The BluePrint - Volume 8, Issue 1 by Hagerty Journalism

HAGERTY HIGH SCHOOL

3225 LOCKWOOD BLVD. OVIEDO, FL 32765

INDEX

the

blueprint

volume 8, issue 1

New band directors......2 Wakeboarding............5 Athletic fund..............8-9 Breakfasts..................10 School garden............16

October 1, 2012

Athletes excel on national stage Darbi Filliben News Editor

Double vision. Seniors Emma and Katie Ballantyne pass during warmups. The Ballantyne twins’ team placed first out of 13 teams in the Junior Olympics. photo by Isabelle Sarnek

very athlete dreams of the competition on the national stage. But seniors Danielle Nuszkowski and Katie and Emma Ballantyne made that dream a reality. All three spent the summer competing against the top teens in their sport nationally. Toward the end of her season, after she had tried seven times to qualify, Nuszkowski hit the time needed to send her to Ft. Meyers on April 27-29 to compete in the Open Water Nationals. She placed sixteenth overall and competed with the best swimmers in the world, some who had previously competed in the 2012 London Olympics. “The girl who started next to me in the Open Water Nationals won the silver medal in the Olympics for long distance,” Nuszkowski said. “I was only a few minutes behind some of the best swimmers in my sport.” The Ballantyne twins’ volleyball tournament took place on July 14 in Ohio where they competed with some of the top teams in the country. “We spent almost all of last year traveling and playing in tournaments in order to qualify,” Katie said. “We ended up qualifying at the last tournament possible, so it was so nerve-racking.” For Nuszkowski, the experience was all that mattered. “I had to try at least seven times to get

things to do this month  Behind the Myths

 Halloween Horror Nights

[Oct. 12] Watch the stars of Mythbusters take the stage in a new show at the UCF arena that features experiements and behind-the-scenes stories from the show.

a time that would qualify me for the Open Water Nationals,” Nuszkowski said. “After I hit my qualifying time, I had to train almost every day by swimming in place for up to two hours.” Just being at the competition was enough for Nuszkowski to be proud. “I was just happy for the experience and the chance to meet some of the top competitors in the country,” Nuszkowski said. “Although I didn’t win, I learned so much and feel better prepared for next year’s competition.” After playing 13 games and only losing two, the Ballantynes found themselves on top of the podium surrounded by cameras and tears. “We went into the tournament saying that we’d already gone so far and were proud to just be there,” Emma said. “However, once we got there and started playing, we realized that we could actually win.” They agreed that it just felt like another tournament up until the finals when everything became real. “After we won we were filled with emotions,” Katie said. “Our club coach, one of the most unemotional people ever, started crying after the final point.” The emotions the atheletes experienced were difficult for them to put it into words. “I have never wanted something so badly in my life and I am so happy that I finally accomplished it,” Emma said. “It’s such an overwhelming feeling.”

 Carnival of Screams

[Runs through Oct. 31] Prepare to turn the corner and fear for your life with the Survival theme featuring the new “ Walking Dead” and “Silent Hill” houses.

 Winter Park Autumn Festival  Light the Night Walk

[Oct. 28 - Oct. 29] Come and enjoy familyoriented games and contests with a haunted twist at the Riverside Park Complex from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission ranges from $5 - $7.

[Oct. 13 - Oct. 14] Celebrate the arrival of fall with the annual festival featuring Floridian artists, live music entertainment and family friendly activites. Admission is free.

[Oct.18] Help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by walking Lake Eola 6 - 7 p.m. There will be ballons, music and entertainment.

news

New directors jump in, tackle band on the run Spencer Thompson Staff Reporter o succeed a director who led the band to a state championship might intimidate some people. Ted Shistle, however, is not one of those people. The new band director brings patience, conﬁdence and optimism to his new job. Shistle along with assistant director Brad Kuperman, are is not motivated by a desire to win another championship as much as a passion for the development of great musicians. He describes himself as “process rather than product oriented.” “This year is all about transition and what we can do to better ourselves and better this program. If that means not going to states, the students and parents are 100 percent behind that,” Kuperman said. Shistle explained that in a culture of immediacy where people have

become accustomed to quick and easy access, music is a throwback, especially when it comes to instrumental music. “There is no shortcut in learning to play an instrument well,” said Shistle. “There is no short-cut in learning to play a style of music well. It takes time, and you have to be willing to invest that time and in the end the reward is great.” Since they started their jobs at Hagerty, the two directors have not had an easy time. Both begin their days around 7 a.m. and don’t leave school until 8 or 9 p.m. They also both have long commutes to and from school and as a result, do not get much sleep. “I think they’re both very dedicated in what they do,” junior drum major Nicolette Meyer said. “Their experience deﬁnitely comes through when they are teaching.” Shistle believes that the reason

what’s news?

TWIRLERS SUCCEED AT JUNIOR OLYMPICS Twirlers Gabriella Singer, Sara Monica and Isabella Cortes won a silver medal in the team competition of the AAU Junior Olympics on Aug. 2. High schools from all over the country traveled to Houston, Texas to compete. The girls also won medals in the individual competition. BAND PREPARES SHOW FOR COMPETITION The marching band has started preparing their 2012 show, rEvolution, for a competition on Oct. 27 at Colonial High School. The band also will host the Seminole County Marching Festival on Oct. 20, where bands from all over Seminole County will come to perform their shows. PARKING RULES STRICTLY ENFORCED Drivers are required to have a parking sticker on their cars rather than just a pass. Any cars parked in the student parking lot without this sticker will be towed at the owner’s expense after he or she has been warned once. HOMECOMING WEEK APPROACHES Homecoming will begin Oct. 8, and conclude with the homecoming dance on Oct. 13. The theme is “How Far We’ve Come,” and events will include Flick on the 50, H-Factor talent show, a hypnotist show, the annual powder puff game, and the homecoming parade. Dates include PJ Day, Prehistoric Day, Decades Day, Zombie Day and Spirit Day. PSAT DATE GETS CLOSER The PSAT will take place on Oct. 17. Sophomores are required to take the test, and freshman and juniors have the option to take it. Test takers should be at school by 7 a.m. and bring two number two pencils, a photo ID, a calculator and a sweater or jacket.

the current group of students have been successful and will continue to succeed is because of the great qualities that they possess. Shistle claims the only pressure he feels is “the pressure to realize the potential of this year’s group.” There is, according to Shistle, a wide variety of talent within the band program. There are some students he describes as “brilliantly talented,” and others that “are great students and great kids, who may not have had the best instruction or are just now deciding they want to be shining stars.” He believes that this will be a key to their future success. “I’d consider negotiating the wide spectrum of talent in our band as the biggest challenge,” Shistle said. Fortunately, the program has had early success. When these directors started, the band was far behind in the process and essentially started over. The show that was planned last

year had been abandoned, and the new program, entitled rEvolution, was unfamiliar to the students. Not seeing the music or the drills prior to band camp was a major setback. In terms of time needed for the students to master it, it “is almost unheard of,” Shistle said. “The band worked incredibly hard, we pushed them, they responded, their work ethic was incredibly impressive and I’m proud of what they’ve been able to do so far,” Shistle said. Shistle believes the audience “will be very impressed with what they see.” He credits student leadership within the band, which he describes as “fantastic,” and the support of parents and boosters for much of what has been accomplished. “It didn’t take very long for me to realize I can trust these students,” said Shistle. “They’re very responsible and take their jobs very seriously.”

photo by Isabelle Sarnek

rEvolutionary. Brad Kuperman and senior drum major Jaymi Curran direct the band in rehearsal. Kuperman and Ted Shistle, started as directors in the end of July.

