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the appreciation issue
Cypress Bay High School • 18600 Vista Park Blvd., Weston, Florida 33332 • Vol 19, Issue 4 • Feb. 2020
GRATITUDE
FOR GUARDS BY AGAVNI MEHRABI
Week after week, the Bay’s staff of 15 security monitors secure the campus continuously from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to ensure the safety of students and staff. Whether it be checking IDs at the main gates or assisting substitute teachers by unlocking classroom doors, Hall Monitor Adela Faxas said this mission is carried out in countless ways. “We are here to help the school community out no matter what because we care,” Faxas said. “After all, comfort and security are essential for students seeking to successfully receive a quality education.” Senior Michelle Duque said she has seen this central purpose applied extensively throughout her years as a student, including the securing of the hallways in between classes. Duque said this, combined with ID checks, makes it possible to verify everyone is where they should be on campus. “The security monitors are always stationed in several locations to confront you when you aren’t where you should be,” Duque said. “That allows students like
job description. “Since my role is detecting issues, there are countless times when I find myself emotionally comforting students and redirecting them to the proper counselors,” Faxas said. “I have also helped teachers out with things as small as supervising their classes during bathroom breaks.” Similar to Faxas, Campus Monitor Maria Smith said the job is more than simply implementing district policies. She said her job is important to her because of the greater sentimental value it holds. “I see the staff and students as my family,” Smith said. “I take care of them the way I want somebody to take care of my grandchildren and nephews, so I put my best foot forward every day.” Sophomore Bryce Lin said he finds the security force especially necessary due to the sheer size of the school. “Securing a campus like this one is definitely not the same thing as securing a one-classroom school, since there should be a ratio between school size and security members,” Lin said. “I’m just grateful we have a determined, caring crew willing to put their life on the line for us all the time.” After being on the security team for four years, Faxas said her favorite part is being able to help others. She said her job is similar to previous ones as a social worker and a teacher. “The best part of this job is the way I am able to be relevant and constantly in touch with the next generation,” Faxas said. “At the end of the week, I have actually helped people and can go home feeling genuinely fulfilled.”
m e to have soundness of mind in our everyday lives.” Faxas said her daily work day as a security monitor consists of numerous other responsibilities such as directing paramedics to sick students, overseeing code red drills, helping teachers find students and unlocking rooms. Besides this, she said her duties often transcend her basic
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FEATURES SPORTS Students express appreciation for teacher impact.
Athletes attribute professional and personal influences.
Similar to Faxas, Smith said collaboration between security and students is a vital method of evading possible threats ahead of time. As the adviser of the Student Crime Watch club, she said she has found another way to promote stronger cooperation. “It is very important for students and security to talk to each other often, since students can be the eyes and ears we don’t have,” Smith said. “There are so many problems that can be prevented with the help of proper communication.” On the same note, Lin said he finds a strong student-security relationship crucial for detecting danger. He said a better understanding of daily student behavior through socialization would provide a comparison for when abnormal behavior emerges. “If students and security get to know each other on a deeper more personal level, it will be easier to see when individuals are acting differently from the status quo,” Lin said. “Since a student’s mental health is very important, it is good to have this as a way to detect harmful developments like suicidal behavior.” Duque said she believes security monitors should be outwardly appreciated for the service they provide to the community. She said approaches to this could include smiling, nodding, making eye contact and even saying “thank you”, while entering through the gates in the morning. “Some may take them for granted, but it is easier said than done to be a security monitor,” Duque said. “They wouldn’t be taking on the challenge if they didn’t care, so even the smallest acts of gratitude in return can make a difference.” Smith said she has received plenty of appreciation over the 12 years she has worked at
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the Bay. She said a group of students approached her post one morning, while she was greeting students, to bring her flowers, reminding her of why she does her job. “I thought they were looking for someone else, but they said they were looking for me,” Smith said. “They wanted to thank me for all I do and it made me cry.” Faxas said there have been many changes made to security procedures after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Among these are the locking of doors, incorporation of extra hall pass rules, enforcement of wearing IDs and introduction of a single point of entry. “An incident like that changes everybody,” Faxas said. “It makes me a little sad to think how things are now compared to when I was in school, but we adjust to different situations in order to survive.” Duque said she thinks fondly from time to time of school life before the Stoneman Douglas shooting. She said a main difference is the impact the single point entry has on lunchtime habits. “It felt roomier having the bus loop area to eat our lunch in and SGA used to distribute blanket-filled baskets for picnics in the grass,” Duque said. Smith said students should know they can always come to the Bay’s security team for help. She said assistance can come in situations such as bullying, drugs, or accidents. “Students should know we are only here to help them, so it is okay to talk to us,” Smith said. “So many scenarios can be prevented if they are only aware and put safety first, so we can go home another day.”
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Artists highlight interest in creativity and painting.
OPINION Smaller class size promotes higher learning.
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FEBRUARY 2020
lights, camera, action! The Student Government Association holds the annual Lightning Oscars event on Jan. 31.
BY CHLOE WAIN NEWS EDITOR
Hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA), the annual Lightning Oscars event was held in the auditorium on Jan. 31; tickets were sold at $5 on Jan. 27-31. The purpose of the event is to recognize and award students at the Bay for their excellence through a talent or personal characteristic within 21 categories; two rounds of voting were implemented to determine the winner for each category. SGA Adviser Danielle Nascimento said the goal of Lightning Oscars was for students to gather with their peers and enjoy themselves, while experiencing a memorable event. “The Lightning Oscars is a great experience for the students of the Bay to attend and share a couple of laughs with one another,” Nascimento said. “It is exciting for students to attend the show and have a great time.” Singing performances at the event included the band Electric Gypsies, seniors Rebekah Rotman, Alejandro Rodriguez, Dani Osorio and sophomore Sophia Magette. Rotman performed the song “Birds” by Birdy; she said she chose the song because it resides deeply with her and has a beautiful meaning and melody. “I feel a genuine connection with the song; when I sing the special song, I know I am providing the audience with an authentic performance,” Rotman said. “My goal is to make people feel and connect with the music I play and hopefully I accomplished my goal.” In addition, this year, seniors Charlie Seldin and Ethan Gaer were handed the honor from SGA of hosting the annual event. Gaer and Seldin created a script composed of various skits for each award presented to maintain the attention of the audience. Seldin said himself and Gaer met frequently to work together to discuss ideas and write the script to examine the most appropriate comedic acts for the event. “Being able to host with [Gaer] was amazing, as our friendship has transpired since childhood,” Seldin said. “Being given the opportunity to do so is genuinely an unforgettable experience and I am thankful, since I have been wishing to host Lightning Oscars since freshman year.” Head coordinator and SGA member Kayla Truske assisted the event by organizing backstage aspects, ensuring to prepare the hosts, arrange the performers and communicate with the Cypress Bay Television (CBTV) Club and the Drama Club to arrange the lights, music and videos played on the projector. Truske said her favorite part of Lightning Oscars is the skit performances because each one is original and creative to each host and presenter. “I have been looking forward to organizing and witnessing the student body attend and come support Lightning Oscars, as the donations assist SGA,” Truske said. “The event allows students to be involved by nominating others, presenting or performing, which is a special opportunity presented by the Bay.” Seniors and presenters of the “Serena and Blair” category Catalina Garcia and Valentina Mosquera provided a humorous script about a typical argument seen in the popular show “Gossip Girl”, as the name of the award represents two female best friends. Garcia
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Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 Presidents Day, Feb. 17 St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 Early Release Day, March 19 Spring Break, March 23-27
photos courtesy of student government association
THANKing the academy: (From top) seniors Jack McMahon and Sydney Kron interview nominee and winner for “The Next Charli D’Amelio” senior Samantha Lee. Seniors Saul Rosa and Hannah Lassner arive at Lightning Oscars on Jan. 31 in the auditorium. (From left) Seniors and presenter Catalina Garcia, nominee Silvy Bonaduce, and presenters Valentina Mosquera and Daniela Bengoa gather for a photograph prior to the event. Seniors Sydney Hackmeyer and Samantha Rheingold view the pamphlet of the presenters and nominees of each category.
said presenting such an important award was nervous for her, but it was an exciting opportunity to be a key part of the show. “I signed up to present because I have been looking forward to presenting since my first Lightning Oscars freshman year,” Garcia said. “I created a set goal for myself to be part of the ceremony and it was meaningful to participate in such an amazing event.” Rotman said her personal goal when performing at Lightning Oscars was to reach as many students as possible in the audience through her music. Rotman said she wished to be heard and seen, and hopefully made an impression on stage.. “I learned much about myself through the entire experience,” Rotman said. “Even if I did not accomplish the exact goal I had in mind, I did learn and feel I have already grown as an artist, performer and person.” The award aspect of the show was different
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from previous years because new award categories such as “Sephora Sensation,” “Felix’s Most Wanted,” and “The Next Charli D’Amelio” were introduced this year. Truske said each committee in SGA was assigned to work on a different aspect of the show; with the assistance of the committees, the show is organized. “SGA is as efficient as possible with the planning that is involved throughout the process,” Truske said. “Week by week, each committee creates goals to ensure the show is as prepared as possible.” The chairs of the project consisted of sophomore Julia Ross, junior Shelby Schultz and Truske. To promote the event, the organization filmed a short two-minute video of a car wash scene at Wendy’s to provide a sneak-peak of the event to the student body at the Bay. Truske said the purpose of the video was to promote student participation to
Habitat for Humanity, Feb. 12 P.R.I.D.E., Feb 18 HOSA, Feb. 25 Marine Science Club, Feb. 26 PAWS, Feb. 27
Events
purchase tickets for Lightning Oscars. “The group and I discovered the idea for the video from the movie “Grown Ups” to attempt to create a humorous preview for the show to attract students,” Truske said. “It was exciting to create a video and release the chosen hosts for Lighting Oscars, as the event is open for every grade level.” Garcia said her favorite part of the event was witnessing the presenters perform their piece and experience the reactions of the audience to the announcements of each award. Garcia said Lightning Oscars is an amazing tradition the Bay has provided for students to enjoy and is unique for each graduating class. “The event is distinctive because there are different students nominated, a diverse selection of presenters and a creative script each year,” Garcia said. “It administers numerous opportunities for students to show their talents and create a memorable experience as it is an event to look forward to.” Similar to Garcia, Nascimento said the event is distinctive each year because there are new students involved that implement their own personal footprint on the show through the activity of creating their own skits. “As new presenters, nominees and hosts are introduced, it changes the dynamic of the show each year to fit the needs of the audience,” Nascimento said. “The hosts are two hilarious students and enforce special ideas unique to each graduating class.” Rotman said prior to the performance, she felt confident and excited for the opportunity to perform in front of peers and the community. Rotman said during the performance, she was wrapped up in the feeling of singing the song. “While singing, I always forget where I am whenever I perform and it is the most euphoric feeling,” Rotman said. “After the performance, I was content with my singing, as my feelings stirred up leading up to the performance, but I know I provided the audience with a piece of me when I was on stage.” Garcia said a suggestion for the upcoming years is to implement a third round of voting because it would encourage more students to participate due to only three choices of nominees, rather than eight to choose from. “The additional round of voting will encourage more student participation and therefore other students can be nominated,” Garcia said. “The nominees should reflect on the overall student population and voting can inspire more students to attend.” Seldin said his favorite aspect of Lightning Oscars is the thunderous applause provided by the audience once the hosts entered the stage. Seldin said witnessing friends and family members in the audience waiting to view the show is meaningful and shows appreciation for the Bay and the annual tradition. “To know the amount of students, faculty, and families attended Lightning Oscars to view a show [Gaer] and I had written was an indescribable experience,” Seldin said. “Just being able to host is an amazing opportunity and I would not change the events transpired throughout the ceremony.”
LIA Valentine’s Social, Feb 13 Health Fair, Feb. 22 P.R.I.D.E. International Night, Feb. 27 French Honors Society Fashion Show, Feb. 28 LIA Car Wash, Feb. 29
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FEBRUARY 2020
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Film celebrates life of former student By Jenna Friedman Editor-in-Chief
In 2016, the community of Weston and the Bay were impacted heavily by the passing of student Maximo Cardenas due to a brain injury. In order to celebrate his life and honor his memory, FNO Productions produced a documentary titled “Take it to the Max.” This documentary was shown at the Bay on Jan. 25, and was open for anyone to attend. Senior Alejandro Benedetty was one of the community members who attended the screening; Benedetty said although he was never close with Cardenas himself, he was touched by the documentary. He said the presentation did a wonderful job of showing how Cardenas impacted others during his lifetime. “Even though I did not have a relationship with him personally, I was inspired to attend the documentary because the story was extremely moving,” Benedetty said. “I was a freshman when he passed away and many of my close friends were really close to Max; I knew how much his death affected the members of the community.” Cardenas’ former soccer coach at the Bay, Colin Ilgner, said he felt lucky to be a part of the documentary production process, as Ilgner was the executive producer of “Take it to the Max.” Ilgner said his favorite part of the process was having Cardenas’ family be able to share their feelings with him. “It was amazing to get the emotion out of the family and to see how much Max meant to his family,” Ilgner said. “I know it meant a lot to them for us to share how Max touched their lives, and that meant a lot to me.” Benedetty said he thought the documentary was well put-together and he enjoyed how it displayed what others thought about Cardenas. Benedetty said it did a great job of celebrating his life. “I liked seeing the amount of students
that invested their time into creating the documentary,” Benedetty said. “It was nice to see the interviews of his friends and family members because it is good to know these people still care and show support.” Ilgner said before Cardenas’ passing, the team had documented most of the season, including the games, practices and team meetings. Ilgner said when a member of the production team reached out to him, he decided to meet up with them and speak about the documentary. “When [the production team] got a wind of Max’s story, they reached out and told me that they make small documentaries of schools and clubs, and they thought the story was amazing,” Ilgner said. “We got together and photo submitted by jenna friedman spoke about it, and they were so touched by the story and they said they have the right tools to tell his story through a documentary.” Senior Sophia Pieschacon, a member of the girls’ varsity soccer team, said Cardenas’ death had a large impact on the soccer community at the Bay. Pieschacon said she believes the documentary is just a small part of celebrating his life. “Max’s death has brought together the soccer community at [the Bay] as a whole due to the fact that the coaches do a great job of making the players do what they love, as life is short,” Pieschacon said. “I think the documentary is just a small part of celebrating [his life].” Pieschacon said she feels it is important for students at the Bay and members of the community of Weston to watch the documentary, as it honors the life of Cardenas. “Max’s documentary allows students and community members a small inside scoop into such a big and amazing person,” Pieschacon said. “Nothing will ever be enough to make PHOTO submitted by Colin Ilgner his death less painful; even without knowing Max, this documentary touched every single To the max: Cardenas’ family and coach join together with the producers of the documentary “Take it to the Max” at a showing of the film at the Hollywood Film Festival, person that day.” where it won an award. In addition, the documentary was previewed at the Bay for anyone to view on Jan. 25.
Club unites in an effort to rescue wildlife By Agavni Mehrabi
The Ecology Club launched a fundraiser in partnership with Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc (WIRES) to raise money for animals amid the wildfires in Australia. Senior and President Shannon Sin said the funds will provide a means for rehabilitation centers to feed, protect and heal wildlife affected by the disaster. “The club cares immensely about the environment, and members believe it is our job to take care of wildlife as well,” Sin said. “The project is organized around the goal of the club, to assist animals, because it is difficult for creatures to help themselves.” Australia has been suffering from large forest fires since August due to a combination of high recorded heat temperatures, lack of rain and dry air. As a result, around one billion animals have perished directly from the flames through loss of shelter, food and water. Environmental Science and Marine Science teacher and adviser Laura Ashley said these circumstances demand attention from society. “It has arrived to a point where more land has been burned and more lives have been lost than in California,” Ashley said. “As most animals in Australia are herbivores, it has sadly reached the stage where relief teams have to drop food provisions such as carrots and potatoes from helicopters.” In preparation for the fundraiser that is to take place starting Jan. 21, the Ecology Club decorated recycled Mason Jars to collect money and organize them for classroom delivery. Ashley said faculty members were encouraged to involve themselves through the moral incentive to assist the global community.
“Animals need our assistance in this time of great struggle,” Ashley said. “Fundraising is what the club can pursue from afar to give wildlife a second chance at a better lifestyle and enjoy living in a clean, safe habitat again.” Sin said besides the moral incentives for participation, the classroom that raises the most amount of fundraising will be able to adopt an animal of choice such as a platypus, kangaroo or jerboa. Sin said the prize will be gifted using club funds separate from fundraiser money. “For students and faculty who are not stimulated enough by the prospect of helping innocent animals, the prize can be an extra motivation,” Sin said. “Students will be encouraged to pitch in and the money will go to a great cause.” Sophomore and member Amanda Campos said short term implications of the fires include permanent species extinction, a decline in biodiversity and a deterioration of air quality due to vegetation loss. She said in addition to that, human society can be negatively impacted in regards to ecotourism. “It is sad how humans may lose favored animal species due to climate change,” Campos said. “Furthermore, Australians will be harmed economically if popular tourist parks are destroyed because the country will not receive income crucial to national stability.” Sin said students can participate through collective fundraising at the Bay because of the oversized population. She said the size of the community has the potential to provide help in reversing the threat of imbalance to ecological order. “Although students are hearing about
photo by agavni mehrabi
enviro-friendly: The Ecology club prepares for their upcoming fundraiser with Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc. to assist wildlife affected by the Australian fires. Senior Shannon Sin joins her fellow club members in designing recycled Mason jars to be utilized to collect money earned during the fundraiser.
the current event as an issue, adolescents are not viewing the tragic, visual effects on the environment,” Sin said. “Carrying out this fundraiser can raise the awareness of the community and create a large, positive impact.” Ashley said individuals may not see a reason in aiding Australia, as it is halfway across the world. However, she said assisting is an act of human kindness that can be useful
for long-term advantages as the problem could become apparent in our community if the fires continue to spread. “It is important to help because our country may need the same kind of assistance later on,” Ashley said. “Australian forests are almost destroyed, so students should attempt to assist citizens and animals as soon as possible.”
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Annual DECA Districts ceremony awards members BY CHLOE WAIN NEWS EDITOR
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY DANIELA DUARTE
PHOTO BY CHLOE WAIN
DECA-CATED: (From top left) The testing portion of the DECA Districts event was held at the Bay from Jan. 14-15 and the manual portion was held at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) on Jan. 16. Members received awards at the ceremony to announce the qualifiers for states on Jan. 22 at NSU. Seniors Vicky Milano and Daniela Ruffoni qualified for top 16 and plan to attend the states competition. Adviser and AICE Business teacher Rachael Dubrow speaks to students prior to accepting awards on stage. Seniors Agustina Bea, Lucas Nolasco, Lucas De Melo, Julieta Bea and Ryan Ames won first, second and third place awards in their assigned business-related categories.
officer in the club is the cohesion within the group members, which establishes a path to become an exceptional competitor. Durante said the club has assisted her in becoming a professional, responsible, humble and outgoing individual overall. “Members of DECA create bonds and build connections with competitors who establish similar ambitions and goals that helps students grow various skills,” Duarte said. “The friendships I have created have assisted me to stay on task, learn necessary business information and establish different perspectives and challenges to shape the independent character I have become.” Hosier said the club teaches chapter members about getting out of their comfort zones by assisting competitors to improve on business-related information and skills through the various events each season. “If students do not succeed in winning a competition, there is a lesson to be learned,” Hosier said. “Students must understand how to adjust and must take every possible outcome
as a learning experience to prevent mistakes practice exams weekly. “I am excited to compete in higher-level in the future.” competitions and cannot wait to see what opportunities placing can open up for me,” Bea said. “Since I am studying business next year, Students must believe in competing provides me with great experiences themselves and believe in and practices for the future.” Qualifiers were announced on Jan. 22 at their skills, as members NSU and the top 16 students from across the have developed district in each category advance to states, however, the top 32 students are eligible to throughout the school attend if a student decides not to compete. year and are unaware of Hosier said it is humbling and enlightening their capabilities at times. to see the pure excitement on the faces of the competitors as the awards are announced. “I see the passion of the students attempting to win and it is very heartwarming and -senior and DECA exciting to see the progression of competitors President Daniela Duarte each year,” Hosier said. “The students who did not advance to the top 32 in the district Bea said she competed well in her should become inspired to compete next year, presentation and testing because she was well as preparing can begin as soon as possible prepared and trained thoroughly by studying by reading sample questions and focus on vocabulary from the textbook and taking developing a well-organized presentation.”
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Each year, DECA hosts its annual Districts competition, where chapter members test in their assigned categories on Jan. 14-15 at the Bay and present their manuals on Jan. 16 at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). The event is a pre-qualification for States and the International Career Development Conference (ICDC). Participants have the choice to compete from six categories that are related to business. Senior Corbin Bouvier said his goal is to advance to ICDC through the finance category and improve on business-related skills such as communication for the future. “Competing in DECA provides me with the necessary tools and resources for higher education,” Bouvier said. “The club includes numerous opportunities for networking and collaborating with a diverse student population, from local to global through competitions.” This year, the DECA district testing for each category switched from a paper format to a computer-based assessment. The test allocates an hour and 30 minutes for 100 multiple-choice questions on a select category. Senior and President Daniela Duarte participates in the marketing category and said the officer team and advisers divided and conquered their tasks to be as efficient as possible in preparation for the event. “The DECA team ensures each member can have the best testing experience and be more eligible to compete in higher competitions,” Duarte said.” Specific categories require a presentation portion of the event and provides attendees with 15 minutes to present a slideshow of their selected prompt, followed by questions from the judges. Bouvier said his presentation was intense, but it went smoothly as he was prepared from practicing his roleplay scenario with advisers and chapter members. “For the presentation, time management is the most important as it is crucial to come prepared for these events,” Bouvier said. “If I do not work as hard, focus on studying and be the best competitor I can be, someone else will.” The testing portion of the competition was originally scheduled for the weekend to assist competitors by not interfering with a regular school day; however, challenges came about due to technological issues and the demand for more chaperones. DECA teacher and Adviser Robert Hosier said the members were able to adapt to the complication efficiently. “The entire team was very instrumental, as the teachers and officers were great about handling problems that arose,” Hosier said. “Competitors were able to have better timemanagement skills and provided more time to study practice tests, so it benefitted DECA as a whole.” Twin sisters and seniors Agustina and Julieta Bea competed in marketing together. Bea said the club has provided opportunities to strengthen their relationship, become more social by perfecting their communication skills and provide a purpose to focus on a career path. “Competing with my sister is helpful and efficient, as I have another competitor to lean on during presentations and testing,” Bea said. “It helps me become less nervous and more confident; having a partner helps you learn from your mistakes, brings new ideas and expand your knowledge about business.” To prepare, Bouvier completed practice exams and rehearsed presentations with DECA members to critique and administer constructive criticism. Bouvier said he became passionate for finance through the club and aims for the category to be a part of his future career. “I spent countless hours studying, improving my test taking skills and learning from my mistakes,” Bouvier said. “I look forward to competing on a state level because the competition is intense, however, it is enjoyable to meet new peers Duarte said her favorite part of being an
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CLUBS AT THE BAY Clubs are planning for new events and practicing necessary skills for upcoming competitions.
Best Buddies BY CHLOE WAIN NEWS EDITOR
Best Buddies is a non-profit organization where volunteers assist in creating opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The club is dedicated to establishing one-on-one friendships by pairing members with an assigned buddy to create lasting memories. First year Co-Adviser and AICE General Paper teacher Jeanne Kielbasa said it is beautiful to see the members and buddies create friendships. “It is an opportunity for members to spend quality time with their buddies in good fellowship,” Kielbasa said. “Seeing the bonds develop and students interacting is just a heartening, nice and warm feeling.” Junior and Historian Ethan Tierno said the main goal of Best Buddies is for the members to allocate time for buddies; this year, the club is planning to improve activities for increase participation.
CBTV
BY Sabrina Blandon
FEATURES / OPINION COPY EDITOR
The Cypress Bay Television (CBTV) club is a broadcasting class that encourages students to pursue communication careers. The club airs Aftershock, a 20-minute segment highlighting human interest stories every Friday. CBTV teacher and adviser Taiwo Cummings said although each class is assigned a different project, including media production, members learn how to be creative and distinctive in the field of television through competitions. “The movie trailers helps [CBTV students] prepare for competitions by learning how to write scripts,” Cummings said. “Students learn how to create concepts that assist future endeavors by teaching real life lessons including how to produce quickly.” The TV 3 class is developing a new segment called High Voltage, an entertainment show about student opinions on questions relating to YouTube challenges. Executive Producer for High Voltage and Associate Producer for
photo BY CHLOE WAIN
“My favorite part about being an officer is to develop opportunities to improve the club and create an environment for students to interact,” Tierno said. “The club has become part of my everyday life which I cherish greatly.” Best Buddies hosted a Valentine’s Day Dance in the cafeteria on Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. Kielbasa said the club is a great organization, as it is structured efficiently to accommodate the buddies to the best of their ability through themed holiday events. “I am impressed with the executive board, as the officers take their responsibilities very seriously,” Kielbasa said. “The club is organized, and runs smoothly to create activities and events for the buddies to enjoy.” Tierno said the club is a great opportunity to change the lives of the buddies by creating friendships that will last past high school. “Best Buddies can assist students in need by creating a more accepting society,” Tierno said. “By joining, members can see how the buddies can create a positive impact on lives.”
photo submitted by alex greenberg
Aftershock, Tati Del Carpio said the class has improved television interests by teaching technical and leadership skills. “Students must be able to naturally transition from learning, to writing stories and making shows,” Del Carpio said. “Being involved in the crews assist for the real production world with less time to work and higher expectations.” Cummings said assigning projects assists the students by developing communication skills and is a substantial way to learn lessons that stretch beyond television. “The class is about concepts associating with scripts to think outside the box and be creative,” Cummings said. “Projects help students learn how to plan, sort out their ideas and work independently in competitions.”
P.A.W.S.
By Rachel Alexander online features editor
The PAWS club participated in a Hollywood Beach clean-up on Jan. 11 alongside the Marine Science Society. AICE Marine Science teacher and adviser Maria Rozenberg said the event was productive as 25 pounds of trash was collected along with 10 bags of cigarette butts. “The beach clean-up events are successful because we rid our coastal communities of trash that people have thoughtlessly left behind,” Rozenberg said. “Members feel a strong sense of commitment in helping all animals.” Senior and President of PAWS Aubrey Rutz said being involved in the clean-up was a great opportunity to illustrate the urgency of positive change needed in the environment. Rutz said she was glad her club got the opportunity to be involved in the community. “The members have the ability to make an impact in the world, no matter how small the
HOSA
BY Sophia Handley ONLINE NEWS EDITOR
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) prepared for a regional competition at the Bay, where competitors enrolled in one of 50 categories to compete on Jan. 25. HOSA adviser Carol Warnock said the students felt confident attending due to practice prior and the knowledge gained from research in the classroom. “The students are prepared after participating in the practice the club offers,” Warnock said. “There are activities for members due to the amount of categories offered which encourages students to participate.” Senior and Vice President Cameron Tovin competed in the Medical Readings category and said she has expanded knowledge of multiple subjects in Health Science such as the topic of the Radium Crisis. “I find the event interesting and a great way to become exposed to the subject in order to
Photo by rachel alexander
action is,” Rutz said. “Due to the amount of pollution in the ocean today, it is vital that the community works to make a difference in the world.” Rozenberg said the club participated because the members enjoy working in cooperation with other clubs to build a sense of community within the school. “Members take an active interest in environmental factors and feel this is a small step members can do to help preserve coastal habitats,” Rozenberg said. “By participating in the clean-ups and making a difference, these young adolescents can make the world a better place.” Rutz said the club has become more diverse and involved by creating a sheltered space for marine animals through beach clean-ups. “Cleaning up our beaches ensures marine wildlife are residing in a safe and clean environment,” Rutz said. “I enjoy doing my part in the community and will always do anything I can to help animals in need.”
