Well, I can say that a great passion that I have is a passion for music. Music is pretty much my live. I live, breathe and eat it. Music affects about everything I do. If i'm in a sleepy, or slightly annoyed mood, I will put on some of my favorite bands to wake/cheer myself up. When i'm in a mad mood, I play louder music, with screams and such, and it will help me work out my anger. So, music can help me in pretty much every situation. Some of my favorite bands are, The Academy Is..., Cobra Starship, 3OH!3, Brokencyde, The Smashing Pumpkins, and many others.

What does a sports team mean to the identity of a city? 

What to sports teams mean to the identity of a city?

Sports teams have a mojor role in the identity of a city.  When our city's team wins a game, or more importantly -  a series. When people come to Philadelphia, they know that the this is the home for the Phillies and that we are world champions. 

I am really glad that the Phillies have won the world series. I have never been so excited about baseball before in my life. One of the things that I got to do was go to one of the games. That was the most fun that I have ever had at a Phillies game. I am looking forward to going to the parade tomorrow. Baseball is my favorite sport, I don't care what the Eagles do this year.

Sports teams are a very important role in distinguishing the identity of a city, especially in Philadelphia. The people in our city have earned a reputation throughout the country as crazy fans for our sports teams. Before last year none of the Philadelphia teams went all the way for about 25 years. Even with the lack of wins the Philadelphia fans were still devoted to their home teams.

I don't particularly care for the Phillies or any sports teams in that matter. Sports bore me and I have no idea why everyone is so excited by it. I understand that the team hasn't won anything this big in a long time but it isn't really that important to scream about. Well, in my opinion.

Philadelphis's reputation has detoriorated over the past years. It's identity as "the city of brotherly love" has become something of a beacon of irony as the city's murder rate has climbed to one of highest in the country. Most of all, the people who live here are tired. It has gotten so bad, that people starting thinking that they had a curse set upon all of their major sports teams. And with the Sixers losing in 2001, Eagles in 04', and the Phillies in 93', it's been inculcated into people's mind's. So, to have this Phillies win, definitely helps the city gain morally, the people see hope. They have something to cheer about.

The Phillies mean a lot to me. Winning the World Series means alot to not onl me, but my entire city! I come from a family of sports fans. My grandfather was the biggest Phillies fan I knew, I onl wish he was here to experience this amazing time for Philadelphia Baseball fans. This changes the views of people non-Phillies fans all over the world.I am very proud to be apart of the celebration. We did it!

It is very nice that the Philles won the World Series. I think this win effects the veiw of the of the city because now people have something to rave about.

Okay so, I never knew anything sbout baseball, until the last few days. Like, the only thing I ever knew was that they hit the ball and people run after it. Honestly, I don't really care that much about it. This may make me sound really girly or whatever, but I'm only happy cause everybody else is happy. I mean, I guess I'm proud of our team or whatever, but I don't really care to much.

Sports in the city of Philadelphia are important because it makes the citizens have something to appreciate. Sports are what make the people of this city come together in an event of entertainment. Philadelphia’s team sports causes us to feel proud of our city because of the victories that our teams conquered.

Sports are importnat to the city of Philadelphia because it gives us something to be proud of. Instead of the rest of the country looking at us as the city with the highest murder rate, now we're the world champs. It gives hope to the city, and that's what we need right now. It's mroe than just a game to some people, for lots of people like me, sports are my passion. They are what interest me, and the only thing that can really give me a drive.

Today in Advisory we talked about the balance between passion and direction. Some students joked that they were passionate about Philly, or food --- I love sushi! Others mentioned books, dance or poetry. We also tried to understand the differences between personal and general passions; "I love the Phillies" is very different from "I am passionate about getting into a good college."

Over the next few weeks, we'll be thinking and writing about --- and discussing --- personal passions. For example, I shared my passion for African percussion and how it made me feel connected to people and grounded on this earth.

Congratulations to Christopher D. Lehmann! He has received official recognition for the prestigious Outstanding Young Educator Award, sponsored by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). This annual award recognizes the contributions of educators across the US. From the ASCD:

Congratulations! You have been selected to move forward to the next phase of the selection process for the 2009 ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award (OYEA) Program. The selection committee was impressed by your personal statement and would like to conduct a video interview with you before selecting the final cadre of honorees and the Outstanding Young Educator Award recipients.

1. Description

a) Who: Ellen, she will training us (Alexis Beren & Devon Thomas) along w/ her fabulous co-workers
b) What: We will be trained to become tour guides.
c) When: Every Wednesday at 2:00. If not on Wednesdays, then on the weekends either at 1:00-4:00pm or 10:00am-1:00pm.

-Marshall Johnston

During the past two weeks while I haven’t been going to my ILP, I have been passing the time by going home just like a normal day. I’m looking forward to my ILP, although I have to stay in the school for it. I don’t really know what we will be doing though.

Who: Veronica Cote
What: Yo Drankroom
When: I don't know.
Where: 23rd and Arch
Why: Because it has to work with art.

The day of my ILP, I didn't go. I had a app. But the next Wednesday I went to my ILP. I have to go there for two hours, the first hour. I started my own project, which is a art opening. So, I had to find some info. Then the next hour I had to send e-mails for Yo Darkroom. Then I went home…   

My ILP is going to be the Drexel Smart House. What it is, is research
on how to build an energy efficient, high tech houses. I'm not really
sure what to expect at the moment because it has not started yet. It
will be starting this Wednesday. I am looking forward to doing it because it is important to me to help with the climate crisis in any way I can.

1) Place: Mütter Museum, Mentor: Marcy, What: Museum of medical
anomalies, Why: Because medical anomalies and mutations interest me.

2) I want to learn more about diseases, and medical anomalies.

3) The mentor is really awesome, and nice.

My ILP experience wasn’t the experience that I expected. I didn’t receive an ILP, which was game design. I wanted the fitness gym also but I didn’t receive that either. As my peers told me about their ILP experience, I wanted to obtain one that isn’t fitness gym or game design. During the weeks with no ILP I made weekly visits at the office to learn more about the announcement of my ILP. So far nothing has been announced.

While I don't currently have an ILP, I hope to be working at the Fabric Workshop. I don't know exactly what I'll do there, but I'm interested in screen printing and textile arts. I look forward to it.

1. The Flesher Art Memorial 
a. 4 O'clock to 6 O'clock 
b. 719 and Catherine 
c. Because it's my ILP 

2. To get points for school. 

3. I didn't sign up for this ILP so i was suppressed when I got that ILP.

It was my original hope to have an ILP at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Unfortunately, I was not picked to be an intern there. My desired internship is at a law-firm, or a place of fashion. I have high hopes. Wishing I am placed at one of my desired locations, I wait patiently. About 3 weeks have passed and I've not yet been assigned. When I finally do start my internship, I PRAY it's not boring!  I wish to look forward to Wednesdays every week. I do feel a little disappointed though. My friends have an ILP and I don't! I feel like a little REJECT. Though I don't have a place to intern, I do enjoy when Jeremy says, "You can go home..." every Wednesday after my classes are through.

My ILP is at the American Philosophical Society Museum. For the first few weeks we will be going on Wednesdays for training sessions and lessons on the items in the museum. Starting the beginning of October we will alternate between Wednesday lessons and actually getting to experience being a docent on the weekends.

Our 10th grade students are participating in Independent Learning Plans (ILPs) during their sophomore and junior years. The ILP is designed to provide stimulating learning experiences in professional environments outside of school. Each week, students spend about 4 hours working on their ILP with their sponsors. For example, students are working with photographers, law firms, bike shops and museums.

Our Advisory students will be posting some comments in their school-based blogs.