RED & BLACK
Florida’s first high school newspaper | Hillsborough High School 5000 N. Central Ave. Tampa, FL, 33603 | hhstoday.com | May 2018 | Volume 119, No. 5
IB Seniors leave for exams The IB class of 2018 has left the building | p. 2
Seniors’ final bash Here’s what you missed at Grad Bash at Universal | p. 10
Universal’s Rockin Rollercoaster loomed over the seniors’ last hurrah: Grad Bash. Read more about it on p. 10. Photo by Makayla Brown
Tryout season The Dancerettes just held tryouts for the 2018-2019 team | p. 12
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SENIORS SPEND THEIR FINAL DAY AT HHS
BOTTOM RIGHT Seniors run through the arch made by juniors. BOTTOM LEFT Seniors enjoy themselves after the sendoff.
April 26 marked the date in which IB seniors spent their last day of high school. Although the pressure of upcoming IB exams weighs down on the students, they still took part in the long-held tradition of the senior sendoff. The sendoff was held in the auditorium where IB students, freshman to senior, gathered to celebrate the seniors and the impact their class made during their four years of academic progress at Hillsborough. The sendoff started with a speech from Principal Gary Brady commending the graduates for reaching this point in their academic careers. The ceremony continued with the paper plate awards- each homeroom collectively got up on stage and presented their teachers with speeches recalling their favorite memories and gifted them with decorative paper plates. The students told the crowd about their first days as freshman and eventually acknowledged how far they’ve come as graduates of their class. Students crowded around as they recalled moments that have encouraged them to grow as not only individuals but as a
PRESSURE TO PASS IOCDS
As April progresses, so does the stress placed upon IB juniors as they scramble to prepare for their individual oral commentaries and discussions (IOCD). The IOCD is an IB requirement in which students spend their second semester reading and analyzing a collection of literature. “I had some trouble understanding certain aspects of both books, but once I went through everything with my teacher I wasn’t as nervous as I was before,” junior Ingrid Yen said. The oral itself is composed of two distinct parts. For the first part, students are given a poem at random and told to give a presentation on it for eight minutes. The second part consists of a ten-minute conversation between the student and teacher specifically about one of the books. “I studied for hours and hours and still felt like I wasn’t prepared, but once I went in and started talking I felt like I was doing really good,” junior Leon Nickolas said.
STORY BY RIA DEY
class. “Presenting my plate to my homeroom teacher made me understand just how appreciative I am of the help I’ve gotten from this school and if it weren’t for my teachers and friends I wouldn’t have been able to push myself this hard,” senior Claire Hamilton said. Although the awards eventually ended, the festivities continued with performances by the Dancerettes, color guard and the HHS band. As the sendoff came to a close, seniors exited through an archway created by the junior class. Juniors stood at the edge of the aisle as they stuck their hands up ready to cheer for them as they passed by under. For them, this ceremony reminded them of what to expect in the upcoming year as they themselves get ready to leave high school. “The entire experience was so surreal because I’ve spent the last three years creating the arch and now I finally get to be the one crawling under it,” senior Joe Tavella said.
STORY BY RIA DEY
HEADER, TOP LEFT, TOP RIGHT Seniors enjoy lunch in Positive Park before their sendoff. CENTER RIGHT Incoming UF students do the University of Florida “chomp.” Photos by Makayla Brown
RECOGNIZING HIGHER EDUCATION The first ever college decision day was held on April 12, to honor and recognize graduating seniors for deciding which college they plan to attend in the upcoming semesters. Family and friends were invited to watch as their seniors walked across the stage, as a representative from their chosen college spoke their name into the microphone, receiving a piece of the colleges merchandise from Principal Gary Brady and Assistant Principal Phillip Morris. “I felt so accomplished hearing them say my name, and walking across the stage,” senior Markinson Alume said. He was accepted to the University of South Florida, Bethune-Cookman University, and others, but ultimately decided Florida Atlantic University was his best choice. “I wanted to go somewhere a little away from home, but still close,” he continued. With this being the first of its kind, college decision holds potential to become an annual event acknowledging seniors who have decided on their college choice.
The ceremony only lasted the duration of first period, and once it was complete, seniors were released back to their second period classes and guest were welcomed to refreshments. “An entire day dedicated to the students who get accepted and decided on place is a big decision,” said senior Pierre Alsint. After applying to 12 different colleges across the nation, Alsint was accepted to his top six choices, saying Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is the school for him. “We should definitely keep college decision day, it’s a day that should be cherished,” Alsint continued. Senior Gabriel Smith holds a Hillsborough Community College T-shirt
PHOTO AND STORY BY THEONTAE WALTON
hhstoday.com
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ORCHESTRA AND BAND SPRING INTO CONCERT The HHS orchestra and band take on their last concert of the year - an event filled with goodbyes, congratulations, mistakes and 90s remakes.
TOP The HHS orchestra finishes off their performance for the night strong, despite a few initial hiccups. TOP LEFT After the concert, band and orchestra gathers in the band room to celebrate the end of the year. MIDDLE LEFT Freshman Abhay Satyajit and senior Albert Perez participate in their first performance of the night. BOTTOM LEFT Senior Alejandro Hernandez opens the night with a performance of “All Star” by Smash Mouth. Photos by Marin Fehl
The familiar melody of the Mii Plaza theme song resounded in the auditorium. The band and orchestra’s Spring Concert began with small chambers who played popular pieces arranged by students. Over the span of weeks, the band has prepared theme songs of movies including The Incredibles, Rocky, and Aladdin. The musicians practiced their songs at least an hour a day in and out of school. The senior drum major, Mica Jadick’s favorite song was The Incredibles, performed by the Jazz 1 class. “Incredibles has a difficult time signature to adjust to,” she said. “But I’m so happy it went well and a lot of my friends said it was their favorite piece we played, too.” The high brass ensemble played the Rocky Theme and the wind ensemble played a 90s medley and a Holst piece with three movements. Jadick had solos in both performances. The entire orchestra played The Hall of the Mountain King and Ancient Ritual. However, according to orchestra members, the performances were substandard. “The performances did not go as well as I anticipated,” junior Navya Bandharam, flute and oboe player, said. “I just think it was because there were a lot of other things going on that preoccupied everyone and that caused there to be a lack of rehearsal time and organization.” IB juniors also had less time to practice. Junior violinist Jessalyn Mendoza who won outstanding junior for orchestra, was only in class every other day. “I practiced at home when I could but it was difficult with EE deadlines and IOCD preparation,” she said. Jadick added that transitions could be improved. “The most difficult part of any concert is figuring out how to make the
transitions between performances almost seamless,” she said. But despite the hiccup, the Spring Concert was more about finishing the year off by commemorating those in the program. For Jadick and the other seniors, the Spring Concert was their last one. “It was definitely a really emotional day for the seniors,” Jadick said. “[The concert was] bitter sweet especially because that was the last time we would ever play as part of the band.” As a show of appreciation for the departing seniors, section leaders gathered in the band room before the concert to hand out paper plate awards, which reminded the band members of the year’s highlights. Next year, the drum majors are sophomores Amber Lo and Riwk Sen. “I was ecstatic when I found out, since I was looking forward to this since middle school,” Lo said. “The impact I want to make on Band is for us to have a solid ideology and identity well after my class leaves and for the Band to have a renewed sense of pride for what we do.” Sen has plans for the year to come as well. “I really don’t care about winning all these competitions and trophies, unless that’s what the Band wans,” he said. “If I have contributed to the Band being in a better place than before the next marching season, then I have done my job. I want to be the person my peers need me to be, and nothing less.” “Playing as an orchestra is always a learning experience because we work with others who share a similar interest to make music,” Mendoza said. “I can’t wait until the next spring concert.”
