By Antonio . P-83 – CCB Contributor –

Editor’s Note: PAWS TIME is an ongoing series of Conwell students and alumni who want to pause for a moment and reflect on their time at Conwell Middle Magnet School

Hello all, My name is Antonio P. of the 8th grade and I am in section 83. 

I will be retelling my experiences at Conwell Middle Magnet School to you, and the many questions, thoughts, and interests that I have had in the past 3 years. 

Beginning from 5th grade I was inspired to go to Conwell Middle Magnet school because of its praise at my elementary school (Sheppard Elementary School). With work being done and assignments being turned in, I was eventually able to be accepted into the school alongside some of my good friends. 

Beginning in the 5th grade, I met a lot of cool people ( I still talk to them to this day ). I initially struggled with some of the work, but with time I began to grasp the basics of studying and learning the material by teachers assigned to me. 

The teachers helped me with the work and pointed me in the right direction. At some point in 5th grade, I managed to get full Straight A’s with the help of the teachers and with some of my friends. I earned an honors Conwell hoodie and proudly showed it off to my friends. Leaving 5th grade was kind of a toll on my brain because of the Corona outbreak. This event slowly introduced me to the concept of a virtual learner.

“ At Conwell middle magnet school, we can do virtually anything.” – Principal Green of Conwell middle magnet school. 

The teachers helped me with the work and pointed me in the right direction.

During 6th grade, I was surprised at the thought of virtual learning because previously I learned by going to the school physically, I met more people in the virtual classroom. This was also a point where I struggled as I was not accustomed to this new way of learning, However I still continued to keep working as best as I could and eventually I grasped the concept of learning as well. 

Some important things that happened in my 6th grade was the beginning of the Conwell Cougar Celebrity that was hosted by both Mr.Dungan and Mr.Posnan where we celebrated the nominee’s and applauded the winners. Something funny that happened was Mr.Posnan’s introduction to his soundboard. Originally used by my good friend for comedic purposes, Mr.Posnan questioned it and he began using it at the Conwell Cougar Celebrity meetings which gave the audience something to laugh with.

The beginning of 7th grade. A very important grade, it decides what high schools you are eligible for and the tasks you must complete are just as important. It was a year where we resumed back to “normal” learning and interaction. This time I was not greeting people from a screen but now I was able to see their faces. It was a bit awkward since we have never met each other in person before but we quickly adapted to it. During the school year I was able to get on a cool trip by visiting the Penn relays, where our school competed in (And got first place). Besides that I enjoyed my 7th grade despite the various challenges that I had. 

Graphic art by K. Velasquez-83-CCB Contributor

Moving to my 8th grade year, the year I am currently in ( as of September 2022). Nothing much really changed compared to my 7th grade year. I still see the same people everyday with the exception of some people. I somehow got into Algebra class alongside some of my friends and some people I talk to. I can’t write much in this area as I am limited by the concept of time. However I would like to talk about the programs we have at Conwell Middle Magnet School. 

I would like to start off with the program I am currently In, ASAS ( After school All Stars ). This program, as its name suggests, takes place after school which specifically starts at 2:30. It gives students a chance to learn new skills and practice in some sports. It also provides time for assistance for any homework that a student may need help with. Besides that the community is great as everyone is considerate of others and they respect each other. 

More programs here at Conwell Middle Magnet School are NJHS (National Junior Honor Society ) and The Safety Patrol. NJHS primarily focuses on recruiting students with high grades and leadership skills as well as helping them further their skills as a person. The safety patrol focuses on voluntary students patrolling the school in shifts to make sure everyone is in a good condition and to prevent trouble from erupting. They also help students get to their designated classrooms and arrive on time. 

There are still more programs to come but I may never see them. Besides that I greatly admire the people in these programs as they have shown confidence to even be in the programs and I also admire how they perform their duties well. 

If you would like to know more about Conwell Middle Magnet School. Please feel free to visit www.conwell.philasd.org .

Posted by A. Vale-Velez-62- CCB editor and A. Peralta-83 -CCB Contributor