C
O
R
A
L
G
A
B
L
E
S
S
E
N
I
O
R
H
I
G
H
highlights 4 5 0 B i r d R o a d , C o r a l G a b l e s , F L 3 314 6
Issue 4,
D e c e m b e r 2 013 , V o l . 5 4
One man dance crew wins Mr. CG
By Maggie Rivers & Nicolas Rivero MANAGING EDITOR & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Even though Slosbergas seemed to exude confidence throughout the competition – especially in the swimsuit contest where he relied on few props to compliment his good looks – Mr. Gablettes admitted the process was nerve-wracking and hard work. Although he was representing the school’s dance team, Marmesh said that Slosbergas had to be “coerced into getting really into [his dance].” What really won over the audience’s heart was Slosbergas’s affectionate side, which he revealed when asked which woman he admired the most other than his mother. Slosbergas chose his grandmother, who was in that crowed that night. Upon receiving her shout out, Slosbergas’s grandmother jumped and screamed in the aisles with glee. Slosbergas said she worked hard to make sure that his mother and family were provided for and was always there for him when he needed her. While he said the win felt amazing, what Slosbergas really appreciated was the friendships he got to take away from the whole experience of Mr. Coral Gables. “You know how close I am with all these kids here,” said Slosbergas after the show. “These are all my good friends right now.” “Slosbi is a really funny guy. He’s a good friend of mine and he deserves [the win],” said Matthew Llanes, Mr. Track and Field.
feature
Just before the curtains opened, Mr. Coral Gables presenter Holden Payne announced that the next contestant would be performing a dance routine with the Gablettes. Payne stepped off the stage, the curtains were tugged aside, and the spotlight shined on Jacob Slosbergas, Mr. Gablettes, attached to an elaborate system of wooden poles, PVC pipe, balloons, duct tape and plaid skirts: his dance crew. During a surprisingly enthusiastic dance routine to music Slosbergas cut with his brother, his every move was mimicked by four puppet Gablettes held together by a contraption he built with his family over Hanukkah and Thanksgiving break. Slosbergas’s originality was rewarded by laughter, applause, and a high score from the judges. “When I would peek through the curtains to look at the judges’ reactions, I knew it. They loved it. I don’t know where he got it from, but his was the most original,” said Activities Director Anna Suarez. Ever modest, Slosbergas gave full credit for the idea to Mr. Coral Gables Coordinator and Gablettes Dance Coach Mo Marmesh. Slosbergas only claims responsibility for “bringing the idea to life.” Slosbergas went through a series of designs for the puppets’ heads, starting with printouts of the senior Gablettes’ faces that “looked like shrunken heads” and were too creepy to use, and finally settling on the balloons with hand drawn faces on the morning of the competition. “[When he was rehearsing his talent] it looked like […] a crow type of thing, you know, something you put outside your house to scare people away. At first it was scary, I can tell you, but now it’s funny,” said Chris Muñiz, Mr. Cheerleading. As a Gablette Sweetheart, Slosbergas saw the opportunity to be a part of Mr. Coral Gables by representing the school’s dance team. It had been his dream since freshman year to compete in the pageant.
Maggie Rivers/highlights
Healthy competition at sixth Mr. Coral Gables STAFF WRITER
GABLES FINEST: (Top) Teague Scanlon revives brother Cole Scanlon in the opening dance. (Bottom) Mr. Congeniality winner Jorge Suarez improvises on his saxophone.
news
PG. 3 Past athletic director Harold A. Cole honored with field dedication
PG. 10 Long-running teachers reflect on their time at the school
features
Maggie Rivers/highlights
news
Tuesday marked the sixth annual Mr. Coral Gables pageant. Jacob Slosbergas, Mr. Gablettes, was crowned the winner. Cole Scanlon, Mr. SOS, was first runner-up and Joseph Lopez, Mr. JROTC, was second runner-up. Mr. Congeniality, who is chosen by the contestants themselves, was Jorge Suarez, Mr. TV Production. Before the night’s event, contestants were scored on personal interviews and a video they created showcasing their talent. The night then opened with a doctorthemed dance performed by all of the contestants, followed by a performance by the Gablettes & Co. The ensuing Swimsuit Competition awarded points based on crowd reaction as each contestant stepped into the spotlight. Judges Bertha Lowell, Class of 1993, Gaby Vasquez, Class of 2006, Kevin Fletcher, Class of 2009, and Ramses Ghanem and Reece Hoffman, Class of 2011, tallied up the interview, video, and crowd reaction points to announce the Top 10. The Top 10 performed their talents in alphabetical order based on the name of their organization. Some of the more noteworthy talents included Mr. Football, Gregory “Buddy” Howell’s mash-up dance, Mr. IBHS, Julian Falconi’s guitar
solo and vocal duet to “No Woman, No Cry,” Mr. Swimming, Javier Fernandez’s “History of Rap” with co-Master of Ceremonies Karina Williams, and champion Slosbergas’s dance with four life-sized Gablette-look-alike dolls. The Top 10 was cut to a Top 5: Slosbergas, Falconi, Lopez, Scanlon, and Fernandez. The final point-scoring opportunity was the question/answer segment. Each of the five finalists was asked what woman, besides their mother, they admired the most and why. Slosbergas, Falconi, and Lopez unknowingly, yet unanimously, said their grandmothers, while Scanlon spoke of his sister and Fernandez of a friend. Videos of contestant interviews and bloopers were shown before the winners were finally announced. Despite the competitive nature of the pageant, the contestants said that the atmosphere surrounding Mr. Coral Gables was one of support, camaraderie, and even brotherhood. “The entire time we’re fighting with one another but it’s like a big old family. No one cares who wins. At the end of the day we’re just happy we’re all together doing it together,” said Chris Muñiz, Mr. Cheerleading. “Mr. Coral Gables was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and I think that anyone who has the shot to do it should take it,” said Alex Maza, Mr. Drama.
PG. 13 Tennis and water polo teams train for the spring season
sports
By Jordan Payne
news
highlights December 2013
2
Costa wins $10,000 Leonard Miller Award By Jordan Payne
Principal Adolfo Costa received the Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award at the University of Miami’s Newman Alumni Center on Nov. 14. Costa was selected from all of the principals in Florida and received a $10,000 check as the winner. When Costa arrived at the school five years ago, the school had a “C” rating, but since then it has been a “B” rated school for one year and an “A” rated school for two years. The International Business and Finance Academy, as well as the Student Credit Union, were established under Costa’s leadership. Additionally, International Baccalaureate graduation rates have risen from 55 percent to 77 percent, and the school became the largest Dual Enrollment school in the county. Leonard Miller was the Chairman of the South Florida Annenberg Challenge (SFAC) from 1977 until his death in 2002. The SFAC was a matching challenge grant that was set in place to encourage collaboration between Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Broward Counties towards one goal: school improvement. Miller was also the founder of the SFAC’s successor, the Council for Educational Change (CEC). “It’s an honor to be chosen to be a recipient of the Leonard Miller Award because Leonard Miller himself was a visionary, and to be placed in that category is very humbling,” said Costa. To apply for the Leonard Miller Award, principals must lead a school that was in one of the CEC Programs. The school is in both the Partnership to Advance School Success (PASS) program and the Executive PASS program. These programs are partnerships between schools and private organizations. For example, the school was once partnered with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bank of Atlantic; within this partnership, Costa learned leadership skills. After applying, there was an interview process and then finalists were narrowed down to one winner. While Costa was the recipient of the $10,000 reward, each of the finalists was awarded $5,000. STAFF WRITER
Courtesy of CavsConnect BIG BUCKS: Principal Adolfo Costa accepts a $10,000 check from Sal Paniagua, Development Manager of the Council for Educational Change, for winning the Leonard Miller Principal Leadership Award on Nov. 14 at the University of Miami’s Newman Alumni Center.
Passing over U.S. 1 AP moves forward By Mia Tolpin STAFF WRITER
On July 2, 2013, Coral Gables commissioners unanimously voted to allow the transfer of control of Mariposa Court to MiamiDade County. After years of lobbying, a pedestrian bridge over
U.S.1 was approved. The bridge will be 17 feet above ground, stretching from the Metrorail University Station onto a recently redesigned Mariposa Court, which intersects U.S. 1. Since 1989, eleven University of Miami students have been hit by cars and three have been killed attempting to cross U.S. 1. The bridge will be named for the three students who died: Eric Adams, Aaron Baber, and Ashley Kelley. Plans to begin constructing the overpass began shortly after Kelley’s death in 2005. The Florida Department of Transportation and the federal government will provide most of the approximately $6 million in funding. “Last year I had to cross U.S. 1 daily to get to my house and I was almost hit multiple times. Safety-wise the overpass will be good because it will prevent the dangers of crossing the street and it is a less stressful way for students to cross,” said sophomore Alejandro Rovira. The county hopes the new bridge will be ready by the spring of 2015.
HIT
11U.M.
