Train of Thought - Banneker High School

Train of Thought
Volume 5, Issue 1
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
October, 2011
Presidential Visit Inspires Banneker
by
Brandon Artis
P
resident Obama’s annual
“Back to School” speech
contained no true political content, but instead focused on something more transparent and useful
to his young audience: inspiration.
The
speech,
delivered
in Banneker’s gym on Sept. 28,
was concise and aimed at motivating youth to stay in school.
Prior to the President’s entrance, a hush befell the crowd and
only anxious whispers and ecstatic
gasps were heard. Though the idea
of the President’s presence alone
was enough to excite the crowd,
the audience was there to heed his
words of wisdom with regard to staying in school and the attitude students should bring to their studies.
This was not the only speech
about education from the President
since the beginning of the school
year. On Sept. 23, he spoke at the
White House to students, teachers, superintendents and governors
about his stance on the “No Child
Left Behind” (NCLB) act and the
need for reform of this legislation.
President Obama started his speech with a “thank
you” to Banneker Student Government Association President
Donae Owens, who introduced
him “as one president to another.”
The “Back to School” speech
in Banneker’s gym included recurring topics from the White House
speech, including reducing the em-
PHOTO BY DANIEL GOLDFARB
President Obama reacts to his welcome before his speech in Banneker’s gymnasium.
phasis for educators to “teach to
the test” and for students to learn
that way. The president said he
empathizes with the fact that students have “a lot on our plate,” but
he said he still expects students
to take away substance from their
time at school. He emphasized
the need to appreciate every subject and to “stay active” and continue to learn beyond high school.
“So I don’t want anybody
who’s listening here today to think
that you’re done once you finish
high school,” he said. “You are not
done learning. In fact, what’s hap-
pening in today’s economy is, it’s all
about lifelong learning.” The President added, “you are this country’s
future, you are young leaders.”
During his speech, President Obama singled out teachers for special praise as the
people who have the most impact on student achievement.
“Teachers, men and women, are working harder than anyone else these days,” Obama said.
But, working harder toward
what? And is what they are working
toward in the best interests of the
student? Schools around the na-
tion are mobilizing to accomplish
education reform around these
questions. President Obama said
that Banneker is actually an example of what should be expected.
“With 100% graduation rates
and college acceptance rates,” he
said, Banneker’s teachers are “pouring everything they have into you.”
The President encouraged Banneker teachers to continue to encourage their students to “color outside the lines.”
The President received the
most laughter at his plea for students to get off of “Facebook” and
“Twitter”, topics that almost every teen can relate to. The President also let his audience in on
a “little secret,” that he wasn’t
the man he is today in school.
“I was not the best student I could be,” he admitted.
Government teacher Mr.
Joseph Presley said he thought that
overall, the President delivered a
good motivational speech. He said
his favorite part was the President’s exhortation to learn as many
skills in school as possible, rather
than simply taking away information. Mr. Presley said he found it
refreshing to hear the President
say that students “have to know
stuff and how to do stuff.” Mr.
Presley said he especially appreciated the President’s mention of
the importance of his ethics class.
OBAMA CONTINUED ON 3
What did you take away from
the President’s speech?
“
“
[President] Obama didn’t just
lecture us and tell us why we should
take school seriously,
but he gave us insight on how
his high school experience was.
[President] Obama is down
to earth, so when he
compares us to his kids we
listen and we try to help out
our parents
-London Conner, Senior
”
INSIDE this ISSUE
-Katherine Todd, Junior
“
”
[President] Obama’s speech was really down
to earth and truthful to me; it really had a
part connecting to every person.
”
-Courtney Thomas, Jr., Sophomore
Obama visit --------------------------Tardy Hall --------------------------Mr. Evans ----------------------------Ms. Mingo ---------------------------30 Years Celebration ------------New Sports -------------------------Cheerleading Coach ---------------
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3
4
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2
Train of Thought
A New Reason to be on Time
by Rose Quispe
For the first time in recent memory, the administration at Banneker
is enforcing “Tardy Hall” as a consequence for arriving late to school. At
Banneker that means arriving at 8:42 am, in
order to be seated when classes officially start.
