Front Office Changes
By Paris McGee
Has anyone noticed a huge change in the main office? Yes, I know what you’re thinking--the green painted floor looks much shinier and attractive compared to the old, brown carpet!
But no, not that change! Here let’s refresh your memory of last year. You walk into the main office trying to avoid class. You hear "What do you want little boy/girl?" and stop in your tracks. These are actually loving words from the amazing Ms. Anna, formerly one of two main office secretaries. Anna is now working in the Guidance Department and I had the chance to talk to her about this change.
“Change brings upon progress," Ms. Anna said when I asked how she liked her new role. "I’m happy I have a job, and if I keep walking these halls I’ll be skinny and sexy.” (Not that she already isn’t!) She then furthered the conversation stating, “I’ve got Ms. Cole. She’s a big help! She knows things about guidance that I don’t. What can I do about it, I can’t change it. It’s already been done!”
I was glad to hear Ms. Anna has positive things to say about her new job, however she does feel some sadness moving out of the office. It’s what she’s done, and what she is used to for many years.
I also had the chance to talk to Ms. Roxy, the former guidance secretary on her switch back to main office secretary.
Ms. Roxy, always known for working hard, and helping numerous students and staff with various problems feels as though working in the office is a breeze compared to Guidance. When I asked Ms. Roxy how she liked working in the main office, she replied, “I loved guidance because I found the work challenging, in a good way."
Lastly, the other Co-op main office secretary, Ms. Heather, says she simply loves her job, and the people she works with!
To Ms. Anna, Ms. Roxy, and Ms. Heather, I would like to wish you luck and great blessings on this school year and many more to come! I hope that you enjoy your new jobs, and thank you for being the greatest secretaries anyone could have! We are very lucky to have great staff like you!
Has anyone noticed a huge change in the main office? Yes, I know what you’re thinking--the green painted floor looks much shinier and attractive compared to the old, brown carpet!
But no, not that change! Here let’s refresh your memory of last year. You walk into the main office trying to avoid class. You hear "What do you want little boy/girl?" and stop in your tracks. These are actually loving words from the amazing Ms. Anna, formerly one of two main office secretaries. Anna is now working in the Guidance Department and I had the chance to talk to her about this change.
“Change brings upon progress," Ms. Anna said when I asked how she liked her new role. "I’m happy I have a job, and if I keep walking these halls I’ll be skinny and sexy.” (Not that she already isn’t!) She then furthered the conversation stating, “I’ve got Ms. Cole. She’s a big help! She knows things about guidance that I don’t. What can I do about it, I can’t change it. It’s already been done!”
I was glad to hear Ms. Anna has positive things to say about her new job, however she does feel some sadness moving out of the office. It’s what she’s done, and what she is used to for many years.
I also had the chance to talk to Ms. Roxy, the former guidance secretary on her switch back to main office secretary.
Ms. Roxy, always known for working hard, and helping numerous students and staff with various problems feels as though working in the office is a breeze compared to Guidance. When I asked Ms. Roxy how she liked working in the main office, she replied, “I loved guidance because I found the work challenging, in a good way."
Lastly, the other Co-op main office secretary, Ms. Heather, says she simply loves her job, and the people she works with!
To Ms. Anna, Ms. Roxy, and Ms. Heather, I would like to wish you luck and great blessings on this school year and many more to come! I hope that you enjoy your new jobs, and thank you for being the greatest secretaries anyone could have! We are very lucky to have great staff like you!
Front Office Changes
By Paris McGee
Has anyone noticed a huge change in the main office? Yes, I know what you’re thinking--the green painted floor looks much shinier and attractive compared to the old, brown carpet!
But no, not that change! Here let’s refresh your memory of last year. You walk into the main office trying to avoid class. You hear "What do you want little boy/girl?" and stop in your tracks. These are actually loving words from the amazing Ms. Anna, formerly one of two main office secretaries. Anna is now working in the Guidance Department and I had the chance to talk to her about this change.
“Change brings upon progress," Ms. Anna said when I asked how she liked her new role. "I’m happy I have a job, and if I keep walking these halls I’ll be skinny and sexy.” (Not that she already isn’t!) She then furthered the conversation stating, “I’ve got Ms. Cole. She’s a big help! She knows things about guidance that I don’t. What can I do about it, I can’t change it. It’s already been done!”
I was glad to hear Ms. Anna has positive things to say about her new job, however she does feel some sadness moving out of the office. It’s what she’s done, and what she is used to for many years.
I also had the chance to talk to Ms. Roxy, the former guidance secretary on her switch back to main office secretary.
Ms. Roxy, always known for working hard, and helping numerous students and staff with various problems feels as though working in the office is a breeze compared to Guidance. When I asked Ms. Roxy how she liked working in the main office, she replied, “I loved guidance because I found the work challenging, in a good way."
Lastly, the other Co-op main office secretary, Ms. Heather, says she simply loves her job, and the people she works with!
To Ms. Anna, Ms. Roxy, and Ms. Heather, I would like to wish you luck and great blessings on this school year and many more to come! I hope that you enjoy your new jobs, and thank you for being the greatest secretaries anyone could have! We are very lucky to have great staff like you!
Has anyone noticed a huge change in the main office? Yes, I know what you’re thinking--the green painted floor looks much shinier and attractive compared to the old, brown carpet!
But no, not that change! Here let’s refresh your memory of last year. You walk into the main office trying to avoid class. You hear "What do you want little boy/girl?" and stop in your tracks. These are actually loving words from the amazing Ms. Anna, formerly one of two main office secretaries. Anna is now working in the Guidance Department and I had the chance to talk to her about this change.
“Change brings upon progress," Ms. Anna said when I asked how she liked her new role. "I’m happy I have a job, and if I keep walking these halls I’ll be skinny and sexy.” (Not that she already isn’t!) She then furthered the conversation stating, “I’ve got Ms. Cole. She’s a big help! She knows things about guidance that I don’t. What can I do about it, I can’t change it. It’s already been done!”
