March J.Hop Times

JHT

John Hopkins Middle School St. Petersburg, Florida March 23, 2011

J.HOP TIMES

Cover photo

Photo By SIERRA LEVY, BROOKE KIDD, BRANDON GARCIA/J.HOP TIMES

This is the J.Hop Times’ special spring break issue. Inside you will find information for all your spring break needs, from tips on what to bring to the beach, to what type of sunscreen to use and where to visit on your staycation in St. Pete. Have fun soaking up some rays and reading the special spring break issue.

About us

The J.Hop Times is produced four times a year by journalism students. For more news on John Hopkins, check out the J.Hop Times online at: jhoptimes.pcsb.org

Photo by BENJAMIN KETMANY/J.HOP TIMES

Newsroom 3 staff member Samantha Hernandez displays a box of Jolly Rancher flavored popsicles.

The class reviewed different brands and flavors on March 4.

To find out which popsicle J.Hop Times thinks is the best, see page 10.

On Feb. 22 John Hopkins students spent a day at Thurgood while police were searching for a teenager from Campbell Park who shot and killed a police officer. For more on the story see page.3.

Photo by SIERRA LEVY/J.HOP TIMES

Page 2

March 23, 2011

Survival Guide To Spring Break What do you look forward to the most about having a week off from school for spring break?

Reported by JAYA NAIR, ZLICEA SMITH and ELIZABETH WRIGHT

Photos by GEBRIEL KASSA, LAZARRE LESTER and TYRIK ROBINSON/J.HOP TIMES

“I get to go traveling to London because it’s exciting, and I love traveling. I like the city, and the people there are cool and I like the English accents.”

-Madison Redington, 8th grade

“Getting tan, going to the beach and hanging with friends and maybe going to Miami.”

-Delisa Silva, 8th grade

“I love sleeping in because I’m tired of waking up for school, and I love hanging out with my friends out of school, and I like tanning because I don’t like looking white.”

-Hayley Brahm, 8th grade

“No school! I get to be home and hang out with my friends… I’m going to do a little painting or basketball.”

-Rafil Hughes, 7th grade

“My family. My brother is coming down from college.

When I was little, we were close and I look up to him.

We are going to hang and maybe visit my family in Orlando.”

-Joseph Cruz, 6th grade

“Having fun being out of school away from these crazy people. I am going either to Campbell Park Rec Center or I’m going to Georgia to play with my baby cousin.”

-N’Jeri Allen, 6th grade

“Visiting my family in Georgia. We are going horseback riding. My sister, my brother, my little sister, my mom and my stepdad are coming to visit my grandma.”

-Fernando Balser, 6th grade

Tips for getting a sixpack and a beach bod

“Mostly I look forward to no homework and projects because I don’t like worryBy JEROME BURNETT, JIMMIE CLARK, ing about my grade and if I’m going to do good on it.” GEBRIEL KASSA and DERRICK PASCO -Althea Asistin, 7th grade What do you do when your girlfriend is not satisfied with your body? Are you afraid to take off your shirt at the swimming pool or beach?

Follow these tips to get a better body and get the girls falling over you like you’re Jacob from Twilight.

• Play sports like basketball, football, tennis, volleyball and swimming to stay

•

• •

Cartoon by JEROME BURNETT/J.HOP TIMES

healthy and physically fit. Play around large crowds, so the ladies can point you out and then you will get a 7 digit number instead of your usual 6 fake digits.

Get a lot of exercise. Do push-ups, jumping jacks, sit-ups and help your mama with the groceries. This will get the ladies to see your sensitive side. With the push-ups, do them outside, so the ladies can see your washboard abs.

Go running. If running is boring to you, run with your music player. Be sure to bring water so you won’t get dehydrated in the sun.

Eat healthy, don’t eat junk food, and drink plenty of water. If you spend your time on the couch eating potato chips or candy you will end up like a 765-pound fat guy at McDonald’s eating quarter pounders.

If you’re too lazy to do any of these things, get a marker and draw abs on your stomach.

J.Hop Times

Page 3

Tragedy Moves Hopkins hood. The streets in the Campbell Park area were closed to traffic due to the investigation.

The St. Petersburg Police asked that John Hopkins students relocate. Students from Campbell Park Elementary on Seventh Avenue S and Melrose Elementary on Thirteenth Avenue S were also displaced to alternate schools.

At 6 a.m. the students and staff received a voice message saying that buses would be taking students to Thurgood. If you normally walked to school, your parents would have to drive you there.

Photo by MORGAN LEVY/J.HOP TIMES “Boom, we got here J.Hop administrators and teachers (left to right) Mr. Vassalo, Mr. Shaver, Ms. Fields, Mr. Bowen and everyone pitched in,” and Officer Schaffer make plans to ensure all students arrive home safely after school. said Mr. Brown.

Thurgood was able to clear out some classrooms to make room

By JULIA MENDEZ for J.Hop students. “We Feb. 22 was anything but a normal day for J.Hop are all out of our element and we don’t have our supplies,” said Ms. Packard, eighth-grade science students. At 4 a.m. Mr. Brown, J.Hop’s principal, teacher. Mr. Brown tried to make sure it was still received a phone call from his district supervisor a “learning day.” The students completed work in saying that John Hopkins would be closed for the FCAT workbooks provided by Thurgood. “We did day. J.Hop students and staff would have to have puzzles, crosswords and science,” said eighth-gradclasses at Thurgood Marshall Middle School. er Alexis Bradley.

This was because the evening before St. PetersMr. Brown said that figuring out lesson plans and burg Police Officer David Crawford was fatally transitioning between classrooms and the cafeteria shot at the corner of Second Avenue S. and Eighth were the hardest parts of the day. He also said that Street S., about eight blocks from the school. The he was proud of J.Hop students and staff for workshooter was still on the loose and the search for ing together to get through difficult circumstances. the suspect was happening in J.Hop’s neighbor-

Around 260 Hopkins students, which is about 25 percent of J.Hop’s total student body, went to Thurgood that day. Some students said that their parents made them go to school. Oswald Francis, eighthgrade, said, “I was forced by my father.” Other students like Timmy McCabe, another eighth-grader, said that he went because “I thought it would be interesting to go to a different school.”

Ms. McIntosh, eighth-grade science teacher, said the day was interesting. “The administrators have handled it very well. I feel safe; the children are safe.”

To most students and staff the “old school recess,” as Mr. Brown calls it, was the highlight of the day—four square, football and enjoying what nature has to offer. Jerome Burnett, seventh-grade, said, “I had fun outside there because I hung out with friends.” He spent his recess on the basketball court and said he particularly liked seeing Mr. Brown play football with students. “I thought it was hilarious,” he said.

Sarah Pohl, Nilaja King, JaJuan Webster and Jacquez Newsome contributed to this report.

Hopkins displaced for a day

Remembering a colleague

By JAMARI GRAHAM

The death of St. Petersburg Police Officer David Crawford on Feb.21 touched close to home with one of J.Hop’s own. Officer Schaffer, J.Hop’s school resource officer, knew him for almost eight years. “His locker was right next to mine. I would see him in the morning,” Officer Schaffer said.

Officer Crawford was the third St. Pete police officer to be killed in 30 days. On Jan. 24 Officer Yaslowitz and Sergeant Baitinger were killed in a standoff when they were serving a warrant to suspect Hydra Lacey, who died as well. More recently Officer

Crawford died responding to a suspicious person call; he was fatally shot by 16-year-old Nicholas Lindsey.

