Week 5!
ENTERTAINMENT
Celebrate Halloween!
With this festive holiday of Halloween coming up, here are some ways you can celebrate!
Trick-or-treating! -It’s never too late to go trick or treating with your friends and collect all the delicious candies on each block!
Pumpkin Carving- express your creativity through carving pumpkins with either a spooky or a funny face.
Watch horror movies! Whether it’s The Conjuring or The Ring, celebrate Halloween by scaring yourself with these hit movies!
Game of the Week - NYT Connections
In addition to the Crossword and Wordle, NYT also has another game called Connections, where the name of the game says it all. Given 16 daily words/phrases where each is linked to a specific group/topic with 3 others, your goal is to create the 4 possible groups that exist. You only have 4 possible mistakes to make, and the goal is to make the 4 groups with the least amount of mistakes possible. With some groups being easy to put together like “JERK”, “TUG”, “WRENCH”, and “YANK” for the group “Pull” and other groups being more difficult like “BARE”, “BEETHOVEN”, “CHARLOTTE”, and “WILLY” for the group “”Title Movie Animals”, the daily Connections can leave you in a conundrum.
Five Nights at Freddy’s is a box office hit
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The film adaptation of the popular childhood video game Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF’) was released in theaters on October 27, hitting $78 million for its box office debut in North America. With FNAF’ having a loyal and passionate fan base over the past decade, it is a no-brainer to see how the film was able to do so well in the opening week. Whether you’ve been a dedicated FNAF’ fan or someone who is just interested in its lore, feel free to watch this hit movie at a theater near you!
CLUB SPOTLIGHTS
UNICEF: This club serves to advocate for children’s rights. Through slides, websites, and articles, UNICEF will inform you about global issues and how you can advocate for it. The club hosts many events where you can help out to earn community service hours. If you’re interested in joining, message them on instagram @unicefthhs.
School News and Senior News
Senior News:
As we progress through high school we are often told that Junior year is our hardest year of them all. With the option to have less classes and more freedom we believe senior year will be a breeze. We do not talk about the immense pressure our seniors have, especially the first semester. As Townsend Harris requires only 3 years of a language and only 3 years of Latin or Greek, there are more band slots open senior year. As seniors we are required to take a Humanities course at Queens College and an elective of your choice at Queens College. Oftentimes these required classes cover the free bands that you would have. On top of handling school work, seniors have to work on their college essays and college supplements in their own time. Balancing college apps and school work can be often overlooked.
Let’s take two real life accounts
Question: What do you think of your senior year so far? How does it compare to your expectations? What are you looking forward to ? Any advice for future seniors?
“ There's a lot more freedom that comes with being a senior. Like with free bands and Queens College and such. And because of that it can either be really satisfying or year or unsatisfying. I look forward to spending that time well and for senior trips. Advice to future seniors is to spend all your time doing something you wont regret even if it’s dumb ” - Senior 1
“It’s very stressful but I like having a lot of freedom to do stuff like going to Queens College. My expectation was that it would be less school work so I had more time on college apps but I still have a lot of school work so it’s much more work than I would expect. I’m looking forward to finishing college apps and enjoying senior stuff such as the trip, prom, graduation, etc. My advice would be to start everything early and be more efficient when it comes to completing college apps because it'll be less stressful later on. Make sure to do college essays and personal statements earlier on so you have less stuff to worry about ” - Senior 2
NYU Updates
In a leap forward for affordable education, New York University (NYU) has unveiled the "NYU Promise." This program aims to make higher education more accessible and equitable for students from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their financial circumstances. The NYU Promise is a commitment by the university to meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need of all admitted students without loans.
Here are the highlights of the NYU Promise:
Tuition-Free Education: NYU is pledging to cover the full cost of tuition for students with family incomes of $100,000 or less. This isn't just a lifeline for low-income families; it extends a hand to middle-class households, offering them the chance to pursue higher education without the looming specter of debt.
No More Student Loans: NYU is on a mission to alleviate the financial strain on students. With the NYU Promise, loans are a thing of the past. Instead, the university is opening the door to grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunities to meet the financial needs of its students.
Global Accessibility: NYU doesn't stop at domestic students. The NYU Promise extends its embrace to international applicants, creating a diverse and vibrant campus community. It's an acknowledgment that education knows no borders.
