Nearly a month into the fall season, Townsend Harris PSAL teams have had strong starts. Four teams remain undefeated so far: boys varsity badminton at 6–0, girls varsity tennis and girls varsity swimming each at at 5–0, and girls varsity volleyball at 4–0. Additionally, girls soccer and boys bowling each stand at 5–1. Here is a look at where each fall team stands, followed by an Athlete Spotlight with sophomore girls varsity volleyball player Aja Fall. The girls varsity volleyball team has opened the season 4–0, and sophomore Aja Fall has played a strong role in that start.

On September 28, at a tense meeting of the Townsend Harris School Leadership Team, a faculty survey revealed strong opposition to the school’s transition to a new grading platform. "There’s a difference between…being averse to change and acknowledging something isn’t as good as what we had," said Kevin McDonaugh, the UFT chapter representative, in presenting survey data that showed that, in responses from more than two-thirds of the faculty, 88.3 percent want to go back to the old system, known as Jupiter. "I am really trying to give a chance, but it is still too time-consuming and unreliable: clicks, tabs, slowness, constant need to refresh,” said one teacher in an anonymous response to the survey, a copy of which was obtained by The Classic.

In this episode of Keeping it Classic, guidance counselor Victor Wang discusses his experience working in college admissions, what students should understand about the application process, and how he now helps THHS students navigate high school.

The Classic surveyed 96 randomly selected Townsend Harris students about their sleep habits. Explore the results below. The Classic Breakdown explores student life at Townsend Harris through data. Using surveys of randomly selected students, the series will examine everything from caffeine consumption and sleep habits to how students spend their time in and out of school. The above image was made with Canva.

Try out this 'Classicle' game where you guess the five letter word. If you are looking for a hint, this game is inspired by yesterday's senior sunrise and the hint is: 'a new day.' Built using the free wordle-style puzzle builder from Amuse Labs

Facebook and Instagram's parent company Meta recently agreed to new restrictions on teen use of social media after settling a lawsuit brought by New York and other states over allegedly addictive features. At the same time, New York’s SAFE for Kids Act will take effect January 25. Both the Meta settlement and the New York law will restrict algorithmically personalized feeds and have the potential to significantly impact how teens in New York interact with social media on a daily basis. In January, New York’s SAFE for Kids Act will require social media platforms…

The Classic Brief provides a quick overview of the big events that drive each week. Last week, students were hoping to celebrate the start of the school year with Senior Sunrise, while others were launching extracurriculars following the Club Fair, and athletes were busy putting on the Pep Rally.  Senior Sunrise For the past few years,  Townsend Harris seniors have gathered to watch the sunrise at the Queens College Track with their friends and peers. “Senior Sunrise… is definitely a time where we get to be kids again,” senior Mahalia Hyppolite said in anticipation of the event.

Many Townsend Harris seniors apply to colleges in New York, making the standardized testing expectations of institutions across the state especially relevant as a number of elite universities nationwide have reinstated SAT and ACT requirements. The Classic reviewed testing policies at a range of New York institutions and spoke with seniors about how those policies are influencing their college decisions. Many seniors said they are likely to stay in New York for college. “Not only is it more affordable,” said senior Victoria Ng, who plans to apply to numerous New York institutions.

The Classic surveyed 80 randomly selected Townsend Harris students about their caffeine consumption, preferred drinks, and reasons for consuming caffeine. Explore the results below. The Classic Breakdown explores student life at Townsend Harris through data. Using surveys of randomly selected students, the series will examine everything from caffeine consumption and sleep habits to how students spend their time in and out of school.

Try out this new edition of the Connections-style 'Nexus' game, with a fall/back to school theme.

Student concerns about their course schedules at the start of a school year are nothing new at Townsend Harris. In October 1990, The Classic published “Program Slips Wreak Havoc,” describing how overcrowded classes and a glitchy computer system left students misplaced, including one freshman placed in a history class above their grade level. Indeed, students still spend much of September adjusting and changing their course schedules in 2026 (sometimes whether they like it or not). Senior Bradley Bachoco moved his physical education class to zero band, saying “I feel more awake” taking it earlier in the day.

