Issue 2, Vol. 54 by highlights Newsmagazine

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HELPING HAND:

Issue 2,

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Students’s CAS project helps kickstart library in Paraguay

Maggie Rivers/highlights

Courtesy of Michael Hammond

CHANGING LIVES: For his Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) project, senior Michael Hammond (left) has donated 1,500 books to an educational center in Paraguay where he is helping fulfill the educational potential of its students (top right). Hammond will also travel to the educational center to help build an actual library to house the books (bottom right).

By Ali Band

The Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) requirement is an fundamental part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program that recognizes the importance of extracurricular activities and scholarship. It requires students to choose a project that is both challenging and enjoyable; a personal journey to self-discovery. For his CAS project, senior Michael Hammond created a book drive at the school to send books to an educational center in Paraguay in hope of helping students in need get a better education by providing them with the necessary resources to expand their knowledge. During the summer, Hammond traveled to Paraguay and Brazil to volunteer for the ParaguayanAmerican Cultural Center, a non-profit organization which offers English classes to underprivileged students. After

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STAFF WRITER

becoming emotionally attached to the program he wanted to America,” said Hammond. help the organization by collecting new resources. By creating Building an emotional attachment to a CAS project is the a book drive at the school, he ended up sending over 1,500 exact intention of the IB program and Hammond has found books to the organization and will be traveling there in three profound significance in his. months to help build a library to store all the books. Most “My father always said ‘give a man a fish and you feed of the books were student him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed To me, what is important is donations which were from him for a lifetime,’ and I tried to implement giving a child the opportunity collection boxes placed in this idea into my project as much as possible to learn. classrooms last year. because I felt that if I helped build a library, “Everyone has helped kids would have the resources to study and pave Michael Hammond, out. Ms. Cosgrove played a the path for their own future. The conditions in senior great part in this drive as she Paraguay are not great. Most of the times you gave me permission to hold it see young kids waiting at stop lights with their at the school and my other teachers gave me permission to put sponges and dish soap offering to clean your windshield for a collection boxes in their rooms. My father was also a crucial couple cents, and yes, you can give them money, but it will not part as he thought the project was a great idea and offered to truly help them. To me, what is important is giving a child the pay for all the shipping costs to send the books down to South opportunity to learn,” said Hammond.

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STAFF EDITORIAL

Print publications must step into the digital age Print journalism is not dead, but it is certainly past its prime. Many publications that have traditionally focused on their print editions are now struggling to modernize, combatting declining circulation by reaching their audiences through their online content, social media outlets, and smartphone apps. However, the Miami Herald has begun to limit free access to digital content, which may alienate its readership and prove to be counterproductive.

PG. 7 How do psychological disorders affect the student?

insight

news

PG. 2 Grant funds new research coral labs for science department

costs that print subscriptions and ads cannot make up for, it actually ends up pushing readers towards other local news outlets like the Miami New Times, which has always been free, in both its print and digital formats. Besides, the New Times has embraced the Internet as a platform for its content and the site itself is composed of several categorized blogs. That is not to say the Herald has not tried to reach a wider readership with technology. The Herald actually has its own application for devices like the iPhone and iPad, which are well intended, but poorly executed. The applications themselves are free, but once opened, the content is not. What print journalism needs to do is focus on creating a strong digital environment for itself that its audience can access for free. This has been the strategy that has pulled once dying publications like The Atlantic out of debt. The Atlantic has stated that its focus is on its digital content, yet because of the strong readership it has established online, its print version has since turned profitable. Ultimately, newspapers and magazines have to start viewing themselves as digital publications. Once they are successfully established online and armed with a secure audience, they can put some focus back on print. So either publications like the Herald learn to wield the double-edged sword of the internet, or they face getting cut by it.

PG. 16 Meet Miami’s longest-running comic book store, A & M Comics

the scene

opinion

Just last November, the Miami Herald announced it was making changes to public access of its online content. However, the newspaper did not make digital access easier; now online users can only view a certain number of articles per month. After they reach this cap, they are prompted to purchase a $70 annual digital subscription. This new “Miami Herald Plus +” program is one of several digital changes to publications owned by the McClatchy Company. The publishing company believes these changes, primarily the new “metered paywalls,” can generate over $20 million across all the publications, depending on how fast these changes are instituted. As the McClatchy Company, and every news outlet is painfully aware, print journalism is losing footing with today’s readers. The situation with the Miami Herald accurately represents the disparity between what print journalism offers and what consumers want. More people are checking the news on their phones, tablets, and computers, because it is fast and convenient. Unfortunately, reading a newspaper today is a luxury. Not only do people need money for a subscription, but they also need the time to read a subscription too, which is something most modern readers are not willing to sacrifice. While the Miami Herald charging for online content may seem like a good strategy to cover

2 news Payne puts the coral in Coral Gables highlights

September 2013

This past summer, the school’s science department, along with junior Hanna Payne, started a coral-growth lab for scientific research and study. Payne, part of the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program, decided to do her Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) project dealing with the growth of coral. The CAS Project is a mandatory component of IB in which students designs their own service project and carry it out to benefit their community. In Payne’s case, the goal for the community service portion of the project will deal with using the coral growth studies as a learning tool to teach elementary and middle school students more about ocean life through lectures and visits to the tanks. The idea for Payne’s project came about when she heard about a similar lab at Palmer Trinity School. She took a tour of their lab and received information from a student and faculty member about who to contact to help set up a lab at the school and also about how a coralgrowth lab works. “I am absolutely in love with the ocean,” said Payne in regards to why she became so interested in having her CAS project dealing with marine biology. There are three tanks set up in the storage room of the 250 hall and one more to come. The tanks were purchased with the grant money that the science department received from Lowe’s last year and set up by a company called Reef Top Aquariums. One of the tanks, set up in the corner of the room, will be the display tank. This tank will include colorful coral, rocks, and fish. The other two tanks will be for research purposes only. Payne is working with one of the research tanks for her studies and CAS project, while the other research tank will be for the IB science students to conduct their Group IV project, one of the components required to complete an IB science course. The Group IV project will consist of IB Physics, IB Biology, and IB Chemistry students all working together to maintain that one tank, whether it be dealing with the pH levels or the living organisms and bacteria. According to Payne, the main experiment taking place in these tanks will be coral fragging. Coral fragging consists of breaking off pieces of coral, placing them into the tanks, and letting them grow. Before any coral fragging can take place, Payne must take a couple months to make sure the tank imitates a coral’s habitat. For one thing, the pH levels of the water must be similar to that of the ocean. There is also a light hovering above the tank that is on a timer to imitate the lighting

By Camila Lupi STAFF WRITER

Camila Lupi/highlights ONE FISH TWO FISH: Junior Hanna Payne pours distilled water into the coral fragging tank to keep the water levels consistent on a daily basis.

that coral would get throughout the day in the ocean. Besides Payne and the IB science students, science teacher Kelli Fraga’s new science research class will be helping out with the lab when it comes to adjusting the tanks’ conditions. Fraga also became the new adviser for Gables Earth, which will be helping out with the tanks. There is a possibiliy of setting up another tank to serve as an invasive species tank. This tank would be much bigger and would contain mostly lion fish, which according to Payne are poisonous fish known for eating other fish in the ocean. “We would need more money if we were to set up an invasive species tank, but it could happen in the future,” said IB Biology teacher Eric Molina. As of right now, there is only sand, rocks, and water in the tanks, but over the next couple of months as the testing progresses and the tanks become more and more like a coral’s habitat, the research on coral fragging will begin.

Bringing back GSA Fellow cavalier lost By Angelika Menendez

Lorraine Cruz came up with the idea to incorporate GSA into Gables Players. According to Cruz, students do not need to be a member of Gables Players to attend Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) topics GSA meetings. Topics such as coming out, have been incorporated into Gables Players. family matters, and religion will be covered. Members of Gables Players will continue There will also with their regular be guest speakers theater activities, but Last year I had the idea to start at meetings, such now GSA issues will a GSA since I had seen bullying. as a pastor to talk also be discussed at So I got tired of it and decided to about how being certain meetings. start a GSA. homosexual is okay. GSA is a student– “Last year I run group that Lorraine Cruz, had the idea to start brings lesbian, gay, Senior a GSA since I had bisexual, transgender, seen bullying. So I questioning and got tired of it and decided to start a GSA,” said heterosexual students together to support Cruz. each other and provide a safe place to GSA allows students to “be free and be socialize. themselves with confidence,” said Gables The last GSA in Gables ended in 2009 Players president Jessele Ballesteros. when sponsor Marcos Redondo left the Everything is being done so members can school. Meetings will be held the first have fun and feel comfortable. For questions Monday of every month. regarding GSA, students can contact Cruz. Gables Players Secretary of GSA STAFF WRITER

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Open House

By Camila Lupi STAFF WRITER

This past July, student Nicolas Simonetta passed away one year after being diagnosed with Leukemia. After receiving his diagnosis towards the end of his freshman year, Simonetta began home schooling so that he could keep up with his studies while he fought his battle with cancer. Simonetta remained a part of one of the school’s service clubs, Interact, attending as many meetings as he could and taking part in their community service activities. Last year he was the winner of Interact’s annual soda tab war, bringing in a backpack full of soda tabs. “He even went to the breast cancer walk when the day before he had had treatment through his leg and his leg hurt so much but he wanted to walk as much as he could,” said Interact club sponsor Margarite DePaola. Simonetta was elected as a board member

for Interact in May and although he was not able to attend the banquet where the new board would be taking their oaths to become official board members, he took the oath that same night over the phone from Jackson Memorial Hospital. “I was so happy he was part of that night,” said DePaola. Towards the middle and end of sophomore year, Simonetta had seemed to be getting better and was planning on returning to school this year, but in the last month his condition declined. A couple days after his passing, his parents and family held a memorial service at Funeraria Memorial Plan in Coral Gables, where classmates and friends of Simonetta were welcome. “It was a great way to bring his friends and peers together to pay their respects,” said junior Robbyn Jimenez. Interact has printed the name Nick Simonetta on their club shirts this year in his honor.

