The BluePrint - Volume 18, Issue 5

theBLUEPRINT

LITTLE BIT OF CHAOS

Early Childhood students learn to work with preschool-aged children. Read the story on page 12. Illustration | Areli Smith

Seniors attend annual voter registration drive

teacher, Matthew Malkovich. Beginning in 2010, Malkovich has coordinated with local government officials and staff to organize the event, allowing students to engage with officials and learn about the inner workings of voting beyond the classroom.

“I learned more about my local representatives, how voting is structured in Seminole County and the necessity of voting,” senior Ilani Seguinot said. “It is important to vote because these are decisions and policies that will affect us far into the future, and if we have a certain position on an issue, we should elect the people that we believe will enact the changes that we want to see.”

Boddiford and Seminole County Public Schools board member Autumn Garrick. The two continued to push the value of a vote, sharing how they aim to better Seminole County and Oviedo through their positions.

RAISE YOUR VOICE Florida Supervisor of Elections Chris Anderson speaks to students about the importance of voting. On March 29, students could register to vote at the event or preregister if they were under 18.

Nadia Knoblauch | News Editor

Filling out voter registration documents can be difficult and confusing. Social security numbers, driver’s licenses and paperwork can lead many to hold off on registering, despite its importance. However, when senior Luke Spencer filled out his voter registration forms, he did not have to turn to a Google search or parent when he had a question, but the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections, Chris Anderson, who was ready to help.

“I think it was useful to register at this event because you had people there who were experts in this and that could help you if you had questions or if you were concerned about which party you should register with,” Spencer said.

On March 29, United States Government, Macroeconomics and Microeconomics classes met in the auditorium to attend the annual voter registration drive, organized by AP U.S. Government

Cast your

VOTE

According to Malkovich, the drive is scheduled each year depending on the availability of the Supervisor of Elections and his team. Although the event will be held in the fall next school year, the schedule for this year allowed AP U.S. Government students’ lesson on primaries and voting behavior to line up with the drive, giving them a better understanding of their class material.

“I got the sense that Hagerty appreciates its ability to bring people to get us registered to vote and teaches us appreciation of our right to vote,” Spencer said.

To start the event, the classes heard from Anderson, who has been the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections for the past four years. Passionate about the importance of voting, Anderson advocated using your voice in elections, especially local, to make a difference in the community. Reflecting on his time in the U.S. Army, Anderson spoke to students about the struggles he faced while deployed in Afghanistan and how we cannot take our freedoms for granted.

“I definitely felt like he had a real passion about voting,” Spencer said. “He was really eager to share his opinions on why we should vote and how grateful he was for being elected.”

Along with Anderson, students were able to hear from Oviedo City Council member Jeff

In addition to gaining a better understanding of voting, the ultimate goal of the drive was to get more students to register to vote. AP Government and Economics teachers William Bordelon and Adam Stansbury handed out flyers that gave students information on voter registration. Students were then able to complete and submit their forms to Anderson, who was present at the event. If students did not have the information needed to fill out their forms, such as their driver’s license or social security number, they were able to return the form the next day to Principal Robert Frasca, who would then submit the documents on their behalf. According to Malkovich, 99 students were already pre-registered to vote, and another 196 registered at the drive.

“I think a lot of people wish the government would work differently, and I think if you’re not voicing your opinion through a vote, then there is really no point in complaining,” Spencer said.

Sharing one’s voice through voting is important despite age, position, political party or opinion. Whether it is a local issue, such as business expansion or traffic control, or a national concern like abortion or climate change, registered seniors now look forward to having their voices heard by their local officials.

“I hope they know that the local elected officials are available for them and that they want to hear their concerns and talk to them,” Malkovich said. “You’re not going to call Joe Biden—he’s not going to call you back. Jeff is going to call you back. The school board members are going to call you back. That’s the main thing, not to take anything away from the importance of voting at the national level, but, for sure, those lower-level officials are going to pay attention to you.”

Photo | Nadia Knoblauch

What current issues do you find most important?

Climate change, abortion and clean energy are important to me. Local representatives can bring these issues up in their own councils.

- Ilani Seguinot, 12

“

Restraining expansion, especially in Oviedo. I think we need a mayor that can support the town’s expansion without overdoing it.

- Luke Spencer, 12

Expanding public transit routes is important along with protecting the environment. We need transportation to be more accessible to citizens.

- Caitlyn Hale, 12

I hope they know that the elected officials are available for them and that they want to hear their concerns.

- Matthew Malkovich, AP U.S. Government teacher

Minga put into action

Since the introduction of the Minga app at the beginning of the second semester, it was just a presence on everyone’s devices, shown once or twice in exchange for a Husky buck. Since then, a new hall pass system is being piloted throughout the school using the app. Minga was introduced as a new form of student identification, as opposed to physical IDs, with hopes of aiding in safety and transportation. After its initial introduction, not much was done with it school-wide, but now, staff members like English teacher Sarah Bearss and TV Production teacher Donna Parker have been chosen to utilize the system in their classrooms. Currently, select classrooms are piloting the system to test its effectiveness and gauge its capabilities.

“The new Minga system has the ability to be more consistent, accessible and effective for the school as a whole,” Bearss said.

According to School Administration Manager Jason Maitland, the reason for the sudden usage is for the safety of the school. When creating a hall pass using Minga, teachers can set specific time limits for how long a student can be out of class and can set it according to where they go, like the bathroom

or another teacher’s classroom. Some may have concerns of privacy invasion, but that is not administration’s goal.

“We are not GPS tracking kids across campus. We are just keeping track of who is out of class, where their destination is and how long they’re out of class,” Maitland said.

Some teachers feel that using the app is a step in the right direction for the good of the school and internal problems, but thoughts of student push-back is also a factor in the success of the new process.

“I don’t think they’ll receive it very well, but you just have to get used to it,” Parker said.

However, reception on the student end has already started to generate positive feedback.

“I feel like [transportation] may be easier to track [since] papers can be lost or used incorrectly,” senior Lindsey Gimbert said.

“Something Rotten” cracks open

Opening March 30 and running through April 1, “Something Rotten” kept the audience on the edge of their seats the entire time.

“Something Rotten” is a musical comedy about brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom trying to find success in playwriting. However, they find themselves in the shadow of playwright William Shakespeare.

Considering the current political climate and the show’s risky nature, theater director Jamaal Solomon had to consider what could be said and done. When the cast was first given scripts, they took out lines they could not perform due to language or inappropriate jokes.

Main characters were double-

casted and referred to as either the “fried” cast or the “scrambled” cast. Senior Lily Joseph, who was part of the ensemble in the “fried” cast and played Bea in the “scrambled” cast, experienced pride while performing.

“I love musical theater and performing more than I love to breathe, so the fact that I get to tell this story and tap dance is more than I could ever ask for,” Joseph said.

One of the biggest numbers was the song “A Musical” which featured tap dancing and a kick-line. Assistant principal Christy Tibbitts-Bryce made her stage debut, as well as principal Robert Frasca.

“I’ve never done anything like that, but it was a lot of fun. I would definitely do something like it again,” Tibbitts-Bryce said.

