The Winning Performance:

At Metro's back to school dance on November 4^th  there was a variety of performances, being “Jump Around” by the Seniors, “It's Raining Men” performed by Mrs. Legere and Mrs. Ccupole, “My girl”, performed by Mr. Mosely, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” performed by Ms. Blatteau ft Mr. Mosely ,  “ABC” performed  by the Sophomores, and “Baby” performed by Kunimel. The winning performance by a land slide being Mr. Mosely’s rendition of “My girl” coming in second place was the sophomores’ performance of “Jump Around” they deserve a round of applause for their effort though good job sophomores.

Indentify your audience:

1. Most school papers are scanned due to the fact that students thumb through in search of their names or the names of their friends. Being mentioned in a publication impiles a person has achieved status within the school regardless of the subject.

2. Three things needed to create news is a message, an audience, and interest.

3. - Watch and  listen, what serious issues are people talking about ?
- What are teacher and sdministrators dealing with on a regular basis?
- What is the local media covering? Are there ways to localize national and international stories?
- Look for stories in not so obvious places: science fairs, academic competitions, vocational classes, special ed etc...

4. Three excuses students use are as the following:
- There's nothing to write about
- We tried to write about a story but by the time the paper came out the whole thing was over
- We know our stories are boring, we want to write about interesting stuff but our administrators won't let us

5. C is true - A feature story is very different from an essay

6. A  is true - Short item news should be third party

7. 5 things used to write an interasting lead:
-  Description of a scene
- Description of a person
- An excellent quote
- A starting statement
- A clever play on words

8. 5 things to avoid in a lead:
-  The name of a team or group
- A generality many, most, several
- The name of a school, mascot
- There are, there is, will be, there was
- This year, last year, next year

9. 10 news or journalistic values:
-  Clarity
- Accuracy
- Brevity
- Relevance
- Attribution
- Fairness
- Balance
- Indenification
- Objectivity
- Truth

10. The 8 elements of news
- Timeliness
- Currency
- Proximity
- Consequence
- Prominence
- Oddity
- Conflict
- Human Interest

Things that aggervate me:

1. When people chew gum loudly
2. When people talk loudly on the phone or to someone next to them for no reason
3. When people ask the same question more than once
4. When guys wear their pants very low to the point that their underwear shows
5. When girls wear extremely tight clothes that don't fit them

Even though their are many benefits to chewing gum such as minty breath, better math scores, and improves memory there are some draw backs. Studies have suggested that something about chewing gum reduces stress, improves alertness and relieves anxiety. But most of this research has been found in a laboratory setting. Now, the first study in people also supports the idea that chewing gum boosts academic performance. Chewing gum can improve memory, say UK psychologists. They found that people who chewed throughout tests of both long-term and short-term memory produced significantly better scores than people who did not. When chewing gum there is chewing etiquette you shouldn't smack gum or chew loud enough that the person next to you can hear you. School students may also find themselves facing an angry teacher when chewing gum is not permitted in the classroom. Monahan’s opinion on people chewing gum loudly is that he doesn't like it and it annoys him. Jaime hates it really bad when people chew gum loudly and thinks it shows bad etiquette and how they were raised. Shane thinks the person has no manners and it's disgusting. It’s a phobia that at least 40% of the population has that makes people be unable to tolerate chewing/smacking and heavy nose breathing.

Sources: Chewing gum raises test scores, Chewing gum improves memory, Benefits and disadvantage of Chewing Gum

Shepard Fairy:

- Shepard Fairey's "Hop" campaign is a subject for debate among copyright lawyers because, his photo is almost exact to Mannie Garcia's photo; which Garcia took while on assignment for the associated press in 2006.

- Mannie Garcia is a photojournalist and is connected to the "Hope" campaign, because provided photos and posters for billboards, museum halls and t shirts.

- Mr. Garcia did not immediately recognize his photo because it's normal, in the business since no one would remember every single photo they take.

- It illustrates the news photographs because the picture represented the president’s response to a disaster which caused outrage in many people.

- If there was no hope campaign I don’t think that Fairy’s work would be found, in museums since that are the only majorly famous photo he's taken.

Shepard Fairey Search:

When I searched Shepard Fairey posters came up a idian/ japenese women. With words such as Make Art not Wars. Giving people the message to make beautiful objects instead of making wars, and violence. Also posters from Obama's campaign, saying things such as hope and progress. Then near the end of the search there, was posters of in blue and red with cream colors of obama and posters of fairey.

Do you fancy yourself a writer?

- Yes, I write every day but only to do school related things, Ex. Homework, class work, notes. My writing habits are that if I'm writing an assignment, I will write whatever comes to mind down, and then edit and revise what I wrote.

