is in the auditorium, art is down on the third floor, as well as shop, and finally, the language labs are on the fourth floor. I hope we can continue to enjoy the 7th floor because it really is awesome!
The New STEAM Lab: Everything You Need To Know, Hayden 13/14s
As you may already know, this year there is a new addition to our Bank Street Community. Introducing The STEAM Lab!
The STEAM Lab, located on the fourth floor in rooms 408 and 410, houses a 3D printer, laser cutter, recording station, and countless materials for almost everything you could think of. Here are a few pictures I took of the lab, but to really get the full experience, I highly suggest taking a walk downstairs and visiting.
I talked to Matt Borgmyer, previous 6th grade math and science teacher about the new lab.
Hayden: What has been your favorite part of the STEAM Lab so far? Matt: My favorite part has been seeing students' reactions to the space and its possibilities. Bank Street students love to create new things and solve new problems, and it's exciting to think of the new things that could be accomplished in this space. As students learn more about the tools that are available, I'm looking forward to seeing what new challenges they want to take on!
Hayden: Have you had any specific projects that have been your favorite? Matt: It's still early days, but I have been really impressed by the programs that students have started making using micro:bits and the micro:bit-powered robots like the Finch. (Hayden’s note: Here’s a picture of a Finch, they’re pretty cute)
Hayden: Have you had any struggles with/in the STEAM Lab? Matt: It took a long time to make the STEAM Lab happen. There were many many people involved going back almost 4-5 years. Families, school leadership, college leadership, the Giant Room, teachers, facilities staff, fundraisers/development staff, Alex and Kecia all were crucial to making this happen. We were hoping to open it last year, but then with the lockdown we needed to use the space for socially-distanced classrooms.
Hayden: What are you most looking forward to teaching this year in the lab? Matt: I really love robotics because it is a combination of so many different things: programming, simple machines, motors, sensors, and creativity (because every robot has a personality). I also always feel very connected to robots that I program because when they bump into walls or have other problems, I am extra motivated to make my program better so they don't have to suffer!
What is the coolest project you've done so far with the 3D printer or the laser cutter? A few years ago the 11/12s made a geometric sculpture out of dozens of laser-cut wooden pieces. I'm really excited about the idea of creating a similar sculpture that is designed from scratch by Bank Street students! (Hayden’s note: I added a picture I liked a lot out of the collection but highly suggest checking out the link and scrolling through the pictures)
Join Debate Club! Theo, 12/13s
Hi Upper School! My name is Theo Bank and I am starting a Debate Club at Bank Street for all the students who have strong opinions about important issues, and the not-so-important issues. I know that a lot of students love to debate, whether subconsciously or consciously, and also love to argue.
I would like to take this moment to emphasize the difference between a debate and an argument. A debate is two or more sides arguing what they think is right. It usually has an organized format and is supposed to be respectful. An argument however is two people arguing for two things that they believe. More often than not, it turns into chaos. Another thing that often happens in an argument is that the two people often end up arguing about the same thing. I am a firm believer that arguments are pointless and debates educate and end up in someone thinking more deeper thoughts.
Now, many of you are probably wondering, “that’s all great but, what is actually going to happen in Debate Club? That is a great question. The Debate Club will work in four week cycles. In the first week, we will do fun, team debates on lighter topics. In the second week we will do one versus one debates on heavier topics. In the third week we will reveal our big debate topic and do research. In the fourth week we will do our big debate on a very heavy topic. If any of you have any suggestions or questions about Debate Club I would love to hear them. I hope to see you all at debate!
Bank Street Election Podcast
Bank Street Monday Memo October 16 Election Special: Meet the candidates in the Upper School Election. Uma, Roland and Micah have made it through the primary & will face off in the General Election. Listen as they present their platforms and answer some tough questions.
Should School Start Later? Madeline and Madeline 12/13s
Many studies have shown that kids should get more sleep, and many have found that children and teenagers do not get enough. Schools and organizations have done studies, and they show that children and teenagers would benefit from more sleep.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a United States professional group that overviews the subcategory of sleep medicine, recommends 8-10 hours of sleep a night, especially for teenagers. Most teens say they get about 7 hours of sleep. Most states haven’t taken much action to pull back start times so kids can get more sleep, but California has. California recently made a new law pushing back school start times. One study drawn in 2017 that surveyed 9,000 students across 5 districts found that the kids whose schools started later slept more than those in schools that began earlier. This follows similar data patterns from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. These organizations believe that if middle and high school students wake up later, they will be more focused, alert, and less likely to be absent or late. A student who wakes up at 7:30am should fall asleep by at least 11pm to get a sufficient amount of sleep. But since most schools start before 8am, the students aren’t getting the amount of sleep they need.
But would kids really spend that time sleeping? Or would they stay up later? Many would probably take advantage of the extra time to get some more well-needed sleep in, but others would surely use the extra time as an extension of their free time, staying up later and using technology. So what do students and teachers think about school starting later? Here are some opinions:
We spoke to Julia and Priya, two teachers at Bank Street, about the pressing topic.
Julia told her opinion by saying, “I don’t think it’s a bad idea for schools to start later, but I’m not convinced. I have heard that students learn best and they work better in the first few classes of the day, and I wonder if it would impact the different classes. I would love to sleep in later though.”
Priya said, “I think that it would be excellent for schools to start later because I think sleep for the adolescent and adult brain is essential, and it would take off a lot less stress on the brain knowing that you don’t have to get up as early.” Here, Julia interrupted, “But don’t you think that kids would stay up later?” Priya promptly stated, “No. I wouldn’t.” To this, we point out that she is not a kid, and has years of experience with time management.
Next, we spoke to a few students about what they thought.
“I think that if school started later, it would be good because not a lot of people get the sleep they should, but I doubt that many kids our age would use the time to actually sleep. I think they would use it as an extended free time to stay up later.”
“I think kids, especially ones with less time management experience, would not take advantage of the extra time to sleep and relax. Many would probably just use that time to stay up later.” “I think that our school starts at a good time. I think in general though, school should start from 8:30 to 9:00.”
“I think that Bank Street School times are good for me and everyone else. For other schools, especially my friends school, school starts at 7:30 and some kids live far away. My friend sometimes has to get up around 5 so she doesn’t have enough time for a good sleep. I think that if every school had the same starting time as Bank Street we wouldn’t be as concerned as we are now.”
This issue of early start times obviously doesn’t apply to us, students at Bank Street, but it is a huge burden for many families to get their children to school earlier. In addition, when schools start earlier, it doesn’t give students enough time to sleep. This can make life harder for students and their families, and can introduce an overall unpleasantness into their lives. Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/learning/should-your-school-day-start-later.html https://time.com/4741147/school-start-time/
7th Floor Scavenger Hunt Madeline and MT, 12/13s
Find all of these pictures for the scavenger hunt, and take a picture of yourself with the object in the image. There will be a prize for everyone who finds and takes pictures with these objects. Report to class 704 during recess for your prize!
