crimsontimes. discover. tomorrow. today.
Volume XX
Bloomingdale High School 1700 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico, FL 33596
November/December 2009
2009 Poetry Jam By : Sloane Hovan Nervous anticipation filled the Media Center on Wednesday, December 2nd, as students of all grades listened intently to poet-turned-performer Walter “Wally B.” Jennings. “When I say spoken, you say words!” shouted Jennings, “Spoken!” “Words!” the students enthusiastically replied. Thus was the beginning of the 2009 Bloomingdale Poetry Jam. A total of 21 dynamite poets gathered together to share their poetry while also competing for a chance to represent the school downtown at the County Competition. This year Bloomingdale was fortunate enough to have Jennings host the event. Walter Jennings is a talented speaker who has been writing poetry for 20 years. He is the type of poet that can communicate with all ages, and has a passion for working with young adults. As founder of “Heard ‘Em Say” Teen Poetry Night, he strives to give the gift of expression to teens in the community. “It is a dream come true to be able to share my art with the young people,” states Jennings, “It’s something I have always wanted to do. I want young people to have a
creative outlet.” Jennings chose the first poet at random and declared that a panel of judges would be scoring the artists based on articulation, appropriate language, body language, eye contact, and originality. Katie Lombard, grade 12, was summoned to the front by the judges to start things off. “I was nervous to go first, and I think I messed up, but I was happy to share my poetry.” The contestants consisted of a mixture of students from various grades. Most knew each
other fairly well, but many still confessed to getting butterflies. “Pretty much everyone gets nervous when sharing poetry,” states senior Joshua Fisk, “Poets take off their mask in front of people.” Jennings looked on while the poets recited their words, congratulating each one for expressing such individuality and creativity. The majority of participants were new to writing poetry but a few, like Fisk, have been writing poetry for years. Still, with only three minutes to perform, even the most advanced poets were challenged. “It’s always a little nerve-racking,” explains Jennings,” but I have yet to find a person who has performed poetry in front of a crowd, that would not do it again.” Most of the students agree; the performing aspect of the Poetry Jam was just as enjoyable as the listening. “I enjoyed most of the poetry I heard,” replied junior Jericho Ginnity. The top three contestants were Kanika Philon, Reydiel Aguilar, and Elizabeth Feist. Philon, a senior this year, earned first place for her poetry and will represent Bloomingdale at the Performing Arts Center on January 15th.
“Wally B.” hosts the Poerty Jam here at Blomingdale High School. Photos courtesy of Bloomingdale Yearbook Staff
ADDICTED TO AP??? By: Sarah Binkerd As soon as we walk in the front door after a long day at school, the realization hits us that we have a good three hours of homework to face. The arduous tasks that await us include a lab write-up for AP Biology, a test review for AP Statistics, and a project to finish up for AP Literature. Between work, a social life, and sports, it is hard to complete Advanced Placement assignments while still preserving enough time in order to study to ensure an “A”. It is a frequent wonder how some of our classmates handle four, five, even six Advanced Placement courses along with their extracurricular activities. However, this thought often drifts to a feeling of sympathy towards those who are in an Advanced Placement class and struggle with the day-to-day commitment. “An AP course is rigorous,” says AP United States History teacher, Mrs. Sheila Cohen. “These courses include lots more work than an honors or regular class, and students must be self-motivated,” she says. If Advanced Placement classes are so difficult, why are so many students taking them? Surely not everyone can learn in such a fast-paced setting, or handle the course load presented by such a challenging class. Are we becoming addicted to AP? An Advanced Placement class surely presents appetizing benefits. A one-period class can add .08 to a GPA, while a double-period class like Biology or Physics can potentially boost a GPA by .12. With rising college standards, students may need to have extremely high GPA’s in order to be admitted into their college of choice. “Students are being faced with the realization
of competition in college,” says Cohen. And with valedictorians winning the class race with 6.0 or higher grade point averages, what student doesn’t want to boost their GPA with a few points? The problem is that many students do not realize the impending course load and commitment when they sit down with their parents and sign their course-selection sheet. And once you are in an AP class, you are in for the year. “The bad thing about AP classes is that once you have been in the class, you can’t get out. Some kids can’t learn in such a fast-paced class, and even if they are failing, they can’t switch to a different class,” says Mallory Nelson, 12.
