This season was an inspiration to a lot of our young men and women. We actually for the first time in school history had 2 females compete in wrestling. This wrestling season was a well-accomplished season for the Patterson Clippers. We started the season with 22 wrestlers, a number of which had never wrestled before. Under the direction of Coach Walker and Coach Smith, our first time wrestlers quickly became acclimated to the sport.
We had 3 wrestlers place in the city tournament. Markel Ross placed 3rd, Anthony Lopez placed 3rd, and Dominic Rabey placed 4th overall. All three of those wrestlers also qualified for the regional tournament in which Anthony Lopez placed 7th overall in the entire North Region.
As a team, we were able to compile a 5-3 record, which was good enough to place 4th overall in the entire North Region.
As the head coach, I couldn’t be more proud of the effort and fortitude displayed by my team. The hope is that through my coaching they were able to become better young men and women. For me, it wasn’t about becoming better wrestlers; it was about becoming better people, and I believe we accomplished that. While I will not be returning next year, I just want to say that I love you all and wish you the best moving forward.
Editor’s note: Students at Patterson High School wrote anonymous messages about what they wish people knew about the community they most identify with.
I am a member of the LGBTQ community. We are still people. We are still humans.
I am a member of the Hispanic community. Not everybody is “Mexican.” We are just like you, and everybody else.
I am a member of the introverted community. It’s really hard to talk and socialize with other people, especially strangers. Some of us may come off as shy or even rude, but most of us just think a lot about how to react to new people.
I am a member of the female community. Girls are not just pretty. We are also smart. We should be respected and treated like humans, not objects.
I am a member of the Black community. Some of us kill each other for nothing. We need to change everything about that.
I am a member of the caregiving community. People who have never been a caregiver cannot understand the experience.
I am a member of the Muslim community. I wish people would understand that what’s shown on social media and shared on the internet isn’t a reliable source to have your questions answered. People need to understand that getting a personal answer from a Muslim you know gives you a deeper view on the reality of Islam. My favorite part of being Muslim is that, no matter where I go with my hijab, I will always get an “As-Salaam-Alaikum” or “Salaam, sister.” I love that a lot.
I am a member of the artistic community. Drawing is easy sometimes and sometimes it’s not. When I finish what I’m drawing, I feel proud because it ends up looking amazing.
I am a member of the Christian community. My favorite part of this community is meeting every week after church to discuss what it’s like to be a teenager.
I am a member of the East Baltimore community. It’s dangerous over here.
I am a member of the young Black men community. We are brothers who all want to be successful at what we do and will always be there for one another.
I am a member of the biracial community. Everyone assumes I am something I’m not. Just because someone has curly hair and light skin doesn’t mean they are Hispanic.
I am a member of the Muslim community. I wish people understood that Muslims don’t condone violence and that we’re all about peace. I wish people understood that ISIS aren’t real Muslims. If they were, they wouldn’t commit such acts.
I am a member of the soccer community. We are about communication and hard work. We are also about love, peace, and equality.
I am a member of the Black community. WE ARE BEAUTIFUL.
I am a member of the creative community. I wish people understood I make my own ideas for me and for me alone. I won’t stand for people who think art and creativity is trash. I will fight for my community if I must.
If you’re curious about an unfamiliar community . . . let’s share ideas.
We have good intentions; we want to learn about communities outside of our own. We’re interested in building relationships, and even inter-community. But how to make that happen can be confusing, or even intimidating. Thankfully, there is no shortage of resources to help us get started.
In fact, Baltimore Racial Justice Action, a nonprofit “provid[ing] a variety of racial justice educational events, workshops, and services for individuals, groups, and organizations” recommends dozens of books, articles, websites and films on their site alone. In the process of creating community, knowledge is a necessity.
Deanna Lavery also recommends a comprehensive list of resources. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration has a page devoted to numerous programs that could be the starting place for learning about unfamiliar communities. Beyond that, Deanna says, “I always go where the people are. I meet them where they are.” To form community, she says we must “listen, listen, listen.”
Are you hesitant to learn about other communities? Do you have suggestions about where to start? Let’s continue this conversation.
Patterson faces off against Poly
(Photo: Herson Guzman)
By Mr. Phillips
The Patterson boys lacrosse team finished the season with 2 wins and 8 losses. In spite of this disappointing record, the team did show a lot of strengths, especially conditioning at the midfield and attack positions and strength in the defensive positions. Opposing coaches noted that Patterson played hard the entire game, played physical, and have underclassmen who should improve next year.
The team’s biggest weaknesses were passing accuracy, lack of experience and eligibility. We only had 1 player with a significant amount of previous high school lacrosse experience. Lack of experience shows up in game situations when players chase the ball rather than defend their assigned player or zone. This led to a lot of open shots on the “weak side” when defenders left their zones. Good lacrosse requires a high amount of trust and teamwork, which is not built in a 2 month period, but requires a few years.
Eligibility was a big problem this season. We started with nearly 30 students attending conditioning and ended up starting our final game with just ten players healthy and eligible.