I was glad to hear Ms. Anna has positive things to say about her new job, however she does feel some sadness moving out of the office. It’s what she’s done, and what she is used to for many years.
I also had the chance to talk to Ms. Roxy, the former guidance secretary on her switch back to main office secretary.
Ms. Roxy, always known for working hard, and helping numerous students and staff with various problems feels as though working in the office is a breeze compared to Guidance. When I asked Ms. Roxy how she liked working in the main office, she replied, “I loved guidance because I found the work challenging, in a good way."
Lastly, the other Co-op main office secretary, Ms. Heather, says she simply loves her job, and the people she works with!
To Ms. Anna, Ms. Roxy, and Ms. Heather, I would like to wish you luck and great blessings on this school year and many more to come! I hope that you enjoy your new jobs, and thank you for being the greatest secretaries anyone could have! We are very lucky to have great staff like you!
Remembering Gabby Castillo

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of our student Gabriella Marie Castillo. A junior theater student, Gabby passed away on August 21st following a long, courageous battle with osteosarcoma. Gabby was known to many for her charm, courage, and kindness. She contributed so much to the Co-op community when she was here, from her smiles in the morning to running the light board for "Broken Chains." Her positive attitude and amazing work ethic serve as an inspiration to us all.
Winfred Rembert: Living Legend at Coop
By Elantra James and Nicole Morales
On Friday April 4th, local artist Winfred Rembert came to visit Coop. When the visual arts department sat down in the lecture hall to watch a documentary about his life, Ms. Wetmore referred to him as “an awesome artist”. Mr. Rembert certainly lives up to that name. Hailing all the way from Georgia, he came to Connecticut to find work years ago, but eventually became a widely known artist.
Rembert grew up in the 1930’s during times that were hard for African American people. Even though slavery had ended, people were still being treated like slaves. Winfred’s hometown was no exception. There was obvious segregation and many difficulties for black people. Winfred’s “Momma”, as he referred to her, was a survivor of slavery times and worked in the cotton fields. Winfred told Coop students that the person he calls mother is actually his great-aunt. Winfred Rembert grew up on the plantations and didn’t go to school because he had to work. Even when he went to school he couldn’t read or write, so his teacher would tell him to go gather wood for the furnace so that they could all be warm. This eventually led to his piece called “The book that couldn’t be read”, a picture of a classroom full of children with only one person’s seat empty; that seat was Winfred’s.
He spent his time telling the visual arts department about his struggles coming up as a boy in those times and how lucky we all are to be able to go to a school like Coop.
“You guys are blessed.” He said as he looked around Mr. Cozzi’s room, asking about the art. When Rembert was 14 years old, he left home and joined the Civil Rights Movement, a movement that revolved around getting equal rights for African Americans. On his way to a protest, there was complete chaos. Black people were getting shot at and Rembert didn’t know what to do. So he ran down an alley, and as he was running he turned around and spotted “two white men with shotguns” coming after him. He looked over to his other side and saw that keys were still in the ignition of a car, so he took that car and fled. After this, he went through more discrimination and problems, which eventually led him to jail where he learned how to tool leather. During his time in jail, the person he borrowed tools from saw that he was advancing his leather work and took his tools away. Winfred didn’t let this get him down; He made his own tools.
“You can’t stop me.” He told us. “That’s my motto that I live by, and I suggest you guys do too.”
Most of Winfred’s work is about moments in his past that he wants to use to reach out to black people. He urges the students to stop using the N word so casually when talking to people.
“What’s good my N”, “How you doing N?” He said, giving examples of the casual tone teenagers use when using that word. “I’m gonna ask you right now, stop using that word. Can you do that for me?” The students all responded “yes”. Rembert’s story of how he grew up during times when black people didn’t have many rights taught Coop students a valuable history lesson. This entire school should take on the challenge that Winfred presented us and stop using the N word. “Why would you want to use a word that degrades you down to nothing? When there are people who died, in their grave so that you won’t be called that.” He told us. The room was silent as we all listened to what he was trying to say to us.
In the video about his life that was shown at Coop, viewers see a room in Rembert's house that is full of toys and stuff that’s made for little kids.
“I’m living my kid life right now as an old man because I didn’t have this stuff growing up. I still really like toys now because I never had toys.”
Before Rembert left, he signed autographs on a little poster of his work. Ms. Wetmore invited him back to do an actual demonstration, because there was not enough time during the workshop. Ms. Lee presented Rembert and his wife, who came in during the workshop, with Coop’s literary magazine, Metamorphosis, and Coop T-shirts.
"You guys are the first inner city school that invited me.” He told the class. Whenever Mr. Rembert decides to come back to Coop, he will be welcomed with open arms by students and teachers. The lesson he taught to the junior and senior visual artists will be forever engraved in their minds as their history, the history of America.
On Friday April 4th, local artist Winfred Rembert came to visit Coop. When the visual arts department sat down in the lecture hall to watch a documentary about his life, Ms. Wetmore referred to him as “an awesome artist”. Mr. Rembert certainly lives up to that name. Hailing all the way from Georgia, he came to Connecticut to find work years ago, but eventually became a widely known artist.
Rembert grew up in the 1930’s during times that were hard for African American people. Even though slavery had ended, people were still being treated like slaves. Winfred’s hometown was no exception. There was obvious segregation and many difficulties for black people. Winfred’s “Momma”, as he referred to her, was a survivor of slavery times and worked in the cotton fields. Winfred told Coop students that the person he calls mother is actually his great-aunt. Winfred Rembert grew up on the plantations and didn’t go to school because he had to work. Even when he went to school he couldn’t read or write, so his teacher would tell him to go gather wood for the furnace so that they could all be warm. This eventually led to his piece called “The book that couldn’t be read”, a picture of a classroom full of children with only one person’s seat empty; that seat was Winfred’s.
He spent his time telling the visual arts department about his struggles coming up as a boy in those times and how lucky we all are to be able to go to a school like Coop.
