Issue 7, Vol. 54

C

O

R

A

L

G

A

B

L

E

S

S

E

N

I

O

R

H

I

G

highlights

THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM: After coming up short two years in a row against Cypress Bay High School in the state finals, the boys’ varsity tennis team, led by seniors Ricardo Mercado (left), Mirko Radosevic (top right) and Daniel Spatz (bottom right), brought home the Class 4A championship trophy on April 18.

By Rachel Ellis and Nicolas Rivero

of the tournament, as Cypress Bay was ahead by one point before the final round.

The teams split sets in both doubles matches, forcing a tie breaker in each match that would finally decide the tournament.

Redemption was sweet for the boys’ varsity tennis The Cavaliers won both tie breakers, clinching the state title. team. For two straight years they had traveled to San “We went on a ten point tie break at the end of the second Lando Park in Orlando for the state tournament and for [doubles] match, the final round of the tournament. We won the two straight years they had gone to the finals and lost tiebreak and ended up winning in the third set, with a final score to Cypress Bay High School. Finally, on April 18, the of 10-6,” said senior Mirko Radosevic. team faced Cypress Bay again in the finals and won the The team was made up of a talented group of upperclassClass 4A State Title for the first time in 42 years. men: seniors Mirko Radosevic, Daniel Spatz, Ricardo Mercado For the boys’ team it was their third year in a row and Jacobo Nieto, and juniors Cristian Gazzolo and Oliver winning the district, Greater Miami Athletic ConferOtero. Radosevic, Otero, Gazzolo ence (GMAC), and regional and Nieto are ranked in the top 100 titles. The girls’ varsity team also We have had a great team high school players in the state. won districts for the third year in a for the last few years, so it “We have had a great team for row. was great to get over the the last few years, so it was great to “This being my third year going hump and bring back the state get over the hump and bring back to states, it feels really good to have championship title for Gables. the state championship title for finally beaten them [Cypress Bay].

Gables. We are now in the record We had a deep team this year and a David Weiner, books and a part of history. What a lot of raw talent that really contribVarsity Tennis Coach feeling,” said Varsity Tennis Coach uted to a successful season. There David Weiner. were a couple of crucial wins that we “We kept our matches under had for our doubles matches and that control and made sure to hold a solid record for ourselves by ultimately sealed states for us,” said junior Cristian Gazzolo. playing consistently throughout the entire season,” said Otero.

There were a total of eight games played during the tournaThe players trained separately at local parks and tennis ment, five doubles and three singles matches, in which the clubs, but nonetheless came together as a team to win a state team got a point for every match that they won. After a strong title for the school. showing in the first round, the team moved on to the doubles semifinals. There they had to win the last two doubles matches

sports

STAFF WRITER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

‘‘

2012

State Finals

Coral Gables Senior High vs

Cypress Bay High School

Loss 10-14

Courtesy of Cavaleon

2013

State Finals

Coral Gables Senior High vs

Cypress Bay High School

Loss 10-17

2014

Courtesy of Cavaleon

State Finals

Coral Gables Senior High vs

M a y 2 014 ,

Vol. 54

Courtesy of Cavaleon

IN MEMORY

Armani English

By Jordan Payne STAFF WRITER

Last week, students mourned the loss of a peer and friend. On April 27, freshman Armani English drowned while swimming with friends in a Cutler Bay lake.

Students wore red at school to honor English, a junior varsity basketball player and Academy of Finance student.

Head basketball coach Gaston “Chachi” Rodriguez first met English at a basketball camp at Coral Reef Senior High when English was in fifth grade. Rodriguez continued to see English around throughout his middle school years.

It wasn’t until English came to the school and joined the basketball team that Rodriguez said he truly got to know the 15 year old.

“He was a good kid with a big smile. He liked to make people laugh,” said Rodriguez.

Sophomore Jordan Sheppard, a basketball player and friend of English, commented that English’s big heart and ambition will be missed above all.

“He always wanted to make other people happy,” said Sheppard.

On April 28, a vigil was held at the school for the basketball team and English’s close friends to honor his memory and provide support from grief counselors and a pastor.

“His confidence and light-hearted demeanor was contagious. I feel blessed to have known him and I’m grateful for all that he taught me,” said English teacher Claudia Christensen.

English drowned in Saga Bay Park Lake in Cutler Bay around 4 p.m. on April 27. Friends called 911, the MiamiDade Fire Rescue arrived, but English was pronounced dead after being transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital. A wake service was held on May 2, followed by a funeral service and repast service on May 3.

“Armani was the kind of person who was nice to everybody and had respect for everybody. He has such a unique personality and there’s no doubt we will miss that about him.

And he was a great basketball player with lots of potential and that being said, another way he’ll be missed is on the court,” said sophomore basketball player Taylor Fay.

news

Courtesy of Cavaleon

Tennis takes states

I s s u e 7,

“

Armani is really one of a kind. Me and him shared a special bond and spent more time laughing together than anything else.

There was something about Armani with his gold bookbag and gold chain and crazy shoes that just made you smile. He was so approachable, such a good listener, and he truly cared about what you had to say...

We all develop a close relationship being on the basketball team, and I feel like I’ve lost my brother...He absolutely is the definition of an angel.

“

4 5 0 B i r d R o a d , C o r a l G a b l e s , F L 3 314 6

-Jessica Landsberg, sophomore

Cypress Bay High School Courtesy of Cavaleon

Win 13-12

Compiled by Jordan Payne

H

preview

highlights

the scene

features news

Gablette Revue closes curtains on another succesful year.

MAY 5

FIRST DAY OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE TESTING

27 JUNE 5

GRADUATION, BANK ATLANTIC CENTER, 9 A.M.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR 9TH, 10TH, 11TH GRADES

Check it.

Missed issues of highlights this year?

Check out our online portfolio at www.issuu.com/gableshighights

Students start a robotics club to learn how to and compete at building and programming robots.

P. 19

highlights duo Maggie and Bianca explore Miami for a day on just $25.

Maggie Rivers/highlights

P. 4

upcoming events

P. 15

2 Jordan Payne/highlights

Olivia Field/highlights

May 2014

a letter FROM THE EDITOR

Look, I don’t know how I ended up as Editor-in-Chief either. From the first day of summer production, when I overslept and showed up late to my own house, I’ve been on a strange journey to grow enough as a leader to be able to will a staff of 30 teenagers to do print journalism. Every first draft I’ve ever thrown in the air in half-mock exasperation, every pen I’ve ever flung at Joey’s head, and every conversation, serious or sarcastic, that I’ve had with each member of my staff have made me the editor I am today. What has defined this year for me isn’t the 116 pages we’ve printed, but the unhealthy amount of time I’ve spent in room F237 around the ridiculous kind of people who bring in a me-shaped piñata for my birthday or give Remy a live cat during Secret Santa. As I graduate and have to say goodbye to them, the staff also bids farewell to a few true journalistic studs. Although Javi joined the staff in his senior year, he quickly established himself as the go-to guy for Insight writing, funny outbursts, and a loud voice when you need the room quiet, pronto. Concia returned for his second year on the staff as a dependable writer and a regular contributor to the opinion section. And to Orso, our sometimes-Business Manager: we may not be co-editors anymore but you’re still my other (better?) half. For the editors taking over next year, I have the utmost faith that you will supersede anything we have done over the past seven issues. Camila, your knack for writing has always impressed me and I know you’ll be the latest in a long line of beloved news editors. Stephan, you may be the best opinion writer in the state according to FSPA, but I still beat you in the no-winter-wear challenge in Boston. Raquel, thank you for putting yourself through the torture of making seven Insight layouts and putting up with all of our nonsense all year long. Bianca, your amazing ability to get things out of people (intimate and personal quotes, pictures of them kissing, etc.) will serve you well as you work with writers next year. Francis, you are the only editor who never gave me a headache this year. I have never had any doubt that you’ll do well. Laura, you were built for The Scene. You are more hip, artsy, and fashionable than I will ever be. Cyrus, your loyalty and work ethic are exemplary. Go slay those typos. Maggie, I couldn’t have asked for a better partner this year. Our layouts and editors have all benefitted from your talent for design, unmasked honesty, and relentless commitment to getting things right. Brooke, I’m handing you the reins with complete confidence.

You have the respect of a great staff and every quality of an Editor-inChief. Mrs. Gonzalez, congrats on getting married. I hope your views on pregnancy never change because I don’t know what we’d do without you for a year. Thanks for everything, Nicolas Rivero EDITOR-IN-CHIEF highlights. I love you all to bits.

news

highlights May 2014

Old Spice tour visits, donates $2,500

3

By Jordan Payne STAFF WRITER

Maggie Rivers/highlights SCENT RESPONSIBLY: (Top Left) Old Spice personality and commercial star Isaiah Mustafa demonstrates how to correctly apply body spray using silly string and senior Mark Wynn as his model. (Bottom Left) After asking a question at the presentation, freshman Patrick Diaz takes a “selfie” on the auditorium stage with Mustafa. (Right) Mustafa teaches senior Sergio Caviano how to speak in his famous voice.

Old Spice spokesman and commercial star Isaiah Mustafa held a pep rally assembly in the auditorium on April 15. This stop was one of the six high schools that Mustafa and the Old Spice team are making across the country on their “Smellcome to Manhood” tour, which aims to teach young men how to “scent responsibly” with Old Spice body spray. In addition, Old Spice donated $2,500, which will go towards future renovations for the score board on Nick Koty’s field.

Greeted by cheerleaders and band members and introduced by head football coach Roger Pollard, Mustafa spoke to students about how to properly apply body spray, using sophomore Shakur Cooper and senior Mark Wynn as demonstrators. Mustafa used his strong stage presence and commanding voice, as well as silly string and fake muscles, to get his message across.

According to Old Spice, 13 percent of young men admit to spraying head to toe, 55 percent apply body spray over their clothes, 11 percent spray and walk through, and 24 percent apply body spray multiple times a day. However, Mustafa informed the students that each of the above is incorrect and potentially dangerous, and that correct form includes holding the can six inches away from the body, spraying across the bare chest for no more than two seconds, and only applying once a day.

The event concluded with a light and witty question-and-answer segment and “selfie” opportunities with Mustafa for those students who asked questions.

When asked what qualities earned him the title of Old Spice spokesman, Mustafa said, “Well, one, I have an impeccably amazing chest; two, my voice tends to beckon mermaids; and three… I smell good.”

The score board renovations will cost approximately $5,000. As soon as the athletic department can acquire the remaining funds, the score board will be fixed for game and practice use.

Changes for next school year

Van Wyk to run IBHS New IB math class

By Haley Manning STAFF WRITER

International Baccalaureate (IB) coordinator Diana Van Wyk will take over English teacher Jessica Roman’s advisory position for the International Baccalaureate Honor Society (IBHS).

Van Wyk has already started working on her duties as an advisor for the club by holding interviews for next year’s potential board members and planning some end of the year events.

“I’m very excited about working with this group. They have done a wonderful job so far and my priority is to support them in taking the club in whatever direction they want to go,” said Van Wyk. Even though Roman is not advising anymore, Mentoring Minds Coordinator Leidy Villa said that the club plans on working with Roman next year since she has supervised it for many years.

“It was definitely a bitter sweet moment. Mrs. Roman has done so much for the club every year and having Van Wyk as the new club advisor will be a change with many positive benefits.

We see this change as something that will improve the club and IBHS looks forward to working with Van Wyk,” said Villa.

IBHS is involved in many activities around the school, including Stride 4 Senegal, Mentoring Minds, the IB senior breakfast and maintaining the IB patio.

“There are many [IBHS] events connected to the magnet program, from Cav Camp to [IB] pinning to Bridge 4 Peace. It seems a natural fit for me to work hand-in-hand with IBHS to make sure that they run as smooth as possible and are successful,” said Van Wyk.

Senior Spirit Week

By Jordan Payne STAFF WRITER

Next year, an International Baccalaureate (IB) Pre-Calculus class that will also include Calculus and Statistics will be introduced at the school. This class will be taken by juniors who wish to follow the IB Mathematics Standard Level (SL) track but would not otherwise be able to take it because of a lack of Pre-Calculus on their transcripts before their junior year.

As it stands, IB students who are not considered “advanced” take Geometry and Algebra II during their freshman and sophomore years. They then have no choice but to take Math Studies SL, which is a two-year course, unless they advance over the summer (despite already being advanced by one year). Following this path, they graduate without calculus or pre-calculus. On the other hand, if students were to enter a different academy, they would earn credit for Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Pre-Calculus.

To ratify this internal IB issue, the new class was created. The students will now have the opportunity to take IB Pre-Calculus (mixed with calculus and statistics) during their junior year and then IB Calculus, or Mathematics SL, during their senior year.

The class will be open to students currently in Algebra II who have all As and Bs in that class, and to students with Cs if they have a teacher recommendation. As it stands, the class will be taught by math teacher Niurka Prado, but nothing has been finalized.

