In honor of our veterans, East High’s Music Department hosted the 2nd Annual Veteran’s Day Concert in the auditorium on Thursday, November 10th, 2016. During second period many staff members and students, as well as veterans, joined to not only enjoy but to honor those who are serving and who have served for our country.

Students from The Lighthouse Committee recited poems that were written for our troops as they were overseas. Our upper and lower school choirs combined singing “Bless Our Troops,” earning a standing ovation from the crowd. East’s band also performed, playing the songs for each service branch and asked the veterans that served in the branch to stand when they heard the song of where they served.
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East would like to thank everyone who served in our country and sacrificed their lives for us to be here today.

Alicia Willie

"We are so fortunate to have such a caring and dedicated staff at East.  Wednesday and Thursday showcased the Poetry Readings, Veteran’s Day Appreciation Concert and The Family Dinner and Show Night. All events put the spotlight on out multitude of talented scholars. It was so very impressive, to hear their words, listen to their singing, watch them Step, Dance, and receive Mission awards, and taste their authentic cooking. Our staff is simply outstanding and their commitment to our scholars is unmatched. These events instilled personal pride, family pride and East pride.
 
Much thanks to each of you for the various things you led or supported through your attendance. Special thanks to: Dan Hart, Alexa Basile, Erin Schuh, Rebecca Fox, Scott Weber, Jodi Zajowski, Jeff Christiano, David Festenstein, Frances Drumgoole, Lorna Washington, Tanya Wilson, Joanne Larson, Shalonda Garfield, Missy Floyd, Stephanie Bliss and ALL others that played a leadership role in these events."

Consistency, completion, practice, and understanding are a few words to keep in mind when starting the new marking period. A great start on your grades will have you doing better because you’ll want to remain in good standing with that high letter grade.

Keeping track of your grades by using Parent Connect might also help. It allows you to see your grades and due assignments. “You need to keep the first grade you had in the first marking period to then set a goal to do better,” said Mr. Catalfano, math teacher at East High School. A fresh start means setting deadlines, being your own advocate, and pushing yourself to do your best.

You can start by having good attendance. Attendance has a HUGE influence on your grades, especially in math because you’re constantly learning a new concept built upon foundations. “If you miss class, it’s more difficult to catch up to them,” adds Mr. Catalfano. By starting off with high grades it shows that you’re doing well enough to be able to use resources to do well on a test. We as students have the power to determine whether we pass or not. Let's make this an awesome marking period full of prosperity and success.

​Wilnelly Rodriguez

There was a purple locker in East High School that was made different from every other locker for a reason, but now it’s no longer in use. The purple locker was a way for students to anonymously communicate with staff members if there were any problems going on in school or in their personal life. The student support center would check the purple locker and try to address the situation as much as they could.
 
A lot students feel like they have no one to talk to or feel hesitant to address a problem in person. This technique of writing down your problems on a piece of paper and slipping it into the purple locker made getting help easier for some scholars. This locker was a great contribution considering that we are all young adults in high school and we will come across problems that we can’t face alone. We need a system like the purple locker, because it made life a little easier for students knowing that someone knows what they’re going through and is trying to help them out and give them advice.  Now, we have a different system called “Let’s Talk.”
 
The purple locker was discontinued, but we currently have a system similar to that. It’s an online portal to communicate concerns with the appropriate people in the building that can help fix that problem. It is called "Let's Talk,” and you can find it on the East High School Website.  When you find the link, it shows you what to do from there. You can choose to submit your answers anonymously or you can let them know who you are.  So if you have a problem and don’t know who to tell, “Let’s Talk” is the new “Purple Locker” to help scholars who need it.

​Sonyalice McGrew

On November 18, 2016 there will be another doctor visit in room E107 for students who need an eye exam. If you are interested in signing up for the doctor visit you can sign up by registering on an iPad in room E107, using a Google form referral. According to Ms. Vega, a former East High student in the Vision Care Program who is now an assistant teacher for the program, you will be able to get your pair of glasses in about two days.
 
The Vision Care Program started over the summer of 2010 starting with eight students who needed glasses, and it then became a full course in the year of 2012. “It is very fun getting to work with kids, and going to different schools,” said a student in the program.
 
Whenever you see students walking around school with a light pink shirt, feel free to stop them and ask when you can sign up. For more information about the Vision Care Program stop by E107 and speak to Mr. Newman. You can be part of the Vision Care Program by having the class or talking to your counselor.

Wandalys Montero

Excitement is in the air as the RYCE program at East High School moves closer to their opening date. RYCE stands for Rochester Youth Culinary Experience. Run by Jeff Christiano, this student-run program will open the doors of the long awaited restaurant in December. The opening has been a hot topic for many bloggers and news articles for many months.
 
The menu is fully planned and being put onto paper. It consists of many Caribbean themed dishes such as Ropa Vieja, Shrimp Po Boy, and House Made Jerk Chicken. The restaurant, located in Village Gate between Salena's and Nox, will have an open kitchen and a tiki bar. All food will be prepared by the students and previous graduates of the program. The school’s community garden, also student-run, will provide organic produce for the restaurant as well.
 
