Tag Archives: baltimore

Hermanos Mios mentors Latino youth

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(Photo by Hermanos Mios)

by Mr. Cortez

Hermanos Mios is a mentoring program that was established to promote and support the youth of our community through educational and tutoring programs, including scholarship, employment opportunities, sports, and sociocultural activities.

At a monthly mentoring session on April 26 the group had a phenomenally inspirational session where our seniors led a panel discussion about not giving up despite facing extremely difficult challenges in your life. We highlighted our seniors. If you see them, please congratulate them on their bravery, courage, leadership, and determination!

Congratulations to the following HM seniors who are graduating this year:

  • Abisai O. Bargas Canesa
  • Jonatan O. Escobar Bargas
  • Wilmer J. Esquite Paredes
  • Brallan Hernandez Lemus
  • Selvin Ramirez Garcia
  • Brandon Revolorio Melendez

Below is a story about our program on Voz de America:

Patterson holds Senior Farewell ceremony

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by Kylayah Davis

Patterson High School held its 2024 Senior Farewell ceremony on Thursday, May 5th. It was a night to remember, with speeches by administrators, cohort representatives, and underclassmen. Awards were presented for academic excellence, community service, and even surprise scholarships. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 Valedictorian, Bianca Cruz and Salutatorian, Makayla Hill, as well as the entire graduating class! The commencement ceremony will take place at Coppin University on June 11th at 4:45 PM.

Baseball team goes undefeated in regular season

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by Kylayah Davis

Under the leadership of Coaches Mahach and Mervis, our school’s varsity baseball team went undefeated 13-0 during the regular season, earning their title as Baltimore City Division 2 Champions. The Clippers secured a playoff spot, placing 9th in Maryland’s high school baseball team ranks.

The team was scheduled to have their semifinal game on a Tuesday at home against Aberdeen High School. However, due to unforeseen events, the game had to be moved to Saturday, May 11th at Douglas High School where the Clippers fell to Aberdeen 0-21.

According to Coach Mahach, “Ronald Hawkins (senior, Center Field) led the Clippers at the plate with two hits in three at bats. Quaron Walker-Bey (junior), Colin Washington (senior), and Jose Penalo Guillen (freshman) gave it their all on the mound.”

This playoff loss does not overshadow the impeccable season our boys have had. Below are their regular season game scores:

Edmondson: 19-15, Reginald F Lewis: 9-6, Frederick Douglas: 10-6, Digital Harbor: 14-3, NAF: 22-2, Coppin Academy: 12-8, Forest Park: 13-0, Edmondson: 24-12, Frederick Douglas: 28-2, Reginald F Lewis: 15-6, NAF: 22-2, Digital Harbor: 10-0, Forest Park: 31-2.

“I’d like to offer a big thank you to our captains, Jeter Luna and Robert Alvarez, as well as our other eight seniors.”, said Coach Mahach. “They were all important to the team this year and will be missed.”

You can continue to support our team next year by turning out at games and following their Instagram page: @pattersonbaseball.

Track and field team has another record-breaking year

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by Coach Smith

The Patterson track and field team had another record-breaking season this school year.

“I feel like the team is on track to take over the city in the next few years and is changing the way people are going to look at Patterson.”, said team member David Wagner.

The foundation of the team’s march to success is discipline and hard work.

Martin Bakondjo has broken every freshman school distance record that we have.  Joel Lukoo is the cornerstone of all of our relays. Quintine Nterere has broken the school’s 800 meter record. Najah White won a gold medal in the Baltimore City Track and Field Championships in the 2 mile. Nathalia Espino broke the school’s freshman record in the 800 meters.

Najah White has given special shout-outs to the boys’ track team for dramatic improvement from the indoor to the outdoor track season. Marshall Mallory also gave a special shout out to sophomore distance sensation Vema Maneno. He has broken the school’s sophomore records in the mile and 2 mile and broke the school record in the half mile.

