School Talent Show

By Melissa V.

In February, Spanish Honor Society will be hosting a talent show open to every student in the school. Many acts will be performed by several talented singers, instrument players, and dancers. The talent show will also include a cultural experience through the display of facts and food of many Latin American countries, prepared by Sociedad members. Not only will the contestants have a chance to win prizes, but the audience can also win prizes for answering trivia questions about Latin American countries.

A dedicated group of students, including myself, will perform a Latin dance as the opening act for the talent show. We will be dancing a mix of bachata, salsa, and merengue to start off the spectacular night. Almost every Friday, we meet up in our Spanish classroom to learn the choreography and practice what we remember. The hour and a half of practice consists of sweat, hard work, and laughter. Learning, failing, and eventually succeeding bring the dance couples closer together. We all give each other confidence and support.

Join us on Friday, February 19th to support the talented students who will take part in the competition!

History Honors Society Wrapping Party

Hot chocolate, pretzels, marshmallows, wrapping paper and boxes towered feet high; that’s what you would have seen in the cafeteria during the History Honors Society wrapping party. After school, the café was filled with teens getting their volunteering hours while having fun and helping the community. Hundreds of gifts were being wrapped for the children at the Astor Home. Many of the children residing there were not fortunate enough to get gifts from parents or family. The wrapping party exists as a fun activity that helps provide for those who do not have the same as others. If only you could see their faces when they opened the gifts donated by the John Jay Student Body and teachers. Gifts ranged from giant teddy bears to Pokémon cards and comfy clothes, each specially wrapped by students for a great cause. It was really amazing to see how the John Jay community came together to make this happen. I cannot wait until next year to do it again! By Chelsea Co.

Round of Applause

At John Jay, we are known for having good athletic teams, ranging from football to volleyball, and no one can deny that we are proud of all our athletes. However, I think there should be an equal amount of pride when it comes to the arts. On February 19th, the Talent Show—hosted by La Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica (Spanish Honor Society)—displayed phenomenal talent. Experiencing it first-hand, I was floored by how amazing all the performances were. At one moment, we were watching a Spanish cultural dance with amazing coordination and then the next, a satire on political debates with Ben Carson falling asleep in the middle of it. We even witnessed the epic rap style of Mr. Davis, with lines flowing so fast, I think he dropped a whole mixtape in just four minutes. If you didn’t come to watch, you also unfortunately missed the reigning champions, now called “Desi Empire.” With their mix of Indian dancing and American pop music, they killed it, earning their spot as number one. Others danc

Inadequate Security in Public Schools

Security cameras lace malls, cops stalk airports with large loaded guns, and from convention centers to conference halls, security stands amongst the highest priorities. At the same time, society’s future leaders lay vulnerable to various dangers, from bombings to shootings. In the 21st century, metal detectors, screening systems, and a strong police presence arm most public facilities against potential threats while public schools--the “safe haven” of education and dreams for the future--horrifically fail in protecting the hundreds of faculty and students occupying them for over nine months each year. When used incorrectly, technology--especially weaponry--poses threats to people psychologically, emotionally, and physically; such wounds maim relationships and entire communities and may even prove fatal. The “National Center for Education Statistics” states in “Fast Facts” that in the school year of 2013 to 2014, 68 percent of America’s public schools required faculty and staff to

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