J.Hop Times

JHT

John Hopkins Middle School St. Petersburg, Florida

J.HOP TIMES INSIDE

Photo by HANNAH MAYER/J.HOP TIMES

More money, no problemsWe now have $252,600 in Title One funds.

How’s J.Hop spending it?

Photo by ARTIZ FLOWERS/J.HOP TIMES

Creepy rumorsSee what rumors at J.Hop send chills down your spine.

Cover photo

By HANNAH MAYER/J.HOP TIMES

J.Hop’s new principal and basketball enthusiast, Mr. Brown, stands with a basketball covered in words representing the bad things about J.Hop last year. Mr. Brown’s goals for this year include changing the way the community views the school and improving it’s grade form a C back to a B. When asked to dunk the ball during the photo shoot, Mr. Brown said, “I’m dunkin nothing but donuts!”

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 on line, jhoptimes.pcsb.org

November 3, 2010

Page 2

November 3, 2010

Sixth Grade Survival Guide How did you make friends in sixth grade?

Tips for sixth grade success

By DIALVIN BROWN, ALEX PERSECHINO and CORLENZO WILLIAMS

When you’re in the sixth grade, you sometimes feel like you’re not succeeding. Sixth grade is very different from elementary, so use these tips to keep from sitting at the lunch table by yourself.

1. MAKING FRIENDS: This isn’t elementary school anymore. You may not know many people yet. Some easy ways to make friends are by talking to people at the car circle or on the bus, complimenting people and sharing school supplies. Also avoid gossip because people don’t like haters.

2. AVOIDING BULLIES: Don’t get caught up in that, big guy! Bullying can lead to fights, which can lead to being arrested, which can mean you don’t get into the high school you want to get into . So don’t do anything stupid; just walk away.

“I just talked to people and 3. LOTS OF TEACHERS: In middle school you have as many as seven different people just talked to me. I made teachers. If you think they are hard on you, just do what they say. They are just warming friends because I was popular you up for the next grade. And don’t talk back. This will help you keep a good relationship already before I came to sixth with your teachers and help you avoid parent conferences. grade.”

4.

HOMEWORK: The only thing we’ve got to say about this is DO IT, DON’T LOSE IT! Kaila Robinson, 7th grade If you don’t turn your homework in, you may get a zero, and your grade will suffer.

5. ORGANIZATION: Always be prepared. Make sure you have a folder for every class.

This will keep you from losing your work.

6. CLASS CHANGE: You only have four minutes to get to class. If you have a problem with that, suck it up! Otherwise, it’s Saturday school for you.

What was hardest about sixth grade?

“I guess getting used to the school and the fact that no one really knows you, and I didn’t know anybody.”

Ingrid Taramona, 7th grade

“I met most of my friends through chorus. I met some of my friends in fifth grade.”

Javonta Jackson, 7th grade

“Staying organized. I got put in AVID to be organized or I will get in trouble by Mrs. Marshall.”

Jordan Shorter, 7th grade

“Communication. Talking to random people….It wasn’t hard making friends.”

Elizabeth Wright, 7th grade

“Gym. Forgetting to dress out affected my grade.”

Carlisia Gifford, 7th grade

Reported by KEVON BUXTON, AVERY DAVIS, ANTWOINE REID and ANGELO TAOGAGA

Reported by AVERY DAVIS, ANTWOINE REID, ANGELO TAOGAGA, CHRISAIH WARE and SACAREE WRIGHT Photos by CHRISTIAN MILLER and JAVONTE NEWKIRK

Photos by TITIANA PERRY, ERIC O ‘ DOHERTY and JAVONTE NEWKIRK

Cartoon by KAYLA KURLEMAN/J.HOP TIMES

J.Hop Times

By JULIA MENDEZ

J.Hop: Fresh Start

Page 3

New principal with a second chance

Rumors swirled around J. Hop last year when Mr. Brown became assistant principal. The rumors continued after Mr. Brown was named J.Hop’s new principal in June.

Now for the first time, in an interview with the J.Hop Times, Mr. Brown set the record straight about the incidents that happened in high school that shaped his life.

Mr. Brown grew up in a neighborhood near Lakewood High School. “I’m not any different than any of you guys. I’m a neighborhood kid,” he said.

Mr. Brown has played basketball his whole life. “I can’t remember not playing,” he said.

Through the sport, he had local attention; he made the papers. In high school, he was offered a scholarship to play basketball in college.

“Every student, every day, academic and social success.”

- Barry Brown, Principal JHMS.

All that came to an end with a single gunshot in 1988.

At age 18, Mr. Brown was arrested for shooting a gun into a crowd and unintentionally hitting a 15-yearold girl outside of a party. She survived.

He pled guilty to a thirddegree misdemeanor. After 40-50 days in jail, 200 hours of community service and three years of probation, he changed the way he wanted to live his life.

“It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said in a press conference with the J.Hop Times.

He changed the people he hung around and recognized that the decisions you make can negatively impact you.

Part of the consequences of his decisions were that he didn’t graduate with his class, didn’t get to go to prom and missed out on senior night at Lakewood High School. In high school those are a really big

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES Lakewood H.S. Senior Photo Barry Brown, 1988

deal, said Mr. Brown. He also lost his college scholarship for basketball.

Perhaps the hardest part was the night his friends graduated from Lakewood. His mom asked him to go out to their car to get something. Then she locked him out. He could hear the names of the graduating classmates echoing through his neighborhood.

“That stuff doesn’t go away.

Here I am 22 years later, and it’s still a topic of discussion,” he said.

He studied social work in college, but he couldn’t get a job as a social worker because of his criminal record. Certain mistakes you can’t erase, Mr. Brown said.

He eventually graduated from Jacksonville University in 1994. Two months later, Mr. Brown was selected to play in Israel’s National League on team Afula (the name of a city in northern Israel). He played on the team for three months.

After he came back to the U.S., he says he was “embraced by education.” He was hired as a substitute teacher. Later on he became a social studies, American history and American government teacher at Boca Ciega High School.

He said one of his principals dreamed of him being in administration. He went back and got his master’s degree and soon became an assistant principal.

He was an assistant principal for eight years.

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES Mr. Brown shoots a jump shot against Florida while playing for Jacksonville University. After college Mr. Brown went to play for Israel’s National League before joining the education system.

Dr. Janssen said Mr. Brown was her first choice as principal for John Hopkins. She moved him to J.Hop because she tried to match the principal with the school. “I believe that people can turn their life around… he did what he needed to do. People should have a chance to turn their life around.”