$6 MILLION
•
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Source: The Miami Herald
Academy Night
Maggie Rivers/highlights
3 STUDENTS KILLED
STUDENTS
By Ali Band
an independent, mentored project concluding in a 4,500-5,000 word academic paper in which students design, plan and analyze information. The third element of the program To better equip high school students is the student’s AP course selection. with the knowledge and skills that are A growing number of high schools increasingly valued by colleges, the Advanced are offering both AP and International Placement (AP) and Cambridge International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, which may cause Examinations programs developed the AP course selection confusion. In the last few Cambridge Capstone Program and Credential. years AP has been Designed moving toward a in response to The kid in AP Capstone is not curriculum similar feedback from going to have the well-roundedness to IB’s. Up to higher education that an IB student has. now, the biggest organizations, the difference between new program aims Diana Van Wyk, IB and AP has to help students IB Coordinator been IB’s emphasis develop critical on writing, thinking, research particularly and problem-solving skills. It combines the the 4,000-word extended essay. However, in-depth subject matter studied in AP courses the College Board says that AP Capstone’s with the many-sided global curriculum of culmination in a major academic paper enables research projects and presentations offered students to develop the same “practical skills by Cambridge International Examinations. in research methodology and the skills to According to College Board, the new program manage a sustained piece of academic work.” includes three elements. The first element The AP Capstone Program aims to develop is the AP Cambridge Interdisciplinary students’ academic and intellectual skills Investigations and Critical Reasoning through similar tactics as the IB curriculum, Seminar, taken in 11th grade, which focuses though proponents of the IB Program question on developing inquiry skills through writing, AP Capstone’s effectiveness compared to IB. researching and team projects by exploring “The kid in AP Capstone is not going to specific topics of global relevance. The second have the well-roundedness that an IB student element is the AP Cambridge Capstone Research Project, taken in 12th grade, which is has,” said IB Coordinator Diana Van Wyk. STAFF WRITER
‘‘
Avery Budin/highlights Avery Budin/highlights
Avery Budin/highlights
Avery Budin/highlights
SHOW AND TELL: (Top Left) At Academy Night on Dec. 10, seniors Codee Vogler and Darling Ladronegevar display their fashion designs to prospective freshmen. (Bottom Left) Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps members prepare for a demonstration of their fitness routine. (Middle) Catharsis members seniors Paulina Picciano and Stephanie Elmir and junior Aliyah Symes present their creative writing awards and past literary magazines. (Right) Seniors Kevin Willis and Geovany Varela in the Culinary Arts Program cook samples of kitchen delicacies.
highlights December 2013
3
School field dedicated to former Cav Maya Iskandarani/highlights EARNED, NOT GIVEN: (Left) JROTC members present the colors and pay tribute to Harold Cole’s years of service to the school. (Middle) The sign honoring Cole was unveiled at the dedication ceremony behind the New Building. (Right) Cole expressed his gratitude in a speech at the end of the ceremony.
By Maya Iskandarani STAFF WRITER
The school’s previously unnamed rear athletic fields were dedicated to Harold A. Cole in a formal ceremony on Nov. 7. At the ceremony, Cole also received the District 9 Medal of Distinction for his commitment to supporting student athletes and scholars throughout his career. The master of ceremony at the dedication was G. Holmes Braddock, the man for which G. Holmes Braddock Senior High School is named. Other guests included school staff, family members and friends of Cole who have held various positions in athletic departments around the county. Cole worked for the school for nearly 40 years before his retirement as a coach, teacher, and eventually as the athletic director. Even after retiring, he has made efforts to support and fundraise for the school. Once a student of the school
himself, Cole returned as a football coach after coaching football at the Coral Gables Youth Center alongside Tito Gomez, former baseball star at the University of Miami and a longtime friend of Cole’s. “Harold has dedicated his life to [Coral Gables Senior High],” said Gomez, “and is one of the smartest, kindest, wittiest, most compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure to meet.” According to Gomez, Frank Gore might not have made it to the University of Miami and later the National Football League without Cole’s coaching while Gore was in high school. Initially returning only to coach football, Cole later became a business teacher at the school and eventually its athletic director, a position he held for about 20 years before retiring and entrusting the role to current Athletic Director Louis Romero.
Cole has been acknowledged by many as a compassionate, gifted teacher and a father figure for students both on the field and in the classroom. He remained loyal to the school throughout his career, never leaving to teach or coach anywhere else. He received the honor after a lifetime of efforts on behalf of generations of student athletes, without seeking or receiving recognition. “I’ve never looked back since I decided 40 years ago that I was not going to be a tax accountant,” said Cole. “Probably the hardest thing was walking away from it all. I’m so fortunate and blessed by this honor, but more so by those people who have surrounded me for so long.” Among the speakers at the dedication ceremony was Cheryl Golden, the instructional supervisor of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) and a close friend of Cole’s, who described him as an integral part of Miami-Dade County Public Schools athletics.
IB juniors inducted at pinning ceremony By Susana Rudin STAFF WRITER
On the night of Nov. 13, members of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Class of 2015 gathered with friends and family in the auditorium to celebrate their official induction into the IB diploma program. Twin seniors Leidy and Linda Villa served as masters of ceremony. The festivities began with a musical performance by the Divaaz, who sang the national anthem. The band followed with its own performance. After that, 12 of the school’s IB seniors each welcomed the juniors with an introduction in different languages ranging from Tagalog to Czech. Principal Adolfo Costa was the first speaker. He spoke about the IB program and the adversities that the juniors will face during their time in it. “The IB organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create
a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect,” said Linda Villa. After Costa spoke, the Villa twins brought keynote speaker David Landsberg to the podium. Landsberg is a Gables alumnus who attended the University of Florida and now works as the president and publisher of Miami Herald Media Company. During his time at the school, Landsberg was actively involved in Key Club. The final speaker at the ceremony was IB Coordinator Diana Van Wyk. She spoke about the prestige and hard work that comes with being an IB student. After Van Wyk’s speech, the ushers escorted the juniors onto the stage where they received their IB pins and white roses. All the juniors then gathered on the stage for a group photo. Courtesy of Gabriela Diaz The ceremony ended with refreshments and appetizers in the new cafeteria, provided by Chef Mercy Vera and the PINNED: The International Baccalaureate juniors wave their white school’s culinary arts program. roses in the air at the pinning ceremony in the auditorium.
upcoming events SECOND GRAD BASH PAYMENT
BLOOD DRIVE, RIVIERA LOT
Stephen P.A. Stephan D. D. Field, Field, P.A.
29 30
305-798-1335
steve@field-law.com
13 21
JANUARY
102 East 49th Street, Hialeah, FL 33013
RING CEREMONY, 6:30 P.M.
SENIOR COFFEE HOUSE, 4 P.M.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Senior Danae Diaz was awarded the Posse Scholarship and will be attending Franklin and Marshall College in the Fall of 2014. The Business, Management and Information Technology Academy won $25,000 in the State Farm Celebrate My Drive contest.
www.gablestutoring.com 1886 S Red Road Miami, FL 33155
(786) 972-1602
Math Economics SAT Prep www.JamesEducation.com
Ted Sanchez 2515 S.W. 27th Ave. Miami, FL 33133 (305) 859-7979 www.silverbluffanimalclinic.com
news
highlights December 2013
JROTC drills it home
4
By Haley Manning
Thirty cadets on the school’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Raiders team competed in physical fitness events and won first place overall at Southwest High School on Nov. 16. JROTC offers military training and leadership skills to high school students, and competes each month at several schools around the district. At the school, there are two teams that compete: the Raiders, who work out, climb ropes and focus on fitness, and the drill team, which marches and performs stimulated military drills. “At the Raiders meet, I personally felt that I could’ve done better, though the team as a whole did an amazing job and I hope we can have the same attitude for the next coming meets,” said sophomore Frank Lopez. The competition included strategy tests, a 3.1-mile run, rope bridges, and an event that required participants to pull heavy-duty army trucks. “We’ll do well,” said sophomore Luis Loli about the drill team’s upcoming meets, “because we’ve been focused during practice and we just need to avoid playing and joking around. We’re determined for states, but first we need to get past districts.” About 60 cadets from both the drill team and raiders attended the Junior Orange Bowl Parade on Dec. 1 in downtown Coral Gables. “Despite the Nov. 23 Drill Meet being canceled, the Junior Orange Bowl parade was a great test for the cadets. The pressure was on them since it was televised and over 1,000 people watched. They’re up to any challenge though,” said Senior Army Instructor Major Vidal Chavez. JROTC members also frequently present the colors at many school and community events. At the Coral Gables congressional district breakfast, Jeanette Fernandez, Desiree Estrella, Nicole Calvo, and Natalie Nardo were given the honor. Many local businesses and community leaders attended the breakfast at the Biltmore Hotel. STAFF WRITER
Courtesy of Mitchell Zachs ATTEN-HUT: At the Junior Orange Bowl Parade in downtown Coral Gables on Dec. 1, sophomore Felix Maffia, junior Antonio Ortiz, senior Engles Silfa, junior Hustin Schuyler and senior Franklin Loisayna present the colors.
Gorgie takes leave Ransom renovates By Susana Rudin
Social studies teacher Elizabeth Gorgie, previously known as Elizabeth Lackner, began her maternity leave early last month and is STAFF WRITER not expected to return to work until the next school year. Last year, Gorgie taught International Relations and Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography. Knowing that she would be leaving during the 2013-2014 school year, her teaching schedule was changed so that students would not be at a disadvantage when she left. Her AP Human Geography classes were taken over by Social Studies Department Head Stephanie Cosgrove, and social studies teacher Sandy Leal now teaches her International Relations classes. In the months that Gorgie was at school, she team-taught a government and economics class with Oscar De Armas (an alumnus of the school) so that her absence would not interrupt her students’ learning. The administration said it is confident that the classroom changes will go over smoothly. “De Armas is a very capable teacher thus enabling the students to access the information necessary to be successful,” said Principal Adolfo Costa.