Spanish teacher Patricia Lopez retires

Janell Lim | Online Editor

As a young girl, Spanish teacher Patricia Lopez dreamed of being a teacher. Now, after 35 years of teaching, Lopez is retiring to spend time with her family.

Although Lopez started her career as an optician, fitting glasses and contact lenses, she always loved Spanish in high school, and began working as a Spanish teacher in Georgia. After five years there, she moved to Florida and worked at Lake Howell before transferring to Oviedo and eventually to Hagerty.

This year marks her 17th year at Hagerty, giving Lopez ample time to see how the Spanish program has grown across the years. Reflecting on her years teaching, Lopez says her students made a big impact on her, just as she hopes she made an impact on her students.

“Just working with the kids, each moment is a memorable moment,” Lopez said. “I’ve had so many students that touched my heart.”

Lopez’s last day was on March 31, and students and faculty sent her off with goodbyes.

“She taught me a lot about

expanding my view of the world,” senior Ariana Seguinot said. “It’s more than just learning how to speak Spanish, it’s learning the history, the culture.”

Seguinot, who also serves as president of Spanish National Honor Society, had Lopez as a teacher for two years and says that she will miss Lopez’s fun and quirky personality.

“It’s really sad. But I’m really happy for her,” Seguinot said. “She’s gonna get to do a lot of things that she wants to do. It’s just sad because she’s a really good teacher and makes me a better speaker.”

Madi Denizard | Staff Reporter

Rachelle English | Staff Reporter

Juniors Rebecca Reyes, Madelynn Roberts and Maddy Agosto sing in act one. Photo | Brooke Bohan

Lopez helps sophomore Grace Hwang.

Photo | Amber Ashby

Photo | Nadia Knoblauch

JROTC sets up field day activities for cadets

Lining up on opposing sides, JROTC cadets prepared for “crazy ball.” The game, created by the cadets, was one of many played at their field day on March 31.

Every school year, JROTC leadership prepares a field day to give the cadets a fun yet beneficial break from their normal work, as well as to get cadets from different periods together. This year’s field day included activities like the Raider Challenge, dodgeball, soccer and kickball.

“A lot of the year we have been separated within different periods, but this is our chance to get people together,” executive officer Andrew Lane said. “One of the biggest things we focus on in JROTC is teamwork, and getting people together with people they have not been with before allows them to build different bonds and maybe make some new friends.”

The event started at the beginning of first period and lasted most of the day, allowing cadets to join the activities when they could. During activities, cadets were broken up into different companies, either Alpha, Bravo, Charlie or Delta, with company commanders and other leadership helping set up games and lead them.

While most of the activities were basic games like dodgeball and soccer, activities like the Raider

Challenge and crazy ball were games they came up with themselves. With the Raider Challenge, cadets were broken up into teams of 10 and ran one and a half miles with a 30 pound rucksack. The goal of it was to give a physical challenge, but also develop teamwork by not leaving anyone behind. Crazy ball was just their own adaptation of capture the flag where two teams try to grab a tennis ball from another team’s bin with the goal of getting the ball without getting their flag pulled.

While cadet leadership did not participate in the games, they still had responsibilities during that time. Leadership helped to set up and clean after activities, while also acting as referees for the various games. Between planning and execution, they did what they could to run their battalion like the leadership before them.

“When I was a freshman, the leader that I looked up to the most was the Raiders captain, and I followed in his footsteps and ended up really focusing on Raiders. [It] helped me build a lot of teamwork and leadership skills along the way, it [really is] the best hands down,” Lt. Col. Samuel Shultz said.

Within the field day activities, and the JROTC

program as a whole, there is a focus on teamwork and building upon all basic and essential life skills.

“Other than physical activity, we learn about various things such as first aid, and how to be a better citizen in society,” Lane said. “It teaches you different life skills that you can use later on. [Between] career building skills and stuff you can use to get into college, JROTC can give you experience for that and help you proceed in life.”

Whether planning to join the military or not, JROTC helps students learn more about the world and themselves.

Through activities like field day, blood drives and classes that help cadets mentally and physically, the goal of events like this is not to just build future military personnel, but develop JROTC students into contributing citizens of tomorrow.

“JROTC is not about joining the military, it is about taking all of the things that are personal about you and building upon those. If you have discipline, we hone that discipline,” 1st Sgt. Louis Strickland said. “[It teaches] life learning skills, understanding of what is going on in the world and [offers] opportunities that help develop young people and turn them into outstanding citizens.”

Angelica Mendez | Reviews Editor

JROTC is not about joining the military, it is about taking all of the things that are personal about you and building upon those.

- 1st Sgt. Louis Strickland

FUN IN THE SUN

(left) Companies stand at attention waiting for instructions. The members stood at attention in between each activitiy.

(top) Cadet Tyler Vohrer celebrates with his team. The team won the final game of soccer for the JROTC field day.

(bottom) Assistant Principal Douglas Miller and cadet Madelyn Bookhart fight for the ball. Soccer was one of the activities for the field day on March 31.

Photos | Angelica Mendez

Skyler Glenn | Editor-in-Chief

The first time I saw a drag performance, it was at Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando. I was 12 years old, and when the dancers came to my table, I smiled and clapped. I did not question my beliefs, my sexuality, or my gender. I did not feel like I was in “immediate serious danger.” But according to Gov. Ron DeSantis, I was. According to Florida House Bill 1423, I was traumatized by the performance and needed protection.

HB 1423, also known as “Protection of Children,” was introduced into the house on March 3. Its purpose is to prohibit children from attending “adult live performances” that depict nudity or sexuality, consequently fining, suspending or revoking the license of any establishments that allow children to see them. They claim that these shows put kids in danger and appeal to “prurient, shameful or morbid” interests.

At first glance, the bill seems like another unnecessary attempt to block children from seeing inappropriate content. However, the implications are already being felt in our community, and it hasn’t even passed yet. At Boone High School in Orange County, the annual “Drag and Donuts” event was shut down because it did not align with what the Florida Department of Education stands for.

This event was not a drag show. It was just a drag queen talking to students about their life.

The FLDOE promises that education is a top priority, then takes away harmless things that make students feel like they belong. They are conveniently ignoring—really, worsening—the depression and social anxiety that plague LGTBQ+ communities on our campuses. Drag queens do not pose a danger to our students. Censorship does.

Even though the bill’s primary intent is to shut down drag, it calls many other popular performances into question. School musicals like “Something Rotten” have sexual, even queer undertones—could they be banned under the bill? Even predominantly straight shows, like “The Crucible,” have mentions of sex and infidelity. Does this fall under the FLDOE’s umbrella of an “adult live performance,” or will it get a pass because it does not include anything gay?

It’s clear that the Florida GOP’s intent is not to protect our children—it’s to shut down our LGBTQ+ community. Yes, kids don’t need to be exposed to overly sexual entertainment, but that is not what these performances are about. Just like any other dance or vocal act, drag is an art. Silencing these performers from talking about who they are hurts

them. Bill by bill, queer people in Florida are losing their freedom of speech.