New virtual school requirement Haley Gaeser

Opinions Editor ou can buy clothes, order a pizza, or read a book. You have the option to do almost anything online. One thing that is not an option, however, is to take a class. The state has mandated that all current freshman and sophomores must take a virtual school class to graduate. In order to meet this new requirement, students must register through their guidance counselor and complete at least a half credit of one class. There are two online schools available: Florida Virtual School or Seminole County Virtual School. Both offer the same basic classes, but the credit structure differs slightly. Initially, there never was SCVS; FLVS was the only virtual school to take. In 2009, Seminole County opened the new virtual school to the public. “The main differences between the two is that FLVS is used to get ahead on course work or to retake classes that [a student] has failed. SCVS is used in place of traditional classes.” guidance counselor Jeff

Siskind said. “[Also], SCVS does not offer classes in the summer whereas FLVS does.” Students who have taken a virtual class are taught the same material that regular classes are taught, but are able to make their own pace and have a more flexible schedule. The classes do not take up much time and issues involved with them are limited. “Taking a virtual class has given me the ability to be independent while working. I treat it like any other class and my parents were happy to see me striving to complete my online goals,” sophomore Amber Courtney said. On SCVS, the classes are taught by experienced Seminole County teachers. Each class will have rigorous curriculum and is only available to a Seminole County Student. Classes on FLVS will be taught by highly qualified, certified instructors located in Florida. The instructors will call to check up on the students at least once a month. When the students first begin the class, they will be able to work at their own pace. “The teachers were very nice and polite whenever they called to talk to

me, but the calls were a little strange at times,” sophomore Grant Elliot said, “I enjoyed being able to go at my own pace, but missed not being able to talk to other people.” To choose a pace can be difficult, and many students do not always have time to keep up with virtual classes at home. On average, an elective will take three to five months to complete while a core class can take up to 10 months. The school supports virtual school with an open lab on campus throughout the day so that students always have a chance to complete their class. “I believe that virtual school is an effective way of learning,” principal Sam Momary said. The eventual goal of the county is to implement the E-Pathways systems which will allow students to take all of their classes based off of their personal schedules. A stronger virtual school system is the first step towards this goal. For further information on how to sign up, when the deadlines are or which class would be best, students should speak with their guidance counselor.

news

Teachers embrace cell phones through Remind 101 Daniel Neveras Reviews Editor hen junior John Lancaster walked into AP Language and Composition teacher Lauren Hamilton’s class, he found his homework from last night and turned it in; however, many of the other students were unaware of the change in their night’s workload. Unlike his classmates, Lancaster was prepared for class not because of his planner, but because of his cell phone. As far as any student can remember, teachers have hated cell phones. Now, a number of teachers have embraced the use of cell phones through Remind 101. Remind 101 is an automated text messaging service specifically designed for teachers. This system

allows teachers to text their students in case there is a change in homework or supplies needed the next day. Currently, many math and AP teachers use Remind 101. With this, teachers are able to impersonally interact with students to make sure they are on track. Now that students have Remind 101 for the duration of an absence, they no longer have the excuse of a broken computer at home to prevent them from the work they had missed. “By using Remind 101, I expect thorough preparedness of my students and awareness to information,” Hamilton said. The overall reception to Remind 101 has been favorable. “Remind 101 is a useful tool because it reminds us about important

things going on in class, which ultimately helps us to succeed,” junior Miles Smith said. The majority of students have also found it to be more convenient than BlackBoard. “Remind 101 is great because I look at my cell phone daily, but I usually don’t go on BlackBoard as much,” Lancaster said. However, teachers stress that these new text reminders should not be relied on for every bit of information in their respective class and should not replace planner use. “It is important that they understand that it is an aid and not a cure-all. Paying attention in class and listening carefully are much more important to student success,” Hamilton said.

Remind 101 sample usage “If you haven’t taken the test, you have until midnight.” -Yvette Pigott AP Environmental Science “Don’t forget homework audits are due Wednesday.” -Aglaia Christodoulides Pre-Calculus “Many of you have not submitted second drafts to safe assign. Please do that soon.” -Helen Reed AP Language

Eighth grade freshmen?

You’ve been banned

Lauren Lee

Ryan O’Connor Staff Reporter henever students log onto a computer, they almost automatically go to social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. However, once they access these websites, they risk the chance that these sites are banned. The school follows the Acceptable Use Policy or the AUP which is set and enforced by the Seminole Country School District. The goal of the AUP is to limit the amount of cyberbullying and harassment that takes place at school. The AUP guide states that students will receive punishment for any attempt to divert or distract the staff from their use or prohibited websites. The tech staff monitors student access through their computers and will message them if they are seen on one of the prohibited sites. If a student is caught on it again they will be locked out of their computer and will face more severe disciplinary punishments. “It depends on if [the access] was accidently or if it is continue usage of a locked site,” Tech coordinator

If a student has a teacher with a Remind 101 account, they can sign up quickly and easily. Students must text the teacher’s designated phone number with the specific code in the text box. Then, the student will be prompted to reply with their full name and will then be enrolled in the class. The service is free, but standard text message rates apply. Teachers and students see the benefits of the new technology. “I think extra information is always helpful, but it is up to the students to take advantage of it,” Calculus teacher Carolyn Guzman said. And with reception as positive as it has been so far among teachers and students, it can be expected to expand into other aspects of education.

photo by Isabelle Sarnek

Blocked. A student attempts to log onto a popular social media site. Many students find their access to these sites blocked by the school.

Corey Radford said. The guidelines, however change based off of the necessity of the websites accessed. YouTube used to be a blocked site, but the school changed it once they realized that it can be used to access educational videos and could benefit them educationally. Senior Sierra Martinez had an incident with a prohibited websites when she tried to access YouTube at school a few years ago. “The tech staff guy came over and he said if I did it again I would be suspended,” Martinez said. The websites that are prohibited by students are mostly common knowledge but there is always the accidental click which the media staff

understands that. The tech staff in the media center enforces the rules set by AUP. “The staff doesn’t like being called police but [we] must enforce the district’s rules,” media Some computer teachers such as Chas Lynch do not have any students who try to access the websites from the computers in their labs. “There are some websites that aren’t prohibited that students still can access but the school does a good job with blocking websites,” Lynch said. Lynch also said that some students would accidently click on to a website and would have to click off of it fast so they would not get in trouble.

Staff Reporter

n middle school, late sleep is a perk even if it means longer school days, but in high school the joy of free afternoons comes with early mornings. Now, imagine the worst of both worlds: school at the crack of dawn plus late afternoons. Twenty six eighth grade students chose this in order to get an early high school credit and their first year of foreign language done. These eighth grade students wake up early and attend a foreign language elective. At 8:45 these students leave Hagerty, get on a bus and go to their regular middle school classes to complete the rest of their day. In order for the eighth grade students to sign up for the class, they must register in seventh grade and turn a form into the eighth grade counselor. Even though the eighth graders do not feel like they fit in as regular high schoolers, they still enjoy it here. “I do not get treated any differently, and even though I feel like I don’t belong I still enjoy it,” eighth grader Jazmine Lee said. In general, teachers appreciate the eighth grade students in their foreign language class. The impact of learning

a foreign language earlier really helps the students. “Having eighth graders are one of the main reasons I came to work at Hagerty. The eighth grade students are fantastic, they actually want to be here and learn, so they do better overall in the class. They even have a chance of getting to AP, since they started in eighth grade,” German teacher Kathy Koons said. At times, he eighth graders are so used to the middle school schedule that the block schedule confused them, and looking back on the experience, some students felt that the high school class helped them adjust to the high school schedule better. “The days were hard, and I would always worry if I would come on a day when Hagerty wouldn’t have first period,” freshman Charity Holt, who took French last year as an eighth grader, said. The middle school students get a first look at what high school will be like for them, and the eighth graders have different views on high school, as well as what the high school students are like and the workload involved with. “I would do it all over though, it has helped me in the long run in high school,” Holt said.

news

Insight into new cultures with World Religions class Winnie Meyer

Staff Reporter

ecoming one with different religions is a new concept to Seminole County, but this year American History teacher Mark Ayad brought this idea to life. Ayad now teaches the World Religions class, a social studies elective. Students in the class will learn about and understand different religions. “My students are going to learn about Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Shintoism, Taoism and Confucianism,” Ayad said. Along with learning about the different religions, students will also learn the history that comes from them. The master educational purpose for this class is to “become one with the religions.” This purpose exposes new horizons that can help students understand more of the cultures around them.

