• How long do you work in this school?
  
  I have worked at Kennedy High School for over 15 years.

  I report early at 7:30 and work until 3 P.M.

  During the day I have Advanced Placement KISS students, Computer Graphic students, a Truancy Prevention Program in the PLATO Lab and in the afternoon, Special Education Classes in both Art and Writing.

• Why don't you study Portuguese? And I as a Brazilian boy have to study English?
  
  While Portuguese is an interesting language that I would like to learn, unfortunately it is not offered in my school's curriculum. But if it were, I would definitely want to study it. I would recommend that you do study English because it is one of the three major languages in the world and English is a universal language that is spoken by almost everyone in the world. -by Keishi

• Why was John F. Kennedy murdered?
  
  During the sixties, America was at war against communism. Communism was another form of government and it controlled a number of countries. The Soviet Union (Russia) was a communist country, it made it's first way to Cuba, an island close to the U.S. We feared that communism might enter the U.S. so we decided to have a war. There was Russian missiles on the island and Russian ships ready to attack, but we retaliated. The threat was lifted. They retreated back to Russia.After the war John F. Kennedy was part of a parade to celebrate the win. While he was in the car, a gun shot was heard and it hit his head.-by Silvestri

• How old are your students?
  
  My student's ages are between 15 and 18 years old.

• Here in Brazil we usually see in films about gangs in Bronx. Is it true?
  
  The Bronx has a bad reputation in America in terms of gangs because it used to have several different gangs. The Bronx isn't as bad as it used to be, but there are still a few gangs left; it has retained its reputation for violence, that is probably why you in S. America would see such films. In America our movies show gang fights in the Bronx but in other places just as much.-by Todd

• How many days the students were at home after the terrorism?
  
  We were home for two days after the attack on the World Trade Center. I cherished the two days we got to stay home because I got to be with my family during this time of grieving and fright.-by Shashanna

• How is USA after the terrorism?
  
  The United States has become very united after the attack. Some people have been afraid to go on planes. Others have left the country because they are afraid there will be another attack. I am afraid myself, to go into Manhattan where the attack took place. We just never know when something like that is going to happen. I hope to never have to go through that kind of incident again. People have compared this crisis to Pearl Harbor. The amount of devastation is the same. -by Queen
  When we first received the attack everybody was in a bit of shock. After the attack on the WTC, nobody could believe that such a beautiful and powerful structure would be gone forever. A sadness and anger swept all over America. Everyone thought that we were safe and secured in America. As a result, this questioned our safety. However this event has made America more united than ever. It has made the U.S. more willing to find the culprit of this attack. We are now taking more precautions and putting more security. We will find our courage and strength as we continue, we will always remember the heroes of 9/11.

• What is your school like?
  
  There are over 4000 students at Kennedy High School. The school offers a wide variety of Academic and Special programs and is organized into Houses to give individualized instruction to each group of students.

• Is your school violent?
  
  My school is John F.Kennedy as you already know. I wouldn't say that the school is necessarily very violent. There are many fights that happen during the school year that affect everyone in the school. Most people in the school are not violent, but some are. They tend to get a bad reputation with teachers and security but often don't deserve such a reputation. With this said, the school isn't violent. Other schools have fights as well. Fights and violence are something that every high school has to deal with due to gangs and disagreements between people. Things like these are what people have to deal with everyday in our society. Not everyone gets into fights often, but they do happen. Some fights have no legitimate reason behind it. Some people who may be perceived as weak individuals are more likely to be picked on. Some persons appearance or shy personalities makes them targets for people to pick on. Not that someone's appearance is a real reason to pick on someone, but to some, these qualities of a person gives them an excuse to do what they do. Not everyone who is seen as weak is picked on or harassed. In John F.Kennedy High School if you don't start trouble, and then no one will bother you. Based on that I would say that my high school is not a violent school. -by Charita
  

• Would you like to visit Brazil?
  