Olivia Field/highlights Bianca Mangravite/highlights

Bianca Mangravite/highlights

PARENTS GET SCHOOLED: (Left) Divaaz members Senior Allison Santos and juniors Jennifer Fando and Gennesis Izaguirre perfrom a medley of songs. (Middle) Senior Color Guard member Gaby Garcia twirls her flag in the pavillion as parents travel from class to class. (Top Right) Parents get a look into their children’s average day as they sit in a frehsman English class. (Bottom Right) Junior Gablette Nina Llado helps a parent find her way around the school.

highlights September 2013

NEWS Homecoming encouraged BRIEFS By Jordan Payne

Years ago, the Homecoming Dance was very popular, according to Student Activities Director Ana Suarez. However, in recent years, attendance has been dwindling. Each year the estimated attendance is based off the previous year’s attendance. Last year, the school did not meet its estimated number of 300 students, instead only having 298 students attend the dance. Because of this, Student Activities is revamping the Homecoming King and Queen nomination process to generate interest. This year, instead of having one senior king and queen, there will also be junior, sophomore, and freshmen princes and princesses. Teams of two Student Activities members went to every homeroom in the school over the course of Sept. 18 and 20. If the class was exclusively one grade, it had the opportunity to nominate one boy and girl in the class and one boy and girl not in the class. If the class was of mixed grades, there had to be 10 students of one particular grade in order to nominate. Voting will take place on Cavsconnect.com. In order to be nominated, students needed a minimum 2.5 STAFF WRITER

HMC trip canceled By Eleonor Bauwens STAFF WRITER

The annual school trip to Harvard Model Congress (HMC) in San Francisco hosted by Social Studies Department Chair Stephanie Cosgrove will not be taking place this year. According to Cosgrove, organizing the trip was too much for her this year and no one volunteered to take her place. HMC is a congressional stimulation conference which provides high school students with the opportunity to experience how the American government works. “We hope to continue the tradition next year of showcasing our students’ abilities and coming home with awards,” said Cosgrove. The school will still be sponsoring a trip to the HMC in Boston.

Benchetrit returns

upcoming events SEPTEMBER

By Mia Tolpin

24 26

STAFF WRITER

Business teacher Lucia Benchetrit returns to the school after her one-year medical leave of absence. Before leaving, Benchetrit was the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club sponsor and National Academy Foundation (NAF) lead teacher. She also taught six business classes. Seven years ago, when the school divided itself into its six academies, Benchetrit started the academy of Business, Management, and Information Technology. Now, Benchetrit is no longer the academy leader or FBLA club sponsor. She willingly gave up the positions when she left the previous school year to “rest and recuperate.” “I [gave it up because] I couldn’t continue doing the type of job I wanted,” said Benchetrit.

Seniors lose sweats

CLUB FAIR, PAVILION, LUNCH EARLY RELEASE, 12:20 P.M.

By Ali Band STAFF WRITER

CORAL GABLES 1886 S Red Road Miami, FL 33155

(786) 972-1602

OCTOBER

3 8

SENIOR PEP RALLY, AUDITORIUM, 1 P.M. UNDERCLASSMEN PARENTS NIGHT, AUDITORIUM, 6:30 P.M.

Dade libraries not closing

The county commission announced that all of MiamiDade County’s libraries will remain open just weeks after word that nearly two-dozen would possibly close. According By Eleonor Bauwens to the Miami Herald, the county has found a way to prevent STAFF WRITER the closures. Five school libraries will open to the public in a move the school board said it hopes will mitigate the blow of This year the Class of 2014 will not be allowed to expected county budget cuts. wear senior sweatpants to school on Fridays. Principal After cautioning that it could close 22 public libraries, Adolfo Costa decided that seniors would lose their Miami-Dade County has found a way to keep all 49 facilities sweatpant privileges because the amount of uniform open. According to the Miami Herald, Mayor Carlos Gimenez violations shows that they are the biggest dress code informed county officials that 169 librarians would lose their violators. jobs and libraries would operate only a mere 16 hours a week “Privileges are earned,” said Costa. compared to their current 40 hours. Superintendent Alberto Additional losses of privileges granted by the school are possible, such as the removal of treat days Carvalho said he had begun internal efforts to keep as many and the senior pep rally, and the shortening of Grad library branches open as possible because the communities Bash. whose libraries were up for potential closure were those that “I understand why we weren’t allowed senior could least afford it, considering their relatively low literacy sweats. Still, many of us have been looking forward rates. Public protests against the potential library closures have to wearing them for three years and it was really caused administrators to slowly reduce the number of branches unexpected,” said Senior Class President Cole Scanlon. that were slated to be closed. The decision to take away senior sweatpants only It was announced that the number of libraries on the applies to the class of 2014. chopping block has been reduced to four: the Country Walk, collegefair_45px12p_Layout 1 9/10/13 12:28 PM Page 1 Sunset and Tamiami branches in West Miami-Dade, and the

www.gablestutoring.com

grade point average (GPA), no excessive tardies or absences, and no indoor or outdoor suspensions. On Oct. 23 the school will hold Cav Crash, its annual talent show. During intermission, the junior, sophomore, and freshman princes and princesses will be announced. Then, the top five senior boys and senior girls will be announced as the Senior Court. The Homecoming King and Queen will be announced at the Homecoming Dance at 10 p.m. “Sophomore year, a group of friends and I planned to go to Homecoming; at first we didn’t really want to go since we were underclassmen, but it ended up being a great and memorable night,” said junior Claudia Villegas. Five years ago, the dance switched to a more club-like venue. This year the dance will be held at Briza on the Bay in Biscayne Bay. Without the $10 coupon that can be found at Cavsconnect.com, tickets cost $75. Tickets will be sold to seniors only on Sept. 30 and to all grade levels on Oct. 1-3. “I hope that Homecoming becomes the tradition that it used to be,” said Suarez. The school’s football team will face off against Coral Park on the home field for the Homecoming Game on Oct. 24.

COLLEGE FAIR

Monday, September 30th

Math Economics SAT Prep www.JamesEducation.com

Civic Center kiosk. In addition to the number of closures shrinking, the number of proposed layoffs has also gone down; the latest estimate is that 192 library workers, down from 251, will still lose their jobs. The county is in the process of restructuring library funding. Libraries rely on taxes separate from those that go to the county’s general fund, thus Gimenez has said the county must consider altering the funding structure of the library department. Other areas of the Miami-Dade budget will take a hit, including the fire-rescue department, which faces the elimination of a number of fire trucks and layoffs including new recruits. “Tax payers are demanding leaner budgets. It is not an easy road ahead for our elected officials. Balancing budgets and community service is why we elected them,” said custodian John Bryant. The plan from here is to increase the number of part-time librarian positions, which county commissioners recognize will require modified schedules and reduction of hours for some library branches. The Miami-Dade County School Board has opened five school libraries to the public, which will have open public access on weekdays to books, the Internet, and other resources at media centers at locations including D.A. Dorsey Educational Center, Lindsey Hopkins Technical Center, Miami Lakes Educational Center, Miami Lakes; Robert Morgan Educational Center, and South Dade Educational Center.

Be prepared. Plan which colleges you would like to visit. Link to information on the attending colleges from the CAP website. Juniors and Seniors, pick up your College Fair pass on September 25th, 26th or 27th, before school or during lunch in front of the new building.

Ted Sanchez 2515 S.W. 27th Ave. Miami, FL 33133 (305) 859-7979 www.silverbluffanimalclinic.com

news

highlights September 2013

IB Patio takes the stage Health Corps By Sydney Scanlon STAFF WRITER

AP Calculus ABC now offered By Danny Delgado

Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC can now be taken as one class called AP Calculus ABC at the school. The class is taught by Science Department Chair Orestes Mayo. Calculus is traditionally a college course, but at the school, as well as in other high schools, it is possible to take the class as an AP course and receive college credit, as long as students get a certain score. For high school it is usually split into two parts, Calculus AB and Calculus BC. This made it difficult to take International Baccalaureate Higher Level math later on, because it took two whole years to complete AP Calculus. Assistant Principal of Curriculum Nestor Diaz, Mathematics Department Chair Yanitza Herrera, math teacher Rebeca Reinoso, and Science Department Chair Orestes Mayo sat down to solve this problem. Mayo said that they could just teach it how they did in college, in one year, and with that AP Calculus ABC was created. “The pro is it is fast, the con is that it is very fast,” said Mayo. The course covers all of pre-calculus in the first three weeks of school as a review. Mayo said the usual workload is an hour a day, six nights a week. Students taking the class will take the AP BC Calculus exam, which has an AB portion, and will receive two test scores as if two exams were taken. STAFF WRITER

By Jordan Payne

In August, Val Butler started working as the school’s first Health Corps Coordinator. Founded by Mehmet Oz and his wife Lisa Oz, Health Corps is a nationwide nonprofit organization that was created to fight childhood obesity. Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon, an author, and the star of The Dr. Oz Show. Health Corps curriculum includes nutrition, physical fitness, mental resilience, and personal health. Throughout the month of September, Butler will be visiting the classrooms of Chef Instructor Mercy Vera, head golf coach and Physical Education teacher Tracy Watkins, head wrestling coach and Chef Instructor Angel Vasquez, Physical Education teacher Eulalia Albalate, and Senior Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Instructor Major Vidal Chavez. Butler will coordinate events, teach Health Corps lessons, take part in activities with faculty and students, and promote wellness. Her job as coordinator will be to provide the school’s community with the tools and guidance necessary to achieve the highest quality of life, such as introducing activities to reduce or control stress. Butler will be at the school for two years doing research. After the two years, Health Corps will decide whether the school needs a different coordinator, no coordinator at all, or whether Butler should continue at the school. The school was chosen as one of two high schools in the state to have a Health Corps Coordinator. “She’s very professional, very self-driven, very motivated with the students. I’m excited about Health Corps being here because it enforces our curriculum,” said Vera. Butler worked at Sacramento High School, in Sacramento, California, prior to working at the school. She is at the school Monday through Friday during regular hours. Her office is located in Room 251. She is currently in the process of joining the Miami-Dade school system. “I’m here and I can’t wait to encourage and challenge the community of Coral Gables High School to be the best versions of themselves and to help them achieve wellness in every possible aspect,” said Butler. STAFF WRITER

Jordan Payne/highlights

A portion of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Patio has been turned into a garden for Gables Players. Members decorated the IB patio by planting seeds, which are already sprouting into flowers. Drama students will continue to work on the garden so that they, and other students, can see and appreciate it. Last year, IB students were awarded the IB Patio, which was open during lunch. The IB Patio can be used for studying, eating lunch or just relaxing. Security filters who goes in and out based on whether the student has an IB lanyard. Now, drama students are also allowed in the patio. Senior Jessele Ballesteros, president of Gables Players, is leading the way on behalf of the drama program. “The garden will be something for us, something to represent us,” said Ballesteros On the other hand, president of International Baccalaureate Honors Society, Linda Villa, is not as ecstatic. She had many plans for the IB patio such as mural, nicer seats, and a Zen garden.

“I do not like the recent changes. I wish [IB] had a place of our own,” said Villa. There are hopes that the garden will make students more aware of the drama program. The garden contains flowers and a tree with handprints of the drama students, which was done with eco-friendly paint. “I love my garden. PLANTING THE SEEDS: The Isn’t it beautiful?” said tree located in the IB Patio was drama teacher Tracey painted with eco-friendly paint Barrow. by Gables Players members. Barrow also said that this is only the beginning of the renovations, and that the drama program wants to be seen more as an aspect of the school.

opinion

highlights September 2013

Scrapped U.S.-Syrian strike sparks debate Should the United States still intervene in the war-stricken country? Commentary by Stephan Chamberlin OPINION EDITOR

YES

Many people see the United States as a very large, violent, and stubborn animal that meddles in everyone’s business and pushes other countries around. To a certain extent they are right. The list of conflicts we’ve entered is populated with names that bring bitter images and sad memories to mind: Vietnam, Iraq – places where the fighting and dying of American armed forces has created devastation in the country of conflict, and has a huge emotional toll right here at home in the form of lost brothers, sisters, parents, sons and daughters. But ultimately it comes down to this: the Syrian civil war has seen tremendous loss of civilian life; furthermore, it is in the national interest of the United States to intervene not only to protect the innocent, but to give ourselves a toehold in the region by securing future allies.

