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Brooke Donner/highlights

School construction disrupts hallway patterns

BOTTLENECK: Students funnel into the 750 hallway, the only route from New Building to the older building that goes through the school (top). Others walk single-file around the outside of the gymnasium. The fences surround the auditorium, making it accessible only from the LeJeune parking lot (bottom).

By Brooke Donner

work through “first week jitters.” For the remainder of the time the fences are up, passing time will not be lengthened and students will be expected to get to class in the allotted Over the weekend of Jan. 19, fences were six minutes. installed in the school, running from the new Faculty met to discuss possible changes in fire drill building around the pavilion and gym, forcing procedures. Teachers were advised to check if the new foot traffic through the 800 hall and both parking fences obstructed their classrooms’ primary fire drill route lots. and alternate route, and if so, to submit the issue to AsThe fences are a sistant Principal Joseph Evans safety requirement— who would then redirect the It’s like the bathrooms; the they surround areas class’ route. school was dirty and torn where construction will be done After the district approves up while they were being to provide better drainage for different school maintenance renovated, but now we have water run-off from rain. Currently, projects, construction permits brand new bathrooms. the auditorium floods often, as it are applied for. Once the peris the lowest point of the school. mits are approved, a construcAdolfo Costa, The drainage project will redirect tion company has a time frame Principal water run-off and prevent addiin which it must complete the tional flooding in the auditorium. project. Construction over the The project is being paid for by the district’s maintesummer would be “the best case scenario,” however the nance fund and has nothing to do with the recent passing drainage project’s permits were approved halfway through of proposition 222, a $1.2 billion bond referendum for the school year. capital improvements of Miami Dade County schools.

When asked about allegations that the school looks like According to Principal Adolfo Costa, construction on a prison, Costa acknowledged that the construction is “not the project is scheduled to begin soon, and is expected to the most appealing,” but that there is a “price of progress.” last two to three months. The fences will remain up until “The school will be prettier when the construction is all construction is finished. finished. It’s like the bathrooms; the school was dirty and After the fences were installed, students had a onetorn up while they were being renovated, but now we have week leniency period to adjust their walking routes and brand new bathrooms,” said Costa.

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PG. 2 Chef Mercy Vera’s Culinary Arts program grows produce in garden

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foot paths previously open that have now been cut off by the fences

PG. 12 highlights sits down with security guard Yaneth Gonzalez

features

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HEAD NEWS WRITER

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months until the construction is completed and the fences are taken down, according to Costa

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F e b r u a r y 2 013 , V o l . 5 3

School receives $75,000 CEC grant, parent matches funds Lukas Georgatos/highlights

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GRANTED: President and Executive Director of the Council for Educational Change Elaine Liftin speaks at the PASS Event in the school library.

By Brooke Donner HEAD NEWS WRITER

The Council for Educational Change (CEC) gave the school a $75,000 grant, which through the Partnership to Advance School Success (PASS) program, was matched by attorney John Kirkpatrick.

“As a parent, I’m happy to be involved in this program,” said Kirkpatrick, who was approached

by Principal Adolfo Costa and Assistant Principal Joseph Evans to participate in PASS. Kirkpatrick has two children who currently attend the school.

The CEC is a statewide non-profit organization that aims to improve schools by involving businesses in education.

PASS, one of the CEC’s main programs, connects a business leader with a school principal. The business leader acts as a mentor for three years and matches the CEC’s grant.

Costa has been involved with the CEC for four years. He is a participant in Executive PASS, a program similar to PASS but without the required financial commitment, CEC grant money does not go through the Miami Dade County Public School system; rather a check is written and given directly to the school.

The money will be spent on tutoring (mainly focusing on End of Course exams), professional development for teachers, new textbooks, and technology upgrades, among other things.

According to Costa, the school will begin to use the money during the second half of this year and summer.

On Jan. 28, the school held a PASS celebration event.

Following the Presentation of Colors by the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and performances by the jazz ensemble and Divisi, community and school leaders spoke about the PASS program and how it will affect the school and Coral Gables.

Those in attendance include Costa, Kirkpatrick, Mayor of Coral Gables Jim Cason, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Mark Trowbridge, and President and Executive Director of the CEC Elaine Liftin. “[The PASS program] aims to leave a legacy, to build roots within the community,” said Liftin.

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PG. 15 Wynwood Underground tours spotlight lesser-known artists

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GABLES’ GREEN GARDEN

Christina Parodi/highlights ORGANIC AND PROUD: Cooking teacher Mercy Vera reveals the Culinary Arts program’s new organic garden, where students will grow and harvest vegetables for use in class and for competition.

By Christina Parodi STAFF WRITER

In accordance with the school’s new green initiative, where the school is trying to promote living a healthy lifestyle, cooking teacher, Mercy Vera, started a garden filled with all natural herbs, fruits and veggies, located in the back of her cooking classroom.

From small sprouts to numerous fullgrown fruits and vegetables, this garden started four years ago and was originally not a priority when it came to funding. Vera started this garden to promote gardening,

food cultivation, health eating and to spike an interest in cooking but because of limited funding by the school, Vera had to search for another way to fund her small vegetable garden.

Vera finally made an agreement with Dome, an all-natural and completely organic restaurant located on Miracle Mile, to buy the small piece of the school’s land that currently hosts her garden.

In exchange for Dome’s funding of the garden and the personnel they provide to replant the crops and take care of the plants over long breaks, Vera gives the restaurant a

share of her crops.

“In the garden of life, it’s how we plant and nourish our seeds that we are able to receive the best fruit. My students are my seeds and it is important that as educators we inspire and nourish them so that they can grow to their full potential. There are no bad seeds,” said Mercy Vera concerning her overall opinion of the garden and the opportunities it creates in helping better her students.

In the newly planted and funded garden, Vera grows crops such as greens, lettuce, herbs, root vegetables, zucchini, green beans, peppers, tomatoes, star fruit, bananas and other

Pilot for paperless report cards

By Jordan Payne STAFF WRITER

Since the beginning of the school year, parents have had the opportunity to opt out of receiving physical copies of their children’s report cards and instead have electronic copies sent to them. The district chose the school as part of a district-wide paperless pilot program because of the large number of parents who initially expressed an interest in receiving electronic grade reports rather than notifications on paper. This effort to improve report card efficiency is district-wide, but is only in its first year.

After this school year, the district will review the pros and cons of the program and decide whether they will continue it.

In the pilot program, “going paperless’ is optional. When parents log onto their Parent Portal online, they are asked if they want to go paperless and receive their student’s report cards and progress reports online. If

parents choose not to access these reports “I actually think that email might virtually, parents will receive a regular hard work better for some parents,” said history copy. teacher and parent Stephanie Cosgrove.

Many assume that the push to go This may be because if there’s only paperless may be to cut spending or be one copy handed to a student at school, eco-friendly. However, according to he or she has the ability to do with it Assistant Principal Nestor Diaz, the savings whatever he or she desires. are actually “I hope that “miniscule” but the parents will I hope parents take advantage of the efficiency take advantage this paperless service because, in that the system of this paperless my opinion, it is very efficient and will create is its service because makes reports instantly accessible. major benefit. in my opinion it Even though Nestor Diaz, is very efficient only a handful and it makes Assistant Principal of parents have reports such as selected to go progress reports paperless, Diaz hopes that possibly one instantly accessible. They will not have third of parents will decide to take that path to wait for it to be delivered by their child by the end of this year. Diaz notes that the and they’ll have it at their disposal,” said advantage of going paperless would be that Diaz. more parents would see and review their The Parent Portal can be found at children’s grades. dadeschools.net/parents.

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JUNIOR RING CEREMONY CAV PRIDE

RINGS & ROSES

organic herbs.

Vera has her students harvest these crops in order to teach them about gardening and cultivation. She allows students to use these crops in the food they make to promote healthy diets and to sustain their interest in cooking.

Students get to use fresh ingredients grown in the schools backyard and enjoy cultivating, harvesting and watching the plants grow.

“I really enjoy using fresh herbs from the garden because not only do they taste better, they also feel more satisfying to eat, knowing that I helped grow them,” said Senior Victoria Cela, one of Vera’s advanced cooking students.

CONGRATS, Silver Knight Nominees!

Nabi Ferra Elizabeth Harley Stephanie Torres Jake Mekin Lorenzo Babboni Kim Berthier Brooke Nelson Deanna Breiter Alexandra Stack Marjorie De la Cruz Tarilyn Taylor Ana Alfonso

GUARDED JEWELS

Raquel Braun/highlights

HAIL TO THEE: Junior Class President Cole Scanlon, Secretary Edward Torgas and Vice President Jose Falconi raise their hands towards the school seal while singing the alma mater in a proud display of school spirit.

FLOWER POWER: Junior Class Treasurer, Maria Ceballos, hands junior Rinita Rasheed a flower after her walk through the giant junior ring to commemorate this accomplishment.

JARHEADS : JROTC members, Amyt Landas, Jaime Said, and Antonio Ortiz stand erect during the ceremony as they raise the State Flag. The junior ring ceremony is one of the few high school memories that will always remain dear.

highlights February 2013

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Gables named an school

By Brooke Donner HEAD NEWS WRITER

Last December, the Florida Department of Education released its School Accountability Report, a report card for every school in the state. The school received an A grade for the 2011-2012 school year— an improvement from the previous school year’s B grade. “[The school receiving an A grade] is a reflection of the wonderful academic achievements the students are displaying. It’s a huge celebration,” said Principal Adolfo Costa.

The School Accountability Report grades high schools on a 1600-point scale (over 1050 being an A); the school received 1135 points. Half of the points are based on assessment components and half are based on “other” components.

In the past, only the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores determined the assessment component of the grade, whereas this year a compilation of multiple test scores, including End of Course exams, are factored in as well.