  I would love to visit Brazil. My family and I watch Brazilian soap operas. We watch them translated to Spanish. We have watched Terra Nostra, La Fuerza Del Deseo, Xica, and currently we are watching El Clon. In those soap-operas we are able to catch a glimpse of your country. From what I have seen, Brazil is beautiful, your beaches have clear water and appear clean. Your scenery reminds me of my mother's country which is also located in South America, it is actually on the other side of the Amazon, it's Ecuador; my father is from Colombia, another country that also reminds me of Brazil. I personally believe that all South American countries are beautiful. My family and I are actually planning to go to Brazil one of these summers, possibly this coming one. I would like to know if you could send me a list of some tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro. If you can please send it to me personally through e-mail at (link disabled). My family and I would be very pleased and thankful with your response. I hope to hear from you soon! -by Lorena
  I really like Brazil since its right next to my country, Venezuela. I really wish I can go one day. -by Stephanie

• In my country there is racism, prejudice of any sorts like: races, ages, social. What about in the USA?
  
  In the U.S.A racism and prejudice still exists today. You don't hear about it in the form of segregation but in crimes brought on by hatred for a certain group of people. Today there are crimes like racial profiling and hate crimes. Plus there is prejudice against homosexuals (of both genders) as well as for racial and religious beliefs. Racism isn't as common or talked about as it was years ago. Some people do express openly their hatred for people. Now there is more racism against homosexuals than there is for the color of person's skin. But despite all this racism we still continue to live in the U.S.A trying to live peacefully and happily.

-by Charita

• Is there jails for children who make something wrong?
  
  These places are called Juvenile Hall to detain under-age youth who commit crimes and are too young to be tried as adults.

• Are there computers in each classroom?
  
  No, there are not computers in every classroom. The majority of the classrooms that do have computers also carry Internet Service. The classes that have computers are Computer Graphics, Engineering, certain lab rooms, the classrooms used for the school newspaper committee, and the Virtual Enterprise room which is for the students in the school who wish to study business. Since we don't have computers in every room, when we have to use computers for a certain project or assignment in the class, any one of these facilities are open to us. Other than that we have regular classrooms with desks, chairs, and chalk boards. -by Rafael
  No, the classrooms that would contain computers would be classes that require the use of computers for a certain area. For example, the class we are enrolled in is a class where we are learning to master the art of computer graphics. -by Georgian

• Are there earthquakes in the USA?
  
  Yes, there are earthquakes in the United States but mostly in the Western part of the United States near California. In California there is the San Andreas Fault that might collapse at anytime. Not too long ago, there was an earthquake in Seattle, Washington that was very destructive. My teacher would have presented to a museum conference if the earthquake hadn't occurred, that teacher is Mr. Feld.-by Christopher

• What are the schools subjects in your school?
  
  Our school has many subjects. They include math, history, science, language, physical education, art and music (guitar, band, piano, chorus, music history). The different math subjects are sequential math and math connections. The languages include Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, and Chinese. The different physical education classes are volleyball, basketball, baseball, yoga, tennis, gymnastics, aerobics, paddle tennis, modern dance, body development, football track, health, and a few more. The art classes include studio art, computer graphics, fashion design, painting animation, and basic drawing.

-by Melisa

• How much do you know about Brazil?
  
  Well, I know that Brazil is a very large country. I also know that Brazil has a very good soccer team and are going to the Soccer World Cup. I know that the most famous Brazilian dance is the Zamba (I really like that dance). I have also heard about the famous festival you guys have there is really nice and big.

-by Stephanie

• Is your country in the Soccer world cup?
  
  Yes, the U.S is in the Soccer world cup but soccer is not as popular here. Football is the most popular sport in America. The players are selected from different teams of the Soccer League in America. There are many teams to choose from but only the best are chosen.

-by Christopher

• Was WTC near your school?
  
  The World Trade Center was in lower Manhattan. Our school is located in the Bronx. Compared to where your location it was pretty close. We had huge traffic problems that day and the following day as well. Students that go to schools in lower Manhattan had to report to another school. Some school were ruined and later to be fixed

-by Colon

• What school subject do you teach Mr. Steve?
  
  I teach computer graphics, art history, web page design and the elements and principles of art.

• Do you know any Brazilian song or Brazilian artist?
  
  Menna Barreto, He a surrealist artist, I've seen some of his paintings they are really good I like most of his paintings. One of my favorite paintings that he has is called "The Dryer" Which is a drop of water hanging from a cord as if it could be dried like clothes. His website is www.mennabarreto.com you guys should visit you'll enjoy his work as much as I did.