The Classic Brief offers a quick look at the stories shaping the week. During last week, the first full week of school, Townsend Harris students spent their time adjusting to schedule changes, a revised device policy, and new opportunities to share feedback with the Student Union. Schedules In August, the programming office and guidance sent students a schedule-change request form, and as of last week, many students were still receiving updated programs. It is common for changes to happen throughout September. Some students are able to get the changes they request.

Try your hand at this mini-crossword with the theme of 'reminders.' Made by Jasmine Mootooveran with the crossword puzzle creator from Amuse Labs

Townsend Harris math teacher and tennis coach Stephen Mazza submitted the following letter to The Classic reflecting on the publication’s coverage of last year’s championship teams (which you can access below the letter). LETTER TO THE EDITOR I want to say that I really appreciate how the staff of The Classic stepped up to cover both championship teams this past year. I was very disappointed in the ambivalence championship teams were receiving, especially the two badminton teams in previous years. And I really wasn't happy when I realized my team was going to receive the same treatment.

By ck on the image below to see a special feature that explores the people that make up the Townsend Harris community:

In October 2001, the editors of The Classic published a "Special Memorial Edition" of the newspaper, focused on coverage of how the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 impacted the school community. In that edition, the editors published two letters that were sent to THHS from Shimoda High School, the "sister school" of THHS. One letter is from Hiroshi Watamabe, principal of Shimoda, and is addressed to then-principal of THHS Thomas Cunningham. The second letter is addressed to the students of THHS and is written by Takashi Muraki, on behalf of the students of Shimoda. The letters are reprinted below as they originally appeared in the print edition of The Classic.

Try out this Classic Crossword with a first day of school theme: Made by Jasmine Mootooveran with the free cross word generator from Amuse Labs

Students returned to Townsend Harris High School earlier today, beginning the 2026–27 school year a few days later than many surrounding suburban districts. Some students ended up getting a few extra minutes of summer, however, as a delay in scanning every student into the building led to long lines and an extended official class session.  "It took a long time to get into the building," said senior Tashfia Mahmud. "We need a better system. It seemed messy." The delay in entering led to a greatly reduced first band class. The first class of the day was supposed to be forty minutes, but ended up being far shorter.

Unscramble the relevant early September phrase below: Constructed by Jasmine Mootooveran with the online decipher creator from Amuse Labs

A look at the live performances and music at the annual THHS end of year carnival.

Here is this week's end of summer Classicle. You can also play a 'school starts soon' themed Connections-style game (Nexus) below. Built by Jasmine Mootooveran using PuzzleMe's custom wordle maker Here is this week's Classic Nexus:

Rising junior Tajrian Noor will step into a Student Union leadership role next year as the 2026-2027 Club Liaison, building on her experience as a Freshman Grade Leader and Executive-at-Large. As Club Liaison, Tajrian will work closely with the school’s clubs and lead the Club Council, a student-led branch of the SU that was expanded this year to give students a larger role in overseeing clubs. Among its responsibilities, the council reviews applications for proposed clubs and helps determine which will advance through the approval process. Tajrian, who worked with Club Council this year as an Executive-at-Large, said strengthening it will be one of her main priorities.

Try out this week's "Classicle" puzzle below. Made using the wordrow builder from Amuse Labs HINT (READ ONLY IF YOU WANT IT): If you are looking for a hint, we might call this Classicle Puzzle: "Kookin' for a Word" based on its connection to a recently concluded streaming show.

While student literary organizations often focus on writing and editing, the editors of the Starling Press have developed an additional set of skills: using Amazon’s Kindle publishing software to turn student manuscripts into finished e-books. After three years of as a publisher of student writers, Starling Press editors say they have become increasingly proficient with Kindle Create and Kindle Direct Publishing, allowing them to handle much of the technical process of formatting and preparing their classmates’ creative work for publication e-book publication. The publishing process begins with editors working with student authors to develop and revise manuscripts.