“It opens up students’ minds to other religions they’re not aware of, so it helps get rid of ignorance towards others in school,” senior Rehema Amorer said. To open their minds up and learn about the different religions is a choice, so sometimes personal religious beliefs can get in the way of how students learn and listen in Ayad’s class. “Some people are stubborn, but if you’re trying to learn about the different religions and cope with them, then you will learn,” senior Ali Burdick said. The work in the class is different than what has been done with educational elective classes before. “The first ten minutes of class we have either a question or a set of questions on what we learned the day before or something that will lead into the lesson, and after that the whole class goes into discussion about it,” Amorer said.

Questions like, ‘do you pray?’ and ‘what do you think about faith?’ are used to lead into lessons and movies about the religions. “We’ve learned about religions and different ways of life and it makes me want to learn more in depth about all world religions and how they are different,” sophomore Annemarie Dickinson said. World Religions presents many opportunities to reach new levels with new and different beliefs to what has been taught before. Ayad believes that this is the only way to really have an impression on the students with the information given. “I don’t think that learning all of the religions is fair to put into question, it’s more of a lifestyle choice than a thought process The students are learning that,” Ayad said. The curriculum has been tested throughout the year, but at the end of the semester, students will have a final project

To work hard and to learn new information is the overall goal of the class “We’re provided with guidelines and information, but it’s your choice to learn or not,” Burdick said.

Whether or not students want to learn, the class is here to stay. “This class gets rid of ignorance for later on, like when we go to college, We can’t just go not knowing anything.” Amorer said.

photo by Isabelle Sarnek

Moment of silence. Students meditate during their World Religions class in order to learn about Hinduism in unique ways.

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lifestyles

Bedont: Boards, boats, and backrolls Lexi Rossow

Business Manager

enior Michael Bedont may have lost his pants in his ﬁrst attempt on a wake board, but he never let go of the rope. A year later he no longer has to grip his trousers while he performs a back roll on his green 2012 Harley Clifford wake board. “All it takes is a strong balanced technique, and keeping your hands close to your hips,” Bedont said, “but I’ve deﬁnitely face planted many times in my days.” Bedont watched and learned from online videos and his neighbor Danny Thollander, a rising professional wake boarder. Now, Bedont has evolved into a skilled wake boarder and can perform back rolls, 360s, 180s and grabs. Three times a week, Bedont and his dad wakeboard on Lake Mills where Bedont practices these stunts. “It’s amazing how good Michael has gotten in such a short period of time,” senior James Cathey, a frequent passenger on the Bedont family boat, said. “When I see a trick in a YouTube video, I just try it out and see what

happens,” Bedont said. Bedont learned how to do the back roll when he watched a You Tube video, To perform a back roll, the boarder must complete a front ﬂip in midair, even though the trick is called a “back roll”. When Bedont launches off the boat’s wake, he can perform 360s as well, which requires the entire rotation of the board. Grabs are also incorporated in his runs, which is when he reaches down and grabs the edge of the board in mid-jump. All year, even in the chilly winter months when wetsuits are worn, close friends Bedont and Cathey wait for Jim Bedont, Bedont’s father, to get home from work after school, so they can load up the boat with wakeboards, ropes, and Cathey’s wake surfboard. Wake surﬁng, Cathey’s preferred water sport, is the water hobby that requires you to surf on the wake behind the boat using a specialized surfboard. Wider wakeboards are used by beginners, but Cathey and Bedont use the thinner boards that require more balance and control, and allow them to perform more experienced stunts. With the help of Craigslist.com,

photo by Isabelle Sarnek

Backroll. Senior Micheal Bedont performs a back roll. He learned most of his tricks from YouTube videos and daily practice.

Bedont and his dad have bought better quality boats to match with Bedont’s growing experience. The start of the Bedont wake boarding era began behind their ﬁrst 2003 Ski Doo jet boat, but then Bedont’s dad bought a 1986 Ski Nautique, until a ﬁnal upgrade to their 2004 Super Air

Nautique, which they had to drive up to North Carolina to purchase. On any given day, there’s a good chance Bedont, Cathey and his dad are aboard their Air Nautique on Lake Mills, where they wake board, wake surf, and tighten the waistbands on their suits so they never have to let go

Facebook photos cause controversy Daniella Parcell

Staff Reporter

ne afternoon after school, sophomore Grayson Sweeney opened Facebook to see what her friends were up to. She expected innocent pictures of what they did over the weekend, but the ﬁrst thing she was a photo of someone her age smoking marijuana at a party Friday. Drugs and alcohol not only take over bodies, but also social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram. “A couple of months ago my friend put up a picture of a bag of pot and some alcoholic drinks on Facebook,” sophomore Susan Smith* said. “I talked to her and said, ‘Look you’re going to get in trouble by putting this stuff on Facebook,

especially if you’re underage.” When teens attend parties that involve drugs or alcohol, they can choose to share the pictures online and sometimes reap the consequences. A few years ago, Smith went to a party where she drank underage, but chose not to share all the details on Facebook. “I didn’t straight up say ‘Oh, I drank.’ I just said that it was a crazy night, that I had some crazy things going through my head,” Smith said. These photos only appear occasionally, but when they do, people are sure to notice and react. Many teens will choose to ignore the photo, but some will “like” it or comment on it. “Seeing underage kids smoking cigarettes, obviously it’s illegal because you can’t even buy them,”

sophomore Grayson Sweeney said. “What you see depends on who you’re friends with.” Although the option to report inappropriate photos is available on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and there is a risk of posters getting banned, teens still continue to share about alcohol or drug-related instances. Every day, Facebook bans an average of 20,000 accounts for various offenses, which include posts about underage drugs or alcohol consumption. “People don’t realize they could get in trouble and they just want attention,” sophomore Sarah Parker said. Illegal photos on a student’s Facebook can also affect his or her chance to get a job or be accepted into a college. Approximately 80 percent

of college admissions ofﬁcers look at the applicant’s social networking sites, and 12 percent have sent rejection letters to those using vulgar language or posting inappropriate photos. “Posting those things isn’t professional,” Casamento said. “If they’re not respectful in their own life, they won’t be respectful in a workplace environment.” According to Smith, teens who break the law and use illegal substances probably do not care what goes online. While these photos could lead to trouble, teens continue to share their life on the Internet. “They should have a ﬁlter to block out these people, but then 50 percent of the Facebook population would be gone,” Casamento said. *Names have been changed.

That Sounds Familar...