STORY BY KATIE DELK
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RAIN DELAY RELAY
This year, the drama department, run by Jeffery Pittard, put on a spring musical called The Fantasticks on April 17, 18 and 19. The musical was a variation of the classic Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. The musical was filled with a variety of monologues, songs, and group numbers intended to break the third wall and connect directly with the audience. For freshman Emma Zimmerman, her reason for being in the musical is rather different. “I auditioned for the musical because I was a very small part of the musical my eighth grade year,” she said. “Pittard heard me in the bathroom singing and he asked me if I’d try out and I said sure. The people there treat me nice and respect me and I had a lot of fun doing it.” Even though Zimmerman is a freshman, she played a lead role. She was Louisa and she was a 16-year-old girl who fell in love with a 20-year-old guy named Matt. They argued and their parents tried to put them together. In the end all they wanted to do was be with each other. “It was kind of fun because I got to do crazy things and stay stu-
TOP LEFT For his first song, junior Jeremy Monge sings about the two characters in love in the background. MIDDLE LEFT Working in the sound room, juniors Jonathan Alvarez and Jocelyn Bocker prepare for their cue when the show starts. BOTTOM LEFT Interacting with senior Jacob Hulsey, senior Michael Stockford continues to perform his monologue in a scene called “rape ballet”. MIDDLE Freshman Emma Zimmerman sings to the audience while performing one of her many solos during the performance. BOTTOM RIGHT Seniors Maria Hernandez and Nehemiah Briseneau dance along while performing one of the numerous group numbers in the musical. Photos by Makayla Brown
pid things all the time,” Zimmerman said. Not only do the students in the musical have to remember lines, songs and stage directions but they also have to juggle school work along with their stage duties. “We would all sit down sometimes after practice and they would ask me if I needed help with anything, she said. “I am not good at algebra and they helped me with it and made it easier for me. So this upcoming Wednesday and Thursday when I do my EOC I think I’m going to do a lot better than I would have without them,” Zimmerman said. Senior Maria Hernandez played Louisa’s mother in the musical. “It was really fun because my character was very strict but I added a bit of sass to it, “ she said. “My favorite part was when Jacob and Mike were doing their scene called the rape ballet, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Me being the mom, I paid this man to abduct my daughter so that [Matt] could save her so they could fall in love.”
STORY BY MAKAYLA BROWN
Although normally a method of raising awareness for cancer, Hillsborough’s Relay for Life became a source of student concern after being rescheduled due to weather. Because Relay for Life was during school, students who volunteered were unable to earn service hours.
Rained out
Junior Eliza Loaiza has participated in Relay for Life in the past, consistently showing up to events like this one. “I’ve participated in this event for a couple of years and it deserves more recognition than what it was shown,” Loaiza said. Due to the sudden change in weather and not enough participation from the community, many volunteers felt that the event wasn’t effective. Other volunteers said that the event wasn’t well planned, and that it didn’t meet their expectations. Sophomore Bella Martinez has participated in Relay for Life in the past to raise awareness for cancer. “It felt like it wasn’t thought through and previous rallies that I’ve been to were more coordinated. I feel that if it had more planning, it could have been better,” Martinez said.
Close to home
Like many others, Martinez got involved because a person close to her had cancer, giving her the motivation to go to events like Relay for Life. The lack of volunteer hours bothered students because they were counting on the event to get them. “I needed service hours and I know other people who were planning on using it for service hours too,” Martinez said. However, there were people who did appreciate the event. Some students felt that the event was effective in bringing awareness to cancer. Senior Erica Mack participated on the National Honor Society’s team to help fundraise.
For the greater good
“I love being a part of things that are for a positive purpose, which Relay for Life is,” Mack said. Mack was still concerned about volunteer hours and the idea of Relay for Life being held during school. “It would have been more efficient if it were done over the weekend and might have been more of a success,” she said. Despite setbacks, Hillsborough’s Relay for Life succeeded in raising almost $2,000 to support this cause.
STORY BY JOHN DOAN
hhstoday.com
SENIOR SUCCESS
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Test scores have increased but this year, more students are failing their classes. The fac- Before Brady arrived, ulty have instilled methods to ensure seniors graduate. “’Success is dependent on effort.’ Go Big Red!” Every week, students get messages from their guidance counselors, from their teachers, and from their principal, Gary Brady, to announce new opportunities and to tell students to go to class. These messages are meant to motivate students to reach the graduation goal of 85 percent set at the beginning of the year.
Impact on students
“I pay attention to [the announcements], I listen to it, I’m just trying to hear what he’s trying to say,” freshman Mekenzi Johnson said. “I mean [they] get me to class every morning.” On the other hand, there are students who are indifferent to the messages. “Not everyone cares about it,” senior Nicholas Myers said. “I think it makes a difference to those students who actually want to be here to learn, not just slack off.” Each year, the graduation rates have risen, and Brady hopes that the trend will continue. Five or six years ago, the graduation rate was in the 60s and since then it has been a slow and tedious growth.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate, the students must pass the Algebra 1 EOC, pass the Florida Standard Assessment (FSA), have a 2.0 GPA and have 24 credits. Before Brady arrived, the pass rates on the FSA and Algebra 1 were 87 percent and 92 percent, respectively. “We have
more kids this year who passed the Algebra 1 requirement and FSA requirement,” Principal Gary Brady said. This year, there are only 28 seniors that have not passed the FSA and eight who have not passed the PERT.
