December Issue 2019 by Karla Soberon

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Cypress Bay High School • 18600 Vista Park Blvd., Weston, Florida 33332 • Vol 19, Issue 3 • December 2019

BY SOPHIA HANDLEY ONLINE NEWS EDITOR

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS

For senior Jodi-Ann Hardy, the holiday season is all about spending time with her family and friends. Throughout the holidays, many of the Bay’s students use the season as a time to continue family traditions and regroup with one another. Hardy said the holidays are her absolute favorite and most memorable time of the year because she spends them with the people she loves. “I just love when families come together regardless of what you celebrate, and to be with family again towards the end of the year and reflect on everything that happened,” Hardy said. “It’s just so fun to have everybody back home and eat good food together and enjoy their company.” To prepare for the holiday season, Hardy and her family go shopping for decor for both inside and outside of their home in order to get their house into the holiday spirit each year. Hardy said her family spends a lot of time decorating their Christmas tree with a variety of ornaments and candy canes. “I enjoy when we all gather around the tree and put up ornaments and candy canes to put on the tree,” Hardy said. “My family always finds it funny that I usually break the most ornaments because I am very clumsy; it is just a great time every year to spend with my family.” Junior Andres Rios spends his holiday season surrounded by his family and friends. He said the holidays are an extremely meaningful and important time of the year for him because he gets to be with the people he loves. “The holidays are special to me because I get to spend quality time with [friends and family],” Rios said. “I am thankful for my friends and family, my good health, the chances I have in life and the ability to live where I do.” Hardy said she always looks forward to the holiday season because everyone always seems to be happy and extra thankful. Hardy said she enjoys being surrounded by people who love the holiday spirit as much as she does because it always puts her in a great mood. “I love being around friends and family who share my love for the holidays,” Hardy said. “I always look forward to visiting my friend’s

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house and seeing all of their decorations and also driving around to see the holiday lights.” Rios said every year, him and his family practice traditions and enjoy time with one another, while they are all in town. He said the holidays give him the opportunity to have fun and create memories with the people he cares about the most. “One holiday tradition I have with my family is we sing ‘Happy Birthday’ the night before Christmas because we have many birthdays in December,” Rios said. “Every single year, my family and I also decorate a real Christmas tree, while Christmas music plays in the background and my sister always puts a star on the tree.” Hardy said the holidays are her favorite part of the year because not only does she get to enjoy time with her family but her friends as well. Hardy participates in a Secret Santa gift exchange with her friends each year as a way to create new memories together. “One of my friends is throwing a Christmas party for the holidays and I am super excited about that because I will get to spend time with my friends,” Hardy said. “Also, in one of my classes there is a Secret Santa exchange and I am super excited to see what I am going to get and I can’t wait to get the person that I got a present.” Assistant Bookkeeper Marilyn Gonzalez spends the holiday time surrounded by her family. She said she loves the holidays because she gets to participate in family traditions each year that she looks forward to all year long. “We participate in Noche Buena, which is the night before Christmas; we celebrate and have dinner together as a family,” Gonzalez said. “We also go to the Midnight Mass, since we are Catholic and if we don’t go to church the day of Christmas, we stay home and pray together as a family.” Gonzalez said the holiday time is her favorite time of the year because she gets to decorate her home and her office space at work. She said the holidays are also special to her because it is a time to give back and be with the people you love. “I decorate my office because I love Christmas and the feeling of the Christmas spirit that I think everyone loves,” Gonzalez said. “By having all of the decorations surrounding me everyday, I also think it puts

the holidays with participate in final Christmas alternatives. seasons at the Bay.

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me in an overall better mood and it always just makes me happy.” Rios said spending time with his family is one of his favorite parts about the holidays since he doesn’t see them regularly. He said his aunt from Venezuela comes in town every year and it is always a special experience. “It makes me feel happy and grateful because some people don’t get the chance to experience this time with their family,” Rios said. “We try to spend time with my aunt as much as possible before she leaves and we do things such as watching movies and going shopping, and we try to make her have a really good time while she’s here.” Hardy said she always places holiday scented items around her home during the holidays so no matter where she goes, it smells like the holidays. She also said she enjoys having her home all decorated because she enjoys the feeling and excitement of the holidays. “My family and I usually get gingerbread scented candles and put them around the house and light them because I love them smell of Christmas,” Hardy said. “I also put up Christmas lights in my room and a mini Christmas tree on my desk; I think it’s so cute because it has mini ornaments.” Hardy said one of her favorite activities to do during the holidays is dress up for the holidays. She also said by dressing up, she becomes more enthusiastic about any holiday she is celebrating. “I love dressing up for the holidays a lot, being that I am a very festive person,” Hardy said. “No matter what holidays it is, I will always dress up because that is part of the fun of the holidays.” Hardy said she it extremely thankful this holiday season because she gets to spend it with the people she loves and cares about. She said she hopes everyone is able to spend time with their families during such an important time of the year. “I have so many things to be thankful for, including my life, health, family, little sister who I love to death, all of my friends and the place where I live,” Hardy said. “I am so lucky to have the opportunities I have had in my life that have led me to where I am now and I really get to reflect on those things during the holiday time.”

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GIVING back to faculty SGA holds the annual Thanksgiving Luncheon event on Nov. 22 in the College and Career Center. BY CHLOE WAIN NEWS EDITOR

The Student Government Association (SGA) held the annual Thanksgiving luncheon for all administration and faculty of the Bay during all lunches on Nov. 22 in the College and Career Center. The event included fall decorations and a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and more. SGA adviser and teacher Danielle Nascimento said the purpose of the event is to celebrate the holiday season and to show appreciation and thanks to teachers and staff for their hard work thus far this school year. “The luncheon came out great, presentation and food-wise; administration appeared to have a great experience and it is a wonderful way to have a good meal before Thanksgiving break,” Nascimento said. “The event provides teachers with a stress-free zone, where staff can kick back, relax and enjoy themselves, even if it is only for 30 minutes.” During the event, teachers and faculty at the Bay could stop by the luncheon and interact with co-workers for a sit-down meal. DECA teacher Dr. Jamez Williams said the food provided was adequate and there should have not been anything else presented, as the event was executed well and the club laid out a wonderful spread of choices. “The luncheon was great; the food was delicious and there was a variety of items to appreciate a wonderful Thanksgiving meal,” Williams said. “The runners were professional, as the workers continued to ask attendees for assistance and were very cordial and friendly.” The College and Career Center was decorated with Thanksgiving posters and banners, leaf decorations and a photo booth for staff to take memorable pictures. Senior and Head Coordinator of the project, Rachel Lerner, said the goal of the luncheon is to create happiness, smiles and an opportunity for the administration to communicate with one another before the Thanksgiving break. “The club wanted to ensure the teachers know how much [the Bay] is thankful for their hard work and dedication to the student body,” Lerner said. “It is important for our teachers to know how much SGA appreciates their continued motivation and dedication; with the luncheon, the club can accomplish that goal.” The luncheon was organized as a buffet for department members to enjoy, with members of SGA attending and assisting the event wearing an orange apron and a name tag to wear. The helpers were assigned a food item to serve or a position as a runner in order to ensure attendees were enjoying their meal. Sophomore and member of the Executive Board, Fiorella Marchan, said the event was well organized and the club worked efficiently to ensure the luncheon ran smoothly. “My favorite part of the event was reconnecting with my past and present teachers at the school,” Marchan said. “Seeing teachers enjoy their food and music is heartwarming because the luncheon is an opportunity for

photos by chloe nowack

THANKSGIVING FEAST: Members of Student Government Association volunteer as food servers and food runners to accommodate administration during the Teacher Luncheon event on Nov. 22 in the College and Career Center. Food servers distributed Thanksgiving-related food such as turkey, cranberries, sweet potatoes, bread rolls, stuffing, gravy and more. Sophomore Fiorella Marchan said the faculty and staff were impressed with the decorations of leaves, turkeys and creative banners.

administration to enjoy a meal together before Thanksgiving break.” Decorations included fall leaves, cornucopias and Thanksgiving turkeys for staff members to enjoy. Senior and First Vice

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President of SGA, Sydney Kron, volunteered as a food server and said the workers completed the goal of sufficient decorations, as the venue was colorful, bright and suitable for the occasion.

H.U.S.H. Club, Jan. 7 Best Buddies, Jan. 8 Habitat for Humanity, Jan. 8 National Honor Society, Jan. 13 Marine Science Club, Jan. 15 P.R.I.D.E., Jan. 21 HOSA, Jan. 28

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“The luncheon was amazing, as all of SGA worked hard to create a fall-festive look and place a smile on the faces of the teachers,” Kron said. “The officers have heard nothing but great feedback; after seeing the final project, events such as these are worthwhile.” Williams said the attendees were cordial, as the runners were smiling, and workers were polite by offering assistance. He said he is thankful for the continuous strive SGA members have in developing wonderful events and overall, the event was relaxing, as he loved sitting with fellow teachers and engaging in conversation. “My favorite part was seeing the teachers enjoy themselves,” Williams said. “As teachers, we do not normally receive an opportunity to collectively sit down together, especially at a school this size,” William said. “The luncheon felt as if it was a family meal, with administration communicating and discussing different topics with one another.” Different from last year, SGA ordered food items from a different caterer. In addition, the location was changed from the drama room to the College and Career Center. Nascimento said the food and area were exceptional and more spacious for administration to enjoy. “With the change in location, members of SGA can extend appreciation to the teachers and staff [of the Bay] as more decorations and food can be presented,” Nascimento said. “The luncheon overall was successful as the center was filled with administration eager to be served a complimentary meal.” In addition, SGA ensured the luncheon had enough assistance in serving food by including more runners and allowing more members to sign up. Lerner said the event required a sufficient amount of teamwork and effort from the club in order to decorate the center and organize the buffet. “SGA arranged for more members to come and cooperate with the event, as more teachers and staff members attend each year,” Lerner said. “However, a larger space is needed for the next annual luncheon to allow more comfort and convenience for administration.” Marchan said teachers were impressed and satisfied with the turnout of the event. She said overall, the event was successful because it showed gratitude by providing a scrumptious, free meal for the administration of the Bay. “The event showed appreciation for our staff members through the serving of a delicious meal and colorful Thanksgiving decorations,” Marchan said. “I am proud of the club for organizing such a prestigious event; it is amazing to give back to the teachers because the meal is well-deserved and their enjoyment is worth it.” Kron said the luncheon was planned thoroughly and being a food server allowed for her to be more involved in the event. “With the help of SGA, the event truly brought the faculty and staff [of the Bay] together for a well deserved, enjoyable meal,” Kron said. “I loved being a food server because it allowed me to contribute to the well-planned event.”

Girls Lacrosse Parent Meeting, Jan. 8 Spanish Placement Exam, Jan. 16 Cambridge Night, Jan. 16 Coffee House, Jan. 17 Blood Drive, Jan. 22-23 Junior Night, Jan. 23 Advanced Academic Night, Jan. 30

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Best Buddies Thanksgiving Potluck promotes friendship

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Best Buddies held its annual Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner on Nov. 16 to celebrate Thanksgiving with members, buddies and families in the cafeteria. Attendees brought Thanksgiving-related food items such as pies, cornbread and chicken. Senior and peer member Morganne Land said the event brought the club and their families together to eat, socialize and create bonds with one another. “My favorite part about attending was spending time with my friends and especially my buddy, Matt,” Land said. “The event is special to me because it is based around Thanksgiving and makes me think about how thankful I am for my life; I am thankful for this program for bringing me so close to many people.” Freshman Matthew Maykut said he enjoyed the time he spent with the buddies. Maykut said the event was a great experience for both the members and their buddies because they were able to communicate with one another and eat food. “I chose to be a part of this club because I wanted to help a great cause,” Maykut said. “Knowing that I am making a difference by spending time with [the buddies] is so rewarding and special to me.” Maykut said he enjoys being surrounded by members in the club because they are always spreading positivity. Maykut said he enjoys becoming closer to the families of the buddies since he has grown so close with them over the school year thus far. “My favorite part about attending was being surrounded by people who care about something as much as I do,” Maykut said. “This event, in particular, is special because families attended and got to experience one of the major events Best Buddies organizes.” Adviser, Holocaust History and English 4 Honors teacher, Leslie Rheingold, said the potluck is one of her favorite events planned during the school year because she can spend personal time with the students, buddies and families. Rheingold said this time of the year is meaningful to her and she is lucky to spend

it involved in a club that gives back to people in need.

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This event, in particular, is special because families attended and got to experience one of the major events Best Buddies organizes.

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BY sophia Handley

-freshman Matthew Maykut “I was excited to attend to see the families; this is definitely the most exciting event, so I was excited to see all the happiness and the sharing and meet the parents,” Rheingold said. “I really enjoy meeting the parents, introducing myself and hearing about their plans for the holiday season.” Land said although she became involved with the club just last year, she has developed a close friendship with her buddy senior Matthew Andrews. Land said the club has turned into a big part of her life because she has grown so close to everyone in the club which she said she cherishes greatly. “I choose to be a part of the club because it is special to me due to the amazing people I am surrounded with,” Land said. “I introduced Matt to many of my friends and overall it was a great time.” Rheingold said the event was special to her because she saw how meaningful it was to the buddies. Rheingold said she became involved with the organization because of the passion members have for the club. “I loved seeing the faces of the children with special needs light up when they were with their buddies,” Rheingold said. “I chose to be involved in this program because the president of the club, Rachel Alexander, is quite compelling and her passion [for Best Buddies] is quite contagious.”

Photos by sophia handley

Turkey time: (From top) seniors Morganne Land, Gregory Van Gelder and Matthew Andrews bond with one another at the annual Best Buddies Potluck Dinner on Nov. 16. Senior and Vice President of Membership Sarah Bartleman serves Thanksgiving food to Best Buddies member Sophia Niño. Food such as macaroni and cheese, chicken and corn bread were all served at the event to celebrate Thanksgiving as a club.

Environmentalists promote ocean cleanliness by Agavni Mehrabi

For 13 years, the Marine Science Society (MSS) has held its monthly morning beach clean-ups at Charnow Park in Hollywood Beach on Nov. 9 and Dec. 14. Junior and President Hannah Heath said accumulating 70 pounds of trash during each clean-up is an extension of the greater goal of the club to educate the community about caring for the environment. “The club itself focuses on the conservation of ecosystems,” Heath said. “Beach clean-ups fulfill this purpose by allowing the removal of pollutants that can suffocate animals or pollute waters, as well as to set an example for individuals to pick up their trash.” Junior and member Nikolas Thiakos said the pollution being dealt with during clean-ups negatively impacts human beings. Thiakos said an example of this damage is biomagnification of human-made chemical fertilizers and pesticides by fish and its effect on human diets. “Students should think about how we end up eating the same fish that we harm,” Thiakos said. “It is our duty to keep the ocean safe, because we do not want our children to experience the consequences.” In addition to its environmental benefits, Heath said beach clean-ups allow students to apply knowledge they have learned in class. She said the multi leveled nature of the activity adds another layer to the subject of marine science as a whole. “In order to truly understand something, you should be immersed in it through handson experience,” Heath said. “Someone can

Photo Submitted by hannah Heath

ocean cleanse: Marine Science Society members pick up trash such as cigarette buds, plastic bags, can holders and water bottles in order to reduce pollution in the ocean waters. Junior and President Hannah Heath said a new implementation to the frequent clean-ups are the use of hemp bags, rather than plastic bags to accumulate debris.

learn about seaweed at school, but they will not truly know the plant until they touch and see it with their own eyes.” AICE Marine Science teacher and MSS sponsor Janine Rendon said another aspect of beach clean-ups is the ability to teach moral lessons about protecting the earth. Rendon

said their promotion of responsibility and selfawareness adds an extra educational focus on self-growth. “Beach clean-ups foster a higher standard of values to growing minds,” Rendon said. “Especially in modern times, if you put your interest elsewhere, it can be contagious in a

good way.” This year, Heath said a new feature of beach clean-ups is the implementation of hemp bags instead of plastic bags used to collect debris in the clean-up process. Health said their rewashable material has allowed the club to further emphasize a reduction of carbon footprint. “Using hemp for our waste bags is definitely a fresh, up-to-date way of applying environmental awareness to our beach cleanups,” Heath said. “A special advantage is our members are able to design them.” Besides offering eight service hours for both members and nonmembers, the club supplies food such as candy, cookies, hot chocolate, donuts and ice cream as well as activities such as volleyball and clean-up competitions during the event. Rendon said the treats act as an incentive to come to the event and assist with cleaning the beach. “Not only do you clean the beach, but you also enjoy meeting and socializing with new people,” Rendon said. “It is more of a convivial gathering in which we catch up as a family.” Thiakos said he urges fellow students and community members to join in the beach clean-up effort. Thiakos said living in a coastal region near the beach and going to a school that provides this program gives a special advantage to students. “With the opportunities offered [at the Bay], there should not be a reason not to lend a hand,” Thiakos said. “Students can go the beach, since it is as effortless as picking up a form.”

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A HELPING HAND SGA collected items for the Harvest Drive throughout October and distributed to families on Nov. 13. NEWS EDITOR

Organized by the Student Government Association (SGA), the annual Harvest Drive is a collection of non-perishable food items and toiletries to be boxed and distributed to impoverished families in Weston struggling financially for supplies necessary for a comfortable day-to-day lifestyle. SGA began collecting in the beginning of October and distributed to families in mid-November. The drive fed 110 families of five with 10 days worth of food and a $35 gift card for perishable items. Adviser Danielle Nascimento said the drive is important to families because the holidays can be a difficult time for purchasing necessary food items. “Harvest Drive can help support families in our community by allowing for the complementary distribution of essential items; therefore, the families do not have to worry about their next meal,” Nascimento said. “It is a rewarding experience to know the families are taken care of during the Thanksgiving break.” Overall, the drive raised $11,000 for perishable items; the Bay collected 14,000 items, Falcon Cove Middle School collected 2,000 items and Everglades Elementary School collected 6,000 items. Sophomore and Co-Chair in Training, Rachel Supnick, said her favorite part in organizing the event was seeing the joyful reactions of teachers and students when donating non-perishable items. “When collecting and sorting, the members had pride and smiles on their faces when participating because the students had knowledge of where the finished boxes will be handed to,” Supnick said. “This project is not only about giving back to the community, but teaching others to as well.” In addition to SGA assisting in organizing the drive, DECA members and adviser Robert Hosier were instrumental in helping with the process and distributing food bags. Junior and Co-Chair in Training, Marley Solomon, said the drive was successful because members of every club donated and helped distribute food items to families in need. “SGA organized the event well, as the process of collecting and sorting food items can be difficult at times with the amount donated,” Solomon said. “I am very proud of the club for being efficient and being such a huge part of the drive to help the community.” The organization collected Thanksgiving items such as canned beans, vegetables, gravy, cranberries, sweet potatoes, yams and stuffing. In addition, the families receive other necessary food items such as pasta, rice, sauce, tuna and cereal; toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner and laundry detergent are distributed as well. Nascimento said her favorite part of the process is helping the families and seeing the distribution process unfold. “The social workers express to us how grateful the families are,” Nascimento said. “Fellow students contributing to a common cause is heartwarming, to see the community come together and assist one another.” SGA communicated with club sponsors, Harvest Drive founders, social workers, cochairs and members with training to assign items and goals for each club. Along with Hosier, senior Second Vice President and Chair of the project, Sarah Gibson, informed the student body about the food collection, worked with the Harvest Drive directors to organize and distribute the items and oversaw the collection process. “Running Harvest Drive requires constant attention and countless hours during and after school, but it is all worth it,” Gibson said. “Numerous students are involved in some way in Harvest Drive, whether it is donating to a club, packing or organizing, every level of involvement is noted and appreciated.” Each club at the Bay participated in the drive by selecting a certain item to donate

and a designated quantity based on how large each membership base is. Certain clubs had a passion for a certain item and set a goal for themselves; the People Recognizing Identities and Differences for Equality (P.R.I.D.E.) club collected a total of 700 canned corn. Nascimento said she is passionate about participating in the drive because the club is giving back to our own students. “In events that involve donating items, individuals participate in charities and you do not know where it is going; you have an idea, but the club is helping students at the Bay, in our own backyard,” Nascimento said. “Every charity is worthwhile, but this drive makes it a little more special because students who live in Weston are not always affluent.” After the donations have been collected, sorted, bagged and prepared to distribute, the selected anonymous families drove through the car loop to pick up their Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 13. Gibson said the distribution brought nostalgia from her prior experiences of meeting the families.

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It is a rewarding experience to know the families are taken care of during the Thanksgiving break.

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BY CHLOE WAIN

-SGA adviser Danielle Nascimento “As a freshman, I was able to help with distribution; I handed a woman donations of groceries and she began to cry, telling me it was the first meal she would be able to give her children in days,” Gibson said. “It is moments such as these that changed my perspective and helped me become more involved in such events through the club.” Gibson said being able to see the impact of the drive on families first-hand has been an eye-opening experience. Gibson said students are unaware of what is occurring during after-school hours and allowing to support individuals when needed is an incredible privilege. “When you are caught up in collecting cans and counting boxes, it is easy to forget that the food items may be distributed to a student in your first period, a past teacher, or a security guard,” Gibson said. “The families benefiting from Harvest Drive are often individuals you would never expect; it is not always the students who are outwardly struggling, but the adolescents who try their best to make it seem as if their meals are established.” Supnick said unfortunately, the identities of the families are private, but seeing the students donating to an amazing cause is overall exciting and gratifying. Supnick said knowing the items will keep them stable for at least a week makes the project so important. “Thanksgiving is about being thankful and grateful for the life you live; these local families really appreciate what we give them,” Supnick said. “Mothers, fathers, grandparents and children attended distribution and were so pleased with the donations because they cannot always afford food in their pantries and fridges.” Gibson said her favorite part about organizing the event is seeing the results of the drive, as clubs at the Bay exceeded quotas of items. “It is easy for someone to bring in food items and not think about the importance of it, as it assists families in need,” Gibson said. “However, to see the effects of the collection process and attending distribution to families on the other end is so rewarding.”

PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY RACHEL SUPNICK

harvesting kindness: (From top) The Student Government Association Executive Board members take a photo after distributing Thanksgiving-related non-parishable items and a $35 gift card to families on Nov. 13. Students are sorting items such as canned beans, sweet potatoes, stuffing, yams and vegetables. Members are collecting food items that were assigned to clubs and organizing bags to distribute to families.

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Assembly inspires future army members STANDING PROUD: (From top) attendees at the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps [J.R.O.T.C.] assembly stand during the Pledge of Allegiance and the Presentation of Colors. J.R.O.T.C. members hold flags at center stage to lead everyone participating in the assembly. Band students also participate by playing a few songs to open the ceremony. The purpose of the event is to honor veterans for the holiday of Veterans Day and to thank the past soldiers for their service in their respective fields of the military. The audience was filled by both students and volunteer veterans, who are either parents of students or staff members. J.R.O.T.C. members Jonathan Calaca and Nicholas Prieto hold the doors open while greeting guests. They hand out informational flyers consisting of the order in which the event will play out.

The Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (J.R.O.T.C.) club at the Bay presented an assembly in the auditorium on Nov. 6 during sixth hour. The purpose of the assembly was to pay tribute to soldiers who have previously served for the country. Sophomore Nicholas Prieto said he loves being involved in such an impactful group as J.R.O.T.C. and his role for the event was to create a special slideshow to honor veterans. “Many students do not know the true meaning of Veterans Day, so it is really important we can make sure all students are informed on the importance,” Prieto said. “Sharing my thanks is really important because I know the true meaning of it.” The club put together a video with meaningful messages showing why the members are thankful for the veterans. Prieto said he enjoyed taking part in the assembly because he wanted to show his interest in the students at the Bay and soldiers who attended the event.

“Paying our respects to the veterans who have served our country is important to me,” Prieto said. “Soldiers voluntarily chose to fight for us and the country would not be what it is today without them.” The J.R.O.T.C. Battalion, which is all students involved in the program attended, along with band students who performed the National Anthem to open the assembly. Prieto said he was ecstatic the students were present to hear important messages and speeches throughout the presentation. “One of my favorite parts of the assembly was to see the reactions of the veterans after hearing our kind words through the presentation,” Prieto said. “It was really cool to see members and non-members being involved and enjoying themselves.” Prieto said when preparing for the assembly, the club wished to ensure they would be grabbing attention from not only the veterans, but also the students participating. Prieto said seeing how much everyone loved what they had to say was rewarding.

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It was enjoyable to see how individuals close to us have fought for this country and were in the same room as us.

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BY HANNAH GROGAN

“Seeing the reactions of the veterans and students made me feel amazing when showing our hard work,” Prieto said. “Students in J.R.O.T.C. spoke out about how they appreciate what these veterans do for our country to further show their respect.” Sophomore and member Jonathan Calaca said the Veterans Day assembly is a way to show how much the club cares about veterans who have dedicated their time and energy to fight for the United States. Calaca said the club worked hard in editing the video and ensuring the presentation was suitable for the assembly. “I was so excited for this assembly because it is important the club pays respects to all of the soldiers who served us,” Calaca said. “It was a great way for us as members to share our interest with those who attended.” Besides students and veterans, other attendees were parents of students who attend the Bay. Calaca said he was content to see students, veterans, and administration attended the event because the club showed tremendous dedication and motivation to establish the assembly. “Some of the veterans attending are a part of the staff [at the Bay], so it was nice to hear words from them since they work at the school we attend everyday,” Calaca said. “It was enjoyable to see how individuals close to us have fought for this country and were in the same room as us.”

-sophomore Jonathan Calaca

Sergeant and Coordinator of the assembly, Mario Ochoa, said he was glad to see the students put much effort into the project to show their appreciation. Ochoa said it was exciting seeing the students be so passionate about the assembly and take control.

“It is important the veterans know they have support from students and know that we are very thankful for them,” Ochoa said. “It was great to see our students share their thanks as well.”

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One of my favorite parts of the assembly was to see the reactions of the veterans after hearing our kind words through the presentation. It was really cool to see members and non-members being involved and enjoying themselves.

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photos by hannah grogan

-sophomore Nicholas Prieto

Ochoa said it may seem like the event was just like any other assembly, but it meant so much more to the members who attended to honor and pay respects to veterans, as most of the students are planning to join J.R.O.T.C. in the future. “In the J.R.O.T.C. program, we focus on getting students involved in ownership and honoring one another,” Ochoa said. “It is really fascinating to see the students grow in that way and truly meaning everything they say.” Ochoa said this assembly had a great turnout of members and non-members and seeing the way the assembly panned out was exciting to watch. “The J.R.O.T.C. members put a lot of thought into this, so I was glad to see the outcome and the appreciation the audience radiated,” Ochoa said. “It meant a lot to me, so I hope those who did attend appreciated the words the students said.” Ochoa said this assembly was one of the first events he put students in charge of planning, so he was proud seeing the way members handled it. “Planning events like these aren’t always easy,” Ochoa said. “It takes a lot to pull everything together, so I was glad to see the way everything worked out.”

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CLUBS AT THE BAY Clubs are planning new events to celebrate the upcoming holiday season.