Procrastination at its finest

Matilda von Kalm Managing Editor There have been too many nights in my high school career where I have found myself awake past midnight, staring at my physics packet, one hand holding the fourth coffee of the night and the other forcing my eyes open. It’s around this time that I start to wonder how my day, which began with minimal homework and ample time, had gone so wrong. I probably shouldn’t have said yes to the McDonald’s visit. I had told myself I would start my homework right after school, a lie I have told myself for years. But the sweet tea was just too good to pass up, so of course I said yes, ﬁguring it’d only be a few minutes. As I drove home three hours later, I calculated how much work I would have and hopes for an early bed time diminished. After a botched attempt to access Blackboard which was halted by Facebook, my prospects looked worse. Fast forward to the end of lacrosse practice, and any hope of a bedtime before midnight was out the window. At least my peers understand. When I walk into a class where a monster homework assignment had been due, complaints of how late everyone stayed up circulate the room, usually followed by the teacher reminding us that he or she had assigned it over a week ago. “Yeah, but I had other stuff going on!” someone voices, which everyone interprets as, “Yeah, but I was hoping that by the due date someone else would have done it and I could copy theirs!” It seems that no matter how many times I promise myself to get it done in one night there is never enough time. Procrastination’s deadly cycle comes to mind at 3 a.m. as I slave through AP U.S. History, bafﬂed at how I let Facebook and McDonald’s get the best of me, yet again.

lifestyles

Muslim misconceptions Matilda von Kalm

Staff Reporter hile most students complain about the dress code on shorts and tank tops, junior Sakeenah Khan arrives at school each morning in long sleeves, long pants, closed toed shoes and a head scarf known as a hijab. “You know how some people dream that they go to school and forget their pants?” Khan said. “I dream I go to school without my hijab; it’s the strangest thing.” Khan practices Islam, a religious minority in the United States who worship Allah and believe in the prophet Muhammad, as well as pray at a mosque once a week and individually five times a day. To some Americans though, it is associated with the oppression of women. Khan, however, feels that this stereotype gives the wrong impression of Muslims. “I chose to wear the hijab and cover my body because I would rather people like me for me, instead of how I look. Islam doesn’t support the oppression of women,” Khan said. “Anyone who knows me knows I’m the furthest from being oppressed.”

Not all Muslim girls wear a hijab, like junior Maj Hammed, who only wears hers to mosque and for prayer. Despite this, Hammed still has to deal with the misconcieved labels made about her religion. “An elderly lady once asked my mom why she dressed the way she did,” Hammed said. When her mother answered, the woman laughed and said that if her husband made her dress like that, she would “shoot him.” Hammed and her mother were appalled. “We told her my dad would never make her dress that way. The woman laughed and went on shopping. It wasn’t pleasant,” Hammed said. Muslim sophomore Yasmin Sharifi has also been asked strange questions about her religion and believes some Americans are “a little lost” when it comes to Islam. “[A student in the hallway] asked me if I take off my hijab when I’m in the shower, and I wasn’t sure how to respond,” Sharifi said. “But I do prefer that people ask these questions rather than assume things like that.” After the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, ethnic tensions towards Muslims increased in the United States. Though these tensions were relieved

as religious education on Islam became more pronounced, Khan has still dealt with the aftereffects. “In 2010 my family and I went to an Islamic Society of North America convention in Washington DC., and a group of protesters threw trash at my cousins as they walked down the street,” Khan said. “Don’t assume all Muslims are terrorists because of the extremists. Every religion has extreme terrorists. Trust me, we hate those guys too.” Other than the religious aspects, many Muslim girls participate in the same things American teenagers are involved in. Khan is an active member in Youth Pals and national honor societies, and Hammed enjoys kick-boxing. Both girls have not had to deal with harsh stares or judgemental looks in the hallways either. “When I first started wearing my hijab freshman year I was nervous, but I quickly figured out most people didn’t care and my friends still treated me the same,” Khan said. “I take pride in my religion and my decisions.” Khan proudly wears her hijab to school and throughtout her life despite others’occasional misconception.

Ceremonial style. Junior Sakeenah Khan analyzes her essay in AP English Language and Composition with her group. Khan has worn her hijab since the start of her high school career.

past, both the Delises and Fohrs attempted to switch places but never got away with it. “In first grade Emma and I tried to swap places on one random day,” Kallie said. “I filed into Emma’s class, and it seemed to be working until we got into the hallway. Her teacher turned to me and just plainly stated, “You’re not my student,” so then I headed off and sent Emma back to her class.” Things didn’t go as planned for the Fohrs either. “In the first grade, we switched classes. Taylor got nervous and ruined it,” Holly said. To this day, people constantly tell them they should switch places and take each other’s tests or quizzes. The Delises do not find these conversations annoying. In fact, they take most twin related conversations lightly.

Emma Delis said, “After years of being called ‘Kal-er-Emma’ or “Em-er-Kallie’, you get used to it. Only when people call me ‘Kallie’ on purpose does it irritate me.” The Fohrs are easy-going about these occasional mix ups as well. “Taylor is a great person to be mixed up with,” Holly said. “When people who just meet us mix us up they act scared but it’s not a big deal.” Some of their pet peeves are when people group them together like they are one person or put them into

categories like: Who is the smarter twin? Who is the older twin? “It is sort of hard to express yourself when people are always comparing you to your twin. I don’t think they mean to, but we aren’t like each other in every way so for people to associate us at all times is challenging,” Kallie said. Even though it is hard twins agree the relationship they share makes up for it. “People don’t understand the bond that we share; it’s indescribable.

photo by Isabelle Sarnek

Don’t question telepathy, bond between twins Adeline Davis

Staff Reporter uniors Holly and Taylor Fohr, seniors Emma and Katie Ballantyne and freshmen Kallie and Emma Delis all have a list of stupid twin questions. “Are you two twins?” tops the list. “You’d think that if you see some people around the same height, age, and appearance, something would click inside and make you think, ‘oh, they must be twins’,” Emma said. “How can you tell yourself apart?” and “Do you have the same birthday?” are on the list, too. “I’m pretty sure I know myself from my sister.” Taylor said. In the movie, “The Parent Trap”, Lindsay Lohan portrays twins separated at birth who swap places to meet their opposite parents and manage to fool family and friends. However, this is not reality. In the

We can be ourselves around each other and laugh so hard we start crying,” Emma Ballantyne said. The Fohrs frustrate their older sister with their laughter. “Taylor and I look at each other, know what we’re thinking, and start laughing. When we can finally tell our sister the joke, she never gets it,” Holly said. So, next time when there are two people who look exactly alike walking in the hallway, don’t ask, “Are you two twins?” They are.

lifestyles

The dark beard has risen Ben Sorkin

Staff Reporter n primitive times, cavemen could not control how their faces looked. They could not pick up a sharp rock and manicure their beards into goatees or mutton chops. But today, with modern technology and reasons to look presentable, men have evolved, and so have their beards. Historically, men started keeping long beards to please their gods, appeal to women or show honor, depending on the era the beard was grown. Today, the beards on campus range from “Pencil-Thin” to “Full” shaping as far as thickness and style. Physics teacher Chris Adams has grown and manicured a full beard for as long as he can remember and is quite fond of it. “I enjoy the way a beard makes me look,” Adams said. “It makes me look like I have a beard.”

While Adams considers all men to be genetically inclined to grow a beard, many students do not. “Beards are cool and all, but mine doesn’t grow right. And I feel that even if it did, I wouldn’t be able to maintain it,” sophomore Brendan Downes said. While some students like Downes go shaven for the sake of comfort, other students like senior Coletyn Hentz have emotional factors keeping their faces beard-free. Hentz, who admitted he would someday like to grow a beard, shaves regularly to please his girlfriend. “Besides, beards are really gross sometimes when they get really long,” Hentz said. Junior Felix Begley, who has been growing a beard since his freshman year, does not shave often. “If I have a clean shave, it will just grow fully back in two weeks anyway. So I just trim it.”

full

Pencil Thin

A full beard covering entire chin

A thin beard that outlines the jaw and lips

common

“You are born with a naked face,” Begley said, who has a Balbo styled beard with Side-Burns. “Why would I want to live with a naked face?” While Begley has a his reasons to keep his face from being nude, junior Travis Alessandri simply keeps the fuzz due to laziness. While he has no speciﬁc style, Alessandri just lets his beard grow, then shaves it when he can. “Shaving just takes too much time,” Alessandri said. Beards, as with any fad or trend, have faded in and out of popular culture. Back in the 1950s, beards were popularized by the beatniks and later by the hippies of the 60s and 70s. But by the mid 80s, beards seemed to have disappeared. Today beards have become more commonly grown out of choice, instead of to prove honor to a community, win over a woman, or please a hair-praising god.