Advice from Lucia & Lyle: Homework Edition Lyle and Lucia, 11/12s
Dear Lucia,
When will homework in the fifth grade get easier? From, Anonymous Dear Anonymous,
Homework in the Upper School is a huge jump if we’re comparing it to the Middle School. This is a harsh reality. Not only is there more homework, but the questions become more specific and require more writing. I understand that it is overwhelming at first, but here are some upsides: 1. At least it’s interesting The first upside is that homework becomes more interesting. Obviously, I can’t promise that you’ll enjoy every piece of homework, but Humanities homework starts to require more input and opinion. In Math, you’ll get challenged with longer several-period problems, which can be very fun. So even though there’s a lot of it, you won’t necessarily dread it all. 2. TAGSF Another positive is that you’ll learn more. I know this might seem super cheesy, but it is true. If you do homework carefully and actually take it all in, you’ll get to experience TAGSF (the amazing and glorious satisfactory feeling). This is a feeling one experiences when a teacher says a piece of information that you actually remember from your homework! TAGSF is a term that is totally not made up and is a very real thing… 3. Prioritizing is Peachy This last one isn’t really an upside, but it is a tip. Use your planner. When I first got my planner, I was hesitant. It seemed like a lot of work. But if you make the planner work for you, it is a lifesaver. Not only will you remember all of your homework, but you can prioritize it. I promise, prioritizing homework will be the best thing that has ever happened in your student life. The trick is the following:
The first thing you should do is whatever assignment(s) is due the next day. I recommend doing the one you dread first.
Second should be the longest one. You can either finish it all in one go or do little by little, just don’t procrastinate!
Hakuna Matata, Lucia (to send me your questions, email me at [email protected] with the subject: Hakuna Matata)
New Kids on the 7th Floor Radhika, 10/11s
I decided to put a spotlight on (drumroll please) the new students that joined this year! I thought, what better way to introduce and share about the new students would be than to feature them in Bank Street Live? This column is not just about sharing stories but igniting new conversations. So get ready to read, laugh, and perhaps learn a thing or two about the new students whom you see everyday as a friend or a classmate.
Because I am a new owl myself, I’m going to share my personal experience moving from PS 9, Sarah Anderson School, to Bank Street. One of the hardest things moving from one school to another is leaving behind friends and loved and dedicated teachers. It was really sad but I’m glad to learn more about the tight knit community in Bank Street! At Bank Street, there have been a lot of unfamiliar activities and structures such as half groups, the activity cycle, and clubs.
Moving on to a little about myself, my favorite sports are basketball and fencing. I have spent 2-3 years on both sports and it's really fun! My favorite colors are blue (every shade, but especially baby blue and turquoise) ,and rose gold. I prefer spicy food over sweet food.
Now let's move on to Effie, another new 5th grader. Effie was at UNIS, the United Nations International School, before she joined Bank Street. I asked her about some of the hardships she faced when she moved from UNIS. She said, “ I missed my friends and my old school , it’s hard to make friends, and a lot of drama problems.” She said that for her, one new activity is Shop. Effie’s favorite sport is soccer. She likes blue. Unlike me, she prefers sweet over spicy.
Louise is another new student to Bank street in the 6th grade. We asked her about what hardships she faced moving to a new school. She responded, “It was hard making new friends because a lot of people already have friends.” Before coming to Bank Street, Louise attended the Growing up at Green Charter School. Horseback riding is her favorite sport, and she prefers spicy over sweet. Louise’s favorite colors are purple and gold. When I asked her about unfamiliar activities, she said, “ There are more resources in Bank Street because in my old school we didn’t really have much resources so we had no library ,shop, and we had a small art room.”
Finally, Matteo is another new student in the 6th grade. About moving to Bank Street, he said, “It wasn’t really that difficult, not really a hard transition because it’s my 4th year moving to a new school but I guess it was difficult adjusting to new routines .” Mateo was previously at PS 84, where he did not have “ STEAM, clubs, drama, activity cycle, and didn’t have a science club that advanced.” Mateo’s favorite color is red. He likes football, and likes sweet things.
So everyone, I hope you learned a thing or two about our new students at Bank Street. It was a nice experience for me to learn more about Effie , Louise,and Mateo and share with everyone about me too. I hope you enjoyed it too!
Word on the Street Emily & Leela, 10/11s
Hi BSL readers! Welcome to another Word on the Street. The question is, drumroll please… What is the best animal fun fact you know? This week, the word on the street has a twist - instead of students, we’re interviewing four teachers! We interviewed two sixth grade, one fifth grade, and a specialist teacher! We hope you take this as an opportunity to spark conversation with a teacher you don’t know. Below are the responses!
Word on the Street Leela, 10/11s
Hi Bank Street live readers! Welcome to another word on the street! The question of the week is: what snacks do you want for the school dance? Once again I interviewed a 5th, 6th, and 7th grader and two teachers! Below are what kids you know had to say about this!
Why It Is Important to Form Good Habits Keira, 13/14S
People often mistake habits for willpower. People who are on top of things, eat healthy, etc., do not always have great willpower. Chances are they formed a habit. You may say: “It is really difficult to form a habit. The benefits are not worth all the work.” There are some habits that are so easy to form, but they still make a huge impact! Some of them take as little as 90 seconds a day. In the grand scheme of things, 90 seconds a day is not a lot.
Spending a few minutes taking long deep breaths reduces stress and boosts your physical and mental health. It is recommended that you spend five minutes on this every day, but as little as 90 seconds each day can make a huge health difference. Another great and easy habit is to move your body! For as little as five minutes, moving your body can lessen the chance of health problems and depression. 11 minutes of exercise a day has been proven to lengthen your life, but any amount will make a good impact. You could set a time each day to take a movement break and just do jumping jacks, run in place, stretch, or just walk around the room.
A habit that most people have already formed is to socialize with friends or family. Socializing helps people feel seen, heard, and not feel lonely. It decreases the chance of having a heart attack, stroke, early death, and depression. Socializing with people you care about is also fun!
It is proven very helpful to prepare healthy snacks ahead of time. When you’re hungry and do not want to spend time slicing fruit and vegetables, you will probably just go grab a bag of processed food. Instead, you should have healthy food prepared and ready to be eaten, and it only takes five minutes. That way, when you are hungry, you can grab some pre-cut fruits and vegetables.
Lastly, walking is proven to make an enormous impact on your life. Scientists used to think that walking 10,000 steps a day helps reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and early death. It is now proven that walking in general helps reduce the risks, even if you just go for a ten minute walk. Taking a five minute walk every 30 minutes has an immediate reaction in blood sugar and pressure.
