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Towson University trip leads to inspiration and learning

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by Jose I. Serpas

The 11th and 12th grade Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) students from Patterson High School went on a field trip to Towson University on October 15, 2025. The purpose of this trip was to visit the campus and attend a conference about education.

When we arrived, the university staff welcomed us and gave us a tour of the campus. We saw different buildings, classrooms, and student areas. Many of us were excited to imagine what it would be like to study there in the future.

The student who guided us around the campus was a very respectful and inspiring person. She explained the importance of education and talked about Towson University’s commitment to helping students stay on their path and become future educators. Her words made many of us think about our own goals.

Later, we attended several conferences where professors and college students talked about education, careers, and opportunities for the future. They inspired us to keep working hard and to think about our goals after high school.

Ms. Sánchez, the TAM teacher, said, “I am very proud of my students. This trip is important because it helps them see what college looks like in real life. Many of them are the first in their families to explore a university campus, and I feel happy watching them learn, ask questions, and think about their futures. I hope this experience gives them confidence and shows them that they can achieve their goals if they keep working hard.”

Nelson Fonseca, a 12th grade TAM student, said, “For me, this trip was very meaningful. Walking around the campus helped me understand what college life really is. I liked seeing the classrooms, the buildings, and the students. It made me think more seriously about what I want to study and what I want for my future. This visit motivated me to focus more on my graduation and to prepare myself for the next step after high school.”

The trip was a great experience for everyone. We learned more about college life and what it means to be a university student. It was a day full of learning, motivation, and dreams for the future.

Homecoming pep rally inspires Patterson Pride

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by Saniyah Courtney

The Patterson High School football field was full of joy and excitement as the students entered the field on October 10. Every class cohort came to support their teams and get hyped up for the Homecoming game.

The event began with a powerful Color Guard performance by JROTC, setting the tone for the Pep Rally while presenting during the playing of the National Anthem. Next up was the cross country team running down the track, followed by the girls football team, the JV football team, the varsity football team, and finally, the cheerleaders. The cheerleaders brought the crowd to life with their chants, dances, and cheers, showing off their hard work and spirit.

Students filled the bleachers and field, sitting with their cohorts and waving their cohort banners, posing for pictures and shouting for their class cohort while being asked what they like about their cohort, and which class cohort is the best. Lena Brown shared, “I like that my cohort gets along and they are laid-back. The best cohort is the Class of 2026 and Class of 2027.” Roman Clark proudly declared, “2027 is the best cohort because I like the colors and we are very confident.”

The day was packed with activities, including tug-of-war, rapping performances, cup challenges. dances, and even moments when ice buckets were thrown, making the crowd laugh and cheer.

Around the entrance of the field, students enjoyed sweet treats from the Kona Ice truck and other fundraiser snack tables. The Marines were also there with their pull-up bar, joining in the fun and supporting the students.

One of the biggest highlights of the pep rally was the announcement of the Homecoming King and Queen for the seniors, and Prince and Princess for the juniors, which were both celebrated with loud cheers and applause from their fellow students.

Students shared their thoughts about what they enjoyed from the event and what can be improved for next year’s pep rally.

Larry Escobar said, “I think today’s pep rally was fine, but it should have more activities so everyone could be a part of it.”

Myra Fortune added, “They did a really good job, but I feel like it could have been in the gym and we could have our phones.”

Ms. Masati, a teacher at Patterson, said, “My favorite sports team that came out was all of them because I love all my students.”

Zoe Harris also said, “I liked the cheerleaders because they did it the best and they showed off.”

The pep rally was more than just a school event. It was a day filled with laughter, teamwork, and pride. Each class showed their spirit, teachers and students came together, and everyone left smiling. It was a perfect way to celebrate Patterson pride and get ready for Homecoming, reminding everyone what it means to be a true Clipper.

Patterson High School celebra la herencia hispana (SPANISH)

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Click here to read this article in English.

por Diana Perez

El departamento de Arte de Patterson nos presentó una sólida presentación cultural en nuestro pequeño auditorio el martes 30 de septiembre para nuestros estudiantes. El evento celebró nuestro cuerpo estudiantil predominantemente hispano aquí en Patterson, para ayudar a los no hispanos y a los de origen hispano a comprender su identidad haciendo algo divertido. Esto también anima a los estudiantes a sentirse cómodos enorgulleciéndose de su cultura sin miedo ni juicio.

La comida fue servida en la cafetería a las 5:00 pm y terminó a las 6:00pm . Había un montón de pupusas que también incluía variedad de salsas , mientras música latino estaba en el fondo mientras esperamos para el show. A las 7:00 pm la audiencia entró en un auditorio oscuro para ver la muestra informativa.