Of course, this isn’t the only bill aimed at the LGBTQ+ community in 2023. In February, HB 1069 was filed, which targets the discussion of sexuality and gender in schools, a devastating extension to last year’s “Parental Rights in Education,” or “Don’t Say Gay,” legislation. This bill explicitly states that schools must be promoting abstinence out of wedlock and “teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage.”

The FLDOE is all about parental rights until they support gay people. It’s fine to push straight marriage, but if a gay teacher so much as mentions their relationship, they can lose their job. Last May, a Lee County teacher was fired after she told her middle school students that she is pansexual, upon being asked. At this point, the Florida government isn’t even trying to hide their homophobia—they want to pretend that homosexuality doesn’t exist.

Florida continues to move backwards, searching for a 1950s society in a 2023 world. The GOP is catering their political agenda to makebelieve problems, rather than addressing things that actually harm children, like guns and poverty. Ask yourself what is the biggest danger facing students today: getting shot at school or seeing a guy in a dress?

The Willow Project

Sophia Canabal | Lifestyles Editor

Atthe beginning of his term, president Joe Biden allocated $15 billion to establish a Solar Manufacturing Accelerator to meet the administration’s domestic solar energy goals. Now, less than three years later, more than two-thirds of that amount is being spent on developing yet another oil drilling venture.

On March 13, the Biden administration approved ConocoPhillip’s Willow Project, an $8 billion oil drilling site in the middle of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Originally shut down during the Trump administration by a lawsuit that accused the project of violations against environmental acts, a proposed alternative has made a return, and Biden claims that it is significantly less impactful than the previous one.

The revision came after nationwide discontent for the project, including protests from the organizations like the Sienna Club and Greenpeace, as well as a social media campaign under the tag #stopwillow. While the revision is obviously an attempt to make the project more acceptable, it does not mediate its risks.

According to the Bureau of Land Management, the project is estimated to release around 6,000 metric tons of carbon gas every year. While the department estimates that this only slightly adds to current emissions nationwide, its effects on the surrounding area are extreme and irreversible. Black carbon that lands on the ground will absorb sunlight and raise ground temperatures even further.

During the project’s 30 year span, over 20,000 tons of toxic chemicals like nitrous oxide will be released into the atmosphere. Nearby Nuiqsut and Utqiaġvik communities are at risk as well; infrastructure that will surround the oil drilling site will impact the caribou populations that make up a large part of indigenous subsistence farming. No, another oil rig will not end the world, but it will destroy ecosystems that are already vulnerable to rising temperatures.

Despite their statistics, BLM continues to release memos on how Biden has “protected more lands and waters than any president since John F. Kennedy.” The decision also doubles back on the slew of promises he made at the beginning of his term. Government officials have never taken clean energy seriously, and Biden’s case is no exception.

Illustration | Caitlyn Hale

It’s no longer ‘Don’t Say Gay’ in Florida—it’s don’t be gay

casualties grows any more.

States of its resources, but this is clearly not the case.

If someone was dying in front of you, and you could save them, would you?

Now, would that change if instead of being right before your eyes, they were somewhere across the ocean?

This is the question that the United States has always faced, and while some have been wasting their days debating over whether someone’s life is worth saving when they are not directly in front of them, it is already too late for many who are actually living in countries experiencing a crisis. It is time for the U.S. to take action, and the sooner the better.

The “not my fight” rationale is what many countries used to justify their actions (or, more accurately, lack thereof) at the beginning of World War II. The United States refused to provide refuge to some displaced by the war, or join the fight until it showed up on their doorstep anyway.

It has been a common sentiment that a country should fight its own battles while other nations avoid the conflict by ignoring them, however, this is unrealistic in the modern world. Major issues will inevitably spread, and it is better to end them before the number of

When one country is destabilized, many others also become weaker, especially with the amount of global interconnectedness today. For the sake of the many countries who depend on each other, the United States needs to get involved in difficult situations worldwide, even if it causes frustration or discontent among the few who do not benefit.

When people are suffering or dying, it goes beyond political boundaries, and the U.S. should provide as much help as possible. It would be a different story if sending aid to countries in crisis would deplete the United

Additionally, many tend to lose track of the fact that those living through the current global crises are real people, and that the death toll is more than just a statistic. Consider how the number of casualties from the war in Ukraine is continuing to climb. Many who were lost were uninvolved civilians, and every single one of them devastated those who cared about their family member or friend or classmate or colleague.

Finally, sending aid to countries in crisis can strengthen the United States’ relationship with them, and ultimately benefit the U.S. as well. In refusing to get involved in anything messy, the United States may also be throwing away the possibility of a powerful ally once they recover from their crisis.

When one country is in crisis, the others should try to provide much support.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS?

Greta Carrasco | Opinions Editor

Raid sirens echoed through the street as Russia began their full scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. Citizens located in eastern Ukraine started moving west in order to avoid the violence, while others stayed put and got ready to fight. Amidst this chaos countless people called the United States and NATO to step up and help provide military resources and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

It has been a year since the fighting started. The United States has already sent massive amounts of armed equipment, food and medical supplies for both civilians and soldiers at the frontlines, but the constant call to be more involved in the war has become deafening. Not only have we supplied $76.8 billion worth of resources as of 2022, but the president recently announced he will send an

additional $500 million in military aid.

It is extremely important for the United States to be a leader in helping solve the world’s problems, but as with anything, there are limits, including sending aid to countries in need. People can not expect more money to be sent in this singular cause. And supporting global conflicts is only one area where the U.S. is expected to help; caring for nations impacted by natural disasters is another huge responsibility. In the past, there have been floods in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Thailand as well as the droughts in China and Philippines and the earthquakes in Turkey, Syria and Japan— all of which the United States was expected to help. As of Feb. 19, The United States has already sent $185 million in an earthquake relief fund for Syria and Turkey. Nobody can deny these countries need help, but at some point, tough choices have to be made. The U.S. humanitarian

budget is $10.5 billion, and these expenses add up to a hefty amount. We cannot provide unlimited financial aid in one issue if we are expected to help in crises that are happening and will continue to happen around the world.

Y E S N

The United States also should not be the go-to problem-solver of all foreign crises. European countries such as France, Germany and Britain could step up and help the neighboring nations, especially since they have direct and efficient routes, better than those of the United States. Although humanitarian aid is extremely important, we need to set limits on how much we can provide. Considering the Russia versus Ukraine war, if it were to last for longer, financial sacrifices will need to be made.

There are too many economic and political barriers that we cannot surpass at this time. The best we can do is provide what we can and let other nations contribute too.

SHOULD THE UNITED STATES BE THE WORLD LEADER IN

Hagerty High School

3225 Lockwood Blvd.

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BLUEPRINT the Congress’ TikTok obsession turns blind eye to real problems

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EDITORIAL POLICY

The BluePrint is a studentproduced newspaper in which the student editors make all content decisions. The newspaper belongs to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association and the Florida Scholastic Press Association.

Opinions expressed within the newspaper do not represent the staff’s views as a whole, the views of Seminole County Public Schools or Hagerty High School’s administration and staff.