“I’m really excited at being able to provide more students the opportunity to reach the Calculus level,” said IB Coordinator Diana Van Wyk.

Olivia Field/highlights 2104 PRIDE: (Left) Seniors Eliezer Santos and Tiah Caldwell flashback to the past in their toddler clothes on Kindergarten Day. (Middle) Seniors Tatiana Odisho and Alana Starke wear their future school colors for College Day. (Top Right) Wearing their grandmothers’ dresses, seniors Thaimi Mustelier and Ivette Troitino show spirit on Senior Citizen Day. (Bottom Right) On Celebrity Day, senior Karina Williams dressed up as tennis star Serena Williams and senior Rada McKinnon dressed up as Olivia Pope from the TV series Scandal.

highlights May 2014

Students awarded at annual ceremony

4

By Camila Lupi STAFF WRITER

Camila Lupi/highlights

The annual Awards Ceremony was held in the auditorium on April 30 in the evening. The ceremony serves to award those students who excel in academics, community service, athletics, and/or a particular subject area and those seniors who have received certain scholarships.

Approximately 90 awards were presented, with the most being given to seniors and the least being reserved for freshmen.

The night began with the introduction of the two Masters of Ceremonies, seniors Maxwell Wood and Tia Plagata, who briefly discussed the purpose of the awards and the ceremony itself.

The award presenters ranged from school administrators, including Principal Adolfo Costa, to school staff and teachers. Some of the book awards were presented to the recipients by alumni representing a particular college or university. Representatives or members of certain scholarship programs and organizations also presented awards. Following the presentation of awards to freshmen came the seniors, followed by the juniors and then sophomores, and finally came the department and athletic awards.

“Getting there was very nerve wracking. I kept imagining myself tripping while walking on stage, but overall the ceremony was lovely and I was extremely proud of myself and everyone else who was recognized,” said junior and University of Virginia Book Award recipient Caroline Bauwens.

Last November, teachers were emailed and asked to nominate students of all grade levels.

Students who received two or more nominations were invited to apply to receive an award. After applications, teachers were asked to vote for students from a list of those who applied. Students who received the most votes made it to the next round where a committee of 10 teachers got together and reviewed the applications. The committee then decided which students would receive which award. Those students who excel in a certain subject were selected by teachers and staff members to receive a department award. The selected students were invited, along with their families, to attend the ceremony.

“Towards the end was definitely the most work, but right before the ceremony started I knew we’d done everything right and I wasn’t nervous at all. Everything ran really smoothly even though not all the awards recipients showed up. It was really rewarding to witness such a successful night,” said junior and Student Activities Secretary of Awards Claire Shillington.

THE BEST OF THE BEST: (Top) The sophomore award recipients stand with their proud Principal Adolfo Costa in the lobby of the auditorium. (Bottom) Master of Ceremonies Maxwell Wood addresses the audience as he announces the next award presenter.

Eco Summit planned Gablettes in revue

By Eleonor Bauwens STAFF WRITER

Olivia Field/highlights KICKING IT: Gablettes coach Maureen Marmesh joins the 2013-2014 team during its renowned kick routine to the song of “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Hairspray.

By Olivia Field STAFF WRITER

The curtain close of this year’s Gablette Revue on April 24 marked the end of a successful year for the 2013-2014 Gablettes & Co. team. The night was filled with numbers choreographed by head coach Maureen Marmesh, along with other elements including a mini graduation to commemorate the four seniors on the team.

From start to finish, the event was overflowing with the emotions surrounding the seniors’ last performances. The four girls got to showcase their talent and love for one another in a vast majority of the dances, including one that followed their life throughout high school.

“The three year dance has to be my favorite because those were the 10 girls I started with three years ago, in 2010, and I got to share the moment with them,” said Gablettes Captain Alexis Mendez.

The day after their trip to Orlando for the National Dance Association National Championship, the Gablettes began practicing for the 21 different dances in the Revue. The competition dances were improved and new choreography was learned in preparation for the event.

Each of the team officers got a chance to choreograph their own group dance for the revue. Along with a handpicked bunch of Gablettes, Junior Officer Sofia Sanz de Acedo performed her own choreographed routine to the song “Pompeii” by Bastille. “[Creating my own dance] was really exciting and I loved being able to see my own choreography evolve and adapt to all the dancers,” said Sanz de Acedo.

Marmesh’s dance classes also performed dances they learned and choreographed in class. From students in Dance Technique 1 to those in choreography classes, every dance student got their five minutes of fame.

!

Senior Samantha Morrison, secretary of Gables Earth, has created an Eco Summit that will help students construct their own mini urbanized hydroponic gardens. The Eco Summit intends to engage the school in the ideas of sustainability and appreciation for the earth. In order to fund this project, Morrison applied for a $500 grant from Dream for Green, a program that encourages the Eco Summit; any additional funds will be covered by Gables Earth.

Morrison said she came up with this idea after discovering that the cheap price of junk food and more expensive price of fruits and vegetables has created a system of food inequality that encourages the purchase of junk food. This, according to Morrison, creates a higher rate of obesity and unhealthiness as well as death in extreme cases. In urban and low income areas many families have no access to gardens or the possibility to have their own garden. Morrison hopes to show how manageable, neat, urbanized hydroponic gardens may lessen food inequality and give people the opportunity to live a healthier life.

“I hope this will give more people access to a green way of life and inspire them to come up with innovations to help the Earth and themselves, “said Morrison.

The Eco Summit will take place at the end of May, after the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate exams finish. All biology classes will have a chance to attend in shifts throughout the day and students will be allowed to go during lunch and after school. More information about how to attend the Eco Summit will be posted on the Gables Earth Facebook page.

FBLA wins at states

By Mia Tolpin STAFF WRITER

The school’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) team will be advancing to the national competition after months of rigorous training. FBLA is an international vocational student organization focused around business courses that aim to improve members’ leadership skills and to promote civic and personal responsibilities while practicing professional business etiquette.

This year, 11 members from the school’s FBLA club will be attending nationals for the following competitions: Management Information Systems, Network Design, Parliamentary Procedures, and Introduction to Parliamentary Procedures.

“I get to see the growth of students that get involved in FBLA from the beginning stages to their senior year, and also I’m pretty competitive so it gives me an outlet to see the students compete and train for competitions,” said FBLA sponsor Robert Reisert.

This year the online district competitions mostly took place at the school while the state competition was held in Orlando. The national competition will take place in Nashville, Tennessee at the Hilton Conference Center on June 28 with about 9,000 FBLA members from all around the country attending .

“If you are going to join FBLA, you have to be committed and put a lot of time into it,” said sophomore Maria Estrada.

Literary Magazine Yearbook - The Cavaleon THEY’RE Catharsis F I N A L LY NOW ON SALE FOR $5 purchase yours $80 ROOM 9207 ROOM 9222

HERE

OR MAY 5-9 IN PAVILLION

HURRY! GET YOURS SOON

news

highlights

5

May 2014

Art Club pieces together school mosaic Olivia Field/highlights TILE BY TILE: Freshman Guneet Moihdeen and seniors Johnson D’souza and Valeria Castellanos, members of the Art Club, plaster mosaic tiles onto the wall to create an image of the school and surrounding Coral Gables landmarks in the patio by the 7100 hall.

By Sydney Scanlon STAFF WRITER

The Art Club is creating a mosaic of the school by the 1700 hall. Senior Katya Sarria, president of Art Club, and ceramics teacher Jennifer Stapleton wanted to form a project that everyone could participate in, so they chose a mosaic to decorate the school. Members of the Art Club and National Honor Society work on the mural after school on Tuesdays.

The Art Club was created this year because many art students wanted to participate in projects beyond the classroom to show off their work. Sarria said that they chose a mosiac because talent is not necessary for its creation, “just hard work.” Jackie Grand, a mosaic artist from the Coral Gables Museum, donated 1,500 tiles and helped with simplifying the design so that more students could participate.

“At the beginning, we wanted to have an abstract city of Coral Gables but then that became way too complicated to do because the tiles are really small … Instead of that we made the school the focus of the mosaic,” said Sarria.

The mosaic will include bands of words such as “integrity” and “equality” streaked below the image of the school.

“We put the positive affirmations on the bottom to give the students walking by the area a reminder of each characteristic,” said Sarria.

The Art Club started the physical labor of the mosaic− laying tiles on the wall with glue− in February. Sarria predicts that the project will be completed next school year, though she hopes that the Art Club will continue to work on the collage in future years and spread it to surrounding walls to create images of palm trees and Coral Gables landmarks surrounding the school.

PASS camp returns Silver Knights shine

By Ali Band STAFF WRITER

For the second year, the school will host the Summer Partnership to Advance School Success (PASS) Camp from June 9−July 3. The purpose of the camp is to welcome incoming ninth grade students and to give them the opportunity to enhance their reading and mathematics skills to improve their performance on Florida’s Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT).

PASS was designed by the Florida Council of 100 and the South Florida Annenberg Challenge and is under the guidance of the statewide Council for Educational Change (CEC).

The program brings an effective model for improving student performance by carefully collecting, analyzing and applying student test data, attendance records, teacher feedback and other achievement information on a classroom level.

The PASS camp that takes place at the school is a session from 8:00−11:30 a.m. with half of the day geared towards math studies and the other half geared towards reading studies. Assistant Principal Aida Diaz leads the program and works alongside the remaining staff. The school has reached out to all of its feeder middle schools, whose counselors have done articulation with their students and handed out the applications for parents to review.

In the previous year, the school gave a Nook Tablet to students who attended the entire session. This year, Diaz said she has seen a huge success so far with students submitting their applications.

“The key here is following our kids as a cohort, comparing their FCAT and Interim Assessment scores to those of the students who do not attend the camp. I am very excited to implement it for the second year and am hoping for a great turnout, especially considering the favorable pre-application process so far,” Diaz said.

CONGRATULATIONS! The Cavaleon, Catharsis and CavsConnect were named AllFlorida by the Florida Scholastic Press Association.

Senior Jennifer Orozco won the Congressional Medal Merit Award for being a scholar athlete.

Fourteen seniors were awarded the Rotary Scholarship and received $20,000 in funds.

Senior Javier Fernandez won the Gates Millennium Scholarship, a good-through-graduation scholarship.

By Camila Lupi STAFF WRITER

The Miami Herald Silver Knight Awards serves to recognize high school seniors from Miami-Dade and Broward County who not only excel in academics but have also used their talents to contribute remarkable service to their schools and communities. Each school is allowed to nominate one student in each of the 15 categories and a panel of judges then interviews the nominees. The judges select one winner and three honorable mentions per category for Miami-Dade and for Broward County. The winners receive $2,000, a Silver Knight statue, and a medallion, and the honorable mentions receive $500 and an engraved plaque.

Most of the nominees have either initiated a community service project of their own, or been extremely focused in participating in an existing community service activity or organization.

“Besides doing an arts and crafts drive back in January, I also initiated a non-profit organization to raise money for research in radiology in partnership with Jackson,” said art nominee Danae Diaz.

According to English teacher Preston Payne, (who is in charge of the school’s nomination process, along with dance coach Maureen Marmesh), the judges look for three main aspects of the nominees’ project or activity: what part they played in the project, the impact the project has had on the community, and the sustainability of the project.

The long process that the Silver Knight nominees have endured will come to an end on May 20 at an awards ceremony where the final winners will be announced.

Some of the school’s 2014 nominees include Isabella Blanes for Athletics, Rachel Cubilla for Business, Tiana Martinez for Drama, Maria Snyder for Mathematics, Johanna Deluca for Music, Derya Tansel for Science, and Diana Galiano for Speech.

New graduation rules

By Eleonor Bauwens STAFF WRITER

The Miami-Dade County Public School System will be implementing new graduation requirements starting with the Class of 2016. After the introduction of the End of Course (EOC) exams, there was a shift away from Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests (FCAT). The FCAT math was replaced by the Algebra I EOC, and in the upcoming years the FCAT Writing and Reading will be replaced by an English and Language Arts (ELA) exam that will be based on Common Core standards. Students will be required to pass the ELA in order to graduate.

“There will be some things to tweak and fine-tune. We expected these changes. There will always be things to do to be aware and to do a realignment of curriculum,” said Assistant Principal Nestor Diaz.

In addition, students will no longer be able to have a weighted GPA above a 6.00, bringing Miami-Dade County in line with the rest of Florida.

“This makes me mad because I’ll never be able to aspire to have a GPA as high as previous Gables students. Nevertheless, it will be good because it will help minimize the super competitive atmosphere that has developed between students,” said sophomore Joseph Villafane.

opinion

highlights May 2014

Porn in the teenage world

6

Adolescents today are bombarded with provocative images at every turn.

With mature-rated content readily available from their computers and smartphones, should we be making every effort to restrict their access to it?