“You guys are blessed.” He said as he looked around Mr. Cozzi’s room, asking about the art. When Rembert was 14 years old, he left home and joined the Civil Rights Movement, a movement that revolved around getting equal rights for African Americans. On his way to a protest, there was complete chaos. Black people were getting shot at and Rembert didn’t know what to do. So he ran down an alley, and as he was running he turned around and spotted “two white men with shotguns” coming after him. He looked over to his other side and saw that keys were still in the ignition of a car, so he took that car and fled. After this, he went through more discrimination and problems, which eventually led him to jail where he learned how to tool leather. During his time in jail, the person he borrowed tools from saw that he was advancing his leather work and took his tools away. Winfred didn’t let this get him down; He made his own tools.
“You can’t stop me.” He told us. “That’s my motto that I live by, and I suggest you guys do too.”
Most of Winfred’s work is about moments in his past that he wants to use to reach out to black people. He urges the students to stop using the N word so casually when talking to people.
“What’s good my N”, “How you doing N?” He said, giving examples of the casual tone teenagers use when using that word. “I’m gonna ask you right now, stop using that word. Can you do that for me?” The students all responded “yes”. Rembert’s story of how he grew up during times when black people didn’t have many rights taught Coop students a valuable history lesson. This entire school should take on the challenge that Winfred presented us and stop using the N word. “Why would you want to use a word that degrades you down to nothing? When there are people who died, in their grave so that you won’t be called that.” He told us. The room was silent as we all listened to what he was trying to say to us.
In the video about his life that was shown at Coop, viewers see a room in Rembert's house that is full of toys and stuff that’s made for little kids.
“I’m living my kid life right now as an old man because I didn’t have this stuff growing up. I still really like toys now because I never had toys.”
Before Rembert left, he signed autographs on a little poster of his work. Ms. Wetmore invited him back to do an actual demonstration, because there was not enough time during the workshop. Ms. Lee presented Rembert and his wife, who came in during the workshop, with Coop’s literary magazine, Metamorphosis, and Coop T-shirts.
"You guys are the first inner city school that invited me.” He told the class. Whenever Mr. Rembert decides to come back to Coop, he will be welcomed with open arms by students and teachers. The lesson he taught to the junior and senior visual artists will be forever engraved in their minds as their history, the history of America.
Getting Through AP Crunch Time at Co-op
By Taisha Lopez
Every year, after a hot fun summer, we receive our orientation dates and information. We see new faces, classes, and of course schedules. We all talk about how hard our new classes will be, but have you stopped and thought about how many of our peers are taking AP Classes? From AP Language and Literature to AP Chemistry and Math courses. There are more students taking AP classes than ever before, which is great for our school's reputation, as students show responsibility and ambition. During these past few months, AP has been the talk of the school.
But what about the negative parts of AP? I spoke with some students about how hard it is to prepare for their AP tests around the same time and close to the end of the year--they call it “Crunch Time.”
Zanira Abubakar, a Junior AP Language and Literature student, says “I have been so overwhelmed and stressed and I have had little meltdowns and it’s just the nervousness on how will I do. What scores will I receive?” She says she's felt tense and more angry about little things that wouldn't normally bother her, such as a couple of pimples. She also told me a little about her techniques for studying. She bought AP books, took good notes and studies them, and she reviews what she has done wrong on practice tests, which she hopes will help her make better choices on the real ones.
Aidiris Caban, another junior Creative Writer, said she’s been studying using a set of reviewing techniques, and says she will hopefully pass the test.
With school ending in a few weeks, crunch time only becomes shorter, especially for those with the Advanced Placement classes tests. It all pays off for the AP students in the end. Don't forget that summer comes right after all the hard work you do. Hope you all do great on your tests.
Every year, after a hot fun summer, we receive our orientation dates and information. We see new faces, classes, and of course schedules. We all talk about how hard our new classes will be, but have you stopped and thought about how many of our peers are taking AP Classes? From AP Language and Literature to AP Chemistry and Math courses. There are more students taking AP classes than ever before, which is great for our school's reputation, as students show responsibility and ambition. During these past few months, AP has been the talk of the school.
But what about the negative parts of AP? I spoke with some students about how hard it is to prepare for their AP tests around the same time and close to the end of the year--they call it “Crunch Time.”
Zanira Abubakar, a Junior AP Language and Literature student, says “I have been so overwhelmed and stressed and I have had little meltdowns and it’s just the nervousness on how will I do. What scores will I receive?” She says she's felt tense and more angry about little things that wouldn't normally bother her, such as a couple of pimples. She also told me a little about her techniques for studying. She bought AP books, took good notes and studies them, and she reviews what she has done wrong on practice tests, which she hopes will help her make better choices on the real ones.
Aidiris Caban, another junior Creative Writer, said she’s been studying using a set of reviewing techniques, and says she will hopefully pass the test.
With school ending in a few weeks, crunch time only becomes shorter, especially for those with the Advanced Placement classes tests. It all pays off for the AP students in the end. Don't forget that summer comes right after all the hard work you do. Hope you all do great on your tests.
CAS Food Matters Program Meets Pizza Truck. Yum!