Now is when the red flags come up. With the recent diplomatic proposal being put on the table, the U.S. is expected to take a very passive role in the elimination of President Assad’s arsenal of chemical weapons. What bugs me the most is when a national leader, who is widely accused of being a tyrant, uses extreme force against innocents in his own country, he gets away with it. It isn’t fair that big brother Putin and the Russians can swoop in and declare diplomacy in the wake of possibly the most devastating use of chemical weapons in this century. The lesson we teach the world is that if you commit atrocities, you will be forced to undergo a bureaucratic process over the course of ten months to take away your armaments. The future leaders of the world will now be able to look at the U.S. and know that they can get away with almost anything if they apologize afterward. This is most certainly not a topic to be taken lightly. We are not going to run in there, guns ablaze, to dispense sweet American justice in the form of fiery explosions and the Star

TWO VIEWS

Commentary by Anthony Concia STAFF WRITER

In Syria, after the Assad regime has agreed to cooperate with efforts to destroy its chemical weapons, it would be folly to take an aggressive route when the diplomatic light is shining at the end of the tunnel. Even though our national defense budget reached over $1.4 trillion during the 2012 fiscal year, it’s an understatement to say that we’re protected from most foreign threats; clearly, starting wars isn’t a sure route to maintaining our security. Whether a new regime in Syria comes to power or not, America can rest assured knowing it is guarded against formal threats from foreign nations. The only argument that can be made for intervening in Syria after a diplomatic solution has become available is a humanitarian one. But frankly, the United States can’t afford to start bombing every

highlights ADVISORY BOARD:

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nicolas Rivero

BUSINESS MANAGER Orso Raymo

COPY EDITOR

Cyrus Zeledon

SECTION EDITORS: NEWS

Brooke Donner

THE SCENE

Laura Acosta

FEATURES

Yaremy Fuentes

MANAGING EDITOR Maggie Rivers

ADVISER

Melissa Nieves Gonzalez

OPINION

Stephan Chamberlin

SPORTS

Francis Perez

INSIGHT

Raquel Braun, Avery Budin

Staff Members: Ali Band, Eleonor Bauwens, Anthony Concia, Danny Delgado, Rachel Ellis, Javier Fernandez, Olivia Field, Maya Iskandarani, Joey Lancaster, Camila Lupi, Bianca Mangravite, Haley Manning, Angelika Menendez, Maria Ovalle, Jordan Payne, Susana Rudin, Araceli Sanchez, Sydney Scanlon, Mia Tolpin Contributors: Carlos A. Fernandez highlights is the official publication of Coral Gables Senior High, 450 Bird Rd.,Coral Gables, FL 33146. Call (305) 443-4871 ext. 2383, email melissanieves@ dadeschools.net for ad rates. highlights accepts all legal advertisements. If a mistake occurs, the ad will be reprinted, free of charge, in the following issue. Subscriptions are available for $15 annually. Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school. highlights is an open forum and welcomes readers’ opinions on all topics. Letters to the editor should not exceed 200 words and must be signed, but names may be withheld on request and with the concurrence of the editorial board. The editors reserve the right to reject, edit and condense letters. All letters should be turned in to the F237 mailbox. highlights strives to represent all groups fairly. Men and women of all races and nationalities will be represented with the same respect and dignity. This publication avoids racial identification except when it is essential to communication.

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country with a violent civil war, which these days, seems to be a popular trend with the residual political fervor from the Arab Spring. If our nation did go ahead and intervene in Syria after President Assad had agreed to destroy his chemical weapons, can our involvement be justified? President Obama said that using chemical weapons would be a red line, but what are the consequences of crossing this line? Any intervention in Syria now just looks like the president trying to cover all the political bases. Instead of actually helping the Syrian people by destroying President Assad’s chemical weapon sites, it only serves to make the U.S. look like a blindly aggressive nation. Proponents of a strike said that its purpose was to teach the leaders of the world that they could not use chemical weapons against their own people and get away with it. A strike now would also teach a lesson; one that would be a step backward in every facet of our foreign policy. Presidents Assad and Putin have essentially cleansed themselves of the responsibility

Spangled Banner. If we decide to intervene it will most likely be in the form of distanced, prudent, and practical restraint of the current regime. This will not turn into another Iraq. There are some notable differences. First of all, we know with overwhelming evidence that chemical weapons were used, unlike the intelligence fiasco we experienced ten years ago. Secondly, we most likely will not be committing ground forces for an assault, so there is no risk of American lives being jeopardized in execution. Those two aspects put a very wide gap between incidents we’ve gotten ourselves into in the past, and the actions we would be taking in the future. Furthermore, it’s not like we haven’t assisted taken action in the past. Take a look at Libya. With measured enthusiasm, we imposed a no-fly zone and gave air assistance to the rebels. This decision gambles the future of 22.4 million innocent people. It is easy to say that the Syrian conflict isn’t our problem. Few people would be criticized for keeping out of another country’s civil war. Bu when one of the most lethal nerve agents gets used on innocent people, then it quickly becomes the world’s problem.

concerning U.S. intervention. It is entirely up to us now to decide if we’re going to prove a point after the enemy has surrendered. Perhaps a much more serious matter, a strike in Syria after considering a deal from the Russians would be a political nightmare. With tension already running high between the two superpowers, it would not be wise to escalate things just to prove a moot point. The Russians have been our biggest rivals since the end of World War II. Why spend millions of dollars and sophisticated weapons systems in antagonizing them, when we can work it out diplomatically like big boys, and not further escalate the tension between us. Furthermore, the Russians aren’t the only ones to oppose a U.S. strike. The United Nations hasn’t condoned a strike either. Making more conflicts in Syria just alienates us more from the rest of the world. We have to understand that it’s going to take more than ten months and countless unforeseen complications to clear Syria’s cache of chemical weapons, but the alternative is an unnecessary measure in the face of diplomacy.

Florida politicians postpone Obamacare implementation Commentary by Danny Delgado STAFF WRITER

The Affordable Care Act is an important program and one the state of Florida needs to stop neglecting. The ignorance of Florida Republicans is keeping sick people from getting important medical attention simply for the protection of private health insurance companies. Republicans in Florida like Governor Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio, both staunch opponents of the law, keep evading this important issue on the pretext that it is too costly. However, they are in favor of tax breaks for the rich, voter ID laws, and other laws that seem equally if not more wasteful. Rick Scott has had a long history of opposition to the law, and recently has issued a budget that does not provide money for Medicaid. Scott also left a sit down with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius complaining about how the law would cost too much and claiming it would not be effective. Another thing Florida Republicans did was reject a core element of Obamacare which would allow small businesses and people who do not get insured at work the opportunity to compare different health plans and choose which one would be best for them beginning next year. This law may not be a

by the numbers 21.3 55

Million people could be insured with Obamacare in the next decade

Projected percent by which number of uninsured would decrease in Florida by 2022

Source: Obamacarefacts.com

perfect one, but it is far from being the evil, demonized law that Florida Republicans make it to be. It gets people insured, makes sure that they do not lose any of their benefits because of pre-existing conditions, and it makes coverage more affordable for everyone, especially those at a financial disadvantage. Neglecting the expansion of Obamacare will not only be detrimental to Floridians, but it will also drive the cost of health care up for the rest of the country. It forces the participating states to chip in more money for the states that refuse to participate. The law will be made less effective, and therefore put uninsured individuals at greater risk. New York, Arizona, and Maine expanded Medicaid between 2000 and 2005. A Harvard study reports, “rates of the uninsured residents dropped, access to care improved, and more people reported being in very good or excellent health.” Scott’s dismissive behaviors towards the law will force Floridians to wait longer to be covered. Republicans must come to the realization that every developed nation has some sort of universal health care coverage, and this problem transcends the Florida State boundaries; it is a national issue, and must be treated as one. The case should not be that in some states you have the law, and that in Florida it is not even spoken of. It is time for Rick Scott to open his eyes, and do something that is actually good for the state and the country.

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percent of costs covered of Medicaid expansion in first year by federal government

Percent of the cost coverage by the federal government in the next five years

Compiled by Danny Delgado Illustration by Maggie Rivers

highlights September 2013

Senior class unjustly under fire Commentary by Nicolas Rivero EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It’s no secret that the Class of 2014 is no one’s favorite group of students, and it’s equally plain to see that this year’s seniors resent their negative reputation. In response, many of them, out of frustration or spite, have come to adopt and internalize their “bad boy” reputation, as demonstrated in the various disruptions to the recent senior assembly to discuss magazine sales and activities. The result has been growing animosity between the administration, teachers, and students, and, recently, the loss of senior sweatpants with the hint that further bad behavior could lead to further consequences. Before we ruin senior year for everyone, let’s take a step back and talk about how the situation can be handled fairly. Teachers and administrators are quick to claim that the class of 2014, as a whole, has been the worst behaved class in recent memory. With only four years of experience, I’m in no position to argue that point. What I can say with certainty, on

the other hand, is that it is not the majority of the senior class that misbehaves. Why, then, should the entire class be punished for the actions of a few rule-breakers? Not only are these sorts of sweeping punishments unfair; they are also ineffective. Let’s take the example of the most widespread vice: uniform infractions. Administrators report that the overwhelming majority of students they stop for being out of uniforms are seniors, and cite this as the reason why senior sweats were eliminated. The question remains: what did they do with these seniors who they caught out of uniform? Did they write detentions and take note of who the trouble makers were? If so, there would be no reason for a blanket punishment for the rest of the senior class. If not, do they really think indiscriminately punishing an entire group of students is a legitimate way to correct an individual’s behavior? My appeal to the administration is this: next time you catch a senior doing something worth punishing, give him a detention. Give him a referral. Tell him he is not going to Homecoming, Prom, or Grad Bash, and that he ought to eliminate the word “sweatpants” from his vocabulary. Then leave the rest of us alone. You will find that a small group of

seniors will be banned from extracurricular activities, and the rest will go on undisturbed. The real issue with sweeping, reactionary punishments like the cancellation of senior sweatpants is that it creates resentment among the majority of seniors who have done nothing to deserve their punishment or earn their notoriety. This is why when you assemble a group of hundreds of teenagers in the auditorium and tell them they’re badly behaved, and then you tell them that each and every one of them is getting punished for being so badly behaved, they get upset and spend the next hour misbehaving. Labels have a tendency to be selffulfilling, and whatever the Class of 2014 did to earn its bad reputation to begin with, the administration hasn’t helped by tagging the entire group as bad students. Punishing individuals by doling out across-the-board punishments is a lazy form of justice, and in addition to being petty, is demonstrably counterproductive. Rather than antagonize the senior class, get tough on those who have actually broken the rules. The rest of us would like to get through this year without any more drama.

