Category Archives: Good Works

Jonathan Ogden Club inspires students to help others

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Sponsors and advisors of the Jonathan Ogden Club (Photo: Justist Rice, Patterson Press)

By Justist Rice,

The Jonathan Ogden Club is a popular club going on at Patterson High School. This club is based on a retired Ravens football player named Jonathan Ogden who has decided to sponsor Patterson High School. For over ten years this club has been active helping kids motivate themselves to try harder and do better for not only themselves but others as well.

The club also rewards students for all their hard work by hosting Christmas parties at fun places such as Dave and Busters where you can have as much fun as you want, eat as much as you want, and receive gifts and possibly money.

This year the club has read to the little kids at Graceland Park Elementary School, delivered food to the homeless, and helped kids with their school work.

This club is not for every one, only for students who want to put in the work to achieve their goals. If this sounds like you, go to the Zone and talk to the sponsor, Coach Kelley, the head coach of the girls basketball team.

 

 

New nail tech students host Grand Opening

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img_1521by Angela Rivas

The new nail technology students had their Grand Opening on December 5, 2016. Every year, Ms. Bridgeforth sponsors a Grand Opening for her new students so people can get to know them. The new techs also have their official day to meet the new clients they will serve in the Cosmetic Services Salon. The new techs demonstrated the skills they have learned so far in the class. They provided complimentary manicures to the ladies from Our Lady of Fatima Senior Center. They serviced not only them, but also students and teachers at Patterson High School.

The goal of the event was for the sophomores to help the clients relax, get pampered and be happy. It was a peaceful and calm event and our visitors were very happy. It was a very beautiful event and successful.

Nail techs serve the ladies from Our Lady of Fatima other times besides the Grand Opening. Once a month, the ladies come and get their manicures for free, which is very kind of Ms. Bridgeforth. She says it is a way of giving back to the community.img_1524

Author speaks to students about surviving rape

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By Mikal McCoy,

Kenneth Rogers, author of “Raped Black Man,” visited Patterson High School on Dec 13, 2016, to talk to students about rape survivors.

(Photo by ) Mikal McCoy Patterson Press

(Photo by ) Mikal McCoy Patterson Press

Ms. O’Brien, 9th grade English teacher, created an opportunity for the ninth grade cohort to meet author Kenneth Rogers, who has published a variety of books. Students sat down with Mr. Rogers and they had a discussion about rape survivors.

“Rape is about power, control, and dominance,” said Mr.Rogers. The discussion answered questions such as, why do people take advantage of others? How are rape victims affected from their experiences? And, what are steps taken for recovery? Ms. O’Brien also invited Mr. Rogers to talk about his published books such as “Raped Black Man,” a memoir about Mr. Rogers’ past experience.

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Patterson students sit in a circle while listening to Kenneth Rogers talk about his book (Photo: Mikal McCoy)

During the discussion, students sat in a big circle, while Mr.Rogers read from one of his books “Raped Black Man.” As he read, students listened intently to Mr. Rogers speaking about his emotionally disturbing past. Everyone was interested in his stories, including teachers. “His story is meaningful to me in many ways,” said Ms. O’Brien. After his reading, he took questions from freshmen.

Kenneth Rogers is an African American author. Some books he has published are titled “The Diary of Oliver Lee,” “Sequence,” and “Raped Black Man.” Mr. Rogers is a father and educator who works with youth to raise awareness about rape abuse for women and men.

Parent Life Club Provides Support For Teen Parents

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By Dabria Brown & Joselin Miranda,

Are you a new parent or expecting to become a new parent? If you’re having problems or need help or support with your child, there’s a group called Parent Life that can help. Parent Life is a group that helps and gives you advice with your child. They help you set goals, they talk about self-awareness, etc. If you might need help with anything like providing for your child, they’re there. One call and they’re on their way.

Parent Life meets every Thursday from 12-1 pm in room 206. In Parent Life, fathers and mothers who go to school attend the meetings when they feel they want to; it’s not mandatory. If you’re an expecting parent or already a parent, you can attend. It helps you get through whatever you are experiencing. They’re there to support and give advice. Some people may be shy or uncomfortable talking in front of others, but everyone is nice and understanding. Parent Life is part of a bigger project that involves people outside of Patterson High School. Ms. Hope is the advisor for Patterson and she helps out with the girls inside this school. The person who came up with this club does not work at Patterson.

Editor’s note: below is Joselin Miranda’s personal perspective

In the meetings, we talk about things people feel they need to know about their baby and the growing stages. They always provide snacks to the people attending the meeting. When attending the meetings, you get to know people who are teenage parents just like myself and go through the same thing as me. I learned many things from the meetings I’ve attended: we talk about how babies grow, how they may feel at their age, and what things they should be doing in their months. The adults in the room always make you feel welcome and at ease when they’re around. They never judge you by the decisions you make.

