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Welcome Back

Man, I really love that song. The show was great too.

Anyhoot....WELCOME BACK! Welcome back from mid-winter recess and welcome back to in-person learning.

Starting Monday, March 1st, 2021 we will be switching to the AABB Schedule.

Monday & Tuesday - Cohort A has in-person learning while Cohort B is remote.

Wednesday & Thursday - Cohort B has in-person learning while Cohort A is remote.

Friday - All students are remote.

For our students in classes 691, 710, 791, & 891
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday they are in-person

Friday they are remote

Halsey's 2nd Virtual Hackathon was held on Friday, Feb 12th and Monday, Feb 15th. Ms. Elfers and Mr. Lober introduced the students to the official program. Students had to research a community health problem and devise a plan for a solution using technology. The 1st and 2nd place winners will go on to compete in the Queensborough-wide competition with the CS4ALL Hack League. They will have the opportunity to work virtually with Subject Matter Experts (SME's) on creating their final product for the Borough-Wide Hackathon (all to be held virtually)!

Congratulations to our winners!

1st Place - ME Gum - Eileen Asher and Maximilliano Pettica

2nd Place - The Plant Bubble - Jacob Haidatov, Davian Uduc, Mercy Trujillo, Daniel Kalantarov

3rd Pllace - The Block Tracker - Marc Berman, Nitta Spencer, Jasmine Mak

Salute to Music is a free citywide music program held on Saturdays from 9:30-11:30 AM, now on Zoom. The chorus is taught by our very own Ms. Shikowitz and is open to students in grades 4-8.

Check out the flyer here

If you have a child that is interested in joining the Salute to Music Chorus, Band, or Orchestra, please fill out this brief survey at this link:

Salute To Music Survey

Lets keep the celebration of Black History Month by recognizing "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali.Actually, on February 25th, 1964, a 22 year old named Cassius Clay (Ali's birth name) defeated Sonny Liston in the 7th round to win his first World Heavyweight Championship. Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer and philanthropist. Nicknamed The Greatest, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated figures of the 20th century and as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

To learn more about the legendary Muhammad Ali please click here:

THE GREATEST

Parent teacher conferences will take place on Thursday, March 11th. Our teachers will be reaching out to the parents of students they need to speak with to schedule an appointment. Other families who wish to speak with any teacher is more than welcome to reach out to the teachers and ask for an appointment.

There will be two sessions:

1:00pm - 3:00pm
5:00pm - 7:30pm

Outside of our upcoming conference, parents/guardians can schedule a meeting with your teachers by contacting them directly to request an appointment during their office hours or another mutually convenient time.

Who has this dog?

Our next PTA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 at 7:00pm. The link for that meeting will be sent out that day. Please join us as your voice is needed as we discuss a number of topics ranging from 8th grade end of year activities to the financial report and how we spend the money the PTA has raised. You will also hear from Principal Suraci as he gives his monthly Principal Report which is always informative.

Want to be part of an exciting virtual Dance project?

Join the new Halsey Dance Club!
Tuesdays on Zoom
Starting March 2
3:15pm – 4:45pm

Use the link below to register. You MUST be signed in with your nycstudents account to register

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpmNTWNk6T-PGCl2Nr79KPeiNLQuSC2_gyA2JKSvEWB14JiA/viewform

Members should be excited to create dance, able to attend weekly, and to use Zoom cameras/mics consistently.

All grades welcome. No audition needed. Check out the attached flyer for more info.

Any questions please contact Mrs. Gruet at JGruet@schools.nyc.gov

Since I am a huge history buff, here is something cool with a lot of history to it...

So Ready for Laughter: Bob Hope and World War II

The New-York Historical Society has a new exhibit that coincides with the 80th anniversary of the United Service Organizations (USO) that shows off artifacts (a World War II-era aircraft fragment, mess kit, and other relics engraved to Hope), films, and rare photographs to illustrate how Bob Hope helped lift spirits with his USO and radio shows during a dark time in American history. Click below for more information.

Bob Hope & the USO

RESPECT FOR ALL/GENDER & SEXUALITY ALLIANCE

RFA/GSA is a student led, discussion-based club aiming to create a community of respect and pride at Halsey. Contact Ms. Cohen for detail or join the google classroom: ow4zxqx

Check out all our current after school clubs and activities here

This week in music with Ms. Shikowitz, our guest artist was Christine Papania.

Described as “20 of the Most Innovative Musicians Working Today” by Paste Magazine,

Christine Papania is a versatile soprano and composer. She has performed as the

“Voice of Joan of Arc” in Richard Einhorn’s Voices of Light; as a soloist in Ola Gjeilo's

Dreamweaver, Z. Randall Stroope’s Carmina Pax, and the New York premiere of Dan

Forrest's Jubilate Deo at Carnegie Hall; Mozart’s Missa Brevis in D. Major & G Major;

Giya Kancheli’s Amao Omi; Bach's Mass in B minor; Monteverdi’s Vespers; Fauré's

Requiem; and Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music, among others.

An avid choral singer, Christine has performed with ensembles including Grammy

Award-winning The Crossing, Manhattan Chorale, St James’ Compostela Choir, and

The Florentine Opera Company. She can be heard most recently on the world-premiere

live recording of Julia Wolfe’s Fire in my mouth with The Crossing and the New York

Philharmonic at Lincoln Center and John Luther Adams' Canticles of the Holy Wind with

The Crossing. Christine is also co-composer and performer of her musical project

ARIADNE. They have toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and

their album Stabat Mater was listed in NPR - All Songs Considered “Best of 2017.”

Christine is a graduate of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and is currently

pursuing a graduate degree in Music Education at Aaron Copland School of Music,

Queens College. Please check out this clip of Christine performing for our students.

Christine Papania

My beloved Mr. Weiss returns with a Green Team update and this week he waited for the last minute to send it placing him late on the update. He should be ashamed of himself! Seriously, you have to check out the update. He's been growing all kinds of hot peppers in Casa De La Weiss and has begun producing numerous flavors of Hot Sauce. Our very own Mr. Grabowski is the test dummy and has given the thumbs up and has demanded more! There may be a Halsey fundraiser in the future with these bad boys! To check out this amazing update please click on this picture of Bowser from legendary Doo Wop group Sha Na Na below.

Wait a second. You dont know who Sha Na Na is? Click here to find out!

We had a fantastic Halsey Nights show on Thursday as we were joined by Queens Community House After School Program Director Daniel Milfort. Mr. Milfort brought along a few members of his faculty to show off the really cool activities they are currently offering online including dance and drums. They also have fitness and a number of other really cool things for our students to participate in. Here is more information about the program:

Queens Community House offers an After School and Summer Camp Program for children in grades 6-8. Their programs offer academic enrichment activities that are age appropriate and help participants learn new skills and improve academically. These activities are consistent with school-day learning activities. Their programs are designed to help students express themselves creatively, learn life and communication skills, and improve self-esteem.

A balanced mix of high quality educational, recreational, enrichment and cultural activities are offered through:

Enrichment-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
Literacy Learning that incorporates theater, music, dance, and other creative arts
Leadership Development that fosters service learning and civic engagement
Physical Activity/Recreation and Healthy Living
Field Trips
Academic Support
Summer Camp

J.H.S. 157
63-55 102nd Street
Rego Park, NY 11374
JHS 157: (718) 830-4910 ext. 1593

Director: Daniel Milfort
Email: dmilfort@qchnyc.org

I dont know what it is but its starting to feel like Spring is right around the corner!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!