The “other” component is based on participation and performance in accelerated curricula (e.g.

Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Dual Enrollment),

graduation rate, and college readiness.

Fifty-four percent of students in the school tested satisfactory or higher in reading, 60 percent in math, and 89 percent in writing.

Because there is no high school science test with set achievement levels, science was left out of the assessments components of the grade this year.

Besides meeting certain test score levels, schools are also required to show at least a 50 percent improvement in the lowest 25 percent of reading and math scores.

The school had 67 percent reading gains, and 54 percent math gains. According to Costa, the school received a B grade for the 20102011 school year because it was penalized for not meeting the required 50 percent improvement rate of the lowest 25 percent in reading— only 47 percent improved.

The school’s four-year graduation rate increased from 74 percent to 80 percent, and participation in acceleration curricula increased from 69 percent to 77 percent.

“I think Costa did a good job of pulling out all the people that weren’t willing to work. It is amazing how he managed the make the school grade from a C to an A in just one year. I am proud to graduate from an A school, ” said senior Alexandra Lopez.

GRADE INFLATION: Gables over the years 10+ years

The school has been rated a C for the highest number of years, but an A for two of the four years Adolfo Costa has been the principal. *Earliest school year grade available

C

2 years

(870-989) 2013, 2011

B

(9901,049)

A

(1,500+)

2008 1999*

1 year 2012

Schools are graded on a point system. This grade gauge shows the number of points required for each letter grade.

NEWS BRIEFS District releases bond

ConnectEDU

By Mia Tolpin STAFF WRITER

Liz Stack, College Assistance Program (CAP) advisor, required students of all grade levels to register and complete their profiles on ConnectEDU in response to a district-mandated initiative. ConnectEDU is a comprehensive website designed to allow students to research colleges and scholarships and to keep track of their courses.

The program was assigned so late into the 2012-2013 school year because Stack wasn’t given the information until mid-first grading period.

“I only did it for the grade, not to input any valid information.

It was very informative, but too much information to sort through,” said sophomore Nicolas Viglucci.

Stack encourages all students who have not done so already to visit the school’s website for registration instructions.

“Freshmen definitely have an advantage; starting out earlier by taking the career test and better planning for their courses will help them in the future,” said Stack.

Key West field trip

By Rachel Ellis STAFF WRITER

On Feb. 1, 2013, International Baccalaureate Coordinator Diana Van Wyk planned a field trip consisting of a small group of about thirty students to Key West. The purpose of the trip was to absorb the culture and historic sites of Key West as well as a chance for the students to get away from the stress of school and just take time to relax.

“After all the stress and pressure it was nice to go to a place that is the epitome of chill,” said Van Wyk. The students had the opportunity to eat at Sloppy Joe’s, visit the southernmost point of the continental U.S, climb to the top of the Key West lighthouse, stroll around Duval Street and watch the street performers at the Mallory Square sunset festival.

“The feel of Key West and the atmosphere was almost bohemian,” said junior Melissa Perez.

The trip was originally twenty dollars and geared towards upperclassmen, but due to the lack of participation, was later declared free and opened to underclassmen as well.

referendum timeline

By Brooke Donner HEAD NEWS WRITER

Miami-Dade County Public Schools released a seven-year timeline for the $1.2 bond referendum approved by voters last November. The timeline reveals when the district will issue bonds to each school and if each school will undergo just renovations or renovations as well as replacements.

The money from the referendum is allotted to building improvements and to get all schools in the county up to 21st century technology standards.

Property owners in Miami-Dade will pay for the general obligation bond in property taxes over the next 30 years.

Gables will begin renovations (not replacements) three years from now, in the 2014-2015 school year.

“Everyone wants to be first, but

there’s always a pecking order,” said Principal Adolfo Costa.

According to the Miami Herald, the district expects to issue bonds in $200 million increments for the next 30 years. The $1.2 billion will be broken down for spending as follows: $750 million for renovations, $350 million for replacements, and $100 million for technological improvements.

The first two years of the referendum will be for 140 smaller projects costing up to $2 million. These projects include updating elementary school playgrounds, improving technology (e.g. installing wireless networks in schools), renovating facilities. For these projects, construction companies already under contract will be hired to shorten the process and save time.

The following five years will be for 160 projects, such as replacing buildings and combining facilitates, costing up to $10 million. Security measures are expected to improve as the schools undergo construction for these renovations.

As well as renovations and replacements, the proposed projects timeline includes entire new school campuses and new additions to already existing schools. A large amount of the new schools appear to be in Northeast Dade, Northwest Dade, and Doral, though the timeline does not show exact addresses for all of the new schools.

Specifics regarding renovations at Gables are unknown.

“My expectations are to increase connectivity in all the buildings and upgrade technology,” said Costa.

New lunch patio open to IB students

By Francis Perez STAFF WRITER

Located in front of the International Baccalaureate (IB) office between the 300 and 400 halls, the school’s IB patio is the newest place where IB students can go during lunch.

Due to the patio’s small size, students who are not in the IB program are not allowed in the patio during lunch. To be able to sit and have lunch in this area, students must wear their blue IB academy lanyards.

“It’ll be easier to maintain if it’s limited to a small group of students,” said senior Liz Arza, president of the

IB Honor Society (IBHS).

Arza explained that IBHS established the exclusive luncheating area to beautify the school and “do something nice” for the IB students. Even though the area was originally designated without the intention of being selective, students still have opposing opinions.

“I think [the patio is] unfair and discriminative towards the other students, such as [myself], who are in other academies,” said sophomore Matthew Forero, a student in the academy of Communication Arts, Film and Digital Media (CAF&DM).

Some students find the patio convenient and view the exclusivity

as something worthwhile.

“I think it’s a benefit for us [IB students] because it’s a place where we all speak the IB language and we can relate, but it also pushes aside all those students in the regular program,” said junior Lorraine Cruz, a student in the IB program.

Teachers also have contrasting feelings when it comes to the patio.

IB Theatre and Acting teacher Tracey Barrow said “exclusivity scares me but I can understand giving the IB students a quiet place for lunch to study or read.”

The patio is now available to any IB student during his or her lunch period.

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highlights February 2013

Christina Parodi/highlights

Annual PTSA Career Fair spotlights vocational school

By Brooke Donner HEAD NEWS WRITER

On Feb. 7, the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) hosted its second annual Career Fair in the gym.

The Career Fair offers students who will not be attending a four-year institution after high school the opportunity to explore other post-secondary job and education options. Representatives from different companies and colleges set up tables in the gym and offered students information about their organizations.

Exhibitors included the Coral Gables Police Department, Marine Corps, United States Navy, vocational and technical colleges, culinary institutes, local employers, a massage certification program, and a self-defense instructional course.

“It’s very varied, and that’s the whole point— to get students to be interested. They need a direction and some goals, so this would introduce them to what’s in the community, ” said PTSA Vice President Gail Poe-Liu. PTSA members visited a list of targeted classes (made by Assistant Principal Nestor Diaz) to inform students about the Career Fair. Select students were invited to the Career Fair, while others got passes in the three days prior to the event. The Career Fair was geared towards juniors and seniors.

On Feb. 6, a Career Fair pep rally was held in the auditorium. Over 500 invited students listened to motivational speakers Adam Effertz, Community Partnerships Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami; and Alex Monivis, Chief Operations Officer of the Urgent Response Training Institute, tell their stories.

PICK A CAREER IN A PERIOD: Students browse the Career Fair where they were able to network and learn about various vocational opportunities available to them after high school. Here, students speak to representatives from the armed services about enlisting and training.

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opinion Teacher Evaluations

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In an effort to promote accountability in education, the county has switched to a controversial new system of teacher evaluations.

STAFF

Editorial

Whether you like it or not, we live in the age of accountability-based education. The ultimate goal is to make sure every student in every classroom is actually learning before they graduate and receive a meaningful high school diploma. And two years ago, Miami-Dade County was on its way to realizing that goal: administrators’ pay was tied to school-wide performance and students couldn’t graduate until they passed an End-of-Course exam (EOC). But there was still one piece missing: reformed teacher evaluations.

Teachers were still operating in this odd bureaucratic fantasy land where tenure was practically automatic after three years of service and those with tenure were almost impossible to fire except in cases of serious professional misconduct. Pay was tied to seniority and the number of diplomas a teacher had earned – not performance – so there was little motivation to overachieve. Principals submitted teacher evaluations to the county which “[did] not appear to track or report its evaluation data even for internal purposes,” according to a 2011 report.

Here’s a snapshot of 2011: 3,833 high school seniors (more than 15 percent of seniors in the county) failed the FCAT for the last time and faced not graduating. Meanwhile, the county attempted to fire 16 teachers (out of over 20,000) for poor performance and managed to take 10 of them (0.05 percent of all teachers in Miami-Dade) out of the classroom.

Clearly, there was a disconnect. The state and the county, however, were already in the process of reforming the system. Tenure was eliminated; 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation now came from standardized test scores; teachers’ salary was tied to the quality of their evaluation.

And all across the county, teachers rose up and cried foul.

Generally, the biggest fear seems to be that teachers will be unfairly evaluated by the new system because it takes into account how well students do on End of Course exams. What if, the common argument runs, a teacher gets a class full of truly undedicated students who just don’t try? Surely it can’t be the teacher’s fault if they do poorly on the test.

This argument, ironically, is almost identical to the standard student complaint: “It’s not my fault I failed the test. I got stuck with a teacher who doesn’t teach!”

Of course, neither of these arguments is valid, and the teachers’ complaint is even more

unfounded. Teacher evaluations don’t just use raw test scores; they use a value-added score, which takes into account their students’ past scores and socioeconomic backgrounds, among other things, and compares their scores to those of other teachers in the county with similar students.

