SNN January 2014

Lakewood High School - January 8, 2014

Vol. 5, No. 3

snntoday.pcsb.org

Four-TIme Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist

Stars rise to semifinals . . . page 5 Education turned upside down . . . page 10-11

Teachers lift to lost weight. . . pages

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A word from

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By SCOTTY SCHENCK SNN Editor in Chief

RACHELLE GADDY | SNN

Seniors Donterio Fowler, left, and James Swain get pumped up after team stretch before the Mayor’s Cup game on Nov. 7, 2013. The Spartans went to the second round of states but didn’t bring home a win.

On the Web...

Check out the following multimedia stories on the Spartan News Network’s web site. Go to snntoday.pcsb.org and click on multimedia. * Teacher's favorite things: Find out what kind of music your teachers like, where they like to shop and hang out and what their favorite sports are. By Linda Corbett.

It’s almost time to join CJAM! The Center for Journalism and Multimedia at Lakewood High School See Ms. Tobin in C100 if you are interested in signing up for next year.

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* Spartan Alumni: See which teachers attended Lakewood back in the day and what they looked like. By Dionne Sanchez and Areil Ward. *Check out behind the scenes of Chiquita Godwin's ACT prep class. By Kamdon Martin and Krystal Mitchell.

Welcome back Spartans from the winter break we all were waiting for. It’s time to wind up once again for exams and begin the second half. Everything is now in full swing and hopefully it hasn’t gotten the best of you. Sometimes we fall; sometimes we are bested, but it is important to get back up and keep fighting.

SNN has plenty of new content to interest you in the new year. First, computer teacher Chris Borg has taken leave—as many of you may know—and you can read about him and his newly adopted child on page 3.

CJAMpalooza is back, and our journalism students went to Boyd Hill and the St. Petersburg Country Club. You can see these stories, written by Akela Harris and Amber Bein, on page 6. We also were able to contact Dana Jarvis, the former chemistry teacher who left for Cambodia last year to teach underprivileged children. Find out how she’s doing in a story on page 7 by Naudia McDaniel.

If you are interested in health, page 12 has an article about healthy foods for teens

by Mariah Watts and Jakob Barker. For more news on students around us there is an article on Kristina Covington winning a full-ride scholarship to the University of Virginia on page 4. On the same note, you can read about the Walker’s Rising Stars scholarship competition and how our drama troupe competed at the district thespian competitions on page 5.

The center spread this issue is about the changes that can be seen in education and the statistics involved. You can read it on pages 10-11. The back page of this issue is the best of 2013: the things that were most memorable about last year.

I hope you all enjoy the paper; we’ve put a lot of work into creating content that you will certainly find interesting, if nothing else. If you do or even if you don’t, be sure to send letters to the editor with your opinion.

Page 1 photo by Naudia McDaniel: NovaNET teacher Emily Thompson lifts dumbbells while lunging on Dec. 11, 2013, in the weight room. Thompson works out with reading teacher Keri Gartland, with hall monitor Nate Washington as their physical trainer.

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Teacher takes leave to adopt toddler

By TONY O’NEAL SNN Staff Writer

The seniors at Lakewood would tell you: “Mr. Borg has been waiting to get that baby since our freshman year.”

And they would be correct. It has taken three years for computer teacher Chris Borg and his wife to adopt a 3-year-old Ethiopian boy. Borg left the Wednesday before Thanksgiving break to get his new son from Africa.

“After a 30-hour flight, we arrived back at home on Thanksgiving day around 4:30 p.m.,” he said.

Borg said he will be on an extended leave of absence, taking time off to bond with his son, whose original name is Gemechis, though the Borgs call him Alexander.

Some Lakewood teachers had Thanksgiving dinner ready for the Borgs when they returned home. Their refrigerator was stocked and the teachers had bought toys, books and movies for their new son.

Health science teacher Erika Miller said she ate Thanksgiving dinner with the Borgs, and their new little boy “ate like a champ.”

“I think the Borgs are doing well.

They’re going to be great parents,” said Miller, who is excited to babysit.

Since then Borg said the family has been getting to know each other. The toddler is having fun playing with cars, kicking a soccer ball and learning English by mimicking him and his wife.

Borg said he and his wife will embrace Alexander’s Ethiopian background by taking him to Ethiopian restaurants. However, Borg says he doesn’t plan on teaching him his native language.

Borg said he will be teaching his classes from home until he returns. Though it seems tricky, he will have a substitute in class and has installed a wide angle high-

Chris and Tasha Borg hold Alexander at the Lion Zoo in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November 2013. definition conference camera to lecture using Microsoft Lync. “(We’re) trying to still work, which is kind of hard with a 3-year-old run-

ning around the house,” he said. “We are sleeping okay for the most part. We have a great support system with our family and friends.”

SPECIAL TO SNN

Borg said he hopes to return to school second semester. “(But) if there are issues with him at daycare, I will take more time off,” he said.

As venue changes, graduation fees rise

By SCOTTY SCHENCK SNN Staff Writer

It seems as if seniors are ready to leave Lakewood as soon as possible. However, they have few more things to do: one is to pay their senior fees. This year, the cost has risen from $85 to $105 and the money is due by Jan. 31. This increase is due to the cost of having graduation at Tropicana Field, a decision made earlier this year.

“It’s like they’re inviting us to a party that we have to pay for,” senior Daniel Petrino said. “If it was lower, I’d be okay with it.”

Costs for seniors aren’t cheap across

Pinellas County either. At Gibbs High School, fees are $100 for traditional students, $135 for the students in BETA magnet program and $155 for those in PCCA. At St. Petersburg High School the cost is $95, according to assistant principal Darlene Lebo, and the fees haven’t changed much over the past few years.

Petrino isn’t alone in being less than satisfied with the costs. Center for Advanced Technologies program coordinator Peter Oberg said he also would like to see the price go down. He said he is worried

about the effect this might have on certain families.

“Obviously this is going to impact a number of people in different ways,” Oberg said. “There should be a fundraising opportunity for the entire senior class where everyone benefits from reduced senior fees.”

He said, however, the responsibility for creating those fundraising opportunities lies with the senior class and its Student Government Association class officers.

Senior class president Shekeema

Striggles said she is trying to create some fundraising opportunities, working with Spanish teacher Linda Santiago, the new senior class sponsor. She said the senior fees include cap and gown, diploma cover, medallions, senior picnic, graduation programs and the costs for graduation at the Tropicana Field.

“Everything is going up. … Are there ways we can cut some of the costs?”

Oberg said. “I don’t know if there’s a good answer.”

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Senior's college costs covered by award

By HALEY DOLAN and JALEN MIDDLETON SNN Staff Writers

Senior Kristina Covington, a Center for Advanced Technologies student, is the second student in two years at Lakewood High School to receive a full ride scholarship from Quest Bridge.

She wants to graduate in the field of biomedical engineering.

Covington said she waited all day Dec. 2, 2013, checking her e-mail to see if she received a scholarship. When Covington received the e-mail, she opened it and found out she had won the scholarship from the University of Virginia.

“I was really excited, like it was a feeling of disbelief. All of my friends were like ‘you’re gonna get it’ and when I did, they were really happy,” she said.

CAT assistant principal Peter Oberg and English teacher Dr. JoJean Ewart both wrote recommendation letters for Covington.

“She was an outstanding student who worked consistently for excellence in all class endeavors,” Ewart said. “I am so proud of her and am delighted with her amazing accomplishment.”

Covington, who came to Lakewood as a junior, said the scholarship will “definitely help a lot,

Senior Kristina Covington stands outside of the CAT building on Dec. 13, 2013.

Covington received a full- ride scholarship from the University of Virginia. “I was really excited, like it was a feeling of disbelief,” Covington said. “All of my friends were like ‘you’re gonna get it’ and when I did, they were really happy.”

because I won’t have to pay anything.” University of Virginia costs about $53,000 a year to attend.

Covington is active around Lakewood and is an academically accelerated student. She maintains a weighted 4.4 GPA and an unweighted GPA of 3.9. She is in four advanced placement classes: calculus, physics, computer science and literature.

For the other four classes she has honors across the board. “(Covington's) a good representative as a Spartan. When I saw her application it was tremendous,” Oberg said. “For someone relatively new to Lakewood she just jumped right in.”

Quest Bridge’s goal is to increase the number of low-income students who attend college by matching them up with universities who have scholarships to offer. If the school chooses to accept the application, then they will pay for all expenses.

Former Lakewood student Kent Fernandez received a scholarship through Quest Bridge to the University of Chicago with a $250,000 grant in the 2012-2013 school year.

KRYSTAL MITCHELL | SNN

Bill in legislature could move school start time

By MARILYN PARKER SNN Staff Writer

State Rep. Matt Gaetz has proposed making all Florida high schools start no earlier than 8 a.m. With extra snoozing time, students would be expected to rise on time and shine academically.

Now, all Pinellas County high schools start at 7:05 a.m., and many students wake up as early as 5 a.m. just to get to school on time. Just because they are up so early, doesn’t mean their bodies are fully aware for the chemistry lesson first period.

Teenagers, who need about nine hours of sleep each night, stay up late and then wake up later the next day. According to the Mayo Clinic, when a teen is up late, it interferes with what is called an internal clock. The internal clock controls the flow of the sleep cycle, and when teens hit puberty, they aren’t likely to fall asleep until 11 p.m.

Studies also show less sleep can result in more stress, irritability and fatigue.