Dr. Janssen was Mr. Brown’s teacher at Lakewood High School.

While he was an assistant principal there, she was the principal.

She said he works well with SPECIAL TO THE TIMES students. Mr. Brown’s plan for the Mr. Brown’s college basketball future is to bring J.Hop from a C to a trading card from Jacksonville B, with better grades, less violence.

University.

To learn more about Mr. Brown’s plans for J.Hop and to read the rest of his interview, visit the J.Hop Times Online at j.hoptimes.pcsb.org.

Page 4

By SARAH POHL

John Hopkins Middle School has a new label. Because 71 percent of students receive free or reduced lunch, the school is now indentified as a Title One School, meaning it receives financial aid from the federal government.

The school has received $252,600, according to RTI coach Mrs. Mitchell, who is in charge of making sure the school follows federal guidelines in order to receive further economic support.

“We’ll get more staff, technology and instructional materials,” said Mrs. Mitchell. So far, the Title

J.Hop: Changes

November 3, 2010

Getting a new title: One One money has been spent on student field trip tickets and data collecting technology for administration.

Several parents said they want the Title One money to be used on more technology for the school.

Mrs. Kurleman, the mother of seventh-grader Kayla Kurleman, said, “(We should get) equipment, smart boards… and notebooks.”

Some students want to spend it on extracurricular activities. “I think we should spend it on new books… but also on volleyball uniforms,” said eighth-grader Sacaree Wright.

In addition, Title One offers

Photo by KRYSTA MUEHLENDYCK/J.HOP TIMES

Families walk with their students through the halls of J.Hop during Open House on Sept. 21. “I think the biggest piece is parent involvement,” said Mrs. Mitchell, J.Hop’s new RTI coach.

Photo by HANNAH MAYER/J.HOP TIMES

On Sept. 21, Carmen Caudle, parent of eighth-grader Alex Persechino, watches the educational Title One video during Ms. McIntosh’s fourth period class at Open House. This is J.Hop’s first year as a Title One school.

Young with New ideas

By JULIA MENDEZ and JACQUEL WALLER

Some might mistake Mr. Williams for a high school volunteer. He is lean, tall and only 20 years old. No, not the math teacher. There are now two Mr. Williams on J.Hop’s campus. He is the new technology administrator.

In addition to working for J.Hop, he also owns a business called GATA Technological Arts.

So far he is enjoying his time at J.Hop. He said, “I love it. It’s a good challenge. It’s something I enjoy doing, and I look forward to getting J.Hop back where it needs to be.”

Mr. Williams, who is paid with Title One funds, graduated in 2008 from St. Petersburg High School. While at St. Pete High, he worked as a student computer technician. This puts him ahead of the game.

programs that will help the school. “… (J.Hop) will get additional training for staff, as well as extra resources,” Mrs. Mitchell said. These resources include outside tutoring, counseling for students in the REAP program and job opportunities for hourly teachers.

Mr. Sakiotis, the exploring technology and TV production teacher, said being a Title One school can help J. Hop by “…providing students with more teacher support and more curriculum support.”

However, there are some

limitations to what the school can use this money for. “Title One frowns upon buying food (for the school with this money). It’s mostly for students’ academic achievement,” said Mrs. Mitchell.

The additional money that Title One provides might help to attract parent volunteers to help out with school programs, such as PSTA and SAC.

“I think the biggest piece is the parent involvement. We’ll be able to have parents help get us back out there,” Mrs. Mitchell said.

He is working on getting a new computer lab for J.Hop. “We are going to go wireless,” he said. “I’m going to make sure the teachers have all the tech tools they need to successfully teach their classes.” He said his job at J.Hop is to make sure that “basically the school keeps running as far as computers can go.”

Mr. Williams manages his business, GATA Technological Arts, which he started shortly after he got out of high school. “I knew I wanted to make my own schedule,” he said.

He is now in his third year of being his own boss.

Photo by JAJUAN WEBSTER/J.HOP TIMES

Many students may not know that Mr. J.Hop’s new technology administrator, Mr.Wiliams, works on cable Williams doesn’t only work with computers. “I cords downstairs in the electrical room of building 6 on Sept. 16. “I am a football coach,” he said. He coaches the love it. It’s a challenge. I enjoy doing it,” he said.

Azalea Bulldogs, and used to coach for St. Pete High for two years. He also coached the Lakewood Junior Spartans for five years.

J.Hop Times

J.Hop: Changes

Page 5

REAP keeps kids here, not home

By TYCIN TYLER

If you get in trouble, don’t expect to be sent home this year. You will be doing work, at school, and expected to finish all your work before you can return to your regular classes.

This is called REAP which stands for R-eflection, E-valuation, A -lteration, P-rogress.

J.Hop Principal Mr. Brown said the school needed REAP because he didn’t think that kids who were suspended last year were getting enough academic time.

“Last year there were a lot of out of school suspensions. At the end of the day, when students miss a lot of time the students don’t learn anything,” he said. “They get suspension and get sent home and get no work done.”

Students are placed in REAP by their administrators based on the severity of their behavior or the amount of referrals they have received. Once a student has been assigned REAP, the student is in the program for three to 10 days.

Ms. Dyett, who used to teach language arts and in the 8.5 program, is now in charge of REAP. She helps students with “the behaviors they need to improve upon,” said

Mr. Brown.

“REAP is designed to help students make a better choices and improve their behavior and grades and set goals for their future,” said Ms. Dyett.

As of Oct. 20, 33 students were assigned to REAP. When students are in REAP, they start the day with a “rap session.” This is a time when they are able to talk about whatever they would like to get off their chests before they begin working. Sometimes kids talk about why they were put in REAP and the things they could have done to prevent them from having to go there and what can be done so that they aren’t placed in REAP in the future.

The rap session is followed by discussing behavior improvement strategies, academic and behavior goal setting, completion of work sent by teachers and learning and talent inventories to improve students’ self awareness.

Ms. Fields, the eighth-grade assistant principal, said REAP is important for our school. “We want kids in school learning instead of at home,” she said.

Photo by JAJUAN WEBSTER/J.HOP TIMES

Ms. Dyett, the teacher in charge of REAP, stands inside the fenced-in portables behind building 7 on Oct. 14. Students receive REAP based on referrals and bad behavior.