Commentary by Maya Iskandarani

Commentary by Avery Budin

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

YES

Sexuality has been part of the teenage condition for as long as anyone can remember. For purely biological reasons, teenagers are naturally more interested in sex than people at other ages. Investing time and money to suppress something so natural as curiosity would be more than a waste, it would ignore scientific fact. People who are terrified of widespread X-rated content are up in arms about the porn industry, but what they fail to realize is so long as pornographic videos aren’t maladaptive to others, there’s no harm.

The few minutes spent reading a pornographic magazine or watching porn on the computer works as a stress reliever from the busy day and also allows for the safe practice of society-scorned fetishes or unrealistic fantasies. It’s unrealistic to expect sexual partners to look or act the way people in porn videos do, so having access to porn allows individuals to take out their delusional hopes. Younger men and women (18 years of age or older) particularly have the ability to explore their sexuality without having to interact physically with others. Viewing porn is a way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy, which may appeal to individuals that aren’t yet looking for lifelong commitments. Adolescents are going to experiment, porn just makes it easier to explore the things that they themselves are uncomfortable with.

Porn itself doesn’t promote unprotected sex or keep parents from talking to their kids about safe sex and the consequences of being sexually active. In fact, porn makes a point of emphasizing how unrealistic casual sex between consenting individuals is by somewhat mocking the choreography and dialogue of the situations the actors engage in. There is no dispute that online pornography is comparably different from real life sex, which in effect makes it appealing to viewers. Similarly, limiting accessibility to porn is hardly an effective way of handling the “problem,” if teens want to watch porn, they will. Just like they download illegal music or pirated movies, teenagers will flock to websites that supply them with the same demonized content that is restricted to adults. Thinking teens will abide by these unenforcable rules is entirely misguided.

Porn is a private ordeal, it does not make up the entirety of one’s life but rather acts as a minor part in it. What people do in their free time isn’t public concern and isn’t meant to be, whether in a relationship or single. Legs don’t need to be shaved, nice clothes don’t need to be worn, and a date is not a prerequisite to getting some action. There’s no skepticism from partners or romantic gestures necessary, it’s a time to be selfish and get back to reality soon afterwards. Individuals with long working hours, or extracurricular activities get the opportunity to take a short break and take care of business. Porn doesn’t cause any more harm than people cause themselves, if anything it prevents individuals from interacting in high risk activities like drinking or drug-use.

NO

The relaxed view of the public toward Internet pornography needs to be reevaluated to take into account the severe psychological and social repercussions that consistent exposure to porn has on children and teenagers.

To evade these consequences, it’s imperative that the dangers of porn be recognized, and stricter regulations be implemented and properly enforced.

Even accidental exposure to online pornography as a teenager or a child can lead to curiosity and eventually compulsion to return to the source that sparked that curiosity; an online survey of college students by CovenantEyes states that 93 percent of boys and 62 percent of girls had seen porn before the age of 18. Sexually inexperienced teens may derive intrigue and pleasure from watching porn as an “introductory course” to sex, compelling them to repeat the behavior until they become irreparably hooked to Internet porn and it begins to interfere with other aspects of life, namely the way they interact with other people and classmates.

Teens are more susceptible to addiction than adults because the part of their brains that controls decision making and impulse repression does not fully develop until about the age of 25.

Although porn addiction seems trivial compared to other, substance-related addictions, a study by Cambridge University reveals similarities between the brain chemistry of alcohol, drug, and porn addicts.

Internet porn must stop being considered a harmless, commonplace indulgence among teens because of the irreversible damage that early exposure and addiction can cause to the physical standards to which teens hold themselves and others, and to their ability to form and maintain both social and intimate relationships. The younger one is when they encounter porn, the less likely they are to reverse its effect on their psyche. This makes the problem of Internet porn all the more volatile in the teenage world, and confirms the need for action.

Although X-rated material allows people to explore aspects of sex without the possibility of disease or pregnancy, it also perpetuates false and potentially dangerous ideas of sex. For example, porn often reinforces the prospect of unprotected sex, making it appear that unprotected sex between strangers is safe and common, when in reality it could lead to an array of irrevocable consequences.

Just because porn is fictional doesn’t mean it doesn’t have malicious effects on the teenage mind.

Unless we want upcoming generations to endure porn-scarred thought processes, the general view on porn needs to change to acknowledge its threats so that Internet porn can be made less accessible to minors today. This can be accomplished through government legislation, by mass education, even by simply motivating parents to have “the talk” with their children before they are given Internet access. Less porn accessibility means less porn addiction, which means better individual relationships and ultimately a healthier society.

TWO VIEWS

highlights

Commentary by Stephan Chamberlin

ADVISORY BOARD: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nicolas Rivero

BUSINESS MANAGER Orso Raymo

COPY EDITOR

Cyrus Zeledon

OPINION EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR Maggie Rivers

ADVISER

Melissa Gonzalez

SECTION EDITORS: NEWS

OPINION

INSIGHT

FEATURES

SPORTS

THE SCENE

Brooke Donner

Raquel Braun Francis Pérez

Stop the Russian march

Stephan Chamberlin

Bianca Mangravite Laura Acosta

Staff Writers: Ali Band, Eleonor Bauwens, Avery Budin, Anthony Concia, Danny Delgado, Rachel Ellis, Javier Fernandez, Olivia Field, Maya Iskandarani, Joey Lancaster, Camila Lupi, Bianca Mangravite, Haley Manning, Angelika Menendez, Maria Ovalle, Jordan Payne, Susana Rudin, Araceli Sanchez, Sydney Scanlon, Mia Tolpin Contributors: Joshua S. Andino, Cavaleon highlights is the official student-produced newspaper at Coral Gables Senior High School published and produced by highlights staff members. highlights has been established as a designated public forum for student journalists to educate and inform their readers of issues of concern to their audience and dissemination of news and ideas to the entire school community.

As the producer of a scholastic publication, highlights subscribes to the responsibilities set forth in the National Scholastic Press Association Code of Ethics for scholastic journalists and advisers. According to Miami-Dade County Public School policy, student media is not subject to priorreview by administration or district personnel and as such, all content is determined by, and reflects the views of student staff members only. highlights welcomes reader feedback. All letters should be addressed to melissa_gonzalez@dadeschools.net

Press Affiliations: Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, NSPA Hall of Fame, Florida Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll

The world we live in today is harsh and unforgiving. Superpowers like the United States and Russia take over countries at their leisure based on false pretenses and whims. We orchestrated the invasion of Iraq in 2003 based on “faulty intel,” and now the Russians invaded Crimea to “protect the Russian nationals in the region.” The stability of young and underdeveloped countries is increasingly being thrown into question, and now we must deal with this aggression in Eastern Europe. The crisis is a result of two things, Russia demonstrating very clearly that it isn’t afraid of the rest of the world, even though its failing economy suggests that it should be, and the domestic political split giving them the perfect opportunity to intervene.

Over the past two years Putin hasn’t exactly been building the best reputation with regards to foreign diplomacy. The blunder with Assad in Syria, while said dictator was using deadly nerve gas on schoolchildren, was one thing; now this recent violation of international law, and Ukraine’s national sovereignty, will prove to be one of the largest foreign affairs stalemates we’ve seen in decades.

In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian armed forces came out of the woodwork, and have taken over important government buildings in the cities of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, and

Appe tize -Crim rs: ea Desse rts: -Ala ska

es: Entré e

in -Ukra n h k sta -Kaza va o -Mold

most violently, Kramatorsk, where armed men shot their way into police headquarters. Uniformed men have established checkpoints in Sloviansk. This isn’t just domestic violence, or the product of a civil war; the implications of this violent type of dissent go much deeper.

They give Russia the perfect excuse to mobilize their forces across the border, and “stabilize” the region. Putin’s trend of invading places that show support for the Kremlin has now put the rest of eastern Ukraine on the table.

You may be asking yourself what we, the United States or any other nation, are going to do about this seemingly unstoppable Russian advance. The answer to that, for the moment, is absolutely nothing. The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution backing Ukraine’s total national sovereignty, but Crimea remains occupied, and tens of thousands of troops remain at the border. Even more encouraging to the Russians was Obama’s speech on March 26, where he said that neither the United States nor NATO would be intervening because of a “lack of national interest.”

The bottom line is that it’s just not worth it for anyone to come to Ukraine’s aid. Every nation that has the power to stop the Russian advance either imports oil from them, or plainly doesn’t care enough.

One thing is for certain: this move will embolden the Russians, and give them the confidence to further violate international law, circumventing the U.N. If we’ve learned anything from the first two world wars, it is that aggression must be nipped in the bud. The Russian march must be stopped.

Joshua S. Andino/contributor

opinion

highlights May 2014

7

Florida still pushes broken FLVS STAFF

Editorial

There’s no getting around it: the way Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is implemented in our state’s education system is ineffective, failing to meet the high standards and quality that were expected to replace the more traditional studentteacher relationship. Despite its major flaws, there has been little done to improve the system, and the subpar program remains a mandatory obstacle to overcome if a student wishes to graduate. There are several reasons why FLVS remains a mandatory requirement, and the common denominator among them is an opportunity for the state to save money. The Florida Virtual School must be reformed, or made optional.

Since its inception 18 years ago, FLVS sought to explore innovative teaching models based on online learning. The state is making efforts to push students toward a more

technologically-oriented learning environment, helping students prepare for a world increasingly dominated by technology. What they won’t tell you is that they are probably just as motivated for a solution to overcrowded classes and budget cuts. FLVS seems appealing to politicians, educating pupils for $2,100 less than traditional schools.

The rise of technology-integrated classrooms can potentially cause problems that could jeopardize a student’s education. For example, a student’s Internet could be down which would delay their work, or the system could crash during a test. Also, some students have to chase down their teachers when they need help, or vice versa, with students not logging in or progressing for weeks.

Another problem with taking online courses is the high potential for students to cheat, since the Internet is easily accessible while taking tests or quizzes. Furthermore, students can easily have their course taken by someone else just by giving them their account information, meaning virtual school can be a cop-out for students not wanting to take high school seriously.

Virtual School should be optional because it attracts

students who are self-motivated with an aptitude for technology and can work at their own pace without a live teacher. Making FLVS mandatory can be troublesome for students unwilling to work with computers and can be stressful for those who are too used to the traditional classroom setting. The mandatory one course requirement could very well lead to more course requirements, putting the traditional classroom setting in jeopardy in the future.

The quality of feedback and individual attention helps motivate students and assures their success. A traditional classroom setting is the most effective in educating students.

FLVS should be optional and reserved for the more technological savvy students. Virtual school is an impersonal system aimed at helping a student pass a class, while a traditional teacher is more concerned about a student’s future, behavior, and overall wellbeing.

The Florida Department of Education ought to focus on the quality of instruction and student-teacher relationships, not their gimmick of teaching students about technology as if they wouldn’t learn to navigate the Internet unless they were forced to take a Physical Educational class online.

Keystone: a bad step in the wrong direction Commentary by Joey Lancaster STAFF WRITER

TransCanada has given President Obama the opportunity to “benefit” the United States oil industry by extending the Keystone XL pipeline; however, he needs to understand that this would lock our nation into a trajectory of delusional employment assurances, environmental disaster and threaten the stability of the US economy.

The inconvenient truth is that we, the people, will not receive any benefit from the 1,179-mile extension. Our energy security will remain unchanged; by exporting, producers keep refined products off the U.S. market, creating artificial scarcity and keeping U.S. fuel prices high.

Unfortunately, it gets worse. Since the original building of the pipeline in 2010, there have been over 12 leaks recorded in Kansas and North Dakota spilling a total of over 23,100 gallons of crude oil in lakes and ponds located on private properties.

Why keep a course that does not improve American employment when the alternative-energy path is already out-performing other sectors of the economy? For example, the solar industry continues to be an engine of job growth, creating jobs six times faster than the overall job market.

According to the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, investing in a green infrastructure program would create nearly four times as many jobs as an equal investment in oil and gas.

On an environmental level, the reality is that crude oil from tar sands has proven to be the dirtiest oil in existence, and producing it generates three times the greenhouse gas emissions of conventional crude production, using unnecessary amounts of energy and water. Clean energy and fuel efficiency is the path for economic and energy security in America, not another tar sands pipeline. By rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama would be moving America down a cleaner, safer path.

Bitcoins are the College board profits off future of money high school testing craze Commentary by Orso Raymo BUSINESS MANAGER

Currently known as the wild west of finance, where robberies, narcotics and guns for hire are the norm, the scene surrounding cryptocurrencies like the Bitcoin is garnering some degree of legitimacy and moving into the mainstream despite its infamous, shady upbringing.

The current financial atmosphere makes transferring money, even in the 21st century, a multi-day process full of tiresome intricacies like routing numbers and bureaucratic hoops, and not to mention banks taking more than their fair share for simply shuffling around some money. The bitcoin, in essence, bypasses the infrastructure set up by modern banking by using its own self sustained, untraceable network, making it an extremely appealing option for moving money around borders. In layman’s terms, it has all the advantages of cash, intractability, without the cumbersome fact that it physically exists.

