RamPage The Englewood High School
Volume 52, Issue 4 June 3, 2011
ehs remembers jonathan villanueva By: Staff Ms. Lucy Brown had just sat down for lunch after a day at the beach when she received a text from a friend who works at The Florida Times-Union. “Did you work with Jonathan Villanueva – went in the Army?” her friend asked. Brown became frantic. “YES … WHY? WHAT HAPPENED??” Then the phone rang and she was told that it had been reported that the 19- year-old, former Englewood student had been killed at war in Afghanistan. “Tears welled up in my eyes. I remembered Jonathan and his family well,” Brown said. Army Pfc. Jonathan Villanueva was killed in ac-
tion on April 27 in the Wardak Province while fighting beside the 2nd Battalion and 10th Mountain Division. His body was returned home to Jacksonville NAS and a patriotic and somber ceremony followed, giving tribute to his life, admiration and raw determination. He was buried at Jacksonville National cemetery on May 6. His older brother, Diego Villanueva, Jr. is also in the U.S. Army and has spent time fighting in the war. He was able to fly home to be with his family during its loss. Continued on page 3 “VILLANUEVA”
keypad craze - is texting taking over teens? By: Addie Crosby This is the first generation that probably cannot remember a time before texting. Stats show the average teenager sends 100 text messages every day, according to Pew Research Company. That’s an average of one every 10 minutes if the kid is awake for 16 hours a day. But researchers say people cross into the extremes with texting: from death by driving and texting, to a relationship starting and ending with a few short words and emoticons. Texting can be seen as an alternative to face-to-face
confrontation; instead people of all ages are fighting over keypads and telling bad news via text message. Some students at Englewood, like junior Cayman Wade, may not own a phone, but will go so far as to borrow the phones of other people to text friends. Texting makes it easier to confront social situations that could otherwise be awkward, senior Russell Bortzfield said. Texting has made people easier to access, and has allowed feelings to be shared without the painful experience of face-to-face contact. Continued on page 2 “KEYPAD CRAZE”
CENTER IMAGE
editorial: texing insecureities By: Addie Crosby It’s the new male and female insecurity: texting. To my left is a kid with a frown on his face, trying to get a date but is a bad speller. To my right is a kid smirking into his lap, suppressing a giggle as he fingers the keypad on his iPhone. Then there are the girls who spend all night crying because their boyfriend broke up with them in a text message. Or the girls whose self-esteem sinks because their BFF didn’t respond within 45 seconds. Then there is me, trying to ignore the text updates from my sixth-grader cousin, who will soon become one of these monsters. I’m scared for her. Texting has transitioned the way we communicate into a crude, rude form of interaction. It is easier for youngsters to chronicle the day’s absurdities to everyone in the address book of their Blackberry rather than having to bother with calling. And they’ll get instant gratification. Like my cousin: “Grandpa fell again … mommy is worried. But I am okay!” I can just imagine her in the moments after sending that mass text, skipping down the halls of LaVilla Middle School in floral high waters. Continued on page 2 “BOYS INSECURITIES”
listen up teachers!
Dear Teachers, I got a secret as to why you’re students are lazy. You baby them too much. If you are going to allow make up work to be turned in up until the last day of the quarter, then don’t get mad when students take advantage of you. If you continue to let students run your class like they’re the ones who went to college for four years instead of you, nothing will ever change. You are in charge of your class and the outcome, so act like it. Recently, a teacher of mine complained about a freshman class that was asked to print out an article and bring it
big fro on campus By: Charlotte Wright A cool April afternoon breeze blows Kennerly Cotton’s famous Afro poof as she laughs with her friends at the front of the school. Running a hand through her untamed hair she says goodbye for the third time, then starts to walk away. Another group of kids is approaching and she can’t resist another conversation. As they get closer, her eyes widen as if she’s in deep thought. When the kids are finally close enough to hear, her mouth launches into a rant of useless, unrelated
to class. The following day when he went to collect it, one out of his twenty-five students had done the work. Yet, that teacher didn’t give zeros. Instead, he made the simple assignment a 100-point test grade, and the following class, none of the students had the article. He had to drop the assignment from his grade book. Then he whined worse than the kids. Many students will not turn in an assignment on time if they know you will let them make it up. So quit being a pushover, take control of your class and change something. Or don’t complain. -Sydney Brogli
gibberish, a few wise words here or there, but basically just a hodgepodge of jokes, the day, and a random topic she overheard another group talking about. Then there is a moment of clarity: “A circle of friends never ends,” she says. “It’s always getting bigger. Squares aren’t good, unless you’re playing checkers. But a circle of friends, that’s always getting bigger.” She finally walks away, throwing a wave and a smile to the kids. Continued on page 9 “BIG FRO”
Budget cuts being finalized Some sports and classes may be cut to meet budget needs
By: Michael Adams Rumors of cutting sports next year have been thrown around, and although these are wrong, some cuts may be made, including less popular sports and classes. The sports that might be cut include cross country, golf, tennis, lacrosse and girls’ slow pitch softball. One elective and one foreign language will be downsized. These classes will have limited number of students and levels, though the numbers are yet to be
determined. Along with these classes one counselor and one translator, commonly known as “paras,” will be cut. “I thought about what would impact students and student achievement the least,” said Principal Corey Wright. Mr. Wright added, “As a principal, I must do what is best for EHS, and more importantly, our students. The decisions were hard to make and I wish nothing would have to be cut.”
Flip to pages 7-10 for the 2010-2011 SeniorRam!
2
Texting
The RamPage
Bryan Alcala Designer, Editor In Chief Kathleen Hollingsworth Charlotte Wright Lead Reporter Photography/Visual Artist Addie Crosby Copy Editor
Upcoming juniors and seniors! If you plan to park on campus next year, make sure to pick up a parking pass for the 20112012 school year. They are $20, and ensure that your car does not get towed. Just bring your drivers license, car registration, and proof of insurance to student services to pick one up.
Mr. Bryan Noonan Advisor
Texting and Driving - dangerous communication
By: Addie Crosby Twenty-eight percent of traffic accidents occur when people talk on cell phones or send text messages while driving, according to a study released by the National Safety Council in 2009. “First it was drinking and driving, then it was being on the phone and driving, now it is texting and driving,“ said Coach Alan Roberts, the driver’s education teacher. Lawmakers in Florida are divided over the issue of texting while driving, according to The Florida Times Union. “They should change the law,” Roberts said, adding that there is no law. “There is not a lot you can do about stopping texting and driving, but the police should
“BOYS INSECURITIES” continued from the front
It gets worse, like her ridiculous 3 a.m. mass message about her getting diarrhea and having to leave a friend’s house early. “But I am okay!” she wrote to end the message. Seeing her telegraph her bodily functions to the world, I realized that humans evolved as a species and my cousin might be the first full generation trapped by the mutation. In Freudian Psychology, everyone goes through psychosexual stages of development, meaning we evolve mentally as we get older, based on our needs. Texting is now in that evolution – it seems we have changed the original set of stages to fit our technological needs, known as “psycho-textual” stages of development. The stages make sense: Oral Stage: involves teething, kissing, and chewing gum or pencils. Now it involves the need to own a phone, though they won’t have text messaging. Kids in this stage will be forced to communication via phone calls. Anal Stage: involves being excessively neat or defiant, depending on the personality. Now it involves taking the cell phone out of the purse or backpack and having it constantly in our hand or in our back pockets so we can instantly respond, no matter social setting we’re in. Phallic Stage: where parents have to yell at their children to remove their hands from their pants. We have grown to send suggestive photos during our phone Phal-
do something.” He said it is difficult for police to enforce penalties on this growing trend, but can cite people for careless driving the same way they can cite them for putting on makeup while behind the wheel. Lawmakers want to follow the example of at least 18 other states that allow cops to tack on extra fees for drivers who text. In 2009, nearly 5,500 people died in accidents caused by drivers texting, according to Distraction, a government website that studies driving distractions. To illustrate the dangers of texting and driving, Roberts shows his students videos of kids bloodied and maimed after their slow reaction time causes them to crash on the road. Roberts reminds students that drivers are responsible for their passengers’ lives as well as anyone within 100 feet of them on the road. What’s scary, Roberts said, is that even the tiniest movements can end with death or injury. On the Englewood driving range, Roberts does his best to thwart distracted driving. When a student is caught touching the dial of the radio, Roberts scolds the student. If a student is caught texting while driving, Roberts writes them up after a speech of endangering themselves and their surroundings. “I only will text at stop lights, worst case scenario. I don’t immediately move when the light turns green. Never anything life changing or dangerous” admitted senior Russell Bortzfield.
lic Stage. NOTE TO PERVERTS: It is illegal to take, send, or have overly suggestive pictures if you are under the age of 18. You can go to jail for child pornography. No joke. Latency Stage: involves making friends or hobbies. In our psycho-textual Latency Stage, we get Internet that allows us to log onto Facebook or MySpace or any social site on the Internet, letting more than our immediate friends know precisely what is occurring. Genital Stage: involves consensual intimacy. In our new Genital Stage, the phone vibrates as you finally turn it off late at night. Those over 18, that is. Our basic needs used to be simple – food, reproduction, air and water. How many times a day does the average person think about the opposite sex? Not as much since the evolution into the new psycho-textual stage. We have now been rewired to need our personal devices within range or we get irritable and mean-spirited, as well as uncaring of the lives around ours. Everyone has seen the occasional guy sitting in six o’clock traffic, face lit up by his phone next to his steering wheel. He tries to overcompensate in his flashy car with his speedy iPhone 4G and the world disappears. But there are lives at stake around his selfish, metaphorical life-stealing gas-guzzling Hummer. Wake up! I know people who try to slip their succulent cell phones into the on position so they can sneak off to the bathroom for some alone time. Big picture? We are an addicted race of humans, jumping to the easiest possible way to instant gratification
“KEYPAD CRAZE” continued from the front
“I sometimes use texting to hit on girls,” he said. “I think texting makes it easier to say what you really want to in a more polite and sometimes less awkward way. I say things over texts that I wouldn’t necessarily say to someone’s face. Everyone does it.” Studies show three in four cell phone users send and receive text messages.
while avoiding as many roadblocks as possible. Texting is an outlet, like a voluptuous bed of silk and feathers, within the communicating masses. But this is making us lazy in what used to be a fun chase. Word of advice to future generations who want to get a date: First off, boys, stop asking out girls via text message. Who does that?! Girls, stop saying yes. If they have the stones to ask for your love so impersonally, imagine how the rest of your relationship is going to go. Besides, you girls are feeding into their secret desires of filling their “manly” inboxes. Picture this: your whole romantic life with this person is going to be on a phone screen. What about when you have to delete your inbox? There goes the digital flower from Valentine’s Day, and the wooing from the immature boy who is too afraid to say it to your face. My best advice is to find someone real. To the rest of you out there who cannot go two minutes without your phone, place your right hand over your phone and repeat after me in our thanks to the texting god: St. Appleberry: Thank you, Oh Generous Leader for your access to unlimited data and messaging. I solemnly swear to keep my phone on a tight leash as we roam the planet, protecting it from being dropped onto concrete, into toilets or sinks. @M3N (amen.) And now that we agree we’re having to feed a new need, let’s now tell the new texting god we need a new commandment: Thou shalt not sext at the dinner table with grandma.