Those factors can deter a student from going to school. The possibility of a

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later start time could improve attendance, because students, who lag with their morning routine, would have a better chance to make the first bell.

Junior Elijah Thistle-Adams said he would be in favor of a later start time. “I’m not a morning person,” he said. “Nobody wants to wake up before the sun rises. …

I’d feel more energized and overall better.”

However, as far as senior Jessica Madden is concerned, changing the start time just adds more complications.

“Getting out (of school) later takes away from the day time. You have less time during the day because it gets darker a lot sooner. But work is the main thing because it’s how I support myself,” she said.

Getting to school later, however, also has a downside for the school district. The current bus routes must change because the buses are shared between all schools in Pinellas County. Buses take students to the high schools first, then elementary schools and then middle schools.

Photo Illustration by DE’QONTON DAVIS | SNN

“With the three-tier system, it will cause a ripple effect on all the schools. They will have to change the whole transportation system,” principal Bob Vicari said. “(We should) do it, but we better educate the public and move slowly.”

Gaetz's bill, Florida House Bill 67, was proposed on Sept. 23, 2013, but has not seen much discussion since then. It was referred to the K-12 Subcommittee,

the Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and the Education Committee on Oct. 7, 2013, but it is not clear if it will go any further.

Vicari said he hopes the bill will go into effect. “If you’re going to spend all kinds of money and do all types of research and studies, you should take that advice,” Vicari said.

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Drama Club proves it's still strong

By BOBBIE WRIGHT SNN Staff Writer

The Lakewood High School Drama Club performed at the District IV Thespian Festival in December 2013, earning (out of 12 Lakewood participants) two superiors, six excellents and four goods.

A play written by senior Nia Cumberlander was rated superior and won Critic’s Choice – which is the highest rating you can receive at the festival. Right below her and still in the superior category were senior Ryan Rhodes and junior Gianna Sheppard (the president and vice president of the LHS thespians), who scored an honorable mention for their Duet Musical.

Only students who scored superiors move onto the Florida State Thespian Festival, which takes place from March 26-29 in Tampa.

Whether they were in the audience, observing one another’s solo performances or under the spotlight themselves, the Drama Club members moved together as one.

They held their breaths together, cheered together and laughed together, no matter the outcome of each performance.

Some might find it shocking to know that the Drama Club made it this far. At the start of the year, the club didn’t have any odds in their favor. In fact, the tables were

turned against them since day one. According to the plans from last year, the club wasn’t even supposed to exist during the 2013-14 school year.

But music teacher Jacob Merrett stepped in and took the position as Drama Club sponsor, keeping the club alive.

Notwithstanding, on the first meeting of the year he gave up all the responsibilities of running the club to the officers short of entering much of the paper work for districts and other festivities.

Rhodes described Merrett as much more than a sponsor though.

“He said he would just be a warm body (at the beginning of the school year) but he has gone above and beyond,” Rhodes said.

At the festival on Dec. 8, 2013, hosted by Gibbs High School, the Drama Club represented Lakewood alongside Merrett who accompanied some of them on stage with piano.

Prior to performing, the club rallied in Gibbs’ cafeteria at 8 a.m. and began making plans for the day. Some of them would be attending each other’s performances; the rest (who had yet to perform) would be rehearsing or helping out behind the scenes.

But before they broke off to go their separate ways they crowded around Merrett for a brief pep talk.

“Before you go and perform, think about who you want to clap. If you’re in there thinking of another kid [from a different troupe] who did a great job, forget about them,” Merrett said. “Just think: Who do you want to clap? Who do you want to impress? And focus on that.”

Cumberlander said her time at districts and the feelings she experienced as she went in to have her one-act play, Transparency, judged.

“I was scared and I honestly wasn’t expecting the score I got,” Cumberlander said.

The play is about a corrupt pastor whose focus on financial issues is breaking the church apart. Judges described Cumberlander’s play as original, with a complicated subject matter that set it apart from the rest of the pack. They complimented Cumberlander’s plot line and the diversity shown in her characters.

“I’m just really proud of my troupe,” said Cumberlander, who serves as the drama historian. “I think this is a good bit of bait to wave in front of the county’s face because we’ve proven ourselves. Even without a drama teacher and without a program, we were successful.”

Talented Spartans compete for scholarship

By KASAI WALLER and RASHAD WILLIAMS SNN Staff Writers

For the first time in years Lakewood students have advanced to the semifinals for Walker's Rising Stars, a scholarship program for the arts.

The seven students who are advancing are: • Senior Tony Stagnitta for instrumental • Senior Ryan Rhodes for acting/monologue • Junior Gianna Sheppard for vocal performance • Senior Davion Teaheartt for dance • Junior Kenneth Goolsby for instrumental • Junior Kaitlynn Galloway for stage performance • Junior Jah’nique Brown for vocal performance.

The next round will take place near the end of January, and will be a closed audition at Gibbs High School. The final round is in May at the Mahaffey Theater.

Walker's Rising Stars is sponsored by neurosurgeon Dr. Jeffrey Walker through the Pinellas Education Foundation. The program provides college scholarships to Pinellas public high school juniors and seniors. All students who advance to the finals will receive $1,000 scholarships. The winners will receive $5,000 scholarships.

Music teacher Jacob Merrett, who has worked at Lakewood for three and a half years, is optimistic about the students’ chances of winning. He said it’s been a few

years since a Lakewood student has made it to the finals, but the Walker’s organization changed the format of the auditions this year, making the first round schoolbased.

“With the new format, I think that there will be a better chance of an LHS student making it to the finals and potentially winning,” Merrett said.

Several students are using Merrett as their accompanist, so they will be rehearsing together after winter break. “We will work together on improving all aspects of their performances,” he said.

Rhodes said he was thrilled by the opportunity to get in the program.

“When they said monologue and scholarship I jumped aboard,” he said. “I love the fact that we are involved in something like this. It could possibly pay for college.”

Stagnitta also entered the program for the scholarship money toward tuition. He said he would like to be a musician. “I hope so, it’s fun, the only thing I really enjoy,” he said. Stagnitta said that he will prepare for the next round and that practice helps him do a good job.

Merrett said he thinks the Lakewood students will be well-prepared for the next round.

“If they continue to practice and methodically ready themselves, they have a good chance to at least make the finals and potentially win it all,” he said.

Junior Gianna Sheppard (top left) and seniors Tony Stagnitta (top right), Davion Teaheartt (bottom left) and Ryan Rhodes (bottom right) compete in the talent show and/or Walker's Rising Stars in November 2013. These four and three others will also advance to the semifinals for the Walker’s Rising Star competition which will take place in January.

Photos by ATIERA HOPKINS, KEJUAN SAMUELS and SHAYQUONE SEYMOUR

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Every six weeks students in the Center for Journalism and Multimedia are taking field trips to sites in the Lakewood community, reporting on stories and taking photos and video. Enjoy our second installment on this page.

A piece of nature, right around the corner

By AKELA HARRIS SNN Staff Writer

Boyd Hill—he’s a man not a hill—built Lakewood Estates in the 1920s. He wanted golf courses and houses built on the lake. But when his financial situation changed in the 1940s, he sold 245 acres to the city and it became a botanical garden for tourists.

“So he planted a lot of plants to give it a jungle feel,” park ranger Aurora Hadstock said. The city operated it until it was closed for a short time in the 1980s. Boyd Hill reopened and became a Nature Park to preserve wildlife. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve has 10 birds in captivity outside and 11 species inside. About 50,000 people visit the nature preserve each year.

The preserve has six miles of hiking trails. Visitors can see exhibits, go to the gift shop, or go to the outdoor classroom. The admission fee for the park is $1.50 for ages 16 and under,

$3 for adults and children ages 3 and under are free.

Hadstock has worked at Boyd Hill Nature preserve for three and a half years. “It has been the best job ever,” she said, though sometimes strange incidents do occur.

In October 2013, “Big Al” , a 13-foot alligator who had lived near Boyd Hill for years, made front page news when he was trapped and killed by a hunter. Two years earlier, she said, a burglar cut holes in the aviary and eight birds escaped, though they were later found.

Hadstock said it’s important for people to know that Boyd Hill’s goal is to preserve animals and plants.

“This is a space set aside for the animals and plants to call it home .

It’s not here for us to enjoy. … It’s here for the animals and to whatever extent we can responsibly enjoy it,” she said.

CHRISTIAN MILLER | SNN

Above, park ranger Aurora Hadstock holds a tarantula in her hand at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve on Nov. 15, 2013. Their goal is to preserve animals and plants.

Left, an alligator skeleton sits in a glass case at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. Boyd Hill has 10 birds in captivity outside, 11 living species and many skeletons on display inside.

CHRISTIAN MILLER | SNN

A little country clubbin' in Lakewood Estates

By AMBER BEIN SNN Staff Writer

Above, a member of St. Petersburg Country Club sets up his putt on the golf course on Nov. 15, 2013.

Right, golf clubs sit in the back of a golf cart at St. Petersburg Country Club on Nov. 15, 2013.

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JAMES LEONARD | SNN

MICHELLE WITCHER | SNN

The St. Petersburg Country Club has a lot of history behind its golf courses and tennis courts. The club was built in 1924 and is now 90 years old.

After being destroyed by a fire in 1970, renovated in 2000 and renamed from Lakewood Country Club to the St. Petersburg Country Club, the club still remains full of tradition.