By Susana Rudin
Ransom Everglades, a private school located in Coconut Grove, is renovating the school’s track. Construction to renovate the track and install drainage for the field began on Dec. 10 and is expected to be finished by the end of January, in time for the 2014 track and field season. The school and Ransom have an athletic agreement: the school’s water polo and swim team practice at Ransom’s pool, while the Ransom track team uses the school’s track. Ransom is paying to resurface the track, which is currently made of asphalt and in deteriorating condition, with a rubberized surface. The asphalt track is harmful to runners’ legs, and is also different from the rubber tracks on which most meets are held, putting the school’s track team at a disadvantage. “I think the new track will prevent injuries and help us [the track team] prepare for meets at [rubber] tracks,” said sophomore Kady Boylan. As a private school, Ransom was permitted to fund the renovations of a public school facility because Ransom is resurfacing the track at its own expense and in turn will be granted access to the track for its team to hold practice and other events for a minimum of 10 years. Ransom’s track team will be practicing in tandem with the school’s track team. STAFF WRITER
opinion
highlights December 2013
5
Community service hours fail to measure or encourage volunteer work effectively
A community service hour is a funny thing. In practice, it rarely equals 60 minutes of volunteer work. Rather, it can usually be traded for a few minutes of actual work, a fraction of a donated can of food, or, more simply, a forged signature on a log sheet. The system we currently use to measure service not only fails to encourage kids to get involved in their communities, it is unfair to those who actually do commit large amounts of their time volunteering. A Broken System Currently, a community service hour is treated as a form of currency used to pay students for charitable donations of their time or money. It is common practice for sponsors to award students more service hours than the amount of time they have actually spent working, or to “just sign off” on an excessive number of hours for students loyal to an organization. This can inflate an hour of actual work into five “community service hours.” That same “hour” might be the rough equivalent of a dollar bill when exchanging donated goods for community service. Clearly, the term “community service hour” is misleading. For some, it might mean spending an hour engaging in meaningful volunteer work; for others, it might mean asking their parents to pick up a can of lima beans at the grocery store. There is no way of differentiating between the two when both get boiled down to a simple number of abstract “hours.” Because the only proof of service required is a signed log sheet and one reflection for one activity (which inexplicably
highlights ADVISORY BOARD:
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MANAGING EDITOR
BUSINESS MANAGER
ADVISER
Nicolas Rivero
Orso Raymo
COPY EDITOR
Maggie Rivers
Melissa Nieves Gonzalez
Cyrus Zeledon
SECTION EDITORS: NEWS
OPINION
THE SCENE
SPORTS
FEATURES
INSIGHT
Brooke Donner Laura Acosta
Yaremy Fuentes
Stephan Chamberlin
Francis Perez
Raquel Braun
Staff Members: Ali Band, Eleonor Bauwens, Avery Budin, 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: Cavaleon, CavsConnect, Gabriela Diaz, Michelle Vidal, Mitchell Zachs, Ana Zuniga highlights is the official student-produced newspaper at Coral Gables Senior High School published and produced by highlights staff members. highlights has been established as a designated public forum for student journalists to educate and inform their readers of issues of concern to their audience. dissemination of news and ideas to the entire school community. As the producer of a scholastic publication, highlights subscribes to the responsibilities set forth in the National Scholastic Press Association Code of Ethics for scholastic journalists and advisers. According to Miami-Dade County Public School policy, student media is not subject to priorreview by administration or district personnel and as such, all content is determined by, and reflects the views of student staff members only. highlights welcomes reader feedback. All letters should be addressed to melissanieves@dadeschools.net
Press Affiliations: Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, NSPA Hall of Fame, Florida Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll
73
NSA’s lack of transparency alienates American public Commentary by Stephan Chamberlin OPINION EDITOR
The National Security Agency (NSA) doesn’t have the best of reputations with the American public. In the news and on blogs, people constantly criticize, berate, and attack the government arm that is providing us with security, regardless of any attempt by the NSA to redeem itself via 60 Minutes, or other news outlet; these efforts are too little, too late. The fact remains, the NSA hasn’t done a good enough job of differentiating between the surveillance they are actually conducting, and the surveillance the tinfoil-hat-wearing public claims it is conducting. Furthermore, the fault doesn’t fall solely on the conspiracy theorists who exaggerate the power and reach of the Agency, because much of it stems from blatant lies coming directly from the NSA, namely claiming to not have spied on the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. It seems logical that an organization aiming to protect people might want to have their support. But according to The Washington Post, 39 percent of Americans believe that the surveillance done by the government includes listening in on their phone calls, even though the NSA doesn’t do that. The poll also concluded that the majority of respondents didn’t feel that the NSA’s work was necessary to catch terrorists and keep them
safe. Essentially this all comes down to a simple fact. If the NSA legitimately wants the support of the American public and media, they should do a better job of clarifying what they do, who they spy on, and what information they collect. The people of the internet and mass media have popularized and spread exaggerations which the NSA has failed to deny outright. Now, the Agency faces a dilemma. The Agency’s director, General Keith B. Alexander commented, “the way we’ve explained it to the American people has gotten them so riled up that nobody told them the facts of the program and the controls that go around it.” On the other hand, he added that disclosing what exactly the NSA is doing to keep us safe has allowed terrorists to circumvent the system and avoid detection. The lesson that the NSA needs to take away from this is that public disclosure of surveillance operations should take precedence over keeping it a secret to catch threats. Because the NSA can do a better job if voters know it’s keeping them safe, they need to improve on public relations, and make a real effort to disclose their power and reach. The last thing the United States needs is a discredited spy agency with no public support collecting the records of our emails and phone calls.
The NSA has spied on... 300 mil. Americans
44.8 mil.
British Verizon Wireless users
2
popes
Source: Panorama and Der Spiegel
Editorial
Maggie Rivers/highlights
STAFF
covers every other service project you will ever do), the scholarship agencies along with students’ grades. Listing potential for fraudulent hour totals runs high. While we would service hours on transcripts only justifies the mentality that like to believe our students are of a higher moral caliber, with students have to rack up as many hours as possible to impress no more work than a few forged signatures and a bogus essay, rather than to serve. they could have an impressive hour total. …And an Expensive Solution This system does nothing to encourage students to Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) has its actively engage in their communities. The only recognition heart in the right place. It requires that students complete a it is capable of doling out, the “hour,” is awarded equally service project, not a minimum number of service hours, to to those who give an hour of their time, a graduate. The trouble is, as usual, that the county lacks the few minutes, a few dollars, or a phony funding to properly enforce this principle. signature. Ideally, MDCPS would have a system like The Spirit of Service the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program’s Some would argue that there ManageBac, which tracks students’ Community, percent of students is nothing wrong with exchanging Action, and Service (CAS) hours online with the believe their hours hours for goods, because in the supervision of a counselor assigned to a relatively don’t reflect the amount end, the charity benefits from the small number of students. This means that in order of volunteer work donations. However, we cannot to graduate, IB students need to come up with an they’ve done forget the reason why we want high individual service project (the CAS project) and school students doing community service. they need to follow through with it, document it, and It is not because they have a lot of money to spare. If we reflect on it. Proof of service can be uploaded by students and wanted a good source for donations, we would shake down reviewed by counselors with relative ease, so students can adults with jobs. be sure that someone will actually be checking up on them. We ask students to serve (and keep meticulous records of Every IB students does some kind of service project before “how much” service they have done) because we believe that graduating, not because IB students are morally superior to they benefit from the experience. Engaging in a meaningful the rest of the student body, but because it would take about service project helps teens learn and grow, and that is part as much work to fake their way through their service as it of the education we want them to have before they graduate. would to actually do it. Offering service hours as a reward for students who bring in Compare this to the system the rest of our school is on. household items is not in keeping with the reason why we The entire student body turns in physical copies of their want kids volunteering in the first place. project proposal forms to one overworked counselor. Of An Easy Fix… course there isn’t the same level of oversight. Of course not The best way to encourage student service as an end in all students take their community service seriously; no one and of itself is to shift the focus away from the problematic is going to call them on it. Unfortunately, this archaic system service hour. A simple way to do this is to stop listing will never be replaced by a functional system like ManageBac community service hours on high school transcripts. They unless MDCPS pays for all students to have access to the are not a graduation requirement and they do not accurately same resources as IB students. But in a city where voters gauge students’ involvement in their communities. There is value property tax cuts over education spending, it is doubtful no reason, then, why the county should keep track of them that the situation will ever improve. or why it should pass this information along to colleges or
highlights December 2013
6
Commentary by Orso Raymo BUSINESS MANAGER
Number of user accounts on the Silk Road
80
Million dollars made in revenue by the site from sales commissions
35
Number of days between shutdown of original Silk Road and launch of version 2.0
Maggie Rivers/highlights
In early October, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested 29 year old Ross Ulbricht at a public library. The computer programmer denied both being super lame for getting caught in the least criminally oriented place possible and charges of being the mastermind to the world’s first and largest virtual drug market, the Silk Road (SR). Nonetheless the federal government’s efforts to halt the world of hidden sites, known colloquially as the darkweb, are too little and too late. The sites are here to stay. In principle the SR allowed users to bypass the hassle of having to deal with violent multinational drug cartels, and had an overall higher quality of product by offering a peer reviewed feedback system on all orders. When the SR came out of the cyber-womb in February 2011, relying solely on word of mouth, it grew to encompass a few thousand listings and about a million users at its peak. While the majority of orders were just high quality and relatively inexpensive cannabis, the SR was also home to a nexus of psychoactive substances, ranging from indigenous Amazonian Psychedelics to the latest research chemical being pumped out of Chinese labs and shipped overseas.