The students in REAP go to a portable behind building seven. Mr. Brown said the reason the REAP program is away from the main campus is because he believes it should be isolated.

“When you have a discipline program (on school grounds) in a school, it’s a distraction,” Mr. Brown said.

Students think this will be an effective program. “…it wouldn’t be

something to look forward to,” said Deandre Stephens, sixth grade.

Ms. Dyett sees it as a good opportunity to help students become better citizens.

“I enjoy helping students to grow, learn and improve and working in the REAP program gives me that opportunity,” she said.

Hannah Mayer and Jamari Graham contributed to this story.

J.Hop’s new A.P.

By HELEN NGUYEN and KAHIL HOLMES

Mrs. Wilson, the new assistant principal for seventh grade, first learned she would be working at John Hopkins when she read it in the St. Petersburg Times over the summer.

But she said it didn’t make her feel down. “I was up for the challenge,” she said.

In her first few months at our school, Mrs. Wilson said she loves her job. “It’s a great experience,” she said.

She thinks that John Hopkins students are responsible, but she would like to see them get to class on time.

She feels being an assistant principal is important “because everything starts at our education system, and if we put all our schools together this is America’s future.” She also believes in the families and community around J.Hop. “All parents are the same; they

want the best education for their child,” she said.

Mrs. Wilson said the hardest part of job is having to suspend students. She said she’s glad to see that the number of fights has decreased.

The other assistant principals think she’s doing a good job. “She’s handling things well,” said Mr. Vasallo, the sixth grade assistant principal and magnet coordinator. “She wanted to come to J.Hop and make a difference.”

“She’s doing fine,” said Ms. Fields, the eighth grade assistant principal.

Mr. Kooken, a seventh-grade language arts teacher, is also impressed with her so far. “She’s very professional. I like her,” he said.

Photo by JAMES THOMAS-BOWLES/J.HOP TIMES

J.Hop’s new assistant principal, Ms. Willson, sits at her desk in building 6 on Oct. 18. This is her fist year at J.Hop as an assistant principal for the seventh grade. She said, “I was up for the challenge. It’s a great experience.”

Page 6

November 3, 2010

J.Hop: Changes

What’s new where you’re eating

Photo by KENIJAH COLLINS/J.HOP TIMES Students eat during B-lunch on Sept.17. There are two lunches this year which is different from last year when there were three. This new change makes lunches more crowded than last year, causing the cafeteria staff to work faster.

By KABRIELLE BOYD

J.Hop Principal Mr. Brown decided to have two lunches instead of three this year because it helps make the “security manageable” on campus.

Last year everyone was coming from different places at lunch time and it was very difficult for teachers and administrators to tell where students were supposed to be, Mr. Brown said

So this year Mr. Brown and the assistant principals divided up the campus to decide which students go to which lunch.

Students who have fourth period in building

Clothing crack down

By DE’ASHYA ROBERTS AND MYAH ALVAREZ

Skin is not in at John Hopkins this year. Principal Mr. Brown, the other administrators and the teachers are being more strict about the dress code.

Mrs. Mobley, the seventh-grade clerk, said the dress code has become more strict because “students were getting away with it last year.”

Every morning during first period teachers monitor the dress code. If students are not dressed the right way, then they are sent to the office to call their parents to get some clothes. If their parents can’t come to the school, then the students are sent to ABC, the in-school suspension program. If the problem continues, they may be sent to REAP. This is an in-school suspension program for repeat offenders.

The dress code does not allow girls to wear spaghetti straps or shorts shorter than your fingertips. Your bra straps are not allowed to show, and you can’t have holes in your shorts or pants.

For boys, your pants are not allowed to drop below your behind and if you are found doing this you are sent to the office to get a zip tie to hold them up like a belt would.

A survey during the first six weeks of school showed that three out of four students say that the dress code is way too strict.

Photo by DANEIL OLIVER/J.HOP TIMES

Shonalle Ellis, a seventhZip ties are used to adjust dress code violations. grader, said she thinks Mr. Brown “We get 3 to 5 kids who need zipties each day,” is too strict with the dress code.“If said J.Hop campus monitor, Mr.Green. Students we were wearing shorts or skirts he who violate dress code are given a zip tie to secure their sagging clothes. would complain even if they ain’t short,” she said.

Other students like Larry Porter think the dress code is fair. He said he noticed that Mr. Brown is enforcing it more this year and if he were the principal he would make a similar dress code.

Uniforms: Are they a perfect fit?

By TATIANA D’PARDO and SAMANTHA HERNANDEZ

Goodbye, skinny jeans. Hello, skorts. The Pinellas County School District is considering requiring students to wear uniforms in grades K-8 starting in the 2011-12 school year.

Superintendent of Pinellas County Schools Dr. Janssen said she wants to do this because she feels it would “really create an atmosphere that we want to get serious about school…. we’re dressed for business.”

The Pinellas County School Board is considering making all students wear long or short sleeved, navy blue or white collared shirts and long pants or walking shorts for boys and walking shorts, slacks or skorts for girls.

Ms. Collis, an eighth-grade language arts

five and building seven go to first lunch. Students who have fourth period in the rest of the buildings attend second lunch.

This way, if a student is caught in a hallway of a building where kids are supposed to be at lunch, the teachers know they’re skipping.

Students think the changes to the lunch procedures are helping.

Seventh-grader Jasmine Jones says lunch time is more “controlled” and not as fun as last year. “But when you think about it, it’s still fun in lunch this year,” Jasmine said. “It depends on who you are with, and if you make it fun.”

teacher, thinks it’s a good idea to have uniforms. “I think it will eliminate lots of problems,” she said.

For example, it will eliminate kids getting in trouble or distracted for showing their chest area. There are 23 schools in Pinellas that already require their students to wear uniforms but, Dr. Janssen’s plan would have uniforms mandatory in every elementary and middle school.

Some students like the idea of new uniforms. Naiya Coleman, seventh grade, said, “I like it because it will be less money for people to spend.”

But a lot of students that think uniforms are ridiculous. “It’s stupid because you can’t show your new clothes,” said Na’tron Middlebrooks, a seventhgrader. “I don’t like it because it stops

problems but kids won’t be able to express themselves,” said Quetez Kelley, seventh grade.

The school board reviewed a draft of the uniform policy in a meeting Oct. 28.

J.Hop Times

By ANDREA WILLIAMS

J.Hop: Rules

Regaining pride

The kids may think that the lessons about rules that all classes were required to do during the first three weeks of school, were boring and lame. But the reason students had to do them is because our principal and assistant principals want to help the school become a better place.