When Officer Schaffer learned of the shooting he said he was sad and surprised another officer was killed.

Officer Crawford, 46, was with the force for 25 years. He worked the midnight shift most of his career. He patrolled the downtown and Campbell neighborhoods. Officer Schaffer would see him in the mornings when he was dressing for work and Officer Crawford was dressing to go home.

“We had brief conversations,” he said and he’ll miss those short conversations in the locker room. He describes Officer Crawford as quiet and said he owned seven cats.

When Officer Crawford was shot

Photo by SIERRA LEVY/ J.HOP TIMES

J.Hop students are directed by Mrs. Mitchell upon leaving the Thurgood cafeteria on Feb. 22nd.

he wasn’t wearing a bullet proof vest. The St. Petersburg policy for the vest is all officers must possess a bullet proof vest, but it’s their choice if they want to wear it. Some people have requested the St. Petersburg Police Department look into changing their policy on vests. Officer Schaffer said he wasn’t surprised to learn that Crawford wasn’t wearing a vest because he never saw him wear one.

“I was frustrated because he might still be alive if he had it on,” he said.

Officer Schaffer wears a bullet proof vest every day now “for protection.”

But he doesn’t think it’s fair to make officers wear bullet proof vests if they don’t want to.

Officer Schaffer said three officers dying in less than a month makes him

feel, “upset, disturbed, because it has been almost 31 years since someone was killed in the line of duty in St. Pete. … People have no fear of the consequences. They don’t think until it’s too late.”

However, Officer Schaffer said he also feels for 16-year-old Nick Lindsey who confessed to shooting Officer Crawford. “I was sad for him.

He’s going to spend the rest of his life in jail,” he said.

Officer Schaffer said he has learned something from his fellow officers’ deaths. “Always be prepared,” he said. “A suspicious person can equal suspicious behavior.”

Page 4

March 23, 2011

Tragedy Moves Hopkins

Photo by DANIEL OLIVER /JHOPTIMES

Nicholas Lindsey, the teenager who shot and killed police officer David Crawford, was found at the Citrus Grove apartment complex across the street from J.Hop. The school was shut down and relocated on Feb. 22.

Nicholas was found later that same day.

Photo by DE’QONTON DAVIS/J.HOP TIMES

Mr. Brown, J.Hop’s principal, and students play football during a designated recess time after lunch on Feb.22 at Thurgood Marshall. Students were given time to hang out with their friends, play games and walk the track.

Photo by ANTWOINE REID/J.HOP TIMES

(Left) J.Hop students talk to their civics teacher, Ms. Johnston, at Thurgood on Feb. 22nd. J.Hop students missed a regular day of school because of the shooting.

Instead of their regular classes, students participated in FCAT practice and teambuilding activities.

Photo by ANTWOINE REID/J.HOP TIMES

Students walk to their designated classrooms in Building 5 at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental on Feb. 22. J.Hop students spent their regular school hours at Thurgood and were later bused home.

Photo by SIERRA LEVY/J.HOP TIMES

On Feb. 22 students arrive at the Thurgood bus circle and continue to the cafeteria to check in. Students were seated by grade and then were split up into different classes so they could participate in FCAT practice work.

Photo by SIERRA LEVY/J.HOP TIMES

On Feb. 22 J.Hop Principal, Mr. Brown and Ms. Dyett, REAP teacher, show students to their classrooms with the help of Mr. Haugabrook, math teacher.

Thurgood did all they could to help accommodate the extra students on campus that day, said Mr. Brown.

Page 5

J.Hop Times

Suspect shocks many

By NILAJA KING

Polite, hardworking, respectful, intelligent. This is how teachers and friends describe Nick Lindsey in class and around the neighborhood. A lot of J.Hop students knew him from the neighborhood and playing football. Two years ago he was a student at J.Hop. But on the night of Feb. SPECIAL TO THE TIMES 22 people’s view of him changed. He became known John Hopkins M.S. for shooting and killing a St. 7th grade Nick Lindsey, 2009 Petersburg Police officer on Feb. 21.

After a day-long manhunt that forced J.Hop, Campbell Park and Melrose Elementary students to relocate to different schools for the day, Nick, 16, was arrested after confessing to shooting and killing Officer David Crawford the night before. Officer Crawford was shot as he approached Nick, who was walking down the road with a brick in his hand.

Nick had been reported as a “suspicious person.”

Students and staff were suprised to see Nick’s

Tragedy Moves Hopkins

face on TV news and on the cover of the newspaper.

This wasn’t the Nick they knew. “I was shocked; my heart dropped,” said Ms. Mcknight, a substitute teacher at Lakewood who used to work at Gibbs.

Nick attended Gibbs High and missed 42 days of school this year.

Eighth-grade language arts teacher Ms. Collis had him as a student at J.Hop. She described him as “always very respectful and intelligent.” When he was in her class, she said he did all of his work, would try very hard, always said yes ma’am or no ma’am and he said hi to her when they saw each other in the hallways.

Sierra Richardson, a sophomore at Lakewood High, is his former girlfriend of two years. They dated in seventh and eighth grade at John Hopkins.

“He is a very good person. I think he just hung around the wrong people knowing that he wasn’t like them,” she said. “I’m going to miss my best friend.”

Eighth-grader Jake Burklew played flag football against him in the sixth grade. He said Nick is “quiet and a good person.” When he turned to Channel 10 News he was shocked to see Nick’s face. “What’s the point of doing that?” he thought to himself.

Zlicea Smith, a seventh-grader, knew him from the neighborhood. He lived in Citrus Grove Apartments (also known as Bethel Heights) across the street from John Hopkins. Her brother used to hang out with Nick. “He was nice, fun to play with,” she

said. On the other hand, she thinks he was involved in a gang. “Ain’t no lie,” Zlicea said.

“Yes, I thought he might be in a gang because he was involved in so many fights in school,” said Ms. Collis, eighth-grade language arts teacher.

On Facebook, Nick had pictures of himself with money in his mouth calling himself “hood rich” and “young savage.” He had been arrested for grand theft auto in the past. Still, many people say that they are shocked. Ms. Grass, his former reading teacher, said she felt “heartbroken, extremely sad for his family and the officer and his family.”

Yancey Thomas, an eighth grader, said “It wasn’t really any emotion; it was like d***. Can’t believe he did that.”

But why did he do it? J.Hop students who know him say they think it was out of fear. “I think he was scared because he already knew he had a couple charges on him,” Yancey said.

“I think at the time he was scared and didn’t know what to do,” Jake said.

Nick was charged as an adult and he faces firstdegree murder. He could get life in prison.

Lamar Harden, a sixth-grader at J.Hop, said he knew Nick from football. “I felt scared for his future,” he said.

J.Hop Times reporters Linda Corbett and Anthony Edwards and SNN staff writers, at Lakewood High School, Daijha Wimberly and Whitney Thomas contributed to this report.

Photo by JAJUAN WEBSTER/ J.HOP TIMES

On Feb. 22 John Hopkins was displaced to Thurgood Marshall Middle School. Ms. Smith, J.Hop’s art teacher, works with eighth-graders on a paper project in one of the Thurgood classrooms. Teachers from John Hopkins were split into classrooms with students based on grade level.

Photo by MORGAN LEVY/J.HOP TIMES

(Left) Officer Schaffer watches as eighthgrader Xzaviear Scantling walks to the bathroom at Thurgood Marshall Middle School.

J.Hop was closed for the day, along with neighboring elementary schools, Melrose and Campbell Park.