PHOTO BY CHLOE NOWACK
compete,” Tovin said. “To prepare for events such as knowledge based testing, I create study guides based on guidelines and attend practice after school.” Tovin said being an active member of the club is crucial because it exposed the skills needed for future professions. as the club has assisted students seeking a medical career. “Competing is important because it allows members to have new experiences involving health science and healthcare careers,” Tovin said. “I am able to gain a sense of what it is like to work in this career field.” Warnock said she plans on altering ways of preparing the students to develop more experience prior to competing. “The club would like to start practices earlier in the year, because this year it was difficult to coordinate meetings with such a large number of members,” Warnock said. “This year, the club did great at dividing each adviser with different students based on their category and will continue to do this in future years.”
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NHS club bonds over volleyball tournament by julia winton
A&E / Opinion copy editor
The National Honor Society (NHS) held their annual Volleyball Tournament at Regional Park. The purpose of the event, which occurred on Jan. 26, was to support NHS by gathering members to promote the club and create friendships within it. Club and Broward Advisers for Continuing Education adviser Shari Bush said she enjoys witnessing the members working together to strengthen their bonds as not only students, but friends as well. “I love seeing the participation, teamwork and effort involved in the annual Volleyball Tournament,” Bush said. “This event is a way for the club to reward the members for the hard work and dedication put into the club year round.” Although the Volleyball Tournament is an annual tradition, this year the event was planned by the senators rather than the executive board; the tournament is the first event senators were provided full autonomy over. Junior and Senator Gbemi Awonusonu said the event allowed the senators to build and improve upon previous tournaments and it provided insight to the amount of effort NHS officers exert into their organization. “The days leading up to the event were hectic because [the senators] had to secure the volleyball courts in regional park and order fund in advance,” Awonusonu said. “The senators had to send out an email notifying the NHS members interested in participating in the event and it was intense because it was our first time planning one.” Junior and NHS member Tomer Schnuel
said the Volleyball Tournament was not mandatory for members, but it created a friendly environment in which students could play games, have a snack and have an enjoyable time. Schnuel said he was glad he received the opportunity to attend and not only support his club, but spend quality time with other members. “I decided to go [to the Volleyball Tournament] because my friends and I routinely play beach volleyball at Regional during the week,” Schnuel said. “The NHS volleyball event was a good way to put my skills to use, and at the same time, was really enjoyable.” In addition to securing the volleyball courts and organizing funds in advance, the senators had to arrange the setting for the event. Awonusonu said although certain aspects of planning were stressful at times, she had an enjoyable experience to learn from when planning future activities. “My favorite part of the planning was setting up for the event because other senators and I arrived prior to the arrival of the attendees to set up a tent, tables and speakers.” Awonusonu said. “It was a great opportunity to spend time with my fellow senators and we enjoyed the nice Sunday morning.” Schnuel said as a participant competing in the event, he unfortunately did not win any rounds; however, he said he had an amazing time attempting to win the tournament. “Students were socializing when members were not playing a round, which was nice when students were disqualified so they had something to do,” Schnuel said. “I enjoyed the event because it was a great way to spend time
Photo by Jen silverman
GAME ON: Senior and Senator Justin Padron serves the volleyball at the National Honor Society (NHS) annual volleyball tournament on Jan. 26 at Regional Park. The purpose of the event was to support NHS by promoting the club, while also strengthening bonds between members.
with my friends, getting to meet new people and play a fundamental sport.” Bush said when members participate in the tournament, it is to support a beneficial cause, which shows how dedicated NHS members truly are. Bush said seeing how much they enjoyed the event put a huge smile on her face.
“All the proceeds of the event go to NHS for more events to be planned that can drive members to improve the community,” Bush said. “I truly enjoy being the NHS adviser because it allows me to oversee students making a huge beneficial impact on what matters to them most.”
MUN discusses global issues at statewide competition by agavni mehrabi
The Model United Nations (MUN) club attended the GatorMUN Conference at the University of Florida (UF) to compete against other schools in the state as delegates discussing complex issues such as climate change and human rights. President and senior Joseph Mullen said participation in this event highlights the overall goal of the club by allowing students to practice diplomatic skills in an active setting. “The purpose of the event is to speak and voice opinions about international relations and global conflicts,” Mullen said. “Other components are discovering unique and creative solutions to these problems through public speaking, diplomacy, argumentation and research.” Members of MUN could compete individually or as a dual delegation from Jan. 17 to 19 in the numerous committees offered by choosing a country to delegate. Examples of committees included the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the World Health Organization and the Crisis Committee. Member and sophomore Juan Pablo Gonzalez Pacheco represented the Republic of Burkina Faso in the IPCC committee, and said it is important because of the particular relevance its topics pose to the planet. “I chose IPCC since climate change is an oppressing issue we should all take super seriously right now,” Pancheco said. “I wanted to get insight on what other countries think and how students can resolve this global problem together as a team.” Pacheco said he participated in the event because of the educational qualities provided by its realistic simulation of the original UN organization. He said GatorMun is an important opportunity for the members because it reveals the distinct opinions of different nations on certain topics and allows them to develop their confidence. “It is quite the informative update on what is going on within and between nations,”
photo SUBMITTED by JOSEPH MULLEN
mun fun: The Model United Nations (MUN) club represents the Bay by attending the GatorMUN Conference at the University of Florida on Jan. 17-19 to compete against other schools across the state. Senior Joseph Mullen said members need to provide answers for global issues, which will improve the world and lead to a better future for the next generation.
Pacheco said. “I take my role as a delegate seriously because I am representing a nation; it is a type of mental exercise in which confidence is demanded from the responsibility to justly speak on behalf of citizens.” Mullen said preparation for the conference was assisted through individual members, and the club as a whole, by practicing public speeches, conducting research and writing a preliminary position paper. Mullen said improvisation was a valuable asset to have because of the unexpected developments that can occur during conversation in the committee.
“Although preparation is a huge component, students must be able to think on their feet,” Mullen said. “The club is unaware of what other countries’ members are going to be working with and the research in advance; therefore, another crucial skill is leveled spontaneity.” U.S. History Honors teacher and club adviser Timothy Petraitis said recommended skills for achievement include effective negotiation, straightforward articulation of ideas, critical thinking and a proper direction of confidence. Petraitis said another decisive element is knowledge of political and
governmental functions. “The key to success is diplomacy and an understanding of the policies of the United Nations as a whole,” Petraitis said. “Members should be well versed in basic economics, understand different types of governments and understand non-governmental funding entities.” Mullen said students should involve themselves in the GatorMUN Conference because of the motivation that comes with discussing prevalent questions of the day; situations included refugees, academic anxiety, human rights and global warming. “Members need to speak about global issues occuring right now, which our generation needs to know how to craft unique solutions,” Mullen said. “Our generation inherits these problems, so members need to advocate answers that will work for the world and lead a better future for the next generation.” In regard to obstacles, Petraitis said the club was met with the difficulty of finding sufficient chaperones to assist with supervision for the trip. Petraitis said another inconvenience was the effort of attempting to find adequate funding for the trip. “It has become increasingly challenging to deal with the planning processes at the school,” Petraitis said. “The conferences are expensive to attend and the cost of the trip is quite high, but the club finds ways to compromise because competitions are what the club is about.” Although the trip can be costly, Mullen said the material incentives to participate are awards such as the gavel award for first place and varying certificates for second through fourth place. Mullen said while three championship gavels were brought home last year for the Bay, four of the other titles were achieved this year. “Overall, the awards we received show we have had more team success and less individual success this year,” Mullen said. “As leader of the team, I am happy to accept awards and it is great to see our team succeed.”
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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 new ACT changes for the 2020-2021 school year.
For the upcoming 2020-2021 school year, the ACT exam will introduce new changes. The ACT tests students on subjects such as reading, math, science, English and writing. Adjustments such as section retesting and the ability to superscore were created to potentially raise the testers’ scores for higher education. Sophomore Gabby Faria said these can help high school students get into the universities of their choice. “Taking the ACT is going to make my junior year extremely stressful because I will have limited time to study due to my rigorous schedule,” Faria said. “There is pressure to receive high scores to submit to colleges, so hopefully the assigned changes can make that possible.” The addition of section retesting will allow students to test on a specific section rather than finishing the entire exam in order to assist with raising a specific subject score. Faria said the improvement can aid her test scores dramatically, as it is beneficial if a student earned a perfect score on the math section, but needs to improve on the reading section, for example. “It is extremely helpful students can retake sections they did not pass,” Faria said. This can increase my store with my determination on a certain topic.” In addition, more colleges are accepting the superscore now which provides participants the ability to utilize their highest score from each individual section. The implementation
graphic by julia winton AND SANDRA TALLEDO
will allow students to submit their best score of each section to college applications. DECA teacher Grant Cavalier said the add-on will assist students tremendously through the college application process by giving students more options. “Allowing students to submit their highest scores on tests will take stress off of them,” Cavalier said. “The addition can help students get into the schools of their choice because it shows schools the full knowledge and potential of a student.” Furthermore, the ACT will now enable test takers to choose the format of the exam, either
computer-based or written. Cavalier said allowing students this option potentially helps relieve the tension they may have on exam day because it allows test takers conduct an exam the way they are most comfortable. “Giving students the option to take these exams shows how comfortability can potentially have a positive impact on their scores,” Cavalier said. “These scores are a major part of college acceptances, which makes it crucial students are comfortable and can focus while test taking.” The option of pursuing the test online provides results within two business days of
the assigned exam date, rather than two weeks later. Faria said this can help students manage their time more efficiently and assist them with planning when they will submit applications. “The advantage allows the students to have knowledge of their scores as soon as possible to pursue the need to focus on a section much quicker,” Faria said. “It provides students with more time and flexibility when applying to colleges and scholarships by allowing them more time to study.” Due to students being able to dedicate their time to a certain subject, it can create a major increase in scores. Senior Aileen Vasquez said it is amazing students have the chance to master a specific portion of the exam because they can prove to schools that they are capable of accomplishing what needs to be learned although it takes up a lot of weekend time. “Having to attend school on the weekends to take the exam takes needed time out of the weekend,”Vasquez said. “Not having to retake the entire exam each time saves students time, energy and stress from their schedules.” Furthermore, private tutoring is an option for students to gain strategies and refresh their knowledge on specific topics. Vazquez said hiring a tutor to assist in a specific section is an advantage that only some students have, therefore the addition of retaking a specific section can help the less fortunate students by providing cheaper tutoring options. “Private tutoring can cost up to hundreds of dollars, which not all students can afford,” Vazquez said. “Tutoring gives students who are financially able another resource and a higher chance of acceptance, however the section re-testing can assist other students in developing necessary skills with more allotted time.”
Junior night educates on college process
to hear from representatives who read college applications and know what they are looking for in a college application.”
BY JULIA WINTON
A&E / OPINION COPY EDITOR
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PHOTO by darian trabold
college confusion: (From left) B.R.A.C.E adviser Shari Bush gives a presentation about the application process before introducing advisers from Dartmouth College, University of Maryland and University of Central Florida. The advisers talked about the applications from their universities work and how to properly apply.
reminding them about college applications and sharing tips on how to prepare, ” Wong said. “It benefits the parents as well because some are not familiar with college applications and programs, and attending Junior Night can provide helpful information.” Junior Brooke Astley said the event was beneficial because it increased her confidence and knowledge about college acceptances than prior to attending. She said she will take everything she learned with her throughout her college experience. “The main lesson I learned is that the key to a successful application process is to get
ahead and get started as early as possible,” Astley said. “Learn the deadlines so you can be more than ready for all of them, and there’s definitely a lot of them.” Wong said although the B.R.A.C.E office was helpful by organizing a presentation, having the ability to specifically hear from someone working at one of her dream schools was a rare experience to receive before applying to colleges. “My favorite part of the presentation was listening to the representatives from UCF because I am interested in UCF’s Top 10 Knight Program,” Wong said. “It is interesting
Students are anxious to hear about the process [because] it changes ‘ from year to year; even if parents have been through the process with previous children, it is always different,” Bush said. “It is important for [students and parents] to retain as much information as possible because information is power.
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Held by the Broward Advisers for Continuing Education (B.R.A.C.E) adviser Shari Bush, the annual Junior Night took place in the auditorium with the purpose of educating juniors about the college application process on Jan. 23. Bush said although the process may seem daunting, Junior Night was an opportunity to explain it and de-stress adolescents who may fear applying to colleges. “Students are anxious to hear about the process [because] it changes from year to year; even if parents have been through the process with previous children, it is always different,” Bush said. “It is important for [students and parents] to retain as much information as possible because information is power.” A new addition to the annual event was a panel of three college speakers from the University of Maryland, the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Dartmouth; the speakers discussed what an ideal application should include in their professional opinion. Bush said it was exciting to implement this element because it provided families with a chance to hear different opinions about the college application process. “It is nice for the students and parents to not only hear about what I think are the most important aspects to focus on,” Bush said. “It is great for families to hear directly from the speakers of colleges.” Although Junior Night was meant to assist students preparing for their senior year and the college application process, it could act as a tool to help parents understand what is required of their kids. Junior Caitlyn Wong said not only did she feel more educated on the subject after the presentation, but her parents felt more confident in her achievements. “Junior Night benefits students by
-B.R.A.C.E. Adviser Shari Bush Although the informational session was aimed to create more awareness of what is expected when applying to schools, Astley said it tended to make her anxious about the incoming college experience. She said even though she was anxious at times, the college experience will be worth the time put into the whole process. “After Junior Night, I felt both excited and stressed because college is getting closer,” Astley said. “I feel more ready to go and fill out applications, but nervous about actually having to choose places to apply to.”
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HOSA competition paves path for medical careers BY ROXY CARR
The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) organization participated in a state-wide competition on in the Bay’s 400s building. On Jan. 25, The competition held events centered around medical careers, terminology, literature and patient care. Senior and Vice President of HOSA Cameron Tovin said competing for the club is an enriching experience which can be a valuable asset for a student interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. “Having years of experience against my competitors is quite an advantage because I know how to study,” Tovin said. “Studying for competition is not simply memorization, it is also understanding the material for testing purposes.” Tovin said competition is difficult, as preparations take place months in advance. As Tovin said, her favorite study tool is the app Quizlet because it creates vocabulary flashcards that can assist in memorization and learning of testing materials essential for competition. “Since my title is Vice President of Competition, I have a job consisting of managing competition practice and ensuring the competition is running smoothly,” Tovin said. “The members have been showing up and working really hard by studying for their events and creating their displays and the app helps students tremendously in memorizing material.” Similar to Tovin, sophomore Trevor Thacker has been preparing daily for the Medical Terminology event, where competitors are expected to memorize 1,400 different medical prefixes and suffixes. Thacker said he also uses Quizlet, as the app produces a timed matching vocabulary section that encourages focus and time-management skills for test-taking. “Although studying for the competition is difficult and tiresome, I know it will be beneficial in the future with college applications and scholarship opportunities,” Thacker said. “My goal is to continue HOSA throughout my high school career; ultimately, I want to become a physician and be knowledgeable in the medical field.” Two out of the four rounds of the competition were held at the Bay. If a participant passed their first set of exams, members were required to take an additional exam on Jan. 25. The second exam grade was utilized for entry to the state competition, in Orlando on April 2-5, HOSA adviser Carol Warnock said state competition is even more rigorous than regionals. “This year, the club had more students than previously advanced to the state competition and as adviser, I expect to win big,” Warnock said. “Winning the regional competition looks amazing for college applications, and for the Bay’s HOSA organization.” After competing in the school-wide competition, Thacker said he thought he performed well enough to attend the second round of competition; however, he did not advance. Thacker said next year, he will attempt to compete in a different event because he was not comfortable and passionate enough about medical terminology, which prevented him from having motivation to study the medical material needed for testing. “Although it is devastating I did not pass, I have learned about how difficult this experience was,” Thacker said. “Now I know what to prepare for to be ready to ace my exams at the next HOSA competition and hopefully advance to the second round.” Warnock said competition is a great way for members to show off their knowledge of the medical field by competing with members from numerous HOSA clubs. Warnock said placing high can lead to college opportunities and eventually a career for members interested in studying medicine. “Most students choose an event they are passionate about for the future,” Warnock said.
“No matter how difficult the competitions may be, students will put the effort in because it is what they love.” Sophomores Sofia Quintero and Maria Hatzidakis competed together as a team under the Career Display category. This is an event where partners create a poster board that describes the job duties of a specific medical career. Quintero said their display took several days to put together and was worth the effort, as the poster board was creative and provided sufficient information about dermatology. “I am a visual learner, so it would be best to create a display that was both creative and informative,” Quintero said. “Maria and I used colorful cardstock as a border around our project to create a pretty presentation and hopefully win over the judges.” The partners utilized a foam head, painted to appear as skin, to display different disorders that dermatologists treat. Hatzidakis said creating a 3-D model was an out-of-the box way to display important disorders because it showed effort, creativity and artistic talent. “No other board in the competition utilized a life-like model similar to my partner and I, as it was unique and colorful,” Hartzidakis said. “I believed the board was going to lead us to states, but despite our efforts, sadly we did not; however, it won’t stop us from trying again next year.” Quintero said a possible reason for not being invited to the states competition is the vast amount of competitors, as there were about 50 to 60 other projects from across the country. She said the diverse amount of students served as an obstacle in advancing to the next round because it provided the judges with more options to choose from. “Mathematically speaking, my partner and I had a smaller chance of making it to states than to regionals because of the amount of students presenting their displays and testtaking abilities,” Quintero said. “Even though the display did not proceed to the second round, I learned new techniques from viewing the winning boards that could be utilized in the competition next year.” Although they did not advance, Hatzidakis said the competition expanded their knowledge about the field of dermatology along with specific requirements needed to be a successful doctor. She said wanting to be a dermatologist provided her the opportunity to compete and study about the career for future endeavours. “Not only did I learn about being a dermatologist, I learned about so many different careers from the boards of the competitors throughout the competition,” Hatzidaki said. “The Career Display event is an excellent way for students to learn about various careers in medicine through boards.” For the Forensic Science event, students received a crime case, visited a crime scene or got an autopsy report from which members are expected to discover the cause of the death of their subject. Warnock said her favorite event is the Leadership Events category, which involves speaking and a biomedical debate. “By far, forensics is my favorite event, but each student has their own personal preferences,” Warnock said, “I enjoy forensics because solving a case is a big mysterious puzzle that involves intense thinking skills.” Similar to the reality TV show game “Jeopardy”, Tovan her favorite event is the HOSA Bowl event, where teams compete to answer questions similar to a game-show. The team who earns the most points per game, go against winning teams in a bracket, until the winner advances to regionals. Tovin said the event feels like an exciting game. “The HOSA bowl is a personal favorite because of the pressure of being on the clock to answer a question,” Tovin said. “There is nothing better than the shared happiness of a winning team.”
Photos submitted by kathryn Woodford
Medics of tomorrow: (From top) sophomores Sofia Quintero and Maria Hatzidakis prepare a trifold board on dermotology to present and inform judges and students at the HOSA competition on Jan. 25. Senior Cameron Tovin, junior Kristin Smaltino and junior Miguel Xi competed with the assistance of HOSA adviser Carol Warnock. Tovin said she enjoys the HOSA bowl event because of the timed pressure to answer medical-related questions. Seniors Christian Noble and Eugenio Reina displayed a trifold board on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology to present their knowledge on the topic in front of a panel of judges.
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Coffee house
The Bay’s Literary Club hosts its annual fundraiser in order to publish their magazine.
online news editor
The Literary Club held its annual fundraiser, Coffee House, where attendees had the opportunity to express themselves by displaying their spoken word poetry and music to an audience comprised of peers, faculty and family on Jan. 17. The proceeds are used to publish the literacy magazine. President of the Literary Club and member of the Spoken Word Poetry Team, Daniela Vergara said the club has provided an outlet and an audience for her to express herself through her poetry.
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Listening to students perform is my favorite part about the event, hearing great voices come forth, especially students who do not necessarily receive the opportunity in everyday life. It is the first time students can share their feelings and the crowd is supportive; it is a beautiful environment to put your truth out there.
“Individuals of different talents sign up to perform, either because of the ad on the Coffee House flyer or from hearing it from a friend,” Vergara said. “I normally write, edit and have my teammates and coach review my writing until it is where I want it to be.” Literary Club adviser Rebecca Bueno said the event is special because she enjoys hearing the talent and passion from students through their personal literary works. Bueno said Coffee House is a fantastic way for students to present their work in front of an audience and gain experience in spoken word poetry. “Listening to students perform is my favorite part about the event, hearing great voices come forth, especially students who do not necessarily receive the opportunity in everyday life,” Bueno said. “It is the first time students can share their feelings and the crowd is supportive; it is a beautiful environment to put your truth out there.” To prepare for the event, the club sought donations from numerous vendors and attempted to search for students who were interested to perform. Bueno said Coffee House encourages students to share songs, poetry and music to a positive and enthusiastic environment. “Getting students to sign up and feel comfortable enough to express themselves is part of planning this event,” Bueno said. “I tell my students the level of encouragement and acceptance found at Coffee House is the biggest way to intrigue students to share.” Senior Igor De Andreade, a drummer for the band The Electric Gypsies, performed at the event with his bandmates after being heard by the club at homecoming earlier in the school year. De Andreade said the performance and opportunity for the band was impactful and important because members gained experience in front of a large audience. “The show allowed for the opportunity to share our work with new audiences [such as our original songs],” De Andreade said. “The team behind Coffee House was really kind, helpful and supportive to our band because they gave us a great opportunity to share our music.” De Andreade said by performing at Coffee House, the band was provided the opportunity to share their music with the student body. De
photo by sophia handley
Spoken passion: Coffee House is an event that took place on Jan. 17, where attendees have the opportunity to express themselves through poems and music to an audience that is made up of peers, faculty and family. President of the Literary Club and member of the Spoken Word Poetry Team, Daniela Vergara, performs her spoken word poem straight from her journal, which is a personal anecdote in order to show the audience her passion.
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Andreade said he enjoys playing some of his band’s original songs and singing covers of his favorite music, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys -Literary Club adviser and Arthur Menezes. Rebecca Bueno He said by playing these songs he is able to exemplify him and “Coffee House is important because it is his band potential an amazing experience to shed light on the as musicians. creative talents [at the Bay],” Vergara said. “I “The band love expressing myself and my truths through plans on my writing, which is why I enjoy being apart of the Spoken Word Team.” performing Coffee Vergara said with the help of the Literacy House next year Club, the members were able to spread the because of bigger word about Coffee House and invite students audiences; the with literary passions to participate. She said more pressure and she decided to compose a piece that was experience, the better,” meaningful to her to provide the audience with De Andreade said. “I a personal anecdote, illustrating her passion. developed a connection with the audience which was built through natural music with no language barriers between the members, as anyone can feel the rhythm.” De Andreade said listening to students perform was interesting and inspiring as he saw students speak about their passions. He said he finds ways to express himself through his music because he believes it is something everyone can find a way to connect to. “I was curious after hearing many different points of view brought out through poetry and music in a really interesting way,” photo by sophia handley De Andreade said. “It is exciting to show the SHaring the love: In addition to having spoken poetry performances, Coffee House audience the music [The Electric Gypsies] also offers the opportunity for musical talents to be displayed. Senior Igor De Andreade have been practicing overtime and I attempt is the drummer for one of the bands performing, The Electric Gypsies. The band plays to have strong energy when I am performing.” covers from bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arctic Monkeys and Arthur Menezes, Bueno said the event allows students to as well as some of their own original songs. Not only is Coffee House an event to display express themselves in a positive environment talents, but it also allows those participating to gain experience in performing in front of a within space that is open for them to speak large audience. their mind. Bueno said the members share
the love for being creative and exploring new styles when it comes to writing. “The club wishes to inform students to be creative and to share, as it can be beautiful and artistic,” Bueno said. “My motivation for this club is to see how students want to explore creativity through literary works.” Vergara said she is proud she gets to be a part of creating an atmosphere for students where they can share their thoughts, outlooks and opinions on topics that are important to them. She said not only does this event raise money for the Literary magazine, it also emphasizes the immense amount of talent at school.
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Coffee house is important because it is an amazing experience to shed light at the creative talents [at the Bay].
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by sophia handley
-Literary Club President Daniela Vergara “It is extremely exciting to have an event with such a great atmosphere to share with your peers, that also serves as a fundraiser for our magazine,” Vergara said. “This year we raised enough funds in order to publish the literary magazine, which is comprised of all student [written] poetry, writing, artwork and photography.” Bueno said she was pleased with the overall outcome of the event and the amount of individuals who supported the performers. She said she hopes to see this kind of support continue in years to come to hopefully motivate students to come and express who they are on stage. “At the event, students are going to be there for you and be supportive,” Bueno said. “The encouragement to keep going and speak out is shown at the event and it is such a positive and motivating environment.”
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10 THE CIRCUIT
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FEBRUARY 2020
Construction develops over school year Since the Morganti Group started construction on the Bay’s new 62 classroom, three-story, 90,000 square foot building addition last summer, the architecture has evolved as time has passed. Assistant Principal Jeff Nelson said the school will begin updating the community on the construction process by releasing building updates on the completion time frame, safety and security issues and the general progress of the building. “Certain updates on what is occurring is essential as students and parents are voicing their interest in the topic,” Nelson said. “One day you see an open field of construction, another day you see pillars; therefore, communication would be a wonderful way to disseminate information to fill in the blanks.” Nelson said the earliest date the building is anticipated to be completed is in Dec. 2020 and the latest Aug. 2021. Nelson said delays include time needed to implement safety precautions on an active campus and unpredicted weather. “It takes time to resolve logistical issues that may arise when simultaneously operating the school and working on the building,” Nelson said. “Being an outdoor project, construction is at the mercy of nature and can be unreliable at times due to hurricanes.” On a similar note, Nelson said other unforeseen obstacles can arise such as the transplanting of trees previously on-site and the accommodations of teacher parking for the 800s classrooms and portables. Nelson said such accommodations are responsible for the pace of progress so far. “It takes cooperation between the many representatives involved with the project to resolve unsuspected hurdles,” Nelson said.
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It is important representatives from Morganti and the school collaborate each week to address issues and concerns that may materialize along the path.
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-Assistant Principal Jeff Nelson Nelson said characteristics of the building include a partial glass exterior for visibility, a z-shape design for maximized land use, specialty classrooms and upgraded technology. Nelson said the features will be created with the designing expertise of professional architects, feedback from faculty and technological consultation from MicroComputer Tech Specialist Jason Erdman. “The faculty [at the Bay] is excited about the general uniqueness of the building, as it is specialized for students,” Nelson said. “It is almost as if a student is receiving a ne vehicle, as it will be fresh, state of the art and with upgrades.” Junior Natalia Fernandez said the building is important because of its ability to increase the population capacity and maximize the learning experience. Fernandez said the new addition will have a crucial role in transferring more classes from the aged portables to a newer building. “Portables can be crowded, so it is a great idea to create more space for students to learn,” Fernandez said. “In addition, there is the convenience of replacing classes in the portables that can be small and ineffectively air conditioned at times.” In agreement with Nelson, sophomore Alec Gross said providing updates are a necessary mode of communication, as publicized announcements will prevent misinformation from spreading to provide accuracy. Gross said he is looking forward to knowing the details from the primary construction source rather than speculations made by fellow peers.
“It is important to keep students and staff updated to remove rumours and emphasize the truth,” Gross said.
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Although the construction workers are creating a wonderful building thus far, I cannot wait to learn more about the building due to updates.
