In News...
Calling Home (When home is halfway around the world)

It’s no secret that kids at SLA can speak different languages, but have you ever witnessed one speaking their native tongue into their computer? If you have, you have witnessed one of the more interesting aspects of SLA’s tech-savvy culture.

Wearing Headscarves at School

The way Annisa Ahmed dresses gets attention, but not because she's scantily clad.  “When we're in public, we have to represent Islam,” she says of those who share her faith.  The ninth grader offered intriguing information about the ins and outs of wearing a Hijab, or headscarf worn by Muslin women, as well as her religion.

In A&E...
Movies in Class: It's not for napping!

Obviously, teachers show movies for a reason and having a student fall asleep in class is never according to plan. So what do teachers do to make the most of a movie?

Hallway Style Profile: Jeggings

While leggings have existed as long as pants have existed, it hasn’t been
until recently that progression in leggings has taken off into different
territories of fashion.

By Jerome McLeod

A&E Editor

The Rocket Press

While leggings have existed as long as pants have existed, it hasn’t been
until recently that progression in leggings has taken off into different
territories of fashion. The last several seasons, the return of leggings
has allowed fashion powers to share their takes on leggings for the high
street masses. Sequins, patterns, and even metals have taken the shape of
leggings since the legging reinterpretation influx. But, the latest
legging advance is the Jegging. Inheriting jean characteristics, yet
maintaining it’s legging form, Jeggings are the best way to get the best
of the legging and skinny jean look.

This week, in the spirit of diversity, we diversify this Jegging look. The
Hallway Style Profile zooms in on Nadine, who shows us how to dress the
Jegging look up, and down.

By Gianni Ferrara

Staff Writer

The Rocket Press

It’s no secret that kids at SLA can speak different languages, but have you ever witnessed one speaking their native tongue into their computer? If you have, you have witnessed one of the more interesting aspects of SLA’s tech-savvy culture.

For the typical SLA student, communicating via their laptop is fun, but for Elona Myftaraj, it’s vital for maintaining contact with her loved ones.

She left Albania years ago, and still has family and friends there. When asked how often she communicates with them, she said, “Well, for my cousins, almost every day through Facebook, but for the older ones, my grandparents, aunts, and uncles, maybe once or twice every month.”

When asked how its absence would impact her life, she said, “If I were unable to talk to them, I would most likely forget them, because when I went back to Albania to visit after about 5 years, I didn't remember anybody.”

To Elona, the most important way in which digital communication has changed her life and the life of her loved ones is “the fact that whenever they need help, I want them to ask, because Albania's really poor, I want them to ask. I don't want them to be shy.”

Jeff Cauvin, whose relatives live in Haiti, also has a story to tell. He used to live in Haiti, and communicates with his relatives there using digital technologies. When asked who he communicates with, he responded, “Mostly my grandpop, because he's the one that I know. We would use phones and the internet, communicate over the internet…

Communication has become much more important in light of January’s earthquake in Haiti. “Before, it used to be a couple times a month, but since the earthquake, it's been every week I've gotten a phone call. Just to talk about the people and how houses fell down, how people are homeless and dying.”

On the presence of digital technology in Haiti, and the degree to which is has been implemented, Jeff said, “In Haiti, it's very basic. It’s not that advanced yet, but hopefully it will be. in the future. I know that communication's important, but Haiti's not that technologically advanced. It's basically phones and towers and stuff. But they're getting there.”

But undeniably, digital communication plays an important role in facilitating communication across geographical boundaries.

“It actually gets my message across much faster,” Jeff explained, “and I get to hear my grandpop's voice. If I read a letter, I would hear his voice in my head, but I'd rather hear his voice over the phone than wait a few weeks to get a reply.”

While at the moment, the ability to communicate with loved ones in other countries is a privilege that only some enjoy, technology is rapidly advancing. Some day, perhaps it will be a privilege enjoyed by all.