Photo by DE’QONTON DAVIS/J.HOP TIMES

On Feb. 22 eighth-grade math teacher Mr. Haugabrook plays four square with J.Hop students during free time at Thurgood. Teachers and faculty joined in with students to share in the down time.

Owen Dyches and Andrea Williams contributed to this report.

March 23, 2011

Page 6

Around J.Hop

Click, drag and bully

By VIOLET BYRD and CAYLIN SCHAFFER J.Hop’s Hot or Not, J.Hop’s Finest, J.Hop’s Fine N Ugly and J.Hop Royalty.

These are all Facebook pages that students use to rate each other.

For example, on J.Hop Royalty there is a group of girls’ photos and above it says “J.Hop prettyzz +10.” Scroll further down the page and you’ll see “The stank dirty ones negative 5”with pictures of two girls next to each other. The page also includes categories like “popular.” Underneath, students post comments on what they think of the pictures and the people put in each category.

Sometimes a student wants their picture posted. Other times, it’s someone else who requests people’s pictures be put up without them realizing it. The photos are usually from the student’s Facebook page.

Some people like the Facebook pages and take having their photos on them as a compliment.

Naiya Coleman, seventh grade, visits the J.Hop Royalty page because her photo is posted on it. She said, “Basically it’s about the raw people that go to the school.”

Others dislike pages where students are rated.

Megan Bridges, a sixth-grader, had her picture posted on J.Hop’s Hot or Not a few times. She said being on the Facebook page and “losing” the competition made her feel “sad, kind of discouraged because they made me feel ugly.”

Eighth-graders Lacey Steele and Hailey Gonzalez created the Hot or Not page.

Lacey said they started the page for fun for their friends, but it got more popular than expected. “People from school kept adding us and we kept it going until it got out of hand,” Hailey said.

She said students were requesting

Photo by MYAH ALVAREZ/J.HOP TIMES

Morgan Levy is shadowed by Facebook on Feb. 7. Facebook is one of the ways students bully each other online. certain students photos be posted and the students who were in the photos were getting upset at the comments and taking it out on her and Lacey.

They recently shut down the page.

J.Hop’s school social worker doesn’t like the Facebook pages and says it could hurt kids’ self esteem.

“I think it’s potentially degrading because a person shouldn’t be judged on looks alone,” Mr. Richards, a social worker at J.Hop, said.

He also doesn’t like that people’s photos are pulled without permission.

Megan, one of the girls who was upset about what people said about her on the Hot or Not page, said the people who commented were cyber-bullying “because they had really mean stuff to say.

Some people said things like, ‘Eww, she’s ugly’.”

But Lacey doesn’t think their page was

A second chance?

By DE’QONTON DAVIS and ARTIZ FLOWERS Six-foot fences, uniforms, teacher escorts to classes.

This is how students describe Pinellas Secondary School.

Thirteen students recently returned to J.Hop from Pinellas Secondary.

This is a school for students who have had behavior problems and received excessive referrals.

Students are sent to the school are for repeated mis-

cyber-bullying because if someone said they didn’t want to be on the page, she took their picture off. “If someone asked to take their picture down, we would because we wouldn’t want to upset anyone.

It’s just for fun,” she said.

Lacey also said they deleted mean comments on J.Hop Hot or Not. That page has been deleted, but other similar Facebook pages still exist and make some people angry.

Devonta Vicario, eighth grade, is a friend of J.Hop Royalty, which is still active on Facebook. He said, “It starts drama, and I don’t like it.” However, he still checks out these types of pages regularly.

He said if he sees a bad picture of someone he says he’ll comment that it’s not true, and sometimes when people are being really mean he tells them to delete the page.

conduct, like skipping and being disruptive in class. But sometimes the reasons are more serious, like “battery, weapon and drug charges,” J.Hop Principal Mr. Brown said.

Seventh-grader Emmanuel Sims went to Pinellas Secondary for hitting a teacher with a basketball. He was there for two months, and he said you don’t have freedom like you do at J.Hop. “In Pinellas Secondary you’re trapped,” he said. He says the school is “like being in your room all day.”

Pinellas Secondary Principal Mr. Hammond spoke with the J.Hop Times to give us the inside scoop of what really happens at Pinellas Secondary.

In some ways, he said, it is similar to regular middle schools. The students have seven classes. But the classes are smaller so the teacher can have more individual time to work with the students.

Pinellas Secondary has 160 students. John Hopkins has more than 900 students.

At Pinellas Secondary students are not allowed to walk the halls alone. They have to have a teacher or staff member with them at all times no matter where they’re going.

Students at Pinellas Secondary have to wear uniforms—a white polo shirt, khaki pants, a black or brown belt and brown or white shoes. No other colors or jewelry are allowed.

Ejaya Okuleye, eighth grade, said she really doesn’t like J.Hop Hot or Not, J.Hop Royalty and the other rating pages and never visits them. “It’s lame… I don’t like the page because it’s not true and it starts fights,” she said.

Loren Harvey, sixth grade, doesn’t participate in any of these pages because “it’s rude and offensive. I think it’s mean because they see who’s prettier. It’s stupid.”

But some people say that it’s not as big of a deal as people say it is and they just look at it to pass time.

Wyatt Parker, eighth grade, said he doesn’t comment on these pages, but he looks at the pages and he gets on them a lot just to see whose pictures are on there and who is winning.

Krystal Mitchell contributed to this story.

To help the students work through their behavior problems, the school has a full-time social worker and psychologist and five behavior specialists. “If a student has a bad day, they can put in a support call to meet with one of the specialists,” Mr. Hammond said.

Students are normally at Pinellas Secondary for one or two semesters. Their length of time there depends on the violation. If a student is reassigned for a second time, it is automatically for one year,” Mr. Hammond said. The students who go to Pinellas Secondary cannot go to another Pinellas County school until their time frame is up.

To help the students returning back to John Hopkins from Pinellas Secondary be successful, Mr. Brown and the assistant principals met with their parents when they first came back to J.Hop. “We told them about our Trojan pride goals. We gave them academic goals,” he said. He said he did this so the students felt comfortable being back around kids and teachers at the school.

Emmanuel said he doesn’t think he’s going to do better at John Hopkins after going to Pinellas Secondary.

“Because I’m bad,” he said with a smile. “Y’all act just like we do.”

Mr. Hammond said sometimes that happens.

“There are some students that no matter what, they still misbehave at their regular school,” Mr. Hammond said. “But we do have more success than miscompliance.”

J.Hop Times

Page 7

SPRING BREAK SPECIAL REPORT

Tanning the St. Petersburg-shore way

By HANNAH MAYER As students in Florida, many of us enjoy lying out and catching rays. Some people even lie in a high-voltage tanning bed to get that golden glow. Would you still spend countless hours baking in the sun if you knew the dangers? It’s true; tanning, in the sun or in a tanning bed, without proper protection can cause various types of skin cancers. In fact, tanning beds triple the risk of developing melanoma, according to WebMD, and should be skipped altogether. A good sunscreen can decrease your chance of developing these cancers. However, a trip to your local drug store can leave you confused with the hundreds of options out there.

The J.Hop Times Newsroom 3 class did a test rating 5 popular sunscreen lotions.

SPF: 4: Not sufficient.

Water resistance: Not waterproof or sweat proof; good luck trying to swim!

Cost: $9.99 Overall rating:

Avon- Skin so Soft- Bug Guard Plus

Color: It starts blue and rubs in clear, but can leave a blue tint to your skin.