Comprehensive Support: Recognizing that financial assistance is just one piece of the puzzle, NYU offers a robust support system. From academic advising to career counseling and mental health resources, the university is ensuring that students are well-equipped to thrive both academically and personally.
Week 4!
ENTERTAINMENT
Are our Saturdays cursed?
With New York City enduring heavy rain for seven consecutive Saturdays, it’s easy to believe that the city is under a curse. Whether it’s having to deal with your friends calling a rain check on the weekend plans or dragging your feet through the sewage rainwater, this weather pattern has raised concerns among New Yorkers. Unfortunately, climate change (long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns) can be the one to blame as the rise in heavy rainfall has been linked to the increased evaporation rates and higher levels of water vapor in the atmosphere.
Game of the Week - NYT Connections
In addition to the Crossword and Wordle, NYT also has another game called Connections, where the name of the game says it all. Given 16 daily words/phrases where each is linked to a specific group/topic with 3 others, your goal is to create the 4 possible groups that exist. You only have 4 possible mistakes to make, and the goal is to make the 4 groups with the least amount of mistakes possible. With some groups being easy to put together like “JERK”, “TUG”, “WRENCH”, and “YANK” for the group “Pull” and other groups being more difficult like “BARE”, “BEETHOVEN”, “CHARLOTTE”, and “WILLY” for the group “”Title Movie Animals”, the daily Connections can leave you in a conundrum.
You're not going crazy. Trump did change.
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Although it may have been hard to tell due to the previous actor's realistic blonde wig, Trump underwent a dramatic transformation, making him an unrecognizable person. The specifics behind this new change will remain undisclosed as the information has not yet been released. For the rest of the election simulation, be sure to follow the trumpthhs2024 Instagram account to see what the new actor will bring to the campaign!
CLUB SPOTLIGHTS
UNICEF: This club serves to advocate for children’s rights. Through slides, websites, and articles, UNICEF will inform you about global issues and how you can advocate for it. The club hosts many events where you can help out to earn community service hours. If you’re interested in joining, message them on instagram @unicefthhs.
Latin League: If you’re interested in exploring the language, history, literature, mythology, and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome then Latin League is the perfect club for you. For more information, reach out to them on instagram @thhslatinleague
School News and Senior News
S!NG:
Every year, S!NG, a student-led musical production, is performed. It is a competition held between the Freshiors (Freshmen and Juniors) and Semores (Sophomores and Seniors). Students have the ability to choose any department (Dance, Costume and Makeup, Backstage, Instrumental, Acting, Vocal, and Art) to contribute to this year’s S!NG.
Question: How prepared do you as directors feel about S!NG this year, what goals do you have and how has the overall experience been?
Hip Hop Dance Director Camila stated “this year, since we have less time to prepare it seems a little more stressful especially with college apps around this time and keeping up with school work, but honestly it’s also even more fun than last year because we have a lot more people and we’ve kept the goal of everyone having fun in the front of our minds which hopefully everyone thinks is happening so far. Right now, we’re just focused on being ready for the show and if we win that’s great but it’s not the most important thing on our minds.”
Hip Hop Dance Director Vaashine stated “My experience as a director this year was very surprising. I always start off expecting to dread it and be exhausted but the people that join dance make it fun, making us a family. With school, college apps, and senior events, I feel like sing tends to not be a priority, making me feel a little unprepared at times. But we always make it work and the dancers are cooperative, so everything plays out in the end. My goal is just to have fun. It’s not about winning, but making this memorable. We have got a lot done and it’s exciting to see the final product.”
Backstage director Mikayla stated “I would say I feel pretty prepared for SING this year after being a backstage director for the first time last year. Our main goal for this year is just to have fun while also being more organized (and obviously we want to win). As seniors I think we all just want to enjoy our last time and also go out with a bang. Backstage hasn’t done too much just yet, but we are on the brink of being in full swing.”
Looks like S!NG will be lots of fun this year! Let’s see who wins: Freshiors or Semores?
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Senior News
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), a form prospective college students fill out in order to qualify for financial aid, has been overhauled. Known for its often convoluted and time-consuming process, FAFSA has lowered the number of questions from 108 to 36 in an effort to increase efficiency and encourage students to apply for aid.
A notable adjustment involves shifting from the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to the Student Aid Index (SAI). These are formulas that analyze a student's financial situation to gauge their eligibility for aid. Essentially, the lower the number computed, the greater the eligibility.
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Additionally, there's now a higher Income Protection Allowance (IPA), which means that students can earn up to $9,410 without jeopardizing their eligibility for financial aid. In the case of divorced or separated families, the parent who contributes more to the student's finances is now responsible for completing the FAFSA, as opposed to the previous practice where only the custodial parent did so. Another positive change is that students will no longer be taxed on financial support they receive from relatives while they're working their way through college.
However, not all of these changes will save students money - families with more than one child in college will no longer receive aid. While these changes may ultimately help some and hurt others, you’ll have to wait until December, when the FAFSA opens, to see.
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Questbridge: For most Seniors the common app will be used to apply to schools. One app that is not often talked about as much within the school is Questbridge. Questbridge's main purpose is to match low income, first generation students to top schools like Yale, Brown, Rice and Princeton. This does not signify the denial of other students who do not fit the strict limits. Questbridge gives a full 4-year scholarship to any school you are matched with. Questbridge partners up with up to 50 colleges. The deadline to submit our application to qualify as a finalist was September 27. On October 18 applicants were notified if they qualify as a finalist. Unfortunately there is not much current seniors can do as of now but for upcoming seniors this is a great opportunity to learn more about the different options available for college. Those who were addressed as finalists have the opportunity to supply additional supplements by November 1st to be considered for an early binding admission.
For juniors Questbridge has the “College Prep Scholars” program in which low-income Juniors are mentored with knowledge and resources to apply to colleges. If you are accepted to the College Prep program, it does not signify or boost your acceptance to the National College scholarship that you apply for your senior year. You can however transfer your application to the National College Prep program to get a head start.
For more information refer to the official Questbridge website.
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Week 3!
ENTERTAINMENT
Taylor Swift: 'The 'Eras' Tour' Breaks Box Office Record!
Taylor Swift recently released a concert film that brilliantly captures one of the most successful concerts of all time: 'The Eras Tour.' Much like the live concert experience, the film has enjoyed tremendous success, raking in an impressive $96 million at the box office during its opening weekend. If you haven't had the opportunity to attend her tour or simply want to relive the concert experience, make sure to catch this film in theaters starting this week. It offers a chance to sing along with fellow Swifties and immerse yourself in the experience!
Wordle Spinoff of the Week: Colorfle
Are you well-versed with color theory? Colorfle, another spinoff of Wordle, tests your ability to mix colors and accents in order to make one daily color. You have 6 guesses total in order to guess the original color made up with 3 colors in normal mode or 4 colors in hard mode. Each color takes up its own majority of the wheel, meaning you also have to guess the color in the correct slot as well, with yellow highlighting that the color is used in the original color but is in the wrong slot and green highlighting that the color is used in the original color and is in the right slot.
Rare Opportunity: A custom Colorfle has been created and a random person out of the first 10 who submits the Google form can win simbucks!
Rare Opportunity: A custom Colorfle has been created and a random person out of the first 10 who submits the Google form can win simbucks!
The Bake Sales Are a Hit!
From cupcakes to cotton candy, and even waffles, the candidates made sure to feed the voters with their mouth watering bake sales! With the goal of earning Simbucks to fund their campaign and marketing plans, these bake sales allow candidates to not only satisfy the students’ hunger but also boost their own bank accounts. If you are feeling a bit hungry during one of your lunch breaks, be sure to spend your Simbucks at the bake sales to support the candidates’ campaigns and fill your empty stomach!
School News and Senior News
Hispanic Heritage month is a month that celebrates and highlights Latin and hispanic contributions. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), on Friday, October 13th, the La Herencia Hispana Club hosted a salsa dance lesson taught by Mr. Bermudez.
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Club Spotlights
Muslim Student Association:: A religious club that offers a safe, fun, and inclusive environment for Muslims and all students and promotes Islamic values. Join this club to enjoy Jeopardy, current events discussions, halal foods in NYC, Muslims in media, and more. Many students join Harrislam Muslim Interscholastic Tournament (MIST) an interscholastic tournament that students take part in to win awards. If you’re interested, message them on Instagram @harrislam_.
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Red Cross: Join one of the largest clubs at THHS to participate in various humanitarian volunteer opportunities. Students join the American Red Cross as youth volunteers and participate in virtual and in-person events such as learning about global issues, getting CPR training, mapping buildings for underrepresented communities, and making cards for greater causes. If you’re interested, message them on @thhs_redcross.
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Neuroscience Club: Does learning about the structural and functional components of the brain interest you? Join this club to enjoy activities such as engaging presentations, guest speakers, Kahoot quizzes, and thought-provoking discussions. This club will aid you to pursue future careers in STEM and get a solid foundation in neuroscience. If you’re interested, message them on Instagram @neurothhs.
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Senior News
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College Visits:
A few weeks ago representatives from Yale and Brown visited our school and answered essential admission questions. Seniors are encouraged to pre-register on naviance to provide an estimate on how many will attend the event. For Yale, around 25 people signed up but about 75 showed up. Our guidance department had to take charge immediately and switch the location of the event from the Guidance suite to the cafeteria. For some colleges, showing interest in the college can be used as an advantage. During the Hofstra college visit, cards were given out to fill showing continuous interest. These college visits can also provide a one to one conversation with admission officers who actually read college applications.
For upcoming school visits go on Naviance to the colleges tab and click on college visits.
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Heads up! Early Action/Decision college applications are due in roughly two weeks. Chances are if you’re applying EA/ED, you’ve already been working on your application. If not, here’s a basic crash course. EA and ED are options that allow students to apply to their desired colleges ahead of the regular application deadline. The difference between EA and ED is that ED school acceptances are binding, meaning that if you’re accepted to an ED school, you have to commit. This also means that students can only apply to one ED school. On the other hand, EA schools are not binding, meaning students can apply to multiple schools and ultimately choose between them.
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If you’re just about ready to submit your applications, make sure to double check all components of your application, including transcripts, recommendation letters, supplemental essays, and anything else required. Good luck!
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Week 2!
ENTERTAINMENT
"For All the Dogs"
With impressive features from SZA, Bad Bunny, 21 Savage and more, Drake’s newly released album “For All the Dogs” has been the talk of the week. His new tracks prove that Drake is back, better than ever, and that he has not gone far from his musical and lyrical roots. If you’re down to listen through a 90 minute R&B and modern rap track that touches upon his love life, subliminal diss tracks, and flexes, then feel free to scan the attached Spotify code.
NYT Game of the Week: Mini Crossword
Did you know that besides Wordle, the New York Times has a crossword puzzle? While their regular crossword puzzle cannot be played without a paid subscription to the New York Times, they also have a mini crossword puzzle that is free to play for all. As with any crossword puzzle, the goal is to finish the puzzle in the fastest time possible with each day showcasing 10 different words, each with hints that are either confusing (like “give money back to”) or simple ones (like “sour fruit”). Try it out and let us know how you did on this google form!!
Meet the Candidates: TIktok Edition?
By truly appealing to the people, candidates from the election sim have participated in a Tik Tok trend where they show off their charismatic side and personality through Tik Tok edits. From participating in Steve Lacy’s Static Hallway trend to a photo montage that shows off one’s charming looks, the PR team pulled through by using their creativity. Although the edits do not explicitly mention any of the candidates’ policies or promises, they effectively capture the people’s attention.
School News and Senior News
On Wednesday, October 4, THHS followed a special schedule with double 4th Band. During 4A, students attended their class as usual. However, during Band 4B, students and faculty participated in an event organized by the THHS Reading Initiative. The event was in honor of Banned Books Week. The whole THHS community participated by stopping everything and reading a book of their choice for the whole band.
Club Spotlights
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Ceramics Club: Does creating ceramic crafts out of clay interest you? Join this club to create your own ceramic art such as bowls, cups, sculptures, and more. This year the club has planned to host many events where you will have the opportunity to earn community service hours. If you’re interested, message them on instagram @thhsceramicsclub.
The Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA): A club aimed to create a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community alongside allies, while also educating students on queer history, identities, current events, and more. Anyone can join, regardless of your sexuality or gender identity. If you’re interested, message them on instagram @gsathhs, or the president directly @lesveeian on instagram, email: vees@nycstudents.net vshupty@gmail.com
Senior News
Great news for seniors! Student Union (SU) cards and planners, which are essential tools for seniors during their final year, are now provided free of charge (kind of).