So if you’re an ESOL teacher, your scores are compared to other ESOL teachers’. If you teach gifted students, your goal is to help them improve more than other gifted students in the county that year.

So if you are a teacher, it’s not your students’ fault if you get a bad score; you need to help your students improve regardless of who they are or where they come from. If you make fewer gains with a particular student because of factors beyond your control, the value-added score will take it into account.

As Principal Adolfo Costa put it, “there used to be an evaluation system in place that would grade teachers based on minimum standards… Well, all the parents who send their kids to school, they don’t want the minimum. They want the maximum, because we ask for the students to give us the maximum.”

A teacher evaluation system that ties salary to performance is more likely to bring out that maximum. Once you accept that premise, it is difficult to make the argument that the new evaluation system is unfair because it jeopardizes teachers’ job security. If the financial interests of a teacher clash with the educational interests of a student, the student will always come first.

All in all, this would be a great step in the right direction, if only Dade County hadn’t forgotten one detail: the exams that the evaluations are to be based on don’t exist yet. With a few exceptions (Algebra 1, geometry, biology, and American history) teachers in all subject areas are being evaluated (seemingly arbitrarily) based on how well their students perform on a reading exam. No matter how well you teach art, dance, or calculus, the county will evaluate you based on reading scores. Now that is unfair.

Costa has made the argument that reading is necessary for success in all subject areas so, in his opinion, “every teacher is a reading teacher.” That may be questionable, but he does promise that by the 2014-2015 school year, every core subject will have its own exam.

So teachers, it’s not unfair for you to be evaluated based on an objective measure of your performance. It is, however, questionable for you to be graded based on how well your students do in a subject you don’t teach. Pick your battles; either demand that you be evaluated on a test for your subject area or, if you teach a subject that doesn’t lend itself to testing, ask to be exempted from the testing requirement.

Reforming the evaluation system really is a good idea; we just have to implement it in the right way.

Gables Weighs In

highlights takes a look at what the school thinks about...

The new fences The new teacher The new IB patio evaluations

81 19

percent of students would rather not have fences than renovate the school

percent of students feel school improvements outweigh the drawbacks of the fences Out of 100 students polled

90 10

percent of teachers say the new teacher evaluation system is unfair percent of teachers are satisfied with the new system

Out of 50 teachers polled

86 14

percent of students think the IB patio should be open to all students during lunch

percent of students feel that the patio is a well deserved reward for hardworking IB students Out of 100 students polled

Facing fears of the fiscal cliff deficit and in the unemployment rate. There were several reasons why the problem grew to garner attention from the media in the exaggerated way that it did.

First things first, the fiscal cliff didn’t have such disastrous consequences. Yes, agencies and their employees would see a decrease in funding, but in the grand scheme of things, we knew it was going to work out. The only reason I say this is because the media loves to make a grand spectacle of things, and throw the American people into a frenzied panic.

Granted, having gone over the fiscal cliff would have led to a deeper, longer recession, but it is not the worst thing that could happen to the U.S. and most certainly not the end of the world.

The fact that petty bickering and childlike hardheadedness brought such a simple matter to the point where it held everything else at a standstill is quite embarrassing. The most powerful nation in the world, the economic powerhouse that most other developed countries feed off of, should not be plagued with the inequities of Congress and the President. The fiscal cliff is just another problem like the debt ceiling that is blown out of

Commentary by Stephan Chamberlin STAFF WRITER

Just hearing its name brings about an impending sense of doom. Over the past couple of months, many Americans turned on their television sets and saw a rather scary headline.

The fiscal cliff plagued news networks, radio waves, and print. Everyone knew about the fast-approaching hour that was looked upon and feared like judgement day. Unfortunately, this problem that faced the government of the United States was (and still is) misunderstood, and the issue flew over the heads of most Americans.

Basically, the fiscal cliff was a consequence of disagreement, meaning that it was created because Republicans and Democrats couldn’t agree on the 2013 budget. If Congress could not come to a compromise, the government would end up making huge budget cuts across the board, leading to an increase in the national

proportion when the two party system can’t agree on a simple matter. The crux of the problem lies in the people who govern us and their inability to get anything done properly when forced to reach across the aisle.

Luckily for the American people, Congress proposed, and the President signed, a bill to avert the disaster of the fiscal cliff. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 eliminated many of the problems that the government seemed to be struggling with. The Congressional Budget Office projects an 8.13 percent increase in government revenue and a 1.15 percent increase in government spending for the 2013 fiscal year. The extra revenue is coming from increased marginal income and capital gains tax rates for incomes over $400,000 or $450,000 for couples.

After the bill was passed, spectators of the debacle were quick to draw the party lines closed again, and declare winners.

To be clear, there was no victor. Ironically, there were plenty of touchdown dances and excessive celebrations. This again, is just a testament to the political system and the media’s ability to turn the advancement of all into the victory of one.

opinion

highlights February 2013

Open the IB patio to all academies Commentary by Maggie Rivers SCENE EDITOR

Recently, the International Baccalaureate Honor Society (IBHS) announced its plans to create a patio to give International Baccalaureate (IB) students a place to study and do homework. Students will have to present their ID with the IB lanyard in order to enter the patio during lunch.

“Ms. Cuesta and IBHS thought that is would give IB students a relaxed alternative to the loud cafeterias and the pavilion,” said IBHS vice president Angelo PisDudot.

Undoubtedly, having a place where students can go for some silence and studying is a good idea; giving IB students exclusive access to this patio, however, is questionable. Many students, including those not in IB, regularly spend their lunches in the would-be patio area between the 300 and 400 halls. It is only fair that the area remain open to all students, not just the fraction of the school enrolled in an especially prestigious program.

Besides, it is not as if IB students are at some special disadvantage when it comes to studying during lunch.

They, like the rest of the school, have access to the library which provides both a quiet environment and computers.

As well, many teachers are willing to share their room with students in search of a quiet place during lunch. Most of all, IB students have always been able to study at these benches before if they wished, along with the rest of the student body.

Of course, fairness is not the only concern. Many students feel that those in the IB program work hard enough to deserve the patio, but, as junior Jan Druzkowski put it, “Unfair? Not really. I think that might seclude the IB students from the rest of the school more, though.”

One solution that has been suggested is that each academy get its own patio. That way the IB academy is not seen to be elevated above any other and all students can benefit from having a designated study area.

However, this kind of academic segregation may not be the best thing for promoting a spirit of school-wide camaraderie.

The simple solution would be to just open the patio to everyone, thus creating a study patio where everyone can enjoy the sunshine and silence regardless of what academy they are in. As a program that promotes “[creating] a better and more peaceful world through […] understanding and respect,” as stated in the IB mission, it would be in the IB spirit to share the patio with everyone and promote a healthy space for scholarly pursuits.

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Just because we’re not in IB doesn’t mean we don’t study and that we’re not as important.

-Amanda Madronal, senior

highlights ADVISORY BOARD:

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ADVISER

BUSINESS MANAGER

COPY EDITOR

Ali Stack

James Ziv

Melissa Nieves

Casey Breznick

SECTION EDITORS: NEWS

OPINION

FEATURES

INSIGHT

Scarlett Perez Yaremy Fuentes

SPORTS

Gene Liu, Lukas Georgatos

Nicolas Rivero

Deanna Breiter, Audrey Fernandez

THE SCENE

Maggie Rivers

Staff Members: Laura Acosta, Eleonor Bauwens, Andrea Biondi, Raquel Braun, Avery Budin, Stephan Chamberlin, Anthony Concia, Brooke Donner, Rachel Ellis, Rachel English, Christina Parodi, Jordan Payne, Francis Pérez, Orso Raymo, Araceli Sanchez, Mia Tolpin, Cyrus Zeledon

highlights is the official publication of Coral Gables Senior High, 450 Bird Rd.,Coral Gables, FL 33146.

Call (305) 443-4871 ext. 2383, email melissanieves@ dadeschools.net for ad rates. highlights accepts all legal advertisements. If a mistake occurs, the ad will be reprinted, free of charge, in the following issue. Subscriptions are available for $15 annually.

Opinions expressed on the editorial page do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints or official policies of the school. highlights is an open forum and welcomes readers’ opinions on all topics. Letters to the editor should not exceed 200 words and must be signed, but names may be withheld on request and with the concurrence of the editorial board.

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I think it’s a great idea.

But they should have one for each academy.

-Jacob Sorenson, freshman

Tracking students

Commentary by Stephan Chamberlin STAFF WRITER

At Anson Jones Middle School in San Antonio Texas, administrators can now track students through radiofrequency tags in their identification badges, or IDs, prompting parents to voice concern over the invasive method of keeping tabs on their children. The matter ultimately comes down to whether the practical benefits of tracking students justify their inherent invasiveness.

Not surprisingly, the issue also involves money, as the schools receive funding based on the number of students counted in their homeroom classes each morning. The district said that many students were present at school, but not in homeroom, and the county ended up leaving money on the table. The district is projecting a $2 million return on an investment of just $261,000 to buy the trackers.

The administrators at the school and in the school district are all excited about the practical advantages of the IDs, like moving the lunch line faster by scanning their IDs instead of punching in their numbers, or locating students during an emergency. With everyone looking at the practical advantages, I am left slightly skeptical and more than a little apprehensive about the whole situation.

If and when we turn into the futuristic society that Hollywood often portrays, where we live in a constant struggle between civil liberties and “safety”, this kind of dilemma will be common. Movies aside, this kind of power carries with it the potential for misuse, which becomes greater when we are talking about the whereabouts of people. To me, it seems like the district is taking an unnecessary step toward “safety” to ensure that they get the most money out of their students’ attendance.