Texture: Most of the Photo by CHRISTIAN GRANT-ROBINSON/J.HOP TIMES time this lotion came On Feb. 24 Daniel Oliver and Samantha Hernandez, along out watery and greasy. with the Newsroom 3 class, test five popular sunscreens.

Their decision was that the Ocean Potion FACE 45 Potion Smell: This lotion has a smell somewhat like was the best out of the sunscreens tested.

Elmer’s glue… and you can definitely smell the Bain de Soleilinsect repellant.

Orange Gelée SPF: It has a moderate SPF of 30.

Color: Begins orange and leaves an This is better than some, but still orange hue on your skin after applicaneeds to be re-applied every 3 hours. tion.

Water resistance: This lotion is very Texture: Thick and oily, this one was water and insect resistant and it has disliked by most. an added moisturizing bonus.

Smell: It smelled somewhat like a Cost: $14 baby powder mixed with a rotten Overall rating: orange.

What’s in your beach bag?

By GENESIS FELICIANO and DIANA ROBLES

Photo by BRANDON GARCIA, BROOKE KIDD, and SIERRA LEVY/J.HOP TIMES

During spring break a popular thing to do is go to the beach. Before leaving the house many people pack a beach bag. Some of the most commonly packed things are a magazine, snacks, sunglasses, and their MP3 or iPod.

Spring break is coming and all people can think about is the weather and when they can hit the beach. We took a peek into J.Hop students´ beach bags and how they like to spend their time at the beach.

Daiquana Ware, 7th grade What does your beach bag look like?

Big Aeropostale bag.

What do you carry in your beach bag?

Sunscreen, shorts, lotion, deodorant, towel, socks, my cell phone and snacks.

What do you recommend people carry in their beach bag?

A towel, sunscreen, lotion, deodorant.

Some people stink, and they need the refreshment when they get out of the saltwater.

What do you do at the beach?

Swim and eat because I love them both.

Jada Roberson, 8th grade What does your beach bag look like?

Pink and green and has palm trees on it.

What do you carry in your beach bag?

Towel and a bathing suit, so I can dry off at the beach.

Australian Gold

Color: It starts gold and rubs in clear.

Texture: Like your household lotion, it can differ from smooth to greasy depending on your skin type.

Smell: It has a soothing coconut, pineapple smell.

SPF: It has a low SPF of 8; not the best, but re-applying about every 90 minutes can help.

Water resistance: This lotion is waterproof.

Cost: $9.99 Overall rating:

SPF: 45, the best of what we tested but not the highest you can get Water resistance: Water and sweat resistant Cost $4.39 Overall rating: Editor’s note: Although J.Hop newsroom students have listed the SPF of the specific brands they rated, most sunscreens can be purchased in a wide range of SPFs.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer

Color: Milky white to transparent Texture: Even and sleek Smell: Light beach-ish smell SPF: An average 30 Water resistance: Waterproof, sweat proof and resists rub off.

Cost: $10.69 Overall rating:

Ocean Potion FACE 45 Potion

Color: White to clear Texture: Smooth and soft, like satin.

Smell: Many said it had a very light ocean-y smell.

What is the thing you must carry in your beach bag?

My phone, so I can call people.

What do you recommend people to carry in their beach bag?

Sunscreen, so they won’t get sunburned.

What do you do at the beach?

I go in the water and play in the sand because it’s fun.

Ronesha Jones, 6th grade What does your beach bag look like?

Purple with stripes, but I have five beach bags.

What do you carry in your beach bag?

Towels, snacks, lotion and sunscreen. I carry some chips, juice, honey buns and caramel pie.

What is the thing you must carry in your beach bag?

Sunscreen, because I don’t want to get burned.

What do you recommend people carry in their beach bag?

Sunscreen, so they don’t get burned.

What do you do at the beach?

I swim and play in the sand.

Photo by LINDA CORBETT/ J.HOP TIMES

On Feb. 24, JaJuan Webster jokes around by putting sunscreen on his nose during a review session.

Tyler Fowler, 8th grade What does your beach bag look like?

All black backpack with green trim.

What do you carry in your beach bag?

Towel, change of clothes, deodorant and soap to stay clean.

What do you recommend people carry in their beach bag?

Soap, deodorant, lotion and a towel.

What do you do at the beach?

I swim, walk across the street to the store and hang with my friends.

Sara Vlhova, 7th grade What does your beach bag look like?

Blue Aeropastale.

What do you carry in your beach bag?

Towel, sunscreen and sunglasses, so I don’t get burned, don’t go blind, and so I have something to sit on.

What is the thing you must carry in your in your beach bag?

Sunglasses, ‘cause they are awesome.

What do you do at the beach?

Go swimming, ‘cause there is nothing else to do except bury my sister.

Brittany Weddle contributed to this report.

Page 8

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SPRING BREAK SPECIAL REPORT: P

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Photo by TATIANA D’PARDO/ J.HOP TIM ES

free minutes With 12,96m0ost of my time I will spend nga and storylines drawing maat I have had over of ideas th Then I’ll occupy the weeks. h a bunch of manga Photo by myself wit laugh until I can’t d n a er JAMIN books f anymore. Aft BEN ANY/ el ys m l o tr n ke co KETM own and ta ES that, I’ll sitindg other online .HOP TIM J g en ll a e n ch li n n o o e massive f Duty players on th ame “Call o g r multiplaye rfare 2.”

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POSTCARDS FROM ST. PETERSBURG

Page 9

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With 12,960 free minutes I will be chilling it Knight-style with my big bro at UCF for Spring Break. We’re going to play ultimate Frisbee, hoops and some pigskin. Then, we’ll be unwinding in the dorm rooms. We’re going to be whooping some b-hind playing “Halo” and “Black Ops.” The room’s going to be filled with boxes of pizzas, boys being boys.

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y y Photo b s I JAMAR / M ach GRAHA wn J.HOP ir a h TIMES s ’ t a Th o do es. s ee minute r f 0 6 ,9 g With 12 g my sprin in d n e p s eat I will be rigerator f e r y m I t break a I can find. d o o f k n ju ing all the nter as the food hu will be the rey. I gotta be the yp shall be m feel the refrigor, rarefrigerat he refrige ? t k c li d n hat erator a eah, so w Y . t u o e t? I tor insid uess wha g ll e W . d It’s weir r you: I am o f h s a fl ws have a ne weird.

Photo by JAJUAN WEBSTER/ J.HOP TIMES

y Photo b THA SAMAN NDEZ/ HERNA IMES J.HOP T

Submit your spring break photos and postcard text to jhoptimes@yahoo.com for possible publication in the J.Hop Times online.

Page 10

SPRING BREAK SPECIAL REPORT her escape from and funny. The boy finds true love and Our top movie picks helps that place. becomes himself again.

By LATAVIA NELSON, MIA BARTOLOMEI-NEGRON Students will like this movie because it has a and LANA LESTER

March 23, 2011

Movie title: Rango Rating: PG Genre: Action, adventure and animation Release date: March 4 This movie is about a chameleon who is having an identity crisis.

He discovers the hero inside him all because of a little town in the Mojave Desert called Dirt.

Students will like this movie because it is funny like Madagascar, and it will make you laugh hard.

If you like Beauty and the Beast, you will like Beastly because it is a lot of action, like in the remake of it.

Spring break is almost here and that means you’ll movie Takers.

Movie title: Scream 4 have free time. One fun thing to do with those extra Rating: PG-13 days is go to the movies. Here are some movies beMovie title: Beastly Genre: Horror, suspense ing released in theaters this spring.

