MD removes frees from schedules
Arushi Talwar, Staff Writer
September 18, 2020
The Middle Division (MD) has temporarily removed free periods from the majority of students’ schedules and replaced them with study halls to promote social distancing, Dean of the Class of 2025 Michelle Amilicia wrote in an email. “The more free periods students have, the more likely they are to con...
Welcome new MD science teacher: Noah Kaminsky
Katya Tolunsky, Staff Writer
September 13, 2020
With five years of teaching experience, Noah Kaminsky is eager to join the Middle Division Science Department to teach seventh grade. “I’m looking forward to being a part of a collaborative science team that does something really great for the students,” he said. Kaminsky grew up in Riverdale a...
Welcome new MD French teacher: Anna Salzman
Katya Tolunsky, Staff Writer
September 13, 2020
“Horace Mann has kind of remained my home in my heart,” French teacher Anna Salzman ’09 said. “It's a very exciting moment to realize I’ve gone from pupil to teacher.” After graduating from Horace Mann, Salzman attended Johns Hopkins University, where she double majored in French and Art Histo...
Welcome new theatre design teacher: Caitie Miller
Jillian Lee and Lucas Glickman
September 13, 2020
“In the theatre, you get to create something wild and insane,” Theatre design teacher and Technical Director Caitie Miller said. “It lasts for three weeks, 50 people see it, and then it’s gone.” Miller will be joining the Theater, Dance & Film Studies Department to help run schoolwide produ...
MD advice: Eighth graders give their five cents
September 11, 2020
How different is Middle School from fifth grade? Was it hard to adjust? Coming into Middle School, I was new to HM. Before the first day, I was super nervous and didn't know what to expect. But once I stepped foot onto the campus as a student, I realized that everyone here is super supportive and en...
Fuks (6), classmates bring joy to Queens Hospital Center
Vidhatrie Keetha, Staff Writer
September 11, 2020
“In the midst of hell, this was a very nice glimpse of hope and humanity,” said Dr. Aleksandr Fuks, the Director of the OB/GYN Department at Queens Hospital Center. Towards the end of April, Aleksandr’s daughter, Abey Fuks (6), and her fifth-grade classmates wrote about 15 to 20 letters to di...
My STEPS experience
Nia Huff
May 14, 2020
Surrounded by cotton candy and bouncy houses, my fellow mentees, mentors, and advisors and I gather at the Lower Division field to celebrate another successful school year and reminisce about the memories we've made. The STEPS ( Students Together Empowering People of Color Successfully) carnival gives...
Taking STEPS to empower students of color
Ayesha Sen and Clio Rao
May 14, 2020
Despite America’s historic and pervasive racist, classist, and sexist legacy, a mentoring program that brings together high school and middle school students of color proves that when students of color are given space to be their full self, they can ultimately thrive in, rather than simply survive,...
Javaid Khan: A year in review as head of MD
Lauren Ho and Frankie Dogramaci
May 8, 2020
When Head of the Middle Division (MD) Javaid Khan ‘92 first stepped onto the school’s campus as a ninth grader, the MD didn’t exist. He had no idea that over three decades later, he would return to serve as its head. In his first year at the MD, Khan has worked to improve assemblies and re-ev...
MD mentor program resumes online
May 1, 2020
On March 4, Middle Division (MD) mentor Sam Weidman (10) headed into what he did not know would be his final in-person meeting for months to come. As the news surrounding COVID-19 began to grow, the MD Mentor Program leadership began contemplating how the pandemic would affect the meaningful relationships...
Online MD assembly promotes empathy
Chloe Choi and Emily Salzhauer
May 1, 2020
Last Wednesday, the Middle Division (MD) held an assembly that highlighted the importance of students supporting students during these difficult times through a series of stories told by John Dorr Nature Lab teacher, Nick DePreter, and the Head of MD, Javaid Khan. DePreter was asked to speak at the...
To meet or not to meet: MD implements more virtual classes
Liliana Greyf, Staff Writer
April 24, 2020
As Middle Division (MD) students continue to conduct their classes virtually, various changes in scheduling and potentially to grading systems have altered the structure of MD HM Online. As the administration has reached various scheduling conclusions, members of the community have expressed...