This episode of Keeping it Classic features host Vickie Eng speaking to new members of the THHS community. You can listen to the podcast episode above or read a transcript of the episode below. TRANSCRIPT: Vickie: Hi, Townsend Harris High School. Welcome to Keeping It Classic. My name is Vickie Eng. I'm an incoming sophomore, and I'm joined by  Giovanna: Giovanna Parris, and I'm an incoming freshman.  Arianna Look: Ariana Look, and I'm also an incoming freshman.  Arianna Jaype: Arianna Jaype, and I'm an incoming sophomore. Afsheen: Afsheen Rana, and I'm an incoming freshman.

Incoming Student Union President Aki Benjamin will take on the organization’s top position this fall after three years of involvement in student government at Townsend Harris High School. Aki began his freshman year as a senator and grade leader before becoming Freshman-Sophomore Co-Class President as a sophomore and Club Liaison as a junior. He will now shift from grade-level planning and club management to school-wide advocacy as president. Aki said his interest in student government began during his first few months of freshman year. “Honestly, it was just seeing how much opportunity this school has to offer.

Townsend Harris English teacher and Classic adviser Brian Sweeney was honored in June with the 2026 Morton Schapiro Distinguished Secondary School Teacher Award from Northwestern University, which recognizes “outstanding high school teachers for their commitment to students.” Townsend Harris English teacher and Classic adviser Brian Sweeney was honored in June with the 2026 Morton Schapiro Distinguished Secondary School Teacher Award from Northwestern University, which recognizes “outstanding high school teachers for their commitment to students.” Mr. Sweeney was nominated by Townsend Harris alumnus Micah Sandy, a graduating senior at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Here is this week's space-themed crossword puzzle inspired by the celestial events that have occurred recently like the Perseid meteor shower. Constructed by Jasmine Mootooveran with the online cross word maker from Amuse Labs You can also try out this week's Classic Nexus, with a school-themed set of terms mixed in.

Recent air quality alerts caused by wildfire smoke have renewed concerns among students at Townsend Harris High School about the effects of wildfires on New York City and how students can protect themselves when air quality deteriorates. For many New York students, wildfire smoke is no longer an unfamiliar experience. Three years ago smoke from Canadian wildfires led to a remote day of instruction for all New York City public school students. The return of smoke from Canadian wildfires last month have prompted students to consider what is increasingly becoming a "new normal."

Townsend Harris High School attracts thousands of applicants from across New York City each year, drawn by its wide range of clubs and activities and its overall academic reputation. The admissions process requires students to complete both a written essay and a video submission, making the process more involved than applying to many other New York City public high schools. According to a report published by NYC Sift, 5,657 students applied during the 2024–2025 admissions cycle, while only about 5% were accepted. Incoming members of the Class of 2030 who participated in THHS’s summer enrichment program discussed what they thought of the application process and why they ultimately wanted to attend.

Last week, Townsend Harris’s Summer Extracurricular Program returned, offering incoming and returning students a chance to get an early start on some of the school’s signature extracurricular activities. Through programs in journalism, theater, and robotics, a group of primarily incoming freshmen spent part of their summer developing new skills while becoming familiar with Townsend Harris and one another. For many participants, the opportunity to meet future classmates and experience the school community was just as important as the activities themselves. Incoming freshman Giovanna Parris said attending the program helped her begin transitioning out of her summer routine.

Try out this week's Classic Nexus, with a hint of THHS terms mixed in. We also have this week's "Classicle." A hint, if you want one, the word relates to how a student might want to provide an excuse for missing homework. Built by The Classic using PuzzleMe's online wordle-style game maker

Summer vacation gives teenagers an opportunity to get the amount of sleep that researchers say their biological clocks already want but early school start times often make impossible to get. Without early alarms, many incoming freshmen at Townsend Harris said their sleep schedules have shifted during the summer. Researchers who study teen sleep habits say that using the remaining weeks of summer to develop a routine that aligns with the early hours of a school day is important. “For older kids and teens who’ve been staying up later during the summer, moving wake time earlier and avoiding naps will likely be easier than getting kids to bed earlier," Ariel Williamson, a professor of psychology at Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health, told the…

With Spider-Man: Brand New Day earning an eye-popping and record-breaking $360 million last weekend, only a few weeks after The Odyssey had moviegoers clamoring for coveted 70MM IMAX tickets in select theaters across the world, Hollywood is eager to claim that the movie theater experience has come back from the dead. “For the first time since COVID threatened theaters with extinction, Hollywood is letting out a huge sigh of relief,” Variety reported. “Popcorn is popping at concession stands (and moviegoers are shelling out extra to consume the buttery goodness in collectible themed buckets), teens are turning out in force (and sharing the fun on TikTok) and studio accountants are giddy as the list of blockbusters keeps growing.”