In 1927 the club held its first amateur invitational tournament which then became an annual ritual and is now called the Lakewood New Year’s invitational tournament. According to the St. Petersburg Country Club’s website this tournament is “the oldest sustained amateur golf tournament in the country.”

The country club has always been an important place to the residents in nearby neighborhoods. In 1939 citizens bought out the club for $40,000 and made it into a non-profit organization.

Now, the St. Petersburg Country club is a place where weddings are held and members have unlim-

ited golf, tennis, swimming and clubhouse privileges.

Membership and event sales woman Christy Dollins gives tours around the country club to show the variety of things the club has to offer. Dollins explained the rules of the country club.

“Most rules we just have are that if you’re not a golf member you’re limited to the golf you can play and you pay a guest rate … you can bring a guest anytime but there’s a limit to that, you can wear jeans here anytime just not in our main dining room, and those are the main rules,” she said.

There are year-round social events and house members may play golf and tennis once a month with payment of the prevailing guest fees. Monthly fees can range from $95-$500, though extra money would be advised for their on-site restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and sometimes offers entertainment, Dollins said.

-Zoe Blair-Andrews contributed to this story

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A teacher's journey to Cambodia

By NAUDIA MCDANIEL SNN Staff Writer

Former chemistry teacher Dana JarvisLavery rides her bike to her new school in Cambodia. She is greeted by friendly Cambodians throughout her trail and arrives at the school where her eager-tolearn students are waiting for her. JarvisLavery moved to Cambodia with her new husband, and now teaches biology to freshmen and sophomores, and chemistry to sophomores and juniors.

“They’re flying through the chemistry book. They’re really smart,” she said. She describes the freshmen as really shy, but her juniors are very goofy.

“They like to sing in the morning, and make cheesy jokes,” she said in a Skype interview with SNN in November.

A week into her new job, Jarvis-Lavery got sick with a fever from bacteria in the water and food. She said her trip was very stressful at first, and the job was very hard. “(Being here) challenges you to remain who you are in a tough situation,” she said.

Prior to her move, Jarvis-Lavery had done research on Cambodia, which helped her adapt.

“The traditions are different; Asian custom is to be humble and respectful.

Most of the people are Buddhist,” she said.

Jarvis-Lavery said her students have more drive to learn than American students, and they really care about school.

In their spare time, she said they study a lot for fun.

“These students have a choice of getting an education, or working in farms for the rest of their lives,” she said.

Her favorite thing about Cambodia is the people. She said they are very nice and there is no discrimination.

“The only thing is, they try to charge Americans more for some things,” she said.

Jarvis-Lavery got married over the summer, and she and her husband live in a house with a hot spring bath.

“It’s kind of uncomfortable; it’s very hot and humid. We (only put) the air conditioner on sometimes,” she said.

Jarvis-Lavery said she does not plan on living in Cambodia forever.

“I couldn’t imagine having children in this environment,” she said. When she moves back to America she said she will move to either New Jersey or Utah, where her family and in-laws live.

PHOTOS SPECIAL TO SNN

Teacher recalls childhood in Europe

By JAIDE BURGESS and GENNESHA GAGE SNN Staff Writers

Reading teacher Ivana Bozic was living in former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s when a war started in her country. People were affected because they couldn’t leave without the government’s permission, and there were a lot restrictions with food.

“I was around 8 years old. I remember how scary it all sounded. My dad’s friends were being drafted to go fight and he did not want to go,” she said. “We left Yugoslavia in 1992 so that my dad wouldn’t be drafted. He had many friends on all sides and didn’t want to fight in a war.”

Bozic came to live in the United States and has been living here for about 21 years. “We came to St. Pete from Serbia because my parents had some friends here. They invited us and helped us out in the beginning,” she said.

Before she left, she went to a Serbian school from first to third grade. In the states she went to Belcher and Maximo elementary schools and then she went to Bay Point Middle School. She then graduated from Boca Ciega High School, and went to Florida State University where she got her education degree.

Bozic started teaching at Lakewood High

School in 2007.

“I became a teacher because I have always had wonderful teachers in my life that made school fun and exciting, and who showed me how to think differently. I wanted to be able to do that for other students,” Bozic said. “When we moved here and I didn’t speak the language, it was the teachers who were my biggest supporters, helpers and fans. I wanted to provide that for others.”

Sophomore Brittany Matthews said Bozic is a detailed and interesting teacher. “I look forward to going to her class every B day,” she said.

Bozic said she misses her family a lot. Her parents split their time between Serbia and the United States. “My grandmother was the person I cared about the most and now that she passed away, I miss her even more because I know I can’t see her,” Bozic said.

For a long time, she wanted to move back to SPECIAL TO SNN Serbia. “I had plans to do that last year, but many Ivana Bozic, 3, right, watches a soccer game in 1985 in her things happened in my personal life that did not grandmother's house in former Yugloslavia with her young allow for that. Right now I am happy where I’m at, cousin, Peca. but maybe sometime in the future that could be a possibility,” she said.

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A converstion with: guidance counselor Veronica Pruitt

By AMBER SEAY and NAADIRAH DAVIS SNN Staff Writers

Focusing on school is stressful if you don’t have anyone around to challenge and prepare you for the real world. Never fear your guidance counselor is here. Veronica Pruitt, one of four guidance counselors at Lakewood, has been here for two years. Pruitt, 36, talked to SNN about her job, her life and how she helps students.

Q. What is your main focus here at Lakewood?

A. To bridge the achievement gap among the student body. The achievement gap is an opportunity for guidance to look at the data among the school as a whole and analyze the difference between the successful students verses the students who are not passing the requirements.

Q. Have you worked anywhere else?

A. Yes, Gibbs High School. I left Gibbs for an opportunity to work closer to home and I definitely think Lakewood High School is better.

Q. How tall are you?

A. 4 feet 11. I’m not telling the truth, but that’s what you’re putting in the paper!

Q. Are you married?

A. Yes, I am, six years. He is self- employed as an insurance consultant.

Q. Where are you from and what high school did you go to?

A. Tampa, Florida. I attended Hillsborough Senior High School.

Q. What was it like growing up with a twin sister? What does she do now?

A. Growing up with a twin sister can be very aggravating at times but, fun because we can trick people. She is an elementary school teacher.

Q. Where did you go to college and what did you major in?

A. I attended Nova Southeastern University. I majored in school counseling.

Q. What made you want to be a guidance counselor?

A. While in high school, my counselor called me down to discuss my college and career planning. I was a very shy little girl and I expressed to her I wanted to do a 2+2 (community college, then four year university) college track. My counselor didn’t do a good job

at exploring my college opportunities.

I strongly feel, if I had the experience I tend to share with my students now, I would’ve definitely gone straight off to a four-year university. Please understand I wholeheartedly enjoyed my experience, but I do feel I missed out on a lot.

Q. What’s been your best experience as a high school guidance counselor and why?

A. My best experience as a counselor is seeing my students grow from beJULIE SMITH-FRAZER | SNN ing a new freshman “I’m afraid of high school” to the senior “ready to conquer the world” attitude. Watching students grow into the mature young adults I’ve envisioned him or her to be is very gratifying to me.

Q. What’s been your worst experience?

A. The very first time I did a guidance classroom lesson, I experienced a very defiant young boy, which really had me upset. I really had a deep disgust for this student; however, after I met this student’s mother I soon realized this young man struggles. I completely understand why this young man had such a bad temperament.

Q. What’s the most inspirational thing you’ve said to a high school student?

A. If your goal is to achieve more in life, then your objective needs to be you willing to accept every challenge that comes your way.

Q. Do you think that you will always be a guidance counselor?

A. Absolutely.

She's not your ordinary junior

By CAROLINE DUNNING SNN Staff Writer

High school is frustrating sometimes with homework every night, eight classes, four different teachers to see every other day and peers who enjoy distracting you in the most annoying ways possible. Former Lakewood junior Savannah MacNiven considered all of these factors plus more when she decided to switch schools. MacNiven didn’t switch from one public school to another, but from public school to full-time virtual school.

“I wanted to get away from the negative influence of some people,” MacNiven said.

“I also work better when I’m not around so many people.”

MacNiven attended Lakewood in the Center for Advanced Technologies program since she was a freshman with her only virtual school experience being the HOPE elective she took over the summer. She enjoyed her Lakewood classes, her favorite being French with Veronique Musengwa.

“She is so nice and understanding,” MacNiven said. “She teaches well and I learned so much from her.”

Musengwa described MacNiven as a conscientious student.

“She was always very focused and a

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serious student,” she said.

But many negative factors affected her decision and those factors eventually weighed out the positive, so MacNiven opted to take her classes on Pinellas Virtual, with one course on Florida Virtual School (FLVS).

“One big thing is that I only have to take six classes instead of eight,” she said. “The classes are not hard to keep up with, and I just have to make sure all of my work is in by the end of the week.”

There are some things about Lakewood, though, that she misses. “I liked hanging with my friends at lunch. I liked having a teacher physically present because it was easier to ask a question about a problem or have them explain a lesson over again,” MacNiven said.

CAT guidance counselor Cheri Ashwood agrees that losing the social aspect is a downside to virtual school “It’s really a disservice to home school your kids and have them miss that,” Ashwood said.

Despite those difficulties, “it’s the direction education is going in,” Ashwood said.

“College offers online courses and they

want to know that you’re prepared.”