Opportunities for Students
“But you’ve heard my announcements, there are more kids currently failing their classes,” Brady said. However, there are still many opportunities for the students to make it up, with the in-school ACT, tutoring on Saturdays and testing every week. Another issue this year has been the low attendance of students. As a result, many teachers have allowed seniors to go to Saturday school for grade enhancement. With these new initiatives, the rates are now at 92 percent and 96 percent. “[The students] have been successful,” Brady said. “But I struggle everyday with how to get students motivated.” Students are encouraged to take advantage of the various resources and opportunities to pass their classes and graduate on time. “Life doesn’t end here. It is a great accomplishment to graduate high school,” Brady said. “But believe me it’s not going to get you everything you need.”
Graduation Rehearsal When: May 20th @ 5:00 P.M. Where: Florida State Fairgrounds Exposition Hall *Use 301 entrance*
STORY BY MERCY TSAY
87%
92% of seniors passed the FSA and Algebra 1 EOC
This year,
92%
96%
Approximately 450 diplomas were ordered for the seniors GRAPHICS BY KATIE DELK
Graduation Day When: May 25th @ 4:00 P.M. Where: Florida State Fairgrounds Exposition Hall *Use MLK or 301 entrance, must pay $5 for parking fee*
UBER EATS AND PAPA JOHNS DELIVERIES ARE NOT ALLOWED
LEFT Every night, freshman Areebah Khandaker packs her lunch. “I toast bread and I put peanut butter on it and I peel an orange.” RIGHT Senior Albert Perez doesn’t bring his lunch from home, bu instead relies on what the school provides.
With the instructions to meet at Wilder Street and their cash or credit card in hand, countless students pick up their food from the uber driver. “I used to order food from McDonalds to the front of the school and I would go outside to pick it up,” freshman Ashley Garcia said. However, the policy that students cannot order food apart from school lunch has always been intact. According to Quasar Givens, assistant principal of Student Affairs, administration must enforce the rules that the district established. “The two primary reasons are number one: you don’t know what you are getting when you order food in, so there is always the potential that someone could get sick. But probably most importantly is be-
cause the district buys food and they have food here for the students and it is a form of competition.” In response to pizza and Uber eats deliveries, faculty in the office remind the students that they cannot order food and also notify the Uber drivers. “We don’t take their food, we don’t eat their food,” Givens said. “We will allow them to sometimes go and eat their food in the auditorium as a onetime courtesy and then after that we contact the parents to make them aware of it because in most cases that is the parents’ money.” The alternatives to ordering food are LEFT Junior Kaitlyn Shackleford buys the gourmet salads. “The bringing food from home or buying the salad tastes better and we get free dressing,” she said. school lunch. RIGHT On their first day at Hillsborough from Leto, sopho-
STORY BY KATIE DELK mores Juan Llanes and Alfonzo Daymon bought cookies from the snackbar. Photos by Katie Delk
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HHS WALKS OUT FOR GUN REFORM Hillsborough students participated in a nationwide walkout on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting. Following the momentum of the movement after the shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, several nationwide protests were organized to call for gun reform. One of which was planned for April 20, the nineteenth anniversary of Columbine. Orchestrated by student leaders, protests took place across the country as thousands of students walked out of class at 10 a.m. Hillsborough was no exception. An estimated 80-100 students marched out of Hillsborough, led by four students who gave speeches, and provided signs for those who wanted them. Despite a hasty planning period of about a week, the students were surprised at the turnout. “More people showed up than we thought, and we had good speakers,” sophomore Gillian Bennett, who read a poem at the walkout, said. “It really helped keep the movement alive and going, and it helped bring more people together and potentially bring new people to the movement or at least it helped them learn a little more about it.” Despite the better-than-expected crowd, Bennett and her fellow student activists still feel like the issue needs to be continuously addressed through protests and voting. They plan to continue their work both locally and at a larger scale. “I want to try and start a Students Demand Action chapter in Tampa and I’m working with and going to meetings for Moms Demand Action,” Bennett said. “My friend who I mentioned before is helping me get started, and I’m working with some other people who are close with this issue to help me so I’m not doing it all by myself.” Junior Alex Barrow, who helped organize Tampa’s March for Our Lives protest, also
ACEBOOK INFORMATION LEAK Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress on April 10 following the recent Cambridge-Analytica scandal in which up to 87 million Facebook users’ personal data was compromised. Cambridge Analytica is a British consulting firm that began collecting information from Facebook users in 2014. Aleksandr Kogan, a data scientist at Cambridge University, created an app called thisisyourdigitallife and sold the app to Cambridge Analytica. They used the app to convince thousands of Facebooks users to complete a survey. They allowed the app to collect the personal information of those who took the survey. However, as the survey was linked to Facebook, it didn’t just target the survey-takers. It also collected information from any-
one in their social network, including all of their Facebook friends. The information most likely included the users public profile, page likes, birthday, and current city. For some, the information proved useful. Several political organizations used information from the data breach to attempt to sway public opinion. Senator Ted Cruz paid Cambridge Analytica for the information during his 2015 campaign. In his testimony, Zuckerberg recognized the mistake Facebook had made in allowing something like such a major data breach to occur. “It was my mistake, and I’m sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here” Zuckerberg said in his testimony. The reaction to the scandal was varied, but most were uncom-
helped orchestrate the event. “It was significant to me because I was able to be heard and voice my opinion and I also was able to help others do the same,” he said. “The national walkout showed how many people care about this issue.” Barrow wasn’t alone in this sentiment. Junior Michie Guzman made a last-minute decision to speak the day of the protest because she felt like it was her duty as a student. “Schools are greatly affected by shootings and having schools speak out against gun violence shows how this is affecting the youth,” she said. “It allowed young people to participate and have a voice on issues that affect them every day.” As the cries for gun control get louder, these students agree that school is the best place to foster the movement’s growth. “I think there should be protesting at schools as well as outside, because we can’t have them all at school because it’ll disrupt learning, but we definitely do need some as the strongest message is conveyed here,” Barrow said. “I wanted to get involved because the gun control movement is something that’s really personal to me and hits really close to home,” Bennett added. “I wanted to actually do something rather than sit by the sidelines and watch others do it for me and I figured school would be a perfect place to start.”