Rating: PG-13 and thriller Movie title: Genre: Romance Release date: April 15 Sucker Punch Release date: March 4 A victim returns to her Rating: PG-13 This movie is about a hometown after 10 years Genre: Action young boy who was and finds that the killer and fantasy a handsome teen who from Scream 3 has come back to life Release date: was put under a spell. and started raising chaos again. The March 25 The witch made him girl who came back might be the last Ashton Taylor contributed to this A young teenager gets kidnapped ugly- and he has to find true love to person in her family left standing. report. by two men and put in the back of a make him handsome again. There’s This movie will be good to watch car. She’s handcuffed and locked in one girl who really sees him for who because it will keep you on the edge a room by herself. Her dream world he is because she finds him handsome of your seat. ending allowing for the imaginafind the murderer, la-dee-da, this oddball birthday gift. Even in some this one is packed with action and tion to take over. Its chapters are book continues to put a spin on dragging, awkward chapters, like fighting. short, and the plot is incredibly reality with hidden identities and when Lizzy meets the friend next fast-paced, jumping right into the soap-opera like troubles: Who’s door, the book pulls through and Title: Three Little Words: A

By SARAH POHL and HANNAH MAYER action, though it might be a little the thief? Who’s the con artist? makes it all worthwhile.

Memoir too fast. If you were planning on Who’s the suicide attempt? But Author: Ashley RhodesIn the pool or on a plane during reading this, check it out from a be careful to pay attention: if you Title: Vampire Academy Courter spring break we all need a break. library rather than buying it. The don’t understand the back story Author: Richelle Mead Genre: Autobiography The J.Hop Times suggest sharing money is not worth the short time and metaphors, it will all seem like Genre: Fantasy Pages: 336 that relaxation with a good book. you put into it. mush to you.

Pages: 332 These are some of our favorites.

This tearjerker makes you reRose and her best friend Lissa Title: The Westing Game Title: Jeremy Fink and the ally think about the world. Even a Title: Witch and Wizard are used to being close. After all, Author: Ellen Raskin Meaning of Life person who’s not so mushy could Author: James Patterson Rose is Lissa’s half-vampire body Genre: Mystery Author: Wendy Mass a few tears while reading this Genre: Science fiction guard in training. Why would Lissa shed Pages: 208 Genre: Realistic fiction book about a young girl’s tragic Pages: 104 need protection? She’s the last Pages: 304 past.

Most of the story takes place This puzzling mystery is guaranliving member of her royal vampire right here If you’re looking for a quick read, in the bay area, and teed to keep you guessing. After “My sweat smells like peanut family and is waiting for the throne. you may be don’t go any farther than this. able to identify some butter.” So starts the story of a boy The story tells of their first year Brother and sister Whit and Wisty, multi-millionaire Sam Westing places in the The tales of her dies, 16 heirs are invited to discov- named Jeremy Fink. During the back after running away from their life begin withstory. who happen to be a witch and the day Ashley is er the secret of his death, thought summer, he receives a mysterious special boarding school, Vampire wizard, are on the run from the taken from her crack-head mother. to be a murder. The prize: several locked box for his 13th birthday Academy. This book is a great for New Order and find themselves From there, the book continues million dollars. But who is the real claiming to have the meaning of people who love vampire series. lost between worlds—literally. stories of her life in abusive winner? Instead of following the life inside. He and his friend Lizzy It’s anything but Twilight, not some with The book has a nice cliff-hanger foster homes. regular plot line of collect clues, try to uncover the secret of this sappy teenage vampire love story; Breyers Pomegranate Power of Fruit: Blends All-Fruit

By SAMANTHA HERNANDEZ and TATIANA D’PARDO Tropical Bars Nutrition facts: calories: As spring break approaches, the blazing heat is arriving too.

40; vitamin C: 10% fruit; Nutrition facts: Cold, soothing popsicles can help cool you off. The newsroom sugar 9g 100% fruit and 3 class did a taste test of four brands of popsicles.

Flavors: Mixed berry pome- fruit juice, no granate, mango pomegransugar added; Jolly Rancher Popsicles Minute Maid Juice Bars ate, blueberry pomegranate calories: 30; Nutrition facts: 10% fruit Nutrition facts: 90% fruit Price: $3.29 for a 12-pack vitamin A 2.8%; juice; calories: 45; vitamin juice; calories: 60; vitamin Tastiness: The mixed berry calcium: 4.9%; C: 10%; sugar: 8g C: 100%; sugar: 14g flavor is really good and vitamin C 24%; Flavors: Cherry, blue raspFlavors: Orange, cherry and sweet, like a smoothie. The sugar 6g berry, green apple, grape grape blueberry ones are awesome Flavor: TropiPrice: $3.85 for a 20-pack Price: $3.19 for a 12-pack and taste like real fruit. The cal fruit: pinePhoto by BENJAMIN KETMANY/JHOPTIMES Tastiness: Four delicious Tastiness: The cherry popmango pomegranate flavor apple, banana Daniel Oliver, center, converses with other J.Hop Times flavors are all packed in a sicles have a sour tang to tastes sugary and has a hint Price: $3.39 for staff while tasting Minute Maid Juice Bars during a popsicle review on March 4. rocket-like popsicle and are them. The grape ones taste of banana. Some said the a 6 pack ready for lift off. The flavor like blue tootsie pops –very mango ones taste like cardTastiness: The Packaging: Wrapped in is out of the world. Once it sweet. The orange one tastes board. box points out these are clear plastic packaging to thaws, BAM! SOUR! like an orange lollipop.

Meltiness: These melt fast, made with nothing but reduce waste. This makes Meltiness: Hard, frozen Meltiness: Doesn’t melt too but they’re not too hard. fruit,” they’re healthier than them hard to squeeze up so solid fast and long lasting like Tri- Packaging: Easy to open, other popsicles, but they you can eat it.

Packaging: Nice, perfect dent gum they have a traditional paper taste horrible. They are too Overall rating: size, easy to open Packaging: They have a wrapping. fruity. They leave a fishy unique triangular shape, but Overall rating: after taste.

Overall rating: are difficult to open.

Meltiness: Frozen solid as ice, doesn’t melt fast.

Overall rating:

Great Beach Reads

SLURP...Popsicle paradise

Page 11

J.Hop Times

J.Hop Sports J.Hop crushes competition

By TABRIA SMITH and KENIJAH COLLINS

The J.Hop track team dominated their first track meet of the season against Azaelea on March 3. They won seven out of the eight events. The only one they didn’t win first place in was the mile. Coach Lundin said the stars of the first meet were eighth-graders Deonte Carswell, Devonte Vicario and Melissa Dones. She said they did “very good for their first meet.

They were nervous.”

Melissa competed in the hurdles, 800 meters, four by one, discuss and shotput. She said she felt very confident because it is her third year being on the track team.

Photo by OWEN DYCHES/J.HOP TIMES

Marica James, eighth grade, of the J.Hop 2011 track team catches up to an Azalea competitor on the 100 meter hurdles event at St. Pete High. Marica wound up catching the Azalea hurdler and winning.

Photo by KRYSTAL MITCHELL/J.HOP TIMES

Photo by OWEN DYCHES/J.HOP TIMES

Hayley Brahm (left) passes off the baton to Daijah St. John Ford while running the four-by-four at St. Petersburg High School during John Hopkins’ first track meet on March 3.

Photo by KRYSTAL MITCHELL/J.HOP TIMES

Students crowd around new track coach, Ms. Lundin, during tryouts on Feb. 4.

