Not the best school around.
Starting the worst to best:
The staff is the not worst I have seen, comparing to wilson middle school, but it is bad. They don't care about shit when I go to the desks, or the hallway watchers just playing phones.
Getting inside the school is complicated. In order for me to get in school, i have to use the boy side scanners. But the school miscalculated the process and don't have a solution for the mass crowd to scan quickly to enter the building as possible, they are making the worst condition possible: leaving the boys inside the gym hallway, a hallway that cannot see the light, no air ventilation possible, and the crowded situation making my experience sick, because I have to stand for 15 minute, unbreathable, sweating, being pushed by others, and impatiently waiting. Same applies to lunchrooms. Staffs actually jams the entrance to stairs and hallways.
It's 2020, and the most rooms don't have AC or HEATERS.
Related to not having proper AC and HEATER units, uniforms. The worst policy inside the school. I always imagine to see my mother and father working so hard because the school want us to be uniformed inside the school. It's inflexible, looks bad, and my family condition makes me look like a beggar inside the school compared to other students constantly showing up with the shiny shirts and pants. Because the school is dead brained, they thinks that uniform makes equality. However, considering my financial situations and the conditions inside the school, it needs to stopped. Uniforms are promotional product that only sounds good when you give them out universally, does not limit our conditions inside the school, and for a cheaper price. It is also extremely brain dead because the they also bother with the wearing a sweater inside the school.
The school is not clean. Bathroom is a mess( the picture someone posted here is true, and worse - with bad smells, and trash all around), lunchroom is garbage dumpster, The top floor is shutdown and not being utilized because safety reasons, leaving the whole school crowded and the guard are unable to control the crowds for several occasions during my lunchtime. Fighting is expected. The school generally focuses on the libraries to get cleaned, but not the lunchroom, the hallway, and classes!
The school did not do a great introduction for me, a ESL student, and a first generation where the parent does not guide me. This school needs more attention to 9th grade ESL students. Specifically introduce the AP, the IB, and honor classes.
The school does a good job at diversify the clubs. The band is great. And the sport teams is legendary. Shout out to Mr. Siravo's wrestling team! My suggestion: The school can do an introduction of our clubs and sports during the townhall meeting.
The after school activities, following the diversified clubs and sport, is amazing. Wrestling practices and basketball practices during after school, compete in philadelphia city with other school teams, it's a very good experience.
Snack service is great. Even though there is only a few, but they are growing.
Teacher are very mixed. Some are new teachers, some are old teachers. Expectation of your teacher can be challenging.
Also shoutout to my NRM SLC. Bring in the NRM SLC, you have the opportunities to be a tour for kids in a farm for a day or two in one semester. Inside the class, we talk about environmental related contents. The program is still growing, but the hand on experience offers by NRM wins the others by far.
Meal options is mixed, so that great. Especially they do provide milks. The keystone nutrient for kids. Milk helps our body, milk is great. They also do breakfast service.
And the best thing this school offers: a classroom for the disabled! Although it's sounds weird to have a class next to them, but on the names it's great.
This school needs to manage their staff first, wipe the floors and toilet clean, and stop the stupid uniform policy. I hope the school can open up the third floor because it is really crowded. Do consider the reconstruction on libraries to give student a hallway to pass through, ventilate the gym hallway and basement hallway.
Last, this advice I was heard from Wilson middle school is great: When you in the Northeast, you have to push the people in front of you as hard as possible. read more