Comments are expected to adhere to our standards and to be respectful and constructive. As such, we do not permit the use of personal attacks or the use of language that might be interpreted as libelous.

STAFF

Editor-in-Chief

Skyler Glenn

Print Editor

Julia Sumpter

Online Editor

Janell Lim

News and Multimedia Editor

Nadia Knoblauch

Lifestyles Editor

Sophia Canabal

Opinions Editor

Greta Carrasco

Entertainment Editor

Angelica Mendez

Sports Editors

Ava West, Karson Cuozzo

Staff Reporters

Abigail Neal, Andrew Wilson, Joshua Krob, James Lopez, Madi

Denizard, Rachelle English, Kailey

Calvo, Grace Hilton

Designer

Dylan North Adviser

Brit Taylor

Principal

Robert Frasca

The BluePrint Staff Editorial

Facebook scams, Twitter’s censorship, Instagram identity theft - every social media platform has problems, but Congress chooses to drag out a national hearing and hyper focus on TikTok.

Over 150 million Americans, specifically teens, have found a platform where they feel most comfortable— TikTok. As a space where people can express themselves, many teens have gravitated towards TikTok as their main social media app, even using it as a news source of important issues such as gun violence and environmental petitions.

However, Congress members do not see this side of TikTok. Throughout the five-hour trial of Congress grilling TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Congress talked about content young users are exposed to. With over 150 million Americans using the platform, it is hard for TikTok to take down every questionable video that is posted. Chew and TikTok workers cannot be expected to closely monitor all content. Congress is trying to make TikTok into an evil superpower, especially when it’s the same as other social media. Plus, there are many more pressing issues.

In the hearing, congressmen addressed the issues of children’s death in relation to social media and mental health. One of the congressmen was trying to get Chew to admit how many children have died because of TikTok. But it is convenient how Congress suddenly cares about the children in this context—when it politically benefits the government. But when it comes to mass shootings in school, no hearings or new legislation is needed.

All Congress sees in TikTok is a Chinese spy weapon due to its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance. Congress claims they are collecting important personal data like location tracking and wants to ban TikTok because of its origin. The worry of spyware is not invalid for China’s reputation with the U.S.

Although Congress’ concerns are valid, they should be directed evenly at all social media, and not just TikTok and its Asian leaders. Their lack of respect for Chew does not reflect well on the leadership of America. Congress attacked Chew and humiliated him, never giving him a chance to defend himself. Meanwhile, Chew kept his patience with Congress members and made an effort to effectively answer their questions, but no matter how he answered, it never seemed good enough.

This is not the first time that data privacy has been discussed in the U.S. In 2021, Mark Zuckerberg stood before the Senate to testify about Facebook’s data policy and how it is used. But unlike Zuckerberg’s trial, Congress was unprofessional and mocked Chew.

The focus on TikTok ignores the hundreds of apps and websites that do the same but are American owned. Platforms that ask users to “accept all cookies” don’t tell users what that means, and many young people do not know before just aimlessly accepting.

Or how about the apps that ask to use locations? One may click “do not accept,” but the app continuously hounds users and tells them they must turn on their location to get the best use out of the app. Couldn’t those be possible traps too? Yes, they very much are, but no one is looking at those.

Florida colleges are already feeling the effects of this. On April 6, Florida state universities put a TikTok ban on campuses so school WiFi and school-owned devices cannot access the app. This isn’t about data privacy, it’s about satisfying their base. For Gov. Ron DeSantis, college campuses are too liberal and this is just a convenient addition to his political agenda.

There are more important things in the world the U.S. should be worrying about instead of a social media platform. School shootings and gun safety should be higher on the priorities list than TikTok. The whole hearing was a waste of time for everyone involved. Congress is not truly afraid of TikTok. They are simply using it as a scapegoat to score political points.

Illustration | Andrew Wilson

Although most social media discussions focus on a teen’s self-esteem, depression and anxiety, the loss of attention span is another major effect. Social media posts take between 15 seconds to one minute to view, and for teens, paying attention longer than that is getting harder. Reports have pointed out that 50% of social media users find longer videos too “stressful.” This decrease in attention span can lead to an increase in stress, performance errors and academic setbacks.

Senior Grace Elliott has struggled with managing her social media use since she was in middle school. Elliott got her first phone in fifth grade, and after realizing many of her friends were getting social media, she decided to get it too. Soon, Elliott started noticing social media had become a big distraction for her, and it only worsened during lock-down.

“During COVID, I decided to stay remote. And that was the worst decision because I just chose to be on my phone during class. That got me behind a lot and I just couldn’t catch up.,” Elliott said. “I was online, but that was my only excuse. I was literally on my phone

the entire time during class not listening to anyone.”

Eliott recently moved from Connecticut, so social media had become the only way to keep in contact with friends. She finds herself scrolling through various social media apps to stay in contact and often has trouble managing her phone usage.

“When everyone is using their little devices, I want to do it too and I feel like that started the

Elliott is hardly alone. Senior Grace White has also found herself on her phone constantly, keeping up with many contacts she started during the

“When I was in middle school, there was a lot of social media, but I wasn’t that into it until freshman year. That’s when I started following a ton of people back because I had a lot more classes and friends,” White said. “After COVID, it was keeping up with all of them. And then my [phone usage] just took off from there. Now I constantly look to scroll through anything to keep my mind going.”

White believes that her phone usage has to do with the little sparks of dopamine people experience when they hear a notification, see likes or comments from their peers.

“It just makes you have that momentary feeling of gratification,” White said. “That is why people keep going back to social media—they want to feel that momentary pleasure.”

White has noticed that she needs to constantly

When everyone is using their little devices, I want to do it too and I feel like that started a habit.

- Grace Elliott, 12

of social media users find longer videos too “stressful”

socialmediapsychology.edu

50%

long texts for her psychology and macroeconomics classes, usually diverting her gaze towards her phone.

In the last few months, various social media platforms have adopted this short-video format, with Instagram introducing “reels” and Snapchat adding a

“We went from long videos from YouTube to YouTube shorts. Things are decreasing and now we’re just watching mere seconds of things before scrolling to the next thing. We can barely focus for long periods of time,” White said.

This reduction of attention is not exclusively set on school work. Sophomore Valeria Romero has found herself getting distracted even when watching videos or shows.

“I can’t really watch TV without pausing and wanting to go on my phone because my attention span just got so bad,” Romero said. “I’m on my phone out of nowhere.”

Senior Tiffany Odimegwu experiences similar problems with keeping focus, especially when there are tasks that she does not feel engaged by.

“When I am doing homework and studying things I don’t really want to do, I end up going on my phone more often and just scrolling to avoid doing the assignment,” Odimegwu said.

Although shortening attention spans have

become common, staying focused is not a lost hope. These students have found several ways to deal with their social media distractions. Romero uses noisecanceling headphones and puts her phone in another room when doing homework, Odimegwu sets locks on her social media apps and Elliott makes sure she is active and productive throughout the day.

“I’ve done a seven-day social media fast,” White said. “It was really enlightening, because you realize how much we rely on [social media].”

