by Y. Soleno-’26/CCB Contributor
Editor’s Note: This interview by Y. Soleno-’26 with Principal Green was broadcast on the PAWS for a Cause show in late October. The segment features the new Conwell Pet of the Week series.
If you are a member of the Conwell Middle Magnet School community, and would like to have your pet featured here and on the PAWS for the Cause Show, please email gdungan@philasd.org.
by R. Cosme – ’26/CCB Contributor
Editor’s Note: R. Cosme – ’26/CCB Contributor, interviewed and produced a video report with Conwell Middle Magnet School Social Studies teacher, Mr. Verdi, about his perspective on the celebration of Italian Heritage Month, which takes place in October. The video report was featured on the PAWS for a Cause school morning show on Oct. 23, 2023.
Interview by J. Boggs-Mendeloski-’25/CCB Reporter
Photo Gallery by M. Lanza-’25/CCB Contributor
Editor’s Note: Conwell students and staff donned the orange to stand strong for kindness and against bullying in mid-October. The recorded presentation by Principal Green was taken from the Oct. 10, 2023 At Conwell We Are On! live, student morning show.
By L. Chestnut – ’26 and O. Chavajay-Rojas/CCB Contributors
Reflections by J. Spencer – ’26 and Y. Cruz-’27/CCB Contributors
Photos courtesy of Principal Green, Ms. Branch, A. Peralta-’25 and A. Cruz-’27/CCB – Video Edit by O. Chavajay-Rojas-’26/CCB
Editor’s Note: The following script was read as part of the the 10/13/23 At Conwell We Are On! Live Zoom show, broadcast throughout the school. It has been edited for CCB format.
R. Rowan – On Wednesday, Eleven Navy Sailors came to our school to participate in Navy Week to celebrate the Navy’s Birthday. They had handed out Applications for a STEM program, which will be starting January.
R. Rowan – For more, Here is A. Peralta, Interviewing L. Chestnut and O. Chavajay-Rojas.
A. Peralta – Good morning Conwell I’m A.Peralta here with L.Chestnut asking a few questions about the Navy who joined us earlier this week
A. Peralta -L. how did you feel seeing the navy at our school ?
L. Chestnut – The reason I want to talk about Navy Week is because I wanna appreciate the navy for coming to our school
We learned lot of thing about the Navy like Mr Washington was in the Navy for a long time
Mr. Washington was nice enough to invite some of his Navy friends to talk about what they do in the Navy.
They told us they have 60 different types of jobs and they said there are different ranks, such as an admiral or full admiral, or four-star admiral.
They have stripes on their arms, and according to our Navy visitors, each stripe is 4 years in service from the start of their career.
I bet you Mr Washington had a lot of stripes!
I really like the Navy because the sailors told me I can get a good scholarship and help earn a lot of money and you get to go to places you never went to.
Turn to Obed H.
A. Peralta – That was a amazing response thank you , Leroy
L. Chestnut – Yes, A. My producer, O.Chavajay-Rojas from Section 62, edited a photo gallery video, thanks to photos from Principal Green, Ms. Branch, and CCB photographers yourself and A. Cruz from section 51.
A. Peralta – Now let’s get into the video editing project that Obed from section 62 created .
Play video full screen
R. Rowan – Inspiring video and great production, Obed!
Editor’s Note – The following is a report submitted by J. Spencer-’26/CCB Contributor of her observations of the the Navy visit:
On Tuesday, Oct.10, 2023, the people that in the Navy came into Conwell and spoke with us.
They went to all the classes.
The 8th graders were reading a book on the navy. They were really nice and we asked them questions.
The questions were: “What is the highest rank level?”, “How much do you make?”, “How long have you been in the Navy?” and more.
They answered the questions.
Ms. [Principal] Green was recording us and the Navy people. We had a good time.
Poem by Y. Cruz-’27 in reflection of his experience with the U.S. Navy visit to Conwell
Published by CCB Staff
By Z. Leach-Douglas-’26/CCB Reporter
Editor’s Note: This video report was prepared by Z. Leach-Douglas-’26/CCB Reporter and presented on the 10/6/23 At Conwell We Are On! Morning Zoom student news show. The following script was read by ACWAO anchor A. Peralta-’25 with Z. Leach- Douglas-’27.
