Ashley Kulberg Portfolio 2016 by Jessica Samons

Objective

Angela Ahrendts

 To gain knowledge on communicating with others, to benefit the company in any way I can, and to learn business skills.

Retail and Online Stores Apple Inc.

Education

1 Infinite Loop

 Attended Bak Middle School of the Arts (Majored in Communications)

Cupertino, CA 95014

 4.0 GPA  Qualified for Gifted academics courses

Dear Mrs. Ahrendts,

Experience

The creative marketing that Apple Inc. has applied across the world has interested me. Your brand has become a household name, and I have always dreamed of being a part of it. Working with Apple in retail would benefit the company, as I have the qualifications required for the job.

Portfolio Newspaper, Bak Middle School of the Arts  2015-2016. Photo Editor. Prepare photos, meet deadlines, take pictures, write articles, help staffers.

Relevant Courses  Journalism I

My past experiences, such as being on my middle school’s newspaper staff, will be assets to this position. I worked as a photo editor, where I constantly had to meet deadlines and stay organized.

 Digital Art Design  Graphic Design I

I have good educational values as well. I attended Bak Middle School of the Arts, where I achieved 4.0 GPA and took Gifted classes. I believe my combination of technology experience and background in education is an excellent match for the marketing research position you described. Enclosed is my resume.

Respectfully yours,

Ashley Kulberg

Resume

Cover Letter

I have a good knowledge of Photoshop and InDesign, and can create images on those programs very easily. I love working with computers and technology, as I have taken Digital Art Design and Graphic Design I.

References  Jessica Samons: Newspaper Advisor. (561) 882-3870  Robyn Fleming: Temple Beth Torah Youth Group Director. (561) 793-2649

Self-Analytical Essay

As soon as production of the Portfolio Newspaper started, many challenges presented themselves. But through many revisions and creative solutions to problems, the newspaper was a success. That is the main thing I learned being a Photo Editor on Issue I: There is always a solution. Ever since I took Journalism in sixth grade, my desire to be on the staff had never stopped. I have a high level of productivity on the staff. As soon as story ideas are assigned, I start thinking of interview questions and photos I could take for my articles. Every class, I find myself doing multiple tasks simultaneously. I wrote my article about All-State Auditions, took pictures, and found the student in my photo to write a caption on the same day. I always meet deadlines for articles and photos, and sometimes even turn them in early. Deadlines have helped me to become more organized with my work, and I constantly check the itinerary to discover when tasks are due. I work hand-in-hand with Lily to keep track of photos and prepare them. I also collaborate with the editors of the page my articles or photos are on to see how they are placed. I sold three two by seven ads to The Learning Experience, a value of $285. If I do not have enough copy to fill the space I need to, or I cannot get outstanding quotes, I have learned to re-interview or research to get what I need. Journalism ethics are a vital part of this course, and I have learned why honest reporting is such a good virtue. Sometimes, you have to put in extra work to achieve the result you want to. My dedication to the Portfolio Newspaper is very strong. Instead of being with my friends or on electronics, I am often working on some aspect of the newspaper. This class will be very valuable in the future, especially if I continue my education at Dreyfoos. Not only did it teach me important skills of a photo editor and news reporter, but it also gave me a behind-the-scenes look at the production of a newspaper. In the future, if my job is in the field of communications, participating in this course would have many benefits. For example, I will be experienced with Photoshop and InDesign, be familiar with AP style, and understand the overall production of media. In conclusion, being on the staff of the Portfolio Newspaper has helped me in many ways, and will improve my future, too.

Issue 1 Arts and Academics Photo This photo was taken to cover All-State Auditions. I took it while many students were tuning their instruments.

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The Portfolio October 2015

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Arts & Academics

and it is just a great achievement to have,” Lucas Haury-Parra, eighth grade band major said. “I want to please Ms. Beebe and I think that it is a really great experience to play with people from all over the state,” Ansay said. Preparing for such an important audition may cause students to worry, but most just thought about the great things that would happen if they got accepted. Ansay said, “I’m a little bit nervous, but I think I’ve prepared myself enough with the music, so I’m just going to go in there, try my best and hopefully that’s enough.” Students anticipated the day when they would ﬁnd out if their work was enough to make it into All-State. Haury-Parra said, “I feel like I’ve prepared myself the best that I can, but even if I don’t make it in this year, it’s no big deal. It’s helped my skills and will make it easier for any audition I might have in the future.”

Photo by Ashley Kulberg

As his audition approaches, Jay Coleman, seventh grade strings major, tunes his instrument. “I was nervous, like most people were,” Coleman said. “I auditioned for two instruments, so by my second audition, I felt more comfortable.” with friends, the majority of band or By Ashley Kulberg strings majors were preparing for their Photo Editor All-State auditions, which would test hroughout the summer their musical and sight reading abilities. months, while many kids were “[The best part is] being able to play playing sports or hanging out with so many people that have the

they wouldn’t be good at their job,” Williams said. The squid dissections were one out of the four dissections seventh graders did each year. The science teachers strongly recommended students to participate because it was informative of the anatomy of a squid. The students got an insight of a living organism. “The dissections are educational for students because they get to look inside a living thing and see how everything works,” Kerie Franco, seventh grade science teacher, said. During the dissections, students were responsible for following instructions correctly and obediently. If students did not follow the rules that might cause them to get injured or get ink on them or they might spill something by accident. “Students might cut themselves or get ‘eye juice’ all over them if the students do not follow the rules,” Franco said. According to squid-world.com, squids are cephalopods, which are marine animals with a prominent head and tentacles. Squid characteristics, like the

Photo by Nikita Tanguturi

beak or the tentacles, drew the students in, according to biologycorner.com, and made the lab even more interesting, creating fascination in learning. “I ﬁnd the suck rings of a squid intriguing because I didn’t know they had them,” Rachel Gerheard-Sterner,

seventh grade science teacher, said. The seventh graders left the squid dissections with a new knowledge of biology. Williams said, “Students would tell me after the dissections ‘thank you for making me do this.’”

Bak visual showcase displays school talent, creativity By Ervin Williams Technology Editor s the brush moved across the blank canvas, creating people and objects, making a whole new world. The visual showcase, held on Sept. 10, 2015, showcased student art work completed over the summer. “Students can expect amazing sketches, paintings, and sculptures made from recyclable materials that Photo by Nikita Tangaturi people have done,” Alexa Gaumond, Visual arts major Cassidy Zeng seventh grade visual arts major said. prepares for the showcase. “It’s a The showcase housed the artwork of boost of conﬁdence when people returning seventh and eighth graders,

look at your work,” Zeng said.

By Valentina Gomez Arts and Academics editor isgusted, a student inspected the dead squid in front of her. She examined the eye and the beak. She cringed as ink oozed out of the specimen. This squid dissection was going to be interesting. “I hope the students gain knowledge. I hope they understand the inner workings of the animal kingdom,” Gary Williams, seventh grade science teacher, said. People thought that opening the insides of an animal may be unethical and they should be left alone, according to animalearn.org. 86 percent of students polled and said that schools should give students the option to use alternatives to dissections. On the contrary, the science teachers believed that the dissections were for the greater good and were not meant to cause harm because they thought it was for the purpose of learning. “I think cutting into an animal is just. It’s like going to the vet. If the vet doesn’t know a dog’s anatomy,

Seventh graders Isabella Ortiz and Jonathan Estilien look at the squid in awe before dissecting it. Ortiz said, “I got to learn how interesting squids are, and I like that we do them [dissections] because we can learn more about different animals.”

but did not include all students’ work “The pieces are chosen by what the students think about it. If the teacher thinks another one is good as well, they can put that one in the showcase too,” Gianni Giles, eighth grade visual major said. Professional artists, such Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, was “the base of all pieces and sketches” said Gaumond. “I get my inspirations from looking at others arts,” Gaumond said. Charlotte de Greling, eighth grade visual major, had a more “modern” approach.

“My inspiration for drawing is usually cartoons. If you pop open my portfolio you will see mostly cartoons and headshots,” de Greling said. Although the showcase was a “great way to show off ” the art work, visual majors drew for other reasons as well. Despite their love for drawing, art “isn’t for everyone.” “No one should be forced to paint if they don’t want to,” de Greling said. “Art calms me down. When I am angry, I paint. When I am happy, I sketch, but when I feel there is injustice, I make a piece. Drawing isn’t for other people. You draw because you love it.”