STORY BY MARIN FEHL TOP Students stand together in front of the flagpole for a photo. TOP LEFT Junior Alex Barrow leads students in a series of chants. TOP RIGHT Sophomore Johnathan Doan gives a speech. CENTER LEFT, BOTTOM RIGHT Students observe speeches and repeat chants BOTTOM LEFT Students hold signs with phrases such as “Never Again”. Photos by Makayla Brown
Thousands of people’s data was sold ina recent scandal involving the social media network fortable with the idea of their data being sold. However, some people felt that it was a cautionary tale regarding how much information we put online. “It doesn’t make it right that that they’re using that information but at the same time it’s a good wakeup call that we need to be more careful about what we put online.” sophomore Alexandria Scott said. Others agreed that when using social media sites, there is somewhat of a built-in risk. “The only way that Facebook could make a profit would be by selling our data and that sort of becomes the risk that you take” math teacher Elizabeth Funk said. The scandal has also inspired a burst of internet jokes dealing with the scandal and Zuckerburg’s testimony. “The memes are good” Scott added jokingly. STORY BY REEMA PATEL
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FLORIDA SENATE TOSSUP Rick Scott just entered into the 2018 Florida Senate Race - and it’s a big deal. Although Rick Scott vs. Bill Nelson has been long anticipated, this could prove to be one of the most expensive campaigns of 2018, and one of the tightest races in Florida’s history. REBUBLICAN CANDIDATE RICK SCOTT Current governor of Florida, Republican Rick Scott announced his run for Senate early in April. He recently signed the HB 7055 and SB 4 bills into law, creating scholarships, limiting teacher unions and expanding the Bright Futures program.
Approval Disapproval
31%
58%
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BILL NELSON Democrat Bill Nelson is running for reelection in this years Florida Senate race. He helped in the passing of bills proposing federal funding for safer schools. He has represented Florida in the Senate since 2001.
Approval Disapproval
26%
51%
you said it Which candidate do you think would be the best choice for students in Florida? “I want Bill Nelson to win because his policies are good for Florida.” -Johnathan Aparicio, 12
“I want Rick Scott to win because I believe in his ideas. -Kevin John, 9
“Bill Nelson should win because Rick Scott is a poor candidate.” -Megan Pelletier, 10
“I want Rick Scott to win because he is more experienced.” -Xavion Lockwood, 11
COMPILED BY CAROLIN HEARNE AND JADEN SHEMESH
MICHIGAN DENIES FLINT WATER BOTTLES Michigan governor Rick Snyder released a statement in early April indicating the decision to stop providing free water bottles to the city of Flint, which has faced a water crisis since 2014. The crisis in Flint began when state officials switched the water source from Detroit’s Lake Huron to the Flint River as a temporary measure for budgetary reasons, leaving residents with dangerous levels of lead in their tap water. The state began receiving complaints about the color, odor, and taste of the water. The Flint River’s untreated water combined with the city of Flint’s aging lead pipe plumbing system allowed lead to leach into the drinking water, causing rashes and elevated blood lead levels. It even led to 12 fatalities due to Legionnaire’s disease. The reasoning behind the decision to stop providing water bot-
tles: Flint’s water has registered levels of lead below federal limitations for the past two years, since 2016. “We have worked diligently to restore the water quality and the scientific data now proves the water system is stable and the need for bottled water has ended” Snyder said in his April 6 statement. The state will continue to provide free water filters for citizens. The pipelines containing lead throughout the city are expected to be fully replaced by 2020. The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that construction work on the pipelines can cause particulate lead releases into the water. However, the decision has faced backlash from state officials as well as from around the country. “We did not cause the man-made water disaster, therefore adequate resources should continue being
provided until the problem is fixed and all the lead and galvanized pipes have been replaced. “ Flint mayor Karen Weaver said in an ensuing statement. In particular, some Hillsborough students felt that the governor made a poor choice. “I think that the local government has the responsibility of providing water to its citizens” junior Bryan Truong said. Though many outside the city are unaffected by the crisis, many are dismayed by the struggle faced by residents and apparent termination of assistance by the state. “If Michigan doesn’t have a valid reason to deny water, they shouldn’t do it”
STORY BY REEMA PATEL
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MOVING BEYOND GRADUATION For many high school students, graduation is the gateway to the unknown. Take this quiz to find the best path for you.
START HERE where do you want to live?
With graduation just around the corner, it’s natural to feel some last minute jitters. What does it mean? Where do you go from here? Does this mean you have to actually start being responsible? Maybe not.
city
Growing up
But the fact remains that your time at school is coming to an end, and it’s now up to you if you want to continue your education, go into the military, or start working. The possibilities are seemingly endless. There’s no rule book to growing up. Everyone is just kind of guessing, and most of the time they don’t get it right. But graduation means your guesses start to count. Graduation means you can’t just do some extra credit and pretend you never failed that math test. It means you have to grow up.
Challenging decisions
And that can be difficult for some people. After all, students spend 13 years of their life being told where to sit and what to do. But when you finally have the ability to choose, you might not know what you want. A survey by EdSource reveals that most studetns don’t feel ready for college or careers. While an overwhelming 87 percent of students plan to attend a university or pursue a degree, only 47 percent actually feel ready to pursue that goal.
Back to reality
It’s all fun and games until you walk across that stage after what feels like a million years in high school. But here’s what you didn’t consider: now you have to be an adult. And how do you really do that? Unlike what we learned in Spongebob, we can’t simply tape a piece of seaweed to our faces and be on our merry way. It’s much more complicated than that. We have to tackle taxes, student debt, and dare I say it, cooking without a microwave. It’s a pretty scary world. And after you find yourself free from the clutches of high school, you might want nothing more than to “throwback thrusday” your whole life,. But until someone invents a time machine, it might just be time to wake up and smell the roses. But you might not know how to do that, it’s fine, we’ve got your back.
cold weather
are you and introvert or extrovert?
small town
warm weather duh
what type of weather do you want to live in?
college out of state: you’ve been trying to figure out how to get out of Florida for 18 years, probably
all four seasons baby
you’re going to move to a far away land: nothing says growing up like running away from responsibilities
outer space extrovert
introvert do you like to travel?
yes
bedtime? be honest no
3 am
night school?
run away
will you be living with your parents?
face them head on! do you want to go to college?
