Bathroom Issues

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Published: February 13, 2023 February 13, 2023

By Ruvi Romero

Students are unable to use the bathrooms on campus due to broken toilets and missing toilet paper.

“Sometimes when I go to the bathroom, I must wait to use the stall because most of the toilets are out of order and the ones that are working are being used by another student. This is a problem because sometimes I really need to use it. My teacher gives me 5 minutes or less to use the bathroom. Sometimes it is impossible to use it between that time. Depending on the location of the classroom, it can take a student 1-2 minutes just to arrive and another two to use it depending on what they are going to do.”

This seems to not be the only problem regarding the bathrooms at the school. Several students at the school mentioned that the bathrooms are missing toilet paper and soap.

“When I go to the bathroom, I must make sure that there is toilet paper in the stall that I am going to use. There have been times where I would be in a rush to use the bathroom and I do not realize that there is no toilet paper in the stall, so I must ask my friend to get some from another stall and pass it to me. There is also a lack of soap. When I go to wash my hands there is a soap bottle with 5% soap and 95% water. The custodians fill the bottle with water instead of getting a new bottle of soap. It makes me feel dirty.”

Students claim that the bathrooms should be bigger and that it lacks sanitation.

“Most of the time the bathrooms are nasty. There are only two bathrooms that I think are clean. I use the bathroom twice a day, so it makes me feel uncomfortable.”

“I avoid using the bathroom because they smell strange. The bathroom stalls are also ridiculously small. It can be claustrophobic for tall people like me and heavy students.”

“The other day I went to the bathroom, and I was greeted will an awful smell. There are 4-5 stalls in a bathroom and 3 of them were out of order and the other one did not have toilet paper, so I had to use the stall that was on the far left. As I entered the stall the awful smell got stronger, and I saw urine all over the floor. It appeared as if it had been there for hours or days. I had to take off my skirt and hang it on the door so it would not touch the urine. After that day, I try to avoid using that bathroom.” The students hope to be heard so that a change can take place and make these problems disappear.

Miss IEKHS 2023

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Published: February 17, 2023 February 17, 2023

Miss IEKHS is finally back in action with our show stopping contestants J’Naiya Squiabro, Aniyah Rodriguez, Shameya Benjamin, and Kyra David. 

After nearly six years of being deprived of a Miss IEKHS, the school is buzzing with excitement. On January 20^th, 2023, during one of this year’s first pep rallies, the entire school screamed and cheered them on as they masqueraded in their luscious outfits and wooed the crowd with their speeches. Expressing excitement, an IEKHS students said, “I am very excited about the show! I can’t wait to see all the girls in their outfits.”

It is expected, many people will attend the show on February 25^th at IEKHS in the cafeteria at 6:30 pm. The contestants will again dress in different outfits like sportswear and swimwear, introduce themselves, and woo the judges as best as they can. Then they will finally announce this year's Miss IEKHS.

Students Face Fun Challenges at District Spelling Bee

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By Erika Marks Erika Marks

Published: February 25, 2023 February 25, 2023

Nyeema Henderson and Josenh Greaux Jr. will live on in the history of the Education Department's District Intermediate Spelling Bee.

Greaux spelled the winning word, "Phonics," in the seventh and final round of the competition Thursday morning at the auditorium of John H Woodson Junior High School. On Thursday, March 16, he will be among the six competitors in the Territorial Spelling Bee on St. Thomas. Alex Fleming from Good Hope Country Day School, Rayan Felix from Free Will Baptist School, Abdel Bazzar from Ricardo Richards Elementary School, Meilene Henrys from Catholic School, and Sinaia Steven from Claude O Markoe School are the others.

The younger Greaux, who was coached by Susan Jones both times, said he competed in the 2019 competition and finished eighth. "I was sad, but I told myself I was going to come back to try again and win," he said.