A major plus to taking all classes online is that online students have a lot more free time in their social calendar to hang with friends.

“I have other friends outside of school who don’t go to Lakewood,” MacNiven said. “I listen to music when I do my work, and I’ll take a few breaks throughout the day to watch TV or do chores. I also go out on some mornings to get away from the work for a few hours.”

Although MacNiven’s grades have always been above par, her virtual grades are even better, with straight A’s for the first and second grading periods, adding to her long list of virtual school perks.

“I don’t have to wake up early every day. I don’t have to deal with drama. I can take breaks whenever I want. I can do my work at any time during the day. Overall, for me, virtual school is the better option,” she said.

As for the future, MacNiven is still unsure. “I was thinking about taking a year off from school just to decide what I really want to do. I was thinking about taking a class in programming, so I could get a job

CAROLINE DUNNING | SNN

Junior Savannah MacNiven studies at Dunkin' Donuts in mid-December. in that area,” she said.

Musengwa said she wishes MacNiven the best. “Savannah was in my French 5 class which is the highest level at Lakewood. We were going to start an AP French course and I was hoping she would take it, but she left. I hope she continues with French in college because she has a lot of potential.”

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 8 , 2 0 1 4

features

SWAT Club sweeps up the streets

By JAIDE BURGESS SNN Staff Writer

Lakewood librarian Andrea McDougal started smoking in the 8th grade. Within six months she was addicted, and she was hooked for 30 years.

“It’s just one of those dumb things you get involved in, but if you want to quit, do it no matter what, … The quitting outweighs the smoking,” she said.

McDougal’s message is the same message that students in Lakewood’s SWAT club are trying to deliver. SWAT, which stands for Students Working Against Tobacco, is a club that is helping to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking, and how it affects your life and the lives of others. The main objective of SWAT is to help people to not start smoking or quit smoking if they’re already doing it.

“It’s important for high school students to have a SWAT team because this is the age when some of the students start smoking, so ... we need to let them know what the consequences are,” SWAT team sponsor Marilyn Rivera-Torres said.

Every day 3,900 children under 18 years of age try their first cigarette, and more than 950 of them will become new daily smokers, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Cigarettes are much worse now then back when McDougal started smoking. They’re easier to get addicted to and they consist of lots of harmful ingredients.

“It’s almost like heroin or crack or something like that.You get addicted much quicker, so you

really have to be careful with that kind of stuff,” McDougal said.

Most kids smoke even though they know the dangers. There’s a lot of peer pressure, or they just think that smoking is attractive. In addition, a lot of the tobacco companies let people think that smoking is cool, Torres said.

Another reason young people may start smoking is because their parents do it.

“My dad was the president of the American Cancer Society when I was a little girl, so he was always telling us not to smoke, but my dad smoked,” McDougal said. “So I think when your parents teach one thing and they do the other thing especially when you are a teenager you think ‘well you do it.’”

SWAT has participated in activities after school including the Hollow Fest. “They talked to a lot of kids and a lot of people. It was a lots of fun,” Torres said.

The group also did a clean-up on St. Pete Beach.

“We go out in the community and clean up … like tobacco butts, we collect those so they don’t make pollution,” said junior Anthony Jackson, assistant president of SWAT. The group meets during lunch every Wednesday in Torres’ room, A106. Anybody is able to join the SWAT team if interested.

-Gennesha Gage contributed to this story.

CARLOLLEE BRYAN | SNN

Spanish teacher Marilyn Rivera-Torres and the members of the SWAT team walk to the beach to pick up cigarettes butts on Nov. 9, 2013. agents that are in real cigarettes. The E-CIGARETTES: down side is it doesn’t help the users We’re in a time where cigarettes are with nicotine addiction. E-cigarettes known for their health risks. One alternative that many smokers are try- have become more popular in the U.S. It is estimated sales will hit ing out are e-cigarettes. An electronic $1.7 billion this year. The increase cigarette, or e-cigarette for short, is a in popularity has also reached teens. battery-powered vaporizer that simuThe biggest problem of e-cigarettes lates tobacco smoking. It contains for teens is that nicotine can interfere a mixture of nicotine and different with adolescent brain development. A flavorings. E-cigarettes are avail2013 study found that 76 percent of able in 250 flavors. It’s meant to current young e-cigarettes users also help people quit smoking cigarettes. smoke regular cigarettes. Everyday The liquid inside of an e-cigarette 1,500 kids become daily smokers, and cartridge is a mixture of propylene one-third of them will die prematurely glycol, glycerin, and/or polyethas a result of getting hooked. ylene glycol 400. The plus side of - Anthony Neimeier and Gennesha e-cigarettes is that they don’t contain Gage most of the dangerous cancer causing

GSA gets a kick-start

By ANGELICA SHEPPARD SNN Staff Writer

On a Thursday afternoon in November 2013, the classroom filled up with eager students who were ready for the first Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) meeting of the year.

Lakewood science teacher Christina Lucas had decided to sponsor the club, which works to create a safe environment for both gay and straight students.

Although the club is not new to Lakewood, it has been several years since the club was active, and sophomore Maggie Verdino, who is bisexual, has decided to take on the challenge of starting the club back up.

“I’m sick of seeing everyone be so ignorant and so close-minded around this school,” Verdino said. “I’m hoping (the club) will raise some awareness that just because someone is gay, it doesn’t make them any more or less human.”

Verdino wanted to start the club in her freshman year, but Lucas was busy with cheerleading and wasn’t able to sponsor it, but this year she is able to.

“I decided to sponsor GSA because this is a topic that is very close to home for me. I have a lot of friends and family members who are homosexual and are denied equal rights, and based on that I think that’s unfair,” Lucas said. “Having a GSA club gives an opportunity for students who maybe feel judged harshly for them to have a safe place to come where they know they’re not going to be judged, where they know that they are welcome and that everyone understands them and supports them for who they are.”

So far the club has about 11 members and they hope the membership grows as the year goes on.

GSA hit a small glitch in mid-December 2013, however, after club members made recruiting posters to be put up around school. Some of the posters were given approval to

be hung up, but the administration prohibited several others, including one that said “Love is Love.”

Assistant principal Ste’Phan Lane said some of the posters were not given approval because they advertised more than the location and time of the club.

AMBER BEIN | SNN “Are you advertising Sophmore Maggie Verdino writes down ideas for GSA on your club and location the smart board after school in Christina Lucas’ room or are you advertising your views?” he said. on Nov. 7, 2013.

Students say they wanted to join the club for a variety of reasons.

“I am gay myself and I just wanted to show support to my fellow LGBT members and to thank our allies for helping keep us safe,” senior Michelle Naue said.

Junior Jahnique Brown said, “GSA means everyone together no matter what your sexual preferences are; we support each other no matter what.”

The club meets every Thursday after school in room A103.

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9

Education turned

upside down

Network administrator and teacher Louis Zulli held up his cell phone during class, an image rarely seen at any high school.

“There is more information on this than any teacher can ever give you,” he said. He said he wants to make a point: Education is changing.

Next time you walk down the halls to go to the bathroom or to visit the office, try to do this: Look through the windows of each class you pass. How many students have their heads hung low, snoozing in the middle of a grand lecture?

“We have to adapt to the way students are learning,” said

Zulli, who in 2011 won the Teacher of the Year Award from Microsoft.

To teachers like Zulli, a new-style classroom is the solution. Active learning is when students take responsibility for learning, and it’s a classroom style that some Lakewood teachers are embracing.

There are teachers who, with the tools they have, are taking matters into their own hands. They are “flipping the classroom,” working to secure devices for students to enhance their own learning and connecting with experts in the subjects that they teach with the use of technology.

These teachers are changing the game.

Failure Rates Traditional Classroom

Flipped Classroom *Online survey of 764 public school teachers (from pre-k to high school) during May of 2013 conducted by Harris Interactive.

Student Name:

Math

English

44%

52%

13%

19%

Dropped by: 31%

Dropped by: 33%

During one project at Clintondale High School in Michigan, 140 freshmen had every class with the “flipped classroom model,” and failure rates dropped as much as 33 percent.

According to a Common Sense Media survey* only 11 percent of classrooms, or one-in-nine, are implementing a bring-your-own-device program or a 1:1 computer to student ratio.

11%

Disciplinary Refferal

66.2%

A

19.2%

In the same project at Clintondale High School, discipline saw a 66.2 percent drop and passing rates rose about 19.2 percent.

Flipping the Cla

If you look into math teacher Thomas Penkethman room, you won’t find lowered heads. You’ll find stud scribbling away trying to solve problems, communica and working together to compare answers and solutio “I’m not afraid of change,” Penkethman said. “I w change everything tomorrow if there is a better way.”

Last year Penkethman changed how math was tau his room. He calls it “flipping the classroom.” Simply students are given videos to watch at home. The vide have notes and explanations for the notes given. They then copy the notes and watch the videos as many tim they want, all at their own pace.

Back in the classroom, instead of listening to Penkethman lecture, students are assigned homework that they don’t take home. All day in Penkethman’s class, students work on practice problems that cover the same topics as the videos they were told to watch. They can work with other students, or ask Penkethman for help on the problems.

“You’re expected to learn on your own and use the teacher (Penkethman) as a resource,” senior Lauren Hastings said.

