7-22-2005 newsletter

The High School for Teaching and Professions
Summer Bridge to High School
Newsletter #3, July 22, 2005

Bridge Staff

Director, Center for School/College Collaboratives, Lehman College, Dr. Anne Rothstein
Program Coordinator/Newsletter: Ms. Laura Tringali
Summer Coordinator: Ms. Pat France
Teachers: Ms. Maritza Conde, Mr. Eston Robinson, Mr. Mark Spooner, Ms. Karin Wissmann

This Program is a collaboration between HSTP and Lehman College. It takes place on the Lehman College campus. Its purpose is to prepare incoming 9^th graders for high school– academically and socially. Students get to meet their teachers, students from other grades, and other members of the incoming class while having fun, earning high-school credit, and preparing for the Living Environment Regents exam.

Funded by New Visions for Public Schools and NYS 21st Century Learning Communities

		An interview with Ms. Karin Wissmann by Summer Bridge Intern Shirley Vargas
	Shirley Vargas: Ms. Wissmann, where did you grow up? Ms. Wissmann: Outside of Chicago. Shirley: Where did you go to school. Ms. Wissmann: I went to high school in Illinois. Then I went to Boston College, where I majored in Secondary Education and English. I just received my Masters of Science degree from Lehman College in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

Shirley: Why did you go to school so far away from home?
Ms. Wissmann: I really liked the school and I wanted to get away from Chicago. After graduation I went back-packing through Europe for a month with some friends to visit different countries. I’m very independent and spontaneous.
Shirley: When did you know you wanted to be a teacher?
Ms. Wissmann: I think I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I was part of various tutoring programs in high school. I like high-school students because they’re outspoken and conversational. I always wanted to have intellectual conversations about books.
Shirley: How long have you been living in NYC?
Ms. Wissmann: Three years.
Shirley: How long have you been a certified teacher?
Ms. Wissmann: Three years.
Shirley: Why did you move from Boston to NYC?
Ms. Wissmann: I wanted to go to a new city, have a change of pace. What better city to live in than NYC? Supposedly, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!
Shirley: But why NYC, why not Boston, or your home town, or somewhere else?
Ms. Wissmann: Well, the population of NY public school students is very diverse. There is so much opportunity for kids to grow here, and I want to help them achieve that growth.
Shirley: Why did you decide to be part of the Summer Bridge Program?
Ms. Wissmann: I wanted to meet future students. I wanted to work with the staff, and it’s also an excellent opportunity for the students to learn and have fun over the summer.
Shirley: What are your goals for the students this summer?
Ms. Wissmann.: I want to provide the students with the opportunity to write more as well as to make new friends. I want to help make the students comfortable with the high school, and make the transition from to high school easier.
Shirley: How did you get a job as a teacher at T&P?
Ms. Wissmann: I went to the Board of Education and dropped off my resume. After my interview at HSTP, it seemed like the best place to be. It seemed like a great opportunity.
Shirley: If you had the chance to change to a bigger school, would you do it?
Ms. Wissmann:No, I wouldn’t move from the smaller school because the staff and faculty work together for the most part toward the same goals, and there is more interaction with the students.

That’s Ms. Wissmann smiling under the umbrella!
*Scenes from Van Cortlandt Park, July 13, 2004* On this field trip students worked with a park guide to study aquatic animals, insects, and various types of plant life. Using portable viewfinders allowed the students an "up close and personal" look at the creatures they encountered.

Bronx Zoo, July 15, 2005

After their visit to the Bronx Zoo, Ms. Wissmann asked the students if they thought that zoos should be kept open or closed. Here are some responses.

	"I think the Bronx Zoo should be kept open. It is very educational to the children because they learn about different animals. Another reason is because children are so happy when they come to the zoo. The animals are used to the place. They get fed by the zoo-keepers. But I have to wonder, do animals enjoy their stay at the Bronx Zoo?" –Yassiel Martinez		"The zoos should be kept open, because they attract many tourists. Many people like the zoo and children think it’s fun. I don’t think the zoo is cruel to the animals."*–Jewel Hoyte*
	"There are many animals that are endangered species. Part of the zoo’s function is to make sure that those species do not become extinct.. Keeping zoos open and keeping animals in the zoo will prevent animals from becoming extinct. Also, there is an educational side to keeping zoos open. There are many animals in the zoo that we normally wouldn’t be able to see. Thanks to the zoo, we are able to learn about them and have a face-to-face encounter with those animals." –Micheal Paterno		"I want to keep the zoos open for the animals. Some animals are in danger and they are going to become extinct.. These animals should be kept in the zoo because predators will not kill them, and they will be safe. Visitors can go and learn more about the animals, and it is educational. But zoos have to give top priority to the needs of the animals."–Alejandro Alvarado
	"I think the zoos need to change. Though the animals may look healthy, their nature is to find a mate. I also think that it is not good for the animals to live behind glass. It may seem as if they are happy, but they still need space. Another thing is the zoo prices. They are outrageous. I mean, you need the money to feed the animals, but for a bag of chips it’s a dollar plus tax.. I think zoos should not stay in business unless they clean up their act.." –Shemika McFarlane		"The Bronx Zoo has been kept open for so many years, and nothing out of the ordinary has happened . There has been great security and the zoo-keepers make sure that the animals are healthy and don’t hurt anybody. That’s why I think zoos should be kept open. Zoos entertain people and also get people to learn more about how animals live in the (supposed) wild."–Jelicsa Roche
	"I think that the zoo should be kept open and running. The zoo is fun and educational for people of all ages. I think the zoo is made for people’s pleasure instead of for the animals’, but as long as the animals are treated right, then you might as well keep the zoo open, right? " –Christopher Cuadrado		"I think zoos should be kept open because they have a great effect on the youth. They learn a great deal about the animals and they also get to see their favorite animals."–Chris Rivera