Prescription pushers NSA alienates allies exploit Americans with espionage Commentary by Anthony Concia

Commentary by Danny Delgado

STAFF WRITER

The pharmaceutical companies of America are taking advantage of our illness by getting the population hooked on prescription drugs and profiting from its potential addiction. You can thank modern medicine for its miracle of developing dangerously addictive medicines that may alleviate your pain temporarily, but will permanently exhaust your wallet. “Drugs” is a word that has been distorted and manipulated for the purpose of conditioning us to think that they are a necessary and immediate solution to our health problems. Indeed, the word has many different connotations, but the pharmaceutical companies have placed a façade on prescription drugs to get us to overlook their potential side effects. In a country dependent and centered on private enterprises, it is no surprise that drug companies have taken advantage of America’s mass consumerism. What happens when you have an abundance of sick people with money to spend? A nationwide craze for quick and easy cures in capsule form that cause people to willingly spend their money on pills which can be just as addicting and detrimental as illegal drugs. The federal government doesn’t really do much to regulate the distribution of harmful, legal drugs among the good natured people of the U.S.A. As long as the pharmaceutical companies are banking as much money as they can, they will continue to sell pills that kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined, according to the Drug Free World Organization. America is hooked on prescription drugs and we’re too doped out to realize it. According to a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug, and an astounding 20 percent of all Americans are on at least five prescription drugs. Now if you have almost three quarters of America buying pills, that’s a lot of money going to pharmaceutical companies, especially since the eleven largest companies heaped in $85 billion dollars last year. If that number wasn’t big enough for you, try the people of America spending more than $280 billion on prescription drugs in 2013. It is evident that the reason why people are spending so much money on legal drugs is because prescription painkillers, according to Office of National Drug Control Policy, are some of the most addictive drugs on the entire planet. This is a nationwide crisis to see how these modern marvels are being abused. Even drugs the FDA approves of may not be 100% safe, so America must not assume that a drug is safe because it is “legal.”

The National Security Agency (NSA) has been spying on United States allies, leaving some people to wonder, why? We can be sure that there are not any Al-Qaeda bases in France, or in Greece; and Mexico is not planning to start a war against the United States to regain Texas and California. However, the NSA has been spying on the country’s “top allies” such as Italy, Japan, France, Mexico, India, Turkey, and South Korea, among many others. The most interesting part of this whole ordeal has been that trade meetings were being recorded, and spied on, probably in the interest of giving American corporations a competitive advantage foreign competition. This was in no way related to terrorism or fear of threat. It was simply done to gain an economic advantage over these other governments. Although this may not be the only reason for their spying, it is the only logical explanation for spying on foreign trade meetings. This does not do the United States any good with respect to foreign policy, and puts in question a lot of their “partnerships” with other countries. Germany has accused the United States of using Cold War tactics against their allies, and this type of secretive behavior towards other countries truly makes it hard to trust the United States. Being placed next to countries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as main targets for our “national security,” understandably, does not sit well with our European allies. The consequences of such behavior can be detrimental to the United States especially when important foreign policy decisions are going to be made. Every move and decision the United States makes will be scrutinized, and the complete trust they had with their allies has disappeared. Although they may act as if they still trust the United States, they will not be able to in the same way that they used to, not for a long time. The United States has proven to the world that it has no true allies and has no problem with taking actions against its friends that resemble the way you would treat a geopolitical foe. Ultimately, it is time for the United States to stop putting the economic concerns of large companies above foreign policy objectives, or above anything else for that matter. The economic gains are truly negligible and not worth losing the trust of our top allies. They should let their beloved free-market run its course on these corporations, instead of trying to rig the game. The amount of power these shady agencies have is alarming to begin with, and it’s about time we start to rein them in.

Blackfish: Seaworld covers up orca misery Commentary by Maya Iskandarani STAFF WRITER

Ignore the shiny image that marine parks like SeaWorld and Miami Seaquarium portray, because behind the advertised luster of leaping dolphins and laughing children hides the truth about the cruel and inhumane ways that killer whales like Lolita and Tilikum are treated and the chilling consequences of their resulting psychological trauma. Tilikum is the five-ton bull orca used by SeaWorld Orlando to breed other show orcas, but not to perform, and with good reason: he’s killed three people during his 22 years in captivity. At two years old, he was kidnapped from his whale pod and has been so traumatized by his experiences with humans since then that he has manifested his frustrations by attacking people, including SeaWorld head trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was brutally beaten and drowned by Tilikum in 2010. The cause of Brancheau’s death was not an error on her part, but lies somewhere in Tilikum’s years of swimming in circles in a tiny tank while being underfed and forced to mate with total strangers. Even someone with the expertise of a whale trainer isn’t safe from the emotions of a

psychologically disturbed killer whale. Closer to home, Miami’s biggest star can be found cooped up in an undersized tank at Miami Seaquarium on Virginia Key. Lolita, unlike Tilikum, has never killed a human being, but still shows the telltale signs of a stressed animal in captivity. Lolita herself has been a captive of Miami Seaquarium for over 40 years, starting from the brutal separation from her family at the infamous Penn Cove orca roundup in Puget Sound, Washington in 1970. Six other juvenile orcas where taken from this roundup and shipped away, while the five orcas that were killed by the nets used in the capture were slit open and filled with rocks to remain out of sight. As for Lolita, to this day she is endlessly swimming in circles, forced to wallow in her own depression. Marine parks like Miami Seaquarium and SeaWorld try to hide these dirty secrets from the world, but there are still blatant lies that they shamelessly throw at the public to keep us in our seats. For example, we’ve all heard that animals live longer in captivity than in the wild; SeaWorld employees like to say that killer whales live to be 50 years old in captivity, twice as long as in their natural habitats. The truth is that killer whales can live up to human life spans in the wild, while most captured killer whales live to be 30 years old or less, with Lolita as the notable exception. Another lie: that

it’s common for killer whales, captive and wild, to suffer from dorsal fin collapse. An orca has hardly been seen in the wild with its fin flopped over like Lolita’s or like every other domesticated killer whales’, because killer whales are built to swim hundreds of miles a day, not in pathetic circles. What cannot be denied, however, is the one unalterable fact that constantly gnaws at marine parks everywhere: there is no record of a killer whale ever harming a human in the wild. Human intervention is the only thing that causes killer whales to go insane. Not every country has laws like the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in the United States to prevent the capture of cetaceans like killer whales, and American marine parks take advantage of this loophole to import captured killer whales from foreign countries. Another loophole that SeaWorld especially likes to employ: lying about the condition of stranded or wounded killer whales as an excuse to take them back to their parks for breeding purposes. To prevent circumstances like those of Tilikum and Lolita, the government should properly enforce the wildlife protection laws of the MMPA so that all animals, not just orcas, can avoid the suffering that Tilikum and Lolita have had to endure, as opposed to assuming that every time SeaWorld “rescues” a killer whale, it is for the right reasons.

insight

highlights September 2013

DEALING WITH DISORDER highlights looks into commonly diagnosed psychological disorders and their effects on the social and academic lives of students. From general symptoms to telling statistics, highlights DIVES INTO the world of people struggling with disorders.

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highlights September, 2013

TOp three PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AMONG TEENS

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Anxiety DisorderS;

e.g. panic disorder and social phobia According to one large scale study of 9 to 17 year olds, as many as 13 percent of young people had an anxiety disorder.

Behavior Disorders; e.g. ADHD

3% to7% of school-aged children have ADHD.

Mood Disorders; e.g. depression

Between 20% and 30% of adolescents have one major depressive episode before they reach adulthood.

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studied and researched which provides us with useful information about the human mind. Socially, mental disorders are a confusing, misunderstood, and intriguing subject that perplexes our minds. Human psychology is something to be taken seriously and respected. Therefore we should learn the conditions of what people with mental disorders go through because we cannot rely on what the media depicts of them. TV shows and movies do not give an accurate portrayal of people with ADD or bi-polar disorder. The only way to claim you know even then everything about a mental disorder is to actually be diagnosed with a disorder. Society is to blame for reducing the lives of people with mental disorders to a simple one-word label. Disconnect from your friends’ damaging depiction of mental disorders. Conceiving your own beliefs and your own opinions based on first hand accounts saves the image of someone with ADD or bi-polar disorder from being damaged. It also gives insight on what these people are struggling with. Though not everyone can contribute a personal connection to those with mental disorders, we as an educated community have the capability to convey the reality that these are serious health problems.

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Is it really possible to know what it feels like to have a mental disorder? Unless you share the same disorder, then the answer is no. In his book The Doors of Perception, Aldous Huxley said, “The mind is its own place, and the Places inhabited by the insane and the exceptionally gifted are so different from the places where ordinary men and women live, that there is little or no common ground of memory to serve as a basis for understanding or fellow feeling.” You are your own universe. No one shares the same memories, feelings, or experiences than you do. Unfortunately, people’s perception of mental disorders such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), bi-polar disorder, anorexia, and insomnia is becoming distorted because pop culture has saturated us with movies, TV shows, and other forms of entertainment. Since our primary form of entertainment comes from the media, people with mental disorders are being romanticized by actors. The line that separates fact and fiction is becoming increasingly thin. The media has portrayed certain disorders as “enticing,” “interesting,” or even “attractive” and is responsible for these misconceptions. The sexy Victoria Secret model that girls strive to be and men desire to have may easily be anorexic. It is not right to idolize someone who could be suffering from an eating disorder; it’s a real health problem that shouldn’t be glorified. Also, what about the insomniac who can’t sleep at night? It seems like a productive mental disorder but insomniacs don’t actually party non-stop and get everything done at night. Scientifically, the subject matter of mental disorders is deeply

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highlights September, 2013

DISORDER IN DEPTH By Javier Fernandez STAFF WRITER

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hands raised in aclassroom). Often times, what is mistaken as social or classroom deviation and misbehavior is really just a symptom of such disorders, and frequent “spacing out” or outbursts could very easily be an uncontrollable side effect rather than a deliberate act of disrespect. “Teachers have to accommodate to IEPs, or Exception Plans that allow students with certain disorders extended time on tests and projects. In the classroom specifically, I would have these students usually sit nearby in order to maintain focus,” said psychology teacher Lauren Noval. Disorders are equally as problematic for students as it pertains to study. Anxiety disorders can easily induce more anxiety as schoolwork, course rigor, or number of upcoming tests increase. Stress and anxiety attacks are common effects from anxiety disorders, and the adequacy with which these disorders are addressed are even worse than with the aforementioned learning disorders such as ADD. Eating disorders are the least recognized of all the disorders as it pertains to the learning environment. Because these conditions are thought of mainly as socially stimulated (anorexia and bulimia, for example, may arise from desire for a good appearance), the idea that they could affect production in the learning environment is often overlooked. In actuality, all of these disorders can hinder academic production, if only because their nature of them involves social interaction, and schools and classrooms require social interaction in the learning process. Extended time granted on standardized tests or the medications prescribed to address anxiety and eating disorders are just a few examples of school systems and pediatricians acknowledging and addressing the presence of these minor disorders, but many flaws remain. The effects on learning are clearly profound, but not entirely due to the fact that learning is always just that much more difficult for those with ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, or other disorders, but rather because these disorders are often addressed improperly or inadequately. Yes, it can be agreed that addressing disorders through concrete medication and institutional aid are helpful, but the need for understanding such conditions reaches far beyond numbers and prescriptions. Teachers, doctors, and peers on every level need to develop a true understanding of these disorders in order to allow equity in the learning environment. Should learning disorders have the hope of being addressed properly among all adolescents who have them, correctly identifying the existence (or lack thereof) of such disorders in a child is the first step in helping students learn and grow to their full potential.

