A Great Hope

By Harpreet Kaur

While students in Jamaica High School might think that “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is another boring book which is required to read in their English classes, this book received a successful response and recognition from many resources.

A recent New York Times article talks about a girl who immigrated from China and became inspired after reading “The Great Gatsby”. Her green light which stands for hope was to get in Harvard University. This book not only inspired Jinzhao Wang but it also touched the hearts of many in Jamaica High School.

“Its interesting because it shows the freedom the people created for themselves by showing how they’re partying and their sense of fashion,” states junior Corean Saliard, in Mr. Cohen’s English class. This wasn’t the only notable response from the book. Many gateway juniors are reading this book and are enjoying it. Many people believe this book set up new goals and hopes for them.


Although there are students who have given up even before they’ve read the book. “I’ve just started to read this book and from the cover I noted this would be just another boring book,” said junior, Beena Khemai.

When asked how teachers feel about students not reading the required books from the English department, Mr. Hertz, a math teacher said “Some books might not be relevant to people’s opinion during this time of their lives, however students should read the book that is required from the department of education to expand their vocabulary.”



However, students can learn more then just hope and inspiration. Junior Philipnary Thuyamany said, “It’s a really good book because it’s taking place during the era of 1920 so I know what happened during that time.”

An Obscured Scientist

By Harpreet Kaur
Always dressed in a white lab coat, Dr. Devasia John is easily spotted in Room 323 preparing and organizing the labs for the science students to do.


Although he’s just a lab specialist in Jamaica High School Dr. John has been involved with many activities in his past. He first started his career in 1963 as a fulltime research scholar in India. In 1971, Dr. John became the head research officer in Ayurvedic Research Institute. Later in 1993, Dr. John became a biology, chemistry, AP chemistry, physics, AP physics and Earth science teacher at Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadows, New York.

After being transferred to Jamaica High School, Dr. John sets up and cleans the labs done by the science students. During his free time, Dr. John goes beyond his required duties and helps the Science and Language Departments by taking some time off his busy scedule to help out the new teachers with their classes. “I help them to face the students in the class," said Dr. John. "Some teachers call me the teacher’s teacher.”

" He's a great improvement over the previous lab specialists," said Mr. Pecorino, a Physics teacher. " I enjoy his sense of humor."

"He can be really helpful, his strength organization is very good," says living enviornment teacher, Ms. Kaalund with a quiet laughter. " He distributes the books, fixes things that are broken which is no necessary for his job. Also he prints out the labs, and checks for supplies of the lab materials."

Dr. John believes that “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This is one way in which he tries to motivate the students whenever it’s possible. He is discouraged by the fact that many students don’t put as much effort in school but in things that shouldn’t be focused on.

“My advice to students is that they most follow the examples of our great leaders who have shown us the path to a bright future,” is one piece of advice Dr. John would like to tell the students of Jamaica High School.

Aging and staying fit

By Harpreet Kaur

Teens often think middle age people are unable to perform physical activities as well as them but they’re wrong. “ It’s a testament to how adaptable the human body is, researchers said, that people can start serious training at an older age and become highly competitive,” according to the New York Times.

Teachers in Jamaica High Scholl prove this point true by staying healthy which keeps them highly motivated for their age. Most teachers in Jamaica High School persuade their students to do the same because many students in Jamaica are unhealthy.

Mr. Feeney, math teacher, said “I go ice skating, I walk for an hour, roller skate with my kids and play tennis. I don’t run because of my back.” According to the New York Time’s, even though a person might be in there 70’s they are able to run faster then they’re expected. These highly energetic middle aged people are able to do this by exercising everyday and eating a well balanced meal.

Another teacher who stays fit is Ms. Thompson. “I walk my dog everyday for an hour and a half and I eat right,” she stated.
Those are not all the teachers who stay healthy and fit for their age. Many teachers in Jamaica are coaches for the Jamaica High School sport teams. They try to do the same excerises they make their athletes. For instance Mr. Pallisco said " I stay fit when I play softball."

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