- I write about issues in or around New Haven, people do not usually care about things outside Connecticut unless it's national news. The things I tend to write about are movie revise, and acts of violence or interesting things. Ex. the Free Store

- Yes, I tend to write quickly and only write what's the most important.

- I tend to be a curious person, some may call it noisy. I like to be the first person to know things.

- When it comes to things that I find interesting or need to remember I write notes about the topic.

- If I don't have any idea what I'm going to write about a blank screen greatly intimidates me. But once I know exactly what I want to talk about, I see a blank screen as a canvas to use which ever I see fit

- I do not mind the effort it takes to write a superior copy, I know it takes time and want to provide the readers a good article.

For Consideration: College Culture at Metropolitan

Peer leaders at Metropolitan Business Academy showed off their college culture credibility Thursday for visitors to a College Summit open house. Zaneta Langley, a senior at Metro, said going to College Summit peer leadership training at Yale University last year changed her life. The class meets every B day last period looking for ways to help students with the college application process. Zaneta Langley, a senior at Metro, said going to College Summit peer leadership training at Yale University last year changed her life.“It showed me no matter what challenges I face, I shouldn’t give up,” she said.Luis Blanco, another Metro senior, said he learned a lot about writing his college application essay, information he passed on to fellow students at Metro. He told them to “dig deep.”“I told them to take what they are feeling inside and put it on paper,” he said. There are five subject areas: academic excellence, self-advocacy, career-to-college connection, College 101 and financial awareness.

Source: Metropolitan Business Academy students display college culture at open house in New Haven

Will Parents Come?

Superintendent Reggie Mayo said a strong foundation in reading is key to the goals of the school reform drive to close the achievement gap between city kids and their statewide peers, cut the high school dropout rate in half, and ensure students have the resources and preparation to succeed in college. Mayor John DeStefano credited Brennan/Rogers for progress on another piece that’s central to reform getting parents involved.Brennan/Rogers showed the highest parent participation in the district on school surveys last year, with 81 percent of parents offering feedback. Lott has a new plan this year to get parents in the door: As part of the Heart of America donation, the school will be getting large shipments of food from the Connecticut Food Bank each month. The school plans to coordinate the food distribution to parents with academic-themed events, such as teaching parents how to help their kids read more fluently. With more parents coming more regularly to the school, Lott said, she hopes to revive the PTO and the School Governance Council. “This is the beginning” of a new chapter of literacy at the school she said of the libraries.

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/brennan_library_makeover/

Zannelli and Ali meet once again:

The team headed to Division Street in Newhallville, and found the Maxima parked on the street. Cops entered an apartment across the street belonging to Ali’s girlfriend’s aunt. That’s where they found their man, asleep in bed with his girlfriend, with his baby daughter nearby. Office David Zannelli stepped into a bedroom on Division Street and found the alleged gun dealer he was looking for still in bed. “You remember me?” he asked. The 23-year-old suspect, known as “Ali,” did remember him. He’d had a run-in with Zannelli in 2009, when the officer arrested him on a narcotics charge in the Dwight/Kensington neighborhood, the district where Zannelli was assigned to at the time. 6 months of labor came to fruition Wednesday morning with Ali’s arrest. He was one of 11 suspects rounded up by police in the first 5 hours of a day-long operation Wednesday. Some three dozen cops, ATF agents and U.S. marshals fanned out across the city to execute warrants on 24 suspects. The police action targeted gun offenders in order to reduce violence in the city, said Lt. Jeff Hoffman, head of the Tactical Narcotics Unit. Moments later, a cop who was masked to protect his identity emerged from the apartment. He summoned a prisoner conveyance van by radio. “We need a 29 at 215 Division.” Zannelli came out a few minutes later. “He’s saying goodbye to his daughter,” he said of Ali. He said the suspect was cooperative. Ali was arrested on two warrants for a variety of charges, including possession of a sawed-off shotgun, weapon in a motor vehicle, violation of a protective order, and illegal sale of a gun.Ali has previous arrests dating back to 2007 on charges including larceny, trespassing, interfering, breach of peace, and possession of marijuana. 

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/zannelli_and_ali_meet_again/

For Consideration: City wins $390K

The city of New Haven, has won $390k. To help transform Union Station, into New Haven’s Grand Central Station. Governor Dannel Malloy announced the awarding of $5 million to “transit-oriented development” projects in the state, including $390,000 for New Haven. New Haven’s plans, which have been in the works for several years, include a proposal for a new parking garage along with new stores, offices, and restaurants. Transit-oriented development funding is intended to improve public transportation infrastructure statewide including rail and bus service to link communities to each other and people to jobs and housing. The money will be split between 11 towns, with the cities of Meriden, Hartford, and New Britain getting the largest shares. The funding was approved earlier this year by the state Bond Commission. Municipalities were asked to apply for project funding. The state Department of Transportation and Office of Police Management received 23 applications totaling $13.2 million. The 11 winning applications were selected by the two agencies, along with other departments of state government.