PERALTA- We’re all pretty hungry to show our Hispanic Heritage Month Projects! Speaking of what makes us hungry, [Z. Douglas-Leach] of Section 61 and CCB reporter is here with us to tell us more about the new lunch menu!
DOUGLAS-LEACH- Thanks [A. Peralta], yes, Conwell Middle Magnet School has brought back the in-school prepared hot lunches.
PERALTA – I understand that many of our students are liking the new lunch menu?
DOUGLAS-LEACH – Some have, yes. I got a chance to talk with a few students, as well as Ms. Patti Boyer, the school’s cafeteria manager herself. Let’s take a listen.
Video report is played here
DOUGLAS-LEACH – As you can see, many of the students like the new Menu, and we have Ms. Patty to thank! The full video and L. Rodriguez’s lunchtime photo gallery will be posted on Conwell Cougars.Blog shortly, so be sure to visit!
PERALTA- Nice work, [Z. Douglas-Leach]! Thanks for being on with us!
Posted by CCB Staff
Gallery by J. Hayes-’26 and J. Spencer – ’26 – CCB Contributors and CCB Staff
Conwell Middle Magnet School welcomed its school families, friends and alumni during its Back-To-School Night on Sept. 14. The evening featured family workshops, community partners and a chance for families and students to meet with their teachers.
Among the community partners present at the event:
–Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. (APM)
Philadelphia Police Department 24th District
Please view the photo gallery or video for more on the event.
Posted by CCB Staff
By CCB Staff
Conwell Middle Magnet School rang in the new 2022-2023 academic year in the school yard, where families, faculty, staff and students heard Principal Green deliver an impactful message about the power of yet.
Posted by CCB Staff
By V. Escorza – 62 – CCB Reporter with contributions by I. Spier – 61 and E. Santiago – 61.
All this year, Conwell Middle Magnet School students learned about the Six Pillars of Character Counts with Conwell’s Climate Manager, Mr. Washington:
Check out the video above to hear from how Conwell Students describe each pillar in action.
Posted by CCB Staff
By M. Lanza – 62 – CCB Contributor
Photos by M. Lanza-62-CCB Contributor and courtesy of Ms. Branch, Conwell Middle Magnet School teacher.
On the evening of Tuesday, June 6, Conwell Middle Magnet School student leaders from Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority after school program met with the AKA Sorority leaders. The ceremony took place in Conwell’s newly refurbished auditorium. The sorority sisters were there to honor the Conwell Student leaders who joined the program since its start in the fall of this school year. The students were able to talk about their experience.
Two students were particularly recognized by the AKA sorority sisters present. R. Coaxam from section 72 was given a special award for being accountable. N. Fanfan from 83 was also given a special award for working hard no matter what happen or how bad the day was, as described by the AKA leaders. Also some of the student leaders got to give flowers to some of the sorority sisters.
J. Leach from 62, who was one of the AKA program student leaders, was one of the students selected to speak before those in attendance.
“My experience at the Alpha Kappa Alpha after school program was very fun and my favorite project from the A.K.A Institute is when we gave pajamas for the unfortunate people who can not afford it and it was fun it help others in need,” said J. Leach, during her speech. “I feel like when people had to move from their home and couldn’t grab all of their clothes, we all as a team decided to give clothes to others in need.
Posted by CCB Staff
Related story: “STUDENT COLUMN: A 5th Grader’s Plea to STOP GUN VIOLENCE“
By B. Smith – 83 – CCB Reporter with contributions from A. Mejias-83 and E. Perez-83
It’s been such a great experience and a great year for everyone at Conwell Middle Magnet School. Every student here at Conwell has created great memories and has met great peers, as well. Unfortunately, the Eighth-Grade Class of 2023 has to say goodbye and start a new chapter of their lives.
Please check out the above video to hear what some students of the Class of 2023 want to share with you, along with advice they have for the younger and incoming students of Conwell.
