Community, Cutting, Commitment, Caring

Graphic by Max Wiederhorn ('18)

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Old Friends, New Friends, New Building

Graphic by Leora Mayer ('20)
Article by  Yonina Kaminetzky ('21) and Michalie Landes ('21)

On August 23rd, I, Michalie and the rest of the class of 2021 kicked off our high school careers with Freshman Orientation. Coming from many different schools, orientation was the perfect way to meet all the kids in our class. One of the activities that we did was break up into small groups both with people that we were familiar with and people that we didn't know. In these groups, we all wrote down what we expect and hope to achieve by our senior year. The activity made us ponder all the amazing and exciting things that we can accomplish during our high school careers. Luckily, during the orientation we met our senior mentors. The senior mentors have been absolutely invaluable, guiding us through the merits and challenges of being a high school freshman. KYHS freshman Sammy Portnoy ('21) recapped the day and orientation process by stating, "Orientation was amazing and so helpful. Everything and everyone here is amazing and helpful. I can't wait to spend my next four years here!" Clearly, Freshman Orientation was a complete success.

 

Please Click Here to Watch This Year's Orientation Trailer

 

Help Me I'm Lost: Navigating the New Building

Graphic by Justin Isaacs ('19)

Graphic by Mayrav Saketkhou ('20)

Discover What Is Trending This Week at KYHS

Graphic by Yosef Linzer ('18) and Yoni Mayer ('18)

Investigative Student Journalism Discussing the Pros and Cons of Taking AP classes

Graphic by Highlites Staff

Article by Sara Deichman

As hundreds of students enter the school building this year, the constant question of how they will perform hangs above their heads. Students are ready to impress, and are scared out of their minds about it. But what does adding an advanced placement course to the mix result in? My investigation began the week 2017 AP Scores were released. Students were anxious awaiting their results. On that morning, some students were thrilled, while others were utterly disappointed in themselves, and some found themselves simply impartial. The inevitable release of test scores is a source of anxiety for many, often leaving a dark cloud over their care-free summer vacation. The everlasting number traces back to the very first week of school, when classes began. So to take a look at where the "power of the AP" comes from, readers need to understand student motives in taking one of these courses. There are a couple possibilities; college and competition. According to teenlife.com, the leading online source for college preparation, students may save money on tuition. If they obtain a passing score, generally a 3-5, students will most likely be exempt from the course in college, therefore saving thousands of dollars a year by signing up for less courses. These classes impress college admissions offices, helping one graduate college with less required credits, and develop college level study habits in high school that will make your transition into college work easier. With all these pull factors, AP courses seem like a no brainer. But as per usual, there is another side. According to PrepScholar, there are multiple signs that an AP course will not benefit an individual. The first tell is that they are failing the class. It is important to challenge oneself, but always in the right way. If a challenge proves detrimental to one's grades and/or GPA as a whole, the course lacks the benefit you initially wished to gain. Another big one is mental health. Students tend to get engrossed and competitive when it comes to scoring well on AP exams. If the competition and expectations result in lack of sleep, lack of confidence, or large amounts of anxiety, it is important to reevaluate your motivation in taking the course, and to see if all that is truly worth it.

Remember: AP courses are not for everyone. To competitive students shooting for top colleges, advanced placement is the answer. But along the way, some students drop out of AP courses that they originally signed up for. The core reason for this is that sometimes, students simply realize that the stress of the courses as hard as these impact their lives in negative ways.

When it comes down to it, AP courses have benefits, but can just as easily cause a lot of harm. While many students choose to take the courses, not all score particularly well. No one is here to decide whether or not you as an individual should take the course. That decision is in your hands. But make sure to put a full heart and clear head into that decision. There is no universal answer to whether or not you should take that AP class. The truth of the matter is, some students do well and some don't. I can only hope this article has given you a sense of the pros and cons. So next time you think about an AP, ask yourself: will this make me hAPpy, or is it simply not for me?

Graphic by Sydney Freedman