What the Westies

The Small Pond of Peace

The Westies sit down with 7th grade ENL student Noam, 5th grade ENL student Ronnie, and their dad Jonathan Dekel, an Israeli filmmaker. Noam and Ronnie grew up in Wahat al-Salam/Neve Shalom, a village in Israel where Jewish and Arab families choose to live together side by side. They share what daily life looks like there, and reflect on bringing those experiences with them to New York City. The Westies in this episode are: Noam, Ronnie, Ian, Singary, Leonardo, Ashly, Olumide, and Salma.

Choose Your Own Climate Adventure with Columbia's Dr. Smerdon

In this episode the Westies sit down with Dr. Jason Smerdon, a climate scientist and professor from Columbia University, for a conversation about ice cores, tree rings, what humans have done to this planet, and what kids can actually do to help make a difference. Dr. Smerdon talks about everything from college in Minnesota, aliens landing on Earth, and what to do with Taylor Swift's private jet. The multilingual Westies also teach pertinent words in Spanish and French. The Westies in this episode are: Noam, Sophia, Leonardo, Ashly, Ella, Ronnie, Salma, Ian, Valentina, and Singary.

Discussing Diplomas, Diagnoses, and Dinner with Dr. Blackstock

The Westies are back! This time we’re talking to Dr. Oni Blackstock and asking her everything we’ve ever wanted to know about what it takes to become a doctor. She tells us what it’s like to diagnose patients, go through all those years of school, and handle big responsibilities. She also explains why she started Health Justice, her own company that works to make health care more fair for everyone. Dr. Blackstock shows us that being a doctor isn’t just about medicine, it’s also about standing up for people and making a difference. Thank you, Dr. Blackstock! Can you guess Dr. Blackstock's favorite restaurant on the UWS? This episode the Westies are: Noam, Ian, Ashly, Leonardo, Olumide, Valentina, Dilan, and Salma.

Juggling Jobs with Jessie

In this episode, our podcasters talk with Jessie, someone who helps keep our school running every day. He shares what it is like supporting students behind the scenes. Students still remember when we didn't have a DJ for the first middle school dance of the year, Jessie stepped in, and everyone had a great time. Thanks, Jessie! The Westies in this episode are: Ibrokhim, Noam, Stella, Salma, Melissa, and Prince.