Category Archives: Clubs and Organizations

Mindful Moments program teaches students breathing techniques and more

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Students and Mindful Moments staff members practice breathing exercises in a circle (Photo: Shane Braden, Patterson Press)

By Nasheira Johnson,

Patterson High School has partnered with a group called the Holistic Life Foundation also known as the Mindful Moments Program to help students learn about their inner selves through breathing exercises, yoga and plenty of other methods.

The Holistic Life Foundation is a Baltimore-based nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the wellness of children and adults in undeserved communities. In the 2013-2014 school year members from the group contacted Mr. Benton to see if he was interested in the program. He decided that this program would be a great opportunity for not only students but staff as well.

This program is a great asset to our school. Not only are the methods from this program used at school but outside of school. In fact Mr. Benton practices these procedures from this program with him and his son every morning. He believes that these methods help better himself. The staff of the Mindful Moments Program who work at Patterson High School are very helpful. They talk to students about their problems and also give them advice.

I spoke with a few of the staff members from the program and asked them their opinions about the program. Sideaque is one of the staff members here who works at Patterson High School associated with the mindful moments program. She used to work at John Hopkins hospital and felt that she was no longer interested in the job she was doing, She then started applying to many places. Her goal was to work with younger people. One day she received a text message and was given an opportunity to work with the program. Sidaque believes that this program benefits all students. “We want students to change the world by changing themselves”, she told the explained. She encourages all students to try this program because it will help them do better and concentrate more.

Larry and Oba are two other associated with the Mindful Moments program at Patterson High School. They enjoy practicing the exercises with students in the room and sharing ideas with them. They had been practicing yoga for about thirteen years and decided that helping students better themselves would make their lives easier. Students in this program believe it is very helpful to them. This program keeps them from doing wrongful actions and leads them to be positive.

Latoya Morris is a student here at Patterson High School who believes this program is helpful.She says she comes here to get everything off her chest. Her goal is to master yoga. Before this program many students used to fight but now because of this program they are more relaxed. She recommends that all students here at Patterson should at least try to participate in the program.

For more information about the Mindful Moments Program please visit the Mindful Moments room right across from the nurses office.

Community Partner Profile: Jonathan Bradley

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Mr. Jonathan Bradley, founder of Cristata Cares (Photo: Jamal Artis, Patterson Press)

By Jamal Artis

Patterson High School partners with a lot of people in the community. One of the most important ones is Mr. Jonathan E. Bradley.

Mr. Bradley is a founding board member of  Cristata Cares, Inc. He began his work with Cristata Cares, due to the disparity of wealth, savings, and mentoring within our Baltimore community. Cristata Cares, Inc.’s mission is to work with students and community in mentoring financial literacy, lifeskills, career development, and self-improvement (grades and attendance).

Cristata Cares has worked with Patterson High School since 2012, Cristata Cares first endeavor was to sponsor a book for students interested in medicine or a health related career.  It was a book signing and speak featuring Dr. Alfredo Quinonnes MD, neurologist at JHU, he spoke and shared with students his life in his book “Becoming Dr. Q.”  Since the initial event PHS has become a key partner school for Cristata Cares.  Mr. Bradley is on campus at least one day per week, many times working with fellow board member Mr. Matthew Wyskiel.  Cristata Cares has sponsored or hosted guest speakers ranging from rappers to epidemiologists to entrepreneurs.   The purpose is to help students to dream or have a vision of a better tomorrow.

Cristata Cares has worked closely with Principal Vance Benton, Coach Kelley Bagdasarian, Coach Heggins, Ms. Shannelle  England, and Ms. Loretta Kavanaugh and administrators, faculty, or teachers in seeing where  Cristata Cares can serve or work with Patterson and its community in helping PHS to reach its long term goals of becoming a top tier school.  Some of their activities or developments is, giving students who perform gift cards as an incentive, a live shopping exercise that encourages students to stretch their dollar through use of coupons, investment savings incentives, and establishing a small endowment seed fund for promising PHS alumnus who are facing financial challenges in pursuing a college or technical degree, and coaching the golf team (which he was not able to do this year due to lack of transportation) but is planning a golf club for Spring 2015.