Marshall Mallory captured the essence of the team’s success when she said, “Our team is mostly filled with very young athletes [overwhelmingly freshmen and sophomores that have to compete against juniors and seniors because there is no junior varsity within track and field] compared to the people that we’re competing against and we’re getting closer and closer to these schools’ times. In almost one to two years, if we keep doing how we are doing, Patterson track and field will be on top.”

This march to the top started in the classroom.  Consider that seven of our student-athletes have a 4.0 GPA or better: Martin Bakondjo (4.2), Marshall Mallory (4.2), Libni Colocho (4.0), Joel Lukoo (4.0), Quintine Nterere (4.0), Indira Solomon (4.0), and Dayana Cruz-Banegas (4.0).

The star of the future for Patterson Track and Field is Da’Shawn “Day Day” Stackhouse. He has broken the school’s freshman records in the 400 and 800 meters. Additionally, he is Baltimore City’s fastest freshman in the 400 meters.  He is less than a second away from qualifying for nationals. In the years to come, Patterson Track and Field will take over the city and as stated before, our march to success starts in the classroom.            .
                                                    

JROTC teaches leadership skills

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by Gabriela Hernandez-Guzman

JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps), is a program offered by high schools in the United States that focuses on leadership, citizenship, character development, and military skills training. It provides students with opportunities to develop leadership qualities and learn about the importance of service to their community and country.

When Lieutenant Colonel Bill York first became an instructor for JROTC at Patterson High, it was the fulfillment of a longtime dream of his.

“I always wanted to teach”, Lt. Col. York reflected, explaining that JROTC Journey has been the most rewarding job he has ever had in his life.

Lt. Col. York’s best experience teaching JROTC was “the visit to the Columbia internship in Baltimore”. His favorite part of JROTC is helping cadets work through the challenges of their day-to-day lives.

JROTC can help students change their decision-making process and get people to view them in a more positive light.

Some activities that JROTC cadets engage in include wearing their blue uniform every Thursday, wearing their Physical Training (PT) uniform every Friday, and doing exercises. They also plan activities such as walking, running, and playing kickball. JROTC has a lot of competitions such as drill competitions, a 5K run, archery, and the “Toughest Team Challenge”.

JROTC helps cadets develop leadership skills by challenging them to push their personal limits through sports like rappelling, and the aforementioned racing and archery. Lt. Col. York states that when students get through basic training they put them in the position to lead.

One of the main benefits of joining JROTC is learning leadership skills in a safe place for all people. The program also provides opportunities for students interested in joining the military. “For the 2-3 years you are in the  programs, you can gain a rank as soon you enter and graduate from basic training.”, Lt. Col. York explained. 

The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) was established by the National Defense Act of 1916. JROTC’s mission is to motivate young people to be better citizens. JROTC programs include a curriculum that covers a wide range of subjects from military history to leadership skills, and health and wellness. Cadets learn through classroom instruction, physical training, and other activities.

JROTC plays a big role in personal development and ethics. Cadets are taught the importance of honor, courage, and commitment, which are values that they can carry with them throughout their lives. JROTC cadets and students can earn community service learning hours by doing reveille (raising the American flag) and retreat (taking the flag down), and also by participating in the Green Team, collecting recycling outside of the building and inside classrooms. 

JROTC is a high school program that teaches leadership, citizenship, and life skills. It is sponsored by the U.S military and aims to instill discipline, responsibility, and teamwork in students. JROTC is not a recruitment tool but it offers a structured environment for personal development. Additionally, JROTC provides opportunities for scholarships and military education benefits. Participants can engage in community service, drill competitions, and summer camps, enhancing their high school experience and preparing them for future success.

The JROTC curriculum is designed to prepare cadets for success in both military and civilian life by instilling valuable skills, knowledge, and values. It offers a unique educational experience that combines academic rigor with practical training and leadership development.

Editor’s Note: After this article was written, Lt. Col. Bill York shared the following update: “AFJROTC MD-932 has earned the Distinguished Unit Award for AY2023/24. The award recognizes the personal growth and accomplishments of the cadets, contributions of the instructor as a mentor, and the support of the school and local community.”

