School Review of Halsey Junior High School
Choosing a junior high school is not a decision to stress over. In fact many students just go to their local junior high school that they are zoned for. However, if you are looking for a school that exceeds standards, Halsey Junior High School is right for you. The surrounding area is very nice and there are many stores, restaurants, and shops to go to. Halsey Junior High School is located in Rego Park, in the borough of Queens in New York City. The student population for each grade is about 300 students. Every child is able to fit in and make friends because the diverse and large grade classes. Students are able to make tons of friends as every student is placed in a home room class that they report to in the morning where a teacher takes attendance. The students in your home room class are the same students who are in your history and english classes so students get plenty of time throughout the year to bond with their classmates and develop friendships.
During lunch period which is about 45 minutes long, the students go down to the cafeteria where lunch is served. Students who also arrive to school early enough in the morning have the option of paying for breakfast as well. When students are done eating they can go to the yard which is a wide open place with concrete floor. It has several basketball hoops and plenty of room for kids to play football or have a catch. When lunch period is over a bell will sound over the loudspeaker, ending the lunch session. The bell is also used to notify teachers and students when class is ending and when the next one starts. There is about a five minute interval between classes which gives students plenty of time to get to their next class. During lunch, students also have the option of going off the school grounds and eating lunch at Subway restaurant or getting pizza.
At Halsey Junior High School there is a big emphasis on academics. Each teacher is trained in their field and specializes in certain academics such as history or science. Each class session is 45 minutes long and students usually take around 6 or 7 classes a day. This provides an academic environment where students know they have to pay attention in each class and usually will have homework due the next day. In the classrooms, there is more of a discussion between teachers and students than there is lecturing about information or a subject. This gets kids to think creatively and on their feet rather than just spit out information. Each teacher also has specially set up office hours in which children can speak to them for extra help or to ask about their grades or other ways in which they can improve in that class.
There are also special classes that students must take such as literacy or computer technology or a language. This preapres a child for high school.
The gym at the school has been recently repaired in December of 2005. They have two gym facilities that teach kids how to play sports and interactive in other fun activities.
The only bad feature of the school is that there is constantly construction work going on in the school. The Board of Education is very slow and construction projects like replacing window can take many months.
I still highly recommend that you take a visit to the junior high school if you live in Queens or New York City. You will find a school rich in talent and a great academic foundation for students to strive in.