Some Popular AP Classes Include:
World History United States History Psychology Biology Environmental Science Language and Composition Literature Statistics Calculus Teachers are also finding faults with the way
students are being pushed into an advanced setting. With angry e-mails from parents with struggling children and the constant backlask from students themselves, its no surprise teachers are feeling the pressure. “In general, students are not well-advised as to what classes they should or should not take,” says long-time AP teacher Mr. David Goowill when discussing the increase of AP class selection. Many among the senior and junior classes are stuffing their course load with Advanced Placement classes, with lunch and the occasional elective pick as buffers between the strenous periods. “Most people don’t take five or six college classes when they are actually in college and have more time. Why would a student want to take that many AP classes in high school?” asks Goodwill. Nowadays, a plethora of Advanced Placement classes must be included on a student’s agenda to even be considered in the race for valedictorian. Is the race for a high GPA hurting the rest of the students who are not able to effectively learn in such a setting? Sure, AP classes are beneficial to your GPA. And they certainly prepare you for college through the tough coursework and fast-paced learning environment. But no one should enter an Advanced Placement class blindly; realizing that your social life will take a hit and that you will have to work extremely hard to get the “A” or “B” you strive for should be considered before signing up for such a class. Because once you are in, it’s sink or swim.
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in-brief short. sweet. to the point.
7 things for 7 days
Bloomingdale Senior High School 1700 East Bloomingdale Avenue Valrico, FL 33594 Phone Number (813)744-8018 ext. 250 Volume XX, Issue III Front Editor Sarah Binkerd In Brief Editor Kathyrn Haase
By: Kelsey Lay
Holidays Editor Tracy Mare
Put up winter holiday decorations. Go caroling with some friends.
Entertainment Editor Sloane Hovan
Put up holiday lights with your family.
Op-Ed Editor Kelsey Rodriguez
Do something charitable. Make a list of gifts that you want.
Sports Editor Kelsey Lay
Tell someone they look nice.
Focus on You Editor Kelsey Rodriguez Advertising Manager Kathryn Haase Advisor Ms. Jaime Melton
Come to the music concerts in the middle of December.
2009 HIGHLIGHTS
Staff Writers Sarah Binkerd Emily Guthy Kathryn Haase Sloane Hovan Kelsey Lay Tracy Mare Kelsey Rodriguez Crimson Times is published at the end of every month during the school year by the journalism students of Bloomingdale High School. Letters can be submitted to Room 272 and are subject to editing. Advertising rates are available on request, call 813-744-8018 ext. 250.
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR IDEAS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE NEWSPAPER TO BE PUBLISHED? GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK AND DROP IT OFF IN ROOM 244 OR 272
Swift/West: Kanye West had some not-so-pleasant remarks after Taylor Swift received and award for having the best music video of the year. Taylor was shocked, but Beyonce appeared satisfied with West’s comments.
Chris Brown and Rihanna had some road-bumps in their relationship, as Brown beat his girlfriend. However, the couple remains together and is moving forward with their relationship.
Deaths: This year our nation along with the rest of the world, suffered many losses, including the tragic deaths of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze, and Billy Mays.
Obama Inauguration: The First Family shortly after President Obama’s inauguration in January.
New Moon: Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? The second movie of the Twilight saga was released in November and attracted thousand of fans.
Caption mentioned above.
3
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4
entertainment what. really. matters.