In her closing remarks on the Woodson campus, News Executive Editor Eunice Bedminster said. Scripps Howard purchased the competition's rights in 1941, she said, and it has been held ever since, with the exception of 1943-1945 during World War I, and in 2020 due to COVID. Since 2018, Kendra Vicars, St. Thomas-St. John District Director of Curriculum and Instruction, has coordinated the district spelling bee.

"During the pandemic, we did not have an in-person bee for that very first year when everything was closed down, and last year we had a modified bee where we didn't really have much of an audience because of the pandemic," explained Victor.

"So, it was good to be back in person, everyone was able to come in - parents, we were able to invite other students from schools."

Students at IEKHS speak up about bathroom issues

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By Bobby Brown and Ericka Marks Bobby Brown and Ericka Marks

Published: February 26, 2023 February 26, 2023

Students are unable to use the bathrooms on campus due to broken toilets and missing toilet paper.

“Sometimes when I go to the bathroom, I must wait to use the stall because most of the toilets are out of order and the ones that are working are being used by another student. This is a problem because sometimes I really need to use it.”

This seems to not be the only problem regarding the bathrooms at the school. Several students at the school mentioned that the bathrooms are missing toilet paper.

“When I go to the bathroom, I must make sure that there is toilet paper in the stall that I am going to use. There have been times where I would be in a rush to use the bathroom and I do not realize that there is no toilet paper in the stall, so I must ask my friend to get some from another stall and pass it to me.”

“There is a lack of soap. When I go to wash my hands there is a soap bottle with 5% soap and 95% water. The custodians fill the bottle with water instead of getting a new bottle of soap. It makes me feel dirty.”

Students claim that the bathrooms should be bigger and that it lacks sanitation.

“Most of the time the bathrooms are nasty. There are only two bathrooms that I think are clean. I use the bathroom twice a day, so it makes me feel uncomfortable.”

“I avoid using the bathroom because they smell strange. The bathroom stalls are also ridiculously small. It can be claustrophobic for tall people like me and heavy students.”

“The other day I went to the bathroom, and I was greeted will an awful smell. There are 4-5 stalls in a bathroom and 3 of them were out of order and the other one did not have toilet paper, so I had to use the stall that was on the far left. As I entered the stall the awful smell got stronger, and I saw urine all over the floor. It appeared as if it had been there for hours or days. I had to take off my skirt and hang it on the door so it would not touch the urine. After that day, I try to avoid using that bathroom.” 

Custodians say that students are also to blame for the lack of sanitation in the bathrooms.

“Not all custodians do their job correctly, but the dirty bathrooms are partially the student's fault because they are the ones who are using them and making the mess. Some students can be nasty and spiteful. We are also short staffed now, so it is hard to keep up and maintain the whole school.”

 

Deep dive-in with the D- Rays

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By Viola West Viola West

Published: February 18, 2023 February 18, 2023

Two pep rallies were held for the upcoming basketball season. The first was on Friday, January 13, 2023, which started at 1:45pm. Students were escorted down to the gym by their 5th period teachers as class was still in session during this time. Both male and female, basketball and Varsity teams were introduced to the school and the students sitting on the bleachers cheered on their fellow classmates as they soon learned that their first game of the season would be on the next day.

The following Friday, all the school teams were introduced. The track team, baseball team, Basketball and varsity teams for both male and female were all introduced. Aside from the sports teams, the cheerleaders, band members and J.R.O.T.C class also performed for the school and the beauty pageant runners-up were also introduced along with Miss Ivanna Eudora Kean. Food and drinks were also served during the event. Students wore the schools spirit tee shirts in order to show support for their fellow classmates on the teams.

The Black History Month Program

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By Bobby Brown Bobby Brown

Published: February 28, 2023 February 28, 2023

Every year the Social Studies department does a program for Black History Month. Every student that takes the class participates in activities to earn at least 3 project grades. The Black History Month program consists of a cultural fair, dances, skits, dress up days and so much more. There is also a museum displaying different artifacts.

“We’ve been practicing for days, I cannot wait to put on a show on Friday,” said an 11th grader.