For this social media break White deleted both Instagram and Snapchat as a challenge brought forth by her church. During those seven days White focused heavily on spending time with family, going outside more frequently, and doing school work. Although that break was fulfilling for her, she does not believe she could be capable of doing it again, especially with the amount of people she wants to keep in touch with.

“ I re-downloaded Snapchat since I use the app to keep up with friends, but I didn’t get Instagram back until two years later,” White said. “I liked the way I felt without [social media], I didn’t have to worry about how addicting it had become.”

These are not the only alternatives for students, other alternatives include turning off notifications, setting a phone usage schedule or even deleting apps completely.

“There are many ways students can start managing their screen time, the only thing they need is their own motivation,” Elliott said.

Is your attention

Check the boxes that apply to your experiences

I instantly reach my phone when I hear a notification

If I am doing work I find boring, I go on my phone for “breaks”

I spend hours scrolling through social media without noticing I have to reread instruction more than once

I find myself spacing out often when doing work

When watching movies or long videos, I have to be scrolling on my phone

0-1 box: Amazing! Can you help us?

2-3 boxes: Not great, but about average 4+boxes: Time for some time off that phone!

In 2000 the average attention span was 12 seconds, but recently, that number has dropped to 8 seconds

8 seconds

Photo illustrations

Tron

Disney World’s new ride, Tron Lightcycle Run, based off of the 2010 film “Tron: Legacy,” opened April 4, and after four years of construction a preview for the ride opened early. The ride starts by slowly driving you through a glowing tunnel before shooting you out into the outside portion of the roller coaster, making parts of the ride feel like a futuristic Space Mountain. While the ride is enjoyable, its short duration may make it not worth waiting the expected one to three hours it will take to get on now that the ride is opened fully.

- Isaiah Macri

Scream 6

Released in theaters March 10, “Scream 6” continues with the same characters from the previous movie, but this time Ghostface takes New York City. While the change of scenery was good, the environment was not as prominent as it could have been and it seemed like they were still in a small town. However, one thing kept the same was the iconic first death scene, and for “Scream 6,” the first death makes viewers automatically wonder if this killer is different from the others. Although the movie has issues,it is still worth a watch.

- Angelica Mendez

65 John Wick: Chapter 4

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

Released in theaters on March 10, “65” follows Mills (Adam Driver) as he goes on a mission to earn money for his sick daughter, however things take a turn when they crash in an unknown place. For the first half of the movie, the rate at which it progresses is very slow and repetitive. Despite some interesting plot, many of the dinosaur and space aspects are borrowed and overused, making this movie very forgettable. Although “65” has good features, it is not enough to keep the majority of the audience entertained for the entire duration of the movie.

- Aryn Overton

Released in theaters March 17, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” starring Zachary Levi, was a great start for DC this year. While the jokes and lack of plot was a bit disappointing, the fight scenes made up for all of its downfalls, not to mention Shazam’s actor, Zachary Levi, had a perfect portrayal of Shazam’s little kid side. His jokes were actually funny, and was a good representation of Shazam’s character from the comics. “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” is definitely one of the best movies of this year and should not be missed by anyone.

- Kenneth Fontanez

So Much (for) Stardust

Following the events of the last movie, “John Wick: Chapter 4” was released in theaters on March 24 and brought a whole new level of action and gore to this series. The use of both guns and nun-chucks is done really well in this movie, and some of the kills are like no other. Between all the special and more practical effects in car chase scenes or explosions, “John Wick: Chapter 4” does not hold back from being a rated R movie. It is safe to say that this series has branched a long way from a tragic story of a hit-man to a more action oriented film.

- Francisco Enriquez

In the five years since Fall Out Boy’s seventh album was released, the world has gone through changes, but the sound of their newest album, “So Much (For) Stardust,” which was released on March 24, remains comfortingly familiar. The best song in this album is “Love From the Other Side,” which was released early. With fluctuations in pitch, the song gives the catchy alternative feel that fans of Fall Out Boy look for. The inclusion of slam poetry however is unnecessary and unexpected at times. Despite this, the album is still instantly appealing music for anyone.

- Ava Strzalko

The Ritual Killer You

“The Ritual Killer,” released March 10 in theaters, follows African studies teacher, Professor Mackles (Morgan Freeman), as he works with Detective Boyle (Cole Houser) to catch a killer who uses black magic rituals to kill people. The somewhat boring plot of the movie is slow, and not really the horror-like vibe you would normally expect from a murder movie. The only redeeming quality of the movie is the surprise twist at the end. While certain parts of the movie are good, for the most part the movie is hard to follow and not at all worth the watch.

- Ava Vettorel

Following the success of season three, “You” season four introduced a new set of characters that were more riveting than ever, leaving watchers in need for more. The mood of the show created suspense, always leaving questions unanswered and viewers with anticipation. “You” also brought something new for viewers, while characters similar to Goldberg are usually seen as the villain, “You” does the opposite. The show allows for viewers to see inside the mind of a sociopath, allowing viewers to bond with the characters, making this show a favorite.

- Ava Vettorel

PANIC MODE

When student drivers get pulled over, reactions range from tears to fears

Ava West | Sports Editor

Sophomore Elena Hill was driving a golf cart when the brakes stopped working. She was coming up to a stop sign and had a decision to make: run the stop sign or get hit by a car. She chose the first option, but little did she know that car was a police officer.

Hill had recently gotten her learner’s permit, so her mom let her drive the golf cart they rented in New Smyrna. The officer pulled her over after seeing her run the stop sign and had some choice words for her.

“He called me an idiot while I was uncontrollably crying, even after I explained the situation,” Hill said. “I had no idea what to do and I was panicking because I only had my permit.”

The officer could have ticketed her for not having a license, no seat belts and reckless driving, but only chose the latter. Ticket prices for any of these can range from $100-$400.

“Most people are scared when they get pulled over for the first time and that is completely understandable,” school resource officer Milton Gil said. “Most officers will always try to calm you down, we are never just aiming to penalize you.”

Instead of a golf cart, however, it is more common to get pulled over in a car. But no matter

SPEEDING STATS

Sources: law-kc.com, myimprov.com, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles report

the situation, people can still be scared and frustrated in those times.

Junior Ellie Wilkins was driving with her windows down and blasting music. She was driving through a 45 mph speed limit when it turned 35 mph. Not noticing the sign in the dark of night, Wilkins was pulled over.

“I started to have a panic attack and was crying uncontrollably,” Wilkins said. “I had no clue what to do and I even pulled over on the wrong side of the road, luckily the officer was super nice and walked me through what to do.”

Wilkins got a warning and has been pulled over two times since then and got a warning for those too. Wilkins was able to get a warning the next time because she was respectful and followed the officer’s instructions.

“If you do everything you are asked to do, you will most likely not get a ticket,” Gil said. “My main goal is to educate, not to punish. I want to help teenagers and adults be better drivers and keep everyone safe on the road, so I am not a big ticket giver.”

Senior Arynn Duba was driving down Old Lockwood coming home from work when she rolled through a stop sign.

