The Warrior Outlet
MS 50 3D Printing and Design Club Makes Protective Masks for Essential Workers
MS 50 teacher Ms. Batt and the 3D Printing and Design Club she facilitates are producing masks for our community essential workers. Ms. Batt states, "the masks are made out of PLA filament, [polylactic acid, made from renewable resources (i. e. corn starch, tapioca roots, or sugarcane)] they take about five hours and six minutes to be made. The shield that will cover the worker's face is a clear transparency sheet that is fastened on using 3D printed nails. Then the elastic band has two holes on either side of the PLA so that you are able to wear it all day comfortably."
"The reason why we are making shields instead of just masks is because most people are able to make masks at home or purchase masks now that they’re more available and are able to protect their nose and mouth. The shields will actually help cover the eyes and help prevent the whole entire face from getting droplets from possibly contagious people," explains Ms. Batt.
"The masks will first go to people in our community, the first being staff that is still working in our school building. After speaking to one of the custodial staff members, our club found out that there are approximately 15 people still working in the building that are not completely protected."
3D Printing and Design plans to create masks for the MS 50 custodial and kitchen staff, and the security agents. Some MS 50 parents that are essential workers will also receive these protective face masks made by the club. "The students are working on creating lists of people in our school community who would benefit from these shields so that we can help as many as we can!" The group expects to receive two more 3D printers to increase their production, currently 4 protective face masks a day can be made with a single printer. The additional printers will allow the 3D Printing and Design Club to make 12 protective masks per day.
Postcards to our community elders
In an effort to support and uplift others, MS 50 Art classes taught by Ms. Kaiser have created postcards filled with love, encouragement and connection to be sent to LGBTQ elders through an organization called SAGE.
The postcards will be printed and sent to elders being supported by SAGE. "SAGE is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ older people," explains Ms. Kaiser. It's important to support our elders even more during this time because of their higher risk of social isolation. "Someone who is experiencing social isolation may not have someone to talk to when they are feeling down or to share things with." To prevent social isolation it's important to connect with others, even through a distance.
ASIAN AMERICAN
When asked to explain her Asian American identity, Ms. Liu states that, "my family is of Chinese Heritage, more specifically from the GuangDong province."
Among the many things to be proud of, Ms. Liu explains, "I'm proud that my parents brought me up as an Asian American with a strong work ethic who values education. As a child growing up in America, I begrudgingly went to Saturday School to improve my academic performance even though my average grade was already a 98. Even on math tests when I made a mistake and scored 99%, my Mom would ask, "A 99?! What happened to that one point? Next time, I want to see 100%!" Now, I am proud that my Chinese Tiger Mom made me work so hard because if it had not been for her, I wouldn't strive to be the best I can be and do any job the best that I can."
PACIFIC ISLANDER
Mr. Shah explains his heritage and identity by saying, "While broadly I am of Indian descent, more specifically I am a Gujarati (from the state of Gujarat) and my native language is Gujarati. My family is from two cities in India. My mother's side of the family is from Ahmedabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat, while my father's side of the family is from Mumbai, the largest city in the state of Maharashtra. As a Gujarati, we follow a vegetarian diet based on our religion, Jainism. We believe in non-violence (ahimsa), which means that we do not hurt other life forms."
When asked, what is something you're proud of being an Asian American? "I think the impact that Mahatma Gandhi has made is something I am proud of as an Asian American. He was an important Gujarati leader, who was an activist during India's independence from British Rule. His influence has reached important leaders of the civil rights movement in the United States, such as Martin Luther King Jr, who used his non violence resistance philosophy."
HERITAGE MONTH
Mr. Abergas explains that Asian American Pacific Island Heritage Month, "is a celebration in May also coincided with the inauguration of Transcontinental Railroads which were built mostly by Chinese immigrants.” He says that his heritage comes from, "the Philippines and is considered as Pacific Islander."
Mr. Abergas explains what makes him proud to be an Asian American, "I am proud of being a native speaker of Tagalog Philippine language who teaches ESL for 30 or so years to students from various cultural backgrounds."
He further explains his teaching history, "I have taught Vietnamese, Cambodians. Laotians who migrated to the US after the Vietnam war.