There are four simple steps to forming a habit:
Make a goal. Make sure that the goal is very specific and possible for you to complete; say how often and long you plan to do it each day instead of saying that you will do it each day. Make sure your goal is not too crazy, meaning you can complete it. This will make it easier to get started and see your progress.
Make a “cue” that tells you it is time to do your goal. For example, every morning after you walk your dog, you complete your goal for the day. This will help your habit stick and help you remember it.
Most people overestimate their will power and set a goal for themselves. They want to achieve their goal as fast as possible, so they will take the hard way. Research shows that if you make your goal fun, you are more likely to complete more. For example, If you decide you want to run in the marathon, when training on a treadmill, you could listen to your favorite podcast or watch your favorite show. Just make sure you do not listen to that podcast or watch that show when you are not running, that way, you reward yourself when you are forming your habit and you are more compelled to follow through. Another good way to do this is to give yourself something you want only when you are working towards your goal.
The best way to build a habit is repetition, but if you do it every morning at the same time, your routine will become brittle and more challenging to follow through. When you begin forming your habit, it is important to complete it at different times and stay flexible. A good way to stay flexible is to give yourself a certain amount (about ten) of “emergency reserves” for emergencies when you cannot follow through. Emergency reserves also help you feel less discouraged so you do not entirely end your goal.
If you want to get in good shape, instead of asking a friend who is not in the habit of working out to work out with you, you should join a workout group. Just be careful that you don’t go crazy; if you just want to be in good shape but you are training with a professional weight lifter, it can be discouraging. Tell your friends and family about your goal to get social support.
There is not a certain amount of time it takes to form a habit; it depends on the habit, and everyone takes a different amount of time. Make sure not to give up and try your hardest and forming a habit of your own will not be too hard.
It is important to form good habits at a young age. The earlier you introduce a habit, the more likely it is to stick.You should make the habit fun so that you associate the habit with fun and games. Children begin to develop habits at age nine, so the sooner you start forming good habits, the better. Habits are actions and behaviors that people perform subconsciously, so they are really difficult to break. This is because when we repeat an action, a chemical called dopamine is released into the brain that causes pleasure and strengthens the habit. If you find yourself with a bad habit, try to remember not to do it whenever you realize that you are doing it. It is really hard, so do not be discouraged if it does not go away immediately, it will take some time. Just keep persisting.
Why should you take time to create habits? Some habits are extremely easy to form but can be super impactful to your health. The question you should be asking is, why not?
Who is New PE Teacher Rich? Jackson & Ryan, 13/14s
We interviewed Rich Joseph, a new member of the Bank Street community. He teaches Upper School PE.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
How did the setting in which you grew up in shape you into the person you are today? I grew up in a predominantly Caribbean area, with parents from Haiti. Growing up, sports were also central to my life. The culture and food within my community has also certainly shaped my perspective on the world and who I am today.
What motivated you to become a teacher? What motivated me to become a teacher is my joy of working with kids, and my joy of being active and moving.
What is your favorite food? My favorite food is Cacio e Pepe.
What are your thoughts on Bank Street so far? Bank Street is a fun place. The students here are fun, open, and laidback. I also really admire the strength of the community here, as students have been together for many years.
What hobbies do you enjoy partaking in? I enjoy DJing, playing tennis, working out, watching movies, and making films.
What sports teams do you support? I support all New York teams including the Knicks, the Giants, the Yankees, the Rangers, and the Liberty. Elaborate more on film. Why do you like it? Film has always been central in my family. When I was a kid we would often watch movies together which I really enjoyed. This love of movies encouraged me to make my own films and now I have never stopped. As a matter of fact, my short film is on Prime Video.
Who is 8th Grade Math and Science Teacher Laelena? Jackson & Ryan, 13/14s
We interviewed Laelena, an eighth grade Math and Science teacher, so people can get to know a new teacher in our community.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Berkeley, California.
How did the setting in which you grew up in shape you into the person you are today? I grew up in a progressive city. The schools I attended were committed to social justice and change. I also learned about the inequities of the world and how people could leave a positive impact on others. I went to a large, diverse high school that was self segregated. Throughout high school I saw inequities and challenges in providing high quality education for all students. This caused me to become an advocate.
What motivated you to become a teacher? I had very strong teachers that inspired me to become one. I have always been good at math but I hated it when I was young because I was the only girl in the class and math just didn’t seem relevant. When I got into college I became interested in economics and I realized how math was applicable to the real world. This caused me to develop a strong interest in math.
What is your favorite food? What is your favorite drink? My favorite drinks are water and tea. I like tea because it keeps me warm. Growing up in California I was very used to the sunlight but ever since I moved to New York, I have hated the cold so tea warms me up. My favorite food is fried chicken. I enjoy all different styles, including Korean, Chinese, and Southern. I also enjoy it in the forms of chicken and waffles, as well as sandwiches. Fried chicken is a very versatile food.
What are your thoughts on Bank Street so far? I love it. It seems like a very tight knit community that is open to talking about challenges and growth. I admire the fact that it is supportive of students and staff.
What hobbies do you enjoy partaking in? I enjoy watching sports, hiking, spending time in nature, and watching musicals.
Did you play sports growing up? I played softball starting from third grade all the way through high school. I also played a bit of soccer and I played rugby in college.
What sports teams do you support? My favorite teams are the Oakland Athletics, and the Golden State Warriors. Although I enjoy watching football, I do not have a strong affinity with a specific team.
What brought you to Bank Street? I was looking for a school with a welcoming and strong community. I was also looking for a school that cares about developing students’ personalities, not just their abilities to get good grades. Bank Street fulfilled both desires of mine.
Bank Street Live Congratulates Artists & Flash Fiction Writers
Artists Anaika & Oskar
Why School Should Start Later for Teens Eva 13/14s
What percent of teenagers do you think are sleep deprived? Maybe 10% or 20%? Well, it’s a lot more than that. According to Teens and Sleep: The Cost of Sleep Deprivation, 70% of teenagers suffer from sleep deprivation. That’s a supermajority. The supermajority of teens are currently sleep deprived. Many people blame that statistic purely on technology, which is definitely a cause, but there is a biological factor that many people disregard. Melatonin, the chemical that makes people sleepy, is actually delayed by 90 minutes in teenagers. Teens' bodies aren’t physically tired at 9, they become tired around 11 instead. The melatonin is also less intense, meaning teens are less tired, and adolescents are more sensitive to nighttime light, making it harder to get to sleep. All of these factors cause teens to be night owls, which normally would be fine if it wasn’t for one crucial component: school. Let’s do some math, shall we? The average teen becomes tired around 11, and assuming they go to bed immediately it will take them around 30 minutes to get to sleep. There is a wide range of times for when teens have to wake up to get to school, generally between 5am and 7am, according to a lot of teens on Quora, meaning teens would get around seven and a half hours of sleep on the high end, and five and a half hours on the low end. That might seem like enough sleep, but it isn’t for any teenager. I looked at at least 30 different sources, and all of them said the same thing: teens need 9 - 9 and a half hours of sleep every night. At the very least, 8 hours, but most teens need more than that. A lot of teens think that 6 hours is enough for them, but that isn’t true. Every study done by a reliable source on this has shown that it’s unhealthy for any teenager to get less than 8 hours, no matter what.