Photos by Elantra James Sellers
Ade Ben-Salahuddin chosen to participate in 2012 All-State Music Festival
By Ms. Stevens
Co-op sophomore Adé Ben-Salahuddin participated in the 2012 All-State Music Festival on April 12th & 13th. Adé auditioned for the All-State Jazz Band in February after successfully auditioning for the Southern Region Jazz Band earlier this year. The Connecticut Music Educators Association sponsors the festival. Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School sophomore Adé Ben-Salahuddin was selected to play trumpet in the Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Steve Davis (above left) of the Hartt School of Music Jazz Department. Steve Davis is widely regarded as one of today's leading improvisors on the trombone. Hislyrical, hardswinging style first gained him broad recognition during the 1990's while working with the bands of jazz legends Art Blakey, Jackie McLean, Chick Corea's acclaimed sextet Origin and the cooperative sextet, One For All. The 2012 All-State Jazz Band is comprised of the top 16 jazz musicians from throughout the state. |
|
Blood DriveBy Samantha Ortiz (1/8/12)
Thirty five students and faculty stepped up recently to give blood to the American Red Cross. The blood drive was held in the school gym on Monday, December 12th, with 15 volunteers in charge. Students said that they signed up because they saw it as a way to help other people. In all, 42 people came to the gym to give blood, but seven could not for various reasons. Some people's blood lacked iron, some people were underweight, and others had gotten a tattoo within a year. For information on how you can donate, contact the American Red Cross at 877-287-3327. No Soap Dispensers? Whose Fault Is It?By Marlee Chorney (4/4/12)
Girls have things that we need to take care of in the bathroom and if there is no soap, germs get on everything we touch: handles, doors, tables, chairs. Then other people touch those things and now have those germs all over their hands. I chose to interview Brianna Walker, a freshman in the Visual Arts department, about this topic because, like me, she is a germophobe...See the full interview in the School News Section... Are you a germophobe? Totally. I mean when it comes to the bathroom at school, you need to wash your hands after you do your “stuff.” When girls don’t wash their hands, it’s really nasty. You don’t know who just touched that door. Girls in particular NEED to wash our hands for feminine hygiene reasons. How do you think we can resolve this problem of no soap in the bathrooms? Well, first, they need to put the soap dispenser back in. Then, limit the number of people that can be in the bathroom. At my old school, Wintergreen, they used to have a sign in/sign out sheet on the bathroom door. Everyone hated it, but it helped resolve any problems we would have in the bathroom. Girls are vandalizing the bathrooms—taking the dispenser off the walls, dumping out the soap and filling dispensers with water. What do you think should be done about it? Well, my personal motto is if you see something, say something, because someone can do something and blame you for it and then you would be like ‘Hey that wasn’t me’ but you didn’t say anything, so you’re also accountable for it. Why do you think the girls are doing this? They have nothing else better to do, and they are not taught good manners at home. They just want to skip class and say ‘It’s a free world! I can do whatever I want!’ including ripping down the bathroom soap dispenser. They need to think about the other girls who need to use the bathroom and want to wash their hands. Do you think you can do anything about it? No, I feel like if I was to talk to a higher authority, it wouldn’t go anywhere. The janitor said he bought soap with his own money, but about 3 days later, the bottle was filled with water. By the next day, it was gone completely. I can see why the janitor would not put any more soap in there because it is entirely the girls’ fault. Girls need to have a voice and say to other girls, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t be doing that. It isn’t smart.’ |
Science Teachers Get Serious About TardinessBy Taylor Mansfield (3/29/12)
A new rule created by the Science Department has created chatter among students all around the school. The new policy immediately mandates that if students arrive late to science class three times, a detention during lunch will be given. Students will be required to gather their lunches and report to an assigned detention room. The new policy also informs students that no make up work will be done during the detention, and no extra help given for classwork or projects. The time for the detention is strictly dedicated to students being silent and awake; a written referral will be handed in if a student does not show. It is true that many students are late to class because they’re too busy talking to their friends. But that is not the case for everyone. While the main goal for the rule is to control the large amount of students late to their classes, there are certain situations that will make this rule work. Students know how the hallways work; not everything falls into perfect place. Due to the recent number of Freshmen that have been added this year, the school reached its maximum capacity. The larger number of students results in overcrowded hallways, making it harder to arrive to class on time. In addition, many times a bus will arrive two minutes before the bell for first period rings, which often affects a student’s timely arrival to class. The bus isn’t technically late, which doesn’t cause an announcement to be made, but affected students have to climb to the fourth floor in a matter of two minutes. The policy, while having the right intention, takes the wrong approach. Students that sit in a room for fifteen minutes in silence don't necessarily learn a lesson about why they should not arrive to class on time. The policy is a slap on the wrist, and won't completely solve the situation. There is a more effective way to address the late situation. For example, members of the administrative team have been inspecting the hallways once the bell rings, personally walking kids to their classrooms so they won’t arrive late. While this method may seem silly, it does help students to show up on time for daily objectives, which ultimately keeps the teachers happy. Are You a Leader? Yes, YouBy Taylor Mansfield
After Mr. Costanzo encouraged our Coop Publishing House class to discuss the trash issue at ourschool, we discovered that many students were vocal about their opinion. In our recent www.coopvoices.com poll, we asked Co-op students and staff if they felt like they were leaders. Out of 127 votes, more than half said they feel that they're leaders, whether that be academically or in the community. However, there are many students that keep quiet about their opinions. A big part of being a leader involves standing up for something you believe in, something you have faith in. Many teenagers are passive--they believe that things are going to be handed to them, rather than believing they need to work for their own success in academics or relationships. Newsflash: Life does not work that way. The most important part about being a leader is believing in yourself and your goals. I’m not a psychiatrist and I’m certainly not a preacher, but I know that success and leadership aren't just given to you. So, I'm speaking to the silent majority: being afraid to express your opinions is not an option. Be loud. Be vocal. Be determined to be a leader. School is one of the most important places in life, despite the belief by the majority of teenagers that it is a giant waste of time. School is the path that leads us on the road to success in college and career. We spend seven and a half hours in school five days a week, which is time that should not be wasted just dreaming of being a leader. We should all use our time in school to practice leading in various ways. We should practice trusting our opinions, even though they differ from others. And we should encourage ourselves and each other to take risks, make mistakes, and to risk again. We get better at what we practice--and being a leader is no exception. After all, the most precious commodity is time--and we've got lots of that. |
Music Students Write Scores for Mascola Group Infomercial
|
By Mr. Neumann
Three Co-op music composition students, Montel Gray, Jeremiah Cherry, and Ashlyn Robinson, created a 4-minute music score for a real-life infomercial (a long-form video ad). The focus of the infomercial is to sell up-scale apartments aboard a high-class ocean liner. A local advertising agency, The Mascola Group, was disappointed in the quality of music that they had originally used for this informercial and asked Co-op’s composition students to try to improve on the original score. Our students' music will be used in the final version of the infomercial. Some quotes from The Mascola Group: We're “absolutely blown away. What an amazing job!” They “can’t wait to share these [compositions] with our client." “You have quite an amazing group of students.” Each student took a unique and very effective approach in scoring this project. Take a look for yourself by clicking left and below. |
|
|
|
By Mrs. Antonucci
Seven New Haven Public Schools students participated in the 2012 Southern Region High School Music Festival on January 13th & 14th. Students were selected for the various ensembles by audition last November and selected students may now elect to audition for the All-State Festival, which takes place in April. The Connecticut Music Educators Association sponsors the festival. Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School sophomore Adé Ben-Salahuddin was selected to play trumpet in the Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Jack Thompson. Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School senior Kristina Otfinoski and senior Mary Inge were selected to play in the Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Angel Gil-Ordóñez. Four students represented New Haven Public Schools in the Concert Band under the direction of Yale professor, Dr. Thomas C. Duffy. Hillhouse sophomore Annalise Besant and Cooperative Arts and Humanities sophomores Jesus Cortes, Daniel Mahroos, and Jocelyn Hernández performed with top students from over 40 schools in southern Connecticut. |
Music Students at Southern Region High School Music Festival
CHECK OUT CORONATION 2011Photos by Amanda Aponte. Coronation winners: Ms. Coop--Trenee McGee; Mr. Coop--Taylor Grate. Ms. Senior--Asia Patten; Mr. Senior--Anthony Moore. Ms. Sophomore--Clorissa Rivera; Mr. Sophomore--Ervin Simmons. Ms. Freshman--Marisa Best; Mr. Freshman--Alex Devarez
|
Scenes from "Broken Chains"Celebrity LookalikesQOTW Archives“Art is the tenderness of the soul that transcends the physicality to touch you in the private parts of your subconscious” (From Metamorphosis 2010, by former CW’s Amber C, Derick P, Troy S, & Anna W.)