STORY AND GRAPHIC BY MARIN FEHL
yes
yes
no
get a job: skip the crippling student debt and go straight into the workforce
yes
no
8 pm
how do you face your problems?
state college: it’s so much easier for your parents to make surprise visits this way
i just want to make money
it’s time to move out: if you try to live up to your parents’ expctations you might just snap. hit the road, jack no just go to bed: your whole life is ahead of you once you wake up from that nap
community college: this is a great starting point, and it’s close to home
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10 May 2018 RED&BLACK VOLUME 119, ISSUE 5 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Marin Fehl WEB EDITOR Mercy Tsay DEPUTY WEB EDITOR Jaden Shemesh PAGE EDITORS Makayla Brown, Carolin Hearne, Katie Delk, Lauren Komar, Reema Patel, Mia Perez STAFF WRITERS Ria Dey, Madison Forbis, Jorge Garcia, Arianna McQueen, Fernando Rosas, Theontae Walton CONTRIBUTORS John Doan, Camila Santana ADVISER Jill Burns, MJE
editorial
Red & Black
IT’S NOT BLACK AND WHITE Those who want to show off their accomplishments have honor cords, stoles, and IB hoods for that. Having honor cords allows people to stand out, without looking completely different from each other. Not to mention, it just wouldn’t look good. Looking down at a uniform sea of red is so much more aesthetically pleasing than a random mix of red and white. It looks better, and it conveys a sense of unity. Many IB students would automatically qualify to graduate in white. This could mean it would be much easier for IB kids than tradi-
tional kids to get a white cap and gown. In the past school year, there have been several calls for students who graduate with honors to walk in white. A formal petition was also created and spread through the senior class, calling for the change. In the end, does it truly matter? Wearing white or red, we all have the same graduation experience. Even getting to graduation in itself demonstrates four years of hard work. For many, the cap and gown themselves are an achievement, regardless of their color Giving them a separate color
implies that they are lesser than, that their graduation isn’t worth as much. We’re all one school. We graduate together. Why fracture that sense of unity? The chant goes “We are the big red,” not “We are a scrambled mix of red and white.” The logistics of how someone’s gown color would be decided are also unclear. Would it be determined by GPA? If so, unweighted or weighted? Class rank? It would have to be fair for both IB and traditional, which poses a problem for unweighted GPA and class rank criteria.
Graduation is about celebrating our success as a class, not how much more we did than other people. Sometimes, those who barely make it to graduation are the ones that overcame the most. Grades do not reflect a student’s entire story, nor do they necessarily reflect the amount of effort the student put in. Regardless of how, these students got there. They did what it took to walk that stage. We shouldn’t diminish their success. Graduation ceremonies can tend to be tedious anyway, surely it doesn’t make sense to make the path there even more complicated.
PRINCIPAL Gary Brady ABOUT Content decisions are made by student editors MEMBERSHIP Red & Black
belongs to the Florida, National and Columbia Scholastic press associations
AWARDS 2017-2018 FSPA All-Florida 2016-2017 NSPA Online Pacemaker 2015-2016 NSPA All-American 2015-2016 CSPA Hybrid Silver Crown 2016-2017 3x NSPA Best of Show awards 2016-2017 NSPA Newspaper Pacemaker The EDITORIAL reflects the view of student editors and can be found in the opinion section Bylined COLUMNS represent the viewpoints of their authors We welcome your LETTERS, which may be edited for brevity and clarity. Submit via email, deliver to Room 506 or mail to Red & Black, 5000 N. Central Ave, Tampa, Florida 33603. ADVERTISING content is subject to approval of the editorial board Visit us online at HHSTODAY.COM CONTACT Phone: (813) 276-5620 Fax: (813) 276-5629 Email: hhstoday@gmail.com
GRAPHIC BY MARIN FEHL
PRIVATE COLLEGE IS A SCAM Higher education is becoming an increasingly more competitive market. Schools that were once commonly considered safety schools have become reach schools for many. As a college degree becomes increasingly expected in the workforce, more and more people are considering college for their post-graduate plans. More applicants means more competition to even be admitted, much less to receive a scholarship. According to Forbes, the average student of the Class of 2016 had over $37,000 in student
loan debt as of last year. I’m not trying to say money is the only factor in choosing what school to attend, if you have postsecondary plans. I’m only saying it should be considered. Success in life does not depend solely on the reputation of the college you attend. Even state schools can be more expensive than most think. The estimated cost of attendance for one year at UF is $21,130, per the school’s financial website. The Florida Academic Scholars Award, commonly known as the highest level of the Bright Futures Award, covers full tuition and fees, and $300 per semester for books. Although this is an
amazing step towards college for many, it only covers around $7,000 per year, leaving a $14,000 gap for students to fill each year. Whatever school you choose: you might have to apply for countless scholarships, apply to community college, or apply yourself to accepting your impending visit to Crippling Debt Mountain, and hold on for the ride. Whatever works best for you, and what you want to gain from college. As long as you remember the two golden rules of college: never take 8 a.m. classes, and take it easy on the ramen.
COLUMN BY MADISON FORBIS
hhstoday.com
opinion
May 2018
DO SENIORS DESERVE SENIOR PRIVILEGES?
11
There was a lack of senior privileges this year and many seniors have been upset - others believe it was justified. The silence from the administration has gone unnoticed by many but for me, it resonates loud and clear. Senior year is supposed to be the year that the school’s administration eases up on what soon-to-be graduates can do in terms of privileges, but it seems like we have fallen into a pit of forgetfulness and negligence from our administration. For years, it has been a tradition to let seniors be dismissed earlier than normal at the end of the day as one of the privileges of being a senior, but that all changed on the second day of school when it was announced that we couldn’t anymore. Perhaps it was a mistake on the first day of school, but Principal Brady made it clear on the second day that because of late registration and new students figuring out how the bell schedule worked, it was necessary to end senior early release. The administration quickly explained that this was for security reasons but also because kids weren’t leaving school like they were supposed to. I get it, students should immediately leave campus to their cars or buses but sometimes we have to stay behind for our underclassmen friends who don’t get out until 2:55. I had thought that perhaps by the second semester, it would’ve been reinstated but I was wrong in assuming that. The wrongful actions of a group of students further deterred any thought of the administration to give us our privilege back which is absolutely nonsensical. The actions of one small group should not prohibit the entire senior class to have their privileges scrapped because it endangers others Now as I finish up my final weeks here, I leave with disappointment in our administration who only further put everyone in the hot seat when it comes to privileges and incentives. Of course we had our prom, we had our Grad bash, but staying quiet about what matters to students, in terms of tradition, is sad. If there’s something I wish for next year is that the adults here will reconsider giving the next senior class what my senior class missed out on. But that’s only if students speak up for themselves if administration does not stay silent when the majority forgets about it. I hope they make the right choice next time.
YES!