Our seventh-grade assistant principal, Ms. Wilson, wrote the lessons in order to enforce Trojan pride.

This year every classroom has a poster that reads “Trojan Pride” listing the expectations for the students. All the letters on the poster stand for something different.

The P stands for Prepared to learn; the R stands for Respect yourself; the I stands for Invest time and talents wisely; the D stands for Do your best; and the E stands for Everyone achieves together.

Even Principal Brown is emphasizing Trojan Pride. Every morning he, or an assistant principal, comes on the intercom giving students a letter of what behavior he wants students to concentrate on that day.

“It holds everyone accountable,” Mr. Brown said. With all the emphasis on Trojan Pride and behavior, are students behaving better?

Kids have mixed reactions.

“They (the lessons and talks about rules) are pointless because nobody is going to listen to them,” said Bionca Rouse, an

eighth-grader. “Nobody really cares about these rules. The reason they are enforcing these rules so much this year is because of everything that happened last year,” she said.

But some kids feel it is making a difference “I think it is helping the school, but only for the people that listen and pay attention,” said Marica James, a sixth-grader.

“My favorite rule is don’t hang out with the wrong people because I don’t want to get in fights or in trouble,” she said. Teachers say it’s helping.

Ms. King, an assistant teacher in journalism, said she thinks it’s helping. She liked the lesson on dress code. “There is a time and place for everything. You do not need to come to school looking like you are going to the club,” she said. She feels that emphasis on school rules and student behavior only work if everyone works together.

Ms. Tucker, the eighth-grade guidance counselor, said she already sees changes from last year. “My favorite lesson is respect because I think if you respect yourself then the others fall into place,” she said.

“I think it was a good idea that we did the lessons because it keeps the kids on their toes, and I think that it will prevent kids from having the opportunity to say I don’t know,” Ms. Tucker said.

Saturday school gives kids the spooks

By HAILEY VAUGHAN and ALEXUS BARNHART

Boring. That’s the word many students think of when they hear the words Saturday school. On Oct. 11, Mr. Brown announced over the intercom that students who have too many tardies will be assigned lunch detail or lunch detention. He said if they do not show up for that, then they will be assigned Saturday school.

Saturday school is new for John Hopkins. Students who are assigned Saturday school have to go to the St. Petersburg High School cafeteria from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The first day of Saturday School for J.Hop was on Oct. 16. There are 35 seats available for John Hopkins students. “Hopefully it will help students be encouraged to get to class on time and attend lunch detail,” Mr. Brown said.

Students don’t like the idea, but Saturday School appears to be working. Since Saturday school came into play, students scatter in the halls. “It’s stupid, a waste of time. A lot of people who play sports can’t make it. But it’s up to them to make it to class on time,” eighth-grader Avery Davis said.

Many teachers like the idea of Saturday school. “I think that Saturday school is awesome because kids are going to get consequences they don’t like,” said Mr. Williams, a seventh-grade math teacher.

Kahil Holmes and Algernard Brown contributed to this story.

Page 7

Page 8

Creepy

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

(Top) Students lean against the main sign of 16th Street Middle School in 1981. (Left) On Oct. 5, a piano sits in the middle of the stage area in the theater.

(Bottom) Props sit on the stage at in the theater of J.Hop where it’s rumored that Mary Alice died.

The theater at J.Hop is photographed with a long exposure. It’s Photo by KENDRICK AUTY/J.HOP TIMES

Photo by DE’QUONTON DAVIS/J.HOP TIMES

The Spoo

Lights flickering and tingling noises.

By KENDRICK AUTY, VIOLET BYRD, DE’QONTO FLOWERS, CASSIDY KLIER, KRYSTAL MITCHE ISHMAEL SNEAD and YANCEY THOMAS

Photo by CASSIDY KLIER/J.HOP TIMES

The girls locker room at J.Hop is rumored to be haunted by a girl named Mary Alice. If you bang on a locker three times it is rumored she’ll bang back.

Dimmed lights, banging pipes and a locker that knocks back three times. All these things are rumors about a girl who is said to have died at John Hopkins Middle School.

The year is 1966, according to Coach Lundin, and the girl’s name is rumored to be Mary Alice. According to Ms. Hosey, the rumor is that the girl fell off the stage in the theater and that her ghost now walks the catwalk.

This has never been proven but it has never been disproven either.

Ms. Hosey believes this story is a rumor, but many students disagree.

Coach Starling said, “a girl I went to middle school with

claimed to be a witch and she had a seance in the locker room and conjured up the spirit of Mary Alice. He said, “If you are in the girls’ locker room all alone, when it’s quiet you will hear the pipes banging and slamming.” It’s also rumored that if you bang on a locker three times, Mary Alice will bang back. “Mary Alice is not a person to hurt anyone,” said Coach Starling.

According to Coach Starling, the rumor has been going on for over 10 years. Back then the school was called 16th Street Middle School and John Hopkins was the principal. The rumor seems to live on from year to year.

Page 9

Rumors

On Oct. 5th the J.Hop theater is pictured from the stage where it said that Mary Alice died.

ISHMAEL SNEAD/J.HOP TIMES

Photo by ARTIZ FLOWERS/J.HOP TIMES

rumored that the spirit of Mary Alice walks the cat walk there.

oky Scoop

...is this taking place at your school?

ON DAVIS, REGGIE FLOURNOY, ARTIZ ELL, CAYLIN SCHAFFER, ROYANNA STREETER, “I do it to scare the sixth graders, almost like a prank,” said Coach Lundin.

You might have heard about the rumor of Mary-Alice in the locker room, but have you heard about what the school is rumored to be built on?

Along with the rumors of Mary Alice, Coach Starling said the auditorium was once a catholic school, the track was once a neighborhood called The Royal Court and the field by the highway was once a graveyard.

Coach Starling isn’t the only one hearing strange sounds.

Mr. Stretch, eigth-grade Language Arts teacher, said he hears creepy

sounds in the air vents late at night. He also said, “There’s been a couple times, when there is no one around, and I left the classroom for a few moments and the lights were on, but when I came back they were off.” He said he knows it wasn’t the maintenance staff.

Mr. Coy, a night plant operator, said he hears noises after hours but hasn’t seen anything yet.

Mr. Coy spends many late nights alone walking the school grounds. “If I saw anything this school would be standing here without me,” he said.

