JHS 194 Bulldog Times

Showcase from last year's art show.

Art Club

Published by Farrah Zhou & Ella Patel

The art club, run by our school art teacher, Ms. Cabrera, is open to all students in any grade. It is held in Room 305. This club acts as a creative outlet for students to freely express themselves. In art club, students work on various projects. Each student experiments with different art forms and techniques. Many of the students feel that the art club is a place where they can relax and have time to themselves. Students are currently working on paintings, drawings, and sketches to help them develop in areas they want to improve. This year, the club is going to help the school by making the set for the musical 13 Jr. Art club meets on Tuesdays after school from 2:30–3:30.

“Why did you choose to join art club?”

Emi: Art is fun and calming.

Leah: I chose to join the art club because I like art, and I think it’s fun. Art is also a way for people to build connections, and it allows people to relate to each other, so it builds community.

Jazelle: I find art interesting because I enjoy art, and it gives me a calm moment in my day.

Art club is not only a place where people can have fun, but also a place where they can decompress from a chaotic school day. Students feel at ease as they draw, whether it’s for fun or to improve their art skills. Come check it out!

Philanthropy Club

Contributed by Farrah Zhou

Philanthropy is a club where students help promote different causes and support people in need. Members create posters, come up with ideas, and research causes that our school can contribute to. For example, our school is currently holding a hygiene drive to collect toiletries for people in need in Jamaica. Students help by making posters and visiting different homeroom classes to make announcements, promote the drive, and encourage others to donate what they can.

Philanthropy Club meets on Wednesdays after school from 2:30–3:30. The club also gives students opportunities to do volunteer work, and members can earn Arista hours. In addition, Philanthropy organizes educational trips that allow students to learn new things and gain meaningful experiences.

In past years, the club has taken several educational trips. One example is a visit to the Tenement Museum, where students learned about the difficult living conditions many immigrants faced just to get by. Another trip involved visiting a nursing home, where students volunteered and gained insight into the experiences of elderly individuals.

Friends of Rachel

by Jacqueline Chen

Introduction

The Friends of Rachel club meets every Thursday from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., focusing on promoting compassion and support among peers. By fostering kindness within the community, the club aims to create a friendly and welcoming environment. Students are encouraged to take on leadership roles, contributing to the club's mission of inclusivity.

Club Goals

Ms. Rachel, the club adviser, emphasized the importance of these initiatives: “Through introducing ‘No Place for Hate’ and ‘Friends of Rachel’ to our school, we have realized just how much students want to feel comfortable and included within our community. The mission of this combined club is to minimize hateful actions and language and encourage community, support, and allyship. This is a place for all students to feel safe and supported.”

Historical Background

Friends of Rachel is part of a nationwide initiative named after Rachel Joy Scott, who was tragically killed in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. After her death, her parents discovered she left behind a legacy of compassion through her life, her writings, and the people she touched. Her family realized that Rachel’s story could change how students relate to each other and improve self-worth and mental health.

Community Activities

Friends of Rachel participates in various activities that promote kindness and friendship, such as organizing events, helping those in need, and spreading positive messages around the school. These efforts strive to make everyone feel included and valued.

Learning Empathy

Being part of Friends of Rachel teaches students the importance of empathy and understanding. They learn that small acts of kindness can make a significant difference in someone’s day, helping to build a more caring community. A club member expressed, "I like participating because it is very enjoyable and fun, and at the same time, it is being kind and helpful to our community."

Planned Activities

This year, club members will engage in community service projects, workshops on effective communication, and social gatherings that allow members to connect on a deeper level. Through these experiences, participants learn the significance of supporting one another and the impact small gestures of kindness can have.

Mission Statement: The important mission of Rachel's Friends is to be a vibrant community dedicated to spreading kindness, compassion, and support among its members. Our mission is to create a nurturing environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to make a positive impact in each other's lives and the wider community.

Rachel Joy Scott

JHS 194 Debate Team

by Annie Wang

Are you a competitive person? Do you like being heard by others? Or do you just want to improve your speaking skills? If you said yes to any of those three questions, then you will love the debate team.