It was late at night and she just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. A police officer was

TICKETS

• Annually, roughly 20.6% of drivers get a speeding ticket

• 112,328 tickets are given out daily

• Speeding tickets yield 3-4 points on a license

right to the side of her and pulled her over.

“I started sobbing immediately. I had no idea what to do and all I wanted was to go home,” Duba said.

Duba found out her registration expired during the traffic stop and was ticketed for not having the correct paperwork and rolling through a stop sign.

“The officer was not nice during the traffic stop, but I know it was late at night and he probably just wanted to go home like I did,” Duba said.

Gil describes the best steps to take as follows: pull over to the right side of the road as quickly and safely as possible, put your car in park, roll your windows down, put your hands on top of the steering wheel, and listen and be respectful to the officer.

You should also make sure you know where your registration, proof of insurance and your license are to show the police officer.

Although all of these steps are important to follow, Gil believes the most important thing to remember is to be honest.

“We pull over a lot of cars daily, trust me, we have heard it all. No lie you tell us will work out in your favor,” Gil said. “If you are completely honest with us and seem interested in knowing what you did wrong and improving that, then you will get a warning unless it is a repetitive action.”

COSTS

• 10-14 mph over: $204 to $279

• 15-19 mph over: $254 to $329

• 20-29 mph over: $279 to $354

• 30+ over: Up to $429

WRECKS

• Speeding-related deaths have increased by 17% since 2019

• 29% of accidents are caused by speeding

• Teens are more likely to crash than adults

LITTLE

BIT OF

Early Childhood Education program teaches future educators

Kailey Calvo | Staff Reporter

All high school seniors are worried about graduation at the end of their final year of highschool, but some are even worried about the graduation of the preschoolers that they teach, coming in at 6 a.m. to get working on the preschool graduation decorations. While it may seem strange that a high school campus has a fully student-operated preschool, the Early Childhood Education program is teaching its 180 students how to create and teach lesson plans to 18 preschoolers on Hagerty’s campus.

Open for 18 years and taught by lead instructor Jenny Burrell and levels I and II teacher Jennifer Hennessy, the early childhood education program consists of five levels. Students start by learning the best way to teach lessons and end as an active teacher within the preschool. Students even sweep and mop the floors, do laundry and clean furniture, fully operating the preschool.

In level I, students learn what the best practices are for educators and how to properly teach children different skills. Students also receive training and testing for DCF hours, which are required in order to work in childcare in Florida. In level II, students begin to work directly with the children

in the preschool. They create lesson plans, vocab sheets and creative lessons to keep the children engaged. Education topics like shapes, letters of the alphabet, numbers, and days of the week change weekly, and lesson plans are created around each topic.

According to Hennessy, who will take over the program after Burrell retires at the end of the year, there are plans in the coming years to integrate different types of learning into the preschoolers’ curriculum.

“I am really looking forward to adding more STEM-related materials and hands-on science and math lab activities for our preschoolers. Getting them to learn in as many ways as possible is always our goal,” Hennessy said.

There are four certifications that students work toward while taking this course, ranging from the statemandated education classes to ServSafe for proper food handling. Certification takes place in the early levels, while levels three, four, and five all build on the skills taught in the previous levels. Each level has its own focus and certification.

Level three works a lot on theorists of education in order to prepare to take a test with Seminole State College and earn college credit if they pass. In level four, students start working on

their Child Development Associate certificate, working on the many steps throughout the entire year.

Not only is an important curriculum taught to students, but they learn important life skills just by interacting with the children daily.

“Working with preschoolers has taught me how important patience is. These children are learning about rules and consequences every single day, and it is important to remember that,” senior Ariana Seguinot said.

as fun as it is hectic.

“I love the calmer moments, when it’s a few of the teachers and the kids,” junior Ashley Zientara said.

Even though one may think that the early childhood education career pathways program is only for those who want to become teachers, all are welcome in the course, and it teaches valuable skills that occur because of teaching.

My favorite part about the program is getting to watch the kids grow as the year goes on. As the year progresses they open up more and you get to see some of their personalities start to develop.

- Kaleb Heyliger, 11

As the preschoolers become more acclimated to the preschool environment, they begin to learn more from their teachers and make friends in their class.

“[I love] to watch the kids grow as the year goes on. At first, they tend to be a bit shy, but as the year progresses they open up more and you get to see some of their personalities start to develop,” junior Kaleb Heyliger said.

As one could imagine, managing and operating a preschool is equally

“Early Childhood Education gives skills that are transferable to many different areas. These include coaches, counselors, entrepreneurs, management and healthcare. Our core skills focus on teamwork, leadership, psychology of children, and how to communicate effectively with not only children but provide the necessary skills to communicate with others in the workplace,” Hennessy said.

At the beginning of the 20232024 school year, spots will be open to enrolling preschoolers in the program. All children must be at least 3 and potty trained in order to be eligible to apply for a spot in the Husky Pups Preschool.

GETTING CREATIVE A Husky Pup preschooler finger paints during class. Early Childhood Education students teach children in the preschool to gain classroom experience. Photo | Kailey Calvo

BOOK BAN?

Janell Lim | Online Editor

In March 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida House Bill 1467 into law, requiring school districts to be “transparent in the selection of instructional materials.” For Moms of Liberty Seminole Chapter Chair Jessica Tillmann, the law prevents pornographic material from falling into children’s hands.

“I have four children ages 2-14. This law ensures [that] I can trust inappropriate books will not be in the hands of my children,” Tillmann said.

But for senior Devon Worthy, this law is just another way of disguising book banning, discriminating against minorities and LGBT people.

“I think people are going to get a lot more closed-minded and bigoted towards certain issues, because if you’re not exposed to it and you don’t have the resources to learn about it, then you’re going to automatically fear it,” Worthy said.

Although the law itself does not specifically prohibit certain books, it gives districts the power to pull books from shelves if they deem it inappropriate. The definition of “inappropriate” is where lines get blurred.

In Indian River County schools, “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margeret Atwood was banned, along with other popular novels such as “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini, “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky.

Across Florida, books featuring gay or minority characters like “Gender Queer” and “This Book Is Gay” have been pulled from school libraries. Flagler schools even banned “The Hate U Give” by Angie

Thomas, a young adult novel about the shooting of an unarmed black man by a white police officer. Identifying as queer himself, Worthy fears the consequences of what many call “book bans.”

“I’m queer. And those are the kind of books that really helped me when I was trying to figure myself out,” Worthy said. “The fact that they’re starting to take those away genuinely scares me because I know how hard it was for me with those resources, and now they don’t have them anymore.”

In Seminole County, eight books have been pulled — “Let’s Talk About It” by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan, ”Lucky” by Alice Sebold, “Triangles” by Ellen Hopkins, “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins, “Date Rape” by Christine Watkins, “Deogratias” by Jean-Philippe Stassen, “Push” by Sapphire and “Sold” by Patricia McCormick — for themes of prostitution, sexual slavery, rape, teen pregnancy and masturbation.

According to Tillmann, after members of the community brought these books to her attention, their chapter read through the books to review the content.

