Category Archives: Clubs and Organizations

Students reveal mystery in performance of “Clue”

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Photo: Patterson Press

By Akira Sumpter

This year’s spring play was a murder mystery from 1985. Clipper Productions performed “Clue” on April 23rd and 24th.

The show was set in a mansion during the Reagan era, where a mysterious host has invited a group of adults who had never met each other and who were not to share personal information due to the risk of jail or isolation. 

These people were brought to the house for some unknown reason. It began at dinner when conversation began and certain data about their personal lives slipped out, making others suspicious. This, in turn, led to someone building evidence on all of the attending guests in order to blackmail them.

When they found out they were being blackmailed, the butler gave everyone a gift, inside which was a random object and potential weapon, leading them to again be suspicious. This led to a lot of murders and secrets.

The actors playing these characters truly were in character. Every emotion and movement was intentional and authentic.

“[This play] is definitely in my top 3, between Aladdin Jr. and Mean Girls. This play has definitely been my favorite because of the set design and doors as it was very immersive for me in that type of setting”, said senior actor Deontay Blackwell, who has been in theater since the second year of his high school career.

The play was also a hit with the audience.

“What a pleasure it was to witness our students’ talents in the production of Clue!”, declared Assistant Principal Ms. Berkeley. “Their murder-mystery performance was a testament to the collaboration of City Schools and the home. Our students do not come to us as empty slates. We take what they bring and polish it until it shines.”

Ms. Berkeley praised Ms. Ritter as a “visionary” and noted that the performance showcased a variety of skills that the cast and crew had developed during their time at Patterson, including memorizing, speaking, projecting, expressing, improvising, and more.

This dedicated group created a moment that will never be replaced or forgotten. It was a moment where time stopped and we all went into a different realm. This feeling is called the artist’s high. A special shout-out to all of the seniors who performed their last high school play: Amori Matthews, Akira Sumpter, Deontay Blackwell, Jamira Ellison, and Jeremy Jones.

The adult production team includes the amazingly well rounded director Ms. Ritter, the hardworking technical director Ms. Prince, the talented assistant director Mr. Jamel, and Michael Kerney for sound operation. The student production positions include Adrianne Battle for lighting, Sophie Cruz for sound operator, and Amori Matthews and Akira Sumpter for the set construction team. Ms. Holter, Adriel Osorio, Anthony Parra, Kaiya Patterson, Jecoria Roscoe, and Akira Sumpter made up the painting team, while Jordan Jefferson, Amori Matthews, and Akira Sumpter served as stage crew and handled foxie moxie productions for audio. Last but not least, the actors: Jeremy Jones, Romeo Merritt, Doryen Brockington, Lluvia De Los Santos, Alivia Wallace, Keyri Ramirez, Zenobia Owens, Deontay Blackwell, Jamira Ellison, Alvaro Ramirez-Badillo, Joy Jones, and Logan Lance.

Patterson students travel to Chicago to compete in National chess tournament

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By Akira Sumpter

Members of Patterson’s chess team traveled to Chicago in March to compete in a national chess tournament. The four day tournament began on March 26th and ended on March 29th. Eight players and three coaches represented Baltimore at the tournament.

During these four days the students played in three very long chess matches on the 27th and 28th, and on the 29th they only played in two matches. The total number of matches played came up to seven. Our players met chess people from across the nation, competed with about 1,500 people in the tournament, and then explored the city of Chicago after finishing up each day of chess matches, which normally started in the morning.

The team placed 19th overall out of 1,500 players nationwide and received a trophy. Senior Brandon

 Lopez tied for 35th in the large and prestigious “Under 1200” rating division and won a medal.

This was not only a competitive tournament but also an important opportunity to showcase our school pride by supporting surrounding teams. In Chicago they weren’t just representing Patterson; they were representing Baltimore along with students from Poly. The team had the opportunity to fly to Chicago for this tournament, so of course they got dinner at Michigan Avenue, which is supposedly the best deep dish pizza joint the city has to offer, according to city locals and Patterson chess coach Mr. Baron.