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BY Agavni Mehrabi
-sophomore Alec Gross Nelson said the building will not only improve student capacity and classroom conditions, but create empty portables that can be of use for extra storage. He said utilizing the portables for various measures instead of demolishing them can be more useful to the school. “The commitment is to create a building where the school will not pursue portables for instruction,” Nelson said. “While the building will fortunately provide a place for instruction, a school this size will still find a home for inventory items extremely valuable.” Fernandez said she is pleased with the purposes of the building, as well as the general productivity of the building crew as time elapses. Fernandez said the structural foundation built, shows advancements were exponential during the holiday break. “It is amazing the construction company laid a good deal of groundwork,” Fernandez said. “The faster the building is completed, the less time students spend in the area around the construction walking from class to class and create less safety hazards.” Nelson said the construction speed can be further optimized with necessary support from the school community by assisting with safety awareness. Nelson said protection can be maximized by starting updates on building activity and having instructors review protocol on what to do while construction is ensuing. “Students should remember to be cautious by staying outside the perimeter and follow the routine established,” Nelson said. “Essentially, students and staff can assist in the process by continuing to utilize their common sense when navigating the campus. Nelson said such support is derived between school and the Morganti group through various meetings attended by the district representative, school representatives like himself, members of the building management team, Principal Fried and the security team. He said this system has allowed for the circulation of knowledge such as recent accomplishments and the latest plans among those officials involved in the project. “Biweekly building meetings have created a way to reconcile difficulties arising from the endeavor of building in a crowded area,” Nelson said. “With their help, we have gotten the pretty consistent working relationship we need.” In the meantime, Gross said he is looking forward to specific positive features provided by the effort. Gross said upgraded seating and shade-covered benches are crucial for the growing community of the school. “The school is currently supporting many occupants, so an increase in seating would make lunchtime a slightly more pleasant experience,” Gross said. “I can already imagine sitting in a shaded area with my friends in the future and enjoying what the new building has to offer.” With the milestones approaching, Gross said the patience and compromises of the students at the Bay will be worthwhile once the building is completed. “I did not know if I would have the opportunity to see the idea become reality before graduation,” Gross said. “Now, I am thrilled at the prospect of being present as the school enters a new era full of possibilities.”
photo by agavni mehrabi
photo by Courtney levinson
from the ground up: The construction for the new building at the Bay is scheduled to finish between December 2020 through August 2021. Junior Natalia Fernandez said she is looking forward to occupying the additional building and is impressed by how much groundwork the Morganti Group was able to construct in a short period of time.
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FEBRUARY 2020
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Car wash raises money and builds friendships BY COURTNEY LEVINSON
PR MANAGER
Best Buddies held their annual car wash at the Wendy’s parking lot to raise funds for their club on Jan. 25th. During the event, about 50 cars were cleaned and a profit of $1,200 was made to support upcoming socials hosted by Best Buddies. Member and junior Sophia Nino said the event was impactful because it was a great opportunity to bond with the buddies while raising money for a good cause. “I became more invested in Best Buddies this year by participating in events and now it is one of my favorite clubs at the Bay,” Nino said. “Events such as the car wash are important because I am able to connect with everyone outside of school; I am unable to spend time with my buddy throughout the school day, therefore I was glad I was able to enjoy quality time together at the event.” Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Junior and Historian Ethan Tierno said the carwash was an overall success and he looks forward to being able to raise more money towards the cause for Best Buddies. “I have attended several events hosted by Best Buddies for the past three years now and the executive board ensures the event runs smoothly; whether it’s a social or an event to raise money, everyone always ends up having a good time,” Tierno said. “It is crucial the members and buddies have a great time; it was great to see the club come together and assist, including faculty at the Bay.” Each member of Best Buddies was provided five tickets to sell to their friends and family to attend the event. Adviser of Best Buddies and English teacher Jeanne Kielbasa said she looks forward to the event each year as it is a great occasion for members and their buddies to build on their friendship. “Events such as the car wash not only assist
in raising money and awareness, but it is a wonderful opportunity for the club to come together,” Kielbasa said. “The members and executive board in the club put much effort into organizing and selling tickets to their peers.” Tierno said his position as a Historian is important to the club because he is able to capture all of the amazing moments that come along with Best Buddies. Tierno said he loved viewing the members and buddies enjoying themselves at the events while raising money for the club. “If more students at the Bay view our Instagram and how special our events are, the more student participation the club will receive as members sign up for Best Buddies next year,” Tierno said. “The carwash is another way to connect with everyone in and outside of Best Buddies.” Following the carwash, the club is hosting the annual Valentine’s Day Dance event in the cafeteria on Feb. 9 to celebrate the holiday and spread love to the members and buddies. Nino said she cannot wait to spend more time with her buddy at the dance.” “After how much of a success the car wash was, I am looking forward to more upcoming events, as spending quality time with my buddy is heartwarming,” Nino said. “I cannot wait to be more involved next year and apply for an officer position to assist in organizing future buddy socials and holiday-themed events.” Kielbasa said the event ran smoothly and she is looking forward to events later in the school year. Students and faculty from the Bay all came out to help in the car wash and support by donating to Best Buddies. “All of our volunteers worked hard to sell their tickets and make time for the carwash,” Kielbasa said. “We were able to raise a good amount of money towards Best Buddies so it was definitely a success.”
photos BY RACHEL ALEXANDER
buddy bonding: Best Buddies members wash cars and hold signs to attract customers to their annual car wash on Jan. 25 at the Wendy’s parking lot. Best Buddies adviser and English teacher Jeanne Kielbasa said the event is a great opportunity to network with fellow members of the club and make a difference in the society.
Families learn about AICE through assembly by isabella grogan
features / sports PHOTO EDITOR
The AICE program held an informative night for parents and students from Falcon Cove and Tequesta Trace Middle School where they had the opportunity to learn more about the AICE program. Held on Jan. 27 in the auditorium, around 500 people attended the event. Assistant Principal of Advanced Academics and coordinator of the event, Marianela Estripeaut, said this year, the program implemented an educational night separate from Advanced Academic Night and had a presentation to answer questions more efficiently. “Normally, the AICE staff answers questions of parents at events that include other clubs and classes, but there are so many parents with questions that are unable to be answered in a short period of time,” Estripeaut said. “It was an issue parents and students were busy at the AICE table and did not get to learn about the other classes.” Alongside Estripeau, AICE coordinator Adrienne Maisel assisted in the organization of the event and held a question and answer session for parents to increase knowledge about the program. Maisel said the purpose of the event is to ensure middle school students and their parents extend their awareness of the intricacies of the program and what potential classes to participate in. “The AICE program had a wonderful turnout and found there were many questions circulating in the community that coordinators found to need answers,” Maisel said. “The event was effective as the students tended to answer their own questions, which was nice
because the program loves to hear from the students participating in the program.” Estripeaut said it is important the parents become informed with the classes their children decide to sign up for, as they are essential to college applications. Estripeaut said parents must receive factual information to prevent signing up their child for a difficult class which they may not be able to handle. “Our community and our parents are very involved with their children and it is wonderful and it makes [the Bay] what we are,” Estripeaut said. “The students are wonderful because they have a good parental support system.” Administrative specialist Nori Suarez said AICE is a highly esteemed program as it is a great way to earn the diploma that comes with AICE classes, which develops opportunities for students to receive the highest level of the Bright Futures scholarship. “The classes are challenging and rigorous similar to the Advanced Placement program, but it is a different format; for some students, AICE works and it creates happiness within the student body,” Suarez said. “It is nice [the Bay] can offer a plethora of classes; if a student wishes to participate in an AICE class they can; if students wish for an honors course, and not many schools have the ability to have a vast selection of courses.” Maisel said participating in the AICE program builds confidence, responsibility, reflectiveness, innovation and assists engaged students. She said it is recommended for students to take AICE courses because it has positively impacted many of the participants’ lives. “These are wonderful traits for students to learn because they are traits that will aid the
photo by isabella grogan
class of 2024: AICE coordinator Adrienne Maisel presents the AICE program to students and parents in a question and answer session. Maisel provides information on what to expect from the rigorous program and how it can benefit the futures of students.
students in being successful in their future,” Maisel said. “I have found AICE General Paper is a very effective course for incoming freshman to take because it assists with building literacy skills students will utilize in the future.” Estripeaut said she recommends students to take courses that will push them to utilize the best of their academic abilities. Estripeaut said it is great the Bay offers AICE, AP and honors courses because it allows for a variety in the level of rigor each course contains. “The courses provided are fantastic opportunities for students because if they meet the prerequisites and are able to be successful in the class, students are not only receiving
high school credits, but a head start on their college credits,” Estripeaut said. “That is money and time being saved when the student attends college.” Suarez said the event was quite successful and she was happy with the layout and presentation. Suarez said many parents as well as students were able to learn about the AICE program effectively. “The event had a great turnout with almost every single seat in the auditorium was filled,” Suarez said. “Estripeaut and Maisel are the most knowledgeable people on the program and did a great job of teaching parents and students what AICE is about.”
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Appreciation for our education Students at the Bay thank educators for their dedication and positive influence. by sandra talledo Graphics Editor
Junior Shannon Sin said she has gained a strong interest in environmental science after taking a course with AP Environmental Science and Environmental Regular teacher Laura Beth Ashley. As well as being in the class, Sin is the president of the Bay’s Ecology Club, for which Ashley is the adviser. “I always thought that I would stay in business but my interests have been shifting after taking the class,” Sin said. “I’m not as sure what I want to do but I’m glad to have been swayed off of my original path even if I go back on to it.” Ashley said she makes it one of her main goals of teaching to make her students take something away from the class. She said she is content she has helped Sin expand her career options. By sponsoring the Ecology Club, Ashley not only assists Sin during class but also after school. “As much as I dislike that there’s a test at the end, I try and use it to inspire people and if they change one thing at the end of the class or learn something new, that’s almost as good,” Ashley said. “Passing the exam is good, but if they also bring away something from the class, that’s just as good, if not better.” Similar to Ashley, AP United States History (APUSH) and AP European History teacher Jeffery Buttell said he wants his students to take away something from his class. In his case, he feels it is important to teach them skills for their future beyond history. “I try to inspire my students to have a love for history,” Buttell said. “I want them to understand the history of their country, so they can use that to make connections to politics and other situations; history repeats itself. I want them to understand the importance of their civic responsibility.” Buttell and Ashley said they want their students to take away something from the class, so they can use it in their future. Junior Victor Atanassov takes APUSH with Buttell and said he has learned not only the skills for history, but also extra information such as how certain programs work. “He sometimes mentions other topics that I would not learn about normally,” Atanassov said. “He once taught us how pensions worked; it isn’t super useful to me currently but I’m glad that I’ll know about it for when I’m looking for a job.” According to Atanassov, many of the tangents Buttell goes on has to do with understanding the parallels to contemporary politics, such as understanding how the
electoral college works and the history of immigration. Buttell felt it would be useful to his students to understand how many options there are for their careers. “[Pension] plays a big role in your life as an adult when you get out of college and you’re starting your career,” Buttell said. “I wish I had had a teacher that told me about pension systems. I would have probably worked for the government right out of college, but I didn’t really understand it.” Similar to Buttell, AICE Classical Studies teacher Declan Lyons wants to teach skills for his students’ futures. He wants to help his students and officers of the clubs he sponsors to develop skills for their futures. “I believe in empowering people, and the earlier that people feel their own power the better leaders they’ll become,” Lyons said. “They’ll have more experience by the time they get to college. I’m a facilitator but I’m not in charge. I can give directions if there’s something I’m worried about.” As an officer of the Ecology Club, Sin is grateful Ashley gives her and the other officers freedom to run the club. She said she likes being able to go to Ashley for guidance and suggestions, while also being able to have creative freedom. “[Ashley] lets us pick what we base meetings on and usually assists us with projects we want to do,” Sin said. “She also advises us about things we should cover; for example, she told us we should do a fundraiser for Australia because of the wildfires, but then she lets us have creative freedom with how we’ll do it.” Ashley said she is proud of all the work Sin and the rest of the Ecology Club are doing. She said she gets a lot of teachers and other staff members thanking the club for recycling every week. She also hopes it will push other kids to recycle without being in the club. “It’s nice inspiring kids to do something as simple as recycling,” Ashley said. “Ecology Club doing recycling helps raise awareness for students to recycle as well. It’s simple things like that make a difference. I’ve had a lot of teachers compliment us for recycling.” Lyons said he tries to give members of his clubs a place to do something they enjoy after a long day. He lets the officers have the choice to do what they want with the meetings while also doing what he can to make them feel comfortable in the classroom. “I just love to see people being happy with each other,” Lyons said. “No need for stress there’s enough of that going on. Clubs offer a good time to take the stress of a day off. Let’s enjoy friendship; let’s be happy.” While Lyons makes a comfortable space
photos by sandra talledo
Matter: (From top) Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) adviser Dr. Declan Mentors Lyons speaks with junior Ziona Brown about what she can do to fix her problems. Lyons said he wants to make his club a safe space for all members. Junior Kayla Ortiz asks Lyons about LGBT representation in the media at a GSA meeting.
for his clubs, he tries to do what he can for his students as well. He said it’s tough because he knows the homework he assigns is necessary but he sees how much his kids are doing every night. For his Latin classes, he has to assign the work in order to prevent them from forgetting, but he does what he can to not add to the stress they are already going through. “I understand how stressed my students are with classes and homework, so I make sure to assign only what is necessary,” Lyons said. “For my AICE Classical AS course, I have to assign them a lot of homework in the 11 weeks before the test. I know it’s a lot but it’s only for that time period.” Ashley tries to make her class more appealing by doing labs, for example, she had her students test the permeability and porosity as well as other factors of a few samples, while teaching the soil chapter of the class. “I look at [the course] as to how I would like to learn,” Ashley said. “Especially with an environmental class, it’s better to have handson lessons and be more engaged to help the students put two and two together. It helps them appreciate and understand things a little bit better.” While Ashley does labs to keep her students interested, Buttell said he uses his extensive knowledge of history to do the same thing. According to Atanassov, Butell
knows so much about history and he mentions entertaining stories during powerpoints. “I love when he tells stories during the lectures,” Atanassov said. “When we were learning about the American Revolution, he told us with great detail about how they tarred and feathered British officers. Thanks to that story, I’ll never forget how tense that time period was.” Buttell said he likes using these small tidbits to help his students stay focused or have their interests intensify. He said teaching history is essentially storytelling, so he tries to keep it entertaining. “I’ve taught history for so long that I know it like the back of my hand so I try to make connections,” Buttell said. “You have to make it as interesting as possible to intensify their interests and make connections.” Buttell said he enjoys getting letters or emails from previous students about how something he said stuck to them and what they are doing now. Ashley also feels the same, she said it is always endearing to get notes back about how much a student appreciated them. “I get emails from current and past students about things they saw that reminded them of me,” Ashley said. “It’s nice knowing that they haven’t forgotten about me after graduating, even if it’s a small blurb.”
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THe things they carried FEATURING Alyssa Goncalves AND Her BACKPACK “The Things They Carried” is a recurring segment that examines the personalities of students through the contents of their backpacks. This month, Business Manager Sabrina Olivieri interviews junior Alyssa Goncalves to discover the meaning behind five items.
Pokemon’s Mudkip Keychain With her backpack, Goncalves carries a purse with her at all times with a Pokemon themed keychain attached to the purse. She has been carrying the keychain with character Mudkip ever since she got it from a friend in seventh grade. Nowadays, she said she gets recognized by many people because of her keychain. Goncalves said it has a huge sentimental value for her because it has brought her and many of her friends closer because of inside jokes created because of the keychain. “To me, it has immense sentimental value due to having it for so long, since it has become an inside joke among many of my friends,” Goncalves said. “It reminds me of the memories I have had with it; it’s great if any of my friends have to find me in a crowd. They see that keychain; they know it is me.”
Electrovolt’s Agenda Goncalves carries an agenda with all of her writing concepts and creations related to her video game idea, “Electrovolt”. She carries the agenda every day in her backpack because it is easier to record any ideas for the development of the game. She has been carrying the agenda since sixth grade, when she was first inspired to create the game. She said it is important for her to carry it to make sure all of her writing ideas make sense and she can accommodate them in the game’s plot. “My game’s agenda [is where] I write down ideas for the game’s story if I ever get them,” Goncalves said.“I read them later while drawing concept art or listening to the game’s soundtrack to keep things in the game’s story in order, and make sure it makes sense and is consistent with the world I have created.”
Nintendo Switch Goncalves has been a game lover since a young age. She said the Nintendo Switch is one of the best video game consoles to bring to school because it is lightweight, so she can carry it in her bag. Another main reason she carries her Nintendo Switch to school is because of her passion for video games. Goncalves said her skills for her favorite game, “Super Smash Bros,” has improved significantly. “I have had many meaningful memories with it, due to the massive amount of progress I have made in its games,” Golcaves said. “I have played [Super Smash Bros] with many friends and it’s always a great time when I bring it.”
UNO Cards Goncalves said UNO cards have been present in her life ever since the beginning of her high school career. “The Legend Of Zelda” themed UNO cards Goncalves carries every day is a meaningful card game to her because it reminds her of her freshman and sophomore years. It is also used as a backup game when her Nintendo Switch is not well charged to have fun. “We used to always play UNO during lunch in my freshman and sophomore year, but it’s currently a token of the past and the good times made with them,” Goncalves said. “On occasion, whenever my Switch is dead, me and my boyfriend play UNO to pass the time until my dad comes to pick me up.”
Electrovolt’s Sketchbook A drawing sketchbook is used by Goncalves in her everyday life to create and improve any ideas for her game’s creation, “Electrovolt”. All of the concepts for characters, areas, story, cutscenes and more are developed by Goncalves with the help of this sketchbook to make everything organized as she improves and comes up with more ideas for the game. Goncalves said her sketchbook allows her to easily draw anything at any time and the idea will not be forgotten. “I get ideas quite often at random times due to listening to the game’s soundtrack on my phone while doing work to visualize the scene properly and draw it if I am ever free,” Goncalves said. “It’s a great way to draw out cutscenes and create new characters for something I have been working on since sixth grade. I’m really proud of how far it has come and it’s all starting to come together very nicely.”
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I get ideas quite often at random times due to listening to the game’s soundtrack on my phone while doing work to visualize the scene properly and draw it if I am ever free.
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-junior Alyssa Goncalves
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FEATURES
FEBRUARY 2020
Couples carry on annual Valentine’s Day traditions By RACHEL ALEXANDER online features editor
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, couples such as junior Isabella Flanagan and senior Tomas Cevallos have begun discussing their plans and favorite traditions for the occasion. Flanagan said they plan on starting a new Valentine’s tradition this year, which entails going on a sunset boat ride in Fort Lauderdale followed by a nice dinner. “Traditions are so important because of the impact they could have,” Flanagan said. “Each time you create [a tradition], you create memories and stories along with them that you can remember forever.” Flanagan said one of her favorite Valentine’s traditions is sitting on the couch to watch a movie along with baking cookies. Flanagan said she and her boyfriend used these activities to commemorate Valentine’s Day last year. “I enjoy creating these traditions with my boyfriend because it is a day that I can show my appreciation and love for him, [especially] for all he does for me,” Flanagan said. “I also think at a young age, it is important to make memories that we will never forget.” Cevallos said he enjoys celebrating Valentine’s Day with Flanagan because he loves to spoil her. He said he understands her as a person and celebrating a day with her sounds like a dream come true. “For me, it’s really important to celebrate with my girlfriend because I take time off to just think about how different my life would have been without her,” Cevallos said. “It also gives me time to focus all of my attention on her, which is something she deserves.” Flanagan said another tradition they enjoy participating in is gift giving. She said last year Cevallos got her a bear, a box of chocolates and a jar with 100 reasons he loves her. “We do [gift giving] to show how grateful we are for each other with something other than words,” Flanagan said. “The gift does not have to be anything expensive, it is something personal to us that we both appreciate receiving.” Cevallos said he hopes to create new traditions with Flanagan as their relationship grows. He said he hopes to start cooking with her as opposed to going out to eat, as it is something they do not do often. “I think it’s important to create new traditions right now because it’s a great way to find new things we both enjoy doing so we can do it together more often,” Cevallos said. “We can also be diverse about it and try new things.” Similar to Flanagan and Cevallos, senior Samantha De Luca said her and her boyfriend have created numerous traditions over the three years they have been together. She said one of her favorite traditions is every year on Valentine’s Day, they go out for sushi since it is their favorite food. “I enjoy celebrating with my boyfriend because it is always fun to celebrate our relationship and continue our tradition of going to eat,” De Luca said. “It’s important to create traditions now, so that we can continue them in the future and possibly create other great ones.” English 1 Honors teacher Erica Machado said one of her favorite traditions is to wear her special t-shirt that says “A’s Before Baes” as a joke to remind her students where their priorities should be. She said she also enjoys bringing candy for her students to enjoy. “This year I am hoping to have some help to have my door covered with that little slogan,” Machado said. “I always bring candy because it can just be for fun; the holiday doesn’t have to be too intensely romantic.” De Luca said she hopes to create new traditions such as leaving gifts on his desk at school before he gets to class. She said her and her boyfriend love exchanging gifts as it makes each other feel special; she said her favorite gifts she has received includes roses, chocolates and clothes.
“It’s important to celebrate a day of love with my boyfriend so that we can celebrate our years of being together and loving each other,” De Luca said. “It gives us the opportunity to keep creating great memories too.” Machado said her husband occasionally sends her Valentine’s flowers, but due to the fact their wedding anniversary is a month after the holiday, they choose to celebrate both occasions in March. She said after having her baby last May, she is excited to dress her up in an outfit with hearts on it. “We usually love going out for dinner, but this year is going to be complicated because we had a baby in May,” Machado said. “I think having a day devoted to such a fun and intense emotion can be a good time to reflect on that element on your life.” Machado said after the Parkland shooting in 2018, it can be complicated to step onto a school campus on the holiday due to the reminder overshadowing. “Although being at a school on Valentine’s Day can be difficult, I like what we are doing this year by spreading community love and kindness,” Machado said. “I feel it is a nice way to blend the two while at school.” De Luca’s boyfriend, senior Barrett Cruz said he enjoys creating traditions with his girlfriend in order to build a stronger bond for the future. “I love celebrating with her because she is my best friend and we constantly make each other laugh,” Cruz said. Cruz said he enjoys exchanging gifts with his girlfriend and his favorite gift he has received has been a pair of sneakers. He said he also hopes to always continue their tradition of going out for sushi. “I enjoy every chance I get to spend quality time with her,” Cruz said. “It is important to celebrate a day of love with her because it gives me the chance to show her how much I care about her.” Photo submitted by Isabella Flanagan
Photo submitted by Samantha De Luca
love is in the (From top) Junior Isabella Flanagan and her boyfriend, senior Tomas Cevallos, exchange gifts on Valentine’s air: Day last year. Flanagan received gifts such as a teddy bear, balloons and chocolate, in return she gave Cevallos a customized pillow with a picture of them on it. They said they plan on continuing their tradition of gift giving this upcoming Valentine’s Day. Cevallos said he often uses the pillow his girlfriend got for him, although he got it a year ago. (Bottom) Seniors Samantha De Luca and Barrett Cruz taken annual picture with De Luca’s dog, Billy, each year before going out on a Valentine’s Day date to get sushi. De Luca said she enjoys this tradition with her boyfriend as Billy is an important part of her family.
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Tuition: $31,144 ACT Composite: 24-30
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Undergraduate Enrollment: 22,815 SAT Composite: 1040-1250
Percent of applicants admitted: 77.8%
PHOTO COURTESY OF https://www.math.utk.edu/
University of Tennessee (UTK) is a public school located in Knoxville, Tennessee with approximately 30,000 students enrolled. 2019 alumna Raven Holmes is currently a freshman at the university. She spoke to The Circuit’s Alexa Braxton via Facetime.
on have a showcase. I also plan on applying to be a PINK Campus Representative, which is basically when you work with the headquarters and you get free stuff, but mainly free trips if you do a good job. In the next four years, I hope to find where I belong here on campus and be able to make an impact as well as jump What made you choose to go to the start my career. school UTK? Two summers ago, I made a spontaneous Do you ever get homesick? trip to the school to visit a few of my dad’s For the most part, not really. I was super friends and I instantly fell in love with the homesick when I first got here, but now that campus. It has always been a dream to attend I’m more comfortable and have a solid routine a school out of state just so I could have a fresh and made lots of new friends, I don’t really start and branch out of my comfort zone. ever get homesick. What are you looking forward to during the next four years of your time at UTK? Next fall, I plan on rushing Sigma Kappa and auditioning to be part of the BOSS Dance Company here on my campus, where you take dance classes during the week and later
What do you plan on doing with your free time during college? During the week, I don’t have much free time, but on the weekends I try to spend time with my friends and explore Knoxville. Along with that, I go out at night, but I make sure
to make Sunday my study and homework day welcoming and down-to-Earth and try their just so I have an equal balance. hardest to make you feel at home. It might seem like you’re the only out-of-state student, but Was it hard adapting to college? don’t worry, there are many more in the same At first, it was pretty difficult trying to boat. There are many opportunities to meet make friends because a lot of people that I met people from the same state as you or different already knew each other because they’re from ones. Just remember, you can have fun and get the same hometown or attended the same high an education too. Time management will be school. Being an out-of-state student is always your new best friend. a little stressful, especially if you are a more shy and laid back person because you have How do you feel about your classes at to learn to step out of your comfort zone and college? make connections. I think the difficult part I started a class on Aug. 19, 2019. I wasn’t about college is learning how to spend your very nervous, but I was not sure how I would free time wisely because you have a lot more manage my course load. By being a Sociology freedom than high school. major and obtaining a minor in Forensic Anthropology, I was uncertain if I could Do you have any advice for anyone going juggle prerequisites and required classes. My to UTK in the upcoming year? main concern was if I would be able to achieve Advice that I would give to anyone coming a “C” or higher in all of my classes. to UTK is just be yourself; everyone here in Tennessee that I have met so far is very
In this issue’s recurring segment that gives students an opportunity to learn more about the teachers they see every day, staffer Hannah Shulby interviews Geometry teacher Lauren Bender.
What made you want to teach math over other subjects? My entire life, I have always succeeded in math and have been better at it than other subjects. I have always had a keen interest in math since I was young and have always been good at it. This made my decision easy when choosing what subject I was going to be teaching, since it has always been my favorite class in school. What are your biggest pet peeves? My biggest pet peeve is probably absenteeism or when students come in late to class. This disrupts the flow of the class and distracts other students. When students are absent, they fall behind in
the class and it is hard to learn a math lesson after it’s been taught to the rest of the class. Another [pet peeve] is students not completing their homework. This is another way students set themselves up to do bad in class because without practice, you can’t learn. What do you consider your greatest strength? I know that every student has a different method that allows them to succeed and learn. I think that I am able to explain a problem in multiple ways that benefits all types of learners. This allows any student to understand in a way that is comfortable for them, in which they can solve the problems in the lesson. What makes a good teacher in your opinion? I believe a good teacher explains thoroughly and listens to the kids. A teacher should explain the lessons and homework completely, because if not, it will lead to the
students not being able to understand what they are confused about or getting wrong. Homework is the key to understanding and if the student is never informed on what they did wrong, they will never improve. By doing this, the students will just end up getting the same problems wrong on the test and never will improve. What’s your favorite part about being a teacher? Honestly, my favorite part is the students. I love watching the process of students as they begin to understand the lesson. Seeing the spark of when the material finally clicks in their head and knowing they feel successful. After I explain what they are learning, I see them understand and become happy, which is definitely my favorite part. What inspired you to begin teaching? Some of my favorite things are math and the kids, so it’s a great opportunity to work everyday teaching something I am passionate
about. I want them to understand and love math just as much as I do. This made me want to become a teacher to be able to initiate this interest in mathematics. I knew I wanted to work with children, which led me to teaching. If you could do high school all over again, would you? If I had the opportunity to redo my high school experience, I would not. When I attended high school, we did not have access to the same high-level classes and had little variety. Unlike [the Bay], where I grew up, we had no college level classes like AP or AICE. The classes had no challenge and did not make me push myself, which is why I would not like to be back in my high school, to redo those courses.