The members always make dates with the babies and the parents when out of school: for example, going to the park and having a picnic and going to places to get items needed for the baby. When being a young parent in school, it may be hard and tiring, but attending the meetings makes you less stressed out during the day. Whenever I need someone to talk to or help, I always have the number from the group leaders; I can text any time and they answer the questions I have.

For more information about Parent Life, talk to Ms. Hope in Room 206.

“Out of the Darkness” walk raises awareness about suicide prevention

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Patterson student Andy Marquez and art teacher Ms. Marchewka at the “Out of the Darkness” suicide prevention walk at Patterson Park (Photo: Ms. Marchewka)

By Dabria Brown,

A student and a teacher from Patterson participated in a suicide prevention walk called Out of the Darkness on November 5th in and around Patterson Park. Between 500-600 people attended the walk, including Ms. Marchewka, the art teacher, and a student from Patterson.

The purpose of this walk was to raise awareness about suicide and how to help prevent it. According the The National Institute Of Mental Health, “In 2009, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15-24. In this age group, suicide accounted for 14.4 percent of all deaths in 2009″.

Andy Marquez, the student who participated in the walk, had personal reasons for getting involved. ” I had some suicidal experiences and I also had a friend that I lost from suicide”, Marquez explained.

People around the world deal with suicidal thoughts. Most people commit suicide or even have the thought of it because they are depressed. Last year a Patterson student committed suicide. If you see anybody that seems depressed or suicidal, try to talk to them or get them help from one of the counselors or social workers in Room 113.

Seniors learn communication skills at PGC retreat

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PGC Poster (Photo: Mikal McCoy)

PGC Poster (Photo: Mikal McCoy)

By Mikal McCoy

Seniors who are participating in this year’s PGC program went on a retreat from October 12th-14th to help them prepare to work with 9th graders. PGC, which stands for Peer Group Connections, is a group of 12th graders who are learning communication techniques. PGC leaders are mentors to the 9th graders.

Some of the responsibilities of PGC members are to follow all school rules and go to all their class. Recently, 12th graders that were a part of PGC went on a retreat where they learned different tactics and why it’s important to communicate with others.

  During the 2nd week of September, PGC leaders were on a retreat for 3 days and 2 nights in Towson while their classmates were at school. One of the purposes of the retreats was to gather leaders together so they could learn about communication skills. “I learned how to communicate and listen to others, including 9th graders”, K. Lopez, a PGC leader said. When 9th graders transfer from middle school to high school, change can be surprising. Like most of us, 9th graders go through a lot of stuff that they would love to talk to someone about. That’s when PGC leaders are there to save the day. Communication is important; many problems can be solved if we simply communicate. “Communication saves relationships”, singer/rapper Drake says in his song, “Poetic Justice”, featuring Kendrick Lamar. PGC leaders are training every day to learn how to better communicate with 9th graders to create a brighter Patterson High School. Communication is key, but not everyone is willing to communicate.

Using communication skills helps get things done. In an organization or your everyday classroom, people have to communicate in order to complete tasks. Not communicating can have a negative impact on your environment. According to Al from http://www.crucialskills.com, “It is very frustrating when you want to talk something out with someone and the only response you get is, ‘I don’t know,’ or ‘I don’t want to talk about this,’ or worse, an icy-cold stare laced with a fake smile”. Sometimes we as students (and people in general) feel like there is no one we can talk to. PGC leaders are taking a class to prepare to work with 9th graders, communicating with them to solve problems and build relationships.

PGC advisors Mrs. Stiles and Mrs. D’agostino have been meeting every day with PGC leaders, guiding them to become better communicating leaders. This is the third year of PGC, and students are working together to communicate their way through the future.

Gardening Club promises benefits for school and community

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The Patterson Garden. (Photo: Mikal McCoy)

The Patterson Garden.
(Photo: Mikal McCoy)

By Mikal McCoy

Ms. Steigner and Ms. Scott are working together with students at Patterson High School to develop a ongoing gardening club. It is their hope that this gardening club will impact students’ lives in a variety of ways.

The Patterson High School garden was first created during the summer of 2011, around the time period when Mr. Benton became principal of Patterson High School. Using two grants, a hoop-house was added in 2013. In the past, students and teachers have worked on the garden. However, during the summer of 2016, little attention was paid toward the school garden. To get things back on track, students and teachers at Patterson High School are developing a gardening club.

Having a school gardening club is a goal Patterson’s Student Government Association (SGA), is pushing to reach. One of the problems we face today here at Patterson is that some students want to learn gardening while others do not.

In response to the question, “If there was a gardening club at Patterson, would you join?”, T. Moore, a student from Patterson, responded saying, “No, I don’t think I would be interested’.’ Although some students have no interest in joining a gardening club, others think it’s a great idea, ”If you grow food, you can save money and it looks good”, says M. Adams, an intern from Morgan State University.