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The effects of learning disorders on both performance in the classroom and throughout one’s life often have far greater significance than most students and teachers realize. While not necessarily being fit for an environment geared towards those without learning disabilities, people who deal with disorders such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, and even those who suffer from anxiety and eating disorders are expected to grasp, study, and perform at the same standard as those without diagnosed disorders. While those with disorders usually wish to be amongst their peers in institutions, the ignorance of the discrepancy between normal learning and learning by those with hindering disorders is what causes such great struggle for these students. Teachers’ lack of training to deal with the extent to which ADD, dyslexia, or anxiety may affect the ability to learn at a standard pace which is what creates more of a struggle for these students, as they are often left with the mentality that they must overcome these setbacks on their own. Approximately one in five youths have some sort of learning disorder, according to the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, and its prevalence often goes unrecognized or ignored. Teenhelp.com states that out of over 20 million teens that cannot read at their respective grade reading level, 9 million have some sort of learning disorder. “I’ve been shown to be able to perform adequately in a classroom environment, but for kids with more severe ADHD they regularly have to meet with counselors and get pulled into specific classes to accommodate their needs,” said senior Matthew Llanes, who was diagnosed with ADHD. While certain disorders like dyslexia hinder reading ability, others such as ADD can vastly disturb one’s ability to focus on a given subject of study or instruction for more than a few minutes at a time. Those with ADHD experience restlessness and impulsive behavior that manifests itself in occasional lapses in attention or disregard for social surroundings (i.e. others waiting in a line or having

.nim h.gov

“

Someone who has anxiety or depression issues is relatable because we are all stressed out and sad sometimes.

Nikolas Rodriguez, junior

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Maggie Rivers/highlights

“

Femke Reniers, freshman

Raquel Braun/highlights

Olivia Field/highlights

There are so many books that give the impression that good things come with mental disorders. It scares me that this concept entertains people.

Olivia Field/highlights

“

STUD E NTS’ TOOLBOX

features

highlights

September 2013

Healthy Living

We are currently living in a time where everything is fast, from our food, our lifestyles, and our cars. In order to maintain our sanity we need to find ways to take better care of ourselves without sacrificing too much. highlights set out on a quest of snack breaks and enlightenment in order to find the path to healthy living and share it with the rest of the school.

Mia Tolpin/highlights

Healthy hide-outs By Mia Tolpin STAFF WRITER

Common health food stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s ain’t got nothing on hole-in-the-wall stores that provide the community with funky fruits and organic hors d’oeuvres. Hipsters, medicine-seekers, and even common health-food advocates can come to these stores to find some all natural, unique delicacies. These stores, in their entirety, have a different vibe from the generic supermarkets. In a supermarket all the aisles are memorized and most of the time going is dreadful because of how routine it is. But these local health food stores always hold several refreshing surprises. They are like farmers markets, the only difference being that they are year-round. Unlike farmers markets, one can find yummy seasonal fruits like starfruit at any time because these stores will purchase the freshest products from local farms around South Florida. Since local health food stores are usually smaller, they are more customer oriented. Customer satisfaction is everything for them and that is why they strive to always be stocked with the rarest products like medicinal herbs and spices that actually work such as turmeric, which cures everything from allergies, to coughs, to the rarest pains.

LIVING RIGHT: (Right) Satisfied customers of all ages sit around the cafe in Beehive Natural foods to enjoy their famous wheatgrass shakes and other delicacies. While waiting for the food to be ready a great option would be to explore the unique store. (Left) Healthy food stores offer eats for every taste, from yummy vegan cupcakes to organic almond milk.

Green Garden Organics Green Garden Organics claims to be the home of the best wheatgrass, sunflower greens, and other herbal delicacies. Green Garden Organics Inc. supplies all of the Whole Foods Markets in Florida with their certified organic wheatgrass. The proprietors of the company, Louis and Kim Duncanson, grow their wheatgrass in an indoor garden near the Miami International Airport. It all began 31 years ago when the couple grew their first tray of grass. The grass was particularly grown outdoors, but due to pollution, acid rain, and lead in the atmosphere their farms are now kept indoors. Located on 2950 NW 72nd Ave, Green Garden Organics proudly produces their organically certified wheatgrass with a smile.

Beehive Natural Foods Beehive Natural Foods is place where vegans, vegetarians and meat lovers alike will be able to come together and enjoy healthy, hearty, and wholesome foods. The picturesque health food store comes equipped with a petit lunch counter in the back that serves organic foods, such as their frequently raved about frozen banana custard. It may be a tad uncomfortable to some, due to its small environment but those who come ready to sit back and relax with a shot of wheatgrass will enjoy their own little taste of health foods heaven. Here you can also find organic remedies for any ailment. Since the 1970’s Beehive Natural Foods has been nestled in a small strip mall on 5750 Bird Road, where they have been living the dream.

Meditating in a world that never stops By Remy Fuentes

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said senior Cameron Dennis, who recently participated in a 200 hour program over the course of six months in order to get yoga certified. The dictionary definition of the word meditate is “to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.” This means that all you need to do is isolate yourself mentally from any physical place and just think. Think about your day; think about a song you like and focus on the emotions it stirs inside of you; or move onto the harder part which is to not think and just let your mind wander to various topics on its own. Meditating can easily be done for 20 minutes a day when you wake up, are about to go to sleep, are bored in class, or are waiting for the trolley. Perks of living in the age of technology: meditation on the go. Personally I prefer the Australian phone application, Headspace, to practice my meditation whenever I feel the need to because it is specifically geared to focus less on the spiritual aspects and more on simply not becoming overwhelmed. It has day by day techniques to follow that take up to 10 minutes to complete and each day teaches users something different. But there are many apps that differ in purpose as well as many different websites or blogs that give advice and have do it yourself tutorials on how to use things like aromatherapy to enhance the process of meditation. There really is no excuse not to meditate, aside from the true reason which would be laziness, because the tools you need to effectively meditate are always at your fingertips.

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It seems everyone is doing yoga these days for the sole purpose of getting or staying fit instead of focusing on using this technique to reach the much needed peace of mind that most stressed high school students should achieve. There are several types of yoga, each unique, that go hand in hand with meditating because the point of the process is to align the body and senses to make you whole. Meditating on a daily basis can not only improve mental health by organizing the mess of tangled information in the brain, but it also improves overall physical health. High school students are always complaining about not getting enough sleep. However, the solution is as simple as meditating before bed to improve the sleep cycle. The answers to our prayers of being happy and stress-free lie in simply finding time to meditate. Somehow, there always seems to be an excuse to not meditate. Whether it is too much homework, daily naps (that harm more than energize), work, or not enough alone time, there is always something to get in the way of sitting down quietly to clear the mind. A couple of minutes are all it takes to meditate and, even more surprising, you do not need to be in a quiet room. Who knew? So no more excuses, because meditating is less of a time commitment than catching up on some Doctor Who episodes. “People think you need to clear your mind. You don’t. You get into a third person point of view and a sort of pureness,” FEATURES EDITOR

highlights

September 2013

>>Why to love

local scholarships By Maya Iskandarini STAFF WRITER

Going to college is never cheap, and the aid of a scholarship hardly goes unappreciated by the average student. Scholarships range from broad to very meticulous in funding, and have different requirements. There is a long list to choose from, but most scholarships can be separated into two main categories: general and local. For the most part, local scholarships are less sought after by high school students than general scholarships. Their obscurity is a major advantage in disguise since there is less competition in these scholarships meaning a higher likelihood of receiving the scholarship. Another reason to choose local scholarships over general ones is that the money is more direct. Most general scholarship sponsors will make a check out to the scholorship-winning students university of choice to be only used for something specific like tuition. However, some local scholarships provide money directly to the students bank account, because they understand that the financial concerns are not limited to actually paying off college. As soon as applications are started, the struggle begins because students must pay certain fees, order transcripts, and send test scores which does not come cheap. Some readily accessible local scholarships can be attained via the Rotary Club, Key Club, and the Dade County Fair and Exposition; others include the Clara B. Knight Scholarship and Coral Gables Community Foundation Scholarships. “Most local scholarships put out their [applications] in [December, January, or February],” said College Assistance Program (CAP) office

advisor Elizabeth Stack. “There are literally thousands and they all apply to different things. Some send the money you get from the scholarship directly to your college to help you with tuition and some give you cash with the requirement that you use the money for educational purposes. They are all different.” Certain scholarships are completely based on luck. In 2001, Office Max offered $20,000 scholarships open to anyone, and the winner was chosen by random drawing. Some universities offer small scholarships to eligible students that plan to attend their school and the winners are selected by lottery. Weekly scholarships are another option for anyone searching for a quickand-easy college money solution. One such scholarship is the Zinch Weekly Three Sentence Essay Scholarship, which requires a registration on the Zinch website and a two to three sentence response to a weekly question, awarding $1,000 in scholarship money to the weekly winner. Choosing is not entirely a game of chance; most scholarships require students to meet certain eligibility standards which can vary widely. As for personal preferences, much of the decision making also comes down to which college you are applying to, where it is located, and a variety of other contributing factors, some of which you may not have yet decided on. Perhaps the university of your choice is not affiliated with any local scholarships and you would be better served with a general scholarship. With such a wide range of options, finding the perfect scholarship is simply a matter of doing your research.

Websites that are a must-know when it comes to scholarships: 1.