While the arrest and site seizure may seem like a nice big middle finger from the man to just about everyone involved, in reality, the FBI has blown the lid right off of Pandora’s Box. Aside from the fact that the site’s entire development and administration team still remains at large, with the way the SR worked, the feds have no leads as to who, or where, all the vendors and users are or what dump with a mailbox they can be found at, so the vast amount of the SR community remains unscathed. All sensitive information, as per the rules, was encrypted and shared between buyers and sellers only. Really it took the FBI two years to accomplish, in the grand scheme of things, next to nothing. With the Silk Road 2.0, now promoting contingency features like the ability to withdraw funds even once the site is seized, the new site claims it can be back online in the matter of 15 minutes if another eventual sting operation takes place. A slew of other “hidden markets,” as they are coming to be known, are surfacing, such as Black Market Reloaded, Sheep Market and The Onion Router TOR market which are currently operational in a similar fashion to the road, with a few others being set to open shop in the coming months. These signs of flourishing black market vitality lead this writer to believe that the age of cyber drugs is here to stay, and that this is likely the last big shove needed for the war on drugs to fall flat on its face.
Source: The Washington Post
Silk Road recovery seals the by the numbers 957,079 fate of the war on drugs
What Herff Jones really says to students Commentary by Nicolas Rivero elegance of a piece of jewelry designed by a 16-year-old. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Hey kids! It’s your friendly local Herff Jones representative, here to sell you high school memories at a reasonable-ish price. Remember: Buying Herff Jones products is a high school tradition and all your friends are doing it. You wouldn’t want to miss out,
would you? I didn’t think so. Alright, first things first: class rings. Look around. Do you notice how all the adults you see are wearing their high school class rings? Just imagine how silly you’ll look a few years down the road if you’re not wearing this loud band of metal, decorated to the teeth with school logos, and inlaid with your birthstone, all with the tasteful
You can get your ring in some kind of yellow metal for a few hundred dollars of your parents’ money, or you can buy real gold for the cost of one arm and one leg from the parent of your choice But wait, there’s oh so much more! Your high school experience wouldn’t be complete without a few dozen senior pictures. Think of it this way. Which would your mom cherish more, a picture she took of you, or a picture she paid us to take of you? I think you know the answer. After paying us to take your photo, there is, of course, another fee to actually print the photo, and (it goes without saying) you do have to pay a minor $14 charge for shipping and handling. Picture frame not included. Hold on, where are you going in such a hurry? You can hardly graduate without sending all your closest and furthest
Student engagement needs a fast rebound Commentary by Danny Delgado STAFF WRITER
Not every student will love solving polynomial functions, and not every student will find enough inspiration to write a five-page essay. However, fewer will find the material impossible to understand if instead of boring them with rules and restrictions, teachers allowed students more freedom and created an environment where students felt comfortable. This can only be achieved by letting go of old teaching practices, specifically those that impede creativity and turn students away from learning. Constant check-ups by district supervisors force teachers to abide by certain requirements and don’t allow them to teach in their own way. The reason for these check-ups is an attempt to raise the standard of education in certain schools that have been falling behind. However, this is not the most effective way to do so. Attracting well-qualified teachers in the first place is the most effective way to raise education standards and quality. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) the United States ranks 26th in math, 21st in science, and 17th in reading. These scores have been decreasing steadily, which means we are failing by our own strictly test-based standards, not to mention any actual assessments that measure our students’ intuition. Encouraging thought provoking conversations in the classroom should be able to attract the interest of students. Since multiple-choice tests, overwhelming amounts of assessments, and rigid classroom enviroments don’t seem to be able to attract student engagement, then maybe allowing students to be more creative will. A shift of focus from the mechanical to the more abstract might be just what is needed. A study done by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development focused on the question of which activities students consider engaging. Engaging work, respondents said, was work that stimulated their curiosity, permitted them to express their creativity, and fostered positive relationships with others. When asked which ones they considered “bad” students cited work that was repetitive, that required little or no thought, and that was forced on them by others. Education cannot be taken lightly. It is key to the success of this country, which makes the lack of student engagement in school even more alarming. With the increasing number of high school dropouts and the decreasing quality of test scores that are being measured by our own standards, something has to be done. It starts with the students attitude toward education. Ultimately, changing the way we teach is the only way that we can revive student interest in school.
family friends graduation announcements! I want you guys to know that these, like all other Herff Jones products, are in no way mandatory, but you just have to ask yourself if you’re willing to throw away a vital piece of the high school experience, because you and your parents are going to have to live with that for the rest of your lives. In years past, students at your school bought an average of 17 graduation announcements. Here’s the best part, kids. You know what happens when you send someone a graduation announcement? They send you back cold hard cash. If you take anything from this meeting, besides a free “Class of Swag” t-shirt, let it be this: the more of these you buy, the more money you and (especially) Herff Jones will make. Let’s wring your parents, friends and family out for all they’ve got.
Spirit shirts under arbitrary restrictions Commentary by Nicolas Rivero EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
If there’s one thing everybody at the school can agree on, it’s that spirit shirts are a wonderful thing. They promote school spirit, encourage extracurricular involvement, and allow clubs to show their personalities. However, the content of the shirts and the days students are allowed to wear them are being restricted by school administration, seemingly arbitrarily. Principal Adolfo Costa’s immediate response, when asked why students can only wear spirit shirts on Fridays, was “You’re lucky you have them only on Friday.” “We have a dress code and we also have a uniform code so I chose 5 years ago when I first got here to bring in the spirit shirts once a week to show spirit,” said Costa. Although Costa alluded to the dress code as a possible reason to restrict spirit shirts to Fridays, he went on to say that the decision was a “judgment call,” which makes more sense. If the dress code forbade spirit shirts, then we shouldn’t be able to wear them on Fridays, either, and clearly that is not the case. Costa confirmed that spirit shirts every day of the week are simply not part of his vision for the school. While Costa certainly has every right to make that judgment call, I don’t see the logic behind it. If spirit shirts are acceptable on Fridays, then what is it about a Tuesday that makes it a bad time for students to showcase their involvement in the school? This demonstration of spirit is exactly the type of thing we should be encouraging, not restricting, and this is a policy that can be changed for the better tomorrow. Plus, I have spoken to a number of students who are upset because their proposed club shirt designs have been rejected as “inappropriate.” While the dress code forbids anything explicitly inappropriate, in cases of innuendo, it is up to Costa to judge “how harsh the innuendo is.” To give one example of “harsh” innuendo, the Class of 2014 was not allowed to put “Kiss our class goodbye” across the back of its shirts. On the other hand, the Class of 2015’s slogan, “We make your class clap,” is an example of acceptable innuendo. As a senior, I have a vested interest here, so I’ll let the reader decide if allowing one and not the other is arbitrary or not. While I can understand Costa not wanting his school’s name to appear underneath a line of sexual innuendo, I don’t think this is something that should tarnish our school’s reputation. It would only show that our students are teenagers who snicker at lowbrow humor, just like students at every other high school in the county. If spirit shirts are not disruptive, but they still violate the dress code, then the dress code is too strict and ought to be changed. If a bad joke on a spirit shirt is enough to make someone think less of the school, then maybe that thin skinned person should take a look at our outstanding success in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities and worry less about the clothes we wear.
insight
highlights
December 2013
free to be
Times are changing. As societal attitudes evolve, students are increasingly accepting of peers of all orientations. highlights takes a look what this means for life on campus as well as the social and legal environment that students will step into upon graduation.
7
insight
highlights December 2013
8
DEFINING LINES
The school is home to students spanning the spectrum of sexual orientations. As the United States begins to take steps towards legal equality for citizens of all orientations, highlights examines the evolution in societal attitudes that has led to these changes and the atmosphere of acceptance on campus. 1% identify most as transexual 3% identify most as bisexual identify most as pansexual identify most as homosexual
3% identify most as transgender 4% 4%
identify most as asexual
5%
are unsure or experimenting
7%
96%
of st
uden
ts kn
ow s
omeo
at is n
ot he
tero
sexu
al
of students identify most as heterosexuals
Ou
to
f3 20
st
ud
en
ts
su
rv e
ye
d/
no tt
os
ca l
e
73%
n e th
compiled by Raquel braun
21% of females
8% of males
have had one or more same sex experience without identifying as homosexuals
t come o a lot o we’re still g with our f it too w judgem
A political push for equality By Javier Fernandez STAFF WRITER
Homosexuality has long been a flashpoint of social, religious, and political debate. A prominent aspect of homosexuality in American society is the extent to which governmental policies have influenced gay citizens’ abilities to legally enjoy the same rights that the rest of society does. While American society continues to accept homosexuality more over time and promises mutual respect in the near future, only lately the American government has also begun to head in this direction. The social controversy over gay rights had continuously slowed political strides for homosexuals’ equality in the past. Still, the federal and state policies on gay rights have yet to reach full equality. The lack of laws to protect homosexuals even influences the educational sphere. According to DoSomething.org, approximately 75 percent of students in the country have no legal state protection from harassment that is based on sexual orientation. Recently, governmental policies have changed to match prevailing social attitudes that are increasingly accepting, from the Supreme Court decision overturning state sodomy laws in 2003, to the repealing of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the military in 2011. “The government has definitely improved its policies on gay rights.