By Thea Farah and Jenn Wright

Staff Writers

The Rocket Press

The way Annisa Ahmed dresses gets attention, but not because she's scantily clad.  “When we're in public, we have to represent Islam,” she says of those who share her faith.  The ninth grader offered intriguing information about the ins and outs of wearing a Hijab, or headscarf worn by Muslin women, as well as her religion.
    By definition, a Hijab is a traditional head cover worn by Muslim women.  In Arabic, the word "hijab" means "to cover", "to veil", or "to shelter".  SLA has a few girls who wear Hijabs.  Women at the start of adolescence begin wearing Hijabs to cover the head and hair.  “You don’t have to. It’s a choice,” says Annisa.  As it says in the Quran, Islam's holy text, “When we’re in public, we’re supposed to cover everything but our hands and face.”  The Quran also says, Annisa explains, that men must be covered from the knees to the navel.
    Even wearing a Hijab, it's easy to see that Annisa has a sense of style.  Of headscarves, she says, “I don’t like the plain dull black… I go with whatever color I can find.”  For girls who do not wear them, it may seem quite a feat to have your hair covered at all times.  Annisa, however, is comfortable with her Hijab.  She has been wearing it since second grade.  “I don’t mind it, because I’ve been wearing this thing for a while now.”  Also, there are many places to buy Hijabs of different colors and textures.
    When asked about her experience as a Hijab-wearer, she says she doesn't feel held back by it in any way.  Does she ever talk to others about it?  “If people ask me, I will answer them.”
    The transition from elementary school to high school was an easy one, at least in terms of her headscarf.  “I eventually got used to it, but when I first started it, it was hard…”  Originally her reaction to wearing a Hijab was simply "why?" to which her mother responded, "it's good for you."  Eventually, Annisa says, she stopped asking.
     Though she did at one time go to a private Muslim school where all the girls wore Hijabs, adapting to her middle school, Penn Alexander, was easy for her.  When asked about the challenges that face women who wear Hijabs, she mentions some Muslim women who work as business professionals and have issues concerning attire.  Some such women choose the modesty of long skirts instead of the pants that many other professional women wear.
    As with SLA, the US has no restrictions on the wearing of headscarves in public and in schools.  In some countries, the same approach is not taken.  In France, for example, and certain parts of Germany, the wearing of Hijabs is prohibited in government buildings, public schools, and colleges.  Commonly, the Hijab is seen as a religious symbol, but controversy has arisen in some European places where it has political bearings.
    Science Leadership Academy is a school that caters to many students of widely varying races, religions and cultures.  Many see the diversity among the student body of SLA as an important characteristic of the school.  As we study academic subjects, SLA provides us with opportunities to learn about the world around us from one another.  The practice of wearing Hijabs is one example of the interesting pieces of culture one encounters at SLA every day.

By Abe Musselman

Staff Writer

The Rocket Press

“All right, class. For the next few days, we will be watching a movie.”

There are few things a teacher can say that can produce as ecstatic a reaction as the one we all have when we hear that. Of course, said reactions can be very different. One half of the class might want to learn from the film and the other half might want to use it to catch up on lost sleep. Obviously, teachers show movies for a reason and having a student fall asleep in class is never according to plan. So what do teachers do to make the most of a movie?

Mr. Kay shows movies in his class to “…help kids visualize a topic so that they can find it more accessible.” As far as the relevance of a class movie? “I find it effective, as long as I give them something to do while they watch…” To keep students on task, Mr. Kay’s method: “I don’t ask them to follow more than 5-8 minutes of film without me stopping to refocus them and ask questions.”

Stephen Holts, a freshman, got to observe this technique when Mr. Kay showed Troy to complement the class book: The Odyssey. “He’d pause every few minutes and make sure we know what’s going on, clarify a bit.” He found that this helped him focus.

SLA is far more advanced technologically than most schools and therefore, showing movies can be a great way to help students grasp a subject and perform better in class. Teachers also integrate videos from sites such as YouTube and the less-cool SchoolTube into their class. Videos are a welcome break from ordinary schoolwork for anyone, even when there’s work attached.

Please be aware that you  may not be a member of the blog yet, and have to click "subscribe to blog" or something similar, which should be towards the bottom of your choices on the right.

I don't know exactly what it says, because I'm already subscribed to the blog! 

Welcome to the first special-theme issue of The Rocket Press...

This month, it's all about food!

In News: The Wonder of the One-Hour Lunch

 "Kabbour Rizq feels that the long lunch is “really good because it gives
us time to make up homework and work for classes.” Others feel that
lunch should be spent with friends: “Nothing. I usually sit and talk or
play cards,” said Kyara Broady." 