With any new technology, especially one as groundbreaking as cryptocurrency, there absolutely are kinks that need to be addressed and ironed out. The most notable problem is the extremely fickle nature of the Bitcoin and Litecoin (considered the silver standard to Bitcoin’s gold) markets. What could be worth millions today could be table scraps tomorrow, as illustrated by the crash in early October. However this issue is only due to the currency being in its infancy; once the market expands and some regulatory body is established, there is no reason the currency shouldn’t be stable.

It goes without saying that the Bitcoin, by far the most widely used and valuable internet dollar, would still be fairly obscure it if wasn’t for the original SilkRoad. Regardless, its dubious past doesn’t take away from the potential role cryptocurrencies can fulfill, the same way you wouldn’t reject currency knowingly used in an illicit transaction, money is money. The online narcotics trade is to thank for catalyzing cryptocurrency from a raunchy, druggy adolescent into an integral member of society. Drug dealers, although we may be reluctant to admit, are members of society and are especially prone to spending lavishly.

It’s increasingly clear that the BitCoin is the future of finance.

Twentieth century banking just isn’t going to cut it in an exponentially faster and digitalized world, and internet money, for lack of a better name, is the 21st century solution.

Commentary by Anthony Concia STAFF WRITER

The seemingly innocent college assistance website known as College Board isn’t the kind-hearted association we think it is. The College Board is a business that is run by the pressure high school puts on you and your fear of not getting into college. With exceedingly high testing fees, flawed scoring systems and SAT prep courses and tutoring which can cost hundreds it’s no joke that College Board is a scam that benefits off the stress resulting from deadlines and standardized tests.

All of this comes from an organization that calls itself a non-profit. The luxurious salaries paid to the executives, the amount of money invested in lobbying for the prominence of AP courses, and the glaring blemish on their tax filings indicating that they actually do make a profit are simply embarrassing.

The College Board is exploiting students’ transition into college by pressing them with their overpriced products.

by the numbers 65.6

Millions of dollars made by College Board in 2010

1.3 million

Salary of College Board’s president, Gaston Caperton Compiled by Stephan Chamberlin

Their business model has been to try to corner the market on standardized testing and convince high school students that there is no route to college that does not run through them. While, I sympathize with the idea of taking rigorous courses in high school that may lessen the financial burden in college, College Board should not scare students into purchasing their products or stressing them with AP courses.

College Board’s tactic of persuading students into taking their courses and buying their study materials is misleading, and their scoring system doesn’t help mask that flaw. Students are scored on a curve based on everyone who takes the exam that year. The AP scoring system is flawed because it scores students based on how much their peers know. They should reform the current scoring system so students are scored on an individual basis according to predefined rubrics and criteria.

A more inexpensive and less in-your-face strategy, with AP tests that are more learning oriented, needs to be implemented in College Board’s program.

23

Executives making over $300,000/year

24,000

Amount in dollars College Board paid to lobby for AP classes in Massachusetts Source: Huffington Post

opinion

highlights May 2014

from the

As the year draws to a close, highlights staff members reflect on their time in high school and offer words of advice to inbound Cavaliers about the days to come. From the most experienced of seniors, to the most junior of juniors, to the softest of sophomores, their trial and error can become your wisdom. Take these words as your guide to the adolescent journey.

Junior year stress Commentary by Camila Lupi STAFF WRITER

Sophomores, by now you’ve probably been warned about the stress and workload that accompanies junior year. You’ve probably heard all the talk among the juniors about taking the SAT, starting to think about college, and struggling to keep their grade point average (GPA) from dropping even a couple of points. But one thing that always seems to be taken for granted is all the fun that comes with finally being an upperclassman.

Although what they say about junior year being the most important when it comes to your grades is true, don’t take it as a warning to drop everything you’re doing and stay home with your nose in a book 24/7. Yes, you may have to spend an extra couple of hours on homework and studying to keep your GPA afloat, but that in no way means that you’ll have to give up your social life. Make sure you’re on top of all of the work and tests you’ll be assigned, even if it means actually having to write down your homework for once, and try your best to avoid the biggest source of stress that we’ve all come to know and love, procrastination.

Going into my junior year, I was unable to fathom the fact that I would have to take a test that could determine where I would be getting into college. It has taken me the entire year to finally figure out that while yes, the SAT is an important part of the college application, it definitely is not the deciding factor of entrance into college. Don’t feel like you need to spend every minute of your free time doing timed practice tests and writing essays. The best thing you can do is to buy a practice book and set a goal for the number of hours you want to practice a week, or, if you can afford it, look into tutoring options.

A popular misconception among many high school students, especially juniors, is the idea that as long as you have a high GPA, high SAT scores, and are involved in school activities, you have a great chance of getting into the college of your choice. That belief could not be more wrong. In fact, the admissions officers of some of the most prestigious schools in the United States are looking through application after application of the presidents of four different high school clubs that all have 4.0 GPAs and SAT scores of above 2000. In the end, it won’t be a perfect GPA or a high SAT score that is going to make you stand out. Don’t go to club fair next year and sign up for every community service club that our school offers.

Admissions officers have no desire to see every club you’ve ever sat at a meeting for on your application. What they are looking for is a student that has a passion for something—someone who shows a genuine enthusiasm for an activity or service that stands out from the rest. So my advice to you is, if you haven’t already, find something that you truly enjoy doing and spend time focusing on that instead of sitting at home and seeing how fast you can complete an SAT math section.

Finally, I’d like to strongly recommend that you do not become so absorbed in all the craziness that surrounds junior year that you forget to socialize. Keep your grades up, discover what you love, and don’t forget to have fun.

4.0 GPA How-To: If you are struggling to get an A in every class in every quarter, then maybe this is the type of eye-opening information you need. Sometimes the minimum amount of effort goes further than you think.

First quarter

Second quarter

2.5 B

3.5 A

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

2.5 B

3.5 A

Final Grade

Slack responsibly Commentary by NIcolas Rivero EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Senior year has been the hardest and best school year of my life.

There is a tremendous amount of pressure on 12th graders to not only work hard and focus on the future, but also to enjoy every moment of the present before graduation scatters high school friends and launches them, half-grown and half-ready, hurtling into the next chapter of their lives.

It’s a lot to ask a 17-year-old to juggle, and I have found that the key to success senior year is striking a balance.

I had often heard, before my senior year began, that the first semester was all about work and the second semester was all about play. While there is some truth to this, reality, in its spiteful way, isn’t so simple. The fact is, you can’t just drop everything when winter break hits; senioritis is real and you can very safely take your foot off the gas after your GPA freezes, but your life will be a lot easier if you just accept that you’ll be doing a minimum amount of homework through April in order to graduate/keep your parents happy/satisfy your own twisted need to succeed.

By the same token, if you spend the first half of the year locked up in your room with your SAT prep book, a pile of homework and the CommonApp, you’ll only burn yourself out and make things harder in the long run. If you stay organized and understand which assignments you can blow off and which ones you can’t, you can keep up with your work without giving yourself an ulcer.

Don’t play with deadlines. Your absent-mindedness and procrastination can screw you out of anything from attending a cool senior event to the financial aid you need to go to college. I know you’re not a fully formed person yet, but you need to get yourself together and act like one when it’s time to be serious.

Don’t freak out too much about college applications. This is going to be a weird introspective journey where you will try to compress the essence of your identity into 600 words for judgment by a panel of strangers who will decide your future and then have your English teacher tell you it’s not good enough. This can be a nerve-wracking process if you take edits as personal attacks or you have the mistaken idea that you have to change yourself to fit the mold of the ideal applicant. No one really understands the murky depths of the minds of admissions officers anyway, so all you can do is work hard to cast yourself in the best light possible and know that ultimately, the whole thing is basically a crapshoot.

The best advice I can give you is to not take everything so seriously. Everyone from your parents to your teachers to the Herff-Jones snake oil salesman trying to get you to buy graduation announcements is going to exaggerate the earth-shaking, fate-bending consequences every move you make will have on the rest of your life. They mean well, but they’re being dramatic to try to motivate you to keep slogging through the exhausting marathon that senior year can be. The danger is that you start to believe them, and then when you don’t get into your dream school or you can’t find a prom dress, you’re convinced that your life is over. It’s not. Whatever happens, you will pick yourself up and move on.Oh, and get a job. Grad Bash won’t pay for itself, and your prom date won’t want to either.

Sophomore breeze Commentary by Danny Delgado STAFF WRITER

Same faces, same classrooms, same boring work, if you’re a freshman expecting something different from your first year in high school, don’t. Not a lot is going to change; you might make some new friends, hopefully some that will last. You might be overcome by an unfounded and sudden hatred for freshman, but apart from that expect a re-run of freshman year.

As a sophomore, however, there are some perks that you will be able to enjoy that you could not as a freshman. When you arrive at pep rallies you will no longer be showered with boos from upperclassmen, instead you will be welcomed with an indecipherable mixture of boos and cheers as you walk down the inclination of the auditorium pathway to a seat, satisfied.

You can now participate in the collective mockery of freshmen with the upperclassmen as you have become a hybrid of both. You can enjoy the lax nature of freshman year, but not suffer from being at the rock bottom of the high school food chain, and pretend to be an upperclaman.

Most, if not all of you, are 15 years old already, meaning you are eligible for your Learners Permit, and if you are 15 and you have not gotten it yet you should be banging your head against the wall. I speak from personal experience on this one, and it pains me to see freshman make the exact same mistake. Every time I encounter this problem with a freshman, the only three words I can say are the ones that Nike subliminally brainwashed me into formulating: just do it.

As sophomores, many of you will be receiving a note stating that you are qualified to become a member of NHS. This is probably the best and most convenient way of getting service hours (no disrespect to any other service clubs like IBHS, and Key Club). Getting involved in school is something that’s been drilled into your heads since you’ve stepped foot on this campus, but it is a practical way to look like a well-rounded and prepared student for colleges and all that other stuff your parents and teachers probably talk to you about.

Sophomore year will be an enjoyable one for most of you. You start realizing that you are on your way to entering what is in my opinion the best part of your life: enjoying most of the privileges of an adult, but none of the actual responsibilities. Remember not to take things too hard and that however big a deal something seems at that particular moment, in five minutes to a few days, depending on the severity, you will have gotten over it or the problem has been fixed.

Sophomores say:

4.0 A

“

“

>>Way Out Words

8

Sophomore year is only as hard as you make it. If you study and get your stuff done, it’ll be easy.

Joey Lancaster/highlights

-Alex Elortegui

insight

highlights May 2014

WE

GABLES

Photo credits: Hayley Maning/highlights

9

insight

highlights

THANK YOU GABLES

May 2014

10

D

as the year wraps up, highlights gives gables yet another goodbye. from its multicultural hallways to its endless mediums of expression, gables reminds us year in and year out why it stands apart from the rest.

By Javier Fernandez STAFF WRITER

Day in and day out we terrorize your halls with destroyed lunch trays, violent profanity, and obscene acts of misconduct. We spend our classes badmouthing the giant “day care” that is the institution of Coral Gables Senior High. We even go as far as to totally defy our respect for you by compiling absences, violating uniform policy, and occasionally throwing food across the pavilion in half-hearted efforts to initiate a food fight.

Through all the experiences, laughs, and cherished memories that resulted from our time spent at Gables, we seldom recognize the way you have shaped and nurtured us to be the individuals we are today.

Unlike most high schools, you have given us the chance to grow up in one of the most diverse and dynamic environments possible with so much culture and identity between 3,400 students that we experience a microcosm of the city of Miami. We have the freedom to act as individuals and interpret guidelines to fit our individuality (even if that sometimes results in over-the-top school spirit attires that have teachers biting their tongues as we walk by). From the 500 hall to the band room, you harvest endless opportunities for any given student to find his or her self and passion. Those with troubling middle school experiences are ushered into a wild environment that at first seems overwhelming, but with time, we realized that you hold a niche and group for anyone and everyone. From our Improv Troupe to football team to dance classes, each and every one of us can not only find our place amongst peers but also inside classroom doors. And although we rarely show our thanks for these opportunities, the appreciation is heartfelt.

“I love Gables because of its diversity. You realize where you fit and what places aren’t for you. You can really discover yourself at this school.

That’s what separates us from most schools,” said junior Steven Teranciel.

Our school spirit is evident in the countless pep rallies and football game turnouts that easily surpass any other school in the county, but the spirit reaches beyond our early football season. With Mr. Coral Gables, Grad Bash, and prom headlining the unique qualities that you behold, the

other, lesser discussed aspects of Gables activities carries just as much influence on our identity. We have a dedicated Student Activities group that is determined to provide the student body with the most chances at a colorful high school experience. We have staff and security guards that are actual human beings, easy to talk to, and just as willing show up to football games to exhibit their pride as any student. (They don’t get paid after hours to watch sweaty teenagers wrestle each other in the pouring rain). We even have a killer CAF&DM academy with a stellar newspaper staff.