I took a photo on this Arts & Academics page.

same interest as you. The experience of auditioning and getting out there is great,” Katelyn Ansay, seventh grade strings major said. While many students took pride in getting into All-State, many hours of preparation were required to meet that goal when they auditioned in late September. “Every day, I spend 30 to 40 minutes running through my piece with a metronome. I make sure to go very slowly so that I can catch the mood of the music,” Abigail McNutt, eighth grade strings major said. Students can get accepted into AllState for a variety of instruments, including the piccolo, tuba, and flute, according to flmusiced.org. “For violin, only about 150 people get in. So of course, there is going to be some pressure,” McNutt said. There were many benefits that can be achieved by qualifying for All-State. “Getting into All-State gives you a better chance of getting into Dreyfoos

Dissections allow students to explore squid anatomy

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Issue 1- Photography

Photo by Ashley Kulberg

Arts & Academics

Bak students await All-State audition results

Bak students await All-State audition results same interest as you. The experience of auditioning and getting out there is great,” Katelyn Ansay, seventh grade strings major said. While many students took pride in getting into All-State, many hours of preparation were required to meet that goal when they auditioned in late September. “Every day, I spend 30 to 40 minutes running through my piece with a metronome. I make sure to go very slowly so that I can catch the mood of the music,” Abigail McNutt, eighth grade strings major said. Students can get accepted into AllState for a variety of instruments, including the piccolo, tuba, and flute, according to flmusiced.org. “For violin, only about 150 people get in. So of course, there is going to be some pressure,” McNutt said. There were many benefits that can be achieved by qualifying for All-State. “Getting into All-State gives you a better chance of getting into Dreyfoos

The Portfolio October 2015

Photo by Nikita Tanguturi

look at your work,” Zeng said.

I also wrote the article on the Arts & Academics page.

Issue 1- Evaluations

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The Portfolio December 2015

Arts & Academics

Students put knowledge to real world events in Washington By Ervin Williams Technology Editor

11.

tudents in the eighth grade went on a Social studies trip to Washington DC. from Nov. 7 -

The students went to some of the “hot spots” of DC., according to Brandon Wisnicki, eighth grade communications major said. “It’s one thing to read about DC in a book. It’s completely different seeing it up close,” Douglas Battle, eighth grade social studies teacher said. “Seeing the Lincoln Memorial up close, where Dr. Martin Luther King delivered one of the greatest speeches in all of American history, is as moving a sight as I have ever experienced in my life.” According to educase.edu, Active Learning Classrooms (ALCs) had the most positive growth in learning, for example school trips, discussions, and immersions. “I am most looking forward to visiting Washington to be immersed in the history that I am learning this year,” Alex Haddad, eighth grade communication major said.

Photo by Luke Stone

Students make a stop in front of the North Lawn of The White House on Nov. 10, 2015 after the end of their tour of the building. That day, the group also made stops at the National Archives, the Jefferson Memorial, Union Station, the Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of American History.

The trip included visits to George Washington’s house, touring the White House, and other activities which provided some students with the answer to the question: Why is history so important? “If you don’t learn from history,

you are doomed to repeat it. It is so important to learn the past. It helps provide a roadmap to the future,” Battle said. The students were exposed to different aspects of government and how it runs, but one student found that

the trip was more than just reinforcing what was taught. Wisnicki said, “This trip shows me how the government is not all about the politics, but what the government can do for us and how it can help us.”

Issue 2- Copy

Chorale to broadcast on The Education Network this December teacher, said. “For those who do, this have felt stressed or worried. experience will help them get over their Lacie Michaelis, seventh grade vocal major, said, “Of course I’m nervous. nerves when on stage.” The holiday special will air in I want to do well and looking terrbile December, and anyone can tune in to in front of the audience is my worst nightmare.” watch and listen “This opportunity to Chorale as exposes them to the they sing songs This opportunity behind-the-scenes such as “Deck part of a production. the Halls” and exposes them to the “Here We Come behind-the-scenes They will get to A-Caroling,” see producers and really learn how that Rachel Robinson, part of production.” industry works,” seventh grade Taylor said. theater major, said. Though it may have been challenging “It’s good publicity for the school and music department. People from the for students not to get nervous or community will really get to experience worried while preparing for this event, many felt that what mattered most was what Bak can really do,” Taylor said. This was the initial year that the that they performed to their best ability. Taylor said, “Ultimately, I want their school of the arts was chosen to perform in the special. It was a huge friends and family to see their success honor, according to Taylor, but many and be proud of what the students students performing in this event may have done.”

“

Photo by Ashley Kulberg

With perfect pitch, Chorale prepares to be ﬁlmed for the Education Network’s (T.E.N.) Holiday Special. T.E.N. is the ofﬁcial television station for The School District of Palm Beach County.

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor

Annual Holiday Special. Bak MSOA was one of the few schools featured in the program. ak students in Chorale earned “Some of these students will go the opportunity to be ﬁlm into performing,” Kent Taylor, vocal for The Education Network’s

Rozanski: We were very well prepared, familiar with testing By Madaleine Rubin Co Editor In Chief

ast spring, students in Palm Beach County all clicked submit on their computers, ending weeks of Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) testing. Now parents, students, and teachers all await FSA Achievement Levels that they had expected to get in September. “Normally, parents, teachers, and students would have already received Achievement Levelsbut this year, the state delayed the process because cut scores have not

been voted on Achievement Levels, and given final and levels 3 and approval by the above are considered This preparation, state legislature,” proficient. “In January, once Sally Rozanski, coupled with the hard school principal, the cut-scores work of the students said. are approved, In previous and staff, resulted in Achievement Levels years, students for each student should high academic achieving be received scores determined,” ranging from scores.” Rozanski said. one through Parents, students, five, one being and teachers received the lowest possible score and five the percentage scores through an Individual highest. These scores are known as FSA Student Report on Nov. 9.

“

“Based on the proposed cut scores, I determined achievement levels for students,” Rozanski said. If the proposed Achievement Levels are used, then Bak will remain the top middle school in the county in academic achievement. Rozanski said, “We were very wellprepared and familiar with the testing system, and we conducted practice tests. This preparation, coupled with the hard work of the students and staff, resulted in high academic achieving scores.”

I wrote this article for an Arts & Academics spread.

Issue 2- Evaluations

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The Portfolio February 2016

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Arts & Academics

Strings department holds Glow Party fundraiser By Valentina Gomez Arts and Academics editor

Photo by Valentina Gomez

By Valentina Gomez Arts and Academics editor

Photo by Valentina Gomez

As the crowd followed the lead of the DJ, the students began dancing the Cha-Cha Slide under the neon lights. The Strings Department held a Glow Party fundraiser to raise money for their trip to Carnegie Hall.

Freezer malfunctions in cafeteria during break, spoiling food

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor

ww that smell! Can you smell that smell?”

The cafeteria walk-in freezer broke over winter break, and $2500 worth of food was completely ruined. “You just couldn’t miss the smell,” Robert Gold, cafeteria manager, said. Students ate outside while the problem was being handled. However, the courtyard could not handle the amount of students. “I was glad to be outside for once, but I would like to be able to sit across

from my friends, not on a wall in the cold. There’s just not enough seats,” Sabrina D’Agostino, seventh grade visual major, said. Over winter break, the freezer’s Freon line broke. According to aetinc.biz, Freon is a trade name for a class of chemicals known as Chlorofluorocarbons or CFC’s used as a refrigerant. No one was allowed inside of the cafeteria for several days, until it was deemed safe and reopened on Friday, Jan. 15. Gold said, “Over the course of six or seven days, the walk-in freezer became more like a walk-in oven.”

Arts & Academics

Strings department holds Glow Party fundraiser

“It was a Glow Party so it was pretty. Everything tied in together. It was pretty cool at what they were trying to achieve,” Jessica Gomez, seventh grade communications major, said. The students were supposed to arrive to the party wearing either white or neon colored clothing to pop out against the lighting. The dance featured popular songs and dance challenges for the students to move to with their friends. Upham said, “I had a great time! It was nice to be with my friends and have a time to hang out with them. Being with your friends was the best part.”

he strings department held a Glow Party, on Dec. 4, in order to raise money for their trip to the Carnegie Hall in New York City. “Strings’ parents organized it with core planning. They had several meetings for months with a goal of making it a fun night,” Nancy Beebe, strings teacher, said. The dance included a DJ, neon lights, and a dance floor with music, a photo booth, and the movie TomorrowLand in the gymnasium.

Freezer malfunctions in cafeteria during break, spoiling food

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor

ww that smell! Can you smell that smell?”

Photo by Ashley Kulberg

Leah Sloan, seventh grade theater major, receives her lunch in the courtyard. Every student was required to eat outside until the school district deemed the cafeteria safe for students.

Photo by Ashley Kulberg

Leah Sloan, seventh grade theater major, receives her lunch in the courtyard. Every student was required to eat outside until the school district deemed the cafeteria safe for students.

Visual majors raise money with sculpture

By Sreenidhi Nidamanur Sports Editor

alm Beach Island Cats lets cats live free. They asked the visual department to paint and decorate a cat sculpture to raise money. “There is a large number of feral cats that live in the wild. The charity, instead of putting them in shelters, let them live out their life,” Glen Barefoot, visual arts teacher said. Palm Beach Island Cats (PBIC) is the organization that had asked the visual department from Bak to participate in this cause. PBIC prevents future generations of homeless cats by implementing the humane practice of Trap, Neuter and Return. PBIC maintains the current population through daily feeding, watering and providing medical care as needed. PBIC responds to all citizens’ concerns in order to achieve peaceful coexistence between the town’s cats and residents, according to pbislandcats. org. The visual arts students like Andrea Turner and her sister, Allison Turner, eighth grade visual majors, spent over 20 hours making the cat sculpture perfect. “The cat is cast in fiberglass and painted with acrylic,” Barefoot said. “The cat is purple with multicolor rings and flowers,” Turner said. Turner and her sister both worked on the cat at their house.