Compared to the past, we’re doing a lot better,” said freshman Kyle Knight. However, a number of states have kept their restrictions intact, such as not allowing homosexuals to adopt. Further, the inability to marry has a profound impacts that reach beyond the church. Without marriage rights, gay citizens cannot gain citizenship through marriage as heterosexual couples can. According to procon.org, other crucial privileges of marriage lost in through marriage bans include hospital visitation rights during a spouse’s illness, inheritance rights, and financial protection in the event of a divorce. The site goes on to recognize that “gay marriage is protected by the Constitution’s commitments to liberty and equality,” adding that, as recent as 2010, federal judges have acknowledged policies such as California’s Prop. 8 (the state’s amendment that banned same-sex marriage) as unconstitutional in nature. The federal government exhibits clear signs of heading towards marriage equality, yet still respects states’ rights to render final decisions. Marriage rights, for example, remain in state control, but the removal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) earlier in the year
proves that the federal government will not stand in t DOMA did not legally recognize a gay marriage if th a state where gay marriage was illegal, and its retract country’s movement towards social equality. “The removal of DOMA is a great step that this c provide equality for everyone. It’s important to under affects the community that the laws are talking about anyone. While I think there is much more to do, it’s g legitimate attempts to fix the existing problem,” said Alliance member Kamila Garcia. While the country is a long way from breaking d for homosexual equality, 16 states have already legal gay marriage. Hate crimes and protests may take long good, but the overall political position on homosexua transformed. As more of the country recognizes the h with the incapability to marry, the potential to becom nation as a whole will grow. The decision to take this ultimately lies in the hands of those who represent ou day out.
insight
highlights December 2013
9
STUDENTS 'OUT' AND ABOUT GABLES By Avery Budin STAFF WRITER
‘‘
“
[Homosexuality] doesn’t make me uncomfortable but I was raised in a religion where I don’t believe in that.
“
“
Everyone has a right to be happy. It’s not easy to out, especially in our age because of us care what people think and getting used to being comfortable friends. I dont think people take well here; a lot of people are mental in this school.
Maybel Cerrato, freshman
The tendency of students to experiment with their sexual preferences while in high school is even more common. It has become somewhat a social norm for girls to “try out” what it’s like to “bat for the other team” without being labeled as lesbians. For guys though, any testing of waters with the same sex can immediately lead to permanent labeling. The revival of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) club in school has further encouraged support for the LGBT community, thanks to GSA sponsor Tracey Barrow and the drama department. Unfortunately, homosexuals are often subjected to bullying, violence, and even brutality in society. Though less prevalent in school, (as observed by the student body and security) administrators and teachers are therefore forced to address extreme cases with severe punishment. “Students should feel comfortable going to their teachers about anything, advice or consolation about sexuality and sexual orientation included,” said biology teacher Eric Molina. Within school, students often find support from their teachers, making school life far more tolerable. The school appears free of major gay/straight controversy but little is known about what really goes down outside of the school fences. “I’ve gotten extremely close with several of my teachers. They’ve become motherly/fatherly figures to me. I honestly feel like they listen to any of my problems and have been great at giving advice about how to handle problems I experience as a gay person,” said senior Robert Seitter.
“
I feel the same as I would if you asked me about straight people. It’s a lame thing to be targeted for your sexuality. There are tons of other things going on in the world.
“
Relationships, hook-ups, first loves, even short flings all strange concept once they get older,” said sophomore Samir revolve around teenage sexuality, especially when defining Iskandarani. what one’s sexuality actually is. There is no machine that Facing the opposition of religious conservatives arguing makes someone straight or gay, or a pre-natal class that the sinfulness of homosexuality or the political dispute for teaches how to make straight or gay babies; and contrary to gay rights, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) popular belief it is not a “life style choice.” School, no doubt, community has formed into a union fighting for civil rights. is the quintessential setting to view the interaction among “I’ve noticed that it’s just as easy to find a gay couple as students of all orientations. By the time you reach high school, it is a straight couple, and honestly it’s fine. Who are we to a coming-of-age and sexual maturity, the separation between judge someone else’s sexual orientation?” said junior Simon homosexual and heterosexual labels Zerdoun. becomes more obviously defined. As people get older they I’ve noticed that it’s just as Though considered the minority, a have more opportunities to easy to find a gay couple number of students identify themselves grow accustomed to new ideas, as it is a straight couple, as gay or lesbian, either openly or homosexuality included. and honestly it’s fine. Who privately. Various ethnicities, genders, But with acceptance comes are we to judge someone’s races, religions, and sexual preferences conditions. Teen males usually show sexual orientation? define the cultural blend that is the city outright support and even hopeful Simon Zerdoun, of Miami, the school itself is just a desires to encounter lesbian couples, microcosm of it. But like the racial and while interaction with gay male junior religious controversy that has plagued couples is almost looked down upon. history, sexual orientation has become The female perspective, on the other the new hot topic. hand leaves interest in establishing close friendships with gay Gay teens are exposed to a combination of attitudes males, and indifference towards lesbian encounters. These about their sexuality, ranging from outright disapproval to stereotypes may have the teenage population confused as communal support. That being said, it is hard not to encounter to how to interact with fellow students that happen to have a conservative political or religious group that spreads different sexual preferences and/or orientations. disparaging opinions about homosexuality. “While the school is generally very accepting, it’s “Being exposed to homosexuality early in life definitely definitely more socially accepted for females to be helps individuals adapt to the idea that homosexuality isn’t a homosexuals,” said senior Edward Biscayart.
Susan Covert, junior
“
Wasim Khalid, senior
Bianca Man gra v
igh ite/highl
ts
s
ighlig
angravite/highlight Bianca M
down all barriers lly recognized ger to subside for ality has clearly hardships that come me an accepting s turn, though, ur nation day in and
te / h angravi Bianca M
country is taking to rstand that it only t and will not harm great to see some senior Gay Straight
hts
the way of equality. he couple moved to tion reflected the
features
highlights
December 2013
10
Live long and happy Beloved teachers By Maria Ovalle & Ali Band STAFF WRITERS
They come in early and stay late; they coach sports, moderate activities and grade papers over the weekend but still find time to prepare. Great teachers are a dynamic presence in schools and they are never far from their students, as demonstrated by a number of teachers who have contributed to this school for several years. through the red front gates of our school as a Spanish teacher. While speaking to Garcia she focused on how much students have changed. She said that being a teacher for such a long time has made her go through many cultural changes such as technology being introduced in the classroom. She feels that the students are not as centered around school as they used to be but that they have become attached with the social media. Despite the students’ urge to glance at their phones constantly, she has become more comfortable and united with her students in the past years. The fact is, both teachers and students change throughout the years in school. When asked what the best part of teaching throughout her career was Garcia said, “The love of my students. To know that I had contributed with a little grain in their education, this is very satisfactory to me.” Accidental teacher English teacher Kathi Eastham has been teaching here for close to 40 years, even though this was not her initial career plan. “I always knew I wanted to work with kids, but if you had told me in high school that I would be an English teacher one day, I would have laughed at you,” said Eastham. The main reasons she loves her career choice are the opportunity to meet new faces every year and staying in the loop thanks to her students. “It keeps me much younger than some of my peers because I need to keep up with what teens are talking about,” said Eastham. “Having the summer to unwind isn’t a bad thing either! I also cannot imagine what life is like without a school schedule. I’ve been a student and/ or teacher since I was two and a half years old. Is there another life?”
Known as the pure chakra of concioussnes; it is symbolized by a thousand petaled lotus flower.
AJNA This chakra helps one to trust their inner guidance.
This chakra helps master communication.
ANAHATA
Represents trust, forgiveness, unconditional love and issues of the soul.
MANIPURA
MULADHARA
This chakra is related to our instinct and basic human potential.
ts ligh high tes/ y Fu en Rem
This chakra deals with relationships and basic emotional needs.
In a slim building right next to Gilbert’s bakery nestled on busy Coral Way, there is a quiet haven of relaxation and peace called Seven Chakras. This quaint shop sells meditation STAFF WRITER and cleansing crystals, one of a kind jewelry, tapestries and special herbs. Chakra balancing, tarot readings and hypnosis are also among the events that are offered here. But the owners do not just want to be known for selling unique things; they want to bring people together. That is why they offer free Kabbalah bracelets accompanied by a short prayer, free Epsom salts and free meditation classes on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. In order to have a complete understanding of this shop I decided to participate in the free meditation. As I pushed on the glass entrance door, a bell chimed welcoming me into an instantly calming environment. The meditation class consisted of a small group of about 10 people. We all grabbed intricate pillows and took a seat on the floor waiting anxiously for the arrival of the mediation leader, Reverend Modesto Garcia. A couple of minutes later Garcia took a seat and told us to get comfortable and do what felt right. We all closed our eyes and slipped into a meditation induced trance directed by Garcia’s voice. In my experience I got up, exited the room and walked down a snow covered path with the other meditators. As we strolled through a meadow I lost sight of everyone else and crossed a sturdy bridge made of thousands of tiny twigs to a street lined with houses. The last house on the right was mine. I could not see anyone inside the other houses but I felt all of them. Entering my house my eyes were directed towards a painting on the wall. Captured in a candid, everyone that was meditating with me was lingering around. I soon turned back the way I came and slowly returned to earth with my fellow mediators. It was close to 45 minutes before Garcia pulled me out of my trance. We sat in a circle and discussed our individual experiences. Garcia interpreted my trip as using my friends and family for strength. “I had such a different experience from the people around me […] I had never worked so hard to focus in my life. It was really cool,” said freshman Samantha Riesco. As it came to an end Garcia’s only request was that we give everyone a hug.