Englewood senior Shelby Rossa says she likes having the personal conversation with friends, believing that if something is worth discussing, why not make a phone call instead of some impersonal text. “I’m one of the fortunate ones,” she said.
villanueva”
Jump Page
3
“
continued from the front Jonathan attended Wolfson for 9th – 11th grades and transferred to Englewood at the start of his senior year. Brown said he was a quiet, peaceful student who had support and a good relationship with his family. She said Englewood was able to offer him a change of scenery and motivation. She said Jonathan was a bright young man who knew a high school diploma was his only option if he wanted to reach his dream of joining the military. He reached that goal just after the summer of 2009. After he completed a few summer classes, his family came to Brown’s office to pick up his diploma. They asked for a picture since he was not able to be at the traditional graduation ceremony. “There was a sense of pride in the whole family that day,” Brown said. “I will always remember that picture. No one has ever asked me to do something like that. You could tell they were gracious for all of Englewood’s efforts to help Jonathan obtain his diploma.” Although Jonathan only spent his senior year at Englewood, his family has asked that donations in Jonathan’s memory be sent to the school to benefit the students of Englewood. Jonathan’s parents were appreciative of the letters that Englewood students wrote to honor their son in a scrapbook that was presented to the family shortly after his passing. Jonathan and his parents. “Becoming a soldier was a dream of his when he was younger,” the family said. “Jonathan left this world doing what he loved.” Florida Senator Bill Nelson also praised the courage and sacrifice Jonathan gave for his county. “He comes home a fallen hero…in the long line of protection of this country,” Nelson said in a statement.
Wannabe jedi in c wing
Students voted him the most popular teacher on the campus, but the RamPage investigated whether the election was rigged.
By: Christopher Cartwright and Edita Dilic Maybe one day we can all be Star Wars-loving, wit-mastering individuals like Mr. Mitchell Owens. But let’s not get our hopes up. Owens, 42, would most likely be described as a little nerdy, quoting Yoda, or some other Star Wars freak like Darth Vader. Some cheesy Yoda quote like: “There is no try, there is only do or do not.” Is this guy for real? Most students think Owens’ ego is getting the better of him when he describes himself as a “handsome, brave, charming guy.” Nevertheless, Owens is a devoted and beloved teacher of Advanced Placement Human Geography, Advanced Placement American Government, and Honors Economics, spanning all grades. And he’s been doing this for 16 years. Walk past his room in C Wing, and Owens is likely standing in front of his class, meter stick in hand, giving another one of his oh-so-interesting lectures. Students cannot help to ask themselves questions like, “What’s with the meter stick fetish?” or “When can I get out of this class?” Mr. Well, the RamPage searched far and wide to find one such student with those answers, and to determine what makes him so popular. Sarena Robertson, a freshman in Owens’s AP. Human Geography class, seemed to give a canned answer about Owens supposed awesomeness. “Mr. Owens is very dedicated to what he does, and he really appreciates students who try their best and succeed,” she said. We promise that she wasn’t bribed. At least, not by the RamPage.
Then some reporters crunched numbers and found Owens is an effective teacher on paper, with a fair number of students passing the AP exam each year. Nobody but Owens found it all that interesting that he went to Englewood himself, around the time of the Model T, but he went on about it anyway. He got on a high horse and told RamPage reporters how Englewood has changed. “Englewood is still
Owens chats with Student Jennifer “Chinny” Lam a very good school at its core, however, it’s facing many challenges that it cannot overcome, like economic wellbeing at home, and other home issues, and a major issue is the feeder schools. If the schools that we’re getting kids from are not prepared, how are we supposed to be held accountable for skills not taught?” Oh be quiet, Owens, with your political tirade. We like you better when you’re quoting Yoda. Also, Owens noted that there has been some
Helping Hands The National Honor Society (NHS) at Englewood has made 1,434 origami cranes, which will raise $2,000 for the Red Cross, to assist in the recovery efforts for those affected by the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan. Mrs. Gail Berzins, head of NHS, said she is proud of the students for working together for an important cause.
“The students at Englewood High School are showing that they care about something greater than themselves,” she said. Next year, the NHS will work toward a book drive to help re-stock depleted libraries in New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina.
changes. “Student population, ethnic makeup, and work attitude of students,” he said. This, coming from a guy who adores a little green guy carrying a light saber. Owens, with his “you’re going to learn this no matter what” attitude, was asked if he is satisfied with the impression he has left on students, to which he replied. “I’m satisfied because I’ve tried to impart my knowledge, and life skills, and provide a rigorous environment that stretches beyond class. I also think students have a good opinion of me, seeing as though I have been voted best teacher in our very own RamPage.” How about you impart your mouth shut, wannabe Jedi. It’s obvious that he rigged the election, since he HAD to mention his win. Finally, the RamPage had to address that deep obsession with Star Wars. As anyone who knows Owens is sure of, he’ll travel a thousand miles to go to a Star Wars convention in a heartbeat. Why? “It is just a mixture of the fact that it’s a good story line, there’s so much action, it has defined a generation, and most of all you just grow up with it. It’s almost like it’s inbred into your DNA” Sure, if you have the nerd gene. Owens said he’ll be around for a while, mastering his rigorous teaching styles in his attempt at making Englewood that much more enjoyable. “I have about a solid 14 years of teaching left in me, or until I win the lottery,” Owens said. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the second one. Maybe he could then afford to buy a spaceship to take him to galaxy far, far away, where he belongs.
orientation dates Orientation Dates start August 15. Here is a breakdown of times by class: August 15: Incoming juniors 8 a.m. to 10am August 15: Incoming seniors 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. August 16: Incoming sophomores: Last name letters A-M 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Last name letters N-Z 11:30 a.m. to 1:30pm August 18: Incoming freshmen: Last name letters A-M 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Last name letters N-Z 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friay 19th Make-up day for schedules
4
Literary page Friends
By Jasoda and Parsuram Dhimal Friends are those people whom we like and trust. They are important in our life because life is more rewarding if we have friends to share our joys and sorrows. Without friends it would be a lonely life. I can still remember the morning I went to Kunyam in my native country Nepal with a group of close friends. It was obviously going to be an extraordinary day. Kunyam is a place where people usually go to have a picnic, and I was meeting my friends for lunch there on that chilly winter day. At the time I was 16, and in class 10, which is the equivalent of a senior year in America. My whole class of friends, teachers, and some people who used to cook for us went together. We’d grown up together and we’re about to graduate together. Kanyam is in Illam (one of the districts in Nepal), which is famous for tea cultivation. It’s a hilly place. The occupation of people who live in Kanyam is to cultivate tea. It looks beautiful with real nature. There’s usually a cool and clammy fog in Kanyam. It looks green year round.
We all planned to meet together that morning. We gathered at school and started our journey to Kanyam at 5 a.m. in a big bus with 100 people. I was excited to go. The bus took about six hours to reach our destination. It was an exciting landscape outside the windows of the bus – the road zigzagged, curved and turned way until we reached the mountains. When we arrived, the cooks began preparing a meal, some of my friends started dancing while our traditional music played off a cassette tape. Others started snapping photos. After that, we shared breakfast together. After the meal, we divided into group for different activities like taking photos, dancing, and singing. All around us we saw big horses where we had ridden on past trips. After a day of fun, everybody got back to camp where we shared another meal and planned our journey back home. We arrived back at 11 at night. When I was about to come to U.S., I bought a scrapbook for all my friends to write something about me and a little about themselves. Some also added pictures as a remembrance of our experiences together. I’ve been in the U.S. for two years and find myself looking through the scrapbook whenever I miss my friends. One friend wrote me, in the scrapbook, “Meeting and departure are the law of nature, but to meet again is the hope of life.” When I struggle, and my heart misses them, I look to those words for hope that I will one day see my dear friends again.
The only thing keeping me up is The Blues
Closing the Deal in Cali
Sometimes I feel like goin’... Goin’ someplace far None one knows where I’m goin’ No one else, not even the stars I don’t even know I’m headed I don’t have a clue But, the only thing that’s keeping me up is the blues I see a big storm is a-coming See the dark clouds in the sky Rain drops they are a fallin’ It’s nice to know the earth also cries It’s hard to win, when I always lose But, the only thing that’s keeping me up is the blues
I look left I look right There goes my day, baby And, then goes my night When I look for my babe She’s out of sight Went and flew away Just like a kite Well, I don’t know, What I’m gonna do But I need something to pick me up, besides the blues. -By: Edwin Arzuag-Brown
To the Crestfallen
This is a message to all Who think its funny when I fall Onto my knees and start to pray That the pain with be gone someday.
This is my story that I tell For all those that have tears that well Up behind their sad, sad eyes While they hide from the bad guys
Though this world beats us down We still try to turn it around
This is the promise I make to you Even with all you put me through Just keep on with your deceiving But you will never keep me from believing.
This is the hope that I give For all who have chosen to live
- By: Shelby Rossa 12th grade
Dusk
Watching shooting stars from the opposing side of the sun,
I lay under the enlightened dark as the highlighting stars and the moon are one,
The whispering gust is the only presence by my side,
Will it forever be this way or will there be a change of tide?
They say the path of the heart is that you rather fall in love or fall in hate,
Shall I be consumed by hatred or make my own path of fate?
The fight within man’s heart is the greatest battle of them all,
The strongest of men is who can bare truth and hope into their heart and do not fall.
I diverge from the rest of the world, for most do not understand the depths of the heart.
And if I have to, I’ll paint the sky for everyone to see the illustrious art.
My heart is set on the horizons of dusk in an ever-lasting scene,
The beginning of darkness as the upcoming light is unseen.
I sit on the edge of dawn and the peek of light,
For it is little, and the fathoms of my heart are too deep to fight. -By: Ramando Hill
By: Bryanna Cooper Christina Mattis is on her way to reaching new heights and achieving big dreams. The feisty junior never imagined she’d accomplish something so prestigious after constant jeers and stereotyping by peers who’d claimed she’d never do anything big. She proved them wrong. On March 12, Mattis was awarded first and second place in the NAACP
ACT-SO Competition, beating out 150 contestants. The competition included a poem, an essay and a playwright section. Mattis won 2nd place for her essay and 1st for her poem (see below). Inspiration for her first place win came from a relative who experienced love, lust and loss. Mattis ultimately won a trip to California where she will present her essay and poem on July 19 to 26.
“The Saturday night I’d never forget” Sitting on mama’s staircase, Just regretting what I just did As this will go down in history, As the Saturday night, I’d never forget.
He still comes by the house, And chat with mama and ‘dem everyday, He stands at my bedroom doorBut I just turn and walk away.
I mean, it started off passing little notes in class, To winks in the hall as I walk past, To his homeboys pointing and whispering at me as I walk byAnd him finally saying, “I want you” as he looked me in the eye. He was the well known jock, And I was the little popular girlBut how we met, was just your average, boy meets girl. From those long talks at night on the phone, To the long walks on the beach – I hate to say it but, It felt like he was every part of me.
Mama says she likes him, But only if she knewHow he belittled her little girl, And made her do the things she thought she never do.
You see, The first time he said he loved me, Unfortunately, I didn’t say it back. But then he stroked my hair In the back of my daddy’s Cadillac. But the biggest thing was, When he started to love me, Planting sweet kisses on my neck – As he whispered, “I won’t tell anybody” Deep down inside, I knew it was a big mistake, But in order to keep him, I knew it was big risks I had to takeAnd without doubt, at that time, a little touch was the only answer. See, All it took was one night, For me to recognize who he wasWere all the times he said he loved me, Was to get closer to me just because? A few years pasted, A little over threeSince the dreadful Saturday night, I had given up my inner mystery.