La actuación de apertura fue un paso apasionado de unos 30 estudiantes que representaban a sus países, envueltos en banderas y atuendos culturales, marchando al ritmo de la introducción de una canción hispana por parte de nuestra banda de música. Cada estudiante sonreía de oreja a oreja, feliz de compartir la historia de su país con el mundo.

Un poco después de que las banderas subieran al escenario, una presentación de diapositivas compartió algunos de los valores apreciados en la cultura hispana. Estas diapositivas mostraron la importancia de las especias en las comidas hispanas, dieron una idea de las vidas de los latinos en Estados Unidos, los trabajos, los estereotipos raciales y la importancia del ritmo y el baile. Aprender sobre las dificultades tácitas de los hispanos, así como su potencial de éxito, ayuda a los estudiantes a ser más conscientes de las similitudes entre su propia cultura y otras culturas.

Muchos vecinos de estudiantes, primos, abuelas y más familia se unieron para apoyar y animar a su gente, sin importar su país.

“Con toda la agitación que está sucediendo en Estados Unidos, es importante celebrar siempre que podamos”, dijo el Sr. Richard, empleado de City School, compartió la importancia del orgullo y la felicidad en las vidas latinas.

Jeanileyshka Rodríguez, estudiante de interpretación, dijo que la mejor parte de su actuación fue “poder bailar junto con mis amigos y compañeros de clase”.

La actuación de los estudiantes fue bien recibida por la audiencia, incluidos los padres, muchos de los cuales expresaron esperanzas de más celebraciones de la herencia hispana en el futuro.

Wellness Friday revitalizes students

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by Akira Sumpter 

The staff of Patterson High School planned a special Wellness Friday, October 3, where students and staff could play stress-relieving games. On this shortened school day. students had the chance to sit in quiet rooms, do arts and crafts, or enjoy the airy outdoors.

The majority of students were outside near our baseball field basking in the sun or playing kickball, enjoying the fresh air and freedom. This day was like a middle school recess, only in high school–a time where everyone could get out of stuffy classrooms, artificial lighting, and uncomfortable chairs.

During these few hours of fun, teachers volunteered to be referees and supervise all the physical activities like soccer, basketball, and kickball. The others watched and smiled as kids had fun, which is something they don’t see often in a school setting.

Students were free of worry, pressure and finally able to interact with our peers without an authority figure demanding us to be robotic. “I wish we could do something like this every month”, said student Saniya Courtney. 

Mental health is very important in order to function throughout life effectively, so taking needed breaks should always be a top priority. Knowing when you need a positive outlet to release negative emotions helps you grow as a person and it strengthens your cognitive skills.

Since this event allowed all students to participate in fulfilling activities, the student enjoyment rate was at its most high for an activity. The days following this event were some of the calmest for teachers in this building, with few if any problems from students.

In the near future, there will be more school-wide activities like this to increase literacy rates, attendance, grades, and other things that this world needs. With this and many other successful events this school year, it is clear that the Clipper ship is sailing into a positive future.

Students reflect on Teacher Academy experience

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Editor’s Note: What follows are reflections from two graduating seniors who participated in Patterson’s Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM) CTE Pathway. We were not able to include these in the May 2024 print edition of the Patterson Press but we present them to you here:


In the program, I learned many things. I progressed in my learning skills and people skills. Before, I was quiet, not really an interactive person, but the program helped me out of my comfort zone to succeed further in everyday life. This program expands my education to have a positive effect on my life. It showed me very important lessons. The T.A.M. program teaches you how to be a teacher and the ways to be a successful one. Being with my mentor (Mr. Baron) was a great experience. He let me in on key things when teaching and he helped me to really interact with students as if I was a teacher. This let me see a different perspective. Enjoy the T.A.M. pathway–It will be a great experience!
-Iyanna Jenkins – Internship TAM program, Cohort 2024

My experience being at the pathway Teacher Academy of Maryland has been wonderful. I have learned very nice things and I have also overcome some of my fears in grade ten. I learned all the wonderful things about child development. Throughout this year I have overcome one of my biggest fears, which is to be speaking in front of people I don’t know. The most difficult thing is learning how to teach like a professional, but Ms. Sanchez has helped me and she has has also given me the example of how to do it at the same time. Just like my mentor: he has been patient
with me and I have learned a lot in his class because his class is in Spanish, my first language, and I feel good learning too. And of course I am going to recommend this pathway to my friends because it is very nice to learn so many things.
-Nesly Oliva, Cohort 2024

Patterson Band marches to greatness

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(Photo by Mr. Antoine)

by Deontay Blackwell

Patterson High School offers a plethora of different CTE pathways and clubs. Among them is our school’s band. The and is split into two sections: the marching band, which is mobile and performs at parades and sporting events, and the concert band, which wears formal attire and performs at indoor events. Both sections of Patterson High School’s band have participated in many great events this school year, such as the Mayor’s Parade, the Winter Concert, the School Choice Fair, the St. James Parade, and the Springs Art Show. Additionally, Patterson has added a new musical group this school year: the choir. Although the choir is separate from the band, they frequently collaborate and perform together. 