By Sydney Scanlon
VISHUDDHA
SVADHISHTHANA
ENCOURAGE, INSPIRE, TEACH: Teachers Daniel Blackmon (top, Esther Garcia (middle) and Kathi Eastham (bottom) come to school everyday to instruct their classes in hopes of making an impact.
Seven Chakras offers free meditation
SAHASRARA
Defines our selfesteem and ego to help us grow.
Maria Ovalle & Ali Band/highlights
Old school Some teachers become so attached to the school, students and educational environment that they find it very hard to imagine leaving the habitat they have learned to get used to. The International Baccalaureate (IB), History and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) teacher Daniel Blackmon has been working at the school since 1977 and will retire in 2016. Blackmon is the kind of teacher that will protects his classroom like a dragon guards its lair and can be seen marching around campus sporting his iconic Ray-Bans. To give a sense of his longevity, current teachers Kelli Fraga, Maureen Marmesh, and Oscar De Armas once sat in Blackmon’s classroom as students. He has a passion for teaching and has watched his students make their way to schools like Harvard and Yale countless times which makes him proud to say that “it has been a privilege to be teaching in such a great school.” He said that throughout his thirty-six years of teaching, he has been able to notice the gradual changes in his students. “In recent years, students have had weaker study and writing skills because of the growth in social media. In research, my instinct is to get my hands on a book, while my daughter’s instinct is to go on the Internet,” said Blackmon. Blackmon also acknowledges changes in himself over his teaching career. He believes that he has become more patient than he once was. Blackmon said he hopes to continue teaching at the school as long as possible and once he retires in 2016, he will continue teaching anyway. “I will find some way to teach because it is who I am,” said Blackmon. Garcia says “Adios” It has been 20 years since Esther Garcia first stepped
highlights
December 2013
As many chefs can tell you, food is not just food. It is an art, an industry, and a passion. highlights (being the foodies that we are) recently spoke with three chefs-to-be about this fascinating field.
Hype Man
By Bianca Margravite
Bianca Margravite/highlights
STAFF WRITER
FUTURE OF OUR FOOD: Juniors Antionette Avila and Elizabeth Urbina and senior Juan Mejia hope to become the next culinary masters.
With a cherry on top Junior Antoinette Avila has been wowed by the culinary arts since she was a little girl. That’s no surprise since her father is a chef who works in an environment that is constantly in motion. Growing up, her father let her help him in the kitchen and gave her a sense of the culinary world which Avila learned to love. She plans on pursuing her dream of becoming a pastry chef and opening her own bakery. She recently won the state’s competition for food decorative art for carving a watermelon into an Eiffel Tower. What’s her secret for culinary success? “Organization skills, definitely, or else everything will be a hot mess,” said Avila. Recipe for greatness Ever since joining the Gables culinary program last year, junior Elizabeth Urbina has fallen in love with it. Out of all the culinary techniques she has been taught, she takes an unusual interest in the art of
cutting. To her a dish is not complete until the perfect cut, mince or carving has been made in order to achieve perfect presentation. She plans on getting certified in cooking and aims to get into her dream school, Johnson and Wales. From there she hopes to open her own restaurant. “I like being able to smell the food, taste it, hear it,” said Urbina. “It’s the only class that I can use all of my senses in.” Boy meets grill After discovering his passion for cooking in middle school, senior Juan Mejia decided to come to the school specifically for our Culinary Arts program. He recently got accepted into Johnson and Wales and plans to attend in fall of 2014 to become a chef and study restaurant management. Afterward, he wants to move to New York City, work as a chef and ultimately move up to own his own restaurant, preferably centered around classical French cooking. Mejia’s philosophy boils down to a basic truth: “I love how food, in general, makes people happy,” said Mejia.
Angelika Menendez/highlights
Itchin’ for the kitchen
11
HYPING UP THE STORM: Hype Man, senior Andy Garcia, jumps to the music at the storm pep rally, pumping up the crowd after a win against Columbus.
By Camila Lupi STAFF WRITER
Whether it is because of his unique glow-in-the-dark dance at the Breast Cancer Awareness pep-rally in October, or the flashy red glasses at the Columbus football game pep-rally, school hype man Andy Garcia surprises the crowd each time and is not one to forget. Garcia got the idea of becoming the school’s new hype man earlier this year after successfully hyping up the crowd at one of the football games. After asking Activities Director Ana Suarez if the spot was available, she referred him to Dance Coach Mo Marmesh who gave him the official title of “Hype Man.” The Breast Cancer Awareness pep rally, where he was first introduced as the hype man, was by far Garcia’s favorite. He got the chance to make a mix tape with songs of his choice and perform a choreographed and freestyle dance that you may remember as the glow-in-the-dark performance. “I am a dancer and I specialize in popping in animation which is a style of dance that in simple terms looks like you’re a robot,” said Garcia. Although his main responsibility is to attend all the pep rallies and excite the crowd, Garcia does attend some of the football games. According to Garcia, there are not many obligations tied to the job, making it a fun and lively way of spreading school spirit.
features
highlights
December 2013
Toddlers and teachers: teaching in and out of school
12
Spotlight:
Elizabeth Stack
By Olivia Field STAFF WRITER
Claudia Christensen Everyone who knows English teacher Claudia Christensen knows that she is caring as both a teacher and mother. To always have her kids close to her heart she wears a thin necklace everyday which holds two charms engraved with her children’s names. Putting her sweetness aside, Christensen knows when to take responsibility and leadership seriously when she is doing her job. “I feel like I tell people to sit down, pay attention, and follow directions about a thousand times a day,” said Christensen. The only difference is that Christensen does it at work and at her home because she is the mother of two children. One is a free-spirited Little Cavalier named Kristen and the other is a 5- year-old named Adrian. “I was telling my kids that I didn’t want them to grow up so quickly, because they wouldn’t want to hang out with mom anymore,” said Christensen. Adrian quickly disagreed, he said he would always come to visit. Kristen, on the other hand, immediately exclaimed that she would only come to visit if she was not driving around in her red convertible Mini Cooper or spending time with her own family in her own house. Ana Zuniga Math teacher Ana Zuniga is very similar to Christensen, even to the point that they both mother a 5 year-old son named Adrian. She balances her hectic life as a mother, teacher, yearbook advisor and head of the Communication Arts, Film
and Digital Media and so far it has been working out. “We tease Adrian [by saying] that he is like an angry bird,” said Zuniga. “He is really sweet but when he gets angry, he kind of acts like one. He also really loves angry birds.” Her 3-year-old daughter Alejandra is an energy-filled Little Cavalier. It was evident that she would be taking on the role of a girly girl being that her first word was “pink.” Zuniga thought that being a mother would release her of some of her many responsibilities, but it actually did the opposite because it is a completely different load of reponsibilities. Keeping everything in check is a struggle, but even so talking about her many jobs in life brought a smile to her face. Michelle Vidal When it comes to teaching, English teacher Michelle Vidal incorporates her sporadic ideas into her lesson plan and sometimes even her children. Vidal has a 1-year-old son named Noah and a 2-year-old son named Micah. “We call my kids Goofus and Gallant, which is like a really old comic where my oldest is like the perfect and a really good example, and the other one is crazy and loud,” said Vidal. She likes to call her 1-year-old her existentialist because he is the more emotional one who questions everything. Vidal believes her teaching skills have improved since having kids. Now that she has seen first-hand how time consuming family life can be for a child, she is more sympathetic towards her students. “Being a teacher and parent goes 100 percent hand-inhand,” said Vidal.
Courtesy of Ana Zuniga
Courtesy of Michelle Vidal
305-798-1335
102 East 49th Street, Hialeah, FL 33013
Miami fair trade marketplace Coral Gables United Church of Christ
Monday-Closed Tuesday- Closed Wednesday 11am-4pm Thursday 11am-4pm Friday 11am-4pm Saturday 11am-4pm Sunday 12pm-2pm
10% off purchase with Ad
Stephen D. Field, P.A.
steve@field-law.com
DOUBLE DUTY DYNAMOS: (Left) Vidal’s kids, Noah and Micah, play outside with their toy truck. (Right) Zuniga’s kids, Alejandra and Adrian, embrace for a picture.
3010 De Soto Boulevard Coral Gables, FL 33134 305-448-7421 MiamiFairTrade.org
Angelika Menendez/highlights
One of the only ways to master being a parent and teacher is to have tough skin yet a sweet heart. This double duty life-style can be hard to get used to, but these teachers truly succeed at mastering both of their jobs.
WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT HER: Stack is hard at work year round helping students with applications, scholarships, and the emotional ups and downs of the college search.
By Angelika Menendez STAFF WRITER
If you go through the little red door by the Main Office you will find Elizabeth Stack behind mounds of paperwork, taking phone calls and answering emails. She spends most of her day at the school to ensure that students are getting the help they need on their college search. Whether she is on the phone with a college, setting up a visit for seniors or speaking to a group of students about the application process, Stack is always at work. Ever since joining the staff last year as the College Assistance Program (CAP) Counselor, Stack has been a huge help to the student body. She decided to take on the job because she wanted a change after being a lawyer for 20 years. Stack started working as the CAP counselor when her daughter was a senior at this school. Going through the college process with her own daughter “gave her empathy” for all students and parents. It made her become interested in colleges and helping kids get into them, so being a CAP counselor seemed like a great job for her. “[The admissions process with my daughter was] harder than I expected because I thought since I was the CAP advisor it would be easier, but somehow when it’s your own child it’s difficult. I had to make sure that all her Is were dotted and Ts were crossed,” said Stack. Stack often works as late as 9 p.m. to help students with what they need and to get an abundance of work done. The advice Stack gives to students is to “start early, be proactive, follow up, and take it seriously.” “She is extremely helpful and provides us with all the college information we need. If you have any college related questions she is the person to go to, and even though she is very busy she manges to find time to answer every student’s questions” said senior Valeria Castanos. Stack also works with juniors and underclassmen to prepare them for the upcoming process. She is always out and about making classroom visits to prepare students for their senior year. She helps students get a head start and gets them thinking about colleges so they know what they want by the time they are seniors. Stack sends out emails to students and has a CAP Facebook page that she updates with new information on a daily basis.
sports
highlights
December 2013
Competing for success:
13
480 athletes with disabilities gathered in the school’s gym and courts for an eventful day of basketball competitions.