At night, when I’m all alone, I have the urge to call him up on the phone, And ask what his intentions were, On that Saturday night when we was all alone. Did he token me for a little touch? Or was it really meant to be, Because after all, Why is she still coming around, after he took what he wanted from me? He loves me, he loves me notIs the question I ask myself everyday? It’s just something about him, That just makes me want to stay. What he took from me, closed up my childhood mystery, and opened up my world of womanhood and now that i’m older, i guess it seems all good. Now i have long talks with my daughter, about the dreadful Saturday night, the night that changed me forever, in which i believe, helped me raise my daughter right. - By:Christina Renee Mattis The original version had to be revised to make it more high school appropriate
RamPage takes home the gold
By: Dana Johnson and Charlotte Wright Ten local schools from Duval County gathered at The Florida Times-Union awaiting the moment of truth. The room was quiet as the editor of the paper stood talking about the best overall high school newspaper. The EHS students sat there with their fingers crossed, eyes shut, some even praying as the editor described the winner’s paper as having a drug page, teen sex issues, and a fun page. Englewood students passed nervous and excited glances when they realized the description matched Englewood’s paper exactly. The trophy for the overall best newspaper was awarded to the RamPage amid excited cheers. “It was a great achievement,” said RamPage lead feature writer Charlotte Wright. “It’s nice to prove to everyone that Englewood can accomplish anything they want as long as they work hard enough.” The RamPage also took six writing awards: ·Column Writing 1st place - Jennifer Clifton, 2nd place - Winter Katterhenry, 3rd place - Suzana Sislijagic ·Editorial Writing 1st place - Roderica Johnson 3rd place- Winter Katterhenry ·Sports 2nd place- Aviance Alston
“I’m proud of all the writing awards because each of the winners sacrificed hours and hours after school to make their stories great,” said advisor Mr. Bryan Noonan. “Roderica Johnson probably spent 15 hours writing her editorial and she wasn’t doing it for a grade - she was freelancing for us.” Johnson’s sister, Dana Johnson, is taking over as editor of the RamPage next year. Johnson said she is happy to have helped in the paper’s success. “I was ecstatic when I won,” Johnson said. “Even though I worked so hard on my story, which I call my baby, I wasn’t 100 percent confident that I would win. But I did!” The copy editor, Addie Crosby, had to review dozens of stories even though she had extracurricular activities such as rowing, Miss Englewood and advanced placement classes. “To me, being part of a successful win was mentally lifting,” she said. “We really can do great things, especially since we beat my old school, Stanton. It
5
was a big victory for us all.” Bryan Alcala, editor in cheif, said the long hours of prefecting and polishing all the stories and the presentation of the paper paid off. “I was excited when we won,” Alcala said. “The countless hours that we all put into shaping the paper were well worth it.”
National Honors Society Inducties By: Jackie Boyd The National Honors Society is a prestigious award given to outstanding students. Student need a 3.5 GPA, must be a second-semester junior or senior, to have passed the FCAT, have good character, and be willing to do community service. The National Honor Society will not only help you be accepted into college but also helps you get scholarships. Out of 60 students, 30 are seniors and 30 are juniors. “If you are top of your class and you are not in the National Honors Society, the colleges start wondering why,” said Ms. Gail Berzins, who heads the society at Englewood. SENIOR INDUCTEES: Roberthe Antoine Douglas, Elias Daboul, Amber Davis, Snehal Desai, Tasha Dewberry, Vildana Drakulj, Kerian Fisher, Christian Jackson, Roderica
Johnson, Amelia Karadzi, Cheyanne Kaulman, Kallie Longley, Sebria Milton, Angie Quiros, Ashley Simkanich, Kenneth Suber, Alexis Taylor, Emma Tran, Javier Uriostegui, Jesse Vonseggern, Jeni Wright, Caleb Hill JUNIOR INDUCTEES: Laura Micula, Chasmine Miller, Dianable Morejon, Daniel Pickard, Prishila Qelemeni, Satya Son, Briya Thomas, Kimberly Trinh, Tatiana Vasquez, Roldan Wasembeck, Amanda Welch, John Whited, Antoinette Williams, Shaun McIntosh, Christina Mattis, Catharina Ly, Kady Lucas, Troy Looper, Kelsie Leggett, Haris Kuragic, Adis Kutagic, Chrisian Kearse, Igor Iljic, Dzenella Husidic, Jeremy Howard, Adam Hines, Adreana Gaines, Alyssa Hill, Ashley Gonzalez, John Faveron, Fadi Faraj, Alexandria Creel, William Basham, Ahmed Aedan , Ryan Ablan
Editorial
6
facebook addiction lol By: Edita Dilic and Christopher Cartwright One of the weirdest moments of my life was watching my sister’s best friend in labor, 5 minutes away from giving birth, screaming, “HAND ME MY PHONE, I HAVE TO UPDATE MY FACEBOOK!” This baby came into a world with 500 million active Facebook users. Facebook is becoming like a drug for too many people. The addiction is widespread. Some people are finding themselves up until 3 in the morning, eyes glued to the screen, hypnotized, searching for the gratification that comes with reading posts and posting their latest stupid epiphany. Sounds more like a heroin addiction. Facebook addiction impacts Englewood students in different ways, so the RamPage came up with six surefire signs that might suggest you are addicted to Facebook. Sign 1: The first thing you find yourself doing when you wake up in the morning is checking your Facebook, before emptying your full bladder, and it is the last thing you do before you go to sleep. Did you know 48 percent of people aged 18 to 34 check their Facebook right when they wake up? Sign 2: There is no way you can go a whole day without checking your Facebook. Instead of focusing on school or work, your mind races, going between what people said about your latest picture post, to your latest status update. In any given room, your eyes twitch until you find a computer or any other device that will help you get your fix. You find yourself suffering withdrawal symptoms, like
sweating and shaking that even Tylenol couldn’t cure. These crack heads are likely part of the 28 percent of people who check their Facebook accounts on their smart phones every day. Sign 3: When you get out of your chair, your pants are saturated. You think nothing of it, though you’ve actually peed yourself, not realizing it because you were too concentrated on Facebook. Whoever invents a Facebook diaper will likely make a killing for these zombies. Sign 4: You think your life kind of sucks, and Facebook presents an alternate reality for you, where everything is neat and perfect, where you create your own Farmville, and live happily. These cyber hillbillies find joy in dragging and clicking their cows and harassing friends until they send you sheep. Sign 5: You have tons of friends on Facebook but feel lonely in the “real world,” probably because you lose your real friends because of your Facebook obsession. These addicts cry into their pillow, all night, if someone has not responded to their latest post within 30 minutes. Sign 6: Fitting Facebook in your everyday schedule, in between your toilet break (sometimes on your toilet break), and your lunch break. That is a serious addiction. So, if you find yourself agreeing to three out of six of the signs, you are now diagnosed a Facebook addict and should consider a MySpace account for treatment.
Unwanted advances
By: Briya Thomas He looked at me with a feral look in his eyes. It was as if he was the predator and I was his unwilling prey. “Come on babe, if you love me you will do it.” He touches and caresses me like he loves me, saying that this is what people do when they love each other. I hesitate and he gets impatient. “You love me, right? If you loved me enough you would let me do it.” This is all I hear as he lays me back on the bed and starts to kiss me. If this is supposed to be so right, why does it feel so wrong? When you’re in a relationship and he says he loves you, why does he try to pressure you into doing something you know you have no wishes of doing? What kind of partner pressures their so called “lover” to do anything they don’t want to do? Can you truly call that love or are you just being used like an old rag and thrown away when you are of no more use? “Wait! Stop!” As I yell these words he gets mad and gets up. “What’s the problem? I thought you said you loved me? Why are you hesitating?” Can’t he see how wrong this is? Doesn’t he see just how scared and unready I am for something like this? “I’m nowhere near ready to do anything like this. I would like to wait for when the time is right.” At first the only response I get is a long, hard stare. Then he finally does speak and what he says next shows me his true feelings. “I should have known you would back out on me. There are plenty of other girls waiting in line for the position you just gave up. What a waste of time.” As those words left his mouth I felt heartbroken, but the truth was he made me realize something that has changed the way I look at life. He never loved me and I’m better
off without him. So many young girls today are pressured into having unwanted sex, knowing they are not ready to do something as intimate as that, yet feeling like they have to in order to keep their boyfriend. According to a survey the NSPCC and Bristol University took, including 1,353 girls between the ages 13 to 17, 1 out of every 6 girls reported being pressured into having unwanted sex. The Sexual Health Network, a website with professionals dedicated to help discuss sexual matters between peers and teens, took a study of 279 teenage girls between the ages of 14 and 17. In this study they were asked a multitude of questions about how they think their boyfriends would react if they said no to sex. Of all the girls interviewed, 41percent said they had unwanted sex. Ten percent said their boyfriends forced them. Almost 38 percent also admitted to having unwanted sex because they were afraid their boyfriend would be angry and break up with them if they said no. These unwanted sexual experiences result in risks for STDs and pregnancies. What teenager wants to worry about taking care of a child or whether or not they will live to see the next day because of a disease they picked up from having sex and not waiting? NO young girl under any circumstances should have to go through and experience these sorts of pains in life at such young ages. Waiting is the best course of action. It ensures your safety of not contracting any STDs or being a teen mother. After all, if he is not willing to wait for you, have you ever thought that maybe he is not the right one for you?
Teen violence must be stopped By: Deja Martinez It seems like every time someone turns on the news one more person is killed. I lived through a murder firsthand when I lived in Bronx, New York, and am tired of being surrounded by violence. I was at my grandma’s when I learned that a girl who lived in my building was killed a few blocks away while trying to celebrate her birthday at a local park. When we saw the news my mom had a fearful look on her face and was instantly in a rush to move us out of there. I was about 9 or 10, and my family was scared it might happen to me. My mom decided New York was too dangerous and made plans to move to Jacksonville. While not as bad, we soon learned Jacksonville had problems with violence. According to The Florida Times Union, Duval County has about 5 percent of Florida’s population. About 10 percent of the Florida’s murder, or about 1 in 10, happen in Jacksonville. The Florida Times Union also reported Jacksonville’s murder rate is 38 percent greater than the Florida average and 155 percent greater than the national average. A possible connection to the violence might be that Jacksonville’s property crime rate being 24 percent greater than the national average. And unfortunately, from what I’ve seen, Jacksonville’s teen crimes are com-
mon. It’s a smaller city but still has too many kids killing each other over drugs, money and gang-related acts. The local paper reports this too often. Let’s end the cycle of violence once and for all. Did you know, more victims are male then female, but all teens can be at risk? There are more scary stats: In recent years, an average of 15 teens were killed in the U.S. everyday, usually with guns. - About 7 percent of teens aged 12 to 25 say they belong to gangs. - The average age is usually 17. - Almost 40 percent of American families with children have guns. People are killing each other for stupid reasons, sometimes because of an insult. It’s ridiculous how far this has gotten and we need a change! Some solutions could be campaigns to stop gun violence or more community centers. Maybe having people talk in schools about guns so that kids can be protected and won’t be pressured into thinking it’s cool or necessary to carry them. This problem isn’t isolated. It’s everywhere, yet it takes individual communities to clean it up. I felt bad for the little girl’s family but didn’t really understand the reason for this violent act. It made no sense for a girl as young as she to get shot and killed, but I realize now that she was just another victim from violence that sadly happens every day.
the truth about fast food
By: Kendra Mazeke Fast food is a huge fairy tale that starts off sweet but ends sour. When you’re little, you always fantasize about getting the cool motionless, boring toys but is that all you’re really getting? Let’s envision the moment you first walked into the unknown filth disaster trap known as a fast food restaurant. You got your cool “retro” atmosphere, the cashier that’s here more so for their check then to actually serve you as a customer, and the very inviting menu with bogus pictures of “well prepared” food. It’s the scene to get you hooked like bait. They reel you in like a helpless fish unbeknown of their fate. “Fast
food has become my nightly dinner and I love it,” says senior Taniesha Mitchell with a delightful smile. But do you know while your stuffing your face with overly greasy, fatting, scum infested gunk you call food. You’re adding more money to another money-grubbing, self-centered, owner, who’s more concerned about how he’s going to make his next big break rather then your actual health. When it comes to fast food do you ever think about the mystery behind it? Like who makes it, where does it come from, or most importantly what does it consist of? Now don’t get me wrong even though I’m writing this article I still do eat fast foods. Quite often to be exact.