In between the tournament matches, players had free time to roam and visit other rooms in the hotel like the ¨skittles room¨ where players could review matches and buy chess memorabilia from the shop. One day, the only two female players on our team went to visit a women’s chess workshop where grandmasters showed effective tactics, hosted fun games like human chess, and supplied plenty of snacks. During these exercises, team captain Kaniya Gardener won a personal gift from the grandmasters due to her supreme knowledge in chess and her domination on the chess board.

The team didn’t just go to nationals to compete at a higher level; they flew out to bring home a trophy. So when the players came home, that’s exactly what they had in hand. Winning trophies was nothing new to this team though. They accepted the trophy with honor and a humble attitude, with a goal in mind to place even higher next year. The team consisted of Dominic Robinson, Roman Clark, Jaisdel Ferino, Donavan Riddick, Akira Sumpter, Amori Mathews, Brandon Lopez, Kaniya Gardner and Thomas Cooper.

Culture Night showcases unity through diversity

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Photo: Patterson Press

By James Smith

Patterson High School held its annual Culture Night on April 29, and it really brought the whole community together. With people representing over 40 countries and more than 20 languages, it was a true reflection of how diverse the school is.

There was a lot going on throughout the night. Different cultures like Russia, Jamaica, China, and Syria were represented through food, music, and performances, giving everyone a chance to experience something new.

“I love attending Culture Night every year and think our staff and students do such a great job of showcasing our diversity!”, said Ms. Reid. “The food and performances do not disappoint. I was happy to see more countries represented this year and think it will continue to grow in the years to come. This makes me proud to work at Patterson!”

“Culture Night was an amazing experience as a first-year teacher at Patterson”, declared Ms. Dockery. “It was a great opportunity to fellowship with coworkers, students, and their families. I thoroughly enjoyed the event, and I look forward to the next Culture Night.”

Students really made the night special. They shared their cultures in different ways, and you could see how much pride they had. One of the best parts of the night was the in-house modeling performance, where students walked the stage in cultural outfits. It was fun, energetic, and the crowd loved it.

“I enjoyed the dancing; it was so inspiring. I learned they do many dances and different dances for each culture. I would go again because I would like to try different cultures’ food.”, reflected student Daniel Washington.

Ms. Harris, who helped plan the event, stressed that it was truly a team effort. “This event did not fall on one group or department to plan, nor was only one group represented. Cultural celebrations happened on many levels and incorporated many of our diverse groups from our international student body to our sports teams and Arts department.”

Ms. Harris continued, “Every continent was represented with support from US born and international student and staff alike with performances, displays, and food. Even parents spontaneously sang and danced. On the night of April 29th, I truly saw One Patterson!”

Ms. Salinas, who brought a home-cooked Puerto Rican dish to the event, echoed this sentiment. “What I really love is the UNION of all nationalities together, knowing that we’re all the same and all deserve the same treatment and respect as who we are and not where we come from.”

Some staff members who attended this year’s Culture Night are already thinking about the next one. “I already have ideas about what I want to do for next year!”, said Ms. Matthews, who was in charge of the programs and performances. 

Overall, it wasn’t just about entertainment—it was about people coming together, learning from each other, and celebrating what makes everyone unique. It was a great night and a reminder of how strong and connected the Patterson community is.

Photo: Patterson Press

Patterson SGA participates in Ocean City convention

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By Yeimi Banegas

Student Government Association (SGA) members Yeimi Banegas, Marshall Mallory, and Taron Taylor traveled to the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) convention in Ocean City in March to represent Patterson High School. 

The convention took place from March 18-20 with a jam packed schedule that kept students busy from 7:00 in the morning until 10:30 in the evening. The Patterson SGA members learned new leadership skills by attending workshops and networking with many student leaders from across the state of Maryland. The mission for this year was “SGA Agents”: The goal was to investigate new ways to improve school spirit, address students’ concerns, and deploy new leadership strategies back home. 

Accompanied by their passionate Advisor, Ms. Tran, it was the first time the four of us attended the MASC Convention, but we all had a great time making connections with students and advisors from other schools. We definitely feel more encouraged to continue serving as excellent leaders in our school, and likewise, to try to encourage all our fellow leaders who have not yet taken the step of joining our SGA. We hope that more students will continue to join us, so that we may learn from them just as they learn from us, and also so that they have the opportunity to experience MASC and enjoy the wonderful time that we did. The convention left us with many great memories, such as watching beautiful sunrises and sunsets over the ocean, all while learning how to become better leaders.

