MEET THE TEAM

Ms. Ward

Teacher Advisor, Editor-In-Chief, Web Designer

Ms. Ward is a teacher at M.S. 407 and a writer from Brooklyn. When she’s not teaching, she writes fiction that explores themes of survival, love, and redemption. She's written for her high school, college, and graduate school newspapers. Prior to teaching, Ms. Ward worked for Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, where she edited the hospital newsletter for publication. She has taught English for over a decade and enjoys watching movies, baking, and shopping in her spare time.

Shaker Arab

Writer / Artist

Shaker is a student at M.S. 407 and a graduate of P.S. 407. He enjoys competitive fighting in Ironstrike, imaginative writing, and playing BTD6. He also owns a VR headset and lives in an apartment.

Adel Aama

Writer

Adel is a sixth-grade student at M.S. 407. He enjoys drawing and going to the Newspaper Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Fernando Cordero

Writer

Fernando Cordero is a student at M.S. 407 who enjoys playing video games, making comics and writing. His favorite foods include pizza, rice, and spaghetti. His favorite color is orange. He has one younger sister.

Lilah DeClara

Writer

Lilah DeClara is a student at M. S. 407. She graduated from P.S. 35 in Staten Island. She enjoys musicals, karate, dance, iceskating, and scary movies. She has one dog but used to have four dogs and a fish.

Benjamin Gamberg

Writer/Story Illustrator

Benjamin Gamberg is a student at M.S. 407 and came from P.S. 185. His favorite hobbies include gaming, writing, and sports. Ben has enjoyed writing and illustrating fantasy stories since kindergarten. He loves the imagination and mythical creatures. Ben's inspired by the authors who writer under the pen name Erin Hunter and created the Warrior Cats series.

Zehra Guney

Writer/ Artist

Zehra Guney is a seventh-grade student at M.S. 407. She graduated from P.S. 264. Zehra enjoys drawing and spending time on her phone. She also enjoys hanging out with her friends. At home, she has 12-13 pet fish that she feeds daily.

Jacob Hankin-McNeil

Writer

Jacob Hankin-McNeil is a seventh grader at M.S. 407 and graduated from P. S. 185. He enjoys skiing, playing baseball, and scouts. He also loves Japanese food and pasta. Jacob has one younger sister and a dog. He is also a second baseman for the 68th precinct youth council.

Mason Louie

Writer

Mason Louie is a student at M.S. 407. He was named valedictorian at his former school. Mason enjoys watching YouTube, playing random games, and participating in extracurricular activities in his free time. He also enjoys watching documentaries and resting. Right now, he is glad to be in the Newspaper Club!

Lina Medani

Writer

Lina Medani is a sixth-grader who graduated from P.S. 176 last year. She enjoys drawing and spending time with friends.

Scarlett Kang

Writer

Scarlet is a sixth-grade student at M.S. 407. She graduated from St. Ephrem Catholic Academy last year. She enjoys crocheting, reading, sleeping, playing video games, going on vacation, and staying home. She also enjoys eating and going to school at M.S. 407. She has a cat and a big family. She also likes eating plain bagels with cream cheese from Dyker Bagels and drinking apple juice. She also likes eating at BurgerFi with friends.

Luca Martucci

Writer

Luca Martucci is a sixth-grader from M.S. 407 who is interested in writing, soccer and dinosaurs. He has a cat and enjoys playing video games and reading novels. Luca participates in four extracurricular activities, including Mr. Sidman's Soccer Program, Student Council, Ms. Ward’s Newspaper Club, and his soccer team after school. He loves sports and always keeps up with the latest stories.

Benjamin Morse

Writer

Benjamin is from Brooklyn, New York, and has lived there since birth. He graduated from Lutheran Elementary School, a private school in Bay Ridge. Some of his hobbies include tennis, football, soccer, pickleball, baseball, and ping-pong. He loves writing, and that is why he joined this club.

Alban Lazri

Writer

Alban Lazri is a student at M.S. 407. He graduated from P.S. 176, The Ovington School. He enjoys playing and watching soccer. Alban also enjoys playing video games with his friends. He is writing his first book, a mystery novel. He has one pet dog named Max.

Iris Mizrahi

Writer, Artist, Editor

Iris Mizrahi is a student at M.S. 407. She is an only child and loves to read. She also enjoys writing, painting, and sleeping. Her favorite food is pizza, and she has two cats. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Claire Peterson

Writer

Claire Peterson is a student at M.S. 407. She graduated from P.S. 127. Claire enjoys reading sci-fi books and video games. She also enjoys art class and drawing.

Ian Polak

Writer

Ian is a student at M.S.407. He graduated from P.S.185 in 2024. He enjoys playing and watching sports. His favorite sport is Baseball and his favorite team is the New York Yankees. Ian also enjoys spending time with his family, playing (and annoying) his cat, Ranger. He also loves to play video games. At one time, Ian had six fish, one aquatic snail, and one tiny, very cute aquatic frog.

Valentina Romeo

Writer, Artist

Valentina is a student at MS 407. She graduated from P.S. 264. Valentina enjoys interviewing kids, writing about animals, drawing, and a lot of other things. She used to have four pet fish, but she is currently asking for a dog. Valentina has a little brother in third grade at P.S. 264. She likes making slides and stickers. Valentina is really excited to be in the newspaper club with Ms.Ward.

Jack Salerno

Artist

Jack is a student at M.S. 407. Last year, he graduated from P.S./I.S. 104. He enjoys reading fantasy books and painting.

Harrison Scheer

Writer

Harrison is a student at M.S. 407. He graduated from P.S./I.S. 30. Harrison enjoys playing with his sister and brother, who like to socialize and play games. He also enjoys baking, video games, tech, art, theater, singing, friends, and family. He has a younger sister who is two and a younger brother who is nine.

Ilan Sanchez

Writer

Ilan is a student at M.S. 407. He graduated from PS.170. He enjoys sports and video games. He also enjoys sleeping. Ilan has a soccer trophy and a goal net.

Violet Schloss

Artist

Violet is a student at M.S. 407. She graduated from P.S. 682, The Academy of Talented Scholars. She loves listening to music. Her favorite artists are the girl groups Illit and Katseye. She also likes drawing and performing in muscials in her spare time.

Chase Sayegh

Writer

Chase Sayegh is a student at M.S. 407. He graduated from P.S.185. He has an older sister in college. Chase likes playing video games on the Nintendo Switch and using computers. His favorite places to eat include BurgerFi and McDonald's.

Lawrence Zhu

Writer

Lawrence Zhu is a student at M.S. 407. He graduated from P.S. 264. He enjoys playing Roblox. He also enjoys playing with his friend. Lawrence has a brother and a sister.

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