What brings us back for more even though with every bite we know were taking a risky leap? From the overly salty fries to the half sized gunk they call burgers it’s a very risky business. You walk in to an environment where people are talking while they prepare your food, flies are buzzing around, and there’s an overly drastic long line ahead of you. All you can do is sigh to yourself or turn around. But question is do you turn around or does the picture get pushed to the back of your head? What happens when food drops, or something burns are the managers getting pushed to SALE ALL FOOD or do the right thing and throw it away? Just some thoughts that
float in my mind when I roam around a fast food restaurant. So when I ask the question have we become slaves to the fast food chains without even knowing? Can you answer it with a no? Or does this change your perspective of fast food yet? If not its normal we all know this article hardly affected your opinion because it hardly affected mine but hay at least you have the information now. And guess what after writing all of this I’m hungry and guess where I’m going?
The Englewood High School
SeniorRam
7
Evolving beyond High School By: Kelly Pavon and Veronica Grimaldo From our first steps in life to our proud walk across stage on that graduation day, we have come far. While our parent’s eyes fill with tears and delight we keep a smile on our face, knowing all we have been through to put on that cap and gown. In 12 school years, there have been so many changes and accomplishments in our lives, so many ups and downs. We have risen from immature children that obsessed over “Baby” by Justin bieber to adults ready to take on bigger responsibilities. We will one day look back and laugh at our foolish behaviors. We have transitioned from childhood to adulthood, from catching cooties to falling in love, from not respecting your elders to wanting to be respected as an adult. From throwing tantrums about not having the toys we desired to throwing tantrums about not having the cell phone or car we wanted. We can be confident that we can look back into the past and appreciate all the teachers who pushed us to do our best. We can appreciate our parents demanding to see our report cards every nine weeks and punishing us when we didn’t meet the expectations they knew we could achieve.
We will look back at all the mistakes we have made in life but continue moving forward without any regrets because regardless of the mistakes we made, they make us the stronger individuals we are today. And as our families rise and give applause, be sure not to forget that the learning isn’t over until your future plans are met.
Grad nite rush around magic kingdom By: Addie Crosby The only thing I wanted to have to worry about during Grad Nite was having fun. So I wore a waterproof fanny pack. Jealous? The entire way to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, bus three was plagued with my rendition of Rebecca Black’s “Friday.” “It’s grad nite, grad nite, it is finally grad nite. I’ve been looking forward to this weekend, weekend. Grad nite, grad nite, everyone’s pumped for grad nite! Which seat should I take?” I was very excited. The instant we got off the bus, Courtney Porter and I booked it to get into the park. We were shooting for Space Mountain. In a mad rush similar to giving a small child pixie sticks before bed, we combed through the crowd for everything. We didn’t even waste time searching by foot; we went up to Disney employees and asked for directions. First to Space Mountain, check! Thunder Mountain twice, check!
Splash Mountain, is my cell phone safe in my fanny pack? Check! It was fantastic. We even got within the front, roped off section, right in front of the band. Sean Foreman (the cute one) of 3Oh!3 and I locked eyes in a deep lust stare making eye love right then and there in front of the entire Disney World crowd. I’ll admit I saw him making eye love with a few other foxy ladies. Senior Kati Hollingsworth also claims eye love was made. What a loose gentleman! At midnight, when the fireworks erupted above Cinderella’s castle, it hit me. This is it; there will be no other chances in my life to do anything like this ever again. All 12 years of my school career is coming to a close and my final year is on its final leg. The smoke filled air seemed like my whole future was around me, cloudy, inspiring me to be more like the fireworks.
SPRING CONCERT marks seniors’ final peformances By: Dana Johnson Senior twins Devin and Devon Hagans stood on the stage for the last time as members in the Sensational Singing Rams and the EHS Band of Gold on May 12. “I was sad and happy at the same time,” Devon said. “Participating in these two activities has influenced me to go to Bethune-Cookman University.” Devin said he is going to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), which is its rival school in band. It was the last time hearing the cheers, “Go twins!” and “You two are awesome!” The “Tall Twins” have been in chorus ever since they arrived at Englewood their sophomore year. In one year, Devin and Devon have become two of the most popular students, getting inducted into the “Englewood Hall of Fame” and Devin won most memorable and Devon most talented in the “Senior Superlatives.” “It’s an honor and it makes me feel like I did something great for my senior year,” Devon said with a chuckle. “I feel accomplished and I stand out above the crowd.” The performance in mid May lasted for almost three hours. The chorus sang more than 10 songs nonstop, then the Band of Gold played a few cadences and four songs. It was a bittersweet moment for seniors as the curtains closed on them in their final performance on stage. “I put three faithful years into the chorus and one year in the band,” Devon said.
As they prepare to head off to college and bigger school bands, both say they will never forget how Englewood’s 20-piece band gave them inspiration.
8Senior poll Senior Ram suggests senior year is the best By: Shannon Harmon The RamPage asked 40 seniors what their favorite and least favorite years were in high school and why. Seniors were also asked if they noticed any personal change over the years. The results showed: - The most common BEST year in high school was their senior year. - The most common WORST year in high school was their freshman year. - What changes they noticed in themselves. 12th grade appeared to be the best for most of the seniors. They feel that they have accomplished more in their senior year. They are really enthusiastic that it is their last year in high school so they can start their own lives. One states “Senior year because there are so many awesome things to look forward to and we are on top of the world!” A lot of them said there was also a lot more to offer being a senior. “We have opportunities like exciting and trilling field trips”, says Emerald Painter, “It’s also great to have the privilege to drive and park here.”
9th grade appeared as the worst year for the graduating seniors. Most can agree on the opinion that it sucked, was highly awkward, and was a very immature stage in life. One senior said, “I thought freshman year was the worst because I got canned a lot and there was a lot of immature jokes about us.” Another said it was horrible because he got jumped and smashed in the locker room. When we asked if they noticed any changes in them, we got all kinds of answers that helped them realize who they are. They said quotes like, “ Hell yes! My Maturity level rose!” and “My voice got deeper and my attention span became a lot more narrow.” They saw that they dealt with more responsibility, and handling peer pressure that made changes in them. “The older I get, the harder life gets”, says Robin Ablon. Another senior states that they are able to grab a much more since of reality and sees things differently than what she could before. One very interesting response we got from a senior was when she said that senior year was the BEST and WORST year of high school. “It is the best because I’m almost done, but is also the worst because of all the stress that comes to graduating.” She seemed to know both sides of what being a senior really meant.
A Night in Paris By: Veronica Grimaldo Twinkling lights, cafés, paintings, a chocolate fountain and even the Eiffel Tower. These Paris-themed decorations filled the University of North Florida University Center while music blasted and the crowded dance floor pulsed. Senior Prom was one of the highlights of senior year. Most girls were dressed in silk evening gowns, looking as if they had all just stepped out of a magazine. The guys were decked out in James Bond black and white tuxedos. The camera lights flashing everywhere created a strobe-light effect and made prom feel like a Hollywood event. When the lights came on and Mr. Richard Willoughby walked on stage to announce the prom king and queen, the crowd got quiet. Caleb Hill and Suzana Sisljagic took the crowns and the titles home. “I wasn’t really surprised because I worked really hard on all the campaigning and a lot of people said they were going to vote for me, but then again, I was still very excited about winning,” said Sisljagic. Caleb Hill added, “Winning prom king was definitely one of the best experi-
gravity wins at Senior Splash By: Kelly Pavon Rain or shine, the seniors were determined to have their senior splash, even if Mother Nature wasn’t on their side, and a dean would end up in the hospital. The clouds cleared as the boys were jumping off the diving boards, showing off back flips and belly flops. Girls were being thrown in the cool water against their will. The smell of food grilling and the music playing had the seniors hyped up. From chicken fights to football games, this was a moment many seniors had been looking forward to all year. “It was splashy, fun and a lot of bikinis,” said senior Marcellis Lawson. Laughter and screams overpowered the thumping music while most seniors lounged poolside fully dressed in shorts, t-shirts and shoes. To some on the Englewood staff, this behavior was unacceptable, so they began punishing them by flinging them into the water. “It was really fun,” senior Indira Angulo said. “I was hanging out with all my friends. I was waiting all year for it until the ‘incident’ that changed everything.” It was all fun and games until someone got hurt, and that’s what happened to Dean Corie James. A teacher and a few students forcibly carried Dean James to the pool with big hopes to launch her in.
Dean James had a different idea, kicking and fighting and yelling at everyone who came near her. As she squirmed, the students and staff accidently dropped her, causing her head to slam into the concrete edge. The entire pool area fell silent. “Horse playing in a pool area can cause someone to get seriously hurt,” Dean James said a couple weeks after the accident. After the mishap, every senior was forced out of the pool and sent to the football field, while the fire truck and ambulance made its way to pick up Dean James. Dean James was treated for a concussion and back spasms. After 40 minutes of sitting in the bleachers, the students were released to go home. Even though most seniors agreed it was not the ideal way to end senior splash, it was a day seniors will never forget. “Things got carried away,” said Mr. Richard Willoughby. “It was an accident. Things happen.”
unforgettable memories By: Emerald Painter and Ashley Simkanich Athletics can be many things, but its made us an inspired teammate, disciplined, to have class, and to create a place for memory that we will cherish, kept focus, and out of trouble.
Ashley Simkanich, in slow pitch softball, gets beam in the eye and had to get 6 stitches above her left eye. Coach Denson would call me “Smashley” because of it. In softball being able to hit the ball and catching the fast line drives
ences of my high school year.” After announcing the king and queen, the dance floor overflowed with hyper students eager to start dancing again. The Cupid Shuffle got everyone up from their seats, even teachers. Students were gathered together in the middle of the dance floor. Most were doing the ever-so-popular Jersey Shore “fist pump” to whichever song came on. The multitude of seniors were going crazy until a Justin Beiber song played. Within seconds the crowd went dead silent with blank expressions on their faces. Then everyone started laughing and dancing like maniacs. The University Center cleared out earlier than expected. The students surrounded their cars and started blasting music from the trunks. Everyone was getting pumped for an after-prom beach party. Overall, April 30 was a night to remember and a memory to treasure for the rest of their lives. Most would agree prom was definitely the perfect ending to a great senior year.
Deck out your dorm! By: Kendra Mazeke SENIORS! Soon it will be time for you to move out of mommy and daddy’s house and into your new home called: a dorm. And your main goal should be to make it feel as comfortable as possible especially since your going to be staying their months at a time. It should be known as “home sweet home”. Here are some helpful tips to help you dec out your dorm: Some basics: - Alarm clocks – want to wake up on time Bed covers – even thou it’s a new room the bed isn’t so much new Bed linens – comforter, sheets, pillowcase etc. Iron/ iron board – can’t go to class wrinkly - Towels/ wash clothes – have to stay clean Blankets – for those chilly nights - TV – to entertain you on those long boring nights Rug – tile floor can be cold to touch - Toiletry items – bring your own preference because by the school doesn’t supply you with much. Mini fridge – (not all school allow them) – easy access for “snackage”
Microwave – (not all school allow them) – for quick late night snacks Once you have the necessary things you can add your own sense of style from picture frames, posters, decorative door hangers, calendars, lamps, or even your favorite childhood teddy bear. Now you have to keep in mind that dorm rooms are particularly small and most of the time you share them with a roommate. So you would want to try to save as much space as you need. Here are some inexpensive space savers to help you out: Shoe under – space to organize your shoes under your bed - Wonder hangers – 4 hangers in one ! Desk organizers – extra space for Post-it notes or pencils Hang over organizer – usually hangs on walls or over closets to organize jewelry, make up, or even just use it like a decoration With these helpful tips you should be able to dec-out-your-dorm with your own individual style so you can finally “home sweet home”…for a brief moment.