|
Day in the Life: A Reporter Shadows Mr. C.
By Jess DiLieto (1/8/12)
The mood of the morning was warm and friendly with Christmas decorations brightening up the main office on the day I shadowed Mr. Costanzo before the break. It was 7:40--five minutes before my appointment. As I waited to be called in, people from all over the building stopped in and out to gather information from Ms. Anna and Ms. Heather. Promptly at 7:45, I was called in by Mr. Costanzo. Ms. Daniels and Mr. Cunningham sat in front of Mr. Costanzo’s desk, ready for their daily morning meeting. The administrators have this meeting every morning at 7:45 am with no interruptions. The meeting has no end time; it takes as long as the discussions need. The day I shadowed, the conversation revolved around the new Co-op web site we are putting up for incoming students and concerned parents so they can see the benefits of our school. The site was referred to as “Behind the scenes, Co-op at a glance.” Mr. Cunningham was assigned to research the history of Co-op through the years. Mr. Blocker and his class were put in charge of shooting a commercial to promote the site. The video will feature Mr. Costanzo and some students.
There were a number of other issues discussed at the meeting. For example, a math teacher was worried about how many math classes there are per year. Mr. Costanzo said that “Freshmen are already doubling in math and that leads to more AP classes.” And the question was asked: “What do students really gain when they are TAs (teacher assistants)?” Then there was a conversation about having Henry Green do a play about gun violence.
The discussion turned to school spirit and how it can be improved. Someone brought up the idea that having a theme that can better the school can help. Someone raised the idea of giving future juniors an internship at a college. “Just to give them a taste of college! A culture shock to keep their brain going!” Ms. Daniels smiled as she lent her support to the idea.
As the conversion continued, they talked more about having the seniors mentor the younger students. “There was a Freshman that told me that Tre’nee’ McGee is her role model,” Ms. Daniels told the others.
Mr.Costanzo’s eyes lit up as a gentle smile grew on his face. “That’s just beautiful, that’s what we really strive for.”
The finally decision was to soon gather a group of strong-minded students that want to spread school spirit in the Co-op community and to fire up the lower class-men of our school! Another idea to gain school spirit was to create a wall filled with acceptance letters from colleges. Another school spirit idea involved the leader of the Amistad student council co-hosting a dance for both Co-op students and Amistad students. The purpose of this dance would be to build school spirit and to have more kids get to know each other, even in different schools.
After the meeting, Mr. Migliaro walked in with a student. I left so Mr. Costanzo could have a private meeting.
Five minutes later, Mr.Costanzo stepped out of his office. “Let’s take a walk around the school.” As we walked, he explained that every day he takes time out from desk work and takes a walk around the school to observe random classrooms to check in for about 10 minutes to see how things are going. He later gives the teachers of the classrooms suggestions. He also cleans up the hallways a bit if there is litter about.
As we walked through the halls of Co-op, Mr. Costanzo explained how he wants the Co-op Publishing House to write FAQ questions for the new Co-op site. The questions would be typical things a new Co-op student would ask.
As we walked the halls, students greeted Mr. Costanzo with a smile and a “Good Morning.” Mr. Costanzo responded by saying, “You know, when students pass by and say good morning--that means a lot!” And he also explained that every day at the end of school he makes sure he’s out there with the students by the buses. He said, “I want kids to leave happy as happy as they came into school.”
The mood of the morning was warm and friendly with Christmas decorations brightening up the main office on the day I shadowed Mr. Costanzo before the break. It was 7:40--five minutes before my appointment. As I waited to be called in, people from all over the building stopped in and out to gather information from Ms. Anna and Ms. Heather. Promptly at 7:45, I was called in by Mr. Costanzo. Ms. Daniels and Mr. Cunningham sat in front of Mr. Costanzo’s desk, ready for their daily morning meeting. The administrators have this meeting every morning at 7:45 am with no interruptions. The meeting has no end time; it takes as long as the discussions need. The day I shadowed, the conversation revolved around the new Co-op web site we are putting up for incoming students and concerned parents so they can see the benefits of our school. The site was referred to as “Behind the scenes, Co-op at a glance.” Mr. Cunningham was assigned to research the history of Co-op through the years. Mr. Blocker and his class were put in charge of shooting a commercial to promote the site. The video will feature Mr. Costanzo and some students.