“Sometimes the work gets very tedious, but it’s still fun and relaxing,” Turner said. In addition to being a fundraiser, the cause had benefits. “It’s nice to know that someone is taking their time out for something like this,” Barefoot said. In late January, there will be an auction to sell the cat sculptures. “I think the cat will sell for a lot of money. I know a lot of people will be impressed because people are always impressed by what this school does,” Barefoot said. Barefoot believed it was beneficial for visual students to use their artistic skills and talent to support the community. “I think it’s a good idea for artists to give back,” Barefoot said, “and use their talent for good.”

Photo by Nikita Tanguturi

Spraying the paint onto the cat sculpture, Allison Turner, eighth grade visual major, paints her design onto the cat along with a few of her friends.

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Issue 3- Photography

The Portfolio February 2016

Photo by Nikita Tanguturi

Spraying the paint onto the cat sculpture, Allison Turner, eighth grade visual major, paints her design onto the cat along with a few of her friends.

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The Portfolio December 2015

Arts & Academics

Students put knowledge to real world events in Washington By Ervin Williams Technology Editor

11.

tudents in the eighth grade went on a Social studies trip to Washington DC. from Nov. 7 -

Issue 3- Copy

Photo by Luke Stone

Chorale to broadcast on The Education Network this December teacher, said. “For those who do, this have felt stressed or worried. Lacie Michaelis, seventh grade vocal experience will help them get over their major, said, “Of course I’m nervous. nerves when on stage.” The holiday special will air in I want to do well and looking terrbile December, and anyone can tune in to in front of the audience is my worst nightmare.” watch and listen to Chorale as “This opportunity exposes them to the they sing songs This opportunity behind-the-scenes such as “Deck part of a production. the Halls” and exposes them to the They will get to “Here We Come behind-the-scenes A-Caroling,” see producers and Rachel Robinson, part of production.” really learn how that seventh grade industry works,” theater major, said. Taylor said. “It’s good publicity for the school and Though it may have been challenging music department. People from the for students not to get nervous or community will really get to experience worried while preparing for this event, what Bak can really do,” Taylor said. many felt that what mattered most was This was the initial year that the that they performed to their best ability. school of the arts was chosen to Taylor said, “Ultimately, I want their perform in the special. It was a huge friends and family to see their success honor, according to Taylor, but many and be proud of what the students students performing in this event may have done.”

“

Photo by Ashley Kulberg

With perfect pitch, Chorale prepares to be filmed for the Education Network’s (T.E.N.) Holiday Special. T.E.N. is the official television station for The School District of Palm Beach County.

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor

ak students in Chorale earned the opportunity to be film for The Education Network’s

Annual Holiday Special. Bak MSOA was one of the few schools featured in the program. “Some of these students will go into performing,” Kent Taylor, vocal

Rozanski: We were very well prepared, familiar with testing By Madaleine Rubin Co Editor In Chief

been voted on Achievement Levels, and given final and levels 3 and approval by the above are considered This preparation, state legislature,” proficient. Sally Rozanski, coupled with the hard “In January, once the cut-scores school principal, work of the students said. are approved, In previous and staff, resulted in Achievement Levels years, students each student should high academic achieving for be determined,” received scores ranging from scores.” Rozanski said. one through Parents, students, and teachers received five, one being the lowest possible score and five the percentage scores through an Individual highest. These scores are known as FSA Student Report on Nov. 9.

“

Issue 3- Evaluations

Page 6

The Portfolio March 2016

Page 6

Entertainment

Taco Bell

Chipotle

Moe’s

stars because of the helpful staff and price value. The next restaurant was Taco Bell. The restaurant was fairly clean, and I ordered a Crunchy Taco, which did not have much ﬂavor. The only ingredients were ground beef, lettuce, and cheese. The menu had a lot of variety and was easy to understand. The service was somewhat slow. The cashier was not paying attention to my order, either. At $1.19 per taco, Taco Bell was the cheapest place I visited. It also had the smallest taco I tried. I gave Taco Bell two and a half out of

ﬁve stars because it had a great menu, but poor service. Chipotle had the best customer service out of the four restaurants I visited. The cashier explained the menu to me with excitement. The food was even better. The ingredients were fresh, however there was a mediocre variety of toppings. The taco did not fall apart easily and had a lot of ﬂavor. The simple menu made ordering easy, and the food was out in no time. The taco was priced at $2.75 per taco. I gave Chipotle four and a half out

of five stars, deeming it the best taco I reviewed; the taco was delicious and the service was excellent. The final taco I tasted was from Moe’s Southwest Grill. The restaurant’s appearance was clean, and there was friendly customer service. I ordered a ground beef taco with a hard shell, which cost $2.99 per taco. While the overall taste of the taco was okay and the ingredients were fresh, the shell fell apart almost immediately. I gave Moe’s Southwestern Grill three and a half out of five stars; it had creative menu items but bland taste.

Oscar predictions give insight about winners The Oscars: By the Numbers 2- Number of Oscars’ director Steven Spielberg has purchased and returned back to the Academy.

5- Previous acting winners renominated this year. 10- Out of 11 of Warner Bros nominations were given to “Mad Max.” 11- Number of nominations for both “The Turning Point” and “The Color Purple” without a single win. 12- Number of nominations “The Revenant” got, making it the film with the most number of nominations this year. 13- People who are part of the EGOT club, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony in competition. 14- Record number of wins for a single film, held by both “All About Eve” and “Titanic”. 15- How long the first Oscars were in minutes. 20- How many hours it takes to make a statuette. 23- Films who only got a single nomination. 25- The age of the youngest person to get four acting nominations (Jennifer Lawrence.) 26- Number of nominations FOX Studios got. 59- Walt Disney’s record-setting number of nominations. 87- Age of the oldest nominee for the best original score award (Ennio Morricone.) 88- Years since the first Oscars were held in 1928.

By Nikita Tanguturi Business Manager tarting out as a 15 minute ceremony with only 13 categories, the Oscars has now evolved into of the most watched television awards show. With plenty of categories, and even more nominees, it is a huge event for the film industry. Arguably one of the most major categories, I think that the 2016 best picture should go to “The Martian.” Getting a 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it “pretty sunny and often funny” and “destined to be a sci-fi classic”, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon. With five final nominees, I think that the best actor in a lead role should be Eddie Remayne, for his work in “The Danish Girl.” Being cast as a transgender woman, he received a lot of praise, and the film itself was a success, receiving four Oscar nominations in various categories. As for best actress, I think that the chances for all of them are pretty equal, but due to all of the Hunger Games popularity, Jennifer Lawrence stands out a little bit. Another frontrunner in my opinion would be Charlotte Rampling for her performance in “45 years.” I think that the winner for the music category. will be either “Writings on the Wall”, from Spectre, or “Earned it”, from “50 Shades of Grey”. Both those songs debuted on Billboard top charts. Overall, the 88th Oscars are one worth watching, with the air date set as Sunday, Feb. 28.

Wahlberg and Ferrell ‘Daddy’s Home’:compete for father role

Courtesy of www.dealflicks.com

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg face off for role of father in the ﬁlm “Daddy’s Home,” which grossed about $234 million.

By Valentina Gomez Arts and Academics Editor otion picture, “Daddy’s Home,” hit theaters on Christmas Day 2015, and was directed by Sean Anders. The movie grossed $212.7 million. The movie began with Megan (Scarlett Estevezone), one of the children, presenting drawings to her stepfather Brad (Will Ferrell) that showed how apart he was from the family. As the pictures progressed, it was clear how Megan and her brother, Dylan (Owen Wilder Vaccaro) ﬁnally considered Brad as family. Throughout the story, the ex-husband,

Dusty (Mark Wahlberg), returns to his family after finding out his ex-wife (Linda Cardellini) remarried and tried to take back his family. “Daddy’s Home” was rated PG-13 for mature humor, suggestive content and language. It had a good plot and was funny. Although, the few effects that were added into the movie were surreal, and made the scene unrealistic. One scene where the stepfather, Brad, tries out Dusty’s motorcycle to “show him up” was one of many scenes where the two characters try to outdone another. In the scene, Brad did not know how to control it, leading to him crashing into the house. The special effects made the crash scene seem unreal. However, actors such as Hannibal Buress, Bobby Cannavale and John Cena brought comedy to the big screen. One specific scene in the movie was where Dylan, told Brad and Dusty how some kids at school were bullying him. At a father/daughter dance, they soon realize that their son’s tormentors were girls, yet they had taught Dylan how to fight his bullies. The director also did a great job with keeping the audience engaged all through the duration of the film; either by cracking jokes or creating a surprise twist. “Daddy’s Home” definitely kept the viewers laughing. I gave “Daddy’s Home” four out of five stars since it gave an entertaining plot, and talented actors, but minor parts throughout the film were unrealistic.