Patterson can only get better. We have not had an active lacrosse program for several seasons. We will be getting underclassmen involved in summer club lacrosse and younger players will get better at playing together. Our MVP was Brandon Chambers (2019), team captain, who played long-stick defense and also filled in as goalie on several occasions. Brandon is an extremely hard worker and well-respected voice of reason in a huddle. His willingness to help teach freshman was outstanding.
An unsung hero for the team was Desmond Wilds, who played goalie after our starting goalie became ineligible. Desmond started in the goal against Poly, which was our strongest game in terms of hustle and effort. Playing goalie on an inexperienced team is a very difficult job because a person who doesn’t know much about lacrosse will assume that the goalie is a bigger factor than defensive lapses.
The Patterson High School varsity baseball team (Photo: Mr. Funk)
The Patterson Varsity Baseball team has had an excellent 2019 season. Led by a strong pitching staff and deep senior leadership, the Clippers rattled off five straight wins to start the season. The team’s 10-9 win over Mervo on April 1 stood out in particular, with seniors Terrence Taylor and Jason Núñez rallying to tie the game in the bottom of the 6th, and freshman Emmanuel Caraballo winning the game with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 7th.
A series of narrow mid-season losses to Poly and City–all by six runs or less–eliminated the Clippers from contention for the Baltimore City Championship game, but decisive bounce-back wins over Douglass and Mervo guaranteed Patterson sole possession of third place in Division I. The team heads towards the state playoffs boasting an 11-3 record and playing with a great deal of confidence, and impressive contributions from underclassmen like Josh Martinez indicate more great Clipper baseball seasons to come.
We’ll miss senior veterans like Tavon Mitchell and Mike Abreu, but over the past few seasons they’ve set a tone and example for the team that will live on here for years after they’re gone.
Most people think that video games are bad because they affect kids and adults’ brains and health. Kids sometimes don’t want to eat or fix themselves something to eat, or if they have to go to the bathroom they would wait a couple of minutes and then they would go. They don’t have the time to do anything.
However, there are also good things about video games. Some games can even be very educational and help you learn.
According to Joanne Orlando, a writer for Curious Kids, “Children
like video games because they are fun and because they can be challenging. You
have to solve problems, work out the best moves for your character, and decide
how to use your equipment and supplies in the best possible way. Making all
these decisions can be exciting.”
People at Patterson High School have given their opinions about video games. “Children like video games because they are fun and because they can be challenging.”, said freshman Marquis Jones.
Nonetheless, many parents are concerned that their child might always choose to play a video game instead of playing outside and getting exercise.
Like most things, video games are best enjoyed in moderation. As long as you keep a good balance and don’t spend too much time looking at a screen, playing video games can be a healthy way to relax and maybe even learn something.
Decidí venir a hacer una visita porque quería conocer y
saber cómo son las universidades. Creo que sería maravilloso aprender y
experimentar nuevos horizontes. He aprendido que en la vida con esfuerzo uno
puede lograr todo lo que se quiere. Es necesario que estudiemos para tener un futuro
mejor para cuando seamos grandes. Sin embargo, la educación es cara y por eso me
gustaría saber cuánto me costaría una clase en Goucher.
Conocer a Goucher College fue una experiencia incredible
porque compratimos tiempo con el director y conocimos a algunos alumnos y ellos
nos enseñaron sus recámaras y nos hablaron un poco sobre sus propias
experiencias en la universidad. Nos explicaron las reglas universitarias y por
qué es importante seguirlas. Nos dijeron que todo es posible y que luchemos por
nuestras metas y sueños.
The Patterson track team has been making tremendous progress this year. There are over 20 students on the team that do many track and field events. For the past season the team has been expanding, going to new events and breaking old Patterson track records.
There was a track meet on May 1 at City College and Patterson runner Kuran Johnson ran the 100 meter dash, setting a record time of 10.80 seconds. He is now is the fastest in the state.
“I feel accomplished when they succeed but never satisfied. the goal is to be the best in the world.”, declared Coach Ted Smith.
This is important because he is saying he wants the runners to do better then just win. He wants them to be successful in life overall.
103 school shootings took place in 2018, including 4 in Maryland. (Image: Everytown for Gun Safety)
School violence and efforts to prevent it have been going on for so long that it has almost become commonplace. Last year alone, there were 103 recorded school related shooting related incidents resulting in 60 deaths and 88 injuries, according to the group Everytown for Gun Safety.
The violence happens at every level, from elementary schools to colleges and universities. Violence in schools has spread widely throughout the nation. School violence is a big problem we are facing now. School violence has caused many problems among students, families, faculty/staff of schools, and residents of the community.
School violence is not limited to mass shootings. It also includes gang activity, bullying, and assault. There are also other crime and safety concerns in school, such as theft and drugs. School violence usually does not start in school. Crimes in school are often related to violence that occurs in the home or the community. Some kids could be going through something at home that leads them to do bad things at school. Violent tendencies may also be linked to the experience of children that watch violent TV shows.