There were a number of other issues discussed at the meeting. For example, a math teacher was worried about how many math classes there are per year. Mr. Costanzo said that “Freshmen are already doubling in math and that leads to more AP classes.” And the question was asked: “What do students really gain when they are TAs (teacher assistants)?” Then there was a conversation about having Henry Green do a play about gun violence.
The discussion turned to school spirit and how it can be improved. Someone brought up the idea that having a theme that can better the school can help. Someone raised the idea of giving future juniors an internship at a college. “Just to give them a taste of college! A culture shock to keep their brain going!” Ms. Daniels smiled as she lent her support to the idea.
As the conversion continued, they talked more about having the seniors mentor the younger students. “There was a Freshman that told me that Tre’nee’ McGee is her role model,” Ms. Daniels told the others.
Mr.Costanzo’s eyes lit up as a gentle smile grew on his face. “That’s just beautiful, that’s what we really strive for.”
The finally decision was to soon gather a group of strong-minded students that want to spread school spirit in the Co-op community and to fire up the lower class-men of our school! Another idea to gain school spirit was to create a wall filled with acceptance letters from colleges. Another school spirit idea involved the leader of the Amistad student council co-hosting a dance for both Co-op students and Amistad students. The purpose of this dance would be to build school spirit and to have more kids get to know each other, even in different schools.
After the meeting, Mr. Migliaro walked in with a student. I left so Mr. Costanzo could have a private meeting.
Five minutes later, Mr.Costanzo stepped out of his office. “Let’s take a walk around the school.” As we walked, he explained that every day he takes time out from desk work and takes a walk around the school to observe random classrooms to check in for about 10 minutes to see how things are going. He later gives the teachers of the classrooms suggestions. He also cleans up the hallways a bit if there is litter about.
As we walked through the halls of Co-op, Mr. Costanzo explained how he wants the Co-op Publishing House to write FAQ questions for the new Co-op site. The questions would be typical things a new Co-op student would ask.
As we walked the halls, students greeted Mr. Costanzo with a smile and a “Good Morning.” Mr. Costanzo responded by saying, “You know, when students pass by and say good morning--that means a lot!” And he also explained that every day at the end of school he makes sure he’s out there with the students by the buses. He said, “I want kids to leave happy as happy as they came into school.”
Moving From Little to LeaderBy Taylor "JT" Mansfield (12/20/11)
When I wrote my recent article on trash, I didn't expect an overnight change, but it's gratifying to see Co-op one step closer to being completely trash-free. Staff and students have reported that the amount of trash in the hallways has decreased. And this website has received a bunch of helpful feedback, which shows us that the Trash Movement is in full effect. The way students treat the school is only one indicator of how we respect the educational environment. Respect also shows up in the way we treat each other. Mr. Costanzo feels that while the trash issue is important, the bigger picture is also to have students conduct themselves, and feel empowered, as leaders in the school. Leadership is not only spearheaded by administrators, but all stakeholders in the school are encouraged to lead, from students to security guards. In a democratic culture, everyone should find ways to make a positive change, no matter how big or little the change may be. “The best leaders awaken the leader within each member of the organization,” said Mr. Costanzo after being asked about the importance of leadership within the school. “Co-op has the potential to become one of the best public high schools in the country,” said Mr. Costanzo. If you agree, do your part. To Clean or Not To Clean![]() By Taylor Mansfield (12/1/11)
With used juice boxes and leftover snacks scattered around the school, Cooperative Arts has turned into an educational dumpster. Or at least, that’s what it seems like. For as long as I’ve been a student here, I've seen garbage in the hallways and classrooms around the building. Despite cleaning efforts by janitors, the problem still persists. When students come to school every day, they expect it to be clean. It is important to keep the school a safe and enjoyable place to spend 7 hours a day. The problems with garbage start with the students. How hard is it to throw away a piece of trash? The issue affects all students from all different grades. "I think that the janitors need to keep up on their job and the students need to have their space clean. If you wouldn't want your home this way, don't have your school this way,” says Samantha Ortiz, current junior at Co-op. Next time you’re wandering in the hallway, have a look around. Take the time to thoroughly investigate any pieces of garbage and you'll see what I'm talking about. Perhaps with a little effort, this problem will decrease in months to come. Trash cans will possibly become relevant again. A clean school is definitely a happier school. CAS 2011-12By Ervin Simmons (11/1/11)
The Coop After School Program has been a complete success, with many new and old participants. The CAS offerings have been so interesting and inviting this year that many students participate in more than one program/club. In fact, one student is participating in four programs and one club. Last year was the first year of Co-op After School (CAS); this year it’s continuing once again and going strong. According to Ms. Holsenbeck, the after-school program coordinator, Co-op received the largest grant from the state of Connecticut in comparison to what other schools received for their after school programs, as well as additional grants including one from Yale University. The program is constantly evolving and adding new programs. Next semester, students can expect to have a cooking program added, which will be held in the Co-op Cafeteria and run by local chefs from the city of New Haven. Attendance has also been positive so far. This was a big factor in helping CAS secure such a large grant from the state, and due to proper budgeting, CAS is able to provide an end-of-the-year trip for students who attend a minimum of 90% of their classes. With such an incentive, attendance is likely to stay quite high, which will in turn, help Coop secure more grants next year. Yoga is one of the most popular new programs added this year. The class was originally scheduled to meet once a week, but due to an overload of interested applicants, the program had to be split into two separate classes which now meet two days a week. CAS also received many late program suggestions, such as the Basketball club, headed by Co-op’s English Lead Teacher, Mr. Bernor. In previous years, Coop’s basketball team had tournaments and games with other magnet schools such as Common Ground, so this year students will once again have the opportunity to show their school spirit through sports. Students can expect many other changes and new additions. CAS is on its way to becoming one of the most successful after school programs in the state of Connecticut. Bathroom Saga Continues![]() By Jessica Hughes
By Felicity Madore (11/1/11)
How many of you guys are frustrated with the bathrooms at Co-op? The toilet paper that gets stuck? The empty soap and paper towel dispensers? I know I am. As of October 20th, all the bathrooms except the ones on the fourth and the first floor have been closed. Also, the girl’s bathroom on the third floor has been closed for a good week or two now. I interviewed Warren, the lead janitor, to get the scoop. When I asked him what was going on he told me this, “The boy’s bathroom will be closed until further notice because of graffiti on the walls of the bathroom stalls. We’ve put cameras up outside of the bathrooms so we can see who goes in and out. Also the girls' bathrooms are closed because the girls have been stuffing the toilet paper inside of the holder and stuffing up the toilets. The third floor girls' bathroom will be open as of October 21st.” But that didn’t seem to be the case. I was told by several students that the bathroom wasn’t open until Monday October 24th. Similar events actually happen in other schools. At Jonathan Law High School in Milford, all the bathrooms were closed during fifth period to stop people from smoking and bullying in the bathrooms. An editorial from “The Advocate”, their school newspaper, goes on to argue how this would only increase the smoking and bullying. I looked on the New Haven website and saw that New Haven has the number one wellness policy in the state. According to the policy, all classrooms are supposed to receive hygiene items and binders with information about hygiene. There are also supposed to be hand washing posters in the bathrooms, though there are not. The Freshmen Are Here!![]() Photo by Jessica Hughes. Freshmen at lunch.