See the below "Opiniongraphic" providing a look at a number of perspectives shared by the Class of 2030 on what brought them to Townsend Harris High School. The Classic surveyed roughly 10% of this year's freshmen to gather and visualize the below data (using Canva).

As soon as August 1 arrives, many students begin to feel as if summer is moving much faster than it did just a few weeks earlier. The Classic spoke to students about how they hope to strike a balance between making the most of the time they have left and preparing for the upcoming school year. Research has found that people often perceive time as moving more quickly when their days become repetitive, while new experiences can make time feel as though it is passing more slowly. According to Scientific American…

Since freshmen enter THHS from various middle schools around the city, the incoming class of 2030 will be bringing with it a wide range of experiences under New York State's smartphone ban, which went into effect last school year. According to incoming freshmen, schools enforced the policy in different ways, providing students with different perspectives on how restricting phone use impacted learning and socializing. For many students, the way schools restricted access to phones differed significantly. At some schools, students were required to place their phones in locked pouches or designated storage areas at the beginning of the day and could not access them again until dismissal.

Try out this week's crossword with a 'hint' of a summer theme. Made by Jasmine Mootooveran with the free crossword puzzle generator from Amuse Labs

Townsend Harris’s partnership with Queens College will resume in the fall through a new arrangement that will restore seniors’ access to Queens College courses on campus, Principal Brian Condon announced in a letter to students and families sent on Friday. The renewed partnership will operate through the CUNY College Now program at Queens College, allowing students to take college courses “at no cost to students or families,” Mr. Condon wrote. The agreement marks a significant development after the New York City Department of Education cut all funding for the previous Bridge Program in 2020.

Try your hand at this week's beach-themed Wordle-like puzzle: Built by Jasmine Mootooveran using PuzzleMe's free wordle-style game generator

This "Criss-Cross" is similar to a crossword and similar to a word search puzzle. It provides you the terms, but your job is to determine where they go in the puzzle. Try it out below: Constructed by Jasmine Mootooveran using PuzzleMe's Kriss Kross creator

In second grade, junior Brais Macknik-Conde won a lottery. He didn’t know it then, but it would spark the beginning of his violin journey. He had already been learning to play the piano for a few months, and he recalled being “interested out of nowhere” when applying for an afterschool violin program at PS321. However, the program had limited seats available, and Brais earned a spot through random lottery selection. Following the conclusion of the program, he became the only student out of his peers to continue pursuing violin. This year, he has stepped up as the Townsend Harris High School Chamber Strings Concertmaster.

Try out this week's Classic Crossword: Constructed by Jasmine Mootooveran with the online crossword maker from Amuse Labs

For this week's Wordle-like puzzle, use the following hint (if you want a hint): What five letter word would be relevant to both the World Cup and the World Series? Made by The Classic using the online custom wordle generator from Amuse Labs

Try out this week's Classic Nexus.

Social studies teacher Frank McCaughey's podcast, The 27, featured Harrisites who would come on the show and discuss some of their favorite films. In 2024, Mr. McCaughey recorded an episode with Mr. Seidel, who shared thoughts on his favorite movie: Jaws. Mr. McCaughey shared the recording with The Classic, and you can now listen to it on The Classic's YouTube channel. In addition to offering insight into the film, the podcast features an interview with Mr. Seidel that goes into some of his personal history. Given Mr. Seidel's recent passing, the interview offers a poignant window into Mr.

Try out this week's mini-crossword puzzle below. Built using PuzzleMe's free crossword puzzle creator