Coach Lundin writes down students’ names from last year’s track team, while observing the new talent that J.Hop has to offer.

“I love track because I love to compete, and running is my life.”

---Melissa Dones, 8th grade team captain

Eighth-graders Devontae Jenkins, (center left) and Jaiwana Byrd (center right) do lunges before they begin running on Feb. 4, at track try-outs.

Photo by KRYSTAL MITCHELL/J.HOP TIMES

Students stretch before running drills start on Feb. 4, during track tryouts. Students test their skills to see who will be eligible to make the team.

These are the students who made the track team this year: Tysheira Adams Hayley Brahm Aaliyah Branch De Janique Burden Menzo Burnett Charles Byrd Jaiwana Byrd Deonte Carswell Jimmie Clark Deme Davis Melissa Dones Reshaad Edward Ericka Gaye Dakotah Haas

Lionel Hart Jennifer Holloway Alana Howard Kenya Howard Deontrey James Marica James Devontae Jenkins Tamiya John Randy Johnson Nilaja King Jacob Land Marcus McCall Darius Miller Kevin Miller

“It keeps me out of trouble when I’m out of school, plus a lot of my friends run with me. I am the best long jumper.”

--Jacob Land, 8th grader

Football wins

By TIERNAN ASTRONSKAS, LAMAR HARDEN, HYDEIA KEGLER and QUANASIA WARE

Graph by TIERNAN ASTRONSKAS and LAMAR HARDEN

Bernard Mitchell Jahleek Mouzon Desminique Moore Malik Moore Terry Morton Nicole Pittman Shawne Rawls Daijah St. John-Ford Goldina Sterling Mercedez Sterling Ashton Taylor Devonte Vicario Gabriana Wallace Sacaree Wright

After surveying 100 students at J.Hop about their favorite beach sport, the one that came out on top is football. 50% of students surveyed said football is the most popular sport to play at the beach. Eighth-grader Cortavius Thomas said, “I like to play football at the beach because the sand is soft, and I can see the water.” Coach Starling said he likes football at the beach because, “You can tackle someone in water or sand, and they won’t cry.”

Page 12

March 23, 2011

J.Hop Music

Drumming and piano students receive superior and excellent ratings at MPAs

By JALEN MIDDLETON and CHASE LEWIS

On Feb. 12, John Hopkins Middle School’s World Drumming Percussion Ensemble received straight superiors in the County Florida Band Master Association Solo and Ensemble Assessment, or the FBA, held at Gibbs High School. This was the first time they ever competed and they earned the highest rating you can receive.

In addition to playing as a group, drumming students performed solos. For their solo performances seven students received superior ratings and two students received excellent ratings, which is the second highest rating you can receive.

J.Hop piano students competed at the event as well.

They received 10 superior ratings and 17 excellent ratings.

For the full story visit jhoptimes.pcsb.org.

Orchestra gives a superior performance at MPAs

By HANNAH MAYER

The Hopkins Orchestra received straight superiors from every judge in every category at the District 9 Florida Orchestra Association Music Performance Assessment (MPA) on March 2.

Two J.Hop Orchestra groups competed at the MPA. The Advanced String Orchestra performed on the “C” level, which is the hardest level you can compete in during middle school. John Hopkins was the only middle school who attempted music at a “C” level of difficulty. The J.Hop String Orchestra performed on the “E” level, which is the level most middle school students learn music in.

For the full story visit jhoptimes.pcsb.org.

Photo by BRANDON GARCIA/J.HOP TIMES

Photo by TIERNAN ASTRONSKAS/J.HOPTIMES

Sixth-graders pound on drums in the band room on Feb.21 during a Hand on Heroes session. Visiting drum instructor, Steve Turner, talks with students about hitting drums as a way of preventing bullying.

Pounding out bullying

By GISSELLE ZAYAS

POUND, POUND, THUMP! POUND, POUND, THUMP! The band room is full of sixth-graders all in a big circle holding drums with their teacher in the middle.

On Feb. 21 in Building 2-100, a big group of sixthgraders came together to do a drumming session called Hands on Heroes. Mr. Turner came from Ruth Eckerd Hall to teach students how to prevent bullying by teaching them how to play drums.

“Don’t steal my thunder,” Mr. Turner said. The group sat in a circle and did the wave by beating on the drums. “If you make a mistake, you know what to do.

You laugh,” Mr. Turner said.

The students also made a song by hitting random beats and adding their own dialogue. “Go with the beat, and make a rhythm,” Mr. Turner said.

Mr. Vasallo, the sixthgrade assistant principal and magnet coordinator, said “It was a unique way to use art to solve problems”.

Austin Fitch is one of the students in the drumming group. He said what liked the most about their first meeting was “when I got to play a song because I made it up.”

He said he learned that you shouldn’t do bullying and you should walk away from it if it happens to you.

He thinks that focusing on anti-bullying while drumming is a good idea “because it lets you give your emotions away.”

Kaylee Bergin agreed, “It was kind of fun to express emotion,” she said.

This group of will meet with twice a month for the rest of the year.

Samantha Hernandez, George Holloway and Tatiana D’Pardo contributed to this report.

Let them know you’re proud of them in the next J.Hop Times, June 1st!

FOR $5

ROOM 5-113 727.893.2400 x 133 jhoptimes@yahoo.com

(Top) Sixth-graders Michelle Joslin (left), Alana Howard (center), and Brianna perez beat on drums during a drumming session. (Right) Each drum that students use has a design on the top and is painted with different colors.

Photo by TIERNAN ASTRONSKAS/J.HOPTIMES

Playing her heart out

By DANIEL OLIVER

Kaila Robinson, seventh-grade, is the first chair violinist in J.Hop’s Orchestra. She received the position in sixth grade. She is the youngest first chair in the orchestra. “Being a first chair means if the conductor gets hurt or sick the first chair takes over,” Mr. O’Neill, J.Hop’s orchestra teacher, said.

“It was easy. I just played, and he said you’re the first chair,” Kaila said.

“I play the violin because...the string instruments are the closest to the human voice,” she said.

Photos by MELISSA DONES/J.HOP TIMES

Page 13

J.Hop Times

What if…?

By DE’JANIQUE BURDEN, ILLEA CONARD, ALEXA GAMMAGE and DAKOTAH HAAS

Around J.Hop ...students were teachers?

“I would let people chew gum in class and let people have electronics out and have breaks during the day and teach fun lessons and do this as long as they’re getting their work done.”

-Delisa Silva, 8th grade “I wouldn’t go to this school because I don’t want to be taught by a person who is the same age as me.”

-Deseray Jenkins, 7th grade

“(There would be) no rules and I would run around in a circle and scream random Japanese.”

-Ranae Paraiso, 6th grade

Top photo by DAKOTAH HAAS/J.HOP TIMES Right photo by BRANDON GARCIA/J.HOP TIMES Photo by ILLEA CONARD/J.HOP TIMES

...you were the only student at school?

“The teachers would be on me more because I’m the only student in the class and that’s what they’re here to do.”

-Nicole Pittman, 7th grade Photo by ALEXA GAMMAGE/J.HOP TIMES

...everyone was bad? What do you think our punishment would be?

“I would probably be lonely because nobody would be there except for me and the teachers.”

-Darian Register, 7th grade

“A SWAT team would probably make a jail.”

-Trevon Gammage, 7th grade

“There would be no need to go to school because it’s boring.”

-Mahcario McKinney, 8th grade

“We would get put on lock down.”