GOOD LUCK SENIORS! always gave me a rush of excitement. Last year, Emerald scored the first goal of the season from at least 20 yards out from the goal. Trying to score for the Lady rams, Emerald was going toward the goalie to score when she dove her whole
body right into her knee and injured her for the rest of the season. It was the first game of her senior year and ends up tearing her ACL, a season ending injuring.
Story Continues on the right -->
9
Senior Ram
“big fro” Senior we won’t forget
Cotton, 18, is the nerdy hipster who has a word or two to say about everything, yet will randomly bust out singing SpongeBob songs. She’s academic, yet chill to hang with. She’s sweet, yet way too loud. She painted the senior fence and was named to the National Honor Society. Cotton is everything that is fun and exciting at Englewood. Teachers, faculty and students say they will miss her irreplaceable personality on campus. She is leaving to study for possible careers in graphic design and psychology. She begins classes at the University of North Florida in late June. “Kennerly is a truly unique individual,” said science teacher Mrs. Cari Verschueren. “She’s highly intelligent, maybe too intelligent for her own good and I hope, if she lives up to her potential, she’ll do great things.” Quirky, loud, and energetic, even Cotton describes herself as peculiar and unusual. When interviewed, Cotton paces, repeating questions over and over, tapping her chin. Then she explodes with some philosophy that quickly veers off topic. Though she is a social butterfly, she claims she is able to find some quite time when she’s alone at home.
“In middle school, I was quiet and stuck by myself,” Cotton said. “I was afraid of being myself and being judged. But high school changed that.” When asked about her plans after high school she responded by saying: “Party. That is the legit plan. Go to college. Travel, meet people and just have fun. Marriage isn’t a big deal right now.” She said she’d miss the breezy hallways and courtyard as well as the variety of people and cultures. “I don’t like when people here act as if we aren’t together and the same over all, because we are,” she said. Sad to see the happy and carefree days of high school go, Cotton’s big fro on campus will soon be on the bottom of the college food chain. “Kennerly will do well in college,” said Mr. Mitch Owens, who taught her Econ, Advanced Placement Human Geography, and Advanced Placement Government. “Her ability to absorb information will help her greatly.” Cotton admits she’ll miss talking to the students, teachers, faculty, and occasionally herself, at Englewood. “The things I say, things I do, and the people I hang out with,” Cotton said, “The energy and attention I bring to a room, I guess that is why everyone thinks of me the way they do.”
Senior Words of wisdom By: Michael Adams The RamPage was inspired to this section by Esquire magazine. Their version of this is called “What I Learned.” The RamPage calls it “Words of Wisdom.” Esquire interviews celebrities in this question and answer section (Q&A) of its
magazine, but only provides their answers. During this Q&A, RamPage staff interviewed three commendable seniors about what they’ve learned in high school, asked them who helped them along the way and what advice can give to underclassmen.
Julie Tran
I learned academically and that it’s ok to express yourself and try new things. Get to know new people, make friends and participate in class. My friends challenged me to be the best I can be. Pay attention in class. Don’t slack off because it will hurt you in the end. Improve academic skills. I remember freshmen year that I was always the shy girl and I would wait for people to talk to me before I talked to them. Now I’m more outgoing and I learned that sometimes you have to take chances. I was nice and quiet but active. As the school year continued, I realize I really want to have a career in pharmacy. School of choice: University of Florida. Schoolwork comes first but so do friends. They have your back. Procrastination is a NO in college.
Frank Craig
Leadership: how to deal with people and who they are. Meeting people with different ethnicities and backgrounds, playing sports and joining clubs, and seeing people’s different perspectives and understanding them. Kennerly Cotton and Marsai Cruz (friends). Being able to know and understand yourself before you judge others and when in doubt, smile. It will help them be well-rounded, because if you understand yourself, you will be able to understand your priorities and what comes first. I was shy but I was already into sports, so the leadership was already in me. I just needed to be more firm and verbal about what I believed in. I will be remembered as “IT’S FRANK,” an all-around good guy. When you learn how other people are, know yourself and take on bigger tasks and you have firmer leadership in your actions. Leadership, to me, is most important because you want to be able to steer in your own direction; and leadership doesn’t mean to only lead, but to help others around you get better. It will help me be successful whether I go into sports, business or having a family of my own.
summer 2011
Jeni Wright
Be yourself, don’t let people tell you who you are or aren’t. Observing the other people here. A lot of my teachers and friends. Just do the work and don’t slack off, it will pay off in the end academically I was self conscious and shy. You learn to branch out. A good friend. It prepares me for the challenges of life. Take life seriously, but still have fun, if possible. I can look back and see what I’ve done wrong and try to better myself.
Story Continued from the left first interception than took it all the way “Unforgettable Memories” for a touchdown, what may it memorable Ashley Simkanich. She is a four-year player for flag football and on 3/21/11 she caught her first Interception against Mandarin.Last year, a four-year senior named Cherelle Stephens got her
is that it was her first interception in all of her four years of playing against Forrest. Flag football tradition, going to Fletcher and beating them on their territory, coach Foy has to take a lovely swim in the ocean and the water is cold.
By: Gislaine Lescouflair Everyone has had a summer that was a dud, so how might we make this year's memorable? So in order to have a fun and June, July and August without having to empty your wallet or spend get into trouble having too much fun, the RamPage asked around for a couple of suggestions : 1. Visit someplace new or a hometown and take a roadtrip with friends. 2. Volunteer for a cause you believe in. 3. Plan a beach party in celebration of NO SCHOOL. 4. Have a class reunion with your 2010-2011 classmates 5. Make a parody, upload it to Youtube and challenge friends to see who can get the most hits. Here’s hoping you have an awesome summer!' Who do we respect, EVERYBODY, Who do we fear, NOBODY, so, WHO’S NEXT! Coach McCleod and Mr. Foy helped the team to stay mentally and physically fit, they also taught us the importance of good character and good sportsmanship/having class.
Coach Foy, in the middle of a game yells, “What do we got, we got swag.”(Nods his head up and down.) Samaria Howard every time she’s gets the ball she will juke the other team and gain extra yards. It is so pretty and clean when she jukes and she tripped Mr. Foy with it.
10
Senior Ram
Editorial
11
animals have feelings too! By: Stephanie Murillo Have you ever wondered what happens to all the animals being used for experiments? You may think they are being well taken care of, but that’s a lie. Every year, 115 million poor, sensible, defenseless animals are tormented and abused. Forced to live in nasty, dirty, uncomfortable steel bar cages in which millions of them die, according animalexperimentations.com, which discusses cases of animal mistreatment. Rabbits, monkeys, dogs, cats and many more are used for the belief of human gain. Animal experiments are cruel and impious. And yes, people out there believe that doing these experiments is important to make new discoveries. But is it really necessary to cut them open or purposely break their limbs and backs? Professor Charles R. Magel, who speaks on animal issues, said, “Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals and the answer is: ‘Because animals are like us’ Ask the experimenters
why it is morally ok to do experiments on animals and the answer is: ‘Because animals are not like us.’ Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction.” Now, if animals are not like us, then why do we keep putting them through so much pain and misery? Do you know who pays for this? You do!! All of us do. Without even knowing. In taxes. That’s what your money is being spent on. The World Health Organization states that of the 30-40,000 of the drugs available and that have been tested on
animals, only 200 are of any real benefit to us. Animals react to things differently. So why do we keep trying if we’re getting invalid conclusions? It’s devastating to know what really goes on behind the closed doors of the labs. These adorable creatures are poisoned, burned, irradiated, manipulated, and physically injured, inflicted with deadly diseases, forced to inhale dangerous fumes and burning plastics. They have drugs, detergents, paint and bleach forced down their throats, dripped into their eyes, or taped onto their
skin. The list is endless and the worst part is that the average person doesn’t seem to care. It’s depressing and disgusting. Animals have feelings; they feel pain, loneliness, and neglect. Why do we continue to hurt innocent, sensitive animals when there are more than 100 other ways to test things? There is in-vitro tests, computer software, and even human “clinical tests.” The use of animal cells, organs, and tissue cultures are also some alternative options. A lot of people say “people come before animals” and that it’s less risky to test on animals than humans. It may be true, but animals are not ours to use and mistreat. Animal experimentation is wrong, and it’s beyond disgusting to know there are people out there who are getting paid to torture animals. People have to sit and realize all the misery and suffering animals go through every day. If that doesn’t happen, animals will continue to endure the pointless pain and torture inflicted on them by us humans.
steps to a cheater
By: Amanda Faulk Partners who cheat in relationships are despicable creatures. Almost everyone will come across at least one. Cheaters are selfish jerk who only care about their own happiness. The RamPage asked around to find out what the signs of a cheater are. People who spoke out about cheaters tended to have similar ideas of the progression into cheating. Here is a breakdown of three stages of cheating.
Verbal flirtation: This is when a guy or a girl gets a little friendly with their language. It might start with a compliment like, “you’re cute,” or “you have a nice body” just to get you to smile and make it easier to get a little closer. Guys are suckers for this, and often spiral into the next level of cheating. If they keep it at a verbal level, and don’t get too caught up or nasty with the language, he might be safe from what often comes next.
Undressing with the eyes: This is when our significant other sees an attractive person and holds eye contact a little too long. It can happen anywhere – in public places, school or even church (SEE EYE SEX STORY ON PAGE 16). It starts when you connect eyes with a good-looking guy/girl sitting across the room and suddenly eyebrows get to wiggling. Smiles appear out of nowhere, cheeks begin to burn, eyelashes begin batting between sideway glances. So long as they don’t approach the person, this is relatively harmless. However, it often leads to the next level of cheating.
Physical flirtation: It might start with an innocent hug or an accidental brush of a hand on a leg or arm. When people go to this step they start creating feelings for each other. This may lead to “butterflies” in the pit on their stomach, or an intense attraction toward another. There are many signs that this level is in effect. One is when your partner seems distant, distracted or annoyed. They may not be returning your calls or texts, and might get defensive when you ask them, “Who are you texting?” When someone takes this step, they’ve already gone too far.
fischer and fowler off to the far east By: Cayman Wade One is the guy swaggering around campus with his neon Asics running shoes, poking fun at students though he’s the one with his hair pointing in all different directions. The other is the strong, silent type, dressed professionally, reliable and quick to inspire his students with intellectual wisdom. Mr. James Fischer and Mr. Ray Fowler are cornerstones of the 9th Grade English Dept. at Englewood, but both will soon be leaving to start teaching adventures on the other side of the world. Fischer will soon say goodbye to Englewood to teach English in an American-based school in Dalian, China. He said he hopes his outlandish attitude will be a fit overseas. Fowler is leaving for Abu Dhabi UAE (United Arab Emirates). Abu Dhabi, considered the wealthiest city in the world based on the average net worth of its citizens ($17 million), is located in the Middle East, near its sister city Dubai. He said he is excited to explore the
new culture. “I’ll miss Englewood, but I’m very excited about my new adventure.” Fischer graduated with a Bachelor’s in English from Florida State University in 2005 and was the captain of his school’s wakeboard team. He started his teaching career in Panama after finishing his degree. Fowler graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with his Bachelor’s in English and went on to complete his Master’s in English at the University of North Florida. He also served six years as a reservist Marine. Students say they will never forget the English teachers. Students say Fischer left his mark as the complicated, egocentric man who inspired some of the schools’ brightest minds and was known for his spontaneous personality.
“With Fischer leaving, Englewood will suffer a great loss,” said junior Dragana Racunica. “China doesn’t deserve him. At least their halls will be filled with smiles and laughter.” Students say Fowler will best be remembered for his reliable, fatherly advice on how to succeed, whenever it was needed. “He took out the extra time, besides classroom teaching, to show me the ropes of life,” said A’Dreana Gaines. “I know for a fact that I can talk to him. No matter how busy he may be, he is one of the few teachers I can say truly cares about my education.”