“I scanned through myself and what I read was concerning,” Tillmann said. “We were not asking for them to be removed. We only asked for them to be reviewed through the proper process that any book or curriculum, by law, can be challenged by parents or community members.”

“Let’s Talk About It” and “Lucky” are to be discontinued in Hagerty’s classrooms indefinitely, while the rest await the district office’s decision. According to assistant principal Kristi Draus, the

school is planning to set up areas in the library that require parental consent for students to check them out. But whether permanently removed or under review, books are disappearing from classrooms, alarming many educators.

“As an English-loving, book-reading person, it makes me nervous when we start saying ‘no’ to things as a whole,” Draus said. “That being said, I think our district’s interpretation was as good as it could be considering the expectation.”

Although Draus does not support taking literature away from students, she understands that some students may not be ready for certain texts.

“I read some books where I’m like, man, if my 14-year-old self had read this, that might have been a little heavy for me, and so I am appreciative that Seminole County is putting some policies in place that are being thoughtful,” Draus said.

HB 1467 is not the first of Florida’s laws to cause controversy. Previously, DeSantis’ Stop WOKE Act and “Parental Rights in Education” (Don’t Say Gay) bill have seen massive backlash and deepened the divide between Democrats and Republicans. Oftentimes, students and teachers are caught in the crossfire.

With the political climate as it is, English teacher Cameron Curran finds her job under more supervision and oversight, for better or for worse.

“There’s the extra pressure of making sure that you’re always saying things the way you’re supposed to,” Curran said. “I am constantly paranoid about what could possibly be interpreted in a way that could have a negative consequence.”

SPARKING CONTROVERSY In Seminole County, eight books have been pulled from shelves. Two are removed indefinitely while the rest are under review, awaiting the district office’s permission to set up parental consent areas. Illustration | Josephine Lim

The Left calls it a “book ban,” the Right calls it “parental rights.” But whatever its label, House Bill 1467 pulls books from shelves that are deemed inappropriate.

Unaddressed: the impact of homelessness

Sophia Canabal | Lifestyles Editor

As youth coordinator at the Coalition for the Homeless in Central Florida, one of the most frequent questions Natasha Yeung hears is “there are homeless kids?”

“Yes, of course there are.”

With only 13 affordable housing units for every 100 low-income households, it is no secret that Florida is knee-deep in an affordable housing crisis. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a one-bedroom apartment requires a minimum-wage employee to work 106 hours a week to afford rent. The result? A homeless population of more than 27,000, at least 7,000 of which are school-age children.

At the Coalition, Yeung collaborates with volunteers in the Orlando area to help children ages 5-7 adjust to both long term and transitional homelessness. While the organization helps facilitate access to permanent housing, its youth program offers classes on mental health, financial literacy and career exploration,

as well as providing extracurricular field trips over spring break and the holidays.

“We try to provide [children] with an experience that they wouldn’t normally have otherwise,” Yeung said. “Anything that I did or had or even didn’t have an opportunity to experience, I want these kids to experience.”

Homelessness is also a prevalent issue among Seminole County students. In 2020, there were approximately 1,200 homeless students attending public school in Seminole County. School social worker Beverly Bonilla Flores meets with many homeless or low-income families to connect them with agencies like Families in Need.

“There are many students and families that are struggling with [homelessness]. We make sure that students have transportation, support and eligibility for school breakfast and lunch,” Flores said.

Through the Families in Need

fund established in 2016, students experiencing homelessness have access to free lunch, transportation and school supplies. Apart from local organizations, many nonprofits in Central Florida distribute resources to men, women and children experiencing homelessness through collaboration with volunteers. Senior Avis Shaw, who sorts canned food donations at the Second Harvest Food Bank, first started volunteering to fulfill their Bright Futures requirements, but has continued to volunteer in hopes of making an impact on communities in need.

“I think it’s very important that we students, especially seniors who might be living on their own soon, are aware of how prevalent homelessness is in Florida,” Shaw said. “I believe everyone should help out if they can because no one should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from or where they’re going to sleep that night. Volunteering at Second Harvest is how I give back.”

Students do not have to look far to get involved with local nonprofits. Clubs like Girl Up, Beta Club, Junior Optimists and Key Club often fulfill their volunteer hours at shelters nearby.

On Feb. 25, the Key Club traveled to the Sharing

1,200 homeless students attended school in Seminole County in 2020

- The Foundation for SCPS

Center, an organization that receives and distributes household essentials to lowincome families. The club helped staff members sort essential items to prepare them for distribution.

“Volunteering at the Sharing Center shifted my perspective a little,” president Cheryl Nguyen said. “Being aware of families in need allowed me to understand the importance of volunteering. It provides a way for me to help families that may be less fortunate than I am.”

While organizations like Second Harvest and the Sharing Center provide resources to families in need, bestpractice policies have proven the most efficient solutions to the housing shortage. According to the Florida Housing Coalition, homelessness has significantly declined since 2010, a trend largely attributed to the rise of Housing First practices, where permanent housing is the first resource provided. While Housing First policies have proven an escape from long-term homelessness, the practice has not been fully implemented by every community. For approximately 2,000 homeless people residing in Seminole County in 2019, there existed only one homeless shelter.

A former victim of homelessness herself, Yeung strives to spread awareness for the homeless community, especially its youth, combating harmful stereotypes that prevent them from getting the resources they need. According to Yeung, many of the parents she works with are homeless or in transitional living because of underlying, unaddressed trauma. As seen in a study by the Family and Youth Services Bureau, more than 80% of mothers experiencing homelessness were previous victims of domestic abuse. Coupled with a severe shortage of affordable, transitional housing, homelessness is not only a longterm affliction, but a generational one.

“We have a family here, and [the mother] said, ‘You see this picture?’ and pointed to a photo of a little kid on the wall. ‘That was me as a kid. Now I’m 25 and I’m back here as an adult with my kids,’” Yeung said. “Adults who were here as children are coming back in because they weren’t given access to the skills, the education or the knowledge on how to prevent themselves from coming back into a situation like this.”

Illustration | Josephine Lim

Anything that I did or had or even didn’t have an opportunity to experience, I want these kids to experience.

- Youth Coordinator Natasha Yeung

Boys lacrosse beats Olympia

On April 4, the boys varsity lacrosse team took an early lead against Olympia when attacker Landon McLaughlin scored two goals in the first five minutes of the game. Three more goals quickly followed, scored by offensive midfielder Taj Usher, midfielder Hayden Lesnewski and McLaughlin.

With their offense running smoothly, the defense also played a part in the team’s victory. Defender Edward Ruping got player of the game for causing three turnovers and stopping goals. Goalies Grant Smith and Thomas Russel both had four saves during the game, helping the defense to keep Olympia at bay with only five goals.

“My favorite play of the game had to be when Thomas [the goalie] ran coast to coast [one end line of the field to the other] and almost scored. He knocked three people down on the way to the goal,” attacker John Mediavilla said. “That is the most impressive thing you can see a goalie do; it is not common for that to happen.”