-by Alfy

• What do your students in their spare time?
  
  During my spare time I like to play American football and listen to music. I like to play football because you have to be really athletic to be a good football player. I like to listen to rap and R&B. Rhythm and Blues music makes me think about different things. It makes me think what the singer is saying. I also like puzzles and telling jokes.

-by Jason

• What is the American food your students prefer?
  
  American food that students prefer are any kind of product from McDonalds. McDonalds is a restaurant that serves a variety of popular foods and drinks. Students also prefer pizza because its cheap, yet tasty. Anything that tastes really good becomes popular with students. Students also prefer cuisine from other parts of the world such as Chinese food or Italian food. Americans love food that are tasty and have good flavor. Anything that is affordable is a plus. -by Stephanie

• Why New York is called "New York"?
  
  New York, first called New Netherlands, was renamed for the Duke of York and Albany after the English took it from Dutch settlers. -by Georgina
  Native Americans were the first to set foot in new York. the state was named in the 1600's for the Duke of New York, James II of England. Many names are from the time when the Dutch had colonized this area, at the time New York was known as the Netherlands. New York was the first capital of the United States.

  -by Amy

  New York was named by the British to honor the Duke of York and Albany, the brother of England's King Charles the 2nd, when New Amsterdam was taken from the Dutch in 1664. New York became the name of the state and the city.
  -by Yira

• What is the American typical food?
  
  Pizza, Hamburger, Hot Dogs and Tacos.

• What is USA climate like?
  
  The climate of New York is usually humid. Coastal areas have higher temperatures, less frost, less cloudiness and fewer storms. The temperature is very low and it is cold during winter. During the summer, we have warm moist air and some showers. The average annual climate for New York is 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The average number of days with precipitation is 125 days out of the whole year with 40 inches of rainfall annually. The average snowfall is 25 inches out of the whole year. During blizzards, up to 3 feet of snow may fall.

-by Amy

• How old is a child when he goes to school for the first time?
  
  A child is 5 years old when he first goes to school. But a child is 4 years old when he goes to kindergarten.-by Capri
  
  A child is usually 4 or 5 years old when he/she goes to school for the first time. It all depends on child's D.O.B (date of birth). If a child turns 5 years old late then he/she will begin pre-school at the age of 4. At the age of 5 a child should have already entered kindergarten. As for me, when I was 4 years old I began pre-school and when I was 5 years old I entered kindergarten. Since pre-school isn't mandatory a child may simply begin kindergarten. I feel that it is a better choice for a child to begin pre-school because they will become familiarized with socializing with other children. They will also know their alphabet, numbers and other things before they enter kindergarten. Pre-school will be best for their advantage.

-by Amy

• How many hours do you study per day?
  
  I study in average about three hours a day when I have homework. I get allot ofhomeworkbecause I am an honors student. When I have a test I usually study four hours a day. When I don't have homework or a test I usually rest and hang out with my friends, but this is very unusual.For example this weekend I have to do a ten page research paper that's due on Monday.-by Lorena

• Is there any prejudice against women especially in work market?
  
  Yes, there is still prejudice against women in the work place but things are changing.

• What is P.E. classes like in your school?
  
  Physical Education in America is a mandatory class that we take with other classes like English, Math, Science, etc. Students must take this in order to graduate from High School. In America, gym teachers take their classes very seriously and they compare it with important subjects such as math and English. If a student does not participate, they will fail the class. This may seem harsh but there are good things about Physical Education as well. We as students are able to pick the type of gym we want. We can pick Karate, Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis, Aerobics, Weight training, Modern Dance, or yoga for gym. This gives students a chance to try and pick something they know they will pass.

-by Kerry

• What is the American favorite sport?
  
  Baseball, Football and Basketball.

• Do you study foreign languages?
  
  Yes, my school offers 4 kinds of foreign language. They offer French, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese.

-by Keisha

• How many holidays are there is the USA? What are they?
  
  In America we have several holidays. Our holidays include Valentine Day, St. Patrick Day, Groundhog Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Easter, Christmas, and we receive several school holidays such as mid winter recess, winter recess & spring break There are more, but these are the main ones. Some of our other holidays only apply to certain ethnic or religious groups but are still nationally known.