COLUMN BY FERNANDO ROSAS
Four years of high school lead up to that walk across the stage- a handshake, a beam of pride, and the single piece of paper as proof that it was worth it. But before any of that, before they’ve made it all, many seniors feel a sense of entitlement to certain privileges that underclassmen don’t have. What makes senior year so different from any other? Senior year is tough, but being let out a few minutes early from school isn’t helping anyone, nor is it fair when some seniors have done nothing to earn these privileges. The opportunity, if given at all, shouldn’t be tossed around freely on the sole basis of grade level. If every senior is given this privilege, underclassmen don’t have to work towards earning it- it’s handed to every senior on a silver platter. Nor was the privilege torn away from seniors for some arbitrary reason. Certain seniors abused t h e i r rights, forcing the hand of those who would take them away. Although not everyone misused it, sometimes the wrongs of a few must account for the good of the whole. From a safety point of view, administration is right not to let students leave school before dismissal- it’s even more dangerous than it is pointless. It’s understandable for seniors to want a shred of recognition as they approach the end of their high school years and are soon to move on to college. It makes sense to celebrate to celebrate the end of an era. Events like prom and Grad Bash are meant to let seniors exclusively blow off some steam. And yes, it is true that seniors weren’t given separate themes during homecoming spirit week-but on the other hand, they have their very own spirit week leading up to prom. No one can claim seniors’ accomplishments are being ignored. It may feel like seniors waited four years for these privileges only for someone to snatch them away at the last second. But five minutes fewer of school won’t cure your senioritis. Being a senior isn’t about privileges- it’s about getting ready for what’s next and preparing to leave what you’ve gotten to know so well over the past four years.
NO!
COLUMN BY REEMA PATEL
GATE CLOSES AT 7:35 The black gate at the back of Hillsborough High School is a high traffic entrance used by its students and several faculty members. Closing the black gate at 7:35 a.m. is simply an inconvenience. First of all, it has to be kept in mind that there are some students who have certain situations that hinder them COLUMN BY CAMILA SANTANA from arriving at school on time such as: having to take siblings to school, the distance between home and school and work. When considering the point of view of the administration, locking the black gates at 7:35 a.m. would make our school safer by making it a lot easier to keep track of who is coming in and out of our school, as well as encouraging students to get to school on time.
the unnecessary walk to the other side of the school to get in. But by locking the closest gate, just a few feet away from the majority of classrooms, at the sound of the bell, the level of motivation to early morning classes drops even more now that students are not only a few minutes late to class, but they also have to walk out of their way to the entrance all the way on the other side of the school, making them even later to class. Furthermore, considering that many students and some teachers park in the parking lot closest to the black gate, it would be necessary to have access to the gate due to the possibility of forgetting an assignment, project, or any other necessity any one could need. Hopefully, by next year, access to the black gate will remain as it is, and students won’t have to go through the unnecessary consequences that come with being just a few minutes late to school.
GRAPHIC BY MERCY TSAY
12
Entertainment
May 2018
“I FEEL PRETTY” STUNS Amy Schumer returns with a new film that takes on self-esteem, confidence and overcoming doubts through the eyes of a typical, Schumer-like character. In “I Feel Pretty,” Renee Bennett (Amy Schumer) works for Lily LeClair’s online division, located in a basement in Chinatown with only one co-worker (Adrian Martinez). Bennett has a very low self-esteem as a result of not being confident in her body image. However, once she suffers an embarrassing head injury during a SoulCycle class, Bennett believes she has become a different, more beautiful woman. The film, although almost dreadfully silly and over-dramatic, has an element of realness to it. The different insecurities faced by the main cast help shine a light on the issue of low self-esteem. While it is not the first film to tackle this issue, “I Feel Pretty” shows each of the main characters’ insecurities, while the majority of films that are about self-esteem only show one or two of the characters’ insecurities. Bennett’s boyfriend (Rory Scovel) deals with insecurities about his masculinity. Bennett’s boss, Lily LeClair (Michelle Williams), is insecure about her voice and Lily’s brother, Grant LeClair (Tom Hopper), is insecure about his wealth. Although it is vital to Bennett’s development, the subplot with her two friends is not executed very well. Whenever her friends are on the screen, the movie immediately becomes sillier. Many other characters face similar issues with underdevelopment, such as both Lily and Grant LeClair. Grant
LeClair seems irrelevant to the overall story; he appears on screen randomly and does not add any value to any scene except for an extremely sudden and useless interaction with Bennett. His insecurity is also developed the least of all the characters. His sister, Lily, grabs the audience’s attention each time she’s on the screen, but her character also feels somewhat underdeveloped. “I Feel Pretty” at its core is a typical Amy Schumer film. Like her previous ones, “Snatched” and “Trainwreck,” the film’s comedy stems from Amy Schumer’s character’s awkwardness and clumsiness. Similarly to Schumer’s other two films, the humor in “I Feel Pretty” is hit or miss. Many of the jokes in the film are misses or less-than laugh out loud funny. However, there is more emotion in the most recent Schumer work. While “Snatched” explored the bond between a mother and her daughter, it did not have a lot of substance. Although “I Feel Pretty” succumbs to a lot of the same faults as other comedies, it rises above many films in terms of its substance.
REVIEW AND GRAPHIC BY JADEN SHEMESH
“BLOCKERS” IS A DIRTY SUCCESS GRAPHIC BY JADEN SHEMESH “Blockers” stars John Cena, Leslie Mann, and Ike Barinholtz as three parents struggling to help their daughters maintain their innocence as they get ready to leave the world of high school and depart for college. Besides the excessive and completely exaggerated struggles of parenthood and adolescence, “Blockers” is not your typical comingof-age story. So if you’re looking for something that remains sweet throughout, I suggest you don’t watch this movie- it’s rated “R” for a reason. If you are however, interested in watching
John Cena climb through a stranger’s window in hopes of ruining his daughter’s plan of losing her virginity to her pothead prom date, then you’ve come to the right place. It all starts when three close-knit friends decide to make a sex pact on their high school prom night. What starts off as an exciting entry into the world of adulthood for the kids quickly turns into a frenzy that lasts their parents the entire night as they dodge several obstacles in a hilarious attempt to stop them before it’s too late. On a more serious note, “Blockers” explores the complex and taboo topic of sexuality in high school. In one scene, Marcie (Sarayu Blue) is quick to question her husband’s grand scheme, even going as far as to question why women are looked down upon for partaking in sexual activity.
What I enjoyed most about this movie was that although dark humor and sexual innuendos played a fair share in entertainment, the film prioritized the depiction of a wide variety of misunderstood teenagers in today’s time. From a closeted lesbian to a girl who doesn’t have the heart to tell her mom she’s going out of state for college, almost every character, to some extent, embodies realistic struggles contemporary students in high school face. As the movie comes to an end the audience is left in awe of how quickly a lack in communication eventually leads to a heartwarming ending. This isn’t a flick I’ll be renting out for family movie night anytime soon, but it successfully emphasizes the importance of forming a solid and trustworthy relationship with loved ones.