Not all students are successful in Penkethman’s class. Sophomore Laura Haan has precalculus and although she likes the idea of the “flipped classroom,” she Senior Lance Smith said she hasn’t been succlass. Penkethman cessful because she doesn’t method) makes you

One for every s

Technology has advanced at Lakewood over the p years. Now that every class has a SMART Board; the step is tablets for students. Earlier this year, Zulli trie secure Windows Surface RT tablets for every student CAT program. Many CAT students have been talking the rumor that they’ll soon be in possession of a table The goal was to use the tablets in conjunction with classes so they would have access to all their course m rial on a 24/7 basis.

Zulli said the $75,000 project would have allowed students to access more information. This would allo dents to take responsibility for their learning and in e make it an active learning environment.

“I don’t think (technology is) absolutely necessary it definitely solves a lot of problems,” senior Chris W said.

Zulli’s attempt to get the tablets began with a deal fered by Microsoft that lasted from June 2013 to the of September 2013. Though he didn’t get approval fo tablets, Zulli said he did not give up.

Since then, he has fought and won approval for a similar program. Every CAT teacher will receive a D XPS 12 laptop starting second semester, he said. Eve CAT student will have access to Office 365 or Micro programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint acces on the internet.

Each CAT student will also get a tablet. Zulli now to pick the device that students will use and he said h trying to keep the cost under $450 per tablet.

“I’m very happy we’re afforded the opportunity to

assroom

n’s dents ating ons. will ” ught in y put, eos y can mes as

Design, illustrations and story by SCOTTY SCHENCK

watch the videos for the notes. She said she isn’t the only one and that many students are “too lazy” to watch the videos.

“I’m not successful because I don’t apply myself,” Haan said. “(The class is) good, but you have to have the self-discipline to (watch the videos).”

“We’re moving toward (active learning),” Vicari said.

However, he said the state is making it difficult because of the grading system, which makes teachers feel like they are checking off boxes of what students need to learn, instead of teaching. Penkethman said this handicaps capable teachers.

NAUDIA MCDANIEL | SNN

student

d ow stueffect,

y, but Woodle

l ofend or the

Dell ery osoft ssible

w needs he is

o

93%

Tablets

81%

In a PBS education survey that sampled 500 teachers within the United States in December 2011, 93 percent of teachers said they believe interactive whiteboards help with the education process; 81 percent felt the same way about tablets.

A Community of Experts

h takes notes in Thomas Penkethman’s math analysis n uses the “flipped-class” method. “(The flipped-class u look at math in a different way,” he said.

past e next ed to t in the g about et. h their mate-

Interactive Whiteboard

change,” he said. “Now it’s just a matter of finding the device.” Zulli did say, however, that it will cost much more for the county to purchase devices now that Microsoft’s deal has ended.

Vicari said, though Lakewood has a 1:1 student to computer ratio, each student should be able to have his/her own laptop or notebook. He said many education officials are nervous about giving students expensive equipment, thinking that they are not responsible enough.

Before moving to Lakewood, Vicari was the principal at Osceola Middle School where he was put in charge of a 1:1 computing program. For the first two years, he was required to buy an insurance policy for the laptops, which cost about $15,000 a year. The next year he removed the insurance policy and over the three years they had the program, he said only two laptops ever went missing.

Another idea is a pilot program tested in Hillsborough County schools called the “bring-your-own device policy.”

In select schools, students bring their own internet-enabled technology to class.

Proponent of the project Hillsborough County School District’s manager of customer service and support Sharon Zulli, wife of Louis Zulli, said the pilot program went well.

It will soon take effect in all schools when the county officials finish installing wireless networks at every school so students can use their devices to access information.

“Both students and teachers have devices and wanted to use them at school,” she said. “In reality, (the bring-yourown-device policy) was already happening; we are just choosing to embrace it.”

In Michael Kernodle’s classroom, on Oct. 8, 2013, something new was taking place. Using Facetime, Apple’s video calling service, and the SMART Board, the band teacher gave the musicians in his class the chance of a lifetime. He invited professional Julliard-trained musician Chris Crenshaw “into the classroom” via the computer.

The students were able to ask Crenshaw questions about his life and play music for him, and he could give them advice on playing. Kernodle said that in the beginning of the call, Crenshaw talked about his life and how meeting famous jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon made him choose a career in music.

“By meeting one person, it totally changed his whole life,” Kernodle said. “Who’s to say that didn’t happen (to students) on Tuesday (Oct. 8, 2013)?”

French teacher Véronique Musengwa also has used a similar program—Skype—to connect her students to

students across the Atlantic Ocean. Her sister, almost like a mirror image of Musengwa’s profession, teaches English in France. There were difficulties, she said, working out a time when they could call the other class because of the differing schedules. Last school year in May she called her sister with her French 3 class. She said she wants her classes in a Skype call once a month.

“We’re constantly trying to get the students in an authentic situation,” Musengwa said. “Skype is putting them in a real, authentic situation.”

The students were able to ask questions not only to Musengwa’s sister, but to her class as well. Musengwa’s students also became pen pals with the students in France.

She said some students even contacted them on Facebook.

“Immersion is the best way to learn a language,” she said. “This is active learning; they’re taking responsibility.”

NAUDIA MCDANIEL | SNN

Sophomore Nicholas Fox Skypes with his pen pal in France in his French class. Teacher Véronique Musengwa Skypes with her sister in France with her French four class. “Language is a living thing,” Musengwa said.

features

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 8 , 2 0 1 4

Teachers lift to lose weight

By MAGGIE VERDINO SNN Staff Writer

From a cell phone Super Bass, a hit single by the popular artist Nicki Minaj, plays as campus monitor Nate Washington encourages two teachers going through their lateral rows. Red-faced and groaning in pain, reading teacher Keri Gartland suffers through muscle spasms as she attempts to lift the weights 10 times during her full body work out.

“If you weren’t here, I’d be cursing right now,” Gartland said to SNN reporters.

Gartland and critical thinking teacher Emily Thompson have been working out in the Lakewood weight room for about two years under the instruction of Washington.

They come every Wednesday and Friday after school from 2:30 to 3:30, and each session costs $10.

NAUDIA MCDANIEL | SNN They even do it over the summer, going to places like Reading teacher Keri Gartland, left, and critical thinking the beach and park.

“They are very good students at times. Sometimes teacher Emily Thompson lift dumbbells on Dec. 11, 2013, in the weight room. Thompson and Gartland work out with hall they get a little crazy,” Washington said. “But for the most part they listen to me.” monitor Nate Washington as their physical trainer.

Washington has always been athletic, and used to work in a gym before he came to Lakewood. He now has his own program called NV Your Body.

He has competed in power lifting competitions, and always wins first or second place against other gym members. He is 6 feet 1, weighs 245 pounds and can bench press 515 pounds.

“I had to make a change in myself as far as my health, and I wanted to help out other people,” Washington said.

There used to be more teachers involved in the full body work-out program, but it slowly dwindled down to just the three of them. Since they joined, Gartland has lost about 100 pounds and Thompson has lost 20 pounds.

“Mr. Washington pushes me to do things I wouldn’t do on my own,” Gartland said. Both the teachers agree that it’s hard, but in the end the program is worth it.

Get healthy: in the home and on the go

By MARIAH WATTS SNN Staff Writer

At the beginning of each year we confront a challenge and attempt to conquer it. That’s right - those New Year’s resolutions. Whether we stick with it or not, many of us hit up the gym and change our diets to shed the holiday pounds and sculpt that summer body.

Well here’s some good news for you: Getting in shape doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many recipes that make eating healthy enjoyable. When you eat well your body responds in a positive way. Here are some easy and tasty recipes that could help be the foundation of your fitness goals.

Sweet potato fries: The potato is the most consumed vegetable in the country. This sweet root contains a high nutritional punch that makes it better than the white potato.

It contains 219 percent of your daily value of vitamin A according to the website www.snack-girl.com and it contains collagen for that youthful skin.

• 1 tbsp. of brown or white sugar

• 2 tbsp. of olive oil

• Two peeled medium sweet potatoes

• A pan covered with aluminum foil First, preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. As your oven is heating up, slice the potatoes into long, thick strips (about ½ in.). Place the strips on an aluminum-covered pan length-wise; make sure that they are not too close together.

Toss the olive oil over the strips, and be sure to rub each potato in a circular motion and flip and repeat to coat them evenly in the oil. Next, sprinkle the sugar over the potatoes and place them in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Once the timer goes off, take out your fries and flip them with a spatula or tongs and place them back in the oven for five to seven minutes.

Green Smoothies: Green smoothies have made their way in the realm of pop culture. They have been spotted in the hands of celebrities, made their way to smoothie shops and into our home blenders. These smoothies pack so

12

SNN

Quick and healthy: Health science teacher

MARIAH WATTS | SNN

Cooked sweet potato fries, coated with olive oil and sugar, prepared by Mariah Watts.

much nutrition that you and your body will look and feel good. The greens from these drinks are filled with 100 percent alkaline. Alkaline helps balance your body’s pH level, which provides energy, helps your digestion and, like the sweet potatoes, gives your skin elasticity and radiance.

• 2 frozen bananas (it is best to freeze them peeled

and in a plastic bag)

• ½ pint of frozen blueberries

• 2 pears

• 2 cups of water or almond milk

• 1 1/2 cups of spinach First dice the pears and place them into a blender. Next slice the bananas in thin pieces horizontally and place them in the blender. Dump the blueberries in the blender and then the spinach. Pour your liquid of choice in the blender then blend well. After about 30 seconds, stop the blender then let the chunks that haven’t blended settle to the bottom. Continue blending for about 15 more seconds. Pour into a cup, then enjoy!