Source: City Wins $390K For A "Grand Central Station"

Experiences in Class:

There was some confusion, about the myhighschooolg.org. I have no idea how to log in to the site. I did not; get an email with the information. I did pick one of the posts, I had as a story idea and it was the Tangled Review. I am, now working on the second story idea. It would probably, be another movie review.

Sinking Homes:

Nine months after the state promised a $2 million lifeline for their sinking homes, Bridget Gardner and her neighbors find them deteriorating further, as the money is held up in cross-border talks between New Haven and Woodbridge. Gardner and her neighbors in the Beverly Hills section of upper Westville have been sounding the alarm for years as they watch their homes slowly sink and shift farther. Last year, the state, finally approved the $2 million dollars to help with repairs. They were overjoyed. Part of the issue is a "governance issue between towns, part of it is who in state government can look at this,” said New Haven state Rep. Pat Dillon, who has been the lead advocate for Beverly Hills sinking homeowners. She said she has learned the problems there are much larger than she initially imagined. She said she’s had a number of meetings recently on the matter and is making “a lot of progress.”“The city is working with our legislative delegation and working with the town of Woodbridge to establish legislation for the disbursement of funds,” said city spokesman Adam Joseph. “We’re negotiating right now.”Joseph and Dillon said they couldn’t predict when homeowners might see money to make repairs.

Self Assesment:

My weakness are that I do not, know what a hyperlink is; so I don't know If I have any In my blog. But I have a couple links in my posts. My blog contains an amount of seven blog posts; it's easy to read and is appealing to the reader. I do have a clear statement of purpose in my introduction. However I am not sure if I have a non copy protected photo, I do have three photos though. I have gotten my photos from Google. None off my posts are in the question and answer format. Also all of my post has been spell checked.

The Free Store:

Two volunteers packing up at the New Haven Free Store got into a fight. One struck a blow with a fire extinguisher. The other reached for a knife. That was the scene that led to two arrests Thursday night, according to Downtown District Manager Lt. Rebecca Sweeney.

She said police reported to the free store at 55 Church St. at around 6:30 p.m. on a report of two people fighting. Two volunteers a man and a woman who had been helping the store pack up for its move to Court Street had gotten into a dispute. The man grabbed a fire extinguisher and struck the woman with it, Sweeney said. The woman found a large kitchen knife but didn’t injure the man, Sweeney said.

Both people were arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon and breach of peace. The woman suffered minor injuries, Sweeney said.

The store has been one of the more unusual and remarked-upon entries in downtown’s small-business economy. It was to give away donated merchandise to customers, who line up every day for a chance to get in, and to train people in bicycle repair; it also aims to make a profit. It got free space itself for the first few months of business as part of an effort called Project Storefronts, which aims to fill vacant retail locations short-term with businesses looking to get on their feet. Then the landlord starts charging rent or as in the case of the Free Store, the business moves to a different location when a paying tenant emerges.

Ben Aubin, a founder of the Free Store, released the following statement on Friday afternoon:

"I recently moved to New Haven from Portland, Oregon. While living there I assisted a bike shop named Well-Tuned Fast Bikes in their marketing. Thirty days in to opening the owner Tom Daly had his shop robbed. We wrote to local press and within 2 weeks members of the community came together and replaced everything that had been stolen through donations."
The history of Free Stores stretches back for many decades. In the mid to late 1960's a theater group called The Diggers opened the first Free store in San Francisco, calling it the "Free Frame of Reference." The name of the store drew inspiration from the Digger Slogan, "Create the conditions that you describe."

Tangled Review:

Weaving a golden tale of laughter and excitement, Disney takes the classic story of "Rapunzel" to new heights. The film follows the life of Rapunzel: a socially-deprived, kidnapped princess whom I jokingly refer to as "the ultimate home-schooler. In pursuit of her dream to leave her confining tower and see the floating lanterns, she teams up with the unlikeliest of friends: a wanted thief, a band of ruffians, and a canine-like horse. With unexpected plot twists and exquisite embellishments, "Tangled" makes the original fairytale come to life. Being from the age of Beauty and the beast and the Lion King, I would be inclined to say that I didn't miss the old style of animation that is considered classic Disney. With that being said, Disney has proven once again that you can teach old dog new tricks. Tangled, presented in CGI animation was visually stunning. . The colors were vivid and clear. The cast was delightful and the songs were beautiful, though it lacked the sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat toe-tapping number to throw the scores over the edge. Tangled, while sporting the romance featured in all Disney classics, did not focus solely on the love between Rapunzel and Flynn, but also the love of family and the strength of hope. The supporting cast was laugh-out-loud funny and the villain was convincingly 'good' for the better part of the movie. In true Disney style, it captivated and delighted the audience from the opening scene to the happily ever after. Definitely a must see for the entire family.