I took photos for a taco review on the Entertainment spread.

Tijuana Flats

Taco Bell

Chipotle

Moe’s

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor reviewed four taco restaurants based on cleanliness, customer service, taste, value, and cost. When I walked into Tijuana Flats, I was greeted by a friendly cashier who was knowledgeable about the excessive and confusing menu. At $3.30, it was the most expensive taco I reviewed. The taco had a good blend of ingredients and a unique taste, but it was so big that it was hard to keep it from falling apart. I gave Tijuana Flats three out of ﬁve

Oscar predictions give insight about winners

Issue 4- Copy

Issue 4- Photography

Tijuana Flats

Entertainment

Crunch, the truth behind the shell

The Portfolio March 2016

The Oscars: By the Numbers 2- Number of Oscars’ director Steven Spielberg has purchased and returned back to the Academy. 5- Previous acting winners renominated this year. 10- Out of 11 of Warner Bros nominations were given to “Mad Max.” 11- Number of nominations for both “The Turning Point” and “The Color Purple” without a single win. 12- Number of nominations “The Revenant” got, making it the film with the most number of nominations this year. 13- People who are part of the EGOT club, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony in competition. 14- Record number of wins for a single film, held by both “All About Eve” and “Titanic”. 15- How long the first Oscars were in minutes. 20- How many hours it takes to make a statuette. 23- Films who only got a single nomination. 25- The age of the youngest person to get four acting nominations (Jennifer Lawrence.) 26- Number of nominations FOX Studios got. 59- Walt Disney’s record-setting number of nominations. 87- Age of the oldest nominee for the best original score award (Ennio Morricone.) 88- Years since the first Oscars were held in 1928.

Wahlberg and Ferrell ‘Daddy’s Home’:compete for father role

Courtesy of www.dealflicks.com

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg face off for role of father in the ﬁlm “Daddy’s Home,” which grossed about $234 million.

I also wrote the review on this Entertainment spread.

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Features

By Luke Stone Co-Editor-In-Chief nd then there were five. After more than one month in to the 2016 Presidential Primaries, the once twenty four candidate field has been narrowed down to businessman Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Gov. John Kasich on the Republican side, and Sec. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side. On March 15, 2016, both Democratic and Republican primaries were held in in Florida. Clinton won by more than thirty points on the Democratic side. On the Republican side, Trump won with 45.7 percent of the vote. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida native, came in second with 27 percent of the vote. After his double digit defeat, Rubio suspended his campaign. “And so while it is not God’s plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I have even come this far is evidence of how special America truly is, and all the reason more why we must do all we can to ensure that this nation remains a special place,” Rubio said in his concession speech. Rubio’s loss was unsettling to anti-Trump forces who hoped for

By Jordan Taylor Website Editor n 2015, many fashion styles became flops. Crocs, athletic wear worn daily and animal tails and ears were some fashion no-no’s that should not return in 2016. “The flops in 2015 that I did not like were chokers, animal tails and ears, and fake, long nails, (like nexgen and acrylics)” Maya Voorhees, seventh grade communications major, said. According to refinery29.com, trends were not supposed to last forever, and getting a kick out of clothes before they go out of style was a good enough reason to buy it. “I try to wear things that other people are wearing because their styles are trending and I like to wear trendy clothes,” Abby Sherry, seventh grade communications major, said. Certain outfits should not have been worn to middle school. Students had their own opinions on clothing in 2015, as well as stores that were trending.

Model Sherman Turtine wears clothing women don’t like on men, like baseball caps for all occasions, pants slung so low they reveal underwear and velcro sandals with socks. (Dan Rosenstrauch/Contra Costa Times/MCT

In an article written by Leigh Weingus on the Huffington Post website, wearing athletic clothes but not working out in them was called “Athleisure”, and many students, especially girls, wore athletic attire to school last year. These items were meant to be used while being athletic, not for everyday use. Nike’s apparel revenue jumped 10 percent in a recent quarter compared to the same period in 2013, while Under Armour’s apparel net revenue was also up 26 percent. Lulu Lemon’s net revenue was up 10 percent during their most recent quarter. Besides the fact that these fashion flops were not the best option to wear out, students feel that fashion let them express who they were. Sherry said, “Fashion has impacted my attitude because I feel more confident wearing clothing that is ‘in style.’” “I didn’t like the store Levi’s because most of their clothes were not very trendy or nice looking,” Voorhees said.

Box office flops fail to please Music gone wrong: unsuccessful

By Anushka Lakum Entertainment Editor

Issue 4- Copy

hroughout 2015, numerous movies have been produced. A number of them won awards. But some movies did not fare as well. “Jem and the Holograms,” for example, came out on Oct. 22, 2015. The producers spent $5 million, and they did not get any profit, but rather lost $3.69 million, according to www.

Photo courtesy of freefuninaustin.com

“Jem and the Holograms,” lost $3.69 million because the movie came out decades after its TV show predecessor.

forbes.com. “The film is a non-starter that is unlikely to attract the intended target audience,” Frank Scheck of the Hollywood Reporter, said. “Pan,” came out on Oct. 8, 2015. Since this was a more anticipated film, the production costs and losses were larger. The movie cost about $190,000 to make, and made $40.5 million in the theaters, but that did not make up for the $150 million lost, according to www.independent.co.uk. “There is enough going on in Pan to fill several movies, most of which you’ve already seen and perhaps enjoyed under other titles,” A.O. Scott of the New York Times, said. “Jupiter Ascending,” came out on Feb. 6, 2015. Its budget was $175 million, but it could only recover $19 million. “An instant candidate for the so-badit’s-sort-of-great hall of fame, the flick is totally bonkers,” Lou Lumenick of the New York Post, said about “Jupiter Ascending.” These movies were just a portion of the movie flops of 2015. Hopefully, 2016 will bring better films.

pieces throughout last year

By Nikita Tanguturi Business Manager

You used to play on my cell phone, late night till you went out of style.” 2015 was a year full of music, both the good, and the bad. One of 2015’s most widely anticipated albums, Madonna’s “Rebel Heart” started out as number one on the iTunes charts, and dropped to 37 in less than a week. The album made about 116 thousand dollars, less than half off what her last album, “MDNA” made. Music critics from Uncut said, “Rebel Heart almost gets the balance right, but at 19 tracks, most in the industrial party-pop style of cheeseball producers

Diplo and Avicii, there’s simply too much going on.” Featuring top artists such as Selena Gomez, there were high expectations for Zedd’s third album, True Colors. The album itself was a flop, starting at seventh and then dropping to 77 within a week. However, “I Want You to Know” (featuring Selena Gomez) stayed on the iTunes chart for over three months, rising and dropping, finally exiting at 95. A critic for The Rolling Stone said, “Zedd’s colors are often hard to tell apart.” Though many albums released don’t get their fair shine in the spotlight, some stood out as flops of 2015.

Trends from 2015 come fashionably into 2016 By Lily Gumbinner Photo Editor 016 has arrived with its own set of trends. Looking back at some of 2015’s most popular styles – like tulle skirts, midi skirts, and jogger pants - has given the world a better idea about what 2016 has in store. “It is a struggle to find something to wear in the morning. I’ll start looking in my closet but I can’t find anything to wear because everything goes out of style so quickly,” Grace Johansson, seventh grade theater major said. According to trending Google apparel searches, tulle skirts and midi skirts (a knee-length skirt) gained popularity, up 34 percent than the year before. Jogger pants were another trend everyone was talking about because they were comfortable and fashionable. Men, women, children, and even toddlers are sporting the new look. The top most searched item on Google: Emoji Jogger pants.

“I like jogger pants because they are comfortable. They are like trendy sweatpants, but they make you look less homeless,” Johansson said. “I also like white high-top Converse because you can wear them with anything.” Clothing and apparel prices have increased by 27 percent in the past decade, according to businessoffashion.com. “Fashion always affects price,” Jennifer Pierre, eighth grade vocal major said. “Every time a trend starts, the stores skyrocket the prices because they know everyone is going to want to buy it.” Styles like high-waisted pants, Adidas shoes, tattoo chokers, and jogger pants are all coming back from earlier eras. More are expected to return in 2016. Photo by Carlos Trivino Pierre said, “I feel that rompers might Seventh grade communications major, Jade Johnson sports highbe more popular in 2016 because lots waisted jeans, a fashion trend from previous years which returns for of people wearing them.” 2016.