From 1987 to the present, I had the opportunity to teach ESL to the Orthodox Jewish children in Williamsburg and the ENL students of MS 50."
BY ASHLEY CONDE
Ms. Cuartero states, "APAHM is an important month because historically, within formal education and media, Asian American identity is very often represented without equity and sometimes our identity is depicted with inaccuracies or harmful stereotypes. This month is to celebrate with positive purpose.
Within my own community, the Filipino community, we have cultural celebrations surrounded in food and religion, bringing people together to support one another. I'm most proud of our intersectionality when it comes to community, we're here to support all during times of celebration and times of need."
Ms. Cuartero states that, "I am a first generation Filipina-American. I grew up within two very different worlds, at home it was the Philippines and in school it was America. Those two worlds clashed and collided a lot." To explain her heritage and upbringing.
"I'm so very proud to be an Asian American. We are strong and loving people."
TEACHER APPRECIATION
WEEK
MAY 4th - 8th, 2020
"My favorite person at MS 50 is Ms. Alex, she helps me with my work sometimes and she is really great at listening to me, and helping me with my problems" -Iyana Ragin
"I appreciate Ms. Cortez because she is very nice and she is easy to talk to. I can tell her a lot of things and she will keep it safe and not tell anyone." -Lilyana Rivera
"Ms. Eaddy because she helps me with my problems." - Perceaiz Cordero
"My favorite teacher is Mr. Altiery for teaching in a good and understanding way." - Jayden Perez
"I appreciate Ms. Atkins because she helps me become a better writer and debater." -Iyann Adams
"I appreciate all teachers because without them i wouldn't be able to read or do math." - Jared Rodriguez
"All of my teachers and staff are special, I love them all." - Heavenly McQueen
"Mi favorita maestra es Ms. Cuartero por que es muy buena maestra y me gusta como trata a los estudiantes , pero tambien me gusta como hace su trabajo , como se esfuerza para ser las cosas y tambien otra cosa que me gusta de ella es que es amable." Denise Sanchez-Silva
"A teacher I appreciate is Mr. Stripp because he is always there when you need him no matter what situation, he is often kind and attentive to students needs." -William Moore
"My 3 favorite teachers are Ms. Spry, Ms. Santos and Ms. Kean because when I need help they will be there for me and will show me things that will make the work easier for me to do." -Abigail Espinal
"I appreciate Mr. Schober because he will stay with us in zoom to help even if schools already over." - Jayden Alvarez
"I appreciate Ms. Batt because after everything I do to annoy her, she is still nice to me." - Jose Figueroa
"My favorite teacher is Ms. Santos because she always has private conversations with me and she always gets me. She always explains the work to me when I don't understand it."- Vyla Cordero
"Ms. Uva is my favorite teacher, because she is nice to me, she helps me with my homework, she has a good heart." - Joshua Perez
PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION DAY: MAY 1ST
"I appreciate Mr. Honoroff, he had to think of everything after the coronavirus happened and had to find a way to educate kids at home, so as the principal he maybe had to do most of the planing which is not easy." - Cristian Barragan
"Ms. Waite is nice helps me a lot and is always there when I need her. She has made 7th grade so fun and funny. When I don’t wanna read she will read it for me for a few, and she makes it fun and interesting." - Ethan Castillo
"I appreciate Ms. Kaiser because she has been there to encourage me and help me when it came to my art, and she always believed that I would make it to the school that I wanted ,and because of her, I was accepted into the high school I want to go to." - Yelena Giron
"I appreciate Mr. Charbonneau because he's nice and he helps break down what we have to do so we could accomplish it." -Miguel Vega
"I appreciate all of the teachers equally because you all give us opportunity to better ourselves and our academic career." - Garrett Pringle
"I appreciate all y'all, you guys help me throughout the short time I've been in NY transferring from 2 different schools I wasn't sure going into the school year but turns out outta the three schools I've been to this stands out as the best." - Mekell Nube
By DENISE SANCHEZ-SILVA
Mother's day is an occasion which is celebrated in various parts of the world to express respect, honor, and love towards mothers. The day is an event to honor the contribution of mothers, acknowledge the efforts of maternal bonds and the role of mothers in our society. Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. A woman named Anna Jarvis started a campaign for an official holiday honoring mothers in 1905, the year her own mother died. The first larger-scale celebration of the holiday was in 1908, when Jarvis held a public memorial for her mother in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia.