Habitat for Humanity BY CHLOE WAIN NEWS EDITOR

Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is a non-profit organization that strives to provide affordable housing for impoverished families in order to better the community. The club often teams up with other clubs at the Bay to create events that further their goals. Senior and Head of Media Operations Nicole Svensson said the club’s social media presence sets HFH apart from its counterparts. “With over 2,000 followers on Instagram, the club has attracted over 350 members,” Svensson said. “Therefore, HFH has been more able to better execute ideas and goals.” The club is hosting a Baskets for Baskets event on Dec. 14, organized as a basketball tournament for members and non-members to attend. Profits are collected to create holiday baskets for students in need, around the Whispering Pines community. Economics and Philosophy teacher and adviser Hanna Casey said students in other communities are struggling to have a meal during non-school days.

photo submitted by catalina garcia

“The funds that are raised are to provide gift cards and food staples for each family,” Casey said. “It is an honor to watch over the student leaders who have created and coordinated the event to provide for other impoverished students in the community.” Svensson said this year, the club wishes to increase participation from members throughout each grade, as last year the majority of active members were freshmen and sophomores. “HFH is attempting to boost junior and senior participation by having officers further interact with members and create more exciting events,” Svensson said. “Students can feel more unified and more inclined to attend events and assist in building sites.” Svensson said her favorite memory is volunteering for different activities. “Kakes for Kids consisted of spending time with foster children for their birthday, so it was special and different yet still helped accomplish the goals of the club,” Svensson said. “In addition, building sites are exciting because members can spend time painting the house alongside one another for a great cause.”

Photo submitted by rachel supnick

Student Government Association BY CHLOE WAIN NEWS EDITOR

The Student Government Association (SGA) is a club class that is dedicated to planning events and activities for the student body, staff and community. The club’s promotes projects throughout the year, such as Homecoming, Lightning Oscars, Harvest Drive, Camp Cypress and Dance Marathon and implements smaller scale projects such as teacher luncheons and various lunchtime activities open to all students. Second Vice President and senior Jack McMahon said his favorite memory thus far was planning the Homecoming Spirit Week from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 and the Homecoming dance on Nov. 2. “Although it is the most stressful event to plan, the hard work and dedication each member put forth created one of the most creative and successful homecomings presented,” McMahon said. “Hearing students and staff speak highly of the ideas for the spirit days truly made the stress feel worthwhile.” From Oct. to Nov., the club organized the annual Harvest Drive project, a non-profit event

photo submitted by luis andres lageyre

National Dreamers Association

BY sABRINA oliveri business manager

The National Dreamer’s Association (NDA) is a new club at the Bay, created by senior Luis Andres Lageyre with the goal of spreading positivity and the idea that dreams are possible if a student works efficiently and has self-confidence. The club plans motivational events, socials and community service projects to allow members to learn how to follow their dreams while accomplishing their goals in and out of school. Lageyre said the idea is to build a strong club and promote a great way for students to follow their ideal path. “Our motive is simple: we want to create a positive environment that facilitates collaboration between like-minded and driven people,” Lageyre said. “It will result in a generation more prepared to lead our communities towards a better tomorrow.” DECA teacher and adviser Karina Carlene

Reid. Reid said the club is a great opportunity to learn leadership skills and how to choose the right path associated with the dreams of a student. “This club could make a difference in a student’s mind as it can help guide to reach their full potential when they do not fully believe in themselves to accomplish their goals,” Reid said. “Having this support can help students think differently and more positively about their future.” The next workshop planned by Lageyre is Dynamic Networking, with a focus on learning basic and advanced tips on how to properly network in a professional occasion. Lageyre said it is a workshop that any student would not want to miss because it will only benefit them. “This workshop can be super helpful for anyone, regardless of their experience networking,” Lageyre said. “We will provide some tips and tricks that you have not heard before.”

Latinos in Action

BY Alexa morchelies

The Latinos in Action (LIA) club assists Hispanic students in elementary schools within the community to better understand what they are learning in the classroom. Within the club, students participate in advising students with school assignments to prepare for their future occupations. Junior and Head of Fundraising, Isabel Kolster, said the members in the club work in the classroom and fit the needs of the students while also creating a comfortable environment for everyone. “I am in the club because the members make you feel you are a part of a big family and are always looking for your best interest,” Kolster said. “The club makes a strong impact on others.” LIA visits Manatee Bay Elementary School every Monday through Thursday and takes part in assisting students in the classroom. Kolster said the club has an impact on the students starting at a young age, leading

that works to provide local struggling families with necessary supplies for Thanksgiving. Adviser and teacher Danielle Nascimento said the main goal of the club is to plan activities and appreciation events in order to give back to the community, encourage school spirit and build leadership skills. “I wish to train our young members to be student leaders, positive influences in the community and help them learn how to organize, plan and execute an event,” Nascimento said. “Structurally, the club is making changes to pursue goals to be more effective and efficient by further developing our public relations to continue to reach out to the student body.” McMahon said his personal goal as an officer is to leave a lasting impact upon the members. McMahon said he strives to create a memorable environment through being an officer, chairing big projects and interacting with fellow members. “Changes I wish to see in the club is to develop fun new ideas for projects that SGA has never completed before, or if we do repeat projects to be more creative,” McMahon said.

PHOTO SUBMITTED By juani sanchez

them to be better students when they are older. “Attending elementary schools is a large part of the club because LIA is helping Hispanic students be the best they can for high school,” Kolster said. “The members attempt to help the students individually and one on one, whichever way helps them excel the most.” LIA adviser and Reading teacher, Dr. Kristina Taylor, said through the club the students attempt to empower Latino youth to lead and strengthen their communities through college and career readiness. “Being the LIA adviser, teacher and part of this incredible family means everything to me,” Dr. Taylor said. “My students are exceptional, and LIA is the perfect intersection of everything I am passionate about: community service, college and career readiness and mentoring.”

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Scavenger hunt immerses members in science by jenna friedman editor-in-chief

The Bay’s ChemClub is a chapter of the American Chemical Society that holds bimonthly meetings and allows members to immerse themselves in chemistry-based experiments and activities. On Nov. 21, ChemClub held its fifth meeting of the school year in which members participated in a scavenger hunt filled with riddles and chemistry-themed components. Senior and ChemClub President Kyle King said the premise of the scavenger hunt was to find AICE and Honors Chemistry teacher and ChemClub adviser Jay Rosebnerg by using invisible ink to solve riddles and clues.

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ChemClub is beneficial for students because it actually gives them hands on experiments to allow them to see how chemistry is used in their real lives. The best part about [ChemClub] is that we use chemistry for fun and not necessarily just for learning.

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-AICE and Honors Chemistry teacher Jay Rosenberg “We talked about and used invisible ink during our last event, so it was cool that we were able to carry that over into the scavenger hunt,” King said. “I think this program was extremely successful because the members seemed to have a great time solving the riddles and finding Mr. Rosenberg.”

Junior Asma Ansari said as a freshman, she was inspired to join ChemClub because she did not enjoy taking the class. She said she wanted to be a member in order to have a bigger passion towards the subject rather than dreading the class. “I hated taking chemistry, so in order to be able to tolerate sitting through the class, I wanted to be able to have fun with chemistry rather than just learning it,” Ansari said. “I knew that [ChemClub’s] aim was more about using chemistry in a more fun and entertaining way, so it allowed me to see chemistry in a new light.” Similar to Ansari, King said he joined ChemClub and ultimately became president because he wanted himself and other students at the Bay to be more enthusiastic about chemistry, and he finds it important for students to be able to enjoy themselves while also learning through experiments. “I took on the position of president because I wanted to help make chemistry fun for others,” King said. “ChemClub does this by using chemistry in entertaining labs and activities.” Rosenberg said he has had many favorites when it comes to the experiments the students participate in at ChemClub meetings. He said this year, the members have been creating more activities than ever before and the club has been extremely successful. “I think the students really like the simple stuff like making Play-Doh to using invisible ink,” Rosenberg said. “We have even used chemistry to make edible water bottles; all of the experiments are really cool and it’s great for the students to have the opportunity to just have a fun club.” Rosenberg said it is important for some clubs at the Bay to have the purpose of simply having a good time, which is what ChemClub aims to do. He said one of his students wanted to start the club, so he was happy to take on the role of adviser in order to raise the level of enthusiasm that students have for chemistry.

photos by jenna friedman

Putting the pieces together: (From top) members of the ChemClub participate in a school-wide scavenger hunt where they are using a blacklight to put the clues together and solve the riddle. The final riddle, written by Mr. Rosenberg, stood hanging on the door of another classroom. Participants work together to figure out the secret location of Mr. Rosenberg, which is his classroom.

“ChemClub is beneficial for students because it actually gives them hands on experiments to allow them to see how chemistry is used in their real lives,” Rosenberg said. “The best part about [ChemClub] is that we use chemistry for fun and not necessarily just for learning the material.” Ansari said her favorite activity so far has been using the invisible ink because the members have been able to use it in multiple different experiments. She said next year,

she will be taking on the role as president of ChemClub and she is excited to be creative and come up with different activities. “I definitely need some more creative ideas for when I take over [as president],” Ansari said. “The scavenger hunt and the invisible ink [activities] have been amazing, and it has been really fun being able to experiment with these different methods of making invisible ink, like burning paper to see what it says.”

Honor society beautifies butterfly habitat by sophia zapata

The National Honor Society (NHS) held the Butterfly Garden event at Markham Park on Nov. 9. The club helped organize, decorate and remove weeds from the garden to ensure a beautiful and safe place for the community and assist the habitat of butterflies. Junior and attendee Beatriz Kolster said she signed up for the service opportunity because she takes pride in making a difference in helping better the ecosystem. “I loved planting seeds in the garden so more plants can grow and help the environment flourish,” Kolster said. “[Planting seedlings] provides clean air for the butterflies that live in the garden and greatly benefits the ecosystem for all animals.” The event was optional to attend, but provided students who went with additional service hours. Junior and attendee Michael Behling said he enjoyed the experience because he had the opportunity to help the environment. “My favorite part of going was seeing all of the brightly-colored butterflies and other wildlife,” Behling said. “Looking at all of the animals and knowing you are making their lives better is gratifying.” Kolster said she has enjoyed being a part of the club because it made her feel included and a valuable part of her community. Kolster said she wanted to join NHS after seeing her peers take part in helping create a better neighborhood and was fascinated by what the club had to offer. “It is fun being a part of a club with my classmates, especially when we volunteer

PHOTO COURTESY OF nATIONAL honor Society

Making a difference: Members from National Honor Society pull weeds and clean the garden at Markham Park in order to create a more beautiful space for the community and butterflies.

places and are productive together as a group,” Kolster said. “Having fun and making a difference sums up what volunteering here was like.” Behling said he joined the club because he was interested in the opportunities the society provides and was intrigued by their mission. Behling said events such as the Butterfly Garden make him remember why he joined in the first place. “NHS stands for students being independent, as we help organizations in need and give back to our community,” Behling said. “Attending the event was exactly that and we created an environment that improved our surroundings.

Kolster said she has a passion for helping others and attending charity events for the Bay. She said NHS has allowed her to give back while being part of an environment that has assisted her in growing as a person by constantly providing her with new and exciting opportunities. “I have always wanted to help others and volunteer at charity events to help others live their life to the fullest,” Kolster said. “It makes me happy when I know I am making a difference, even if it is only affecting one person.” Broward Advisers for Continuing Education and NHS adviser Shari Bush has been part of the club for 10 years. Bush said

she is looking forward to her continued role with NHS and working with the 2019-2020 officers and members to continue to aid their community and lend a helping hand to those in need. “NHS was founded for students to come together under the umbrella of community service and leadership,” Bush said. “It is an opportunity for students who have done well academically to further excel in the school environment.” Meetings for the club take place once a month in the auditorium and are planned to discuss and reflect on the outreach opportunities members have recently completed and to converse about upcoming events such as social events, drives and volunteering opportunities. “NHS tends to different locations throughout the community to help in any way possible,” Bush said. “Volunteering is a large part of what we do, and helping others is always very satisfying.” Behling said he is immensely proud of the members involved in the club because they help contribute to better the community of South Florida. Behling said Bush has done an incredible job in the expansion of the club by promoting volunteering opportunities for members to attend such as the Butterfly Garden event. “It is very important that NHS consists entirely of students because you do not see that very often in clubs like these,” Behling said. “These students have been extremely responsible in planning events while simultaneously keeping the club on its feet.”

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DECEMBER 2019

Hosa week

HOSA holds its annual event to promote involvement in Health Science programs from Nov. 18 to 22.

The club raised money for international service projects for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Warnock said she is ecstatic with the amount raised and the money will be going to a great cause to assist individuals in need. “HOSA week is also a way to give back to our own members, so they received a gift and lanyard to thank them for their participation,” Warnock said. “This week would not have been possible without our amazing team of members.” Woodford said HOSA week and its events went fantastically as planned. Woodford said she is excited to see what the future holds for the club at the Bay. “There were many exciting games at the event, as well as informational posters that taught aspiring health professionals about the medical field,” Woodford said. “It was amazing to see so many members collaborate and build leadership skills through their shared love of medicine.” Warnock said the desired goal of spreading knowledge about the medical field to students was achieved. However, Warnock said a few changes can make the week more successful in the future to receive greater engagement from the student body.

BY Jake Miller Ad designer

The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club held their annual HOSA Week on Nov. 18 to Nov. 22 in class and the courtyard. The club encouraged students to participate and become involved in health science programs at the Bay to help motivate future health care providers. Senior and President Gabriel Quiros said HOSA week unites students who want to make an impact on the medical world. “HOSA Week is an international celebration where chapters around the world celebrate and show their spirit for our wonderful organization,” Quiros said. “The event promotes our organization of the student body and primes future years of strong membership within our chapter.” On Nov. 20, games and activities were held in the courtyard during all lunches. Health Science teacher and HOSA adviser Carol Warnock said the event was a great way to capture the attention of students at the Bay and inform them about medical sciences and professions. “We attempted to take traditional games and make them medically oriented,” Warnock said. “This allowed students to enjoy themselves and learn about medical professions and terminology at the same time.” Committees were created to develop promotional materials as well as organize events such as the classic game Operation, mystery box guessing and career health displays. The project leaders received support from the officer team in terms of managing the financial and administrative processes involved. Quiros said a significant amount of work from the club went into orchestrating the event, with long hours after school.

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HOSA week is also a way to give back to our own members, so they received a gift and lanyard to thank them for their participation.

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The success of this year’s HOSA week, along with former HOSA weeks, rewards members for their hard work and continues to create involvement and excitement around this event.

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-senior Katheryn Woodford

“In the committees, members painted promotional banners, established a design for HOSA lanyards and developed activities,” Quiros said. “The committees were efficient and did a great job with their projects and truly brought the event together.” Senior and Historian Katheryn Woodford said the planned activities such as using traditional yet interesting games, interactive activities and career health displays were the best way for the club to present health science to students. Other activities included a bedpan water balloon toss, bandaging up a stuffed animal disguised as a patient and a game of bean-bag toss designed to assist the player in feeding patients. “I loved [the bedpan water balloon toss] because it allowed members to learn about the shape and functionality of a bedpan in an exciting way,” Woodford said. “The activity allowed members to build memories with one another in a lighthearted yet informative way.” Warnock said HOSA week is not just a way to inspire future medical leaders, but a way to participate in global service activities and appreciate the members for their commitment to the organization. “The committees put in hard work into the events and it seemed people were involved and engaged,” Warnock said. “The students especially enjoyed the prizes they could win from the games, such as popsicles.”

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-Health Science teacher and HOSA adviser Carol Warnock

photos by jake miller

all patched up: (From top) seniors Alec Fernandes, Armand Bourjolly, Riya Girish and Miah Nicholls prepared informative posters to educate students about Health Science related topics and careers. Health Occupations Students of America members and students participated in using a stethoscope to pin the location of a human heart on the board after being spun. Students also participated in other activities such as a water balloon toss with bedpans, a bean bag toss symbolizing feeding a patient and a bandage station to patch up injured teddy bears.

“The career health displays did not receive much attention,” Warnock said. “However, the club can provide an incentive for students to view the displays by using a prescription pad to enter and receive a raffle entry as an incentive.” HOSA’s continued growth and expansion opens opportunities for the creation of more jobs in the healthcare field. Woodford said she hopes HOSA week events reached out to more students at the Bay, therefore increasing club membership for years to come. “It is important for people to know the multitude of different routes and jobs offered in the healthcare field and to be able to access the tools needed to reach these goals,” Woodford said. “HOSA weeks in the future will not only fill the entire courtyard, but the entire school.” Woodford said the week will continue to succeed and exceed its goals each year due to the teamwork and the dedication of the committees. She said the event is just as rewarding for its members as it is for other students. “The success of this year’s HOSA week, along with former HOSA weeks, rewards members for their hard work and continues to create involvement and excitement around this event,” Woodford said. “I know the fulfillment members receive from an event as successful as HOSA week will continue to drive people to participate in the event every year.” The club will be planning a member appreciation day to thank their members for their hard work throughout the week. Quiros said the chapter looks forward to providing more great experiences for the members in order to further pursue the mission of the organization. “The chapter is proud of our project leaders and wonderful members who were able to make this event possible,” Quiros said. “We will be thanking the members who volunteered and were involved in our committee and we appreciate our members and their involvement in our chapter, school, and community.”

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Handing back for the holidays Interior Design Club

The Interior Design Club held a holiday Thanksgiving Service Social on Nov. 21 in room 146 afterschool; the event celebrated Thanksgiving and provided support to those in need by creating handmade blankets to donate to less fortunate people in the community. DECA teacher and Interior Design adviser Denise Jacks said although the event provided time for members to bond and socialize, it also allowed them to apply what they learned in class by applying their new knowledge to helping impoverished families. “The Thanksgiving Service Social was focused around giving back to the community, giving thanks and being grateful for what you have,” Jacks said. “To show that [members] really valued what they had, students used their skills in design to create blankets to give to children that do not have these comforts, so they may enjoy their Thanksgiving as we do.” The blankets are being donated to the Covenant House, an organization that takes in young women and children who are facing testing circumstances, such as homelessness. Every member brought in a yard and a half of fleece fabric to design their custom donation.

French Honor Society French Honor Society (FHS) hosted a Frenchgiving in room 444 after school for the holiday season. Frenchgiving was an event held on Nov. 22 designed as a potluck featuring authentic French cuisine as well as holiday cards. Sophomore and member Andre Chelle said Frenchgiving was an enjoyable event where Chick-Fil-A was catered as well as French cuisine as a meal prior to Thanksgiving. “[The event] was really fun; it is important to have friends come together, especially in clubs because it creates stronger ties between members,” Chelle said. “It brought members together in FHS and it was an exciting time for the club because we were eating really tasty French food.” Members were required to bring platters that included chocolate-filled croissants, crepes, baguettes and a wide variety of sweet drinks. inks of their choice, as long as it represented France’s culture. In addition, the social included writing letters to residents in a nursing home. Chelle said the activities were a success and expressed gratitude for the society. “The food was really good, especially since it had been a while since I’d eaten food unique to my culture,” Chelle said. “It was important the club did the activity to give back to the community and make everybody feel appreciated; even though these are old individuals, they deserve to be regarded by society.” Senior and President Alexia Cosman said the Frenchgiving was only possible with members bringing their respective food items to the social. Cosman said that officers also incentivized the social by providing ChickFil-A. “We invited all of our members to bring

BY GOWRI ABHINANDA NEWS COPY EDITOR

Jacks said she was happy the students came together to make the project successful by constructing a meaningful gift, while also enjoying the social. “Usually socials are just about fun, but the kids decided to step up and take the initiative to hold a service to help these women and children during their time is really nice to see,” Jacks said. “They took the time to make blankets for them because that was one of the items they needed, so they [designed and] donated it to them, which is heartwarming.” Senior and Interior Design Club Treasurer, Valentina Vigliarolo, played a role in organizing the event by spreading the word and making sure members brought their share of fleece material for the service social. Vigliarolo said she was overjoyed with the overwhelmingly positive responses she received from members towards the blanket drive. “It was such a good feeling seeing our members have so much fun and get involved,” Vigliarolo said. “Being able to get so many people, mostly girls, to help out by creating these blankets to help other women and children in the shelters is extremely rewarding

a dish of their own or a drink or utensils, or anything to contribute to the celebration by bringing in food,” Cosman said. “To pay the members back for doing such a good job in bringing food authentic to France we treated them to some Chick-Fil-A, so we made it a modernized Thanksgiving dinner with ChickFil-A nuggets, and we tried to make it our own a lot.” Like Chelle, Cosman said the idea for sending holiday cards to the elderly in nursing homes shows the compassion the club has towards the community. She said doing this allowed members to feel the gratitude associated with Thanksgiving spirits. “We had activities other than food such as having everyone make holiday cards for the elderly in the nursing homes, so we sent these cards to brighten their day,” Cosman said. “By doing the cards, members felt the love they were giving to people who deserve it, and therefore it made members feel thankful for everything they valued; it was just a positive effect.” AP French language teacher and adviser Lisa Chelle said the officers did a great job in coordinating the event. Chelle said she did not have to stress over the management of the social because officers such as Cosman organized the event. “In FHS, members and officers stepped up to help, they contributed in bringing food, were mindful of bringing art supplies for the cards and they brought the cards to write on,” Mrs. Chelle said. “Everyone was just on top of everything; it was a stress-free event for me, and I was pleased, the social was great.”

PHOTO BY GOWRI ABHINANDA

Dec(orate) the halls: Members of the Interior Design Club listen to directions from their officers on making their blankets to send to the Covenant House during their Thanksgiving Service Social.

and moving.” During the event, activities were planned such as having a scavenger hunt to get to know one another before beginning their creation of blankets for the social aspect of the gettogether to be fulfilled. After the blankets were made, the club provided Chick-Fil-A and Dunkin’ Donuts for the attendees. Vigliarolo said the process encouraged the holiday spirit the club aimed to achieve. “[The activities] were exciting since we started off with an icebreaker; that way we

get to know the members, they get to know each other and they have fun while doing so,” Vigliarolo said. “We also brought food for the members as a good ending to the social.” Gonzalez said the social was impactful for her because of the cause it represented. Gonzalez said knowing where her efforts were going made the experience worthwhile. “It was really fulfilling knowing that the blankets we were making were going to people in need,” Gonzalez said. “It really felt like we were making a difference.”

PHOTO BY GOWRI ABHINANDA

We all scream for ice cream: Senior and President of the Promoting Relationships in Diversity Education club Micaela Kogutek and Vice President Lucy Jin serve ice cream to the club members during the holiday social after school.

P.R.I.D.E.

The Promoting Relationships in Diversity Education (P.R.I.D.E.) held an ice cream social in room 406 after school with the purpose of encouraging members to interact and celebrate the holiday spirit on Nov. 14. The event was held to portray gratitude for one another, despite different ethnicities and cultures. Senior and Vice President of P.R.I.D.E., Lucy Jin, said the ice cream social was impactful because of its purpose of promoting integration through holiday activity. “P.R.I.D.E. club hosted this social for a unique bonding time during the holiday season for club members,” Jin said. “P.R.I.D.E. is about accepting everyone regardless of different ethnicities and sharing an enjoyable day of ice cream together strengthens this cultural acceptance, we wanted to be able to have conversations of thankfulness for one another despite any cultural differences.” Jin said the social was a great opportunity to recruit non-members and increase the amount of thanks between members in the club. She said the event also served to make their club more well known to the general populace at the Bay. “Our goal for the social was to have a Thanksgiving social that would include lots of fun and integrate culture, while also giving P.R.I.D.E. a platform in the school’s eye,” Jin said. “Ice cream grabs attention because it is everyone’s favorite dessert and allowed us to promote our holiday integration plan.” A total of 30 people attended the social, both in and out of the club. AP Spanish teacher and P.R.I.D.E. adviser, Aida DeGoveia, said PHOTO BY GOWRI ABHINANDA the number of students who attended was saying oui to the season: Members of French Honor Society get together to kick impactful, which allowed the club to achieve off their holiday spirit with Frenchgiving by sending holiday cards to the elderly in nursing their goal in celebrating cultures for the homes. holidays.

“We are a big club and it was manageable because the ice cream was evenly distributed,” DeGoveia said. “With the amount of time, ice cream and people we had, it was a perfect amount to mix and give attention to each student, which allowed the environment to feel like a family.” DeGoveia said the social was possible due to the officers working to gain the support of sponsors to purchase the desserts provided. DeGoveia said student sponsors were generous, as the club was able to raise enough money for ice cream to create an enjoyable event before break. “The board first communicated with different clubs to get the word out and get sponsors to receive ice cream containers, which we were all very appreciative of and everyone was in support of our goal and our holiday spirit,” DeGoveia said. “Due to heavy support and our officer’s coordination, we were able to pack up the whole room for the social, which was fun and impressive.” In addition to the adequate amount of ice cream being provided to make the event successful, junior and member Valeria Astiza said members found joy in the social through communicating with one another and listening to popular music during the event. “During the holiday social, I absolutely loved listening to music while talking and eating ice cream,” Astaiza said. “I really liked the music the club provided because it was relaxing and supplied a nice vibe throughout, P.R.I.D.E. definitely conducted a wonderful holiday event.”

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NEWS

DECEMBER 2019

In this issue’s recurring segment that explores current event topics affecting the student body, staffer Samantha Reichstein speaks to administration and students about the technology such as computers being present in classrooms in taking FSA standardized tests.

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I cannot imagine school without technology because it has become such a major part of our learning and assessments are easier to complete.

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Over the past few years, newer applications for technology have been integrated into classrooms across the country. Learning platforms have been introduced for students to use as a helpful resource in a variety of subjects such as Khan Academy and Canvas. In addition, Florida students are required to take the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA), a mandatory end-of-year exam that measures progress in education. Sophomore Sofia Rojas said the recent switch of taking the standardized test online has created a more convenient experience. “I cannot imagine school without technology because it has become such a major part of our learning and assessments are easier to complete,” Rojas said. “I do not have to worry about pencils breaking, messy handwriting or my hand becoming tired and instead can put forth my full focus on the content.” Although there are many benefits of assessing on the computer, certain students disagree with this way of testing. Freshman Greta Alexander said completing assessments online can be a challenge for students and their teachers. “It can be stressful because technology can be defective, as computers often run out of battery, are lacking internet connection or are not loading; it can be nerve-wracking because of time management and previous answers could be lost,” Alexander said. “Exams are important to students and these problems are

process more simple.” Resources can be helpful when students may not have the money for extra tutoring. Helping tools are a way to revise previously learned content that may have been missed or complicated to remember. Rojas said this is a great tool for students to use frequently.

-sophomore Sofia Rojas graphic by isabella loshiavo

unnecessary to have to deal with on test day.” Resources have been released to assist students throughout their classes. At the Bay, complementary helping tools supplied include Canvas, Algebra Nation, my.HRW and online textbooks. However, Alexander said her computer often does not load in class, which results in wasted class time and inability to use these resources. “Many of my classrooms no longer have textbooks for students to use, which often becomes inconvenient,” Alexander said. “Time spent searching for a computer to use or attempting to find the textbook online can be allocated to studying.”

The majority of classrooms at the Bay have computer carts but not all; therefore, inconveniences can create challenges of completing work in an efficient amount of time. Geometry teacher Marc Macias said he does not use any online resources in his classroom, but can see the benefits to using the internet. “The websites [the Bay] provides students access to is incredible for an individual who needs extra help; in my classroom, I stay away from using my computer while teaching,” Macias said. “I understand why teachers often have their students take assessments on the computer because it makes the grading

“When I am struggling in a class, these resources are the first thing I turn to for assistance,” Rojas said. “The help provides me with the opportunity to understand concepts that I sometimes do not understand while in the classroom.” Online resources are also a quick way to improve their skills on a subject or specific topic. Macias said these resources can give students who may be busy after school a convenient way to clarify about a topic. “A lot of my students participate in afterschool activities which gives them limited time to review their math skills,” Macias said. “These websites allow my students to review their specific needs efficiently and quickly which is always helpful.”