Goodbye music of 2015, hello music of 2016

Social media, music apps make appearances in 2016

By Angela Yan News Editor

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor rom YouCam Beauty to musical. ly, a variety of unique apps have been trending in 2016. “Apps where you can see other people, like photo and video apps, are starting to become popular,” Francesca Delguzzi, seventh grade communications major, said. Many new social networking applications have been climbing the charts recently. Among those was Peach. Users could “wave” or “blow a kiss” to their friends. “I’ve heard about Peach through my friends and the internet,” Joshua Kenny, seventh grade communications major, said. “It looks like a different way to connect with friends.” Arriving shortly after Dubsmash, a lip sync app that took the charts by storm, came musical.ly, an app with the same idea but added features, such as time lapse. “Musical.ly is expected to become more popular this year because it’s an easy app that a lot of kids can do,” Delguzzi said.

hen the ball dropped in New York City on Jan. 1, 2016, it not only signaled the new year, but launched new music as well. “I hope Beyonce will come out with some new songs, but [the 2016 artists] will mostly be the same popular artists from 2015,” Lili Mueller, eighth grade communications major said. On Jan. 1, 2016, Rachel Platten released her third album, “Wildfire.” According to Headline Planet, “Wildfire” ranked number five in the U.S. “When I listen to [Platten’s] songs, I feel empowered,” Brooke Ibarra, eighth grade communications major

said, “like I can do anything in the world.” Another anticipated album was “Death of a Bachelor” by Panic! At The Disco. According to Billboard, the album was released on Jan. 15, 2016 and sold 169 thousand copies in the first week. “I was hyped to hear [“Death of a Bachelor], and I stayed up until midnight the day before the album was released,” Mueller said. According to Idolator, new artists such as Steve James, who co-produced Justin Bieber’s “Purpose,” and August Eve, who released the single “Ghost,” will appear in trending 2016 music. However, many students thought 2016 would not bring a completely new music genre.

PHHHOTO, a “moving photo app”, has also become well-known. Users take multiple photos, which are then streamed together and turned into a gif. “A lot of people post PHHHOTOs on Instagram,” Kenny said, “It will become popular because it’s a mix between a photo and a video.”

Photo courtesy of fstoppers.com

Over one million posts have been shared with PHHHOTO since it launched in July 2016. It was rated four stars on the App Store.

I wrote the apps and games article on this Features spread.

Issue 5- Photography

Crocs, chokers make 2015 fashion flops list

News

Trump loses in Wisconsin, faces steeper path to securing 1,237 delegates needed to clinch Republican nomination

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The Portfolio - March 2016

The Portfolio April 2016

Rubio to win the state’s primary and deprive Trump of 99 delegates to the Republican National Convention. According to ABC News, nearly $2.5 million were spent against Trump in the United States on March 14, March 15, and March 16. However, the anti-Trump forces were able to score a significant victory in Ohio where Kasich, the current governor of the state, won with 46.8 percent of the vote. Even though Cruz won in Wisconsin on April 5, Trump still led in the delegate count with 743 delegates. Cruz was in second with 517 delegates, and Kasich was in a distant third with 143 delegates. In order to win the nomination on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention, a candidate must have secured at least 1,237 delegates. If no candidate has secured that number, a contested convention ensues, which means that all of the delegates are free to vote for any candidate. Trump has said that if he is denied the nomination unfairly, he will sue the Republican Party. “I think that the Republican leadership, no matter how much they don’t like Trump, needs to respect the decision of the voters,” Lisa Hanser,

social studies teacher said, “If it is supposed to be the party of the people, they need to respect the decision the people have made.” The next contest is scheduled for April 19 in New York where 95 delegates will be up for grabs for the Republicans, and 247 will be at stake for the Democrats.

Although not every state has voted yet, many are saying that this election is unprecedented. “This has been unlike any election I’ve ever seen. Both Democrats and Republicans are angry with what’s going on in Washington,” Hanser said. “That anger is exactly what has allowed Trump and Sanders to thrive.”

engage each other and the audience,” Sandra Tepper, theater teacher, said. “They must create reality in theater.” The showcase took place on March 14, 2016. Students participated in a variety of performances. “I was in the theater history program introduced by Ms. Tepper. We studied primitive, Greek, and medieval theater,” Sunaina Singh, sixth grade theater major, said. Students studied other, more modern aspects of theater as well. “I performed an original reality TV show from Ms. Graham (sixth grade theater teacher)’s class,” Luca Riley, sixth grade theater major, said. Most sixth graders performed in the showcase, and they worked on their pieces in their theater electives. They also learned more about the art itself, such as the history of theater. “I learned that theater didn’t just rise up forty years ago,” Singh said. “It ranged in popularity over the years.” completely moveable. It was pieced together with Velcro so the look could be changed. “The LED lights reflect off the set. There are four different lights that randomly change colors,” Megan Fenton, eighth grade communications major said. Students on the announcements have experience with virtual sets by using the green screen, and now they have the chance to be able to work with a hard, professional set. “Most schools have gone to virtual sets but the students picked this set. We researched it in our television

Students are taught to learn from their mistakes in order to better their performance skills. “[The students] perform their monologues in front of me and I critique their classwork,” Tepper said. Some believe the most important part of theater is creating versatile characters that are believable and entertaining. Students worked on creating their characters the weeks before the showcase. “In class, we made up characters,” Riley said. “We played with them for a few weeks through improv games.” No matter what students performed, the showcase expanded their knowledge of theater, and let them show off what they had learned to their parents, teachers, and peers. “We prepared in class and memorized everything. We wrote all of our scripts and performed in front of our teachers,” Singh said. “It was an amazing experience.” production class and we narrowed it down to three options. This is the one they chose for the year. Now the students know how to work with hard sets and virtual sets, like what we use for feature reports with the green screen,” Owens said. The new set has given the eighth grade announcements students the opportunity to work with equipment that they can use in their future career. It also helps students personalize the show and make it their own. Ibarra said, “I think that it looks professional and I am glad that we got it before I leave Bak.”

Annual theater showcase gives sixth graders chance to perform

Photo by Ashley Kuhlberg

As the curtains rise, a group of sixth grade students perform a Greek theater piece. They earned critiques at school so that they could perfect their works at home.

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor tudents stood offstage, silently running through their monologues while adjusting

Morning announcements set

Continued from page 1 By Lily Gumbinner Photo Editor he set was custom built to match the anchor desk “I was there when we got the new set because I am Ms. Owens’ student aide. The semi-truck arrived around 3:10 and I came by later on during an afterschool activity around 5:15 and it was almost done being set up. It took a couple hours to set it up,” Brooke Ibarra, eighth grade communications major, said. The students on the morning

their costumes. The lights dimmed, marking the beginning of the sixth grade theater showcase. “In a good theater piece, actors must announcements had been waiting for over a year for the set to arrive. They fund-raised to buy it last year when they were in television production. “I funded it through the care packages last year. That money was set aside, and I used it to buy [the set] over the summer,” Owens said. “We modernized the new set and the control room with new computers and software. We wanted things that they can use in the real industry.” The new set also had many uses besides being a background for the anchors. It could be used for credits, opens, and packages. It was also

I took the photo on this News spread.

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The Portfolio April 2016

News

Entertainment

Trump loses in Wisconsin, faces steeper path to securing 1,237 delegates needed to clinch Republican nomination

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor hree hundred hours of video footage are uploaded on YouTube every minute. That translates to 172,800 hours every day. Many teenagers would consider YouTube an instrumental part of their daily lives. “I like YouTubers that can make me laugh when I’m having a bad day,” Berta Pavaci, seventh grade communications major, said. The company has rapidly gained momentum since its launch in 2005,

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor tudents stood offstage, silently running through their monologues while adjusting

Morning announcements set

I wrote this article on this News spread.

Scooping up flavor:

Issue 5- Copy

Photo by Ashley Kuhlberg

Page 5

Popular YouTubers pique students’ interest

Annual theater showcase gives sixth graders chance to perform

As the curtains rise, a group of sixth grade students perform a Greek theater piece. They earned critiques at school so that they could perfect their works at home.

The Portfolio April 2016

Photo by Jordan Taylor

Out of four places, the Carvel brand ranks as the best ice cream with four and a half stars. Carvel has employed over a thousand people and it was founded in 1929 by Tom Carvel.