Music teacher and band director Ms. Williams has reflected on her opinions of the band, what they have accomplished, the hardships they faced, and the efforts that went into preparing the students for the many events they did this year.

“One of the things that we’re working on is them coming up with a set list right before the performance to see if they can execute that. They don’t like it but it forces them to bring their ‘A’ game.”, Ms. Williams said.  

As a small band, they lack the numbers of performers that some other schools have, so Ms. Williams has to make sure they can play to the best of their ability through practice and testing them with a set list. There also struggles that come with having few staff members to help. 

“Sometimes I have to focus on the woodwinds to make sure they sound right, to the neglect of the percussion, which is why I asked Terrance [Whitaker] to come, so he can pay a little bit more attention to them.”

With only Ms. Williams and Mr. Whitaker on staff, they have to split their time to try make sure everyone can get equal attention and improve their abilities. Yet despite these challenges, everyone in the band still performs well. For most students, joining the band has helped them a lot. 

“[Ms. Williams] helps me a lot, helps me be outside my comfort zone, which helps me gain that confidence. She’s an amazing teacher.”, said Kailani Becker.

Becker is a band member who plays the flute. In the beginning, she used to be shy, but after a while being around her peers and the teacher it helped her as a person to become confident socially.

Kylayah Davis, the editor in chief of the Patterson Press, also plays in the band as a trumpet player. She expressed how band changed her as a person.

“ I can open myself to a lot more things… and the effort I put into band expanded to other areas.” 

Band has helped Davis become capable of putting the same amount of effort into other things she is interested in, which help her apply herself more, changing her as a person and expanding her capabilities.

As this program continues to grow, the experience will hopefully help others to also be a part of something bigger than themselves. As for Patterson, this current iteration of the band didn’t start until 2015, after many years of not having a fully functional band.

“Patterson didn’t have a band program for decades. Until I got here in 2015 is when we started…And it’s a slow build.”, Ms. Williams said.

There are many things Ms. Williams would like to add to the band to get more help, such as having coaching staff for each part of the band, including woodwinds, brass, percussion, flags, etc., and getting more instruments and equipment. But a big barrier to getting those upgrades is obtaining the funds to pay for them. Ms. Williams has been trying to get more funding for the band. Meanwhile, the school administration has been expanding the music program in other ways. This school year, Patterson hired a choir teacher, Mr. Fowler, who has already made a huge impact in terms of what kinds of performances the school can do now that we have both a band and a choir. Next year school leaders aim to add a dance teacher to the staff as well. Together, Ms. Williams and the rest of the Patterson performing arts staff will explore the possibilities of what our talented students can do for next year’s performances and for years to come as the band and the performing arts program as a whole becomes better and better.

(Photo by Mr. Antoine)
(Photo by Mr. Antoine)
(Photo by Patterson Press)

BOAST applies STEM skills to real life problems

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by Kenneth Dorsey, BOAST Program Participant

BOAST stands for Baltimore Online Algebra for Students in Technology. It is a free, after school program for students who are interested in STEM fields and careers and want to apply their Math skills to solving real world challenges. It is part of  a research study by Johns Hopkins.

Mr. Tiras is the in school representative for this program. Students in the BOAST program meet every Monday after school in Room 334. The program spans one school year, and students enrolled engage in many different engineering fields including:

  • Optical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Biomedical engineering

This school year, BOAST went on two field trips to Johns Hopkins University. On the first trip, we went over an introduction of the program. This was where we got to meet our assigned Johns Hopkins representative–the person who guides us through the BOAST curriculum.

The Hopkins representative that Patterson students were assigned was named Mr. Kohlbatz. He not only connected with us on an academic level, but on a personal level as well. He felt more like a friend than a teacher. He shared information about his personal life and academic background with us. This encouraged us to be more engaged with the work.

On the second trip, we met up back at the University and participated in a competition with the other BOAST teams. The focus of the competition was on acoustical engineering. The objective was to make a soundproofing box that could block specific decibel levels. Patterson didn’t win, but we tried our best.