Volunteers become “united” at event

through events such as United We Can because it provides individuals with an opportunity to get back on their feet and achieve a better quality of life,” Van Gent said. “Not everyone has received the same good fortune students [at the Bay], so it is important that members realize this and give back to their community, as well as appreciate what they have.”

by gabriellA BARRAZA

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The event deeply impacted me by showing me first hand who our donations were affecting and the impact it is making on them.

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The National Honor Society (NHS) Club held the United We Can event to donate to and support homeless individuals in Miami Beach on Nov. 16 and will be occurring various times throughout the year. The event consisted of 20 chosen members from the club volunteering to donate multiple items, serve food and spend time with homeless individuals. Senior and Vice President of NHS Alexa Bieber said the event was important because it reached out to people who are less fortunate in the community. “Not only do the members get to learn about others who do not have the same things as them, but they get to have an impact on the people around them,” Bieber said. “Members gain insight to new experiences as well as provoke personal reflection based on their own lives through the event because they are able to see the lives of people unlike themselves.” Bieber said the event is not only donating food for the homeless, but also other items that may be of service to them such as clothes and medical supplies. She said in addition, the event creates an atmosphere where impoverished individuals can congregate and socialize. “The beauty of United We Can is the food collected is not just non-perishable items, so it serves multiple purposes to the individuals receiving them,” Bieber said. “By donating to the homeless, not only do we help others, but we also improve ourselves greatly.” B.R.A.C.E and NHS adviser Shari Bush said there is immense value in having students participate in events such as United We Can, in which members can support others who are less fortunate. Bush said these people are supported not only physically through being provided necessary items, but emotionally

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY ALEXA BIEBER

ALL FOR ONE: Seniors Diego Figueroa and Daniela Duarte are serving food during the National Honor Society event. Senior and vice president of NHS Alexa Bieber said the Bay’s students should participate in similar events like “United We Can” for the importance of reflection based on different aspects in life.

as well. “The event is important because the value of paying back your fortune is a great opportunity, so students are able to appreciate the event,” Bush said. “Students can personally grow by seeing how others live differently from them and learn ongoing life lessons they can use later in life.” Senior and NHS member Anastacia Van Gent said the event was overall a positive and uplifting day. She said it is important for her to experience events such as United We Can because they teach her important lessons such as the impact her kindness can have on others. “The event deeply impacted me by showing me first hand who our donations were

affecting and the impact it is making on them,” Van Gent said. “United We Can allowed me to make a direct connection with individuals that are less fortunate than me, as opposed to other events where I do not get to see where my donations reach and the great impact it has on the receiving end.” Van Gent said the event was crucial for the well-being of homeless individuals because it provided for the opportunity to have a nutritional meal for the day and communication with others. Van Gent said these two factors are important for these individuals to improve their lives. “It is important to give back to the homeless

-senior Anastacia Van Gent Bush said the event was a great way for the students to support others and see where their donations are going. Bush said students have the opportunity to become more motivated to support the community in other ways as well through various NHS events. “I am proud of having this recurring program in NHS because it is another vehicle for students to spread their kindness to everyone and therefore, personally improve themselves,” Bush said. “Helping others is extremely important and United We All Can does this by supporting members looking to see the benefit of their efforts in their community.”

NEWS

DECEMBER 2019

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DECA month educates aspiring members a&e / opinion copy editor

DECA is a class offered to all students at the Bay that teaches valuable entrepreneurial skills throughout a variety of different courses that each focus on a specific area of business. The club allows members and officers to participate in various events to promote DECA and raise awareness by educating others about its purpose. DECA Month, one of the club’s many events throughout the school year, is celebrated internationally throughout November. Members are able to go to DECA competitions and compete at a district level, and later, if they qualify, at a state and international level to be able to win awards. DECA and Interior Design adviser Denise Jacks said she enjoys participating in the event as she loves the motivation members provide throughout the month. “[DECA Month] is about advocating within your own programs, what DECA is all about and what it means to the members and to the community informing them of the importance of DECA and the opportunities it provides,” Jacks said. “It is all about the internal and external advocating of DECA to others.” Although both the international and local purposes of DECA month are similar, they vary slightly. At the Bay, it has a more refined goal. Senior and President of the club, Daniela Duarte, said in addition to promotion, the event displays to other students how the club prepares for higher education. “We would like to do something that could show people that DECA is not only about competition or the certification exam or the cool teachers, but it is also about having unique experiences,” Duarte said. “These experiences are the ones that make you stand out from the competition as a person, which is why DECA prepares you for real life.” Scheduled events throughout the month include Spirit Week, Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Rags to Riches workshop, a Super Selling workshop and certification and competition workshops. Senior and Director of the Executive Council, Joey Millberg, said he enjoys the large variety of educational events because they promote the motivation of the club. “[DECA Month and its events] are for everyone in our school, and people participate because of the fun activities we have,” Millberg said. “My favorite part [of DECA Month] is meeting many new people with similar interests and seeing how much fun people are having.” The Bay has always celebrated DECA Month in November; however, the City of

Weston has never recognized the event. Duarte said this year, DECA officers and advisers completed a monumental achievement for the future of DECA Month in Weston on Nov. 18. “The City of Weston declared the month of [Nov.] as official DECA month,” Duarte said. “This experience was very enjoyable and cool because not many people get to say they declared a month, and at the event, the mayor recognized everything DECA does and the event of DECA Month itself.” The Rags to Riches workshop event included three business owners who introduced themselves and spoke about their past endeavors. The three business owners were all males from the companies Formula Z, Yonutz and Forthright with insight into how to start their own business and how business operations work. Duarte said this workshop is her favorite and by far the most popular event because of how interested the students are and how invested the entrepreneurs are.

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All year long the members complete activities, but during DECA month, it is really about showing the spirit of DECA and the importance of the club by educating our student body about it.

“

by julia winton

photo Submitted by Daniela Durate

-senior and President Daniela Duarte

Let’s talk: DECA officers inform members about the club during Spirit Week. Members gathered in the courtyard during their lunches to ask questions and learn more about what the club has to offer.

“This is my favorite event from DECA Month because I saw that the business members were genuinely interested and that maybe if these kids actually want to have their own businesses in the future we could ask questions about it,” Duarte said. “They gave information that we needed and that is relevant to our generation about the different types of businesses.” To execute DECA Month and ensure it runs as smoothly as possible, an abundance of planning is required with the help of the DECA officers. Millberg said although the officers in charge of planning the event may face some hardships along the way, in the end, seeing all the components of the event come together is worth it. “The whole entire officer team is in charge of planning the events, but our executive

council actually executes most of the events,” Millberg said. “One of the biggest struggles [we] face is creating these events for such a large amount of people.” At the Bay, Jacks teaches a business ownership course, which is a virtual class meant to teach students how to start and manage a business, similar to many workshops during the event. Jacks said she appreciates teaching the necessary skills needed because it provides students, who operate as employees, with a realistic preview of what their future occupation may consist. “I absolutely love teaching my DECA class,” Jacks said. “With every other class in our DECA program [the students] are learning about all the other activities that exist in business, but in this class, they actually get to run through those tasks and actually do

Ka-ching: (From top) DECA holds a meeting for informing members about upcoming events. The club promotes activities throughout the month of November such as the Rags to Riches workshop, Spirit Week and Global Entrepreneurship Week. The club promotes Spirit Week in the courtyard during all lunches by setting up tables to raise awareness about the club. photos Submitted by Daniela Duarte

those tasks that they learned about in those previous classes, which is an extremely unique experience.” Jacks said DECA Month is a fun, entertaining way to teach others about the motivation behind DECA club through events and activities. She said it is extremely intriguing to watch members truly understand the purpose of the club they take part in and take this understanding to the next level by having the ability to inform others. “Overall, I really do enjoy DECA Month,” Jacks said. “All year long the members complete activities, but during DECA Month, it is really about showing the spirit of DECA and the importance of the club by educating our student body about it.”

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NEWS

DECEMBER 2019

NHS supply drive exceeds quota for donated items by gowri abhinanda news copy editor

The National Honor Society (NHS) held the Gratitude Project in the College and Career Center on Oct. 14 to Oct. 18. The project was a drive that focused on aiding those in Nkomazi, South Africa who are in dire need of medical supplies such as common pain medications, antibiotic creams, multivitamins and more health essentials. Senior and Vice President, James Brock, said the drive made an enormous difference, even if contributions were modest as all proceeds went towards helping those in need. “Simple medications such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen were brought into ringworm and eczema treatment medications; everything that was brought no matter how big or small matters to people in South Africa that are in need of these supplies,” Brock said. “Even though it may seem [a donation] is not much to students, it matters to these individuals that are not as fortunate as we are, and it is essential that we help them no matter the contribution.” The drive collected 1920 bandages, 192 rolls of gauze, 1466 gloves, 180 Neosporin tubes and 156 pills and multivitamins in a fourday time period. Junior and member, Sionika Thayagabalu, said the drive was emotionally impactful to her as there were lots of supplies being collected and shipped in large numbers. She said the whole project was impressive to her because of how the requirements were specific for the project, yet NHS still managed to run the drive smoothly. “I find [the project] really astonishing because projects like these are specific and difficult to pull off,” Thayagabalu said. “The

vastness of the project was moving to see because these medicinal supplies are going to children in need.” Brock said initially, he believed the turnout for the project would be much smaller in the scale of medicines collected due to the time frame. However, Brock said the outcome for the NHS drive was more successful than the officers expected. “NHS was able to complete the goals we had for this project, and we even exceeded our personal quota of at least 100 medical supplies,” Brock said. “The club was able to help the people of Nkomazi because of all we were able to raise; we contributed to the region’s goal of trying to achieve $111,111 worth of care supplies.” Since the project helps the youth in the municipality of Nkomazi, Thayagabalu said witnessing and taking part in this project impacted her positively as the project became personal and meaningful after realizing the scale in which the drive is aiding these children. “The drive is a really compassionate cause and has made me more aware of people’s situations,” Thayagabalu said. “The drive is important to me because it is important to take part in not only community service activities in our local community, but also in the global community.” Like Thayagabalu, B.R.A.C.E and NHS adviser Shari Bush said it is important to have students expand their horizons through hands on experiences. Bush said the Gratitude Project was essential for students to see the purpose in providing aid for those in need. “It is important for students to see people from around the world needing help and

photo submitted by james brock

giving back: Junior and National Honors Society member Nicole Vayman packs boxes of medical supplies donated during the month of October. In attempts to aid people in Nkomazi, South Africa, items such as pain medications, antibiotic creams and multivitamins are collected.

support them,” Bush said. “I am happy that through NHS’s organization, we are not just focusing on what is happening locally, but globally as well.” Bush said the values of giving back, volunteering and helping others that are less fortunate has always been a part of her daily life and has led to her passion for helping others with special drives. Bush said being adviser and seeing the principle of helping the less fortunate through the club makes her feel optimistic for the future. “I feel lucky to have officers such as Joseph Mullen, Jake Brock and Riley Carpinteri, and I feel lucky to have members that have joined the club with the express purpose of helping one another,” Bush said. “Continuing

the message of supporting one another even globally through NHS gives me hope that this value will play on for years to come.” Similar to Thayagabalu and Bush, Brock said the drive was significant to him because of how vital the supplies were to the impoverished children. Brock said it is touching that students came together to assist unfortunate children. “This project was incredibly compelling; the aspects the officers and members valued about the drive is that it connected two countries, two groups of people who dedicated themselves to alleviating a crucial issue,” Brock said. “Not everyone is as fortunate as we are, and donating medicine is the least we can do.”

Car wash fundraiser spreads awareness by courtney levinson pr manager

The Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel (HAAPE) club hosted a carwash in the parking lot at Wendys from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to fundraise money for special needs adults and promote the club on Nov. 16. Co-chair of Fundraising, senior Spencer Levine, said the event was successful and the members worked efficiently together to create a meaningful experience. “The event went really well; the club was able to get a variety of students who were both members and non-members to attend and assist,” said Levine. “This is not only big for our fundraising, but for growing the community’s awareness of the club altogether.”

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Whether it is purchasing a car wash ticket or helping the maintenance of each car, it was the hard work of HAAPE members that made this event successful.

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-junior Shelby Schultz As this is the second annual car wash, adviser Kathleen Gard if this is a teacher say her position here too said the officers are able to raise large amounts through different fundraisers throughout the year. “Our officers are always working hard in order to expand HAAPE,” Gard said. “The

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY SHELBY ScHULTZ

Workin’ at the car wash: The Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel club hosts their second annual carwash located in the Wendy’s parking lot. Club members wash cars and work together to raise awareness as well as money for special needs adults.

officers take care of everything and work efficiently to continue to meet the needs of the club.” HAAPE members were able to raise about $500 through the event. Levine said the executive board is continuing to plan events to further their fundraising and awareness of the club by developing activities such as the Cycle Bar fundraiser that occurred in Sept. when months stand on their own you spell them out

and the upcoming Softball Classic in March. “The club has more exciting events planned for the future, as the car wash was a great way for the club to ease into the school year and gain membership,” said Levine. “As Co-Chair of Fundraising, it is very important to me that the planned events run as smoothly as possible, and the carwash was definitely at success.” The HAAPE profits go towards an organization called Spectrum Tech, which

is an employment center for adults on the spectrum; jobs range from computer skills to data processing. Gard said she looks forward to seeing her officers expand HAAPE, so more donations are able to go towards employment. “The club collects large amounts of proceeds not just at the carwash, but in other fundraisers as well,” Gard said. “Every year, we are hoping to raise more and more money for Spectrum Tech to help the needs of special adults with the implementation of new events.” Along with Levine, Ambassador of HAAPE, junior Shelby Schultz, said the carwash is an event to look forward to for all members because it is a way to become more involved and receive a higher position next year. “As this is the first year, I am assigned a position in the club, it is very important to me to make this school year the best it can possibly be,” Schultz said. “The carwash went well, attendees seemed excited to help; it was nice to see the members and non-members working together since that does not always happen in other clubs.” Schultz said the club is working hard to plan entertaining events that will attempt to gain the interest of every member in the club. Schultz said planned events are crucial because the club develops more opportunities to reach out to its members that are not as involved and attract new members as well. “Once uncommitted members attend events and see the purpose of HAAPE, many students continue to come out and assist,” Schultz said. “Whether it is purchasing a car wash ticket or helping the maintenance of each car, it was the hard work of HAAPE members that made this event successful.”

FEATURES

a different kind of holiday cheer THE CIRCUIT

DECEMBER 2019

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by sabrina blandon

features / web opinion copy

With the holiday season around the corner, World History Honors and AICE Sociology teacher Ches Kanno said as a child, he didn’t celebrate the festivities. Kanno said his holiday season was unique since his mother was Japanese and his father was Christian, and both cultures conflict with one another. Kanno said he also felt society made Christmas feel more about shopping than spending time with family. “[I didn’t celebrate Christmas since] the consumerism of Christmas is a factor,” Kanno said. “There was little emphasis on the spirituality and then as you get older and start to look inward, you start to question why you do certain things.”

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As far as the tradition and the faith and worshipping, I don’t know how far we’ll take it but for now, it’s just the consumption part and celebratory of the tradition. Because my family didn’t [celebrate Christmas], I feel kind of obligated to continue the tradition because I don’t want my daughter to feel left out, so that’s basically the sum of it.

For junior Aaron Fintz, he said some of the traditions his family does is open gifts each day of Hanukkah, light the candles on the menorah, have dinners with family and friends, make latkes and doughnuts as well as hosting big dinners to celebrate the holiday. “I celebrate Hanukkah and other Jewish holidays which symbolize different parts of my Jewish ancestors’ history,” Fintz said. “My favorite part of Hanukkah is family dinners because my whole family is together enjoying a meal and catching up.” Kanno said another reason he did not truly celebrate Christmas was because most of his family lived halfway across the world in Japan. He said just sending the gifts between the United States to Japan became a hassle, so over time, Kanno’s family slowly stopped celebrating. “I started questioning whether or not I truly was Christian. There’s all this pressure to buy [gifts] and so at some point, we kind of just stopped celebrating the holiday,” Kanno said. “Holidays are for the family so if families are together, the holidays are nice but if you’re not getting together, it kind of loses the point.” Fintz said one event his temple has is a Hanukkah party with a variety of food, music and many people celebrating. Fintz said he enjoys this part of the holiday since he sees people who are of the same religion in one room, honoring Hanukkah. “[My temple] also does a big candle lighting outside, and it is so much fun,” Fintz said. “It makes me feel excited as I know I can see my family enjoy the festivities of the holiday.” Kanno said even though his Christmases as a child were celebrated differently, he doesn’t think his holiday season was different than any of his friends. He said he still received

Junior Aaron Fintz supports his local temple, Temple B’nai Aviv by gifts even though his family didn’t celebrate happy holidays: volunteering his time as a dealer during a fundraiser for the temple. Fintz said he loves the holiday. helping others and he said he loves spending time with his family during Hannukah. “My parents also did the socialization [of the holiday] so they were just doacknowledged to mark Hanukkah. Hayyim ing that for the societal conforsake of his daughter. He said he said at Town Center, the city lights a giant memity,” Kanno said. “For me, wanted to conform to society for norah to celebrate Hanukkah. the anticipation of Sanhis daughter, so he decided to “We play dreidel together for a bit and bet ta Claus bringing gifts celebrate for her. on Hanukkah gelts, or chocolate coins,” Hayyis my favorite memo“Do you not do something be- im said. “I like lighting the menorah with my ry. My brother and I cause you haven’t been doing it or family. It’s surreal and almost nostalgic in a would sing ‘100 Bottles do you say ‘hey, you need to start of Beer on the Wall’ over doing this because this is an imporand over again until the tant part of being socialized,’ ” Kan- I celebrate Hanukkah and morning came and there no said. “So this year we put a tree other Jewish holidays were gifts.” up, bought some empty boxes and which symbolize different Much like Fintz, put some gift wrap on it and senior Levi Hayyput it under the tree, so that’s parts of my Jewish im doesn’t celeprobably our stem of cele- ancestors’ history. My brate Christmas, brating.” but instead celKanno said he has favorite part of Hanukkah ebrates Hanukdecided to celebrate is family dinners because kah. Hayyim the holidays because my whole family is said he’s in he wants to make his the holiday daughter feel like she together enjoying a meal spirit when belongs. Kanno said and catching up. he sees stuwhile he may not bedents around lieve in religion, he school celebratis happy to have had -junior Aaron Fintz Kanno said it was difficult to transition to ing the holidays started celebrating and has fun beChristmas for his daugh- celebrating Christmas since everything in society assumes when a person celebrates the ing in the mood ter. in time for the “As far as the tradition and holiday, they are Christian. He said he doesn’t holidays. the faith and worshipping, I don’t consider himself Christian and yet he is going “I like getting know how far we’ll take it but for to celebrate the holiday this year. “I was raised in a Christian household, but gifts obviously, now, it’s just the consumption part who doesn’t? But and celebratory of the tradition,” I’ve made a conscious choice to not be part of I also really enjoy being Kanno said. “Because my family one particular religion and you know you have with my siblings and my didn’t [celebrate Christmas], I feel kind to pick and choose your battles,” Kanno said. parents each night,” Hayyi m of obligated to continue the tradition be- “People assume and at one point you’re just said. “The food is also rea l l y cause I don’t want my daughter to feel like it’s not that important to me that I have to good.” left out, so that’s basically the sum of remind everyone that I’m not Christian. And in this society we live in, we sometimes just Kanno said since his ma r r iage it.” and the birth of his daughter, he has Hayyim said at his synagogue, have to go with the current which makes life decided to celebrate Christ- mas for the there aren’t any specials celebrations easier.”

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-World History Honors and AICE Sociology teacher Ches Kanno

Photo submitted by aaron fintz

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FEATURES

DECEMBER 2019

Festive holiday decorations “light up” the community BY Hannah Grogan

With the holiday season coming up, many students and teachers at the Bay show their holiday spirit through decorations, according to sophomore Victoria Aleman. She said her family starts decorating for the holidays right after Thanksgiving as a way to get into the holiday spirit. “The holiday season only lasts so long, so we try to start getting ready as early as we can,” Aleman said. “My family loves [the] holidays and decorating is a way of showing that.” Aleman said her family loves to listen to Christmas music, while putting up the tree. She said her mom, dad and brother all decorate the tree together every year, and have been ever since she was little.

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This year was a bittersweet time to decorate because my sister is a senior, so we are enjoying every last minute we have together

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-sophomore Larissa Tozaki “My parents go full out and they do all inside our home, and on the outside we put lights everywhere,” Aleman said. “This year we also decorated our golf cart with rainbow lights and it looks so cool.”

Aleman said a tradition they do every year is decorate their house on Black Friday. She said they have been doing it ever since she can remember, and it has brought back some of her best memories. “We usually reuse all the decorations from previous years and every once in a while, we will buy new ones,” Aleman said. “When all the decor comes together, it makes our house look like a new home, and it truly feels like a new season.” For sophomore Larissa Tozaki, she said decorating for the holidays isn’t so much about the decor itself, but about the time she spends with her family while doing it. She said getting to reunite with family who lives far away is important to her. “My family and I usually decorate while on Thanksgiving break because my entire family is together so we can all enjoy our time,” Tozaki said. “My brother is in college and comes home over break, so we love decorating all together when he is here.” Tozaki said most of the decor is done by her and her sister because they enjoy putting up all the decorations and organizing everything. “Me and my sister don’t always get along, but we always come together and decorate together and that is time that I enjoy with her,” Tozaki said. Tozaki said it usually takes her and her sister about an hour to decorate, but with the help from her parents it can take even less time. “My dad usually helps us get the tree setup since it is a little more complicated than other decorations,” Tozaki said. “But most of the time, me and my sister put up all the lights

Photo BY Sandra talledo

Winter wreaths: Junior Erick Moron hangs up a decorative Christmas wreath. He helps his mom and dad decorate before Thanksgiving in order to have the house look festive for when his sister comes to visit. As a family, they put up a Christmas tree along with tinsel and lights throughout their house.

outside and set up all the small pieces inside our house.” English II teacher Christy Wagner said she enjoys decorating for the holidays because it brings joy to her life. She said she doesn’t go as full out as she used to, but still likes to put up a tree and a few little elements. “Without decorating, the season just feels like any other normal day,” Wagner said. “When you add decorations, it makes me feel so much more festive and get in the spirit.”

Wagner said she enjoys decorating for the holidays because the season is all about joy and celebration, so it makes her feel involved in the festivities. She said her favorite part is putting up the tree. “Being able to decorate reminds me of all the joy the holidays bring and being able to celebrate them,” Wagner said. “I can’t imagine going through the holiday season without seeing fun lights and decorations everywhere.”

Shoppers exploit Black Friday deals BY Isabella grogan

Features/sports photo editor

Black Friday is a sales event during which retailers give customers deals on most products in store and online. This makes various items significantly less expensive than they usually are. English II teacher Christy Wagner partook in Black Friday shopping by buying jewelry. She said she loves all of the deals Black Friday has to offer. She said she never buys expensive items unless there are amazing sales. Wagner said. “I decided to buy a bracelet because the price was marked down to an amazing price; I could not pass the deal up.”

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I always have fun going shopping on Black Friday because I know I will be able to find good deals.

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-English II teacher Christy Wagner Senior Jack Racicot is an employee at the Hollister store located in Sawgrass Mills Mall and worked on Black Friday. He said this was his first time working during the sales event and worked a seven hour shift from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. “I was sort of scared to work on Black Friday because I have heard many stories of crazy shoppers looking for the best sales and doing interesting stuff,” Racicot said. “I was also very alert and was paying attention to anyone who could potentially be trying to steal the store’s merchandise, because I know that [it] is very common when there are a lot of people in the store.” Racicot said he arrived at the mall at eight in the morning to get parking for his shift. He

Photo By Isabella Grogan

Bogo: Junior Juan Medina tells his friends about the deal he got during Black Friday on the new sweater he is wearing. During Black Friday he bought the new light blue sweater from American Eagle.

said after parking, he walked around to see what the stores had to offer and found some great deals on clothing. “I really wasn’t expecting to buy anything; I just had time to kill before my shift,” Racicot said. “But, after seeing all the signs in the windows of the stores, I couldn’t help but buy some things.” Junior Juan Medina said he was late to the Black Friday festivities because he started shopping at 8:00 p.m. He said his mom was not planning on going, but then she asked him last minute if he wanted to go. They went to Sawgrass Mills Mall and then after shopping,

they ate at Steak ‘n Shake. “I really like going shopping on Black Friday because I know I am going to find things I like for a good price,” Medina said. “I bought a hoodie I had been wanting for the longest time but never bought it before because it was not worth the price; I was really happy about it because I had been needing one for so long.” Racicot said he felt like there were some stores that were taking advantage of their customers. He said he thought some of the customers were being naive for spending as much money as they did. “I felt bad for the people walking into some

stores because the signs were tricking them, they would make you pay full price for an item to get another for half the price,” Racicot said. “Some of the people only needed one of the items, but they got tricked into wasting their money and buying two.” Wagner said she loves Black Friday because she can purchase items she normally would never purchase on a regular day. She said she spoke with many of her students about the items they had purchased during the sales event. “I asked my students what they had bought on Black Friday because I was interested to see if they got good deals,” Wagner said. “Some of them told me they got great [deals] and others said they could not find any.” Medina said he thought the mall was going to be extremely crowded because his family and him went at such a late time, but he was surprised to find that it was not. He said there was barely anyone at the mall. “I was super surprised when I saw no cars in the parking lot because usually the mall is really crowded on Black Friday,” Medina said. “I was hesitant to go to Sawgrass because on a regular day basis Sawgrass has a lot of shoppers and it gets crowded.” Medina purchased his new hoodie for half the price it originally was. He said he also helped his brother choose items to buy. “My brother and I walked through the mall and I helped him pick out clothing to buy,” Medina said. “I was not really surprised that there were such good deals but I was not expecting the hoodie I purchased to be so inexpensive.” Racicot avoided the Black Friday traffic leaving work because he closed. He said it was not his choice to close, but he felt fortunate that he did because there was barely any traffic. “I was happy when I looked at my work schedule and saw that I was closing because that meant there would be no traffic on the way home,” Racicot said. “It was a hectic day, but getting off late and going home with no traffic made it less stressful.”