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FEBRUARY 2020
Travelers reminisce on unforgettable experiences by courtney levinson pr manager
Traveling the globe can be a once and a lifetime experience, according to junior Santiago Santana. Santana said he is thankful for the opportunities he has had when it comes to travel. “Whether it’s traveling with my soccer team to Italy or going to China and Tokyo with my family, it is always an experience of a lifetime,” Santana said. “When I travel with my family it brings us all closer, and it is because of soccer trips like Italy that I was able to bond with my team and grow as a player.” Similar to Santana, Algebra and Advanced Topics teacher Lori Windloss said she’s traveled a lot; she has gone to the Carribean, Israel, England, France, Monaco and several places in the United States. She said she used to go on several cruises to tropical areas, but now travels mostly to Naples. “I love going to Naples. I love going because that’s where my husband and I had our first away vacations together and then we ended up getting married there at sunset on the beach,” Windloss said. “It’s our 20th anniversary in April, so we are going to enjoy our date in Naples.” Windloss said traveling can open up opportunities to connect with loved ones, and visit family and friends. She said she usually travels with her husband and sometimes, her whole family. “We also love going to California because most of my family and my husband’s family live there. We both love to ski so when we can go out there in the winter months, we try to ski. We haven’t been a long time, but we’re looking forward to going back one
more time,” Windloss said. “When we travel with our whole family, including my children and grandchildren, [it] is always an awesome adventure.” Junior Marley Solomon said her eight week trip in the summer to Israel was life changing. She attended High School in Israel (HSI) where she attended classes and roomed with her best friends. “I went into HSI not sure what to expect. I heard from my older friends that it was going to be the best experience of my life, but I was still a little nervous,” Solomon said. “Once we were two weeks into the trip, I never wanted to go home. I met some of my closest friends and created memories that will last me forever.” Solomon said she has been lucky enough to travel with her family a lot since she was young. She has been to South Africa, Fiji, Portugal, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Croatia, Slovenia, Jamaica, Iceland and Israel. “My most recent trip was this month when I went to Panama with my parents and twin brother,” Solomon said. “It was nice because we were all able to celebrate New Years Eve and be able to spend time together without our phones.” Santana has traveled all around Europe including Spain, France and Italy. He said he is looking forward to exploring all around Europe this summer, including Greece and Italy again. “I feel that Europe is the most beautiful place in the world. I have been to several different places and I feel that Italy is by far the best,” Santana said. “Everyone there is so welcoming and the views are absolutely insane.” Windloss said that sometimes it’s hard for her to take off time to travel, but she hopes to
photos submitted by marley solomon
globe trotters: (From top) juniors Marley Solomon and Mason Solomon visit Panama on a family trip. Last summer, Solomon attended an eight-week program in Israel called High School in Israel. She said she was lucky to have met so many new people and have such a great experience on the trip.
make it work one day. She has several dream destinations and she hopes that one day all of those dreams will come true. “My two dream destinations are to go to Alaska and Africa without a doubt. I really
want to do a safari but unfortunately, my husband doesn’t so I will have to find someone to do it with me,” Windloss said. “I think traveling is amazing, it makes you grow and learn so much by experiencing the culture.”
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‘Senioritis’ hits as school year closes by gowri abhinanda news copy editor
With second semester rolling in, some seniors at the Bay like Garrett Bishop are finding themselves challenged with trying to remain engaged in the same academic rigor that had once been present in the three previous years. Bishop said entering into the second semester of his last school year at the Bay is proving itself to be a mental difficulty, as keeping a positive and determined attitude towards graduating is hard. “Senior year is an uphill battle with yourself because you just want to be done with it all and move on to the next chapter in your life, and you just want to get to college already,” Bishop said. “However, at the same time, it seems so far away because time just seems to slow down, but I always remind myself to hold it together because I can’t burn out before college.”
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College applications are a thing that is not in my control at all, and it’s best to accept that that’s a fact and move on because if not, life is going to be pretty miserable. It’s my last year here at Cypress Bay and I don’t want to be stressed.
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-senior Nicole Buckley Bishop said the competitive nature which is fed to the student body at the Bay is a major reason for seniors beginning to slack off at the end. Students are encouraged to take challenging courses to achieve a higher grade point average, which will look more impressive to in and out-of-state colleges. He said college is the next important segment in life because it’s a set up for whatever career a student may want to pursue. He said the process of applying to colleges with the intention of trying to be accepted is a chapter that high school relentlessly prepares students for, so as the time nears, it seems like a more obscure goal. “As soon as you come to this school, you’re told you need to take hard classes and be academically on top of it all the time, and you’re told you have to get involved in clubs or service projects to promote yourself for your college to look at you as a worthy candidate,” Bishop said. “All of that is fine because those are the requirements, but by the time you’ve met all of those requirements, it’s like your mind wants to shut down because even though as seniors, we’re literally there at the finish line. It seems so unachievable because there’s still a little more time to go.” Senior Nicole Buckley said she has a more positive outlook towards the second semester. She said she wants to cherish the last few quarters left as a student at the Bay instead of worrying about factors like being accepted into college, which isn’t something applicants have a handle over. “College applications are a thing that is not in my control at all, and it’s best to accept it and move on because if not, life is going to be pretty miserable,” Buckley said. “It’s my last year here at [the Bay] and I don’t want to spend that time being overly stressed out about everything because I need to remember to take a breather and make the most of the time I have with all of the amazing friends I’ve made here.” Buckley said she finds many of her peers struggling with trying to make it through the last semester in high school. In order to help combat the indifference or anxiety senior students may face towards their dwindling days as a high schooler, Buckley said she
photo by Gowri Abhinanda
i’m out: (From top) senior Joseph Mullen checks his grades and the status of his college applications. In senior year, he said his biggest worry is whether or not he will get into college. Senior Nicole Buckley expresses her stress by screaming in the cafeteria. She is an active participant in the Debate Club at Cypress.
likes to remind her friends, classmates and even herself how graduation is closer than it may feel. She said she likes to tell anyone that she notices is struggling that there is room for leisure in the high school experience, not just work. “A lot of the seniors in this school are definitely suffering from ‘senioritis,’ which is like a made-up disease, but when I get that feeling or I see anyone else going through that same thing, I like to help students when I can and in that way, we all we get through the second semester together,” Buckley said. “I know that in high school there’s this dialogue that you need to succeed and if not you’re completely doomed, but that’s not the case at all, there needs to be a balance for everything and going to high school shouldn’t be a pain, there is fun too, and we all just need to be reminded of that.” In order to de-stress, Buckley said she has a repertoire of different methods to combat the anxiety she personally feels from college applications and the daily stresses of high school. She said being a part of the debate team is a home for her at school, and a place to be herself and relax. “I like doing different things to relax and take my mind off of all the stress and the little pressures I face every day, I like to engage in climate activism and organize. I like hanging out with my friends and I also really enjoy debating,” Buckley said. “I’ve been debating for all four of my years at Cypress and it’s the best decision I have made by far because it’s a place for me to have fun and to be passionate about a topic to a point where I can argue for it, I also love all the friends I’ve made there, we are family and we all support each other,
especially the other seniors who are going through that last sprint to the finish line, figuratively, in high school.” Like Buckley, senior Garrett Bishop said that he has found solace in being a part of the debate team and competing. He said that this has been a source of strength for him in difficult times and without it, he would’ve given into being unmotivated during the second semester of his senior year at the Bay. “I’m a part of the debate team for four years now and I like it a lot, it’s a community feel and we’re all there for each other and we all make fun, play around, but we also help one another whether it be for debate tournaments or any other dilemma in life in general,” Bishop said. “Without being in Debayte, I don’t think I would’ve been as committed to my classes as I am now, it keeps me grounded, and mentally more strong to go and take on the last semester, and I’m really grateful for all the people and the teachers I’m surrounded within that program.” Assistant Athletic Director, AICE Classical Studies and English Honors teacher Tori Warenik said she sees students like Buckley and Bishop all the time. She said these students are struggling to keep the same focused mindset with their second semester. “These students get this way because many of them are pushed to the point of just overstressing, exhaustion and some of them have already heard back from colleges or have their first or second acceptances,” Warenik said. “The second semester is just rough; they see the light at the end of the tunnel and they’re ready to leave, but it’s still pretty long for them.” As a teacher, she said she tries to help
her students by helping facilitate a positive momentum towards working. She said she gives her seniors pep talks to enforce the ideas they can’t give up after coming so far. She said this is essential since college acceptance is still at stake at this point. “I remind them that they need to keep their grades and attendance up because their acceptances can get rescinded,” Warenik said. “More so than that, although college is different than high school, they still need to have that perseverance to show up to their classes in college even if they have their sisters, brothers, friends and significant others, because you have to show up and those skills in second semester carry over.” Bishop said although he has had a relatively pessimistic attitude towards the second semester and trying to move forward from high school, he said he is going to try to shift his attitude to be more proactive. He said changing his views on reaching the figurative “finish line” is needed in order to complete the high school endeavor on a strong note. “I’ve been dwindling in and out of class and I haven’t had the best focus as the year is coming to a close; and even with the debate team, the second semester is pretty hard and dull,” Bishop said. “I do know that I need to get ready to fuel up myself to bring my best foot forward so that I can continue second semester, so that colleges see that dedication and so that the skill carries over into the future. I can’t quit now, there will be tougher times and I have to be ready for that.”
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New Year’s Resolutions encourage future success BY COLIN CRAWFORD features editor
An annual tradition, New Year’s resolutions, gives people the opportunity to make a list of goals and a set of tasks they want to accomplish in the upcoming year. For junior Rebekah Pinchevsky, this year will be about increased focus on school as well as working on performing well in DECA competitions and performing her responsibilities as an officer for DECA. “I hope to pass all my finals with Bs or higher and enjoy my last summer as a high schooler,” Pinchevsky said. “With proper time management, I think I can accomplish all of my goals for the year and everything should go as planned.”
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I think people fail to follow through on [their resolutions] when they set their expectations too high initially. [For] most people, their New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, a lot of people have that, but if you set your expectations at three pounds a week, you’re probably not going to do it and you’ll end up failing.
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-Guidance Counselor Christine Banach Pinchevsky said the resolutions she made for this year have been affected by her experiences from last year. She said past events definitely shape the future, but she is thankful for the adversity she previously faced.
“The past year has put me through different obstacles both emotionally and physically,” Pinchevsky said. “I competed in martial arts, and I have dealt with personal issues that have made me stronger in character.” Similar to Pinchevsky, sophomore Nathan Mendelson made New Year’s resolutions related to improving in school and self-care. He said he has a plan he believes will help him achieve his desired outcome for 2020. “[My resolutions are] to try in school, continue doing what I love and what makes me happy, and put myself as my first priority,” Mendelson said. “I know I can accomplish my goals by taking it one step at a time and making the necessary steps to make my goal a reality.” Guidance Counselor Christine Banach said people make the mistake of making resolutions, which are not logically achievable. She said people should make smaller, more reachable goals in the short term, so long term goals can culminate in fruition. “I think people fail to follow through on [their resolutions] when they set their expectations too high initially,” Banach said. “[For] most people, their New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, a lot of people have that, but if you set your expectations at three pounds a week, you’re probably not going to do it and you’ll end up failing.” Banach also said setbacks and laziness can keep people from reaching their full potential. She said people need to consider their surroundings when trying to complete a resolution and work hard in order to follow through with their goals. “A lot of people when they see that they’re not achieving [their goals], they just give up and say ‘I can’t do it,’ but you’re probably not achieving it because you set your goal too high,” Banach said. “At the same time, there are external factors like if you’re surrounded by junk food everywhere, you’re going to eat it; you need to get it out of your sight.” Mendelson said he also feels that people can be irresponsible when it comes to completing their New Year’s resolutions. He said he knows
PHoto by Colin crawford
Heart to heart: Juniors Rebekah Pinchevsky and Briana Perez talk about New Year’s resolutions. Pinchevsky said communicating her thoughts in this way with others allows her to organize better for a more effective achievement of her goals. She said this is one of the methods she uses to fulfill her plans for the future.
PHoto by Colin crawford
healthy habits: Junior Rebekah Pinchevsky said healthy eating habits, such as routinely swapping fast food items for salads, are also vital for improvement during the new year. She said besides this, she also strives towards improving her grades and increasing participation in extracurricular activities like Jiu-Jitsu and DECA. She said her recent success in receiving qualification for the statewide DECA competition reveals how her determination has started paying off already.
that it can be hard to stick to a goal, but people should work hard for what they want. “They [people with resolutions] set unrealistic expectations of themselves,” Mendelson said. “They get lazy when it is time to get to work.” Pinchevsky said she took Jiu Jitsu lessons for the first time in 2019 and discovered she was passionate about its techniques and soon found herself enthralled in the world of competitive Jiu Jitsu. Pinchevsky said this year, she wants to become even more well versed in the fighting technique and she is grateful for her training. “I do want to compete again, and I hope to get my blue belt to show that I want to advance,” Pinchevsky said. “I love the environment of my training facility, and I enjoy knowing I can defend myself no matter someone’s size or strength.” According to Mendelson, making resolutions at the beginning of every year is somewhat ritualistic and just a tradition, but he also does it to plan out his year. He said his favorite part about resolutions is thinking about how he will complete them. “[Resolutions] showed me what needed to be focused on and what I needed to prioritize,” Mendelson said. “I do think [resolutions] are important because it shows you what things you can work on during the year.” Banach said it is important for resolutions to be special to the person, and people should decide for themselves what they want to do with their lives. She said when people are making goals, they need to look inside themselves instead of what others tell them. “Focusing on what you want rather than what society tells you you should be or should do is important,” Banach said. “You have to really just kind of ignore all the things that you’re seeing everyone else do and just think about your childhood dreams, like if you want to be an astronaut if you actually want to do it, then do it despite what other people think.” Banach also said she loves it when students come to their counselors to seek advice about their goals. She said she wants students to be mindful about their goals so they do what they need to in the present, so they can be successful in the future. “I think it is important to plan goals for today, a week from today, goals for a year, five years, ten years,” Banach said. “You can kind of have a grand scheme picture as well as get those little goals done in the present moment
so that your big goals can happen for you in the future.” Pinchevsky said she believes making resolutions is therapeutic for her because it allows her to reflect and think about her personal desires. She said she believes having a set of goals keeps her organized. “It’s a way for me to keep a focused track of what I want in life,” Pinchevsky said. “I think people make resolutions in hopes they will fulfill [their goals] to sort of give them something to fight for.” Pinchevsky said she has already met one of her goals for the year because she qualified for the DECA states competition. She said she loves working with her peers and feels like DECA can truly prepare her more for the future than her other classes. “DECA has not only helped me with time management, but with most of my professional skills in general,” Pinchevsky said. “I have learned what it takes to work in teams and on my own; my public speaking has improved, along with my confidence.” Banach said she wants to help students and wants them to come to her to talk about their goals and what they want. She said she has tips for students who want to be better at meeting the goals they want to accomplish. “Setting mini goals, like I set reminders on my phone like I’ll say ‘Hey Siri remind me to do this or that’ so I have goals and certain things go off for me every single day so that I don’t forget it,” Banach said. “Certain people mess up with their goals because they don’t have them written down or they don’t have reminders for them so the days pass, so I think having reminders on your phone is really helpful. Banach said in order to help students even more, advice showing students how to manage themselves could be posted to the guidance tab of the Bay’s website. She said that this would be more practical than having an assembly for students. “Guidance could put together a little video presentation that we post on our Instagram or our Twitter or we put it on the guidance website so that it’s not taking away too much from school time because I know we’re so busy already,” Banach said. “It’s there for any student who wants help with [making goals] and it’d just be like a YouTube video or something like that.
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First date stories create fond memories FEATURES / sports photo EDITOR
In high school, people go on many first dates, according to senior Jack Racicot. Racicot said first dates are known for being awkward in some situations. He said he once asked a girl on a date, and she asked if her friend could go with them; he said he felt bad saying no. “When I asked the girl to go bowling and she asked if her friend could come I was surprised because no one has ever asked me that before about a date,” Racicot said. “I said she could come but I really didn’t want her to; it was just so awkward all night.” Racicot said first dates can determine a lot about the future of the two individuals. He said first dates show people’s compatibility and are the foundation for two people connecting and establishing an early relationship, which could possibly grow in the future. “I feel like first dates are pretty important; they are a good way to get to know each other better and can give you an idea of how the potential relationship would be,” Racicot said. “If you find out that the person isn’t who you thought they were, you can kindly not go on another date with them.”
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I feel like first dates are pretty important; they are a good way to get to know each other better and can give you an idea of how the potential relationship would be. If you find out that the person isn’t who you thought they were, you can kindly not go on another date with them.
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-senior Jack Racicot
Junior Juan Pablo Estua said he once took a girl on a surprise picnic as a first date. He said he picked her up and didn’t tell her where they were going and brought her to Vista View Park. He said he brought food, a blanket and candles. “I had a lot of fun because I saw how happy it made her to be surprised about the picnic,” Estua said. “The view at the park also made the date great because it was really nice.” Throughout the years, the concept of going on dates has changed. Librarian Evelyn Gonzalez said dates have changed widely from when she was in high school to now. She said chivalry was more prominent when she went to school. “There wasn’t as much judgement placed on students, so the boys had more courage than nowadays, I feel like nowadays the approach is not as forthcoming,” Gonzalez said. “It was more relaxing and chivalrous; the boys did cuter things for the girls.” Gonzalez said she first got asked out in high school by her best friend. She said it was unexpected and a surprise. “I was really shocked when he asked me because he was one of my friends and it was very nerve wracking for me because I didn’t want to say no but I didn’t want to say yes,”
to go on a date with him. He said he believes he knows the best place to go on a first date. “The perfect place to go on a first date is to get ice cream,” Medina said. “It’s the best thing to do because I like ice cream, and it lets you talk to the person.”
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I was really shocked when he asked me because he was one of my friends and it was very nerve wracking for me because I didn’t want to say no but I didn’t want to say yes. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by saying no, but I didn’t want to lead him on and hurt his feelings in the long run, so I had a heart to heart with him and it ended up making our friendship stronger.
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BY Isabella grogan
-junior Juan Medina
Common locations for first dates include bowling, an ice cream parlor and a restaurant, according to Racicot. Racicot said the best location for a first date depends on the type of people who go on the date. He said everyone is different and will not like the same activities. “The location for a date all depends on who is going on the date, because the people could both hate anything that involves social interactions with people or crowded areas so that wouldn’t be the best idea to pick a place like that,” Racicot said. “But, in most cases, I believe that any place that allows people to talk to each other and have fun is the ideal location.” One common concern about first dates is whether to kiss the person or not. Some people, like Medina, views kissing on the first date as okay, and he said it depends how the date goes. “First dates can be awkward because it’s the first time you meet with the person one on one so it all depends if you kiss them on the first date,” Medina said. “If the date goes well and you like the person and you think that they want to kiss you, then you go for it.” Estua said his friends debate whether or not the guy should pay on the first date. Some girls take offense when the guy doesn’t pay or take offense when the guy does pay. Estua said he thinks the guy should pay. “I think the guy should pay if he is the one who asked the girl out on the date,” Estua said. “It would be rude not to pay because I was the one who wanted to take her out in the first place.” Racicot said his favorite date he has ever Photos by isabella grogan planned and been on was when he planned an entire day out for his girlfriend. He filled the first time’s the charm: (From top) junior Juan Medina goes on a date to an whole day with her favorite activities such as arcade. Medina said that every first date can be awkward but if they do something fun going miniature golfing, getting frozen yogurt, and interesting it can aid in lowering the tension during the first few minutes of the date. going to the movies and cuddling while Junior Juan Pablo Estua looks up exciting date ideas in The Wave. He said he wants to make sure the first date is memorable for both him and the person he is taking on a date. drinking hot chocolate. “It was my favorite thing to plan because I was so excited to see how she would react Gonzalez said. “I didn’t want to hurt his making our friendship stronger.” feelings by saying no, but I didn’t want to lead Junior Juan Medina said he prepares for his to it,” Racicot said. “I knew she would enjoy him on and hurt his feelings in the long run, so first dates by talking about going out with the the day and making her happy would make me I had a heart to heart with him and it ended up person before and asking her if she would want happy.”
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Class of 2019
‘The Bay helped me find the college of my dreams where I can follow my passion’
Alumna Isa Kovaleski pursues her dream of being a dancer by being part of the University of Florida’s dance team.
By dani shapiro
Class of 2019 alumna Isa Kovaleski is a member of the University of Florida (UF) Dance Team. She said her dream since she was little was to continue her dancing in college. Kovaleski has been looking into Florida college dance teams for a while, but the UF Gator Dazzlers caught her eye after she moved to the Bay from San Diego, California before sophomore year. “I have been dancing since I was nine years old and I started competing not long after that. Dancing is like a stress reliever to me,” Kovaleski said. “I couldn’t see myself stopping anytime soon, which is why I joined a college dance team.” Kovaleski said she believed joining the Gator Dazzlers would be the perfect way to keep doing what she loves and make new friends in the process. She said she is extremely grateful to be a part of the team and has never regretted her decision to join. “I love college because you have the freedom to do anything you could think of,” Kovaleski said. “If you don’t want to take calculus, you don’t have to. If you want to eat at Panda Express every day of the week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can; the possibilities are endless.” Kovaleski said one issue she was mainly concerned about when joining the UF dance team was the ability to do work and have freedom. However, she said the dance team doesn’t take up all of the college experience. She said her college life is complete with joining the Gator Dazzlers. Kovaleski said she is always kept busy, which is what she hoped to be while in college. Kovaleski said she hates sitting around with nothing to do. As a part of a dance team, she said she gets a social life and also gets a good workout. “Being able to cheer on the Gators every day and be a representative of UF has been such a fulfilling experience,” Kovaleski said. “It has been a dream of mine to dance on the fields of football and basketball games; it boosts your confidence.”
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It has been a dream of mine to dance on the fields of football and basketball games; it boosts your confidence.
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-alumna Isa Kovaleski Kovaleski said the best part about being with the Gator Dazzlers is dancing at the games. Her personal favorite games are the football games. According to Kovaleski, Gator fans, or the Rowdy Reptiles, fill up the seats and participate immensely at all the sporting events. She said the energy in the stadium is an unforgettable feeling. “Being a Dazzler comes with a lot of responsibilities, though,” Kovaleski said. “We practice every week-day for two hours and we also have workouts every morning at seven a.m. It can get tiring but it’s all so that we are able to perform at our absolute best.” When Kovaleski isn’t dancing, her and her teammates volunteer or make appearances in the community. She said she loves volunteering
photo submitted by isa kovaleski
chomp: Alumna Isa Kovaleski exhibits Gator pride by wearing her Gator Dazzlers uniform and continuing her dream of chomp being a dancer even in college. Kovaleski said one issue she was mainly concerned about when joining the University of Florida’s dance team was the ability to do work and have freedom. She said her college life was complete once she joined the Gator Dazzlers.
and participating in places around the campus because it introduces her more to the college she doesn’t yet know. “Moving away from home for the first time is definitely challenging, so having good friends was essential for making the experience so enjoyable,” Kovaleski said. “Because of how much time I spend bonding with my teammates, I now call them my best friends.” Kovaleski said she immediately clicked with her teammates. They all have dance in common, and Kovaleski said it’s nice to spend time with girls who enjoy the same hobby as her. She said without her teammates, college wouldn’t be as fun and exciting. “I knew that when I decided to join the Dazzlers, I had to be committed,” Kovaleski said. “The only way to make it easier is to plan a daily routine. This helped me out so much.”
On a typical day, Kovaleski wakes up at 6 a.m. to attend workouts with her dance team. After, she comes back to her dorm to get ready for the day, and heads over to the library to catch up on all her classwork. During her study breaks, Kovaleski and her friend will explore the campus on her scooter. At 4 p.m., she heads over to the stadium for dance practice, or if it’s game day, she’ll go to the dressing room and do her makeup and hair before going out to perform. At night, Kovaleski either does some last minute studying or relaxes with her roommate. “It’s definitely challenging to live away from home for the first time, especially with food,” Kovaleski said. “I always tell high schoolers to never take a home-cooked meal for granted because you will miss them more than anything.” Kovaleski said living on your own includes an abundance of chores. She needs to do her
own laundry, vacuum and even scrub down the bathroom. However, she said she got used to it quickly. “The hardest part for me was how much I missed my family, but once I started getting busy with school and dance and my sorority, I really started to love the independence I had gained,” Kovaleski said. Kovaleski said college changed her, but in a good way. She has learned so much in the past couple of months, with school, dance and living on her own. She said she tries to come back to Weston as much as she can because there are times where she said she needs to see her family and take a little break from her daily college routine. “Choosing [the] University of Florida and joining the Dazzlers was my brightest decision I’ve ever made,” Kovaleski said. “I couldn’t see myself anywhere else, and I’m so happy here.”
FEATURES
FEBRUARY 2020
By Sabrina Olivieri Business manager
Reusable cups have been increasing in popularity in recent years as various brands like YETI and JOCO are releasing new products. In 2013, Starbucks created their own line of reusable cups with a goal being to stop the amount of waste generated by their company. The cups have been commonly used by the Bay’s students around the campus. Freshman Megan Sin said she brings her cup to school for her personal use with her favorite drink from Starbucks, and it helps her throughout the day. “I like using reusable cups from Starbucks [at school],” Sin said. “It is better quality than normal single-use plastic cups.” Senior Alexa Mazloff has a diverse collection of Starbucks’ reusable cups, varying from cheaper clear versions to more expensive multicolored cups. A few years ago, with the encouragement of her best friend, Mazloff decided to try the cups for the first time. She said her main reason for using the cups is not only being cool with a different cup every day, but also saving the environment. “ M y collection started when my best friend and I started buying the cups for each other as gifts back in seventh grade. I would buy him some and he would do the same, and it just started to get normal to buy many reusable cups,” Mazloff said. “Today, I just like to match my cups with my outfit to go to school and anywhere else, and it is a fun part of my day to choose which Starbucks cup I am using specifically for that day.” The cup can be bought at a less expensive price than a regular drink with the paper cup. The customer also saves up to ten cents per drink bought if the reusable cup is used in the order. Senior Alyssa Wheelock said she mostly uses her cups for water, and she cares a lot about the environment; she prefers to use the cups at all times, including walking with it around campus. “I like [the idea] that I can’t get rid of [the reusable cup],” Wheelock said. “Because when I use plastic bottles, I’ll usually just throw them out when I’m done. But with a reusable one, I can’t do that and therefore I can fill up my water bottle more throughout my day, which is better for me because I can stay more hydrated.” Similar to Wheelock, Sin said she is making a difference by buying and using the reusable cup more often than any other type of cup. She said she uses her cup when she goes to Starbucks to grab either a blended strawberry açaí refresher, which is her favorite drink, or to just fill her cup with water.
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Honors and AICE Marine Science teacher and Marine Science Honor Society adviser Jeaninne Rendon said she mentions the importance of having a reusable cup with her at all times in her classroom. She said she carries her reusable cups everywhere on a daily basis. Her cups have made an impact in her life ever since she started using them. She said the cups she utilizes are all for different and unique drinks she has to drink during her day on campus. Also, the cups have a certain level of meaning to her, given the fact her students from past years have given her some of the cups she uses. “I use my Starbucks reusable for coffee, a reusable water container and I use a recyclable friendly cup for my shakes,” Rendon said. “My favorite part of using all of my options of reusable cups is that I am not contributing more waste to the environment.” When it comes to using the cups for water or her favorite Starbucks drink, Wheelock said she always thinks about marine life and how she is helping the environment to become less polluted than it currently is. She said it is important for her to save even one species of marine life from the waste left in the ocean. “ R e c e n t l y, I have started to drink a lot more water and I wanted something I could r e f i l l throughout the day,” Wheelock said. “I wanted [a cup] that could also keep my water cold, so these cups seemed like my best bet, plus it’s always a bonus if I can save a turtle or two.” Mazloff, who currently works at Starbucks, uses other types of reusable cups as well as the Starbucks’ reusable cups. Another one she mainly uses at home would be a HydroFlask, she said is bigger than the biggest option Starbucks has available for customers. However, she said it is usually not the first choice to use for her favorite drink, which is an iced mocha. “There are many cups that have been created and that are inexpensive these days,” Mazloff said. “Investing in a reusable cup is essential today because it is mainly because of our environment, but it can also be a source of fun and create great things with it, such as cute outfits or experimenting new drinks in it.” Rendon emphasizes the idea of investing in reusable cups because it is better for the environment as well as for the society. She said her favorite part of using many types of reusable cups is she is not contributing more waste to the ocean and many animals will have a better chance. “It is better if any [student] invests in any type of reusable cups, not limited only to Starbucks ones,” Rendon said. “Reusable cups limit the trash used anywhere and it also shows that [the person] really does care about our planet.”