By Taylor Mansfield (11/1/11)
In clustered hallways consisting of eager minds and pencil-pushing students, a newly-welcomed Freshmen class has recently been added to Co-op. According to records from our school, the Freshman class currently has 168 students, making our school the third largest high school in New Haven. Now that’s "school change!" Students Makes Dream ConcreteBy Jessica Hughes (11/1/11)
When Cooperative Arts senior Diamond Antunes was approached by Lynne Lions last year during her theatre class about writing plays about homeless youth, she could never have imagined it’d take her this far. She is now starring in her own play--incorporating song, rap, and dance into a very realistic situation many teens have been affected by. In fact, during research she found out that New Haven is number one for homeless teens. She says this whole experience has been very “humbling”--to have a home of her own and not to be faced with this growing problem. A portion of the proceeds will go to support homeless teens. Congratulations to Diamond on this amazing achievement. Not many seniors in high school seniors can say their play was turned into a big production. CoronationBy Felicity Madore (11/16/11)
Coronation: one of the most talked about events at Co-Op this month. But how many of us actually went? $25 for a single person, $35 to run for court (king, queen, prince, princess), and $40 for a couple. Nobody wanted to pay that much for tickets. I talked to Ms. Daniels to find out why. As for who decided on the price, Ms. Daniels said, “The senior representatives made up the price by looking at past prices, along with all the different expenses.” I’m sure that we can understand that things are expensive, but $25 is still a lot of money for people who get money from their parents, like the entire freshmen class. Ms. Daniels also said, “The money pays for prom, the seniors caps and gowns, graduation fees, and food and drinks for all the dances.” Coronation isn’t the only fundraiser that the seniors are going to have though, so why not make the tickets cost less? The reason that it can’t be free is, “Security isn’t free, and neither is food, so we need a way to pay for it.” I’m still sure tickets could have been cheaper. Coronation is basically our Homecoming dance, without the sports. Though not all agree, this is what I have observed. Students need money for all kinds things, such as lunches, prom, birthdays, and class dues. We should be able to go to Coronation without emptying our pockets. The Freshmen Are Here!By Taylor Mansfield (11/1/11)
In clustered hallways consisting of eager minds and pencil-pushing students, a newly-welcomed Freshmen class has recently been added to Co-op. According to records from our school, the Freshman class currently has 168 students, making our school the third largest high school in New Haven. Now that’s "school change!" Ruth Chaffee, co-coordinator of the school’s Freshman Advisory, along with Jeremy Landa, is pleased with some of the goals that the advisory has set for the school year. “A lot of schools are adopting an advisory program to not only personalize the education experience, but for kids to get to know each other better,” Ms. Chaffee said. Starting as a branch off of the School Governance Committee, the Freshman Advisory is hoping to become a successful part of the school. With 16 sessions (taking place twice a month), the advisory staff is ready to support the new students. With the brand new string of ninth graders, many sacrifices had to be made to make the situation work. When approached about the subject, Creative Writing’s Mr. Grady discussed the issue of students complaining about the noise levels and large crowds during lunch. This forced administration to schedule certain arts to have lunch at a different time than originally planned. When asked if the sacrifices brought a positive or negative change to our school, Ms. Chaffee replied with, “Every class is a positive. Every class brings a new diversity.” |
Prom ConfusionBy Cantrell Cheeks (12/1/11)
I’m asking all my seniors to please pay all of your dues. Remember, it’s not like you're just giving money away to the school; you're giving money away to help YOU out. The money benefits you. Senior year is full of fun and surprises, but it is also very stressful with all of the college preparation that we have to do. One of the things that every senior looks forward to is prom. Prom is supposed to be filled with memories that we will never forget--from friends you thought could dance but actually can’t, to the teacher you’re surprised is suddenly trying to be nice to you. Everyone wants the perfect prom--the perfect place, the perfect food, the perfect date, and the perfect clothes. Well, with the senior class’s current money woes, it looks like there will definitely not be a perfect prom set at the perfect place. I mean I don’t want to ask for too much, but I don’t want my prom to be in the gym! Just imagine everyone coming together outside of Co-op Lane to take pictures. All I can do is shake my head. That’s not a good look. So I’m asking my fellow seniors to please come together and pay your dues so we can have the prom we all want. My Experience in CASBy Jeshanah Berkeley (12/20/11)
For the last several weeks I been walking around exploring the many afterschool programs on Wednesdays. One of the first programs I visited was the Broken Chains cast. The musical is phenomenal. Co-op students from various arts are participating. They have been working extremely hard on this show and I can’t wait until the premiere. Another program I visited was Steel Band. The sounds from the pans are parallel to the Caribbean sounds. I wish them good luck with their performances. The other programs are also doing well. My experience after school has been great and I hope to take part in the spring. Environmental Studies Class Trip![]() Photo by Amanda Aponte
By Jess DiLieto (11/1/11) Ms. Arnini’s environmental science class went to Whitney Water Center Mill waterfall for a field trip. The goal of the day was to find insects in the river, pluck them out of the water, and travel back to school with them. As one group pulled on waist-high boots and grabbed nets, the other stayed aside and gathered water samples. Our group tested the oxygen level of the water. Don’t worry; our water is rather clean. I wouldn’t guarantee that it's safe to drink, but it is cleaner than most other towns' water! Read more in the Science/Environment Section... Zone 203 Archives |
Creative Writers Bind Their Book at Publication Studio
By Nicole Morales (1/18/12)
Publication Studio, “as an experiment in sustainable publication” came to New Haven for one week during November. Creative Writers from Co-op got a chance to collaborate with this group from Portland, Oregon at the Coop Center for Creativity. Publication Studio New haven was co-sponsored by the Beinecke Rarebook and Manuscript Library at Yale and ArtSpace New Haven. Publication Stuido offers demonstrations to the public on the art and process of printing-on-demand; they present lectures, and host a book rebinding party at the end of the week. Publication Studio is best known for quickly creating original books with writers and artists for the public.