Goatee

Tuﬀ of hair on chin, much like goat’s gruﬀ

photo by Isabelle Sarnek

Beard Teacher. Physics teacher Christopher Adams teaches a lesson while capturing the attention of his students with his fuzzy full beard.

“It isn’t that I have a problem with beards,” said senior Zach Smith. “In fact, I think they’re awesome.” The dark beard is on the rise again, as Hollywood stars like

comedian Zach Galiﬁnakis and actor Russel Brand help in the revival of beard culture. Thanks to men like them, beards have begun to grow on many more people.

chin Curtain

Mutton Chops

Grows along the edge of the chin

Sideburns leading to a mustache, generally found on moutain men

THE FUZZ BAR

weird

middle

football

Total cost $28440 Biggest fundraiser - Discount cards $7000

MONEYBALL

Sports cope with reduced budgets through fundraising Sean Donovan Spencer Thompson Sports Editor Staff Reporter ne of the most challenging opponents facing athletes this year is not another team. It is the economy. Seminole County Public Schools 20122013 budget cut funding for assistant coaches by 20 percent. According to athletic director Jay Getty, this meant the school received $24,491 less than last year. The decrease cut one coach from almost every major sport, 12 coaches in all. The main reason for this is all eight Seminole County schools slicing $25,000 from their budget. This forces the school to become self-funded through fundraisers Under the current system, the only thing that the county pays for are the coaches’ salaries.

Athletic budgets depend on gate receipts, booster contributions, and team fundraising efforts. Teams receive 80 percent of their ticket sales. This formula creates the impression that football is given more money than the other sports. In reality, its gate receipts are simply higher than any other sport because more people attend games. Football also receives 60 percent of their fundraiser selling discount cards. The football team has never raised less than $7,000 from the discount cards. “Eighty percent of a big number is going to be a big number. 80 percent of a little number is going to be a little number,” Getty said. The remaining 20 percent of any sport’s gate receipts is divided in two. Ten percent is used to fund state series or playoff games. The other ten

percent provides funding to nonrevenue producing sports like cross country, swimming, golf, bowling, weight lifting, and tennis. In other words, when fans pay to attend a football game, they are also funding other sports. The athletic booster club is also a major source of funding. According to Getty, they contribute about $15,000, which they raise through sponsorships, poinsettia sales, the Husky Trot 5K, and the golf tournament. Teams under tight budgets have to see Getty for money. First teams must make an effort to fundraise, and if they meet or surpass the goal of the fundraiser, Getty will grant them the necessary money to fund an event, or participate in postseason play. “Every sport does some type of fundraising,” said Getty. “All the money that a team fundraises

goes straight back to them.” Football, the biggest generator of money, splits its money up between security, lights, utilities, maintenance of the stadium, and clean-up. Though they still receive a dominant amount of money from gate receipts, equipment proves to be their biggest cost with a price of $329 for a pair of shoulder pads and $279 for each player. However for weightlifting, the cost is near zero. “All we really had to pay for was the weight room,” head football and weightlifting coach Nate Gierke said. “Of course we have to maintain the weights, but besides that most of it has been covered already.” Head boys basketball coach Josh Kohn said the basketball team makes a program and the players and their families try to sell ads to pay for the season.

baseball

Total cost $10 000 Biggest fundraiser - Donation Drawing $6000

basketball

Total cost $7000 Biggest fundraiser -NASCAR RACES $5000

golf Total cost $700 Biggest fundraiser Selling Poinsettias

cross country Total cost $700 Biggest fundraiser Hagerty Invitational-$150

middle

football

Total cost $28440 Biggest fundraiser - Discount cards $7000

MONEYBALL

baseball

Total cost $10 000 Biggest fundraiser - Donation Drawing $6000

basketball

Total cost $7000 Biggest fundraiser -NASCAR RACES $5000

golf Total cost $700 Biggest fundraiser Selling Poinsettias

cross country Total cost $700 Biggest fundraiser Hagerty Invitational-$150

student connection

EVERYONE HAS A STORY

Every issue, the newspaper staff picks a student through the use of a random number generator. Whoever is chosen is featured in the next issue of the newspaper. Out of 19220 possibilities, the generator chose 14610 – new student junior Deen Richarz.

ART CORNER

Junior Deen Richarz was born in England. He lived in Brixton, a district in the Borough of Lambeth in south London. He moved to Oviedo several weeks ago because his mother and stepfather “wanted a better life for me and my brothers.” His family chose Florida because they have family in the area. In Brixton, Richarz was on the rugby, basketball and football (soccer) teams. He wants to join weightlifting once he gets a blue card.

Q: A: Q: A: Q: A:

Has it been difficult to adjust? It’s been easy for the school bit, because of my accent everyone wants to know me, the town I sunk right in because I came to Oviedo on holiday from time to time visiting my cousins.

Anelise Marshall, 11 “I wanted to show people I’m proud of my culture, so I took this photo in honor of my country.”

What do you miss about England? I miss mostly all my friends, all the things I used to go, and of course the snow. Do you like Oviedo overall? Kind of. It’s really quiet and not really much to do – I prefer Orlando.

POLL According to Medical News Today, 59 percent of high school students skip breakfast in the morning. Many students do not eat from the time they get up until lunch. However, teenagers who skip breakfast are twice as likely to be overweight. Breakfast also improves alertness, increases memory and lessens irritability. So if you have wondered why you feel glum during that morning math test, skipping breakfast may be the reason why. Start your day off right by eating breakfast!

When you eat breakfast what do you eat?

8% Granola

19%

Cereal

Bar

6% Muffins

Anesu Mucherera, 12 “For this picture, I ﬁlled a cooking pan full of water and stacked textbooks with a rod of water at the top dipping into the pan. Then I took a high speed photo at the point of the splash.”

8% Other

27%

Waffles

37%

Eggs and Bacon

Lauren Cremonese, 12 “Normally I do 3-D, but I really like Florida landscapes so I decided to paint a 2-D painting.”

Submit your own 2-D or 3-D artwork! Visit room 6-201.

reviews What’s on your

Horrible

Decent

Good

Great

Outstanding

iPod? Habanero’s: new look, same great flavors “Sleepyhead” by Passion Pit

“Always be yourself, unless you can be a narwhal. It means a lot, because narwhals are better than people and my goal in life is to be a narwhal.”

Alana Roepke, 10 “Drunk on You” by Luke Bryan

“I think of my best friend every time I hear it, and it’s a really catchy song.”

Cory Faeillo, 11

“Forest Gump” by Frank Ocean “I like it, because it’s Frank Ocean expressing his love for a guy, and he isn’t afraid of criticism.”

Chevelle Garcia, 10 “Runaround Sue” by Dion and the Belmonts

“It’s a great song from 1961, and I appreciate old and good music.”

Alex Walters, 10

“My Kinda Crazy” by Brantley Gilbert “It is me and my boyfriend Tucker’s song, and he was the ﬁrst one to introduce me to Brantley Gilbert.”

Kiley Dechau, 11 “Birthday Song” by 2 Chainz

“It has a really good beat and it’s easy to dance to.”