One key milestone that has been reached in working with Patterson High, is launching an investment club to encourage students to save, the investment club meets after school and is in its fourth semester, the club has averaged 15 students per semester.   The PHS investment club rewards students who perform well compared to their peers.  The students learn how investments perform in various market cycles, compounding of interest, and other investment considerations or decisions.  Cristata Cares is pleased to continue its work with Patterson realizing that much work needs to be done in assisting and mentoring students to help give them the best opportunity to live or achieve their dreams.

Mr. Bradley is very thankful to Patterson High and in having board members who work and believe in a bright future for kids who are willing to work hard to achieve their dreams. The Patterson Press would  like to thank Mr.  Jonathan Bradley  for  taking time out of his schedule to talk to us.

With files from Jonathan Bradley.

Patterson hosts 4th annual community fair

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A youth percussion band performs at the Community Fair (Photo: Patterson Press)

by Xavier Williams,

Patterson High School held it’s 4th annual community fair and back to school night inside the school’s cafeteria on September 25 from 5:30 to 8:00. It was held to motivate students to help and support their school and get help from their community.

At the community fair there were different organizations sharing some services to students so they can help them be successful in the future. So many great colleges, companies and non-profit organizations came like, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center,  Morgan State University, Towson University and the University of Baltimore, New York life insurance and the Real Food Farm. One of the people that worked at the University of  Baltimore explained that they had come to the fair to “[recruit] students to come to the university and to inspire them to go to college”. There were more people from different groups that participated in the community fair, including a United States Marine who said he is looking forward to speaking with male and female students to help them become successful.

There was a belly dancer, flamenco dancer and hip hop dancers as well. The hip hop dancers were male students from Patterson who did an amazing  job performing at the fair.

I asked Mr.Benton,  “After seeing the laughter and happiness here at the community fair do you think that Patterson High School will be a top 500 school?” and he said he always believed Patterson High School would be a top 500 school and that the school strives for greatness.

I agree with that 100 hundred percent because we do strive for greatness and after seeing how great the fair turn out to be i’m just really proud of my school.this years community fair turned out to be a blast. Everyone enjoyed it, they danced they laughed and they ate. It felt like they were happy to be there and they had a great time. People who were at the fair expressed that next year’s fair will be even bigger.

CHECK BACK LATER FOR MORE PHOTOS (OR SEE THEM ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE NOW)!

Robotics club gears up for competition

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Students build a robotic vehicle (Photo: Regina Bell)

By Stephanie Megginson,

Last year, our Patterson High School Robotics Club won the 2013 Hopkins Robotics Cup. After working with another school, Ms.Ball wanted Patterson to have  its own robotics club.

The robotics club hasn’t won a competition this year yet but their next competition is coming up this April at John Hopkins. They believe they will win 1st place again this year.

Every Thursday after school students meet in Ms.Ball’s room to participate in Robotics Club. All students are welcome to join.

Students choose to join the robotics club because it’s exciting, they get to use their own imagination, problem solving, teamwork and innovation skills. They get to go to different cities and states to compete against other schools.

“Peace and Love” is theme of this year’s door decorating contest

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Ms. Bridgeforth’s door, 1st place winner (Photo: Shane Braden, Patterson Press)

By Tamika Addison,

The SGA hosted a Door Decorating Contest in February with the theme of Peace and Love because it was Valentine’s Day.  Ms. Bridgeforth’s class (Rm#212) won first place.  Her door decoration was pretty, with hearts and stones. The 2nd place prize went  to Ms. Holter’s class (Rm # 210). Her door was nice with pictures of two people and hearts with glitter.

Ms. DeRosa (Rm #217) and Ms.Frank (Rm#158) tied for 3rd place. Ms. DeRosa’s door looked very nice with pictures of students proposing with candy rings. And Ms.Frank’s door looked great with hearts with students’ names on them and a ship. All the students who participated in the Door Decorating Contest enjoyed showing off their talent and creativity.