Erika Miller sells protein shakes every day after school for $2. She gets them from Gatorade, although in past years they were supplied by Mighty Milk. She also sells “energy chew” bars for $1 from Gatorade.

“Mostly it’s our athletes that come through the training room that get them, but they’re available to anybody,” Miller said.

The protein shakes contain about 20 grams of protein, or 40 percent of the daily recommended value.

They also contain 50 percent of the daily value of calcium and 45 grams of carbohydrates, which is about 15 percent of the daily value.

The drink has a surprisingly low amount of fat at only 1 gram. The chew bar, on the other hand, has 100 calories, no ATIERA HOPKINS | SNN fat, 24 grams of carbs and 20 percent of the daily value of Vitamin B. SNN obtained one of the shakes and one of the chew bars for a taste test. The drink was chocolate flavored, and managed to taste, well, like chocolate. However, there was an odd after taste to the shake. The bar was orange flavored, and was fairly chewy. It had a minor aftertaste that ended up lasting a few minutes, but wasn’t that unpleasant.

Overall, both products are worth the money, especially for athletes, as they both assist those in trying to eat healthy while also managing to still taste good.

- SNN Staff Writer Jakob Barker

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 8 , 2 0 1 4

fashion

The Complete Ensemble

Outfits, make-up and hair: We’ve got you covered. We found some of the best styles of the season for you to dress up the dress code.

By NILAJA KING, ANGELICA SHEPPARD, DAIJHA WIMBERLY and MYESHA HALL SNN Staff Writers

Outfits 101:

MIRIELE PAUL | SNN

Junior Karlyona Florence’s shirt is from Body Shop, her head scarf is from Cotton On, her shorts, vest and earrings are from Sunshine Thrift Shop.

MIRIELE PAUL | SNN

Junior Jordan Luckett is wearing a customized vest, her shirt is from Aeropostale and her pants are from Bealls.

MIRIELE PAUL | SNN

Junior Sacaree Wright’s shirt and bottoms are from Forever 21, her necklace is from Wet Seal, and her purse is from TJ Maxx.

Make-up101:

NILAJA KING | SNN

Junior Alicia Velazquez Eyebrows: Elf Eyebrow Collection Eye shadow: Elf nude pallet Eye liner: L’Oreal Infallible Mascara: Lash Out Butterfly

NILAJA KING| SNN

Senior June Flowers goes to Nancy’s Salon on 49th St. to get her lashes done professionally. It costs $20.

ATIERA HOPKINS | SNN

Sophomore Shannon Vazquez wears Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes

Hair101:

HIQMOT SALAMI | SNN

Senior Kortni Kegel has blue hair that will definitely catch your attention. “I think that my hair is crazy and different, which describes me,” Kegel said.

NILAJA KING| SNN

Junior Anilea Calloway has a low cut.

“It was a fashion cause,” Calloway said.

DAIJAH WIMBERLY| SNN

Sophomore Brenda Rodriguez wears side braids. “I got bored and wanted to try something new,” Rodriguez said.

SNN

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opinion

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 8 , 2 0 1 4

Editorial

Next holiday season, let's ban the hoards of shopping zombies Now that the winter holidays are behind us, perhaps now is the time to look back and consider some of the consequences of the shopping frenzy many people were dragged into. Obviously, crazed Christmas shopping is not new, but it seems that more and more people are willing to give in to the urge to splurge earlier than ever before.

With the trend of shopping on Thanksgiving Day gaining popularity, it’s fair to say that many people may be forgetting what these holidays are really for. Thanksgiving, with its somewhat true story of the Pilgrims and natives sharing a meal to celebrate the harvest, is traditionally a day to appreciate family and give thanks for the goodness in life. This past holiday, many of the nation’s largest retailers had their stores open on Thanksgiving Day. Not just late in the night in preparation for Black Friday, but all day Thursday or early Thursday evening.

This recent trend of opening on Thanksgiving Day may be convenient for some, but what are the human costs? As the focus of the holiday shifts from giving thanks and eating heartwarming food with loved ones to preparing to ram past crowds of people with your shopping cart, the consumerism that has been slowly growing for decades is now even more widespread. Retailers remind us that Christmas is coming as soon as Halloween ends, and it seems like more and more Americans are, quite literally, buying into the hysteria. With this attitude we teach children that the true meaning of the season isn’t about celebrating family, good will or religious tradition, but instead is about wanting the hottest new toys, electronics or piece of jewelry and making sure you get it.

Let’s also remember the real heroes of the holiday shopping season, retail employees. It’s more

than ironic that Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, which made $17 billion last year, had a food drive in one of its Ohio stores for its own employees. The people who work at some of our favorite stores give up their holiday to pick up more hours, and often have no choice. Many large retail chains expect employees to work at least eight hours on Thanksgiving Day. Some employees work without remorse, as it is an opportunity to supplement their low income with holiday pay bonuses. But others may not want to give up their holiday with their family. The same people who say they sympathize with the overworked and underpaid employees of many large retail chains are the first in line to buy their gifts come Black Friday.

After Black Friday, it was full speed ahead for the rest of the month as everyone scrambled to buy gifts to tuck neatly under the tree. We kick into Christmas overload with advertisements around every corner. When the holiday finally arrived, everyone could breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy themselves, hopefully having escaped the shopping safari unharmed. It’s no wonder why zombies have gained so much popularity in the last few years; they’re a symbol of mindless consumerism .

Despite the implications, the trend of early rabid holiday shopping shows no sign of slowing down. Next year take a minute to consider what the holidays are really about. Maybe if everyone does this, we won’t see shoppers freshly stuffed full of turkey waddling down the aisles of a store, keeping the relentless wheels of consumerism in perpetual motion.

- This editorial reflects the opinion of the SNN staff and was written by opinion editor NIA CUMBERLANDER.

Your Voice:

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

Quotes and photos gathered by JOEL GRANT

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“Make 2014 the year in which I will focus on better helping the foundations I’m a part of including orphanages and shelters.”

- Selena Serrano, 11th grade

“To be able to get into a good college and be able to pay in full so later I won’t have thousands upon thousands of student loans.”

- Paul Deering, 12th grade

“To graduate because I want to go off to college and further my education.”

- Donterio Fowler, 12th grade

W e d n e s d a y, J a n u a r y 8 , 2 0 1 4

opinion

Columns

Tapeworms or tomatoes?

Spartan News Network Staff Editor-in-Chief: Scotty Schenck News Chief: Zoe Blair-Andrews Designe Chief: Kahil Holmes Multimedia Editor: Naudia McDaniel Photo Editor: Rachelle Gaddy Chief Photographer: Atiera Hopkins Web Master: Mariah Watts Feature Editor: Bobbie Wright Opinion Editor: Nia Cumberlander Entertainment Editors: Quindon Nolton and Jakob Barker Copy Chief: Caroline Dunning Copy Editor: Victoria Bischoff

Code of Ethics As journalists for the Spartan News Network, we work together as a community with respect, professionalism, accuracy and curiosity. We collect information and dig deep to get to the bottom of the most current events to produce and distribute hard-hitting and honest news to the Lakewood community in a timely manner. SNN is an open forum that strives to accurately report a balanced and truthful depiction of the news while remaining objective. Our main goal at SNN is to build and maintain trust with the people, to give a voice to the voiceless and to succeed at not just painting the picture, but telling the story behind the art.

SNN is produced by the students of Lakewood High School.

1400 54th Ave. S St. Petersburg, FL (727) 893-2916, ext. 2163 SNN is printed

by Lakewood’s business partner, the Tampa Bay Times.

For more news, go to the SNN web site:

snntoday.pcsb.org

By NIA CUMBERLANDER SNN Staff Writer

People have been dieting for ages. In the early part of the 20th century, some desperate women would ingest tapeworms (parasites that can grow up to 20 feet long which feed off the food matter in your intestines) to lose the extra bulge. Now, there are books, websites, powders, pills, exercise machines and other magic tricks to help take you from chunky to hunky, but it’s fair to say that many dieters are missing the point.

Combine the junky American diet with the get-slim-quick schemes of the diet industry and you have a recipe for serious confusion. This is especially troubling when access to healthy food is available for some and a privilege for others.

Really, the only way a normal person can lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way is to eat nutrient rich foods in sensible portions while maintaining an exercise routine that burns off more calories than he or she eats. The healthiest diet includes primarily vegetables and grain, followed by fruit, and finally lean protein, which may or may not be from animals. Pair healthy eating with at least an hour of heart-pumping exercise a day, and you’re likely to see yourself become healthier and stronger.

In some communities, grocery stores are too far for many to travel. These so-called “food deserts” leave many residents having to shop at corner stores which often sell only junk foods. This

phenomenon usually occurs in low-income neighborhoods. A good example of this is midtown St. Petersburg. The Sweetbay Supermarket on 18th Avenue S and 22nd Street, which closed early in 2013, was one of the only grocery stores in the area. Luckily, a Walmart Supercenter will replace it, but other communities nationwide aren’t as fortunate.

Healthy foods cost more on average than those high in calories and low in nutrients. These products are often made with corn and soy products, such as the now infamous high fructose corn syrup.

This is largely due to the fact that corn and soy products are subsidized, or supported financially, by our government. As counterintuitive as it seems, many of the unhealthy food companies have weaseled their way into policy and they make billions of dollars selling non-nutritious foods for cheaper prices, calorie for calorie, than fruits and vegetables.