During the first weeks of school, students were required to report to the auditorium for Tardy Hall after school on the
day of the offense. In late September, the
rule changed. Now a student must serve
detention during the second half of the
lunch period on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Students were caught by surprise
about the new regulation because the student handbook does not specifically address the enforcement of Tardy Hall. Under Chapter 25 of the DCPS disciplinary
code, schools may choose to hold a Tardy
Hall. Although the concept of Tardy Hall
existed at Banneker before, the punishment was not enforced. So why the change?
“I came up with the idea but I had
to make sure Ms. [Principal] Berger agreed to
it,” said Ms. Jemel Hubbard, Banneker’s new
attendance counselor. “ I wasn’t about to
start it without her consent.”
There are no exceptions to the tardy rule,
which requires students to sit and write an essay
PHOTO BY KATHLEEN BRINKMAN
School starts promptly at 8:45
explaining why being early or on time is important.
Some might call Tardy Hall “punish
ment;” others, a useful way to help students who are consistently late to school.
Principal Anita Berger said that Tardy
Hall was instituted many years ago at Banneker. However, when Ms. Sheila Kingwood,
the former attendance counselor, became ill,
she was no longer able to supervise Tardy Hall.
“Tardy hall is a policy from the DCPS
disciplinary code, Chapter 25,” said Ms. Berger. She said Chapter 25 even allows tardy
students to be suspended from school. Ms.
Berger said that Banneker administrators
sent a letter home informing parents and students of Tardy Hall before it was instituted.
The only way Tardy Hall will be discontinued, Ms. Berger said, is if students stop arriving late.
Even in the first month that Tardy Hall has been enforced, Ms. Berger said,
the number of students arriving late has already dropped. “Students have started to
be proactive to come on time,” she said.
Introducing New Administrators
Mr. Ahmed Evans
Ms. Jocelyn Mingo
by Reniya Dinkins
The newest addition to
Banneker’s administration is assistant principal Ahmed Evans,
a veteran teacher and administrator from Northern Virginia.
Students
have
surely
noticed him already with his
towering height, his booming voice and his sharp suits.
His job, Mr. Evans said,
is to provide teachers with instructional support and to handle student disciplinary issues.
But his goal at Banneker also,
he said, is “to be a positive African-American male role model.”
Mr. Evans graduated from
Gonzaga High School in Washington. He received his bachelor’s degree from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C., and his
Masters in Educational Leadership
from George Mason University.
Mr.Evans works with a
student in the cafeteria
He taught high school history in
North Carolina and Fairfax County. Prior to coming to Banneker,
Mr. Evans worked as an administrator at Francis C. Hammond
Middle School in Alexandria.
Mr. Evans said he has been
pleased with “how positive and
helpful everyone has been” at Banneker. He also said he is surprised
that Banneker’s school community is so close. He said he wants
to bring new ideas to Banneker
that could improve the school,
and he hopes to make a difference
by helping teachers and students.
Mr. Evans finds time for
some relaxation and fun outside of
Banneker. “I occasionally play golf,
go to the movies, and play basketball with my friends,” Mr. Evans
said. He also said that he trains
high school athletes on the weekends and that he enjoys travelling.
PHOTO BY RENIYA DINKINS
PHOTO BY WHITNEY WASSO
by Whitney Wasso
Another new face at Banneker this year is our Special
Projects Coordinator, Ms. Jocelyn Mingo. What exactly is a
Special Projects Coordinator?
Ms. Mingo said she is an instructional coach, assisting teachers
with individual learning cycles
(ILC). She also monitors the after school tutorial program and
contributes to the routine operation of the building. Ms. Mingo
said she also assists in planning
and implementing specific education programs, and assists with
site visits to community lab sites.