2011-12 class officers elected After months of poster hanging and passing out free treats to encourage people to vote for them, the class officers for the 2011-12 school year were announced. These students should represent their class with pride and make the coming year unforgettable. Below is a list of the winners and comments from the presidents on their hopes for next year. The results of the junior and sophomore class elections were not available at press time.
President: Kimberly Trinh Vice President: Christina Mattis Secretary: Satya Son Treasurer: Chasmine Miller Historian: Truc Nguyen Student Rep: Raheem Purnell and Catharina Ly
Page 12 VideoI’mGame different by Jeremy Howard This was a triumph. I’m making a note here, HUGE SUCCESS. It’s hard to overstate my satisfaction. -- Still Alive by Jonathan Coulton
A review of Portal 2
Portal 2 was an exhilarating game, completely living up to the hype produced by it’s audience. You wake up as Chell, the main protagonist back from the original Portal, in the Aperture Laboratories’ Extended Relaxation Center. There you go through a hilarious series of basic physical and mental stimulations to form a tutorial. These physical and mental stimulations are started and ended by an annoying buzzer, no matter what the task is, whether it be looking up or down, or being mental stimulated by art. But don’t worry, if the art isn’t enough to fully stimulate you, you can reflect on some classical music for about five seconds before the annoying buzzer pulls you out of your serene paradise. From the tutorial to the ending credits, Portal 2 never ceases to tickle our sense of humor with Apertures’ witty robot staff, convoluted testing chambers and technology. In fact, it doesn’t seem to tickle but instead it seems to fully embrace us with its satirical back-talk and lovable turrets. Though the humor is a major factor in why we hold a great affection towards Portal 2, what sinks the feelings in and hooks us for good is the mechanics that are at the center of the all the humor. Portal 2, much like its predecessor Portal, is a puzzle games based around physics and the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device (ASHPD or Portal Gun), a gun that shoots two portals in which objects and people my pass through. “Thanks to the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, the impossible is easy.”
- GLaDOS (The main antagonist/protagonist of Portal 2) The Portal Gun isn’t just for solving the various test laid before you; with it, you take down your enemies, manipulate physics, and eventually escape from Aperture Science to live out the rest of your life. Portal 2 also managed to do what many game sequels fall short on; it managed to feel like an actual sequel with a story that mattered rather then just a continuation while still holding strong to main plot of its predecessor. In other-words, it felt like Portal 2, not Portal : The Extended Edition. Developers like Infinity Ward and Treyarch (developers of the Call of Duty franchise) can learn from Valve (developer of Portal, Portal 2, and various other titles) on the mixture of great interactive gameplay and story. If Valve needs to learn how to pump out the same shooter clone with different weapons and updated graphics, then Infinity Ward and Treyarch can teach Valve a thing or two. Overall, Portal 2 is a magnificent game with beautiful looks, well-thought-out dialog, unique gameplay mechanics, and an unforgettable cast of characters. It would not be surprise if Portal 2 won 2011 Game of the Year among many other awards for its outstanding content.
Thickening the Stereotypes by Jeremy Howard and Dusty Rhoades
As a professional among professionals, I can assure you that the listings below are completely true and to the point. Just because the general public that witness and play these categories of games, as well as self-proclaimed “professionals,” may say otherwise, I assure you that every single word is utterly true based on documented evidence gathered through years of dissimulated observation and testing. There is no possible way that the below would be in any form false.
Genres
Adventure - Strutting through the forest on the way to save a damsel in distress, heard of that right? That’s a basic overview of adventuring titles, the world is in peril! Oh save us hero! But it also depends on the sub-genre, be it science fiction Bioshock where you’re trapped in a bubble under the ocean with super-powers and guns at your disposal to deal with mutated manics and creepy little girls who collect chemicals from corpses. Or if you’re playing a fantasy title where you’re picking flowers, shooting fireballs out of your butt or swinging a 20 foot sword at two foot tall cat people named Moogles. Music/Rhythm - Clickclickcli-snap, you just broke that silly plastic guitar controller that was the portal to your virtual stardom. Music games were all the rage a year ago but are now dying out since Red Octane producer of Guitar Hero has pulled the plug on new development, while Harmonix (Rockband) now sits triumphant on it’s piles of plastic instruments and dead rivals. As far as Rhythm games go, its time will come back around with Pong, Tetris and the other outdated rejects of yesteryear. Horror – You’re alone in a dark metal corridor with only the sounds of your footsteps and your breath to fill your ear-holes. The sound of scratching gets closer and closer until you can’t take it and you waste all the ammo that you’ve accumulated on what seemed to be a small white cat with a little red bow on its head. As you sigh and turn around, you see large monstrous mutant alien already in the process of breaking up the friendship that your liver and spleen had worked so hard to make. That is the essence of a true horror game, to scare the dickens out of you with a small creature that is completely harmless and then sucker punch you with the largest creature that it can conjure up. Casual/Puzzle – As my partner sits beside me trying to master the last level on the trial version of Angry Birds, a simple game where you fling small flightless birds at pigs with no limbs. These puzzle games have certain powers over a person that makes them so popular. This power derives from a combination of simplicity and difficulty in the game. My partner is continually insulting his iPhone and iPad all because he can’t take down the last little piggy left on the level. The simple controls of flinging a small bird with your finger, or moving blocks to fit a space lure the player in and the difficulty hooks them in. We’ve seen this for years as Bejeweled has abused its power as one of the most addicting puzzle games ever created. Lastly to my partner, congratulations on beating the level because in these last 20 minutes I’ve written this whole analytical paragraph and you’ve flung three small birds at five limbless pigs…Feel accomplished? Family Friendly – What can I say about this genre without being to cruel to the happy-go-lucky families that huddle around their Wii playing old Hasbro board games like Battleship or Sorry on a flat screen television? Good job on using hundreds of dollars of equipment to play a board game that cost ten, perhaps twenty dollars. Good job on showing us that in a hundred years, we have gone from playing monopoly, to playing monopoly on a television. My hat is off to you but don’t mind me, just keep on playing with your family because we all know that you need a television to get you all together.
Styles
MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) - Trolls! Everywhere! Quick Johnny shield your eyes from the grammar....RUUNNN! “hai guyz can I has goldz pl0x?” “how I minez fish?” Back beast you can’t mine fish! No that gold pouch is mine! STOP STEALING MY ARROWS! Gah, who’s idea was it to allow just anyone into these multiplayer games anyway? I know you only need the ability to read to function in these games but come on Runescape, World of Warcraft add a sudoku puzzle or something to log on. FPS – Hey guys I just got this new game that’s sweeping the market and topping previous best sellers! It’s called “Call of Action 7, Masculine Revenge 2,” it has more muscle, more guns, more explosions, more one-liners, more action, and everything else that makes a manly man feel more manly. To bad all the other games in the world don’t follow Action Richardson Fist’s examples and make their games like his magnificent bullet-flying testosterone filled adventure. RPG – You mosey along with your everyday life, shopping, the soul-crushing job, sleeping, eating, family, etc, and all then one day a giant 200-foot break-dancing, world destroying robot burst on the scene to ruin your boring life-style. After the break-dancing robot finishes killing everyone that you love or hold dear, you get a burst of responsibility, pick up a giant weapon and get to work. After a convoluted story with huge plot twist and moral decisions, you find out that the giant robot is actually your father that died five years ago. You kill him to save him and end up saving the world, where you then return to your boring everyday life. No one will ever mention your family or your deeds ever again. Sandbox - This is not like your old traditional sandbox at the park, this is a world given to you to be your own personal playground of destruction. The world taunts you with the endlessness of nature or sky-scratching buildings that look down on you and your puniness. As you hang your head you come to a realization, you are in a Sandbox game! With that in mind you burn down the nearby forest with all its woodland creatures to form a magnificent city in your image, and blow the city to kingdom come to allow nature to reign supreme once more. To form the world handed to you into your image and to force it to conform to your laws; that is the purpose of the sandbox world. Welcome to your world, may you do what you please. Arcade (Classic) - The screen of the monster that is your local Street Fighter or PacMan arcade machine flickers as you punch-out those ghost and you eat those fighters, or was it the other way around? Regardless you push quarter after quarter into the machine as you push and climb your way up to the top of the high-score charts only to be stopped short 500 points away from the number one hombre, Mr. TrOl. Mr.TrOl’s only advantage was that he had more time and more quarters at his disposal but that won’t stop you! You will be back for vengence, and with more quarters in your pocket then a homeless man keeps in his cup.
Video Game Page 13 World of Minecraft
by Dusty Rhoades and Jeremy Howard You wake up one morning on the beach as various farm animals frolic peacefully in a forest nearby. You walk along the beach and decide to venture forth into the forest. A sense of peace fills you as you watch the animals and observe the beautiful landscape. But then the sky grows dark as the sun sets in the western horizon. The animals that you saw frolicking are now few and far. As you walk deeper and deeper into the forest, you start to hear a rustling sound nearby and the echo of a distant moan. The sound of a creature moving in the dark makes you turn back in hopes to find some shelter; but when you turn around, a face stares back at you. Pssssssssss … BOOM Acclaimed at the Independent Games Festival and Indie DB, this independent game won 2010 and 2011 Indie Game of the Year, going home with both the Seumas McNally Grand Prize and the Audience Award. Markus “Notch” Persson, a Swedish C++ and Java programmer, founder of Mojang Specifications, created the indie game Minecraft. The game was released to the public in its first testing (alpha) stage on May 17, 2009, and has now currently sold over 2 million copies world wide in its second testing (beta) stage. But what makes this game so popular? It can’t be its 3D blocks and blocky animal graphics. It can’t be the diversity of creatures since they consist of basic farm animals (cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep) and classic Halloween monsters (spiders, skeletons, zombies, exploding shrubs, and skeletons riding spiders). On paper, the game is lame. Yet, according to everyone who has played the game, Minecraft has become popular for two reasons. The first is that the game revolves around the player’s ability to create whatever he can imagine and mold his own randomly generated world to a personal vision. If he sees a mountain off in the distance, turn it into something nice and unique like an evil lair or maybe even carve a fire-breathing dragon out of the side of the mountain. The game gives the player complete artistic freedom to destroy and build anything.
From flying cities made of trees and waterfalls, to a giant portrait of exploding shrubs on the side of the biggest mountain you can find, purely to strike fear into the heart of others. If you can think it, then you can build it. The second reason its loved is the game creates a mood that engulfs the player into a state of both pleasure and fear. The dramatic change of security from frolicking with farm animals to whimpering in the dark, wondering whether that shrub is a plant or a suicidal beast hell-bent on your destruction makes the player truly admire his surroundings. This writer and possibly everyone else who has experienced this game will agree that Minecraft is one of the scariest games out there and considering that it’s not even an official horror game says something about its creator’s ability to manipulate his audience’s emotions. This game may possibly be a great turning point in gaming, one that will allow for the players to help design the game from the most basic points through early testing while also helping the company by experimenting with concepts without the risk of backlash from your fans or new players. Minecraft also shows that old updated graphics, simple gameplay mechanics, and a spark of imagination can allow anyone to create a world of wonder with masterpieces around every corner. Who needs graphically heavy games like Aion and Dragon Age Origins 2 when you have that?
by Sha’quan Hamlin
Red Dead Redemption- Xbox 360, PS3
Game crazy
Call of Duty: Black Ops- Xbox 360, PS3, Wii Call of Duty: Black Ops is the seventh entry in the Call of Duty series, and the first to be placed during the Cold War. Each character is placed in different parts of the world, from America to Russia. Each is a trained killer wielding a dozen different guns. The weapons change depending on the location where the mission takes place – from AK-47s in Russia to rocket launchers in Cuba. Each mission features a series of objectives that are followed by lots of action that most people would enjoy. Now if you think playing by yourself is enjoyable, online play and zombie mode is an exciting addition, especially with sick graphics and being able to play with people around the world or right there beside you on your couch.