According to Better Health, not getting enough sleep can lead to so many physical and mental issues, such as decreased ability to focus, weakened immune system, more irritability, foggy memory, slow thinking, and little energy, just to name a few. As you can probably tell, it becomes difficult for teens to do well in school with all of these issues, and as we’ve established, the majority of teens have to go through this every day. There are many studies that show that lack of sleep lowers GPA and test scores. One study done by UCLA Health showed that people who got 3 or fewer hours of sleep the night before a final exam scored around 50%, people who got 4-7 hours of sleep got around 60%, while those who got 8-10 hours of sleep got around 70%. That’s a twenty percent increase for people who got more sleep! Another study by The Washington Post shows that sleep caused about one fourth of the difference in grades in a classroom, meaning a student that got an 80% could have gotten an 85% if they had slept more. Clearly, a good amount of sleep is needed for a good education.
There might seem to be a simple solution: teens should learn to get tired earlier. Sadly, that does not work as well as some people might think, for several reasons. According to the article Three Common Bedtime Habits Destroying Your Sleep, teens should not just go to bed earlier and hope that they become tired, because it is bad for your sleep to go to bed when not tired. If you go to bed before your body is ready to sleep, you will not fall asleep, you will just lay in bed not sleeping. That leads to sleep anxiety, and can make your brain associate your bed with not sleeping, which sabotages future nights of sleep. And to be tired enough to get to sleep really early, a teen would have to already be extremely sleep deprived, which is what we want to avoid. Also, the article Sleep and Teenagers shows that the majority of teens that stay up late do so because they have to do homework and study for tests, rather than because of procrastinating or screens. Taking melatonin daily does not work either, because your body builds an immunity and a dependency on it. That means that it will no longer make you more tired, but if you still need to take it to feel any sort of tired. So trying to force yourself to be tired does not help either. The last solution would be to try and catch up on sleep over weekends, but that does not work. You can not make up for a bad night’s sleep, you have lost that night. Clearly, there is no way for teens to get enough sleep at night. Or is there…?
Teens have trouble getting to sleep early at night, but they have no trouble sleeping in late. The average high school starts around 8am, and the average teen gets around 2 or 3 less hours of sleep than they should. So, if school started at 10am, teens would be much more likely to get the sleep they need. School hours could be from 10am to 5pm instead of 8am to 3pm, and extracurricular activities could be after that. It would fit a teen’s sleep schedule a lot better, and teachers, who can get to sleep earlier, could go to school early instead of staying late. This system allows teens to get the sleep they need so that they can do well in school and generally lead happier and healthier lives, and it doesn’t drastically change the schedules of adults and teachers. School starting later is the best possible solution to help teenagers, and help adolescents to lead the happiest, healthiest, and strongest academic lives they can.
Thank you to all those who submitted art or writing! The votes for the writing & drawing contest are almost in! The voting was so difficult because there were so many great pieces. If you didn’t submit, there is always next year! The winners will be announced soon!
Why French is the Best Class, Eva 13/14s
Cookies, everyone likes cookies. Well, most people at least. Studies show that 93% of Americans regularly eat cookies, it is the eighth most popular food among children, and 300 cookies are consumed per person every year in America. It is safe to say that children love cookies, and with good reason. The article 10 Reasons to be Thankful for Cookies outlines many reasons why cookies are a gift to all humans, including that they make people happy, they are delicious, they can be creative, and they bring people together. The only worry around cookies would be feeding children too many cookies, and health experts say that one or two small cookies is the healthy amount to eat every day. How does this relate to French? Well, in French class Malado gives us cookies to motivate us. We all love the cookies, and he only gives us a couple of small ones, tops. But he doesn’t just give us cookies, we have to earn them by speaking good French, participating, and doing our homework. And you can lose points by mocking people or cheating. This system teaches good morals, as well as motivating us to try harder.
Motivation can help in many ways. It can help change behavior, people who originally wouldn’t participate started to chime in. Motivation can also help people set goals, which means people know what they are working towards. It can also boost interest, meaning more people are genuinely interested in French than they would be if there were no cookies. All of those not only help people get better at French, but also means people have fun while doing it. Also, giving rewards to people for doing an action causes them to be more likely to do it again. This is called positive reinforcement. People associate doing well in French with getting cookies, meaning their brains become wired to want to do well in French, even without thinking about the cookies. It becomes a natural response to French class. Rewards also help affirm people, so people feel good about themselves. It feels nice to get a physical reward for doing something, because it helps people feel proud of themselves, and it gives them a sense of accomplishment. According to The Power of Rewards and Why we Seek Them Out, getting rewards activates something in people’s brains, and the fact that one is winning a reward is more desirable than the rewards itself. Even a piece of paper that says “reward” will motivate people because of this. It’s even better when the reward is a cookie, something that people love. Another thing that helps is the friendly competition in the class. Having competition makes students more motivated to work and participate. It enables physiological and physical action, and leads to a better performance, or in this case, better and more French speaking. Competition also can give a little bit of stress, but the amount in French is just enough to motivate people without making them overly anxious. It is important for children to feel a bit of discomfort while learning, and the competition gives children just the right amount. Even the fact that I’m writing this article is in part due to the competition (et car j’adore le français), which shows how motivated the competition makes us. We get points for saying the weather, and because of that people started coming up with more complicated sentences, and learning more French so that they could gain more points. A down side of competition is that it could lead to people being spiteful of those on the other side, but that doesn't happen in French. Everyone in the class is still friends with each other, and the competition can even help people bond, because we all feel more connected to our class, and therefore more connected to our classmates. A little bit of competition is great for learning, so long as it doesn’t get out of hand.
And now, a part in French: Je pense que tout le monde dans la classe de français adore ça. On trouve ça très excitant, vraiment amusant, assez drôle, mais ça peut aussi être un peu fatigant, parce que nous sommes très bruyants. Mais tout le reste est super, donc ça va, même si on est bruyants. On joue à beaucoup de jeux en français, et n’y a pas beaucoup de contrôles. C’est génial, parce qu'on n’aime pas les contrôles. On dessiné beaucoup de cartes, et ensuite on joue avec les cartes qu'on a créées. C’est toujours amusant, et je gagne parfois. On adore gagner, donc on travaille beaucoup. J'aide mes amis, et d’autres personnes aussi. C’est vraiment incroyable. Malado est un excellent professeur, parce qu'il est bon, enthousiaste, et il organise des super classes. J’adore la langue française, car Malado et le cours de français sont géniaux, et plus amusant que les autres classes. Passez une bonne journée, et pensez au français!