Joey Landcaster/highlights A DAY OF ATHLETICS: (Left) The school’s cheerleaders welcome the visiting athletes as they walk into the gym. (Middle) Later, the athletes practice their basketball skills with drills like dribbling, passing, and shooting. (Right) Opposing teams high-five, wishing each other good luck before beginning a basketball game on the school’s courts by the new building.
By Joey Lancaster
“This opportunity is important to me because I like to play basketball and show people what I can do without necessarily showing off like when Mike Miller took off his shoes and scored a three-point shot,” said Tasayvion Rolle, a sixth grader from Thomas Jefferson Middle School. If you entered the gym on Dec. 3, what you would see is hundreds “One of the greatest things about the event is to see our students students with disabilities from all over the region discovering hope, a working so well with the athletes and the way the students help them One of the greatest things about place to belong and a sense of community as they wait on the bleachers and gain awareness for students with disabilities,” said Albalate. the event is to see our students for their opportunity to participate in the Special Olympics. The nine events consisted of basketball drills such as dribbling, working so well with the athletes.” “I think this whole occasion is an amazing opportunity to make shooting, passing, and team competitions. According to Albalate, Eulia Albalate, these kids happy and feel like they have the ability to reach their goals scoring and judging the athletes’ abilities, one of the hardest and most and know that anything is possible; and for me, it’s inspiring to be a part important jobs assigned, put some stress on the volunteers partaking in Head Coordinator of of something as awesome as this,” said sophomore Marisel Lavizzari, a the event. the Special Olympics cheerleader who volunteered at the event. “Personally, scoring is very important because this event is very For 11 years, Eulia Albalate, head coordinator for the Special important for these kids and everything is on the line,” said sophomore Olympics, has worked with the dual enrollment physical education program at Florida Matthew Henkel, a volunteer working for Albalate’s . International University to host this event along with assistance from teachers Iris Pooler, Albalate said on numerous occasions that she believes that organization is key when Stephanie Hofmann, Joann Smith, Mary Morrow and Joseph Montoya as well as Sisters With volunteering. If anything recorded ends up being inaccurate, it doesn’t just affect that particular Attitude, cheer, chorus, and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corp. The event offers these athlete’s score but numerous athletes may receive an undeserved position and it would revoke the children an opportunity to compete and the confidence boost that the achievement brings. opportunity of a more deserving participant to move on to the state qualifier. STAFF WRITER
‘‘
SPRING SPORTS
Courtesy of Cavaleon
By Eleonor Bauwens
Tennis
season previews
STAFF WRITER
Two years in a row, the boys’ tennis team has gone to the state finals and come up short against Cypress Bay High School. With a new season starting on Feb. 4, the team is hard at work practicing in preparation to bring home the long-awaited first place trophy this year. They hope to get a boost from new players junior Oliver Otero and freshman Dimitri Chesnov whose United States Tennis (USTA) rankings in the state of Florida are 15 and 41, respectively. The girls’ team is also preparing to face their rivals, the Palmetto Senior High Panthers, who defeated them at regionals last year. They hope to win districts again despite losing their top player Sonia Radosevic, who graduated last year with a full scholarship to the University of Denver. Two new players will be joining the girls team, sophomore Sofia Bosch and freshman Sofia Quevedo, whose USTA ranking is 39 in the state of Florida. “I am looking to see improvement in the players from last year. I am confident that they will have a good season,” said tennis coach David Weiner. Each player is individually training in separate clubs such as the Biltmore, Royal Palm and Dante Fascell park. “We are all coming back with a positive attitude and were ready to give 110 percent in order to beat Palmetto,” said senior Isabella Blanes who has been on the team since freshman year. Their first match will be Feb. 4 at Crandon Park against MAST Academy.
GAME ON: Senior Isabella Blanes and junior Alexa Alcalay practice hard to perfect their skills for the upcoming season and defeat their biggest rival Palmetto Senior High School.
By Rachel Ellis
Water polo
Rachel Ellis/highlights
STAFF WRITER
TRAINING FOR THE SEASON: Sophomore Alex Biondi works on strengthening his upper body in the weight room at school three days a week with the water polo team.
As the swim season comes to a close, the girls’ and boys’ water polo team have already begun their preseason training in order to physically and mentally prepare themselves for the upcoming season. In years past, both teams took a month off immediately following the swim season, but this year intense pre-season circuit training is in full swing much earlier than usual in order to help the team achieve their short and long term goals of playing in the district title game and in the Greater Miami Athletic Conference championship. This year the team has a lot of returning players on both the boys’ and girls’ teams that have been dedicated since the start of swim season. Both teams participated in a tournament on Thanksgiving weekend, which they have not participated in the past. The boys’ team won one game and lost three, giving them some feedback on what they need to work on as a team before the regular season starts. As for the girls, they played four games in the open class division, which includes adults as well, and lost all of them. “I am expecting a lot from this year’s team. We have already put in a lot of work in the pool to ensure that we are ready to have a competitive season,” said junior Ryan Borroto. Practices are held every day of the week except for Sundays, in addition to weekly scrimmages with the City of Hialeah Water Polo Club and weight lifting every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the workout room at school. “This year as a team we are focusing on the basics and training our newbies. We are looking to build on the successes of last season, and to push ourselves to be the best that we can be,” said sophomore Alexandra Holian.
sports
highlights
14
December 2013
A triumphant football season comes to an end By Angelika Menendez STAFF WRITER
Anthony Concia/highlights
It has been a historic season for the school’s varsity football team. The Cavaliers won a district championship for the first time since 2006, ended a season with 11 wins for the first time since 1969, and beat Columbus twice in one season for the first time in school history. Individually, defensive back Mark Wynn broke the school’s single season record with nine interceptions. The season ended on Nov. 29 when the team lost against South Dade in a game to decide who would go on to the state quarter finals. “All the seniors gave it all we had and we did a great job talking to all the other grades to let them know that they should do it for the team,” said senior Mark Wynn. With 15 seconds left in a sloppy, rainy game that seemed like it was heading into overtime, South Dade scored a touchdown. The Cavs tried to catch up, but there was no time left and South Dade won the game. “It was bittersweet as in it is great to see how fast the program and kids have grown, but it was still hurtful to lose,” said Varsity Head Football Coach Roger Pollard. Even though the team did not make it to the state championships, the Cavs found success against rival Columbus, beating them twice, including a comeback win to advance in the playoffs. “If you bleed red, and if you are a Coral Gables Cavalier, you have distaste for Columbus,” said Pollard. The work the team has put in under Pollard has paid off, with an improvement from four wins last season to 11 wins this season. Despite the loss to South Dade the future looks bright for the Cavaliers, especially in the eyes of their ambitious head coach. “We are winning state championships next year,” said Pollard.
TOUCHDOWN CAVS: Junior Shaquery Wilson strides down the sideline after catching a short pass which resulted in a 68-yard run into the endzone.
Sheppard strives for districts By Maria Ovalle
Maria Ovalle/highlights
STAFF WRITER
GOING FOR GLORY: New basketball coach AJ Sheppard prepares the girls’ team with hopes of winning a district championship.
This year, the girls’ basketball team has a new head coach, AJ Sheppard, who is committed to bringing home the district championship for the first time since 1980. In his 15 years of coaching experience, Sheppard has won a championship with Coral Reef High School where he coached along with his good friend, boys’ basketball Head Coach Gaston “Chachi” Rodriguez. He also has had a coaching position with the girls’ basketball team at George Washington Carver Middle School. According to Athletic Director Louis Romero, being a coach can be demanding and difficult, but coach Sheppard is exceptional because he has “the time, energy, effort, and dedication to deal with young female athletes.” Sheppard said that he chose to become part of the Cavalier Nation because he admires the school’s environment and administration and loves sports so much that he would do it for free. When he learned that the last time the team had won a district championship was in 1980, he was in shock and said it would become his number one goal to win another. When asked how the team at Gables is different than any other previous teams, Sheppard said, “they stay competitive, build stability, and create a family environment.” The Lady Cavaliers are overall satisfied with the new coach and have already defeated several teams. “[He is] really good. I am new and he is a lot better than my previous coach. He knows what he talks about and I’ve learned a lot,” said senior point guard Katherin Mena.
Romero juggles sports and students
CAVALIER STAT BOX
Girls Soccer DEC 9 DEC 11 DEC 13
NOV 22
Cavaliers
vs 8-0 W
Coral Park
Cavaliers
vs 8-0 W
Braddock
@ Coral Park @ Braddock
Cavaliers
@ Curtis Park
vs Miami 2-1 W
@CGHS
DEC 2
3-2 L
High
Cavaliers
vs Miami Cavaliers @ Miami Beach 1-0 W
Beach
Girls Basketball NOV 26 DEC 2
Bianca Mangravite/highlights BUSY AT WORK: Romero concentrates on the tasks at hand that present themselves daily in his role as athletic director.