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES The advanced Drama Team from 1999, the first year the middle school was called John Hopkins.

Photo by CAYLIN SCHAFFER/J.HOP TIMES (Top) The J.Hop girls’ locker room is rumored to be haunted. It is said that the spirit of a girl named Mary Alice lives there. (Right) A shadow sits on the floor of the girls locker room. Coach Starling said, “Mary Alice is not a person to hurt anyone.”

Photo by CASSIDY KLIER/J.HOP TIMES

Page 10

November 3, 2010

J.Hop: People

New faces in new places

By MELISSA DONES, NILAJA KING and MORGAN LEVY

The school did not just receive new sixth-graders this year, but also new teachers. Read below to get to know our new staff.

Ms. Bell

Ms. Bell 6th and 8th grade reading

Previous job: Math coach at Melrose Elementary.

Why do you like your job? I like making a difference with the children we have.

What‘s something most people don’t know about you? I have two children, and they’re 22 years apart.

Hobbies: I love to shop, and I collect All God’s Children figures, because they

Ms. De La Cruz

Previous job: Trinity School for Children.

Why do you like your job? I get the opportunity to teach Spanish, to teach the students about my heritage, and the kids are exposed to other cultures.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? I’m a flamenco, swing and salsa dancer.

Hobbies: Dancing, roller skating and reading.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? I love it; I’m very excited.

What exciting projects are you planning on doing this year? I’m doing Spanish heritage awareness and something for Cinco de Mayo to explain the Latin way to celebrate.

Ms. Dietz

Ms. Dietz photojournalism teacher

Previous job: Freelance photojournalist in Atlanta.

Why do you like your job? It gives me an opportunity to teach students how to take photos; furthermore, how to use them to tell stories.

What’s something people don’t know about you? Before moving here, I lived in Israel.

Mr. Hart

Previous job: Armwood High School.

Why do you like your job? I’ve always loved math.

What’s something people don’t know about you? I play guitar, and I’ve been in a popular band. I always play guitar in church.

Hobbies: Playing music mostly, but I

Ms. King

Ms. De La Cruz intermediate Spanish

Hobbies: Photography, going to sporting events and going to the beach.

How do you feel about working here at J.HOP? I like working here; it’s a lot of fun working with middle-schoolers.

What exciting projects are you planning on doing this year? I am excited about doing the newspaper this year and getting students published.

listen to music too.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? It’s been pretty good; it took me awhile to get used to get used to the change in time, but it’s pretty good.

What exciting projects are you planning on doing this year? Still working on it. I’m trying to make math more fun with every piece of technology I can.

Previous job: At Sanderlin Elementary as an ESE associate.

Why do you like your job? We use journalism in our everyday lives, so being able to see it from a different standing point is very interesting.

Ms. King assistant teacher for journalism

remind me of my childhood and traditions in my family.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? I’m very excited about being here.

I really wanted to come here because my roots are here and because only special people get to work here, and I’m special.

What exciting projects are you planning on doing this year? I do projectbased learning. All my classes are going to do a project this year.

Ms. Fogle, health and P.E.

Ms. Fogle

Previous job: Substitute at various schools and permanent sub at Seminole Middle.

Why do you like your job? I like to be physical and because I think they are two important courses.

What’s something people don’t know about you? I played four years of college basketball, and I was a high school coach.

Hobbies: Running and coaching.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? I am excited about it.

What exciting projects are you planning on doing this year? We’re doing STD and HIV projects.

Ms. Kenda assistant teacher for journalism

Ms. Kenda

Mr. Hart, math and intensive math

What’s something people don’t know about you? I’m a mother of three.

Hobbies: Enjoying every aspect of life.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? It is very eventful. I enjoy it and the kids. They’re full of energy.

Previous job: USA Today’s advertising department in Washington D.C. Why do you like your job? I love working with the children, and teaching them journalism, which is my passion.

What’s something people don’t know about you? I used to be a DJ. Hobbies: Painting,crochet, playing with her kids, dancing and kayaking.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? Iove it!

What exciting projects are you planning on doing this year? Learning to be a good teacher.

J.Hop Times

Ms. Kolhoff

Ms. Manning, ABC teacher

Ms. Manning

Previous job: I worked for South County Truancy. I was a detention specialist.

Why do you like your job? ABC is a challenge for me on a regular basis, and I’ve been working with school-age people for 25 years.

What’s something people don’t know about you? I was born and raised in this community.

Hobbies: I love playing and watching sports and doing sports parties.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? It’s my community school; I grew up with most of the students’ parents or grandparents. It’s my job to give back.

J.Hop: People

Previous job: I worked at the Dowd Center for Homeless Children in Columbus, Ohio, where I was a classroom assistant. I also worked with the Columbus Literacy Council downtown, teaching ESOL to immigrant families.

Why do you like your job? I like it because of the culture.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? I still have my retainer from middle school, and I wore it first and second period.

Hobbies: I love reading, sports and any kind of swim-

Previous job: Substitute teacher.

Why do you like your job? Math; you can apply it to anything.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? I collect history and science books. You learn from history’s mistakes and what they did right.

Hobbies: History, reading.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? I really enjoy it. I like teaching math.

What exciting projects are you planning on doing this year? Teaching students the use of formulas and how to apply it with life.

ming and the beach. Also scrapbooking and knitting.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? I love it.

I’m really very thankful. So far, so good, and I’m looking forward to the rest of my time.

Ms. Kolhoff What exciting projects are you planning on doing this beginning and intermediate Spanish year? We did our conjugations activity with play dough and various cultural activities with the students.

Mr. Latimore

Where did you work before this? I worked at Dixie and Hamilton.

Why do you like your job? Because the students, staff and community are great, wonderful, and I enjoy working with middle-schoolers.

Mr. Latimore, curriculum specialist What’s something people don’t know about you? I love to work out.

Ms. McIntosh

Previous job: Azalea Middle.

Why do you like your job? I’m passionate about science.

What’s something most people don’t know about you? I dance professionally with Chuck Davis.

Hobbies: Going to the beach, reading,

Ms. Oguntade 7th grade language arts

Mr. Richards

What’s something people don’t know about you? I was a military police officer in the army.

Hobbies: Traveling to distant, exotic countries. I like listening to music, watching documentaries, and one day I want to be on Jeopardy.