T.Swift vs. K.West? By: Kelsey Rodriguez
On September 13, 2009 MTV hosted the
and the crowd clapped in support of Swift still standing on stage, award in hand. Later that night after Knowles won the award for Best Video of the Year for “Single Ladies” she
cordially invited Taylor Swift back on stage omitting her own speech to allow Swift to complete hers. After the night winded down, Swift managed to collect her self and move forward. A few months later though, Swift appeared on the popular late night show, Saturday Night Live, and voiced her opinion without any interruptions. Taylor Swift opened the show with her “song” the “Monologue Song (La La La), singing, “You might be expecting me to say something bad about Kanye and how he ran up on the stage and ruined my VMA monologue. But there’s nothing more to say, because everything’s OK. I’ve got security lining the stage.” Despite Kanye West’s infamous rants, despite all of the media attention that has surrounded Taylor Swift about this incident, and despite the embarrassment she felt on that stage Saturday night she has overcome the obstacle that West put before her. Taylor Swift held her own with elegance and couth, something which aided her in ultimately defeating West. Best luck next VMAs, I suppose.
Comic Courtesy of Elizabeth Taylor
Video Music Awards for 2009. The VMAs this year were full of surprises and the biggest one coming from rapper Kanye West. On this special night, West was set to deliver his most famous rant. See what had happened was... Taylor Swift and Beyoncé were competing for Best Female Video award. Just after the award was presented to Swift, she plunged into her speech, “Thank you so much!” she began, “I always dreamed about what it would be like to maybe win one of these someday, but I never thought it would’ve actually happened. I sing country music, so thank you so much for giving me a chance to win a VMA award.” And before she could finish West stormed on stage snatching the microphone from Swifts’ hand protesting and declaring his support for Beyoncé Knowles. With the microphone in hand West stated, “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’ll let you finish but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.
One of the best videos of all time!” While standing on stage after his comments, looking out into the audience, everyone was silent sitting in shock at the comment West had just made. West then exited the stage
2012 Craze: The Mayan Truth By: Sarah Binkerd
There are a plethora of movies scheduled to release (or in the case of “2012”, already released), that are confronting the so-called Mayan prediction of the end of the world. Before seeing these movies and getting sucked in by the “prophecy”, you should be informed on the actual Mayan prediction, and how it influences us today. The Mayans were an ancient Mesoamerican civilization that made advances in writing, mathematics, and astronomy. They especially flourished between A.D 300 and 900, and are known for their calendar, which they used to predict future events. According to some radicals, Armageddon will strike in December of 2012, at 11:11 pm, as the Mayan Calendar predicts. However, the Mayans did not predict Armageddon, or another catastrophic event. Their calendar is one of extreme complexity, composed of many elements that merge together in order to form
the end product, an extremely accurate calendar that has influenced societies since the Spanish conquest. The 2012 Armageddon craze that has been stirring up society is based on the Mayan “Long Count”, a predicted 5125.36 year calendar that would end in 2012. This Long Count calendar was a predicted number of days since creation, a way to keep track of the “Great Cycles” of time. They predicted that once this date was reached, the world would start a new cycle. Never was an Armageddon predicted as this cycle came to an end, chances are they thought another cycle would renew the world over. This could possibly mean a spiritual or physical uplifting of the Earth and its people, something likely thought by the Mayans. The myth surrounding this grave prediction has been blown severely out of proportion in order to generate revenue. So before you go see “2012”, con-
sider the source, review the facts, and realize that is all just fiction.
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mosaic create. think. imagine.
Excerpt from “Rotten Garden” by Caitlin Clawson to be continued in the Imagine Literary Magazine
With each thump of my boots I know I am one step closer to the garden. Gravel, sticks, grass – all is tucked below me as I walk closer and closer. I don’t look at sky although I know it is a dark blue with the on come of a storm. I don’t look at my hands even though they are shaking in the pockets of my coat. My right hand brushes against the wad of paper. It’s a note. A note I had rewritten so many times in my youth when I thought of you. I would rewrite on Saturdays, usually because that was when I had the most time to myself. After three cups of coffee on the porch I would pull out the rewrites and ponder for a moment at my emotional scratches I call penmanship. You could tell when I was tired for the letters sloped off into nothing towards the ends, mostly L’s, a few Y’s, but never on the heart. No, the heart always had to be perfect, down to the last stitch. Other letters you could see from my writing that I was angry with you. I would push the pen as deep into the paper as it would go until I wanted to break it myself. Folds of paper would collect where I intentionally dragged the pen into bitter V’s of disgust. I don’t love you. I hate you with every fiber of my being, these letters would say.
But that’s not how I feel now.