Chess champion visits Patterson

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by Jose I. Serpas

Patterson High School had the honor of welcoming a very special guest on January 9 when Rochelle Ballantyne, a nationally recognized chess player, lawyer, speaker, and advocate for inclusion, paid the school a visit. The event was hosted by the Patterson Chess Team and co-sponsored by the Baltimore Kids Chess League, and it became an unforgettable experience for students from Patterson and across the city.

Rochelle Ballantyne is known not only for her success in chess, but also for her powerful story. She won a high school chess championship while still in middle school, later becoming one of the stars of the award-winning documentary Brooklyn Castle (2012). The film followed five students from a junior high school chess team in Brooklyn and showed how, despite coming from low-income communities, they won more national championships than any other school in the country. Through chess, Rochelle showed how education, discipline, and opportunity can change lives.

During her visit, Ballantyne gave an inspiring TED-style talk where she shared her personal journey. She spoke honestly about her wins and losses, and how chess helped her grow–not just as a player, but as a person. She explained that Brooklyn Castle was about more than personal success—it highlighted bigger issues in the education system and the importance of investing in young people. Ballantyne emphasized that chess gave her a voice, one she does not take for granted, and allowed her to inspire students in communities like ours.

One of the most powerful messages from her speech was about leadership and perspective. Ballantyne explained that chess teaches you to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Every piece has value, just like every person has a story worth hearing. She shared how this mindset shaped her into a better lawyer, listener, and advocate. According to Ballantyne, real leadership is not just about making the right move, but about listening, adapting, and understanding the whole board—both in chess and in life.

After her talk, Ballantyne played against 45 students, taking on 20 opponents at a time, which amazed everyone watching. She did not lose a single match. However, due to her tight schedule and the need to catch her train, she offered draws to Nathan Hernandez, Dominic Robinson, and Brandon Lopez. Special recognition was also given to Kaniya Gardner and Josseling Cadena for their outstanding performance. Many students said they felt inspired and motivated by the experience.

I had the opportunity to interview Rochelle Ballantyne during her visit. When I asked her about her time in college, she shared that it was difficult at first because it was her first time away from home and the academic work was much harder. However, she said college opened her eyes to a new world and helped her discover who she wanted to be and what she wanted to do in the future.

When asked about the biggest challenges she faced, Ballantyne spoke about growing up in a low-income household and helping support her family. She emphasized the importance of community, family, and having people who believe in you. She shared that her mother and grandmother were the first people to truly believe in her and push her to achieve her goals, something she said she will always be grateful for.

Reflecting on Brooklyn Castle, Ballantyne explained that she did not feel pressure during filming because she was very young at the time, but she is proud of the impact the movie had. She believes it helped show how important education is and why it deserves more support. When asked what she would tell her younger self, Ballantyne answered simply but powerfully: “Keep going.” She reminded students that even when things are uncomfortable or painful, there is something brighter on the other side.

The event was truly a team effort, and special thanks go to the Patterson Chess Team members, including Nelson, Amori, Donavan, Devin, Steven, Jaisdel, Jordon, Libny, Rubi, and Roman, who helped make this event possible. Ballantyne herself praised our school, saying, “I was really impressed with Patterson. They are really building something special here.”

Rochelle Ballantyne’s visit was more than a chess event—it was a lesson about perseverance, leadership, and believing in yourself. For many students, including myself, her story was a reminder that no matter where you come from, with determination, support, and vision, you can change your future.

New play performed by theater crew

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by Akira Sumpter

Clipper Productions, Patterson’s drama club, performed a brand new play on November 20–a dystopian story titled “In Darkness, Audio Flowers Bloom” written by Alvaro Saar Rios. Since the script had just been published, cast members had to brainstorm creative ways to draw emotion from the text with little to no visual examples of how the play is supposed to be presented. The actors quickly embraced their characters and prepared for opening night.