Sometimes it can be discouraging to think about the extra cost of eating healthy. A good way to think about this difference in cost is to think of it as an investment in your health. People who are overweight or obese in adolescence often carry it over into adulthood. Would you rather pay a few extra dollars for fresh veggies today or deal with the effects of heart disease later? The choice is yours. As difficult as it may be to choose healthy alternatives over addicting junk foods and as much as you may hate the idea of an intense cardio work out instead of playing Call of Duty for the millionth time, the rewards are worth the sacrifices.

It’s tons better than a tapeworm in the you-know-what.

Building bridges for struggling students

By MARILYN PARKER SNN Staff Writer

Twenty-five students, hand-picked by assistant principal Ste'Phan Lane, will be mentors for “at-risk” freshman at Lakewood. The mentors met their mentees in the auditorium on Dec. 9, 2013, for the first time. The mentoring program is one result of Bridging the Gap, a workshop in October in which faculty and students from all over Pinellas County met to discuss the achievement gap.

I had the pleasure, along with Lakewood assistant principal Harriet Davis and senior Ivan Summers Jr., of attending that workshop where I learned some good news about Lakewood: Our school has a higher than average number of African Americans taking one or more Advanced Placement exams, and since 2012 the graduation rate for at-risk students has increased by four percent. (At-risk students are those who scored a level 1 or 2 on the eighth grade math and reading FCAT.) While things may be improving at Lakewood, overall the statistics are horrifying. In Pinellas County, 73 percent of white males earn a diploma, while only 46 percent of black males do. Even more drastic is the fact that blacks scored the lowest of any racial demographic group in Florida.

The five goals of the Bridging the Gap program are to eliminate the gap between African Americans and non-black students: in graduation rates, in scores on standardized tests, in the number of students in higher level courses, in the number of students receiv-

ing disciplinary infractions and in the number of students found to have emotional/behavioral disabilities.

In order to achieve these high expectations, the plans include promoting African-American students who are eligible to join AVID and assigning a graduation coach or mentor to at-risk”students. All black students will have the opportunity to enroll in accelerated courses, as they do now. Last, the group will try to increase parent involvement in schools.

At first I was not sure why I had been asked to attend the program. I am an African American, but I am not considered at-risk.

Recruiting a student who has yet to pass the FCAT may have been better. But then I realized my purpose, and why I was invited.

Once I returned to school, I felt humble and as though I had an obligation to help my peers.

With all the effort in the world, however, it is impossible to help someone who doesn’t want help. In no way is it the instructor’s job to drag the student into tutoring. He or she has to want a better education. We occasionally take for granted what teachers have to offer. Valuing education must start at home. Parents should have a plan on when to start teaching their child the ABCs. If parents don’t care, why should the student?

My former math teacher, Phillip Morgan, has a poster in his room that says: "It’s your future, it’s your life, it’s your education and so what are you going to do about it?" Those words helped mold me into the student I am today. This workshop told me that there are students who are missing the big picture.

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entertainment

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Warner Bros.

Avoid Smaug, but not this film Lionsgate

The second Hunger Games installment, starring Jennifer Lawrence, grosses $161.1 million

'Catching Fire' ignites box office

By BOBBIE WRIGHT SNN Staff Writer

Most of the nation has had their nose in the popular novel The Hunger Games at one point or another. Last year, the debut of the book series’ first film graced the big screen, earning $155 million. This year, the sequel Catching Fire didn’t disappoint either, grossing $161.1 million.

Set in the future, Catching Fire continues the story of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) who is placed in the hunger games, an event that throws two random representatives from each of the 12 “districts” into a computerized arena so that they may kill off each other one by one, leaving only one (now wealthy) winner standing.

When Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) defied the games by surviving together, they unconsciously started a rebellion, signified by Katniss’ gold pin, a mockingjay.

This time around, subsequent to having starved most of her life, Katniss is finally financially well off. After winning the 74th hunger games, she and Peeta are now able to live in peace. Until president Snow (Donald Sutherland) throws Katniss and Peeta back into the

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game’s arena, trying to stop them from leading the districts into a full-blown mutiny.

This movie puts a new spin on thrill as the audience follows the characters into countless life-threatening situations.

On the other hand, tear-jerking scenes come in rapid succession during the film, allowing viewers no reprieve.

Throughout all 146 minutes, characters die off like flies, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, but this time around the characters who are dying have a special place in audiences' hearts.

Aside from the evident love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale (Liam Hemsworth), the uplifting rebellious fervor that sweeps through the districts is a major focus in the movie. It captures audiences and foreshadows problems that may arise.

The biggest question that can stem from an adaption of a book into a film is: Did it do the book justice?

Thankfully, in this case the film followed the book pretty closely and allowed fans to rest easy in preparation for the series’ final film: Mockingjay Part 1, coming in 2014.

By MAGGIE VERDINO SNN Staff Writer

In 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien released The Hobbit, and about 75 years later, the newest and best movie version of this popular book was released. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, a prequel to Tolkien’s other popular trilogy The Lord of the Rings, re-ignited the Tolkien fandom.

In mid-December, the second movie in the trilogy was released, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. After surviving a near-death incident with the blood-thirsty orc, Azog, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) and his company of 13 dwarves along with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) - continue on their quest to the Misty Mountain to take it back from the terrifying dragon, Smaug.

Still attempting to escape Azog and his gang of warg-riding orcs, Gandalf leads the 14 to a house with a host who is described with the sentence: “He will either accommo-

date us, or kill us.”

In this tale of twists and turns, giant spiders and rather rude elves, the company and their constantly sidetracked wizard struggle through the unpredictable and unfriendly lands of Middle Earth. The movie includes quite a bit of comedy along with the constant scene changes that leave you guessing and wanting more. The computer-generated imagery (CGI) in this movie can only be described as brilliant, especially when referring to the dragon Smaug.

The movie also includes some of the main characters from the Lord of the Rings, such as Legolas Greenleaf (Orlando Bloom), Bilbo himself, and the elfen lord, Elrond (Hugo Weaving).

The movie can be viewed by any age group and is fun for the whole family. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys CGI and thrilling fantasy or anyone who loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

'Best Man' is one of holiday's best

By NAUDIA MCDANIEL SNN Staff Writer

Rain comes with good and bad factors, so can you stand it? Well, not only does The Best Man Holiday bring back a classic New Edition tune; this must-see film is a rated R sequel to the original 1999 film, The Best Man. To recap, we left off as Harper (Taye Diggs) was proposing to Robin (Sanaa Lathan) at Lance (Morris Chestnut) and Mia’s (Monica Calhoun) wedding. The Best Man Holiday starts off with the original cast members leading successful lives, though with major setbacks. The movie reunites the cast while bringing the two original best men, Lance and Harper, closer to their original brotherhood of friendship.

With Malcolm D. Lee as director, the events in this movie are sure to touch not only your funny bone, but your heart and soul as well. Though there is a predominantly AfricanAmerican cast, The Best Man Holiday Universal Pictures appeals to a diverse audience. If you happen to be a part of that audience, bring a box of tissues, as this holiday film gets hot, humorous and hits home.

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What happened to the ‘M’ in MTV?

'11/22/63': date and book are both memorable

By QUINDON NOLTON SNN Staff Writer

By CAROLINE DUNNING SNN Staff Writer

Former president John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963, and Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested. The world mourned, but then continued on, and about six weeks ago the world marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination. But how different would the world be if Kennedy had survived on that fateful day? Would it have been better or worse for our country?

In Stephen King’s novel 11/22/63, published two years ago, 35-year-old Jake Epping has lived in Lisbon Falls, Maine, for as long as he can remember, and not much changes. Epping always teaches his classes during the day, visits Al’s Diner during the afternoon and goes home in the evening.

One day at the diner, Al shows Epping his big discovery: a staircase in the back of the diner that takes you back in time to a particular day in 1958. Al enlists Jake to prevent the Kennedy assassination, because Al has become ill and cannot complete his mission.

entertainment

Throughout the novel, Epping prevents events that change Scribner history and people’s lives. He changes his name to George Amberson and lives a new life in secrecy, until he falls dangerously in love in Jodie, Texas, on a date dangerously close to the Kennedy assassination. Will he stop the assassination? If he does, what will the future be like?

You’ll have to read the book to find out, but don’t worry. It is a book filled with great detail and is well worth the time it may take to read the full 842 pages.

11/22/63 is an interesting perspective on the Kennedy assassination, but the ending is a bit unbelievable, which is a famous King trait. 11/22/63 is the best book King has come out with since the 1990s. It’s one you can’t miss so check it out!

With shows like Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, Big Tips Texas and Jersey Shore, MTV should change its name to STV Stupid Television.

Many older people remember the hours and hours of music that MTV and VH1 would play on the 10” screen by Cyndi Lauper, Michael Bolton and Michael Jackson. MTV, the channel that started it all in 1981 has been stretched like a popped rubber band.

Nowadays, music channels are starting to blow. Everyone used to love watching MTV in the ‘80s, ‘90s and even the early 2000s. But since we are in an age where music goes on the internet instead of TV, music and TV are starting to drift apart.

MTV only plays four hours of music when it used to have hours of shows like TRL, Yo’ MTV Raps and Alternative Nation. Now the channel is only focused on teen pregnancy, online dating and finding your sperm donor daddy.