We probably all know that the Upper School was planning to have the Upper School Dance. But do we all know it was canceled? I had a virtual interview with Saara about why the dance was canceled. Here is what she has to say:
Why was the dance canceled? We are canceling the dance because of the uptick in COVID-19 cases in the community. Having the entire upper school together in the gym presents an increased risk to the health and well-being of everyone. Of course, there are many risks we are taking, which include having a musical and having the 12/13s and 13/14s go on overnight trips. Since these also require a lot of planning, and support time from our health team, we run the unfortunate risk of overwhelming our systems (nurses, testing). A tradeoff needed to be made, and in this case, prioritizing the major curricular experiences (which I mentioned before) was the choice. I am very disappointed to have had to make this decision.
Do you have plans to have a different community event? I am meeting with our Deans, Ryan and Julia, to think about other things we can do to bring the community together safely and outdoors. We definitely want to make sure there are wonderful experiences for kids - even if they are not the same ones we have had pre-COVID.
What other things about the dance should BSL readers know? I am so disappointed. I like doing the school dances and I was really excited about ending my time at Bank Street with a huge celebration. I hope we can find something else because everyone loves a big party!
Now, I want to break the sadness over this decision by offering community event ideas that the Upper School could use instead of the dance. We could have:
another block party
Upper School park picnic
individual grade parties
individual Jr. and Sr. parties
day of flex time/choice time
half a day of flex time/choice time w/ school-provided food (pizza + snacks)
half a day of games with the other class in your grade
There are so many other community events we could have, so bring your ideas to Saara or to our Deans, Ryan and Julia!
The Process of Writing an Article for Bank Street Live, Nate 11/12’s and Quincy 10/11’s
You know we write articles here at B(ank) S(treet) L(ive), but not many people get to see the inside. Here is a glimpse into the BSL newsroom. Step 1: Create an idea To create an idea first we need to think of a few possible ideas. This could be an interest, a question, a protest/petition, and much more. Nate & Quincy are always looking for current events articles. Nora thinks about what people are interested in and also about what she herself is interested Step 2: Research that idea (if needed) After we get an idea for an article, we need to find out more. To do this, we do some research. This can mean surfing the internet, watching educational videos, interviewing people, and other things. Step 3: Write a rough draft We need to write the whole article based on what you think you should say, and don’t forget to add a photo! After you finish your first draft it should be edited to make more sense to other people, not only yourself. Step 4: Edit the article After a rough draft has been made, we need to edit and revise. We move it to the correct google drive folder, and wait, and eventually Niki and Julia give you comments and we make the edits, and after you move to the last step. Step 5: Publish! After lots of writing, the article finally gets published on BSL! Now, read more articles now that you can appreciate the long process of writing them. And don’t forget the most important articles: Nate and Quincy’s current event articles.
The 8/9s Recycle, Ruth 10/11s
The past few years, the 8/9s have been collecting dried-out markers to send to the Crayola company, so that the ink can be refreshed and the markers reused. The third grade is continuing this recycling program this year. Markers can be dropped off at classrooms 404, 405, or 402, or at the marker collection box on your floor. It is important to recycle, as I expect you know. Bring on the markers!
Rules:
NO pens, pencils, or crayons
YES to bringing markers from your own home
DO NOT dry out the marker deliberately
YES to markers, Sharpies, highlighters, really any kind of marker!
Adults forcing children into music Lara 10/11s
Body (the writing): I love music, many young people love music, playing music is fun, but is practicing fun? Answer honestly, I mean, if you happen to play an instrument, do you enjoy practicing?
If you’re in fifth or sixth grade, you know about jam sesh, right? And, well, maybe this happens with chorus too? In my class, some kids are being told by their adults that they have to attend jam sesh. I notice everywhere that kids don’t like practicing their instrument. It’s a problem. The problem is that kids dislike practicing their instrument, but they think that they dislike playing it. We all love performing. No question about that. Kids’ families love music so much that they think their kid needs to love it. The kid might love music, but the adult thinks: “Oh, my kid should love music as much as I do! I’ll force them into so-and-so!” And the kid thinks “Ugh. I’ve been forced into doing so-and-so! I don’t like music!” When the kid actually does like music, they’ve just been forced into something they don’t like involving music. In fact, as I was writing this article, my Mom came over and said: “Oh! I have an idea! Why don’t you go practice violin?” And so I did. It was fine, but the thought of it just doesn’t feel right.
Being forced to do something you love and then not loving it because you are forced to do it? It happens all the time, and it’s a problem. Imagine something you love, like playing with a pet, playing video games, hanging with friends, reading, eating something good, etc. Now imagine being forced to do it. No choice. You have to improve it. After time, it gets to be a bit much. You get annoyed with doing it. It becomes like a chore, and you no longer enjoy it. What a shame. That’s what happens. And no one likes it. This can also happen with sports, art, and even reading. It is a problem but we can fix it. You might not believe it, but this is quite a big problem, I mean, kids might not think they like instruments when they actually do, and raise their kids to not play an instrument, and where would we find musicians for those kids’ generation?
So let's tell our adults.
THIS or THAT Ideas, Lara 10/11s
Hark! Upper school, we all know what “This or That” is, right? Do you ever have ideas about what you want to be asked? Opinions you’d like to share? Are they bursting out of your head right now? I hope not. If they are, you can’t read this! You have to have medical attention! Well, you’ve been reading that, haven’t you? So, I suppose you are all set to read what's in other people’s heads. (Or, was, anyway. Now they are on this site for you to read!)
Sodium or Carbs (anonymous submission) Screwdriver or Hammer (anonymous submission) Mammal or Reptile and Water or Juice (Nora) Pink or Blue, Pen or Pencil, and Tropical or Arctic (Ruth) Pikachu or Mewtwo (Henry) Family Circus or Traveling Pet Troop (Emberlynn) Cake or Frosting Knees or Elbows Fantasy or Sci-fi Sweatshirt or Cardigan Cookie or Cupcake Sneakers or Sandals (as pictured above) Romeo or Juliet, and Crystal or Amethyst Pickle or Tophat (Nate) Alligator or Crocodile Ramen or Spaghetti, Pizza or Hamburger, Cat or Dog, Takeout or Delivery, and Lemon Juice or Vinegar (Pilar)
I hope you’ve had fun viewing the wondrous spectacle that is others’ ideas. Or your own, if you contributed to this project. And hey, if you happen to be whomever curates the This or That board every morning, feel free to take inspiration from this.