By Jordan Taylor Website Editor n the 1700’s, ice cream was introduced in America. According to icecream.com, this delicious frozen treat is still one of the most popular selling desserts. I went to four ice cream locations around the West Palm Beach area and rated them on their flavor, texture, price, and customer service. Cold Stone Creamery is an ice cream chain that is located around the country. When I walked in, the overwhelmingly wonderful smell of sweetness and cream came over me. The service was

and currently has 800 million visitors every month, according to socialbakers. com. “Someone who’s not afraid to tell jokes [is a good YouTuber],” Aidan Dunn, seventh grade theater major, said. “Whatever they’re doing, they have to do it well.” Teens, especially, spend more time watching YouTube than any other age group, with an average of 40 minute sessions, according to YouTube. “When YouTubers make advanced videos with lots of graphics, I’m more likely to watch other videos they made,”

Carvel wins against other ice cream competitiors

good, but they only had one employee that helped customers. The ice cream itself was very rich, with a smooth consistency. The flavor was strong, but not too overpowering. The price was not too high for the amount I received, about $4, so I gave Cold Stone a 4 out of 5 stars. Haagen-Dazs is also a very popular chain of restaurants. The service was okay, but the ice cream was extremely expensive, about $6, for the tiny scoop that was given to me. The flavors were very good, but it had a gritty consistency. The location was clean and they had a wide variety of flavors to chose from. I gave Haagen-Dazs a 2.5 out of 5 stars. Kobosko Kreamery has one location in Wellington, Florida. When I walked in, the place was clean and the service was okay. No one greeted me at the door and they did not seem very happy while I was ordering. The ice cream was very smooth, but it tasted artificial and unnatural. It was reasonably priced, about $3.50, for the amount I received. I gave Kobosko Kreamery a 2 out of 5 stars. Carvel has been around since 1934, and has been rated very highly by other customers, so I had pretty high expectations, and I was pleased with the taste and texture of the ice cream. It had a lot of flavor and was rich and creamy. The total price was reasonable for two scoops of ice cream; it costed about $6. The only negative comment was that the cashier was not very friendly. I gave Carvel a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Pavaci said. Forty one point six percent of YouTube users in the United States regularly watch videos by their favorite YouTubers, according to statista.com. PewDiePie currently holds the record for most subscribers, with over 43 million. “If you’re a content creator, you’re going to look for two things,” Susan Wojcicki, YouTube CEO, said in an interview with recode.net. “You’re going to look for promotion and distribution, and you’re going to look for revenue. We have both of those.”

Graphic by Ashley Kulberg

Many teens aspire to become professional YouTubers. According to stageoflife.com, 49 percent of teens have uploaded a video to YouTube. “The best thing is helping people and making them happy,” Zoe ‘Zoella’ Sugg said in an interview with dailymail.com. No matter how many future accounts are created, YouTube plans to continue improving their services. Wojcicki, said, “The great thing about the Internet is you can launch a product, and within just a few hours, people will tell you what they think about it.”

Inspiring ski jumper moves viewers By Valentina Gomez Arts and Academics Editor eleased on March 28, “Eddie the Eagle” grossed $15.2 million. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, this PG-13 film was based on a true story. Starting off as a kid, young Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton) gave an insight of his huge dream of being part of the Olympics ever since he was a child. This inspiring story gave a moral lesson on never giving up and to always dream big. I felt that the overall film was exceptional with great music that caught the perfect moment in a scene like when Eddie got accepted into the winter Olympics. The music made it very moving and it made the audience cheer for Eddie as well. The film also had an amazing plotline since it took the viewer through each obstacle with the characters. This film gave viewers many suspenseful scenes. One of these scenes is when Eddie is trying out the 70 meter takeoff ramp for the first time. Eddie was very inexperienced, the audience was praying for a good outcome. Eddie is a very nerd-like, sweet dreamer with a strong passion. With lots of help from his friend and coach, Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), he was able to make it in his journey to compete in ski jumping in the winter Olympics. Actors such as Jackman and Egerton along with Tim McInnerny and Jo Hartley helped contribute into the heart-wrenching plot of the film by

adding dramatic and emotional scenes. I gave “Eddie the Eagle” five out of five stars because of its great acting, inspirational message, amazing music and perfect plot-line.

Photo courtesy of calgaryherald.com

Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton) competes for the 90 meter jump for ski jumping in the winter Olympics, which was his all-time dream as a child.

I wrote this article and made the cob on this Entertainment spread.

Arts & Academics

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The Portfolio May 2016

Retiring teachers, staff say goodbye to Bak

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor his spring, Lisa Hanser, Benjamin Baxley, Janet Karvonen, and Robert Bauer will retire from Bak, leaving behind past experiences and memories. “My favorite part [of teaching] is just seeing the excitement on students’ faces when they get what a culture is really about,” Janet Karvonen, sixth grade world history teacher, said. Some of the retiring staff have worked at Bak since it opened, almost 19 years ago, and most have been teaching for years before that. “In 1997, I saw an article in the

newspaper about the school,” Lisa Hanser, seventh grade civics teacher, said. “I was so excited and applied right away.” Before settling in their current positions, the staff held some other titles and taught different subjects. “I began as a college teacher that taught how to teach children’s theater,” Benjamin Baxley, sixth grade arts exploration teacher, said. “And that’s what I’ve been doing at Bak for 12 years.” No matter why they plan to leave, the staff has simple advice for the teachers taking their place. “[My advice is] make sure that the arts

come first and remember to enjoy the kids,” Robert Bauer, assistant principal, said. Hanser earned her degree for middle school curriculum in Charlottesville, Virginia. She later moved to West Palm Beach and taught at Conniston Middle School. “When I taught at Conniston, all types of different incidents occurred,” Hanser said. “At Bak, nothing like that ever happened.” Like most retiring teachers, Hanser has ideas of what she would like to do after leaving Bak. “It would be nice to do volunteer work at Animal Care and Control,

Photos by Ashley Kulberg

there are many great opportunities there,” Hanser said. Baxley has had past experience in the performing arts and teaching theater, and would like to work in that industry after he retires. “Twenty years ago, I had a young man and woman in a play,” Baxley said. “They started a theater called Dramaworks, and I’ll be working there.” While working in theater at Bak, Baxley had many memorable experiences. “We were doing a show called ‘A Day in Hollywood, A Night in Ukraine,’ and the students who performed were so amazing that I forgot they were just 14 years old,” Baxley said. “That was one of the most amazing feelings I ever had.” Karvonen was one of the original teachers on the Bak campus. When she started teaching, she was involved in the arts. “What I loved about the original school was that every teacher was in the arts, so they could relate to the students. I was a dancer, specifically ballet,” Karvonen said. Bauer, too, had former arts experience. He had taught at Bak for 15 years. “[When I retire] I’ll probably get back to painting and making artwork,” Bauer said. With this school year coming to an end, new teachers and staff will take their places in the 2016-17 school year.

Student directed one act plays wow audience ONE ACT PLAYS PERFORMED Juvie By Jerome McDonough Directed by Nicholas Santana Rabbit By David Foxton Directed by Rose Pascal Cagebirds By David Campton Directed by Shaina Franks Red Carnations By Glen Hughes Directed by Joseph Zibura Blind Date By Samara Siskind Directed by Juliana Pinto Three Guys and a Brenda By Adam Bock Directed by Marina Bertuzzelli The DMV By Nick Zagone Directed by Isabella Kaimakliotis Sure Thing from All in the Timing By Davis Ives Directed by Janelle Puckering and Dalia Rabinowitz

By Anushka Lakum Entertainment Editor he lights came up, and the crowd hushed as the actors became visible. Three girls dressed like men were seated in the middle of the stage, making jokes to pass the time. The play was “Three Guys and a Brenda.” “I think [Three Guys and a Brenda] was the best because it had a lot of humor and emotion and showed how the character were feeling,” Kate Ramirez, seventh grade visual major, said. Eighth grade theater students performed in eight one act plays through the month of April, from “Juvie” to “Rabbit.” “I think we all did really well with a lot of energy and I think the plays turned out great,” Miriam Colvin, eighth grade theater major, said. Although the plays were directed by both students and teachers, actors had a certain standard that they needed to reach. “There was a rubric that had skills to master, and the students had to learn those skills through their rehearsals and performances,” Sandra Tepper, theater teacher, said. Some students thought that the plays had room for improvement. “The ‘Juvie’ play could be improved

Photo by Anushka Lakum

Holding a clipboard, Sierra Miller acts like she is in a hurry. Miller, along with Katherine Cordova, Juliana Pinto, and Caroline Valenzuela, performed in the one-act play called “Three Guys and a Brenda.” It was about how a man who wanted to take out his crush to dinner.

the most because I think that the actors could go deeper into their parts,” Emma Ratchford, seventh grade band major, said. Because the plays were directed by students, cast members got a different experience. “[Students] learn to work collaboratively, and they are able to problem solve. It teaches them a new level of respect for each other,” Tepper said. Aside from being just plays, the

dramas had overall messages hidden between the lines. “I think ‘Rabbit’ gave the impression that you never know what the future holds,” Colvin said. Many students enjoyed the one act plays that were performed for them. “The actors portrayed their roles really well,” Ratchford said. As the actors said their last lines, the lights dimmed and the cast held hands and bowed. The audience got up to give performers a standing ovation.

I took and cobbed the pictures for this Arts & Academics spread.

Photos by Ashley Kulberg

Student directed one act plays wow audience

Issue 6- Copy

Issue 6- Photography

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The Portfolio May 2016

ONE ACT PLAYS PERFORMED Juvie By Jerome McDonough Directed by Nicholas Santana Rabbit By David Foxton Directed by Rose Pascal Cagebirds By David Campton Directed by Shaina Franks Red Carnations By Glen Hughes Directed by Joseph Zibura Blind Date By Samara Siskind Directed by Juliana Pinto Three Guys and a Brenda By Adam Bock Directed by Marina Bertuzzelli The DMV By Nick Zagone Directed by Isabella Kaimakliotis Sure Thing from All in the Timing By Davis Ives Directed by Janelle Puckering and Dalia Rabinowitz

Photo by Anushka Lakum

I also wrote the retiring teachers article for this Arts & Academics spread.