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DECEMBER 2019

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Lightning Lunatics wear Looney Tunes-themed shirts at games and school to support basketball team. By Isabella Loschiavo

Every year in the month of Nov., the Bay’s basketball student section, the Lightning Lunatics, sell their t-shirts, which becomes the new trend for many students around the school during the season. This year, the shirts follow a theme of “Looney Tunes,” featuring the phrase, “Loonatics.” Senior Giulia Soares said she was one of the many students who have been following the trend. “I’ve never bought the shirt before because I was never really interested in it; but since I’m a senior and I won’t get this opportunity next year, I wanted to get more involved and go to the games,” Soares said. “I thought the design of the shirt was very interesting; it makes a tribute to Mr. Neely, which made me like it a lot.” Soares said she has seen a lot of students wearing the t-shirt in and outside of school because according to her, everyone wants to encourage the team to do its best. She thinks it is important all students buy the t-shirts and attend the games. “When the students wear the t-shirts, it makes everything much more fun; the school becomes more united when cheering for the team to win, and it also makes the team feel that they’re being supported,” Soares said. “It’s really cool how the basketball team advertises the season and encourages the students to go to the games; and because of that, it’s meaningful that we support the Lunatics.” This year, the Lunatics added a new clothing item to their collection: a sweatshirt that stays on the theme of honoring the previous principal, Mr. Neely. However, rather than having a “Looney Tunes” logo, the sweatshirts are based off of the clothing line, “Off White.” The club sold the unique attire before the t-shirts, which was unexpected according to Ceballos. “I loved how they added something new for the students to wear and still support the team, wearing the exact same thing even with different themes gets boring,” Ceballos said. “Even though the ‘Looney Tunes’ theme is my favorite, creating a different design for the sweatshirt for people that didn’t dig the shirt was a really great idea.” The Lunatics club tradition has been going on for more than ten years, according to the Bay’s basketball coach Jason Looky. He said the primary purpose of the

senior Katalina Enriquez

number of spectators who go to a game is between three and five hundred. “This gives us a huge advantage; other teams come in and feel intimidated by the atmosphere since they’re not used to seeing it, and as long as our fans are staying within the rules and behaving themselves, then it is a great environment,” Looky said. “I think it’s great when you see students in the classroom wearing the shirt and basically promoting the basketball program, we see people around Weston wearing shirts that are five years old and that is so nice.” Senior Tania Ceballos said she has seen a number of students wearing the t-shirt not just during the games, but also around the school on non-game days. She said even though she’d never seen anyone wearing them outside of school property, she would love for that to happen. “Personally, I think students buy the shirts because of its zaniness, and I’ve never seen a Cypress shirt like that before; they definitely buy it because it’s so different from what we’re used to,” Ceballos said. “I bought it because of the whole cartoony thing and I’m a big fan of that, and one hundred percent because it’s unique from what we’ve had in the past.” Along with many other students, Ceballos attended the Bay’s first game on Nov. 25, and she plans on being present at their future games as well in her last year. She said all she could see was a sea of people wearing yellow and seeing this happen was a great experience Lightning Loonatics: The crowd gathers in the bleachers at the basketball game. for her first game. The Lightning Lunatics is the name of the student section of the Bay’s basketball team. “The students represent [the Bay] and this They are hyping up the crowd by shouting cheers and chants. They are wearing the is a great way to do that during a game; it’s Looney Tunes themed shirts and hats that they normally use for games. definitely a high school pride thing and I wear it because of that reason, I hope other students t-shirts sale is to bring awareness and support game, we’ll have over 300 and this is primarily wear it because of that too,” Ceballos said. “It to the basketball games and increase school due to the Lunatics.” would be really wild if every single student Looky has been the team’s coach for spirit. bought and wore the shirt honestly, I “The team doesn’t benefit from the shirts 16 years and he said the first year they think it would be fun to see everyone financially; we don’t have anything to do started selling the t-shirts, they got wearing [the shirt] at the same with the sales, but as far as fan support, approximately 200 students to go to time.” the games. This year, the we have the best ones in This year, the Lunatics team sold their biggest Broward County,” Looky sweatshirts, which have the theme number yet said. “Whereas most of honoring the former principal and the schools might have Mr. Neely. The basketball ave r a g e 30 [or] 40 kids in the team’s fan club decided to sell the new attire first, which was unexpected according to Ceballos. “I liked that the Lunatics did this; sometimes, using the same idea even with different concepts gets boring,” Ceballos said. “Even though I like the Looney Tunes themes, selling something else for the people that either wanted something different or didn’t like the shirt was more than great.”

sophomore Gabe Zuniga

senior Jose Zuniga

junior Rylee Larocca

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Emerson College is private college in Boston, Massachusetts with more than 3,000 enrolled students. Class of 2018 alumnus Alex Tawid is a freshman at the university. She spoke to The Circuit’s Anamaria Camara via FaceTime to discuss her experience so far.

working in more professional theatres, whether it be local or outside of Boston. My dream is to one day be a part of a national tour in any capacity and then see where else life takes me.

Why did you choose to attend Emerson? I chose to attend Emerson because their stage management program is well respected and one of the few good ones in the country; and their performing arts program is also held in high regard. I also chose this school because of its location. Boston is a beautiful city and I live in the heart of the theatre district, so I’m always surrounded by what I’m studying, and I get a lot of opportunities to watch and work in theatres.

What advice would you give to a student who might want to attend Emerson? The best piece of advice I can give to anyone looking to go to Emerson is to get involved in organizations that interest you. Do your research and make sure you aren’t overwhelming yourself, especially in your first semester. There is an organization for almost every interest and they’re a great way to meet new people and keep yourself busy after class. I would also advise them to have fun. Emerson is a great school because you’re allowed to explore a bunch of things you’re interested in and you get to participate and learn about new things every day.

What do you want to do with your degree when you graduate? Once I graduate, I hope to start

How have you grown as a person while studying at Emerson? I’ve grown as a person at Emerson mostly

in the way that I manage my time, since my schedule is different every single day. I’ve had to be more responsible for myself and make sure that I have enough time for schoolwork, but also be able to have a job and spend time with my friends. I’ve also become much more outgoing and it’s like a fresh start, since I didn’t know anyone coming in. So, it’s been great being able to make new friends and I’m so lucky to have found a great group of people that I relate with and we have a lot of fun hanging out after class. What opportunities have you had as a student as Emerson? Some of the great opportunities I’ve had while at Emerson so far is getting to be a part of Emerson Stage, which is our school’s main producer of theatre. I was the Production Assistant for a play called Augusta and Noble, directed by Michelle Aguillón and that was great because I got to work with field professionals and experienced a real rehearsal process. Outside of school, since I live in the theatre district, I get to work in

one of the coolest places ever, which is the Charles Theatre, home of the Blue Man Group. It really doesn’t feel like a job because the show is so much fun and I get to work in a professional theatre and build relationships with professionals that have given me super helpful advice with my career. How is college different than high school? College is different than high school because you have to be a lot more responsible for yourself. Nobody’s holding your hand and guiding you through the process, so you need to be on top of your own classes and homework because you’re the only thing between dropping out or getting a degree. It’s especially different for me, since my program is much more like a conservatory. It’s great because I don’t have to take as many [general education] classes and I can get started with classes from my major during my freshman year and do a lot more for working towards my major.

In this issue’s recurring segment that gives students an opportunity to learn more about the teachers they see every day, staffer Agavni Mehrabi interviews Chemistry Regular, Pre-Honors Chemistry and Chemistry Honors teacher Eliane Waite.

Have you always had an interest in the subject(s) you teach? If so, how? Yes, I have loved chemistry ever since I can remember. I never had any doubts about what I was going to do. I like it because I find being able to understand how things work interesting and I like to explain why things are the way they are. The more I learn, the more I want to learn, because I want to know more. With teaching, I simply get the chance to challenge students by introducing the subject I love. What other subjects have you taught in the past other than the one(s) you teach now? I have taught physics and high

school math. I still really like physics and math because they are necessary components applied to chemistry. All of these classes are like solving puzzles and I like to see how I can make connections with this and that. General knowledge in many different courses is important because it all comes together.

How is teaching high school students different from teaching college students? When you are in college, you are more likely to take classes you choose to take. When you are in high school, sometimes you are not taking courses that you are interested in, but have to take to meet certain requirements.

What was it like having switched from teaching in Brazil to teaching in the U.S.? The teaching styles are different. Here, we focus on one subject of science at a time, while Brazil provides students with basic knowledge in biology, chemistry and physics, consecutively each year. Here, you can choose your classes to progress towards your interests earlier on, while students are given set classes to take for general knowledge over there. Also, in Brazil, there is no difference in levels of advancement like honors and regular.

How do you help students to better understand and visualize a topic as complex as chemistry? I like to incorporate handson teaching techniques, which I organize based on research I do in my free time. I like to show balloon and styrofoam models to represent chemical structures and bonds, to use analogies and to demonstrate chemical processes using miniature experiments to help students remember. The atom, in particular, is an abstract subject. Teaching techniques like these just makes a difficult subject like this easier to understand.

What is one piece of advice you have for students who struggle in chemistry? Chemistry is all about practice, practice, practice. When I go over homework and answer any questions, I tell my students to redo it after their questions are answered. People also learn in different ways, so it is important to seek out different sources of information that you can trust that can deliver the information in understandable ways. What is your favorite part about teaching in general? My favorite part about teaching is that it feels good to look at a student’s face and see the “I got it” face. I like the feeling of when I see students finally making sense of it and that I may have even passed a little bit of my passion for chemistry onto them. It makes sense to me; and it’s a success when I am able to transfer that feeling.

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Local activist raises autism awareness A&E / NEWS photo editor

Sophomore Andrew Grub began his journey as an advocate for ACEing Autism three years ago after developing a keen interest in helping children with autism. He said he was inspired to volunteer and raise awareness for children with autism at a young age. Grub said he began his journey when he would visit his mom at her job and would watch her work. “Ever since I was eight years old, my mom, a pediatric speech-language pathologist, has had me assisting her during therapy and her summer groups. These experiences helped me develop a passion for working with children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum  Disorder (ASD) and other disabilities,” Grub said. “During that same time, I also began to develop a passion for the sport of tennis.” Grub said he wanted to help make a difference even further. He said he was given an opportunity to do so with his Bar Mitzvah project. He said he used it to his full advantage and began brainstorming ways to give back to his community. This lead to Grub beginning the ACEing Autism program at a local club in Weston. “When it came time to choose a Mitzvah project for my Bar Mitzvah, I knew I wanted to combine my love of tennis and working with kids who have been diagnosed with ASD,” Grub said. “In April of 2016, my mother and I launched the ACEing Autism program at [the] Midtown Athletic Club.” Weston City commissioner Mary MolinaMacfie has worked with Grub on numerous occasions and has insight into his efforts to boost the society. Molina-Macfie said Grubs’ drive for knowledge and innate leadership abilities has helped the community tremendously. She said his contributions for the benefit of the city can lead to a virtuous influence to those around him. “Andrew’s involvement in SAC [School Advisory Committee], SAF [School Advisory Forum] and ACEing Autism, working on numerous political campaigns, attending city commission meetings and participating in such supporting legislation and advocating for school safety, are each an article in itself,” Molina-Macfie said. “His participation has furthered the causes he engages in because he puts his heart and soul into whatever he is doing. [Grubs’] impactful positive growth is needed in community help in verifiable community issues.” Molina-Macfie said she believes Grubs’ unique perspective he gained from volunteering will be an advantage for him in the future. She said he has been offered the opportunity to work with his community in order to improve himself and the place he lives. Molina-Macfie said this hard work and effort will follow into his adulthood, in addition to providing him with a mature outlook. “Not only is he gaining knowledge from experiences that most other teens and adults normally do not; he’s also acquiring insight into human behavior. This perceptiveness will give him an advantage in the workforce, relationships, social gatherings and currently school,” Molina-Macfie said. “Many adults have a strong understanding of ‘if only I had

time into ACEing Autism, but he is also a member in other autism related programs. Grub is an ambassador for the Bay’s Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel Club and stays knowledgeable of the politics around him. “My passion to try to influence the community in a beneficial way has pushed me to be invested in the program. I also enjoy maintaining a busy agenda by being active in politics in the Weston Community,” Grub said. “I am a student volunteer coordinator to a candidate for [the] Weston City Commission in 2020.” Molina-Macfie said an impact that is made for the purpose of the betterment of society to leave a lasting improvement on others. Molina-Macfie said after working alongside Grub, it’s clear his participation is exemplary for other students around him. She said when volunteering, it’s important to work for something the volunteer believes in and strive to make a change, just as Grub proves.

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When it came time to choose a Mitzvah project for my Bar Mitzvah, I knew I wanted to combine my love of tennis and working with kids who have been diagnosed with ASD.

“

BY HANNAH SHULBY

-sophomore Andrew Grub

“It’s not about volunteering in just anything. It’s about using your time wisely by volunteering in things that you’re going to acquire the most experiences, knowledge and personal growth,” Molina-Macfie said. “You do this all while gaining gratification in knowing that you’ve made a positive difference in whatever you’ve committed to. Andrew can definitely say that he has.” Molina-Macfie said she admires the selfless work Grub does in order to improve his community and those around him. She said Grubs’ selfless work has impacted her and allows her to feel confidence in the future and what is to come because of those as benevolent as Grub. “Like myself, those that know him will tenaciously tell you he’s made an impactful difference in the lives of many while inspiring others around him,” Molina-Macfie said. “I am certainly thankful for the inspiration and optimism I see for the next generation through Andrew.” Grub said he is always searching to improve and better himself because in the long photos by hannah shulby run, helping those around him will lead to a Aceing it: (From top) sophomore Andrew Grub participates in a tennis match alongside brighter future. Likewise, he said he believes anyone can make change possible in their children with autism. He also supervises the kids while they play a game of catch. Grub community if they put in effort. decided to start the ACEing Autism program at Midtown Athletic Club in April 2016 as “I believe in the growth mindset and that part of his Bar Mitzvah project. Grub plans to continue this program here in order to we can always change and better ourselves,” promote autism awareness. Grub said. “Serving my community is one of According to Grub, his passion to help the ways I am able to grow as a student, leader known then what I know now.’ With Andrew’s advanced experiences, he may eventually have influence the community in a beneficial way and activist.” the benefit of saying this a lot less than the has pushed him to be invested in the program. He said he not only participates most of his average adult.”

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Expressing creativity through photo editing BY SABRINA BLANDON

FEATURES / OPINION WEB COPY EDITOR

When it comes to using editing software, senior Biannella D’alessandro said she primarily uses Photoshop and PicsArt to make photos look better. D’alessandro said she enjoys using these two programs since they are easy to use and can be worked on from anywhere. “PicsArt and Photoshop usually allow me to use different elements for my editing,” D’alessandro said. “Plus, PicsArt lets me work on any piece since it is a mobile app.” CBTV teacher Taiwo Cummings said he believes the television production field is a great profession because it can help a person be as creative as they want. Cummings said editing is an aspect which is essential in the television industry. “[Television is] something that you can be creative with every day, and I used to love when I worked at [The CW Network] and places where I was editing because it was just like a brand new canvas every day,” Cummings said. “You’d come in and just make a commercial and you’d just make a video and the payoff of seeing it on television after. I haven’t been working for the CW in two years and they’re still running my commercials.”

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camera, that will help you in almost anything.” Martinez said while she enjoys editing photos and creating digital art, she does not see herself in the future doing it as a career. Martinez said she photo edits at home as well as school since she is in a digital art class. “I like having an idea in my head and being able to create the image I want using digital art,” Martinez said. “It’s just fun for me to edit photos, to make photos more appealing or interesting.” Cummings said in CBTV, they use Adobe Premiere as their editing software since it is the industry standard. Cummings said he also suggests this program to people since it has many helpful aspects to it.

I have had technically not [my] formal students like Erika Orstad. She’s a graduate of CBTV and she is now an anchor in the panhandle, but she was not my student, she was a teacher’s assistant and she has worked with me and my students.

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-CBTV teacher Taiwo Cummings

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D’alessandro said even though she is more interested in pursuing medicine as a career, she is happy in having photo editing as a side job, if not a hobby. D’alessandro said the greatest aspect of editing software is that it is not only a tool for the artist’s imagination, but it is a bridge between the artist and their creativity. “I think the idea of possibly becoming an editor for a photographer is a great job and not many people look into it,” D’alessandro said. “I’m glad I became interested in this field because I am now thinking of all the things I can do with a picture.” Cummings said he has had students who have gone into the field of television and have made their names known in the world. Cummings said he’s content to see people interested in this field go on to complete their dreams. “I have had technically not [my] formal students like Erika Orstad. She’s a graduate of CBTV and she is now an anchor in the panhandle, but she was not my student, she was a teacher’s assistant and she has worked with me and my students,” Cummings said. “So, I love seeing that. It’s just very satisfying and gratifying.” D’alessandro said since she is not taking any classes relating to photography or digital art, she mostly edits her photos at home. D’alessandro said she prefers it this way since it is a way, she doesn’t have to feel rushed or pressured when she wants to edit a picture. “If I were taking the classes then maybe I would have more instruction on how to edit the pictures, but I’m glad I’m not because I’m not taking it as a career so it’s not necessary for me to take the class,” D’alessandro said. “Also, I like that I can edit on my own time without knowing that it’s due the next day.” Cummings said a piece of advice he would give to students looking to be in television, or editing, is to have a sufficient work ethic.

I like having an idea in my head and being able to create the image I want using digital art. -junior Camila Martinez

Photos submitted by Camila Martinez

say cheese: (From top) junior Camila Martinez said she expresses herself and her art through editing pictures and creating digital art in Photoshop and other apps on her phone such as PicsArt. She edits at home as well as in her digital art class, but she only sees it as a hobby, and she does not want to do it as a career. Senior Biannella D’alessandro said she created a digital art piece for her Creative Writing class called “Junior Year” by using a photo editing software.

Cummings said the field of television and film is competitive, so people must always be on their feet if they wish to pursue this career. “You can’t expect things to be handed to you. You can’t expect it to be done for you,” Cummings said. “If you don’t have what it takes, if you can’t take criticism [and] you can’t hand in things on time, then it might not be for you.” For junior Camila Martinez, she said she uses Photoshop as well as other applications on her phone to edit photos and create digital art. Martinez said towards the end of middle school was when her inner artist awoke. “My parents got me a drawing tablet in eighth grade, so that’s when I started using Photoshop,” Martinez said. “Then, I got more into [editing] in freshman year with

photography class. I really enjoyed the class since I was able to use another medium to express my creativity.” Cummings said he’s seen a lot of students come out of their shell since entering Cypress Bay Television and learning how to edit and do other assignments in the class. Cummings said even if a person isn’t going to pursue television or film, it is still helpful to know how to edit. “If you work at a law office, let’s say you’re a lawyer, you may have to do a deposition. Sometimes those have to be edited, sometimes it has to be recorded. If you work for the city and are doing the cameras, you have to have someone who knows how to operate,” Cummings said. “Almost anything you do, learning how to do these basic things here, learning how to edit, learning how to use a

“It’s very user friendly and it can do so many different things. All Adobe products intertwine together, so if you’re using Photoshop, you can work it into Premiere,” Cummings said. “You don’t have to convert it. If you use something in light mode, if you use something in after effects, you can literally bring that project into Premiere and edit it all together.” D’alessandro said she believes editing is perceived by people to be easy when in reality, it takes a lot of work. D’alessandro said the amount of time and effort which goes into editing depends on the person, but it still takes skill. “To be able to see what’s wrong with a picture and how to make it look better is a skill that not everyone has,” D’alessandro said. “I think it takes an amazing talent to understand how to make a picture better and then use technology to make it look better. Some people also don’t understand technology, so that’s also something that has to be taken into consideration.” Cummings said technology over the years has helped future editors since everything in technology is becoming smaller and faster. Cummings said people don’t need a large computer to edit on anymore, as technology has become more advanced. “You can do an entire new standup on your phone,” Cummings said. “You can record it, you can do a voiceover, you can put text and edit it all on your phone.”

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Movers reminisce on past experiences By AGAVNI MEHRABI

With the school year coming closer to winter holiday vacation, the Bay’s community enters a time famous for reflection. Students especially engaged in thought about the past are those who have spent many holidays in the states in which they grew up. Sophomore Joanna Priovolos said she personally feels a special connection to her home state of Massachusetts. “When the winter time comes, I think of the snowflakes and cool gusts of wind that would mark the season when I lived in Massachusetts,” Priovolos said. “That magical atmosphere is one of the biggest parts I miss about living there because the holidays were not just snowy [like] in the movies I watched, but also all around me.” Similar to Priovolos, Government/ Economics Regular teacher Catherine McCarthy said she misses the climate that was available to her when she grew up in Michigan. She said the difference between the weather in her home state and in South Florida contrast to a great extent.

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When the winter time comes, I think of the snowflakes and cool gusts of wind that would mark the season when I lived in Massachusetts. That magical atmosphere is one of the biggest parts I miss about living there because the holidays were not just snowy [like] in the movies I watched, but also all around me.

Photo submitted by JOANNA PRIOVOLOS

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I didn’t know much about Florida before I got here except for how there are many amusement parks. I found out there was more to love about it when I had one of Steak ‘n Shake’s amazing chocolate shakes and shopped at a mall amazingly larger than any I have ever seen back home.

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-sophomore Joanna Priovolos

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“I remember how great it was to be able to experience the leaves in the fall, the snow in the winter, the blooming [of flowers] in the spring and the cool warmth of the summer in four distinct seasons,” McCarthy said. “It made a difference in bringing the holiday spirit alive, rather than simply having hot and humid conditions all year long.” On a different note, sophomore Sarah Johnkutty said the warm weather of California does not differ from the warmth of South Florida beyond the level of moisture in the air. Instead, she said the highlight of her nostalgia for her home state is not being able to have her friends close at hand with whom to celebrate the holidays. “In California, I had a group of friends I had built a relationship with over the years,” Johnkutty said. “I thought I wouldn’t miss my friends as much as I did, but I’ve come to fully appreciate the company they would be this time of the year.” Johnkutty said she left Orange County when she was 14 years old because her parents were looking for something new and because she has family on the East Coast. She said she initially had mixed feelings about leaving the only state she knew when she first heard the news. “I was pretty excited when I first learned I would leave California,” Johnkutty said. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to a lot of people because I didn’t know my last day would be my last; and I hadn’t realized

“When it comes to road rage, I have not had this many people beeping at me back at home as they do here,” Johnkutty said. “Looking at this in a positive light, people in Florida are more genuine about what they are feeling.” McCarthy said she deals with the differences between Michigan and Florida by keeping herself connected from afar. From decorating her classroom with University of Michigan posters to following its football games, she said she tries to bring Michigan closer to her in every way she can. “My students can see how enthusiastic I am about my roots when they walk into the classroom and view my walls,” McCarthy said. “Plus, I am totally annoying on Monday when Michigan wins games.” Priovolos said she agrees with McCarthy about how material representations of a home state can make the distance feel shorter. Specifically, she said eating New England cuisine like clam chowder, hot dogs and hamburgers is a way she incorporates its culture into her present-day life. “Every time I take a bite out of a good burger, it takes me back to this great restaurant we had in Massachusetts called Noon Hill Grill,” Priovolos said. “Clam chowder just makes it feel like I am still having it to keep warm at the pier like I used to.” Despite missing many aspects of Massachusetts, Priovolos said there were many features of Florida she was looking forward to enjoying once she arrived. She said she was specifically enthusiastic about having access to beaches and Walt Disney World.

-sophomore Sarah Johnkutty

photo SUBMITTED BY sarah Johnkutty

tAKE ME BACK: (From top) sophomore Joanna Priovolos picks flowers and blows bubbles in her home town of Medfield, Massachusetts as a child. Priovolos said she remembers how spring was always a nice time of year in Medfield, Massachusetts because the flowers would always bloom beautifully. Sophomore Sarah Johnkutty, enjoys the view in Orange County California where she grew up. Johnkutty said the warm weather in California is similar to that in Florida, the only difference being the high humidity. Johnkutty said she moved to the East Coast when she was 14 years old.

the scope of what had happened until after I moved.” L i k e J o h n k u t t y, Priovolos said a particular memory connecting her to her childhood state is the time she used to spend with her friends. She said this memory is one of the most frequent parts of her past she thinks about from time to time. “It was especially fun to

hang out with my friends by the pool in the warmer months,” Priovolos said. “Since I was a kid, I was able to play around more with the freedom of not having as much homework to keep me cooped up inside.” Johnkutty said another difference between Florida and her home state of California is popular behavior. She said she feels the people in Florida are more expressive with their emotions when it comes to all aspects of life.

“For one, the rocky Massachusetts beaches are too cold to swim in during the fall and springtime,” Priovolos said. “For another, I was excited to be only a drive away from the most magical theme park there is.” Unlike Priovolos, Johnkutty said her favorite aspects of South Florida have been discovered after she moved. She said while she misses In-N-Out Burgers from California, she has found an appreciation for Steak ‘n Shakes and the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise. “I didn’t know much about Florida before I got here except for how there are many amusement parks,” Johnkutty said. “I found out there was more to love about it when I had one of Steak ‘n Shake’s amazing chocolate shakes and shopped at a mall amazingly larger than any I have ever seen back home.” With both the differences and similarities between her home state and Florida in mind, Joh n k ut t y s a i d she finds it difficult to decide which one she feels connected to most. However, she said she will always have California close in her heart. “I feel like I have changed a lot from when I first moved from California,” Johnkutty said. “Even so, there are always going to be those core parts of me that make me a Californian.”

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Class of 2018

‘The Bay has helped me learn how to be myself, while doing something I love.’

Alumnus Alec Marsh published an Extended Play of inspirational poems which were released on Spotify and Apple Music. After four years at the Bay, class of 2018 alumnus Alec Marsh recently met one of his goals and published an EP of inspirational poems he wrote himself and was released on Spotify and Apple Music. He said they are words which have strong messages that are not only personal to him, but also touched the hearts of many of his close friends and family members. “I first started making these as a way to express myself to others, and [as] a way for other people to relate to my poems,” Marsh said. “I relate to many styles of music that I listen to so, being able to do that for others was always a goal of mine.” Marsh said he has talked with many of his friends and people around him who he spends most of his time with, and found they all had similar situations in life. He said it is really important for people to know they aren’t alone. “I started writing a bunch of different poems in ninth grade, not knowing where it would lead to, but I finally published my first EP this past May,” Marsh said. “I have had many inspirations over the years, and it was so cool seeing it all come together.” Posted on Apple Music and Spotify, the spoken word album called “Thinking Out Loud” consists of five poems, each with different meanings. Marsh said each one tells its own story in a unique way and he hopes the poems can relate to other viewers. “One of my favorite poems on the album is ‘Count on You,’ ” Marsh said. “This specific poem is probably the most personal one to me and it’s about being able to find the right balance in trusting others.” Marsh said his main goal was to grab listeners who can relate and truly listen to the words. The poem “Count On You” is two minutes and 30 seconds of motivational words to others who struggle with placing their trust in other people. “I talk a lot about how putting trust in others can lead to disappointment,” Marsh said. “I think it is really important that people are reminded every once in a while that not everyone is reliable.” Marsh said there were different steps in creating the album between writing, recording, sound mixing, editing and publishing. He said the process of creating photos submitted by alec marsh the EP was time consuming, but overall, an express yourself: “Thinking Out Loud” is almnus Alec Marsh’s Extended Play, amazing experience.

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Nothing is ever easy, but to see everything come together was really lifechanging. I put a lot of work and passion into this project, so I hope people can see that and enjoy it as much as I do.

which was released on Oct. 18 on Spotify and Apple Music. Each of the five poems covers a different topic. Marsh said each poem has strong messages that are not only personal to him, but also touched the hearts of many of his close friends and family members. He said he believes it is important for people to know they are not alone. Marsh said the process was time consuming but was a great learning experience.

the entire thing together,” Marsh said. “It was a lot of work between finding what sound effects fit best and where they fit, but it was such a cool learning process.” Marsh said it wasn’t an easy project and many struggles came along with it. He said nothing was easy, but it is what gives him a rewarding feeling that he was able to -alumnus Alec Marsh accomplish his goal. “Nothing is ever easy, but to see everything “In total, it took about five months to put come together was really life-changing,”

Marsh said. “I put a lot of work and passion into this project, so I hope people can see that and enjoy it as much as I do.” Marsh said the process of writing and putting this whole EP together wasn’t the most difficult part for him, but finally putting the EP out in public was definitely nerve wracking. Marsh said posting anything on social media is always risky, so it felt like a huge risk to him. “Putting something that I worked so hard on and putting it into the open like that was by

far the most challenging part of the process,” Marsh said. “Social media is such a scary place where everyone wants to be a critic.” Marsh’s family and friends gave Marsh a lot of excellent feedback and he said they all told him how proud they were of him. He said knowing people enjoyed listening to his work him makes him feel so accomplished and that all the hard work was totally worth it. “Receiving so many positive messages from lots of different people was really cool to see because it wasn’t easy putting my writing out there like that into the open,” Marsh said. “So being able to hear from so many different people that they enjoyed it made me see where all my hard work went.” Marsh said he does plan on continuing to write poems in the future to not only let out his emotions or thoughts but again, to connect to others who could be going through the same situation as him. He said he wants his next project to be bigger and better than the last.