I almost feel like you; dead to everyone else but my thoughts.
“Trees” By: Kristina Corba
“The Door” By: Anya Jain Clutching my hand The instant burn The searing pain The torment, tremor, torture A hissing voice in my ear “Apologize!” “No, I can’t!” I pleaded back “You’re not real!” I added with the authority I was losing Blistering eyes lock into mine And my insides writhe away Squirm away Anything to get away from the eyes “I’m your consequence! Your punishment!” the voice scolded With authority I knew I did not possess A foul essence of which not my own, overtook my failing breath This far away myth can’t be my reality Why must I face such an ordeal? As if hearing my thoughts, the raspy voice repeated its initial demand “APOLOGIZE!” “It’s passé. It’s in the past! No more, it shall not present itself anymore!” Reasoning with the beast was not effective to say the least All fell silent Thought fell over As if the beast controlled the flow and direction of my thoughts The wronged The neglected The solecism Washed over me The stench, air, and ordeal much more to handle Than the beast Heaving the unbearable amount I took the beasts command And the hiss no longer repulsive I saw the door
“Barn” By: Rachel Baeder
Have work that you think should be featured in the Mosaic or the end-of-theyear Literary Magazine? Submit it to rooms 272 or 244 with a submission form, found in front of the Media Center or in your own English classroom!
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sports&clubs
One team, one dream
practice. play. engage.
By: Kelsey Lay
the end of the second period, Bloomingdale was in the lead, 22 to 20. During the middle of the third period, Alexander, point guard, was able to shoot a penalty shot to keep the lead. By the fourth period, number 42, Jessica Sawicki scored on a penalty shot with 5 minutes and 14 seconds remaining. With an exciting beginning, the ending came down to be a nail-biter. In the end, our Bloomingdale Lady Bulls came out with a smiling result. Megan White, junior point guard commented, “Our team works real hard and I’m glad I am on this team.”Our hard working team ended up winning with the final score of 41 to 40. Shelby Dale, senior captain, said with a smile, “We were able to box out and get the rebound on critical plays. I’m so proud of my team and thankful we won.” Come out and support your Bulls Basketball teams! Here are some of the upcoming games: December 15, 2009: @ Wharton December 16, 2009: @ Brandon December 18, 2009: @ Plant January 5, 2010: @ Alonso January 6, 2010: vs. Strawberry Crest January 8, 2010: vs. Tampa Bay Tech January 15, 2010: vs. Middleton
From the start of the first period, our very own Lady Bulls’ basketball team came out strong. Determined to win, Shelby Dale, forward, started off the team with a great jump-ball. The girls came out strong and never let Armwood High School know if they were getting tired. Dale was also the first to score for Bloomingdale to start the lead for the game. Within 5 minutes and 23 seconds into the game, Kate Johnson pulled off a lay-up to extend the lead. Towards the half, the Bulls stayed strong and kept up with their powerful offense and sturdy defense. “It really just came down to staying strong on offense and foul-less on defense. The girls worked hard and it paid off,” Chanice Alexander, senior captain, stated. By
A Field Of Dreams By: Kelsey Rodriguez
Aside from being one of Bloomingdale’s smartest students, placing 5th in his class with an outstanding GPA of 5.84, Sam Morgan isn’t your average senior. Not only does he strive for the best in a classroom setting but also on the good ol’ diamond of baseball. “Sam has great character. We determine character as what you do when no one is looking,” states Coach Masson. “You can count on Sam to work hard, regardless if a coach or teacher is watching.” I sat down with one of Bloomingdale’s baseball captains to get a little feel about his life on and off the field. KR-Do you plan on playing baseball in college? If so where? SM- Yes, but I am undecided as to where I want to go. KR- What/Who is your inspiration everyday? SM- My parents, coaches, and teammates all inspire me. They have put in just as much, if not more, work than I have, so I owe it to them to play as hard as I can everyday.