Before she came to Banneker she was at the Woodson
Business & Finance Academy,
a school within Woodson High
School. The Woodson Business
& Finance Academy was an autonomous school that had a separate governing board. Ms. Mingo
was there for 18 years, and has
been in the DCPS school system
for 33 years. Ms. Mingo worked
for 20 years at Fletcher-Johnson
Education Center, then for 4 years
as an English teacher at the Academy, and 4 years as its director.
“Banneker is a model school
for everyone,” said Ms. Mingo.
“People here have high self-esteem,
and are accountable to the rules and
regulations. The behaviors in other
schools differ from Banneker’s.”
She said she grew up a typical teenager. She agreed that she
could have done better at school,
but she said she was a voracious
reader which lead to her degree in
English and secondary education.
She said she still likes reading, gardening and do-it-yourself projects.
She said she also enjoys traveling and has visited several states.
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Train of Thought
OBAMA CONTINUED FROM 1
that President Obama’s speech reinforced what she called the “bigger picture” of Banneker’s goals.
Banneker
students
will find it hard to forget
the events of Sept. 28, 2011.
Sophomore Amiah Young
was impressed by the President’s message to students that
they shouldn’t “give up on any-
Mr. Presley said he can appreciate the usefulness of using broad
questions to discuss “different
methods to obtain the same goal.”
Banneker Principal Ms.
PHOTO BY DANIEL GOLDFARB
Naomi Stanford sings the National
Anthem before the President’s speech.
PHOTO BY DANIEL GOLDFARB
SGA President Donae Owens introduces
President Obama.
Anita Berger said she thinks that
the good reputation of Banneker
students is the reason President
Obama visited the school. She also
attributed a lot to the class of 2011
and how “impressed the White
House Office was by their efforts
with the commencement challenge
submission.” She said she believes
PHOTO BY TRAIN OF THOUGHT
STAFF
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan accompanied Obama to Banneker.
thing in the long run even if it’s
not your favorite thing to do.”
“Young people may have
better ideas than our old people,”
said President Obama. “You are
charting the course of our history.”
PHOTO BY DANIEL GOLDFARB
Taylor Lofton recites the Pledge of Allegiance before the President’s address.
What did the President say that had special meaning for you?
“
“
Stay in school, go to college
and get an education.
We don’t have to be
perfect, but the best that
we can.
”
-Nelly Quintanilla, Junior
“
”
-Johnice Patterson, Sophomore
“
Stay in school and go to
college. Don’t just graduate
from high school but
do something after.
Have a positive attitude
towards learning because
we are the future.
”
- Thomas Nash, Freshman
”
-Tierra Sales, Sophomore
Celebrating 30 Years of Excellence
by
Brianna Little
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School opened in August, 1981 “on a wing and a prayer,”
according to the Washington Post.
The school opened as an alternative high school for 170 academically gifted A and B pupils whose
main goal was to get into college.
The nationally recognized
Benjamin Banneker program has
successfully remained in existence as one of Washington, DC’s
best public schools for 30 years.
There will be a series of
events commemorating the opening of Banneker’s model academic high school at the end of
October. The idea for this celebration came from current Ban-
neker principal Ms. Anita Berger.
“I want everyone to come out and
join the celebration, not only to
see what is being done with the
Banneker program today, but also
in years past,” said Ms. Berger.
Part one of the Thirty Years
of Excellence Celebration took
place at Rita’s Italian Ice on Sept.
16, 2011. “Celebrity staff members” raised money for the bigger
celebration on Oct. 29. Banneker
will also receive a percentage of
the funds collected at Rita’s. According to organizers, the honored “celebrity” guests were Banneker’s past and present staff and
administrative faculty members.
The main event is a dinner
celebration to be held at Montgomery Blair High School on Oct.
29, from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are
available online and in the main
office for $60. Donations greater
than $60 allow the donor to target their area of support, such as
the AP/IB Honor Societies, Community Lab Support, and IT, SAT
and Science materials, etc. Donors
can even create their own scholarship for Banneker students.
For
more
information,
see
the
website
at:
http://banneker30.com.
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Train of Thought
New Team Sports Options Offered
by
Cherrie Coachman and Nijah Armstrong
Sometimes a strike is
a good thing and sometimes
a club isn’t just for dancing.