The play was performed on Thursday, November 20th with an encore performance the following night. The first performance seemed like it went by slightly faster than the Friday show, which was for the parents, staff and family members.

This is only one of the many challenges our amazing crew members had to endure during the production of this play in a short two months. Everyone in the packed auditorium who watched this play enjoyed every second of escaping into a new world. The audience also liked the authenticity the story displayed. 

At times the audience found the plot a little hard to follow, due to some actors who could not make it to the performance, forcing the rest of the cast to improvise. “The storyline was interesting but oftentimes i was confused as to which character was which”, commented alumnus actor Jabari Heartly. Overall, though, most audience members appreciated the meaning of the story–that oftentimes your fears are your worst enemy.

There were mysterious characters named Silencers, who “silenced” the characters by keeping them frozen whenever one entered the stage coming from the depths of darkest corners. Characters weren’t allowed to make sounds, express themselves or create music with any so called “instruments”, and if they were caught doing so they were sent to some place called the “O Pits”.

The resolution of this story ended with a character sharing some top secret dance moves they learned from being sent to the “O Pits” and with combined vocals they created music together. Everyone was happily being themselves without living in fear of being killed, threatened or imprisoned.

This play was impressively put together without much information and time and yet was still a success. In the Spring semester, the Arts department will perform a musical aiming to wow the audience.

Chess club challenges students to develop their minds

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Photo: Mr. Tola

by Daniela Acosta

Patterson High School is home to a diverse group of students who engage in different extracurricular activities. Among the most intellectually stimulating and popular clubs at Patterson is the school’s Chess Club. The Chess Club is not just a place for students to challenge their chess skills but also an environment where critical thinking, problem solving, social interaction and personal growth are all made possible. The Patterson High School Chess Club ran by Mr. O’Neal, Mr. Baron, Mr. Tola and Ms. Smith provides students with the opportunity to compete in tournaments and practices. 

For some students, the Chess Club provides opportunities to gain recognition, both within the school and outside of school, maybe even by pros! Participating in chess tournaments and competitions allows students to showcase their skills and achievements. Performing well in these events can boost self-esteem and provide students with a sense of accomplishment. For those who are especially talented, the club offers a pathway to local and regional competitions, where they can represent Patterson High School and potentially earn scholarships or recognition in the broader chess community. On November 4, the Patterson chess team swept both divisions of a citywide chess tournament, winning two first place trophies.

The Chess Club at Patterson High School provides a valuable space for students to develop their minds and enjoy the timeless game of chess. Many students are drawn to the club because it allows them to challenge themselves and others. Students learn to have patience, planning, critical thinking and the ability to think multiple steps ahead. These qualities are not only valuable in chess but also in everyday life.

The Patterson Chess Club not only competes in regular tournaments with other schools but also within the school. Last year the students played against the teachers and the teachers won. A rematch took place on December 18, 2024, and this time the students pulled off a victory over the teachers!

Photo: Mr. Tola

Jonathan Ogden Club makes positive impact

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by Coach Kelley Bagdasarian

As we wrap up the first half of the school year, we look back at what the Jonathan Ogden Club has accomplished so far. This year has been filled with community service, striving for excellence in the classroom, preparing for our futures, and becoming a close-knit club. 

Here are some of the highlights from first semester:

The club partnered with Graceland Park once again and were able to accomplish (2) readings, (1) mentoring, and (1) craft day. They also bought, wrapped, and distributed 150 gifts and stuffed animals to their PreK and kindergarten students, with some help from Santa! 

In an effort to support those in need, we prepared and donated 75 turkey sandwiches and 100+ hygiene bags for the homeless. While this may seem like a small act, it made a big impact on both the community and our club members.

In preparation for our futures we participated in five college visits, a Ravens Stadium Career Tour, and a virtual NFL Hall of Fame Tour. We also welcomed our community partners–Cristata Wealth and The Jaime Gervasi Team–to teach us how to become financially fit. 

One of the most memorable events this year was our annual holiday celebration at Dave & Buster’s. We spent the day playing games with Jonathan Ogden and were given a gift and an award based on our GPAs. 

Through all our projects and activities, the JO Club has consistently demonstrated the power of teamwork and service. We we are excited to continue making an impact in the second half of the school year. 

