Club Updates
Snack Sales at MHSHS
By: Sofia Pyasta
Recently at MHSHS, snack sales have been a huge part of many students’ lunches and after-school activities. Student-led by the juniors, with the help of Ms. Zakaria, these snacks are being sold for them to be able to afford an overnight senior trip. Selling snacks and drinks every day, they are almost always crowded as soon as lunch starts.
These sales are planned to happen all year, with constant updates on new and different snacks and drinks. As one of the representatives, Anthony Wang, stated, “I heard there was going to be some kind of marshmallow drink; I forgot what the name was,” with Marc Gordon, another representative, adding, “We were also thinking of adding those ramen cups, and gum is a good idea as well.” With them constantly selling, they have to keep people interested. By changing retail, students buying from them may continue to buy more and more. Though it may seem like they are constantly making a lot of money, with many customers and sales daily, it is nowhere near what they may need to pay for their preferred trip. When asked a question about their weekly profits, Anthony stated, “Not much, like $600-700... I don’t think you guys realize how much trips cost, especially overnights.” Marc also stated, “The lowest we’ve figured we could do was probably $20,000." For many of us, $600 or $700 may seem like a lot of money, but when you think about it, getting up to $20,000 or more will take a lot of time and a lot more profit. With the amount that they have to raise and the fact that they started late, this goal, though possible, may be difficult to achieve.
Anthony also ended with, “The weeks go on and the sales are slowing down.” These sales are for their senior trip, with the leftover money also spilling out towards other senior activities. If the sales keep going down, they may not be able to enjoy their senior year as much as they hoped. To support the juniors and their efforts to raise money for their senior trip, go buy yourself some snacks for only a couple of dollars!
Club Updates
Which Club is Right for You?
Written by Sofia Pyasta
There are many fun and intriguing clubs offered at MHSHS, focusing on all kinds of different interests. They range from educational clubs to career-oriented clubs, and clubs where you can just enjoy yourself with friends. This article will be focusing on the Better You Club, as well as the Glamour Gals, but there are many other clubs out there for everyone! The only question is; which club is right for you?
The Better You Club focuses on the mental health of students here at MHSHS. Meeting Wednesdays during Period 4 in room 550, the Better You Club does not have a specific plan for what they do during their meetings. Though the club leaders do usually have something planned for specific days, no one really knows what may happen, and how much someone may be struggling. If this is the case, they prioritize that, since it is what the club is about. As Annie Wang, a junior and one of the club leaders, stated: “The general schedule is really just go with the flow. You never know what’s about to happen and if someone is actually carrying the baggage.” This club is just a safe space to share any thoughts and experiences that one may be going through and struggling with. Sometimes we need support, advice, and maybe even to rant in a place without any judgment, and if that is the case, then this club may benefit you.
The Glamour Gals is a club that focuses on preventing senior isolation and connecting with the people in senior homes. Every second Saturday of the month, members of this club visit a retirement home. In the time that they are there, members connect with the citizens, while also doing their nails and giving makeovers! Not only do you get to do all of these things, but you also earn community service hours for going to the retirement homes as a part of the Glamour Gals. As Emma Lieman, a junior and club leader for the MHSHS chapter of the Glamour Gals says: “Well I personally like making connections with seniors. You just get to talk to them, hear their background, hear their story. You know they have a lot of wisdom to share, so when you converse with them it’s fun! I don’t consider it work, I think it’s genuinely fun.” To that statement, Olivia Haffmans, who is also a junior and club leader, added: “We have a great time. You make a lot of friends there too, so we all just hang out with really cool senior citizens.” The Glamour Gals also offer many other opportunities, besides just community service hours. There are many scholarships that members can apply for, including recommendation letters and awards. This club has it all, from having fun and enjoying yourself, to having many accomplishments for your future.
The clubs at MHSHS have a wide variety of topics and interests. While only focusing on two of these clubs, there are still huge differences between them. With dozens more to choose from and tons of different interests being showcased, there is definitely a club for you at MHSHS.