In Commentary: Why I Became A Vegetarian

 "I’m one of those preachy vegetarians.  You know what I’m talking
about.  That girl who gives you a nasty look while you eat your
burger?  That’s me.  The one who lectures about living conditions in
slaughterhouses when you order the chicken?  Me again.  The crazy chick
that cries over the turkey sandwich you brought for lunch today? "

In A&E: Hallway Style Profile featuring Christine Walden

 Technically this feature has nothing to do with food, but her interview reveals that she is in want of a tea set.

In Sports: The Great Debate: Gatorade vs. Water

"Jeremy Spry (you know, that short guy in the office) stated that he
likes water. He would not comment any further on why he prefers it to
Gatorade."

INTERESTED IN JOINING US? We meet every Thursday after Advisory in the Lit Lab!

By Theodora Farah

Staff Writer

The Rocket Press 

  I’m one of those preachy vegetarians.  You know what I’m talking about.  That girl who gives you a nasty look while you eat your burger?  That’s me.  The one who lectures about living conditions in slaughterhouses when you order the chicken?  Me again.  The crazy chick that cries over the turkey sandwich you brought for lunch today?  That’s an exaggeration.  The point is I’m always looking for new recruits.

    One thing worth noting is that I call myself a vegetarian, but some people would say that I don’t “count” as vegetarian.  I feel that fish and shellfish lack the intelligence to enjoy life, so eating them is alright from a moral standpoint.  There are actually a number of types of vegetarians, and I am what is sometimes known as a pescatarian—someone who eats seafood, but no meat.  Most people, however, don’t know what that is, and the word “pescatarian” is considered a misspelled word by my spelling checker.  For the sake of clarity and to avoid those annoying red squiggles, I refer to myself as a vegetarian.

    I became vegetarian in second grade, when I was seven.  It was a snap decision, something I did on impulse, but I stuck with it.  While my mother assured me that I was simply “trying out” vegetarianism for a little while, and could stop if I wanted to (since I’m pretty sure she thought I would quit within the week), I knew that I had made a permanent decision.  I was far too stubborn to do anything but stick with it.  Not only that, but vegetarianism was surprisingly easy.  While I was—and still am—often tempted by meat, which I did love the taste of, I had chosen to abstain from meat because I felt that killing animals for food if it wasn’t necessary for survival was cruel and immoral.  If ordering the pork meant that some innocent pig would lose its life, then unless I had been stranded in the Himalayas for seven years and was about to drop dead from chronic pig meat deficiency, it wasn’t something I could do in good conscience.

    A lot of people ask me how I could live without meat.  When I try to explain why eating meat is morally wrong, the most common counterargument I get is, “But it tastes so good!”  I can’t say I disagree.  But living without meat is far easier than a lot of people think.  I have grown used to meat simply not being a part of my diet.  After seven years without it, I skip over meat dishes when I read menus and I pull the pepperonis off my pizza without even thinking about it.  I eat tofu—no, seriously, and it can actually be good—and other protein-rich foods to make sure I get the protein that I would otherwise get from meat.  I trade vegetarian recipes with my other herbivore friends.  I even made a website for vegetarian teenagers, which I presented as my project for my interview at SLA.

    Being vegetarian isn’t just a way of keeping my conscience clear, either.  It makes me feel good.  I feel accomplished for having stuck with my commitment for so long, I enjoy having a “cause” that I support by simply living a certain lifestyle, and I know that I’m much healthier for it.  I won’t go into full preach-mode now, but I do strongly encourage anyone and everyone (unless they have some kind of dietary condition that makes it a problem) to at least give vegetarianism a try.  You don’t have to be the typical, “regular” vegetarian.  There’s good old pescatarianism, as well as “flexitarianism” (eating meat occasionally but not regularly).  There are also more diets that are more extreme than vegetarianism, like veganism (eating no meat or animal products—i.e. no eggs or milk), raw veganism or raw food-only diets (nothing that has been heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit), and the macrobiotic diet (only unprocessed foods).  Even simply cutting down on meat will do great things for both you in terms of health, and the world around you in terms of supporting animal rights, keeping your money out of the hands of greedy corporations, and helping reduce your impact on the environment.  Vegetarianism might seem like a huge commitment, but I know from experience that it isn’t half the challenge it seems, and the benefits are well worth it.