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Putting something that I worked so hard on and putting it into the open like that was by far the most challenging part of the process. Social media is such as a scary place where everyone wants to be a critic.

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By alexa braxton

-alumnus Alec Marsh “Many people have asked me if I had anything else in the works or coming up and as of right now, I don’t. But I am for sure going to start working again soon,” Marsh said. “My ultimate dream is for whatever I make and put out next to blow up and get even more recognition.” Marsh said writing the poems on the EP came naturally to him because it’s exactly what he felt and what he was going through at the time he wrote it. He said he got stuck on small obstacles but overall, everything went smoothly for him. “I definitely tend to write the most when I’m just laying in bed at night because that’s when I personally do the most thinking, just like any other teen does,” Marsh said. “I usually just write whatever I’m thinking on my phone in notes and then later translate it to voice memos.” Marsh said his family threw a small gathering a week after the EP was released, at his house to celebrate his accomplishments. Marsh said all of his close friends and close family members came over for a couple hours. He said they ate food, listened to music and just overall, had a great time celebrating all together. “When everyone came over, it was really so amazing to see how much support I really have for this project,” Marsh said. “I really am so grateful and could not ask for any more support.”

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DECEMBER 2019

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THe things they carried FEATURING Daniel Julien AND His BACKPACK “The Things They Carried” is a recurring segment that examines the personalities of students through the contents of their backpacks. This month, staffer Roxy Carr interviews junior Daniel Julien to discover the meaning behind five items.

UCF Water bottle Julien’s older sister is a sophomore at the University of Central Florida (UCF.) She has been on a student exchange program in Europe for the past few months, so Julien hasn’t seen her in a while. Julien said he misses her, and that his water bottle reminds him of her. Julien said he also wants to go to UCF when he graduates, so it serves as an inspiration for him to keep working hard. “I tend to lose reusable bottles; but this time, I’m trying super hard not to lose this one because it has significance to it,” Julien said. “It’s also insulated so it keeps my water crisp, cold and refreshing.”

Compression Socks Julien plays for Weston FC’s U17 White soccer team, and practices multiple times throughout the week. He said the practice schedule is flexible and practice times are subject to change. Usually, Julien keeps his warmup gear in his soccer bag, but he said he sometimes puts his socks in his school backpack because both bags look similar. “I usually have soccer practice right after school,” Julien said. “Sometimes, I accidentally put my soccer stuff into this bag and then forget to take it out. However, it’ll come in handy if my socks ever get wet when it rains.”

Toothbrush Junior Daniel Julien has junior privilege on A days and he said he tries waking up as late as possible so he can get as much sleep as he can. He said he usually stays up late to complete his homework, and said bringing a toothbrush and brushing his teeth at school saves time. “I love sleeping in and I always wake up late, so I always keep a toothbrush in my bag just in case I don’t have time to brush my teeth,”Julien said. “I get to school at about 7:35 a.m. every day, so a toothbrush really comes in handy for those rushed mornings.”

Notebook with drawings

Ever since he was young, Julien said he has always loved to draw. In some of his classes, he draws on his notebooks and folders. However, he is reluctant to take an art class at the Bay next year because he doesn’t want it to interfere with the space he has to select AP classes. “I draw on my supplies because I get bored in class pretty easily, and doodling is a great escape,” Julien said. “I usually just draw whatever I’m thinking about, whether it’s a random stick figure or a full comic strip; it’s whatever comes to my mind.”

Special K Cereal Box Julien said his favorite cereal is Kellog’s Special K and he could eat it for breakfast, lunch, snack and even dinner. Julien said it’s the first snack he looks for whenever he feels hungry and he goes through a box in a week. “Special K is my favorite cereal; I love the freeze-dried strawberries. I usually bring a box to school and just eat straight from it throughout the day,” Julien said. “I prefer it dry, but when I have it for breakfast, I have it with cashew milk because I don’t like dairy.”

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I usually just draw whatever I’m thinking about, whether it’s a random stick figure or a full comic strip; it’s whatever comes to my mind. -junior Daniel Julien

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22THE CIRCUIT

FEATURES

DECEMBER 2019

Holiday Traditions

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BY RACHEL ALEXANDER ONLINE FEATURES EDITOR

With the holiday season just around the corner, students at the Bay have begun to carry out their annual holiday traditions. Senior Cristina Cimato said she is ecstatic for the holidays and she cherishes all of her favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions. “My Thanksgiving traditions are important to me because it’s not only a day to be thankful for everything I have been blessed with in my life, but I’m also able to see family from all over the country,” Cimato said. Cimato said every year on Thanksgiving, her family gets together, plays card games and has a bonfire after dinner. She said her family does not play traditional card games, but instead they play with Spanish cards that can only be bought in South America. “I love playing card games with my cousins and family because it’s a way for us to bond as most of them have moved outside of Florida,” Cimato said. “We’re able to see each other’s competitive nature, while still laughing and creating inside jokes.” Cimato said her family has been doing the bonfire tradition since before she was born. She said she is the youngest of her entire family, so the tradition started when her older cousins were young. “Having the bonfire allows me to truly reflect on the year and the many blessings I’ve been given,” Cimato said. “I plan to carry out theseThanksgiving traditions for as long as I can because they create everlasting memories.” Similar to Cimato, junior Caitlyn Munger said her family has carried out a Christmas tradition for numerous years. She said her dad has coordinated with the fire department to put on an event and send Santa Claus to their house on a fire truck for the neighborhood, family and friends to enjoy. “I love seeing our little cousins’ faces light up as Santa comes through our neighborhood and stops at our house,” Munger said. “I also enjoy decorating our whole house in preparation for the highly anticipated event, as the decorations put me in the holiday spirit.” Munger said one of her favorite parts of the tradition is the pretend snow her family provides at the event to make it seem as if they are having a white Christmas. “Although the snow is fake, it makes the tradition even more magical,” Munger said. “Because we never see snow in Florida, I look forward to the pretend snow as it is unique, and we even get to take pictures with it that I know I will keep forever.” After Thanksgiving, Cimato said her family begins her favorite Christmas traditions. H e r family’s traditions include decorating their tree while drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music, doing a Secret Santa

ILLUSTRATIONS BY DREW ROACH

and making cookies with her late grandmother’s recipe. “The Christmas traditions my family participates in have evolved through my family,” Cimato said. “Decorating the tree itself makes me cheerful and I get to create more happy memories with my parents and brother.” Cimato said decorating the tree has been a family tradition since before she could walk. She said decorating the Christmas tree puts her in the holiday spirit because she truly believes the holiday spirit revolves around happy memories surrounded with family. “Every year, I look forward to my brother and I placing the star on the highest point of the tree and placing ornaments we’ve made over the years,” Cimato said. “I love being able to walk into my house and smell the fresh scent of Christmas tree as well as see lights wrapped around the tree sparkle.” Munger’s father, Joe Munger said the tradition has served as a fundraiser for the fire department in addition to a tradition that has excited him and his family for years. He said one of the goals of the tradition is to ensure everyone feels special during the holiday season. “Although the event is a lot to coordinate, it is well worth it when I get to see our whole community come together for the holidays,” Joe Munger said. “I love that we have a chance to put a smile on everyone’s face as every child at the event receives a gift from Santa.” Joe Munger said the event has been successful every year they have done it at their house. He said the event in the past has been held at one of their friend’s houses but when their kids got older, they decided to pass the tradition down to his family. “Because one of my daughters was still in elementary school when we started having the event at my house, it worked perfectly as we got her friends’ families to join in on the fun,” Joe Munger said. “Although she is now in middle school and I have two daughters in high school, they all still love the tradition, which makes me motivated to help coordinate it every year.” Cimato said her favorite Christmas tradition is baking and decorating cookies with her grandmother’s recipe. She said she uses her grandma’s sugar cookie recipe and makes her own royal icing and it is coated in a brown sugar and cinnamon mix to make them taste similar to churros. Additionally, they use cookie cutters, which Cimato inherited from her grandmother, sprinkles and M&M’s to decorate. “Although she isn’t here with us now, decorating the cookies is another way for us to connect with her and do them in her memory,” Cimato said. “She always decorated cookies with us and so we chose to continue the tradition as a way to remember her as well as to celebrate the holidays.”

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English 4 Honors and Holocaust History teacher Leslie Rheingold said she enjoys partaking in her favorite Hanukkah traditions. She said she collects menorahs and enjoys lighting the candles with her family every night of Hanukkah. “Every year, we have something that we put out on our front lawn to get in the holiday spirit,” Rheingold said. “I am so excited that this year we chose to put up an inflatable giant sized mensch on a bench.” In addition to the other traditions, Cimato said she enjoys doing a secret Santa with her cousins each year, as she is able to put together a personalized gift which is created for that person. She said due to her massive family, Secret Santa is a way to make sure everybody in the family gets a present. “There is nothing better than seeing their faces when they open up the present, not knowing what is in the box or bag,” Cimato said. Rheingold said her favorite holiday tradition is to spend time with her grandchildren and give them presents. She said she gives them eight gifts, one for each night of Hanukkah, leaving the best present for the last night. She said she also loves eating traditional foods such as potato pancakes. “I have always loved the story behind Hanukkah,” Rheingold said. “And [I] love teaching it to my grandchildren because it shows that even through tough times, it is important to persevere.”

LAYOUT BY SOPHIE GAER

SPORTS

DECEMBER 2019

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Seniors in season Senior athletes begin their final seasons at the Bay. BY GOWRI ABHINANDA

Lamar Jackson should be awarded with MVP this year

NEWS COPY EDITOR

As many sports’ seasons come to an end, representative of many athletes at the Bay, senior Benjamin Schiller said he is feeling nostalgic regarding his last moments playing for his school teams. Schiller said he has been playing for the Bay’s hockey team for all of his years in high school, which makes his last season a somber moment for him. “I’ve been playing at the Bay since I was a freshman and there are so many memories playing for the team,” Schiller said. “It makes me sad knowing that it’s my last year playing here for the Bay because I’ve had fun here for the past four years and I’ve made a lot of good friends and it sucks to have it all come to an end.”

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It’s bittersweet to leave the Bay and the sports here because I’m ending a significant chapter in my life and career, but I plan on running in college next year and I can’t wait for that.”

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-senior Josh Keller

Schiller said he is fond of playing ice hockey and being a part of a Lightning team only strengthened his passion for the sport. He said the comradery exemplified in the team fostered his interest in hockey. “Before even joining the team, I loved playing ice hockey because it’s not like most of the other sports that are available down here in Florida,” Schiller said. “The sportsmanship on the team is great, everyone is cool and supportive with one another, which made the sport really fun for me and it also made the high school experience less stressful.” Like Schiller, senior Josh Keller has been representing the Bay throughout his four years in high school by competing on the track team. Keller said he is grateful he joined the team during his freshman year because of how he has progressed in his agility. “I’ve been running all four years and initially I ran track because of how it keeps me in better shape than any other sport could,” Keller said. “However, after I joined the team during freshman year I started seeing my potential being brought out through the training and meets, and through my hard work, I’ve gotten pretty good at [track].” Keller said he loves running with the track team because of the relationships he has built with his teammates. He said that as a team, everyone has advanced in the sport together so it creates a strong bond between everyone. “I love the competition here and being able to grow collectively with my teammates throughout each season and offseason,” Keller said. “We all have gone through the same things to get better in track and this commonality we share brings us together and we value the journey we’ve had together.” One of the Assistant Athletic Directors, AICE Classical teacher Tori Warenik, believes the impact Schiller and Keller are experiencing from being a part of a sports team in high school is due to it being their last season.

Photos Taken by GOWRI ABHINANDA

Frozen in time: Senior and alternate captian Benjamin Schiller leads the Bay’s hockey team in a close battle against North Broward Preparatory. Schiller said he has been truly taking in every moment on the ice this season, trying not to take anything for granted. While this is just a regular season for the rest of the Bay’s players, Schiller said it is special, as it is the last time he will be able to represent the Lightning in the rink.

“Senior athletes are happy to be the mentors and leaders on the team but they are also sad because their journeys with friends and coaches are coming to an end,” Warenik said. “It’s the last time they will be representing their high school and for many of them it will be the last time they participate in their sport in any real competitive way.” Warenik said although leaving the Bay’s sports teams may be hard for a student, some may decide not to pursue sports in the future. She said that this is an important choice that is dependant on each student’s ambition towards the activity. “Even though it’s tough to leave the team here, some decide not to do it in the future and that’s fine because it’s a different ball game,” Warenik said. “It’s based on each student’s wants, but I think they should if they want to and their talents will be appreciated where they go; it’s also a great way to make friends early in college and stay plugged into having a healthy mind, body and spirit.” Following up with this sentiment, Keller said he plans on committing to track beyond his years in high school. He said he is open to running track in whatever college he decides to attend. “I plan to run track in college next year because it’ll be great exposure for my abilities,” Keller said. “It’s bittersweet to leave the Bay and the sports here because I’m ending a significant chapter in my life and career, but I plan on running in college next year and I can’t wait for that.”

Unlike Keller, Schiller said he does not have any aspirations to continue on his commitments in ice hockey professionally or in college. However, he said that he will be looking for a different path to pursue in the future to fill the void that will be left within him without being on a team. “Even though I don’t plan on doing [ice hockey] in college, it’s still going to be hard moving on, I have to fill the gap that’ll be left when I leave my sports team,” Schiller said. “It was a great experience playing here because I learned about teamwork, I made friends, I was proud to play for the school and I got to get great memories by doing a sport I like.” Whether or not students like Schiller or Keller pursue their sports in college and beyond in life, Warenik said despite discontinuing the sport in the future, the sports will continue to have an everlasting effect on the individual. She said it impacts them positively and the ideals learned through the sport stick with them. “Being an athlete impacts them from the top to the bottom of their lives, and for the majority of our student-athletes, their sport is their life; they think about it from the time they wake up until the time they go to sleep,” Warenik said. “As a result, they carry everything they go through both on and off the field with them for their entire lives; it could be as simple as a best friend who winds up as their best man or bridesmaid or taking lessons learned into a job in a cubicle.”

Lamar Jackson, a second year quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, is having the season of a lifetime. Not only has he completely embarrassed some of the best defenses in the league this year, including the New England Patriots in a 37-20 win, but he is also on pace to have the best rushing year of any quarterback in NFL history. The current record holder is Michael Vick, with just over 1,000 rushing yards. Jackson, however, is projected to have about 1,400 yards. To be such a dominant force in the air, and then also to be the versatile and huge threat on the ground that he is, is an element of Jackson that simply makes him the front runner in the Most Valuable Player (MVP) race. While teams can prepare for the dominant passing aspect of Jackson’s game specify what this means, stopping his running ability is nearly impossible to practice, as no other quarterback in the NFL has his versatility and speed. This is one of the main reasons why he is such a lethal weapon. On one hand, defenses do not want to give the Ravens’s receivers too little attention, as they are extremely talented and are equipped with lightning speed. On the other hand, if they give them too much attention, Jackson will run all over them. There just does not seem to be a win-win scenario when playing against the explosive Ravens’s offense. In addition, Houston Texans recently suffered a terrible 41-7 loss to the Ravens, led by Jackson. This scoring deficit is the greatest that Watson has ever experienced within both his professional and collegiate career. Mark Ingram, former New Orleans Saints running back (RB) and current Ravens RB had a few words to say about Jackson after this amazing victory. In a post-game interview, Ingram introduced Jackson as the league’s MVP and praised him before walking off of the stage. Coming from a prestigious veteran player such as Ingram, with too many of his own accolades to count, calling him the MVP means that Jackson must be a special talent. Ingram also complemented Jackson’s rushing attempts during the game, saying that Jackson’s big time run for over 30 yards “gave [Ingram] the inspiration” for his rushing touchdown at the end of the game. Not only does this show his athletic prowess as a runner, but it also speaks volume about Jackson as a leader and team captain. Of course, a vital aspect that an MVP candidate must possess is being one of, if not the best in the NFL at his position; however, being able to lead his team to a victory is a crucial characteristic as well. As long as Lamar Jackson continues to dominate the league and shatter defenses this season, there is no doubt that he will be named the MVP of the 2019-20 NFL season. There are simply no other quarterbacks that even come close to his level of athleticism, no defensive competition, and no coach that can attempt to practice for what he has to offer. Jackson will be a significant figure in the years to come for the NFL, and he and his unique abilities deserve to be rewarded with the MVP.

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DECEMBER 2019

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The Leafs made the right decision by firing The Lakers’ dynamic duo of Lebron Coach Mike Babcock after rough seasons James and Anthony Davis is unstoppable The Toronto Maple Leafs shocked the hockey world on Nov. 20 when they fired head coach Mike Babcock after four disappointing seasons with the team. The Leafs had a lackluster start to the season posting a 9-104 record and on a six-game losing streak, winning only two of their last 16 games before firing Babcock. The Leafs needed a wake-up call which started with firing their head coach. To replace Babcock, the Leafs hired Sheldon Keefe and his time is off to an amazing start. The Leafs have already started winning games against formidable teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes. Tyson Barrie finally scored his first goal as a Leaf and, most importantly, the team is finally playing up to their potential. The firing of Babcock invigorated the team and allowed them to finally begin turning their season around.

Bottom Line: Under Mike Babcock the Leafs had an extremely toxic environment that created a culture of losing

The environment under Babcock was extremely toxic. Former players are coming out with stories which paint Babcock in an unfavorable light. Former NHL defenseman Mike Commodore, a player coached by Babcock, went on a Twitter rant following the news of Babcock’s firing describing how happy he was that the Leafs fired him because he had personal negative experiences with Babcock. Former Leaf player, Mark Fraser, defended Commodore saying the public will, “never truly understand some of the terrible undeserving things [Babcock] has done to some of his players,” and that he creates a

culture where teammates turn against each other and against him. Back in the 2016-17 season, Babcock made rookie Mitch Marner rank his teammates who he thought were, “hardest-working to those who didn’t have a strong work ethic.” Babcock then shared the list with Marner’s fellow teammates. On the surface, it seems Babcock did this to light a fire under his veteran players, but Babcock revealing what Marner believed was confidential left him in tears. His teammates were infuriated because they could not understand why Babcock put a well-liked rookie through a situation like that. The players gave up on Babcock. Once a team gives up on its coach, there is no point in keeping him. The Leafs have one of the best young teams in the NHL. However, even with all of their talent, they have failed to make it past the first round of the playoffs in the last three years. They have lost to the Boston Bruins the last two years in a row, which is simply unacceptable. Last season the Leafs had a 3-1 series lead over the Bruins, but they ended up losing the playoff series in seven games. Babcock’s history of playoff blunders are troubling for the Leafs. If they ever want that elusive Stanley Cup they need a new coach at the helm to lead them to victory, something Babcock has not been able to do. The Leafs are falling apart, but firing Babcock was the first step in fixing their problems. They were losing to teams they should be able to beat and their locker room environment was harmful to the players. The Leafs now have a chance to succeed with Coach Keefe, who has proven himself a champion, winning a Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. Firing Babcock has given the Leafs the fresh start they desperately needed.

FACE OFF YES The NBA should allow qualified athletes to play in the professional leagues straight after high school. Last week, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) announced that starting with the 2019-2020 season, they will let the nation’s best young players skip college basketball and go straight to the professionals. Sixteen years ago, LeBron James went to the NBA straight out of high school, forever altering the sport. If the NCAA was actually concerned about the future of these players, they would give them the option to play for any college team despite having been declared for the draft. In the pros, the players get to spend whatever time they want to work on their skills, allowing them to elevate their game quicker than they would in college. If an athlete is not good enough for the pros once they graduate high school, they can be given the option to play in college. If someone is good enough, what is the point of going to college for four years? Even while they are in college, many great high school players only improve marginally because of restrictions on how many hours they can spend in the gym. The players who play at an elite level should be free to go straight to the professional level, without restrictions. Overall, athletes should be given the option to be in a professional league if their talents are sufficient enough. - Reece Kauffman

Anthony Davis was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this year from the New Orleans Pelicans for young potential stars Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, as well as a couple of first round picks. The young talent that the Pelicans acquired will give them a boost in the already difficult Western Cofference which includes the Lakers and the highly touted Los Angeles Clippers, as well as the addition in the NBA draft of Zion Williamson from Duke University, one of the most highly rated prospects in the history of the league. Since Davis was traded to the Lakers earlier this year in June, the duo of him and LeBron James are said to be one of the greatest in NBA history. So far in the 20192020 NBA season, James and Davis have been living up to the hype. They are having close to the best seasons of their careers already and they have only been playing together for a month. Having key additional pieces in Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma and Rajon Rondo will give the Lakers an even better shot at the championship. During the past 18 games, Davis has averaged a total of 26 points per game, nine rebounds, three and a half assists and three blocks. Paired with 48 percent field goal accuracy, Davis is on pace to have one of his best seasons yet of his young NBA career. Since he was drafted in 2012 by the New Orleans Pelicans, Davis has appeared in six all-star games, three All-NBA first teams and three All-NBA defensive teams. He also won a gold medal in 2012 with the U.S. Olympic team, playing alongside future Hall-of-Famers Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and James Harden. Davis has been one of the greatest NBA players since he entered the league and with James on his side, he could lead his team to many championships. James is arguably the greatest basketball

Should college-age athletes go straight to the NBA?

player ever to play the game. James is a three time NBA champion and four time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). This year with Davis, James is averaging 25 points per game, seven rebounds per game, 10 assists per game and one steal per game. People thought that with the arrival of Davis to the Lakers, James’s point average would begin to decrease. However, James is putting up stats that are no worse than any season he has played yet. He and Davis will continue to tear up the league and put up record numbers while doing so.

Bottom Line: LeBron James and Anthony Davis are going to be relentless this season, leading them to an NBA final

So far in their regular season, the Lakers have already had some formidable tests of their power. They have played teams that are in playoff contention like the Dallas Mavericks led by Luka Doncic, the Utah Jazz led by Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert and the Phoenix Suns led by Devin Booker and have dominated all of them. In their game against the Mavericks, James and Davis scored a combined 70 points, assisted on 18 shots and rebounded 20 balls. They limited a great duo in Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic from the Mavericks to only 47 points, giving the Lakers a successful win against tough opponents. The Lakers have missed the playoffs for the last six years. Davis and James will continue to dominate the league like they have been in the early season. Beating formidable teams shows they will lead the Los Angeles Lakers to another NBA Finals.

NO College-age athletes should be required to attend at least one year of college prior to joining the professional leagues. Coming out of high school, the players are simply not emotionally ready for the pros. If they were to go straight to their professional league, they would all of a sudden have to become extremely independent in a short amount of time. One of the main purposes of college is for maturation and letting students learn how to live on their own. It can be tempting for a promising athlete to skip college and go straight into the pros for a paycheck and the liberty to devote a lot of their time to their sport. However, these people will not have had the experience of living on their own and taking care of themselves. Also, a college education can prove to be crucial if an athlete’s career is blown up. If they are suddenly cut from a team and cannot play anymore, they will have no source of income and will be put in an intense situation financially. Furthermore, an athlete might not be physically ready for professional sports. College gives players time to develop their bodies and have a better physique specific for their sport. If a shooting guard in basketball is six foot four and 170 pounds, he will be undersized compared to NBA shooting guards that are an average of six foot five and 205 pounds. This will leave the player at a disadvantage when playing which could be solved by spending time in college. - Devin Pabian

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SPORTS

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DECEMBER 2019

ATHLETES TO WATCH MARIANA DELGADO How old were you when you started playing basketball? Why? I’ve been playing since I was nine years old. I started playing because I really enjoyed watching basketball on television and that inspired me.

What inspired you to start playing basketball? From when I was really young, I always enjoyed playing the sport and it was extremely fun and as I got older my love for it continuously grew.

When did you decide to join the team and why? I joined the Cypress team last year when I was a sophomore. I joined the team because I heard a lot of good things about it and I wanted to play during my high school years.

What position do you play and why? I play small forward mainly because of my height and my versatility as a player.

What are your strengths and weaknesses in basketball? My strengths include playing defense and shooting. My biggest weakness is probably that I get frustrated easily, but that usually causes me to push and give more effort. What made you want to play basketball? I started playing because it was just something I enjoyed watching and it was something I always wanted to do on my free time. Do you want to continue playing basketball in the future? I’m definitely going to play basketball during my senior year, but I’m not sure about after high school. I’ll always be interested in basketball so whatever happens, happens.

-Dani Shapiro Class of 2020 Height: 6’1’’

JAYLEN BERNARD

GOAL: HELP TEAMMATES HEIGHT: 5’4” TEAM: GIRLS BASKETBALL CLASS OF 2022

What is the most difficult part about being on the team? The most difficult part about being on the team is dealing with expectations we have as a group and knowing we have a target on our backs going into the season. What do you think you can improve on in the future? I think I can improve on my defensive skill, my shot and my ball handling in the future. Do you plan on continuing this sport in the future? Yes I do plan on continuing to play basketball in the future as I want to explore my opportunities in college.

-Alexa Braxton Class of 2020 Height: 6’1’’

GOAL: WIN STATES HEIGHT: 6’5” TEAM: BOYS BASKETBALL CLASS OF 2021

FALL SEASON STATISTICS Varsity Hockey (4-4-1) North Broward Prep

Varsity Girls Volleyball (24-10)

West Boca

Palm Beach Gardens Western

Miami Dade

Stoneman Douglas

Cardinal Gibbons

Boca Raton

Spanish River

Varsity Boys Soccer (3-3-1) Coral Glades

Piper

Varsity Girls Soccer (6-0) Taravella J.P.

West Broward

Flanagan Charles

Coral Glades

Coral Springs

Flanagan Charles

Taravella J.P.

Coral Springs

W W

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DECEMBER 2019

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Bracelets in Business Singer spearheads freshface movement via social media by francisca giuliani

Some students at the Bay have developed their own take on student businesses by creating their own jewelry companies. Senior Diana Dilodovico, along with her best friend and business partner senior Rosinella D’Ostilio, began a company named “Dime que me Piensas” this year and they have sold a large number of bracelets and other custom jewelry. Dilodovico said creating the company was a long process; she said at the beginning of this year, they started thinking about the business, what they could sell, how to sell and promote it and who their audience would be. “We have been really proud of the results and we have had a lot of customers and people supporting our business,” Dilodovico said. “I think it was a really good choice starting this business because it has not only brought us together as friends, but because it has to do with what we want to study in college.” Her favorite part of the selling process of the bracelets is the marketing aspect, including the usage of social media and advertising. She said she is interested in studying business and marketing in the future. One of the main aspects of running the company is keeping customers informed about new products and posting pictures of older jewelry that customers have liked. Items can also be sold online through student created websites, which provide the choice of shipping and having the bracelets delivered. “I also love seeing customers, mainly friends, and people around us supporting our business, buying from us, re-posting the pictures and recommending our jewelry to their friends,” Dilodovico said. “It is very gratifying to feel that once all of the hard work was put in planning the business and making it work as smoothly as possible, the customers are giving positive feedback, even people who have not bought our products yet.” Senior Rocio Biosca is another student bracelet maker who has created her products out of custom, d u rable w a x thread with intricate designs. Biosca said that although it takes a lot of time and hard work to make the bracelets, the hard work pays off as she gets to see them worn around the Bay. “I have loved being able to make bracelets ever since I was a kid,” Biosca said. “It feels great to finally be able to use my abilities and make a profit out of it and also being able to see my bracelets worn across school.” Dilodovico’s company has expanded around Florida, as the company has sold bracelets to people in college cities, such as Gainesville and Tallahassee. Dilodovico said that at first, it was a little risky starting the business because they had both invested money without knowing if they would succeed. “The business process was scary at first since we were investing our time and money into selling the bracelets, but now our company has expanded so much,” Dilodovico said.

photo submitted by Diana Dilodovico

wrist so icy: Customers show off their beaded bracelets from Dime Que Me Piensas. These costumers are gathering in Diana Dilodovico’s house for a jewelry showroom. Each customer wears a different bracelet, exhibiting her various talents and designs that she made herself.

“Our jewelry is being sold in Miami, and we have even gotten orders from Manhattan, which is out of state.” Although Biosca’s bracelet business is still small, she said she hopes to have her business grow, so she is able to use her talent and creativity to the fullest. Biosca said bracelet making might not be easy at first, but practice makes perfect, and she aims to create even better designs in the future. “I enjoy making bracelets because it invokes my creative and artistic abilities,” Biosca said. “I’d much rather spend my time making beautiful designs instead of being on my phone or watching T.V., and sometimes, I can even make bracel e t s while doing these things.” Dilodovico said that she along with D’Ostilio made sure to plan out the business thoroughly, so they were not surprised the business ran smoothly. She said

they made sure the products they were putting out to customers were of great quality. “I think the planning process behind the company was the key to our success, since we took our time and planned it out well, and we planned every little aspect of it before actually launching the business,” Dilodovico said. “I think the business went so well because of that, and we are both extremely happy with the results.” Father of Biosca, Pablo Biosca, said he believes his daughter is benefiting in many different ways from the business. He said the business is creating a sense of responsibility and work ethic for her. “By starting a business, even if its small, students like my daughter can start to value money more, and view how jobs work from a different perspective,” Pablo Biosca said. “As they are involved in the selling of their own created items, they can gain an understanding of how to run a successful business in the future.” Pablo Biosca said by selling bracelets, his daughter has learned how to manage her money better, and she has become more independent. When students start their own business, some become independent and start to use their own money for purchases. “When students start making money, they tend to start being more cautious with how they spend it and if they want to save it for the future,” Pablo Biosca said. “Students can become financially aware from a young age.”

As society progresses, it has become evident that beauty standards and style have evolved and changed over the years. A new trend that some celebrities and A-listers have begun is the ‘fresh face’ trend where they wear minimal makeup, or none at all, to promote natural beauty, self-confidence and women empowerment. Talented female singer and actress Lady GaGa is one of the leaders in this movement, as she began promoting the fresh face trend just as it surfaced. She often speaks about the topic in Instagram posts and interviews, such as one with Howard Stern. In this interview, GaGa does an exceptional job explaining how she feels as though she is compared to other celebrities, and being in the face of the public makes it difficult for her to feel confident and accept herself. This movement would not exist if it were not for gender roles. Beauty is extremely subjective and women are more often than not expected to confine to such constructs that continue to perpetuate beauty standards in society. GaGa has been frowned upon for not wearing makeup, or going out in public with undone hair. The movement serves as a medium to communicate the important message that beauty is ambiguous. GaGa explains that when people put themselves out there, the world will either love them or hate them. She has experienced trolls on social media and has received hate mail from people who make rude remarks on her talent and appearance. She claims the attention, both negative and positive, made her feel like she had to dress to please her fans and meet their standards. To combat the beauty standards that GaGa felt she needed to meet, she decided to post a photo in no makeup. This was an extremely bold move, as societal norms would expect for celebrities like her to always look glamorous. She expressed that she may be known for extravagant costumes, but that she is equally as beautiful in her natural, stripped-down form. This makes her an influence to her fans and allows her to be the great inspiration she is today. Posting photos like that and opening up about her personal problems was brave of GaGa and is one reason that she is an amazing female role-model. In her campaign to go natural, she has been supported by a large group of other A-listers, including supermodel Bella Hadid and the Kardashian family. These powerful females are often known for their beauty and for being put together all the time. However, recently these women have posted and promoted natural beauty, inspiring girls all over the world that they do not need makeup to be pretty. This is important, and these rolemodels are helping people all over the world feel more comfortable in their own skin. Some students at the Bay see makeup as an art form and come to school with an extravagant look each day. Others wear minimal makeup, such as concealer and mascara, while other students may come to school with no makeup. The message these A-listers are trying to send is that wearing makeup is okay, but people should feel just as pretty and confident without it. This can positively influence all high schoolers because it can inspire them to feel beautiful in their own skin. A lot of high schoolers struggle with mental health issues, and this can help them feel better about themselves. The message that these famous female leaders are sending are needed in society, as males and females already struggle with self acceptance and confidence. When role models in society deliver a message that everyone is naturally beautiful, their fans and those who follow them feel accepted. This movement was needed and is extremely needed and beneficial in society as this can aid in helping with selfconfidence and other issues.

28 THE CIRCUIT

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Disney debuts online streaming platform “Disney+” Colin Crawford features editor

The Walt Disney Company launched its new streaming service, Disney+ on Nov. 12. The platform contains nearly every single Disney movie and TV show across all of Disney’s holdings including Disney Channel, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic and exclusive original content. Even though at launch the app had glitches and some accounts could not access the platform, Disney did a great job of resolving these problems quickly and the platform runs smoothly at present. The main draw of Disney+ is the vast amount of content it provides. The fact that Disney was able to put all of their content in one place is amazing. Everything is concentrated so users no longer have to surf other streaming services for their favorite Disney movies, and they do not have to rent movies either. Disney+ is extremely similar to Netflix because on both platforms, an account can have more than one user. On Disney+, each account is able to have up to seven users and allows four devices to stream content at the same time for an extremely economical price of $6.99 a month. However, Netflix’s most expensive plan, $15.99 a month, allows four devices to stream a t the same t i me and only five user profiles can be created. Disney+ allows users to customize their profile to whatever their favorite Disney character is, which makes the service interactive as users have a wide range to choose from. The best part about choosing a profile character is it adds a customization element to each account. There are a variety of ways users can access Disney+: it is available on the AppStore for iOS (Apple) devices, on Smart TVs, PlayStation 4, Roku and Xbox One. The service is also available as an add on for other streaming platforms like Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV Generation 4. This is a good feature because it makes the product available to a wide variety of consumers. The service is not supported by Apple TV Generation 3, even though Apple’s new streaming service is. This makes this device obsolete for people who want to stream Disney+ on their TVs. Technically, people can

photo courtesy of google images

disney downloaded: Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger presents the new streaming sevice, Disney+ at the D23 Expo, where Disney releases all of their new products/films for the upcoming year. He shares with the audience that all of Disney’s productions are now available to the public for a monthy subscription of $6.99. He explains that the service’s content has the ability to be downloaded, and streamed offline.

use Apple Airplay/Screen Mirroring, but this lags and is not an optimal viewing situation. The service was not perfect at first, but Disney has worked hard on improving the platform by offering people the opportunity to resume/ restar t content t hey have sta r ted viewi ng with a ‘cont i nue watching’ tab, which was not available before. The ad campaign for Disney+ was aggressive because the company advertised it across all their social media accounts and used subsidiaries, like ABC, and popular video sites, like YouTube, to promote the new product. The most amazing thing about Disney+ is the sheer amount of content that they have available to users. The massive Disney catalog is truly impressive because people have the ability to watch anything from

old Disney Channel classics, like “Lizzie McGuire,” to worldwide phenomenons, like “Avatar,” to classic Disney Renaissance films, like “The Little Mermaid.” However, the extensive choices are sometimes overwhelming, and it can be difficult to find something to watch. The app doesn’t have enough categories to break down the available content into comprehensive sections. The app also has really obscure films from the Disney Vault, such as “Lady and the Tramp II” and both of the “Aladdin” sequels. The problem this presents is that it takes up screen space unnecessarily. It is unlikely that anyone would purchase the service because they have a burning desire to watch “Candleshoe,”, but its availability is certainly interesting. Another way Disney+ has made itself unique from the competition like Netflix and Amazon are the various popular characters it is able to use to make new, original content. The company can appeal

to nostalgia and newer fans at the same time because of the various channels they control. New shows with characters from Marvel, Star Wars and reboots of old shows, like “Lizzie McGuire,” make the app extremely desirable. Making new shows, like “The Mandalorian,” exclusive to Disney+ forces uber fans of Star Wars to purchase the product. Including new characters, like Baby Yoda, who has gone viral inspiring countless memes and a high merchandise demand, also helps Disney+ gain new subscribers. Disney+ is also well suited for travel, especially if people know they are going to areas where cell service/WiFi is unavailable or unreliable because everything on Disney+ is downloadable. This makes it better than Netflix, where only certain productions are downloadable for users, as they do not have the rights to offer that in their contracts with other film companies. Disney owns all of the content on Disney+, so they have absolute control over everything. With Disney+, people do not have to worry about their favorite shows or movies leaving the platform because Disney owns the distribution rights for all of the productions. However, on services like Netflix, their inventory is less reliable because they may only have shows and films for a certain period of time, so Disney+ is clearly superior in this aspect. Disney+ has included warnings in the summaries of certain films because they could contain outdated social views, like racism and misogyny, and outdated cultural practices, such as excessive tobacco use. For example, “Peter Pan” carries both of these labels as its depiction of Native Americans as literally red colored people who smoke pipes is extremely offensive. Disney has touted its positive representation of different cultures and ethnicities for some time, so it makes sense that they would take the time to make specific warnings for films that were created during a different, less inclusive time period. Although Disney launched Disney+ in November, some of their content cannot be accessed because of existing contracts. For example “The Last Jedi,” the most recent Star Wars film, is available on Netflix, but won’t be on Disney+ until late December, after the new Star Wars film has been released. This could be slightly annoying for fans who want to refresh their memory before going to see the new film. Overall, Disney+ is an amazing app at a great price, making it available to most people and definitely worth the money. Even though there are some issues with the platform concerning the productions that are not included, this is overshadowed by the good content that is actually available. The enormous Disney library is on full display, and it is beautiful to see.

A&E CALENDAR Albums

“LP1” by Liam Payne, Dec. 6 “Fully Loaded: God’s Country” by Blake Shelton, Dec. 13 “Fine Line” by Harry Styles, Dec.13 “High Road” by Kesha, Jan. 10 “SG2” by Selena Gomez, Jan. 10

Movies

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” Dec. 20 “Jumanji: The Next Level,” Dec. 13 “Spies in Disguise,” Dec. 25 “Bombshell,” Dec. 20 “Playmobil: The Movie,” Dec. 6 “Black Christmas,” Dec. 13 “Uncut Gems,” Dec. 13 “1917,” Dec. 25 “Little Women,” Dec. 25

Concerts

Diplo, Dec. 5 @ E11EVEN Miami Rick Ross, Dec. 8 @ E11EVEN Miami Y-100 Jingle Ball, Dec. 22 @ BB&T Center Florida Georgia Line, Dec. 31 @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre

DECEMBER 2019

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Rehearsals begin for AMT show season by ana boix

At the Bay, American Musical Theatre (AMT) classes are devoting all their time to prepare and rehearse for the shows “Rock of Ages,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Spamalot.” Junior Emilia Logan, who is an Ensemble member in “Spamalot,” said she loves the show and her role because she gets to see the process of making the show perfect, and she enjoys bringing emotion and joy to the stage. She said since rehearsals have just begun, her class is getting to know the play better, preparing it and progressing by taking little steps. “Right now in class, we are doing things such as learning some of the songs, vocal practices, and our script readings,” Logan said. “Our teacher gives us a schedule for each rehearsal every class day and before starting she informs us on what we are planning on doing for the rest of the week.” Just like Logan, junior Clementina Franceschi, who is playing the Sherrie Christian Understudy in “Rock of Ages” said she feels that the cast is still getting into the show, so they need to keep working to improve and put on a good performance. “I look forward to get further in the process of preparing the show so that we are able to actually run it,” Franceschi said. ”That’s when we can fully enjoy our characters, and it’s my favorite part of rehearsal.” Franceschi said she enjoys every aspect regarding the rehearsals for the show. She said acting is her passion, and there is nothing she enjoys more than being on stage and performing. She said students in her class are pushing themselves to get better, and that makes her feel very motivated.

“

Seeing how the students get to know the shows and their characters and bring my ideas to life is awesome and I love it. Some students don’t understand that every single person that is on stage is important and has to pay attention, so they think they can hang out in the back and be distracted, and that makes my work more difficult.

“

-AMT teacher and adviser Cynthia Lutwin

“Being able to play a role in front of an audience is a dream come true,” Franceschi said. “Seeing how talented and dedicated everyone in the class is makes the process of rehearsing and improving more worthy and fulfilling.” Logan said she really enjoys when all the students are on stage together, sharing the same experience, but dancing rehearsals are particularly hard for her. She said dancing is a weakness of hers when it comes to performing, and that it is difficult to be coordinated with her classmates. “Since we are over 60 kids in the ensemble

group, and we are all required to dance, it’s very difficult for us to all get on the same page and learn at the same pace,” Logan said, “I am no dancer, so it is easy for me to get lost or forget what movement comes next.” Both Logan and Franceschi said their classes have improved a lot since the year started, and now, they are more focused and working together to give an amazing performance. Logan said AMT teacher and adviser Cynthia Lutwin is doing a great job with the organization of the shows and the time the students have to rehearse. “The class is amazing right now, everyone is on the same page, trying our best and we are always there to help each other and ask questions,” Logan said. “[Lutwin] has helped us a lot to improve, and she is very smart with our time, and she is always there when we are confused.” Lutwin said organizing three shows and rehearsing with three casts at the same time is complicated because sometimes, the schedule she made for the class is not correctly followed, due to specific situations that can arise with each group. “Now that all casts have been chosen, we are working on learning vocals, choreography and blocking,” Lutwin said. “Directing three shows at the same can be arduous; frequently, I go into class having an idea of what I want to get done, but things don’t come out as planned, and I have to change everything.” Lutwin said seeing how an idea she takes out of her head comes to life on stage with the students is something that makes her enthusiastic; however, she said it does not always work, and then, she has to improvise and try new concepts. She said that the only thing she does not enjoy about rehearsing are the students that do not show enough respect to

photos by Ana Boix

high school musical: (From top) sophomore Iliana Mantjos studies her script for the musical “Spamalot”, one of three shows that American Musical Theatre (AMT) will be performing throughout the year. Junior Emilia Logan, also in AMT, said the planning that goes into AMT helps make the rehearsal process successful because the better organized the schedule is, the easier it is for performers to make it to practice. Sophomores Nicole Spitia and Bianca Lederfeind practice along with other AMT members in the Chorus Room.

the production and effort that is needed to put on a show. “Seeing how the students get to know the shows and their characters and bring my ideas to life is awesome and I love it,” Lutwin said “Some students don’t understand that every single person that is on stage is important and has to pay attention, so they think they can hang out in the back and be

distracted, and that makes my work more difficult.” Lutwin said she recognizes how much students have improved since they started rehearsing. She said the way she directs her shows allows students to run the same number an abundance of times, so they always feel they are getting better and more confident on stage and with their parts. “I think my students love the shows,” Lutwin said. “I think the only way someone takes AMT is if he or she absolutely loves being on stage and creating a character.”

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Redundant album fails to meet expectations assortment can be viewed as both a positive and negative factor to the album. While the majority of his songs are only slightly autotuned, Lil Peep takes this to a higher level on the track “PRINCESS.” His voice sounds extremely electronic and artificial; however, this makes the song unique from the others on the album. Although it can become difficult to listen to after a while, it can definitely be viewed as a beneficial aspect of the album as well. The autotuning in this track works well with the dramatic background beats.

“Everybody’s Everything” by jenna friedman editor-in-chief

Lil Peep’s second posthumous album “EVERYBODY’S EVERYTHING” demonstrates the artist’s extreme emotions and musical talent through multiple collaborative tracks. The album was announced on Nov. 1 and was released on Nov. 15, exactly two years after he died at age 21 due to drug overdose. The album came out alongside a documentary of the same name. The album consists of a combination of both new and previously released tracks, and there were four singles. “EVERYBODY’S EVERYTHING” contains 19 songs, 11 of which feature other artists ranging from Rich The Kid to Diplo. However, many of these artists, such as Gab3 and Lil Tracy, collaborate on several different tracks on the album. Although it is refreshing to hear new voices in the album in addition to Lil Peep, these artists can become redundant as they are featured on three or four songs. Despite some redundancy in the featured artists, most of the songs are extremely original and provide different beats and emotions. For example, songs, such as “PRINCESS” and “I’ve Been Waiting,” display his longing for someone while songs, like “Live Forever,” incorporate lyrics that demonstrate his struggle with addiction. Overall, the meaningful lyrics, no matter what they discuss, truly enhance the music and go hand in hand with the background tracks. “Liar,” the opening track to the album,

Bottom Line: Lil Peep’s “EVERYBODY’S EVERYTHING” is original, but its repetitive lyrics and short songs make the album hard to enjoy photo courtesy of google images

incorporates the rapper’s infectious, recognizable voice and style in addition to a catchy beat and chorus. It is the perfect song to start off the album, as it is more upbeat and energetic than some of the other tunes. Similar to this song, “Rockstarz” contains more positive and fun lyrics, and the exciting beat makes the tune an easy listen. On the contrary, some tracks are truly too repetitive and irritating. For example, in “walk away as the door slams (acoustic),” Lil Peep’s voice sounds extremely whiny, and this makes it difficult to enjoy the meaning behind the

song. Also, the chorus is extremely redundant, which makes it slightly annoying. Similar to this, “Keep My Coo” has a repetitive beat and lyrics, and the singing sounds almost monotone, with no exciting moments to the song. Most songs on the track are relatively short, falling under three minutes, with the exception of a few longer tracks. This variety of lengths allows for higher originality of each track, and overall, adds to the listening experience. However, it can be disappointing if a likeable song is only about two minutes. Therefore, this

Lil Peep sounds as if he is almost screaming rather than singing in the song “I’ve Been Waiting.” Although the chorus is extremely catchy and this is one of the more successful tracks from the album, his voice can become annoying due to how he is shouting the lyrics, rather than singing them. Overall, while it is extremely impressive that Lil Peep continues to have music released after his death, “EVERYBODY’S EVERYTHING” falls short in comparison to some of his past works. Despite having meaningful lyrics and catchy beats, the prevalent redundancy and certain irritating factors take away from the positive factors of the album.

THE music in your ears “The Music in Your Ears” delves into the music taste of students at the Bay. Staffer Francisca Giuliani interviewed four students who enjoy listening to different types of music. “Soltera” by Lunay, Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny

“Tú” by Maye

“Falling” by Trevor Daniel

“It Gets Better” by Rex Orange County

“This song has an upbeat rhythm that gets me in a great mood. It is perfect to dance and listen to with friends.” -freshman Olivia Briongos

“The tune of the song is very unique, and I have been currently playing the song on repeat as it is catchy as well.” -junior Valentina Sovero

“This song is very relaxing and has a very chill vibe to it that I love because the singer is very emotive in the song.” -sophomore Constanza Ardiles

“ ‘It Gets Better’ is such a feel-good song that gets me in the best mood all the time. The good beat also brings happy emotions.” -senior Grace Chrupcala

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DECEMBER 2019

Sound of Thunder band marches to county by agavni mehrabi

For the seventeenth year in a row, individual members of the Bay’s “Sound of Thunder” band had the opportunity to participate in the all-county honor band tryouts held by Broward County Public Schools at North Broward Preparatory School on Nov. 13. Band director Michael Scott said participation in this county-wide event was important because of its representation of the school as a whole. “Since we have all schools in the county school district participate, the Bay’s involvement is a way to showcase its talent in respect to others,” Scott said. “It is solely based on skill, so it allows us to demonstrate the accomplishments made by our students here.” Approximately 50 band members participated in the event. Of these, freshman and clarinet player Diego Florez said participation was particularly important to him because of the prestige it would bring for entrance into top music schools like the University of Berkeley, the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School conservatory. “I am aspiring for a future career in the musical arts when I grow up,” Florez said. “Practically speaking, having this on my academic resume would make my application favorable enough for distinguished universities to accept me.” Sophomore and trumpet player Carmel Ben David said her reason for trying out is the same reason she is in band. She said following in her older sister’s footsteps as a musician has been a motivation for her to continue along this path.

“

In times like these, it is important to remind yourself to keep your head up because one audition does not determine how good you are as a player overall. I tell myself and others that one bump in the road is not the end of the world, but that it is actually an experience that may help add to your success later on.

“

-sophomore Carmel Ben David “I have taken the many challenges involved with being in an advanced band because it is something my sister would be proud of,” Ben David said. “I also do it for the passion for music I have gradually developed over the five years I have been playing.” To senior and clarinet player Noelle Medvid, try-outs are more like a checkpoint to measure her personal progress with every

year. She said its scoring system for various subskills allows her to quantitatively keep track of the strengths she should be proud of and weaknesses she needs to work on over time. “Try-outs are important because they have a special way of pushing people to practice on a regular basis,” Medvid said. “This stimulative quality not only promotes growth for players as individuals, but also the maturation of our band here as a group.” The next step after try-outs is to attend three rehearsals before performing in the final concert on Jan. 29 in the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. Scott said this process provides admitted students with a valuable experience that adds to the significance of the try-outs. “The events after the try-outs give striving musicians the chance to practice with a highly esteemed conductor they otherwise would not have met,” Scott said. “They also play with people just as accomplished as them, which not only builds lasting friendships, but also expands their artistic horizons.” In order to reach this step, Ben David said there are certain virtues leading up to the try-outs that are necessary for a musician to have. Among these, Ben David said traits like confidence and determination are the most crucial for success. “If you are not confident in yourself, you are just going to doubt yourself and mess up during the audition,” Ben David said. “Determination comes in because you need to be able to push yourself to put hours of time into practice to smooth out any mistakes no matter how long it takes.” The audition itself is divided into three separate components. These include performing 12 major scales to demonstrate stamina and a prepared lyrical piece to prove artistic expression. Florez said the most challenging for him is the third portion, sight reading, because participants are only given half a minute to analyze the music before playing. “Sight-reading is a challenging activity that requires both knowledge on music theory and improvisation to be able to think fast enough to play something you’ve never seen before,” Florez said. “Because this is especially difficult, I bought a book designed for it [to] try to prepare.” photos submitted by diego florez Results of the try-outs were disclosed on Nov. 18, revealing the acceptance of 18 out beats: (From top) the Sound of Thunder Band rehearses for all-county of about 50 of the Bay’s band members that band competition which took place on Nov. 13 at North Broward Preparatory School. Around participated, which has placed the school in 50 band members participated in the all-county competition. Freshman Mateo Illeman second place in having the most students make practices for the competition by playing his clarinet. it in the district. Medvid said this contrasts with the past average of eight students. this, she said she agrees with Ben David “In past years, we have placed kind of discourage her from trying again next year. “In times like these, it is important to that experience gained by the event is more average as a whole compared to schools like West Broward High School and Marjory remind yourself to keep your head up because valuable than achievement on its own. “Putting aside the competition aspect of Stoneman Douglas High School,” Medvid one audition does not determine how good said. “This year, we have come to an important you are as a player overall,” Ben David said. trying out is important in a world where so milestone of progress in the development of “I tell myself and others that one bump in the many high school musicians are extremely the band program that has allowed us to be road is not the end of the world, but that it is focused on winning,” Medvid said. “At the actually an experience that may help add to end of the day, playing is so much more than one of the dominant schools.” audition scores and you are all getting the After learning the results of the try- your success later on.” On another note, Medvid said the results same experience whether you make it in or outs, Ben David said she was not chosen to join the all-county honor band. Although of her try-outs have placed her as third chair not.” she said this does create a natural element in the all-county honor band, marking her of disappointment, she does not let this presence for the fifth year in a row. Despite

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FESTIVal Fanatics Music festivals all over South Florida such as “Ultra” and “Tortuga” draw in immense crowds.

pr manager

Students like junior Lauren Sachs have high anticipation while waiting to attend their favorite musical festivals. Whether it is country music, electronic dance music (EMD) or hip hop, a lot of students and faculty spend their free time attending these events. Sachs said she has attended almost every music festival South Florida offers. “I have had some of the most amazing and once in a lifetime experiences of my life at music festivals. Every festival I have been to just has the most amazing vibe and the best live performances,” Sachs said. “Every festival I have been to is full of amazing people that just bring out the best energy, everyone is just there to have a good time and meet new people.”

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I have had some of the most amazing and once in a lifetime experiences of my life at music festivals.

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-junior Lauren Sachs Sachs said her favorite festivals she’s attended were the past three years of “Tortuga” and “Sunfest,“ and she looks forward to them year-round. She said she goes to all three days of “Tortuga,” as she refuses to miss part of the experience. She said a close second for her best experience at a music festival was last years “Life In Color” (LIC). “Music festivals are usually a chance for all my old summer camp friends to be able to catch up and spend a night together,” Sachs said. “Since we mostly all go to different schools across South Florida, it is nice to have a night where we can all reconnect and have a good time. At LIC we were able to have an amazing time together, but we also have a good time just relaxing at festivals, like ’Tortuga.’ I also spend some time with my family, who also enjoys ’Tortuga.’” Along with Sachs, World History teacher Paul Gorlick said music festivals have played a part in his life for five years now, and it is always something that he can look forward to during the school year. Gorlick and his friends have not missed an “Ultra Music Festival” in five years. “A former student of mine gave me tickets to ’Ultra’ about five years ago, and I have been able to go every year since,” Gorlick said. “The music at ‘Ultra’ is not what I typically listen to, but I appreciate it in the moment and always have an amazing time. This past year was not their best year, but was still a great time and I look forward to going again in the new year.” Gorlick said he always goes with a group of friends, it is an opportunity for them to get away from their busy lives and all to go out and spend time with each other for those three days. “Every year, I always go with a couple of my favorite people that I have known for a long time. I don’t get to see them as often as I would like to, since we all have our own lives as adults now,” Gorlick said. “‘Ultra’ gives me a chance to reconnect with old friends and also meet new and interesting people in the crowds. It is

always a memorable time, to say the least.” As well as Gorlick, senior Corey Steinman said he looks forward to ”Ultra” every year. Has been to the ”Ultra Music Festival” and ”Rolling Loud” for the past two years. “I usually get my tickets the week of whatever show I want to go to, and so do my friends,” Steinman said. “My dad is a big help in making ‘Ultra’ a reality for me. He works with the production of ‘Ultra,’ so he is very involved in the industry, and he helps me out with tickets.” Unlike Steinman, Sachs said that she plans her music festival months in advance, she coordinates the logistics of the festivals and makes sure everyone is going and has their tickets in time. “It is so important to me that all my camp friends can go to our favorite music festivals, even the people who live outside of Florida. Many of my friends will fly down and stay with me so we can all go to the festivals together. It takes a lot of time and planning that goes into going with a large group of people,” Sachs said. “I plan my outfits out way before the event even takes place, and I love to shop for my upcoming festivals. I get to take the best pictures at festivals, so the memories can last even longer.” Steinman said that he enjoys all types of different music, but he mainly listens to EDM and Rap, and that is why he is such a big fan of “Ultra” and the music there. “Out of every music festival in South Florida, ‘Ultra’ definitely has to be my all time favorite,” Steinman said. “It’s such a great time spending the weekend in Miami, and I honestly have a better time at ‘Ultra’ than anywhere else in Florida.”

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photo BY karla soberon

Ultra’s main stage lights up as Alesso performs his set on Friday, Mar. 29. ULTRA FUN: Vibrant lights change colors and flash to build the energy and excite the crowd. Senior Corey Steinman said the lights are an important part in making for an entertaining experience.

Some of my best experiences are honestly going to ‘Ultra’ for the weekend and just having a good time with my friends.