-Michael Schreck, 8th grade

Photo by CHRISTIAN GRANT-ROBINSON/J.HOP TIMES

Drama reps J.Hop

By KENDRICK AUTY

J.Hop’s drama students accomplished success at the State Junior Thespian Competition at Melbourne High School. Thirty-two students from our school competed and received one good, four excellent and five superior ratings. Nick Salvo, a winner of the superior rating for his duet performance of “Sibling

...everyone had to wear the same thing to school?

Wars,” said, “It is a great honor and it shows all the hard work I’ve done.”

Eighth-graders Carley Going and Kelly Frehling won Critic’s Choice for their duet performance of “Ditzes.” This was a high honor because they got to present their scene in front of the entire state of 1,800 students at the closing ceremonies, drama teacher Mr. Shaver said. Carly said that the competition was fun

“That would stink because school needs individuality instead of people walking around like robots.”

-Thomas Tomasetti, 8th grade

Photo by JAYA NAIR/J.HOP TIMES

“Everybody has to pay (each time they misbehave) because maybe the school needs money.”

-Chris Cotton, 7th grade

“That would really stink because I came here to express my creativity with my clothes.”

-Kayla Ballard, 6th grade

“I would express myself differently and stand out, be me and act different.”

-Neana White, 8th grade because she met new people and got to go to a different place.

The drama students’ performances at the competition showed they are one of the best drama programs in the state. Yeah, that’s right. This competition wasn’t just in the county; it was against the whole state.

March 23, 2011

Page 14

World Culture

Photo by CHASE LEWIS/ J.HOP TIMES Clod Dimasacat is a student from the Philippines. He is bilingual and said he misses the Philippines but he’s loving J.Hop so far.

It’s a small world

By JACQUEL WALLER

Sharontay Swinton, 8th grade, Germany

Because Sharontay Swinton’s dad served in the military, her family moved to Germany for three years when she was six. She didn’t know German, so she had to learn it.

When she went to school every day, one of her two teachers translated for her. “It’s like being a baby,” she said.

She said school in Germany is very different.

“It’s better than [school here],” she said. But living in Germany wasn’t all good. She said because she did not know what they were talking about in Germany she did poorly in American classes when she returned to the United States. Sharontay said this caused her to fail third grade. “I had no idea what teachers were talking about,” Sharontay said.

What Sharontay liked about Germany were the historic houses and the people who she describes as friendly and way different from Americans. She liked the way Germans dressed. “It’s just real cool,” said Sharontay. “Living there for three years, I’ve learned to understand people better,” said Sharontay.

Clod Dimasacat, 6th grade, the Philippines Hi, bye, thank you and good morning. Clod Dimasacat only knew basic words like these when he first came to America at the age of eight. He lived in the Philippines all his life, so English was not his native language.

“Coming to school in America was not easy,” Clod said. His brother had to translate in class for him. “I was shy. I didn’t talk to them (my classmates) at first because I didn’t speech English,” Clod said.

The American lifestyle was something he had to get used to. In the Philippines, Clod and his friends used to climb the roofs of homes for the fun of it. “I miss being there,” he said.

But some things are better in the United States.

Clod’s family moved here for better jobs and better opportunities. “Lots of people are homeless there and sick because they don’t have much money for medication,” he said about the Philippines.

One thing his family is happy to have is freedom of speech. He said they didn’t have this freedom in the Philippines. “You can get beaten up,” he said and also taken to prison for speaking what’s on your mind, mostly about government.

Back in the Philippines, students would get beaten for not doing what’s expected of them. Clod said he doesn’t like it when kids in our school play roughly with each other and then the play turns into fights. “It’s sad. Why would they do that? In my country they don’t do that without a purpose.”

Photo by CHASE LEWIS/ J.HOP TIMES Sharontay Swinton spent three years in Germany.

Photo by CHASE LEWIS/ J.HOP TIMES Maria Guardado was born in Costa Rica and came to the U.S. when she was 6.

Maria Guardado 8th grade, Costa Rica

When Maria Guardado first moved here at the age of six from Costa Rica, she only spoke Spanish. She said the main way she learned English was watching TV and listening to peers talk. “It was a long process,” Maria said.

She came to America not knowing anybody but her parents. “I miss going to one of my family member’s houses every Saturday for a family get together. Now the only family I have with me is my mom and dad,” said Maria.

She made friends with one of her classmates, who spoke both Spanish and English.

At first she was reluctant to eat American food.

“The first week here I ate nothing but rice and beans, but now I eat everything,” Maria said.

She said the small town she lived in was really different than here. It had old cars and “you see mountains in the horizon, but here in St.Pete you see tons of building and a big dome (Tropicana Field).”

She said her town was filled with friendly people who spoke to each other whether they know each other or not.“Here if you see a stranger you don’t even make eye contact or even speak,” said Maria.

Julia Mendez contributed to this report.

J.Hop Times

Page 15

JHT Staff

The J.Hop Times is produced four times a year by students at John Hopkins Middle School.

Newsroom 1 Period 1

Editor: De’Janique Burden Reporters: Tyrick Baker, Mia Bartolomei-Negron, Genesis Feliciano, Miranda Fritz, George Holloway, Tyler Holt, Lana Lester, Latavia Nelson, Diana Robles, Dominic Rosado, Destyni Watkins,Brittany Weddle, Jakia Wilson, Gisselle Zayas Photo Editor: Brandon Garcia Photojournalists: Tiernanan Astronskas, Illea Conrad, Alexa Gammage, Dakotah Haas, Myesha Hall, Lamar Harden, Hydeia Kegler, Brooke Kidd, Ayzhiah Lawson, Sierra Levy, Ashton Taylor, Quanasia Ware

Beginner Newsroom Period 2

Jerome Burnett, Jimmie Clark, Gebriel Kassa, Lazarre Lester, Jaya Nair, Derrick Pasco, Veronica Ramirez, Tyrik Robinson, Zlicea Smith, Elizabeth Wright

Newsroom 2 Period 3

Reporters: Kendrick Auty, Violet Byrd, De’Qonton Davis, Reginald Flournoy, Artiz Flowers, Cassidy Klier, Krystal Mitchell, Caylin Schaffer, Ishmael Snead Photojournalists: Myah Alvarez, Dahlia Boone, Melissa Dones, Nilaja King, Jacob Land, Morgan Levy, De’Ashya Roberts, Romesha Smith, Sierra Taylor, Tycin Tyler Circulation Manager: Yancey Thomas

Newsroom 2 Period 4

Reporters: Kenijah Collins, Anthony Edwards, Chase Lewis, Jalen Middleton, Josh Simon, Tabria Smith Photojournalists: Jazmon Arnold, Alexus Barnhart, Kabrielle Boyd, Algenard Brown, Owen Dyches, Kenya Howard, Helen Nguyen, Pho Nguyen, Hailey Vaughan, Jacquel Waller, Andrea Williams Editorial Editor: Kahil Holmes

Newsroom 3 Block Period 5-6

Editor in Chief: Julia Mendez Assistant News Editor: Sarah Pohl Reporters: Linda Corbett, Tatiana D’Pardo, Samantha Hernandez Director of Photography: Hannah Mayer Assistant Photo Editor: Daniel Oliver Photojournalists: Christian Grant-Robinson, Benjamin Ketmany, JaJuan Webster Director of Marketing and Advertising: Jamari Graham

Opinions

Holding the truth

By J.HOP TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD

A few weeks ago James Mond, a 15- yearold eighth-grader, held up a sign on a busy road in Tampa. It said, “I did four questions on my FCAT and said I wasn’t going to do it...