The competition entailed 5 short stages or missions, which were made to be beginner friendly:

Mission 1: BOAST Introduction

¨You and your team of BOAST engineers are applying to be part of the Readiness Taskforce charged with protecting the Baltimore area from alien lifeforms. In your first Mission, familiarize yourselves with the platform used by the Taskforce. Then create an avatar to describe yourself and pitch your engineering team to the city officials looking to hire.¨

Mission 2: Technical Rescue

“The James Webb Space Telescope detects an asteroid leaving the Starfish Galaxy and heading towards Earth. As the asteroid moves closer to Earth, smaller meteoroids crash down in the Baltimore area, blocking the main roads entering the city. Use your knowledge of mechanical advantage and pulleys to design a pulley system that will allow crews to move the meteoroid debris and unblock the road.”

Mission 3: Machine Learning

“Just as things seem to be calming down, more space debris slams into a network of satellites used to gather data for weather forecasts! Using machine learning tools and the K-Nearest Neighbor technique develop a program that can accurately predict precipitation based on historical weather data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.”

Mission 4: Soundproofing

“The meteorites’ energy is causing high frequency sounds. To protect critical operations of Baltimore area institutions from the sound disruptions, city leaders call for engineering teams to develop a soundproofing device. A competition will determine the design implemented in the city. Jump into the research about sound waves and develop a soundproofing device prototype.¨ 

Mission 5: Business optimization

“Continued weather and public safety disruptions caused by the meteorites mean school is often remote, and students need the ability to learn from home and school. Your soundproofing prototype got the attention of an eccentric billionaire and she offers you a substantial grant to kickstart a business to provide at-home and classroom STEM lab kits. Make a business plan to show cost optimization and profitability predictions so you can receive the funding.”

If you’re looking to get into the engineering or medical fields, BOAST is a great option for you. It not only allows you to network with Johns Hopkins University (which is known for its engineering and medical accomplishments), but it also allows you to get a jump start in the world of engineering. Most importantly, upon completion of the program in May, they give you a college recommendation letter. So if you’re looking to go to college and want an extra credential on your resume, Join BOAST.

(Photos by Mr. Tiras)

Hermanos Mios mentors Latino youth

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(Photo by Hermanos Mios)

by Mr. Cortez

Hermanos Mios is a mentoring program that was established to promote and support the youth of our community through educational and tutoring programs, including scholarship, employment opportunities, sports, and sociocultural activities.

At a monthly mentoring session on April 26 the group had a phenomenally inspirational session where our seniors led a panel discussion about not giving up despite facing extremely difficult challenges in your life. We highlighted our seniors. If you see them, please congratulate them on their bravery, courage, leadership, and determination!

Congratulations to the following HM seniors who are graduating this year:

  • Abisai O. Bargas Canesa
  • Jonatan O. Escobar Bargas
  • Wilmer J. Esquite Paredes
  • Brallan Hernandez Lemus
  • Selvin Ramirez Garcia
  • Brandon Revolorio Melendez

Below is a story about our program on Voz de America:

Patterson holds Senior Farewell ceremony

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by Kylayah Davis

Patterson High School held its 2024 Senior Farewell ceremony on Thursday, May 5th. It was a night to remember, with speeches by administrators, cohort representatives, and underclassmen. Awards were presented for academic excellence, community service, and even surprise scholarships. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 Valedictorian, Bianca Cruz and Salutatorian, Makayla Hill, as well as the entire graduating class! The commencement ceremony will take place at Coppin University on June 11th at 4:45 PM.

Baseball team goes undefeated in regular season

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by Kylayah Davis

Under the leadership of Coaches Mahach and Mervis, our school’s varsity baseball team went undefeated 13-0 during the regular season, earning their title as Baltimore City Division 2 Champions. The Clippers secured a playoff spot, placing 9th in Maryland’s high school baseball team ranks.

The team was scheduled to have their semifinal game on a Tuesday at home against Aberdeen High School. However, due to unforeseen events, the game had to be moved to Saturday, May 11th at Douglas High School where the Clippers fell to Aberdeen 0-21.

According to Coach Mahach, “Ronald Hawkins (senior, Center Field) led the Clippers at the plate with two hits in three at bats. Quaron Walker-Bey (junior), Colin Washington (senior), and Jose Penalo Guillen (freshman) gave it their all on the mound.”

This playoff loss does not overshadow the impeccable season our boys have had. Below are their regular season game scores:

Edmondson: 19-15, Reginald F Lewis: 9-6, Frederick Douglas: 10-6, Digital Harbor: 14-3, NAF: 22-2, Coppin Academy: 12-8, Forest Park: 13-0, Edmondson: 24-12, Frederick Douglas: 28-2, Reginald F Lewis: 15-6, NAF: 22-2, Digital Harbor: 10-0, Forest Park: 31-2.

“I’d like to offer a big thank you to our captains, Jeter Luna and Robert Alvarez, as well as our other eight seniors.”, said Coach Mahach. “They were all important to the team this year and will be missed.”

You can continue to support our team next year by turning out at games and following their Instagram page: @pattersonbaseball.

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