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by courtney levinson

-senior Corey Steinman Sachs said her favorite memory of a festival was being able to hear pop artist Dan+Shay perform live at “Tortuga”, she had never heard of them before but she said she immediately fell in love with their music. “At first, when Dan+Shay came out on stage, I barely knew who they were and never even really listened to any of their music. As soon as they started playing, I realized how talented they truly are,” Sachs said. “It is because of music festivals that I get to listen to new and amazing artists. Since their performance they have become more and more popular, and I’m so glad I was able to listen to them for the first time.” Steinman said he already has made plans to go to “Ultra” again in March with his group of close friends and would never be able to miss it. “I would not pass up another opportunity for such a great experience,” Steinman said. “Some of my best experiences are honestly going to ‘Ultra’ for the weekend and just having a good time with my friends.”

photos submitted by lauren sachs

running down to the riptide: Junior Lauren Sachs and friends dress up in all white and colorful bead accessories at the Life in Color (LIC) festival. At LIC, crowds throw powder paint in the air as songs build up, covering audience members in a variety of vibrant colors. Riptide Music Festival takes place during the day, as crowds dance and cheer under the blue skies and palm trees.

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DECEMBER 2019

Restaurant reflects Mexican authenticity “Santa Catrina” By annabelle dANIELS-ROSENBeRG online mANAGING EDITOR

“Santa Catrina” is a new Mexican restaurant located in Sunrise, and it opened its doors on Nov. 7. Serving authentic and traditional dishes with a twist, this restaurant combines comfort food and fine dining. The ambiance of the restaurant is inviting and warm. The use of vibrant colors and Mexican skeleton decorations creates a fun atmosphere, and another neat element of the space is the use of fun patterns, mix-matched light fixtures and a variety of seating options, including a central bar. The bar serves large, whimsical drinks and includes many Mexican beverages. The space also has a cozy, communal feel but extends back, providing plenty of space. Although in a popular plaza, “Santa Catrina” is hidden in the corner. It is hard to locate, but they do have eye catching sculptures in front. A larger sign or more prominent location for the statues could help.

photo by annabellE daniels-rosenberg

Mex-ellent: “Santa Catrina” restaurant opened, featuring a bar and a fine dining appearance. The restaurant has a Mexican authentic look and includes modern lights and furniture. The decorations include traditional Mexican Day of the Dead skeleton heads and a colorful tile background.

huitlacoche, a Mexican truffle, and Mexican cactus. Some typical items however, take a less Bottom Line: traditional spin, including the poblano pepper Santa Catrina is a must soup and the volcanic cheese. Some meals try restaurant that incorporate exotic ingredients and may make hard to decide what to order. The extensive combines great Mexican itmenu could be viewed as intimidating; comfort food with fine however, it does offer plenty of vegetarian options and spicier meals are specified. dining Some of the food’s description was The large menu offers a variety of typical misleading and came out disappointing, Mexican cuisine, providing South Florida including the Chicharron de Queso. This with unfamiliar flavors and ingredients like cheesy crust is more like an excessive amount

of crisped cheese with little chorizo. Another average dish is the asada tacos. Although just basic tortillas and steak, it is nothing special as it lacks sufficient flavor and is extremely bland without the avocado sauce. With so many options to choose from on the menu, it seems like a hit or miss. The poblano soup was, for example delicious, creamy and unlike any other soup, and the burrito, although nothing out of the ordinary, tasted healthy and inclusive of good quality ingredients without falling apart. The menu also offers several authentic Mexican desserts,

which look extremely appealing. Another disappointment is the expensive prices. The relatively small portions of food are not representative of the higher prices. The fast service and freshness, however, does make up for some of the prices. Especially for lunch, the prices could possibly be cut down for a lunch special to make it more affordable. “Santa Catrina,” with a large Hispanic population in Weston, finds itself home to many celebrations and large parties. It is often loud and crowded but never to an unbearable point. One of the best parts of the dining experience is the blue chips and dipping sauces given to each table before ordering. The sauces have a distinct and almost addicting flavor: one is smoky and one is spicy. The presentation of everything from the food to the check holder, shaped like a man with a sombrero, added a creative, cultural and noticeably positive element to this dining experience. Each table was set with plates with large skulls on them, and this skeleton theme was carried throughout the restaurant along with the bright colors entangling its way through every aspect. The waitress was knowledgeable and informative about the food and did an excellent job at welcoming guests back for upcoming events, such as a mariachi band and girl’s nights. She was also extremely attentive, and the food arrived quickly. One minor inconvenience is that the table for two is slightly too small to fit all the large plates. The appetizer ordered also came out after the main course, which was unwanted at that point, but probably doesn’t happen often. With a comfortable environment, high quality food and great service, “Santa Catrina” should definitely be experienced. However, some of the cuisine was bland and disappointing, and sharing a few items with the table may be a better idea than ordering one meal.

DECEMBER 2019

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Award show adopts unique, efficient system BY GOWRI ABHINANDA NEWS COPY Editor

On Nov. 10, the 45th annual E! People’s Choice Awards was broadcasted. This award show is different from any other award ceremony, as prior to the winners of each category being determined, fans get to vote for their favorite choice out of the nominations regarding entertainment and pop culture. There are a total of 43 categories and fans can vote for their favorite musical artist to their preferred movie in the choices provided, which are nominations. This year’s People’s Choice Awards show featured presenters such as KJ Apa, Joey King, Sarah Hyland and more. The award show contained performances from musical artists Alessia Cara and Kelsea Ballerini. Junior Isabella Viera said the show was entertaining to watch, and the presenters and performers never left a dull moment for the event. “It think it was a really fun awards show to watch, and the lineup of people they had to speak for the award presentations were all good choices because it was people that the teenage age group is able to resonate with,” Viera said. “The performances were great, and Alessia Cara’s voice was amazing. She performed this one song, ‘Rooting For You,’ and she jazzed it up to make it compatible to the show.” Viera said that she agrees with most of the winners and likes how the E! People’s Choice Awards involves the public. She said it is a fair representation of what fans want to see. “People’s Choice is a show that I’m fond of because it seems to value what fans have to say, which is the award show’s whole premise, but it’s just nice to see,” Viera said. “A lot of the time in regular award ceremonies there are people you really thought were going to

photo courtesy of google Images

win and then they just don’t and it’s really disappointing, but People’s Choice is pretty accurate. It seems most of the votes were accurate to what I’ve seen to be the expressed favorites around me.” Similar to Viera, sophomore Allie Crothers, who watched the People’s Choice Awards for the first time this year, said she thinks it is truly representative of the public. She said that she did not know that fans like herself could vote

for individuals, shows, movies or podcasts she liked until after the show, so she said next year she will be sure to vote. “When Billie Eilish won ‘Female Artist,’ ‘Avengers: Endgame’ won ‘Movie of 2019’ and ‘Action Movie of 2019’ and when Robert Downey Jr. won ‘Male Movie Star of 2019,’ I was super happy but also shocked that all the choices that deserved to win were picked,” Crothers said. “Sometimes the ones you

really thought would get it don’t win, so it was weird that in this award show, the opposite was happening. I then found out it is based on people voting, which is cool, so next year I want to vote for the people I like.” Like Crothers, Algebra II Honors and Geometry Honors teacher Evonne Pankowski said that the 45th E! People’s Choice Awards was her first time watching the annual award show. She said she was satisfied with the winners, but felt some winners were redundant. “There were some actors and actresses that I am a fan of as well as artists that I like that won so I was happy for them,” Pankowski said. “At the same time, there were a lot of the same winners coming up like ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ which was repetitive; it would’ve been nicer to see other winners in that case.” Pankowski said aside from the winners she liked the set up of the show. She said the announcers for the awards were lively to watch. “I liked the organization of the show, they made sure to sprinkle in performances at the right time,” Pankowski said. “I also liked the announcers like KJ Apa, I watch him in Riverdale and he was a good choice as a presenter I’d say.” Viera said she thoroughly enjoyed the show and will continue to watch the show in the future. She said she hopes other awards adopt the system People’s Choice has. “I really liked the show just like every other year, and I like how People’s Choice gives people the liberty to decide who and what they want to win in pop culture,” Viera said. “It would be nice if all the shows adopt what this show does, but at the same time, I guess it should stay the same so this one stands out and the other awards remain prestigious and competitive.”

Marching band members relish final performance A&E / OPINION COPY EDITOR

The Bay’s marching band, The Sound of Thunder, attended the annual Florida Marching Band Competition (FMBC) on Nov. 23 and 24 in Orlando. This event is for marching bands all over the state of Florida to gather in one place in order to compete against each other and receive a ranking. Sophomore and color guard’s social media specialist Aneesa Williams said she really enjoys attending FMBC because it is a representation of all the hard work and effort the band has put into their performance this school year. “FMBC is our last competition of the marching band season,” Williams said. “All that we have been practicing and rehearsing for has been what we’ve been working towards.” This year’s FMBC performance piece was titled “A Story for Another Night” and was based on the story of “1001 Nights” and “Scheherazade.” Senior Nicolas Sanchez is a trumpet player in The Sound of Thunder. He said he thought the music the band was performing was extremely unique and like nothing they had ever done before. “Our music was from the pieces ‘Arabian Nights,’ ‘Arabesque,’ ‘Scheherazade’ and ‘Speechless,’’’ Sanchez said. “As a trumpet player, I believe I contributed high quality playing and marching to our show because I was responsible for carrying the melody of the songs for the majority of our performance.” Out of a total of 14 marching bands, The Sound of Thunder placed seventh, which means they will not move on to finals. Band director Michael Scott said he was not too pleased with the ranking marching band received, and he felt bad because he thought his students gave a beautiful, well-rounded performance.

“We placed seventh this year, which was okay,” Scott said. “I felt like we could have placed a little bit higher based off of our performance because the kids really did perform well, but other than that, scores fall where they fall.” In addition to the marching band competition, color guard competed in their category as well. Williams said they received fourth place out of the 14 color guard teams present in their division, of which she was extremely proud.

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I felt like we could have placed a little bit higher based off of our performance because the kids really did perform well, but other than that, scores fall where they fall.

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BY JULIA WINTON

-band director Michael Scott “[Placing fourth] was very heartwarming because it showed that we in fact can get better, and succeed,” Williams said. “To know that all of our hard work and dedication [has] paid off really excites me for future seasons. I am so proud and humble to be a part of such a loving and supportive band family.” Although band members attend the event for the sole purpose of taking home a win, they also have fun. Sanchez said he had a lot of fun performing at FMBC because there is nothing like having a crowd cheer for them in the show, especially when being surrounded

photo courtesy of Instagram

March to the beat: Marching band and Colorguard members perform at Florida Marching Band Competition on Nov. 23 and 24 in Orlando. This annual competition was marching band’s last of this school year. Out of the 14 other marching bands in their group, they ranked seventh. Additionally, Colorguard placed fourth in their category.

by friends. “My favorite part of the FMBC field trip was the time I spent with my friends,” Sanchez said. “Because of marching band, [the other band members] are really closer to family than friends, and the time I spend with them is the best part of the whole experience for me.” Without the contribution of Scott helping to plan the event and teach the marching band their performance piece, the band would not be able to place where they did. Scott said

band has always been his greatest passion, and he is so glad he gets to share what he knows with his students to help them improve every single day. “I’ve been in the band since I’ve been in the sixth grade, so ever since then I’ve always known I wanted to teach band,” Scott said. “It was something I naturally enjoyed, and I figured if I was going to be doing something for the rest of my life then it should be something I enjoy.”

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DECEMBER 2019

Social media platforms expose inner talents As social media plays a huge role in today’s society, sophomore and makeup artist Helena Parra said that she found joy in taking part of sharing art through Instagram by creating looks and sharing pictures with others. “My sister was always doing her makeup and coming up with new ideas, so that really inspired me to try it out,” Parra said. “I first started to follow a lot of makeup artists on Instagram, and it made me really motivated to create my own page in seventh grade.” Parra said she was not the best at first, but after a lot of practice she got better and decided to share her work with others through social media. “In eighth grade when I realized how to do makeup pretty well, I made an Instagram account,” Parra said. “I wanted to be able to post and share all of my work with others and hopefully inspire other people just like I was.” Parra said she practices different styles on herself but also enjoys doing makeup for different events on other people. She said it helps her get a taste of what is like being a selfartist. “This past August, I was able to do my friends entire makeup look for her quinceanera,” Parra said. “I was so glad that she asked me to do it because it makes me feel good knowing other people enjoy my work.” Parra said she likes to do both simple looks and more characteristic looks depending on her mood at the time. She said holidays are a good time to try out all of the over-the-top styles and go all out. “I am all about trying new things, and I love to just be creative with makeup,” Parra said. “I love to just scroll through Instagram and get a whole bunch of ideas and kind of change the styles into something I personally like better and just being creative.” She said experimenting with makeup has helped her figure out what she is better at and what needs more practice, but she is always

open to new looks. “It is really important that you never give up because we all have our good days and bad ones,” Parra said. “Sometimes I get really frustrated, but I just take a break and try again because that’s what being creative is all about.”

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I love to just scroll through Instagram and get a whole bunch of ideas and kind of change the styles into something I personally like better and just being creative.

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BY HANNAH GROGAN

-sophomore Helena Parra Parra said there are so many different products and styles she uses on each face, but it all depends on what type of look she wants to accomplish. She said every look requires different types of brushes or textures. “For a more neutral look, like if I was going to a party, my favorite palette to use is the Jaclyn Hill Vault eyeshadow collection because the colors are perfect and it creates such a pretty look,” Parra said. “When I want to do a more character style look, I like to use more of facepaint type of things that are very colorful.” She said that one of the most essential ways to be talented at makeup comes from practice. She said in the beginning she was inexperienced, but kept trying to get better and it paid off. “Everything you do isn’t going to be perfect; when I first started doing makeup I wasn’t the best but I just kept trying and finally

Photo submitted by helena parra

Eye Spy: Parra utilizes a ring light to bring out the color in her eyeshadow. She said the variety of colors in her design displays her personality in the different looks she creates. She also uses mascara and glitter eyeliner to add length and intensity to her natural eyelashes.

Photos submitted by helena parra

Cosmetic culture: (From top) sophomore Helena Parra showcases her skeleton makeup design on the social media application, Instagram. She said that the other makeup artists who post their talents on this platform inspire her own makeup account. Parra also practices various eye makeup to post on her feed.

got better,” Parra said. “Not giving up is one of the biggest things even though it can get stressful when something doesn’t turn out the way you expected it to.” Parra says that she loves to include color in all of her designs to show some personality in all of the looks she creates. “There are days where I want to go all natural, but I usually use a lot of colors,” Parra said. “Different colors gives so much personality to a look and can make you feel so much better.” She said she is always looking to try new styles and have different types of makeup looks to post on Instagram. “I use my Instagram account as a way to express myself through makeup,” Parra said. “I know that I enjoy scrolling through my feed and finding cool looks, so that is what I try to do for my followers.” Parra said she has had multiple professional makeup artists Direct Message her on Instagram wanting to do a collaboration. “It really makes me feel good knowing that these professionals are looking at my work and finding something good about it,” Parra said. “When they message me I get so excited because it is another opportunity for me to grow.”

Parra said she recently experimented with a Halloween-themed look, and she received an abundance of compliments after posting it on Instagram. “I saw this one look scrolling through Tik Tok and I really wanted to try it,” Parra said. “It was almost like a skeleton look but with a lot of color, and it has to be one of my favorite looks I have ever done.” Parra’s mom, Patricia Velasquez said that she loves her natural looks because she can do her makeup for all kinds of events. She said she loves being able to go out with an impressive makeup look and feel confident. “One of my favorite looks that Helena has done was a natural orange colored look,” Velasquez said. “It’s so cool to know I have someone who is so good at makeup and the combinations of looks she uses.” Velasquez said that she loves being able to have her makeup done when she goes out. “When I go out with my friends, I love to have nice hair and makeup,” Velasquez said. “Having Helena be so good at [doing makeup] makes me feel so much better.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

DECEMBER 2019

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MERRY MUSIC The Circuit staff reviews six holiday-themed albums.

“Under the Mistletoe”

“Christmas”

by Karla Soberon

by jen silverman

“Under the Mistletoe,” the Justin Bieber Christmas album which was released in 2011, takes a unique twist on classic holiday songs, such as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and even features some original songs. The deluxe version of the album includes the song “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey with special vocals from Bieber, which adds to the festivity and energy of the album due to the song’s popularity and upbeat rhythm for the season. The song “Mistletoe” is the lead single from the Christmas album which features an acoustic guitar, sleigh bells ringing in the background and Bieber’s soft vocals. Not only does “Mistletoe” bring a calm and relaxed vibe that reflects the serenity of the holiday season and adds diversity to the album from the upbeat tunes, but it also parallels Bieber’s originality through its lyrical serenade of meeting a girl under the mistletoe. The covers of Christmas classics feature more synthetic tones and a more soulful sound as seen in “The Christmas Song” and “Drummer Boy,” which make the album unique to others as it is more pop and soul-based instead of keeping the classic holiday sound from decades ago. In addition, many songs have guest features on them, including Usher, Busta Rhymes and Boyz II Men, all which bring their own singing style and create variation in each song. Overall, “Under the Mistletoe” is a brilliant concoction of classics and originals that come together to create this unique album for the holiday season.

The album “Christmas” by Michael Bublé was released on Oct. 25, 2011 and was Bublé’s seventh studio album. The album is full of holiday classics sung beautifully by the Canidian-Italian singer. Bublé is vocally talented, and his impressive voice adds an element of relaxation to each song. The album is home to classic seasonal music including “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and “Santa Baby.” While the album circulates around music for Christmas, other tracks are winter related, allowing his album to be appreciated and enjoyed by people from all different cultures and religions. The song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” has a rather upbeat tune which emits positive vibes, uplifting the album from some of the slower songs, such as “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” The majority of the songs on the album are sung by Bublé himself, but three of the tracks include other artists, including The Puppini Sisters, Shania Twain and Thalia. These female artists contribute higher notes and are crafted perfectly to blend with Bublé’s smooth voice. Bublé’s album comes together to create a mix of both slow and upbeat holiday music that is all extremely well done, making it one of the best Christmas albums of all time. While the album was released eight years ago, Bublé’s wonderful voice and composition of music has allowed his album to be a classic that remains iconic to this day.

“This Christmas”

“Holiday for Swing”

online editor-in-chief

ARTS & ENT. EDITOR

BY JULIA WINTON

BY HANNAH SHULBY

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s rendition of classic Christmas songs in their 2012 album “This Christmas” sparks a sense of the holiday spirit and festivity. The album, consisting of 13 cheerful songs, features other well-known artists, such as Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett and James Taylor. Travolta and Newton-John put an interesting twist on many holiday classics, like “Deck the Halls,” “White Christmas” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” The wellknown songs all retain their lyrics; however, the singers’ softer voices change the speed and dynamics of the tunes. Although some of these changes enhance the characteristics of the song, such as in “White Christmas,” some of the contrasts are too different or too similar, to a point where they just sound off key, or tempo. The duo is not meant to sing Christmas songs. This doesn’t mean they cannot sing, as shown in the amazing classic “Grease,” but sometimes it distracts from the meaning behind the songs. In “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” featured artist Streisand takes the spotlight with her powerful vocals, which drowns out Travolta and Newton-John. The pair’s debut song, “I Think You Might Like It,” is a decent tune with an amazing upbeat quality; however, it does not flow with this album as it has nothing to do with the festivity of Christmas and it is a country song. The album possesses its benefits, but it definitely has its disadvantages as well. Although the album does the trick of encouraging holiday spirit, it is not necessarily an amazing holiday album.

The album “Holiday for Swing” by Seth MacFarlane was produced by Republic Records as MacFarlane’s first Christmas album. Many renowned songs from various musicians from the 40s and 50s were rerecorded by MacFarlane for this record. All the songs on the album consisted of winter and Christmasrelated topics, as he wanted to devote this album to the holiday season. Most notably, a majority of the songs were originally sung by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Dean Martin. Classic holiday singles, such as “Let it Snow” and “The Christmas Song,” are featured on this album. With all of the songs being unoriginal, it makes the album less enjoyable than the originals, as they cannot quite compare to the classics. Many songs on the album are essential to the holidays, but are not unique to him. MacFarlane has a soothing tone in his voice, which makes listening to his songs a relaxing experience. Although these songs were previously catchy, his particular tone while singing them makes them less enjoyable, as the originals were executed better. His soft singing voice ultimately worsens the album, causing the songs to be less upbeat. Thus, making them not bring the same exciting sound. It can be difficult to compete with already famous songs, as they may be preferred, which happens to be the case for “Holiday for Swing.” Overall, the album is composed of re-recorded classics, which fall short in comparison to the original songs.

“A Pentatonix Christmas”

“Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama”

managing editor

Editor-in-chief

A&E / OPINION COPY

BY DREW ROACH

To encourage holiday spirits, Grammy awardwinning a cappella group Pentatonix released their second Christmas album titled “A Pentatonix Christmas” in 2017, three years after their first Christmas-themed album “That’s Christmas to Me.” The album contains covers of popular holiday songs, such as “Hallelujah” and “Deck the Halls,” illustrating the exquisite vocals of the singers in the group. Not only does the a cappella group display their own stellar vocals, some tracks feature other well-known artists, such as Jennifer Hudson in “How Great Thou Art” and Manhattan Transfer in “White Christmas.” This sets the album apart from its counterparts as each track depicts a wide range of vocals and impeccable harmonies that may not be heard from other artists or groups. Although this is a Christmas album, the group also made the decision to include songs such as “Coldest Winter” and “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!,” which both work to be inclusive of all holiday celebrations, not just Christmas. This was a brilliant move on their part as these songs allow a greater audience to listen to the group. Not only does Pentatonix work to put their own eccentric spin on classic Christmas songs, the group also released two original songs in the album titled “Good to be Bad” and “The Christmas sing-along.” Including these songs only contributes to the group’s success as their original tracks display their song-writing talents. Overall, Pentatonix’s second Christmas album encourages an upbeat and positive holiday season for its listeners.

news / a&e photo editor

by jenna friedman

“Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama,” a collaborative mixtape by rapper Chance the Rapper and singer Jeremih released in December 2016, provides a refreshing and unique take on holiday music. The combination of smooth vocals by Jeremih and incredible verses by Chance the Rapper is successful in joining two extremely different music styles: rap and holiday music. Songs, such as “Snowed In” and “Joy,” use slower rhythms, which allows the talent of the two artists to shine; the more relaxing tempos provide a perfectly balanced contrast to the faster-paced tracks on the mixtape. “All the Way,” an energetic tune that incorporates an upbeat background track with notes of holiday bells, truly provides an exciting take on Christmas music. However, the repetitive manner of the tune and lyrics in this song can become irritating after the first minute. Despite this slight redundancy in the mixtape’s opening track, the lyrics of the nine tracks are both festive and meaningful, demonstrating the artist’s own traditions, experiences and feelings towards the holidays. “Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama” is only available on the streaming platform SoundCloud, making it the only work by Chance the Rapper that is not available on all platforms; this exclusiveness limits listening, despite the mixtape being completely free on SoundCloud. Overall, the mixture of Jeremih’s incredible, relaxing voice and the originality of Chance the Rapper’s lyrics and style on “Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama” combine to create a unique and festive holiday mixtape.

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December 2019

Disney’s “Frozen” sequel exceeds original film “Frozen II” BY Isabella grogan

FEATURES / SPORTS photo editor

“Frozen 2,” the highlyanticipated sequel to the movie “Frozen,” was released on Nov. 22. It consists of the same main characters: Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff voiced by Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad and Jonathan Groff, respectively. The movie is about Elsa and Anna protecting their village from different problems, such as ice potentially hurting the people of the village. This is misleading from the trailer because the trailer makes it seem like the film will be about their journey to find their parents, but this is not the case. The animation of this movie is much better than the first; the colors are more vibrant as it incorporates a fall theme, and there is more definition to the characters because the animation is advanced. The dialogue is equally as comical compared to the first movie. Olaf is the funniest character because of his entertaining reactions to the movie’s

events, such as him getting excited about their journey. The relationships between the characters, such as Elsa and Anna, are fun to watch because they have a meaningful and loving relationship. Seeing these different relationships form gives a sentimental feel to the movie. Originally, there was not supposed to be a “Frozen 2” because they made a short film sequel to the movie. However, due to high demand, the creators of “Frozen” decided to create a sequel, which makes the movie better because it was not anticipated. This enhances the original film and adds to the incredible story. The movie does a great job at adding diversity to the characters, as they incorporated black characters. This shows that the makers of the movie do not discriminate, and it showcases more ethnicities to viewers. It is extremely common for children to become accustomed to only seeing white characters in children’s films, which is a problem, so adding diverse characters in “Frozen 2” is definitely a step in the right direction for Disney films. A new addition to the storyline of the “Frozen” series is that Anna and Elsa are starting to build a loving

PHOTO Courtesy of google images

relationship. This was nice to watch because in the first “Frozen” movie, Anna and Elsa did not get along until the end. Their relationship is a great one to watch because they have different personalities. In the movie, Anna deals with finding her place in the world, which can be a heavy plot for children to watch, but the writers of the movie portray it in a way that is light and meaningful. The movie does contain information about death because Anna and Elsa’s parents died, but it is not too dark for a younger audience, as it does not show them dying. “Frozen 2” is a good movie for little kids to watch because it is not too scary or harsh, so it is fitting for the film.

The soundtrack of this movie is significantly better than the first. The songs are less child like, and they are typical animated movie songs. One of the most incredible songs is “Show Yourself” because it contributes a powerful moment and feeling to the film and is sung beautifully by Menzel. Overall, “Frozen 2” is better than “Frozen” because it is more interesting and humorous. The way the second movie is produced in regards to special effects is also more advanced than the first movie because the animation and colors are more interesting. Frozen 2 is a great movie all around.

The circuit recommends An ongoing feature that includes lesser known songs by popular artists and songs from up and coming artists. This month’s playlist was compiled by A&E section editor Hannah Lassner.

“Easy (remix)”

“Body Back”

The remixed version of “Easy” consists of smooth, low tempo beats that tell a story about a couple falling in love. Featuring the R&B and hip-hop artist Chris Brown, DaniLeigh’s track creates a relaxing vibe. Brown’s distinct voice adds to the loose rhythm throughout the three minutes.

An infectious and addicting song that features pop artist Maia Wright, “Body Back” is the perfect track for dancing with a contagious chorus and bubbly lyrics. DJ and producer Gryffin creates upbeat tones throughout the track to make it the ideal pop song.

DaniLeigh [feat. Chris Brown] R&B

Gryffin [feat. Maia Wright] Pop

“Really Truly”

No Vacation & Okey Dokey Indie

The light beat and sweet vocals make “Really Truly” a pleasant and relaxing song. With refreshing lyrics and enchanting beats, No Vacation and Okay Dokey sync their talents to share new and innovative music with this track.

“W”

“RITMO (Bad Boys for Life)”

“In the Middle”

The relatively new Hip-Hop artist, Koffee, releases a track with a unique tempo including relaxed beats, differing from any other song in which Gunna has ever been a feature. Both artists have a distinct voice, which combines to create the perfect collaboration within the lyrics and tone of “W.”

Pop group The Black Eyed Peas has a surprising collaboration with Latin rap artist J Balvin to create an unexpected, upbeat and captivating Latin track. All artists bring a unique and authentic tone in each verse of the song.

“In the Middle” encompasses the perfect dance track with the various beats full of energy and electronic rhythms. The track contains a continuously good vibe, with catchy lyrics and an infectious mood.