How do you feel about working at

Previous job: I spent several years as a detention center supervisor with the Department of Juvenile Justice and in protection services with the Department of Children and Families. After that I did home assessments for adoptions. Before coming here, I worked at Melrose Elementary, Meadowlawn Middle and Lakewood High as an itinerant contract social worker.

Why do you like your job? I get to impact change in situations that appear impossible and get to help give children who feel defeated and limited a chance to believe in a world where they can be safe,

Hobbies: I enjoy watching sports, and I coached basketball at Lakewood High.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? I’m very enthused and happy to be here at J.Hop. The staff and students have been very good.

What do you look forward to about this year? I look forward to changing the environment at J.Hop.

shopping and exercising.

How do you feel about working at J.Hop? Excited, I always wanted to work in south county. I Chose to work here at J.Hop. I grew up in the neighborhood.

What exciting projects are you planning on doing this year? We’ll have chapter projects as we go through each section.

Ms. Oguntade

Mr. Mills, 6th grade math

Page 11

Ms. McIntosh 8th grade physical science

J.Hop? So far, so good. I worked here before about six years ago. It’s a different experience, but I am ready for a challenge.

What exciting projects are you planning on doing this year? Field trips, depending on behavior, and working on getting them prepared for the eighth grade.

supported and have the opportunity for success through education.

What’s something people don’t know about you? I’m a science fiction writer, and I play bass guitar.

Hobbies: Writing and playing music.

How do you feel about working here at J.Hop? It’s a great place to be because I was a performing arts magnet student in middle and high school, and I went to school to major in performing arts before I switched to social work.

What do you look forward to this year?

I look forward to being able to see a school where both teachers and students not only hear that John Hopkins is a great place to be, but also believe it to be true.

Mr. Richards, social worker Jacob Land, De’Aysha Roberts and Jajuan Webster contributed to this story.

Photos by JAMES THOMAS-BOWLES, BENJAMIN KETMANY, HANNAH MAYER, DANIEL OLIVER, CHRISTIAN GRANT-ROBINSON, and JAJUAN WEBSTER.

To view a complete list of the new teachers at John Hopkins Middle School, visit jhoptimes.pcsb.org.

Page 12

November 3, 2010

J.Hop: People

A cross-cultural family

By JAZMON ARNOLD and KENYA HOWARD

She is an American, she lived in France, her husband is French, and she adopted a Chinese girl. Can you guess who this is? It’s Madame Griet!

The French teacher at John Hopkins adopted a little Chinese girl in October of 2003. When she and her husband adopted their daughter Aiden, she was nine-anda-half months old. In China

they have rules about how many children you can have, so a lot of little girls are put up for adoption.

Madame Griet said she and her husband didn’t request anything specific when they decided to adopt, but they ended up adopting their daughter from China because “some parents from the U.S. were trying to get their kids back and because of

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Madam Griet and her husband stand with their 9.5 month old daughter in the lobby of their hotel in China just days after they received her.

the timing.’’

Her daughter’s name is Aiden Meredith. Her Chinese last name is Xixue.

She is currently seven years old.

Madame Griet’s husband, Mr. Griet, described the day they went to get their newly adopted little girl as a very happy day. He said they were tired from their trip and the time change.

“We were stressed out because we were about to become parents for the first time,” Mr. Griet said. “After we were given Aiden, we went back to our hotel. Aiden was sleeping and I looked at my wife and said, ‘So what do we do now?’”

Madame Griet said she cried when they got their little girl, but her husband didn’t.

Aiden does not attend public school because she is sensitive to sounds. Instead,

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Madam Griet and her daughter Aiden take turns taking photos of themselves. “She is a really happy kid,” said Madam Griet about her daughter.

she is home schooled.

You might think it’s hard for Madame Griet to teach here at John Hopkins and at home, but Madame Griet sends her daughter to her friend’s house and her friend helps Aiden with her work while Madame Griet teaches at J.Hop.

Aiden said, “My mom has a really cool job.”

Madame Griet said she and her husband would

adopt again but not from China because China has changed the rules.

Madame Griet loves her daughter. “She is a really happy kid,” she said.

Aiden loves her parents, too.

“I like to go places with my mom and get pedicures with mommy,” Aiden said. “My papa is funny and makes me laugh, but I like cuddling with mommy most.”

Helping us see the bigger picture

By SIERRA TAYLOR and SARAH POHL

Many students knew Mrs. Mitchell as a math teacher. “She was a good teacher,” said seventh-grader Mario Brown, who was in her class last year. “She explained work to you. She helped you when you were confused, and she is kind to everyone in the classroom. She wasn’t really strict, so she gave you a break from time to time.”

But she is no longer a math teacher; this year she became John Hopkins’ RTI coach.

RTI stands for response to intervention. As RTI Coach, Mrs. Mitchell reviews data to identify gaps academically and behaviorally. She said she, “…works with the school leadership team to ensure that we have school wide processes in place to narrow the gap.”

Students have mixed feelings about her job change. Some of them feel upset because she is no longer going to be a math teacher. “She should have stayed a math teacher because she was really cool,” said Nicole Pittman, seventh grade.

Others feel that the change was a good choice. “She was a great math teacher, but she’ll be very good at this (her new job),” said eighthgrader Rebecca Piper.

She said she wants this job in order to develop skills, such as leadership.

“I feel that if she professionally wants to do it (be RTI coach) to expand her professionalism then she should do it,” said Mr. King, a science teacher at John Hopkins.

Her job change wasn’t a

Photo by ISHMAEL SNEAD/J.HOP TIMES

Mrs. Mitchell, the new RTI coach at J.Hop, is on her way to help students in building 5. She was happy to start her work as the new RTI coach because it gives her a better view of the bigger picture.

promotion; it’s just a different role.

“Being a teacher you have a narrow view, and as a RTI coach you are

looking (at a) bigger picture,” said Mrs. Mitchell.

J.Hop Times

By ALGERNARD BROWN

In July, J.Hop eighth-grader Jamari Graham won an Olympic medal for Tae-Kwon-Do at an Orlando competition.

He then flew to Beijing, China to compete in a Kung Fu tournament.

Even though he is 13 years old, he competed against approximately 50 fourteen-year-olds in China.

He trains at the YMCA with his Tae Kwon Do master. He is a sixdegree black belt in Kung Fu. “That means master,” said Jamari, who is also a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do. He made it to the fifth round of the international

J.Hop: Sports

‘I’m the master’

Photo by JALEN MIDDLETON/J.HOP TIMES

Eighth-grader Jamari Graham shows off his Olympic-winning Tai-Kwon Do moves in the courtyard at J.Hop.

competition for Kung Fu. He competed against many countries including Germany, Europe, Korea,

China and Polynesia when he was in China.