Your eight period block schedule invites students to really explore their interests. Your passionate teachers with big hearts or intellectual minds (and when we’re lucky, both!) give us a chance to find ourselves as students and individuals. Whether it be the history teacher that acts as a mother figure or the math teacher avid about his subject, Gables boasts some of the kindest and brightest instructors, and one would be hard-pressed to find a professor in this school that has not connected to a student or group in some way, either through genuine friendship or relentless teaching.

You pose as an early taste of the real world. You boast incapable teachers and unbearable course requirements. You have your bad days and your inexplicable mishaps. You have staff and students who seem more interested in burning down the building than being here each day.

In the midst of it all, you remind us that the real world has its good and bad apples, its up and down rollercoaster rides, and its ever-changing events. Somehow, we enters Gables, spend the next four years trashing it and pointing out its flaws, and (hopefully) walk down the aisle at the end of it all with the memories holding a bittersweet place in each of our hearts. This is the magic of Gables, a magic that shouldn’t be represented by one’s memorization of the Alma Matter or compliance with uniform policy. This is the magic that today, we would like to praise you for. Thank you Gables, for yet another year, it’s been real.

gables speaks up: Gables students share their favorite parts of the school that represent the true Gables experience.

“

[The School] is known for its clubs. I’m in JROTC and I love it. It’s one of my best programs that I really like.

JROTC to me, teaches you respect. It teaches you how to handle situations maturely and how to lead people. It can also help for the future with marines, navy, coast guard... it keeps you on a good track. In JROTC we have to compete and we go to different schools, I guess we’re so used to coral gables and all the things it offers that we don’t realize that other schools don’t have the same advantages.

“

Tristan Barzaga, junior

“

Most of the teachers here are really what they do. They really do teach, chill’, they actually do teach. That’s I enjoy. [The school] really opens d because you have this IB program, y academies that really fit for your inter preferences in what career you want.

I’m in VPA and I do acting, so that’s a that helps me out later on when I gra me open doors to like the theater, [a things. Definitely the drama room, j if you’re not a drama kid you’re not teacher doesn’t usually let kids that a the drama club or the drama classes to hang out so you’re pretty much su people who have the same interests have plenty of sports; I heard there’s p on right now. That’s pretty inte

Patrick Quintana junior

highlights May 2014

Do You Feel...

UNIQUELY GABLES:

Love for Gables?

Prepared for the Future?

cool admin Love for your Teachers?

Satisfied with your Experience?

Grad Bash

Safe?

unique students rating out of five stars Compiled by Raquel Braun/out of 145 students

treat days

Itala Tejada, senior

school spirit

Courtesy of Cavaleon

“

Some people believe that some teachers are really mean. If you don’t know them that well, you can’t really judge them. As for the classes, as an IB student, I have to say I do have my exceptions but most of them have a pretty good curriculum, and although I still think that they should be a little more organized, it is pretty interesting how they organize it and how it’s different, the IB classes from regular classes, because I also have regular friends and I can tell that their things are a little bit different than ours.

“

y dedicated to not just ‘he’s s something doors for you you have these rests and your . For example, a lot of fun and aduate. It helps among] other just because in there. The are not part of s in there just urrounded with s as you. We ping pong going eresting.

“

a,

11

insight

WE

highlights May 2014

12

TEACHERS

Upperclassmen look back at their high school experience and talk about their favorite teachers.

“

“

Scanlon doesn’t have to give a load of work to teach. She’s far more concerned with her students understanding the material as opposed to getting the grade.

“

“

- Danielle David, junior

Mr, Dunn isn’t the ordinary teacher.

In his class I feel like I’m treated as an equal; an adult . He doesn’t stress the small stuff, and simulates a collegestyle class. Plus it’s obvious that he has a passion for teaching.

“

“

-Chantal Herrera, senior

Landsea is the mom of IB. I did the Euro Challenge with her, and she’s my NHS supervisor and she’s always encouraged a friendship beyond academics.

“

“

Anything [Mr. Molina] does is right, even if it’s wrong. He relates the material we learn in class to real life situations, and keeps students engaged in discussion.

- Christina Tomasek, senior

- Tia Plagata, senior

features

highlights May 2014

Senior cavs conquer college

13

3 1 2

4

1 2

“It is chiller, people are friendler and the coach really wanted me for football... I really like the campus. It has a bunch of trees and it’s really peaceful.”

– Alex Maycox, Antelope Valley College

“Four years of hell and now Stanford.”

– Camila Camacho, Stanford University

3 4

“What I love most about Sarah Lawrence is that... since it’s both an art and academic school, I’ll be able to study the effect of art and music education on mirror neurons.”

– Samantha Morrison, Sarah Lawrence College “I’m excited to go back to Europe because I can study in the place I love most.”

– Corina Benshimal, Middlesex University

The mane attractions Minor 6 gets jazzy

By Olivia Field STAFF WRITER

In the sea of blondes and brunettes occupying the school, three color crazed students are impossible to ignore. Fluorescent shades of pinks and blues are a way for these daring individuals to represent their originality and personal traits.

Iona Henessy, 10 For sophomore Iona Hennessy, styling her bright red pixie cut every morning reminds her of her friend and former Cavalier, Femke Reniers. The pair chopped off their ordinary locks in October 2013. Hennessy had wanted to make the transformation since the beginning of her high school career, so she decided that the perfect time would be before her good friend, Reniers moved to the Netherlands.

Although it has sentimental significance, Hennessy does not think her hairstyle has any deeper meaning.

“I thought it would be fun to try it out and I hoped that it would look cool,” said Hennessy.

Mark Figueras, 12 It is hard to miss a bleached mohawk bobbing up and down in the mob of students during the change of classes. Senior Mark Figueras is only one month into his first abnormal hairstyle, yet his blue hair has already faded into a light blonde and he has gotten countless compliments.

“I was biking home once and these two guys walking

stopped me,” said Figueras, “and one guy was like ‘Whoa, dude… that’s like amazing.’”

Having the unique mohawk is just another way for Figueras to express himself and show off his lively personality.

Zoe Redmond, 11 Junior Zoe Redmond has been using her natural brown hair as a palette for spontaneous choices since she discovered Avril Lavigne in eighth grade. Redmond, who is currently pulling off blue hair with brown roots, is no stranger to crazy hair dye. Having gone through pink and light blonde hair, she has become accustomed to the judgment based on her physical appearance.

Most of her body art comes from impulsive choices made the day before. Redmond is used to this “why not?” lifestyle, but her mom is not so fond of it.

“I don’t ask her,” said Redmond, “I kind of just do it and then she sees my hair in a towel, sighs, asks me if I dyed it, and when she sees the color she just walks away.”

When time eventually takes its toll on Redmond’s sky blue mane, she will have to impulsively choose another color of the rainbow to occupy her strands no matter what anyone says.

For these students, dying their hair has done much more than damaged it. There is no doubt that they will never get lost in the throngs of their ordinary peers roaming the hallways of the school.

Olivia Field/highlights

HAIR NECCESSITIES: (From left to right) Sophmore Iona Henessy, senior Mark Figueras and junior Zoe Redmond can be easily spotted in the halls, showcasing their unique, vibrant locks.

By Bianca Mangravite FEATURES EDITOR

Born from the creative influence of the school’s jazz band, Minor 6 is a unique teenaged band made up of five Gables students: Felipe Ferreira, Mark Perez, George Mosque and Andrew Allen.

“We had six people at the time [we created the band] and a music interval is a minor six, so we decided it was appropriate because we were six musically inclined teenagers hoping to play music to the public,” said junior keyboard player Felipe Ferreira.

At the moment, Minor 6 is the only independent jazz band at the school, choosing to play traditional jazz and blues music instead of modern covers that most teenaged bands so commonly perform.

“What makes the band special is that compared to most teenaged bands, we aren’t just a silly rock band that beat a bunch of instruments and scream about their ex-girlfriends. We try to play things that actually have beauty in the art- music that has been played for decades,” said senior alto and soprano saxophonist, Mark Perez.

Each member of the group also plays multiple instruments. They can start a set with their natural instruments, and then a minute later, have the pianist on a trombone, the bassist on guitar and the drummer playing keyboard.

Performances go from as strange as a furniture store to as grand as an art gallery opening. The first Friday of every month, they play at Upstairs Yogaw. Although the band is doing well, the members are unsure about the future of Minor 6.

“The future of the band seems to be undefined. It could go in any direction. We have people that want to record us and start up a real album, but it’s not that easy because you soon realize that most people have bark but no bite,” said Perez.

highlights May 2014

14

Gables guards

Miami’s ban UR STAFF WRITER

Language is an extremely powerful tool that connects cultures and people. Languages evolve throughout history and English is no different. Diverse regions are known for a variety of accents and vocabulary that is unique to that place. Though it may not seem like it, even Miamians have a distinct language that distinguishes us from other parts of the world, other parts of the United States and even other parts of our state. This is your guide to the Miami dictionary: (Warning: most of the following terms can be used as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and any other form deemed possible by user.)

Fire

adj. /fahyuh/ It is all things awesome or remotely cool.You can be served fire food in a fire restaurant as you are told a fire joke. A very broad term, it covers most positive things on the spectrum.

adj. or adv. /kluhch/ To succeed in a high pressure situation and ultimately win some kind of goal. Micheal Jordan came in clutch when he scored a three-pointer with six seconds left on the shot clock.

Chonga

Bookie

Kag

Crusty

Green

adj. /skech/ A synonym to shady but much more slang. Most often times used to describe suspicious persons or places. adj. /boo-kee/ Cheap or not classy. If something is considered bookie stay away. It will be low quality and not last long; makeshift version of the original. adj. /kruhs-tee/ One of the most recent and rudest insults. The implications of crusty are that the person is dirty, trashy, dry and overall gross.

Even the word gives me goose bumps.

n. /chon-gha/ A stereotypical term that connotes a female who wears large metal hoop earrings that a small dog could fit through.

adj. /kahg/ To prosper exceptionally on accident. Most often used at sporting events, when a player attempts to pass the ball to their teammate and accidentally scores a goal instead. adj. /green/ Most commonly meant green with envy, it has recently become a term to describe somebody who is being fresh or bold.

Keyrat

Thot

n. /thawt/ Literally means ‘that girl over there.’ The underlying belief is that a thot is a promiscuous female with an immense derriere.

n. /kee-rat/ Someone who grew up, lives, breathes and rarely leaves the key is a Keyrat.

‘Potle

Swears

v. /swers/ Normally used as verb, it implies a wannabe and anyone who is trying too hard. Someone may swear that they are awesome.

PRIZED PROTECTORS: Security guards Amy Granda and Thomas Hardy are there for the students as both guardians and friends.

By Ali Band STAFF WRITER

Clutch

Sketch

Ali Band/highlights

DICTIONARY

By Sydney Scanlon

n. /poht-ley/ An abbreviation of popular Mexican restaurant chain Chipotle.

Frat boys are notorious for the usage of the term.

In the everyday bustle of school procedures, it is easy to overlook the people who uphold the very structure of the school. However, each year and each day, the students return to school not only to greet their teachers and principal, but also the school security guards. Friendly high-fives and goodhumored jokes are shared between the students and security guards throughout the hallways, and they are a treasured part of the school.

The second and third floors of the new building are where security guard Amy Granda dwells and she is known for guarding against any strange transgressors into her domain.

She not only takes her job extremely seriously, but she also deeply enjoys it.

“I enjoy taking care of the students. I love them. All I want is to protect them because I know this age is important.

I wake up happy every morning because I get to come to Gables!” said security guard Granda.

Thomas Hardy is one cool fellow and is loved all around campus. He started off at Kinloch High School, but Coach Angel Vasquez, a friend of his, helped him transfer to the school. He came to the school expecting to be a coach for wrestling and football but when a security position opened up, he decided that he would work security and take night classes to eventually become a counselor. He recalls an amusing experience as a security guard.

“A robber came running into the school gym during a basketball game and I ran behind him, trying to get him out of the gym. When we came out on the other side, the cops had already pinned him down but also grabbed me, not realizing I was the security guard. It was pretty funny. I really do like Coral Gables High and feel blessed to be here,” said Hardy.

IB done with International Baccalaureate

By Susana Rudin STAFF WRITER

“

“

- Gabriel Carvalho, senior

“

I have always known that I want to go to FSU, which I don’t need IB for, and I felt that all the extra work from IB was just too much stress.

- Bianca Nino, senior

“

“

“

IB was not for me. I left junior year and consequently had space in my schedule of on the Job Training (OJT), which allows me to have real work experience.