-by Todd

• What is the Statue of Liberty like? 

  

• What are the tourist areas in New York?
  
  
  

    
         Statue of Liberty- A huge statue representing freedom on Liberty Island (Ellis Island).in New York harbor, it was designed by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a French Sculptor. The statue is of a women draped in a robe on a foundation shaped of a eleven point star on the statue's head is a crown which spikes represents the sun rays and in her left hand is a book which states '' July IV MDVVLXXVI'(July 4, 1776) Independence day,her right hand is holding a torch, while her arm is raised in the sky. Broken shackles lie at her feet. The statue is made of copper and Steel, it s color is light green. The statue took 10 years to build from a 36 foot model. The total height is 305 feet. The tourist visit by the Staten Island ferry from Manhattan. Visitor are able to climb the statue by taking the elevator to the ground floor to the base of the Statue from there is a stair way leading 12 stories up to an observation deck inside the crown which you can view. Underneath the statue is the American Museum of Immigration, which contains exhibits and displays telling the story of immigration too the United States.

Ellis Island- A 27 acre island in New York Bay, it was once the main immigration station in the United States, and was made part of the statue of liberty National Monument. The United States brought the island from New York State in 1808. The station was closed in 1954 after having let in 16,000,000 immigrants in 62 years. The center was reopened in 1990 as Ellis Island immigration museum.

Central Park- is a place of relaxation where you could sit around and enjoy the view of nature, its a narrow park covering 840 acres located between 59th and 110th streets and fifth and eighth ave. The park contains a zoo, play grounds recreation centers, ice skating rink, bicycle and walk ways.

Metropolitian Museum of Art- A major art museum of New York City, It has 2,000,000 art objects, from ancient egyptian and artifacts to 20th century paintings and sculptures. The museum has about 4,000 musical instruments, and collections of European art. The museum was opened to the public at 1880 at Central Park.

Metropolitan Opera House- The attraction is part of New York city's Lincoln Center for the performing arts. Annual award shows take place here.

Madison Square Garden- Named after our forth President James Madison "Father of the Constitution". There were originally four areas constructed. Madison square the original garden founded by P.T. Barnum in the 1870's by Standford White, it was built in 1925 and torn down in 1925, a third garden at 49th street 8th Ave. was completed in 1925 and torn down in 1968. The forth and final or present garden called Madison Square Garden sports and Entertainment center home of the New York Knicks was completed 1968, the area is used for various professional sporting events, and shows. The garden is a 13 story drum-shaped building on 8th avenue between 31th and 33rd Street, sharing space with Penn Station. There are 20,000 seats in the main arena, a smaller arena, a bowling center , an art gallery, and a theather. This is a huge tourist attraction.

Radio City- Located at Times Square 42nd Street, a large motion picture theatre known for it's dancing Rockettes''(Which are a group of women dancers who stand in a line and do their famous Kicks, the performance is most exciting and overly populated around Christmas time.

Rockerfeller Center- Located between 5th and 6th Ave. from 48th to 52nd Street. The area has plenty of tall buildings with rooftop gardens and out door skating rink which is mostly occupied in the winter for ice skaters. The location is a huge relaxation scene.

Time Square- 42nd street in Manhattan is a huge tourist attraction during the day or night. Before New Years every one is excited to see the ball drops at 12:00 p.m. The ball is filled with thousands of lights and millions of people standing outside in the cold eager, while time ticks away waiting to celebrate the new year.

The Bronx Zoo- Located East river Pelham Bay Park in north river Pelham Bay Park, it covers 2118 acres the largest park in New York, its the Bronx Conservation park and it's free of charge on Wednesday's. Many tourist are drawn to this place because it gives them the opportunity to see various animals from all over the world. The zoo makes it possible to learn more about animal life and their environment each visit.

The Twin Towers Cite- The twin tower cite, world trade center, people are able to visit the area and reflect back to a terrorfying moment, and remember our heroes and those lost in a mist. The cite is presently one of the most famous tourist attraction which helps our nation to return to reality and realize that we shouldn't take life for granted, this will allow us if it hasn't already, to be a strong nation. A closed fist strikes harder than a open hand.-by Bridget