God of War III- PS3
God of War III is a single-player game that allows players to play as the brutal, deadly and heroic ex-Spartan warrior Kratos as he goes on an important mission to kill Zeus, who betrayed him in God of War II. With new weapons like the Blades of Exile, which are given to him from Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, Kratos have new abilities like the combat grapple which lets him be able to grab hold of an enemy and do a charge attack. Other weapons he gets during his journey include the Claws of Hades, which let Kratos to summon warriors from the dead from archers to the three headed dog cerberus, Nemesis Whip, are given to him by Hephaestus that lets him pop enemies in the air and do multiple attacks in less than three seconds, and including the return of the Blade of Olympus, which is only activated when in rage mode. You will also come across lots of challenging puzzles like Hera’s garden puzzle which you have to complete with Hera’s jewel.
Red Dead Redemption is an open world game, which players can interact with the environment and go to war with enemies; using different amount of firearms. The game follows John Marston, a former outlaw, while he sets out on a journey to hunt down his former gang members who betrayed him in the past and tried to kill him. In this game there are different types of horse which are his main transportation which really comes in handy when chasing bad guys. While playing Red Dead Redemption you can take part in numerous events while exploring the wild west. This is including public hangouts, ambushes, dangerous animal attacks, horse shooting and you might come by strangers that are more useful than on think. And if you are tired of hunting and killing enemies, you can also do side missions such as: duels, bounty hunting, gambling and hunting animals for food and other items. Now combat is the most important part of the game, using a third-person view. The player can take cover avoiding flying bullets speeding towards him, while in cover John can use blindfire which let him shoot around corners with out taking any hits. A new feature is added to the Red Dead series, which lets the players slow down time allowing him to make sharp shots, and it is called “Dead-Eye”. John Marston can choose from different kinds of weapons including: revolvers, pistols, lever, action rifles, knives, shotguns, etc. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood-Xbox 360, PS3 Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is a third-person action/adventure game, that is an open world of Italy. Ezio returns for more blood when he sets out to take over and destroy Borgia. With new gadgets such as a parachute, invented by Leonardo da Vinci, which allows to jump fro a tall building and land safely to the ground, along with poison darts, a crossbow and the ability to hold and throw heavier weapons like war hammers and axes, compared to the first installments of the series.
12-hour challenge
by Jeremy Howard and Dusty Rhoades For the sake of research, both writers were asked to binge on video-games for a full twelve hours all while recording our responses at the time. The rules being that both Jeremy and Dusty must not take a break longer then five minutes, play the games for twelve hours straight, and every two hours Jeremy and Dusty must record how they feel and any other information vital to the research. To test their physical state, both Dusty and Jeremy must take their blood
pressure, pulse, and stand on one leg for one minute without falling. The blood pressure and pulse readings will give an accurate reading of the changes in both writers bodies, while the standing on one leg test will give an accurate reading of the persons change in sense of control and balance. To test their mental states, both Jeremy and Dusty will record how they feel during that current recording. Whether they are tired, sleepy, unfocused, or etc, will tell us how the binge is affecting their state of mind.
Dusty Rhoades Initial Hour 2 Hour 4 Hour 6 Hour 8 Hour 10 Hour 12
Blood Pressure 177 over 98 134 over 77 132 over 71 130 over 74 119 over 69 138 over 78 114 over 74
Heart Rate 89 bpm 72 bpm 76 bpm 73 bpm 73 bpm 82 bpm 64 bpm
Jeremy Howard Physical Test Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass
Initial Hour 2 Hour 4 Hour 6 Hour 8 Hour 10 Hour 12
Blood Pressure 118 over 84 108 over 80 110 over 78 108 over 87 106 over 80 101 over 71 101 over 76
Heart Rate 79 bpm 74 bpm 78 bpm 64 bpm 66 bpm 64 bpm 69 bpm
Physical Test Pass Pass Pass Failed Pass Pass Pass
“My overall condition actually stayed pretty high up until about 11 hours in when I “At the start of the test, I felt great or somewhat great, but as time went by I started to became depressed, tired, and irritable. Around the same time I went to scratch my head feel a bit drained. It was getting a bit harder to stay up and it was getting a lot harder and began bleeding all over my hand and hair, after this “injury” I was forced to stop the just to talk into the camera. I’m not entirely sure whether it was the extended period of experiment as I was becoming dizzy and it would distort the data. We were going for 24 concentration, the fact that I was awake prior to the test, or that staring at the same flickhours but that little incident made it come to a grinding halt. It was a fun experience but ering screen was playing tricks on my head. Initially we were suppose to make the test I never will recommend even 12 hours to someone as the fatigue on your eyes and mind twice as long as it ended up being due to my partners incident, but I am a bit glad that will become increasingly worse each hour.” we didn’t go the full 24 hours. It’s not something I would consider doing normally.” In conclusion, this is not something one should plan on doing on a normal bases. Its unhealthy on both the mind and body, causing stress and exhaustion. To those who wish to try this for yourself, please do not do so for public safety reasons. The information and data gathered was done by both writers who volunteered to perform these series of test.
14
Sports
Serving into victory By: David Williams With their smashing serves and the footwork on the court, the girls’ tennis team crushed its opponents across the county. Their successes ended with the team being ranked third in the district with a 10-7 record. “These girls are what you call good sports,” said Coach Marlow Schultz, adding that they have athletic ability and really know how to stay motivated. Her players agreed. “I feel good about the team because my teammates are working together,” sophomore Amanda Rhymes said. Schultz said Rhymes and sophomore Meliha Osmanovic are still learning to be hard hitters. She added that the court is not the only thing that matters. Her players try to do the right thing in the classroom also, she said. The team composes itself because it has a winning spirit, Schultz said. She said the team could be a little shy when it came to competing, and hopes to create a more confident winning attitude next year. There is still a lot of learning to go. The team is young, she said. There are a few of returning players, like Dashandra Williams, who have great speed on the court. “The best game is yet to come,” Schultz said.
From Cuba to America’s Pastime By: Yorman Rivera It’s 100-degrees in Cuba, the sun bearing down as the boys hit the field to get dirty and perfect their baseball fundamentals. The players all speak Spanish and are ruled by a dictator, Fidel Castro. This was the life for 17-year-olds Yordanys Rivero and Carlos Guerra. Imagine going from an oppressed poor country with little opportunity to Jacksonville, a new country with new customs. You don’t know a bit of English and the only familiarity is the baseball diamond. The senior boys banded together to join Englewood’s squad their freshman year and have grown in talent and leadership, though most days they take every opportunity to goof off when not mastering their game. Rivero is known as YO-YO on team and plays centerfield. The other players call Guerra Carlito. He’s a utility player, moving between second base and shortstop. Both boys have different stories on how they arrived, though Rivero was a little more talkative about his experience. “My father came first and then he wanted to reunite the family, so he arranged for me and my mother to be brought.” He said he misses Cuba because most of his family is still there. He wishes someday Cuba would change so he can return to the Cuban lifestyle he loves, and what he calls his “beautiful country.” Guerra said he just came but didn’t go into details, only saying his family wanted a better life. “I like Jacksonville now because I have a lot of friends, but I wouldn’t trade my beautiful country and its super nice people,” he said. Rivero said he loves Englewood and praised the ESOL program and its great teachers. The thing he loves most about baseball is that it’s not about the physical con-
ditioning. It’s about the mentality and knowledge the player has that leads to success. “I hope to get far in the sport and help my family when I can,” he said. “That’s a dream of mine.” Head Coach Jordan Dowling has referred to Rivero as one of his star players. “There’s not a ball he can not get to,” Dowling said, remarking on his speed and instinct. Guerra joined the baseball team because he loves to play. “I wish to go far in the sport”, he to wishes to reach the major leagues so he can help the family he also left behind in Cuba. Rivero and Guerra came from the same country looking for the same thin a better life and both continued a tradition they loved in the game of baseball. “If they’re consistent and willing, and give it their all, which is what I ask of them, they will go far in the sport,” Dowling said.
By: Shannon Harmon
friends and get into mischief, athletes are on the playing field, getting their bodies in shape and learning how to be great leaders. Those skills are necessary to help their future and teaches them good character and respect for others. Without sports, how can athletes get scholarships for college? Most can’t afford college. Did you know the price of tuition has tripled since the 1980s? It just keeps increasing every year. For example, from 2004-2005, tuition went up from $5,000 to $6,585. Sports give athletes a much-needed economic boost. And for the lucky athletes, sports offer opportunities to play in college, and even the NFL, NBA, or MLB. Would Michael Jordan or Chipper Jones (who went to Bolles High School) have made it without their success in high school? To sum up your near disaster, school board, if the school system decides to ban sports, it can also lead to all kinds of chaos and serious consequences. Thinking there is no reason to try anymore, their low self esteem builds, some athletes may start making wrong decisions and turn in wrong directions. They could get into the wrong influential crowds, deal drugs, drink alcohol, and start slacking off in school, all due to peer pressure they fell prey to. Sports build character that makes many kids immune to the evils that lurk in high school. Thinking of banning such an important part of student’s lives is selfish. How could you want to be responsible for such a tremendous part of many lives?
Letter to School board: Is cutting sports cutting dreams?
Dear School Board, It’s hard to imagine you even considered banning sports in the county. That’s the kind of decision that wrecks futures instead of building them. Kids around Englewood weren’t amused when they heard the disrupting news. Rumors are still going around that sports will be banned, so I just wanted to let you know how upsetting it was. Say a kid who is an athlete loses every chance of getting into college to save the county a few bucks. Aren’t the people running Duval County Schools supposed to encourage the athlete to do his or her best and never give up? Isn’t school supposed to open opportunities rather than take them away? The Florida Times-Union reported there are more than 15,000 athletes in the county who, for a time at least, had their goals, their confidence, and their futures hanging by a loose rope. It is wrong to ban sports. Many athletes have worked hard since they were kids and are finally about to reach their goals of playing in college. How would you like it if your school board chairman from when you were a kid took away sports from you? Duval County School Board Chairman W.C. Gentry said, “We have so many needs and sports are not a high need. I played sports, I think it’s important, but it is a really rough process.” Athletes are out there practicing everyday to reach their full potential, running their hearts out, working as a team, cheering each other on, sweating out their weaknesses, studying plays and out-thinking opponents, calculating every move and being determined to be the best at what they do. Just to think that all of this was about to be thrown away is devastating. Sports give students a team they can rely on, friends who share interests and confidence in something bigger than themselves as individuals. It gives them a soothing shoulder whenever they can’t find support somewhere else. A sport is more than an activity – it is a family that stands up, protects and fights for itself no matter the opponent. Englewood students agreed. Some said while many kids leave school to join
HAVE A GREAT, SAFE SUMMER RAMS!!!
Sports Fast-pitch softball girls balance winning
15
By Aviance Alston and Hala Mohammed Thinking this team wouldn’t be the best this season, there was a huge turn around this year for the fast-pitch softball team. With only two seniors returning to balance out a handful of freshmen, a great season unfolded. “Watching everyone improve since January 9 was the highlight of the season,” Coach Cynthia Bateh said. These girls have played their best all year, they have played very competitive and many coaches. The team ended season with a 9-11 record. Bateh seemed really exited about this season and has high hopes for her freshmen returning next year. “Paige Hoerntlein is one of the The Florida Times-Union players to watch.” Coach Bateh said. “But all of her players are conference,” she said. She says goodbye to two seniors, Cheyanne Kauffman, who has a signed volleyball scholarship, and Cassie Crawford.