REVIEW BY RIA DEY
Red & Black
Entertainment
hhstoday.com
May 2018
13
CARDI B TAKES CENTER STAGE ‘Invasion of Privacy’ is the debut album of the breakout female rapper Cardi B, which was released on April 6, and broke records within hours of its official release. According to Billboard, two weeks after its release, Cardi B became the first female rap artist to take the number one spot on the Billboard charts. Her album also broke the record for the most-streamed album by a female artist in its first week of being released, which was previously held
by Taylor Swift’s last album ‘1989’. Cardi B’s album was one of the most anticipated albums of the year, with fans all over with high expectations of the Bodak Yellow rapper. Cardi delivered as promised with her album, giving fans more of her quirky lyrics. The album, which has 13 songs, features major artists including: Migos, SZA, Chance The Rapper, 21 Savage, YG, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin. Each artist brings a different type of style to the rapper’s debut album, creating a simple, yet different sound to the genre. Although all the featured artist adds to the album’s character, having so many features on the album takes away Cardi’s shine. This is her first studio album after gaining a huge following, so there should have
been less features for Cardi to have more time to show what she has to bring to the music industry. In the song “Be Careful,” Cardi sings most of the time, instead of rapping like usual. The singing in the album was the only flaw throughout its entirety. Cardi does not have the right vocal range, or ability to sing much. Her voice is better rapping than singing. The album begins with the single “Get up 10,” with Cardi telling listeners her underdog story of how she became an overnight sensation with her hit remake of the Kodak Black song ‘No Flockin’. Cardi goes in depth of her life as an exotic dancer and being judged by people for doing it in her past, but she tells of how she has pushed passed the hate to continue to grow as an artist. Cardi B is quickly growing to be one of Hollywood’s most loveable artists. She has a very outgoing and wild personality, with an accent so thick sometimes you can hardly understand what she is saying. She tells of her cheap, but cute outfit choices, and her career path, without caring what the world will think of her. Cardi is quick to flaunt her real self instead of changing to be liked by more people, like most artists do to further their careers. That’s what makes Cardi B so different from other rappers, she won’t change her true ratchet self, just because she has risen to fame. My favorite song from the album is “I Like It,” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin. It samples the track “I Like It Like That” by Pete Rodriguez. Cardi shows her inner Latina by choosing this upbeat Hispanic song to sample and rap over.
STORY BY THEONTAE WALTON GRAPHIC BY FERNANDO ROSAS
HAN SOLO STRIKES AGAIN
The newest installment in the Star Wars franchise revolves around the beloved Han Solo and his journey before Star Wars.
The new addition to the Star Wars franchise, ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story,’ is no stranger to controversy, yet it hasn’t even been released. Set to premiere May 25, this film will follow fan favorite Han Solo and his life prior to his adventures in Star Wars. With two-time Academy Award winning director Ron Howard, a breakout cast and a pre-existing fan base awaiting its arrival, ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ has the formula to be a box office hit and deliver for its supporters. However, some hiccups in filming have made fans weary. Set to play the one and only Solo, Alden Ehrenreich reportedly needed on-set acting lessons. Additionally, before taken over by Howard, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were set to direct the Solo spinoff. According to Vanity Fair, the duo was quickly removed due to “creative differences.” These setbacks, as well as advanced publicity, have given fans the impression that it may disappoint the box office and the franchise. To quote Solo, they’ve “got a bad feeling about this.”
The Solo film isn’t alone when it comes to pre-production holdups. Similarly, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ had a revolving door of five directors come in and out of its set and yet it still shines through as one of the greatest films in history. Even the first Star Wars had its own scheduling problems while filming, but 15 films later and it’s still a classic. Despite the unease for the film’s release, Han Solo’s character is naturally charming and likeable. Whether Ehrenreich will be able deliver the same charm how Harrison Ford, the original Solo, did is questionable. The Star Wars franchise has always been able to deliver an immersive and action-packed experience to their audience. I doubt this film will shy away from that. Anticipation and hearsay has already given the latest Star Wars film a bad name. Give it a chance and let it become a diamond in the rough. Let’s see if Solo can make it out of this one.
STORY BY CAROLIN HEARNE GRAPHIC BY FERNANDO ROSAS
id you sa What’s your favorite song it of the album? “My favorite song is ‘Drip’ because it has a nice beat and Migos is in it” - Alexa Montilla, 11
“I didn’t like [any], because she’s annoying” - Joshua Cox, 10
My favorite song is ‘Get Up 10’, because it has a nice beat and a good message” - Gabby Martinez, 11
14
life
May 2018
Red & Black
SENIORS LAST BASH TOP LEFT Students from all over the state of Florida listen and dance with Sean Paul as he performs during the later part of Grad Bash. BOTTOM LEFT Seniors Thalia Martinez-Reyes and Camillo Perilla flaunt their 2018 Grad Bash tickets while waiting in the long security line to enter the parks. MIDDLE About to get in line for the ride, seniors Haley Mueller and Lauren Serra-Tencajoli stand together in front of the Hogwarts castle in Harry Potter World in Islands of Adventure to take a picture. TOP RIGHT About to eat a cup of Butterbeer ice cream senior Moryah Wells takes her first bite of the ice cream based off the famous Butterbeer from the Harry Potter books. BOTTOM RIGHT Thousands of students wait in line for the Rip Ride Rockit in Universal Studios. During the ride, speakers play a song of your choice to listen to while you enjoy the ride. Photos by Makayla Brown
WALKING FOR AWARENESS
Sophomores Hannah Powers and Taylor Brunnschweiler walk with others in the Best Buddies walk to raise awareness for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Photo by Reema Patel
Members of the Best Buddies club participate in the walk to raise awareness for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On April 21, the community walked at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) individuals of all ages for the Best Buddies Friendship Walk. This walk is an event arranged by Best Buddies International whose mission is to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for the students in the program. Starting at 9 a.m., the speaker Joshua Felder welcomed the attendees and spoke to raise awareness of the inequality IDD people in the community face. Following the introduction, individuals walked to Curtis Hixon Park where there were activities like face painting, a bouncy house and a DJ. This year, 5,800 students, teachers, parents, siblings and community members attended seven walk events across the state. Best Buddies sponsor and exceptional student education (ESE) teacher, Johanna Wright, took her IDD students to the friendship walk and to the friendship ball. “The essential mission is to bring students with disabilities together and to build friendship,” she said.