 

(Photos by Shane Braden, Patterson Press)

Student mentors help freshmen avoid making the same mistakes

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Illustration by Shane Braden, Patterson Press

By Ty’Shawn Key,

Individual Advancement Mentoring (I.AM) is a peer mentoring program started last year by my brother Alonzo Key. I.AM was created because too many students throw away their freshmen year. Whether it is due to chasing popularity, getting involved with the wrong crowd, focusing on other things, having too much fun, or just pure goofing off, every year a large percentage of students squander their Freshmen year. I.AM was designed so we can get that year back. Our goal is to reach the minds of our incoming freshmen classes, and influence them to get on the path of having a more proactive high school career through the acts of peer mentoring. Our mentoring uses the simple tools of motivation and enlightenment through student voices. Older students are acting as the big brother or sister figures that some of our younger peers may lack. These mentors are a select few members of this year’s senior and junior classes.

The program is supervised by Mrs. McIntosh, myself and several other upperclassmen, including Kwynten Brooks, a star player on the Patterson Clippers Boys Basketball team, Johnny Alvarez, an amateur skater and photographer sponsored by Fly Geenius, Jamahl Loney, a DECA Regional competition placer, and several other decorated individuals. Together we are actively trying to change the lives of our Patterson 500 Family’s young men and women, the future faces of our school. Our mentors sacrifice every other Tuesday and Thursday Futures period to shed some light on these young individuals, so that they can have the advice and help that we all wish we had as freshmen.

Olagoke Sanusi, one of junior leaders, described working with the freshmen as an experience that he would never forget. “Never would I imagine that me and my few life experiences could ever really help someone else with their life and situations just by talking to them about it”, he said. “It put me in a position where I was that external factor for someone else. I was the one who decided to either give them the assist, or let them get fouled…”

This has been one of the best years of my entire high school career, and it’s not because I’ve been accepted into the school of my dreams or because I have achieved some of my personal goals. It has been one of my best years because I can now leave my school saying I helped change someone’s life. As the saying goes, “a diamond in the rough shines its brightest only after someone picks it up to polish it.”

If you know of any intelligent, caring, respectable, productive and well-spoken individuals who will be juniors or seniors in the fall, please direct them to Mrs. McIntosh’s office for mentor enrollment for next school year.

 

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New group connects motivational speakers with latino students

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By Makenzie Reyes-Schettini,

Our school has the privilege to participate in a new group called Palante for Spanish and English speaking students. The word “palante” means moving forward in Spanish and that is exactly what they do! Many students take their free education for granted and don’t really think about their education. This group brings in people who have been through many challenges and succeeded in accomplishing their goals.

During a meeting last fall, Patterson High’s students from Palante have met many extraordinary people. There was Alicia I. Arbaje, who is a geriatric medicine specialist and health services professional at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Students also met Andres Anirt Gonzales, who is the co-founder and director of marketing for the Holistic Life Foundation, Inc. He is also one of the founders of the Mindful Moment program in which our school has the privilege of taking part in. Another speaker who came to the meeting was George Julnes, who has a doctorial degree in psychology. Lastly, there was Patricia Omana, who is the regional outreach manager for the connector entity of Healthy Howard.

What do all these people have in common? They are all latinos who have started with nothing and reached extraordinary heights. As they told their stories they didn’t forget to give us advice to keep focusing on our goals. So remember, don’t give up no matter how hard it may seem!

Students learn how to cook healthy meals

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A student sautés food at the Cooking Club (Photo: Nakesha Campbell, Patterson Press)

Last year our Patterson High School Teen Battle Chef team won bronze at the Mid Atlantic Regional Finals.  This year, Ms. Diehl wanted to bring cooking knowledge and practice to even more students and get started even earlier.  So she started an after-school Chef’s Club.

Every Wednesday after school all students are welcome to meet at Ms. Diehl’s office and take a walk downstairs to the HealthCorps Kitchen.  There, students learn about a different fruit or vegetable each week.  They get to try new foods, or make familiar foods in new ways.  They practice knife skills and discover how to braise, bake, sear, and sauté.  So far this year they have made their own fresh tomato sauce for pasta, apple crisp, creamy butternut squash and kale pasta, butternut squash and chicken tagine, sweet potato latkes with curry yogurt dipping sauce, garlic mashed cauliflower and potatoes with cider glazed chicken, and more!