Manhattan Hunter Science High School hosted a club fair on Thursday, October 12, 2023. The fair showcased numerous clubs, ranging from Film Club all the way to Hunter News. Though there were many clubs, this article will touch upon two; the Debate Club and K-Pop Club. The representatives that were advertising for these clubs were, respectively, Mahalil Hayat and Mikayla Mena. Each of them gave their input on what their clubs do and how they function.
The first club is the Debate Club. This after-school club is centered around having fun while gaining argumentative skills. Students learn arguing strategies, how to cite, and how to win. Usually, at the beginning of the class, participants will be given a topic and a side for which they will be debating. Then, time will be allotted for you to do your research and make your argument. Once that time is up, the debating begins. At the end of these debates, the winners will be unbiasedly chosen by Ms. Cordova, the club advisor, and Mahalia. Though you may win some arguments and lose others, the main goal of the Debate Club is for you to have fun and enjoy yourself. This information was collected in an interview with the sophomore club leader, Mahalil Hayat. During the interview, he was asked if there is something particularly interesting that he believes would make people more compelled to join the club. Mahalil’s response was that when you are a part of the Debate Club, you develop real-world skills that will aid you in winning real-life arguments. So, not only is this club fun, but you get to leave with enhanced argumentative prowess that you did not have before. It is beneficial, not just for your dopamine levels, but for future situations you may be put in. As a final note Mahalil Hayat stated, “But it’s also mad fun, like do you not like arguing?”
The second club that will be discussed is the K-Pop Club. They meet every Tuesday at lunch. It is a community––a safe space for like-minded individuals to bond over K-Pop. In this club, members discuss a variety of K-Pop-related topics and freely express their opinions while staying respectful. The club harbors an inclusive environment where nobody is shamed for their likes and dislikes, and instead, they are able to talk and connect. In an interview with one of the eleventh-grader representatives, Mikayla Mena disclosed that one of the big events K-Pop Club is planning to do is participate in the talent show. Members of the club will practice and prepare a dance from a K-Pop music video that they choose themselves, and perform it for the school at the talent show. Mikayla also explained how participating in the talent show would be a good experience since it allows you to dance and socialize with people who enjoy what you like. To elaborate on the topic of dance, this club does a lot of it. In the exact words of Mikayla, “There is a lot of dancing, so if that is a thing that you like, that would be a great thing to join.” What is essentially being said is that dancing is a big part of the K-Pop club, and those who take joy in it would certainly find themselves feeling at home among members of this club.
Both of these clubs are still open to new members, meaning if you are interested in joining one or both, you are in luck! Although only two clubs were covered, all of the clubs at the fair deserve recognition for the hard work and effort that were put in to make them possible.
Written by Elene Dvali
Manhattan Hunter Science High School hosted a club fair on Thursday, October 12, 2023. The fair showcased numerous clubs, ranging from Film Club all the way to Hunter News. Though there were many clubs, this article will touch upon two; the Debate Club and the K-Pop Club. The representatives that were advertising for these clubs were, respectively, Mahalil Hayat and Mikayla Mena. Each of them gave their input on what their clubs do and how they function.
The first club is the Debate Club. This after-school club is centered around having fun while gaining argumentative skills. Students learn arguing strategies, how to cite, and how to win. Usually, at the beginning of the class, participants will be given a topic and a side for which they will be debating. Then, time will be allotted for you to do your research and make your argument. Once that time is up, the debating begins. At the end of these debates, the winners will be unbiasedly chosen by Ms. Cordova, the club advisor, and Mahalil. Though you may win some arguments and lose others, the main goal of the Debate Club is for you to have fun and enjoy yourself. This information was collected in an interview with the sophomore club leader, Mahalil Hayat. During the interview, he was asked if there is something particularly interesting that he believes would make people more compelled to join the club. Mahalil’s response was that when you are a part of the Debate Club, you develop real-world skills that will aid you in winning real-life arguments. So, not only is this club fun, but you get to leave with enhanced argumentative prowess that you did not have before. It is beneficial, not just for your dopamine levels, but for future situations you may be put in. As a final note Mahalil Hayat stated, “But it’s also mad fun, like do you not like arguing?”