Cappex.com

Zinch.com

Questbridge.com

SchoolSoup.com

ScholarshipAmerica.org

Susana Rudin/highlights

Shake-A-Leg By Susana Rudin

Shake-A-Leg Miami (SALM) is a non-profit organization located in a renovated Coast Guard hanger in Coconut Grove. There, children and adults with physical, developmental, and economic challenges can participate in water sports and learn about our very own Biscayne Bay. “I think the camp serves as a great lesson for all kids. From abled to disabled, they can see that life is full of possibilities. True inspiration and satisfaction is gained in my opinion,” said former SALM employee Michael Rodiles. SALM is a great place to bring anyone with disabilities or economic issues for a fun filled day where they can forget about their troubles while participating in environmental lessons, therapeutic sailing, swimming, and kayaking. All SALM volunteers and staff are trained on how to accommodate the various types of participants and summer campers. All watersports mentors are certified lifeguards and many are also CPR certified since safety is the number one priority on the water. Not only can you visit SALM for to have fun, but as a reward for helping out the staff will offer community service hours. The staff is always looking for dedicated high school volunteers. Students can volunteer on weekends or for three week sessions during the summer. In order to sign up and volunteer, you can access the applications online on the SALM website. When the application is complete you can turn it in at the office in Coconut Grove. The unique environment that SALM provides for both volunteers and children with disabilities, categorizes the seaside camp as a center of the Coconut Grove community and provides a truly special experience for all involved. STAFF WRITER

Odd animals, great pets By Sydney Scanlon

You may have heard a “woof” or “meow” in a house but have you ever heard the hissing of a hedgehog? Though it may seem weird, for some students these noises are everyday sounds. Rigby the hedgehog It has been three months since junior Simon Zerdoun has had his African Pygmy hedgehog. Originally the Zerdoun family planned on buying a hamster but thought a hedgehog sounded “cooler.” After weeks of searching, they found a woman selling baby hedgehogs on Craigslist and soon they had a one month old hedgehog named Rigby. Rigby eats treats like worms, cat food, and fruit. No special care is needed for this pet and during the day it in its cage. There was a recent incident where Zerdouns’ sister forgot to keep an eye on Rigby and he escaped and hid in their apartment, and it took hours to recapture him. “If you don’t take extremely good care of your pet, anything can happen,” said Zerdoun. Chicken enthusiast She might not know much about dogs, but junior Abbey Sorenson is an expert on raising chickens. She acquired chicken eggs four months ago from McMurray Hatchery, an egg raising company that will send chicken eggs by mail. She nurtured the eggs and soon she had newly STAFF WRITER

hatched chicks. She needed some money to start off, therefore is excited for the hens to start laying eggs so she can make a profit. The chickens have already become a benefit by providing her with eggs to eat for a healthy breakfast. Sorenson lives in the city and keeps her chickens in the backyard of her Old Spanish house. She is still coming up with names for her 15 chickens. “We did need to get a permit from the city and we weren’t allowed a rooster,” said Sorenson. Really big cat Senior Lou Rottman is the proud owner of a Manx. He had been volunteering at a rescue shelter where nobody was adopting the tailless Manx, so he did. The Manx is larger than a regular cat but he eats cat food and anything else he can get. “We never have any roaches or mice,” said Rottman. The Manx likes to hide in high places where you cannot see him, so owners are in for an exciting home-life. No permit was needed to keep this cat as a pet and apart from a little extra brushing the care is the same as any other cat, except the Manx is known to get along better with dogs than other cats. Next time you are getting a pet, bypass the sea of goldfish and avert your eyes from the guinea pigs. Insteas, think about how great an odd pet would be.

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features

highlights

September 2013

Witchcraft in Gables

Spotlight:

Maria Ovalle/highlights

Patrick Quintana

PUMPED UP: This year’s Cav Man, junior Patrick Quintana, is full of energy and bright ideas that will come to life once he gets on stage or on the field.

By Maria Ovalle STAFF WRITER

The purpose of the Cav Man is to bring school spirit and excitement to school events. This year, junior Patrick Quintana, known as Patrick “El Mystico,” will be representing our school as the new Cav Man. Quintana said that he was in a football team which made him look up to others and realize that he wanted to be the one who an even larger audience looked up to — the whole school. “At first it is [intimidating], but then I get everyone hyped up and give school spirit and it becomes more fun,” said Quintana. Quintana can be spotted at football games, pep rallies, Cav Crash, the Hispanic Heritage show, and other upcoming events. This is when he gets into full costume in front of the school and jolts the audiences with energy and excitement. Senior Gaby Ocner said that the Cav Man is “cool” and “spirited.” “He is loud and energetic like a social butterfly,” said freshman Ashley Peche. Every past Cav Man has had their own unique qualities and characteristics. Quintana said he is going to be different from past Cav Men because he will have different moves and a new costume. His hat is superior and he has the full button down shirt that symbolizes a true Cavalier. Quintana is unique because he is known as “El Mystico” which means “the mystic” in Spanish. This name emerged from a dance group that Quintana was part of in his past years. “We had nicknames and my name was Mystico and so I kept the name after we ended the crew,” said Quintana. Quintana is enthusiastic and ready to get on stage to show us his moves this year. A Cav Man is always prepared with an extraordinary character so every time the Cav Man gets on stage, the crowd cheers and you know it is the legendary “El Mystico.”

By Angelika Menendez STAFF WRITER

When passing by the band room during eighth period or the scorching hot field after school, you might hear an eerie sound. If you listen closely the mysterious sounds become more familiar, suddenly transporting you back to a Halloween where you dressed up as Hermione. That is because this year for competition our band has decided to perform songs from the hit movie and book series Harry Potter. They have been hard at work rehearsing this popular medley from all eight movies since the summer in order to wow their audiences. The score will be performed at half time during the football games and during the month of October the band will be preparing for four marching competitions. The instrumentals of Harry Potter are a unique choice that will make the band stand out due to it being a bold move because for competitions bands usually pick more classical pieces. In these competitions, the band will be judged on color guard, wind, percussion, musical talent, the drum major, and the marching maneuvering. Some awards they have won in the past are best in class for drums and they have received an excellent overall in Florida Band Association. The Band of Distinction is excited to perform the Harry Potter compilation at competitions this year. “I’m always excited [for competition]. It’s an amazing experience that takes focus but it is worth it,” said senior Brayan Arritola. Harry Potter is popular with teenagers and even if you have not seen the movies the music is pleasant and soothing to the ear. The blare of the trumpet mixed in with the gracefulness of the flute and the rhythm of the drums come together to make the Harry Potter songs come to life. Senior drum major Jose Toranzo, is leading the band to success and even if he is not the biggest Harry Potter fan, he knows the music is bound to excite the audience. The band is going perform their Harry Potter variations in front of huge audiences in the bleachers of games and at competitions. Several songs from all the movies will be played, guaranteeing at least one song that everyone will enjoy. Audience members can kick back in their seats and let the nostalgia take over while the band plays and makes it as energetic and amusing as possible. Angelika Menendez/highlights

MUSICAL MAGIC: (Right) Senior Mark Perez, band member and saxophone extraordinair, proudly wears this years themed band shirt proudly. (Left) Band has been rigorously practicing since the summer in order to achieve their goals to impress their audience with the Harry Potter medley.

Advanced Placement super scholars Joey Lancaster/highlights

GIVING UP THE ZZZs: Although they have given up a mass amount of sleep, junior Camilo Bacca and sophomore Erica Alono, still find time to take their mind of schoolwork.

By Joey Lancaster

The school year can be a challenge for a lot of high school students. Some are taking Advanced Placement (AP), Honors or Dual Enrollment classes, and some of them are also in the International Baccalaureate program. All of these programs are optional but in some scenarios, such as being in the IB program, taking AP classes are mandatory in order to recieve the IB diploma. This year happens to be one of the years with the largest amount of students taking five or more AP classes. But taking such intense classes is not just a walk in the park; it requires an extreme amount of focus, dedication, and time management skills, which means that yes, at some point you will not have much of a social life. Kevin Torgas To sophomore Kevin Torgas, students exaggerte when complaining about AP classes. This year he is taking seven AP classes, and feels that since he started taking so many of these subjects the workload is not as dreadful as people make it seem. “It’s all about organizing and prioritizing; that’s what’s important,” said Torgas. “The work load isn’t very much harder, but like I said, it’s all about self -organization.” Like many others overachieving studentes, craving educational vigor is the reason for him to take so many of these advanced classes. STAFF WRITER

Camilo Bacca Sharing Torgas’ thoughts on the workload is junior Camilo Bacca. He is only taking one more AP class than Torgas and still agrees that taking so many of these advanced classes is doable — difficult, but doable as long as you have the ability to deal with a greater work load and know how to manage your time. “The reason I’m taking so many advanced courses is all about college. I want to get into an amazing college, and AP classes help. Plus, if I pass I get the AP credit. I’d rather work harder now with my studies and gain the payoff later,” said Bacca. Bacca does whatever it takes to achieve greatness in his classes, even if it means not getting very much sleep, which apparently he is perfectly fine with. Erica Alonso Sophomore Erica Alonso, who is taking five AP classes, but is taking six AP exams, feels that the massive amount of work and time consumption really takes a toll on the average student. A significant amount of sleep is lost and frustration occasionally comes with it. When asked why she wanted to take so many of these advanced classes, Alonso responded that she, like every other AP student, wants to get into a good college and maybe even study abroad so she feels that she has to make the best impression possible in order to do so.

sports

highlights

September 2013

Nothing gets athletes more pumped than a strong crowd cheering them on. Unfortunately, not all of the school’s sports have such a big audience, and this problem is not helped by the fact that students are charged a fee in order to watch the games. When athletes have a home court advantage, they look forward to the crowd cheering them on, not just from the five parents who got off work early to clap for their little star. The student athletes want to feel that rush caused by their fellow classmates screaming at the top of their lungs, something that is limited at the school because of the price tag of each game. According to Athletic Director Louis Romero, the school charges admission to cover expenses like the officials, rental of the facility, police officer coverage, school security and ticket sellers, adding “the only way we can generate income to cover all these expenses is to sell tickets.” “The harsh reality is that if we don’t get more fans out to watch our student-athletes, the day might come where some

>>Lady Cavs defeat the Rams By Haley Manning STAFF WRITER

Haley Manning/highlights

As the junior varsity (JV) volleyball team played out their few final plays of their game against the Coral Park JV team , the varsity volleyball team was cracking down on preparation for game time against Coral Park. “The team prepares and warms up by doing some cardio, stretching and ball drills before we head into the gym for the game” said sophomore outside hitter Dawson Stiff. In the background you could hear the cheers of the students, and parents yelling, “Let’s go gables,” or “Get it back girls, you got this” as they battled out for points. Cheers were awarded to Lauren Perna as she spiked into a free and clean area winning a point for the team. Libero Sofia Toche did an amazing job digging and setting most of the speeding balls after a serve or spike to help win points for the team. After winning the first set 25 to 18, the team went on to win the last two games and closed out the match 25 to 20. A main highlight was when middle hitter Darlene Fajardo challenged a Coral Park player with the ball, battling it back and forth over the net making each tip a close call, and ultimately landing on the Coral Park side, giving a point to Gables. Another high point was when setter Kamila Garcia set a high ball for Stiff so she could get there in time to attack the ball right on the side line winning a point. Although Gables won the match, the team would have enjoyed their win more if the team had more cheers and school spirit from their fellow classmates.

