Album Review
by Yeriel Smith
Mila J’s short R&B album is compiled of five songs full of eccentric beats and quirky lyrics concerning love and her own personal experiences with it. The songs talk about how men and should treat women. The album itself is only eighteen minutes long, so it's great to play on the bus ride to school or to listen to while in the shower! Many people feel as if the R&B genre is slowly circulating our of music, but this album is a testament to prove the invalidity of that statement! This album will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to eliminate toxic relationships from your life!
The Importance of the
Art Program
by Soraya Sanchez
Art classes at Preston High School are viewed as classes to relax and foster creativity through a plethora of projects and collaboration. Whether it’s a quarter or semester of art, a basic Graphic Design class, or Pre-AP Art course, students are encompassed in an environment that prioritizes creative, profound thought — rather than limited, academic thought.
Mr. Edelstein, teacher for the Graphic Design courses, describes the art program at Preston as “ahead of the curve,” emphasizing the importance of creativity in the development of an open-minded, intuitive, and self-aware individual. He adds that, despite this advantage that the program has in comparison to other schools, the Graphic Design course is downplayed by students especially, who sign up for the course under the impression that it requires little rigor to excel. However, he asserts that Graphic Design requires much effort in comprehending different techniques and Adobe programs, as well as the need for a creative and enthusiastic energy that will be transferred into the many projects and practices Mr. E teaches. Hailing from the School of Visual Arts with a major in sculpture and welding, he notes that he would improve the art program by incorporating new facilities and space to establish a Sculpting course.
Ms. Castignoli, who teaches several Art classes, feels similarly about the art program’s effort to cultivate this essential creativity, commenting on the importance of free, public art. As a freelance artist herself, she values spaces where artistic expression is unlimited, mimicking that environment in her art classes, where students are given the freedom to practice and harness their abilities. She describes the art program as “diverse,” as it provides a foundation for students interested in art, for students who have never taken an art course before, and for students who just want an easy-going, enlightening course, to develop their innate skill of creativity through trial and error. She notes that longer, semester-wise, art classes, maximized space, and incorporation of silkscreening and a printing press can create more opportunities for students to tap into their imaginations, which are usually limited with the technicalities of other subjects.
Editor’s Choice
In my opinion, no album tops this one. This album is full of upbeat songs that will definitely brighten your mood. Blossoms really knows how to create lyrically phenomenal songs that will knock you off of your feet. A few that you must listen to are: 1. Getaway 2. Honey Sweet 3. Blown Rose.
Riverdale is a show that some may find cheesy, but its plot twists make it an undeniably entertaining show. Inspired by the Archie comic series, the show includes main characters Archie, Betty, Jughead, and Veronica. Jughead, a writer and member of the South Side Serpents, a gang led by his father, is my favorite character. He is dauntless and intelligent, playing an important role in the growth of the show.
This book of poems, although slightly less popular than Milk and Honey, is just as amazing; maybe even better. It seems that many people can relate to the poems in this book and look to this for inspiration in all situations.
Preston Players
As of November 13th, the Preston Players started rehearsals for this year’s musical, Sister Act. Throughout these past few weeks, I attended practices as one of my many responsibilities of Stage Crew. I also got to watch some scenes in the making. While helping student actresses/actors, I used our breaks to investigate what life as a Preston Player truly entails.
I first talked to Celeste Bucknor, asking her what she did to prepare for her role as Deloris Van Cartier. “I’ve done a role in the past where I had to be dramatic, so I took my experiences from Theatre Arts with Mr. Abel and applied those to my character.” I then went over to Joseph Augello, a junior at the High School of American Studies, whose role is Eddie Souther. Managing school and the musical is hard for him, because American Studies has a lengthy commute to Preston. He does, however, plan his homework ahead of time, getting things done on the bus while travelling, which makes his experience less stressful.
At another practice I attended, senior Miranda Martinez, Sister Mary Cecilia, spoke to me about this being her last Preston show. When asked what she would miss most about Preston and the annual musical, she responded, “I’ll miss the memories I made [with my friends] here, as well as [Mr. Abel] and dance rehearsals.” She also added that she has had a wonderful three years with the cast and crew and is excited for what the future holds.
During our Christmas Break rehearsals, the cast was able to work with each other on a less time restricted pace, unlike during the school week when there are usually other activities going on in the cafeteria or gym. With this time, we were able to block scenes, using the stage as a reference, and learn more songs with the help of Ms. Fusco and Mr. Hayes.
For the past three months, the student actors have been hard at work, hoping and knowing that this year’s show will top last years. When joining the play, student actors realize that this extracurricular requires dedication. They give up their free time to attend rehearsals that run for four to eight hours all week. Everyone is learning new dances and memorizing more lines to perform on stage for an eager crowd full of family, friends, and more. Being a Preston Player means being willing to step outside the box, work hard and spend long hours practicing, and, most importantly, having a great time on stage.
Come see Sister Act: The Divine Musical here at Preston High School from February 15-18, 2018!