We hope you find this advice to be valuable and take this advice seriously.
Posted by CCB Staff
by A. Vega – CCB Videographer
The Conwell Middle Magnet School Flag Football games were an amazing experience to film. It’s because the students look like they are having a blast and the spectators were enjoying themselves. My video can be the second best way to watch the game. So come on down to watch our student athletes play on Thursdays. It’ll be happening after school and we look forward to it continuing year after year.
Editor’s note: reporting contributions by V. Escorza and E. Vega.
Posted by A. Vega-CCB Staff
By CCB Staff
The late afternoon of April 13 turned out to be beautiful weather for Conwell Middle Magnet School’s second week of Flag Foot Ball games. Taking place out in the school yard, the student athletes, their family friends, as well as Conwell faculty and staff were out to cheer the matches between the green-flagged Hawks versus the blue flagged Selects and a second game between Unstoppable Force of the red flags and The Elites of the yellow.
Ultimately, the Unstoppable Force proved their namesake with a wide-margin win over the formerly undefeated Elites, and in a surprise upset in overtime both the Hawks and Selects left the flag football field at a tie.
Watch the highlight reel taken by A. Vega-82 – CCB Videographer, as well as check out the rest of the Conwell Flag Football League’s season matchups in the poster uploaded with this article. For more information about the league, contact league commissioner, Mr. Washington.
Posted by CCB Staff
By E. Vega-82 – CCB Editorial Staff
Conwelll students during rehearsal with Drum Teacher Mr. Robinson. Footage by A. Vega-81.
Students at Conwell Middle Magnet School show off their great talent by playing the drums with drum teacher Mr. Robinson. Students played three different practice pieces in the above video, and one song called “Boom Cat Samba.”
Students play every Wednesday, throughout the day. If you wish to join drums, please contact Mr. Robinson or Ms. Maria at the main office.
Video Editing by K. Velasquez 83 and Video Footage by A. Vega 81
This gallery contains 5 photos.
by E. Vega – 82 – CCB Social Media Editor Conwell Middle Magnet School Staff and students celebrated International Women’s Day on March 3 by wearing their proudest purple clothing. Check out the photo gallery here. Posted by Emani.V section … Continue reading
by K. Velasquez-83-CCB Student Columnist
Well… They lost. Eagles fans around Philadelphia are still salty about their 35-38 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs in the epic showdown
That doesn’t stop the football, however. There is still more sports to be played.
Instead of the Philadelphia Eagles, we have the Philadelphia Stars. Instead of the Kansas City Chiefs, we have the St. Louis Battlehawks. In fact, this is the second time that these two leagues try to start a league besides the NFL: The XFL and USFL.
The USFL was around in the 80s and was once extremely popular with many famous players and celebrities going into the league. The XFL was made in the 2000s and quickly devolved due to low attendance.
In 2020, The XFL restarted and began making better moves than its counterpart.
However nobody knew how to run a league in a whole pandemic so the first season of its return was cancelled.
It led to the relaunch of the USFL
The success overshadowed the XFL and its predecessors. It was one of the first times when a spring league actually did well in its first season (Besides the Arena Football League and FCF – Fan Controlled Football) and it was a sensation as the first championship was a showdown between the Philadelphia Stars and Birmingham Stallions in which the Stallions won in a close 30-33 game. It was also the first of four straight championship losses by a Philadelphia Team that year.
But anyways, hype was up for the league’s next season as even the MVP in the league was getting known in the NFL. The XFL game came back with … The Rock?
But anyways, so far the XFL is doing exceptionally well with many Internet sensations being created off of the creative rules and teams in the game of the XFL.
The USFL is also being hyped up with its next season starting on April 15, 2023.
Editor’s Note: Have an idea for a student column? Email Mr. Dungan at gdungan@philasd.org
Edited by A. Peralta-83 – Posted by K. Velasquez – 83-CCB Staff
by A. Snowden – 62 – CCB Reporter
Conwell Middle Magnet School hosted a live Zoom event on Feb. 28 in celebration of Black History Month. The event included five Conwell Cougars.Blog produced interviews by Conwell students and staff about their African heritage.
