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KROP’S
Lightning Strike •November-December 2010 The The Lightning Strike • September 2008
From local to global:
750 reemes of paper were collected in the paper drive for the pep rally.
In a collective effort of all 4 classes, approx. 150 toys were donated to NBC6/Telemundo’s Caravan of Joy. The toys will go to children in the community. The class of 2011 lead the way with the most toys raised.
Homerooms and clubs donated a total of 26 food baskets to various organizations and krop famileis. Ten boxes to Stop Hunger, 8 boxes to Kids in Distress, and additional 8 baskets to Krop families.
Krop high has officially become a grade “A” school based off of the recent returns of student FCAT scores.
The Audio/Visual Club have begun their project, recording video of after school hours and activities. They also plan on forming some kind of morning anouncments.
The debate team brought home many victories after competing in the George Mason University Patriot Classic debate tournament. Winners include: Abraham Talmaciu Izaak Lustgarten Hannah Gutman Brett Curtis Jack Meleh Andrea Plat
Compiled by Sharon Sabbagh
Vienna: Former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader was arrested for allegedly conspiring to commit crimes and abuse of office.
Mississippi, United States: Five years after Hurricane Katrina, Scrub, a gray and white cat, was returned to its owner. They were able to find the cat by an implanted microchip.
Through collective efforts of faculty, students, and parents we raised $4000 for Christopher Belle’s family.
What’s going on around the world? Taipei, Taiwan: Liu Hui-fen, a worker at the Justice Ministry’s Investigation Bureau, spent seven days piecing together 200,000 Taiwanese dollars that had been accidentally shredded in an industrial scrap machine.
Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt: In the past few weeks, this tourist city has had a plague of shark attacks, which has led to one death. Egyptian officials believe that someone deliberately placed the shark there to sabotage their tourism industry.
Acapulco, Mexico: Officials are teaching students how to duck for cover in the event that they come under fire from the violence resulting from fighting between drug gangs.
sources: MSNBC.com
Compiled by Alexandra Feuerman
TEACHERS
Teacher leaves school after a decade By Helen Goldstein science & health editor
Halback will attend UMASSBoston, where he first began his master’s ten years ago before moving to Florida. “He teaches in-depth and makes himself approachable,” senior Eric Lew said about Halback. “He is more of a friend than a teacher.” Not only do his students believe he is a great teacher, but he has the awards to prove it. In 2004, he received the CocaCola Educator of Distinction award, an honor given to only 250 teachers in the country. Halback has also received numerous awards for his work as the girls’ and boys’ tennis team coach which includes the Miami Herald Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year for the 20092010 school year, the Miami Herald Girls Co-Coach of the Year All Sports for 2007, the Miami Herald Girls Coach of the Year All Sports Finalist of
It is not easy to command the attention of a room full of teenagers, but social studies teacher Damon Halback does it with ease. Halback has taught at Krop for 10 years and has gained a renowned reputation for being one of the schools top-notch teachers. To the dismay of his students and fellow colleagues, Halback has announced that he will be leaving the school in Jan. “I am going to miss Halback’s dashing good looks and his sense of humor,” senior Alexander Faron said. Due to “personal and professional reasons,” Halback will move to Boston where he will earn his master’s degree in history with a track designed specifically for teachers.
the 2008-2010 school years and the Florida Dairy Farmers Girls Tennis Coach of the Year from 2007 to 2010. As of now, there are no plans for who will replace Halback as the girls’ and boys’ tennis team coach or teach his classes for the second half of the year. Because he teaches AP classes, a substitute will most likely not be assigned. Halback says he will miss many things about being a teacher at Krop. “I work with likely the most eccentric and talented department in Florida,” Halback said. “My colleagues have so many personality disorders that it allows me to blend in without too much notice.” Halback does not rule out the possibility of teaching at the high school level again after he earns his master’s degree. Teaching gives him a
feeling of gratification unlike anything else. He says that there are too many things to list about why he loves teaching, but one example would be how “intellectual achievement and athletic success empowers young adults.” “I am surrounded by talented students from all walks of life,” Halback said. “I am constantly moved by my students’ experiences and family stories and by their drive to succeed. In class and on the court, it motivates me to earn their trust and respect by expecting a high level of performance and setting the example of dedication and hard work. The experience at this school has made me much more thoughtful and tenacious in many areas of my life.” The renowned Halback leaves his students with some important words of wisdom: “The answer is 42.”
New teachers: What they say about school...
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I want my students to understand that math is simply another language. We may not master the language, but at least get a better grasp of it.
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Math teacher Stephen Allen
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I love experiencing the other side of the classroom. It’s very fulfilling to see students get nice grades and understand the material.
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The major reward I have teaching at Krop is that I am coming home. I spent four of the most influential and important years of my life inside this building and it feels wonderful to be back.
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Social Studies teacher Michelle Kypriss
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It’s been really tough to get started in the middle of the year, getting on the same page as everyone and trying to catch up.
Math teacher Erica Drybread
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I’m personally more concerned with teaching the essentials well and providing a good class experience than being right in step with the other biology classes.
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Biology teacher Yuliana Dominguez
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Science teacher Yvetot Antoine
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I hope that my students are able to pick up some of the knowledge that I have taken in from my teachers, because without knowing the proper way to write or speak, it can hurt you in the future.
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Language Arts teacher Apryl Montford Compiled by Maria Carla Canizares Otero