Category Archives: Uncategorized

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)!

Curfew law goes too far (OPINION)

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(Illustration by Shane Braden, Patterson Press)

by Regina Bell,

The Baltimore City Council passed a controversial new curfew law on August 8th, 2014. According to the Baltimore Sun, “[c]hildren under the age of 14 have to be inside by 9 p.m., while teens ages 14-16 have to be inside by 10 p.m. on school nights and 11 p.m. on non-school nights”. The curfew law stipulates that if you are under the minimum age and the police catch you violating the curfew, your parents have to pay a $500 fine.

I think that the curfew law should only be for children under the age of 14, because some teenagers have jobs or do other things to earn money, like babysit. I feel as though teenagers are not going to get the experience they need in the work field if they can not work the hours that are required.  I do not think that they should get picked up by the police for certain things like coming home late from hanging out with friends, coming from school, or a sporting game. It is not fair to the young people who are doing good and staying out of trouble after the curfew. If their school is too far from their home than the police should not have a problem with them coming home late. I think that if they are doing a good deed then they shouldn’t get taken away for being late. I think that young people should have a certification card or document that says that they have a job and work later than ten o’ clock.

I asked some other people in my community and school about the curfew law, including Ms. England, Patterson’s community liaison. Her opinion is that people in the neighborhood should help the kids to go inside their house during the curfew time. She also said that they should have recreation centers open for teenagers that stay open until around ten o’clock. Additionally, she believes that the police should be friendlier towards the kids and not harass them. If they catch someone breaking the curfew, they should take them to a recreation center close to home rather than putting them in jail.

I with agree her because some people’s parents cannot afford to come pick up their kids up from jail or another far-away location, so their kids have to stay there until the police decide to release them on their own. I do not think that is fair or appropriate for a young person who was not doing anything wrong but only getting home late. I also think that parents should automatically stay on top of their child or children about them coming home late because something can happen to them and their parents might not know where they are.

In conclusion, I believe that while there may be a need for some kind of curfew for younger children, the new curfew law is too strict and unfairly punishes teenagers who are not doing anything wrong.

Patterson participates in ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

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by Joshua Carr,

Patterson participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge on Sept. 5 to help raise money for ALS. ALS means amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the Yankees baseball player who died of it in 1941.

Poly High School challenged our school to do the Ice Bucket Challenge and Mr. Benton, the school principal, accepted. To do the Ice Bucket Challenge you have to dump a bucket of ice water on your head and put a video of it on the internet to help raise money for ALS.  The Ice Bucket Challenge was a fun experience for the students and staff of Patterson High School.

Click to download video of Mr. Benton’s Ice Bucket Challenge

 

This Is Not A Haircut

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Mrs. Gabriel (Photo: Ty’Shawn Key, Patterson Press)

By Ty’Shawn Key

For the past week or two there has been a lot of commotion about Mrs. Gabriel and her stylish new hairdo. Many are asking “Why did she go short?”, and “Had she gotten tired of black?” The answer is amazing! Unknown to many, for the last eight years Mrs. Gabriel has been in a battle against breast cancer.

It all started eight years ago one day when Mrs. Gabriel had gone on a typical doctor’s visit and she decided that it was time for her to have a mammogram–a breast cancer screening that all women should have. Upon completing the screening, doctors discovered that Mrs. Gabriel had a microscopic tumor in her breast. She was then diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer. She soon had the tumor removed. Once the tumor had been successfully removed, Mrs. Gabriel was assigned estrogen prevention medicine in 2007. Estrogen causes cancer to grow.

In the December of 2012, five years after starting her medications she returned to her doctor for an annual mammogram screening. This time during the screening doctors had found that the cancerous cells had spread to the lymph nodes under her left arm. This was the same side the cancer was first spotted in. In January, she had the lymph nodes biopsied. Shortly afterward, the cancerous cells returned. Mrs. Gabriel had now been diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer.

So the following February, Mrs. Gabriel went through surgery and had twenty-one of her lymph nodes removed.  From April of 2013 all the way through September of that same year, Mrs. Gabriel went through sixteen rounds of chemotherapy, followed by thirty-five days of radiation. During this process Mrs. Gabriel lost her hair and has been wearing a wig ever since.

Since the beginning of her adult life, Mrs. Gabriel has had long black hair; however during this process she lost it all, just as many cancer patients do. To save herself from embarrassment and to keep her students from getting distracted by her condition, she decided to purchase a custom-made wig, composed of real human hair, specialized for cancer patients so that they can look as normal as possible. For the past year, Mrs. Gabriel has been wearing a wig to work every day to keep the daily flow as normal as possible. In fact, she pulled this off so nicely that no one except for a select few knew of her condition.

Recently, however, since the success of the surgery, Mrs. Gabriel’s hair has been growing back, and it is looking better than ever! So after a while of going out without her wig every other now and then, Mrs. Gabriel decided to go natural to visit her family up in New York. After receiving positive comments about her new look she decided on her return flight to Baltimore that she would wear the wig no more.

Mrs. Gabriel’s story is one that shows how faith, determination, open-mindedness, and a strong spirit can get you through any tough time; because every day, even though Mrs. Gabriel had a difficult situation, she still pushed through and carried on with her life. Every day she came to work and helped her students. Every day she went home, lived with, and got support from her family. Every day she fought for a better, brighter tomorrow, and every day she did it with a smile. So this new hair style you see now is NOT a haircut. It’s a victory.

 

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.