By Abraham Musselman

Staff Writer

The Rocket Press

SLA is not your typical school. We are tied to the Franklin Institute. We have ILPs. Everyone has a laptop. Even our bells are different. However, many students at other schools would agree that our biggest difference shows up in our favorite, or least favorite, part of the day: lunch.
    Some students at SLA seem to be taking good advantage of the one-hour lunch. Here’s what they have to say: “An hour-long lunch is awesome!” William Marsh. Digging deeper, Kabbour Rizq feels that the long lunch is “really good because it gives us time to make up homework and work for classes.” Others feel that lunch should be spent with friends: “Nothing. I usually sit and talk or play cards.” Kyara Broady.
    While a one-hour lunch can be a blessing or a curse, other schools don’t have close to one hour for lunch. Take Masterman for example, where students have a 45-minute lunch. Xavier Zambrana, an 8th Grader at Masterman uses his lunch in a way that isn’t exactly possible at SLA. “I usually eat, then play football.” In response to hearing about our school lunch and “weird schedule”, Xavier said, “In my school, lunch is 6th period every day. Eating lunch at one o’clock is really long. Your schedule sounds better because it changes but the lunches seem too long.” Given an hour for lunch, Xavier would “play recess longer and hang out with friends.”
    We can all agree that an hour-long lunch is unusual. Uses for such a lunch could really be pushed either way. Other schools have a great amount of activities to do at lunch, but less time than SLA in which to do them. SLA has an hour for lunch and a laptop. Whichever is better is a matter of opinion and interest.
 

By: Jerome McLeod

A&E Editor

The Rocket Press

What item are you coveting right now?
I don't ever ask for clothes. My mother likes patterned vests and jeans with waists high enough to eliminate the use of a bra.

Oh, no clothes then?
A tea set and a zune.

So do you entertain?
Of course! Everyone should own a tea set. It's right up there with oxygen and water.

What do you do creatively?
When I dress? Well, I have fleeting attention span when it comes to everything. For at least 10 minutes I know I will be completely successful. So.

And after 10 Minutes?
After 10 min. I come to the discovery that I am not as good at what I aspired to do. So after that 10 minutes anything I'm doing leads to a cookie baking feast.

Trends, what do you see people wearing right now?
I'm so far away from trends that I don't think I catch up to them in time. I mean, I might catch up to hair spray in time that I'll be fashionable... like in the 80s and that terrible mishap. But... right now I see everyone is leaning toward the British regency as it relates to their boots. All the riding boots that are far up to the knee. I tend to tie most things to the English regency, it's the Jane Austen in me.

What are your do's and don'ts?
Okay, Don't: If your wearing a striped shirt, don't wear plaid pants. It confuses the mind.

And Do: If your considering putting 2 colors together that you don't normally see together, do it. It will most likely work out.

Do you thrift? Where?
Do I ever! I always thrift! Anywhere! But I really love flea markets in the Mt. Airy area. And awkward suburbs. I found the my favorite Balaclavas? Maybe?

What are you reading?
Orlando by Virginia Woolf and the collected poetry of Dorothy Parker.

By John DeSalis

 Staff Writer

The Rocket Press

“Gatorade or Water?” A debate that has crossed many of different sports events and players alike. Some may prefer Water or some may prefer Gatorade. Personally, it does not matter to me because they both do the same thing, but I feel as thought I drink less Gatorade. Unlike water, Gatorade comes in many different flavors as well as different forms, whereas water only comes in one flavor but many companies.

              With an interview with A.J Vagliani, a player of Roman Catholic’s baseball team, I was able to find out what he prefers better. He told me that he has no preference on either of the drinks, but if he had to choose he would choose Gatorade, because he does not get as many cramps nor does he get as tired.

              Also, Jeremy Spry (you know, that short guy in the office) stated that he likes water. He would not comment any further on why he prefers it to Gatorade.

              Next, you will notice that on a professional level that a majority of the teams in their respective leagues; NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, all use either Gatorade or the other type of sports drink like Powerade. In addition to this, you will notice that in a celebration on a football field, you’ll see the coach being “showered” with a cooler full of Gatorade. You normally only see this happen when the team wins the “Big One” and it’ll only happen when they know for sure that their team has won it.

On a final note, I would like to take this time to tell the athletes of SLA and the number of other athletes that might be reading this article on the web. Drink whatever you prefer weather it be Gatorade, Water, Powerade, Vitamin Water, or any other type of drink you might like, just remember to not drink a lot of it, but take a few sips, and if your going to take a HUGE gulp try to spit some of it out before swallowing.