The main reason that tracking students is wrong is because people are not commodities. Proponents of ID tracking will say that safety concerns override the civil liberties of students, when in reality the extra perks were just a byproduct of the district wanting to squeeze every last cent out of the students. Society is growing to the point where getting people’s attention has a monetary value. People will pay to have you look at a sign, click an ad banner, or pay attention to something in the classroom. This is exactly what’s happening with schools in the Northside Independent School District, where the attention and attendance of students is being assigned a monetary value, and now administrators are attempting to milk everything they can get.

The Oscars: The golden standard?

Commentary by Ali Stack

6

lazy. The Academy does not require its members to watch each nominated film in its entirety, begging the question, what could the vote possibly be based on? Hype? Box office sales?

Actors, directors, screenwriters and Another example: if you look up the history of the films producers alike often devote their entire awarded for Best Costume Design, a good majority of them are careers to winning a much-heralded Oscar. simply period pieces where the subjects are royalty. Thus, the The Academy Awards (the Oscars’ formal title) costume designers had to make elaborate dresses to accurately have become a symbol of cinematic greatness reflect the time period—naturally, the Academy decides that these and honor, but in reality, the Academy’s taste have the ‘best’ costumes when they may just be the most apparent is skewed. With the awards show rapidly costumes. approaching, viewers must remember that the Academy’s The Academy’s shortsightedness is also apparent in its nominations are not the end-all-be-all of film. It should be noted policy for foreign films. There are five slots for nominees for that they do not award based on craft or artfulness, but rather best foreign language film, but only one film per country can be based on accessibility and grandeur. As a result, the public is nominated. If the Academy is presented with what are reviewed silenced and is left to believe that the films that made the most to be two outstanding French films, they can only choose one. money and made the most people cry Moreover, since foreign film has its are, in fact, the best.

As a population comprised of 94 own category, they are often overlooked My first qualm with the Oscars percent white voters, 77 percent for consideration for Best Picture. The is, of course, its voting demographic. male voters [...] and with a median Academy’s ethnocentricity is ever As a population comprised of 94 voter age of 62, the Academy apparent, but it fails to realize that white percent white voters, 77 percent male doesn’t reflect the average America does not make the best films voters, 86 percent over the age of American or the average American every year.

50 and with a median voter age of moviegoer.

Genre preference aside, the awarding 62, the Academy doesn’t reflect the process for actors and actresses are also average American or the average unjust. Much of the reason certain actors American moviegoer. Taste evolves and actresses win is because of the narrative of their careers. (or devolves, in this case) with age and what the Academy values Natalie Portman was pregnant when she was nominated. Ellen in film isn’t necessarily what the public or the film community Page didn’t win for Juno because “she’s young, she’ll have her does – after all, only 33 percent of the Academy has actually chance later.” The best performance of Kate Winslett’s career been nominated for an award themselves. Others are just tapped thus far has been for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, yet on the shoulder, so to speak. she didn’t win an Oscar until the Academy thought, “Ok, she’s The Academy is stuck on what film used to be. Drama, waited long enough”. They then awarded her for her forgettable crying, involved and grandiose plots, romance – epics. Film role in The Reader. has been around for a while, but at its conception, only big Film critics for major publications – because they, by budget films were made and publicized, because the technology profession, watch most films – should come together and vote on was new. But now, film production and technology are more what films should be nominated. Rotten Tomatoes, a film review accessible. As a result, film now covers a wider range of themes, aggregator that takes into account the opinion of all major critics, situations and narrative styles that are undervalued by the often reflects low approval ratings for even the biggest winners at Academy. the Oscars. And so, it is evident that the film community’s views For the films the Academy does value, voting is incredibly are incongruent with those of 5,900 old, white men.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

C

insight

highlights February 2013

N U E T

IN:

Music is the voice of a generation.

Genres, playlists, artists, songsdivide it, subdivide it, remix it. it’s music. highlights takes a look at the evoution of music anD ITS ROLE IN SOCIETY.

7

I

insight

highlights February 2013

8

SOCIETY’S SONG MUSIC AS A REFLECTION OF HUMANKIND

massive public unrest--military conflict abroad such as the Vietnam War sparked protest, and racial and ethnic tensions prompted the Civil Rights Movement. The the deep social division that Ever since mankind could wield instruments, the art of creating separated children from their parents was known as the “generation rhythms and beats have greatly reflected societal characteristics gap”, which impelled the social revolution within the youth of of a generation. From the emergence of jazz during the Harlem America to protest these issues and use music to escape the harsh Renaissance in New York to the birth of grunge in Washington, realities in the world. Woodstock, the infamous musical festival music reflects social movements, political issues, and societal with thirty-two bands performing to an audience of almost half values. a million mostly young people from all over the country, proved Surprisingly, music today was not to have a cultural significance as different as it was 80 years ago. that reflected society’s desire I think music always has to Just as today’s sensitive society for peace. Psychedelic rock, appeal to the masses and criticizes music for being either expresses the sentiments that the for example, opposed the too profane or desensitizing, Vietnam War and supported population does... the Jazz Age of the 1920s civil rights and other generally introduced harsh criticism. Jazz leftist causes. The United Cristian Alonso, was considered immoral and States during this time period junior had a reputation among older was becoming a society where generations for promoting the music was looked as an art decadent values of the Roaring Twenties—an rather than a profession or source of pure entertainment. Also, era of social, artistic, and cultural dynamism in music was made as a way to achieve political goals and spread the United States. Prohibition in the United States ideas, values, and change. banned the sale of alcohol, so jazz musicians sought Today’s technologically advanced society has created a totally establishments where alcohol was sold illegally as venues new genre of music that appeals to our younger fast-pace and to play their music. upbeat generation, electronic dance music. A reflection of our The 1960s in America was a decade filled with technological age, electronic music is mainly produced by disk

By Anthony Concia STAFF WRITER

‘‘

jockeys (DJs) and is intend set. Moreover, our generati to envision a life without th why electronic music is so attention span and constant amid our technologically de defines our listeners as a ne consumers who appreciate instruments.

Miami provides an influ different values or themes.

American and Anglo cultur variety of musical tastes. T population and geography. beach holds many dance cl salsa to the more popular h has an intense nightlife and many music enthusiasts to offers.

“I think music always h the sentiments that the popu said junior Christian Alonso for the common man.”

Some see truth in music entertainment, but whichev embodiment of the people.

Y E H T H G U O R H FOR THE EARSTHETEVOLUTION OF LISTENING 1950 TURNTABLE

1969 BOOMBOX 1877 PHONOGRAPH

75%

feel they don’t fit their musical stereotype

91%

say music is a part of their everyday life *out of 100 students surveyed

84%

use the internet to discover new music

32%

think today’s music is meaningless

highlights February 2013

FROM THE

ded to be played through a continuous ion is indulged in electronics and fails he aid of technology, so maybe that is appealing to a generation with a low t search for hedonistic desires. However, ependent society, electronic music ew “raver generation” of mainstream the new classification of computers as

ux of different cultures that share Due to the clash of both the Latin res, Miami prides itself with a wide This can be reflected in Miami’s large The subtropical climate and miles of lubs whose themes range from Cuban house and techno music. Since Miami d club scene, Miami is the center for experience the unique musical tastes it

has to appeal to the masses and expresses ulation does, particularly the youth,” o, “It can serve as a way to vent emotion

c, while others see it as a form of ver way you see it music serves as the

YEARS

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STRINGS to the WEB

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By Avery Budin STAFF WRITER

The association between music genre and personality type could be more than just a stigma. Music experience is subjective. It lends itself to personal interpretation, be it good or bad; it is the association of specific personality traits that are often questioned. Are they legitimate or solely stereotypically based?

When thinking of country music fans, southern hicks are a common visual; for rap enthusiasts it’s “ghetto” youth trying to be “fresh”, classical and jazz are suited for grandparents and pop is for the classic American teen girl, right? According to students that’s rarely the case anymore.

“As a cheerleader, I’m expected to listen to pop, so when I tell people I love classical music they’re shocked,” said junior Josephine Alvarez.

Music opens many doors for self expression and just like the vast variety of music genres, there is an even more diverse number of people. For more outgoing, or “party people,” music with an upbeat tune or solid dance rhythm is a crowd pleaser.

“I like hanging with my friends and having a good time,” said senior Josh Henkel, “House music brings people together, it’s a mood changer.”

On the other hand, music also offers time for self reflection. More introverted crowds looking for deep lyrics make indie and classic fifties rock popular. On a

THE NORM

personal level, music can appeal to such a wide spectrum of people regardless of race, ethnicity, age, religion, or sex.

“I’m really into hip hop right now, it empresses my thoughts, talks about my life, the goals I have, hardships I’ve endured, and achievements I’ve accomplished,” said sophomore Rasnaud Johnson.

Many students even find themselves confined to liking one type of music, when they truly have an interest in several different artists.

“I like all kinds of music, but if it’s on the radio it’s not music; listening to different music has everything to do with being an open minded person, it says a lot about the person listening,” said sophomore Jose Zambrano.

What appeals to the ear is constantly evolving, and no longer is “one size fits all” relevant in music. As music plays a significant role in ones daily life, it can be more than just catchy tunes or a homework distraction.

It tells a story, cracks a joke, expresses a political movement, makes people cry, welcomes memories. A kid that listens to screamo doesn’t have to be a punk goth advertisement, and an opera fan doesn’t have to be over fifty years old.

“Music doesn’t make you, you make the music,” said

freshman Darius Hicks.

Any and every song can have a different meaning to different people. The soccer mom that works an office job and owns a Subaru doesn’t have to like the greatest hits of the 70’s or NPR; she may be a Girltalk fan or Lil Wayne junkie. With the extensive radio choices, from Christian rock to reggae there leaves room for exploration of every genre.