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LOVE IS IN THE AIR BY SOPHIA ZAPATA
When senior Cristina Cimato first met junior Andres Rios, she said she could immediately tell he was an honest and caring person. The two had met through mutual friends and began chatting through casual conversation between classes. “We had many of the same friends, so we had heard of each other before,” Cimato said. “Last year, our friend group would meet up throughout the school day and we would not even pay attention to each other.” Cimato said over the summer of 2019, Rios began talking to her through Snapchat and their relationship escalated from there. She said from the beginning, she knew their five month age difference and them being in different grades would not be problematic. “My first impression of him was that he was very compassionate and we had many similar interests,” Cimato said. “After talking to him for a while, I knew that he would have a positive impact on my life, regardless if we had a romantic relationship or not.” Rios said the grade level difference does not affect their relationship at all and they both find the time to see each other almost every day. He said having a significant other who is older than him has helped him grow as a person. “She is definitely more mature than me and [she] helps me plan my future beyond high school because she has experience in that,” Rios said. “She’s already got her life planned out, and I haven’t even taken the SAT yet.” Cimato said the fact her and Rios are in different grades was never something she felt she had to worry about. She said the phenomenon of students pursuing relationships with others in different grades is becoming more and more common, especially at the Bay. “It’s so common for students in different grade levels to date
ILLUSTRATION BY DREW ROACH
because most high schoolers don’t have much of an age difference,” Cimato said. “Therefore, maturity levels aren’t usually an issue.” Rios said as far as parents go, his and Cimato’s parents don’t mind the age difference and are happy for the two students. He said his parents are grateful for Cimato and her role in their son’s life. “I don’t think they would have ever known me and Cristina were in different grades if I had not had told them,” Rios said. “We act so similar most people can’t tell.” Both Rios and Cimato said they have never met someone who had an issue with their relationship because of the difference in grade levels. Rios said their friends are supportive of their relationship and can tell the two are happy together. “As soon as we became official, I remember my friends asking me why I was in such a good mood,” Rios said. “Our friend group has always been super supportive of us.” Sophomore Natalie Zapata first noticed senior Ayden Boksner when working out at the gym. She said she noticed him looking at her often, so she decided to approach him. “We had a class together where he sat next to me; we never really talked,” Zapata said. “He would always look at me so I thought ‘well, if he’s not going to make the first move, I guess I will.’ ” Zapata and Boksner share a mutual friend group and said she has always been close to people who are older than her. She said they started off as friends, but once Zapata ended her previous
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relationship, she took an interest in him. “My first impression of him was how mysterious and different he looked,” Zapata said. “I was immediately intrigued by him and wanted to get to know him better.” Philosophy Honors Ethics teacher Alexander Perdomo said grade-level differences don’t matter to high school students because most teenagers have grown up with the people they go to school with. He said maturity levels can vary, but it has less to do with grade level and more with the individual. “Most kids, especially in Weston, have been in the same groups since elementary school,” Perdomo said. “High school is the first time most kids’ classes contain people from multiple grade levels, so there’s more chances for them to interact.” Zapata said she knows many students who engage in relationships with those in different grades than they are, and said she believes it’s especially common in girls to take an interest in older boys. She said there is a stereotype among high school girls that dating an older boy is “cool.” “A lot of my friends say that it’s a ‘flex,’” Zapata said. “I like him for who he is; I don’t care about labels.” Perdomo said he does not advise romantic relationships between those with more than a three year grade gap, as this can lead to issues like parental disapproval, which can be easily avoided. Apart from this exception, he said relationships between those in different grades should not lead to any problems that same-grade couples wouldn’t face as well. “I think obviously a senior and an underclassman is going to face challenges due to the fact that seniors are about to enter a different stage of life, and often are going to move away for school or work,” Perdomo said. “Given that less than two percent of high school relationships last beyond high school, I don’t think they are any more unstable than same grade relationships.”
LAYOUT AND ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIE GAER
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Aspiring therapists resolve issues within community by gabriella barraza
With exams, homework and other struggles, students have the option to turn to their peers at the Bay for any problems they may need to voice. Sophomore Sofia Moya said she knows the hardships her classmates go through and she knows they often need someone to talk to sometimes. Moya considers herself a student therapist because of how much advice she gives to her peers. “My friends are always coming to me looking for advice on issues they are dealing with, whether they are school or life problems,” Moya said. “They need to talk about their problems, and I am glad to listen to what they have on their mind because you never know what is going on at home.”
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You never know what someone is going through when you are not looking, so it’s important to always listen and help them. Listening to other students vent allows them to get out what they are felling in a healthy manner.
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-sophomore Sofia Moya
Moya said since she is a student, she knows exactly what her classmates go through at school. She said she realizes school can be extremely stressful and not being able to talk
about it can make others feel worse. “I know I can get stressed with all the work at school as well as problems I face after school hours, so it’s important for me to be able to talk about my issues with others,” Moya said. “I enjoy paying it back and listening to other’s problems because I can relate to how they feel and know that advice can help them a lot.” AP Psychology teacher David Geller said he thinks it is important for students to always have access to mental health support because it aids students’ well being. He said many students might not have an outlet to voice their problems, so students who give advice are important. “Some students may not feel comfortable turning to their parents for advice on their problems or they might just not have anyone to talk to,” Geller said. “Therefore, if students need to release pent up stress, it’s good to have someone to talk to.” Sophomore Jessica Ghitis said she thinks student therapists are important for students’ mental health. Ghitis said without student therapists, classmates keep their problems pent up and struggle to handle their problems internally. “I think it’s necessary for students to express their feelings about things they are going through and they might not have the option to do that at home,” Ghitis said. “Therefore, I think students who give advice to others are extremely helpful during stressful times.” Moya said she feels great listening to her classmates’ issues because she wants to always be there in her peer’s time of need. She said when someone opens up to her, it is vital to pay attention. “You never know what someone is going through when you are not looking, so it’s important to always listen and help them,”
photo by sabrina olivieri
speak your truth: (From left) sophomores Caroline Johnson, Brandon Castro and Diego Valdez talk about conflicts happening in their lives. AP Psychology teacher David Geller said it is good to have friends to help someone in any cases of problems or conflicts. Sophomore Jessica Ghitis said students would easily struggle more with life choices without a therapist to hear and understand what they are going through.
Moya said. “Listening to other students vent allows them to get out what they are feeling in a healthy manner.” Ghitis said she knows she goes through tough times and turns to her friends for advice. She said talking to her friends is easier for her because they are close, and she knows they can relate to her problems. “Since they are my age and are going through some of the same issues, I know I can talk to student therapists about anything,” Ghitis said. “I feel that talking to my peers helps me a lot because it makes me feel less
isolated with my issues.” Geller said although it’s extremely good to have someone to talk to, student therapists are not professionally qualified to help students with serious problems. He said students should always seek professional help. “If it is a serious issue, just talking to friends can be a good way to release emotions, but [it] may not be the best way to deal with the issue,” Geller said. “Student therapists are overall caring people who allow others to confide in and guide them when they need help.”
Teacher connects with kids through ASL by roxy carr
Jennifer Ferrer, the Bay’s only teacher who is hard of hearing, just began teaching American Sign Language (ASL) 1 at the Bay. Ferrer said she is new to teaching, but has been tutoring and sharing stories in ASL to educate students about being hard of hearing. She has been sharing her story with the community for almost 10 years. “I enjoy teaching hearing and deaf people because I always learn something about them,” Ferrer said. “Due to that, I was inspired to be a teacher and teach my native language, ASL, because I want my students to see how unique ASL is when it’s spoken by a deaf person.”
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Learning from Ferrer has helped motivate me to master ASL because it puts me into perspective by helping me understand what it would be like to be hard of hearing.
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-sophomore Kayla Tracy Sophomore Gabriel Gimeno-Alberti is one of Ferrer’s students. He said it is better to learn ASL from someone who is hard of hearing because it helps him understand how to communicate with them properly. “When talking to someone who’s deaf, you can better understand the emotion in their movements because ASL is their first
PHOTO BY roxy carr
signing your way: American Sign Language teacher Jennifer Ferrer said it is her goal to teach the language to students and to illustrate how incredible the language can be when the person actually learns how to sign. She also said it does not matter that she is hard of hearing, she is still capable of teaching.
language,” Gimeno-Alberti said. “This is more educational than learning from someone who learned ASL second.” For Ferrer, teaching and communicating with her students is not difficult. She said she knows how to work with people, so they understand her. The only aspect she said is difficult about teaching is when her students are all talking at the same time because she can’t read multiple lips simultaneously.
“I think that I can only read lips about 60 percent of the time,” Ferrer said. “If I don’t understand something, I’ll just ask my students to fingerspell their words or write them down. There is always a solution when it comes to communication.” Sophomore Kayla Tracy, who is in Ferrer’s ASL 1 class, said learning ASL from Ferrer helps her empathize with others who are also hard of hearing. This has inspired her to pursue
learning ASL as much as she can, so she can better communicate with those who are hard of hearing. “Learning from Ferrer has helped motivate me to master ASL because it puts me into perspective by helping me understand what it would be like to be hard of hearing,” Tracy said. “However, Mrs. Ferrer’s teaching method is not different from any other typical high school language class.” Gimeno-Alberti said a typical period in Ferrer’s class begins with bell work, which is usually a review of the signs taught last class. During the lesson, Ferrer will show different vocabulary words and how they’re signed. Afterward, Gimeno-Alberti said Ferrer has the class practice what they just learned with a classmate next to them. “My favorite part of the class is when Mrs. Ferrer shows us a video of someone else who’s hard of hearing, signing our new vocabulary words,” Gimeno-Alberti said. “It helps because I get to see someone else do it and learn it an alternative way.” Tracy said ASL is a unique language because it’s strictly visual. She said only eyes and hands are used to speak it. However, like any other language, ASL has its own grammar rules that are separate from English. “The cool part of ASL is that you don’t have to yell because signs are easy to make out from a distance,” Tracy said. Ferrer said along with ASL, she’s also fluent in English and Spanish. She believes ASL is super beneficial for everyone and it’s not a difficult language to learn. “What I would like for people to know about deaf people is that we can do anything except hear,” Ferrer said. “When approaching deaf people, don’t be scared. If you do know some ASL, make it useful and you will learn the best from them.”
SPORTS
FEBRUARY 2020
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THE CIRCUIT
Inspirational Influences Teachers and coaches guide student-athletes toward a brighter future. The Kansas City Chiefs are bound to win the Super Bowl this season
BY DARIAN TRABOLD
ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR
For many athletes, all it takes is one coach to teach them a lesson that sticks with them their whole life. For junior Chloe Griffin, she said her former volleyball coach is someone she credits with making her work hard as he pushed her to be the best version of herself on and off the field. “Someone who influenced me at a young age was my coach Armando that I had when I used to play volleyball. He really believed in me so he made me work harder and got my skills, especially my serve, down in volleyball,” Griffin said. “Because I knew he believed in me, I knew I could get better so it made me work harder; also he was a funny person who cared about winning but also getting better.” Junior Leandro Schenquerman said his dad and brothers were his greatest inspiration to play sports because they taught him how to play soccer. Learning soccer, he said, is where his fascination with sports began. “I played [soccer] with my dad and brothers whenever I could,” Schenquerman said. “That’s what planted an interest in sports in me from a young age. Since then I have played a lot of different kinds of sports.”
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If you don’t give 100 percent in school, you’re not going to give 100 percent on the field, they go hand and hand.
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-Guidance Counselor Melissa Boorom While in college, guidance counselor Melissa Boorom said she met a woman who, despite the hardships she had been through, persevered and came out stronger in the end. She said hearing about this woman’s perseverance is what impacted her the most as she realized she was stronger than she thought. “I met a woman in college who really influenced me a lot. I would say that’s the first person that I can think of that really made a difference in my life,” Boorom said. “When I met her she was in her 60’s; when she got out of being a prisoner of war she was diagnosed with cancer they only gave her a certain amount of time to live but she didn’t let that defeat her.” Similar to Boorom, Griffin said her current lacrosse coach has taught her that if she wants something bad enough, she has to believe in herself and push through the difficult times which she implements in areas of her life beyond lacrosse. She said he has also told the team if they want to be successful, they have to have the drive for it. “Coach Anthony believes that if you want it you can do it. He always says he can’t coach desire, we have to want to do it ourselves but if we want it then the skills they teach us will make us better,” Griffin said. “Basically if you want it and you work for it you will get whatever you want and you’ll get better too.” Griffin said another lesson her coach has taught her is to have a strong bond with her teammates which will aid them in success. She said that her teammates are some of her closest friends because they have gone
Prediction as of Jan. 19
Photo Submitted by Darian trabold
no “i” in Junior team: Chloe Griffin said she credits much of her athletic success to her former volleyball coach. She said the way he believed in her and her ability to improve as a volleyball player in the past is one of the reasons why she continued to work so hard. Griffin said much of her determination stems from her coach’s consistent motivation to help.
through both wins and losses together, and came out with a stronger connection. “My coach calls us the sisterhood. Being really close and having a strong bond with your team that is genuine and not having cliques within a team is important,” Griffin said.”I think that’s a good lesson to have like real genuine friendships on and off the field which stuck with us because it is what makes us better since we are all like genuine best friends.” Schenquerman said the greatest lesson a coach ever taught him was perseverance. Schenquerman said his determination has helped him since he had to practice many sports he played himself as his family was not familiar with them. “[My coach always said] there’s always going to be reasons to quit, but you have to focus on what you really want and work towards it if you want to achieve it,” Schenquerman said. “I started sports that were completely new to my family and I had to work hard to get where I did. If I had given up, which would have been the easy way, obviously I couldn’t have done it.” Boorom said the woman she met in college taught her the importance of being optimistic which is something she has implemented in all aspects of her life. She said her positivity is something she frequently uses when events do not go her way. “She believed in the power of positive thinking; if you’re always thinking positively, you find positive twists on things,” Boorom said. “She taught me that and that changed my life.” Boorom said it is important for athletes to have someone who can guide them early in their careers because teenage years tend to be the most influential. She said role models can have the power to make sure athletes are on the right track. “I think that all kids, regardless if you
are an athlete or not an athlete, need positive influences in their life,” Boorom said. “As you look at Aaron Hernandez, he didn’t have a lot of positive role models when he turned a certain age so he ended up going in ways that he shouldn’t have gone; if he had more positive role models at a younger age, he may have not ended up where he did.” Griffin said she hopes that she can inspire younger players on the lacrosse team by helping them sharpen their skills since she and the other upperclassmen are experienced players that can help the underclassmen grow. “If you look at the other girls who were playing longer and have better skills and you believe that’s what you want, you can work for it,” Griffin said. “Having a goal in mind to become a starter or get on varsity is achieved by listening to everything the coaches have to say because they really care about making the team and you better. If you work for it, you’ll get better if you believe in yourself.” A lesson Schenquerman said he wants to pass on to younger athletes is to always be persistent. He said if they want something they should not let anyone stop them. “There is always going to be someone better than you, it’s inevitable, but if you work hard enough at something the results will speak for themselves,” Schenquerman said. Boorom said academics should be a student’s top priority, regardless if they are an athlete or not, as there is a correlation between academic performance and athletic performance. She said this is something she passes on to her students. “For all students, academics should come first, academics then athletics,” Boorom said. “Working together as a team, being coachable, not throwing temper tantrums, working hard in school and on the field because if you don’t give 100 percent in school, you’re not going to give 100 percent on the field, they go hand and hand.”
Throughout the course of the 2019-20 NFL season, there have been several elite teams that have paved their way through the rest of the league. Despite this; however, only four teams remain. The Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers all have legitimate shots at winning it all. The Chiefs, however, are going to succeed in doing so. The Packers have been flying under the radar all season, although they concluded the regular season with an astonishing 13-3 record. With weapons like star quarterback (QB) Aaron Rodgers, all-pro wide receiver (WR) Davante Adams, and running backs (RBs) Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, the Packers are most definitely a force to be reckoned with. The Titans, on the other hand, have Derrick Henry, undoubtedly the best running back in the league this season. First he ran through the Patriots’ defense, then embarrassed the Ravens, and now it seems as if nothing and nobody can stop him. With Henry playing as he has been, and Ryan Tannehill and the Titans defense continuing with consistency, the Titans definitely pose a threat at the title. On the flip side, the 49ers have been simply dominating the league all year. Their defense is the best the NFL has seen in a very long time. In addition, with players like Raheem Mostert, a newly discovered elite RB, and QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who has been proving his value all season, they have some serious potential. Just like the Packers, the 49ers had an outstanding 13-3 record. They held some of the best teams in the league to two touchdowns or less, showing everyone why they are the best defense in numerous outings. Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs are the best of the best. Patrick Mahomes, similar to Lamar Jackson, is a talent that the NFL has never seen before. His elusiveness in the pocket is too much for opposing teams to contain, and he has a cannon for an arm. He finds ways to make plays that only a select few players could only dream of making. To complement Mahomes is WR Tyreek Hill. There are no words that can be used to describe the speed and quickness of this star player. With a top speed of over 22 mph and hands like glue, there is no single player in the NFL that can keep up with him. He forces defenses to constantly shadow his side of the field with a safety, as he always poses a deep threat. His agility and ability to catch the ball, combined with Mahomes’ pocket presence, is up there as one of the hardest duos to guard in the league. Another aspect of the Chiefs that is going to assist them in securing the title is their running game. With the two-headed monster of Damien Williams and Lesean McCoy, other defenses are pretty much forced to decide whether they want to be beaten on the ground or through the air with the passing game. For these various reasons, the Kansas City Chiefs are bound to win the 2019-20 NFL Super Bowl. No other team looks as if they have the potential to beat them down the stretch.
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Full-time female coaches should be the norm in all professional sports teams
Tiger Woods will win at least one more major before his career comes to an end
The San Francisco Giants made history when they hired Alyssa Nakken, the first female coach in MLB history. Teams in other professional league sports, such as the Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Bills and the San Antonio Spurs, have also followed this trend by hiring full-time female coaches. Although this is something to be proud of, the fact that it has taken this long for female coaches to become the norm is upsetting, not only in men’s sports but women’s sports as well because gender roles in this industry have been a recurring issue. As the sports world grows to be more inclusive, the number of female head coaches should grow exponentially with it.
At 44 years old, Tiger Woods has had an illustrious career filled with a multitude of victories. Just last year, he won The Masters for the fifth time, taking home his fifteenth major and eighty-first Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour win. He has a total win count of 82, tied for the most amount of wins with Sam Snead, and is not stopping. His total amount of wins does not even begin to tell his story of dominance. In April of 2017, Woods had surgery on his back in efforts to stop his ongoing pain. This marked the start of his downfall as he was arrested for driving under the influence the next month. He did not play professionally until December of that same year, starting at the Hero World Challenge. His start in the middle of the season began his upward trek toward greatness again. Tiger was not playing up to his standard after his return. In the regular season of 2018, he only had four top ten finishes and got cut from the competition twice. He struggled for most of the season until September of 2018, where he got his first win since his back injury at the Tour Championship at East Lake. In 2019, he had six top ten finishes and was only cut once at The Open, signifying his dominant prowess in the game of golf. Woods has proven to be the greatest professional golfer in the history of the game. In the past, golfers in the later part of their careers have still had great results. Arnold Palmer had 14 wins in the second half of his professional career. Jack Nicklaus had 21 wins in the second half of his career. Proven veterans like Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods had and have amazing potential to close out their careers with a few more victories. Tiger should definitely be able to win another major in the years left in his career. Another reason that Woods will be able
Bottom Line: Women should be leaders in all sports industries The passage of Title IX in 1972 changed American sports forever. It told young girls that they deserved the same opportunity to play sports as boys. From that point on, men’s and women’s collegiate athletics received equal funding and treatment. However, this equality is only at the collegiate level. Prior to Title IX women were head coaches for more than 90 percent of women’s college teams. Increased funding for women’s sports created more jobs, many of which went to men, and now about 40 percent of women’s college teams are coached by women and only about three percent of men’s college teams are coached by women. If women are not given the opportunity to coach, they do not get to coach. Women, when given the opportunity, have proven to be outstanding coaches. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ captain John Tavares credits Dawn Braid, the first female coach in the
NHL, with helping him develop useful skating techniques when she coached him during his minor hockey days. A 2019 Harvard Business Review study found that “women outscored men on 17 of the 19 capabilities that differentiate excellent leaders from average or poor ones.” The high praise of female coaches indicates that gender does not matter when coaching, what matters is if someone is efficient at their job; women have proven to be exceptional coaches when given the chance. However, to get these coaching jobs, women have to work significantly harder than their male counterparts. When a team coached by a woman is not successful, it is the coach’s fault, but when the team has a male coach, it is the team’s fault. Women need to be twice as exceptional and work twice as hard which causes many women to just leave the sport. When a whole group of substantial candidates disappear from the talent pool, everyone suffers. The greatest and most devastating impact of the leadership gender gap comes from the lessons taught to the young boys and girls playing sports. If children are only led by men in their developmental years when they grow up, they are going to believe that only men can lead. We teach children that this world is supposed to be a meritocracy, and playing a sport is supposed to reinforce that the best person wins yet only men get opportunities to coach. The opportunity for gender parity in coaching is possible. In 2003 the NFL adopted the Rooney Rule which required teams with head coaching vacancies to interview a minority candidate. This rule has helped increase the number of minority coaches by 20% since then. If other leagues were to adopt a similar rule, it could have the same positive effects it did in the NFL. It is about time to let women be leaders in all sport industries.
FACE OFF YES The after-game handshake is a huge part of the hockey culture because it is the point in the game where players line up to shake hands, putting the integrity of the game and of their franchise above their own. Taking this out in the major leagues teaches nothing as it is just a display of unsportsmanlike behavior. Waiting in line to shake a few hands can change the mindset of viewers watching, and the players. It is something most sport fans can appreciate and many hockey fans love. After weeks of animosity, the players come together for one of the best moments showing sportsmanship and respect. It is a tradition to shake hands and show respect for the opponents after every playoff series. Also, the players on opposing teams rarely shake hands or socialize on the ice at the end of regular-season or playoff games, so the handshake serves as a positive interaction. In the NBA, players fist bump each other and hug each other before heading to the locker room after games. In the NHL, one of the only times this kind of interaction is shown is in the post-playoff series handshake line. Sportsmanship goes further than just shaking hands, it is playing the game the right way and acknowledging the other team playing well. It is a simple tradition of forgetting about what happened during the game and displaying mutual respect. Players being able to look each other in the eye and shake hands shows a massive amount of maturity and should be enforced throughout all teams. - Reece Kauffman
Should the NHL keep post-game handshakes?
to win another major in his career is his ability to finish tournaments strong. Whether it is through his driving, chipping or putting, Woods has consistently been able to play great golf in clutch time. Woods is 31-6 after leading through three rounds in a professional tournament and his ability to shut out his opponents in the final round of tournaments is unmatched. Being clutch, or having the ability to play well under pressure, is the most important attribute in being able to win golf tournaments, and Tiger is the best at it.
Bottom Line: Tiger Wood’s consistent drive makes him the one of the greatest professional golfers of all time Looking back in history, the best of the best professional golfers have all been great approachers. Gary Player, Sam Snead and Woods himself have always had the gifted ability of being able to hit great shots when they needed to. This year, Woods is fifth in Strokes Gained: Approaching the Green out of all players on tour. Stroked Gained: Approaching the Green is a way to use statistics to compare players to the average PGA player. Being able to set yourself up for accurate putts on the green is crucial to score low in golf. Players can score much more frequently if they have consistent five foot putts rather than 20 foot putts. The difference between good and great golfers is the ability to set one’s self up from wherever you are. Regardless of an awful drive or an amazing one, the best players in the world are the ones that can make shots out of thin air and perform their best.
NO Hockey players should not have to shake hands after games. In the NHL, handshaking is reserved solely for the end of a playoff series. After playing one’s heart out for several games against one team to survive in the postseason, one should not have to participate in a handshake line. The NBA, NFL and MLB do not have handshake lines at the end of their games for good reason. After a hard-fought game, players do not want to shake their opponent’s hand and act like they were not just fierce enemies a few minutes beforehand. Handshake lines might be justified in little league, but they have no place on the ice with grown men who just want to go home. It is a complete waste of time for the players, coaches and the rest of the staff who have just been sitting through a long game and want to leave. In general, the handshake line is extremely deceitful. The NHL is unwilling to abolish fighting in games, but they think 45 seconds of handshaking can wipe away the months of dirty play in the league. The NHL wants fans to think that hockey is a gentleman’s game, even though at every face-off, players are screaming and cursing at each other. The players being forced to shake hands has as much meaning as Peyton Manning walking off the field without congratulating Drew Brees on a Super Bowl win. - Devin Pabian
SPORTS
FEBRUARY 2020
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ATHLETES TO WATCH HANNAH MASON How old were you when you started playing soccer? I’ve been playing soccer for as long as I can remember. I was five years old when I first joined a team. What team are you currently playing on and how long have you been apart of it? I have been playing for the [Bay’s] girl’s soccer team since my freshman year. I also play for Sunrise-Prime FC and I just joined the new sports club this year. What is something you and your teammates can improve on this year? My teammates and I can improve on our chemistry when we play as a team. We are great individual players, but it is crucial to work together in order to accomplish our goals. What inspired you to start playing soccer? My parents inspired me to play soccer. Both of my parents are very athletic and had careers in soccer. They pushed me to try new sports until I found that soccer was the one for me.
-Dani Shapiro Class of 2020 Height: 6’1’’
GOAL: WIN STATES HEIGHT: 5’5” TEAM: GIRLS SOCCER CLASS OF 2022
MOURICE MUVDI What inspired you to start playing soccer? My dad played soccer as a kid and wanted me to try it out so at six years old I tried it and ended up falling in love with the sport, just like my dad. What position do you play and why did you choose it? I play center back because of my height and because my defensive skills are super good. What is the most difficult part about being on the team? The most difficult part about being on the team is it’s a huge commitment and you always have to be on top of your game and never slack. What do you think you can improve on in the future? I think I can improve my speed and my ability to control the ball. I also would like to learn a lot of new tricks and skills. Do you plan on continuing this sport in the future? Yes I do plan on continuing to play soccer in the future and I would also love to be a coach one day.
-Alexa Braxton Class of 2020 Height: 6’1’’
GOAL: IMPROVE MY TEAMMATES HEIGHT: 6’0” TEAM: BOYS SOCCER CLASS OF 2021
WINTER SEASON STATISTICS Varsity Girls Soccer (16-1)
Varsity Boys Basketball (11-9)
Fort Lauderdale
W
Hollywood Hills
W
St. Thomas
W
Everglades
W
Pinecrest
W
Flanagan Charles
W
Cardinal Gibbons Cooper City
L
W
Varsity Boys Soccer (10-1-5) Fort Lauderdale
West Broward Hallandale
W L
Varsity Girls Basketball (13-4)
Cardinal Gibbons
T
W
Hollywood Hills West Broward
W
St. Thomas
W
Everglades
L
Pinecrest
W
Flanagan Charles
Cooper City
W
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Hallandale
L
W W
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
28 FEBRUARY 2020
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Controversial film with blackface reappears in press By Francisca Giuliani
Some of the Bay’s students have taken up hobbies to unleash their inner artistic abilities, one being painting on a blank canvas. For some students, painting can be an afterschool hobby that is used as a method to not only relieve their stress, but to escape into a creative world of imagination and skill. Sophomore Francisca Valdes is one of these student painters who practices painting on a blank canvas after school and in her free time. “I first started to paint with a really talented after-school teacher who was able to teach me many amazing painting techniques, and I have loved to paint ever since,” Valdes said. “Painting can get frustrating sometimes, but I consider it to be a period of relaxation and selfreflection which is what makes me enjoy it.” Valdes said stress is a leading problem that many students in high school, and even adults, experience. Valdes said she believes when students paint, they can create beautiful artistic work by stimulating their creative sides, which can relieve mental strain and release stress. She said painting provides students with the choice of choosing their own colors and pigments to splash onto a blank canvas, and this can reflect on their emotions and thoughts. “I believe that taking art is a lot more beneficial than many people set it out to be and that students should be encouraged at a young age to take creative classes, such as painting or ceramics,” Valdes said. “Painting fosters creative work, and this has benefited me at school with creative projects.” For other students, the Bay offers a variety of art classes from AP Art to Ceramics, and they take these classes to improve their artistic abilities. Some of these students who take art classes at school wish to pursue a career in art in the future and use these high level classes to become more skillful in their painting techniques. Sophomore Julie Jin is another student painter who is currently enrolled in AP Art at the Bay. Jin said painting is a significant part of her life, and although it can be time c o n su m i ng, sometimes the end result is worth it. “I like to paint because I think that painting expresses my emotions that sometimes I can’t express by using words or through talking and communicating with others,” Jin said. “Art is an alternative way that I can use to communicate with the world.” Jin said by painting, students can really come in touch with their emotions and surroundings. Jin has used painting to express her own emotions and said it is amazing how art can act as a way of communication. Jin said people do not only paint what they see, but what they feel deeply. “Some things really can’t be expressed in words and can only be expressed through
photo by francisca giuliani
perfect painting: Sophomore Julie Jin paints a poster for International Night, a celebration run by the Promoting Relationships in Diversity and Education club for both students and parents. Jin paints a female dancer on a banner to represent the Latin culture.
artwork, such as painting,” Jin said. “When you paint, the emotions can come out more strongly and this is why I love to paint so much.” AP Art teacher Amiee Sarajian teaches many advanced art students how to grow in the creative world of painting and drawing. Sarajian said she believes the vast world of imaginative thought and artistic abilities can transform teens into more well-rounded students who can think differently than others. Students can then provide art experiences on their resumes and college applications, which Sarajian said makes them stand out from the rest. High school students provide a wide range of extracurricular activities on their college applications, and Sarajian said art touches the innovative and imaginative side. “Art allows students to think differently from different subjects, since we activate the right side of the brain when doing art, and we are working with different areas of the brain,” Sarajian said. “These skills are unique to creative thought, since now a days most of the activities we do activates the left side of the brain.” Just like Jin, Sarajian also said painting is different than other types of art as it touches a more emotional and imaginative side. Sarajian said this type of art can activate different ways
of thinking and students can become better problem solvers now and in the future. “Painting is really expressive, and it is usually more spontaneous than drawing,” Sarajian said. “Although,if you work with mixed media and different types of drawing, that can also be expressive.” Another essential aspect to the student painters is what type of art they aspire to create. Painting styles can vary from impressionism to realism or abstract styles. Valdes has created pieces of artwork that vary from plant vases to people. One key idea that Valdes likes to keep throughout her artwork is diversity in people and different artwork technique styles. One of her artwork pieces features a portrait of a young Muslim girl who is wearing a hijab. Valdes has painted acrylic and pastel paintings to convey her ideas. “Although I find it more challenging to paint people, my piece of the young girl is one of my favorites, and it was incredibly rewarding to have seen it once it was finished,” Valdes said. “Another one of my authentic pieces features a more realistic technique of three plants in metal cans.” Valdes said she paints topics she believes are impactful and can touch the people who view her artwork. She said her painting of the Muslim girl can spread cultural awareness and diversity. She said painting can express much more than what is seen with the eye, and it can end up projecting different concepts and interpretations to a larger audience. “A painting can touch any individual in a different way,” Valdes said. “The meanings behind a piece of artwork are much deeper than just the paint on the canvas, and I believe I can communicate my thoughts to others. Having someone affected by my painting is the best feeling I can receive as a painter.”
“Tropic Thunder,” a 2008 action/adventure film directed by Ben Stiller is a popular, satirical comedy that has recently become present in the press. The movie is based on an epic account of the Vietnam War, where Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) and Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) are forced to survive war conditions. This movie came back into the face of the press as Downey recently said in an interview with Joe Rogan that he has no regrets with the role he played. When Downey was presented with the job opportunity, he questioned it as his character would undergo an operation to change the color of his skin from white to black. He said he understood the risk at hand that came with this role: blackface. Downey had thought about the role for quite some time before he accepted it. He also decided to shoot Iron Man first, before he took this job. He made up his mind and decided to take the role. Downey said he has read his lines a thousand times prior to any filming and took the role seriously, as it was controversial. The extremely apparent blackface situation has caused a massive debate in the press. Downey said most of his black friends were supportive of the role and thought he did a great job. However, this is likely biased as they were his friends, and it is typical for friends to demonstrate support. Downey was praised for his performance so much that he was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2009. It is quite impressive he had this much recognition for a role that upset so many worldwide. While some cleary were unbothered by his makeup and thrilled with his performance, others were extremely perturbed. Downey’s own mother said she was mortified he accepted such a controversial role, and she worries it portrays her son in a bad light. In addition to his own mom, the Africian American community has also expressed concerns with his role. A black oriented online publication published an opinion piece regarding the way “white folks” think it is okay to use blackface so lightly, expressing the astonishment felt by this behavior. The Root was astonished that “white folks” think it is okay to use blackface so lightly, and they specifically say “It’s not OK! It’s obnoxious, easy and pathetic.” Downey has combated the hate that has come along with the role by accepting and understanding their emotions. He does make it clear, however, that he knows where his heart is and where his intentions lie. He has handled the situation well, trying to calm it down respectfully rather than causing an uproar. While this issue has been broadcasted all over media worldwide, it still has a large impact on students on the Bay. The diverse pool of students at the Bay can learn from this mistake and understand that blackface is most certainly unacceptable. The Bay is an inclusive environment, and an event like this has the opportunity to teach students and give them the chance to learn and converse about one another’s races. The role Stiller created was a risk on its own. It was extremely courageous to include a role like this with the racism that exists in society today. The film should have excluded this factor as it offends a fair share of the black community. Additionally, all the attention and awards this role has given to Downey praises the actor for something that has upset a large amount of people. In all, the movie should have gone without the controversial role of Kirk in blackface to avoid an uproar in the press.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FEBRUARY 2020
Photographer creates social outlet showcasing talent
by isabella Grogan
features / sports photo editor
Junior Sofia Angel recently started a photography account on Instagram with the handle @sofiaunarchived. She posts photos regularly on her account. Angel decided to start the account because she said she was ready for people to see her work. “I decided to start my account because I decided it was time to stop being afraid of what others thought and use my artistic voice and inspire others through my photography,” Angel said. “I like the fact that my voice is out in the world whether it’s big or small.” Ana Angel, Angel’s mom, is glad her daughter decided to start a photo account. Ana Angel said she always sees Angel taking pictures wherever she goes, and she thinks she has a real talent for photography. “I love her photography account; I was always hoping she would finally do it and after two years, she did,” Ana Angel said. “[Angel] is amazingly talented in both her writing and art.” Angel said she not only uses her account as a way to share her photos, but also to make an impact through her captions. Angel captions her photos with feelings she has on certain topics. She said her captions are just as meaningful as the pictures she posts. Her boyfriend and junior Diego Romo said he enjoys her captions just as much as he enjoys the photos. “I think [her account] is a great way for her
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to express herself and expose her talent of both photography and writing,” Romo said. “It has helped her express her feelings and not keep them bubbled up inside.” Angel posts regularly on her account. She said she loves to share her pictures with anyone who wants to see them. She said taking pictures enables a viewer to see a completely different perspective. “[My photos] could inspire [viewers] or show them something they had not seen before or even change the way they see something,” Angel said. “I love using my artistic voice to make impacts on people.” Romo said he thinks she is a talented photographer. He said he thinks her account will help her in the future when she needs to photo submitted by sofia angel put a portfolio together. behind the scenes: Displayed on junior Sofia Angel’s photography Instagram “Her account could be great exposure and account, she takes a photo of a busy street. She said she wants to start exhibiting her could maybe even attract professionals in the talent to the public in order to receive feedback and inspire others. photography or writing field that would be interested in her work,” Romo said. “It also extremely impressed with the outcome of the account,” Romo said. “Not only is it an shows her friends how talented she is.” amazing picture, but it also somewhat signifies Angel plans on making a career out of pictures. “I think the photos she takes beautifully the start of her journey.” photography. She said she also plans on Angel said her favorite picture she has growing her account by promoting it on social depict the beauty around her,” Ana Angel said. “They also portray life through her eyes.” taken is a picture of flowers in a field. She said media and constantly posting pictures. Romo’s favorite picture on Angel’s account she enjoys photographing nature. “Photography is a passion of mine and it “My favorite picture I have ever taken is of motivates me to learn more about the world is a picture she took while on vacation. She and show others different perspectives about took the picture in Big Sur, California; it a small bush of flowers which were yellow, and life, society and culture,” Angel said. “My shows a mountain with fog around it and I made sure to focus on only three and leave account makes me really happy that I am able flowers, and it is one of Angel’s favorite places the background of flowers as a haze,” Angel to capture photos. said. “It’s my favorite because it reminds me to reach people with my voice.” “My favorite picture she has taken is her of happiness, it’s bright and the energy that the Ana Angel is a fan of the photos her picture gives off is pure in nature.” very first picture she posted on her photo daughter takes. She said she is always
AMT I initiates preparations for debut
by julia Winton
A&E / opinion copy editor
The Bay’s American Musical Theatre I (AMT I) is putting on their production of Beauty and the Beast Junior from Feb. 1921. Beauty and the Beast Junior is this year’s annual AMT show produced by the freshmen. Freshman Jack Sussman, who plays the role of Gaston in the production, said when he first found out that AMT I would be performing Beauty and the Beast Junior, he was extremely excited because it is a popular, well-known show loved by many. “Beauty and the Beast is just such a good story and movie in general,” Sussman said. “Being able to tell the popular story on stage is really fun.” Although Cynthia Lutwin is the director and adviser of the AMT program and shows, she is not the only one who contributes to making the plays run as smoothly as possible. Lutwin said being able to carry out a huge, professional-style production like Beauty and the Beast Junior requires an abundance of people constantly working and rehearsing behind the scenes and on stage. “I am the director, so I pick the show, I direct the show and I cast the show,” Lutwin said. “[However,] I have a lot of great students who help out with things like choreography and costumes and sound, so it’s a group effort.” In order to receive a leading role in the production, AMT I members had to attend auditions earlier in the year where they showed off their singing, acting and dancing abilities.
photo courtesy of instagram
Tale as old as time: The cast of AMT I rehearses the musical number “Gaston” for their production of Beauty and the Beast Jr. on Feb. 19-21. Drama adviser Cynthia Lutwin said as the show grows closer, cast members start having longer, more intense rehearsals.
Freshman Ryan Isenman, who plays the role of Lumiere, said she was able to get her part in the play by just being herself and letting her personality shine through. “I think I got the part of Lumiere because he is really energetic in the movie, and I put a lot of energy into everything I do on stage,” Isenman said. “This allows me to really get into character.” In addition to rehearsals in class, cast members also put in the effort to practice and learn their lines and choreography at home. Sussman said he dedicates a lot of time
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“High Road,” by Kesha, Jan. 31 “Never Not Together,” by Nada Surf, Feb. 7 “Changes,” by Justin Bieber, Feb. 14 “Map of the Soul: 7,” by BTS, Feb. 21
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and energy rehearsing for his role of Gaston because he wants to make sure he is well prepared and does not fall behind the rest of the cast. “I practice my material at home; I read my lines and I try to memorize everything,” Sussman said. “Also, I work as hard as I can in class to get ready and better prepare myself for the show.” As opening night gradually approaches, a great deal of changes are being made to the cast’s rehearsals. Not only do the cast members have to stay for longer rehearsals,
“Fantasy Island,” Feb. 14 “The Call of the Wild,” Feb. 21 “The Invisible Man,” Feb. 28 “Onward,” March 6 “Mulan,” March 27
Concerts
but they are also starting to really get a feel for their parts. Lutwin said as the show gets closer, she wants to make sure the AMT I members feel confident and prepared. “They are memorizing their lines, perfecting their characters, memorizing the blocking and perfecting their dance choreography,” Lutwin said. “[The show] gets tighter and more put together as time goes on.” The show requires every member of the cast to put in their best effort. Isenman said although the entire show would not be possible without everyone’s hard work, she tries to add a unique element of her own to the show with her singing and acting abilities. “We are all friends, so we all contribute to each other’s mental state for the show,” Isenman said. “I’m in all the songs so my voice also contributes to the background, and when I’m not on stage I’m always helping out behind the scenes.” Lutwin said with the production becoming more of a reality she can genuinely see the excitement spreading among all of the cast members, as well as herself. She said she loves how much the members have improved since day one of rehearsals, and she really looks forward to seeing all their hard work pay off on stage. “I know where [the students] came from and how shy and timid they were when they didn’t have these characters in them,” Lutwin said. “However, by the time we put the show on it’s magical. They get in front of an audience and they blossom very quickly.”
Andrea Bocelli Feb. 12 @ AmericanAirlines Arena Rex Orange County, Feb. 15 @ The Fillmore Vibra Urbana Music Festival, Feb. 22 @ Watsco Center Billie Eilish, March 9 @ AmericanAirlines Arena
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FEBRUARY 2020
Young artists appreciate peers’ artwork by hannah grogan Ad designer
With over 4,800 students at the Bay, a large percentage have interest in different subjects; however, for freshman Maiya Gordon, she said she appreciates students’ artwork because of the stories behind them. “I enjoy seeing students’ art pieces because you can tell how much work they put into each and every detail,” Gordon said. “Kids here have pure talent and to see that put into artwork is really motivating.” Gordon said as a student who enjoys art herself, she knows that making pieces isn’t easy, so to see the hard work put into every project is much appreciated. She said not a lot of people find art easy to create so seeing so many talented classmates is encouraging. “A lot of artists say that their work takes from 12 hours to even weeks, months or even years,” Gordon said. “I just like to see the result of how those long hours of work come out in the end and to see the final piece.” Senior Levi Hayyim said he appreciates students’ art work because of the therapy it gives to the artist themself. He said art is a way of letting go of things that you have going on. “Artwork is a way to formally express what is going on inside your head,” Hayyim said. “Sometimes it’s hard to put your emotions into words or even to write down, but the artwork is a wordless way of putting what is going on out there.”
photo by isabella grogan
“
Not all stories necessarily need words to be told, so looking at different pieces always makes me wonder what was going through that person’s mind when they were drawing that. It is interesting to see different kinds of work because each piece has its own story.
“
-senior Levi Hayyim
photo by hannah grogan
Let’s Van go(gh): (From top) freshman Keira Hochberg works on her tissue paper project in her 2D Art class. She said she enjoys
Hayyim said he knows how it feels to be creating art, so looking at other people’s pieces is interesting to observe. He said being able to try to understand the story behind it is exciting. “Not all stories necessarily need words to be told, so looking at different pieces always makes me wonder what was going through that person’s mind when they were drawing that,” Hayyim said. “It is interesting to see different kinds of work because each piece has its own story.” Gordon said she enjoys walking through the halls and seeing different kinds of projects from classmates. She said there are a ton of different styles of art that are created by so many talented people, but she prefers some styles over others. “Some of my favorite types of art work to see is surrealist painting because I find it interesting how people can take such different ideas from their head and put them on paper,”
this project because it allows her to express her creativity and she has been working on it for a week. Sophomore Lauren Mathias paints her tissue paper project as she listens to music in class. She said listening to music while working on her artwork helps her become inspired and she enjoys the tissue paper project because it is not that stressful to work on. Gordon said. “It is so cool seeing what someone is thinking by looking at a piece of art.” Gordon said there are many famous artists who she looks up to and have pure talent for art, so to be able to walk around the school and see all the students artwork showcased is inspiring. “I admire artists including students here at the Bay and all their talents they have to offer,” Gordon said. “As an artist you have to be able to tell a story through a drawing or painting which is not easy.” 2D studio art and AP art history teacher Gretchen Marfisi said when she looks at students artwork, she looks for effort, creativity and she likes to try to see the thought process put into each piece. “When students start an art project I always
encourage students to create something they would want to keep and not throw in the trash,” Marfisi said. “It should be something they are proud of and would want to display and showcase.” Gordon said artwork has more to it than just being able to draw something and make it look good. She said anyone can draw something and call it art, but to be able to touch someone’s emotion is pure talent. “Paintings can sometimes make you feel things and have an effect on your emotions,” Gordon said. “Seeing different kinds of artwork from other students here is really inspiring.” Hayyim said from experience from being in a 2D studio art class here at the Bay, he can tell anyone that students can all be assigned
one project, but have it turn out so many different ways. “One of my favorite things is to observe students art that is done on the same exact paper, yet each one comes out so different,” Hayyim said. “Everyone is talented at different things and to see that showcased through art is really cool.” Marfisi said showcasing student talents is important because it forces them to go beyond average and to take pride in their work. She said showcasing creativity is key in art. “One of my favorite moments is when I see a light bulb go off in a students head and to see that come to life,” Marfisi said. “It is very rewarding when they create something different and are happy about what they create.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FEBRUARY 2020
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Sentimental Specials The Circuit’s staff reviews six Valentine’s Day themed episodes.
“Friends”
“Gossip Girl”
by Annabelle daniels-rosenberg
BY JEN SILVERMAN
The first Valentines special of the TV series Friends, “The One with the Candy Hearts,” aired on Feb. 9, 1995. Episode 14 of season one, takes viewers through the character’s lives and experiences on Valentine’s Day. The episode begins with Ross (David Schwimmer) looking to ask his neighbor on a date, and it ends with him reconnecting with his lesbian ex-wife and readying himself to love again. This was a neat aspect as it portrays his vulnerability and his readiness to love again. A creative twist in the episode is when Joey (Matt LeBlanc) accidently sets up Chandler (Matthew Perry) on a date with his crazy, annoying ex-girlfriend, Janice (Maggie Wheeler). Chandler’s response is priceless, and this surprise of Janice’s character helps to keep up with the chronology of the season. She then gives him personalized candy hearts and does not let him get away as he sits there in awe. This addition of comedy makes the characters’ lives laughable as well as more relatable and personable rather than TV stars who live a crazy city life. While the boys are off trying to find romance, the girls Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Monica (Courtney Cox) and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) show they do not need men in their lives and can have a fun night. They show the importance of friendship rather than romance on the day of love. The mix of comedy and romance keeps up with the lightness of the show while perfectly tying in the theme of the upcoming holiday.
In the “Crazy, Cupid, Love” episode from The CW series “Gossip Girl,” main character Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) attempts to get her lifelong best friend Serena Van Der Woodson (Blake Lively) and friend Dan Humphery (Penn Badgley), back together. Serena and Dan were high school sweethearts, but when their parents began to date, they broke off the relationship. This is an interesting spin on the show that was rather unnecessary. It added a ton of issues, family problems and schemes to the already dramatic show. Newlyweds Blair and Prince Louis Grimaldi (Hugo Becker) cannot spend the day together as he is out of the country. This gives Blair time to focus on her friend’s Valentine’s plans, as she could not spend the day with her beau. At the same time, Blair’s ex-boyfriend Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) is jealous that she is married and has moved on, which puts him in a rotten mood all day. Chuck’s negative attitude and sad mood is reflected and takes away from the romance that should have been portrayed in the episode. Playing matchmaker, Blair canceled both Serena and Dan’s work interviews and set them up on a date. The situation was awkward, and they were both upset with Blair. While Blair did this with good intentions, it was perceived poorly and made the episode rather negative. In all, the episode had a deceivingly uplifting title, as the episode had no romance in it and was filled with negativity.
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arts & ent. editor
“Kim Possible”
“That’s So Raven”
mANAGING EDITOR
Online arts & ent. editor
by DREW ROACH
In “The Cupid Effect” episode from Disney’s “Kim Possible” series, the use of animation as well as technology highlights the power of love and how desperate people can be to experience it. Although the targeted audience is children, the show does a brilliant job of embedding a deeper meaning throughout the episode which alludes to the dangers of manipulation. This is represented when Wade, Kim’s “Communication Guru,” creates a device that forces his crush to fall in love with him. Portraying the episode in this way was beneficial on Disney’s part as the underlying message was not overbearing, creating the usual light-hearted feel, similar to the rest of the series. The episode was overall enjoyable, but since each one is only about 20 minutes long, the ending felt rushed because the actual solution was found within a mere two minutes. However, Disney should be applauded for attempting to teach young kids important lessons that will help them later in life, in this case to not manipulate others in order to get what they want. The animation of the series is perfectly balanced as it allows all members of the family to enjoy, as kids are typically intrigued by cartoons. Overall, “The Cupid Effect” was an amusing episode which worked to display an influential message to viewers of all ages through quality animation and advanced technology. Furthermore, it included favored characters from past episodes which was also intriguing, making the episode even more enjoyable.
by hannah lassner
The episode “Hearts and Minds” from the Disney Channel series “That’s so Raven” aired in season two of the show. On Valentine’s Day, main character Raven Baxter (Raven Simone) has a vision that her brother, Cory (Kyle Massey), was going to end up with no valentine by the end of the day. Her sisterly love shines as she tries to give him tips on how he could win over his crush, but he sadly fails to impress her. Raven’s humorous friend, Eddie (Orlando Brown), takes over and teaches Cory his own catchy raps to boost his confidence and get his valentine. However, he starts to gain a lot of popularity and lets the short-term fame get to his head, forgetting how important his crush was to him. This provides the powerful message to always be true to oneself and to be true to others. By the end of the day, Cory’s crush ends up giving him a chance to apologize, finally uniting the two to be valentines. After focusing her attention on her little brother, Raven ultimately gives her valentine a giant card, which she made herself. It includes a large cut out of her head and a song on repeat singing, “Miss you! Wanna kiss you!” The amusing gesture was appreciated by her significant other and provided additional comedy to the episode. By the end of the day of love, the Baxter siblings had the Valentine’s Day they initially wanted.
“Orange is the New Black”
“The Simpsons”
by sophie gaer
by karla soberon
In “You Also Have a Pizza,” an “Orange is the New Black” episode about Valentine’s Day, the women of Litchfield Penitentiary reflect on their experiences with love. Throughout the episode, Poussey Washington (Samira Wiley) grasps memories of home through flashback moments. By going through flashbacks of her life, viewers are given the opportunity to become emotionally invested in the show. The show also focuses on Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) and her troubles with love as she is visited by her ex-fiance which rekindles her warm memories, providing viewers with an insight into her past. On a more serious note, Maritza (Diane Guerrero) and Marisol “Flaca” (Jackie Cruz) begin conversing about loved ones, and this portrays the difficulty of celebrating and passing holiday time while incarcerated. While many serious moments occur throughout the episode, the directors offset some of the impactful and serious moments by creating a lighthearted mood by providing comedic scenes to follow those heavy with emotion. Also, there is a relationship between an inmate and a corrections officer. The two go through the day fantasizing about what life would be like if they were a normal couple out in the world, showing the reality of loneliness and its effects in prison. Overall, this was an extremely busy episode that was too scattered in its ideas, and the organization of the storyline was missing. This gives an inside look into the prison system during the holidays, and depicts what life is like while going through these difficult times.
“I Love You Lisa” is an episode from the ongoing television series “The Simpsons.” The episode revolves around Lisa giving a boy in her class, Ralph Wiggum, a Valentine’s Day card when she felt bad that nobody gave him one. The story follows Ralph becoming obsessed with Lisa and doing everything for her, including giving her tickets to the Krusty Show’s 29th episode. Although the plot of the episode does revolve around Valentine’s Day, halfway through, the episode places more emphasis on President’s Day instead, hindering the plot by making the day of love not the main focus of it. Furthermore, there is more emphasis on a pageant for President’s Day, which takes up too much time of the episode. Additionally, when Lisa publicly humiliates Ralph and finally reveals that she does not really like him and only had pity for him, it is sending the wrong message to viewers. It suggests that it is acceptable to be rude to someone when one does not feel the same way. The way it shows Lisa intentionally avoiding and being deceitful to Ralph goes against what Valentine’s Day is, a day of love and friendship. Ultimately, the episode does a good job of showing how being nice can really go a long way for someone like Ralph that is neglected by peers. The fact that it merges over two holidays and shows someone being hurt by the actions of another person hinders the actual Valentine’s Day theme of the episode.
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FEBRUARY 2020
Artist incorporates energy into lively performance
“Industrial Plant Tour” by Chloe wain news editor
To promote his new album, “Industrial Plant,” rapper Iann Dior performed at The Ground nightclub in Miami on Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. As the first United States tour of his career, Dior featured opening acts of Poorstacy and Landon Cube. The energetic performance of Dior provided a mixture of old and new tracks, use of lightning and interactions with the audience to create a memorable experience. Opening act Poorstacy performed tracks from his unreleased album, “The Breakfast Club,” and sang songs from his recent album “I Don’t Care,” such as “Makeup” and “Lost.” In addition, Landon Cube performed “Round n Round” and “17.” Also, the artist performed the hit singles, “Nowadays” and “Red Roses” featuring Lil Skies. The opening acts were not pleasing, as the artists were not as engaged due to the lack of knowledge of the lyrics to their songs. However, the performance of Landon Cube was able to energize the crowd prior to Dior. Although the opening acts were not as strong, the performance of Dior was eye opening and spectacular. Dior opened the concert with songs “Darkside” and “Strings” from the new album. Dior walked onto the stage with energy, and the club appeared sold
out as space within the crowd was limited. Afterwards, Dior played old favorites from his previous album “Nothings Ever Good Enough,” such as “Molly,” “Emotions” and “18.” In addition, Dior sang hit singles “Gone Girl,” “Flowers,” “Molly,” “WYA” and “Never is Enough.” The implementation of old songs brought nostalgia to the concert. Furthermore, Dior played tribute to Juice Wrld by singing a cover of “Armed & Dangerous.” In addition, Dior sang covers of “Shoota” by Playboi Carti and “The Box” by Roddy Rich to provide a taste of his personal favorites to the audience. Towards the end of the concert, Dior teamed up with Poorstacy to sing an unreleased single “I Can’t Sleep.” The addition of other songs by different artists developed a more pleasing experience as the audience sang in unison. In order to perform as many songs during the setlist, Cube and Dior did not play songs to their entirety and removed featuring artist soundbites, such as Gunna in “Strings” and Trippie Redd in “Gone Girl.” In addition, Dior did not play a significant number of tracks due to limited time. Therefore, the concert was shorter than expected, which was a bad aspect. However, Dior used more visual effects and pyrotechnics for his new songs with white strobe lights to create an energetic experience. Dior interacted with the audience by plummeting into the audience, touching the hands of admirers and taking phones to videotape himself singing with the crowd. In addition, Dior was communicative with the audience and continuously asked them questions about their experience. The performance of Dior was astonishing, as he
photo by chloe wain
hitting the club: Singer Iann Dior stirs excitement among audience members at The Ground nightclub in Miami. His interactive performance incorporates interaction with members of the crowd to make for a memorable night.
sounded identical to the tracks of his recent albums. The scenery of the concert provided a large tapestry behind the singer. The concert consisted of many colors and lights as the audience sang in unison throughout the show. Dior was able to create many personal connections with the audience through the use of his lyrics and personal messages. Dior successfully established an area filled with positive energy. Pyrotechnics used to accompany the songs, followed the rhythm of the beats, which brightly lit up the dark club. Overall, the concert was an energetic, well-organized memorable event as the
performance of Dior exceeded expectations. Although the opening acts of Poorstacy and Cube were mediocre and disappointing, the performance of Dior created a perfect balance between past and newly released songs. The use of visual effects enhanced the performance of Dior and created a pleasurable viewing experience. Flashing, colorful-changing lights shining on Dior emphasized each lyric and implemented a new view on his music, as it was an unforgettable experience.