Congratulations to Nia Berry and Lamaya Mapp, two tenth graders who participated in this year's Philadelphia Young Playwrights Monologue Contest! They are among the sixteen winners of this year's competition. Their monologues were selected from over 400 submissions, and their monologues will be performed by professional actors as a part of the Young Voices High School Monologue Festival in February. We look forward to seeing their writing brought to life!

By: John Desalis

Staff Writer

The Rocket Press

To retire, or not to retire? That is the question when Jackie Robinson’s number was retired throughout Major League Baseball at the beginning of the 1997 season. With this said, any player wearing “42” before the retirement had a choice keep the number. Out of the 13 players wearing this number at the time, only one of them actually kept it and that was Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera.
Now, if you ask me, Jackie Robinson’s number being retired throughout major league baseball is a little ridiculous. I say this because in every single major league baseball teams’ stadium you see a wall of retired numbers in that teams’ color and then you get to it, you get to that Dodger blue number “42” and in some cases you’ll also see “Robinson.” This is wrong to me because I feel as though it is not right for the other baseball players in the league, to be more exact the ones whom still wear the number “42” like Rivera (as mentioned above). Whether this has come up to commissioner Bud Selig or not, it makes me wonder why Rivera is the only exception in the matter.
Now you may be wondering why this bothers me and why I’m even writing about it. The truth is that I don’t think that his achievement of breaking the color barrier and becoming the first black man to play professional baseball was, in and of itself, reason enough to retire his number in the whole league. Please understand that I don’t underestimate what he achieved, or how important it was. However, traditionally retired numbers are only for people who did many great things whilst playing for them. Like hitting over 300 home runs in their career with the team like Mike Schmidt, or having 3,000 single-season base hits like Roberto Clemente.  Now, to add some stats about the man at question, Jackie Robinson. Throughout his 10-year stint in professional baseball, Robinson played 1,382 games, had 4,877 at-bats, 1,518 hits, and only 137 home runs. Sure these stats will get you a “bid” to the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y, but it’s not enough to get your number retired by the whole league.
This did not bother me until the past couple of weeks where I was conflicted in weather or not to buy the said jersey of Jackie Robinson from a store, and then I said to myself “Self, why would you buy this jersey? Why would anyone buy this jersey, other than it being Jackie Robinson? Why is this number even retired?” Thus, giving me the idea to write this article and also express my feelings on the matter of the subject.
Now, I notice every year on the same day on April 15th that Major League Baseball teams around the league celebrate “Jackie Robinson Day” but I just don’t understand. Why not have a “Roberto Clemente Day” instead of an award? I mean after all, Roberto Clemente was the first Spanish player to set a record in MLB (3,000 base hits). As I stated before, why honor only Robinson? Why not also honor Babe Ruth? Hank Aaron? Or maybe honor players in other sports such as football or basketball?
    The main point I’m making is that I wish that all Major Sports Organizations should retire all the numbers of great players regardless of their identity and their historical situation. Or maybe even keep it the way it has been for many of years before Jackie Robinson, where the numbers retired were just team-based instead of league-based.
 

We are proud to announce a new resource at SLA: The Literacy Lab. This new space will serve as the support center for all kinds of reading and writing at the school. Teachers, student teachers, upperclassmen, and members of the SLA community will staff the lab and provide one-on-one tutoring and editing services to all students. The lab will also serve as the offices for all student publications.

The lab is in room 302b (next to the drama studio) and opens Monday, September 21st. It will be open every day during both lunches, and after school Monday through Thursday. Come check out our new space! If you would like to get involved, please contact Mr. Chase or Ms. Pahomov.

We've come up with a solution for drupal! Please post your podcasts
BEFORE class tomorrow, 9/22. Instructions are here and also on moodle
and drupal.

How to post:

1. Put your mp3 into your Public folder on Drop Box. (If you don't have a Drop Box account yet, shame on you. Go sign up at getdropbox.com.)

2. Go to your class' drupal page and SUBSCRIBE - it
should be a button on the top right. You will need to be logged in to
subscribe. Link: http://www.scienceleadership.org/drupaled/course/5728

How to post:

1. Put your mp3 into your Public folder on Drop Box. (If you don't have a Drop Box account yet, shame on you. Go sign up at getdropbox.com.)

 2. Post the 1-paragraph preview of your podcast here, and then link to your mp3 at the end. To create a working link, highlight some text and then hit the "link" button -- it's in the top row.

Example: