"ESOL - MAKING A DIFFERENCE"

03 March 2011 by Manoara “Bobbie” Begum and Jannatul Ferdous (STEM)

ESOL - English Speakers of Other Lan-guages is a program at UC that helps new Americans learn how to communicate in America. Many ESOL students speak more than one language but one of them just isn‟t English!
A big part of ESOL is learning how to under-stand and properly use American expressions. For example, a recent assignment asked ESOL students to learn persuasive tech-niques. This is particularly challenging be-cause the terms don‟t really describe the ac-tivity but have come to mean or represent that activity.
For example, what does it mean to get people on a bandwagon? Well, as a persuasive tech-nique it means to make people think that “everyone‟s doing it.” Sometimes facing terms like that leave an English Language Learner wondering just where the band or the wagon is! Practicing in ESOL with the help of Ms. DaSilva, students have the opportunity to learn the nuance of these terms and be-come better English speakers.

Mr. David Tuck - A Story Of Survival

Holocaust Survivor and World War II Soldiers Tell The
Real Story Of Survival and Liberation To U-City Students

18 March 2011 by Jag Times Staff Writer
Perspective can be the most important part of listening with empathy. Students in our Arts & Humanities Academy got a first-hand account from a survivor of the Holocaust in Germany during World War II. Mr. David Tuck told how he was awakened to German voices on the radio as a 12-year-old. He was sent with his family to the Lodz Ghetto for a brief time before being sent to Posen, a labor camp where he worked as a mechanic and survived on meager rations of bread, coffee, and a watery soup. He was a worker who tried not to call attention to himself as others were beaten, brutal-ized and killed. He related his story of being transferred to the infamous Death Camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau and how he was forced to remove valuables from corpses and grave-sites. He also worked in a cannon factory. He subsisted on very little food and when the camp was closed he was shipped to Mauthausen to work on German aircraft parts. During the transfer he was able to survive by scooping snow from outside the train “cattle car” with a piece of his torn shirt. It was here that he described a time when he had scrounged some bread and it was hidden in a drawer. When the guards discovered it, he thought they would execute him. It was one of the scari-est events of his imprisonment. He was witness to many deaths due to violence, disease, mal-nourishment, or abuse. When he was finally liberated he weighed only 78 pounds. His story, and the stories of the American soldiers from Fogelson-Young Post No. 697 Jewish War Veterans who joined Mr. Tuck during yesterday’s presentation were a haunting re-minder of the events of the Second World War. Our students were awestruck at the presentation and descriptions of the pictures and accounts from the concentration camps that were shown during the event. One of the most poignant statements made by CDR Jerry Goldstein (Post 697 Former Com-mander) was that our student’s generation will be the “last generation to have access to first-person accounts of the trag-edy of the Second World War”. With the recent death of America’s last surviving soldier from WWI, we should be re-minded that the “Greatest Generation” is slowly following them into the history books. Our students should be encour-aged to seek out information on WWII from the victims and soldiers who were there NOW while they are still alive. Mr. Tuck remarked that the reason he is alive today is because his “will to live was greater than the pain he endured then.” He begged them to stay in school and do their best in life. Hope-fully our students will see his perspective and appreciate their lives a little more. Many thanks to Mr. Tuck for his story!

U-City Music Program Takes Center Stage For MLK Day!!

03 March 2011 by Jag Times Staff

On March 3rd, University City High School Promise Academy presented a con-cert program that featured music, poetry, and dance performances celebrating the history and heritage of African-Americans. The program featured performances by the Chorale, the Instrumental ensemble, the Drum Line, and poets from our talented student body. The choir performed several patriotic and spiritual selections including, "The Star-Spangled Banner", "Lift Every Voice", "Amazing Grace", "Precious Lord", and "Respect", which featured a vocal solo by 11th grader, Kevin Anderson.
The instrumentalists performed along with the choir on “The Star-Spangled Ban-ner” and “Respect”. Presenting their efforts were Jeffrey Daniels, and Kenneth Owens, alto saxophone, Janice Petty, flute, Jerrelle McCullough, baritone horn, and Matthew Gilliam, trumpet.
The poetry club was represented by Mek-kah Granger, 9th grade, who read "I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and "Girl" by Langston Hughes. Sayonne Ward, 12th grade, read the lyrics to the song "Ain't Misbehavin'" by "Fats" Waller. Tempest Tobie, 11th grade, read the lyrics to the song "I Shot the Sheriff" by the immortal Bob Marley.
University City High School Promise Academy students know that hard work pays off and they should feel proud of their accomplishments. Great job Jaguars!

