NEWS648/600
By Gaby Bromfeld
The 2017-2018 school year is almost over. Some may say the year has gone by fast and others feel it has gone by slow, but according to two new teachers at Columbia High School (CHS), Gopika Sharma and Stephanie Rivera, the year was a success. A lot of new staff members joined the CHS staff and embraced their new students and coworkers with open arms.
While transitioning from one school to another can be difficult, Sharma and Rivera transitioned smoothly. Both Sharma and Rivera worked at South Orange Middle School (SOMS) beforehand and taught eighth graders. Sharma taught science and is now teaching AP psychology and psychology. Rivera taught world history and continued teaching world history at CHS. Staying within the same district made it easier to move from SOMS to CHS but it didn’t make Sharma and Rivera invincible to challenges. One of the biggest challenges Sharma faced is “being seen as a teacher for "little kids" when attempting to incorporate active learning and effective teaching strategies into the classroom.” A result of challenges is being able to overcome them. Working forward Sharma tried to defeat this problem by sharing “the research behind the teaching strategies with students.” Building a relationship with students is important because it shows the students you care about them and want them to grow. When teachers make themselves more approachable, it can expand the learning and knowledge retained by each student.
Rivera faced similar challenges moving to CHS but also feels that she has overcome them. Finding strategies and ways to explain why things are a certain way, this is helpful in communicating with the people in one’s environment. Rivera said, “I face a lot of challenges… I teach three different levels of classes and the adjustment from middle schoolers to high schoolers is big.” Being able to adjust is really important when teaching a new age group. Expanding discussions and going deeper into specific topics can highlight the importance of teachers. Rivera was able to balance her new job with the rest of her life through “... depending on [her] colleagues.” Rivera said, “Taking one week at a time and not bombarding [herself] with work,” was one of the strategies she used to adapt to her new job.
Sharma saw this year as an opportunity to learn from her students and grow as a teacher. Doing this while developing her students into masters on the topic of psychology, she hopes that “[she has] been able to show them that [she] care[s] deeply about them and [is] invested in teaching the best [she] can for their success!” Rivera said her biggest takeaway was “having the ability to learn from eighth graders and … go into really deep conversations and discussions with them in ways that wasn’t really possible at [SOMS].” Rivera and Sharma both have learned from their students and believe this year was a success.
Sharma said, “Change is always bumpy. I had to learn my way around a much bigger school, figure out all the different procedures and policies of CHS, meet new people/make new coworker friends, work with a new age group, transition into a new department and teach two completely different curriculums in a completely different subject than I had previously taught....it was a lot.” For all new teachers, it can be hard to adjust and make a smooth transition but after their first year teaching a lot can change. Sharma said she feels more comfortable now and is “... looking forward to next year!” Rivera said, “I think overall I had a great year and I’m just really excited to start my second year because I do feel a lot stronger and familiar with the school. I think next year I’ll be a stronger teacher than I was this year.”
Both teachers, Sharma and Rivera, believe CHS is the place for them and their first year here was a success. They are both excited for next year and can’t wait to continue at CHS.
NEWS517/500
By Alexandra Krim
In the wake of the recent school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) on February 14, students across the country have made an increased effort to address the issue of gun violence in American schools and communities. On March 24, hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country took part in the March for Our Lives in support of gun control.
At Columbia High School (CHS), in addition to student led walkouts and a die-in, CHS students in Jon Fisher’s photography class have created a piece in the school’s gallery titled “We The People.” In recent article in the Essex News Daily titled “CHS photographers make a statement in new exhibit” by Yael Katzwer, Fisher said “‘This project is about demanding gun safety in schools.’” The piece is made up
mainly of student portraits that cover the walls or the gallery. Student photographer Jessie Stuppi, ‘18, said that the portraits “[turn] the statistics of these school shootings into real people.” Each unique photograph reminds the viewer that real lives are affected by gun violence, that there is a face behind each name.
The portraits feature students of various grades in front of white backgrounds, each making a different facial expression. Some students pose with their eyes closed, others look back and the viewer. Some students are smiling or laughing, other students look concerned. One student holds a teddy bear, another wears their glasses upside down. In her portrait, Kamille Sabio, ‘19, is looking up, showing the profile of the left side of her face. When taking her portrait, Sabio was thinking about “a future where no one would have to be afraid that they would be a victim of gun violence,” she said.
Yet the portraits are not the only aspect of the gallery piece. In the center of the room, handwritten notes expressing words of encouragement sit on display surrounded by flowers and candles. Boxes labeled with the words “thoughts” and “prayers” also sit in this center display, allowing viewers to contribute. One anonymous note reads “This is what we need. We need to be heard. We need to speak up and stand up. #EnoughIsEnough.” Additionally, orange #Enough papers, originally used in the March 14 walkout at CHS, create a path to a sectioned off corner of the gallery, where there is a picture of all the photographers sitting together. Audio also plays in the gallery including a rendition of “Amazing Grace” or a spoken poem about gun violence.
This project is one of the many ways CHS students have joined other students throughout the country to express their thoughts and concerns about gun violence. “Even if you're not a direct victim, the death of innocent people should still be an issue you are concerned with,” Sabio said. While gun control is a topic that people all across the United States are expressing their opinions about, the gallery piece allows viewers to understand some of the concerns of the CHS community. As Sabio put it, “I would want everyone to realize [from this piece] that we must actively fight for adequate gun control now.”