Oliva Field/highlights

The IB program, often noted for its rigorous requirements and time consuming responsibilities should lead its students to greatness, but more often than not it only causes significant sleep deprivation and undue stress. “Leaving IB” is often viewed in a negative light but this program is designed for a specific student with strength for languages and the discipline to make academics his or her main priority. These circumstances are not always possible which leads to several intelligent and capable students deciding to leave the IB track.

I really like the IB program, but I am also extremely involved in school and therefore I did not feel like I would be able to devote enough time to successfully accomplish all the extra requirements that IB demands.

- Valerie Montesino, junior

features

highlights May 2014

Robotics club boots up

15

By Angelika Menendez STAFF WRITER

Crazy for Craiglist-ings

By Bianca Mangravite FEATURES EDITOR

Stephan D. Field, P.A. 305-798-1335

steve@field-law.com

Whether it is buying, selling, bartering or giving away, Craigslist is the place to go. You can get anything from anyone, anywhere. As the world’s largest community bulletin board, Craigslist stretches around the globe, offering everything from the wonderful to the weird. highlights did a quick check of great deals presently offered at this online treasure trove.

One bunch of ripe bananas Need bananas? Fear not. Four ripe bananas are being offered for free in Jacksonville, Florida. The owner wants to get rid of the fruit without wasting it, so claim your bananas quickly before it is too late. Pictures are included in the post to ensure legitimacy.

Reward- Free stuff mistake Recently, a man’s roommate in Key West took most of the man’s belongings, without consent, and put them in their yard with a sign labeled ‘free’. Things taken include a mattress and box springs, art supplies, important papers, flat screen TV and small meaningful objects. The owner would like his things back. He is offering a reward of money or physical labor. “A handful of sharpies may seem like nothing, but when you’re missing every single drawing utensil you own, anything makes a difference. Thank You.” Free pot bellied pig A 150 lb pig from Riverview is looking for a loving home. Fully potty trained, the four-year-old porker serves as the perfect best friend your family needs.

Free coupon class This just in, you are invited to attend a FREE coupon class in Palm Coast. Taught by local coupon experts, you can learn to survive the impossible task that is grocery shopping. Impress your friends and family with your intense couponing skills.

Free fresh horse manure daily If you are looking for a heaping hot pile of pony poop per diem, Fort Myers is the place to fulfill your feces fantasies. If you can’t drive all the way to Fort Myers to get your horse manure, you can just rely on your boss to supply it.

“Your son” Ethiopians can sell their children online to anxious dads-to-be seeking to adopt. We decided not to

102 East 49th Street, Hialeah, FL 33013

investigate further…

Free Cross stitches Ever wish you could have a lovely cross- stitched piece to put on your wall to color your otherwise drab life? 20 free cross stitch patterns made out of floss (hopefully unused) are available in Daytona Beach.

Time machine technician needed asap!

A man in Ft. Myers desperately needs your help.

Apparently, he needs to correct a few mistakes he made in the past. He has the time machine up and ready, but it doesn’t seem to work. He needs a time machine repair man to help him have a second chance in life. “This is not a joke. I need help to fix the mistakes I’ve made. Only serious applicants will be considered.”

Belly button lint Free collection of belly button lint. Mostly green and red, it is perfect for making that special christmas gift, totes or baby socks.

Thinking chair Based on the original Blues Clues thinking chair, a large red velvet replica is available in Gainesville for $100. If you have the need to deeply ponder upon your thoughts or make believe you live in your childhood show, this is your chance.

All expenses covered A man in Miami is offering $40,000 for a young man to attend Harvard University under his name. Under normal circumstances, this would be illegal, but this is Craigslist.

Free oak leaves For the past five years, a family in Pensacola has been offering free oak leaves to the public for gardens and for bed stuffing. They guarantee raking and loading time to be ten minutes. A picture is included of three of the family members buried underneath the eight foot pile of dry, brittle oak leaves.

Craigslist, meant to be a serious online program for everyday people to sell or buy non- commercial products easily, has become known for its peculiarity and nonconformity. A glance at the ‘free stuff’ page for your area is a great way to find quick entertainment. For more strange listings at this bizarre bazaar, check out Craigslist.org.

www.gablestutoring.com 1886 S Red Road Miami, FL 33155

(786) 972-1602

Angelika Menendez/highlights

Some believe that robots will take over the world, but as of now they are only coming to Gables. As of next year the robotics club will be official.

Originally starting with a group of friends tinkering with scraps of metal and wires, junior Jose Rendon, realizing the potential of the group, decided to form a school sactioned club. Eventually, the club will host workshops and fieldtrips to learn more about robots.

“The club will have better events and projects once it is official and we get funding to build the robots we want to make,” said Rendon.

The group has already built multiple robots for competitions, including the ghettobot, a small robotic vehicle that picks up bags and small objects and carry them to low structures such as tables or chairs. Rendon has also built the Quadcopter which has four propellers and a controller that allow it fly. Last year the team went to Vex Robotics, a local robotics tournament, where high schools from around Miami-Dade gather in one massive workshop to build and evaluate each robot. The group placed second in the semi-finals, but did not advance to the final round.

“It was an amazing experience where I got to learn a lot about mechanics and have fun while being competitive,” said Rendon.

The club’s goal is to provide a safe learning environment for students who are interested in robotics. Students will be able to work in different fields, such as programming, design engineering, or architectural engineering. Only requirements will be at least a 2.0 GPA. Together the group will join and combine their different skills to assemble these metallic machines, moving gears and connecting wires until it fits perfectly like a puzzle.

Rendon has a love for robotics and wants to be involved with technology and programming in the future. The robotics club is the perfect way to start off for anyone interested in the field of mechanical engineering or technology. The club will welcome all students with a shared passion for mechanics and science and want to dive deep into the world of technology.

UP AND AWAY: Club members from the soon to be robotics club built a flying robot called the Quadcopter.

HALL >>talk

The highlights staff records what students are talking about in the hallways during passing between periods.

BLOCK 1

“I almost hit three Mexicans the other day.”

“Everytime I get Starbucks, I drink it alone in my car so no one sees me.”

BLOCK 2

“What really is ‘Saturday’?”

“The hot dogs were wearing shorts though.”

“If hell smelled like anything, this is what it would smell like.”

LUNCH “Turn down your music, I said your butt looked really good.”

“I am quoting Sarah Palin.”

“He looks like the moon emoji.”

Math Economics SAT Prep www.JamesEducation.com

sports

highlights May 2014

16

Colleges overreact to athletes' social media Commentary by Daniel Delgado STAFF WRITER

Many colleges are implementing policies that seem disproportionate to the offenses that have occurred by monitoring student-athletes’ social media accounts. In partnership with Student Press Law Center, journalism students from the University of Maryland polled 83 universities with NCAA Division I athletics programs and found that at least 59 individual university athletic departments restrict student-athletes’ use of social media. There seems to be a clear over-reaction, whether this is done to protect the students or the university, when studentathletes go online and make fools of themselves.

Even though there have been cases involving a student-athlete tweeting or posting something offensive, it is important to understand that many of these athletes are still very young, and lack certain maturity to be reprimanded so harshly for their actions. I’m not saying that this behavior should go unpunished, but colleges and the public ought to relax a bit more in these situations and not take what a 20 year old says so seriously. Many schools require athletes to

take down anything that an administrator deems “offensive,” which particularly are things that are posted off-campus and outside of school. Other schools have taken to suspending athletes indefinitely, which seems harsh; it could ruin their chances of going somewhere with their sport for something as harmless as posting a selfie where they flick off everybody who sees it. It seems that the problem is the mixture of the vague language that is being used to create these policies along with the strict, zero-tolerance attitude with which they are being enforced.

In cases of true offensive language being used such as homophobic slurs or racism, the student-athlete should be dealt with appropriately. One silly act of immaturity and insensitivity shouldn’t define a student-athlete especially if they fulfill all of their academic requirements. This type of zero-tolerance policy in colleges is bad for the athlete, the sport, the school, and all the fans. An example of this type of approach would be when head football coach Rob Ambrose from Towson University banned his players from using Twitter, and the penalty would be an indefinite suspension from the football team.

Essentially what it comes down to is common sense. Colleges shouldn’t approach the problem as though the athletes are on probation. Social media etiquette is a given, and if a player does seem to be stepping out of line too often, then that’s when it is appropriate to step in.

Clay's road to running

By Maya Iskandarani STAFF WRITER

Interesting runs in Miami Motivate yourself to run by making the miles healthy and entertaining through different and inviting runs hosted throughout the year.

By Maria Ovalle STAFF WRITER

It is hard to motivate yourself to run or walk but training for a fun run gives you a goal to work and look forward to. There are runs and walks where you get painted on, go over insane obstacles, or end up covered in mud or color. If you looking for a way be healthy and do exercise without the uninspiring and repetitive effort, participate in a running event near you and bring your friends too.

The Mud Mingle run is a 5K course with many vigorous obstacles and paths of mud. Obstacles such as crazy mazes, 6 and 8 feet vertigo walls, monkey bars over mud, and a final surprise obstacle is what gives people exhilaration of a fierce and enjoyable exercise.

Other activities to keep the thrill in this run are muddy fights, random water ambushes and pies in the face.

Another run very interesting and popular for teens is the 5K Color Run where you get splashed with paint.

You start the race wearing white and then end the race covered in all different colors at the epic finish festival.

Running in these races or walks provides different benefits for health and amusement. Although there are prizes for the serious competitors, these events are not meant to be competitive. Their real goal is for people to realize that running can be entertaining and healthy for all ages and types of people.

Setting goals for confidence and self-esteem can encourage people to get active, join events, and successfully complete their goals and achievements.

Just joining others in a mass group to feel unified for health reasons is what running events are all about.

Some people do not exercise because they do not have someone to join them or motivate them. The answer to make fitness worth the effort and commitment is to look forward to these outrageous and unusual runs with your friends and family.

Susana Rudin/highlights

Alexis Clay, the up-and-coming freshman on the school’s cross-country and track teams, has an unusual backstory to her running career: her interest in running competitively was driven by the knowledge that her father, a sperm donor, ran competitively as well.

Despite never having met her father, Clay was able to learn about him through a donor profile paper that withheld his identity but provided details about him such as physical characteristics, hobbies, and accomplishments. Of his listed achievements, Clay’s attention was drawn most by his exceptional performance in track and field, an interest that they seemed to have in common. Her love for running may have been inherited, yet she feels a more personal connection with the sport itself than with the person who contributed to her ambition in it.

Although she had trained with a club soccer team and with the Ponce de Leon Middle School cross-country team, she was not given the opportunity to run competitively in earnest until ninth grade, with the school. She became a quick standout, her

talent most apparent when she became the first female runner to cross the finish line at the Stride 4 Senegal 5K race that was hosted by the school in March.

Clay’s long-term goals extend from the competitive to the social aspects of running; among them is dropping her time in the 5K to the 18s range by her senior year, and improving her personal relationships with the other runners. Because her experience training with the school’s cross-country and track teams has been so brief, Clay is not yet leaning towards a particular distance or event to compete in; instead, she is “just experimenting with the different distances and trying to get better in general.”

Clay does not aspire to compete at the Olympic level, but intends to continue running competitively throughout the rest of her life. As for running endeavors in her remaining years of high school, track and field coach Hajji L. Ingraham praises Clay for her potential and expects her to become one of the best runners on the team. “[Having recently reached] the high school level, [Clay] is still learning how to run the correct way,” said Ingraham. “The sky’s the limit with her; if she keeps working hard, she should be up there with the best [within a few years].”

PREPING FOR THE JOG: Sophomore Alexis Clay ties her laces before she begins her practice to improve her running time.

Tennis funds through Chipotle

By Angelika Menendez STAFF WRITER

Red, black, and grey filled the tables at Chipotle as students went to support the boys’ varsity tennis team on April 22.

Students got to enjoy eating burritos and tacos as 50 percent of sales went to the tennis team to buy letterman jackets. When the money for the fundraiser was totaled up, it came out to $1,338.

Tennis coach David Weiner recieved the idea from the Miami Palmetto Senior High tennis coach Kelly Gibson.

Chipotle makes it possible to fundraise for any school by having an online application where a school can request to hold a fundraiser. Many schools apply, and the Gables tennis team was one of the lucky ones that were able to fundraise at Chipotle.

All it took was a final phone call and the date was set up.

“I called them and set it up because the team goes to Chipotle all the time after matches so we needed to have a fundraiser there,” said Weiner.

The fundraiser went on from 4-8 p.m. at the Chipotle on US1 across from the South Miami Hospital and if the customer said that they supported the fundraiser or if they showed the flyer to the cashier, then 50 percent of the proceeds from that

purchase went towards the team.

The boys’ varsity tennis team won the state championship on April 15, so the fundraiser was not just a way to raise money but was also a celebration.

“It was very successful. I was hoping for $1,000 and we made even more,” said Weiner.

Members from the team also believe that the fundraiser ended up being prosperous. More money was raised for the team than what was expected.

