HSE Thunderbird News

HSE Thunderbird News By and for the students of Hills East. Welcome to the HSE award-winning Thunderbird Newspaper page!

On this page, you can find recent updates about what is going on in and around HSE. Administrators: Alyssa Schmidt, Bradley Shanker & Emily Disman

“I have always been an artist. I went to school for fine arts, and I wound up staying an extra year to double major in a...
12/11/2018

“I have always been an artist. I went to school for fine arts, and I wound up staying an extra year to double major in art history. My senior thesis was actually in painting and ceramics. Nobody really realizes that I am actually experienced in all areas of fine arts because I teach photography at High School East. When I finished college, I wanted to work in the art field. One of my professors led me to the Heckscher Museum of Art, a small museum in Huntington. They happened to be looking for an administrative assistant, which is basically a glorified secretary. I really wanted to work at a museum, so I took that job. After working there for five years, my last position was the director of education. As director of education, I was able to create public programs and teach elementary students. I actually met several of the teachers at High School East when I was working at the Heckscher Museum. I met my husband when I was working there as well! I met Ms. Norris, and I had a nice relationship with her. She mentioned that the district was hiring and that I should meet with the director. That’s basically what brought me to HSE!”

“I have been riding horses since I was about five years old. I am currently 16, so it’s been a while. I have been compet...
11/19/2018

“I have been riding horses since I was about five years old. I am currently 16, so it’s been a while. I have been competing since I was in seventh grade. I used to think that I wasn’t good because I never really got first or second place; I was always fifth or sixth. But one day I went to a show and I got a horse that I never rode before. I thought I wasn’t going to place, or I was going to be really bad. That day, I rode my best (which is what I always do). When they were announcing the places, I heard ‘first place to Alexandra Perticone.’ I freaked out, and I ran to my mom to hug her. I was crying because I had never gotten first place before. That happened when I was thirteen years old, and I have been competing ever since.”

“I came from a private school in a different district, so I am still getting accustomed to the policies and people of pu...
11/03/2018

“I came from a private school in a different district, so I am still getting accustomed to the policies and people of public school. Right now, my main five classes are AP Calc BC, AP Chem, AP World, English 11H, and Spanish 3H. I am also in research, band, and intro to statistics - my only ninth grade classes. My last school was advanced in most, if not all, subjects. I have also studied other programs of math and science (specifically physics and chem) outside of school, but these are in addition to the school curriculum. I also speak Russian and English fluently and can hold up a fair conversation in Spanish or French when necessary. I play the saxophone and the piano. I love puzzles, especially solving crosswords and Rubik’s cubes. I am also competitive academically and have scored fairly well in math, physics, and linguistics competitions.”

“I was born in China, and my parents left me there when I was about eight months old. They came to the United States to ...
10/27/2018

“I was born in China, and my parents left me there when I was about eight months old. They came to the United States to open up a restaurant, so I lived with my grandparents in China. I vaguely remember that my parents came back to visit once, but it was like meeting a stranger. I didn’t really know them that well, so it was a little bit awkward. When I was eight, I got on a plane to Arkansas by myself. It was scary but the flight attendants helped me. Meeting my parents and brother was really awkward at first because I had lived all of my life without them, and now I had to get to know them while adjusting to life in a foreign country, not knowing a word of English. Luckily, It was pretty easy to learn, so I caught on quickly. People in Arkansas were really nice, so I was devastated when I found out that I had to move again to New York right before ninth grade. I feel like, in the end, it was the best decision because the opportunities here are endless. I’m glad I moved. It took a lot of getting used to, but I am so lucky to have met all of my friends here. A lot of it is due to Doctor McRoy. Music has been the only constant in my life because I was in chorus in China, in Arkansas, and now here. Music has kept me sane.”

“I’ve never wanted to be anything other than a teacher since I was in kindergarten. For some reason, I liked paper. I’m ...
10/21/2018

“I’ve never wanted to be anything other than a teacher since I was in kindergarten. For some reason, I liked paper. I’m not kidding. I asked my kindergarten teacher for extra dittos to take home and then I tortured my family and friends by having a made-up classroom in my basement. There was a chalkboard and everything, and I’d play school. I’ve been playing school since, well, since I’ve been in school. I like transmitting information to other people, and I like to find fun ways to do it. And for some reason I just like paper and books and markers and colored pens and- I don’t know...that’s just what I like to do.”

“I started singing in preschool because the cantor at my temple would ask people to sing for him. So, I said “sure, I’ll...
10/13/2018

“I started singing in preschool because the cantor at my temple would ask people to sing for him. So, I said “sure, I’ll do it!” Then he recorded me singing songs to my temple, and that’s what sparked my passion for singing. I joined a chorus in fifth grade, and I have been doing it ever since. I am a junior now, and I’m not good at math, but that’s a lot of years to perform in a chorus. Dr. McRoy is one of my favorite people in the whole world, and she made me want to study music education in college. I take vocal lessons, piano lessons, and guitar lessons outside of school. Music has been a big part of my life, and I want to pursue music education because of Dr. McRoy. I just want to teach people that music doesn’t have to be just a hobby, that it can be a way to make a living, like she taught me.”

“I went to school for business and broadcasting. I wanted to work in the entertainment industry, so I wound up working f...
10/06/2018

“I went to school for business and broadcasting. I wanted to work in the entertainment industry, so I wound up working for Viacom, MTV, VH1, and NBC. I was basically in charge of payroll and of hiring camera crews, lighting crews, talent. It was cool. Then I wanted to go for my masters, so I went back to school. When I went back to school, I managed a family Italian restaurant. I did that while still looking for television work. Then 9/11 happened. One of my friends was a fireman; I lost him that day. The night before 9/11, I fed him his favorite meal. He told me it was silly to go back to school for television, and since I love kids, I should be a teacher. Sure enough, he passed away on 9/11. That winter I wound up not doing my masters in television; instead, I went back to school to be a teacher. And here I am. I owe my career to him.”

This year, the Thunderbird Editorial Staff is starting a new series called “Humans of Hills East.” Once a week, we will ...
10/06/2018

This year, the Thunderbird Editorial Staff is starting a new series called “Humans of Hills East.” Once a week, we will pick a student or a teacher to share their story. Their stories will be posted on our Instagram, our Facebook, and our website. Our hope is that students and teachers will really get to know the familiar faces they pass in the hallways each day. Everyone has a story; we’re here to share it.

If you are a member of the HSE Newspaper The Thunderbird please join this Facebook group for announcements, club meeting...
09/20/2018

If you are a member of the HSE Newspaper The Thunderbird please join this Facebook group for announcements, club meeting reminders and other important info!

09/20/2018

First meeting tomorrow at 2:00 in the Mac Lab!! Can’t wait to see everyone there!

Meet your 2018-19 HSE Thunderbird Editorial Staff!!
09/14/2018

Meet your 2018-19 HSE Thunderbird Editorial Staff!!

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