Author shares deep love of reading with creative tale “The Starless Sea” By sabrina blandon features / opinion copy editor
“The Starless Sea” by Erin Morgenstern is a fantasy filled novel with traces of magical realism about an underground world with a collection of stories. The story’s plot is intertwined within a multitude of fables and myths, which gives the novel a whimsical aura to it. In this world, there is a door waiting for everyone which will lead them to the underground world and perhaps even the Starless Sea. The book follows Zachary Rawlins, who has a door waiting for him, although he does not know it yet. Rawlins finds a book at the library which includes tales of pirates, lost cities and nameless acolytes. However, upon turning a page, Rawlins reads a written story of his childhood, which makes the novel seem impossible considering the book is older than he is. After discovering the novel, Rawlins meets Mirabel and Dorian who guide him through secret societies. The two mysterious strangers also show Rawlins the mystery that makes up the world beneath the Starless Sea Rawlins read about in the novel, including rooms filled with door knobs which hang from ribbons. When looking at the style of how the novel is written, Morgenstern has created a masterpiece by including a multitude of stories twisting into the story which follow Rawlins. This aspect made “The Starless Sea”
an enjoyable read because aside from Rawlins’ story, readers are able to catch a glimpse of short stories which eventually link back to it. Tying all the stories together is an interesting way Morgenstern was able to relate everything back to the plot as well as provide eccentric fables ranging from Fate and Time falling in love to the Owl King. Morgenstern’s use of imagery is magical and peculiar in the sense that it captures the setting of the scene in the novel. In doing so, Morgenstern was able to pull off creating layers of fiction, while blending it with reality to create the journey that is Rawlins as he discovers the hidden world beneath the Earth’s surface, as well as the Starless Sea. Unlike in her previous novel, Morgenstern mostly focuses on the adventure and thrill of the Starless Sea and the Harbour instead of the romance surrounding it. In doing so, Morgenstern emphasizes the importance of finding a world instead of overromanticizing the connection between Rawlins and Dorian, which makes the novel as a whole even better. Although the main theme in “The Starless Sea” is the love of literature, Morgenstern also writes about adventure, mythology, symbols and storytelling and tells it in a haunting and magical way. She also writes about how love of literature does not mean just reading a surplus of novels; it means being able to get lost in a story and forgetting the world around the reader, which is a significant aspect Morgenstern involved in the novel since it highlights the book. Morgenstern writes about the importance of world-building and how it does not necessarily come in the form of a novel. Due to Rawlins’ major in video games, Morgenstern reveals an interesting perspective of how video games can also be considered a form of storytelling. Morgenstern writes Rawlins as an
photo courtesy of Goodreads.com
Bookworm bliss: Author Erin Morgenstern released her highly anticipated second book “The Starless Sea” as on Nov. 5, 2019. Its intricate identity within the literary world is derived from its usage of many recurring themes to craft a tale within a tale.
imperfect, shy character who makes for a great read because often times, Rawlins has no idea what to do when he is in a desperate situation. By writing him as imperfect, Morgenstern is able to deliver an excellent example of how not everyone in the world is flawless, even protagonists. However, there were some downsides to the novel. Due to the constant shift of changing settings, sometimes it was difficult to imagine where the story was taking place. Morgenstern sometimes loses her touch because she focuses
more on the setting instead of the plot, which was often lost. Despite this, Morgenstern is still able to accomplish a beautifully vivid written story based on a bibliophile’s dream come true. By having an underground world filled with books and making it into an adventure to the Starless Sea, she is able to touch on not only a reader’s love for books but also a sense of adventure.
FEBRUARY 2020
by anamaria camara
The 77th annual Golden Globe awards aired on NBC on Jan. 5. The Golden Globes highlights the performances of actors from the top movies and television shows of 2019. Junior Katherine Pericas said while she is happy for those who won, she was not always satisfied by some of the winners. “I feel like it did not make sense when certain movies, television shows and actors won when some of their nominees were clearly better,” Pericas said. “For example, a Russian movie called ‘Missing Link’ won over ‘Frozen II,’ an incredible, popular animated film with an equally popular theme song and a box office of 1.4 billion, with [Missing Link having] only a box office of 26.4 million.” Unlike Pericas, sophomore Veronica Ferrer was extremely pleased with all of the winning selections. Ferrer said she was especially delighted to see Asian actress Awkwafina take home the award for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.” “It is not very often you see an Asian woman winning many awards in the Hollywood industry and as an Asian myself, I’m really proud to seem some representation
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among the winners,” Ferrer said. “Although I did not watch Awkwafina in ‘The Farewell,’ I watched her in ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ and she is such a great actress who gave a hilarious performance.” Similar to Pericas and Ferrer, Honors and AP Biology teacher Brandon Boswell is in between being satisfied with the winners and being completely thrown off by them. Boswell said there were some selections that completely deserved their win and some that should have just stayed nominated. “For example, ‘1917’ is an amazing war film that deserved every award they received, and Sam Mendes has got every right to take home that ‘Best Director’ award,” Boswell said. “On the other hand, as much as I enjoy Quentin Tarantino films and ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood,’ all the gore in his films and his writing style is overall predictable, so I do not think ‘Best Screenplay’ should have gone to him.” Despite not completely agreeing with the nominations, Pericas is glad Joaquin Phoenix, the star of “Joker,” won the award “Best Performance By an Actor in a Motion Picture.” Pericas said his performance deserved all the praise it received. “He was so into playing the Joker I genuinely believed he was as insane as his character,” Pericas said. “[It was] a story of
being made fun of all your life and no one ever believing you could succeed; it looked so amazing and he played the Joker so well.” Although Ferrer was excited to see a foreign actress win, she said she could not help but notice the lack of diversity in the nominations. Ferrer said while the inclusivity in Hollywood has improved over the years, the need for diversity is still there. “Along with lack of diversity, I noticed no women directors were nominated for ‘Best Director,’ which is honestly unacceptable because so many women made great movies in 2019. I am glad Hildur Guonadóttir won ‘Best Original Score’ despite being up against all men,” Ferrer said. “There were more foreign people nominated this year, but there needs to be more diversity than just the ‘Best Foreign Film’ category.” Movies from theaters and all streaming platforms are considered for awards, but Boswell believes the movies on streaming services, like Netflix, do not get as much attention as those in theaters when it comes to nominations, regardless of ratings. However, Boswell said he is content with
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the fact Netflix dominated the movie nominations, even if they did not win them all. “While ‘Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood’ is a good film, it was only rated 85% Rotten Tomatoes, while ‘Dolemite Is My Name,’ a Netflix film, was rated 97% Rotten Tomatoes and did not win a single award at the Golden Globes,” Boswell said. “It is the same concept with ‘1917’ and ‘Marriage Story,’ ‘Marriage Story’ being the film with better ratings, but it is a Netflix movie.” Despite many shows, movies and actors being selected, Pericas believed some won or were nominated just out of popularity. Pericas said watching a TV series with popular actors win awards, even if the show is not the best, frustrates her. “Even though ‘The Morning Show’ has an all-star cast of Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Anniston and Steve Carrel, the show is reviewed to be not that interesting, and it still racked up some nominations, yet the show ‘Euphoria’ was a breakout summer hit and was not among the nominations,” Pericas said. “Also,
Netflix’s show ‘When They See Us’ is a captivating story of the Central Park Five that received no nominations, meanwhile it is ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s’ third year being nominated for a Golden Globe.”
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FEBRUARY 2020
New juice bar location promotes healthy lifestyle “Swami Juice”
by Jenna Friedman Editor-in-Chief
With previously existing locations in Plantation and Tampa, Swami Juice opened its doors in Davie on Jan. 11. The restaurant offers a variety of menu items, ranging from smoothies and juices to personal flatbread pizzas. The incredible variety of menu items is one of the most impressive features of Swami Juice, as each different option offers a unique taste made with fresh ingredients. Swami’s menu includes 15 cold-pressed juices, eight acai bowls, nine smoothies and several other avocado toast and pizza options. The diversity of ingredients used in each item, and the option to include extra ingredients to any meal allows Swami to truly offer something for everyone. The “Berrylicious” Acai Bowl is a delicious item that incor porates ingredients such as acai, s t r awb e r r y, b a n a n a , blueberry and coconut water. Also, the addition of peanut butter on any bowl tremendously enhances the refreshing fruit flavors and provides a tasty, salty contrast. It is evident not only through
the ingredients, but the flavors that all of the components to this bowl are natural and unprocessed. Another incredible menu item is the avocado toast. Customers are given the option of a plethora of ingredients to add to the toast, making it completely customizable. Each slice comes with two toppings, but customers can add more for an extra charge. The bread perfectly complements the smooth avocado on top, and the addition of toppings, such as cucumber and feta cheese, take the meal to the next level. Also, customers are given the option to have balsamic glaze free of charge on menu items, like avocado toast; the glaze is a great addition to the toast and pairs well with the other savory flavors. Another impressive aspect of the restaurant is the beautiful presentation of the food. The food presentation proves that Swami employees put in effort to make the food look as amazing as it tastes. Also, with appetizing food presentation, it is easier to enjoy the taste. The acai bowls are topped with fresh, colorful ingredients, and the pizzas are topped with a balsamic glaze swirl to add both decoration and flavor. Swami Juice also offers many vegetarian and vegan items to accompany the normal menu options, such as vegan cheese to top the pizzas. This promotes inclusivity and allows more people to have the opportunity to enjoy Swami’s delectable food. As more and more of the population switches to these vegetarian and vegan diets, it is important for restaurants
photo by Jenna Friedman
squeeze the day: Swami decorations such as the plants and signs hung add to the aura of the restaurant. Swami has a welcoming environment due to its decor.
to consider this. Therefore, it is an incredible feature of Swami to incorporate these substitutes for the typical menu ingredients. Many of the menu items are relatively cheap in comparison to other juice bars, with some acai bowls being as low as $7. For example, Raw Jūce has acai bowls beginning at $10.50. The incredible food quality paired with these lower prices ensures that Swami is a force to be reckoned with in the juice market. Customers order their food at the register, and then, the employees bring the meals out to the customers after they seat themselves. All of the employees are extremely welcoming and friendly upon entering the restaurant, and they are open to answering questions about the menu items. One drawback, however, is the limited amount of seating within the restaurant. It is
a relatively small location; therefore, on a busy day, it would be difficult for customers to enjoy their meal while seated. Despite the limited space, the environment and decor of the restaurant is perfect for a juice bar. There is an abundance of green plants to emphasize the freshness of the restaurant items, and there are signs with adorable phrases on them, such as “squeeze the day.” This decoration makes Swami more memorable and welcoming, and it highlights the green ingredients and exquisite food served there. Overall, the diversity and deliciousness of menu items, the incorporation of vegetarian and vegan options and the beautiful food presentation and restaurant decor establishes that Swami has incredible potential to flourish in its new location.
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Samsung releases new high-tech television device “Samsung Sero TV” By SAMANTHA REICHSTEIN
Samsung announced the Sero TV early this year, which allows customers to watch content from their phone on this screen in different orientations. This TV is a much larger version of the typical smartphone that people use on a daily basis. The new product is compatible with all smart phones. The screen has the ability to automatically rotate to fit the orientation of the content on all Android smart phones. This product can still be used with iOS devices, but will not rotate by itself. In order to rotate the screen when using an iOS device, customers
Bottom Line: The Sero TV is a great purchase for frequent phone users who want to stay connected
use the remote included with the product or the Samsung SmartThings app that can be downloaded on the app store. This makes people less likely to use the Sero TV because of the slight inconveniences. The product connects directly to smart phones and can easily rotate to fit the size of the screen. This feature makes looking at
anything on a smartphone appear extremely close up, making content easy to read or watch. The Sero TV is perfect for anyone who spends a majority of their time on social media sites because it transfers data from a smartphone straight to the TV. This includes Tik Tok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and much more. This offers users the opportunity to easily see any content from their phone on these high-tech screens in a landscape or portrait orientation. The new device has a 47-inch screen and is only being offered in this specific size. This is an excellent screen to put in places around the house, such as an office, bedroom or family room; however, there should be a greater variation of sizes. The Sero TV cannot be mounted on the wall, which may become a slight inconvenience. This device is on wheels which could make finding a spot for it challenging due to its dimensions. This product costs $1600 and is offered in many countries. The product is definitely worth the price because of the features it offers, which make it unlike any other device. The appearance of this device looks like a much larger version of any Apple or Android product. It also puts the content into the right orientation, which gives buyers a greater view of the content. This is useful so that what is seen on a smartphone is always seen in the way a customer wants or needs it to be. The screen takes up a majority of the device but not all of it, leaving a section of the base uncovered. The display does not take up the whole screen and is a waste of space. The whole product should be a screen, and there
photo courtesy of yahoo images
should be no left-over space. Linking the Sero TV to a smartphone can be done by using the cables located on the back of the device. Between the front display and back panel is a small motor which is the control for rotation. This gives customers easy access to the motor any time the size needs to be adjusted. The back of the device keeps the cables organized at all times. This prevents the device from looking messy with a ton of wires all over the place. This is an advantage for users who like to keep everything in order. A new 4.1 channel speaker system with 60W output is also included in this product. The speaker is said to give off a higher volume than smart phones, which can be beneficial in a wide variety of situations. The loud sound this product gives off can be useful when playing a video or song for a group of people.
This may be during any type of party, work conference or while watching a movie. There are other products that let an individual mirror their smartphone on the TV, such as Apple TV. However, the Sero TV differs from the Apple TV because of the larger appearance and more appealing look. It also uses a motor to give content a vertical or horizontal appearance. These rotations are done automatically on certain smart phones, which makes it simple for people of all ages to use. The Samsung TV is a great purchase for a customer that is more involved with content on their cell phone than what is being aired on TV. Although it has its drawbacks, the Sero TV guarantees customers can always view content on their smartphone clearly and how it needs to be presented.
Artist’s ‘Styles’ enhanced through album sounding track is “To Be So Lonely,” which begins with an intriguing guitar sound and includes powerful emotion throughout. Along with the release of “Fine Line,” Styles announced a tour to accompany the album on Nov. 13, exactly a month before the album release. Styles will be incorporating North American, South American and European legs to “Love on Tour,” with 69 different locations in multiple countries. Beginning in April and ending in October, Styles will be touring with special guests Jenny Lewis, Koffee and King Princess, all of which are lesser known artists. The variation of locations of the tour and the addition of more underground artists proves Styles’s passion for inclusivity. Both “Lights Up” and “Adore You” were accompanied by music videos upon their release, each offering a completely unique setting and message. The scenery in “Lights Up” demonstrates Styles’s acceptance of
“Fine Line” By jenna friedman editor-in-chief
Former One Direction member Harry Styles released his sophomore solo album, “Fine Line,” on Dec. 13. With 12 tracks lasting 47 minutes, the record is undeniably Styles’s best work yet. Although classified as a pop album, “Fine Line” incorporates hints of indie and rock music as well, making it unique and creating an extremely enjoyable listening experience. Styles released three singles prior to the album debut: “Lights Up,” “Watermelon Sugar” and “Adore You.” These three tracks are perfect singles, as they embody how the album sounds as a whole while each offering a unique message. While all three songs are upbeat, they each offer a different feeling due to the lyrics. “Fine Line” incorporates a range of vocals, and his spectacular singing abilities are highlighted on the track “Falling.” The slow and emotional ballad truly brings out his trained voice, and the powerful lyrics pair incredibly with the relaxing sound of the track. While many of Styles’s songs are more upbeat, this tune provides an enjoyable contrast. Some of the lighter and easygoing tracks include “Canyon Moon,” “Sunflower Vol. 6” and “Treat People with Kindness.” These high-energy songs each offer a diverse sound and happy message. In comparison to Styles’s first self-titled album, there are more tracks that consist of energetic styles and lighter lyrics. While the first album, “Harry Styles,” is an incredible display of emotion and talent, the incorporation of upbeat music in “Fine Line”
Bottom Line: “Fine Line” proves how Styles is capable of being a successful solo artist photo courtesy of yahoo images
further demonstrates Styles’s range. The title track “Fine Line” is six minutes long, and its smooth vocals and infectious tune makes every second worth hearing. The repetition of the line “we’ll be a fine line, we’ll be alright” is strategically used in the song, as it does not become annoying despite being repeated many times. The song is full of raw emotion and incredible vocals from Styles, and it is the perfect tune to share the album name. Another song that is six minutes long is “She,” and despite being almost double the length of Styles’s typical songs, it is
definitely an easy listen. “She” is one of the most impressive tracks on the album, as it incorporates elements of rock and tells a story through the amazing lyricism. Despite Styles’s purely pop background, his eccentric solo style is extremely unique and shines through tunes, such as “Treat People With Kindness.” This song incorporates a soulful gospel sound paired with an influential message about being kind to others and spreading positivity, which is a good contrast to the songs that are about sadness. The energetic background track is infectious, and his vocalic abilities truly shine through. Another unique-
all sexualities, encouraging listeners to be themselves and accept one another. The music video for “Adore You” tells a story of a mysterious island called “Eroda,” showing Styles’s journey with a quickly-growing fish from the island’s waters. While the message of the video is slightly confusing, the tune’s lyrics tell the story of his longing for someone. Overall, “Fine Line” demonstrates how much Styles has evolved since his One Direction days. His eccentric style and the powerful emotions exhibited on this album truly set it apart from any other music Styles has created and prove that Styles has evolved into an incredible solo artist.
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Pinterest promotes creativity with posts By Hannah GRogan ad designer
Pinterest is an app that allows users to scroll through and save photos as an inspiration for a variety of reasons, including picture ideas and food recipes. Sophomore Kamila Santana said she uses Pinterest as a way to get ideas from others. “Whether it is picture ideas, outfit ideas or nail inspiration, Pinterest is always the place I go to get my ideas,” Santana said. “I like how they update my feed every time I refresh the page because I get a ton of different pictures.” Santana said Pinterest is an app she uses a few times a week when she wants to just scroll through and save different ideas. She said she likes how she can save pictures without anyone seeing, unlike the app Instagram. “If you see a cute picture you want to recreate on Instagram you can’t always save it because the person can see and that would be awkward,” Santana said. “Other people upload pictures they like so when you pin something it is not necessarily the person in the picture who uploaded it.” Santana said the technology on the app helps make it easier to use because of the way Pinterest updates everything so well and stays on top of making sure there are no problems. She said it is one of the most convenient apps on her phone. “The way that Pinterest takes in what I previously liked and gives me more of similar ideas is really cool because it adjusts to what I personally want to see,” Santana said. “One of my favorite features is the fact that I can create inspiration boards and save pins to different categories.” Santana said Pinterest is the place to go when she knows she has something planned like a vacation and wants to get more of an idea of the popular places. She said Pinterest offers so many picture ideas, so when she wants to find something specific, it is convenient. “If I am planning a vacation, I like to go on [Pinterest] to find some picture ideas in the same places I’m going [to] have an idea of what I may want,” Sanatana said. “It also is a really good way for me to see what kind of outfits other people use in those places, so I know what I may want to pack.”
photo by hannah grogan
“
If I am planning a vacation, I like to go on [Pinterest] to find some picture ideas in the same places I’m going [to] have an idea of what I may want. It also is a really good way for me to see what kind of outfits other people use in those places, so I know what I may want to pack.
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-sophomore Kamila Santana Junior Marcella Biggs said she enjoys Pinterest because of all the tips and ideas it gives her. She said it also gives her a way to stay organized, and it allows her to set up what she wants to save in her own way. “I use Pinterest as an app on a daily basis just like I use Instagram or Snapchat because it is constantly updating and gives new content,” Biggs said. “It reminds me a lot of Instagram except for the fact that you can save things to look back at.” Biggs said being able to look through the different pictures on Pinterest is relaxing and aesthetically pleasing. She said she comes across a bunch of cool edits and super trendy pictures at popular places. “I mainly go on Pinterest to find cute
photo courtesy of pinterest.com
pin it: (Clockwise from left) Sophomore Kamila Santana said she likes to use Pinterest to find cute ideas for traveling and create boards that fit her personality. Junior Marcela Biggs looks through Pinterest to get inspiration for various activities such as makeup and travel. Biggs said she loves all the tips and tricks she can find on Pinterest that are not normally found on other forms of social media such as Instagram and Snapchat. She said scrolling through Pinterest has relaxed her ever since she began using it during her freshman year since to her, it is aesthetically pleasing.
wallpaper to use, but that always leads me to looking at a bunch of other cute pictures and [editing] ideas,” Biggs said. “It’s also a really good place to go to get ideas on ways you can edit your pictures and add cool stuff.” Biggs said she started using Pinterest a lot more often in freshman year, but ever since then, she said she loves to look and see all the new posts. She said it is almost addicting because clicking on one photo leads her to a ton of similar pictures, so she cannot stop. “It’s really convenient because anything you want to search, you get exactly what you were looking for, so I always find whatever I
went in for,” Biggs said. “I also love how it’s super simple and easy to figure out and doesn’t require a lot of knowledge.” Biology teacher Christine Mugione said she feels the opposite way of Biggs and finds Pinterest hard to use. She said the few times she tried to use it, the setup of the app made it confusing. “I once went online to find a recipe and it led me on to Pinterest, so I thought it would be a great recipe,” Mugione said. “I tried clicking on it to get the full page, and it had too much going on, so I just couldn’t figure it out.” Mugione said Pinterest seems like a great app for someone to use if they are
technologically savvy, but it was not as simple as she thought it would be. She said she did try to use the app and it seemed like it had a lot to offer. “Maybe I just made a mistake the first time using it and it may actually help others, but it didn’t work the time I tried,” Mugione said. “It just felt like there was so much to maneuver with, so much unnecessary information.” Biggs said one of her favorite topics to look up for inspiration is makeup looks. She said she is really into makeup, so getting new ideas is exciting. “I have a ton of different types of makeup and a nunch of colors that I like to experiment with,” Biggs said. “It sometimes gets hard trying to figure out what goes together so searching up ideas is really helpful.” Biggs said Pinterest is an app that she uses for every topic because of the variety of inspiration that is posted. “I love how I can just go into Pinterest and go on my dashboard and see different pictures,” Biggs said. “It is a way I am able to relax.”
38 THE CIRCUIT
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FEBRUARY 2020
Epic film concludes Star Wars saga “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” by devin Pabian
Sports Copy Editor
Released on Dec. 20, 2019, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (TROS) is an epic conclusion to the franchise that George Lucas started in 1977. The saga began with “Star Wars: A New Hope” about 40 years ago, and now, it has finally ended. TROS attempts to completely wrap up all nine films, as an attempt to please the fans and also create a great final movie. While the film is extremely nostalgic, making various call-backs to the previous installments, such as bringing back Lando Calrissian, it lacks a wholesome ending. As Ben Solo (Adam Driver) was attempting to turn back to the light side of the force, Rey (Daisy Ridley) was just learning of her patronage and her connection to the evil Emperor Palpatine (Ian Mcdiarmid). Bringing Palpatine back is an amazing move by Disney, considering the whole story started with him. He has been
the villain in all the movies, whether he was fighting against Yoda himself or puppeteering Supreme Leader Snoke behind the scenes. However, there is simply too much going on in the film to fit it into a two hour and 22 minute time frame. New planets, characters and ideas are being introduced so fast that it is extremely difficult to keep track of them all. Every new plot point leads to tons of new questions about the film, and there is not enough time to answer all the questions. Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) plays a critical part in the movie but does not meet her full potential for the role. Leia is the driving force for Ben’s switch back to the light side, aside from the reappearance and wise words of Ben’s deceased father and beloved character Han Solo (Harrison Ford), but director J.J. Abrams did not fully utilize all she is worth in the Star Wars saga.
Bottom Line: The end to the Skywalker saga delivers a powerful finish yet lacks a wholesome ending Abrams does a great job of connecting the characters of Rey and Ben as they had previous links earlier in the trilogy. Ben’s actions in the film are similar to the way that Darth Vader,
Ben’s grandfather, had saved the galaxy in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” While Abrams did do a great job in connecting Rey and Ben, it feels like he neglects all the other characters to make the film solely about those two. For example, Rose, an important character in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” receives all of one minute and 16 seconds of screen time in this installment of the franchise. Considering her value in “The Last Jedi,” this is almost as disrespectful to her character as Jar Jar Binks’s portrayal in “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.” Another great part in the film is when the voices of previous generations of jedi talk to Rey. After she is beaten down and force drained by Palpatine, Rey has no fight left inside of her. In the beginning of the film, she is seen during her training saying, “Be with me.” During her hopeless time at the end of the movie, she recites the line again a couple of times. Then, when she is trying to listen to the force, she hears the voices of past jedi telling her to be strong and get up, most notably Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Luke Skywalker and Anakin Skywalker. This is definitely an essential and emotional portion of the film, as it inspires her to fight harder. The special effects in TROS are amazing. Whether it is the blaster shots, the lightsabers or the enormous space cannons, Abrams and his crew do a great job of maintaining the standard for epic effects in the saga. Star Wars is notorious for having extremely breathtaking
phOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES
graphics, most noticeably in their use of the multi-colored lightsabers. Abrams even introduces a brand new yellow lightsaber at the end of the film to symbolize a new generation of force users behind Rey. Overall, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is a safe, yet solid finale to the 42year long Skywalker saga.
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. “It Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Arabella” by Arctic Monkeys
“This song by Nirvana has been on my playlist recently, as it is energetic and gets me into a good mood.” -freshman Martina Schmied
“The rhythm is original and is incredibly relaxing; it reminds me of old alternative rock.” -junior Katja Schmunck
“Don’t Give Up On Me” by Andy Grammer
“Sexy Solteras” by Los Nota Lokos
“This song is really touching and has a calm vibe; I also really enjoy the emotional lyrics.” -sophomore Anastasia Baluk
“When I was on a trip, me and my friends created a fun dance to this song, and it’s such a good song to dance to.” -senior Marina Biosca
FEBRUARY 2020
OPINION
39
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THE CIRCUIT
Smaller classes enable superior learning While large, lecture-oriented classes can be equally as informational, students are granted the opportunity to gain a better understanding of subjects in a smaller, more intimate classroom. A small class size ensures that students receive more attention, a closer connection to their peers and better access to help from teachers. Although it can be difficult to achieve an intimate environment at larger schools and universities, it is essential that certain subjects and classes are smaller in size. At many universities, most of the introductory-level classes are large and lecture-based, which is understandable considering the amount of students enrolled in these courses. However, in elementary, middle and high school courses, it should be a goal of all institutions to achieve a reduction in class size. A more personal learning environment will allow students to create deeper connections with their teachers and peers, which can help to further their education and understanding of topics. Although lessening class size creates extra expenses, there are numerous advantages to doing so. According to Bethel University, the Brooklyn Institution reviewed a study and determined that “a 32% reduction in class size increased student achievement,” which provided those students with an advantage equivalent to an additional three months of education. This proves that a smaller class can extend a student’s level of education and prepare them better for their future. As many Another reason why students are better students end up applying to college after high school, having this “additional” education prepared in a more personal classroom is could give them a leg-up in both the application because if they are struggling with the material learned in class, it is easier to come into contact process and their college workload.