General date shows that southern states are more likely to be the bigger fan base of Christian rock, and that classical music tends to appeal to an older crowd, though there are plenty of exceptions to the status quo. Logically, southern families have a large Christian faith association with more conservative values, so it only makes sense that number show they’re more likely to be supporters of the genre. It’s the less obvious relationships that require further discussion. What is the privileged upper class female with a solid family, and good health doing listening to crude rap? It’s clearly not because she feels empathetic to the hard life of the artist, as music isn’t contained by a specific image any more. The ever-growing music culture is no longer limited to one group of followers and the only way to know what music students are interested in today, is to ask.

10 features Vegans and vegetarians FREEDOM DINERS: fight soy-cial stigma highlights

February 2013

By Raquel Braun STAFF WRITER

Ra

B ra

highlights un/

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

“

I’m a vegetarian because I realized that after a lifetime of eating meat, I was always against eating animals and...souls...I admire vegans. It’s easy to give up meat but it’s not easy to discipline yourself as a vegan. To see others do that is really inspiring.

el qu

Being a vegetarian or vegan in a country majorly inhabited by meat-lovers can prove to be quite difficult.

Many people choose to be vegetarians for the “emotional aspect” while others choose to protect their health from animal fat clogging their arteries. For most it is an “ethical and moral choice”, like for drama teacher, Tracey Barrow, who has been a vegan for five years.

“I knew what I was doing was right for me, so I guess I never looked at it as difficult,” said Barrow.

Living with people who do not share your eating habits can be a nuisance and inconvenient. While they prepare their own meals that consist of meats, poultry, and fish, the vegetarian family members are left to fend for themselves.

When the rest of the family is not supportive of the decision to go vegetarian or vegan, it is difficult to stick to the choice simply out of the convenience of eating meat.

Becoming a vegan is a major life choice, due to the fact that it is more of a life style. If school lunches do not cater to vegetarians, they definitely do not support vegans.

“School lunches are hard; I have to make both [my children’s] lunches every night,” said Barrow.

As a vegan, one cannot eat any animal products including dairy, meats, poultry, fish, or anything containing

animal fat. Without any animal products, getting the necessary nutrients in your diet may prove to be difficult. Unprepared vegans can suffer from serious health issues. Many new vegans lose a substantial amount of weight or suffer from vitamin deficiencies. It is important to drink milk substitutes for calcium and protein as well as beans and nuts, which contain protein.

Not only is the vegan lifestyle difficult in school, but also grocery shopping is a hassle when having to read every single food label to make sure there are no hidden “dried egg powder” or other obscure animal products within the food. Going out to eat is also a hassle because basically all options at restaurants have animal products in them. Even marshmallows have the bone marrow of animals found in gelatin.

“Come to my house and you would not leave hungry and you would be very happy,” said Barrow, who eats a lot of grains, quinoa, vegetables and greens to receive the daily necessary nutrients.

Although it is difficult, these lifestyle choices may be worth the struggle and the money. Vegetarian and vegan foods go hand in hand with organic foods, which tend to be more expensive than the cheaper generic food brands. Well-known organic food stores that cater to vegans and vegetarians include Whole Foods and Fresh Market as well as small all-organic shops like The Honey Tree in North Miami. If you are focused on being a vegetarian, regular supermarkets will suffice.

“

-China Opland, sophomore

Paperback Swap:

highlights does the dirty work for lazy lovers: here are the cutest gifts at the best prices for a student budget.

A cheap and easy way to get rid of old books to clear your shelves for new reads

Necklaces found at Nordstrom (silver for $16) (orange for $22)

By Maggie Rivers

Sperry’s found at Nordstrom for $94.95

‘‘

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Watch found at Nordstrom for $18

Perfume found at Juicy Couture for $90 Watch found at Nordstrom for $150

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where each credit allows you to request one book. You also receive a credit once someone has requested a book THE SCENE EDITOR from you, you have sent it (you pay for postage), and they have received it. With these credits you are able request The typical English student is often required to read quite a few novels over the course of a school year. Most books to be sent to you completely for free.

“I like it because it allows me to try a full book for of the time students will trek to their local book store free without needing to pay ten or twenty dollars,” said to purchase the latest required reading at an insulting sophomore Monica Dominguez, “I definitely think that it retail price (some classic paperback novels dare to be is a cool idea.” $15, yikes), and other times This website’s services should students will take books off I like it because it allows me to prove valuable to students because it of upperclassmen’s hands try a full book for free without helps clear out old, unneeded books for a discounted price. needing to pay ten or twenty and brings in new books necessary However, with Paperback dollars... I definitely think that it for class. Paperback Swap even Swap students can now is a cool idea. keeps track of the books you send get required texts free and and receive while keeping shipping conveniently.

Monica Dominguez, costs in account and calculates Paperback Swap is sophomore how much money you saved by an online book swapping swapping instead of paying retail. service in which users create The best part is that books are sent an account and post books that they no longer need (as long as they are in generally straight to your house without you having to go to a bookstore. Besides, the books are in great condition and good condition with no writing). Once you have posted some are even over 30 years old. your first 10 books you get two complimentary credits,

features

highlights

February 2013

11

Chinese Club hosts the new year

By Jordan Payne STAFF WRITER

Jordan Payne/highlights

Chinese New Year is the most important traditional holiday for Chinese around the globe. This year, it occurs on Feb. 10, so the school’s Chinese Club decided to host a celebration on Feb. 5 in the classroom of the Chinese teacher, Simons Wang, that embodied, as best as it could, the festivities of Chinese New Year. Wang’s students carried out the oldest traditions, such as decorating their windows and doors with red paper cuts and couplets with themes such as good fortune, happiness, and wealth. The day before the new year families clean their houses and on the eve they spend their time together feasting on ducks, pigs, chickens, dumplings, noodles, and other delicacies.

They end the night commemorating the holiday with the use of firecrackers. The morning of Chinese New Year is a joyful time for children, as they receive money in red envelopes from their parents.

The joyous and celebratory atmosphere at the Chinese Club meeting and party was due to the loud music that pulsed through the room after the president, senior Michelle Lee, made a few announcements. Delicious foods such as noodles, dumplings, and pizza were served to celebrate this new year―the year of the snake―which was proudly written on the white board as a welcoming message.

This holiday is meaningful in different ways to everyone. To freshman Johnny Li, it is a time for family to gather and eat Chinese food. To club secretary, junior Monica Moreno, it represents a new beginning and a chance to finally do something different or set goals.

According to Chinese Club treasurer, junior Xinqi Yu, this money is what Chinese New Year means to her. This tradition continues until the children are married and have families of their own.

“Being in the club for four years has shown that Gables has accepted the Chinese culture for what it really is instead of the basic stereotypes,” said Lee. The Chinese New Year is said to be a time to reconcile, forget all grudges, and sincerely wish peace and happiness to everyone. These aspects were visible at the party where everyone was getting along as if they had known each other for a lifetime.

CHINES NEW YEAR FESTIVITIES: (Top Left) Traditional Chinese lanterns were placed around Simon Wang’s classroom to liven up the room. (Top Right) On the whiteboard the message, “Happy Chinese New Years! It’s they year of the...? Snake”, welcomed the club members. (Bottom) These paper cuts were made to represent the traditional paper cuts

Students & their

By Christina Parodi STAFF WRITER

Courtesy of Camille Sauberer

Camille Sauberer, junior.

Model.

Standing on your feet all day carrying out a mindless job requiring zero skill is not ideal for making cash on the side when parents stop giving allowances and a students only source of income is to be mostly self-sufficient, these odd jobs are ideal where the line between having fun and working becomes very thin.

Courtesy of Daniel Funnen

Daniel Funnen, senior.

Everglades tour guide.

ODD JOBS Christina Parodi/highlights

Dairon “Cali” Martinez, senior.

Balloon artist.

Ali Stack/highlights

Helium Hearthrob Senior Diron “Cali” Martinez is, in his free time, a balloon artist. Martinez’s boss discovered his creativity at his original job at an ice cream store and decided to ask him if he wanted to join his company of “balloon experts”. Martinez has been twisting and creating balloon art for five months now and loves his job. He works at birthday parties, restaurants and anywhere else his boss assigns him.

“I like my job because I get a good pay for playing with balloons, or as I like to call it, ‘air bending’,” said Martinez.

Gator Greeter An exciting employment option for cash strapped students is senior Daniel Funnen’s adventurous job as a tour guide. Funnen was born to be a tour guide, as his father has been in the business for 25 years. Funnen has been shuffling around tourists for the past year while they get to Miami’s most exciting places like the Everglades and Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and Little Havana. The most interesting part of his tour is when he brings tourists to the Everglades where they go into the heart of the swamp and come face to face with a real alligator.

“I love my job because I get to meet people from around the world and show them how truly amazing and diverse South Florida is,” said Funnen.

Struttin’ Star Imagine working in a high fashion world where you live fast, get clothing for every new trend and get to strut down the catwalk. Junior Camille Sauberer lives this interesting lifestyle of being a high fashion model. Sauberer began this job about four months ago modeling designer clothing at the Raw Artists Awards at “The Stage”.

When she is working, she models the clothing the client wants to be advertised and gets her picture taken wearing these clothes. She gets her jobs by being recommended by previous fashion designers.

Sauberer gets to work mostly in the art districts of Miami.

“At first I was very shy when it came to modeling but now that I’ve become more comfortable it is a lot of fun,” said Sauberer.

A dose of culture:

Gables Art Cinema

By Rachel English STAFF WRITER

The Gables Art Cinema, located at 260 Aragon Avenue, is a theater that features independent films from the United States and abroad.

Located directly across from Books & Books, the building’s facade gives off that classic Miami look and feel. Once you pass the Doric columns at the entrance, a quaint seating area leads directly to the ticket booth. There, movie watchers can bring their student ID and purchase tickets for a reduced price of $9.50, and can go to the main entrance where an usher will direct them into the theater.