DIG THE HIT: Libero Sofia Toche, spikes the ball over the net winning a point for the varsity team.

of the non-revenue sports have to be cut in order to sustain the program,” said Romero. Thanks to the school’s diverse options in sports, there is almost always a game going on. Some of these are home games, meaning that students have easy access to them. The school should attract the student body to games by offering a free game for every five games the students attend. Record of the student’s attendance can be kept by giving them a ticket when paying, that way the student brings the five tickets to the next game, the ticket seller keeps these five and gives the student a different colored ticket for the free entrance. Another option would be that the student shows their Identification Card, and the ticket seller can have a log with the amount of games each student has attended. Most pupils only have a limited amount of money and would prefer to spend it elsewhere. Things like school trips, food, and magazine sales become priorities. Also, if students do decide to stay for a game, it usually results in them missing their regular ride home, and forces them to have to pay for public transportation once the game is over. All these numbers quickly add up in a teenaged students' mind, and avoiding having to spend money on a game will seem like a great way of saving a their money.

September

“

It’s a good way to raise money for the school, and you get to have fun watching the game.

“

-Alexandra Andrade, freshman

I think it should be cheaper, like a dollar or two, not five.

-Maria Quiroz, sophomore

Limiting pregame meals Commentary by Javier Fernandez

Pregame meals are funded through the football team,” said center football player senior Richard Novo. Questions that arise about how these meals have been The recent advent of pregame meals for funded touch on all aspects from candy sales to ticket football players has sparked a discussion prices to car wash fundraisings, but as Novo explained, each about whether other athletes may get of our school’s sports teams independently fund their own pregame meals themselves. amenities, and football chose to use its revenue on pregame While some meals. I didn’t even know they may be quick to The team’s funding has a limit, had pregame meals, but I question why their respective team does however, and other athletes outside of the guess the meals could help not receive such benefits, the school’s football team have opinions ranging from athletes have energy before decision to provide meals for the football unhappiness with not receiving pre-game competition. team before their games can still be meals to confusion about what they even seen as a new stride in efforts to help are. Hannah Cordes, our student athletes. For the time being, “I didn’t even know they had freshman giving out Gatorades, salad, and pasta pregame meals, but I guess the meals as fuel for the upcoming games should could help athletes have energy before stand as a great idea, and despite the fact that the school has competition,” said freshman varsity swimmer Hannah Cordes yet to reach out to other fall sports teams (such as swimming, when asked her opinion on the pregame meals. cross country, and girls’ volleyball), the football players seem to Clearly, these meals have a long way to go before reaching appreciate the latest efforts that similarly reflect their hopes at a all athletes, from football studs to badminton elites, but should promising season. each of the school’s teams make the attempts necessary to “Pregame is essential for the team to have energy to play provide themselves with the benefits they deserve, then the the game. We even have a parent that donates a night before lovely feasts our football team has enjoyed so far will serve as the game to help fund the meal, which is also really important. the just the first batch of a whole lot more food to come. STAFF WRITER

‘‘

Treating and preventing injuries By Maria Ovalle STAFF WRITER

With the amount of sports that our school provides, a large portion of our student-athletes are at risk of injury. According to athletic trainer Patrick Miller, the most common injuries include ankle sprain and muscle strain. An athlete can be injured in many ways, but there are certain measures that can be taken to prevent these injuries in the future. A common injury, especially for runners and swimmers, is of the knee. Knee injuries occur from overworking the knee constantly. Pain in this area may be a sign that it is time to replace old worn out shoes for new, fitted, and comfortable ones. The best way to heal knee aches is to continue to work it out at a slow pace until the pain is gone, while making sure to not overdo the stretching. Sports that have a lot of jumping, running, and quick movements such as soccer, basketball, badminton, and volleyball, usually involve the risk of an athlete spraining his or her ankle. When an athlete sprains an ankle, it usually means that he or she has torn a ligament or tendon. When treating a sprained ankle, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E)

MARK THE DATE Varsity

How do students feel about paying to watch their school’s sports games?

Angelika Menendez/highlights

SPORTS EDITOR

“

Commentary by Francis Pérez

>>Speak up!

“

Paying for game admissions

are the best ways to get better. Rest is needed to prevent further injury; ice diminishes inflammation and pain; compression in the ankle helps lower the swelling; and elevating the injured area drains waste fluid from the ankle to decrease the growth of injury. In addition to R.I.C.E, stretching regularly and practicing the quick movements while positioning the foot properly helps prevent ankle injuries. “The newest research development shows that it’s bad to do long stretches before games or activity,” said Miller. Students should warm-up their muscles by doing extensive stretches on their own time, not just right before an activity. Long stretches before an activity increases the chance of an injury. By the time all your muscles are stretched, further motion causes the muscle to eventually overstretch leading to pain and damage. It is necessary to know your limits in order to avoid wearing out the muscles in the body. Students often get hurt but do not realize or pay much attention to the injury. It is critical to take care of any pain or wound before it becomes a serious issue. Become familiarized with your body and get in touch with a trainer. The athletic trainer is always on the clock and he will find time to help anyone with an injury.

to support our athletic teams and cheer them on!

Girls Varsity/Junior Varsity

Varsity

26 26 27 30 Football vs. Coral Reef

Thurs. at 7:00 p.m. at FIU South Campus

Volleyball

vs. Coral Park Thurs. at 3:30 p.m. at Coral Park Senior High

Volleyball

Bowling

Fri. at 3:30 p.m. at Miami Senior High

Mon. at 3:00 p.m. at Bird Bowl Bowling Center

vs. Miami High

vs. Coral Reef

sports

highlights September 2013

Is football worth the risk?

Commentary by Cyrus Zeledon harder and experience less pain from the collision. And yet we COPY EDITOR

Source: http://teamchirodm.com/football-injuries/

Football reminds me of war. It has a ground attack, a blitz, battle lines, and of course its occasional injuries. Amidst all the training, effort and injuries that football players must undergo, it is definitely not worth the grind. Before every school year, there is the back to school rhythm of reading, writing, studying and of course football. As a sport, it has been ingrained into every school’s culture and has had dominance over all other athletic programs. Its appeal is brought on by the violence that makes it so enticing and seductive to the audience. However, it seems that America and even school systems have forgotten the consequences of America’s beloved sport. On average, there are 500,000 injuries that occur each year in games and in training which include, but are not limited to, concussions, shoulder injuries, knee injuries, and ankle-related injuries. These injuries are increasing due to recent advances in helmet technology which means that players can hit each other

watch our beloved gladiators get damaged permanently as they battle on field to defend the team’s honor and dignity. To the amusement of its audience, football is extremely physical and violent. The brutality of football threatens its place as a sport because no sport, no matter how bonding and special it may be, that involves such violence is worth the risk. Even if injury was not an issue, there is not a guarantee that our beloved gladiators will become exceptional professional football players. One percent of high school football players become professional athletes in the National Football League. One percent. That is not to say that there are some exceptional players that do go on to the collegiate level and play exceptionally well, but for the most part only a few of the best will actually make it to the top. “If you do not have a true passion for the game, [football] may not be worth it. But if you do, then you should do what you love even through all the adversity and follow your heart,” said junior quarterback Eldrick Clapp. Like war, the injuries and hardships are prevalent, but for the one percent it may be easy to overlook the tribulations of football. As for the remaining 99 percent, that may not be so.

Balancing academics and athletics By Rachel Ellis

have to make up the work later. All these factors make any student athlete’s schedule quite hectic. According to Head Football Coach Roger Pollard, school is Managing extracurricular activities and schoolwork is a the student’s number one priority, and football comes second. struggle for students who participate in a sport and a rigorous “Working hard in the classroom is a direct correlation with curriculum. Knowing how to maintain good grades and being football. If the players are not performing well in the classroom, a dedicated athlete is a major concern for both students and they are given the chance to ‘get better,’ which involves coaches. running, rolling and crabwalks until the “I practice five to six days a week for grades improve,” said Pollard. I practice five to six days a two hours. School work usually takes me Football players spend an average week for two hours. School an hour or two each night and in order of about 12 hours a week practicing and work usually takes me an to maintain good grades, I unfortunately preparing for the upcoming games. hour or two each night and need to sacrifice some of my sleeping “During the season, it’s just school, in order to maintain good time,” said girls forward varsity soccer football and sleep. I don’t have time to grades, I unfortunately need player junior Nelly Sagarra. do much else, like watching television,” to sacrifice some of my The Cavalier creed demonstrates a said varsity football player junior sleeping time. constant emphasis on academic success. Donovan Brown. In order for a student to be eligible to The fact of the matter is that there Nelly Sagarra, participate in a school sport, he or she are only 24 hours in a day. The stress that junior must maintain a 2.00 unweighted Grade comes along with keeping up with school Point Average (GPA). The student work, maintaining good grades, and must also demonstrate and promote the sports can be extremely overwhelming. Organizing yourself, development of accountability and responsibility in and out of prioritizing your activities, and allowing time to rest after the the classroom. long week are just a few steps to take to either maintain or gain Each school sport season typically spans over a three-month that “scholar athlete status.” In most cases, sports do not get period. Practices are normally held after school on a daily basis, students into college, but academics do. If a student’s grades are and games take place at least once a week, some being away not up to par, their collegiate dream just may be far away from games which cause students to leave their last period early and becoming true. STAFF WRITER

‘‘

Olivia Field/highlights CLASSROOM TO FIELD: Donovan Brown concentrates in class but then puts the books away for football practice.

Running for the gold CAVALIER By Rachel Ellis

Rachel Ellis/highlights

STAFF WRITER

TRAINING FOR THE BEST : Elortegui returns from a long run in preparation for the upcoming cross country meet.

While most high school athletes are striving to win the district championship, sophomore and cross country team captain Alexander Elortegui, has a bigger goal in mind; the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Elortegui started running three years ago and has not stopped since. He introduced himself to the sport, mainly because he was insecure as a child and people teased him about his weight. On average, he runs at least five or six miles every day and sometimes even twice a day in order to reach his potential as an athlete. “As far as my short term goals go, I would like to get as close as possible to the school cross country record (16:34 for a 5k) and running well below a 4:40 in the mile this track season. As far as my long term goals go, I would love to compete in the next Olympics taking place in Rio on the Norwegian Olympic team,” said Elortegui. Elortegui even has his own fan club building up. “I told him that I’m going to be front row at the Olympics screaming his name,” said girls varsity cross country runner Elizabeth Wurmser. Elortegui said that his favorite part about running is seeing improvements and breaking new personal barriers, which ultimately compels him to become a better athlete. “In reality anything can happen. That’s the good thing about running. You get what you put into the sport,” said Elortegui. This cross country season, he plans on working hard alongside the rest of the varsity cross country team. After the season, he continues to practice on his own with a personal trainer. “We’ve had two meets so far. The first meet was not good because I had really low sugars and I was dehydrated; I do feel much better about the last one though. Hopefully our hard work will pay off with a good finish at regionals,” said Elortegui.