Patterson High School honors “Pioneers of Change” for Hispanic/ Latinx Heritage Month

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Photo: Patterson Press

by Kennet Garcia

Patterson High School celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15-October 15, highlighting this year’s theme, “Pioneers of Change.” The celebration ended with a special event on Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. The main purpose of the event was to bring students, teachers and families together in appreciation of Hispanic and Latinx cultures.

The support of the Art Department teachers and their students was evident even before the celebration, from a variety of decorations in the Cafeteria created by Mrs. Marchewka’s art students and the posters around the school by Ms. S. Jones, the Graphic Design teacher. During the event the Patterson band performed three amazing Latin American songs. Two other students, Maria Celeste Huertas and Jose Gonzalez, performed a Colombian folk dance called  “El Sanjuanero” under the direction of Ms. Hamm, our new dance teacher.  Other groups  also performed during the event.  

The group “Juventud Latina” presented several folk dances from Central America directed by their founder Mrs. Flores where they integrated the staff and the families that were there.

Bailes de Mi Tierra,  a Mexican folkloric ballet group directed by its founder Mr. Jose Reyes, closed the performances by thanking everyone for the opportunity to build a partnership with Patterson and inviting the students to join the dance group every Saturday at the dance studio in our school. The classes are completely free for Patterson High School students. Mr. Reyes and Bailes de Mi Tierra were recently recognized at the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Awards at Baltimore’s City Hall. 

Various organizations informed the students and their parents about the community services they offered completely free. This included the PHS community resources partnership and the Y of Central Maryland. Mrs. Reid provided information about the mentors program, careers and colleges, school community partners, the food bank and the school closet.

Community organizations like CASA de Maryland and local businesses like Oriented Healthcare and Jaskot Law were in at the event offering information about their services to Hispanic communities with academic tutoring, case management, college and financial aid support, guidance on immigration laws/policies and more. 

In the month leading up to the big event, the school celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in a variety of other ways. In addition to highlighting Hispanics who made important contributions to history on the morning announcements and playing Latin songs during lunch, “various resources of educational and creative opportunities were shared with the school community, such as door decoration ideas and strategies to support the schoolwide writing initiative called “The Writing Revolution” through informational sources of important Hispanic pioneers of change,” said Mrs. Perez. “Patterson has more than 500 Hispanic students from 14 Spanish-speaking countries, plus our Hispanic Heritage students. We plan to continue holding this event in our school, to honor the legacy of our pioneers, to value and support our students and their families, and to recognize the contribution of many Hispanics/Latinx to this country.”

The Hispanic Heritage Month celebration was a great event. It helped people to know more about Hispanic/Latinx music, food and culture.

Students and staff showcase their fashion creativity on Spirit Week

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Photo: Patterson Press

by Zander Hatzigeorgalis 

Spirit Week is held every year, once a year. It is a Patterson tradition where we can express ourselves, having fun by dressing up and being silly. This year Spirit Week happened on the week of October 7-11.

Usually Spirit Week is held on the week of Homecoming. However, this year was an exception. According to Ed Associate and Senior Class Advisor Mrs. Blankenfeld, Spirit Week was scheduled for the week before Homecoming week because there were SATs and PSATs during the week of Homecoming.

Each day during Sprit Week students and staff dressed according to different themes; Monday’s theme was “Dynamic Duos”, Tuesday’s was “Student/Teacher”, Wednesday’s was “Holiday Spirit”, Thursday’s was “Anything But a Backpack”, and Friday was “Cohort Colors”.

Mrs. Blankenfeld helped with Spirit Week but she wasn’t the one who came up with the idea. “Ms. Myrick, Mr. Sankofa, Jazzy [Blessett] and Coach Blum made Spirit Week”, Mrs. Blankenfeld explained. These were four of the people who were in the meeting that came up with the themes and Spirit Week itself. Since she wasn’t in the meeting she only knew a little about the planning process.

The fun on Friday didn’t end with wearing cohort colors; there was a pep rally in the afternoon followed immediately by a soccer game. Then there was a Homecoming dance on October 17th and a parade and Homecoming football game on Saturday, the19th.

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