Upon entering the cinema, a warm, homey feeling automatically welcomes visitors. The theater is directly in front of the entrance, although there are snacks available in the far off left corner as well. Gourmet treats such as chocolate covered pretzels and chocolate covered almond cookies from the local French bakery, Chocolate Fashion, are available in the concession area.

These sweet indulgences and the single-theater intimate setting is what sets the Gables Art Cinema apart from corporate theaters such as AMC Theatres or Paragon 13.

On top of the ambiance and interior design, The Gables Art Cinema offers Miamians a dose of culture that they cannot experience anywhere else. Over the 2012 and 2013 movie season, the cinema will show 40 feature films that will each play for at least a week. This includes national and international programs which are only featured in a few additional cinemas in Miami- Dade County. Upcoming films include Yossi (starting Feb. 15), The Magistrate (in the cinema from February 1–3) and 2012- 2013 Oscar Nominated Short Films 2013 program, starting Feb. 8.

The Gables Art Cinema was founded by Steven Krams in collaboration with the City of Coral Gables with the intention “to create a cultural and arts hub in the developing downtown Gables Aragon arts district,” said program coordinator Danny Diaz. The Gables Art Cinema is a non-profit organization which “thrive[s] with the support of the community and the audience that [they] serve.”

Additionally, the cinema has a volunteer program open to anybody sixteen and older from Monday to Friday. Some jobs assigned to volunteers include, working as a theater host/usher; general office help including maintenance on our crucial databases; helping market the Cinema in the community; web and graphic design assistance; working on special events that tie-in with the films we show; and hosting visiting filmmakers.

For more information about volunteering, e-mail: asstmanager@gablescinema.com or ask for the Assistant Manager Javier Chavez upon visiting the cinema.

features

highlights

February 2013

12

Spotlight:

MAKIN’ IT BIG: Students seek fame

Yaneth Gonzalez Andrea Biondi/highlights

By Laura Acosta STAFF WRITER

CAUGHT ANOTHER ONE: Security guard Yaneth Gonzalez sits at her desk in the main enterance of the school while freshman Diego Angelini fills out a detention for wearing a spirit shirt on a Monday.

Laura Acosta/highlights Laura Acosta/highlights

Everyone has dreams about what they wish to achieve in the future, and some are already on the path to this success.

With six academies to choose from, the school is the perfect breeding ground for passionate students to develop skills they can use during the rest of their lives.

The school’s academies can all offer students the tools they need to pursue a specific career, or simply help them to grow in a certain activity they enjoy. These professions can range from being an accountant after studying in the Academy of Business, Management, and Information Technology (BM&IT) to taking center stage as an actor with the academy of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA).

Junior Samantha Lambert has always had a passion for music, and has further developed this passion at school in the Band of Distinction under the VPA academy. As a tuba player, Lambert wants “to be an inspiration to all the girls who feel like they can’t [play tuba],” as a large majority of professional tuba players are male.

After she finishes her studies, Lambert wants to use her skill and passion in music to help others through music therapy, allowing them to express themselves and let out their emotions through their passion for music. In devoting themselves to an instrument, others can improve their own well-being. Through this, she wants to “plant the seed” of the love for music in children for generations to come.

For sophomore Oliver Robles, his two years working with yearbook have helped him develop his photography.

Robles sees his photography as a passion, and often shares his photos on social networking sites such as Facebook for all to appreciate. After his studies, Robles would like to create his own business by utilizing his photography skills he currently sees as a hobby.

His pictures in the yearbook usually consist of student athletes or activities in the school, but on his own, his lens typically focuses on the aspects of nature that interest him. In the future, Robles would like to see his pictures in magazines and publications such as National Geographic.

While many students remain clueless as to what they will do for the rest of their lives, some have already learned skills and harnessed passions that will allow them to do well in life. At the school, these students can find the perfect academy that will lead them on the path to success after their time here.

THEY ARE THE FUTURE: (Top) Junior Samantha Lambert smiles next to her tuba while sophomore Oliver Robles (bottom) poses with his camera.

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By Andrea Biondi STAFF WRITER

By now, all of the student body should be quite familiar with the infamous “ID Mami”. Her fame comes from all the detentions she hands out daily in her loyal duty to keep the school under control. Because of this, she has been dubbed the Id-Mami Lady by many students, but outside of the 100-hall’s battlefield, this warrior is simply known as Yaneth Gonzalez.

Gonzalez has been working at the school for 11 years, and happily doing her job as best as she can from day one.

Her strict enforcement of the uniform policy has brought her much fame and created quite the notorious reputation among the school’s students. In fact, students make a strong effort to avoid the 100-hall for fear of receiving a detention or two for their lack of uniform, and wisely so, because upon entrance into the 100-hall, chances of surviving if out of uniform are slim to none.

“I usually write up between 20 and 30 detentions a day,” said Gonzalez; however, she admits that two or three students do get away on a daily basis. Even so, that is a capture to escape ratio of ten to one!

“There hasn’t been one day in the eleven years I’ve worked here that I didn’t have to stop someone for being out of uniform,” said Gonzalez.

Although this strict enforcement of the rules seems absurd to students, the lack of obedience of these rules seems even more absurd to Gonzalez, who seems to always be on the hunt.

“I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m just doing my job, and I know that one day, they will appreciate my work” said Gonzalez with a comforting smile.

sports

highlights

Four years later:

Sport seasons end, seniors reflect

By Gene Liu & Lukas Georgatos

regional championship this year. Senior captain Kevin Lopez’s recollection of the season was nothing but positive.

SPORTS EDITOR & HEAD SPORTS WRITER “I will definitely miss my teammates and all the hard but As the school year ends, so do sport seasons, most notably fun practices and games,” said Lopez, when asked about his affecting senior Cavaliers. Some athletes spent all four years of time playing sports at the school. “My most memorable moment their high school career dedicated to the sport of their choice, for soccer was winning the district championship during my making friendships and lasting memories along the way. junior year.”

Recently, the boys and girls soccer seasons have reached Lopez added that the past four years on the school’s soccer their ends, both teams displaying impressive records and and badminton teams taught him about leadership and its proper reaching their respective district use. championships.

I will definitely miss my teammates Much like Kaufman and “I thought we would go Lopez, senior varsity tennis and all the hard but fun practices and further,” said senior varsity right player Sonja Radosevic, created games. My most memorable moment mid-fielder Nicole Kaufman, “good friends with the girls [on for soccer was winning the district when asked about how her her team],” traveling to normal championship during my junior year. season ended. matches, as well as district She added that playing for Kevin Lopez, and state championships. For the soccer team gave her new Radosevic, she says playing on senior varsity soccer skills a regular high school an actual team will be missed as captain and varsity experience would have failed to tennis is usually an individual provide. badminton team leader sport.

“It gave me an extra sense Overall, the dominating of responsibility and an extra themes with all these fourfamily,” said Kaufman. year Cavalier athletes are the gaining of new abilities and the Balancing her studies and her athletics forced Kaufman creation of lasting relationships. Whether the new skills be time to develop better time management and task prioritizing management, assuming leadership roles, and prioritizing tasks, throughout the four seasons. all will benefit these seniors when they graduate, begin their The boys soccer team went a step further and reached the college years, and venture into the working world.

‘‘

Bridge 4 Peace:

By Gene Liu SPORTS EDITOR

On Mar 2, the fifth annual Bridge 4 Peace will take place on the school’s field. This International Baccalaureate Honor Society (IBHS) project has raised tens of thousands of dollars for sister schools in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

Following suit of previous years, the fund raiser will also include various sports tournaments to appeal to the more athletic students.

Both flag football and soccer are returning in the lineup for this year, and will be joined by volleyball for the first time. Ultimate Frisbee was not chosen this year for lack of interest.

Immediately after the initial lap of the walkathon, the flag football tournament will begin inside the track at around 11:30 am,

School club offers students tournaments to benefit underprivileged children in Jamaica

followed by the soccer tournament. Volleyball will be played on a separate field.

Team rosters for flag football are capped at five players.

Teams for soccer and volleyball, on the other hand, are both capped at six players. The entrance fee per team for each sport will be $15.

Bridge 4 Peace volunteers will be the referees for these 20 minute games. Participants will be allowed to bring their own equipment and practice prior to their games.

To sign up, teams can go to room 301 starting this week. A maximum number of teams will be set, so IBHS advises that participants sign up as soon as they have their team. All proceeds from the tournaments will go towards the Bridge 4 Peace fund raising total.

Uniting schools in a division

By Cyrus Zeledon STAFF WRITER

When it comes to establishing the different divisions of the various sports teams at the school, a few factors are taken into account.

In Florida, there are 16 different districts that make up the divisions for high school sports teams. Out of the districts, Coral Gables falls under District 15. Within each of the divisions, there are eight different classes that a school can fall under, 8 being the highest and 1 being the lowest.

However, classes are ranked by the school’s population and not by a win-loss record. Gables is in the highest class for every sport, 8A or 5A, because of the over 3,400 students that attend the school. Volleyball, softball, football, soccer, and baseball fall under class 8A, while tennis, water polo, and swimming fall under class 5A as there are fewer schools that have these sports as a part of their athletics.

“So as your school population increases or decreases [the school] moves up or down in classes, which also dictates a

different district and a different group of teams [the school] would have to play,” said Athletics Director Louis Romero.

Many student athletes have voiced complaints that the current system to be disadvantageous and unfair because private schools such as Our Lady Lourdes Academy, Columbus, Belen Jesuit, and others are able to play against public school teams.

“I believe that it is unfair because some schools, such as private schools, have better funding,” said junior mid-fielder Danielle Riesco.