“I think it was pretty successful. When I was there I saw a lot of students and some people showed up to help the cause even if they weren’t Gables’s students,” said senior Mirko Radosevic.

The fundraiser was advertised with the help of many.

Teachers gave extra credit to those who went to the fundraiser, which motivated many students to contribute. In addition to that, flyers were posted around the school, at Chipotle, and the school’s online newspaper, CavsConnect, who also spread the word by posting an advertisement of the event on their website. Members of the tennis team also told students about the fundraiser to get them to go, and these various methods of advertising lead to what was a successful outcome.

CONGRATULATIONS! Seniors Mirko Radosevic and Jacobo Nieto, juniors Cristian Gazzolo and Oliver Otero, sophomore Paulina Bejar and freshman Sofia Quevedo were state ranked in boys’ and girls’ tennis, respectively.

Sophomore Gaitana Jaramillo and junior Francis Pérez placed second in badminton’s girls’ doubles division at the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC).

The school’s softball team won the District Championship, placing them first in the district.

Seniors Elisabeth Wurmser and Maxwell Wood were given the Coral Gables Senior High School Scholar Athletes award.

sports

highlights May 2014

COPY EDITOR

How do students feel about watching women’s sports?

“

Angelika Menendez/highlights

“

People should watch it more because women are also good at sports.

-Oney Pino, sophomore

Men’s sports are more entertaining and aggressive. It’s much more exciting due to the skill [of] any professional male NBA player.

Angelika Menendez/highlights

Fans of women’s sports (rare, but do exist) often feel that female athletics get short shrift from the media and other sports fans. For the most part, when a fan watches women’s sports it is due to the attractive appearance of the sports athlete or the fan so happened to have been a “victim” of watching ESPN at the wrong time.

In the realm of sports, men’s sports are seen as the main entrée whereas women’s sports are seen as more of a light appetizer leading up to the grand event. This was especially true during the Sony Open Finals, which I attended, when the world’s ranked number one, Rafael Nadal, faced off the world’s ranked number two, Novak Djokovic; the stadium was almost completely sold out. Prior to the “main course,” the women’s doubles final barely had a quarter of the stadium filled up.

Ironically, it turned out that the three-setter women’s finals was a lot more “appetizing” than the embarrassing two-setter loss from Nadal in the men’s finals.

Even in other sports like, say, basketball, women’s teams can be a lot more entertaining than the men’s teams. For instance, in women’s college basketball it’s rare to see a woman

dunk and showboat about it like a person would see when watching men’s basketball. However, one would notice the more aggressive competition between the two basketball teams since there isn’t much room for dunking and lay-ups.

There is more finesse to women’s basketball—it is altogether a different form of the sport in comparison to its male version.

“I usually watch women’s volleyball and also the women’s FIFA World Cup, whether it is the regular or the under 21 division, because the women get really into the game and emotional about their respective sport,” said junior Juan Vargas.

If women’s sports are so much better why don’t more people watch them especially since both men and women put the same amount of effort and strain practicing and dedication to their respective sport? Unfortunately, not that many people are willing to watch women’s sports because of people’s misconception of them. Even after Title IX when women exploded onto the sports scene, the same did not follow in amount of women spectators. As a result, sports networks like CBS, ESPN, or FOX would rather invest their television slots for sports that will bring them more viewers which will in turn bring in more advertising contracts.

However, it is easy to blame the sports networks for not promoting women sports, but if more people would watch women sports, then more media coverage and viewers will follow.

“

Commentary by Cyrus Zeledon

>>Speak up!

“

Female sports deserve attention

17

-Mark Braun, freshman

Salvatore represents Florida in field hockey

By Maria Ovalle STAFF WRITER

Angelika Menendez/highlights

DRIBBLING ACROSS THE FIELD: Freshman Sofia Salvatore warms up before a game by performing different drills.

Freshman Sofia Salvatore plays for one of Florida’s two field hockey teams for the ages of five through 19, the Doral Field Hockey team, where she will be able to represent the state at the region championships in the USA Field Hockey organization at Virginia Beach.

When Salvatore came from Argentina at 8 years old, she focused her athleticism on soccer; but when her best friend started playing field hockey, her mother encouraged her to play as well. Although skeptical about the sport, Salvatore decided to join anyway.

Salvatore said that the intense dedication of this sport and the fact that she shares this with others is the reason why she likes hockey. She also said that she always looks forward to learning about new and different techniques in the sport.

“I love field hockey…it’s not just a hobby for me” said Salvatore.

Don't believe the dairy hype Commentary by Javier Fernandez STAFF WRITER

The frequent “Got Milk?” advertisement campaigns and athlete endorsements of all things milk reflect the foothold that dairy products have taken in consumer America’s medical wisdom for decades. From the engraved expressions that begin with “a glass of milk a day…” to the common pediatricians’ praise of good, wholesome milk, it is no wonder that dairy has such a revered place in the American diet. Those who advocate the importance of dairy, however, fail to point out the evidence that you can get the same nutrients in other healthier food products with no ill effects.

A typical vegan will be the first to point out that the “essential” nutrients (vitamins, calcium, etc.) in a glass of milk can be found twofold in a glass of almond milk. The scientific analyst will point out that we are the only species that drinks another species’ milk, suggesting that our inclination towards dairy is not a “natural” trait. Even the everyday swimsuit model can point out that heavy dairy consumption leaves one bloated and carrying extra weight. These claims all exist for a reason, and while they are often suppressed in the midst of all the praise that dairy gets for its “role” in bone strength and growth, they may be more valid than any claim supporting dairy.

According to US News Health, “Globally, there is clear

THE DETAILS

ON DAIRY

55

% of milk is

sugar, same calories as soda

evidence that dairy intake is not essential for the health of adult Homo Sapiens. Populations that drink mostly water, eat mostly plants, exercise routinely, and get sunlight—a fast-vanishing combination, alas—tend to have strong bones and hearts and low rates of cancer, stroke, diabetes, with no thanks owed to dairy for any of it.” In essence, the claim that something in the vitamins and calcium in milk is simply unavailable in vitamin supplements or other foods has little support.

When it comes to milk alternatives, non-dairy products are easier for the human body to digest. The National Institute of Health explains that “75 percent of the world’s population is genetically unable to properly digest milk and other dairy products -- lactose intolerant.” In fact, milk and dairy can even be more detrimental to bone health and increase risk of fractures, according to PubMed.org; calcium supplements have been found to be much more beneficial than the calcium in dairy. This information reveals that dairy is fundamentally unnecessary in the human diet.

Although the evidence suggests that dairy is not a necessary part of our daily diets, this does not mean that dairy products and milk should never be consumed. Moderate consumption of dairy products is undoubtedly safe. Having the occasional glass of milk or grilled cheese sandwich should not be an issue for most, but the ever-increasing exposure of dairy as less of a healthful necessity and more of an optional luxury should guide Americans in a newer, healthier, more informed direction.

2 75

nd most common food allergy, after peanuts

%

of people are

lactose intolerant

Source: Opinionator

Although Doral and Florida’s other team, Key Biscayne, play against each other at times, they join the best players of each team to form the Florida United team where they play nationally and internationally. Salvatore is one of the players that was chosen and she said she is excited to be able to represent the state.

Freshman Julene Valmana, teammate of Salvatore, said that when she travels and meets girls from other states they seem surprised that Florida has a team and they tend to underestimate her game. The teams from other states usually have better plays, game tactics, and more insight on the game but the Florida United team challenges those abilities.

Salvatore has broken several fingers and has been bruised multiple times but her minor injuries do not affect her passion towards the game. If the ball was flying her direction, she said that she would block the goal with her head if the game depended on it.

Salvatore is considering playing the sport at a university level and on the International Hockey Federation club.

CAVALIER STAT BOX

Boys’ Water Polo APR 1 APR 2

Cavaliers vs Miami @ Miami Dade North 9-6 W

Cavaliers vs Miami @ Miami Country Day 18-8 W Cavaliers

APR 16

@ Ransom

vs 1-9 L

Beach

Country Day Belen

Boys’ Baseball APR 16

Cavaliers

vs 0-5 L

Killian

Cavaliers

vs 5-3 W

Braddock

Cavaliers

vs 3-7 L

Columbus

@ Southwest

APR 23

@ Southwest

APR 25

@ Southwest

Girls’ Softball APR 15 APR 17 APR 23

Cavaliers

vs 7-6 W

Braddock

Cavaliers

vs 7-3 W

Ferguson

Palmetto

vs 12-0 L

Cavaliers

@ Coral Park @ Coral Park @ CGHS

sports

highlights May 2014

18

2013-2014 sports seasons

highlights revisits this school year's sports seasons, which were some of the most successful in Cavalier history.

Bringing back the old records

By Francis Pérez SPORTS EDITOR

Angelika Menendez/highlights

Seven years after its last championship, the football team arose from its ashes and returned to the postseason with a win not only at districts, but a playoff run that ended two games short of the state championship. The team’s 11-2 record was its best since 1969, the decade of the Cavaliers’ mythical national championships.

In their 11 wins, the two against the Columbus Explorers stood out the most because of its great challenge and rivalry. Their first game against the Explorers was at Tropical Park, where the stands were crowded with red shirts and red-painted faces, all cheering on the school’s team. This team spirit had not been seen in years past; however, this school year seemed to be the rebirth of student’s enthusiasm for football pep-rally’s, wearing football apparel, and filling up the stands at most, if not all, of the team’s games. Thanks to the team’s perseverance and the crowd’s newly-found support,

the Cavaliers were able to finish triumphantly with a winning score of 13-0. For their second match-up, the Cavaliers returned to the Tropical Park field to face the Explorers, this time during the playoffs. Columbus took an early 13-0 lead before the game was postponed, due to heavy rains and lightning. The game resumed the next day at the Traz Powell Stadium where the Cavaliers were able to bring up the score, later winning the game with a score of 30-27.

This season was one that made a big impact not only on the school but also on the players.

“It was filled with hardships but we came out on top. For me I had a lot of fun and there were times that adversity hit, but the Cavalier Nation lives on,” said junior right guard Nadir Perez.

Head coach Roger Pollard and his team, aim to go past winning just the district championship, and plan to come home with a state championship trophy next season. In preparation, they are putting a State Championship Effort into practice, or as they like to call it, SCE.

WINNING STRIDE: Senior running back Gregory Howell runs toward the end zone, scoring and helping reach the homecoming game win.

Softball brings back the title

By Rachel Ellis STAFF WRITER

Maria Ovalle/highlights

The Lady Cavaliers had a remarkable season, filled with wins and losses, finishing the season with an 11-12 record.

The girls nonetheless proved to the rest of the district that they were the best at the district game on April 17. The team stepped up to the plate and defeated Ferguson High School with a total score of 5-3, claiming the district championship title.

Earlier in the season, the Lady Cavaliers lost to Ferguson with a total score of 1-11, initially putting Ferguson in the lead.

“It was so surreal; we all didn’t know exactly how to feel at the moment, especially since we had already lost to A SWING AND A HIT: Junior Catarina Ruggiano stands at home Ferguson. Also, since I have never won a district title while playing on the team, winning [districts] this year made plate, ready to swing at the pitch and run along the baseline.

my senior year even more memorable,” said senior third baseman Suzette Vasquez.

The district game was not only overwhelming for the players but also for the spectators and coaches as well. There was a rage of excitement that swept across the field, starting at the beginning of the game, after junior pitcher Chanel Wilson got on base and scored on a squeeze bunt from senior catcher Crystal Dingle.

The game was tied for seven innings, but was later broken

by Vasquez who took a run to home plate and scored in the eighth inning.

“It’s always exhilarating for me as a coach to watch the girls play hard. I truly believed that we were the number one team in the district throughout the entire season,” said varsity softball coach Natalie Carreno.

The Lady Cavaliers progressed on to regionals, but lost to Palmetto in the first round.

Smashing their way to GMACs

By Rachel Ellis STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

Courtesy of Cavaleon

DROP THE BIRD: Junior girls’ doubles player, Andrea Avila, scores by net dropping the shuttlecock in a loss against Southwest on Thursday, February 27th.

Aquatic district champions

By Joey Lancaster

DIVING INTO SUCCESS: Sophomore Cathryn Cordes placed first on the 100 meter butterfly, qualifiying her for districts.

Courtesy of Cavaleon

If you were to ask any of the school’s badminton players, it would be quite likely told that there is much more to the sport than simply swinging a racket and hitting a shuttlecock across a court.

This year’s badminton team had yet another successful season, beating every team in the district during the regular season, except Southwest Senior High School.

“Southwest was more stable than we were. We had a lot of internal issues this year that pretty much put us at a disadvantage against other schools,” said senior singles player Julian Falconi.

The team also dealt with several changes, such as a new coach, International Baccalaureate chemistry teacher Kelli Fraga, and the loss of many graduating seniors from the previous years that were more experienced than the large majority of the underclassmen on this year’s team.