Before the big program, there are always 1-2 mini programs before that as a small introduction to the real thing. During those mini programs students participate in panel discussions with special guests.

VI High School Students Partake in Car

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Published: February 14, 2023 February 14, 2023

Students of the Ivanna Eudora Kean and Charlotte Amalie High Schools showed out their cars at the De’ Youth Dem Car Show hosted by Loud n’ Proud and the Office of Gun Violence Prevention on Sunday, February 5, 2023, starting at 12:00 pm, held in the Fort Christian Parking Lot. The young males, who put their hours of labor to show, with their decked out Hondas, Audis, Toyotas, and Acuras, were supported by friends and family members who partook in the event. 

The owner of Loud n Proud, Christina Burt, who has organized many car shows throughout the years, was approached by students from IEKHS and CAHS. “The guys, they got their little cars with their little rims and music, and they wanted to do a little car show. They into what we into, too,” Burt said. “We know this is an interest of our young people. This is an amazing talent that they have to design these cars and customize the stereos. What we’re hoping for is that they see this as an opportunity for individual entrepreneurship,” said Antonio Emmanuel, executive director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. 

When all the car owners in car show ended their performances, the winners of the different categories were announced for everything from the best rims, interior and exterior, the best bagged, the best stance/slogan, best ragga, and best factory. The winners included Jahyel George who won People’s Choice, also winning a handful of trophies accompanied by Mario Peterson, Gerell Reed, Dyllani Newton, C’Mouri Jarvis, and Makai Charleswell.

Winner of Best Interior and Best Bagged, Dyllani Newton, said “I like to take care of my interior more than I take care of the outside of the car.” Working hard, raising $3,000 to remodel his car, “I was expecting to win it too,” Newton said. 

Jahyel George, winner of Best Slogan, among others, spoke on his winning slogan, Brick Pan Brick; “I feel good. Making money, that’s how I look at it, and it’s catchy so I just put it on.” 

“Don’t be scared, to put yourself out there if you want to win something,” said Mario Peterson, winner of Best Rims and Best Exterior. 

A student from the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, Trevon Anthony, who was also a participant in the car show, stated that he prepped his red Honda Civic over the last 2 years, with a small set, a fresh paint job, and some rims, “To show that the youngsters can be out here and do stuff too, it’s our time to shine.”

Bryan Signs a $2.2M Agricultural Bill

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By Bobby Brown Bobby Brown

Published: February 16, 2023 February 16, 2023

Govenor Albert Bryan Jr signed a bill of $2.2M to fund the territory’s agricultural plan. 

 On January 23, Bryan signed into law the first bill from the 35th Legislature’s first session. Senator Donna Frett-Gregory, the bill’s sponsor, issued a press release celebrating its passage. “The passage of this measure has been a long time coming and is a step in the right direction for the agricultural industry in the territory. It also demonstrates to our federal partners that we are serious about developing the agricultural industry,” said Frett-Gregory in a statement. 

During that session, senate president Novelle E. Francis Jr said, “The adoption of the plan is progress toward reducing the territory’s reliance on imported food.”  

Source: VI Daily News 

The Cannabis Advisory Board Decides to Converge

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By Bobby Brown Bobby Brown

Published: February 24, 2023 February 24, 2023

More than five months following the passage of the recreational cannabis law, the Cannabis Advisory Board has scheduled its first meeting.

 After 4 years and thousands of dollars spent on failed efforts to implement the 2019 medical cannabis law, the board will restart the process making regulations for marijuana.

 The Cannabis Advisory Board last met on September 7, after spending months taking public comment on proposed medical regulations. The board, however, never approved medical regulations and the law was never implemented.

 DLCA Commissioner Richard Evangelista said if Bryan signs the recreational cannabis law, “then the proposed Rules & Regs for Medical Cannabis would be null & void. Either way, the CAB is prepared to act.”

It’s unclear how much money has been spent to date on the government’s efforts to regulate cannabis sales in the territory.

SOURCE: VI DAILY NEWS