The second club that will be discussed is the K-Pop Club. They meet every Tuesday at lunch. It is a community––a safe space for like-minded individuals to bond over K-Pop. In this club, members discuss a variety of K-Pop-related topics and freely express their opinions while staying respectful. The club harbors an inclusive environment where nobody is shamed for their likes and dislikes, and instead, they are able to talk and connect. In an interview with one of the eleventh-grader representatives, Mikayla Mena disclosed that one of the big events K-Pop Club is planning to do is participate in the talent show. Members of the club will practice and prepare a dance from a K-Pop music video that they choose themselves, and perform it for the school at the talent show. Mikayla also explained how participating in the talent show would be a good experience since it allows you to dance and socialize with people who enjoy what you like. To elaborate on the topic of dance, this club does a lot of it. In the exact words of Mikayla, “There is a lot of dancing, so if that is a thing that you like, that would be a great thing to join.” What is essentially being said is that dancing is a big part of the K-Pop club, and those who take joy in it would certainly find themselves feeling at home among members of this club.
Both of these clubs are still open to new members, meaning if you are interested in joining one or both, you are in luck! Although only two clubs were covered, all of the clubs at the fair deserve recognition for the hard work and effort that were put in to make them possible.
Hunter Clubs
Written by Elene Dvali
Club Updates
Well Needed: Volleyball Club
By: Seif Eldawaity
Sports are an integral part of any high school community, and they can act as a bonding opportunity for students, encourage teamwork and communication skills, promote athleticism, and much more. As you may know, Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Campus and Manhattan Hunter Science High School have a variety of clubs, sports programs, and teams. All of which run on pure interest and engagement from the students. These clubs and programs can range from arts and crafts to a youth soccer program held every Sunday. So, why not have one for volleyball?
From my experience, when I go outside during lunch, I usually see a multitude of volleyball circles that form, ranging anywhere from 5 to 12 people per circle. Occasionally, I will also see people playing volleyball in the mornings or after school on the terrace. The diversity in skill of the people playing volleyball outside can range from complete beginners to players at a competitive level. I play volleyball and immensely enjoy the sport. A volleyball club would be the perfect opportunity for people to play volleyball recreationally and stay active while developing and practicing many important volleyball skills. The club can hold scrimmages, which help people improve their skills and understanding of the sport. The club can be a co-ed where anybody and everybody can practice and play together. I recognize a handful of students, possibly including myself, who would even be interested in helping run the club.
I asked Kaspar Clay-Youman, a sophomore at Manhattan Hunter Science High School and a player on the MLK boy's volleyball team, what he thought about having a volleyball club on campus. He said, “I think that having a volleyball club would truly be an improvement for MHSHS. People are already playing in circles at lunch and before and after school, so why not have a designated place for people to play?” I also asked Alexander Diaz-LaPens, a student at MHSHS who also plays for the boy's volleyball team, what he thought about having a volleyball club on campus. He states, “I see the need for it, but I worry about there not being enough court space for the sports we already have.” Both students recognize the need for a volleyball club; however, Alexander brings up a valid point. How would the club find court space and arrange meetings and games with the sports that we already have on campus? Well, the club doesn't strictly have to take place on campus, and with the small gym soon to be open again, that leaves two courts on campus that could potentially be open for use. A good example would be to operate similarly to the “Just Ball” soccer program run by Mr. Kimani on Sundays. However, another issue that may arise may be funding and finding a staff member to sponsor the club. Volleyballs aren't cheap, and that would mean multiple people would have to step in and fund the club, or people could bring their volleyballs. I, for one, would be more than happy to help fund the club or bring my volleyball. Since time may be an issue, practices or scrimmages can be held at least once a week or every other week, and attendance would not be strict.
Even though there may be issues in getting the club operating normally at first, with issues such as funding and finding time and court space, I believe that a volleyball club would be a great improvement for MHSHS and/or the entire campus. I strongly believe that our school should have a volleyball club due to the large amount of interest in the sport seen throughout the school and the opportunity that the club will bring.
A Science Club
By: Gavin Li
As the club fair ended, one club was missing from the various clubs that structure our community. It was a science club. Since our school is based upon being an early-college science high school, we should have more clubs that work with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). This would provide a sanctuary for those interested in these topics.