KR- What kind of advice would you offer to prospective freshman players? SM- I would tell them to work hard and never let anyone tell them they aren’t capable of something. KR- How has baseball helped you in your personal life or even just life in general? SM- Baseball has taught me discipline and instilled in me a work ethic that is beneficial in every aspect of my life. KR- If you could leave one thing here at Bloomingdale for people to remember you by what would it be? SM- I would like to be remembered as someone who worked hard in every aspect of life. It seems that Morgan is well on his way to achieving his goals. With a fabulous attitude, and a respectable character he is unbeatable. Coach Masson would like to add encouraging words for his team member: “Continue to work hard at everything you do. Someone will always want your job, and if you let up, they will take it.”
Ballin’ By: Kathryn Haase
Senior Matt Farnsworth, (#23) jumps to block the ball while the oposing team, Plant City High School tries to score.
So far this season, the Bloomingdale Boys Basketball team is on fire. Loaded with seniors, and led by a new coach the boys are proud to show the school how hard they’ve been working. Starting senior Tim Coffey says, “Even though we lost 5 starters from last year, we work well as a team and have senior leadership. We have a chance to be very good if we continue to play as a team.” The boys all have personal goals of playing or getting scouted by colleges, but the teams common focus is making it all the way to districts. Senior Kevin Albert (K-Fed) says, “I think we are going to have a really good season this year and I am really looking forward to showing everyone who says that Plant and Wharton are going to win districts and that they shouldn’t have over looked Bloomingdale.”
Not only is the team confident, so are their fans. With most games pretty much packed with spirited students and proud parents, the gym is full of energy to get the players pumped. Mallorie Harber (10) says, “The boys are doing really good this year, and everyone loves coming out to their games. I really think they’re going to pull of this season with a lot of wins.” This year the team is sponsored by Beef O’ Brady’s, and the recently started club, “The Athletic Fan Club” (sponsored by the basketball coach) eats their before the games and the students receive 10% off of their bill. The restaurant has also provided the team with t-shirts which the boys throw to the crowd before they start their game. The boys are hoping to have a great season, and with the team packed with seniors trying to make this their year, they’re determined to win.
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opinion&editorial talk. think. voice.
“Fatal Distractions” Texting and driving is rising to dangerous heights among teenagers and adults. Is it really worth it? By: Sloane Hovan
You are sitting behind the wheel of your car, stopped at a very slow traffic light. Your thoughts then wander to that text message you never replied to and your hands fumble for the cell phone. A feeling of guilt rises up from the pit of your stomach, but the conversation is all too tempting. Your fingers hurriedly tap-tap-tap; a text reading “Lolz, I am so gng to crsh txting u!” is sent, right as the light turns green. I know what you are thinking, “Right, like I would ever do that,” but the truth is, many of us do. Teenagers especially have become very flippant about the dangers of texting while driving. In a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C., one-third of the teen drivers surveyed admit that they text behind the wheel. This is a disturbing statistic considering new evidence that texting and driving can be lethal. The Transportation Safety Group at the National Safety Council found that distracted drivers account for nearly 80 percent of car crashes, and when compared to talking on the phone, texting is actually more distracting because it requires averting ones gaze from the road. School Recourse Officer, Deputy Davis, states, “I used to deal with traffic homicides, and I can tell you that distracted driving is the leading cause of these crashes. Texting while driving
My mom keeps harping on me about college. I eally am trying my best. How can I get it across to her that I am doing the best I can? Well, I don’t really know your mother and I can’t tell you if you really are doing your best or not. However, I can share with you what works for me when my mother gets on my back about college applications and such. When things get stressful, and the college questions come up, I take a deep breath and look at it from her perspective. As a parent, her job is to help me succeed. Plus, college is money… a lot of money. In her mind, this journey is every bit as much hers as it is mine. For your mom, any scholarship you get is money in her pocket. At the same time, she needs to understand that it
