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*7% of Bergtraum is of another ethnicity.
*7% of Bergtraum is of another ethnicity.
*2% of Bergtraum is White.
*2% of Bergtraum is White.

== Bergtraum Academics ==

Bergtraum students have the chance to jump ahead of their counterparts in the business area. Bergtraum has more business courses with more majors than all of the Manhattan Business themed High Schools combined. Bergtraum remains to be the only school in Manhattan, along with [[Norman Thomas High School]] that still allows students to concetrate with one major. Students not only choose the business area they wish to concentrate on, but students also face academic rigor in their regular New York State mandated education requirements. Students are allowed to have the standard 65 passing grade, but students are encouraged to have an 80+ average. In an interview in Bergtraum's newspaper, "The Bergtraum Voice" Ms. Claire Panazzolo, the Assistant Principal of Business, stated that she "Wanted Bergtraum to the Stuyvesant of business". Students have been encouraged my many faculty members. Amoung them, Ms. Lilian Katz, the College Advisor, who claims that the graduating class of 2006 was accepted to 85 different [[collges]] and [[universites]] across the country. Including schools of [[Ivy League]] calibur.


==Business programs==
==Business programs==

Revision as of 02:06, 25 June 2006

Murry Bergtraum High School For Business Careers
File:Mbhs logo 95.jpeg
Address
Map
411 Pearl Street

New York
,
New York

USA
Information
TypePublic secondary
MottoParticipate to graduate ("For the opportunities offered")
Established1975
PrincipalBarbara A. Esmilla
Faculty300
Grades9-12
Number of students3,000+
MascotFile:MBHS Blazers.gifBergtraum Blazers
AthleticsPSAL
Websitewww.bergtraum.org
File:Picture013.jpeg
View of the eastern wing of the building, which oversees Pearl Street.

Murry Bergtraum High School For Business Careers is a public secondary school in New York City. It is located in Lower Manhattan near the Brooklyn Bridge, next to City Hall on 411 Pearl Street. Bergtraum offers business courses to prepare students for jobs in marketing, tourism, and secretarial fields as well as academic courses to prepare them for college if they choose to go. Students are generally poised and self-confident -- perhaps because of their experiences running their own businesses and working with mentors. Students in a "virtual enterprise" class formed their own publishing company. Other students get retail experience in a school store (funded by benefactor Ronald Lauder, head of Estee Lauder). The goal of former Principal Grace Julian was to have every student have a mentor from a corporation such as Estee Lauder for at least part of their high school career. Murry Bergtraum is one of many schools that chancellor Joel Klein has exempted from the citywide uniform curriculum initiated in 2003.

Background information

Murry Bergtraum High School was established in 1975, in memory of Murry Bergtraum, a former President of the New York City Board of Education who died in 1974. Before joining the Board of Education, Bergtraum was a furrier, and was active in the furrier's union and in local politics. His widow Edith Katz Bergtraum, a public school teacher, was also politically active and a member of her local school board for 19 years. After her death in 1994 an elementary school in Queens (PS 165 in District 25) was renamed for her. The name "Bergtraum" comes from German and means "mountain dream".

Bergtraum was the first academic comprehensive high school with business majors. It was supported by the Downtown Lower Manhattan Association to prepare young people to enter the world of work and college.

Although the school building itself is 30 years old, the school was not named "Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers" at once. It was first named "Downtown High School" for its first few years. However, it has been debated since the time of the building construction, students were relocated to a small windowless building. The name "Downtown High School" could have referred to the name that could have been given to the new High School.

The Bergtraum building itself has been a sign of questioning at times. The building currently has three major staircases labeled: "A, C, E". However, it is also known that the building also had to interior staircases, labeled: "B and D". The reason why these two staircases closed is unknown at the time.


Overview

There are over 3000 students at Bergtraum, and it is ranked as a "School Of Excellence" by U.S. News & World Report. It is well known for its girls' Basketball team, having won numerous PSAL championships. Murry Bergtraum High School also ranks along side Stuyvesant High School, the Bronx High School of Science, and Brooklyn Technical High School in terms of popularity. Bergtraum offers majors in business and attracts students from all boroughs, receiving an average of 15,000 to 20,000 applications every year. As an educational option school, it takes in students from all levels. The school population is structured as follows:

  • 16% of the school is formed of students who are high performers.
  • 68% of the school is formed of students who are average performers.
  • 16% of the school is formed of students who are low performers (although due to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, there have been fewer of these).