Photo Credit: Pioneer Institute
New Teachers: How did their first year go?
The 2017-2018 school year is almost over. Some may say the year has gone by fast and others feel it has gone by slow, but according to two new teachers at Columbia High School (CHS), Gopika Sharma and Stephanie Rivera, the year was a success. A lot of new staff members joined the CHS staff and embraced their new students and coworkers with open arms.
While transitioning from one school to another can be difficult, Sharma and Rivera transitioned smoothly. Both Sharma and Rivera worked at South Orange Middle School (SOMS) beforehand and taught eighth graders. Sharma taught science and is now teaching AP psychology and psychology. Rivera taught world history and continued teaching world history at CHS. Staying within the same district made it easier to move from SOMS to CHS but it didn’t make Sharma and Rivera invincible to challenges. One of the biggest challenges Sharma faced is “being seen as a teacher for "little kids" when attempting to incorporate active learning and effective teaching strategies into the classroom.” A result of challenges is being able to overcome them. Working forward Sharma tried to defeat this problem by sharing “the research behind the teaching strategies with students.” Building a relationship with students is important because it shows the students you care about them and want them to grow. When teachers make themselves more approachable, it can expand the learning and knowledge retained by each student.
Rivera faced similar challenges moving to CHS but also feels that she has overcome them. Finding strategies and ways to explain why things are a certain way, this is helpful in communicating with the people in one’s environment. Rivera said, “I face a lot of challenges… I teach three different levels of classes and the adjustment from middle schoolers to high schoolers is big.” Being able to adjust is really important when teaching a new age group. Expanding discussions and going deeper into specific topics can highlight the importance of teachers. Rivera was able to balance her new job with the rest of her life through “... depending on [her] colleagues.” Rivera said, “Taking one week at a time and not bombarding [herself] with work,” was one of the strategies she used to adapt to her new job.
Sharma saw this year as an opportunity to learn from her students and grow as a teacher. Doing this while developing her students into masters on the topic of psychology, she hopes that “[she has] been able to show them that [she] care[s] deeply about them and [is] invested in teaching the best [she] can for their success!” Rivera said her biggest takeaway was “having the ability to learn from eighth graders and … go into really deep conversations and discussions with them in ways that wasn’t really possible at [SOMS].” Rivera and Sharma both have learned from their students and believe this year was a success.
Sharma said, “Change is always bumpy. I had to learn my way around a much bigger school, figure out all the different procedures and policies of CHS, meet new people/make new coworker friends, work with a new age group, transition into a new department and teach two completely different curriculums in a completely different subject than I had previously taught....it was a lot.” For all new teachers, it can be hard to adjust and make a smooth transition but after their first year teaching a lot can change. Sharma said she feels more comfortable now and is “... looking forward to next year!” Rivera said, “I think overall I had a great year and I’m just really excited to start my second year because I do feel a lot stronger and familiar with the school. I think next year I’ll be a stronger teacher than I was this year.”
Both teachers, Sharma and Rivera, believe CHS is the place for them and their first year here was a success. They are both excited for next year and can’t wait to continue at CHS.
NEWS517/500
By Alexandra Krim
"We The People"
In the wake of the recent school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) on February 14, students across the country have made an increased effort to address the issue of gun violence in American schools and communities. On March 24, hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country took part in the March for Our Lives in support of gun control.
At Columbia High School (CHS), in addition to student led walkouts and a die-in, CHS students in Jon Fisher’s photography class have created a piece in the school’s gallery titled “We The People.” In recent article in the Essex News Daily titled “CHS photographers make a statement in new exhibit” by Yael Katzwer, Fisher said “‘This project is about demanding gun safety in schools.’” The piece is made up
The portraits feature students of various grades in front of white backgrounds, each making a different facial expression. Some students pose with their eyes closed, others look back and the viewer. Some students are smiling or laughing, other students look concerned. One student holds a teddy bear, another wears their glasses upside down. In her portrait, Kamille Sabio, ‘19, is looking up, showing the profile of the left side of her face. When taking her portrait, Sabio was thinking about “a future where no one would have to be afraid that they would be a victim of gun violence,” she said.
Yet the portraits are not the only aspect of the gallery piece. In the center of the room, handwritten notes expressing words of encouragement sit on display surrounded by flowers and candles. Boxes labeled with the words “thoughts” and “prayers” also sit in this center display, allowing viewers to contribute. One anonymous note reads “This is what we need. We need to be heard. We need to speak up and stand up. #EnoughIsEnough.” Additionally, orange #Enough papers, originally used in the March 14 walkout at CHS, create a path to a sectioned off corner of the gallery, where there is a picture of all the photographers sitting together. Audio also plays in the gallery including a rendition of “Amazing Grace” or a spoken poem about gun violence.
This project is one of the many ways CHS students have joined other students throughout the country to express their thoughts and concerns about gun violence. “Even if you're not a direct victim, the death of innocent people should still be an issue you are concerned with,” Sabio said. While gun control is a topic that people all across the United States are expressing their opinions about, the gallery piece allows viewers to understand some of the concerns of the CHS community. As Sabio put it, “I would want everyone to realize [from this piece] that we must actively fight for adequate gun control now.”
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