Let’s learn about badminton

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by Kylayah Davis

Patterson’s badminton team defeated Edmondson Westside High School on Friday, April 19.

Now, I always like to do research before any event but today I decided to go completely ignorant and learn from the team. So I interviewed Coach Bomar and players Banny and Jeani, where I learned some interesting facts about badminton:

  1. There are both JV and varsity teams in badminton.
  2. They play the best 2 out of 3 matches to determine a winner.
  3. A typical game takes around 10 minutes.
  4. It takes 21 points to win each game.
  5. You have to win by at least 2 points.
  6. There are no referees.

Yes, you read that right: There are no refs or officials in badminton. As Coach Bomar explained, badminton is a sport of integrity and etiquette; it goes by honesty. 

The players keep track of the score themselves by saying “Are you ready? (number of points) serving (number of points)”. You have to ask “Are you ready?” before you serve because if your opponent isn’t ready and you serve, it would be unsportsmanlike. 

When I asked Coach Bomar why he coaches badminton, he told me to look around.

“No-one’s yelling, no one’s arguing, there’s no flags, no fighting after the games.”, observed Coach Bomar. “There are Edmondson girls playing with Patterson girls. It’s really a fun sport”.

Coach Bomar has been coaching badminton for ten years, and Coach Bloom has been doing it for two years.

Badminton is an all girls sport in Maryland that was established in order to balance out the amount of male and female sports. Check out our school’s badminton games every Tuesday and Thursday.

Culture Night returns for second year

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by Mirian Maurizaca

Patterson High School hosted its second annual Culture Night on April 30th from 5:00-7:00 PM. The event was sponsored by the student organization, Catalyst for Change. People brought a variety of different foods from their cultures. There were several different types of presentations. There was music and dancing, and people wore traditional clothing styles from their cultures. 

At the event there was a lot of food from around the world, including African food, Filipino food, Jamaican food, Arabic food, Mexican food, and American food. One of the musical pieces presented reminded a teacher about where she was.

One of the reasons for organizing Culture Night was “to bring everyone together,” according to Ms. Olunuga. Another reason was to represent “the culture of every nationality that is in Patterson High School,” said Ms. Godinez. 

The event helped people start to understand and appreciate each other’s cultures more.

“I think everyone had the opportunity to connect more”, said a teacher whose name the Patterson Press did not catch. “It was a really rich experience.”

Chess Club wins citywide championship

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by Mirian Maurizaca

The Chess Club at Patterson High is a place where students can go and have fun while learning the game and competing with other schools. There are 3 faculty advisors for the club: Mr. O’ Neal, Mr, Baron, and Mr. Tola.

The Chess Club has done well in multiple competitions this year. They have had some 1st place wins as well as 2nd and 3rd place wins. In the first week of April, the Chess Club prepared for a national championship. The Chess Club has played in the top 20 but they hope to play in the top 10. 

For the first time in history, Patterson finished first place in the citywide end of year championship. Senior Julian Shifflett was awarded player of the year and the team returned with first place trophies in three of the four divisions, making Patterson the top school in Baltimore.

Inemesit Udo-Akang, a senior, said, “It was great to get revenge on Poly. They were winning all year, but we came out on top.”

Mr. Baron explained that although the Chess Club competes with other schools, the main focus is just on playing chess for fun. “We do compete, but mostly we like to play chess”, said Mr. Baron. “I also just like to see players improve,” he added. 

Students like the positive vibe of the Chess Club. Kailani, a member of the club said, “The atmosphere is great.”  

Accoding to Mr. Baron, chess also teaches students skills that are useful for life in general.

“People learn patience, people learn planning ahead, people learn how to interact with each other, and think through difficult problems”, Mr. Baron said.

To learn more about the Chess Club, speak with Mr. Baron or one of the other two teachers mentioned in this article.

With files from Mr. Baron

School lunch needs improvement (OPINION)

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by Wilfredo Portillo-Quinones

School lunch is a very important part of school and a major topic that needs to be discussed. Currently, school lunch at Patterson is not enough, nor is it nutritious.