Bergtraum has also been known for it's unusual triangular shape, which leads to only 50% of the school having windows. The exterior sides of the building have windows, while the interior sides of the building do not. Despite the design of the building, it stays very warm in the winter, and very cool during the summer. Due to the shape of the school and the number of students, there are 3 different time schedules that students report to school:

  • 7:51 A.M to 2:37 P.M. (Periods 1 to 8)
  • 8:42 A.M. to 3:28 P.M. (Periods 2 to 9)
  • 9:35 A.M. to 4:21 P.M. (Periods 3 to 10)
File:Original exterior.jpeg
The Bergtraum building bears the emblem of New York City, and the emblem of the City Education Department.

The Bergtraum goal

Bergtraum's vision is to prepare its students to thrive and to flourish both academically, and socially in its educational option environment while students acquire technical skills that they will need to meet the demand and challenges of the business world. The school has eight business majors, also allowing students to take CTE examinations, such as the Microsoft Office Specialist examination. Due to the academic excellence in the accounting major, students who take Advanced Accounting (A Bergtraum Course), can take an exam to give them Certified Public Accountant qualifications. Bergtraum mandates its students to have a minimum of 10 business credits upon graduation.

Student body

The students at Murry Bergtraum seek the skills to become people of the business world. Murry Bergtraum has 3,000 students and a diverse student body:

  • 45% of Bergtraum is Hispanic.
  • 24% of Bergtraum is Black.
  • 22% of Bergtraum is Asian.
  • 7% of Bergtraum is of another ethnicity.
  • 2% of Bergtraum is White.

Bergtraum Academics

Bergtraum students have the chance to jump ahead of their counterparts in the business area. Bergtraum has more business courses with more majors than all of the Manhattan Business themed High Schools combined. Bergtraum remains to be the only school in Manhattan, along with Norman Thomas High School that still allows students to concetrate with one major. Students not only choose the business area they wish to concentrate on, but students also face academic rigor in their regular New York State mandated education requirements. Students are allowed to have the standard 65 passing grade, but students are encouraged to have an 80+ average. In an interview in Bergtraum's newspaper, "The Bergtraum Voice" Ms. Claire Panazzolo, the Assistant Principal of Business, stated that she "Wanted Bergtraum to the Stuyvesant of business". Students have been encouraged my many faculty members. Amoung them, Ms. Lilian Katz, the College Advisor, who claims that the graduating class of 2006 was accepted to 85 different collges and universites across the country. Including schools of Ivy League calibur.

Business programs

File:Picture005.jpeg
The main entrance of the Bergtraum building.

Bergtraum students acquire the skills to work in a business-like atmosphere. Bergtraum is divided into 8 houses, each house representing a specific major. Students in each house, or department, study in their major for their 4 years in high school. In addition, each Student must obtain a minimum of 44-50 credits in order to graduate, regardless of house. In each department, all students are mandated to take a keyboarding/business career exploration course for one year, or two semesters/terms.

Majors

Finance

In the Finance major, students are introduced to accounting, business introduction, business analysis, law and computer applications, college level accounting, taxation, and financial investments.

Administrative Assistant Technology

In the Administrative Assistant Technology major, students are introduced to Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access programs, notetaking (Shorthand), business english, internet, business analysis, and business protocols.

As of the end of the Spring 2006 semister, it has been debated whether this business department would be renamed to the "Human Resources Department". Should it be renamed, it would appear to students on their orientation letters.

Information Systems

In the Information Systems major, students are introduced to MOS certificaions in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access programs, integrated computer applications, and desktop publishing.

Travel and Tourism

In the Travel and Tourism major, students are introduced to geography, computer systems, job shadowing, paid summer internships, and participate in the virtual enterprise program.

As of the end of the Spring 2006 semister, it has been debated whether this business department would be renamed to "International Business". The same process will be done as previously stated for the "Adminstrative Assistant Technology" business major.