Jamari has been taking Tae Kwon Do

A great place to be

There’s one thing J.Hop students have heard a lot this year. “John Hopkins Middle School—a great place to be.” Every time Principal Brown talks on the intercom, sends an email or makes a phone call he says that.

He got the idea because they did this at a school where he used to work. “It comes down to pride,” he said.

Others agree. “The school has pride and the students will soon catch on to it,” said Mr. Vasallo, the sixth grade assistant principal and magnet coordinator. “The school has changed,” he said.

Mr. Brown says the reason he repeats it so much is because he believes it’s true. “You say it, you will it, and it becomes,” he said.

classes for three years and Kung Fu for going on 12 years. He said he enjoys using weapons and break-

ing boards. To prepare for his competitions he listens to “extreme rock.”

Jacquez Newsome, another eighth-grade Hopkins student who trains with Jamari, said he’s impressed with Jamari’s skills. “They’re great,’ Jacquez said. “We train together, like now we’re going to competitions.”

Jamari said it was “very challenging” to win.

His favorite part of winning is “being the champ.”

His favorite type of kick is a 360 jump spin hook kick. His favorite punch is a spinning back fist. Once when he was in China, when he got a six-foot trophy. Jamari has won over 70 trophies in Kung Fu.

Volleyball, basketball and Geography, OH MY!

John Hopkins:

By ROMESHA SMITH

Page 13

By DAHLIA BOONE

Coach Morris juggles a lot at John Hopkins. Many might have seen her around school as the basketball and volleyball coach. “I have played basketball all my life,” Coach Morris said. She is also a sixth-grade geography teacher and last year she coached track. “I manage my time wisely because I am a very busy lady.”

She enjoys coaching because she likes helping different kids. “I hope students learn teamwork, sportsmanship and time management through sports,” she said.

On top of her coaching, Coach. Morris has been teaching geography for seven years.

Sixth-grader Jabari Diop is Photo by HANNAH MAYER/J.HOP TIMES one of the students in Ms. MorMs. Morris shows off her juggling skills. “I learned to jugris’s fourth period class. “She gets gle in elementary school with ping pong balls,” she said.

straight to the point. She’s cool, and she’s not boring like other teachers.”

Sixth-grader Hanna Miller, another one of Coach Morris’s students, likes her as well. “She’s awesome and fun,” Hanna said.

“We get to do lots of projects with her.”

Sixth-grader Gabriella Rokosz, a student who is in Coach Morris’s class said, “She lets us do projects instead of taking notes all day like other teachers.”

Jacob Land contributed to this story.

SEND YOUR SHOUT OUT

FOR $5 ROOM 5-102

Page 14

November 3, 2010

J.Hop: Fun and Games

Feasting on fries: Whose fries do you like?

By TATIANA D’PARDO, SAMANTHA HERNADEZ and JULIA MENDEZ

The addiction of french fries has overcome us. Kids in middle school like their french fries with a variety of toppings from mayo to mustard to old-fashioned ketchup or with a lot of salt. The J.Hop Times Newsroom 3 class went on an adventure to find the best fries in town. This is what we found out:

Salem’s:

Kurly-Q-Fries Price: $3.29 Edibleness: The curliness might be good looking, but the taste is the worst. It was straight up nasty and rubbery. It was difficult to swallow without a drink to help it go down.

Skinny Dipping: Needs ketchup or barbeque sauce to give it flavor.

Got Salt? Needs salt.

Rating:

Salem’s:

Regular Price: $2.19 Edibleness: DANGER The taste was “ef-fish-ent,” but not in a good way.

They tasted like fish sticks instead of fries. They must have cooked the french fries too close to the fish.

Skinny Dipping: Needs ketchup, barbeque sauce or mustard to get a ZAP in your mouth.

Got Salt? Needs salt.

Rating:

Wendy’s:

Price: $2.35 Edibleness: The fries tasted as if they were taken from the garbage bin or maybe they set out too long under the heat lamp.

Soft, mushy and bland.

Skinny Dipping: The best sauce for these fries would be ketchup or jalapeño cheese because they would cover up the lack of flavor.

Got Salt? Fries need more than just ordinary potatoes. It needed more salt and lots of seasoning (any kind of seasoning will make it better).

Rating:

5 Guys

Price: $4.49 Edibleness: Whoa!!! The bag came with a prize of a nap with a side of Pepto Bismol because of the greasiness in it. The bag looked like it had set on a wet surface. The thing that surprised us was the flavor and good texture, which

was soft inside and crisp on the outside.

Skinny Dipping: Needs honey mustard, ketchup, or barbeque sauce to cover up the grease.

Got Salt? Some students liked the amount of salt and seasoning. Some students thought it needed more.

Rating:

Checkers:

Price: $2.56 Edibleness: EPIC! Crunchy on the outside, soft inside. They were fried at just the right temperature.

Skinny Dipping: They really didn’t need any sauce.

They were just right.

Got Salt? Just right seasoning for the perfect fries.

Rating:

J.Hop Jumble

McDonald’s

Price: $2.78 Edibleness: Crunch went the french fries. Like Checkers, but not quite as epic.

Skinny dipping: Needs ketchup or barbeque sauce to give it a big explosion in your mouth.

Got Salt? A little too much.

Rating:

ERGAD FOFCEI

___________________

Try to unscramble the words and figure out what the word is.

R.M OBRNW

(Hint: All of the words have to do with J.Hop!)