There are currently 36 sixth, seventh and eighth graders in debate. The debate team coaches are Mrs. Brown and Mr. Fiscina. The captains are seniors Nia, Mia and Shuey.

The debate team is part of the American Debate League. Members learn about the pros and cons of subjects like artificial intelligence or genetically modified food. For our December 13th debate against other schools in Queens, the topic is presidential executive orders.

The debate team is subdivided into teams of two to three people. The first speaker for each team introduces three reasons their side is pro or con. The second speaker responds to the team they are arguing against. The third speaker responds to the second speaker.

Each person also questions the other side and responds to the question. That is the part of the debate called the crossfire.

Teams do not know if they are pro or con until they arrive at the debate. There are several rounds at each debate, so teams have to be prepared to argue both sides.

Beginner debaters have a packet with research that they use, novice debaters also have a packet of information, but it is over 200 pages long.

Meetings are held on Tuesday mornings at 7:15 a.m. and after school until 3:30 on Thursdays.

There are many different reasons why people join the debate club. Most people on the team are competitive, while some just want to improve their speaking skills and make new friends. Overall, debate club is a great club to help with speaking skills and boosts your confidence!

Lego Robotics

by Emily Xiang

At JHS 194, students have the opportunity to explore the exciting world of robotics through the Lego Robotics Club. Led by Mr. Fishel, It is open to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders and meets every Wednesday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Room 309.

To get a closer look at the club, I spoke with Christopher, a sixth-grade club member, about his experience at Lego Robotics as well as the adviser Mr. Fishel.

Interview with Christopher, Grade 6 member

What made you want to join the Robotics Club?
"I joined because I wanted to compete against other students who are also interested in robotics and to learn how to code robots."

What do you enjoy most about being in the club?
"My favorite part is coding the robots since I find it challenging."

How would you describe the club advisor, Mr. Fishel?
"Mr. Fishel is great! He motivates us and always makes the club fun."

Does the Robotics Club participate in any competitions?
"Yes! We have a competition coming up soon! It's on Sunday, February 23." (2025)

Interview with Mr. Fishel

What inspired you to start the Robotics Club?
"No other teacher wanted to take on the role, but I knew how important it was for the students, so I volunteered."

Did you have experience with robotics before coaching the team?
"Not at first, but over time, I’ve gained more experience."

How do you help students when they’re struggling with a challenge?
"We work in small groups or one-on-one to discuss the problem and come up with a plan to solve it together."

This club allows students can develop their problem-solving skills, work as a team, and apply creativity to coding and engineering. Members are learning to prepare for competitions, making this club an exciting part of JHS 194!

Running Club

By Emily Xiang

Mrs. Mott-Schutt, a Spanish teacher at our school, has been running for 20 years, and now she’s sharing her love of the sport with students.

The J.H.S. 194 Running Club is held on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Although the club is filled this year, there are many reasons sixth and seventh graders should consider joining in the future.

Interview with Erica, grade 6:

Why did you join the Running Club?

"For fun. I find running enjoyable."

What do you like most about the Running Club?

"I like how we can run laps around the school, so you get to see it in a different perspective. Also, Mrs. Mott-Schutt is a nice teacher. She is patient with kids who don't run as fast as other students and tries to encourage everyone."

What are your thoughts about the Running Club?

"I like how, well, it's put together, like how well it's planned out and organized."

Interview with Mrs. Mott-Schutt, the club advisor

Why did you start the Running Club?

"I love to run. I want to encourage students to be healthier and more fit. The world is beautiful; get outside!"

Do you have any running experience of your own?

"Yes, I have been running for the past 20 years. I’m a member of the Long Island Road Runners Club, and have competed in countless 5k’s."

How do you engage with your students if they’re having difficulty?

"I encourage students to speed walk or just to keep moving so that they’re still exercising."

What techniques do you use to motivate students?

“Games, making it fun, and competitions.”

What do you do if you’re tired from running?

"Walk. That way, I can gain my energy back, then I’ll go back to running.”

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