Computer Science

In the Computer Science major, students are introduced to QBasic, C++, HTML, Javascript, web page design, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access, desktop publishing, computer graphics, and participate in mentoring programs with Lehman Brothers.

In the Legal Studies major, students are introduced to business law, trial procedures, general law, basic law of contracts, real estate law, urban planning, constitutional law, and participate in courthouse visits.

Marketing, Introduction to Business

In the Marketing major, students are introduced to the principles of marketing and advertising, retailing, insurance, business law, business computer operations, sports marketing, and participate in the Estee Lauder retail academy.

Hard of Hearing

Students in this house must follow procedures according to their respective major, however their classes are taught differently from regular education students.

File:Pps.jpeg
Since the attacks of September 11th 2001 (9/11), Murry Bergtraum High School has been barricaded by Police Plaza.

Murry Bergtraum and September 11, 2001

Murry Bergtraum High School, along with other high schools of the Lower Manhattan area were the first schools were evacuated when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Although Bergtraum is located on the eastern side on Manhattan, the school administration evacuated students in six minutes and the students walked home. The school was labeled as a "Ground Zero" school and students were relocated to the High School of Art and Design in Upper Manhattan. The Bergtraum administration was unhappy with the relocation and appealed it, and their building was re-opened and students resumed their studies within a few days.

Graduation requirements

Murry Bergtraum High School students face the same requirements as all students in New York City do. A minimum of 46 credits is required to graduate from Bergtraum, however, most of the students graduate with as many as 50 credits. Students are required to study:

  • 4 Years of historical studies, including Global History and American History. Regents exams are taken when the student finishes each course.
  • 3 years of a foreign language and to take the appropriate foreign language Regents exam. Languages offered include Chinese, French, Italian, and Spanish.
  • 3 to 4 years of science. Regents courses are available for Living Environment Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics. Marine Biology is available as an optional course, however no Regents exam is offered. Students must complete at least 2 Regents exams if offered Marine Biology in their freshman year. (In order to qualify for a Regents exam, students must complete 30 hours of laboratory instruction.)
  • 4 Years of business study. Passing all business courses is mandated in order to graduate with the Bergtraum seal. Specific business courses will depend on the department the student is in.
  • Half a year of Musical Instruction/Appreciation.
  • Half a year of Art Instruction/Appreciation.

Murry Bergtraum created a system that enforces state standards on students. It's "No-Walk" policy does not permit seniors who are missing any credits to graduate. The reason may be to the idea of having the best and the most prepared ready to succeed. Quite possibly, graduating at the Jacob Javits Convention Center could also contribute to this new system.

Courses and programs

Bergtraum offers many courses to its students, including:

Advanced Placement courses, which are eligible for college credit, include Calculus AB, English Language and English Literature, Environmental Science, Accounting, Computer Science, Spanish Language and Spanish Literature, Statistics, United States History, and World History.

Partnerships

Bergtraum has many sponsors, especially in the corporate field, including:

Extracurricular activities

Bergtraum has many activities for students to participate in, including the Student Government/Union, Senior Council, Council For Unity, internships on and off site, and more. Academic teams and groups include Math Team, Lincoln Douglas Debate Team, and the National Honor Society. The more than 60 clubs at Bergtraum include: The Black Student Union, Salsa Club, Chinese Christian Society, Christian Society, Ambassadors Club, Chinese Talent Society, West Indian Club, The Political Action Committee and the Asian Club.

PSAL sports teams

The school participates in the Public Schools Athletic League. The Bergtraum Lady Blazers is the second best girls basketball team in the entire country, and the reigning seven-time city champion. Bergtraum also has other sports teams, including basketball, bowling, cross country, handball, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, softball, baseball, and soccer.

Awards and recognition

Besides being ranked "A School Of Excellence" by U.S. News & World Report, Bergtraum has won countless awards in the sports area, The Kurt Thomas Investment Challenge, the ThinkQuest Awards, and the Lincoln-Douglas Debates.

ThinkQuest NYC Award winning teams, lead by Ms. D'Amato:

  • The XBOX 360 game Project Gotham Racer 3 shows the award winning and unique design of MBHS in many scenarios.

Notable alumni

Template:New York City DOE Region9

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