GPA 1.22... Honk if I need an education.” His mom had forced him to do this. He was all over the news, in the newspaper and on TV. People even called the Department of Children and Families on the mother because they felt it was child abuse.

The J.Hop Times feels like this punishment was extremely harsh but necessary. It was necessary because a 1.22 GPA is almost all D’s on a report card. James even got an F in gym.

James’ mom had tried other things before making him hold the sign. She offered him help, asked to see his homework, grounded him, lectured him and took his cell phone. The last thing she tried was a conference with the assistant principal and guidance counselor at his school, but James just sat there and looked at the roof as if he wasn’t listening. All the things she tried were good but didn’t make him care, so she felt like this was what she had to do to get him to see what his lack of effort in school could lead to.

This wasn’t child abuse. The mom did this to get his attention. She was trying to show him that if things kept going like this, if he kept failing at school and on tests, then he would be doing this not for a punishment, but because it was his only option. She was showing him that if he continues to fail in school, he will be homeless and holding up a sign begging for help.

Some people say this was unnecessary. She could have taken his things away. Well she has already tried this, and it didn’t work. If you take away more things like TV or video games he’ll probably just sneak them. This punishment was more severe so he won’t want it to happen again and he’ll actually try harder in school. It seems to have gotten James’ attention because in a story in the St. Petersburg Times he said he now realizes “I should have been working harder than I was in school.”

The mom was doing what’s best for her son. She’s not abusing him. She’s making him a better future by getting him to care. For some kids it takes extreme measures to get their attention. He was getting embarrassed, but it was for his own good. The punishment will help him understand the importance of his education. If you don’t get an education, then your life is worth nothing.

Bad grades get embarrassing moments

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Journalism teachers: Jennifer Butkus, Luanne Dietz Journalism assistants: Kim Kenda, Tedral King Journeys In Journalism coordinator: Cynda Mort Program development/marketing consultant: Jaye Ann Terry Volunteers: Bill Dureya, Leanora LaPeter, Kameel Stanley, Jerry Stockfisch, Lottie Watts Journalism Advisory Board: Gretchen Letterman (St. Petersburg Times, chair); Gelareh Asayesh, (community volunteer); Barry Brown (principal, John Hopkins); David Cook (manager TV operations); Pinellas County Schools; Kathryn Cox (community volunteer); Goliath Davis (St. Petersburg deputy mayor); Lisa Easler, Trenam Kemker; Leslie Gilchrist (parent); John Just (assistant superintendent of management information systems for Pinellas County Schools); Nicole Robinson (parent); Oscar Robinson (principal, Melrose Elementary); Norm Smith (associate dean/director Center for the Applied Liberal Arts, Eckerd College); Robert Vicari (principal, Lakewood High); Nancy Waclawek (St. Petersburg Times); Wendy Wallace (The Poynter Institute); Kurt Wynne (assistant principal, Melrose Elementary).

John Hopkins Middle School

701 16th St.S, St. Petersburg, FL33705 727-893-2400 Principal: Barry Brown Assistant principals: Christina Fields, Michael Vasallo, Nicole Wilson

Cartoon by BENJAMIN KETMANY/J.HOP TIMES

Page 16

March 23, 2011

Staycation in St. Petersburg Home

Vacation

Homebound

By MYAH ALVAREZ, DAHLIA BOONE, NILAJA KING and MORGAN LEVY

Stuck in St. Pete for spring break, not a problem. Whether you’re walking, biking or even taking the bus, St. Pete has a lot to offer that is nearby. From the new Dali Museum to the beach, there is a lot to help you relax.

Departure City

PackagesHotels

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DEALS & OFFERS

St. Petersburg, FL to St. Petersburg, FL Place

Walk

Bike

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Bus

St. Pete Beach

8.3 miles 161 mins

8.6 miles 45 mins

9.5 miles 20 mins

72 mins

Dali Museum

2 miles 39 mins

3 miles 15 mins

2.2 miles 8 mins

27 mins

St. Pete Pier

3 miles 59 mins

3.4 miles 17 mins

3.4 miles 11 mins

40 mins

Lake Vista Rec Center

4.5 miles 87 mins

4.6 miles 24 mins

4.7 miles 13 mins

32 mins

Baywalk

2.3 miles 46 mins

3 miles 15 mins

2.5 miles 11 mins

26 mins

*Starting point is John Hopkins Middle School. **Times may vary based on speed of student.

St. Pete

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Photo by DAHLIA BOONE/ J.HOP TIMES

Salvador Dali Museum

St.Pete Beaches

Departing: (mm/dd/yy)

Temperatures at St. Pete Beach range from 69.35°F to 91.6°F from winter to summer. St. Pete Beach, with a total population of 10,049, is located 22.98 miles from Tampa.

St. Pete Beach, FL 33706 Open: Always Phone: 727-367-2735 Cost: Free *St. Pete has 7 miles of beach stretching from Fort Desoto in the south to Belleair in the north.

3/25/2022 4:15pm Returning: (mm/dd/yy)

4/4/2011 9:30am

Salvador Dali Museum

Go

Enjoy the most interesting artwork you have ever seen from your Spanish artist Salvador Dali. You can go on any day because they are open all days of the week. This is not your usual museum. This museum has all types of activities like kid’s day, yoga and many more.

Open: Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 5:30pm One Dali Boulevard Thursday: 10:00am - 8pm St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Sunday: 12 noon – 5:30pm Phone: 727.823.3767 Cost: $15 Thursdays after 5pm: $10

Photo by MYAH ALVAREZ/ J.HOP TIMES

St. Petersburg Beach

*This is the most comprehensive collection of Dali’s artwork you will ever find anywhere in the world.

St. Pete Pier and Trolley

Photo by MYAH ALVAREZ/ J.HOP TIMES

St. Petersburg Beach

Located a half mile into the Bay from downtown St. Pete, the St. Petersburg Pier is a must-see attraction. With an upside down pyramid design, visitors can enjoy the view of the city from its upper deck.

Open: 10am-11pm 800 Second Ave NE Cost: Trolly Ride 25 cents St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: 727.821.6164 *The Pier Aquarium at the base of the Pier has daily fish feedings for visitors to watch.

BayWalk Muvico 20

You don’t have to only go to Baywalk just to see great and exciting movies. You can also enjoy their awesome games. They have an extended concession menu and they have reclined seats. You will also enjoy their great birthday parties that they put together and you can bring however many friends you would like.

Photo by NILAJA KING/ J.HOP TIMES

Lake Vista Rec Center

151 2nd Ave. North Open: Mon-Thur 12pm-10:30pm St. Peterburg, Florida 33701 Fri-Sun 11am-10:45pm Phone: 727-502-0965 Cost: IMAX $11 Anytime $7 *Baywalk has the latest movies and convenient parking so no worries about being late for your movie.

Lake Vista Recreation Center

Photo by DAHLIA BOONE/ J.HOP TIMES

Downtown Trolley to Pier

If you’re looking for an afternoon of sun and fun, Lake Vista Rec Center is a great place to find it. Playcamps are offered during spring break, which give students the opportunity to participate in outdoor and indoor sports along with arts and crafts.

1401 62nd Avenue South Mon-Thu 7:30am - 8:00 pm Saint Petersburg, FL 33705 Fri 7:30am - 7:00 pm; (727) 893-7744 Closed Saturday & Sunday Cost: 29.75-85.00 *Although the pool will be closed during spring break, there rec center offers lots of activities both inside and out.

Photo by DAHLIA BOONE/ J.HOP TIMES

Baywalk Muvico 20