Going into the fourth quarter, Mediavilla quickly made two goals in

Girls lacrosse takes on Georgia

The girls varsity lacrosse team came out with a big 9-7 win against #8 nationally ranked Creekview High School (GA) on April 4.

The girls were nervous going into the game after losing 15-5 to #1 ranked Milton High School (GA) in the Legacy Cup tournament, which was hosted by Milton on March 25.

“Knowing that Creekview comes from the same area as Milton, we knew they would probably play similar,” goalkeeper Emma Rasmussen said. “Although we lost to Milton, we learned a lot from that game that we were able to use against Creekview.”

At the beginning of the game, the girls did not have great communication, balls were being checked out of their sticks and players were not in the right position.

whole game which is why we weren’t performing as well in the first half, it threw us off guard,” Lange said.

One of the team’s biggest struggles throughout the game was the mental side, which is something head coach Mitch Whittington thinks the team needs to improve on.

the first two minutes. Olympia scored, but McLaughlin quickly responded with another rip shot from the eight meters, making the final score 15-5.

The team now has a record of 9-7 and is 3-3 in their district. Their first playoff game was against Seminole in the district quarter finals on Monday, April 10.

They managed to push past that issue and scored two goals, but Creekview responded and scored two as well, making the game 2-2 as the half was approaching. The girls were able to score three more goals, with midfielder Melina Lange having two goals and O’Connor having one.

“Creekview was a really fast team, they kept us on our toes the

“We make some silly mistakes and we have mental errors that are really uncontested, which sometimes limit our competitiveness,” Whittington said.

Besides the mental mistakes, the team’s defense was solid. They made a handful of good defensive plays on offense.

“We worked really well, we have a few things we need to clean up, but otherwise the team performed well against Creekview,” O’Connor said.

Girls water polo season ends in district semifinal

The wind was not strong, but it was enough to chill Lake Howell’s swimming pool, the setting for the district semifinals. The girls water polo team came in as the underdogs, but that did not faze senior Sofia Galiano, who scored most of the points in the game.

On March 29, girls water polo competed in the district semifinals against Lake Howell. The team would fall 15-4 with Galiano’s three goals, finishing the season 3-19.

The team didn’t hit their stride for the majority of the season, losing 16 of their games before winning one. They won three of their last four games against Winter Springs

with a score of 11-3, Colonial with a score of 9-8 and Timber Creek, their best game of the season, where the team scored 20 points behind senior Alexane Ayup with six and Galiano with seven.

“It gave more of a morale boost than anything because our new girls had never felt that winning feeling. It helped us push through the last stretch of the 23 games we played,” sophomore Eleanor Russo said.

Seniors take up the majority of the roster, and the team’s reliance on seniors has been a concern. As they leave each year, inexperienced underclassmen have been forced to step up earlier than expected.

“We had to train so many of our players, including me, from scratch. I

think we did alright with what we had,” senior Helen Zou said. “There were individual games we probably could have won if we had more players that day, or other reasons like that.”

With a roster of mostly juniors going into next year, the youth of the team and the coaches, who have only been coaching for two years, will give everyone more room for improvement for the future.

“We probably could have been better off if we had more practices near the beginning of the season instead of the extreme amount of games,” Zou said. “While you do learn a lot during games, knowing what is going on first allows for more understanding and opportunity for experimentation.”

Ava West | Sports Editor

Sophomore Eleanor Russo

Photo | James Lopez

Attacker Landon McLaughlin

Photo | Ava West

Midfielder Ainsley Pomp

Photo | Karson Cuozzo

Karson Cuozzo| Sports Editor

James Lopez | Staff Reporter

Baseball returns to national invitational

Abigail Neal | Staff Reporter

For the second time in history, the varsity baseball team was invited to play in the National High School Invitational hosted by USA Baseball two weekends ago and ended the tournament with a 2-2 record. The team’s last performance in the NHSI in 2019 ended with a 1-3 record, and being invited a second time was a big step up for the team.

“They only invite a select few teams, but we have some pretty good players that have experience with USA Baseball, so we knew there’d be a good chance [of returning]” head coach Michael Sindone said. “It’s just rare that a public school goes.”

The team played in bracket two, along with Houston County High School from Warner Robins, Georgia, JSerra Catholic High School from San Juan Capistrano, California, and Brother Rice High School from Chicago, Illinois.

The team lost to Brother Rice on Wednesday, 5-0. Pitcher Garrett Baumann gave up three runs

during the game. Topping out at 95 mph, Baumann struck out six batters over four innings.

On day two of the tournament, the team faced off against 12th ranked team in the nation, Houston County. Leading into the game, the team had heard about all the talent Houston County had on its roster, but, the team executed at the plate and won the game, 4-3.

Pitcher Talan Bell allowed five scattered hits and struck out six. During the game, utility Austin Desoto was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Outfielder Adam Ciccone was 2 for 2 with two runs scored. First baseman Eli Fleming was 1 for 1 with an RBI and utility Danny Beldowicz was 1 for 3 with another RBI. The game ended as the team’s first tournament win.

“I couldn’t be more proud of their response and facing a team that was that talented and they still managed to pull out a win,” Sindone said.

During the final day of the tournament, the

boys started against TC Roberson, winning 6-3 in an extra inning. After a single from outfielder Ryan Foscolo in the eighth inning, Bell doubled, scoring two and putting them in the lead as Adam Ciccone singled after, allowing Bell to score. A key player against TC Roberson was infielder Jerimiah Stewart, who pitches four innings and only gave up one run.

Down for their last game on Friday against Aquinas, Hagerty finished the tournament with a 10-1 loss. Catcher Bailey Gutierrez stepped up to replace catcher Connor Spellman, who was injured in the first part of the tournament.

Overall, outfielder Adam Ciccone, hit 9 for 12 during the tournament and was selected as a part of the All Tournament team.

“Personally, I think that was the best tournament I’ve ever had in my life,” Ciccone said.

Taking home a 2-2 record was a respectable finish to a national tournament.

“There were teams that were top 25 in the nation that didn’t win a game, so for us to go in and win two of them, we were really proud of that,” Sindone said.

As the team continued into the heat of their season, they came home to face off against Oviedo on April 4, adding an 11-1 win to their record.

After playing Oviedo on April 4, the team will face them again April 7. Following these games, the team will move on to play Seminole, Winter Springs, Lake Mary and St. Cloud before heading into the district quarterfinals on May 1.

As of April 7, the team holds a 13-5 record and as they look forward to a strong finish of the regular season and contending for district and state titles.

There were teams that were top 25 in the nation that didn’t win a game, so for us to go in and win two of them, we were really proud of that.

- Michael Sindone, head coach

GOING NATIONAL (top left) Outfielder Ryan Foscolo steps up to the plate in game three against TC Roberson. The team finished the tournament 2-2. (bottom left) Pitcher Brayden Toro takes the mound in game four against Aquinas. The team won the game against TC Roberson 6-3. (top right) Catcher Bailey Gutierrez sets up behind the plate. Gutierrez replaced catcher Connor Spelman after an injury in game two against Houston county. Photos | provided by Bailey Gutierrez