For the past two years, the team has held district titles, and although the team did not reclaim this title again this year, it was undoubtedly a season of growth and improvement.

“Last year’s team was mostly composed of seniors, and they were the ones that held the team together and this year we had a lot of young players who continue to improve every day and are really stepping up,” said sophomore singles player Lauren Kerzner.

Kerzner, along with two other girls, junior Francis Pérez and sophomore Gaitana Jaramillo, continued on to the Greater Miami Athletic Conference (GMAC) in April. Kerzner placed fourth overall in the girl’s singles division, and Pérez and Jaramillo placed second in the girl’s doubles division.

“Placing second at GMACs really showed how much we improved throughout the season, it was a really close game.

Next year, my biggest goal is to win at districts and beat Southwest, our biggest competition,” said Jaramillo.

For the first time in school history the girls’ swim team has experienced an undefeated season followed by a district championship. The boys’ team, however, did not do as well, ranking third place at the district championships.

“I feel that I performed very well this year and my hard work in practice paid off as I was able to drop 60 seconds off my 500m freestyle. And I’m looking forward to dropping more time on all of my other events and beat my other personal records,” said sophomore Alexandra Holian.

In addition to Holian, the rest of the girls excelled with a compiled score of 471, which was 132 points ahead of the second place team, Hialeah Gardens High School. One girl that stood out was freshman Hannah Banciella who won first place at the 100 yard freestyle.

“For the last lap, I took a breath and saw that the person in the lane next to me was in front of me by a little, so I just put

my head down and gave it all I got,” said Banciella.

Eleven of the female swimmers such as Hannah Cordes, Cathryn Cordes and Hannah Payne qualified for regionals as well as males swimmers Maxwell Wood, Javier Fernandez, Edward Torgas and four other swimmers.

Next season, however, head coach Alex Donis will not be joining the team but will be instated as head coach of the water polo team at Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

“With coach Donis leaving it’s going to be a bit difficult for the swimmers to adjust to a new style of coaching but I feel that the team’s talent will overcome the hardship of dealing with a new coach,” said Holian.

For the next season, the boys’ and girls’ teams may struggle as they are both losing valuable seniors who have led these teams to numerous district, regional and state championships. Wood, Torgas, and Luis Torres, a few of the teams regional champions, will be continuing their swimming career elsewhere, as well as Danae Diez, one of the valued leaders of the girls’ swim team.

the scene

highlights May 2014

19

An authentic Mexican meal in Miami

By Araceli Sanchez STAFF WRITER

Although Miami may be better known for its Cuban food, it is also home to many authentic Mexican restaurants. There are many local fan favorites scattered across Miami that serve customers affordable and authentic Mexican dishes, and can reward them with unique experiences not found in many “Mexican” or texmex fast food chains like Chipotle or Taco Bell.

Mi Rinconcito Mexicano Located on 1961 S.W. 8th St., Mi Rinconcito Mexicano is a small restaurant hidden amongst the shops of Little Havana. Although it may not look like much from the outside, it is a fan favorite in Miami for those in search of authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant may be considered a hole in the wall, but can still offer customers a Mexican cultural experience and even sells piñatas. This small shop serves simple meals such as tortas (a type of Mexican sandwich), flautas (small fried tacos), and of course burritos and tacos for a cheap price.

The menu also includes a large list of specialty food items and has a combo menu offering a huge portion of food for less than $15. They are open until 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends.

Taqueria El Mexicano Taqueria El Mexicano is another small hole in the wall located at 521 S.W. 8th St. The restaurant also advertises its focus on Mexican cultural and culinary tradition as noted by the huge mural of Aztec gods and creatures located on the top of the building. The Mexican flag flying in the front also advertises to patrons. Tucked in the heart of Little Havana, the “taqueria” serves classic Mexican dishes, like tortas and tostadas (deep fried tortilla). The food is affordable, mostly remaining under $10, but is still made with fresh ingredients using authentic preparation and cooking techniques. This restaurant is also open from until 11 p.m. or 12 p.m. depending on the day, making it an ideal and delicious option for Mexican food lovers searching for a great place to go for a late night snack.

Olivia Field/highlights

RIP IT, DIP IT, STUFF IT

STAFF WRITER

Defying the denotation of its name, Buns and Buns is most definitely not a sandwich shop. Located on 5748 Sunset Dr., this eclectic restaurant serves up multicultural dishes paired with old fashioned sodas and, of course, homemade breads and buns.

The restaurant opened up a mere two months ago, but you would not know it from the lunch rush that crowds in everyday. With indoor and outdoor seating, the space is relaxing and inviting but also incorporates the owner’s unique experiences. Everything from British/Indian cuisine to Southern BBQ and Asian cooking inspired the menu of Buns and Buns. Photographs from the owner’s travels line the walls, sharing space with old suitcases and vintage trinkets.

A newsworthy café

By Sydney Scanlon STAFF WRITER

NOT SANDWICHES: Buns and Buns, a new eatery located on Sunset Drive, offers a wide range of freshly baked bread to accompany any meal.

By Olivia Field

Talavera Cocina Mexicana Unlike the other restaurants, Talavera is not located on Calle Ocho, but at 2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables. A bit more upscale than other options, the restaurant is decorated with blue and white Mexican pottery called talavera, and is adorned with pictures of famous Mexican icons and modern Mexican art hung on the walls, also in blue and white. Talavera features a large and airy dining room, and also offers covered seating outside. They do not serve tacos or burritos, but customers can still order dishes such as mole and huaraches (corn flatbread shaped like a sandal and topped with meat and vegetables.) Customers can also order delicious homemade lemonade while they dip homemade corn chips into the quesos fundidos (melted Oaxaca cheese with chorizo or chiles). Lunch specials are available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and include an entrée, salsa and chips, a drink, and a fruit sorbet for only $13. Talavera is also open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. or 11:30 p.m., depending on the day.

Service follows the popular style of ordering at the counter, inches away from the open kitchen, then settling down at any of the tables. Customers can find creamy spinach poofs with tahini for $5 under “bites” and cobia fish with a miso glaze and a “bunless bun” (lettuce) under “grills” for $15.

With the array of meats and sauces that come with every dish, a customer can easily fulfill the bun’s motto of “rip it, dip it or stuff it.” Considering the quality and freshness of the food, as well as the high-end presentation, $20 for a full meal is worth the expense.

For the customers, the only thing left to master is timing. The lunch rush keeps the staff busy, meaning that dishes take a little longer to arrive and open tables stay cluttered with dirty plates. Avoiding 1 p.m. to about 4 p.m. almost ensures a perfect meal for anyone.

The Newsstand Café, nestled among sky high buildings in trendy Brickell, is not your typical coffee shop. A cozy ambience invites customers in and delicious food keeps customers returning. The Café’s walls are lined with books that are signed by their author alongside vegan snacks. Upon opening the door, one is immediately greeted by the rich scent of coffee wafting through the air and a relaxed and happy vibe.

The café features an incredible staff that serves coffee with a sense of humor.

Marco Ortiz has worked at The Newsstand Café for over two years. As a New York native, he knows good coffee shops, but his favorite place to be is the Café.

“What contributes to the vibe is the staff, because the vibe comes [from] the staff. It’s us, it’s the staff, we make everyone laugh and everyone feel welcome,” said Ortiz.

Barista Marisabel Lavastida cranks up the music as Ortiz talks about the Open Mic Night that seniors Alexis Cadavid and Philip Aitken helped implement. The Open Mic Nights are now every Thursday at The Newsstand Café. The staff, who calls each other family, has complete control over what music is played, picking interesting new sounds. The music can be heard in the limited indoor seating and outdoors.

The Newsstand Café has fresh panther coffee, a Miami based coffee stream, iced tea and juices. There are breakfast choices, lemony kale salads with in-store produced dressings, as well as sprout or Portobello sandwiches often served with homemade hummus. Of course, vegetarian options to abound anyone’s tastes. Most offerings are organic and locally sourced adding to the food’s flavor and appeasing a consumer’s conscience.

Ortiz’s eyes glaze over as he talks about the hummus that he dollops onto his dream sandwich that he makes for himself daily. Whether you are attracted by the fresh brewed coffee, the foods served on dishes that appear to be artisan crafts or the laid-back and welcoming staff, the Newsstand Café is certainly worth the trip.

2341 Le Jeune Road Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305) 446-6458 bridal@cgdryclean.com

the scene

$3o day Start

highlights

20

May 2014

Miami’s combination of inefficient public transportation and costly entertainment makes it hard for teenage locals to come up with new and exciting plans that are not the default and costly trips to South Beach or Miami Metro Zoo. However, highlights’ duo Maggie Rivers and Bianca Mangravite have accepted the challenge of planning out a day packed with unique Miami adventure for under $30.

By Bianca Mangravite and Maggie Rivers

Stop 2: visit to the PAMM

FEATURES EDITOR AND MANAGING EDITIOR

Stop 1: A Metro Day Pass

Caribbean themes seem to be the driving force behind newer exhibits this season at the PAMM (Perez Art Museum Miami) with exhibits like murals by Miami native Edouard Duval-Carrie and the larger, “Caribbean: Crossroads of World” collection.

Duval-Carrie’s exhibit features 10 murals of glitter-built landscapes in a dimly lit room centered around two large purple chandeliers. The murals themselves depict lush tropical scenes that call back to Duval-Carrie’s Caribbean roots and some of the murals are interspersed with social commentary like, “The Landing of Columbus,” which shows characters like Columbus, Mickey Mouse, and Marie Antoinette sailing towards the New World’s shore.

“Caribbean: Crossroads of World,” follows the development of the Caribbean from the Haitian Revolution to the present.

The exhibit utilizes a variety of media from vibrant paintings of clothed animals to screenprinted depictions of European conquests to brightly embellished sculptures, like Everald Brown’s odd 14-string wooden instrument titled “Instrument for Four Persons.”

For this trip we are headed to downtown – one of the few places in Miami where public transportation works like it was intended to. We will be using a lot of public transportation on this trip, especially since finding parking downtown is a mission itself. So, head over to your nearest Metrorail Station and get a day pass. From there you will take the train to Government Center station. Once you have made it to Government Center station, transfer over to the free Metromover and get on the Inner Loop. Then go to the College/Bayside Station and get on the Omni Loop. That will take you to the Museum Park stop.

$ 5.65 Spent

Stop 3: Dinner at Spris

Maggie Rivers/highlights

By now, if you are looking to find some food, we suggest Spris, an artisan pizza restaurant near Bayfront Park. To get there get back on the metromover and take it to the Bayfront Park station. Then cross the street towards the Cushman and Wakefield banking complex, where Spris is located. You will find the restaurant in the open area in the middle of the complex.

Located in the middle of downtown Miami, it is no wonder that many stylistic changes were made from the original two Spris restaurants found on Lincoln Road and Ponce de Leon Blvd. To keep up with the fast paced life-style of the area, a more casual, quicker version of the traditional Italian restaurant chain was created in which orders are made at the front before taking a seat.

Assuming you travel with another person and split the cost, the perfect meal would be a large margherita pizza for $9, about $6 each with a drink. The roman-style pizza is topped with plenty of mozzarella and basil, and then cooked in a brick oven for a crisp and thin crust. The downtown rendition of Spris is the perfect place to get a quick, quality bite to eat.

ART ATTRACTION: The PAMM introduces new carribean artwork into their collection with their newest exhibitions.

$ 8 Spent green line

Wynwood

Bianca Mangravite/highlights

2 bus orange line

College north Government center

DOWNTOWN DINING: Spris is located in an open courtyard, allowing customers to eat outside while they enjoy downtown.

AbouT $ Spent

inner loop

Museum park

omni loop

bayfront park

Stop 4: movie at o cinema

≈ $ 3o

$ 9.5o Spent

Maggie Rivers/highlights

Total cost of trip

With a full stomach, get back on the Metromover (Inner Loop) and go to the College North Station. From there walk towards the large opening of Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus. There you will find your bus stop, covered in intentional, educationthemed street-style art. Take the 2 bus to NW 29th street and NE 2nd avenue (as an indication of location, you will pass Wynwood Walls). Get off and walk east to NE 1st avenue and you will be at O Cinema.

For the month of May, our O Cinema film pick is “God’s Pocket”. “God’s Pocket” follows Mickey Scarpato, played by the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman, whose stepson is involved in a construction “accident.” The accident kills him and Scarpato attempts to bury the body. This, foreseeably, leads him to more trouble when a local journalist tries to get to the bottom of things.

With a great cast as well as good reviews at Sundance, “God’s Pocket” seems like a good way to end a day.

If God’s Pocket does not peak your interest, O’Cinema Wynwood has a variety of movies to choose from like “Jordorowsky’s Dune”, a documentary on Dune filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, and “The Final Member”, a feature film on the Incelandic Phallogoical Museum.

NOW SHOWING: O Cinema’s muraled exterior draws in Miamians to watch foreign and independent films year long.