Category Archives: Departments

Patterson defeats Lake Clifton, 55-46

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(Photo: Regina Bell, Patterson Press)

Reprinted with permission from http://pattersonbasketball.com/

Patterson never trailed as it remained undefeated with a 55-46 win over Lake Clifton.

Behind strong efforts from its senior backcourt of Gary Blackston and Dereck Oliver, the Clippers (4-0) never let their lead go under four points after the first quarter.

Gary Blackston had Patterson’s first double-double this season with 22 points and 16 rebounds.

Blackston finished with game highs in points (22) and rebounds (16), notching the first double-double for Patterson this season. Oliver had 13 points and four assists, as he and Blackston made sure Patterson never seized control.

The Clippers led by as many as 15 points in the first half and went into the break up 32-19. Lake Clifton cut the lead to 42-38 in the fourth quarter, but Patterson went on a 6-0 run to seal the game.

Sophomore Christion Adams had a strong game, finishing with seven points and nine rebounds. Senior Demetrich Williams had six points, four rebounds and two blocks. Senior Tyquan Pointer had seven points.

Patterson also got solid efforts from sophomore Earl Ross (three rebounds, three blocks), sophomore Koran Moore and junior Richard Hibbert.

The Clippers out-rebounded Lake Clifton 41-26 and held it to 13 of 49 (26.5 percent) from the floor.

Patterson is back in action on Monday when it hosts Milford Mill. J.V. tips at 3:45 p.m. and varsity at 5:15 p.m.

Chess team returns for another year of fun and competition

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Chess players ponder their next move (Photo: Joshua Carr, Patterson Press)

By Joshua Carr,

Patterson has a chess team. They meet on Thursdays after school at 3.35 in room 317 (Mr. Tola’s room). Students who do not know how to play chess will taught how to play. You do not need to have any experience to join the club.

Playing chess is fun for students and also helps them to concentrate better. The chess team will compete in two citywide tournaments: one in December and one in April. For more information, see Mr. Tola in room 317.

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.

Maasai Warriors Visit Patterson

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Masai warriors perform a traditional dance in the media center (Photo: Laxmi Magar)

by Rama Goloco

There were Maasai warriors dancing at Patterson High School in the Media Center on November 12 . All of the dancers were men, but they looked like women because their traditional clothing resembled dresses. They came from a country in Africa called Kenya. The mountain district called Kirinyaga is where the Maasai live. They are a popular and traditional culture.

The dancers wore traditional red hunter’s clothing like great warriors. They carried shields, staffs and other items from their culture. They were singing, dancing and jumping.  When they jumped, they made a roaring sound with their voices. They really know how to jump all way up to the top!

Their visit was a precious thing because it helped the students in the US to know about different countries in Africa. That day a lot of the students enjoyed the performance. It was a fun day.

 

Lost (POEM)

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by Shaniera  Scott

Lost in a pool of emptiness
I search but I can’t find
I cry but there are no tears.
Who is this girl looking back at me in the mirror
A product of mothering gone wrong or
A strong woman yet to come?
Lost in a pool of emptiness…
I see this girl everyday
I am this girl
But do I know this girl?
Lost in a pool of emptiness…
And damn it I can’t swim.
All that I’ve known or what I thought
I’ve known has vanished before my eyes
The prayers, the hopings, the unheard
Cries; ALL lost in a pool of emptiness
No longer familiar with how things used
To be but all the while trying to
Know that girl that they call ME, confused
And overwhelmed yet curious to know the cost.
I’m not hiding y’all I’m…

Lost

Football team loses to Edmonson by 2 points

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Patterson’s strong defense kept the score close (Photo: Adiya Mason, Patterson Press)

By Adiya Mason,


Patterson played Edmonson on Thursday, October, 16 . Even though we lost 16-18, some Patterson players deserve a shout-out for giving their all: Number 23, Kelvin Hussey, worked very hard; Number 11, Anthony Partlow, scored a Patterson touchdown (Anthony has really been showing his love for the game); Number 2, Tynard Barfield, also made a touchdown. The final score was close, but we gave our all.

Teacher Talk: October 2014

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Editor’s Note:  This is the first month for a new feature called “Teacher Talk” which The Patterson Press will do every month. We will ask teachers a question that is related to the current month. Check back next month for the next Teacher Talk.

By Xavier Williams,

In this month of October something scary and fun happens: Halloween. So I decided to ask teachers a question that connects with that theme. My question was “What is your biggest fear and why?”. Here are some of the responses I got:

“My biggest fear is drowning because I am an awesome swimmer and it would frighten me if I couldn’t breathe.”

-Ms.Shank, Biology teacher

 
“Currently my biggest fear is leaving this earth before my sons are in a position to care for them selves.” 

-Mr.Antoine, Special Education

 
“One of my biggest fears is to lose somebody close to me and not have the chance to see him/her before going to heaven. This is especially true for people like me, immigrants, who leave away from everything they know.”

-Ms.Varela, Engineering Teacher

(Photos by Xavier Williams and Shane Braden, Patterson Press)

 

Next month’s question will be: “What are you most thankful for?”

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)!

Secretary “Mama” Jones vows to beat breast cancer

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Mr. Benton and “Mama” Jones (photo: Patterson Press)

When Patterson Principal Vance Benton and long-time secretary Linda Jones (known affectionately as “Mama Jones”) announced that they were having a “showdown” on Friday, October 17th, most teachers and staff members had no idea what to expect.

The “showdown”, as it turns out, was a contest to see who had the best bald head. As Mr. Benton showed off his shiny dome to a crowd of spectators in the Media Center, Mama Jones pulled off her head scarf to reveal that she too had no hair. She also revealed the reason: Mama Jones is battling with breast cancer and has lost her hair as a result of chemo-therapy.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the United States by the end of 2014. About 40,000 women in the U.S. will die from breast cancer by the end of the year. Yet there is also great cause for hope:  There are currently about 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

To raise awareness and money to combat this terrible disease, October has been declared National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On October 16th, students, teachers and staff wore pink to school to show their support for breast cancer awareness. Mama Jones’ announcement the following day brought the issue closer to home for many Patterson staff members.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Mama Jones was upbeat and optimistic. “I’m gonna kick cancer’s a** before cancer kicks my a**!”, she declared to cheers and applause. Needless to say, Mama Jones won the contest with Mr. Benton, just as she has vowed to win her battle with cancer. After her announcement, dozens of teachers and staff members lined up to hug her and give her words of encouragement. Her daughter and grandchildren also came out to support her. Her daughter even shaved her own head in solidarity. Everyone in the Patterson “500” family admires Mama Jones for her courage and wishes her a speedy recovery.

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