Jillian Depasquale, 9

Daniel Neveras Reviews Editor

hicken Fajitas, homemade salsa, and all the chips one could desire. At ﬁrst glance, you may consider it the same restaurant. However, the sign outside proves differently. El Cerro was bought out by Habanero’s and then moved across the street into the old Friendly’s lot on University Boulevard on Sept. 3. Even with the change in ownership, Habanero’s has kept the same menu and atmosphere as its predecessor. Despite the new look, the food from El Cerro and Habanero’s is

Cheap = good Darbi Filliben

News Editor

t first glance, The Picture Show in Altamonte Springs is a run-down old school building that lacks movie choices. However, on a Friday or Saturday night, The Picture Show transforms into a movie theatre that is jampacked and worthy of high praise. If you can get over the oldfashioned decorations and overall feel of the place, it is easy to buy into the charm put on by the employees as they are dressed up in old movie theatre outfits. It also helps that no movie is over $1.75. The idea appeals to you even more after you realize that a ticket and food at The Picture Show is still cheaper than a single ticket at any other regular theatre. People do not come here to watch the release of the new Hunger Games or the final installment of Twilight. However, when these movies are stuck in the awkward phase where they are no longer in theatres yet not on DVD, The Picture Show plays them in their theaters. If you cannot handle stains on the floors or you need high quality screens, head to the movie theatre at the mall. However, if you can deal with these imperfections, then your $1 would be well spent here.

The Picture Show

indistinguishable as both restaurants kept the same, home style Mexican recipes that had made the lesserknown predecessor popular among the Oviedo community. The food is some of the most authentic and delicious Mexican food in Oviedo. Whether it be the chicken enchiladas perfected with a blend of spices or the fajitas that rival any other restaurant in Central Florida, Habanero’s is miles ahead of the competition of other Mexican food chains. If youwere a fan of El Cerro’s food, then you won’t be disappointed with Habanero’s. The prices of the dishes are

reasonable when you consider the quality of the food they order. When it comes to most restaurants, customers may pay $15 for a meal that could be priced $5 elsewhere. However, Habanero’s matches the value of their food to their prices. If someone orders a $15 meal at Habanero’s, they can expect to get a quality, $15 meal in return. The staff from El Cerro has also been retained, so loyal customers can expect the same friendliness and service. Even the new waiters and waitresses are just as serviceable as the familiar staff.. On the inside, Habanero’s has

combined the modern style of today’s restaurants with the traditional Mexican style presented in El Cerro. With the modern booths and Mexican paintings, Habanero’s accomplishes this without any ﬂaws. There are televisions in more appropriate areas of the restaurant so that all customers can enjoy the entertainment as well. If one enjoys home-style, Mexican food and was a regular visitor at the El Cerro, then they will not be disappointed at Habanero’s; it’s the same book, simply with a different cover.

Habanero’s

opinions

the

blueprint

The Blue Print is a student-produced newspaper in which the student editors make all content decisions. The newspaper belongs to 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. For more information about advertising in the paper, please contact the staff via one of the above methods. We reserve the right to reject any advertisement.

Hagerty High School 3225 Lockwood Blvd. Oviedo, FL 32765 Telephone: (407) 871-0750 Fax: (407) 871-0817

News Editor Darbi Filliben

Graphics Editor Benjamin Sorkin

Lifestyles Editor Lexi Rossow

Staff Reporters Ellie Bonck Adeline Davis Jessica Jeffers Lauren Lee Brianna McGuire Winnie Meyer Ryan O’Connor Daniella Parcell Sam Sorkin Spencer Thompson

Sports Editor Sean Donovan

Principal Sam Momary

Managing Editor Matilda von Kalm

Adviser Brit Taylor

Business Manager Lexi Rossow

Opinions Editor Haley Gaeser

Editor-in-Chief Sarah Casagrande

Photo Editor Isabelle Sarnek

Student Connection Natalie Castle

Reviews Editor Daniel Neveras

Our�take:�Virtual school mandate unwise

lorida Virtual School is a state mandate, and not many students are embracing it with open arms. While it does not affect the juniors and seniors, the requirement looms over the freshmen and sophomores who now must take at least one virtual school class before they can graduate. We are constantly struggling to stay on track as far as homework goes while juggling studying and extracurricular activities. It takes some time to discover a perfect balance of school and everything else that burdens the average teenager. With the addition of a required online class that stability is thrown off.

Now students have to rearrange how they do things just to ﬁt in a class that could easily be taken during the school day. We go to school for four years to fulﬁll credit requirements. Taking a virtual school class seems unnecessary and it takes away from the normal high school experience. Much of our high school experience already involves computer time and there is no need for more. Plus, computers are not always reliable and technical problems could ruin a virtual school experience. We should be able to acquire enough credits for graduation without suffering through added work in front of the computer.

When we are learning something new, it is crucial that we have the chance to speak with our teachers and discuss what was learned. With virtual school, the opportunity is there but it is not encouraged. That gap of communication leaves questions unanswered and takes away from the social aspect of learning. Learning with virtual school makes things more impersonal because of the lack of face-to-face interaction. In a typical classroom, it would be easier to call up another person in the class if you could not speak with the teacher, but in a virtual class this is impossible because the only communication is with the teacher, and that is limited.

In addition, virtual classes lack the structure to be effective. The Florida Virtual School system is not set up well enough to prevent cheating. It is simple enough just to have one window open with the test and the other with the answers laid out for you. Simply having a virtual class does not ensure that the students learn or take away anything. The students would not be learning about the subject matter but how to get an easy grade. In the end, the idea of taking an additional class online will never have students jumping for joy but cursing the day that the new decision was made.

Jessica Jeffers

the night might be one of the worst homecomings in school history. This year, the forecast of the homecoming dance is a gym full of cranky, hot teenagers with runny makeup, frizzy hair and sweat running down their dresses and tuxes. When I get hot I get annoyed and uncomfortable so imagine about 500 of me and 200 smelly guys. The gym will literally smell like the gym rather than the magical scene it is supposed to be. School did not start that long ago; freshmen are still awkward and have not made connections with the students around them, and now they are expected to dance together. Some students might be into that, but personally I do not want to grind on somebody I just met. Though some people may have not have issues with this, most of us do. The dance might turn into one of those awkward movies where the girls are on one side and the guys are

on the other and they just stare at each other the whole night. Why would I spend my money just to sweat, stare at people, and smell nasty guys who have not been blessed with the revelation of deodorant? Exactly, it does not seem like my kind of party. High school is all about student experiences and homecoming is a big portion of the student experience. If I was a freshman and went to a bad dance, it would ruin my student experience for the rest of my life. There are graduates who have not gone to any dances and later regretted it immensely. It is not fair to any students, but especially the freshmen, to have a bad homecoming experience because of awkwardness, heat, and a sweaty, old gym with hundreds of students. So in other words, get your extra hold hairspray and waterproof makeup out because things are about to get sweaty.

Early homecoming will make for hot mess

Staff Reporter he sun beams down as the makeup slowly runs and creates a black mess. The heat creates a haze as students walk into the gym and one by one break down. This might just be a reality for students who plan on attending the homecoming dance. The dance is too early, and with the heat it might feel like the literal end of the world rather than just another theme created by leadership. October is not the time for homecoming; especially not early October when the Florida temperatures are still in the 90s. Last year the dance was in November and it was perfect. The weather was amazing and just the crispness of the air set the mood for a magical night. But this year it seems the odds are not in our favor. With the intense heat that we have already experienced so far this year,

barks

& bites

Haley Gaeser Opinions Editor A BARK to the county for the new Blackboard. It has become a great tool for everyone. It is faster and easier to find your homework online. The graphics are more appealing and the program is superior overall. A BITE to the state for the new online test. There was the SRI, then FAIR and now the state has created Discovery Education. The new test is supposedly better than the other two, but the all-too-easy exam only tested on reading, and many students finished within 30 minutes. Students get too many tests as it is, so the change was really unnecessary. A BARK to administration for the bell schedule. Last year, if there was a holiday or day off from school, the next school day was silver, with all seven periods. This year, the school finally got the hint on how much students prefer a regular block day instead. A BITE to administration for their constant classroom observations. If teachers are supposed to teach, then why does administration feel the need to intervene? Last year, administrators checked in on classrooms a couple of times during the year, but now students cannot go a week without an interruption in every class. Every time someone new walks through the door, students get distracted and class time is disrupted. A BARK to the new theater teacher, Anne Stout, who has done well to fill such large shoes left by Dr. Michelle Backel. Although some of the theater curriculum may look a little different, with additions such as yoga and more use of the stage, Stout’s love for the performing arts is still there.