Coach Zedaker keeps team focused By: Aviance Alston and Hala Mohammed Coach Daniel Zedakar had had enough. His 18 slow-pitch softball girls were playing around, acting goofy and unfocused. He noticed all their shirts were tied in a knot over their navels and yelled for them to untie them and get to work. They didn’t listen. He grabbed his shirt, pulled it tight over his round belly, tied it and started strutting around like a chicken. The girls laughed (or gagged), pulled their shirts down and got focused on getting the team in shape. But this what Zedakar loves about his team. The girls are going to run him
crazy at times, but as a result, he loves them more, and they love him back. “Quirks?” he asked. “It’s all quirks on this team. I have 18 girls. They all are loud and love to sing.” Zedakar said he’s had some standout players. He said Amra Alic is a total team player. “I wish I had more like her,” Zedaker said. He said Lejla Redzic is the heart of the team and is not afraid to redirect negative behavior when her teammates get out of line. But it’s not all about them. It’s about how the team composes itself with strong leadership across the board. Everyone contributes, Zedakar said.
Who will be the next selfish athelte to leave team behind? By: Blake Wright Dwight Howard is the latest in a recent streak of franchise players threatening to leave their teams in the rubble for greener pastures. One year after a brand new, $500 million arena was built, Orlando Magic fans may have no superstar to cheer inside. This summer has the potential to be agonizing for Magic fans, but they are not the only team to watch their franchise player leave for brighter lights, nor is it the first time that this has happened in Orlando. The name LeBron James strikes controversy wherever it is spoken. Basketball fans know about the “Summer of LeBron” and followed the story as he left Cleveland in shambles. It may be easy to write this off as over exaggeration, but many don’t understand what these players do to their communities when they leave. LeBron James was the poster child of greatness in Cleveland. He had everything from t-shirts, to posters; he had millions in endorsement deals. He even had a humungous poster hanging on the side of a building that was a picture of him with his slogan “Witness.” He brought untold thousands of dollars of revenue into downtown Cleveland on game nights. Then everything went south, literally. The demise of the Cleveland Cavaliers started after the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals. After the Cavaliers were defeated by the Magic, the media blitz began. Speculation of LeBron’s future spread like wildfire. Everyone in the basketball world began preparing themselves for the Summer 2010 announcement. The Cavaliers had a choice, trade LeBron or let him stay and risk losing it all for nothing. They chose to risk it. LeBron again led the Cavaliers to the Conference Finals in 2010, only to be handed their walking papers by the Boston Celtics. It was a forgone conclusion. James was gone and not all the money in the world could keep him. As a matter of fact, LeBron took less money to join the Miami Heat with fellow All-Stars Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade. He even had a one-hour special on ESPN titled “The Decision” to announce where he was going. “I have decided to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.” That would become the most infamous quote in Cleveland sports history. Fast forward to 2011. Dwight Howard has been the rock from which the Orlando
Magic has built their franchise. The Magic even have gone as far as to build a $500 million dollar arena that they were lead to believe would house one of the NBA’s most dominating Centers since Shaquille O’ Neal. Oh wait, that’s the other guy that left Orlando. The career patterns strike an eerie resemblance to one another. Shaq led the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals and then took off for the bright lights of Los Angeles in 1996. Although Howard just finished his seventh year in Orlando compared to Shaq’s fourth, he led the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals, earning the Magic their first Finals win in franchise history, coming against the Los Angeles Lakers. To put the icing on the cake, they both were nicknamed Superman during their tenure with the Orlando Magic. The similarities are striking yet all too scary for the Orlando franchise to bear. So what’s next? Howard’s contract expires after next season and the Magic are left with the same decision. Keep him through next season, and hope that he’ll stay and risk the next LeBron saga? Or say thanks for the memories, part ways and at least try to give them a leg to stand on going in to the future? With the Lakers being swept by the Dallas Mavericks and signs of aging beginning to show, some analysts suggest the Magic should trade for Los Angeles big man Andrew Bynum and draft picks. It would fill the void for the time being and give the Magic extra picks with which to build around in the future. It seems Orlando has become a launching pad for players to build their careers and go elsewhere after establishing dominance amongst the league. With the new arena built and the Magic franchise in limbo, there will be much discussion on Howard’s future over the summer. He is not the first and won’t be the last. Names like LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony are just a few to name, but is it really worth it? I guess if it produces rings, then yes it is, and the disturbing trend will continue. The NBA is all about the flashy franchise and revenue but the players don’t stop to think about what they are leaving behind. So before Dwight makes his decision he should pick up the phone, make a call and say “Hey Kobe, how’s the weather in L.A?”
Crowds cheer for Harrivel at home and away By: Melissa Lent Boom, boom, boom. The ball dribbles up and down the court. Moving toward the basket is a teenager with autism, Brandon Harrivel, 16, who has a passion to play his favorite sport. When he entered high school a dream came true: he’s the shooting guard on the junior varsity basketball team. “Basketball’s helped me become a lot better at overcoming a lot of stuff,” Harrivel said. As a child, he would watch professional basketball games with his dad on television. With Lebron James as his role model, Harrivel became interested in the game, then became enthralled. “I love it,” Harrivel said. “Forever. Ever since I was a child.” There are many things to love about the sport but most people think the main
goal is winning. Not for Harrivel. “Working together,” he said was more important. There are many who root for Harrivel, home and away – his parents sit in the bleachers every game cheering for their son. Even his teammates help him through practice and the games. “The team supports him a lot,” said Coach Carnell Brown. “It seems like when Brandon gets into the game, they put the most effort I’ve ever seen to get Brandon the ball.” He went on to talk about one of the highlights of the year. “Our last game (Harrivel) scored 15 points; he hit five 3-pointers in a row against University Christian,” Brown said. “The crowd was going crazy and it was at another school, not even here,” But Harrivel said he prefers the cheers from the home crowd. The crowd always goes crazy to see Harrivel shoot for and reach his goals.
Fun Page
16
Have you eye-balled anyone lately? By: Bryanna “Anonymous” Cooper All it takes is one glance, then suddenly eyes lower, eyelashes start batting, and blush seems to appear on your cheeks out of nowhere. Then it begins and it’s almost impossible to hold back the smile forming on your lips. Before you know it, you’re having full-blown, noexcuses eye sex. It can happen anywhere. Walking home from school, in the classroom or even at a drive-in window. It happened to me once when I was at church. I said it. Church. But before I get into the story I would like to say that eye ballin’ in church isn’t one of my proudest moments, but for some reason, we both couldn’t help it. One glance was all we needed and before we knew it, we were making full-blown love faces. Butterfly kisses flew as we made eye contact, the guilt no longer an important factor. Wait, the pastor’s staring right at us … then it’s back on again. I tried to look away, honestly I did, but the physical chemistry I felt from across the pews drew my eyes back toward his.
New music artists
The following is a new list of artists that you may not have heard of but they have started to become popular that you may or not may be very interested in if you are a fan of music. By: Semir Karic 1. Christina Perri is a new pop music artist that is growing very popular. She became popular when her song “Jar of hearts” was played on so you think you can dance. One of her most famous albums is Jar of Hearts. She is more of a solo artist. 2: Mumford & Sons is a new country and folk band that was formed in 2007 but started becoming popular later on in their life. Their newest album is sigh no more. Some of their best songs are little lion man and the cave. 3: Daniel Merriweather is an Australian R&B artist who released his official album, love and war, in June of 2009. He has supported Kanye West on his Australian tour, opened for Biz Markie in Brooklyn and Justin Timberlake in London. 4: Bruno Mars is a pop/rock/R&B singer who has co-wrote over three songs his new album was released on October 4, 2010, called Doo-Wops & Hooligans. His best songs are Just the way you are and grenade. 5: Alpha Rev is an alternative rock band that was formed in 2005 by Casey McPherson after the breakup of his previous band Endochine. There best album so far is New Morning.
6: The Script is an alternative rock band from Dublin, Ireland they released their last album in august 2008. They won Best Band at the DanishTV Music Video Awards 2009. 7: Miike Snow is a Swedish band that formed in 2007 that is mostly Electro pop their newest album was released on May 12, 2009. There newest singles are Billie Holiday and The Rabbit. 8: Paper Tongues is a new American rock band formed in 2007 at Charlotte, North Carolina. Their newest album was released March 30, 2010. Some of their best singles are Trinity and Get higher. 9: Never Shout Never is an American acoustic rock artist who started to get famous because of his performances on MySpace. Some his best songs are Big city dreams and what is love. He first appeared on the internet where he achieved success on MySpace. On July, 2008, he was featured on TRL, where he performed his single “Bigcitydreams.” 10: Neon Trees is a new alternative rock band. Its first single “animal” has climbed to the #15 on the billboard hot 100 and #1 on the alternative rock chart.
Unavoidable. Undeniable. Untamable. As fun and intense as it is, you have to be safe. What’s the best way to protect yourself? Sunglasses. However, if things start getting too intense and regular protection might not do the job, it might be time to whip out those huge bifocals you’ve been hiding since middle school. As we all know, the safest way is the best way. Keep your eyeballs guarded because you wouldn’t want to catch anything drastic like a “stye,” something that’s very hard to get rid of. Hygiene is also important to remember, so please be sure to wash up afterward to avoid nasty eyebuggers. Another way to ensure cleanliness would be a daily application of nonprescription Visine. Eye flirting can easily become one of the most memorable experiences of your life, so always remember, excitement is only a glance away.
Weird Facts!
By: Quierra Harris, Erin Mayhugh 1. Fortune cookies were invented in America, not China. 2. A hurricane releases more energy in 10 minutes, than all the world’s nuclear weapons
combined. 3. The cigarette lighter was invented before the match. 4. On average people fear spiders more than they do death. 5. Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump. 6. No word in the English language rhymes with “MONTH”. 7. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop
word bank
Source: http://www.weirdfacts.com/ weird-facts.html
Have you ever...
- Have you ever…. waved at someone you thought was waving at you but they weren’t? - Have you ever…. tried to talk to someone and as soon as you go to say something, they turn away? - Have you ever…. accepted a friend request and you don’t realize who it is - information came from various music until after? sites and billboard.com - Have you ever…. been singing a song really loud with your friends and nobody knows the words? - Have you ever… turned off the light when someone is in the shower? - Have you ever… walked into the refrigerator? BALL FAMILY - Have you ever… had a dream you SPLASH VACATION were urinating and accidentally urinated BARBEQUE FLIP yourself? SUMMER VOLLEYBALL - Have you ever… walked into the bathBAREFOOT FLOPS room when someone is going? SUNGLASSES WAVES BEACH FRISBEE - Have you ever… thought you were SUNNY ICE home alone and singing in your bathroom BIKINI KETCHUP in your underwear and your parents walk SURFING LAUGH in? CAMPING LOVE - Have you ever…. had toilet paper on SWIM MARSHMALLOW your shoe when you were talking to someCOOLER OCEAN one cute? TAN PICNIC - Have you ever…. gotten stuck in a launCREAM POOL dry basket? TRAVEL SHORTS - Have you ever… had someone walk DANDELION SMILE towards you smiling and you say hi but UMBRELLA SPEEDO find out he or she weren’t talking to you
Summer Fun Word Search :)
growing. 8. TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. 9. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. 10. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge. 11. It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. 12. 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 13. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. 14. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball. 15. The only animal besides a human that can get sun burnt is a pig.
but the person behind you? - Have you ever…. ran into something while looking away talking to someone you like? Have you ever… said hey to someone very loudly but they completely ignored you, in public? - Have you ever… gotten pants in gym class? - Have you ever… walked in someone making out? - Have you ever… fell down in a crowded hallway and gotten stepped on? - Have you ever… talked to someone you liked only to find out you had something right in the middle of your teeth? - Have you ever… raised your hand confidently in class thinking you had the right answer when it was completely wrong? - Have you ever… talked to someone cute then tried to do an “exit walk” but tripped and fell flat on your face? - Have you ever… eavesdropped on someone’s embarrassing conversion and they found out? - Have you ever… tried to tell a funny story but stumble over your words? (And no one laughs.) - Have you ever… fallen while walking up the stairs? - Have you ever… tripped over a flat stable surface?