I think we should improve our school lunches because it would benefit everyone. It’s something a lot of our students come to school for. When lunch is good, it is one of the most enjoyable parts of school. I think improving school lunch would bring more students to Patterson, because the quality of school lunches is a factor behind children and teenagers changing schools. If we were to improve the lunches, we’d be able to promote that as one more reason why young people should enroll at Patterson.

Whenever people talk about school, one of the most common topics that come up is school lunch and whether it’s good or not. I think it would be beneficial for us to add more food to the plates or give it some sort of improvement that could bring in more students. It would also be nice to add more nutrients to our lunches because a major health factor is whether or not we get enough nutrients in our school lunches.


By improving school food, we should go off of the suggestions made by our students about what they want, specifically the students who usually eat at school. A lot of times students don’t have food at home and they come to school to eat and have lunch. When they don’t get enough or the food is bad, they end up not eating enough, and it’s sad. Although it isn’t the schools problem, we want our students to feel good at school and feel like they have more reasons to come. Another major point of this would be including healthier foods, like more salad bars or fresh fruit.


I think the best way for our school to understand and change would be to have a poll where students can vote on whether or not we should change and improve the school lunches or keep them the same. I think it would be very popular once students understand the changes, because we’re so used to school lunches in their current state. A major change would stir up a lot of activity for our school.

These are the main reasons why our schools should improve school lunches. A lot of us want these changes made and there are many programs working for these kinds of improvements in schools across the country.

Mental health awareness plays crucial role in schools

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by Jasmine Goins

Mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, yet it is often overlooked in schools. With the increasing pressures and stressors that students face, it is essential to prioritize mental health awareness and support in educational settings.

According to English teacher Mr. Bey, “One of the main reasons why mental health awareness is important in schools is because it can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Many students may feel ashamed or embarrassed to seek help for their mental health issues due to the stigma associated with mental illness.”

Mr. Bey went on to say, “By promoting mental health awareness in schools, we can create a more supportive and understanding environment where students feel comfortable seeking help when needed… I think that mental health awareness in our school is low, I think that people are going through things, students losing lives or just struggling to come to class and they need guidance.”

Additionally, mental health awareness can help students develop important coping skills and resilience. By teaching students about mental health and how to manage stress and anxiety, we can empower them to take control of their mental well-being. This can lead to better academic performance, as students are better equipped to handle the challenges they face. Teachers and coaches are among the most influential people in a young person’s life. For this reason, it could be beneficial for teachers and coaches to have a more hands-on approach to making sure that students are mentally well.

Furthermore, mental health awareness can help identify students who may be struggling with mental health issues. Teachers and school staff are often the first to notice changes in a student’s behavior or mood. By educating them about the signs and symptoms of mental illness, we can ensure that students receive the support and resources they need to thrive.

“I think that we should have more mental health awareness-centered advisory periods, we should have circle time, therapy, but make it where anyone can attend, and just be briefly free.”, said Mr. Bey.

Mental health awareness in schools is crucial not only for students but also for educators and parents. It can help create a more inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable discussing mental health issues and seeking help when needed.

“I think that mental health directly connects to someone’s confidence, and the more mentally well they are, the better they can do.”, Mr. Bey reflected.

Moreover, mental health awareness can also lead to the implementation of effective mental health programs and resources in schools. These programs can provide students with the tools and support they need to manage their mental well-being effectively. They can also help educate students about the importance of self-care and seeking help when needed.

Mental health awareness can also promote a positive school culture that values mental health and well-being. This can lead to increased student engagement and motivation, as students feel supported and valued by their school community.

Overall, mental health awareness in schools is essential for creating a supportive and inclusive environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. It is crucial for educators, parents, and students to work together to prioritize mental health and well-being in educational settings.

Mr. Bey’s biggest piece of advice for anyone trying to improve their mental health awareness is, “They should find an outlet like playing sports, write down their issues, thoughts, and ideas and find at least one person to go to and talk to where they won’t feel judged.”

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