“Students should be able to express themselves without being reprimanded every time they do.” Ellie Bonck

Staff Reporter

t is difficult to express yourself through clothing when the items that show who you are, are deemed ‘inappropriate’. According to administration, you can wear whatever you want, with ‘compliance.’ But can students really wear what they want or what administration wants? If they have to comply with the administration on their pick of clothing, it is difficult for them to wear what they choose. Compared to previous years, administration is not being as lenient with the dress code. Dean Thomas Andrews stated that the dress code has been pushed more through the county this year due to the new superintendent. Despite this, it has been said that the administration cannot give you a referral for dress code, because it is no longer county mandated. However, this rumor is not true; administration can still give referrals for dress code, and the county is pushing it more than ever. Administration should not be focusing so much on dress code, but academics and behavior. The only thing girls can wear are pants, like jeans, because most stores do not sell shorts long enough to be considered acceptable by administration. No one wants to be walking around wearing jeans in the hot Florida sun. As long as shorts do not show their butts, why must administration put dress code into the limelight? Administration might argue that girls think if they come to school wearing a short skirt, they might attract too much attention from boys instead of focusing on school. But in reality, that is not it at all. People wear what they wear, because that is how they express themselves. Most kids do not want to be at school as it is, so why make it worse by not letting them define their personality? Administration, parents and certain students might argue that the school needs a dress code to keep students in check, and rules are rules and students should follow them. However, students should be able to express themselves when they come to school without being reprimanded every time they do. Administration needs to come to their senses when it comes to the strict application of dress code and let students voice their personalities through their choice of clothing.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Do you like to write? Have an opinion for the BluePrint Staff? Send us an email at hhsblueprint@gmail. com or come to room 6-201. Letters to the editor cannot be anonymous.

YES NO

THE

opinions�

Is dress code too harshly enforced this year?

“It can sometimes be a little oppressive, but it has good logic to it.” –Steven Martin, 9

“I like dress code because I know my limits and it’s funny to watch other people who don’t know their limits get in trouble.” –Natasha Richner, 11

“It’s good because it puts some regulation on people who dress inappropriately. I still think we should have uniforms, though.” –Emily Ostrom, 11

“Dress code is stupid because administration gets all the wrong people. They always get people who sometimes wear short-shorts or shorts that are just long enough, yet I see people with mini-skirts and they don’t get dress code.” -Kailey Krupar, 12

Dear editors, I hate the cement track, simple. It hurts your legs after running on it for a long time and it’s a horrible surface to practice on for track meets. It is almost guaranteed after practicing on the track for a big competition coming up that everyone will have shin splints. If you’re doing hurdles, it’s basically a life or death matter. You trip, and you’re surface to catch you is cement. That’s comforting. For track meets most coaches encourage wearing spikes when practicing for meets but our team can’t with no rubber track to practice. So when we go to other schools to race, the track feels funny and our shoes are different. If we had a rubber track, our school would also be able to host track events, which would bring in lots of money for the athletics department, and more support for the track team. Sincerely, Matthew Murray, 11

13 “Administration is just teaching us well needed lessons earlier which could pay off in the long run.”

Jessica Jeffers Staff Reporter

he walks through the hallway with a strapless shirt and a pencil skirt. She thinks the only people paying attention to her are girls who are jealous and guys who want to date her, but she has no idea the dean is paying attention too. Suddenly, administration swoops in and gives her dress code. If it has not been noticed yet, the dress code policy is in full affect this year. There seems to be a rise in dress code referrals along with stricter enforcement of the rules. This is because of the directive of the new superintendent, Walt Grifﬁn, and the input of school board members. Whatever the reason, this enforcement was necessary. Last year dress code was not consistent. For example, a really tall girl wore shorts and a really short girl wore the same pair. Although the shorts are dress code, the taller girl gets the referral and the shorter one gets away with it. Only certain people got caught last year, and it seemed as if administration had played favorites. If the dress code policy is going to be enforced it should at least be consistent, and should have the same policies and consequences. Though it seems like we have a whole new set of rules for dress code, it is the exact same as last year. What may not have seemed to be dress code last year was just overlooked and has been more strictly enforced. For instance, track shorts and pencil skirts got by last year but this year they must be the right length and stay that lengthy while walking, without the need to pull them down. In order to get a job in the future you need to have a professional wardrobe and I think this dress code helps students to understand the professional dress do’s and don’t’s. If you were to wear what you wear to school on a job interview, there would be a good chance you would not get that job. Administration is just teaching us well needed lessons earlier which could pay off in the long run. Under Grifﬁn’s direction, both administration and teachers have toughened up, which is necessary because if the staff is not a united front, then it would be last year relived. Of course, there is a really easy solution to this issue. Follow the dress code. It’s not that hard.

Dear editors, Overall, I love this school. I have met some of my closest friends here and I love them so much. What I don’t appreciate is the signiﬁcant amount of disrespectful students we have at Hagerty. I understand everyone is not perfect but I don’t ﬁnd it hard to not talk when the teacher is talking or simply write down what my homework is instead of loudly complaining about it. Also, since when was it necessary to be rude or even straight up mean to another student? We are all stuck in this same school for the same amount of time-why make it harder? I just feel like if more students stood up against the large amount of disrespect in this school it would be easier for everyone. The popular way isn’t always right and the right way isn’t always popular. Sincerely, Christine Downs, 12

sports

sports shorts

Football looks for offense

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL GETS FIRST WIN OVER OVIEDO On Sept. 6, girls varsity volleyball defeated Oviedo in three sets: 25-23, 2522 and 29-27. The team was led by junior Chrissy Teixeira with 28 assists and sophomore Nicole Mattson with nine kills. SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL STARTS OFF QUICK The girls varsity slow-pitch softball won their first game of the season against Lake Mary High School on Sept. 12. The game started slowly but became fast-paced after the first three runs, with a final score of 13-3. GIRLS GOLF ROUTS LAKE HOWELL IN OPENER In the first game of the season, the girls varsity golf team won against Lake Howell 259-109. “The season starting off this way is amazing, and I cannot wait for the upcoming games,” sophomore Sarah Schwinden said. BOWLING STARTS RUN WITH WIN OVER OVIEDO The varsity boys bowling team started the season with a win against Oviedo, 3002-2602. They won against Lake Mary on Aug. 29, 26081208. The team also played Seminole and Lake Brantley on Sept. 12, winning both games. FRESHMAN FOOTBALL BEGINS SEASON On Aug. 29, the freshman football team lost 21-12 to Winter Springs. On Sept. 5, they played Lake Brantley and lost 25-14, in one of the closest games they have ever played against Brantley. VARSITY BOYS GOLF RECOVERS FROM LOSSES The varsity boys golf team lost to Timber Creek High School on Sept. 5 with a score of 171-153. On Sept. 11 Seminole High School beat the Huskies, 161-162, and they lost once again to Winter Park High School on Sept. 12, with a score of 155-171. After the losses they won against Oviedo with a score of 160-171.

photo by Isabelle Sarnek

Breaking the plane. Spencer Sunderman dives across the goal line to avoid an East River tackle. It was one of two touchdowns, in a 12-6 victory.