One of the things we would be able to do in a science club is create a science olympiad team. A science olympiad is a competition where 23 events -all related to different fields of science- are held. Only 15 members are allowed at each tournament, with different roles assigned to each participant. The team costs for this activity are pretty low with only $125-$300 needed per team. The competitions are held depending on the skill level of the teams. A team that does well in regional competitions will advance to states and eventually nationals.
Bringing out a team of 15 to different places to compete can enrich our sense of community because it involves cooperation, teamwork, and spirit. Since we spend most of our time in school learning, we rarely have enough time to connect through interests. Utilizing the time in science competitions is a great way for science-interested students to bond with each other. All of the clubs that we have at Manhattan Hunter Science also require teamwork and cooperation but do not have competitions where students work with each other. This can be the first club developed to establish a closer relationship between those intrigued by science.
Key Club: Key to A Better World
By: Gavin Li
The Key Club is one of Manhattan Hunter’s biggest clubs. But what is it, and more specifically, why is it named the “Key” Club? The Key Club is an international non-profit organization for high school students that aims to serve others in order to make the world a better place.
It was established in 1925 in Sacramento, California, by Albert C. Olney and Frank C. Vincent. They both were high school administrators who served as members of the Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis Club is also a non-profit organization that works towards helping children thrive. Albert and Frank wanted a club for high schoolers that embodied the same motives as the Kiwanis Club. So they started a club where, initially, only boys were allowed to join.
Now referring back to our question, why is the Key Club called the Key Club? This is because only “key” students, or boys, who played an integral part of the school were allowed to join. However, 52 years later, females were allowed to join. Over the years, this club’s popularity skyrocketed and it has become one of the largest programs for high school students. Nowadays, they host many events where people can volunteer and fundraise. Some of these volunteering and fundraising events include food pantries, social injustice, and other fun activities. These tasks can build strong leadership roles and build character in students. The skills will benefit the future of pupils who are still figuring out their roles in the world.
Thus, thanks to both Albert C. Olney and Frank C. Vincent, we now have a wide-reaching, international community that has the potential to change the world while simultaneously helping students gain leadership roles.
How Did the Snow Day Go?
Written by Sofia Pyasta
On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, all NYC public schools experienced a snow day, now often also referred to as a remote day. This was one of very few that students have experienced so far, and from student feedback, it was not one of the best. From confusion about classes to saying the organization was not the best, many things went wrong on this day according to students.
One thing that many students noted was the way they learned during the remote day. While there were many teachers not doing lessons, there were still a couple that were. There were some that, since many teachers were not doing lessons, felt there was no actual point in logging on to these classes. Nicole Klein, a freshman at MHSHS, mentioned: “The organization was horrible. They organized, but not enough. It was just like, busy work, so we didn’t actually do anything meaningful.” One student even compared her time in these classes to the time she spent in online classes during the pandemic. Ashley Rosales Martinez, another freshman at MHSHS, stated: “Well, for starters, it reminded me of when we were quarantined. That was a very horrible experience for me since I failed most of my courses just because I could not focus during class. During the snow day, it felt like it did back in 2020.” Something else that was commonly mentioned was the struggle to get into classes. Many noted that they did not like that some classes were on Google Meet, while others were on Zoom, and felt that it should all be on one platform to avoid confusion. It was also stated that there was an issue with signing into Zoom on Tuesday morning. It was said that the DOE was not allowing students to sign into Zoom through their @nycstudents.net accounts, making it difficult for some students to get to their first classes of the day. This issue was resolved later in the day, but it did stress many students out, struggling to log on to some of their first-period classes.
Overall, the feedback for this day was mixed but mostly negative. Having a snow day be a remote day could be useful, to not interrupt the lesson plans for that day, but it seems like that is not what it felt like for most students. Most said it was practically pointless, with having issues with logging in, internet issues, and not learning anything or being able to focus. Many students also noted that if this were to happen again in the future, some suggestions from students were to do lessons in the classes and to try to make it all on one platform to avoid confusion.