Feature Profile:

Today, I was asked to have an interview with someone, and that person was Jaime Ramos Jr. He is 18 years old, and is currently a senior at Metropolitan. Was born in Meriden, Connecticut. For some strange reason he enjoys math, because it has to do with numbers. He likes to play football, because of the physical contact; and watch baseball due to the high percentage of Hispanics. Wears the color black, and doesn't have a specific taste in clothing. Enjoys the music genres of hip-hop, Rand B, and European techno. His role model is Eminem, because he came from nothing and is now a very talented and well known rapper. Hobby is to play Call of Duty. He aspires to be a Graphic Designer, in Miami Florida. Vivid childhood memory was being thrown into a pool at the age of seven, and having to learn how to swim. He wouldn't invite anyone, to dinner if given the chance. My question was, why do you like to wear the color black?  His answer was, because the color black to me is a soothing color.

Comments for blogs:

Creating community and voicing student opinions:

My experience with blogger has been frustrating. Due to the fact that none of us are experts with blogger we have had many difficulties. For example blogger doesn't automatically save posts or comments. When someone says creating an informed school community to me. One thing comes to mind and it's everyone knows about all school functions and activities and some people show up to help and show support.
How has uniforms affected Metropolitan?
I don’t believe that uniforms have affected morale and shaped school climate at Metropolitan. What people are wearing is still an issue.  In my opinion it doesn’t matter people will still do what they want and make things more difficult. Everyone will act the same way they would with or without uniforms.

A weekend with Jaimie:

Getting to know the last weeks of someone’s life isn’t something that we as people get to read about often.  It’s going to be an emotional story that will catch the reader’s interest and touch someone’s heart.  I agree that the purple and black is hard to read.

Persuasive Writting:

Which to choose cloth, paper, or plastic bags. I choose cloth because paper uses trees, and plastic uses petroleum; so I opt to use cloth. Cloth bags are easy to take with you and use again and again. We need to keep our earth clean, so let’s use cloth.  Remember bags at certain stores cost .10 or more so you’re saving money while helping the environment let's recycle and reuse.

Personal Narrative:

                                  Climbing the Mountain:

For my 15th birthday My family and I went on vacation to Hawaii, we decided to climb the Ko'olau Mountain which turned out to be a day idea when we were have way up the mountain and the the temperature rose to 100 degrees. My mother sat down at one of the rest stops and said she wasn't climbing anymore no matter how many times we asked. So my sister 8 at the time decided to stay with her. My father and I decided to keep on going that we were half way there. We climbed and climbed for what seemed like forever and when we got to the top and saw the view it was worth. It was an incredible view.

Satement of Introduction and purpose:

My name is Annalys Fuentes I am a senior at MBA. Even though at times I will be writing about things of interests but primarily I will be writing about Opinion and Local news.

What I would like to achieve in my blog is provide people with news that is both interesting and controversial.

Student Council Disbanded:

After having an election and having students put into office, Cross students found out that their student council was terminated no more. In addition to the student council activist’s politics club was also disbanded after he organized a downtown protest in favor of more spending on textbooks and less on administrators.

Isaiah Lee

Isaiah Lee, who was elected as council president last year, said he was not directly informed of the decision.“Ms. Moore did not inform anyone the decision was made that no one knew of,” Lee said. Instead, he found out the news though an email last week.

Ms. Moore

Moore said Thursday that the school has no student council at the moment and is working to rebuild one that better represents Cross. Student council should not be “a group of elitist kids that say, ‘We run Cross,’” as it was in the past, Moore said. “We want total inclusion in the building.” Cross is often described as having two schools within one: a small AP/honors track (to which Moore was referring) and the general student population. Lee said he doesn’t plan to be involved in the student council’s new incarnation. He has decided to step back from the council and focus on getting into college next year. But he objected to the way the decision was made the latest in the line of decisions being made without student input. “I personally don’t feel it’s fair to these other students who worked so hard, to have all that taken away,” he said. Is this fair? 

School Reform

Cross Student Council Disbanded by Melissa Bailey