definitely magnifies the chances of a driver, especially a new driver, getting into a collision.” A recent study by the American Automobile Association advances Davis’ statement, revealing that the risk of a car accident increases by 50 percent for people who text message while driving. 13 states now have a ban against it, and 17 more are thinking about doing the same. Even students are beginning to realize what an unnecessary risk they are taking by messaging friends while getting from point A to point B. “I tried to text and drive once,” recalls senior Devon McFayden, “and I drifted into an oncoming lane. I definitely do not do it anymore.” Gina Curcio, junior, says, “I think texting and driving plays a huge role in why teens have accidents. A text message is not as important as your life.” Even though people are starting to speak out against the problem, the alarming reality is, many do it anyway. In a 2007 SADD survey, 37 percent of teens rated texting while driving as “extremely” or “very” distracting, but still send and receive text messages in their cars. Even adults fall into the same bad habits. In fact, with all the technology that saturates the business world, parents driving to work are bombarded with buzzes and alerts sounding from other handhelds, and can often be found check-
ing texts and e-mails while the vehicle is still moving. “I am even guilty of sometimes text messaging while driving,” relates Assistant Principal Mr. Castelli, “I think a law that bans texting while driving would be good. It would discourage students to do it.” Still, what is the rationale behind banning such a simple thing? Adults get away with it, and it doesn’t seem as bad as drinking and driving. Yet, teenagers need to realize, even though you may not be drinking and driving, even though your parents may do it, and even though you don’t act like some immature primate and speed around like you’re in Grand Turismo…texting behind the wheel is just as irresponsible, and can not be justified. 5,000 young adults die in car crashes every year and most of these fatalities are due to distractions, making them absolutely preventable. “Just because we are young doesn’t mean we are immortal,” says Senior Nathan Morrow, “maybe we should take this a little more seriously.” For more information about texting and driving visit www.KeeptheDrive.com
Advice!
is a stressful time for seniors and that, if you really are doing your best, she should calm down. After I clear my mind a bit, I try to find solutions for the harping that will not in any way cause conflict with my mother. This usually resorts to “the positive answer technique.” I always answer in a positive tone. If my mom asks me, “Have you heard back from (insert College here)?” I will say either, “Yes, I really think they liked my essay”or, “No, BUT I did (insert positive action here).” I suppose it is called sugar-coating, but it usually requires no lying and can be very effective. Now, some moms can get fixated on certain things, like a reply from a particular college or something you have not done yet. If the distraction
method fails, then respectfully take the nagging with glazed-over eyes. Just remember, you’re doing your best. The best way to get anything across to anyone is to show, not tell. When I feel like convincing my mom that I’m not a helpless idiot, I get stuff done. I make sure my applications are finished and that I have worked on scholarships. Now, that doesn’t mean I have applied to every college or have spent hours on scholarships. I just set personal goals then act like I know what I’m doing. Most importantly, I’m getting into colleges, which reduces harping. So my major words of wisdom for you would be…
GET ACCEPTED.
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holidays relaxing. fun. escape.
Holiday Gift Ideas! For Him:
1. A jersey for his favorite sports team (www.footballfanatics.com is a great place to order!) 2. An engraved bottle of his favorite cologne (Armani Code and Polo Blue have recently become very popular) 3. Framed photo of your favorite picture together (write a sweet message on the frame) 4. Tickets to a concert of his favorite band or show (www.ticketmaster.com) 5. A nice polo or jacket for the cooler weather (try places like Express, Buckle, or Armani Exchange)
Got Jokes? By: Emily Guthy
1.What do Santa’s helpers learn in school? The ELF-abet 2. What do you get when you cross an archer with a gift-wrapper? Ribbon hood. 3. Why does Santa have three gardens? So he can hoe-hoe-hoe 4. What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Snowflakes 5. What was good about the neurotic doll the little girl got for Christmas? It was already wound up.
think you’re funny? Submit your jokes to room 277/244
By: Tracy Mare’
For Her: 1. A heart necklace (Zales, Kay, and Jared are a girl’s best friend!) 2. A bottle of her favorite perfume (Vera Wang’s Princess and Dolce and Gabbana’s Light Blue are great choices) 3. Diamond stud earrings (Zales, Kay, and Jared) 4. Build-A-Bear! (personalize a teddy for your sweetheart and she’s sure to love it!) 5. Tickets for a dinner cruise for two (The StarShip cruises sail out of Channelside and Clearwater, tickets available online at www.yachtstarship.com)
Happy Holidays? By: Emily Guthy