MARK THE DATE January
Cavaliers
NOV 25 Ronald Reagan vs
STAFF WRITER
Girls Varsity
vs 4-1 L
Boys Soccer
By Eleonor Bauwens
Louis Romero is the school’s Athletic Director, 11th grade administrator and Physical Education (P.E.) Department Chair. As a grade administrator, Romero handles discipline for 11th grade students; he is also responsible for all sports coaches and over 700 student athletes and runs every sporting event, including ticket sales, for each of the 24 teams in our school. “I love what I do. It’s different every day. I like to help and see my kids succeed. I am not doing it for recognition; kids success is all the recognition I need,” said Romero. As the Athletic Director, Romero must make sure every athlete is eligible to play their sport, which involves going through every physical and checking every insurance fee payment. This helps prevent any player with a health disability to partake in a sport that may worsen their state of health, and it stops anyone who is not in the legal age range from participating with a Miami-Dade Public School’s sports team. Apart from checking every athletes’ requirements, he oversees the student and faculty parking lots, making sure every parked car has an appropriate decal.
Lourdes
@ CGHS
DEC 5
vs South Cavaliers @ South West 55-49 W
West
Cavaliers
vs 28-45 L
Jackson
Cavaliers
vs 71-38 L
Ferguson
@ CGHS
@ Ferguson
Boys Basketball
NOV 22
NOV 25 DEC 4
Columbus
vs 67-60 W
Cavaliers
Coral Park
vs 73-49 W
Cavaliers
@ CGHS
@ CGHS
Cavaliers
@ Braddock
vs Braddock 67-65 W
to support our athletic teams and cheer them on!
Boys Varsity
Boys Varsity
Boys Varsity
9 13 15 22
Basketball
Soccer
Basketball
Basketball
Thurs. at 5:00 p.m. at Coral Gables Senior High
Mon. at 3:30 p.m. at Coral Gables Senior High
Wed. at 7:30 p.m. at Southwest Miami Senior High
Wed. at 7:30 p.m. at Coral Gables Senior High
vs. South Miami
vs. TERRA
vs. Southwest
vs. South Miami
the scene
highlights December 2013
Colombian coffee craze
15
By Camila Lupi STAFF WRITER
C
pi
Laura Aco sta/high
lights
Juan Valdez Café, a chain of coffee shops wildly popular in Colombia, will soon be opening its doors in South Florida. With its Café Pods, one of its most popular traditional Colombian espresso coffees, and its Brownie Nevados, an ice-cold blend of coffee and chocolate, Juan Valdez Café offers some variety from our standard fare of Starbucks and Café Cubano. With one location already established inside of the Miami International Airport, Juan Valdez Café will soon be spreading its Colombian flavor throughout South Florida with its plans to open over 60 shops in 2014. “Being Colombian, I would love for Juan Valdez Café to open up here in Miami. It’s like a little slice of real Colombian coffee without having to get on a plane for three hours,” said junior Claudia Villegas. stores in nine But one of the more pressing matters, when it comes 238 countries around the world to opening such a well-loved coffee shop anywhere in America, is the competition it could bring to Starbucks, stores opening in 60 South Florida our largest and most popular coffeehouse company. Starbucks has also recently gone international and marked the brought itself to Colombia while Colombia’s primary 2002 start of the Juan coffee shop has been brought to South Florida. But one Valdez franchise of the two shops is bound to become more appealing to customers than the other. According to Villegas and junior Logan Morris who have both visited Juan Valdez coffee shops in Colombia, their coffee is richer and sweeter than anything Starbucks has to offer and they would much rather enjoy a Juan Valdez coffee om u pile than any kind of Starbucks drink. d by Camila L
South Miami 1559 Sunset Drive
10% OFF Your Check (305) 668.0396 Dine – In Only Not Valid w/Other Offers or Specials
South Miami 1559 Sunset Drive
Buy 10 Wings get 6 Free (305) 668.0396 Dine – In Only Not Valid w/Other Offers or Specials
Find Your Sports Grill @ sportsgrillmiami.com
the scene
highlights December 2013
16
South Florida’s ultimate local escape By Olivia Field STAFF WRITER
The national treasure of the Everglades sometimes slips the average South Floridian’s mind, even though it is only a few miles away from home. The Everglades is a diverse national park that houses not only a large variety of plants and animals, but an even larger variety
Olivia Field/highlights
out and enjoy the park, considering winter brings enjoyable weather and fewer insects. Shark Valley Located in the heart of the Everglades, Shark Valley is one of the major spots to enjoy the wildlife, nature and weather. Shark Valley’s entrance fee is $10, but it can be used for up to seven days repeatedly. This paved road measures about 15 miles long and is covered with everything from herons and spiders to alligators and snakes. Visitors can travel along the road by walking, running, biking, or using the free tram. Halfway through the trail, an observation tower gives you a picture perfect 360 degree view of the Everglades. Shark Valley is a great way to get in some exercise while taking in the Everglades and its beauty. Gator Park Gator Park is home to the much loved air boat tours that take visitors deep into the Everglades and allow them to see some outstanding wildlife. The admission to the park, which includes the airboat rides and the gator show, is $22.99. Airboat rides depart every few minutes and take passengers on a 30 minute ride to hot spots in the wetland. Throughout the ride, you are likely to see soft-shelled turtles, a variety of birds and of course, gators. Passengers better keep their cameras ready during the adventure because every turn down the canal reveals something new. After the thrilling ride, visitors can get up close and personal with some Florida Alligators at the wildlife show. In the show, alligators are wrestled using the same technique used by local Seminole Indians. Wilderness Waterways Wilderness Waterways extends 99 miles throughout the Everglades and meets the sea at its edge. These waters connect with the sawgrass and give any visitor an outstanding view of the 10,000 Islands, large groups of mangroves. Anyone can bring out a boat, kayak or canoe and spend the day on the water taking in the serene waterscape. Vendors around the entrance, located on Panther Creek Lane, provide rental boats. These boats can be pricey, the lowest at which provide the discovery of the rich habitat unique to the Everglades. Whether you just want to relax and take in the beautiful sight or challenge yourself with hikes, bike rides and boat rides, the Everglades is where you should be. It provides inexpensive choices and more extravagant options. Wilderness Waterways, Shark Valley and Gator Park are a few of the many Everglades locations where anyone can enjoy themselves. As the nice weather rolls into the Everglades, you should too.
NATURE’S FINEST FAUNA: The vast landscape of the Everglades allows its wildlife, as diverse as the diving Anhinga (top), the Florida Alligator (middle), and the graceful White Ibis (bottom) to roam their native habitats consisting of grassy lands, shallow waters, cypress swamps, dense mangrove forests, and lush marshes.
South Florida stargazing By Maggie Rivers MANAGING EDITOR
The Southern Cross Astronomical Society (SCAS), like its namesake, the Southern Cross Araceli Sanchez/highlights
be found spending their evening hunched over telescopes, exploring the depths and marvels of space. At SCAS Stargazers (as the events are called), members and non-members alike
FAIRCHILD FL I CKS: Colorfully illuminated trees behind the movie screen add to the ambiance of the classic winter movies shown at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
appreciation for the cosmos. The Stargazers are all about discovering and learning about the celestial bodies scattered across space. Even if you do not know anything about space, members are happy to point out constellations and planets to new vistors. While SCAS suggests bringing a telescope if attendees have one, they are not required. Rookie stargazers can go between 8-10 p.m. (for free) and use other members’ telescopes, including the largest public-use telescope in the county. For those who do bring telescopes, SCAS technicians are present every weekend to help people who may have trouble with their telescopes or to offer some friendly tips. Center may lead you to believe that there is no event going on, do not be deterred. SCAS tries to keep the event as dark as possible because the more light there is at the event, the harder it is to see space. This is the reason why the Stargazers
By Araceli Sanchez STAFF WRITER
As winter approaches and temperatures fall, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden offers a cool way to get into the holiday spirit. With an event that began in December, garden members and visitors can all enjoy fresh nights under the stars while watching a classic holiday movie at Fairchild’s Although a small amount of people attended the many more families or groups. The movies will be played on a screen set up on a patch of grass, and the movies are played on time, so do not be late. The palm trees behind the screen are lit up with lights that are slowly changing colors and add to the experience of the show. The stage is a short walk away from the main entrance, and the passage is silent and peaceful through the gardens at night. If you are not in the mood for walking, garden staff members are available to transport groups from the main entrance to the stage and back by car.
For an additional treat before or after the movie, visitors can explore the holiday décor at the garden by taking a For those who just want to relax, stargazing is always fantastic at the garden, and the clear skies allow you to see the stars. Visitors can bring a blanket, chairs and a picnic snack, or can purchase a variety of typical picnic food from the garden’s cafe. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the movies will begin at 7 p.m. If you have visited the gardens before and are a member, tickets are $10 for pay $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Winter months are always busy at the garden as they host lots of events, exhibits and festivals. Visit the website at www.fairchildgarden.org for more information about ways to enjoy the Garden this winter and all year round.
extraterrestrial viewing. SCAS asks that attendees turn off their car headlights while entering the park and leave the green lasers (which are illegal anyway) at home. For those who cannot hitch a ride to Homestead to attend a Stargazer but still want to learn more about the universe, SCAS offers free public lectures at Florida International University (FIU). Students also receive a discounted access to a variety of astronomy resources including entry to the SCAS Library at FIU.