Wright has taught ESE for 10 years and sponsored Best Buddies for three. “I have seen a lot of different personalities despite the fact that they have a disability and they make us laugh, as you see, they make us cry, they make us annoyed or frustrated but we are a family here and that’s what family goes through- the ups and downs,” she said. “I do my best to show them love.” Although ESE students from Hillsborough did not attend, sophomore Hannah Powers felt that she was raising awareness by walking with the other buddies there. “While we were walking I looked around and really felt like at that moment we were doing something so small as walking but our movement looked big and I feel like together we really got people’s attention and more became aware of the issue we are trying to solve,” she said. “We want to allow them to be integrated into society and stop the harsh comments being said about them because they are people like the rest of us.”
STORY BY KATIE DELK
May 9: Traditional Senior Send Off
May 18: IB Senior Banquet May 25: Graduation GRAPHIC BY LAUREN KOMAR
15
life
hhstoday.com
May 2018
MARCHING DOWN MAIN STREET Each year, the Big Red Band takes a trip to perform somewhere outside of the local community. This year, Disney World hosted band for a weekend as they visited to play in the parade at Magic Kingdom on April 14. The band visited Atlanta, GA last year for a music performance competition and to explore the city, including a visit to Great Stone Mountain. “The main purpose of it all is to really share our program’s music in areas outside of Tampa and gain experiences of what it’s like to perform in new, exciting places,” senior drum major Mica Jadick said They explored three of the parks,
Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, during their three-day stay “Being acknowledged by my favorite Star Wars character Kylo Ren,” junior Gabby Martinez said on her favorite part of the trip. The band put their music to the test by performing the song “Be Our Guest”, from the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast, during their march down Main Street. They were even allowed behind the performance gate. Some felt like the trip was an opportunity to become closer as a band. “It’s a great chance for everyone in the band to come together, travel, and experience
those things together” Jadick said. Others feel that trips are more of a chance to have fun, whereas rigorous preparation prior to a performance is what really brings them together. “I personally don’t think the trips help us bond as a team. If anything, practices help us bond as a team,” Martinez said, “We all try to give 110% at practices”. The band attended after school practices for about 3 weeks prior to the trip in order to prepare. The band received a Disney Performing Arts trophy for their performance on Main Street.
LEFT With Mickey Mouse ears and their red and black uniforms, the band, Dancerettes and color guard marches down Main Street USA in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. TOP RIGHT While marching, the woodwind section plays in front of Cinderella’s castle during a parade in Magic Kingdom. BOTTOM RIGHT Juniors Riley Karekos and Morgan Nystrom and seniors Jeena Patel and Brianna Estevez pose with their orchestra classmates in Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. FAR BOTTOM RIGHT Pretending to blow a kiss, Dancerette’s Khloe Dang and Bella Martinez take a picture in front of the castle after the parade. Photos courtesy The Big Red Band
STORY BY REEMA PATEL
10 YEARS OF BEAUTY
LEFT Standing with the new 10 year plaque, school nurse and environmental awareness club sponsor, Janice Vogt poses for a photo. TOP RIGHT Ready to take flight a monarch butterfly sits on the origami envelope. BOTTOM RIGHT EAC President Jorge Garcia speaks to Hillsborough alumni about the earth day program. Photos by Makayla Brown
On April 27 in Positive Park, the Hillsborough High School Alumni Association and the school’s Environmental Awareness Club plan to celebrate Earth Day. This is the only school in Hillsborough county with a park that celebrates this event, and this year is its ten-year anniversary. In preparation, club members have been creating presentations about the environment. “Everybody has been working to fix up positive park and everybody is really looking forward to earth day,” junior Ingrid Yen said. This year includes many festivities
such as the releasing of 17 butterflies in honor of the victims of the Parkland mass shooting. The event also features custom rock painting by art students, a paint your own pot station, the releasing of ladybugs and a Q&A session with a master gardener. “Every day should be earth day, but the holiday is definitely a little reminder that mother earth needs to breathe and that everyone does their part to preserve our planet,” junior Kiersten Andrews said.
STORY BY MIA PEREZ
16
sports
May 2018
Red & Black
LAST GAME OF THE SEASON
TOP LEFT Junior Ivory Martin is up at bat for their senior night against Middleton, this game is also the first game of the team’s district season. TOP MIDDLE Junior Jade Mention pitches the ball to the hitter for Middleton. TOP RIGHT Anni Wright gets the Middleton payer out by catching the hit and making it to the base. BOTTOM LEFT Junior Emily Bowling catches a pitch thrown by pitcher Jade Mention, leading to Middleton getting a strike. BOTTOM RIGHT Yelianis Su takes a hit while up at bat towards the middle of the game. Captions by Lauren Komar Photos by Makayla Brown
DANCING INTO NEXT YEAR With ears pressed against the gym’s double doors, a few hopeful Dancerettes try to listen in on the conversation going on inside. Meanwhile, inside the gym doors three girls are standing before a panel of judges preparing to perform a routine to Dua Lipa’s “Blow your mind,” in an attempt to land a spot on the 2018-2019 Dancerette team. This year the Dancerettes held tryouts from April 17 to 19. On the first day of tryouts, 24 girls came out to audition, where they were told to practice their across the floor leaps and kicks. However, the Dancerette coach Danielle Reid cut the number of girls down to 20 for the second day of tryouts where they practiced their 8 counts and freestyling. The girls practiced in front of a group of judges who observed them as they danced. According to Reid, the judges looked for specific qualities in the girls who tried out. “I always look to see if they have a basic dance technique,” Reid said. “They should have decent foundation of jazz and ballet for turns and leaps.” On the third day of tryouts, the girls auditioning got into
groups of three and performed before the judges while the rest of the girls waited outside the gym. After all the girls had auditioned, the results with the final team members for next year were posted on the gym doors. Outgoing senior Emily Quin had a few words of encouragement and advice for those who did not see their name on that list. “If this is something you really want then take a dance class this year,” she said. “You will see so much improvement.” Out of 24 original girls that auditioned, only 15 made the team. The girls who made the team lined up in single file and each received a sash from an outgoing senior who congratulated and welcomed them to the team. The Dancerette Captain and Co-Captain were also named that night. Junior Melia Palamino was chosen as Captain with Junior Khloe Dang as Co-Captain. “I’m so excited, I feel like all my hard work these four years has paid off,” Palomino said. “Next year, I want to definitely make sure all our dances are really clean and do a lot more team bonding so we can all get closer as a team.”
STORY BY JORGE GARCIA
TOP Senior Claire Hamilton places a sash on fellow Dancerette, Ashley Jarman, who attends Brooks DeBartolo but makes the drive to Hillsborough for practice. BOTTOM The incoming and returning Dancerettes pose for a group picture with their coach. Photos By Jorge Garcia