OHNJ INKSPHO

JNAOTR IDEPR

PESRONBILSITYI

____________________

__________________

LLEOVYLABL

NICOPOOATNRE

ABSKTEBLAL

LEFS-IOVAOMTNI

_____________________ _____________________

DYATSAUR SLOCOH

_________________

____________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ Need answers? Go to jhoptimes.pcsb.org

J.Hop Times

J.HOP TIMES STAFF

J.Hop: Opinions

Page 15

1st Period, Newsroom 1

Reporters: Tiernanan Astronskas, Mia Bartolomei-Negron, De’Janique Burden, Miranda Fritz, Dakotah Haas, Lamar Harden, Tyler Holt, Ayzhiah Lawson, Sierra Levy, Latavia Nelson, Diana Robles, Destyni Watkins, Brittany Weddle, Jakia Wilson Photojournalists: Genesis Feliciano, Alexa Gammage, Brandon Garcia, George Holloway, Haley Hulse, Deme Demetrius Jackson, Brooke Kidd, Gabriella Rokosz, Dominic Rosado, Ashton Taylor, Quanasia Ware, Gisselle Zayas

2nd Period, Beginner Newsroom

Reporters: Dialvin Brown, Kevon Buxton, Daesha Campbell, Avery Davis, Kayla Kurleman, Jayakumari Nari, Alexander Persechino, Antwoine Reid, Mariah Stine, Angelo Taogaga, Chrisiah Ware, Corlenzo Williams, Sacaree Wright Photojournalists: Lavantai Blake, Chelsey Chen, Joseph Diest, Trevon Gammage, Xavier Jaudon, TristenKing, Christian Miller, Krysta Muehlendyck, Javonte Newkirk, Eric O’Doherty, Titiana Perry, Dorian Williams

3rd Period, Newsroom 2

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

4th Period, Newsroom 2

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

5th-6th Period Block, Newsroom 3

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

Editorial Board

Kendrick Auty, De’Qonton Davis, Kahil Holmes (editor), Cassidy Klier, Morgan Levy, Jalen Middleton, Caylin Schaffer, Ishmael Snead, Hailey Vaughan The opinions on this page are the opinions of the writers who try their best to get all sides of an issue before writing.

Here’s how you can be heard

Write a column or letter or draw a cartoon (keep it clean, no profanity or name calling.)

Spell and fact-check your work. We reserve the right to correct any factual or grammatical mistakes.

Sign your work and bring it to the newsroom, 5-102.

Note: There is no guarantee your work will be published.

JHT J.Hop Times

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

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, Marian Krauthamer, Leanora LaPeter, Ben Montgomery, Kameel Stanley, 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

One month less of summer, what’s up with that?

By J.HOP TIMES/EDITORIAL BOARD

To help close the learning gap and help American students keep up with other countries, President Obama is talking about shortening summer vacation and extending the school year by one month.

“We now have our kids go to school about a month less than most other advanced countries,” Obama said on NBC’s Today Show.

He noted that students in fastgrowing countries are performing better academically than U.S. students. “They have caught up and now in some cases have surpassed us,” President Obama said.

The J.Hop Times editorial board thinks that extending the school year isn’t a good idea because it won’t mean students will learn more; it will affect students’ lives outside of school; and it will hurt the economy. We think more can be done with the time we already have; an extra month of school won’t

benefit everyone.

More time in school doesn’t necessarily mean more learning. For example, a math teacher could be lecturing their class for an extra month, but that doesn’t mean a student is learning more from it. Some students hit a leaning road block close to the end of the school year and refuse to listen to the teacher’s lessons. If students aren’t learning more, but are just spending more time in school, then the money spent to extend the school year would be a waste.

There are other ways to give students more time in the classroom without lengthening the school year, but even that might not work.

In Pinellas County, Gibbs High School is extending the school day instead of the school year. Since Gibbs earned an “F,” they added an extra 35 minutes to the school day. We think it’s unnecessary since they already have about

seven hours of school. Students who are getting good grades don’t need extra time in school. Others may have after-school jobs or extracurricular activities, so they can’t afford to stay at school more than they already do.

If President Obama extends the school year, the economy will be affected in a negative way. All over America there are summer camps waiting for summer break to bring in money. If the summer is shortened, the camps will lose money because kids will be attending school instead of camp.

There are other ways to close the learning gap, such as giving more academic support to students who need it. The minimum GPA to play sports could be raised to motivate students to do better in class. More voluntary summer learning camps could exist instead of making more time in school mandatory for everyone.

Page 16

Style: Fashion statement or obsession?

J.Hop: Fashion

November 3, 2010

By KENIJAH COLLINS, ANTHYONY EDWARDS, JULIAN GONZALEZ, CHASE LEWIS, JALEN MIDDLETON, JOSH SIMON AND TABRIA SMITH

Ever since the year started at J.Hop, students have been making fashion statements. From skinny jeans to ripped jeans, Polo to Aeropostale and Hollister, fashion is all around J.Hop.

People use fashion to show their personalities.

Eighth-grader Kelly Duong said her favorite brands are American Eagle and Hollister.

Others say shoes are a great way to express yourself and to show off your fashion at school. Vans and sandals are two of the hot trends on campus. Seventhgrader Joey Obrien said, “Students wear them because they are very comfortable.”

Along with Vans, gladiator sandals, socks with slides, and Sperrys are some examples of how students use shoes to make a fashion statement.

Most students at John Hopkins agree that hair is an important fashion statement.

All around school there are different hairstyles, like crew cuts and Mohawks.

Students at J.Hop also use accessories to show off their fashion. Backpacks, socks, earrings and watches are some examples of how students show off their unique style. Antwoine Reid, a seventh-grader said, “I like the way it looks,” when asked about his backpack that has the cartoon Cars on it. Trent Thomas, seventh grader, who has a Transformers backpack said, “My mom asked me did I want it. She described it very well and I said yes.”

Photo by JULIAN GONZALEZ/J.HOP TIMES

Seventh-graders Antwoine Reid, left, and Trent Thomas show off their style with their backpacks near the Cafeteria on Oct. 6.

Photo by TABRIA SMITH/ J.HOP TIMES

Photos by CHASE LEWIS and TABRIA SMITH/JHOP TIMES

(Left) On October 3, seventh-grader Rafil Hughes spots an Afro outside the cafeteria at J.Hop. “I put it that way because sometimes my hair might fall over my face,” he said.

“You should see my bed head, so funny.”

(Right) Eighth- grader Brandon Brown shows off his hair style during B lunch on September 30. Brandon said, “It attracts attention and it is a good impression.”

Photo by KENIJAH COLLINS/J.HOP TIMES

On Oct. 12, eighth-grader Kabrielle Boyd shows off her South Pole t-shirt and trendy belt.

(Top) Eighth-grader Samantha Johnson wears her all black Vans on Oct.5 in the hallway of bulding 6. (Left) Shoes come in all shapes and sizes, from Sperry’s that lace on the left and right to heels, flats, gladiators, slides and Vans. Shoes are a great way to express yourself and to show off your style to your friends.

Photo by ANTHONY EDWARDS/J.HOP TIMES

Photo by ANTHONY EDWARDS/J.HOP TIMES