Courier Nov 14.Indd
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The Courier Volume 91, Number 1 White Plains, New York 10605 november 2014 Highlands Welcomes New Assistant Acclaimed Author Principal Visits Highlands Nikolas O’Hanlon at Fredrick Douglass Academy. Mr. Gleason has lots of good ideas for This year Highlands is happy to Highlands. His lifelong goal is to Liliana A. Wray your lives. He says this because he welcome a new member to our admin- make the world a better place, to live used to brag about writing a book, but istration, Mr. Gleason. He serves as a happy life, and hopefully look back On October 14, 2014 the author of probably never would have if it wasn’t assistant principal, and has lots to of- and see that he’s added happiness to the widely known “Drums, Girls, and for Emily, a student he taught. He was fer our school. Mr. Gleason was inter- people’s lives. At Highlands he said Dangerous Pie” came to Highlands to in his 11th year of teaching when he met viewed by our staff reporter. that he wants to help continue the talk to us about dreams. I know most her. She was the girl who would burst I asked Mr. Gleason about his life great traditions in our building: mak- people thought he would talk to us out laughing for no reason at all. So he before he started work as an assistant ing sure students feel challenged, sup- about writing the book and all that blamed the girl next to her naturally, principal. Mr. Gleason shared that he ported, and happy during their time at boring stuff. Instead, he taught a life who seems an awful lot like Renee Al- wanted to be a marine biologist when Highlands. Mr. Gleason also wants to lesson. You guys probably thought berts, the amazing girl character. She he was younger, partly because he help students fi nd something they are “Yay, that’s totally better than a boring would roll her eyes, fl ip her hair, and loves the water. He went to Colorado interested in, such as classes or clubs. speech about writing a book.” Without say, “GOD!” He tried everything, but College in Colorado Springs, where Mr. Gleason has a very high opinion of being sarcastic here, it kind of was. He her friendship powers kept getting in he participated on the college lacrosse Highlands and really likes being here. taught us fi rst to be a happy grown-up. the way. Until one day, Mr. Sonnen- team. After college he also taught stu- He believes that both the teachers and He said, “I should have learned that in blick was going to get his daily candy dents in the History Bowl, was a leader students are very hard-working. middle school, but I didn’t. I learned bar. It was being sold to raise money in the ski club, and even coached some I asked Mr. Gleason what his fa- that when I was already an adult.” So for Emily’s little brother who had can- basketball. He enjoys sports in general vorite things are. He said his favorite if anyone was wondering, that’s why cer. Mr. Sonnenblick didn’t know that and has also played soccer and basket- subject was Social Studies and his fa- he taught us that. Emily’s brother had cancer, and it was ball. vorite vacation trip would be to take He then went on to explain what quite a shock. This was much like Jef- Before coming to Highlands, Mr. a sailboat trip from the US to Turks & led up to him writing “Drums, Girls, frey, the main character’s younger Gleason was an assistant principal Caicos and back. and Dangerous Pie”. He started by brother. So Mr. Sonnenblick decided In conclusion, Mr. telling us all the problems he had as a to write a book for Emily. Gleason’s messages kid. This included being hyperactive He says there will always be an in- are: “Try many differ- and tapping on everything, and so he ner voice that tells us we can’t do any- ent activities and clubs; decided to take drum lessons. Also as thing. We have to ignore that voice and try to fi nd your pas- a kid, he would constantly make jokes. keep going. After reading the book, sion which can include This makes Steven, the main character, Emily’s family loved it. That gave Mr. clubs, classes or other hilarious. Sonnenblick the courage to write more activities; and with Mr. Sonnenblick stated that if we books. He ended by telling us, to do hard work and persis- have a dream, we should start it right what you love and use it to help other tence you can do any- now, not after you watch TV, or play people. thing you imagine.” video games, or whatever you do with New Plague Strikes Bethsie Brice urine, or sweat of an infected person and soiled linen used by a patient. Ebola, a deadly and contagious If you have a cut or touch your face disease has now spread from West while your hand is contaminated, this Smart Schools Bond Brings Tech Africa to the United States, Germany, can also lead to infection. The virus can France, England, Norway, and north- also pass through mucus membranes Money to District ern parts of Africa. For those who are such as the mouth and nose. It can also Caitlin Daronco schools and preparing for online test- wondering, Ebola is a deadly fi lovirus, be transmitted by objects like needles ing. which means that it inserts its genes and syringes that have been contami- New York State will be writ- A report by the state commission into a human’s genes to cause physi- nated by a victim of Ebola, or even ing a check to the White Plains City says the bond project is supposed to cal problems. It is marked by fever and contaminated animals. Ebola cannot School District for $1.7 million to up- pay for four main categories: equip- severe internal bleeding and spread be transmitted through air, food, or grade technology, thanks to the Smart ment such as whiteboards and com- through contact with infected bodily water. Schools Bond Act that was passed by puters, internet connectivity, high-tech fl uids. If you have Ebola you may have There are chances that there may voters in the November elections. A security, or facility renovations for not realized it at fi rst. The fi rst signs of be some people that have Ebola and total of 2 billion dollars will be di- prekindergarten programs. Schools Ebola are a fever involving a headache, carry it unknowingly. The scanners at vided up among 700 school districts can also use the money for profession- joint and muscle pain, a sore throat an airport only check body tempera- in the state. The Smart Schools Bond al development or Internet connectiv- and severe muscle weakness. ture so they cannot check if a person Act “will provide funds to do several ity for community projects that affect The history of Ebola is that on Oc- has Ebola or not. Although, if some- things to upgrade our use of technolo- public libraries and students’ homes. tober 13, 1976, 38 years ago, Frederick one’s body temperature is high, they gy across the school district. The gov- Each school district will have to draft A. Murphy, a CDC virologist (a per- must take a test to see if they have ernor indicated they will try to get the their tech wish lists and they will have son who studies viruses) and expert Ebola. money to schools this year,” said Tim to get community input. Then it will in photographing viruses peered into There are ways people can avoid Connors, White Plains City School be up to the New York State Review a microscope and saw an Ebola virus Ebola. There is no vaccine, but you can District superintendent. So what will Board to approve each school district’s for the fi rst time. avoid places where Ebola is found. The White Plains do with our share of the plan. Some ways Ebola can be transmit- most important thing is to go to your money? Mr. Connors says the top of ted are by physical contact with bodily doctor if you think you have symp- the list will include Wi-Fi in all the fl uids, such as blood, saliva, stool, toms of Ebola. Page 2 The Courier The Courier Page 3 News & Features New NY Bridge: She Is Malala Futuristic Meets Function Lucas Konarski M a l a l a Yousafzai is now the youngest No- bel Peace Prize winner in history. She is only sev- enteen years old and is considered a hero for many kids and adults all around the world. It is her unstop- pable strength which many ad- gunmen boarded her school bus and mire. She fights nonstop for the educa- fired a shot at the left side of Malala’s tion of girls. She was born on July 12, head. She was transferred to England 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. for her treatment, and in March of 2013 Malala started this movement she was able to get back to school in in September 2008, after the Taliban Birmingham, England. Nikolas O’Hanlon tors (TZC), but many other companies attacked a girl’s school. She gave a After the attack, many people all are involved in the project. All of the speech in Peshawar, Pakistan, and in around the world started supporting On October 10th, Brian Conybeare materials for the bridge are sourced 2009, Malala began blogging about her and her campaign.