Opinion

Who would you want to be next president?

44%

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton

Issue 6- Copy

28%

Democrat Bernie Sanders currently trails Clinton by 774 delegates. A random sampling of 18 students from all three grades both male and female were surveyed about which candidate they wanted to win the election. Hillary Clinton had the most votes with eight. Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders tied, both receiving five votes.

Entertainment

By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor ver the years, some have thought of texting as the destruction of language, however recent studies have proven that this type of shorthand has no long term effect on grammar. The average teen sends over 3,300 texts every month, according to mashable.com. This number increases by a substantial amount every year, however students’ performance on spelling and grammar tests has not decreased. According to a study done by the Nuffield Foundation, grammar violations through text messaging do not carry over into either written or spoken English. The IQs of those who made frequent errors whilst texting were approximately the same as those who did not. Many types of shorthand are apparent in text messages. Teenagers may use acronyms frequently in their conversations. These allow for ideas to be shared more effortlessly than they

Ask

Substitutes should earn rewards, appreciation for hard work

By Sreenidhi Nidamanur Sports Editor ubstitutes are often underappreciated by students, staff, and parents. At times, they are disrespected and looked down upon. Most substitutes do everything they can to help students learn and understand the lesson, but rarely get anything in return. According to southcoasttoday.com, Beatrice Melvin, substitute in New Bedford, said, “I often do not get a ‘thank you’ from the principal. I am constantly reminded that I’m nothing when I know how much of a difference I made in the lives of students and their parents.” Disrespect from students can cause low self-esteem for the substitutes as some students do not even bother to listen or take note of the information that the substitute is giving out. However, some people view respect as something deserved. “It all gets down to the climate of respect and everybody earns the respect they deserve and if they don’t deserve it, they don’t get it,” Richard Tozzie, substitute in Florida, said. Students sometimes take advantage of substitutes by being dishonest. Classroom management techniques do not factor into substitute teaching,

Photo by Lily Gumbinner

Out of the three macaroni and cheese brands, Cracker Barrel was the best. Cracker Barrel is a chain restaurant and country store that founded in 1969.

Dear Astra, I have lots of afterschool activities and I get a lot of homework. How can I be in a quiet environment while I’m doing my work? Sincerely, Beach Boy

I wrote the article about how texting affects grammar on this opinion page.

flavor that melted in my mouth. It could have been a bit creamier though, it was a little bit dry. It also had ingredients that I had never heard of, so it was not all natural. I gave Kraft an overall score of four out of five stars. The next brand that I tried out was Horizon Organic Mac. I immediately did not find it appetizing when I smelled it. It smelled bland and not cheesy at all. When I took a bite, it tasted exactly how it smelled. Horizon had pretty much no flavor at all. Its texture was similar to Kraft, not too bad but a little dry. I did love the fact that Horizon was all organic though. The ingredient list was very small and everything was natural. I was surprised to see that Kraft did have a lower calorie count compared to Horizon. Overall, I gave

it two out of five stars. The final brand was Cracker Barrel. At first, I was not so sure about this brand because it had liquid cheese, where Kraft and Horizon had powder cheese. But, my opinions changed quickly. The smell of the warm liquid cheese and hot noodles created a wonderful smell, even better than Kraft. With my first bite, the flavors melted in my mouth and the texture was perfect. It was super cheesy and melty, and perfectly creamy, something that was lacking in the other two brands. The only downfall was the calorie count. It was much higher than the other two, and the ingredient list was very long. But overall, I gave Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese a score of four and a half out of five stars.

Beyoncé’s album, ‘Lemonade’ insinuates cheating husband By Ashley Kulberg Photo Editor hen life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Beyoncé did this and made millions of dollars in the process. “Lemonade” was Beyoncé’s second “visual album,” meaning that every song had a music video to go with it. Most of the tracks insinuated that Beyoncé believed her husband, Jay Z, was cheating on her. Some of these

Dear Beach Boy, I would suggest trying to get as much homework as possible done in class and on the way to and from school so that you can minimize the amount you have to do at and after extracurricular activities. Try to get to afterschool activities early so that you can bring some work with you and start a few minutes before other people arrive or you have to begin. Hopefully this will help you balance your school work and extracurricular activties. Sincerely, Astra

Dear Astra, I am having trouble staying focused when I do my homework and I sometimes procrastinate. Do you have any suggestions? because students have the assumption Sincerely, that the substitutes are powerless UnfocusedStar against them. “I remember having four different Dear UnfocusedStar, classes that took advantage of me Try to think about all of the while the teacher was gone,” Celeste things that distract you from Colliton, substitute in Florida, said. Exceptional substitutes should be doing your homework and then recognized at the end of the year, at a try to eliminate them from your ceremony, with certificates and awards workspace. If your phone was for all the hard work and time they put distracting you, then you would in. They should be acknowledged by put it in another room so that the staff and students with a substitute you wouldn’t feel so tempted to appreciation week each year where check it every few minutes. Hope they get to know the substitutes more. this helps! Students need to be more respectful to Sincerely, substitutes and realize they are doing Astra an important job. Dear Editor, Letters to the Editors I loved your latest issue! It was Dear Editor, Dear Editor, really well put together and it I always look forward to the I LOVE reading the Portfolio <3 has events that you could really newspaper because it is so <3. I yell “Yes!” when a new one relate to. Overall, I think the whole professional! Keep up the great comes out. Keep on doing what staff did a great job putting the work. you do! newspaper together. Sincerely, Love, Sincerely, Ashlie Cubas Olivia Antonello Arnold This person needs to learn to put their name AND pseudonym on their paper.

By Lily Gumbinner Photo Editor here is no doubt about macaroni and cheese is one of America’s most popular and satisfying dishes. Macaroni and cheese originated in Italy, estimated sometime around the late thirteenth century. I picked three brand name boxed macaroni and cheese and rated them based on smell, taste, texture, style, and nutritional value. The first brand of macaroni and cheese that I tried was Kraft. Kraft was founded in 1937, and one of the leading macaroni and cheese brands. When I first cooked Kraft, my entire house was filled with a wonderful cheesy aroma. My mouth was already watering. It had a nice, rich, cheesy

Graphic by Angela Yan

would be by spelling the individual words out. Some may say that texting makes teens use more slang in their everyday lives. However, according to sapub.org, slang via text or SMS can affect students positively, if they are using it for important academic messages. Acronyms such as BTW or incorrect spellings such as “w-u-d” instead of “would” in text messages does not have any affect on grammar.

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The Portfolio May 2016

Cracker Barrel brand proves flavor

LOL: Texting has no effect on grammar

S Republican front-runner Donald Trump

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suggestive lyrics have gone viral, such as “Becky with the good hair” in “Sorry,” one of her bestselling songs on the album. Beyoncé’s songs were filled with ambitious statements, proving her value over her supposedly cheating spouse. The album also sent feminist and self-image messages. The album debuted after an HBO documentary special, which got almost one million views.

Behind the looming theme of a cheating husband, the album highlights the emotional grief of black women. Beyoncé sings and raps about her ethnicity with pride. Sadness, anger, and paranoia are all key elements of “Lemonade.” The final track on the album, “Formation,” tied all of these emotions together. Due to “Lemonade’s” positive messages with deep undertones, I gave it four point five out of five stars.

Beyoncé attends the Metropolitan Museum of Art Met Gala in New York on Monday, May 2, 2016. (Doug Peters/PA Wire/Zuma Press/ TNS)

Summer movies set to release By Anushka Lakum Entertainment Editor

Issue 6- Copy

On the Road to the White House...

The Portfolio May 2016

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 Set to release on June 3, 2016. Dave Green will direct it, and most are expecting this film to reach more than $500 million at the global box office.

The BFG

Finding Dory

Expected release on June 17, 2016. Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane will direct, and because of the popularity of “Finding Nemo,” “Finding Dory” is sure to have the same outcome. On July 1, “The BFG” will be in theaters. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie is based on the classic book by Roald Dahl.

Ice Age 5

Giorgi Chkhikvadze Contact: gpiano84@gmail.com

To be released on July 1, 2016, “Tarzan” is directed by David Yates. According to denofgeek. us, some think the date maybe changed as it runs on the same day as Spielberg’s movie.

The Legend of Tarzan

“Ice Age 5” expected release is July 15, and is directed by Michael Thurmeier and Galen T. Chu. The last two “Ice Age” movies have grossed more than $850 million in the worldwide.

I wrote this Beyoncé album review for this Entertainment spread.