I’m not sure if this is a common struggle, but I’ve been having a hard time tracking my assignments ever since we returned to virtual school. Now I’m usually pretty diligent with my assignments, but lately, I’ve just had to push myself a little bit harder to remember things, pay attention to due dates, all that jazz. However, I have a feeling that a recently discovered Chrome extension will prevent this from happening again. The extension is called Taskade and it is a fairly simple, visually pleasing tab theme in which you can create workspaces and tasks within them.
The program is pretty self explanatory and comes with a quick tutorial the first time you use it. Honestly, aside from setting up your workspace (which the tutorial covers), you don’t have to set much up. There’s no log-in required so you don’t have to worry about revealing any information. It’s good to play around with it once in a while, and you can always discover new things. There’s a bunch of hidden-ish features that you can find out about as time goes on.
I personally like making my workspaces by subject as a way to make it most like a homework planner. It is meant to work for teams in a workplace, but it’s perfect for individual planning as well. Taskade also has a calendar where you can see all your assignments placed on the day they’re due. Like I said, it’s simple so use and a godsend for students with a lot of homework.
Printed or Online? Lydia, 11/12s
Bank Street Live is our online newspaper, but what if we had an actual printed out version for teachers and students to grab enroute to their classroom? There are pros and cons to having a newspaper we can hold in our hands. Folks in our community weighed in with a range of opinions.
“I think that if it was printed we might have increased readership, but I’m wondering how we could get more readership without having it printed,” says seventh grade humanities teacher and Bank Street Live co-facilitator Julia Fields. “It also might be hard for the editors (the teachers) to get the edits in on time for the paper to be printed.”
Jo Stein, eighth grade humanities teacher and co-facilitator of Bank Street Live worries about the cost of having a printing press. She adds that it’s definitely better for the environment to have it online.“Having a website is also nice because you can share the articles with family and friends in our community,” Stein says.
Katharine Smith of the sixth grade has very positive feelings towards a print out newspaper. “I think it’s a really good idea! People always look at the first few articles on the top of the page on the website and it would be cool if people could see my work in a new way. They would look through the whole newspaper and get to spread it out and see what articles to read.”
In contrast, Ethan Seemann, a sixth grade student, is conflicted. “We would definitely have more readership and eventually more writers coming to write, but it would waste a lot of paper that people will throw away.”
Eighth grader Ellie Heller adds, “I think that it would be a good idea, we would have more readers, it would be more visible in classrooms, and I think more people would be inclined to read it in their free time. It might waste paper but we wouldn’t need to make many copies.”
It sounds like many are worried about the environmental cost if we were to switch to actual print. “I think that online is better because if people take a paper and then don’t really read it and throw it away, or no one takes one, it’s a big waste, for people's hard work and for the environment,” says Coy Daily, Bank Street School for Children Director of Equity and Diversity, and a reader of Bank Street Live.
To conclude, I just want to say that there are many opinions here and that all of them are valuable and totally worth listening to. I hope that you will think about this question on your own time and if you have any thoughts feel free to write an article on Bank Street Live! We always welcome new voices. Keep pondering mysteries!
Sources Julia Fields, seventh grade humanities teacher Jo Stein, eighth grade humanities teacher Kathrine S., sixth grade pod c student Ethan S., sixth grade pod a student Ellie H., eighth grade pod b student Coy Daily, director of equity and diversity
How Schools Are Dealing With Coronavirus & Reopening, Ellie & MT 13/14s
Schools that would like to reopen are taking various safety procedures in order to ensure as low a rate as possible for potential outbreaks of coronavirus based on reopenings in New York City. In New York City, the coronavirus rate must stay under 3% for seven days for in-person education to continue. Schools are taking numerous measures to ensure as much safety as possible. Students now have desks that are approximately six feet apart and are now eating lunch in classrooms instead of in a shared cafeteria. The New York City government is also fining people who are not wearing masks. All of these procedures help ensure the lowest possible rate of outbreaks.
Two schools, Mott Haven Academy and Broome Street Academy, have received attention because of their community outreach. The schools, which began the year virtually, mainly serve students most at risk for coronavirus - low-income families and students in the child welfare system - have done an amazing job providing services to help deal with the effects of the coronavirus. One teacher took one of their student’s family onto her personal cell phone plan. The schools also offered weekly counseling, and other teachers helped get cash and food into students’ homes, as some parents have lost jobs, or don’t have enough money in general.
Our school population, at Bank Street has been privileged to not only have small class sizes, but to also receive testing twice a week. We wanted to get some opinions from students at Bank Street and at some public schools on how they think schools are handling the reopening process.
Bank Street Students:
“I think they are doing a really good job. The system they have makes me feel safe to be in the building. The hand sanitizer is always empty but other than that, I think their system is really good.”
“We are lucky to be able to be tested twice a week, we are lucky that we are able to open. I think they are good and since the rules are followed, it is safe to be at school.”
“I think Bank Street has been handling it very well. They’ve done a good job of making sure everyone who comes into Bank Street has their temperature checked and tested for Covid-19. I also think they are doing a great job having kids be tested for Covid-19. I mean they brought in a testing company. It shows a lot of dedication to students because not every school is doing this. A lot of dedication and time and commitment to students. Everyone at school has been doing a good job and that alone is an accomplishment. They have been getting six-year-olds to wear masks all day!”
“I think they’ve done great. They have students wearing masks all day, testing, staggered arrival, phase-in, etc. I really don’t think they could have done better with the resources and time that they were given, and I’m super happy that we are going back in person!”
“I think compared to other schools they’ve been doing really well. A lot of schools haven’t been able to set up well, and we’re really lucky because we’re able to be in our classrooms, with our teachers, having fun, but also knowing that we’re safe too. It’s a well thought out process. Overall, it’s great that we have testing 2 times a week so we know me and my peers are healthy. I don’t feel invaded with my personal space at all, and I think as a community, we’re taught to respect each other, while still having a fun school experience.”
“I think that Bank Street has handled reopening to the best of their abilities. Compared to my siblings' school, the administration has done a much better job of communicating together, and with families. I’m very happy to be in-person school, and I’m very thankful to the staff because all of them are working so hard. I feel comfortable in the building, because we’re all wearing masks, and social distancing, and getting tested, however when we eat inside our classrooms it does seem a bit unsafe, but I understand the circumstance.”
“I think that Bank Street has done a good job handling reopening. Some schools haven’t even gone in person, and Bank Street had a good plan with their phase-in. I definitely feel safe with the new procedures that are happening. I like that we have to get tested twice a week, it definitely makes me feel safer. It’s amazing how Bank Street came up with different solutions to not having too many people in one classroom and making as many pods needed and finding a space for each pod.”
“I think that Bank Street has handled reopening very well. We stay in our pods, and the phase in was helpful I think. We also get tested a lot, although it took a long time the first time, but I think it will get better with practice. I feel completely safe in the building. There’s hand sanitizer everywhere, windows are always open, we go outside a decent amount, we’re all wearing masks, the desks are pretty far apart, we don't see other people, and the hallways signs are nice.”