Bri McGuire

Staff Reporter he varsity football team has had a rough start to this season, having played three games and scoring a total of only nine points. “I’ll admit the ﬁrst week we didn’t play very well, but we can’t throw everything out the window the ﬁrst week. We have to keep working,” junior quarterback Jason Driskel said. To complicate things, football has faced some of the best teams in the area early, including Timber Creek. “I felt like Timber Creek was probably the best team we would

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face all season and that it would be a tough challenge. If we were able to slow them down some on defense and possess the ball for a longer period of time on offense, we would have had a chance,” head coach Nate Gierke said. Of the three touchdowns the offense has scored in four weeks, which were in the preseason game against East River, a 12-7 win that does not ofﬁcially count. The three games that counted were all losses: 7-2 to Winter Springs, 41-7 to Timber Creek and 19-0 to Lake Mary. Offensively, the team is not letting

the previous losses discourage them. During practice they watch ﬁlm of upcoming opponents and set drills accordingly. The defense will set up based on ﬁlm, and the offense runs plays trying to exact former mistakes. Through the rough start to the season, one of the toughest challenges was to stay positive. “I always take the approach to challenge our kick return team and offense to try and answer the challenge on the next kickoff/ possession. You can’t take a negative approach, the players don’t respond well to that,” Gierke said.

sports Word of Sean Cheerleading a sport? Of course! Sean Donovan Sports Editor

hen a person thinks of intense sports, the ones that often come to mind are football, hockey or boxing. Most of these stereotypical sports are not ‘girl’ sports. Yet only one sport is year-round, involves throwing teammates all over the gym and football ﬁeld, and is generally considered the most dangerous high school activity there is — cheerleading. FHSAA’s latest action, declassifying cheerleading as a sport, is ridiculous. To limit injuries and to satisfy Title IX requirements in Florida, FHSAA created stunting, a ‘new’ sport where twirls and ﬂips were limited. Stunting takes the fun out of cheerleading. Stunting branches off of cheerleading in a poor fashion. These regulations and the separation do not help the situation at all. This is like making football two sports: one with tackling and one with throwing and catching. Even more degrading is the FHSAA’s refusal to recognize cheerleading, in all forms, as a sport. Cheerleading is more intense than other sports, such as bowling or golf, where the most rigorous activity is a simple arm movement. Cheerleading is tougher due to how long and what they practice. Yet to improve their skills they perform routines that are now banned in competition. True, there are regulations needed to protect the girls. The mats that they have at pep rallies and football games are not enough to prevent concussions, and the extremely dangerous stunts should be taken out. However, they need not eliminate the stunts they practice routinely, or the ones they have been doing for years already. That just takes away from something the cheerleaders are best at—being a competitive sport.

Cheer changes cause controversy Natalie Castle Student Connection Editor he debate has been going on ever since the beginning of high school time—is cheerleading a sport? According to the new standards under Title IX, cheerleading cannot be counted as a sport because competition is not the main goal. As a result, many schools now compete under something called stunt. The goal is to create a new sport that complies with Title IX rules. Instead of a team, stunting consists of just a small group of people working on stunts for competitions. However, this has been proven to be easier said than done. With all the new rules and regulations, cheerleading has been confined to specific requirements. It has become harder for cheerleaders to show off their talent and abilities. Many of the cheerleaders are upset about the new rules. Several stunts and flips are banned. Flips and twists greater than one rotation are now prohibited, and dismounts are no longer allowed. “It makes me mad, like many of the other cheerleaders, because they are taking things out that help us win,” senior Brianna Peery said. “Many people are also annoyed because stunts and flips are very appealing to the eye and to crowds.” Most of the stunts and flips have

been taken out because they are considered to be too dangerous to perform. According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, high school cheerleading has more fatalities and injuries than any other sports. “You can only get hurt from not paying attention or trying new things that you’re not ready for,” sophomore Lauren Swinford said. Peery knows ﬁrsthand about the dangers of cheerleading. She tore her ACL while doing a double ﬂip and landed diagonal at the beginning of summer. She needed surgery on it a few weeks before school started. “I won’t be able to cheer for another four to six months,” Peery said. “It was the most painful thing and I cried as soon as I landed. I never cry, so everyone knew something was seriously wrong.” Another reason why the new regulations have negatively affected the cheer team is because cheerleading is not all about the stunts. For the team, cheerleading is about supporting other athletic teams and crowd involvement as well as stunts. “Crowd leading and cheers are really important,” Swinford said. We do cheers within our routines at competitions and have to the get the audience involved. We bring what we do on the sidelines to the routine.”

photo by Isabelle Sarnek

Up and away. Sophomore Ashlyn Gorton is lifted by her fellow cheerleaders to pump up the crowd.

Players choose club over high school Sean Donovan

Sports Editor cross the nation, high school coaches and coaches of premier club teams clash over their players. The debate is whether or not players should be allowed to play on the high school team at all, because they risk injuring themselves for the club season. There have already been several local examples. Thenfreshman Ru Mucherera had to leave the soccer team for national team camp that was the same weekend as the FHSAA Final Four in soccer. Senior soccer player Inaki Erkicia was gone his sophomore year to play

for a club team in Spain, missing out on the high school season. This year, club coaches have put more pressure on FHSAA to prevent their players from playing high school soccer. They recommend cutting programs or moving the season to the spring, so the prime-time club season does not directly interfere with high school. The main problem club teams have with high school seasons is that high school players get injured constantly, particularly star players who see more play time. An elite girls club team, Orlando City Youth Soccer, imposed a rule which would have kept several starters from returning to the state

runner-up team, but club leaders relented and let the players play high school. The debate will resurface in two years, however, as elite soccer players will once again have to choose: club or high school. Some boys’ teams have already made this change. Erkicia and sophomore Marcos Arroyo are not allowed to play the high school season. The 10-month league that they play under, the Developmental Academy, is the most elite in the nation and does not permit their members to play high school. For the players, there is more to club than saving injuries. “It’s better, it’s more competitive, which looks good for colleges,”

Erkicia said. Erkicia also enjoys the travel to different places around the country to meet new and different coaches and players who he may see on future teams. “It’s better to interact with more people,” Erkicia said. “And it helps me become a leader.” The only other person currently scheduled to miss high school soccer in lieu of club soccer is senior Darbi Filliben, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL. Filliben will not play this high school season due to her commitment to her club, ECNL, another year-round club, though the club itself does not force players to skip high school soccer.

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New textbooks in need Jessica Jeffers

Staff Reporter

he page has illegible words, Cheeto fingerprints, missing pages and inappropriate drawings. The drawings are abundant and there are too many missing pages to count, making it impossible for the student to do homework. Many of the school’s textbooks are in this condition. “My AP Human Geography book has pages that are torn out and is just, overall in bad condition,” freshman Mira Saad said. “It would be easier if to read and study if they were in new condition.” Most issues that are found in textbooks are caused by students who write answers on pages, draw bad pictures and rip or completely tear out pages. “I don’t see why people do this,” freshman Maddy Bohlmann said. “I guess it makes them feel better knowing that future generations are going to struggle reading these pages.” In some cases, textbooks need to be updated because of their old or lacking

information. For instance, the World History Honors textbook is rarely used. The book contains inadequate information and because the curriculum changes over the years, the text provided is no longer needed, so instead teachers hand out printed copies from newer sources. The original books are unable to be replaced due to the lack of money given to the school by the county and state. Books are normally updated every five to seven years, except AP textbooks, which are purchased directly from the publisher, making them more expensive and less frequently replaced. Through these issues the school tries to provide the best books possible. The AP Human Geography textbook will be replaced in the near future, along with many other outdated books. “The next generations of AP freshman will look at the books and be excited to continue AP classes throughout high school, unlike myself who thought last year that AP classes at this school do not matter as much,” sophomore Hope Bryant said.

PERFECT GIFT