I have a high level of productivity on the staff. As soon as story ideas are assigned, I start thinking of interview questions and photos I could take for my articles. Every class, I find myself doing multiple tasks simultaneously. I wrote my article about All-State Auditions, took pictures, and found the student in my photo to write a caption on the same day. I always meet deadlines for articles and photos, and sometimes even turn them in early. Deadlines have helped me to become more organized with my work, and I constantly check the itinerary to discover when tasks are due. I work hand-in-hand with Lily to keep track of photos and prepare them. I also collaborate with the editors of the page my articles or photos are on to see how they are placed. I sold three two by seven ads to The Learning Experience, a value of $285. If I do not have enough copy to fill the space I need to, or I cannot get outstanding quotes, I have learned to re-interview or research to get what I need. Journalism ethics are a vital part of this course, and I have learned why honest reporting is such a good virtue. Sometimes, you have to put in extra work to achieve the result you want to. My dedication to the Portfolio Newspaper is very strong. Instead of being with my friends or on electronics, I am often working on some aspect of the newspaper. This class will be very valuable in the future, especially if I continue my education at Dreyfoos. Not only did it teach me important skills of a photo editor and news reporter, but it also gave me a behind-the-scenes look at the production of a newspaper. In the future, if my job is in the field of communications, participating in this course would have many benefits. For example, I will be experienced with Photoshop and InDesign, be familiar with AP style, and understand the overall production of media. In conclusion, being on the staff of the Portfolio Newspaper has helped me in many ways, and will improve my future, too.

Reflection 1

Self-Analytical Essay

I would consider my most significant piece of work for the publication this year to be the YouTube cob that I made in Issue 5. It went along with my article “Popular YouTubers pique students’ interest.” My purpose for creating it was to draw attention to my article, and increase interest on the Entertainment spread. This assignment showcased my graphic design skills and what I have learned as a Photo Editor. The cob was moderately difficult to complete, as I kept running into complications with finding high-resolution photos of the YouTubers featured in the graphic. Also, I frequently changed the placement of the YouTubers’ names against their pictures, therefore changing the look of the mod. However, I’m glad that I experimented with different ideas before finding the best one because it showed me different perspectives of the same images, and will help me with other designs I do in the future. Something I particularly about the finished product is how the pictures I chose showcase the YouTubers’ personalities. When I started making this graphic, they were all simple headshots that did not draw as much attention. This is one benefit of re-doing certain aspects of my graphic before turning in my finished piece; over all, it improved my work.

Reflection 2

March 2016

Crunch, the truth behind the shell

Tijuana Flats

Taco Bell

Chipotle

Moe’s

stars because of the helpful staff and price value. The next restaurant was Taco Bell. The restaurant was fairly clean, and I ordered a Crunchy Taco, which did not have much flavor. The only ingredients were ground beef, lettuce, and cheese. The menu had a lot of variety and was easy to understand. The service was somewhat slow. The cashier was not paying attention to my order, either. At $1.19 per taco, Taco Bell was the cheapest place I visited. It also had the smallest taco I tried. I gave Taco Bell two and a half out of

five stars because it had a great menu, but poor service. Chipotle had the best customer service out of the four restaurants I visited. The cashier explained the menu to me with excitement. The food was even better. The ingredients were fresh, however there was a mediocre variety of toppings. The taco did not fall apart easily and had a lot of flavor. The simple menu made ordering easy, and the food was out in no time. The taco was priced at $2.75 per taco. I gave Chipotle four and a half out

of five stars, deeming it the best taco I reviewed; the taco was delicious and the service was excellent. The final taco I tasted was from Moe’s Southwest Grill. The restaurant’s appearance was clean, and there was friendly customer service. I ordered a ground beef taco with a hard shell, which cost $2.99 per taco. While the overall taste of the taco was okay and the ingredients were fresh, the shell fell apart almost immediately. I gave Moe’s Southwestern Grill three and a half out of five stars; it had creative menu items but bland taste.

Oscar predictions give insight about winners The Oscars: By the Numbers 2- Number of Oscars’ director Steven Spielberg has purchased and returned back to the Academy.

By Nikita Tanguturi Business Manager tarting out as a 15 minute ceremony with only 13 categories,

Wahlberg and Ferrell ‘Daddy’s Home’:compete for father role Dusty (Mark Wahlberg), returns to his family after finding out his ex-wife (Linda Cardellini) remarried and tried to take back his family.

Reflection 3 - Part 1

One piece of mine that could still use work is my taco review from Issue 4, “Crunch- the truth behind the shell.” This article was rushed, and I feel like I could have written it better than I did. The words I used to describe the tacos could have been improved, and I did not go into enough detail about each restaurant I visited and as to why I gave them that amount of stars. From this article, I learned that to write a food review, I should have taken notes while I ate the tacos, so that when I wrote my article, I could use better word choice than what I did. I also learned to spend equal time on all of my articles, so that they as good as each other and none are extremely better or worse. This is why I felt that I slacked in this review; I did not spend enough time working on it with my other assignments. My first draft had many corrections, and I had to go in-depth about all aspects of the restaurants, not just the food they served. Also, I was lacking a lead. Even with these corrections, I still feel that this article is incomplete. If I had the chance, I would take better photos of the tacos and lighten them more than I did. They were very dark and hard to see on the spread. Now, I feel that my taco review can be improved with little effort, but I am glad that I fixed itPage enough 6 to get it approved and on itsPortfolio layout on time. The Entertainment

This was the first picture I took on the Portfolio Staff. It went along with my article about All-State auditions. I am proud of it because it has a good center of visual interest. The student playing the instrument is centered towards the left side of the frame, so it has the rule of thirds, too. I like the depth in this photo, with the violin player in focus. This picture was placed in Issue 1 of the newspaper. (allstate.jpg)

Reflection 3 - Part 3

Reflection 3 - Part 2

I took this photo at the sixth grade theater showcase, when the students were performing primitive theater. I really liked the framing of this picture, and the composition with students facing both forwards and backwards. This also created a sense of framing, with the students in the back surrounding those in the front. This photo went in Issue 5 of the Portfolio Newspaper. The emotion on the faces of the actors also made this photo stand out. (theatreshowcasefinal.jpg)

This photo went along with my last-minute article about the cafeteria freezer breaking over Winter Break. I only had a day to take photos that showed how the school was handling this situation, and I am especially proud of this one. It shows a student buying her food outside, and it is an interaction between two people. I am proud of how the frame is filled, and like how I used the rule of thirds to make the picture more appealing. This photo was in Issue 4 of the newspaper. (cafeteria.jpg)

I was an asset to the Portfolio staff because of my creative thinking and problem solving skills, and my dedication to the publication. I helped others think of ideas for their dummy layouts. I assisted others and give them ideas for mod graphics, article placement, photo size, and more for their pages. For example, I came up with the idea for my YouTube cob, and visualized how it would look on the page next to the other articles. Whenever a deadline approached and I needed a solution to a problem myself or others had, I could always think of a way to get the article or page completed and approved on time. If an article was longer than it was supposed to be, I helped others find enough room on their spreads or delete irrelevant information within the copy. My dedication to being a Photo Editor of the Portfolio Newspaper made me a valuable asset to the staff. Often, I would go to events outside of school to take pictures for my articles or go on-site to get more information about what I am writing about. I planned my photos ahead of time, and took the time to understand what people at Bak wanted to read about. I made my story ideas unique to increase interest to the newspaper, and tried in all the ways I could to better the issues and staff of the Portfolio.

Reflection 5

Reflection 4

Some problems I faced this year while working on the newspaper staff were preparing photos quickly/before the deadline and planning when I would get interviews, leaving me enough time to write my articles. Even though I was working with Lily, preparing and editing photos was a busy job. Along with taking my own photos, I had to edit those of other staffers. From these experiences, I learned to check in on staffers to see when they planned on taking photos, so I could edit them that day or the day after. I would be more prepared if this situation arose again. I would write down what days I would edit photos, and whose I would edit. In other words, being more organized could fix this problem. Over all, I think that I handled these situations with more stress that what had to be involved. Planning interviews way ahead of time, even though it may seem unnecessary, is crucial to success in newspaper. Especially with teachers, I learned that you have to find out what time works best for them, not you. From situations where I had to compromise with a teacher or administrator to find a suitable interview time, I learned that keeping an up-to-date itinerary when making plans is very helpful. When faced with situations like these, I handled them poorly. However, next year I will be a more organized staffer who will avoid getting into these situations.

Reflection 6

Three areas I could have done better in were selling ads, spending time after school, and thinking outside of the box. I sold three quarter page ads in the beginning of the year, but I should have continued to find more businesses willing to get their ads in the newspaper, which I did not after Issue 1. However, I raised revenue for the Portfolio, and I plan to continue doing so throughout next year. I spent an adequate amount of time after school, gathering information for my articles and/ or interviews. But there were some articles, such as mine about the sixth grade theater showcase, that I could have gotten more information on while I was watching the students perform. Now, I know to spend my time at performances and events wisely, getting the most facts I can and speaking with the right people. From the beginning of the year to now, I have improved the most, in my opinion, in thinking outside of the box. I can think of ways to solve problems having to do with layouts instantly, and love thinking of creative ideas for the next issue and concepts for spreads and mod graphics. I feel that I have succeeded in this goal due to my problem solving skills.