STAT BOX

Varsity Football AUG 30 SEP 7

Cavaliers

@ South Ridge

vs South 10- 0 W

Ridge

vs Cavaliers Krop @ N Miami Beach Stadium 40 - 0 W

Girls Volleyball AUG 27

Cavaliers

vs 0-3 L

Reagan

Lourdes

vs 3-0 L

Cavaliers

Coral Park

vs 0-3 W

Cavaliers

vs 0-3L

Braddock

SEP 10

South West

vs 3-0 L

Cavaliers

SEP 12

Cavaliers

AUG 29 SEPT 3 SEPT 6

@ Reagan @ CGHS @ CGHS

@ Braddock @ CGHS

@ South Miami 0-3 L

South Miami

the scene

highlights September 2013

Haley Manning/highlights

tourist hotspots of the city that become Miami tourist traps: the brimming with sightseers during vacation time

MASSES TO MIAMI: Miami Seaquarium, Bayside, and Viscaya are all locations around Miami that attract the average tourist, offering spectacular aquatic shows, seaside shopping, and a glimse into the past for those who have never experienced the city. For residents, a tour around these locations can become a simple at-home vacation.

By Haley Manning STAFF WRITER

Miami is home to some, but it is a tourist location to many, crowded with travelers from all over the world wanting a glimpse of what the Magic City has to offer. For local residents, the flock of tourists can turn annoying fast, but rather than avoiding the crowd, join them at some of Miami’s most famous attractions, including Miami Seaquarium, Bayside, and Vizcaya.

Miami Seaquarium Miami Seaquarium is where all the action and entertainment lies. The Seaquarium hosts a wide variety of elaborate shows, all displaying Floridian aquatic wildlife. “One of my favorite shows at Miami Seaquarium would have to be the killer whale and dolphins show. The most exciting part is when the whale throws its body into the water, splashing the onlookers in the first three rows, ” said sophomore Monica Guerrero. The Seaquarium holds both native Floridian animals and non-native animals, such as dolphins, alligators, and a variety of birds. One of the most popular attractions at the Seaquarium is the Dolphin Encounter, where guests can swim and play with the dolphins. Fees for the dolphin encounter range from $45 to $139, hardly deter tourists from this oncein-a-lifetime experience.

Bayside Shopping is number one on a vacationer’s to-do list when they visit a new city, which means Bayside is the place to be. It’s an outdoor mall full of dining spots, live entertainment, and many shops to pick from located right by the water. The killer view is a perfect spot for a photo opportunity, which brings in all the tourists. “I went to Bayside last year for Light the Night with the National Honor Society. There were fireworks over the water and it looked incredible. The night was something to remember,” said junior Priscilla Llanos. Bayside offers a variety of boat tours including sightseeing, speedboats, and party boats. Island Queen cruises take you down to see Fisher Island, Miami Beach, Millionaire’s Row, and Brikell’s towering skycrapers. A one hour and thirty minute tour is about $27.

Panhandle pedaling

Vizcaya Vizcaya is a historic site, full of meticulously landscaped gardens, a main house full of beautiful artifacts, and a view that overlooks the tranquil Biscayne Bay water. The landscaped gardens show off the subtropical plants and European landscape designs. Vizcaya offers guided tours around the house and gardens taking you back in time to the 1900s. The museum includes 34 decorated rooms full of lavishing historic art and furnishings from Europe. Though this is a tourist trap, it’s not as congested as the other options, due to the sprawling landscape and space it offers. Vizcaya hosts many tours such as guided tours, or audio tours where you can walk around the estate at your own pace and learn information from a listening device. The audio option is good for travelers around the world since it’s offered in 5 different languages for only $5.

Colombian Cuisine By Susana Rudin

BIKING THE MILE: A Coral Gables family enjoys the sunny weather and sites of the city as they join a mass of bikers to ride on the street of Miracle Mile at last year’s Bike Day.

By Araceli Sanchez STAFF WRITER

Over the last few years, Miami has experienced an outburst of bike related events, including Critical Mass Miami and other community rides Gables Bike Day is yet another of these biking events to make an impression on the local community. It has attracted an increasing number of participants each year, most recently drawing more than 3,000 people in 2012. The event, presented by Downtown Coral Gables and Miracle Mile, aims to celebrate healthy lifestyles by using green means of transportation. Gables Bike day also serves as a wayto get local Coral Gables residents out from behind closed doors to enjoy the beauty and warm weather of South Florida, and educates people on how to be safe bikers. The event begins with a kick-off ride in the morning at the stage in Miracle Mile. In order to keep the event familyfriendly and provide the best experience, the city will divert traffic and clear the

restless roads of Miracle Mile and divert traffic congestion. Starting at noon, the event will also feature hourly bike tours for the small fee of $10, which are led by a skilled Gables Bike Day team member. Later in the afternoon, the festival will feature a DJ and a live performance by Nil Lara, a local Cuban-American singer, which may be enjoyed along with a huge variety of food from local participating restaurants. For the younger audience, the event will also feature bounce houses and arts and crafts activities. Although the name may be deceiving, the festival supports all forms of clean transportation including walking, skating, skate-boarding, running, and of course, cycling. Coral Gables will be hosting the third annual Gables Bike Day on Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The city welcomes residents and non-residents with an ensemble of food, music and safe cycling, walking, and skating through the beautiful streets of Miracle Mile.

Courtesy of La Moon

Courtesy of Carlos A. Fernandez

STAFF WRITER

SUPERPERRO: A traditional Colombian hotdog loaded with everything from exotic sauces to a quail egg, the superperro is La Moon’s most popular hotdog.

Nestled on a busy corner in downtown, La Moon is an authentic Colombian restaurant perfect for any time of day. They offer all three meals and are open till 6 a.m., so their menu can cater to all your culinary needs. La Moon specializes in Colombian hotdogs, their most popular being the Superperro, a massive creation filled with bacon, string potatoes, and even a quail egg. The consumer can customize “los perros” to their satisfaction with options ranging from steak to chicken. La Moon has received optimistic feedback. Between Urbanspoon and Yelp, “La Moon” has received over 700 positive reviews, making it obvious that customers are responding to their delicious food and friendly service. La Moon is located at 97 SW 8th street, Miami, 33130, only 11 minutes from the school. Not only is it delicious but the food is also very modestly priced. The entire menu ranges from five to fifteen dollars making it the opportune location for a quick bite of authentic cuisine. La Moon is different than your average American hot dog shack. It offers the traditional hot dog with a Latin twist. Rather than common toppings like ketchup and mustard, La Moon encourages you to indulge your taste buds with more exotic options.

the scene

highlights September 2013

Recovering retro:

Miami’s blast from the past

w o n d n a en h t : s k o o Comic b

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Olivia Field /highlights

Arcade Odyssey provides a variety of games, considering that its inventory adds up to over 100 titles. The Manager’s favorite is Mushihimesama Futari Black Label, which is a limited edition character-driven Xbox game (only 150 were ever made) in the “shoot ‘em up” style. Along with the Japanese games, they have a lot of vintage games such as Pac Man and Donkey Kong which can be found in the Multicade console. They also offer a wide variety of Japanese drinks and snacks so after a riveting game of Simpsons Pinball Party or a crazy adventure on Twister Roller Coaster Ride, a player can pick up some Pocky and Ramune soda. The Arcade is slowly approaching its two year anniversary in December. From pixilated games to futuristic Xbox programs, Arcade Odyssey has it all. s

The sounds of punches being thrown, rockets flying through the air, and pin balls striking a wall fill Arcade Odyssey. The ultraviolet lights illuminate the rows of arcade games that fill up the space. Located d in Kendall, this strip mall location is the perfect place to Fiel a i immerse yourself into a game or just buy some tokens and v i l R E O hang out with friends. By FF WRIT STA Unlike most arcades, the Odyssey is a private collection. Owner Rick Medina spent years accumulating his collection of games and eventually opened the arcade to share it with the public. The arcade holds elite tournaments and themed events for the more hardcore gamers and allows customers to rent out its swanky Xbox 360 center for one hour or up to whole day.

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stacked towers of comics, but with over 300,000 to choose from, and very limited space, this is the place for variety seekers who don’t suffer from claustrophobia. A&M is opened Monday and Thursday through Saturday from 12 to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Mac’s Comics For a more organized, less cluttered place to buy your comic books, Mac’s Comics is your choice. Specializing in newer comics, the store also sells an adequate selection of back issues, graphic novels, and vintage collectibles. Since it

opened in 2006, Mac’s has provided patrons with great promotions and has stayed in tune with the 21st century. Paying homage to Free Comic Book Day on the first Saturday of May, every first weekend Mac’s gives away a free comic from the discount bin. The store is closed Monday and Tuesday, opened from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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With many superhero movies in the making, comic book stores selling new and vintage comics have experienced an explosion of sales. Comic book junkies are on a quest to find a new series to obsess over, and are seeking the best place to find them. A & M Comics Known for the bright paintings of well known superheroes on the building facade, A&M Comics is one of the best comic book vendors in Miami and one of the oldest in the country. Since 1974, A & M has been selling vintage comics, but also deals newer comics and memorabilia. “The shop was opened by Arnold and Maxine…They had a store in New York ..., a basement style store in one of the boroughs of [New York], which is why the store resembles a [New York] basement store,” said store owner Jorge Perez. You may be overwhelmed by the

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FF W aceli RIT ER

Ara

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Bianca Mangravite /highlights

Mini golf with a museum twist A visit to the Coral Gables Museum these days might not turn out the way you would expect. Historical exhibits? Check. Muted lighting, polished hallways? Sure, that’s to be expected, but distant shrieks of laughter suggest something else is going on. A short stroll down another hallway reveals an unexpected destination: an indoor miniature golf course. The nine-hole putting emporium, a special program that runs through Sept. 30, features background displays about Florida culture and history and was designed and built by some of the leading architects, landscape artists, and contractors in the Miami area. One hole, which highlights the Biltmore Hotel, was created by Tracy Kerdyk, a professional golfer who played in the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) tour. “We took the idea from a similar program at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C.,” said special projects and volunteer coordinator Ellen Dyer. “The exhibit was scheduled in the summertime, when it’s buggy and hot and sweaty, to attract people looking for indoor activities.” The exhibit has been a popular attraction.

By Bianca Mangravite STAFF WRITER

“[The exhibit] has brought in all sorts of people who didn’t even know the Museum was here [such as] visitors from out of town staying in nearby hotels,” said Dyer. highlights readers might be particularly interested in another aspect of this golf extravaganza: community service hours. “Students supervise the course, pass out putters, balls and score cards, sell drinks and snacks, tee shirts and caps. It gives them experience working with the public, in sales, and facility supervision,” said Ellen Dyer. The course is located in the Museum’s Robert and Marian Fewell Gallery. Admission is $3. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sundays and is closed on Mondays, and can be found at 285 Aragon Avenue in Coral Gables, adjacent to the Books & Books bookstore. But hurry Cavaliers, this opportunity ends Sept. 30 (at least until next summer). Interested? Call Ellen Dyer at 305 603-8067 or email her at Ellen@ CoralGablesMuseum.org.