U-City Students Run Philly Style!

12 March 2011 by Jag Staff Writer

This past Saturday, three students from University City made the trek to Girl’s High. For What? The Students Run Philly Style kick-off of course! Kenny Owens and Mauricia Massey are two of Univer-sity City’s runners, while Phil Moore runs with his community. At the kick-off students participated in team-building exercises, a brief run, and of course – SNACKS!
If you haven’t heard, Students Run is one of the best programs in the city. It helps students gain a better sense of self and appreciation of the sport of running. Through the pro-gram you can also get... FREE SNEAKERS!
We are always looking for new runners! Please see Miss Sweinhart in NGA Room 208 for details!

Uni Goes Green!!

10 March 2011 by T. Freeman (NGA) Title by L. McNear (NGA)

The 9th grade academy, along with Peer Group Connections (PGC), are fixing up the greenhouse on the third floor of Uni-versity City Promise Academy. Just a month ago the greenhouse was in sham-bles. There was glass and dirt on the floor, dead plants and broken win-dows. But in just a few weeks, the dirt, dust, and debris has been swept up; the broken glass has been removed; and we planted new seeds to replace the dead and decaying plants. In the coming months, every Saturday, the ninth grad-ers will be working to plant fruit and vegetables that will ultimately be do-nated to gardens around the city. This project will not only benefit the students of University City Promise Academy, but it also provide fresh and healthy food options for the people of Philadel-phia and work to promote the benefits of proper nutrition in the city. If you would like to join in this most important cause, please contact a member of PGC today!

$70-Billion Dollars in Financial Aid For Students!!

70-Billion Dollars in Financial Aid For
College-Bound Students!!

Dr. Stephen Jones Speaks To U-City Students!
05 March 11 by Christine Stone (A&H)

On Saturday, March 5th our school hosted a guest speaker from Villanova University. Dr. Stephen Jones talked about engineering, making new inventions, and the process it takes to make and market new inventions. Also, Dr. Jones was promoting education. He wanted to let us know that there are over 70-Billion-Dollars available in scholarship money every year from several sources. One of these sources in local universities them-selves.
Dr. Jones is a graduate of University City High School’s Class of 1977. He went on to earn two Masters Degrees and a PhD. In his current po-sition he oversees the instruction and curriculum program at Villanova and he is the Dean of the En-gineering Department.
The students were engaged, during his presentation, in a Business Creation Exercise. They worked together to come up with a product or ser-vice. They also made a list of ten things that were new inventions in their lifetimes. Some of the stu-dents even came up with their own ideas and inven-tions. Despite the chatter of some students, others came up with brilliant ideas and terrific questions. For example, Taalibah Chamblis came up with the idea of a touch screen table that would be compati-ble with a laptop. In conclusion, engineering and inventions are important in today’s society because everyone depends on them!!

Sports Update for March 4th, 2011

UCity Students Move On To Eastern Pennsylvania Bowling Championship!!
Randall Moody and Na-thaniel Coston will be competing today against the best bowlers in Eastern Pa. Wish them the best of luck when you see them!!

Other Updates

Spring Sports Are Upon Us!!
(Student Quotes)
“Volleyball will be our strongest sport this spring. Since last year was our first year as a team, we will practice harder and finish better this year!!” -P. Grantham (STEM)

“Softball is the best because I am on the team.”
- F. Jewett (STEM)

“Our Track & Field Team will dominate the 4x400, 4x800, and most sprints from 100-800 meters!!” - R. Moody (STEM)