Members of Publication Studio, including Mathew Stradler and Patricia No, worked with students from Yale as well as Creative Writers from Co-op to produce two limited edition books. One was ours! It's a book called “It Is What It Is”--a collection of pieces written by senior Creative Writers. Juniors and seniors from Poetry and Coop Publishing House made a visit across the street to Publication Studio and actually helped bind the book that we can proudly say came from creative writers at our school. In fact, a copy of the book will be housed at the Beinecke Library.
One of the creative writers reflected on the experience to Publication Studio and the impact it made on her: “Matthew Stadler, one of the founders, is a writer who used to use the publishing process most authors are used too. However, he soon grew to dislike it because he never got the connection with the people who were buying his books. He wanted the people who bought his books to absolutely love them; instead of being coerced into buying them. I found [the binding] process quite simple, but intricate. It takes someone with great patience to sit there for hours making the covers for a book. The way the experience affected me as a writer was that it helped me develop more ways to publish my work. Matthew Stadler brought up ideas to throw events to promote our books, and to not think so much about pleasing others. I think that was a brilliant idea, because that would mean the people who bought our book would be sincerely interested in it.”
Creative Writer Nikita Chebro explains, “It seems that the process it takes to make the book is really quick and can be learned relatively easily. I’ve actually always wondered how books were shaped together, especially the spine. They have a simple approach, but it doesn’t answer how books have complex covers with pictures and summaries on the back. It also makes me wonder...how hardcover books are made.”
Publication Studio is doing meaningful work. They personally bind books people want. They don’t go through the trouble of publishing hundreds of books at once; they publish a book at time for those who ask for that particular book. The person requesting the book pays for it, rewarding the producer for the labor done to bind the book. What interests me is that they don’t advertise books; they only sell the books people want. They want people to love the books they sell. That is why their work is purposeful. Publication Studio is personal. They connect with people who care about the books they are making. They create a "social life" for the book this way, because the book is appreciated and talked about, and it brings people together. It's not just bought and left on the shelf. Publication Studio is promoting a different way of publishing and selling books--an effective, personal way that both authors and readers can appreciate.
Publication Studio, “as an experiment in sustainable publication” came to New Haven for one week during November. Creative Writers from Co-op got a chance to collaborate with this group from Portland, Oregon at the Coop Center for Creativity. Publication Studio New haven was co-sponsored by the Beinecke Rarebook and Manuscript Library at Yale and ArtSpace New Haven. Publication Stuido offers demonstrations to the public on the art and process of printing-on-demand; they present lectures, and host a book rebinding party at the end of the week. Publication Studio is best known for quickly creating original books with writers and artists for the public.
Members of Publication Studio, including Mathew Stradler and Patricia No, worked with students from Yale as well as Creative Writers from Co-op to produce two limited edition books. One was ours! It's a book called “It Is What It Is”--a collection of pieces written by senior Creative Writers. Juniors and seniors from Poetry and Coop Publishing House made a visit across the street to Publication Studio and actually helped bind the book that we can proudly say came from creative writers at our school. In fact, a copy of the book will be housed at the Beinecke Library.
One of the creative writers reflected on the experience to Publication Studio and the impact it made on her: “Matthew Stadler, one of the founders, is a writer who used to use the publishing process most authors are used too. However, he soon grew to dislike it because he never got the connection with the people who were buying his books. He wanted the people who bought his books to absolutely love them; instead of being coerced into buying them. I found [the binding] process quite simple, but intricate. It takes someone with great patience to sit there for hours making the covers for a book. The way the experience affected me as a writer was that it helped me develop more ways to publish my work. Matthew Stadler brought up ideas to throw events to promote our books, and to not think so much about pleasing others. I think that was a brilliant idea, because that would mean the people who bought our book would be sincerely interested in it.”
Creative Writer Nikita Chebro explains, “It seems that the process it takes to make the book is really quick and can be learned relatively easily. I’ve actually always wondered how books were shaped together, especially the spine. They have a simple approach, but it doesn’t answer how books have complex covers with pictures and summaries on the back. It also makes me wonder...how hardcover books are made.”
Publication Studio is doing meaningful work. They personally bind books people want. They don’t go through the trouble of publishing hundreds of books at once; they publish a book at time for those who ask for that particular book. The person requesting the book pays for it, rewarding the producer for the labor done to bind the book. What interests me is that they don’t advertise books; they only sell the books people want. They want people to love the books they sell. That is why their work is purposeful. Publication Studio is personal. They connect with people who care about the books they are making. They create a "social life" for the book this way, because the book is appreciated and talked about, and it brings people together. It's not just bought and left on the shelf. Publication Studio is promoting a different way of publishing and selling books--an effective, personal way that both authors and readers can appreciate.