“I think they did pretty well, there isn’t really any other school in New York City that’s going this far to try to keep their students safe. They spent a lot of time creating a sophisticated plan to solve any problems in case a kid or teacher gets coronavirus. I do feel comfortable in the building with the new procedures, everybody is spaced out and wearing a mask and honestly wearing a mask just feels normal to me now. I’ll get home from school, and not think to take my mask off.”
Public School Students:
For one public school in New York City, students had to get tested for coronavirus before in-person school started and get their temperatures checked every morning. There are about 12 students per class, and they stay in one classroom for the entirety of the day. They have hybrid schedules that differ based on what group a student is in. Also, masks are required unless students need to drink water or eat.
At another public school, in New Jersey, there are also precautions in place to keep students safe. Students have to wear masks, they have to sit alone at desks, and their fever must be checked every morning. There are also arrows pointing in certain directions in hallways. They did not however, have to get tested before school started, or have to get tested at any time while school is in session.
Many schools have been putting a lot of effort into reopening. Some schools have handled the pandemic better than others. We are willing to wear masks at school, but we don’t want to wear them any more than is completely necessary! After getting opinions from many students, we believe that Bank Street has done a really good job. We are very lucky that our school can reopen and that we can be in person for most of the week, while still staying safe.
Daily operations in the family handbook Neel, Claire, and Anaika, 10/11s Page 17-24 in the handbook
We went around the school interviewing Bank street staff about what they think of the school rules in the parent handbook. We let the people who we interviewed pick a category and then we would ask them specific questions. Please enjoy the paragraphs we voice-recorded of the people we interviewed.
Ryan (Rules for children in the building) : I think that some of the rules are not followed, such as the rules prohibiting rough-play in the lobby. I also think that I see many unsupervised children in the lobby. I think that parents and families should make an effort to make after-school plans for their children. I also think that students need to be aware of the expectations and uphold them.
Jen (cell phone/handheld devices policy and dismissal): I think that students are following the rules about when to use cell phones and technology, and it’s a good system. It should be more clear that phones aren’t allowed in the morning. I also think that kids can have phones out in the lobby, but only to contact their guardians. I think that they’re taking advantage of there not being any guardians and using their phones in the stairwell and when leaving the seventh floor. I think that the dismissal system should be changed and upgraded.
Priya (library): I didn’t realize that this was how the policy was. I realized that any Upper School kid was allowed to be in the library after school alone (no parent). I think that the library policy is actually better than I thought it was originally. I thought that students were not allowed in the library before 9:00 AM and that any upper school student no matter their age wasn't allowed to be in the library after school. However, I see in the policy that it says upper school students above the 11/12s can be using the library from 3:30 to 4:30 on their own. I would love to see this actually happening because I think a library should be a student space where students come together around academic interests and right now our library is a dead zone.
Coy (cafeteria) I think the rule is telling people not to play around in the cafeteria and to eat and have conversations. When getting food, it's not clear on really what's expected for people to enter the space, so that's what's not being followed. People do what's being told, but there are various ways that that is being done. I learned that the rule gives guidelines, but it's actually a lot of stuff that's not fully clear that could be just explained a little bit more. I would ask the community to just think of what would what does it mean to actually take care of our space, and I think if people always think to take care of our space that would help to reinforce the need for having a space to eat and have conversations and remind people not to play around.
Monique and Chaylor (cafeteria, together) We think a rule that is not always followed is using the cafeteria as a play space. We think some students still see the cafeteria as like an open space like recess, and they are not used to just coming in and sitting down and eating their lunch. We learned that it is explicitly clear in the handbook that the cafeteria is not used as a play space. We think the community already does a great job at setting community guidelines and norms for each grade that uses the cafeteria. We think that we could add more staff to the cafeteria to support younger students while they use the cafeteria.
Alison (rules for children in the building) I see different variations of what's not permitted in the common areas happening in the school, so I would say with the exception of blocking the front entrance to the building, the other things still happen. They're not playing ball games per se, but they're still running around. I think parents are respectful 95% of the time of staying in the lobby or having their children stay in the lobby until 8:30 in the morning. I did not learn anything new. I would just hope that the rules can continue to work and that people behave appropriately in the hallways, and in the stairwells, and in the common spaces before, during and after school. We can reinforce the rules we can send out email reminders we can put up posters we can give gentle reminders to all students regardless of whether or not we work with them throughout the morning and afternoon.
Steph (Dress expectations) I don't see students with inappropriate or offensive language on their clothing. I do, however, see students showing significant portions of their stomachs while walking around here for school. I didn't know there were so few rules related to dress expectations . If I was a teacher and a student was wearing something inappropriate I would want to have a conversation with that student.
Jed (elevator use) I think that most students do not use the elevator during the school day and abide by the rules that say that they're only for adults or for children who are injured. I think that some students try to sneak on the elevator especially in the morning upper school students who are going to like morning math before school officially starts and if they're caught then they get sent back down and have to walk up but often times they are not caught so they get away with it. Also I have heard that some students will get off on the 6th floor and then walk up to the seventh floor because the sixth floor is a graduate school area of the college and the student to one of kind of beat the system will get off on a floor where nobody knows them and then just look like they're walking up the rest of the way. Well I kind of I review this handbook every year it's my job so I know the rules pretty well, but I would say that it is a little bit confusing because it says so actually occurs to me that there are a lot of parents who use the elevator who do not have a stroller and what the rule says is that the only parents and caregivers should be using the elevator of the ones who have strollers so we give a lot more leeway with grown-ups that we do with kids but there are a lot of kids who will get on the elevator with their grown ups and then that creates a problem because the elevator is too congested so we may need to rethink what the expectations are for the grown-ups because I will say that you know what parents have to go all the way up to the seventh floor they might not want to use the stairs but this rule says that they shouldn't use the elevator unless they have a stroller but no parent is going up to the seventh floor to the upper school would probably be using a stroller because there must have like really young kid so we might have to clarify that. I also want to say that it's really important and if there's anything else to put in your article is really important that we be mindful that there are members of our community who have physical differences that require that they be able to use the elevator therefore when people who are on the elevator are taking up space for those who really need it it doesn't really aligned with our schools commitment to social justice. I mean I would ask you all what you think is appropriate should we put signs by the elevator stating the policy should we have reminders in what we call the virtual backpack which is the newsletter that we sent home to families every Wednesday.
Our conclusion is that most teachers didn’t know the entire handbook, meaning that they can’t reinforce the rules.We thought that this was a fun interviewing thing and wish to maybe do it again with children.