CINCO DE MAYO
History and how to celebrate indoors
By ASHLEY CONDE
What cinco de Mayo means is a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration held on May 5 in commemoration of the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862. Cinco de Mayo comes from the Mexican Army's difficult victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The way cinco de Mayo can be celebrated inside is by creating games or doing arts and crafts related to cinco de Mayo or watching movies with your family and just having fun. The way my family celebrates cinco de Mayo is by eating together and playing music and doing activities.
What people are saying about Remote Learning
By LILYANA RIVERA
As you know, COVID-19 has changed many things in our world today. One major thing it has changed is the way youngsters and adults have to go to school and also the way teachers have to teach. Now, everyone has to do school online and also teach online too! Many people are stressed and many are succeeding, here are a few things MS50 has to say about remote learning.
Mr. Whitaker, a teacher from MS 50, says "As you know it can be very hard to give kids the help they need. It also may be hard for the kids themselves to understand what is happening." That same teacher even says, "many kids probably think that since they are not in school that they don't have to participate, but as you know this is what the schools look at to pass you to the next grade." Another teacher from MS 50, Ms. Cortez says that, "there are students that like having the flexibility of working independently, so they have been doing really great with online work. Others need several reminders to get started on assignments, and some don’t do the work at all." Many teachers probably have a hard time getting their students to work. One of our teachers even states, ''even though it is challenging for me and my students, I think the learning we are doing is important so that we do not fall behind. We need to be ready when school starts back up, and for the future beyond that."
Students have opinions about how remote learning is for them. Many have friends that they like to see everyday but the pandemic has stopped them from seeing who they love to hang out with. MS 50 student Mikol Ortega has stated, "I stay in contact with my friends by calling or texting them, however, I do not like it because it is boring. When I'm with them in person we laugh so much and it is fun, when all this is over we will have so much fun and we can spend time with the ones we love.'' Many students may not like the fact they are not seeing the people they love to hang around with. I myself know that I do miss all my friends. I also do know that it can be very hard to learn online, without seeing our teachers and classmates in person, but it can also teach you something like determination and innovation.
Art Class at MS 50
Spirit Week
First Month of Remote Learning Highlights
MS 50s Got Talent
MS 50 #DONTRUSHCHALLENGE
Physical Education at
MS 50
Ready for Remote Learning
Hundreds of years ago, the way people lived back then is incredibly different from how we are. Instead of having machines and devices to accomplish tasks, everything had to be done by hand. The wealthy back then didn’t accomplish things on their own, people did things for them. The people were either doing a job or being forced to. Those people who were being forced to do so were called slaves.
Book Review: "Copper Sun"
Slaves are unpaid people who are bought like items and were oppressed and treated terribly. Slavery, thankfully, is illegal in the U.S, but it doesn’t mean that it’s still not happening. A great book that shows how terrible slavery was back then is a book called “Copper Sun”, by Sharon Draper. It’s a book about a teenage girl named Amari, who was captured at her tribe’s territory, by other tribes and white men in the 1700s, and was voyaged off to another continent to be sold off as a slave. She meets new people and faces challenges during her life as a slave. She learns a bit of english too. The story is filled with devastating moments and extremely satisfying ones too. It’s not recommended for those with a weak heart though, as there were moments that clenched my heart and was at the verge of near explosion. Great book.
BY ARTHUR ABDILLAH
GO MS 50 Debate Team!
Let's cheer on our MS 50 Debaters as they compete in the Middle School Debate Nationals this weekend!
Hannah Tavares
Isabel Hauer
Poala Reyes
Roan Enright
Anyely Rijo
Maria Perez
Fabianna Francisco
Maria Bido
Garrett Pringle
Trinity Florio
How to stay active and creative during quarantine
By DENISE SANCHEZ-SILVA
Create fun new ways to interact with friends and family
Do fun things around the house
Do different types of exercises
There are types of activities and games on and offline
Read different kinds of books
Keep in touch with family members: call, text, video chat, send mail