Some people only go to school because they have to, and some people skip school because they think it is unnecessary. When students cut class or leave the building without permission, it often leads to unsafe situations.
The last 3 years have shown us that the threat of violence in schools and in society at large is more common today than in the past. One problem involving violence has to do with knives. The reason kids bring knives to school is because they probably do not feel safe at the school. The student who was arrested for stabbing another student at Patterson in March claimed that he was being bullied and that he carried the knife for self-defense. Whether or not this is true, it is clear that the presence of knives and other weapons in school is a serious safety concern.
School is supposed to be a safe place where young people can go learn the basics of mathematics, literature, science, and other subjects, without fearing for their safety, feeling intimidated, or being harassed. Patterson High School is taking a variety of measures to improve school safety. These measures include the use of metal detectors, the presence of security guards in the school, rules and regulations regarding student conduct and dress, profiling of potentially violent students, anti-bullying programs, restorative practices, and more.
When an incident does occur, administrators respond to it and take steps to keep everyone safe and prevent further violence. “Once a fight happens, we’ll always deal with it.”, declared Mr. Alukwu, one of the assistant principals at Patterson.
Even though school administrators and teachers are working toward making the school environment safe and secure, crime and violence still find their way onto the school grounds. Safety will continue to be a concern at schools, so educators, school administrators, parents, and students remain vigilant in striving to make their schools safe places where youth are able to learn.
There is a drug problem at Patterson High School and dozens of other schools all over Baltimore. But why do people do drugs in school? What is the purpose of young people engaging in this harmful behavior? Why do they like to smoke in schools? Is there a reason why they do what they do?
Students take drugs for a variety of reasons: because they are experimenting, because of family history or genetic predisposition, because they got addicted to prescription drugs, because of loneliness, peer pressure and more. You can tell if someone is using drugs because of the way they act or look; for example, change in friends (to hang out with kids who use drugs), having red or puffy eyes, etc.
Drugs can have serious ramifications on a person’s physical health, mental health and well being. And that’s not good at all. We want students to stop taking drugs and to be more healthy because if they don’t stop, it can create changes in the way their brains work. Drug abuse changes your brain chemistry, which is not good. The longer you use drugs, the more damage is done and the harder it is to go back to normal. It is very hard to go back because you get so addicted to it that you don’t know when to stop.
There are 175 different public schools in Baltimore City, and most of them have a problem with kids smoking marijuana or using other drugs in school. Kids are smoking in bathrooms and in the hallways and on stairwells. And that’s not good. We want kids or anyone else taking drugs to stop and be healthy.
To stop drug abuse, always talk to whoever is taking it because they can be going through a lot at school or at home or anywhere. Or they can just do it because they see someone else doing it because they think it’s cool. Just by talking to them and helping them see that drug abuse is bad and that it’s not good for you at all, hopefully they will change their minds and get on the right track.
We really do need drug abuse to stop because it’s really, really bad. This is why people are taking drugs and we need to stop and help people who are taking it and change people’s lives. If you or someone you know is struggling with a drug problem, there is a free substance abuse counseling program at Patterson that can help. For more information, speak to Ms. Smith in the Guidance office or call New Beginnings substance abuse counseling at 443-310-2409.
Congolese families fleeing their villages due to fighting between the government and rebels groups (Photo: MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti)
By Asende Baele
At Patterson, there are refugee students from all over the world. Many of these students are from Congo, a country in central Africa.
The refugee students from Congo are coming to the United States because of they want a better life. In the Congo, they had a bad life: there was not enough food, they drank dirty water, and they did not have a good education. Their parents were farmers and they worked very hard to help them to pay for education, to buy food, and to pay for other basic necessities. If they were not plowing their fields all year they would not be able to buy anything. Wars have also been taking place in Congo and it is not safe to stay there. These are some of the reasons why young people from Congo are coming to United States.
One of the Congolese students, Luc Mtembezi, explains why he came to America. “I come here because in my country, my life–it was not a good one. I think it is important to me to be here. I needed education.”
Some people wonder why are all these refugees from different places are coming to the United States. This is one of the reasons. But it is not easy to come to a new country and start over.
Nia Ramadhani, one of the refugees, explains the challenges she faced adapting to her new life as a student at Patterson: “My first day to come to school, I was so scared because it was my first day and I did not speak English. That was my problem, because some people come to ask me where I am from I was telling them, I don’t know. So right now I’m so excited that I speak English now.”
When refugees come here on the first day to go to school, it is hard for them to adapt or to understand. One of they English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers, Ms Avellaneda, works with these students after school with the Refugee Youth Project to help them make this difficult adjustment.
“I really enjoy working with my students from Congo.”, Ms. Avellaneda explained. “Despite the fact that they have experienced difficult situations and hardship as refugees, including learning how to adapt to US culture and life, they are very motivated and work very hard to learn English. They inspire me to work hard and always do my best. They also have a great sense of humor!”
All the refugees from the Congo work really hard to improve their language and they focus in class because they need to see a better future than the one they would have had if they had stayed in their home country.
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