Forming Healthy Study Habits and Managing Time! Alex, 13/14s
Image Source: theChilledCow (famous for his lofi hip hop radio)
We’ve all been there - you meant to begin studying for a test a week in advance but ended up cramming the night before. You had a mound of homework but didn’t start working until 6:30 - it happens to the best of us. Many students - myself included - often procrastinate or suffer from a lack of healthy study habits. While taking a 5 minute break to have a snack or watch a video is fine (and actually good for you), life can become a stressful cycle when you put off work or studying. So here are a few tips on forming beneficial study habits and more effectively managing your time.
#1: Make a plan for homework each day. You may have been told this many times before, but use your planner! Having a list of homework assignments can help you prioritize and make better use of your time. If you absolutely hate using a planner, just copy down assignments on the planner and then transfer the list into your own personal format. No matter how you plan your assignments, it is crucial for you to know when you will do your homework and how long you want to take.
#2: Take breaks and have a reward system. As I mentioned before, taking breaks is completely healthy! We are not robots and cannot work continuously without compromising the quality of assignments. Studies have shown the average teenager can stay focused in class for 15-20 minutes, according to a 2016 survey from the American Physiological Society. So after finishing an assignment or worksheet, maybe eat an orange and let your mind rest - then continue. Being cooped up on a computer all day can give you a headache and damage your retina, so take some time between tasks to let your eyes have a break too.
Taking breaks can also be a motivation of sorts. Finished your essay? Get 15 minutes of screentime. All done with reading? Have a cookie! A reward system can give you a reason to stop putting off work and start getting things done.
#3: Find your ideal work environment. We all study differently. Some of us are auditory learners, others visual learners, and we all have different work ethics. We also vary in the environments we study in - I personally find listening to music helpful when reading or annotating, as it can be relaxing when I am feeling stressed. I am also better at homework when working with a friend, so we can check each other and improve one another's work. However I know my mother works best in total silence and solitude. It is vital you are in the right environment when you want to pull a study sesh or finish up your reading - you can better focus and work if you feel comfortable and in the mood to so. By the way, I have a few playlists linked lower if you would like to listen while working.
#4: Don’t procrastinate, but don’t precrastinate either! This ties into the idea of having a reward system. Procrastination is detrimental to your physical and mental health, yes - but so is precrastination. Precrastination is the opposite of putting things off - rather, it is a lifestyle in which one obsessively works and studies even if their work is not due for days or even weeks. While getting a head start on large projects is good practice, do not burden yourself with too much work. In some instances, it is good to procrastinate and take the night off to go out for dinner or hang out with friends. Do not let work consume living your life!
More Lunch Recommendations Near Bank Street, Charles, 13/14s
If you are an 8th grader please fill out the form sent to you by email.
Koronet Pizza Koronet is known for its humongous pizzas. There has always been a debate about which is better, Famiglia or Koronet. However, if you are hungry and don’t have a lot of money on you, Koronet has a jumbo pizza for 3.25. If you want to share with your friends, all of you could share an 18” pizza for 16 dollars.
Five Guys Five guys is a slightly cheaper option than Shake Shack. FIve guys is a classic burger place, nothing fancy, just plain ol’ burgers. If you are feeling like a hamburger but don’t want to spend 10 bucks then this is the place for you.
Dos Toros (coming soon) Dos Toros is a less Americanized version of Chipotle. It is also much cheaper than Chipotle. With prices ranging from $3 to $9. They will be coming in the fall of 2019.
Sweetgreen This restaurant is on the slightly more premium side. The prices at this establishment compared to Chipotle. You can make your own salad for $8.75 with 6 toppings and no premiums. With premiums, your price will be around $10. I frequently go to this place when I want to get something healthy. Don't be fooled, these are very big salads with an average calorie count of 500-650 calories.
West Side Market Westside Market has countless products that are ready to eat. I cannot explain the surplus of products that are available there. Everyone will find something they like for a very good price. If you want a simple salad, Westside Market has a very good deal, $7.99 per POUND! If you want a quick burger you can grab one for $6. From sushi to tamales to artisan cheeses, West Side Market has virtually everything.
Mill Korean If you like Korean food, Mill Korean will appeal to you. Although this is a restaurant, their service is fast and you can be in and out in under 7 minutes. I recommend The Mill Lunchbox. You can choose between beef, spicy pork, or chicken. Then you can choose between fried rice and white rice. It comes with vegetable kimbap (Korean vegetable sushi), a salad with sesame dressing and tempura vegetables. If that wasn’t enough, it comes with a cup full of miso soup and Kimchi.
Take Rock Band! Liam andCharlie, 10/11s
Rock Band is a great experience for a student who loves music because you make friends, sing songs, and play instruments. In addition, you will get to leave class early! On the first day, the first thing that happens when you go to Rock band is a song vote. There are template songs and after you vote for those you can suggest your own songs.
After that, you leave. Some days pass...fast forward next Tuesday, practice songs, days pass, repeat, repeat, repeat. Then last rehearsal, leave...not that many days pass, blah bleh bleh blah, TWO CONCERTS! YIPPEE DIPPY DOO! Repeat repeat repeat, another two concerts, schools over...Bye! See you next year! Everyone who tries out gets to go in the first year. Then, if you’re lucky enough, you get to be in it like one of the authors of this article, who’s been in rock band three years now. It’s the other author’s first year at rock band.
Unfortunately, if you don’t place any instruments, you can’t play one. No worries! You can still participate in Rock Band by…drumroll please...SINGING! You can start practicing another instrument now, if you want also. RELEASE YOUR INNER VOICE AND SING!! LET YOUR ANGELIC VOICE FLOW FREE!!! Let’s hear em, boys! “Lalalalala*voice crack*lalalala*squeak*lalalalalala!!!” Er…..go get em tiger!! Bankstreet may change sometimes, but Rock Band retains its value!
What You Should Never Say/Do To Your Teachers, Addy and Lucy 12/13s
If you often get in trouble for small (or big) things that could possibly aggravate your teachers in any way, this article will teach you to know the boundaries.
Never ask when you are getting a graded assignment back (if you ever get it back).
Do not ask the teachers what the homework is because it is most likely on the homework document that your class has already created.
Do not question your teachers’ tardiness.
Do not be snoopy. . .you do not know what you will find.
Do not ask to go to the bathroom at the same time as your peer/s. It is very suspicious.
Do not space out in class and then claim that you were listening. They always know the truth.
Do not get a bad score on an easy quiz, you clearly didn’t study.
Do not underestimate your teachers’ knowledge about your social life.
Do not make unnecessary comments all of the time during class. Your teachers do not appreciate any interruptions of the sort.
Do not say inappropriate things to your teachers, they may think that it is ludicrous but it is not appropriate in the long run.
Remember to laugh at ALL of their jokes, even the bad ones.
If you see them outside of school RUN! Do not even think about looking back until you are out of the country!