At Banneker this year,
that will become clear with the introduction of bowling and golf as
the school’s two newest sports.
“They are far from the norm
for most DCPS schools but will give
Banneker students a new outlook on
different techniques while broadening their mindsets,” said Athletic
Director Richard Strong. “Banneker
students will be able to experience
sports in which new techniques
and strategies will challenge them.”
Students were excited
when the announcement was made
this school year about the cre-
PHOTO BY ROSE QUISPE
Banneker Athletic Director,
Richard Strong will be creating
two new sports teams this year.
ation of bowling and golf teams.
The idea came from Mr.
Strong who said he wanted to
include bowling and golf as part
of the Banneker Athletics Department because he believes
the two sports are very diverse.
He said he also believes that
they offer great college scholarship opportunities for students.
Mr. Strong said he
made a proposal to add
swimming as well, but it
was not approved by DCPS.
Principal Anita Berger said she believes the new
sports will “give Banneker students a new adventure and
outlook.” She said that former
2008 Banneker graduate Kelly
Dove received a bowling scholarship to a college of her choice.
Bowling, which will be offered only to females, will begin
this Fall and continue through
the Winter. Practice will be held
at a location yet to be determined.
Mr. Strong said golf will be open
to males and females. For those
who are interested in golf, the tryouts will be held in spring. Practice will be held at the Langston
Golf Course, located at 2600 Bennington Road NE in Washington.
All competitions and games
will be against DCPS schools.
Cheerleaders Welcome New Coach
by
Oni Crawford
By four o’clock on school
days the hallways fill with nervous
girls counting from one to eight in
their most militant voices praying
that they don’t forget to clap on
five and clean on six. It’s cheerleading try-outs, one of the most nerve
racking of many teenage girls’ high
school experiences. Banneker’s
prospects however, have something
in common with the person they’re
shivering to stand in front of at
the moment - they’re both new.
Until this school year, the
Banneker cheerleading team has
had the same coach with the same
procedures and only team members changed. This year, everyone
must try out to be on the team.
Lisa Alexandera, otherwise
known as Coach Lisa, heard about
Banneker’s cheerleading team
through one of her old coaches.
Though she’d never seen nor heard
of the Banneker team, she got to
know them by watching numerous
PHOTO BY ONI CRAWFORD
Banneker’s new chearleading coach, Lisa Alexandra
YouTube videos of previous performances. As someone who’s been
cheering for 17 years non-stop, she
has a lot to offer the mix of old and
new team members alike this com-
ing cheer season. Impressed
by her great attitude and her
welcoming smile, the team
is happy to have her as well.
Coach Lisa said that
some of her plans for the team
include teaching the “one band,
one sound” philosophy, improving already acquired skills,
and
overall
starting
fresh.
As the realities of high
school life hit them with a bang,
freshman cheerleaders are optimistic about the season to come
and have felt welcomed by the
seasoned
upperclassmen.
Sophia Bankett (Grade 11), a veteran
cheerleader said, “I actually like
Coach Lisa. I think she is what
we needed to bring some type of
structure and organization to the
team.” Bankett and many other
cheerleaders from previous years
feared that there would no longer
be a team without the return of former coach Ms. Marnetta Bradley,
who no longer works at Banneker.
The Banneker Bulldog
Cheerleaders will be on the sidelines of soccer and basketball games
throughout the rest of the year.
Train of Thought is a student publication. The views expressed are those of individual writers and do not necessarily represent the views of DCPS, the
school, its faculty, or its students. Train of Thought welcomes comments, letters, queries, and contributions of work.
Please e-mail us at : bbtrainofthought@gmail.com.
STAFF
Reporters
Brandon Artis, Nijah Armstrong, Detrick Campbell, Cherrie Coachman, Oni Crawford, Reniya Dinkins,
Brianna Little, Rose Quispe & Yolande Zagre
Editors
Armonte Butler, Nnedimma Ugochukwu & Mitzi Vivar