Ms. Diehl chooses recipes that include fresh, local, seasonal fruits and vegetables and informs the chefs about how and why these foods are good for them.  Our Clipper Chefs make simple substitutions, like olive oil instead of butter or sauteing instead of frying, to make the dishes healthy as well as delicious.

In February, Chef’s Club will transition back into Teen Battle Chef –a select group of students who are committed to attending weekly practice towards the final competition.  Until then, all students are welcome to come on out to Chef’s Club and get cooking!

 

(Photos by Nakesha Campbell, Patterson Press:)

Cristata Cares helps students to achieve their potential

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Local sportscaster and writer Keith Mills with Jonathan Odgen and Cristata Cares board members, Mattthew Wyskiel and Jonathan Bradley (Photo: Cristatacares.org)

By TyShawn Key

Cristata Cares is a non-profit organization founded in early 2012 with the goal of helping others. Their mission is to help students in their schools and communities learn and practice the necessary lifetime skills to live and lead a productive and higher-quality life. Recently the Cristata Cares organization has been sponsoring various financial literacy and academic support programs at multiple schools in the community, including Patterson High School and Vivian T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy. They have also sponsored various sources of entertainment for their programs such as Dr.Q, a locally known lyricist and author here in Baltimore, as well as speakers from different health careers at Vivian T. and–here at Patterson–academic mentoring and counseling from Kelly Bagdasarian, who was a perfect scorer on the Math portion of the SAT.

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing one of the organization’s founders, Mr. John Bradley. Mr. Bradley holds an Associates of the Arts, a Bachelors of Science, and an Accounting degree. He also received an MBA from Johns Hopkins School of Business. Through high school and some of college, however, Mr. Bradley was just as rough around the edges as some of the students at Patterson and Vivian T. In fact it was not until his father cut him off and he had to face his own financial burdens that he finally got his act together. He now is out to help others learn from his mistakes so they can get an easier start than he did.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, October 8, 2013, I had an opportunity to sit down with Mr. Bradley to learn about his background and about the Cristata Cares organization and its programs. I asked Mr. Bradley what sparked his initial flare for helping create the organization. He replied with a story of how one day he had read an article about the number of children in Baltimore City that go to school hungry every day. This struck Mr. Bradley really deep in his heart. So he said that more should be done to help the hungry children in the City and the communities in which they reside, and that it was now his duty as a citizen, and as a native of Baltimore to take on such a task. He later shared that same article with his wife and a friend. Together they went to their church, which gave them financial support. In late April, Cristata Cares got approved by the IRS as a 50C3 non-profit, and then finally in early 2012 the organization was officially formed and became active. Within its first year of working throughout the schools and community, Cristata Cares was recognized by Baltimore City as an Outstanding Partner (2013).

Later, I asked Mr. Bradley how they intended to help the children and community through financial literacy programs. What led him to believe that finances were a necessary skill-set to learn at such an age? His answer was simple. He plans to use the business rule of 72, which explains how long it takes to double the return on an investment. Cristata Cares is calculating how many lives they can touch by investing their time in the various students they encounter.

Lastly, to end our interview, I asked Mr. Bradley why people should care about the Cristata Cares organization. He replied that people should care about the organization because it is helping our children and it is helping our community. Members visit the schools about twice a week, sometimes more. They sacrifice countless hours figuring out the best way to help the children they encounter, and they do this work for free. People should care about the organization because it is helping them (the community) out. However, Mr. Bradley said that it really doesn’t matter to him what people think about his organization. He works for the children. He is doing it for the children. He and his colleagues do not care about any accolades or praise from the community. They are not in it for any fame or money. He said that their biggest payoff is seeing a child live their dream.

Mr. Bradley would like to thank Mr. Benton, Principal of Patterson, and all other partners that gave Cristata Cares a chance.

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