In the past, SU cards were an additional expense, costing $15 for each student. These cards are not only vital for attending school-sponsored events but are also required for documenting and submitting service hours, a significant part of senior responsibilities. However, the cost for SU cards is covered within the annual senior dues.
The annual senior dues, designed to cover the expenses associated with senior events and activities, now include the fees for both SU cards and planners. This means that seniors no longer need to worry about incurring an extra cost for these essential items. They can obtain their SU cards and planners from the SU store, located in the cafeteria, making it easier to access the tools they need for a successful and enjoyable senior year.
Week 1!
ENTERTAINMENT
Olivia Rodrigo’s new hit album: “GUTS”
The sensational pop star Olivia Rodrigo has once again proved to us that she is the spotlight of pop culture with her new Album “GUTS”. With over 64 million monthly listeners, Rodrigo proves how she can stand to be an everlasting pop artist due to her creativity and musical talents. With songs that range from grunge to lyrical, the album is definitely a must listen that anyone can enjoy.
k, or click Edit Text to make it yours.
Wordle Spinoff of the Week: Globle
Have you ever heard of Globle? Every day, there is a new country to guess on the globe. The goal is to guess the country with the least amount of guesses. Each country that you guess will appear on the globe with a color indicating how close you are to the country of the day. The hotter you are, the closer you are to the actual country. With easy countries to guess like Egypt, France and Russia to harder, smaller countries like the Vatican City and Tuvalu, the country can be very hard to guess.
Usher announced as the Super Bowl 2024 Halftime Show Performer
​Usher, a famous R&B singer, will take the stage to headline the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show! With iconic hits such as “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” and “OMG”, Usher will undoubtedly steal the hearts of many at the halftime show. It was also rumored that Usher is currently in the works of starting a world tour as his team has been reported to reserve arenas around the world.
AD BREAK
Senior News
The college admission process is now in full swing, and there are a lot of dates to keep track of. To make sure you plan accordingly, here are some of the most important deadlines:
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Submission Deadlines
Stonybrook, UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline - October 15
General Early Action/Early Decision Deadline - November 1
UC Schools Regular Decision Deadline - November 30
General Regular Decision Deadline* - January 1, January 15
Some colleges operate using rolling admissions, meaning they keep reviewing applications until the class is full. While this option can offer more leniency with timing, it is generally better to apply sooner in order to ensure the best chances of admission.
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Application Results
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Early Action/Early Decision results generally come back between December 1 and January 31, while most Regular Decision results are returned by late March. These deadlines can also range depending on the school, so remember to check these school-specific dates.
*RD deadlines can range from the start of January to as late as April. Check each school to confirm their deadline.
SCHOOL NEWS
On Tuesday September 26, students had to go through metal detectors when entering the building in the morning. These random scannings will be taken to ensure the safety of students and staff. During band three, students were told to stay in their classroom for fifteen minutes past the end of third band. Principal Condon assures that students weren’t in danger at this time, but the reason for staying in class is unknown.
Clubs are a huge part of Townsend Harris. With schools starting again, many students are joining and starting clubs. The Club Fair, which was held on September 15, was a huge success as many students promoted their club.
CLUB SPOTLIGHTS
Model UN: This club is the largest academic debate team at THHS. It is a simulation of the United Nations. The debate topics are based on critical world issues and represent countries from around the world. You will have the chance to win awards and improve your public speaking skills. If you’re interested, message them on instagram @thhsmodelun
Sing: A competition between the Freshiors (Freshman and Juniors) and Semores (Seniors and Sophomores). Many departments to choose from to showcase your talent which include acting, dance, vocal, art, backstage, band, costume & makeup and social media & communications. If you’re interested, message them on instagram @thhs_semores and @thhsfreshiors.
South Asian Student Association: This club offers members the experience to share their own South Asian culture as well as learning about it through culture, holidays, food, and bollywood movies. This year, the club has tons of activities and events planned for everyone. If you’re interested, message them on instagram @thhssasa.
If your club wants to be featured for next week’s article, message us @hawksnewsthhs.