Around the world, a large number of people believe eating healthy can improve our mental, physical and spiritual environment. Ms.Scott, an ESOL teacher at Patterson, believes students should eat healthy because eating healthy helps a person focus in class. “When you eat healthy foods, your brain responds to the ingredients like a car reacts to gas. If you put the right gas into the car it will perform to its highest potential”, explained Ms.Scott. In the past, Patterson’s garden has produced large quantities of quality vegetables such as strawberries and tomatoes, which students have eaten.

Patterson High School is a place where students and teachers can grow food and eat healthy. Patterson’s gardening club is dedicated to teaching, growing, and providing healthy foods for the surrounding community. Ausar Mesh, a teacher on healthy living, gave a few words to share: “Urban farming may not be the solution to all the problems in the inner cities across America; however it’s a prerequisite to the achievement of practical solution of the most faceted issues. Food sovereignty in urban neighborhoods and global climate change into connected sustainable organic urban farming is a low industry that is ambitions enough to tackle both issues on a micro and macro economic level”.

The gardening club will teach students useful skills and contribute to a healthier community. To get involved, see Ms. Steigner in Room 113.

Patterson continues tradition with 6th annual community fair

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A stand from the community Fair (Photo: Patterson Press)

A stand from the community Fair (Photo: Patterson Press)

By Mikal McCoy,

Patterson High School had its 6th annual Back to School Night and Community Fair on the evening of September 22, 2016. Students, teachers and family members met together in the cafeteria to share a night of fun.

During the fair, there were games, activities and food. “It was a lot of food, a lot of chicken, vegetables and drinks”, said Yero Goloco, a student who attended the fair. For entertainment, different activities were planned. Students who were asked agreed that the fair was entertaining. “There was a lady belly dancing, people played drums, and there was a dance battle”, said Amadou Bah, another student who attended the fair. These responses reveal that people enjoyed the food and activities, but the Community Fair served other purposes as well.

Many families attended the fair. Students from Patterson High School invited their parents, friends, and relatives. Around 500 people attended the event. Dozens of community organizations, businesses and universities participated in the fair, along with many school groups and programs such as Robotics, Gardening, Coding Club and more. Each club had a stand with representatives who spoke with students and family members about what they do.

One group that attended the Community Fair was Patterson’s AFJROTC program. Cadets who attended the event helped out with setting up and seating visitors. “I was standing outside, greeting people, giving them their tickets for their sheets”, explained Abdullah, one of the cadets. Teachers, students and family members came together to make the Community Fair a success.

This year marked the 6th consecutive year that there has been a community fair event at Patterson. Ms. O’Brien and Mr. Alukwu started the event in 2011. “It was an idea that Mr. Alukwu and I came up with the summer before Mr. Benton became the principal”, recalled Ms. O’Brien. It takes planning, organization, and thought to come up with an idea like a school community fair and make it work. This year’s event was no exception.

 

 

 

 

Help end childhood cancer

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Childhood Cancer Awareness (Photo: http://www.charlottemomsblog.com/2014/09/12/september-childhood-cancer-awareness-month/ )

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
(Photo: http://www.charlottemomsblog.com)

By Dabria Brown,

Childhood cancer is a big problem in our country. Childhood cancers are often the result of DNA changes in cells that take place very early in life. According to the American Cancer Society, “1 in 258 young people will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they turn 20. Because childhood cancers are rare, there are no widely recommended screening tests to look for cancer in children who are not at increased risk”. The American Cancer Society also said, “Less than 5% of federal funding for cancer research is dedicated to childhood cancers each year”.

The American Cancer Society takes a comprehensive approach to childhood cancer through funding research, advocating for policies that advance the childhood cancer agenda and improve access to quality care, providing support for patients and their families. The American Cancer Society has many resources to help families understand and cope with a cancer diagnosis in their child. Cancer is bad enough, but when it affects a child it is particularly devastating. Kids deserve a chance to experience life–to laugh and have fun, to be amazed and to dream, to grow.

One thing people can do to help solve this problem is making a donation. Your generous gift will support the gold standard in childhood cancer research. Its the simplest way to keep the research going. One way you can donate is by going to https://shop.stjude.org . Another way you can help is by sending cards to children suffering from cancer. Doing these things can make a difference in a child’s life, or even save someone’s life.

Passionately Pink Day Attacks Breast Cancer

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(Photo: Patterson Press)

By Joshua Carr,

Did you see Passionately Pink Day go by? That was the day students and staff wore pink to raise money and awareness to fight breast cancer on October 16. The day may have passed, but you can still give money.  See Ms. Edwards in room 230. It was a great success, and we are still fighting!

 

(Photos: Patterson Press)

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