If you look at the line-up of scripted shows, you would think the channel is a raunchy version of the Disney Channel.

The company got away without playing music by making extra channels like

MTV 2, MTV Jams, and MTV Tr3s – all of which you can only get if you have premium cable.

MTV will never be the same because of all the corrupt shows about fighting women, fighting men and the boring movies.

The longest music show hosted by MTV this year was the Video Music Awards and that was only three hours with about one hour of talking.

MTV isn’t the only music channel being crucified by reality TV; VH1 has also lost its way. VH1, which started in 1985, has started airing shows that deal with love, rehab and Hollywood stars’ ex-wives.

Both channels air 15 shows that have no life lessons other than don’t get pregnant and don’t online date without Skyping the person. They glorify under-aged girls signing there life away to a television show for a nine-month journey through pregnancy.

(Isn’t that what TLC and Lifetime is for?)

These channels should have fewer reality shows and more music shows. They should go back to their old ways and play more tunes rather than promoting these ignorant shows that encourage wrong-doing.

Binge-watching is only healthy in moderation

By DAYLAN PERKINS SNN Staff Writer

Another season of another series watched all in a single day. Hours wasted daily at TV and computer screens in the need to fill an entertainment void. Binge-watching is a recent phenomenon brought on by internet streaming sites such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon Instant Video and Crunchyroll. Binge-watching is simply the act of powering through a series or season of a series in a short amount of time.

Netflix’s availability of all of the Breaking Bad series is considered the reason for the spark in binge-watching, along with Sherlock, Arrested Development, Firefly and Twin Peaks (These are the top five binged series on Netflix). With faster payoffs, and no waits for the next episode, it’s no wonder why it is appealing.

“Compared to TV it’s a lot easier to binge-watch,” senior Noah Horaz said.

Another big positive is the lack of commercials on most sites, which in turn gives the binger more view time with less hassle, and makes the viewer more likely to continue.

This puts the viewer in an endless cycle that starts when they have found a series that interests them and ends when they have hit the last episode’s play button.

“If I find a series I like, I just binge on it,” junior Kenneth Goolsby said.

Despite these positives, few like to admit the harmful effects of binge-watching such as the obvious sedentary lifestyle and easy loss of time. Hours, days and weeks of your life can be lost in a person’s obsession with a show.

Binging also promotes a solitary lifestyle and can make you miss the TV thrill of theorizing what will happen next with others. When binging you are not given as much time to connect to the characters and story, which doesn’t make the ride as much fun as it was for the person who had to wait and wonder what would happen next. This relationship is almost exclusive to TV watchers as they are forced to put in months and years of dedication to enjoy a series.

Bingers are not given this opportunity, but instead have the experience zoom by them like a bullet train.

Finally, during the wait for the series upload, the future watcher is susceptible to spoilers, which can ruin any media from books, to movies, to video games, to TV shows.

If you do binge, make it a point to give yourself time to break in between. Your health is way more important than finding what happens in a series especially when you

can come back to finish it later. Resist the urge to go hours with little movement. Get up at the end of each episode and stretch.

Every so often look away from the screen and focus on a faraway spot to keep your eyes from deteriorating. Keep the screen comfortably away from you. Distance from the screen makes it less strain on your eyes, though it may feel the other way around.

Binging is not a sin, but as with anything, practice moderation and restraint to not hurt yourself while doing it.

If you’re looking for something to binge on, here are some suggestions: • Cartoons: Adventure Time, Total Drama Island series • Dramas: Lost, Breaking Bad • Action: Sons of Anarchy, Agents of Shield • Comedy: Family Guy, and stand-ups • Mysteries/thrillers: Walking Dead, American Horror Stories: Coven • Anime: Dragonball Z, Death Note

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SPORTS BRIEFS GIRLS' BASKETBALL: The girls’ basketball team, always used to winning, is having a harder than expected season. They had an 8-7 record before the holiday break. “We are working some things out as we go along. This is not the season we anticipated because we lack discipline and maturity,” Coach Necole Tunsil said. “But every now and then we show signs of greatness.”

Their next game is Thursday night at home against Boca Ciega High School.

BRANDON SWEAT | SNN

BOYS' BASKETBALL: With a 6-4 record right before the holiday break, the boys’ basketball team is also struggling, coach Anthony Lawrence said. Their biggest difficulty was playing without a full team because several of the players also were on the football team, which had a late post-season run. “We just got our team together because football did so good,” Lawrence said. Standouts so far on the team are Jacobi Boykins and Anthony Lawrence Jr.

Junior Deja Swinton attempts to block a pass during a home game against the St. Petersburg High School Green Devils on Dec. 11, 2013. ”This season has been a real roller coaster just because we’re so young and a lot of our players really didn’t have an opportunity to be in the roles that they’re in right now,” girls' basketball coach Necole Tunsil said.

CHRISTIAN MILLER | SNN

Senior Jacobi Boykins lays the ball up to make a 23 point deficit. Lakewood comes out with the win beating Pinellas Park 86-53.

BASEBALL: Baseball tryouts will start on Monday at Lake Vista Park right after school from 2:45-5:15. Conditioning will continue this week after school at 2:45 for an hour and a half.

Students must have a physical, insurance and athletic participation papers filled out and turned in “before even stepping on the field,” baseball coach Jayce Ganchou said. “We hope to be pretty good this year with good starting pitchers and returning starters. The team will be led by seniors Mike Ferrandiz and Lance Smith,” he said. The team will have two preseason games at Northeast High on Feb. 5 and 6, and the first regular season game is Feb. 11 against Clearwater at Lakewood at 7 p.m.

GIRLS' SOCCER: The girls’ soccer team has done “really well” this year, said coach Justin Bending . “I’m thoroughly impressed with the progress they’ve made.” The Lady Spartans record before winter break was four wins and eight losses. The best game of their season was the shutout against Gibbs High School. Now, the team is moving on to the district tournaments.

BOYS' SOCCER: The boys’ team has three wins, one tie, and nine losses. “They try their best and that’s all we can ask for,” coach Jonathon Crouch said. One highlight of their season was when they won 9-0 against Gibbs High School. Next up is the district tournament.

- Information for sports digests gathered by SNN Staff Writers Linda Corbett and KC Shelton

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sports

Gentlemen - and woman start your engines High school and sports can be a balancing act, and weekends are usually busy with work. However, freshman Rachel Brown finds a way to fulfill her passion: racing.

By OWEN DYCHES SNN Staff Writer

Most Lakewood students spend their weekends hanging out with friends or doing homework. But freshman Rachel Brown is not most Lakewood students. She races the oval track at Showtime Speedway in Pinellas Park in her 1995 Dodge Neon, the car her dad won by purchasing a $10 raffle ticket. Now, Brown has high aspirations.

“I want to be like Danica Patrick. No, I want to be better than her,” Brown said.

Patrick is the only female currently in NASCAR, but many of “the guys” don’t take her seriously. However, Brown insists she has no problems fitting in.

“I’m always in the garage helping with the car, or watching the arguments on pit lane. They get pretty funny,” Brown said.

Brown and her dad didn’t plan on getting into racing, but a measly raffle ticket changed that completely. The $10 ticket her dad purchased immersed his daughter in one of the fastest growing sports in America: car racing.

Brown’s dad, Jim Brown, has been racing for a year, and teaches her to drive.

“Rachel watched me race, and she wanted to do it. She’s driven go karts as well,” Jim Brown said. “I love that she races.She’s doing it for her, no one else.”

Brown has only participated in one official race, but as far as future plans, Brown said she plans on racing all the way to the top.

“I really like racing. I mean, I really, really like it. It’s more than a hobby to me; it’s what I want to do for a job.”

Racing doesn’t get in the way of her school work either, she said. She races at Showtime every weekend, but still has plenty of time to do work and relax.

While most high schoolers see tedious college applications and exorbitant senior fees in their future, Brown sees one thing. The asphalt oval in all directions of her, and the checkered flag she will always chase.

“I’m very proud of her for racing. I support her 100 percent,” said freshman Rebecca Mason, a friend of Brown. “I think girls can do anything a guy could do.”

SPECIAL TO SNN

Freshman Rachel Brown sits in the driver's seat of her 1995 Dodge Neon, which she races on the weekends at Showtime Speedway in Pinellas Park. "It's more than a hobby to me; it's what I want to do for a job," she said.

De-stressing the athletes

RACHELLE GADDY | SNN

RACHELLE GADDY | SNN

At left, yoga instructor Teri Plumridge demonstrates a yoga position for seniors Jacoby Chambliss and Donte Jones in the Lakewood auditorium on Nov. 6, 2013.

Above, the team mimics Plumridge's moves.

Pinellas County yoga instructor Teri Plumridge teaches Lakewood’s football and basketball teams how to relax and stretch their bodies. It all started when Plumridge came to Lakewood to teach faculty lessons every Wednesday. After Coach Cory Moore heard about the yoga lessons he got an idea to have the football team take yoga lessons before game days. “I’ve enjoyed working with the football team greatly. They’re a wonderful group of guys and I hope that yoga has helped them on the football field and in life,” Plumridge said. To see the multimedia by Rachelle Gaddy about Teri Plumridge’s yoga lessons. go to www.snntoday.pcsb.org.

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By AKELA HARRIS Design by NAUDIA MCDANIEL Photos by MARIAH WATTS, ATIERA HOPKINS and BRANDON SWEAT