The event was created by Conwell’s Black History Month Committee, and featured:
Students were dancing, singing, and there were positive feedback all around!
“The Celebration was really interesting to see and learn about all the foods”, J. Rivera of section 6 – 2 stated as she described what it was like to see this presentation. ” I would defiantly see this again.”
Check out the student video interviews that were featured in the school assembly:
Editor’s Note: Videos were produced by members of the CCB Graphic Arts Team: K. Velasquez-83, A. Vega-82, and A. Peralta – 83.
Posted by A. Snowden.-62- CCB Staff
This is a Drawing of Fannie Lou Hamer, an African American Civil Rights activist in the 1960s, who may be best remembered for her effort to bring hundreds of college students of all backgrounds, races and creeds to help with African American voter registration, according to womenhistory.org.
The artist, Conwell Middle Magnet Student N. Holland said that she made this depiction of Fannie Lou Hamer because, according to Ms. C. Green, special education assistant, N. Holland was asked to draw the image of the Civil Rights activist as they were reading a book about her in class.
Edited by J. Boggs-Mendaloski -61 CCB Staff and Posted by CCB Staff
If you’d like to submit your artwork for publication, email gdungan@philasd.org
By – I. Speier-61 – CCB Reporter
6ABC reporter Matteo Iadonisi (left) talks with Conwell Middle Magnet Teacher Mr. Posnan about the Media Lab Fundraising efforts. – All Photos in this article by I. Speier – 61 – CCB Reporter.
Conwell Middle Magnet School is full STEAM ahead as thousands of dollars in donations have come in to help build a brand-new media lab. The donation efforts were led by Mr. Posnan, Conwell 5th-and 6th-grade Science teacher, to help the school’s Journalism and Media Arts program. The program will help kids reach their goal of being a writer or journalist.
The program will help kids publish their stories or drawings and more, so they can make kids’ dreams come true like they do here on the ConwellCougars.Blog.
“And they want kids to be good writers,” said 6ABC reporter Matteo Iadonisi. “They also would like a good life for the kids that like writing.
Mr. Iadonisi came to visit Mr. Posnan’s classroom to report on the media lab fundraising back in January. At the time of this publication, there was over $22,000 in donations.
“It’s nice how much people care about the media lab,” Mr. Iadonisi said.
According to Mr. Posnan, they’re going to buy iPads, green screens, video equipment, sound studio furnishings, editing software, etc. Right now, the school is trying to find a good, quiet and spaced room.
“Each day, they persevere. Each day, they walk through a million reasons to give up, yet each day, they persist,” said Mr. Posnan
Students at Conwell are excited for the opportunity to get their voices heard.
“I think that this is a really great thing, A. Rodriguez-61 said. “I think it will really help with students’ problems and it will probably help them with their future jobs.”
Editor’s note:
Click this link for more information about the Conwell Middle Magnet School’s Media Lab Fundraiser.
Posted by CCB Staff
Contest By Y. Hiraldo – 61 – CCB Editor — With Graphic Arts by N. Champion – CCB Staff — With reporting by R. Rowan – 72 – CCB – Editor
The Conwell Cougars Blog will be holding another contest in honor of Black History Month, and we’re focusing it around the amazing bulletin board outside of Room 108, titled “Black History Month, Celebrating African American Greats” where students can match impressive historic facts with the correct African American figures.
In order to enter this contest, you must:
1. Read the bulletin board next to room 108
2. Match at least ONE fact from the Room 108 Bulletin Board article to the person!
3. First three students to comment the correct matches will win a CCB-Sponsored free pass to the next Cougar – Cash in or get their name automatically on the PRIZE WHEEL!!!
“You may not recognize some of these people,” Ms Clark said, explaining that she had chosen these individuals in order to increase their popularity. “ We want to spread a little light!”
Students can make their comments by scrolling to the bottom of this post under where it says: LEAVE A REPLY.
The deadline is Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m.
See slideshow gallery above for more details on how to enter the contest!
Posted by CCB Staff
Conwell Cougars Blog 