Although the current system of deciding the different classes and divisions has been successful over the years, some said that they believe that it should change.

“It should be based on the geographical locations of the schools, so teams like Key West do not have to play teams so far away from them like Miami Jackson Senior High School,” said football offensive coordinator David Cooney.

The schedules of classes for football are redone every 2 years, while every other sports team’s schedules are redone every 5 years.

February

MARK THE DATE Boys Varsity

13

February 2013

Bowling team a possibility

By Gene Liu SPORTS EDITOR

Bowling can become the newest addition to the list of sports the school offers in the fall of the 2013-2014 academic year.

“I was approached by one of the student’s parents and she inquired about why we didn’t have [a bowling team] and if I was opposed to having one,” said Athletic Director Louis Romero when asked how this idea initiated.

The original bowling team had to be disbanded as the cost for having the team was too high, considering the “limited participation”.

“I am not against trying to start it up again if there is enough interest,” said Romero.

The minimum interest required to officially create a team is eight females and eight males, 16 overall. As of the Feb 1, there are four students who have signed up in only the couple days it has been on the morning announcements.

The announcements are planned to run for two or three more weeks.

Some are confused about how to sign up. Romero explains that the activities office is not in charge, and instead, aspiring players should go directly to Romero’s office.

“More than likely, [the team] will practice at Bird Bowl. It is the nearest bowling alley,” said Romero.

Depending on price negotiations, Splitsville at Sunset Place may be used as the current price is expensive.

The final decision as to the offering of a bowling team will be made Mar 21, the main obstacle being participation.

CAVALIER STAT BOX

Boys Basketball League Record 10 - 7

JAN 10 JAN 15 JAN 17

Cavaliers

vs R. 56 - 43 W

@ Reagan

Reagan

vs Miami Cavaliers @ Miami Springs53 - 43 W

B. Goleman @ CGHS

Springs

vs Cavaliers 38 - 60 W

JAN 19 Palmetto High

vs Cavaliers 59 - 57 L

@ CGHS

Girls Soccer League Record 11 - 2

DEC 3 DEC 7 DEC 10 DEC 17 DEC 20 JAN 10

Cavaliers

@ Coral Park

B. Goleman @ CGHS

Southwest

vs Coral 5-1W

Park

vs Cavaliers 1-2W

@ CGHS

vs Cavaliers 1-4W

@ CGHS

vs 4-1L

Ferguson Cavaliers

@ Braddock

Cavaliers

@ Varela

Cavaliers

vs Braddock 6-0W vs F. 3-0W

Varela

to support our athletic teams and cheer them on!

Varsity

Boys Varsity

Boys Varsity

15 16 18 18

Volleyball

vs. Miami Christian

Fri. at 3:30 p.m. at Coral Gables Senior High

Wrestling

Baseball

Volleyball

Saturday at Lakeland, Florida

Mon. at 3:30 p.m. at Coral Reef Senior High

Mon. at 3:30 p.m. at Michael Krop Senior High

State Tournament

vs. Coral Reef

vs. Krop

sports

highlights

February 2013

Electrifying Super Bowl Commentary by Lukas Georgatos HEAD SPORTS WRITER

This year’s epic battle between the Harbaugh brothers and their teams, the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers, had several unexpected occurrences, from an underdog blowout to a stadium power outage to a last minute effort to seal the title.

Entering the Super Bowl, the Ravens were the underdog and several sports analysts thought it was no question the 49ers would be the next Super Bowl champs. It came as a huge surprise when Baltimore quickly began to dominate San Francisco with a 14-3 score.

During the second quarter, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw an interception landing directly in the hands of Ravens’ safety Ed Reed. The pick lead to a brawl that had helmets flying off players’ heads all over the field. The Ravens’ drive following the interception would end in a failed fake field goal attempt. However, Baltimore quickly redeemed themselves with a 56 yard pass from quarterback Joe Flacco to receiver Jacoby Jones for a touchdown that furthered the gap between the teams. The 49ers bad offensive and defensive play during

the first half gave way for a possible Ravens blowout.

Baltimore continued its reign in the third quarter with a quick 108 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Jacoby Jones that tied the current NFL record for longest kickoff return. After only two minutes of the third had elapsed, the Super Dome, the venue for the Super Bowl, experienced a power outage that knocked out half the lights illuminating the field.

After a 34 minute break caused by the outage, the 49ers responded with an incredible comeback with two consecutive touchdowns in the third and another in the fourth that closed the gap to a five point difference. With only seconds left, Baltimore ran down the clock to four seconds by faking a punt and taking a safety. San Francisco was unable to make anything of the punt return following the safety, leaving Baltimore victorious.

“It was a Super Bowl that lived up to expectations and came down to the wire even though it seemed like it was going to be a blowout,” said senior Kevin Arizandieta.

It was unfortunate to see former gables student and now 49ers player Frank Gore get so close to the championship but lose it. However, as far as the game went, it was one of the most exciting Super Bowls in the past couple years.

With a final score of 34-31 Most Valuable Player Joe Flacco ended the night with the signature “I’m going to Disney World”.

Baseball’s Hall of Infamy Commentary by Rachel Ellis

“I think it’s sad because there are a lot of talented players in the majors and it would be a shame for these great players to not make it through after all the hard work they have put into the For the first time since 1996 and for the sport,” said sophomore varsity baseball player Robert Montes. eighth time ever, no Major League Baseball The suspected abusers like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, (MLB) player received the 75 percent and Sammy Sosa, all of whom would be worthy of a spot in the of the vote necessary for induction into Hall of Fame were overlooked the National due to their PED suspicion.

I think it's sad because there are a lot Baseball Hall This year’s only inductees of Fame. The of talented players in the majors and came from the pre-integration privately owned Hall of Fame is era of baseball in 1946, which it would be a shame for these great located in Cooperstown, New York makes it the first time that players to not make it through after all and also serves as an American there are no living inductees the hard work they have put into the History Museum. The Hall of Fame since 1965. Cooperstown sport. was established on June 12, 1939 expects to take a hit because and has been dedicated to fostering Robert Montes, this year’s lack of inductees an appreciation for baseball and sophomore varsity baseball will most likely reduce its prestigious players for over 70 the usual 15,000 to 20,000 player years. baseball fans and tourists that This year’s ballot included visit annually.

37 candidates: among those The Hall hopes that the PED generation will only hinder were several former players who were presumably tied to inductions from this year, but expects less fans to visit the Hall performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), dooming their chances of for years to come. induction.

STAFF WRITER

‘‘

Student Spotlight

Courtesy of Camilo Miranda

Camilo Miranda: Go Kart racer

By Orso Raymo STAFF WRITER

From a young age, senior Camilo Miranda has had an interest in motorsports.

“I went to my first race when I was four and I’ve loved racing ever since,” said Miranda.

He currently go-karts in a South Florida junior division, and plans on competing in a handful of local events in the coming months, namely the Florida Karting championship in March and the Homestead Karting Championship in April.

To be competitive in those races, he’s been practicing twice a week at the Homestead and Palm Beach Speedway.

He reports that his times have consistently shrunk in the past few months. He has not, however, faced the harrows of maintenance and tweaking all alone because he practices, dismantles, and tweaks all with

his dedicated team.

“We practice our lines and tune our suspension setups constantly in order to get the best possible times,” reported Miranda.

However it’s not all fun and games, Miranda reports he’s spent a substantial amount of money on his kart and time commuting to distant tracks biweekly.

“But, I think it’s worth it,” said Miranda. “I really like karting,” Miranda plans on making a career out of his interest in motorsports.

“It’s too late for me to become a professional driver, but I can make it as a technician,” confirmed Miranda.

Come spring he will be heading north to attend Indiana Purdue for mechanical engineering, and while the tracks of South Florida will be losing a regular, the professional racing world will be gaining a valuable member.

14

NHL lockout finally ended Commentary by Gene Liu SPORTS EDITOR

For South Floridians who actually like ice hockey and those who enjoy casual brutality, the sports gods have spoken: there will be a 2012-2013 National Hockey League (NHL) season.

The lockout that lasted twice as long as Kim Kardashian’s marriage has finally ended. However, after slashing over 500 games total due to bickering, we’re only left with a carcass of the usual 82 game schedule, euphemistically named “mini season.”

“It’s about time,” said senior ice hockey enthusiast and goalie Sean Pino.

The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) seem to enjoy aggravating their followers as three lockouts and a strike have scarred the league’s past 20 years.

Apparently, free agent contract limits and player revenue is more important than pleasing fans, the sole purpose for professional sports.

“The biggest relief is that now I can fall asleep watching professional hockey every night, instead of college hockey,” Pino added.

Many nationwide remain hesitant about purchasing tickets and rewarding the league for unnecessarily drawing out the dispute, but, considering their love of ice hockey, the fans can be persuaded to overlook the unfavorable conditions, a lesson the league and players’ association could learn.

To both the NHL and NHLPA, I recommend a very public apology to the fans, and others annoyed by the fans complaining about the lockout, for being so stubborn and inconsiderate. Also, these hockey-less four months jeopardized the jobs and livelihoods of food vendors, ushers, mascots, Zamboni drivers, and the list continues.

Extending this apology to the aforementioned might not be a bad idea either.

When the current collective bargaining agreement expires, I only wish that ice hockey enthusiasts won’t have to endure this purgatory-like state again. Maybe next time, they can play out of respect for the fans and the game, instead of a couple extra digits on their paychecks. It’s their job to entertain the masses, not enrage them; referees have already perfected the latter.

In the meantime, whether you root for the hometown Florida Panthers or some other out-of-town team, support your local ticket scalpers, don your team’s colors, and let the games begin.

Bro, do you even lift?

Commentary by Andrea Biondi STAFF WRITER

February has just begun, yet many students and teachers alike have already forfeited the most common New Year’s resolution of them all: “This year, I will get swole,” or its many variations.