Koffee [feat. Gunna] Hip-Hop

The Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin Urbano Latino

Alesso & SUMR CAMP R&B

OPINION

DECEMBER 2019

THE CIRCUIT

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Year-round schooling creates obstacles As a student in the U.S., it is legally required to attend school. School provides students with a well-rounded education, giving them the building blocks necessary to perform essential life skills such as getting a job. This explains why a student’s education is such a significant factor in his/her life. The issue of whether or not year-round education is beneficial or harmful to this important learning process is widely debated across the nation. Year-round schooling involves periodical short breaks throughout the year rather than fewer breaks that are longer. One major disadvantage of the year-round education program is that it causes confusion and is less effective than the typical schooling method known in the U.S.. After learning certain curriculum for a period of nine weeks, students receive an extensive break from school for up to a month at a time. This disruption hinders the students’ abilities to retain the previous information they learned from before the break; therefore, everything learned prior to the break must be retaught. This could potentially throw off the teacher’s scheduled plans for the school year; therefore, it takes away from the time students can be learning newer, more complex information. Another drawback to this system is that it results in a lack of family time as parents may find it more difficult to schedule vacations. Spending quality time with family is significant to a child’s development and this inability puts a limit on the time a family has to relax together. In addition, not many schools participate in year-round schooling, so it would be extremely difficult to plan events with extended family considering the abundance of random breaks year-round schooling entails.

graphic by Julia Winton

Due to the year long schedule of this schooling program, a student’s extracurriculars can be thrown off course as well. According to the National Education Association, it may be difficult for groups to schedule practices and games since all schools in a district need to work out dates together and accommodate everyone’s schedules. An additional issue of the year-round schooling system is that a teenager could miss out on the chance to experience life changing

events such as summer camp because they have school during this period. Another disadvantage of year-round schooling on teenagers’ lives is that they cannot be hired for a job. With having sporadic breaks in between receiving an education, these students would have difficulty finding a job and even if they did, they would barely have enough time to work part-time for their month-long summer vacation. This would then leave no time for family activities or other diversions.

Furthermore, without a job, students cannot help to financially support their families or contribute to their college tuition. According to the California Department of Education, schools with year-round education programs tend to have more financial troubles. In general, bills will increase in cost due to the prolonged time everything will be needed during the school year, especially maintenance and staffing because facilities and transportation will be used year-round in schools. As a result of these higher costs, teachers and staff at schools that participate in year-round education are also negatively impacted because they might have a lower annual salary. Therefore, this schooling method would be making it harder to hire high-quality teachers. Although there are many disadvantages to year-round schooling, there is the benefit that frequent breaks between learning periods puts less stress on both the teacher and student. This method of schooling gives students breaks, leading to more opportunities to relax and destress. In addition, teachers receive more time to plan their lessons, grade assignments and create helpful, educational activities. Therefore, year-round schooling reduces the amount of stress present in teacher and students. The downsides of year-round schooling not only affect students and their personal lives, but also teachers and staff as well. Although year-round schooling systems may be growing in popularity across the U.S., they still come with major disadvantages that make them less effective for their main purpose: providing students with an education.

FLASH OF BRILLIANCE

YES As children grow up, they learn that the decisions they make have consequences and choosing who to sit with is part of that. If they choose to stay with their friends, waste time and get distracted, they will end up having a grade that reflects their decisions and have a chance to learn from it. When teachers assign the seats, they are taking this opportunity away and showing students that their choices are not important. This can lead to students feeling as if they do not have a choice in anything, leading to a negative relationship between them and the teacher, which is not beneficial for their academic development. Some students are more receptive to a lecture when they are relaxed and surrounded by peers they are comfortable and have a relationship with. Assigning seats could negatively impact their grades, especially those who are introverted or going through difficult personal situations, as they feel uncomfortable asking unfamiliar people for help. Forcing students to come out of their comfort zone could result in them feeling unsafe and put them in a poor social-emotional state. Friendships between teenagers grow and develop naturally and will surely not blossom if an adult tries to force them. Giving students a choice to value and recognize, such as choosing their seat, will be the key for them to become more independent and mature, creating a comfortable environment where they have a real sense of belonging. These skills will stay with each student and help them in the process of becoming adults. -Ana Boix

Should students be able to choose their own seating?

graphic by sandra talledo

NO An abundance of students during school have demonstrated that when given the opportunity to choose their classroom seat, they end up sitting next to their friends. This can ultimately be distracting to other students as many end up talking and creating chaos during class time. Students need the entirety of a class period to complete any assignments or pay attention to a lesson or lecture. Assigning individual or group seats can give students the ability to meet and interact with other students who can contribute to their education. By meeting new people, students can learn from each other as everyone has a chance to contribute new ideas for any class work or group assignment. In addition, if students did not have assigned seats, they would most likely sit with the same people they always sit with, which hinders the ability to grow in their work. An issue that occurs when teachers let students freely pick their seats is they end up dividing by gender, race, ethnicity or academic readiness; by assigning seats and groups, teachers can start to break these boundaries. This action could also lead to building a classroom setting which allows students to prepare and work during class efficiently. For example, some teachers organize their classroom alphabetically which allows them to collect papers and tests faster and take attendance more efficiently. At the beginning of the year, there are always new students to the school, and if there is assigned seating they can feel comfortable enough to start new conversations. -Francisca Giuliani

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OPINION

DECEMBER 2019

Readers unjustly restricted from appreciating writing “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” “The Great Gatsby,” “Harry Potter” and “Looking for Alaska” all have one similarity: at one point or another, someone has attempted to get each banned from classrooms or libraries. The most common reasons for banning a book are for sexually explicit content, offensive language, unsuited to any age group and unpopular religious views. No writing should ever be banned because books offer students and teachers alike the chance to gain a better understanding of the world around them and view their surroundings through different perspectives.

Bottom Line: Regardless of topic, books should not be banned because their content encourages new perspectives Many of the commonly disputed books help students get a better idea of how they fit into their environment or culture. The most commonly challenged books in Florida are “The Catcher in the Rye,” “The Color Purple,” “Beloved,” “1984” and “Of Mice and Men.” Each of these novels is considered widely important in educating individuals about American literature and history. They also provide different points of view on certain aspects of history, something extremely important in gaining an understanding of how various events affected different people. Forty-six of the Radcliffe Publishing Group’s

“Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century” are regularly challenged; forbidding them would deny students of crucial cultural and historical knowledge, as well as differing points of view. Books give everyone the opportunity to gain an understanding of different life experiences and encourage compassion. They are a portal to another world, one that helps make one less selfish and gives access to realms once thought unknowable. According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, “reading J.K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ series, which is frequently challenged for religious concerns about witchcraft, improved attitudes about immigrants, homosexuals and refugees.” Neil Gaiman, author of the frequently challenged novel “Neverwhere,” said that in fiction, “you’re being someone else, and when you return to your own world, you’re going to be slightly changed.” If someone lives in a bubble similar to Weston, then one of the few chances they have to learn about how other people live is by reading. Books offer a glimpse into how different people view the world and sadly most of those books are the ones that are banned. No one knows what to believe in the time of social media, but books such as “The Hate U Give” are significant because people become more compassionate after reading it. If these books are banned, people have no honest insight into other people’s struggles. Novels are raw and powerful, taking them away will hurt people, especially impressionable children, since they will not be exposed to the world in which they live. Many of the banned novels deal with realistic, timely and modern subjects, which

graphic by sandra talledo

most students enjoy since they can find relevance in them. For several people, finding a character they can relate to or going through a similar experience makes it a more powerful reading adventure and encourages students to read more. Novels can help readers sort out taboo issues such as grief, divorce, bullying and prejudice. “The Outsiders” has been banned in many places; however, many middle schoolers cite it as relevant since it deals with issues they face, like trying to find their social clique, which inspires them to become avid readers. Reading banned books allows for

conversations to begin about issues facing many people today. “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,” tells the story of an African American family facing racism in 1930s Mississippi, yet it has been banned for its use of racial slurs. How is the novel expected to get its message across if it is being challenged for reflecting what real people face every day? These doses of reality do not hurt anyone, they open up people’s minds and give them something with which to identify. Novels have the power to change the world. We should embrace books, not ban them, for being unique and provocative.

Letters to the Editor Teachers should allocate more time to prepare students for midterm examinations Midterms are coming up and it is a very stressful time of year. Teachers are still covering a large amount of material and these tests are right around the corner. Midterms are a huge part of a student’s overall grade in a class which is why they are so important. Teachers should dedicate more time before these tests to help students prepare and guarantee a high score. In most classes only one to two class periods are spent reviewing for these exams. This has such a large impact on a students grade and students want to succeed. Before midterms teachers should spend less time covering new information and focus on reviewing information that students will be expected to recall on their midterm. -Veronica Manrique, sophomore

SAT and ACT proctors at the Bay need to be more cautious to prevent further cheating Being a senior now, I have taken both the SAT and ACT multiple times and every time it seemed like the proctors were not actually checking to see if people were cheating. This upsets me a lot because I work extremely hard to study for these tests and knowing that people who did not work for it can easily cheat is really frustrating. I think this could be fixed if the adults watching over us took more time during the test to walk around and make sure testers are keeping their eyes on their own paper. This is really important because people taking the test already have ample opportunity to gain unfair advantages for the test such as getting better

tutors that are expensive or having excessive accommodations. If anything, my test score should not define me when I am applying to colleges. -Lauren Maykut, senior

I think the security guards should be on the lookout for these cars more to prevent more accidents occuring in the student parking lot. -Samantha DeLuca, senior

A longer lunch period would be more sufficient and realistic for students at the Bay

More exits should be provided after school to prevent collisions and increase efficiency, safety

Lunches should be longer for students. Thirty minutes is far too short of an amount of time to be able to eat lunch and socialize, especially if you have to study during lunch or finish a homework assignment, it is not enough time. Lunch should be 45 minutes. That is enough time for lunch and it is a small enough increase that it would not affect the rest of the school day too much. In previous years, the Bay had lunches which were an hour long so I think making them 45 minutes would be a sufficient compromise. -Davie Zhong, junior

Students are apprehended daily for jumping the fence to rush out of school, which the Bays administration cite is a “safety concern.” However, the problem of traffic after school, and resulting collisions, is a very real problem for student drivers. Continuing to ignore this problem will only lead to increased traffic, and further students attempting to circumvent it. The best way to alleviate both issues is to allow access to additional exits around campus, that are normally locked, after school. This will create an overall faster and safer way for students to get home after school everyday. -Isabella Buitano, sophomore

Parents need to refrain from picking their kids up in the student parking lot as it creates potential hazards.

As a class officer I had the opportunity to park in the very first row of the parking lot. However, it is an awful task to leave the student lot after school with all the parents. Parents should not have access to the student parking lot as it causes more traffic than there needs to be. It is stressful as a student to weave through the parked cars in front of me and I believe that if someone does not have a parking pass, they should not have access into it. It is unfair that the cars in the first row have to avoid getting hit by parents that do not want to wait like the rest of them in the designated parent pickup line. I have almost gotten into an accident many times because I am so close to where the parents line up which creates a lot of stress.

Introducing more career-focused courses at the Bay will allow students to get a head start on college More specific classes should be offered at our school. Some classes do not allow you to explore other types of vocations and jobs that somebody may want to pursue in the future. I think that adding classes that support people interested in specific jobs would add a lot to the way students learn at school. It would also allow students to possibly get a head start on their career path if they can begin taking AICE or AP classes geared toward that subject. -Mateo Valencia, junior

Teachers should implement ways to prevent grades from relying on one assessment Grades in classes should not be determined by a single assessment or test grade. I have found that the classes where one test grade can decide your overall grade are hard to rebound from when getting a low test score. Teachers should focus on other assignments and smaller assessments than one large test. This is only fair because someone can easily have one bad day when they take a test and suffer for it. This is discouraging because most of the time, teachers do not give students the opportunity to improve their test scores so they end up getting a bad grade for the quarter or semester. In the future, there should be a policy implemented to prevent one test from determining an entire grade. -Sebastian Gutierrez, sophomore

Letters to the editor are encouraged as part of The Circuit’s mission as a public forum. Submissions should not exceed 300 words; they should be dropped off in Room 360 or mailed to the school to the attention of adviser Eileen Manella. The author will have the final say in phrasing of the letter, but letters are subject to editing for length, clarity, punctuation and grammar. Anonymous letters will not be printed and the writer’s identity will be confirmed prior to the publication. Any material deemed libelous, obscene, disruptive or unlawful to minors will not be published.

OPINION

DECEMBER 2019

THE CIRCUIT

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Unfair examination accommodations becoming increasingly obtainable

Modern businesses take advantage of widening social media audience

As seniors begin to apply for college each year, applicants find the requirements to get in, are becoming increasingly difficult. The increase in difficulty has been fairly common among all schools: the required SAT/ACT score wanted to receive admission. As more and more students take courses, such as AP and AICE with a variety of teachers, colleges believe these standardized tests serve as a level playing field for all applicants and, therefore, are vital in the decision process. However, in recent years it has become extremely easy to receive accommodations for these tests, resulting in unfair advantages. The SAT and ACT both serve as a measurement for college readiness. If this is the case, students should not be receiving extra

In this generation, technology has significantly improved, meaning social media applications have as well. Social networking like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter initially drew users in based off of their interests; connecting with others via blogs or direct messaging was a part of this aspect as well. As platforms rose in popularity, marketers have used this accessible tool to advertise their business in multiple different ways. Social platforms evolved into sources used to connect with others, and to stay up to date on current events. The various applications do not have an age range - they cater to every generation. However, now the corporation’s largest goal is to fill up consumers’ spare time. As applications have evolved, younger audiences have used multiple mediums to be “discovered.” This means a user has an increasing amount of followers or likes, and companies started to use these “influencers” to promote their brands. It is almost as if they are taking the idea of celebrity endorsements but working to target the teenage audience. A social media influencer could have a YouTube channel, a model company, an interesting feed on Instagram or have many views on Tik Tok, a popular social media app used to post minute-long video. These “influencers” really could be anyone, not just celebrities. Companies pay them to post pictures or videos using the company’s products, which are shown to millions of people. This type of marketing tool is inexpensive and reaches a wide range of viewers based on what type of influencers they follow. Companies also utilize social media to place advertisements on users’ feeds at a low cost. If a business has any form of social media, for example, an Instagram account, there are free advertisement options and the account is free. Smart phones use the social media user’s personal data to help companies publish their ads. By publishing them on feeds of those who have researched the product, service or

website before, the company’s demographic widens and allows them to reach more potential customers than a normal TV or radio ad. This is convenient for consumers since the advertisement appears randomly as they are scrolling down their feed and they have easy access to items that attract them. Customer service on applications is also more effective. For instance, Twitter users frequently tweet their complaints or suggestions about a company’s product or service. If the establishment has an account, they can reply, quote or direct message the user in which the complaint was coming from in a matter of minutes. A company’s response time to customers will be faster and more meaningful versus the alternative of a customer voicing a complaint through an automated response on a phone, an email or mailing a letter. Overall, this social media app could aid both the customer and multiple businesses.

advantage of that, but there should come a point in which revolving this season of cheer with spending obnoxious amounts of money is too much. Additionally, it is setting a selfish example for kids that went from wanting simple presents to now expecting the grand, expensive gifts, since now all parents do is shop during this season. Although it is okay for kids to receive large gifts, if parents are willing to spend the money, they should be taught to appreciate what they have and give a little back to the community, since that is what the season is really about. It is rather ridiculous that receiving presents has become the main focus of the holidays. What happened to the times where the importance was placed on buying gifts for the underprivileged and donating to charities? It is important to keep giving back to those that do not have much, but it seems as if all people care about now is the 50 percent off sale at Tory Burch or the BOGO sale for Nike shoes, and this is not what the holiday season really means. The clothing industry is taking advantage of the gullibility of the human mind, as we are easily manipulated and convinced to buy items if we see them for a relatively cheaper price. It is ruining the meaning of this special

time to celebrate each other and welcome in the new year. Nobody needs the newest style of Golden Goose shoes, nobody needs the latest iPhone, what people really need is to open their eyes and realize there is more to life than receiving gifts. It is said that good karma comes to those that give back and at least try to help, but nobody can truly celebrate the holiday season if there is nothing else but shopping happening nowadays, especially with the future generations that may never get to experience what giving back really is. Especially in an area like Weston, people should be humble and grateful for the place in which we live, since there are people that have it much worse and struggle to have half the necessities that we already have. It is okay to receive gifts and give them since it is the holiday season, but it is not okay to completely revolve all the weeks leading up to Christmas and Hanukkah around an expensive Cartier bracelet or Valentino flip flops since none of those materialistic items are as valuable as the gift of helping out another person and making an impact on the world. As a community, people should be more focused on getting the world back to a place where people strive to make a difference.

Bottom Line: Students are beginning to take advantage of special accommodations for standardized testing, and this diminishes the fairness of the examinations and restricts them from being prepared for the future time or be able to take the test in parts because they will not experience this treatment in college. In fact, the ACT’s main challenge is the time limit as the questions on it are fairly simple. If a tester is given extra time for this test, the whole purpose of it is compromised. Although colleges can see a student received extra time and then decide how to interpret the score, none will completely disregard a student who performed extremely well on the test. Furthermore, many students who take extra time do not always get this opportunity in school and still manage to get exemplary grades. If a student has a decent GPA, they should not be allowed to have extra time on

the SAT or ACT, as it is just another test. If one does well in school, clearly they have the capability to do well on the standardized test without receiving help, especially if they are already on medication for a learning disability, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Some parents do whatever it takes to get their child into college. If they happen to have a connection with a psychologist or doctor, the professional can simply fill out a form or write a note, claiming the child requires extra time for a learning disability or attention deficit disorder when they actually do not. This also creates an issue as some families have more money than others who can buy prestigious tutors of which others do not have access. In this modern culture, students already have ample opportunities to cheat on these tests and bribe scorers, as seen with the case of celebrities Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin in paying to get their children fake SAT scores. As these issues are hard to control, there should not be another chance for students to cheat their way into their dream score if they hardly put any work into it. Of course there are always going to be special cases in this nature, but the process to have extra time on these tests should be stricter and less open. Not only do these accommodations give students who do not need them an unfair advantage, but they also have a negative impact on many others who take the test. Some students can study a little bit and do quite well, but others might study hours on end every day, go to tutoring and complete practice questions on Khan Academy, a website that aids students with practice questions, and still not get the score they want. This is discouraging if they know someone has extra time when they should not. If this trend continues, colleges should either not look at students’ scores in such an intense light, or ensure these standardized tests actually do create a level playing field like they claim they do.

Holiday season losing sentimental value to promote materialistic ideals

With the holidays finally coming into season, along with it comes the gift-giving aspect of it all. While the season is portrayed as a time to spend with family, friends and give back to the community, the reality is, it has become an increasingly selfish time that revolves around presents and receiving rather than the actual meaning behind the holidays: appreciating one’s surrounding environment. Black Friday is the day that kicks off this season of greed by turning Thanksgiving, a

day meant for family and being thankful, into a race for who can find the most items at the cheapest price. Not only does it stray from the true meaning of Thanksgiving, but nowadays, it also starts on the same day, cutting family dinners short just to go shopping. After this dreaded day comes the rest of December which is full of sales, Buy-One-Get-One (BOGO) deals and limited-time prices. It is understandable that items get discounts during this season and people want to take

Bottom Line: Businesses in the modern age benefit greatly from the constantly evolving use of strategic advertisements on social media, and this tactic is becoming extremely popular Social media marketing continues to evolve simultaneously to their platforms. As users stay active, they will continue to be engaged with a specific app over time; these types of audiences are the perfect target for all businesses to utilize. The companies connect with their customers more than ever because of these means of communication. This generation has increased the use of this effective marketing tool, and it will continue to grow in generations to come.

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OPINION

DECEMBER 2019

Dual-citizenship develops family bond

Features editor Colin Crawford becomes a citizen of Guyana after waiting for several months.

My mother moved to the U.S. in 1982 from the South American country of Guyana. She renounced her citizenship in 1988 in order to be naturalized. When my mother told me her immigration story for the first time, it surprised me. I always knew my mom’s side of the family was from Guyana, but it never occurred to me that she was at one point a citizen of a completely different country, or that one day I too would be able to call myself a citizen of Guyana. Becoming a Guyanese citizen was not a goal of mine or my family’s until my sister tried out for Guyana’s U15 National Team, a national youth soccer team for Guyana, the Lady Jaguars. In order to play, she needed a Guyanese passport, meaning she had to become a citizen. My parents decided to get me a passport as well, in case of emergencies. My Guyanese heritage has always been a prominent force in my life, but now I am legally a citizen of Guyana. I was immersed in the culture essentially from birth as my great-grandmother came to Evanston, Illinois to take care of me and initiated me into a rich and diverse childhood. I do not think this passport or new birth certificate has really changed my life in a profound way. It is not like I am a different person. I am still who I was before, only now I have a kind of second identity. This new citizenship does make me feel like I am more connected to Guyana than my purely American relatives. It is nice to have something tangible, or concrete, t h a t cements m y identity as a Guyanese person. G r ow i ng up in affluent Weston, one can become confused and closed off from the rest of the world. When I was little, I hated my curly hair because it made me different. There was only one other person with curly hair in my entire kindergarten class. I kept my hair short and used gel to plaster it to my head, synthetically straightening it to make myself look more like my classmates. Assimilation was my goal in life during elementary school, but it was not until middle school I realized it was okay to be proud of who I am. In Guyana there are six peoples or ethnic groups: the Indo-Guyanese, the AfroGuyanese, the European, the Portuguese, the Amerindian and the Chinese. Since there is so much diversity, not only within Guyana but also myself, being African American and European from my father and Indian from my mother’s heritage, being Guyanese has helped me accept who I am and be more accepting

of others. My grandmother says in Guyana everyone knows how to make everything, meaning regardless of race or ethnicity, everyone is part of the same culture. For example, my family is not Chinese, but because of our heritage we still make fried rice and chow mein. I am trying to embrace the culinary aspect of being Guyanese by learning how to make traditional dishes, like curry and roti, cookup rice and dahl. My world is constantly influenced by my heritage and not just through food but music as well. Every family event we play songs that fall into the genre of Caribbean Soca, a more modern version of calypso music. Swaying to the beat of the music, shaking my hips and feeling the rhythm has always been a part of me, but the feeling I have of joy and happiness is more permanent now. That energy, that quick beat of Soca music, means a little bit more to me now than it did before. Becoming a citizen of Guyana is not without its benefits. Besides cultural enrichment, I can also enjoy new traveling opportunities as well. It is easier to travel to Guyana on a Guyanese passport because I do not have to go through an intense security screening, it would be like I am returning from abroad. There is a large Guyanese community here in South Florida, mostly because it is so close to the country. Growing up down here surrounded by other people like me and surrounded by family made me feel at home. Even though I have become a citizen of Guyana I do not think of Guyana as my home. To me, it is the home of my family and my ancestors. The hardest part of becoming a citizen was waiting. The entire process took several months, and I only just recently received my Guyanese birth certificate. My mother’s birth certificate had to be verified before my sister and I could attain a passport, which was a long process because we had to find documents that have not seen the light of day in years. After the Guyanese embassy here in South Florida was able to verify my mother’s previous citizenship, the requests for the passports were sent in, which also took some time to be delivered. It was a little nerve wracking, knowing special identification documents were en route to my house, but I tried not to be too anxious even though I always checked the mailbox whenever I got home. Finally, a Manila envelope bearing my

photos submitted by colin crawford

take two: (From top) junior Colin Crawford and his grandmother admire the updated birth certificate that he received in the mail, verifying his status as a dual-citizen of Guyana. He said even though he was not officially a citizen of Guyana before this moment, he feels it was always a part of his identity, as he grew up surrounded by the culture. Crawford wears a shirt that displays Guyana and signifies his admiration for the country that he said holds a special place in his heart.

name was placed neatly in my mailbox when I arrived home from school. I remember racing into the house tearing off the top of the envelope and gasping when I saw my birth certificate. It was filled out in cursive handwriting and to me it was truly beautiful. When I was holding that birth certificate I realized it was real. The fact that it was actually happening was incredible to me. It took me a moment to process everything I was seeing

on paper. I sat at the kitchen table staring at a piece of paper that was so much more than that, it was me. My life is extremely privileged, and I am so grateful for all that I have, but I am most thankful for my family. They provided me with my identity and educated me in the culture of Guyana through food, music and dancing. Long before I ever obtained this new citizenship, I think I felt Guyanese already.

OPINION

DECEMBER 2019

THE CIRCUIT

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Artistic Disney experience creates magical moment

I have been dancing since the age of three, and since then I have been apart of some extremely rare experiences. Recently, I received a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at Disney World. My dance studio, Meg Segreto’s Dance Centre, organized the trip by selecting kids from ages seven to 18 to attend and perform some of their favorite pieces. This was done as a way for us to have a really exciting time and to show off our incredible dance skills. When we first arrived in Orlando on Nov. 15 we had some time to relax before our first scheduled event, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue. This is a family-friendly musical show with a Southern dinner at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Although the joyful music and delicious delicacies made the entire experience extremely enjoyable, the fact that it was my sixteenth birthday made it even more special. My friends were able to convince the performers to come to our table to sing happy birthday to me. The next day was our performance at Disney Springs. This performance was comprised of a few of our best pieces of choreography from our annual Winter Holiday Show. We had a great deal of time to get ready for our showcase in the morning. This consisted of putting our hair into nice, neat, flat buns, doing our stage makeup and putting on our beautiful costumes. After we were all performance ready, we had a brief break to take some pictures and mentally review the last minute

changes in some of our dances. A bus then transported all of us to the stage at Disney Springs. Disney has extremely specific rules, so we had to walk in a straight line of pairs from the bus to the stage. As we walked people began to draw their attention toward us, as we were all in Christmas-themed costumes. This gave off a sense of professionalism; therefore, it made people want to stop what they were doing to come sit down and watch our show. Disney Springs is a place for people to walk around and shop with friends and family, so I did not expect a huge crowd of people to go out of their way to watch us dance. However, I was completely wrong. There was an abundance of audience members sitting down and standing up because there were not enough seats available. This was heartwarming because it proved to me that I not only get to do something I love, but I also get to entertain others. I was in three dances in the show. The first dance was the opening act, a tap dance to a song entitled “T’was The Night Before Christmas.” This was then followed by a kickline dance called “Man With The Bag.” It was then time for the grand finale, also a kickline, which was a mashup of a variety of holiday songs, such as “White Christmas” and “Marshmallow World.” After the showcase, people were in awe and asking if we were the Rockettes because we do some excellent precision dances wearing Rockette-like costumes. This was definitely my favorite part of the trip because there is nothing I enjoy

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photos submitted by julia winton

where dreams come true: (From top) sophomore Julia Winton performs with her dance studio, Meg Segreto’s Dance Centre, at Disney Springs on Nov. 16 with her dance team. Winton participated in three of the pieces during the show, which consisted of songs such as “T’was the Night Before Christmas,” “Marshmallow World” and “White Christmas.” Winton and her company prepare for the dance performance by taking a photo together before going on stage.

more than getting to do my favorite activity, dancing, with my best friends in Disney. Later that day, we went to Disney’s EPCOT resort as a reward for our amazing performance. We went during the food and wine festival, so in addition to going on rides, we also tried a bunch of different cuisines from all over the world. The only struggle we faced at the park was it was 53 degrees, so it was freezing as we were walking around. The next and last day of our trip we

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attended a dance workshop where we learned villain dances from two popular Disney movies, “Hocus Pocus” and “The Lion King.” This was a really cool event because we got to experience what it is like to go to a Disney casting audition, and we learned general tips about what is expected of us at any audition. Overall, I had an amazing time doing what I love most in the happiest place on Earth, and I am really glad I got to have this unique experience.

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44 THE CIRCUIT

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DECEMBER 2019