Another possibility that is being discussed is a food truck. Planned out by Kenny Jackson, this food truck, named BEANS, will be similar in cuisine to the RYCE restaurant. As the program continues to grow, it is possible that other new ideas will develop and grow.  Stay tuned.

Henry Davis

The Teaching and Learning Institute, or TLI, is the only program of its kind in the Rochester City School District and recently East had representatives from Syracuse visit because they want to start a program like TLI in their own district. The TLI program doesn't force scholars to be a teachers; it shows scholars how much the future teachers and parents are important to the economy.

The TLI program first started twenty years ago by two teachers, Laura Delehanty and Daniel Delehanty, with the intent to form the future leaders and teachers. This program teaches scholars information about the brain and how the learning environment and teacher attitudes affect students’ ability to learn.

TLI also offers a chance to experience being a teacher by having scholars do internships at different elementary schools such as 28 school and 52 school. During their senior year, scholars can get paid while at their internships. Not only do scholars get this experience, they go on college trips and have colleges come to the TLI classes. Every Friday, Mrs. Delehanty helps seniors write and complete their personal statements and college applications.

The way students can get into the program is by enrolling in the 9th grade. The program goes all the way up to the 12th grade.  Mrs. Delehanty stated, “We really work to build strong relationships with our students and hopefully they will build relationships with their classmates.” They try to build these relationships by hosting a lot of parties and games for all of the TLI students. Earlier this year Mr. and Mrs. Delehanty hosted and kickball tournament and a Halloween party for the TLI students.

The TLI program does great work preparing students for their futures, so hopefully it can inspire other schools in other districts to do the same.

D'brina Pitts

The Navy is a serious commitment, especially when your life could be in danger most of the time.  Mr. Neal, a Chemistry teacher here at East and a former Navy, explains how life was when he was in the Navy.
 
“I started my application when I was 16 but didn't get accepted until I was 18,” said Mr. Neal, who was a student at the University of Rochester when applying to join the Navy. “I had to pay the tuition for college so I joined right after the Vietnam War,” he said.  Mr. Neal started his training in college but it wasn't as tough as the real training.  He said that college was a more laidback experience but the real Navy was more overpowering and had to deal with the real world.   
 
Switching up environments and learning new skills like that is not an easy task to do in life. Nobody took the training easy and that is what made it harder for people to get accepted. “There were a lot of very competitive people,” says Neal. “We participated in physical tests like swimming with all the equipment on, obstacle courses and many others.”
 
Life seems hard in the Navy but it can help you with many things in life and that is the best part about it. The Navy can prepare you for the real world and experience things you thought you would never have to experience. “There was no access to the media back then so we had to communicate by writing letters,” said Mr. Neal.  When in the Navy you don't have time to go home every day to go see your family, you don't have time to go play with your friends. How would you feel if you were in that situation? How would you feel if you spent weeks and months without seeing your family? It might be very depressing.
 
So on a day like November 11 we thank Mr. Neal and all the veterans who fought and served for our country a very big thank you and those who are fighting for our country now thank you for your service and keep fighting.

​John Segarra

The Winter Sports season is beginning at East High and there are many sports to play and watch.  The winter sports for 2016 will be Varsity Bowling, Freshman/JV/Varsity Boys Basketball, JV/Varsity Wrestling, Varsity Cheerleading, Varsity Indoor Track, Varsity Boys Swimming, Modified Cheerleading Club, Modified Girls Basketball, and Modified Wrestling.
 
The sports tryouts will begin on November 7, 2016. Our new athletic director is Eric Robinson and for any questions you can reach him at extension 2107. Tryouts will be in the gym after school. All students please make sure you have a physical already done by your doctor of the school clinic because you will need it for your requal papers. For any requal or physical questions please see our school nurse. She will be happy to help you out. Don’t miss out on playing or supporting our winter sports!

​Mariangely Cotto

Everyone knows how chaotic this year’s election has been. Many feel that neither candidates, Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton, deserved to be the next president of the United States. In many other opinions, people felt that the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton was a better opinion to lead this country over the Republican candidate Donald Trump and vice versa. This year’s election has been a trending topic in both my U.S History and Participation in Government classes, so I hit the halls of East High to find out how our scholars and staff felt about Donald’s victory over Hillary.  
 
Ms.Villane, art teacher in our E wing of the building, offered thoughts about president-elect Trump. “I honestly have a lot of mixed feelings, but no matter who was elected it’s a time for us to come together. In the end, we are all in this together and want the same things for our country, to be a better and safe place.”
 
Honor Roll student and senior, Jason Acao, stated, “Donald Trump is a man who is very arrogant and very condescending and I believe that he will be not be a very fit president for the United States.”  Many students and staff members expressed serious concern and disappointment about Donald Trump leading our country for the next four years, but since he will be now, it’s time for everyone to put racial division aside to benefit our country and unite us as one.  

Tyjhan June