Interview with Jacquelyn Kowalczyk, Class of 1961

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Jacquelyn Kowalczyk (then Jacquelyn Prucha) as a senior (Photo: 1961 Clipper Yearbook)

Interview by Anthony Ward:

As Patterson makes plans for a new building in the near future, the Patterson Press looks back at a time when our current building was brand new. For us as students at Patterson it may seem as if four years in this place is forever, but what if you were in Patterson when it first relocated to this spot we are at now? Even more, what if you were coming from the original Patterson building before the current one you’re in today? Patterson alumnus Jacquelyn Kowalczyk was a student during last few years of the original Patterson and the first year of the Patterson of today. In this interview we discuss what it was like to be one of the first students to graduate from the new building in 1961. We’ll also get a glimpse of how her life has flourished since being a student at Patterson.

Patterson Press: What was it like being one of the first students to graduate from the new building?

JK:  Moving in the new building that last year was very exciting. We were all very proud to graduate from Patterson.

Patterson Press: Why did Patterson move to a new building?

JK:  I think one of the reasons may be the growing high school age population. The new school provides more space as well as newer facilities for science labs etc. We had no computers back then. Typewriters were the thing in those days.

Patterson Press: What was the difference between the two buildings?

JK:  The new building had a swimming pool but our class never got to use it since there was a structural problem, I believe a crack, and it took the whole year to get it fixed. The new building also had better science class facilities. The new school had fewer floors where the old school had about 5 or six floors.

Patterson Press: What traditions did Patterson have when you were there?

JK: One tradition each year was picking out 5 senor girls and one would be picked as Patterson’s Sweetheart by a committee of teachers.

Patterson Press: Was Patterson known for anything back then?

JK: It was a very popular school back then and had some very good sports teams.

Patterson Press: How were sports back then?

JK:  The sports back then seem just like today, football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, track, wrestling, softball, badminton, bowling, tennis etc… One senior from my class did play for the Green Bay Packers for a while.

Patterson Press: How were the teachers?

JK:  The teachers were great and always ready to help you succeed. I was in the academic courses for college bound students and enjoyed all my classes.

Patterson Press: What were your goals when you were at Patterson?

JK:  My goals were to study hard and try to figure out what I wanted to do in life. Another goal was to enjoy my time in high school because it is one of the best times in your life. Patterson introduced me to many tastes of the world to help guide me to what I might want to per sue as an occupation.

Patterson Press: How was the school environment?

JK:  Our school environment was teamwork, friendships and cheering for our school.

Patterson Press: What clubs were popular at Patterson when you were there?

JK:  Yes, there were many. I was in the future nurses club, year book co-editor, chemistry club and national honor society.  There is a time capsule in your building where the students of the first Patterson put in mementos from the old building near Patterson Park. I was in the Latin club at the time and we wrote up a small scroll and signed it and it was placed in the time capsule. I wonder if it will be opened when your new building gets constructed.

Patterson Press: Were you involved in any after-school activities?

JK:  I was on the bowling team and we would go to a local bowling alley for our competitions.

Patterson Press: Was high school fun?

JK:  It was one of the best times in my life. We had science fairs, proms, sport events and lots of friends

Patterson Press: What was your high school graduation like?

JK:  Graduation was wonderful. I remember how we practiced singing our farewell song and how emotional it all was when the time came. My mother had made me a beautiful white dress which I wore the entire day. We had a large June graduating class, 200 I believe.

Patterson Press: Back then what did you think you’d be?

JK:  At first I thought I would be a nurse. Then it was a Chemist but that was not it. Math turned out to be my best course. My first job was with a local insurance company who sent me to IBM to get computer programming courses. So I have been working with computers even since.

Patterson Press: What college did you go to?

JK: College of Notre Dame of Maryland

Patterson Press: Would you say you’ve achieved happiness since high school?

JK:  Yes, I married the love of my life and have 2 wonderful girls plus 4 beautiful grand kids.  Also I have been working as a computer hospital application engineer for over 30 years and enjoy my occupation.  I have been blessed.

Patterson Press: Do you still talk to any high school classmates?

JK: I do have a couple of friends that I still get to talk to periodically.

Patterson Press: What do you think of Patterson now?

JK:  I am hoping that the students of Patterson today have the same pride in the school as we did in 1961.  School pride should always be a priority. It will be a great part of memories in your life.

Patterson Press: Do you have any advice for today’s Patterson students?

JK:  When I was young no one listened to old people but the advice they give is sometimes worth hearing. Now I am old so here is my advice. Study hard and find what you would like to do in your lives. There are many occupations out there to pick from so make sure you find what makes you happy. Always treat people as you want to be treated. Enjoy and cherish each moment that you can.

Patterson Press: Patterson has plans to move into a brand new building again within the next few years. What do you think about that?

JK:  I think it is wonderful except it really makes me feel old since my new building is now being replaced.

The Patterson Press would like to thank Ms. Kowalczyk for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish her the best of luck.

Students arrive at the new Patterson High School building for the first time (photo: 1961 Clipper Yearbook)

 

Freshmen share their personal stories at emotional intervention

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(Photo: psychotherapist.org)

By Makenzie Reyes-Schettini,

The ninth grade girls spent a day in the gymnasium in February, where we participated in an emotional intervention called Point Break. (Ninth grade boys participated in the same program on a different day.) Almost all of us were in tears by the end of the day.

When we came in there were chairs that formed a circle. We each took a seat. As we munched on donuts and sipped our water, the facilitators began to introduce themselves. This session was to be an opportunity for us to get things off our chests that we had been holding inside for too long. In the beginning, there was an awkward tension in the air, but it was soon replaced with a more calm and friendly feeling. We played games and listened to stories that were beneficial to both our lives and the lives of the people who told them.

As we got deeper into the day, we also got deeper into our emotions.We opened up to tell our personal stories that we hadn’t told anyone in years.We really conected to the people around us: those who we have known our whole life and those who we had just met. Point Break was not just an excuse to get out of class all day. Rather, it was an opportunity for us to express what we were really feeling inside.

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