Most people fall into the same trap: they start the year wanting to lose their newlygained winter break weight and decide to go exercise four times a week right off the bat.

Although these actions are filled with good intentions, this is the point at which most people trip and fall back into the pit of the sedentary lifestyle.

If one is unaccustomed to exercising, jumping into the gym right away and starting a workout routine which involves exercising

four or five times a week will shock the body with extreme soreness that one will most likely also not be accustomed to. This soreness has discouraged many a man from returning to the gym or continuing his/her desired workout routine; however, you need not fall into this trap as well, and if you already have, it’s not too late.

The key is to ease into it. Start with one or two workouts a week, leaving two or three days between each workout in order to rest. If you will be weight lifting, make sure that you learn how to properly perform each exercise and that you select an appropriate weight.

Feel free to even reference previous issues of highlights and try some of the many workouts which have been described in detail. As time passes and you gain strength, as well as endurance, you will eventually be able to work out much more often, and it is recommended that you do so.

the scene

highlights February 2013

Underground & underappreciated

By Raquel Braun

It is easy to be drawn into the social aspect of the Art Walk experience, so to introduce up-and-coming artists as well as those already known, Wynwood is offering different guided tours. Every Art Walk, which falls on every second Saturday of the month, multiple guided tours are offered to highlight the galleries that are not well-known and deserve recognition.

Standard Tour Every second Saturday of the month, Wynwood hosts a standard, one-hour tour, aiming to expose unknown galleries. It costs fifteen dollars and payments can be electronically submitted via paypal on the art walk website. Spots are limited so it is suggested to register early.

Maggie Rivers/highlights

STAFF WRITER

:

CULTURED: Wynwood Underground tours, open to the public, spotlight lesser-known artists, some of whose work is featured above.

BOOKS

2

By Araceli Sanchez

Underground Tour Hard-core art enthusiasts may opt for Wynwood’s Underground Tour, an hour long guided tour that, according to the website, targets some of “the newest, most daring, most innovative art spaces in the Wynwood area.” It has been described as “Off Broadway”, but for art and is the same price as the standard tour.

Spanish Tour Due to Miami’s diverse nature, Art Walk also offers guided tours showcasing Latin American and Spanish artists. For the same price as the other tours, it gives an overview on the history as well as the development of the area. Keep in mind that this is an Art Walk tour completely in Spanish, so if you are not a proficient Spanish speaker, it is suggested that you opt for one of the English tours.

Hip Coral Gables literature oasis serves as local hotspot

For over thirty years, Books & Books has distinguished itself as a showcase for both local and nationally-acclaimed authors, artists, and musicians. Several Books & Books locations are now scattered over South Florida and the Caribbean, though the original store still stands tucked into the backstreets of Miracle Mile.

Books & Books Coral Gables was founded by Mitchell Kaplan in 1982. Since then, it has grown into one of the most respected independent bookstores in the area, and a gathering place for writers and book-lovers around South Florida.

Six other locations, both large and small, followed the original store in its opening. These locations include Miami Beach, a small shop in Miami International Airport, and even a shop in Grand Cayman. The stores are decorated with floor-to-ceiling wooden bookcases, offering a wide variety of books of every literary genre, and “one of the largest collections of art books you’ll find anywhere” according to Kaplan. The Miami Beach and STAFF WRITER

15

Coral Gables locations are equipped with a full-service café and restaurant, and an outdoor courtyard. The stores are venues for literary events as well as art displays and music from South Florida artists. Kaplan describes the store as “a place where people can gather and meet friends and feel part of a larger community.”

The store’s distinctive indie vibe makes Books & Books a popular South Florida destination. With weekly concerts at the Coral Gables locations both Fridays and Saturdays, Books and Books attracts a variety of people, both young and old, because of its distinctive atmosphere which differentiates the store from big corporate bookstores.

Through the continuous efforts and passion of its local owner and staff, Books & Books is a thriving example of what a neighborhood Araceli Sanchez/highlights business should be: a place that makes anyone CALM AND COZY: Books and Books proves to be an environment who enters feel like they are home. for any book lover with its comfortable and quiet seating areas.

the scene

highlights February 2013

16

, r e d a e R d e v BWitehloValentine's steadily approaching, highligahrtasntheeads stoeacrrceahedte u g s n io t a c lo g in c u d in ev near and af r for rlok between you and your significant other. that spa Dining out on the day of love

By Audrey Fernandez INSIGHT EDITOR

Lemoni Café

Couples who often have a difficult time finding a place that will satisfy their tastes do not need to search further.

With a constantly varying menu, Lemoni Café, is a whack of cheap goodness from its natural smoothies and veggiepacked salads to its meaty paninis and their one-of-a-kind desserts. The many exotic stained glass lanterns hanging from the ceiling and vintage framed French and English magazine clippings hanging on the wall add to the unique feeling of this cafe. Signature items of theirs include paninis such as the Lemoni Supremo, with marinated chicken, pesto, Brie, and cherry tomatoes and their Brie Bites, which are slices of Brie cheese toasted over ciabatta bread with date spread, sliced almonds and honey. Most items on the menu are under $10. ($ out of $$$$)

Gigi

Although the lofty, urban décor centered on glass and steel strays far from the romantic chord one might be looking to strike on the day of love, don’t scratch this venue off your list just yet. This conceptual restaurant abounding with youth and energy seeks to provide its customers with “cutting edge Asian-inspired and freshly prepared cuisine that is innovative and affordable”. Just about every dish delights: two fluffy roasted-pork buns; shreds of braised short ribs served on a puree of smoky plantains; Avocado and tomato salad with citrus, hearts of palm and crunchy rice, and so forth. The shareable plates will have you and your date bonding over more than just love. Dishes start at $3 and rise to only $16. An average meal for two, tip included, is about $60. ($$ out of $$$$)

Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill

For couples looking for an atmosphere that is just as eccentric as the food served, Sugarcane, located in the rapidly developing Midtown district, is the place to go.

With three separate kitchens – a robata grill, raw bar, and international tapas kitchen – there is something on the menu guaranteed to please all taste buds. Highlights include goat cheese croquettes accompanied with a membrillo marmalade, bacon wrapped dates with a sausage filling, tuna sashimi, and raw beef tenderloin. For dessert, their Torrejas plate, a custardy French toast served with apples and vanilla ice cream, is sure to seal the dining experience.

The reasonable pricing, when combined with the exotic menu and rustic atmosphere, culminates in a one-of-a-kind dining experience. ($$$ out of $$$$) Audrey Fernandez/highlights

WINE & DINE ME: These romantic locales provide a classier alternative to the typical dinner date with cozier atmospheres and food options that the local Chili’s cannot provide.

Passionate plays:

By Laura Acosta STAFF WRITER

topics, from homosexuals in the military to interracial marriage. Interacting with her audience as a part of her show, Alexander sits in the crowd, making casual conversation with viewers, and even offering them something to eat.

“We are happy to give her the opportunity to shine in her own hometown, in her own right,” said Marte Siebenhar, the Director of Communications at The SandBox. The SandBox is an international program that features four different artists over the course of one year.

The artists perform for three weeks after having gone through a three-week rehearsal period. The program is not meant to limit these artists, thus allowing them to dance, sing, and express themselves freely on stage.

Applicants are chosen by the resident and executive directors as well as the resident artist of the SandBox, who started the program in December of 2012 at the beginning of their season.

Courtesy of Miami Theater Center

On the days surrounding Valentine’s Day, couples get sappy and single people are reminded of their loneliness.

Every year, drugstores stock their shelves with the same chocolate boxes and red teddy bears that never make it to March. For an alternative to the disposable $3 gifts, The SandBox offers a solution that is sure to please artistic crowds.

Until February 23, the Miami Theater Center is showing Hate! An American Love Story in its small SandBox theatre, holding around 50 people. Chosen from over 300 submissions, and deal with a multitude of Valentine’s Day topics, the show features Miami artist Christina Alexander in her one-woman show where she performs as eight characters in 16 monologues.

As an actress, Alexander is extremely diverse. Her monologues will include a wide range of characters and

Valentine’s Day at the Sandbox

HEART AND SOUL: The Sandbox stages engaging plays for Valentine’s Day viewers. Christina Alexander, featured above, plays eight different characters in a series of 16 monologues called Hate! An American Love Story.

The Sandbox

9816 NE 2nd Ave Miami Shores, FL 33138 (305) 751-9550

February 8-23 Every Fri & Sat 8:00 pm

Jazz: Cupid’s aphrodisiac

By Francis Perez STAFF WRITER

The most romantic time of the year has once again undulated our way, though this year it has settled profoundly in the beauty of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, and manifested in the immediate thrilling notes of jazz. The Valentines Day jazz concert begins at 7:00pm for the Romeos and Juliets; for the single zealous romantics; and for the adoring be-bop fanatics. The virtuoso and six-time Grammy winning jazz artist born in Artemisa, Cuba, Arturo Sandoval, will be hosting the iridescently moonlit night. The concert will be taking place on the green grass where the audience will lay their red and white checkered blankets, their picnic baskets full of cheese and wine, and of course their darling to hold a hand and kiss throughout the night.

Ages 6 to 18 are allowed in for a fee of $20; for adult non-members it is $75, and for members 60 dollars. Tickets are available online through their website, fairchildgarden.org.

A certain mindset is required for attending the concert; ranging from a feeling of the roaring 20s in Harlem, New York, where the rhythm of snapping fingers and tapping feet is only found in the Cotton Club right down the street; or merely the feeling of just wanting to spend a night with a beloved under the spotted moon, surrounding each other with warm arms and attention, and looking at your jewel with sparkling eye to eye.

Love, highlig

hts