FLASH OF BRILLIANCE
YES Every year during the months of March and April, mock exams ensue in order to prepare students for the real tests held in May. Typically, most AP courses require students to take up to four practice exams, including one on a given Saturday. Although this requirement may seem unnecessary and irritating, it is quite beneficial to the students in the class. In order to do well on tests, one must practice the content and be familiar with the testing setting. By holding this mock on a weekend, testers are forced to wake up and take the exam, similar to what would occur on the actual test day. Not to mention, taking a two-hour test after school ends or during a class period, may result in poor test scores because students are likely to be exhausted by then and not focus completely. Furthermore, it is unfair to assume all students can stay after school for hours because not everyone can drive themselves or have a ride home at that time. With the test being on a Saturday, it is more likely for the attendees to have a way of getting to the test and home safely, creating less stress. In any situation, one can only benefit from studying or practicing more, so when the real situation approaches, that person is extremely prepared. Overall, AP teachers should be allowed to hold mock exams on the weekends because it will only serve to benefit the students and further prepare them for the real exam. -Drew Roach
encounter in their futures. Smaller class sizes also ensure that teachers are able to provide more feedback to each student on each assignment. With an abundance of students taking one course, it can be difficult for teachers and professors to give sufficient feedback on assignments. Adequate feedback is essential for students to grow in the classroom and learn to correct their errors in the future, so a lack of it would hinder students’ academic careers. A small class size also ensures that students are given the chance to participate more frequently in class discussions and other assignments. Participation is a key factor to learning in class, and it can be difficult to encourage it in larger, less personal settings. If students in smaller classes are able to contribute more than those who are in a lecture-style class, it further prepares them and could possibly make the material easier to master. With less students, each has more opportunities to engage with the teacher and material. Overall, there are a myriad of benefits to a smaller class size in comparison to a larger one. Despite smaller classrooms requiring more educators and ultimately higher expenses, the positive effects they bring to students’ academic careers definitely outweigh these easily-solved issues. With closeness of peers and teachers in an intimate environment and a illustration by jennifer silverman higher rate of participation and more sufficient feedback on submitted work, there are endless with the professor for assistance. This gives reasons why smaller class sizes should be students more opportunities to succeed in their encouraged throughout the education system. academics and better prepares them for more intimate working environments that they may
Should teachers be able to hold mock exams on the weekend?
graphic by sandra talledo
NO In preparation for the AP exams, which take place during the month of May, many teachers put together mock exams in order to ensure their students are well prepared. While the majority of the mock exams are taken throughout the week during school hours, some teachers make it a requirement for students to come into school on a Saturday to take an exam, which should not be allowed by the school. It may seem convenient for the teachers to arrange this exam on a Saturday, since there are no bell interruptions or an hour and a half block limit, but the weekend is meant for students to take a break and reset for the next week, not for stressing about doing well on mock tests. Additionally, for many students, coming into school on a Saturday poses an issue. Many times parents plan weekend trips, or there are other commitments that were made prior to the announcement of the mock test that may interfere with it and cause students’ grades to be penalized for not being able to attend. Moreover, some teachers are unable to book the media center or the auditorium for the test, and the exams are taken in classrooms, so it defeats the purpose of mimicking what the actual exam will be like. Of course, some teachers may schedule more than one date for the same practice exam, but for the best turnout with the least amount of issues arising due to the non-school hours, it is the most logical course of action for teachers to assign these tests during class time and not on Saturdays. -Karla Soberon
40 THE CIRCUIT
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OPINION
FEBRUARY 2020
Royal family should adopt contemporary mindset Recently, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, stepped out of the royal limelight due to the relentless British press, the lack of acceptance within the royal family of their union and wanting to drift from the traditional monarchical standards. In regards to the lack of acceptance, Kehinde Andrews, an associate professor of sociology at Birmingham City University who launched the first black-studies degree in Europe, has an answer as to why Markle is being treated this way by the royal family. “The British royal family is one of the premiere symbols of whiteness in the world. She was never going to be fully accepted,” Andrews said. This statement offers the idea that racism is a component in this affair. To Markle and Prince Harry, they share a “typical”l relationship, one filled with love; however, the royal family looks to the relationship as one that is shattering their norms, all because the couple is interracial. Although interracial couples are more common now, as seen with the Pew Research 2015 census analysis that showed a three percent rise in these marriages after the Supreme Court’s decision in Loving versus Virginia which removed interracial marriage laws, the concept is still met with a great deal of disdain as seen with the royal family and many Americans. In a 2018 poll conducted by YouGov, nearly 20 percent of Americans responded by saying interracial marriage and couples were “morally wrong,” while the rest found interracial couples, like the Duchess and
Duke, acceptable. The idea that interracial couples are immoral is backed by one sentiment, intolerance. Jacqui Olliver, a psychosexual relationship specialist, notes that “racism exists in our world… [and many] interracial couples think that their love for each other will make racism irrelevant. However, racial discrimination can be a real problem when a partner’s family doesn’t accept their spouse.” Rejecting a couple on the sole basis that they are not the same race is a racist ideal that should have no place in society. Viewing these relationships that are the same as any other relationship with such a lens offers dangerous rhetoric. This leads to the problem of not allowing couples to live a fulfilling life with their loved one without judgement. According to a journal article published by the National Council on Family Relations, racial stigmas increase the rates of divorce. In a testimony before Congress by Gordon Berlin, the Executive Vice President of Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation, divorce ruin a child’s success in the future due to emotional turmoil. Additionally, according to Healthline, partners who divorce may undergo mental disorders like depression or post traumatic stress disorder, which leads to suicide. All of the consequences that come from rejecting interracial couples are horrible considering these couples are no different than any other. The union between Markle and Prince Harry, and those alike, should be accepted by society to dismiss racist sentiments and the consequences of divorce.
illustration by gowri abhinanda
Another reason for the apparent “Megxit” is the couple’s liberal views clashing with the royal family’s conservative ones. Markle has been an open activist for women’s rights and has championed women’s right of choice, such as pursuing an abortion. Harry has also adopted these views with his partner and this directly clashes with the ideals of royalty in England. According to the New York Times, Markle’s strong stance on feminism threatens the royal family’s anti-choice regime. Markle openly speaking out against a political view that the royals have protected with neutrality, poses a challenge to the structure and views of the monarchy. The British monarchy was established in the 10th century. Now it is an antiquated form of government. With times changing, the world is shifting away from conservative ideals as seen in an article by the Guardian where citizens across the globe have expressed a longing for being free, equal and sovereign people. This suggests that the couple’s stances
that challenge the monarchy are justified, and leaving the royal family is a bold statement to show that they support the will of a free body. Markle and Prince Harry’s decision to leave the royal family is one with merit. The backlash received for being an interracial couple coupled with the differing views make the decision a beneficial one for the couple. Interracial couples should be treated with the same respect as same race couples, as they are all bound by the commonality of love. Love is not a crime. It is an emotion that should be expressed freely, regardless of the color of one’s skin. Views that differ from the royal family should not be looked down upon and should not receive such slandering comments from the British press when times are changing and as a state, we are entitled to a right to voice our opinions freely. In the end, although the exit came as a shock, it’s one with a lot of thought put into it, and hopefully this “Megxit’’ will produce a change of heart within the royal family.
Letters to THE EDITOR Administration should work to implement more safety features during fire drills The carpool fence prevents students from moving smoothly in and out of the 300’s and 400’s, the 800’s has four exits, and students from everywhere but the 800’s are forced to go to the same area every fire drill. It takes almost 20 minutes for portable classrooms to evacuate. In a real fire, this would be deadly. Upon completion of the new building, this congestion will be eased somewhat, but administration must be active in preparing effective evacuation routes - in contrast to current plans. Current evacuation routes make me worry about what could happen in an emergency when people are less likely to follow instructions and the scene could become more hectic. Administration claims the fence is for ‘security,’ but fire safety must trump all other concerns, and one can note it’s not secure to cram people like sardines. The 800’s must be drastically fixed. With no known window exits, only four total exits and no adequate fire prevention system (all other buildings have sprinklers) it’s the most dangerous building in the school. To prevent possible harm in emergencies, the Bay must rethink its fire ‘safety’ plan, or students, teachers, and staff will continue to feel unsafe and afraid of an emergency that may or may not arrive. -Charles Horowitz, junior More college advisers will allow more students to receive efficient help in the college admission process Because our school only has one college adviser, I feel as if it puts an abundance of stress on students to book time to speak to her in addition to extra stress on our college
adviser. While she is extremely helpful, having to guide thousands of students each year can prohibit students from forming a close relationship with her. Having more college advisers would allow students to have more opportunities to develop connections earlier on in their high school careers. -Cameron Tovin, senior
I often feel as if I am rushing to my classes when they are far apart due to the thousands of students trying to get to their classes on time as well. The overcrowding also causes students to feel overwhelmed when class sizes are large. If we had less students enrolled at the Bay, overcrowding would not be an issue. -Taylor Munger, senior
Vending machines with more healthy options should be implemented throughout the Bay more frequently
More time should be allotted for picking classes in the course Although the school cafeteria offers salads selection card; more guidance at lunch, there are many times where I just should be given when deciding want to grab a quick snack from the vending machines in between classes. A filling healthy I think it was unfair that we did not get snack in the middle of the day really helps enough time to fill out our course selection me to focus on all of my work in my classes. cards. We were given two weeks, but most However, I rarely end up buying a snack from teachers did not sign them until the last minute the machines because there aren’t many which stressed me out. I wanted more time to healthy options. The snack machines are think about my classes for senior year because filled with mostly chips and unhealthy sweets. it is my last year at [the Bay]. We also had to While I understand that is what most high review them with our guidance counselors, school students want in a vending machine, but they did not really help me at all. Instead of I feel that there is a significant amount of trying to help me make my schedule good for students that would be much happier if there me, my guidance counselor just discouraged were one or two machines that offered some me from taking a certain class. healthier options. There are many types of -Juan Pablo Estua, junior chips and sweet snacks that are healthier than what is currently in the vending machines and I think the addition of a healthy vending There needs to be more restriction machine would be really great for our school. on who is allowed to enter the -Sophie Solarana, senior student parking lot
Extreme overcrowding introduces various obstacles for all students at the Bay While there are advantages to having a large student body, it often causes chaos especially when it comes to getting to class on time. I always leave my class when the bell rings, but
The student parking lot has a notorious reputation for being overpacked and painfully slow to get out of. To add on to this, parents who drop off their kids in the parking lot add to an issue that has gotten out of hand. The lot has been designated for students only and with the insane amount of traffic going in and out of the lot at peak
times, parents who drop off or pickup only add to that issue. In the morning, parents often speed down the aisles that kids walk in to get to school, and their has been countless times where a parent has almost hit me while walking in a lot they’re not even supposed to be in. At dismissal, parents often wait in front of people’s spots, blocking their cars in. Another issue with the student parking lot is people who park there without a pass. When people park there it is unfair to people who paid a large sum of money for a pass and/or spot. There’s only a limited amount of spots and they should be designated to the people who paid for their spot. -Jack McMahon, senior
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
FEBRUARY 2020
THE CIRCUIT
41
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Sex education should be mandatory to promote safety for high schoolers
Universities must provide applicants with decision release dates to relieve stress
For a teenager going through new experiences during the adolescence period, it is important that he or she has the most knowledge and education possible on certain actions in order to stay safe. Sexualeducation classes were highly implemented in elementary school, with particular emphasis during fourth and fifth grade and throughout most middle school science classes. However, once an individual hits high school, the course gets dropped and is never touched on again. It is crucial for high schools to reintegrate sex-ed courses since it is the prime age for teenagers to get involved in sexual activities which may have a negative outcome such as diseases or even pregnancy due to the lack of more in-depth education.
College decisions never fail to be stressinducing for high school seniors. Universities tend to begin releasing their decisions around late December when midterm exams take place. This puts seniors under extreme stress while they try to juggle studying for midterms and getting into college. These midterms add more anxiety to their constant worry of whether they will be accepted into their colleges or not. To add to this stress, many schools give future freshmen applicants a time frame or a “decision by” date of when their decisions will be released, rather than a specific day and time. This is detrimental to both these students’ mental health and their performance in school. All universities should consider announcing a specific date as to when decisions will be released to high school seniors. This would make the admissions process much easier on students and their families. It would also cause less chaos and speculation on online communities, such as College Confidential, where people create more anxiety by spreading rumors about when decisions will be released. Applicants should not be wasting time refreshing their application portals and emails to find out about the status of their application. Instead, these students should be focusing on more productive activities, such as doing homework and participating in extracurriculars. By having a specific release date, students could plan to be somewhere where they can access their admission decision instead of having to check their admission status on a whim. It is better to be in a calm environment while checking their status update rather than under stress. The academic school year does not pause for high school seniors. Students must continue to put effort into their school work no matter how much they are distracted by the entire application process. If all colleges were to set a specific decision release date, students would be able to focus on school work rather than keeping up with speculations on when schools will release their decisions. On average, teens reported their stress levels to be about six on
a 10 point scale in a study done by The Hill. The most common reported sources of stress for students are school at 83 percent, and getting into a sufficient college at 69 percent. Prospective university students have many responsibilities to take care of before the school year ends. Stress and anxiety can create many issues for not only the student, but the people around them as well. The student’s stress can easily transfer to their parents who are constantly exposed to their child waiting for a decision to be released. School teachers also experience the effects of anxious students because of their performance and attendance in class. Students may not be able to focus and do well on exams because their minds are somewhere else. This leads to teachers having to put in more effort to keep students’ attention and deal with their students’ poor grades. Ultimately, colleges would reduce a lot of the stress and negative stigma associated
media is flooded with jokes and inaccurate representations of a war. By showing a lack of unity and acknowledgment, many countries may proceed to not take America and its people seriously in the future. It appears as a slap in the face to Iran and other world leaders. Another dangerous part of posting jokes or inaccurate information is that it may lead some users to believe these lies which can lead to an ignorant, misinformed population. Adolescents are learning at a young age that it is okay to minimize urgent issues and post fake news. Even worse, kids may form their views on war based on social media which is already popular in today’s society. There are also no consequences, punishments or limits to what people can post and say. Although freedom of speech is a wonderful right given to the people in the United States by the First Amendment, it becomes a threat to society in situations like this. Displaying the idea that Americans do not care about the potential threat could possibly even heighten the gap between the countries and invigorate a larger war. With the recent technology boom and a generation glued to their phones, major issues have become distanced and looked over. There has been a loss of patriotism, pride and
even an increase in disrespect to those fighting overseas. Many say the Internet is an escape from reality and a coping mechanism. Rather than being traumatized by a catastrophic event, people tend to ignore the consequences or the future of our country. It has become a refuge for people who are not even concerned, and social media is now used to make the topic something laughable. With a mindset of “it cannot happen to me,” many are worse off than if they had mentally prepared themselves for setbacks. By using social media platforms to make fun of the idea of war, people are minimizing the sacrifices and danger those fighting for the country encounter on a daily basis. Many are deployed and risk their lives to fight for a country filled with people who do not even acknowledge their dedication. Other countries, looking from the outside in, will potentially see America as ignorant. This will not only isolate the United States, but also ruin people’s respect for one another. Joking about threats and a future war gives the illusion that none of these dangers are real, which creates an overall national feeling that they are not. Memes in general have become a way for people to communicate and understand generational anxieties in a negative way and need to be stopped.
Bottom Line: It is essential for the school system to continue a serious focus on sex education throughout students’ high schools years to encourage health within the teenage community Not only would sex-ed courses help students be safer and prevent sexually transmitted diseases when they are older, but they may also help reduce the rate of teen pregnancy. It is not clear why these courses stopped being implemented during the prime time for teenagers, but continued to be included during childhood years. The course was designed to scare younger kids from wanting to partake in any inappropriate activity when they get older, but without reinforcements, there is no point in having the course. Although the rate of teen pregnancy has been declining in recent years, having a well-structured course targeted for teenagers in high school could help make the percentage decrease even further. What students need is to participate in a program that will answer their questions about any aspect of sexual
activity and provide a safety net for those who may not feel comfortable talking to their parents about the subject. In addition to implementing sexualeducation courses, there should also be an emphasis on the usage of drugs including nicotine, as an adolescent. With the craze of using these nicotine devices, such as the company Juul, it is important to touch on the dangers and outcomes of the constant usage of these products. Furthermore, there should also be professionals available to help kids hooked on the drug, to get off of it safely. That way, the course could reach further than just the sexual aspect by touching on topics that relate to the modern teenager. It does not make sense for these courses to be cut, as they are such an important aspect of growing up and maturing, especially during times of vulnerability and pressure as a kid in high school. It is possible the vaping epidemic and sexual activity could have been prevented if only there was a place where teens could learn about everything that results from partaking in these activities. However, teaching safe sex during a time of Internet usage and social media is relatively contradictory since one can just go online and find everything from music videos to artists over-sexualizing their lives for money. This undermines the power of a sex-ed course by giving the wrong message to kids scrolling through their Instagram or Twitter feeds and learning from these influencers instead. Of course, it is the teenager’s decision whether or not he or she complies with the teachings at school, or only from what the Internet has to offer, but schools should try their hardest to push for these sex-ed courses to be implemented for all grades. Although the preferable outcome is not guaranteed for sex-ed, there is good and safe reason to make a mandatory course in order to prevent accidents and infections from spreading in the teenage population. At the end of the day, there should be a resource for a student to have in school and at any time in order to play it safe and have a healthy, fun and safe four years of high school.
Social media memes should not be created in relation to serious events
Although a meme, a humorous image, video, piece of text, etc. that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users, can lighten the mood and settle some uneasiness, it tends to make a joke out something serious. With the intense conflict between the United States and Iran, social media should not be turned to make fun of the situation. On Dec. 2, President Donald Trump ordered a missile killing the Major General of Iran, Qassim Suleimani. This shocking attack
has led many to believe that Iran will retaliate and potentially spark a war. Social media users quickly turned to outlets, such as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, to post pictures and videos about the situation and the potential “World War III.” Rather than posting educated or informational tweets, most are making jokes about being drafted and minimizing the seriousness of the situation. Fact based posts could help inform the possibly unknowing public; however, social
Bottom Line: With the already strenuous college admissions process, it is unfair to students and applicants for universities to keep the decision release date a secret, and a specifically announced date would prevent speculation and false rumors with the college acceptance process if they all released a specific date on which decisions would be delivered. This would allow students to prepare themselves for the decision and continue being productive in their schoolwork in the meantime.
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THE CIRCUIT
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OPINION
FEBRUARY 2020
Volcano serves as symbol of dedication Junior Gowri Abhinanda overcomes her fears and reaches her goal of climbing Mount Cotopaxi.
Over winter break, I conquered my fears and climbed Cotopaxi, a 19,347 foot active volcano in Ecuador. This was a physically grueling experience, however, it also tested me emotionally and opened my eyes to realizing everything of which I am capable. I began the day by getting ready for sightseeing when my parents broke the news to me that we would be attempting to climb an active volcano. At first, thoughts of confusion rushed into my head. Why would we be climbing an active volcano? What if it erupts while we are climbing it? However, I just hoped the ground would not blow up beneath me when I climbed and soon I convinced myself that my doubts were trivial. I was not nervous about climbing Cotopaxi at first even though I knew the elevation of the volcano was reminiscent of Mount Everest’s refugee camps. Although I knew there was a risk of danger, I still remained oddly calm. Perhaps it was because I did not have the slightest idea of how grueling the climb actually was. When I first heard the climb how high the climb was, in retrospect, it seemed like nothing. After all, it was only about three miles. In a few hours, I would learn that what I had initially predicted would be nothing like what I would actually endure while trying to summit the volcano. The drive from our hotel to the base of the volcano consisted of a couple hours where I enjoyed the scenery along the way. I was having a great time until we stopped and stepped out of the car. Anxiety rushed through my veins as I looked up at what I had to climb. It was taller than what I had imagined, and the cold became blistering as the wind picked up speed. Just standing at the base of the volcano took a physical toll on me. The wind was slapping me and all I could hear was the rustling in my ears. I started wondering how I was even going to climb the volcano if looking up at it from the bottom was already so difficult. Much to my dismay, my ambition overtook my fears, and I marched on to reach my goal, the summit. Initially, the climb was strenuous as I was still getting acclimated to the conditions I was climbing in, but after some time, the wind seemed to ease up on me and I was able to gain some distance from the bottom. I climbed on, pumping my legs, and at times I ran up the side of the volcano in hopes of reaching the top faster. I had finished a mile when fatigue started to creep onto me. I had not had a substantial breakfast, and hastily, I had begun my climb without drinking water, so I was dehydrated. Although it was frigid as I climbed and the wind was extreme, the sun still radiated on my skin, peeling my nose and burning my exposed face. I found a ledge large enough to accommodate a person while
I was climbing, and I decided to sit down on it and rest. As I shifted my weight onto the rock, I found myself staring at the bottom of Cotopaxi. At first, I was overcome with fear as it seemed extremely high, and I am afraid of heights. I started to panic and wanted nothing more than to come down; however, I looked at all I had climbed and turned my head to look at what more I still had to cover. I decided that I had come so far, and I could not give up now. I was determined to conquer this summit. I continued on and at one point the wind was so fierce and the fatigue was so grueling I was crawling up the volcano on all fours so I would not fly away or fall. I am not an experienced climber, and to make matters worse, I did not even have the proper gear to scale Cotopaxi. After I reached mile two, I started second-guessing myself again. I honestly did not think I could make it up the volcano. I started contemplating making my way down to safety, but I was so high up with only a mile left it seemed wrong to leave the journey incomplete. However, I started to believe that I was not good enough to climb the volcano, it would be too hard, and it would be better to just give up. I started to think all I had done to make it to mile two was in vain and worthless. I took a minute to breathe and look at how far I had come again. The distance was longer to come down than to go up, and I knew all the doubt that had been infiltrating my mind was due to fatigue, so I pushed those thoughts aside and persevered all the way to the top. Finally, I reached my goal. The summit was beautiful, the altitude was high and the oxygen was thinning. It was hard to breathe, so I only stayed for a few minutes before I made my way back to the base of the volcano. While I was up on the summit of Cotopaxi, I felt as though I was on top of the world, like I could touch the sky. Climbing Cotopaxi was a great achievement for me as I conquered my selfdoubts, my fears, my physical strain and the climate, which I was not used to at all. The way down was much easier than going up the volcano. The wind was almost helping me reach the base of the volcano as it was so strong it was pushing me forward. I had an extra skip in my step as I was proud of what I had just accomplished. There were people climbing up as I went down, and I could see the determination and fear I had experienced written all over their faces. Climbing a mountain is truly more about conquering oneself rather than the actual mountain, or in this case a volcano. Climbing Cotopaxi was hard, but battling the emotions that told me I could not make it to the top was harder. I pushed past my limits and climbing Cotopaxi helped me realize I am stronger than I ever thought I could be. At the ledge and two-
photos submitted by gowri abhinanda
Lava girl: (From top to bottom) over winter break, junior Gowri Abhinanda stands in front of Mount. Cotopaxi, a 19,347 foot active volcano in Ecuador, just before climbing it. Abhinanda and her family read the sign which gives a description of the mountain during their trek up. Almost at the mountain’s peak, Abhinanda pushes through her pain and begins the final mile before finishing her climb up Cotopaxi.
mile mark, I did not have the faintest idea that I would soon find myself on the top of the volcano. Once I reached the top, my mentality completely changed. I saw myself in a new light, one that valued what lengths I can go to reach a goal, and it told me as long as I persist, I can reach my goals. I loved climbing Cotopaxi, and I think
volcano or mountain climbing will be an activity I will take up as a future hobby. Climbing is a test of emotional and physical will, and it provides self-affirmations that make an individual have a positive attitude. Making the voyage to the top of Cotopaxi was a fulfilling experience and one that I will never forget.
OPINION
FEBRUARY 2020
THE CIRCUIT
Aspiring author connects with life-long inspiration
Ever since my work was first published in a magazine at the age of eight, I always knew I enjoyed writing. From short stories to poetry, writing has always been something I could get lost in because it made me forget the world around me. In order for me to become a better writer, I needed an inspiration; as soon as I read “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgestern, I knew I had found it. Although Morgenstern had only written one book at the time, I knew she was my inspiration because reading her books made me forget everything I thought I knew about the life I live and dive into the ones she created. The feeling I got when I read her books was the same feeling I wanted to evoke to my readers. When Morgenstern came out with her new novel, “The Starless Sea,” I knew I was going to go on another adventure with her. I feel the joy of books is being able to travel into the world the author is trying to depict. With Morgenstern, she does not just take me into her world, but I feel like I am part of the story itself. Even though it took eight years for her to release her next novel, it was worth the wait. Currently, Morgenstern is on a book tour and one of her stops was in Miami, Florida. I am not the only one who enjoys her work, so when I realized it was my friend’s birthday, I decided to buy tickets for her and I to meet Morgenstern. I told myself it was for her, but I think I was more excited to be able to meet her since I was meeting my role model. Even though the book event was in Miami on a Monday, I do not regret going even though I had an AP Literature test the next day. The
event being so far away meant I would get little to no sleep on a school night, but if it meant I could meet Morgenstern and ask her questions, then I did not care what it took. When my friend and I got there, we had about an hour until the book event started, so we decided to eat at the cafe. Just by glancing at the Books & Books, my friend and I became so excited to see such an amazing bookstore. The entire place had fairy lights, which was quite aesthetically pleasing and created a euphoric experience. While the owner was introducing her, I noticed that for a young adult novelist, Morgenstern’s audience was mostly composed of older people, which I had not expected. Seeing this made me admire Morgenstern more because of how she was able to capture the hearts of a variety of readers. Midway into the event, Morgenstern had enough time to answer the audience’s questions. Most of the questions involved how she came up with the premise of the book as well as tips for writers. I was overjoyed that I was able to hear my favorite author, as well as my writing inspiration, give advice to those who are just starting out in the literature business. Even though I could have probably read Morgenstern’s advice online on any website, I felt more connected to her when she answered my personal questions. It made her seem more real and not just the name of a random author; she is an actual person who is able to create mesmerizing books, which I hope I can do some someday. Hearing her speak made the event even
EDITORS
The Circuit is the student newspaper of Cypress Bay High School. The opinions expressed in the paper are not necessarily those of the adviser, administration, or advertisers. The publication of advertisements in The Circuit does not imply endorsement. The Circuit is a free publication available to approximately 4,800 students and 300 faculty and staff members of Cypress Bay High School. The publication prints 3,500 copies six times per year. The Circuit has been recognized as a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown Winner, National Scholastic Press Association-All American publication and Florida Scholastic Press Association All-Florida publication.
TO CONTACT US: CALL (754) 323- 0350, ext. 3277 eileen.manella@browardschools.com OR VISIT cbhscircuit.com
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY SABRINA BLANDON
Meet and greet: Senior Sabrina Blandon gives her copy of “The Starless Sea” to her role model and author of the book, Erin Morgenstern, to sign. Blandon said meeting Morgenstern gave her inspiration for writing her own books in the future, as she was able to ask her own personal questions to the author and said she received encouraging advice from her.
more special because it made me realize that she is not one of those authors who is shy and quiet. When giving her answers, Morgenstern was honest, sincere and she would not just respond with what people wanted to hear to make herself sound better. I think this is why Morgenstern is really the type of author I want to be when I am older because she cares for her readers, as well as being genuine to herself, which comes out in her writing. Fortunately, Morgenstern was able to answer my question as the last one of the night before signing books. I was so ecstatic when I saw the microphone being passed in my direction that I almost completely forgot I was in a room with my favorite author. When I held the microphone in my hand, I did not think of Morgenstern as some celebrity. I thought of her as a person who shares my interest in literature and someone who is able to communicate that through her own writing. Once I asked her my question, she answered it honestly while looking me in the eye. Even though I was one of many in the audience, I felt like she was just talking to me and we were the only two people who spoke of hidden worlds and myths. Once it was my turn to get my “Starless Sea” signed, I started a conversation again about any advice she would give to future authors. Glancing up from my book, she
HYBRID EDITORS
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smiled and said to never give up because if she had, she would have never been able to publish her work which really stuck with me. Morgenstern then told me the story of how 30 literary agents rejected one of her most popular books before it was finally published, but in that time, she said she never gave up on herself or her writing. Just hearing that someone I look up to so much was rejected 30 times before she became a number one national bestseller showed me despite all the obstacles in her way, she never stopped because she knew one day her work would be in the world. Even though I already look up to her, just hearing this story made me realize that even though I have obstacles, it does not mean I should stop writing and give up on what I believe. Morgenstern taught me to stay true to myself and never stop believing in my writing, even if sometimes the world doesn’t see it. Meeting my writing inspiration was a surreal experience. I enjoyed meeting Morgenstern with my friend who also shares the same interest of books as I do. Morgenstern’s words have further inspired me to keep writing and when I have writer’s block, to pursue my dreams because even if no one reads my work, at least I am staying true to myself and my writing will reflect that.
STAFF WRITERS Gabriella Barraza, Ana Boix, Alexa Braxton, Anamaria Camara, Roxy Carr, Marc Forrester, Francisca Giuliani, Isabella Loschiavo, Reece Kauffman, Agavni Mehrabi, Alexa Morchelies, Samantha Reichstein, Dani Shapiro, Sophia Zapata
44 THE CIRCUIT
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FEBRUARY 2020